Even Rose's castle was struck as bullets tore through with a shrill barrage.
Windows shattered, ornaments glittering as they scattered across the floor.
Jessica and Moene burst outside at once, facing the mafiosi head-on.
Jessica flashed her dagger, Moene swung her whip with graceful force, felling enemy after enemy.
"Don't slow me down!"
"Ha!? That's my line!"
Even in battle, their sharp-tongued rivalry sparked like clashing blades.
Inside the castle, Saizo and Esta stood guard with swords drawn, shielding Rose firmly.
"Hey, don't guard me—protect Lamia and Alpha instead. You guys know how strong I am," Rose muttered with a hint of irritation.
"A-a-aah…" Alpha trembled behind Lamia, his round glasses slipping down his nose.
Lamia forced a wry smile and spoke gently.
"It's alright, Alpha. If you were that scared, you should've gone to the shelter."
"B-but… Miss Lamia, you've been so kind to me. How could I go hide while you stayed behind?"
Alpha's voice shook as his face burned red.
Rose grinned slyly.
"Well now, Alpha. Didn't know you had guts in you."
"Ugh, I can't… eat another bite…"
Kumashis clutched his overstuffed belly, groaning flat on the floor after too much roast beef.
"You're fired," Saizo muttered coldly, exasperation dripping from his voice.
In the gardens, the firefight only grew fiercer.
The allied forces fought with their lives to keep the mafia from breaching the palace.
Then, the heavy palace doors creaked open, and Ponaparto strode out with regal leisure.
"Come on! Entertain me at least a little!"
His thunderous roar cut through the battlefield, silencing gunfire at once and freezing all around.
The sheer aura pouring from his body, almost tangible, left friend and foe alike paralyzed in fear.
Meanwhile at the front gate, Nova and Rabesta clashed violently with Endi's group.
Darmaine curled up, trembling uselessly.
Time and again Nova and Rabesta pressed the gates, but Endi, bloodied, stood in their way.
"Gwah!"
Nova's fist smashed into Endi's face, blood dripping from his swollen cheek.
Yet each time he fell, Endi crawled back up, challenging Nova again.
"This guy's annoying. And he pisses me off," Rabesta muttered, emotionless yet tinged with irritation.
Nova looked down at Endi, puzzled.
"Hey… why go that far? You're amnesiac, right? Got any debt to this country? What are you even protecting, beaten to a pulp like that?"
On his knees, Endi whispered hoarsely,
"I finally found them… people who accepted me. I won't let them get hurt. And… I can't bear to see anyone fight, suffer, or bleed anymore. I just want… everyone to live together in joy."
"I don't get it. Whatever. I'll kill you and move on." Nova's tone was ice.
At that moment, Cain stepped between them.
Nova darted at impossible speed, attacking from every angle, but Cain calmly blocked every strike.
Nova's spinning kick, delivered with all his strength, Cain stopped with crossed arms.
"Not bad," Nova muttered, hiding his shaken heart.
Cain shot back sharply.
"About a hundred mafiosi in the gardens, huh? You're insane. Numbers that small'll be crushed in no time."
Rabesta drew his blade and lunged, but Cain twisted lightly out of reach.
"I told you, winning isn't our goal. We never thought we could. We just want you to taste our hatred. Death doesn't scare us." Rabesta's tone was mechanical.
From the ground, Endi summoned his last strength and cried,
"Don't throw your lives away!!"
Nova and Rabesta turned in surprise.
Staggering to his feet, Endi continued.
"Not afraid of death? That's not cool at all."
"What the hell are you saying?" Nova snarled, bearing down on him.
"You're scared. You just can't admit it. That's cowardice. Deep down, you know all this is meaningless."
Endi's words pierced deep.
"Shut up!!" Nova roared, kicking Endi's face hard.
Blood splattered into the dirt.
Yet Endi crawled, clutching Nova's leg.
"You're not enjoying life at all… just like I used to. This will only make things worse."
Rabesta leveled his sword at him, speaking quietly.
"Then bring the Nakatam soldiers who raided our orphanage. Bring the doctor who abandoned Lucian. If you can do that, I'll withdraw right now. From then on, I'll live properly."
A faint sorrow flickered beneath his emotionless mask.
"Huh? Orphanage…?"
Darmaine, shaking, reacted for the first time.
Cain cut in coldly.
"Endi, no point talking to them. I'll crush them till they can't move again. Don't stop me."
But then Endi suddenly rose to his feet—and threw his arms around Rabesta in a desperate embrace.
Cain, Nova, and Rabesta froze, wide-eyed in shock.
On Endi's bloodied face lingered kindness, and a sorrow so deep no one could comprehend.