The Sacrifice Ghoul Web trembled that night.
It wasn't from earthquakes or structural shifts—
it was from fear.
Torches guttered along the blackstone walls, struggling against a wind that didn't exist. Sigils pulsed red along the floor like veins ready to burst. The corridors hummed with low, frantic whispers—too fast, too sharp, like claws scraping against bone.
And Yuki stood in the middle of it all with her heart caught in her throat.
"Yuki."
Yuyu's voice cut through the chaos like silk sliding over steel.
She moved beside Yuki with that same unnatural grace—
quiet, precise, inhuman.
Her presence draped around Yuki like a shadow with a heartbeat.
"You need to stay close," Yuyu murmured.
Yuki frowned. "I'm not a child."
"No," Yuyu agreed.
"Children scream before they die. Adults stay silent."
Yuki stiffened.
Before she could respond, a group of Sacrifice Ghouls rushed around the corner—Leaf, Miren, Soot, and two others Yuki didn't recognize. Their cloaks were half-fastened, a sign they'd been summoned abruptly.
Leaf gasped, hands on his knees.
"They caught one," he choked out. "A pure ghoul. Hiding down in the lower rings."
Yuki's pulse hammered.
"A pure?" she whispered. "Down here? How—?"
Soot grinned, excited in a way that made Yuki's stomach twist.
"They're dragging him to the Sacrifice Chamber. For exposure."
Yuyu said nothing.
But Yuki felt the shift in her aura—
a tightening, cold and sharp as a hooked wire around the throat.
"Let's go," Yuyu said softly.
Too softly.
Yuki swallowed the uneasy knot in her chest and followed.
---
THE EXPOSURE
The Sacrifice Chamber was carved from obsidian and bone. Tall rib-like pillars arched overhead, dripping with crimson glow. Torches burned an unnatural blue along the walls, each flame bending inward—as if drawn to the center of the room.
Where the pure ghoul knelt.
He was bound in burning silver chains, his body twitching in agony. A veil of false flesh still clung to him, flickering like a dying hologram. His skin shifted color, pattern, texture—every second betraying another lie.
Vespera stood behind him, the red tattoos across her jaw pulsing like wounds.
She lifted a hot brand—its sigils glowing white-hot.
"Under Web Law," Vespera declared,
"any ghoul suspected of purity must undergo cleansing by flame."
The bound ghoul thrashed.
"No—no, wait—please—!"
Hollowstep's hollow voice echoed through the chamber.
"You were caught hiding among us. There is no mercy for your kind."
Vespera pressed the brand into his cheek.
The scream that ripped out of him seemed to split the air itself.
Skin sizzled. Smoke twisted upward in chilling swirls. And beneath the burned disguise, silver skin shone through—etched with geometric markings only pure ghouls bore.
Gasps. Growls. Fury.
"It's true—!"
"It infiltrated us—!"
"Kill it!"
The exposed pure ghoul trembled, breath shaking.
Then his head shot up.
His silver eyes locked instantly on Yuyu.
The room stilled.
His voice cracked open in horror.
"You."
Yuyu didn't flinch.
"Traitor!" the pure ghoul screamed, pointing a trembling finger at her.
"You hide among the Sacrifice Ghouls! You abandon your blood! Your lineage!"
A wave of cold washed across the chamber.
Ghouls turned slowly toward Yuyu—
But Yuyu only tilted her head slightly.
Her expression was perfect.
Calm.
Soft.
Innocent.
Terrifying.
The pure ghoul sobbed, choking on smoke.
"You betray the pure! You—"
Yuyu moved.
Fast.
Her hand sliced through the air like a black blade, and her nails—longer and sharper than any Sacrifice Ghoul's—slashed across his throat. A clean, merciless cut.
The pure ghoul collapsed in a choked gasp, his blood steaming as it hit the floor.
Silence.
Yuyu wiped her fingers delicately on his cloak.
Vespera hissed, "You should not have intervened!"
"He was suffering," Yuyu murmured sweetly.
"And I cannot stand suffering."
Yuki stared at her.
Something inside her twisted.
That wasn't sympathy.
That was elimination.
Desperation.
Fear.
Yuyu had wanted him dead.
Not to protect the Web—
but to protect herself.
Leaf muttered, "What was he screaming about? Traitor? What was that?"
Soot shrugged. "Probably dying madness."
But Yuki saw it.
Vespera saw it.
Even Hollowstep saw it.
The brand on the dead pure ghoul glowed faintly, illuminating the faint outline of something burned onto Yuyu's wrist—
A sigil.
One Yuki had never seen before.
Yuyu pulled her sleeve down.
Too late.
---
ZERO
After the chamber was cleared and the dead pure ghoul dragged away, the Web slowly returned to its usual pulse of ritual energy.
Yuki walked through the corridor, hands still trembling faintly.
Yuyu stayed only a step behind her like a shadow chained to her.
"Yuki."
Yuki didn't stop.
"I don't want to talk right now."
"You misunderstand what happened," Yuyu said gently.
"No," Yuki whispered. "I think I understood it too well."
Before more could be said, someone turned the corner and nearly ran into them.
Zero.
Human.
Unaware-looking.
Too normal against the monstrous backdrop of the Web's stone halls.
He blinked in surprise at seeing Yuki.
"Hey! I was just looking for—"
His eyes flicked to Yuyu.
Just a small flicker.
Barely noticeable.
But Yuyu noticed.
And something hungry flashed in her eyes.
Zero swallowed hard.
"Uh—sorry, I interrupted something," he said lightly.
Yuki forced a smile. "Zero, this is… a bad night. You should stay in the upper levels until things calm down."
Zero nodded slowly.
"I will. Yeah, no problem. Just wanted to check you weren't hurt."
Yuyu stepped closer, voice smooth as honey over poison.
"You care a great deal for Yuki."
Zero froze.
"I'm her friend."
"Of course," Yuyu said, staring into him far too deeply.
"Friends… are precious."
Zero stiffened — he didn't like the way she said that.
She sounded like she was choosing a knife.
Yuki didn't notice; she was too shaken from the ritual chamber.
But Yuyu noticed everything.
She watched Zero's heartbeat pick up.
She watched his pupils contract.
She watched his breathing shift—
small tells
that belonged
to prey.
---
YUKI LEAVES—YUYU WATCHES
Later that evening, Yuki walked alone across the upper walkway bridges, trying to settle her racing heart. The torches flickered in uneasy patterns.
Her thoughts kept spiraling—
What if there were more pure ghouls?
What if they were blending too well?
What if Yuyu really was—
She shook her head violently.
No.
Yuyu was dangerous, yes.
Mysterious, absolutely.
But harmful to her?
Yuki couldn't believe that.
She didn't want to.
---
THE ATTACK
She was crossing a narrow corridor when she heard it:
A scream.
Human.
Yuki ran.
A pure ghoul had cornered someone in a dead-end corridor—
a frail man
pinned against the wall
his hands shaking
eyes wide in terror.
The pure ghoul's mouth peeled into a hungry grin.
"Soft flesh," it hissed.
"Easy blood."
"Leave him!" Yuki shouted.
The pure ghoul snarled, whipping around.
"Sacrifice Ghoul," it spat.
"Stay out of pure matters."
"No."
Her aura cracked like thunder.
She lunged.
Her fist collided with its jaw—bone crunching as it hit the opposite wall. But it sprang forward again, claws outstretched, slashing for her throat.
Yuki dodged, grabbing its wrist and flipping it to the ground.
It snarled, kicking her back against a stone pillar.
For a moment, pain blurred her vision.
Then she saw the human — the terrified man sprawled on the floor.
She moved.
Her aura surged.
A final strike—sharp, clean—sent the pure ghoul crashing into a sigil pillar. The symbols flared to life, wrapping around it like chains.
The ghoul screamed as the sigils drained its aura dry.
Then it fell still.
Yuki breathed hard.
The man shakily stood.
"Th… thank you," he whispered.
"It's okay," Yuki said softly.
"You're safe now."
She helped him up and guided him back toward the upper walkway.
She didn't notice the shadow watching from above.
Yuyu.
Her eyes glowed faintly red as she watched Yuki comfort the human.
Then—
Her gaze slid to the human's face.
Recognition flickered.
Interest sharpened.
Possessive calculation took over her expression.
She whispered to herself:
"Another piece for the ritual."