"liam.."
Emma said.
Joseph didn't move.
Not even a step.
He just stood there.
staring at Liam.
Cold.
Silent.
Then his eyes shifted.
slightly.
to Mostang.
who had already stepped forward.
placing himself in front of Emma.
A shield.
Emma pushed herself up.
breathing a bit heavier.
but still standing straight.
Then.
her voice cut through everything.
"WHAT ARE YOU BOTH DOING HERE?!"
Sharp.
Angry.
Commanding.
Liam didn't look at her.
His eyes were still locked on Joseph.
"…He was going to break you."
Mostang sighed.
dragging a hand through his hair.
"We didn't come here to watch you die, Emma."
Emma's eyes hardened.
"I gave an order."
Silence.
Even the air felt tense.
Mostang met her gaze.
Unbothered.
"…Yeah."
He pointed slightly toward Joseph.
without even looking.
"And he broke the deal first."
Joseph chuckled.
Low.
"…Deal?"
He rolled his shoulders.
as if nothing had happened.
"I never said I'd fight fair."
Liam stepped forward.
slightly in front of Emma now.
"Then it's not one-on-one anymore."
Joseph's smile widened.
just a little.
"…Good."
For the first time.
he looked interested.
"Now it's getting fun."
Emma clicked her tongue.
Annoyed.
"…You two are useless."
But.
she didn't tell them to leave this time.
She stepped forward.
standing beside them.
Three.
Against one.
Joseph looked at all of them.
calm.
Then.
he lowered his stance.
"…Come, then."
Mostang had just shifted his stance.
ready.
Liam too.
eyes locked on Joseph.
And then.
suddenly.
Emma moved.
Low.
Fast.
SWEEP.
Both their legs were taken out instantly.
"—?!"
Mostang hit the ground first.
Liam right after.
both caught completely off guard.
Before either of them could react.
Emma was already gone.
A blur.
rushing straight at Joseph.
Joseph's eyes widened.
then.
he laughed.
"YOU REALLY WANT IT ONE VS ONE?!"
Emma didn't answer.
She grabbed him.
no hesitation.
no pause.
And kept going.
Forward.
Too far.
Too fast.
Joseph realized.
just a second too late.
"…Wait—"
CRACK.
The ground beneath them.
gave in.
A hidden drop.
Deep.
Both of them.
vanished.
falling together into the darkness below.
"EMMA—!"
Liam shot up instantly.
running toward the edge.
Mostang right behind him.
They stopped at the hole.
looking down.
Nothing but darkness.
Silence.
Deep.
Cold.
Liam clenched his fists.
"…She dragged him down…"
Mostang stared.
eyes narrowed.
"…Yeah."
A faint echo rose from below.
distant.
impact.
Then.
nothing.
Mostang exhaled slowly.
"…Now it's really just them."
Emma hit the ground hard.
but she didn't let go.
Her hands were already on Joseph's throat
fingers locking in.
tight.
She forced him down.
pinning him.
eyes burning with intensity.
"YOU WANT IT DIRTY? HUH?!"
Her voice echoed through the dark space.
raw.
angry.
Joseph struggled.
gripping her arms.
trying to break free.
Emma leaned in.
relentless.
pressing the choke harder.
cutting his air.
Joseph gritted his teeth.
his expression finally shifting.
not calm anymore.
For a moment.
it wasn't controlled.
It wasn't calculated.
It was just.
rage vs rage.
His hand shot up.
grabbing her shoulder.
tight.
"Then don't hold back—!"
He twisted.
forcing his body sideways.
breaking part of her balance.
But Emma didn't fully let go.
still holding on.
still pressing.
Both of them
breathing heavier now.
Emma snapped forward
wild
desperate.
Her teeth clamped onto his ear.
a brutal, sudden move.
Joseph let out a sharp, raw shout.
his composure finally breaking.
For a split second.
everything froze.
Then.
BOOM.
He grabbed her.
and slammed her into the ground.
hard.
The impact echoed through the pit.
dust rising around them.
Emma's grip broke.
her body hitting the surface.
but she forced herself to move.
trying to recover.
Joseph staggered back.
hand going to the side of his head.
breathing rough now.
uneven.
His calm.
gone.
Completely.
"…You—"
His voice was lower now.
Darker.
Emma pushed herself up
slowly.
face still focused.
no regret.
no hesitation.
"…I told you."
She wiped the corner of her mouth.
eyes locked onto him.
"You wanted dirty."
Silence filled the space.
heavy.
tense.
Joseph straightened.
anger clear now.
no more smirking.
"…Then don't complain."
He stepped forward again.
fast.
He caught her arm.
twisted.
CRACK.
Emma's expression tightened.
a sharp frown.
pain flashing across her face.
but no scream.
Not a sound.
Before she could pull back.
his other hand shot forward.
grabbing her face.
forcing her still.
And then.
BAM.
BAM.
Two heavy punches.
straight to her eyes.
Emma's head snapped back.
her vision exploding into white.
then.
darkness.
Blurred.
Unclear.
She stumbled.
losing balance.
Joseph let go.
stepping back.
breathing hard.
"…Let's see you fight now."
Emma stood there.
barely steady.
eyes half-open.
but unfocused.
Blinking.
once.
twice.
Nothing clear.
Just shadows.
Movement.
But then.
She lowered her head slightly.
Quiet.
Still.
And slowly.
she raised her guard again.
Even like this.
She wasn't done.
Joseph rushed her again.
fast.
confident.
thinking it was over.
But Emma didn't look.
She felt him.
A slight shift in airm
a step.
a breath.
She moved.
Sidestep.
Clean.
Precise.
Joseph's strike missed.
just barely.
And in that same instant.
Emma struck back.
Not wild.
Not random.
Accurate.
Her fingers drove into pressure points along his arm.
sharp.
targeted.
Joseph's body jolted.
his movement stuttering.
like something misfired.
"…?!"
His arm faltered.
losing strength.
Emma stepped in.
closing the distance.
Even with one arm useless.
she grabbed his wrist.
tight.
And without hesitation.
she forced him down.
A brutal counter.
not flashy.
just efficient.
Joseph gritted his teeth.
trying to move.
but his arm wasn't responding right.
Emma pushed him back.
creating space.
Breathing heavier now.
but steady.
Controlled.
Even like this.
injured.
vision blurred.
She was adapting.
Joseph looked at her.
anger mixing with something else now.
"…You're insane."
Emma tilted her head slightly.
expression cold.
"…I learned from worse."
And she stepped forward again.
Emma jumped on him.
not letting even an inch go.
Her knee pinned his torso.
her weight locking him down.
complete control.
Her vision.
still blurred.
but shapes were coming back.
Enough.
More than enough.
Joseph tried to move.
but his arm wasn't responding right.
his body slowed.
Emma raised her good arm.
And punched.
A clean hit.
straight to his face.
Then another.
And another.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Each strike precise.
heavy.
controlled rage.
Joseph tried to guard.
but he was late.
Emma leaned closer.
breathing steady.
eyes half-focused.
"You're done."
Another punch.
harder.
driving his head to the side.
Joseph's resistance started fading.
But still.
he smirked.
Even now.
"…Not yet."
Joseph suddenly surged
grabbing her.
grip tightening with everything he had left.
"YOU'RE GONNA DIE!"
He forced himself up.
dragging her with him.
"I'LL END YOUR PATH—"
His voice cracked into a roar.
rage.
pain.
obsession.
all spilling out.
"—BEING AN EMPEROR!"
Emma's body shifted in his hold.
but she didn't panic.
Joseph pulled her closer.
face to face.
eyes burning.
"AND AFTER THAT—"
His grip tightened even more.
desperate now.
"I'LL RULE EVERYTHING!"
Silence.
just for a second.
Emma stared at him.
calm.
Even now.
"…You talk too big."
A pause.
Then quietly.
cold.
"You couldn't even beat me."
And suddenly.
She moved.
one arm.
but it was enough.
BAM.
Her fist slammed into his face.
"All this time—"
Another hit.
"I was adapting."
She didn't stop.
each word.
a strike.
"How you fight—"
BAM.
"How you think—"
BAM.
"Everything—"
Joseph tried to push her back.
hand shooting to her face.
trying to shut her up
stop her rhythm.
But Emma leaned in
unfazed.
"I planned—"
She twisted
broke his balance.
and drove another punch.
"EVERYTHING, TO FUCKING KILL YOU—"
Joseph finally grabbed her jaw.
forcing her head away.
"BITCH—"
But Emma snapped forward.
And bit down hard on his finger.
Joseph jerked.
pain flashing.
his grip breaking instantly.
Emma pulled back.
spitting it aside.
Breathing heavy.
eyes still unfocused.
but deadly.
"…You're finished."
And she raised her fist again.
Joseph caught her arm.
tight.
trying to stop the next strike.
But Emma didn't pull back.
She drove forward.
BAM.
A headbutt.
Then another.
BAM.
BAM.
Rapid.
Relentless.
Joseph's grip weakened.
his balance slipping.
One more.
harder.
And his hand finally gave out.
Emma broke free.
instantly stepping in.
Her arm wrapped around his neck.
locking it.
tight.
A choke.
Clean.
Unforgiving.
Joseph grabbed at her arm.
struggling.
Emma leaned close.
voice low.
but burning.
"YOU DON'T KNOW—"
She tightened the hold.
"WHAT YOUR MOTHETFUCKING GRANDFATHER DID TO ME."
Joseph's movements slowed.
air cutting off.
"You're out here—"
Her grip tightened again.
"SEEKING FUCKING REVENGE—"
His knees started to dip.
"WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING."
Silence.
except for his strained breathing.
Emma's eyes.
cold
tired.
but certain.
"This isn't your story."
And she didn't let go.
Emma dragged him closer.
still holding his collar.
still controlling him.
Their faces.
inches apart.
Her breathing was heavy.
uneven.
Then.
she snapped.
"TELL ME—"
Her voice exploded.
echoing through the broken space.
"DO YOU WANT FUCKING REVENGE NOW?!"
Joseph froze.
just for a second.
Emma's eyes.
wide.
not calm anymore.
not controlled.
"TRY ME SCUM"
She shook him.
hard.
"TRY."
Her voice dropped.
then rose again.
raw.
unfiltered.
"FUCKING GO—!"
She slammed him slightly forward.
challenging.
daring.
"ATTACK!"
For the first time.
Joseph didn't move.
He just stared.
Because this.
this wasn't the composed.
cold.
untouchable Emperor Emma everyone feared.
This was something else.
Something broken.
something furious.
Something far more dangerous.
"…What are you…?" he muttered.
almost under his breath.
Emma didn't answer.
She just stared back.
waiting.
Daring him.
to make the next move.
held his gaze.
sharp.
unblinking.
Joseph…
didn't move.
Just stared back.
For once.
no rush.
no anger.
no attack.
A pause.
Emma spoke.
voice lower now.
rough from everything.
"…Your grandfather—"
A breath.
"…was a total Dick"
Silence followed.
She waited.
Expected him to lunge.
to scream.
to strike.
But he didn't.
Nothing.
That's when she noticed.
He wasn't attacking anymore.
Her expression.
still burning.
…started to shift.
The rage in her eyes.
flickered.
Her widened stare.
slowly softened.
Her breathing.
heavy at first.
Then steadier.
In.
out.
In.
out.
Her shoulders dropped slightly.
Control.
coming back.
That furious.
almost unrecognizable version of her.
…fading.
Joseph watched it happen.
quietly.
"…So that's the truth…" he muttered.
Emma didn't respond.
Just stood there.
breathing.
Becoming herself again.
But her eyes.
still carried it.
Everything she hadn't said.
Emma was sitting on his chest.
pinning him.
owning the moment.
Then…
she stopped.
Slowly.
she stood up.
Stepped back.
Her arm hung wrong.
injured.
useless.
But she didn't show it.
She just stared at him.
Waiting.
For him to get up.
To fight.
To prove all that rage meant something.
Nothing.
Joseph stayed down.
eyes drifting.
not to her.
but to the sky above the broken opening.
Silent.
Empty.
Emma watched him for a few seconds more.
long enough to understand.
He wasn't getting up.
So…
she turned.
And walked away.
Step by step.
slow.
unsteady.
but still standing.
Still the one who walked away.
From behind.
the faint sound of movement.
Liam and Mostang finally dropped down into the hole.
landing roughly.
quickly scanning.
Their eyes locked onto her immediately.
"Emma—" Liam rushed forward.
Mostang right behind him.
more controlled.
but just as alert.
They reached her.
seeing it clearly now.
the arm.
the damage.
the exhaustion.
"…You actually did it," Mostang muttered.
Liam didn't say anything.
He just looked at her.
eyes filled with something he couldn't even hide anymore.
Emma didn't look at either of them.
"…We're leaving," she said quietly.
No pride.
No relief.
Just… done.
And she kept walking.
Even like this.
broken.
bleeding.
She was still the one moving forward.
Emma took another step.
…and suddenly.
she stopped.
A sharp breath.
Then.
she coughed.
Blood spilled from her mouth.
hitting the ground in dark drops.
Her body shook.
just for a second.
Before she tried to straighten again.
Mostang moved instantly.
grabbing her before she could fall.
"Enough," he said, firm.
Emma pushed slightly against him.
"…I'm fine."
Her voice.
low.
but stubborn.
Like always.
Liam's eyes snapped to Joseph.
still lying there.
Something in him flipped.
He moved.
fast.
heading straight for him.
But.
Mostang's arm shot out.
grabbing Liam hard.
"Don't."
Liam struggled.
"Let me go."
"…He's not moving," Mostang said, cold. "This isn't a fight anymore."
Liam clenched his fists.
breathing heavy.
eyes locked on Joseph.
Every instinct in him screaming.
to finish it.
But Mostang didn't let go.
Behind them.
Emma wiped the blood from her mouth.
"…We're done here."
No anger.
No shouting.
Just a quiet end.
And this time.
no one argued.
---
They arrived up.
Emma slowly lowered herself to the ground
her body finally giving in.
"…Mostang."
He turned immediately.
"Call the police… tell them to bring a helicopter."
No hesitation.
Mostang nodded.
"…Got it."
He stepped aside, already pulling out his phone.
Emma leaned back slightly.
one arm useless.
breathing shallow.
but controlled.
Liam stood there for a second.
then moved closer.
kneeling beside her.
His eyes scanned her injuries.
jaw tight.
He wanted to pull her in.
hold her.
…but he stopped.
His hand hovered.
just slightly.
Then dropped.
"…You're insane," he muttered quietly.
Not anger.
Something softer.
Emma didn't even look at him.
"…I know."
Across from them.
Mostang spoke into the phone.
voice sharp, direct.
"This is Emperor Emma."
A pause.
"We need a helicopter. Now."
No questions asked.
The response came instantly.
Agreement.
Mostang ended the call.
walking back toward them.
"They're on the way."
Above.
the night stayed quiet.
But not for long.
Far in the distance.
The faint sound of rotor blades.
getting closer.
Mostang kneeled beside her.
close enough to catch her if she collapsed again.
Emma's eyes stayed half-open.
staring at nothing in particular.
"…Where's Kane."
Her voice was quiet.
Flat.
"He should be here."
Mostang didn't answer immediately.
Then.
"…He's hospitalized."
Silence.
Emma didn't react.
Not at first.
A few seconds passed.
before.
"…Is he okay."
Mostang exhaled lightly.
"…He got stabbed."
A pause.
"By Elena."
He glanced at Emma.
then added.
"…the strongest one on their side."
Another pause.
"But he fought."
Mostang's voice lowered.
more serious now.
"He fought hard, Emma."
"…Didn't back down."
Emma's fingers slightly twitched against the ground.
No visible emotion.
But her breathing changed.
Just a little.
"…Good."
That's all she said.
But her eyes.
for a brief second.
softened.
The sound came first.
loud.
Heavy.
Cutting through the night sky.
The helicopter descended slowly.
wind blasting across the ground.
dust, debris, loose fabric all shaking violently.
Lights.
Blinding white lights.
Locked onto Emma.
Men rushed out the moment it landed.
armed, alert.
moving fast.
"Emperor—!"
"Step back—!"
"We've got her—"
But before they could reach her.
Liam stepped in front.
"No."
His voice wasn't loud.
but it stopped them.
"I'll help her."
A brief pause.
The agents hesitated.
looking at Mostang.
Mostang gave a small nod.
"…Let him."
Liam turned back to Emma.
For a second.
he didn't move.
She looked worse up close.
Blood.
Bruises.
One arm useless.
Barely standing.
"…You're heavy," he muttered quietly.
Emma didn't respond.
Slowly.
carefully.
he lifted her arm over his shoulder.
supporting her weight.
She didn't resist.
Didn't complain.
They stood like that for a moment.
before he started walking.
Step.
By step.
Emma leaning on him.
her weight real.
her breathing uneven.
but still alive.
They reached the helicopter.
Mostang followed behind.
watching everything.
Silent.
Inside.
they helped Emma sit.
Liam stayed close.
Too close.
The doors shut.
The engine roared louder.
blades spinning faster.
lifting them off the ground.
And just like that.
they rose into the night.
No one spoke.
Only the sound of the helicopter.
and Emma's quiet breathing filling the space.
Liam sat beside her.
hands clenched.
wanting to reach out.
but holding back.
Mostang stood near the entrance.
arms crossed.
watching both of them.
Below them.
the battlefield faded.
Above.
only darkness.
Chapter.
End