Chapter 11: Rage

< < | NOZOMI'S POINT OF VIEW | > >

The fight spilled outside when the monster and I crashed through the wall. I plummeted from the third floor of the school building, landing hard on the schoolyard. Pain shot through my body, but I ignored it. The weight of the information I had just uncovered far outweighed any discomfort.

The ground trembled as the giant creature landed on its feet.

"So that's how it is," I muttered, wiping the blood from my mouth.

The school alarms blared across the entire campus. Evacuations were already underway, but I had to keep the monster occupied. I wouldn't make the same reckless mistake I did the first time I faced one of these creatures. That decision had cost me my friends. I wouldn't let it happen again.

The monster charged at me on all fours, but I easily evaded its attack, dashing out of its reach. Leaping into the air, I spun and delivered a powerful kick to its jaw before using the momentum to push myself back. If it managed to grab me, there would be nothing I could do to escape.

But this solved the mystery of why no one ever saw the monsters coming—ordinary people were being transformed into them. Was it some kind of ability? A technology we had yet to understand? Even with this revelation, countless questions remained. I had a strong hunch that this attack and the one from two weeks ago were connected—I was just missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.

Patience would be key in defeating this monster, but this time, I knew what to do. Fujimoto had a wound across his chest, but Shiho-chan should have found him by now. Everything would be fine.

The ground shattered as the monster's massive fist slammed into the spot where I had been standing. If I hadn't dashed away in time, I would've been crushed.

After dodging all of its attacks, my heartbeat pounded rapidly against my ribs. I was out of breath, my body tense and ready. My alertness was at its peak—I couldn't afford to miss a single move. Whatever the monster did next, I had to be ready.

I was at a safe distance, giving me plenty of time to react to its next move. But instead of attacking, the monster stopped and completely let its guard down. Turning its back on me, it reached down, picked up a large rock, then slowly faced me again—locking eyes with mine.

Was it going to throw that at me? It should've known by now that I could dodge it easily. What was it up to?

It took slow, deliberate steps toward me before coming to a full stop. And then, I saw it—the most revolting grin imaginable. I never knew monsters could express emotions, but this one… its lips stretched unnaturally from ear to ear, revealing jagged, razor-sharp teeth. It was uncanny. Creepy. Disgusting.

And just when I thought I had seen the worst, it raised its arm—and crushed the rock in its grip.

All while staring straight into my eyes.

The meaning of its actions slowly sank into my brain.

It would have laughed if it could. The crushed fragments crumbled from its fingers, scattering to the ground—only to be mercilessly pulverized beneath its massive foot.

Why did it do that? How did it know?

Was it there when those monsters did that to Masashi?

Why would it do that?

Why... why...?

It's mocking me.

No matter how I look at it, it's mocking the way he died.

Does it think it can get away with that?

Does it think I'll just stand here and let it go?

It's looking at me. Standing right in front of me. Still here—within my reach.

Why?

Why did you do that?

You'll die, you know.

I'll kill you.

You'll obviously die for that.

So why are you still here?

I'll tear your limbs apart. I'll break you until you beg for death.

Slowly.

I'll kill you.

I'll kill you.

I'll kill you.

I'll kill you.

I'll kill you.

I'll kill you.

I'll kill you.

I'll kill you.

My body moves before I can think. My fists crash into its skin, but I don't feel them land. I don't feel anything. My vision is red. My mind—empty.

I'll kill you.

The monster's claws slash through the air, but I don't stop. I don't dodge. I don't care. I keep moving. Keep striking.

I'll kill you. I'll kill you.

Flesh rips. Bones snap. Something warm splatters against my face. I don't know if it's mine or its.

I'll kill you. I'll kill you. I'll kill you.

"..da..san!!!"

DIE.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

My fists slammed into flesh. Over and over. Again and again.

DIE. DIE. DIE.

Something cracked. I didn't stop.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

My arms ached. My breath was gone. My body didn't care.

DIE.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

The world was red. My mind was empty. My existence had been reduced to a singular purpose—

DIE.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. D—

"UEDA-SAN!!!"

Pain.

It drowned me, ripping through my consciousness like a blade. My body refused to move.

A blurry figure loomed over me. The voice was distant but desperate.

"K...ill..."

"Ueda-san!!! Are you okay!?"

The world sharpened, piece by piece.

Fujimoto.

He was alive.

Relief flooded my chest, but my body was dead weight. I could barely breathe, let alone move.

His wound—it was gone. Shiho must have healed him.

We were still in the schoolyard. Was the fight still happening?

I tried to get up. My body betrayed me. Agony shot through every inch of me. I collapsed, unable to even scream.

"P-Please stay put!" Fujimoto urged. "Yamada-kun is fighting the monster right now, and he needs my backup. Sorry—I can't bring you to safety yet!"

Then, he was gone.

And I was left on the ground, helpless.

Kenzou is here? No way. He'll end up dead before help even arri—

I barely caught a glimpse of the battlefield before my breath hitched. My eyes widened.

The monster was missing an arm and a leg. Blood poured from its wounds in thick, violent streams as it struggled to fend off Kenzou, who relentlessly struck it where it hurt the most.

Did I do that?

I wasn't sure. But right now, I had bigger problems. I needed to heal.

Not that I could do it at will. My healing ability worked automatically, beyond my control.

Crap.

I needed to help them. Somehow.

Kenzou's steel body absorbed every hit the monster threw at him. He crashed against the ground, against the walls—but every time, he got back up, going straight for its head.

He was tough. I knew that.

But he wasn't indestructible.

With enough force, even iron could be broken, crushed, destroyed.

I had no idea how long I'd been out. No idea how long he'd been fighting.

Even I couldn't take a single direct blow from that thing. So I wasn't surprised when Kenzou finally failed to rise.

On one knee, his body trembled. His steel form flickered, reverting back to normal, starting from his head. He watched, horror-stricken, as the monster crawled toward him.

I couldn't feel my hands. My legs were broken. My arms, too.

But none of that mattered.

I gritted my teeth and forced myself up.

Agony ripped through me, white-hot and unbearable. I cried from the pain—but I refused to let Kenzou die.

When I collapsed, I wanted to scream, but I had no strength left.

The monster threw a punch. Kenzou barely managed to block with his steel arms—but the impact sent him flying through a wall.

I couldn't even move. I could only pray that somehow, he was still alive.

Damn it... move... move!

The monster turned to me, its disgusting grin widening as it crawled closer.

I did it again.

The people I care about will die—because of me.

If I had just controlled myself. If I had used my brain a little more. This wouldn't have happened.

I was doing well. I could have won.

So why? Why!?

Why does this always happen!?

Tears streamed down my face. My body refused to move. All I could do was watch.

Then, suddenly—

Fujimoto stepped in front of it.

He was trembling, barely holding a knife in his hand.

"D-D-D-Don't worry, Ueda-san... I-I'm here."

What the fuck is he saying?

Does he want to die?

He stood between me and the monster like an idiot, having no idea what to do next. A knife? Is he seriously planning to fight this thing with a fucking knife?

He can't even transform—it's not dark enough.

"G... get..." Just inhaling burned like hell. Forcing words out of my throat was even worse. "Out of... here."

And with that, I declared myself useless.

Strongest in Kyoto, my ass.

I got saved by a weakling. And now, a regular human was protecting me.

I would not forgive myself if this man died for my sake too.

The monster closed in. Fujimoto tightened his grip on the knife.

Then—

He stabbed himself in the throat.

My mind refused to process it.

At first, I thought I was hallucinating. It was too stupid. Too reckless. Too insane.

But the pain on his face was real. The blood dripping down his skin was real.

And then—

His body changed.

Fujimoto transformed into a beast before my eyes.

And his fight began.

My jaw hung open as I watched him go head-to-head with the monster.

He wasn't just holding his ground—he was winning.

Fast enough to duck and dodge. Strong enough to tear through flesh. He used everything—his claws, his teeth, his fists—all stained with blood as he ripped the monster apart.

For a moment, I thought that was it.

But then—

He stopped.

His body flickered. Reverted back to normal.

At the same time, he collapsed.

The monster let out a victorious roar.

Then it raised its fist—

To crush Fujimoto where he lay.

I closed my eyes.

Sorry, everyone.

This is where it ends.

A deafening crash echoed through the air.

Like two solid objects colliding.

That wasn't... what I expected to hear.

What happened?

I forced my eyes open.

A familiar, glowing, translucent object blocked the monster's fist—just inches from Fujimoto.

"Sorry I'm late." a cold, emotionless voice tore through the silence.

I used every last bit of my strength to turn my head.

"T-Ta...ka..hashi..."

[ END OF CHAPTER ]