Emma didn't turn around.
Her back still facing them.
Cold.
Unmoving.
Then—
"Mostang."
His eyes lifted slightly.
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
"Tomorrow."
Another pause.
"Night."
Now he was fully listening.
"Guard the place."
Silence filled the room again.
Emma continued.
"I won't be here."
Mostang exhaled smoke slowly.
He already understood.
What that meant.
"…Got it."
No questions.
No argument.
Just acceptance.
Kane looked between them.
Frustration still burning inside him.
"So that's it?.."
No response.
Emma simply walked toward the door.
Calm.
Like she wasn't walking into a death match.
Her hand touched the handle.
Then—
She stopped.
Just for a second.
"…Don't let anyone in."
Mostang nodded.
"…No one will."
Emma opened the door.
And left.
Kane stood there.
Still.
Jaw tight.
"…This is insane."
Mostang didn't look at him.
"…Yeah."
A beat.
"But that's her."
Smoke filled the air as he spoke.
"The moment she decides something…"
He exhaled.
"…It's already done."
Kane looked down.
Quiet now.
Not agreeing.
But…
He knew.
There was no stopping her.
---
The city stretched below her.
Lights flickering.
Alive.
Unaware.
Emma stood by the window.
Silent.
Her eyes… distant.
Not here.
Not now.
Back to the past.
Diana:
"Valeria died because she believed in you.
And now you stand here acting like you're some—some god—"
Emma:
"She died because you weren't there to back her up."
The words hit like a gunshot.
Diana's face goes pale.
Mostang stands up immediately.
Mostang:
"Alright, that's enough—"
Diana shoves him aside.
Diana:
"No. Let her talk.
Let her say it.
Go on, Emma. Say it to my face."
Emma's voice is quiet.
Too quiet.
Emma:
"If you follow me… you will die.
And I am done burying people."
Diana's fists tighten.
Diana:
"I'd rather die with you—"
Emma:
"I would rather you live without me."
Diana's eyes shake—anger, grief, betrayal all at once.
She throws the first punch.
Emma slips it.
Diana swings again—hard—Emma blocks, redirects, shoves her back.
Diana stumbles, but doesn't fall.
They circle.
No words now.
Just breathing.
Diana lunges.
Emma counters—
And BAM—
Emma punches Diana in the face.
Hard.
Diana hits the floor.
Mostang steps forward again—
Emma:
"Don't."
Mostang freezes.
Diana wipes blood from her lip.
Laughs.
Not happy laughter.
Diana:
"Oh… you really think you can leave me behind?"
She stands.
And Diana rushes Emma again.
They slam into a table.
Glass shatters.
Carlo yells for them to stop.
Kane backs into the wall, terrified.
Emma and Diana are fighting like animals.
Back to present
Emma's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then…
She exhaled.
A quiet sigh.
The city again.
Cold.
Distant.
The door opened behind her.
Mostang walked in.
Steps slow.
Measured.
"You sure."
A pause.
"About going solo?"
Emma didn't turn.
Didn't even blink.
"…Yeah."
Mostang stopped a few steps behind her.
Watching her.
Trying to read something.
Anything.
"…He's not weak."
Emma:
"I know."
"…And it's a trap."
"I know."
Mostang frowned slightly.
"…Then why?"
Silence.
A long one.
Then—
Emma finally spoke.
"…Because he won't stop."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"If I don't go…"
"…He'll drag everyone into it."
A small pause.
"…Civilians."
"…This building."
"…You."
Another pause.
"…Kane."
Mostang clicked his tongue softly.
"…So you're just gonna play hero."
Emma's eyes shifted slightly.
Not emotional.
Not proud.
Just…
Certain.
"…No."
A beat.
"I'm ending it."
The room went quiet again.
Heavy.
Mostang stared at her back.
Then sighed.
"…Tch."
He walked closer.
Stopped beside her now.
Looking at the same city.
"…If you die."
A pause.
"I'm burning everything he has."
Emma didn't react.
"…Do what you want."
Mostang smirked slightly.
"…I will."
Silence again.
But this time.
Not tense.
Just…
Final.
----
Night fell.
The city went quieter.
Darker.
Emma stood by the exit.
Coat on.
Gun concealed.
Knife secured.
Everything… ready.
She didn't rush.
Didn't hesitate.
Just walked.
Footsteps behind her.
Fast.
Heavy.
Kane.
He grabbed her shoulder.
Firm.
"…Be careful."
For once.
No jokes.
No attitude.
Just that.
Emma stopped.
Slightly.
Didn't turn fully.
Just enough.
A small nod.
"…Yeah."
That's all.
Then she moved again.
Kane's hand slipped off her shoulder.
He didn't follow.
Couldn't.
Orders.
The door opened.
Cold air hit her face.
She stepped out.
Alone.
The streets were empty.
Lights flickering.
Wind brushing past her coat.
Her steps echoed softly.
One after another.
Steady.
Unshaken.
Her mind?
Quiet.
No overthinking.
No fear.
Just…
Focus.
Joseph's location.
An abandoned area.
Far from people.
Far from noise.
Perfect for what he wanted.
Emma arrived.
Stopped.
Looked ahead.
A wide open space.
Concrete.
Broken structures.
Shadows everywhere.
And in the middle.
Joseph.
Waiting.
Still.
Like he had been there for hours.
Emma walked forward.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Until.
She stopped a few meters away.
Silence.
Heavy.
Joseph looked at her.
"…You came."
Emma:
"…You talk too much."
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"…Still cold."
A pause.
"…Good."
His eyes sharpened.
"…That'll make this fun."
Emma didn't respond.
Her hand rested calmly near her coat.
Ready.
Wind passed between them.
Dust lifting slightly.
Joseph took a step forward.
"…No one else."
Emma:
"…Obviously."
Another step.
Closer now.
"…No interruptions."
Emma:
"…Finish it already."
A small chuckle escaped him.
"…Right."
Joseph's voice cut.
"…The winner burns the loser's corpse."
No hesitation.
Emma:
"…Fine."
She removed her coat.
Let it fall.
Cold air hit her arms.
Unbothered.
Joseph took off his leather jacket.
Dropped it beside him.
Cracked his neck slightly.
A second of silence.
Then.
They rushed.
At the same time.
No countdown.
No signal.
Just instinct.
CLASH.
Their fists met mid-air.
A sharp impact.
Air split.
Dust lifted from the ground.
They didn't move.
For a moment.
Locked.
Strength against strength.
Eyes into eyes.
Joseph smirked slightly.
"…So this is you."
Emma's eyes stayed empty.
"…You talk too much."
Suddenly.
Footsteps.
Multiple.
Fast.
Emma's eyes shifted slightly.
Just for a fraction.
Anthony.
Leo.
Maya.
Marcus.
Elena.
They rushed past.
Not toward her.
Not toward Joseph.
Past them.
Emma instantly understood.
Her eyes sharpened.
Joseph noticed.
A grin formed.
"…Took you a second."
Emma's gaze snapped back to him.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"…You planned this."
Joseph:
"…Of course."
Elena slowed for just a moment as she passed Emma.
Turned her head.
Smiled.
Soft.
Mocking.
"…We'll play with your dogs."
A quiet laugh.
Then they were gone.
Running.
Fast.
Toward Mostang.
Toward Kane.
Emma moved.
But Joseph stepped in.
Fast.
Blocking her path.
"Not happening."
BAM.
He threw a punch.
Emma blocked.
The impact echoed.
She tried to sidestep.
He grabbed her arm.
Pulled.
KNEE.
She blocked again.
Twisted out.
They separated.
Barely a meter apart.
Joseph:
"…Your fight is with me."
Emma's eyes darkened.
For the first time.
A hint of anger.
"…Move."
Joseph smiled wider.
"…Make me."
And again.
They rushed.
Harder.
Faster.
Deadlier.
Emma Threw her hands at Joseph's
Reached his throat
Her grip tightened around Joseph's throat.
Hard.
Unforgiving.
They stumbled.
Step after step.
Boots scraping the ground.
Joseph trying to pry her hands off.
Failing.
Emma's face.
Not calm anymore.
Not empty.
Fury.
Raw.
Unfiltered.
"I KILLED YOUR GRANDFATHER."
Her voice cracked through the night.
She slammed him against a wall.
THUD.
"I'LL KILL YOU TOO."
Joseph choked.
Air barely reaching him.
But.
He smiled.
Even now.
"…Do it…"
Barely a whisper.
"…if you can…"
Emma squeezed harder.
Back.
To the building.
Mostang stood outside.
Leaning slightly.
Cigarette between his fingers.
Smoke rising slow into the air.
Footsteps.
Multiple.
Fast.
He didn't even turn at first.
"…Finally."
A quiet scoff.
Anthony.
Marcus.
Maya.
Leo.
Elena.
They arrived.
Stopping a few meters away.
Mostang flicked the cigarette.
Let it fall.
Crushed it under his shoe.
Then he looked up.
At all of them.
Alone.
"…Five of you."
A small smirk.
"…For me?"
Anthony stepped forward.
"…Don't act surprised."
Mostang rolled his shoulders slightly.
Relaxed.
"…Not surprised."
A pause.
Then.
"…Disappointed."
Leo narrowed his eyes.
"…Why's that?"
Mostang's smirk grew a little.
Colder.
"…Because this—"
He spread his arms slightly.
"…was obvious."
Silence.
A shift in the air.
Elena's smile faded just a little.
"…What?"
Mostang cracked his neck.
Slow.
"…You think Emma walks into a trap…"
A step forward.
"…without setting one of her own?"
Behind him.
Lights.
Inside the building.
Turning on.
One by one.
Guards.
Shadows moving.
Positions taken.
Mostang exhaled.
"…You came here thinking you're hunters."
His eyes sharpened.
"…You're the ones surrounded."
A beat.
Then.
He stepped forward.
"…Come."
Chapter end