Deiv stood still, his heavy gaze fixed on the parasites.

  The soldiers didn’t know what to do. No one rushed to shoot, uncertain whose side he was on. Among them, only one man—the same one who had seen him at his parents’ grave—looked at him with hope.

  The parasites hesitated. Many of them believed that one against so many couldn’t do anything.

  All except Alagana.

  She knew the truth.

  If Ghost lost control now, he would destroy them all.

  But he didn’t attack. He just stared.

  Hatred burned in his eyes, and she knew—he was holding himself back for some reason.

  And then…

  One step.

  A thunderous sound.

  The ground shook.

  With a single lunge, Deiv tore an entire group of parasites apart. In that instant, the rest lunged at him, but he spun around and struck them down as if they were rag dolls.

  Panic.

  Fear flickered through the parasites.

  Alagana froze, assessing the situation. Attack? If she made even one wrong move, he would rip her apart.

  But she had a plan.

  She stepped back, linking telepathically with someone.

  Meanwhile, the battle raged on.

  Another parasite leapt at Deiv—

  A gunshot.

  The bullet blew its head apart.

  Deiv turned toward the wall.

  That soldier.

  The same one.

  He didn’t betray me.

  Other soldiers started shooting at the parasites.

  Deiv hadn’t expected that. They were helping him.

  A strange feeling stirred in his chest. Happiness?

  He didn’t even understand it himself.

  And the next moment, he attacked again.

  The battle lasted nearly half an hour.

  At last, the final parasite fell.

  A hum of silence covered the battlefield.

  The soldiers shouted in victory. They had won.

  But Deiv…

  He frowned.

  Something was wrong.

  He scanned the area, until—

  A STRIKE.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  His head rang, and he was thrown several meters away.

  He got up.

  No one.

  And then—another strike.

  And another.

  And another.

  He reacted in time, and as the next blow was about to land, he caught his attacker by the throat.

  — Alagana.

  She struggled in his grip, but he only tightened his hold.

  — I gave you a chance to live…

  His eyes darkened.

  — But now, I won’t let you go.

  He raised his other hand, ready to rip her head off.

  But something stopped him.

  Tentacles.

  They wrapped around his arm and then—

  SLAP.

  His hand was severed.

  Deiv glanced at the stump. No blood—his wound healed instantly.

  But the tentacles grabbed his other arm too.

  He scowled, throwing Alagana an irritated look.

  — Is this your trick?

  And then he saw her.

  A tall parasite stood in the distance.

  Who the hell…

  She called for backup?

  A sniper on the wall fired, but the bullet ricocheted off the tentacle like it was metal.

  — Expected… — Deiv muttered.

  And then—

  A parasite appeared before him out of nowhere.

  A female figure, flexible, with bright green eyes.

  — So it’s you… The infamous traitor… Ghost.

  Deiv showed no emotion.

  — Traitor? I was never one of you.

  The parasite’s lips curled into a sinister grin.

  — Galian.

  — I didn’t ask.

  — You think this is a game? And how rude, you could’ve at least said thank you for not killing you right away.

  — If you wanted to kill me, you should’ve cut off my head.

  She laughed, her voice dripping with venom.

  — I like you.

  — Sorry… not my type.

  Galian eyed him, tilting her head slightly.

  — Look up.

  Deiv raised his head…

  Shit.

  A HUGE silhouette was approaching.

  A parasite.

  Deiv watched as a thirty-meter giant neared.

  The ground trembled under its steps, as if nature itself was trying to flee from the creature.

  — So now you have giants too?

  His eyes narrowed.

  — You really think this will scare me? — he said, looking at Galian.

  She only giggled.

  — Let’s see how you talk in a few minutes.

  Deiv just waved dismissively and tore off the tentacles without ceremony.

  He lunged at Galian with insane speed, but she vanished.

  Both thought the same thing: ?He/She is fast.?

  They parted, then clashed again in a deadly dance.

  Fists and claws sliced through the air, each strike lethal.

  And then—

  A THUNDEROUS CRASH.

  The giant unleashed a monstrous blow.

  Deiv dodged, but the force of the impact knocked him off his feet.

  Two enemies.

  How to deal with both at once?

  Alagana wasn’t standing idly by either—her attacks were precise, hidden, and deadly.

  Oh great, now there are three -_-.

  The soldiers tried to distract the giant, firing at it. Sometimes it gave Deiv a second of respite, but no more.

  The fight dragged on.

  Deiv was starting to tire.

  None of them had sustained serious injuries.

  He realized—they wouldn’t die easily.

  He studied the giant’s movements carefully.

  It regenerated quickly.

  Ripping its head off wouldn’t work… then what would kill it?

  — Hm…

  Deiv narrowed his eyes.

  It must have a heart.

  Or something like it.

  He made a decision.

  A full-speed charge.

  Kill in one strike.

  He shot forward at inhuman speed.

  The giant sensed danger and tried to defend itself, but it was too late.

  A DASH.

  A STRIKE.

  He pierced the giant through.

  From its chest, he tore something out—pulsing, the size of his own body.

  — This must be its core.

  The giant froze.

  And collapsed.

  Dead.

  Silence.

  Galian stared at the scene, eyes wide.

  And then…

  She smiled.

  But not out of anger.

  Not out of hatred.

  Out of admiration.

  She had fallen for this Ghost—not as a man.

  But as the perfect opponent.

  She linked telepathically with Alagana.

  — Don’t interfere anymore.

  Alagana wanted to argue.

  — This is too dangerous!

  But then she saw her face.

  Galian’s eyes were glowing with excitement.

  She was having fun.

  Alagana stayed silent, thinking, ?Why do you love fighting so much…?

  And the battle resumed.

  Hours passed, and they kept fighting.

  They destroyed everything around them.

  The soldiers couldn’t look away.

  These two…

  They knew parasites were strong.

  But this was beyond anything they’d ever seen.

  But suddenly…

  Galian stopped.

  She staggered.

  And Deiv could barely stand.

  They were exhausted.

  Galian caught her breath and…

  Laughed.

  — Now that was a fight.

  She took a few steps back.

  — So? Shall we meet again for another round?

  Deiv, panting, told her to go fuck herself.

  Alagana couldn’t believe what was happening.

  What was there even to say?

  Galian, barely breathing, grabbed Alagana’s hand.

  — I think we’ll be going.

  Deiv wanted to finish them off, but he had no strength left.

  Galian smirked.

  — See you in the future, handsome.

  She made a heart shape with her fingers.

  Deiv showed her the middle finger.

  Galian laughed.

  Alagana muttered to herself,

  Boss is going to love hearing this story.

  Galian winked at Deiv one last time.

  — Well then, sister, "cough" let’s go…

  — About time.

  And they vanished.

  Deiv stood, watching them go.

  Shit.

  What the fuck was that just now…

  WAIT!, SHE SAID SISTER!??!?