The Strongest With Nothing Left

Inside Li's dream, he found himself standing in a familiar place — a grassy field surrounded by the peaceful sound of wind rustling through the trees. It was the same place he and Airi, his childhood friend and the girl he once loved, would often come to when they were younger.

But this place no longer existed in the real world. It was burned down during the monster raid that took Airi's life.

"Oi, Li... it seems you're doing fine now, huh?"

Li froze, his eyes widening as his body turned around in disbelief. Standing there, with that same gentle and warm smile, was Airi. Her beautiful features and cute charm were exactly as he remembered them.

"...Airi?" Li's voice cracked as his throat tightened.

Airi giggled softly. "What's with that look? You look like you've seen a ghost." Li's fists clenched, his eyes filled with pain. "...I have."

Airi's smile saddened slightly, but she still approached him. "Still dramatic as ever, huh?"

Li couldn't speak. His body trembled as memories of her death flooded his mind the burning village, the screams, and the moment he found her lifeless body in his arms.

"Why... why are you here...?" Li asked in a low voice, his heart heavy. Airi tilted her head playfully. "I should be asking you that. This is just a dream, you know?"

Li's breath hitched. "...Right." He turned his face away, his guilt surfacing.

Airi's eyes softened. "Well...I think it's time, Li. Time for you to finally stop blaming yourself for my death."

Li froze, his teeth clenched. "How can I not? I promised... I promised I would protect you... but I failed." His voice cracked with anguish. "If I was stronger... if I was faster... you'd still be here." 

Airi slowly walked towards him, placing a gentle hand on his cheek. "Li... it was never your fault."

"Don't say that..." Li muttered, his eyes watering. "I should've died that day... not you."

Airi shook her head. "And what would that have solved?" She smiled painfully. "If you died, I would still cry and blame myself for not protecting you. Just like you're doing now."

Li's legs grew weak, and he fell to his knees, his head hung low. "...I had nothing left after you were gone. I lost my reason to live, Airi... so I kept fighting... hoping something or someone would kill me." His voice cracked. "But no one ever did."

Airi crouched down, her hand caressing his cheek. "But now... you finally found something again, didn't you?"

Li's body tensed. "...What do you mean?"

Airi smiled softly. "Arin. Mia. Elise. Those people around you now... you finally have someone to protect again, don't you?"

Li's breath stopped.

"...I..."

Airi's eyes turned glossy, her voice cracking slightly. "It broke me, Li... watching you live like a hollow corpse for all these years. But now... I finally see it. You're not the 'Living Nightmare' anymore... you're just Li Vrak."

Li's tears finally fell. "...I don't know how to be anything else."

Airi smiled, gently flicking his forehead. "Idiot... you're already doing it. You've been smiling around them... laughing... and living."

Li stared at her, tears streaming down his face. "...I just wish you were here too."

Airi's smile trembled. "Me too... but I'm not." Her voice cracked painfully. "But Li... I want you to promise me something."

Li shakily looked at her.

"Stop hoping to die."

Li froze.

"Live, Li." Her voice trembled with warmth. "Protect those you care about not because you're seeking death... but because you want them to live." Her smile widened softly. "You're no longer the Living Nightmare. You're Li Vrak now. Just... Li Vrak."

Li's body trembled. "...Airi..."

Airi smiled as she began to fade into particles of light. "It's time to wake up, Li... and when you do... smile for them, okay?"

Li reached out desperately. "Wait! Don't leave me again—!!"

But it was too late. Airi's final words echoed in his mind.

"I'm always with you, Li... so live."

Li's eyes shot open, his body sitting up abruptly as his breath was heavy. His face was drenched with tears, and his heart felt like it had just been crushed and rebuilt.

"...Airi." He muttered painfully.

He touched his cheek, feeling the lingering warmth of her touch. His body trembled before he let out a weak, painful chuckle.

"...Damn it... you really know how to hit me where it hurts, huh?" He smiled bitterly through his tears.

But he knew. Deep inside him he was no longer the man who sought death.

He was no longer the Living Nightmare.

He was Li Vrak.

As Li slowly came to his senses, his breathing still heavy from the dream, he felt a lingering warmth in his chest a warmth he hadn't felt in years. His hand instinctively touched his cheek, realizing tears were still streaming down his face.

"...Tch." He clicked his tongue, quickly trying to wipe his face.

But before he could fully compose himself, he heard a familiar voice.

"Master...?"

Li's eyes widened slightly as he turned his head to the side, only to see Arin, Mia, and Elise standing there by his bedside. Their faces showed a mix of shock and concern.

Arin, still as straightforward as ever, quickly walked up to Li. "Master... why are you crying?" His voice was filled with genuine worry.

Li's eyes darted away, trying to avoid their gazes. "...It's nothing. Just a stupid dream." His voice cracked slightly despite trying to sound firm.

Mia, however, wasn't convinced. She gently approached, noticing how Li's face still looked broken despite him forcing his usual cold expression. "But... you never cry, Sir Li." She said softly. "So why now?"

Li gritted his teeth, still refusing to make eye contact. "...I said it's nothing." His voice sounded unusually weak.

But Arin suddenly grabbed his hand tightly. "Master... we're not stupid." His voice was low but firm. "Something happened in that dream, didn't it?"

Li froze. His hand trembled slightly in Arin's grip.

"...It was just a dream." He repeated in a whisper, trying to suppress the lingering ache in his chest.

But Arin didn't buy it. "Was it about your past...?"

Li finally turned to him, his cold purple eyes slightly filled with emotions. For a split second, it almost looked like he was about to break down again.

But instead of answering, Li did the only thing he knew how to do — deflect.

"...I'm fine." He said as coldly as he could. "You three should be celebrating instead of worrying about me."

Elise, however, suddenly spoke up softly. "...Was it about someone you lost?" Li's entire body tensed at that moment.

Silence.

Mia's eyes slightly widened. "It was, wasn't it...?" Li remained silent, his teeth clenching tightly.

"...I..." Li's voice cracked. "...I saw someone I lost a long time ago." He finally admitted.

Arin, Mia, and Elise were now completely silent — not wanting to push him but still curious about his pain.

"...She was my childhood friend." Li muttered weakly. "...And the girl I loved."

Their eyes widened in shock.

"...She died protecting me during a monster raid when I was younger." His voice was shaking, but he forced himself to speak. "And ever since then... I lived like a hollow corpse. Hoping something would kill me... because I thought it was my fault."

Elise gasped softly, covering her mouth in disbelief. "You... you've been carrying that pain alone all these years...?"

Li let out a bitter chuckle. "...Yeah. Pathetic, isn't it?"

Arin immediately grabbed his master's hand tightly. "No, it's not." His voice was sharp and firm. "It's not pathetic... and neither are you." Li's eyes widened, caught off guard.

Arin smiled faintly. "She'd probably kick your ass if she saw how you've been living after her death." Li froze, his mouth slightly opening but no words came out.

Mia added softly. "And she'd probably be proud of you now... because you finally found people you care about again."

Li's throat tightened. His vision blurred slightly again.

"...I promised her I'd protect her." His voice cracked. "But I couldn't. I watched her die in my arms."

Arin didn't let go of his hand. "Then make sure you never break that promise again... not to her, but to us now."

Li's body trembled.

"...Damn brats..." Li muttered weakly, finally letting out a soft, bitter chuckle as tears fell from his eyes again.

"...Fine... I get it." He wiped his face forcefully. "I won't let any of you die."

Arin grinned. "That's more like my Master."

Elise giggled softly. "And here I thought the Living Nightmare was incapable of crying."

Li rolled his eyes. "...Tch. Don't get used to it."

Mia, however, walked closer and smiled brightly. "You're not the Living Nightmare anymore, you know?"

Li paused. "...Huh?"

Mia's smile softened. "You're just Li Vrak now. Our Master. Our family."

Li froze. His heart skipped a beat as those words settled in.

"...Family, huh?" Li muttered softly. His cold demeanor slightly cracked again.

"...Yeah." Arin grinned. "And we're not letting you go through anything alone again."

Li's body trembled... before he smiled softly. "...Damn it... you guys are really a pain sometimes."

But deep down — he was finally grateful.

Elise leaned slightly forward, resting her hands on her hips as she watched Li Vrak wipe the remaining tears from his eyes. A small, amused smile crept on her face.

"...You know," she began, her voice soft but teasing, "you're really capable of smiling now, huh?"

Li immediately froze. His hand that was wiping his face stopped midway as his eyes shifted towards Elise.

"...Tch." He quickly turned his head away, trying to cover his face with his hand. "Shut up. It's not like I'm doing it on purpose."

Elise couldn't help but let out a lighthearted giggle. "Still... it's nice to see." She said warmly. "You smiling instead of scaring everyone to death, I mean."

Mia chuckled. "Yeah... I still remember how you used to scare the entire town just by walking around."

Li clicked his tongue. "I didn't ask to have a scary face, alright?" He muttered, visibly embarrassed.

Arin grinned mischievously. "But now you have a 'caring mentor' face instead."

"...Shut it, brat." Li grumbled, glaring at Arin.

Elise, however, smiled softly. "...But seriously, Li." Her voice turned gentle. "Seeing you like this... it's really different."

Li's eyes slightly widened as he turned to look at her.

"The old you... you always looked like you wanted to die." Elise said softly, her gaze dropping a little. "Like you were just... existing without a purpose. But now?" She smiled brightly. "You're smiling, you're laughing, you're scolding Arin, you're even showing signs of affection."

Li's throat tightened slightly.

"...It's thanks to these brats." He muttered, slightly averting his gaze.

"Maybe." Elise grinned. "But it's also because you finally found something to live for, right?"

Those words hit him like a hammer.

"...Something to live for..." He repeated softly, his voice barely audible.

Elise nodded. "Yeah... and I'm sure if that person you loved was here right now, she'd be smiling too — seeing you like this."

Li's eyes slightly widened. His heart ached at the mention of Airi, but unlike before — the pain wasn't suffocating anymore. Instead, it was replaced with warmth.

"...Yeah." Li finally muttered softly, a faint yet genuine smile appearing on his face. "She probably would."

Elise giggled softly. "See? You can smile just fine."

Li groaned in frustration, rubbing his face. "Ugh... I'm never gonna hear the end of this, am I?"

Arin burst out laughing. "Nope. Definitely not."

Mia grinned. "We'll make sure of it."

Elise winked. "You better get used to it, Living Nightmare."

Li shot a glare at her. "I swear if you call me that again, I'm throwing you out the window."

Everyone burst into laughter and for the first time in years, Li Vrak laughed along with them.