As the Bull charged toward Gloria and was about to strike her, a shadow suddenly appeared above her.
Then—
Boom.
The silent ninja.
Henry.
With a powerful front kick, he struck the Bull at a vital point beneath its neck.
The Bull collapsed instantly.
Henry looked at Gloria and smiled.
"Gloria... even if I have to die today, I'll still protect you. I'll kill these monsters and make sure you're safe."
Gloria broke down in tears. She pushed him away and cried,
"Why are you doing this for me? I betrayed you."
Henry gently smiled.
"You know... I first saw you when we were five."
"I always had a little crush on you."
"I wanted to talk to you, but I never had the courage."
"I still remember that first day."
"It was midnight during sports time."
"You had the cutest face I had ever seen."
"And you were wearing that little pink ribbon in your hair."
"You were playing badminton."
"You looked a little frustrated..."
"But somehow, even that looked adorable."
"As the years passed..."
"I fell harder and harder for you."
"And even now..."
"My love for you keeps growing."
He stepped closer.
"And I know one thing for sure."
"You never betrayed me."
"I know you love me just as much as I love you."
"It wasn't you who exposed the plan."
"It was the hidden microphone they planted on you."
"It was always there."
"They never fully trusted you."
"They suspected you because you were never where they expected you to be."
"You were always with me."
"And because of me..."
"We're standing here today."
"You probably think I'm just making excuses..."
"But I know you better than anyone."
"I've known you my entire life."
"You would never go behind my back."
"I also know why you're here."
"They threatened your family..."
"Didn't they?"
At that moment, Gloria completely broke down.
She hugged Henry as tightly as she could.
"You really can see right through me..."
"I didn't know what to do."
"I felt trapped."
"It was like sitting on a seesaw."
"I had to choose."
"But being with you made me grow up."
"It taught me to choose my family before myself."
She looked into his eyes.
"At least..."
"We can die together."
"We'll leave this world together..."
"And live above the sky forever."
Henry laughed softly.
"Together?"
"What made you think we're dying here?"
Without another word, he rushed toward the next Bull.
From behind his back, he drew the Katana he had always carried for moments like this.
The battle began.
One after another, the Bulls fell before him.
Even King Serloth began to panic as he realized his plan was starting to fall apart.
But then...
He played his dirtiest trick.
He brought Henry's and Gloria's parents forward.
"If either of you tries anything else..."
"They die."
At that moment, Henry remembered what he had whispered to Steve earlier about the underground moving plates.
He had already given Steve the instructions.
He had seen this possibility long before.
And thankfully...
It worked.
Their parents were moved to another location.
Safe.
But that brief distraction forced Henry deeper into the final section of the cage...
The Bullpit.
The last street.
The only place where the arena could be completely sealed off from the outside world.
Now there was only a ten-meter space left.
Six Bulls.
Two humans.
And one Katana.
Henry quickly understood the situation.
If he focused only on defeating the Bulls...
Gloria would almost certainly die.
If he protected Gloria first...
He might save her.
But he knew the cost.
So he chose her.
With Gloria in one arm and the Katana in the other...
The Bullpit War began.
When it was finally over...
Every Bull had fallen.
Gloria was safe.
Henry, however, had suffered a fatal wound.
He slowly collapsed beside her.
Looking into her eyes, he smiled one last time.
"Please..."
"Stay with me for a few more minutes."
"Let me feel your warmth..."
"One last time."
And with those words...
Henry closed his eyes forever.
Gloria completely lost herself.
She held him tightly and whispered through her tears,
"You promised me..."
"You promised we'd be together forever."
Unable to imagine a world without him, she chose to remain with the one she loved.
The two of them lay together...
Holding each other...
One final time.