In the distance, the area that had been bombarded was still burning fiercely, like a volcanic eruption, with flames and smoke billowing intensely.
Revy sighed, put away his weapons, stepped forward a few paces, and picked up the Warlock King's Horn that had fallen to the ground.
The Warlock King's Horn still glowed with a seductive crimson light, seemingly undiminished by the death of its previous owner. In fact, when Revy picked it up, it even attempted to establish a connection with its new "master."
Of course, that malicious tendril of connection was swiftly repelled—classified as hostile by the blood of Gore Magala that ran through Revy's veins.
"...Senior."Ayafalla was still in a daze. Just moments ago, she had been in mortal danger, only to witness a massacre carried out by Revy single-handedly.
She had heard the stories from Amiya—how Revy had repelled the entirety of Reunion at Lungmen by himself, even killing members of the Emperor's Inner Guard.
But hearing stories was one thing. Seeing it with her own eyes was entirely different—it was far more shocking.
(Revy-senpai... He's incredible... Almost like a god...)
Ayafalla thought to herself, shifting her gaze to the battlefield in front of her.
Then her expression changed—drastically.
Steiner Zoklei.Even though his limbs had been torn off and his internal organs consumed, the man was still alive.
Or perhaps "alive" was no longer the right word. Injuries like his would normally kill a person in mere seconds. The only reason he still clung to life was because Revy had used his virus-infused Originium to forcefully keep him breathing.
Naturally, that came with excruciating pain.
But no matter how much he suffered—no matter how his body screamed for death—the virus wouldn't allow him to die. And without limbs or even internal organs, he couldn't even bite his tongue to end it all.
All that was left for Steiner was to writhe in helpless agony, desperately waiting for Revy—or anyone else—to grant him a final, merciful blow.
"Uncle Steiner..."Ayafalla wished with all her heart that this was just a nightmare.
She couldn't understand—still couldn't understand—why Uncle Steiner had done what he did.
If he hadn't admitted it with his own mouth, she would've rather believed that she'd misheard everything.
But...
"I'm sorry, Adele. I know this is hard, but... you have to get through it yourself."
The voice came from behind her—Revy, who had now stored away the Warlock King's Horn, stepped to her back.
"...Senior."Ayafalla understood what Revy meant. A blood feud could not be left unanswered. The reason Steiner still clung to life... was so she could end it with her own hands.
"Ugh... urk..."Noticing Revy and Ayafalla's presence, Steiner's bloodshot eyes locked onto her. He seemed like he wanted to say something—but his vocal cords and windpipe had been torn out. All that escaped his hollow chest was a faint rasp, like bellows leaking air.
After several fruitless tries, he gave up. His gaze simply rested weakly on the two of them.
"...I understand, Senior."
Perhaps it was Steiner's pleading expression, or Revy's quiet encouragement—or maybe she had already made up her mind long ago. Ayafalla raised her head, her eyes no longer clouded.
(Maybe yesterday's Adele was still a naïve little girl. But today—I'm no longer that innocent.)
(Revenge can't fix everything. But even so—I must have my revenge. So let all of this—return to dust.)
As the young Caprinae girl walked slowly forward, her eyes burned—not with rage alone, but with sorrow, pain, contempt... and hatred.
Her staff burned with intense heat, like a crimson lotus meant to incinerate all sin. With each step she took, flowers of fire blossomed behind her.
She stopped only when she stood directly in front of Steiner.
The man could not bear her gaze. The look in her eyes, forged from every emotion into a single force of hatred, made even this scheming old manipulator feel utterly ashamed.
No one knew what was going through his mind. But when he closed his eyes, a single tear slid down his cheek.
A tear of repentance? Of release? Or just a crocodile tear, born of habit?
—It no longer mattered.
The girl's staff came crashing down.
Unbounded flames, like purgatory's own wrath, consumed what remained of the traitor's body. At temperatures surpassing 1400°C, Steiner's consciousness vanished in an instant.
In the next, all the love and hatred, grudges and regrets—vanished in a flash of firelight.
Ayafalla stood silently, gazing at the completion of her revenge.
The fire consumed both truth and eternity. What the flames devoured left behind only ashes, drifting on the wind—just as, after hatred fades, only emptiness remains.
Suddenly, she felt a warm presence behind her—arms wrapping around her gently.
She trembled, then turned and threw herself into the man's embrace. This warm chest—was her greatest support.
Revy looked down at the girl in his arms with a touch of sorrow. Ayafalla bit her lip, but the tears on her face fell regardless.
"You don't need to say anything, Adele... Just cry. Cry all you want."
As Revy gently stroked the top of her head, the young Caprinae girl could no longer hold back. She buried her face into his chest and wept—loud and unrestrained.
"The nightmare is over, Adele... It's all over now."