trusted betrayal

13

The darkness trembled. Everything—the sky, the ground, the air itself—was cracking under the weight of what was about to happen. The five heroes, once united, now stood divided. You stood beside Lio and Rhum, your hands clenched into fists. Across from you—Lilith, Scion, and Lily. The three who had once been your allies. The ones who had turned. And behind them—Shadow. His presence was suffocating. His very existence twisted reality, his abyss-like form shifting, flickering between shapes. But his eyes—his eyes never left Rhum. Lio stepped forward, his golden aura flaring. “How dare you?” His voice rang through the broken void, raw with fury. “I thought you were noble. I thought you were like me, like Rhum—the second hero. But no. You three—you betrayed the light. You sided with him. You turned your backs on everything we fought for!” The three traitors didn’t move. Their eyes flickered—just for a second. But they did not step back. Then—laughter. It was cold. Deep. Mocking. Shadow. His voice curled through the air like smoke, seething, suffocating. “How dare you speak of betrayal—when you betrayed me first?” The void shook. You felt it—like something inside the world itself was breaking. And then you spoke. “Shadow. Enough.” Your voice cut through the tension like a blade. Lio glanced at you, but you weren’t looking at him. You weren’t looking at the three traitors. Your eyes were on Shadow. “You want to make Rhum suffer. You want revenge.” Your hands curled into fists, your breath steady. “Fine.” Your voice was steady. Cold. Unshaken. “But you’re not the only one who’s suffered.” The silence was deafening. Then, Shadow’s gaze snapped to you. For the first time, the god of all shadows—paused. His abyss-like form flickered, his endless darkness twisting. His voice, once furious, was quieter now. Sharper. “What are you saying?” You took a step forward