It felt like I was staring death in the face, like one wrong move could end us all. The servant stood before us, his cloak draped over his head, but I could feel his glare cutting through. I'd never met him, but his hatred was… familiar. I recognized it, I tasted this before but not like this. His was vast, corrosive, like acid burning through the air. It could bore a hole straight through the Earth.

My eyes darted to Silena. She was frozen, paralyzed by fear. We needed a plan, and fast. Every passing second could seal our fate.

"Si—"

I barely managed to say her name before the servant loosed an arrow aimed straight at her head. It was impossibly fast. I swung desperately, catching the tail end just in time. The arrow veered off course, missing her face by an inch, but not without consequence—it sliced through locks of her hair as it flew, tearing through the air with enough force to shatter steel. The wind it left in its wake was violent, knocking Silena to the ground.

But it was a feint. As I deflected the first arrow, two more found their mark. One slammed into my side; the other pierced my shoulder. The impact sent me flying, crashing into the ruins of a cabin. My back broke stone and whatever pillar shattered raining debris on top of me. Each one felt like a bonk on the head, except a thousand times worse. I tried to rise but the weight of it all pushed me back. I tried again but my limbs felt like jello, the arrow wounds were helping either.

" …Spawn of that whore. " The servant spat out.

His voice shook me, I could hear his footsteps coming closer, but not to me.

Silena!

"Oh [Divine Water]." I whispered my noble phantasm and water flowed out of my sword around my entire body. I'm healing, getting stronger, I've pulled the arrow out of my shoulders, the water instantly recovered the wound until not even a scar remained. I forced myself to stand, pushing against the weight of the rubble. The stones above me shifted, lifting slightly.

Just a little more.

Then I heard her scream—a raw, terrified sound—cut off as abruptly as it began.

I couldn't take it anymore. Ignoring the pain, I swung my sword upward, sending the debris flying. As I stood, I saw them. Silena was in his grasp, scrambling and clawing at his arms as he choked her. Her face was turning a sickening shade of blue. I didn't have to think, I flew at him, bringing down my sword to slice off his arm.

"Get away from her!" I screamed, my blade was inches from cutting through when he moved. He angled Silena's body into the path of my swing. Time slowed as the edge of my sword came dangerously close to her face. I twisted my grip at the last possible moment, diverting the blade. It grazed her cheek instead, drawing a thin line of blood. The sudden movement threw me off balance, and I crashed to the ground hard, cursing as I landed.

"Sa-ack!" Before she could speak he pressed harder.

"How about this!" I shouted, twisting beneath him. I pointed my sword directly at his face and unleashed a stream of water at point-blank range. The torrent shot out like a laser, so powerful and dense it could melt through stone. The force snapped his head upward, his hood lifting just enough for me to catch a glimpse of his face. He had long black hair, and his skin was flushed an angry, deep red. For a fleeting moment, our eyes locked.

And that's when it hit me. I couldn't move.

The hatred in his eyes was paralyzing, like staring into a black hole. It wasn't just anger—it was something deeper, darker, and utterly incomprehensible. It swirled in endless black currents, a rage so raw and consuming it made my chest tighten and my breath falter.

The stream of water from my sword sputtered out, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. My brain screamed at my body to move, to act, but my legs wouldn't budge, and my arms stilled as I uselessly pointed my sword. I just stood there, frozen, while Silena was right in front of me. I couldn't move. I couldn't save her.

What is this? Is it mystic eyes? Some kind of magecraft? What has he done to me!?

" You lifted my pelt… " He growled, without hesitation, he flung Silena to the side like a ragdoll. She hit the debris with a sickening thud, her body crumpling helplessly against the rubble.

"Wha… I…." My voice caught in my throat, refusing to work.

" You saw my face… " His voice was more than just sound—it vibrated deep into my bones.

The trembling started. My sword quivered in my grasp, my teeth chattered uncontrollably, and I felt warmth streak down my cheeks. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might explode in my chest.

This feeling… It's been so long. How long has it been since I've felt this?

I remember it. I remember the first time Gabe made me watch a horror film. I remember his fist, how I'd flinch at just the sight of it. I remember hiding from those jerks who wanted to beat me senseless. Running through the night, ducking into shadows to escape the monsters I thought were out there. At some point, it all drowned out. I stopped caring. It became the new normal, a constant background hum in my life. Eventually, I started fighting back. And nothing—absolutely nothing—scared me after that.

The only fear I had left was for Mom. I was scared of losing her, scared of disappointing her. But that was different.

This? This was something else.

It was like the dark itself had come to life. Every shadow, every nightmare I'd ever imagined had become real, standing before me. Here to hunt me, catch me, kill me. I couldn't move. I don't think I can.

The servant loomed over me, his presence swallowing all light, casting a shadow so deep it felt as though the world itself was being smothered. This was it. One move, and I was done. I didn't resist. I just stood there, watching as his arms lifted, preparing to strike—

" Saber RUN !" Silena's voice cut through the haze like a gong. My legs moved on their own, driving me forward.

The servant's strike pulverized the ground where I'd stood just moments before, the force so immense it shattered the earth beneath him. The impact sent rocks and debris flying into the air, dirt and gravel raining down like a storm for miles. The ground beneath me cracked violently, splitting open into a yawning crevice. I stumbled, unbalanced, and fell.

When I came to, I was underground again. I didn't know where. It was dark, the air thick with dust, and I was trapped beneath what felt like tons of rock. My breaths came shallow, and the weight pressing down on me was suffocating.

Silena…

Unlike before, I didn't know where she was. Heck, I didn't even know if she was alive. That thought alone snapped me out of my funk. The fear evaporated, leaving only shame in its place. I didn't know what exactly happened back there, but I knew one thing: it wouldn't happen again. Silena, I have to find her and—

My instincts flared. Water surged around my sword, and I shot upward like a geyser, bursting through the layers of rock and dirt that had buried me. The moment I broke the surface, I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding a rain of arrows that hammered down into the hole I'd just escaped from. More arrows were coming.

I ducked. I slashed.

Water poured off my blade in shimmering torrents, forming projectiles so sharp they sliced through the air like razors. Waves of arrows shattered against my strikes, but for every volley I destroyed, even more fell through. The wind swirled around me, carried by the blade in my hands. With a twist of my sword, I created a miniature vortex shielding me from the remaining arrows. When the last broke all that was left was an empty landscape of shattered rock, debris and dust. I couldn't let my guard down, brandishing my blade, searching for him.

He's not done. Not nearly enough.

As if answering my prayers, arrows rained down from the heavens. I darted and weaved, narrowly avoiding their descent. Their attack patterns were erratic, striking with no discernible logic. I couldn't anticipate where they'd land. One came so close it nearly pinned my foot to the ground. I shaped water above me, forming a makeshift umbrella. It wasn't perfect, but it worked—redirecting the arrows away from my head. The droplets rippled as each arrow passed, almost soothing in its rhythm if not for the constant reminder that it was literally raining death.

That's when I saw it—out of the corner of my eye, a hand protruding from the rubble. Silena, it has to be.

I began to run toward her, but the arrows grew more precise. One whistled past my head, so close I felt its deadly whisper graze my ear. More followed. I twisted and ducked, barely avoiding another aimed at my spine. Then they came from every direction—east, west, above. How could he be firing like this? It wasn't just impressive—it's impossible. Even for a servant, his skill must be insane.

Then the wind shrieked, and I saw it: a miniature tornado barreling straight toward me. My grip tightened around my sword as I dodged the incoming arrows, each step more frantic than the last. It wasn't easy. It's never easy.

As the tornado closed in, I leapt toward it, sword raised. Timing the strike perfectly, I swung with all my strength, aiming to cleave it in two.

It missed, flying completely past me and slammed into Silena.

"No!" The word tore from my throat as the bolt struck the pile of rubble. The explosion that followed sent rocks and dirt raining down around me. I acted quickly, running back and pushing through the debris; I couldn't see because there was too much dust and stone everywhere. I jumped to where I thought she would be and felt a body. I grabbed on. With my free hand, I raised my sword high. It glowed blue as the raindrops shot upward with the force of a million bullets. The light drove away the dirt and debris until everything above us was clear. But we were still not safe; I knew more arrows were coming. My eyes darted toward Silena when—wait.

"You're not Silena."

I was holding onto the enemy captain from before. She was knocked out, her helmet gone and armor bruised, purple cloak tattered.

"Where is—" My sword arm tensed as I deflected another barrage of arrows. Some managed to slipped through, grazing my arms and legs. Protecting a body made it so much harder. Why am I even doing this? She's the enemy. I should be using her as a shield, like that damned dog yokai. It would make things so much easier. Another bolt whistled toward my throat. My instincts screamed at me to act—to raise her as a barrier. It would be simple, effortless.

But…

I ducked low, the bolt slicing past to graze my forehead. A sharp sting flared as blood trickled into my left eye, half-blinding me. I couldn't do it. My body refused. Even entertaining the thought made my hands tremble. What's wrong with me?

"Enough!" I roared, driving my blade into the earth. Water erupted in response, surging upward in a powerful cascade. The torrent coiled around me, solidifying into a shimmering shield. Arrows slammed into the barrier, their momentum broken, and fell harmlessly to the ground. Then, the rain of death stopped. The arrows vanished into a faint shimmer, fading like illusions into the air.

What? My grip tightened on the hilt as silence settled over the battlefield. The barrage had ceased.

What is going on? My gaze darted around the area, searching for movement. Had the servant withdrawn? Why? He had the advantage.

I lowered my sword arm, and the barrier dissolved into a gentle cascade of water, soaking the ruined ground. Silence hung heavy in the air. All around me was devastation—splintered wood, torn fabric, and shattered stone. You'd never guess a camp once stood here. If someone stumbled upon this place now, they'd likely mistake it for a mountain of rubble or the aftermath of a demolition.

Why did he stop now? Is this a trap?

I stretched my senses, searching for anything—any trace of malice—but found nothing. That servant had been like a blazing beacon to me before, his presence impossible to ignore. I didn't think he could hide, even if he tried—or if he even wanted to.

Where is Silena? I don't know why, but my instincts tell me she's gone. Not dead or under the rubble, just gone. Unease clawed at my gut, twisting into something sickening. Something was wrong. Something bad was happening, and I was blind to it. I clicked my tongue in frustration, wiping the blood from my forehead with the back of my hand.

My gaze fell to the figure still in my grip—the girl, clearly someone of importance. If anyone had answers, it was her.

Without a shred of interest, I let her fall to the ground. She hit hard, groaning in pain as she struggled to move. I loomed over her, my sword angled above her head, its edge catching the faint light. She was still unconscious.

"Oh, [Divine Water]."

A stream trickled from the edge of my blade, snaking down to her face. I splashed her without hesitation, the cold liquid striking her skin. She jerked, tossing and turning as it shocked her awake. Gasping for air, she weakly tried to push herself up, but I kicked her back down.

"Urgh!" she groaned, collapsing under the force of my kick.

"Who are you? Why did you come here?" I growled, my tone like steel.

"Wha?... Who?..." she sputtered, coughing violently as water dribbled from her lips. Her head lolled to the side, her breaths shallow and wheezing. "Sarah!? Where… Khoff! Wheeze! Oh… Oh, right. She's gone," the girl whimpered, her voice in despair.

"Talk!" I barked, pressing my blade to her cheek. The cold metal bit into her skin, and she shivered under its touch. "Why are you here? Where did you take them?"

Her dull eyes turned to me slowly, a flicker of golden light buried deep within them, like a dying ember.

"Are you Pluto, come to judge me?" she hushed.

I didn't know what to answer, my eyes flared against her sullen ones. I edged my sword through the dirt, one swing and I could take her head off.

"Why are you here?" I hissed through clenched teeth.

She blinked at me blankly, her gaze hollow and empty, like I was staring at a corpse that didn't know it was dead.

"Tell me… who is your master?"

"My master?" she giggled, a broken, unsettling sound.

I pressed my sword deeper, angling it closer to her neck. That shut her up.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice cutting like the edge of my blade.

The girl paused, her expression shifting as though she were searching for an answer buried somewhere deep. The air grew heavier, the silence dragging as she opened her mouth to speak.

"I am Leila Fiore, Centurion of the fourth cohort of Rome. Daughter of Ceres." Her tone was robotic, the words recited like a mantra. But she didn't lie—that was a start.

Wait? Did she say Rome!? I did my best not to show it in my face, I don't know if it worked or not.

"Our mission…" she swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly. "There was none. We didn't come here with a goal."

She wasn't lying—but I knew that wasn't true. Was it half a lie? Damn it, these types always threw me off. I edged my blade closer to her neck. She didn't flinch, not that I could see.

"Wrong," I snapped. "Talk."

Her empty eyes bore into mine, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"I know that's a lie," I pressed. "He said your mission was to—"

"Gather bodies," she interrupted. "That was the mission. But it was never ours. We didn't come here for that."

Her voice cracked with fatigue as she shuddered, trembling. "I disobeyed orders. I tried to spare you Greeks. Foolish. It didn't matter." She turned her head away, her hollow gaze fixed on the dirt.

"What do you mean?" I demanded, driving my blade down harder. "You're giving me nothing. Who's your master? Why are you doing this?"

She let out a long, broken sigh, like someone who had forgotten the need to breathe.

"Mercy?" She laughed bitterly, shoulders shaking. "Our Lord doesn't care. Our Lord hates us. He despises us. Why would he care!?"

Her voice had cracked entirely now, descending into nonsensical rambling. Frustration churned inside me. She was going nowhere. I was about to cut my losses— and her —when the ground beneath me trembled. A low rumble echoed through the wreckage as stones began to shift, and groans rose from the earth.

"He doesn't care…" she mumbled, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. "No mercy. Not for poor Rome. Not for the poor children. There's no future for us… So we partake with the mud."

The ground split open as bodies clawed their way free. Soldiers.

The soldiers from before, rising from the dirt like weeds. They surrounded me completely, their forms twisted and broken. Their skin glowed a dark red, charred like coal. Their armor was shattered, their limbs contorted in ways that defied nature. One dragged itself forward with a neck bent at an impossible angle. They moved stiffly, nothing like the disciplined warriors I'd faced earlier. Some were adults, but others were barely more than children, no older than ten. Each clutched a weapon, their eyes glowing red with an eerie, malevolent light. And the smell, the stench of malice rolled off them in waves. It was the same oppressive energy as the servant from before.

"Our homes… our families…" Leila sobbed. "They're all dead. There's nothing left for us. We didn't come here for glory. We didn't come here for justice."

The soldiers turned their glowing, bleeding eyes toward me.

"We came here for…"

All at once, they threw back their heads and howled, their voices echoing in unison, filling the air with a sound that sent chills down my spine.

" Ultio !" They screamed as they barraged towards me.

Fast. That was all I could think as one of them brought his sword crashing down. I dodged just in time, the blade slamming into the ground and shattering the earth beneath it. That wasn't mortal strength. He thrashed wildly, his movements unhinged, his mouth repeating the same word over and over.

" Ultio, Ultio, Ultio, Ultio, Ultio —"

I barely had time to react as a kid, younger than me, thrust a spear toward my back. I flipped backward, the motion jarring as pain flared in my side from earlier wounds. Despite everything, I was still flexible.

The boy's face twisted in a grotesque snarl, drool foaming at his lips. He too repeated the same chant, his voice a rasping echo of the others. Their eyes blazed with rage, completely hollow of reason or thought.

And then they screamed.

All of them moved at once, a wave of bodies leaping toward me with impossible speed. Their movements were feral, faster than anything a normal human could ever achieve. I gritted my teeth, bracing myself. There was no way out of this without a fight.

Swords, shields, spears, axes, flails, daggers—they all came at once, a storm of weapons aiming to tear me apart. My blade slashed through the chaos, steel clashing against porcelain. Even with my strength as a servant, their combined force drove me back inch by inch.

I unleashed the wind from my sword. The gale howled, knocking some of them off balance, but it barely fazed the horde. Their bodies groaned in fury, their twisted forms snapping at the air like rabid beasts.

This wasn't enough. I'd have to get serious.

Water surged next. My sword erupted with a torrent, the blade stretching and growing until its edge loomed longer than the horde itself. With a single, sweeping swing, I knocked them all back, sending bodies scattering like leaves in a storm. In less than a second, they were on their feet again, sprinting toward me like demons. They moved without care for their broken bodies, ignoring twisted limbs and shattered bones. One of them was dragging himself across the ground with only a single working arm, his other limbs dangling uselessly.

All of them were like miniature berserkers, lost in mind, driven only by rage. I have to take them down , they won't stop otherwise. I mentally prepared myself for what I was about to do.

I stepped in front of the nearest one. Before he could move my sword immediately swung down, shoulder to ribs, I saw the path my sword was going to cut him in two. He screamed as the blade fell. I was going to do it, like I did a hundred times in my past life.

I was going to kill–

But just before the blade struck, my hand twisted. The sword's edge veered, scraping against the left pauldron instead of cleaving through his body.

What?...

My arm was trembling. It was just like with the servant, it refused to budge.

Why couldn't I–

I jumped back before his sword could disembowel me. The trembling returned, my instincts were out of whack. My lips were quivered, sweat dripped from my forehead, my heart felt like it would explode. These jitters, I don't understand. I've killed before, their faces all blurred together. It was normal back then, death was everywhere. I had no choice. In my last life…

I gasped.

A soldier managed to shield bash me to the ground, my eyes caught his as I fell to my back. I watched as another was about to thrust a spear to my chest. I panicked, I turned around and the tip slashed the back of my shirt ripping through skin. I screamed in pain.

"Uragh! Stop!"

I didn't know, I waved my hand at him forgetting I was still holding my sword. It was fast, I didn't think as the water blade shot out, slicing his arm off. The soldier screamed a terrible sound that seared itself into my mind. Red hot blood splattered over my face, that shouldn't have bothered me, but for the first time it wasn't mine.

"I-I didn't-" I couldn't finish before more came. I was in the middle of a battle, the world won't stop for me. Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up, narrowly dodging a flurry of strikes as their weapons crashed down where I had been. My body screamed in protest, but I forced it to move. I wanted to throw up, I could feel it on my skin, I didn't want to open my eyes, I didn't want to breathe. But the world didn't care.

" Ultio. " I hear it whisper by my ear. I turned around to see another soldier, their sword was about to run me through.

"No!" The coppery taste of blood slipped onto my tongue as I shouted. I cringed as I parried their blade.

Oh gods…

"Get away!" I screamed, disgust and panic coiling in my chest. I lashed out, kicking them to the ground, their armor scraping against the rocks.

The sound of footsteps behind me sent a fresh wave of terror through my body.

"Just leave me alone!" I turned with a desperate yell, my sword erupting with wind. A fierce miniature cyclone burst from the blade, tearing through the air and knocking the soldiers to the dirt. That didn't stop them. They twisted their limbs, cracking their bones as they got up.

I don't have a choice do I? I have to...

I could just run.

The thought clawed at the edge of my mind. Why don't I do that? Why can't I just turn around, leave this nightmare, and never come back?

It would be so easy. I could run to the furthest corners of the Earth and wait out the war. Hide until it was over, until someone else dealt with this mess.

But...

Those visions. Rachel's warnings. Caster won't stop. He'll burn cities to ash and slaughter hundreds—maybe even thousands. He's doing it right now, and I'm standing here, afraid.

Fight evil huh?

What a joke. If I ran now, I'd just be running from my problems. Running until there's nothing left. And eventually, he'd come for Mom. I know he would. This is the Holy Grail War. It won't end until there's only one left. Even if I do hide, he'll find me. He'll use everything to his advantage—mages, magi , the Onmyōdō . They're all the same, twisted and cruel.

He has an army of monsters at his beck and call. Why won't he? He'll stop at nothing to claim his wish, to destroy anyone and everyone in his way. Killing hundreds, if not thousands. And I call myself a hero? If I run now, if I could have stopped it, wouldn't it be the same as if I killed those people?

I see them. They're upon me. I have no choice. It's either them or me. Them or me. Them or me. It's not my fault. I shut my eyes tight as I raised my sword. Their chanting grew louder, closer.

Don't think.

I swung the blade down. Resistance jolted through my arms, and I fought back the bile rising in my throat. The swing was over in less than a heartbeat, but it felt like an eternity.

The chanting stopped. I didn't open my eyes. I heard the body hit the ground, armor scraping against the dirt and rocks.

I did it... I...

I couldn't breathe.

"Ultio. Ultio." The chanting began again, louder, closer. They wouldn't stop. Not until every last one of them was silent, forever.

I gritted my teeth and leapt forward, my sword cutting through the air. It wasn't me swinging it anymore. It couldn't be. I felt disconnected, floating outside my own body.

I didn't dare open my eyes.

I swung, again and again, each strike cleaving through the darkness. It was like cutting wheat in a field—one swing after another. The chanting grew quieter with each stroke, fading into the background.

" Ah... Ul... ta. Ultio. Ul— "

One final swing. One final thump. And then silence. I stood there in the dark, sword trembling in my hand. My entire body shook, the trembling growing worse with every second.

I couldn't open my eyes. I didn't want to see what I'd done.

A cold chill crawled up my spine, and goosebumps pricked my arms. I was too afraid to even breathe, knowing the air would carry the scent, the coppery tang that already coated the back of my throat. Slowly, I exhaled. Shallow breaths escaped my lungs in trembling bursts.

I had no choice. It was them or me. It's not my fault. They were... they were...

My eyes shot open, pain exploded in my stomach, a scream tore from my throat.

Leila. She was right in front of me, her face streaked with tears. Her hands shook as she twisted the knife deeper into my abdomen.

"For New Rome," she spat through gritted teeth. Her voice cracked, her hatred laced with something else—pain, grief.

"For Sarah. Die, Greek!" Her words echoed in my ears as she twisted the knife further into my stomach. I gasped in pain, my body acting on pure instinct. Without thinking, my hands gripped my sword and drove it forward, straight through her.

I saw the blade pierce her back, blood dripping from its tip.

"Fah... Ahh... Sara—" Her voice faded as her eyes clouded, her strength leaving her body. Her grip on the knife loosened, and I kicked her away. She fell to the ground with a sickening thud, my sword still embedded in her chest.

I staggered backward, falling into a pool of blood. My back hit the ground, and the cold, sticky sensation seeped into my skin. My entire body clenched as I reached for the knife still buried in my abdomen.

With a trembling hand, I yanked it out.

"Oh [Divine Water]. Oh [Divine Water]. Oh [Divine Water]!" I shouted the words over and over, in a desperate prayer. But nothing happened. The pain was unbearable, like a star igniting inside me, scorching through every nerve in my body.

Please. I don't want to die.

Then I felt it—a soothing, cool liquid flowing into my wounds. Slowly, the pain began to subside. My lips curled into an uneasy smile, though tears still streaked my face. It was slow. Agonizingly slow. I don't know how long I lay there in that crimson pool, unmoving, until the fire in my body dimmed. The aches dulled, and the searing pain became a bitter memory.

Even then, I didn't dare open my eyes. I sat up, my hands trembling, my breath shallow. I wanted to stay in the darkness forever, but...

But I couldn't.

With hesitation, I stood. My wounds were gone, and, strangely, I felt better than before. Stronger. Lighter. Maybe...

I took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes, bracing myself for what I was about to see. The first thing I noticed was the sky. Dark clouds churned overhead, with faint flashes of lightning illuminating the horizon. I stared at the heavens, wishing for rain—anything to wash this all away. In fact, I could do just that, all I needed was my sword.

Slowly, deliberately slow, I leveled my sight. My sword was still there—embedded in her body, far away from me.

What?

That can't be right. My Noble Phantasm, [Divine Water, is tied to my sword. The healing... it shouldn't have been possible without it. Water flows from the blade to mend my wounds, or at least, that's how it's always worked.

But there it was, the sword, motionless in her lifeless form. Not a single drop of water anywhere near me.

Then how did I...?

My breath quickened as I looked down at myself. My arms, my hands, my entire body—soaked in red. Blood. It dripped down my arms, soaked into my clothes, clung to my hair.

The realization hit me like a hammer to the chest.

Did I heal by... by that ? Oh. Oh Gods.

I couldn't stop it. My stomach twisted, and I doubled over, vomiting violently onto the ground.

Heaving and gagging, my throat burned with bile. It didn't stop—I kept retching until I was sure I'd lost every bit of food in my stomach. Breakfast, lunch, dinner—everything was gone. My body shuddered uncontrollably, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. I fell to my knees, hands gripping the blood-soaked shirt, trembling.

"Why?!" I screamed at the sky. "Why is this happening to me?! Damn it!" I hit the ground.

The words just kept spilling out. "Shit! Fuck! Fucking shit fuck!" Each curse was louder than the last, venom pouring from my lips.

If my mom were here, she'd kill me for talking like that. She always said I needed to watch my mouth, to act like the good kid she raised. But I didn't care.

How could I care now?

How could I ever look her in the eye again?

Her son—a murderer.

The thought clawed at my chest, hollowing me out from the inside. She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve me . I was supposed to protect her, to keep her safe, to be her hero.

But what kind of hero drenches themselves in blood? What kind of hero takes lives, even when it's to survive? The taste of copper lingered in my mouth. I spit onto the ground, but it didn't help.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, though I wasn't sure who I was saying it to. The girl I'd killed? My mom? Myself?

None of them would forgive me. How could they? Why would they?

I'm so fucked up.

I forced myself to stand. My legs felt like lead, my chest ached beyond the physical, and every step toward my sword felt like dragging my soul through a swamp of guilt and self-loathing. My chest hurts beyond the physical, it was a scarring pain that I know will never go away.

My hand trembled as it reached the hilt of my sword. I hesitated, my eyes drifting to her lifeless face. Tears streaked her cheeks, but there was nothing behind them anymore—no warmth, no anger, just emptiness. At least she's not in pain anymore. The thought barely comforted me. If only… If only I could be like her. Empty inside. Maybe that would make this easier.

I yanked the sword free with a sickening swipe, avoiding the sight of her body as I turned away.

"Oh [Divine Water," I whispered. The familiar liquid sheathed my arm, rushing across my skin, washing away the blood and grime. By the end, I looked clean, but I didn't feel it.

I let out a long sigh. This won't go away will it? There was nothing left for me here, I don't think I have the courage to bury their bodies. I took a step forward, then froze.

" Participa in luto. "

The words came from behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know what was happening.

" Ultio pro Nova Roma. Ultio pro liberis. "

A squelching, grotesque sound filled the air. Flesh twisted, bones cracked, and bodies reshaped themselves. The stench of malice filled my nose, thick and nauseating.

" Ultio. Ultio. Ultio. " The chant grew louder, more insistent, as the monstrosity took form.

I turned, gripping my sword tightly. What I saw made my stomach churn. It wasn't a creature—it was an amalgam . A grotesque mass of corpses fused together by some black, viscous liquid, its limbs a patchwork of twisted bodies. It moved like a parody of life, its grotesque form towering over me like a nightmare given flesh.

"I'm getting real tired of this shit," I muttered, raising my sword. The blade glowed blue, water coursing through its edge as if it shared my frustration.

" Ultio. Ultio. Ultio, " the monstrosity belched, letting out a shriek that made my ears ring.

"Will you shut up!" I roared, slashing my sword down its face.