After the Gulyabani vanished into the wild thickets of Kirola, Number 25 felt trapped within the labyrinth of her own mind. The thorns of panic dug into her chest as she fought against the overwhelming instinct to flee—desperate not to become dinner in this land where death prowled openly.

  "We need to descend and use the path to reach the tower."

  "Is that thing really... No."

  Her breath hitched, the rhythm broken. Her pupils dilated, reflecting the abyss growing in her mind. Seeing her spiral, Number 99 removed the glove from his right hand. He gently pressed his bare palm against her cheek, sharing his warmth to ground her reality.

  "All you have to do is stay behind me. Understood?"

  The drums pounding in her chest began to fade. She nodded slowly, her focus returning.

  Number 99 straightened her up, pulled his glove back on with a sharp snap, and turned his gaze toward the entrance of the vast Kirola Cemetery.

  Rows of tombstones stood like crooked teeth, reclaimed by a battered and overgrown nature. The restlessness of the souls buried here hung thick in the air, a palpable weight on their shoulders.

  Trailing behind Number 99 like a shadow, Number 25 gripped her bow until her knuckles turned white, her eyes darting nervously from one gravestone to another.

  "Do you think... do you think it's watching us?" Her voice trembled, words forming clouds of steam in the freezing air.

  "Yes. But for now, from a safe distance."

  At his answer, the invisible thorns around her mind tightened. She became afraid even to blink.

  After walking for a while longer, Number 99 suddenly stopped and raised his right hand.

  As he brought it down, the Black Sword materialized from the void. Its violet runes flared and began to tremble erratically.

  SNAP!

  To their left, the Gulyabani emerged from the bushes. Its hand, massive as a shovel, gripped a dusty tombstone. Saliva dripped from its jaws, matting its beard, as its pale, dead-white eyes locked onto the Black Sword.

  Number 25 raised her bow and pulled the string with trembling effort. A heated arrow materialized, struggling to find its mark.

  Noticing the threat, the Gulyabani shifted its gaze to the arrow. It let out a bizarre, guttural roar, drool pouring from its mouth in anticipation.

  The creature’s hollow stare pierced her soul. Unable to hold the tension any longer, she released the burning arrow. It flew with a high-pitched whistle, its light revealing the grotesque contours of the beast—before being snuffed out instantly as the monster caught it mid-air with a massive hand.

  The creature roared louder, emboldened. But despite its bravado, it could not advance against the death standing before it—and his Black Sword.

  Number 99 raised his left hand, summoning swirling tendrils of black mist. He unleashed them toward the beast. The moment the mist touched the air, the monster slammed its hands into the earth and scrambled away in terror.

  "It... That thing is afraid of you!"

  The excitement bubbling in her chest spilled over; she couldn't hold back the words.

  "It seems so... Are you alright?"

  "Ah... Yes. Thank you."

  "Then let us continue."

  Unable to fully process what she had just witnessed, Number 25 tried to calm the warmth spreading through her heart and continued to follow this stoic man.

  ***

  As the duo ventured deeper into the cemetery, she could not tear her gaze away from the Black Sword.

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

  The blade, which had trembled like a mad thing in the presence of the Gulyabani, was now silent. It waited in its master's grip, perfectly dormant and still.

  It was as if the weapon possessed a will of its own.

  As these thoughts drifted through her mind, Number 25 slowly began to purge the lingering dread the monster had cast over her. Just as she was losing herself in the mesmerizing violet runes etched along the Black Sword, Number 99 halted abruptly.

  She stopped inches away from colliding with his back. That was when she noticed it—the blade had begun to tremble once more.

  She lifted her gaze from the ground, and what she saw made her freeze in place.

  Pale blue spirits were clawing their way out of the ancient tombstones. Their hollow eyes were locked onto Number 99, their spectral arms outstretched as if they were begging for mercy.

  This legion of the restless recoiled from the Black Sword, yet they were desperately drawn to Number 99. They clamored toward this stoic man, seeking salvation, and above all, peace.

  Number 99’s expression darkened. His eyelids drooped, as if suddenly burdened by an immense, invisible weight.

  "Why are they looking at you?"

  Receiving no answer, Number 25 noticed a spirit drifting dangerously close to him. She stepped in its path to block it.

  But the specter passed straight through her body.

  In that instant, the freezing chill of the grave pierced through her, sinking deep into her warm soul.

  Overcome by the unnatural chill, she collapsed to her knees, frantically rubbing her arms in a desperate attempt to find warmth. Meanwhile, the spirits swarmed around Number 99. As he raised the Black Sword, the spectral horde fell prostrate before him.

  "99! Are you o—"

  AH!

  Before she could finish her sentence, a massive hand clamped around her right leg.

  Number 25 looked down and locked eyes with a pair of pale, dead-white orbs staring up from the edge of the path. She was dragged backward instantly.

  Caught in the Gulyabani’s crushing grip, she thrashed wildly, kicking out with her free left leg at the drooling monstrosity. She screamed for Number 99, her voice cracking with panic.

  But he stood motionless among the spirits, as if in a deep trance.

  Realizing no help was coming, she lost hope. With trembling hands, she tried to aim her bow at the beast—but the Gulyabani snatched the weapon, ripping it from her grasp in a single, violent motion.

  As she continued to rain down useless kicks, the creature seized her other leg. With its massive bulk rising to full height, she was left dangling in the air like a side of beef in a butcher’s shop.

  The skin on the Gulyabani’s face stretched to the breaking point as it unhinged its jaw to swallow her whole. Number 25 could no longer suppress her screams.

  Suddenly, a void-black mist collided with the beast. In the blink of an eye, she found herself dumped onto the cold, hard earth.

  The creature, writhing with choked groans, realized Death itself had attacked it. It tried to scramble toward the thickets, but black chains whipped around its neck, slamming it into the ground with violent force.

  It thrashed like a trapped wild animal. But as the chains were hauled back by their master, the noose tightened, strangling its roars into a whimpering silence.

  "You crossed a line you shouldn't have."

  As the beast gazed into Number 99’s mist-shrouded eyes, its own pale, dead-white orbs began to turn a deep, terrified black. A final, agonizing wail escaped the strangling chain, echoing across all of Kirola.

  "Begone!"

  With a strike fueled by pure malice, Number 99 thrust the Black Sword through the creature’s chest. The violet runes along the blade flared to life, glowing with an ominous light.

  Amidst involuntary spasms, the Gulyabani’s physical form shattered. Its soul, ripped from its flesh, swirled around the blade for a fleeting moment before being devoured by the Black Sword, lost to the void forever.

  The Black Sword began to radiate a searing heat the moment it finished consuming the Gulyabani's soul. Number 99 dismissed the weapon, banishing it back to the void.

  Digging his left thumb hard into the palm of his sword hand to relieve the tension, he turned and strode toward Number 25.

  She lay on the ground, her eyes locked on the pale white sun hanging in the sky. Her chest heaved with ragged, uneven breaths.

  As she sensed Number 99 looming over her, the dam finally broke. All the terror and adrenaline she had bottled up exploded outward.

  "What... What is wrong with you!?"

  When she turned her gaze back to Number 99, she saw a crack in his armor—a glimpse of humanity she had never seen before. His usually bright hazel eyes had lost their light, and his thick brows were furrowed in deep concern.

  "My carelessness caused you pain. I apologize."

  Hearing an apology from the last person she ever expected to say it left her stunned. She covered her face with her hands, taking long, shuddering breaths. After a moment, she began to wipe the tears from her eyes with trembling fingers.

  "What was it with those spirits? Why you?"

  "They were begging me to end their suffering."

  "In Sisula Village... you could hear the little girl’s spirit there, too."

  "Yes."

  She wanted to ask more—so much more. But instinct told her that prying deeper right now would yield nothing of value for either of them. She swallowed her remaining questions.

  Number 99 offered his hand. She took it, pulling herself up, and walked over to where the Gulyabani had thrown her bow. She bent down slowly and retrieved it.

  "Shall we continue?"

  Number 99 nodded silently. Together, they resumed their journey along the winding path, heading toward the looming tower.

  ***

  When they finally reached the end of the path, they stood before the colossal stone tower that pierced the heavens.

  Number 99 reached out and slowly pushed the metal door ajar.

  As the screech of rusted hinges clawed at their ears, another sound cut through the noise.

  Clap!

  Clap!

  Clap!

  A slow, rhythmic applause echoed from the upper reaches of the tower, descending toward them. It was accompanied by a voice—smooth, elegant, and chilling.

  "What a magnificent performance!"