Chapter 17: The Aftermath and New Beginnings

The battle was over, and Ryo and Kyle were both swiftly taken to the clinic. The healer, a skilled holy magic practitioner, immediately began working on them. The room was filled with the soft glow of holy light, as the healer chanted softly, invoking magic to heal their injuries. ✨💫

Kyle, was in critical condition. The healer worked tirelessly, using the most powerful healing spells available, but his external wounds healed quickly. The burns, cuts, and bruises on his skin vanished under the radiant magic. However, when it came to his internal injuries, it was a different story. His body had been pushed beyond its limits during the battle, and the holy magic could not fully repair the damage.

The healer looked at Kyle with uncertainty. "His external injuries are healed, but his internal wounds… they are more severe than we anticipated. I cannot guarantee his recovery." 😔

Kyle's friends, including Tye, the prince's closest ally, gathered around. They exchanged worried glances, their faces drawn in concern.

"Is Kyle going to be okay?" Jane asked, her voice laced with anxiety.

The healer hesitated. "It is hard to say. We will do our best, but his recovery will take time."

Kyle, still unconscious, lay motionless, his fiery aura now dimmed. His once blazing determination seemed to have faded, replaced by uncertainty.

The prince, upon hearing this, clenched his fists in frustration. His eyes narrowed, his voice laced with contempt. "Useless… He couldn't even defeat that loser Ryo." He sneered, walking away from the scene with a dismissive shake of his head. "Let's see how he manages now. If he can't even win against a commoner, he's of no use to me."

As the prince left, Tye stood still, his gaze lingering on Kyle. His thoughts seemed to be in turmoil, but he said nothing, following the prince out of the clinic.

Meanwhile, Ryo had recovered from the battle. He and his friends were in a much more celebratory mood. Lyon, ever the optimist, had a brilliant idea to throw a party in honor of Ryo's "Recovery" 🎉🍻

The group gathered at the school hostel, bringing plenty of food, drinks, and expensive items they had acquired after selling a portion of the diamond haul ryo made. The atmosphere was lively as laughter and conversation filled the room.

Lyon couldn't stop boasting about how he had been the one to help Ryo with the tattoo magic, leading Ryo to victory. Or so Lyon liked to claim. "It's thanks to me that you won, or at least tied," Lyon said with a grin, puffing out his chest proudly. "I made those symbols work, after all!" He laughed, thoroughly enjoying the attention. 😏

But Ryo wasn't so sure about the outcome. "It was a draw, Lyon. Let's not overhype it." He smiled faintly, trying to downplay the whole thing.

Just then, a young girl, looking somewhat ordinary in appearance, approached Ryo. She seemed shy, her cheeks a little flushed. She held out a small envelope to him, her hands trembling slightly. "Um, Ryo… this is for you," she said quietly, her voice soft but clear. "It's a letter… a letter of acceptance."

Ryo blinked in confusion. "Acceptance?" He looked at the letter, then back at the girl. "What do you mean?" He felt his heart race a little. He knew he had been a humanizer in this world, but the idea of someone accepting him was still surprising. After all, his other half had always been rejected in the past.

The girl hesitated, her voice faltering as she continued. "I—I've decided… I want to be with you. Please accept me as your girlfriend." She quickly looked down, avoiding his gaze. Her cheeks were as red as her hair.

The room fell silent for a moment. Lyon, standing beside Ryo, was amazed. His eyes widened, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Well, well, well, look at you!" Lyon teased. "I never thought you'd get a girlfriend before me!" He laughed, clearly enjoying the sight of Ryo's shocked expression. "We've been working my whole life for this! And you just… get one out of nowhere?" Lyon shook his head in mock disbelief, but there was a twinkle of genuine admiration in his eyes.

Ryo didn't know how to respond. He had never imagined this moment would come, let alone be proposed to like this. His mind raced, and he glanced at the girl. The crowd around him began whispering, and he felt the pressure to respond.

Ryo sighed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He didn't really feel an attraction to her, but the situation was awkward, and the girl seemed genuine in her feelings. He didn't want to crush her spirit in front of everyone. He sighed again, then gave a small nod. "Alright… I'll accept. But let's take it slow, okay?"

The girl's face lit up in joy as she bowed, thanking him profusely. Ryo couldn't help but feel a bit guilty, but he pushed the thought aside. This wasn't the time to overthink things.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Ryo's father, the businessman, walked into his office, only to find it completely destroyed. The walls were smashed, furniture was upturned, and the once pristine space was now in ruins. His heart skipped a beat as he rushed inside, surveying the damage. "What happened here?" he muttered to himself.

But his eyes were immediately drawn to the wall, where something was written in bold, crimson letters: "I am coming for you."

The blood ran cold downwards as the chill of dread settled in his chest. 🥶"No…" he whispered, recognizing the message all too well. "It's him. He's finally found come for me."

To be continued… ⚡💀☠️☠️☠️