UnbrokenChainENG

On a beach covered in blood and dust, Shazmeen struggles with what he has left to heal his friends. His hands shook, his fingers full of wounds as he tried to stop the bleeding and ease their pain. Erik, leaning against the tree with a sigh, watched Shazmeen with a look of disgust. Even though his own body was barely able to move, he still helped as much as he could.

Meanwhile, Kael stood in the middle of the battlefield, facing Coguku.

TAAAPP!!

"SUPER VOID STEP."

SLAASSSH!!!

A split second later, my Coguku felt something strange an invisible loss. However, before his mind had time to process, an excruciating pain radiated from his shoulder. Blood gushed wildly in the air.

His hand...

His left arm is gone.

"Kh-What...?"

My Coggy eyes widened, Kael didn't look anywhere. Even the eve of his existence-something he should have been able to clearly sense-disappeared completely, as if swallowed up in the void.

From a distance, Erik was surprised to see what had just happened.

"Did he ... move? Teleportation? Or what? I haven't even had time to blink an eye..."he murmured in his heart. "That speed... beyond the limits of human understanding."

Then, Kael's voice came from behind my Coggy.

Cold. Calm down. Without emotion. "Are you already this weak just for fighting those people, Coguku?"

My Coguku turned around in panic. Over there... Kael stood up, her gaze like a dagger piercing her heart.

"It's ironic... You're just a cheap piece, sent here to be pounded."

For the first time, fear crept into my Coggy body.

The figure, who had considered himself a predator, now found himself prey. His heart was racing, cold sweat soaked his body, and his breath hunted in panic.

In front of him, Kael stepped slowly, like an angel of death who had just come down from the darkness.

"Before death takes you along with the void you get it..."Kael lowered her head slightly, her eyes flashing cold, full of pressure that pierced to the bone.

"Where are they located?"

The voice sounded calm, but carried a threat more terrible than the roar of war.

Coguku shivered. His mouth was open, but no words came out. His tongue was stiff. In her entire life, she had never felt so fragile. A monster that had been slaughtering without hesitation... now kneeling, terrified in front of Kael.

Shazmeen who was nearby was treating Lirien, his heart rate weakened and his lips began to turn blue, his cheeks were already flooded with tears, unable to lose his companion. Erik attempts to walk towards Shazmeen, Lirien, Sylvenia, Renier and Duncan.

Duncan, coming to his senses but with a broken arm, tries to seat himself and sees Lirien, Renier and Sylvenia unconscious.

On the other side, on a beach soaked with blood and tears, Shazmeen struggles against time.

Lirien lay weakly on his lap. His pulse weakened, his lips began to turn blue, and life slowly left him.

"No ... don't... please, hold on!"Shazmeen's voice almost broke, his hands shaking as he channeled his strength to heal.

Her tears flowed non-stop. One after another fell, wetting the pale cheeks of the Lirien.

Erik, who had just forced himself to stand up, limped towards them. His steps were heavy, the wounds on his body were still fresh, but he didn't care.

Around them, the remnants of the battle were still clearly felt.

Near there, Duncan began to come to his senses. His head was still throbbing violently, and his right arm was broken. With difficulty, he tried to seat himself.

As his gaze began to clear, he saw something that made his heart tremble.

Renier and Sylvaine... unconscious.

And Lirien... almost lost his life.

"No... this is impossible..."Duncan muttered in anguish.

Erik ducked beside Shazmeen. Her hand touched the girl's shoulder gently, although her own body was barely able to move.

"We will not lose them..."he whispered, although in his heart, doubts began to envelop.

Shazmeen bit her lips, her hands clasped Lirien more and more tightly.

"Please... just this once... I can't lose you guys..."

Among the despair and hope that had almost vanished, the only thing left was a miracle.

And they can only hope, that fate this time is on their side.

Back to Kael who was interrogating my Coguku.

Kael looked at my Coguku who was kneeling on the ground, her face full of frightened expression, blood flowing from both severed hands. 

Kael stared at him for a moment, then crouched down thrust her katana at his feet and gripped my Coguku's hair, pulling her head until their faces were only inches apart."Once again, Where Are they located?" 

My Coguku gasped, blood continued to flow from the severed arm. His face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with terror as Kael looked at him with a blank, heartless look.

"I-I... don't know..." his voice was barely audible, his breathing heavy like someone who knew his end was in sight.

Kael didn't budge. "Do not know?"his voice was cold, hateful. "Bad answer."

Kael's right hand was raised, dark energy enveloped her fingers, spiraling like a vortex of Black Lightning that whizzed fiercely. A crackling sound filled the air, Black Lightning twined around his hand, as if thirsting for flesh and blood.

"All right then..." Kael raised her hand in front of my Coggy face. "Solstice Burst."

Black Lightning exploded around them, creating pressure that sent the sand beneath it flying, forming a small crater. The air felt heavy, as if it had suddenly turned into a silent hell.

"You want to know what it's like to have your heart forcibly removed?"Kael leaned forward, her voice was only a whisper, but it was scarier than a death scream. "Then I will grant your wish right now."

Coguku tried to crawl backwards, but Kael was already gripping her neck with her left hand, lifting it as easily as lifting a carcass.

"nno ... no... don't ..." my Coguku begged, her saliva dripping, her body shaking violently.

Kael just looked at him without emotion, then

SSSSROOOOTTT!!

Kael's right hand pierced through my Coguku's chest, flesh and bones scattered, blood spurting wildly from her back like a hellish shower. The sound of tearing flesh mixed with a cutting scream, then Kael pulled out the heart that was still beating from inside her body.

Coguku gasped, her eyes bulging in disbelief as she saw her own vital organs throbbing in Kael's hands, blood dripping from the young man's fingertips. His breath faltered, his lips quivered, trying to say something—but nothing came out but the blood flowing from his mouth.

Kael stared at the heart for a while, then without hesitation, she grasped it tightly.

CRAAAKK!!

The heart shattered in his grasp, the flesh splattered, the blood flowed like a deep red river. Coguku did not have time to scream. His eyes turned white, his body convulsed before finally not moving anymore.

After that kael approached Shazmeen, Shazmeen lifted his face, saw Kael walking slowly towards him. His clothes were covered in blood, his gaze was as cold as ever, but something was different this time.

Without saying anything, Kael crouched down beside him, staring at Lirien's body that almost lost its life. "Take your hands off."

"What?"Shazmeen looked at him with still wet eyes.

"Let go."Kael repeated, this time in a deeper tone.

Shazmeen hesitated, but finally raised his hand slowly. In an instant, Kael stretched out her palm, and in a split second, a dark aura mixed with Black Lightning energy began to envelop Lirien's body.

A faint light emerged from his wounds, the torn flesh began to fuse back together, his once almost lost breath slowly becoming more stable. Shazmeen stared wide-eyed, her heart a jumble of hope and fear.

"How...?"his voice is almost inaudible.

Kael didn't answer, just continued to channel her energy. His eyes remained focused on Lirien, his expression emotionless, but a thin sweat began to appear on his forehead.

After a while, Kael pulled her hand back, then rose to her feet. "He will not die."

Shazmeen was still speechless, finding it hard to believe what had just happened. His hand involuntarily gripped Kael's arm, holding her back from leaving. "Why...?"

Kael stared at him for a while, then turned her gaze toward the increasingly dark sky. "I don't know."

Shazmeen fell silent, then bit her lips, holding back the emotion that began to fill her chest. He looked at Kael deeper, and for the first time, he felt that there was something behind the young man's coldness.

"Thank you," he said slowly.

The night sky hung dark over their heads, illuminated only by a faint moonlight breaking through the cracks of the trees. The cold air bit into the skin, and fatigue began to creep over their bodies after a fight that almost cost them their lives.

Without saying much, Kael went ahead of them, her eyes sharply looking ahead. In the distance, an old temple tower stood desolate, leaving the remnants of its former glory now filled with Moss and dust of time.

"We spent the night there."

No questions, no discussions. Only an order was thrown from Kael's lips before she continued her steps.

Duncan, who was still having trouble moving due to his injuries, gritted his teeth and lifted Sylvenia onto his back. Even though his arm was broken, he didn't want to look weak.

Erik, with the remaining energy, carried Lirien who was still unconscious. Her breathing was heavy, but she didn't complain.

Kael paused for a moment, staring at Renier who was limping trying to stand up. Without saying anything, he pulled Renier's arm to his shoulder, moving it easily.

Renier nodded slowly. "I don't need your help."

Kael did not respond. He simply continued his steps, carrying Renier as if carrying a burden that was nothing more than a bag of sand.

Shazmeen walked behind, making sure everything was still afloat. His gaze occasionally fell on Kael, trying to find something in her face—either caring, or just a little empathy. But he found nothing but an expression of coldness and indifference.

The journey to the temple was long, their every step filled with pain and fatigue. But finally, they arrived in front of a large wooden door that had been weathered by age. Kael pushed him without hesitation, letting dust fly through the air as the door opened slowly.

Inside, the room was empty and silent, there were only a few old pillars still standing firmly. Moonlight came in from the broken windows, creating strange shadows on the walls.

Without waiting, Duncan dropped Sylvenia off in one corner of the room and threw himself to the floor, catching his breath. Erik lowered Lirien carefully, then enveloped his body with his own cloak.

Kael let go of Renier's grip just like that, letting him fall on his knees on the floor. Renier growled softly, looking at Kael irritably, but the man didn't care.

Shazmeen lit a small fire in the middle of the room, trying to give it a little warmth. However, as he looked up, his eyes met Kael's cold gaze.

"Don't get me wrong."His voice sounded flat. "I'm not doing this because I care. I just don't want you to die before I get my answer."

Shazmeen was silent. So are the others. No one knows for sure what Kael really wants, but one thing they do know she's not part of them.

The fire in the middle of the old temple crackled softly, creating shadows that danced on the weathered stone walls. The Aroma of burning wood mixes with the cold air of the night, enveloping them in an almost suffocating silence.

Duncan, who had recovered enough even though his arm was still in pain, sat leaning back with Sylvenia nearby. Erik rolled up his robe and placed it as a cushion for the still weak Lirien. Meanwhile, Renier stared blankly at the flames, trying to digest what had just happened today.

In the corner of the room, a little away from them all, Kael sat leaning against the wall. His gaze was blank, uninterested in the conversation or the atmosphere around him.

Finally, Erik opened his voice, his voice slightly hoarse from fatigue. "I still can't believe we survived that hell."

Duncan snorted. "Congratulations? Just because he's here."He glanced at Kael with a hard-to-read expression.

Shazmeen who was lighting a medicinal potion for their injuries finally raised his head. Her eyes followed Duncan's gaze, then stopped at Kael's figure that looked so unfamiliar between them.

A silence again enveloped, before Renier finally spoke, his voice slow but piercing. "Kael... so you're really him?"

No answer.

Erik sighed before finally looking at Kael warily. "I can't believe... the SSR-level fugitive who shocked the whole world is here, and we even share shelter with him."

Kael remained silent, her face did not show the slightest interest.

Renier rubbed his face full of dust, then chuckled a little. "It's funny... we live long enough to see a figure that even kings are afraid to call his name."

Duncan looked at Kael sharply. "Are the rumors true?"

Kael finally raised her eyes, looking at them all with a blank expression. "What rumors?"his voice was flat, almost lazy to respond.

Shazmeen sighed, but did not interfere.

Renier leaned his head against the wall. "One person massacred your entire clan?... destroy the city... kill without hesitation. Are you really a monster like they say?"

Kael stared at him for a while before finally smiling a faint smile that was devoid of warmth. "Just believe what you want to believe."

Duncan clenched his hands. "So true? You're just a killing machine that doesn't care about other people's lives?"

Kael sighed slowly, then looked at them with sharp eyes that seemed to pierce into the soul. "Whether I care or not, it has nothing to do with you."

Duncan looked at her with eyes that were hard to read. "Why are you helping us?"

Kael turned her head slightly, then looked back at the fire in front of her. "Because I want to."

Erik laughed a little, but sounded bitter. "Useless answer."

Kael stepped slowly towards the riverbank, under the pale moonlight. The night wind blows softly, shaking the calm surface of the water. He stood there, silent, staring only at his own reflection reflected in the river.

Behind the cold look in his eyes, his mind wandered far away. Old memories burst forth like wounds that never heal—the shadow of her mother's gentle smile, her warm voice that now remains only a faint echo in her head. Then, his father figure... the man who had turned his life into a curse, making him a monster in the eyes of the world.

Kael clenched her hands.

"Why are you always alone?"

The voice broke the silence.

Kael didn't turn her head, but she knew who was coming. Shazmeen stood a few steps behind her, hugging herself to the chill of the night air.

He approached slowly, before finally stopping beside Kael.

"The air outside is quite cold. You don't want to come in?"he asked, his voice sounding soft but full of curiosity.

Kael remained silent.

Shazmeen looked at his face from the side, trying to read the man's expression—but as usual, Kael was too hard to guess.

"Are you thinking of something?"

Kael sighed slowly. "You ask too many questions."

Shazmeen chuckled a little. "Maybe. But at least I tried to talk to you, like no one else."

Quiet for a moment.

Shazmeen glanced at Kael again before finally saying, " Kael... I want to ask you something."

Kael finally turned her head slightly, signaling that she heard.

"You are a fugitive from the world, everyone knows that."His voice sounded cautious, as if choosing words wisely. "They say you slaughtered one clan alone. Killing without mercy. Even children. Is that true?"

Kael didn't answer right away.

His gaze turned back to the river, his expression difficult to read.

"Do you believe everything you hear?"he asked finally, his voice remained calm but contained something difficult to explain.

Shazmeen did not answer immediately. He thought for a moment, then said, " I don't know. The world is full of lies. But... I want to know from your own mouth."

Kael raised her head slightly, looking up at the sky. The moon was shining brightly up there, unaffected by the chaos in the world below.