"You're too naive, William. Did you really think I'd let you off the hook after going to all this trouble to lure you out of the village?" Felix's voice dripped with disdain, his words hitting William like a hammer.
Realisation dawned in William's eyes, a bitter smile twisting his lips. "So, it was all a setup by you," he murmured, despair clouding his gaze.
"That's right. You're nothing but a dumb bastard destined for servitude," Felix spat, his disgust evident.
With a heavy heart, William released his grip on life, surrendering to the inevitable. Regret filled his eyes as he prepared to meet his end.
"Just finish me," he whispered, resignation evident in his voice.
But then, a spark of determination ignited within him. "No, I can't give up. What about my sister?" Suddenly, William's eyes snapped open as he saw the cold blade hurtling toward his neck.
His instincts kicked in, and with a swift movement, he dodged the blade, narrowly avoiding certain death.
The scarred man was momentarily stunned by William's unexpected agility, his sword clattering to the ground.
"This fu—," As the scarred man struggled to retrieve his sword, William seized the opportunity, his eyes glinting with determination as he made a bold move toward Felix.
Felix, bewildered by William's unexpected advance, raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Is this fool asking for his own demise?" he wondered aloud, unsheathing his sword in preparation.
Meanwhile, Felix's henchmen moved to intervene. "Let us handle this, Felix. You needn't dirty your hands," they offered.
Felix chuckled, amused by the unfolding chaos. "Very well," he agreed, watching with amusement as William charged toward him with a hint of madness in his eyes.
"This will be an opportunity to test their loyalty," he thought, a cunning smile playing on his lips.
With sheer rage fueling his actions, William's gaze bore into the two goons blocking his path to Felix. Every ounce of humiliation he had endured surged to the surface, consumed by his fury.
Quickly, he snatched a sizable rock from the ground, his movements swift and calculated as he charged directly at them.
"Stop right there!" the goons shouted, their voices tinged with nervousness as they faced the madness in William's eyes.
But before they could utter another word, William acted. With lightning speed, he aimed the sharp point of the stone at one of the youths' necks and delivered a brutal blow.
Pshh!
Blood spurted from the wound as William coldly retrieved the stone from the youth's neck. The youth's eyes glazed over as his lifeless body collapsed to the ground, staining the leaves with crimson, forming a small pool of blood on the forest floor.
The remaining youth's eyes widened in horror as he beheld the lifeless body of his companion, trembling violently with shock. Beside him, Felix's other goon collapsed to the forest floor, unable to comprehend the unfolding chaos.
But William paid no heed to the consequences of his actions as he charged toward Felix with unbridled fury, his eyes ablaze with malevolence. Ignoring the presence of the other goon, he focused solely on his target.
"I'll take you down with me!" he bellowed, his anger echoing through the forest.
Felix gritted his teeth, sensing the madness emanating from William. Countless thoughts raced through his mind in mere seconds.
"Why am I even afraid? I'm stronger than this peasant born from a bitch," Felix reassured himself.
Suddenly, William was upon him. In a flash, a blood-soaked hand reached for Felix's neck.
Crack!
Felix watched in disbelief as his bracelet shattered into pieces, the force of the blow leaving him stunned. And in that moment of shock, William's eyes widened in astonishment.
"You son of a—" Felix's curse was cut short as blood splattered over him, causing him to flinch and close his eyes. The paper in his hand became soaked in blood, its text starting to glow faintly.
Before Felix could react, a sword pierced through William's heart, narrowly missing Felix in the process.
"I'm sorry, young master. I was late," the scarred man's voice rang out coldly as he withdrew his blade from William's lifeless body.
William's agonised scream echoed through the forest as his vision faded. With the sword pulled from his body, his heart came with it, and he collapsed to the ground, eyes losing their vitality as death claimed him.
Furious at the loss of his artefact and the audacity of William's attack, Felix vented his frustration by kicking the lifeless corpse, each blow further mangling William's already battered body.
"Worthless bastard," Felix spat with disgust, delivering one final kick to the now unrecognisable mass of flesh and blood.
The scarred man approached, offering a remorseful apology. "I'm sorry, young master."
"It's fine; I'll reward you when we return," Felix assured the scarred man after a moment of consideration.
Unbeknownst to them, the faintly glowing golden text on the paper began to separate from the parchment, drifting towards William's lifeless body. As if drawn by some unseen force, the golden text was absorbed into William's body, each word and pattern merging with him.
In a miraculous defiance of nature, William's wound began to mend, his flesh knitting together as a new heart, glowing with a golden hue, formed within him. The text continued to flow into him until every last bit was absorbed, leaving his body bathed in a radiant golden light.
Slowly, William's eyes fluttered open, a newfound vitality coursing through him. His wound from the sword had vanished, and his body was replenished with the blood he had lost.
Felix finally noticed the now empty paper, devoid of any text or patterns. "Where did the writing go?" he muttered, perplexed by the sudden turn of events.