40k: Midnight Blade

Chapter 29 29. Through the Curtain

Khalil is dead.

Ghost was sure of this.

His eyes were closed, his lips were pale, he was not breathing, and there was no heartbeat. By any standards, Khalil was dead. Even though his body was intact, he had lost his vital signs.

The ghost was already very familiar with death, and he could be very sure of its authenticity.

After all, he had personally caused many horrific massacres. Although his intentions were good, his methods were cruel.

Ghost knew that this was necessary, he already understood the meaning of fear - Midnight Ghost could not be a symbolic name without fearing those who do evil.

The people of Nostramo needed a symbol of punishment. This is what Khalil said.

Ghost didn't understand this, but he could understand the importance of it.

However, Khalil's death was a little different from those deaths. Ghost never thought he would die. In his mind, Khalil could do anything.

How could he die?

The ghost lowered his head.

Sadness and depression swept over him again. Moreover, there is still no trace of the salvation that voice promised not long ago.

Have I been cheated? he thinks.

+I didn't lie to you, Konrad Coates. +

The voice sounded again.

For some reason, Ghost was not surprised. And, this time, he didn't notice the cold shiver when it sounded.

Who is Conrad Coates? he thinks.

+you. +

I'm not called that name.

+Accept it or not, it’s up to you. I won't force you, I just hope you can change your mind when we meet. Also, I really didn’t lie to you. +

Then why did he...?

+Scientific treatment methods are of no use to a person who commits psychic suicide, so the length of time is of no significance to his resurrection. I have done what I can, and now it depends on whether his will is strong or not. +

What does this have to do with will?

+Because the pain a ghost has to face when resurrected is no less than dying again. He will pass through the veil again, and what he will face during this period is his own devil. +

devil?

The ghost looked blankly at Khalil—or rather, at Khalil's body. The word echoed in his mind.

devil?

+You don't understand what I mean. That's it. Then don't take it to heart. Just wait, Conrad Coates. He will wake me and your brother, and is coming soon. +

Who are you?

Ghost frowned. And my brother? Who are they?

+You've seen it, haven't you? You have seen their likeness in your visions. I'll tell you who I am when we meet, Conrad Coates. +

+Also, take care of yourself. +

I don't remember, but thank you and goodbye. Ghost said in his heart.

Politeness is very important.

This time, the voice did not answer. The ghost tilted his head in confusion, and had no choice but to remember the name—Conrad Curze?

What a strange name.

He turned to look at Khalil, who still looked lifeless. Having no other choice, Ghost squatted down and began to watch motionlessly.

The voice said he didn't lie to me. The ghost thought. Hope he really doesn't.

——

I've been here.

Khalil thought, looking at the darkness around him.

I've been here. He repeated it again in his mind, then closed his eyes and took a step forward slowly.

The bone-chilling coldness came immediately in the next moment.

Then, there was a heavy pulling feeling. His skin, flesh, and even bones were all grabbed by invisible claws. They were pervasive, piercing every detail of his body.

In an instant, ten thousand voices burst out wildly in my ears.

"Stay!" they screamed. "You belong here! Don't even think about leaving again!"

No, I don't belong here. I'm different from you.

Sighing, he endured the pain and continued to take a step forward. Just this one step brought about earth-shaking changes in the world.

A familiar stench spread across the surface, and the unique air of Nostramo's nest welcomed him in the warmest way. Then there was the sound of rain, violent rain.

Khalil opened his eyes.

He saw a boy, a wounded boy. He lay covered in blood in the rainstorm, holding two sharp knives that were too big for him tightly in his hands.

His face was full of hatred.

The boy looked up.

"It's you." He whispered, and his voice passed through the rain and reached Khalil's ears accurately.

"It's me." Khalil nodded. "Get out of the way, okay?"

"Unless you have completed your revenge." The boy muttered to himself. "We agreed, Ghost—I'd give anything if you killed them."

"I'm done," Khalil replied calmly. "And you don't have to continue talking."

He sighed and continued to move forward. With every step he took, the pulling feeling became stronger.

Accompanied by this was increasingly intense pain, his flesh and bones protested loudly, his nerves twitched, and blood overflowed from his mouth, nose, eyes, ears, and pores, making him look extremely miserable.

Khalil was unmoved at all.

He wants to go back.

"Are you done?" the boy asked doubtfully. "Why can't I see anything?"

"Because you don't actually exist, so you can't see it."

Khalil shook his head and suddenly laughed.

"If you want to blame it, blame the head. He told me the truth." Khalil said with a smile. "But you probably won't be able to see him, I'm sorry."

The boy looked at him inexplicably, then lay on the ground and coughed in the rain. Blood flowed from the wounds on his body. Even so, he still did not let go of the two sharp blades in his hands.

After a while, he asked: "How did they die?"

"Killed by me."

"No, I want to know the exact way of death."

The boy said stubbornly, his face suddenly distorted in the rain, like a washed-out oil painting.

"We said yes, ghost, we said yes!"

coming.

Khalil lowered his head and replied: "I promised you that I would kill them, but that did not include describing to you in detail how they died."

"But how do I know if you are lying to me?!"

The boy growled. "You took my body! I gave everything to you, ghost! I just want revenge!"

Yeah, I took everything from you, yeah

Of course I know what I did.

Khalil stopped and breathed calmly, a complex emotion rising slowly between his brows. It seemed like regret, but it also seemed like a cold determination.

He sighed softly and said to the boy: "I have completed the revenge you wanted."

"But I didn't see it!"

The boy screamed, and his shape gradually became terrifying in the rain. There was a fleeting power that imbued this temporarily created memory with real power.

They came from the darkness, and now they have made a memory become darkness itself.

In the rain curtain, a huge monster stood up.

"I didn't see it!"

It roared with a voice like thunder.

"You failed me, you cheated on me, Ghost! You're a liar! You just stole my body, my name, and used them to do whatever you wanted!"

"I don't deny that."

Khalil answered calmly, but his hands were clenched into fists at some point. ".But I have already completed the revenge you wanted."

"Then let me see! Let me see their corpses. I want to see with my own eyes the dismemberment of everyone who participated in the destruction of the Lohars family!"

"I can't do this." Khalil shook his head. "The dead are gone."

"I can't let you see what I see, child. You died a long time ago, and I never thought you were alive. So, you are just an echo behind the curtain."

He pursed his lips and repeated.

"You come from behind the curtain, and because of that, I can't let you see my memories."

"Liar! Traitor!" The monster roared angrily and rushed towards Khalil. Its hands were two sharp and shining silver claws.

It waved them, and the rain curtain was cut into pieces in an instant. The howling wind merged with its roar at this moment, becoming some kind of more terrifying duet.

"You can call me whatever you want."

Khalil took a step back and narrowly avoided the blow, as if he was predicting the future. It seemed so easy for him to do it.

He raised his head, looked at the monster's distorted face, and said calmly: "But, you and I both know that's not the case."

In response to his words, the monster returned a terrifying glare. It gasped and laughed lowly in the rain.

"Liar's lies!"

No, I am not. I'm not lying either.

Khalil closed his eyes and stopped talking - language was of no use in such a situation, and he was not facing a persuasive, rational creature.

That child died thirteen years ago, on that rainy night. He was born from the blood of sin and victims, and grew up sucking their flesh. Before he died, he called upon a wandering ghost.

Through boundless hatred, boundless evil, and his own blood.

The fierce wind struck again, and Khalil turned his head slightly to avoid the blow. In the rain curtain, there were continuous roars. The monster charged at him, but never hit Khalil.

"Fight back, liar! Are you feeling guilty?!"

NO, I have not.

"Fight me! Kill me, or suffer here with me!"

The monster screamed, and its voice changed again. The ten thousand voices that had screamed in Khalil's ears also came, mixed with its roar, becoming more and more deafening.

"You belong here and you can't leave!"

No, I don't belong here.

Khalil opened his eyes, and a subtle golden light flashed in his dark eyes.

He gritted his teeth, and burning heat lit up between his fingers—and then, golden flames erupted in the rain, burning them away.

A scream followed.

The monster cowered and retreated, retreating again and again, and its huge body began to shrink. The darkness was dispelled, and a stench that was different from the sour smell of Nostramo's nest hit his face, and then, there was a crackling sound.

Like rotten bones being burned.

"The kid I made the deal with died thirteen years ago, and you are not him."

Khalil spoke in a low voice. "I want to leave, so I will definitely leave. No matter how many tricks you try, it will be useless."

"Traitor! Liar! Self-righteous!"

The monster in the dark screamed in a shivering voice, shrill and ridiculous. "The Fire Thief will devour you! He will leave you with no bones left, and he will not show any mercy to you!"

"Prometheus, the Fire Thief?"

Khalil was startled for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

The golden flames erupted again, and the curtain was burned and shaken, followed by a cold trembling feeling. He closed his eyes and let the pain take away his remaining consciousness.

Then, the next second—amidst the unwilling roar that sounded in the darkness, a real light came from Khalil's closed eyes.