The air grew heavy in the foothills. Dust swirled lazily between jagged rocks, carrying with it the scent of sweat, earth, and blood. The last of the Taurox herd stood before them—a hulking alpha with a hide like granite and horns sharp enough to carve through trees. Its massive hooves dug into the rocky ground, snorting plumes of white steam like a living furnace.
Omina tightened her grip on her twin swords, her breathing slow and steady. Yoshiya stood a few paces behind her, staff raised, a Barrier already shimmering faintly between them and the beast. They'd cut down the others through clever terrain and coordination—but this one was different.
When the Taurox moved, it was like an avalanche. It charged straight through their trap line, smashing boulders aside with bone-rattling force. Trees that would've stopped the others splintered like twigs.
Omina dashed sideways, aiming for its flank. Her blades carved clean arcs, but when they struck its hide, the impact was like hitting stone. Sparks scattered; the blades barely cut shallow grooves.
"Tch… it's tougher than the rest," she muttered, sliding back to avoid a sweeping horn.
Yoshiya reinforced his Barrier, the edges rippling under the pressure of another charge. "Its defenses are ridiculous—Omina, if this keeps up, we'll burn out before it does."
A slow, sharp smile crossed her face. "Then I'll stop holding back."
The air around her shifted. A red-black aura began to coil from her body, thick and violent, like a predator waking from slumber. Her heartbeat quickened; pupils narrowed.
"Berserk," she whispered.
The aura exploded outward, a visible shockwave rippling the ground beneath her feet. Her swords hummed with lethal intent as she layered Aura Blade, then Yoshiya's Blessing washed over her, amplifying the surge even further. Finally, she activated Sword Frenzy—and in an instant, Omina became a blur.
She launched forward faster than the Taurox could brace. Her first strikes hit its legs, not to cut, but to hammer weak points—repeated Guard Break slashes aimed at tendons and joints. Stone-like hide cracked bit by bit under the relentless onslaught.
The Taurox roared, twisting with unexpected agility. Its horned head came sweeping down in a brutal arc.
"Barrier!" Yoshiya shouted. The translucent wall shimmered just in time, the impact shaking the ground and pushing him a full step backward. He gritted his teeth, pouring mana into it. Omina barely paused.
She vaulted over the beast's head, blades crossing midair, striking downward with berserk-enhanced force. The sound was like metal biting into rock. One horn chipped. A shallow but definite wound opened across its neck.
"Almost there!" she hissed through clenched teeth. Her movements were no longer graceful—they were feral. Every strike came with reckless, brutal precision, like a cornered wolf tearing its way through a hunter's trap.
The Taurox bellowed, enraged. It stomped, sending shockwaves through the stones. Its massive body turned to follow her—but she was already behind it, cutting low again. A deep slash finally scored across its hind leg.
"Keep going!" Yoshiya called. "Its movements are slowing!"
Omina didn't answer. She didn't even seem to hear him anymore. Her attacks grew even faster, less controlled—like she was chasing the kill, not fighting tactically.
Finally, with one last surge, she dashed up a sloping rock, launched herself high into the air, and brought both swords down in a berserk-fueled Guard Break directly across the Taurox's throat.
The blade cleaved through hardened hide and muscle like it was paper. A geyser of blood followed. The Taurox let out a gurgling roar before crashing onto the ground with an impact that shook the foothills. Dust and debris exploded outward.
Omina landed lightly, blades dripping crimson. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, aura still flaring like wild fire.
But something was wrong.
She didn't lower her swords. Her gaze turned—not toward the fallen beast—but toward Yoshiya.
"Omina…?" he called cautiously.
Her eyes were wild. She let out a sharp breath, like a beast catching scent. Then she sprinted toward him.
"—Wait!" Yoshiya shouted. He barely had time to throw up Barrier as she struck.
The first impact cracked the barrier instantly. Her berserk-enhanced speed made her movements terrifying—fluid yet savage. She swung both blades in alternating strikes, hammering at the magical shield like a relentless storm. Each blow spiderwebbed the Barrier further.
"Omina, it's me!" he yelled. No answer. Only the rhythm of steel and rage.
She leapt, bringing both swords down in a diagonal X-slash. The barrier shattered, forcing him to backpedal. He threw Protect on himself, raising his staff defensively. But every block rattled his bones. Her strength under Berserk was monstrous.
He realized one thing quickly: if he kept fighting defensively, she'd kill him by accident.
He made a choice.
Dropping Barrier and Protect, Yoshiya stepped forward, directly into the path of her next slash—
—and embraced her.
Her swords bit into his shoulder and side. Pain shot through him like fire. But he held on tight, locking her arms with sheer will.
"Purify!" he cast, voice firm. A gentle white light spread over her body. For a second, her muscles trembled—but then she roared, slashing again.
"Heal," he whispered, gritting his teeth as he closed a fresh wound on his arm.
"Purify!" The light flared again.
She resisted, screaming incoherently, eyes glowing red.
"Purify. Heal. Purify. Heal. PURIFY!"
He repeated the cycle again and again, even as blood stained his robes, even as her strength pushed him to the brink. Slowly, painfully, the wild aura began to dim. Her breathing changed. The fury in her gaze flickered. Her arms weakened.
Finally, her swords slipped from her hands. She collapsed against his chest, trembling.
The berserk glow faded completely. She exhaled a shaky breath and went limp, consciousness slipping away.
Yoshiya sank to his knees with her in his arms, chest heaving, exhaustion and pain catching up all at once.
"It's over," he whispered, brushing a lock of hair from her face. Her expression was peaceful again—utterly spent.
Around them lay the massive Taurox corpse, the battlefield quiet except for the whisper of the wind through broken stones.
They had won—but at a cost.