Even though my body was hurting a lot, I somehow managed to stand up.
Still, I was too hurt and almost fell over. Luckily, someone came to grab me just before I fell.
"I'm here, Yuuto."
"Lizel, thanks. I want to talk with Lost."
Lizel nodded and helped me walk towards him. While on the way, the Devil King stepped back, as if to give some space.
I also noticed more people coming over. Some of them I recognized, like Miyabi, Reina, Stella, Neith, as well as Rinne, Ruki and the others. Some I didn't recognize, but I imagine they are also Candidates or Cards, since they were here.
In any case, I'm about to faint here, so I don't have time to think about that. This might be my final chance to talk with Lost.
"You look like shit."
"You don't look much better yourself."
Seems like a rough greeting, but we're friends, so this isn't really anything much.
"Oh yeah, before I forget, here. Better late than never."
Lost pulled something from inside him. It was a manga. It was all battered and probably couldn't be read anymore, but I remembered it.
It was the manga I had let Lost borrow before the day of the accident. In a way, you could say that all of our lives would have been much different if not for this.
There's also something else I noticed, the part that Lost took the manga from isn't closing up. I guess Sein with the Devil King's power must have really done a number on him.
"Lost, I…"
What do I say to a friend who is about to die? Do I apologize for not being able to save him? Do I thank him for the time we had together?
I don't know. I feel like I have so much to say, but at the same time no words are coming out.
"Say, Yuuto, are you going to keep going with the Devil King War?"
"… Yeah. I'll do my best to win this."
"I see. Then it's fine, I'll leave Poran and the others from my village to you. I did a lot of bad things, but at least I'll die with no regrets."
Right after he said this, Lost started crumbling into dust. It started from the edges of his body, like the fingers from his hands and feet, but it was slowly spreading everywhere.
"Ouch, this hurts more than I expected. Maybe it's my just desserts. Oh yeah, there's also the matter with Rinne and Hisoka… meh, I'm sure Yuuto would rather hear it from a pretty girl's mouth, so just ask them. It seems my time is up, so I'll be going ahead now."
"See you again soon, Lost."
"Hey, don't say that. I'm not hoping you'll die anytime soon. And damn it you ruined my last words."
Despite saying that, before completely crumbling into dust, Lost had a smile on his face.
I didn't avert my eyes for even a moment. I wanted to see everything. I also wanted to collect his dust, but I'm barely keeping my consciousness.
In the end, I decided to give in. I needed to recover as soon as possible anyway, and I could probably count on Rinne or someone to collect Lost's remains for me.
With that last thought, I fell unconscious.
Once Yuuto completely let go of his consciousness, Lizel called for Miyabi, Reina, Neith and Stella's help. He was hurt, but nothing some healing magic and some mana from Healing Lovers wouldn't fix.
In theory, Rinne and Hisoka were the last 2 members of Death's Group left alive, and by the rules set at the beginning of the Labyrinth Battle Royale, at least 1 of the groups would have to be completely exterminated for the game to end.
Still, Barbatos was the Devil King and he decided this was the end. And so, albeit in an unexpected way, ended the Labyrinth Battle Royale. Barbatos returned everyone to the normal world and everyone went their separate ways.
Yuuto's Cards took him to the Palace.
Aspite and Marchosias left, as if they had something better to do.
Fleminar seemed to want to talk with Barbatos about something, but decided to leave it.
Amon took Hirono and his Cards. There was something he felt he needed to do after what he'd seen.
Barbatos took Rinne and Hisoka with him to decide what to do with them.
Hime checked if Noda and his Cards were fine, and then she left once they were sent on their way to the infirmary.
Ruki was left alone. She wanted to go see Yuuto, but, knowing what would be happening at the Palace, she decided to not go.
Of course, there were also the students, teachers and other staff at Ginsei Academy, who had been watching the Labyrinth Battle Royale from a safe place. They were slowly returning to the place they were before the game started, though it was questionable if classes could even still be held that day.
No one was aware of it yet, but the first part of the Devil King War was concluded. The Devil King War, which starts with 22 Candidates, now only had 11 eligible Candidates remaining.
