Shadow Slaves
Chapter 13: The Moment of Truth

A smile froze on the Hero's face. He lowered his head, as if embarrassed. After about a minute had passed, shrouded in a heavy silence, he finally replied.

“Yes. I thought if I did it while you were sleeping, you wouldn't have to suffer.”

Unseen by her, a bitter grin appeared on Sunny's face.

******* length out of the young soldier's lips. He leaned his back against the cave wall, still not looking up.

“I don't expect you to forgive me. This sin, too, will be mine to bear. But, please, if you can, find it in your heart to understand. If the circumstances were different, I would happily face that monster.” to let you escape. But my life .. is not my own. There are unsurpassed tasks that I have to fulfill. Until it was over, I could not allow myself to die. “

Sunny laughing.

“You ... Look at you! Plans to kill me and still insists on having a good reason. Very comfortable! I really hate hypocrites like you. Why don't you be honest once? Don't give me that shit. Just say it! I'll kill you because it's easy. I'll kill you because I want to survive.”

The hero closed his eyes, his face full of sadness.

“Sorry. I know you won't be able to understand.”

“What to understand?”

Sunny leaned forward, anger flowing in his veins.

“Tell me. Why do I have to die?”

The young soldier finally looked up. Although unable to see in the darkness, he turned his face towards Sunny's voice.

“The man is a criminal. The smell of blood is too heavy for you. That will attract the beast.”

“You can let me go, you know. We're gonna split up. After that whether the monster finds me or not, it is not your problem.”

The hero shook his head.

“Death in the belly of the creature.. is too cruel destiny. It's better if I do it myself. After all, you are my responsibility.”

“How noble are you.”

Sunny leaned back, sad. After a while, he quietly said:

“You know... When I just came here, I was ready to die. After all, in all these two worlds, there really isn't a single soul that cares whether I live or die. When I leave, no one will be sad. No one will remember that I ever existed.”

There was a sad expression on his face. However, a moment later, it was gone, replaced by excitement.

“But then I changed my mind. Somewhere along the way, I decided to survive. I have to survive, no matter what.”

Hero gave him a serious look.

“To live a life worth remembering?”

Sunny grinned. A dark glint appeared in his eyes.

“No. To hate you all.”

The young soldier was silent for a moment, then nodded, receiving this answer. He stands.

“Do not worry. I'll make it quick.”

“Are you not very confident? What makes you think you're gonna kill me? Maybe I'll kill you instead.”

The hero shook his head.

“I doubt it.”

But in the next second, he staggered and fell on one knee. The young man's face turned deathly pale, and with a groan of pain, he suddenly vomited blood.

A satisfied smile appeared on Sunny's face.

“Finally.”

***

“Finally.”

The hero stood on his knees, the bottom of his face covered in blood. Surprised, he looked at her hand, trying to understand what had happened to her.

“What ... what magic is this?”

With wide eyes and a pale face, he turned his head towards Sunny.

“Is ... is the thief right? Did you put the curse of the Shadow God on us?”

Sunny sighed.

“I wish I had the ability to cast a divine curse, but I don't. To be honest, I have no ability at all.”

“Then how?”

The young boy shrugged his shoulders.

“That's why I poisoned all of you.”

Hero flinched, trying to understand his words.

“What?”

“After the tyrant first attacked, you sent me to look for water. While collecting urns from the dead soldiers, I squeeze Bloodbane juice into each one except mine, of course. Not enough to taste it, but enough to kill anyone slowly.who will drink from them.”

The soldier gritted his teeth, fighting against the pain. Awareness suddenly appeared on his face.

“So that's why.. the other two are in a very bad condition.”

Sunny nodded.

“Shifty drinks the most, so his condition worsens the fastest. Scholar's not long in the world either, but you finished him off before the poison could. But yourself, it's as if Bloodbane has no effect on you. I'm really starting to worry.”

The hero's face darkened.

“So... I understand.”.

“But at that time you did not know that we would attack you.”

Sunny just laughed.

“Oh, please. Its clear. Shifty is the type of person who will kill for the sake of a pair of boots. The scholar is like a wolf in sheep's clothing. Selfish and cruel people in the best situations should I believe that they both will not do anything bad to me when facing a certain death?”

The hero spat out more blood.

“Then...how about me?”

“You?” A disdainful expression appeared on Sunny's face. “You are the worst of them.”

“Why?”

Sunny looked at him and leaned forward.

“I may not have learned much in my short life, but I know one thing,” he said, all traces of humor are gone from his voice.

Now there was only a cold and heartless humiliation. Sunny's face hardened as she spat:

“There is nothing more pathetic than a slave who begins to trust his slave.”

Hearing these words, Hero lowered his head.

“So so.”

And then, suddenly, he laughed.

“You ... you evil little bastard, aren't you?”

Sunny rolled her eyes.

“No need to be rude.”

But Hero didn't listen to him.

“Good. Lfs nice. My conscience will be clearer.”

The young boy sighed in annoyance.

“What are you muttering? Just die.”

The hero chuckled and suddenly stabbed him with a gaze. Somehow, he doesn't look so sick anymore.

“You know, the plan will work if I am a normal human being. But, unfortunately, my Soul Core has long risen. I have killed countless enemies and absorbed their power. Bloodbane poison, may not be pleasant, will never be able to kill me.”

‘Omong empty!’

Sunny turned around and tried to escape, but it was too late. Something hit his back, making his body crash into the stone wall. With a shout, he felt a sharp pain stabbing his left side. Rolling out of the cave, Sunny clutched his chest, got back up and ran, trying to escape from the narrow gap.

He managed to reach the old path, finally being able to see the stars and pale moon shining brightly in the night sky. But that's as far as he can get.

“Stop.”

As a cold voice rang out behind him, Sunny froze. If the Hero really had a Risen Soul Core, he had no chance of getting away from it. In the fight, he had no chance at all.

“Protating.”

The young slave obediently turned around, raising his hand. He looked at Hero, who wiped the blood off his face with a displeased look in his eyes. The two of them stared at each other, shivering in a deadly chill.

“Is it worth it? Doesn't matter. Regardless of that, I will keep my promise. I'll do it quickly.”

The soldier drew his sword.

“Do you have any last words?”

Sunny did not answer.

However, a small silver bell suddenly appeared in his hand.

The hero frowned.

“Where did you hide that thing?”

Sunny shook the bell. A beautiful and clear ringing sound flowed over the mountain, filling the night with a dazzling melody.

“What are you doing?! Stop!”

The young boy obediently stopped.

“What was”

Right under Hero's confused eyes, the silver bell disappeared into thin air. He looked at Sunny, confused and suspicious.

“Say! What did you just do?”

But Sunny did not answer. In fact, he had not said a word since escaping from the cave. Right now, he's not even breathing.

The hero, on the other hand, continued to speak.

“Tell me now or you'll regret it.”

He frowned.

“Why didn't you say anything?”

The shivering boy just stared at him, completely silent.

He stared at the darkness behind him.

The eyes of the Hero are wide.

“What”