My entire body was trembling uncontrollably as I looked at Darwin.
His gaze was never comforting. It pressed down on me, as if it were preventing me from breathing normally.
Calm down… just calm down.
I told myself that, but my heart refused to listen.
My breaths were uneven, my hands shaking no matter how hard I tried to hide it.
I felt sweat gathering in my palm around the hilt of my sword, and the pressure in my chest grew heavier with every second of silence that passed between us.
Then he spoke.
"Why did you deceive me?"
I froze.
The words caught in my throat.
Deceived you?
When did I ever deceive you? We only met once.
But I knew immediately that thinking like this was useless. What mattered now wasn't the truth—it was what was going on inside his head.
I opened my mouth to speak, then closed it.
Not a single word came out. It felt as if my tongue no longer belonged to me.
He continued, as if he wasn't waiting for an answer:
"Didn't you say you had something important to do? That you couldn't go out with me?"
He smiled.
And with that smile, my stomach tightened.
Stop smiling… please.
The more he spoke, the wider his smile became.
It wasn't a normal smile.
It was the kind that made my body tense up.
Sweat began to run down my forehead, and my chest grew tighter with every breath.
Then he said,
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to a rift? Why didn't you ask for my help?"
Because I don't want to go with someone as unstable as you…
The thought appeared clearly in my mind—then vanished instantly. No. I can't say that. If I do… I'll die here.
Suddenly, the smile disappeared from his face.
He looked at me with a colder tone than before, so cold that the air around us seemed to change.
"Don't you trust me? Aren't I your friend?"
Something pressed heavily against my chest.
Your friend?
How could I be your friend? Do you think I'm looking for death?
His expressions began to change rapidly.
One moment he looked calm; the next, a strange sadness appeared in his eyes.
It wasn't ordinary sadness—it was the kind that made me more uneasy than his anger.
It was clear he couldn't control his emotions.
If I make a mistake in my response… everything will collapse.
My mind was racing. I didn't think about fighting—my body could barely stand. And even if I were at my best, I knew I couldn't defeat him.
There was only one thing on my mind:
How do I get out of here?
He began muttering in a low voice, as if talking to himself.
"You too… deceived me…"
My chest tightened.
No. This is bad.
"You're just like all of them…"
He said it slowly. "Aren't you?"
I didn't ask who "they" were. His tone alone was enough. They were people who had betrayed him before.
He suddenly raised his head and looked at me. His gaze wasn't cold—it was hesitant.
"So… should I kill you?"
I froze in place.
Don't say that, please…
My mind was screaming, but my mouth wouldn't move.
He continued as if arguing with himself.
"No… I can't kill you."
He took a deep breath.
"You're my friend."
Yes… hold on to that. I'm your friend, right?
Don't back down, please.
But his voice changed again.
"But… you deceived me."
Damn it… no, don't finish that sentence. I'm begging you.
"And if a friend deceives me…"
He stopped.
"What does that mean?"
He wasn't waiting for an answer. His thoughts were colliding.
It means you should give him a chance, right? You should think about that…
"So… maybe I should kill you."
He took a step forward.
My heart nearly stopped. Don't come closer… please, don't.
If he comes any closer… it's over.
Then he suddenly stopped.
He looked at his hands, as if seeing them for the first time.
"No… I can't."
His voice cracked.
"If I do that… I won't have any friends left."
Yes, you're right… don't do it.
Oh…
I took a deep breath then. I survived…
He fell silent for a moment, then said in a low voice,
"But he deceived me… so I should kill him."
"Heh."
A short, empty laugh. It wasn't the laugh of someone happy—it was the laugh of someone who had made up his mind.
Please… don't laugh like that. You're scaring me.
He looked at me.
I could no longer see anything in his eyes except a cold stare.
In that moment, I felt real fear. It was as if every cell in my body was screaming: run.
He took another step forward.
My breathing choked, and it felt as if my chest was about to burst open.
I looked at the artifact in front of me.
It was close… I tried to grab it, but my body was shaking. I couldn't move any part of myself.
Why can't I control myself?
He came closer—calmly.
And that terrified me more than anything else.
"What's wrong?"
"Are you scared?"
As he finished his sentence, his laughter grew louder.
"Hahahaha."
When I saw him laughing, there was only one thought in my head:
I don't want to die.
I clenched my fist tightly without realizing it.
The pain in my fingers snapped me back to reality. I grabbed the artifact this time, my hands trembling.
My heart was pounding violently. I had only one hope—the feature that worked in every rift.
If the Grave Guardian is killed, you're allowed to leave.
"Please…"
My voice came out weak.
"Transfer me out of the rift… now."
Nothing happened.
I waited.
One second… then another.
I thought I was too late—that everything was over.
Then suddenly—
I felt a powerful dizziness, as if the ground vanished beneath me.
I could no longer feel my body—my legs, my hands, not even my breathing. It was as if I separated from myself for a brief moment.
The sounds disappeared, leaving only a faint ringing in my head. I tried to move, but I couldn't.
Then I felt the weight of my body falling downward.
I hit the ground, and the air was knocked out of my lungs.
When I opened my eyes…
I was at the entrance of the rift.
I looked around quickly, my heart still pounding hard.
I wasn't sure whether I had really escaped or not.
I stood up quickly, but dizziness struck my head, forcing me to stop for a moment so I wouldn't fall.
I took a deep breath, trying to regain my balance.
I need to get out of here… before he catches up to me.
I told myself that in a low voice, as if afraid he might hear me.
My body hurt like hell, my knees trembling, but fear was stronger than the pain.
I started walking, then picked up my pace slightly.
I didn't dare to run—my body wouldn't allow it.
Every step was heavy, and every faint sound made me turn around immediately.
Don't stop. Don't look back too much. Just move.
Thoughts crowded my mind, but I tried to ignore them.
When I had gone far enough, I felt my breathing start to calm slightly, but my heart never stopped pounding…
---
"Why did you leave like that?"
"Don't you love me too?"
I don't know why… but I felt the urge to laugh.
"Heh…"
The laugh came out short, then cut off. It wasn't enough, so I repeated it—longer this time.
"Hahahahaha…"
I suddenly stopped and frowned.
"Everyone always leaves… no, no. You're different. You're my friend."
"Why did you leave? I just wanted to play with you a little."
I felt anger… then sadness… then happiness.
"If you had stayed…"
I paused for a moment.
"I wouldn't have had to think about killing you."
I said it as if it were a normal thought, then suddenly smiled—a wide smile, for no reason.
"But it's fine."
My voice changed again. It became lighter, then sharper, then disturbingly calm.
"We'll meet again."
I raised my head and laughed.
"Hahahaha…"
I turned and started walking, then suddenly stopped, as if a new idea had come to me.
"This is going to be really fun."
I laughed one last time, softly this time.
"Anyway…"
I said as I walked away.
"We'll meet again soon…"