Kill Her

Corin ran through the empty corridors of the academy, his breath ragged and his body drenched in sweat. His vision was still clouded, the world around him painted in an unnatural, blood-red hue. He stumbled as he teleported again, his mana nearly drained from overuse. Slowly, the berserk rage that had consumed him began to wane, allowing fragments of clarity to seep into his mind.

"What happened? Why am I running?" he wondered, his thoughts hazy and jumbled. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to piece together the events of the past few hours. "Everything feels so red... so chaotic... I can't remember anything clearly."

As he sprinted through the dimly lit hallway, he spotted a boy ahead of him—blue-haired and blue-eyed. The boy moved cautiously, his body tense with fear. When their eyes met, the boy froze in place, his face turning ghostly pale, and his entire body began to tremble.

"Ethan?" Corin's muddled thoughts latched onto the name as it echoed in his head. The sight of the boy triggered something deep within him, an uncontrollable fury rising like a tidal wave. "That's right... Ethan! I remember now. He's the reason for all this! I'll kill him! I have to kill Ethan to reclaim my honor!"

Without hesitation, Corin lunged forward, his sharp nails glowing faintly under the dim lights. In one swift motion, he drove them deep into the boy's abdomen. Blood sprayed out like a crimson fountain, splattering onto Corin's face and hands. The boy didn't even have a chance to scream before his body collapsed lifelessly onto the cold, hard floor.

Corin stared down at the corpse, his chest heaving. A twisted grin spread across his face. "Hehehe... Ethan is dead. I killed him!" he bellowed, his voice filled with savage satisfaction. "Finally! I've done it!"

But his moment of triumph was short-lived. A commanding voice rang out from behind him. "Corin! Surrender now, or we'll have no choice but to end this!"

Corin spun around, his blood-soaked hands trembling. His red-tinted vision revealed three figures standing at the end of the corridor. To his shock, they all looked like Ethan—but with slight differences. One was taller and leaner, another shorter and stockier, and the third appeared almost identical to the boy he had just killed.

"What?! More Ethans?!" Corin growled, his rage bubbling to the surface once again. He clenched his fists, his sharp claws glinting menacingly. "Is this some kind of trick?! Fine! If you want to keep coming, I'll kill every single Ethan that crosses my path!"

His muscles tensed, and he prepared to charge at the three figures. His bloodlust blinded him to the truth. The boy he had just killed wasn't Ethan at all—it was another student, an innocent bystander who had the misfortune of crossing Corin's path. And the three figures before him weren't Ethan either. They were academy teachers, two men and one woman, who had tracked Corin down to stop his rampage.

But in his berserk state, Corin's mind twisted reality. Every person he saw became Ethan. His hatred consumed him, leaving no room for reason or logic. All he could see was the face of the boy he blamed for everything, and all he could think about was spilling more blood.

Corin charged forward like a wild beast, baring his fangs, his body trembling with uncontrollable rage. His target was clear—to kill the "Ethan" in front of him, no matter the cost.

The female teacher stepped forward, her gaze cold and unwavering. "It seems like I have no choice but to stop you," she said firmly.

With a swift, precise motion, her sword sliced through the air and severed Corin's arm. Blood sprayed onto the floor, but she showed no hesitation.

Corin gasped, stumbling back as pain shot through him. His eyes widened in disbelief. "This Ethan is so powerful… I have to retreat!" he thought, his mind still unable to comprehend reality.

Before anyone could strike again, Corin's arm began to regenerate with unnatural speed. Without a second thought, he teleported away, vanishing before their eyes.

But this wasn't the end.

Everywhere Corin teleported, the same thing happened. Whenever someone injured him, he would teleport again to escape. Each time, he pushed his body further beyond its limits. His mana was almost gone, his stamina drained, and his muscles screamed in agony. Yet his berserk state didn't allow him to stop.

Finally, he teleported again and landed in a quiet dorm room. The air was still, and the faint scent of lavender lingered.

Corin's bloodshot eyes scanned the room. In the corner, he saw a trembling figure—a girl with a soft, feminine frame. To him, she looked like a female version of Ethan, with the same face but with a more alluring and curvier body.

"Another Ethan?!" Corin growled, baring his teeth. His vision blurred, the world still coated in red. He stepped closer, ready to attack.

But the girl suddenly spoke, her voice shaking yet familiar. "Corin, why are you doing this? Don't you recognize me? It's me, Emma… your friend!"

Corin froze. Her words hit him like a thunderclap. "Emma?" he muttered, confusion flickering in his crimson-stained eyes.

For a moment, the rage inside him dimmed. Pieces of memories began to surface—memories of Emma. He had always admired her, She was more than a friend to him, Her first crush. Slowly, her image built itself in his mind, breaking through the haze.

The girl stepped forward cautiously, tears glistening in her eyes. "Do you remember now? You used to say you wanted to be a hero, to slay the Demon King and protect everyone. Why are you doing this, Corin? Why are you killing innocent people?"

Her voice was soft but filled with pain, and each word felt like a dagger piercing his chest. Corin's eyes widened as clarity finally returned.

The red in his vision faded, and the girl in front of him no longer looked like Ethan. She looked like Emma—the real Emma.

Corin fell to his knees, shaking as the weight of his actions came crashing down on him. "Oh my god… what have I done?" he whispered, his voice trembling.

His mind replayed the scenes of the students he had brutally killed, their terrified faces haunting him. His hands, still soaked in blood, seemed like a stranger's.

"They weren't Ethan… None of them were Ethan," he sobbed, tears streaming down his face. "I didn't want this. I just… I just wanted people to respect me… to see me as someone important!"

Emma knelt beside him, her fear replaced with pity. She placed a trembling hand on his shoulder. "It's not too late, Corin. You've done horrible things, but you can still stop this. Surrender now. Maybe… maybe you can find a way to make up for it later."

Her voice was gentle, soothing, like a faint light in the darkness he had been consumed by.

Corin was about to nod, ready to surrender, when a chilling voice broke the fragile moment.

"Becoming soft again?" a female voice said mockingly, dripping with disdain.

Both Corin and Emma turned to see who it was. Standing in the doorway, a girl leaned casually against the frame, smirking as though she was amused by the situation. Her long black hair cascaded over her pale skin, and in the dim light of the room, she looked like a ghost stepping out of a nightmare.

"Esdeath?" Emma gasped, her voice trembling.

"Don't say my name with your filthy mouth, you pathetic slut," Esdeath snapped, her tone sharp as a blade. She strode into the room with an air of confidence, completely unfazed by Corin's monstrous wolfman form. Where others would tremble in fear, she showed nothing but disdain.

Corin's breath hitched as her piercing gaze locked onto him.

"I'm disappointed in you," Esdeath said coldly, her voice laced with venom. "I thought maybe you had the guts to change your pathetic life. But here you are, groveling for a girl's pity. Still the same weak fool who chases after a woman's shadow."

Corin opened his mouth to protest, but Esdeath raised a hand, silencing him. Her words were sharp, each one digging into his already wounded pride.

"Did you forget, Corin?" she sneered. "Did you forget how she chose Ethan over you? How she never looked back when you were humiliated by him? How she didn't care when you were crushed and alone?"

Corin flinched, her words hitting him like punches to the chest. Flashes of the past filled his mind—Emma smiling at Ethan, Emma walking away when he needed her most.

"She calls herself your friend?" Esdeath continued, her voice dripping with mockery. "Even now, she's just pretending to care. But if you surrender, what do you think will happen? They'll kill you, Corin. No hesitation, no mercy."

"That's not true!" Emma cried desperately, stepping forward. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with Corin. "Don't listen to her! Corin, please, you know me. You trust me, right? I would never want to hurt you!"

Esdeath snorted, rolling her eyes. "Spare me the theatrics," she said with a cold laugh. "You're just putting on a show, aren't you? Hoping he'll die so you can run back to Ethan and live happily ever after."

"Liar!" Emma shouted, her voice cracking. "You black-haired witch… you're twisting his mind! Corin, please, she's trying to manipulate you! I care about you, I always have. Don't let her get into your head!"

Esdeath tilted her head, smirking. "Witch?" she chuckled, her laugh low and eerie. "Close enough. But let me correct you—I'm not just some witch. I'm an esper. I see the future, Emma. From the moment Corin awakened as a wolfman, I knew he would end up here. How else do you think I came at the perfect time?"

Emma froze, her body trembling. Her lips parted as though to protest, but no words came out. Her fear and doubt crept into her expression.

"That's ridiculous! There's no way you can see the future!" Emma finally managed to say, though her voice wavered.

Esdeath smirked, ignoring her entirely. She turned to Corin, stepping closer. Her eyes softened slightly as she placed a hand gently on his shoulder.

"I don't need to prove anything to her," Esdeath said softly, her voice almost tender. "I've already proved it to someone who matters—you."

Corin's breathing grew heavier as her words sank in. Her eyes bored into his, their intensity drawing him in.

"What… what are you talking about?" Emma stammered, her voice cracking.

Esdeath didn't answer. She leaned closer to Corin, her voice dropping to a whisper, barely audible to Emma.

"She's the final obstacle standing in your way," Esdeath whispered in his ear, her tone hypnotic. "You need to free yourself, Corin. Free yourself from weakness. From doubt. From her."

Corin's heart pounded in his chest as her words echoed in his mind.

Esdeath's lips curled into a wicked smile as she delivered her final command.

"KILL HER."