The courtyard glowed with torchlight, the flames licking high against the night sky. Crimson Fang banners rippled along the walls, their sigils painted in blood and shadow. Soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, encircling Luv and Ayu like wolves cornering prey.
Kael, Moraku's blood-brother, stepped forward slowly, pipe still in hand. He drew in a breath, lit the end with a spark, and exhaled smoke in a long, deliberate stream. His calmness was more terrifying than Moraku's brute force.
"I see it in your eyes," Kael said, his tone unnervingly soft. "You've killed before. You don't flinch at death. That makes you dangerous. But killing Moraku? That makes you unforgivable."
A hush settled over the courtyard, every soldier waiting on Kael's signal.
Ayu raised her pistols, eyes sharp, jaw set. "Your brother came at us like a monster. He got what he deserved."
Kael's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "And so will you."
Without warning, he snapped his fingers.
The soldiers surged forward, not in a clumsy rush, but in practiced formation. Shields raised, spears leveled, they advanced as one—closing in from all sides. The sound of boots stomping in unison shook the courtyard like a heartbeat.
Luv crouched low, dagger glinting. "Stay close. Don't get separated."
"Like I'd ever leave your side," Ayu replied, her voice steady despite the storm bearing down.
The first clash came fast. Spears thrust, shields slammed, and Luv moved like a shadow—slipping between strikes, blade flashing across exposed throats and wrists. Blood sprayed across the cobblestones as he weaved in and out of the formation, his movements surgical, precise.
Ayu's shots rang out, each bullet claiming a life. Her hands moved instinctively—fire, reload, fire again. When one soldier got too close, she spun, smashed her pistol's butt into his jaw, and fired point-blank into his chest.
Still, the tide was relentless. For every man that fell, two more closed in.
Above them, Kael watched with unblinking eyes, smoke curling from his pipe. He wasn't testing their strength—he was watching their bond. Measuring it.
"Together," Luv said, ducking under a spear and driving his dagger into the wielder's gut.
"Always," Ayu answered, shooting another soldier before he could flank Luv.
Their movements began to synchronize—one striking where the other created an opening, their backs covering every blind spot. It was more than teamwork; it was instinct.
Minutes dragged like hours, the courtyard littered with bodies, blood flowing in dark streams. Yet still, the circle of enemies pressed in. Luv's breaths grew heavier, Ayu's pistols clicked empty more often. Their stamina thinned with every heartbeat.
Finally, Kael flicked his pipe aside, embers scattering across the stones. He stepped down into the courtyard, drawing a curved blade from his sash. Its edge shimmered faintly, etched with runes that caught the firelight.
"Enough," he said softly, though his voice carried across the courtyard like thunder. "I've seen enough."
The soldiers halted instantly, parting to form a path.
Kael's eyes locked on Luv. "Now, boy, you face me. The axe has fallen… now comes the dagger."
He raised his blade in salute, then leveled it at Luv's chest. "I vow on Moraku's blood—you won't leave this courtyard alive."