I was tied to that chair, unable to do anything. In front of me was EIlaf, bound the same way, her eyes filled with terror and despair. Standing before us was that foolish man, laughing with a maniacal grin, his followers joining in his mockery.

"Here… we shall witness the fun!" he said, his voice echoing with madness. "Hahaha!" The sound of their laughter grew louder, deafening, like demons rejoicing in an unfolding tragedy.

I struggled with every ounce of strength I had, desperate to free myself, desperate to act. "No… don’t touch her!" I screamed.

But my cries meant nothing to them. They ignored me entirely. I watched as they approached her, their eyes gleaming with cruelty. She screamed, her voice trembling: "No! Don’t do this! Save me!"

And then… they stabbed her.

Her blood began to spill, the color of life draining from her face. She looked at me, her voice breaking with agony: "Save me… save meee!"

I screamed, my voice tearing through the chaos: "Nooooo!" I shouted at them, at everyone, pleading, struggling against the unyielding bonds that held me. But it was useless.

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They all laughed, their laughter mocking my pain, echoing in the darkness like a chorus of madness.

That man stepped closer to me, his eyes gleaming with madness. He leaned in, his face just inches from mine, and spoke in a taunting voice laced with deranged laughter:

“How does it feel… to have everything taken from you in this moment? Huh? Tell me! Hahaha!” His laughter echoed through the room, loud and mocking. “Tell me, how does it feel to watch your darker side overwhelm the good in you? Mental manipulation is fun, isn’t it? Hahahaha!”

I lifted my gaze to meet his, despite the pain and the weight of the chains holding me down. I spoke with quiet, simmering rage:

“You’re not real… She is the truth. She is my existence. Without her… I am nothing. Please, stop this!”

He smirked, his expression dripping with cruel amusement, and said:

“And you? Didn’t you ever stop? Didn’t you get tired of hurting everyone around you? Tell me—go on—speak!”

My hands clenched against the restraints as I replied with determination:

“I haven’t forgotten what you’ve done, and I will get rid of you, you cursed devil!”

He threw his head back and laughed wildly, his voice filled with sinister joy.

“Devil? Cursed? Me?” He tapped his chest mockingly. “I’m just your mind… Look over there.”

He forced my head to turn toward the corner, and there I saw a twisted, angry version of myself, filled with hatred and rage.

“That… is your hatred,” he said sharply. Then he pointed to another side, where another version of me appeared, surrounded by an aura of arrogance and pride.

“And there… is your arrogance.”

Finally, he gestured toward the engulfing darkness surrounding us and said:

“And that darkness? That void? You created it. You… dare to call me the devil? No, my dear friend… you are the devil in this game!”

He turned to his followers and barked an order:

“Take her away from him and return her to her place. Let’s see how this so-called ‘savior’ plans to rescue her!”

Then, looking back at me one last time, his eyes filled with challenge and mockery, he smiled wickedly and said:

“And you, dear one… strengthen yourself… and come face me. I’ll see you in the next chapter. See you.”

He vanished with a maniacal laugh, leaving me alone in the consuming darkness.