'It's because you are evil.'

'No I am not.'

'Only bodies with evil souls can get affected by that kind of attack, so you are really evil!'

'No, you are the one that's bad, I just got affected because you are inside my own body.'

'You are the one inside MY body. You are really evil, didn't you kill your own mother and ate her soul?'

'No, it's because that was the only way I can get out of there.'

'Oh, was that the only way?'

'Huh?'

'You're too selfish because you didn't save your mother and father from dying and even killed her, what kind of a son are you?'

'But she wanted me to get out of there!'

'Let us start from the beginning shall we? How did your mother arrive to that area?'

'I think... it's because she saw father and followed him?'

'Then why did your father went back home late?'

'It's because it's New Year's eve and also my birthday is tomorrow, he wanted to give a gift to me.'

'See, it's also your fault why your father was killed too.'

'No! How?!'

'And because you ran away from your mother's sight, she had to find you, but found your father instead. See that, you are the reason why they were both killed. You really are the one who killed them. You are despicable and evil!'

'No! No! No! Go away!'

'Didn't you kill your own baby sister too?'

'No I didn't! You were the one who killed her!'

'Really? Who was the one that ate her soul then?'

'It was your fault! You made me hungry!'

'Hahaha. Did you hear your own words? I made you hungry, yes, but who was the one in control of the body that time?'

'M-m-me?'

'Yes, you! And why didn't you resist the temptation then, so who really killed your baby sister?'

'Uhh...'

'You were the one who killed her on your own will.'

'No!'

'You killed your father.'

'No!'

'You killed your mother.'

'N-no!'

'You killed your sister.'

'No-no!'

'You killed your own family.'

'No that's not true!', James' voice squealed.

'You almost killed your own best friend.'

'Stop!'

'You will also kill that girl named Anna.'

'STOP!'

'You will also kill that man surnamed Morgan.'

'No, I won't, I'll never do that!'

'You will kill everyone... just like what I did!'

'...'

'See you are evil! It's just that you don't accept it'

'No more, please.'

'I'll take my body back then.'

'I-I won't let you.'

'What?!'

'I said I won't let you! If you want it, then neither of us will have it!'

'What are you going to do, kid?!'

***

James' eyes opened once again. He climbed out of the deep snow that cus.h.i.+oned his fall. From his location, he was already near the base of the mountain.

The kid looked around him, as if trying to find something, "I can't just bash my head against the mountain. I need to crush all of my internal organs so that monster won't be able to use my body."

He grasped the air in front of him and chanted out a spell, but nothing happened.

"Why isn't it working?!", James distressedly said.

'Do you think I will let you borrow my own power to kill me?! You might be a smart child, but you don't think things through. I'll just forcefully take control of your body even if that will be costly.', a voice sounded in his mind.

A spiky sensation attacked his left arm, and James felt that it was getting numb at a snail's pace. He shook his arm to try to control it again, but it didn't work.

Having no choice left, James ran as fast as he can downwards towards the west. From afar, he can see the currently dark Horizon Lake.

"I can't go to those golden men. They probably won't listen to me. I need everything in my body to be crushed so that it couldn't be used. I hope I can find something useful for that.", James arrived at the bottom and continued running away beside the lake. The golden men he referred to were none other than the warrior monks of the church.

Now, the kid was only basing and relying everything on luck. If he couldn't find something to use for destroying his own body then there's a large chance that the Eastern Horizon City, or even the whole eastern region would be ma.s.sacred.

Even though the monster seemed weak, it was only because it still hadn't took over his whole body.

'If I won't be able to find anything that I can use... then I will just dig out my own organs and crush them.', James gritted his teeth as he thought.

'Oh really? Will you do that?', the voice said in his mind.

'I will!', James shouted in response within his mind.

'When will you do it?', the voice asked.

'I said if I won't be able to find something useful!', the kid angrily responded.

'Haha, what a coward... I'll do it myself then!'

The kid's left arm acted in a flash and stabbed itself through his body before James could act; the latter could only look at it with wide eyes as it dug out his heart and crushed it.

-thud-

He collapsed to the ground as soon as it was crushed. However, the left hand kept twitching, followed by the other hand, and by the eyelids.

'James' stood up at once and examined his body. The hole on his body healed and a new black heart regenerated.

"Sadly, you don't know the real extent of my power. I don't die that easily, hahaha...", 'James' laughed in a different voice. The laugh made the already cold surroundings even colder.

The lance covered by black smoke appeared on his hands and 'James' turned around and used his weapon to slash downwards.

At the same time, a dagger flash flew forward to 'James', but was easily blocked by the lance.

"That dagger flash's essence seems a bit familiar.", 'James' muttered as he cautiously looked around. "Show yourself!"

Somebody wearing white robes stood up from the ground and said, "You're not that kid."

"You are the one who looks likes a kid!" 'James' coldly replied and he sniffed the air, "What a thick smell of blood you have. You should go back to your parents or else you'll get hurt."

The newcomer was none other than Edwin.

Edwin only chuckled at what 'James' responded.

A faint smirk showed on the lips of 'James' but he still coldly said, "I'd gladly grant your wish of death, if I'm not so busy right now." He turned around and was about to leave when Edwin answered, "I know a soul still has to get used to the body it recently took over, so you're not going anywhere."

Edwin lunged forward to 'James'; the latter snorted and murmured, "d.a.m.n it."

In turn, 'James' also charged, he slashed upward to the incoming Edwin; in turn, the latter blocked with his twin daggers and used the force of the lance to propel himself to the air and launched several Multi-Flash.

'James' blocked and dodged the approaching projectiles; at some point, because it became overwhelming, he was forced to retreat back near the edge of the lake. He then chanted out a spell and numerous spikes seemingly made of black gla.s.s formed beside him and launched them to Edwin.

-pshew-

The black projectiles pierced through Edwin, making him look the inside of a beehive. However, he slowly turned to dust and was brought away by the wind.

"Such a realistic clone!", 'James' was taken off guard.

"Take this!", Edwin appeared near at the back of 'James'; the former kicked the latter's back before he could even turn around, which made a cracking sound and was sent flying away!

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"I put in too much strength! d.a.m.n it, Edwin don't destroy James' body!", Edwin scolded himself.

From afar, he saw 'James' standing up as if he didn't even get an injury from that kick, letting Edwin heave a sigh of relief.

"It's been a long time since somebody injured me while I'm controlling a body!", 'James' grinned in satisfaction. Afterwards, he started to charge forward again; this time, his speed was much faster and arrived in front of Edwin!

While hastily jumping to the side, Edwin thought, 'How did he get faster so suddenly? Is that soul getting used to the body at a fast rate?'

As soon as Edwin dodged to the side, 'James' flawlessly stopped his charging momentum and stabbed the lance at the boy's direction.

In turn, Edwin acted in time and parried the lance with both of his daggers, but 'James' kept attacking with the lance while closing in on the former; the boy tried to get away, but 'James' was always on his tail.

Edwin dodged and evaded every attacks until he was sent flying away by the last one.

'He's as powerful as a wizard now. I won't be able to last any longer!', Edwin said inwardly. Then he stumbled to the ground.

-whoosh-

'James' charged again while delivering a punch with his hand towards Edwin; the latter got to roll to the side to evade it but the former attacked with his lance.

'It's too fast, I can't block it!', Edwin's pupils shrank as he saw the incoming lance.

-clang-

A curved sword parried away the lance on time. Edwin looked at the person who did it and saw somebody wearing the same white robes as he was.

"You came just in time, Allen.", Edwin knew that the newcomer was none other than Allen!

Then a rain of fire descended from above to the ground behind 'James' who was about to retreat!

From afar, Anna who recently casted a spell approached the the other two.

"You grew powerful so fast.", Anna commented when she saw how powerful Edwin was now.

On the other hand, Allen helped Edwin to stand up.

"Yeah, it was one painful growth.", Edwin shrugged in response.

After a pause, the boy took out a golden shard from his satchel and gave it to Allen, "I think I now know why you needed this. Here's the Soul Shard you have requested."

"Mhm. Looks like my decision of you exploring the forest as your training wasn't a bad idea.", Allen nodded and took the shard. He then looked at Anna who was looking a bit worried for James.

"Don't hesitate with your attacks, it's not James.", Allen a.s.sured her. "But I will try my best to get him back."

"Okay.", Anna replied and prepared herself.

"Edwin, you guard Anna in case that monster sneak attacks her.", Allen added.

"Got it.", Edwin sternly nodded in agreement.

After that, Allen initiated Burst Steps to charge forward in an explosive speed.