Chapter 48

Tifania quickly evacuated the nearby villagers to avoid any accidental injuries.

"Come on, human." The leader resumed his assault, launching a cone of ice toward Dang Ma, who continued to dispel the magic effortlessly with his right hand.

Seeing that his magic couldn't harm Dang Ma, the leader switched to a direct attack.

Although Dang Ma's right hand was powerful, having lost his memory also meant losing all his skills. The leader quickly caught him off guard and began beating him relentlessly.

"Hmph, strong as he is, he's nothing but a barbarian without skill. How could he be my match?"

Taking advantage of the moment, the leader kicked Dang Ma aside.

"Besides, you can only nullify magic with your right hand—other attacks won't work." The leader cast a spell behind Dang Ma, who couldn't turn in time and was struck again.

"Dang Ma, stop! You won't be the captain's match. Run now!" Tifania stood in front of the leader, trying to buy Dang Ma some time to escape.

"Hah, traitor. Half-fairies really can't be trusted." The leader knocked Tifania to the ground and ordered his men to keep their distance.

"No worries, Tifania." Dang Ma got back on his feet, staring fiercely at the leader.

"I won't forget everything you've done for me. I won't just turn my back and run away."

Charging straight at the leader, Dang Ma took the only path forward.

"Naive." The leader readied himself, expecting to crush Dang Ma with ease.

A knee slammed into Dang Ma's body, nearly knocking all the breath out of him. A sweep of the leader's leg sent Dang Ma flying.

"Hmph, I'll finish this." The leader conjured a magic sword and advanced.

"Make it!" Tifania finally unleashed her tribe's special magic, breaking free from her restraints and rushing to intervene.

"Annoying," the leader snarled, turning to stab at Tifania. The sword pierced her abdomen, and blood splattered onto Dang Ma's face.

Watching Tifania fall, Dang Ma's eyes narrowed as power surged through him.

"Tifania! Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" Dang Ma summoned all his strength, pushing the leader away and catching Tifania.

"Tifania, hold on!" he shouted, anxiety flooding his voice as her condition worsened.

"Be numb, run away!" Tifania gasped, then lost consciousness.

"Unforgivable."

Setting Tifania down, Dang Ma rose, anger blazing.

"That's clearly your companion."

Magic power began to swirl and gather around Dang Ma.

"Tifania wants your approval," a voice echoed.

Dang Ma's right hand gradually transformed, becoming completely black—absorbing all nearby light.

"Such a kind person..." Tears streamed from Dang Ma's eyes.

"Why do you do this?"

His skin reddened, blood seeping through pores.

"Unforgivable."

Dang Ma's inner world

In a shadowed void, a voice whispered:

"Yes, yes, be angry, rage and scream my name."

"Annihilation."

Except for Dang Ma's blackened right hand, which seemed to swallow all light, nothing appeared to have changed.

"Hmph, I see no difference."

The leader sent a volley of ice cones flying at Dang Ma.

But before the cones could reach him, Dang Ma absorbed the magic effortlessly.

"Impossible!" The leader ordered his two followers to keep attacking, but every spell was absorbed before it could touch Dang Ma.

"If you had to choose how to die, what would you pick?" Dang Ma appeared behind the leader and whispered.

"Death without pain."

Dang Ma's right hand, like a black hole, enveloped the leader's body.

A flash of black light engulfed everything within ten meters—except Dang Ma and Tifania, who lay in the center of a giant crater.

As if guided by an unseen force, Dang Ma lifted Tifania and slipped into the forest.

"What are you doing?"

"Saving the world."

"Stop, if you do…"

"I will die. I understand."

The two spoke softly, unaware that someone watched from afar, their faces hidden.

"Then why?"

"Because you are my sister."

When Dang Ma awoke and saw Tifania beside him, his first concern was to check her wounds.

"No, what's wrong?" Dang Ma saw no injuries on her.

"Don't worry. It's fine."

"And where are we now?" Dang Ma realized they were in a hollowed tree, alone.

"Hmm." Tifania finally stirred.

"Tifania, I'm so glad you're okay." Dang Ma embraced her, relief washing over him.

"Thank you for your concern," she replied shyly.

"By the way, where are we?"

"I don't know. Let's find our way back together."

"Um."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" Dang Ma looked puzzled.

"Because they attacked you because of me. I'm sorry."

"No, don't worry."

"Um."

Just as Dang Ma and Tifania tried to find their way home, Louise received news of the battle and arrived at the village.

"The destructive power here is incredible," Louise observed, inspecting the scars on the ground, growing worried.

After questioning villagers who had witnessed the fight, Louise finally discovered Dang Ma—known to them as Yuuji—had lost his memory.

"Has he really lost his memories, my Yuuji?" Louise couldn't believe it.

"Also, he's involved with another woman. That's unforgivable—she must be the cause." Louise suspected the woman was responsible for Yuuji's memory loss.

"Tifania."

From a distance, Tifania felt a chill, as if something extraordinary was watching her.

"What's wrong, Tifania?"

"It's nothing. Let's hurry and find our way back."

"Um."

Yuuji's inner world

"Are you awake? Finally."

"Yes, I'm back. Long time no see."

"It's been a while."

"So the plan finally begins."

"Now, we wait for him to remember."

When Dang Ma and Tifania strayed from their path, they found themselves near a remote lake.

"Tifania, I hear fighting. Listen."

"It seems so. Let's check it out."

"Um."