MEMELAND

The western district burned.

The northern gate shook beneath another wave of monsters.

Smoke swallowed half the city.

Yet—

Taai still stood at the front.

One punch shattered a demon's skull.

Another caved in a hybrid's chest.

"Hold the line!"

His voice carried across the battlefield.

"Don't let them through!"

A guard sprinted toward him.

"Chief!"

"Kai collapsed!"

Taai's fist stopped mid-swing.

"...What?"

"The drifter!"

"He coughed blood!"

"They evacuated him to the Cabinet Building beside the training district!"

Taai's expression hardened.

He looked toward the northern wall.

Then toward the western district.

Then behind him.

"Andrew!"

Far across the battlefield—

Andrew looked up.

Two giant monster birds dove toward a squad of soldiers.

"...Seriously?"

He bent down.

Picked up a boulder nearly the size of a carriage.

Then threw it.

BOOM!

The stone blasted straight through both birds.

Their bodies exploded into feathers and blood before crashing outside the walls.

Andrew dusted off his hands.

"...What?"

Taai pointed toward the battlefield.

"I need you to command the front!"

Andrew blinked.

"...Hell no."

"I ain't doing paperwork with swords."

For the first time—

Andrew saw desperation.

Not fear.

Not panic.

Desperation.

"Kai's dying."

"If he dies..."

"Alice will kill me."

Andrew stared.

"..."

He sighed.

"...Fine."

"I'll cover for you."

"But if this city falls—"

"I'm blaming you."

Taai nodded once.

Then vanished.

The ground exploded beneath his feet.

Normally filled with officials.

Now...

Filled with injured civilians.

Doctors rushed between beds.

Children cried.

Guards secured every entrance.

Taai burst through the doors.

"Where's Kai?"

One medic pointed upstairs.

"Third room!"

Taai sprinted.

He threw open the door.

Kai lay motionless.

His breathing was shallow.

Blood stained the bandages across his chest.

The faint glow beneath his skin flickered weakly.

Taai frowned.

"...Damn."

He looked closer.

"...Alice really will kill me."

He turned toward the guards.

"Nobody enters."

"No matter who they are."

"Protect this room."

"Yes, Chief!"

The heavy doors shut.

Taai exhaled slowly.

"...Guess I'll have to use it."

He helped Kai sit upright.

Then sat directly behind him.

Both crossed their legs.

Lotus position.

Taai placed both palms against Kai's back.

Closed his eyes.

"...Steady."

His breathing slowed.

One finger pressed against Kai's spine.

Another against his shoulder.

Then his neck.

Then several points along his back.

His hands moved with impossible precision.

Massage.

Pressure.

Release.

Again.

Again.

Again.

A technique long forgotten.

One taught only within Oheyo.

Minutes passed.

Sweat poured down Taai's face.

His breathing grew heavier.

The room became silent.

Then—

Kai's pulse strengthened.

The glow beneath his skin stabilized.

His breathing evened out.

Taai slowly removed his hands.

"...Good."

Kai no longer looked like he was dying.

Taai leaned back against the wall.

Completely exhausted.

"...No wonder..."

"...Master only taught this to a handful of people."

He laughed weakly.

"...Uses too much life force."

His arms trembled.

Even standing felt difficult.

He had poured part of his own vitality into Kai.

Still—

It had worked.

Several long breaths escaped him.

"...Worth it."

Then—

A shout echoed outside.

"No one enters!"

Another.

"Stop!"

Metal clashed.

A single gunshot.

Bang.

Another.

Bang.

Silence.

The doors slowly opened.

Several cabinet members stepped inside.

Some still wore official robes.

Others carried pistols.

One smiled.

"...Chief Taai."

Taai slowly stood.

The oldest official sighed.

"You've ruled long enough."

"Muscle City needs leadership."

"Not another muscle-headed fool."

Another cabinet member sneered.

"Everything is decided by strength."

"If someone wants to lead..."

"They have to beat you."

"What kind of government is that?"

"A childish one."

Another stepped forward.

"You abandoned the city."

"You left the battlefield."

"You are unfit to lead."

Taai looked at them quietly.

"...While the city's burning..."

"...This is what you chose."

The official smiled.

"It was the perfect opportunity."

He raised his pistol.

Bang.

Taai twisted.

The bullet grazed his shoulder.

Blood splashed across the floor.

Another cabinet member rushed past him.

A blade pressed against Kai's neck.

"Don't move."

Taai stopped instantly.

"..."

"I surrender."

The room fell silent.

One cabinet member blinked.

"...What?"

Taai slowly raised both hands.

"...You're the leader now."

"Let him go."

The officials exchanged amused glances.

One laughed.

"...Not enough."

He pointed toward the floor.

"Grovel."

Taai looked at Kai.

Then...

He knelt.

Both knees touched the floor.

His forehead lowered.

"...Please."

"...Let him live."

The cabinet members laughed.

"Pathetic."

"So this is the great Taai."

The moment they relaxed—

Taai's muscles tightened.

Almost imperceptibly.

One percent.

The same movement Kai had seen during training.

BOOM!

The floor exploded.

Taai vanished.

One cabinet member never saw the fist.

His entire upper body disappeared.

Another was struck before he could scream.

Bones shattered.

The room shook.

The remaining officials panicked.

"Kill him!"

Gunfire erupted.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Taai twisted around most of the shots.

Others struck him.

His side.

His shoulder.

His thigh.

Blood poured freely.

Normally—

He could have ended them instantly.

But now...

His body was empty.

The life-force technique had drained him.

Every movement felt heavier.

Slower.

Still—

He refused to fall.

Another cabinet member stabbed him through the side.

A second shot struck his arm.

A third buried itself in his ribs.

Taai staggered.

But he remained standing.

Between them...

And Kai.

Like a wall.

No one reached the unconscious drifter.

The cabinet members slowly surrounded him.

One smiled.

"...Finally."

Then—

Bang.

A cabinet member's head snapped backward.

Bang.

Another collapsed before understanding what happened.

The remaining officials froze.

Fresh gun smoke drifted through the doorway.

Someone had arrived.