Prologue

Agony coursed through his veins, burning so intensely that, to him, it felt far, far more excruciating than death itself. As though an invisible hand had wrapped around his heart and ripped it straight out of his chest. And it might as well be true, because the hideous crime he was committing now was one only the cruelest man with no heart would be capable of.

This feeling…no, torture, pulsated through his body as he incessantly swung his pike over and over and over again until his arm grew numb. Until he was no longer capable of feeling anything.

He was in pain not because someone was inflicting damage upon him. Rather, it was the opposite. He was the one slaying them.

With each swing of his arm, thousands of people collapse in his peripheral vision. Bright red blood splattered onto his body, onto his face. He didn’t bother to wipe it away. It served as a reminder of this terrible sin, of what he is doing to his people, to his country.

He longed to scream in anger and sorrow, scream until his throat was so hoarse that he could no longer utter a single word.

But he didn’t make a sound, because there was no one still sane enough out there to hear his silent screams anyway. Everyone around him were long gone. Even though their physical bodies were still alive, they were nothing more than shells of their former selves.

He just wanted his destruction to end…but it couldn’t. He couldn’t until he finished his duty. Even if his actions brought harm unto others.

Why did he have to do this? That’s right…it’s because he was the only who was still sane in this world. It was so unfair. He just wanted to stop hurting others, and it was even worse because they were people he knew. Family he’d shared meals with. Friends he’d shared laughter with. Enemies he’d crossed swords with. No matter whether they were friend or foe, they were a member of his country, of which he once sworn to protect. But not anymore.

He continued his one-sided purge, his heart twisting, locking deeper and deeper into a cage of thorns each time he swung his arm down again.

Once.

Twice…