Free Web NovelChapter 221: The Price Of Betrayal
The Eclipse’s supply point was shrouded in chaos. The blaring alarm continued to pierce the air as the Eclipse soldiers scoured the facility, searching for the intruders who had managed to pull off an impossible heist. Amidst it all, a confrontation unfolded between Shinon and Malakai.
"Shinon... let’s talk about this!" Malakai mumbled, trying to calm the situation. "I know you’re upset, but there’s no reason to indulge in violence when we can talk things through." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
However, Shinon kept walking towards Malakai with a smile on his face. At that moment, Malakai knew there was no backing down and got prepared to fight for his life.
However, Shinon’s steps only got faster as he closed the gap between himself and Malakai. Preparing to defend himself, Malakai raised his hands, ready for an impending clash. But he hadn’t anticipated the sheer swiftness and power of Shinon’s strike.
With a single, decisive punch, Shinon sent Malakai reeling backwards, his balance lost. He stumbled dangerously close to the rooftop’s edge, teetering on the precipice of a fatal fall.
He looked down, only to see his death waiting for him there. There was no way he would survive a fall like that. Fear gripped Malakai as he desperately sought to regain his footing.
"Look, I’ll tell you everything you want!" Malakai pleaded yet again. "Hell, I’ll be your slave... please just let me live-"
"Live? Sure... I’ll do that," Shinon finally mumbled. "I’ll let you live... dangerously."
At that moment, as Malakai tried to step back from the edge, Shinon’s intentions became chillingly clear. With a swift and deliberate kick to the chest, he sent Malakai tumbling over the edge of the building. Malakai’s terrified scream filled the air as gravity began to claim him.
But an unexpected and mysterious force intervened before the inevitable descent to a grisly end. Something, or someone, had grabbed his leg, suspending him mid-air.
Surprised, Malakai looked up and saw a shadowy tendril that emerged from the depths of the building’s shadow extending from the terrace, a proof of Shinon’s power.
Malakai dangled helplessly, his body suspended over the edge of the building. His heart raced, and his breath came in ragged gasps as the ground loomed perilously below.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, mingling with the chilling realisation of his near-death experience. Had Shinon been a second late, it would have ended his existence.
As he glanced upward again, Malakai’s eyes met the shadowy tendril that held him aloft. For a moment, a glimmer of hope sparked within him. Had Shinon decided to spare his life after all? But as quickly as that hope had emerged, it was extinguished.
The shadowy tendril that had saved him began to retract slowly but inevitably. For a moment, he thought he was safe, and Shinon had heard his pleas.
However, Malakai’s relief turned to dread as he realised that he was once again descending toward the deadly ground below as the tendril disappeared into thin air.
Desperation and panic surged within him as he struggled to free himself from the tendrils’ grip. His hands grasped at empty air, his efforts futile. The terrace of the building grew farther with each passing moment, and Malakai knew he was running out of time.
Shinon watched from above, his expression inscrutable. He had shown mercy by preventing Malakai’s immediate demise but had not forgiven the betrayal.
As Malakai was about to hit the pavement below, the shadowy tendril appeared again and retracted Malakai, slowly pulling him toward the terrace.
"Was that fun?" Shinon quizzed Malakai, who was too shocked to reply. However, Shinon didn’t like that Malakai didn’t respond to his query and decided to teach him another lesson.
Just as Malakai’s feet were about to touch the solid surface, the tendril abruptly disappeared, leaving him to plummet again. Panic washed over him as he hurtled toward the ground, his life flashing before his eyes.
But again, the shadowy tendril reappeared, this time at the last possible moment. It grasped Malakai’s leg, halting his fall just inches from the pavement. He dangled in front of the building like a pendulum, suspended in mid-air, his body trembling with fear and exhaustion.
Shinon repeated the process several more times, allowing Malakai to come within a hair’s breadth of certain death before intervening with the shadowy tendril. It was a chilling, calculated display of power, a stark reminder of who controlled Malakai’s life.
Malakai’s resolve waned with each near-fatal descent, replaced by a deep sense of helplessness and submission. He had underestimated the extent of Shinon’s abilities and the depths of sadistic punishments.
Shinon finally allowed Malakai back on the terrace but remained suspended in mid-air. Their eyes locked in a tense and wordless exchange. The message was clear—Malakai’s survival depended solely on Shinon’s whims.
The rooftop remained shrouded in silence, save for the distant wails of the alarm that continued to echo through the facility.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Shinon asked Malakai once again. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
This time, Malakai did not waste a moment and immediately began blabbering.
"Shinon, please... I beg you, spare my life." Malakai’s trembling voice broke the silence. His words were as desperate as his eyes were. "I’ll tell you everything I know about the Eclipse, their plans, their operations. Just don’t let me fall."
"You had your chance to redeem yourself, Malakai, but you chose betrayal," Shinon’s gaze remained unwavering, his eyes giving the man no hint of mercy or sympathy. "What makes you think I’ll believe you now?"
With a subtle flick of his wrist, Shinon allowed Malakai to descend slightly before retracting the shadowy tendril again. It was a calculated display of power, a reminder of the dangerous position in which Malakai now found himself.
Malakai’s pleas grew more desperate as he realised Shinon was not ready to grant him mercy. He frantically offered information details about the Eclipse’s operations and the extent of their reach.
With each piece of information, Shinon would slightly release his hold on the shadowy tendril, allowing Malakai to drop closer to the terrace floor.
It took a while, but Malakai revealed some easily verifiable information. Unfortunately, he had no information regarding Shinon’s father. But from what he said, Shinon had a rough idea of where to start looking for an answer. As such, Malakai was of no use to him.
"You’ll... let me go, right?" Malakai begged him. "I told you everything I knew!"
"That you did," Shinon smiled before shrugging. "But if you are of no use to me, then you’re not of any use to anyone, right?"
Malakai’s eyes went blank as Shinon said those words. In his desperation, he gave up the only advantage he had, and as such, he was left defenceless.
"It was good knowing you, Malakai," Shinon mumbled before making the shadow tendril disappear. "Let’s hope we won’t run into each other in the next life."
