A Lower Demon (12)

The dagger was ripped from his body with such force that it dropped him to his knees, his legs giving way. One arm clutched the ground tightly, as if it were an enemy, while the other pressed hard against the wound in his chest to slow the bleeding. His breath came in ragged gasps, blood trickling down his arm as his vision blurred with every passing second.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind him, slithering through his body like needles.

"I see... Ants like you never learn, do you? Did you really have to make this more painful for yourself?"

Seung's eyes narrowed, curiosity mixing with the despair flooding him. His mind screamed:

'What is this? The tone... the voice... they're different.'