Carlil is dead.

The Wraith was sure of that.

His eyes were closed, his lips were pale, he wasn't breathing, he wasn't breathing, he wasn't having a heartbeat. By any standard, Carlil is dead. Even if he was physically intact, he had lost his vital signs.

The ghost was already familiar with death, and he could be very sure of the truth of it.

After all, he had personally carried out many horrific massacres, and his intentions were good, but his methods were cruel.

The Wraith knew that this was necessary, and he had understood the meaning of fear—that Midnight Wraith could not be a symbolic name without fearing those who did evil.

The people of Nostramo needed a symbol that represented punishment. That's what Carlil said.

The ghost didn't understand this, but he could understand the importance of it.

However, Carlil's death was a little different from those deaths. The Wraith never thought he would die, and in his opinion, Carlil could do anything.

How could he die?

......

The ghost bowed his head.

Sadness and frustration swept over him again. And, not so long ago, the salvation promised by that voice is still nowhere to be seen.

Am I being scammed? He thought.

+ I didn't lie to you, Konrad Coetzes. +

The voice rang out again.

For some reason, the ghost wasn't surprised. And, this time, when it sounded, he didn't perceive that icy shiver again.

Who is Conrad Coetzes? He thought.

+ You. +

I don't call it by that name.

+...... Accept it or not, on your own. I won't force it, I just hope that when we meet, you can change your mind. Plus, I'm really not lying to you. +

So why did he ......?

+ Scientific healing methods are useless for a person who has committed suicide with spiritual powers, and therefore the length of time is of little significance to his resurrection. I've done what I can, and it's up to him to see if he's determined or not. +

What does this have to do with will?

+ For the resurrection of a ghost is no less painful than dying again. He will walk through the veil again, and in the process he will face his own demons. +

Devil?

The ghost stared blankly at Karil—or rather, at Carlil's corpse. The words echoed in his mind.

Devil?

+ You don't understand what I mean...... I see. Well, don't take it personally. Wait, Conrad Coetzes. He's going to wake up...... My brother and yours are coming. +

Who are you?

The wraith frowned. And my brother? Who are they?

+ You've seen it, haven't you? In the visions you foresaw, you saw them as they were. As for who I am...... Let's talk about it when we meet, Conrad Coetzes. +

+...... Also, take care of yourself.

I don't remember, but, thank you, and, goodbye. The ghost said in his heart.

Politeness is important.

This time, the voice didn't answer. The ghost tilted its head for some reason, and had to remember the name - Conrad Coetzes?

What a strange name.

He turned to look at Carlil, who was still lifeless. Unable to do so, the ghost crouched down and began to watch motionlessly.

The voice said he wasn't lying to me. The ghost thought. Hopefully he really doesn't.

-----------------

I've been here......

Looking at the darkness around him, Carlil thought.

I've been here. He repeated it again in his mind, then closed his eyes and took a slow step forward.

The bone-chilling chill came in the next instant.

Then, a heavy tugging sensation came. His skin, flesh, and even bones were all clawed by invisible claws. They were pervasive, piercing every detail of his body.

In an instant, 10,000 voices erupted wildly in my ears.

"Stay!" They screamed. "You belong here! Don't want to leave again! ”

No, I don't belong here...... I'm different from you.

Sighing, he endured the pain and continued to take a step forward. This single step has turned the world upside down.

A familiar smell came over the surface, and the air peculiar to Nostramo's nest welcomed him in the warmest way. Then came the sound of rain, the sound of violent rain.

Carlil opened his eyes.

He saw a boy, a boy who was wounded. Lying in the torrential rain covered in blood, he clutched two sharp blades that were too big for him in his hands.

His face was full of hatred.

The boy looked up.

"It's you." He whispered, his voice reaching Carlil's ear precisely through the rain.

"It's me." Carlil nodded. "Get out of the way, okay?"

"Unless you've already done your revenge." The boy muttered to himself. "We said okay, ghosts—I can give anything if you kill them."

"I'm done." Carlil replied calmly. "And you...... You don't have to go on. ”

He sighed and continued to stride forward, the tugging feeling stronger with each step.

It was accompanied by growing pain, flesh and bones protesting loudly, nerves twitching, blood spilling from his mouth, nose, eyes, ears, and pores, making him look miserable.

Carlil was unmoved.

He's going back.

"You're done?" The boy asked suspiciously. "Why can't I see anything?"

"Because...... You don't really exist, so you can't see it. ”

Carlil shook his head and burst out laughing.

"If you want to blame it, blame that head, he told me the truth." Carlil said with a smile. "But you shouldn't be able to see him anymore, I'm sorry."

The boy looked at him for some reason, and coughed as he lay on the ground in the rain. Blood flowed from the wounds on his body, but he still didn't let go of the two sharp blades in his hands.

After a while, he asked, "How did they die?" ”

"I killed you."

"No, I want to know exactly how to die."

The boy said stubbornly, his face suddenly contorted in the rain, like a washed oil painting.

"We said yes, ghosts, we said yes!"

Here it comes.

Kalil bowed his head and replied, "I promised you to kill them, but not including describing to you in detail how they died. ”

"But how do I know if you're lying to me?!"

The boy roared. "You took my body! I've given you everything, ghost! All I want is revenge! ”

yes, I took everything from you, yes......

Of course I know what I've done.

Carlil stopped, breathing calmly, a mixed emotion slowly rising between his eyebrows. It seems to be regretful, but it is like a cold firmness.

He sighed softly and said to the boy, "I have accomplished the revenge you wanted. ”

"But I didn't see it!"

The boy screamed, his form becoming terrifying in the rain, a fleeting force that imbued the improvised memory with real power.

They came from the darkness, and now, they make a memory the darkness itself.

In the midst of the rain, a huge monster man stood up.

"I didn't see it!"

It roared, and its voice thundered.

"You failed me, you deceived me, ghost! You're a liar! You've just stolen my body, my name, and used them to do what you want! ”

"I don't deny it."

Carlil replied calmly, his hands clenched into fists. “...... But the revenge you want, I've done. ”

"Then let me see! Let me see their corpses, and I want to see with my own eyes every one who participated in the destruction of the Lohals family being mutilated! ”

"I can't do that." Carlil shook his head. "The dead are gone."

"I can't let you see what I see, kid. You died a long time ago, and I... I never thought you were alive. So, you're just an echo behind the curtain. ”

He pursed his lips and repeated.

"You're from behind the Veil, and that's why I can't let you see my memories."

"Liar! Treacherous! The monster roared in rage and lunged at Karil, its hands two sharp, silver-glittering claws.

It waved them, and the curtain of rain was sliced to pieces in an instant, and the howling wind and its roar became one in one moment, and became some more terrible duet.

"You can call me whatever you want."

Carlil took a step back, narrowly dodging the blow like an unpredictable prophet. It was incredibly easy for him to do.

He raised his head, looked at the monster's distorted face, and said calmly, "However, you and I both know that this is not the case. ”

The monster gave him a terrible glare in return. It gasped and laughed low in the rain.

"Liar's lie!"

No, I'm not. I'm not lying.

Carlil closed his eyes and stopped talking—words were of no use in such a situation, and he was not dealing with a convincing, sane creature.

The child died thirteen years ago, on that rainy night. He was born from sin and the blood of his victims, and grew up sucking their flesh. He called out to a wandering ghost before he died.

Through boundless hatred, boundless iniquity, and his own blood.

The fierce wind struck again, and Carlil tilted his head slightly, dodging the blow. In the rain, there was a continuous roar. The monster attacked him, but never hit Carlil.

"Fight back, liar! Could it be that you have a weak heart?! ”

No, I don't.

"Fight with me! Kill me, or suffer here with me! ”

The monster screamed, and its voice changed again, and the ten thousand voices that had screamed in Carlil's ears before came, mixed with its roar, which became more and more deafening.

"You belong here, you can't leave!"

No, I don't belong here.

Carlil opened his eyes, and a faint golden light flashed in his dark eyes.

He gritted his teeth, a burning heat lit up between his fingers—and then, golden flames erupted in the rain, scorching them away.

A scream followed.

The monster flinched, retreated, and its massive body began to shrink. The darkness was dispelled, and a foul smell different from the sour stench of Nostramo's nest came to his face, and then, a crackling sound.

It is like a rotting corpse being burned.

"The kid I made the deal with died thirteen years ago, and you're not him."

Carlil whispered. "I'm leaving, so I'm definitely leaving. No matter how many tricks you play, it's useless. ”

"Traitor! Swindler! Opinionated! ”

The monster in the darkness shouted in a shrunken voice, shrill and ridiculous. "The Fire Stealers will devour you! He will leave you with no bones, and he will not show you any mercy! ”

"Fire Stealer...... Prometheus? ”

Carlil was slightly stunned, and suddenly burst out laughing.

The golden flames erupted again, the curtain was scorched and shaken, and a cold shiver followed. He closed his eyes, letting the pain take away what little consciousness he had.

Then, in the next second, in the midst of an unwilling roar in the darkness, a real light came from Karil's closed eyes.