Damn it… I should’ve gone back immediately… I miscalculated… It wasn’t a poison curse… It was a corruption curse…

  Hannya glanced down at the pierced flesh of his belly and the black-green veins corrupting his chest and neck, eating him alive as he slumped against the wall. His breaths came ragged and shallow.

  “Teleportation magic… Abyss.”

  A purple rift tore through the air inside the Palace of Slaughter. Hannya cried out in pain as he pushed off the wall, limping toward the portal. “Just… two more… steps…” His hand slipped, his mind fading as his body fell through the portal, leaving the palace empty—save for the purple-black blood smeared on the wall and the faint, lingering scent of a pink flower from his pocket.

  ---

  Abyss

  “Hannya...? Hannya!” Kavinash rushed toward the portal, dragging his body out. Seeing the wound and spreading corruption, he lifted Hannya and threw him over his shoulder.

  He ran toward the council, shattering the bone gate instead of waiting for it to lower. “Lightless Moonlight!? Bastard! Where are you!?” His grip tightened on Hannya’s body.

  Everyone in the council turned—O’viles, Leminu, Liniah, and Lightless Moonlight.

  “What is this madness you—” Lightless Moonlight cut himself off, his eyes widening at the sight of Hannya. In two soundless steps, he stood before Kavinash. “Place him on the ground. NOW!”

  O’viles ran to them. “Oh no… Hannya…” His teeth gritted, jaw tightening as he helped Kavinash lower the unconscious body to the floor. “Don’t you dare leave us Hanny…”

  “Step. Aside.” Lightless Moonlight’s tone was ice. His pupil-less eyes fixed on Hannya. You will not die, Hannya… If you do… I’ll kill you myself as your superior general…

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  O’viles and Kavinash stepped back immediately. Leminu’s grip tightened on her bow, a single tear escaping. Liniah watched from the wall, expression unreadable.

  “Moonlight…” Liniah whispered, arms crossed. Lightless Moonlight nodded without looking back.

  “Moonlight Magic: Ethereal Moonlit.” His claws glowed with a fading white-blue light. Slowly, he pierced Hannya’s wound where the corruption had taken root.

  The grotesque sound of tearing flesh filled the council. Kavinash’s jaw clenched tighter. Liniah placed a hand on his shoulder to steady him, his own gaze unwavering.

  “Liniah… be ready.” Lightless Moonlight’s grip tightened around something unseen. With a decisive pull, a parasite-like creature—long, mermaid-shaped, and vile—was ripped from Hannya’s chest and neck.

  Liniah’s eyes locked onto it. Time seemed to freeze—then his blade flashed, cutting the parasite into a thousand pieces before anyone could blink.

  “What in the world did you fight down there, Hannya…” Liniah murmured, his grip tightening on his sword not in sadness, but in fury. You could've told us... Any of us... Chaotic fool...

  “A parasite god… How reckless you are, dear Hannya.”

  Everyone in the council froze. Darkness’s Right Hand entered slowly, hands clasped behind his back. Liniah and Lightless Moonlight began to kneel.

  “No need to kneel when one of you cannot even hear me…” His voice, calm and quiet, seemed to disarm the room.

  “Master is feeling soft today, it seems,” O’viles teased, a small smile breaking through his worry.

  With a gentle touch, the corruption ceased, turning to ash and vanishing from Hannya’s wound. “Why did you not call me immediately, Lightless Moonlight?”

  “Master… I wasn’t thinking clearly. Hannya’s life was at stake, and I did not wish to disturb your peace. It was foolish. Forgive my foolishness.” He bowed his head.

  Kavinash stepped forward, kneeling beside Lightless Moonlight. “Master… the fault is mine. I found Hannya first. If anyone is to blame, it’s me.”

  “Both of you, rise.” Darkness’s Right Hand smiled faintly. “Once Hannya is cured and standing, we will decide on a proper punishment.”

  With that, he clasped his hands behind his back and left the council.

  “I think we should also… fix the gate,” Kavinash murmured.

  The council erupted into relieved, breathless laughter. Lightless Moonlight simply smiled at Kavinash as he lifted Hannya’s body and carried him toward the back rooms. His eyes glanced at the small flower in Hannya's pocket. Always a soft spot… You never change, Hannya, do you?