"What is the problem this ti?!" Areis shouted as he reappeared in the white void.
"Tell , I did the deceptive death, didn’t I? So why the hell am I back here?!"
[Host, you need to calm down.
You have two minutes and thirty seconds to stabilize and attempt your final retrial.
Please note: this retrial will determine whether your soul dissolves permanently.
Countdown begins now.]
[Now, Host, to address your accusations.
Yes, you succeeded in deducing the phrase. However... if you were attempting to deceive death, was that truly how it was ant to be done?]
"Well, I did what I thought I was supposed to do!" Areis snapped back. "Are you saying I wasn’t ant to stab myself?"
[No, Host. You were ant to do so, but I will advise you not to stab your heart, as those are vital areas. You should understand that Prince Kenzie aid to kill, so he stabbed places that would make you drop dead instantly. However, if your goal is deceptive death, then yes, you must stab yourself in a way that requires urgent treatnt but does not result in imdiate death. That way, you appear dead or dying while still being recoverable. That is what is known as deceptive death.]
"Oh... I see..." Areis sighed slowly, the explanation finally sinking in.
"But... this—do I even have enough CE to heal myself after it happens?" he asked worriedly. "You know the purpose of this is to break Prince Kenzie’s defense, draw everyone’s attention to , and then reveal my true identity so I can tell the truth, clear Prince Lucien’s na, and end this ss. That’s how we win."
[Host must decide what he wants to do. Ti remaining is only a few seconds.]
Just as the system’s voice faded, Areis felt himself being violently plunged back into the courtroom, his knees hitting the cold stone floor as countless eyes fixed themselves on him once again.
"I thought you said there were a few seconds left," Areis muttered bitterly.
[Oops. Sorry. I forgot it was actually just two seconds. Now do what you need to do. I’ll be watching.]
Areis sighed and shook his head, anxiety crawling up his spine. Now, what exactly was he supposed to do? He needed to hurt himself, yes, but not in a vital place.
’If I stab my chest,’ he reasoned quickly, ’I won’t even know where my heart is while I’m in my tiger form. I’m not experienced enough to locate it precisely. That’s too risky.’
’But if I stab my stomach... my chances of surviving are higher.’
’I’ll probably rupture arteries. I’ll bleed badly. But I won’t die instantly as long as I’m treated in ti.’
"Yes," Areis thought grimly. ’That’s what I’ll do.’
With his resolve set, Areis executed the second move he had prepared. This ti, instead of waiting, he walked toward Lucien himself and stopped right in front of him.
"Don’t bother asking the questions already running through your mind," Areis said quietly.
The contract floated in midair, visible only to Areis and Kenzie, who stood nearby with one hand tightly clasped around the hilt of his sword, eyes sharp and predatory.
Areis knew he had to hurry. At any mont, Kenzie could strike. It felt as though even if he tried to run out of the courtroom, sothing would still happen—he would still fail. There was no escape from this mont. He had to get it right.
Despite Areis’s words, Lucien did not listen. He rose from his kneeling position and spoke, his voice thick with pain.
"If you can read my mind so easily, then why are you still doing this to ?" Lucien demanded. "Are you being compelled, or did you do this out of your own free will? Did you really have to go as far as sleeping with my brother just to prove that I ant nothing to you? For what purpose exactly? What lies have you told , and what truths am I supposed to learn?"
The words were different this ti. Sothing had changed.
And sohow, that felt like a sign to Areis—a sign that this retrial might actually succeed.
Just as planned, Areis said nothing.
Lucien turned to leave, and at that precise mont, the contract began to burn, blue flas appearing at its edges.
That was his cue.
The dagger materialized in Areis’s hand. Lucien turned back just in ti to see Areis plunge the blade deep into his own stomach.
"Areis!" Lucien shouted in shock, rushing forward.
Color drained from Areis’s face instantly as blood soaked into his fur. His breath ca out shallow and strained, as though life itself was slipping through his fingers.
’Fuck... did I do it right this ti?’ His thoughts tangled together in panic and pain as he clung to a single desperate hope.
[Host is in critical condition but not untreatable.]
[Healing skill initiating.]
[All active skills and spells are being deactivated.]
[Beast veil deactivated.
Language skill deactivated.]
[Host is now bare to comnce effective healing.]
[Host CE is critically low.]
[Host will shut down due to low CE.
Imdiate healing required.
Losing consciousness in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1.]
Areis slipped into darkness. He was not dead, but he was not conscious either.
And yet, before he fainted, he had already stunned the entire courtroom.
Whispers erupted as Areis’s form shifted just before he collapsed. What they saw was sothing none of them had ever witnessed before.
His skin was pale and smooth, as white as milk. His body was free of blemishes or markings. He had small ears, a delicate nose, and soft human features. And he was completely bare.
The king himself rose abruptly from his throne, shock etched across his face as he stared at Areis. Lucien knelt beside him, hands soaked in blood as he desperately tried to wake him.
"Guards!" the king roared.
"Get the royal doctor now!"
"This... this is a phenonon."
The courtroom descended into utter chaos.
Reviews
All reviews (0)