n

n

nAs Karl ran outside, he felt strings around his body, but he was already in motion and unable to stop. His body moved through the sharp thread, as they entered deep into his flesh and cut into him, slicing through flesh and bone alike.

nBy the time he reached the hallway, his body was already sliced by the invisible strings, causing blood to splatter everywhere and his sliced flesh to rolled into the hallway. His head spun around in circles, before finally halting.

nHis salvation, his light... meant nothing more than an inevitable death.

nThis same tragedy befell everyone else, they saw a hope, ran to it, and died gruesomely. Everyone except Nathan.

nAfter they were sliced up by the strings, everything went dark as they felt a cold void swallow them up. Unable to scream, unable to cry, they just faded away into darkness.

n_________________________________

n

"Memory Drain

"

nAfter a few moments I let go of Karl's head as it fell lifelessly on the ground.

n

"That's the last one.

" I said with disinterest.

n

"Now then... As for you, Nathan. What am I going to do with you?

" I smiled wickedly.

nNathan is still an important piece in this game, so I'll want him alive and well. The best option is to just alter his memory of what happened and make him believe he managed to escape from the bloody house in one piece, though everyone else died.

nBy doing this, he won't be getting in my way anytime soon.

nI placed my hands on his head and altered his mindscape, giving him a different ending from the rest of his comrades.

nNathan's Mindscape

nNathan shivered within the cold, dark room. He didn't know how much time had passed, whether Marie was still waiting for him beyond the bounds of the house he was trapped in, or if she was even alive at all.

n

"Marie....

"

nThose were the words he constantly uttered to keep his sanity and remain himself. With the never ending stench of blood and rotting flesh that filled the room and the perpetual darkness surrounding him, only Marie gave him light.

nSuddenly, the thought came to him...

n

"Blade Of Rupture

"

nHis eyes widened as he sprang up instantly. He was confused. Why hadn't he thought of it before now. He had his Relic with him, didn't he? His Blade of Rupture, able to even deal with 4 Minataurs in a single strike.

n

"I... Why did I take so long...?

" He muttered.

nBut that didn't matter at the moment. What mattered was that he had finally regained his resolve and will to fight, to live... To see Marie.

nSince he couldn't see anything in the room, he used his sense of touch to search for his blade and found it still resting on his hip, within it's sheath. He smiled with relief and stood up, mustering all the strenght he had to rise.

nHe took a few steps back and took a slashing stance, raising his blade above his head. He inhaled and concentrated to whatever was in front of him. He couldn't see whether it was a door, or a wall... Until he became one with his blade.

nSuddenly, his sensory abilities became heightened, and he could feel everything around him. The boxes, the sacks, the disgusting contents they had spilled all around him... And the door before him. He adjusted his stance and faced the door directly, ready to tear it down.

n

"Blade Of Rupture, Strike!!!

" He yelled.

nImmediately, his blade glowed and blue sparks enveloped it.

nHe slashed with his sword, bringing it down with a mighty force and devastated the locked door in front of him. This caused a mighty explosion that even caused the room to shake due to the impact and the walls around him shattered apart.

n

"Huff... Huff...

" He let out in exhaustion.

n

"I'm not done yet... I still... Have to... Return... To Marie...

" He said to himself, moving down the hallway, now confident that he could tear down the main door as well.

nWith the Blade Of Rupture in his hands and the love for his woman in heart, nothing could stop him. Nothing at all!

n_________________________________

n

"It is done. He'll believe he escaped and passed out just by the corner of an unfamiliar street. Shamac, take his body and drop him off in any place that matches that description

" I said, letting go of Nathan's head.

nShamac took his body and exited the house.

nIt is still dark out, but Shamac should be fine. He's invincible during this period.

n

"Are they…?

" Talia asked, glancing at the unmoving bodies on the floor.

n

"They're dead

" I said with disinterest.

nHer eyes widened with surprise. She wasn't expecting this.

n

"But, your Memory Drain doesn't kill people, right? It just takes their information and causes them to lose their mind. Why are they…?

" Talia muttered.

n

"The trick is that they 'think' they are dead, and so they are.

" I replied.

nHer face still showed a puzzled expression. It looks like I'll have to break it down even further.

n

"Have you ever heard of the phrase 'I think, therefore I am'? Using Haze, I trapped their consciousness in their mindscape, and made them undergo torture, thought they thought it was all real. Finally, I opened the door for them, and in doing so… I killed them

" I explained

n

"Killed… Them…

" Talia repeated my words.

n

"Yes. Using strings to carve them up, they died in their mindscape. And since everything they perceive there is believed to be reality, they also believed that they truly died. So naturally, they stop breathing, close their eyes, and loosen their bodies. If the mind believes it is dead, the body will respond to the same. That is what just happened

" I said with a smile.

nSlowly, she understood my words and then her face fell. She looks downcast all of a sudden, but she doesn't want to bother me with other words or questions.

nIt looks like she still doesn't approve of my indiscriminate killing. When they were screaming in pain due to the torture I gave them with 'Haze', she overheard some of them talking about their families. I suppose that made her sympathize with them. How soft.

nHowever, that doesn't matter to me. As long as she's my slave, Talia will experience more of these things. I'm actually doing her a favor by exposing her to it now, before it gets overwhelming.

nBesides, doesn't she know what she signed up for the moment she agreed to become mine? What does she think 'destroying the world means?

n

"You don't approve of me killing people? I thought you hated humans

" I asked, looking into her eyes to get an answer.

n

"I… I…

" Talia struggled to speak.

nI'm not settling for that. Once I ask a question, I expect a response. My gaze still focused on her as beads of sweat rolled down her cheek. Finally, she opened her mouth to speak.

n

"I do hate humans. They are filled with a lot of injustice, they kill for pleasure, they bully others weaker than them… They have a lot of faults. But… After interacting with them so much, I know for sure… Not all humans are the same!

" Talia let out.

n

"What?

"

n

"Those men, yes, they were criminals and have most likely killed others before. But, after listening to their cries I have realized that, while truly there were scum among them, a few truly only wanted to help their families or someone precious to them. For that reason alone, they were willing to do anything. I was able to relate to that, since I also killed even though I didn't want to… For you…

" Talia said, turning away so she wouldn't meet my gaze.

n

"And their families, their precious people… By killing these men, we've made Innocents suffer and affected their lives negatively. In a way, aren't becoming the 'humans' we so abhor?

" Talia concluded.

n

"Talia, how dare you!

" Ana cried out in protest as she glared at Talia.

n

"B-But it's true, isn't it?

" She replied.

n

"I always knew Lord Hexarion hated the way the humans are and the state of the world. That's why you want to destroy it. B-But... What if you don't have to? N-Not everyone is bad... They all have their reasons for doing things... Just like you Hexarion!

" She said, looking at me with an innocent look in her eyes.

nPathetic.

n

"Are you finished?

" I asked in a low tone.

nShe shook when she heard those words. Her head was bowed, facing the floor, unable to look me in the eye.

n

"Look at me Talia

" I commanded.

nSlowly she lifted her face, scared by what she might see. A frown, a glare, a murderous stare. Her eyes widened when she saw the expression on my face.

nI smiled, no, I grinned widely. Then I chuckled. This caused me to laugh heartily and aloud. As I thought, Talia is too amusing to dispose of anytime soon.

n

"You seem to misunderstand a lot of things, Talia.

" I said, controlling myself and ceasing my laughter.

nThough a smile still remaining on my face.

n

"Perhaps I ought to educate you as well

"

n