An Unexpected Encounter (1)

-Frey Starlight Pov-

It's time to act.

I gripped a sharp blade, swallowing hard.

"Let's finish this"

Steeling my resolve, I plunged the blade into the right side of my torso.

Fresh blood dripped onto the ground. My face remained blank as I inflicted wound after wound upon myself.

After everything I endured in the Nightmare Lands, pain of this level was nothing. I knew exactly where to cut to make it look fatal while avoiding my vital organs.

I needed to appear broken, like a man on the verge of death—if I wanted my target to take the bait.

Once enough blood had spilled, I took a measured sip of the healing potion I had prepared earlier—just enough to keep myself from passing out, but not enough to close my wounds.

Then, I collapsed into the pool of my own blood, rolling in it like a child playing in the snow.

Seconds later, I stood up, my body drenched in crimson.