*The Soul Pressure of everyone else is fading..*
Imaez had thought to himself.
Reality had dimmed and a darkness had engulfed his vision.
*Despair.*
The feeling he had felt when reality had sunken away.
*A mass of the dead.*
*Skeletons, molten bodies, children, human corpses. All grappling onto me*
Imaez didn't try to cover his eyes or plead.
"I'm sorry."
*I said it. But to be honest— yes I am sorry that I had to take their lives, in order to save me one.*
*but, if I were to do it again— to save myself, I'd do it without thinking.*
A child grabbed onto his white cloak— trying to sink Imaez into the madness.
"Why sir?! Why did you kill us? You took away my innocence."
"I have.. nothing." An elderly woman whispered to Imaez.
*The swarm of voices drowning me. I could cover my ears but it wouldn't do much.*
*Despair.*
Imaez had looked up.
*I'm The Reaper. A nobody. Irredeemable and selfish.* Imaez thought to himself deceitfully whilst bodies clung onto him.
"I wish I was humane. That this void didn't eat at what's left of my sanity."
*To me— insanity is, evil. Cruelty— madness.* Imaez thought to himself.
The world before him was breaking—
Light had entered from the seams.
A mirror broke— no, rather it was the dark cocoon he was entrapped inside of.
"Hey, stranger." Naomi smirked.
Vinast was in front of Imaez— ready to hit him with a kick to the skull.
"Damn it.."
She had dashed back— bumping into a chest.
"Who the hell?!-" Her eyes lit. "Adam…."
Adam dragged her back—
"Stop googling me for a second."
kkkzzz!
A burst of electricity.
Lloyd had wiped sweat—
"Hey…" He looked at Adam.
"Electric boy..!" Adam smiled. "Before we leave, let me know your name. I'm Adam."
"Lloyd…"
"Hmm, Lloyd. Fits you. Alright— bye." Adam had turned into shadow, carrying Vinast with him.
Everybody had wiped sweat off.
Imaez had begun hyperventilating. Leaning onto a stone wall.
He skimmed his hand through his hair.
*Calm down..*
His eyes closed of frustration.
*It wasn't real.*
He opened his eyes.
"Hhhh…" Imaez inhaled. "Hhhaaa." He exhaled.
"Alright.. now that we have no more opponents. We have to go evacuate and save the civilians. Old Man Art probably already beaten the-"
Naomi stopped her words. She was searching for a presence.
*Old Man Art…?* She focused on the faintest bit of pressure emitting from him.
"LET'S GO!! GIRL YOU COME WITH ME! THE OTHER TWO GO EVACUATE CITIZENS!" Naomi and Marie leaped away.
"Guess that means we gotta go too.." Lloyd tapped Imaez on his chest.
"Come on."
Imaez grabbed his blade.
"Yeah."
kkkz!! Lloyd had turned into electricity.
Imaez had amplified his physical attributes through his Pact energy and jumped off.
*Shit…!*
Naomi had been frantically looking for Artemis' distinct pressure.
They had made their way to the heart of the city— to see an old man lying— lifeless.
"No…" Marie put her hands over her mouth.
Naomi had been flying in the air—
That scene.
The image of Artemis. She fallen to the ground.
She collapsed and hit the pavement a few dozen feet away from Artemis.
Naomi knelt and slowly got herself up.
*Old Man..!!*
Naomi's arm was bloody but she walked her way to Artemis.
She put her fingers all over his body searching for any sign of life still pursuing.
"He's dead. Forever." Naomi whispered— looking at Marie behind her.
Naomi's eyes tearful and full of defeat.
"Damn it.. DAMN IT!" She screamed with all her might.
Marie looked at her with sympathy.
"It hurts, doesn't it?"
"So much.. he was like my dad." Naomi sobbed.
"My dad died… military business. I'll never forget the look of everyone in my home town." Marie looked away.
"It's too early. But what I'm trying to say is, keep moving forward. Don't let this go to waste. His death was not in vain." Marie smiled and went down to Naomi's level. "Join us, the Deathslingers. You and your friend."
Naomi said with sorrow— but with a hint of life.
"Yeah, I'd like that."