Chapter 3: Blood Oath

Deep into the night, the campfire had burned low, wood crackling softly. Raven sat with her back against a smooth stone, forcing herself to stay awake. The Igniscale Stone's side effects gave her splitting headaches, temples throbbing in waves, occasionally feeling that eerie energy flowing through her blood vessels.

Carlos slept beside her, one hand still gripping his backpack strap tightly. Even in sleep, his brow was slightly furrowed, clearly also affected by the Igniscale Stone. His breathing was somewhat rapid, occasionally murmuring softly, calling "Mom."

Across the fire, the three merchants looked much better. Sam and Jack could walk normally now, though still weak, they no longer seemed dying like that afternoon. Buck sat not far away, ostensibly organizing his equipment, but actually observing these two lifesavers from time to time.

Initially, Buck was simply grateful. These two children had saved their lives and seemed very kind. But as night fell, certain details began catching his attention: though young, this girl moved confidently through this dangerous wasteland—definitely not an ordinary scavenger. Stranger still, she and that boy seemed to have just emerged from deep within the spectrum maze, and apparently with good results—at least they had enough confidence to camp alone in this dangerous area.

Most crucially, Buck noticed the two children's condition changes. When they met that afternoon, they were clearly affected by something—headaches, fatigue, occasional disorientation. These symptoms were familiar to him, having done extensive research before coming to the Chromatic Prison. These were typical reactions after exposure to large amounts of Igniscale Stones.

Could it be... these two children had actually found the Stones?

Buck looked at his damaged equipment, thinking of his seriously ill daughter at home, thinking of mounting debts. He wasn't naturally evil—back home, he'd indeed been an ordinary small merchant, maintaining livelihood through small trades. But business grew increasingly difficult, debts mounting, and his child needed money for treatment. When hearing news of Igniscale Stones in the Chromatic Prison, he and two friends decided to risk it.

They just hadn't expected it to be so dangerous here—equipment damaged, lost for three days, nearly dying for real. If these two children really possessed Igniscale Stones...

After midnight, Raven finally couldn't resist exhaustion, consciousness beginning to blur. Her head nodded downward bit by bit until she finally fell asleep.

Buck had been waiting for this moment. He carefully observed for a while, confirming Raven's breathing had steadied, then slowly stood. His movements were light, but not the soundless stealth of a professional thief—rather an ordinary person trying to suppress noise, shoe soles occasionally scraping against pebbles with soft sounds.

Reaching Carlos's side, Buck hesitated long. He crouched down, carefully observing this restlessly sleeping boy. Carlos's face still held childish innocence, appearing particularly innocent under firelight.

"Sorry, kid." Buck said silently in his heart, then slowly reached for the backpack.

His fingers barely touched the backpack's edge when he felt a peculiar warmth. Through thick fabric, he could sense something inside radiating energy. This further confirmed his suspicions.

But just as he prepared to investigate further, Carlos suddenly woke, meeting Buck's gaze directly.

The atmosphere instantly froze.

"Uncle?" Carlos's voice held confusion and post-sleep disorientation. "What are you doing?"

Buck's hand froze mid-air, heart pounding. He hadn't expected Carlos to wake at this moment, much less what to do next. Sweat began seeping from his forehead.

"I... I was just..." Buck stammered, trying to withdraw his hand, but the movement seemed stiff.

Carlos was fully awake now. He sat up, alertly pulling his backpack toward himself: "You were touching my bag?"

Though only ten, Carlos growing up in this cruel world wasn't completely naive. He could sense something wrong from Buck's expression and movements.

"Listen, kid." Buck took a deep breath, knowing concealment was impossible, abandoning pretense entirely. "Do you have Igniscale Stones in your bag?"

Carlos's face instantly paled. He clutched his backpack tightly, voice trembling: "What... what do you want to do?"

"I have a daughter, only seven years old, very sick now." Buck's voice also began trembling, not from fear but desperation. "The doctor said if she doesn't get treatment soon, she'll..."

He paused, wiping his eyes: "We need that stone. I know this is wrong, but I really have no other choice."

"But we risked our lives to get this!" Carlos's voice rose with ten-year-old stubbornness. "Raven!"

Raven was awakened by the shout. She shook her still-groggy head vigorously, seeing the confrontation before her. Firelight cast swaying shadows between the two, making the scene eerie and tense.

"What's happening?" She pushed herself up from the ground, though her body was still unsteady, she'd entered alert mode.

Sam and Jack were also awakened by the noise. Seeing Buck exposed, they could only reluctantly stand. Their expressions showed they didn't completely approve of this plan, but there was no retreat now.

"Raven, they know we have Igniscale Stones!" Carlos clutched his backpack tightly, fear in his voice.

Raven looked at the three men, mind racing. She now understood why she'd felt something was wrong—these three had been observing them from the start, seeking opportunity.

"We don't want to hurt anyone." Jack spoke, his voice carrying apology. "But we have our own difficulties. Buck's daughter is really seriously ill, Sam also owes massive debts. We're at a dead end out there."

"So you'd rob your lifesavers?" Raven's voice held anger and deep disappointment. "We saved your lives!"

"We'll never forget this kindness." Sam said—he appeared most reluctant of the three. "But Igniscale Stones are too dangerous for children like you. In the outside world, many people will want to rob your wealth. How about..."

"How about what?" Raven coldly interrupted.

"How about we take the Igniscale Stones, and in exchange, we take you away from this place to relatively safe cities outside." Jack said. "At least you'd be alive, right?"

Raven stared intently at the three men, rapidly assessing the situation. She knew she and Carlos were no physical match for these three adult men, and she was still affected by the Igniscale Stone, in poor condition. Most importantly, she had to protect Carlos.

"You can have the Igniscale Stones." Raven finally said, voice very calm. "But you must guarantee Carlos's safety."

"Raven!" Carlos looked at her in shock, tears welling in his eyes. "How could you..."

"Listen to me, Carlos." Raven turned to him, reaching out to gently stroke his hair. "Living is more important than anything. Money can be earned again, but if life is gone, there's nothing left."

But Buck shook his head: "No, just one stone isn't enough. I see you can move freely in the spectrum maze, meaning you have special abilities. If you could take us there again..."

"Are you insane?" Raven's eyes widened. "That place is extremely dangerous! Our surviving was already miraculous! And Igniscale Stones' psychic interference will drive people completely mad!"

"But you did come out, didn't you?" Buck drew a rusty dagger from his waist. His knife-holding posture was stiff, hand trembling slightly—clearly not someone who used weapons often. "For saving our lives, I really don't want to hurt you. But if you don't cooperate..."

His voice grew lower, but the threat was obvious.

Raven looked at Buck's trembling hand and pained expression, realizing this man was actually as afraid as she was. They were both people pushed to extremes by life, just choosing different paths.

"Fine." She sighed, voice carrying helplessness and exhaustion. "I'll take you there. But I must warn you—that place's psychic interference will drive people mad. Many adventurers much stronger than you have died there."

"We'll be careful." Jack said. "And with you as guide, we should be able to return alive."

At dawn, five people again set out for the spectrum maze's depths. This time the atmosphere was completely different. Raven walked at the front, face dark, not speaking. Carlos followed beside her, occasionally glaring hatefully at the three merchants, small hand tightly gripping a corner of his scarf.

"Don't look at us like that, kid." Sam tried to ease the atmosphere. "After this is over, we'll really compensate you well. Maybe we can take you to our city—it's much safer than here."

Carlos didn't respond, just turned his face away. He felt deeply betrayed.

As they penetrated deeper into the maze, the Igniscale Stones' influence manifested again. But this time, Raven could clearly see the three merchants' transformation process.

Buck became restless and agitated, constantly looking around as if searching for something. Sometimes he'd suddenly stop, pointing excitedly at some empty direction: "There! I see a golden mountain! My daughter is saved!"

Sam's condition was worse—sometimes he'd laugh uncontrollably, saying he'd become a billionaire.

Jack was relatively better but also began seeing illusions. He thought he saw his deceased father, constantly waving at thin air.

"Calm down! Control yourselves!" Raven repeatedly reminded them. "Those are all illusions! All Igniscale Stone psychic interference!"

But as they got closer to the target, the three men's condition became increasingly unstable. When they finally saw that rainbow lake, all reason completely vanished.

"My God! So many Igniscale Stones!" Buck trembled with excitement. "We're really rich!"

"So beautiful! Just like heaven!" Sam rushed crying toward the lakeside. "I'm going to be rich!"

"Dad! Do you see? Your son succeeded!" Jack also lost control, frantically grabbing at Igniscale Stones in the lake bottom.

"Wait! Don't dig like that!" Raven desperately tried stopping them, voice hoarse from shouting. "You'll destroy the entire vein's stability!"

But the three men, completely controlled by greed and hallucinations, couldn't hear any advice. They used every tool they could find to frantically excavate Igniscale Stones, excitedly shouting with each extraction, completely ignoring her warnings.

"Stop! You'll kill everyone!" Raven shouted desperately, voice cracking with tears.

The lake began violently shaking. The previously mirror-calm surface started churning, colors growing increasingly bright. Energy concentration in the air rose sharply, creating suffocating pressure.

Raven realized disaster was imminent. She grabbed Carlos's hand, palm completely soaked with sweat: "We must leave here immediately!"

"But they..." Carlos looked toward the three merchants frantically digging.

"Too late!" Raven pulled him to run out.

But it was too late.

A blinding white light shot skyward from the lake bottom, accompanied by deafening roars. The entire cavern began violently shaking, rocks and metal fragments cascading like waterfalls from the ceiling. The three merchants were blown away by the explosion's shockwave. Sam crashed directly into sharp rock walls, blood instantly staining the stone.

"Carlos!" Raven gripped the little boy's hand tightly in the chaos. "Follow me! Quick!"

They ran frantically through the stone rain, ground constantly cracking beneath their feet with tooth-aching sounds. Dust and debris blurred their vision, but Raven still tried hard to identify escape directions.

Just then, she heard a heavy metallic breaking sound. Looking up, a massive sharp metal beam was breaking from the cave roof, falling toward her position.

In the falling moment, she could clearly see every detail of that metal beam—the corroded surface, sharp break, and faint light reflecting off it. Death's shadow enveloped her, leaving her body completely paralyzed.

"Get away!"

Carlos saw the same scene. Without hesitation, he used all his strength to crash into Raven, pushing her aside.

The massive metal beam crashed down heavily, striking Carlos directly in the waist.

"Ah—!" Carlos let out a short, agonized scream, then fell silent.

"No—! Carlos!" Raven released a heart-rending shriek that echoed through the collapsing cavern.

She crawled to Carlos's side, seeing a scene that broke her heart. The metal beam completely crushed Carlos's waist, blood continuously flowing from his mouth, forming a dark red pool on the ground.

"Carlos! Carlos!" Raven desperately tried to move the metal beam with both hands, but her strength couldn't budge it. Her fingers were quickly cut by the rough metal surface, blood mixing with tears dripping on Carlos's pale face.

"Don't..." Carlos weakly opened his eyes, those once-clear eyes now having lost their luster. "Don't cry..."

His voice was light, each word requiring all his strength. Blood continuously flowed from his mouth, staining his chin and neck.

"I'll find a way to get you out right now!" Raven wept, continuing futilely trying to move the metal beam. "Hold on! We'll leave here together!"

"Too late..." Carlos struggled to raise his hand, that small hand trembling severely. "Raven... could you help me... with one favor?"

"Anything! Tell me!" Raven gripped his hand—it had already grown cold.

Carlos used his last strength to slowly pull down the scarf from his neck. This action was extremely difficult for him now—every tiny movement pulled at his wounds, making him furrow his brow in pain. But he persisted, bit by bit removing the scarf from his neck.

The scarf was covered in bloodstains, dyeing the original gray into dark red.

"This... for you..." He handed the scarf to Raven, hand shaking so much he could barely hold it. "This is... the only thing Mom left me..."

"I don't want it!" Raven shook her head. "This is what your mother left you! You should keep it yourself!"

"Mom said before she died..." Carlos's voice grew weaker, long pauses between each word. "This scarf... would protect... the most important person..." He coughed once, blood splattering on the scarf. "You are... my most important friend..."

Raven tremblingly accepted the scarf, still carrying Carlos's body warmth and bloody smell.

Carlos seemed to have used all his strength, but his eyes still tried to stay open, looking at Raven: "Raven... must live... must become strong... but..."

He coughed several more times, more blood surging out. Raven wanted to wipe it away, but Carlos used his last strength to grip her hand.

"But... still be a good person..." his voice was so light it was almost inaudible. "Mom said... good people get good rewards... Raven is a good person..."

Raven nodded, tears constantly falling: "I promise you! I promise you!"

"Also..." Carlos's breathing became faint. "Those uncles... they... they also have children, right..." his voice grew smaller. "If it were my dad... he would also..."

After saying this, Carlos no longer had strength to speak. He just quietly looked at Raven, eyes full of reluctance and tenderness.

"Carlos? Carlos?" Raven gently caressed his cheek. "Don't sleep! You promised to see the outside world with me!"

Carlos tried to respond but could only slightly move his lips. His eyes began losing focus but still tried to look in Raven's direction.

Gradually, his breathing became shallower and slower. Finally, he slowly closed his eyes, face carrying a peaceful expression, as if just quietly fallen asleep.

"Carlos... Carlos..." Raven softly called, but received no more response.

The cavern's collapse sounds gradually subsided, leaving only occasional distant sounds of falling stones. Raven knelt beside Carlos, carefully holding his upper body.

She didn't cry out or wail. She just sat there quietly, gently stroking Carlos's hair, just like when they used to rest together. The blood pool slowly spread at her feet, but she paid no attention.

Time seemed to stop. In this silent cavern, only her faint breathing and occasional sobs. She held Carlos like this, sitting motionless for a very long time.

When she finally stood up, there were no more tears on her face. Her expression had become unusually calm—frightenly calm.

She tore off some relatively clean fabric, carefully cleaning Carlos's bloodstains, then gently covered his face with her jacket. In this cruel world, at least let him leave with dignity.

In the ruins, she dug a grave for Carlos. This was difficult work—her hands were quickly cut by broken stones, but she didn't stop. She used broken Igniscale Stone fragments as markers before the grave.

"I promise you, Carlos." She tied the blood-stained scarf around her neck. "I'll live carrying your kindness."

Leaving the ruins, Raven didn't look back. She knew if she looked back, she'd never want to leave. The setting sun stretched her shadow very long, appearing particularly lonely on the desolate earth.

That naive, kind little girl had died in the ruins with Carlos. What emerged was a completely new Raven—still kind but no longer naive; still gentle but no longer fragile.

She would become stronger, not for revenge, but to ensure no one else would experience her pain today.

The wasteland's evening wind brushed gently past, carrying ancient stellar sighs, softly caressing the scarf around her neck.

That dark red fabric danced in the wind, carrying the departed soul and the living's oath.

Wind touched her face, carrying teardrops to distant places.

On this desolate land, Raven's figure gradually disappeared beyond the horizon.

Five Years Later

In the slums of the Chromatic Prison, people spoke of a mysterious faction—the Heterochromatic Witch Regiment.

That once-feared strange-eyed girl had now become the most formidable existence on the wasteland's edge. Under her command gathered a group of similarly world-abandoned people, each with unknown pasts, each finding new life under her protection.

Raven was no longer that frail girl. At twenty-one, she stood tall as a sword, black cloak rustling in the wasteland wind. The black scarf around her neck never left her side. Her heterochromatic eyes often hid in the hood's shadows.

The faction she established had strict rules: never bully the weak, never betray companions. Anyone daring to harm innocents in her territory would face her judgment.

Wasteland people respectfully called her the "Blood Oath Witch"—because everyone joining her faction had to swear an oath before that once-bloodied scarf.

This evening, Raven walked alone through newly discovered ruins. She'd received reports from subordinates about a spacecraft that had just landed nearby.

Suddenly, metallic clashing sounds came from deep in the ruins.

Raven instantly entered alert mode, silently approaching the sound source. Through broken metal plate gaps, she saw a man's back.

This person's hand was... a mechanical arm?