Chapter 19: The Deletion Protocol
Everyone stood frozen, completely silent. No one spoke; no one moved. The forest seemed to hold its breath as Kevin's lifeless body hit the dirt with a dull, sickening thud. Blood spread rapidly beneath him, dark and glistening in the fading light.
Elvas's knees gave out instantly. He dropped to the ground, his breath breaking, his hands trembling uncontrollably. His mind spun in chaotic confusion, his chest painfully tight.
"How?" he whispered, the word barely leaving his lips. "How is this even possible?"
He had chosen player deletion to save Kevin—not to secure his violent death.
The air before him shimmered violently, and red words flashed like newly drawn blades across the oppressive silence.
[System Notification: Player Deletion Complete.]
The cold, mechanical sound of the System's voice cut through his skull like static. Cold. Final. Uncaring.
Elvas's anger flared, raw and desperate. His fists slammed hard into the unforgiving ground. "You said it would save him," he muttered, his teeth clenched tightly. His voice trembled uncontrollably between white-hot rage and crushing guilt. "Why did you—"
He instantly stopped himself. The others were still there—watching. If he shouted furiously at the air, they'd think he'd gone completely insane… or, far worse, they'd instantly realize the terrifying truth.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself to stand, though his legs felt like lead. His eyes fixed in horror on Kevin's body—on the gaping, bloody hole where his heart had been violently ripped out.
Blood pooled rapidly in the dirt, soaking darkly into the forest floor. The metallic smell of iron and decay filled the entire clearing.
Marcus's voice finally broke the dreadful silence. "What… what was that?" he stammered, his usual icy arrogance utterly dissolved. His fangs flashed as he stared, unnerved, at the corpse. "Something just—ripped his heart out. How?"
Auran's voice came next, low, strained, and immensely tense. "Is this Medasu's doing?" he asked, immediately scanning the deep shadows of the trees. His claws extended and flexed, ready for a brutal ambush. "Did she somehow know we were already here?"
Laura stepped forward slowly, her face pale, her movements hesitant and careful. She knelt beside Kevin's body, her trembling hands brushing against the dirt-stained fabric of his shirt.
"This isn't just any creature," she said softly, but her voice carried a quiet, steady weight of conviction. "This… this feels familiar."
"What do you mean by that?" Marcus asked, his tone now deeply uneasy.
Laura's gaze didn't leave Kevin's chest. "I've seen something like this before," she whispered. "It's the same as what happened to Kalia."
Auran's brows furrowed. "Kalia?
Laura nodded slowly, gravely. "Yes. She died the same terrible way. Heart violently ripped out. No trace of the killer, no scent left behind." She looked up at them, her expression dark with dawning horror. "This isn't a beast's doing. This is something else entirely."
Marcus's eyes narrowed, demanding an answer. "Then what is it?"
Laura rose, brushing dirt from her cloak. "I think this is exactly what the Elders specifically warned us about." She paused, her voice lowering with chilling certainty. "The work of the Demon System."
Elvas froze absolutely rigid. His blood ran instantly cold.
His heartbeat thundered so loudly he thought they must hear it. She knows. She's frighteningly close to finding out.
Trying desperately to sound calm, he asked, "How can you be so sure?" His voice wavered slightly, betraying his fear. "What makes you think it's from the Elders' story?"
Laura's gaze flicked sharply toward him, intensely searching. "Because history says it demands a soul for every single demand and major command."
A heavy, damning silence fell instantly over the group. The wind rustled the trees, whispering like accusing ghosts.
"Maybe…" Laura continued, her tone cautious, deliberate. "Maybe someone among us has the System Book right now."
The words hit Elvas like a physical blade to the gut.
Everyone turned. Their eyes—Marcus's burning red, Auran's fierce gold, Laura's bright with growing suspicion—all locked instantly on him.
Elvas's breath caught in his throat. "Why are you all looking at me?" he said quickly, his voice rising in sudden panic. "I didn't do anything to him!"
Auran strode forward in two long, terrifying steps, his face grim and accusatory. He grabbed Elvas violently by the collar, yanking him close. His sharpened claws dangerously grazed the boy's neck.
"Are you the cause of this?" Auran growled, his eyes blazing with grief and fury. "Did you do this to him?"
Elvas's hands shot up, desperately gripping Auran's wrists. "Let go!" he pleaded, his voice shaking uncontrollably. "I don't know what you're talking about, I swear!"
"Don't lie to me," Auran snarled, tightening his grip. "You were with him just before we lost sight of you both!"
"I'm innocent!" Elvas's voice cracked. "I don't even have power like you and Marcus! How could I cause this? I'm just a demon kid trying to survive!" His words tumbled out in a panicked rush.
Laura quickly stepped forward and firmly placed her hand on Auran's bulging arm. "Stop," she said softly but firmly. "We don't know that it's him. Let him go."
Auran glared at her, but his hesitation was visible. His breathing was rough and shallow, his shoulders tight with frustrated rage.
Laura's gaze dropped back to Kevin's body. "We can't help him now," she said quietly. "It's too late for us."
Auran's iron grip finally loosened. He let go of Elvas, stepping back with a deep, shuddering exhale. His face hardened as he turned away from his dead friend.
Elvas stood frozen, gasping for air, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs.
No one looked at him again. One by one, they began to move—away from Kevin, away from him. Their faces were carved with shared grief and deep, sudden distrust.
Elvas stared after them, his stomach twisting violently. Guilt burned through his chest like corrosive acid.
He pressed a trembling hand to his heart. "System…" he whispered, barely audible. "What truly happened back there?"
The red words appeared once again, hovering faintly in front of him.
[System Response: Host. Target was already weakened and compromised by the Simulacra infection. Subject would not have survived the hour. Chosen as the perfectly viable player deletion to minimize resource loss.]
Elvas's eyes widened with horrifying realization. His hand dropped lifelessly to his side. "He was going to die anyway?" he muttered, sickened. "That's why you picked him?"
No answer came from the system. Only the faint, dying hum of energy as the words faded completely.
Elvas's throat tightened painfully. "So Kevin was utterly doomed from the start," he whispered to the silence. "And you used me to finish the work."
He covered his face with both hands, the sudden ache in his chest growing unbearable.
After a long, agonizing moment, he lowered his hands, forcing himself to move. He silently followed the others from a few paces behind, silent and utterly distant.
No one spoke a word. The lonely sound of their boots crunching over the dead leaves was the only noise.
The forest grew rapidly darker as they walked, shadows stretching like predatory claws around them. Every breath felt heavier, every step slower.
Finally, the trees parted, revealing the towering, terrible silhouette of Medasu's castle. Its jagged spires clawed at the storm clouds, the air around it suddenly cold and suffocating.
The gates loomed ahead—massive, black iron twisted with demonic runes. The cracked stone walls seemed to bleed mist, as if the fortress itself was impossibly alive.
Marcus stared up, his jaw tight with grim resignation. "So this is it," he muttered. "Medasu's nest."
No one replied.
Laura stepped forward first, her hand glowing faintly with healing power, the light trembling like a dying flame.
"Okay, guys," she said quietly, her voice firm despite the profound fear behind it. "Let's do this, for Kevin."
She took a deep, steadying breath, her eyes fixed resolutely on the ominous castle.