After securing his hard-fought victories in the Sendai Colony, Yuta Okkotsu takes a moment to look inward. Rather than celebrating triumph, he reflects on what true strength really means and the moral weight that comes with overwhelming power. Yuta’s decision to spare his enemies highlights his belief that victory does not always require cruelty. To him, mercy is not weakness but responsibility. Even Ryu Ishigori, lying defeated, recognizes this resolve. Though their views on combat and fulfillment sharply differ, Ryu comes away with a deep respect for Yuta’s character and conviction.
As the story moves forward, attention shifts to a new and unexpected figure — Charles Bernard. Through a revealing flashback, readers are introduced to Charles’ life before the chaos of the Culling Game. Once an aspiring manga artist, Charles struggled to find his place in an industry that repeatedly rejected his uncompromising vision. His passion for storytelling clashed with editors who favored safer, more commercial ideas, leaving him frustrated and misunderstood.
These creative conflicts eventually reached a breaking point. During a tense confrontation at a publishing company, Charles’ bottled-up resentment explodes. His refusal to water down his art and his disdain for shallow storytelling place him firmly at odds with critics and decision-makers alike. The incident exposes not only his volatile temperament, but also the deep disappointment he feels toward a world that failed to recognize his creativity.
In the present day, Charles finds himself lost in a cursed reality that feels just as hollow as the artistic world he left behind. Searching for inspiration and meaning, he enters the Culling Game, believing that raw conflict might ignite something within him that art no longer can. His path soon crosses with Kinji Hakari, a fighter whose carefree arrogance stands in stark contrast to Charles’ intense, brooding nature.
Hakari initially dismisses Charles’ dramatic monologues with open irritation. He mocks him relentlessly, hurling sharp words meant to provoke rather than understand. Yet these insults serve their purpose. Emotionally pushed to his limit, Charles finally snaps, allowing his pent-up frustration to fuel his resolve.
With tensions boiling over, the stage is set for a fierce confrontation. Hakari and Charles stand on opposite ends of ideology — one embracing chaos for thrill, the other seeking meaning through struggle. Their clash promises not just a physical battle, but a collision of beliefs about purpose, creativity, and what it truly means to fight.
