TO SAVE A LIFE , TO LOSE A SOUL

The man slowly speaks, his voice trembling as he begins. "I have a kid. When I got married, everything was fine. We had a child... our life was full of happiness and joy. To us, our child, our daughter, was everything. She was our whole world. And everything went smoothly until that day.

One day, I went to work. When I came back... . They... they did... did that... I... I can't forget it... they raped my wife... and she... she couldn't do anything to protect herself. She could only save my daughter... and then they killed her... right there, in front of my daughter

When I came home, I found my wife.. lifeless, lying on the floor. The only thing she could save was our daughter. That was the only good thing left after... that.

The magic sorceress investigated, but... they never found the people who did this.even with the cameras, the magic sorceress couldn't find a thing. They couldn't find a single lead. I knew something was wrong, but what could I do? What could I do as an average man? I was powerless. I couldn't do anything.

The only thing I had left was my daughter. She was everything to me. But if I did something, if I took risks... I would be putting her in danger. I couldn't risk losing her. I couldn't do anything. I felt helpless... trapped."

His voice quivers in frustration before he continues, his tone shifting back to a quieter, more resigned one. "But even that didn't go well. After five years... my daughter, she... she got a rare disease. It was something nobody could cure..."

"She got the rarest disease. And because of that, she fell into a coma. Her life was slipping away, day by day. I could see it. I could feel it. I rushed her to the hospital. The doctors said that the medicine she needed... it was too expensive. How was I supposed to afford it? I didn't know. I didn't have that kind of money to give her proper treatment.

But if I didn't do it, I would lose her. That's why I worked non-stop, without sleep. I did everything I could for her. I sold everything I had. I sold my house... everything, just to give her the treatment. I kept her in the hospital and paid for every bit of care I could. But I could only manage to afford the treatment for two months. After that, I couldn't give her any more.

I was exhausted. I didn't know what to do. I felt so lost, so helpless. I just had to watch. Watch her condition slowly deteriorate, and I couldn't do anything about it. I was terrified. I didn't know what else I could do.

One day, I was sitting in my daughter's room in hospital . I was just sitting there, beside her bed, thinking... about what I could do. I was so confused, afraid... when suddenly, a strange person walked into the room.

He was wearing a black mask. There were no eyes, no mouth. Just darkness, just pure blackness. It looked like nothing but shadows covered his face. I stared at him, not understanding how he had gotten into the room. But he... he was there, standing silently, just entering without a sound."

The man in the black mask spoke, his voice cold and emotionless: "I know about your situation now. You're working too hard, aren't you?" he said. "But now, you have a good chance to save your beloved daughter... your child."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My hands were shaking as I looked at him, and I asked, "Save my daughter... how can you save her?"

The man in the black mask looked at me and replied, "But for that, you have to pay... with your life."

"Pay with my life?" I repeated,

Without saying a word, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small tube, containing some kind of dark liquid. He slowly walked toward my daughter, still lying unconscious in the bed, and uncapped the tube.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I shouted, rushing forward, but I was too late. He placed the open tube near her head and allowed the liquid to drip over her, the dark substance soaking her hair and dripping down her face. I froze in disbelief, unable to move or even speak.

"Stop! What are you doing?!" I screamed, panic rising in my chest, but he just continued with the same calm, detached demeanor.

In the prison, Ken sat in silence, listening to the man's story. The man continued, his voice heavy with the weight of his past.

"When he dropped that liquid on her head," the man said, his eyes distant, "she woke up. I only had one hour with her, one last conversation. After that, she fell back into her coma."

He paused, clenching his fists tightly. "The man in the black mask told me that if I paid with my life, he would give me a liquid that would permanently cure her, that she would live without that disease. I didn't question him. I only asked, 'How can I believe you?' He said it was in my hands to believe him."

The man's voice grew quieter as he looked down at the ground. "I didn't know what to do. My daughter was dying in front of me, and I had no choice but to try. That's why I'm here."

The man's voice trembled with emotion. "The only thing that's worrying me... is that I won't be able to see her achievements. I won't be able to see her marriage, as a father should. I just want her to live... That's the only thing that matters to me."

The man paused for a moment before continuing. "And this is what I know about these people. I don't know who kidnapped you, why you're here, or what's going to happen to you. But I do know one thing—they're not good. When they brought me here, they closed my eyes. I don't even know where we are. But they did say one thing: there are two different cells. One for people who are going to die, and As for the second one, I don't know anything about it. They never told me anything." He let out a sigh. "But if you're in this place... that means you're going to die. That's all I know."

After hearing this, Ken fell into silence,

The man's voice softened as he spoke again. "The only other thing worrying me... If she wakes up from the coma, what will she do? Who will care for her? I have no one left to take care of her. That's my biggest concern. I just wish... I wish she'll find someone who can look after her."

Ken's voice was calm but resolute. "I don't know if I'll make it out of here, but if I do, I'll take care of her."

The man nodded quietly, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Thank you for your words. I hope there's someone out there, like you, who'll take care of her... someone who'll treat her the way she deserves."

The three men returned, opening the cell door. One of them smirked and said, "You three have to come with us now. It's your time to end your life. Aren't you happy?"

They laughed as they looked at Hikari, who was still sleeping. One of them commented, "See how she's sleeping. Pretty girl, isn't she?"

Ken, barely able to move, tried to raise his hand, attempting to protect her. His body was weak, but he still struggled.

The man sneered and said, "Still playing hero? We don't have time for this. Let's go."

Ken managed to slowly shake Hikari awake, and as she opened her eyes, her gaze fell on his bloodied face. She softly asked, "Ken, what happened to you? You're covered in blood..." Her hand reached out to touch his face.

"It hurts," Ken muttered when she touched him. She asked in concern, "Does it hurt?"

One of the men, impatient, snapped, "There's no time for this. Get up. Do you expect me to treat you like I treated him?"

The man who was with them in prison suddenly reached out and took Ken's hand, placing it on his own shoulder. He then helped Ken walk, supporting him as he struggled to stay on his feet. Hikari, noticing this, looked at the man and with a sense of quiet gratitude and whispered, "Thanks."

The man glanced at her and replied, "You don't have to say thanks...

The hall was vast and cold, its metallic walls reflecting a dim, bluish light from the ceiling. In the center stood a giant cylindrical glass tube, large enough to hold a human inside. The glass shimmered faintly, surrounded by circular devices—monitors, wires, and strange mechanism

Ken, Hikari, and the other man were dragged in by the three guards. Their footsteps echoed sharply against the hard floor, the sound fading into the vast emptiness of the hall.

As they reached the center, a figure approached —the man who had once frozen Hikari. His cold eyes scanned the group, landing briefly on Ken's weakened form before shifting to the guards.

"So, you three are here," he said, his voice as sharp as ice, filled with a detached. "Take them to Lord Kiyomitsu."

With that brief command, he turned and walked away.

The guards dragging them deeper into the facility. Eventually, they arrived at another chamber—darker, more oppressive. In the center, Lord Kiyomitsu stood, his back facing them, observing the large cylindrical glass tube silently.

The guards immediately bowed their heads. "Lord Kiyomitsu, we've brought them."

Kiyomitsu turned slowly, his gaze cold and piercing. His sharp eyes fell on Ken, who could barely stand, his body weakened and trembling.

"Did you do this to him?" Kiyomitsu's voice was calm.

One of the guards hesitated before replying, "He tried to escape, so we gave him some punishment, that's all."

Kiyomitsu's expression darkened. "Punishment?" His voice dropped to a deadly whisper.

Without warning, a black chain, shrouded in dark energy, shot out from his hand, piercing straight through the guard's heart. The guard's eyes widened in shock before his body collapsed to the floor, lifeless.

Kiyomitsu's gaze shifted to the remaining guards. "No one has the right to act without my command."

The other two guards, trembling, quickly dragged the body away, their faces pale with fear.

Ken, breathing heavily, gathered his strength to speak. "Why are we here? What do you want from us?"

Kiyomitsu's eyes shifted to Ken, sharp and cold. "You're pretending not to know, aren't you?" His voice was low, filled with disdain. "You're here because your existence serves a purpose."

Ken "What purpose?"

Kiyomitsu gives a cruel smile. "You'll understand soon enough. Some people are meant to fight, others to fall."

The Hikari beside Ken spoke. "Is this what you do? Decide who lives and dies like it's nothing?"

Kiyomitsu's smile faded, his eyes narrowing. "I don't decide. Power does. And in this place, I am that power."

A cold silence filled the room.

Then Kiyomitsu spoke again, his voice cutting through the stillness. "Do you have any last words?"

The man said "If you're going to kill us, let me die first… and let my child be healed."

Kiyomitsu stared at him for a moment, his face expressionless. Then, with a slight tilt of his head, he replied, "Interesting."

Inside the Kiyomitsu room, a man entered with a sense of urgency in his step, as though he carried the weight of the moment. The man bowed slightly before speaking, his voice clear and respectful, but undeniably filled with anticipation.

"Lord Kiyomitsu, everything is prepared. The process is ready to begin," the man said, a brief pause before he added, "The machine, the center... the cylinder glass is set."

There was a shift in the air as Kiyomitsu, seated comfortably in his grand, dark chair, looked at the man. His gaze was calm, yet the weight of authority in his eyes was overwhelming.

"Good," Kiyomitsu said, his voice low and cold. "Let it proceed as planned."

[ Center hall ]

The scene transitions to the hall where Ken, Hikari, and the Man stood, their feet echoing on the cold floor.The worker who had brought them in, his voice devoid of emotion, spoke calmly as he gestured to a specific spot.

"Stand here," he commanded.

Ken, despite his fatigue and concern, stood tall. "Why are you doing this?" he asked the Man, his voice laced with confusion. "Why do you want to die? Didn't you remember what I said to you?" His words were heavy with disbelief.

The Man looked back at him, his expression filled with a quiet resolve. "I believe you, Ken... But my child... My daughter needs healing. If I live, I won't be able to give her the life she deserves. She needs more than I can provide. If I die, perhaps... perhaps she will have a chance to live."

Ken's gaze faltered, his mind racing for words to change the Man's mind. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words failed him. He couldn't argue with the depth of the Man's conviction.

The Man took a deep breath, his voice faltering, but still strong. "I trust you, Ken. Don't forget the name of the hospital I told you. I need you to remember that."

Ken stood there, silent, not knowing what to say.Just then, the worker reappeared. His tone was blunt and cold.

"Your time has come," the worker called out to the Man. "Come with me. It's time to die."

Ken and Hikari watch silently as the man begins to walk forward. Their eyes follow him—not with shock, but with a heavy, sinking feeling. Ken's brows furrow.

The man's steps are steady,He reaches the center of the hall where the cylindrical glass chamber stands—a tall, transparent structure with a metallic base and top.

With a faint mechanical hum, the glass lifts upward smoothly, revealing the empty space inside, bathed in a cold, sterile light. The man pauses for a second, then steps in, standing tall despite the fate that awaits him.

The worker approaches with two papers in hand, holding them up just enough for the man to see.

Worker (cold, matter-of-fact tone): "According to the agreement, once your life ends in this place, everything will be done as promised. Your daughter will receive the treatment… and live."

The man's eyes soften slightly as he glances at the documents. A faint, bittersweet smile curves his lips—not out of happiness, but relief.

Man (softly, with quiet resolve): "I'm glad…"

He closes his eyes briefly, taking a breath as if locking away his fears. The smile lingers, gentle but filled with silent sorrow.

The cylinder's glass descends slowly, sealing him inside. A faint hiss echoes as it locks into place. Around the glass chamber, workers sit at sleek control panels, fingers dancing over holographic screens, activating the system. Lights flicker, and soft mechanical sounds fill the air.

Suddenly, the platform beneath the man shifts with a metallic click, slowly rising a few inches—revealing a hidden compartment beneath his feet. Inside the compartment is a small, metallic box.

The man's gaze drops to it, his expression unreadable.

A voice echoes from a speaker embedded within the chamber walls—it's the same worker who showed him the agreement.Worker (calm, authoritative): "Open the box. You'll find an injection inside. Inject it into your body… yourself."

The man's trembling hands reach for the small metallic box. His fingers hesitate for a brief second before flipping it open. Inside lies a single syringe, filled with a faint, glowing liquid.

He stares at it for a moment-no fear, just acceptance.

Without hesitation, he pulls off the cap and injects the needle into his shoulder. The sharp sting is nothing compared to what follows.

At first, silence.

Then a sudden jolt. His entire body tenses violently. His face twists in agony as searing pain explodes through his veins, spreading like wildfire. A sharp gasp escapes him, turning into a guttural scream that echoes inside the cylindrical glass chamber, though no sound escapes to the outside.

From his body, thin streams of white vapor begin to hiss out through his skin-escaping from his pores like mist under pressure. The vapor grows thicker with each passing second, swirling around him like a ghostly fog.

Ken's eyes widen, his gaze fixed, unblinking, as if frozen in place. Hikari can't bear the sight-she covers her face with her trembling hands.

Worker (coldly, from the control panel):

"Initiating extraction process."

With a mechanical beep, the machines around the chamber activate. Lights flash red. Holographic screens display fluctuating data as the system begins its grim work. The vapor-the man's very life force, his magic-is sucked toward vents along the chamber walls, drawn upward like smoke into an invisible current.

Inside, the man thrashes in agony, his screams now silent to those watching. His body convulses violently, veins darkening under his skin as the magic is forcefully pulled from him. Blood begins to trickle from his nose, ears, and the corner of his eyes, mixing with the sweat pouring down his face.

Ken's heart races, his mind screaming, "This can't be happening." But he stands frozen, helpless.

The vapor grows darker, shifting from white to gray, then to a deep, ominous black. It thickens, swirling faster until it's hard to even see the man clearly inside the glass.

The chamber fills with that dense, dark mist -a suffocating shroud of stolen life.

Through the haze, the man's face appears again, distorted by the swirling fog. His screams have stopped. His body weak, trembling.

And then he lifts his head.

His eyes meet Ken's.

For a heartbeat, everything feels still.

Despite the unbearable pain, despite the life draining from him-he smiles. A faint, gentle smile, soft and filled with something deeper than words can carry.

For a heartbeat, everything feels still.

His body slumps to the ground with a dull thud, collapsing lifelessly.

The man's lifeless body lay crumpled on the cold floor inside the cylindrical glass chamber. The dark mist slowly dissipated, leaving only the haunting image of his motionless form. The machines hummed quietly, their task complete, indifferent to the life they had just drained away.

A suffocating silence gripped the room.

Ken stood frozen, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms. His wide eyes remained locked on the man's lifeless body.

Then—

Ken (screaming, voice filled with rage and pain):

"YOU KILLED HIM!!"

His voice exploded through the hall, echoing off the walls like a sudden thunderclap.

Everyone in the room flinched slightly, but no one moved. The workers standing near the control panels glanced at Ken, their expressions cold, some with faint traces of annoyance, others with silent disdain.

Ken's breathing grew heavier. His face twisted with fury, veins bulging at his temples.

Ken (shouting, his voice raw):

"HE WAS A HUMAN! NOT SOME DAMN OBJECT FOR YOUR EXPERIMENTS!"

"YOU MURDERED HIM LIKE HE WAS NOTHING!"

"IS THIS WHAT YOU PEOPLE CALL 'PROGRESS'? YOU'RE NOTHING BUT MONSTERS!"

His words dripped with venom, his voice cracking from the strain. He pointed accusingly at the workers, his hand trembling with rage.

Ken:

"LOOK AT YOU! STANDING THERE LIKE COWARDS—SILENT! IS THIS NORMAL TO YOU?!"

"HE DIED BECAUSE OF YOU!"

The room remained eerily quiet. No one responded.

Some workers exchanged glances—silent, emotionless, but their narrowed eyes hinted at irritation, their jaws clenched slightly as if holding back the urge to react.

Then, the man who had shown the documents,slowly turned his head. First, he looked toward the Lord—his expression neutral, seeking silent approval.

After a brief moment, he shifted his gaze back to Ken.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but his voice remained cold and sharp.

The worker (calm, with authority):

"Enough."

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing.

"Close his mouth."

The room was silent for a moment. Then, the man who had been in charge spoke calmly, his voice cold.

"Close his mouth."

One by one, the workers started putting on gloves. It was a strange sight, all of them moving silently and quickly, each wearing a pair of gloves on both hands. The sound of the gloves snapping into place was sharp, like a warning.

Ken stood there, still furious, his breath heavy and labored. He was ready to fight back, but the workers didn't care.

Suddenly, one of the workers stepped forward and kicked Ken in the chest.

BAM!

Ken was knocked backward, crashing hard into the metal wall. The wall shook, and cracks appeared where his body hit. Ken groaned, his body hurt, but he didn't give up. He tried to push himself up,but before he could, something invisible hit him with full force.

Ken flew through the air again, crashing into another wall, farther away. This time, he didn't move. His body just hit the ground like a broken doll.

He lay there, unable to move, too weak to stand. His head was spinning, but he forced himself to look up.

There, through the glass, he saw the Lord standing, cold and powerful. Slowly, the Lord raised his hand. Ken knew he was the one who had done this.

Ken's chest tightened. He wanted to stand, to do something, but his body wouldn't listen.

The man who had shown the documents moved forward. He didn't even look at Ken now, turning his focus to Hikari.

The Man (calmly, with a cruel smile): "Now... it's her turn."

He pointed directly at Hikari. "Take her to the chamber."

Hikari froze, fear taking over her. She looked at Ken, tears welling up in her eyes.

Before she could do anything, two workers grabbed her, dragging her toward the cylindrical chamber where the man had died earlier.

Hikari (screaming, voice breaking): "KEN!!"

Her scream echoed, but the workers didn't stop.

Ken, still lying there, his body unable to move, He tried to shout, tried to make them stop.

Ken (shouting with all his strength): "LET HER GO!"

But the workers didn't listen. They just kept moving, taking her to the chamber.

One of the workers pressed a button on a screen, and the floor of the chamber opened up. The body of the dead man fell into the darkness below. The floor shut quickly, and the chamber lifted again, ready for its next victim.

Hikari was fighting them, trying to get away, but it was useless. She struggled, screaming Ken's name again and again.

Hikari (crying): "KEN!!"

Ken's body wouldn't move, but his voice was still there. He screamed louder than before.

Ken (screaming with anger): "YOU BASTARDS! LET HER GO!" "IF YOU WANT TO KILL SOMEONE, KILL ME FIRST!"

His voice was raw, filled with pain and rage.

One of the workers sneered and stepped forward.

"Shut up, you worthless piece of shit."

Another worker clenched his fists.

"You're a loudmouth, huh? Maybe we'll cut your tongue out first."

Ken didn't stop. He kept shouting, each word more bitter than the last.

Ken (furious): "YOU COWARDS! HIDING BEHIND YOUR MAGIC!"

"I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!"

Hikari, still being dragged away, looked at Ken one last time. Her tears fell like rain.

Ken is lying on the cold floor, blood dripping from his mouth. He's hurt but still full of anger.

Ken (shouting in pain): "I'll kill every last one of you!"

One of the workers, standing over him, is calm and cold. A glowing magic circle appears in the air in front of him. From the circle, he pulls out a weapon-a heavy bat.

The worker grins at Ken.

Worker (mocking): "You want to kill us? Let's see you try."

With one strong swing, the worker hits Ken in the face. Ken falls back, but he doesn't stay down.

Suddenly, an invisible force pushes him, sending him crashing into a metallic wall far away. He slumps to the floor, unable to stand up. His body aches from the brutal hits.

Ken slowly lifts his head and sees the Lord standing. The Lord raises his hands, and Ken can feel the power in the air.

Ken (weakly, but angry):

"You coward..."

The Lord doesn't respond, but Ken can see the amusement in his eyes. The workers gather around, watching him.

[Hikari's Desperation]

Hikari stands outside the glass chamber, watching in horror. She can't move, paralyzed by fear.

But then, one of the workers shoves her inside the glass chamber. She screams as the door closes behind her.

Hikari (crying out): "Ken!"

Ken sees her, his heart pounding. He shouts at the workers.

Ken (angrily):

"You're not even real men. You can't even finish this quickly!"

One of the workers steps forward with a smirk. He raises his hand, his eyes cold.

Worker (grinning):

"So you want to die quickly, huh? Fine, I'll send you straight to hell."

Before Ken can respond, another worker steps in, holding a bat. He swings it hard at Ken, hitting him in the side. The impact is brutal.

Worker (mocking): "Is that all you've got?"

Ken's breath is shallow. He's struggling, but he refuses to give in. He glares at them, trying to stand tall.

Another worker steps up, eyes cruel. He raises his hand, and a purple magic circle forms in his palm. A ball of dark energy floats in front of him.

Worker (coldly):

"Let's see how it feels to bleed."

The magic ball shoots towards Ken, hitting him . A wave of pain floods his body as a hole forms in his side.

Ken (screaming in agony): "AAAHHH!"

Blood pours from his wound, and he screams louder than before. The pain is unbearable, but something changes. His scream shifts from pain to something darker, more menacing.

Ken's body starts to tremble as his voice deepens into a demonic growl. His eyes glow with dark red power.

Ken (voice low and evil): "You think you can break me?"