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All too soon, though, I feel it when my time as a free man starts to dwindle.
Once the gem recognizes my avid protest, an invisible pull begins like there’s a rope between me and the amulet. Struggling against it, I continue hacking away at the imaginary guards with my sword, but my feet are slipping across the floor.
I give up on the mob. When I face Armand, several blades slice me on the arm, and one stabs my right side, but I heal myself immediately.
Thinking he’s got me beat, Armand makes the guards disappear so he can give me his full attention.
He and Yugo come out from their shelter behind the throne. They want to witness my demise, and they smile when I’m lifted off the floor. My toes drag as I float toward the gem against my will.
It’s a huge mistake for Armand to think this is over, but I feed into his assumption. I drop my sword and machete in a show of surrender just to lull him into a false sense of security.
His shoulders relax, and he puts an arm around Yugo with a look of cheerful confidence.
I’m about to wipe the arrogance off his fucking face.
Rapidly, I lift my throwing knife off my belt and chuck it as hard as I can.
It hits my intended target—Yugo’s heart.
Yugo chokes out a sound of pain as he glances down at the blade embedded in his chest, and Armand wails, “No!” before yanking the knife out.
A rivulet of blood leaks from the gash, painting Yugo’s bare torso with a red line. His legs buckle, and Armand catches him to lower him to the floor.
It’s nice to see Armand on his knees for once.
I’m tempted to taunt him about it, but I need to use what time I have left to strategize.
I won’t be able to kill Yugoandmaim Armand to the point that he’s incapacitated, so I’m choosing the latter as the priority.
Before I’m sucked into the gem, I need to cause as much injury to the overlord as I can. Armand’s arms must go first, and if I cut off a leg as well, that will be a bonus.
In an ideal ending, I’ll be so quick and coordinated that I’ll lop off Yugo’s head, too, but I’m probably being overly optimistic.
Still, I prepare for it and get my ax.
Ro
Terror grips me as Kai slides closer to his doom.
Sparing just a second, he looks over his shoulder at me.
In his brief glance, there’s love, relief, approval, and appreciation.
He’s glad.
Glad to be the one who’s about to give his life.
He’s completely at peace with what he’s about to do.
But I’m not.
Seriously, we need to stop trying to die for each other. It’s annoying.
It can’t end this way.
It can’t.
Rubbing my temple, I push away the stress clouding my mind. I need to analyze the bargain. There has to be a way out of it.
