The mountainside was peaceful as Kazuichi descended back toward the stronghold, the cool breeze brushing against his skin. He savored the brief moment of calm, the steady rhythm of his boots crunching against gravel, and the scent of pine filling his lungs.

The forest beyond whispered in the distance, and for once, he allowed himself to relax, if only slightly. The hunt had gone smoothly, and the feeling of strength coursing through his veins was still fresh.

But the serenity didn’t last long.

A loud commotion stirred ahead, the sound of hurried footsteps and panicked voices cutting through the tranquil air.

Instantly alert, Kazuichi quickened his pace, his pulse quickening as he approached the stronghold gates. People gathered at the entrance, their faces pale with fear and concern, murmurs spreading through the crowd like wildfire.

Without hesitation, Kazuichi darted toward the scene, weaving through the throngs of people. As he broke through the crowd, his heart sank at the sight before him.

Arisu was kneeling on the ground, blood smeared across her clothes and skin, her face twisted in pain. Beside her, Ayaka lay slumped, her breathing shallow and uneven, her neck marred by a deep, vicious bite mark.

The wound oozed crimson, and it was clear she was fading fast, proved by her ragged breathing.

On the other side was Amaya, sniffling. There were no visible injuries on her, but it was clear that she was mentally exhausted.

"What the hell happened?" Kazuichi demanded, his voice a low growl as he knelt beside them, his mind racing with worry.

Arisu winced, struggling to keep her composure as she pressed her hand against Ayaka’s wound, trying in vain to stop the bleeding. Her voice was shaky, laced with exhaustion.

"Mindless Hybrids... they ambushed us... we couldn’t—" She swallowed hard, her eyes flickering to Ayaka, guilt evident in her expression. "I couldn’t protect her."

Kazuichi’s chest tightened as he saw Ayaka’s pale complexion, the dark blood staining her neck. His instincts kicked in, knowing that time was running out. A bite from a mindless Hybrid was no trivial injury.

Without immediate intervention, Ayaka would succumb to the infection—and eventually turn. He couldn’t let that happen.

"We need to move her now," Kazuichi commanded, his voice sharp with urgency. He didn’t wait for Arisu’s reply.

In one swift motion, he scooped Ayaka into his arms, cradling her limp body against his chest. She was light, too light, and her labored breaths were growing weaker with each passing second.

"To think... this is all it takes... to get a princess carry..." She weakly joked.

"To think you still got the energy to joke around." Kazuichi let out as he slightly smiled, his lips tightening with concern.

Arisu struggled to stand but managed to follow him, her legs trembling beneath her. Together, they pushed through the crowd, Kazuichi’s mind racing as he headed straight for his home.

His jaw clenched tightly, determination and fear warring within him. There was only one way to save Ayaka, and it wasn’t a method without risks.

The door to Kazuichi’s house swung open with a forceful shove, and he hurried inside, laying Ayaka gently on the sofa. Her skin was clammy, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

The bite mark on her neck had darkened, the infection spreading rapidly. Arisu hovered near the doorway, her eyes wide and filled with desperation, but Kazuichi ignored her for now. There wasn’t time to explain.

Kazuichi knelt beside Ayaka, his hand hovering over his forearm. He knew what had to be done, but the sight of her so fragile on the sofa twisted something deep in his chest. He had never performed this before—sharing his own blood to stabilize someone in such dire condition. But if he didn’t act, Ayaka wouldn’t make it through the night.

"You’ve done it to me before... I guess it’s time for me to return the sentiment." Kazuichi muttered to himself as he held his arm right above Ayaka’s face.

With a swift motion, Kazuichi dug his nails into his skin, slicing open his arm just enough to draw blood. A sharp pain lanced through him, but he didn’t flinch. Thick, dark red dripped from the wound, pooling in his palm before he pressed it against Ayaka’s lips.

"Drink," he murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Come on, Ayaka. You need this."

At first, there was no response. Her lips remained still, her body too weak to react. Panic clawed at Kazuichi’s chest, but he stayed steady, coaxing her with quiet words. Then, slowly, almost imperceptibly, Ayaka’s mouth parted, and she drank.

The faintest pull against his skin sent a wave of relief through him. He could feel it—the connection between them as her body accepted his blood, fighting back the infection threatening to consume her.

Arisu watched from the side, her breath held as she witnessed the transfusion. Her hands trembled, but she stayed silent, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Minutes passed like hours, but eventually, Ayaka’s breathing grew less erratic. Her body twitched, her muscles regaining some of their former strength. Her eyelids fluttered, heavy with exhaustion but alive with the faintest glimmer of awareness.

"Thank you..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her eyes met Kazuichi’s for a brief moment, a soft, fleeting expression of gratitude crossing her face before she succumbed to unconsciousness once more.

Kazuichi exhaled deeply, his body sagging with relief as he pulled back. The wound on his arm had already begun to heal, the regenerative properties of his Hybrid blood working quickly. He slumped into the nearby chair, running a hand through his hair as he watched Ayaka’s chest rise and fall steadily.

"She’ll be okay now," he muttered, more to himself than to Arisu.

Arisu let out a shaky breath, sinking down onto the floor as the tension drained from her body. "I... I didn’t know what to do," she admitted, her voice wavering with guilt. "I should’ve been faster, stronger..."

Kazuichi shook his head, wiping the remaining blood from his arm. "Don’t blame yourself. It was an ambush. You did what you could... and thank you for protecting Amaya."

Nodding her head, Arisu slumped as she heaved a sigh of relief. "No, I have Ayaka to thank for this. If she didn’t see us just in time when we were ambushed..."

"Don’t think about useless things. For now, get some rest. I’ll relay the information to the scouts... things are getting more out of hand than initially expected."

Still, the weight of the situation hung heavily in the air. The mindless Hybrids were becoming more frequent, more aggressive. Something about it didn’t sit right with him. But for now, Ayaka was safe, and that was all that mattered.

He glanced toward the window, where the sky had begun to darken, casting long shadows across the room. Tomorrow would bring more challenges, more threats, but tonight, he would watch over her. Rest could wait.

As Kazuichi sat back, the flicker of the fading sunlight reminded him of the fragile balance they lived in—a balance that could be shattered in an instant. The stronghold was supposed to be their sanctuary, their home. But with the increasing attacks from mindless Hybrids, how long would it stay that way?

His gaze shifted back to Ayaka, her face peaceful in sleep, her body no longer wracked with pain. She had survived this time. But the fight was far from over.

Tomorrow, they would face the unknown again.