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Running With Death

Makrota
7
chs / week
The average realized release rate over the past 30 days is 7 chs / week.
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Synopsis
Every person has their own demons, their own inner battles. Is death an escape from these problems or their solution? In the end, death comes for everyone without exception. I wonder... as one walks the path of life, always on the edge, does death chase behind? And what about the one who has lost everyone they loved? Does it mean that death was always there, step by step taking away the loved ones? Does Death watch those who are destined to die even before their final hour? Who is Death, really? Only he knows the answer.
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Chapter 1 - The One You Least Expect It From

In the middle of a dimly lit room stood a man, about twenty, maybe twenty-five years old. "Where is she?" he asked, staring into the center. His long dark hair with a blue sheen was tied in a ponytail, and his sky-blue eyes were 

fixed on an elderly man in his fifties, sitting on what resembled a throne. The young man, wounded, held a sword pointed at the one sitting before him.

"Raven, fine, I'll give her to you. Just allow me to ask one last question," came the voice of the man towering in front of Raven.

"Speak, Moras," replied the blue-eyed man, sheathing his sword.

"What will you do next?" asked Moras. His face remained unreadable, but his voice was weary.

"What will I do next?.." Raven repeated, staring at the floor for a moment. "After you return Anna to me, I will kill you and create my own settlement," he answered honestly. "I gave you your answer. Now, please return her, 

and maybe I'll consider forgiving you for your sins."

Moras raised his right hand. The guard behind him immediately moved into the room behind the throne. The only light came from small holes in the walls. A minute passed, maybe two, in tense silence, until footsteps and the creak 

of a door were heard. In the doorway stood the guard, and behind him, a young girl, about nineteen. Her curly brown hair framed tear-streaked green eyes. Beneath her dress, a round belly was clearly visible, she was obviously far 

along in pregnancy. Seeing Raven, the girl hurried toward him, carefully stepping over rubble. Reaching him, she embraced him tightly and stood behind him.

"I did what you asked," Moras said in a tired voice. "Please, let me and my empire go. I've realized my mistakes. I know that mere words won't undo what I've done, but it's all I can offer."

Raven was silent for a while, thinking. "Moras, I'm sorry, but I can't just let it go. Even if you've realized everything, it doesn't change the fact that you betrayed my parents, destroyed my dojo, and killed my master," he said coldly. 

Raven drew his sword and took a step forward, only to feel a sharp pain in his back, between the kidneys and spine. 

Turning around, he saw Anna, holding a blade she had hidden beneath her dress. Anna stood above him, smiling. "You still don't get it?" she said mockingly. "Were you really that blind? You couldn't be killed at night, but now... 

Dad, I'll give birth to a new heir, and he'll replace Raven!" she shouted, turning to Moras with glee.

Raven collapsed to the floor, blood gushing from his wound. *Dad... Satoshi warned me about Anna... God, why didn't I see it? Fuck... Why? How could I be so blind? There were so many chances to figure it out, but I refused to believe... 

I'm trash. Useless. It hurts so much. So cold. I'm sorry, Dad. Sorry, Mom. Kirima-san, Satoshi, everyone... Forgive me... Forgive me for not finishing the job... I'm just a disappointment... If I had known how this would end, I never would've 

ordered the castle assault... In the end, I'm alone again... Was it all just a play from the start?... I figured it out too late... In the end... I was the fool...*

Closing his eyes, Raven felt a strange peace. Disappointment, bitterness, and sorrow faded away, replaced by serenity "We'll meet again," a voice whispered before he finally faded. It was so familiar. He knew it. But he couldn't say whose 

it was. As if someone had hidden that truth from him. 

Surprisingly, he began to hear something. Some time later, he opened his eyes. What he saw left him speechless. Three figures stood before him. A middle aged man, tall and muscular, with short black hair like raven feathers. An older 

woman in white, looking like a healer. And another, young, no older than twenty, with long white hair, golden eyes, and a curvy figure, held him in her arms, tears in her eyes. Looking at his hands, Raven realized he was a baby again. 

He couldn't understand what they were saying. The language was foreign.

Eventually, he closed his eyes again... and fell asleep.