The Die Has Been Cast

“Let me see.”

Lynch pointed at the officer's hand, his expression exceptionally somber. He was no longer a complete novice when it came to the supernatural—especially having just dealt with Mr. Klin's twisted form. He understood all too well what twisting meant.

It meant an unsolvable death.

Lynch didn't know the answer, but his heart felt heavier now than when he had learned he only had five hours left to live.

“What is there to look at? It's repulsive. Even I feel sick looking at it,” the officer said, though she still reluctantly extended her hand toward Lynch. “Don't touch it. The corruption is highly contagious. There's no need to take the risk.”

It truly was hideous. Large, dark boils covered her skin, the surface blackened and rotting, oozing dark yellow pus. Countless fleshy sprouts reached out from the sores, writhing unnaturally like a nest of living snakes as they expanded the infection. The visual impact was far more horrifying than Lynch's own withered arm when bound to the mystery relic.

To have such an eerie nightmare manifest on one's own body... Even someone as strong as Officer Natalie could not possibly remain calm.

Lynch could easily imagine her terror upon discovering the twisting had begun, her despair when she went to find him for help only to find his home empty, and how she had ultimately been left with no choice but to dress up in her finest clothes, sip her favorite red wine, reminisce about her father's final moments, and grip her sword—waiting to use her father's relic to end the impending monstrosity as a human before the final moment arrived.

“Don't look at me like that, Lynch. I told you on the day we met: touch the mystery, comprehend the mystery, become the mystery—that is the fate of us Soul Severers.” Officer Natalie sighed softly. “I've personally put down several friends who turned into Twisted Ones. Today, it's finally my turn.”

“Is this the start of the soul twisting?” Lynch asked in a deep voice, his eyes narrowing. “How did it suddenly come to this?”

“Yes, this is the twisting. I can still maintain my sanity for now, but my mind is falling into confusion, punctuated by waves of baseless irritability and rage. As the corruption spreads, these feelings only grow stronger. I estimate it won't be long before I lose my mind completely, and at that moment, my body will twist into whatever monster it becomes. As for the reason...”

Officer Natalie sighed, her calm expression tinged with exhaustion as she pointed at the sword Lynch had set aside on the sofa.

“Whoever wields this sword must not feel guilt toward the enemy they strike, or else the blade will lash back against the wielder's will. In the end, Mr. Klin was corrupted into a Twisted One because of the document we used, and feeling guilty toward him triggered a backlash. Normally, a backlash of this degree could be overcome quickly with enough willpower, but it happened right when my will was at its weakest, and the Twisted One's fluids infected me. By the time I realized my soul was corrupted and the twisting had begun, it was already too late.”

A dull pang of heartache throbbed in Lynch's chest. Taking a deep breath to suppress his surging emotions, he tried his best to remain calm and asked, “Is there any cure?”

As he spoke, he drew Lawrence's Pipe, stuffed a handful of calming grass inside, and handed it toward Officer Natalie.

“It's useless, Lynch,” the officer chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Doing this before the twisting started might have had a slight effect, but once the twisting begins, nothing works. I know your nature—you'd never give up struggling to survive until the very end, and I know you want to save me, but... the reason twisting is so terrifying is precisely because it's unsolvable. No matter how powerful a Soul Severer is, they cannot save someone whose soul has begun to twist.”

【Yes. A twisting of the soul can only be repaired by the soul itself; external force cannot interfere. But a soul undergoing twisting is powerless to adjust itself. So... I am sorry, Lynch.】

“Grow up a little, Lynch. This doesn't look like your usual self.” Seeing him stand there dazed, Officer Natalie smiled, her uncorrupted hand gently patting his arm. “With you by my side, I've been very happy along the way. But sadly, I've reached my end, while your road ahead is still long. We are destined to part ways here. Please forgive my selfish request before leaving—send me off, just as I sent off my other friends.”

His chest felt tighter and tighter. Lynch took several deep breaths, clenching his fists hard.

“Heh, I was actually hesitating whether to make you bear this pain. I wanted to quietly end my own life so I wouldn't turn into a bloodthirsty, mindless monster, but...” The strong officer's eyes suddenly reddened, her voice choking up. “But I'm scared too. I'm only twenty-four. I still owe you three conditions. I don't want to die yet. Even knowing that death is the best outcome right now, I still can't bring myself to end it. Help me, Lynch. Don't let my final moments be so hideous.”

As she spoke, Officer Natalie wiped the corners of her eyes, picked up the cane sword Lynch had put down, and forced it back into his hands.

“I am the last of the Angels. This heirloom left by my ancestors is yours now; I trust you will make proper use of it. Its properties of Severing and Sharpness are very handy, just right for severing my head. But remember, every time you strike an enemy, the corresponding pain will reflect back onto you. Heh... I hope this pain will make you remember me forever.”

Lynch received the sword numbly, his mind feeling completely blank.

Every single moment spent with Natalie over the past twenty days flashed through his mind. Each memory sent a sharp ache through his heart. Holding the sword, still warm from the officer's touch, felt impossibly heavy.

Seeing Lynch's expression and bloodshot eyes, Officer Natalie said nothing more. She merely pulled down her collar slightly. Lynch watched in horror as vast patches of dark boils and fleshy sprouts quietly crept up her neck, continuing their upward spread.

“The filth has almost completely eroded my soul. I reckon that once those disgusting flesh sprouts cover my entire body, it will mark the complete loss of my sanity and fall into madness. There are probably only a few minutes left,” Officer Natalie gave a weary smile, her voice rasping. “I'm in so much pain like this, Lynch. Help me end it. I'm tired too... Let me rest. Thank you.”

It felt like dull shears were repeatedly tearing at his chest, his heart filled with helplessness and indignation. Lynch gritted his teeth, the muscles in his cheeks twitching, his eyes so bloodshot they looked mad.

Clang. The sword was unsheathed, hovering above the officer's neck. The lamplight reflecting off the blade shone into her eyes, restoring a flicker of color to her fading gaze.

The sword swung up to its peak, then slashed down with brutal force.

The fleshy sprouts had already crawled onto the officer's face, making her features look horrifying and hideous. Yet seeing Lynch's strike coming, she managed a twisted smile.

Just as her smile bloomed, however, the sword suddenly flew from Lynch's hand midway through its descent. In the next instant, Lynch slammed forward and embraced Officer Natalie's limp body, completely disregarding the disgusting flesh sprouts covering her skin and the deadly, venomous mystery filth.

The officer's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Lynch. She tried to struggle, but her body possessed no strength left. All she could do was listen as Lynch leaned close to her ear and spoke rapidly:

“Don't move. Listen to me with whatever sanity you have left. I have an idea. There is zero guarantee of success—at best, it's theoretically possible.”

“Let's gamble together. If we win, we both live. If we lose, we both turn into monsters.”

“I'm going all in. If I die, I'm dying on the path of fighting back. Wanting me to surrender without a fight? In your dreams!”

With those words, Lynch pulled Officer Natalie's twisting body into a tight embrace.

The die was cast. Win or lose, fate would decide.