Chapter 13

Yuki moved silently through the underbrush, his steps light but deliberate. He had separated from Mikayla and Asahi to scavenge for supplies. The two had tried to convince him to stay together, but Yuki's resolve had hardened. 

"Mikayla won't be able to run if it comes down to it but we also can't leave her alone," he had said, his voice distant. "You two focus on surviving."

Asahi had wanted to argue, but Mikayla's silent nod had stopped him. Yuki left without looking back. 

Now, alone in the jungle, he tightened his fist. With ten gems, he didn't need to hunt, but something gnawed at him—a desire not just to survive, but to end this game on his terms. 

On the other side of the island, Yuri and Axel moved in unison, their dynamic as sharp and efficient as ever. 

"We still need two more gems each," Axel muttered, sparks crackling faintly at his fingertips. 

Yuri smirked, his gaze scanning the horizon. "Patience. The weak will make themselves known soon enough." 

They came across a makeshift shelter—likely abandoned, judging by the overgrowth and lack of fresh tracks. Still, Yuri's sharp eyes caught a faint trail leading deeper into the jungle. 

"This way," he said, motioning for Axel to follow. 

"Think it's Mikayla or Asahi?" Axel asked, his tone light despite the tension. 

"Doesn't matter," Yuri replied, his smirk growing. "At this point, anyone without enough gems is fair game." 

---

Mikayla leaned against a tree, her breathing shallow as she tried to conserve energy. Her regenerative ability had kept her alive through injuries, but it didn't erase the toll this game had taken on her. 

Asahi sat nearby, his massive frame hunched in thought. His hands were calloused and worn, gripping a makeshift club he had fashioned earlier. 

"We need gems," Asahi said quietly, breaking the silence. 

"I know," Mikayla replied, her tone flat. 

"Yuki won't come back for us, will he?" 

Mikayla shook her head, her gaze distant. "No. He's too far gone now. He's fighting something bigger than this game." 

Asahi exhaled, his grip tightening on the club. "Then it's up to us." 

The faint sound of footsteps made Mikayla's head snap up. She gestured for Asahi to stay quiet, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the dense foliage. 

A figure emerged from the shadows, moving with predatory grace. Yuri. 

"Well, isn't this a surprise," he said, his smirk sharp as a blade. "Two lost little lambs." 

Mikayla immediately stepped in front of Asahi, her stance defensive. "What do you want, Yuri?" 

"Isn't it obvious?" Yuri said, his tone mocking. "You've got something I need. Gems. And you don't look like you can defend them." 

"We're not giving you anything," Mikayla snapped, her eyes blazing. 

Yuri's smirk widened. "That's cute. Really. But you're not in a position to negotiate." 

He lunged without warning, his blade flashing in the light. Mikayla barely managed to dodge, the edge grazing her arm. She winced but held her ground, her regenerative ability already working to seal the wound. 

Asahi roared and charged forward, swinging his club with brute force. Yuri sidestepped gracefully, his movements precise and calculated. 

"You're strong," Yuri said, almost admiringly. "But strength means nothing without strategy." 

Yuri loomed over them, his blade glinting ominously. "It's nothing personal," he said, his voice cold. "Just survival." 

Asahi and Mikayla exchanged a glance, their unspoken resolve clear. They wouldn't go down without a fight.

The jungle air was heavy with tension as Mikayla and Asahi faced Yuri and Axel. The clearing became a battlefield, each side gauging the other's next move. Yuri's sharp eyes locked onto Mikayla, while Axel's playful grin faltered as he squared off against Asahi's imposing frame. 

"Well, isn't this fun?" Axel said, his voice light, though sparks of electricity crackled at his fingertips. 

"You talk too much," Asahi growled, hefting his makeshift club. 

Yuri smirked at Mikayla, tilting his head slightly. "Think you can keep up, Mikayla?" 

Mikayla gritted her teeth, her knife steady in her hand. "We'll see about that." 

Axel launched himself at Asahi, his hands crackling with electricity. Asahi swung his club with raw power, but Axel's agility allowed him to dart out of the way, his electrified fist grazing Asahi's side. 

The shock coursed through Asahi's body, his muscles momentarily seizing up. He stumbled, his footing unsteady, but the strength derived from his rhinoceros beetle genetics let him absorb the pain. 

"That all you got?" Asahi growled, shaking off the lingering numbness and gripping his club tightly. 

Axel's grin widened, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, I'm just warming up." 

With a burst of speed, Axel darted in again, his punches crackling with electricity. He aimed for Asahi's legs, trying to destabilize him, but Asahi's thick, beetle-like toughness absorbed the blows with minimal damage. 

Asahi swung his club in wide, forceful arcs, each strike powerful enough to pulverize a tree. Axel danced around him, his movements fluid and precise. Sparks flew as Axel countered with rapid jabs, each punch leaving faint scorch marks on Asahi's skin. 

"You're fast," Asahi admitted, his tone grudging. "But speed can only do so much." 

"Yeah?" Axel shot back, his voice filled with mock bravado. "Speed's the only reason I'm not a smear on the ground." 

Axel suddenly shifted tactics, leaping onto a low-hanging branch and vaulting over Asahi's head. He landed behind him, sending a powerful shock directly into Asahi's back. The force of the attack drove Asahi to one knee, his teeth gritting against the pain. 

"Not bad," Axel quipped, stepping back to gauge the damage. "But you're starting to look a little crispy there, big guy." 

Asahi slowly rose to his feet, his breathing heavy but steady. "You'll have to do better than that." 

Axel dashed in again, his fists a blur of electrified strikes. Asahi roared, meeting him head-on with a powerful swing of his club. The weapon missed Axel by inches, but the sheer force of the swing created a gust that staggered him. 

"You're fast," Asahi repeated, his voice a growl. "But speed doesn't win if you can't keep it up." 

Axel's grin faltered for a moment as he realized the truth in Asahi's words. His bursts of electricity were draining him, his movements growing slightly slower with each attack. 

Still, Axel refused to back down. He leapt forward, landing a solid punch to Asahi's jaw. Sparks flew, and Asahi staggered back, but his grip on his club remained firm. 

"I'll admit," Asahi said, spitting blood from his lip. "You hit harder than you look." 

"And you're tougher than I thought," Axel retorted, his grin returning despite his fatigue. 

Axel feinted to the left, then surged to the right, aiming for Asahi's exposed side. But Asahi anticipated the move, swinging his club in a devastating arc. 

Axel narrowly avoided the blow, the weapon smashing into the ground with enough force to leave a crater. The impact sent dirt and debris flying, throwing Axel off balance. 

Asahi saw his chance. With a roar, he brought his club down in a crushing vertical strike. Axel tried to dodge, but the swing was too fast, too precise. 

The club connected with Axel's chest, the impact sending him flying into a tree. The crack of wood echoed through the clearing as Axel slumped to the ground, his body motionless. 

Asahi stood over him, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. He watched Axel's bracelet flicker, its light dimming until it finally went out. 

"Rest easy," Asahi muttered, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "You gave it everything you had." 

He turned his attention back to the clearing, where Mikayla and Yuri's battle continued in brutal earnest. Despite his victory, Asahi knew the fight was far from over. 

Meanwhile, Mikayla and Yuri circled each other like predators. Yuri's blade glinted in the dim light, his movements calculated and precise. Mikayla lunged first, her knife aimed at his ribs, but Yuri sidestepped effortlessly, slashing at her arm. 

The blade cut deep, but Mikayla's regeneration kicked in almost instantly. She ignored the pain, her focus entirely on Yuri. 

"You're persistent," Yuri said, his voice calm. "But persistence isn't the same as skill." 

Mikayla growled, feinting left before striking at his shoulder. Yuri blocked the attack, twisting her wrist and sending her knife flying. Disarmed, Mikayla didn't hesitate—she threw a punch at Yuri's jaw. 

The hit connected, making Yuri stumble. She followed with a kick to his side, driving him back further. 

Yuri smirked, wiping blood from his lip. "Not bad. But not enough." 

He moved like lightning, closing the distance between them. Before Mikayla could react, Yuri slashed across her abdomen, the wound deep and fatal. 

Mikayla gasped, falling to her knees as blood pooled around her. Her regeneration slowed, the injury too severe for her body to handle. 

Yuri knelt beside her, his expression cold. "You fought well. But this is where it ends." 

Mikayla's vision blurred, her breath ragged. She thought of Jennifer, of Yuki, of the life she wanted to reclaim. As her strength faded, she whispered one final word: "Yuki..." 

Her body went limp, her bracelet flickering before the light extinguished completely. 

Asahi turned toward the clearing where Mikayla and Yuri's battle had been raging. His heart sank as he saw Mikayla on the ground, unmoving, her once-defiant eyes now lifeless. Yuri stood over her, wiping blood from the edge of his blade. 

"Mikayla!" Asahi roared, his voice raw with anguish. He staggered toward her, but Yuri's cold, calculating gaze froze him in place. 

"You're too late," Yuri said flatly, bending down to remove Mikayla's bracelet. He examined it briefly before pocketing it, his smirk returning. "One more gem. That makes nine for me." 

Asahi clenched his fists, his knuckles white as rage coursed through him. "You're not leaving this clearing alive, Yuri." 

Yuri chuckled, his confidence unshaken. "Big words for someone who's barely standing. Axel put up a better fight than you will." 

Yuri began circling Asahi, his movements slow and deliberate. "You know," he continued, "I could end this right now. Nine gems for me, nine for Axel—oh, wait." He gestured mockingly at Axel's lifeless body. "Guess he's out of the running." 

Asahi growled, gripping his club tightly. "Come closer, and we'll see who ends this." 

Yuri's smirk grew sharper as he shifted his stance, preparing to strike. But before he could make a move, a deafening explosion ripped through the air. 

The shockwave sent debris flying, forcing both Asahi and Yuri to stagger back. As the dust settled, Yuki emerged from the shadows, his hand still faintly glowing with residual heat. 

"Enough," Yuki said, his voice calm but commanding. His sharp eyes locked onto Yuri, who raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. 

"Well, look who decided to join the party," Yuri said, his tone light but wary. 

Yuki stepped forward, positioning himself between Yuri and Asahi. "This isn't your fight anymore, Yuri. Walk away." 

Yuri tilted his head, his smirk faltering. "You're defending him? Interesting. I didn't think you cared about anyone anymore." 

Yuki's gaze didn't waver. "I don't need to care to stop you. Leave now, or the next explosion won't be a warning." 

For the first time, Yuri hesitated. He glanced at Asahi, who stood ready despite his injuries, then back at Yuki, whose calm demeanor masked a deadly resolve. 

After a tense moment, Yuri shrugged, taking a step back. "Fine. Have it your way. But remember, Yuki—this game only ends one way. And next time, you won't get the chance to play hero." 

Yuri turned and disappeared into the jungle, his footsteps fading into the distance. 

Asahi dropped his club, his shoulders sagging as the adrenaline drained from his body. "Yuki..." he muttered, his voice thick with exhaustion. 

Yuki glanced at Mikayla's lifeless form, his jaw tightening. "We'll take her gems," he said quietly. "She wouldn't want them to go to waste." 

Asahi nodded, his movements slow as he retrieved Mikayla's bracelet. He looked at Yuki, a faint glimmer of gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks for coming back." 

"You've changed, Yuki," Yuri said, his voice calm but laced with danger. "But don't think you've surpassed me." 

Yuki's hand glowed faintly, the heat from his ability warming the air around him. "I don't need to surpass you, Yuri. I just need to stop you." 

Yuri lunged, his movements quick and precise, his blade slicing through the air toward Yuki's side. Yuki dodged, releasing a burst of heat that forced Yuri back. 

"Impressive," Yuri muttered, his smirk faltering for a moment. "But I've fought better." 

Yuki's attacks came with explosive bursts, each one forcing Yuri to retreat and recalibrate. But Yuri's speed and cunning made him a dangerous opponent. He used the terrain to his advantage, darting around trees and using the shadows to obscure his movements. 

"You can't keep this up forever," Yuri taunted, slashing at Yuki's arm. 

The blade grazed Yuki, drawing blood, but the explosion that followed sent Yuri stumbling back. 

"You're running out of time," Yuki growled, his hands glowing brighter. "And you're running out of tricks." 

Yuri lunged again, his blade aiming for Yuki's chest, but Yuki was ready. He sidestepped the attack and released a powerful explosion point-blank. The force sent Yuri flying into a tree, his blade clattering to the ground. 

Yuki approached slowly, his hand glowing with one final surge of energy. "I warned you," he said, his voice low and cold. 

Yuri struggled to rise, blood dripping from his mouth. "You think this makes you better than me?" he rasped, his smirk returning even in his final moments. 

Yuki didn't respond. The explosion that followed was deafening, reducing Yuri's head to ash. His lifeless body slumped to the ground, his bracelet flickering before dimming completely. 

Asahi stumbled into the clearing, his face pale as he took in the sight of Yuri's remains. "You... you really did it," he said, his voice shaking. 

Yuki wiped the blood from his arm, his gaze distant. "He gave me no choice." 

Asahi knelt by Mikayla's body, his shoulders sagging. "She didn't make it," he whispered, his voice heavy with grief. 

But as the two stood in silence, a faint sound broke through the stillness—a shallow gasp. 

"Mikayla?" Yuki said, his voice sharp with disbelief. 

Mikayla's chest heaved as she drew a shaky breath, her body trembling. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. 

"You thought... that would kill me?" she rasped, her voice weak but defiant. 

Asahi's jaw dropped. "How? You were—" 

"Yuri was arrogant," Mikayla interrupted, forcing herself to sit up. Her hand pressed against the deep gash in her abdomen, which was already closing. "He didn't use poison. He thought his blade would be enough. If he had poisoned me, it would've worked. But..." 

She glanced at her healing wound, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Cockroaches are hard to kill." 

Mikayla coughed weakly, her gaze meeting his. "It's not over yet. We still have a game to win." 

Yuki nodded, his expression hardening. "And we will." 

Asahi helped Mikayla to her feet, her strength slowly returning.

"Where have you been, anyway?," Mikayla asked. Yuki answered, his voice steady. "I needed to check something. That'll save the both of you."

Mikayla, still recovering but standing strong, frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"The clearing," Yuki replied. "The one where this all started. There were so many bodies, so much chaos. I thought not all the gems were collected."

Asahi's eyes widened as the realization dawned on him. "You're right…"

"I only found three but I guess we should thank Yuri's arrogance and Axel's carelessness for they have brought us free meal" Yuki said.

"We've done it," Asahi said, his voice heavy with relief. "We're past the requirements."

Mikayla leaned back, her breathing steady as her regeneration finally caught up.

Yuki's gaze remained fixed on the flickering light of the bracelets. His voice was quiet, but resolute. "Surviving isn't enough. This game ends with us."

As the jungle grew silent, the mechanical voice boomed through the island, cutting through the stillness like a blade. 

"Attention, participants. The disqualification period has ended. Congratulations to those who have met the gem requirements. You have survived... for now."

Yuki, Asahi, and Mikayla exchanged glances, a mixture of relief and weariness etched on their faces. 

"It's over," Asahi muttered, his shoulders sagging. 

Mikayla nodded slowly, leaning against a tree. "We made it." 

But Yuki's gaze remained sharp, his instincts refusing to let him relax. "Something's not right," he murmured, his eyes narrowing as he stared at his bracelet. 

The faint glow on their bracelets suddenly intensified, shifting from a steady light to an ominous red. 

Each of them froze, their eyes widening in alarm as the devices injected a cold, unfamiliar fluid into their veins. The sensation was immediate—icy tendrils spreading through their bodies, leaving them paralyzed and gasping. 

Yuki staggered, clutching at his arm. "What... what's happening?" 

Asahi collapsed to his knees, his breaths shallow. "They lied..." 

Mikayla's voice was barely a whisper. "It wasn't supposed to end like this..." 

Yuki tried to fight the wave of dizziness overtaking him, his vision blurring as the world around him tilted. The last thing he saw was the faint glow of the jungle canopy above, the mechanical voice echoing faintly in his ears: 

Darkness enveloped him, and he fell to the ground, unconscious. 

Yuki's eyes fluttered open, his senses disoriented. His body felt weightless, floating in a strange fluid that was slowly draining away. He blinked against the bright, sterile light above him, the world coming into focus as the transparent pod he was in opened with a quiet hiss. 

He gasped for air, his chest heaving as he instinctively pushed himself upright. The pod was smooth and cold, its surface glistening with the remnants of the fluid he had been submerged in. 

The room around him was a stark, blinding white—pristine and featureless except for the row of identical pods lining the walls. Some were open, their interiors empty, while others remained sealed, their contents obscured by condensation. 

Yuki's gaze moved to the pods closest to him. Their doors hung ajar, and the faint imprint of bodies inside was visible on the cushioned interiors. It was clear that others had been here recently. 

"Where am I?" Yuki muttered, his voice hoarse. 

He swung his legs over the edge of the pod, his bare feet touching the cold, polished floor. A sense of unease washed over him as he realized he was alone. The other pods, though open, showed no sign of their occupants. 

The room stretched on endlessly, the walls blending seamlessly with the floor and ceiling. The only break in the monotony was a single door on the far side of the room, its edges outlined by a faint, pulsing blue light. It stood slightly ajar, as if inviting him to step through. 

Yuki moved cautiously, his body still sluggish from whatever had been injected into him. He glanced back at the pods, a strange sense of familiarity tugging at him. 

"These were... the others," he whispered to himself, piecing it together. 

The realization struck him like a blow. Mikayla, Asahi, Yuri, and even those who had fallen earlier—they had all been in similar pods. But now, he was alone. 

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as frustration and fear battled within him. He didn't know where he was, why he was here, or what had happened to the others. 

Yuki took a tentative step toward the open door, his muscles still weak but his resolve firm. The faint blue light flickered rhythmically, casting strange shadows on the floor. 

As he reached the doorway, he hesitated, peering into the dimly lit corridor beyond. It stretched endlessly in both directions, its walls lined with faintly glowing panels that pulsed like a heartbeat. 

Taking a deep breath, Yuki stepped through, his mind racing with questions. 

"What is this place?" he thought. "And where is everyone else?"

With each step, his determination grew. Whatever this was—whatever new game or trap the creators had in store for him—he would face it head-on. He had no choice. 

----

~Book 1 END~