"Did... did we succeed!?"
Within a deep rocky ravine like a narrow crevice.
The thick crimson mist slowly dispersed after lingering for some time.
The devastated ground was covered in Ryuk's viscous green blood.
In one corner, Fu Ryosuke, who had fallen over at some point, stared wide-eyed, his freckled face filled with disbelief as he muttered to himself.
Before Ryuk's corpse, which gleamed black like metal.
Sasuke was gasping violently, while the flesh buds on his left leg rapidly regenerated.
He was equally unable to believe it, but after hearing Fu Ryosuke's words, he still nodded forcefully and said in a low voice.
"We succeeded..."
"This guy is dead... We took him down together!"
Upon hearing Sasuke's words, Fu Ryosuke could not help letting out an excited howl.
"Yahoo! This is awesome!!"
"We... no... I mean, Sasuke, you actually took down that monster!"
"In that case, we should have passed the Hollow Spirit Empire's trial together, right! We can finally leave this Regeneration Hall!"
Sasuke, who had also been faintly excited, froze upon hearing Fu Ryosuke's words. His complexion seemed to grow even paler as silence filled his heart.
That was right...
The monster they had painstakingly defeated with every means at their disposal was merely one of the Hollow Spirit Empire's trials...
What right did someone like him have to kill that man...
Thinking of how weak he was now, Sasuke could not help clenching his fists.
His breathing quickened involuntarily as an incomparably intense desire for strength rose within him.
If only I had the strength of those monsters from the Hollow Spirit Empire right now...
Scenes of his encounters with those people from the Hollow Spirit Empire flashed through his mind, even... that figure who stood at the pinnacle of this world like a god...
*If...