Adam’s Aegis flared around him, the shimmering barrier of defensive energy snapping into place just as Leela’s cursed daggers struck. But the debuff had done its work, his defenses, already weakened, cracked under the assault. The blades punched through, one of them grazing his ribs, the other slicing deep into his shoulder.

Blood sprayed, hot and immediate. The dagger aimed for his heart had been deflected just enough by the Aegis, but the tip still pierced flesh, carving a furrow along his sternum.

Adam gritted his teeth. ’She’s good. Almost had me.’

But his tail was already moving.

The scaled appendage shot forward before Leela could withdraw, wrapping around her waist, her arms, pinning her weapons to her sides. [Constrict] tightened, and Leela gasped as the air was crushed from her lungs.

"I can’t... move!" Her golden eyes widened with panic.

Adam’s lips curved into a bloody smile. His mouth opened wide, and prismatic light began to gather in his throat—rainbow radiance, bright and terrible, the energy condensing into a focused beam.

"Here’s your return gift."

[Prismatic Beam].

The light exploded from his mouth, a lance of pure, blinding energy aimed directly at Leela’s chest. She screamed, struggling against the coils, but Adam’s grip was iron. The beam surged toward her, already at its peak.

Leela saw her death approaching in that rainbow fire. Her golden eyes went wide, pupils shrinking to pinpricks. She couldn’t dodge. Couldn’t escape. Couldn’t even close her eyes.

"NO—!"

"STOOOOOP!"

Sean’s voice tore through the chaos, raw and desperate. He lunged forward, his broken body somehow finding the strength to move. He crashed into Adam’s side, shoving him off balance.

The beam shifted.

It tore through the air, missing Leela’s heart by inches but catching her left ear. Flesh and cartilage vaporized, and blood sprayed from the wound. The beam struck the far wall, carving a smoking trench through the stone before dissipating.

Leela screamed, a sharp, agonized cry.

"AAHHH—!"

Adam’s tail released her, and she crumpled to the ground, clutching the side of her head, blood pouring between her fingers. Her remaining ear rang with the echo of the blast.

Adam turned his crimson gaze on Sean, who stood panting, swaying on his feet, his face pale with exertion and rage. Blood still dripped from Sean’s severed fingers, staining the stone floor.

"Hoo." Adam’s voice was calm, almost amused. "Looks like someone’s got feelings for the commander."

Sean’s dark eyes blazed with fury. His voice was a snarl, raw and venomous.

"Shut up, monster! Don’t you dare say another word!"

He raised his remaining dagger, his body trembling with exhaustion, but his grip was steady. The blade gleamed in the dying firelight.

Adam tilted his head, studying him.

"Interesting." His lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. "You’d die for her?"

Sean’s jaw tightened. "I’d kill you for her."

Leela, still on the ground, her face pale, her hand pressed to her bleeding wound, looked up at Sean with something that might have been surprise.

Sean didn’t look back at her. His eyes were fixed on Adam, burning with a hatred that transcended reason.

"Come on, monster." His voice dropped, low and fierce. "Let’s finish this."

Adam’s cold laughter echoed through the ruined forge, his crimson eyes glittering with cruel amusement.

"I don’t care about you," he said, dismissing Sean with a wave of his hand. "I’m more interested in your master. Where is he?"

Sean’s face contorted with fury. His voice was a snarl, hoarse and defiant.

"The master won’t come here for a small fry like you!"

Adam’s lips curved into a mocking smile. "Bold words... for a man who can barely stay on his feet."

Leela, still pressing her hand to the bloody ruin where her ear had been, forced herself upright. Her golden eyes, though clouded with pain, held a desperate urgency.

"Sean... stand down. You can’t fight him." Her voice was strained, but firm. "Retreat. Now."

Sean’s jaw tightened. His dark eyes blazed with stubborn defiance.

"No. I won’t retreat." He shifted his stance, placing himself between Adam and Leela. "I’ll protect you."

Leela’s breath caught. "Sean..."

Adam watched the exchange with predatory satisfaction, a slow, cruel smile spreading across his face.

"Ahaha. How touching. Truly, truly touching." He brought his hands together in a mockery of applause. "You love her that much? It’s almost enough to make my heart ache." His smile sharpened, becoming something dangerous. "Then how about this? I’ll kill the one you love most. Right in front of you." He tilted his head, crimson eyes gleaming. "I wonder what kind of face you’ll make. I can’t wait to see it."

Sean’s composure shattered.

"You BASTARD!" His scream was guttural, ragged, consumed by a fury that drowned out all reason.

Leela’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "Sean, don’t let him provoke you! FALL BACK!"

But Sean was already moving.

He lunged, his remaining dagger aimed at Adam’s throat. His movements were desperate, wild, lacking the precision of a trained assassin.

Adam’s form blurred.

[Mirage Cascade].

He slipped past Sean’s charge as if the man were standing still. In the space between heartbeats, he was no longer in front of Sean. He was behind Leela.

His hand closed around her throat.

Leela gasped, her hands flying up to claw at his fingers. But his grip was iron, unyielding. He lifted her off the ground, her feet kicking uselessly in the air.

"AGH—!"

Sean spun around, his eyes going wide with horror.

"LEELA!"

He stumbled forward, his legs threatening to give out, but he forced himself to move.

"STOP! LET HER GO!"

Adam held Leela suspended, watching her struggle with detached interest. Her face was turning red, then purple, her claws scratching uselessly against his scaled forearm.

Adam’s voice was calm, almost gentle.

"Looks like you really do care about her. How... convenient for me."

Sean’s dagger clattered to the ground. His hands, bleeding, trembling, reached out toward the woman he couldn’t save.

"Please... don’t..."

Adam’s smile widened.

Adam’s fingers tightened around Leela’s throat, the scales of his palm pressing into her windpipe. Her face flushed crimson, then deepened to a terrible purple. Her golden eyes, wide with pain and terror, darted to Sean one last time.

"Sean..." Her voice was barely a whisper, choked and broken. "Run... please..."

Sean’s legs gave out. He dropped to his knees, his hands reaching toward her, tears already streaming down his face.

"LET HER GO!" His scream tore through the ruined forge, hoarse and desperate. "PLEASE! I’M BEGGING YOU! LET HER GO!"

Adam’s internal voice was quiet, almost thoughtful.

’Damn... this is... fun? Am I becoming more sadistic?’

His lips curved into a cold smile.

"Watch closely," he said, his voice soft and cruel. "This is what happens when you are weak."

His grip tightened.

Leela’s body convulsed. Her hands, once scratching at his arm, fell limp. Her legs stopped kicking. Her eyes, still fixed on Sean, glazed over. A final, choked gasp escaped her lips, and then she went still.

Adam held her there for a moment longer, savoring the silence, the emptiness where her struggle had been.

Then he let her fall.

She crumpled to the stone floor like a discarded doll, her white hair pooling around her pale, lifeless face.

Sean stared.

"No..." His voice was barely a whisper, broken and hollow. "No, no, no, no—"

He scrambled forward, crawling across the blood-slicked stone, his severed fingers leaving smeared trails of crimson. He reached her body, gathered her in his arms, pressed his face against her cold cheek.

"LEELA! LEELA, WAKE UP! PLEASE!" His screams echoed through the forge, raw and agonized. "DON’T LEAVE ME! LEELAA NOO!!!"

He rocked her, held her, sobbed into her hair. Her blood soaked into his clothes, warm and relentless, but he didn’t notice. He noticed nothing but the stillness of her chest, the slackness of her jaw, the emptiness in her eyes.