Carter looked around, and his heart finally eased. He saw them—Draven, Ava, Charlotte, Seraphina, and Alden—all alive, gathered near the clearing, protected. Breathing. Intact.
He let out a shaky breath, the weight of his wounds momentarily forgotten.
’They’re safe... I did it... at least I bought them time.’
His gaze fell upon the silver-haired youth once again. The one who radiated both death and salvation like a god made flesh.
Carter immediately straightened his back and nodded frantically, despite the pain.
"Sir! Yes, sir! I am Carter Brown! The one who protected them!" he barked, almost out of instinct.
Ava, standing beside Alex, quickly spoke up. Her voice was soft but firm.
"Alex, he’s telling the truth. Mr. Carter saved us... when we were in a desperate situation."
Alex nodded slightly at her, eyes still locked on Carter.
Then, a slow, devilish smirk curled on his lips.
’This guy... seems like perfect pawn material.’
"You should probably move away from those two insects," Alex said calmly, glancing toward Daniel and James. "They’re going to die... horribly."
Carter blinked, then scooted back immediately.
Alex turned his gaze toward Seraphina.
"Sera. Heal him."
Seraphina nodded and stepped forward, casting a luminous spell. A warm glow wrapped around Carter, sealing up gashes, repairing bruises, and restoring vitality.
"Thank you... thank you so much," Carter said weakly, bowing his head.
Seraphina then turned to Alex, her expression troubled.
"Alex... can’t you do for Ethan what you just did for us? My healing spells... they aren’t working on him."
Alex chuckled lightly.
"Don’t worry. Look at him closely—do you see a single scratch on his body?"
Seraphina furrowed her brows, glancing at Ethan lying unconscious nearby. Indeed, his body looked pristine—untouched by any blade, spell, or fist.
"But... then why isn’t he waking up?" she asked, worry lacing her voice.
Alex pointed at the Wraith Twins standing silently in the distance.
"If I’m right... they attacked him mentally. He’s probably fighting a battle inside his mind."
He looked back at Seraphina with calm assurance.
"But don’t worry. There are three gods protecting that guy. They won’t let anything happen to him."
"In fact... when he wakes up, he’ll probably be stronger mentally. You could say... it’s a good lesson for him."
Seraphina blinked, staring at Alex with wide eyes.
"How do you even know all that...?"
Alex smirked, eyes gleaming with secrets.
"You don’t need to know that."
Seraphina’s mouth twitched.
"Fine. Keep your secrets, Mr. Mysterious," she muttered, pouting slightly as she walked back toward Ava, tugging her along.
Alex’s gaze turned again—back to Daniel and James, who were both now barely conscious. Their faces twisted in unimaginable pain.
He walked toward them slowly, like a grim reaper with nowhere to be.
Then he knelt and grabbed them both by the hair.
Darkness began to swirl around his hands, cold and alive.
"Soul Corruption," he whispered.
A violent shudder went through both Daniel and James.
And then—
Screams.
Not physical.
Spiritual.
Agony unlike anything they had ever felt before tore through their very beings.
"AAAGHHHH—!! NO!! STOP—!!"
Their hands scratched at their own faces as if trying to claw the pain out.
"STOP! PLEASE! I’LL DO ANYTHING! JUST MAKE IT STOP—!!"
Their eyes bulged, their nails cracked as they raked against their skulls. They howled, cursed, wept—and then simply broke.
Even the others—Alden, Ava, Seraphina, Charlotte, and Draven—watched in stunned horror.
This wasn’t magic.
This wasn’t a skill.
This was divine torment.
A punishment made manifest.
Carter, witnessing it all, couldn’t even speak. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Alex flicked his finger, and just like that—the pain stopped.
Daniel and James collapsed like ragdolls, twitching.
Alex smiled, leaning closer.
"Did you say... you’d do anything?"
Both of them nodded violently, tears and snot running down their bruised faces. They dropped to their knees before him, hands clasped in desperation.
They didn’t even look like warriors anymore.
Just animals begging not to be butchered.
But the Wraith Twins still didn’t interfere. They simply stood and watched—curious, detached.
Alex’s smile widened.
"Okay," he said suddenly. "I forgive you guys."
Everyone’s eyes widened.
Alden straightened. "Wait, what?"
Draven’s face contorted. "He forgave them?"
Charlotte stared, stunned. "Alex...?"
’He’s not the forgiving type,’ they all thought simultaneously.
Even Carter raised an eyebrow.
But Alex kept going.
"I’m a forgiving person, you see. So I’ll give you a chance."
James and Daniel’s faces lit up with hope.
But then—
Alex leaned closer, voice laced with venom.
"I heard... you were about to rape my friends."
Both froze.
"And I’m guessing, in the past, you’ve probably done it to many others. Innocents. The weak. The powerless."
They nodded slowly, fearfully, unable to meet his gaze.
Alex smiled again.
"Don’t worry. I don’t care about those people. I’m not some hero of justice. But you are skilled at that kind of thing, right? So... it’s time to show your skills. Be proud."
He stood tall, gazing down like a king passing judgment.
"To survive... you have to strip... and f*ck each other."
"Right here."
"Right now."
Silence.
Pin-drop, earth-shattering silence.
Everyone froze.
Not a whisper.
Not even wind.
Draven slowly turned to Alden, voice shaking.
"Did I just hear that right, or did I hear the same thing you just heard?"
Alden stared forward blankly. "I think I heard the same thing you just heard."
Draven blinked. "What did I hear?"
A vein popped on Alden’s forehead.
"Do you really want me to say it?"
Draven stepped back quickly. "Relax, relax—you don’t have to."
Charlotte, Seraphina, and Ava stood there, mouths slightly open, cheeks flushed red.
Charlotte coughed into her hand. "Did he... really...?"
Seraphina muttered, "What even is this guy?"
Ava looked at Alex, face crimson. "H-He’s joking... right...?"
Alex tilted his head with a grin.
And James and Daniel?
Their eyes slowly widened in realization.
Their souls... quietly broke again.
---
A/N:
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