My body froze.
"I want you to become something…" "Something that will make that Lord… regret killing your friends."
My breathing rose.
Slowly…
Their images began to return.
Monali… smiling.
Louis… laughing.
Joe… standing like an unbreakable wall.
Soman… the leader… everyone…
Then—
Their image… as they fell.
Under the hands of that entity.
Under… helplessness.
I closed my eyes.
I clenched my fist tightly.
Until my body trembled.
"Do you want to turn me into a monster?" I whispered…
"A monster to fight monsters… a monster that leads monsters… a monster that stands against monsters."
I closed my eyes for a moment… then opened them.
I looked toward the sky… there was an ugly feeling inside me.
It wasn't anger… nor fear… nor anxiety…
It was indifference…
"I refuse…" I said. "Where were you when we were attacked? I helped you get out of your prison… my black flower freed you… and you repay me with betrayal? You can take your proposal to hell."
