"You're lying..."

The Tyrant was dead. She ended her blazing life in the most honored way, almost heroic, like a banner falling in a storm’s last red light.

"Anta..."

Even if you don’t believe it. Even if you hide. Even if you sweet-talk yourself. You still can’t deny it...

She used to rub people the wrong way, a spark that wanted blood the second she met someone. That quick temper, that disregard for others—like a knife carried bare—was hard to like. At least Mizuki didn’t like her at first; the Tyrant had tried to kill Night Phantom without mercy, and that alone froze Mizuki’s heart toward her.

But the Tyrant had that cold-shell, warm-core side. She never hid the hate clinging to her like smoke, yet she still cared, quiet as spring water under ice. For that, Mizuki didn’t dislike her.

Mizuki had never wished the Tyrant dead. Yet the fact stood before her, solid as stone in winter light.

"Tyrant..."

Mizuki stared, stunned. They weren’t close, but the Tyrant’s death made her feelings knot up like rain-drenched silk.

The one breaking hardest was Hawk Hunter. Her grief was naked, a wildfire on her face. Anyone could see the storm inside her.

It was hatred, near-mad, like pitch poured over a flame.

"Aaaaaaaah!"

Hawk Hunter threw her head back and roared at the sky, venting everything dark inside. Her scream made hearts flinch—like a beast that lost its cub, her voice carried crushing weight, the kind that made you believe she could do anything, no matter how wild.

She hated. She had never hated like this. The death of her most precious one was a bottomless winter, and she wanted only one thing—to vent, to avenge.

"Hawk Hunter..."

Mizuki had never seen her like this. In Mizuki’s mind, Hawk Hunter was always the gentle big sister, a warm fire by night. She never got angry. She always sheltered Mizuki, always looked after Mizuki and Thunder Lady, never complaining once.

But not this time. Hawk Hunter was truly angry—no, not just anger. It was deep, old hatred, a war-seed.

Since ancient times, hatred has been the best tinder for war.

"For the life that killed Anta... you’ll repay it with a hundred lives!"

With that vow carved on her face, Hawk Hunter gripped her combat knives and sprung forward, like a mother eagle missing her chick—grief sharp as talons, ferocity like wind. No one could stop her.

Splat!

In a blink, blood fanned out like a red spray. The enemy didn’t have time to react before their body split in two, terrifying as a cleaver through wet bamboo.

She lifted her head, eyes drained of light, a face like a mask from hell. The pressure she cast matched the Tyrant’s in life.

"Lusi..."

Comet paused mid-slash when she saw this Hawk Hunter, her heart twisting like a rope in rain. She stopped her work and watched as Hawk Hunter stepped deeper into the whirlpool of revenge. Comet couldn’t do anything.

Hawk Hunter didn’t care about anything around her. She wanted only one thing—to kill more, to lay blood at the Tyrant’s grave, to make steel sing.

"The Tyrant... she’s dead?"

Aya stared at the rampaging Hawk Hunter, blank-eyed. She couldn’t believe it either—that Witch so strong had fallen here forever, like a star burned out over black water.

She had no time to grieve. Danger clung to her like thorns. Lixiang was still hauling her through the enemy tide, searching for a break.

But Aya’s body was failing, like a lamp in wind. Gaining ground now felt unlikely. With wounded Lixiang beside her, she had no confidence in breaking out.

She thought the operation had succeeded, only to meet ruin. Not just the Tyrant; today, none of them might leave. Yie Caiyin didn’t doubt it—she might die here.

"Cough!"

Sham suddenly spit a mouthful of blood, dyeing her clothes red. Her hand halted mid-strike. The enemy seized that heartbeat and drove a blade in.

Block!

"Die!"

At the last hairbreadth, Yun Shi cut in, stopping the stab. Her shoulders trembled, betraying the storm inside. No hesitation—Yun Shi’s blade came down and split the enemy clean in two.

"Sham."

"I..."

"Don’t talk."

Yun Shi said nothing more. She knelt and started bandaging Sham, hands steady as a healer in frost.

Sham stared at the girl carefully wrapping her wounds. Something soft inside her stirred, like a lamp lit in snow. This kid wasn’t straightforward, but she was truly gentle.

"Xiao Yun."

"What."

"Thank you."

"...Mm."

The thanks made Yun Shi blink, then she returned to her usual rhythm, answering cool as mist.

"Leave me. I’ll drag you down."

"..."

"Listen. I’m fine. You should run—"

"You’re noisy."

"Eh..."

"I said you’re noisy. Be quiet!"

Yun Shi snapped at Sham, anger ringing like iron on stone.

How could she leave her? Idiot.

No matter what, Yun Shi would never abandon a comrade. Sham was... the friend she’d known since the very start, the first candle in her night.

There was no reason to walk away.

But the enemy tide didn’t thin. The crowd pressed like a stormy sea. Escape was a thread-thin chance, yet Yun Shi would still not let go. The darker it gets, the more you hold the line.

Elsewhere, Thunder Lady’s body was failing fast as she fought to shield Mizuki’s back. She almost fell several times, knees buckling like reeds in gale.

"Thunder Lady..."

Mizuki felt useless, like a bird with clipped wings. Why, at this brink, could she not help at all? Why...

She had power now, yet she was still this fragile. The contrast bit like frost.

Mizuki clenched her fists so hard she didn’t notice her nails digging in.

Splat!

Comet coughed a mouthful of blood. Her body was wrecked, sweat and red mixing like rain on clay. Blood seeped from every pore. Her steps grew unsure, vision clouding like fogged glass.

Looks like it’s my turn.

Comet gave herself a bitter smile. At last, her flame had reached its end.

She glanced at Hawk Hunter again. Worse. Hawk Hunter’s back was bowed, she spit clots black as ash. Her wounds were ugly, gaping mouths that drank fresh blood. A runnel of red covered one eye, a cruel smear, terrifying to see.

For revenge, Hawk Hunter had burned everything. She had cut down countless foes, washing the Tyrant’s name in enemy blood. But she still refused to stop, diving back into the melee, a tempest that wouldn’t tire.

This battle had already passed the point of return. They fought to live, cracked earth under a burning sky, but in the end, death didn’t change hands. Hawk Hunter’s body was in shambles, overdrawn like a bow at breaking; she could drop dead any moment. Comet was the same; she had lost too much blood to keep fighting high. Mizuki and Thunder Lady were near their limit. Sham couldn’t fight. Yun Shi had almost nothing left.

Each of them was almost done. They were just struggling, like fish thrashing in shallow water.

The enemies hadn’t expected them to be so stubborn. They had spent so many men and still couldn’t wipe them out. Their advance sharpened like ice shards.

"Ah!"

Thunder Lady took a sword, blood spraying red as a poppy. She staggered back. Her face twisted with pain, winter-white.

"Thunder Lady!"

Mizuki cried out without thinking. The next second, a squad rushed her, surrounding like wolves. They raised guns and pulled their triggers at her.

—!

Mizuki’s eyes went wide. She couldn’t move even half a step. She could only watch the bullets come, black bees humming straight for her.

"Mizuki!"

Hawk Hunter saw it and shouted. She forgot her own fight and ran, feet pounding, a shadow cutting through snowlight.

Time seemed to freeze. The enemies’ firing slowed in the eye, smoke curling like slow snakes. Hawk Hunter’s silhouette rushed closer, a black wing. Mizuki closed her eyes...

She saw Night Phantom in her mind, worried, tender as dusk. It felt like a dream. Not a bad one.

Facing death, Mizuki went calm, like a lake taking rain. She accepted it.

Rat-tat-tat—

Splat! Splat! Splat!

Blood burst in a flurry, bullets weaving a cold web that glittered like a cruel flower dance.

Mizuki opened her eyes—and froze.

Hawk Hunter held her tight, arms locked around her like a shield made of flesh. The harsh gunfire cracked at her back. Every bullet thudded into Hawk Hunter, each impact a dull drum. Blood sprayed again and again, red rain on Mizuki’s face. Mizuki struggled, panicked, but Hawk Hunter tightened and wouldn’t let her go. Only the blood at Hawk Hunter’s mouth kept spilling, warm then cooling against Mizuki’s skin.

Hawk Hunter used her own body to catch the bullets, used her life to guard this girl. With every drop lost, there was less protection left. This ever-gentle big sister chose the gentlest way—to protect Mizuki like a younger sister, even if it meant ending her own dawn.

"Hawk Hunter!"

Mizuki’s scream tore her throat, but it couldn’t move Hawk Hunter an inch. Those arms never opened.

Only the body turning cold, inch by inch, told Mizuki that this person, to her last breath, still guarded in the most tender, most grand way—like a lamp burning itself so the room stays light.