’One of my legs has been ripped apart. I can’t move it very well, so I’m slower than normal. But my hands have healed...’
’My left eye is blurry, distorting the image around me. Keeping it open might be dangerous, but my right eye is still good.’
’I can’t run around much, so I need them to come closer.’
’But still, they’re all made of bones. How do I handle them? They have no heart or anything… I guess I’ll just have to figure that out soon.’
Ryuk mused to himself as he watched the skeletons turn their glowing green eyes toward him. Then, all at once, they rushed forward.
"FUUUUUUUUU—"
A deep inhale echoed from Ryuk’s lungs as he closed both eyes. Slowly, he pressed his leg firmly against the ground, keeping his arms close to his sides, his posture sharp like a blade.
Feeling the rumbling of bones beneath his feet—
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
A loud breath escaped his lips as he felt the pain in his limbs subside, diverting his focus toward the sounds around him.
’Here it comes…’
Ryuk thought as he suddenly stepped to the side, his body following the motion, and then—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The ground of bones beneath his feet trembled violently. Ryuk’s right eye snapped open, locking onto a club that had just smashed into the spot he had occupied moments ago.
The skeleton’s green eyes turned toward him, but all it saw was Ryuk’s outstretched arm, slicing through the air like a blade.
CRRRRRRAAAAACCCK!
The sound of bones shattering echoed as Ryuk’s fingertips tore through the forehead of the skeleton warrior, spreading cracks across its skull before—
BOOOOOOM!
An explosion burst outward as Ryuk jerked his hand back, sending the skeleton’s entire body hurtling backward. Its skull split into nothingness.
’One down…’
Ryuk thought as he swiftly raised his arms to shield his face, ducking just in time—
WHIIIIIIIIIP!
The air was violently torn apart as a massive club passed over his head.
BOOOOOOOOM!
Instantly following, Ryuk took three quick steps backward as another club crashed into the ground, an inch from his foot. But he reacted immediately. His leg shot out, smashing into the skeleton warrior’s chest and sending it flying backward.
VROOOOOOOOMMM!
VROOOOOOOOMMM!
Two more heavy slams resounded as Ryuk dodged a strike to his head and another aimed at his chest.
Crouching low, he sprinted forward, escaping the circle of surrounding skeletons, instantly appearing before the one he had just knocked back.
The skeleton regained its balance and immediately swung its massive club downward.
Ryuk dodged, a thin line of blood appearing on his cheek from the sharp wind pressure of the attack. But he saw his opportunity—his arm jerked backward before tearing forward at lightning speed.
CRAAAAAAAAAACCCK!
The skull cracked as the force sent the skeleton flying, its head smashing onto the bony ground and shattering into pieces. A ghostly green aura seeped from its body as it fell still.
’Two down!’
But then—
WHIIIIIIISTTTLE!
The air whistled behind him. Reacting instantly, Ryuk stomped the ground, sending the fallen skeleton’s club flying into the air. He snatched it mid-flight and swung it behind him without even looking—
CRAAAAAAAAAACCCK!
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The clash of bones rang out as the two clubs smashed against each other. The impact shattered both weapons, but the force tore open Ryuk’s palm, sending blood spraying.
"GRRRRH!"
"DIIIIIE!"
Ryuk roared, clenching his teeth through the mind-numbing pain. He twisted his body and leaped into the air, using the momentum to attack.
CREEEEEAAAAK!
The sickening sound of bones cracking resonated as Ryuk’s knee smashed into the lower jaw of a skeleton warrior, sending its skull splintering apart. But—
CRAAAAAAAAAACCCK!
As he landed, a sharp pain shot through his leg—his own knee had shattered on impact.
Blood nearly spilled from his lips, but he swallowed it back down, forcing himself to stay focused. His eye locked onto the remaining skeleton warriors.
"Just five more…"
’My knee is useless, and so is my right leg. I only have one leg left that’s still functional…’
’My right arm is torn. I can’t hold anything with it, but I still have my left hand…’
The skeletons advanced, their green eyes locked onto him. Ryuk didn’t move.
One of them attacked first, its massive club swinging toward him. Ryuk’s elbow shot upward, colliding with the skeleton’s arm—
CRAAAACK!
Two distinct cracks echoed. One belonged to the skeleton’s elbow, which was forced out of its joint. The other… was Ryuk’s own shoulder, crushed from the force.
BAAAAAAAAAAM!
The skeleton’s club slammed into the ground, and immediately, Ryuk snatched it with his remaining hand. Without hesitation—
SMMMMMAAAASSSSHHH!
He swung the club with all his strength, smashing it into the skeleton’s skull and blowing it to shards.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
RIIIIIIIIIPPP!
A sharp pain shot through Ryuk’s body as his loose-hanging right arm was ripped from his shoulder by a crushing blow.
The pain was overwhelming. But through it, Ryuk saw an opening. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up onto his knee and swung his club with all his remaining strength.
The attack connected. The skeleton’s head was sent flying into the distance.
"Three more… Three more, and I win!" Ryuk growled, dragging himself up. His burning gaze locked onto the three remaining skeletons, who all raised their clubs high.
"Dodge!? Dodge!?"
The thought pounded in his head. But then, he bit down on his lip, ignoring the clubs descending upon him.
With the last of his strength, Ryuk swung his club horizontally in a desperate, final strike—
BAAAAAANNNNG!
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM!
Three explosive impacts rang through the battlefield.
Then—
THUUUUUMMMP!
THUUUUUMMMP!
THUUUUUMMMP!
Three bodies collapsed onto the ground.
Two of them were skeletal warriors, their heads missing, their eerie green glow fading into nothingness.
The third body, however, lay sprawled out on the ground, unmoving—more lifeless than the corpses around him.
And the one still standing…
Wasn’t Ryuk.
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A/N:
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In and Out_SnowySmoos