《Dice World》 Chapter 1: Have you thought about it? "Have you thought about it? Everyone is dead because of you." Classroom 1. The hum of the ceiling fan and the faint scratching of pens against paper filled the room. Yet, something was different. Every student and the teacher standing at the front had their heads turned toward the young man sitting in the very back. They spoke in unison, voices overlapping in a disturbing mix. For a moment, the air grew colder. Their wide, unblinking eyes fixated on the young man, who continued to scribble in his notebook as if he hadn''t heard a thing. Despite their unwavering gaze, the teacher kept teaching, her hands moving as if giving a lecture. The students'' hands still writing in their notebooks. But their heads remained still¡ªstaring. "Have you thought about it? Everyone is dead because of you." The young man kept writing in his notebook: This is all a dream¡­ this is all a dream¡­ He wrote it over and over as if the act of writing was the only thing tethering him to reality. He didn¡¯t stop. He couldn¡¯t stop. Stopping would make it real Then, the teacher moved. Smoothly, unnaturally, her gaze never wavering as she approached his desk. She stopped beside him, her blank eyes staring. Slowly, she opened her mouth. "Cirrus! Are you listening?" The air shifted, and the room became warmer as the sound of chattering sounded in his ears. Cirrus let out a relieved sigh and muttered, "I''m sorry." The teacher placed a hand on her hip and spoke calmly. "Cirrus, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been through, but I¡¯ve told you before¡ªif something¡¯s wrong, you can talk to me. I¡¯m here." Cirrus only nodded. She studied him for a moment, then sighed and walked away, resuming her lesson. Alone again, Cirrus glanced at his notebook. The words This is all a dream_had vanished as if they had never been written. His grip on the pen tightened for a brief moment before loosening. The teacher didn¡¯t know how badly he wanted to tell her everything. But he couldn¡¯t. He knew what would happen if he did. Because it had already happened before¡ªwith his therapist. The nightmares had started months ago. He didn¡¯t know why or how. At first, he had dismissed them as mere hallucinations caused by sleep deprivation. But the doctors had found nothing wrong with him. And the nightmares didn¡¯t stop. They grew worse, lasting for weeks, until he had no choice but to seek help¡ªbefore he lost his mind. A few days later, his therapist was found dead in his office. The cause remained a mystery. No signs of struggle. No traces of a suspect. Then, one day after the therapist was found dead, he appeared in the nightmares. "Have you thought about it? Everyone is dead because of you." That was when Cirrus realized¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just a nightmare. This was something _else_. Something far more bizarre. ''The nightmare keeps telling me that everyone is dead because of me... But who is ¡®everyone¡¯? My therapist? My parents? Who... am I?'' **Ring¡­** The school bell rang. Cirrus adjusted his belongings, then turned to gaze out the window. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the campus. Outside, students laughed and chatted with one another, their voices light and carefree. The air was filled with youthful energy¡ªsomething distant, yet painfully close. For a moment, he wanted nothing more than to be like them. To be normal. To just be.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. He shook his head and stood up. "Ah, Cirrus, right?" A female student stood in front of him, balancing a pile of books in her arms. She had long black hair and wore glasses. Cirrus nodded. "Can you help me? Everyone¡¯s already home, and I can¡¯t carry all of these by myself." Her cheeks flushed red as she spoke. Cirrus glanced at the books in her hands, then at the additional stack behind her. He had no idea where they had come from, but he didn¡¯t need to know. Without a word, he nodded, picked up some of the books, and followed her. She walked slowly beside him, stealing glances at him from time to time. It seemed like she wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t bring herself to. "Uh¡­ have you read The CEO and the Red Queen?" she suddenly asked. Cirrus was caught off guard by the question but shook his head. ''The CEO and the Red Queen? What kind of title is that? And where did that question even come from?'' he thought. She peeked at him again and quickly added, "Um, I like that book! Especially the CEO¡ªhe¡¯s so handsome and mysterious. I like him a lot. Who¡¯s your favorite character?!" The last part came out in an excited shout, her face turning even redder. Realizing what she had done, she frantically waved her hands to apologize. Unfortunately, in doing so, the books slipped from her grasp and tumbled to the floor. "I-I''m sorry!" Cirrus sighed. He didn''t understand the girl or maybe he just lacked experience with people in general. After all, this was the first time a girl had willingly talked to him. He helped her pick up the books and asked, "Where do I put these?" "You¡­ you can talk?" The female student looked surprised, and then quickly waved her hands. "I-I''m sorry for being rude! This is just my first time speaking to my cru¡­ crusade¡ªyes, my crusader!" She pointed toward a room beside the stairs. "The Literature Club." Cirrus didn¡¯t hesitate. He wanted to get this over with. He didn¡¯t want to deal with her any longer¡ªhe just wanted to go home and rest. Without another word, he grabbed the remaining books from her hands and hurried toward the clubroom. He noticed that she wasn¡¯t following him. A few seconds passed, but she didn¡¯t step forward or try to continue the conversation. However, he didn¡¯t care. After placing the books inside, he stepped out. Then, he froze. The female student was still standing in the same spot. Her wide eyes were slowly losing their light, her expression blank. Then, her lips moved. "Have you thought about it? Everyone is dead because of you!" "This is all a dream¡­ this is all a dream¡­" Cirrus chanted the words under his breath as he walked down the hallway. His pace was slow, deliberate. His gaze remained steady and focused. One thing he had learned was that acknowledging them made the nightmare last longer. And sometimes, if he reacted too much, they could bleed into reality¡ªthey could hurt him. So he moved carefully. Slowly. He had already built the image of someone withdrawn, someone who didn¡¯t talk or socialize. If he ignored them, the nightmare would understand. And hopefully, it wouldn¡¯t follow him home. "Have you thought about it? Everyone is dead because of you!" As Cirrus descended the stairs, it felt endless¡ªan infinite descent into something colder, something wrong. The air grew heavy, and the voice crept closer, whispering just behind his ears. Then, his heart skipped a beat. A sharp chill ran through him, and sweat beaded on his skin. At the bottom of the stairs, a group of students stood waiting. They stared at him, unblinking, their mouths repeating the same words over and over. Cirrus shoved his hand into his pocket, fingers gripping the pendant inside. He rubbed it anxiously as he whispered under his breath, "This is all a dream¡­ this is all a dream¡­" The air grew even colder, his sweat clinging to his skin as he forced himself forward. The nightmare figures didn¡¯t move, yet their heads remained turned toward him, their voices drilling into his mind. Then¡ªjust ahead¡ªhe saw the entrance. Warm light spilled through the doors, a promise of escape. But just as he reached for it, a voice¡ªone he knew far too well¡ªwhispered in his ear. "Cirrus¡­ how was school?" His breath caught. ''Mother?'' Cirrus froze, his eyes widening as he turned his head¡ª Suddenly, the pendant in his pocket burned hot against his skin. A sharp, searing pain jolted him back to reality. He flinched, yanking his gaze forward, and without hesitation, he stepped through the doors and out of the school. The sun bathed him in warm, golden light. The familiar sounds of chatter returned, grounding him in reality. Cirrus kept walking, never once looking back. "Hey, wait! Wait!" That voice¡ªhe recognized it. Turning around, he saw the female student from earlier. She was running toward him, drenched in sweat, her backpack bouncing with each step. When she finally reached his side, she bent over, gasping for breath. After a moment, she looked up at him with an apologetic expression. "I''m sorry for earlier," she said between breaths. "Honestly, this was my first time talking to someone who wasn¡¯t already close to me. I¡¯ve been gathering the courage to finally speak to you!" She hesitated, then continued. "The first time I saw you holding The CEO and the Red Queen, I thought¡ªmaybe¡ªI¡¯d found someone who could understand me. Like a¡­ a kindred spirit, right?" "So I worked up the courage to talk to you¡­ I¡¯m sorry if I said anything weird." ''So that¡¯s why¡­'' Now that he thought about it, the title did sound familiar. A few days ago in the library, he had come across _The CEO and the Red Queen_ while searching for books on ghosts and specters. He never intended to read it¡ªhe had simply placed it back in order after someone left it misplaced. That must have caused the misunderstanding. Cirrus glanced at the female student. She was his classmate, but in truth, he didn¡¯t know her name. Then again, he didn¡¯t know the names of any of his classmates¡ªonly the teachers. She had probably assumed he was ignoring her earlier when, in reality, he had been escaping from a nightmare. "It¡¯s fine," he said with a nod, then turned to leave. "I''m Nina Baek! Nice to meet you!" Cirrus paused. For the first time, under the warm sunlight and amidst the chattering students, he turned back to face her. "Cirrus," he said. Dream "I wonder why you don¡¯t like to talk. Your voice is nice¡ªyou sound like a singer¡ªand you''re handsome, like a mysterious guy. If you were more outgoing, you could probably get a lot of girls, right?" Nina had been talking nonstop since Cirrus agreed to walk home with her. He wasn¡¯t the type to casually walk with just anyone, but she was persistent. She had put in so much effort and courage that he couldn¡¯t ignore her. Besides, deep down, Cirrus also wanted to know what it felt like to have friends. Since losing his parents at a young age, he has always been alone. "Hey, I¡¯ve been thinking..." Nina said thoughtfully, flashing him a smile. "Why don¡¯t we always walk home together like this?" Noticing Cirrus¡¯s strange gaze, she quickly waved her hands in embarrassment. "No, no! It¡¯s not what you think! I mean¡­ you don¡¯t have any friends¡ªwait, I mean, you¡¯re always alone! And I¡¯m alone too. We¡¯re kindred spirits, right? So if we walk together, we won¡¯t feel lonely. Plus, we can share homework, talk about romance novels¡­ Oh! And action novels too, if you like!" He admired her courage, but he couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªwas this okay? Cirrus¡¯s ears were filled with Nina¡¯s voice, her endless chatter drawing curious glances from passersby. She never seemed to stop talking. But strangely, he didn¡¯t feel the need to stop her. Sometimes, listening to her was better than hearing the words that haunted him: "Have you thought about it? Everyone is dead because of you." Something new was better. A while later, the two of them were sitting inside a caf¨¦¡ªthanks to Nina¡¯s persistence. Cirrus couldn¡¯t help but give in, though, in truth, he was secretly looking forward to it. He had never been to a coffee shop before, partly because he never knew when his nightmares would resurface. Maybe it was time to give it a try. Cirrus took a sip of his caramel macchiato, watching as Nina enjoyed her cake while sipping her coffee. The way she ate made the food look even more appetizing, and for a moment, he found himself wanting to try some too. "Hmm... here, this is for you." With her cheeks full, Nina pushed the remaining cake toward him, then took another sip of her coffee, letting out a long, satisfied sigh. Cirrus shook his head. He paused for a moment, then asked, "Hey, why do you like me?" "Eh¡­ eh?!" Nina froze, her cheeks flushing red. She fidgeted, struggling to form a response. The unexpected question had completely emptied her mind. "I''m quiet," Cirrus continued. "I don¡¯t talk to anyone. I¡¯m socially awkward. So why do you want to be friends with me?" "F-Friends? Ah, right¡­ friends!" Nina stammered. "Eh, it''s because¡­ I don¡¯t have any friends. I¡¯m shy when it comes to talking to people, and I can never seem to understand them when I do. But then I saw this always-quiet, mysterious, and handsome guy¡ªno, no! I don¡¯t mean you! I mean¡­ yes! Ahhh!" She buried her face in her hands, clearly flustered. "I just thought¡­ maybe if I gathered my courage, I could finally make a friend¡ªwith you." Before she could say more, Nina bowed her head too fast and smacked it against the table. "Ow¡­" She groaned, rubbing her forehead, then looked up with an embarrassed pout. "So¡­ thank you for accepting me!" ... After that, they talked for a while, mostly about books and school life. Cirrus learned a little more about Nina. Even though she was average in appearance, when she took off her glasses, she was quite pretty¡ªcute, even. She was courageous, too. But she was also so talkative that she completely drained his social energy.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Still, even though he didn¡¯t say much, Cirrus found himself enjoying the moment. For the first time in his life, he was having fun. Ever since he lost his parents, he had become detached¡ªsocially distant, almost depressive. Making friends had always felt impossible. But now, he was starting to like Nina. And deep inside, he hoped this could last¡ªmaybe even forever. ... The sound of running water stopped as Cirrus stepped out of the bathroom. He had taken his time cleaning himself. The mirror reflected a young man with lifeless black eyes, messy black hair, and a well-defined, muscular build. After drying off, he made sure to leave the bathroom light on. Then, one by one, he switched on every light in the house¡ªthe balcony, the kitchen, the living room. Every single one. Only then did he prepare to sleep. Before heading to bed, he took one last glance outside. The world was still and dark. The city lights and the moon illuminated the night beautifully. Except for one thing. People were standing outside his house. They stared at him, their mouths moving as if they were chanting. Their eyes¡ªpitch black, like the night itself. Cirrus¡¯s gaze lingered for a moment before slowly shifting to the moon. Without a word, he pulled the curtains closed. Lying down on his bed, he let out a long sigh. There was one thing he hated more than anything. Sleeping. When he slept, he let his guard down. He became unaware of his surroundings. If someone wanted to kill him, he wouldn¡¯t even know. In his mind, sleep was the ultimate form of helplessness. The night was quiet and dark. And sleep? Sleep only made it worse. But he had no choice. He needed rest. ''All the doors are locked, and all the lights are on. It¡¯s fine. I didn¡¯t forget anything, did I?'' He glanced at his phone. No messages from his uncle. The time read 1:00 AM. Cirrus always stayed up late, exhausting himself completely so that when he finally slept, it would be deep and dreamless. One last time, he let his eyes close. The world around him fell silent. And then, darkness. ... "Dad! Dad! I want to ride this new bird!" A young Cirrus ran around excitedly, his voice filled with joy. He had no worries, no troubles¡ªjust pure, childlike excitement. His father chuckled. "That''s not a bird, it''s an airplane. When you''re an adult, you can ride it whenever you like." "But..." Cirrus pouted. "I want to ride it now! I want to see what the world looks like from up there! I want to go to America and eat burgers, go to Africa and meet a lion, visit China, and so many more places!" As he spoke, his little body bounced with excitement. His father couldn''t help but smile, while his mother, who was cooking nearby, chuckled softly. Then, his father''s expression suddenly turned serious. "Son¡­ do you know why I said you can ride an airplane when you grow up?" Cirrus blinked, a little scared by the sudden shift in tone. "N-No?" His father knelt in front of him. "Because when you grow up, you''ll have money. You''ll have a job. If you want to travel the world and ride as many airplanes as you want¡­ then make sure you don''t get a wife and kids." Cirrus tilted his head in confusion. "Huh? Why?" His father held back a laugh. "Because once you have a family, your money won¡¯t be yours anymore." Cirrus gasped in shock. But then, as the thought sank in, his face lit up with determination. "Then I''ll grow up fast! I want to see the world now!" His father was silent for a moment before suddenly bursting into laughter. "Look at your face! Don¡¯t worry, your dad will take you on an airplane soon. After summer, we¡¯ll go to Japan!" Cirrus¡¯s eyes widened with excitement, and he cheered, running around the house. His parents watched him with warm smiles. --- That night, Cirrus lay in bed, listening to his mother tell him a bedtime story while his father sat beside them. It was a perfect moment. But suddenly¡­ Blood. His mother¡¯s and father¡¯s eyes began leaking blood-like tears. "Run, Cirrus! RUN!" The warmth of his home shattered in an instant. Cirrus found himself standing, frozen in terror, as masked men loomed over his parents. Blood pooled on the floor. His mother lay motionless, while his father¡ªinjured but still fighting¡ªdesperately struggled against them. Then, Cirrus saw it. A die slipped from his father¡¯s trembling hand. It rolled across the floor, spinning until it landed on the number eight. And then¡ªhis father began to change. His body rapidly expanded, growing larger, more monstrous, more inhuman. With his final strength, his father grabbed Cirrus and hurled him toward the river outside. --- Cirrus woke up sometime later, soaked and shivering. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed. But he remembered. His parents. Panic surged through him as he ran back home¡ªonly to find it in ruins. The house was broken, and dilapidated. Smoke and fire lingered in the air. The stench of blood was overwhelming. And then, he saw them. His parents. Lying lifeless beneath the masked men. Tears streamed down Cirrus¡¯s face. His father had promised they would ride an airplane together. He had promised. Rage and grief filled him. He wanted to scream, to fight, to take revenge¡ª But before he could, a hand clamped over his mouth. Darkness overtook him. And then¡ªnothing. --- Cirrus opened his eyes and immediately took a look around, nothing changed except for the sun ray coming in from the gap of the curtains. He sighed. "Just a dream." Cirrus exited his bed and opened the curtain to let the sun ray bath his face. Despite the sun rising, the world outside still felt like night. The streets were eerily quiet¡ªfew people, fewer cars. But Cirrus didn¡¯t mind. He preferred it this way. Less noise. Fewer crowds. After washing up and getting ready, he grabbed his bag and headed for school. Struggle Walking through the streets under the afternoon sun, Cirrus usually felt a sense of security. But lately, every time he stepped outside, an uneasy feeling crept over him¡ªlike something was off. He pulled out his phone. No messages from his uncle. No messages from Nina. The screen time displayed 12:00 PM. His school started at noon, but strangely, the streets were emptier than usual. Only a few people passed by, and some of them shot him odd glances. The air felt unusually cold despite the sun shining above. Cirrus reached into his pocket and rubbed the pendant he always carried. "Should I go to school?" he wondered. ''This feeling¡­ it¡¯s unsettling.'' He knew he wasn¡¯t dreaming. He could feel everything¡ªthe air, the taste of food, the cold water from his morning shower. It was real. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t shake off the unease. In the end, he turned back. ''The teachers will understand. This isn¡¯t my first time skipping school anyway. I can just ask Nina about what I missed.'' Trusting his instincts was better than ignoring them. He had learned that much from his nightmares. Cirrus was always on guard, and even if it was just a feeling, it was safer to follow it than risk losing his life. --- RING. A message popped up on his phone. "Hey, where are you? The teacher¡¯s here. Hurry up before you get scolded." ¡ª Nina. Cirrus stared at the screen for a moment. Then, with a sigh, he turned back toward the school. --- It didn¡¯t take long to reach the campus¡ªhis house was only a few minutes away. Standing outside the school gates, he hesitated. The feeling of unease hadn¡¯t disappeared. But then, he spotted a janitor, a security guard, and several students moving about inside. The sight eased his nerves a little. Maybe¡­ everything was normal. At least, for now. The moment Cirrus stepped onto the school grounds, his eyes widened. A chilling air wrapped around him like an unseen force, sending a shiver down his spine. His pendant¡ªtucked in his pocket¡ªburned against his skin, its heat intensifying. Then, the sun vanished, replaced by an eerie, glowing blue moon. The once-busy campus fell into a haunting stillness. The janitor, the guard, and the students scattered across the schoolyard slowly turned their heads toward him¡ªtheir eyes blank and empty. A sharp, instinctual fear gripped his chest. He turned to run. ''Shit! Shit!'' But before he could escape, tentacles erupted from the school building entrance. They lashed out, slithering toward him with unnatural speed. Before he could react, they wrapped around his body, tightening like iron chains. Cirrus struggled, thrashing against the monstrous grip, but it was useless¡ªthe tentacles were too strong. Terror filled his eyes as he was dragged toward the school building. Then¡ª A flash of heat. The pendant in his pocket burned so intensely that the heat seared through the tentacles. A deep crack formed on its surface. The sudden burn made the tentacles recoil for just a moment. A moment was all he needed.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Cirrus broke free. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the exit¡ª Only to find there was no exit. The gate, the walls, and even the streets beyond were gone. Replaced by an endless, suffocating darkness. His stomach twisted. No way out. Gritting his teeth, he changed direction. ''The rooftop!'' He dashed toward the stairs, taking two steps at a time. His mind raced. ''What the hell is going on? Can nightmares hurt me now?!'' This was wrong. For years, the nightmares had tormented him¡ªbut they had never been able to physically harm him. He had let his guard down. For the first time, he had been excited to see his new friend. To live a normal life. But he had made a mistake. And now, reality itself was devouring him. He knew nothing about them. He should have just listened to his instincts. ''But what about Nina? Did she betray me?'' The thought gnawed at him as he kept running up the stairs. But then¡ªhe suddenly stopped. Something was wrong. He had been running for minutes, yet he still hadn¡¯t reached the third floor. He had been too lost in thought to notice earlier, but now the realization sent a chill down his spine. ''The monster¡­ it¡¯s not chasing me anymore.'' He glanced downstairs, scanning for any movement. Nothing. Slowly, he made his way to the second floor. The hallway was eerily quiet, shrouded in darkness, with only the faint glow of moonlight seeping through the windows. And then¡ª "Nina?" A figure appeared. It was Nina. He recognized her immediately. But something was¡­ wrong. She was running toward him, but her movements were unnatural¡ªjerky, almost broken. Thin, writhing tentacles protruded from her mouth. Her eyes were upside down. Cirrus felt ice crawl through his veins. Sweat poured down his face. His instincts screamed at him. And before he could even think¡ªhis feet moved on their own. He ran. "Why are you running? Everyone is dead because of you!" "Coward!" "Pathetic!" "Your mother died because of you. Your father died because of you." Cirrus gritted his teeth, forcing himself to ignore the monster¡¯s words. Exhaustion weighed down his body¡ªhe had been running endlessly, trying to escape. But something was wrong. He finally noticed it. The second floor was looping. No matter how far he ran, the hallway never ended. If he kept this up, the monster would eventually catch him. He glanced at the window. I have no choice. Gritting his teeth, he rammed into the glass, shattering it as he leaped out. But instead of falling to the ground¡ª His eyes widened in terror. There was no ground. There was nothing below him. Only a vast abyss filled with countless, unblinking eyes¡ªwatching him, as if the entire school were part of the nightmare¡¯s body. Then, the abyss yawned open like the maw of a beast, revealing countless razor-sharp teeth. His body plunged downward. Cirrus couldn¡¯t move. ''I¡¯m going to die¡­?'' He slowly closed his eyes, accepting it. For years, he had wanted to die. There was nothing left for him in this world. He had no family, no purpose. So why¡­ why had he been running? Why had he fought so hard to escape death? A memory surfaced in his mind. That¡¯s right. He had sworn revenge. He wanted to find the people who had killed his parents. He needed answers. Who were they? Why did they destroy his peaceful life? But no matter how hard he searched, his efforts led to nothing. Maybe¡­ deep down, he just wanted to rest. ... "Have you thought about it? Everyone is dead because of you!" Cirrus¡¯s eyes snapped open. He was lying in the second-floor hallway again. Above him, the monster¡ªNina¡ªwas holding him down. Veins bulged on his forehead. His fists clenched. With a sharp glare, he shouted. "Who the hell are you!? Who is ''everyone''!? Why are you trying to kill me!?" The monster tilted its head, tentacles writhing. "Everyone¡­ You don¡¯t remember¡­" For the first time, it spoke more than a single phrase. Its voice was broken. Distorted. The tentacles on its mouth wiggled unnaturally as it continued. "Brother¡­ Sister¡­ Grandfather¡­ Grandmother¡­ Aunt¡­ Mother¡­ Father¡­" "Everyone is dead because of you¡­" Cirrus froze. ''What¡­?'' Confusion clouded his thoughts, but he didn¡¯t have time to process it. The monster¡¯s tentacles suddenly expanded¡ªlunging toward him, ready to consume him whole. He shut his eyes, bracing for the end. --- Magic? Superpowers? Experimentation? Ever since he saw his father transform into something inhuman, Cirrus had wondered. Maybe there was a hidden world. A world his parents had known about. Maybe that was why the masked men had killed them. For years, Cirrus searched for answers. But he found nothing. Nothing at all¡ª Until he remembered. A dice. Why? Why was there a dice? His father never played dice games. His clothes didn¡¯t even have pockets that could hold one. So why¡ª? ... A glow appeared in the hallway. A dice materialized in his hand. Cirrus¡¯s eyes widened in shock, but he had no time to hesitate. He clenched his fist and punched the monster away. Nina¡¯s distorted form stumbled back, seemingly distracted. But in his rush, Cirrus lost his grip¡ª The dice fell from his hand. It rolled across the floor. Cirrus struggled to move. The dice rolled¡­ and rolled¡­ until it hit the wall. It stopped at 1. ... Cirrus, on the verge of being consumed, suddenly felt it. His right arm pulsed. His muscles bulged unnaturally. Power surged through his veins. His body felt¡­ different. Without hesitation¡ª He threw a punch. His fist crashed into the monster, sending it flying down the dark hallway. For the first time¡ª He fought back. The monster roared, lunging at him. Cirrus felt a sudden surge of confidence. His giant arm¡ªempowered by the dice¡ªslammed into the creature¡¯s face with earth-shattering force. The impact sent it reeling back, but it wasn¡¯t enough. The monster kept coming. It wouldn''t die no matter how many times Cirrus struck or how much force he used¡ªit wouldn¡¯t die. It was relentless. Unyielding. A nightmare that refused to be defeated. Then, the creature spoke. ''Why are you holding back?'' Cirrus froze. Nina¡¯s face¡ªtwisted and monstrous¡ªflickered. For just a moment, her eyes changed. A spark of life. A flicker of humanity. Tears slipped down her cheeks. Her lips trembled as if struggling against an unseen force. Her gaze¡ªpleading. Cirrus¡¯ heart skipped a beat. Then, rage ignited inside him. Deep, searing rage. He clenched his fists so hard they trembled. It hit him¡ªNina was a victim too. The nightmare had manipulated her. It had twisted her into a pawn, using her to lure him here. The monster¡¯s tentacles wriggled grotesquely from her mouth as it laughed. ''Is it because she¡¯s your first friend?'' Its tone was mocking, and cruel. Cirrus¡¯ teeth gritted. His fists tightened. "Let. Her. Go!"