"Me? Ending up like him?" Cevine's lips curved. "You're not the only one hiding something fun." Her blade vibrated, razor-sharp edges protruded from its sides, leaking a dark thick substance that dissolves through the ground.

  "It's a shame you stabbed us—no, ME in the back. And for what? For a girl that can no longer be sought for?"

  "What can I say? Some things are worth more than standardized order, associates, and guys in business suits. Not that you'll live long enough to understand that."

  Cevine twisted her look, clenching her katana. "And where did that lead you? Falina is now dead. Surely this Senior of mine isn't naive enough to believe there's still hope for her."

  Hezekiah perked his head, shooting a cold stare before turning his attention to the pen.

  The stale air floated. Cevine smirked upon seeing his silence. "How pitiful, destined to a place where no loved one is waiting." She took off at rapid speed. "I regret my Senior harbors such weakness. Please die honorably before it's too late."

  She raised her sword; black liquid flew off to his face, gradually disintegrating through his clothing. Carrying the momentum, she squarely struck his neck.

  The blade shattered, coating his clothes with pitch blackness.

  "What...?" she muttered as she witnessed the pieces fall before her.

  Hezekiah remained motionless, still fixed on the pen.

  "You have no idea what's possible." He latched onto her shoulder. Her eyes widened. "After all, I too was dead once." He plunged the knife deep into her stomach.

  She gasped, coughing blood as her vision shot to a blur. Her handle was slipping between her fingers as coldness steadily claimed her.

  Hezekiah delicately twisted the knife.

  "Aughh!" she cried. She tried pushing away, but Hezekiah wouldn't let go, driving the knife deeper into her stomach. Her wails sounded once more, blood trickling down her lips.

  "You should've passed this assignment to someone else, but perhaps I only have myself to blame..."

  "Stay away from her!" Jin stood up, clasping his stomach. He couldn't believe what he saw; not even his eyes could decipher what they observed. How is he still fine after that? Is he even injured!?

  "Well, if that's what you want." Hezekiah yanked the knife out. She screeched in agony before he tossed her onto the railroad tracks, blood rushed out her wound like a river. "She'll only die faster."

  The scent of iron filled the air, causing him to release a tired breath.

  "What are you waiting for? If you don't do anything, there won't be anyone else to save."

  Jin hardened his gaze. "I never expected you to let us live, but how could you be so heartless to her? You know how she feels about you!"

  "What of it?" Hezekiah took off. "I'm sure she'll be delighted to die by my hand anyway."

  Jin dodged the first punch. Hezekiah went to block his sight, but his arm was seized this time.

  "Stop being so cocky!" He elbowed Hezekiah's chin, but he showed no reaction.

  Jin froze as he watched Hezekiah look right back at him. Hezekiah hooked onto his sleeve, spitting in his eyes.

  "Damn! You dirty bastard!" He hastily tried to wipe the saliva, but his feet were already leaving the ground.

  The air escaped his lungs as he was slammed onto his back. Before his vision could settle, a crushing force descended on his throat.

  It burned.

  Darkness rapidly claimed his vision as his lungs felt like they were about to explode. His ringing ears distorted his thoughts. The warm blood clogged his throat, fighting for an opening it couldn't find.

  He hammered Hezekiah's leg, desperately trying to offset his foot, but the pain only grew worse. The pressure in his head mounted, seeking air.

  No... I can't die. I refuse... by the hands of him. Tears welled in his eyes, his thoughts growing dim. Cevine, just what do you see in him?

  Hezekiah continued to add pressure to his foot, fracturing any bones that he missed, until Jin’s eyes no longer showed life.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  The bright glow in his eyes was no more, reverting back to its pupil shape.

  Hezekiah examined him after letting off his foot, contemplating after seeing its transition.

  "Unfortunately, you never stood a chance."

  —Rules of The Custom Boundary

  1. I'm invulnerable.

  Those eyes might be of some help, but there's someone I have to see off first.

  He made his way to the edge of the platform, furrowing his brows when he was met with a puddle of blood.

  She can still move? No, that shouldn't be possible.

  He looked to the left and right of the tunnel.

  Empty.

  He noticed a trail of blood heading east on the tracks. He cupped his chin thoughtfully.

  If she's already gone... That may not be so bad, but I can't let you spill everything to the organization, can I?

  He scrubbed the back of his head, summoning the rule sheet after making his decision.

  He looked up at one of the hanging signs, displaying the name of the section he's in. He wrote its name on the top line.

  —Rules for Dezit Subway, Sector 18—

  1.

  2.

  3.

  4.

  ...

  —Satisfaction 0%—

  —The Custom Boundary is destroyed for existing within selected location.

  It couldn't have warned me ahead of time? Can't count on it to not stab me in the back, can I?

  "She couldn't have gotten that far. I should still make it in time," he muttered before writing down a few rules.

  This subway entrance may reopen again, and I also have to consider the train that still passes through here. Not to mention the maintenance workers. What a pain, but I can't waste too much time.

  After the satisfaction percentage reached 100, he circled the confirmed choice.

  It was instantaneous.

  She appeared before him, startled by her surroundings. Blood seeped through her fingers as she covered her wound, which intermingled with an ethereal green light.

  "Wait... How did I end up here? Wasn't I just—" Her mouth dropped upon seeing Jin.

  "You should probably thank him."

  Her shoulders twitched. She turned, holding her stomach, meeting Hezekiah's cold gaze.

  "If he didn't buy you enough time to escape, both you and he would've withered already."

  Her wound is already closing? Is that green light caused by another Huska Tool?

  She took a few steps back, knitting her brows as she withdrew her sword. "None of this makes sense... Just what are you!? You—You're not Hezekiah!"

  "This again? I heard the organization is calling me an imposter this time around. Maybe they're right to an extent." He approached Cevine, reaching out to her.

  She attempted to swing her sword, but found she couldn't move. A rough hand caressed her cheek, quickening her heart.

  Wha—what's wrong with me!? It can't be because of him, can it? Is a Huska Tool even capable of this? But... he's not even using anything!

  "But you always saw what others couldn't. That's what I always liked about you. That's why I know what you said earlier is only your self-denial."

  Cevine pursed her lips as she took another look at him. Sweat trickled down her neck as his hand traced down toward the border of her shirt.

  Coldness gripped her when she noticed her body wasn't responding, no matter how much she tried to force it. "You wouldn't dare!"

  He lifted her shirt, revealing a pale green card shielding the wound as it healed it.

  "So that's the source of the strange light? So this is what it means to have another card up your sleeve. You were never the type to go down easily, weren't you?"

  Hezekiah began peeling the card off, briefly glancing at her expression. "Why still tense? Still afraid I might try something else?"

  "Just what are you planning to do with me?" she asked, watching Hezekiah examine the card.

  He didn't answer her but instead started searching her pockets. A deck of cards was discovered, divided into four colors.

  He selected a card with a red edge, similar to the one thrown at him.

  "Is there any point in asking?"

  "So this is it!? Was I nothing more than a puppet ready to be disposed of when you betrayed us? Must feel nice to see me die like this."

  Hezekiah softened his eyes. Her wound was mostly healed, but yet she still couldn't move due to the rules. It wouldn't take much to put an end to all this, but it didn't sit right.

  "It's quite the opposite," he whispered. "But it seems we were both wrong in what I was capable of."

  The silence returned between them. If Cevine could move, a slap would've echoed throughout the tunnel.

  "Of all people you decided to frame in order to protect her, you chose me." She chuckled. "Maybe I do deserve this... I'd say I evaluated you quite accurately. My own admiration and our time together blinded me from that, and you took advantage of that trust—or weakness, should I say?"

  She met his gaze with a resigned smile.

  "No point in keeping little ol' me around, isn't that right? So just kill me already."

  Hezekiah remained still. The card was slightly stained with her blood, its warmth reaching his fingers. He positioned the edge against her neck, his grip lacking the same strength it had previously.

  "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, and you have every right to hate me." He sliced through her neck. Blood spurted from her veins, sprinkling his clothes in deep crimson. Her eyes fluttered as they visibly faded to dimness.

  She swayed over, caught in Hezekiah's grasp. In her last fleeting moments, her sight was still piercing, but not of mockery.

  "Our relationship was never a weakness." His grip tightened. "I lacked the strength to do what had to be done, and I'm sorry for exploiting you. My sister is just that important to me."

  No words returned to him—only still and cold eyes. An emptiness clawed through, something he hadn't felt in a while.

  He closed her eyes, unsure how to feel.