Immortal Anger

Samuel stood up, scanning the area quickly. The sky had turned a filthy red, announcing nightfall.

"We'll camp here. Start setting things up," he said simply.

The others nodded without a word. They got to their feet, brushing dust off their hands—mechanical movements, tired bodies. Canon stretched loudly, then turned to Dante with his usual grin, the kind a dog makes when it finds a bone to gnaw on.

"Hey, you. What are you still doing here? We don't need you anymore. You helped us, thanks, now you can head back home."

Dante raised an eyebrow, already ready to snap.

"You're not my boss, you brainless gorilla. It's not your job to tell me what to do."

Canon narrowed his eyes, his grin turning mean.

"What did you say ?! Say that again, you walking lamppost!"

"Not only are you an idiot, you're deaf too. Your skull's just decoration at this point."

The two of them pressed foreheads together like goats ready to ram. The tension rose—a crackling, stupid kind of electricity.

Samuel, rummaging through his bag to see what Kai had packed before leaving, spoke up without even looking.

"Shut up, both of you. Do something useful."

Canon stood upright, clearly offended, and pointed a finger at him.

"Boss! I cut off a damn finger to be in your crew, to earn your trust! Every day I prove my loyalty... and him?! He struts around with ten fingers! Ten, damn it!"

He pointed dramatically at Dante's fingers like it was a personal insult.

"They're mocking me. All of them."

Helydia, who was setting up a stone circle for the fire, stood up with a tired sigh.

"He's not wrong. We all cut a finger to show Samuel he could trust us… except you two."

She pointed at Dante and Relia. Relia, silent up to this point, didn't answer.

"What?! We have to do that?" Dante shouted, clearly stressed. "I already risked my damn life for you people. The government considers me a criminal now… all to save Samuel's sorry ass !"

He turned to Helydia. "You still have all your fingers, don't you ?!"

"I can't help it," she snapped. "If I cut one off, it grows back. I'm not human like you."

Dante turned to Relia, desperate.

"You agree with this bullshit ?"

But Relia had already drawn her sword. Without a word, she brought it down and sliced her ring finger clean off. The finger fell to the dirt—dirty, bloody. She calmly picked it up and held it out to Samuel.

Silence. Everyone stared. Even the wind paused.

Canon burst out laughing.

"A chick's got more balls than you ! HAHAHA!"

Dante clenched his fists. To them, losing a finger was some kind of dumb collector's badge.

He was boiling over. Then, suddenly, he turned sharply toward Kai.

"Give me your knife."

Kai blinked, surprised, but handed it over.

Dante crouched, pressing his hand against the ground, fingers spread. He lifted the knife. He was trembling. His lips moved, but no sound came out.

And then he yelled:

"FUCK THIS...!"

He brought the knife down. Flesh split. Bone cracked. The finger dropped.

Dante stood up, pale, breathing hard. He picked up the severed finger, blood pouring from his hand, blond hair stuck to his sweat-drenched forehead. He walked past Canon, who stayed silent this time.

When he reached Samuel, he raised the hand and offered the finger.

"Do you trust me now... Samuel ?"

The wind started blowing again. No one said a word.