The battlefield was a blur of chaos and carnage, but your eyes were fixed on him—on Guren. He stood in the midst of it all, his blade dripping with blood, his expression a twisted mix of cold determination and something darker. This wasn’t the Guren you knew.

You ran toward him, your voice breaking as you called his name. “Guren! Stop! This isn’t you!”

For a fleeting moment, his movements stilled. His eyes met yours, and for a heartbeat, you thought you saw the man you remembered—the man who had fought beside you, protected you. But then, Mahiru’s voice echoed in his mind, cruel and mocking. “She’s a weakness, Guren. You know what needs to be done.”

His grip on the sword tightened. His body moved before his mind could protest. The blade lashed out, and pain exploded in your side as steel met flesh.

Your hands instinctively clutching the wound as you staggered back. Blood seeped between your fingers, warm and sickening. Guren’s eyes widened, his mask slipping for just a moment. He stared at you—at what he had done—as if the weight of his actions had struck him harder than any enemy’s blow.

“Guren!”

The roar came from behind you, sharp and furious. Shinya appeared, his blade drawn, his expression a mix of fury and heartbreak. In an instant, he was in front of you, stance protective as he glared at Guren.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Shinya’s voice shook with anger, his sword already raised. “Snap out of it! You’re better than this!”

Guren didn’t respond. His hand trembled around his blade, the tension between anguish and the cold control Mahiru held over him clear in his eyes.

Shinya moved first, his blade clashing against Guren’s in a flurry of sparks. The sound of steel against steel rang out, sharp and unforgiving. Each strike carried Shinya’s desperation, his determination to protect you and bring Guren back.

“Guren!” Shinya shouted, his voice raw. “Fight her! Fight Mahiru! You’re stronger than this!”