Chapter 96: Subtle Manipulation

"I want to know about emotions."

"…?"

"I'm a Darkness user.

"Someone I know told me I can maintain my sanity if I can understand emotions."

Only after he spoke did he realize his words brought the mood down.

As a Darkness user, Neo was bound lose himself to the darkness.

Today…

Tomorrow…

He did not know when it would happen.

It was not a question of 'if', but of 'when'.

"Sounds like a plan," Jack grinned.

He spoke to clear the heavy mood.

After the dinner, they returned to the Seraphim Hall and split up.

"The briefing for the S-rank mission is day after tomorrow. Make sure to be on time," Neo reminded them.

Neo was about to return to his room when he saw Mars sneaking out of the dorm.

"Where is he going late at night? It's almost the next day."

He followed him.

Mars stopped at the end of a small cliff.

He stood against the railings and stared at the cliff.

"You can come out now."

"..."

"I know you are there, Neo."

"…When did you know I was following you?"

"Since the beginning."

Mars' answer made Neo smile bitterly.

Neo stood next to him.

Both of them stared at the moon.

It would soon disappear behind the horizon and the sun would rise.

"Why did you leave silently like that? You could've told us. Christian and Jack would've liked this place too."

"I wanted to be alone. But—"

Mars chuckled.

"A certain someone doesn't understand the logic of privacy."

"Sorry."

Silence fell between them.

The cold air brushed past against Neo's skin.

He exhaled and rubbed his palms to keep them warm.

Suddenly, Mars opened his mouth.

"You have the bloodline of Hades. Does it mean you can see more than others?"

"Like what?"

"Approaching Death. Can you see that?"

"…."

Neo's silence answered more than it should have.

"Sigh, you must've seen mine too. I guess it was never a secret from you."

"…"

"I don't have much time left.

"My heart is beating on borrowed time."

Neo tightened his grip around the railing.

He knew.

He knew it since long ago.

Mars smiled when he noticed Neo's expression.

"There is no need to look like that.

"I've come to terms with my death. My only goal is to surpass Supreme before I die."

"…"

"Sigh, this heavy atmosphere really isn't my type.

"I want to train and forget about everything. Though I guess I need to ask that before we return."

"…?"

Mars shook his head with a smile when he saw Neo's confused expression.

"I made sure you saw me when I sneaked out.

"Don't tell me you thought you saw me by chance."

"…"

"So even you can make an expression like that."

"What do you want to ask?" Neo asked.

He wanted to change the topic before Mars pointed out more of his faults.

"How long do I have left to live?"

Neo pursed his lips.

How long?

His mastery of Death was not enough to answer that question.

Still, he knew the answer.

"Two years."

"I see…."

"Mars, I think you should—"

"I should ask Sphinx how to lengthen my life instead of how to surpass the Supreme?"

Neo closed his mouth when Mars said what he was about to say.

Mars continued.

"I can do that.

"But what's the point of living like that?

"I've searched through the libraries and legacies of my family as well as my clan.

"There was no solution to save my life or to surpass Supreme.

"Sphinx might have answer to both.

"But I can choose only one."

He reached out to the rising sun.

"I would burn brightly like a great fire before I die rather than spending my life as a dimly lit candle flame."

Neo could not tell Mars to choose the other option.

Because he was doing the same.

Darkness would devour him soon, and he was still going to use it.

"Don't tell others about it. You are the only one who knows this."

Neo nodded.

He turned around and stared at the forest behind them.

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When Neo turned around, Jack flinched.

'Does he know I'm here?'

'No, that can't be possible.'

Mars had no way to sense him when he was hiding in the shadow space, and Neo was too weak to be able to find him.

Jack followed them when he saw Neo tailing Mars.

It was out of pure curiosity.

He never thought he would chance upon such a huge secret.

'Mars is going to die…?'

Jack was too stunned to think of anything else.

Despite the short amount of time he spent with Mars and others, he became a friend of theirs.

'I don't want to see that.'

It was clear Mars would choose his strength over his life when he met Sphinx.

'Should I use my answer for him?'

Jack bit his lips.

He was carrying too many responsibilities to throw them away for a friend he knew for less than a week.

He could not put Mars above his own needs.

But….

'Dammit.'

Jack wished he wouldn't have followed Mars and Neo.

…

Neo returned with Mars to the Seraphim Hall.

'Sorry, Jack. But this was the only way.'

'I can't let Mars die and I can't give up my own chance.'

Neo always knew Mars was baiting him when he sneaked out of Seraphim Hall.

Since he could guess the reason, he made sure to have Jack follow them.

It was not hard to achieve.

And the results were in his favor.

'I'll solve your problems, Jack. So please help Mars this time.'

Neo disliked manipulating his friends.

'I don't want to do this again if possible.'

However, he knew better than to pin his hopes on the future.

After returning to his room, Neo looked at the rising sun through the window.

"I can't go meet with Leonora this early in the morning.

"Should I take a short nap to pass time?"

He was tired.

It was best to rest and return to his peak condition since the S-rank mission would start the day after tomorrow.

"S-rank mission… I should try to recruit Morrigan again.

"The group's combat strength will fall by half without her. It's too dangerous."

Although Leonora would be with them, she was too lazy to fight.

Just when he was about to sleep, he felt a presence swelling inside his mind.

"Obitus!?"

Neo sat up with a snap.

He grabbed his sword.

Faint red arcs slithered around the sheathe and tiny condensed flames burned brightly on its edge.

"Obitus…? Are you awake?"

There was no answer.

Neo grabbed the hilt.

It was complete.

At least that was what he felt.

"Let's try it."

He tried to pull the blade out from the scabbard.....