"Alright, I will."
"Oh well, another one bites the dust."
"You're the one who'll bite the dust."
"You know, I can sense your power... your soul. I can see it. It has potential—but it's unrefined. An unpolished diamond. What a waste of talent."
He laughed maniacally, like someone who had just escaped a mental hospital. His voice was arrogant—even though he sounded like a child.
After he stopped laughing, he looked at Genzo with murderous intent and swung his scarf, trying to land a hit. But Genzo dodged—easily. They were still far apart.
Genzo noticed blades attached to the tip of the scarf. It was his Melanix, hidden well enough that someone far away wouldn't see it.
'If that scarf hit me, I'd be dead. Hang in there, Rika.'
Arrow kept fighting, still carrying Rika. But as he realized he needed to get closer to Genzo, he gently set her down. The moment he did, he felt something... indescribable. He quickly picked her up again and strapped her to his back using ropes he found nearby.
"Man, this girl's heavy—but light enough for me."
"Put her down."
"You said you were gonna fight, didn't you? Then fight me. Take the girl—if you're man enough."
Something flipped inside Genzo when he heard those words.
'If you're man enough...'
His ego swelled—higher than it had ever been. A strange voice echoed inside him:
'Cut the ropes.'
The words filled him, eerie and familiar. He obeyed.
'I have to cut those ropes tying her to him.'
Though surrounded by others, he couldn't ask for help. It would only put them in danger. But they didn't need to be asked—their children were among the rubble too.
Genzo picked up a knife—likely from the school's canteen nearby.
"Oooh, COME AT ME THEN!"
Arrow screamed.
But Genzo didn't move. His swelling ego made him freeze. He calculated his steps, then charged forward.
Arrow swung the scarf. Genzo dodged and went to strike—but hesitated.
'Tch. I just realized... I can't risk hurting Rika. This is gonna be harder than I thought.'
"What? Scared? Someone wants their mo-mmy?" Arrow mocked, a smug grin on his face.
"Tch."
Genzo dashed again, slashing the knife diagonally, trying to cut Arrow open. But Arrow, skilled and confident, dodged with ease. Though Genzo was trained in martial arts like his father, he couldn't match a seasoned Melanix user.
Then something clicked.
A plan.
Genzo turned and ran—toward the terrified crowd. The people panicked, realizing Arrow was targeting him. In their confusion, Genzo slipped away.
Arrow followed, arrogant and overconfident.
"Huh? Running away? Don't care about your little sister, do you?"
Rika was still unconscious.
Genzo stayed silent. His ego didn't swell this time—it shrank. He had to stay calm. He believed in the plan.
He kept running—toward his mansion. After what felt like hours, he arrived. He paused, breathing heavily, and looked back.
Arrow was still following.
At any moment, Arrow could've caught him—but arrogance held him back. He was playing with his prey.
Genzo entered the mansion. Arrow stopped.
Even he knew something was wrong. No one runs into a closed space when being hunted—unless it's a trap.
"Hey... this... is this a trap?"
Genzo froze. Every hair on his body stood up. But he quickly composed himself and sprinted deeper inside.
"YOU THINK I'M STUPID? OH-OH-OH, YOU'RE GONNA PAY!"
Arrow hurled his scarf. The blades slashed Genzo's leg—blood poured like a river.
Arrow detached the blades and gripped them. He walked forward, arms stretched wide. Genzo, bleeding, fell.
"ALFRED, NOW!"
From the mansion, Alfred burst out, fast as a bullet. A thin rapier in hand, he sliced off Arrow's left hand in one swift motion.
Arrow screamed and retaliated, but Alfred dodged easily—Arrow was already injured.
Genzo realized the voice in his head had been Alfred's. His Melanix ability was Sound Manipulation—he had been communicating telepathically.
As Alfred and Arrow clashed, Genzo crawled toward Rika.
'I have to make it to her... I have to cut the ropes.'
He had to save his little sister.
"You think you can beat me?" Arrow growled, his voice weak from blood loss.
"Sure. Let's try."
"WELL THEN—YOU CAN'T CUT THIS GIRL, CAN YOU?" he yelled, reaching for the ropes.
But they were already cut.
Arrow paused. He was losing. Tired. Weak.
Genzo had freed Rika.
"How can you defeat me now, sir?" Genzo asked coldly.
"Shit." Arrow muttered. 'I have one final strategy... but it'll kill me. Still, death isn't the worst thing that could happen if I fail.'
He hadn't used his Melanix ability yet. But the final stage would destroy everything—himself included.
'Tch. I have to do this.'
Arrow stood completely still—full of openings.
Alfred saw it and charged.
Suddenly, a searing beam of light burst from Arrow's body—melting the ground, destroying everything in its path.
Arrow's final ability: Lava Release. His ultimate power generated pure lava—but it came at the cost of his life.
Alfred and Genzo were stunned. The light towered over them.
Arrow emerged from the blaze, wounded but alive.
"Let's see who wins now... YOU OLD BASTARD!"
Alfred knew it was over.
"MASTER, PLEASE—CLOSE YOUR EARS AND GET AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE!"
Genzo knew what Alfred was planning. He carried Rika and ran, heart pounding, refusing to look back.
A blade of lava sliced Alfred in two—but just before he died, he unleashed a sonic blast.
The sound wave shattered every glass, every wall, everything in a hundred-meter radius. Arrow and Alfred—obliterated.
Genzo fell, trembling, holding Rika.
"Rika... we... we escaped," he whispered.
But she didn't respond.
He checked her pulse. Nothing.
He gave her CPR. Still nothing.
"Rika... no... not you too. RIKA!"
He screamed, voice full of grief. His tears hit the ground. The sky wept with him—it began to rain, hard.
Then—footsteps.
Genzo turned.
Arrow. Still alive. Barely breathing.
He looked half-dead.
Genzo's eyes widened. He had no strength left to move.
Arrow raised his hand and flung Genzo aside. Then, from his bag, Arrow pulled a bottle out of his bag and placed it on Rika's blood before chanting something.
Genzo was crying, did not even have the strength to get up. He lied down on the rubble and mud.
Arrow absorbed the Blid and stored it in the bottle.
"Mission complete."
Arrow fell down, dead.
"Why?" Genzo said with a defeated voice full of regret and pain.
"Why me?"