Left in Rage

Eri's eyes flashed.

"It was far too easy to take advantage of your need for revenge."

Akira's mind spun trying to make out what she was saying.

This was impossible he knew them, all of them.

He had given his heart into their movement, because he knew they were working toward the same goal.

"We used you to get access to your father's technology and to his fortune."

Eri's voice then pierced through, a blade into his incredulous mind.

"What are you talking about?"

Akira's voice was barely a whisper now, shock flooding him.

"Tell me this is some kind of joke."

"We worked together for a whole year."

"What are you even saying?"

"I thought you were helping me!"

Mia's voice was sharp and cruel, the sound booming through the chamber.

"You really are naïve, Akira,"

She said, her head shaking in disappointment.

"Did you really think you were ever more than a pawn in our scheme?"

Eri's smile was colder.

"We've been manipulating you from the very beginning, Akira."

Her words struck him like a blow.

"Your father's wealth was our true goal."

Akira recoiled backward, his brain unable to catch up with the reality of what she was saying.

The betrayal cut deeper than he could ever have imagined.

"The document you signed to enter this dungeon was for us to be able to claim everything you own to be more exact what your father left you"

Eri continued, her tone now laced with disgust.

"You were just a piece in our game."

Akira's world came tumbling down.

His breaths became shallow, his chest constricted by this heavy feeling of betrayal.

His trust, his belief in them-it had all been one big lie.

"But I trusted you!!!"

His voice broke, raw from emotion.

"Why did it take so long for you to reveal the truth?""

Irritated with the reaction he showed, Mia crossed her arms and let out a sigh.

"It was not the right time you idiot."

"And we didn't had the right to enter this dungeon yet...you think our team would dare to enter this dungeon when even his level isn't possible to measure!?"

"The fun fact is that this dungeon only has immensely strong mana emitting from it, but the source remains unknown, and not a single monster resides within...Interestingly, this is also the first dungeon in Korea where the exit portal doesn't close once people enter, allowing all kinds of people to freely come and go as they please."

"It's not one of the most dangerous dungeons, but it's by far the weirdest one of them all... it was perfect for our plan."

"And we had to make sure you were deep in so you could never back out."

Her eyes dark, she stepped forward.

"And now that you are out of the way, we can finally take all that you have."

Akira's blood boiled in anger, his fists clenched into balls of stone as his knuckles turned white.

His gaze stayed fixed on Eri, full of hostility.

"You're going to pay for this,"

He growled, his every word full of malice.

"I'll find a way to make you all pay for what you've done."

Eri laughed menacingly, her voice full of scorn.

"You're powerless,"

She sneered.

"What can you do in this situation?"

"You're nothing but a fragile boy."

Entoa stepped further forward, his huge body a shadow looming over Akira.

"Don't bother."

"There's no escape for you now."

But before Akira could have time to fathom the full extent of the betrayal, Eri and her team sprang into action: Entoa helped drag him to the edge of the big hole in the center of the dungeon room while Mia grabbed him by the arms with an iron grip.

Akira fought with all his remaining strength, but it was no use.

They were too strong. 

They were all of them Stars after all.

He barely could even breath let alone keep up.

He felt his world start to spin, the dark abyss beckoning him like a hungry maw.

"This wasn't how it was supposed to end."

"YOU BASTARDS!!!" 

Akira shouted through clenched teeth, his voice barely audible but laced with venom.

"You were the only ones I had left. The only ones I trusted!"

He glared at Eri, his tone sharp and unyielding.

"I even asked Hiroshi-san about you."

"He said you were someone my father trusted—someone he kept by his side. How? Is Hiroshi part of this too?"

Eri's lips curled into a bitter smirk as she replied, her voice cold and calculated.

"Hiroshi? That fool friend of your father??

"We've barely even met...but since he said im someone to trust then im really grateful"

"But what he said is true I was close to your father. He saved my life, and since then, I was 'dedicated' to him—or so he thought. The truth is, I only wanted to earn his trust so I could steal everything he built. But he was too sharp, too smart. I couldn't make a move. So I laid low, waiting for an opportunity to take what belonged to him.

And when I got the news that he died, and you were left with everything… I was happy beyond happy. Because you, boy, were my perfect ticket to get it all."

The words were ash in my mouth.

"I enjoyed playing with you, Shoto."

Her words cut like a blade, but her next move was far worse.

"This is where you die," - She continued, her voice laced with sadistic pleasure.

"Your messy, pitiful struggle of a life ends here."

Before Akira could react, her hand shot forward with inhuman speed, piercing into his stomach. The searing pain ripped through him as her fingers drove deep, tearing through flesh. Akira's eyes widened in shock, blood spilling from his mouth as a wet, crimson stain spread across his clothes.

Eri's expression twisted into one of twisted satisfaction as she twisted her hand, savoring his agony.

"Goodbye, Akira," - She whispered mockingly, her tone low and venomous.

Then, with a brutal shove, she withdrew her bloodied hand and pushed him backward. Akira stumbled, the sharp, agonizing pain leaving him disoriented. His footing faltered, and the edge claimed him.

He fell.

The dark void swallowing him whole.

The air was cold and unforgiving, like even the world itself wanted to get rid of Akira. He couldn't see, couldn't breathe, could do nothing to halt himself from falling deeper into the nothingness.

Above him, the light contracted smaller and smaller until it was a memory.

The dim glow of the cavern, the faces he once trusted-everything slipped away.

And with that fall, all he could hear was their laughter. Eri's. Mia's. Entoa's. Mocking, cruel, fading echoes as they slipped further and further from me.

His body twisted in the air, but he couldn't get away. No escape from this. No way out.

That final thought flashed through Akira mind before all else went black.

"Is this really the end?"