The ground shook again.
Dust drifted down from the ceiling above as another thunderous boom echoed through the cavern like the gods themselves were battling. Piero's breathing was heavy—each gasp a fight against the collar around his neck and the runes binding his limbs.
He was still shackled, arms stretched and bruised, chained to a thick stone pillar like an animal awaiting slaughter.
'What the fuck is going on on the surface?'
Screams echoed distantly. Some were slaves. Some weren't.
He tried to twist his wrists again, pushing past the pain. The chains burned with every tug, but he didn't stop.
'Come on. Come on, dammit—'
His thoughts were a cyclone.
'Where was Mary? Was she caught in the riot? Was she free?'
The not knowing was worse than the pain.
Another tremor hit—closer this time. A part of the ceiling cracked. His heart dropped.
And then—
"PIERO!"
His eyes widened.
That voice.
It couldn't be.
"Mary!?"
She burst into view, barefoot and covered in dirt, but unmistakably her. Her eyes were swollen with tears. A broken slave's shackle clinked loosely around one wrist, shattered.
"You're alive!"
She cried, dropping to her knees and wrapping her arms around him. "
He couldn't hold her, not with the chains still wrapped around him, but he leaned his forehead against hers and laughed softly in disbelief.
"You're safe… You're really safe."
She nodded, her tears staining his tattered shirt.
"Someone came. He's fighting them. I don't know who he is, maybe a cursewright."
"Azel."
Piero muttered.
"You know him?"
"We partnered up for a job. Didn't expect him to turn out like this…"
Piero glanced at the ceiling as another tremor passed. Dust rained down.
"He's not fighting for me, but right now he's buying us time."
She nodded and moved to the chains, inspecting the binding rune. Her hands trembled.
"How do I break this?"
"It's a sealing rune. You'd need a mage or a spellbreaker."
She bit her lip.
"Some of the other slaves… they ran toward the outer chamber. Maybe one of them knows something. I'll go find someone—"
"No, stay with me. You could get caught again."
More shouting echoed from above. Some of the freed slaves ran past the entrance of the cavern, barefoot and frantic. A few stopped to peek inside, then sprinted away again.
Others stayed to watch the chaos from a distance—drawn to the battlefield like moths to a flame.
"Mary, If the seal breaks, we run. No hero stuff. No turning back."
"Y-Yes. We've had enough chains for a lifetime."
He smiled despite the pain. The only thing keeping him sane right now was the warmth of her hand in his.
Another boom. Closer still. The pillar behind him trembled.
Far above them, the real fight was escalating.
The rain had not stopped.
Anna 's legs were trembling. Her vision swam, the world dipping in and out of focus. She gripped the wet stone beside her, trying to stay upright.
Her void domain was gone, collapsed under Hakugo's fury. Every drop of rain soaked her clothes, streaked her face, but none could wash away the dread that coiled in her chest.
Hakugo emerged from the broken cave mouth, his white cloak now stained with dirt and blood. His golden eyes gleamed under the stormy sky, the madness inside them laid bare.
"No more games. You've exhausted your usefulness."
He walked toward her slowly, deliberately, like a predator savoring the fear in his prey.
"You thought you could humiliate me? I tolerated you because I was curious. But now? Now, you've made me angry."
Anna stumbled back.
"I'd rather die than let you touch me."
"Oh, you will. I am going to r**e you here and now."
He raised his hand but then—
BOOM.
The impact shook the entire cliff.
A figure crashed down from the sky like a meteor, splintering the earth beneath.
Anna's eyes widened.
'Azel.'
His entire body steamed, wrapped in smoke and the stench of burned blood. His chest heaved. His spiral curse mark that had spread across his ribs and abdomen was glowing faintly. His eyes glowed in the rain, and blood ran down his brow, mixing with the downpour.
"Azel, didn't I tell you to stay the fuck away? Why have you come. Run... RUN....."
Hakugo smiled, turning toward him like he'd just seen an old friend return to finish a duel.
"Oh good. I wasn't done carving you up."
Without warning, Hakugo disappeared.
But Azel was faster this time.
He twisted mid-air, predicting the attack behind him, and kicked, hard.
Hakugo blocked it, skidding back across the wet rock.
"I am tired of playing with you now."
He vanished again. Azel blocked high, but this time Hakugo didn't strike—he taunted. He appeared a few paces away, sword casually resting on his shoulder.
"You're tenacious. I'll give you that. But let's test your limits, shall we?"
Azel didn't respond. He rushed in again, fist covered in cursed flame. Hakugo parried it and grinned as their blows shook the very earth. Sword met fist. Magic met will. And every time Azel hit harder, the strain in his body worsened.
"More, Forbanna, I need more."
"You'll burst! Your body's already breaking apart! This is the limit—!"
"I DON'T CARE!"
He roared as he launched another flurry of strikes. His skin cracked, glowing with unstable energy. Blood poured from his ears, his nose.
Hakugo was still grinning.
"You're breaking yourself for her? How emotional."
With a flash, Hakugo appeared behind him again—and this time, his blade struck true.
SHUNK.
It pierced straight through Azel's chest.
Anna screamed. Azel's eyes widened—but he didn't fall.
The sword pulled free—and Azel still didn't fall.
Hakugo frowned.
"Still standing? Then let's fix that."
He raised his palm.
"Divine Binding: Chain of Grace."
A burst of radiant light erupted, and golden chains shot out of thin air like divine serpents. They coiled around Azel's arms, chest, and legs—pinning him to the ground.
He roared in defiance, muscles bulging, trying to break free.
The chains pulsed with holy energy, hissing against the curse mark.
"Move… dammit… MOVE!"
But he couldn't.
Hakugo stepped forward slowly, a sadistic light in his eyes.
"There. Much better. Now you get to watch."
He turned toward Anna, who was now crawling from the cave's mouth, tears streaking down her dirty face.
"AZEL!"
Azel tried again—harder this time. The chains rattled, but they held.
He looked at her, teeth clenched.
"Run…!"
"I'm not leaving you!"
She shouted back, coughing from exhaustion.
Hakugo approached her like death itself.
"Touch her, and I'll kill you."
Azel growled, blood bubbling in his throat.
Hakugo glanced back with a smirk.
"You already tried."