《100 Days to Become a Villain》 Chapter 1: The First Warning Day 100 Kaito Arisawa never believed in destiny. To him, life was a dull routine: wake up, go to university, listen to half-hearted lectures, return home, and repeat the process until the inevitable. He was just another 21-year-old student in Tokyo, blending into the crowd like a forgettable extra in a low-budget drama. That was until he received the message¡ªa message that would change everything. It happened on a quiet night. The rain drizzled against his apartment window, a rhythmic tapping that filled the silence. He sat in his dimly lit room, eyes glued to his laptop as he half-heartedly worked on an economics report he had zero interest in. The faint blue light from the screen illuminated the messy space: a bed unmade, empty instant ramen cups stacked in a corner, and a pile of unread books collecting dust on his desk. Then, his phone vibrated. Kaito glanced at the screen. > UNKNOWN NUMBER: A NEW GAME HAS BEGUN. You have 100 days to become the world''s greatest villain, or you will die. Acts of kindness reduce your lifespan. Villainous deeds extend it. Day 100 begins now. Good luck. Kaito stared at the text, an eyebrow twitching. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "...What the hell?" A prank. It had to be. His friends weren¡¯t the type to pull these kinds of jokes, but maybe someone hacked his number? He tapped his phone and typed a quick reply: "Nice try. Who is this?" No response. A few minutes passed, and Kaito shrugged, tossing his phone onto his bed. He had better things to do than entertain some weirdo with too much time on their hands. But then¡ª A new notification appeared. > SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Your time has begun. Remaining Lifespan: 24 hours. His phone screen suddenly turned black, then flickered back to life. But now, the usual apps were gone. Instead, a single glowing number sat in the center. 24:00:00 Kaito''s heart thumped. It was a countdown. "What... the hell is this?" he muttered, his fingers tightening around the device. A deep unease settled in his chest, but before he could fully process it, something even stranger happened¡ª His bank account balance changed. From 3,600 yen (a broke college student¡¯s reality) to 10,000,000 yen. The numbers were real. He refreshed the app. Checked again. The money was still there. Kaito swallowed hard. This was no ordinary prank. And then¡ªa scream. --- The First Crime Kaito rushed to his apartment window. Down below, in the rain-drenched alley, a man was curled on the ground, clutching his stomach as blood pooled beneath him. A figure in a black hoodie stood over him, a knife glinting under the streetlight. A mugging. A terrible, normal crime in Tokyo¡¯s darker alleys. Kaito grabbed his phone, his first instinct to call the police. But¡ª ¡°Acts of kindness reduce your lifespan.¡± His finger hovered over the emergency number. A chill crawled up his spine. Could this game¡­ really be real? Kaito hesitated for three long seconds. Then, another notification appeared. > SYSTEM UPDATE: You have chosen to remain passive. No lifespan penalty applied. Remaining Lifespan: 24 hours. He exhaled sharply. So ignoring the crime didn¡¯t punish him. But if he had tried to help¡ªwould the countdown have dropped? His gaze returned to the alley. The mugger wiped his knife and ran, disappearing into the night. The injured man groaned, struggling to sit up. A cruel thought entered Kaito¡¯s mind. What if he¡­ finished the job? Would the countdown increase? His stomach twisted. No. That was insane. He wasn¡¯t a murderer. But he needed to understand the rules. Kaito grabbed his jacket and stepped out into the rain. He approached the bleeding man cautiously. The street was empty¡ªno witnesses. The man coughed. ¡°H-Hey¡­ help me¡­¡± Kaito¡¯s hands trembled. He clenched his fists. Test the system. Just a little. Instead of offering help, he reached into the man¡¯s pocket and pulled out his wallet. The victim gasped. ¡°W-What¡­ are you¡­?¡± Kaito didn¡¯t answer. He flipped open the wallet, pulling out 20,000 yen and slipping it into his own pocket. Then, his phone vibrated. > SYSTEM UPDATE: You have committed a minor crime. Lifespan extended by 6 hours. Remaining Lifespan: 30 hours. A sharp chill ran down his spine. It worked. His breath came in ragged bursts. The numbers had changed. The system was real. He had stolen¡ªand it had rewarded him. Kaito took a step back, staring at his hands. They were shaking. The man on the ground whimpered. Kaito turned and walked away. The first step had been taken. The game had begun. --- To Be Continue Chapter 2: The First Rival Day 99 ¨C 30 Hours Remaining Kaito Arisawa sat in his dimly lit apartment, staring at the glowing numbers on his phone screen. 30:00:00 The time had increased. He had tested the system¡ªstolen from a bleeding man, and it had rewarded him. His heart still pounded, not just from fear but from something deeper, something darker. A thrill, a rush, the kind of sensation he had never experienced before. "Is this what villains feel?" He pressed his palm against his forehead, trying to steady his thoughts. "I can¡¯t afford to panic. I need to understand the rules." The money in his bank account was still there¡ª10 million yen. If this was some kind of twisted experiment, someone had access to his personal information, including his financial records. But that wasn¡¯t the worst part. Whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªwas behind this game had the power to manipulate reality itself. The screen on his phone flickered again. > NEW OBJECTIVE: COMMIT A GREATER CRIME WITHIN 24 HOURS. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN A 12-HOUR PENALTY. Kaito exhaled sharply. So this wasn¡¯t just a passive game. The system wanted escalation. "I need to plan my next move carefully." But before he could think further, a sharp knock echoed through his apartment. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Three precise knocks. His head snapped toward the door. No one ever visited him. His pulse quickened. His fingers tightened around his phone as he slowly approached the door. Peering through the peephole, he saw a figure standing under the dim hallway light. A girl. Short, with sleek black hair and wearing a fitted black hoodie over a dark turtleneck. She stood with a casual posture, but something about the way she carried herself screamed danger. She knocked again. Three times. Precise. Deliberate. "Arisawa Kaito?" Her voice was sharp, cool, and unreadable. Every instinct told him not to open the door. But a new notification appeared on his phone. > WARNING: PLAYER DETECTED. INTERACTION UNAVOIDABLE. His breath caught. "Another¡­ player?" This wasn¡¯t just a system targeting him. Others were involved. Kaito took a slow, steady breath before unlocking the door. The girl stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. She took a quick glance around his apartment, her sharp eyes flicking over the empty ramen cups, the books, and his laptop before settling on him. "You¡¯ve already committed your first crime, haven¡¯t you?" Kaito didn¡¯t answer. The girl smirked and reached into her hoodie, pulling out her phone. She turned the screen toward him. It was identical to his. A countdown ticking down. 51:00:12 Her time was significantly higher than his. "Does that mean she¡¯s done more than me?" The girl tilted her head, studying his reaction. "Judging by your face, you only just started. I expected more from you, Arisawa." Kaito narrowed his eyes. "And you are?" "Call me Reika," she said. "And before you start thinking about whether you should trust me¡ª" She moved faster than he expected. In a blink, a knife was pressed against his throat. Cold steel. A slow, amused smile spread across her lips as she leaned in slightly. "I don¡¯t trust you either." Kaito didn¡¯t flinch. His heart pounded, but he forced his body to remain still. She was testing him. If he panicked, she would know he was weak. Instead, he smirked. "You¡¯re not going to kill me." Reika arched an eyebrow. "Oh? What makes you so sure?" "You could have stabbed me the moment I opened the door. Instead, you walked in and started talking." Reika¡¯s smile widened. "Smart. I like that." She stepped back, flipping the knife effortlessly in her hand before slipping it back into her hoodie. "You¡¯re new to this, so let me explain something," she said. "This isn¡¯t just a game of survival. It¡¯s a competition." Kaito frowned. "What do you mean?" She crossed her arms, her expression turning serious. "There are others like us. All with different objectives. Some have to kill. Some have to protect. Some just have to survive until their countdown hits zero." Kaito¡¯s blood ran cold. "And you?" he asked carefully. Reika¡¯s eyes gleamed. "I¡¯m a ¡®Hunter.¡¯ My goal is to eliminate certain ¡®players.¡¯ If I succeed, I get bonus time." Silence stretched between them. Kaito¡¯s mind raced. "If she¡¯s a Hunter¡­ does that mean she¡¯s supposed to kill someone like me?" Reika suddenly grinned and reached into her pocket. "Relax. You¡¯re not on my list. Yet." She tossed something onto his table. A USB drive. "What¡¯s this?" Kaito asked. "Information," Reika said. "If you¡¯re serious about winning this game, you¡¯ll need to understand the rules. I gathered some data on past players. Let¡¯s just say¡­ the system isn¡¯t as fair as it looks." Kaito picked up the USB, his mind spinning with questions. Reika headed toward the door but paused. "One last thing," she said over her shoulder. "You¡¯ve got an objective to commit a greater crime, don¡¯t you?" Kaito didn¡¯t answer. Reika smirked. "Good. That means we¡¯re officially rivals." Then, without another word, she slipped into the shadows and disappeared. The door clicked shut. Kaito stood there, gripping the USB tightly. This game was far bigger than he thought. And now, he had competition. --- To Be Continue Chapter 3: Breaking the Rules Day 98 ¨C 24 Hours Remaining Kaito sat at his desk, staring at the USB drive Reika had left behind. His fingers hovered over his laptop¡¯s keyboard, hesitation gnawing at the edges of his thoughts. This could be a trap. He had just met Reika, and nothing about her screamed trustworthy. But ignoring the information was even riskier. "I don¡¯t have the luxury of playing it safe." Taking a deep breath, he plugged in the USB. A single folder appeared on his screen. > PROJECT: BLACK FILES He clicked on it. Inside were multiple documents, each labeled with a name, a date, and a termination status. Most were marked DECEASED. His stomach twisted as he scrolled down. The files detailed previous players of this sick game¡ªpeople who had also received the countdown. Some had survived, but the vast majority¡­ hadn¡¯t. He opened one of the more recent files. > PLAYER: NAGISA HAYAMI START DATE: 113 DAYS AGO STATUS: DECEASED CAUSE OF DEATH: FORCED SYSTEM FAILURE His brow furrowed. Forced system failure? He scrolled down. Nagisa¡¯s objective had been similar to his: commit escalating crimes. She had successfully completed multiple objectives¡ªtheft, assault, extortion. But then, on Day 72, she attempted to disobey the system¡¯s orders. The punishment? If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Her timer had instantly dropped to zero. A blurry security cam screenshot at the bottom of the file showed a girl collapsing in the middle of a crowded street. Blood streaming from her nose. Eyes wide open. Dead. Kaito swallowed hard. "So there really is no way to quit." His phone buzzed. A new notification. > WARNING: 6 HOURS REMAINING TO COMPLETE OBJECTIVE. Shit. He had spent too much time reading. The system wanted a greater crime. But how much worse than stealing from a dying man did it expect? Kaito clenched his fists. He wasn¡¯t about to go out stabbing random people in the street. There had to be another way. Then, he remembered something Reika had said. "The system isn¡¯t fair. It can be cheated." If he could find a loophole, maybe he wouldn¡¯t have to escalate into full-blown murder. But first¡ªhe needed a target. --- 23:45 PM ¨C Searching for Prey The city never truly slept. Even this late, the streets of Shinjuku were alive with neon lights and the hum of distant traffic. Kaito walked with purpose, his hood pulled low over his face. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for something¡ªsomeone¡ªthat could help him clear the objective without fully crossing the line. Then, he saw them. Three men loitering near the entrance of a dark alley. Dressed in flashy suits, cigarettes dangling from their lips, exuding the unmistakable aura of small-time gangsters. "Yakuza?" Not the high-level ones. More like street enforcers¡ªthugs who ran petty scams, collected debts, and harassed people for money. Kaito¡¯s mind worked quickly. If he was going to commit a greater crime, why not do it to someone who deserved it? Taking a steady breath, he approached the group. One of the men¡ªstocky, with a buzz cut¡ªnoticed him first. He squinted at Kaito, clearly irritated by the intrusion. "Oi. The fuck do you want, kid?" Kaito didn¡¯t hesitate. He pulled out his phone and flashed his balance. 9.8 million yen. The men¡¯s eyes locked onto the number. Buzz Cut¡¯s scowl vanished, replaced by a slow, greedy grin. "Well, well," he mused, stepping closer. "Looks like we got ourselves a rich brat." Kaito forced himself to stay calm. He wasn¡¯t here to get robbed. He was here to bait them. "You guys do business, right?" he said smoothly. "I need something¡­ illegal." The second thug, a lean man with sharp features, chuckled. "Oh? And what exactly are you looking for?" Kaito met his gaze head-on. "A gun." The air shifted. The casual amusement in their eyes turned into something sharper, more calculating. Buzz Cut exhaled smoke through his nose. "A gun, huh? That¡¯s a dangerous thing to be asking for, kid." Kaito shrugged. "And yet, you¡¯re still listening." The men exchanged glances. Then, Sharp Features motioned for Kaito to follow. "Come on," he said. "Let¡¯s talk somewhere quieter." --- 00:12 AM ¨C The Setup The alley was dark, the only light coming from a flickering streetlamp at the entrance. Buzz Cut leaned against the wall, while Sharp Features pulled out his phone, pretending to make a call. The third man, a lanky guy with dyed blond hair, stood a little too close to Kaito¡¯s side. It was obvious. A trap. They weren¡¯t going to sell him a gun. They were planning to rob him. Kaito wasn¡¯t surprised. He was counting on it. Buzz Cut exhaled again. "Alright, kid. You got the cash?" Kaito nodded. "Of course." He reached into his pocket¡ª ¡ªand pulled out a switchblade. The men barely had time to react before Kaito lunged. The blade sliced through fabric and skin, carving a deep line across Buzz Cut¡¯s forearm. The man shouted in pain, stumbling backward. Before the others could react, Kaito kicked Blondie in the stomach, sending him crashing into a pile of trash bags. Sharp Features cursed and swung at him¡ªKaito dodged, the fist barely grazing his cheek. He slammed his knee into the man¡¯s ribs and punched him in the throat. Sharp Features choked, gasping for air as he collapsed to his knees. Buzz Cut, still clutching his bleeding arm, pulled out a knife of his own. "Fucking little¡ª!" But Kaito was already moving. He grabbed a discarded glass bottle from the ground and smashed it over Buzz Cut¡¯s head. The man crumpled. Silence. The only sounds were Kaito¡¯s heavy breathing and the distant hum of the city. His phone vibrated. > OBJECTIVE COMPLETE. +24 HOURS ADDED. Kaito exhaled, his chest rising and falling. He looked down at the three groaning men, their blood staining the pavement. He hadn¡¯t killed them. But he had brutalized them. For the first time since this all started, a new emotion stirred in his chest. Not guilt. Not regret. But a twisted satisfaction. And the worst part? It felt good. --- To Be Continue Chapter 4: The Watchers Day 97 ¨C 24 Hours Remaining Kaito stood in the alleyway, his breath steadying as he took in the scene. Three unconscious bodies lay sprawled around him, the faint scent of blood mixing with the stench of rotting garbage. His hands trembled slightly¡ªnot from fear, but from something else. Excitement. The system¡¯s notification had come in almost instantly. > OBJECTIVE COMPLETE. +24 HOURS ADDED. But something still felt off. Kaito¡¯s instincts prickled, the way they always did when he was being watched. Slowly, he turned his head. Up above, on the fire escape of a nearby building, a figure stood in the shadows. A witness. --- 00:27 AM ¨C The Silent Observer Kaito''s heartbeat quickened. He couldn''t make out the person¡¯s face clearly, but their posture was relaxed, almost casual¡ªas if watching a street fight in the middle of the night was normal for them. Then, the figure moved. A faint chuckle echoed down from the metal stairs. "Not bad," the voice called out. It was male, smooth and unhurried. "You¡¯re new, aren¡¯t you?" Kaito¡¯s grip on his switchblade tightened. Another player? The man hopped down from the fire escape, landing effortlessly on the pavement below. Now, Kaito could see him clearly. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Tall. Slender. Dressed in a black hoodie and ripped jeans. His hair was a deep shade of red, and his sharp eyes gleamed with amusement. He didn¡¯t seem scared. If anything, he looked intrigued. Kaito narrowed his eyes. "Who the hell are you?" The man smirked. "Ah, right. You probably don¡¯t know the rules yet." Rules? The stranger took a step forward. "Let me introduce myself properly¡ª" A sudden vibration in Kaito¡¯s pocket made him pause. His phone screen lit up. > WARNING: INTERACTION WITH ANOTHER PLAYER DETECTED. NEW SYSTEM UPDATE ACTIVATED. Kaito¡¯s blood ran cold. The man¡¯s smirk widened. "Yep. That¡¯s the one." --- 00:30 AM ¨C The New Rule Kaito tapped on the notification. A red message box appeared. > SYSTEM UPDATE: PLAYER INTERACTION UNLOCKED. - Players may now engage with one another. - Killing another player grants additional rewards. - Be wary. Some players will try to eliminate you first. His eyes darkened. "So, I can be killed now." The red-haired man stretched lazily, cracking his neck. "I should probably mention, I¡¯ve been at this for a while. You¡¯re what? Day 97?" Kaito didn¡¯t answer. The man grinned. "Thought so. I¡¯m on Day 72. Haven¡¯t died yet. That¡¯s an achievement, right?" His nonchalant attitude set off alarms in Kaito¡¯s head. This guy had been playing for almost a month longer than him. That meant he had experience. More importantly¡ªhe wasn¡¯t dead. "Relax, kid," the man said, seeing the tension in Kaito¡¯s stance. "I¡¯m not here to kill you." "...Yet," Kaito muttered. The man laughed. "Fair enough." A gust of wind swept through the alley, making the discarded trash rustle. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, the man exhaled and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Name¡¯s Ren," he said. "And I¡¯ve got a proposition for you." Kaito didn¡¯t lower his guard. "What kind of proposition?" Ren¡¯s grin widened. "You and me. We team up." --- 00:45 AM ¨C The First Alliance? Kaito stared at Ren, searching his expression for any sign of deception. "You want to team up?" he repeated. "Why?" Ren tilted his head. "Because this game isn¡¯t meant to be played alone." That was the first thing he said that actually made sense. Kaito had already learned that the hard way. The system wanted him to escalate¡ªto push him into darker and darker choices. And now, with other players being potential threats, surviving alone would only get harder. Ren¡¯s eyes gleamed. "You¡¯re strong. And smart. That fight back there? Pretty damn efficient. But you¡¯re not thinking ahead." Kaito frowned. "What do you mean?" Ren took a step closer. "You¡¯re playing defensively. Just trying to survive. But survival isn¡¯t enough." He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering. "If you really want to win this game, you have to start thinking like a villain." The words sent a chill down Kaito¡¯s spine. Not because they were wrong. But because deep down, he knew Ren was right. Kaito crossed his arms. "And you? What¡¯s your goal in this?" Ren chuckled. "Simple. I don¡¯t plan on dying. Ever. If we work together, we can push the system in ways no solo player can. We break it before it breaks us." Break the system? It was a bold claim. But it also sounded... tempting. Kaito glanced at the unconscious gangsters around them. A few days ago, he wouldn¡¯t have believed he could do something like this. Now? He had just beaten three men half to death and felt no remorse. Maybe teaming up wasn¡¯t a bad idea. Still, he wasn¡¯t stupid. "And if I refuse?" Kaito asked. Ren shrugged. "Then we part ways. For now." There was an unspoken threat in those words. For now. Kaito exhaled slowly. "If I say no, I might be making an enemy of him. If I say yes¡­ I might be signing a deal with the devil." The system had pushed him to commit greater and greater crimes. Maybe Ren was right. Maybe he needed to stop resisting and start controlling the game. Kaito extended his hand. "...Fine." Ren¡¯s smirk widened as he grasped Kaito¡¯s hand firmly. "Smart choice," he said. > NEW PLAYER ALLIANCE FORMED. PLAYER: REN IS NOW LINKED TO PLAYER: KAITO. WARNING: ALLIANCES CAN BE BROKEN AT ANY TIME. TRUST CAREFULLY. Kaito¡¯s eyes narrowed at the last line. "I¡¯ll trust him. But only as far as I can throw him." The game had changed. And now, it was time to play for real. --- To Be Continue Chapter 5: Blood on the Line Day 96 ¨C 24 Hours Remaining Kaito sat on the rooftop of an abandoned warehouse, watching the city lights flicker like distant stars. It was past midnight, and the world below him felt eerily quiet. Too quiet. Beside him, Ren stretched lazily, his red hair ruffling in the night breeze. "You know," Ren mused, twirling a small knife between his fingers, "you never asked me why I started playing this game." Kaito¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t shift. "I don¡¯t need to know." Ren smirked. "Cold. I like that." A notification suddenly appeared on both their phones, causing Kaito¡¯s stomach to tighten. > NEW MISSION UNLOCKED: BLOOD ON THE LINE - Target: PLAYER #381 ¨C "THE BUTCHER" - Objective: SURVIVE. - Time Limit: 12 HOURS. - Reward: +48 HOURS ADDED TO YOUR TIMER. - WARNING: FAILURE RESULTS IN DEATH. Kaito¡¯s breath slowed. Survive? That meant someone was coming for them. Ren let out a low whistle. "Damn. They¡¯re throwing us into the deep end already." Kaito clenched his fists. "Who¡¯s ¡®The Butcher¡¯?" Ren''s smirk disappeared. His eyes darkened. "Bad news," he said. "Really, really bad news." --- 01:15 AM ¨C The Butcher Kaito followed Ren down a dimly lit alleyway. The moment their mission had appeared, Ren had told him they needed to move. Now. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. "We don¡¯t wait for The Butcher to find us," Ren had said. "We find him first." And that was why they were now walking into one of the most dangerous parts of the city¡ªThe Slums. This area wasn¡¯t just home to criminals. It was a graveyard for the weak. Ren walked confidently, his hands in his pockets. "The Butcher is one of the older players," he explained. "Been in the game for at least fifty days. No one knows his real name, but everyone knows his reputation." "What kind of reputation?" Kaito asked. Ren gave him a sideways glance. "He doesn¡¯t play for time extensions." Kaito frowned. "Then why does he play?" Ren¡¯s smirk turned grim. "Because he likes it." Kaito¡¯s stomach twisted. Most players were forced to commit crimes to survive. But The Butcher? He enjoyed it. Ren continued, "He doesn¡¯t care about the missions. He kills other players for fun. And now, the system just made us his next targets." Kaito exhaled sharply. "How do we stop him?" Ren shrugged. "We kill him first." Simple words. But killing another player wasn¡¯t like fighting street thugs. This time, their enemy had a system too. --- 02:00 AM ¨C The Hunting Grounds The abandoned meatpacking district smelled of blood and rust. Kaito and Ren moved carefully through the darkened warehouses, their footsteps barely making a sound. "This is where he operates," Ren whispered. "If he knows we¡¯re here, we¡¯re already dead." Kaito¡¯s grip tightened on his knife. His heart pounded against his ribs. Suddenly¡ª A soft squelching noise echoed through the air. Kaito and Ren froze. It was coming from the next warehouse. Ren signaled for Kaito to move quietly. They crept toward a broken window and peered inside. What they saw made Kaito¡¯s blood turn cold. Bodies. At least five of them, strung up on meat hooks like butchered animals. Blood dripped onto the concrete floor, forming dark, sticky puddles. And standing in the middle of it all was a man. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Wearing a stained butcher¡¯s apron over a black shirt. His hands, coated in fresh blood, gripped a massive cleaver. His face was hidden behind a white mask shaped like a smiling pig¡¯s face. He tilted his head slightly, as if listening. Then, without warning¡ª He turned toward them. Kaito¡¯s breath caught. Their cover was blown. "Run," Ren muttered. But before they could move¡ª The Butcher lunged. --- 02:05 AM ¨C The First Kill Attempt Kaito barely dodged as the cleaver came down, embedding itself in the metal railing where he had been standing. Ren grabbed Kaito by the collar and yanked him backward. "MOVE!" They hit the ground running. Behind them, The Butcher moved fast. Faster than someone his size should be able to. Kaito sprinted toward the warehouse exit, but The Butcher was already closing in. Ren swore under his breath. "We¡¯re not gonna outrun him. We have to fight." Kaito¡¯s grip tightened on his knife. He turned sharply, ducking behind a metal crate. The moment The Butcher ran past, Kaito sprang forward¡ª And slashed. His blade sliced across The Butcher¡¯s exposed forearm. Blood splattered onto the floor. But instead of retreating, The Butcher... laughed. A deep, guttural chuckle that sent a shiver down Kaito¡¯s spine. Then, before Kaito could react¡ª The Butcher slammed his fist into Kaito¡¯s stomach. Pain exploded through his body. Kaito was sent crashing into a stack of wooden crates, his vision blurring. Ren cursed. "Damn it¡ª" But The Butcher was already moving toward him next. Ren dodged the next swing, rolling to the side. His hand moved in a blur¡ª Bang! A gunshot echoed through the warehouse. The Butcher staggered back, a red stain spreading across his shoulder. Kaito coughed, forcing himself to his feet. "You brought a gun?!" Ren flashed a grin. "I like to be prepared." The Butcher tilted his head again. Slowly, his laughter died down. Then, he gripped the bullet wound¡ª And pushed the bullet out. Kaito¡¯s stomach dropped. "What the hell?" Ren¡¯s expression darkened. "Oh, that¡¯s not good." > NEW SYSTEM ALERT: PLAYER #381 HAS ACTIVATED SPECIAL ABILITY ¨C "BLOOD FRENZY." - PAIN RESISTANCE INCREASED. - STRENGTH BOOSTED FOR 10 MINUTES. - KILLING AN OPPONENT EXTENDS ABILITY DURATION. The Butcher¡¯s breathing became heavier. Then, in a blur¡ª He charged. Kaito barely had time to react before a massive fist slammed into his ribs, sending him flying. Pain exploded in his side. He crashed onto the cold concrete, gasping for air. He could hear Ren shouting something¡ªbut the words were drowned out by the ringing in his ears. Through his blurred vision, he saw The Butcher raise his cleaver. Kaito¡¯s mind screamed one thing¡ª If I don¡¯t move, I die. --- End of Chapter 5 Chapter 6: No More Holding Back 02:07 AM ¨C A Moment from Death Kaito''s breath came in ragged gasps. His body screamed in pain, his ribs throbbing where The Butcher had sent him flying. Above him, the masked killer raised his cleaver high, the bloodstained blade gleaming in the dim warehouse light. This is it. I¡¯m dead. Time slowed. Kaito¡¯s mind raced through every possibility. He had no weapons. No way to block the attack. No time to roll away. Then I have to gamble. As the cleaver came down, Kaito did the only thing he could¡ª He lunged forward. --- 02:07 AM ¨C Risk and Reward The Butcher¡¯s blade sliced down¡ª But instead of landing a fatal blow, Kaito¡¯s hands shot out, gripping the Butcher¡¯s forearm just in time. Pain tore through his hands as the sheer force of the swing pushed him backward, but he held on, using the Butcher¡¯s own momentum against him. With a sharp twist¡ª CRACK. The Butcher¡¯s elbow bent the wrong way. A guttural roar of pain erupted from behind the mask. But Kaito wasn¡¯t done. Ignoring the burning pain in his ribs, he twisted again¡ªthis time aiming for the mask. His fingers caught onto the edge¡ª This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. And ripped it off. A scarred face was revealed underneath, with hollow, soulless eyes filled with madness. For the first time, The Butcher hesitated. And that was all Kaito needed. A chance. --- 02:08 AM ¨C Ren¡¯s Hidden Card "MOVE!" Kaito barely registered Ren¡¯s voice before something whizzed past his ear. BANG! A bullet tore through The Butcher¡¯s thigh. The killer stumbled, but his expression barely changed. His lips curled into a twisted grin. "You think bullets will stop me?" he rasped, his voice hoarse yet amused. Ren smirked. "No," he said. "But this will." He flicked his wrist¡ª And a small black orb rolled toward The Butcher¡¯s feet. Kaito¡¯s eyes widened. "Wait, is that¡ª" BOOM! A shockwave rocked the warehouse as the explosive detonated, sending the Butcher flying backward into a pile of metal crates. Dust and smoke filled the air. Kaito coughed violently, struggling to stay upright. Ren stepped forward, blowing imaginary smoke off his gun. "Did I forget to mention?" he said casually. "I keep a few toys on hand." Kaito shot him a glare. "You had a freaking grenade and you didn¡¯t use it earlier?!" Ren shrugged. "Had to make sure you weren¡¯t completely useless first." Kaito was about to retort when¡ª A low chuckle echoed through the smoke. His stomach dropped. No way. --- 02:10 AM ¨C The Monster Rises From the wreckage, a figure emerged. Bloodied, burned, but still standing. The Butcher cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as if merely waking from a nap. His hollow eyes locked onto Kaito and Ren. And he smiled. > SYSTEM ALERT! PLAYER #381 HAS ACTIVATED SECOND STAGE OF "BLOOD FRENZY." - PAIN NULLIFICATION REACHED 90%. - ATTACK POWER INCREASED. - MOVEMENT SPEED BOOSTED. Kaito¡¯s fingers tightened into fists. Ren swore under his breath. "This is why I hate fighting psychos." The Butcher lifted his cleaver again. Then¡ª He vanished. No sound. No warning. Kaito¡¯s heart pounded. Where¡ª Too late. A shadow loomed behind him. "KAITO, MOVE!" SLASH! Pain erupted across Kaito¡¯s shoulder. A deep, burning cut¡ª Blood splattered onto the floor. His vision blurred. The Butcher stood behind him, cleaver dripping red. "You¡¯re still too weak," he murmured. Kaito collapsed to his knees. No. Not yet. --- 02:11 AM ¨C The System¡¯s Voice As Kaito¡¯s vision darkened, something clicked in his mind. A voice whispered in his ear. > SYSTEM OVERRIDE DETECTED. - EMERGENCY ADAPTATION ACTIVATING. - CONDITION: SURVIVAL MODE. His body froze. Something shifted. Then, in an instant¡ª Everything became clear. Kaito¡¯s pain vanished. His fatigue disappeared. His heartbeat slowed, calculating. His hands moved before his mind. SLASH! Kaito¡¯s knife buried itself deep in The Butcher¡¯s thigh. For the first time, The Butcher¡¯s expression changed. Shock. Kaito¡¯s body moved on its own, faster than before. Another slash. This time¡ª Right across The Butcher¡¯s throat. A sickening gurgle filled the air. The Butcher staggered. His cleaver dropped. His body swayed. Then¡ª He collapsed. Blood pooled beneath him. The warehouse fell silent. Ren stood frozen. Kaito stared at his hands, trembling. The system voice spoke again. > PLAYER #529 HAS COMPLETED THE MISSION: "BLOOD ON THE LINE." +48 HOURS ADDED TO YOUR TIMER. NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: "COLD CALCULATION." - Grants temporary immunity to fear and pain in life-threatening situations. - Enhances reflexes and decision-making speed. Kaito¡¯s breathing slowed. Something had changed. Not just in the system. In him. He looked down at The Butcher¡¯s lifeless body. His first kill. And he didn¡¯t feel sick. He didn¡¯t feel guilty. He felt... nothing. Ren watched him carefully. "...So," Ren finally said, his tone unreadable. "How does it feel?" Kaito¡¯s fingers curled. His voice came out colder than before. "Necessary." --- End of Chapter 6