teravoll

Hakan:

"Wake up, Edie, do you want to graduate or not?"

Edie:

"Later... you go outside first."

As soon as he finished speaking, Edie felt something was wrong.

He immediately sprang up.

Edie:

"You... you're still alive?"

Hakan:

"I wasn't dead, so why ask like that? What a shocking dream you had!"

Edie:

"Nothing... just dreamt I was stronger than you, punched you, and you passed out."

Hakan:

"Stop hallucinating. Wake up now, I'm going out first."

Edie sat back on the bed, his eyes scanning the room. He reached out and touched each item.

Edie:

"It's too real..."

Stepping out into the yard, he saw Hakan sitting and waiting in the middle of the courtyard.

Edie sat down opposite him, eating and watching him.

Edie:

"What do you think if I were left alone now?"

Hakan:

"You'd immediately lose your way. You have no ideals, no goals, and have never been steadfast in anything. So you'd easily sink into the vortex of existence... without knowing what to live for."

...

After the meal, Edie went to school. Jinna had been waiting for a while.

Jinna:

"You look strange today... or is that a look of being tired of me? Do you like someone else now?"

Edie:

"No... I just dreamt you betrayed me."

Jinna:

"I would never betray you. Only you... just don't let go of my hand."

Edie:

"Never betray, huh..."

—

A dazzling light burst forth.

Dathweet woke up with a start.

He was still in the basement. The others were still sleeping.

Leaning against the cold stone wall, he whispered in the dark.

Dathweet:

"If only... that dream were real."

One to two hours later, Jimmer woke up. He rubbed his eyes, then glanced at Dathweet — who was still sitting in a daze, leaning against the wall, eyes staring blankly.

Jimmer:

"Are you okay?"

Dathweet:

"I'm fine. I'm just... remembering the past."

Jimmer:

"It must be painful, right? I also have a not-so-good past."

Dathweet:

"It... has to do with your constant limp?"

Jimmer:

That's right.

When I was little, my mother often hit my legs... but she didn't stop there.

There are things... that I still don't dare to name even now.

Dathweet:

"Sorry... I guess I asked something I shouldn't have."

Jimmer (faint smile):

"It's okay.

Actually, I... also want to share. Remembering helps me not forget who I am."

Just then—a faint sound like footsteps echoed from the ceiling. Dathweet immediately sprang up, clenching his hand to signal.

Dathweet (whispering):

"Don't say anything.

Someone's upstairs."

The whole group held their breath, gripping their weapons tightly. The air was heavy as if someone was strangling it. But then... silence. The footsteps disappeared.

Just when they thought they were safe—then boom!

The basement ceiling suddenly collapsed. Broken bricks rained down. A bunch of laughing, insane virus-infected people then jumped down with glowing red eyes.

They charged in.

Dathweet reacted first. He sprang up, swung his sword to cut down one, and simultaneously threw a punch at another's chest—both enveloped in Nifow energy, creating whistling air waves.

Clang! Kal raised his hand to block a slash and countered with a mana jolt, knocking one into the wall.

Jimmer glided to the side, his staff swinging to create a suction force, gathering three of them—for Buny to sweep across a healing light transformed into a shockwave.

Sun retreated to the back, her eyes shining brightly.

"They're getting more and more numerous!"

A large figure charged in, knocking both Kal and Rupler away.

Dathweet roared.

A surge of Nifow energy erupted from his palm, and he punched the figure directly in the face—snapping its head back as if broken.

But they... grew more numerous with each attack.

One creature, appearing human but with snake skin and sharp teeth, wielded a bloodied axe, slashing down just an inch from Dathweet.

Sun:

"This isn't good!"

She placed her hands on the ground—a magic circle immediately lit up. The light enveloped the group.

Sun:

"Here!

This place isn't far from the basement! Run immediately when you arrive!"

Whoosh!

The group vanished from the basement—only the crude laughter of the infected echoed behind them.

Sun:

"This isn't far enough... I only teleported a short distance, we need to get out of here before they follow!"

The group was running, the roars of the virus-infected echoing close by. They were in close pursuit and seemed to be growing in number.

Jimmer gritted his teeth:

"Running like this isn't good!

We need to split up!"

Dathweet frowned:

"You said the opposite when we were in the basement?"

Jimmer:

"Different time, different situation!"

There was no more time to argue. In a moment of panic, the group instinctively split into two lines, three people in each, scattering into different paths.

Dathweet, Sun, and Rupler rushed into an abandoned wooden house by the road. As soon as the door closed, all three collapsed to the ground, panting.

Sun softly exhaled, looking around with a worried expression:

"I should have listened to you at first, Dathweet... if we hadn't entered the town, we wouldn't be in such trouble now."

Rupler lowered his head, growling:

"It's no use regretting it now."

Outside, there seemed to be no more footsteps. Thinking they had shaken off their pursuers, the group began to calm down. But—

Click.

A shadow stopped right in front of the house.

Kat.

He didn't enter, just stood there with a ragged smile and bleeding eyes. In his hand was a sword with a silver-white hilt.

Kat:

"If you serve me well... who knows, I might spare you."

No one answered.

Kat pouted. He raised his sword, swinging it diagonally through the air. In a flash—

The house was cut in half.

Splintered wood flew everywhere. The ceiling collapsed.

Kat laughed loudly:

"Then I'll have to do it myself!"

The air in the shattered house seemed to freeze.

The three—Dathweet, Sun, and Rupler—stood back to back, weapons in hand, ready. Facing them, amidst the dim light filtering through the broken wood, Kat took slow steps, his white-hilted sword dragging on the stone floor, emitting a chilling screech.

From him, a wave of icy air spread, making the entire house feel like it had suddenly entered winter. The floor gradually froze beneath his every step.

Kat:

"Well?

If the three of you serve me a little, you might even get out alive."

He cackled, his smile stretching to the curved scar at the corner of his mouth.

Sun frowned, her eyes burning. She raised both hands behind her, as if receiving something from the sky. From outside, sunlight pierced through the cracked wood, pouring directly onto her. Sun's body glowed hot, fiery cracks gradually appearing on her skin, as if she herself were a volcano about to erupt.

Rupler raised his sword to his chest. The air around him rippled, and from beneath his feet, sharp energy swords began to sprout like a forest of spikes.

Dathweet said nothing. He exhaled softly, nifow energy surging around his arm and sword. His left hand clenched into a fist, his right hand lowered his sword. The aura of one who had overcome hell—cold and fierce—emanated from him.

Kat waited no longer.

He darted forward—without a sound.

A sword strike, like a flash of lightning, tore through the air, leaving an icy cut across the floor. Sun dodged, but her shoulder was still grazed, fresh red blood mixing with rising steam.

Rupler reacted first, stomping hard on the ground, and from beneath his feet, dozens of sharp energy swords shot out directly towards Kat.

The old man... did not dodge.

With just a swing of his hand—whoosh—

A whirlwind of icy swords swirled around him, shattering Rupler's volley of swords like paper.

Dathweet charged in. His left hand unleashed a nifow-infused punch, striking towards Kat's shoulder.

The punch tore through the air, creating a shockwave that cracked the wall behind.

But Kat had stepped back half a pace, narrowly dodging—then swung his sword in retaliation, an icy blade cutting directly at Dathweet's waist.

Kat withdrew his sword after the slash, his head tilted slightly as if observing his prey.

Dathweet stepped back half a pace, blood seeping from his side—the cut was very shallow, but it felt icy cold, like ice stabbing into his lungs.

He gritted his teeth, his eyes sharpening. His body tilted slightly, nifow energy covering both hands.

His left hand threw a punch, his right hand held his sword.

Sun had now completely transformed.

She roared, her entire body glowing bright red.

The ground beneath her feet scorched, each step leaving heat-radiating cracks.

She swung her arm.

A swirling circle of fire erupted from her palm, shooting directly towards Kat.

Kat slammed the tip of his sword into the ground—Ice Shock!

A fan-shaped ice spike rose to block.

The fire collided—exploded—filling the air with thick smoke and dust.

In the smoke, Rupler moved.

He raised his hand—dozens of energy swords rained down from the air, embedding themselves around Kat.

Dathweet yelled, charging to the left. Sun pulled a stream of fire to the right. Three directions of attack simultaneously.

Kat laughed, blood seeping from his eyes like tears:

"Good! Very good!"

He slashed three times in quick succession—three icy blades cutting in an X-shape. One grazed Rupler's face, scratching his cheek.

One cut Sun's leg, making her fall to her knees.

And the last one—was blocked by Dathweet's sword.

Dathweet pushed back.

Nifow energy erupted from his hand, pushing old man Kat back a few steps.

Dathweet:

"Still so tough, even old, huh?" he panted.

Kat:

"Tougher than brats like you,"

Sun reached up to the sky, gripping a miniature sun-like light and launching a blazing white fireball towards Kat.

Kat leaned back, dodging, but a part of his coat was singed.

Rupler continued to create swords, but now slower.

He also began to breathe heavily—the mana consumption was making his body tremble.

Kat no longer held the overwhelming advantage either.

He took a deep breath, his eyes no longer insane as before—but sharp, more dangerous.

Kat:

"This is more fun... If I were twenty years younger, you'd all be dead."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly vanished from sight.

Whoosh!

With a sound of tearing wind, Kat was close to Sun.

Before she could retreat, an icy blade drew across her chest, blood spurting out.

She screamed, backing away, creating a wall of fire in front of her.

Kat did not pierce through, but retreated.

He spun in mid-air, cutting an arc down towards Rupler.

Rupler raised his energy sword to block—but Kat stomped hard on his sword, sending him flying backward, hitting the wall, spitting blood.

Dathweet charged in.

His body was covered in nifow energy, his footsteps leaving cracks on the ground.

He punched—the punch as strong as a hammer, distorting the air.

Kat leaned, just an inch—his blade swept horizontally, creating a long scratch on Dathweet's shoulder.

Dathweet gritted his teeth, spun, and elbowed Kat in the chest.

He was pushed back, but his heels sank deep into the ground—Kat did not lose his balance.

Sun had now stabilized, she swung her arm, throwing a swirling stream of fire.

Kat used the flat of his sword to block, then stomped hard on the ground—the entire floor froze.

The fire, upon contact, slowed down, then froze in mid-air, exploding into smoking shards of ice.

Kat:

"One is fine, two are difficult. But three... I like it!"

He roared, his eyes blood-red, cold air rising around him.

Kat spun his sword—creating an ice vortex.

Rocks flew everywhere, cold wind blasted the three's faces.

Rupler raised his sword to shield his face, but a razor-sharp shard of ice still grazed his cheek, leaving a deep cut.

Kat was no longer playing around. He was truly killing.

Kat began to counterattack.

He spun his sword, slashing a sweeping ice path, forcing Sun and Dathweet to retreat to opposite sides.

Only Rupler was left standing alone in the middle, breathing heavily, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, mana at its limit.

He gritted his teeth, gathering his strength to create one last cluster of energy swords, launching them like a nail storm.

Kat did not dodge.

He charged through the swords, his icy blade shattering each one as if clearing a path with bare hands.

Dathweet:

"Watch out!"

Dathweet yelled, rushing towards Rupler. But it was too late.

Kat appeared directly in front of Rupler, as fast as a shadow.

Rupler only had time to raise his hand to block.

Slash!

A cut across the abdomen. The energy sword shattered. His body was thrown backward.

He struggled to stand up, but before he could crawl, the staff in Ken's hand slammed down on his face—thwack!

He struggled to stand up, but Kat was already closing in for the second time.

No more defense.

No more teammates to intervene in time.

He plunged the sword directly into Rupler's stomach.

Blood spurted from his mouth.

But Kat did not stop.

He used his bare hand to grab Rupler's face, his teeth exposed like a beast's, then bit down, fiercely biting one side of his cheek, as if to tear his entire face apart.

Dathweet swung his sword, but Kat threw Rupler's body at him like a bag of trash.

His body slammed hard onto the floor.

Eyes wide open—but no longer any life.

Rupler collapsed to the ground like a bloody sandbag. No cries. No struggles.

Only a cold corpse remained in a dark red puddle.

Dathweet stepped forward, looking down at the still warm body.

Not a trace of sorrow in his eyes—only cold calculation.

He said nothing.

His hand clenched. A surge of Nifow energy rose, covering his right arm. He took a deep breath, then...

Thud!

Dathweet's arm pierced through Rupler's abdomen, blood spurting out, splashing onto his face.

His fingers touched the core of energy inside—the residual mana remaining after death—and he began to absorb it.

Not out of pity. Not out of sacrifice.

But simply... power.

Energy surged into Dathweet's body like flowing lava.

His muscles tensed, veins bulging like dark vines.

His eyes glowed, twisted currents of air rising around his body—like a beast unleashed.

At the same time—Kat had raised his great ice sword again.

His body trembled from blood loss, but his aura did not diminish.

"Killing another one... won't matter!"

He roared, his icy sword slashing horizontally, creating a sword path as wide as a wall, sweeping clear the ground in front of him.

Dathweet stepped forward. With each step he took, the ground cracked.

His right hand was covered in Nifow, his left hand still stained with Rupler's blood, but he didn't care.

One breath.

He vanished from Kat's sight.

Just as the old man turned his head...

BOOOOM!!!

A direct punch to the stomach—not just a touch—but piercing right through, shattering all internal organs.

Kat choked, unable to utter a sound. His red eyes widened.

He tried to lift his sword but his hand had lost all strength.

Dathweet looked directly into his eyes, softly saying:

"Your turn."

Then he lifted Kat off the ground—his arm still deeply embedded in his stomach—and threw him directly to the ground like a rotten bag of meat.

Sun was in the air—sunlight converged around her into a massive, blazing fireball.

She leaped, shouting:

"Burn... it all..."

The fireball fell directly onto Kat—exploding.

The ground trembled.

Hot wind swept away the remaining ashes.

When the dust settled, only a steaming puddle and the smell of burnt flesh remained.

Kat—turned to ash.

Dathweet withdrew his hand, blood still seeping from his fist.

He subtly flexed his wrist, then turned away—not bothering to look back at the vanished corpse.

Sun knelt down, panting, sweat mixed with ash and dust on her face.

Sun:

"We... survived?"

Dathweet muttered:

"If only... it was always as simple as killing a madman."

Sun's entire body was still blazing, but it wasn't the light of battle anymore.

Having absorbed too much solar energy, she was now burning from within.

Her lips were cracked and dry, her eyes vacant, her body tensed from internal injuries.

Dathweet gently supported her.

Dathweet:

"Are you okay?"

Sun:

"Still... bearable. But I need to rest for a bit..."

He helped her away from the battle area, looking for an intact house nearby for temporary shelter.

On the way, they encountered a familiar figure running towards them.

Jimmer.

As soon as he saw the two, he joyfully shouted and rushed over as if he had reunited with lost relatives.

Jimmer:

"Oh my god, thank goodness you're still alive! I thought... I was the only one left!"

Dathweet:

"Where are the others?"

Jimmer (lowering his head, voice dropping):

"...They were all killed by them."

The three quickly sneaked into an abandoned house by the road.

Sun slumped onto a torn sofa, closing her eyes and beginning to chant a self-healing spell.

Dathweet gently covered her shoulders with an old blanket.

Jimmer walked around the room, opened a cabinet, then pulled out a few bottles of wine and a can of alcohol, and began pouring them around the house.

Dathweet (frowning):

"What are you doing?"

Jimmer:

"They can smell humans. So I'm using these to cover our tracks—the smell of alcohol and wine will mask our scent."

Dathweet (nodding, his eyes somewhat surprised):

"So you've learned quite a few things after only a few hours of splitting up, huh?"

Jimmer (faint smile):

"In this place, if you don't learn fast, you die fast."

He looked up, asking directly:

Jimmer:

"Do you want to go find some food? I think there might still be something usable at the store at the end of the alley."

Dathweet (looking at Sun):

"What about her?"

Jimmer:

"Don't worry. I've cleared the path, the scent here won't be easily detected. If anything happens, two people together will handle it more easily than separating."

Dathweet was silent for a moment then nodded.

Dathweet:

"Alright. I'll tell Sun and then we'll go."

He walked closer to Sun, bending down, whispering a few words.

She just nodded softly, signaling that she would be fine.

A few minutes later, Dathweet and Jimmer left the house, heading towards the nearby general store—each step remaining vigilant amidst the eerily silent town.

As soon as the two arrived at the store, a heavy atmosphere enveloped them, unlike previous times scavenging for supplies.

Dathweet bent down, silently gathering necessities into his backpack.

Behind him, Jimmer just stood still, his eyes distant. His hand subtly gripped the staff.

Dathweet:

"The alcohol pouring thing... that was to make me feel safe going with you, right?"

Jimmer flinched slightly:

"You... what are you talking about? How could I..."

Dathweet turned his head, his eyes as sharp as a blade.

Dathweet:

"You killed the other two, didn't you?"

Jimmer was visibly flustered:

"I didn't... I swear I didn't kill them... I just..."

Dathweet:

"Your mother... had an extremely possessive tendency, right? Like wanting to control you completely?"

Jimmer froze.

Dathweet:

"Perhaps... you're doing something similar with Sun."

Jimmer growled, his face changing color:

"I... I'm not like her."

Dathweet:

"We often unconsciously repeat the shadow of those who raised us."

Jimmer was silent for a second.

Then he screamed, like a stripped beast:

"What do you know?! You think you're a psychologist?!"

Jimmer swung his specialized staff, unleashing a strong gravitational pull, dragging Dathweet forward.

His body twisted in mid-air. He tensed, trying to use nifow to escape before being crushed by the pressure.

Just as he escaped, before Dathweet could regain his footing, a blade flashed—thud!

—piercing directly into his stomach.

He collapsed.

Jimmer lunged, stomping on his chest, repeatedly kicking him in the face—blood splattering from his nose and mouth.

Jimmer:

"You think you understand me?! What do you understand?! I'm doing all this for Sun! She's pure... she's innocent...! And you guys... you're all scum who just want to lay your dirty hands on her!"

He screamed, almost crying.

Then raised his staff—smack!

Slammed it onto the floor next to Dathweet's head.

Slammed again—each blow whistling through the air.

Jimmer:

"I saw it all... the way you looked at her... the way you thought about her... I can't let Sun be tainted!"

Another blow came down.

But... this time another hand held the staff.

Ken had woken up.

Ken:

(Calm down, I'm tired of taking hits too.)

Dathweet's body changed motion—his eyes burning brightly.

He sprang up, kicking Jimmer's left knee—crack!

A painful scream echoed.

Jimmer fell, but before he could crawl, the staff in Ken's hand slammed down on his face—thump!

One blow—blood spurted out.

Second blow—eyes exploded.

Third blow—face shattered.

Dathweet gradually regained control of his body. Ken retreated into his mind.

Dathweet exhaled slowly.

Dathweet:

"Thanks, Ken."

Ken:

(Already hit him for you, no need to thank me much.)

Dathweet looked down at Jimmer convulsing.

He bent down, delivering a powerful kick to his face—blood spurted from his mouth and nose.

Dathweet:

"I'm no stranger to types like you."

Dathweet panted, blood still flowing from his nose and lips.

His body felt heavy, every joint aching from the fight with Jimmer.

He leaned against a shelf, before he could recover—

A low, steady voice came from behind him:

Coss:

"Good fight."

Dathweet spun around—

Wham!

A horizontal blow to the head with an axe handle, heavy as a sledgehammer.

He was thrown out of the store, hitting the ground like a sandbag, then lay motionless, blood spreading beneath his head.

Coss's followers laughed:

"Is he dead? Let me eat his brain!"

—Slash!

His head flew from his neck before he could finish speaking. Blood gushed like a spring.

Coss turned, his eyes sharp like a hunter's:

Coss:

"No one touches him. This one is mine."

No one dared to argue.

Coss bent down, hoisted Dathweet onto his shoulder like a trophy, then walked straight into the drifting mist at the end of the street.

Behind him—the others followed obediently, no different from a pack of hyenas trailing a mad lion.

— end of chapter —