Gray flames flickered.
In the next instant, the massive body of the Magical Beast charged, shattering the ground in its wake.
"Get back!" Ralua screamed.
Simultaneously, she vanished. No—she was likely just moving too fast for my eyes to follow.
A silver flash. Ralua evaded the beast’s attack in a heartbeat and closed the distance to Sera, swinging her sword.
However...
"——!"
Without a change in expression, Sera caught the strike with her thin sword. The shrill ring of clashing metal echoed through the cave.
"Licia!"
"I know!"
The Magical Beast was already looming over us, swinging its arm down. We had to dodge—there was no other choice.
A thunderous roar followed. The stone floor where I had been standing a second ago was pulverized. A single hit would mean instant death.
"Luca! To your right!"
Licia unleashed a Flame Bullet. The crimson fireball struck the creature squarely in the face.
But...
"It didn't work?!"
The Magical Beast lunged out of the smoke. The gray flames burning in its eye sockets didn't even flicker.
"Damn it!"
I rolled away, barely avoiding the strike. I couldn't fight. I couldn't even leave a scratch on this thing. But...
"Licia!"
"Leave it to me!"
As I shouted her name, Licia leaped backward. The beast's eyes tracked her movement.
In that split second, I kicked a nearby stone. It flew through the air and struck the creature's face. It was a better hit than I expected, but of course, it dealt zero damage. Still, it was enough. Its attention wavered for a fraction of a second.
"Over here, you monster!"
The Magical Beast turned to me. Driven by what seemed like mindless rage, it charged.
I was terrified—scared to death. I wanted to turn and run right then and there. But I couldn't stop. If I ran, it would go after Licia. If that was the case...
I at least had to be a decoy!
"Luca!"
I heard Licia's voice behind me. I didn't look back; I just ran with everything I had. I felt the tremors of its pursuit closing in. Just a little more. If I could just draw it in a little further...
"Burn to ashes."
The entire cave was dyed a brilliant red.
I spun around. Dozens of Flame Orbs were hovering around Licia.
"—Flame Arcanus."
A barrage of countless flames was unleashed. They slammed into the cornered beast all at once.
Explosion after explosion rocked the cavern. The continuous roar was deafening. The Magical Beast’s massive frame was blown back, crashing into the rock wall.
Even then, it tried to stand. Despite the gaping hole in its chest and its flesh being scorched, the thing still tried to crawl forward.
"How persistent..." Licia grimaced.
But I saw it. The gray flames were weakening. At the very least, her attacks were dealing damage.
"Licia!"
"I know!"
She had realized it too. The flames began to converge again, focusing into a single, massive fireball. The heat was so intense it distorted the very air.
The Magical Beast let out a final, hollow roar.
And then—
"It’s over."
The fireball was launched. A direct hit.
The gray flames shattered. In the next instant, the beast’s movements ceased. Its massive body swayed once, twice...
And then it collapsed with a thunderous crash. This time, it didn't move.
"Haa... haa..."
Licia sank to her knees. I was struggling for breath myself. We had won. It had been incredibly close. Its movements had seemed sluggish—perhaps being forcibly reanimated had weakened it after all.
"That was... surprisingly simple. How is Ralua..."
I muttered the words as I turned toward Ralua and Sera. I’m sure Licia was thinking the same thing.
"—Eh?"
My mind went blank.
A short distance away, Ralua was standing. Or rather, she was being held upright—by a single thin sword protruding from her chest.
It was a light that defied description. It wasn't rainbow, nor was it silver. It was a strange radiance that seemed to shift colors every time I looked at it.
That thin sword had completely transfixed Ralua’s chest.
And Sera, gripping the hilt, was just quietly looking our way.
Sera, gripping the hilt, was just quietly looking our way.
"Ralua...?"
There was no response. She remained motionless, skewered by the blade. I couldn't even tell if she was still breathing.
"What the hell are you doing?! Sera!" I screamed.
Sera didn't answer. She simply yanked the blade out. Blood sprayed across the floor as Ralua’s body slumped down.
"—!"
My mind turned white. Before I could even think, Licia lunged forward.
"Get away from her!"
A crimson Fire Line streaked through the air. It was moving at a speed that should have been impossible to dodge.
But Sera merely lifted her thin sword. That was all it took. The Fire Line vanished the moment it touched the blade, as if it had never existed at all.
Despite being crushed by despair, there was something there I couldn't tear my eyes away from.
"...That is,"
Deep within the cave, the gray flames flickered and swayed. And from within them, a single ray of light began to shine.