I could already feel the pressure building in my knees.
The space was patient—but it wasn't neutral.
It was shaping me. If I stayed like this long enough, it would decide my position for me.
I straightened slowly.
Then I smirked.
Not out of confidence.
Out of refusal.
"What if… we make a deal?"
Zero tilted his head slightly.
"A deal?"
I pushed myself fully to my feet. My knees ached, but they still obeyed me.
"A game."
His eyes sharpened.
"Go on."
I flexed my fingers once to make sure they still responded.
"Rock. Paper. Scissors. Three rounds. Best of three."
"Three choices.
That's all it takes to decide anything."
Simple rules.
No interpretation.
No manipulation.
I already knew this wasn't a perfect plan. But it wasn't the worst either. In a place where rules existed but weren't explained, a simple game might be the only fair ground.
"If you win," I said slowly, "I'll make a wish that helps you fulfill yours."
I exhaled once before continuing.
"If I win… you let me go."
If I chose wrong, the consequences would follow me back. If I lost, whatever Zero wanted would become reality.
If I won… I wouldn't play his game any further.
And if he refused—
this place would keep me here until hesitation turned into obedience.
"One more rule," I added. "No mind reading. No tricks. Just the game."
For a moment, Zero didn't smile.
Then he laughed softly.
"Cheating isn't my nature."
He spread his hands slightly.
"I accept."
The moment he accepted—
the space itself acknowledged it.
Something changed.
For the first time, the statues weren't watching me.
They were watching him.
Their unfinished faces turned toward Zero, as if the outcome of this game mattered to something older than both of us.
Zero noticed.
His smile remained.
But it wasn't casual anymore.
He clapped once.
The sound was quiet, but heavy.
The white space shifted—not collapsing, but rearranging.
A table formed between us. Smooth. Solid.
I sat down and ran my fingers across the surface. It felt real.
This wasn't symbolic.
It was real.
This had consequences.
Two chairs formed. Zero sat across from me.
"Ready?" he asked.
I nodded.
Our hands hovered above the table.
I noticed a slight tremor in my wrist and forced it still.
This wasn't strategy.
Just luck.
Dark red letters appeared in the air.
[ ROUND ONE ]
Simple rules.
Absolute consequences.
I rolled my shoulders once.
This wasn't courage.
Just refusal to beg.
I know it's a childish game—
but so is fate.
"Rock. Paper. Scissors."
Our hands dropped.
[ Zekai : Rock ]
[ Zero : Scissors ]
I won.
…just barely.
Somewhere beyond the table, stone shifted.
One of the unfinished statues tilted its head slightly—like it already knew the outcome.
Not movement.
Attention.
[ ZEKAI — 1 ]
[ ZERO — 0 ]
I exhaled slowly.
No reaction.
Luck moves both ways.
Zero tapped the table lightly, watching like someone observing a coin spin.
"Again."
New letters appeared.
[ ROUND TWO ]
The space tightened slightly.
Even thought slowed.
Not physically.
Conceptually.
Like the result actually mattered.
"Rock. Paper. Scissors."
Our hands dropped again.
[ Zekai : Scissors ]
[ Zero : Rock ]
I lost.
The symbols flared—score shifted.
[ ZEKAI — 1 ]
[ ZERO — 1 ]
Zero's smile returned, just slightly.
The atmosphere shifted.
Balanced.
Unstable.
I noticed something then.
This wasn't about intelligence.
Three shapes… decide fate.
That was all it took.
Rock — foundation.
Paper — possibility.
Scissors — severing.
Even something this simple...
could decide fate.
This wasn't random.
Each choice… reflected something.
My fingers hovered above the table.
For a moment, my thoughts drifted.
Marcus Grandpa.
Under circus lights.
Cards spinning in his hand.
"Stand straight," he used to say.
"A performer greets the audience first. The trick comes later."
I exhaled slowly.
His hand didn't move early—
but something about it felt… decided.
If I lost this—
there would be no second chance.
Across from me, Zero leaned forward slightly.
"Hey, Zekai," he said, "you look lost."
I didn't answer.
"Thinking about losing already?"
Silence.
"I could make it easier for you," he added.
My gaze lifted.
"A favor?"
"Make the choice easier."
I smirked.
"Relax."
My fingers flexed once.
A slow breath followed.
"It's just processing."
He watched me for a moment.
Then smiled again.
"Careful. Thinking too much leads people to the wrong answer."
"Most people lose here."
"Not because they're wrong—
but because they hesitate."
My shoulders rolled once.
"Good thing this isn't a test."
"Just a game."
Processing meant ignoring everything he was planting in my mind.
My jaw tightened.
Do or die.
Zero raised his hand.
Not quickly.
Not slowly.
Just enough to show the game has reached its final move.
The space went completely silent.
Even the statues leaned closer.
I slowly raised my hand.
For a brief moment—
even Zero stopped smiling.
This wasn't about winning.
It was about not losing everything.
"Rock. Paper. Scissors."
Our hands fell—
and the world held its breath.
For the first time—
I didn't know what losing would take from me.
And then the thought hit me.
If I lost…
what exactly would be taken from me?
---
Between those three shapes—
Aron's fate…
was being decided outside.
---
I was still running.
Still dying.
Every time I died, the world reset—
but I remembered everything.
My breath was uneven, but I didn't stop. The same thing kept happening again. No matter what I did, it ended the same way.
Damn it… keep running, Aron. You can do this. We have to escape from here.
"This isn't stopping… it's repeating."
The same outcome—
every time.
And not just that—
Mr. Zekai was still standing there… just like before. Completely unresponsive—like he wasn't even here.
I clenched my teeth.
"Come on… wake up, Mr. Zekai!"
Think, Aron. There has to be a way.
Not this time.
It won't be me who runs.
This time… the King Knight will.
I observed.
A little ahead—
there were many swords scattered on the ground.
"What is this…? So many swords. Did people like us come here before…?"
There was no other choice.
I grabbed one.
It felt heavy.
Unfamiliar.
I didn't know how to use a sword.
But I held it anyway.
Somehow—
I felt like I could fight with it.
Even if it was only until the end.
So I held it tighter.
"If it's a fight… then I'll fight."
The sound came again.
That same sharp distortion.
The King Knight appeared behind me.
Blue—white armor.
Silent.
Waiting.
But this time—
it came a fraction later than before.
I ran straight toward Mr. Zekai and stood in front of him.
Even now—
the King Knight didn't move.
"Fine…"
I stepped forward.
"This time… I won't run."
"Let's fight."
My hands trembled, but I forced them steady.
"Come."
The King Knight stood still.
Calm.
Not moving.
I raised the sword in my hand.
Trying to act fearless.
"At least I can fight too."
I charged forward.
But—
I didn't even see the moment the King Knight moved.
Before I could even understand what happened—
The blade flashed—
air splitting before I even saw it move and my arm wasn't there anymore.
Mr. Zekai collapsed with me.
Everything went black.
—
I snapped back again.
But this time—
it was different.
The King Knight slowly raised its sword.
It stood in a cross stance.
Then it began walking toward me.
Slower.
Clearer.
This was my chance.
I focused everything on my sword.
"Now—!"
I swung it with all my strength.
"AHHHH!"
It blocked effortlessly.
But in a single swing—
the King Knight sent me flying.
The impact threw me back.
My body slammed against the wall. Pain exploded through my back.
"Ugh—!"
Before I could recover—
The King knight stepped forward—
then vanished.
A second later—
Its blade pierced straight through my throat.
"…This is too much…"
Darkness.
"—!"
—
I returned again.
But this time—
every pain remained.
None of it disappeared.
Every cut.
Every impact.
This time—the pain didn't fade when I came back.
It waited.
I could feel everything.
My body remembered every death—
even when it hadn't happened yet.
Tears started falling from my eyes without me realizing.
"I… can't…"
"I'm weak… useless."
My grip loosened.
"I always run."
"No wonder no one ever stays…"
My chest tightened.
"…and I'm tired of it."
"I can't do this… Mr. Zekai…"
...
Memories surfaced.
Once, I used to be like everyone else.
Talking freely.
Kind.
Back then, I didn't know.
That my kindness would become my biggest weakness.
The people around me used it.
They took advantage of it.
They bullied me because of it.
Slowly—
I became quiet.
Closed off.
I wanted to be like others.
But my kindness only made me an easy target.
I pushed people away.
Day by day—
my life became empty.
Until I met Mr. Zekai.
One day, while I was working in the shop—
"Hey, kid… want something to eat?"
"Why do you look so down?"
"No… I'm fine. I'm just working."
"Whatever it is… don't keep it inside. In life, when you lose something… you gain something else. That's fate... One day, everything will change. Here—take this drink."
"I don't need it—"
But he left it anyway.
"See you, Aron. That's your name, right?"
From that day—
he gave me strength.
Little by little—
my life changed.
I started believing in my kindness again.
Because of him… I made friends.
I even found someone who loved me.
"All of this… is because of you, Mr. Zekai."
"Thank you…"
I wiped my face roughly.
"So at least once…"
I'll save you.
No matter what.
This time—
"I'll protect you."
Even if it kills me again.
I won't run.
Something inside me didn't break this time—
it chose.
✦ End of Chapter 7 — Three Shapes Decide Fate ✦