Farewell Guildmaster

"Nothing i want nothing just I will say what I have to I don't have much time left."

Akira's jaw tightened, his head still bowed. His blood dripped steadily onto the ground, mixing with hers.

"Why did you do it?" His voice was low, raw with something that he didn't even recognize himself.

Sylara's breath caught at his tone.

"What am I to you?" His grip on her hand tightened. "To throw your life away like this?"

His voice cracked.

"Why are you making me suffer even more?"

"He wanted me. He could have had me. Why did you take my place?"

"Guildmaster Sylara why?"

Sylara blinked slowly, her violet eyes locked onto him.

For the first time, in his anguish—Akira called her something he never had before

Guildmaster Sylara.

Not just Sylara.

Not just some woman he had met.

Not just a star-ranked fighter.

He had finally recognized her.

A soft, broken laugh escaped her lips, the sound fragile, fleeting.

"To think my death would finally make you call me that…" Her voice was barely more than a whisper now. "I'm… a bit happy about that… haa…"

Akira clenched his jaw. His fingers trembled. His breath was uneven, shallow.

Sylara's hand reached up, barely brushing against his bloodied chest.

"I'll tell you something before I go…" she whispered.

Her violet eyes, dimming but determined, locked onto his.

"Something I couldn't say at the restaurant because of the dungeon outbreak."

Akira's mind was spinning. The pain in his body, the blood loss, nothing registered anymore.

He just listened.

"You told me about the Aeia poison in your mother's body…"

His breath stopped. His fingers froze.

"I think I know the cure to that."

Akira's eyes widened.

For the first time since the battle, he felt something other than rage. Other than sorrow.

He felt shock.

Sylara's breath hitched, her body trembling harder.

"That S-rank… Lester… the one who came that day…"

Akira stilled.

"He told me about a person… known as the Granter."

Her voice was fading.

Akira leaned in, gripping her hand tighter.

"The Granter is said that can make all things possible…"- Blood dripped from her lips.

"And knows… everything."

Akira's heartbeat thundered in his ears.

"Find them…" her voice was breaking now. "And maybe… you'll get your answers."

Her eyes fluttered.

"Khem… khem…"

Akira did not blink.He did not move.He just stared.

He heard her words loud and clear. A chance. A miracle. A hope that he had long buried beneath rage and bloodshed.

A way to save his mother.

And yet—this woman in his arms, the one who gave him that hope, was dying.

Not just dying.

She was dying for him.

His hands trembled.Not from exhaustion.Not from pain.Something deeper. Something he didn't know how to name.

DING!

[Status Window]

[ALERT: USER'S Vitality Dropping at Alarming Rate!]

His mind barely registered the status warnings. The pain, the fatigue, the cold sweat clinging to his skin—all of it faded into the background, insignificant compared to the woman lying in his arms.

Sylara's breathing grew weaker, but she still fought to raise her head. Her violet eyes, dimming but unyielding, swept across everyone present.

Her lips parted, and with what little strength she had left—she spoke.

—

"Look at all of you."

"Crying… breaking down… over me?" A faint, tired chuckle escaped her lips. "How ridiculous."

"You all are Stars, aren't you?" Her eyes scanned the group, filled with fading fire. "Didn't we swear… to walk this path knowing it would lead to either glory… or death?"

"Don't you dare cry for me."

The guild members stiffened.

Anna still covering her mouth, silent tears streaming down her face.

Grido bit his lip, his entire body shaking. The others lowered their heads, fists clenched, shoulders trembling.

But Sylara was not finished.

"I didn't take this position to cower. I didn't take this position to sit in luxury." Her breath was weak, but her voice held a fierce edge.

"I took it because I believed in all of you."

A shudder ran through the gathered hunters.

"So don't make my death a reason to fall apart. Make it a reason to stand stronger."

Her violet eyes glowed one last time, shifting to Grido.

"Grido… You're next. So don't you dare be weak."

Grido's breath hitched. His fists clenched so tight that blood dripped from his palm. But he did not look away.

Anna sobbed harder, shaking her head.

Sylara turned her gaze to the others.

"All of you… live."

Her lips trembled.

"Live well. Live strong."

She coughed—blood spilling down her chin.

Her eyes, barely holding on, finally turned back to Akira.

"…and you."

Akira flinched.

His fingers tightened around her, as if that could somehow stop the inevitable.

"Don't waste what I gave you."

His jaw locked. His eyes burned.

Sylara's lips curled into the faintest of smiles.

Her fingers—gripping his wrist so tightly before—finally went limp.Her violet eyes, once shining, dulled.The light in them faded.

And with one final, shuddering breath—Guildmaster Sylara was gone.

The underground parking lot was silent.No one spoke.No one moved.The only sound was Anna's quiet, muffled sobbing.Grido stood frozen, his eyes blank, empty.The other hunters bowed their heads, the weight of her final words crashing down on them like a storm.

Akira—for the longest time—did not move.

At the woman who had given him a chance to live.

At the woman who had given him hope.

The woman who had died in his arms.

And then—

A single drop of blood slipped from his chin, splattering against her cooling skin.

His head slowly, slowly lowered—his dark eyes hidden beneath his bangs.