In a sudden flash, the light swallowed Jihan and Ivaan, and the demons who were trying to devour them at the last moment were left standing there.
Before anyone could finish their words, time suddenly sped up and snatched away every chance to make a move.
In his sorrowful life, another story of pain, suffering, and loss had now been added.
"In a lonely long life full of failures, it is better for it to end one day."
The bright light stole Ivaan's ability to see anything.
When he finally regained his senses, the only thing visible to him was blurred faces.
First one among them was an innocent-looking face one he could never truly like.
But instead of asking any questions, he pushed everyone aside.
He grabbed Jihan by the collar and lifted him slightly off the ground. His cold eyes burned like dying embers ready to flare into flames.
"Why did you do this…?"
His voice was low, but each word cut like a blade.
"We were almost there."
His grip tightened, the fabric tearing under his fingers as his nails pressed deeper.
The veins in his arms stood out, pulsing like thunder beneath his skin.
The air around them grew heavy. Everyone nearby froze. Some stepped back, while others whispered in fear. The medics continued their work, but their hands trembled.
They all knew ,if Ivaan lost control now, this place would no longer remain a field of healing.
It would turn into a graveyard.
But instead of felt guilty his reply seem more arrogent like his behavior, Jihan spoke in a harsh tone with a faint, plain smile.
"No… you can't."
"Tell me, are you so lost in the fight that you have become completely blind?"
Before he could say another word, Jihan vomited a stream of blood, leaving dark stains on his black attire.
"Don't you see? The more we try to dig, the more we lose. Tell me, why was the first team facing more problems? Why didn't the rest have to struggle with the same consequences?"
As the words reached Ivaan's ears and he saw his knights in dying condition, along with the fading life threads, he felt helpless and powerless.
"The answer is very simple. Darkskin was never touched by anyone, but now suddenly so many lives are trying to look inside. Darkskin is now afraid, and its fear will swallow everything."
"What we have seen till now was the magic used by the ancestors, and everyone knows that they never attacked anyone ,they only protected everyone."
"Isn't it our duty now to protect? At least while we are still alive… this is the best time to retreat."
Ivaan's eyes widened. His grip loosened, and Jihan almost fell to the ground, but someone caught him.
Ivaan thought to himself, "It was all a lie… it can't be. It can't be the result of my wrong decision. It was a completely calculated move."
"It was perfect. Every move was meant to succeed attack, defense, and even the healing."
"Or did I miscalculate the strength of our enemy? If what he said is true, then I am truly at fault… but everyone agreed to it."
Ivaan clenched his fists and, with a deep breath, ordered,"Retreat."
And with that single command, the fading red thread trap vanished. The endangered threads were healed, and everything began to change with just one order from him.
With the changing situation and time, as they finally departed from Darkskin, most of the knights had already left.
Ivaan was sitting on his horse, watching his men. Their faces were shining with the thought of returning, even after their technical failure.
"Humans are pathetic, absurd animals… the more you live, the harder they are to understand."
"At first, they are ready to lose anything to gain something, even if the cost is to betray someone… acting as if the only thing that matters in the end is winning."
His carriage horse moved too slowly, and he started to fall behind. His fingers were loosely wrapped around the bridle, leaving a slight gap between them.
Ivaan, the beautifully carved statue, had completely lost his shine.
It reminded him of a time from his unforgettable past.
That time of broken heart… a few years ago…
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