Hikaru's katana swung through the air, her arm trembling, eyes glassy with tears as Blackmail's control forced her hand.
Before the blade could pierce Brush's chest, Daji leapt forward, tails flaring, her aura crackling with awakened fate power.
"Run, Brush!" she shouted, voice firm and commanding, cutting through the chaos.
The blade connected—not with Brush, but with her. The impact sent a shockwave through the surrounding area, blowing shards of probability and fragments of corrupted reality in all directions.
Daji gritted her teeth, feeling the full force of the strike pass through her body. Her kimono fluttered, tails whipping around her like banners of defiance. Blood and bruises marred her form, but she stayed upright.
Brush's eyes widened. "Daji! Are you—"
"Go!" she barked, still absorbing the blow. "You're the Chosen One! You can't die here!"
Hikaru froze mid-swing, mind still tangled by Blackmail's grasp. She could see everything—the pain on Daji's face, the aura of protection surrounding Brush, the stakes towering over them all. Tears streamed down her face as the impossible weight of her forced action pressed on her.
The world seemed to stop for a heartbeat. Even Blackmail hesitated, the audacity of Daji's sacrifice catching him off guard.
Brush's fists glowed brighter than ever, determination surging. "I won't waste this chance… Daji, I'll make sure your sacrifice counts!"
Mia Rika's fox form staggered, but she held her ground, forcing the air around her to shimmer with raw, awakened energy. For a brief moment, the battlefield tilted—not toward Blackmail, but toward the Chosen One and those who would defend him at any cost.
Hikaru's hand faltered. The katana wavered in her grip, the shadow of control trembling as the power of Daji's sacrifice rippled through the field.