"You dare ignore me? Kill him! Kill him now!"
"Exploding Fist!"
At Orvain’s shout, one of the Redflames lunged forward and hurled a flame engulfed punch toward Zair.
He twisted aside at the last moment, only to shift again as a second attack came in from another Redflame. Regaining his footing, he countered with a sharp thrust that pierced clean through the man’s arm.
"Arrgh!!"
Zair pulled his blade back, preparing to finish it, when a surge of danger hit him.
He threw himself aside instinctively, evading a cleaving strike that sliced past him by the narrowest margin.
"Fighting is futile."
Zair rolled to his feet, and turned his grim eyes to one of the bald twins standing calmly before him, katana resting in his grip.
"You’ll lose."
Zair tightened his hold on his blade as he straightened. He had barely avoided that attack.
’The other one...’
He turned toward Orvain, and his eyes widened.
The second twin was gone.
’Wher—’
A surge of pain tore through him, followed by two heavy thuds hitting the ground.
Zair looked down, trembling, and saw both of his arms lying at his feet.
"H-how...?"
"You’re simply weak."
The second twin stood beside him, calmly sheathing his katana. A faint wisp of smoke curled from the blade.
"That’s all."
How he had moved from Orvain’s side to here without being noticed was something Zair couldn’t even begin to comprehend.
Another disconnect followed and his legs were severed. His body collapsed heavily onto the ground.
"L-Lyra..."
Silver blood pooled beneath him as his gaze shook its way back to his sister. Orvain stepped into view a moment later, grinning widely.
"Stupid fool."
He spat down at Zair, eyes filled with contempt.
"That’s what happens when you don’t know your place. I want you to die knowing I’m going to enjoy her."
He licked his lips and laughed loudly. Any trace of his earlier fear had vanished now that the trash had been dealt with.
"N-no..."
Zair clenched his teeth until blood filled his mouth, but Orvain only laughed harder, eventually turned to one of the Redflames Zair had wounded earlier.
"Stay here until he’s dead. Make it slow. That’s his punishment for standing against a Redflame."
"Yes, young master."
Even after they left, Zair’s desperate eyes remained fixed on his sister.
’I-I failed.’
As their figures disappeared into the forest, Zair slowly lifted his gaze to the sky.
’I deserve to die...’
This time, horror replaced his anger. He was meant to protect his sister, protect their world, yet he’d been overwhelmed in a single exchange.
And he had dared to compare himself to that man.
The one who had faced the entire Verge and emerged victorious.
Zair closed his eyes and released a long, broken breath.
It was over.
...
’Finally...’
Atticus fixed his gaze on the forest looming in the distance as he crossed the last stretch of the wasteland. The unchanging gloom had begun to irritate him.
’That’s a terrible way of thinking.’
The Arbiter’s reprimand followed almost immediately.


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