---
**[Scene - Two Nights After the Abyss Transfer - Midnight]**
Moonlight passed through the trees like silver needles.
Kuro was asleep, his breathing slow and regular. Shadows danced faintly on the cave walls.
A few meters away, Rei sat, her face pale, her eyes trembling.
She clutched her palm towards him - magic swirling silently around her fingers.
> "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I don't want to do this, but..."
---
**[Flashback: Inside the Abyss - Years Ago]**
Her chains were cold. She was breathing heavily.
A man with a dark silhouette stood before her - stitched-shut lips, eyes red like embers.
> "When the boy comes to save you, kill him."
> "He is your enemy."
Rei spoke.
"He... isn't he my savior...?"
The man crouched, his voice quiet yet terrifying.
> "Your parents are still alive. If you betray me, I will rip their hearts out and make you watch."
She screamed.
He smiled.
> "Don't forget, child. You are nothing without me."
---
**[Present - The Cave]**
Rei took a sharp breath.
> **"Shadow Blade."**
A curved dagger formed in her hand - shaped from the ten percent of Kuro's dark magic now inside her.
She crept forward silently.
One step...
Two...
Her hand shook.
She raised the dagger.
---
She thrust.
> **Clang.**
She flinched.
The dagger shattered before it even touched his skin.
An invisible, absolute barrier - Kuro was protected even in his sleep.
> "What is this...?" she whispered.
"Even this isn't your full power?"
Kuro's eyes opened.
He stared at her - not trembling, not angry.
Just calm.
> "I was wondering when you would try, Rei."
---
**[Scene - Loyalty.]**
Rei fell to her knees.
> "I... I didn't want to..."
Kuro stood up.
His shadow expanded around the cave, swallowing the light.
> "Then why did you try to kill me?"
Rei shouted. "Because he has my parents!"
Breaking down in sobs. "If I don't kill you, he'll torture them! I don't want that to happen!"
Silence.
Kuro looked at her, coldly.
Then...
> "Fine."
She blinked.
> "You're not going to kill me? That's your only chance."
> "But I won't forgive you."
He stepped past her and walked out of the cave.
---
**[Scene - That Day - Inside the Forest]**
Rei approached Kuro again. Her voice trembled.
> "I... I want to fix this. Let me prove it."
He didn't turn to look.
> "How?"
She swallowed hard.
> "Let me take you to him."
Kuro closed his eyes.
> "You want me to walk into a trap?"
> "No," she lied.
"I want to stop him."
He looked at her and nodded.
> "Fine. Lead the way."
> *Let's see who is really hunting whom.*
---
In the distance, within the shadow of a ruined tower...
The demon-human watching Rei's spirit smiled darkly.
> "Come, little master of shadows."
> "I've been waiting a long time to claim your soul."
---
✦ **To be continued...**