Chapter 43
The heat of Dumase faded—
Just for a moment.
Memory took its place.
---
Inside the ship, the strategy room was quiet.
A map of Dumase stretched across the table, marked with burn zones, unstable ground, and fractured terrain.
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Guinevere stood at its center.
Fingers resting lightly against the edge.
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Guinevere: "If Monesa's body is here…"
A pause.
Guinevere: "…then they are too."
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Marco exhaled slowly, arms crossed.
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Marco: "The shadow assassin doesn't act alone."
He tapped a cluster of volcanic fissures.
Marco: "If he shows himself, it won't be a simple ambush."
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His gaze sharpened.
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Marco: "They'll use the terrain—smoke, heat distortion, blind spots."
A beat.
Marco: "Perfect conditions for them."
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The Princess stood silent.
Eyes fixed on the marked location.
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Princess: "Last time… we weren't ready."
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Her voice was quiet.
But steady.
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Princess: "This time, we assume they're watching us from the moment we arrive."
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Guinevere nodded once.
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Guinevere: "Then we move as one."
A pause.
Guinevere: "No separation. Masks ready."
Guinevere: "Signal checks every thirty seconds."
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Marco glanced up.
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Marco: "And if the assassin appears?"
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Silence.
The air grew heavier.
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The Princess's hand slowly clenched.
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Princess: "Then we don't let him disappear again."
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She lifted her gaze.
Cold.
Certain.
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Princess: "We take Monesa back."
A breath.
Princess: "…no matter the cost."
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No one argued.
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The memory shattered.
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And he stood before her.
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Exactly where they expected.
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The air burned.
Not just from lava—
but from steel.
From magic.
From killing intent.
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The battlefield had already dissolved into chaos.
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Blades clashed.
Sparks erupted.
Poison mist drifted in fading currents.
---
And through it all—
the assassins advanced.
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Fast.
Precise.
Relentless.
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Marco parried a strike, twisting his blade and kicking his opponent back into molten rock.
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Marco: "They're not slowing—!"
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Another attacker lunged.
He cut it down—
Then froze.
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The body moved again.
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Marco's eyes narrowed.
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Marco: "…They're healing?"
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Across the battlefield—
Guinevere cut through two enemies in a single motion, stepping back instantly.
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Guinevere: "Rear positions—check behind them!"
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Chris turned—
ducking a strike—
and saw it.
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Figures.
Distant.
Still.
Hands glowing faint green.
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Chris: "Support units?!"
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Bochy fired.
Three shots.
Three hits.
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An assassin dropped—
Then—
slowly—
rose again.
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Bochy blinked.
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Captain Bochy: "…Oh, hell no."
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He reloaded with one hand, grinning.
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Captain Bochy: "Healing magic?"
A scoff.
Captain Bochy: "That's not something you just have."
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A pirate shouted mid-fight:
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Pirate: "Then why do THEY have it?!"
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Bochy fired again.
Clean.
Precise.
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Captain Bochy: "Because the world's unfair."
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Marco dashed forward, cutting through another enemy—
only for that same green glow to flicker again.
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Marco: "Not full regeneration…"
A breath.
Marco: "…but enough to keep them fighting."
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Guinevere moved beside him.
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Guinevere: "Then we remove the source."
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Marco: "Simple plan."
A glance.
Marco: "Hard execution."
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Nearby—
A lava beast erupted from the ground, screeching, molten claws slamming down.
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Pirates scattered.
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Pirate: "WHY ARE THERE SO MANY MONSTERS?!"
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Bochy didn't even look.
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Captain Bochy: "Welcome to Dumase."
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He fired mid-spin—
hitting both beast and assassin.
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Captain Bochy: "Everything here wants you dead."
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And at the center—
She stood still.
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The Princess.
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Eyes locked—
On him.
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The assassin.
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Unmoving.
Watching.
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As if none of this mattered.
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She stepped forward.
Slow.
Steady.
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Princess: "This time…"
Her grip tightened.
Princess: "…I'm ready."
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The assassin tilted his head.
Amused.
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Assassin: "Ready?"
A soft chuckle.
Assassin: "Last time, you fell from a single strike."
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Silence.
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The words hit.
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Hard.
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Guinevere moved instantly.
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Guinevere: "Princess—don't—"
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The assassin's gaze flicked to her.
A faint smile.
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Assassin: "You need help now?"
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The Princess raised a hand.
Stopping her.
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Princess: "I never said that."
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A step forward.
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Princess: "This fight is mine."
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Guinevere held her gaze—
then exhaled.
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Guinevere: "…Understood."
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She turned.
Blade flashing.
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Guinevere: "Marco—we hold the line."
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Marco: "Don't die."
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Now—
Only two remained.
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The assassin lifted his blade.
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Assassin: "Good."
A step.
Assassin: "Show me."
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They moved.
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At the same time.
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Steel collided.
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A shockwave tore outward.
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The Princess pivoted—
faster.
Sharper.
---
She struck low—
Blocked.
---
He countered—
She twisted away—
sparks grazing her shoulder.
---
Again.
Again.
Again.
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Blades clashed in rapid succession—
echoing across burning ground.
---
Her breathing steadied.
Her gaze didn't break.
---
Not this time.
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He pressed forward—
precise.
Relentless.
---
But she didn't fall back.
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She held.
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Step for step.
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Time blurred.
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Then—
She slid back.
Just slightly.
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A breath.
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Her grip tightened.
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Princess: "…Enough."
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Something changed.
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A glow—
faint at first—
then—
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A surge.
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Green light ignited around her body.
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Not soft.
Not calm.
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Violent.
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Like flame.
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Ash lifted from the ground.
Heat warped.
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Even nearby assassins hesitated.
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At the center—
The assassin finally paused.
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Interested.
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A faint smile.
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Assassin: "…Interesting."
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He stepped forward.
Slow.
Unhurried.
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Assassin: "But it won't be enough."
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Then—
It erupted.
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Dark flames.
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Dense.
Controlled.
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A red-black aura twisted around him—
swallowing light itself.
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The ground cracked beneath his feet.
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Marco watched from afar.
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Marco: "…He's strong."
A pause.
Marco: "…and unstable."
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Guinevere didn't turn—
but her voice lowered.
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Guinevere: "Good."
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At the center—
Two forces stood.
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Green flame.
Red fire.
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The air bent between them.
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The Princess didn't move.
Didn't hesitate.
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Princess: "Good."
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Her voice steady.
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Princess: "Then I don't hold back."
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The assassin raised his blade.
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Assassin: "Show me."
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They vanished.
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The ground shattered beneath them.
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A massive shockwave exploded outward as their blades met—
green and red flames colliding violently.
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They blurred—
disappearing—
reappearing—
striking from impossible angles.
---
Each clash sent pressure through the battlefield—
forcing everyone back.
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Bochy ducked as a shockwave ripped past.
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Captain Bochy: "NOPE—THIS IS ABOVE MY PAY GRADE!"
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A pirate shouted:
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Pirate: "They're breaking the air?!"
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Captain Bochy: "Focus on surviving!"
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At the center—
The Princess drove forward.
Her aura burned brighter with every strike.
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The assassin met every blow.
Calm.
Effortless.
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Her blade slipped past his guard—
almost—
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He vanished.
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Reappeared behind her.
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Assassin: "Still predictable."
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She spun—
Blocked—
The impact cracked the ground.
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Her eyes burned.
Not anger.
Not rage.
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Resolve.
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Princess: "Not anymore."
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Her aura surged—
brighter—
fiercer—
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This time—
She pushed forward.
Harder.
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The assassin's smile widened.
Assassin: "Good."
And for the first time—
He pushed back.
...CHAPTER 43 ENDS...