Antony recoiled, a primal fear seizing him as Kael, the third member of Matthew's enigmatic group, emerged from the shadows. The creature was a hulking mass of muscle and fur, its eyes glowing with an unsettling intensity, its growl a deep, resonant rumble that vibrated through the very ground. It was a terrifying sight, a grotesque blend of human and beast, and Antony, despite his newfound courage, instinctively sought refuge behind Matthew, his voice a strained whisper. "Is… he a demon?" The question was born of genuine terror, a chilling echo of Lucien's monstrous transformation.
Matthew, however, remained unperturbed, a calm anchor in the face of the unsettling presence. He placed a reassuring hand on Antony's shoulder, his voice steady and firm. "No, he is not!" he replied, his gaze unwavering as he looked at Kael, a silent understanding passing between them. Antony, still skeptical, quickly muttered to his system.
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System, check for danger ahead!
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NO DANGER DETECTED!
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The system's immediate response, though reassuring, did little to quell Antony's unease. "But he clearly looks like a demon, just like Lucien!" Antony insisted, his eyes darting between Kael's monstrous form and the lingering image of Lucien's reptilian transformation. The similarities were too striking to ignore, too unsettling to dismiss.
"Kael is not a danger. He has become our companion and will continue the journey with us," Matthew said, his voice gentle, almost paternal. He reached out, patting Kael's massive, fur-covered arm, a gesture of affection and trust. Kael, who indeed looked like a bear but stood with an almost human posture, responded with a low, rumbling growl, a sound that, surprisingly, seemed to convey agreement.
"GROWL!!!" Kael growled again, a deeper, more emphatic sound.
"Yes, yes, I know he's a kid. He's not supposed to continue this journey with us. But he has awakened pure blood, gaining the fire element. So if he doesn't continue with us, he won't be able to level up," Matthew explained, his words directed at Kael, as if the creature understood every nuance of his speech. Antony watched, fascinated and bewildered, as Matthew continued to converse with the growling beast.
"Growl!" Kael responded in a lower, softer tone, almost a whine.
"Yes, he needs our help!" Matthew said, patting Kael's arm once more, a gesture that seemed to calm the massive creature. Antony's mind raced, trying to comprehend the bizarre interaction. How could Matthew understand Kael? What was the nature of their bond?
"Hey, do you understand what he's saying? He's been growling nonstop, but you're talking to him. How? Can you hear him?" Antony asked, his brow furrowed in genuine confusion. It was a mystery, a new layer to this already perplexing world.
Matthew smiled, a gentle, almost melancholic expression. "Yes, I can. I somehow became connected to him when I met him. He was struggling to live, a discarded experiment, barely clinging to life. If it weren't for my blood, he would have died. So we formed a bond back then, a connection that transcends words." His gaze softened as he looked at Kael, a deep affection in his eyes. The revelation was startling, hinting at a past filled with pain and sacrifice.
"Bond? Then was he like that when you first met him?" Antony pressed, his curiosity insatiable. He wanted to understand the origins of this strange, powerful creature, to piece together the fragments of this new reality.
"He wasn't fully like this when I first met him. But he was almost a discarded experiment when I found him. After that, he became like this. Somehow, he survived the experiment, combining human and animal traits," Matthew explained, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness, a subtle undertone of the horrors they had both endured. The words resonated with Antony, a chilling echo of his own situation, of the Master's experiments.
"Oh!" Antony said, a knowing smirk spreading across his face as he looked at Kael. The creature, a living testament to the Master's cruelty, was also a symbol of resilience, of survival against impossible odds. He saw a kindred spirit, a fellow victim of this twisted game.
"Why are you smiling?" Matthew asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. He clearly didn't understand the dark humor that now bubbled within Antony.
"Oh, did I?" Antony feigned innocence, his smirk widening. "Maybe knowing he escaped from the experiment made me happy. Just like how I just got out of this institution where we were nothing but products." He lied, his voice carefully modulated, a subtle manipulation designed to gain Matthew's sympathy, to solidify their bond. He was a master of deception, a survivor in a world where trust was a luxury he couldn't afford.
"Oh, so we should head out of this place. Or some demon might attack us again," Matthew suggested, his gaze sweeping across the ruined facility, a grim reminder of the recent chaos. He was clearly eager to leave, to put the horrors of this place behind them.
"Growl!" Kael responded with a low, insistent growl, a sound that seemed to convey disagreement, a desire to stay.
"No, we still have work here," Antony interrupted, his voice firm, his eyes fixed on Matthew. He had a plan, a crucial piece of information that could change everything. He couldn't leave, not yet.
"What now? Do you want us to carry you on our backs?" Liah said rudely, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She had clearly overheard Antony's interruption, and her impatience was palpable. She was eager to leave, to move on to the next opportunity.
"Liah! Let's listen to him first!" Matthew said, his voice cold, a clear warning to the healer. He turned to Antony, his expression softening. "Kid, say what you want to." He was giving Antony the floor, a sign of his growing trust.
"Can you come to the other side?" Antony asked, his voice low, a subtle glance at Liah behind Matthew. He couldn't risk her overhearing his true intentions, his carefully constructed plan.
"Why?" Matthew asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice. He followed Antony's gaze, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. He knew Liah's nature, her opportunistic tendencies.
"Please!" Antony insisted, his voice urgent. He needed privacy, a moment to reveal his true hand. Soon, Matthew understood. He nodded, a silent acknowledgment, and walked to a corner with Antony, putting a significant distance between them and Liah. Once they were out of earshot, Antony spoke, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I couldn't say what I wanted to with that woman there."
"She is our companion too!" Matthew said, a gentle reminder. He was loyal to his team, even to the problematic Liah.
"I know you've all been together for a long time, but I can't trust her. The way she traded with me when I was dying makes me think that if she knows what I want to say now, she might do something again and even betray us," Antony said, his voice laced with a genuine concern. He was playing on Matthew's loyalty, on his sense of responsibility. He was painting Liah as a threat, a liability.
"I don't understand what you're trying to say. But if you can't trust us, then we shouldn't be your companions," Matthew said, his voice hardening, a hint of disappointment in his tone. He was a man of honor, and Antony's words, though truthful, were a direct challenge to his trust.
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THE COMPANION MATTHEW BRAMBLE HAS LEFT THE COMPANION SPACE!
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The system chimed, a sudden, alarming notification. Matthew's character board, which had been visible to Antony, flickered and disappeared. Antony's heart sank. He had pushed too hard, miscalculated. He had lost his most valuable ally.
"Wait a minute!" Antony shouted, his voice filled with desperation. He couldn't lose Matthew, not now. He needed him, desperately. He had to salvage this, to regain Matthew's trust.
"What is it?" Matthew asked coldly, his back to Antony, his posture rigid. He was clearly offended, his loyalty questioned.
"First of all, my name is Antony Cole!" Antony blurted out, the truth escaping him in a desperate attempt to regain control. He had to be honest, at least in part. "And second, it's not that I don't trust you, but after seeing the trade, I can't bring myself to show that place to the woman. Because on the second floor, the Master of the institution kept some experimental objects that led to the creation of the demon we just defeated." He was laying out his cards, revealing the crucial information, the secret he had been guarding. He was gambling everything on Matthew's sense of justice, his desire to prevent further atrocities.
"So if she finds that place and thinks of taking everything, something even more ominous is going to happen," Antony said, his voice urgent, his eyes pleading with Matthew to understand the gravity of the situation. He was painting a picture of a greater threat, a danger that transcended their personal differences.
Matthew looked at Liah, who was now watching them with a curious, almost predatory gaze. He knew Liah's greed, her insatiable desire for power and wealth. He knew she would exploit any opportunity, no matter the cost.
"What? Why are you staring at me?" Liah said, annoyed, sensing their scrutiny.
Antony watched Matthew, his heart pounding. He knew Matthew's character, his loyalty to Lucien, his sense of responsibility. He also knew Liah's true nature, her capacity for betrayal. "I know, Matthew Bramble, you can't fully trust Liah Camillo either. I've played the game. I know whom you can trust and whom you can't. Even though there weren't detailed mentions in the game about Liah and Kael, I know your loyalty is only to Lucien, and Kael serves his loyalty to you. But neither of you could trust Liah, no matter what," Antony thought, a silent plea to Matthew's inner conscience. He was appealing to Matthew's own doubts, his own unspoken fears about Liah.
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MATTHEW BRAMBLE IS THINKING DEEPLY!
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The system chimed, confirming Antony's observation. Matthew's brow was furrowed in thought, his gaze distant, as if weighing the implications of Antony's words. "I know, which is why I mentioned the second floor," Antony mumbled, a silent encouragement to Matthew's internal struggle. He had planted the seed, now he just had to wait for it to germinate.
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MATTHEW BRAMBLE SEEMS TO HAVE COME TO A CONCLUSION.
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The system chimed again, a welcome sound. Matthew turned back to Antony, his expression resolute. "Okay, fine. I'm agreeing to go with you," Matthew said, his voice firm. He had made his decision. He trusted Antony, at least for now, more than he trusted Liah's unchecked greed.
"I don't mind if you take Mr. Beast with you," Antony said, stealing a glance at Kael, who was still standing silently in the background. He was testing the waters, pushing his luck.
"No, if he goes out of control, there will be more issues," Matthew added, a hint of weariness in his voice. He clearly had his hands full with Kael. "You two stay here. We'll be back soon," he said, his voice directed at Liah and Kael. He then turned and walked towards the second floor with Antony, their footsteps echoing in the now silent facility. The experimental items, the source of so much horror, awaited them.
"Have you been here?" Matthew asked, his voice low, as they reached the entrance to the second floor. The air here was heavy, thick with the lingering scent of chemicals and something else, something metallic and unsettling.
"Yes, I have been here. That's when the kid turned into a demon," Antony added, his voice carefully neutral. He was setting the stage, preparing Matthew for the shocking truth.
Matthew stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What? That demon was a kid?" His voice was a choked gasp, a mixture of horror and profound shock. The revelation was clearly a blow, a stark reminder of the Master's depravity.
"OH!" Antony exclaimed, a sudden, sickening realization dawning on him. He had misspoken, revealed too much. "I shouldn't have said that!" Antony thought, cursing his own carelessness. He had jeopardized everything, his carefully constructed facade crumbling around him.
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MATTHEW BRAMBLE IS SHOWING HIS SUSPICION TOWARD YOU!
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HIS LIKING STATS ARE DROPPING FOR YOU!
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The system chimed, its warnings a harsh, digital indictment. Matthew's face, which had been filled with shock, now hardened, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Antony had to act fast, to spin a new narrative, to regain Matthew's trust. He had to lie, to manipulate, to survive.
"Yes, that incident occurred because of him," Antony said, his voice urgent, desperate. He was pointing the finger, shifting the blame. "Before you blame me for something, I'd like to clarify." He took a deep breath, preparing for the performance of his life. "The incident happened because of the kid's greed. He was about to be discarded by the Master, so he blamed me for stealing something called a magical orb. I don't know what it does, which is why the Master made me sit on an ice block, but that's when I awakened my fire element." He was weaving a tale of victimhood, of accidental power, of a desperate struggle for survival.
"But I still couldn't reveal it, because if I did, the Master would have me killed and tried to take my power. When I woke up, I saw the kid going to the second floor, where we are right now, and he ate the Ebnostic Demon egg, which made him transform. When the Master found out, he tried to capture him to stop the problem, but the kid killed the Master and everyone else who tried to stop him. I was left in front of him," Antony said, his voice trembling, a single, perfectly timed tear rolling down his cheek. He was a master actor, a performer on the stage of his own survival. "He blamed me and tried to kill me, so I took your help. If it weren't for you, he would have killed me too," he faked a cry, falling to the ground, a picture of utter despair.
"Did he believe my fake cry or not?" Antony mumbled, raising his head slightly, his eyes peeking through his fingers, trying to gauge Matthew's reaction. He had poured all his acting skills into that performance. Now, he could only wait, hoping his deception had been convincing enough to save him from Matthew's wrath. The game, it seemed, was far from over, and the stakes had just been raised. He had to survive, to continue playing, to uncover the true nature of this terrifying reality. And to do that, he needed Matthew. He needed his trust. He needed his power. And he would do whatever it took to get it.