Endless stairs, leading up to the highest level attainable in that empty infinite desert. With each step taken toward the goal, the blow of wind grows mightier, hoping to bring about the fall of any explorer. Challenging that ominous structure, two siblings are climbing upwards to claim their victory.

A brother and a sister, both bearing scars of war and signs of exhaustion. They have gone through a long-lasting battlefield, where the "Kill or be killed" mantra is an undeniable part of reality's definition. Each supporting the other with their bodies, they push forward - hoping to finally taste sweetness after passing through a thorny route filled with bitterness.

"The wind is really strong..."

As the man sets his foot on the topmost level, he is forced to shield his eyes from the piercing gust.

"Yeah, it's very cold."

The sister reaches the same spot shortly after him, being struck with the similar discomfort. Her anemic body holds low resistance to cold, letting her shiver helplessly in the presence of the raging aero claws.

"We are finally here. Soon, we both will be reborn. We will become humans again, and will escape this prison of bloodshed."

The man smiled as he forced his eyes open. Ignoring the stabbing, he desired to gaze upon the land they have overcome together. The stretching desert of Purgatory, the area in which they were forced to partake in a bloody battle royale.

The rules of the despair war allowed the formation of "Teams", with each having the capacity limit of three. The brother and sister together formed such team, uniting to grasp victory together.

"ONE."

The wild wind conveys a message through its dancing. A single word that could have as many interpretations as one's imagination desires. Nevertheless, the duo was able to grasp the grim meaning immediately.

"But I thought that as a team we..."

The sister's lips are trembling as she tries to say her thoughts out loud.

"It seems like we were gravely mistaken. There can only be... one winner."

He clutches both his hands into fists, with the intense urge to unleash his frustration through them. The "Team System" was filled with faux. Its meaning in the war was nothing but symbolic. The two who believed they can be reborn together... will now have to participate in one final unwanted fight.

"Sorry, Maya."

The man loads his gun, producing a metallic sound in the process. The usually loud whisper of death was rendered silent, as it was absorbed in the heavy airflow wrapping the area. Hardly surprising, for in the realm of the dead - "dying" holds little meaning.

"I see... It's fine, brother. It should be you who wins this."

With her lost vision being covered in bandages, she can regardless read the situation with sensory perception. She had no choice but to acquire such skill, for her survival in the war depended on such basics.

"It's fine...? What are you talking about? You are not going to resist at all?"

"No."

She slightly shook her head, wearing a dim smile.

"Brother, I only came this far thanks to you. I was weak and I'm still weak. Without you - I wouldn't have made it anywhere."

Praising her brother as the force which supported her through the hellish battles of Purgatory, Maya had no regrets in giving up her victory to her dear brother.

"Why? Why let me wins this?"

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

The brother can’t help but view his sister's reaction as odd. It’s the conclusion of their tenth war together and the first one where they stand victors. For both, escaping the hellish prison has been a long-lasting dream. One which is, right now, on the border of realization.

"Humans aren't such pretty beings. I thought we both learned this through this war. Humans steal, humans deceive and humans kill. They are beings that care only for their own survival and well-being. Everything we do - we do for ourselves."

He tries to create objective reason in the eldritch situation he can't comprehend. He has grown way too used to humans pretending in front of others, all for the purpose of reaping personal benefit. In this situation - there is no longer any benefit to faking love and kindness. There are only two creatures, and only one can keep going forward. Therefore, they are nothing but enemies in the purest meaning of the word.

"You are always like this, aren't you?"

She raises her head, trying to blindly turn her face toward her brother.

"Always saying these sad things... even though I care about you so much."

She knows her brother well, thus she can meet his words with a straight face. It saddens her that he strawmans her feelings down to a persona of pretendence, but even so, she doesn't wish to oppose him.

"Care about me? Hah! You are so funny that I want to puke."

Twitches of anger surface on his face.

"You are doing it because you want to keep up the image of an innocent, honest girl. You must be sick in the head to persist with that farce even now."

"... Please, stop. You know it's not true. After all, you too..."

She averts her eyes as if to evade the man in front of her. A meaningless action with the illusion of purpose. Even the girl who got used to her older brother's harsh words is falling apart after being injured with a succession of verbal blows.

"Not true? Ha... Hahah! You really are something. Just how deep are you drowning in your delusions!? You love none but yourself. You are nice to others so that they'll be nice to you! You are as hypocritical as any other human!"

He is raising his voice, in order to turn his mental attacks into more fierce and impactful.

"Stop... please..."

Tears begin to flow from her injured eyeballs. The white cloth covering her eyes slowly absorbs water and turns heavy.

"Admit it, you must be cursing me right now!"

"That's not..."

"After all, I stand between you and reincarnation. Between you and a chance to escape this hell."

"Without you... I wouldn't have been able... to reach this height..."

Her nose is slowly turning runny, nerfing her skills of speech. Every ounce of her body is denying the man's words.

"You... Why you don't...?"

The man grits his teeth in annoyance, as he intensely stares at his sister's fragile appearance. Her crying form of helplessness brings nothing but pain and sadness to his heart. The gun in his hand begins to waver, growing heavier than his acting can lift.

"If only you strayed from the usual image under pressure, killing you would feel so much lighter. Seriously, there's just no way to taint you with the ugliness..."

He lowers his hand, wearing a smile of accepted defeat. He can't do it. The reward matters not. He can't leave alone, abandoning his sister in the hands of eternal punishment. Unlike him, Maya can't stand on her own in such a cruel reality. And, unlike him, she has a kind spirit devoid of corruption.

"It seems like, till the very end, I'll have to play the role of a prince who saves the princess in distress. Seriously, being a big brother is such a hassle..."

The gun slowly raises again, but this time its tip will not be pointed at Maya. The cold metal touches the man's own skin, ready to release a shot directly into the brain.

"S-Stop!!! Don't do it! It should be me who...!"

Her hands instinctually reach out to her throat, intending to bring her life to a halt, before her brother expires. But what are palms to a gun? There's no chance she can precede the release of a fatal bullet.

"For me, many other chances will come around. But for you... without someone to lead you throughout this journey, you will be forced to partake in such asinine ritual for infinity."

The gun is already loaded. The trigger is all that remains.

"Goodbye, Maya. I really hope you'll make the most out of your new life."

He closes his eyes as he smiles one last time, to give the impression that they are parting on a positive note.

"Noooooooo! Brother!!!"

Alas, her cries are overshadowed by the loud sound of gunfire. The trigger is pulled, the round is released. The tiny object pierces through the man's skull - striking the brain to instant death.

"Brother... BROTHER!!!"

Left behind, Maya still keeps calling out to her brother. But all of that would soon turn into distant experiences, nonexistent memories. Her soul would return to the plane of matter, where a new body, a new life, will be awaiting her.

Meanwhile, those yet to reach that top would continue to wage battle. For the battle royale of the dead will never cease, as long as Purgatory exists...