"It's not over yet…"
"My cannon…"
"I haven't fired enough!!!"
From the center of the shattered crater—
Ryu Ishigori slowly climbed to his feet.
Blood covered his body.
But the fire in his eyes burned brighter than ever.
He had entered the Culling Game for one reason.
To satisfy his hunger.
In his previous life, he had lived without regrets.
Yet something had always felt incomplete.
Like a grand banquet missing its final course.
Dessert.
Until today.
Until he met Yuta Okkotsu.
Until he encountered Yagami Sora.
The thrill of standing at the edge of death…
The intoxicating sensation of releasing cursed energy without restraint…
That emptiness in his heart was finally filled.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Ryu laughed wildly.
His pompadour blazed with condensed cursed energy.
But this time—
It wasn't just cursed energy.
He was burning his very life force.
Everything he had.
For one final shot.
"Hey, senpai."
Sora glanced sideways at Yuta Okkotsu.
His brow furrowed slightly.
"He's about to fire everything."
"I know."
Yuta tightened his grip on his katana.
"But I can't dodge."
"If that blast goes unchecked…"
He looked toward the distant city blocks.
"…half of Sendai will disappear."
Ryu's attacks were artillery-level destruction.
If they didn't stop it—
Thousands would die.
"Then we block it together."
Sora stepped forward.
Standing beside Yuta.
"I'm curious."
"How powerful is the 'highest cursed-energy output in history'?"
Yuta nodded.
"Alright."
The two stood shoulder to shoulder.
Facing the living artillery piece.
"COME ON!!!"
Ryu roared.
BOOM!!!
The entire Sendai Colony shook violently.
A beam of cursed energy erupted from his pompadour.
Over fifty meters wide.
The beam tore through the air like a falling star.
Ground melted.
Buildings vaporized.
The atmosphere screamed under the pressure.
"Rika!"
Yuta called.
The monstrous silhouette of Rika appeared once more behind him.
Cursed energy surged like a tidal wave.
At the same moment—
Sora raised his hand.
But he didn't counterattack.
Instead—
"Vector Manipulation."
"Total Reflection."
A transparent barrier unfolded before them.
Invisible.
Yet absolute.
The next instant—
The massive beam crashed into it.
SZZZZZZ—!!
The friction shrieked across the sky.
Two colossal forces collided.
Shockwaves flattened everything nearby.
"Push it back…!"
Veins bulged on Sora's forehead.
Even he hadn't expected this level of output.
The sheer mass of cursed energy strained the calculation limits of his vector control.
Inside his mind—
The system processed data frantically.
[WARNING: Shield under extreme load]
[Processing power at maximum capacity]
[Reflection success probability: 99.9%]
"Alright."
Sora narrowed his eyes.
"You can enjoy your dessert yourself."
BOOM!!!
The vector barrier twisted violently.
Then—
The beam changed direction.
Ryu's attack was reflected.
Returned.
But now—
It carried even more power.
The energy from Yuta and Rika had been added to the reflection.
"What?!"
Ryu's eyes widened.
His own ultimate attack—
Was rushing back toward him.
For a moment—
Everything slowed.
Then Ryu laughed.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
"So that's it…"
"This…"
"…is the taste of dessert."
BOOM!!!
The beam swallowed him.
A massive mushroom cloud rose above Sendai.
Blinding light flooded the battlefield.
Minutes later—
The smoke finally cleared.
A gigantic crater remained.
At the bottom—
Lay the body of Ryu Ishigori.
A hole pierced through his chest.
Life gone.
But his smile remained.
He had finally tasted his dessert.
"…It's over."
Yuta sheathed his katana.
Exhaling slowly.
Rika's manifestation faded.
This short battle had drained enormous energy.
"Yes."
Sora looked at the crater quietly.
A hint of mixed emotion flashed through his eyes.
"Yeah."
"He left satisfied."
Even as an enemy—
A man who lived only for battle wasn't unpleasant.
Sora turned away.
Scanning the distant ruins.
Several hidden Culling Game players were watching.
But after witnessing that battle—
None dared step forward.
"Let's move, senpai."
Sora said calmly.
"The Sendai Colony is settled."
[System Notification]
Player Ryu Ishigori defeated
Points obtained: +77
Sora glanced at his interface.
Current Points: 1337
Between earlier victories—
Higuruma, Uro, and other accumulated kills—
His total had surpassed one thousand.
Yuta glanced over.
"…That's a lot of points."
"What are you going to do with them?"
Sora smiled faintly.
"Improve the game."
He looked upward.
"Kogane."
The small golden shikigami appeared.
"Please state the rule you wish to add."
"First rule."
"Allow players to transfer points to one another."
This would allow non-combatants to survive through cooperation instead of killing.
Rule Added
Points Consumed: 100
"Second rule."
Sora continued.
"Allow substitution of players entering the barrier with consent."
This would allow outside allies to participate if needed.
Rule Added
Points Consumed: 100
"Good enough for now."
Sora stretched slightly.
"Better save the rest."
He looked toward Yuta.
"What about you?"
Yuta thought for a moment.
Then pointed toward a tall structure nearby.
"I'll stay here."
"There's something important guarding that tower."
"One of Kenjaku's contingencies."
"Got it."
Sora nodded.
"Then I'll head somewhere else."
"The Sakurajima Colony."
"I heard someone familiar is having trouble there."
"Maki?"
Yuta blinked.
"She's insanely strong."
"What could trouble her?"
Sora's eyes narrowed.
A cold smile appeared.
"Her opponent…"
"…is a stubborn ghost."
Naoya Zenin
The man Maki killed.
Now reborn as a curse.
"And this time…"
Sora cracked his knuckles.
"…he's even more disgusting."
His smile turned cold.
"Perfect."
"It's been a while since I tore garbage apart."
"Hopefully…"
"He survives long enough to scream."
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