Hero

The tension had been building for days. After the system update, the group had grown restless, and cracks were beginning to show in their unity. The air inside the research facility felt heavier than usual as if it bore the weight of the decisions about to be made.

Yuuto sat on the edge of a broken desk, rubbing his temple in frustration. His mind raced with thoughts about their next move. Supplies were running low, and they couldn't afford to stay in one place much longer. But something else was bothering him—the growing tension among his friends.

The group gathered in the main room, the flickering lights casting eerie shadows on their faces. Kazuki leaned against a wall with his arms crossed, while Aya paced back and forth, her anxiety obvious.

Rika finally broke the silence. "We can't stay here much longer. We're sitting ducks. The system has given us nothing but death and destruction. We need to split up and cover more ground."

Akari frowned, her expression tense. "Split up? We barely survived when we were together. How can we protect each other if we're scattered?"

Kazuki pushed himself off the wall and approached Yuuto. "Rika's right. If we stay together, we're more of a target. The games keep escalating, and we're not equipped for this. We need to split up and find more resources—maybe even other survivors."

Yuuto could see the logic in Kazuki's words, but the thought of breaking up the group made his gut twist. He had already lost Naoki; he couldn't bear the thought of losing anyone else.

Aya stopped pacing and turned to Yuuto. "What do you think, Yuuto? We've always followed your lead, but this… this is different. We need to be smart about our next move."

Yuuto's chest tightened as all eyes fell on him. The weight of leadership was heavier than ever. But before he could answer, the sound of a door creaking open made everyone freeze.

From the shadows of the corridor, a figure emerged, draped in a long black trench coat. His white hair glowed under the dim light, and his cold, piercing eyes scanned the room.

"Christian..." Yuuto whispered in disbelief.

It was him—the very man Yuuto had idolized as a child, the legendary protagonist of the novel he had loved so dearly. Christian Heartfelt stood before them, his presence commanding attention. The vampire slayer, the hero who had survived the darkest horrors, had returned.

Christian's lips curled into a small, almost amused smile. "So, you've made it this far. I didn't expect such a ragtag group of students to survive the games for this long."

Aya's eyes widened, and she stepped back in awe. "It's really him…"

Kazuki was more cautious, his hand instinctively hovering over his weapon. "How do we know we can trust him? He's part of the novel too. For all we know, he could be another test or trap from the system."

Yuuto stepped forward, his voice firm. "Christian isn't the enemy. He's the one who's been fighting this nightmare for longer than anyone. If anyone can guide us through this hell, it's him."

Christian chuckled softly. "You've got spirit, Yuuto Kisagari. But this world is cruel, and trust is a luxury few can afford. I'll help you, but I won't babysit you."

Akari, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. "We're not asking for protection. We need to know how to survive… like you did."

Christian's eyes softened slightly at her words. "Surviving is the easy part. It's the choices you make along the way that will haunt you."

Rika, who had been insistent about splitting up, stepped forward. "So, are we splitting up, or are we staying together?"

Yuuto took a deep breath. His decision had to be made, and it had to be made now. "We split up. Kazuki, Rika, and Akari will scout for supplies. Aya, Miki, and I will stay here with Professor Yagami to prepare defenses in case something happens. Christian, you can decide for yourself."

"Actually I was thinking me and Rika go on our own again if that's alright with you Yuuto" said Miki "We just make a better team"

"Fine by me, I know you girls can handle yourselves" Yuuto said with a assuring smile

The two leave for now as Yuuto looks at Christian

Christian smirked. "I work alone. But I'll be watching." With a flick of his trench coat, Christian turned and disappeared into the shadows just as quickly as he had appeared.

The decision was made. The group had split, and the game continued. Yuuto's heart weighed heavily, but he knew there was no other way. They had to cover more ground, find more resources, and face whatever new horrors awaited them.

As the doors to the facility shut behind the scouting team, Yuuto stared into the darkened corridors ahead, wondering just how much more they could endure.