Birds chirped across Middle Island's beach—a month of fun and brutal training carved into their bones.A small stone thudded into the sand. Narcissus panted, out of breath. "Wohhh, you guys finally got the hang of my speed. That's otherworldly potential." He smiled wide.Reo and Akime slumped by trees, exhausted, sweat-soaked

  As they sat, a cold breeze hit their faces. Narcissus stood, staring at the sky—BOOM.

  A wind wave surged, shredding half the forest. Akime, Narcissus, and Reo—terrified, shocked—leaped up, glaive ready

  Shadows burst from the trees: two horned demons. One gripped a monk's spade, the other swung a kusarigama.

  They attacked without pause. Reo and Akime finally matched them—blow for blow. Narcissus struggled, weapons clashing, sparks flying everywhere.

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  Reo snapped. "I will kill you bastards!”

  Everyone stepped back, blades locked in tense standoff.

  Black flames wreathed the demons' bodies as they grinned and surged forward.

  Their speed blurred—Reo and Akime couldn't comprehend it. Slow motion: demons materialized in front, grinning wider. "Peekaboo.”

  Akime and Reo froze, paralyzed. Slashes—blood sprayed everywhere. But Akime and Reo stood safe.

  Narcissus shielded them with his own body. He patted their heads, smiling. "This is my last resort. Don't worry—the spirit of Kochab will teleport to the new owner I chose.”

  Narcissus screamed, lungs raw with rage—veins bulging. He unsheathed his massive katana—ZEEP. Time halted.

  He powered into stance, legs cratering sand. Slashes erupted everywhere. Demons froze—everything froze—BOOM. Demon flesh shredded into a million pieces, blood raining down.

  Narcissus stood, eyes blank white. He drew a scroll, staggered to Akime and Reo, hand outstretched.

  He collapsed, body convulsing—BOOM. He exploded. Organs sprayed. His severed head rolled, stopping at Reo's leg—eyes stitched shut.

  Nar's aura—gone. A large scream erupted—pure, soul-crushing anguish of losing someone irreplaceable.

  Reo froze, sensing only the void of his last resort words—blind to the gore, feeling the silence hit harder than any sea rush.

  The scroll lay blood-soaked in the sand between them.