—Rexdeus, who has lost his name and identity—
My memories feel faint, broken. As if parts of them have been lost, carried away by the current along with my body. I cannot clearly remember what happened while I was being swept away—
Except for one thing.
My oath.
That is all that remains.
My vision is blurred. The world looks like overlapping shadows.
My body feels heavy, empty without strength. And yet somehow—
I am still moving.
That instinct…still guides me. Pulling me upward. Toward the surface. I swim slowly. Staggering within the water.
And then—I see it.
A shadow. Blurred but different.
Brighter, Closer.
Land.
Not far from me.
Like a treasure appearing before someone on the verge of death—I move immediately.
The remaining strength I have—I direct it toward a single purpose.
To reach it.
GRASP.
My hand—
My left hand—
finally touches something solid, earth, rough and real.
I clutch it with all my strength. My fingers dig in and pierce into it. I do not care if my skin tears. I will not let go.
Not now. Not after coming this far. With the strength I have left—I pull my body. Little by little.Even though it feels heavy—slowly, but surely.
SPLASH.
My body finally emerges from the water.
Falling onto the land. Onto a surface that is rough, cold—but… solid.
This is real. Not an illusion.
Then, without waiting. Without thinking. The moment my chest touched the ground—
I immediately flipped my body over. And vomited everything.
River water, blood, and the bitter taste. clinging to my throat.
"Ughh—! COUGH—! KH—!"
My body trembled violently. Each cough felt like it was tearing apart my insides.
But I kept vomiting. Until there was nothing left. Leaving only heavy breaths—ragged, broken but certain.
I am alive.
With the breath that remained—
my body finally collapsed against the hard ground. I let it happen. Without resistance. Without care.
Relief came—
but it was followed by a deeper exhaustion heavier. Because all of my strength had truly been drained away in the water.
But I cannot stay here for long. I must not. Too many traces. Too obvious. From the blood, the aura, and the small destruction I left behind.
All of it is a sign.
An invitation—for something that should not find me now. I forced my body to move slowly.
As I stood—
my legs nearly gave out. My body trembled. Faintly at first.
Then more clearly. My joints moved with unnatural stiffness—producing sounds that did not belong. As if this body was no longer whole.
But I ignored it.
My knees wavered—yet I forced them straight.
One step. Then another. I walked. Leaving the riverbank behind. Moving away from the place that had almost become my end.
My breath staggered. Each inhale felt like a burden. But I kept moving.
Because stopping—
is no longer an option.
And for now—
To survive…
is the only purpose I have left.
—
Zzziiit—
A sharp pain pierced through my head.
Suddenly. Without warning.
"Ughh…"
A low groan escaped me. My hand instinctively clutched my head. Pressing—
as if that could stop whatever was happening inside.
But it didn't help. It only made it worse.
That sound returned. Whispers, unclear, fragmented. Yet enough to make my head feel like it was about to split apart.
I know this. This feeling. This sensation. This is not the first time. Nor the second. This…is the third time it has happened.
The blood that had been calm—began to rage again, writhing as if alive, as if it had a will of its own.
"…No…" I tried to resist. But it was useless. Something inside me was beginning to awaken.
She
Again...returning—to take control.
My consciousness began to fade. The edges of my vision darkened.
My body—which should have been mine—felt distant. As if I were merely a passenger within it.
How pitiful. To live under the curse of the Gods who envy our immortality. Yet never consider the price that must be paid.
We are not free beings. We are vessels. Slaves to our blood. Slaves to something older than us.
Darker and crueler.
Our ancestor—
The fallen Goddess.
The one who turned usinto tools.Tools for revenge…
How ironic.
I want to laugh.But even that feels distant.Fortunately—this time…no one becomes a victim.
At least, that's what I thought.
—
Tap…
Tap…
Footsteps...slow, steady. They echo.
From afar—
then drawing closer.
Ah…
Someone…is coming.
—
The moment I realize it, something inside me collapses. Despair and panic.
I force myself to stay conscious no matter what. Holding my breath, grinding my teeth even if I have to hurt myself—
I will do it.
I don't want anyone to come here. Not like this. Not in this state.
But—
what I want has never mattered. That figure appears.
A girl.
Her hair platinum blonde.
Standing not far from me.
"A… are you okay?" Her voice, I can hear it clearly.
She runs toward me. Without hesitation, without fear while my consciousness begins to waver.
Another voice is heard, different and distant. Someone shouting. But I cannot make out the words.
All I can feel is the presence of that girl. Or...perhaps it's just a hallucination.
"Don't come any closer!!" I shout a command.
Because my black blood is flowing out.
An aura of death spreads. Enveloping everything around me, like a warning that cannot be mistaken.
She should understand. She should know.
What I am. What will happen.
I am danger for her
Her steps—
stop.
For a moment.
—
Then…
"You're hurt." Saying that, she begins to move again. Approaching me without hesitation.
"LEAVE!!" I shout.
Anger begins to rise. Not out of hatred—but out of fear.
Why doesn't she understand? Why doesn't she leave? Can't she see it?
This black blood, this aura, this curse. This is not something that can be touched—without consequences.
I am living proof of sin. Rejected by the Gods. And I should not be saved.
Yet that girl—keeps coming closer. As if none of it…means anything to her.
"Why? You look like you're in so much pain…" Her voice trembles. But there is no hesitation. She keeps walking toward me.
And for some reason—that irritates me. I lift my head.
My intent is clear—to intimidate her. To force her to leave. For her own sake from someone like me.
But the moment our eyes meet—
I fall silent.
Clear, pale blue eyes. Like an untainted sky.
Calm—yet filled with something I cannot understand. Within them. there is something else.
is
Concern.
For me. For someone she does not even know.
…Foolish.
Why?Why is she like that toward me?
For a moment—I am stunned. And that is enough. More than enough.
For—
My blood...erupts again, stronger than before. Tearing through me from the inside. And at the same time, my consciousness fractures.
"Damn it… go… aw… from…" My words break apart—along with my fading awareness.
Ah…Now I understand.
Why I hesitated.
Not because of the beauty of her eyes. Not because of her courage. But because—
She knows nothing. An innocent girl. One who has never known the world. Who has never understood—how filthy and cruel this place truly is.
And I—am a part of that filth.
But—it's too late. Far too late.
In the end—she will be devoured. Not by the world. Not by fate.
But by me, by the other me.
Poor girl…So…rr…y…
—
Complete darkness. For a moment—I am no longer there.
—
Within that darkness—something still remains. Something awakens.
Not me. Not anymore. Another consciousness—slowly opening its "eyes."
And the first thing it senses nearby—
is a fragile warmth.
Something alive…
Prey.