The Last Step Chapter 29: The Fallen Angel

Kaiser's Perspective:

My battle with Levi had been nothing short of relentless. Countering a natural gift like God-Speed was borderline inhuman, but I had managed so far. Not because I had so grand strategy—no, I was just listening. The rapid sonic bursts of his footsteps, the subtle shifts in his montum, the air breaking apart each ti he moved. It was a crude thod, but it worked. I only needed to know where he was going to be, and that was enough to keep up.

Decaying wasn't necessary. It was already over.

The chaos between Levi and continued, but in the background, I could hear Ronan and Kiel mindlessly attacking Celia. The Silent Executioner had turned them into puppets, and despite their reckless aggression, Celia stood unfazed. Her barriers held firm, chains wrapped around her like an unbreakable cocoon. No matter how much fire and cursed energy swirled around her, it wasn't enough to break through.

Still, I could feel the sheer force of their attacks pressing down on her, flas flowing at the air and dark energy crackling violently. Yet, what unsettled wasn't their power—it was hers.

Everyone else had an aura of strength, of mastery over their abilities. Celia, on the other hand, radiated sothing else entirely. Pure, unfiltered murderous intent.

I wasn't the only one who noticed. Even Levi, in the midst of our duel, had spared a fleeting glance in her direction, his usual cocky smirk faltering for just a second. I almost felt bad for Kiel and Ronan.

Almost.

But there was no ti to worry about them. I had my own problem to deal with. Levi's strikes were relentless—eight slashes per second. Block, counter, evade. Block, counter, evade. My arms were screaming from the strain, my wrists growing numb from the sheer force behind each flick of his blade. And yet, I wasn't the only one feeling the exhaustion.

Levi's movents were still lightning-fast, but they weren't as sharp as before. His stamina was draining.

Not that it mattered much with that shadowy sword of his. Its power was as underhanded as Levi himself—designed to ease the wielder's stamina managent while dealing additional damage to the target's soul. Because why stop at just cutting the body when you can carve into sothing deeper, right?

Humiliation.

But if he thought he could wear down with that thing, he was sorely mistaken.

I adjusted my grip on my blade. The fight wasn't over yet—but the tides were about to turn.

We might've been fighting for just a minute, but the number of strikes we exchanged could rival an entire war that lasted months.

Then ca the mont.

Levi, drained of energy, misstepped—a rare mistake. He was closer to than he should've been. I capitalized on it instantly, leaning into his attack.

His eyes widened in shock.

His blade aid for my right shoulder, but in the blink of an eye, I twisted, intercepted his arm, and grabbed his other before he could react.

With a quick shift of weight, I disrupted his balance and slamd him into the ground. Even I couldn't believe I had just done that.

His Shadowy sword, Mist-Walker, flew from his grasp, and I caught it in the nick of ti. A Sword Saint like Levi, unard by basic martial arts.

Unbelievable.

But Levi wasn't finished. His eyes burned with anger, but it was already too late.

Mist-Walker allowed its wielder to vanish into the shadows for a few seconds. But now, it was in my hands.

I hadn't technically defeated Levi—just outmaneuvered him. But for now, that was all I needed.

Without hesitation, I blitzed forward, my form lting into the darkness. The Mist-Walker made one with the shadows, a phantom gliding across the battlefield. For a few seconds, I ceased to exist.

My target was clear—the Silent Executioner. He stood alone, orchestrating the chaos from a distance, the nurous red eyes behind him fixated on even in the void. Watching. Waiting. He knew.

It was now or never.

But as I closed in, sothing shifted. Levi. Kiel. Ronan.

Their heads snapped toward in unison, their eyes burning with a murderous gleam. Like puppets on strings, they turned their attention to , their bodies coiling for another assault.

This wasn't just a battle anymore. It was a hunt.

And guess what? I was the prey.

Another one versus three. Typical. I swear, people really don't have faith in fighting one-on-one these days. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned duels? Honor? Pride?

Oh, right. They want to win.

What I call Teaming is what they call Strategy.

Celia's Perspective:

Wait...?

Why are Kiel and Ronan moving back?

I turn my head towards the way they're running, my heartbeat pounding against my chest. They're going after Kaiser. My body moves before my thoughts can settle, feet slamming against the ground as I chase after them. The cursed chains at my back rattle, dragging behind like shadows that refuse to be left behind.

No... this can't be happening. No, please, no.

Kaiser, why? Why are you trying to fight alone? Please... don't hurt yourself for again.

I push myself harder, my breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. But they're too fast. I can't reach them. They're already so far ahead—farther than I can ever reach.

It's happening again.

Even though I have the power, why won't he rely on ? I can protect him—I know I can—but he still chooses to fight alone...

Does he... not need anymore..?

The thought cuts deeper than any blade, a dull ache spreading through my heart like a slow poison. I bite my lip to keep the feeling from spilling over, but it lingers, tensing around my ribs.

Then I see him.

Kaiser moves like a ghost, rushing toward the Silent Executioner in a blur—appearing and vanishing like a mirage. The sword in his grip—it's Levi's. I don't know what kind of power it holds, but it must be the reason he can disappear.

Levi, catching up, doesn't waste a second. The mont Kaiser reappears, Levi swings with a speed that my eyes can barely follow, his blade cutting through the air with the intent to sever Kaiser's throat.

But Kaiser blocks it. Just in ti.

The clash of steel rings out, and the force sends him stumbling back. His boots skid against the ground, but he doesn't stop moving. Then sothing shifts beneath him.

Cursed mana.

The ground warps, twisting into a monstrous face, its gaping mouth ready to swallow him whole. Kiel—he's the one behind it.

Kaiser's eyes flicker to the threat below. In an instant, he leaps, narrowly escaping the jagged teeth that snap shut where he stood only a mont ago. But now he's airborne—vulnerable.

Ronan is already waiting.

A wave of hellfire bursts from his hand, racing toward Kaiser in a scorching blaze, heat distorting the air around it. There's no escape—

Or so Ronan thought.

Kaiser smirks.

And vanishes into thin air.

Levi, Kiel, and Ronan, controlled by the Silent Executioner, stepped back toward it. They moved in unison, forming a wall between Kaiser and their master, their eyes void of anything but the cold, unyielding obedience of puppets.

They weren't themselves anymore. And yet, the way they stood, the unwavering determination in their postures—it was almost as if they still had a sense of purpose, even when stripped of their will.

The Silent Executioner did not move. It did not need to. It remained still, exuding confidence, as if it had already won.

Then, Kaiser reappeared on the ground, breathing heavily. A thin, crimson line trailed down his cheek, a fresh wound staining his skin and blood coming out.

I felt my stomach twist.

No. Not again. Why is this happening again?

Why is he always fighting alone?

Why won't he just—

Before I could finish the thought, his voice cut through the tension.

"Oh? So you really have to hide behind puppets?" Kaiser asked, his tone light, taunting.

A voice seeped through the silence, hollow and soulless. "Hide? No. I simply have no need to lower myself to your level. They fight, I command. Efficiency over arrogance."

Kaiser chuckled. It was a quiet sound, but it carried a weight of amusent. "Efficiency? Is that what you call it? Sounds more like cowardice wrapped in fancy words."

The Executioner remained still. "Amusing. You stand alone, clinging to the illusion of defiance. Surrender, and I might grant you a painless end. Resist, and you will serve—just like them."

Kaiser tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing at his lips. "Painless, huh? You sound desperate. Is that because, deep down, you know you wouldn't last a second without your little puppets?"

The air grew heavier, thick with sothing suffocating. But Kaiser wasn't fazed.

He took a slow step forward, his gaze locked onto the darkness where the Executioner lurked. His smirk widened, his voice dripping with amusent.

"You know, for soone who parades around as so ominous mastermind, you're just a glorified parasite." He gestured lazily toward Levi, Kiel, and Ronan. "Hiding behind others, barking orders like a coward who's too scared to get his hands dirty."

Silence.

Kaiser sighed, shaking his head. "I almost feel bad. Here I am, expecting a real fight, and instead, I get so spineless puppeteer too afraid to step onto his own stage." His chuckle was sharp, cutting through the suffocating stillness.

"Tell , do you even rember what it's like to be anything more than a parasite leeching off others? Or have you convinced yourself that being pathetic is the sa as being powerful?"

The air trembled. The pressure around us thickened, pressing against my chest like an unseen weight. But Kaiser just grinned.

"Yeah... That's what I thought. You're nothing more than a disappointnt."

"I pity you, really. You parasite." Kaiser's voice cut through the tension, sharp and mocking, his smirk unwavering even as he wiped the blood from his cheek.

The Silent Executioner remained still, unreadable, but I could feel the shift in the air.

A flicker of sothing. Annoyance? Rage? Did it even feel anything at all?

Then, without a word, it raised its hand.

Levi. Kiel. Ronan.

They lunged forward like hounds unleashed, their movents chanical, controlled.

My heart clenched, and my legs burned as I pushed forward. I had to reach him. I had to do sothing. But what? Even with this power, I was useless. I had all this strength, yet I couldn't keep up.

No. Maybe I never could. Maybe I was just fooling myself all along.

Why would he need soone like anyway? He's always been ahead. Always fighting alone. Never relying on anyone.

...Never relying on .

I could feel it—that awful, suffocating weight in my chest, pressing down like chains I couldn't break. I wasn't fast enough, I wasn't strong enough. He wouldn't need . He never did—

"Celia! Please help defend against Ronan!"

His voice. His voice calling my na.

I almost stopped running.

He... asked for my help?

Kaiser—who's been fighting alone, who never needed anyone—was calling out to ?

I looked up, my breath caught in my throat. He was already locked in a brutal clash with Levi, their swords moving too fast for my eyes to follow. Kiel's cursed magic twisted the ground beneath them, dark tendrils lashing out to consu him.

But it was Ronan who worried . His hands were raised, and I could see the gathering fire mana, the swirling inferno that crackled in his palms. He was chanting, layering his spell, pouring everything into it.

This was going to be devastating.

Then Kaiser's voice ca again, strained but still teasing. "C'mon, Celia! Be fast or else I'll actually die this ti—"

He didn't finish.

Levi had activated God-Speed, appearing before him in an instant, blade slicing toward his throat. Kaiser barely managed to block, his feet skidding across the dirt as the force of the attack sent him staggering back.

But I didn't hear the rest. My mind had gone blank after one single word.

Die.

Die..? He will die if I don't do anything? He will leave like all of them did...? Forever..?

No... no, no, no! Not again. I won't let it happen again. Not Kaiser. Not him. He can't leave too. I don't care if I have to break myself apart, I don't care if I have to drown in this power—I refuse to watch him slip away like everyone else.

I clenched my fists, my breathing ragged. The mories surged in my mind like a flood, drowning out everything else. The warmth of my mother's embrace before it turned cold. The voices that once called my na before they faded into nothingness. The feeling of being alone—always alone, abandoned, discarded, left to nd the broken pieces by myself.

I don't want to be alone again. I can't bear it. I can't survive it.

Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. My chains rattled as they surged forward, no longer just an extension of my power, but an extension of my will.

"Yes, he will. You're to bla." It was a voice in my head, whispering, curling around my thoughts like a serpent.

..? He will die because of ?

"You're no angel, you're no savior. You're a fallen angel that isn't fighting." The voice in my head said with a cold tone.

I could see the situation in front of , my chains being nothing more than defensive tools for my protection, I was too scared to fight and this unknown voice was saying the truth...

What can I do..? I thought and asked that voice in my head.

"Kill Ronan. And Kaiser will live.." The voice said.

I looked over to Ronan who was about to release his most extre fire spell onto Kaiser, and only I could do sothing..

I hesitated, my breath catching as a vision clawed its way into my mind—a mory I never wanted to relive.

Kaiser... on the ground, bleeding. His body motionless, his breath ragged, his usual sharp eyes dull with exhaustion. He protected against Ronan's attack but got himself injured...

And ? I just stood there. I watched. Helpless. Weak.

I couldn't move. I couldn't do anything.

The warmth of his blood had painted the ground beneath him, a sight so wrong, so unbearable, that it had carved itself into my soul. My hands had trembled, my heart had scread, but I hadn't saved him.

He had been the one to protect , even when he could barely stand, even when he was the one who needed saving.

I clenched my fists. No.

Never again.

Each day of my life before eting Kaiser, I had been sinking further into the abyss. Further from happiness, further from salvation. I had prayed, I had hoped, but with each passing mont, I realized—there was no hand reaching down to save .

No angel would descend from the heavens to help .

Because I wasn't one of them.

The whisper in my head, the cold voice that had stripped away my innocence—it was right. I was no angel. No saint. I was nothing but a fallen one, left to rot in the darkness.

And in this abyss, there was only one thing left for to do—make my own happiness. And that ant protecting what was mine.

My gaze snapped to Ronan. His spell was nearly complete, flas twisting around him, ready to incinerate everything in its path. Ready to kill Kaiser.

The weight in my chest twisted into sothing dark.

He won't take him from .

No one will.

I took a slow step forward, chains rattling at my side. My eyes burned—not with tears, but with sothing colder.

"Die."

My final whisper as my eyes filled with murderous intent.

Kaiser's Perspective:

Oh my~ I did expect an all-out attack after that taunt I threw at the Silent Executioner, but did it really have to pin down with this much aggression? Feels a little excessive.

I stepped back, sword in hand, tilting it just in ti to deflect Levi's strike. His speed was getting ridiculous, but I'd seen his rhythm enough to predict him. As soon as our blades clashed, I twisted my body, flipping backward to avoid the incoming sonic wave from Kiel's elental magic. The air itself scread as it slashed past .

Yeah, getting hit by that would've sucked.

Hopefully, Celia had handled Ronan by now. If my estimations were right, her cursed chains should be decent enough to block his fire—at least for a short while. But Ronan's spell wasn't so simple fireball. He was chanting. That ant a large-scale attack. From what I could tell, he was creating multiple portals of flas in the sky, all of them ready to rain hellfire down on us.

The only real counter? A pressurized barrier of water, sothing I didn't have the luxury of using. Since, y'know, I was born without magic. An unfortunate inconvenience, really.

That left with one option—Celia.

But I didn't want to bother her. She still didn't understand the scope of her own powers. It was best to let her breathe, to fight this battle alone if possible.

Then the heat hit .

I felt it before I saw it—the sudden shift in temperature, the way the air burned against my skin. I turned, expecting to see flas tearing through everything in their path. But what I saw instead—

Left speechless.

Ronan was being hanged on the neck by her chains.

Celia's cursed chains weren't blocking the fire. No, they were absorbing it. Every bit of fla he had conjured was being devoured, twisting into the very tal that once only served as a shield. And now—those chains were burning.

In a matter of seconds, the battlefield was silent. Even the Silent Executioner, who was always composed, looked... stunned. I caught him standing still, his hands frozen, his puppets unmoving.

I followed his gaze.

There, in the sky, was a silhouette.

Celia.

She stood atop the layered chains, her form illuminated by the fire flowing across them. But that wasn't what sent a chill through .

It was her expression.

For the first ti, I saw nothing in her eyes. No fear. No hesitation. Just an emptiness—cold, dark, unshaken.

My chest tensed.

"Celia?!" I called out.

She didn't even look at .

Her chains, once defensive, now burning in flas lashed forward, rushing toward Kiel and Levi with an intent far beyond simple combat.

Then I noticed the shift.

The Silent Executioner moved, not in action, but in thought. His body tensed as he glanced down at sothing in his hand—a note.

His gaze flickered, unreadable yet burdened by sothing heavy.

How is this possible? The Silent executioner thought.

The air around him pulsed with uncertainty. I could tell—this wasn't part of his plan. It wasn't part of anyone's plan.

The future keeps changing... only a god or an omnipotent being should be able to alter fate. Yet it shifts in the presence of re mortals. The Silent executioner thought.

Then, slowly, his eyes settled on .

And I saw it—the calculation, the realization twisting in his mind.

Except that one.

That thought was about .

The Lord never ntioned his existence. His body does not react to my cursed presence. He has not used magic once... nor does he release any aura... which ans he has no mana. The Silent executioner thought.

His fingers curled slightly over the note.

That should be impossible. Every living being is born with so level of mana. And yet, he has none. That is why the future cannot identify him as a living being... and simply skips him.

A breath. A pause. A dawning truth.

I was wrong. Celia, the Queen of Curses, was not changing fate. The Silent executioner thought.

His grip on the note tightened.

She was being changed by the path he walked. The Silent executioner thought.

His eyes flicked down to the words written on the paper, now more like a prophecy than an observation.

"The Silent Executioner will be executed by the Queen of Curses."