The night breathed like an animal sinking underground.The skeletons of buildings resembled tombstones groaning in the wind.In the coldness of concrete, the warmth of blood could not be felt. But Ryuga carried that warm blood throughout his body.
He was wounded. Exhausted. And already ready to give up.
He had found a shadow to take shelter in, deep inside a dark subway entrance.A place with a collapsed roof, stairs choked by rust.But at least he was alone. Or so he thought.
He wrapped the tear on his chest. There was no cloth. He pressed it with a piece torn from his old shirt.But first, he had to clean it. He had found water.A brown liquid leaking from a rusty pipe.
He swallowed hard.
"I have no choice."
He dipped the cloth. The smell of rust was heavy. The metallic taste reached his lips. He took a deep breath, then... pressed down on the wound.
A scream. He was frightened by his own voice.For a few seconds, he felt his consciousness tremble.
[Bad Luck effect active: Infected Wounds. Your movement speed is reduced by 40%.][Bad Luck Points +5]
With trembling hands, he tried to tie the bandage. His vision was blurred.He whispered to himself:
"This city… is trying to kill me."
No. This city was no longer alive.All life was trapped between the ribs of a decaying corpse.
Footsteps.Muffled whispers.
Ryuga leaned back reflexively. Narrowing his eyes in the subway darkness, he looked.
A shadow.Not one. Not five. Eight.
Human?
No. Only the shapes of humanity remained.Rotten flesh.A hunger moving beneath the meat.
They were the ones who "ate the beast out of hunger."And eventually became the beasts themselves.
The one in front stepped forward. No armor, but rusty chains wrapped around his body. He carried an axe.His eyes were alive. But his mind was gone.
"Look what we found."His voice was rusty. As if every word came coated in mucus from his lungs."Flesh. Young. Weak."
Someone laughed from behind."That dagger? Like a toy. Ha, still a child."
Another grumbled."I'll take his clothes. The dagger's mine."
Ryuga said nothing.He only bowed his head.
He was not afraid. He was used to it.But... he was exhausted.
Somewhere inside, a voice said, "Run."But another voice — deeper — whispered, "Resist."A voice forged from blood, mud, and filth.
But his body did not move.The attack came first from them. The one with the axe lunged forward. Ryuga dodged sideways but was too late.
A blow. To his ribs.His knees buckled. The air he swallowed spilled out as blood.
[Bad Luck effect active: Loss of Balance – Pain Shock][Bad Luck Points +3]
"I can't fight.""My body can't withstand this pain."
But among his thoughts, there was one more sentence.
"But still… I won't die."
He raised his dagger. Swung it.Hit none.The second kicked his knee.Ryuga fell face down to the ground.A blow landed on his shoulder. Bone cracked.
[Bad Luck effect active: Bone Damage – Left Shoulder Disabled][Bad Luck Points +4]
"Why am I like this?""Why is it always... me?"
His vision darkened.But just then, one of the attackers leaned back to strike Ryuga…His foot landed on a stone. He lost his balance.Fell backward. His head hit the edge of the pavement.
[Reverse Fortune triggered.][Effect: Enemy made a mistake – Short-term stun.]
Only one.Only one chance.It was not enough.
But for Ryuga, at that moment, it had to be enough.
He lunged forward. Clenching his teeth, he reached where the axe had fallen.He screamed in pain.His shoulder was cracked but he lifted the axe.
Survival had nothing to do with pride.
He forced himself up on his knees.Delivered the first blow to the stunned man.A crack. The skull… split in two.
Blood splattered. His eyes burned. But he was still standing.
The remaining seven looked serious now.
One growled."So... he's not a victim."
Ryuga smiled.
Speaking through clenched teeth:"I was... never a 'victim.'"
But deep down he knew.This was no victory.Just... another fight for survival.
[Reverse Fortune: Can trigger with a 20% success rate.][Total Bad Luck Points: 17][Critical threshold exceeded – New skill can be unlocked.]
Ryuga clenched the axe tightly, grinding his teeth. Blood dripped from everywhere.But in his eyes was determination.
"I will be unlucky until I die.""Then... I will take with me those who died by this bad luck."