Let Our Blood Flow as One!

Ash gritted her teeth and glared at the petite girl. Then she turned to Theus, ready to dissolve the Symbiotic Pact.

She should have died the moment she surfaced. It was only her strong constitution that had kept her alive until she met Theus.

He had changed the fate of the Cursed, and so she had pledged her loyalty to him.

Now it was time for her to die.

In the water nearby, Nini pounded her head in anguish.

If only she were as strong as Ash.

She had only been able to watch helplessly as everything unfolded. When Ash was stabbed through, Nini's heart had nearly shattered, but she could only watch from the sea, not daring to lift even a finger.

Ash's blood had spilled into the sea. That mingling of the blood's metallic sweetness and her bitter tears was a taste she would never forget.

If only she were as strong as Ash.

She was too weak. She couldn't do anything.

Ash glanced at her and gave her a feeble smile.

Nini knew what Ash meant. Once the pact was dissolved, the moment Ash died, Nini would take Theus and flee. If that foreign woman succeeded, they might still be able to stay on Castel Island. If not...

She closed her eyes. Ash was right. Wherever Theus was, that was home.

"I'm sorry."

Her trembling voice faded into the waves.

Monica was covered in dreadful Pollution. She was growing larger and larger, and the massive mass of Pollution was gathering at an incredible speed. Soon, nothing would be able to stop her.

The last time she'd seen that Two-Legged Fish, they had been underwater. He was an interesting person who knew all sorts of interesting things.

She had wanted to hear him tell stories about the land.

It seemed she wouldn't get the chance.

The land wasn't fun at all.

"I'm sorry..." she murmured to herself.

No one noticed the tear that slipped from her eye, down her twisted body and ugly face, and into her fearsome maw.

So tears on land were bitter, too.

Nora slowly gathered all her strength. She felt wonderful.

Her body felt so light. As expected, a Burier was strongest at the moment of death... though that moment would last only an instant.

Still, the White Crow's followers had finally found a home... and the refugees would be able to survive, too.

Theus, you'd better keep your promise. Otherwise, I'll crawl out of my grave and come after you!

That should do it. Nora closed her eyes.

It was a shame she couldn't write this moment in her diary.

The Silent Sanctuary didn't believe in tears. Only blood trickled from the corners of Nora's eyes.

This would be her final curtain—

Or would it?

Time seemed to freeze. Everyone struggled with all their might, courage and tears intermingling as ordinary people quietly awaited the judgment of fate.

But then, a weak yet resolute voice rang in everyone's ears.

"Stop! I have a way!" Theus pushed himself up against a reef. His whole body trembled uncontrollably, but his eyes shone with startling brightness.

Nora froze for a moment. Without her guidance, the gathered power burst apart. Her expression changed. "Oh no!!"

The next second, she was sent flying by Monica, now transformed into a monster. No one knew whether she was alive or dead.

The monster slowly turned toward the cave.

"Hold her off! Just for a moment!" Theus shouted, his face contorted.

Nini hesitated, then gritted her teeth and prepared to charge out. But the enormous monster suddenly stopped.

Bang!!

A gunshot rang out.

Beneath the moonlight, everyone looked at the monster... and at what stood behind it.

Old butler Connor was mounted on a horse. Somehow, he had made his way around behind the monster.

"Young master, I'll borrow your gun."

His left hand held the reins. The white pistol in his right hand still trailed a wisp of smoke. It was the gun Theus had never fired.

"Connor!" Theus felt his eyes grow hot.

The monster Monica had become slowly turned around and looked down at Connor. Then it roared and charged.

"Giddyup!"

Connor flicked the reins and leaned low over the horse's back. With a whinny, the horse carried him along a sweeping arc, leading Monica away into the distance.

"Old friend, we're fighting side by side again." Connor glanced at the pistol in his hand and gave a relieved smile.

The roars gradually faded into the distance.

With Monica drawn away, the cave fell quiet.

Knowing time was precious, Theus immediately called out to Ash. "Don't dissolve the pact."

Ash froze. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.

Then he turned to Nini. "Make a pact with me. Now!"

"What!? But you'll be drained dry!"

"Trust me!" Theus growled. "Hurry!"

Nini drew a few ragged breaths. A flicker of struggle crossed her face, then she gritted her teeth and reached out to Theus.

Theus staggered a few steps and crashed into the jagged reef. He seemed not to notice. He struggled forward, crawling in his fine clothes, now covered in blood and grime.

But his outstretched hand passed through the surface of the sea and clasped Nini's firmly!

Symbiotic Pact—signed!

There was no hesitation, no delay. The moment their hands joined, the pact was complete.

The next instant, a torrent of vitality surged from...

It flowed from Nini into Theus, then from him to Ash!

Nini froze. Ash did, too.

Theus rolled onto his back and lay on the reef, gazing at the night sky as he laughed.

"Hahaha! It worked, cough, it worked! I knew it!"

He laughed maniacally.

"The Symbiotic Pact really is perfectly equal. Vitality isn't a way to heal wounds—it's the currency established by the pact!"

"As long as I make a Symbiotic Pact with multiple people, I can act as a transfer point and circulate vitality between everyone bound by the pact!!!"

"You never saw this coming, did you? This is the Symbiotic Pact's true use! This is it!"

"The various abilities the pact grants are just extras. Its real purpose is to let us share our Life Pools, so that we—"

"Can live together!!!"

Every word landed in the Banshee's heart like a heavy hammer.

With the same injuries, Ash and Theus would have been mortally wounded. But with Nini added to the pact, their injuries were only moderate.

And what's more...

Nini braced all six hands against the reef and leapt onto shore.

Her towering body gleamed beneath the moonlight.

She could move about on land now, too.

Nearby, Ash also got to her feet. Just moments ago, she had been on the brink of death. Now she was ready to fight again.

Theus turned toward the other Banshees in the sea.

"For Castel, for our home together," he said softly. "Let our blood flow as one."

He held out his hand toward the sea. Beneath the surface, one hand after another clasped his.

The tide had turned!