The same bleak black-and-white painted over the Sunless Depth battlefield. Trees lay broken, toppled like dominoes and scattered across the land. The earth was split and raised in uneven patches. Sunlight began to fade as the sun descended beyond the shattered canopy.

  Kuro walked the battlefield with a deadbeat expression, waiting for the Bird's grand entrance.

  The sound of wings rustling in wind echoed loud through the dead-silent forest. Kuro let out a deep, annoyed sigh and looked up.

  Morvane descended before him—soulless eyes, mechanical movements—and landed.

  "Morvane is dead. Can't you choose another form? Like your real form?" Kuro spoke through gritted teeth.

  The Bird impersonating Morvane didn't respond. It simply stared.

  "Speak, bird. Why are you sile—"

  A thick, wet stretching sound interrupted him—something viscous manifesting around him.

  Kuro looked around.

  A tall, muscular figure appeared. Rhanes stood with a tense expression, staring deep into space, foot tapping the floor repeatedly. Beside him rested his hammer weapon, Emberstrike.

  "What?" Kuro's jaw tightened. "Why are you showing me my senior? Answer, you dumb bird."

  One by one, more people materialized.

  To his left: Fenric, riding Beretta.

  Behind him: Lovia, making a cocktail with a worried look.

  To his right: Mr. Evandrous and his granddaughter Nina, plucking flowers and watering plants.

  And finally: Ella, laying flat in a river of blood, motionless.

  Kuro scanned everyone with silent eyes. Then he turned toward the Bird.

  "What are you trying to say? HUH?" His voice grew louder, patience unraveling.

  The Bird didn't respond.

  Instead, it lowered its head, opened its mouth—

  And snapped shut with unimaginable speed.

  Every figure around Kuro—except him—had their heads severed cleanly. The heads rolled across the ground, spraying blood that drenched him completely.

  Kuro didn't move. Didn't flinch. No emotion crossed his face.

  He simply stared at the Bird with the same deadbeat eyes, drilling holes into it.

  The Bird watched him carefully. Then it lowered its head closer.

  "GOOD."

  "AUGHHHHHH!"

  Kuro screamed in agony, grabbing his right shoulder. He fell to his knees as the world around him faded into smoky mist and vanished.

  Vrooooom.

  The sound of an engine approached, growing louder, then stopped.

  Hurried footsteps crunched through rubble. A shadowy figure leaped from collapsed trees, tail swinging, and landed on all fours before continuing forward at a sprint.

  Fenric.

  He was drenched in sweat, eyes restless with worry.

  He stopped and sniffed the air, picking up his partner's scent, then rushed toward it.

  As Fenric navigated through the battlefield—riddled with broken trunks and fractured earth—he spotted Kuro lying flat and motionless. The arcane gun rested beside him.

  Fenric's eyes went wide with panic. He picked up speed, reaching Kuro in seconds.

  Kuro lay face-down, clothes torn, body covered in blood.

  Fenric turned him over carefully and pressed his ear against Kuro's chest.

  As he listened for any sign of life, his expression grew more worried with each passing second. His eyes watered. Tears slid down his face and dripped onto Kuro's cheek.

  Fenric began bawling, words struggling to escape through his sobs. He sniffed, frozen, tears dripping constantly. His grip tightened—nails piercing his own skin, drawing blood.

  "Part—ner..." His voice trembled. "Sorr—ry... I... was... use—less... I... I..."

  His face fell flat against Kuro's chest. His body shook with silent, wheezing sobs.

  BOOM.

  A loud explosion vibrated in the distance. Broken wood and earth burst upward as toppled trunks shifted. A hole formed in the debris.

  Fenric slowly turned toward the sound. His eyes were red. His constantly moving ears flattened against his head.

  Through the hole, among the rising smoke, a large beak emerged.

  Then the rest followed.

  Blue eyes. Sharp. Focused.

  Morvane.

  Fenric saw what was coming. But he didn't move—as if ready to face it. He stood, wiping his tears, growling with rage. His nails extended. His tail grew larger, hair bristling. His eyes became pure ember. Muscles stretched and corded around his body as he prepared to assault the beast.

  Then his eyes caught something.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  A humanoid figure beneath Morvane.

  The smoke lifted fully.

  Ella stood there, holding Morvane's severed head on her shoulder like a boulder. In her other hand, she dragged the rest of the beast's massive corpse—slowly, little by little. She was limping, but her face held a fierce look despite the exhaustion. Her breathing was controlled.

  Fenric calmed. His transformation retracted. He sat down heavily, head hanging low.

  "Partner..." he whispered. "It seems I can't even avenge you. Or join you." His voice broke. "Sniff. I'm utterly, thoroughly useless."

  Ella stopped to catch her breath. She noticed Fenric in the distance and continued her approach, dropping her kill midway to limp forward.

  Fenric's head remained down. He noticed boots stop before him.

  "Hi, Ella," he said quietly. "Looks like you've done what you came for. Ha. Good for you. But at what cost? Is it even worth it?"

  "What are you babbling about?" Ella's voice carried confusion.

  Fenric's face twisted in anger. He shot upright, grabbing Ella by her collar, and shouted: "Are you FUCKING serious?! Is death so little to you Dragonbloods?!"

  At the mention of Dragonbloods, Ella's expression tensed.

  "I can't believe you!" Fenric continued, voice breaking. "I know he can be a jerk, but I thought you were okay with him! At least act like you cared! Is one mere life worth nothing to you?! Of course—I forgot it's Ella I'm talking about. One of the selfish Dragonbloods!"

  THUMP.

  A sudden impact to his stomach sent Fenric to his knees.

  "Wha—t was tha—t?" he squeaked.

  "Just waking your delusional ass up."

  "How can you be casual when someone is dead?!"

  "Dead? Who?"

  "What do you mean 'who'?! Look at him!" Fenric turned toward Kuro—

  And his face fell in shock.

  Kuro sat upright, wide awake. His face was hidden in shadow.

  Fenric's eyes poured fresh tears. His frown transformed into a wide smile. "Partner! You're alive!" He lunged forward for a hug—

  And froze.

  A grim presence fell over the clearing—a surging bloodlust so thick it threatened to suffocate.

  Fenric caught himself mid-step. Fear overshadowed his happiness. He stood beside Ella, whose hand had gripped tight around Moonreaper's handle, trembling.

  Kuro rose slowly, the arcane gun in his hand. He stared at nothing, eyes shaking. He began walking forward—each step heavy with anger, frustration, irritation.

  The music played by the forest—the rustling leaves, the wind through branches—went silent.

  "Ella, that's my partner. Don't you dare," Fenric whispered urgently.

  "I won't." Her voice was tight. "Just reflex. But you're feeling what I'm feeling, right?"

  "...Yes." Fenric swallowed. "But that's him. Okay? Let me prove it."

  He rushed to Kuro and slapped his back hard while screaming: "Wake up, partner!"

  Kuro blinked hard. He turned left, then right, then straight—looking at Morvane's severed head, lifeless on the ground. For a moment, he imagined the Bird and Morvane side by side.

  Then he turned around, facing Fenric.

  "Beast?"

  "Partner!" Fenric hugged Kuro tight in pure joy and relief.

  Ella walked over to them.

  Fenric released Kuro. Kuro turned to look at Ella.

  "Idiot," he said.

  Ella acknowledged him with a nod. Then her brain caught up. "...Wait. What did you just call me? 'Idiot'? Again? Emphasis on again? After all we've been through, that's how you address me?" Her voice rose. "You can't be serious!"

  "Ahhhh." Fenric let out a relieved sigh. "Good to be back."

  Kuro looked at Morvane's corpse again. "Tch." Irritation flared. He turned back to Ella, lifted his hand, and handed her the arcane gun.

  Then he whispered: "Good job."

  "Wow." Fenric wiped fake tears from his eyes. "My partner's all grown up."

  Ella, who had been heating up with anger, received the gun mid-swing. The fury extinguished instantly.

  "Huh? What was that?" She leaned closer, placing her hand to her ear. "I didn't hear you. Can you repeat that?"

  "I said you look like an idiot," Kuro replied flatly.

  Veins pulsed in Ella's forehead. "Not again!" she shouted. "But—"

  Kuro, who had started walking away, stopped.

  Ella took a breath. "If it weren't for you, I'd be dead. I was overconfident, thinking I could take Morvane alone. I was wrong. So..." Her face flushed slightly. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

  Kuro stared at her for a moment, then nodded. He was thinking the same about himself—he wasn't an exception to overconfidence.

  Kuro walked straight to the beast's body and pulled Mosvmora free. The blade looked pristine—no blood, no residue. He scanned it briefly, then sheathed it.

  Fenric crouched beside the corpse, sniffing. "Wow, the smell is foul. I can't believe I'm seeing one of the most dangerous high beasts in full form. Well, technically half and half, but oh boy—it looks majestic." He tilted his head. "It must not even bleed, huh? There's not that much blood."

  "That's what I'm wondering too," Ella said. "But I saw it bleeding. It's weird."

  Listening to their conversation, Kuro thought: Probably my sword was hungry.

  "Looks like another celebration is coming up," Fenric said brightly. "And it'll be bigger than ever. So what are you going to do with the head? Bring it back to Euneim? Make soup out of it? Sell it?"

  "Why, do you want to buy it?" Ella countered.

  "Well, yes and no. If you're willing to sell, my partner here would be happy to buy it. What do you say?"

  Kuro closed the gap between himself and Fenric. "What are you doing?"

  "Come on, partner. Can't you see the picture? It's clear Ella's the one who landed the finishing blow. That makes it her kill. The head rightfully belongs to her. If you want to get to Euneim, the head is the quickest access. It's the key to your next adventure."

  Kuro realized. "Shit."

  "What do you mean 'Kuro buying'?" Ella blinked innocently. "Morvane was his kill too. Obviously we share the reward."

  "Wow, damn." Fenric's face fell in regret. "I forgot she was a good person. Man, I just had to speak ill of her." He brightened. "Partner, your chance has arrived. Lucky you."

  "Nah." Kuro's voice was harsh. "That's your kill. You take the reward. I don't need your pity."

  "What? No, no—that's not—" Ella began.

  "Enough." Kuro cut her off. "Beast, let's go."

  "Huh? But, partner—"

  Kuro gave him the look.

  Fenric shut up immediately. "Yes. Let's go."

  Ella watched Kuro and Fenric disappear into the shadows. She shook her head. "Men."

  Her mind lingered on the earlier incident—Kuro's empty stare, the suffocating bloodlust.

  What was that? He looked like he was about to end everything. And I didn't even notice—what happened to his injuries? They looked so bad...

  "Kuro," she whispered to herself. "You're one giant mystery. And I will reveal it."

  Ella found vines and roots, fashioning them into a makeshift rope. She tied it to Morvane's severed head, leaving the body behind—it held no value.

  She began dragging the head through the Sunless Depth, heading toward Windwaker. Her limp worsened with each step.

  Dammit. My leg and body aren't in good shape. I'd better reach my car soon.

  When she finally arrived, her face spoke volumes.

  Windwaker was in pieces.

  Her soul visibly shattered.

  Ella's legs gave out.

  She fell to her knees before the wreckage, hands reaching forward to trace the deep claw marks splitting the frame.

  "You stupid, beautiful beast," she whispered.

  She'd rebuilt Windwaker from scrap. Alone. Every scar on its frame was a memory—first hunt, first rescue, first real victory. It hadn't just been transportation. It had been proof she could build something. Survive alone.

  Ella pressed her forehead against the torn metal for one breath. Two.

  Then she stood—slowly, painfully—and picked up the rope.

  "Looks like the beasts in the Tall Forest had a great scratch," she muttered bitterly, her eyes watering.

  Sunset.

  The sky filled with bright orange, illuminating the somber scene. Ella dragged the head behind her, leaving the Tall Forest on foot, heading toward Bear Path.

  The weight was immense. Her body screamed in protest.

  But she kept moving.

  One step at a time.

  Toward the town.

  The Smithblood Guild was nearly empty.

  Lovia sat at the front desk, staring at paperwork she couldn't focus on. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped her pen.

  She'd heard it from passing adventurers an hour ago—casual gossip between guild members returning from patrol.

  "Saw that half-beast and his partner heading toward the Tall Forest earlier. Bold move, that."

  "The Tall Forest? Now? With all those tremors we've been feeling?"

  The Tall Forest. Kuro had gone to the Tall Forest and didn't even tell me, and that dog Fenric too.

  Her throat tightened. What if something happened? What if he—

  She shook her head, trying to dispel the thought.

  Hours had passed. The sun had moved across the sky—afternoon fading to deep evening. The guild was quiet except for a few members dozing in corners.

  He's fine. Fenric's with him. They're both fine.

  A sound cut through her spiraling thoughts.

  An engine. Distant but distinct.

  Beretta.

  Lovia's head snapped toward the entrance, pen falling from her hand.

  The engine grew louder, closer—then stopped somewhere outside.

  She was on her feet before she realized she'd moved, heart pounding, already heading for the door.