With a swift, precise motion, Joseph and Hirotsugu broke free from their intense sword clash, each standing at opposite ends, their expressions fierce. Hirotsugu, unaware of the slight cut on his left arm, felt a surge of confusion wash over him. How had a mere human managed to land a blow after such an intense struggle? He could hardly believe it. “Impossible! He’s not supposed to be able to do that,” he thought, frustration brewing within him. “I mustn’t let my guard down. He’s hiding something.”
Joseph’s gaze swept across the battlefield, landing on the lifeless bodies of his fallen comrades, slaughtered mercilessly. A wave of rage surged through him as he processed the betrayal he had witnessed. It stunned him to see how quickly those who had once fought alongside Himari turned against their own for the sake of survival. He turned his head slightly towards Himari, who was visibly injured, her voice barely a whisper.