A cruel, deep laugh echoed through the air, sending shivers down the spines of everyone who heard it. The sound seemed to seep into their bones, heavy and oppressive, as if mocking their every effort.
"How unpleasant it must feel," a voice boomed, dripping with malice, "to fail just before the moment of success."
Ivaim froze in place, standing inches from the glowing knife. His chest tightened as fear and awe battled within him.
The sinister power of the voice weighed on him, making his legs feel like lead. But it wasn’t just fear holding him back—something darker stirred in his heart.
Betrayal.
The thoughts were not his own, yet they pulsed with a terrible intensity.
"Betray the trust they have placed on you..."
These whispers clawed at his mind, drowning out reason, stronger than his will.
As he stood paralyzed, unable to move, ethereal chains began to sprout from the ground once more. Their ghostly glow lit the chamber as they slithered toward him, ready to strike.
Suddenly, a small figure darted forward.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.
Reves.
The boy moved with surprising speed, his tiny frame slipping under the chains just in time. He leaped toward the knife, his hand reaching out to grab it.
In one swift motion, he pulled it free and immediately yanked a thin, shimmering veil from his pocket.
That’s right! Ivaim wasn’t the one meant to retrieve the knife— he was the distraction!
The Master of Cruelty’s chains lashed out furiously, but it was too late. The veil in Reves’ hand began to glow with a brilliant light, its edges rippling as if alive.
A second later, the light expanded, and both Nathan and the Black Veil Master appeared beside Reves, their bodies pulled through the thin layer of magic.
Nathan didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Ivaim, yanking him out of harm’s way and pulling him close to the others. The glow of the knife intensified as Reves held it tightly.
The air around them shifted, and a strange voice filled their heads:
[Would you like to enter this Fractured Reality?]
The question hung in the air, clear and steady, as if waiting for their answer.
But just as they were about to confirm their entry, a sharp, chilling wave swept through their minds.
"Why trust them? They’ll only drag you down."
"Take the knife and leave. You don’t need anyone else."
"They’ll betray you the first chance they get."
The Master of Cruelty had not given up. His power seeped into their hearts, twisting their thoughts and threatening to tear them apart from within.
The ground trembled violently before chains erupted from below, glowing with an eerie, spectral light. They coiled around the four of them with unnatural precision, tightening with each passing moment.
The cold, unyielding metal bit into their skin, leaving no room for escape.
"What a pity…" a deep, mocking voice rumbled, dripping with cruel satisfaction. The Master of Cruelty’s towering form loomed over them, his shadow stretching far and wide.
His hollow eyes glinted with malice as his chains bound their bodies and hopes alike.
"I expected more since one of the key causes of our fall from the prophecy is here," he continued, his tone calm but laced with sadistic amusement.
"But this…" He gestured lazily toward them, as if their struggle was beneath him. "…is just disappointing."
The chains pulled tighter, forcing the four of them to their knees. The oppressive weight of his power bore down on them, threatening to break not just their bodies but their spirits.
Ivaim gritted his teeth, his heart pounding as the Master’s cruel words sank in. His thoughts swirled with confusion and doubt, the earlier whispers of betrayal still echoing in his mind. He struggled against the chains, but they held firm, unyielding.
Nathan glared up at the Master, his breath heavy and uneven. His muscles strained as he tried to summon his [Metal Manipulation], but the chains seemed to sap his strength, leaving him trapped.
The Black Veil Master remained eerily calm, her dark eyes calculating as she scanned their bindings, no doubt searching for any weakness to exploit.
Reves trembled beside them, his small frame shaking under the weight of fear. He bit his lip, trying to stay brave, but the chains felt too strong, the Master’s presence too overwhelming.
The Master of Cruelty tilted his helmeted head, his eerie, silent gaze sweeping over them. His presence felt like an oppressive shadow, pressing down on their every movement. His voice cut through the air, dark and twisted with curiosity.
"You were so close," he murmured, his words dripping with cruel satisfaction. "And yet, here you are, helpless. How delightfully ironic."
His laughter rang out, hollow and chilling.
"I’ve sat upon the Thrones for years," he continued, his tone shifting, a flicker of boredom lacing his words. "Time stretches on, and in its endless passing, I have grown weary of it all."
He took a slow step forward, his chains rattling with a sickening rhythm as he watched their strained faces.
"To those who don’t know, probably assume I’m here to kill the child in the prophecy," he said, his voice growing darker, filled with mocking amusement. "To secure our place as the Ten Throne Holders. To ensure our dominance remains unchallenged."
Ivaim’s heart raced. He felt his body tighten against the chains, but no matter how hard he struggled, they refused to give. He could feel the Master’s words sinking in, each one a cold weight on his chest.
The Master of Cruelty’s tone shifted, his gaze locking onto them with a strange finality.
"But it’s not as simple as that," he continued, a dark chuckle escaping from behind his helmet.
"The truth is, there’s no longer any fight left in us. Not for me. Not for any of us, aside from Two."
He tilted his head slightly, his voice dropping to a low, almost reverent whisper.
"We’ve come to accept our fate. Our end."
Ivaim’s breath caught in his throat. The Master’s words held an unnerving weight, one that was difficult to shake.
"Still," the Master said, as though recalling something deep and ancient, "we knew this day would come long ago. We’ve always known. Those Fractured Realities… they’re a lie."