Chương 19: A fate worse than death

My eyes almost popped out of the sockets but I steeled my heart. No matter what, you can't die in this forest. I had to believe it, whether I liked it or not.

My final destination arrived and both Dune and Sheila were present there, with their heads severed. The mere sight of that threw my heart into overdrive. What is this…? I couldn't cough up a reaction. I was frozen in space. I could hear my own heart but I didn't care. I couldn't believe anything anymore.

The thing in front of those two was not a simple undead. It had three heads facing in three directions- two on its shoulders and one on its neck: a total of seven eyes- and just one mouth on its chest. The actual head had pale white hair as though stating she was pure or something.

As I stared at the dead bodies and heads my chest felt hot. My body felt hot. And I trembled. Not in fright but in rage….

The most noticeable difference between this and the other undead was that this thing had skin and some cloth over its flesh along with six distinct horns- two on each of its head.

As I stood in silence the thing locked its eyes on me. It spoke to me. "Welcome candidate #9," said the Three headed monster in a broken feminine voice.

I acted calm but I was infuriated beyond reason and yet a few drops of liquid leaked out of my tear ducts. The mere fact of not being able to save the two I risked my life for, was no longer a concern: but getting revenge for them was. All I wanted was to pummel the thing right in front of my eyes. I can't even keep a promise? Even now? My body shivered with raging intensity. And yet somehow my voice was calm. "Are you the reason why the villagers are suffering?"

"No that would be you. We wanted you to come here thus we caused that," she said. Not even a shred of doubt or remorse. She didn't give a damn about killing others. And she didn't care about the methods she was using either.

"I see. But then why did you kill these two?" My voice didn't shake. It was as though I didn't have any emotion. In fact, if someone saw me like this, they'd probably reach the same conclusion. But they'd be wrong. I did have one emotion, albeit hidden: pure rage.

"They had served their purpose. How could I have not?" The monster giggled. But it was more like a screech than a laugh.

"What did you want of me? And how did you know that they weren't me," I said.

Both of them were stupid questions but I asked them anyway. I was about to explode but I needed answers; no, I wanted answers.

"I am Brathuj, a higher demon of the Galbatian Empire. I was sent here to investigate the mysterious appearance of candidate #9 and bring him back." She grinned.

"What does this empire want and where is it located? And why are you calling me candidate #9?" I couldn't understand anything thanks to my shivering rage. It took my all just to maintain my composure and not run around swinging.

Two bat wings emerged from her back. "Oh! You don't need to worry. I will take you there with these wings. Our master wants to discuss something with you. All will be revealed there. " She chuckled. Her laugh made my blood boil.

I went closer to the demon. Acting calm was not easy as I was gushing with rage beyond my control. And I was never good at acting anyway. Screw your empire! I want to destroy your entire damn nation! But first, something needs to be done! I was beyond reason at this point. "I will go with you, on one condition." I paused.

"What is it?"

"Bring them back to life," I said. It was an impossible task. Yet I didn't know why I asked that. Maybe I was just looking for an excuse to let loose, or perhaps I had hope that the dead could be brought back to life on this world.

"… That is not possible with my powers. I cannot do that."

"Then surrender your life. Do so and I shall go to your country," I ejaculated.

"Ha hahah ahha. What are you saying human? Have you lost your mind!? And how would you do that if I died?" She laughed sarcastically. Her high pitched shrieks were hurting my ears but I had better things to worry about.

I drew my sword. I knew I'd be killed here or taken by force but running away was not an option: my sanity was lost and I wanted revenge. "Argh!" With a scream I swing my sword horizontally. But the demon dodged in a split second. Training did me good and I could move around much better with my sword, but it just wasn't enough.

Charged I did, but to no avail. The demon was an expert at dodging and deflecting. I suppose having those extra eyes did have some meaning, after all. Meanwhile, she became serious and cut me with extreme precision so that I wouldn't bleed to death. She didn't use any special weapon but just her fingertips, making sure I wouldn't die of being cut too deep. Did she pity me?

"Why not stop this? I plan on bringing you back in one piece," the demon spouted. "Besides, it's for your own good."

However, my mind was too fixated on exacting revenge; the demon's words weren't reaching me. How would I face Milai after this? Hadn't I promised her!? Damn it!

I was struggling to even keep up, let alone strike a blow. The undead around us cowered in fear. Weren't they dead already?

My body was on the verge of giving up. Her attacks reached far and wide but mostly focused on my left side. It was no surprise to me that, god (if he existed) hated my left side. Did I look that bad from my left?

Her gaping mouth was kind of creepy and when she giggled, it was even creepier. "Give it up. Or you'll end up dead. I can only hold back so much…"

"Shut your trap! I don't care! I will kill you!" I didn't know what I was spouting anymore. Rage had taken over.

"Ha ha hahah, can you even hope that? Besides, I have to be alive to take you back," with a vicious laugh, the demon charged at me.

She finally brought out her weapon, the scythe of death! It looked literally as if I was staring at my own death. Pure black blade, very jagged yet masterfully crafted. The moment it came out, my rage purged down in eternal cold. Almost as though my body had already given up, or maybe it had.

With a swift swing, she cleanly sliced my chest. I couldn't even see it coming let alone block. Blood was spewing everywhere. But I didn't lose consciousness. It was as though I was thunderstruck. The pain followed afterward. It was so painful that I wanted to scream but bit my lips instead and stood firm amidst the unbearable pain. I could finally see an opening.

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