With the death of Ryu Ishigori, the battle inside the Sendai Colony finally came to an end.
The four-way deadlock that had dominated the colony had completely collapsed.
Of the original powers that ruled Sendai:
Ryu Ishigori — deadTakako Uro — defeated and surrenderedKurourushi — exterminated earlierYuta Okkotsu — the final victor
And beside him stood a new anomaly.
Yagami Sora.
Together, the two had swept across the battlefield like a storm.
Anyone who had witnessed the battle knew one thing clearly.
Sendai now belonged to them.
Yagami Sora stood on the roof of the tallest building in the ruined city.
From there he overlooked the entire colony.
Broken roads.
Collapsed buildings.
Smoke still drifting through the sky.
Yet compared to the earlier chaos—
The oppressive killing intent had faded.
"Alright."
Sora crossed his arms.
"Time to harvest."
He opened the Culling Game interface.
The small golden shikigami appeared beside him.
Kogane.
A map spread across the air.
Countless dots blinked across Sendai.
Every dot represented a hidden player.
Yuta glanced at the map.
"…You're not going to hunt them one by one, are you?"
Sora smiled faintly.
"No."
"Too inefficient."
He raised his hand.
Cursed energy amplified his voice.
His words echoed across the entire Sendai Colony.
"Attention all Culling Game players in Sendai."
"This is Yagami Sora."
The city fell silent.
"I'm giving you two choices."
"First."
"Hand over any points exceeding the minimum needed to survive."
"Second."
"I come collect them personally."
He paused.
Then added calmly.
"And if I collect them myself…"
"I can't guarantee I'll only take the points."
The entire colony exploded into panic.
"This is robbery!"
"Is he insane?!"
"Who does he think he is?!"
But the anger died quickly.
Because everyone had seen the battle earlier.
The battle where Ryu Ishigori was annihilated.
If someone capable of defeating that monster came for them—
They wouldn't even last ten seconds.
So resistance vanished.
Fear replaced it.
One by one—
Players emerged from hiding.
Soon a line formed in front of the building.
Players approached nervously.
Transferred points.
Then quickly fled.
The most bizarre event in Culling Game history had begun.
A voluntary surrender of points.
Yuta watched the line grow longer.
"…You just robbed the entire colony."
Sora shrugged.
"Efficient resource redistribution."
Eventually—
A small girl stepped forward.
She looked barely fifteen.
Her hands trembled.
"Um… do I also have to give points?"
Sora frowned slightly.
He immediately noticed something unusual.
She had almost no cursed energy.
"You're not a sorcerer."
The girl shook her head.
"I… woke up here…"
"I don't know how…"
Sora sighed quietly.
He opened the interface.
Transferred 100 points to her.
"There."
"That's enough to survive the game."
Her eyes widened.
"You're giving them to me?"
"Yes."
"I'll arrange for you to leave later."
The girl burst into tears.
"Thank you… big brother…"
Yuta watched silently.
His expression softened.
"You're kinder than you admit."
Sora shook his head.
"Not kindness."
"It's basic principle."
"If we abandon that…"
He glanced toward the sky.
"…then we're no different from Kenjaku."
Hours passed.
Points continued pouring in.
Finally—
Sora checked his total.
Current Points: 2150
"Two thousand…"
He nodded.
"That's enough to start changing the game."
Kogane appeared again.
"Please state the rule you wish to add."
Sora raised one finger.
"Third rule."
"Allow players to transfer points to other players."
This rule would allow non-combatants to survive without killing.
Rule Added
Points Consumed: 100
Sora continued.
"Fourth rule."
"Establish a communication network between colonies."
This would allow allies separated across barriers to coordinate.
Rule Added
Points Consumed: 100
He crossed his arms.
Thinking.
Then spoke again.
"Fifth rule."
"Players may temporarily exit a colony by paying points."
Kogane paused.
Processing.
Rule Evaluation in Progress
For several seconds—
Nothing happened.
Then.
Rule Accepted
Points Consumed: 100
Sora smiled slightly.
"That should do it."
Now non-combatants could escape.
And allies could move between colonies.
For the first time since the Culling Game began—
The rules had started turning against its creator.
Yuta looked impressed.
"You just rewrote the battlefield."
Sora stretched casually.
"Still not enough."
"If we want to stop Kenjaku's ritual…"
"…we'll need more."
He turned toward the horizon.
"Anyway."
"My work here is done."
Yuta pointed toward a distant tower.
"I'll remain in Sendai."
"There's something important here."
"One of Kenjaku's preparations."
"Got it."
Black wings of cursed energy spread behind Sora.
"Then I'll head somewhere else."
"The Sakurajima Colony."
Yuta blinked.
"Maki is there, right?"
"Yes."
"But she's not alone."
Sora's eyes narrowed.
"She's fighting someone… very persistent."
Far away.
Inside the Sakurajima Colony.
A massive cursed spirit floated above volcanic rock.
A grotesque mass of flesh and limbs.
At its center—
A familiar face twisted with hatred.
Naoya Zenin.
"Maki…"
The curse whispered.
"I came back…"
"This time…"
"I'll tear you apart."
Standing across from him—
Blood on her face—
Blade in hand—
Maki Zenin stepped forward.
Beside her stood Noritoshi Kamo.
Maki spat blood.
Her eyes burned cold.
"You again."
"If dying once wasn't enough…"
"…I'll kill you twice."
The Soul Liberation Blade hummed.
Heavenly Restriction vs Vengeful Curse.
The battle for Sakurajima—
Was about to begin.
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