Kai's consciousness floated in darkness.
Then—
"KAI!"
A familiar voice shattered the silence.
Warm.
Another shout.
Louder.
"WAKE UP, YOU IDIOT!"
Kai frowned.
"..."
"...Huh?"
Light flooded Kai's vision.
Blue skies.
Warm sunlight.
Soft wind brushed against Kai's face.
Leaves danced overhead.
Birds chirped on the tree nearby.
Kai blinked.
The suffocating black fog was gone.
The ruined streets...
Gone.
The towering Nightmare...
Gone.
Kai slowly sat up.
"...Where..."
A loud laugh interrupted him.
"There he is!"
Kai looked up.
Raze stood several meters away, waving both arms wildly.
Raze usual grin stretched from ear to ear.
"You seriously fell asleep after the mission?"
Kai stared.
"...Mission?"
Raze walked over before punching Kai lightly on the shoulder.
"Dumbass."
"We won."
Kai blinked.
"...Won?"
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"Yeah!"
Raze threw both hands into the air.
"The last Nightmare is dead!"
"The city's safe!"
"We killed it."
"You don't remember?"
"Don't tell me you hit your head that bad?"
Kai looked around.
People.
Dozens of them.
Running through the streets.
Laughing.
Talking.
Children chased one another across the sidewalks.
Vendors reopened their shops.
The smell of grilled meat drifted through the air.
A music played nearby.
Life.
Actual life.
Kai's chest tightened.
"...It's..."
"...Over?"
Raze laughed.
"Finally."
"We're free."
For several seconds...
Kai simply stood there.
Listening.
No screams.
No monsters.
No System notifications.
Only laughter.
Warmth spread across Kai's chest.
"..."
Kai smiled.
A genuine one.
"...We did it."
Raze grinned.
"Told you we'd survive."
"So you owe me five dinner."
Raze pointing finger at Kai.
"I owe you dinner now?"
Kai laughed.
"I blocked more than five punches from that Nightmare."
"So five for now."
"For now?"
"Will it increase after five meal?"
The two burst into laughter.
...
Hours passed.
The city celebrated.
Long tables filled the streets.
Lanterns hung between buildings.
Music echoed through the evening air.
Kai sat among familiar faces.
Everyone was there.
Laughing.
Eating.
Arguing over nothing important.
For the first time...
Nobody looked afraid.
Raze raised a mug.
"A toast!"
"To idiots who somehow survived!"
Everyone cheered.
Kai couldn't stop smiling.
Maybe...
Maybe this was enough.
Maybe...
Everything had finally ended.
...
A cold breeze passed.
Kai paused.
"..."
Did the air just...
Whisper?
"...Kai..."
Kai looked around.
Nobody reacted.
"...Did you hear something?"
Raze tilted his head.
"Hear what?"
"...Nothing."
Kai rubbed his temple.
Must've imagined it.
The celebration continued.
Laughter returned.
Music filled the streets once more.
Yet...
Somewhere.
Far away.
A voice echoed through endless darkness.
"...Kai..."
So faint...
It was almost impossible to hear.
Kai looked toward the sky.
For just an instant—
The bright blue star flickered.
Then-
A flash.
Black fog.
A towering silhouette.
White flames.
Pain.
Blood.
"..."
Then...
Everything returned to normal.
Kai staggered.
"...Weird."
Raze wrapped an arm around Kai's shoulder.
"Don't think so hard."
"We won."
Kai slowly smiled again.
"..."
"...Yeah."
"We won."
Yet deep within Kai's heart...
Something felt...
Wrong.
To be continue...