"Don't pretend. I know you're a monster," Carl gritted his teeth.

"Strange... a monster?" Arthur looked puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

"Carl, did you mean Arthur when you mentioned the monsters surrounding us?" William suddenly had a realization.

Carl didn't respond with words but nodded affirmatively.

"You had me worried there," William sighed in relief. "He's not a monster."

"Are you role-playing or something?" Arthur asked, puzzled, as he took a step closer. "I don't know how you managed to deceive Willem, but you didn't fool me."

"Carl, what's gotten into you?" Arthur inquired.

As they spoke, the sound of footsteps from the mouth of the alley grew closer.

Though William couldn't see anything, he knew that the monster was approaching them. "Carl, trust me," William urged. "Arthur really isn't a monster. Let's run, it's not safe here."

"I only trust my ability," Carl said, his expression unusually serious. "His heartbeat is just like a monster's."

"You're being paranoid," William argued. "If Arthur were really a monster, he wouldn't need to pretend to be human to get close to us. If he had been a true monster and worked with the one behind us, we would already be dead."

Carl furrowed his brow, deep in thought. He had to admit that William's logic made sense.

Just as Carl was starting to reconsider, Arthur suddenly reacted.

"Oh my God!" Arthur pointed to the ground nearby, trembling. "What is that thing?" They turned around to see the monster quickly closing in.

William had thought the narrow alley would limit the monster's movements, but he hadn't anticipated that the creature could crawl swiftly along the walls, making it even more agile in tight spaces.

"Run!" William shouted urgently.

Carl clenched his teeth, pulling Lucy with him as they continued running. "Willem, what is that thing?" Arthur stared intently at the approaching monster. "Your role-playing skills are really... top-notch."

"Damn it!" William ran past Arthur, yelling at him, "That's a real monster! Run!"

"A real monster?" Arthur suddenly snapped out of his confusion, took another look at the monster, and was horrified. He hurriedly followed the others.

The narrow alley twisted and turned, but Carl had hoped that it would slow the monster down. Unfortunately, it only ended up injuring them.

The monster climbed the wall, leaped off the top of the wall, and swung its sickle-like forearm toward them. Though Carl reacted in time, Lucy couldn't dodge in time.

Carl shielded Lucy with his back, watching as the monster's forearm neared them. Just then, Arthur rushed forward.

"Run!" Arthur yelled, forcing Carl and Lucy away just as the sickle thrust through Arthur's body. "Arthur!" William watched as blood flowed from the wound that pierced Arthur's body, recalling the previous iteration when he had killed Arthur.

"Why, Carl, why did Arthur try to save you?" Carl couldn't comprehend why Arthur had sacrificed himself.

"I don't know why," Arthur's voice weakened. "It could have been... a knee-jerk reaction..."

He gazed at William and Carl, trying to smile but unable to control his facial muscles due to the convulsions.

William didn't know much about Arthur since he had joined their class in his senior year as a repeat student. But in William's eyes, Arthur had always been like an older brother—kind-hearted and always ready to help his classmates in need.

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"Quick... Run..." Arthur's voice grew fainter as the monster's tentacles ensnared him. The creature's jagged jaws clamped onto Arthur's neck, greedily draining his blood.

Arthur's sacrifice bought them some time. The monster ceased its attack and began to consume its "meal."

Carl hoisted Lucy from the ground, his emotions a jumble as he watched Arthur being held captive by the monster.

"Let's go," Carl said, his voice determined. "You go on." "We can't defeat the monster. We can't save him."

"But we can save him," William declared, his eyes resolute. "I can save him."

"Are you...?" Carl instantly understood what William was suggesting. "Even if you can save him now, then what? Do you plan to use your powers to go back in time every time someone dies?" Carl asked again.

"I don't know what will happen after that," William admitted, unwavering. He took the knife from Carl and advanced toward the monster with determined steps.

"But right now, I have to try. Because... I owe him," William explained earnestly. "Willem, you—" Carl began, but William interrupted him.

"You go ahead. If my powers fail, at least you and your sister will still be alive."

Carl hesitated, glanced at William, who was resolutely approaching the monster, then took his sister's hand and turned away.

"Hey, you ugly creature!" William shouted at the approaching monster.

"Let him go!" When the monster ignored him, William gripped the knife and thrust it forcefully toward the monster's abdomen.

William was clever enough not to aim for the carapace covering the monster's body but instead targeted the creature's unprotected belly, which was covered in tentacles.

However, dealing with these tentacles alone was no easy task for William.

Before his blade could reach the monster, the tentacles wrapped around him, lifting him into the air while the creature fixed its remaining compound eye on him.

"Die, you beast!" William shouted angrily, flinging the knife from his grasp.

The blade pierced the monster's compound eye, causing the tentacles ensnaring William to writhe wildly as he was thrown violently.

The excruciating pain felt like every bone in his body was breaking, and his internal organs seemed to be crushed.

Six insect-like legs pounded on the ground, stomping on William's body repeatedly.

"Ha... Ha..." William, feeling the intense pain, suddenly wanted to laugh at the monster's frustration.

"You beasts... One day... I'll kill all of you..."

His consciousness gradually faded, and everything around him grew darker.

...

"Ding... Ding..."

"Now, please proceed to answer the questions..." William opened his eyes to the familiar announcement.

Looking at the exam paper in front of him, he knew

William felt a heavy weight pressing down on him. It was akin to playing a video game for three days and nights, believing you were on the brink of victory, only to discover that you hadn't even left the novice village. He couldn't help but shoot a disdainful glare at the invigilators seated beside the lectern. Part of him yearned to rush up and confront them right then and there.

Frustration boiled within William, and he gripped his pen so tightly that its tip sliced through the exam paper. Taking a deep breath, he wrestled his emotions under control and began to formulate his escape plan.

William had prior knowledge that Carl's sister would face the monster on August 9. However, he couldn't be certain he could evade it. When the monster's identity was still concealed, fleeing the following day could lead to another encounter with the same creature.

So, the optimal time for their escape was today.

William knew that after the exam, his mother would come to pick him up. If he ran away now and his mother didn't find him walking out of the school gate, she would become suspicious, jeopardizing their escape plan.

Perhaps an excuse after dinner could work? But, with the final day of the college entrance examination looming tomorrow, not returning home in the evening would raise red flags with his parents.

The most opportune moment was tonight, after his parents had fallen asleep. This way, even if the two monsters at home discovered their absence, they'd be long gone.

As he contemplated this, William became aware of a figure standing beside him. Looking up, he couldn't help but shiver.

Unbeknownst to him, a proctor had approached and was scrutinizing William's blank exam paper with a furrowed brow. The sheet was devoid of any answers; William hadn't written a single word.

"What are you staring at? I can't afford to fail any of these exams!" William snapped.

The invigilator teacher seemed momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting such defiance from a student who hadn't even attempted to answer a single question.

After the proctor moved away, William hastily filled in the answer sheet. Submitting a blank paper would undoubtedly arouse suspicion, after all. He focused on the subject he had already answered. Finally, fifteen minutes before the exam's conclusion, William handed in his paper early. Before leaving, he approached Carl and whispered a few words.

"What are you two up to?" The invigilator chimed in. "Submit your papers as you leave and no whispering during the exam."

Carl promptly stood up. "Teacher, I'm also finished." He handed in his paper and followed William out of the exam room.

With their familiarity of the rooftop, William recounted their plan to Carl, who had disclosed the truth about the monsters.

He explained it all in detail, particularly emphasizing the significance of Carl and his sister's safety. This transparent disclosure left no room for doubt.

Carl, however, expressed some astonishment upon hearing that Arthur had saved both William and Lucy.

"I never would have imagined... Arthur saving me," Carl admitted.

"Arthur has always had a kind heart," William casually remarked. "Besides, sometimes, kindness can be found where you least expect it."