The ruins groaned under the fury of battle. Michi's blades clashed endlessly against Drango's claws and Rishdania's heavy claymore, sparks scattering like fireflies in a storm. His arms shook, his lungs burned, but still he endured.
Behind them, the cries of wolves filled the air—yet those cries began to falter.
"Take this!" Canberas roared, swinging his sword with both hands. A dark wolf split in two, its black misty blood staining the cracked floor. His wings ached with pain, but his fury kept him moving.
Beside him, Veynar plunged his spear through another beast's skull. "We can't let them distract us forever—Shiro's life is at stake!"
Veylika danced around a lunging wolf, her twin blades flashing. "Then let's end this together!" She spun, slicing two throats in one sweep.
The three fought as one, cutting down the pack. Wolves lunged in waves, snapping, clawing, but their coordination held strong. Blood slicked the stones until at last, silence fell. The corpses of the beasts faded into black ash, vanishing into the air.
There—bound and battered—was Shiro, his wrists torn from the wolves' fangs. His body trembled, eyes half-lidded, but still alive.
Canberas dropped to one knee, cutting his bonds with urgency. "Shiro! You're free now!"
Shiro collapsed forward, breathing ragged. "I… thought… I wouldn't make it…"
Veynar lifted him carefully. "You're safe. We've got you."
"Michiiii!" Veylika's voice rang across the battlefield. "We freed Shiro!"
The name pierced through the chaos.
Michi froze mid-clash, his sword locking against Rishdania's claymore. Her tear-streaked face turned instantly.
"What…?" she whispered, eyes wide.
Veynar raised Shiro high so both could see. "He's alive! He's safe!"
Rishdania's grip slackened. Her claymore wavered, then fell from her hands with a heavy clang. She stumbled back, staring at her brother.
"Shiro…" she breathed, her whole body shaking.
Ignoring everything else, she ran. Her feet pounded the stone, carrying her straight past Michi and into her brother's arms. She collapsed around him, hugging him tightly, sobs tearing from her throat.
"I'm so sorry," she cried. "I didn't want to fight, I never wanted this… Shiro, forgive me!"
Shiro hugged her back weakly, burying his face in her shoulder. "Sister… it's okay. You did what you had to… I knew you'd protect me."
The sight brought silence even to Michi's pounding heart. His sword lowered, his chest heaving as relief and sorrow mixed inside him.
But the silence shattered with Drango's laughter. Low at first, then rising into a booming roar.
"Ohh… touching. Heartwarming." His claws flexed, eyes gleaming with sadistic joy. "But you forgot one thing…"
Dark words slithered from his lips, a forbidden chant that twisted the very air. Black energy coiled around his arm, forming into a long, jagged spear of crimson-black. Its tip hummed with murderous intent.
Michi's eyes widened. "No—!"
Drango smirked. "Sentiment makes fools of warriors."
He hurled the spear. It tore through the air, faster than lightning.
Michi lunged, his sword rising in desperate defense. Steel met darkness—but the spear broke through, ripping past his blade. Time slowed.
"No!" Michi's scream tore from his throat.
The spear flew straight toward Shiro. His eyes widened in terror.
But before it struck, Rishdania moved. With every ounce of strength left in her, she spun and shielded her brother. Her arms wrapped around him as the spear pierced through both their chests.
The sound was deafening—a wet, sickening crunch as the weapon impaled their hearts.
Blood sprayed the stones.
Rishdania gasped, choking, but her arms never let go of Shiro. He coughed blood against her shoulder, trembling violently.
Michi's world collapsed. "RISHDANIA! SHIRO!" He sprinted toward them, eyes blazing, throat raw with anguish.
Rishdania's lips trembled, her gaze finding Michi through the haze of tears and blood. "Michi… thank you… for everything." Her voice was soft, fading. "Now… we can finally… die in peace."
Her body shook once more, then went still. Shiro's eyes dimmed moments later, his head falling against her shoulder.
Both fell together, still locked in their final embrace.
The battlefield was silent except for Michi's ragged scream.
Drango's laughter cut through the grief, triumphant and cruel. "Yes! Despair! Let it consume you, hero!"
But his gloating was short-lived. The moment Shiro and Rishdania's lives flickered out, a strange sound echoed. A metallic crack.
Drango's body twitched. His smirk faltered as shards of invisible plating splintered off his form, falling like shattered glass onto the stone.
His unseen armor—protection woven by ancient magic—crumbled, leaving his monstrous body bare.
He stumbled a step back, eyes narrowing. "What…?!"
Michi's hands tightened on his sword and dagger, his head lowered. His entire frame trembled—not from weakness, but from rage that burned hotter than fire.
When his eyes lifted again, they were no longer the same. The sorrow had melted into fury so sharp it seemed to cut the very air.
"You took them from us," Michi growled, every word venom. "For that… I'll tear you apart."
Drango actually stepped back, instinctive dread flickering across his monstrous face.
Behind Michi, Veynar raised his spear, his expression grim. "He dies today."
Veylika stood beside her brother, blades ready. "For Shiro. For Rishdania."
And Canberas, battered and bloodied, pushed himself upright. His wings spread wide despite the pain. "Michi… I'll fight with you until the end."
Michi nodded once, never taking his blazing eyes off Drango. "Then let's finish this… together."
The ruined hall quaked with their resolve. The beast had lost his shield, and the hero's rage was now unchained.
The final hunt had begun.