Walfred, on the other hand, had collapsed right in front of Exit 3. Retching over and over from the aftershock of the wave, he struggled to keep his wits about him.

’I have to get underground...!’

If he didn’t, he’d die.

Instinctively sensing the danger, Walfred tried to get down the stairs even if he had to crawl.

And in that moment.

Walfred’s eyes met those of Miles, who had his hand against the wall. With a face that looked ready to cry at any second, Miles bowed his head.

"...I’m sorry."

With that single phrase as his last.

The wall warped with a violent groan.

And then.

Krrrrk! Kabooom!

Exit 3 collapsed.

Leaving Walfred on the surface.

"Ha..."

Walfred let out a hollow laugh.

Of course, in his head he understood perfectly well that this was the best choice. If the Bone Drake forced its way underground, a truly worst-case scenario would unfold.

And though he didn’t know the reason, the Bone Drake was clearly targeting him. Miles had probably noticed that too, and made this choice because of it.

"...Damn it."

Even so, realizing he’d been abandoned alone, there was no helping the ache in one corner of his chest.

After coughing up blood-laced spittle.

Walfred clenched his fists tight. Then, his eyes blazing fiercely, he gritted his teeth.

’I can’t go down here.’

Until he knew Jenna was safe, until he saw her again, he couldn’t die. Walfred summoned every last ounce of strength and pushed himself up.

’If the underground is blocked...’

Then he’d just run to the surface.

If he hid himself among the buildings and fled, maybe a way out would appear. Even in the hopeless situation, Walfred didn’t give up and rose to his feet.

But the Bone Drake didn’t look the slightest bit inclined to let him go.

[Kyiiieeeeek!]

"Gugh!"

The horrible scream rang out once more.

At the impact, like being struck on the head again and again with a hammer, Walfred cried out and pitched forward.

Then everything before his eyes turned red.

[Warning! The Bone Drake’s curse has activated!]

[All physical abilities greatly reduced.]

[All recovery rates reduced.]

[All resistances reduced.]

[All defenses are...]

Warning messages filled his vision.

His whole body grew heavy as if weighed down with lead, and the cold and pain only worsened.

Beyond his steadily dimming vision.

He saw the Bone Drake’s massive talons closing in on him.

"Jenna..."

With that feeble voice as his last.

Walfred lost consciousness.

---

In the pitch-black darkness.

A beloved scene that had been sleeping in his old memories unfolded before his eyes. A warm, quiet morning, before the world was buried in snow and ice.

Past the living room of the run-down apartment, in front of the familiar entryway, a beloved voice rang out.

[Uncle!]

The one and only blood relative left behind by his older sister, who had passed away early, his one and only niece, Jenna.

To Jenna, smiling on the eve of her school trip, Walfred spoke as if asking a question.

[You all packed?]

[Yup! Perfect.]

Jenna threw up a peace sign with her hand.

[Take care out there. And make sure to eat properly.]

[I know, I know. Geez, Uncle still thinks I’m in elementary school or something.]

Jenna grumbled as she put on her shoes.

And before opening the front door, as if she’d remembered something she’d forgotten, she turned around and asked.

[Oh right. Anything you want me to bring back from Key West?]

[Nothing, so just go have fun.]

[Okay! Got it. I’ll take tons of pictures!]

Jenna opened the door with a bright face.

Dazzling sunlight poured in, bathing Jenna’s body in brightness. Walfred waved his hand.

But then.

[Oh, but Uncle.]

[Hm?]

Jenna slowly turned around.

Was it because of the backlight? Her face wasn’t visible. Walfred narrowed his eyes, straining to take in Jenna’s face.

And in that instant.

[Wake up, quick.]

[...What?]

[If you keep sleeping, you’ll die.]

Along with that chilling phrase.

Walfred opened the eyes he’d had shut.

Snap!

"...Haah! Hah!"

The breath that had been stuck burst out along with it.

His heart pounded madly. Repeating ragged breaths, Walfred muttered.

"Just now, that was... a dream?"

It seemed so.

It had been so vivid that it went beyond goosebumps and even brought out cold sweat. So he tried to move his hand to wipe the sweat away, but he couldn’t.

No, his whole body couldn’t move an inch in the first place, as if bound tight with rope.

Only then did Walfred notice something strange.

’Huh?’

His feet weren’t touching the ground.

It felt like he was floating in midair.

When he lowered his head to look down, a white snowfield stretched out far, far below.

Buildings shrunk down to miniatures.

The instant he saw them, Walfred realized he was currently hundreds of feet up in the air.

"Wh-what is this?!"

Startled, Walfred thrashed about.

And just then, the grotesque scream he’d heard earlier rang out once more from above his head.

[Kyiiaaack!]

The chilling shriek the Bone Drake let out.

Walfred raised his gaze upward.

Then he registered the fact that his body was clutched in enormous talons. The Bone Drake had snatched him up and was flying through the sky.

Realizing this, Walfred looked at the beast with an expression of bafflement.

’Why?’

Why did it keep me alive?

Monsters perceive humans as prey.

So they kill them on sight. That was the monster Walfred knew. But this thing hadn’t killed him, instead taking him alive and on the move.

Why on earth? Walfred was confused.

’Wait, more importantly...’

Where is it taking me?

Walfred desperately turned his head. To check the direction the Bone Drake was flying.

And a moment later.

"...!"

When he checked the direction, his breath caught.

What stood there was a massive white dome rising high into the sky. It was the White Dome.

Don’t tell me it’s trying to go inside that?

Walfred’s face hardened at once. He hurriedly shouted at the Bone Drake.

"W-wait a sec...!"

But there was no way the Drake would listen. Without slowing down, it flew straight on, plunging toward the White Dome.

And then.

Vwoom!

Along with a single tremor.

His vision was dyed white. And so Walfred was drawn inside the White Dome, as if swallowed whole.