Meanwhile, Mine was running for a different reason with all her might, her tears falling everywhere.
Suddenly, she collided with Akame at a bend in the corridor.
"Ah... Akame, I—..." Mine tried to speak between her sobs, but suddenly stopped.
Akame's eyes were cold and devoid of any expression, as if she were looking at a stranger. Slowly, she drew Murasame from its sheath, the gleaming blade shining under the faint moonlight.
"Akame? What... what are you doing?!" Mine stepped back, but Akame advanced toward her with deadly calm.
Akame lunged at her with lightning speed, Murasame cutting through the air with deadly silence. Mine jumped back at the last moment, barely avoiding the attack.
"Akame! What's happening?!" she screamed, but Akame did not reply.
Akame lunged again, her fast and deadly strikes forcing Mine to retreat. "Stop! We're comrades!"
But Akame did not listen.
Mine was in a vulnerable position. She had left her Pumpkin Teigu in her room and had no way to face Akame. A small wound would be more than enough to send her to her death.
She dodged quickly and began running fast toward her room. "What's wrong with everyone?"
She quickly turned the corner of the corridor and dashed toward her room. Her trembling hand grabbed the handle and closed it.
Murasame's sword pierced the wooden door easily, its gleaming blade appearing mere centimeters from her face.
"Akame! Stop!" Mine screamed, but her voice sounded weak.
As Akame pulled the sword from the door to attack again, Mine retreated, grabbed her Teigu, and kicked the door hard toward Akame, forcing the latter to retreat for a moment, then Mine dashed toward the window.
...
"Belial! Where are you, you bastard?" Zhang Yong called out, but he received no reply.
As Zhang Yong was running,
at the end of the corridor, Leone suddenly appeared, her sharp claws glistening in the darkness.
Zhang Yong sensed she was not normal either and Her eyes were empty, just like Tatsumi's.
He didn't waste time. His blue eyes flashed with the Black Death Qi. He raised his hand quickly, and a black wave of Qi shot toward her.
Leone jumped aside, but the attack tore apart part of the wall behind her.
Zhang Yong seized the moment and dashed toward the back door. But before he could reach it, the door suddenly opened, revealing Susanoo with his mace.
"Zhang Yong," Susanoo said in his deep voice, his eyes reflecting no sympathy.
"Susanoo... even you?" Zhang Yong whispered, blood flowing from his mouth.
"Najenda's orders were clear," Susanoo raised his mace. "You must die."
Zhang Yong had no choice but to fight. Susanoo stood between him and the back door, Leone was preparing to pounce from behind, Tatsumi was coming, and there was Ran outside.
"You bastards... what has gotten into all of you?!" Zhang Yong roared, his eyes burning with anger and pain.
But Susanoo did not reply. Instead, he charged at him with his spiked mace. The strike was fast and deadly.
Void Path - Earth Fold
Zhang Yong vanished from his spot at the last moment, appearing directly behind Susanoo. But his body was bleeding profusely, and his strength was waning.
He quickly slashed Susanoo's body, but at that moment, an iron fist struck him, sending him into the wall.
It was Najenda, who had launched her mechanical arm toward Zhang Yong.
Zhang Yong lay sprawled across the hole in the wall. "So... even the boss," he whispered hoarsely, trying to get up.
Najenda did not reply. Her eyes were cold and devoid of any expression, as if she were a machine programmed to kill.
She raised her arm again, preparing to launch another strike.
Light Path - Holy Bow
At the last moment, a bow of light formed in Zhang Yong's hand, and he fired an arrow of light directly at Najenda's arm.
The small explosion pushed her back, giving him a chance to move. He looked through the window.
Void Path - Earth Fold
Zhang Yong vanished from his spot, appearing outside the hideout, but his body was on the verge of collapse. "No... not yet."
At the same time, Zhang Yong looked high into the sky, where Mine had jumped through the window.
Her eyes met Zhang Yong's. A silent look filled with betrayal, pain, and confusion.
Then Zhang Yong looked up to where Akame was; her gaze was similar to the others'.
Zhang Yong's blood was gushing profusely, but he grabbed her arm firmly. "If you want to survive... run," he whispered hoarsely.
Mine wanted to pull her hand away, but his grip was like iron. "You..."
"There's no time!" A sudden explosion from inside the hideout pushed them forward.
The truth was clear now – everyone had turned into enemies.
Swift as lightning, Zhang Yong and Mine disappeared into the surrounding forest.
"Where do we go?!" Mine screamed, her voice choking between her ragged breaths.
"Far... very far."
But suddenly, Zhang Yong stopped abruptly, his eyes widening.
Before him stood a young man with short black hair and green eyes, in a formal suit, walking calmly toward the two with both hands in his pockets.
"Long time no see, Zhang Yong," Arthur said in a calm voice. There was a malicious, demonic smile on his face. Beside him stood Wave and Kurome coldly.
Zhang Yong felt his throat suddenly dry. His blue eyes met the green eyes that shone like emeralds in the darkness.
"Arthur..." he whispered hoarsely, pushing Mine behind him in a protective motion.
He had killed him that day. He was sure he had cut off his head! How was he alive?
Arthur slowly took his hands out of his pockets, his wide smile becoming more visible under the moonlight. "Oh, don't be so dramatic. If you're wondering how I survived, I'll tell you if we meet again."
Arthur smiled coldly, his green eyes shining with a strange light in the darkness. "But it seems that won't happen."
He slowly raised his hand, as if preparing to give a signal. At that moment, dozens of shadows appeared from among the trees – Imperial Soldiers, Elite Units, and even the remaining three members of Wild Hunt, Syura, Izou, and Dorothea.
Zhang Yong grabbed Mine by her arm. Purple wings grew on his back, and he flew away, carrying her with him.
His body was bleeding profusely, black blood dripping like rain onto the trees below. Mine, still in shock, stared with wide eyes full of fear and confusion.
"Zhang Yong... you're bleeding so much!" she screamed, but her voice sounded weak amid the howling wind.
"Really? I hadn't noticed..." Zhang Yong whispered hoarsely, his blue eyes burning with iron will. "We need to get away first."
Despite activating the Sacred Wood Art method, the healing speed was not the same while he was focusing on two things at once.
But suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the night, followed by the sound of something piercing.
Ran's feather, which shot like an arrow, pierced Zhang Yong's purple wing, causing him to suddenly lose his balance.
Zhang Yong and Mine fell from the sky like a broken-winged bird, the tangled trees below them like open jaws welcoming their prey.
"Zhang Yong!" Mine screamed, trying to grab him, but his body was bleeding profusely, and the wind whistled in her ears.
At the last moment, Zhang Yong twisted his body in the air to shield her from the impact. His back hit a thick branch before they both crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Ah—!" A muffled groan escaped his mouth, but he got up immediately. "We have to leave."
"You can't move, you're injured," Mine whispered, her voice nearly choked.
Zhang Yong coughed and stifled it with his hand. When he looked at his palm, it was covered in blood.
"Perhaps one last attempt."
He raised his trembling hand in front of him and used his mental energy to draw a talisman.
Talisman Path - Talisman Fusion
Talisman Art - Spiritual Travel Talisman + Wind Talisman
The fused talisman exploded with power, turning the air around them into a vortex of green light and violent winds.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Yong and Mine vanished from their spot, leaving behind only bloodstains on the fallen leaves and transforming into a green light crossing the sky.
...
Several kilometers away from the previous location, on the outskirts of the capital.
The two suddenly appeared in a mountainous forest area. There were no dangerous beasts in the area, and it was relatively safe.
After the green light disappeared, Zhang Yong fell to his knees, his breath ragged and his body trembling from blood loss.
"Zhang Yong!" Mine knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she tried to stop the bleeding. "Don't die now!"
Zhang Yong raised his head with difficulty, his pale blue eyes staring at the old temple at the top of the stone steps, and pointed. "There... Gensei..." he whispered weakly.
Without a second thought, she lifted his body and climbed the long stone steps leading to the mountain temple.
"Zhang Yong... keep your eyes open! You still have a lot to explain," she whispered urgently, but he had already lost consciousness, his breathing shallow and irregular.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she found herself before the old wooden gates of the temple.
Knock, knock, knock
Mine pounded heavily on the gate, the sound of her hands echoing in the night. Suddenly, the gate opened slowly, and an old man appeared.
He was wearing samurai attire. He was bald, but his hair was long and gray at the back of his head. He had a small mustache and a long beard. He had a noticeable scar above his right eye, along with long eyebrows.
The old man looked at her, then at Zhang Yong's bloody body, and did not seem surprised. "Ah... the troublesome boy finally returns," he said in a hoarse voice, then gestured for her to enter. "Bring him in, before he dies on my doorstep."
Mine hurried inside, following the old man across the temple courtyard adorned with ancient cherry trees, until they reached a small room inside, where a hearth fire burned quietly.
She carefully laid him on the straw mat spread on the floor, while the old man, Gensei, opened an old wooden cabinet and took out rolls of dried herbs and small bottles of ointments.
"Tear off his clothes," Jinxi said in a commanding tone, without looking up from preparing the medicines.
Mine did not hesitate for a moment. She grabbed the edge of Zhang Yong's torn shirt and pulled it hard. He was still bleeding profusely from the fatal stab wound in his chest.
Jinxi approached with slow but confident steps and placed his wrinkled hand over Zhang Yong's wounds. "This is not just a wound. He's been poisoned."
Jinxi took a dark green herb, rubbed it between his palms until it turned into a paste, then applied it directly to the wounds. "The important thing is that this poison was specifically crafted to kill someone with his abilities. If you had been delayed a few more minutes, he would have turned into a corpse. Looking at his condition, he was stopping the poison from spreading to buy himself time... foolish , even though all what i did is stoping the bleeding though"
Mine felt her heart tighten. She looked at Zhang Yong, whose pale face was covered with a layer of cold sweat. His breathing was so weak she barely noticed it.
Gensei tightened the bandages wrapped around Zhang Yong's body, then took a small bottle from a shelf above him. "I'll give him some painkillers, but only he knows how to heal himself."
He dripped a few drops into Zhang Yong's mouth, then carefully closed the bottle. "Now, go and rest. I will stay here to watch over him."
But Mine stubbornly shook her head. "No... I'll stay."
Gensei raised his long eyebrows, his sharp eyes meeting Mine's determination. After a moment of silence, he sighed and shook his head. "As you wish. It's not like I could stop you anyway."
He pulled an old wooden chair and sat beside Zhang Yong, while Mine remained kneeling on the other side, her eyes never leaving his pale face.
The hours passed slowly. Outside the room, dawn began to appear on the horizon, coloring the sky in a pale peach hue.
With the first rays of the sun, Zhang Yong suddenly woke up, his blue eyes opening wide as his body arched in pain.
"Ah—!" A muffled groan escaped his lips, his hands clutching the mat beneath him.
"Finally." Jinxi's calm voice came from the corner of the room. The old man was sitting in a meditative pose, his eyes half-closed. "I thought you would need at least another day."
Zhang Yong tried to sit up, but his trembling hand could not bear his weight. He fell onto his back again, his breath ragged.
The sound of the impact woke Mine, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion. Her eyes widened upon seeing him awake. "Zhang Yong! You're alive!"
"I wasn't going to die in the first place," Zhang Yong smiled weakly. "At least, not before I kill the enemy."
"Kill the enemy?" Gensei laughed hoarsely, his narrowed eyes burning with a spark of challenge. "You can barely kill a fly in your current state."
Zhang Yong tried to smile, but the pain made him bite his lower lip. "I've been in worse situations, believe me."
Mine looked between the two men in confusion. There was a history between them, but she knew nothing about it.
Gensei rose from his place with an ease astonishing for someone his age. "Well, since you've regained consciousness, I'll leave you to rest."
After Gensei left the room, a heavy silence fell between Zhang Yong and Mine. The faint dawn light seeped through the paper window, drawing golden lines on the wooden floor.
Mine was the first to break the silence. "Is... what was written in the journal true?"
Zhang Yong looked away and sighed. "Yes, it's completely true."
Mine felt as if the ground were moving beneath her feet. "So... you... actually a traitor?"
Zhang Yong nodded. "If you were talking about working as a double agent , then no , but about being one of you.... that's not truly wrong... but not everything can be controlled. There are some things, even if you want to change them, they are impossible."
"Impossible?" Mine whispered, her eyes glistening with tears. "So we are nothing more than puppets?"
Zhang Yong closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them. His blue eyes, though pale, were steady. "No. You are wrong."
"How can I be wrong?!" Mine screamed, her voice rising with each word. "Bulat, Sheele, and even Chelsea, if you had cared for them even a little, you would have tried..."
"Yes, I did care," Zhang Yong cut her off with his hoarse voice. "I cared more than I want to admit."
Zhang Yong took a deep breath and then said, "Look, I can't explain, and this isn't the right time. The night raid are being controlled. I know I have betrayed you all, and you especially, but just this once, trust me. When all this is over, I will explain everything. I promise."
After a moment of heavy silence, Mine looked at Zhang Yong. Her thoughts were conflicting, her tears had dried, but the pain in her eyes was clear.
"How can I trust you after all this?" she whispered in a broken voice.
Zhang Yong did not reply immediately. His blue eyes stared at the wooden ceiling of the temple, as if searching for an answer among the beams.
"Then... don't trust me. But give me a chance to change everything. I wanted the ending to be peaceful, because it should never have happened. But... without a fight, this will never end," he said finally, his voice faint but firm.
The room fell silent again, only the sound of Zhang Yong's heavy breathing and the roar of the wind outside the window filling the void.
"Mine..." Zhang Yong began, but she cut him off.
"No." She shook her head, her eyes shining desperately. "No words can fix what you did. But..." She stopped, then took a deep breath. "I'll give you a chance. Not because I trust you, but because I have no other choice."
Zhang Yong smiled bitterly. "That's all I ask."
...
In the Empire, in the meeting room, Arthur sat on his chair holding a chess piece. Beside him, the Prime Minister paced across the room with impatient, restless steps.
"What's the matter, Minister? So nervous?" Arthur laughed lightly, staring at him.
Honest stopped suddenly in the middle of the room, his narrowed eyes burning with anger. "You wonder why I'm nervous?" His voice was calm but carried a hidden threat. "You've let that monster slip through your fingers several times."
Arthur placed the chess piece on the board slowly, then looked at Honest with a cold smile. "Oh, but you are wrong, my dear friend. I didn't let him escape... I allowed him to flee. He will return sooner or later. He has a strong interest in his comrades, and all of them are in my grip, under my control. With their abilities, do you think they are incapable of eliminating him?"
Honest stopped pacing, his thick eyebrows raising in doubt. "And what do you mean by this nonsense?"
Arthur closed his eyes, as if enjoying a private joke. "Because it's too easy... but despair? To see everyone you love become your enemies? To know that all your attempts to save them lead them to their doom?" He opened his eyes, the green sparks in them almost burning. "Winning sometimes depends on destroying the opponent's fighting spirit. The feeling of killing those you care about with your own hand... it will be entertaining , that's also the same way i dealt with Reinhard"