The plaguing and suffering the game characters endured finally concluded as both sides returned to their respective bases. Though the physical agony had passed, the effects lingered among the game characters.

They did receive a shred of luck I suppose, as Lilith had survived and slept soundly in her bedroom. She was peacefully resting at least, but as though being interrupted mid-sleep, Lilith suddenly sprung awake.

"N-NATHAN!" Lilith suddenly yelled before perceiving the changed setting. In a cold sweat, the shocked Lilith carefully surveyed her surroundings.

"W-What...? I-I'm...at home?" Lilith muttered. "What...the heck...happened?"

From the bloody bruises to the entirely severed forearm, there was not a trace of injury on Lilith as she viewed herself. It didn't take long for Lilith to assume the cause of this peculiar miracle.

"I-I'm alive? Did the doctor...save me?" Lilith wondered. "But...how did...everything...turn out--"

"Oh, you're...awake?" Garnering Lilith's attention, Zack said as he entered her room. He held Lilith's katana. "I was planning...on returning this to you...while you slept."

"Z-Zack? You were here?" Lilith asked. "W-Where's Nathan!?"

Zack hesitated to answer but his immediate soured expression spoke volumes to Lilith. An aching feeling resonated within Lilith's heart as she knew Nathan was not fine.

"...Come...with me," Zack suggested. "He's...in the other room."

"...Okay," Lilith agreed. It sure didn't help Lilith's anxiety, as her breathing rate increased with every step they took towards Nathan's room. The last thing she remembered was watching Nathan being horrifically tortured, so she understandably had numerous thoughts about his condition flowing through her mind.

With the creaking of the door that Zack opened, Nathan's state was revealed and Lilith's worst fears were realized.

Nathan lay on his back on a bed but was not asleep—he was wide awake. Well, his eyes were wide open, but he was not in a normal state of consciousness. This catatonic Nathan snickered slightly in the room.

The aching feeling in her heart intensified as Lilith observed his condition. Though Nathan was the first Lilith laid her eyes upon, he was not the only man in the room.

The developer and his NPCs were also there. This did not matter to Lilith as in her despair, she staggered to Nathan's bedside.

"Oh, you're awake!" The developer remarked upon seeing Lilith. "I've been wondering--"

"What happened to Nathan!?" Lilith interjected. "What the hell happened!?"

"Jeez, someone woke up with a bad temper," The developer retorted. "You didn't even say thanks for the--"

"I don't care! Tell me what happened to Nathan!"

"...Nathan received immense suffering and torture from the likes of John Walker and my game character, Ada, which took a massive toll on his mental state. Not only was he forced to witness you being tortured by John, but Ada psychologically tormented him using her blessing," The developer explained. "It seems he finally broke and lost his sanity."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"...C-Can't...Can't the doctor heal him?" Lilith hoped. "S-She healed his body, so can't...she heal his mind, too?"

"I'm really sorry, Lilith, but that's out of my abilities," the doctor admitted with a saddened expression. I can only repair the physical body."

"Yeah, that's not something we can do. We can't heal his mental state," The developer said with a visible shoulder shrug. "Whether his will is strong enough or not, that will depend on if Nathan will ever wake up."

A look of distraught enveloped Lilith's face after hearing about the inability to liberate Nathan from his mental turmoil. All she could do was grasp her dear Nathan's hand in frustration. She had an audience as everyone watched in silence, contributing to the solemn atmosphere.

"...Why did you...do this to us?" Lilith muttered. "What did we do...to deserve this?"

"Huh?"

"While you were...happily interacting...with your so-called...game characters, you were...planning this...with Ada," Lilith remarked with increasing frustration and anger. "I thought...you were some miracle for Nathan...to escape his awful life, but I now understand...that you're...just a curse. How much of our suffering...is enough for a sadist...like you?"

The NPCs and Zack felt empathy as they frowned in response to Lilith's frustration. Although he donned his mask (like all times), it was obvious the NPC also felt affected as he turned his head away.

All felt sympathy toward Lilith, except the developer. He gazed at the grieving Lilith and chuckled.

"Haha, I get your anger, but it's being misplaced, Lilith. I'm sure the NPC warned you guys, but you were pretty complacent," The developer responded. "Hesitating to dive into danger, avoiding the need to kill, and most importantly, relying on Jack, Charles and I to help you with dirty work...it's obvious your mindset needed to be fixed. Which is why I did this - to give you guys some character development."

"...Of course, that's your...reason."

"There's also the case of Ada being my game character, so why wouldn't I help her?" The developer continued. "With such an overwhelming defeat you guys received, I wonder how things will play out in the future."

So, we will never...receive peace... Lilith pondered. Not while...these guys...are living...

"To be honest, I'm kinda desperate. I'm kind of cutting things close in terms of the timeline," The developer strangely remarked which raised eyebrows from everyone, including the NPCs. "I want my game to progress not only smoothly, but at a rapid pace. So please use today as a learning experience."

The developer had nothing more he wanted to say as he coldly left everyone and disembarked the home.

"...Sigh, I was getting pretty fond of that guy too..." The blacksmith spoke as she shook her head in sorrow. "We were pretty good partners too..."

"...I know I said the developer would fix whatever's blocking the progress of his plans...but I never expected something like this," The NPC muttered. "It seems...we all underestimated...his ambitions."

It was clear she wasn't in the mood for conversations, as Lilith continued to hold Nathan's hand in despair.

"...I think we should go...guys," Taking note of Lilith's mourning, the NPC suggested to his allies. "We should leave her alone...for the time being."

"You're right...I'm sorry, Lilith," The doctor said as the NPCs headed out, giving her some time alone. Well, not exactly alone, as Zack still occupied the room.

Lilith wasn't the only one grieving, as the sight of his friend in such a broken state and his partner grieving over his body truly affected Zack. He just wasn't as obvious as Lilith.

It all started because of Zack; from letting himself be toyed with and used by Ada, and failing to kill her to her playing a part in his 'friend,' Jack's death. His failure to murder her still haunted Zack, as he was forced to witness the state of his friends.

All these memories and emotions flooded his mind, causing Zack to take responsibility for everything. If only he had killed Ada, he'd happily be hanging out with friends Zack had desired since his teenage years.

I-I thought...I thought I was stronger. I felt I got stronger when I defeated the Silverdust gang. Zack pondered as he gazed at the couple. I thought...I could finally...protect my friends...but I'm still...useless. I'm a useless man...who screwed his friends...over.