Fate To Fake: Loved by the Fallen; Fated to Kill the Divine-Chapter 63: First Time... Hits Hard!

"You’ve only got your aunt left, right? Hehehe....."

Those words alone were enough to tear Leo apart from the inside. As if the final thread holding his sanity together snapped in an instant. He didn’t even think—his body moved on its own. With a furious twist, he spun around with full force, his arm yanking forward.

From beneath his sleeve, a sharp knife slipped out like a serpent uncoiling. In a single, explosive motion, he drove it upward—clean and vicious—plunging the blade from below the chin straight into Kai’s jaw.

"HAHAHAHA—"

Kai’s mocking laughter died mid-breath. His head jerked, eyes stretching wide open in shock. For a moment, everything stood still. Blood gushed from his open mouth, thick and dark, like syrup overflowing a shattered cup, running down his throat in heavy trails.

The knife had pierced from the bottom of his jaw, slicing through the flesh and muscle, driving deep into his skull with a dreadful crunch.

"Don’t. Touch. MY. Family!"

Leo’s voice came low, raw, and murderous.

He wasn’t even looking at Kai—his glare was fixed on the floor. His hand trembled slightly, feeling the warm wetness spreading across his skin.

That heat wasn’t just blood—it was rage, sorrow, and something else mixing beneath his flesh like a fever.

The handle of the knife grew slippery, and the red liquid dripped in steady beats from his clenched fingers.

Leo’s eyes shook—truly shook—as they fell upon the spreading pool of crimson below.

The warmth on his palm, the thick, metallic smell in the air, the soft rhythm of droplets hitting the ground... those were the only things that registered in his mind. Everything else faded into static.

Then came the weight—the undeniable, terrifying weight of a lifeless body leaning fully against the knife still stuck in its skull.

That weight wasn’t just flesh and bone. It was guilt, grief, and the echo of something too heavy for any human to carry. It pressed down on Leo’s wrist, into his arm, crawling into his chest like a stone anchor pulling him down into the abyss.

Pride stood silently, eyes unreadable, offering no judgment. Ophis, too, didn’t look particularly moved. She merely hummed, her face saying something like, ’Alright...’ as if this whole thing barely nudged her sense of reality.

But Leo... he was different.

He couldn’t bear it.

With hands trembling harder now, fingers slipping, he gritted his teeth and yanked the knife out of Kai’s neck.

Sluccckkk

Thud!

Kai’s corpse collapsed onto the ground with a heavy sound that echoed louder in Leo’s head than in the air.

Leo turned slowly, his legs sluggish, breath uneven— When he turned to look at Pride, his visions flickered as his surroundings changed to something else.

His visions were covered in dripping water and a dark sky...

He was now standing helpless in the middle of a soaked street, rain pouring in thick sheets around him. Cold, merciless, drenching him from head to toe. A police officer stood nearby, speaking to a rich lady who waved her hands dramatically, shouting about something... stolen.

Leo glanced at his hand... his hand were small, not only his hand but his body too... he was now eight years old, and his little hand was not holding... a knife anymore, but a glittering diamond necklace.

It felt heavier than gold, heavier than guilt. It felt like the weight of a stolen life. His fingers shook, barely able to keep a grip on it. His heart pounded in his ears. It was the first thing he had ever stolen, something that didn’t belong to him, something he didn’t even want.

But he had no choice.

No one gave him a choice.

Fate never asked.

His young face twisted, the rain and tears mixing on his cheeks, creating lines of helplessness running down his skin. His lips trembled as he clenched the necklace tighter, turned around, and ran—ran from that moment, from that version of himself, but never truly escaped it.

"Leo?"

Pride’s voice—calm, steady cut through the fog of memory.

Leo blinked rapidly and looked around as his visions returned back... He was still in the maze. His hand was still wrapped around the bloodied knife.

His grip loosened, and the blade clattered to the floor.

"W-Well... Let’s go..."

He muttered with a weak smile, forcing the words out, like peeling a wound open with his tongue.

He took a step—but his leg gave way, a faint wobble betraying him.

Was it from exhaustion?

Shock?

Or the unbearable weight of what he had just done?

Before he could fall, Pride caught him gently. She didn’t speak, didn’t question, didn’t scold. She simply pulled him to a quiet corner away from the dead body, sat down against the wall, and let him rest his head on her lap.

"Let’s take a rest now."

She said softly, eyes closing, her hand rising to gently stroke his hair.

She didn’t ask questions.

She didn’t need to.

Leo bit down on his lower lip. He wanted to say he was fine, to reassure her, to lie.

But he wasn’t.

Not even close.

And by the way she held him—by how silently and tenderly she patted his head—she already knew.

He covered his eyes with his hand, the blood drying on his skin, and a single tear escaped, sliding down his cheek.

It wasn’t for Kai.

He wasn’t mourning the bastard.

He was crying because... once again, he had to become something he swore he wouldn’t.

He came here to talk, to scream, maybe punch the guy’s face in for everything he had done... There was even a part of him that fantasised about killing him.

But he knew that was wrong... He wasn’t supposed to be a killer.

He wasn’t supposed to be a monster.

And yet... he did it.

Those bloods, innocent bloods... children, students, innocent people. And... his aunt’s happy face... everything made him snap.

Leo’s lips quivered. His entire body was trembling now, not from fear but from everything else—rage, heartbreak, and the burden of crossing a line he couldn’t uncross.

Pride kept brushing her fingers gently through his hair, saying nothing.

She didn’t need to.

Ophis, watching from nearby, tilted her head, confused. Her expression twitched as she stared at Leo.

Was he... crying?

Seriously?

For killing someone?

Was he some kind of idiot?

Killing was normal.

This world—this game—it didn’t give space for emotions.

It was kill or be killed.

Prey or predator.

That was the only truth.

Ophis sighed, almost disappointed. She couldn’t even explain why, but something inside her deflated. Something she thought she respected in him... faded just a bit.

She turned away without another glance, walked toward Kai’s body, and began rummaging through his belongings like nothing had happened.

"Did I... do the right thing?"

Leo’s voice trembled as he spoke, still covering his eyes. His throat felt tight and wet, the taste of fear lingering on his tongue, refusing to fade.

Pride didn’t open her eyes. She just gently ran her fingers through his hair and softly muttered,

"Do you regret it?"

"..."

Leo didn’t answer immediately. The silence that followed wasn’t emptiness—it was filled with doubt.

Was he regretting what he had done?

Did he wish he hadn’t killed?

Pride continued, her voice calm, unwavering,

"If you were given another chance... would you choose differently? If not, then there are no regrets."

Her words struck something deep inside him. They weren’t comforting—they were confronting.

They echoed like a quiet truth chiselled into his heart.

Would he choose differently if fate let him relive the moment?

His first kill... his first theft... both moments that changed him.

Both things that felt like sins.

But even so, would he ever undo them, if it meant saving someone else?

Leo shook his head slowly... No. He couldn’t!

He would do it all over again.

He didn’t regret it.

Not if it meant protecting someone.... Protecting his Family!!

Leo let out a faint hum under his breath, then slowly lowered his arms. His eyes opened, falling on Pride—still sitting quietly, eyes closed, fingers gently threading through his hair like he was something fragile.

Something worth holding.

Without saying a word, Leo leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

Pride flinched slightly, her eyes widening in surprise. She turned to see Leo looking at her with a small, sincere smile—full of gentle warmth and deep, aching gratitude.

"Thank you... for supporting someone as unworthy as me."

Pride stared at him for a moment, almost stunned. Then her hand moved slowly to her cheek, touching the spot where his lips had landed.

It was warm. It lingered.

And then—

"Here! I found this on his dead body."

Ophis’s voice cut through the stillness as she popped up behind them. Both Leo and Pride turned toward her.

She stood there holding several stones—one white, one golden, and two green.

Leo blinked, surprised by the sudden change in tone, as Ophis casually handed them over.

"What are these?"

"The white stone can teleport you far away—like instantly. The golden one can heal you, even if you’re nearly dead. And the green ones... You already know what they do."

Leo stared at the items, stunned by their rarity. "He had all of these?"

Ophis shrugged. "Yup. These stones aren’t just random... they were rare, especially that golden one. He must’ve worked his ass off to collect them... well, too bad," she added with a smug grin and haughty tone,

"Anyway, with that—our deal is officially done."

Leo frowned, "But... they’re not yours, though?"

Ophis gave another casual shrug as she turned to leave.

"So what? It’s not like you found them first, right?"

She flipped her hair as she walked away, clearly pleased with herself. "You better be ready next time... I swear, I’ll tear you apart," she added with a gleam in her eyes, baring her sharp fangs and hissing over her shoulder.

Leo instinctively reached for his neck.

Ophis let out a chuckle, clearly amused by his reaction.

This prey... he was interesting. Entertaining, even.

As she stepped forward, while saying haughtily, one heel slammed down on something slightly raised from the ground.

"Next time I won’t show mer--"

Click.

"Huh—?"

Thud!

"KYYYAAAA!!!"

Ophis shrieked as she fell into the hole, vanishing with a dramatic yelp.

Leo and Pride stared at the empty spot for a moment.

"...Hahah..."

"...Haha..."

They both let out tired, amused laughter at the same time, shaking their heads slowly.

****

Meanwhile, somewhere deeper in the maze...

A lone figure leaned against a cold stone wall. Nergal.

His breath was ragged, chest rising and falling unevenly. His body shimmered faintly—light dancing across his skin in fragments like he was slowly dissolving, fading away piece by piece.

His hands trembled as he looked down at his vanishing form.

"M-Master is dead...?"

His voice cracked as he whispered, a look of horror washing over his face. Silence hung in the air for a moment, and then... a sigh escaped his lips.

"...Well, this is it then..."

He closed his eyes, surrendering. Preparing for the end.

But then—

"Are you giving up already?"

A voice echoed through the hallway—smooth, gentle, yet laced with something dangerous beneath it.

Nergal’s eyes flew open in shock.

Standing before him was Camazotz.

But something was different.

This wasn’t the sludge-covered monster he remembered.

This Camazotz looked... human. His body was clean, almost regal, dressed plainly, no longer dripping in filth or rot.

A soft smile tugged at his lips—but his eyes glowed an unnatural green, flickering like flame. Black mist swirled around his feet and shoulders, slithering like serpents, hissing faintly.

He looked down at Nergal with amusement in his eyes. Amused... and hungry.

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