It created a throne made of vines and stood there. He had the ripe pumpkins pressed over him and drank the fresh juices it provided as he enjoyed the night view.

A decent taste.

...

Meanwhile, the Fear was starting to show its effects within Bo Min. His fingers were slightly trembling and sweat dripped down slowly from his forehead.

He could feel himself getting restless as time went by.

Yet he could not understand why. After all, the situation was good for his side. Or was it not? Maybe he was having one of those bad premonitions... He created a big defensive wall in front of him and pushed forward while using his movement technique to the peak to go back to the original battlefield.

Ame pursued after breaking through the wall. Such a small obstacle only restrained her for a second or two. It was however enough for Bo Min to move towards his new destination.

He stopped as soon as he got a visual.

He was paralyzed.

The sight scared him and it was all that was needed for the Fear within him to begin to break him. Utter terror took over his mind. His body was shaking uncontrollably as he stood on top of a house, his gaze silently witnessing the gruesome end of his subordinates.

His teeth clenched in anger and fear, blood dripped down his lips.

Ame arrived a second later and stood there petrified as well. She was not terrified but shocked.

After all, everyone was dead...

There seemed to be only one entity alive...

And it was drinking the juices of pumpkins he plucked from the dead corpses.

It was only after it gazed at her that she felt a chill run down her spine. Her instincts told her to run.

The creature spoke at that time: "Which one of you is responsible for this Fear?"

Its voice was cold and grating. It was not a sound anyone could enjoy. As for what he meant, she did not know. And Bo Min was no longer in a right state of mind.

He was still trembling.

Then, his body shook and he dropped to his knees as tears dripped down his face.

The monster sighed and got up from his throne. He whispered to himself: "Guess I'll have to find that out myself..."

Bo Min, utterly terrified, became too frightened to even consider offering any resistance. He was no longer even entertaining any thoughts of escaping...Well, he did entertain one... And he acted upon it.

He sliced his own neck.

Blood surged from the gaping wound and he dropped down as nothing more than a corpse. The fear of ending like his comrades and the Fear that had affected his mind worked in concert. It pushed him to a path. A path that he was pushed to consider as the only one to escape this terrifying ending.

He killed himself.

The monster chuckled as he saw that. It turned towards Ame and stated: "Then, it should be you, I presume?"

Ame took a step backward. That's when Jin jumped next to her.

He was frowning hard. He stated: "It comes from me"

The monster curiously asked: "Can you prove it?"

Jin manifested some of the Fear element, covering his right arm in it. He asked back: "Can you detect it?"

The monster's eyes opened wide.

For sure, he could. However, he did not expect for it to be... He laughed.

"So, another candidate finally appeared?! What a wonderful night! What a blessed night!"

Then it turned his attention back to Jin and asked him: "Your name"

Jin stated: "Baem"

The monster laughed again. He did not trust that answer. But it was fine. It did not matter. It said: "Come with me"

Jin retorted: "Why should I?"

The monster looked at him seriously. It was a fact that if he wanted to, he could capture them both easily. They were not his match. However, his goal was not to become an enemy of the candidate. Still, he needed to have that man follow him. He gazed at the female human next to him. Considering that he revealed himself only after she was alone...

He offered: "I pledge on the heavens not to ever harm your friend here, unless she herself attacks me, as long as you follow me"

Jin considered for a moment. He looked at Ame and she returned her gaze. He could see in her eyes a mix of emotions. Surprise, apprehension, reluctance, anxiety... He smiled at her lovingly before he turned to the monster and said: "I accept"

Then, he turned to Ame and told her: "Go back to the Palace. I'll be right behind"

He jumped right as she started to process what was happening. She extended her arm in vain as he jumped already. She was getting ready to follow however a wall of vines erupted in front of her.

She burst through while covering her entire self in flames. She stated: "I'll follow you as well. It swore not to hurt me"

Jin and the monster both looked at her. To the monster, she was a fool. To Jin, she was also a fool. Both had different reasons to judge her so.

In the end, however, before Jin could attempt to convince her, he noticed her determined gaze. She was close to breaking down in a crying mess too... Determination and sadness...

He nodded with a sad smile.

So be it.

It would not be too bad to be able to see her in his last moments.

The monster was not fond of the idea of bringing her along but he relented. If it saved him the trouble of forcing the candidate, this was good too.

He had them follow him back to the place where he had once been imprisoned.

The three of them arrived next to the pool of liquid. It was no longer bubbling. It looked at the puddle and pondered for a moment before making his decision.