Kena, who had also witnessed the downfall of the purple serpent, turned to face me. His expression twisted as stinger-like strings erupted from his face, and multiple water orbs materialized in the grand hall at his command.


    Screech!


    With a deafening noise, the orbs rained down indiscriminately, targeting both the conscious and the fallen alike.


    Activating Kairosflow, my perception shifted—the world around me turned gray. Despite the injuries I had sustained, I forced myself to use Static, slowing down the nearest orb while halting those descending toward my companions.


    "Anny! Gian! If you can move, get everyone to safety!"


    Both of them nodded, understanding the urgency. Gian gritted his teeth as he lifted the unconscious bodies of Sam and Sofia, carrying them toward the edge of the hall. Meanwhile, Anny sprinted toward Seth and Liber. She knelt beside Seth, her hands glowing with healing energy. His body twitched violently, his skin darkening with the serpent’s poison. Seeing Liber still breathing steadily, she focused entirely on Seth.


    Glancing at them one last time, I turned back to Kena, who continued his relentless assault.


    "Tch." Clicking my tongue in frustration, I pushed forward, dodging the onslaught while slowing the incoming barrage.


    My figure flickered across the battlefield.


    If I could just touch him—maybe I could accelerate his body’s breakdown, hastening his demise.


    But could I save him instead? The question gnawed at me, but no answer came.


    I looked at Kena again—no traces of his past self remained. His face was no longer human but a grotesque, shifting mass of tentacles and hatred. His unearthly scream echoed through the hall as his limbs split again, mutating into something even more grotesque.


    I had lost count of how many times they had been destroyed and reformed.


    "Asher! Seth—I can''t neutralize the poison all at once! He’s dying!" Anny’s desperate voice reached me.


    I clenched my jaw. She must have realized I slowed down Gian earlier—maybe she hoped I could do the same for Seth.


    "Keep healing! I’ll be there soon!"


    Hearing my words, Anny redoubled her efforts, her healing light shining brighter than ever before.


    I leaped into the air, stepping on nothingness. With a quick flick of Static, I froze one of the floating orbs midair. Kena responded instantly, canceling his own orbs and creating new ones to counteract the disruption.


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    As the water and Static orbs collided, they exploded into a violent spray. The force sent me tumbling backward, my clothes soaked as the droplets struck like tiny bullets.


    But Kena’s body was breaking down again.


    Seizing the opportunity, I dashed toward Seth.


    Gian had already placed Sam and Sofia in a safer corner, his chest heaving with exhaustion.


    "How is he?" I asked, kneeling beside Seth. Liber, at least, looked stable.


    "Barely holding on," Anny answered, fear and determination warring in her eyes. Her hands hovered over Seth’s chest, healing energy pulsing in waves as she fought against the venom’s corruption.


    I placed a hand on Seth and focused—slowing down the poison’s spread.


    "This should buy you time. Keep healing him."


    With that, I turned back to the battle. Kena had already noticed my shift in focus. His tentacles lashed out, forcing me to sprint through the air, my dagger slicing through the stinger-like threads. Sparks flickered in their wake as I dodged a fresh barrage of water orbs.


    I’m running out of breath. My mind was fraying from the strain.


    Can I accelerate that?


    My gaze flickered toward my fallen gun.


    Snatching it up, I stepped into the air once more, surging toward Kena. Anticipating my approach, he formed a ring of water orbs and launched them outward in all directions.


    Static.


    I stopped them all at once, aiming my gun midair. The world slowed again, my perception shifting as time dragged to a crawl.


    The barrel of my gun burned with an eerie white glow.


    Boom!


    The gun roared as the bullet fired at impossible speed, a streak of white cutting through the air, heading straight for Kena’s core.


    Kena’s eyes widened, his tentacles thrashing in a last-ditch effort to block the projectile. But it was too late.


    The bullet tore through the final barrier of water orbs, embedding itself deep into his chest with a sickening crunch.


    A gaping wound burst open, spraying a mixture of water and purple blood across the grand hall. The force sent him reeling, his form wavering. His eyes flickered with something unreadable—shock, maybe even understanding.


    I landed heavily, stumbling to one knee, gasping for breath.


    Kena’s grotesque form twitched and convulsed, his tentacles writhing in a macabre dance as his body crumbled away.


    "Br…Brother."


    The word rasped from his throat, broken and warped. A monster was not supposed to speak—but he did.


    I hesitated.


    The tentacles dropped limply to the ground, no longer a threat. His lifeblood seeped into the cracks of the hall.


    "Thank you... Brother."


    His screech was not of anger or malice but something softer—relief, perhaps.


    I didn''t know if he was speaking to me or hallucinating in his final moments. But I nodded, for whoever he wished to hear those words.


    His form stilled. The last of his body dissolved into nothingness.


    I turned away, my mind blank.


    Did I do the right thing? Did I kill a monster… or an innocent child?


    I would never know.


    ****


    I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. The warmth of the morning sun filtered through the window, forcing me to shut my eyes briefly.


    Yawning, I stretched my limbs and looked around. It was a hospital room meant for four. Alongside me, Gian, Sam, and Sofia rested.


    Liber had recovered quickly and was already discharged. But Seth… his condition had only stabilized recently.


    Two days have passed.


    Outside, the air felt fresh. Sam and Sofia had no memory of Kena’s transformation—they only remembered his sudden change before losing consciousness. My early enlightenment remained a secret, though I trusted Liber and the others to keep their knowledge to themselves.


    I had been cleared for release earlier, but I had asked to stay. It wasn’t because of any lingering injuries or hidden dangers—I simply wanted to rest. To lie still for a while longer.


    "Are you ready?"


    Liber’s voice cut through my thoughts. He stood by the door, eyeing me with mild amusement.


    "I guess not."


    Seeing me still in bed, he scratched his head.


    "Wait a moment." I swung my legs over the edge, my bare feet meeting the cold floor. A shiver ran up my spine.


    I hastily changed my clothes and came in front  of him.


    "I''m ready." I forced a small smile.


    "You sure? We can delay it a bit longer."


    "No," I exhaled. "Let’s end this as soon as possible."


    Liber nodded.


    "Then let’s go meet the guild leader."