Floor Fifty-One
(The upper being walks slowly toward Ryo)
Upper Being: "Honestly... In all my existence, I never imagined that a creature from the lower dimension could shake the universe and nearly bring it to ruin."
(Ryo was clearly tense, sweat pouring down his face)
Ryo: "Who are you?! What do you want?!"
(Standing behind Zalarosa, who had drawn her sword, Yui trembled in fear)
Yui: "Zalarosa... Who is that person? He's strong…"
Zalarosa (fearfully): "I don't know who he is... But I do know one thing…"
(She hesitated)
"…We can't kill him. Not even wound him. He's too powerful…"
Ryo (shouting): "Just answer me! Who are you?!"
(The upper being was calm, uncaring)
Upper Being: "No need to shout, Ryo... I'm right in front of you. I can hear you just fine."
Ryo (irritated): "Then just answer, idiot! And how do you even know my name?!"
(The being's gaze suddenly sharpened. The pressure in the room became suffocating. Even Ryo couldn't breathe properly. A killing intent heavier than anything they'd ever felt—like a hundred demon lords were staring at them.)
Upper Being: "Watch your mouth. That would be... wise."
Ryo: "Oh yeah? And if I don't—"
(He suddenly saw his own body collapse in front of him)
"…Huh? What just—?"
Yui (screamed in horror): "Ryo!!"
(Zalarosa staggered back, her legs barely holding her)
Zalarosa: "R-Ryo? What… what happened?"
Ryo's head had fallen to the floor—severed. Blood was everywhere.
Upper Being (in a cold, razor-sharp tone): "I warned him. He didn't listen. Now, you two girls…"
(He began walking toward Zalarosa and Yui, each step radiating terror and dread)
"…Would you like to play a game?"
Yui (voice shaking in fear): "W-what do you mean? A game? Are you joking?"
(The being approached Yui, gently placing a hand on her head)
Upper Being: "Little one... You're still young. You have a life ahead of you. But I don't care about your opinion. You'll play whether you like it or not. You don't get to speak above me."
Zalarosa: "Fine. We'll play."
Upper Being: "Oh, well done! Be like her, Yui. Always agree with me."
Zalarosa (trembling): "So... what's the game? What are the rules?"
(The being stood straight)
Upper Being: "I like you, Zalarosa. You say exactly what I want to hear."
(He started explaining)
"Alright. The game is one of life and death. Four rounds. Each round lasts five minutes.
In the first round, I'll try to catch you. If I touch you a thousand times, I win. You, however, just need to touch me once."
Zalarosa: "And the second round?"
Upper Being: "The second round is a team round. I'll summon some golems—twenty for you, twenty for me. You'll try to recruit as many as you can to your side. If my team ends up bigger, I win. If yours does, you win."
Zalarosa: "The third round?"
Upper Being: "Classic cat and mouse. I'll hunt you down. Each time I catch you, I'll cut off a piece of you. So… hide well."
(He smiled darkly)
"The fourth round will be the hardest. It's called 'Death and Death.'"
Yui (screamed): "What do you mean 'Death and Death'?!"
Upper Being (with a wicked smile): "In that round, I'll cut off my own hand. And so will you. The rules are simple: you cannot quit. If you do, your body will melt in the fire. You must not lose too much blood—or you'll die.
If you want to surrender, I'll give your hand back. But if you surrender, you still die in the fire.
The point is: I want to know—what kind of death do you prefer?"
(Yui and Zalarosa were frozen in shock. Fear was devouring their minds and souls.)
Upper Being: "Oh, and the final condition:
No sleep. No eating. No drinking. No fainting.
If you do any of those things… you burn.
And sure, the round is just five minutes…
But…"
(His smile widened insanely)
"…each minute equals one week. So—can you survive five weeks like that?"
(Zalarosa collapsed to her knees, all hope vanishing from her eyes.)
Zalarosa: "That's impossible!! We won't survive…"
Yui (trying to encourage her): "Don't lose hope, Zalarosa! There has to be a way out! There must be!"
Zalarosa (crying and screaming): "What way, Yui?! What way?!"
(Yui didn't answer—only looked away.)
Zalarosa: "I told you… there's no hope…"
(Yui clenched her fists and stepped toward the being)
Yui: "I'll play your game!"
Upper Being (visibly surprised): "This is the first time someone accepts my games."
(Smiles)
"Well then, Yui. Let's play!"
Zalarosa: "Yui, don't be stupid! You can't possibly win!"
Yui (tears running down her face): "I know… I know there's no chance of survival. But I want to try. I won't give up.
Didn't you teach me that?"
Zalarosa (looking at the ground, then smiling): "And yet here I am, the one who's trying to quit… even though I taught you that…
(Clenches her fist and stands up)
What a joke."
(Smiles)
"Fine… I'll join you too."
Yui (tearfully smiling): "Zalarosa…"
Zalarosa (with hope in her voice): "I'll go with you, Yui… After all, friends never leave each other behind."
To be continued…
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