With a horizontal sweep of Caulgoliver, I forced Yang Hailiu back.

"Why... WHY?! She means nothing to you! Why protect her?! Why stop me from devouring her?!"

Yang Hailiu snarled at me, her voice thick with resentment. She glared as if I’d stolen her most precious toy—eyes burning with grief and fury.

"No reason. Enough people have died already..."

Exhausted by her childish tantrums, I shook my head, tears welling up. Right now, Yang Hailiu was no different from a five-year-old throwing a fit over a broken toy.

"Enough? It’s NOT enough! My power isn’t enough! I MUST kill that bastard! I need stronger power—MUCH stronger!"

My words fell on deaf ears. Her twisted face rejected all reason; every plea sounded like meaningless noise. All she craved was power. Power to slaughter the one who’d deceived her—the Void. She’d sacrifice anyone to get it.

"That’s enough, Teacher Yang. This farce ends now."

Disappointed again, I raised Caulgoliver without hesitation and charged. The massive blade screeched against the ground—*skreee!*—as I closed in. With a swift upward slash, I carved a crimson half-moon toward her.

Yang Hailiu flinched back just in time, but the blade still grazed her left arm, tearing open a gaping wound. Strangely, no blood flowed—only raw flesh visible inside the gash, like a hungry mouth.

"AAAAH! MY HAND! MY HAND!!" She shrieked, clutching the wound while wailing as if begging the world to witness her pain.

"..."

Seeing her agony, my grip on Caulgoliver faltered. Doubt crept in. Could I really swing this blade? I wasn’t an executioner. Not a heartless killer. I was human—warm blood still pulsed in my veins. Even trapped in this madness, I hadn’t forgotten that. I wasn’t some saint, but who could watch someone die when they had the power to save them? Saving this qipao-clad girl was about peace of mind. And stopping Yang Hailiu from staining her hands with more blood.

"It HURTS! You’re unforgivable too! UNFORGIVABLE!" Yang Hailiu snapped her head up, teeth bared. Her hollow voice dripped with venom. Her clawed hands morphed into twin gun barrels—dark muzzles aimed straight at me.

"DIE! DIE!" She unleashed a barrage of shots—*BANG! BANG! BANG!*—bullets spraying like rain. Real bullets this time, not magic.

"Clumsy attacks won’t scare me."

I strode forward calmly, ignoring the storm of lead. Bullets struck my body but bounced off harmlessly, clattering to the ground like pebbles. My steps never slowed.

Watching me advance through the hailstorm, Yang Hailiu’s face paled. She stumbled backward—one step for every step I took.

"Hah!"

I wasn’t playing games anymore. Caulgoliver screeched against the earth—*skreee!*—as I swung it overhead, carving a blazing X in the air. Two crimson blades erupted from the slash, slicing through bullets and roaring toward her.

"Are you a monster?!" Yang Hailiu cried, terror twisting her features as I walked unscathed through gunfire.

"No. I’m human. But you... you became the monster. For—"

If I let her go now... more innocents would die. With her mind shattered, the bloodshed would never end. But could I do it? Could I kill the teacher who’d once shown me kindness?

The crimson blades struck true. Yang Hailiu staggered back, her guns falling silent.

"Ghh... Why?! Your contract beast is pathetic—pathetic! So why can’t I beat you?! Why do you wield so many weapons?!" Her furious eyes glistened with tears of frustration.

"I don’t know why. But please, Teacher Yang... stop. Just stop killing."

She knelt, broken. Even standing over her, I couldn’t raise Caulgoliver for the final blow. If she vowed to live quietly... I’d spare her.

"I will! I promise! I won’t kill anyone!" Yang Hailiu’s head snapped up. She nodded frantically like a chick pecking rice, clinging to hope.

"Then go. And don’t let me see you again."

Caulgoliver’s tip lowered. I turned away, walking toward the qipao girl. She’d woken, trembling as she struggled to her feet.

"You’re awake—"

"L-L-LOOK OUT!" Her scream cut me off.

I spun around. Yang Hailiu’s arms had fused into one massive cannon—its black muzzle aimed at my back. She’d waited for my guard to drop.

"Gungnir! Pierce my enemy!"

A crimson streak shot past me—*whoosh!*—the spear trailing black spirals and crackling red lightning. It howled like a death omen.

"DIE! DON’T UNDERESTIMATE ME!" Yang Hailiu fired. A crimson beam erupted from the cannon, colliding with Gungnir mid-flight. The spear shuddered, overwhelmed by the beam’s force.

But that split second was enough.

"Teacher... I’m sorry."

Sighing deeply, I raised Caulgoliver.

"Caulgoliver! Unleash your power—Hunt the Dying Light!"

Hesitation flashed in my eyes. Then I swung down.

The blade blazed with sunset-gold light—a flash, then gone.

"My body... WHAT DID YOU—?!" Yang Hailiu’s shriek echoed. Before my eyes, her flesh crumbled to sand. Her left arm dissolved first, grains spilling through her fingers. She stared at me, horrified. "WHY IS THIS—?!"

Before I could answer, Gungnir pierced her chest. Her sandy form scattered—a pile of dust on the floor.

"Teacher..."

I remembered her gentle smile.

"...Hnngh."

I covered my face, sinking to my knees before the sand. Muffled sobs shook my shoulders.