5. Beyond Redemption

The voice's ominous warning echoed through the room, "I repeat, the remaining groups... please note that time is running out. You have ONLY ONE MINUTE LEFT. If you don't start your games RIGHT NOW, I will take it as a forfeit... and YOU WILL ALL DIE."

A chilling silence descended upon the classroom, with all eyes fixed on each other. The air was heavy with fear and desperation.

Kaito, Ryota, Taro, Akane, and Sora - Shin's tormentors - began to panic. "Guys, we have to start now!" Kaito exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear. "We can't waste any more time!"

The room remained frozen in silence, the only sound the heavy breathing of the terrified students.

Suddenly, Taro stormed over to the other group, his eyes blazing with a mix of fear and aggression. "You guys need to start playing NOW!" he barked, his voice dripping with malice. "If you don't, I'll kill you all myself!"

Death, still lurking in the shadows, whispered to Shin, "Now, part 3 is about to begin."

One of the students from the other group, a boy named Hiroshi known for his notoriously bad luck, refused to back down. "I won't play!" he declared, his voice shaking with defiance. "You can't make me!"

Taro's face twisted into a snarl as he lunged at Hiroshi, grabbing him by the neck. "Didn't you hear me?!" he screamed, his eyes bulging with rage. "It's either you start playing NOW, or I'll kill you all myself!"

Hiroshi's eyes widened in terror as Taro's grip tightened around his neck. "N-no... let me go!" he stammered, his voice barely audible.

Taro's face contorted into a grotesque grimace as he began to beat Hiroshi senselessly. The sound of crunching bone and tearing flesh filled the air, accompanied by Hiroshi's blood-curdling screams.

The other students watched in horror, paralyzed with fear. Kaida and the other bullies tried to intervene, but Taro was too far gone.

Finally, they managed to pry Taro off Hiroshi, who lay on the ground, bleeding profusely. His face was a mangled mess of broken bones and torn skin.

The voice reappeared, its tone devoid of emotion. "Since Hiroshi is now unable to continue with the game, he is eliminated."

Hiroshi, despite his horrific injuries, forced himself to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I can continue... please... let me continue... I don't want to die."

The voice continued, unmoved by Hiroshi's plead. "Group 3 is now left incomplete. Taro, you will join Group 3 and start the game in Hiroshi's presence. Please do not refuse or argue, or else you will be eliminated."

The classroom fell silent once more, the only sound the heavy breathing of the terrified students. Taro's eyes widened in horror as he realized the true extent of his actions.

Taro moved slowly to join the other group, his eyes scanning the members with a mix of intimidation and desperation. "You will all do rock, you hear me?" he growled, his voice shaking but still menacing. "If you all do anything besides that, I'll kill you myself before that voice kills me."

The voice reappeared, its tone devoid of emotion. "Start now."

Death sidled up to Shin, a grin spreading across its face. "Master dear, I have a feeling that the best part is about to begin."

The singing started, the familiar tune of "Rock, Paper, Scissors" filling the air.

Taro thought to himself, Since I told them all to do rock, I should do paper. But then he reconsidered, a sly grin spreading across his face. As if I would trust these idiots to follow my instructions. I bet they all want to see me die that badly. I better trust my instincts and do the opposite.

The singing stopped, signaling the students to reveal their final choices. Taro's grin grew wider as he revealed his choice: rock.

The other group members stared at him in shock, their faces pale with fear. They had all chosen scissors, expecting Taro to choose paper.

The voice repeated, its tone still devoid of emotion. "The four members who have chosen scissors have all been eliminated. Congratulations, Taro, you have won and you shall be given your wish."

Taro's grin grew even wider as he looked at the other four members, his eyes blazing with triumph. "If you had all followed my instructions, we would all be safe right now!" he shouted, his voice dripping with malice. "But no, guess you guys hate me that badly and just wanted me dead."

The voice repeated, its tone still emotionless. "The four members who chose scissors are now eliminated."

As the voice finished speaking, the four students who had chosen scissors began to convulse, their bodies twitching and jerking uncontrollably. Their eyes widened in terror as they realized what was happening.

Suddenly, their bodies began to stretch and contort, their limbs elongating like rubber. Their skin turned a sickly shade of green, and their eyes bulged out of their sockets.

The students' screams were cut short as their bodies began to dissolve, their flesh melting away like wax in a furnace. Their bones cracked and splintered, their bodies disintegrating into a puddle of gore.

The classroom fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the terrified students. Taro's grin still plastered on his face, he gazed out at the carnage, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of triumph and madness.

The voice announced, "Taro, since you were playing on behalf of Hiroshi, he will be regarded as the winner of this round and will be given the reward. And you, Taro, have to go back to your group to play again."

Taro's face turned red with rage. "What, are you kidding me?! I almost died right now, and you want me to play again?"

The bullies, Kaito, Ryota, Akane, Sora, and Taro, looked at each other, their eyes gleaming with a mix of fear and desperation. "Did you think you could run away from us that easily?" Kaito sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "We're gonna play and die together!"

Taro tried to explain to the voice, but it cut him off. "What did I say about arguing with me?"

Taro quickly closed his mouth and rejoined his group, his eyes blazing with anger and desperation.

Death smirked at Shin, "Don't pretend as if you're not enjoying this, Shin."

But Shin remained silent, ignoring Death's taunts.

The voice turned its attention to Hiroshi. "Now, what is your wish?"

Hiroshi's eyes widened in shock. Was his bad luck finally over? But no, someone as unlucky as him couldn't just be this free. He looked at Kaida, the class representative, and asked, "Am I dreaming or is this real?"

Kaida nodded, his eyes serious. "Yes."

Hiroshi's face lit up with a mixture of hope and desperation. "I wish to be the luckiest person in the world!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the classroom.

The voice laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "That's the first time I've ever heard anyone wish to be lucky. But if it's what you want, it shall be granted. However, your luck will not help you when you are dealing with anyone in this room. Remember that."

The voice sounded serious, its tone dripping with menace. "The last group, note that you have 30 seconds to finish your last game or you shall all be eliminated."

The bullies, Kaito, Ryota, Akane, Sora, and Taro, looked at each other, their eyes locked in a desperate, terrified stare. They knew they had to win, or they would all die.

The voice started the countdown, its tone cold and detached. "Start... now."

The classroom fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the terrified students. The tension was palpable, the air thick with fear and desperation.

Kaito's eyes locked onto Ryota's, his gaze burning with a mixture of fear and determination. "We have to win," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "We can't let each other die."

Ryota's eyes nodded, his face set in a grim determination. "I know. Let's do this."

The five bullies clasped hands, their eyes locked in a desperate, terrified stare. They knew they had to win, or they would all die.

The countdown continued, the voice's tone growing more menacing with each passing second. "20... 19... 18..."