Ethan looked down at his leg.
Blood was pouring from the wound.
The spear had pierced straight through his leg, breaking the bone. A sharp piece of bone protruded from the wound.
He raised both hands and began dragging himself forward.
"Not now…"
He gritted his teeth.
"Not today. Not now."
He had already accepted the fact that he might die someday.
He wasn't even a proper adventurer yet.
But he didn't want to die.
"I don't want to die," he whispered.
Suddenly
Someone slammed his head into the ground.
"You bastard!"
Ethan groaned.
"Huh? Huh? Run again?"
It was Strang.
Strang raised his leg and stomped down on Ethan, repeatedly striking his body and the back of his head.
Ethan raised his hands to protect his head, gritting his teeth against the pain.
"You fool," he muttered.
Slowly, he reached into his pocket.
He had been carrying a small knife with him.
He just needed an opportunity.
"Remove the spear from his leg."
Tense grabbed the spear.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"No!"
They pulled it out.
"AAAAAH!"
Ethan screamed in agony.
Strang grabbed him by the hair and dragged him upward.
Ethan's face had been pressed against the ground, but Strang pulled his head up by the hair and leaned down until they were face to face.
"You imbecile."
Strang smiled.
"No, let me say it properly. You're actually quite a pretty boy."
He laughed.
"But this is your fate."
Strang tightened his grip on Ethan's hair.
"Your life is this pitiful. You just have to die because it's better than suffering. So don't hold any grudge against us, huh?"
Ethan stared at him.
Strang's smile widened.
"I also heard you have a brother, right?"
Ethan's eyes widened.
"He's been in a coma. He hasn't fully awakened, but he's still capable of eating and sleeping. He drains most of your savings, right?"
Strang chuckled.
"Don't worry. He's going to die too."
Ethan's body trembled.
"Not because he's important or anything. We just have to erase every trace of you."
Strang smiled.
Every single one of them burst out laughing.
Sela then stepped forward.
She raised her leg and slammed it into Ethan's back.
Ethan fell forward.
Ethan slowly raised his head.
"What did you just say?"
"Oh, I'm really scared," Strang replied.
He smiled.
"What are you going to do, you Forsaken bastard?"
Strang laughed.
Ethan's hand tightened around the small knife.
He suddenly pulled it out.
Before Strang could react, Ethan lunged forward and drove the knife into his neck with all the strength he had left.
Blood immediately spilled from the wound.
Strang staggered backward.
Ethan pushed himself up and started laughing.
"If I'm going to die…"
He stared at them.
"…then one of you has to go with me."
Sela immediately raised her hand toward Strang.
Healing magic enveloped his neck.
The wound slowly closed.
"You bastard!"
Strang roared.
He charged toward Ethan.
Ethan tried to get back on his feet, but one of his legs was badly injured.
Strang grabbed him and began punching him repeatedly.
Ethan could barely defend himself.
Strang then raised his sword.
He drove it into Ethan's stomach.
"AH!"
Ethan coughed up blood.
He collapsed onto the ground, blood pouring from his mouth.
No…
No…
It's all because of that bastard.
It's all her fault.
His eyes slowly shifted toward Sela, who was standing nearby.
Ethan forced himself to move as he crawled toward her.
He rushed toward her and bit down on her leg with all the strength he could muster.
"AH!"
Sela immediately pulled her leg back in pain as blood dripped down.
"You lowlife!"
The others raised their weapons.
Leo raised his sword.
Tense tightened his grip on his spear.
"This is getting annoying," Leo said.
He stepped forward.
"Let me deliver the finishing blow."