Chapter 15
The fight continues.
Shin still fights with only three senses. He focuses on the space around him, trying to visualize the environment in his mind but he fails.
An attack hits him.
The Demonknight strikes relentlessly, and Shin is pushed closer and closer to his limit. His body screams for rest, but he refuses to fall.
I can't give up… not now.
Suddenly, Shin is thrown backward not by the Demonknight, but by something else.
He regains his footing just as the Demonknight attacks again.
At that moment, Shin sees it.
Outlines.
Faint, blurred shapes in the darkness.
Those are… living beings.
He moves on instinct and dodges.
The Demonknight freezes in shock.
"How did you avoid that?" he snarls.
Shin exhales slowly.
"You're wrong," he says. "Instinct combined with visualization that's the key."
Shin rushes toward one of the outlines and releases fire magic wrapped in lightning.
The explosion is violent devastating.
The Demonknight understands immediately.
He's back in the fight.
Shin sprints forward, and this time they clash fist against fist. Each blow shakes the space around them.
Shin's eyes harden.
Now. It's time.
He binds the Demonknight with four layers of water-binding magic magic capable of restraining even non-physical beings.
"I have three minutes," Shin mutters.
He turns and runs toward the others.
Quickly, he explains the plan.
"Combine all four formulas. I'll need twenty minutes to finish my attack. Buy me time."
The Nature Spirits hesitate but trust him again. They move to confront the Demonknight.
Shin turns to Mira.
"Lend me your mana," he says.
She shakes her head. "No"
"It's the only way," Shin interrupts calmly.
Mira clenches her fists… then nods.
She places her hand on his back.
Mana flows into Shin's body, warm and overwhelming.
Shin steps away and begins preparing.
Meanwhile, the fourfold water binding breaks.
The Nature Spirits are forced into a desperate battle for survival.
After ten minutes, they are already exhausted but they endure.
Shin had shown them his formula.
They learn fast.
The Water Spirit looks at the others.
"Where is Shin?"
"We must trust him," the others answer.
The Demonknight laughs.
"He ran away."
None of the spirits believe him.
The Demonknight raises his hand and unleashes his final attack
a sphere of pure darkness that warps time and space.
The Garden begins to crack.
The Nature Spirits fall to their knees.
The Demonknight expands the sphere.
They scream in pain as the Soul Tree is damaged.
Hope begins to fade.
Then
A Shiny golden light cuts through the darkness.
The object pierces the attack and strikes directly into the Demonknight's chest.
His existence core shatters.
The darkness collapses.
The space stabilizes.
The Nature Spirits breathe again.
The Demonknight laughs weakly.
"You think this is over?" he whispers.
"There are others like me…"
His body dissolves into dark light and vanishes.
Shin runs toward the spirits.
"Are you alright?!"
They nod.
"Yes. You saved us. Thank you."
Shin collapses to his knees in relief.
Mira approaches, smiling softly.
"He was much stronger," she says. "But you were smarter."
Shin scratches his cheek, embarrassed.
"Thanks…"
He explains why he needs a curse-breaking stone.
After listening, the Nature Spirits agree and grant him what he seeks.
A door appears, leading Mira and Shin outside.
Before they leave, one of the spirits steps forward and hands Shin a teleportation stone.
"Your friends returned days ago," she explains.
Shin thanks them deeply.
He walks Mira back to her house.
At the door, Shin turns to leave.
Suddenly
Mira kisses him.
Shin's face turns bright red.
She smiles.
"This is my thanks," she says softly.
"My hero."