Aside from the searing pain in my stomach, I wasn't doing too badly. I knew it could have ended much worse, but I was grateful for whatever strange light had saved me from my attackers.

I slowly pushed myself upright, sitting on the ground with my legs curled beneath me. A faint smile crossed my face as my brother approached.

"Maki, are you alright?" he asked, worry etched into his expression.

"I'm fine. I've had worse," I replied playfully. "It's just some scratches—"

"You got hit in the stomach," he interrupted, his eyes narrowing as he inspected my wounds. "This isn't something to joke about."

"I'm not going to die from this, Kuya. I can handle a little pain," I said with a reassuring smile. "I've still got plenty of fight left in me."

Still, his concern didn't waver. His eyes darted toward the Amalanhigs, now stirring and inching closer, preparing for another attack.

"Can you stand?" he asked, his voice steady but urgent.

"Yes, I can."

"Good. Stay close to me." He thrust one of his sundangs into the ground, its earlier glow now gone. Extending his free arm, he helped me to my feet. I picked up my baseball bat, curiosity bubbling to the surface.

"Where did that light come from? The one that knocked the Amalanhigs away?"

"Just a trick I picked up," he said, brushing off the question. His tone left no room for further discussion.

He turned his back to me, scanning the area. The Amalanhigs, as if moving with a coordinated intent, began charging toward us from all directions, encircling us in their malevolent grip.

"Hold on to me," my brother commanded.

I didn't understand his reasoning, but after everything that had happened tonight, I'd learned not to question him. I let the baseball bat drop and clung to the back of his shoulders.

He knelt on one knee, spreading his arms wide. Each sundang was gripped tightly, their blades angled downward. Suddenly, the weapons began to shimmer faintly, then grew brighter and brighter. I didn't know what was happening, but it felt like something extraordinary was about to unfold.

As the Amalanhigs drew closer, I tightened my grip on my brother. Without warning, he plunged both blades into the ground. The light erupted into a blinding brilliance, engulfing us entirely. I shut my eyes against its intensity, but just before my vision faded, I caught a glimpse of the devastation. The light hurled the creatures away with a force that shredded the night, leaving chaos in its wake.

When I opened my eyes, the battlefield was unrecognizable. The once-ravenous attackers now lay scattered, their bodies motionless and lifeless. The destruction my brother had unleashed was overwhelming, and I couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and fear. I had always known he was strong, but this...this was beyond anything I could have imagined.

"Kuya?" I called softly, tapping his back.

He swayed slightly, nearly losing his balance, before letting out a weary sigh. I moved in front of him, squatting to meet his gaze. His eyes fluttered open, locking onto mine.

"Are you okay?" I asked, steadying him by the shoulder.

"Maki, you need to leave now," he said, his voice firm despite the exhaustion weighing it down. "I can't keep using my power for much longer. If I push myself further, I'll run out completely."

"But I can't leave you like this," I protested.

"I can manage. You saw me fight earlier, didn't you? I'll be fine." His tone softened as he continued, "The Scarlet Clan is after me, not you. They'll let you go once they have me. Trust me, Maki—you don't understand the kind of people we're dealing with, if you can even call them people."

His logic cut through my resistance, though I hated to admit it. He was right, and deep down, I understood. But that didn't make it any easier.

"Take this opportunity while they're still down," he urged. "Run. I don't know how long I can keep this up, and I can't give you another opening like this. You need to survive, Maki. Do this for me."

The pleading in his voice tore at me. I didn't want to leave him, not like this. But I knew he was right. As much as it hurt, I had to trust him.

"Promise me we'll see each other again," I whispered.

He gave me a wistful look and nodded. "I promise. I'll survive, and I'll find you. We'll be together again, just like the old times."

"I'm holding you to that promise, Maginoo Kagiwa." I smiled weakly, throwing my arms around him. I wanted him to feel the same comfort he had always given me, even if just for a moment. 

More than anything, I wished I could stay by his side. But I had to honor his request. Fighting the tears welling in my eyes, I let him go, offering him one last warm smile. He returned it with a reassuring nod—a silent vow that he would keep his word.

I stood, retrieved my baseball bat, and turned to leave. Some of the Amalanhigs were already beginning to stir, their grotesque forms twitching back to life. It only strengthened my resolve to run, to make the most of the chance my brother had given me.

As I fled, I resisted the urge to look back. Tears spilled freely down my cheeks, hot and unrelenting, each one a fragment of my breaking heart. I ran like a coward, abandoning the one person I had sworn to protect.