Kirko and Cain found themselves in front of the beautiful big glass wall again.
"Wow." Kirko covered his mouth, acting like he didn't say a thing. He turned towards Cain and got greeted by a big grin on Cain's face.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing, nothing at all." Cain turned around and walked towards the glass.
Kirko followed, and they both entered the next zone.
"What will happen this time?"
He stretched his arms and then cracked his fingers. "You ready?"
"Yea."
They both began sprinting towards the next mark, escaping one worm on their way. They ran about 80 metres before Cain had to take a break.
They both settled in a broken apartment complex this time. It was a huge lobby and had stairs taking it to another floor, having broken chairs, a desk, and a big, beautiful chandelier which was still standing after all this time, but it could not be lit.
Cain leaned on the wall and sighed, "I'm definitely going to die."
"No, you won't. Stop being a pussy."
Cain looked at Kirko, then looked at the ground and clenched his fist.
He then muttered, "Why…"
Kirko looked at him, confused. "Did you say something?"
Cain increased his voice, "Why, just why do you keep saving me?" His voice wavered. "I've been nothing but a nuisance since the start. If you just left me in the worm's mouth, you would have been so much further without me holding you back... So why? Why do you keep saving me? I haven't helped you in any way."
Silence filled the room. Kirko walked towards Cain and let out a gentle smile. "It's simple. I'm saving you 'cause you are like a friend to me."
Cain's voice rose, raw and desperate. "That's not the reason! You can't just say 'because we're friends'—that's not enough. You saved me three times just because I'm like a friend to you!"
Kirko stood silent for a while. Then, with a small chuckle, he looked up. "You know, Cain, I've never had a friend before."
Cain looked at him in shock.
"No one ever talked to me, never looked at me, and never even cared about me. And if they ever did, the look in their eyes was full of disgust. You were different. You were the first person who came and talked to me, and your eyes didn't have a speck of disgust in them. You were the only one who made me feel good, so I thought you would be my first friend… and I don't want to lose you. Not now. Not ever. So if you are in danger, I will always be there to protect you."
Cain put his arm over his eyes and started to tear up. "You're the first person who's never left me. Everyone else always pushed me away. They said I was too loud, too annoying… But you—you stayed." He smiled. "You're my first real friend, Kirko."
Kirko patted his head. "Stop crying, you baby." He smiled. "And besides, your ability helped me kill the worms, so if you weren't with me, I would have died."
Cain wiped his tears away and got up. "Let's continue our journey."
Kirko smiled. "Ye, let's go."
Kirko went to leave the building. A throwing knife flew through the air and broke the last rope which was holding the chandelier, which was right above Kirko at the time.
"Kirko!! Above you!"
Even without Cain shouting, Kirko realized the knife which flew and broke it. The magnificent chandelier fell down, crashing into Kirko and letting a pile of dust fly into the air, covering Cain's view.
'Kirko?'
Kirko's breathing got loud. 'I'm stronger than that.'
As the pile of dust settled, Kirko was holding the chandelier with his hand.
Tssk—another knife flew in Kirko's direction. Kirko smiled. 'I won't get fooled twice.' He threw the chandelier in the direction of the knife, blocking it. He then replied by throwing his dagger in the direction from where the knife came and teleported.
He was right behind a blonde-haired boy hiding behind a pillar filled with cracks. They both came back to back of each other. Kirko put his hood on. "Time to fight, blondie."
His voice filled with rage, "I'll fucking kill you, Kirko! And the name is Corviz!" He jerked backwards and threw another knife at Kirko.
Kirko deflected the knife using his dagger. "You know my name, what an honour."
They both stood in front of each other. For a moment, no one did anything until Kirko started running towards the blonde-haired player. Corviz replied by throwing his knives at him without stopping, but unfortunately for him, Kirko was too good at dodging.
Kirko got scarred on his cheek, arm, and torso, but they were all minor and shallow cuts, and Kirko was right in the perfect range to attack.
'Look at your face, thinking you won already.' Corviz threw a knife which was tied on a rope onto the ceiling. He then swung behind Kirko, brought out a knife, and went to stab Kirko in the back.
Kirko jerked fast, blocking the blow, his eyes glowing through the hood. The fight started when both Corviz and Kirko were ready to destroy the other.
They both clashed. Corviz looked like he had the upper hand. He was just slicing and stabbing, but Kirko was dodging all of them, not replying to anything.
"Is this all you got, mister goblin killer?"
Kirko was indifferent. 'Just a bit more before I start.'
Kirko kept observing Corviz's attacks while he kept defending. Corviz didn't think about anything in his mind; the only thing was that he was winning and he was going to kill Kirko.
Kirko took a glance towards Cain and mouthed the sentence—Don't interfere. He turned back, blocked another blow, and glanced towards Cain again, seeing him nod, agreeing to Kirko.
Corviz had a smile on his face. 'Just a bit more, I'm pressuring him a lot. Eventually, he will fold, and then I'll strike.'
Corviz kept striking him for over 10 minutes. Corviz's attacks got slower and weaker while Kirko remained indifferent. Corviz had pain in his eyes, and his whole body was trembling a bit. "How are you okay?" Kirko just looked deep into Corviz's eyes.
'Is he stronger than me?'
While in thought, his attack was delayed. Kirko took a step back and pushed forward, stabbing Corviz in the stomach.
Corviz's eyes darkened as a river of blood flowed from his body.
His eyes got a bit brighter. 'I won't die yet.'