~ “Ugh!” Zabuza coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He could feel the life draining from his body even faster than he had expected.
The crimson spear had pierced straight through him and embedded itself in the ground, holding his body upright even as his strength faded.
“Cough…
cough…” Zabuza’s face twisted in agony as he struggled to speak.
“Your…
weapon…
is even sharper…
than I imagined…” “How is it?
Not bad, right?” Akira proudly brushed aside the bangs hanging over his forehead.
“There are more than a thousand weapons of the same rank as that spear in the king’s collection.
And, just so you know, there are plenty of even greater treasures that I haven’t brought out yet~” “…” Zabuza was left speechless.
He had assumed that the blood-red spear Akira produced was some exceptional weapon of mass destruction.
Dying beneath such a legendary artifact would not have disgraced his reputation.
Yet Akira had just claimed that his treasury held more than a thousand weapons of equal or even greater quality!
That meant the power Akira had used to defeat Zabuza was merely the tip of the iceberg.
It was impossible to imagine how terrifying the boy would be if he unleashed his full strength.
“Tch…
Even at the very end…
you’re still…
unbearably irritating…” Zabuza forced out those words before vomiting another large mouthful of blood.
His vision began to blur.
He had clearly reached the end of his life.
“Mr.
Zabuza…
I no longer have anywhere to belong in this world.
Then I’ll also…” Drawing strength from some unknown source, Haku forced his slender body back to its feet.
“Ice Release: A Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death!” Haku manipulated the moisture in the air, forming countless razor-sharp needles of ice around himself.
Every needle pointed directly at his body.
With an empty expression, Haku closed his eyes.
Clink!
Clink!
Clink!
Clink!
Clink!
The expected agony of countless needles piercing his body never came.
Haku opened his eyes.
A tightly woven wall of golden chains had formed around him, blocking every ice needle.
“Why…?” Haku stared sorrowfully at Akira, his voice weak and exhausted.
“That’s not allowed~ I already said that one of you could live.” Holding the Chains of Heaven, Akira spoke with complete calm.
When Zabuza saw that Haku remained unharmed, he finally relaxed.
It appeared that the king had no intention of breaking his word.
With his breathing growing increasingly faint, Zabuza spoke again.
“Haku…
This is…
the final order I will ever give you…” “Live.” “No matter how cruel this world becomes, you must keep living!” Zabuza roared the final words with nearly all the strength remaining in his body.
“Mr.
Zabuza!” Tears streamed down Haku’s face as grief overwhelmed him.
This time, however, Zabuza gave no response.
Still impaled upon the spear, the Demon of the Hidden Mist died standing upright.
“Ah~ What a perfect script.” Akira looked delighted.
He was thoroughly satisfied with this conclusion.
With a casual gesture, he activated the Gate of Babylon’s retrieval function and reclaimed the Chains of Heaven, Gáe Bolg, the crescent-bladed halberd, and the other weapons scattered across the ground.
Haku’s heartbroken sobs were pitiful enough to move anyone who heard them.
Akira, however, felt no guilt or emotional disturbance.
He was not the one who had caused this situation.
In the end, Zabuza and Haku had come to his territory looking for trouble.
A battle had then broken out between them.
Was it not perfectly natural for the loser of a battle to be killed?
In the shinobi world, such an outcome could hardly have been more ordinary.
On the contrary, Akira had spared Haku’s life.
That alone could unquestionably be considered an act of mercy.
Even if he had only done it for his own momentary amusement.
“Now then~ What are you planning to do, Haku-chan?” Akira looked at him with mild interest.
“Do you hate me?
Do you intend to avenge Zabuza?” “No…
If I tried to take revenge against you, I would die…” Tears continued streaming down Haku’s face as he gritted his teeth.
“That is certain,” Akira replied indifferently.
“Then I cannot do it…” Haku clenched both fists and raised his head, meeting Akira’s gaze without fear.
“The final order I received was to live!” “Mm-hm~” Akira’s gaze softened.
After giving Haku one final, meaningful look, he turned away.
“Loyalty and devotion are righteous virtues.
Do not allow your present resolve to waver.” “Now then~ Live well, Haku-chan.”