Chapter 1: Silent Echoes

- Deadly Life -

Written by: The Masked Eidolon

Edited by: No one, fuckers!!!

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TRIGGER WARNING: EXTREME VIOLENCE AND DISTURBING IMAGERY.

READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL.

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I stood tall and addressed the crowd.

Eden: Listen up, everyone. Styk's version of events is wrong, and I can prove why that is right now.

Styk: You keep on saying that, but so far you haven't actually explained anything. I think I speak for all of us when I say we're getting a little annoyed.

Yuki gave me a leer.

Yuki: Yeah, dude. Can you just, like, stop yapping and start backing up your words?

Eden: Alright, then.

I took a deep breath, then opened my eyes and faced down the Ultimate Sniper.

Eden: Styk, if Dreamer really did pass out after seeing her own blood, then it's pretty safe to say that wasn't part of the killer's plan. Correct?

Styk: Correct, but it definitely worked wonders for the killer.

Eden: Then I wouldn't be wrong to say that they were surprised when she suddenly dropped to the floor after being stabbed?

Styk squinted his eyes at me.

Styk: Correct...

Eden: So, Dreamer would've spent some time laying down on the floor if your theory is to be trusted.

Styk frowned at me.

Styk: Eden, what are you getting at?

I smirked.

Eden: If she spent some time lying down on the floor, then her blood would've dripped there a little while she lay. But there were no bloodstains at the scene other than the ones at the bed, her trail to her final position, and the coughed up blood. Additionally, the floor of this bunker is hard, so she would've gotten some kind of injury after an unbroken fall.

I snapped my fingers at Monocavy.

Eden: But, what's this? The Monocavy File states she had no injuries other than the stab wound and a mysterious burn...

Styk: Your deductions are meaningless!

- ARGUE -

- BREAK -

Styk chuckled for a moment before giving me a disappointed glower.

Styk: It's quite disingenuous of you, Eden, to assume her fall was unbroken. It could've been broken by her table, her chair, or anything that would make a potential injury negligible.

Eden: ...

He's actually right about that.

Eden: Then how do you explain the lack of a bloodstain?

Styk crossed his arms.

Styk: It's quite obviously because the killer cleaned the blood up.

Eden: With what? Dreamer's clothes? Her toilet paper? If they did that, me and Michi would've found the bloody rags in her room.

Styk: Then the killer disposed of the rags outside.

Eden: If they did that, blood would've dripped onto the hallway floors.

I tapped my finger against my temple.

Eden: Think about it. There's no way the killer could've disposed of the bloody rags.

Styk: Well, what if the killer avoided even making a bloodstain by stabbing Dreamer on the...

Styk widened his eyes.

Styk: Bed...

Truth Bullet: Angle of the Knife

Eden: Allow me to cut through those words!

- COUNTER! -

- BREAK! -

Eden: Let me remind you, Styk, that if she was stabbed on the bed, the killer would've plunged the knife straight into her chest, and not at an angle.

Styk: ...

Eden: Additionally, and I didn't even realize this before, but the whole idea is flawed. You're assuming the killer went into Dreamer's room with the intention of knocking her out and then leaving her to die, but if that's the case, why didn't they knock her out first? Starting off with the stab only gives her time to fight back against you.

Styk: ...

Eden: Your theory is wrong. Something else entirely happened to Dreamer last night.

Styk: ...

Chaos: Oh, jeez! That means I'm innocent, right?

Eden: Yes, it means you're clear.

Chaos joyfully laughed for a couple seconds before turning to Styk.

Chaos: Hear that, Styk? You don't have to suspect me anymore!

Styk ignored Chaos and continued to address me.

Styk: Well, if I'm wrong, what do you suppose happened in Dreamer's dorm instead?

I broke free from Styk's gaze and looked at the whole class.

Eden: Nothing. The killer never entered Dreamer's dorm last night.

Lgp: ...?

Lgp: Huh? But, she was stabbed and killed last night. The culprit would've had to be in her dorm to do that...

I turned to Michi.

Eden: Do you mind explaining?

Michi: Not at all.

She turned to everyone with a slight smile on her face.

Michi: The killer tossed their bowie knife over the gap in Dreamer's door, which punctured her chest and stabbed her while she was asleep. That would make the angle of the knife and pool of blood on the bed make perfect sense, along with explaining why she didn't fight back against anyone, and why the killer didn't finish her off.

Vysko: ...!

Dark: ...!

Yuki: ...!

Styk: ...

Avi: ...?

Avi furrowed her brow.

Avi: But that's completely ridiculous. We already established that it would've been impossible for anyone to just jump over the gap. So, throwing a knife over the gap is also out of the question, isn't it?

Eden: ...

What Avi's saying is true... for all of us except one person. The only thing I have to do now is identify who that one person is, and we can bring them to justice.

- QUESTION: -

Who killed Dreamer?

- ANSWER: -

Eden.

Vysko.

Michi.

Kuro.

Dark.

Fdeys.

Jiren.

Cosmos.

Chaos.

Dreamer.

Insert.

Oof.

Yuki.

Lgp.

Avi.

-> Styk. <-

Eden: Right on the money.

- DECIDE! -

I pointed at Styk.

Eden: Yeah, out of the question for everyone but this guy.

Styk: ...

Eden: The Ultimate Sniper.

Everyone went dead silent the moment they heard my accusation. It was certainly plausible, but nobody wanted to believe that their leader was also a cold-blooded killer. I opened my mouth to continue my explanation when Dark suddenly broke the silence.

Dark: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!

She then turned to address me.

Dark: Ignoring how unlikely this whole scenario already is... if Dreamer was stabbed in her sleep, wouldn't she have, you know, woken up?

Truth Bullet: Dreamer's Ailments

Eden: No, that's wrong!

- COUNTER! -

- BREAK! -

Eden: You may not have known this, but Dreamer had additional disabilities other than just being mute. She was also anosmic and ageusic, along with being unable to feel pain.

Dark rubbed her chin.

Dark: So the pain wouldn't wake her up...

Eden: Exactly.

I turned my attention back to Styk.

Eden: The killer had a lengthy conversation with her before they murdered her, so we can assume they knew that and used it to their advantage.

Styk: ...

All sixteen students turned to face him, their suspicion slightly growing. I put him in the hot seat and he knew it, so he composed himself and glared at me with righteous indignation.

Styk: Eden, do you know what snipers do?

Eden: ...

Styk: We shoot rifles. We don't throw knives over gaps in doors.

I crossed my arms.

Eden: Even so, someone like you would have exponentially better spatial awareness than everyone else here. If killing Dreamer with a thrown knife is possible, you'd be the only one who could do it.

Styk: I do have good spatial awareness, yes. But enough to hit someone with a bowie knife through a gap at the top of a door, without even knowing where they are? That's completely impossible, and you know it!

Vysko: Wait a second...!

Vysko furrowed his brow.

Vysko: Couldn't you have just used the X-Ray goggles that were in the Sniper room to see through the door?

Truth Bullet: X-Ray Goggles

Eden: I agree with that!

- CONSENT! -

- BREAK! -

Eden: Precisely. If Styk could see his victim through the door, then throwing a knife over the gap and stabbing them becomes a lot more plausible.

Vysko: Wow... I knew the killer used those goggles for something, but I never thought it would be like this.

Fdeys clicked his tongue a few times.

Fdeys: Gotta admit, Styk, this ain't looking good for you. Do you have anything you wanna say?

Styk: Of course.

Styk turned to me and stared me down.

Styk: Because Eden's reasoning has one fatal flaw.

Eden: Fatal flaw?

Styk smirked.

Styk: You're ignoring the evidence!

- ARGUE! -

- BREAK! -

I sighed.

Eden: Was anything I said wrong?

Styk: Not necessarily... but the existence of the X-Ray goggles still doesn't lead to my guilt.

Styk pointed in the direction of the weapons room.

Styk: Because I had a solid alibi for the time of the murder!

Eden: That doesn't really mean anything, does it? You could've tossed the knife into her room before the meeting took place.

Styk: No, I couldn't have.

Styk took the Monocavy File out from his pocket and pointed at it.

Styk: Dreamer's cause of death was blood loss. And the time it takes for a human to bleed out is just shy of five minutes. If I'm the culprit, that means I would've had to stab her at around 11 PM.

Styk pointed around the room, his voice steadily rising.

Styk: But I was at the meeting during that time, along with everyone else! This is indisputable proof that I am not the killer!

Truth Bullet: Coughed Up Blood

Eden: Allow me to cut through those words!

- COUNTER! -

- BREAK! -

Eden: No, Styk. The coughed up blood at the crime scene proves that she took longer than five minutes to bleed out.

Styk grimaced, still holding the same glare.

Styk: And how exactly does that work?

I pointed my thumb at Michi.

Eden: I think she can explain this one better than me.

Michi: Yeah, I probably can.

Michi confidently addressed the rest of the room.

Michi: When a foreign object punctures the lung, blood and other bodily fluids begin to spill inside of it. This usually results in a fit of coughing before pulmonary drowning occurs and the victim dies. But Dreamer's cause of death was blood loss, not drowning, and yet she was still coughing up blood. Why is that? Because her lung was only grazed, not punctured. And the bleeding caused from a lung graze is much less than a puncture.

I nodded.

Eden: Additionally, the flow of blood slows down while you're asleep, and Dreamer never took the knife out of her wound. These two factors would decrease the flow of blood even more.

Michi: Which means she probably took around twenty minutes to bleed out. Not just five.

Styk: ...!

Styk grumbled something under his breath, causing Chaos to look up at him.

Chaos: Styk...? Don't tell me you're the culprit...

Styk balled his fists and refused to look Chaos in the eye.

Styk: I'm not the killer, Chaos. I am not. And I'm going to prove it to everyone here!

Styk pointed at me and snarled.

Styk: Because even though this imbecile would love to paint me a killer, his half-baked theories don't stand up to any level of scrutiny!

Cosmos raised both hands in front of herself.

Cosmos: Please, calm down, Styk. There's no need to be so upset... If you truly aren't the killer, we'll be able to see it eventually.

Styk swiveled his head around to face Cosmos.

Styk: Wouldn't you also be livid if a joke of a man like Eden was throwing accusations at you? Blatantly false ones, too.

Eden: They're not blatantly false accusations. From the way you're reacting, we can all tell that you're guilty.

Styk: ...!

Styk looked around the room and saw the faces of his classmates who were rapidly losing faith in him. Knowing that he was running out of time and arguments, he made one last hail mary to win back everyone's trust.

Styk: Everyone! Listen to me!

Styk pointed both index fingers right at my head.

Styk: Eden's asinine theory is baseless and has no logical bearing in truth! It's already been heavily contradicted by evidence we've already discussed!

Fdeys: ...

Fdeys: How, man...?

Styk snapped his fingers at Fdeys.

Styk: The legal pad pages! Eden is trying to claim I killed Dreamer without even entering her room?

Styk let out a crazed chuckle.

Styk: But we already know that the killer seized and disposed of their conversation on the legal pad! I couldn't have done that if I was never inside her dorm!!

Truth Bullet: Two Broken Motive Videos

Eden: No, that's wrong!

- COUNTER! -

- BREAK! -

Eden: The killer never disposed of the legal pad pages, Styk. Dreamer did.

Styk: Rgh...!

Styk: ...

Styk: Where's your proof, huh??

I slowly crossed my arms.

Eden: The proof is the fact that she never mentioned the second video to me or Chaos when we visited her, despite having already broken it. The only thing this can mean is that she was trying to keep her and the killer's conversation secret. So it's not a stretch to assume that she also disposed of the conversation.

Styk: ...!

Eden: Additionally, there was a large burn wound on Dreamer's left arm. She originally claimed it came from taking a casserole out of the oven, but now that I think about it, she didn't have the time to prepare and bake a casserole when me and Chaos were going door to door. Which means it's likely that she got the wound elsewhere: from burning the pages...

Styk: ...!!!

Eden: Got any other excuses to pull out of your ass?

Styk gritted his teeth and glared at me with the might of the American military.

Styk: Why, you...!

He then began to look around the room for any semblance of sympathy, but found none. Everyone from Michi to Vysko to Yuki was looking at him with nothing but disdain and pity. I guess he wasn't ready to give up just yet, though, so he began to grasp at more straws.

Styk fiercely pointed his fingers at Oof.

Styk: Oof! You remember what I said! About the meeting!

He then turned to face the rest of the class, gesturing wildly with his arms.

Styk: Everyone, I can't be the killer! I wasn't even the one who set it up, Chaos was! He's the one who needed the alibi! Because he's the killer!!

Chaos: ...

Chaos: Styk... you were the one who came to me for that meeting... not the other way around...

Styk gestured to Chaos and stared at the rest of the group, livid.

Styk: See! He's lying! That was a lie! He's slipped up and revealed himself to be the killer!

He jerked his face back towards Oof.

Styk: Oof, you know this! You were there when I told you what happened. You know that was a bold-faced lie!!

Oof: ...

Oof curled up his lip and furrowed his brow.

Oof: Nah, G. You the only motherfucker who's lyin' here.

Chaos: ...

Chaos: Styk...

Styk: Silence, murderer! We all know it's you!

I ignored him and glanced at the pig.

Eden: Monocavy, we've come to a decision. The killer's identity is obvious.

Mononcavy: Okey-dokey, artichokey! Voting time begins in thre-

Styk: Wait, Wait!

Styk held his hands out in front of him, breathing hard. He took some time to calm himself down, but quickly regained his previous desperation.

Styk: What logical reason do you have to vote for me over him, hmm? Just because I'm the Ultimate Sniper, and he's the Ultimate Linguist? Come on, that's nonsense! You know it! I know it! We all know it! So why are we doing it!? We need hard evidence before we settle on a conclusion. And I mean hard bloody evidence! Right now, I don't see any of that! All you have are these wild assumptions!

He then turned to me and made one final, frantic claim.

Styk: Eden, if you don't have the proof to back up your claims, then I refuse to acknowledge any of your allegations!!!

I merely frowned and stared him in the eye.

Eden: Styk, the proof has been right under our noses all along.

Styk: Oh, yeah? Well, what do you have!?

Eden: Oof said someone with a mask knocked him out, and yet there are no masks anywhere in this bunker.

I pointed at his navy-blue scarf.

Eden: Curious how a scarf can function exactly like a mask when wrapped around your head.

Oof: ...!

Vysko: ...!

Yuki: ...!

Michi: ...

Styk: Gghhhhh...!!!

Styk widened his eyes past the point where they should stretch and gripped his own scarf until he was white in the palms. His breathing was ragged and his mouth was slightly agape, pulsating whenever he took a breath. Styk was defeated, and he knew it deep in his soul.

Eden: It's over, Styk.

Styk: ...

Eden: But to clear up any doubt... let's go over this case one more time, shall we?

- CLOSING ARGUMENT! -

- ACT 1 -

When everyone was first offered their motive videos, the killer was wholly against watching them. But after seeing so many people take their tablets and peer into their old lives, he relented.

Telling Chaos he was simply making sure nobody peered into his private life, the killer took his motive video and headed over to Dreamer's dorm, where they both watched the contents of their tablet.

Realizing that they'd made a mistake, the killer and Dreamer broke their tablets and disposed of the conversation they'd had. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Well, unfortunately for Dreamer, it was already too late. The killer had decided that he wanted to escape the bunker at the cost of everyone's lives.

- ACT 2 -

The killer realized that he needed to have an alibi for his kill to get away with it, so he cooked up a plan to make it seem like he couldn't have committed the murder.

Knowing that Chaos always arrives everywhere exactly on time, the killer suggested hosting a strategy meeting and told him to go to the weapons room at 10:50 PM for a chat on how it should be set up. Chaos naively accepted.

The next part of the killer's plan was to grab a pair of X-Ray goggles from the Sniper room and see where everyone was located. Putting them on, he found Oof in the weapons room, guarding it. The killer sneered, seeing an opportunity where most would only see a roadblock. He quickly wrapped his scarf around his head, charged into the weapons room, and knocked out Oof. The killer then carried him back to his dorm, and tucked him under his blanket to make it seem like he was sleeping.

With Oof out of the way, the killer pocketed a knife from the weapons room and grabbed a ladder from the sniper room. Waiting until about 10:45 to execute his plan, the killer placed the ladder near Dreamer's dorm and chucked the knife inside as well, fatally stabbing her.

The killer then headed back to the weapons room, and told Chaos to gather the men from the lower right dormitories, while he, himself, would gather them from the upper left. The fact that Oof and Dreamer's rooms just so happened to be in the lower right was perfect for him.

- ACT 3 -

Once everyone had arrived at the strategy meeting but Oof, the killer told Chaos to go check on him. Chaos obeyed and was gone for several minutes trying to wake him up. The killer thought that the ladder he'd planted at the scene of the crime would frame Chaos, and the time he'd spent with the group would exonerate him.

Unfortunately for the killer, though, he underestimated the power of a man's revenge.

He underestimated me.

I looked directly into the killer's eyes and saw that his face had settled into a soft, defeated glare.

Eden: Isn't that right... Stykeryno, the Ultimate Sniper!?

Styk: ...

- COMPLETE! -

Styk: ...

Styk: ...

Styk: ...

Styk: ...

Styk: ...

After about half a minute, Styk's breathing returned to normal, and he cleared his throat to speak.

Styk: Yes... it is right... I'm the one who killed Dreamer.

After hearing that, I let out a breath of air I didn't know I was holding.

Michi looked as far as she could away from Styk.

Lgp and Oof were staring nuclear bombs at him.

Yuki and Insert were leering at him like cats.

And the rest of us were just plain glaring at him.

It took about another minute before any of them spoke up.

Oof growled.

Oof: Nah, man. You and I got beef. Hear me, you little bitch?

Styk: ...

Lgp: Rules say the killer gets executed, right? Let's hurry that up.

Willow: Squeak!

Patricia: Squeak!

Styk: ...

Avi: You just had to target the most helpless one here, didn't you? Pretty sadistic.

Styk: ...

Chaos: Styk... I thought you were our leader...? And yet... you did this...?

Styk: ...

Eden: And you had the audacity to blame this all on me?

I scoffed.

Eden: Absolutely fucking pathetic.

Suddenly, Styk looked up to face me, raw wrath in his eyes.

Styk: This is still your fucking fault, Eden...

Eden: Yeah, sure thing, murderer. After all your preaching, you went ahead and watched the video anyway.

Styk: IT WASN'T BY CHOICE!!!

The volume of his voice stunned everyone into silence.

Styk: ...

Styk: It wasn't by choice...

Styk: I would never have watched that damn video if it wasn't for... you and Dreamer...

Eden: ...?

Me and... Dreamer?

Lgp rushed up to Styk and grabbed him by the collar.

Lgp: Don't try to blame this on Dreamer, you asshole! You're the one who killed her, not the other way around!!

Styk: Get off me!

Styk shoved him away and he fell to the ground, hard.

Styk: You haven't walked in my shoes, so you have no right to judge me!

Both Styk and Lgp viciously glared at each other until Avi walked up and broke the tension.

Avi: So, what caused you to snap? It had to have been something major, for a guy like you.

Styk: ...

Styk: Do you want all of the details? Or just the summary?

Avi: All of them, please. I think everyone here is curious.

Styk: Okay...

Styk stood up straight and brushed himself off, then spoke.

Styk: After our initial search of the bunker on the first day we were here, I went over to Dreamer's dorm to have a chat. At first, it was to get her to investigate along with the rest of us, but...

Styk turned and looked me straight in the eyes, without any malice.

Styk: Dreamer has a way of making anyone who comes to visit her stay for a lot longer than they planned. She's like... a ray of sunshine... despite the poor hand life dealt her. Maybe it's because of that poor hand, actually, I... don't know. All I know is, we got acquainted with each other pretty well that day. And so, when I saw her silently take her motive video and scamper off to her dorm, I was worried.

Styk paused for a moment before continuing to tell his story.

Styk: After everyone left the gym, I grabbed my own video so that no one could snoop around in my past; that wasn't a lie, and I went to go check on her. When I arrived at her dorm, though, she had a request for me...

.

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Styk knocked three times on Dreamer's dorm room, and the door was quickly opened.

Dreamer: "Styk?"

Dreamer smiled.

Dreamer: "What a pleasant surprise."

Dreamer held open the door for Styk, and he walked into the dorm.

Styk: There's no time for politeness, Dreamer.

Styk grimaced and pointed at her motive video on the table.

Styk: Did you watch that?

Dreamer: "I haven't yet. But I think I want to, Eden does make a good point."

Styk gritted his teeth.

Styk: Eden is an ignoramus who doesn't know what he's talking about. Those videos are dangerous, and nobody should even be considering watching them...

Styk held out his arm to grab the motive video, but Dreamer put a hand on it, and then scribbled something down on her legal pad.

Dreamer: "What's dangerous about them?"

Styk: They were designed by Monocavy to divide us. To make us feel desperate enough to kill. Watching them is the same as playing right into his hands.

Dreamer frowned.

Dreamer: "I don't see how that's the case. If we all stick together and support each other, no 'motive video' will crack our resolve."

Styk let out a tiny smile.

Styk: Yes, that's certainly true for people like you and I. But can you really say the same for everyone else here? For people like Eden, Yuki, and Jiren? Those are the kinds of people weak-willed enough to murder if they feel the slightest temptation. And that's why we can't allow the videos to be watched.

Dreamer: ...

Dreamer: "Well, you and I definitely have different ideas of what makes somebody weak-willed... but we can set that aside for now."

Dreamer picked up one of the tablets.

Dreamer: "What's important at the moment is escaping. And the information in these videos could be the help we need."

Styk: Yes, it could. But it could also be our downfall.

Dreamer gave Styk a wide smile.

Dreamer: "Not ours, Styk! We're both strong-willed, right? So if we watch the videos together, we can support each other and only gain the benefits!"

Styk: ...

Styk: That is true...

Dreamer sighed.

Dreamer: "I've been too scared to watch my video alone, honestly. But with someone else by my side, it'll be a lot easier."

Dreamer picked up her tablet and gestured to the one Styk was holding.

Dreamer: "So, whaddaya say?"

Styk: ...

Styk sighed.

Styk: You're going to be the death of me, Dreamer...

Dreamer giggled a bit.

Dreamer: "They'll have to get through me, first."

Styk set his video down on the table, and Dreamer set hers on the opposite end.

Styk: So, who should go first?

Dreamer: "Would you mind going first? I'm a little nervous..."

Styk: I wouldn't mind at all.

Styk clicked the button on the side of his tablet.

After a few seconds, some text appeared on the screen, accompanied by Monocavy's lurid voice.

"The Ultimate Sniper, Stykeryno's, Official Motive Video!"

Monocavy: Welcome, welcome, dear contestant! To Monocavy's heart pounding, crazy-awesome motive video! Where I show you twisted miscreants a fragment of your past lives!

Suddenly, the video's slideshow changed to a picture of Styk in infantry clothing.

Monocavy: Stykeryno, the Ultimate Sniper, is renowned across the country for his heroic and valorous deeds in the heat of combat! He entered the military as a foot soldier at the ripe age of fourteen, and has been sent on numerous assassination missions, all successes. If you were an enemy of the United States, you were an enemy of Styk! And trust me, you do not want to be an enemy of Styk! Puhuhu!

The slideshow changed to a picture of Styk in a fancy school uniform.

Monocavy: After a whopping two years of military success, Styk returned home, seemingly to attend the Ultimate Academy for Academic Excellence! But his true purpose for returning home was an urgent order by his commanders: eradicate the "Silent Crusade" terrorist group!! Who are the Silent Crusade, you may ask? Well, let me tell you!

The slideshow changed to a picture of a lean warrior in olive green robes, with a mask and hood of the same color.

Monocavy: The Silent Crusade, led by a mysterious man known only as "X," was a deadly street gang turned anarchist clan! They bombed skyscrapers, killed business barons, and threatened to rise up against the U.S. government if their demands were not met! And these were not mere threats, my dear viewer. No, no. They had an ace up their sleeve who would allow them to follow through on everything they claimed...

The slideshow changed to a close-up of the olive warrior.

Monocavy: The Masked Desperado! Stykeryno's worst enemy during his two years at the Ultimate Academy!!

Styk: ...

Dreamer: ...

The slideshow changed to a picture of Styk and the olive warrior battling.

Monocavy: Styk and the Desperado clashed many times during his first year at the academy. Styk was an expert hand to hand fighter, strong and bold, while the Desperado was shrewd and agile, always knowing the right time to engage. They clashed and clashed, neither one getting the better of the other, until one fateful day when X and the Desperado were to carry out a ransom mission...

The slideshow changed to a picture of X holding a megaphone and yelling, while the Masked Desperado stood silent and vigilant next to him.

Monocavy: X was in the process of listing his demands in exchange for the fifty hostages he had acquired, when suddenly.... BAM! A shot rang through the air, and X dropped dead where he stood!

The slideshow changed to a picture of the Masked Desperado with widened eyes as their leader was falling to the floor.

Monocavy: Styk had successfully killed the leader of the Silent Crusade! The Masked Desperado was still at large, but overall, a great victory...!!!

Monocavy: ...

Monocavy: Puhuhu... or so it seemed. Because little did Styk know, he had shot the wrong man that day. And he was about to regret it for the rest of his life.

The slideshow changed to a picture of five severed human heads resting on a dinner table.

Styk: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Styk lurched back and started to hyperventilate.

Styk: What!?!??!?!?!?! What the fuck!!??!??!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!!??!

Dreamer: ...!?

Monocavy: PWA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! In retaliation, the Desperado murdered Styk's entire family!!! Ol' Dezzy chopped off all of their heads, and laid them on Styk's dinner table for him to discover!!! PWA-HAHAHAH-

*CRASH!!!*

Monocavy's voice suddenly cut off as Dreamer slammed her motive video into Styk's with the force of a speeding truck, completely destroying both of them.

Dreamer rushed over to Styk and started frantically scribbling into her notepad.

Dreamer: "Are you okay? Please forgive me, I had no idea these videos would be so ruthless... "

Styk looked up at Dreamer with raw, unfiltered trauma in his eyes.

Styk: Am I... okay?

Styk let out a deranged laugh.

Styk: Why would I be okay... after seeing that...?

Tears began to appear in Dreamer's eyes as Styk gripped his head with both hands.

Styk: Gah...! And the memory...! It's coming... it's flooding back into my mind!!!

Dreamer quickly wrapped her arms around Styk's shoulders and embraced him as he shook on the wooden chair.

After about a minute had passed, Styk tapped Dreamer on the shoulder and signaled for her to move away. She obliged.

Styk: ...

Dreamer: "I cannot express to you how ashamed I am over this, Styk. You were right. These videos were dangerous, and shouldn't be watched by anyone... I'm sorry for being so foolish..."

Styk looked up at Dreamer.

Styk: Don't blame yourself... it's not your fault.

Styk balled both of his fists and glared into the air.

Styk: It's... Eden's...!

Dreamer: ...

Styk: That bastard... there will be hell to pay for this.

Styk got up from his chair and went for the door, but Dreamer dashed in front of him, jotting down a word on her legal pad.

Dreamer: "Wait!!!"

Styk: ...

Dreamer: "Please, don't do anything rash."

Styk: Don't do anything rash...? Then what the hell should I do after seeing that, huh!? Just sit on my ass and suck my thumb!? Somebody is going to pay!!

Dreamer: "Styk, listen. This is exactly what Monocavy wants out of you. You said it yourself, these videos were meant to make us desperate and want to kill. I won't pretend to understand the depths of your emotions, but you have to keep things in control. For your own sake."

Styk: ...

Styk: ...

Styk: ...

Styk: Fine... Fine.

Styk sat back down on one of Dreamer's chairs, exhausted.

Styk: But something has to give here, Dreamer. Mark my words, someone is going to pay...

Dreamer: ...

Styk watched as Dreamer began to jot down a long paragraph on her legal pad. After around a minute of writing, she showed it to him.

Dreamer: "I know it's taking everything in your power not to lash out right now, but how about this:

Every time you feel like you do right now, you come to me. I will help you through it. Angry, depressed, homesick, scared, whatever is consuming you from the inside, you take it and you dump it all on me. Until we escape from this place and you can bring the Masked Desperado to justice, personally, I will be your rock.

Do you accept?"

Styk: ...

Styk: Yes. I accept.

.

.

Vysko: ...

Kuro: ...

Dark: ...

Fdeys: ...

Jiren: ...

Cosmos: ...

Chaos: ...

Insert: ...

Oof: ...

Yuki: ...

Lgp: ...

Avi: ...

Eden: ...

Michi: ...

Styk let out a pained laugh.

Styk: Little did she know, I had already made my decision. Someone was going to die, I was going to escape, and I was going to torture the Masked Desperado's family, one by one, in front of his face, until he felt the same raw vitriol I did. Then, I was going to flay him alive and laugh hysterically at his mangled body every day until he died.

Eden: ...!!!!!!

Lgp: ...!!!!!!

Michi: ......................................................!

Styk: ...

Eden: But why... why did you kill Dreamer?

Styk sighed.

Styk: I wasn't originally going to kill her. I was going to kill you, Eden.

Eden: ...

Yeah, that's honestly fair... I hate to admit it, but if I was in his shoes, I'd do the exact same thing.

Nevertheless, that doesn't stop me from hating this bitch's guts.

Styk: However, thirty minutes before executing my plan... I realized she was the only one I could kill...

Styk gasped out another unhinged laugh as a single tear rolled out of his eye.

Styk: She knew what my motive was. She knew how desperate I was. And so if anyone else turned up dead... she'd know it was me who killed them. And if I wanted to escape, I couldn't have that. So... so I...

Styk: ...

Styk: It was my only choice.

Every single one of us was too stunned to speak further. Too stunned to move. Too stunned to even think. Michi managed to slowly turn her head away from Styk in shame, but no one else shifted an inch.

We all simply watched as Styk turned around to face Monocavy.

Styk: I know that despite my reasons, what I've done wasn't justified in any way. And I know that there's no redeeming a man like me. So, Monocavy, I will accept my execution with grace. But I have one final offer for you that I think you may find interesting.

Monocavy: An offer? Puhuhu! Let's hear it!

Styk stood tall and projected his royal voice.

Styk: Let's face it, Monocavy. You're powerful. Strong enough to kidnap all sixteen students of the Ultimate Academy for Academic Excellence for days on end, and force them to kill each other. With that kind of power... surely you can kidnap the Masked Desperado as well.

Monocavy: Puhuhu! So, you want one last shot at revenge, hmm? Well, what do I get in return?

Styk: You get top-shelf entertainment in return. You did this all for fun, correct? What could possibly be more fun and exciting than watching two men with untenable grudges battle it out against each other in a duel for their life!!

Monocavy: Puhuhu! Puhuhu!! Puhuhu!!!

Styk: If I win the duel, I will gladly submit to my execution afterwards. And if I lose, then the duel itself will be my execution.

Monocavy: PWA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I accept! I accept, I accept, I accept! In fact, I knew you were going to ask this exact question, so I already brought Ol' Dezzy to this place and set up an arena for you two!

Styk's face lit up in abject joy.

Styk: Really...!? You did?

Monocavy: Yes, yes! I'm never one to miss out on an opportunity for fun!

Monocavy brought out a massive brown hammer and his clones carried him a giant red button to press.

Styk fell down to his knees.

Styk: Thank you! Thank you! Monocavy, I thank you with my life!

Monocavy: No need! I do it all for pleasure!

Monocavy jumped into the air and brought the hammer down on the red button.

Monocavy: IT'S PUNISHMENT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.

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- GAME OVER! -

- STYK HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY. -

- TIME FOR THE PUNISHMENT! -

.

"Desperate Revenge"

Stykeryno, the Ultimate Sniper's, Execution: Executed.

.

.

A chain with a choker attached to it appeared from the depths of the room and grabbed Styk by the neck, pulling him into an area unknown. At the same time, a ginormous TV screen popped up and showed the class footage of a giant Cesarean gladiator arena with two katanas in the middle.

Styk was roughly flung into the center of the arena, along with his olive-clad opponent. Without any time to waste, both men grabbed their swords and backed away from each other, each taking their own stance.

At this point, more and more TV screens were popping up all over the trial grounds, some showing close-ups of Styk, and others showing close ups of the Desperado, eyes gleaming through his hood and mask. After a short glare-down where Styk's eyes were more intense than I'd ever seen them, the Desperado began to advance, flourishing his sword.

From the way the two men were looking at each other, this duel was going to be a short and deadly brawl where offense at all costs was the prime strategy.

Styk held his ground and analyzed the olive warrior's every move, looking for a weak point in his defenses. In a few seconds, he found one, and rushed faster than the speed of light at the Desperado. Their swords clashed so quickly and violently that I couldn't keep track of anything, but the one thing I did see was that the olive warrior received a slash in the gut. Blood spewed from the wound and he fell down, Styk pouncing on him like a rabid dog. The Desperado held his own and gave Styk a couple of licks, but he couldn't prevent Styk's blade from reaching his neck and killing him.

The Desperado dropped his own sword as Styk uncontrollably laughed, slamming his fists over and over into the Desperado's face. As a display of dominance, Styk peeled the olive mask and hood off of his dead nemesis' head, but he would be aghast to discover that he had not been fighting the Masked Desperado at all.

Styk was staring at a head-sized Monocavy clone piloting a synthetic body and synthetic blood.

As soon as Styk saw that he'd been duped, he glanced behind him out of instinct. But it was all too late for him, since the real Masked Desperado had arrived, and the true olive warrior's blade was already cleaving into Styk's back.

Styk tumbled a few feet forward, but the Desperado didn't let up and hit him with a monster kick to the stomach before grabbing him by the neck and thrusting his katana into Styk's chest. It was over. Styk had lost.

Satisfied, the Desperado let go of Styk's battered body and watched him crumple to the floor. He then stepped on Styk's hands with his boots and loomed over him, tearing his mask off so that his nemesis could see the crazed smile on his face.

Styk's eyes were completely empty as he drifted off into oblivion.

.

.

For the rest of the day after Styk's execution, nobody talked to one another. Everyone grabbed a pre-made meal from the dining hall and ate in solitude, ruminating over their new situation.

Two of our classmates, Dreamer and Styk, were dead. Their emotions, ambitions, and souls as we knew it were played with and destroyed by Monocavy. The same thing could happen to any one of us next, and we knew it.

Thus, we all stayed silent. The hope that we'd ever escape this place without murdering each other was almost, if not completely, gone. The tragic tale of Styk and Dreamer killed it.

And yet, something in my heart was still ablaze. The faint flicker of curiosity was lit where everything else had been purged, so I listened to it.

It said to me: Visit Michiru. Don't you still have a question to ask her?

I did, in fact, have a question to ask her. So I obeyed.

I slowly rose up from my crumb-filled bed like Frankenstein, and tardily walked my way to Michi's dorm. There was no rush. Nobody was anywhere near productive at the moment, so it's not as if I'd have to go look for her.

The door to her room with the five letters in her name plastered on it entered my sight, and I didn't bother to quicken my pace. One of my friends just died, and the shithead who killed her was closer to her than I'd ever be. That kinda pissed me off, so I think I'm allowed to be a little lazy.

When I finally reached the door, I gave it two hard knocks and waited for the knitting expert to let me in. She did so, a little bit sooner than expected.

Michi: Eden? Why are you here?

Eden: Question.

I pointed into her room.

Eden: Can I come inside?

Michi stepped out of the way and let me enter.

Michi: You look like a mess, by the way.

Eden: Yeah, I am kind of a mess right now.

I sat down on one of her chairs and put my hands behind my head, then kicked my feet up to rest on the table. This was going to be a decently long discussion, I think. So I was gonna get comfortable.

Eden: So, Miss "Ultimate Knitting Expert." What's your real talent?

Michi furrowed her brow.

Michi: Excuse me?

Eden: Your real talent. I know you're not a fucking knitting expert.

Michi: ...

Michi scoffed.

Michi: And what makes you think that?

I frowned. Is she really gonna make me spell it out? This should be pretty apparent...

Eden: Isn't it obvious...?

Michi sat down on the table next to my two feet and leaned forward.

Michi: No, I don't think it's very obvious. Why don't you rethink what you're saying before you get something wrong?

Was that a threat? Whatever. I don't really care.

I sighed.

Eden: You say you're good at solving crimes because you're a detective movie fan, but that doesn't explain you dodging a bullet when Monocavy got pissed at us for breaking his hatch.

I pointed at the scar on my cheek.

Eden: Also, you instantly recognized that this was a bullet wound rather than just a random cut I got shaving. Even if the movies you watched had bullet wounds in them, you shouldn't be able to recognize a real one because the effects they use are really inaccurate. Trust me, I know.

I leaned forward, matching her stance.

Eden: I don't want to repeat myself again, Michiru, because I'm in a bad mood. I know you're not the Ultimate Knitting Expert. So what are you?

I realize that I may be playing with my life here, but I genuinely couldn't care less. My heart and mind were completely empty other than this one burning question.

Michi and I stared at each other for a few seconds before she backed off and let out a quick chuckle.

Michi: You're very analytical, and you don't back down when you know something. I actually kind of like that...

I took my shoes off her table and put my hands back at my sides.

Eden: Are you admitting that I'm right?

Michi got off the table and turned her back to me, walking towards the front of the dorm.

Michi: Mhm. I'm not actually a knitting expert. But do you really want to know what I am? Because if I tell you, you'll be opening a door you can't close.

Eden: I don't think you understand. When the world is pitch black, you'll take any crack of light you can find. So there's nothing I need more at the moment than an open door.

Michi turned her head to look at me again.

Michi: Okay. If you're sure, then I'll tell you.

Michi took a deep breath.

To be perfectly honest with you, I don't really have an Ultimate Talent. What I'm good at is not something that'd ever get me accepted into the Academy.

Eden: Then what are you? The Ultimate Serial Killer or something?

Michi: Nope. Ultimate Desperado.

Eden: ...?

Eden: ...

Eden: ...!

Eden: ...!!!

What?

That can't mean...?

Eden: ...

Can it...?

I made a move to get out of my seat, but she was next to me with a knife at my neck in an instant.

Michi: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there, buddy. I thought you said you wanted an open door.

Eden: You're... the Masked Desperado?

Michi: You heard me say it, didn't you?

Eden: But how...? Didn't we all see him kill Styk? What are you...?

Michi sighed.

Michi: Yes, we saw a paid actor kill Styk. But I am the real thing.

I gulped. This can't be happening. She's the literal terrorist responsible for Styk and Dreamer's deaths? How can that be? Why was she... here?

Eden: ...

There could only be one reason why the Masked Desperado was prowling around this bunker.

Eden: That means... you're a mole for the mastermind. Vysko was right about you.

She responded in the same soft but eerie voice she used during the investigation.

Michi: Bingo.

I grimaced. Why did I think coming here was a good idea?

Michi: And now you...

Michi poked me in the temple.

Michi: Are a mole, too. You'll report to me, and I'll report to the mastermind. Simple.

Eden: ...?

Eden: You're... recruiting me? Why would you do this? Isn't this an unnecessary risk for you?

Michi: Well, you kind of figured me out over here. And besides, you said you wanted an open door, right? You won't be leaving here as a participant of the game, since rule six is for me.

She jerked the knife up, forcing me to move my chin along with it.

Michi: But maybe, just maybe, you can leave here as a mole. Alright?

Eden: ...

This girl is crazy if she thinks I'll ever willingly help the mastermind. I'd rather die in the game than do such a thing.

But dying right here would be stupid.

So I swallowed my pride and spoke.

Eden: Alright.

Michi released the knife at my neck and walked over to a cabinet in her room. She opened it, took out a little red ball, and tossed it to me.

Michi: That's a silent alarm. Set it for 5:45 AM, and put it under your pillow. It will vibrate and wake you up. Do your morning routine, brush your teeth, and whatever else you need in fifteen minutes, because I'll be at your door by 6:00. Then, we'll discuss your new duties.

Eden: ...

Eden: Okay...

Michi then walked up to her door and opened it, gesturing for me to leave.

Michi: Have a good night's sleep. And do try to enjoy your new role here.

Eden: ...

Eden: ...

Eden: ...

Eden: ...

Eden: ...

What the ever-living fuck have I gotten myself into?

.

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The Better Danganronpa Fanfiction

Chapter 1: Silent Echoes

- END -

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Surviving Students (14/16):

.

Eden - Ultimate Screenwriter

Vysko - Ultimate Collector

Michi - Ultimate Desperado

Kuro - Ultimate Reviewer

Dark - Ultimate Author

Fdeys - Ultimate Weightlifter

Jiren - Ultimate Landlord

Cosmos - Ultimate Therapist

Styk - Ultimate Sniper

Chaos - Ultimate Linguist

Dreamer - Ultimate Mime

Insert - Ultimate Fighter

Oof - Ultimate Chef

Yuki - Ultimate Script Leaker

Lgp - Ultimate Zookeeper

Avi - Ultimate Songwriter

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To be continued...