Chapter 35: How Does It Feel To Be Betrayed

The battle had dragged on for over fifteen minutes, and at last, Sayuri's healing magic had completed its work.

Kowa's eyes fluttered open.

For a brief moment, he was disoriented. Then—

Ellie's lifeless face flashed in his mind.

Tears spilled down his cheeks.

"Ellie… she's… she's really gone…"

His body trembled with rage.

"Get up," Haruto Nitta's voice cut through the moment.

Kowa looked up.

"…What?"

"If you've got the strength to cry, then get up and fight."

Kowa clenched his fists.

Hatred boiled inside him.

His orc blood surged, and in an instant, he transformed back into his half-orc form.

He would tear Ryuu apart.

Yet—

Ryuu wasn't in a hurry.

He watched them with amusement, as if waiting for a show to unfold.

Then—

He turned his eyes to Haruto.

"Congratulations, Kowa," Ryuu taunted. "How did it feel to get struck by your own teammate's lightning?"

Kowa froze.

The realization hit him like a hammer.

It wasn't Ryuu that had nearly killed him—

It was Haruto.

"…Shut up," Kowa growled.

"You really think you're leaving this forest alive?" Haruto stepped forward, his Thunder Blade crackling with electricity.

Ryuu chuckled.

"Before you start talking big, you might want to look at your own situation."

Kowa snarled and moved to attack, but—

Haruto grabbed his arm.

"Don't be reckless!" Haruto hissed. "We need to escape first. I'll lead the way, you cover Sayuri from behind!"

Kowa's teeth ground together.

"No. I'm going to kill him."

"Idiot! Ellie's already gone! If you rush in now, you'll just die too!"

"…Tch!"

Kowa cursed—

But stopped.

For now.

Seeing that Kowa had calmed down, Haruto exhaled.

"Alright… we're getting out of here," he muttered.

Yet—

Ryuu simply smirked.

And began to count down.

"10… 9… 8…"

Haruto's stomach tightened.

A sinking feeling crept into his chest.

"7… 6… 5…"

He scanned the area—

Nothing was happening.

"Ignore him," Haruto said, though his voice was uneasy. "He's just trying to mess with our heads."

"4… 3… 2… 1…"

Silence.

Haruto scoffed.

"See? I told you—"

SHNK.

Haruto's words cut off.

Something cold pierced through his chest.

He gasped—

And slowly turned his head.

Behind him—

Kowa stood frozen.

A bloody sword in his hands.

The same sword he had wielded all his life.

Haruto's own teammate…

Had stabbed him.

His mind reeled.

It didn't make sense—

Then—

He saw Kowa's eyes.

A red, glowing sigil.

Geass.

Understanding dawned on him.

Ryuu… had controlled Kowa.

The moment Susanoo had grabbed him—

Ryuu had planted a command.

"Kowa…" Haruto choked out.

Kowa's eyes cleared.

He looked down—

At the blood dripping from his hands.

And staggered back.

"No… no, I didn't… I-I didn't…"

Ryuu's laughter filled the air.

"It's beautiful, isn't it, Haruto?" he taunted. "How does it feel… to get betrayed by your own friend?"

Haruto stumbled, clutching his wound.

"Y-You… b-bastard…"

Kowa collapsed onto the ground, horrified.

"Haruto… I swear, I didn't mean to… I…"

But Haruto wasn't listening.

His vision blurred.

His legs buckled.

He was going to die.

Then—

Ryuu's blade flashed.

He was going to finish the job.

Haruto's instincts screamed.

"WAIT!"

His voice cracked with desperation.

"We… we were comrades, right?! We don't have to do this—"

Ryuu's expression darkened.

"Oh?"

"You mean the same way you forced me into that sword furnace?"

Haruto's breath hitched.

"I—I was wrong!" he blurted out. "I was jealous! I was stupid! Please, Ryuu, just spare me!"

Ryuu's lips curled.

"Spare you?"

He let out a laugh.

"Since when has a Demon King ever spared a Hero?"

His blade swung downward.

Yet—

CLANG!

A barrier deflected the strike.

Ryuu's eyes narrowed.

Sayuri stood before Haruto, arms outstretched.

Her hands trembled.

"Sayuri… move," Ryuu said coldly.

She shook her head.

"This has to stop, Ryuu. We… we were all friends once!"

Ryuu's golden eyes burned with rage.

"Friends?"

His voice was sharp.

"Was I your friend when you all stood there and watched me burn?"

Sayuri flinched.

"That's… that's why I'm asking you now. Don't make the same mistake we did."

Ryuu's expression darkened.

"You've already made your choice, Sayuri."

"Then kill me too," she whispered.

Ryuu's grip tightened.

The rage inside him boiled over.

At that moment—

Kowa's body lunged forward.

His arms wrapped around Ryuu's torso.

"RUN!" Kowa shouted. "HARUTO, GO!"

"NO ONE IS ESCAPING!"

Ryuu drove his blade straight through Kowa's back.

Blood spilled from Kowa's mouth—

But he refused to let go.

"Haruto… go…"

Haruto's legs moved on instinct.

He grabbed Sayuri's wrist—

And ran.

Ryuu howled in rage.

"Elders! After them! Dead or alive!"

The Elven Mages sprang into action.

Haruto and Sayuri vanished into the trees—

With spells and arrows raining down behind them.

Kowa's breathing slowed.

His grip weakened.

Ryuu's blade twisted deeper.

"You would sacrifice yourself… for trash like him?"

Kowa laughed weakly.

"I was born to die for others…"

He coughed.

"Fate… has already decided that."

"Fate?"

Ryuu's eyes flashed.

He ripped the blade free.

Kowa's body fell limp.

Ryuu stood there—

Watching as Haruto disappeared into the distance.

A deep, twisted satisfaction burned inside him.

The hunt wasn't over.

Not yet.

"Run, Haruto."

A cruel smile spread across his lips.

"I'll find you again."

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