Shingin leapt backward, desperately trying to widen the gap between himself and Akari, but Akari's reflexes were terrifyingly swift. His handgun roared again, firing not one but two bullets simultaneously.
"Watch out!" Riyugi's scream tore through the air, but the warning came too late. One bullet struck a floating dagger, ricocheting its deadly edge toward Shingin. The other bullet tore straight into Yahageshii's calf.
"Argh!" Yahageshii cried out in pain, collapsing heavily onto one knee. Meanwhile, Shingin twisted to dodge the incoming dagger, but the blade grazed his back, leaving a deep gash. Warm blood soaked through his tunic, dripping onto the ground in crimson beads.
Akari halted, his gaze sweeping over the suspended weapons as if admiring a masterpiece. His smile deepened, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Akane, how much longer do you think they can last?"
A young, chilling voice echoed, cold enough to freeze the marrow. "Not long, brother. They're so weak."
"What a bore." Akari's gaze returned to Shingin, his lips curving into a cruel, excited grin. "Weaklings should simply close their eyes and vanish, shouldn't they?"
Shingin pressed a hand to the bleeding wound on his back, inhaling deeply to steady himself. He knew Akari's terror didn't lie solely in his superhuman speed or strength. It was his psychotic brilliance—his meticulous precision and oppressive tactics. Every attack felt like a calculated move in an intricate, lethal performance, with them reduced to mere spectators.
"Stay calm... I can't lose my focus," Shingin whispered to himself, his trembling hands betraying the growing despair that gnawed at his mind.
Akari's footsteps echoed again, deliberate and unhurried, like the grim toll of a death knell. But before he could strike, Myouka dashed in from the flank, her bow drawn to full tension. A glowing arrow shot forth, hurtling toward Akari's back with lightning speed.
Akari didn't flinch. Without even turning his head, he flicked his wrist, sending a dagger spinning from his grasp. The blade collided mid-air with the arrow in a brilliant flash of sparks, the metallic clang reverberating in the air. The arrow deflected, ricocheting back toward Myouka.
The projectile slammed against her taut bowstring, the impact numbing her arms and forcing her to stagger backward. She nearly fell under the blow, struggling to regain her footing.
Akari turned to her, his gaze lingering for a moment, his expression dripping with disdain. He chuckled darkly. "Akane, don't you think this girl is unbelievably foolish?"
"Yes, brother, she's so stupid!" The young voice mocked, dripping with malice and cruelty.
Shingin seized the brief lull to scan for an opening, but the floating weapons overhead shifted unpredictably, their trajectories maddeningly complex. They left him no room to breathe, let alone counterattack. His eyes darted back to Akari's cold, calculating face. Gritting his teeth, Shingin shouted, "How are you doing this?!"
Akari stopped in his tracks, appearing amused by the question. A flicker of madness lit up his gaze. "How? That's a secret between Akane and me."
"Don't tell them, brother! Don't tell them!" The girl's voice suddenly grew frantic, as if guarding some sacred truth.
Akari laughed, waving dismissively. "Relax, Akane. Your brother would never let these worms know."
"Monster!" Myouka spat the word like venom, her loathing barely concealed.
Akari's smile vanished. His gaze sharpened, cutting like a blade, and his voice dropped to a chilling murmur. "A monster? No. I simply understand the rules of this world better than you do—weaklings deserve only death."
With a slow, deliberate motion, Akari raised his hand and made a subtle gesture. The suspended weapons, as if obeying his command, erupted in a dazzling burst of motion, hurtling outward in all directions.
Shingin and Riyugi scrambled to evade the deadly onslaught, but the high-pitched hum of blades slicing through the air overwhelmed their senses. Though they avoided fatal wounds, their bodies bore fresh, searing cuts. Yahageshii, unable to react in time, took a dagger clean through his thigh. His scream of agony seemed to freeze the very air.
Standing at the center of the chaos, Akari spread his arms wide, his expression serene yet terrifying. He appeared like a conductor orchestrating a symphony of carnage. "Akane, how much longer do you think they'll struggle?"
The girl's voice bubbled with frenzied glee, her excitement reaching a fever pitch. "Hurry, brother! Hurry! They're going to die!"
Akari nodded faintly, his gaze locking onto Shingin with deadly intent. His voice dropped to a whisper, cold and final. "The game is over."