Ophelia stood up and dusted her dress off with her hand, brushing away the dirt and soil that ruined her elegant appearance. Tanimoto's eyes widened in horror as Ophelia moved toward the unconscious Annabel with a sinister stride. He tried to stand, but his body was too weak from the beating.
"Ufufu…" Ophelia's cruel cackle would fill the air as she knelt beside the blonde woman, staring her in the eyes. "What a sleeping beauty she is, but how loyal do you think she'll be to scum like you, knowing she could be with a man- I mean a woman like me?"
It was obvious that Ophelia still thought of herself as Yuto from time to time, but only when face to face with her past enemies.
"Let's see if she's truly deserving of you, Tanimoto."
+
"What the…" Araki, Daiki, and Jin stood in the middle of the streets, watching citizens flee in panic. Araki furrowed his brow, sensing something terribly wrong. "What's going on? Why is everyone running away?"
Daiki frowned, taking a step forward.
"Something big must have happened at the festival that we're unaware of, could it be Tanimoto? That bastard is always causing trouble…"
Jin's eyes narrowed as he scanned the area, his hand instinctively moving to his weapon. "We need to investigate. Something's not right, let's split up and see what's going on."
Daiki and Araki agreed with a nod.
The Hero of Justice went left, as the Hero of Humility went right. Jin decided to go forward, hoping he could discover and settle this situation before it got even more out of hand.
They acted with haste, desperate to protect the people of Grambosia.
+
"Ghhh…" With monumental effort, Tanimoto struggled to his feet as his body rattled from exhaustion and pain. Stumbling forward to pick up his sword, he gripped it with an unsteady hand, gritting his teeth. Blood still dripped from his mouth and open wounds as he glared at Ophelia with utter hatred, ignoring the pain in every fiber of his being. "I won't let you touch her." The determination in his voice surprised even himself, despite knowing he was no match for Ophelia's power. His stance wavered, but he refused to back down.
"Hoh?" Ophelia stood back up from her crouching position, stepping on Annabel's stomach like a floor mat as she approached the unwavering hero. "You're on your feet through sheer willpower alone. I commend you for your courage, Tanimoto, but it won't be enough."
"Shut the hell up…" The hero stepped forward, his eyes brimming with a deep hatred. A fire ignited within the Hero of Liberation that shocked even Ophelia.
"Hm?" Stopping in her tracks, she faced the unwavering hero, giving him a moment to speak.
"You don't understand me… nobody does!" Breathing frantically, his body shook from the pain. "If you were someone I hurt in the past… then… I'm sorry… and I'm not saying that just so I can save my own ass. I'm truly sorry." Tears swelled in the hero's eyes. Not tears of pain, but regret. "I've been a goddamn asshole all my life… yeah… I get that! But having power over people… watching how I belittle them… it's the only thing that can ease my pain! I'm a miserable piece of shit, you know that??"
For the first time in her life, Ophelia showed surprise, even though she'd been alive for two days.
Watching her former bully, who was known as the scummiest person on earth, cry, was utterly breathtaking, needless to say. She even hesitated to even approach him, staring at him with wide-eyes as he vented his frustration.
"My life was always shit back home… so I took my pain out on others and tried to feel important! I ridiculed people, ruined their lives, and acted like a jerk just so I could feel like I was special! Because goddamnit… I'm not! Nothing is special about me!" He walked forward, stumbling in his steps. "I'm a piece of shit, yeah, that's for certain, but I'm not gonna let you take away the only person who actually gives a damn about me in this world when everyone else despises me!" Picking up his pace, the brave hero sprinted toward Ophelia with a war cry. "Haaaaaahhh!"
Jabbing his blade forward, Ophelia evaded to the side and kicked him back down.
"Aaagh… fuck!" Holding onto his sword, he slowly returned to his feet, gasping for air as the pain overwhelmed him.
"It seems I've mistaken you, Tanimoto." Ophelia stared at him with both pity and uncertainty. "You're not as bad as I thought you to be… but you still must pay."
After showing signs of regret for her actions, it immediately vanished. Her thoughts of betrayal and harassment were more than enough to overpower her sympathy for him.
"So… be it…" He limped forward, keeping himself conscious through sheer will, however, Ophelia could feel something else; another individual approaching their bout.
("Hoh, what's this? One of the heroes of virtue? I can just smell their Sin. This is the perfect opportunity to play the victim. Tanimoto's reputation is finally mine to destroy...")
"Haaaahhh!" Tanimoto sprinted forward at full speed, thrusting his blade forward, expecting her to dodge, but low and behold… he stabbed her right through the chest.
Blood squirted from her wound as Ophelia widened her eyes, struck with false fear. Blood spilled from her lips as the Hero of Liberation lifted his brows, puzzled… until laughter escaped his lips.
"Ahaha… hahaha! I finally got you… bitch!!" Smiling with joy, he held onto his blade and pushed it even deeper.
"Aaaghhh!" Ophelia lifted her head back, screaming in agonizing pain.
"This is for Annabel… you piece of shit! Go rot in hell, where you belong!" Keeping his blade in her chest, Ophelia stumbled backward, falling flat on her back. "I won't let you kill anyone else…!"
Footsteps echoed in the distance as Jin finally burst onto the scene, taking in the devastation around him. "I finally made it!" Glancing around the destruction, his eyes immediately fell on Tanimoto, who was standing over Ophelia's fallen form with a weary look. The sight of his sword embedded in Ophelia's chest and the unconscious bodies scattered everywhere filled Jin with rage.
"Wha… What have you done, Tanimoto?!" He drew his weapon from its scabbard, pointing it at his former ally. "You're responsible for this massacre, aren't you? I should have known better than to believe you could do good!"
Ophelia violently coughed up blood from her lips as she reached out weakly toward Jin.
"Please... help me... he killed… everyone…" Her voice was barely a whisper, and it carried enough desperation to make Jin ache in his heart.
"What the fuck? Jin... do you really think I did this? It was this chick! She's the one who attacked me and everyone in this city! She's the one who caused all of this destruction." Tanimoto coughed up blood as he tried to speak, feeling his voice hoarse from the beating. "I was just trying to protect Annabel... protect everyone!"
Jin's expression hardened further, his grip tightening on his weapon.
"Stop lying to me, Tanimoto! I saw you standing over her body with that sword. You're clearly the villain here. You've been a troublemaker, and it shows!"
Tanimoto's frustration boiled over as Jin continued to accuse him. He stumbled forward with desperation building in his voice. "Jin, you have to listen! I'm telling the truth! It wasn't me!" His voice echoed with distress, hoping his former ally would listen.
Pointing at the unconscious Annabel, his eyes were pleading. "She was going to hurt her! I had no choice but to defend myself and my... my..." He hesitated, unable to bring himself to call Annabel his girlfriend.
"Your excuses mean nothing. You're the cause of this. Daiki was right. You're the one who needs to be stopped." In a flash, Jin moved at incredible speed, appearing behind Tanimoto before he could react. Lifting his blade, he struck the hero's head with the hilt, sending him crashing to the ground unconscious.
Jin stood over his former ally's fallen body with a cold expression, sighing from his lips.
"I'm disappointed in you, Tanimoto, you need to be locked up." Closing his eyes, Jin activated a Common Skill within his consciousness. By connecting his mind with his allies, Jin could speak with telepathic communication, contacting both Daiki and Araki with the Common Skill "Mind Transmission".
("Araki, Daiki, I've found Tanimoto. He's been detained. The situation is under control.")
Daiki and Araki halted in their tracks, widening their eyes.
("Wait, what the fuck happened, bro? What did that crazy son of a bitch do?") Asked Daiki, responding with his skill.
("He… well it doesn't matter… just meet me back at the Castle where we can lock him up before the ceremony begins.") Responded Jin.
Both Daiki and Araki nodded their heads.
("Got it, we'll be there.") Said Araki.
("Alright… and make sure to send healing mages or medical assistance out here, we have someone in dire need of help. I would bring her back to the castle, but there's a bunch of people who also appear hurt… who knows if there are more survivors. I just can't carry them all.")
("Jesus Christ… just what the hell went down? I need to know, man!") Asked Daiki, worried.
("We'll talk about it later… just hurry, this is a life or death situation.")
Both Daiki and Araki understood the importance of the situation and left their telepathic contact, running toward the castle.
They had no time to waste.