Brek, eyes narrowed, examined the flags flapping in the wind. Speaking with a tone soaked in seriousness, he explained, "These banners belong to enemy forces. Up front are two large ones, signaling two divisions with their commanders! And don't forget the beast! Plus, the other teams are retreating."
I turned in the direction he pointed. The air around me suddenly felt heavier. My eyes widened as my mind struggled to digest what I saw. I glanced cautiously in that direction, bulged my eyes, looked at Hitomi, and whispered:
"Hee hee… crap!" My smile had become more like an awkward confession of panic.
But deep down, there was no time for fear or excuses. I clung to my greatest secret. It wasn't the moment to explain that I could draw energy from those who touched me. I'd never done it like this… at least not at such a scale. Energy absorption had always scared me, something I preferred not to use. I never wanted to rely on others for strength. But now, I had no choice.
"Laima, Brek, Noctua! Quickly, come close and touch me. Sorry, but I need to take a bit of energy from you—roughly equal to one of your special abilities." My smile now appeared more confident, a mask of trust concealing the tension of the moment. They looked at me in confusion but obeyed.
I felt the weight of that decision pressing on me. I didn't want to depend on them, but if it meant saving our lives, I had no other option.
I grinned. They stared at me blankly, unaware I was absorbing energy—but for me, it was enough. The two earth spikes I had formed earlier became six. Massive, menacing, and brimming with a swirling aura of destruction.
When the beast turned toward me with its blazing red eyes, for a moment, I thought I saw… something human in them. Hate. Fury. But also something deeper—more primal. It knew it was going to die. It knew I was the one killing it. And it wasn't ready to forgive me.
With a threatening growl, the beast jerked its head back, and the snakes in its mane hissed wildly. The air around it buzzed with electricity and death. The ground beneath me trembled from its power. I knew—it wouldn't go down without a fight. It roared and charged toward us, recognizing the danger, brushing aside our commander.
My smile twisted into a vicious snarl, brimming with rage and glee.
"Goodnight, idiot… life is a riot!" I shouted and unleashed the spikes.
The colossal earth spears shot forward with a deafening blast, hammering the monster. I launched three into its eyes and forehead, two into its shoulders, and two into its knees, shattering them completely. Its scream tore through the air—but it didn't fall right away. It fought back, trying to rip the spikes from its own body, until its final spark of life faded. The last spike pierced its heart, leaving a gaping hole—and the beast collapsed backward.
Time froze. Everyone stared in awe, stunned into silence. The kids' jaws dropped!
"I'm glad I took those classes from that elderly professor couple who visited our academy!" I declared, my voice dripping with false bravado.