The morning came quietly.
A thin red glow slipped through cracks in the ceiling, drawing pale lines across the ruined floor.
The air smelled of dust, rust, and faint electricity—like the world itself had burned and was still cooling down.
Kuhaku opened his eyes first. His neck ached from sleeping against the cold wall, and every muscle in his body reminded him of yesterday.
Kiana was still asleep near the shelves, curled up under her jacket.
Mei rested against a pile of collapsed boxes, her chest rising slowly.
Bronya sat against the wall, head tilted slightly, arms folded like she had fallen asleep while standing guard.
For a moment, it almost looked peaceful. But the silence was too deep.
Kuhaku stood and brushed the dust from his uniform. The floor creaked beneath his feet as he stepped toward the entrance, where faint light leaked through shattered glass.
Outside, the city had changed again.
The sky looked… wounded.
Red streaks bled through gray clouds, twisting slowly as if the heavens themselves were in pain.
And far in the distance, at the center of the ruined horizon, the massive Egg still stood—a black and crimson sphere resting on the ground, pulsing like a heart that refused to die.
Each pulse sent a pressure through the air, faint but heavy.
Even from kilometers away, Kuhaku felt it pressing down on his chest.
He stared at it quietly. The world felt smaller under that sky.
"It's still there," he whispered.
A soft voice came from behind. "Kuhaku?"
He turned to see Mei in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. Her voice was gentle but tired. "You're up early."
"Couldn't sleep," he said, forcing a small smile. "Just checking the weather."
She stepped closer, following his gaze to the sky. The red clouds reflected in her eyes. "It looks like the world's bleeding."
Kuhaku nodded. "Yeah… like it's trying to heal, but can't."
They stood there for a moment, neither speaking.
Only the wind answered, carrying a faint hum that sounded almost alive.
"Let's head back," Mei finally said. "The others will wake soon."
⸻
Inside, the air felt warmer, though the room was still broken and dim.
Kiana groaned as she sat up, hair a complete mess. "Morning already? I think I'm becoming one with the floor."
Bronya's eyes opened immediately. "Incorrect. You are simply unfit for survival environments."
Kiana pouted. "Why do you sound like a robot in the morning?"
Mei smiled faintly. "You two never change."
Kuhaku chuckled under his breath. Even here, surrounded by ruin, their voices brought a strange comfort—like pieces of the normal world had followed them through the end of it.
They packed what little they had left: half a water bottle, a few crushed snacks, and a bent flashlight that still worked if you hit it twice.
Kuhaku tightened his bag straps. "We should move before noon. The air's getting worse."
Bronya nodded. "Agreed. We cannot stay within this radiation zone for long."
Kiana groaned. "Ugh, can't we at least eat before we start running again?"
Mei crossed her arms. "You already ate last night."
"That was stress eating! Totally different thing!"
Kuhaku smirked. "At this rate, we'll run out of stress before food."
"Hey!" Kiana snapped, cheeks puffed.
"Observation: accurate," Bronya muttered flatly.
Their small exchange drew a short laugh from Mei—the first real one since everything began.
⸻
As they prepared to leave, Bronya looked toward Kuhaku.
"Kuhaku," she said, her voice calm as ever. "Have you allocated your points yet?"
He blinked. "My what?"
"Status points," she replied, activating her faint blue screen. The interface flickered beside her hand, text glowing softly in the dim light.
"When we rested, I examined the system further. It provides adjustable parameters."
She began listing them like a teacher reading a manual:
"Strength increases physical power and speed.
Agility enhances reaction time and movement.
Vitality raises endurance and recovery.
Intelligence affects MP capacity and regeneration.
Sense improves perception and danger awareness."
She paused, looking at him. "We each have six unassigned points."
Kiana leaned closer, her eyes wide. "Wait—so it's really like an RPG? Can I just dump everything into Strength and punch monsters?!"
Mei sighed. "Kiana, this isn't a game."
Kuhaku opened his own screen, and sure enough, a faint number blinked beneath his stats: [Free Points : 6].
He stared at it. His reflection shimmered faintly against the transparent blue surface.
A strange feeling crept up his spine—excitement mixed with fear.
"Guess we're really living in a game now," he muttered.
Kiana grinned. "If this turns me into a superhero, I'm in."
Bronya tilted her head slightly. "Unlikely. System limitations unknown. Proceed logically."
Kiana groaned. "You really know how to kill the mood, you know that?"
Kuhaku laughed quietly. "At least she's consistent."
For a moment, they all smiled. It felt fragile—but real.
⸻
They packed the last of their things and stood at the doorway.
Outside, the crimson sky still bled across the clouds, and the Egg pulsed again—slow, deliberate, alive.
Kuhaku took one last glance at the ruined convenience store.
It had sheltered them for a night, but he knew they couldn't hide forever.
"Let's go," he said softly.
Mei tightened her grip on her bag and nodded.
Bronya adjusted her gloves.
Kiana stretched, already complaining about the walk ahead.
Together, they stepped out into the bleeding light of morning—
and the city watched them go, silent beneath the wounded sky.
⸻
End of Chapter 1 – Part 9