For two hours I had run, scouring the woods to find that bastard, but he remained elusive.
"Where the hell did he go..." I muttered aloud, frustration coiling in my gut.
Then, I saw him—a flash of movement near the treeline. "Ha ha, finally," I whispered, a cold, predatory smile spreading across my face. "Found him."
Joren Vale POV
Two kilometers. Just two more kilometers and I would be inside the village. I was lucky to have survived that beast attack.
I only lost one eye, but it didn't matter. Now, I could finally become a knight in the Duke's house. I had the flag. I didn't think any other candidate could have survived, though maybe Jesse...the tiger had only caught her hand and sent her flying. Regardless, I had the flag and I would win.
But the real question is ??
How did he survive? Tyler. I had seen Rehman slit his throat. So why was he alive?
When I encountered him in the water fall, I acted like I knew nothing because I didn't want to take the risk i know he don't remember but still.
After killing him, my gang and I went for the flag, but the tiger attacked and killed all of them. Even Rehman was eaten alive.
Because of that I had stayed hidden all night, terrified the tiger would return. In the morning, I heard footsteps, and when I made a sound, the person came to help. I had planned to kill any other candidate the moment they let their guard down, but I heard his voice. It was Tyler. The shock cleared when I finally opened my one good eye and saw his face.
I noticed immediately that he didn't seem to remember me or what I had done. I was moments away from killing him with my dagger when he mentioned the Mist.
I knew that black mist the one that killed my friends and the other children who had come for the flag. How could such a high-rank monster be in the outer zone? Hearing the mention of the mist, I opened my eyes fully. Tyler looked like he had been fighting, but his neck had no scar. I didn't have time to inquire. I quickly gained his trust and sent him toward the waterfall, then ran for my life, not looking back and tyler would not survive this time.
"Ha ha ha, Tyler, that's what you get, demon!" I laughed to myself, a massive grin splitting my face.
A flicker of sadness passed. We used to be true friends in childhood, but now all I wanted was him dead.
It all started when I, Joren Vale, became an orphan at the age of seven. After my parents died in a monster attack, I was sent to the Goodness of Light Orphanage in the village. That's where I met Sister Mariya, the other church kids, and Tyler. We were the same age and became instant friends.
But slowly, I realized the villagers didn't like Tyler. They said he was the child of a demon because of his red eyes. I was young, but I started ignoring him. When I made friends with the village children, they confirmed it: demons have those eyes, and his mother committed suicide because of him.
From then on, I ignored Tyler. He became alone. I even tried to turn the orphanage children against him, but they didn't believe me...a mere demon...over him....the supposed human. Even Jun Park, the girl I liked, didn't believe me. She was seventeen and knew the truth from the start, but she grew angry with me. She gave me a look of pure rage for defending her demon friend.
Now, Jun, I'll show you.
"Jun, you'll love me when I become the kni..."
My triumphant thoughts were cut short. A hand clamped around my ankle, and I was airborne for a moment before being slammed brutally into the ground. The impact stole my breath.
"Are you really not awakened, because you run like one... What's your name? I don't even remember that, you know. After waking up, I don't remember much,"I heard the voice...the same voice I had left for dead. When I finally gathered my wits and looked up, the sight shocked me. He was alive, and not just alive...he was in better shape than before.
"How... how are you still alive? This is no joke," I stammered, my frustration and fear peaking.
"Not happy to see me alive for the second time?" he asked, his smile chilling me to the bone.
"No, Tyler, what happened in the forest...I don't know! I ran because I was scared, Tyler, I was so scared of... of that thing," I pleaded, desperately trying to sell the lie. "I was running to the village to get help! Please, Tyler, help me. Let's go to the village together and save the others." Just fall for it, you idiot.
Tyler Dreven POV
"Are you really not awakened, because you run like one... What's your name? I don't even remember that, you know. After waking up, I don't remember much," I asked him. He was struggling to stand, his one eye wide with shock.
"How... how can you still alive? This is no joke," he choked out, his voice truly frustrated at my existence.
"Not happy to see me alive for the second time?" I replied, giving him a small smile. I wasn't usually one to smile, but this felt right.
"No, Tyler, what happened to you in the forest, I don't know! I was not there, and that time I ran because I was scared, Tyler, I'm scared... of that thing... and Tyler, I was going to the village for getting help here so please help me Tyler let's go village together and go there save the other..." he pleaded, his voice desperate, but his words hollow.
"Your name?" I interrupted, cutting through his lie.
"Wh... what?"
"I asked what your name is. Answer me, fast."
"Joren Vale," he answered, clearly this time.
"Joren. I might have believed you if you and I had run away together. But you didn't just run; you used me as bait. I might even have believed your lie about what happened in the forest with me, but the Tiger told me everything. And I see no reason for him to lie." I said, my thumb rubbing the hilt of my sword as my expression hardened.
Joren dropped the act, lunged for his dagger, and threw it at my head.
I ducked just in time. The blade zipped past my face.
"Wow, Joren, you were literally going to kill me this time," I said, pulling the sword from its sheath.
"I think you forgot, Tyler, but I used to defeat you in every fight! You were never able to beat me. So what if you didn't die from a slit throat? Rehman must not have cut deep enough. So what if you survived the tiger? You must have gotten lucky, or the Mist Beast let you leave, seeing how weak you are! What can you expect when you haven't even Awakened?" he challenged, pulling a second dagger and coating the tip with a dark liquid.
Joren watched me, but I looked up to the sky and started laughing.
"Ha ha ha! And what makes you think I'M NOT AWAKENED?"
With that, I unleashed the Dark Pressure skill.
Joren wasn't even able to withstand it. His eyes were wide with terror, his legs stopped responding, and he instantly fell to his knees.
I slowly walked over to him, rested the tip of my sword on his neck, and then released the skill's pressure.
"I ask the questions, and you answer. Is that clear? My questions: What do you know about me? Why do you want to kill me? And why were there so many children comes in the forest ?" I demanded.
"How did you Awaken..."
SLAP!
"I made it clear: I ask, you answer." The slap was sharp, driving my point home.
"You came to the church orphanage when you were two. The villagers hated you because red eyes belong only to demons. Sister Mariya saved you and proved to the village you had no demon blood, and they believed her. But that day shadow followed you everywhere. As you grew up, you stopped going to the village because the children bullied you. I met you at the orphanage at seven. We were friends. You were kind, and all the children and sisters loved you for it, despite your reputation. And I was jealous! I wanted that love, but they treated me like an outsider. You, the demon-spy, were like their own." He spoke with bloodshot eyes, his anger overriding his fear.
System, is there a chance I have demon blood? I asked internally.
[No. The System has not detected any Demon blood in the host,] the System replied. [The host is 100% human.]
I focused back on Joren. "So I asked you to come with me to play with the village children... but they beat you instead. I felt a sense of relief when you were beaten badly. You cried, but you hid it from the children and sisters at the church," he continued.
"So you killed me just for that? Just for being jealous that I get the love of the church and you don't?" I asked in a joking tone.
"No. The beating satisfied me for most of the time, but then Jun came to the village. She was a helper for Sister Mariya. I liked her ,she was three years older than me, but I still liked her. But than I see she talked to you with a smile which she never give me but she giving the smile for, a demon! I became even angrier. The simple beatings weren't enough. I wanted to do something more. Then, a Knight from the Duke's house....and the son of the village lord....came. He was looking for talent our age to become knights for the Princess, to accompany her to the academy."
His last words finally captured my full attention.
"Sir Tev gave us an opportunity: survive one day in the forest, get the flag, and return to the village. All the children from fourteen to fifteen were forced to participate. That's when I made a plan. We would kill you there. I convinced Reman and his gang by telling them we had to kill the demon and present his body to the knight. I accompanied you to ensure you reached the spot, and they killed you. But here you are, standing in front of me. Reman and his friends all died from the tiger. I survived by luck." He spoke of it casually, as if swatting a fly.
"What was my reaction when you people were about to kill me?" I asked, looking down at the ground.
Joren looked confused and didn't answer.
"Please tell me, Joren. I'm just curious," I said slowly.
"You... you begged us to stop. You said we could beat you until our hearts were full, but please don't kill you. You would even leave this place. You started crying. For a moment, I was about to stop Rehman, and then he did it anyway," he said sadly.
Hearing this, I removed the sword from his neck.
Even he cried just like i, did the original Tyler also get the second chance just like me? I don't know, but hearing this, I feel a little sadness for the original Tyler and his life.
Ding!
[The host will now receive the small memories of the previous owner of the body.] the System notified me.
I froze for a second the scene flood in my mind when Tyler die, then looked Joren in the eye with icy coldness.
"Joren, when you said you tried to stop Rehman, what was your expression?" I asked, as he remained on his knees.
"I was sad, Tyler! But now I finally understand my mistake! Please, I'm sorry, Tyler, and.and.. fck you!"
Saying the last words, he moved the hidden dagger in his sleeve toward my neck, but he was too slow.
"Why do you people like my neck so much? Do you think I'm wearing some jewelry there?" I asked. Joren's eye bulged from its socket. The reason was simple: I had plunged my sword into his gut.
"What, you thought I'd fall for it? Sorry, but I survived four near-death encounters in one day, and my opponents were much stronger than you." I pushed my hand, driving the sword deeper. He coughed, blood bubbling from his mouth.
"I asked you a question about your expression in my final moments... Well, looking at you, I see you're in no condition to answer. So I'll answer for you. You were f*cking ENJOYING IT. You GAVE A SMILE." I pulled the sword out with a sickening squelch.
He staggered backward. I picked up the dagger he had dropped, grabbed his hair, and pulled his head toward me.
"Please, Tyler, leave me! I'll leave this place! I will tell the villagers what do and what i did to you so please!" he cried, clutching his gut to stop the bleeding.
I pressed the dagger against his neck.
"You liked to smile while seeing my neck split, didn't you, Joren?"
He was hysterical now, clutching my arm, pleading for his life. "I don't want to die, Tyler... please, bro, please let me live! I will leave this place! You are my best friend! Even though I did all this, I know you shouldn't do anything to others... You're just not that kind of person. I know you won't do it, Tyler."
He looked at me with a desperate hope, but I crushed it with my next words.
"Sorry, Joren, but I'm not Tyler."
I let the words sink in for a heartbeat, then I dragged the dagger across his throat. The blade opened him in a wet, rasping cut .... hot, coppery blood burst free, splattering my hand and face ,and hissing as it hit the dry ground. His body went slack and slid from my feet with a dull, final thud.
"Hope you never find peace, Joren," I said, cleaning the blood off my face. It felt wrong, but seeing him only reminded me of Morris.
"I hope I can do the same to Morris and his little bitch, Vency, someday."