Blood dripped steadily from Kazuichi’s wounds as he staggered away from the battlefield. His vision swam, and every breath was labored. The clash with the Gigantic Omega Zombie had been brutal—far worse than he had imagined. He had given everything he had, pushed himself to the limits of his berserk mode, and even then, the creature had nearly crushed him beneath its massive claws.

Yet, somehow, despite his crushing defeat, he had destroyed the mindless Hybrid army. It wasn’t a victory he could celebrate, though. The pain of failure was too fresh, too bitter. And now, he limped back, his body screaming in agony, his mind clouded by the image of his past tormentor—a man now wielding power far beyond what Kazuichi had anticipated.

Stumbling over the uneven terrain, Kazuichi cursed under his breath. Every step sent a jolt of searing pain through his body, but he couldn’t stop. The memory of Kaito’s lifeless form burned in his mind. He had failed to save his friend, and that weighed heavier than his injuries.

Ahead, the faint light of dawn crept over the horizon, casting a dim glow over the wasteland. As the first rays of sunlight touched his skin, he heard voices—faint at first, but growing louder with each passing second. His heart skipped a beat.

From the shadows of the trees, Arisu’s silhouette emerged, her sharp eyes scanning the area with a mix of worry and relief. Behind her, Ayaka and Jurou followed closely, their expressions grim but determined.

"Kazuichi!" Arisu’s voice cut through the silence, filled with concern. She rushed forward, her usual cold demeanor softening as she took in his battered appearance. "What the hell happened?"

Without answering immediately, Kazuichi forced himself to keep walking, his body swaying as if it might give out any second. He couldn’t face them just yet. Not after everything.

Ayaka reached him next, her eyes wide with shock. "You’re injured," she said, her voice shaking. "Badly. We need to get you back to the stronghold."

Jurou’s usually cheerful expression had been replaced by a dark frown, his muscles tense as he stepped closer. "Kazuichi, where’s Kaito? Wasn’t he with you?"

The question hit Kazuichi like a hammer to the chest, and he stopped dead in his tracks. A lump formed in his throat as he avoided their gazes, his fists clenching at his sides. The weight of the news was unbearable, but there was no point in hiding it.

"Kaito... didn’t make it," Kazuichi said quietly, his voice raw with emotion. "He’s gone."

The silence that followed was suffocating. Arisu’s expression hardened, her jaw clenching as she fought to keep her composure. Ayaka’s face fell, her eyes filling with tears as she covered her mouth in shock. Jurou simply stood there, his fists trembling at his sides as he stared at the ground.

"I tried to save him," Kazuichi continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "But the mindless Hybrids... there were too many. I fought them off. I destroyed them, but it wasn’t enough."

For a long moment, no one spoke. The only sounds were the distant cries of birds and the rustling of the wind through the trees. Kazuichi’s body sagged under the weight of guilt and exhaustion. He couldn’t bring himself to look at his friends. Couldn’t bear to see the disappointment in their eyes.

Finally, Arisu broke the silence. "We need to get you back," she said, her voice steady but cold. "You’re in no shape to keep going."

Without another word, she slipped under his arm, supporting his weight as they started their slow march back to the Kazuichi Stronghold. Ayaka and Jurou followed closely, their earlier excitement and relief replaced by the grim reality of Kaito’s death. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The journey back was agonizingly slow. Kazuichi’s legs threatened to buckle with each step, and the world around him blurred into a haze of pain and exhaustion. His mind kept drifting back to the battle—the face of his tormentor, the overwhelming strength of the Gigantic Omega Zombie, the sight of Kaito’s broken body.

He didn’t want to think about it. Didn’t want to remember. But the memories were relentless, gnawing at his sanity with every heartbeat.

Halfway back to the stronghold, Kazuichi felt his body give a violent shudder. His vision dimmed, and for a moment, he thought he might collapse right there. But he forced himself to stay upright. He couldn’t afford to fall now. Not yet.

Arisu’s voice, normally sharp and commanding, was uncharacteristically soft as she spoke. "You don’t have to talk about it right now, but... we’re here for you, Kazuichi."

Her words were meant to be comforting, but they only added to the weight pressing down on his chest. He knew she meant well, but he didn’t deserve their support. He had failed, and the thought of facing them after everything felt unbearable.

As they finally approached the stronghold’s gates, Kazuichi’s body started to betray him. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees, barely able to hold himself up. Jurou and Ayaka rushed to his side, but he waved them off, struggling to get back on his feet.

"I’m fine," he muttered through gritted teeth, though he knew it was a lie. Every part of his body screamed in protest, and his vision swam dangerously.

Arisu knelt beside him, her face unreadable as she studied him. "Kazuichi, you’ve done enough. Let us help you."

He wanted to argue, to insist that he could handle it on his own. But the truth was, he couldn’t. Not anymore.

With a shaky breath, Kazuichi nodded, allowing his friends to support him as they entered the stronghold. The familiar walls, once a symbol of strength and safety, now felt like a prison. His thoughts were a storm of guilt and failure, and the weight of Kaito’s death hung over him like a dark cloud.

They guided him through the halls, past the other survivors who whispered in hushed tones as they saw his condition. Kazuichi barely registered their concerned faces. All he could think about was the man—the bully from his past—who was now responsible for everything.

He had to get stronger. He had to prepare for what was coming. But as they reached his quarters, his legs finally gave out for good, and he collapsed into the bed, unable to fight the exhaustion any longer.

His body felt like it was on fire, every muscle screaming in agony. His mind raced, torn between the haunting image of Kaito and the overwhelming need for revenge. But before he could dwell on it any further, darkness consumed him, and he drifted into unconsciousness.