The Degree
Ray Morgan III's

The main villain, another strange degree. Among the ten thousand people might only be Ray and Arthur with such a Degree. Unique yet strange as well, how could there be a qualification for such a thing?

“Only I can kill you, huh?” said Arthur.

“So is you. Only I have a great chance of beating you.”

Protagonists and antagonists are two things that are destined to face each other. It was not impossible to kill them, but only natural enemies alone had a high probability of winning.

The fight between the two is fated since Ray knows the Degree Arthur has. Therefore, when the fight happened then one of them should have died.

“We both experienced heavy things but with different paths. You killed your father, I killed my uncle but why is there a difference so far?”

Both the antagonist and the protagonist usually have a sad background. But between them there is a difference that is so striking for people able to distinguish it.

But Arthur is convinced that Ray is not really lost until he deserves to be an antagonist. It's not that he said Ray was a good person, but he was just wondering what made him like this.

“You are wondering about why I deserve this title?”

His degree, his Degree as an antagonist was completely worthy of him. Ray never denied that it wasn't like him.

Killing people, deceiving, using people who consider them partners, betraying and dropping the good name of others. Wasn't that all worthy of being said to be the main antagonist?

“I was raised to know everything. Not all, but I know more things than you.”

Ray is required to learn whatever he can learn. That's how he was raised and raised. She had learned everything in the facility where her father had educated her and it bore Ray.

On one occasion Ray rebelled and went from there to satisfy his greed.

“I have great expectations on the so-called freedom. But you know what happened after that? I feel bored.”

There are rules that curb society to action, a lot of scoundrels that prevent talented people from being useful, a world controlled by money and a lot of other things happening.

Ray was bored because he saw such a world. There was nothing of interest to him, at first he hoped everything he learned could be applied but the reality was wrong.

“I hate human-made rules and laws. It was as if trying to limit the freedom I should have.”

Man is cursed to be free. How could a creature with such a curse survive under the shackles of the so-called rules?

Right at that very moment a mysterious invitation came to him. It was a love letter from Secret that changed everything.

“Maybe .. What sets us apart is just the mindset and how we look at things.”

Arthur closed his eyes, “You may be right. We fared the same but saw the world in a very different way.”

Differences in views often make a person very different.

“Pretty talk. Let's finish it now!”

Ray took a deep breath and raised the knife he took from the ground.

The fight has been decided with everything they have. His stamina had both been drained away thanks to Maa Dong Wok who was extremely difficult to kill.

“Yes. I'll end this once and for all, Ray Morgan!” Arthur lunged forward with all his might.

“Come, Retsuji Arthur!” Ray lunged towards Arthur with the same scream.

Amidst the black smoke that headed for the night sky the fight was both determined.

Arthur and Ray both have knives that have the task of taking the lives of the enemy before him. A decisive battle was awaiting its conclusion.

***

Terumi walked panting, leaning against the tree to support her body. He remembers how Ryouma said that Ray had confronted Arthur.

“I must .. help—”

He needs to help Ray fight Arthur. Somehow with the others, Terumi feels confident that only she can help Ray.

“After all this ... let's buy a small house and .. stay together.”

Terumi had a little dream after all this was over. He wanted to live on a small hill that had a view of the heaven level. With Ray in that little house he lives.

“It would be nice to have flowers and a small cat .. even better a child.”

Will it happen or not? Terumi doesn't know. But clearly just imagining it makes him happy.

“Alright for me, Ray.”

Terumi could see the shadow of someone from a distance. He was in a hurry but remained wary of approaching him and finding the figure.

Ray was standing, with Arthur leaning his chin on his shoulder and spewing blood. Terumi could see the knife that pierced through her stomach.

It was a fatal attack, a parting gift from Ray to Arthur.

“You bastard ... Ray...” Arthur weakened, spewing out the last of his blood before falling weak and helpless. His breathing grew weaker with his almost faded gaze.

“Don't worry, Arthur. Mona will see you soon,”, Ray said with a gentle smile.

He doesn't know the fact that Mona has died at Terumi's hands. But the details are not important at this time.

“Thank you about this beautiful lock and wound.”

Ray pointed at the wound on his chest that had many knife incisions due to Arthur's attack.

In the most important second and in his last breath Arthur smiled, “... meet again ... in hell.”.

The main character breathed his last breath.

Ray breathed a sigh of relief and almost lost the strength to stand up. But at the time he almost collapsed Terumi approached him and supported his body.

“You are safe ... Terumi.”

“So is you, Ray! I'm grateful you're okay!” Terumi started crying until sobbing.

“Yes. You were always by my side .. since a long time ago.”

Terumi was his first partner when he came to this organization. He has a very useful degree.

“But forgive me Terumi ..”

“Sorry? For what?” ask Terumi.

His degree was very useful, ever on one occasion Ray wanted it. But it is unfortunate that only his Degree is useful.

Only his Degree, not with his owner.

“Because I don't need you anymore.”

Cruc!

Terumi looked at her stomach, she could see there was a knife stabbing her. The same knife that hollowed Arthur's stomach.

Is this an illusion or a dream? Terumi could not believe it. He intends to stay away but Ray approaches him as if he does not want to part.

“What ... the—”

“Blame yourself for being useless, Terumi,” Ray pulled his knife and immediately hugged Terumi. “Thanks to you I can understand the opposite sex. But unfortunately I don't have any special feelings.”

Ray pointed his knife towards Terumi's nape and without ever seeing what kind of facial features he made, Ray slashed his neck.

“Goodbye.”

Goodbye is said well. Leave Ray alone with all the keys he has.

“Let's finish its last test.”

Ray contacts Secret through his watch and soon his body disappears, a teleportation done by Secret.

***

A place completely different from what Ray had ever seen. It was very modern with interior and design like a basement in the early half of the exam.

But the strange thing is that Ray can see the surface of the earth just below his feet. Is he floating? Sure didn't.

“Congratulations for having been the one who collected the keys and completed this exam.”

A figure wearing a suit and a mask appeared, a form that seemed to have not been found for a long time, Secret.

“So, what is all this?” ask Ray.

“Surely you have many questions, right? We have a lot of time so start slowly.”

Secret claps his hand and the robot begins to appear to treat Ray's injuries.

Secret has given the green light, which means Ray will get the answers he wants.

“Then the first question ... Whoareyou? What is your purpose in doing all this and what is a true Degree?”