Author's note: 2 months ago, this book barely hit 1k reads. Now, it's almost 60k, and I'm waking up to 99+ notifications everyday. Good god, you guys are amazing, LOL. Thank you so much for the support ❤❤.

Warning: The first half of this chapter contains strong violence (but there is no gore though). For those who are easily squeamish, you can skip the descriptions.

Everything happened so fast, Alric couldn't comprehend what had just occurred. A second ago, he was staring Veau in the face, who maintained a smiling expression. The next second, the thugs pounced onto Veau, regarding him as an enemy after he simply tossed their comrade away. 

However, Alric knew something. 

He knew he would never be able to erase this moment in his memory, especially as he watched Veau change drastically right before his eyes. 

His pupil widened and the hint of scarlet red swirling in his eyes eventually spread, his irises becoming completely scarlet red. The sclera began to change from its original white to a horrifying black.

(A/N: I assume some people, like me, aren’t familiar with anatomy terms. "Sclera" is the white part of your eyes, basically. Didn’t want to trouble you to search up the meaning and yeah…) 

Veau’s usual lazy demeanour was nowhere to be found, his smile disappearing and Alric could feel a sudden wave of bloodthirst coming from Veau, almost suffocating him. The thugs who were still charging at Veau with their weapons, halted in their steps when Veau disappeared within a flash. 

“What the-”

“Where did he go?!”

Alric could only stand still in the spot, feeling goosebumps over his entire body. Kai who witnessed the moment via Alric’s eyes was equally terrified.

Alric: "Do I...do I ru-run? Again?"

Xue: “With Veau like that, impossible.” 

With Veau like that, Xue didn't want to fight for control over the body either. The current state of his body was in no position to fight against him.

The cowardly merchant cried internally, he wanted to switch immediately but he was startled by a shocked yelp. He hadn't recovered when more shocked exclaims were heard, one after the other.

Alric watched on with a ghastly expression, rooted to the ground and he was unable to formulate any words. He caught glimpses of a shadow tearing past the thugs, the same shadow left chaos in its wake, limbs and heads were flung into the air, followed by a trail of blood. 

“Re-retreat!”

The massacre was appalling, and the only unscathed individual, Alric, was finding himself being showered with blood, his white shirt decorated by patterns of crimson red lines. A pungent, metallic stench filled the air and Alric looked tremblingly as an arm was thrown in his direction. Alas, Alric couldn’t find the strength to move, remaining frozen in the spot. 

Xue: “...aren’t you going to avoid that?” 

Kai: “Why can’t you take pity for this fellow soul of yours? You can feel how traumatised he is!” 

The arm decided to spare Alric instead, landing right on his light grey boots and Alric could feel the severed arm weighing down on his boots, feeling its shape clearly. Alric kept his gaze fixated on the arm which was cut off cleanly from its owner, he didn't see an inch of bone or flesh sticking out of place.

He was afraid to give the severed arm a closer look, knowing he would start to gag if he did so.

The bloodbath ended within a few seconds, despite feeling like an eternity for Alric. Silence enveloped the area and the same blue-haired man appeared back in front of Alric, drenched in blood.

“Now we can talk,” Veau wore his same lazy smile, his eyes were back to normal and they were still bright with interest. “Did Xue actually communicate with you? Or did you initiate it first? How did you switch?” 

The cowardly merchant closed his eyes in response, losing his balance as if the owner itself had lost his consciousness.

“I didn't tell you to faint,” Veau furrowed his eyebrows, flicking the blood away from his hands. “What are you so scared about?"

A second has passed, and the person on the verge of falling stabilised himself, his eyes snapping open. The man no longer wore a frightened look, gazing down at himself, his eyes growing wide in surprise. 

“Wh-what? Why am I out?” the man questioned himself, scanning his body everywhere before his nose twitched and he scrunched his face in disgust, scowling at Veau. “Man, you stink of blood.” 

Veau lighted up in glee. “You aren’t Xue either, another soul?” 

Kai was still scowling, blocking his nostrils with his hand. 

Xue: “...he called the wrong person out.” 

Kai: “Why did he call me?”

Xue: “Ask him yourself.”

Xue glanced gloomily to the unconscious Alric beside him inside their mind, sighing. 

Veau circled around Kai like he caught a prey which was one of its kind, and Kai continued blocking his nostrils, glaring at Veau. 

“Haven’t you seen enough?” Kai asked, glancing discreetly at the dismembered corpses strewn about on the gravel path. 

This man is strong, even Xue is cautious about him but I don’t sense any hostility from him.

Whoever he is, it’s better if I maintain a distance from him. 

Veau finally stopped and his smile grew wider, Kai decided to hop a few steps back, eyeing Veau cautiously. 

“This is completely different from what I expected when I split you, Xue. You cooperated with your souls, even switching willingly...” he kept his gaze fixed on Kai even when Kai moved away. "Since Xue isn't coming out, you can tell me why he is behaving this way.” 

“Why should I?” Kai grew alert, not liking Veau’s tone. 

Veau shrugged. “I can just ask your memory instead.” 

Hearing those words, Xue on the inside could predict his next move.

Xue: “Don’t let him touch your face!” 

Kai was already on alert, he instantly gathered a ball of fire in his hands, blasting it in front of him, using the other arm to shield his face. The figure that Kai blasted was an afterimage, dissipating into the air and Kai clicked his tongue, glancing around, coating his fists in fire. 

“Xue warned you?” 

Veau’s voice drifted past Kai’s ears, but he was nowhere to be found. 

“So what if he did?” 

“Brilliant!” 

Kai narrowed his eyes, lowering the arm from his face and clenching his fists. He proceeded to push the fire out instead of coating his fists with it. Conjuring a line of fire with both hands, he flipped around continuously, trying to hit every single part of the air around him. 

Just then, Kai felt himself striking something and he glanced sharply at it, seeing a line of darkness clashing against his own line of fire. Veau revealed himself, his entire arm coated in darkness, his lazy smile seemingly happy and he disappeared once again. 

Xue: “Just avoid him, don’t bother fighting!"

Kai: “Why?” 

Xue: "..."

Kai: "Xue?"

Xue: "You won't win, no one can."

Kai: "...?"

Kai could feel the overwhelming sense of defeat from Xue inside his head. It was only for an extremely short moment, but Kai felt it deeply.

Kai furrowed his eyebrows, knowing that he couldn't dwell on that matter. From Xue's words, Kai understood its implied meaning.

If you have the chance, just run.

Repeating the same trick once again, this time, Kai was shocked as he watched the line of fire from his left hand being absorbed up by a ball of darkness. It was as if his fire attacks were swallowed completely.

The next moment, Veau reappeared right in front of Kai who stumbled back in alarm. Xue closed his eyes bitterly, not saying a word as Veau gripped Kai's entire face with his hand that was coated and enlarged with dark magic.

It was defeat, once again.

"Now, let me see what changed you, Xue."

***

Cecil supported Zasiok with her shoulder, the both of them trudging their way through the deserted black market. Their opponents were heavily injured, thus, they had no strength to chase after them.

In his daze, Zasiok could feel Cecil's hand trembling at his waist. He glanced down, catching sight of her bloodied hand on his ragged clothes, he knew all the blood was from their pursuers.

"You are trembling, why?" Zasiok questioned softly and Cecil paused for a second.

Cecil didn't dare look at Zasiok, trying to control her trembling but it was futile. She bit on her lower lip, inhaling deeply.

"It's fine, it's nothing," Cecil struggled out. "And you are in no state to care about others."

"You don't sound fine," Zasiok raised his eyebrows, his face pale. "And I can still listen."

"...I..." Cecil began to say, staring at Zasiok's pale face, shaking her head. "Nevermind."

Their steps were slow, shoes scraping loudly against the gravel.

"Cecil, tell me."

"..."

"...I'm..." Cecil released a shaky breath. "I'm scared."

"Scared?"

They continued walking and Cecil gazed at her free hand which was trembling violently as well.

"I...I can still feel it, the feeling of the dagger sinking into their flesh, the sound it made, the stench of blood," Cecil felt her voice growing shaky as she continued speaking. "I never knew hurting people would be this hard, and this...scary."

The adrenaline had wore out, her memory of injuring the men back in the alley remained clear in her mind, so clear that Cecil couldn't erase it. She gazed at her hands stained with blood, as if she was regarding the hand as an alien.

Though, she knew those were her own hands. The same hand that sliced and stabbed the men with no hesitation.

Cecil looked away from her hand, unable to stare at it any longer, her trembling growing worse.

"If you want to live in this world, it's something you'll have to get used to." Zasiok stated weakly, halting in his steps as he continued using Cecil as a support.

Cecil stopped as well, staring at him with slightly watery eyes. "Zasiok?"

Zasiok reached his other hand out, grasping her bloodied hand. "Just know that you are still the same Cecil Lan, who comforted me back in that prison cell."

Hearing those words, Cecil blinked her eyes rapidly, causing a stray tear to slip out from her right eye. She gasped, removing her hand from Zasiok's waist to wipe her tear away. Alas, seeing how bloody it was, she froze.

Their distance were close enough for Zasiok to catch every move, and he proceeded to squeeze her hand, as if to reassure her. She then glanced at Zasiok, her expression showed how vulnerable she was at that moment.

"Cecil Lan," he smiled gently, his weak voice somehow soothing to her ears. "You are still the same."

Once again, the same words were repeated to her and her lips quivered slightly, making her nod as she rubbed the stray tear that had rolled down to her chin.

She watched as the tear smeared the blood on her thumb, like it was washing it away. She could see a hint of her fair finger covered by the blood, and she knew she would be able to see her same old hand if she washed the blood away.

I'm still the same.

Those words, along with this sight, comforted Cecil immensely.

The trembling gradually stopped.

She lifted her head up, showing Zasiok a genuine smile. "Thank you."

Knowing that he was the reason behind that smile, Zasiok temporarily forgot about the poison in his body, his heart fluttering. He never knew how gratifying it was to make someone smile, especially someone like Cecil.

"Anytime for you, Cecil." Zasiok said without knowing and he blinked before nodding in confirmation. "Yeah, anytime for you."

Cecil was touched beyond words, her smile growing wider. "You are too nice, Zasiok."

His heart palpitated, and Zasiok smiled right back, he felt as if he was standing atop of a pedestal and no one could knock him off.

Cecil then gasped in realisation, wrapping her hand around his waist again. "We have to hurry, the poison is still in your body!"

They started to walk again.

"What about Alric?"

"He'll be fine," Cecil stated firmly. "They'll be fine."

"They?"

"We have to bring you to the healer first!" Cecil waved him off.

Zasiok wanted to reply with a nod before he felt another surge of pain within him, and he coughed harshly. A hefty amount of blood poured from his mouth again, and this time, his vision grew blurry that Zasiok couldn't see properly anymore.

"Zasiok!"

He lost his strength to stand, dragging Cecil down with him.

Zasiok cursed in his heart, feeling his consciousness drifting. "...sorry."

"Za-Zasiok!"

Cecil panicked, hurriedly placing his hand under his nose and was relieved to know he was still breathing. Nevertheless, the breathing was weak.

He's getting worse! There's no one around here, what should I--

"Hey."

Hearing that familiar, silvery voice, Cecil shot her head up. With a single glance, she could tell it wasn't Alric.

"Xue!"

Xue glanced down at Cecil, seeing her blood-stained hands and the dirty state of her dress, along with an extremely pale and motionless Zasiok.

"What happened here?" Xue frowned deeply, not liking the situation.

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

You want to save her? You have to defeat me, but you can't.

Damn you!

You can never defeat me, Xue.

I will...I will try again.

We have repeated this a million times.

Why are you doing this, Veau? What have I ever done to you?!

Nothing, it's simply because this is the way I am.

You are lying!

Veau laughed, this pitiful god can assume whatever he wants. It makes no difference.

I will release Hana, on one condition.

What is it? I'll do it, I'll do anything. She's...she's the only person I have left.

You have to tear your soul apart.

-- Path to the Supreme God

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

Her smile is really pretty, no matter how many times I see it.

It would be great if she could smile like this forever.

I want to--no...I will do anything to keep that smile on her face.

I wonder why I feel this way?

《 stop 》