The hot, dry desert air whipped around us as we ventured deeper into the sand dunes. The sun was high above, its heat bearing down on our bodies like a furnace. But it wasn't just the heat we had to worry about—there were monsters, enormous and vicious, scattered across the desert. Our mission was clear: find the magic card before anyone else. But with every passing minute, it seemed the task was growing more and more dangerous.
Team White was already moving as one, though the tension was palpable. Satoru was leading the charge, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. I was by Inaya's side, eyes focused on the shifting sands ahead, ever watchful. Brother Cheng Hao, Sota, and Hana followed closely behind, each one ready to spring into action if needed.
Suddenly, the ground rumbled, and from the distance, we saw them. A massive boulder-like creature, followed by dozens more—giant rock monsters, their massive forms lumbering toward us with deadly intent. Their enormous limbs crashed into the earth as they charged, sending up clouds of dust as they began to close in.
"Everyone, spread out!" Satoru shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
In an instant, chaos broke out. The rock monsters crashed toward us, each one seeming more menacing than the last. Team White didn't hesitate—We took action immediately.
Satoru motioned for Hana and Brother Cheng Hao to engage one of the creatures, and they leaped forward, swords in hand. Hana, her injured but determined face set with fierce resolve, slashed at one of the beast's limbs. But the monster's tough, rocky exterior barely seemed to feel the strike. It roared in anger, swiping at her with massive claws.
"Get back!" Brother Cheng Hao shouted, pushing Hana aside just in time to dodge a crushing blow. His sword clashed with the monster's arm, sending sparks flying as his blade barely made a dent in its tough hide.
Meanwhile, I and Inaya were handling another monster together. My sword moved fluidly, cutting through the air with precision, while Inaya's attacks were brutal and overwhelming. She wasn't the same anymore—her powers, now fully awakened, had made her unstoppable. Her white wings spread wide behind her as she wielded the sword with the grace and strength of someone who had been trained for a lifetime.
But even with their combined strength, the monsters weren't going down easily. They kept coming, one after another, relentless in their assault. Each monster they cut down was quickly replaced by another, and the fight was beginning to wear them down.
"Focus!" Satoru yelled, his voice echoing through the battlefield. He was strategizing, observing every move, making sure each member of the team was in position. His mind was sharp—his leadership was their greatest asset right now.
But suddenly, the ground trembled again. From the other side of the battlefield, Team Purple's cries rang out in desperation.
"We're surrounded!" one of their members yelled, but it was too late. The monsters were closing in on them from every angle. Team Purple was cornered, their small group overwhelmed by the sheer number of rock beasts.
"Help them!" Hana shouted, but before anyone could react, Team Purple was already being crushed beneath the weight of the beasts. A crushing roar echoed through the desert, and with that, Team Purple was no more. Their members were tossed aside like ragdolls, crushed or torn apart by the relentless monsters. In the span of a few minutes, they were wiped out—completely eliminated from the game.
"Damn it!" I growled, my teeth gritted in frustration. "We have to finish this fast. They won't stop until everyone's dead!"
It wasn't long before the true danger presented itself.
Team Black, the real threat, was now showing their true colors. From the shadows of the desert, they attacked without warning—striking Team Blue first. But the chaos that followed didn't stop there. Team Black didn't care who was in their way. They moved through the battlefield like shadows, striking down opponents with terrifying precision, their swords cutting through the air with the promise of death.
The other teams, including Team White,we tried to defend ourselves, but the battle was growing too chaotic. Team Black's ferocity was unmatched, and they were slowly picking off weaker teams one by one.
Satoru barked orders, directing everyone to stay together. But the battlefield was turning into a mess of shifting alliances and brutal fights. Team Blue, seeing an opportunity, approached Team Golden—its members acting friendly, offering their assistance. They were persuasive, their words slick, convincing the Golden team to temporarily align with them.
"You should work with us," one of the members of Team Blue said, his voice smooth like silk. "You can't trust anyone else here. Team Black will wipe everyone out. Our best chance is to work together."
The Golden team hesitated at first, but after a few persuasive words from Team Blue, they agreed to join forces.
Satoru's sharp eyes caught the change, and he cursed under his breath. "Damn it! They're playing us," he muttered, watching as Team Golden moved closer to Team Blue. "Don't trust them, not even for a second."
In the meantime, our team's formation split, with me and Inaya breaking off to handle the immediate threats that were closing in on us. Satoru, Hana, Brother Cheng Hao, and Sota moved in the opposite direction, trying to distance themselves from the battle zones. They needed to strategize—they couldn't afford to get caught up in the chaos.
"Inaya, Shin, stay close," Satoru ordered, his voice steady but filled with urgency.
"Understood," Inaya said quietly, her eyes scanning the horizon. The transformation she had undergone in the past few days had made her powerful, and her resolve was clear. She wasn't going to let anyone die—not on her watch.
My expression was grim, but I nodded in agreement. "Let's get this over with."
But just as they prepared to move, the sand beneath their feet began to shake again, and from the depths of the desert came another terrifying roar—this time, it was no monster. It was something much worse: Team Black was hunting them down, and they weren't taking prisoners.
After Inaya and I split from the others, the monsters came again—this time, fiercer and more relentless. We fought together as best we could, but they were overwhelming. I was no match. My body gave out before my spirit could, and soon, I was on the ground, bloodied and breathless, unable to even lift myself.
We had wandered across endless dunes and jagged desert ridges, searching every crag and canyon for the magic card. Nothing. Only heat, exhaustion, and the weight of failure. The pain in my leg throbbed sharply, reminding me how close I was to breaking.
"I guess I won't be able to stand up anymore," I muttered, defeated.
"It's okay," Inaya said, her voice calm amidst chaos. "You rest. I'll take care of them all in a few moments. Just stay close—somewhere safe, where I can see you."
She was still fighting, weaving between the monsters like a dancer wrapped in steel. I could only watch her from where I lay, bitterness welling in my chest.
"Aren't I just a burden to you… to everyone?" I whispered, ashamed. "Maybe you should leave me here. I'm slowing you down."
She said nothing.
Her silence felt like confirmation. Maybe she agreed. Maybe she'd finally realized I wasn't useful, that I didn't belong in this hellish game. I lowered my gaze to the sand, unable to meet her eyes.
Then I felt her hand on my shoulder.
I looked up—she had finished the fight. The monsters lay still in the sand, vanquished. She stood above me, smiling with the kind of brightness that only she could manage in a place like this.
"You observe people, Shin," she said softly. "You see what others can't. You feel what others hide. You understand things no one else dares to notice."
She paused, eyes reflecting the soft light of dusk, then continued, "Don't ever underestimate that. You're not a burden—you're becoming stronger, bit by bit. Maybe you weren't born to fight, but you've never stopped trying. And that… that makes you extraordinary. You're not a curse, Shin. You're a wonderful blessing."
She held out her hand.
Not the hand that wielded the sword—not the White Feather, though its presence glimmered protectively at her side—but the one she raised for me was warm, steady, and real.
I reached for it.
With effort, I stood.
The desert had begun to cool, the sun melting into the horizon. Together, we set out again to find a place to rest. It had been thirty-six hours since the game began, and we'd yet to reconnect with the others. Just wandering, fighting, surviving. The pain in my leg had dulled to a constant throb, and every step was a silent scream.
We had no salves, no potions—nothing to heal with. Just sand, monsters, and the quiet fear that we were slowly breaking apart. And Sota… I hadn't seen him since we split. He'd been injured too.
I clenched my fists.
This place was hell. And somehow, we were still walking through it.
By the third day, the scorching sun hung high over the endless dunes as Inaya and I finally reunited with our team. Relief was fleeting, however, as confusion set in—why were they with Team Blue?
Pulling Satoru aside, I demanded answers.
"They eliminated Team Golden," he confessed, his voice low. "I'm aware. But I struck a deal: we join forces to eliminate Team Black first. After that, all bets are off."
The desert wind carried the scent of blood and sand as we prepared for the impending battle. Sota, though wounded, stood resolute. We scoured the barren landscape until we found Team Black, their dark cloaks billowing like ominous shadows against the sunlit sands.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. Monstrous creatures, born of stone and fury, erupted from the earth, their roars echoing across the desert. The final battle had begun.
Inaya stepped forward, her sword gleaming. "I'll handle the monsters. The rest of you—focus on Team Black."
The clash was immediate and brutal. Steel met stone, screams pierced the air, and the desert became a battlefield of chaos. Team Blue suffered heavy losses, their numbers dwindling rapidly.
Desperation drove Team Blue's leader to betrayal. He extended an offer to Team Black, seeking an alliance against us. But before their pact could solidify, Inaya, having vanquished the last of the monsters, charged into the fray alongside Brother Cheng Hao.
Their combined might was formidable, cutting through Team Black's defenses. Meanwhile, Satoru, Sota, and I faced the remnants of Team Blue. The battle was fierce, each strike fueled by determination and the will to survive.
When the dust settled, silence reigned. We stood victorious, the desert littered with the fallen. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the battlefield.
And then, without warning, a crimson screen shimmered into existence before our weary eyes, its glow casting a strange light over the battlefield now quiet with the breath of victory.
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘, 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐄
𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃 '𝐃𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐇𝐑𝐀' 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐂 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐃
𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐍 𝟔. 𝟐𝟓 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍.
My eyes skimmed the words, barely able to process them. What does that even mean? The letters blurred slightly from the exhaustion creeping into my bones. Just then, something caught my attention—a faint glow in the hands of Inaya.
She stood silently, her figure outlined by the desert dusk, the magic card resting delicately in her palm. She had found it. When? Where?
Before I could utter a word, a strange wave of light washed over us, and the ground beneath seemed to soften. My limbs gave out. Around me, one by one, everyone else collapsed too—like marionettes with their strings cut.
Everything faded into deep blue ocean.