The killer turned and began examining Drodul’s body. He didn’t leave the spot, fully immersed in contemplating the work he’d just done. After finishing with Drodul, Tiro transferred his weapon from his mouth to his hand and headed toward the sobbing Lerry. He walked straight toward her, as if completely unaware—or unafraid—of Sem’s ongoing fight with the girl nearby.

  — “Bastards,” Sem said. “I’ll grind you both to ash. You too, Sugo, and that freak Tiro. Nothing will save you now.”

  At his words, the twin blades in his hands began sparking, and the air around him warped as if from intense heat. His movements slowed, yet the girl couldn’t hold back his attacks. The blows raining down on her increasingly resembled a wheel of fire, trying to burn away her weapons and clothes alike. An unexpected kick within this barrage was blocked by the girl—but it sent her flying backward ten steps. At that moment, Sem spun around and rushed toward Lerry.

  — “Too late,” Tiro said flatly and also ran toward the girl. He was almost there when a barrier appeared before him: a short figure wrapped in old rags, limping, face hidden under torn cloth, holding only a small dagger. He stood ready to take any blow upon himself—even if it cost him his life. “Well, not exactly life. More like the chance at a new existence,” I corrected my thought more precisely. Yes, I was ready to fight an enemy far stronger than me—but I had the element of surprise, and thus, a chance. I reversed my grip on the dagger, hoping to strike my opponent in the back at the right moment.

  Tiro closed the distance in an instant, and I felt something brush against my ribs. My greatest fear was that he’d shatter me with a single strike—so I leapt slightly backward, mimicking Scott’s reckless charge against the boar. It might have actually worked: I managed to pin Tiro’s arm against myself and immediately stabbed him in the back with my other hand. But he twisted his body at an angle I couldn’t comprehend, seized my arm, and ended up behind me. Something protruded from my chest, hindering movement; my arm was wrenched backward, and a hand clamped around my neck.

  — “You’re not human,” Tiro said, surprised. “But that doesn’t matter now.”

  In the next instant, my head was torn from my body like a ripe gourd in a field. I could no longer control the bones I’d gathered with such immense effort. My fine skull was flung aside, and Tiro turned to face the arriving Sem. As I flew through the air, I saw the adventurer leader striking with blazing weapons—but unable to land a hit. After several thrusts from Sem, Tiro twisted midair, performed a backflip, and leapt backward.

  — “Lerry, are you alright? We need to fall back,” Sem said, choosing not to pursue the killer, and positioned himself to shield the girl sitting frozen on the ground. She said nothing—only tears streamed from her eyes.

  — “He’s strong, but you’re smarter~” Sugo sang out, approaching Tiro from behind. She rested her head on his shoulder and hugged him, still holding her weapons. “We should kill them, then slaughter the rest of the villagers. Can’t let anyone escape—rumors about my little pets might spread.”

  — “Yes,” he replied, stroking her head with his free hand.

  — “Have you completely lost your minds?!” Sem shouted, barely containing the rage boiling inside him. Flames engulfed his blades until it became impossible to tell where his arms ended and the weapons began. He brought his hands together above his head, summoning a searing yellow-red fireball. The flame abruptly died down, revealing two blackened blades. Sem swung them toward the pair—and in that same instant, a wave of crimson fire erupted. The blaze raged like a tidal surge and roared like thunder. It obliterated everything in its path, creating deafening crashes and howls. Shattered houses, small fences, and flimsy rural structures were reduced to ash and ruin. I was lucky to be behind them—if not, I’d have shared their fate.

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  Everything around burned. Wood crackled; wind howled. Slightly to the left of where she’d originally stood, Sugo’s figure shot out of the flames, still wreathed in fire, leaping toward the adventurers. Her morning star strike was blocked by Sem.

  — “That was hot. You’re a damn lunatic~” she said and laughed. Her laughter merged with the roar of fire consuming what remained of the village. Suddenly, Tiro vaulted over her and struck with the second morning star, aiming for Sem’s head. Sem managed to dodge the surprise attack—but the pair gave him no respite. They struck again and again, from different angles and positions, with varying speed and force. A tense battle ensued.

  — “Do you know what makes those stilettos special?” Sugo suddenly asked.

  Sem didn’t answer, focused entirely on tracking the duo’s every move. He was blocking not only two morning stars but also kicks, punches, and sudden lunges.

  — “They’re invisible at any given moment,” Tiro finished for her and slashed with his free hand toward Sem’s neck.

  — “Damn it,” Sem muttered, shoving the girl away and attempting to block the invisible weapon. But his blade passed through empty air. The man held no stiletto—nothing at all. At that moment, Sugo—now free after the shove—threw something at Lerry. A choked cry cut short, and from my position, I saw Lerry’s head snap back before her body collapsed to the ground.

  Under relentless assault from the killers, Sem couldn’t even turn around—but he already knew the outcome. His face no longer showed anger or worry. He deflected attacks, slowly trying to shift to offense. Perhaps because they were missing part of their gear, or because the fire on Sem’s blades had grown stronger, or simply due to fatigue—the pair couldn’t overwhelm the adventurer. And he, in turn, kept his patience, refusing to recklessly charge.

  At one point, Sugo handed off her morning star and retreated, leaving Tiro struggling alone against Sem. The girl ran to Drodul’s body, grabbed his axe and shield, and assumed a fighting stance.

  — “Does this suit me?~”

  — “Of course,” Tiro managed to say amid the adventurer’s furious onslaught. The fire blazing in Sem’s hands disrupted the killer’s usual rhythm. It even seemed the morning star heads were slowly melting.

  — “Good girl~” Sugo said and rejoined the fight. With the shield, she kept the flames at bay, while the familiar weight of the axe allowed sweeping strikes and thrusts. Now the pace and flow of battle shifted entirely. They began pressing Sem harder, increasing their chances of ending his life with every passing second.

  The fire on the adventurer’s weapons blazed even brighter, making it impossible to approach him. The pair fell back ten steps, unable to endure the heat. Sem spread his flaming arms wide. His eyes swept across the battlefield: his comrades’ bodies, peaceful villagers, charred monster corpses, blood, and ash. All he saw was pain and suffering. The flames on his swords dimmed nearly to nothing—now resembling only faint glimmers at the blade tips, like fireflies.

  — “It’s time to end this. To bury my friends—and everyone who died here,” Sem said and closed his eyes.

  — “That attack won’t work again, silly~”

  — “No,” Tiro interrupted the girl. “This is something else. Dangerous.”

  — “What? Wait…” she asked, for the first time not singing.

  At that moment, Sem drove both blades into his own chest in one motion. The swords slid in with a soft hiss and crackle. Immediately, his body began to glow and emit steam. With every second, his appearance changed: his bones grew visible beneath lightening skin; flames flickered from his eyes, mouth, ears, and nose. His clothes scattered like ash in the wind—only his skin remained, like a chrysalis ready to release a butterfly at any moment.

  — “No! This is very bad!” Tiro appeared in front of Sugo and pulled something from his coat lining. The pair stood aligned between me and the radiant Sem, so I could clearly see their actions—just before the flash.

  — “Soulfire,” Sem whispered, opening his blazing eyes. Those were his only words—but even from a distance, I heard his drowsy, fading voice. The delicate cocoon containing colossal heat and purest light dissolved—and everything around vanished.