“I didn’t think you’d just let her go,” Dorian said, watching the dust slowly settle.

  “Such a pity… such a pity,” came the reply. “I aimed for her, knowing you'd intervene... I hoped a single strike would be all it took to kill you.”

  “You think you stood a chance?” he added, smirking.

  As the dust cleared, a girl emerged. Her eyes were different from his, and her pale, porcelain-like skin contrasted sharply with her jet-black hair falling straight to her shoulders.

  “For someone who’s lost a limb, you’re far too na?ve,” she said, matching his smirk.

  “What are you talking about?” Dorian asked calmly.

  “What the—?!” the spirit shrieked.

  Blood, which had been spilling everywhere, froze midair. Its traces along the walls, floor, and ceiling slowly reversed, merging into a few streams.

  “Problem solved?” he asked, lifting his arm and simply popping it back in.

  Almost immediately, the fingers twitched as if nothing had happened.

  Esther watched tensely as the limb moved obediently after being severed.

  “Who… are you?” Her voice betrayed a quiver. “No human is capable of that.”

  “I’m just a detective…”

  Dorian glanced down and stepped back. Where he had stood, a canvas appeared. Then another. And another…

  He kept bouncing back, dodging blank canvases that sprang up and flew at him from all sides.

  These canvases are prisons...

  Without a hint of panic, he moved calmly, almost dancing.

  I will definitely win.

  “You can see and feel energy fluctuations, that’s why you dodge ahead of time,” Esther said calmly. Her voice carried to the end of the corridor.

  She’s good at analyzing.

  “I admit, you’re clever and cautious…” he replied. “Those like you enjoy the fight, don't they?”

  Distance separates us. Attacking blindly would be foolish.

  Esther didn’t move. Her face seemed to grow expressionless, yet a spark of excitement flickered in her eyes.

  “Take this gift!” Dorian shouted, releasing a dozen talismans from his hands.

  They flew straight toward her. Flames erupted before him…

  “Ah-ha! I’m impressed!” Esther laughed. “You think I didn’t see that coming?!”

  The fire, taking the shape of a wall, shattered and surged toward him in fragments.

  She created a shield, closing herself off with the canvases. This is going to be tougher than I thought...

  Dorian dodged calmly, never lowering his gaze from the opponent who still stood motionless.

  “Well then! Don’t disappoint me!” she shouted, raising two massive canvases behind her.

  Lines sprang up instantly, veins pulsing beneath their surfaces, while colors thickened and bled beyond the contours.

  The paintings were complete—on each, a snake writhed, each with unique scale patterns and lethal fangs.

  They sprang forth.

  The green snake with obsidian eyes lunged first, jaws wide. Its fangs caught the flickering light of the candles.

  Dorian yanked off the cylinder and flung it. The spinning hat cut through the snake with a sickening crack, its body splitting apart midair.

  On the other side, a white snake with blood-red eyes came close, preparing to clamp its jaws shut. He vanished—and in the next moment struck from above, like a shadow descending from nowhere.

  The beast noticed him—but it was already too late. The cylinder decapitated it, piercing the ceiling as well.

  His gaze lingered on the giant corpses.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Her creations are close to reality.

  Turning toward Esther, he saw only a violet beam hurtling straight at him.

  The hat won’t be fast enough… then…

  A soft tap of the cane against the floor silenced every sound.

  All the doors and windows were blown out, and the beam faded before it could reach him.

  “Wow! Incredible! Your outfit…” Esther said, pleased.

  Relying on the same abilities is pointless.

  The rest of his gear was mere armor—it reduced damage and adapted to its wearer.

  Esther created three new canvases.

  From the first emerged rapiers—long, thin, blades and hilts glinting. They flew one after another, changing trajectories midair.

  From the second came muskets—massive rifles with thick barrels and darkened stocks. They hovered, firing deafening volleys.

  From the third wriggled octopus-like tentacles—long, slimy, dark purple, pulsating with veins and deadly suckers. Cut one off, and another surged up instantly. The massive appendages slammed down with bone-crushing force, shattering whatever they hit.

  Advancing, his eyes scanned every strike.

  Wounds appeared and healed, never slowing his movement.

  He’s going to die, Esther thought.

  “Hm… something’s off,” she muttered.

  Their eyes met. She saw the insane gleam in his gaze.

  Esther didn’t react fast enough: a narrow crimson beam crashed down on her with colossal force. Where it passed, it left a gaping hole through every floor to the bottom.

  The beam vanished as suddenly as it appeared, taking all her paintings with it.

  “Phew… that was close,” Dorian breathed out as he put his top hat back on.

  I launched the attack with the hat, sending it upward. All that remained was to guide it to the right point.

  All creations and weapons dispersed, evaporating in a flurry of colors.

  She sustains them with her own power… pitiful spectacle.

  “Show yourself. I can feel you.”

  “Heh-ho…” she laughed weakly. “I was careless.”

  Esther rose into the air. Her body looked mangled: limbs hung unnaturally, as if they might tear from her torso at any moment.

  “Surrender—you’ve lost.”

  “You’re mistaken,” she said calmly as her body regenerated. “I’m capable of more.”

  Moonlight illuminated her torn body. New portrait-paintings began appearing on the bare walls. Hundreds of faces stared at Dorian, each frozen in a silent scream.

  Could it be…?

  “RIGHT!” she yelled, her manic delight spreading through the air. “ALL OF THEM! MY CREATIONS! MY ART!”

  The portraits came alive. Women writhing in torment stepped out of the frames.

  Is she… playing with me?!

  “How do you like my hospitality?” she asked, smiling with satisfaction.

  Dorian retreated, assuming a combat stance.

  “Show me what you’re capable of! Let me feel it!”

  New opponents surged toward him in a crowd.

  I have to conserve my energy… my body should suffice.

  He inhaled deeply, tensing his muscles—and vanished. No, he simply moved at a speed the human eye couldn’t follow.

  I’ve faced such beings before.

  The detective suddenly appeared behind one of the canvas zombies.

  Empty shells, moving without purpose.

  With a direct onslaught that barely touched it, the creature’s head vanished with a sharp snap. The body fell lifeless.

  All I need is to separate their heads from their shoulders.

  The detective leaped from body to body like a rabid beast. His top hat slashed through them, while his cane crushed with a terrifying force.

  By chance, Dorian missed a blow and went flying into the wall.

  “Ugh…”

  Despite their clumsy reflexes, these zombies possess overwhelming strength. Esther has truly outdone herself…

  Rising, he charged again. The corridor gradually turned shades of red.

  “Damn…” he muttered.

  His neck was thinly slashed; scarlet liquid spurted.

  “Ah-ha!” Esther shouted, fully restored. “Did you think I’d just stand there watching? Idiot!”

  Gloves with blades gleamed on her hands, dripping with blood.

  She made herself a weapon?

  “Irritating,” he said coldly, gripping the wound, which healed quickly.

  He charged through them, striking relentlessly. Esther tried to blow stealthily—but it was futile.

  The detective twisted, leapt, and ducked, evading each attack with precision…

  With the last zombie’s head severed, they were finally alone.

  Time seemed to freeze. Their eyes locked—they both understood:

  This is my chance!

  Esther charged at Dorian, and he vanished.

  “What just happened?” she asked, confused.

  Her hand plunged into Dorian’s body, which disintegrated in the air.

  “Something’s… wrong?” came a calm male voice from behind.

  Esther turned and saw a man standing on the ceiling—yet his top hat and clothes didn't fall, as if gravity had no hold on him.

  Gravity changed? Wait, what I pierced was… she thought.

  “How do you like my ultimate form?” Dorian said softly, leaping down.

  Her body was slashed in multiple directions, yet she didn’t even feel it. Slowly, evenly, it began to break apart, drifting away. Her blue blood spread evenly across the floor.

  “Don’t worry, there’ll be a place for you in my collection,” Dorian said, passing by.

  The end?.. Is this truly my end?.. No... I will not accept this! Esther thought.

  He walked without looking back, when suddenly a canvas of the sea appeared above him, drenching him from head to toe.

  You’re so attached to her…

  “Pathetic attempt,” he said with a smile. “Nothing to fear.”

  A new canvas appeared, and a bright yellow lightning bolt shot from it at Dorian. The air crackled with electricity, but he stepped aside, dodging skillfully.

  Pff… that was…

  But thought stopped—instincts took over. He realized the mistake instantly:

  She wasn’t aiming at me!

  Dorian turned—and saw the bolt hit the spilled water behind him. Time slowed. He tried to leap to break contact with the surface—but it was too late.

  An electric arc struck him mid-jump. His body convulsed, spine arched. He collapsed, motionless, as tiny sparks danced across the wet floor. The air smelled of burnt fabric and ozone. His eyelids were wide, eyes locked on Esther.

  Damn it! I let my guard down… I can’t focus! Thoughts are all muddled…

  “Ha-ha…” the girl’s spirit slowly regenerated. “Thought… I’d die…”

  She still has strength?!

  Rage surged in both of them.

  I’ll kill you! they both thought.

  Each tried to recover quickly: Dorian fighting for control of his body, Esther healing from slashes. The light beam between them shifted, their thirst for blood intensifying.

  Finally… Dorian twitched a finger.

  In the next moment, he dashed at full speed to stab her with the cane. But a new canvas appeared.

  Made it! she thought.

  The portrait came to life and instantly blocked the detective’s path.

  “I… will kill you!” Esther shouted.

  The Original stepped back, taking a combat stance. Before him stood an exact copy of himself.

  This is starting to get annoying…