The Broken System Chose the Antagonist

With a ghastly creak, the metal pillars snapped, and the walls that made up the warehouse eventually gave in — unable to support the weight of the ceiling. And when it fell, a cacophony of displaced winds and clanging metal gave rise to a deafening roar that shook the eardrums of all living things: Vitalists and Predicaments alike.

With the collapse, a hill-sized cloud of dust, dirt, and particle-sized debris shot into the air. It was dense and wide enough to cover the entire area. But after a few seconds, a random gust of wind blew the dense cloud over to the sea, revealing the outcome of the warehouse’s collapse.

The Predicaments were nowhere to be seen, as they had all been buried beneath the collapsed ceiling. Meanwhile, the Vitalists suffered a similar fate, but on a less harsh scale.

Pained groans and heavy coughs rang out from beneath the rubble as people began to climb out like ants. Their body were covered in bruises, cuts, painful scrapes, and even a few cracked bones.

Some had even suffered concussions and were now unconscious! Even those that were shielded underneath the armoured Scoundrel or Roxy’s {Power Wall} were in rough shape.

Callum climbed out from underneath the rubble, wincing. ’I miscalculated...’

He hadn’t taken into account the unequal integrity of Rusty Den’s frame in his calculation. Because of that, what should’ve been an even collapse became canted, causing them to just barely miss the skylight.

’It was a risky move, either way...’ Callum chuckled self-deprecatingly while helping someone out of the rubble. Even if he wasn’t pressed for time, collapsing a ceiling as big as this one was going to be dangerous, regardless.

He then glanced over to the others.

Roxy was currently being assisted up to her feet by some people.

Beatrice looked at her with concern. "Are you okay, Roxy?!"

"I-I’m fine... I’m fine..." Roxy waved reassuringly, but one look in her eyes was enough to tell anyone she was immensely tired. It was obvious what just happened had taken a lot out of her.

"Puaghk—!" They then watched as she threw up blood.

While Roxy was being cared for, Callum turned to Ross and Elias and found them only lightly injured. Undoubtedly, the armoured Scoundrel had played a huge role in their safety.

He then turned to Nadia and Seraphine.

Nadia was currently helping people out from the rubble, her face cold and expressionless as usual. From his perspective, the woman seemed to have sustained only a light cut on her cheek and a few bruises on her arms; even her armour looked fine to some extent. But that was to be expected.

’Her Vitality is rather strong. She must’ve coated everything, including her armour with Vitality...’

Meanwhile, Seraphine was also doing moderately well. That was because, at the last moment, Nadia had chucked her under the armoured Scoundrel’s protection.

Seeing that Seraphine only had a teary look in her eyes due to the pain, Callum sighed in relief. ’No one seemed to have lost their life or became disabled due to my decision...’

He was glad everyone had enough Vitality to shield them from more crippling and harrowing injuries like broken limbs. And it was truly a miracle that no one died in the collapse...

After everyone managed to get back on their feet, they looked around at the ruined landscape. Those who were a part of Ross’ group couldn’t help but feel slightly emotional at the state of Rusty Den, while those belonging to Roxy cheered.

"We did it! We are all still alive!"

"The Predicaments—! The Predicaments are all dead!"

"Haha! I can’t believe it...! I can’t believe I’m still alive!"

At this point, nearly everyone was tapped out of Vitality after the warehouse’s collapse. Because of this, their jubilation was even greater.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Roxy, Ross, Callum... everyone! Everyone apart from Nadia and Seraphine...

’Would they go down this easily?’ Nadia thought suspiciously.

Hilda had told her before that, at night, the Predicaments would become more tenacious and resilient to injuries that should kill them. Thus, she wasn’t completely set on the idea that the situation had lightened, especially with the existence of the Soldier.

On the other hand, Seraphine was worrying about something else. But that would have to wait. Because the moment she began to even think about...

"N-no way..."

"I-It can’t be...!"

The Predicaments buried under the rubble began to climb to the surface, like undead horrors. They crawled out and stood on top of the rubble with not a single flesh wound or scratch. But that wasn’t the worst of it, for once counted, everyone discovered that not a single Predicament had died in the collapse.

And the moment they watched the Soldier burst out from beneath the rubble, they all dropped to their knees. The hope they had just moments ago vanished in mere seconds.

"I-it’s over..." They all said, collectively.

There were roughly 180 of them left. But after the collapse, close to 20% of them were knocked unconscious.

Now, of the roughly 160 of them still conscious, nearly half of them had reached their limit and were barely able to stand.

With the fact that the number of Scoundrels under Ross’ control had been reduced to one and their strongest fighters were running low on Vitality... it was clear to everyone that this was it.

Although they could attempt to run, it would prove meaningless against the endurance of Predicaments. And even if they managed to outrun and hide from them, it was only a matter of time before they would sniff them out, especially with how injured everyone was.

And Ross knew this as well.

With no other visible way out, everyone concluded this was it. This was the end. The end where they would all be devoured by Predicaments that surrounded them, with zero chance of survival.

Watching as the Predicaments drew near, everyone gave up. They were just too tired... this exam hadn’t taken too much out of them. In just three days, they’ve experienced more than what the average normal adolescent ever would.

Death, infection, hunger, fear, cold, pain... these factors were just too much for their Hearts to take. And soon, their Hearts were corrupted, not with fear, but with acceptance.

They’ve already done all they could. There was nothing else they could do now that could ensure their survival.

This was it.

Some sat down and waited for their inevitable fate. Some comforted those who couldn’t accept it. At the same time, some considered taking their own life to spare them from experiencing such a fate.

But of course... there was always someone who stood out from the crowd.

Through the crowd, a woman with majestic blonde hair strolled towards the very front and situated herself between them and the Predicaments.

And despite having such a slender build, the woman looked bigger than everyone else at this very moment — her back tall and straight, and her shoulders relaxed without fear or shaky tension.

Against the Predicaments that threatened them, she brandished a long, silver blade that glowed with mystical splendour. She was like a knight out of a fairy tale, brave and bold.

They all then recalled a certain phrase that she had said.

"I don’t care if all of you are weak, because if needed, I’ll face the Predicaments all on my own, while you all hide like cowards!"

And at that, they all couldn’t help but think in awe, ’Is she really going to fight all of them herself?’

Even after thinking that, they all already knew the answer.

Nadia gripped her sword as she stood before the countless Predicaments. Of course she was going to fight them. Even if it was alone, that wasn’t to say she wasn’t scared. In fact, she was really scared. Extremely scared.

But so what? She had no other choice. For if she wanted to save them, she would have to fight, no matter how much her instincts warned her to run away.

Because she was a Vitalist, someone given the power to save others. Even at the cost of her own Heart!

Nadia pounced forward and slashed at a Predicament. The light of her sword and the Vitality enveloping it sank into its flesh and drew blood. But that was not enough to kill it.

Soon enough, the number of Predicaments she had to face rapidly grew to two, then to three. Nadia fought fiercely, her attacks never-ending. No matter how many wounds grew on her body, nor how many times she was slammed into the ground and coughed blood, she got back up.

A heroic knight... a selfless hero... someone who fought for the safety of others in disregard for their own. At this moment, that was the image everyone had of her in their mind.

Everyone who watched her began to weep in guilt and regret. The more they watched her get hurt, the harder they cried.

Why weren’t they doing anything? Why couldn’t they do anything? Why did they waste so many years and not put that time into training their abilities? Why were they all so weak!?

If they were stronger... could they be able to help the hero fighting for their lives?

At that moment, everyone’s Hearts became united with grief and regret. Their tears streamed down their face like rivers, their mouth opening and closing in trepidation.

They all then watched as Nadia dropped to one knee and vomited blood.

"Puaghk—!"

’She’s done for!’ Everyone immediately thought in horror.

The moment they watched a Predicament loom over Nadia, preparing to strike her down, they immediately cried out for her to run away — some of them even getting up to rush to her aid.

But then...

Drip. Drip.

... Something wet hit the ground. Something small... and something that was neither tear nor blood.

Ross widened his eyes before immediately looking up. ’Could this be...!’

He was then met with the sight of countless water droplets falling from the dark clouds above them.

There was no mistaking it. It was rain!

Before anyone could fully process the sudden change in weather—

"Rooooaar!"

—Agitated cries and restless roars erupted from the Predicaments.

One by one, the Predicaments began to drop to the ground, as though they were in pain. Even the Soldier was no exception, albeit it fared better than the Scoundrels.

Nadia, who was kneeling on the ground, widened her eyes, but wasted no time in seizing the opportunity.

With her sword coated in Vitality and searing light, she beheaded the three who were attacking her in one swing — killing them instantly.

Then, in a determined and resolute voice, she shouted:

"STAND UP! STAND UP NOW!"

She aimed her sword towards the Predicaments writhing in pain. "This is our only chance of victory! If we let it pass, we all will die! So, stand up... even if it hurts, STAND UP! Even if you’re out of Vitality, STAND UP! Even if your Heart no longer wants to fight, STAND UP! Stand up and FIGHT!"

Her words echoed in the ears of everyone around her. And when it did, hope emerged deep within their eyes. The tears that had been streaming down their face stopped flowing.

One by one, everyone began to get up. Even when some stumbled from pain or fatigue, they got up. Even when their bodies refused, they did it anyway.

Soon enough, everyone was back on their feet, injured and unwilling, but back on their feet with their weapon in hand.

Nadia tore off her armour, which was now nothing but deadweight, and raised her sword towards their enemy.

"This will be the battle to decide it all! The battle to decide whether we all live or die! So fight with me, with everyone, and FIGHT TO LIVE!"

The moment she finished—

"RAAAAAH!"

—Everyone let out a rallying battle cry that echoed across the entire battlefield.

With their weapons raised high above their heads or in front of them, they all charged forward.

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