Choking smoke. Marauding flames. Fading hope.

The place is slowly crumbling apart as they traverse through walls of amber. With every breath they take, feels like Death itself has clutched them right in the neck.

Rukevic peers far forward, clenching the bag strap on his shoulder. Shall they lose it amidst the chaos, no one knows what the person in front of him might do.

A black jacket wraps his whole body with his face covered despite the heat surrounding them, swiftly paving the path in front according to what Rukevic said the moment they stepped out of the locker room earlier.

Krak!

“Shit!”

That skull mask turned at him hurriedly. Burning rubble suddenly dropped right at their noses. Rukevic’s body was immediately shoved back, evading it together.

No matter how many minutes have passed, Rukevic still can’t believe his eyes.

The one who has been working together, the one who made Kruger put interest on, the one who he thought would be soon-to-be-comrade is no other than the urban legend himself.

“Pull yourself together.” A flicking finger suddenly landed on Rukevic’s forehead. “Believe it or not, it ain’t gonna make any difference. Like it or not, now you’re stuck with me in this damn place.”

“At least, tell me who are you going to cosplay as beforehand, Zack.” Rukevic commented, readjusting his hard mask. The flick was hard enough for him to feel the impact behind it. “No one would expect you’d be pull a joke as a Skullface. Is it so popular that people start to idolize him?”

 “Save the talk. I’m the real deal here.” Not knowing the intention behind that question, Zack sighed indifferently. “Where to? Our way is blocked.”

Crack!

Bam!

Another piece of burning ceiling hit the ground behind them as they idled around. Startling them both.

“Pick up the pace, will ya? I ain’t gonna let my life wasted on you, nor die inside this goddamn hell, got that??” Zack prods harshly onto Rukevic’s chest. Pressuring him. Even so, Rukevic seems to be clueless.

“Let us find another way then…”

“You got any idea where we’re headin’ to?” Rukevic’s step stopped immediately. Turning at Zack. “If anything, I could leave you behind anytime and force myself outta here.”

“…Figured… so you’re willing to throw others’ life away as easily as breathing, yes? Just like the rum-”

“Vic!”

Suddenly Zack called him out. Giving a hand signal.

Rukevic understood immediately and hold their position for a while. However, with fire keep spreading around them, it’s hard for Rukevic to keep composed as long as the reason is still unclear.

Dun!

The shock reverbs along the entire fragile wall. Rukevic alerted upon hearing it.

Dun! Dun!

A Pile of dust and fire spark leaked above them. The number of debris falling is twice as much as the last second while the sound is getting louder and closer than before. Rukevic is ready to drag Zack out of whatever happening around them.

Dun! Dun!

“Tch, at this rate, we’re as good as cinder if we keep stalling like this!” Rukevic stands up and walks away as he signaled Zack to follow.

“-Vic!”

BOOM!

The wall in front of them suddenly burst along with the burning debris and thick smoke looming. Zack impulsively grabbed the back of Rukevic’s collar and yanked it hard before a huge hole gnawed the wall a few meters ahead of them.

“What… was that…?” Rukevic coughed the dust he inhaled, looking at Zack who standing straight.

Zack glanced at him. “Get up, shit just turned really bad.”

“What do you mean…?”

The smoke mixed with the dust and ambers in the hallway. Concealing their sight.

As the second pass, so does the smoke around them. Slowly revealing what was covered behind it.

Unmoved and enshrouded in black. A figure more than 2 meters tall is standing menacingly amongst the rubble.

Holding a long katana in one hand, turning its head slowly in an eerie movement, with a dreadful premonition lingering in the air.

When it turned at them, the face is nowhere to be seen. Rather, a black screen with the null symbol formed from the pixelated light in it.

“You again…!” Zack gnashed as soon as he get a glimpse of it.

“Found you.” The distorted raspy voice is coming from the black figure. “Back then//Why didn’t do something?”

“Huh?” Rukevic replied nervously. Zack swiftly alters his sight between them.

“The consequence//Your slow action//Your weak-hearted resolve//Cost everyone this.”

Thud!

“Wh-what…?!”

With its other hand, it threw something at them.

Rolling on the ground, slowly creeping toward them both who were already frozen in place, is something that anyone with the right mind on their head wouldn’t wish to see it.

Glaring at it in disgust and terror.

There, the face of Fiasco Dimitry palely etched their eyes.

“I-It’s the General…!? W-why…?!” The moment he saw it, Rukevic loses the strength in his foot and become unsteady. Zack caught him out of reflex.

“Butler//The weak//Should keep quiet//Should bow down//To the strongest.” The black figure points his katana straight at Rukevic in arrogance.

“Tch, this is why I ain’t very fond of people.” Zack snarled back. “Being friendly and-”

Slash!

The blade flew from the bottom toward stunned Rukevic. Zack pulled his body back impulsively. He barely dodged it when strands of hair under his hood is falling.

“Keep away//Skullface.”

“Ack!”

Bam!

…At the same time, it is sending a destructive blow to Zack’s chest. Sending him flying against the wall and busting a hole through the auditorium behind it.

Rukevic was hardly able to keep up when he only caught a glimpse of him being sent to the other side.

“Zack!”

“A newborn//Must keep quiet//As they should//No?”

“Guh!?”

A kick was already thrown toward Rukevic’s side. He then swiftly crossed his arms to block it. However, with the absurd strength that it has, it’s pointless.

Bam!

The wall is slowly crumbling down as most of its side is already blown apart from those impacts.

Even though Rukevic managed to defend himself and properly land his body to reduce the injury, there’s no point when the stinging pain crawls all over his body in the end.

That is, after just one attack from it.

Knocking them down instantly, it began to walk closer toward them. Playing the katana in its hand. Clearing the smoke around it.

Rukevic clicks his tongue loudly. The despair, terror, and anger toward himself have swollen up. But what else he can do in this crippling state, other than to watch Death come closer?

He whips his gaze around rapidly. Not far from him, is a pillar stained with marks of crimson. A pool of blood and a body lying lifelessly on the ground.

“Z-Zack!”

Desperately dragging his own body to get closer. His pulse racing against the ill-willed figure approaching them.

…Even just for a glimpse, I saw he hit his head.

Wall and pillar… head first…

Twice…

“Don’t move.” In one instance, it kicked Rukevic's body. Rendering him immobilize. “Free the weak//From pain//The only salvation.”

“Ack!”

The black figure presses its foot down on Rukevic’s rib. Switching the grip of the katana. Backhanded. Ready to send it straight to his body. Aiming to mercilessly impale.

“I'll kill you, f*cker!”

Clank!

“…How vexing…!”

The familiar voice caught in Rukevic’s ear. He hurriedly glanced back at the bloody pillar. Yet, the body wasn’t there anymore.

Instead, an axe kick was sent from behind the black figure. It immediately turns its body accordingly, clutching onto his leg. Almost crushing it even from the expression behind Zack's eyes.

With one powerful swing, Zack was sent to the other side of the room in the blink of an eye. Too fast for Rukevic or any normal human to perceive.

Twisting his body midair, Zack landed on the wall. Bending his knee to absorb the momentum. Locking his eye to his opponent before taking off straight at it.

At that time, the black figure ignores Rukevic completely, already fixated on its target.

From the other side, it welcomed his greet warmly. Stabbing the katana into the air in the same way Zack pulled a bowie knife out of its sheathe. The blades clash with each other, screeching to gouge each other’s vitals.

Yet, with its absurd strength that it has, a mere knife is nothing compared to the blade of katana.

Clutching with both hands, it deflects Zack’s attack upward. Sending the wielder altogether to the ceiling.

High above anything, Zack swiftly flips his body. Planting his feet upside down on the ceiling before launching back. Rapidly piercing the air with gravity pulling him downwards.

Holding the knife backhanded, Zack shifts the weight. Throwing his back and arm to the side. Spinning in midair to build up a deadly momentum against the defensive stance of the black figure.

No, not like that, Zack!

If you move around without considering your injury…

“Gah!”

Splat!

Drops of blood drip on the ground.

An agonizing pain abruptly spreads through Zack’s body from his chest, as if a wake up call from his recklessness. Stalling his movement midair, at the same time the blade pierced through his right stomach. The blade is swung harshly upward. Throwing Zack’s limp body to the ceiling. Opening up a hole.

“Zack!”

With how fast it all happens, Rukevic couldn’t even do anything, nor even move an inch of his body.

The black figure takes off to the hole above with a single jump. Rukevic doesn’t even have any time to think clearly. After witnessing the chaos with Zack earlier, going around without any clue for the second time is out of the question.

But, there’s not much he can do at this point. He has to get to them even if it means burning his face down in this worldly hell.

Splitting the raging fire and choking smoke, Rukevic runs across the hallway, looking for a staircase that leads to the rooftop.

Upon hastily climbing up three-story height, Rukevic pushes the door at the end of it. The rooftop, even the fire has spread as far as the eye can see. Before long, he caught a glimpse of Zack near the door.

He approached Zack that’s lying on the ground. Growling in pain with unorganized breathing. Still conscious.

Despite that, the black figure just standing on the other side of the hole. Watching as they sink into despair with smoke looming around it.

Rukevic grits his teeth. Putting a tough resolve behind his white emotionless mask. Drawing deep breaths, unsheathing his guns, he’s steeled to confront it one on one.

With Zack being severely injured in such a short period, Rukevic has to take it down all by himself.

As if reading his intent precisely, the black figure immediately rushes at them. Taking a stance to let a wide swing.

“Run, dumbass!” Zack shouted suddenly, snapping his mind back on the right sense.

Between the rapidly incoming blade and the order, Rukevic realized, no matter how they struggle, they won’t survive it.

Rukevic pulls Zack's body regardless of his injury in the chest. Whether broken or not, what’s important, is how they keep themselves alive upon the endless barrages of swordplay right before their eyes.

Left and right, up and down, stab and slash alike, scratches etched on Rukevic’s body as he kept on dodging while holding Zack tight. Evading its brutal attack while protecting him. Even so, it’s too fast for them to keep up in that state.

“Ack!”

Stumbling against one another, Rukevic tripped as he swerved away from the last strike. Yet with their current situation, they are hardly able to escape this one at the same time the blade is already pointed straight at them.

Panting. Trembling. In silence, they desperately move their body away.

Bang! Bang!

Rukevic drew a shot at its arm. Slightly deflecting the swinging. However, the impact didn’t stop there.

Relentless shock hit the back of the black figure. Powerful enough to stall its entire movement like a wave of quakes. With the thundering noise echoing around, Rukevic and Zack swiftly take their chance to get away.

“Reckless. How could you two confront the assailant so underhandedly?”

The smoke soaring around the black figure obstructed their vision. The only thing that gives away a hint, is the feminine voice behind it.

Dumping the empty magazine. Loading the shotgun on her hands. The woman with a familiar face greets them with a sharp gaze. Directing it at Zack.

“For real… you're jokin’ right…?” Zack scoffed when his eyes met with Irene’s.