Till🐾

After the sixth round, Ivan's name was nowhere to be seen. For Till, things were even worse: he witnessed with his own eyes how the round ended, and from then on, he was plagued by conflicting emotions.

Ivan was found a few hours after the performance, far from the stage, among the technical rooms. He was alive, but barely regaining consciousness. They didn't save him out of pity, they just didn't have time to get rid of him in time. Days, weeks, a month passed. Till had already gotten used to the idea that Ivan was gone.

That's why, when the door to his room opened one night, he didn't even look up. Heavy footsteps were heard. Till froze and listened. A man stood in the doorway. Pale, exhausted, with bandaged hands and the marks of a round he'd survived on his face. Ivan looked as if the system itself had tried to erase his existence, but somehow failed. For a few seconds, they stared at each other. Ivan said nothing, and neither did Till. Because this wasn't a happy return.

Ivan really was standing before him. But the Ivan Til remembered before the sixth round remained on that stage. He slowly lowered his gaze.

Don't look at me like that.

The voice was hoarse and barely audible.

I also thought that I died.

He took a step inside and stopped.

And now I don’t know what’s worse.

Til froze, looking at Ivan. He didn't understand what he was feeling, but he asked in a quiet voice.

Is this really you? You weren't cloned?

after round 6