Anira, the Great Beast of Fury, opened her jaws and spat out a massive sphere of blazing fire. The heat was so intense that the air around it shimmered.
The Second Sentinel calmly raised his sword, slicing through the air in a clean motion.
The blade tore the fireball in half, and the two halves exploded in the sky. A wave of wind swept across the field, scattering dust and embers.
When the smoke cleared, he looked back. Ryane was still standing. Though exhausted, her knees trembling, her body refused to collapse.
"Leave now, Ryane. Risking yourself here won't change anything," he said, but received no answer.
She remained on her feet, eyes closed, unconscious.
The Sentinel narrowed his gaze.
"Incredible… Even unconscious, she still refuses to fall before the enemy."
On the other side, Kaito let out a grotesque roar and shook his head. A thick, rotten-white slime oozed from his mouth and spread across the ground. From it began to rise deformed creatures, half-human, molded from pulsating sludge, with empty eyes and twisted mouths.
The Sentinel stretched out his hand. A white aura condensed, shaping itself into a spectral entity: a floating phantom, with glowing red eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth.
"Devour every spirit within this sludge, my old friend."
The specter surged forward, consuming each abomination, their screams echoing through the storm of slime.
"Beasts without hosts… nothing but empty shells. Best to end this quickly."
He lifted his sword, his voice ringing out clear and firm:
"Neo Jutsu: Reikon Hyō!"
The sky darkened within seconds, heavy clouds cloaking the moon. Rain began to fall, but every drop that touched the ground turned instantly to ice. In moments, the entire battlefield was frozen. The beasts' limbs became trapped, cracking sounds echoing as the ice spread across the terrain. Only the Sentinel, the phantom, and Ryane remained untouched.
He then spun his blade, and his energy rose in overwhelming force.
"Neo Jutsu: Kōri Honō no Tatsumaki!"
From the earth erupted a colossal vortex. Flames whirled around it like furious serpents, while within, the ice condensed into razor-sharp hail. The tornado lit up the night sky, visible even from the heart of the kingdom.
In the streets, fleeing civilians froze at the sight. One man grabbed another's shoulder, pointing at the horizon.
"The whirlwind… look at that!"
The people turned, astonished.
"It can't be… one man against two beasts?"
"It's him… the Second Sentinel of Light!"
The tornado advanced, swallowing the beasts whole. A devastating explosion shook the ground, hurling fire and ice in every direction. A blinding flash lit up the heavens, followed by a gentle snowfall. When vision returned, the two beasts lay on the ground, decapitated. Their heads crumbled into dust, scattered by the wind.
Silence lasted only a few seconds before the crowd erupted in shouts:
"He defeated them both, alone!"
"He did what an entire army could not!"
"Our savior!"
The Sentinel exhaled deeply, rolled his shoulders, and extended his hand.
"Return, my friend."
The specter obeyed, merging back into his body. He then walked calmly forward, lifted Ryane into his arms, and made his way through the ruined streets toward the castle.
The people stepped aside for him, bowing with respect and hope.
"Long live the Sentinel!"
"We hope your brother grows as strong as you!"
He stopped, frowning.
"Brother…?" he murmured, confused. "I don't have a brother."
The crowd responded in unison:
"Are you saying that boy, dressed just like you, isn't your brother?"
The Sentinel fell silent, thoughtful. His eyes narrowed.
"It must be… that boy who travels with Luís… my old friend," he whispered to himself.
He continued onward, carrying Ryane on his shoulders. The guards opened the palace gates before him, eyes filled with respect and fear. But he hardly noticed. His thoughts were elsewhere.
"Could it really be…? No. Impossible. Just an admirer… or someone pretending to be me."
The palace doors closed behind him. And the weight of doubt followed him inside.