Chapter 3: Shūmatsu part 1

Herwoj woke up in bed with a deep sense of unease, as if something terrible had just happened. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quite grasp it—like a child struggling to recall the lingering taste of his favorite sweet. Feeling helpless, Herwoj threw in the towel, surrendering as his efforts came to nothing. But mere seconds passed before a flash of memories struck him, and a sharp sting pierced through his very essence, delving deep into his core.

Herwoj grunted in agony, the unbearable sensation of his head being torn apart overwhelming him. But those thoughts were quickly flushed from his mind as a more pressing fear took hold—the presence of the individual responsible for the destruction.

Questions flooded his mind: Who was he? What was he doing there? How did he get there? The sheer weight of these thoughts caused Hereof to grunt in pain, drowning in the storm of his memories. Desperate to regain control, he shifted into a meditative pose, taking deep, synchronized breaths.

As he completed his self-calming ritual and collected his thoughts, Herwoj suddenly remembered his father. Without hesitation, he threw on the nearest set of clothes and rushed out, eager to warn his father of the imminent danger.

Upon arriving, Herwoj checked the area multiple times, ensuring the mysterious individual wasn't there. His heart pounded as he examined every corner where the figure had appeared before. His steps wavered, as if the very ground urged him to turn back.

 The receptionist noticing Herwoj's anxious behavior approached him with a cold demeanor. Strangely, her presence calmed him, allowing him to focus. With a steady voice, he explained that he was there to see his father. Initially skeptical, the receptionist scanned the records, but upon seeing his father's name, she granted him access to the non-contact visit booth.

Inside, Herwoj politely asked the guards to excuse them. The guards hesitated but eventually agreed, reasoning that a mere boy posed no threat.

"Dad, I have something serious to tell you," Herwoj said, his voice a mix of bravery and worry, fearing his father wouldn't believe him.

Rather than recounting the events as they had truly happened, Herwoj framed them as a dream—a bad omen warning of an impending disaster.

His father laughed. Seeing this reaction, Herwoj sighed quietly, lowering his gaze to the ground. A crushing sense of powerlessness overwhelmed him—he had expected this reaction.

Then, to his surprise, his father spoke. "What I'm about to say may shock you, but in a way, I believe you. Do you remember why I was imprisoned?"

"Yes, it was for arson," Herwoj answered, his emotions conflicted as he tried to comprehend the situation.

"Correct." His father smiled, looking oddly pleased. "But I wasn't the one who started the fire."

Almost as if on cue, a powerful explosion erupted, shaking the very ground beneath them. The force of the blast collapsed the wall separating them, sending both Herwoj and his father sprawling to the ground.

Believing the mysterious individual was behind the attack, Herwoj instinctively wanted to escape with his father. However, to his surprise, his father commanded him to follow. In the heat of the moment, Herwoj obeyed, even though he had no idea where they were going.

Instead of heading toward the reception exit, his father led him through the door to the cell block. Strangely, the area was already in ruins—the roof wrecked, debris scattered everywhere, and walls crumbling. But what was more unsettling was the absence of the other prisoners.

Herwoj wanted to ask what was going on but hesitated, forcing himself to trust that his father had a good reason for all of this.

They reached the end of the housing unit, where his father entered his cell and retrieved a triangular device. As soon as he activated it, a beam of light shot into the sky.

Panic surged through Herwoj. Remembering the threat still lurking, he immediately shouted for his father to stop. When his father didn't listen, Herwoj took matters into his own hands and pushed him down.

Angry, his father shouted, "Why did you do that?!"

Herwoj, shocked by his father's outburst, could only stare back in silence. His father noticed the look in his eyes and sighed before apologizing. "I'm sorry," he said. "That device I just activated—it's a safe zone spawner... the name should be pretty straightforward."

"Uhh, yeah, I get it," Herwoj replied, choosing not to bring up the mysterious individual.

As they exited the prison area, Herwoj took in the devastation—the ruins of buildings, shattered ground, the sickening smell of burnt flesh, both human and animal. The horrifying scene triggered flashbacks of the destruction caused by the mysterious figure, but he pushed on, following his father.

They arrived at a vast, leveled expanse filled with people. Many wore expressions of horror and despair, some weeping, others clutching torn pieces of flesh—perhaps of friends, relatives, or something else entirely. Herwoj's father approached a group of individuals in blue suits with white shirts and ties. They weren't police officers.

The suited individuals produced a strange device, its shape indefinable. When they pressed a button, it emitted a bizarre noise. Instantly, Herwoj screamed in agony, the sound cutting through his mind like a razor. Herwoj screamed in pain while the crowd around covered their ears some crying even more, but Herwoj couldn't tell if it was because of His screaming or the device affecting them so Herwoj tries His best to stop shouting.

Herwoj fought to suppress his screams, clamping his hands over his mouth, but the strain showed—veins bulged in his eyes, and spit leaked through his fingers. Then, as suddenly as it started, the noise ceased.

Everyone's eyes turned to Herwoj.

Panicked, he quickly checked himself over, relieved to find nothing had changed. Yet, his father turned to him and asked a strange question. "Do you see anything?"

A distorted voice echoed in his mind: The update was hastened. Synchronization is incomplete.

A blurry screen appeared before Herwoj, sending chills down his spine.

"Yes! I see something, but I don't know what it is—it looks like a screen!" he shouted.

His father's lips curled into a smile—warm and inviting on the surface, yet underneath, something cold and calculated lurked. It was the kind of smile that promised comfort while sharpening the knife behind your back.

His father turned back to the suited individuals. They glanced at the top of the barrier surrounding the safe zone, where a glowing red number appeared.

One of them spoke. "The number shows the of people allowed and once full it turns red and now you all are the last few people allowed inside. But due to certain news, things will now change."

Confused, Herwoj looked to his father, but his father only gave him a reassuring smile—one that sent a chill down his spine instead of comforting him.

The suited individuals continued, "As you know, we have already eliminated some of the anomalies among you. Though you still hold onto their remains, we will now do the same to two more."

The crowd reacted in silent horror—some looking away, some covering their eyes, others simply crying.

This seriously creeps the hell out of Herwoj as He then says. "What the fuck do you mean?!" he shouted.

His father turned to him and says warmly as though he was trying to cover something up, "Don't worry, I'll go with you."

Herwoj's nose crinkled, his lips curling downward as if tasting something vile. His brows furrowed, his eyes flicking away, refusing to acknowledge what he had just heard.

 but before Herwoj could say anything He started feeling light-headed and as he looked down, he could see someone holding onto his head, His head severed from His body. His vision blurred, while blood flooded his eyes.

Then His head is dropped as his severed head rolls onto the ground, he uses this last chance to get one last glimpse of the horrified expressions around him.

As flashes of his life flickered before him, a final thought crossed his fading consciousness: no wonder my head ached me so much this morning this is my second time dying.