Chapter 19: Trial of Masks — Daphne’s First Descent into Darkness
563words
The first cold rain had just begun to fall.
Over twenty trialists gathered at the stone altar, forming a circle. Their eyes held either confusion or fear.
I stood tall, clad in a new black cloak laced with red patterns.
Behind me, Raccoon secretly made a “+99 acting” gesture. I bit back a smile and swept a cold gaze across the crowd.
"The theme of the second phase is: Devour and Dominate."
"You’re not here to prove who's strongest."
"You’re here to decide — who deserves to make others kneel."
"From now on, team freely, fight however you like. Hunters will earn points. Captured ones become subordinates."
A wave of uproar.
"This isn’t the original trial format!"
"This is a complete takeover! What gives you the right—"
I raised one hand. A stone pillar behind me exploded. From the dust leapt a half-crazed Night-Eyed Beast.
Silence. Immediate.
I lazily brushed off the ash from my shoulder.
"I'm not authorized."
"I’m in control."
I stepped toward Leo — the naturally gifted wolf who cried chasing rabbits in round one.
He flinched back.
I smirked and snapped the badge from his chest.
"From now on, you answer to me."
"Any objections?"
He went pale. Whispered, “…No.”
"Good. Go home and ask your sister how to behave."
Then I pointed at five people.
"You — Group A, my left claw."
"You — Group B, my right claw."
"The rest? Bite hard or die fast."
At that moment, I knew I was convincing.
Like a real lunatic.
Like the “demon queen candidate” my mother had always dreamed of.
But only this way could I hide our real plan.
That night, behind Gray Tower.
Coren, Raccoon, Amy, Firewood and I sat around a small campfire.
“When you said ‘you answer to me’…” Raccoon shivered, “I almost got goosebumps.”
Amy sighed. “Honestly, I can’t even tell if you’re pretending to be crazy or if you’ve actually snapped.”
I threw off my cloak, kicked off my high-heeled boots, and stepped barefoot into the mud.
"Relax. I’m crazy — but clear."
"She wants to drive me insane? Then I’ll give her a show. Let her think she’s won."
"And while she’s busy gloating, we’ll bite through her web — thread by thread."
"We need a real strike force," Coren said.
"One that can move in shadows and counter the queen’s guards anytime."
I nodded. "I’ve picked the members."
I pulled a list from my cloak.
"All discarded by the trials, abandoned by the clan, laughed at by their peers."
"But their hearts — are sharper than the so-called gifted."
Raccoon took the list. “You planning to build Gray Tower’s shadow unit?”
I nodded. "Call it Severed Moon."
"When the main moon is veiled, Severed Moon rises."
"She rules the daylight. I’ll take the night."
In the firelight, I slowly set the list ablaze.
Ash drifted upward.
I looked toward the distant silhouette of the royal city tower.
Mother thought she was raising her demon.
But the true monster doesn’t follow orders, doesn’t obey rules, doesn’t show mercy.
I’ll rip off that skin myself.
Not the name of “Queen” she gave me.
But the mark I carved myself —
Traitor.
Liberator.
Free.
