Глава 8

Enough. You cannot shake my resolve.

Your actions are completely the same, down to the very rhythms... Disgusting.

Those two swords are still unable to best me.

You will eventually run out of stamina, yet my flames are endless.

Your swords are an extension of your bodies, whereas I embody power. You will fall to your fatigue, and I will claim your lives.

Talulah, open your eyes and see... Do you truly wish for such an ending, such a tragedy?

Is this really what you want?!

Enough!

It's pointless to hide in your shell. Face me.

Amiya raises her head.

She speaks as if describing a simple fact.

Ch'en looks at Amiya. The girl next to her is unrecognizable from the Amiya of ten minutes ago.

Her unusual tone is surprising. It feels as though a third of it is coming from Amiya herself, another third from subtly imitating her, and the last third...

Ch'en does not know either.

The Draco pinches her lips together.

After much hesitation, she opens her mouth once again.

What sights did you see this time? Whose last words did you hear?

Cautus, only those who face imminent death like to spout such platitudes. The events of the past cannot harm me.

At the same time, she taps the hilt of her sword, lightly pulling apart the shaking air ahead of her and sending the scorching heat towards the two Infected.

Ch'en roars. Just before she moves, it occurs to her that it may be better for Amiya to deal with this.

Chi Xiao - Fleeting Night!

She turns to look at Ch'en, a smile on her face.

Um, sorry. It's something like this, right?

Blue? Black... probably cerulean. It looks good. Compared to this, Chi Xiao is a lot bloodier.

At this moment, Ch'en considers that perhaps this battle should have just gone like this.

The oxygen supply devices have all been destroyed during the battle. To fight a fire dragon while carrying an oxygen supply is nothing short of suicidal.

With a huff, Ch'en discards her extraneous equipment and laments the fact that she was far too hasty with her preparations.

Amiya, there's not much time left. She's planning to burn off all the oxygen here.

The rabbit beside her is also a veteran of many battles. This reminder should have been unnecessary, but it's enough to divert her attention.

There's only one reason to do so. Ch'en wants to draw her attention. Ch'en breathes in deeply.

She's struggling to keep calm.

Refusing to be bound by its scabbard, the temporarily restrained Chi Xiao trembles violently, as if eagerly awaiting its release, to the point of madness.

Though, it may be because her own hand is shaking.

After all these years, only now... only now does Ch'en feel the tenacity of Chi Xiao. She fears that she will lose her grip on the sword, yet she is unable to stop herself from rejoicing together with it.

Ch'en comes to a realization. Chi Xiao possesses no will of its own. Its will is the will of the wielder.

It wasn't that she was unable to draw Chi Xiao before. She just hadn't reached a point where she needed to use it.

But now, as she faces a veritable wall of flames and the villain in front of her, the person she longed for, that friend, sister, criminal, along with a sense of total despair, it all weighs down heavily on her.

The trembling gradually stops. It's time, Ch'en feels. Chi Xiao has been waiting for far too long.

And she has, as well.

Miss Ch'en, please wait. We may be able to hurt her, but even if we have the power to do so—— Killing her is meaningless.

Amiya doesn't feel as if she is the one speaking.

She feels like a sharp blade, a sharp blade bent from injustice and tragedy. Even so, Amiya feels that this blade will return to its original shape, as sharp as ever.

She feels a little like Ch'en.

That's not a bad thing. She cannot actually be Ch'en, after all.

Amiya gazes at Talulah.

Miss Ch'en, did you arrest suspects just so you could flog and humiliate them? To take away their lives?

Yet, her nameless anger is nothing like Ch'en. She feels betrayal, manipulation, isolation. She is experiencing a story that has yet to reach its end, a gloomy future that which still exists.

That is just an outcome, I believe. Besides, we don't possess that authority.

I know you'll say that just washing away her suspicions is too easy.

No, Madam Ch'en... Miss Ch'en. That's not right.

Whether or not her suspicions can be washed away must wait until this matter is resolved.

Ch'en bites down hard on her lip, drawing blood. Why does she feel joy at blood kin harming one another? She cannot answer.

She stops herself from raising Chi Xiao.

She sighs.

Exactly. That's just an outcome. I want them to be judged for their crimes. Death can come after they are sentenced.

Where does your confidence stem from?

It's not confidence, monster.

It's called responsibility.

Ch'en holds her head up high.

It's our duty.

On the other hand, Kashchey, you possess nothing.

Your body is borrowed. Your deceptions are laid bare. Your flames falter before Chi Xiao.

You chose this place as your battlefield, relying on your weapons and disguise. Staying in the core city is proof of your arrogance and folly.

You've driven yourself into a corner. You cannot escape.