"[Qumuwaki.]"
-
-
"(Stood right in front of the monster.)"
"One foot pinned down the beast's claw—a claw that should've shattered the ground."
"But his body didn't budge. His hands... still in his pockets."
"His face was calm—blank—but his eyes held a cold, cutting stare fixed on the creature."
-
Qumuwaki: "…Thought this was Wlein's scene."
————" "————
"(The creature froze.)"
"As if... intimidated."
"In a split second, it leapt back—leaving behind a crater at the exact spot where Qumuwaki had stood."
"The surrounding fog swirled violently, like it was panicking."
"Then... the monster's body began to crack."
"Its flesh—reeking of rot and clinging to black bone—ripped apart and peeled away."
"From within... a new figure emerged."
"Its third evolution."
"It had grown—larger, deadlier... and disturbingly wrong."
"Bone-like spikes jutted from its back. Its head split into twin jaws that extended sideways.
Red light from its eyes spread into glowing streaks crawling across its entire body."
—
Semuqu (gulping): "…Is that… its evolution?"
Aryuhoewqe (watching excitedly): "There should be one more final form... I think."
Semuqu (still frozen): "…Y-you didn't say he could block a monster claw... with his shoe tip."
Aryuhoewqe (snacking on peanuts): "Exactly. 'Next level aura.' That's my school of thought."
"Qumuwaki walked forward. Still with hands in pockets."
"The monster growled lowly—this time... with caution."
"Qumuwaki stopped two meters away."
Qumuwaki (flat tone): "So... you leveled up, huh. Alright. That just makes it faster to kill you."
"The creature lunged, jaws wide. But—"
"In a light, fluid move, Qumuwaki spun, caught its forearm with his shoulder—"
"—and slammed it into the ground like an aikido sweep."
"The impact felt like a grenade blast."
'BOOOOM—!!'
"With a deafening crash, the monster slammed into the ground—cracks rippled outward like a sledgehammer breaking solid rock."
"(Semuqu stepped further back from the shockwave.)"
-
-
Aryuhoewqe (still watching): "Bro is literally farming aura points right now."
Semuqu (leaning on a wall, gasping): "Qumuwaki has... a move? He has moves?!"
Aryuhoewqe (chuckling): "Nah. He is the move."
—————" "—————
"(The monster tried to rise, but trembled. One leg was broken.)"
—
"Qumuwaki stepped closer. This time, his right hand left his pocket."
"He clenched it."
-
Qumuwaki (calmly, eyes locked): "Vanish, darkness."
"[His fist landed on the monster's gut.]"
"The beast was flung backwards, its body hurled deep into the fog."
-
-
Semuqu (trying to rationalize): "…So he was just... waiting for it to reach final stage before stepping in?"
Qumuwaki (still staring ahead): "...I just felt like this should've been Wlein's moment."
—
"The monster roared. But this time, its aura exploded—like a vortex blasting fog in all directions."
"(And suddenly, the sky felt dim—as if night had doubled its gravity.)"
Aryuhoewqe (turning to Semuqu, half-panicked): "Okay, this... this is final boss aura. This is when the soundtrack kicks in—one word title, like REVELATION or OBLIVION."
Qumuwaki (sighing, pulling his other hand out): "…If this is truly your final form…
then I'll finish it with one strike."
"(Suddenly—silence. Complete stillness. Even the monster froze.)"
"Qumuwaki stood still, slightly crouched, like bracing."
"But no energy radiated. No light. No drama."
"[Semuqu and Aryuhoewqe exchanged confused glances.]"
—
Aryuhoewqe (whispering): "…What's he doing? Where's the charging animation?"
Semuqu (softly): "You don't get it… He's an anti-mainstream protagonist."
Then—
"Qumuwaki took a single step.
"No sound."
-
"No wind."
"But the world... felt like it recoiled in the opposite direction of him."
"(With that one movement, he vanished from sight.)"
"In the blink of an eye—"
'GUGHRRHHHH—!!'
"(The monster flailed, its body twisting midair like the Greek letter 'Ω' before slamming into a tree.)"
"A glowing red dent burned in its chest—the mark of Qumuwaki's punch."
-
Aryuhoewqe (choking on peanuts): "WHAT WAS THAT?! NO WARNING, NO SFX!!"
Semuqu: "…That wasn't a punch. That was plot convenience in attack form."
"(A low rumble echoed from the ground.)"
"The monster lay still, but its eyes still glowed—brighter than before."
"Its breathing became ragged and uneven."
"New cracks formed across its body."
"(This time... not from breaking, but from... evolving again.)"
"A half-shattered version of itself."
"Something inside it—vengeance, or maybe some cursed script refusing to end—stirred."
"Semuqu instantly sensed it."
"(The fog merged with the monster's form, feeding the fury within.)"
—
Aryuhoewqe (soft chuckle, unaware): "Ha! Still standing after that? This is a last act boss—"
-
-
"—and the next moment, the monster roared so loud it pierced the sky."
'BWWAAAAAAAAAGGHHH—!!!'
"The entire area trembled."
"(But then... it didn't attack Qumuwaki.)"
"Its half-shattered form launched at Aryuhoewqe."
"(Semuqu screamed from beside him, darting sideways in a frantic leap.)"
—
"Aryuhoewqe just... stood there."
"(No flinch. No scream. Not even a blink.)"
-
'GRAAAAGHHH—!!'
"(That black claw struck Aryuhoewqe's chest—)"
"…And stopped."
————" "————
"(No explosion. No blood. No dramatic effect.)"
"...Silence."
"(The beast... froze.)"
"Its claw pressed against Aryuhoewqe.
But didn't pierce. Didn't move him an inch."
Aryuhoewqe (flat tone): "…I think I trained long enough for this."
"(Semuqu stared from afar. Brain frozen.)"
-
Semuqu: "…WHAT WAS THAT?! YOU BLOCKED A MONSTER ATTACK WITH EMPTY AURA?"
"(The monster looked confused. Its eyes shifted, like: 'wait, huh?')"
"And from behind it—"
'Tap—'
"Qumuwaki appeared out of nowhere, perched on the monster's back."
"Without a word, he stepped in—grabbing its head with both hands."
'KRAAAAK—!!'
"Qumuwaki twisted the monster's head... 360 degrees."
"(The sound of bones snapping mixed with wet flesh grinding filled the air.)"
"The monster spasmed. Its body slowly collapsed, letting out a noise like blender gears mixed with mic feedback."
'GLRRRKK—!!'
"(Qumuwaki stepped down, glanced at Aryuhoewqe expressionlessly.)"
—
Aryuhoewqe (still in place, quietly): "…I just wanted to see what it's like—being you, Bro."
Qumuwaki (sighing): "…Impressive. You managed to spectate all the way to the climax—without getting pulled into a single commercial break."
Semuqu (still sitting, voice soft): "…You know... I'm not sure this is horror genre anymore.
This is straight-up monster massacre."
"(And amid the wreckage behind them... something stirred.)"
—————" "—————
'...Creak. Creak. Creak.'
"(Wlein O. Hasdzard rose from the rubble, his head dusty.)"
-
-
Wlein (completely lost): "…Huh? It's over? Where was the attack? I think I just dreamed we all vanished."
"(He looked around, saw the giant monster lying like it'd been Dyson-vacuumed.)"
Wlein: "…WHY IS ITS HEAD TWISTED 360 DEGREES?!"
"(His voice sounded absurd, like someone who missed the subtitles by a mile.)"
Semuqu (still trembling, sarcastic): "…Welcome back. You just skipped the wildest episode."
Wlein (squinting at Aryuhoewqe): "…And—he's still standing? Shirt torn, chest intact?! Was that... frontal strike immunity?!"
Aryuhoewqe (grinning, still unmoved): "Immunity? Nah. Just... sheer will to not fall."
Wlein (offended): "…THEN I CAN DO IT TOO! HIT ME, QUMU!"
Qumuwaki (grinning, wiping off monster blood): "Wanna get twisted too?"
Wlein: "…Okay I take it back."
"(After that, feeling worn out, Wlein quietly made his way to the lab to recover.)"
—
Beep… beep… BEEP-BEEP-BEEP!!
(Semuqu slowly looks up. It's her watch beeping.)
Semuqu (whispering, still trembling): "…It's... midnight. We have to go home."
"(Before anyone moves—)"
"The atmosphere suddenly shifts."
"The wind stops. The fog halts. The world... seems to hold its breath."
"And from between the trees behind them, something appears."
"—not footsteps. Not sound. Just presence. As if... reality itself bends ever so slightly at one point."
"The shadowy figure emerges. Not human. Not monster. But something in between—"
"—a formless plane, a semi-transparent body, appearing like floating spilled ink that slowly assembles into an entity."
"A voice echoes... directly inside Qumuwaki and Aryuhoewqe's heads."
Shadow Figure (a voice like a hollow echo):
"I didn't expect you to be this strong."
"(Aryuhoewqe immediately stops smiling. Qumuwaki tilts his head slightly.)"
Qumuwaki (flatly): "…You've been watching us from the start, haven't you?"
Shadow Figure: "Of course… from a long time ago..."
Aryuhoewqe (softly, serious tone): "…You're not from here, huh? Your energy doesn't match this dimension."
Semuqu (looking up, panicked): "...Y-You know this thing?!"
Qumuwaki (unblinking): "No."
Aryuhoewqe (confused): "…Maybe?"
Shadow Figure: "You may not know who I am. But I know who you are."
"[The surrounding fog begins to form shapes—not faces, but fragments of memories]:
Little Aryuhoewqe, sitting alone with red, swollen eyes.
Little Qumuwaki, silently staring into space in the middle of a rainy park.
Semuqu... writing in a thick book, then tearing out a page."
Shadow Figure: "Three fragments... from a story that was supposed to be over."
Qumuwaki (quietly): "…This isn't a normal entity."
Aryuhoewqe (hands on hips): "Okay, so usually this is where the villain says, 'Join me or be erased!' Right?"
Shadow Figure (pauses): "…No. I just came to deliver a warning."
(It raises its hand—or something like a hand—and points to the sky.)
Shadow Figure: "Midnight tonight isn't just your bedtime... It's the first boundary of this world.
The world you stand in now... is merely a trial version."
Semuqu tenses. Aryuhoewqe blinks.
Semuqu (quietly, confused): "…Trial version? This world… isn't final?"
Shadow Figure: "No. This world is always evolving. The future will always be chaos. And when that time comes… those who haven't chosen their place will simply be erased."
Qumuwaki (coldly): "…Then why tell us any of this?"
Shadow Figure: "…Because, for the first time, you—who were never meant to be connected—have shattered the very structure of the beginning."
"(It begins to fade—its body dissolving into mist, as if it was never there.)"
Shadow Figure (final echo):
"Choose your fate wisely. Next time… you might not be the main characters."
Silence.
"(Semuqu checks her watch again. 00:01.)"
Aryuhoewqe (taking a breath): "…Okay. That was... creepy. And meta. My two favorite genres."
Qumuwaki (staring at the ground where the entity stood): "…A trial world, huh… Of course it is."
Semuqu (softly, still stiff): "OKAAAY… Let's just… go home. Now."
—————" "—————
"[THE NEXT MORNING – BEHIND THE SCHOOL]"
(A bright, sunny morning. Birds are chirping. Then—)
'...WHOAAA THERE'S A MONSTER CORPSE!!!'
(Chaos.)
"WHAT THE HECK, WHAT THE—WHAT THE SIGMA"
"Wait, where's its head?!"
In the middle of the back field lies the corpse of a mid-tier 'City-Riot-Level' monster. Its body: crushed. Head: completely gone. Black blood stains the ground like an experimental art mural drawn by a possessed student.
—— "World Narrative" ——
>"The existence of monsters in this world is normal.
But they're supposed to only exist along the borderlands of human territory — and beyond."
"The human domain is divided into three major continents, now united as a single territory known as Humaian."
"And in this world, each continent holds only three nations."
"Sometimes, yes... veteran demons from the outer kingdoms like to mess around — during training, they'll sneak a few monsters in through dimensional gaps."
"But for a monster to appear right in the middle of a populated area...? That's rare. And when it happens, it always causes a stir."
—————" "—————
[BACK TO THE FIELD—]
Student A: "Is this... is this real? Like, not part of a school horror movie?"
Student B: "If it is a movie, who funded it? Our school can't even afford extra fans for the auditorium!"
—————" "—————
"[CITY SECURITY TASK FORCE INVESTIGATION SITE]"
*(Three people in uniform, all with large faded ID badges that read: "PEACE TASK FORCE #BLACKLIVESMATTER") *
Officer 1 (acting serious): "Okay, perimeter up. Secure the scene. DO NOT LET A SINGLE SNACK VENDOR NEAR THE AREA."
Officer 2 (smoking while peeking at the corpse):
"…This one's… not the usual monster type. Look at the neck wound. It's like… clamped... by something… like—"
(he mimics giant tongs squeezing something)
"Like this. But huge."
Officer 3: "…You just noticed? That's already in the report, sir."
Officer 2: "…Oh right. I didn't read it."
Officer 1 (quietly, nervous): "…Where's the head though? Was it… eaten?"
Officer 3 (looking down, mutters): "…Or stored... like a collectible?"
—————" "—————
[FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE OFFICE – ENTERS MR. PUBLIUS.]
(A middle-aged man with neatly combed white hair, wearing an elegant black suit, walks calmly.
On his shoulder: a parrot. Silent. Its eyes sharp, unnaturally intelligent for a bird.)
Mr. Publius (in a calm, deep voice):
"Children... do not be afraid. Today… we still study as usual.
Because the world has never promised safety."
(All students instantly fall silent.)
Mr. Publius (continues, hands behind his back):
"Courage isn't about the absence of monsters... but staying focused on your life's purpose… or the purpose of your life."
(The parrot adds—): "—OR JUST BECOME A MONSTER IF THAT'S MORE FUN."
Aryuhoewqe (whispers to Qumuwaki): "Hey, did that bird just talk? It sounded just like… that history teacher who resigned?"
Semuqu (quietly): "…We've seen that bird before. In the biology lab. Inside the cage cupboard. That time."
Qumuwaki (coldly): "That... doesn't look like a bird.."
-
-
Mr. Publius (turns calmly to the students):
"I know this is frightening. But remember... you are all strong.
If not, you wouldn't be in this school."
(The parrot chimes in again): "—OR YOU JUST SLIPPED THROUGH THE ENROLLMENT SYSTEM."
"(EVERYONE GOES SILENT. THE BIRD... MAY BE RIGHT.)"
—————" "—————
Next chapter: [Another motivation?]