!" The pleas grew weaker, dissolving into choked whimpers. "Why... won't you... end it...?" The rock was slick with gore. "Other... human... please... kill... me..." its eyes found Ash, who had just arrived, drawn by the horrific sounds.
Ash stared, horrified, as Chain prepared a final, massive ice spike. "Took my time," Chain commented mildly. "Ending it now. Slowly." He began pushing the spike towards the demon's heart.
"AHHHH! HEEELP!"
Ash couldn't watch anymore. "Chain!" He ran forward, grabbing Chain's shoulder. "That's enough! Kill it cleanly!"
"Stay out of this, Ash," Chain growled, not turning. "Since when are demons your concern?"
"This isn't hunting, it's torture!" Ash yelled back. "End it now, or I will!"
Chain kept pushing the spike. "And I get to do whatever I want with my prey."
The demon locked eyes with Ash, tears streaming through the blood. That broke Ash. His own eyes flashed crimson with rage. He drew his sword, sliced the ice spike Chain held, and shoved Chain backwards. Raising his heavy revolver, Ash fired three shots directly into the demon's heart.
The demon shuddered, its eyes fluttering. It looked towards the stars one last time. "Thank you... human," it whispered, and was still.
Chain scrambled up, furious. "Ash! What the hell did you just do?!"
"Don't start with me, Chain," Ash shot back, his anger palpable. "You know damn well who was out of line. Torture? Seriously? Are you losing your mind?"
"IT'S A DEMON!"
"SO WHAT?!" Ash roared, the sound echoing through the silent forest. "It was begging! It felt pain! It understood! It had consciousness!"
"It was responsible for over a hundred deaths!" Chain countered.
"And mutilating it justifies that how?!" Ash demanded. "I kill pests quickly! I don't pull their limbs off! You heard it speak, knew it suffered like we would! What were you trying to accomplish?!"
"Justice," Chain stated flatly. "Fair punishment for the lives it took. A quick death was too lenient."
"I'm not talking about justice or revenge!" Ash cried, exasperated. "Don't you have any empathy left? How could you ignore its pleas like that? Any decent person would have ended its suffering! What's wrong with you, Chain?!"
Chain turned away dismissively. "This argument is pointless. Let's go."
Ash watched him walk towards the bikes, a troubled silence falling between them. As they emerged from the woods, they saw Leox and his Knights loading the corpses of the Order soldiers onto waiting airships
Chain's eyes burned with rage as he understood Leox's plan. The knights were stealing the hunters' work, using corpses as false proof of their victories. He sprinted toward the airships, boots pounding through snow.
Leox appeared before him, blocking his path. "I don't think so," he said, hand resting on his sword hilt. "This plan will happen whether you like it or not."
Chain's grip tightened on his weapon. "I'm not here to argue. I'll cut you limb from limb and leave the great commander a cripple."
Steel flashed as Leox drew the Sacred Sword of Eques, its glow cutting through the winter darkness. "I will restore the knights to their former glory," he declared. "The people will fear and respect us as they did five centuries ago."
"By lying? By stealing credit?" Chain spat. "Every move proves how weak you truly are how pathetic you can be . If you want respect, earn it in battle - don't steal it like a coward." His voice dropped to a growl. "I warned you what would happen if you crossed me again."
Leox raised his glowing blade. "Then consider this my answer."
Snow swirled around them as both men charged forward, their swords meeting in a shower of sparks The two warriors stood in the deep snow, their breath making clouds in the cold air. Leox held his sword in perfect form, his stance balanced and ready. Chain gripped his sword loosely, his body relaxed but alert.
Leox attacked first with a straight thrust. Chain dodged to the side and swung at Leox's legs. Their swords met with a loud clang that echoed through the trees.
Snow flew as they moved. Leox fought with careful, measured strikes - every movement precise. Chain fought wild, reacting on instinct, his swings powerful but less controlled.
Leox stepped forward with a quick combo - high slash, low thrust. Chain blocked awkwardly, his boots sliding in the snow. He countered with a heavy overhead chop that forced Leox back.
A sudden lunge from Leox. Chain barely twisted away in time, feeling the blade nick his cheek. Warm blood ran down his face as he grinned and charged forward.
Their swords became a blur - Leox's perfect forms against Chain's raw power. Steel rang against steel as they fought across the clearing. Snow sprayed with each step, their boots leaving deep marks in the white powder.
Chain faked left and came up with a brutal uppercut. Leox blocked but the force drove him to one knee. Chain stepped back, breathing hard.
Leox stood slowly as he fell to his knees, breathing hard as well touching the cut on his shoulder where Chain's blade had grazed him. Blood stained his white cloak.
"consider this my last warning" Chain turned and walked away, his sword dripping melted snow. The fight was over – chain didn't consider this as a won victory, for him neither man has won, but both carried new scars.
Leox furiously shouts and tilts his head slightly, and slowly raises the Sacred Sword of Eques above his shoulder, the blade glowing ominously.
Ash, sensing something, takes two cautious steps forward.
With a sudden, violent motion, Leox swings the sword downward, a light striking the ground coming out from the sword. The cliff cracks and splits beneath Chain and Ash. Both fall.
Chain shouting as he as he falls from the Cliff "next time I find you — I'll cut you to limbs, you f**king son of a b*tch!"
Leox looking down, with cold an expression
'The shadows await down there, Chain. Let them be the judge of your precision".
Chain Falling from the cliff being swallowed of the depth of the abyss.