Gundham Tanaka arrives at the "large metal structure" mentioned before and steps onto a flat rock formation surrounding it. He thanks the dolphin he rode on for its services, for he would not be able to cross the sea without it. He walks around the iron walls and spots a few people standing guard, black suits, The Future Foundation.

He turned away so he could find a spot where he would not be seen but…

"Freeze Remnant!" A female Future Foundation member holds up a pistol in front of the unfazed Tanaka.

"Fool, do you really think that weapon could work on me?" Gundham says as the Four Dark Devas of Destruction emerged from his scarf.

"Wh-what the hell?!" The woman jumped, not expecting that.

He glared daggers into her, "I am simply looking for a way into this fortress, just as you are. Do not invoke my—"

"Hold on! Don't fight!"

A ponytailed young woman with tanned skin, a green tie on her Future Foundation Uniform, and shorts breaks them up.

"Ms. Asahina! I found this Remnant of Despair spying from above." The suited woman tells her.

"I know, Byakuya told me about it earlier, though I didn't expect to have him be the one they sent! N-no offense, um…" Hina holds her hand out, but Gundham doesn't take it.

"None taken. You are quite courageous for not trembling due to my presence. Very well, I shall reveal to you my name. May you never forget it as long as you live! You may call me… Gundham Tanaka! Remember it well, for it is the name that will one day rule this world!" He proclaimed, his scarf and hair flowing behind him intensely.

A bead of sweat rolls down her face, "Ah, okay! Gundham Tanaka… Gundham Tanaka…" She then made circular motions with her finger on the palm of her hand.

"Just what are you doing, some kind of curse or enchantment through the use of my name?" The Ultimate Breeder raised an eyebrow at her.

"Huh? You don't know? If you wanna remember someone's name, you gotta write it on your hand three times!" She tells him.

"Fascinating…" Gundham said as he pondered to himself.

"Ah! I almost forgot, I'm Aoi Asahina, but my friends just call me Hina. Want to see what we have so far?"

"Hm…" He utters as he nods slowly.

"Great!" She says as she grabs him and drags him over to where she's made base, annoying him through contact.

They made it to a large metal hatch in front of the structure, with two machine guns mounted on it. The other members of Future Foundation did not feel comfortable working with a Remnant of Despair, but they didn't want to cause any conflict that could threaten the operation.

"Do not touch me again, or you shall feel the wrath of the Supreme Overlord of Ice!" Gundham threatens her, but she doesn't notice.

"Look there! I'm getting some deja vu looking at that door there…" She says as she looks around.

"If a killing game is indeed taking place within its walls, we must find an opening immediately." The "Overlord" informs her.

"Yeah I agree! If we could find an opening, we could contact the people inside and help them escape! So… where could it be?" Hina tries to think of a way for them to enter but then one of the Devas hops out of Gundham's scarf.

"Maga-Z?" He asks the tan hamster as it sees a small air vent and starts to jump into it.

"Ah! He found one! Cute little guy…" Hina smiles brightly.

"When it comes to finding hidden entrances, Maga-Z has no equal. Let us make you our messenger for the Killing Game participants! Are you willing to spare a writing instrument?"

Chapter 3: A Manipulator's Malice Part 1 (Daily Life)

Remaining Citizens: 13

Back with Ai's perspective

The trial last night took a toll on me.

Marty, Shantae…. Their fate was too hard to bear. What made it even worse was the voice of the person responsible stuck in my head. The last thing he said to me before leaving…

"Don't expect me to save your lives again, I'm getting out of this city one way, or another."

Aoba Kuronuma, The Ultimate Manipulator… Just why did he do such a terrible thing to them? Setting up a plan so that Marty would die and Shantae would take the fall… it's so horrible. He said that he hated humanity, is that really a reason to kill? That's not the only thing that made me paranoid about him.

"I know what you are, you freak."

"You may not be human, but I hate you as much as I do the rest of humanity."

He knows that I'm a zombie or not human at least. Must have found out through encountering me with my arms off or with the water-proof spray. Is he going to reveal it immediately? No… with his type of planning, he must be keeping it as a last resort in case I get too dangerous for him.

I need to stop thinking like this, Shantae did wish for us to get out of here and not succumb to the killing game. We can't let her down. Time to get out of bed…

I've been here sleeping for so long, it's now 11:00 am, four hours gone to waste.

The Hope-tel is completely silent, like everyone else has left already. I went towards the elevator and pressed the down button. I waited for a bit, but then I spotted Aoba walking towards it and I clicked the button repeatedly.

"Why hello there Ai. Good morning." He greeted me condescendingly with that fake smile.

"Hi…" I responded.

We were forced to be in the same elevator together, and it infuriated me to no end. By the time I reached the lobby, I quickly walked out the door to avoid any more contact with him. Aoba must have just wanted to mess with me, knowing how I and the others feel about him and just choosing to do his own thing.

Anyways, everyone must have woken up by now and are already exploring the new area. I should have been more diligent as one of the leaders in the group. I should get there to explore as quickly as I can, since I need to make up those hours I wasted somehow.

I went through Jabberwock Coast on the way to the area, and after what just happened, it looks like we won't be having any more beach parties. Though I did spot someone on their way to the new area, Ishigami, he must have woken up late too.

"Hey!" I called out to him, and it took him a few seconds for him to notice me.

"Ah, hey Mizuno-san…" He looks a bit more gloomy than usual, can't blame him honestly.

"Ishigami, are you feeling alright?"

"Well, I'm not sure. Compared to the last trial, I feel like it was undeserved. Kaiba killed on purpose, while Shantae killed on complete accident. Guess manslaughter isn't a thing here…" He responds.

"It really isn't!" Monokuma pops up, making Ishigami jump, while I stood there, unamused.

"We were just about to explore, if you don't have anything useful, then beat it." I told him.

"Sheesh, who burnt your yakiniku, huh? You're lucky there's no rule for sassing me, or else everyone would be dead by now! Just take your fixed amount of Monocoins, since Aoba finished the trial for you, and another item from a dead friend!"

Obtained Monocoins!

Fifty coins…. And Shantae's gold ponytail stem stalk.

"Enjoy! Puhuhu~" He left before I could give him a piece of my mind.

"You get money for completing cases? Maybe I should actually say some stuff next time, maybe I can get better headphones…" I heard Ishigami mumble

"Next time? You really think it's gonna happen again?" I pressed him for an answer.

"Tensions are high right now. Sooner or later, I expect to see another body discovered." Ishigami walked on ahead, but I followed.

"Really living up to that Ultimate title, huh?" I replied, annoyed at his attitude.

I stopped by the memorial table and left Shantae's stem stalk on top of it. I then noticed Marty's guitar left on top of the stage, so I walked over and grabbed it. I played a few strings before I put it on the table too. Bowing my head in remembrance for the dead, and then walking towards the now open wall next to Ishigami.

I looked up to see many large buildings with advertisements posted everywhere. A fortune telling service, stage shows, a workout gym, and a few restaurants were displayed on the large screens and electronic billboards. Monocity's version of Times Square in New York it seems, though it seems even more in your face with the advertising stuff…

I unfortunately had to drag Ishigami around the area, since he doesn't want to bother with searching on his own. I saw Miles swinging above the rooftops, Espio and Killua leaping right behind him. Trunks was hovering over by a video game store. And Emma and Gold were spotted by the "Monokuma Theatre House", so we walked on over to them.

"Good morning…" I greeted them, but they both weren't in the best of moods.

I cleared my throat before I asked them some questions, "Have you managed to find anything here?".

"Nothing aside from this being both a movie theatre and a theatre to watch plays and musicals. I'd find it more cool if…. Ugh never mind." Gold answered me solemnly, Pibu rubbing his head against his leg in an attempt to cheer him up.

"Interesting, but impractical." Ishigami stated.

" Where is everyone else right now? Namely Ryuji, Alice, Sucy, and Bernadetta." I asked for my next question.

"The first two are by the gym, Ryuji thought working out might help ease his mind, while Alice just wanted to explore. Sucy's inside the theatre, but didn't want to work with us. And Bernie hadn't left her room, even for food. I know that's common for her, but no eating? I'm worried about her. Maybe go and check on her later on?" Emma suggested and I agreed.

"I will, she has to be one of the most vulnerable one here, so I have to keep an eye on her." As I wondered if Bernadetta was really alright.

" *sniff*, I'm never gonna make it out of here…. I should just lay down and die here instead of letting someone else do it…." Bernadetta cried, laying down atop her Hope-tel bed.

"The longer we stay, the more people we lose… I can't take it… *sniff*" She rubs the tears from her aching eyes.

She gets up to look in the mirror, wondering what's left for her if she stays alive during this killing game. She didn't want to go out and face the others, since she believed she wouldn't be of use to them.

"Bernie's just no good…" She tells herself.

Ten minutes pass and she's back on the bed, but instead of crying she's taking a nap. Too bad she couldn't stay asleep longer, she might have needed it. Squeaking is coming from somewhere, making Bernie jump back awake, and go towards the window.

After listening for a while, the sound is gone, "Darn it Bernie, you're going crazy here."

And then something small and furry dropped in from above.

"EEEEEYAAAAAHHH!"

Ladies and gents, it's time for chapter 3. Finally got to see Gundham meet Hina, quite the unexpected meeting. Hope Maga-Z will be a good boy to poor Bernie though. Aoba will never be a good boy though, he's a meanie. In other news, I'm currently celebrating my first anniversary of my first fanfiction Three Houses Saga, my Fire Emblem Three Houses & Zombie Land Saga crossover. Without writing that ongoing story, which is now at 26 chapters, I wouldn't have felt comfortable writing this one alongside it! Thanks for reading this chapter and go check out Three Houses Saga if you're interested. As always comments are always appreciated!