Aria sat in her room, hugging the ring box.
Her tears wouldn't stop.
"He never did this before. Not once."
She smiled.
"Maybe... this is the reason I came back."
She wiped her face.
"I'll wait. Just a little more. Maybe he really changed.
The castle was bright again. The garden was full of music and food. Today, the heroes were all here. They came to celebrate Aria's birthday.
Jin Haru sat beside her, smiling gently.
He gave her a necklace this time. It was small, blue, and shaped like a heart.
"You look good with it," he said.
Aria blushed. "Thank you... Haru."
The other nine heroes clapped and laughed. They were eating and drinking.
One of the heroes, Ren, stood up. "To Aria, the smartest and strongest of us all!"
They all raised their cups.
Jin smiled. "Yes, to her."
But his eyes were cold.
---
Next morning, the king sat on his throne. His face was serious.
"All heroes," he said. "We have a goal now. We will kill the demon Varnak."
Jin " father I want to participate, I want to revenge in demon varnak for innocent people he killed.
The room was quiet.
He looked at Jin.
"You... you are not the same as before. I see change. Maybe you can be king one day."
Jin bowed. "Thank you, Father."
His smile was full of lies.
---
After the meeting, Jin walked to the street. He made an illusion.
A small boy, crying.
The boy ran to the guards.
"I saw a demon! In a cave! Big red eyes!"
The guards rushed to the king.
The king ordered the heroes to go check.
But that cave... was not where Varnak was.
It was a place Jin prepared.
---
They all entered the cave.
But as they walked inside, the ground shook.
"An earthquake?" one hero shouted.
"No! The cave is collapsing!"
Rocks fell.
Dust filled the air.
Everyone ran. But the way out was blocked.
When the dust cleared, only five heroes were together.
Jin.
And four others.
Ren. Mira. Sean. Dren.
"We're stuck," said Mira.
Jin looked around. "Let's go deeper. Maybe there's another way out."
They walked slowly.
Then Jin smiled.
Time to begin.
---
The first to die was Dren.
Jin walked behind him and stabbed his back with a hidden blade.
"Agh!" Dren screamed.
The others turned.
"What happened?!"
Jin looked scared. "Something attacked him! A demon shadow!"
Sean ran to help, but Jin threw a poison needle. It hit Sean's neck.
"Gah... I... can't... breathe..."
He fell down.
Mira screamed. "What's going on?!"
Jin whispered, "You're next."
He stepped close and touched her head.
"Sleep."
His illusion magic made her see fire, death, monsters.
She cried and fell into madness.
Then he cut her throat.
Only Ren was left.
Ren looked at Jin, shocked.
"You... you're doing this?"
Jin nodded. "Yes. Sorry, Leo. I need your ability."
Ren pulled his sword. "You lied to all of us!"
They fought. Sword against dagger.
But Jin was faster.
He stabbed Ren in the stomach.
Blood poured.
Ren knelt down. "Why...?"
Jin whispered, "Because you are all just tools."
He stabbed again. And Ren died.
---
Jin cleaned his hands.
Then he cut his own arm a little.
He made scratches on his face.
He ran back to the main road in the cave.
Guards found him there.
"Prince! You're alive!"
He cried. "We were attacked... A big demon appeared... The four heroes protected me..."
He sobbed. "They died for me..."
The guards took him back.
---
The king hugged him.
"My son... you are safe. The heroes... they were brave."
The other heroes looked sad.
"They died... for him."
---
In his room, Jin opened the system.
[New Ability Acquired: Sword of Flames (Ren)] [New Ability Acquired: Illusion Fire (Mira)] [New Ability Acquired: Poison Flow (Sean)] [New Ability Acquired: Stealth Steps (Dren)]
He laughed softly.
"Four down. Five to go."
Then he looked at Aria's name in the system.
"She will be mine too."