Shrouded in darkness, Dorian moved stealthily, his senses heightened and his heart racing, as he ventured alone towards Red's house. As he glanced down, his eyes landed on a small pouch secured to his waist, containing the poison he had crafted.

‘It looked like a normal soup of shit until we added those 2 unknown herbs’

‘Just the fumes from that knocked out Peter immediately and made me very dizzy. Even the grass withered very quickly after we dropped a little on it. Peter had to lend me his family heirloom, a pouch made from a Grimthorn’s stomach, to contain it’

‘I’m here’

Dorian arrived at Red's house, his steps cautious and deliberate. He circled around the building, checking all the windows on the first floor for any signs of activity. His eyes darted from one window to another, searching for any glimpse of movement or indication that someone was inside.

Finding no signs of activity from the outside, Dorian made his way inside the house.

‘Nobody locks their front door in this world’

As Dorian ventured further into Red's house, he noticed the scattered presence of empty liquor bottles strewn across the floor. The once-elegant space seemed tarnished by the remnants of wild nights and careless indulgence. Dorian carefully maneuvered around the scattered bottles, making sure not to alert anyone with a noise.

As Dorian ventured further into the house, his attention was drawn to the dining room table. On the table, he noticed five bottles of liquor, neatly arranged in a row. One bottle, however, had been opened, and its contents partially consumed.

‘That should do it’

Careful not to inhale the potent fumes, Dorian cautiously retrieved the vial containing the poison. As Dorian attempted to add a few drops of poison to the opened bottle of liquor, the nerves got to him, causing him to spill a slightly larger amount than intended.

‘Fuck! That’s gonna change the taste too much’

As frustration coursed through Dorian's veins, he inhaled a small amount of the lingering fumes from the poison, his anger momentarily blinding him to the potential danger.

‘Shit! I’m getting dizzy’

‘I need to get out of here’

Dorian made his way towards the back door as his focus was consumed by the lingering effects of the poison's fumes, causing him to inadvertently step on a discarded bottle of liquor. The glass shattered beneath his weight, emitting a sharp, echoing sound that pierced the silence of the night. Dorian froze in his tracks, his heart pounding with a mix of alarm and frustration.

As the sound of the shattered bottle echoed through the night, a slurred voice boomed from within the house, filled with anger. "Who the fuck is in here?”

Dorian's heart pounded in his chest, as he froze for a moment, his ears catching the sound of crashing from upstairs. Panic surged through him as the noise was quickly followed by loud booming steps descending the staircase, growing louder and faster with each passing moment. With no time to waste, Dorian darted towards the nearest hiding spot, desperately seeking cover and praying that he wouldn't be discovered. As Dorian rushed towards the cabinet, his heart pounding in his ears, he slid behind it just in time, his breathing shallow and rapid.

Red, towering and overweight, stumbled around the first floor for a few moments, his heavy footsteps reverberating through the house. His eyes scanned the area with suspicion evident on his face. After a brief pause, he spotted the opened bottle of liquor on the table and a crazy smile crossed his lips. He reached out, grabbed the bottle, and took a sip. A twisted smirk adorned his face as he muttered in a mocking tone, the anger palpable in his voice. "You're seeing things, Red. You're not yourself right now, huh?"

His laughter filled the air, laced with a sinister edge. Taking another swig from the bottle, he sneered, "Whose dead and who's alive, whore?" The sound of his own voice fueled his fury, and he roared with conviction, "I'm my fucking self, and I know I saw somebody in this house!".

‘This guy needs a few therapy appointments with his life sentences’

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"Even this liquor tastes like shit!" Red exclaimed, his expression contorting into a mix of disgust and frustration. With a sudden surge of rage, Red clenched his fist tightly around the bottle, his knuckles turning white with the intensity of his grip. Without hesitation, he brought the bottle crashing down onto the floor in front of him, shards of glass flying in all directions. Red stood there, breathing heavily, his chest heaving as he glared at the shattered remnants of the bottle, his expression a mix of fury and desperation.

‘Shit! The poison needs to act before the fumes reach me otherwise I’m dead!’

Dorian's heart raced as fear coursed through his veins.

‘There’s no time!’

With a surge of determination, he took a deep breath, drawing in as much air as he could. His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword as he charged towards Red, his every movement fueled by adrenaline and the desperate need for self-preservation. Time seemed to slow as Dorian closed the distance between himself and Red. With a swift and precise motion, he swung his sword towards Red, aiming to kill him. The blade cut through the air, carrying with it the weight of Dorian's fear and resolve.

But just as the sword was about to connect, Red's instincts kicked in as he blocked the incoming strike with his bare hands.

Before Dorian could fully react, Red swiftly retaliated, this time with a powerful swing of his fist. As Dorian swiftly evaded Red's swinging fist, his instincts guiding him to lean back, he managed to dodge the blow aimed at his head. However, he couldn’t evade the follow up punch in time, and Red's punch hit Dorian's left shoulder, sending a jolt of pain through his body.

‘Something broke for sure ’

"Even as a ghost, you can't fight me, bitch," Red spat out, his voice filled with venom. "I'll put you in your place like I always did."

‘He’s faster, but somehow more uncoordinated than me’

‘Why is the poison not affecting him!’

‘Fuck my shoulder hurts’

‘It doesn’t hurt enough though! If he used mana it should hurt way more! Why didn’t he?’

‘Let’s get him madder to make him sloppier’

A twisted smile crossed Dorian's lips as he looked into Red's bloodshot eyes. "I was cheating on you every day," Dorian taunted, his voice dripping with a combination of bitterness and superiority. "You weren't man enough for me."

Red's face contorted with fury, his blood pumping faster through his veins. His steps quickened, and he clenched his fists tightly, the knuckles turning white.

"You think you can toy with me, you little shit?" Red roared, his voice a mixture of anger and desperation. "I'll make you pay for every lie you've ever told."

As Red's fury reached its peak, he charged toward Dorian with the unbridled determination of a raging bull. His arms extended outward, not giving Dorian any room to escape.

As Red propelled himself forward, his rage fueling his every step, he slipped on the spilled liquor and shattered glass on the ground, causing him to lose his footing. With a loud crash, Red's momentum came to a sudden halt as he stumbled and fell, his body crashing onto the floor.

As Red lay sprawled on the floor, momentarily stunned by his fall, Dorian seized the opportunity. With a swift and fluid motion, he stepped in close, his sword gripped tightly in his hand. Determination burned in his eyes as he unleashed a series of rapid and precise strikes, swinging his sword repeatedly at Red's vulnerable form.

Each strike carried with it the weight of Dorian's anger and the desire to put an end to this chaotic confrontation. The sound of metal meeting flesh echoed through the room as Dorian's sword connected with Red's body, the force of the blows reverberating with a satisfying impact.

‘How the fuck is the sword not going through!’

As Dorian struck once again, a gurgled cough erupted from Red's mouth, accompanied by a spray of blood.

But despite the ferocity of Dorian's assault, he couldn't help but notice a disturbing change in Red's appearance. As the strikes continued to land, Red's face grew increasingly purple, the blood vessels on his skin visibly engorged.

As Dorian continued his relentless assault, a moment of shock and disbelief washed over him. With a forceful swing, his sword pierced through Red's forearm, sinking into the flesh. Red's pained cry filled the air, mingling with the sound of clashing steel and the sickening splatter of blood.

Amidst the chaos, Red's coughs intensified, each one accompanied by a violent spray of blood. The crimson droplets stained the floor, walls, and even Dorian's face.

‘The poison’s finally acting!’

Noticing that the blade began to penetrate Red's flesh more easily, Dorian seized the opportunity to deliver a final blow. With a surge of strength and resolve, he aimed his sword towards Red's heart.

The blade pierced through the resistance, sliding deeper into Red's chest. A guttural cry escaped Red's lips, a mix of pain and defeat. His face contorted with agony as his eyes flickered with the realization that his time had come.

Red's body convulsed, a last gasp of breath escaping his lips before his form went still. The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the heavy panting of Dorian and the mix of emotions that swirled within him.

Dorian stood there, his shirt and face bloodied and his heart heavy with the weight of the battle's aftermath, with tears welling up in his eyes, blurring his vision. The world around him seemed distant and muted, his senses dulled by the shock of what had transpired. In that moment of vulnerability, out of the corner of his eye, he just noticed the chrome, vibrant, swirling particles that began to converge towards him.