"Stop."
Seishan sighed.
“I'm afraid I cannot stop."
Two more people plummeted to their deaths.
"Stop."
She looked at him with pity.
“Only you can stop this, Kai."
Two more.
And then, another two.
And then...
"Stop. Stop!"
Seishan laughed.
“They will only stop when you surrender. Are you still hesitating?"
Kai shuddered.
She let out a quiet sigh.
"Look. Your hesitation has already cost dozens of lives."
Seishan looked at him, the smile leaving her scarlet lips.
"How many more people must die because of your inaction?"
Kai simply stood there, frozen... just like the people whom he had commanded to halt were frozen in front of him, unable to move.
The steel colossus of the Lord of Shadows remained motionless, as well, awaiting Kai's command.
By his side, Summer Knight spared the Steward of the West a somber look, then gritted his teeth and lunged forward.
His sword was aimed at Seishan, but it never reached her.
Her sisters moved to intercept him, batting the sword away and raining attacks on his armor.
“You... wretched..."
Gilead would not be swayed by the plague... which made him incapable of becoming a subject for the Hunger Domain, and therefore useless to Asterion. So, the Song sisters did not hold back their killing intent. At the same time, he was not a part of the Longing Domain. So, Changing Star could not heal his wounds.
He should have been crushed under an avalanche of their attacks... but, somehow, Gilead broke through the barrier of steel created by the Song sisters and rushed toward Seishan.
His armor was broken and torn, but his body was only covered by minor lacerations. His sword was still sharp and steady. Seishan tilted her head, looking at him.
As Summer Knight took the next step, the minor wounds on his body began to bleed. A step more, and the trickles of blood that flowed from his wounds turned into streams.
Another step, and his bleeding turned gruesomely dire.
Summer Knight slowed down, swaying, then gritted his teeth and took the next step.
By the time he reached Seishan, he resembled a ghastly red statue. The remains of his polished armor were painted entirely red, and his face was like a glistening crimson mask.
“He said... stop..."
Despite Summer Knight's ghastly state, his low voice remained clear.
His sword trembled as it rose arduously, straining to reach Seishan's neck.
But in the end, it clattered to the ground. Seishan did not move, but Summer Knight swayed, then fell down and grew still, the crown of his head resting near her feet.
A puddle of blood spread around his body, soaking the hem of her dress.
And behind her, two more people stopped off the bridge into the ashen abyss.
Kai looked down, dazed.
"Gilead..."
There was...
There was so much blood.
...That day, Seishan of Clan Song became the master of the Jade Palace.