"And I know what yours is, Reyn." My voice kept getting steady with every word. I knew what he was. I had read the Auxiliary of Ashes of Eternity more religiously than anyone else. I could trust a backstabber more than him. "I know all of your kind's nature. Critters. Your world was never ruined."

************************************************
NOTIFICATION: 

You are using Bane's Skill "Static Pulse: Lvl. 1"
************************************************

"You consumed it yourselves." 

For a second, just a second, his breath caught. Something in his face cracked—a moment of something real. He smiled, and then giggled, his shoulders trembling. 

And then he screamed.

The sound wasn't human.

His body tore apart.

Skin blistered, bubbled, sloughed off like melting wax. Flesh twisted, thickened, stretched into something that was in total juxtaposition to his previous human form. 

His arms—no, his limbs—extended as sinew snapped and bones splintered.

His jaw unhinged.

A long, blackened, pulsing tongue lolled from his mouth that dripped with acid, burning the pointy pebbles underneath.

His eyes were still human, though. That same, wild, desperate hunger burning behind them.

Without wasting a moment, he lunged as sparks fizzled out from me. 

I shoved Celia halfway through the Doorways and looked at Bane. "Look after her." 

Bane poof'd into black smoke and entered inside? her as I pushed her through the doorways. 

And then, it was just us. 

Before I could ready myself, Reyn came down on me like a beast unchained.

I barely got my arm up before his tongue whipped forward, slicing the air. It was a flash of wet muscle and needle-sharp barbs—I twisted, just in time—that tore through the stone behind me instead, shattering it like brittle bone.

I wobbled.

Shit…

Why the fuck did I even provoke it? Critters were said to carry hatred towards their real form! That damn princess wasn't even awake to see me act cool! Why the fuck did I…

I ducked beneath his second strike, rolled across the shattered stone, and came up just as he lunged again. 

His longer arms swiped forward, claws screeching against the rock as I dodged again by inches.

Too close.

Too fast.

He wasn't just attacking—he was driving me back, pushing me away from the Doorways.

I wouldn't let him.

I can't…it's my only chance to fulfill the fantasy I had been dreaming of. 

I lunged forward, knife flashing, as it sliced deep into his side. Flesh split open and thick, dark blood gushed out—

He didn't even react.

His mouth twisted and his tongue snapped forward like a whip. I barely got my knife up—

CRACK.

Agony exploded through my forearm.

The impact ripped the blade from my hand, sending it spinning creeping grey mist.

I stumbled back.

Reyn's laughter crawled through the air.

"Still fighting?" His voice was thick, warped, something wet curling behind the syllables. "What's the point, human?"

I didn't answer.

Couldn't.

But…

I ran.

Not away. But towards him.

His mouth curled into something close to a grin.

Good. Let him think I was desperate. Let him think I was losing.

At the last second, I twisted, planted my feet—and threw myself low. Sharp stones dug into my body and instantly I felt warm blood gush out of every part of me.

He swung and I went under his arm, grabbed the slick muscle of his tongue, as I stabbed it with multiple sharp pebbles before yanking it hard.

He screamed.

For the first time, he screamed.

The sound was inhuman. His body jerked, muscles spasming, his claws raking through the air.

I didn't let go.

I twisted, dug the stones in deeper by kicking it, and yanked again.

Suddenly, Reyn staggered—just for a second.

He was in pain…this was my window. 

"Come on, Codex, give me a dashing skill, please!" I screamed as I ran, trying to put everything into it but the stones stabbing my feet slowed me down with every push, I could feel the stone stabbing the bones now and my mind went in and out of consciousness. 

Before I knew it, Reyn was right behind me. 

************************************************
NOTIFICATION: 

You are using Bane's Skill "Flickering Shadows: Lvl. 1"
************************************************

But before he knew it, I was falling through the Doorway.

But…

Alas…

Things are never that easy. 

Through the haze of pain of a mutilated body, I felt Reyn's claws clamping onto my arm.

My mind began to black out. I could hear Bane's panicked, electrifying squeals. 

A flash of heat.

A sound like tearing flesh.

And then—

A scream.

I blinked, many times. 

An arm—Rey's, I could tell—or what was left of it—was still clamped around my wrist.

But his body—

His body was outside the shutting Doorway.

Heh…hehehe…

Of course. The world rejects him. He could only pass if he had consumed one of us. Which he didn't…hehehehe!

HAHAHAHAH! WHAT A DUMBASS! 

I laughed but it felt like my throat was torn apart. 

As I looked at the shutting door, I caught a glimpse of Reyn's burning body. It peeled away in ribbons, melting like candle wax.

My breath shuddered out as the doorways closed. 

Bane got atop me. His form was flickering, like a dying ember. Snuggling his electric face in my neck, it let out what sounded like a whimper. 

"Stop treating me like a mama for fuck's sake…" I coughed as blood splattered on his innocent face that contorted into worry, his visage disappearing. 

Am I…dying?

I looked over at Celia who had ragdolled a few inches away from me. Her chest was heaving up and down. 

She's…alive…

God…

I really wanted to live…

"Huh…wha…princess? The Doorway…it's been conquered!" A voice reached my ears. 

Ah yes, right. The NPC student who was on guard duty.

"Call the Priest. We need to cleanse this area." 

Wait what…

…oh fuck. I am doomed.