That morning, the sky above Azura City looked gray. The wind carried a gloomy scent from the east. In the middle of an open field that used to be the site of cruel experiments, Arya stood silently, gazing at the remains of destruction.
"There are no more cries… I hope you're truly at peace now," he whispered. He closed his eyes and clasped both hands in front of his chest.
His mission wasn't over. There were still five cities left. Five more places of suffering that had to be cleansed.
Arya clenched his fists. "Just five more. I'll finish this on my own."
His body flickered for a moment before disappearing—teleporting to the next city.
Meanwhile, in Siju City, Dina stood in the middle of a narrow street, looking at a worn-out map Arya had given her.
"According to this map… the place should be around here," she murmured. Her eyes scanned the surroundings until they stopped at a decrepit house that looked like it was about to collapse.
She stepped closer, both daggers firmly gripped in her hands. Kerchak.
"Who's there? Hey kid! This isn't a playground!" shouted one of the guards in front of the house.
"This is an old lady's house! Don't bother us here!" yelled the other.
Dina didn't respond. With a single swift motion, she dashed forward. Slash! Two heads rolled on the ground before their bodies could even touch the hilts of their weapons.
Kreeott...
As the door opened, a foul stench pierced her nose. Dina jolted and choked.
"Ugh… ugh… Cough! Damn, this smells awful! So this is why Arya gave me the handkerchief…"
But it wasn't the smell that brought tears to her eyes. Before her stood rows of glass tubes filled with greenish liquid, where disfigured and monsterized bodies hung lifeless. Some were still alive but had nearly lost all trace of their humanity.
"Help…" came a faint voice from one of the tubes. "Please… kill us…"
Dina's body trembled. She collapsed to her knees, staring in horror.
"I'm sorry… forgive me… how could this… be so cruel…" she whispered through her tears.
"INTRUDER!"
The scream shattered her emotions. Several guards and scientists came with weapons.
"You'll die here, little girl!"
Dina stood slowly. Her face was dark. Her eyes had lost all sympathy.
"You're the ones who'll die!" she screamed. "Strength! Wind Step! Double Slash!"
Bodies of enemies fell. Some of them hadn't even realized they'd been mutilated before their bodies were sliced apart.
"Aaarrghhh! M-my hand!"
"M-my leg!"
Dina smirked wickedly.
"Time for a feast," she whispered.
With hatred, she gouged out their eyes, cut off their ears, tongues, and each limb—ensuring that their deaths weren't a release, but the hell on earth they themselves had created.
Moments later, she was panting. She stood amid dozens of mutilated bodies. Her gaze shifted to the victims inside the tubes.
"Sorry… if any of you are still in pain…"
She closed her eyes. "Strength! Wind Step! Fire Double Slash!"
In an instant, the tubes were destroyed. The heads of the victims pierced precisely at the vital points, ensuring a painless death.
"I'm sorry… for being too late to save you…!" she sobbed.
With a trembling body and a tear-streaked face, Dina walked away from that hellish place.
In Ekpiro City, Gamma stood in front of an old house.
"This place… doesn't look suspicious. But according to the map, it should be here."
He opened the door. Kerchak.
"Get out, kid! You're in the wrong place!"
Srett.
The guard's body was instantly sliced by an invisible thread.
Gamma stepped inside. The foul stench hit him immediately. He covered his face with a handkerchief.
"I'm sorry… I'll help however I can…"
He pressed his hands together, a soft prayer escaping his lips.
"Thread Guillotine."
Fine threads slid between the experimental tubes, severing the heads of the victims one by one. Silent. Swift. Painless.
Then came a shout.
"Do you know how long we worked on these experiments?!"
"We were this close to creating the perfect being!"
Gamma stared at them coldly. "Why should I care, you bastards?"
He walked slowly, a faint smile on his face. "Prepare yourselves. The pain is immense."
He began slicing off their fingers one by one. Screams echoed through the room. No mercy for monsters in human skin.
After making sure it was all over, he bowed his head to the victims.
"Sorry… if you still felt pain."
Elsewhere, Venus strolled lazily in front of an old building.
"Why do I have to handle this place… But for cute little Reisa-chan, I must!" she said sweetly.
As soon as she opened the door, two guards immediately whistled.
"Miss, care to have a little fun?"
Venus only smiled sweetly. "Water."
Their heads were enveloped in water, their breath stolen.
"Lovely… your death faces are rather pretty too."
She entered the experiment room. Without expression, she raised her hand.
"Water Cutter."
Thin streams of water sliced through the victim tubes one by one. She ensured they died without pain. When the guards and scientists saw her, they attacked.
"Kill her!"
"Water."
The air in their lungs was sucked out. Screams turned into meaningless gargling before they all collapsed.
Venus sighed.
"All done… But… how do I get back?! Walk all the way to the capital?! No way!"
Then she took out the communication device Arya gave her. Beep beep.
"Hello? Kiddo? This tool of yours is amazing! It talks!"
"…Venus?"
"Yes, it's me! How do I get back? Walk?!"
"Fine, wait two hours. I'll pick you up."
"WHAT?! Hurry up! I wanna see Reisa-chan!"
"…Alright."
Teleportation.
Arya appeared.
"Hey! I'm here!" Venus ran up and hugged Arya.
"Let's go." Teleportation.
They arrived in the forest near the capital.
"Where's Reisa-chan?" asked Venus.
"One moment."
Arya teleported back to Ekpiro.
"Gamma?"
"Bro Arya?"
"Let's go home. Venus is waiting."
Teleportation.
As soon as they arrived, Venus immediately hugged Gamma.
"Reisa-chan! Big sis missed you!"
"I'm fine, sis…"
"You're so sweet!"
Arya smiled and turned around. "I'll go get Dina."
Teleportation.
In Siju City, Arya searched for Dina.
"Don't tell me she's looking for food again…"
Then he saw her. The girl sat slumped against a wall, her face downcast.
"Dina?"
Dina looked up, her eyes wet. "Arya…"
He walked up and hugged her.
"I saw… horrible things…" she sobbed.
"Sorry… for giving you this task…" Arya gently stroked her head. "Come on, let's go home."
Dina nodded slowly. "Okay…"
Teleportation.
As soon as they arrived—
"What?! Hey, you perverted woman! Stay away from Gamma!" shouted Dina.
Venus only smiled. "Ara~ jealous because you don't have breasts this big~"
"W-what?! I'm still growing!"
"It'll take a while before you're like this~" Venus teased, pressing her chest against Gamma's face.
"Get away from him!" Dina pulled Gamma.
"It's okay, sis. Let's hug!" Gamma pulled Dina in for a group hug.
"N-no! Don't let the pervert virus touch me!"
"Hehehe…" Gamma laughed innocently.
Arya sighed and smiled. Thank goodness… they're back to normal…
"I'm going to Azura City. Wait here, alright?"
"Okay, be careful, Bro Arya!"
Teleportation.