MEMELAND

The giant pipe launched Andrew out of the warehouse.

CRASH!

He smashed through a stack of wooden crates before rolling across the dirt road.

"...Tch."

He pushed himself up.

Cracked his neck.

Then wiped a thin streak of blood from the corner of his mouth.

"...That fucking hurts."

Dust drifted from the warehouse entrance.

Slowly—

A figure emerged.

The assassin.

Scythe resting over one shoulder.

Silent.

Watching.

Andrew grinned.

"...Playtime's over."

His right hand moved.

CLACK.

The massive pistol left its holster.

A custom-built revolver.

Ridiculously oversized.

Ridiculously powerful.

Andrew raised it.

"Catch."

BANG!

The first shot exploded from the barrel.

Akari disappeared.

The bullet shattered the wall behind her.

BANG!

Second shot.

She twisted sideways.

Miss.

BANG!

Third shot.

She leaped over it.

Andrew narrowed his eyes.

"Fast."

BANG!

The fourth shot came almost instantly.

Akari bent backward.

Completely backward.

The bullet passed mere centimeters above her nose.

"...The hell?"

BANG!

Fifth shot.

CLANG!

Her scythe intercepted it.

The bullet ricocheted into the sky.

BANG!

Sixth.

CLANG!

Another deflection.

Andrew clicked his tongue.

"Crazy bitch."

Then—

BANG!

The seventh shot.

Akari's eyes narrowed.

Her scythe flashed.

SHING!

The blade met the bullet perfectly.

The projectile split cleanly in half.

Both pieces flew harmlessly past her shoulders.

Silence.

Andrew slowly lowered the smoking revolver.

"..."

"..."

He looked at the barrel.

Then at Akari.

"...Crazy fucker."

He reached for another round.

Almost.

Almost.

A metallic click echoed.

Akari vanished.

"Dammit."

She was already in front of him.

Her scythe swept horizontally.

Andrew barely shoved the unfinished revolver between himself and the blade.

CLANG!

The pistol screamed under the impact.

Sparks exploded.

Andrew laughed.

"You might hurt someone with that."

He shoved Akari backward.

The revolver spun into its holster.

His other hand reached behind him.

SHING!

His blue single-edged scythe unfolded.

The enormous blade gleamed beneath the afternoon sun.

Akari retreated two steps.

Both weapons rose.

Then—

They collided.

CLANG!

Andrew swung with terrifying force.

Akari redirected the strike.

She slipped underneath his follow-up.

Her scythe skimmed past his ribs.

Andrew twisted.

His elbow narrowly avoided her jaw.

She ducked.

Countered.

The two blurred through the street.

Steel rang continuously.

Every exchange ended before anyone watching could follow it.

Andrew laughed the entire time.

"Now this is fun!"

Akari remained silent.

Only her breathing answered him.

While exchanging blows—

Andrew's left hand reached toward his belt.

A fresh round.

Click.

One bullet.

Inserted.

Akari immediately attacked.

He blocked with the scythe.

Loaded another.

She spun low.

He jumped.

Loaded another.

Her blade nearly removed his leg.

He laughed louder.

"You really don't want me reloadin', huh?"

No answer.

Only another slash.

Andrew fired point-blank.

BANG!

Akari tilted her head.

The bullet grazed a strand of her hair.

She punished him immediately.

The butt of her scythe slammed into his stomach.

"Oof."

Andrew slid backward.

Still smiling.

The battle spilled deeper into the marketplace.

Merchants screamed.

People abandoned their stalls.

Vegetables scattered everywhere.

Bread rolled across the street.

Freshly cooked meat hit the dirt.

Wooden tables exploded beneath missed attacks.

Andrew watched another fruit stand collapse.

"...You're wastin' perfectly good food."

Akari answered with another swing.

"You've got no respect."

Steel screamed.

Another stall shattered.

"...Seriously."

"You owe somebody compensation."

She tried to cut his shoulder.

He blocked.

She kicked.

He stepped aside.

The fight became faster.

Sharper.

Neither side gaining an advantage.

Andrew's brute strength met impossible agility.

Akari's fluid movements slipped around attacks that should have crushed her.

She bent.

Twisted.

Folded around his strikes like flowing water.

Andrew clicked his tongue.

"...You're slippery."

For the first time—

Akari answered.

Barely above a whisper.

"...Die..."

Andrew laughed.

"Nah."

They clashed again.

Harder.

Faster.

Andrew suddenly stumbled.

His footing slipped across scattered fruit.

His body leaned backward.

His balance—

Gone.

Akari's eyes sharpened.

An opening.

She leaped.

High.

Both hands gripped the scythe.

She came crashing downward.

A finishing strike.

Andrew smiled.

"...Gotcha."

His stumble vanished.

His body snapped forward.

His free hand shot upward.

GRAB!

He caught her ankle.

Akari's eyes widened.

Too late.

Andrew roared.

"YAAAAAA!"

SLAM!

He smashed her into the street.

The impact cracked the stone pavement.

Dust erupted.

Still holding her leg—

He spun.

Then hurled her like a javelin.

BOOM!

Her body crashed through the side of a nearby building.

Stone exploded outward.

Silence.

Dust slowly settled.

Akari emerged.

Barely.

She planted her scythe into the ground.

Used it as support.

Her breathing had become uneven.

Andrew rolled his shoulders.

"...End of the line."

Akari stared at him.

Her grip weakened.

Her knees buckled.

Then—

She collapsed.

The scythe clattered beside her.

Andrew walked over casually.

Placed one boot on top of her head.

Crossed his arms.

Then struck an exaggerated bodybuilding pose.

"AND THAT—"

He flexed dramatically.

"IS HOW YA DO IT, BOIS!"

He threw his head back.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"