Chapter 210: Maniacal Laughter from the Depths of the Abyss

A male student, mustering all his courage, stepped toward the bushes with a flashlight in hand, his voice trembling. "Who's there? What's going on?"

The moment his flashlight beam swept across the bushes, a dark figure lunged out! Hayato, like a wild beast, seized the student by the neck and hoisted him into the air. A crazed grin spread across his face. "In this whole forest, you're the loudest!"

Before the words could fully register, swish—a knife slashed across the student's carotid artery. Blood spurted like a fountain, splattering Hayato's face. His grin twisted even further, and an almost ecstatic madness gleamed in his eyes.

"Ah—!" A female student nearby screamed in horror, her voice slicing through the night like a blade.

Hayato turned his head sharply, his gaze locking onto the source of the scream. With a burst of speed, he charged toward her, his deranged laughter echoing through the woods. The knife plunged into her chest without hesitation, all the way to the hilt, as blood splattered outward.

"Your scream... it's beautiful," Hayato murmured, his words chilling despite their tone of praise.

The girl coughed up blood, her gaze dimming. But Hayato didn't stop. He pressed her against a tree, the force of the impact nearly embedding her into the bark.

"Scream louder for me!" Hayato chuckled, twisting the knife. The blade carved through her abdomen, spilling her guts onto the ground with a wet, sickening sound.

The sound of intestines hitting the grass triggered sheer panic among the other campers. Screams erupted as they scattered, chaos engulfing the woods.

Standing amidst the carnage, Hayato took a deep breath, savoring the scent of blood. His grin grew even more grotesque. Slowly raising his bloodied knife, he licked the blade as if tasting a delicacy.

"Run... Run as far as you can... but can you escape?!" His low voice dripped with anticipation.

As the fleeing students dispersed into the darkness, Hayato's eyes lit up with excitement. Like a predator on the hunt, he dashed after them, his maniacal laughter reverberating through the forest. "Hahaha... Run! Let me chase you down properly!"

Hayato dropped to all fours like a starved leopard, darting between the trees at alarming speed. Saliva mixed with blood dripped from his mouth. Ahead, a tall male student—part of the track team—was sprinting with all his might. Despite his athletic prowess, the beast-like Hayato closed the distance effortlessly.

"Faster! Faster!" the student screamed internally, but the sound of Hayato's pursuit grew louder and closer.

Swish! Hayato leaped and slashed. The blade cleanly severed the student's throat, sending blood arcing through the air. The boy's wide eyes froze in disbelief, unable to comprehend how his speed had failed against such a monster.

Nearby, a female student, crouched and trembling, witnessed the entire scene. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes wide with terror. As Hayato turned his gaze toward her, his grin deepened.

"Ah—don't come closer!" she sobbed, crawling backward until her back hit a tree.

Hayato licked the blood from his knife, his eyes glinting with madness. "Your scream... so pleasant," he whispered. He struck swiftly, carving through her chest. Flesh and blood cascaded like a gruesome waterfall, staining the forest floor.

"Let me hear more!" Hayato's laughter grew louder as he savored the sight before him.

The remaining campers, paralyzed by fear, scrambled to escape. Among them, two girls ran hand-in-hand, tears streaming down their faces. One of them pleaded desperately, "Please, let us go!"

Hayato's laughter erupted like a storm. "Get lost—you're not the one I'm looking for!!" His knife silenced her in an instant, a fountain of blood marking her end.

The other girl fell to her knees, her body shaking uncontrollably. As Hayato approached, her voice quivered, "W-Wait! I'll be your girlfriend! Please..."

For a moment, Hayato froze. His deranged gaze softened as if struck by a fleeting memory.

"You... remind me of someone I used to know," he murmured.

A glimmer of hope sparked in her eyes, but it was short-lived. Hayato's face twisted into a grotesque smile. He thrust the knife into her throat, laughing maniacally. "But she's already dead! Hahahaha!"

The girl's lifeless body slumped to the ground, blood pooling around her. Hayato raised his bloodstained knife to the sky and let out a triumphant laugh. The forest seemed to echo his madness, as though celebrating the carnage.

Suddenly, a burly male student swung a rock, smashing it against Hayato's head. Hayato collapsed, motionless.

The survivors gathered cautiously, their breaths ragged. "Finally! That lunatic is dead!" someone exclaimed.

But a bespectacled girl frowned, staring at the rock. "Wait... there's no blood on it."

Her words chilled the group. Silence fell as everyone looked at the rock, realizing it was spotless.

Hayato's eyes snapped open. A twisted grin spread across his face as he laughed darkly. "You fools... fell for it—!"

With a swift motion, Hayato leaped to his feet. His knife flew through the air, cutting throats with deadly precision. In mere seconds, the survivors dropped like felled wheat.

When the slaughter ended, only two remained: the burly student and a slender boy trembling nearby.

"Who hit me with the rock?" Hayato's voice was icy.

The burly student, sweating profusely, dropped the rock and stammered, "It—it wasn't me! It was him!" He pointed to the slender boy.

The boy opened his mouth to protest, but Hayato's knife silenced him instantly. The boy's body crumpled, terror frozen on his face.

"Well then..." Hayato's grin widened as he turned to the burly student. "You can take his punishment instead."

Grabbing the student's hair, Hayato smashed his head against the ground repeatedly, counting each blow with mechanical precision.

Suddenly, a white butterfly fluttered past, its delicate wings catching the moonlight. Hayato froze, his eyes vacant as he watched it drift away.

When the butterfly vanished, he blinked, tilting his head as if waking from a dream. "What... what was I doing here?"

Amid the carnage, Hayato squatted down, cradling his bloodstained face in his hands. The forest grew eerily quiet, leaving only the rustling wind and the sickly scent of blood lingering in the air.