"It's already morning," Hidan said first. "You still not getting out?"
Shinji smiled weakly.
"Leg cramp. Give me a minute. You go ahead."
Hidan stared at him.
Liar.
Shinji had the same idea.
They both knew it.
"I'll wait," Hidan said.
"No need."
"I'm not leaving."
"Then neither am I."
Silence.
Around them, the watching cultists exchanged strange looks.
Lord Takigawa's expression darkened.
"So neither of you intends to leave?"
No response.
He laughed coldly.
"Fine. Stay."
"Post guards here. If either of them tries to leave, beat them back into the pool."
"Also, draw blood every hour. Continue recording data."
"Yes, Lord Takigawa!"
Several cultists smiled unpleasantly.
After Lord Takigawa left, Shinji and Hidan both felt a chill crawl up their spines.
Still, neither backed down.
They were immortal.
A little blood loss wouldn't kill them.
Six hours passed.
Neither moved.
Their faces had turned pale.
Prolonged heat.
Repeated blood draws.
Severe dizziness.
A cultist approached holding a syringe as thick as a child's arm.
"Time again."
"Confess and leave now…"
"Or donate some more valuable blood."
Hidan's lips were nearly green.
But he clenched his teeth.
"I'm fine."
He glanced sideways.
"You look worse than me."
Shinji gave a faint smile.
"Feels great. Might fall asleep."
Hidan snorted.
"Yeah? I swam in boiling water when I was six."
Shinji replied calmly.
"Ever tried drinking lava?"
Hidan's face twitched.
"Let's count. One. Two. Three. We leave together."
"Sure."
"One. Two. Three."
Neither moved.
They glared at each other.
"You didn't go."
"Neither did you."
Hidan closed his eyes.
"…Draw."
Shinji extended his arm.
The syringes went in.
Blood flowed.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Then—
The cultist froze.
No more blood entered the tube.
He turned.
Shinji's head had slumped sideways.
Skin shriveled.
No breathing.
"He's dead!"
Panic erupted.
"Notify Lord Takigawa!"
"What about the other one?!"
"Get Hidan out first!"
They rushed to lift Hidan.
For the first time all night, Hidan smiled.
I won.
Then—
Shinji's eyes snapped open.
He shoved the cultist away and dropped back into the pool.
Their eyes met.
Shinji mouthed two words.
"Goodbye."
Hidan's pupils shrank.
"YOU CHEATED—!"
He was dragged out before he could finish.
Realization hit too late.
Shinji had never been drained dry.
He had stopped his blood from flowing.
Blood Art: Red Dominion.
A fake death.
Hidan's vision darkened.
Condition Detected
Objective Completed.
Synchronization Level Increased+20
Reward GrantedCursed Treasure Map ×1Cursed Energy Points ×500
Shinji let his body sink deeper into the water.
He allowed himself to pass out.
Winning was all that mattered.
Honor had never been part of the deal.