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"Ewron, that's enough," Ash screamed towards him as he was just pulling his sword out of another corpse.
"What do you mean, Ash? We promised each other we would kill everyone on the island, don't you remember?" He replied, turning towards him and spreading his arms in a triumphant gesture, holding his head up high. His voice was slightly muted by the demonic helmet he wore, yet Ash could still recognize the tone used by him. He was speaking with amusement, mocking him. Ewron snickered, and Ash felt his body tense up.
Their surroundings were a cemetery, every meter covered by the strewn corpses. Burned, cut, mauled, and devoured by the many Fatal Errors gliding around. They did not spare anyone, looking for anything that could still be eaten and ripped to shreds.
Body parts, blood, bones. Guts were spread across the ground, the bodies robbed of any dignity.
And Ash couldn't help but blame himself.
He knew Ewron had crossed the line. He truly hoped that he and Ewron could settle on a plan, taking everything that happened within the last few months into consideration. He tried, really tried, to remember how Ewron always told him that whatever he was doing would be for him.
But this massacre, seeing him completely lose it, was too much. He did not agree to any part of it.
Ash already had his suspicions before. He was seeing Ewron less and less. Their conversations were full of mistrust and unspoken words, as if they were both afraid of admitting that their bond had been faltering. Their trust was slowly fading, and yet Ewron always tried to convince him not to worry about the things that were happening to him - the sickness, the madness.
It was foolish to pretend that things could revert to the way they used to be.
Ewron walked towards him, trampling over the many bodies lying on the Nether's burning dirt. He did not turn his head down even for a second, proving how little care he had for all the death and insanity happening around him. He was proudly wearing the armor, which was the symbol of his alliance with the Dark Federation - the red and black ornaments matched their associated colors perfectly. To Ash, he was no longer an assassin.
He was a demon.
The faint memories of the early days haunted him. The sound of the waves crashing against one another and the gentle ocean breeze. Ewron's words, full of confidence and determination. The island seemed so distant, hidden beyond the horizon and the setting sun. Alongside those memories was the promise they had made to each other - the loyalty Ewron had pledged to him in the middle of the sea with his blade.
'I want to dedicate my life to you.'
All of that was gone.
"This is not you, Ewron. We will find another way, just take off that amulet, and we can go home."
"What are you talking about? This is my home."
Ash felt like throwing up. The stench of blood mixed with the heat and Ewron's words was making him sick. He couldn't listen to him. This was not the Ewron he knew.
Ewron did not stop making his way towards him, leaving bloody footprints on the crimson ground. In one hand, he wielded a black sword made of Netherite, awarded to him by the Dark Federation. He dragged the weapon behind himself, its edge scraping the scattered stones and bodies. Ash did not take a single step and held his ground in the middle of the bloodstained battlefield.
Every once in a while, the sound of thunder roaring further down the Nether could be heard, the lightning striking across the hellish realm.
Ash tried to use the voice of reason before. He had many times suggested to Ewron that going to Dark Cucurucho for help was not the best choice in this situation. He tried to convince him that cooperating, or even worse, working for either of the Federations would always fuck them over in the end. But Ewron refused to listen, always using the same excuses: 'Multi will not give me a cure', 'I don't have any other choice'.
Why did he continue to believe in those lies? All those times Ewron has referred to Dark Cucurucho as 'Master' were playing back in his head, over and over again. Despite that, he chose to trust Ewron for so long, believing in his honesty towards him and trusting in his plans. Some have warned him about the path that Ewron has chosen, and yet, Ash brushed it aside.
But Ash could no longer trust the person in front of him. He couldn't possibly trust someone who was fueling a war on all fronts. He has previously given Ewron the benefit of the doubt, but he chose to go against everything they have stood for - their mutual trust in one another.
"Don't make me do this, Ewron."
Ewron stopped, visibly confused. They were now just a few meters away, yet the distance between them felt infinite. "Do what, Ash?" He asked with a gleam of irritation in his voice.
Ash wanted to answer him, but no words came out of his mouth. Any sentence that he could come up with sounded… wrong. Even when he doubted him in his mind, it was the actions that mattered, and Ash couldn't bear the thought of having to go against his blade, his ally.
His friend.
After a second of hesitation and with the lack of response, Ewron took his helmet off. What Ash saw was a madman.
Ewron's eyes were a mix of red, green, purple - any blue undertone that his irises ever had was nowhere to be seen. His skin was white, pale as a ghost, stained by even more smudges of blood. There was not a sliver of regret in his expression. He was wearing a slight, yet uncanny smile, seemingly content with the chaos happening around him.
Blood that was slowly dripping off Ewron's armor, cape, and sword, already began to coat his body and the space beneath him, forming a pool of blood underneath his feet.
'Keep the blood.'
Ash drew his shining sword, not breaking eye contact even for a second. The pain that he felt in his chest was suffocating.
Ewron remained still in front of him, staring him down with a murderous glare.
"What about our goal? What about our promise?" He questioned, anger creeping into his voice.
'You are my blade.'
The hot air of the Nether was making it hard to breathe, making each breath heavy and painful. The heat was slowly becoming unbearable, and so was Ash's regret.
"Are you seriously considering going against me?" Ewron's voice was filling up with spite and disgust, the corners of his mouth twitching. He squinted his eyes, his gaze filled with rage.
They have sworn to stand together, to fight alongside each other.
Ash could not remain calm any longer.
"What are you even talking about?! YOU are the one who swore to be my blade. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO SWORE LOYALTY TO ME."
Loyalty.
Ash tightened his grip on the sword and clenched his teeth. Ewron went quiet, and in a second, his expression grew dark.
"It's not you, Ewron. You have gone too far, fucking snap out of it-"
"You really did become soft, Ash."
Ash's eyes widened, and his body froze in place. Ewron's words were quiet, dangerously calm.
Both of them have gone silent. Neither of them dared to move, both of them holding their weapons at their side. The silence between them was only broken by the sound of the burning Netherrack and the growls of the many Fatal Errors who were lurking in the area. The monsters have kept their distance, circling like vultures, yet never getting close.
"So you want to stop me?" Ewron said with a serious expression, almost too neutral.
'I would give everything.'
Ash took a deep breath. He did not have the energy to speak, and even more painfully, he did not have the courage to say those words out loud. He feared that there was not a single thing he could say to turn the situation around. And so, completely giving up on words, he stared deep into his friend's eyes.
He was looking for some hint of regret or sadness, anything that would turn him away from the choice he was about to make. But he had found none of that. What he found instead was fury and betrayal. The realization hit him like a truck. The Ewron he knew wasn't there. The promises they made did not matter anymore.
Ewron was consumed by the power presented to him, and Ash was willing to do everything to bring him back.
He needed to stop him before he burns the world to the ground.
For a split second, Ash could swear he could see a shade of sorrow in Ewron's face, and he felt a sting inside his chest. But just as he was about to take a step forward, Ewron dissipated into a cloud of black mist, disappearing completely. Ash held his breath and immediately adopted a defensive stance, completely focusing on his surroundings. For a moment, it was quiet.
Ash looked around, trying to see any sign of Ewron's presence, but he had vanished into the air with no trace. Ash tried to remain calm and concentrated, but his mind was racing, and every thought was more painful than the last.
He tried to think about the ones who have hurt him, and he felt anger.
He tried to think of the people he had lost, and it filled him with vengeance.
He wanted to think about his purpose, yet he felt nothing.
The adrenaline and chaos were filling his mind and body, slowly replacing any sense of reason. He wanted to shake it away, but he was not given a chance as he heard a sudden whistle of the wind behind him.
Ash turned around immediately and countered the slash of the sword directed at him from above. The two swords clashed, their crossed blades slicing through the invisible bond between them.
There was no turning back.
The slash was strong, but Ash had managed to keep his balance. He deflected the hit fast enough to knock Ewron back into the air.
Ewron was once again wearing the demonic helmet and cape, allowing him to stay afloat. Ash remembered when he had first shown him the cloth, excited about the possibilities it brought.
But that memory was now shattered.
Ash could no longer see the human side of him - all traces of humanity had turned into a hellish being. Ash dashed forward, but before the edge of his blade could connect, Ewron's body had once again turned into a dark fog, allowing him to evade the attack.
Ash landed on the ground, unable to continue his endeavor as Ewron flew up once more. Despite the fire and lava illuminating the space around them, Ewron's presence seemed dark, as if he himself was swallowing the light around them. The cape appeared to spread the shadow, as the darkness followed closely behind him.
Ewron was about to go for another attack, but Ash had already made his recovery. Ewron made his way towards him, but once again disappeared into the black cloud before they could meet.
Ash groaned in fury as he felt the irritation inside his body rising up.
Despite not seeing the attacker anywhere in sight, as if anticipating the next move, Ash immediately blocked the blow that came from behind. Their swords have once again crossed paths, halting both of their attacks. Ewron materialized before him as they met, his face still hidden behind the sinister mask. The clang of the swords hitting each other echoed across the Nether, and the sparks caused by the blow flashed before their eyes.
Ash slashed his sword with greater strength, forcing Ewron to jump back. He landed on the ground further away, steadily holding his position amidst the raging fire. The bright red eyes on his helmet glowed ominously, flickering with devilish power.
"We can just kill everyone here. Everyone! No more enemies, no more Federation. What more do you need?!" Ewron yelled at him furiously. The emotions in his voice carried across the realm, but to Ash, they had no meaning.
Ash rushed at him and swung his blade with full force. Ewron's voice seemed distant, reminding him of all the lies he had heard from him before. The apologies, schemes, plans, every single lie he was willing to tell on repeat. Listening to it was no use, and Ash knew that he had to keep his attention on the fight, not the empty words.
He felt the power and energy flowing through him, filling his veins with pure determination.
Anger.
Ewron managed to dodge his moves, maneuvering more swiftly. His fighting style consisted of using the terrain and his natural agility, knowing very well that he could not match Ash in terms of pure strength. Despite that, Ash could tell that Ewron would not be able to go on for much longer - he can't dodge forever.
"Our Master gives us powers, gives us everything. Why do you suddenly care about anyone?!"
Ewron tried to make some distance between them, still trying to trick him, fueling Ash's rage. He closed in, not allowing Ewron to form an escape path. One hit after another, he was cornering him, forcing him to block the volley of attacks.
Fight him.
From afar, their fight was a danse macabre - the blades danced in harmony, each strike moving with balance and unnatural grace. The drops of blood were flowing through the air, encompassing them in a curtain of bloody rain.
Both of them kept exchanging blows and swings, not giving each other the space for offense and reading each other's movements like a book. Neither of them could gain the advantage as their swords moved in sync - Ewron with swiftness and speed, and Ash with force that sent sparks across the air. Their days and weeks were spent together on training, on learning each other's good and bad sides. Exploring both the dangers and wonders of the island.
All of this was gone. The ringing sound in his head was getting painfully strong.
Kill him.
He had enough. Ash swung the sword with full precision, slicing through the air with perfect accuracy. Ewron, although close to evading it, did not have enough time to redirect the hit. His blade slipped as he attempted to block the attack. Blood spattered through the air as Ewron hissed in pain.
Too shallow.
Ash did not stop.
His vision was cloudy, the terrain foggy and blurring in with the surroundings - yet his target remained sharp. He used the opportunity to launch another attack. Ewron managed to hold up his sword in time to protect himself from another injury, but the power of the impact sent him backwards, his back hitting the wall. Ash reappeared before him immediately, and just as he was about to take another swing, something slammed into him. He did not have the time to look in the direction of the attacker as the force had pushed him to the side, almost knocking him off his feet. Not a second later, he felt a sharp pain in his leg, the sudden sting making him sharply inhale the air through his teeth. Not paying attention to the attacker's identity, he turned around quickly, his sword easily cutting through the flesh.
When he regained his composure, he saw the Fatal Error that had jumped him, now with a big cut across its stomach and gray skin splashed with blood. It let out a muffled screech and jumped back, landing on the ground not far from him.
The blood was seeping through the freshly cut wound, spilling onto its legs and arms as it stood on all fours. Its long, sharp claws were digging into the dry soil, grasping at the ground's crumbs. It looked up at him, and although the emptiness in its eye sockets did not give away any sense of pain, the smile on the Error's head remained ever-present.
It bared its teeth at him, and Ash was prepared for another attack, but instead, the creature slowly backed away. He followed it for a while, but let go - the entity was not his priority.
Ash turned his gaze towards Ewron, who was holding himself up against the wall. It looked like the hit he took weakened him severely.
Good.
"Good work, my beast," Ewron spoke proudly as the Fatal Error came to his side, now standing upright next to its master. Ash glared at them both as he clenched his fist. The entity was still bleeding heavily, but seemed unbothered. "But I have to finish this myself."
The Fatal Error stood there for a second more before flying away. Now, they were alone, enveloped by the Nether's red fog and the sound of plummeting lava - the threatening growls and grunts of the Fatal Errors could no longer be heard.
Neither of them dared to move, instead choosing to stare at each other in silence. Blood kept flowing out of Ewron's hurt arm, staining his already soaked armor even more. Ash steadied his breath - his goal remained the same. The black and purple glitches disrupted his vision, but his target was still there.
He had to use that opportunity.
He pulled out an Ender Pearl and quickly sent it next to Ewron to close the distance. In seconds, his body was transported, forcing Ewron to jump to the side. Ash, already readied up, began his assault yet again. Despite the injury, Ewron was still able to dodge and block the attacks with the same rapidness, but Ash made sure not to give him any opportunities. He knew that Ewron would eventually slip, leaving himself vulnerable to a finishing blow.
Ash felt his head spin for a second at the thought. Finishing blow...?
His thoughts went spiraling, suddenly unsure of their own truthiness.
Ash finally made a mistake.
Ewron knew his opponent all too well. He saw the hesitation in Ash's eyes and movements, even if only for a second. The attacks got just slightly weaker, and the swings got slower, reaching him, but lacking the same power as before.
Ewron backed away for one last time before he rushed forward, swinging his blade at an angle Ash did not have the time to block - the blade's glow flashed before his eyes, but it was too late. He felt a sharp sting pass through his side, making Ash bend down in pain. He went back a few steps, trying to recover, but it was now Ewron who did not show any mercy. He launched the attacks continuously, one after another, forcing Ash to block the rapid strikes coming in his direction. They were both stumbling back and forth, slipping on the blood and bones of the corpses beneath their feet.
After several more hits, Ewron's body was suddenly covered in a dark fog as he rushed forward, knocking Ash back with immense force. Ash felt his bones crack as he was sent back a couple of meters and tumbled across the ground. His vision darkened for a moment, but he had forced himself to stay awake, remaining conscious as his body slid through the dirt. He managed to regain his balance on the way, making sure he was not turning his back on the enemy. Luckily, he landed in a position that allowed his gaze to remain situated on his opponent.
Focus.
Ewron landed next to him with a thud, the impact of his landing making the ground shake. The platform they landed on seemed unstable, vibrating with every heavy step. Now, the shadows surrounding Ewron were also visibly larger, spreading uncontrollably around him. His silhouette was lost amid the darkness growing around him.
Ash breathed heavily through his nose, his skin flaring up from all the injuries sustained. Ewron was slowly approaching him, setting his steps down carefully on the uncertain ground. Their patience ran out quickly as both of them ran forward, ready for another round of the duel.
Both of them got close to another strike, but just as their weapons were about to meet, lightning struck the space between them. They both jumped back instinctively, evading the bolt by the skin of their teeth. The ground shook beneath them, yet just as they were about to continue on with the fight, the rocks above them trembled as hundreds of boulders fell from above. Both of them tried, but neither managed to evade it as they were buried in the avalanche of falling rocks.
Silence.
It was quiet. Darkness enveloped him, taking away all of Ash's senses. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of emptiness, but one thing seemed to break its way across the void.
The feeling of regret.
A sensation so strong it struck him to the very core. The feeling of failure - failing everyone.
He couldn't save the Regime, he couldn't protect Ewron, he did not stop the Federation in their schemes, and he allowed them to spread their terror across the island.
The hopelessness reminded him of ages spent at the Federation laboratories. The white walls were a contrast to the black space surrounding him, yet it felt all too familiar. His body was frozen in place, and his mind was tortured with feelings of regret.
One moment, he was looking at the ceiling of the Federation's thigh cell. He couldn't hear or sense anything around him, forced to stare at the same blank walls over and over again, hours on end.
Next, he gazed up at the Crying Obsidian, dripping from above. The same sounds kept replaying in his mind, like a melody that refuses to leave your head. It burned. It hurt so fucking much. Each drop falling from above scorched his face, each tear burning a new mark upon his face.
And then, he was looking at the Nether's bright Glowstone and sea of flames. The fire burned brightly, incinerating everything that dared to cross its path. And yet, it still hurt less than the feeling of betrayal deep inside his chest. The possibility of choice was always taken from him, the doors to freedom remaining closed, with no key left to find.
Would his fate be any different if he were free?
Ash regained consciousness with a gasp. He desperately tried to catch his breath, feeling as if the entire air had been knocked out of him. His body felt heavy, his armor suddenly weighing him down and pushing his body against the ground. Every move was painful, even when his chest moved with each taken breath.
He tried to move slowly, each flex of a muscle making his body ache and mouth twitch in agony.
The whole world was spinning before him, the flames dancing before his eyes.
He saw Ewron across from him, crawling across the burning dirt. Ewron looked just as awful, having just enough strength to pull himself off the ground, yet stay on his knees. Ash has now realized that Ewron's helmet cracked, leaving one side of his face exposed to the hot air. Ash tried standing up, his whole body screaming at every move he made. He was ready to take another step forward when something stopped him.
Tears.
Ewron's eyes, although still crazy and full of madness, were filled with tears, slowly dripping from the corner of his eye and streaming down his face, disappearing quickly.
Ash hesitated. Although his mind was still clouded with rage, he remembered why he was fighting him. It wasn't because of hate, and it wasn't because of all the things he had done against him. Ewron's promises rang loudly in his head, overpowering the raw emotions. His muscles relaxed, and his vision came back to him. He felt a new flame of determination light up inside him.
'I trust you.'
He finally understood something. The part of him that was taken away and ripped away, shattering his mind into pieces. The sense of balance between his raw and overwhelming emotions and the soft part of him that cared about the islanders more than he wished to admit.
Both of those parts were buried inside of him, one always screaming louder than the other. Just for this moment, he had to trust both.
During these few moments, Ewron has also managed to pick himself up fully from the ground. His armor was shattered, hardly holding itself together. He straightened up and looked in Ash's direction with an expression that was far too difficult to read. He furrowed his brows, and his tail stood right up as his body once again shifted into an offensive position. The tears were already gone, the heat making them evaporate into the air in mere seconds.
"We could do this together…" Ewron said, almost disgusted, with a stern look on his face.
"There is no 'together' in whatever you are doing right now," Ash replied hastily.
They were now surrounded by magma and thick walls of Netherrack. The cave was bright, lit up with the warm, bright glow of the rivers of lava. The rising warmth was even worse down there, making their armors awfully hot and the sword's grip almost painful to touch.
There was, however, a benefit to this situation. They have fallen deep inside the Nether, away from the prying eyes of the Dark Federation guards and from the support of the Fatal Errors.
But not far enough.
Ash rushed at Ewron yet again, but he now knew that no matter how much pain he was going to endure, he must keep a clear mind. This was not the time for violence, and Ash was ready to face the consequences, no matter what they would end up being.
Ewron has once again protected himself from the strike, but Ash could tell that it was weaker.
Ash went for another attack, but this time, it was not to hurt or kill. He used his full force to slam into Ewron, who had to brace himself on his feet to stay up. Ash felt his bones snap and his muscles tense up, every fiber of his being struggling in pain.
Endure.
Ash powered through Ewron's defense and knocked him down, both of them colliding with the solid ground.
Ewron did not hesitate. He instantly sent his blade forward, trying to stab Ash, but he had caught his wrist before the edge could be buried inside his chest. He twisted his arm, forcing him to drop the blade as he kicked it away.
Ewron struggled underneath him, trying various tactics to break out of his grasp, his efforts futile. His eyes were now shining with a deep, crimson shade. But Ash would not fall for this again - the anger in Ewron's eyes was not his to begin with.
Ash let his emotions go, using the raw force to keep him down. He used the moment to snap the amulet away from Ewron's neck. His eyes immediately filled up with red and purple colors, his eyes glowing brighter than ever before. Ash had to hold his breath as he kicked Ewron away, forcing him to stay down as he jumped away, squeezing the amulet in his hand. He tossed it to the ground and prepared his blade.
Ash stood above the amulet, pointing the tip of his sword right at the center. He could hear a hiss emitting from inside it, as if it were screaming at him not to be destroyed. It almost seemed like a thousand tortured souls were begging to be spared, yet Ash tried to ignore the tormented voices. Just when he was about to lower his sword, he stopped.
He heard Ewron growling in pain just behind his back, screaming out pleas and threats.
Don't turn around, don't turn around.
Ash involuntarily moved his head around to look at him, feeling his chest tighten at the sight. Ewron was barely standing, covering his ears with his hands as if trying to silence the noises made by the amulet. He was bent down, his eyes shut and jaw tightly clenched.
Ash hesitated. He knew what destroying the amulet would entail, and there was no hiding it. But he knew that Ewron would not stop as long as the amulet continued to exist. That if he dies in a state like this, he will die a puppet, stripped of his free will.
He knew that his blade was already destroyed.
He lifted the sword above his head once again. His hands were shaking, barely managing to hold onto the sword. Ash tried his hardest not to focus on the pain Ewron was feeling, how much torture he was experiencing right now. But it seemed like the screams were only getting louder, the agony clearly audible in his coarse voice.
He held the sword tightly and clashed it down onto the ground, puncturing the amulet right in the middle. As soon as the blade touched the ground, it exploded, releasing a cloud of dark purple smoke. Red sparks shot out of the center, blasting around like lightning. Ash took a step back so as not to be touched by the raging dark magic. He squinted his eyes, the light emitted by the small explosions almost blinding him. The crackling sound of the ferocious magic echoed loudly, its noise heard across the entire realm.
Finally, the cloud slowly disappeared, only leaving the broken amulet behind, glowing with a red, radiant shine. Without thinking twice, Ash kicked it, and it flew into the lake of lava. The golden necklace was incinerated, swallowed up whole by the thick magma.
For a few seconds, smoke was still flowing out of the place where the amulet was burned, climbing its way up high towards the Nether's ceiling until it stopped, dissolving into the hot air.
Ash let out a few shaky breaths, his hands still trembling. The blade of his sword was stained by black and red marks, corrupted by the demonic magic. Ash threw out the sword, careful not to touch the decaying edge. As the sword touched the ground, it transformed each space it touched into a corrupted and glitched mess. But there was no time to focus on that.
Ash turned around, feeling of dread climbing up his spine.
Ewron was no longer screaming. He just stood there, leaning forward. He did not move, but he was shaking, his tail pressed up against his legs. Ash walked towards him, unable to speak any words. After a few seconds, Ewron finally looked up at him.
For the first time in what seemed like centuries, he saw Ewron smile. Genuinely. His eyes lost both their purple hue and their red glow, leaving only the green and blue hues mixed in. The corners of his eyes and mouth lifted up, as if he were seeing an old friend. He looked peaceful.
And then, he collapsed.
Ash immediately rushed forward to catch him, luckily being just a few steps away, allowing him to catch him in time. Ewron, far too weak to hold onto him, slowly slid down against his torso, forcing Ash to kneel on the ground. Ash ignored the unbelievable pain in his entire body and the voice screaming in his head to sit down and rest. He ignored the throbbing feeling in his back, arms, and legs, and took the broken helmet off Ewron's head.
His skin was no longer white, but gray. His eyes were tired, barely open. They were slowly turning green, devoid of almost any light or determination that was there just moments ago. Ewron tried to keep on his smile, but Ash could clearly see that even the smallest of movements caused him pain.
Ewron slowly lifted his hand up, his arm shaking as he examined the blood on his hand, the droplets sliding from his fingers, across his palm, and down his arm.
"Thank you, Ash." He finally spoke out slowly. His nose was bleeding, the stream of blood slowly running down his face. They were looking at each other the whole time, their gentle gaze intertwined. Ash could tell that the gleam in Ewron's eyes was getting fainter, and he himself was weakening with every passing moment.
"I am so sorry. I should have found the cure. I shouldn't have ever agreed to the heart deal. Working with the Dark Federation-".
"Was a mistake. Yes, I know." Ewron coughed up blood, and Ash tried to help him out and lifted his head up slightly. "I made a lot of stupid choices. But even if it was a mistake, standing by your side is a mistake I would be willing to make again."
"Why?" Ash asked without thinking, and Ewron's mouth formed into a weak smile.
"Because I care about you. There was nothing else on this island that was this important to me."
Ewron let out a sigh and what seemed to be a giggle, yet sounded more like a groan of pain.
"I never felt like I had a family, you know? I did not think much of the promise we made to each other on the first day. But to me, you were the closest family I had." He turned his gaze away. "I wanted to end it before all of this happened. I felt that dark power taking over me, but... I guess I was just too afraid to die."
Ash felt his head throb and his pulse quicken.
"The deal I made with Dark Cucurucho... I never intended to give him your heart. I always kept it safe. I only lied to you because I wanted to protect you."
Ewron coughed up even more blood, his voice now barely audible.
"In the end, the lies turned out to be the death of me."
Ash took a deep breath, trying to stop himself from sobbing.
"I am sorry. For doubting you, for failing you, for all the times I was not on your side." Ash's voice sounded like a plea as the gravity of the situation hit him.
Ewron moved his arm and pulled something out. The Assassin's Blade was resting in his hand. He laid the weapon on the ground, not having enough strength to keep holding onto it.
"Don't worry, I forgive you. I think this island was doomed from the start. And I apologize," He stopped for a second, taking a heavy breath. "Przepraszam… Że nie dotrzymam obietnicy*." His voice was weak, each word quieter than the last. Ewron coughed blood again, turning his gaze away as he panted for air. Ash has never heard that side of him. He was never that vulnerable with anyone, always trying to hide behind layers of lies and ego. He remembered the times when Ewron apologized to him, showed him his emotions, tried to be truthful, yet it was never like this.
"Don't. Don't ever be sorry for all the fucked up shit they have done to us."
Ewron smiled at him.
"Then don't blame yourself either."
It looked like he was about to say something more, but no words came out. Before Ash could say anything else, Ewron had laid his head against his body and closed his eyes.
Ewron's hand slid down towards the ground, and after a short moment, Ash could no longer feel his breath.
He sat there for a moment in silence.
Ash took the Assassin's Blade off the ground and held it steadily in his hands. It has been months since he last held it, yet it was all the same. It was clean, not stained by even a drop of blood. Its blue color and bright glow looked almost unnatural amidst all the red undertones of the realm.
For a second, Ash tried to remember - what was his biggest mistake? If he had to admit his biggest sin in front of a God, what would he say?
His fingers wandered across the edge of the weapon, cutting into his skin yet not drawing any blood.
Finally, he sighed and looked at Ewron's face. He looked so peaceful, finally free from all of this.
"We will meet in hell, My Blade."
He held onto Ewron's hand as he slashed the blade for the very last time.
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*Sorry… That I will not keep the promise