Warning: This chapter contains mild gory descriptions and strong violence. For those who are easily squeamish, you can skip the descriptions.

Yelena noticed the statue-like state of Xue, raising her eyebrows in suspicion. She glanced at Cecil, who was holding onto her arm and Alric was panicking, flailing his limbs about as Cecil calmed him down.

It seemed like she said something to him, and he rushed off within a heartbeat.

Yelena glanced back at Xue, smiling knowingly, a wicked glint in her eyes.

The words uttered by Yelena were also heard clearly by Kai on the inside.

Kai: "Wh-what did she just say?"

Kai: "Cecil...will die? Cecil will die?! N-no, that can't happen! Yo-you can't let that happen, Xue!"

Xue: "..."

Kai: "Xue? Hey, are you listening? Why are you not moving? Why are you not killing, for once?! Why are you being so quiet? Do something! Cecil...Cecil is going to die!"

Xue: "..."

Xue grimaced, squeezing his eyes close in pain as he felt Kai fighting for control over his body.

Kai: "If you aren't going to do anything, let me do it! I should have known, you clearly do not care about Cecil in the slightest, do you?! You only have Hana in your damn mind!"

Hearing those last few words, Xue snapped his eyes open, and anyone could see he was in turmoil. His hand had turned white from gripping the spear too hard.

Kai: "You bastard! Let me take over! Unlike you, I care for Cecil! I care for her a whole damn lot! Since she doesn't even matter to you--"

Xue: "SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH."

Xue heard Yelena laughing in amusement opposite him, and she was staring at him with interest.

"I have an inkling to what you actually are, and why my chakarm doesn't affect you. Hah, but to think that you would--"

Within a heartbeat, Xue had already appeared in front of her.

Yelena was startled, she couldn't react at all.

How did he--

Xue grabbed her by the neck, lifting her up into the air with one hand.

Yelena hadn't comprehended what just occured, when she felt his callous hand tightening aroun her throat. Yelena's expression twisted in pain, she was beginning to choke and she tugged at his hand.

It did nothing.

Yelena was horrified, she was by no means weak but the sheer strength Xue currently possessed overwhelmed her completely.

She maneuvered her body, kicking Xue and even managing to punch him.

It did nothing too.

The atmosphere around Xue started to change drastically.

He was hostile before, but now, he was ferocious and Yelena could sense how bloodthirsty he was.

It was all directed to her.

Only to her.

Yelena began feel something clawing at her stomach, squeezing its way up to her chest; her heart.

Fear.

Something that she hardly felt.

Trembling involuntarily, she could sense the killing intent from Xue, his hand tightening further.

She knew...she had done something terribly wrong. So, very wrong.

What...what have I done? I...I underestimated him, far too much.

Yelena began to scratch his hand desperately, but Xue did not flinch, even as blood seeped out from those scratches.

He only stared at those scratches, uninterested, before looking back at Yelena.

"Without my permission, that woman can never die," Xue spoke, emotionless. "I will never allow it."

Yelena gasped, still continuing her futile struggles as she choked out incoherently.

At that moment, Xue smiled.

The smile sent a chill down Yelena's spine, her hair standing.

"Those who wants her dead should die in her stead."

He brandished his spear and its solid, metal form changing into magma, the scarlet red colour causing Yelena to recoil in fear. She wriggled violently, flailing and Xue loosened the grip on her neck just a little.

A little enough to breathe one last time.

Xue wouldn't allow her to die so easy.

A slow death, just like what she was doing to Cecil, but worse.

Way worse.

Xue hurled her onto the ground, his eyes dark as he proceeded to impale her abdomen with his spear, brutally. The spear sunk deep into her flesh, burning it and a sizzling sound drifted past his ears.

Yelena released a fragmented scream.

That scream urged Xue to drive his spear deeper into her body.

You'll die, slowly.

Xue smiled further.

Painfully.

***

Cecil looked at her robes drenched in blood. It was flowing out faster than she expected. She had even torn a part of her sleeve to tie it around her arm, stopping the blood flow significantly.

She glanced at Alric dashing towards the door, slamming it open and disappearing behind the closed doors. She had been too focused in slowing down the bleeding and telling Alric what he could do to aid her, not noticing Xue's drastic change.

Hearing a wretched scream that made her cringe, she turned and her eyes widened in disbelief.

The spear Xue was holding was clearly in magma form.

Cecil only remembered he managed to evolve his fire powers after absorbing the three souls here. However, she saw that the corpses were still present, unmoving as they stared lifelessly ahead.

How...how is he using the second form now?

...and there's something...strange. Something is weird with Xue.

The light began to move in the room, exposing Xue's obscured face partially.

What Cecil saw made her recoil back, goosebumps forming on her arms.

There was a smile on his face, a rare expression. However, the smile wasn't reflected in his tenebrous eyes.

He was vicious, like he was out for blood.

She has never felt this vibe from Xue before.

What's happening to the great lord protagonist?

Xue lifted Yelena into the air with his spear still in her abdomen, her strangled screams made Cecil recoil back further.

Xue tossed her aside, ruthless, and Yelena slammed into the wall, wailing out in pain. Xue rushed straight at her right after, impaling her with the magma spear again.

This time, it was at her thigh.

Cecil could heard the distinct hissing sound of flesh being burned. The awful stench of it wafting through the air, and she frowned, covering her nose.

So-something's wrong.

He is being too brutal. He should be killing her immediately to stop the corpses, for Hana. What triggered this sudden switch?

Cecil swallowed, mustering up the courage to call out.

"Xue?"

It was clear he didn't hear Cecil, as he had no reaction. He brought his leg up, stomping it on her hand without mercy.

Repeatedly.

Cecil flinched back in horror, hesitating. She trudged towards him, nervous yet concerned.

"Xue?" she called out, her voice urgent now as she still cautiously approached him.

No reaction.

A mixture of wails and sobs was heard from Yelena and Cecil could hear the prominent crunching sounds.

Her bones were being crushed, smashed.

"Xue!" Cecil exclaimed, grabbing onto his arm.

Xue froze, the familiar voice clearing the tumultuous state of his mind briefly. He halted the brutal actions, spinning around.

Cecil was scared, but she was more scared for Hana and Xue.

Her limpid eyes expressed concern, her face appearing gentle. "Xue, I think you have...done enough."

Despite the foul scent of burning flesh and blood, Xue could still catch a whiff of Cecil's pleasant fragrance.

Xue was placated in an instant.

He blinked, the spear back to its original form, though, his eyes were still unclear.

Yelena already lost consciousness due to the excruciating pain.

"Hana is still out there, and probably having trouble with corpses." Cecil urged, releasing Xue's arm.

"..."

Xue didn't respond, only staring silently at Cecil.

"You should hurry up and--"

Cecil clutching her head as she grew dizzy, moaning slightly.

Xue widened his eyes, seeing the blood dripping down her arm profusely. There was a trail of blood from where she moved from.

All the way to Xue.

Cecil grew unsteady and Xue hurriedly stabilised her with his hands.

"Th-thank you, Xue."

Xue stared at her wound, and then at her beautiful pale face, his heart skipping a beat. He hesitantly reached his hand out, gently pressing down on her wound, his hand shaking ever so slightly.

Though, the entire time, his expression remained blank.

Cecil winced and opened her eyes, smiling weakly. "It's no use, her chakarm is enchanted and I can only wait for Alric to come back."

"..."

"...Alric? The other..."me"?"

Cecil nodded and she watched Xue carefully, his gaze hazy and indiscernible.

"The other "me" that caused...you...to die...you will die."

He narrowed his eyes at his wound, his hand no longer shaking.

"Die? No, I won't let myself die--Xue?"

He walked to where Yelena was, as she regained consciousness.

Seeing Xue storming towards her, Yelena was awake in an instant. She cowered with each step he took, hugging her trembling body that was drenched in cold sweat.

Her abdomen and her thigh was stained with blood, and her burnt flesh was a hideous sight.

Her hand was worse, it was mangled, bruised and battered, looking nothing like a hand. The bones in her hand were shattered completely.

She was in excruciating pain.

"Pl-please, just ki-kill me. No more." Yelena heaved out, trying to shift back when she cried out from the pain. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry for whatever--"

She looked at the state of her deformed hand, and tears sprung into her eyes.

Cecil recalled Xue's lingering gaze on her wound, and his words about her dying suddenly sounded different in her ears. She rose her eyebrows, looking at the miserable state of Yelena, comprehension flitting past her eyes.

Xue is angry...because of this wound? That she inflicted on me? Because I will die? This...this is unexpected. He is angry for me...and he forgot about Hana.

...hm...

Cecil was happy at being upgraded once again, and yet, she was conflicted at taking importance over Hana's situation.

Doesn't matter, if I don't stop him now, he'll continue to torture her to death.

There are still civilians, as well as the students out there with Hana...and I definitely won't let myself die right now.

Cecil grimaced, light-headed, the thick metallic scent of blood filling the air.

Xue pulled his spear back and its form has changed to magma again.

Yelena was sobbing in terror as she shook her head vigorously, tears streaming down her face.

"Xue, can you hear me? Xue?"

Xue faltered, slowly turning back. He could still clearly hear Cecil in his foggy mind.

"I'm alright, just..." Cecil remained composed, hiding her arm behind her as she stopped holding the wound. "Just kill her."

"..."

"Just...finish it, quick." Cecil hesitated, moving her uninjured arm and placing her non-bloodied hand on his shoulder.

He could feel the soft warmth from her hand.

He could smell her familiar pleasant fragrance.

He could see the gentle expression on her beautiful albeit pale face.

"Okay, Xue?" Cecil lowered her voice, soothing.

It calmed him, and the ruthless look in Xue's eyes dimmed.

"Hana is waiting out there." Cecil reminded one more time, gentle and reassuring. "Calm down, I'm completely fine."

Those words served its purpose, and Xue finally regained his senses. He gripped his spear tightly, resolute, swooping it down right at Yelena's head.

Just then, Cecil spotted a shadow darting past the office's window and heading straight for Xue.

The doors to office slammed opened, Alric bursting in. "I-I got it! The herb you asked for, I-I have it! And everything else you asked for! Thank god I had those on me--"

Cecil stared in astonishment, Xue who was millimetres from slicing Yelena's neck was stopped.

Another hand wrapped around his spear.

The mysterious figure lifted his head up, the sun revealing half of his face.

Cecil jolted back in alarm, recognition flashing past her eyes.

"Ah, this must be known as a predicament," a voice said, bored and the familiar stranger turned to Cecil. "Hello, Cecil."

"Do you need some heads?"

***

《 start 》

Cecil Lan.

The only person in the world that said her own desire was for me to be happy.

The only person whose actions was for the sake of me, and the other "me" all along.

If she dies, nothing will remain.

Nothing of her.

Nothing at all.

She will cease to exist.

That...

I won't accept that.

《 stop 》