It was as if time had slowed down in this moment.
The ice-blue sword was driven into Yilan's body, then slowly pulled out. The bright red blood traced a sad and beautiful arc through the air.
Yilan's pupils widened as he staggered back a step. In the shaking, distorted world, he saw Kaedehara Manyo, Kujou Sara, and Thoma all frozen with their mouths open.
He saw Sangonomiya Kokomi shouting something, struggling desperately to rush forward.
He also saw Kamisato Ayaka's joyful eyes. She was saying something and reaching out her hand, as if trying to remove his mask.
(No… this is the one thing I absolutely must not allow. If Linghua sees my face, she will completely collapse from within.)
Yilan desperately tried to gather what little strength remained in his body. Two rock pillars erupted from the ground, attempting to force Ayaka back—but she easily slapped them aside with a wave of her palm.
The pillars toppled sideways, blocking the view of the crowd.
The mask was lifted from Yilan's face. Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, falling onto him directly. It had been so long since he had faced sunlight without a mask that he even felt a burning pain on his skin.
He saw Ayaka's lips move, as if she was trying to say something—but just as her pupils lost all focus and her body collapsed, she couldn't even form the words.
Still, from that familiar lip movement, Yilan immediately knew what she wanted to say—
"Elder brother…?"
Kamisato Ayaka's body trembled, as if something deep within her had disintegrated—something that had supported her all along suddenly collapsing.
She had always been clever, very clever.
It was only that she had been sheltered too well by Yilan in the past, and later blinded by hatred.
Now, upon seeing Yilan's face, all the doubts she had buried before surfaced with agonizing clarity.
Only…
Why? Why did it have to be like this…?
"Elder brother…?"
***
"It's wonderful… such a peaceful scene."
At the festival, she leaned lightly against her brother's shoulder. "Everyone is so happy, enjoying the festival's atmosphere."
"Do you also like this kind of scenery?" her brother asked.
"Of course I do."
(Because, having my brother beside me is the most beautiful scenery.)
***
"Don't worry, Ayaka. The war will end soon, and Inazuma will welcome true peace."
"Mm." She leaned against her brother's warm chest, breathing in his scent.
(Because then, I can watch fireworks with my brother again.)
***
Over the past ten years, she had dueled her brother thousands of times.
She always wanted to win against him—just once—but she never could.
This was the first time she had ever defeated her brother.
But… but why did it have to be like this?!
The Eye Hunting Decree didn't matter.
The war didn't matter.
All she ever wanted was to be with her brother!!!
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…!"
The girl could no longer form coherent words—only that heart-wrenching, childlike cry.
But to the onlookers, it was undoubtedly the victorious wail of a hero who had avenged Inazuma.
"Hero!"
Someone shouted first, and the next moment, all of Hanamizaka erupted:
"Hero!"
"Hero!"
"Hero!"
"Hero!"
The crowd's cheers filled the entire street.
Meanwhile, Kamisato Ayaka staggered backward, her wide, unfocused eyes streaming tears as she uttered broken, meaningless sounds:
"Ah… ah… ah… ah…"
If this went on, she would surely break down completely.
——It is said that at the brink of death, the human body can unleash its final reserves of strength. Driven by the hypothalamus, adenosine triphosphate within the cells degrades rapidly, nerve signals amplify at the cost of irreversible cell death—allowing one final burst of power.
And so, Yilan felt a last bit of strength return to his dying body.
He forced himself upright, took a step forward, and struck Ayaka at the back of her neck with a hand blade.
With a thud, Kamisato Ayaka collapsed unconscious into his arms.
Seeing Yilan assault the "hero," the enraged crowd surged toward him.
"Beat him to death!"
"Don't be afraid, he's been stabbed in the heart, he's powerless!"
"Save the Princess!"
Countless people rushed at the sedan chair carrying Yilan.
The bearers immediately abandoned the chair and fled.
The once-majestic Kujo Kushihara, who had been loudly shouting before, suddenly drew his sword with a self-righteous cry:
"I have been an undercover agent, enduring humiliation! Now is the time! Everyone, follow me to kill the Demon King Yilan!"
But no one paid him any attention.
He was quickly trampled by the panicked crowd. After a few shrieks, he went silent.
Just as Yilan was about to be torn apart, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky.
It clearly struck Yilan, yet he felt no pain. Instead, the violent thunder forced the mob to retreat.
As the lightning faded, two figures appeared at Yilan's side—Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko.
"It's the General!"
"General, you have slain the Demon King!"
"Long live the General! Long live the Princess!"
"The General will surely bring peace to Inazuma!"
"Long live peace!"
The streets filled with the people's hysterical cheers.
Watching the cheering masses, Raiden Shogun—or rather, Ei—felt something deep within her heart shake.
This was the truest voice of humanity, the most sincere wish of the hundreds of thousands of people in Inazuma.
Even if it was just a faint cry, gathered together, it could still reach the heavens.
(Was I really… wrong?)
Raiden Ei gripped her naginata tightly and looked at Yilan with complicated eyes.
Her lips moved slightly—she said nothing aloud—but Yilan, reading her lips, understood her words:
"Inazuma owes you, and I owe you."
She then turned away, raised her naginata, and shouted:
"The bandit leader Yilan is dead! Release the hostages! Shogunate army, follow me outside the city to wipe out the rebels!"
"Yes, General!"
Raiden Ei led the army out of the city. Before departing, she glanced at Yae Miko and said:
"I'll leave the rest to you."
"Mm. Leave it to me." Yae Miko smiled lightly.