As she walked to her next destination. Hori briefly remembered the smart watch participants wore to keep track of their accumulated points.
"I almost forgot about it." She gently tapped it, the black screen gaining a sky blue light. Hori bit her lip as if in pain while reading her score. "....182?!" She almost cursed at such a low amount.
"If memory serves, I got 52 points from trial one, 100 from 2.... If my current total is 182 then..."
She quickly did some mental math.
"I only got 30 points from trial three?!" Hori screamed pulling her hair. All that pain from 6 days of starvation and 2 days unconsciousness.
She sighed and reasoned properly.
'I guess that makes sense, I did poorly, forfeiting my space like that...if only I didn't fall asleep....'
Hori suddenly felt bad for yelling at Narrator. The voice was right, she wasn't responsible for any of Hori's actions, Hori slept because she was too exhausted. But she was in no mood to apologize.
'Enough lamenting!' she quickly slapped her cheeks hyping her self up. Hori had arrived at a mysterious wide door after departing from Mrs Takane's room.
A bold black writing 'Teachers Lounge' informed her of what was within the room.
She avoided the glances of Priests who wondered what she was doing at such a place.
After pacing about to evaporate her anxiety, Hori summoned all her courage to knock. As gently as possible.
"..." There was no reply. 'Maybe that was too gentle.'
Hori attempted knocking once more, but the metal door suddenly opened before her knuckles made contact.
A large but familiar man stared her down, his iconic black shades hung above the rim of his nose.
"Ah....contestant Inori, correct?" Sir Scott said with a warm smile. "S-s-s-s-sir Scott!" Hori stammered, shocked to see him answer the door. She bowed and greeted the Bishop.
"I see you've recovered, that's good." he said, folding his arms and leaning back against the now-closed door.
"Yes, thank God," Hori smiled back then fidgeted with her fingers. "Ehm, Sir. Please I'd like to cut to the chase, you see I'm very late for trial 3!" She said with restless hand movement.
Not wanting to sound rude.
Sir Scott spoke calmly. "Oh, kid you're not late. Participants just left for trial 4."
"Really?!" Hori said, surprised then relieved.
"Most were on the verge of dying of hunger so they needed time to recover."
He explained. SHO was honestly surprised no participant died.
"Sir, could you please send me to trial 4? Using that kitchen bell teleportation thingy!" Hori pleaded with puppy eyes. The Bishop laughed, Hori's energy was still present despite being half dead when found unconscious from Trial 3.
"Alright. There's no need to go to the briefing hall. Just know trial 4 isn't difficult okay?" He said with a slightly worried tone. Participant Inori always seemed to get hospitalized after every trial.
Hori appreciated the heads up and took a fighting stance, ready to get teleported away to whatever challenge awaited. Sir Scott lifted his muscular arm.
"Good luck Inori, let trial 4.... Begin!" As usual, the sound of a kitchen bell signaled Hori's disappearance. The hall-way rang until the melodious chime eventually died down.
Sir Scott walked back to the teachers lounge then came out with 3 other Priests, their destination the lavished lounge to observe participants in Trial 4. Especially that Hori inori.
-----------------------------
Hori instantly materialized in a vast, unbroken whiteness. The sky blended seamlessly with the ground, and every direction seemed to stretch into infinity. A cold wind whispered across the emptiness, but there was no sound, no horizon—just pure white.
"It's just like my dream...." Hori whispered turning her head. The emptiness was reminiscent of that mysterious dream she had during Trial 3.
She took a hesitant step, her boots sinking slightly into the soft surface as if it were fresh "Snow!" Hori smiled, she loved winter more than any other weather. The air felt thin, and each breath left a faint mist that dissolved instantly.
"It's quite cold." Hori rubbed her palms to generate some warmth.
Despite her oversized tracksuit, she was still experiencing the fields chill.
She turned slowly, trying to find any landmark or shadow. Nothing seemed to break the monotony.
A loud mic squeal broke the silence and a familiar voice spoke.
"Uncle Shiba!" Hori cheered while waving.
Hori's brows rose, 110 total participants left in only the 4th trial. They were a total of 7 trials, meaning only 3 more were left after this. She was doing it!
Hori, as well as multiple participants in their own fields looked confused. Mr Shiba cleared his throat, preparing to elaborate on the rules.
He paused then continued.
Despite his explanation, Hori still looked perplexed. She rose her right hand, indicating she had a question.
"So... we're going to kill people...?" Her tone, worried. Hori was not comfortable with murder. Mr Shiba sighed and told her not to worry.
Hori bowed her head showing compliance. Just then, a holographic clock appeared, giving the boring snow field a cool blue hue.
Without wasting a moment, the second hand started moving at its normal speed. Hori recalled Mr. Shiba's warning—that an ash man would come for her head within a minute. She slapped her cheeks to shake herself awake and decided to do a few stretches.
From her quick extermination of sinners with Haruki, she had grown somewhat accustomed to gore — but now how far that tolerance would stretch would be tested.
The second hand finally made a full circle and the holographic clock vanished. It was time.
Ting~!
It appeared in a flash. The ash humanoid, a tall and gaunt figure with a cracked, charcoal-gray skin, stood motionless 10 meters away.
Hori watched him with a mix of curiosity and caution, as her eyes scanned his form. The thing stood at 5 feet 9 Inches, it's frame not big but not small either. Just.... average.
Hori dismissed it's harmless appearance, staring at its black beady eyes as she slipped into a boxing stance.
'I'm going to kill you!' she reminded her self.
Suddenly, without warning, it sprinted forward. 'Here it comes...!' Hori frowned. Within few seconds, the distance was closed and it threw a predictable right jab which Hori effortlessly evaded.
With a furious inhalation, she drew her right hand back, fingers curled like a blade with slight veins bulging.
"Hyaaa!" Hori's diamond‑hard hand sliced through the neck, releasing a surge of warm, vivid blood that melted the snow below.
The humanoid's head slipped away, taking an abrupt farewell from its body.
Making a crunchy thud as it landed 5 meters away.
The ash figure's decapitated form staggered a few steps before falling, blood still gushing from its neck.
Horrified, Hori shuddered at such a realistic display of death. She had expected them to vanish, rather than show actual human blood.
The moment it died silence fell again — She exhaled, slowly lowering her hand.
"That was… easy," she muttered, swiping her palm to remove its blood. But she didn't relax. She knew what Mr Shiba said.
Just then, a cheerful notification sounded on her smartwatch, catching Hori's attention. She glanced at it and smiled when she saw "183!" — a one‑point increase for every humanoid killed. A cold, unsettling smile spread across her face; Hori was preparing to unleash a massacre.