The ruins trembled with snarls and steel, but Drango barely seemed fazed. With a casual swipe of his claw, he split a fallen wolf in two simply to amuse himself. His crimson eyes flickered, then settled on the locket hanging around his thick neck.
A cruel grin stretched his face. He tapped the locket with one finger. "Time to tug the chain…"
The trinket pulsed faintly, carrying his voice across the distance.
"Oyy, Rishdania," Drango drawled, his voice like poison. "Your little brother and my prey are here. Come fast, unless you want to miss the fun."
In the village streets, Lior's sword locked against Rishdania's claymore. The clash rang like thunder, both fighters panting.
"Stop this!" Lior shouted, sweat rolling down his brow. "You don't want to fight us!"
But suddenly, the locket at Rishdania's chest glowed. Drango's words slithered through her ears: Your brother and my prey are here… come fast.
Her heart lurched. "Shiro—?!"
Her grip faltered, her eyes wide with dread. Tears welled instantly. "Shiro… he's… he's with Drango?!"
"Rishdania!" Lior tried to press his advantage. "Don't listen to him—"
But before he could finish, she shoved him back with a burst of raw force and broke away. Her claymore scraped the ground as she turned, sprinting toward the ruins.
"Wait—!" Lior shouted, reaching out, but she was already gone, leaving only the echo of her desperate steps behind.
Inside the ruin, Michi advanced with his blade drawn, fury simmering in his chest. Canberas, still wounded, leaned against a broken pillar, his breathing ragged.
Drango stood tall, licking his fangs as though savoring the tension. "Well, well… here comes the brave little dagger-boy. You think that piece of steel can cut me?"
Michi's eyes narrowed. His voice was cold, restrained fury. "I'll cut through you for every soul you've chained. For Shiro. For Rishdania. For all of them."
He lunged—his blade a blur.
Drango's claws rose to meet the strike, sparks showering as steel ground against bone. The ruin shook from the impact.
"Not bad," Drango sneered, shoving Michi back. "But weaker than last time. What's wrong, hero? Too tired from saving every broken soul you meet?"
Michi swung again, faster, his strikes sharp and relentless. Drango parried with claws, each blow echoing like a drumbeat.
"Shut your mouth!" Michi snarled, cutting upward.
But Drango blocked again, laughing. "That's it, Michi. Show me that temper. Rage makes the meat taste better."
Michi twisted, dagger slipping into his off-hand, and slashed across Drango's chest. The blade grazed, leaving a thin line of blood.
The beast smirked, glancing down at the wound. "Ohhh, you do bite. But you're trembling, I can feel it. You're slowing. You're… weakening."
Michi's teeth clenched, his body coiled tight with anger, refusing to yield.
Then—an anguished cry shattered the battlefield.
"MICHIIIIII!"
Both combatants turned. From the ruins' entrance, Rishdania burst in, her claymore glowing with raw energy. Her eyes were wild with tears, locked on Shiro's frail, bleeding form still pinned by wolves.
"Shiro… hold on!!"
Drango's laughter boomed. "Perfect timing, my dear knight! Your brother, your prey, your guilt… all gathered in one place."
"Drango!" she screamed, fury mixing with despair. "I'll end this!"
But instead of charging Drango, her claymore swung down toward Michi.
The blade crashed against his sword, nearly breaking his guard. Michi's eyes widened. "Rishdania—?!"
Her tears streamed as her voice cracked. "I don't want to… but I can't stop! Drango will kill him if I don't obey!"
Steel shrieked as they clashed again, Michi barely parrying her strikes. "Rishdania! Listen to me—this isn't you!"
She cried harder, pressing forward with another furious swing. "Then make me stop!"
From behind, Drango clapped mockingly. "Yes, yes! That's it, my little pawn. Slay him! Shred him! Let despair carve your heart while I watch!"
The ruin thundered with the clash of three wills—Michi's unyielding fury, Rishdania's shackled sorrow, and Drango's merciless laughter.
Michi braced himself, his sword locked between claw and claymore. He snarled through gritted teeth:
"Then I'll fight you both… until the chains break."