Trigger Warning: Dark and intense content ahead. This chapter includes scenes of torture, psychological distress, and violence.
As the moon was shining brightly up in the sky, there was a man standing on top of a cliff near a corpse, as if he was searching for something.
"I can't be mistaken. That man is definitely the captain of the Dusk Lost Society. The association estimated him to be at the threat level of chaos" Julius said.
As he looked toward the edge of the cliff and up to the forest, he said,
"Not only that, I sense a total of eight people who used to be in this cliff," Julius said after he finished analyzing the place.
"One of them has a faint presence. I assume she would be Phoebe. Based on all the mana I am sensing, they are heading to the forest, away from the orphanage… hmm, was she chased by one of the criminals? Is that the reason why she decided to take another direction away from the orphanage?" Julius said as he searched around for clues.
After Julius scanned the surroundings and sensed mana all around that place, he came to the conclusion that the girl, which is Phoebe, went to the forest to protect the orphanage against the criminals. As Julius was certain through his hypothesis, he smirked.
"It seems this young girl is really good at assessing situations as well as making decisions during times of crisis" Julius said with a smile.
"Anyway, since I confirmed she's in danger, then I should rescue her from them" Julius said as he left quickly.
As Julius was on his way to search for Phoebe's whereabouts in the forest, Phoebe was already on the brink of madness from the torture inflicted by the beastman.
"Hmm, all your fingers are gone now. What should I do next… hmm, oh I know. Next, I will break the toes on your feet," said the beastman, smiling as if he was enjoying toying with her.
As Phoebe was in deep thought, struggling to keep her consciousness, she then lost herself in her endless sea of thoughts.
Will I really let him do as he pleases? Just because he is stronger than me? Will I really let myself endure all of this? Phoebe said in her inner thoughts.
"Okay, let's start by snapping the little toes. Three, two, one…" the beastman said with enjoyment.
"Aghhh! Ouchhh!!" Phoebe said, her voice filled with pain.
Really? Will I really just repeat that damn stupid word over and over? Phoebe said in her thoughts avoiding to lose consciousness.
"Okay, I will try to snap three of your toes, okay? Now brace yourself. Three, two, one…" said the beastman, toying with her.
"Ouhhh! Aghhhhh! Haaa!" Phoebe said with agony.
What with this humiliation? Was my fate sealed with this outcome? she said in her thoughts as she grinding her teeth.
No, I hate this outcome. I, with my very existence, refuse ending up just like this.
"Hahaha this is fun, now let's proceed with your other foot. I will now snap one of your big toes, okay? Then three, two, one…" the beastman said, playing with her.
"Aghhhhhhhh! Ahhhh! Ouchhhhh!" Phoebe said with agony.
I refuse to let the outcome unfold based on what this crazy person wants Phoebe spoke with strong conviction in her inner thoughts.
"Okay, now I will snap three of your toes, okay? Then three, two, one," the beastman said as he snapped her broken toes.
But this time, the beastman noticed something different: the agonizing pain couldn't be heard. As he looked at the pitiful girl, he was astonished. Instead of seeing a girl filled with fear, screaming as her bones broke down, he saw… a girl biting her lips, staring at him with menace in her eyes. Then, while he was surprised by her actions, the girl spoke.
"I…" she said, taking a deep breath.
"I am definitely weaker. I admit you are stronger," she said.
The beastman was confused, wondering why she was stating the obvious.
"But I can say this with resolve: It doesn't mean that I lose to you. I should now let things go the way you want. Remember this: even if I've lost, I still have the freedom to decide how my fate should end up" Phoebe said staring menacingly and grinding her teeth.
Meanwhile, in the orphanage, two worried people looked out the window, wondering when Phoebe would return. It was Alfred and Kanna. Soon, Kanna spoke.
"When will Phoebe come back? Any time now it'll already be midnight," Kanna said with extreme worry.
"Don't worry, Kanna. I'm sure Phoebe will return safely. She was with Julius, a friend I can vouch for," Alfred said.
"Well, I became very worried. It's taking too long… now it's already midnight and… and…" Kanna said with a worried face.
"Just trust Phoebe. She might doze off every day while reading books, but she has strong characteristics—physically, spiritually, and mentally. So let's just believe in her," Director Alfred said.
Back in the dark forest, the beastman cleaned his ears, annoyed by Phoebe's words.
"As a little girl, you yap too much. I am getting bored. I gotta behead you now," said the beastman. He then made a cracking sound in his back and neck as he grasped his sword tightly.
Countdown before midnight: 8, 7, 6…
If this is the path set by fate of how things should really be Phoebe said in her thoughts.
Countdown before midnight: 5, 4, 3…
Before the beastman could slash his sword toward Phoebe's neck, she quickly kicked him in the abdomen, knocking him back a little.
Countdown before midnight: 2, 1, 0…
While the beastman was stunned, Phoebe didn't waste a single moment. She hit the beastman's face using her knees, along with blue flames that instantly appeared from nowhere.
"Then I reject the very fate the world has given me, and create my own path that is far better than what the fate has given me!!" Phoebe said, unaware of the blue flames appearing around her knees.
The beastman was knocked to the ground, and because of the blue flames, his face was burning.
As he attempted to wipe it off, the fire only spread through the arms he used to wipe, then he said,
"W-What is this thing? Why won't it come off?" said the panicking beastman.
The beastman was losing his cool. The abnormal flame couldn't be extinguished. Due to the fire spreading on his face, he was unable to use any of his senses. When he tried to hear his surroundings, all he heard was his face being cooked by the fire. He was unable to smell anything other than burning flesh. Lastly, he could not open his eyes, because if he did, the flames could burn them.
As Phoebe watched the beastman being burned by the flames, she turned her head and looked at herself, confused. She saw blue flames coming out of her body, gathering around her wounds, fingers, and toes. She was confused because, instead of feeling heat from the fire, she felt a cold and soothing sensation. Later on, she was shocked to notice to see her hand came back, also she was able to move her fingers again, and there were no longer traces of the wounds she had suffered in her earlier fights. Phoebe was still trying to understand what was happening.
The beastman, examining the abnormal flames burning his face, concluded that it was a flame made of mana. He realized it came from the girl who hit him, and if he could kill her, the flame would be extinguished. With this thought, he used his ability despite the consequences. Energy released from him, and his body stiffened. Without being able to see his surroundings, he slashed randomly, hoping to hit Phoebe.
As the beastman started to slash in random directions in desperation and began to lose his sanity, Phoebe focused and scanned her surroundings for the rapier she had dropped earlier during the fight. She saw the rapier and grabbed it. As she held the rapier with both arms, wondering how to use the blue flame, the blue flame instantly covered her weapon. She realized the flame responded to her commands. Then, she charged toward the beastman, who was unleashing random slashes that could cut down trees around them. She directed all her attacks in one spot—through the beastman's heart.
As she stabbed the beastman in the heart, she unconsciously said, "Azur Burst!". A burst of flame erupted from Phoebe's rapier, burning the inside of the beastman. Finally, he fell to the ground on his back, burned inside and out. The fight Phoebe thought would never end was finally over.
"Finally, everyone will be safe from now on," Phoebe said, laughing happily.