Leo wasn't sure what was worse—surviving a near-death experience with a dire wolf or waking up the next day to find Freya cheerfully sharpening her axe beside his tent.
"You're up early," he muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Freya looked up with a grin. "Someone has to keep you from tripping over roots again."
[Morning banter? Cute. Too bad things are about to go sideways.]
Leo groaned. "What now?"
[Nothing much. Just a minor Yandere Alert.]
"Yandere what?"
Before the system could elaborate, Ulrich stormed into camp, his face twisted into an expression of mild panic—a rare sight for the usually unflappable instructor.
"Everyone, gear up! There's a beast on the loose. It took down a scout near the eastern perimeter."
Freya's eyes lit up. "Finally, some real action."
Leo, on the other hand, was already calculating escape routes.
[Running won't help, Leo. This one's coming for you.]
"Why me?" Leo hissed.
[Because Fate is cruel, and you're the universe's favorite punching bag.]
---
They followed Ulrich to the eastern perimeter, where the forest thickened into a shadowy labyrinth of gnarled trees and tangled vines. The air was thick with tension—and something else. Something dark.
"Stay alert," Ulrich ordered.
The group fanned out, weapons at the ready. Freya took point, her axe glinting in the dim light. Leo stuck close to her, feeling like a human liability.
Then, they heard it—a soft, melodic hum drifting through the trees.
Freya froze. "What is that?"
Leo's blood ran cold. "It sounds like—"
"Leo, darling!"
A figure stepped out of the shadows, her long white hair glowing like moonlight. Her crimson eyes locked onto Leo with unsettling intensity.
[Yandere Alert Level: MAXIMUM.]
"Oh no," Leo muttered.
Freya tensed. "Who the hell is that?"
"A mistake I made in a past life."
The girl—if she could be called that—tilted her head, her smile both sweet and menacing.
"Leo, my love. I finally found you."
"We are not doing this," Leo said, backing away.
[Spoiler: Yes, you are.]
---
Her name was Selene, and she was the living embodiment of Leo's worst nightmares. They had met in a previous simulation world where Leo had made the critical error of saving her life.
"You promised we'd be together forever," Selene said, her voice like poisoned honey.
"I did not!" Leo protested.
[Technically, you said, 'I won't let anything happen to you.' Same difference in yandere logic.]
Freya stepped between them. "I don't know who you are, but you're not taking Leo anywhere."
Selene's smile widened. "Oh, you must be the competition."
"Competition?" Freya echoed.
[Catfight incoming. Place your bets!]
"Nobody's fighting!" Leo yelled.
Selene ignored him. "Leo belongs to me. You should walk away before you get hurt."
Freya's grip tightened on her axe. "Try me."
The tension snapped like a frayed wire. Selene moved first, her speed inhuman. Freya swung her axe, but Selene dodged effortlessly.
"Stop!" Leo shouted, throwing himself between them.
Freya and Selene froze, their eyes locked on him.
"We're not doing this," Leo said firmly. "Selene, you need to leave."
Selene's eyes softened—briefly. "Come with me, Leo. We can be happy together."
[Define 'happy.' Because her version sounds like a horror movie.]
"Not happening," Leo said.
Selene's expression darkened. "If I can't have you, no one can."
"Oh, for the love of—RUN!"
---
Leo sprinted through the forest, Freya hot on his heels.
"Who is she?" Freya demanded.
"An ex-girlfriend. Sort of. Long story."
"You attract the worst people."
"Tell me something I don't know!"
Behind them, Selene glided through the trees like a ghost, her crimson eyes locked on Leo.
[This is the best entertainment I've had in ages.]
"Glad you're enjoying yourself," Leo snapped.
They burst into a clearing, and Leo skidded to a halt. The ground dropped off into a steep ravine.
"Great," Leo muttered. "We're trapped."
Freya turned to face Selene. "Then we make a stand."
"You don't understand—you can't fight crazy!"
Selene stepped into the clearing, her smile unnervingly calm.
"Leo, darling. Come here."
[Don't do it, Leo. Bad idea. Terrible idea.]
"Yeah, no," Leo said.
Selene sighed. "I didn't want it to come to this."
She raised her hand, and dark energy crackled to life around her.
"Oh, come on!" Leo yelled.
Freya charged, but Selene was faster. A blast of dark energy knocked Freya off her feet.
"Freya!" Leo ran to her side.
"I'm fine," Freya said, grimacing.
Selene took a step closer. "Come with me, Leo. Or she dies."
Leo's mind raced.
[Time to get creative, genius.]
"Okay," Leo said. "I'll go with you. Just let her go."
"Leo, no!" Freya protested.
Selene's smile returned. "I knew you'd see reason."
As she reached for him, Leo pulled out the silver coin Ulrich had given him.
"Heads, I stay. Tails, I run."
Selene blinked. "What?"
Leo flipped the coin. It landed on heads.
"Oh well," he said, and punched Selene in the face.
[Plot twist!]
Selene staggered back, more from shock than pain.
"RUN!" Leo grabbed Freya and bolted.
---
They didn't stop until they reached camp.
"She's going to kill you," Freya said.
"Probably," Leo agreed.
[Next time, try not to punch the obsessive demon girlfriend. Just a thought.]
Leo collapsed by the campfire, wondering how his life had gone so horribly wrong.
"I really hate my life," he muttered.
[But the readers love it.]