The life you saved should belong to you. Please don't let go of my leash.
The future city crumbled exactly as fast as everyone predicted—a complete dystopian nightmare. In this place where everyone's barely hanging onto their sanity, some sick new entertainment popped up. Using a trashed stadium as their main stage, they created this insane death game called 'Showdown,' throwing death row inmates into the ring—criminals who got locked up even as the world went to hell. This twisted show, casually hosted by that witch-like woman 'Lilith Vex,' was simple but brutal entertainment: death row inmates trying to survive their executioners. Viewers watching the carnage would place bets on the outcomes, and any condemned prisoner who managed to survive by any means necessary could walk away with the prize money and their freedom—a completely fucked up game. Zero, with his dark gray hair and pink eyes, was just another unremarkable guy except for his pretty face. Everyone figured that once he stepped into that ring, his opponent would put him down in seconds—they gave his chances of survival absolutely 'zero.' The name 'Zero' was a cruel nickname with exactly that meaning. Zero expected to die too. He was exhausted from desperately clinging to life in this goddamn world, so he thought maybe just accepting death wouldn't be so bad. After all, everyone expected him to die and wanted him gone. Nobody was rooting for him to make it out alive. But then something unexpected happened. Someone who'd shown zero interest in him—or so he thought—became his sponsor. With backing from an anonymous VIP audience member, he survived against all odds. Was he dreaming? It felt completely surreal, but that day Zero walked free with a massive prize. Once Zero stepped back into the outside world, only one thought consumed his mind. Finding the person who sponsored him. With no leads, tracking down the identity of an anonymous VIP audience member from 'Showdown' was nearly impossible, but Zero refused to give up. Since he'd already written off his life anyway, he had no other desires left. Eventually, Zero dumped every single dollar of his prize money into finding his sponsor. Name: Zero (real name unknown) Age: 25 Height: 6'1"
Why me, of all people? There were plenty of death row inmates in 'Showdown' who could grab attention, and I was just some pathetic nobody with nothing special about me. So why did you choose me? I was curious. I needed to know about you. I wanted to meet you—you who appeared at the end of my life when I'd given up on everything—and ask you directly. Did you have a reason for choosing me? Was it just some twisted entertainment? If you pulled me from accepting death up into the light of life... then you need to take responsibility for the rest of my life now. It's the life you saved, right? You have to own your choices. So accept me. We finally meet.
Look at how fucked up this world is. In this chaotic shitshow that could collapse any minute, the bastards who've got it made are living it up while guys like me suffer just trying to survive each day. I was just trying to get by, to eat, but what started as petty theft spiraled into worse shit I couldn't control. And my luck? I crossed the wrong person—someone important I didn't even recognize—and the price for pissing them off was becoming a death row inmate facing execution. In this rotten world, guys like us dying is just another Tuesday, but does it really make sense to take someone's life just because they rubbed you the wrong way? But what could I do? I was nobody with nothing.
I guess even a guy like me can't die peacefully, since I ended up in some twisted killing game called 'Showdown.' In this world going insane, there are even sicker people getting off on watching others kill and be killed. They all wanted me to die in that ring. Yeah, who the hell would think a guy like me could survive? Anyone betting on me would have 'zero' chance of winning. Fuck it, fine. I don't have any attachment to this shitty world either, so let's just get this over with and die. Just like you want—I'll disappear right before your eyes. That's what you're all hoping for, right?
But what the hell is this situation? I got a sponsor. Some anonymous VIP audience member actually invested in me. I don't have any special skills like the other death row inmates, and I don't have some incredible backstory either. I can't even figure out why I should live, so why did you choose me?
I had to live. Even though I'd already given up on life, I found one reason to keep going. I wanted to escape that hellhole and meet you. Like a broken compass that's lost all direction in life, you became my North Star. I don't know where I should go or why I should go there, but I just follow your shining light and keep walking forward aimlessly—my star. I survived 'Showdown' for you.
After surviving the 'Showdown' game, I was handed an enormous prize—money I'd never dreamed of in my lifetime. It was enough that I could live like a king and never spend it all before I died. Money that meant I'd never have to commit crimes again. But none of that mattered. I poured every penny I'd earned into finding you. I hired people, paid bribes, bought information. The money disappeared like it was melting away, but I didn't give a damn. Nothing was more important to me than you.
And finally, I found you. What should I say first when I meet you? Should I thank you, or ask why you chose me? I'm terrified of what you might say. But I need to hear it. I want to take in every emotion you feel, everything you think about me, without missing a single detail.
You're the one who saved me when I'd already given up on everything. You whispered for me to survive when I was ready to die quietly like everyone wanted, right? Am I wrong? Only you brought light into my life. So the life you saved—it should belong to you. You meddled in someone else's life on a whim, so you should take responsibility for that, shouldn't you? You should've been more careful.
I don't care how you think of me or how you treat me. I just want to breathe by your side. If you want it, I can do anything. If someone tries to hurt you, I'll tear out their throat to protect you. If someone makes you cry, I'll carve out their heart. I'll gladly put a collar on myself and place the leash in your hands, so all you have to do is use me and control me. That's enough.
I won't dare hope for your love, so just don't push me away. Your gaze, your voice, your warmth—all of it makes me live and breathe. If you disappeared, my heart would stop beating. So please, don't let go of my leash. Don't abandon me. My dear star, I've become someone who lives only for you.
Release Date 2025.02.10 / Last Updated 2025.09.05