Chapter 40: If I Asked You to Kill Me

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: If I Asked You to Kill Me Night in Arkveil wasn’t just quiet — it was too quiet. As if the city itself held its breath, knowing what Kai was about to do. Inside a half-toppled cathedral at the center of the ruins, a single flame glowed inside an enchanted lantern. Shadows danced across cracked stone walls, old pews, and stained glass depictions of gods no one worshipped anymore. Kai stood in the middle of it, arms folded, eyes cold. One by one, the girls arrived. Not as allies. Not even as lovers. But as suspects. Seris arrived first. Still furious from their last encounter, her expression was blank, but her eyes were wild. Yuri followed, shoulders squared, silent and unreadable. Astra trailed behind, eyes low, blade strapped loosely to her back — but Kai noticed how her fingers kept twitching toward the hilt. Then came Liora, cloaked and quiet, her presence still unstable in this timeline. She sat apart from the rest, eyes flicking between every face like she already knew how it all ended. And finally... Nyx entered. Silent. Barefoot. Clean. Deadlier than all of them. Kai gave her a nod. She didn’t return it. "I’m going to ask one question," Kai said at last, voice even. "And I want the truth." Silence. His gaze swept across the group. "If I asked you to kill me... would you do it?" The words were met with immediate tension. Seris’s mouth fell open, then shut again. She took a step forward, fists clenched. "Why would you even ask that?" "Because someone already plans to," he said, meeting her eyes. "And because at this point, the only way I’ll survive... is knowing exactly how far each of you would go for me—or against me." Yuri stepped up, her voice barely a whisper. "I wouldn’t. Not even if you begged." Kai studied her. Her answer came too fast. Too clean. Too rehearsed. [System Scan: Yuri – Emotional Response Detected: Suppression / Denial] Subtext Conflict: "I would... if it saved you." Lie Integrity: 78% Kai turned to Seris. She looked down. "If you asked me," she whispered. "I’d do it." The others flinched. Kai didn’t. "Why?" "Because you don’t ask for anything. And if you asked that, it means you already lost hope." [System Trait Confirmed: "Mercy in Flames" – Seris Bond Trait Active] Damage Multiplier: +30% to Final Blow if ordered by Kai. Emotion Mod: Anguished Loyalty. Astra sighed. "I’d fake your death instead," she said, crossing her arms. "Lie to the world. Hide your body in a glacier. Let everyone think you were dead." She tilted her head, smirking. "So no, I wouldn’t kill you." Kai nodded. Astra’s loyalty was real — but it was based on strategy, not emotion. Useful. But dangerous in a different way. [System Trait: "Ice-Heart Strategist" – Astra Bond Updated] Emotion Modifier: Survival > Morality Risk Factor: 5/10 Then Liora stood. Her silver cloak dragged against the floor. "In my timeline, you asked me that. And I said no." She looked at him, eyes hollow. "You begged me. I couldn’t do it. And because of that, everything else... burned." Kai’s breath hitched. "What happened?" She didn’t answer. The silence was enough. [System Warning – Echo of Future Trauma Detected] Bond Sync: Inverse-State (Liora) Emotional Flag: Regret Loop Consequence: She may act against present timeline to "correct" it. Finally, Nyx stepped forward. And smiled. "I’d kill you," she said calmly. Everyone turned sharply. Yuri’s expression twisted in rage. "You—what?" Nyx didn’t blink. "But only if you asked with your real voice. Not the one you use when you’re trying to protect us. The one you use when you’re actually scared. When you’re tired of playing hero." Kai met her eyes. For the first time, he didn’t see hatred in them. He saw understanding. A dark mirror. And it scared him more than her blade ever did. [System Update – Nyx: Emotional Core Synced (93%)] Trait Gained: "Merciful Executioner" Loyalty Path Split: Passive Kill Mode (Waiting for Trigger) Affection Level: 87% Betrayal Rating: Unstable – She may become your savior or your killer. "Why would you say it like that?" Astra asked, stunned. "So casually—?" "Because love isn’t always gentle," Nyx replied. "And because mercy doesn’t always look like kindness." Kai held up a hand, silencing the storm of voices. He took a deep breath. "Thank you." Yuri blinked. "For what?" "For being honest," Kai said. "Even when it hurt." He pointed to the middle of the cathedral floor, where a sigil of truthfire slowly ignited. A circle of golden flame surrounded them. "I’m marking this place," he said. "Not as a grave. But as a promise." The flame rose, forming glowing chains of light in the air above them — contracts that couldn’t be broken. [System Pact Engaged – "Oath of Final Choice"] All current bonded parties bound to a singular command: "No one kills me unless I ask." Violation triggers: – Bond Destruction – Memory Erasure – Death Reversal Failure Each girl stepped forward, placing a hand in the circle. Yuri first, tears streaking down her face. Then Astra, jaw tight. Then Seris, trembling but firm. Then Liora, haunted but obedient. And finally, Nyx. Who paused. Smiled. And whispered: "One day, you’ll ask." Then placed her hand on the flame. The light shot into the sky, exploding silently like fireworks made of law. Kai let out a breath. For now, he was safe. Or at least... safer. But trust was a flame. And some of them still held oil behind their backs. That night, alone on the cathedral rooftop, Kai stared at the stars again. Wishing they held answers. Behind him, a shadow stirred. Nyx. She sat beside him. Didn’t speak for a long time. Then finally asked: "Would you really ask one of us to do it?" Kai didn’t answer right away. But when he did, his voice was quiet. "I don’t want to die, Nyx. But I’m tired of everyone thinking I deserve to." She looked at him. Eyes softer than he’d ever seen them. "Then let me be the one who decides." He shook his head. "No one gets to choose that for me anymore." And for a brief moment... Even Nyx didn’t argue. [System Alert: Chapter 41 – "Dagger Beneath the Pillow" Begins] Countdown to first betrayal: Active Bond Destabilization Trigger: 3 Choices Away She was his sword... until she turned it on him. ???? Trust is shattered. Who’s next to fall? ???? Add this book so you never miss a betrayal. ???? Guess who’s the real traitor in the comments. ???? Power Stones = more heartbreak, more reveals, more chaos.