Faithless

The halls of the grand, castle-like mansion stretched endlessly, each corridor bathed in an eerie golden glow.

Kairi, Kasumi, and Rin advanced cautiously. They were getting close.

Kayd Arakawa was here. Somewhere.

But before they could move any further—a slow, deliberate applause echoed through the vast space.

A figure stepped forward.

She was tall, dressed in an immaculate black and silver butler's uniform, her presence exuding a quiet deadliness. Her sharp eyes held no warmth.

"ທ່ານເຂົາມີຜູ້ເຫຼືອຄົນສຸດທ້າຍ." The woman spoke in her native Lao tongue before switching to Japanese. "You've made it this far. That is… unfortunate."

Her name was Khamphai.

She was Kayd's most loyal butler. And she wasn't alone.

Four others emerged from the shadows. The last of Kayd's higher-ups.

And behind them? A wave of armed lesser goons, their eyes filled with a mixture of arrogance and desperation.

They knew their leader was cornered. And they would die before they let anyone reach him.

Kairi smirked, rolling her shoulders.

"I was starting to think this was gonna be too easy."

Kasumi clicked her tongue, her stance shifting.

"We don't have time for this, Kairi."

"Then let's finish it quick," Rin said, her masked face unreadable.

And just like that—

The battle erupted.

Khamphai moved first.

Her movements were effortless. Precise. Ruthless.

One moment she was standing still—the next, she was upon them.

Kairi barely had time to block as Khamphai's twin daggers lashed out, cutting through the air like a viper's fangs.

CLANG!

The force sent Kairi skidding back. "Tch—she's fast."

Kasumi intercepted one of the other higher-ups—a hulking brute wielding a kanabo—as he swung down with a force that shattered the marble floor.

BOOM!

She dodged at the last second, flipping back. "Big guy's mine!"

Meanwhile, Rin had already vanished into the chaos, weaving through the lesser goons. A silent blur of death.

Swords clashed. Guns fired. Blood painted the once-pristine walls.

But Khamphai's focus never wavered.

Her sole target was Kairi.

And Kairi knew it.

Khamphai lunged again—but this time, Kairi was ready.

She ducked, twisted, and launched a brutal elbow into Khamphai's ribs.

CRACK.

Khamphai barely flinched.

Instead, she caught Kairi's wrist and drove a dagger toward her throat.

Kairi tilted her head just in time—but a thin line of red was left on her neck.

"You should not have come here," Khamphai murmured.

Kairi grinned through the pain.

"You should've left with your dignity intact, sweetheart."

Khamphai's eyes darkened.

And the fight only grew bloodier.

The last of Kayd's hired goons lay motionless, their blood soaking into the once-pristine floors.

Kasumi flicked her blade, sending excess blood splattering onto the wall. Rin did the same.

The two turned their attention to the real fight—Kairi vs. Khamphai.

The two women moved like phantoms, exchanging lethal blows at a speed that barely allowed the eye to keep up. Kairi's fists clashed against Khamphai's daggers, each strike sending sharp echoes through the vast hall.

Kasumi narrowed her eyes. "She's holding back."

Rin didn't respond, merely watching. Calculating.

Then, without hesitation—Kasumi sprinted forward, her blade raised.

Kairi saw her incoming and let out an annoyed scoff.

"Tch—what the hell, Kasumi?!"

But Kasumi ignored her. She didn't care.

"I hate sitting around!" she snapped. "Now move!"

And just like that—it was a two-on-one.

Khamphai didn't hesitate.

She shifted her stance instantly, reading the incoming threat. Kasumi's blade came in fast—but Khamphai twisted her body, narrowly avoiding a fatal cut.

Then, without missing a beat, she lashed out—

A dagger whizzed past Kasumi's cheek, leaving a thin cut.

Kasumi hissed but smirked. "Damn, you're sharp."

"No." Khamphai's voice was like steel. "You are dull."

She lunged—daggers flashing.

But now Kairi had an opening.

CRACK!

Her fist slammed into Khamphai's jaw, sending her staggering back.

Before Khamphai could recover—a third figure blurred into the fight.

Rin.

"Couldn't resist, huh?" Kairi muttered.

Rin simply shrugged. "She's a problem. Problems need solutions."

Now? It was three against one.

For the first time, Khamphai looked… cornered.

But there was no fear in her eyes. Only resolve.

She adjusted her grip on her daggers, taking a deep breath.

And then—she charged.

Elsewhere.

Jin and Aiko moved through the massive halls, their eyes scanning every doorway, every corridor.

Their priority? Celeste.

They could hear the distant echoes of Kairi's fight, but they had their own task.

Jin exhaled sharply. "Damn place is like a damn maze."

Aiko remained silent, her eyes darting between doors.

Then—she froze.

A sound.

Faint. Muffled.

A struggle.

Jin noticed Aiko's sudden stillness. "You hear something?"

Aiko nodded, stepping forward.

And then, without hesitation—she kicked the door open.

Inside?

Celeste. Bound. Beaten. Barely conscious.

And standing over her?

A shadowed figure.

Waiting.