Over Liora’s motionless corpse, the ethereal form of Ren appeared, casting a pitiful gaze on her. 'She defeated the very beast we've tirelessly avoided throughout our lives, yet we brought her down with such ease.'

'Yeah, she was way stronger than I had anticipated,' Clada remarked, his tone carrying a hint of astonishment. 'I led her here, thinking that the beast would be her end. Who would've thought she’d manage to kill it... Do you realize what this means?'

'It means she could have killed us anytime she wished,' Ren reflected, an edge of unease in his voice.

'Exactly. And yet, here she lies,' Clada observed somberly. 'this is the cost of overconfidence. We must never underestimate anything.' Pausing for a moment, he continued, 'Her companions, however, remain an issue. We need to deal with them swiftly. As much as I'd like to ask them the many questions I have, I'm not confident in a head-on fight.'

Ren turned to answer Clada but stopped when he saw blood dripping from his nose. Looking more closely, Clada's eyes seemed drowsy and a bit glazed. Every muscle in his body gave a slight shake, and a large cut on his right shoulder made it even harder for Clada, who was only standing through sheer determination.

The twins were no strangers to near-death situations. Yet, squaring off against a beast felt vastly different than confronting a human. Today's experience brought a unique kind of dread.

'Your nose is bleeding,' Ren pointed out. 'Let me take over from here. You fought enough.' Inside, he thought, And I can't let him do all the killing.

Clada nodded in agreement. But just as he was about to pass control to Ren, a subtle gust brushed past him. In an instant, a man appeared, crouching beside Liora's cold corpse.

The man had long black hair and wore tattered black robes. In his left hand, he held a katana with a matching black sheath. The twins would bet that if this guy hid at night, he'd be impossible to spot.

Before Clada and Ren could even manage to react, the man touched Liora's neck, searching for a pulse. Shaking his head, he remarked, "Damn, She's way too dead for me to save. what to do, what to do?" His gaze shifted to Clada, but what truly startled the twins was when he turned and locked eyes directly with Ren.

Throughout their lives, nothing had ever perceived the twin when in ethereal form. Even Liora, who somehow discerned their dual existence, never truly saw the one inhabiting that state. Yet, this man, without any hint of effort, locked eyes with Ren. His deep, penetrating dark eyes seemed to see everything and miss nothing.

He shifted his gaze to Clada and inquired, “You did this, didn’t you?” The man's tone wasn’t so much a question as it was a statement of fact; his piercing eyes bore into Clada as if trying to see right through him.

Before Clada could respond, the rustling of leaves echoed from the side. Without breaking his intense eye contact with Clada, the man casually picked up a small stone from the ground and flicked it effortlessly with his middle finger. All the while, his gaze remained unwaveringly fixed on Clada.

All that was heard was a muted thud. When Clada turned to the sound's origin, a tiger lay motionless, blood seeping from a hole in its skull. Both twins felt a lump form in their throats at the sight.

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Clada met the man's gaze and, without flinching, declared, “No, I didn’t.” He was lying, yes, but if this was really their end, he'd fight with everything he had, leaving no room for regrets. Bravery, honor, or honesty? The twins were only familiar with one thing: survival at all costs. And they both knew there was no escaping this man before them. Even at their peak, flight was an impossibility. So, words were the only route out... if there was one.

The man raised an eyebrow, seemingly taken aback by Clada's response. He studied him for a prolonged moment, then his gaze shifted to the little traces of blood on the dagger Clada clutched. Without saying anything, his eyes moved to Clada's hand, where blood smeared his fingers.

“Picture this,” the man began, “you walk into a room where you've left your favorite bottle of liquor. All you find is an empty bottle. Beside it stands a man, reeking of alcohol, swaying slightly. Now, tell me, who drank your liquor?”

“I wouldn’t know!” Clada retorted, displaying no hint of remorse. Why should he?

The man chuckled softly, "In my opinion, I'd say the drunk guy drank it. He's the only one in the room, reeking of alcohol. Who else could it be?"

Clada held his ground, "Without seeing it, you can't just make assumptions. It's wrong to accuse without evidence."

The man held Clada's gaze for several tense moments. Finally, he said, "You know, kid, you've got no shame. I can't help but admire that. But let's put the games aside for now..."

The man gripped the handle of his katana, slowly drawing the blade from its sheath.

Fuck this guy, fuck that woman, fuck this goddamn island, fuck this whole damn world, and fuck me too... We're screwed, absolutely screwed. Clada's thoughts were a whirlwind of curses and desperation. He didn't bother seeking an escape this time; it felt as if their luck had brutally run out.

The man paused, deep in thought. He murmured to himself, "No need for more complications here. This will do the trick." He raised his hand, and a small glass bottle filled with a clear liquid materialized within his grip. The twins, by now, weren't even fazed by such displays. Today had already been filled with far too many impossible oddities.

"Drink this," the man instructed.

"And if I refuse?" Clada shot back immediately. It could be poison for all he knew, but that wasn't why he said that; he was more interested in seeing the man's reaction. If the man wanted to force it on him, there was no way he could resist.

"That's up to you," the man replied coolly. "You can either take the short route," he motioned to the bottle in his palm, "or be ready for a long and painful way."

Clada and Ren exchanged a profound glance, their silent communication conveying more than words ever could. Both understood the man's words: a swift death by poison or a drawn-out, agonizing one. They had always fought to survive, to overcome every obstacle. But this time, this is the end of the road. the final line. Clada harbored no doubts that the man offered poison not because he lacked the strength or confidence to confront them, but because he, like Clada, would always choose the most efficient and inconspicuous method of elimination.

He took the small bottle from the man, swiftly uncapped it, and without a moment's hesitation, downed its entire contents. Turning to Ren, they exchanged a final, resolute smile. If there was such a thing as another life, they would ensure their survival there, come what may.

The liquid coursed through Clada like molten metal. He gritted his teeth, suppressing his agonized screams. As it settled in his stomach, it felt as though a raging inferno consumed him from within, yet he remained resolute, refusing to let out a sound.

Ren shut his eyes, waiting for his consciousness to fade away.

Suddenly, the man burst into laughter, holding his belly as if he'd heard the joke of the century. Between fits of laughter, he managed to say, "Fools, haven't you realized yet? You still think you're dying?"

Both twins were taken aback. Ren observed, in disbelief, the wounds on Clada closing at an astonishing speed. Meanwhile, Clada began to register a newfound lightness in his body. Even the fatigue that usually took days to recover from after using the enhancement seemed to be healed. The intense heat persisted, but the pain had vanished.

They gazed at the man, who was still laughing as if he just pulled the greatest prank in the world. The same thought echoed in both their minds; What the fuck?