Volume 27: Chapter 188: Narcissist's Cradle Arc - Part XVI._Classroom of Doom

December 7th, 2018, roughly a year before it all began.

On the north side of Hokkaido, far, far away from Japan, there is an island that belongs to Russia that goes by the name of: Sakhalin Island.

In-between that island in specific and the district of Japan that is Hokkaido, there is an unknown location that is entirely classified as a state secret in accordance to a secret diplomatic deal formed between Japan and Russia.

Amidst the raging storms and perpetual water tornados alongside its inhumane tidal waves, a singular helicopter drove at full throttle towards the scouring entrance of the world's deepest underwater prison of them all; the impregnable fortress of Hadal.

Only after being allocated 350 kilometers down to the fortress; the individual reached the 1456th floor.

The highly mechanical advanced door with over twenty locks, was ultimately open after being unlocked through an automated security system.

Afterwards, the hologram of a female individual in virtual matter appeared before the individual who was carrying a brief-case with him.

The door made a resonating click as the upcoming 1456th floor was entirely revealed to him.

"Welcome, doctor Almatorav." The robotic voice welcomed the dubious individual with pale skin, tall height, long white spiky hair, who is wearing a formal white suit containing a black shirt underneath with a white tie to complement it "It's a pleasure to see you again. The minister of China as well as the ambassador of Mongolia have been most infatuated to be in contact with you, doctor." He began to walk as the hologram began to walk to his right side "Oh?" He prompted another line from her.

Unlike a normal prison, there weren't cells after cells, containing each individual aligned; only separated by a mere fraction of meters. Instead, every twenty meters, there would be an allocation containing a door either to the right or to the left, which had its endless security protocols. Through those doors, there would be a glassy oval tunnel that would lead to an individual room, where the said prisoner would be allocated. However, unlike a normal prison, this one was far better in terms of conditions. Down to the illumination, equipment care, ambiance, and even suitability.

As he walked straight forward, almost reaching the first intersection to the left side which would lead to a room containing a prisoner, a classical musical piece was played, which caught the doctor's attention.

"Ever since your proposal of a DNA transplant system regulation certification plan has been accepted, they have been greatly interested in your other ideas." She said "That's about time. Even after all the other ideas I've proposed in the past... But it's good to know that it's working now." He passed through the first door, but did not bat an eye, even though the prisoner that was far away yelled out to him words he could simply not be bothered to respond or give thought "Doctor, may I help you? You seem to be looking for a certain individual and with all due respect, this floor has a grand total of 153 individuals." She appeared in front of him through virtual transfiguration and recreation "Mhm... No, I'm not looking for a certain individual, but my individual must meet the conditions for this experiment." The doctor entrusted his worries "I've had my share of knowledge when it comes to the individuals and I think I found a few selective ones." The doctor added "I see. Shall we continue then, doctor?" She asked "Yes..." The doctor's age is unknown but the frequency of his physical movements were slightly sluggish as it resembled that of an old man.

Eventually, after searching through the floor, the doctor arrived at a singular conclusion.

"It won't do. They are too mentally unstable and lack the individualism. Alexia, what is the floor that contains the individuals that have the most interesting cases? I need to be stimulated enough to see through this..." The doctor issued "Clarify "interesting", doctor." Alexia demanded, as they were about to enter the exit elevator located on the most south "It must be something that grabs my utmost interest... That makes me want to immediately experiment on that subject! Human individualism is vast but authentically untapped in the long run!" The doctor dropped his brief-case on the floor "Yes! One that has to meet the characteristics of a worthy specimen of my--------!" The doctor's eyes became allured as he looked to his right side; where the last room of the floor would remain.

He could not mistake those numbers. Those carefully drawn numbers within the chamber that was otherwise the room of the prisoner.

"Doctor? Are you alright?" Alexia asked, as the doctor blinked his eyes twice, in suspense "What's his story? How come he wasn't on the recommended list?" The doctor began to walk towards his right as the individual kept on writing mathematical equations all across his squared-shaped room with only his blood as a supply "I don't believe he qualifies as interesting, doctor-----according to your patterns." Alexia told him "As for him..." Alexia then proceeded to give all the details of the individual to the doctor.

Now face to face with the room, where only a glassy door would separate them, the doctor fully looked at the scrawny skinny individual that kept writing mathematical equations non-stop.

His height towered the individual's, given that the individual was writing the equation with a crouched position.

"You are using your own blood to write down all the mathematical equations?" The doctor asked the individual, who didn't break eye contact "It can't be helped...." His voice lacked strength and his face had severe nutritional intake issues "There are no other ways... My mind is clogged from calculus...." The speed of the equations did not falter, further amusing the doctor though he didn't erase his stone expression "From all the calculus?" The doctor asked "Yes.... It's hard to keep all of it inside my brain for over a year every single day without rest....." The doctor became even more interested "765 days. When did it start?" The doctor inquisitioned "It never stopped." The individual countered "What are you trying to achieve?" The doctor persisted "It... doesn't... matter..." He sighed and kept on writing down to his right.

Out of blood which was used as a substitute for ink, the individual did the one thing that was allowing him to keep going.

He first got up and grabbed a plastic cup. Afterwards, he sat down as he placed it on his right side; ultimately biting several arteries from his right and then left wrist which would allow the blood to circulate to the cup.

"I must finish it. I have to... I don't... have... anything else..." Bathing his right index finger and then his left index finger, the individual continued to calculate, exhibiting his ambidextrous prowess "?!" For the first time, the doctor's eyes widened as he began to understand the root of the calculus, and to what human being it belonged "The law theory... Who taught you that?" And for the first time, the individual looked at the doctor, without being able to believe his words "You... are interested in the calculus of someone like... me...? Even after what I did...?" Through so many days without rest and endless calculations, he had never foreseen this event.

The doctor elevated his right hand, which gave the signal for Alexia to unlock the several security protocols that guarded the room's door.

"Tell me..." The door was unlocked and the imagery of the doctor's uncanny white eyes forever engraved his mind "If you had the option to choose between a new life where you could revert all of your mistakes, to subdue all of your wrong decisions, and fix the life of the one you cherish the most; would you abandon everything for that option?" The individual's eyes widened "That's... That's not possible...!!" Meekly, he withdrew to the back of his room where his back went against the glassy wall "Usually, yes. Call it a fabrication of delusion, but if there is something that calculus has taught you, my subject, it's that-----there's more of what we don't know in comparison to what we do. The measurements don't even add up, correct?" He could not refute such information as he saw the doctor drop his right knee.

Furthermore, with his two hands, which were covered with black gloves, the doctor placed his hands on the trembling brain of the individual.

"It's not a fantasy. I'm sure you're aware, which is why----in exchange for what you have inside your brain; I can make your wish come true." The doctor adjoined his forehead to the individual's "A man will die but not his ideas." The unwanted reminisce came to an end.

----------------------------------------

".........." He glanced at the clock as the first round was about to start and then took a wide notice of the individual that was lying unconscious next to Kanawari and Lus "........." Furthermore, he looked at the person who is occupying Toharoh Tsudo's previous seat, which happens to be two seats to his right.

That individual was none other than Hikaru Yulia, who by all means, had been declared dead. Not just declared dead, but her body was seen dead by multiple individuals, and right now, at a state of encompass, he figured that the time was right.

"Who are you?" Kawahara interrogated her "Huh? Didn't I already introduce myself? I'm Yulia! Why are you fucktards staring at me?! It's disgusting!" Her face emitted distrust and conceit "No, you're not." Kawahara calmly replied but with a stronger voice this time "I'll ask again; who are you?" Yulia didn't hesitate to answer "And I'll say it again, I'm Yulia!" But this affirmation brought forth some counter lash "That---that can't be!! You---" Sana was trying to speak but her words could barely come out "WHO ARE YOU!?!?" She, however, made a great effort in yelling back to the individual that was presented as Hikaru Yulia "How many times must I say it...?" She sighed "I'm Yulia. The one and only." She concluded as she grinned at Sana, who was crying.

Hyunda placed his right hand on her left shoulder as he offered some words.

"It's a bad joke. Don't let it get to you." He closed his eyes "Why....?!?! Who the fuck---came up with this idea...?! And why is it possible that----!!!" Sana's anger was beginning to boil completely.

Even so, as the ambassador of the game, Basara could not allow the game to remain unplayed. Regardless of the players' emotional state or physical state, the rounds had to be conducted, no matter the cost.

"Roll the dice!" With a visible degree of enthusiasm, Basara declared the momentum "Hey, Daniel!! Wake the hell up...!!" Lus kept shaking Daniel's right sleeve but it was to no avail "It's useless, Lus... He really is knocked out..." Kanawari told her "That---why the hell did this specifically have to happen now...?!" Lus was firmly aware of the possibility now that she was present "Please, just wake the hell up...!!" Lus kept shaking his sleeve over and over in desperation.

It landed, eventually.

"UGH!!" Yulia's voice cried out "Oh, fantastic. She's really fucked now, there's no way out." Yukishiro was pleased "Yeah... You can't gain points if you're the target of the judgment round." Ikkiri added as she coldly viewed Yulia as the sacrificial lamb "It's probably for the best that he stays unconscious... It's nothing personal, but for the sake of the strategy, you have to die." Akimiyashika boldly said to Yulia as she was dragged to the center against her will "Goddamn it...!!" Trembling, Yulia was beyond nervous "This... This was not in the damn plan, you bitch...!!" The locks to her ankles and wrists were therefore formed.

And with that out of the way, the first round was able to start.

"Can I get an explanation here?" Bryce, in utter disbelief asked the people in the room for an answer "I mean, that's her, right? The Hikaru Yulia that everybody in this school knows, right?! March 27th, one of the female criminals commits suicide! No one forgot about her so why the hell am I seeing the very splitting image of her right now?!" His complaint was emotional but reasonable as well "I see, so there is a history going on here?" Erigaisi asked "Yes..." Andrea then filled him in on the details "Oh my, how tragic." He placed the lower parts of his right fingers on the surface of his lips "That's quite devious, I must confess." Erigaisi was shocked "But no, I have no idea how that's possible. Oh well, who cares?!" Erigaisi opened a pack of potato chips right next to him and dove deep for a few "Let's just enjoy the spectacle! The best dramas are those that are the most unpredictable, wouldn't you all agree?!" Erigaisi began to offer a few potato chips but the entire student council body was more worried about the fact that too many unprecedented events were happening that were undoubtedly beyond their control.

At the top of block A, on the highest possible point, where everything is visible from his perspective, therein lay the puppet master.

With his hands tied together, he observed the ongoing events through multiple monitors.

"I wasn't informed of this..." His stern voice was heard loud and clear by the person on the other side, who he was on a voice call with "Likewise." The male voice, which had the resemblance of someone with an old age, though not by a larger margin, answered back "Who is in charge of dispatching the new players?" The principal asked, clearly unsatisfied but still nevertheless monitoring everything "It's regulated by an automated system that chooses players in accordance to the current circumstances. In order to combat the risks, the system releases the caged player that is most fitting to eliminate the obstacle. What'd you think? Pretty neat system, right?" Despite the excitement from the other party, the principal didn't find this to be so surefire as it was being presented "And this is the answer to counter Daniel Lead's strategy?" He asked and the other voice replied immediately with confidence "Yes, it is. In order to assure that the viewers don't lose interest, we will resort to any method to keep the entertainment going." The principal closed his eyes "Hmm..." He was still not entirely convinced.

The other voice felt like elaborating even further as the principal was feeling undermined.

"It's not every day that you see someone trying to clear the game so early, but even I was shocked when I saw that a solution to the game was presented so early! I'll have you know that the game by default cannot be changed, so it's true that the points they earn through a right claim doubles every round. In other words, it's technically possible to get an endgame where no one else dies but the player they buy, which is troublesome to say the least. It brings back some bad memories, because Daniel Lead was not the first one to attempt this." The voice confessed and the principal took interest in hearing the rest as he opened his eyes once again "What happened?" He delved deeper "Uh, well... It was most peculiar. At first, the strategy was proposed and since it was the first time, we didn't exactly have a countermeasure to it, so we just had to accept it. Every round, they bought a new player in order to kill the said player. The tactic was working so well that we almost had to shut down the entire event." The voice was speaking in distress.

But this didn't add up, according to the principal's thoughts.

"Which was why, we had to approach the player individually after a round, in order to negotiate with him. You must have noticed, but these criminals don't particularly harbor any sort of interest for one another. Especially in the case where their freedom is promised." The third round began on the side of the criminals "Even so, the strategy works, in theory. Simply buy the new player, kill the player, and the points are inevitably acquired. Frankly speaking, the game's biggest weakness has already been exploited. And there were many complaints towards this! To the point where we seriously considered the possibility of eliminating the option to buy a new player. However-----against our expectations, the solution to this conundrum didn't come from within, but from the player that came up with the strategy itself!" The principal was perplexed "How come?" He wanted to know the secret "It's very, but very basic once you think about it. You'll feel so dumb once you know it." The voice became condescending "Tell me. I demand to know!" The principal roughly demanded "Well, don't tell me I didn't warn you." The voice then proceeded to tell the strategy.

Profound sweat droplets emerged from the principal's face as he began to show delirium.

"Unbelievable...!!! Then-----this game----!!" The voice followed up "Yup. It's like that. Remember, old sport----the key is entertainment. Anything that goes against it, is a big no. Entertainment equals money and lack of entertainment results in prejudice. With that in mind and taking your goal into consideration, you would do well to prioritize entertainment above anything else." He was reminded "Right now, after the strategy was explained by Daniel Lead, some viewers lost interest, around 100k or so... However, after seeing the dashing entrance of Hikaru Yulia and Daniel Lead's reaction to her, they are hooked. They demand to know what happens next. See, we know what we are doing. We have been doing this for more than a decade. And as technology evolves day by day, it will only expand itself. Right now, our streaming platforms are illegal and that's normal, considering the type of content we are providing. However, given enough time... We will start to shift our tendencies more towards the technological side simply due to the fact that technological dominance will become far more potent in... well, since we are in the year of 2019, around 2022 or 2023; simply put-----no human being on this planet will be able to live without the value of technology. Therefore, it's inevitable that our viewership and interest grows. Would you not agree so?" After the lengthy explanation, the voice asked the principal for consensus "We'll see." He remained grounded without jumping to conclusions too soon.

By now, the seventh round would be under way.

"Edward, the agreement is 10 billion, correct?" The principal addressed the voice this time, by his real name "That's correct, Wojakinov." The voice became cold and assertive "Contribute 10 billion to the organization as an entrance fee and your position will be placed under consideration." Edward stated "Mhm... 10 billion..." Wojakinov checked his financial avenue that he was gaining due to this game alone on one of the monitors "It's worth it." Edward reassured "Besides, you should at least have half of it, given how many sponsors you have. I think you've hit the jackpot with this line up----" Wojakinov interrupted Edward as he wanted to confirm one last thing.

The eight round would shortly start on the other side.

"That player you mentioned-------" Edward lowly laughed "Ahhh, you wanna know who he is?" Wojakinov didn't reply but implied such "Don't freak out too much, but I was not lying when I said you'd hit the jackpot. Sure, Daniel Lead was a critical ingredient but the real reason as to why your stream has so many viewers-------surely, it couldn't be from a first timer like him, despite his alluring premise-----no, you see, it's right under your nose..." The name was then revealed.

Fully awake, Daniel made his intent clear.

"I promise you won't die, Yulia... Not again...!!" No one was unable to ignore his conviction as his eyes ignited "Huh?! Hold on a second, what the hell are you talking about?! You were the one that said that we should kill the new player that we bought, Daniel! I sacrificed many of my points for this!! She has to die, there's no other option!!" Akimiyashika began to argue "Watch your mouth, insignificant waste of space. She has to die? I don't like your tone." Daniel's eyes narrowed "?!" Akimiyashika was not comprehending Daniel's sudden mood swing "Wait, Aki!" Ikkiri intervened from afar "He thinks it's actually her! Daniel, you have to know better than this to know it's not her! You're intelligent and came up with a winning strategy! This is all a set up by the ones in control of the ga-----" Ikkiri's words were shortlived "Shut the fuck up." Daniel's words remained cold "....Daniel...." Ikkiri didn't feel like giving up "You know that's not her... Come on, she doesn't even act like the Yulia we all knew!" Ikkiri told him "Are you done with your worthless speech?" Daniel asked her "...Don't hate us for this..." Ikkiri saw no point in trying to further argue.

The ninth claim had already been made and Daniel only woke up after the voting session was done.

By now, considering how every point was acquired and respectfully deducted, the ranking ladder is the following:

> 1 - Rayazaki (15046/20000 points) [Has a 25% point boost acquisition for the rest of the day]

> 2 - Sagasuga - (4412/4500 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day] [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Hiroyoshi Sagasuga] [Every time Izayoi Akimiyashika scores a point and Hiroyoshi Sagasuga doesn't, that quantity will be subtracted from Hiroyoshi Sagasuga's point account and transferred to her account in the process]

> 3 - Tatsu (3590/4500 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day] [Kitsuya Arkalee's turn will be under Hirakibo Tatsu's control in the execution rounds until this day is over]

> 4 - Hinagiku (2346/2500 points)

> 5 - Sana (2296/2500 points)

> 6 - Yukishiro (2130/2500 points)

> 7 - Ikkiri (2102/2500 points)

> 8 - Stratos (2024/2500 points)

> 9 - Arkalee (2023/2500 points) [Kitsuya Arkalee's turn will be under Hirakibo Tatsu's control in the execution rounds until this day is over]

> 10 - Kawahara (2008/2500 points)

> 11 - Kuzan (1444/1500 points)

> 12 - Tateyana (1422/1500 points)

> 13 - Daniel (1415/2000 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day]

> 14 - Lus Sera (1212/1500 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the next 00:38:51 hours]

> 15 - Hyunda (864/4500 points) [Has a 50% acquisition boost for the next 00:38:51 hours]

> 16 - Kanawari (844/1000 points) [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Hiroyoshi Sagasuga]

> 17 - Akimiyashika (362/1000 points) [Every time Hiroyoshi Sagasuga scores a point and Izayoi Akimiyashika doesn't, that quantity will be subtracted from Izayoi Akimiyashika's point account and transferred to his account in the process]

> 18 - Yulia (0/99 points)

"There's only one way to get her out of this..." Hinagiku already knew what Daniel was planning "Seriously... This bitch had to get in the way... But not for long..." Hinagiku shouted in Lus and Kanawari's direction "DON'T LET HIM MAKE A CONTRACT WITH YULIA, YOU DUMBASSES!!" There was about only one way for the armless Daniel to make a contract with her "Y-You want us to....?!" Kanawari was confused as to what the plan was here "We cover his mouth..." But Lus understood and began to circulate her hands in the direction of the oddly composed Daniel.

He kept observing the points in the ranking ladder and after a basic calculation, he spoke his sentence.

"If she dies, you all die." With haste, Daniel's mouth was closed by Lus and Kanawari's hands "?!" The shock was still enough for everyone to process what he meant by his early surrender "I knew it was a fucking mistake to trust you for a second!!" Yukishiro demonstrated rage "God-FUCKING-DAMN-IT!!! NONE OF THIS WOULD'VE HAPPENED IF SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP!!!" Tateyana burst her anger at Yulia in the center "Oh dear. It seems like we got quite the situation in our hands, don't we?" Sagasuga sighed "How about we all calm down and realize the obvious?" Sagasuga managed to draw all the attention.

He spoke with clarity as he stayed composed.

"We don't kill Yulia and we continue with the strategy. How about this?" He proposed "T-That's right! We can just do that and it won't affect anything! We'll just continue to gain points!" Kanawari was beyond happy with this strategy "We buy another player and if that player just so happens to be Yulia, then what?" Kawahara questioned Sagasuga "...I think the odds are quite low, Kawahara..." Sagasuga found the possibility ridiculous "The possibility of this happening was already beyond low and yet it happened. I think it's fucking time we admit the truth of what's happening, lads." Kawahara now commanded the attention "There's someone behind the screen that has a clear vendetta against Daniel and this has been the case for a bit now. It's not a coincidence that they sent four assassins to get Daniel earlier yesterday and it's not a coincidence that a fucking goddamn Yulia clone or whatever the fuck I'm looking at right now, just so happened to be the new player! Come on, wake up already!" Kawahara shouted loud and clear.

And granted, this brought forth some wave of agreement.

"He's fucking right, Sagasuga." Yukishiro defended Kawahara's claim "I am willing to bet all my points on how if we follow the strategy, that another Yulia will just show up!" Yulia felt distressed by this claim "That---that can't be true! I'm the only on----" Yukishiro countered her "BULLSHIT!! I DON'T FUCKING KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT YOU ARE NOT HER!! YOUR CHARACTERS DON'T EVEN MATCH, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!!" She was quickly shut down "WHO ARE YOU BEHIND THAT MASK?! DID YOU GET PLASTIC SURGERY IN ORDER TO LOOK LIKE HER?! THAT'S GOTTA BE IT!!" Sana got up and made the claim "N-NO!!" Yulia adamantly denied it "THAT'S NOT TRUE!! THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED...!" Yulia further insisted "Then what DID HAPPEN, BITCH?! WHY ARE YOU WEARING MY DEAD'S BEST FRIEND'S FACE AND------" Yulia yelled back "THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED, I'M TELLING YOU!!" Her expression was full of grief and sadness "YOU GODDAMN BITCH...!!!" She didn't like how much she was into this act "Why the hell are you doubting me even?! It's my identity!! I've been 'Yulia' since the day I was born!! FUCK YOU!!" Her eyes pierced Sana's "....!!!" She felt nauseous by the avalanche of lies "Sana." Hyunda called out to her "She's beyond your reach." He then added something "She has more to gain from lying than admitting it, it seems." Sana didn't want to accept the truth of the matter.

The conversation had yet to reach a critical conclusion.

"So what now... I mean, the execution round is coming up..." Kuzan felt like there was no clear direction here "Let's just fucking kill her." Hyunda spoke out loud "It's either we do it or we follow the strategy, which, just like Yukishiro said-----has a very high likelihood of falling into the same pattern." Daniel carefully watched Hyunda from afar as he couldn't speak due to his mouth being blocked "It's a bad and awfully executed joke, Daniel. But maybe her death will make you snap out of it." Hyunda sided with the idea "After all, you were the one who proposed we kill the new player. No backing down now." Hyunda was fully convinced "That's right... You're my friend, Daniel. That's why her death will get you out of that damn delusion!" Ikkiri's words made Daniel's expression become brutally bitter.

Regardless, it had to go on.

"Simmer down, drama lovers, there's still some content left." Basara would then announce the tenth round.

Erigaisi would receive a most urgent call, causing him to erupt from his seat on the couch.

"Did you figure out who did it?" He intercepted it, earning the attention of the student council "....?" Andrea was curious to see what was happening in the call but didn't approach him "Ah, I see. A meeting, already?!" Everyone turned their heads around to where Erigaisi was walking in circles "I am only available tomorrow, I thought I made that clear! No, I can't! I can't! I'm telling you if the meeting is today, I absolutely can't!" Erigaisi began to be truly dramatic "I don't give a shit! Just do it without me! If anyone asks for my opinion just say I am in accordance with the most agreed opinion! Bye!" Angrily, Erigaisi hung up "Is everything alright, sir Erigaisi?" Liyuga asked the distressed Erigaisi "Ah yes, of course!" He adjusted his hair form with his right hand as he went back to his seat in the couch "Just some incompetent fools who can't do nothing without their leader, nothing much!" Erigaisi once again delved into the potato chip bag "I... see..." Liyuga was a bit suspicious but limited his vocabulary.

He looked bored.

With his points that he had acquired, he didn't feel nearly as respected as he should be and that's because; even though many acknowledged his points, they just thought that was all there was to it.

Despite his consequence in the last round that deemed that he would have ten red lights fully lit up, thus, a single additional one would symbolize his death----he still managed to get every claim right. Naturally, a deal was worked out between him and the current target of the judgment round, right before she was taken away to the very center.

But even then, the mere thought didn't seem right with him.

Dominance had to be asserted, especially if the power is great by nature.

"What the fuck is this? Why?" He couldn't understand it, as he placed his right fist on the right side of his face "I have over 15000 points. I am above Sagasuga by miles. The difference is astronomical so why isn't anyone talking about it? Hey, what the fuck... That's not... right... That's not how you treat your king..." Rayazaki's expression darkened ".........." He placed his eyesight on Daniel, who had his speech blocked "Why does this shit have to be about you? You're not the main character..." Rayazaki's teeth clenched "Heh, okay, okay, I'll teach you a fucking lesson that you'll remember for a lifetime... I gotta say, I'm pretty fucking lucky now that she's here..." Savagely, he licked his lips whilst looking at the hopeless Yulia at the center.

The tenth round was over and thus, Basara would declare it.

"Given how that was the last judgment round, we will now be advancing to the ex-----" An intervention was cut short "Wait up, teacher! This isn't seating right with me!!" Rayazaki eagerly intervened "....." And Basara was forced to acknowledge it by questioning the nature "Does it involve the game?" He asked "Oh, it sure does!" The confirmation was made.

Tenma Basara, under no circumstance, is allowed to firmly shut down a situation that revolves around the game's point progression or digression.

"Hey, you." Rayazaki looked at the center "Yes, you! I'm talking to YOU!" She could not ignore his words despite crying "Me...?!" Yulia faced Rayazaki from afar "Yes." Rayazaki calmly replied "What... the hell is he planning...?!" Lus became alerted "It's really unfair how you were bought only to not score. So, how about I lend some of my points to you so you don't just up and die?" Many became perplexed "Wait... What the hell are you saying?" Akimiyashika became worried "What? Oh, right. I should just show what I mean, shouldn't I?" Rayazaki grinned as he erupted his right index finger to the right bottom corner of the virtual box.

Everyone knew what he was about to do and as he did, Daniel's face became rageful at the mere thought as he started to grin his teeth.

"Yulia, I hereby offer you 2000 of my points if from here on, but every time you score a point, half of them have to be transferred to my account." The contract was struck and the window of the contract appeared in front of the hopeless Yulia as Rayazaki felt in control.

Their premade deal was therefore executed, as Yulia was acting according to Rayazaki's orders. She would blink twice if the claim was wrong and if the claim was right, she would blink thrice. That's how Rayazaki got everything right.

However, this wasn't met without some sort of backlash.

"BUT ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY, YOU BASTARD?!" Hinagiku got up from her seat and lashed at Rayazaki, who remained smug and beyond unaffected "Crazy? No, no-----" Without any sort of hesitance, it was cleared "YES, I ACCEPT IT!!" Yulia yelled as loud as she possibly could "Oh dear." Sagasuga murmured as he saw the ranking ladder become updated "What the fuck is happening?! She just...!!" Lus removed her hand from Daniel's mouth and Kanawari instinctively did the same as they observed the ranking ladder.

Which now was:

> 1 - Rayazaki (13046/20000 points) [Has a 25% point boost acquisition for the rest of the day] [Every time Hikaru Yulia earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Satou Rayazaki]

> 4 - Hinagiku (2346/2500 points)

> 5 - Sana (2296/2500 points)

> 6 - Yukishiro (2130/2500 points)

> 7 - Ikkiri (2102/2500 points)

> 8 - Yulia (2100/2500 points) [Every time Hikaru Yulia earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Satou Rayazaki]

> 9 - Stratos (2024/2500 points)

> 10 - Arkalee (2023/2500 points) [Kitsuya Arkalee's turn will be under Hirakibo Tatsu's control in the execution rounds until this day is over]

> 11 - Kawahara (2008/2500 points)

> 12 - Kuzan (1444/1500 points)

> 13 - Tateyana (1422/1500 points)

> 14 - Daniel (1415/2000 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day]

> 15 - Lus Sera (1212/1500 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the next 00:36:19 hours]

> 16 - Hyunda (864/4500 points) [Has a 50% acquisition boost for the next 00:36:19 hours]

> 17 - Kanawari (844/1000 points) [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Hiroyoshi Sagasuga]

> 18 - Akimiyashika (362/1000 points) [Every time Hiroyoshi Sagasuga scores a point and Izayoi Akimiyashika doesn't, that quantity will be subtracted from Izayoi Akimiyashika's point account and transferred to his account in the process]

"What... have you done...?!" Ikkiri was distraught as she saw who was at the very bottom "HAHAHAHAHA!!! NOW THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!! YES, YES!!" Rayazaki laughed in pure ecstasy as he watched all the reactions unfold subsequently "No... way... Why did this...?!" Akimiyashika was in utter disbelief as her face became horrified "What the fuck happened to the plan?" Kawahara asked Rayazaki "Ahhhh?! What plan?! Oh you mean that pussy shit that HE proposed?! Oh, I was fine with it, but you knowwwwwww, he really struck a nerve on me when he said that anyone that lays a finger on her will die! I got offended, you see!!" Rayazaki kept on laughing nonstop as Kawahara remained calm "So you're fine with becoming a target?" He asked "Huh? Oh yeah. Sure. Yeah, yeah. I don't mind. Good luck with that, HAHAHAH!!" Rayazaki didn't stop his laughter spree.

Hinagiku started the movement immediately.

"Ikkiri, we'll split 500 points in half!" In accordance, Ikkiri began to form the contract at the same time as Hinagiku "Woah, what's happening?" Yukishiro smiled as she saw the level of desperation made from the two of them "Izayoi Akimiyashika do you accept 500 of my points?!" Ikkiri began, but no contract could be formed "W-Why?!" She was unable to understand why "Why didn't it work, teacher?!" Hinagiku redirected herself to Basara "Thirty seconds." He replied in that manner "Damn it, you're so fucking useless!" Ikkiri retorted "Wait, what are you guys doing?" Akimiyashika asked them "We will save you, Aki, just accept it! But why couldn't we----" Hinagiku then realized "I get it! It has to be related to the game! We can't just give her free points!" She arrived at the conclusion "So there has to be a string attached?!" Ikkiri reasoned "Yes!!" Hinagiku replied back "Amazing. Synergy can be beautiful indeed." Sagasuga complimented them.

However, they weren't the only ones who were quick to realize what this meant, if the contracts really did go forth.

"Wait... If Akimiyashika is bailed, then the next one on the line is-----" As Tateyana came to the conclusion and looked in her direction, a contract was being formed by Lus "Kanawari, I'll give you 200 of my points but 25% of the points you earn in the next hour will be transferred to my account!" Nobody failed to notice this "What...?!" Hinagiku was not pleased whatsoever "O-Okay, fine...!!" Kanawari didn't fully agree with the approach but in order to save herself, she accepted the deal.

With twenty seconds remaining, the ranking ladder was updated.

> 4 - Hinagiku (2346/2500 points)

> 5 - Sana (2296/2500 points)

> 6 - Yukishiro (2130/2500 points)

> 7 - Ikkiri (2102/2500 points)

> 8 - Yulia (2100/2500 points) [Every time Hikaru Yulia earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Satou Rayazaki]

> 9 - Stratos (2024/2500 points)

> 10 - Arkalee (2023/2500 points) [Kitsuya Arkalee's turn will be under Hirakibo Tatsu's control in the execution rounds until this day is over]

> 11 - Kawahara (2008/2500 points)

> 12 - Kuzan (1444/1500 points)

> 13 - Kanawari (1444/1500 points) [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Hiroyoshi Sagasuga] [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 25% of it will be transferred to Lus Sera for the rest of the upcoming hour]

> 14 - Tateyana (1422/1500 points)

> 15 - Daniel (1415/2000 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day]

> 16 - Lus Sera (1012/1500 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the next 00:35:04 hours] [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 25% of it will be transferred to Lus Sera for the rest of the upcoming hour]

> 17 - Hyunda (864/4500 points) [Has a 50% acquisition boost for the next 00:35:04 hours]

Another drastic change was made just by a contract alone.

"I love this." Yukishiro couldn't help herself "Ikkiri, let's go with the same!! We'll apply the same condition and get Aki out of the situation!" Hinagiku proposed but she saw Ikkiri shaking for some reason, as fifteen seconds remained "Hey, you should hurry up and fucking choose already." Hyunda spoke to the horrified Ikkiri.

There was, obviously, a very clear reason as to why Ikkiri wasn't committing to the contract even if all the indications were there.

Akimiyashika noticed why she wasn't doing it.

"I-Ikkiri!! Y-You can't be serious?!" She thought this was illogical by all means "He tried to KILL YOU." Akimiyashika spoke with a higher voice now completely pointing at Hyunda next to him "HE HAD HIS CHANCE!!" Akimiyashika argued violently "DON'T YOU DARE LAY A FINGER ON HIM!!" Arkalee got up and started to argue with a loud voice from afar "SHUT THE HELL UP, WHORE!!! NOW'S NOT THE TIME!!!" Akimiyashika shouted at full maximum towards Arkalee "IKKIRI, CHOOSE ME!!! YOU CAN'T TRUST THIS GUY, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!!! JUST FUCKING DO IT ALREADY!!!" In a demanding tone, Ikkiri was purely pressured "I-----I CAN'T!!! THAT'S----WHY?!" Ten seconds remained on the clock "IKKIRI, SUBMIT THE CONTRACT WITH ME!! 500 POINTS EACH!! COME ON, IT'S NOT MUCH!!!" Hinagiku was still not committing to the contract despite having the idea in mind "I CAN'T!! I'M SORRY, I JUST CAN'T---!!!" Ikkiri began to weep "You----Ikkiri----!!!" Akimiyashika felt regret.

But she then spoke the words she never thought she would say to her.

"YOU USELESS SACK OF SHIT!!! YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A FUCKING PSYCHOPATH THAT TRIED TO KILL YOU AND AFTER I DEFEND YOU THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?! FUCKING KILL YOURSELF, YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT!!!!!" Akimiyashika showed no regret in her actions as Ikkiri's eyes widened "HINAGIKU, OFFER ME 1000 OF YOUR POINTS!!! YOU KNOW THIS ISN'T RIGHT!!! SO, DO IT!!!" Five seconds remained "I....." Hinagiku, without being able to control her thoughts correctly, looked at her own points, merely "HINAGIKU!!! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!" In pure distress, Akimiyashika demanded some sort of action as she got up from her seat, slamming her palms on the table "...No way." Coldly, Hinagiku rejected the idea.

Zero seconds remained.

Basara's maddening clap signified the bringing of her doom.

"AND THAT WRAPS IT UP!! THE EXECUTION ROUND'S TARGET HAS BEEN CHOSEN!!!" Akimiyashika, in disbelief, felt weak on her knees as she fell back on her chair, with everyone watching her every movement "N-No... THAT---CAN'T BE...!!" Horror began to rapidly consume her as Yulia's shackles were freed "So the game finally begins." The unheard voice began to show his true colors as the time was exact.

----------------------------------------

Thoroughly locked from her ankles to her wrists, Akimiyashika was the center of attention as Yulia was able to be set free. Her seat was Tsudo's prior seat, right next to Rayazaki.

"T-Thank you...! I was really a goner, if it wasn't for you...!!" Yulia showed a desperate affectionate smile to Rayazaki as she fawned over him "Hey, no problem! If you ever need points, just hit me up! We can work it out!" Rayazaki was happy to show some mutuality "...Really?" Yulia's face turned slightly serious "Mhm? Oh yeah. As I said, I'm your man if you are in need of points." Rayazaki still showed his confidence "...Oh. That's... reassuring!!" Yulia closed her eyes and said such.

Daniel observed their conversation with deadly eyes and an exasperated expression.

"My... woman..." Daniel lowly whispered those words as Lus and Kanawari watched it unfold "My woman... You have no right... You have to pay..." His hollow expression remained but it was clear to the two of them that he was not stable by any means "........" They both crossed glances with each other and Kanawari nodded sideways and Lus closed her eyes as she could only hope for the best.

However, the current situation was far from the best.

"Behold, the bounty!!" Basara's words revealed Akimiyashika's bounty right away for the entire student body to perceive.

> Target: Izayoi Akimiyashika

> Points earned from her death (collectively): 192 points.

> Points earned from her death (individually): 384 points.

> Bonus reward: You will be able to view the same options presented to you the moment you forfeited points and you will be allowed to have one option for free that is below your points in total.

"No..." Akimiyashika was in denial as she shook her head sideways over and over "......." Kawahara had a rare stoic expression as he watched Akimiyashika struggle "D-Daniel!!" Out of desperation, she directed her words to Daniel "Get me out of this position! I'll do anything you ask me!" Daniel's expression remained shrouded "You did it so many times! I can be useful to you! I am smart and cunning!!" She let out a smile midst that "You will be useful." Daniel coldly replied "Eh...?" Akimiyashika didn't know what to make of those words "Rayazaki! Since you came in first place this round, you'll be blessed with the reward!" The usual reward was therefore presented to Rayazaki as he accepted "How fitting, only I am able to kick whoever the fuck I want now. That's more like it." Rayazaki's narcissism was starting to radiate.

Hinagiku and Ikkiri refused to face Akimiyashika for the time being, as their feelings were conflicted.

As a silence infiltrated the atmosphere, Basara took advantage of that in order to accelerate the momentum.

"SPIN THE SKULL!!!" At his command, through 17 pictures, the skull of fire underwent his way in order to pick the individual that would have the most control over Akimiyashika's doom "I can't say I expected this, honestly..." Liyuga was dumbfounded by the recent events "You thought too highly of them, Liyuga." Andrea scolded him "Andrea..." Liyuga gulped "She's right." The president agreed with Andrea and gathered all of the attention of everyone in the room "You can't forget who they are and what their life choices have been. Observe." As the president said those words, their eyes were glued to the screens as tension rose to the highest level.

Eventually, it landed. The dread decimator had been chosen by the wheel.

"Daniel-fucking-Lead." Basara's words were monotone but he clapped in his direction as Daniel became the center of attraction "......." A silence was formed as everyone was curious to see what Daniel's plan was "Daniel, let's stick to the plan..." Akimiyashika tried to reason with the motionless Daniel who would not remove his eyes off Yulia no matter what "Buy a player... And the round ends... You said it yourself, d-didn't you? That no one has to die and that we can all have a happy ending! It's not too late for that!" Akimiyashika tried to be as calm and reasonable as possible despite the constant nonstop shivering "......." Daniel removed his eyes from Yulia momentarily, who was feeling slightly uncomfortable by how much attention Daniel was paying solely to her, and placed his vision on the ranking ladder "Daniel....!!" Akimiyashika felt stressed as her words went to deaf ears.

Akimiyashika has four red lights on her choker, out of ten.

Once he had absorbed all the necessary knowledge, Daniel made the decision.

"I wish to forfeit 100 points." He looked at Basara as he said such "I see. It's allowed then." The horizon was broadened by Basara's words and the sea of options ultimately expanded as the 100 choices were revealed to everyone.

With only a singular minute to choose, Daniel was presented with the following options:

> 1 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's both hands will be cut off in exchange for 2 of her choker's red lights (+200 points)

> 2 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's right arm will be cut off in exchange for 4 of her choker's red lights (+800 points)

> 3 - Transfer half of your points to Izayoi Akimiyashika in exchange for a 25% point acquisition boost for the next three hours.

> 4 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's choker's red lights will be depleted by three but her right and left shoulders will be clobbered with a warhammer ten times (+100 points)

> 5 - The fire skull will be spun at the cost of 100 points (you will be excluded from the round)

> 6 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's right eye will be removed in exchange for 1300 points.

> 7 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's points will be increased by 50% in exchange for 6 added red lights to her choker.

> 8 - You will be awarded 800 points, but will start the next round with 9 red lights.

> 9 - Forfeit any multiples of your points (x48) and add the same number to Izayoi Akimiyashika's choker's red lights.

> 10 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's both feet will be cut off in exchange for four of her red lights (+1000 points)

> 11 - Izayoi Akimiyashika can forfeit 1000 of her points in order to terminate the round; if you see this option, say out loud "11".

> 12 - Forfeit 2,000 points, your rewards will be doubled for the rest of the day.

> 13 - Forfeit 300 points; target one of your classmates----they will be swapped with Izayoi Akimiyashika as the execution round's target (Izayoi Akimiyashika can forfeit 50 points in order to nullify this)

> 14 - Izayoi Akimiyashika will be granted immunity for the whole day but she must choose 5 parts of her body to be disposed of.

> 15 - Transfer your points to an individual in your class (minimal point input: 500)

> 16 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's legs will be cut off in exchange for all of her red lights (+1600 points)

> 17 - Earn 2,000 points; if Izayoi Akimiyashika doesn't die in this round of execution, ten red lights will be lit up on your choker.

> 18 - Forfeit 200 points, decide the number of rounds within the next judgment round.

> 19 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's left ear will be cut off in exchange for 2 of her choker's red lights (+200 points)

> 20 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's nose will be cut off for 4 of her choker's red lights (+500 points)

> 21 - Forfeit 1,000 points; target one of your classmates, for the rest of the day they will receive a 50% point acquisition decreasement boost.

> 22 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's chest will be cut off for 3,500 points.

> 23 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's lips will be sealed for the entire day in exchange for all of her choker's red lights (+1400 points)

> 24 - Forfeit 3,000 points and select one of your classmates that has been previously been through a judgment round of their own; they will be the target of the next judgment round.

> 25 - Forfeit 1000 points to buy a new player into the game (they will start with the same points as the lowest ranked player, but with -50 points instead)

> 26 - Forfeit 10,000 points, target one of your classmates and for the next round, you get to determine how many red lights can be lit up from their choker.

> 27 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's both eyes will be stabbed three times each with a knife in exchange for all of her choker's red lights (+1200 points)

> 28 - Claim 600 points (this only applies if someone died in this round)

> 29 - Forfeit 1000 points, you will be absent for the next two rounds (you will receive 250 points + the points of the lowest ranked player when you return)

> 30 - Deplete red lights from Izayoi Akimiyashika's choker by acquiring points for her (1 red light = 48 points)

> 31 - Forfeit 10,000 points to negate all previous bonuses and effects applied to all of your classmates (you are excluded)

> 32 - Izayoi Akimiyashika will be awarded with 1000 points but every time her choker receives a red light, it will be 2 instead of 1.

> 33 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's fingers will be cut off in exchange for 3 of her choker's red lights (+250 points)

> 34 - Players above 10,000 points cannot participate until you reach 11,000 points (this only applies if you have killed two people via the game's mechanics)

> 35 - Forfeit 800 points to end the round, in which case, you will be awarded with 400 points.

> 36 - For the rest of the day, you will receive a 25% point acquisition boost in exchange for 3 of Izayoi Akimiyashika's choker's red lights.

> 37 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's legs and arms will be cut off in exchange for all of her choker's red lights (+7500 points)

> 38 - Earn 5,000 points; you cannot participate in execution rounds for the rest of the day.

> 39 - Earn x1000 points up to the number of times a body part of yours has been removed via the game's mechanics.

> 40 - Forfeit 1,500 points and you will be granted access to see all of the possible options within the game; only you will be granted access, however.

> 41 - Forfeit 700 points; for the rest of the day, for you alone, the time limit becomes 5 minutes.

> 42 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's forearms will be cut off in exchange for 4 of her choker's red lights (+1000 points)

> 43 - Izayoi Akimiyashika will be injected with poison cyanide in exchange for 2 of her choker's red lights (+200 points)

> 44 - Izayoi Akimiyashika will receive a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day in exchange for her calves and forearms.

> 45 - Target one of your classmates; earn half of their points thus reducing them from the extraction (this option is only available if you have killed someone via the mechanics of the game)

> 46 - Forfeit points that you own to place a bounty on one of your classmates (if you kill the person with that said bounty, you will earn double the number of what you forfeited)

> 47 - Pick one of the options above and apply it to yourself, in which case, all rewards go to you instead.

> 48 - Forfeit 250 points; remove Izayoi Akimiyashika's bounty.

> 49 - Forfeit 5,000 points, target one option and it will be removed for the whole day.

> 50 - Earn 30,000 points (this only applies if you've killed 6 players via the game's mechanics)

> 51 - In the next round, forfeit any number of available points to you in order to be in control of the input numbers of the participant, in which case, the forfeited number becomes the input number.

> 52 - Izayoi Akimiyashika will be awarded points equivalent to the highest current score (+500) but the next round's individual's choice will be not under their control (their points will be used randomly and the option choice as well).

> This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

> 53 - Decrease Izayoi Akimiyashika's red lights from her choker by taking points from her (1 red light is equivalent to 500 points) in which case those points are transferred to you.

> 54 - Forfeit 1000 points and switch with the individual that's currently being executed (you will be awarded with 500 points as an added bonus).

> 55 - Izayoi Akimiyashika will be granted 40,000 points but will be the target of the next execution regardless of the outcome of the subsequent round.

> 56 - A 10,000 point bounty will be placed on you and whoever manages to kill you via the means of the game, will be awarded the bounty points. However, should you not die today, you will be awarded 20,000 points before the conclusion of today.

> 57 - Forfeit 4,000 points and select an individual besides yourself, to be granted immunity for today.

> 58 - Izayoi Akimiyashika will intake a drink that will permanently damage her vocal cords in exchange for 500 points.

> 59 - Izayoi Akimiyashika will suffer an instant death penalty, but you will become the target for execution in the next round though you will be awarded all of her points.

> 60 - Forfeit 5,000 points in order to get priority knowledge on who will be chosen for the next round of judgment.

> 61 - Forfeit 4,000 points to make an individual win double of the points they gather from their correct guesses but should their guesses be wrong, they will be lose triple the points instead, for the rest of the day.

> 62 - Forfeit 7,500 points to take a permanent leave for the day (you will be awarded 5,000 points in return).

> 63 - Forfeit 10,000 points in order to acquire a new player to take your place (in which case, every point the player obtains will be transferred to your point account and you are free to take a day off, but if the player dies or hits the total points of 0 points; you will be forced to return to the game as soon as possible)

> 64 - Izayoi Akimiyashika's spine will be removed for 30,000 points.

> 65 - Forfeit 2,000 points in order to win a 75% point boost acquisition for the rest of the day, but should you get a claim wrong, the 75% point boost acquisition will become a 75% point boost acquisition in reverse and will only change back when you get a claim right (should you fail to get it right three times in a row it will not go back)

> 66 - Izayoi Akimiyashika will be awarded 15,000 points but she must name ten parts of his body that she wishes to dispose of.

> 67 - Target one of your classmates, they can forfeit 5000 points to nullify this, otherwise they will be the target for the next execution round regardless of rankings (this only applies if you have killed someone via the mechanics of the game)

> 68 - Forfeit 1,600 points and select one of your classmates; if they don't kill someone via the game mechanics in four hours, they will die.

> 69 - Place a 1 hour time bomb around Izayoi Akimiyashika's heart, which in return will give her 500 points. 3,000 points can be used from Izayoi Akimiyashika to remove the bomb.

> 70 - Forfeit 30,000 points to kick someone permanently from the game, besides you.

> 71 - The first five rounds of every judgment will earn you the correct point quota, regardless of the answer (this only applies if you have killed 2 people via the game mechanics).

> 72 - Forfeit 10,000 points, you can choose the claims that will be used in the upcoming judgment round as well as apply a rule of your own.

> 73 - Forfeit 50,000 points; absorb all bonuses and effects all to yourself, your classmates will be awarded 25,000 points each, but they will have their respective bonuses and effects depleted.

> 74 - Forfeit 8,000 points, for the next three hours, your choker's red lights cannot be lit up.

> 75 - Forfeit 100,000 points to transfer classes.

> 76 - Select up to five of your classmates; earn half of their points combined but they must be below 10,000 points (this only applies if you have killed three people through the game's mechanics)

> 77 - Forfeit 10,000 points, target one of your classmates; they cannot accept contracts in the next five hours.

> 78 - Select one of the zones (from the 10th to the 7th) and claim it (this only applies if you've killed five people through the game's mechanics)

> 79 - Forfeit half of your points; the skull will be spun again but you won't be excluded from the round.

> 80 - Forfeit 3,500 points and target one of your classmates; for the next four hours, that individual will not die.

> 81 - Choose any of the options prior and apply it to any of your classmates (this only applies if you've killed ten people through the game's mechanics)

> 82 - All of Izayoi Akimiyashika's choker's red lights will be increased (even the final one) but you must choose a body piece that you wish to forfeit (+600 points)

> 83 - Instantly kill Izayoi Akimiyashika (you must have claimed at least one zone)

> 84 - Forfeit 20,000 points; target one of your classmates, they count as two players.

> 85 - Forfeit 5,000 points; no new players can be bought in the next two hours.

> 86 - Izayoi Akimiyashika will gain immunity for the next four hours but she must forfeit three of her body pieces (+2000 points)

> 87 - Forfeit 3,000 points, you will gain knowledge of the answers to every claim in the upcoming judgment round.

> 88 - Target the most recently bought new player; adjust their point barrier to any number you desire that isn't above the highest score in half.

> 89 - Forfeit 1,000 points, adjust your point barrier.

> 90 - You may choose two options instead of one (this only applies if you've killed two people through the game's mechanics)

> 91 - Forfeit any number of your points and target one of your classmates; that individual's points cannot go higher than the total amount of the points you just forfeited for the next two hours.

> 92 - Forfeit 10,000 points; contracts cannot be formed in the upcoming hour.

> 93 - Absorb 25% of the total collective points from all the individuals playing to your account (this only applies if you've killed one person through the game's mechanics)

> 94 - Forfeit 1,000 points; earn the right to kick someone in the next round (only one time)

> 95 - Earn half of the combined points of all your classmates but you can no longer kill any player (this only applies if you've killed seven people through the game's mechanics)

> 96 - Forfeit 500 points in order to extend the time limit right now to 3 minutes (you can pick another option afterwards)

> 97 - You will be granted complete immunity until the end of the day (this only applies if you've killed ten people through the game's mechanics)

> 98 - Forfeit 7,500 points; any player below you will receive a 50% decreasement boost for the next two hours.

> 99 - Forfeit 2,000 points; every time you score correctly, the points will double (this effect stacks), however, should you score incorrectly more than three times, you will die.

> 100 - Every time a player dies, half of their points will be transferred to you (this only applies if you've killed two people through the game's mechanics)

The average human can read 5 words per second. Considering the length of each sentence at display, it's fair to assume that it would require a total of three seconds, with best precision, to read one completely.

However, reading and then processing it, are two separate things. There is a vast importance in knowing what the context of what you are reading implies. Therefore, it's critical to be able to assert what matters or not.

With that taken into consideration, it's reasonable to assume that in order to read and process a sentence, it usually takes around 5 to 6 seconds.

Should this logic be applied to the current circumstance, then reading and processing every sentence out of 100 that are shown at full display, would take around somewhere between 500 seconds and 600 seconds.

By default, it's unreasonable to attempt to try and do this sort of method with the intention of knowing which option is the best.

But he, was, different.

"Kick him, Rayazaki....!!" Yukishiro immediately insisted as she began to feel her intuition on the edge "That freak is actually trying to read all of them, look at his eyes and the way he's paying so much attention!!" She couldn't stop feeling in doubt "........" Rayazaki, on the other hand, took this opportunity to get a good read of as many options as he could before he would decide whether or not he would kill Daniel "He's not following the strategy he proposed, is he now?" Tateyana asked Sagasuga "I strongly doubt it. His... conviction seems rather... malicious this time around..." Sagasuga's eyes narrowed as he could not ignore the danger of the threat "Rayazaki, kick him. He's the worst person to have power right now." Kawahara told "No, there are worse people to have the option to choose right now." Rayazaki reasoned "He will kill her." Kawahara told "And? So will practically anyone else now." Rayazaki countered ".........." Kawahara became silent and sighed while tilting his neck upwards "You can't say I didn't try..." He lowly murmured.

Akimiyashika tried to bargain again, as there were about thirty seconds left.

"Alright... I... don't... mind having a body piece cut off, but please choose one that isn't too painful!" Akimiyashika began to accept the possibility of having a body piece cut from her "Anything but dying, please!! I... don't want to die...!! My story hasn't even been told yet, I...!! I just don't want to die, Daniel!" She begged as she cried out with tears "Hmm?!" Rayazaki, upon encountering a certain option, acted on impulse "KICK, DANIEL LEAD!!" This action surprised just about everyone "What the?!" Sana was confused "I think he saw the horrors in a certain option." Sagasuga spoke "......." Daniel didn't speak to Rayazaki but cast one last glance at him while silently smiling with his eyes narrowed "Son of a----" Rayazaki felt stressed "Hey, why did you kick him?" Yulia asked him "He can't have that..." Rayazaki told Yulia "Have what?" She continued "........" Rayazaki posed silence.

Without anyone to stop the next person, it would become far more decisive.

And thus, Basara demanded it.

"SPIN THE SKULL!!!" His calling arranged the symphony immediately as the selection between 17 people was arranged once again.

In no time, the skull chose its arbiter.

"Tatsu, your turn." Basara gave him the privilege "Ugh...!!" Akimiyashika didn't feel entirely comfortable with Tatsu on the lead "Kill her." Arkalee demanded from him "......." Tatsu remained silent and forfeited his desired quota.

Which was 100 points as well and a similar sea of options appeared before him, with most of the options being the same except for a few.

"Tatsu, please..." Akimiyashika felt distraught "Shit, it's actually kinda impossible to tell what the fuck this guy is thinking as well..." Tateyana confessed "We know zero about the guy except that he probably has a crush on Arkalee for whatever reason." Kuzan added "Yeah." All eyes remained on Tatsu but he eventually made his call.

It was a most surprising option.

"Option 63!" Most jaws dropped as they began to see the pattern "Fuck me, what the fuck is wrong with this dude's head?! I mean....!! Like, I guess, but...!!" Tateyana understood the decision but still didn't fully support it "Option 63 allows you to pick to pick an option that is prior to it. So, which one will it b------" Basara's words were cut short as Tatsu had made up his mind for the moment he saw it "Option 53! I want it to be applied to myself, NOW!!" Tatsu demanded and Rayazaki's teeth gritted "THIS IMPUDENT PIECE OF SHIT, YOU DARE!!!" Rayazaki's throne was threatened "Wait, what does option 53 do to yourself, exactly?!" Tateyana asked Sagasuga instead of looking at the board "It reads the following: Izayoi Akimiyashika will be awarded points equivalent to the highest current score (+500) but the next round's individual's choice will be not under their control (their points will be used randomly and the option choice as well)." Sagasuga replied logically "Uhh...!!" Tateyana realized it "Hold the HELL UP!! Doesn't this mean that Tatsu will be the highest one now and the next person won't have control over how many points they waste and their choice will be beyond their control?! Besides, the target won't be Tatsu and it will be Akimiyashika!!!!" She was beyond dumbfounded but so were many others as they realized what was about to happen.

But the one most enraged was without a shadow of doubt, Rayazaki.

"GOD...FUCKING....DAMN IT....!!!" He couldn't believe that he was dethroned that early as the ranking ladder updated the moment Tatsu's option applied to him.

> 1 - Tatsu (18446/20000 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day] [Kitsuya Arkalee's turn will be under Hirakibo Tatsu's control in the execution rounds until this day is over]

> 2 - Rayazaki (13046/20000 points) [Has a 25% point boost acquisition for the rest of the day] [Every time Hikaru Yulia earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Satou Rayazaki]

> 3 - Sagasuga - (4412/4500 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day] [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Hiroyoshi Sagasuga] [Every time Izayoi Akimiyashika scores a point and Hiroyoshi Sagasuga doesn't, that quantity will be subtracted from Hiroyoshi Sagasuga's point account and transferred to her account in the process]

> 4 - Hinagiku (2346/2500 points)

> 5 - Sana (2296/2500 points)

> 6 - Yukishiro (2130/2500 points)

> 7 - Ikkiri (2102/2500 points)

> 8 - Yulia (2100/2500 points) [Every time Hikaru Yulia earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Satou Rayazaki]

> 9 - Stratos (2024/2500 points)

> 10 - Arkalee (2023/2500 points) [Kitsuya Arkalee's turn will be under Hirakibo Tatsu's control in the execution rounds until this day is over]

> 11 - Kawahara (2008/2500 points)

> 12 - Kuzan (1444/1500 points)

> 14 - Tateyana (1422/1500 points)

> 15 - Daniel (1315/2000 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day]

> 16 - Lus Sera (1012/1500 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the next 00:28:57 hours] [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 25% of it will be transferred to Lus Sera for the rest of the upcoming hour]

> 17 - Hyunda (864/4500 points) [Has a 50% acquisition boost for the next 00:28:57 hours]

The tides turned quickly as Tatsu was able to stand on top now that Rayazaki came in second place.

But now, there was a bigger problem at hand.

"What the fuck happens now?!" Kanawari questioned Daniel though he didn't reply, yet Lus did "It's beyond our control... Just pray you're not the target of the skull because the points deducted are random...!!" Kanawari gulped "Random?! So there's no set quantity?!" She dreaded.

Regardless of worries, the option set in motion was already underway. Thus, the skull spun through the wheel as it chose its next target; albeit Tatsu is excluded now.

"Newcomer, tough luck for you!!" Basara pitied Stratos as he was chosen "Damn it..." His expression darkened.

Afterwards, instead of Stratos being able to pick how many points he wished to forfeit, the quantity that was forfeited, was a random number between 1 to 2024.

"924!!! HOLY SHIT, THAT'S ROUGH!!!" Everybody started to mock him as 924 options suddenly appeared on the gigantic screen "You need something beyond good to save your ass now, boy." Arkalee grinned as Stratos had lost almost half of his points "Unreal..." He detested the circumstance as his option was chosen at random.

But despite that, it was not Stratos that was having the worst time here. That's right; that would be Akimiyashika, who had her life at the hands of two psychopaths and now, her life could very well be terminated randomly.

Option 259 was chosen and it read the following: Forfeit a body piece of your choice; your point barrier will be adjusted to the closest number to your current points.

"Yikes." Kuzan felt sorry for Stratos "Ahhh..." Akimiyashika let out a relief breath as she was not the target this time "Oh, come on...!!" Stratos became enraged "This is such bullshit, man!" He furtheer complained "Well, what'll it be?" Basara asked Stratos "Uh... My pinky finger, the left one..." Stratos was quick to come to terms with his fate as a guard cut it open with his guerrilla knife "AGGHHHHHHH....!!!" In pain, Stratos lost his pinky finger "At least he got the adjustment... It's 1500 points now. It could be way worse." Sana noted "It almost makes no difference, actually." Hyunda added "Yeah..." Sana agreed as the suspense grew.

Down to the fourth spin, the skull would choose its next target as Akimiyashika dreaded.

With Tatsu and Stratos out of the equation, only 15 others remained to be chosen.

"Kanawari, you're up!!" Basara declared "......!!!!" Akimiyashika met Kanawari's eyes and knew not what to expect of this outcome "Don't kill me... Please, I'm begging you, anything but that...!!" Akimiyashika once again pleaded "Just let me go...!!!! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE, THIS IS SO FUCKING STRESSING!!!" As Akimiyashika cried out, Lus felt her pain "PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!! NOT MY LIFE, I'M SERIOUS!!!" Her cries didn't stop.

Kanawari had her mind set on one thing and one thing only.

Fixing her current situation and restoring her balance.

Thus, she started by forfeiting 50 points.

"Remember, there's that option. It's your only choice." Lus reminded Kanawari "Yeah... There's no other way to get rid of this damn curse otherwise..." Kanawari acknowledged as she cast a hateful glance in Sagasuga's direction "........." Sagasuga noticed this "I select option 13!!" Without hesitance, Kanawari revealed which option she was choosing.

Which read as the following: Forfeit 300 points; target one of your classmates----they will be swapped with Izayoi Akimiyashika as the execution round's target (Izayoi Akimiyashika can forfeit 50 points in order to nullify this)

"Halt, Kanawari." Sagasuga elevated from his seat "Don't bother, you're done for." She got up as well "Hear my proposition first. I think we can solve this rationally. There's no guarantee that things will work the way you want them to." Sagasuga enticed Kanawari with his words "...That's a pretty bold statement. Are you claiming that your chances of surviving are high?" She grinned "No, of course not. Even I know for a fact how improbable it is. Henceforth, I want to negotiate terms and I believe they benefit you more than gambling on the possibility of me dying, which would break the bind of our contract, which is what you want, correct?" Sagasuga was persuasive "........" Kanawari looked at Lus "......" Lus didn't say anything "Speak, then." Kanawari, feeling in control allowed Sagasuga to navigate the situation.

Face to face with her, Sagasuga went down to the core.

"I propose the following: Our contract becomes null." Kanawari was interested "And how does that work? You just propose it and it can be done?" Kanawari asked "Yes. However, that wouldn't entirely benefit you. So, I propose additionally the following: Not only will our contract be nullified, but the reverse will be proposed to you." Kanawari became perplexed for a second "....." But she tried to create a poker face "Well... Make the contract, then." She demanded "Hm... Alright." Sagasuga analyzed her expression "Gayakirima Kanawari, do you agree to nullify our contract that states that every point you earn will be attributed to me by half, and if so, do you additionally agree to have the condition be applied to me; under the premise of the following..." Kanawari's face became distorted "Huh?! No, no, no, sto----" But Sagasuga continued with his plan "You must select Satou Rayazaki as your target." His plan was therefore revealed.

Rayazaki fell into madness shortly after.

"Bitch, I will fucking MURDER YOU!!" To Kanawari, he gave that threat "Pick me, I fucking dare you. Do it, bitch." Rayazaki tempted her "Watch what my points can do if I put my mind into it. Test the waters, come on." He persisted with his taunting "Ok, but why not Tatsu instead? Rayazaki is second place, Sagasuga." Yukishiro questioned "For the sake of some order. I'm trying to get the best outcome here. So, Kanawari, please hurr-----" Sagasuga became dumbfounded with her upcoming words "Nobody here is a bigger threat than you, you fucking master manipulator...!!" She instantly rejected the contract "Don't do this. The endgame doesn't favor you at all. Think rationally, please. You're being too emotional right no-----" Kanawari completed her intended sentence "MY TARGET IS HIROYOSHI SAGASUGA!!!" Against Sagasuga's prediction, such an outcome came to light as Akimiyashika's shackles were freed "This is... utter nonsense." For the first time, Sagasuga began to lack composure.

His expression began to darken as he didn't necessarily agree with the course of action.

Even so, with Akimiyashika free, Sagasuga took her place.

"Oh thank God!!" Akimiyashika, now freed and outside the center, cried out as she looked in the direction of Ikkiri and Hinagiku "I'm just------" Their expressions weren't friendly whatsoever and Akimiyashika quickly remembered what she said to Ikkiri and Hinagiku "............" Her mouth was slightly open and she looked down on the ground as she had no words to say to the two of them who looked at her, not as a friend, but as someone they were ready to kill.

With Sagasuga at the very center, the tides shifted once again.

The individuals absent from being chosen by the skull are: Tatsu, Stratos, and Kanawari.

14 others were still available and Akimiyashika could potentially participate as Sagasuga held four red lights on his choker due to the transfer that happens. As well as Akimiyashika's previous bounty.

"Spin it." Far more serious now, Basara allowed the skull to pick its target "...I didn't expect her to actually survive..." Lus confessed to Daniel, who didn't pay attention to what she said "...He can't be allowed to live... He has to die, for the sake of that dumb contract being abolished...!!" Kanawari was adamant about it "You dumb fucking fuck." Without looking at her, Daniel insulted Kanawari "?!" She felt massively offended "You had the perfect opportunity and you blew it. I'm killing you in the next round." Daniel declared "Huh!?" Lus' facial expression twisted "You're insane...!!" Kanawari felt fear just by looking at Daniel's eyes "No. No, I'm not." He denied it as Kanawari grew even more fearful "I should have chosen him, not Sagasuga..." Kanawari had this particular thought to herself as she overlooked Daniel completely.

The skull landed eventually.

"Ikkiri, make it count!!" Rikishima Ikkiri, the chosen name, gave forth the permission for the decision and as such, Sagasuga instantly made his move "Ikkiri, I have a proposition for you." Sagasuga told her "Okay, say it." She remained very composed and even welcomed the suggestion "Terminate the round and I will give you half of my points." The deal was proposed "Jesus..." Kuzan couldn't hide his surprise "That's definitely enough for her to break her barrier and go even further..." Tateyana reasoned as well "Hmm... Thanks, but no, thanks." Ikkiri smiled at Sagasuga.

Then, she proceeded to forfeit 50 points as she had one particular option in mind.

"Option 32!!" Ikkiri declared "Oh, I see. You're a gambler? I can't say I'm fond of that." Sagasuga critiqued.

Option 32 reads as the following: Forfeit 2,000 points in order to win a 75% point boost acquisition for the rest of the day, but should you get a claim wrong, the 75% point boost acquisition will become a 75% point boost acquisition in reverse and will only change back when you get a claim right (should you fail to get it right three times in a row it will not go back).

"You're dumb... Stop running away from it..." Hyunda became mad at Ikkiri's decision "I'm trying..." Ikkiri struggled to make the decision on her own "........!!!" Akimiyashika noticed how the positions have changed.

The updated ranking ladder was the following:

> 4 - Hinagiku (2346/2500 points)

> 5 - Sana (2296/2500 points)

> 6 - Yukishiro (2130/2500 points)

> 7 - Yulia (2100/2500 points) [Every time Hikaru Yulia earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Satou Rayazaki]

> 8 - Arkalee (2023/2500 points) [Kitsuya Arkalee's turn will be under Hirakibo Tatsu's control in the execution rounds until this day is over]

> 9 - Kawahara (2008/2500 points)

> 10 - Kuzan (1444/1500 points)

> 11 - Kanawari (1144/1500 points) [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Hiroyoshi Sagasuga] [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 25% of it will be transferred to Lus Sera for the rest of the upcoming hour]

> 12 - Tateyana (1422/1500 points)

> 13 - Daniel (1315/2000 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day]

> 14 - Stratos (1100/1500 points)

> 15 - Lus Sera (1012/1500 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the next 00:26:35 hours] [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 25% of it will be transferred to Lus Sera for the rest of the upcoming hour]

> 16 - Hyunda (864/4500 points) [Has a 50% acquisition boost for the next 00:26:35 hours]

> 18 - Ikkiri (52/2500 points) [Rikishima Ikkiri has a 75% point boost acquisition for the rest of the day, but should she get a claim wrong, the 75% point boost acquisition will become a 75% point boost acquisition in reverse and will only change back when she gets a claim right (should she fail to get it right three times in a row it will not go back).

"Dumb-fucking fuck." Hyunda was not pleased at all "The bitch is not worthy of you..." Hyunda cast a hate glance at Akimiyashika who was starting to regret her shameful phase earlier "I... I....!! Oh God, why did I------" She covered her mouth "Don't get it twisted, please." Ikkiri made Akimiyashika look at her "You will rot and I will be there on top of you to watch as you die." Akimiyashika's eyes widened "Because that's what a true friend would do~" She grinned to the terrified Akimiyashika, who started to maniacally lowly laughing "Ha... hahaha...!!" Her mental state was shaken to say the least.

Nevertheless, Basara had to get the ball rolling.

"Spin it, NOW!!" With Sagasuga still at the mercy of 13 others, the game went on.

Quickly, it landed, as Tatsu, Stratos, Kanawari, and Ikkiri, are excluded.

"Sana, lead the way." Basara announced as Sana was chosen "......" Very moody due to the recent circumstances, Sana was not in the most rational mindset "Question: Is it a coincidence that the other options that were chosen by the others no longer appear?" She asked Basara, but Sagasuga answered "No, it's part of the game. If you pick an option, it will be filtered out. That's why Tatsu played it well by using that combination." Sagasuga clarified "Ah. Alright. I see." Her voice was monochromatic "So, I can't use the same option as Kanawari. Fantastic." Her sarcasm was leaking "Sagasuga... Give me one reason as to why I shouldn't have your death calm my nerves?" Her eyes were tired, almost as if she had gone to a state of mind not so distant.

Sagasuga calmly delivered his reasoning.

"Because I am not your target and it'll give you a false sense of accomplishment. Why not carefully plan your takedown and see this opportunity as one to gather free points at the cost of my freedom?" Sagasuga was thorough "Oh, how right you are. That's right. I should carefully strategize everything and just ignore how I'm feeling. How logical of you." Sagasuga was not feeling that his words made any impact at all "Alright, you convinced me. That was a sound reasoning to me. However, I'm feeling bad right now. I won't kill you. But I'll come up with something." Those were not the words Sagasuga wanted to hear "Sana, we can talk this out..." He said "Can we?" She forfeited 100 of her points "Yes, yes, we can." Sagasuga still saw opportunity for reason "I like you. Calm and reasonable." Sana confessed "I'm flattered you think so." Sagasuga sighed.

Sana picked an option that made many get up from their seats as they widened their eyes.

"W-WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU...?!" Rayazaki was unable to see as to why she would give him such a lead "That's annoying." Tatsu's expression darkened "She's literally Satan, holy shit!!" Kuzan exclaimed as well "Nothing personal. I'm just feeling bad right now." Sana justified it "So bad that you're going to give his body nightmares." Hyunda added "......." Sana looked at Hyunda with an abhorrent glance "It doesn't concern you." She replied to him "Oh dear. Am I in danger, by some chance?" Sagasuga maintained his composure as four guards approached him, carrying several killing tools.

Two hacksaws, multiple katanas, guerrilla knives, a chainsaw, and a set of syringes alongside some band wraps to cover up the open wounds, were brought along.

In the most extreme cases, the staff members will do everything they can to make sure the individual does not suffer from such pain where it would become fatal.

After all, the option that was chosen was the following: Option 37: Hiroyoshi Sagasuga will be awarded 15,000 points but he must name ten parts of his body that he wishes to dispose of.

"Toes count as one. Fingers count as one." One of the guards clarified "I'm aware." Sagasuga sighed heavily "Alright, then name them." The other guard, who is holding the chainsaw, demanded "Toes, fingers, hands, forearms, arms, shoulders, feet, calves, nose and then the thighs." Sagasuga named them all "I'll keep my ears and my eyes." Sagasuga sighed once again "You're a demon..." Akimiyashika spoke to Sana "Shut the fuck up and be glad that's not you. Because if it had landed on me, that would be you." Akimiyashika once again grew horrified "Christ...!!!" Rayazaki threw up to his right side as the cutting started "BLEGH!!!" Tateyana also threw up as it was showing to be beyond her control "OH GOD, HOLY FUCKING SHIT!! JESUS CHRIST!!!" Many other reactions went underway as Sagasuga underwent what could only be qualified as perhaps one of the most brutal tortures of them all.

Only 1,2% of the human population knows the physical pain Sagasuga underwent that day.

"Ahhhhh....!!" Unable to be composed as he was not immune to physical pain, Sagasuga looked at his new body "No hands. No forearms. No shoulders. No feet. No calves. No thighs. That's... How do you even get out of there?!" Tateyana asked Sagasuga "Oh, worry not.... At such times, the guards are actually forced to get me to my seat when the game is playing. When it's not though? Yeah, tough luck, hahahah...." Sagasuga's ragged breath alongside his profound sweating were begging to show.

But despite that, the round was not actually over, as some players were more absorbed onto the fact that Sagasuga was once again, the king of the hill as the ranking ladder updated.

> 1 - Sagasuga - (24412/25000 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day] [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Hiroyoshi Sagasuga] [Every time Izayoi Akimiyashika scores a point and Hiroyoshi Sagasuga doesn't, that quantity will be subtracted from Hiroyoshi Sagasuga's point account and transferred to her account in the process]

> 2 - Tatsu (18446/20000 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day] [Kitsuya Arkalee's turn will be under Hirakibo Tatsu's control in the execution rounds until this day is over]

> 3 - Rayazaki (13046/20000 points) [Has a 25% point boost acquisition for the rest of the day] [Every time Hikaru Yulia earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Satou Rayazaki]

> 4 - Hinagiku (2346/2500 points)

> 5 - Sana (2296/2500 points)

> 6 - Yukishiro (2130/2500 points)

> 7 - Yulia (2100/2500 points) [Every time Hikaru Yulia earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Satou Rayazaki]

> 8 - Arkalee (2023/2500 points) [Kitsuya Arkalee's turn will be under Hirakibo Tatsu's control in the execution rounds until this day is over]

> 9 - Kawahara (2008/2500 points)

> 10 - Kuzan (1444/1500 points)

> 12 - Tateyana (1422/1500 points)

> 13 - Daniel (1315/2000 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day]

> 14 - Stratos (1100/1500 points)

> 15 - Lus Sera (1012/1500 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the next 00:25:58 hours] [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 25% of it will be transferred to Lus Sera for the rest of the upcoming hour]

> 16 - Hyunda (864/4500 points) [Has a 50% acquisition boost for the next 00:25:58 hours]

"Stupid fuck. You could've picked another option, there was no need to give him so many points! You're not even satisfied, your face is completely stoned!!" Rayazaki shouted at Sana, who remained motionless "True..." She acknowledged "It appears, only one singular thing can bring me the utmost satisfaction..." She pierced Yulia with her eyesight "Bitch..." Yulia narrowed her eyes.

Basara was forced to rev the engine of the momentum.

"CHRIST, WE'RE NEVER GETTING OUT OF HERE AT THIS RATE!!! SPIN THE FUCKING SKULL!!!" No longer composed, Basara threw a pose as he wanted to see a conclusion to this execution round as soon as possible.

With the exclusion of Tatsu, Stratos, Kanawari, Ikkiri, and now Sana, there were only 12 other individuals at display.

"Oh dear. Out of everyone here, I was sure that you'd be the one that I could never truly reason with. See face to face, value to value, perspective to perspective..." Sagasuga brutally sighed "So it seems." He replied "Hyunda, you're UP!!!" Basara declared as the name "Hajime Hyunda" was chosen "......." Daniel transiently took his eyes off Yulia and paid attention to Hyunda this time around.

Despite what Sagasuga said, he did try to reason with Hyunda.

"I am, very, but very desperate..." Sagasuga's ragged breath was showing nonstop as his eyelids grew tired "I think you're tired. Don't you need a rest, man?" Hyunda serenely spoke to Sagasuga "You think so?" Sagasuga asked "Yeah. Putting up with my bullshit all the time has to be tiring, no?" Hyunda grinned "Hah... That's true. If that's what you mean, then yes, you best believe that I am tired. Tired of you, I am." Sagasuga sighed "What the hell are they talking about?!" Yukishiro could not find this conversation even more strange "Hey, Sagasuga!!! Don't give up, you can do this still!!" Tateyana cheered for him "I wonder... Well, Hyunda, how about all of my points for a round closure?" A most absurd offer was made.

The offer, was so strong, that it created silence throughout the room.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me." Yukishiro was in disbelief "24k points, just for a round closure?! Holy fucking shit..." Kuzan was static "That's impossible to decline..." Lus admitted "..........." Daniel remained silent.

Hyunda crossed his forearms and closed his eyes as he became the center of attention.

"But how boring are we, as a whole?" He asked the question "Chapter after chapter, delivering nothing but cheap plot twists, lackluster character motivations... My audience hungers. It hungers so much, beyond their wildest dreams." He began to draw skeptical attention as everyone wasn't understanding what he was talking about "He's insane... No, I had an idea he was, but this just proves it... The dude's fucking delusional." Rayazaki claimed "I am the paragon here, your messiah. Your expectations are not just fantasies..." He calmly opened his eyes as he forfeited 200 points "200?! What for?!" Akimiyashika didn't understand the necessity "Behold, you monkey." The astray of possibilities was open as the 200 options were revealed.

Though they tried to read it, it was far too many.

"I take it you're not attending it?" Sagasuga questioned Hyunda as he kept looking for his desired option "The witch must be hunted. She has gone too far. Nobody messes with my story. It's my story." Hyunda defended "I do agree. However, I don't think the endgame favors you." Sagasuga confessed "I always win." Hyunda finally saw the option he had in mind amidst the lower 150's "Well, if you say so..." He shrugged "And..." Sagasuga looked in the direction of Daniel, who remained cold-hearted "Es ist gut zu wissen, dass die Sonne am Ende des dunklen Horizonts hell scheint, nicht wahr?" Sagasuga lowly recited those words, which caused Daniel to transiently flinch and open his eyesight more attentively towards him now "....?!" Unaware as to why he was able to break out of his own suspense, Daniel looked at Sagasuga now, far more carelessly "Lass uns wieder Tee trinken, mein Freund." Hyunda had come to terms with his decision.

Option 145: Increase Hiroyoshi Sagasuga's choker's red lights up to the quantity of points that you can forfeit (1 red light = 100 points).

Hyunda chose all of his 800 points, thus placing eight additional red lights on Sagasuga's choker, which was far more than enough to do the job.

"You showof--------" Sagasuga's words weren't fully completed because at Hyunda's executed order, the explosion within the choker caused Sagasuga's head to fly up in the air as a blood eruption formed from his neck "EEEEEEK!!!!" Tateyana grew immediately afraid as she realized that Sagasuga had been dealt with "No---fucking way-----that Sagasuga, really, died?!" Akimiyashika was baffled by how unrealistic this was in her mind "...Nobody's safe... then..." Kuzan realized, as his eyes grew hollow.

Kanawari, on the other hand, as she saw Sagasuga's head roll on the floor with his lifeless eyes, got up and celebrated.

"YES!!! FINALLY, OH MY GOD!!!" Freed from her contract, as it no longer appeared as one of the side effects in the ranking ladder, Kanawari was beyond happy "I can finally score points normally now...!!" She looked at Lus, who for some reason, had a terribly rigid expression "Lus...?" She didn't understand why "...So that's why...!!" She kept looking up to who was in the first place "........" Daniel as well had an extremely rigid expression as he could not ignore what just had happened.

Hyunda's order killed Sagasuga, and for the first time in this game, someone died at the hands of somebody else. In other words, Sagasuga was killed by Hyunda.

Thus, when such happens, there is a natural flow to follow.

"Due to Sagasuga's death, the transfer will be made accordingly." At Basara's command, Sagasuga's name was erased from the top and the point transfer began "What the...!!!" Hinagiku couldn't help but be shocked "Sagasuga's contracts will all expire and it was as if they never existed, so that means you won't be able to keep them." Basara spoke to him "Yeah, I know." Hyunda didn't deny it "However, his points will all be yours, so with that in mind, accept them." There wasn't much of an option though, as Hyunda's name replaced Sagasuga and the ranking ladder was instantly updated.

> 1 - Hyunda - (24476/25000 points)

> 4 - Hinagiku (2346/2500 points)

> 5 - Sana (2296/2500 points)

> 6 - Yukishiro (2130/2500 points)

> 7 - Yulia (2100/2500 points) [Every time Hikaru Yulia earns a point, no matter the quantity, 50% of it will be transferred to Satou Rayazaki]

> 8 - Arkalee (2023/2500 points) [Kitsuya Arkalee's turn will be under Hirakibo Tatsu's control in the execution rounds until this day is over]

> 9 - Kawahara (2008/2500 points)

> 10 - Kuzan (1444/1500 points)

> 11 - Kanawari (1144/1500 points) [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 25% of it will be transferred to Lus Sera for the rest of the upcoming hour]

> 12 - Tateyana (1422/1500 points)

> 13 - Daniel (1315/2000 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the rest of the day]

> 14 - Stratos (1100/1500 points)

> 15 - Lus Sera (1012/1500 points) [Has a 50% point acquisition boost for the next 00:24:13 hours] [Every time Gayakirima Kanawari earns a point, no matter the quantity, 25% of it will be transferred to Lus Sera for the rest of the upcoming hour]

> 16 - Akimiyashika (362/1000 points)

> 17 - Ikkiri (52/2500 points) [Rikishima Ikkiri has a 75% point boost acquisition for the rest of the day, but should she get a claim wrong, the 75% point boost acquisition will become a 75% point boost acquisition in reverse and will only change back when she gets a claim right (should she fail to get it right three times in a row it will not go back)

Some had a feeling this would happen but to those that didn't, this entirely stunned them.

"Hyunda's... at the top?! With Sagasuga's points?!" Tateyana was in disbelief "I see... That really confirms it... If you kill someone in this game, then all of their points will be transferred to you... At least the contracts don't remain, but..." Hinagiku now began to see one of the true natural aspects of this game "That's right. Killing is salvation. For your own good, you have to kill. Ideas such as friendship, thoughts such as alliances, or lifelines, do not work. This game only rewards those who have a neverending narcissism." Hyunda eloquently spoke to the rest "Nar...cicissim...?!" Akimiyashika, on his left side, questioned him "Yes, creature." She felt mocked by his condensing voice "How much do you think you matter? This is my question to all of you." He said "........." A silence was posed but they knew very well what he was referring to.

Basara would then announce the reward for the bounty, which was previously Akimiyashika but due to Kanawari choice of swapping Akimiyashika with Sagasuga, it became Sagasuga's.

"Given how there was collective work in the work of Sagasuga's demise, the bounty reward will be in the collective category because Sana also dealt damage which technically contributed to his death." Basara's words weren't well accepted "What...?! It was Hyunda who dealt the final blow! Sana just damaged his body, he would have survived without Hyunda's decision!" Arkalee argued "It works like this." Basara defended the game "Therefore, Sana, you will be awarded with 192 points and so will you, Hyunda." The addition was added, but it wasn't enough to break either Hyunda nor Sana's point barrier "However, since Hyunda did kill Sagasuga, technically----it means that the bonus reward will be attributed to him alone and not Sana!" Basara's words made Sana's expression stiffened though she did not bother to react "With that said, get on with it." Basara hurried him.

Tateyana asked Sagasuga the obvious question.

"Um, Sagasuga? What was the bonus reward again?" She turned to her right "........." A short silence was made by her "Oh... R...ight..." Her usual fierce behavior was gone as she gulped "......So you're really gone now, huh." She faced her head down while feeling sad "Dumbass... You were supposed to be invincible... But I guess... In this game, not even someone like you could come out on top... So how can I-------" Her distress increased by the second.

The bonus reward for the bounty is the following: You will be able to view the same options presented to you the moment you forfeited points and you will be allowed to have one option for free that is below your points in total.

Hyunda's current points are: 24668.

"You'll have an addition minute, Hyunda." Basara said "Thanks." Hyunda definitely didn't mind this "This... is bad...!! He can start picking those ridiculous options that are only allowed if you've killed someone...!!" Kanawari immediately saw the danger "Most of them require you to kill more than one, but there are some that just... don't..." Lus gulped as she had no clear idea of what Hyunda would choose "......." She looked at Daniel, who nonetheless, didn't take his eyes off Yulia for a second "........." Lus wasn't feeling entirely satisfied with the current circumstance.

Hyunda had the one minute where he was allowed to choose his option, the one minute and a half right after Sagasuga's death in which the screen with the 200 options he had chosen prior, remained open-----and now had a full minute.

"Does somebody want to die?" He asked to the multitude "...What?" Arkalee questioned him "I'm saying-----does anyone here want to be taken out of their misery before proceeding any further? I'm feeling generous, so if you want to be removed, I'm willing to make the once-in-a-lifetime exception." Hyunda was sincere "........" But nobody answered him as they didn't want to partially influence his decisions for an even more catastrophic outcome "I see. Let's elevate the stage a little bit. This script needs some changes." Hyunda's demonic smile began to show as he pressed his desired option.

There were far too many good options. Options, that are, so ridiculously good, that the only logical thing to do was to keep a mouth shut. And that's due to the fact that Hyunda has over 24k points and he is able to select an option that is below that point cost, for free.

If Hyunda wanted to create a lead above the rest, he could, without a shadow of a doubt.

"Let's start by taking the trash out, before we can do that, though." Hyunda corrected himself firstly "Things need to go back to how they were. I do not take interference lightly..." His expression darkened "OPTION 185!!!" Shouting as loud as he could; breaking his usual monochromatic expression, Hyunda began to control the feelings of everyone present as they were forced to look at option 185 "!!!!!!!!" Rayazaki felt immediate leg cramps just by thinking of the possibilities "Not good....!!!" Tatsu even recognized the danger as well "Hyunda... Are you..." Sana spoke in his direction pondering if their aims collided for a second.

Option 185 reads as the following: Forfeit points that you own to place a bounty on one of your classmates (if you kill the person with that said bounty, you will earn double the number of what you forfeited).

Since Hyunda didn't have to forfeit his actual points, it would mean that no point subtraction would be made.

However, in order to execute this option, a sum between 1 to 24668 had to be made.

Hyunda put all of his points on the line.

"The FUCK?!" Rayazaki yelled out "So... You don't have to bet your points at all?!" Arkalee was confused "The reward allows him to not have to forfeit any points... So in theory, he can use as many points as he wants so long as it's below 24668..." Yukishiro spoke "But wait... Why would he forfeit that many points?!" Tateyana didn't understand "And who is he targeting...?! I mean, that's a lot of points as a bounty!!" She added as the confusion further grew "........!!!" Daniel felt Hyunda's permanent stare and came to the rapid conclusion of who is target was "This is not a romance story, let this be the first time out of many that I'll say it..." Hyunda's devilish grin showed as he picked his target, much to Daniel's displease "NO, DON'T---!" But it was too late.

His words were imperial as the option would only be thoroughly executed after Hyunda selected a picture within the 16 available pictures of his classmates, that was presented to him in his digital screen.

"Her....? Why---" Yukishiro could not make sense out of it "Why not Rayazaki or Tatsu...?! They have the most points, so it would only make the most sense to-----" She gasped "..........." Her eyesight became blurry as she looked at Hyunda again "You don't belong here." With utter coldness in his voice, he talked to her, as she cowered in fear "No way...!!!" She began to tremble "Wh...What the FUCK HAVE I DONE TO YOU!?!?" Yulia started to quake as she became pallid "People, your attention, please." Hyunda summoned the attention of everyone once again "But first, a general question; anyone can answer: How much do you love yourself?" Perplexion hit the surface to many "Yes, self-love. I love myself. I think I'm great." Hyunda admitted "What the... fuck? What...?!" Kanawari couldn't understand his approach "I'm trying to insinuate something, Kanawari." He sighed "Just answer it." Hyunda persisted "...I don't hate myself..." Tateyana was the first one to answer "That's it? No self-love?" Hyunda was disappointed "I like myself... If that's the question, fine!!" Akimiyashika boldly answered "But what does this have to do with anything?!" Akimiyashika further added.

Hyunda became completely serious.

"I don't think you people love yourselves enough. So, in order to test your self-love, or to say a worse word-----the depth of your narcissism----I command each and every single one of you to kill Hikaru Yulia!!" With a high pitched voice, Hyunda gestured his arms in Yulia's direction "You fucking... PSYCHOPATH!!! WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM, DUDE?!" Yulia felt fear "24k points, all for one person. No need to hold back. Emotion doesn't matter in this game. Only the truly intelligent and cunning ones, who know how to bring someone down, will come out on top. So... with that in mind, which one of you will be the first to kill h------" His speech became interrupted "Shut up, Hyunda...." With a cold rage to the surface, his face emitted a rage of an unknown depth "Oh?" Hyunda smiled in his direction this time around "Yulia, don't be afraid." Daniel spoke in Yulia's direction, who was tearing up "No matter what happens, I won't let you die." With utmost confidence, Daniel added "....!!!" Yulia trembled as everyone started to view her as a target "So he says, but don't let him fool you, people-----those are just words. Ignore him, drag Yulia down and you win 24k points for free! To be a winner or to stay a fucking loser, you decide!!" Hyunda started to laugh out loud as the round came to an end.

After Basara gave the usual warning for everyone to be there in a couple of minutes, right before 10 am, most students began to leave the area, although some stayed.

"Wow." Bryce had his eyes wide open "I did not expect this turn of events, AT ALL." He confessed "Me neither... I expected Hiroyoshi Sagasuga to make it all the way through the end..." Skan confessed "Nobody is safe when the execution round comes up. There are too many options that lead to different outcomes. It's frankly quite complex. Does this game have a name?" Andrea talked to Erigaisi, who was drinking a large cup of beer "Ahh far too many!! There is technically no official name, but we call it the cradle of the narcissists. I've been thinking of making a movie trilogy just based on the most interesting streams, honestly... Or even a TV series about them..." Erigaisi debated "Cradle of the narcissists... I... see." Andrea remained observant "It's a fitting title. The raw humanity in this game is eventually drawn out. It's one of my favorite bits!" Erigaisi laughed "........." The student council began to wonder if Erigaisi's mind was really in the right place.

There would be fifteen minutes left for the next round, which would begin at exactly 10 am.

"Yulia." Daniel stalked the two of them as she wrapped her right and left arm around his right arm while climbing down the stairs "This shitstain again...!" She looked behind as she saw Daniel on the top of the stairs looking down on the two of them "What are you doing? Why are you not with me?" Daniel could not understand "Dude, get a fucking clue, would you..." Rayazaki glared at him as Yulia's cleavage collided with his right arm "Yulia... That sort of behavior... is not... acceptable..." He could not believe what he was seeing "What the hell are you talking about?! And why are you acting like you're my boyfriend or some shit?!" Her face became distorted with rage "That's because you are my girlfriend, Yulia." He admitted it "No, I'm fucking NOT, what?! Weirdo, kill yourself!!" She retorted back to him in a fierce manner "Yulia... You're going to die if you hang around him... He is going to kill you for that bounty..." Daniel's expression looked hollow ".........." Yulia looked at Rayazaki for a split second, in doubt.

But Rayazaki was quick to mask this.

"That won't happen, I promise." Rayazaki vowed to Yulia with the utmost seriousness "...." But she wasn't entirely convinced and thought that an explanation as to how she could be saved would be better "He's lying to you, Yulia." Daniel intervened "Oh? And how so?" Rayazaki prompted a response from him "Everyone will go after the option to swap whoever is at the bottom first with you by proposing a point split from your death. No amount of points will save you. Only I know how to save you, Yulia." Yulia panicked a little bit "Th---That's...!" She couldn't exactly deny it "Don't listen to him, Yulia! He's only trying to use his words to manipulate you, that's all he does!" Rayazaki let go of Yulia's arms and approached Daniel face to face "Fucking freak, don't you think that I can see through your act?! You're only approaching Yulia now because of her bounty!!" Rayazaki grabbed Daniel's collar with his right hand but his face remained looking at Yulia "You're going to die if you don't rely on me, Yulia. You need to stop with the infidelity, right now." Daniel's hollow eyes were assaulting Yulia "I think you're the one that needs to stop, you're getting on my fucking nerves! You think you're some hot shit, don't you?!" Rayazaki punched Daniel in the face mercilessly "........!!!" Thrown out of balance without his arms to defend himself, Daniel fell on the ground.

A right kick was followed to the face furthermore.

And eventually, it became a beatdown as Rayazaki plummed Daniel, as he didn't bother to resist.

"H-hey, isn't it dangerous if someone sees us?! Couldn't we get penalized in the game later on or some shit?!" Yulia theorized "...Ahhh... Ahh..." Out of breath from so many punches and kicks, Rayazaki cleaned up his forehead with his right forearm's sleeve "...Fine..." Rayazaki settled "COME NEAR HER AGAIN AND I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!!" Without restrain, Rayazaki shouted to Daniel's face "Let's go!" Grabbing Yulia's left side by force, they ventured down "......" Yulia cast one last glance at Daniel before leaving the scene.

His nose was bleeding tremendously and his face had multiple bruises as well, as he stared at the high ceiling in the lukewarm morning.

"I have to save her... She doesn't know what she is doing... Yulia, you won't... die... I promise...." The two of them observed Daniel from the lower side of the downstairs where Daniel didn't have an angle to see them "He changed completely. It's almost as if he's completely enchanted by her existence." Ikkiri noted "That's not him... It's all her fault..." Hinagiku was angry at the most recent events "If she's dead, then it will all go away..." Hinagiku was convinced "......" Ikkiri wasn't so sure if she agreed with her on that regard "What do we do about------" Hinagiku was about to ask but Ikkiri could guess by a mile "Akimiyashika? She comes after Yulia. You don't say those words to your friends." Ikkiri was unforgiving "I agree..." Hinagiku nodded "I'm aiming to win, Hina." Ikkiri felt this was the best time to be honest "My score right now is low, but it will go up. That's why I'll say this, to you, who I still consider my friend..." Ikkiri's eyes became hollow as she looked at Hinagiku "Don't aim for Hyunda. He and I will win this game and be happy afterwards." Ikkiri stated "..........." Hinagiku posed silently "That's why... Let's kill Yulia!" She happily smiled "Oh yeah, let's fucking kill the bitch!" Hinagiku also celebrated.

Usually, everyone leaves the room, but due to the fact that he can't walk normally, he opted to stay in his chair with his right fist adjoined to the right side of his face as always.

Arkalee would usually be around but she is so mad at him that she purposely distanced herself from him.

Thus, there should be no one else in the room besides him.

"What is this? Do you want my autograph or some shit?" He didn't open his eyes "......." And she didn't reply "No, we are not having this conversation. I hate your stereotype too much. Fangirls are annoying as hell. Get the fuck out and go and try to come up with some edgy plan that will not ultimately work at all. After all, that's your entire character, if you think about it." He laughed "And just because you only now found out that it was me all along, doesn't make it special either. Leave the room." He insisted as he found her existence entirely offensive.

She got up from her seat and sat on the seat where Sana usually is.

Without making a single word, she continued with her silence.

"......." Hyunda was starting to become annoyed, so he slowly opened his eyes ".........." The usual person would be authentically shocked to find out that a person is, quite literally, in front of your face, only separated by three milometers "Hi." She said, as Hyunda could feel her every breath, and mainly her arms that wrapped around his neck.

image [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/9c3e3c59-8f24-49ce-8a2b-546d1bb52197/di4ohbt-e2fee046-1665-4b88-92e1-575c39b6bb1b.png/v1/fill/w_1065,h_750,q_70,strp/no_context__by_kumokuroro_di4ohbt-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9NzYxIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvOWMzZTNjNTktOGYyNC00OWNlLThhMmItNTQ2ZDFiYjUyMTk3XC9kaTRvaGJ0LWUyZmVlMDQ2LTE2NjUtNGI4OC05MmUxLTU3NWMzOWI2YmIxYi5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTA4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.Gk3L1eIjhakGgRj8NxEetNf_OvcVSY7kdCuGeEozLZ4]

"I said to get out." Hyunda used his right hand and grabbed her by the neck; thus putting her back to her chair, violently "Ouch.....!!" Given that her back collided with the chair, she was unable to not feel the pain "We have nothing to talk about." Hyunda looked at her now "No, we do." She begged to differ "We don't." Hyunda persisted "Please, with all due respect, you don't understand." She argued "Don't understand what, exactly?" Hyunda eyes scorned her "The fact that I have so much to thank you for. I am no longer bored because of you." Hyunda sighed in an abhorrent manner "I don't have time for this... Get to the point, too many unnecessary lines. Make it short." Hyunda wanted a drawn out conclusion already.

She hesitated for a while, but she ultimately found the words she thought would bring her closer to her goal.

"What is my role in your story?" Hyunda, for once, didn't find her words boring "My story?" He asked "Yes. Your... story... You keep bringing it up with other lines. Other have called you delusional but... I don't believe so. So, tell me, Hyunda, in your story, what is my role?" She once again asked "I can't say it anymore. The script has been altered against my will." Hyunda confessed "But why?" She became incredibly disappointed as her head tilted to the right "It's your story! How could you let anyone else interfere...?!" She became mad "Unforeseen elements. One such as the witch. She's the one that's on my mind. I've killed her more than ten thousand times in my mind over the thirty minutes..." Hyunda's face started to boil with rage "But, your role, huh? You're out of luck. Initially, you had one. But now it's uncertain. The side characters weren't supposed to shine and be on the spotlight this much." Hyunda added "...What was my initial role in your story then, Hyunda?" She asked "Let's see, Yukishiro..." He recalled back to the story initially.

Yukishiro listened to her intended role and then started to weep.

"Please, can I have the entire room for myself? I really like silence." Hyunda begged "It's so chaotic." Yukishiro admitted it as her tears filtered with her make up "Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee..." Hyunda begged once again "But what now?! This is not going according to the script at all, Hyunda!" She said "Yeah, I fucking know, I'm working on it. That's why you clowns will kill Yulia and that's step one." Hyunda clarified "Hmm... That... That might not be enough, no?" Yukishiro questioned Hyunda "......." He allowed her to say her doubts "Sure, Yulia is killed, but Daniel will be unstable and unpredictable. He's far more of a threat than what you're willing to acknowledge. I think you need someone to balance things out here and there. It's not enough to control the crowd, you also have to read people's intentions, and you alone, can't do that." Yukishiro was bold with her choice of words "Give me a role to play in this story. I won't fawn over you, I simply want to be of service. Now that I'm aware it was you, Omega-----I have nothing to fear. Tell me the entirety of the plan and I am your puppet." Yukishiro became obedient "..........." Hyunda judged whether or not it would be worth it.

Kanawari returned to the entrance of her dorm after going to the kitchen.

There were about ten minutes left, but for the girls, eating was actually an option.

Near the entrance of their dorm, there was a garden square with four wooden benches and in the furthest, Lus was seated as her expression was filled with agony.

"Here..." Kanawari took the seat next to Lus as she gave her a well made sandwich and a bottle of water "Th...anks...." Her response wasn't entirely strong "......." Kanawari felt the weird atmosphere and she knew the reason as she looked to the entrance of block F "It's not making any sense, right?" She told Lus "I mean, how can it be...?" Lus was slightly mad "She killed herself... To bring her back... Like, I know it's not her, but the intent is obvious! Whoever is behind this just wanted to mess with Daniel! The plan was perfect! Everyone agreed to it!" Lus couldn't stop shaking her head as she ate "........." Kanawari pondered whether or not this was the right time to tell her this.

But seeing as this would be a good opportunity, Kanawari gulped and decided to reveal some things.

"Hey, Lus?" Kanawari put on a horrifying smile as Lus looked to her left ".....?" She naturally took interest but found Kanawari's reaction unnatural "I don't think you should associate with Daniel anymore. He is dangerous and I mean, far more than what you know..." Her eyes showed a hollow depth "Kana, what are you saying...? Sure, he's a criminal and has very messed up records, but he's incredibly rational and can be very smart. It's all her fault, I'm telling you!" Lus denied it "No, that's... Ah... Remember those three? That died mysteriously...?" Lus knew "Of course. Samantha, Ellie, and Elijah. What about them?" She took another bite out of the sandwich.

Kanawari gulped.

"They died because the water they drank was poisoned. How do you think that happened...?" Kanawari was nervous "......." And Lus was quick to figure it out "...But that couldn't have been you. Because they drank from the same bottle as Daniel, and Daniel would have died." Lus reasonably concluded "...You'd think, right?!" Kanawari exulted herself, alarming Lus "Wha...?" Lus was finding Kanawari rather paranoid "Listen. But don't tell anyone. Especially him, please, I'm begging you..." Kanawari's two hands were shaking and on Lus' shoulders "That human... might as well not even be human!!" Kanawari's face was closed to Lus' "Kana... You're... Wh... What do you mean?" Lus reluctantly asked "Do you remember all those times I told you that I had to go somewhere else?" Lus was then reminded.

Kanawari, ever since yesterday, has been coming up with a lot of excuses to go to the bathroom and many others, to which Lus found strange, but she wasn't away for too long.

"Yes... What does that have to do with it...?" Lus asked regardless "...The male dorm, has an underground conduct which leads to a laboratory..." Kanawari revealed to Lus "......" Lus allowed her to proceed "This laboratory was a place that Daniel informed me about... How he had any idea of my background is beyond me, but... maybe he kept an eye on my botanic garden, that's the only logical explanation..." Kanawari took a bite out of her hand's right nails "What about the lab?" Lus made Kanawari continue "It's laboratory that most likely has numerous years to it, but what's crucial to know is that it's where I was able to get those effective injections that numbed your pain... They worked, really, but really well, didn't they?" Lus couldn't deny it as her left knee trembled "Yes... These pain-killers, are frankly not enough..." She confessed as some sweat was starting to show on her neck and face "Okay... This lab, has a lot of dangerous chemicals. Chemicals, if fused with others, put into a liquid bottle, are sufficient to kill someone. Far more, if I'm honest... Which is why you have to know, Lus..." Kanawari took a deep breath.

And then told her the truth.

"That water bottle was not only poisoned, but instead, it was mixed with ingredients that Daniel specifically asked for, to be ultimately mixed up together: a 200 ml of cardiac glycoside digoxin, a 350 ml of hydrogen cyanide, 500 ml of moonshine, and... 175 ml of spirytus!!" Lus understood nothing about those components "Lus, it doesn't matter who you are, if you drink that bottle, you are dead. However, to make matters worse... This wasn't the last time he came up with the request. Yes... Do you remember how Gale and Shizuku also "mysteriously" died?!" Kanawari asked her "...You're not... serious?!" But Kanawari nodded her head affirmatively "Yes, Lus! All his ideas! Although, for Shizuku and Gale, he asked me to add... uranium 235... for some reason..." Kanawari couldn't quite make anything out of that.

But Lus was not understanding how this was all possible.

"Kana... There's no way it was the same bottle... I mean, th-that would kill...." Lus looked at her surroundings and tried to not attract too much attention "BUT IT'S TRUE!! I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT HE IS ABLE TO DIGEST IT EVEN IF THAT GOES AGAINST ALL LOGIC!! HE'S NOT HUMAN, I'M TELLING YOU!!" Kanawari started to freak out "You're not making any sense! There's no way a human being could take all of that and live!!" Lus argued back "...I knew you'd say that..." Kanawari regained her composure as she had predicted this outcome "Take this, if you so doubt me." Reaching out to the depths of her skirt's right pocket, Kanawari took out a mini bottle of 20 centimeters and offered it to Lus "...What... is this...?" Lus received it as she paused her sandwich on her lap "Everything he ordered me to input in the drinks. If you ever want to find out... just give it to him. Hell, mix it in a water bottle and give it to him." Kanawari looked vindictive "But... that would kill him!" Kanawari grabbed her thin blonde hair strands in fury "NO! NO! NO! AND NO! I'M TELLING YOU I'M NOT BEING DELUSIONAL, LUS!! HE DRANK THE SAME FUCKING BOTTLE FROM ALL OF THEM TWICE AND SURVIVED!! HE'S NOT HUMAN, GODDAMN IT!!" She got up "...No way." She refused to believe it "...You're too stressed, Kana..." Lus adamantly told her "........." Kanawari was dumbfounded for a split second.

She then looked up to the the cradle above and made her decision.

"Fine. Whatever. Don't believe me then. You'd know more about this than me, haha..." Swiftly, she got up from her seat and began to march into the female dorm "Wh...?! Kana, you're not mad, are you?!" No response came forth as Kanawari kept on making her way "W-Wait...!!" Wanting to fix things right, Lus tried to get up from her seat "AGH...!!!!!" Her knee, however, didn't allow for that, as she was stuck there with excruciatingly dolorous pain "Don't... leave me...!!" She cried out to Kanawari, who was starting to want to swing into a different direction.

On the other hand, he remained in obscure solitude as he pondered what exactly to do, in that perpetual state of mind, near the main room------in the partial right hallway with downstairs.

Her infiltration was nothing new to him, but his sight abhorred her.

"When are you going to stop pretending? You know that's not her. You're too smart for this. You're the man who has devised strategies over and over in the past few hours. I refuse to believe this isn't anything but an act." Hinagiku stood tall, for her small height, as Daniel laid his body against the wall, with a defeated expression "No good... She's going to die... My love... will...." Daniel's expression wasn't something that Hinagiku could see from her perspective "I'm going to kill her." Daniel stopped breathing and instinctively tilted his neck upwards, to see Hinagiku's dead serious expression "I'll do whatever it takes to bring you back. So, if this is an act, cut it out. Let's work together..." Hinagiku insisted "She won't die. No, Yulia... won't..." Hinagiku cut his words short "She will. Hyunda's option signalized her downfall." Hinagiku was ruthless "She won't die..." Daniel kept on denying it "Ahhh, is that so...?" Hinagiku was starting to get annoyed.

There were a few reasons as to why Hinagiku reached out to Daniel, but she went with one of the primary ones.

"Regarding Kanawari, when are you going to kill her? I'm growing tired here. Plus, things have drastically changed. It's impossible to predict what's next." Hinagiku looked at Daniel with unwavering cold eyes ".........." Daniel went silent for a second "...You want her dead next round?" Daniel regained his composure, surprisingly "That was our deal." Hinagiku reminded him "...Right... Right... Right...!! Oh, RIGHT!!!" Daniel shook his body in a weird manner "?!" Even Hinagiku was freaked out by his motions "How could I forget...!! That was our deal...! I have to keep my word, or else she'll scold me for lying...!!" Daniel began to show delirium "You..." Hinagiku's eyes narrowed "Alright, alright." Fully composed, Daniel drew closer to Hinagiku "She's dead this round. I guarantee you." Hinagiku was alleviated because she saw the old Daniel back to her for a split second but wasn't convinced at all "Elaborate." Hinagiku demanded an explanation.

Five minutes remained.

"I can't elaborate." Daniel was quick to admit it "Excuse me?!" Hinagiku didn't like that "It's one of those plans that works when the accomplice has no idea how it works. If you can't agree with my methodology, then I won't kill her. I should mention though, by killing Kanawari, I mean-----I will drag her out, strategically, to the bottom." Hinagiku was undoubtedly curious as to how that was even remotely possible "Literally everyone will try to kill Yulia, so explain to me, please, how it's possible to subvert this." She wasn't letting go of this "I can't. It's something incredibly subtle. I'm aware that everyone is out to kill her... That's why... Nobody can know about this. Yes, not even you. If someone suspects this, then it won't work." Daniel refused to elaborate.

Hinagiku was in a state of indecision. She held Daniel up high in her expectations, but sometimes, even he, was too tricky for her to predict.

"It involves me doing something, doesn't it?" She tried to reach out from another angle "But of course. You are essential here, to this plan. Tell me when you want to start, because the faster, the better." Daniel rushed her "..........." Hinagiku looked at Daniel once again "...Let's hear it." The details were then underway.

Meanwhile, as minutes started to go by, the students began to ascend, by climbing up the stairs.

She was not looking forward to this at all, by a mile. After getting the treatment she got last round, she could barely stand up straight.

And as she tried to climb one of the starting steps of the staircase, she tripped on one of the degrees by accident, tumbling her body forward by impulse.

"AHHH---" Her face was right about to hit the edge of the upcoming degree, until she noticed that two hands were comfortably navigating her shoulders "Slow down, princess. Your time is not here yet." It was impossible to not recognize that overly arrogant voice but Akimiyashika had not the strength to refute it, as he dragged her body up, allowing her to compose herself again "......." She gave him a daunting glare "Gee, that's the thanks I get from saving you from getting a 180 on your face?" Kawahara shrugged and sighed as he shook his head sideways in sheer disappointment "Red heads are bad for men, I swear to God." Kawahara lightly jabbed her hair from behind "I should have died..." Akimiyashika began to initiate dialogue, much to Kawahara's surprise.

The two of them began to slowly walk, side by side, as they climbed the stairs together.

"I underestimated the game. What I really should have done was to be more mindful of my points..." Akimiyashika reflected as she had her head down "Daniel's plan wasn't bad at all. No one could predict that this mind-fuckery bullshit would've happened. But yeah, giving up so many fucking points like a retard like that, was nothing short of a clusterfuck!!" Kawahara insulted her by demonically laughing at her face "...I'm going to die. The gap is horrendous." Akimiyashika told him "Hold your horses, Yulia comes first." Kawahara reminded her "I'm talking after that..." She was not a fool "Oh." Kawahara noted "Yeah true. You, like most people, will die. A shitty game, if you ask me. Especially when you have clowns like that bastard hyping shit up like that. Truly disappointing." He admitted it "......." Kawahara kept looking at her as she remained silent "Do you like magic?" He asked her.

She stop for a moment as she became dumbfounded.

"Hah?" She had no better reply "Come on, I'm serious!" Kawahara also stopped "Stop with your jokes! I'm not in the mood, DAMN IT!!" Akimiyashika shouted at him "It's not a joke, just answer the question!!" Kawahara's face remained serious "What are you..." Akimiyashika knew not what to make of this.

As she gave some thought, she had a fading memory where she and her brother where having fun-----mainly because he was performing magic tricks.

More often than not, her brother would catch her off guard with really simple magic tricks like hiding a coin behind her ear, the levitating card, and the spoon bending-----when they were younger.

"I do..." She bashfully confessed "Yeah, I knew it. It was all over your expression, BAHAHAHA!!!" Kawahara laughed at her face again "URGH!!!" She got grumpy and started to accelerate her tempo, leaving Kawahara behind "Wait, wait, wait! Holy shit, I was joking, chillax girly!" But it was not enough to slow her down, so Kawahara had to be decisive "I can do magic!" He shouted in her direction "Wanna see it?!" He asked her "...No... I'm not a kid, what the hell..." She scorned him heavily "Come on, it'll be fun!" Kawahara decided to follow her up as he caught on to her pace fairly quick.

Only another row of stairs remained, as most students were already on the primary floor, for the exception of the two of them.

"No. Stop bothering me." Akimiyashika grew tired of him "What a bore you are. Fine, I'll show you a magic trick for free, since it's your first time..." Kawahara sighed but Akimiyashika didn't stop climbing the degrees "I can guess with 100% accuracy who the target of the judgment round will be." Akimiyashika momentarily stopped "Yeah, right." She didn't believe him "Arkalee. 100%." Kawahara told her "Righttttttt...." She ignored him and proceeded to the room as Kawahara was left behind with only a minute left "..........." Before going forward to the main hall, Kawahara had yet another reminisce of the not so distant past.

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The last minutes before the surgery, there was a conversation between him and doctor Almatorav, in his private office.

He sat on the chair in front of his metallic desk with a large white coat that covered his body all the way to his angles.

Doctor Almatorav, on the other hand, went over the details once again.

"In exchange for a portion of your brain's content, the surgery will go underway. Your new name, will be "Ryousuke Kawahara" as you agreed to." He organized the papers that contained the numerous contracts they agreed upon "Furthermore, your body will be remodeled and genetically modified according to the model that you proposed. You will be, for all intended purposes, a completely different person, Daku." But there was a part that didn't make much sense to the doctor "Daku, you were very insistent on keeping the same personality traits." He pointed out "Yes." He nodded as his expression remained monochromatic "I only want to change in appearance and have a completely new identity. However, I must remain the same, deep down. You said this wasn't a problem." Daku argued "Yes, I did say that. I was just making sure." The doctor got up and started to walk in Daku's direction.

He lightly patted his left shoulder.

"Rest assured, she won't know." The doctor calmly said "No matter what life you lead afterwards, she won't know. However..." The doctor removed his hand from his shoulder "There is something that you should know, regarding her." Daku's face became alarmed "What... happened to her...?!" He elevated from the chair, though he was feeling weak due to the regulations before the surgery "As you're aware, it's been more than a year since you last saw her and..." The doctor told Daku everything that happened to his sister "No... way... Akimi... You...!!" In disbelief, Daku had a difficult expression.

The doctor, however, was sympathetic and understood that Daku deserved a fair share of comfort for his upcoming sacrifice, from his point of view.

"I know where she is right now, or rather----where she will be." The doctor informed Daku "Where...?" He timidly asked but with clear resolve "It's being organized. But it's essentially a program that will put together criminals into a single school, in order to attempt to rehabilitate them." Daku thought of the idea as not only dangerous but stupid "But that's ridiculous...!! You're telling me my sister will be put together with other criminals?!" Daku, despite not having much strength, showed quite a lot of vigor "Yes..." The doctor grabbed a nearby object in one of his elevated shelves, that was a most peculiar detailed triangle "I am in debt to you. It's not every day that I encounter individuals that possess your level of intellect and are willing to openly collaborate to this extent. So, as a token of generosity, I am willing to make some calls here and there, and you, Daku-------or rather------Ryousuke Kawahara----will be with her in that said school." The doctor made his offer "Naturally, you will have to behave like a criminal accordingly, but that shouldn't be a problem considering your background. Therefore, your crimes and backstory will be entirely fabricated. But, it can happen, should you-------" Kawahara didn't even think twice about this "GET ME IN. I'LL DO ANYTHING TO KEEP AKIMIYASHIKA SAFE, NO MATTER THE COST!!!" He exhibited tremendous strength and will, to which, the doctor was pleased "Oh...?" He saw this as an additional opportunity.

After putting down the triangle on the shelf again, the doctor opened one of the drawers from the parallel shelf on the left side of the room.

There, he took a hold of a steel-framed picture.

"I understand. It will happen. But------I suppose this might qualify as greedy of me, but I can't help but worry." The doctor kept looking at the picture of unknown context from Kawahara's perspective ".......?" He didn't oppose "Tell me. I'm aware I'm benefiting you, but this will give me another shot at life and I will see my sister again, even if... I'm a completely different person..." Kawahara showed regret "How thoughtful of you!" The doctor commended his attitude "Very well. You see, I happen to have a son and he's a bit rebellious right now." Kawahara was surprised "You...? A son?" He was genuinely dumbfounded "Yes... He should be around your age, I believe... So, if by some chance you happen to cross him there, would you teach him a lesson that he wouldn't forget?" Kawahara didn't know how to interpret this "He's an error of mine. One that should never have been made..." The doctor's cold words faded as the memory transmigrated.

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"Hey, why not seat next to me? Your seat got taken, apparently." Kawahara told Akimiyashika as they both entered the room "........." She didn't think twice as she didn't want to be near Hyunda nor the other two individuals who she now has a bad relationship with "...Alright..." In the west side of the oval table, Akimiyashika took a seat to Kawahara's left; to her left would be Tatsu.

As 10 am rose to full height, there was only one thing to do.

"ROLL THE DICE!!!" The next target for the judgment round was being produced as the dice had to choose between 13 pictures "........." Akimiyashika attentively looked at where the dice was landing "I told you so." Despite the dice not landing still, Kawahara went out of his way to lowly whisper that to Akimiyashika.

It shortly landed though.

"UGHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Her annoyed voice was justifiable, after all, being the target of the judgment round means that you can't score points "No... way..." Akimiyashika was baffled as she looked at the smug Kawahara with her jaw open "Get going, Arkalee!" Basara ordered her "I know, damn it! Tatsu, please!!" Before she could be taken away from the guards, she begged Tatsu "Don't suck his dick too hard, or he'll go limp HAHAHA!!!" Hyunda diabolically laughed "HYUNDA, SHUT UP!!" Arkalee demonstrated a clear altitude of rage as she yelled at him "That had to be luck...!!" Akimiyashika still didn't believe it "Magic, I'm telling you." Akimiyashika still didn't believe it "That was pure luck." She claimed "Nuh uh." Kawahara denied "Bullshit, I'm right. LUCK!" They continued to argue "You stupid bitch... Fine, how about I prove it to you then..." His words enticed Akimiyashika "...Hold up, what...?" She was, without a doubt, certaintly allured.

Kawahara decided to unveil something to impress her.

"Do you believe in magic?" He asked Akimiyashika "........." She didn't answer "No." Kawahara told her "No, what?" She was confused "That's what you answered in your head." He clarified "......" He was right "And that's the correct answer. It's a load of bullshit, there's always a logical answer to it, nothing is a coincidence." He added "But how about another magic trick? If I'm right about this one, then you have to believe in magic until you die." Those oddly familiar words, resonated deeply with Akimiyashika "What the... I... Do you, by some chance-------No, nevermind...!!" She found it too unreasonable to even ask "Alright, fine! Show me this magic trick!" She demanded.

The guards were done with tying Arkalee's shackles down to her wrists and ankles.

"I will tell you who's going to die this round." Kawahara pointed his finger right at the individual "Without a shadow of doubt, him." The sixth round would now begin as death drew near.

Volume 27: Chapter 188: Narcissist's Cradle Arc - Part XVI.

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