The night air crackled with tension as I faced the assassins, my sword gripped tightly in my hand. The faint glow of moonlight filtered through the surrounding buildings, illuminating their cold, calculating gazes. Their movements were swift and precise, a testament to their training. But I wasn’t going to back down—not tonight.

  As one of them lunged toward me, I raised my free hand and muttered an incantation under my breath. “Flame Burst!” A wave of searing fire erupted from my palm, enveloping the attacker in an instant. He cried out as the flames consumed his cloak, forcing him to retreat.

  The others didn’t falter. They came at me from all sides, their blades gleaming in the dim light. I shifted my stance, drawing on the power of water magic this time. “Aqua Barrier!” A translucent wall of water rose around me, absorbing the impact of their coordinated strikes.

  The barrier gave me a moment to breathe, but I knew it wouldn’t hold for long. I focused my energy, directing it downward. “Earth Bind!” The ground beneath the assassins shifted, tendrils of earth shooting up to ensnare their legs. Two of them were caught off guard, stumbling as the earth tightened its grip.

  But these weren’t ordinary opponents. They adapted quickly, one of them slashing through the earthen binds with a dagger that gleamed ominously in the moonlight. I barely had time to dodge as another assassin hurled a throwing knife at me, the blade grazing my shoulder.

  The pain was sharp, but I couldn’t let it slow me down. I countered with a burst of wind magic, sending a gust powerful enough to knock them back. “Wind Cutter!” I shouted, unleashing sharp blades of air that sliced through their formation.

  For a moment, it seemed like I had the upper hand. But then, I felt it—a surge of dark energy emanating from Seijo, who stood at the back, watching the fight with an unsettling calm. His amber eyes locked onto mine, and he raised a hand, summoning a shadowy force that coiled around him like a living entity.

  “You’re full of surprises,” Seijo said, his voice dripping with contempt. “But let’s see how you handle this.”

  With a wave of his hand, the shadows surged forward, merging with the remaining assassins. Their movements became faster, more aggressive, as if the dark energy had amplified their strength.

  I clenched my jaw, focusing on the darkness within me—the power I rarely used but couldn’t afford to hold back now. “Dark Lance!” A spear of pure shadow formed in my hand, crackling with raw energy. I hurled it at the nearest assassin, the force of the impact sending him flying into a nearby wall.

  The others hesitated for a moment, giving me just enough time to press my advantage. I conjured another spell, this time combining fire and wind. “Inferno Gale!” The resulting explosion of flames and gusting winds engulfed the area, forcing the assassins to scatter.

  But even as I fought, I could feel the strain on my body. My mana was depleting, and every movement felt heavier than the last. The assassins, relentless as ever, regrouped and came at me again.

  I raised my sword, channeling what little energy I had left into its blade. “Shadow Strike!” I called out, the blade enveloped in dark energy as I slashed through the closest enemy. The impact sent a shockwave through the alley, but it wasn’t enough to take them all down.

  Seijo smirked, his confidence unshaken. “You’re resourceful, I’ll give you that. But this is where it ends.”

  He raised both hands, summoning a massive wave of shadowy energy that loomed over me like a tidal wave. I braced myself, gripping my sword tightly and preparing for the onslaught.

  The fight wasn’t over—not by a long shot. If I was going to survive, I’d have to push beyond my limits and find a way to outsmart these foes.

  I wasn’t just fighting for myself. I was fighting for the innocent lives they threatened, for the truth I sought to uncover, and for the chance to put an end to this corruption once and for all.

  As the shadows closed in, I steeled myself, ready to face whatever came next. The battle raged on.

  The assassins were relentless. Every strike I made seemed to meet an equally swift counterattack. My muscles burned, my breaths came in heavy gasps, and sweat dripped down my brow, but I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not when I was so close.

  One of the assassins lunged at me with twin daggers, his movements precise and lethal. I sidestepped his attack and retaliated with a sweeping arc of my blade. “Flame Slash!” Fire erupted along the edge of my sword, slicing through the air and forcing him back.

  Another assassin tried to flank me, his blade aimed at my back. I felt his presence just in time and spun around, releasing a burst of wind magic. “Gale Blast!” The force knocked him off balance, giving me the opening I needed to strike.

  But they just kept coming. For every assassin I incapacitated, another seemed to take his place. Their dark energy, bolstered by Seijo’s influence, made them faster, stronger, and more ruthless.

  From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Seijo standing at the edge of the battlefield, his amber eyes fixed on me with an unsettling calm. He didn’t move a muscle, as if he was testing me, waiting for me to tire myself out.

  “You’re wasting your energy,” he said, his voice cutting through the chaos. “These assassins are expendable. No matter how many you defeat, it won’t change anything.”

  His words fueled my anger, but I forced myself to stay focused. I couldn’t let his taunts distract me. Instead, I channeled my frustration into my attacks.

  “Earth Spikes!” I shouted, slamming my palm against the ground. Jagged spikes of stone erupted from the earth, impaling two of the assassins and creating a barrier between me and the rest.

  Another assassin leaped over the barrier, his sword raised high. I met him mid-air, our blades clashing with a deafening clang. Sparks flew as we exchanged blows, each strike faster and more desperate than the last. Finally, I saw an opening and drove my knee into his stomach, sending him crashing to the ground.

  I didn’t have time to rest. The remaining assassins surrounded me, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. I took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of my remaining strength.

  “Dark Nova!” I roared, unleashing a surge of dark energy that radiated outwards in a devastating wave. The assassins were thrown back, their bodies slamming into walls and collapsing to the ground.

  Silence fell over the battlefield. My vision blurred for a moment, the toll of the fight weighing heavily on me. But when I looked around, I saw that all the assassins were down. Their bodies lay motionless, the dark energy that once fueled them now dissipating into the night.

  I straightened up, my breathing ragged, and turned my gaze toward Seijo. He hadn’t moved from his spot, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever.

  “You’ve got guts, kid,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “But this is where it ends.”

  I tightened my grip on my sword, my resolve unshaken. “No,” I said firmly. “This is where it begins.”

  Pointing my blade at him, I took a step forward. “Seijo Kitaga,” I said, my voice steady despite the exhaustion in my body. “I challenge you. No more hiding behind others. Face me yourself!”

  For a moment, Seijo didn’t respond. Then, he let out a low chuckle, his amber eyes glinting with amusement. “Very well,” he said, stepping forward at last. “Let’s see what you’re really made of.”

  The night air grew colder as he advanced, his presence radiating power. This was it—the moment I’d been preparing for. I readied myself, knowing that the battle against Seijo would be the toughest fight yet. The tension in the air was suffocating as Seijo and I stood face to face, the aftermath of the assassins’ defeat still lingering in the shadows. Seijo’s amber eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight, his aura exuding both authority and a dangerous calm.

  Without a word, he moved first, his hands weaving intricate patterns. “Inferno Surge!” he bellowed, and a roaring wall of flames rushed toward me, the heat searing the air around us.

  I acted quickly, countering with my own spell. “Aqua Barrier!” A dome of swirling water formed around me, extinguishing the flames in a hiss of steam. The resulting mist shrouded the battlefield, but I didn’t need my eyes to sense Seijo’s next move.

  From the mist, he lunged at me with his sword, the blade crackling with electric energy. I blocked just in time, sparks flying as our weapons collided. “You’re skilled,” he said, his voice calm but edged with challenge. “But skill alone won’t save you.”

  I pushed him back, swinging my sword in a wide arc. “Let’s find out,” I retorted, my focus sharpening.

  “Gale Slash!” he shouted, sending a slicing wind toward me. The force of it tore through the ground, heading straight for me.

  “Stone Wall!” I yelled, slamming my hand into the ground. A massive wall of earth erupted in front of me, absorbing the brunt of his attack. But Seijo wasn’t done. He appeared above me, his sword descending in a deadly arc.

  I dodged to the side just in time, countering with a spell of my own. “Shadow Bind!” Dark tendrils erupted from the ground, aiming to entangle him.

  He smirked, effortlessly dodging the tendrils. “Not bad,” he said, landing gracefully. “But you’ll have to do better than that.”

  Before I could respond, he thrust his hand forward. “Lightning Spear!” A bolt of lightning shot toward me, its speed almost too fast to track.

  I barely managed to evade, the bolt grazing my shoulder and sending a jolt of pain through my body. Gritting my teeth, I retaliated. “Firestorm!” A vortex of flames erupted around me, surging toward him with destructive force.

  He met it head-on with his own spell. “Tsunami Crash!” A massive wave of water surged forward, colliding with my flames in an explosion of steam and energy.

  The force of the clash sent both of us skidding back. My muscles ached, and my breaths came in ragged gasps, but I refused to back down.

  Our swords met again, the ringing clash echoing through the night. We exchanged blows in a flurry of strikes and parries, each of us testing the other’s strength and skill. Seijo’s movements were precise, his attacks relentless, but I could see openings—small cracks in his seemingly impenetrable defense.

  I feigned a strike to his left, then quickly pivoted to his right, aiming for his unguarded side. He blocked just in time, his eyes narrowing. “Impressive,” he said, his tone grudgingly respectful. “You’re better than I expected.”

  “Thanks,” I replied, tightening my grip on my sword. “But I’m just getting started.”

  Summoning my dark energy, I infused my blade with shadows. “Night Fang!” I roared, slashing toward him with all my strength. The dark energy surged forward, forcing him to leap back to avoid the attack.

  Seijo countered immediately, his sword glowing with a fiery aura. “Blazing Slash!” His strike sent a wave of flames hurtling toward me.

  “Wind Shield!” I countered, the barrier of wind deflecting the flames. But the force of the attack sent me staggering, leaving me vulnerable.

  Seijo seized the opportunity, closing the distance between us in an instant. His blade clashed against mine, the sheer force of his strike nearly knocking me off balance. “You’ve got spirit,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “But this is where your fight ends.”

  “Not yet!” I shouted, summoning every ounce of my strength. Pushing back against his blade, I unleashed a surge of energy, forcing him to retreat.

  The battlefield was in chaos, the ground scorched and torn from the intensity of our magic and swordplay. My body screamed in protest, but I refused to give in.

  This fight wasn’t just about me—it was about protecting the innocent, uncovering the truth, and holding people like Seijo accountable.

  As we squared off once more, I tightened my grip on my sword, determination burning in my chest. “This isn’t over,” I said, my voice steady despite the exhaustion.

  Seijo smirked, his amber eyes glinting with anticipation. “Good,” he said. “Show me what you’re really made of.”

  The clash between Seijo and I continued unabated, neither of us willing to relent. The ground beneath our feet cracked with the power of our spells and sword strikes. My body was drenched in sweat, each movement heavier than the last. Every breath I took was ragged, yet I could feel the burning need to finish this fight, to defeat him and bring an end to the corrupt forces threatening this kingdom.

  Seijo, his expression a mixture of focus and annoyance, readied his sword once more. “You’re persistent,” he growled, the edges of his voice tinged with frustration. “But persistence alone won’t save you.”

  I could barely keep my stance steady, but I wasn’t about to back down. “I’ve come too far to stop now.”

  Seijo narrowed his eyes, lifting his sword as if to make the final blow. “You talk too much,” he muttered, charging at me with terrifying speed. A surge of flames erupted from his sword, creating a sweeping arc of fire that tore through the air.

  I barely had time to react, but I quickly conjured a wind barrier, the gusts of air pushing the flames away just enough to prevent me from being burned alive. But I wasn’t fast enough to fully dodge—his sword grazed my side, searing through my clothes and leaving a painful burn in its wake.

  I stumbled back, my vision briefly swimming from the pain. But I gritted my teeth and pushed through it. “I’m not done yet,” I hissed, my voice strained but determined.

  He smirked, clearly expecting me to falter. “You should have stayed out of this.”

  I could feel the weight of the fight bearing down on me, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. Gritting my teeth, I pushed my hand forward, drawing on all the magic within me, focusing it into one powerful strike.

  “Dark Judgment!” I shouted, unleashing a massive wave of shadowy energy toward him. The ground trembled as the dark magic surged forward, blotting out the moonlight. Seijo didn’t hesitate; he swung his sword, sending a shockwave of fire to intercept the magic. The collision was deafening, the shockwave of energy sending both of us flying backward.

  I landed hard on the ground but forced myself to stand. Pain flared in my muscles, but I had one final trick up my sleeve. I could feel the power building in my chest, the darkness within me bubbling to the surface, ready to consume everything in its path.

  Seijo, though breathing heavily, didn’t seem like he was about to give up. He raised his sword high, summoning his remaining magic. “This ends now!” he yelled, his sword burning bright with the intensity of a thousand suns.

  I knew this was the moment. I couldn’t afford to let him win. I summoned every ounce of power I had left and surged forward, my sword glowing with dark energy, my magic enhancing every step. “This is the end, Seijo!”

  In a flash, I was upon him, and before he could react, I slashed my sword through the air, the dark energy following in the wake of my blade. Seijo’s eyes widened in realization as the magic collided with his defenses, shattering them. His own magic was no match for my resolve.

  The blade of my sword cut through him with the sound of tearing fabric. His body was cleaved in half, the blood spilling across the ground in torrents. His shocked expression lingered for a moment, as if disbelief had set in, before his body crumpled to the earth.

  I stood there, breathing heavily, the weight of the battle sinking in. The adrenaline started to fade, and with it, the exhaustion that had been building throughout the fight. I dropped to one knee, my sword held tightly in my hand as I watched the remains of Seijo Kitaga. He was gone.

  The battlefield fell eerily silent. Only the sounds of my labored breathing and the occasional distant rustle of the wind could be heard. Seijo, the man who had caused so much pain, was finally defeated.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  But even as I stood victorious, the grim reality settled in. This battle was only one piece of the larger puzzle. I couldn’t afford to lose sight of the bigger picture. There were still forces at work, still corrupt individuals behind the scenes, and I needed to keep moving forward.

  I took a deep breath, looking at Seijo’s lifeless body, and muttered, “This is just the beginning.”

  The fight was over, but the war for justice had only just begun.

  I stood over the wounded girl, my heart pounding as I channeled my magic. My fingers glowed with a faint, healing light, the energy flowing from me to her as I worked to mend the damage caused by the assassins. I focused on her injuries, my mind sharp and determined to help her.

  As my magic took effect, the bruises and cuts on her body began to fade. Her breathing steadied, and the tension in her face softened. I could feel the warmth of the healing magic knitting her wounds together, but even as I did, my gaze drifted over her.

  She was different now.

  Her midnight blue hair framed her face like a silken curtain, the color rich and deep, almost as if it absorbed the very light around her. Her sharp features, once youthful, now appeared more mature, giving her a noble, dignified air. The lines of her face had matured, the angles softening into a more refined elegance.

  But it wasn’t just her face that had changed. Her body had grown too. She was no longer the young girl I had once saved from danger—she had become a woman, her body now carrying a grown-up grace. Her chest, fuller and more pronounced than before, caught my eye for a moment, and I quickly looked away, my cheeks flushing slightly. I had to focus. This was no time to lose composure.

  She opened her amber eyes, gazing at me with a quiet strength. Her eyes gleamed with an intensity I hadn’t noticed before, like they were filled with stories untold. She sat up slowly, her movements graceful, but I could see that she still had some residual pain from the fight.

  “You’re… Amahiko, aren’t you?” Her voice was smooth, a quiet strength radiating from her tone.

  I nodded, still concentrating on healing her injuries. “Yeah. I’m the one who saved you back then.”

  Her lips curled into a faint smile as she watched me. “I should’ve known,” she said softly. “You always did seem like you had a certain... presence.”

  When I finally finished healing her, I let my magic dissipate, stepping back. She stood up carefully, testing her strength, and seemed pleased when she found that she was able to stand without issue.

  “My name is Angelica,” she said, her voice now carrying an air of quiet nobility. “I’m no longer a knight, but I was once part of the Knight Order.”

  I blinked, surprised by her revelation. She had been a knight? The air around her had always seemed to carry the grace of someone well-trained in combat, but hearing it confirmed made me wonder just how much she had experienced.

  “Former knight, huh?” I said with a small, curious smile. “I guess that explains why you’re not just any ordinary girl.”

  She chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with a faint, bittersweet joy. “It’s not something I often talk about, but it’s who I was.”

  We exchanged a few more words, but as I was about to ask her more about her past, the sound of screaming broke through the stillness of the night. I froze, my senses heightened as the blood-curdling cries echoed through the air.

  Without a word, Angelica’s expression hardened. Her eyes, now sharp and focused, flicked toward the source of the scream.

  “We should move,” she said, her voice taking on a new, determined tone. “There’s trouble nearby.”

  I nodded quickly, my mind racing as I readied myself for whatever lay ahead. Whatever had happened—whether it was another attack or something else entirely—we had to act fast.

  And so, as the chilling sounds of fear continued to echo through the night, we both set off toward the danger, prepared for whatever was coming next.

  Angelica and I crept silently through the darkened streets, the night air thick with tension. The sound of our footsteps barely made a sound as we moved toward the abandoned building. The chill of the night pressed down on us as we neared the structure, its dilapidated form looming like a tombstone against the dark sky. There was an ominous aura surrounding the place, and every instinct I had screamed that something sinister was unfolding within.

  I held my breath as we approached a small window at the side of the building, cracked and covered with grime. Angelica nodded at me, and I silently hoisted her up. She skillfully slid through the window, her movements fluid and graceful. Then, I followed, slipping into the dark interior.

  The air inside the building was thick with the smell of decay and something metallic, something too familiar for my taste. As we moved cautiously through the darkened hallway, we came across a disturbing sight.

  There were bodies. The kind of bodies that had been stripped of their clothes, hung by their necks in grotesque displays of death. Blood, dried and dark, stained the floor and walls in a disturbing pattern. And there were more. Dozens of them, all lifeless and discarded.

  But what struck me even more than the gruesome display was the unmistakable presence of two people I hadn’t expected to see.

  Sayo.

  Lucaus.

  They were both lying unconscious on a stone altar, their bodies sprawled out and unmoving. My heart sank. I rushed to them, a surge of panic threatening to overtake my senses. But before I could reach them, a chilling voice interrupted the silence.

  “Well, well... what do we have here?”

  I froze.

  There, standing at the center of the room, were Koharu and her mother, Hikari. The two women seemed to be overseeing the grotesque work before them, as though it was something they did every day without a second thought. Their cold, calculating expressions were a sharp contrast to the horrors surrounding us.

  I barely had time to process what was happening before I noticed the most horrifying transformation occurring before my eyes.

  The bodies hanging from the walls—both men and women—started to convulse. Their skin began to stretch and twist unnaturally, muscles bulging in ways that should have been impossible. Their faces twisted into grotesque, monstrous shapes. The bodies that were once human were turning into something else—something monstrous.

  Chimeras.

  I felt a cold surge of fury run through me. I couldn’t—no, I wouldn’t—let this continue.

  With a swift motion, I bent down and lifted Sayo from the altar, my heart pounding in my chest. I carried her in my arms, holding her protectively as I moved toward the front gate of the building. Her body felt light in my arms, but the weight of the situation pressed down on me like a ton of bricks.

  I moved quickly, my assassin skills coming into play as I maneuvered through the building. I could hear Angelica’s footsteps behind me, staying close to guard my back. But my focus was entirely on one thing—getting Sayo out of here.

  Finally, I reached the front gate. Standing in front of it, I paused, turning to face the two women who had caused this nightmare. Koharu and Hikari stood there, watching me with an unsettling calmness, as if what I had done was nothing more than an inconvenience.

  I could feel my pulse pounding in my ears as I set Sayo down gently, propping her against the gate. My eyes locked onto Koharu and Hikari’s cold, emotionless stares.

  “What... are you doing?” I demanded, my voice a low growl.

  There was a brief silence. Then, Koharu’s lips curled into a faint, emotionless smile. Hikari simply stood beside her, her eyes narrowed as if assessing me like a mere insect.

  “You’re too late,” Koharu said softly, her voice barely a whisper. “This is our world now. One without weakness. One where we decide who lives and who dies.”

  I could feel my anger rising like a storm inside me, but I bit it back. I would not let them provoke me. I had a mission. To save Sayo. And to stop whatever sick plans they had in mind.

  In the eerie silence that followed, I could see the faint outlines of the chimeras, still writhing and twisting on the walls, their bodies slowly gaining monstrous form.

  But I wasn’t about to let them get away with it. Not now. Not ever.

  I took a step forward, ready to fight.

  And then, with a calm and deadly voice, I asked again, “What are you doing, Koharu? Lady Hikari?”

  And I would make them answer.

  I stood firm, my hand gripping the hilt of my sword as my gaze locked onto Koharu and Hikari. The faint sounds of the chimeras’ movements echoed around us, but my focus was entirely on the two women before me. My voice, steady but filled with restrained anger, broke the heavy silence.

  “Why have you done this to them?”

  For a moment, neither of them answered. Koharu tilted her head slightly, her silvery-white hair shimmering under the dim light of the room. Her pale violet eyes held no remorse, only cold calculation. Then, her lips curved into a twisted smile.

  “Why, you ask?” she said, her voice mockingly soft. “Because people like her disgust me.”

  My grip on my sword tightened. “What do you mean?”

  Koharu stepped forward, her expression shifting to one of disdain as she glared at Sayo’s unconscious form lying against the gate.

  “Look at her,” Koharu sneered. “That creepy black hair of hers... it’s unnatural. It’s disgusting. Every time I saw her, I felt repulsed. Black hair is cursed, don’t you know? It’s the mark of something impure, something filthy. How could someone like her even dare to stand in the same world as me?”

  Her words were venomous, each one laced with hatred. I could feel the rage boiling inside me, but I forced myself to stay silent and listen.

  “And her body,” Koharu continued, her voice dripping with jealousy. “She had no right to have that... that grown-up body of hers. As if she was flaunting it to everyone around her, drawing attention. People admired her, praised her, while ignoring someone like me. That arrogance of hers—”

  “Arrogance?” I interrupted, my voice sharp as a blade. “What arrogance? Sayo was kind, selfless. She had no arrogance in her.”

  “That’s exactly the problem!” Koharu snapped, her voice rising. “Someone like her, pretending to be all kind and perfect, made me sick! How dare she act so innocent, so pure, while looking like that? She was nothing but a reminder of how flawed and disgusting people can be!”

  I stared at her, my chest tightening with every word she spoke. This wasn’t just hatred; it was envy, bitterness, and insecurity twisted into something far more dangerous.

  “You’re doing this because of your own jealousy,” I said, my voice low but firm. “Because you couldn’t stand the fact that Sayo was loved for who she was.”

  Koharu’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, she said nothing. Then, she laughed—a cold, hollow sound that sent a chill down my spine.

  “Jealousy?” she repeated, her tone mocking. “You think this is about jealousy? You’re more foolish than I thought, Amahiko. This is about purging the weak, the flawed, the unwanted. People like Sayo have no place in a world of perfection. And neither do you.”

  I felt the heat of anger rise within me, but I kept my emotions in check. I couldn’t let her words distract me.

  “And what about Lucaus?” I asked, my voice steady. “What did he ever do to you?”

  “Lucaus?” Koharu shrugged, her expression indifferent. “He was nothing more than collateral damage. A tool that outlived its usefulness.”

  I clenched my teeth, my knuckles turning white around the hilt of my sword. The cold cruelty in her words was almost too much to bear.

  “You think you can decide who’s worthy of life and who isn’t?” I said, my voice growing louder. “You have no right to play god, Koharu. None of you do.”

  Koharu smirked, unfazed by my words. “And what are you going to do about it, Amahiko? Save the day? Be the hero?”

  Her taunts only fueled my determination. I took a step forward, my eyes never leaving hers.

  “I’m not a hero,” I said, my voice firm. “But I’ll stop you. No matter what it takes.”

  Behind her, Hikari remained silent, her hazel eyes observing me with an unsettling calmness. But I could see it—a flicker of unease, of doubt, hidden beneath her composed exterior.

  The tension in the room was thick, the air charged with unspoken threats. I knew that this was only the beginning. Koharu and her mother had crossed a line, and I wouldn’t rest until I made them answer for it.

  For Sayo. For Lucaus.

  For everyone they had wronged.

  I tightened my grip on my sword as I stood at the threshold, facing Koharu and her mother, Hikari. The room was eerily silent, save for the faint growls of the chimeras lingering in the shadows. My words broke the tension, sharp and cutting.

  “I killed him,” I said, my voice steady and cold. “Your father, Seijo Kitaga. He’s dead by my hand.”

  For a moment, Koharu’s expression froze, her pale violet eyes widening in shock. The stillness didn’t last long. Her face contorted with fury, her hands trembling at her sides.

  “You…!” she hissed, her voice shaking with rage. “You killed my father?! How dare you!”

  Her voice echoed through the chamber, and the chimeras stirred, their glowing, monstrous eyes fixed on me. Koharu pointed a trembling finger in my direction, her fury boiling over.

  “Kill him!” she screamed. “Rip him apart!”

  The chimeras surged forward, their grotesque forms snarling and snapping as they charged. Their twisted bodies, a horrifying fusion of human and beast, moved with unnatural speed and strength.

  I raised my hand, summoning a torrent of fire magic that erupted in a blazing wave, crashing into the first wave of chimeras. The creatures howled in pain as the flames engulfed them, their grotesque forms writhing in agony. But more replaced them, undeterred by the destruction.

  “Is this all you’ve got?” I taunted, summoning another spell.

  With a sweep of my arm, I unleashed a storm of wind blades, slicing through the advancing chimeras. Blood and fragments of their monstrous bodies splattered across the room, but they kept coming.

  “You think you can stop me with these abominations?” I shouted, stepping forward to meet the onslaught.

  I cast a water spell, a surge of high-pressure streams slamming into the creatures, knocking several of them back. Their bodies collided with the walls, their grotesque forms crumpling under the force.

  Koharu’s voice rang out over the chaos, her anger unrelenting. “You’ll pay for what you’ve done! I’ll make you suffer, you bastard!”

  “You think I regret it?” I shot back, dodging a chimera’s massive claw and countering with a dark magic spell that tore through its torso. “Your father was a monster, just like you. I’ll take you down the same way.”

  More chimeras poured into the room, their sheer numbers overwhelming. I raised my sword, infusing it with earth magic. The blade glowed with a golden hue as I slammed it into the ground, creating a shockwave that sent several of the creatures sprawling.

  Hikari, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, her voice calm yet chilling. “Enough, Koharu. You’ll destroy everything at this rate.”

  “I don’t care!” Koharu snapped, her rage unbridled. “I want him dead!”

  I glanced at her, noticing the desperation in her eyes. She wasn’t just angry—she was unhinged, consumed by her emotions.

  “Your blind hatred will be your downfall,” I said, casting another spell.

  This time, a pillar of light erupted from the ground, incinerating a cluster of chimeras. The room shook with the force of the explosion, and for a moment, the air was filled with smoke and the stench of burning flesh.

  The surviving chimeras hesitated, their movements faltering as the destruction around them grew. But Koharu’s voice cut through the chaos, urging them on.

  “Don’t stop!” she screamed. “Kill him! Kill him now!”

  I raised my sword again, my eyes locked on Koharu as the creatures swarmed me. Her hatred was palpable, her desire for revenge blinding her to everything else.

  “You’ll regret this, Koharu,” I said, my voice low but resolute. “I’ll put an end to your madness.”

  The fight was far from over, but I wouldn’t back down. For Sayo. For Lucaus. For everyone who had suffered at their hands. I would fight until the end.

  The air felt heavy as I stood amidst the chaos. Blood and torn flesh surrounded me, the remnants of the monstrous chimeras scattered across the room. Yet, the battle wasn’t over. My eyes fell upon the towering beast before me—a chimera that was once my friend, Lucaus.

  His grotesque form was far removed from the young, vibrant warrior I had fought alongside. His muscular body was now twisted and bloated, veins pulsing with dark energy. Yet, as he roared, there was a flicker in his amber eyes—a glimmer of the Lucaus I knew.

  I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing. “Lucaus...” I whispered, my heart heavy with sorrow.

  The chimera lunged at me, its massive claws cutting through the air. I barely dodged, the impact of his attack shaking the ground beneath me.

  “Lucaus, I know you’re still in there!” I shouted, hoping to reach him.

  He didn’t respond, his monstrous form attacking relentlessly. I summoned a torrent of water magic, sending it crashing against him. The force pushed him back, but it wasn’t enough to stop him.

  “I won’t let you suffer like this!” I cried, raising my hand to summon an earth barrier. It rose between us just in time to block his next attack. The barrier cracked under the force, but it gave me a moment to prepare.

  I infused my sword with dark magic, the blade glowing with an ominous light. My grip tightened as I faced him, tears stinging my eyes. “I’ll free you, no matter what.”

  Suddenly, a faint voice echoed in my mind, soft yet resolute.

  “Do it, Amahiko,” it said.

  I froze, my heart skipping a beat. It was Lucaus. His voice was weak but unmistakable.

  “Set me free,” he whispered.

  The chimera’s eyes met mine, and for a brief moment, I saw the pain and desperation in them. He was trapped, his soul bound to this cursed form.

  From behind me, I heard Sayo’s faint whisper, her voice trembling in her unconscious state. “Save him... please, save Lucaus...”

  My resolve hardened. I had to do this, no matter how much it hurt.

  The chimera roared again, charging at me with renewed fury. I dodged and unleashed a powerful wave of water magic, followed by shards of earth that pierced his corrupted flesh. He staggered but didn’t fall.

  “Forgive me, Lucaus,” I muttered, tears streaming down my face as I charged at him with my dark-infused sword.

  Our blades clashed, and I struck with everything I had. The dark energy of my sword cut through his monstrous form, severing the curse that bound him. With one final slash, I pierced his heart.

  The chimera let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing before collapsing to the ground. The dark energy surrounding him dissipated, and his grotesque form began to fade.

  As I knelt beside him, his body returned to that of the Lucaus I had known. His amber eyes met mine, filled with gratitude and peace.

  “Thank you,” he said weakly, his voice barely audible. “You did the right thing, Amahiko.”

  “I’m sorry,” I choked, my tears falling freely. “I couldn’t save you. I failed you.”

  “You didn’t fail me,” he said, a faint smile on his lips. “You freed me. I’m finally at peace.”

  His body began to glow, his soul rising above us.

  “Take care of Sayo,” he said, his voice fading. “And don’t blame yourself.”

  With that, his soul ascended, a radiant light disappearing into the heavens. I watched in silence, my heart heavy with grief but also a strange sense of relief.

  Lucaus was free.

  I knelt beside Lucaus’s lifeless body, my trembling hands resting on his cold form. My tears fell freely, pooling on the ground beneath me. His peaceful expression was a haunting reminder of the friend I had lost.

  “I’m sorry, Lucaus,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I couldn’t protect you. I couldn’t...”

  The weight of my failure bore down on me, each tear carrying the burden of guilt and anger. The scent of blood and decay filled the air, mingling with the sorrow that hung heavy in my chest.

  As I mourned, I caught movement in the corner of my eye. Koharu and Lady Hikari were attempting to flee, their footsteps hurried and desperate. My grief turned to rage, my body shaking with the force of it.

  “You’re not going anywhere!” I roared, standing abruptly. I raised my hand, casting a massive barrier around the abandoned building. The structure glowed with a dark crimson hue as the barrier sealed every exit, trapping them inside.

  Koharu and Hikari froze, their faces pale with fear.

  “Koharu... Lady Hikari,” I said, my voice low and venomous. “You have great knowledge, and it will be useful for me. And...” My lips curled into a bitter, cruel smile, driven by anger. “You have good figures that will entertain me.”

  The words tasted vile, but I didn’t care. My rage demanded retribution, and they were the source of this nightmare.

  Their expressions twisted in shock and horror as they tried to plead. But I was done listening. With a wave of my hand, I cast a binding spell, dark tendrils of energy wrapping around their bodies. Their struggles were futile as the magic forced them into an unconscious state.

  I summoned Shiori, her figure materializing in a swirl of black mist.

  “Take them,” I commanded coldly, my eyes meeting hers.

  She nodded without hesitation, placing her hand on the two bound figures. In a flash of teleportation magic, they disappeared, leaving only me, Angelica, and Sayo in the desolate ruin.

  I turned to Sayo, still unconscious, her body fragile and pale. Gently, I covered her with a black overcoat to shield her from the cold night air. Lifting her into my arms, I felt a pang of sorrow and determination. I would protect her, no matter the cost.

  Angelica approached me, her amber eyes filled with understanding and quiet strength. Without a word, she cast a levitation spell, and together, we rose into the sky, leaving the cursed ground below.

  I hovered above Seijo’s mansion, my heart burning with fury. This was the place where so many horrors were conceived, the source of so much pain. It had to be destroyed.

  Raising my hand, I summoned the power of my darkest magic—Eternal Abyss Flame. The air grew heavy, charged with an ominous energy as a massive black flame engulfed my hand. The fire pulsed with raw, destructive power, its lightless glow consuming everything in its path.

  “Burn,” I commanded, my voice cold and resolute.

  I released the devastating magic, and the black flame shot toward the mansion. The structure was consumed instantly, the fire spreading with an unstoppable ferocity. The walls crumbled, the roof collapsed, and the once-proud mansion was reduced to ash.

  The abandoned building met the same fate, the flames tearing through it like paper. The chimeras, the experiments, and every trace of their twisted deeds were erased in a blazing inferno.

  Angelica and I floated silently above the destruction, the dark fire reflecting in our eyes. I held Sayo close, her unconscious form a reminder of what I still had to protect.

  As we watched the burning ruins, my heart was heavy with sorrow, but a sense of grim justice burned within me.

  “This is only the beginning,” I whispered, my voice carried away by the wind.