The Final Punchline

My heart stopped.

I was broken. humiliated.

the whole ordeal… I guess this is how it ends.

Curtains closing slowly

Time stopping.

Who's going to save me?

Marek… I hope to see you in heaven.

“Aww, he moved. Alive after all.”

His smirk widened.

Good struggle, some more, Mason.

I like my prey to suffer before they die.”

My hand twitches.

Death was here.

I looked at my knife.

I held it up and saw my shattered reflection.

You know, Ryker… You asked me to solve your riddle.

Well played, you shattered me.

Now let me ask you a riddle.

Since I am close to my deathbed. I had a plan.

Phantom Veil to close the distance.

Knife thrown as bait.

Let him think he won. Let him bask in his soon-to-end glory.

“Did you say something, Mason?”

“Speak up, don’t be shy; the crowd can’t hear you.”

“Looks like you’re stuck; quite a pity.”

“I enjoyed this; it’s like you're alive… but not.”

Here is a riddle. Ryker

“What dies quietly but drags when it wakes?”

“Where does a lifeless corpse lie?”

“Who is really in charge?"

I laughed manically, my eyes seeing red.

Blood vessels tighten.

A canvas in the mist. It was blank.

It was blank.

Waiting to be painted

a red hue.

aurora lights.

with a nice touch of pink and red.

Painted with Ryker blood.

That's how I felt, my humanity stripped. What was left, you asked? It was my revenge; my eyes locked on Ryker, making him stop in his tracks.

“I looked back at Mason’s glare, scared for the first time. I was stunned; something was different, or was this his plan?”

“To get tormented willingly just for him to lose all hope. Or so I thought. Now this is how the climax of a broken person should be.”

“Ryker the Great, am I scared? , impos. Impossible, blasphemy. Why is this happening now?”

“NO!”

“NO!”

“This wasn't supposed to happen; I am the main star.”

“Am I really going to die like this?”

“That riddle he mentioned has me thinking. What was it again?”

I stopped laughing; quietness filled the desert. The strong heat and the sand kicked up a little.

“Now Ryker, I will give you the riddle one more time.”

“What dies quietly but drags when it’s awake?

I used Phantom Veil. The answer was you, Ryker.

I got behind him, holding the sharp, bloody blade from Veno.

"Where does a lifeless corpse lie?" I asked.

“I lifted the dry, bloody knife into his eyes. Now look closely, Ryker.”

It started again with a burst of pure enjoyment of a laugh; don’t be shy now.

“Who is really in charge?

I am. Always has been.

Your curtains.

Are collapsing

Just like your body

When I slit your throat.”

Goodbye, Ryker. You were the toughest opponent I had faced yet. You made me find my way; it’s thanks to you, Ryker. You brought out this side I did not want to face. Thank you. Now let me end you. Bring your bloody body back to the stadium.

His eyes went back into his head, no pulse, no breath, just a smile, a creepy one at most. I realized there was no one left; I won. But at what cost?. When I started in this world, I was patient, cold but not too cold. But after this outcome, I— It felt great. The hot sand blew in my face. That once blank canvas no longer existed. It is painted with.

Red hue.

aurora lights.

with a nice touch of pink and red.

Painted with Ryker blood.

I—I can’t believe it, folks. Ma—Mason!—won it all. What a battle it was—not as exciting as others in the past. But this was unique; it showed how far one can push someone to the brink of madness.

Light: "This Mason kid, I said it once and will say it again, is a force to be reckoned with. I doubted him after Ryker's phenomenal battle sense, a truly scary sight to see. Too bad he is dead. I would have accepted him. As for Mason, we will think about it."

Silent Knight: "impeccable, splendid. We would more than gladly accept Mason if he chose to join us. He is a wild animal, cannot be tamed, but can be used to help us in time of need."

Blazing Phoenix: "Look, it was psychological warfare. That is what real war is. Yes, there are other aspects, such as guns, morality, and ethical choices. But this display showed one genius. While the other showed an unbreakable stride with a dash of hatred. With that being said, we will pass on Mason."

Night Wanders: "This showed grit, a real flicker of the psyche. Mason’s was the prime example of this. Yes, Riker was the reason Mason, the inner demon, was unleashed. If he wants to join us, he can; however, there will be certain restraints to avoid his manic side. He is a force to be reckoned with."

I looked at my disk. It blinked.

I see the player killer title is still there; it's fitting.

Congrats, Mason. You have leveled up.

You have unlocked a new skill called subjugation.

It’s a spell that makes anyone submit to you.

A spell that makes anyone submit to me? Interesting. I have been corrupted. There's no going back now. If I use this spell, maybe I can keep my sanity and rely on Isela, Tyla, and potentially Nyx.

NO, this is wrong. I shouldn’t control someone just to make myself feel better. This corrupted path is a bumpy one—I just hope my moral logic stays the same. If I lost that then, I would become something terrifying, one can say, or even worse, maybe a dictator for my own pleasure.

I passed out, from exhaustion

I won.

My body dropped,- I felt paralyzed.

It felt nice, eyes shut tight,

seeing Ryker, bloody body.

Mission accomplished.

Mason, if you can hear us, this is the announcer, we are sending a helicopter with water, vitamins, health equipment, in two minutes or less.