On the other side of the chamber, steel rang sharply as Henry and Roland meet into each other's eyes.
Edmond Dantes moved like a shadow behind Henry.
However, he never interfered directly unless necessary. His golden eyes tracked every movement in Roland's posture.
Roland exhaled slowly and shifted his grip despite the damage to his hands. His stance narrowed. He set his blade angled low and inward.
"You aren't going to give up, huh?" Roland muttered. "Good. I prefer worthy endings."
Then he dashed forward in a step.
Roland stepped forward using a motion derived from an ancient technique once practiced in traditional sword schools.
Laijutsu, specifically a rapid-draw principle similar to the historic Nukitsuke strike. But this was no ordinary execution.
As he dashed, his movements blurred unnaturally fast, drawing and slashing in a single amplified arc that tore through air with explosive wind pressure.
Henry reacted instantly, raising his katana to intercept. Immensely sparks burst violently as their blades met.
The force split the ground beneath Henry's feet. Eventually sending fractures bursting outward. He twisted his torso to counter, sliding his blade across Roland's edge and redirecting the angle.
Roland adapted it faster then Henry could make the next move.
With a sudden pivot, he chained the draw into a returning diagonal slash. Reversing the angle with surgical precision. Henry tried to deflect again.
Suddenly,
A sharp line of pain tore across Henry's arm.
Flesh split and blood sprayed as part of his limb was sliced deeply, nearly severed. His grip faltered. His breath was slowly stuttering as the shock threatened and overwhelm him.
Before Henry could fall on ground, Edmond stepped forward calmly.
"Pharaon."
A light golden aura unfolded around Henry. It slowly covered around Henry and especially the limb. Something was happening.
The bleeding slowed unimaginably. His flesh knitted just enough to restore the body functions.
The ache in his muscles dulled and his mind which was once clouded by exhaustion snapped into renewed clarity.
"Stand steady, blud." Edmond murmured. "Your body still remembers how to fight. I bet my daughters." he slowly muttered looking away, "Tch, never married."
Henry inhaled sharply and tightened his grip again.
Roland stepped forward slightly as he noticed the change. "You are healing him?" he muttered. "Persistent as always."
Henry looks up and says with a rough tone, "My task here is not to defeat or kill you, I am here to protect everyone."
Without another word, both men charged.
Roland attacked with a rising slash. Henry twisted sideways. Their shoulders brushed as sparks erupted between them.
Steel shrieked again as Henry and Roland slammed into each other.
Roland pushed himself forward aggressively, chaining cuts without pause.
Left shoulder, right hip and then upward slash forcing Henry to defend rather than attack. Henry's arms trembled from fatigue, but his mind stayed sharp.
He watched Roland's breathing tone. The slight hesitation in his right side where fingers were missing. That weakness mattered.
Roland lunged again. Thrusting his blade straight for Henry's throat.
Henry didn't block the incoming attack.
He stepped sideways instead. Just half a step letting the blade skim past his collar. Their shoulders collided harder this time. The closeness shocked Roland for a fraction of a second. He felt something uncomfortable. That moment was enough.
Henry twisted his wrist sharply and drove his katana inward at a low angle. The blade slipped beneath Roland's guard and sank into his ribs with a thick, a wet resistance.
Roland's eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
It was a moment, both were waiting for. It was a moment, two souls finally could inhale in relief. It was a moment, two former friends turned enemies realized it's end of their bonding...
Henry exhaled through he clenched teeth and pushed deeper, forcing the blade go through muscle and bone.
Then, with brutal resolve, he dragged the katana outward in a tearing motion. Steel ripped free from Roland's side. Blood spraying across Henry's chest and the floor beneath them.
Roland staggered backward. His breath hitched violently. His katana slipped slightly in his grip. He looked down at the wound, disbelief flickered across his face as red spread across his clothing.
Henry didn't let him fall.
He stepped forward quickly and caught Roland by the shoulders, gripping him firmly before he could fall on ground completely.
How ironic... their faces were just inches apart...
Henry tightened his grip on Roland's shoulders refusing to let him slip further.
"Now don't start a drama. We can still take you to a hospital. There's still a way to save you. I know I did this… but it was necessary." Henry said.
Roland gave a slight, breathless laugh that turned into a cough. Blood touched the corner of his lips.
"Save me?" Roland muttered. "And then what, Henry? Give me another chance… so I can create another calamity?"
Henry shook his head. "You know that very well I don't like trash talking. Just come with us. We will figure the rest later."
Roland looked at him, eyes tired but still frighteningly clear.
"Figure it out?" he repeated softly. "Will you forgive me… because Blyke died because of me?"
Henry froze for half a second. Roland noticed. Of course he did.
"That's why you can't answer immediately. Because forgiveness is not simple. Not when blood has already been spilled out."
He exhaled slowly, eyes drifting upward toward the fractured ceiling.
"This world…" Roland whispered. "It lacks Purity and more than that, it lacks Unity."
Henry frowned. "You think destroying everything creates unity?"
Roland shook his head weakly. "I have told you before. It is refinement."
His gaze sharpened slightly, conviction returning even as his body weakened.
"Everything breaks because of division. Good and bad. Right and wrong. People cling to those labels… and they use them as excuses."
He coughed again, breath hitching.
"Jealousy exists because people compare themselves to others." he continued.
"Genocide happens because one group believes another is 'bad.' Murder… because someone convinces themselves the victim deserves it. Even economics. Poverty and greed exist because value is uneven, because people decide what is worth more and what is worthless.
Racism?" Roland continued hoarsely. "That too. People divide humanity into categories… then assign worth based on birth. Skin, origin, belief. Once you divide, you create conflict. Once conflict exists… suffering becomes inevitable."
He tightened his grip weakly on Henry's sleeve.
So I wanted to remove the root. Erase the concept of 'good' and 'bad' entirely. A world refined into one unified state… where no one sees themselves as above another… and no one has reason to hate.
And yet…" Roland murmured, "…you still think saving me will fix anything."