362 Opponen (2/2)
”Wait, Will.” The newcomer stopped his comrade and said lightly, ”Let me talk to them.”
”Then…I'll hand it to you.” Will glanced at the man and stepped back with a vague smile. The man turned around and took off his mask, revealing a familiar face.
”Baro!” Miller was dumbfounded. Even Sam's dark eyes flashed with confusion.
”It's me.” Baro chuckled but his expression was extremely peaceful and calm. His eyes were not bloodshot, nor was there any mania. He looked like a gentle and quiet youth, undisturbed by his beastly nature.
”Our time apart felt like years. How have you all been?” he asked quietly.
Miller's expression changed and he stumbled back. He wanted to say something but he shut his mouth.
Sam glared at Baro as if looking at an abomination. ”Baro, you're already dead,” he said. ”The dead should not crawl out of the grave.”
”You're worried I'm fake?” Baro walked up. ”Don't worry, Sam. I'm great now. I didn't actually die. It's just that Will helped me see my true strength. Do you still remember how we met three years ago? At that time—”
”At that time, you looked more normal.”
”That's because I'm normal now.” Baro laughed. ”I'm no longer troubled by anger and mania. Calmness feels so nice. I've defeated the beastly nature within me. It was a gift from His Highness. Now, I've recovered—”
Snick! Blood spewed out, flowing from Baro's heart. A dagger had appeared in Sam's hand as if he had practiced it thousands of times. He was clearly too weak to move but he was still incredibly fast.
He had yanked the dagger from his boot, flipped his wrist, and sent it forward. The blade had swum through the air like a fish and disappeared into Baro's chest. It had pierced into the heart, creating a ripple of red.
Blood spewed onto Sam's face.
”I—I…I'm…agh—ah—” Baro gaped at Sam. He tried to say something but blood had poured into his lungs. He could no longer speak and fell onto his knees.
Sam pulled out the dagger and wiped it against Baro's neck. He fell to the ground. In the last moment, he gaped at Sam. His dull eyes reflected the bloodied face.
”Sorry, Baro.” Sam sat on the ground and lowered his eyes. ”Since you couldn't die bravely in battle, I hope you can die in shame. That way, you'll still be like before…”
”Sam!” Will could not process this. He roared, ”What the f*ck did you do?! That's your friend! He had come back to life just to see you!”
”He's not my friend.” Sam looked up with cold eyes. ”He never was.”
”You—”
”Friend? How could he have friends?” Sam raised his hand and closed Baro's eyes. He said gently, ”People as paranoid as him only see wins and losses, strengths and weaknesses. Something like friendship probably never existed to him. He's an opponent that I acknowledge, and an enemy that I must kill with my own hands. That's what I thought when I first met him three years ago. He thought the same.
”Even without you, he would have challenged me before the trial ended, justly like a true musician. Dying would have been okay. But he chose this crazy path to challenge me. Now I feel sad seeing how weak he had become. I feel…disgusted!”
”Reckless b*stard!” Will laughed in anger. ”If that's the case, there's no point in keeping you.”
Pop! He flashed like a hallucination and reached out. His sharp finger bones ripped Sam's chest apart, breaking through the back. He squeezed the heart as if it was clay and fresh blood spurted out.
Sam was lifted up and moved around like a burnt and ragged doll. Blood flowed down his face like tears. As if he was crying.
He closed his eyes, letting the blood or tears roll down his cheeks. Finally, his breathing cut off. However, fire crackled within his shattered chest.
”Did you know? I've been waiting for him to challenge me…” His dead eyes opened again. Now, they were red as lava. There was no fear, uncertainty, anger, or sadness in those eyes. It just burned like fire. It was terrifying just by burning.
”I've waited three years for this day!”
The Copper Mountain rumbled!