Allen stood up.

Under Alkrasha’s dumbfounded gaze, the youth managed to stand up.

“I know that if I lose here, there’s no third chance.”

N, no…I, I can’t… die here…

Allen stepped forward with his fist still clenched. No gun, no knife… only bare fist.

He took one, two, three steps.

“I will survive.”

He suddenly charged forward.

He did not need any tricks. He just approached in a straight line from the front.

As Allen slowly approached, Alkrasha smiled. “Such insolence… I want to bring you down all the more.”

It was a cruel smile.

The noise of something slicing through the air could be heard.

Alkrasha had lightly swung her right arm.

It was a horizontal strike.

Distance did not matter. It did not even fit within the hallway in the first place. The invisible “something” pierced through the walls as it appeared. The instant it was swung, the entire room was sliced apart and the wall had a large piece cut off.

Allen luckily managed to dodge the attack by leaping in the side. Luckily, there was a slight delay from when Alkrasha swings her hand and when the attack actually happened. Or maybe it was intentional?

But before he could gather his senses back, a sound like a buzzing mosquito reached Allen’s ears an instant later.

 “Wha—!?”

There was an explosion.

A brilliant light as if from welding made Allen cover his eyes with his hands. It was so bright he started to get a headache and then he felt his feet float up off the ground. Immediately afterward, he was knocked back a few meters.

That was nothing more than an aftereffect.

“GAAAAHHHH…!”

Allen was pushed to the ground by the lateral impact. He felt a sharp pain coming from his whole body.

His bones seemed to have been smashed into a paste, and not only was he unable to use any strength, but even his sense of pain was gone. He could only feel a burning sensation.

“Damn it!!” The youth cursed as he struggles to stand up once again. This fight is… impossible.

I know that! I know I’m not a match for her! But I can’t give up!! Allen was screaming inside of him. Screaming of this unfair reality.

Even though he never wanted to admit it but Allen knows that ever since the beginning, this was just a useless struggle.

But he still tried. He still hopes for a miracle, like a protagonist in anime or manga.

But the reality is truly unfair; she was too strong to the point that she did not need the things that were usually necessary.

Speed.

Toughness.

Intelligence.

Physical strength.

Distance.

Weapon.

Alkrasha could bring an end to the fight by merely standing there while watching his useless struggle, so she did not need any of the usual cards that would lead to a tiny victory when used together.

Damn it! Damn it all!! Allen could only grit his teeth.

“…No… This is not over.”

Even while grimacing from the pain, Allen stood up firmly.

“I thought I had crushed you completely, but just how tough are you? Why did you stand up again?” said Alkrasha cheerfully.

“To crush you, of course.”

“Haha, are you really human? You stood up after eating my attacks.”

“Ugh…”

“Truly a human that goes against my expectations.”

“… …”

“…but unfortunately, I need to end this game now.” With those words, Alkrasha mercilessly attacks.

Her beautiful butterfly wings flapped and at the same time, a wind whirled and numerous wind bullets formed around her. One, five ten it’s increasing at a fast pace.

“It will hurt a bit~”

Then she attacked.

A series of explosions echoed in the place, Allen was hit on his shoulders, legs, and arms by wind bullets and each time he was sent flying onto the ground.

“Gaaa…” but he was losing his focus but he still tried to endure it.

“…won’t accept it.”

As he coughed up more blood, Allen said while groaning.

Allen stood up slowly.

Alkrasha was starting to get annoyed by the zombie in front of her. She was reducing the power from her attack as to not kill him but if this goes on, he would certainly die.

Tch! Alkrasha clicked her tongue in annoyance. “I tried avoiding a direct hit because I at least wanted you breathing afterward, but seeing you that lively is hurting my pride, human.”

…Why did Allen go so far? Even with his elbows and knees bleeding, his head covered in blood he kept getting up staggering… Why? For what?

The answer was obvious.

“I can’t lose! I need to get stronger!”

So that I’ll never have to lose… anything ever again!

Allen’s voice felt like toothpaste being squeezed out of a tube: extremely soft and still trembling. It felt like it could vanish at any moment.

Even so, that youth’s words were full of determination.

Alkrasha never expected for him to still have the strength to stand up. His body was already ragged, even his left hand was already bent at a strange angle.

His clothes were covered with blood. But,

Why would he choose to stand up at this point?

He couldn’t even move a finger, so why must he force himself to stand up now?

No matter how much he was unused to fighting he should have felt the difference between them. Or was he a veteran gambler in a game of death, he should understand that he couldn’t beat the monster in front of him.

But yet,

He forced himself to stand up.

Nevertheless, that is all. Allen didn’t move, no, he couldn’t move. All he could do was stand, even moving a finger was impossible.

Tap Tap Tap

In his blurry consciousness, Allen heard someone’s footsteps.

“…should I admire you or mock you as a fool…” he could hear her voice. It was faint or maybe it was because of his blurry mind, but he seemed to have heard a somewhat concern from it.

I’m tired…

He thought in his mind.

It’s painful…

I can’t even concentrate anymore…

Allen’s clothes were tattered; the metal parts of the zippers were broken. Every jerk caused his entire body to stiffen in pain, and it was obvious that his injuries were serious.

But he doesn’t want to give up…

Uug… I’m at my limit….

But reality doesn’t consider his circumstances. None at all…

At this moment, the youth felt as if he was falling. His strength gradually disappears from his body.

Then he felt as if he falls onto something soft… something warm.

“Enough, you’re qualified.” A voice softly whispered into his ear.

“Is that… so?” Allen didn’t know what the voice referred to.

Qualified? For what?

But still, he answered.

Allen took a big breath.

Thump!

When he closed his eyes and reopened them, something deep inside of him suddenly responded.

His heart beat violently.

Inside of him, something struggled as if it wanted to go out.

It was unexpected.

But Allen didn’t have strength left to ponder just what it was.

 Suddenly, Allen opened his mouth and bit something. He bit so hard that he could taste something rusty inside his mouth.

1 sec…

Then the skill which was activated before was once again resounded inside his mind.

2 sec...

… …

Remorse, pain, rage, self-blame, self-pity. In that instance, Allen’s heart was swallowed up by all kinds of negative emotions.

5 seconds…..

Ding! [ Succesful! ]

“Correction, you’re not qualified, you’re excellent.” The voice once again resounded. At that moment, the crazy Allen finally felt his body go limp and was subdued.

He could feel something wriggling in every part of his body.

“Found it?”

But before he collapsed, Allen could hear something.

“Ah, a pity~ I can’t bring you right now.”

 “But, there’s nothing to worry about. I will leave this here~”

In the blurred scenery, Allen seemed to see something quite clearly for some reason. A bug?

A figure was holding a pebble sized bug, a red colored lady bug and put it on his open stomach.

As his consciousness slowly faded away Allen tried to extend his hand to stop—-but it couldn’t reach.

Can’t…move….dammit, why now…!

And the lady bug entered his body.

“It’s fine, it won’t hurt you… now then, please come and see me one day…okay, human?”

The last thing he saw with his fading consciousness was a smile.

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