Lugi was seething with rage.

Ulu's assassination attempt had taken Lugi by complete surprise. It felt like he had been savaged by a dog he had tamed for years—a vicious bite that tore through flesh and tendon.

"How dare you?! How could you?!" Enraged, Lugi ignored the wound in his abdomen, lunging at Ulu. He seized Ulu by the throat, shouting into his ear, "Ungrateful wretch! Look at me! Tell me, how could you do this?!"

Lugi's hands, despite their age, were like iron. He gripped Ulu's throat with a force that threatened to crush it.

Ulu hadn't anticipated being overpowered by Lugi so quickly. Regret gripped him—he should have used Hiroshi's power from the start.

He had hoped to kill Lugi without relying on Hiroshi's powers. After all, Lugi was just an old man—formidable or not, he was still just an old man. If Ulu acted swiftly enough, he could end it before Lugi could use any supernatural abilities.

Moreover, Ulu still harbored a fear of Hiroshi's powers. He preferred not to rely on them unless he absolutely had to.

Now, with no other options left, Ulu called out in his mind, "Help me, Lord Visah'Su."

But there was no answer from Hiroshi, as if he had disappeared.

Lugi narrowed his eyes at Ulu's silence. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Coward. Twenty years ago, you were like this, and twenty years later, nothing's changed—only whimpering when I'm in control. Just like a dog... Where did you find the nerve to defy me now?"

Though Ulu feared Lugi, being pushed into a corner and humiliated like this was unbearable. Adrenaline surged through him as he glared at Lugi, growling, "Since the day you laid a hand on me, I've vowed revenge! Today is the day. After everything you've done, you think I'd let you retire peacefully?!"

Hearing Ulu's words, Lugi's fury gave way to derision and mockery.

"Since that day, you've dreamed of revenge? Don't flatter yourself. You're not some vengeful hero with grit and determination. Do you think I don't know you? Every vile act I've committed, you've done too. We're the same, you and I. You're not trying to kill me for justice or revenge—it's just because you don't want me to take the relief funds. Isn't that right?"

Ulu's eyes widened, his true intentions exposed. He instinctively tried to argue, but Lugi shook his head dismissively.

"No, no, even if you did want that money, you wouldn't have the guts to come after me on your own. You're not brave enough." Lugi slowly stood, looming over Ulu. "Tell me, who put you up to this? Who's been whispering in your ear?"

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Everything had been seen through.

Lugi's words made Ulu feel like he was back to that time years ago, forced to stand exposed and humiliated. He felt powerless under Lugi's gaze, as if everything about him was laid bare.

"Speak!" Lugi roared, grabbing Ulu's throat again. "Who sent you?!"

Ulu still didn’t answer.

He knew that Lugi was terrifying, but the presence inside him—Hiroshi—was far more frightening.

But why was Hiroshi silent now, refusing to respond?

"Don't want to talk, huh? Ungrateful mutt!" Lugi raged. "Who fed you when you had nothing to eat? Who gave you a purpose when you were lost? Without me, you'd be dead or worse—sold to some mine or brothel, just like your family! I gave you everything, and yet you repay me with betrayal! All you had to do was wait for me to retire, and everything would be yours. But no, you couldn't even do that... Fine then, go join your family in the afterlife!"

Lugi's smile contorted into something monstrous.

"A dog that bites its master should be put down from the start!"

With that, Lugi formed a seal with his right hand, and the magical chains binding Ulu grew longer, sprouting barbs that pierced Ulu's flesh effortlessly.

Lugi wanted to kill Ulu the way one might slaughter livestock—slowly, bleeding him out.

In Lugi's eyes, Ulu was no more than an animal.

Despair filled Ulu's eyes as he made one last desperate plea to the power within: "Lord Visah'Su... please... help me..."

This time, he finally received an answer.

Hiroshi's voice came, calm and composed, "Snap your fingers. Use my finger."

Snap my fingers?

Ulu didn't fully understand, but there was no time for hesitation.

Bound as he was, his hand remained free.

So, he brought Hiroshi's finger together with his thumb, and then...

Snap.

A crisp, ordinary sound.

It was so mundane that Lugi didn’t even react.

But then an invisible wave of magic emanated from Ulu.

In that instant, Lugi's magical chains crumbled, and Ulu was free.

Both men froze.

What just happened?

Lugi stared at Ulu, bewildered.

It had all happened too quickly—Lugi felt nothing, and then suddenly, the chains were gone. It was as if his spell had been erased by some overwhelming force.

Ulu was just as confused, unable to comprehend what had occurred.

Until Hiroshi's voice echoed in his mind: "What are you waiting for? Do you want him to cast another spell?"

Ulu snapped back to reality.

Lugi's magic had been undone.

Now, the only ones in the room were an unarmed old man and Ulu, who stood next to his knife.

Lugi realized this as well, his eyes widening in horror.

For the first time, he truly felt the looming presence of death.

"You can't kill me," Lugi blurted out. "Bishop Corry will—"

His words were cut short as Ulu slashed his throat.

The rest of his sentence was swallowed.

Ulu lunged forward, plunging the knife into Lugi again and again.

For ten long minutes, he continued, until no trace of life remained in Lugi's body. Finally, Ulu collapsed, exhausted, into the pool of blood.

He stared blankly at the ceiling, slowly coming to grips with what had just happened.

He had killed Lugi.

He had killed the man who had terrified him for half his life.

It had been no harder than putting down a rabid animal.

At that moment, Ulu finally felt powerful.

Undeniably powerful.

He laughed, a wild, manic sound echoing through the room.

Ulu was satisfied.

But he didn’t notice that the middle finger on his left hand stood rigidly, like a soldier at attention, silently watching him.

After a while, the forefinger, stained with blood, slowly rose, bending awkwardly toward the middle finger, then bowing slightly—

As if paying respect.

Hiroshi was satisfied as well.