Chapter 5

As Yuri and Axel walked away, their figures disappearing into the shadows of the tree line, Axel finally broke the silence.

"Why didn't we just take them out?" he asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and disappointment. "They were right there, totally off guard. Could've been an easy win, don't you think?"

Yuri shot him a calm, sidelong glance, his expression cool and calculating. "Don't be so quick to jump in, Axel," he said, his voice carrying a subtle warning. "They may seem relaxed, but we don't know their abilities yet. Underestimating them could be a costly mistake."

Axel tilted his head, a thoughtful look crossing his face, though it was quickly replaced with a smirk. "I guess you're right," he mused, his tone light but his eyes glinting with a dangerous edge. "Still, can't help but wonder what kind of tricks they've got up their sleeves."

Yuri's gaze remained fixed on the path ahead, his mind already strategizing their next move. "Let them think they're safe for now," he murmured. "It's better to wait and see what we're truly dealing with. Besides," he added, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "they're outnumbered, and time's on our side. Patience will pay off."

Axel shrugged, his carefree demeanor returning as he fell in step beside Yuri. "If you say so. I just hope it's worth the wait. I'm itching for some real action."

Yuri's smile widened ever so slightly. "Don't worry, Axel," he said, his voice smooth. "There will be plenty of that soon enough."

As they disappeared back into the shadows, the tension they had left behind lingered on the beach, an unsettling reminder of the dangers lurking around every corner.

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Jennifer and Mikayla trudged through the dense underbrush, their faces weary from the day's journey. They had been scavenging for supplies and looking for a safe place to rest, but the island was unforgiving, and each step felt heavier than the last.

As they rounded a corner near a small clearing, Jennifer froze, spotting something-or rather, someone-lying on the ground ahead of them. It was a girl, appearing unconscious, with dark hair splayed around her like a halo. Her clothes were slightly tattered, and her skin was pale, but she seemed unharmed.

"Jennifer, wait," Mikayla whispered, reaching out to grab her friend's arm as Jennifer stepped forward. "What if it's a trap?"

Jennifer glanced at Mikayla, hesitant but curious. "She might need our help," she replied softly, though the doubt in her voice was clear. They both knew how dangerous this game was becoming, and every encounter was a risk.

Reluctantly, Mikayla moved closer, crouching down beside the girl and pressing two fingers gently against her neck to check for a pulse. She let out a small sigh of relief as she felt a faint beat. "She's alive," she murmured, glancing back up at Jennifer. "But we should be careful."

Just then, the girl's eyes snapped open, a sudden spark of awareness gleaming within them. Before Mikayla could react, the girl lunged up, her hand swinging out in a blur. Mikayla felt a sharp sting on her neck, followed by a burning sensation as the girl's nails raked across her skin.

"Ah-!" Mikayla gasped, stumbling back, her hand flying up to her neck where a thin trickle of blood had started to bead. Jennifer stepped forward quickly, placing herself between Mikayla and the girl, her hands raised in a calming gesture.

"Hey, hey, it's okay!" Jennifer said, her voice soothing but firm. "We're not here to hurt you. We just found you lying here... Are you alright?"

The girl stared at them both for a moment, her dark eyes unblinking, and then, unexpectedly, a giggle escaped her lips. It was soft at first, then grew louder, echoing in the stillness of the forest. Jennifer felt a shiver run down her spine. Something about that laugh was... wrong.

"Mikayla?" Jennifer called out, glancing back at her friend for reassurance, but when she looked, her heart skipped a beat. Mikayla was standing perfectly still, her eyes blank, staring straight ahead. She didn't respond to Jennifer's voice, her face devoid of emotion, as though she'd become a lifeless doll.

Jennifer's confusion morphed into panic as Mikayla suddenly moved, her hands reaching out and grabbing Jennifer's wrists with a surprising strength, holding her in place.

"M-Mikayla! What are you doing?" Jennifer struggled against her friend's grip, but Mikayla's hold was ironclad, her blank eyes showing no sign of recognition. She was acting on someone else's will-like a marionette controlled by invisible strings.

Jennifer's eyes widened, realization dawning on her as she turned her gaze back to the mysterious girl. The girl, still grinning, tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with a malevolent satisfaction.

"Oh, don't look so surprised," the girl said, her voice soft but chilling. "I'm Nazuyami... and I don't play fair."

Jennifer barely had time to process her words before Nazuyami advanced, her slender hands reaching up to wrap around Jennifer's throat. The pressure was immediate, and Jennifer's vision began to blur, her breath cut off as she struggled in Mikayla's unyielding grip.

Jennifer's struggles weakened, her mind clouding as her vision faded. Nazuyami's sinister grin was the last thing she saw before everything went dark.

Nazuyami released her hold, watching as Jennifer slumped lifelessly to the ground. She turned her gaze to Mikayla, who was still immobilized, standing silently with blank eyes. With a smirk, Nazuyami leaned down and slipped Jennifer's bracelet off her wrist, pocketing it like a prized trophy.

But just as she turned her attention back to Mikayla, she felt a twinge of exhaustion-her control was waning. She'd reached the limit of her ability. She had less than a minute before Mikayla would regain control, and she couldn't risk staying here longer.

Nazuyami straightened up, letting out a dark, amused chuckle. "You're lucky... for now," she whispered, patting Mikayla on the shoulder before stepping back.

As she slipped away into the trees, she could feel the thrill of victory pulsing through her veins. She knew her limitations well: her power to control someone lasted only three minutes, and she couldn't use it on the same person again for the next 24 hours. But that was enough. She'd already sown fear and confusion-and left one less student in the game.

Laughing softly to herself, Nazuyami disappeared into the shadows, leaving the beach silent once more, with only Mikayla's soft, returning breaths breaking the quiet.

Mikayla's vision cleared, and she found herself kneeling beside Jennifer's motionless body, the terrible reality of what had happened settling in. Her friend lay still, eyes vacant, skin pallid. The sight made her stomach churn, and her mind raced to piece together the fragments of memory.

"Jennifer..." she whispered, her voice trembling. Grief clawed at her heart, but there was something else-a chill creeping into her bones as bits of the encounter came flooding back. She remembered a girl... Nazuyami. That unsettling grin, the twisted satisfaction as she controlled Mikayla's own hands against her will.

Mikayla clenched her fists, anger sparking through her. Nazuyami had forced her to hold Jennifer down, leaving her powerless to stop what happened. She didn't understand how, but one thing was clear: Nazuyami was dangerous.

As she sat in the silence, a sharp, familiar sting flared in her neck. She reached up, fingertips brushing where Nazuyami had scratched her earlier. Yet when she pressed against the spot, she felt nothing but smooth skin-no scratch, no wound, just a faint tingle that lingered, almost like an echo of the pain.

She stared at her hands, confusion twisting in her mind. She remembered the sting clearly, the blood she'd felt trickling down her skin... but now there was nothing. Her skin had somehow healed, as if she hadn't been hurt at all.

A disturbing thought crossed her mind. Could this be part of her own ability? Something to do with... regeneration? Survival? She clenched her jaw, the strange realization settling uneasily in her thoughts. Whatever this power was, it felt unnerving. Almost unnatural.

Taking one last look at Jennifer's still form, Mikayla felt a surge of anger and purpose rising beneath the grief. She didn't know why she had been given this strange ability-or how it had saved her. But she knew one thing: she wouldn't let Jennifer's death be meaningless. She'd find Nazuyami again, and this time, she wouldn't be caught off guard.

Steeling herself, Mikayla turned and began walking back into the forest, her gaze hard, her heart set on justice for Jennifer.

-------

As night settled over the beach, the trio gathered beneath the makeshift shelter they'd pieced together from coconut leaves and tree branches. The sound of the waves provided a soothing rhythm, contrasting the tension that hung in the air. They had managed to build a small fire, its dim glow casting flickering shadows across their faces.

Yuki sat slightly apart from Asahi and Rainne, his gaze focused on his hand as he turned it over, studying his fingers. Ever since they'd been brought to the island, he'd felt a strange warmth stirring within him, a subtle surge that built up in his palms. It was faint, more like a hum than anything else, but he could sense it had potential-if only he knew how to tap into it.

Taking a quiet breath, he clenched his fist, focusing on the sensation. Come on, he thought, feeling the warmth pulse beneath his skin. He didn't know exactly what he expected, but he concentrated, willing the surge to materialize into something tangible.

And then, in the darkness, a small spark appeared at his fingertips, flickering like a faint ember before vanishing just as quickly. Yuki's eyes widened slightly, his heart pounding. He hadn't been sure if it was real or his imagination, but the surge had finally responded.

Intrigued, he tried again, concentrating harder, feeling the warmth intensify until-*pop!*-a tiny, almost inaudible burst of light flared in his hand. It was barely the size of a match's flicker, but the sudden, forceful release left a tingling sensation in his fingers.

Yuki's eyes widened. He hadn't expected it to work quite like this; the effect was like a bombardier beetle's defense mechanism-but instead of acid, it was an actual, fiery blast. He hadn't realized he could produce something so intense, even if it was controlled and small.

Asahi noticed the flash and leaned over, a grin spreading across his face. "What was that? Showing off your own little fireworks?"

Yuki looked up, nodding slowly. "Sort of. It's like I can produce these explosions-small, controlled bursts, but they're... real." He flexed his fingers, feeling the slight warmth receding. "The problem is, I don't think I can do it often. It feels like I'd be able to manage only two or three before it wears me out."

Rainne, hearing him, studied him thoughtfully. "Sounds like it could be useful... but you'll have to be careful about when you use it," she said. "Two or three times isn't a lot, and if it drains you..."

Asahi grinned, intrigued. "Explosions, huh? That could come in handy. You're like a human firecracker."

Yuki scoffed in agreement, his gaze returning to his hands. He knew now that he couldn't rely on this ability too often, but he could tell it had a strength that would be valuable in the right moment. For now, he would practice his control-and save it for when he truly needed it.

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As the night deepened, the trio decided it was time to rest. Their makeshift shelter, though small, was cozy enough to give them some relief from the open air and a sense of safety, however fleeting. They had agreed to take turns keeping watch, each of them alert to the dangers lurking in the darkness.

Yuki took the first shift, sitting cross-legged at the shelter's entrance, his back to the fire. He gazed down at the bracelet on his wrist, its metallic surface glinting faintly in the firelight. As he watched, the display on the bracelet shifted, and a cold wave washed over him.

The number of participants remaining had dropped-*21.* Just yesterday, there had been 30 students left. In less than a day, nearly a third of his classmates had been killed.

He clenched his fist, trying to ignore the sickening twist in his stomach. Each bracelet on this island held a small, shimmering gemstone. Those stones were the currency of survival in this twisted game. Collecting seven was the only way to secure a chance to escape, yet collecting them meant taking lives-lives of people he'd grown up with, people he'd seen every day in the hallways and classrooms.

His mind drifted to the rules and the system that governed this island. It was powerful-powerful enough to give each of them supernatural abilities, to track their every move, and to hold their lives in a balance that none of them could defy. He remembered the warning they had received: break the rules, and the bracelet's poison capsule would be triggered instantly.

Yuki's hand went instinctively to his wrist, feeling the cool metal under his fingers. There was no escaping the reality of the game. They couldn't defy it, and they couldn't change it. All they could do was survive it.

A flash of anger flared within him, and he resisted the urge to test his newfound explosive ability on the bracelet itself. But he knew that would be a pointless act. The system was too complex, too calculated. The only way forward was to adapt, to learn, and to make the hard decisions that would keep them alive. He didn't have to be the strongest, but he had to be strategic.

Lost in his thoughts, Yuki kept his gaze steady on the dark forest ahead, feeling the weight of responsibility settling over him. Each moment here tested not only his courage but also his morality. This island, he realized, didn't just want to push them to their limits; it wanted to strip them of their humanity.

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[Died - 19] (update)

[Remaining - 21] (update)

Gem Collected Dashboard (new)

Yuri - 4

Axel - 3

Nazuyami - 3

Unknown - 3

Unknown - 2

Unknown - 2

Unknown - 2