BLOOD PAWN

"But why me?" Winter asked, his voice low but resolute, demanding an explanation.

Kali's lips curled into a knowing smile, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something far darker.

"You see, kings have honor…"

With deliberate, graceful steps, she moved past Winter, her presence like a shadow slipping through the crimson mist

"Soldiers have bravery…"

Winter turned his head to follow her movements, his confusion growing as she approached a figure kneeling on the blood-soaked ground behind him.

"Poets have heart..."

The figure was restrained, heavy chains wrapping around its limbs, binding it tightly, forcing it to bow low.

"But all you have... is rage."

Kali stopped beside the figure, her hand reaching out, gently resting on its shoulder.

"And I need that rage," she continued, her voice soft, almost tender, yet carrying an edge that sent chills down Winter's spine.

The restrained figure slowly stirred at her touch, lifting its head. As its face came into view, Winter's breath caught. The face staring back at him was his own—but twisted, darker, more sinister. This was a reflection of himself, yet it was raw, unfiltered, and brimming with unrestrained fury. The eyes of his darker self were ablaze, a smoldering fire that had been trapped for far too long.

The dark Winter raised his head fully, making direct eye contact with the original. His lips curled into a mocking, bitter smile.

"What are you waiting for?" he growled, his voice deep and menacing, yet familiar, echoing in a way that made Winter feel as if the words had come from within him.

Winter's mind swirled with confusion and unease, caught between the chilling realization that this was a part of him and the unsettling clarity of Kali's words. The dark version of himself, chained and kneeling, was not just a reflection, it was a manifestation of the rage he had buried deep within. And now, it was awake, beckoning him, daring him to let it loose.

"Don't listen to him," a sudden voice called out from behind Winter, cutting through the tension.

Winter turned, his eyes widening slightly as he saw another version of himself—one bathed in a soft, ethereal light. Unlike the dark version, this one exuded calmness, warmth, and a sense of peace. The light version stepped forward, his expression earnest, eyes filled with a gentle plea.

"He killed Monika, and he almost killed Yuui," the light Winter said, his voice steady but laced with sorrow.

"I don't think we can stop him next time. He'll only bring more destruction."

The dark Winter scoffed, his lips curling into a cruel, mocking smile.

"Weak... you are still weak," he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

"You can't even protect him by yourself, Light. Just like last time, you're trying to convince him to surrender, to accept death… how pathetic."

Light Winter flinched at the accusation, but he didn't look away.

"If he had listened to me, if he had accepted death peacefully, we wouldn't have hurt Yuui and so many others," he said softly.

"He could have died without regret, without leaving a trail of pain."

Dark Winter's eyes narrowed, and he locks his gaze with Winter's.

"While you were hopeless, powerless, and at the brink of death… who was the one that protected you? Who kept you alive?" His voice was harsh, almost accusing.

"I did. I am forever strong. And now, with this goddess's protection, we can finally finish what we started. We can get our revenge." His words burned with a fierce intensity, like a fire refusing to be extinguished.

Light Winter shook his head, his eyes glistening with unspoken sadness.

"No... you've had your chance. You've brought nothing but chaos and suffering. It's time to stop. Let us rest, let us live in peace. We don't need to continue this cycle of rage."

Winter stood between them, his heart pounding, torn between the two sides of himself. The dark side's words were tempting, filled with promises of strength, of revenge, of never feeling weak again. But the light side's voice was soothing, a call to peace, to finally put down his burdens and find some semblance of solace.

The dark Winter's voice cut through the silence.

"You want to rest? Rest is for the weak. We are not done yet. We can't be done yet," he hissed, his eyes flashing.

"Think about all the pain, all the suffering she caused. Do you want to let her get away with it? We have the power now. We have the chance."

Winter's hands clenched into fists, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. He had been at war with himself for so long, and now, standing in this strange, surreal space, he was being forced to confront both sides—the rage that had driven him and the light that had tried to temper it.

"Enough!" Winter's voice rang out, his tone commanding, echoing in the blood-drenched space.

He looked at the dark version of himself, his expression hardening.

"You had your fun. You've fed on my rage, my hate, my pain. But it's over. I'm done being your puppet."

Dark Winter's smile faded, replaced by a look of shock, then anger. "You're weak," he spat. "You can't live without me."

"Maybe," Winter said, his voice softer now, as he turned to the light version of himself.

"But I'm tired. I don't want to keep fighting, keep hating. I just... want peace."

The light Winter stepped forward, a small, hopeful smile on his lips. "Then let's leave this behind. Let's start over. We can be free from this, all of it."

The dark Winter's eyes blazed, but for the first time, there was a flicker of uncertainty in them. He could see that the grip he had on Winter was slipping, and it enraged him.

"You're making a mistake," he growled. "We could have been invincible. Now you'll be nothing."

Winter looked back at him, and for the first time, there was no fear in his eyes. Only resolve.

"Maybe being 'nothing' is better than being a monster," he said quietly. Then he turned away, leaving the dark version of himself behind, and took a step toward the light.

"Don't you want to see Yuui again?" Kali's voice rang out, sharp and teasing, with a cunning smile spreading across her lips.

Winter halted in his tracks, his eyes widening as he turned to face her.

"I'm dead. It's not possible," he said, his voice strained, yet resolute. He started walking away, his mind set on leaving this twisted realm and its dark offers behind.

Kali's smile only widened, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

"Do you remember the dagger she stabbed you with?" she called out, her tone sing-song, almost mocking. Winter continued walking, not giving her the satisfaction of a response.

"It's an artifact of Adonis, the god of reincarnation. A blade that grants a second chance to those killed by it."

The words hung in the air, sinking into Winter's mind. He froze mid-step, the realization hitting him like a tidal wave. He had been ready to accept his fate, to move on, but now... the possibility of seeing Yuui again, of being reborn into the same world...

Behind him, the air shifted, and suddenly the sound of metal clanking echoed through the domain. The chains binding Dark Winter shattered, pieces falling away like fragments of a broken spell. Dark Winter stood, stretching his limbs, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he reveled in his newfound freedom.

The entire realm quivered as every version of Winter turned their gaze toward Kali—dark, light, and the countless shades in between. Rage, suspicion, and newfound clarity burned in their eyes, all directed at the goddess.

It was then that Winter understood. She was not the goddess who controlled his fate, not the arbiter of reincarnation. She was a manipulator, a deceiver who had hijacked his soul and trapped him in this domain for her own schemes. She needed him, not because she had power over him, but because she wanted to make him her pawn.

The realization brought a newfound strength, and Winter's expression hardened as he glared at her, unafraid.

"Who are you to stop me now?" he asked, his voice cold, slicing through the heavy air. The words were a challenge, a declaration of defiance.

The domain began to crack, fissures spreading across the sky and ground, splitting open to reveal a vast, black void beyond. The once-solid blood-red atmosphere fractured like glass, jagged pieces floating away into the darkness. The chaos was overwhelming, as if the very fabric of Kali's domain was coming undone.

Kali's eyes widened, her confident mask faltering for a moment.

"You've got it all wrong… I'm not here to stop you. I'm here to help you," she said, her voice quivering, the commanding tone giving way to something almost vulnerable. She took a step back, trying to maintain control as everything crumbled around her.

But Winter could feel it—his soul was slipping away, drifting out of the domain's grasp, the pull of the void growing stronger. He was no longer trapped, no longer bound by her schemes. He was leaving, escaping the twisted grip of this false goddess.

As the darkness swirled around him, enveloping him, Kali's voice cut through one last time, desperate, almost pleading. "Wait! ---"

But her words were drowned out by the roar of the collapsing domain, the chaos swallowing everything. Winter's soul, flickering like a dying ember, slipped through the cracks, vanishing into the endless black.

And as he faded from her realm, he left behind a final, fleeting image of Kali, her face twisted in frustration and fear, her lips still moving, trying to claw back the control she had so swiftly lost.