Chapter 26: Yuuichi Katagiri vs Johan Liebert – Masters of Manipulation

The arena darkened, silence spreading like a plague across the Multiverse. A slow, ominous hum vibrated through the very fabric of existence, and then came the chilling announcement:

"Next Battle: Yuuichi Katagiri vs Johan Liebert. Prepare yourselves, for your fate has been sealed."

Yuuichi Katagiri – The Deceiver of Hope

A teenager who once appeared to be nothing more than a regular student, Yuuichi Katagiri was the ultimate manipulator masked in innocence. His story began in a typical Japanese high school, where friendship seemed to be his greatest value. However, behind his friendly demeanor lurked a strategic genius.

Yuuichi's strength stemmed from psychological warfare. Plunged into the deadly game of deception known as the "Tomodachi Game," he tore apart both enemies and allies without lifting a single weapon. His brilliance wasn't in brute force but in unraveling truths, pushing people to betray themselves, and predicting behaviors several moves ahead.

He mastered psychological manipulation, reading micro-expressions, exploiting cognitive dissonance, and feigning empathy. Over time, his mind sharpened, and his persona grew colder, detached from morality but bound by the desire to dominate mentally. Despite it all, some say a part of him still yearns for genuine connection.

Johan Liebert – The Perfect Monster

In contrast, Johan Liebert was no product of games or survival. He was crafted from pure horror.

Born amidst a dark government conspiracy in post-war Germany, Johan was subjected to the horrors of psychological conditioning and trauma-based experiments. His mind fractured and evolved, becoming a mirror to humanity's darkest urges. From a young age, he manipulated murderers, incited mass suicides, and orchestrated genocides—all without laying a finger on anyone.

Johan's strength came from his ability to erase his presence, to appear harmless, angelic even. People killed for him. Died for him. Worshiped him. He used fear, allure, and the crushing weight of despair as his tools. He was not merely a manipulator; he was the embodiment of nihilism—a whisper in your ear telling you that your life has no meaning, and that you'd be better off ending it.

He walked through life as a phantom, shedding identities like skin, but never once losing control. A master puppeteer.

Titles from Across the Multiverse

Yuuichi Katagiri Titles:

"The Smile Behind the Lies" – Fanfiction

"The King of the Tomodachi Game" – Light Novel

"Deceiver of Despair" – Crossover Novel

"Hope's Last Gambler" – Alternate Universe Web Novel

Johan Liebert Titles:

"The Monster Who Smiles" – Original Series

"Angel of Death" – Fanfiction

"The End of Empathy" – Psychological Horror Anthology

"King of the Abyss" – Alternate Reality Fan Novel

Prizes

Yuuichi Katagiri's Prize: Unlimited access to the minds of all Multiverse participants—he can read intentions and emotional states without interaction.

Johan Liebert's Prize: The ability to manifest illusions in any opponent's mind, turning thoughts into lethal hallucinations.

Punishment for the Loser: The loser will be mentally shackled, their manipulative abilities sealed. Their minds will forever be transparent, unable to lie or control anyone again. A fate worse than death—for them.

Audience Reactions Across the Multiverse

Tomodachi Game Universe: "Yuuichi again?! First Tenji now him?! What's going on?!" "He always wins in the end… but against Johan? That's a new level of terror."

Monster Universe: "It's Johan. He doesn't need to fight. He is the battlefield." "Now both our monsters have entered. If Johan falls... then who do we fear next?"

Other Universes:

Death Note Universe: "Light versus Johan would've been interesting. But Yuuichi might be closer in style. Still… this feels like a lose-lose for humanity."

Classroom of the Elite Universe: "Yuuichi? He's like a chaotic Ayanokoji. This battle might outstrip even Kiyotaka's mind games."

Parasyte Universe: "Neither of them are human anymore… not truly."

Betting Screen

New Universe 1: Reality Collapse

Bettor Name: Eris Void

Betting On: Johan Liebert

Wager: Her immortality

Potential Win: A second life in any universe of her choice

Loss: Erased from all realities

New Universe 2: World of Broken Truths

Bettor Name: Pax-313

Betting On: Yuuichi Katagiri

Wager: Control of their universe's AI core

Potential Win: Multiversal access and AI-enhanced foresight

Loss: Their universe collapses into rogue singularity

Other Bets:

L from Death Note Universe: Betting on Johan. Wagering his remaining intellect.

Tenji from Tomodachi Game: Betting on Yuuichi. Wagering his emotional sanity.

Dr. Tenma from Monster Universe: Refused to bet. Silent.

Total Multiversal Pot: 8,930,000 soul-credits

Combat Arena: The Labyrinth of Mind and Mirror

A maze of psychological triggers and illusory walls materialized. There were no physical traps, only mental ones. Voices of the past echoed in corners. Shifting projections of childhood trauma, twisted memories, and moral dilemmas formed the very walls.

Johan appeared as a calm silhouette. Hands behind his back. Eyes kind. Yuuichi entered with a casual smirk, hands in pockets, yet calculating every step.

"You remind me of myself," Johan said with a tilt of his head.

"I doubt that," Yuuichi replied. "You kill for fun. I lie for survival."

Johan stepped forward. "No, you lie because you like being in control. Don't pretend you're any better."

Yuuichi's smirk faded for a second. "Maybe. But I haven't broken anyone who didn't deserve it."

The game began without a signal. Each room tested them: illusions of dead friends, cries of innocent victims, betrayal by loved ones. Yet both manipulated their own minds to stay ahead.

Johan whispered to the walls, bringing forth Yuuichi's childhood memories—his parents' deaths, the orphanage abuse. Yuuichi countered by creating logic loops in the maze, pushing Johan toward projections of the people he had killed.

The crowd watched in awe. Some cried. Others screamed.

Universe Reactions – Continued

Attack on Titan Universe: "They're worse than titans. They eat minds, not bodies."

Naruto Universe: "Genjutsu? No. This is something darker. Psychological chakra?"

Danganronpa Universe: "Despair. Despair incarnate. We approve."

Chainsaw Man Universe: "These two could outwit devils."

Final Moments

The walls collapsed. Only one room remained. It showed both men—broken, alone, children, asking why the world was so cruel.

"Let's end it," Yuuichi said. "One truth. No lies."

Johan smiled. "Alright. I'll go first. I don't want to win. I want to disappear."

Yuuichi blinked. His mind processed a million responses.

"Then I'll give you a reason to live. Just so I can beat you again."

The arena froze. A decision was made.

The screen went black.