Rise of the Rejected Deity from Chaos-Chapter 56 - 55: The Bloodied Path to Freedom IX | Roller Coaster of Emotions

Mr. Sanio’s eyes widened in despair and disbelief as his facility crumbled before him. Years of effort, his great achievements—now reduced to ruin.

Seiya’s gaze glowed with an eerie brilliance as he peered through the collapsing walls, checking the room where the children had been kept to see if he was able to leave that and the surrounding ones. His efforts had succeeded—they remained standing though they had some visible cracks from the intense crumbling of the walls around it.

Dust and debris filled the air, 80% of the facility falling into chaos. With its roof gone and everywhere exposed, a cold wind swept through from every direction. Everywhere fell dim, illuminated only by the bright glow of the moonlight. Apart from the places Seiya had spared, only the ground beneath his feet remained intact—everything else had collapsed.

{So cool! Your weapon can do this?} Ibyu exclaimed in awe.

"It can," Seiya responded flatly, unaffected by Ibyu’s enthusiasm.

{But how did you come to know? And how did you come to wield it so perfectly?} Ibyu pressed further.

"I just knew," Seiya replied curtly.

{…}

"..…The first time I was in its presence, I felt it resonate with me. And when I touched it, it was as if I had always known how to use it," he explained.

{Well, you’re not exactly normal, so I get it,} Ibyu giggled.

Beneath the rubble, Seiya could see and hear the faint, struggling heartbeats of those trapped—some still alive, others already gone.

Slowly, survivors began to emerge from all parts of the facility, pushing aside debris. Among them were several staff members, including Miss Onoya, and the children from the third floor. Hayne was among them, assisted by an older student.

Amidst the wreckage, a girl sat hunched over, Suhei’s limp body draped across her lap. His sluggish hand rested in hers, pinned beneath fallen debris. The other boys who had tumbled down with the collapse rushed to her side, desperately clearing away the rubble.

The girl sniffled softly, her head bowed as silent tears streamed down her face.

"Suhei…" she whispered hoarsely.

"Don’t do this to me… please," she pleaded, clutching his hand.

"Why… Why now? Weren’t you always the cheerful one? Always chanting how we’d escape together one day? So why now?!" she screamed, though her voice, hoarse with grief, barely registered as a shout.

"Why now, when we are finally about to see the light? You promised we’d all leave together—so why are you the one breaking that promise, Suhei?" she sobbed, lowering her head onto his chest.

"You always said you wouldn’t hurt me or let anyone hurt me… but this—this you’re about to do to me will scar me for life," she whispered, her body trembling with grief.

"Please… don’t go. Please," she pleaded, her voice breaking as she repeated the words over and over. The others turned their gazes away, unable to bear the heartbreaking scene before them.

Suhei, his eyes barely open, exhaled weakly, his blurred vision catching a glimpse of Seiya. With the last of his fading strength, his trembling hand reached out, silently calling. Yet Seiya remained motionless, unmoved by the desperate gesture.

Hayne turned to Seiya, desperation flaring in his eyes. He grabbed the front of Seiya’s shirt, shaking him. "He’s calling for you! Go to him!" he shouted, his voice thick with rage and anguish.

{Please, go,} Ibyu’s voice echoed softly in Seiya’s mind, laced with sorrow. {Suhei was always kind to you. You might not remember, but he was the first to truly see you for who you are. He was the one who made everyone understand your situation. Even if you don’t care anymore… just go,} Ibyu urged softly.

Seiya exhaled slowly, his steps heavy as he finally moved toward Suhei. Seeing him up close, Suhei’s lips curved into a weak smile. His chest and abdomen bore deep, gaping wounds, his organs damaged beyond repair. The only thing keeping him alive was Hayne’s desperate use of his ability.

"Hold his hand," Hayne urged, his voice tight with emotion. Seiya hesitated, staring at Suhei’s trembling fingers, waiting for his.

Irritated but restraining himself, Seiya crouched and took Suhei’s hand. Suhei’s smile widened, his relief evident. His fingers, weak and lifeless, almost slipped from Seiya’s grasp, but Seiya tightened his hold, steadying them.

"Sei…" Suhei rasped, his voice was barely more than a whisper, hoarse and strained, as if crushed beneath an unbearable weight. His peach apricot hair, disheveled with dirt, poured back.

"I’m... so happy," he murmured, only to choke on his own blood, his body shuddering violently.

"Don’t speak," the girl beside him pleaded, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face.

Suhei’s smile wavered, but he pressed on. "Happy that… we’re finally leaving… this place."

Pain flickered across every face present. The weight of his words settled heavily in their chests.

"But it’s too… bad… that I—" A tear slipped from Suhei’s eye, mixing with blood as it trickled down his cheek.

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It’s so sad that… I won’t be joining you all." His voice faltered, another cough wracking his frail body, spilling more blood from his lips.

"I… I wanted to stay with you longer… to act as a big… brother… but I…" His breath came in shallow gasps, his head bobbing slightly as he struggled to hold on. "I’m sorry," he whispered.

"I have to… leave you to the others… and go on… first." A faint, fragile smile tugged at his bloodied lips, even as tears slipped freely from his eyes.

"I want you to… know that… no matt… mat… m—" His sentence was left unfinished. His hand slipped from Seiya’s grasp, falling limply to the ground. His eyes fluttered shut.

A heart-wrenching scream tore through the air, raw and piercing.

"Suhei!" The girl wailed, her cries filled with unbearable grief. She clutched his lifeless body, shaking as she wept bitterly.

Around her, the others turned away, their faces contorted with pain. Some covered their mouths, others clenched their fists, fighting to hold back their own tears. But no matter how hard they tried, the sorrow was too much to bear.

It was Suhei, after all. The cheerful one who had always smiled, who had lifted their spirits even in their darkest moments. The one who had always told them there was always hope, chanting that they would escape together some day.

But now, when they had finally broken free, about to leave—he was the only one who wouldn’t be leaving with them.

It wrecked them.