Wu Haoyu's POV:
The factory's rusted walls groaned, but it was the silver-crested figure—robed, eyes colder than Vey's, crest a globe—that made my blood run cold, their voice sharp: "Huang, Wu, surrender." Master Wu's shadow flickered behind, his smirk a knife, blade hidden but ready, my cousin's betrayal burning worse than the blood seeping from my arm, thigh, and chest. My pipe was slick with gore, pain screaming from the Core fight, but I stood in front of Huang Yanyan, pipe raised, ready to break this new faction, Wu, anything to keep her safe. Her star-dagger blazed, knife flashing, blood crusted on her cheek, shoulder and thigh oozing, eyes fierce—my fire, my heart, trusting me despite my blood tying me to Wu, the Wu key. Her star's power—Huang seal, not just key—had burned the Accord Core, and I'd die proving I was hers, not his, no chain, just love.
