Chapter 112

Lloyd POV

My eyes snapped open, and I found myself still slumped in that beat-up chair. How long was I out? The darkness beyond the window told me it was late, moonlight casting eerie shadows across the room. I rubbed my eyes, feeling groggy and disoriented. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint hum of the building's ventilation system.

I must've dozed off after that infuriating argument with those self-righteous brats. They sure liked to blame people on demand, didn't they? Why were they acting like I could fix Noah? I may be powerful, but I'm not that kind of god.

"God damn it! Now I'm annoyed all over again," I muttered through clenched teeth, the bitterness of the earlier confrontation flooding back. I ran my fingers through my hair aggressively, messing it up completely. "I hate those damn bastards."

As I sat there, stewing in my anger, I couldn't help but reflect on how I'd gotten to this point. The path of revenge I'd chosen seemed to be leading me down an increasingly dark road. Was this really what I wanted? The doubt crept in, unwelcome but persistent.

"Are you awake, Lloyd?" A sudden voice made me start, nearly jumping out of my seat. My eyes darted over to Pluto's bed, my heart racing from the unexpected interruption.

"Did I wake you up?" I asked, slowly rising from the chair, wincing at the stiffness in my muscles. "My bad, I forgot we shared a room."

Pluto mumbled something unintelligible before drifting back to sleep. I couldn't help but smile a bit, a rare moment of softness in the chaos of my life. This kid wasn't the same lovable Pluto from before; it looked like I'd gotten what I wanted after all. The thought brought a mix of satisfaction and an unexpected twinge of... something else. Regret, perhaps? I pushed the feeling aside, but it lingered, a nagging reminder of the person I used to be.

I stretched, immediately regretting it as pain shot through my body. Looks like the painkillers had worn off. I sighed, recalling my fight with the Enforcer. He'd done a number on me, but it was worth it in the end. I'd eliminated one threat and saved myself from my prophesied demise. At least, that's what I told myself.

Deciding I needed more painkillers, I left the dorm, closing the door quietly this time so as not to wake Pluto again. The nurse's office seemed like my best bet. With any luck, Victor would be there. It was technically his home, so I wouldn't be surprised to find him there, even at this late hour.

I walked through the hall in silence, the absence of students outside their dorms lending an eerie peacefulness to my journey. My footsteps echoed softly against the walls, each step a reminder of how alone I truly was. The cool night air seeped through the windows, carrying with it the faint scent of rain.

A sigh escaped my lips as I pondered my predicament. How could I balance being part of the Outcasts with attending school? Dropping out wasn't an option, not with Mister Glasses breathing down my neck. Speaking of which, why hadn't he followed me earlier? It was unlike him to miss an opportunity to lecture me about every little thing.

Perhaps Noah's impending fate had distracted him. My steps faltered as I considered this. Noah was going to die. The realization stirred something unexpected within me - a strange, conflicted feeling. Did I care? Or was it simply that death seemed too merciful for someone as despicable as him?

This unsettling thought clung to me as I made my way to the nurse's office, a constant companion in the silent hallways. I opened the door silently, only to be assaulted by the overwhelming stench of decay. My eyes watered, but I pressed on, approaching the bed where Noah lay. As I pulled back the curtain, I saw him looking even worse than before, his body a testament to the relentless progression of the infection. Black veins spider-webbed across his sickly pale skin, pulsing with otherworldly energy that both repulsed and fascinated me.

My gaze drifted to the still-active monitors, their steady beeping a grim countdown to the inevitable. They hadn't put him down yet. Our mother must have pleaded for more time - a futile gesture, but one that probably offered her some small comfort. In the end, though, it wouldn't save Noah from his fate.

Standing there, looking at my dying twin, I felt a complex mix of emotions. Hatred, yes, but also a twinge of something else. Pity? Regret? I couldn't quite name it. The Noah I knew - the one I despised - was already gone, replaced by this decaying shell. Was this truly the victory I had imagined?

I reached out, my hand hovering over his fevered brow. For a moment, I was tempted to touch him, to feel some connection to the brother I never truly knew. But I pulled back, my fingers curling into a fist. No. This was how it had to be. Noah's demise was necessary for my ascension.

As I turned to continue my business, I cast one final glance at Noah. "Goodbye, brother," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "May your end bring about the beginning I've been fighting for."

I walked past the hospital bed towards the cabinet full of supplies, pulling out a bottle of painkillers. The pain lingered in my body, aching with every movement. I swallowed two pills, desperate for this day to be over, yearning for things to return to normal—whatever that meant now.

My eyes wandered back to the bracelet on my wrist, its presence a constant reminder of the power and danger it represented. I had finally decided to get rid of it, unwilling to take the risk. As much as I liked the Abyssal Devourer's power, if it was going to get me killed, it wasn't worth it. Survival was paramount, and I was already strong enough without it. Or so I told myself.

Glancing at Noah, a sinister idea formed in my mind. I made my way back to the bed, standing over his decaying form. It was a twisted thought, but one that filled me with a perverse sense of satisfaction.

"Abyssal Devourer," I called out to the mysterious creature. "I have one last task for you."

The bracelet morphed into a black, writhing mass in my palm. I stared at it, realizing how reckless I'd become. Picking up an unknown artifact just because it seemed cool? That wasn't like me—or at least, not like the person I thought I was. Perhaps I was acting out because, in this life, my father wasn't around to keep me in check. Without his influence, I'd reverted to the obnoxious, overconfident kid I once was.

Disgust welled up inside me. Every time I thought I was back on the path of revenge, I got caught up in some irrelevant side quest. No more distractions. I was going to rid myself of Noah, consequences be damned. Everyone was my enemy in my past life, so why maintain a clean record now? The moment I chose this path, I was ready to sacrifice everything.

Noah's wheezing grew louder, drawing my attention. I stared at him for a moment before speaking, my voice low and cold. "Noah, I've hated you since I first learned of your existence in my past life. I wish I was the one who put you in this miserable state, but I'll settle for delivering the final blow. Consider this my last act as your brother."

I dangled the Abyssal Devourer over Noah's body, ready to drop it. It was a pathetic death, one that felt hollow, but it would rid me of my enemy once and for all. The creature landed on Noah, moving around as if trying to determine what it had encountered. I wasn't surprised by its hesitation—Noah looked and probably tasted disgusting in his current state.

But before the Abyssal Devourer could begin its feast, a hand snatched it away. A creepy voice spoke, sending chills down my spine: "No, no, you can't eat him. I still want to play with him."

Startled, I spun around heart racing. Who could have possibly intervened? The room had been empty moments ago. As I faced the intruder, fear and anger surged through me. Whoever this was, they had just witnessed my attempted fratricide. More importantly, they had thwarted my plans.

My eyes locked onto the being who had terrified me at the gym. It held the Abyssal Devourer in its hand, squeezing and fidgeting with it like a toy. Its presence here sent a chill down my spine. What did it mean by "playing with Noah"? The thought flitted across my mind, but I had more pressing concerns.

I conjured a weapon out of energy, its purple glow casting eerie shadows across the room. "What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice steadier than I felt. "Why did you stop me from killing Noah? And more importantly, why did you tell me my destiny?"

The entity continued toying with the Abyssal Devourer, its movements unnaturally fluid. It tilted its head as if considering my questions. "I am here to fix my toy," it finally replied, its voice echoing strangely, "and to help you out."

I loosened my grip on the weapon, confusion replacing some of my fear. "Help me? With what exactly?"

"Noah's future self has come to the past to ensure I will never exist," the entity explained, its gaze piercing through me. "Since you played a significant role in my creation, he will surely come after you."

The information hit me like a punch to the gut. Noah's future self was here, in the past? My eyes hardened as the implications sank in. With knowledge of the future, he could foil every single one of my plans. "Noah, you damn bastard," I growled. "You want to ruin me, don't you?"

My gaze shifted back to the entity, which was now staring at Noah's crippled form with an unreadable expression. An idea formed in my mind, desperate and risky. "Since Noah wants to cheat," I said, my voice low and determined, "why don't you bring my future self here as well? Even out the playing field."

The entity's attention snapped back to me, its otherworldly presence intensifying. I swallowed hard but pressed on. "You seem to be a powerful being, and since I help 'create' you, you should help an ally out. Right?"

As I finished speaking, the air in the room grew heavy with anticipation. I held my breath, waiting for the entity's response, knowing that its answer could change everything. The future – my future – hung in the balance, and I was gambling with forces I barely understood. But if it meant staying one step ahead of Noah and securing my destiny, I was willing to take the risk.

"I can't," the entity's two words hit me like a punch to the gut, instantly twisting my expression into a scowl.

"What do you mean you can't?" I didn't bother hiding my anger, my voice rising with each word. "I saw you close a rift with ease. You're from the future, for crying out loud! This should be child's play for you."

The being tilted its head again, its otherworldly presence seeming to intensify. "It's... complicated," it said, its voice echoing strangely. "You don't exist in the future, so I can't bring your future self here."

I froze, the words sinking in like ice in my veins. I don't exist in the future? But didn't Mister Glasses tell me I'd be alive, that I'd grow stronger? My eyes darted to Noah's prone form, narrowing as realization dawned. It must have been him. This bastard killed me in my past life, and he was going to do the same in this one. It only reinforced my resolve to end him now.

"But don't fret," the entity continued, extending the Abyssal Devourer towards me. "I told you I would help. This is your key to success. All you have to do is listen to me, and I guarantee your triumph."

I stared at the Abyssal Devourer, conflicting thoughts warring in my mind. The Enforcer had warned me it would bring havoc to the world, but this entity promised it would help me. My gaze flicked back to the being, which waited patiently for my response.

"If I use this and listen to you," I asked, my voice low and intense, "will I lose to anyone ever again?" I'd told myself I was ready to embrace evil power if necessary, and this might be it. But was I truly prepared for the consequences?

The entity shook its head, its movement unnaturally fluid. "Never again, Lloyd. Never again."

A smile spread across my face as I transformed the Abyssal Devourer back into a bracelet. "Now that's what I want to hear. What's the plan?"

The entity's face tore open, revealing a grotesque, grinning maw. "That's what I like to hear," it rasped, its voice sending chills down my spine.

As I stood there, the weight of my decision settling over me, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just made a deal with something far beyond my understanding. The room seemed to darken, the shadows growing longer and more menacing. The steady beep of Noah's heart monitor faded into the background, replaced by an eerie silence that seemed to pulse with potential.

I glanced at my reflection in the window, barely recognizing the person staring back at me. How far I'd come from the naive boy I once was, and how much further I still had to go. The path ahead was shrouded in darkness, fraught with danger and uncertainty. But the promise of power, of never losing again, was too tempting to resist.

Whatever came next, I was ready to face it head-on, consequences be damned. As I turned back to the entity, ready to hear its plan, I felt a surge of excitement mixed with dread. This was it - the moment that would define my future, for better or worse.

"Tell me everything," I said, my voice steady and resolute. "I'm ready to become what I was always meant to be."

The entity's grin widened, impossibly large and filled with razor-sharp teeth. "Oh, Lloyd," it purred, its voice a symphony of malevolence and promise. "We're going to have so much fun together."

And with those words, I felt the last vestiges of my old self slip away, replaced by something darker, more powerful, and infinitely more dangerous. The game had changed, and I was determined to be the one holding all the cards when the dust settled.

Let Noah and his future self come. Let the world throw everything it had at me. With the Abyssal Devourer at my command and this enigmatic entity as my ally, I was ready to rewrite destiny itself. The future - my future - was about to be forged in shadow and flame, and nothing would stand in my way.

As I made this choice, a part of me wondered if I was truly doing the right thing. But I pushed those doubts aside. In this world, morality was a luxury I couldn't afford. Survival and power were all that mattered now. And if that meant becoming the villain of this story, so be it. After all, history is written by the victors, and I intended to be the last one standing when all was said and done.