CHAPTER 42: ANNIHILATORS.

Anger and despair burn through me. Everyone judges me so harshly...so brutally. I made the wrong choice. And so what if I did?

The Emperor had not been bluffing when he threatened to banish me. I was trying to get away from Fang. Even death rejected me. It was either that, or I spend my eternity as Fang’s slave.

No one knows the extent that I suffered! No one has the right to judge me anymore!

I feel rage burning through me. It courses through my veins and down to my finger tips. The power courses through me until it is too much to bear. I expel it in one powerful, angry wave.

Then, the cave starts to fall apart. I don’t bother to move. I am still a bit dazed. The power that radiated from me is something I have never experienced before. I wait for the heavy rocks and crystals to fall on me with my eyes closed. I can still hear the loud sounds of rocks crashing into rock and crashing on the ground.

But, what I don’t hear, is rocks crashing into me. I slowly open my eyes.

I blink in shock.

I am standing in a protective shield.

The entire cave crumbles to rubble, but I remain intact.

This must be Xian Xi’s handwork.

I look around the dead expanse of land. Pools of black liquid cover the surface of the rocks. My nightmares have been defeated.

I touch my stomach instinctively. I killed them again.

A figure slowly morphs into a human form and walks toward me. Shirtless, lean torso, black hair, black eyes with gold rims.

"Oze Hikaru, at your service".

I blink.

Who is he? No, more importantly, what is he? And how did he get into this nightmare?

"I need your help".

I already make up my mind to turn him down blatantly. Xian Xi had made the same request, but look at how it had turned out. Why do people even need my help anyway? What am I good for?

"How did you get here?"

He has markings on his arms. Very strange markings. Not a Gorhm, not a Kacryth, not a Yundei, not a Xiju, not anything. Maybe, he is a Yundei, but probably cursed.

"I’m nicknamed the Worm. I can infiltrate people’s nightmares by manipulating shadows - I’m a shadow bender".

I blink again.

Not today.

I turn around and start walking away. He hurries to catch up with me. The already dark scenery seems even more dark. I can feel the darkness clawing over me. Xian Xi is here somewhere.

I feel weak all of a sudden. He was supposed to understand! We are both cursed! But...he didn’t kill the Imperial battalion, he didn’t doom the entire continent to the wrath of the Demon rulers. I did.

No one ever accepts me when they know what I really am. I keep wondering why I didn’t die when my body had been cast into the sea. Everything would have ended - the prejudice, the hatred, the contempt.

I slowly sink to my knees. All these people here are stuck in limbo because of me. I took their lives away from them. Xian Xi has every reason to hate me, but it’s not justified in my point of view.

I have to fix everything somehow. I’m only good at running away and hiding. But, I can only run away for so long, I can only hide for so long. Fate always finds me.

I fist my hands as black tears drip down my cheeks.

But this time... I will be ready to face fate when it comes knocking. I won’t run anymore.

I won’t be weak anymore!

I may be a demon, but I have a heart. A heart that bleeds.

"Is everything alright?" A voice jolts me from my thoughts.

Hikaru. A shadow bender. I have only heard of them, not actually met them.

He squats beside me.

"Not the best time?"

I don’t say anything.

What does he even need me for? People should stop needing me! I’m useless. I’m a burden! A curse! And...a killer.

"We can always talk some other time, but I went through a whole ordeal just to get here".

My eyes widen and I spare him a glance. His voice is deep and musical, it sparks a memory somewhere in the back of my head.

"Would you hear me out?"

I don’t trust myself to speak, so I just nod. I wonder how I must look to him. My lips are trembling, my cheeks are stained with black tears - I must look like the very epitome of weakness.

Before I can react, he pulls me into a warm hug. I break down even further. I never knew how much I needed warmth. I’ve always been so cold, always wanting someone to reach out. A memory flashes, brief, but enough to warm me. I am in a man’s arms. The image is unusual, but it feels real.

I don’t know how long I let him hold me, but when he finally releases me, I don’t want to let go. I want to keep clinging to the little memory I just saw. In the memory, I was happy. The happiest I have ever been.

This Hikaru guy seems very patient. He is waiting for a signal from me so he can proceed with his mission.

I give him a brief nod.

"I want to raise a resistance in the Vault".

The moment I hear what he has to say, I cover his mouth with my palm. Fang is watching somewhere.

She had said that all my actions have consequences. Someone could die as a result of this single conversation.

I hear the swift sound of something slicing through the air.

I push apart from him and jump to the ground. A red thread-like wave of power cuts him into three parts - head, thorax and limbs.

I take in a breath and try to quiet my raging thoughts. Did Fang just do this?

His blood splashes on my face and garments. I can feel the slick liquid dripping from my forehead down to my lap.

I look around warily. My heart is pounding so heavily against my ribs. My vision is blurring. No tears. Not now. I can’t afford to be weak at this moment.

I can’t seem to breathe with my mouth closed. I keep panting, like I’ve just run a marathon.

Heavens, help me.

Why am I still in the nightmare? Has Xian Xi not defeated his nightmare yet?

I cover my eyes to shield the gory sight in front of me.

Guilt weighs on me. I saved only myself.

I have to find Xian Xi.

I get up slowly and dust myself off. I avoid looking at the remains of Hikaru. I would see him at the Vault after the nightmare.

The timer appears. We’re running out of time. I make a move to run, but I hear a loud growl.

I slowly turn my head and find myself staring into three large pairs of red eyes. My heart is at hyper-fast mode. All thoughts cease.

For a moment, I remain frozen in place due to shock...and fear.

Then, my mind jump-starts again. Run!

Too late.