I stood there on the ground, unfazed by the number of monsters surrounding us. I looked at Rion. Her voice rang coldly throughout the area
"Stay close to me and don't stray."
When our eyes briefly met, I couldn't help but laugh at Lina's words.
I looked at myself, trembling pitifully…
Hiding behind a girl younger than me…
I really am pathetic.
"Ugh…"
I took a deep breath and activated my calm analysis skill.
My mind cleared, my focus sharpened.
I stepped forward.
"Are you sure?"
With a nod from me, Lina's focus snapped into place. Her expression turned completely serious as she stared at the surrounding monsters with unmatched intensity.
"Yes… and besides, we have a bigger problem to deal with."
— Fwaa — Faa — Fshh —
As soon as I finished speaking, Lina dashed toward the monsters at lightning speed. At the same time, a black thread coiled around her body, undulating like a living shadow.
— Fwap! — Fwap! — Fwap! —
One by one, more monsters fell to the side Lina charged toward, their bodies hitting the ground lifeless.
"Watch out!"
Seeing all the monsters surge toward Lina at once, Gina quickly prepared a spell.
— Shisht — Shisht — Shtt — Shisht —
Moments later, ten glowing purple threads spun around her, forming a rapid barrier around the monsters' area.
— Boom! —
The threads struck like lightning, shredding everything in their path and reducing the monsters to scattered, shredded flesh.
Then Lina spotted a small gap between the rows of monsters—a gap that lasted only a moment. Without hesitation, she lunged forward with swift steps, her eyes glowing with sharp focus.
The dark threads around her body began to contract, retreating toward her sword as if summoned by a silent command. Energy accumulated at the blade's tip, focused precisely at the point, until the sword itself looked like a compressed black dot on the verge of exploding.
For a fraction of a second, a strange silence fell over the battlefield, as if everyone held their breath with Lina.
Then—
— Boom! —
The explosion roared through the area, raising a cloud of dust and debris while the monsters scattered in all directions.
But the cost of that strike quickly became apparent.
Her aura noticeably diminished, the dark threads gradually fading. She bent slightly forward, her breathing growing heavy, ragged, as if the air itself wasn't enough for her lungs.
She had exhausted a massive amount of Ania in a single strike.
Yet she raised her head again, gripping her sword despite the clear fatigue.
This wasn't a desperate strike…
It was a calculated gamble, paid for immediately.
The monsters advanced toward Lina, who tried to raise her sword to meet them, but her balance wavered after expending so much Ania.
Her legs shook, her movements unsteady, each step a burden draining her remaining strength.
Gina shouted loudly, a mix of worry and fear:
"Get away from them now! You can't face them alone—they'll crush you before you can help!"
But there was no time to retreat.
— Swoosh —
One monster slashed at Lina's back, tearing a deep wound as blood spilled onto the ground.
She stifled the pain, pivoted with difficulty, and with a swift, sharp motion, ended the monster's life in an instant.
— Bshshkh —
The monsters didn't stop. A giant beast slammed into her abdomen, blood spewing from her mouth as she fell backward.
Her body trembled under the pain, her breath cut short, vision blurred from exhaustion and blood loss.
With great effort, Lina stood leaning on her sword, trying to control the pain ravaging her body.
At that moment, a massive monster loomed directly above her, eyes fixed on her head, ready to deliver a deadly blow.
— Swoosh —
Its head flew into the air, its body collapsing lifelessly. In its place stood a figure, calm features, black hair swaying gently in the wind.
I looked at Lina.
Her body barely stood, weighed down by injuries on every side. Blood covered her entirely, pooling at her feet, her breaths weak and broken…
I stepped forward one step.
"You can rest now… you've done well."
When Lina heard my words, her features finally relaxed. The tension that had gripped her body began to slowly fade.
I saw a rare moment of peace in her eyes, a fleeting calm in a battlefield that knew only death, then her gaze went dim and she collapsed unconscious.
I slowly turned my gaze toward the remaining monsters. Only a few were left…
Damn…
Even a few can be too many when my body is exhausted.
The pain in my back throbbed with every movement, warm blood seeping beneath my clothes. Yet there was no room to stop.
I raised my sword, locking my eyes on the approaching monsters.
If I hesitate now… it's over.
In an instant, I vanished from my spot.
— Sssh — Sssh —
The phantom step tore across the distance, the terror in the monsters' eyes evident before their heads flew and dropped to the ground one by one.
Please… just die quickly…
I breathed deeply, but the relief lasted only a moment.
A serpent-headed monster lunged, sinking its claws into my back.
Pain exploded through my body like a spark of fire. I nearly screamed, but I swallowed it with sheer force.
Damn… not now!
My body stiffened, my teeth clenched, vision blurred for a moment. Still, I didn't allow myself to fall. I activated the Altaria threads, feeling the energy surge through my exhausted body.
— Shshkhkh —
The threads launched, severing the monster's head instantly.
My body screamed in protest.
How many more injuries can I endure?
The remaining monsters attacked in a coordinated wave, from every direction…
I moved the threads frantically, slicing and shredding, bodies dropping one after another…
Damn…
If this continues… I won't make it out alive.
My breaths grew heavy, muscles betraying me.
I have to get out of here—fast.
That thought echoed relentlessly in my mind, but no matter how far I searched, I found no exit.
I was trapped… from all sides.
— Glaljal —
Suddenly, purple threads surged across the area.
They struck the monsters all at once, incinerating their bodies in an instant.
I stopped, stunned.
That spell… could have killed me.
I lifted my head toward the source.
It was Gina.
Her body was covered in blood, breaths ragged, shoulders trembling, eyes fixed…
"Ugh…"
A heavy sigh left my chest, as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
At least here… it was over.
— Boom —
Something charged from the front at incredible speed, crashing into a tree with such force that the ground shook.
My body tensed immediately.
Don't tell me…
I looked toward the impact and saw Zion rising from the rubble, wiping blood from his mouth with his hand, eyes locked on the figure standing in front of him…