Dark Slit (REMASTERED)

Shin stood there, frozen and pathetic, while Grandma Anne looked back at them with a warm smile. "You guys should visit our place sometime! I'll make you some pancakes," she offered cheerfully.

"W-wait, Grandma, you don't need to! W-we can just hang out here or somewhere else," Shin stammered, his voice trembling in panic.

Cid, noticing Shin's flustered state, grabbed his shoulder firmly and grinned. "We'll visit sometime, Grandma!" he said confidently, his grip on Shin's shoulder tightening.

Grandma Anne chuckled and waved as she walked out of the court and exited the school grounds.

The moment she left, Cid and the others resumed their game with renewed vigor. This time, their shots became even harder and more deliberate, targeting Shin's face, chest, and—most cruelly—his more sensitive areas.

By the time the PE session ended, Shin was worn out and covered in dirt and sweat. He trudged to the locker room, retrieved his uniform, and headed for the showers.

Undressing slowly, Shin stepped under the running water, letting it wash away the filth clinging to his body. Each droplet that hit his skin carried away the humiliation and exhaustion of the day, though the sting of those "powerful shots" still lingered.

As the warm water cascaded over him, Shin drowned in his thoughts. "I'm so pathetic," he whispered to himself, his voice cracking. Tears began streaming down his face, blending with the water. He sniffled between sobs, muttering, "Just two more years, and this will all be over."

After scrubbing away the filth and sweat from the day's torment, Shin stepped out of the shower. He walked back into the locker room, dressed in his uniform, and made his way to class.

Three hours later, evening arrived, and Shin packed his things to leave. As he approached the school gates, he spotted Ria waiting for him. She waved enthusiastically.

"Hey!" she greeted with a bright smile.

"Oh, hey," Shin replied, his voice subdued.

"How was PE?" Ria asked, walking beside him.

"It was good. I became the goalkeeper," Shin muttered.

Ria raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess—you took all the shots again?"

"Yeah, but they weren't that powerful," Shin said, forcing a weak smile.

"You know you can't hide your bruises, right? And I heard your grandma caused a scene earlier," Ria teased gently.

Shin stayed silent, his expression unreadable.

Ria softened. "I get it. I won't bring it up," she said, dropping the subject.

The two walked together in silence for a while until they reached Ria's home. She waved at Shin as she entered. "See you tomorrow!"

Shin waved back, his smile barely there.

That evening, Shin returned home, his shoulders heavy with the weight of the day. As he entered the house, he avoided making eye contact with Grandma Anne, who was seated in the living room.

"The dinner's on the table," she called out. "If you want to eat, just heat it."

Shin nodded silently, heading straight to the shower. Once under the spray, the tears he had held back all day returned, but he wiped them away before stepping out.

After drying off, he reheated the bowl of ramen his grandmother had left for him and sat down in front of the TV to eat. A news broadcast caught his attention.

"The Extro Nemesis Guild is hiring talented young people! Requirements are simple: you must possess Abilities, Aetheris, or Mystic Arts. Applicants must also be 18 or older."

Shin stared blankly at the screen, his expression hollow. "Must be nice," he muttered to himself. "That bastard Cid will probably get scouted the second he turns 18. Meanwhile, someone powerless like me..." He trailed off, sipping the last of the noodles and drinking the soup.

After finishing, Shin cleaned the table and washed the dishes before heading to bed. His routine felt suffocatingly mundane. As he lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling, tears welled up again, though this time, his voice was empty.

"Even in sleep, I can't help but cry," he whispered, his words devoid of emotion.

The morning sunlight streamed into Shin's room as he woke up groggily. He noticed a letter left on the table beside him. Picking it up, he read:

"Shin, I'm going somewhere for a while. I cooked some beef earlier—just heat it up and eat."

After reading the note, Shin heated up the beef, eating in silence before heading to the shower. Once he was dressed in his uniform, he locked the door behind him and began walking to school.

Upon arriving, Shin spotted Ria near the gate, chatting with someone. His eyes lingered for a moment before he recognized the person she was talking to.

"Hm, isn't that Zeeke? The guy who won the national contest for runners? He's so popular... and way more handsome than me," Shin muttered under his breath. His gaze shifted back to Ria. "She must be happy talking to someone like him."

Shin quickly looked away, pretending not to notice them as he walked past.

"Hey, Shin!" Ria called out, noticing him.

But Shin ignored her, keeping his head down and choosing to walk alone.

"What's wrong with him? That was definitely Shin," Ria thought, frowning slightly.

"Hm? Did you see someone you know?" Zeeke asked, curious.

"Oh, no. I just thought I saw someone familiar," Ria replied, brushing it off.

"I see. Anyway, let's go?" Zeeke asked with a smile.

"Yeah, let's go," Ria answered, following him.

---

Three hours later, during the students' break, Shin found himself on the school rooftop. Leaning against the railing, he watched the sun slowly being consumed by the encroaching darkness.

"The sunset is beautiful," Shin murmured softly. His voice was laced with regret.

He sighed deeply, sitting down on the cold floor. "I should've apologized that night. I shouldn't have yelled at her like that. I'm already so grateful that she adopted me," he muttered, lowering his head in shame.

"God, I'm so pathetic," Shin whispered to himself, clenching his fists.

As his thoughts spiraled, something across the city caught his attention. Smoke was rising from a building, forming dark clouds in the sky.

"Hm? What is that?" Shin squinted at the scene, assuming it was just a fire. But his breath caught when he saw something far more terrifying.

Out of nowhere, several portals began appearing in the sky, swirling ominously. Shin's eyes widened in realization.

"Wh-what is that?" he stammered.

In seconds, monstrous creatures started pouring out of the portals, their forms grotesque and unfamiliar.

"Sh-shit, that's definitely a portal!" Shin gasped, his heart racing.

Panic surged through him as he bolted down the rooftop stairs.

"I need to tell the teachers!" he thought frantically.

Rushing through the corridors, he spotted a random male student.

"Hey! Where are the teachers?!" Shin asked, barely catching his breath.

"They're in the faculty office," the student replied, pointing in the right direction.

"What's with him?" the student wondered as Shin ran off, his panic evident.

Shin rushed into the teacher's faculty room, bursting through the door.

"TEACHERS! THERE'S A PORTAL OUTBREAK!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, his voice trembling with urgency.

The teachers turned to look at him, confused.

"What are you talking about?" one of them, the teacher of Class C, asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I-I swear! I saw a lot of portals in the sky!" Shin stammered, his breathing erratic.

The male teacher crossed his arms, clearly skeptical. "If there really was a portal outbreak, the government would've already issued a warning."

"I saw it with my own two eyes!" Shin insisted, panic seeping into his voice.

Another teacher scoffed. "This better not be some prank, kid. If it is—"

"Enough."

The voice of the principal cut through the room like a knife. He had been sitting quietly in the corner, observing. Slowly, he stood, his face grim. "Prepare the emergency button," he commanded.

The male teachers exchanged worried glances before one of them hurried to a safe, unlocking it to reveal an emergency weapon.

Before they could act further, the television in the corner of the room suddenly switched to a black screen. A red warning symbol appeared, accompanied by an automated voice.

"WARNING: A portal dungeon has broken out. A total of 22 portals have been detected in your region. Please remain calm. Hunters and heroes are on their way. Secure your homes or any areas that may allow monsters to break in."

The room fell into stunned silence for a moment. The teachers' eyes widened in shock. The principal, who had been calm moments ago, immediately shifted into action mode.

"GET THE STUDENTS UNDER CONTROL! NOW!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the room.

The teachers bolted out of the faculty room, heading toward the courtyard. But the sight that greeted them froze them in their tracks.

Chaos had already erupted.

Students were screaming, phones in their hands displaying the same warning. Some tried to push through the gates, desperate to escape, while others huddled together in fear. A few were injured, either from being trampled in the panic or from collapsing in terror.

"Damn it!" one of the teachers cursed, running to assist the injured students.

The school guards were doing their best to block the gates, forcing students to return to safety. But it was too late—several had already slipped past them.

Among the chaos, one teacher, gifted with the ability of supersonic projection, stepped forward. She inhaled deeply and released a piercing scream that reverberated across the courtyard.

"EVERYONE, STOP AND LISTEN!" her voice boomed. "RETURN TO YOUR CLASSROOMS IMMEDIATELY! THE HEROES WILL ARRIVE SOON TO HANDLE THIS!"

Her voice cut through the noise, and some students paused, hesitant. Slowly, a portion of the crowd began retreating to their classrooms, heeding the warning.

But not everyone complied. Fear had taken root too deeply. Some continued to flee, ignoring the teachers' instructions.

The principal, now standing in the courtyard, clenched his fists. "We don't have much time," he muttered under his breath, his eyes darting toward the portals visible in the distance. "This is worse than I thought."

"Fuck, they're just trying to kill us," a student muttered under his breath as he ran from the school grounds, glancing over his shoulder at the others who were retreating back to safety. A sly grin spread across his face.

"Hehe, stupid bastards. When I get interviewed as the sole survivor, I'll be rolling in cash," he said to himself.

Turning his gaze forward, his confident smirk faded instantly. His eyes widened in terror, his mouth agape as his legs trembled beneath him.

Standing in his path was a towering creature, at least 8 feet tall, its humanoid body completely covered in jagged spikes. Its glowing red eyes seemed to pierce straight into his soul.

The student stumbled backward, collapsing to the ground. "H-H-H…" he tried to speak, but fear choked the words out of him.

The monster slowly raised a massive spiked arm, preparing to swing down at the helpless student.

Before the blow could land, a blur of movement interrupted the scene. In an instant, a man appeared, delivering a powerful kick to the creature's neck—the only part of its body not covered in spikes.

The monster flew backward, crashing into the ground.

The man stood tall, his blonde hair gleaming like gold in the sunlight. He was clad in a sleek suit with yellow and white stripes, and a logo that read "F.B" was embedded on his chest.

"T-T-Thank you! Mister Flashy Blond!" the student stammered, trembling with relief.

The commotion drew the attention of the other students, who were peeking from their classrooms or lingering outside. They noticed the bright glint of light emanating from the man, even from afar.

"It's MR. FLASHY BLOND!" a group of students shouted excitedly at the top of their lungs, their fear momentarily forgotten.

With a burst of incredible speed, Flashy Blond traveled to the school gates, arriving just as the principal approached.

"Hey, students! Are you all okay?" Flashy Blond asked, his voice steady despite the chaos around him.

"YES, WE ARE, MR. FLASHY BLOND!" the students yelled in unison, their voices full of awe.

The principal stepped forward, his face stern. "Where are the rest of the heroes?" he demanded.

"They're on their way, sir," Flashy Blond replied. "Medics are also en route."

The principal clicked his tongue in frustration. "Tch. Fine. Just hold the line until they arrive. Students, stay inside the classrooms! Do not come out!"

"Yes, sir." Flashy Blond nodded, turning to face the horde of monsters that began swarming through the portals.

Some students obeyed, retreating to their classrooms and watching through the windows, their faces pressed against the glass. But others refused to go inside, captivated by the sight of Flashy Blond battling the monsters with unmatched speed and agility.

The hero darted across the battlefield, taking down one monster after another with precise, calculated strikes. His movements were a blur, each attack landing before the monsters could react.

"Damn it, where's the backup?" Flashy Blond muttered under his breath as he continued to fight. "I'm starting to get pushed back... and some of these creatures are evolving mid-battle."

A particularly large, mutated monster emerged from a portal, roaring loudly as it charged at him. Flashy Blond braced himself, his expression firm.

"I have to hold them off. I can't let them get to the school."

The monsters were growing stronger and larger with each passing moment, each one more formidable than the last. Finally, a towering humanoid creature emerged from one of the portals. It stood nearly 20 feet tall, its eight massive tentacle-like arms writhing with deadly intent.

Flashy Blond, despite his incredible speed, couldn't avoid one of the tentacles that lashed out with terrifying force.

"Ugh—!" He coughed up blood, staggering backward as he clutched his side.

Looking down, he saw the damage—a deep, dark purple bruise spread across his ribs. The pain was unbearable, and he could feel the venom coursing through his veins.

"Damn it... those tentacle suckers are... poisonous." His voice was weak as he dropped to one knee, his vision blurring.

"MR. FLASHY BLOND, GET UP!" the students screamed desperately, their voices filled with panic.

But their cries were in vain. Flashy Blond fell forward, collapsing onto the ground, unconscious.

"EVERYONE, GET INSIDE!" the principal roared, trying to maintain order amidst the chaos.

A loud cry pierced the air—a female student was trapped beneath a large piece of debris, likely dislodged during Flashy Blond's earlier battle.

"P-Please, someone help me!" she whimpered, tears streaming down her face.

Shin, who had been watching from nearby, gritted his teeth and dashed toward her. Without hesitation, he lifted the heavy stone, his muscles straining.

"Are you okay?" Shin asked, his voice steady despite the chaos around him.

"I-I think my left foot is injured," the girl replied, her voice trembling.

"Don't worry," Shin reassured her, gently picking her up. "The medics and other heroes are on their way. You'll be safe soon."

As he carried her toward the teachers, the girl couldn't help but glance at Shin, her cheeks flushing. She quickly turned her head to hide her expression.

"What's your name?" Shin asked, trying to keep her calm.

"I-I'm Andrea," she stammered.

"Nice to meet you, Andrea. I'm Shin," he said with a small smile.

"Nice to meet you too, Shin," Andrea replied softly, her voice tinged with gratitude.

Shin set her down near the teachers, who were organizing the injured. Before he could catch his breath, a student screamed, "SOMEONE HELP THEM!"

Turning back, Shin saw a group of students frozen in terror. Among them were his bullies, their faces pale as the monstrous tentacle creature loomed closer.

For a brief moment, Shin hesitated.

Why am I doing this? he thought. Why should I protect those bastards?

But deep down, he already knew the answer. He clenched his fists and moved forward.

Even if I die here, I'll accept it. Fate, destiny—none of it matters. I just don't want to regret it.

With newfound resolve, Shin sprinted toward them, shoving the trembling students out of the way just as the monster's massive tentacle swung down.

"W-What...?" one of the bullies, Cid, murmured in shock as Shin pushed him aside.

The tentacle struck Shin with a devastating force, sending him flying through the air. He landed several meters away, rolling to a stop as blood trickled from his mouth.

"Shit..." Shin whispered, his vision fading. His body screamed in pain, every nerve on fire.

As he lay there, his thoughts drifted.

I think... I actually regret this. I at least wanted to have sex before dying.

A faint chuckle escaped his lips, though it was barely audible. His consciousness began to slip away.

But just before the darkness consumed him, he opened one eye slightly and saw something—a portal, shimmering in the distance.