"Exec–"

Ae'shkar was about to order the charge when, suddenly, the entire cave began to rumble, dust falling from the ceiling.

Everyone hurriedly looked around to see for themselves what was going on.

It wasn't that hard to tell that the cave was collapsing, but what got their attention was the purple, once-pulsing crystals.

They were now fully illuminated as if in overdrive.

In fact, they had been, since earlier. It was just that everyone was too busy to notice.

"MEGHEKGHEKGHEK!" a familiar, nightmarish cackle then sounded from behind the human bladeborn duo, followed by yet another spine-chilling song:

"Humans and grays… they've come… to play~ But the stones won't ask… which bones it slays…Down we fall… in night's embrace…Come dance with me… in this final place…"

"Damn it!" cursed Ae'shkar and Lothara in unison, immediately turning to flee.

As for whether they would make it, there was a chance, but the higher probability was that they wouldn't make it.

The two SS-rankers knew all too well how long dismantling the red barrier would take.

It was truly up to the gods and goddesses whether they would survive or not, but trying is better than merely standing around.

Meanwhile, Daru and Iris looked at each other, hints of easy acceptance reflecting in their gazes

They would probably lose a life here.

After all, if they charge now, the Vesharis would likely engage and stop them.

This would only delay everyone, leaving the satyr ultimately victorious.

"Go, leave with the crystal." Daru began. "I'm the one responsible for this. I can't allow you to lose a life because of me dragging you down here. I'll ensure the Vesharis share the same fate."

But Iris only locked gazes with him for a moment, as though attempting to peer through his eyes and read his thoughts.

She then responded with a sudden question: "But you can't kill this swordspawn, can you? Is it because of the quest?"

Daru raised a brow, admitting in all honesty: "Yes, why?"

Iris answered with an action, retrieving the crystal from her inventory and giving it to Daru, who frowned.

"I can't–"

Daru was about to vehemently refuse and return the teleportation item to Iris when she cut off his words — not out of rudeness but respectful urgency.

"I can kill him. The rewards of killing a mythical swordspawn are enough for me to sacrifice a life for. Besides, the government promised that they would give all top-rankers who would lose their lives in this event a replacement heart."

Daru opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Like he had been claiming, he wasn't dumb. He knew that if he stayed behind, the rewards would be far less for a life lost.

It was just the issue of who would lose a life that made his logic wrestle with his principles.

But with the government's promise, the scales were tipped significantly to the side of the former.

If he left using the crystal, then Iris would obtain the kill rewards of a mythical spawn in exchange for a life that can be reclaimed quite easily.

He would also probably be able to obtain a fourth of the satyr's soul — whatever that meant— and still manage to avoid meeting with the government.

On the other hand, if he stayed, the benefits would be far less and the consequences more.

Daru took a deep breath.

"Then thank you for this, Iris," he said in all seriousness, tapping Iris' shoulder as a sign of awkward gratitude.

But he didn't leave immediately, turning to Kazuraga and walking closer.

He then pulled out a map from his inventory.

"Take it."

Daru knew that the dying satyr would have no use for it anymore, given his hopeless situation, but he still wanted to complete the satyrian contract anyway.

Whether Kazuraga accepts the map or rejects it, the results would be the same, since the spawn wouldn't be able to fulfill his end of the agreement, while he fulfilled his.

"MEGHEKGHEK…are you mocking me too, tainted brat?" was the satyr's unexpected response, laced with a hint of self-deprecation.

But Daru's brows only furrowed, and Kazuraga saw it before his vision began to blur.

"Why would I mock you? If anything, I regret that you aren't in a good condition, and that I wasn't strong enough to fight you without having to rely on those Vesharis' crystals."

Daru then paused for a moment, easing into a faint smile before saying:

"You were mighty, Kazuraga."

The satyr couldn't respond, not knowing how to feel.

Why?

Why couldn't the brat just be so hateful?

That way, he would've died with the familiar bitterness and vengeance he had lived with for the past seven decades.

Why the hell does he have to deal with such unfamiliar emotions on his few final breaths?

Kazuraga had the urge to cry, but he didn't know how to.

He had long forgotten.

The Dark Satyr only stared at the ceiling, unresponsive as the sounds of another set of footsteps — his executioner's — neared.

'Yes...that's better...'

Who would've expected that he would die a little happier than he expected?

He, a so-called mythical swordspawn who has done nothing but live for revenge, do dishonest acts, and reap innocent lives, still deserved this?

But he would not honor the gods for being merciful. He would never.

The bastards, who toyed with his soul, forcing him to live in the body of such an ugly creature, only to have him suffer such injustice, deserved his respect?

He'd rather rot in whatever place he had to with a fourth of himself missing instead.

Kazuraga, lost in his dying thoughts, soon fell to the cold yet comforting embrace of oblivion as an icy-blue blade ended his suffering.

*Ding!*

The sounds of notifications then followed, but Daru only spared the ones in front of him a glance.

He shall check the Satyr Soul that was deposited into his inventory later.

For now, he held the Blink Crystal tightly, tapping on the [Use] button in front of him.

Iris watched with a smile as he vanished after being enveloped by a blue light.

A moment later, Daru opened his eyes again, and the first thing he saw was…dust falling from a dirt ceiling.

He then heard panicked voices coming from the dirt path in front of him:

"We're close to the exit, don't think and just move your legs!" roared Ae'shkar as he mustered all the strength in his legs, dashing uphill.

They still had to crawl and had not a second to lose.

Shifting his gaze forward, the SS-ranker Veshari froze.

"You…how are you here?!"

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