The sound of her own heartbeat thundered in Ayu's ears as she cut her way through the wall of Crimson Fang thugs. Her knives dripped crimson, and her jade-like skin was streaked with sweat, grime, and blood—some hers, most not.
But for every body that hit the ground, more swarmed in. They weren't trained fighters like the captain—they were scavengers, jackals snapping at a lioness. But sheer numbers had their own weight.
A pipe smashed against her shoulder. Pain shot down her arm, nearly making her drop her blade. Another thug lunged from the side, stabbing with a rusted knife. Ayu twisted just in time, the blade grazing her ribs instead of her heart. The sting only fueled her fury.
She retaliated with a slash across his throat. The man gurgled, clutching at his neck before collapsing in a heap.
Still, they pressed in.
"Stupid girl!" one laughed, swinging a chain. "You'll die here, and no one will remember your name."
Ayu caught the chain mid-swing, yanked it forward, and drove her knee into the thug's face with a sickening crunch. His teeth clattered across the blood-soaked floor.
Her chest heaved. Every breath burned, but her eyes blazed brighter.
"I don't care if you remember me," she hissed. "But you'll remember this pain before you die."
Across the room, the clash of steel and flesh shook the air. The captain was relentless—each swing of his axe was like a storm tearing through the world. Luv moved with precision, deflecting, dodging, striking when he could. But even his cold precision was being pushed to its limit.
The giant's axe crashed into the wall again, showering sparks and debris. "You can't protect her and fight me!" the captain roared. "One of you will die, and I'll make sure it's her first!"
The words stabbed deeper than any blade.
Luv's eyes flicked to Ayu, who was staggering but still cutting her way forward. Blood dripped from a cut above her eyebrow, sliding down her cheek, but she never slowed. She looked fragile yet unbreakable, like glass forged in fire.
And for the first time in years, something stirred in Luv's hollow chest.
Not weakness.
Not sorrow.
But rage.
The captain swung down with all his might. Luv didn't dodge. He caught the axe handle between both hands, muscles straining, veins bulging in his neck as the blade inched closer to his face. The giant snarled, pressing harder, his raw strength overwhelming.
But Luv's voice cut through the clash, low and deadly.
"You won't… touch… her."
With a roar, he twisted, wrenching the axe aside, and slammed his forehead into the captain's skull. The crack echoed like thunder. The giant staggered back in surprise.
Luv grabbed his dropped pistol from the floor, spun it in his hand, and fired three rounds in rapid succession—one in the shoulder, one in the thigh, and the last grazing the man's temple.
The captain bellowed, enraged, but stumbled.
Meanwhile, Ayu had finished her last opponent. She stood in the carnage, chest heaving, blades dripping. Her knees trembled, but her smile was feral.
Blood stained her jade-white skin like war paint.
Her eyes locked with Luv's.
In that instant, neither spoke. They didn't need to.
They were alive. Together.
And the Crimson Fang was about to be reduced to ashes.