Lisa bolted toward Festron, her vision blurred by tears. "No! Festron!" she cried, her voice breaking as her heart pounded in her chest. Each step felt heavier, her desperation growing as she saw him, impaled and lifelessly hanging from the Beast King's claws.
"Stay back!" Anuel's voice exploded through the chaos like a thunderclap, sharp and commanding, stopping Lisa in her tracks. Her tone carried an edge of fury, but beneath it, a fierce protectiveness burned. "Don't you dare come any closer!"
Lisa froze, her trembling hands glowing faintly with the flicker of healing magic. Her wide, tear-filled eyes met Anuel's piercing gaze. It was an unspoken battle of wills—Lisa's fear and determination against Anuel's unyielding authority.
"But—" Lisa began, her voice cracking, her body ready to rush forward again.
"No!" Anuel barked, her voice like steel, cutting through Lisa's protest. "You'll get yourself killed!" She took a step forward, placing herself between Lisa and the towering Beast King. The air around them felt heavier, charged with Anuel's raw, indomitable energy.
The Beast King let out a guttural growl, its molten eyes narrowing on Lisa as if sensing her weakness. Its claws flexed, and Festron's blood dripped onto the cracked ground below, the sickening sound echoing in Lisa's ears.
"I'll handle this," Anuel growled, her gaze never leaving the monstrous creature. Her stance was unwavering, her body poised for action. "Don't make me protect you too, Lisa. Stay back."
The weight of Anuel's words rooted Lisa in place, her breath hitching as the reality of the situation sank in. All she could do was watch, her heart clenching with every drop of blood that fell from Festron's wound.
---
Anuel's Final Strike
Anuel's mind raced. Her gaze locked onto Festron, then the Beast King, her fury boiling over. A memory surfaced, vivid and clear:
"Concentrate all your energy to the edge of your hand and fortify it," Dreados's voice echoed in her mind. "It'll make your hand sharper and harder than a blade. One strike is all it takes."
Anuel exhaled slowly, her body trembling with the weight of her determination. She bolted forward, her movements a blur. From her perception, the world slowed to a crawl. Each step she took cracked the ground beneath her, the force propelling her forward with unimaginable speed.
The Beast King turned toward her, its molten eyes narrowing. Anuel straightened her hand, channeling every ounce of her Bravo to its edge.
With a deafening roar, she struck the Beast King's neck. Her hand met its obsidian armor with a blinding flash of light. The force of the impact reverberated through the air, but her strike barely penetrated its thick hide.
Anuel gritted her teeth, pouring every ounce of her strength into the attack. "Come on… break!" she screamed, her voice raw with effort.
The Beast King thrashed, its molten veins flaring dangerously. But Anuel didn't falter. With one final push, she unleashed everything she had, letting out a primal yell.
The obsidian armor cracked.
The Beast King's head severed cleanly from its body, tumbling to the ground with a heavy thud. Blood sprayed in a fiery arc, the molten liquid hissing as it hit the earth. The creature's body swayed, then collapsed, shaking the ground with its fall.
As the world returned to normal speed, the force of Anuel's strike sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield. The thin, concentrated line of compressed air carved a deep trench into the ground, slicing through the remaining trees in its path.
Anuel staggered, her chest heaving as she struggled to stay upright. She looked down at her hand, trembling from the sheer exertion. "It's… done," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
---
Aftermath
Lisa reached Festron, who had fallen to the ground, clutching his wound. She knelt beside him, her hands glowing with faint healing magic. "Don't move. You'll only make it worse."
Festron chuckled weakly, wincing as he spoke. "You're… bossy when you're worried."
Anuel approached them, her steps heavy. Her body was battered and bloodied, but her presence remained imposing. She glanced at Festron, her expression softening slightly. "You're lucky you're hard to kill."
Festron smirked. "Luck? Nah. I'm just built different."
Lisa rolled her eyes, focusing on stabilizing his injury. "You're also reckless."
Anuel turned her gaze to the battlefield, her eyes scanning the carnage. The Beast King's lifeless body lay at the center, surrounded by the corpses of countless creatures. The forest was gone, replaced by a desolate wasteland of destruction.
"We'll recover the Earthers," Anuel said, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. "And then… we regroup."
The three of them sat in silence, the weight of their victory heavy on their shoulders.
---
Lisa knelt by Festron, her hands glowing faintly as she channeled her healing magic. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she concentrated, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. " I won't let him die," she said firmly, though her strained tone betrayed her worry.
Ziraiah ran to them and dropped to her knees beside Festron. Her breath caught when she saw the gaping hole in his stomach. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the ground. Lisa worked tirelessly, but the wound was deep, and her magic, though effective, was slow.
Ziraiah's voice quivered as she spoke. "I... I don't know if I can heal him... The wound is too deep."
Anuel, battered and bloodied but still radiating an air of authority, crouched beside Lisa. She placed a firm hand on Lisa's face, tilting it so their eyes met. "What happened to all that confidence earlier?" she asked, her voice calm but unyielding. "Believe in yourself. You've got this."
Lisa's eyes widened briefly before she nodded, determination flickering in her expression. "You're right," she whispered, her hands glowing brighter as she redoubled her efforts.
Ziraiah watched them, their bond striking a deep chord within her. Her vision blurred as a memory surfaced—one of her and her mother from long ago. In the memory, a younger Ziraiah sat on the ground, her knees scraped and tears streaming down her cheeks after falling off her bicycle.
Her mother knelt beside her, holding her small face in her hands. "Little Z," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth and wisdom, "in order to grow in life, there are times you have to stumble. You will fall. But no matter what happens, always believe in yourself, and get back up." Her mother wrapped her in a comforting hug, and Ziraiah felt her tears subside.
The memory faded, leaving Ziraiah staring at Festron's pale face. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she whispered, "Mom… I miss you."
Festron's weak voice broke the somber moment. "Awe… I didn't know you cared," he croaked, managing a faint smirk despite his pain.
Ziraiah sniffled, brushing away her tears. She turned her gaze to the night sky, where two moons hung side by side, their silver light casting an ethereal glow over the battlefield.
Suddenly, a soft but distinct voice broke her thoughts. "Good evening," Yelleen said, its tone calm yet startling in its suddenness.
"Ah!" Ziraiah exclaimed, clutching her chest as her heart leapt.
Anuel glanced at her sharply. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Ziraiah lied quickly, her voice a whisper. Then, lowering her tone so no one else could hear, she murmured, "It's been a while, Yelleen. Why did you go silent for so long?"
Yelleen's voice returned, steady and measured. "I thought about what your brother said. I've decided to incorporate a gauge system.It will analyze the strength of others compared to yours and help you avoid threats you cannot overcome."
Ziraiah raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How does it work?"
"Simply look at a living creature, focus on it, and think of the word 'gauge.' A number of stars will appear above them. The stars indicate their danger level. Be warned—anything above two stars means certain death. The stars will adjust as you grow stronger. I will also inform your brothers of this system."
Ziraiah smirked faintly. "Val really got to you that time, didn't he?"
Yelleen's tone softened. "Congratulations on your first victory. Good job."
"You were watching?" Ziraiah asked, surprised.
"I'm always watching," Yelleen replied, a hint of amusement in its voice.
Curious, Ziraiah turned her gaze to Anuel and focused, thinking the word "gauge." Instantly, five glowing stars appeared above Anuel's head, shimmering faintly in the night.
"Yep," Ziraiah thought to herself, swallowing hard. "I'm not surprised, considering she took down that thing."
She looked back at Festron, who, despite his dire condition, managed to wink weakly at her. Lisa's magic continued to work, the wound slowly closing, though the tension in the air remained heavy.
---
The makeshift camp had barely begun to settle when Anuel stood abruptly. She dusted herself off, her piercing eyes scanning the horizon with purpose. Festron lay unconscious, still being healed by Lisa, her hands glowing faintly as her mana poured into his wounded body. Ziraiah sat close, visibly nervous.
Anuel's voice was calm but firm. "I'll be back. Wait here."
Ziraiah's head shot up, panic evident in her voice. "Where are you going? Don't leave us here by ourselves!"
Anuel halted mid-step, then turned back. Her stride was deliberate as she walked over to Ziraiah and squatted down so their heads were at the same height. Her sharp gaze met Ziraiah's, and for a moment, there was only silence.
"Are you afraid?" Anuel asked, her tone soft yet challenging. "You took down that Mavrik today. I really underestimated you. Even though you're an Elvhein, you look like an Earther."
"I am an Earther," Ziraiah shot back, her voice trembling but resolute.
Anuel tilted her head slightly, studying her. "Don't worry. There are no beasts around." She straightened up and resumed walking, leaving Ziraiah to stare after her.
"How do you know that?" Ziraiah yelled after her.
Anuel didn't stop. "I have my ways."
---
The Urgency Begins
About an hour later, Anuel returned with startling speed, appearing next to them in a blur. The force of her arrival stirred dust into the air.
"Get up. Let's go. NOW," she barked, her voice brooking no argument.
Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a small glass vial filled with a glowing red liquid and tossed it to Lisa, who was still healing Festron.
"Drink it. You'll need all your mana for this."
Lisa hesitated briefly, then drank the potion. A warmth coursed through her body as her energy replenished. Ziraiah's brows furrowed in concern as she asked, "What's going on?"
Anuel's sharp gaze cut to her. "We need to leave here fast, and I can't carry all of you. Lisa, you're going to use that, and you won't stop until we reach the wall."
Lisa looked shocked. "The wall is too far away! I can't maintain it for that long."
"You're going to," Anuel said, her tone unyielding.
To Be Continued...