Then, like lightning, Hitomi dashed over and slapped me! She was quite far—how did she even make it in time?
Brek approached next, laughing. "Oh, come on, you think we'd let you die here?"
Laima chimed in: "Good thing you forgot our communication channel through the Codex is always active. And no, we're not letting you die here—but we will kill you ourselves once we get back! Sound fair?"
Hitomi lifted her head and spoke with that familiar, confident smile. "Hey, Promi, you've got to be pretty naive to think I'd leave you behind, huh?"
They were all so devilishly cheerful! I smiled.
"Listen, guys! Thanks for the kind words! And the slap!"
…but then my blood started to boil. I clenched my teeth, my left eye twitching while the right opened wide!
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS? Who said I was going to die from something like this?" I shouted, pounding my fists and feet into the ground. I straightened up and sat firmly on the earth.
"What I said was because if you stay here, it's pointless. What's about to hit him will only slow him down a bit. Getting yourselves hurt even worse without a healer around is madness, people! Behind me, all of you, NOW! Hitomi, give me your vision! Brek, cover right. Noctua, behind! Laima, left!"
My breath was so heavy, each inhale felt like I was sucking in blades. My body had surrendered, but it refused to stop. If I collapse now, it's over, I thought, clenching my fist one final time.
Hitomi supported me with her body and gave me her hand. I felt my eyes fill with tears. That moment wasn't just a relief—it was a reminder that my team was the only thing that truly mattered.
"I'll never lose you again," I whispered, gently holding her hand.
"Never again. And don't you dare do that again," Hitomi murmured, looking me in the eyes and holding me steady.
"Do what?"
"Try to sacrifice everything without telling your team first," she said with a bittersweet smile. "You're not alone. No matter what happens—we'll be together."
I began the process to maximize the propulsion and refined the structure of the spikes… but then I heard a trumpet call. I wasn't fully healed yet—my head buzzed—but I stayed focused, and for a moment, I felt joy.
"Uh… guys? Isn't it great that reinforcements are coming?"
The faint smile on my face vanished as everyone looked right, left, and ahead. Their faces filled with dread… like they were witnessing a new nightmare unravel.
"You're a total idiot!" they all shouted in chorus, their voices echoing in frustration and panic.