The next day, the world seemed darker even before sunrise. Kai awoke groggy and unsettled, the lingering nightmares from yesterday refusing to leave him. The images of Kuller Town—the vanished children, the whispering streets, the massacre—kept replaying in his mind. Sweat clung to his skin, and his chest heaved as he tried to steady his breath.
He shuffled to the kitchen, mechanically preparing breakfast, his mind elsewhere. The news report on the TV flickered silently in the background. He had seen the headlines before, but he hesitated to look. Eventually, he gave in, and his eyes widened in horror.
The screen displayed:
"5 Male, 3 Female, 4 Children (Male and Female) Found Dead in Alley. Faces Horrifically Dismembered. Flesh Missing, Skulls Partially Exposed."
Kai recoiled from the screen as if the images had reached out and clawed at his mind. He felt cold, his stomach twisting with unease.
"What the hell is happening there? This doesn't feel right anymore. Why hasn't the government solved this yet?" he muttered under his breath, frustration boiling in his chest. He slammed the remote down and scrambled for his phone, dialing his friend in Kuller Town.
> Kenneth Tavern
The phone rang. Once. Twice. Ten times. No answer.
By the 29th missed call, Kai's worry had turned to panic. He typed a long, heartfelt message, offering his help if anything happened. All he could do now was wait. He threw on his school uniform, his mind still trapped in the nightmare of Kuller Town, and headed to school.
When Kai arrived, Edward was already leaning against the lockers, casually scrolling his phone but with a frown on his face.
"Hey… have you seen the news yet?" Kai asked, his voice tense.
Edward nodded, a grim shadow crossing his normally playful expression. "Yeah… it's cruel. Absolutely sickening. The victims… just their faces… it's… ugh. I can't even imagine."
Kai shivered. "How can people be this… this… twisted?"
Edward shook his head. "And the worst part? The wounds are only on the faces. It's like… some psycho had an obsession with that. Pure madness."
Kai's hands clenched into fists, a combination of fear and frustration bubbling up inside him.
Suddenly, Kiera appeared, skipping lightly into the hallway, her usual energy contrasting sharply with the dark mood lingering between the boys. She handed them a piece of paper with a bright smile.
"Oh… what's this?" Kai asked, curious.
"That's the location," Kiera replied, grinning. "In case you wanted to watch my game."
Edward raised an eyebrow. "Game?"
Kiera nodded enthusiastically. "Universe of Lightlock. It's an open-world game where you can compete in team or solo tournaments."
Kai's eyes lit up. "You play that game too?"
"Tonight's a team tournament," Kiera added, bouncing on her heels.
Edward leaned back, smirking. "Well, at least we have something fun to look forward to tonight."
Kai chuckled. "I play too. I'm actually… pretty good."
Kiera's eyes widened. "Oh? What rank?"
"Divine King," Kai admitted, blushing slightly. "I grind a lot at night and in my free time."
"Oh… wow. I've struggled just to get there. That's the highest rank, you know, and there are prizes. Why aren't you competing?"
Kai shrugged nervously. "Not into the spotlight yet. Too… nervous."
Kiera's grin widened. "Well, soon I'll recruit you to our team if you're ready!"
Edward nudged Kai, teasing, "Looks like you've got competition in more ways than one."
Kai rolled his eyes, laughing, and Kiera giggled awkwardly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Oh… well, thanks! I have to go now—watch the game tonight!" And just like that, she bolted down the hallway.
Kai and Edward shared a look and laughed, the tension easing slightly.
Class dragged on, their minds half on the tournament and half on the horrifying news from Kuller Town. By the time school ended, the sky had darkened ominously.
"Come on, we need to hurry! The tournament's starting soon!" Kai said, practically dragging Edward along.
When they arrived, the arena was packed. Crowds chanted, flags waved, and the air buzzed with energy. Kai and Edward's eyes went wide as the announcer's voice boomed:
"Kiera! The Golden Princess!"
"Cyric! The King of Swords!"
"Angelo! The Middle Force!"
The team name rang out: Sundane Army! Fans roared their approval, waving banners. Kai and Edward exchanged shocked glances—they hadn't realized just how legendary Kiera and her team were.
The match began: 3v3. Their opponents, the Ghoul Hounds Team, were ruthless, their attacks precise and vicious. The arena erupted with every swing, strike, and counter. Kai and Edward cheered loudly, unable to sit still. Their hearts raced with excitement, but a shadow of unease lingered—Kai couldn't help thinking of Kuller Town as he watched the game.
The battle was intense, but the Sundane Army emerged victorious. Kiera was named MVP, the crowd chanting her name over and over.
Kai and Edward pushed through the cheering crowd to congratulate her.
"Guys! We won, and I'm the MVP!" she exclaimed, hugging them tightly.
"Congratulations, Kiera!" Edward said, still grinning.
"We're proud of you!" Kai added.
Kiera laughed, her energy infectious, though her eyes sparkled with relief and pride. Just then, Cyric stepped forward, curious about the new friends.
Kiera introduced them, mentioning Kai's skill in the game. Cyric's expression was polite but guarded; internally, he refused to admit Kai might be better than him.
As Cyric left, Edward elbowed Kai. "Was that your boyfriend?"
Kiera laughed awkwardly. "No… just my teammate."
Edward smirked. "Friend-zoned him, huh? Poor guy."
Kai shook his head, laughing. "Let's just go home. Want to come?"
Kiera nodded. "Yeah… wait, let me check with my team first."
Minutes later, she rejoined them, and the three began walking home. Edward eventually split off to take his own route, leaving Kai and Kiera alone.
Kai offered to carry her backpack and trophy. The streets were quiet now, the shadows deepening with every step. His mind flickered back to Kuller Town—the missing children, the massacre, the faces destroyed beyond recognition. He shivered, tightening his grip on her things protectively.
After a few minutes, Kai's phone buzzed violently. He fumbled with it and handed the trophy to Kiera. The screen lit up:
> Kenneth Tavern
Kai froze. His heart pounded. This was his friend from Kuller Town—the one he had been trying to reach all day.
Kiera noticed the change in his expression. "Someone calling?" she asked softly, her voice carrying a mix of concern and curiosity.
Kai nodded, taking a deep breath. His hands trembled slightly as he answered, the darkness of the evening pressing in around them.