The warehouse floor was a graveyard of broken bodies. Smoke curled from burning crates, the scent of gunpowder thick in the air. Blood pooled across the cracked cement, reflecting the fractured glow of shattered bulbs.
But in the center of it all, two figures still stood.
The captain—towering, scarred, veins bulging as rage twisted his features. His armor was cracked, his shoulder and thigh bleeding, yet his grip on the axe was iron.
And Luv—cold, silent, his black eyes locked like a predator's. His clothes were torn, his lip split, his knuckles bleeding from the clash, but his stance never faltered.
They circled each other slowly. The world had narrowed down to this one brutal duel.
The captain struck first. His axe whistled through the air, the weight behind it enough to cleave steel. Luv dodged, the blade missing his face by inches and splitting a steel pillar in half. Sparks showered across the ground.
Luv countered, lunging forward with his blade. The steel kissed the captain's ribs, carving deep, but the giant didn't stop. He swung his free fist into Luv's jaw, the impact rattling his skull and throwing him to the floor.
Blood sprayed from Luv's mouth as he rolled, narrowly avoiding the axe that slammed down where his head had been. The floor cracked like thunder.
"You're just a boy playing soldier," the captain growled, lifting his axe again. "I'll paint these walls with your blood."
Luv wiped the blood from his lips, slowly rising to his feet. His voice was calm, chilling.
"You already tried. You failed."
The duel escalated. The captain's sheer strength was monstrous, each strike like a hammer blow. Luv couldn't match his power—so he matched him with speed, precision, and ruthless efficiency.
A slash to the wrist. A kick to the knee. A shot to the ribs.
Each move chipped away at the beast in front of him, but it wasn't enough.
The captain grabbed Luv by the throat mid-strike, lifting him off the ground like a ragdoll. Luv's blade clattered to the floor.
"You're nothing," the giant snarled, squeezing. "I've crushed men stronger than you!"
Luv's vision blurred. His lungs screamed for air. For a moment, the edges of the world dimmed—then he saw her.
Ayu.
Standing across the carnage, battered, bloodied, but still watching him. Her eyes were wide, her lips trembling—but not with fear. With faith.
Something ignited inside him.
Luv's hand shot down to his holster. In one motion, he ripped out his second pistol, pressed it against the captain's stomach, and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Three shots tore into the giant at point-blank range. The captain howled, dropping Luv and staggering back.
Luv collapsed to one knee, coughing, clutching his throat. But his black eyes never left the giant.
The captain roared and charged, swinging his axe for one last killing blow—
Luv moved faster. He surged forward, sidestepped the swing, and drove his blade upward with every ounce of fury in his body.
Steel pierced flesh.
The captain froze. His axe clattered to the floor. His mouth opened, a wet gurgle spilling out as blood bubbled from his lips.
Luv twisted the blade, then yanked it free.
The giant collapsed like a felled beast, his body shaking the floor as it hit.
Silence.
Only the crackle of fire and Ayu's ragged breathing filled the room.
Luv stood over the corpse, his chest heaving, blood dripping from his chin. His blade dripped red, his eyes as cold as death itself.
The fight was over.
But Ayu could feel it—this was only the beginning.