( Warning: This chapter contains violent and graphic scenes that may disturb sensitive readers)

Chaos still ruled the battlefield. Several hours had already passed since the first clashes, and exhaustion was spreading through every body.

Each confrontation grew sharper, more desperate, as if the fighters were carving the last remnants of their will into steel and flesh.

Fidri, Elizir, and Arnaud, drained after their narrow victory over Sasha, no longer had the strength to throw themselves into another melee.

They lingered behind, gasping, their limbs trembling under the weight of survival itself.

And yet, even though Sasha had been struck down and Orion's forces seemed to reclaim the upper hand, one figure still remained on Mercury's side a presence capable of tipping the balance.

He had already set his sights on two unfortunate prey, busy softening them up before savoring the feast to come.

The battle between Lucy and Gracia against Stoneheart had reached a deadlock.

Lucy unleashed volley after volley, but none of her shots managed to scratch the stone plating covering their opponent. Even Gracia's ice had proven useless against this man who seemed utterly impervious to the cold.

"Hahaha, not yet. Don't tire yourselves out keep going until you're nice and tender."

Stoneheart hadn't attacked them once. He simply absorbed their assaults with perverse delight, like a farmer fattening his livestock before slaughtering them.

After a failed maneuver, Lucy and Gracia exchanged a quick glance. Without a word, an unspoken agreement passed between them.

If he wasn't going to attack, then there was no reason to keep playing this sadist's game. Better to change targets.

Both women halted their assault and began retreating.

"Not yet. You're still not tender enough."

But he didn't pursue them.

His gaze drifted across the battlefield, where multiple clashes erupted in different corners. Then something caught his attention: a group of women and youths had broken through the rear of the Mercury clan's troops and were preparing to flank them.

It was none other than Arnaud's group, who had accomplished their mission of neutralizing the non-awakened soldiers and their destructive weapons.

Stoneheart showed no concern at all for the situation, even though it was clearly turning in Orion's favor. No, he didn't even bother thinking about it.

All he saw was fodder more livestock to fatten.

He licked his lips in advance.

"Yum, yum."

---

Lucy and Gracia panted heavily. Their ragged breaths betrayed the frenzy of their sprint away from that pig.

"He's not following us," Lucy said.

"No, we must have lost him," Gracia answered, then added, "What do we do now?"

Lucy's lips curved into a smile.

"Orion has the upper hand again. Mercury should surrender soon. Let's try to wipe out as many of them as possible before that happens."

Gracia tilted her head slightly, but she didn't object.

(This girl… why does she seem to enjoy killing so much?)

She kept that thought to herself. After all, if they were to form an alliance with Orion, then it was better to prove their goodwill. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Once they had caught their breath, they decided to plunge back into the fray.

"Alright, let's make another round," Lucy declared.

But before she could take a single step, a projectile whizzed right past her.

Her body froze instantly. She blinked, hands trembling, desperately praying she had imagined it. Yet when she turned her head to the object that had landed, she realized it was all too real.

The head of a child no older than fourteen lay on the ground.

Lucy and Gracia turned mechanically toward the thrower. Their eyes flooded with tears, with blood, with a fury neither of them could control.

Stoneheart stood only a few meters away, ten more children's heads scattered at his feet. Their bodies lay discarded somewhere else.

"Yes, yes… keep that expression. I adore it."

Seeing their faces twisted by anger and grief sent Stoneheart into ecstasy. Drool ran down his chin, his gaping mouth mimicking the feast he imagined was right before him.

That was all it took for Gracia and Lucy to lose their reason, consumed by the abomination draped in human skin.

"I'll kill you!" Lucy screamed, more determined than ever.

Gracia was no different. The air around her grew colder than ever before, her breathing deep, while enormous stalactites formed high above.

"Die!" they both swore in unison.

A bazooka materialized on Lucy's shoulder and she fired without hesitation. At the same time, the stalactites launched straight at Stoneheart.

His smile stretched uncontrollably as he saw their combined attacks.

"Yes, yes, more!" he howled.

For the first time in the fight, he dodged with agility utterly unexpected for a man of his size and build.

"You're ripe."

In just seconds, he had closed the distance to Lucy, his open hand ready to rip her head off in one brutal grip.

Lucy slammed her bazooka into his skull, but the impact had no effect on the stone plating that armored his body.

His fingers clamped violently onto her face, wrenching a scream of agony from her throat.

Gracia immediately formed a one-meter-long ice spear and hurled it at him. But Stoneheart caught it effortlessly with one hand and tossed it back toward her, never loosening his grip on Lucy.

Lucy thrashed wildly, clawing at his hand, kicking at the ground in vain. It was useless. The difference in strength was overwhelming.

Stoneheart seemed to savor her suffering rather than end it quickly.

Driven by rage, Lucy bit into her own fingers until blood flowed.

"Go to hell!" she roared.

<< Gate open >>

A fragment of a bridge appeared in the air above them before collapsing downward in a massive avalanche of concrete.

Stoneheart raised his eyes. He had no intention of dying crushed beneath rubble. He believed his prey would perish long before he was satisfied.

He released Lucy for just a moment, raising both arms to bear the weight of the concrete.

Gracia seized the opening.

A pillar of ice shot up from the ground not toward Stoneheart, but toward Lucy, shoving her out of the avalanche's path and away from her tormentor.

Gracia rushed to her side.

"Are you alright?"

Lucy struggled to breathe. The imprint of his hand was still marked on her face, but she was somehow still standing.

"Yes… I'll handle… hm…" She coughed violently before she could finish her sentence.

Gracia steadied her, then turned her gaze back toward Stoneheart with steely determination.

She was ready to bring him down, no matter the cost.

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