I'm ready have bad time...

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Chapter 9: Glitch in the Blade

The slashes from that boy were devastating—slicing through buildings, walls, and everything in their path. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think.

"Come on!" the voice shouted again.

"You need to think! That's how your power works!"

"I can't think while I'm being cut to pieces!" I screamed.

Blades zipped past me. One nearly sliced my leg. I dove to the side.

"NOW! FOCUS!"

And then… for a split second, I thought.

I remembered him.

Not the boy. Not my brother.

The one who started it all.

*POP*

Out of nowhere, something fell from above like a glitch in reality.

"Ouch! What the—? Why am I here again?!"

It was Reaper.

A blade swung toward him instantly.

He caught it. Casually.

"You little brat. You trying to kill me?"

The boy didn't flinch.

"Get out of my way... or I'll kill you too."

Another flurry of slashes. They were blindingly fast. But Reaper blocked them all—effortlessly.

"How... how can you block them?" I asked in shock.

Reaper glanced at me. "That power he's using—it's like mine. But waaaay weaker. Like... insultingly weaker."

*WHOOOSH*

One massive slash came. It ripped through the sky.

The boy collapsed, panting, still alive—but clearly exhausted.

From behind him, a slime slithered forward.

"It's time. Come back."

A portal opened and dragged the boy away. Gone. Just like that.

Reaper turned to me.

His gaze wasn't angry.

It wasn't smug.

It was... curious.

"...What are you?"

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