The storm arrived without warning.
Thunder rolled across the sky as rain slammed into the ruins of the fortress, washing blood into the dirt. Fires still burned in pockets of the courtyard, their glow flickering like dying hearts.
Emma stood in the center of it all.
Bruised. Cut. Exhausted.
Still standing.
Liam leaned against a shattered pillar nearby, gun in hand, barely conscious.
"Emma… this feels wrong," he muttered. "Too quiet."
She felt it too.
Victor Kane never retreated without purpose.
Then—
Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the rain.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Victor emerged from the smoke, coat torn, blood running down his arm—but his posture was calm. Controlled. Smiling.
"You never disappoint me, Emma Hellsing," he said smoothly. "Even when the world tries to break you… you refuse to fall."
Emma raised her knives.
"Say what you came to say," she snapped. "I'm done listening."
Victor stopped a few meters away.
"I came to end this," he said. "One way or another."
Lightning split the sky, illuminating his face—cold, intelligent, utterly unafraid.
---
Truth in the Rain
"You killed our parents," Emma said, voice shaking despite her will.
"You destroyed my family. My childhood. My life."
Victor tilted his head.
"They destroyed themselves. They betrayed the Syndicate. They tried to expose me."
Liam's breath hitched.
Victor continued calmly, "I offered them a choice. Silence… or death."
Emma lunged—
Liam shouted, "WAIT!"
Emma froze, just for a second.
Victor's eyes flicked to Liam.
"You should've stayed loyal," Victor said. "You could've been my successor."
Liam shook his head, tears mixing with rain.
"I was loyal," he whispered. "Just not to you."
Victor sighed, disappointed.
"Then you're no longer useful."
He raised his gun.
Emma moved instantly.
---
The Fight That Ends Everything
Gunfire exploded.
Emma threw herself between Victor and Liam, deflecting the shot with her blade as she closed the distance. Steel met steel. Knife against gun. Brutal. Close. Relentless.
Victor was strong—trained beyond human limits—but Emma was faster.
They crashed into burning debris, rolling through mud and rain, trading blows that shook bone and breath alike.
Victor slammed her into the ground.
"You could've ruled beside me!" he roared.
Emma spat blood and smiled.
"I'd rather die free."
She drove a knife into his side.
Victor screamed—but didn't fall.
He struck back, sending her skidding across the courtyard. Her vision blurred. Her hands trembled.
Too tired.
Too hurt.
Victor staggered toward her, gun raised.
"This ends now," he said coldly.
A click.
Empty.
Victor's eyes widened.
Behind him—
Liam stood shaking, gun raised with his good arm.
"For Emma," Liam whispered.
He fired.
The bullet tore through Victor's shoulder, spinning him around.
Emma surged to her feet, every last ounce of strength burning through her veins.
She ran.
Victor turned—
Too slow.
Emma leapt, twisting midair, and threw her final knife.
Time slowed.
Rain froze.
The blade buried itself deep into Victor Kane's chest.
He collapsed to his knees.
Shock flickered across his face.
Then disbelief.
Then nothing.
---
Silence
The storm eased.
Victor Kane fell face-first into the mud.
Dead.
Emma stood over him, chest heaving, rain soaking her hair and clothes.
It was over.
She dropped to her knees beside Liam, pulling him into a fierce embrace.
"You're alive," she whispered, voice breaking.
"So are you," he replied weakly. "Guess we won."
She laughed—then cried.
For the parents she lost.
For the childhood stolen.
For the war finally ended.
As dawn broke over the ruined fortress, Emma Hellsing rose—not as a thief, not as a weapon—
But as a survivor.
A protector.
A legend born from shadow.