Roar!

The moment the monster spotted Yichen, it lunged forward with a furious snarl.

Yichen gritted his teeth, shoving his fear deep inside. He rolled sharply aside—the monster slammed into empty air.

Seizing the instant it landed off-balance, Yichen charged, slashing downward. The beast let out a choked whimper before splitting clean in two.

Before Yichen could catch his breath after felling the first monster, a second one lumbered through the gate.

Inside the house, Shiyue stood frozen, hands clasped tightly over her chest. She longed to rush out and help, but knew she’d only slow him down. All she could do was watch, heart pounding, as Yichen fought desperately in the yard.

Yichen cut down the second monster swiftly—only for a third to enter. Then a fourth. Fifth. Sixth.

Their massive size forced them through the gate one by one. Yichen used this to avoid being overwhelmed. *As long as I stay unharmed, I can hold out longer.*

But reality shattered hope.

After the eighth monster fell, others began leaping over the walls.

"Tch."

Yichen cursed under his breath, retreating to block the door with his body.

Three monsters growled, charging together. Yichen swung his sword wildly—two recoiled, faces and forelimbs bleeding. The third dodged. No longer could he dodge and counterattack. He shuffled in a tight circle, blade flashing to keep them at bay. If they breached the house...

His sword’s unnatural sharpness saved him. It sheared through claws and fangs like paper. The monsters hesitated, their attacks slowing.

Twenty minutes of fighting. Yichen gasped for air. Every second demanded absolute focus—one slip meant death.

A monster pounced. Yichen twisted aside, driving his sword upward in a backswing.

*Huff... huff... huff...*

He planted the sword in the dirt, leaning heavily on it. Exhaustion gnawed at him. The strange power surging through his veins flickered weakly. *If I collapse when it fades... I won’t even lift my sword.*

"Yichen! Left!"

Shiyue’s scream snapped his head around. A monster lunged from his blind spot.

Too late to dodge—he crashed to the ground. The beast pinned his sword arm, jaws gaping wide over his face—

*THWACK!*

Shiyue burst out, cleaver sinking into the monster’s flank. It barely broke the skin. The creature snarled, whirling toward her.

Shiyue trembled, stumbling backward. Its focus shifted entirely to her. It turned away from Yichen.

The instant he was free, Yichen rolled up and swung. Blood sprayed as the monster crumpled.

But as Yichen staggered upright—another beast lunged at Shiyue.

"SHIYUE!!!"

Her attention had been locked on him. The monster bowled her backward into the house.

Yichen charged inside. The beast stood over Shiyue, one massive foot planted on her abdomen.

He swung. The monster collapsed mid-roar beside her.

"Shiyue! Shiyue! Talk to me!"

Yichen’s stomach heaved. Crimson soaked the floor. Entrails glistened where the monster’s foot had crushed her. *Ruined. Utterly ruined.*

His legs gave way. He crawled to her side.

"Shiyue... Shiyue..." His voice cracked. This peaceful boy had never seen such carnage.

Her beautiful face was smeared with blood and dust. Black hair tangled across her cheeks. Her pupils were unfocused, mouth bubbling crimson. Her lips twitched with silent agony.

A searing pain ripped through Yichen’s chest. The power flooding his body vanished like smoke.

He collapsed. Even lifting his head took impossible effort. Blood bloomed across his shirt—he couldn’t recall when he’d been wounded.

Their eyes met on the floor.

"Yichen... run..." Shiyue whispered, tears streaking through the blood on her cheeks.

"...Damn it."

Regret choked him. He wanted to scream, to weep—but his body refused.

A monster padded into the room.

Yichen clawed for his sword. His arm wouldn’t obey. The blade barely scraped the floor. He tried to rise—his body flopped back down. Then, his last hope dissolved into shimmering particles.

Despair swallowed him whole. *Like a boulder crushing me in an empty desert. Just... waiting to suffocate.*

*(Why... am I so weak? Can’t even protect... the girl beside me.)*

Hot tears spilled. He bit down so hard his gums bled.

*If only I didn’t exist...*

*(So tired...)*

The monster crept closer, sensing his helplessness.

ROOOOAR!

It launched itself at them—

"Sister... save me..."

*CRACK! THUD!*

The wooden ceiling shattered. A figure dropped between Yichen and death.

"Sister?"

He knew that silhouette.

Zixuan raised her pale left hand. A translucent white barrier bloomed before her. The monster rebounded violently off it. Purple magic circles materialized in midair—black chains erupted, coiling around the beast. With a sickening *rip*, it tore apart, raining gore.

A petite black-haired girl landed beside Zixuan.

"Yichen! Are you hurt?"

"Sister... I’m sorry..."

Yichen could only choke out the words as Zixuan’s eyes shimmered with tears.

"I’ll heal you now!"

Her palm hovered over his chest. Soft white light pulsed between them. Warmth flooded his veins.

He noticed the black-haired girl glaring at him, lips pursed in a pout that somehow looked adorable despite her anger.

Minutes later, the pain faded to a dull ache.

"How do you feel?" Zixuan asked.

Yichen pushed himself up. His body felt whole again—as if he’d never been wounded.

"Sister, what was that?" He stared at her, stunned.

"Yichen!"

She suddenly hugged him tight.

"You’re safe... I was so scared. If something happened to you, I... I couldn’t—"

"Sorry, Sister... SISTER! Shiyue’s hurt too! Please save her!"

Yichen pulled back, gripping her arms.

Zixuan froze, then nodded slowly.

"Alright."

"She saved me... You *have* to save her."

Zixuan hesitated, studying Shiyue’s broken form before placing her hand over the girl’s chest. Gentle light glowed.

"Her wounds are severe. I can only stabilize her. She needs a hospital."

Relief washed over Yichen—he’d heard the unspoken promise: *She’ll live.*

Outside, a massive purple barrier sealed the doorway. Monsters bounced off it like flies.

"Hmph! You’re lucky Sister sensed your Soul Power."

The black-haired girl—Claire—scowled at Yichen with open disdain.

"Eh? Who are you?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"Uh..."

Yichen swallowed the blunt rejection, words dying on his tongue.