The main lobby buzzed with life, voices bouncing off the tall glass windows and polished floor. The overhead lights cast a warm glow, illuminating the group that had slowly gathered after their respective missions.
Ai was the first to break the silence, raising a lazy hand in greeting. "Yoo—how did it go?"
Kiyomasa, ever straightforward, walked closer with a calm smile. "Things went great on our side."
Nova leaned back against the wall, brushing his hair casually with his fingers. "If anything, I'd say it was easy." His tone was smug, but not overbearing—just the kind of confidence that made people roll their eyes.
Before anyone could reply, Minos stormed forward, pointing a finger at Lisa. "It's her fault."
Lisa's lips curled into a smirk, her voice sharp as glass. "Huh? Don't blame me for your incompetence, twerp."
Nova twisted around, amused. "What's up with you two now?"
Minos jabbed his thumb at Lisa. "I'm never teaming up with her again."
"Same here," Lisa said immediately, flipping her hair with a deliberate snap of her fingers.
Their bickering drew attention instantly. Nirin and Miwa appeared from behind, still deep in a cheerful conversation that felt like it belonged to another world entirely.
Jennie, gentle as ever, walked closer and tilted her head at them. "Were you with Miwa?"
Miwa nodded enthusiastically, eyes bright. "Yeah—we spent the last two hours just having fun and stuff."
Nova raised a brow, arms folded. "Fun, huh? I spent the first three hours messing around since I was alone… then I got serious and hunted them down. Easy."
Minos clicked his tongue, visibly annoyed. "Tch. Must be nice when you don't have to drag dead weight around." He shot a glare at Lisa. "I had to work extremely hard because this moron let two escape."
Lisa crossed her arms, her tone dripping with disdain. "It's your fault, twerp. Don't pin your failure on me."
Miwa quickly slipped between them, her hands raised like a referee breaking up a fight. "Okay, okay, let's all calm down now." She turned to Jennie. "You were paired up with Zazm, right?"
Jennie nodded softly, a light smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. This mission was… fun."
Nova caught the way her eyes drifted toward the far corner of the lobby and followed her gaze. Zazm stood there, silent as stone, his back straight, his hands tucked neatly in his pockets. He hadn't said a word since arriving, his presence almost ghostlike compared to the chatter filling the room.
The conversation carried on. Jokes, arguments, small bursts of laughter—it all swirled together like a living flame. Yet Zazm remained separate, as though an invisible wall surrounded him.
Ai leaned slightly against the couch, her arms folded. She noticed Nova's lingering look and spoke with a little half-smile. "Quiet as always, isn't he?"
Nova didn't answer right away. His eyes narrowed faintly, not in anger, but in thought. He tilted his head at Ai, then back at Zazm. "When did the distance increase so much, Ai?"
Ai blinked, confused at first. But then her expression softened, realization dawning. She followed Nova's gaze. Zazm looked closer than ever—only a few steps away. Yet somehow, the gap between him and everyone else felt immeasurable.
Ai exhaled slowly, her voice carrying a bittersweet edge. "It's only a few steps… yet it feels like we're standing on different edges." Her words grew quieter, but the group stilled enough to hear them.
"It's like two islands connected by a bridge. On one side, there's light—everyone standing there, smiling, happy. On the other… dark, gloomy. And it feels like Zazm's the last one to cross. Or worse… something's stopping him."
The air hung heavy for a second.
Nova sighed, shaking his head, breaking the weight with his usual grin. "Damn… you're getting poetic now it ain't that deep, Ai. Didn't think you had it in you." He turned back to the others, his smirk playful, and the chatter resumed—like the silence had never happened.
Still, Zazm didn't move. He simply stood in his corner, eyes quietly watching the others, unreadable.
Minos' voice broke through again, loud and frustrated as always. "Oh—hey, I got a message from the academy."
Nova and Miwa leaned in from opposite sides, speaking almost in unison. "What does it say?"
Minos waved the small holographic notice in front of them. "They're calling me to the principal's office."
Ai arched a brow, arms still folded. "Why?"
Minos shook his head. "Not written here."
Kiyomasa tilted his head thoughtfully. "Why just you, though?"
Nova smirked, shrugging. "He probably did something again. Let's decide that later. When's the meeting?"
"Tomorrow. After classes," Minos replied, irritation in his voice.
Miwa's tone was cheerful as ever. "Then we can do one more round before that!"
Lisa yawned, speaking. "It's night already…"
Nova tapped his chin, pretending to think deeply. "Hmm… but if we record the training properly, we can skip classes, right?"
Jennie nodded with her usual calm smile. "Yes. Should I also record it in case?"
Ai snapped her fingers, decisive. "Do that."
She turned to the group. "So? Anyone tired?"
Everyone shook their heads—energy buzzing in their eyes, even at this late hour.
Jennie clasped her hands lightly. "Then how about we do a midnight mission?"
"A midnight mission?" Kiyomasa repeated, curious.
Jennie nodded. "It says all of us will be teleported to a forest. Our task is to observe and keep an eye on enemy camps. And if possible—destroy them."
Nova barked out a laugh. "So basically late night camping while hunting bugs?"
Jennie gave a small nod. "That too. But we have to do it silently. No catching attention."
Miwa clapped her hands together excitedly.
"That sounds fun—let's do it!"
Nirin joined in immediately, his voice steady.
"I'm on board."
Lisa leaned against the wall with a half-smile.
"Camping mixed with training? Now that's actually fun."
Nova, restless as ever, walked toward the quiet corner where Zazm stood. He waved a hand, his grin wide. "Yoo—where are ya lost at?"
Zazm's eyes shifted toward him, but he didn't answer the question. Instead, his voice was cool, detached. "What are we doing?"
Nova clicked his tongue. "Tch. Couldn't just walk over when Jennie was explaining, right?" His tone carried more sourness than usual, but he still explained the mission anyway.
Zazm gave a small nod. "Got it."
Nova squinted at him. "You don't need to sleep, right?"
Zazm shook his head once. "No."
Nova chuckled. "Then we'll already have an advantage if this game comes up."
Jennie approached them with her gentle smile. "Should I start?"
Nova shrugged casually, jerking his thumb toward Zazm. "Ask the boss here."
Jennie's eyes lingered on Zazm, searching for something. He gave a short nod, nothing more.
"Alright." Jennie tapped the notice on her device. "It says it'll take a few minutes."
Nova hummed. "Makes sense. Must be a huge map this time." He turned back toward the others, calling out, "Oi, let's get ready."
Zazm started to follow when suddenly—two cold hands clamped around his face, positioning his neck perfectly for a snap. A voice whispered low against his ear.
"Don't move. Or you'll die."
Zazm's hands stayed in his pockets. His voice was calm, almost bored. "Where were you?"
The voice broke into a laugh, melodic and mocking. A moment later, the figure left his shadow and stood beside him—purple hair flowing lazily.
Zephyra stretched, looking utterly unbothered. "Was hanging out with Elziora. Then I came back to the dorms, but you weren't there. So… I came to check."
Zazm gave her a brief glance. "We're going for an all-nighter."
Zephyra walked closer to the group, listening to their chatter for a few moments before turning back. She sighed dramatically. "This is gonna be tiring."
"You can just sleep," Zazm said flatly.
Zephyra stretched her arms upward, yawning with half-lidded eyes and a small smile.
"True."
Before she could speak anything else, the entire group felt their consciousness ripple—like their minds were being plucked out of reality. The air shimmered, vision blurred, and suddenly the world around them began to dissolve.
The group appeared in the middle of a vast forest, their surroundings swallowed by darkness. The only sound was the rustle of leaves in the night breeze and the occasional chirp of unseen insects. The air was damp, carrying the earthy smell of moss and soil.
Nova let out a low whistle, tilting his head back to stare at the towering trees stretching endlessly above them. "Spooky…" he muttered, his grin betraying his unease.
Miwa instinctively reached out and grabbed Zazm's sleeve, her voice trembling. "Why is it so dark…?"
Before she could even adjust, someone bumped into her. She jumped with a startled squeak, spinning around, only to see Kiyomasa holding up his hands.
"Calm down, Miwa, it's me," he said softly, trying to reassure her.
But Miwa only clung tighter to Zazm's sleeve, her knuckles pale. "This is scary," she whispered, sticking close to him like a frightened child.
Nova squinted into the blackness. "Man… this is really dark. Can't see a damn—"
Something soft fell against him. He instinctively reached out to catch it and blinked down. "Jennie? What happened?"
Jennie was pressed against his chest, her face burning crimson. Thankfully, the pitch-black night cloaked her embarrassment from everyone else. She stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "I–I tripped…"
Before Nova could say anything else, a sharp thwack echoed.
"OW! Who hit me?" Minos rubbed the back of his head.
Ai stood calmly behind him with her arms folded, her expression flat as stone. "Why did you make her trip?"
Minos grinned, leaning closer to whisper in her ear. "I'm just helping."
Ai's lips tugged up into large smile. She whispered back, "Her reaction was totally worth it."
Minos chuckled. "Oh yeah—you can see in the dark, huh?"
While they bantered, Lisa pressed her palm against a nearby tree. "I'll use this for support," she muttered.
Nirin's voice came through the darkness.
"Where are you?"
Lisa raised her free hand until it brushed against Nirin's, guiding her toward her side.
"Here."
Nirin nodded silently, settling against the same tree with her.
Kiyomasa, standing near Zazm, exhaled. "If we could use our powers right now, I'd just…"
He snapped his fingers and lazily opened his palm.
FWOOOM.
A ball of flame exploded to life, bathing the clearing in warm orange.
The effect was immediate.
Kiyomasa went rigid, beads of sweat pouring down his face. His eyes widened so far they looked like they'd pop out of his skull. His brain shrieked on repeat: 'HOW DID THIS WORK..... I'M SCREWED.'
Miwa gasped beside him, her jaw dropping. Jennie's eyes opened so widened in absolute horror.
The others froze, terror etched into every expression.
Lisa stepped closer, eyes glittering curiously. "Wow… how are you doing this?"
Kiyomasa's neck turned slowly, jerking like rusty machinery, his horrified gaze locking onto Zazm and Miwa.
Internally, he screamed: 'HELP. SOMEONE. ANYONE.'
Nova forced a nervous laugh. "Heh, uh, Kiyo buddy… how are you doing this?"
Behind Lisa and Nirin, Ai casually raised a single hand signal—silent, subtle: Keep going.
Kiyomasa's vision blurred with tears. His heart screamed louder:
I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING SHIT, AI!!
Nirin tilted his head, stepping forward. "Is this… some kind of magic trick?"
Just before Kiyomasa could faint, Minos suddenly stepped in front, his face dark and serious. "Well… the cat's out of the bag now."
Every head whipped toward him.
Miwa hissed at Zazm, "What is this idiot doing?!"
Even Jennie, still red-faced, fell silent in shock.
Minos placed a firm hand on Kiyomasa's trembling shoulder, his eyes gleaming with fake emotion. "Kiyo… is a magician."
The forest went dead silent.
Then Minos' tone deepened, dripping with forced nostalgia. "He was famous for his tricks even back in our village. His father—Taro Saito—was a great magician, too…"
Kiyomasa's soul practically exploded. 'WHO THE HELL IS TARO SAITO?!'
But Minos kept going, voice cracking with false sentiment. "When our village was destroyed and the children lost their families… it was Taro Saito's magic that calmed all the kids down. His tricks brought hope and joy in the midst of chaos."
Nova muttered under his breath, "Where the hell is he pulling this shit out from…?"
Ai murmured back, straight-faced: "Don't stop him. Let him cook."
Miwa saluted in her head, eyes shining. 'i love you more than ever. Keep bullshitting. For once, don't stop.'
Even Zephyra was just as shocked and surprised.
Minos sniffled dramatically, wiping a tear. "Kiyo learned his father's tricks. But those memories are painful… so he doesn't speak of them."
Lisa's expression softened. "I see… it must be hard for you."
Nirin nodded gravely. "To lose everything like that…"
From behind, Nova exaggerated a secret thumbs-up gesture toward Kiyomasa.
Kiyomasa's lips trembled into the most robotic smile of his life. He nodded faintly, though inside he screamed.
Jennie quickly pulled out a wooden stick, lighting it with the flame. "Everyone use the window to get torches."
One by one, the others spawned torches from the interface until the clearing shone with orange glow, shadows writhing across the trees.
Kiyomasa clenched his fist to snuff out the flame—only to snap his hand open again, reshaping it into a fiery rose.
Nova clapped, voice breaking theatrically. "Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. It reminds me of Uncle Taro… such a good and noble man." His eyes glistened as though on the verge of tears.
Lisa nodded with a slight sadness in her eyes.
Kiyomasa raised the rose solemnly. "I'll… follow in your footsteps, Mister Taro." 'Whoever the hell you are, he added in his head.' He added in his head.
Jennie broke the farce with a sharp cough. "Alright. Enough. Let's focus on the plan."
Nova sniffled, brushing fake tears from his cheeks. He walked up to Minos and clapped him on the back, grinning cruelly. "Well done, son."
Minos smirked knowingly. "When all the kids fail, the dad steps up."
Nova gave him a light punch. "Don't get cocky now."
Nova sniffed, crouching low as the firelight flickered across his face. He dug the end of a stick into the dirt and began to sketch. "Alright, listen up. Our mission is simple: find the enemy camps. If we can, we destroy them. If not, we watch and bring the intel back."
Everyone leaned closer. The crackling torches threw shadows that stretched long across the trees.
Ai folded her arms. "Since they let us choose this mission, it means one thing. The enemies won't be ordinary. They'll be stronger than what we've faced so far."
Nova gave a curt nod. "Exactly. Which means we avoid combat unless there's no other choice."
Lisa leaned on her torch, her eyes narrowing. "So we're just playing scouts? Doesn't sound fun."
"Think of it as… survival," Nova replied, still scratching lines into the dirt. "We don't know how many are out there. So instead of moving as one big target, we'll split up."
He drew nine circles and poked three into a group. "Three teams of three. That way we cover more ground but stay balanced."
Minos tilted his head, grinning. "And if one group gets caught, the others live. Clever, huh?"
Lisa gave him a sharp look. "Not funny."
Nova ignored the jab. He tapped the first trio. "Group one: me, Minos, Jennie."
Jennie gave a soft smile, "I've got no problems."
"Well I do, I wouldn't wanna be the third wh--" but before Minos could finish Ai hit him with the back of the torch.
"Yeah he has no problem continue..." Ai spoke in the same uninterested tone.
Nova nodded slightly confused and continued.
Nova circled three more faces. "Ai, Lisa, and Nirin."
Ai gave a single nod. "Balanced. Works for me."
Lisa smirked. "I'll carry the team."
"Shut up," Nirin muttered in a friendly tone.
"And finally—" Nova tapped the last group. "Group three: Zazm, Miwa, and Kiyo."
Miwa nodded and moved closer to Zazm. "Sounds great."
Kiyomasa also moved closer to Zazm. "I am sorry for earlier Zazm....." his voice slightly guilty and sorry.
Zazm didn't reply he raised one knee and put his arm on it while quietly listening on. He spoke in a low tone, "Mistakes happen."
Kiyomasa quickly smiled, "But still it could've caused us."
Zephyra who had been dozing off earlier also quietly listened as she sat next to Zazm. "This is dragging now..."
Zazm kept looking forward his face expressionless as always.
"But you know." Zephyra spoke as she leaned her head on Zazm's shoulder. She removed her voilet stands of hair from her face with her hand.
"This guy looks and acts like a clown but he has a brain." She pointed at Nova her tone bored.
"He teamed Nirin and Lisa with Ai because first Ai wouldn't accidentally use her powers and even if she did they wouldn't be able to tell because her ability isn't like that."
A small smile appeared on her lips tho her eyes remained half opened. She looked up at Zazm by slightly moving her neck.
"Are you even listening..." She spoke in a loud tone.
'You are on my shoulder, I can hear you.'
"Oh good, so as I was saying...."
'Ofcourse Nova is smart he can handle things.'
"Yeah I can see that." Zephyra replied looking forward again.
Nova stabbed the dirt again, dragging lines outward like compass points. "Each group takes a direction. We move until we find a camp. If you do, don't engage. Hide, watch and observe them till morning."
Everyone began to rise with him, torches flaring brighter against the suffocating black of the forest. The air seemed heavier, the silence stretching long and uneasy.
Lisa tilted her head. "Which side do we take?"
Ai pointed calmly behind her. "Doesn't matter. We'll take that way."
"Then we'll go opposite," Minos declared confidently, slinging his torch over his shoulder. "I like a challenge."
Miwa immediately jumped in. "Then we're going this way!" She pointed in a completely random direction, clinging next to Zazm as of to give her authority.
Kiyomasa puffed his chest. "Fine by me. Let's move."
Zazm rose silently, Zephyra now draped lazily across his back as if he were carrying her instead of a torch.
'I already have to carry a torch.' Zazm spoke as he held the torch with one hand.
"Zazm it's better to place the torch on your back like this." Miwa turned around and showed ZaM.
Kiyomasa nodded aswell, "If you keep holding it like that your hand will get tired."
"It is fine." Zazm spoke as he raised the torch slightly up.
"But why not just put it on your back?" Miwa filter her head in confusion.
Zephyra yawned and lifted her head slightly to look at Miwa. "It is because he's carrying the mighty Zephyra and I wouldn't allow my place to be taken by a mere torch." She spoke in a high and confident voice as if Miwa could hear her.
"My back hurts...." Zazm spoke in his same emotionless way.
"Oh that makes sense...Wait let me hold it for you then..." Kiyomasa quickly tried to take the torch for him with a polite smile.
Zephyra lifted her head again but this time to stare at Zazm, "By any chance are you implying, I'm heavy?"
'Sleep or I'm gonna throw you down.'
Zephyra gave a light laugh and murmured "Like you'd ever." before putting her head down and closing her eyes slowly with a yawn. Her arms getting slightly tight.
---
The forest was deathly quiet. Even the crickets had gone silent.
The faint glow of three torches bobbed among the colossal trunks before vanishing all at once.
A translucent screen shimmered in the air before them:
[Would you like to equip the combat gear?]
Nirin tilted her head, squinting at it. "Uh… what's this supposed to mean?"
Lisa crossed her arms, thoughtful as always. "Most likely asking us to equip the training equipment we learned."
Ai stepped forward without hesitation. "Then we equip it. No point hesitating."
The three tapped [Yes]
And in an instant, their clothes melted into sleek black combat suits that clung to their forms. The fabric was strangely light, whisper-thin yet firm as armor.
From just under their collarbones, a small crystal glowed faintly, feeding tiny lines of light-blue energy that coursed through the suits like veins. Their shoes hardened into thick, durable boots that crunched against the dirt.
Ai stomped her boots twice, a grin spreading across her lips. "Huh. I expected this to be itchy, body-tight nonsense. But it's actually… really comfortable."
Lisa smoothed the gloves along her palms. "Surprisingly breathable. Loose in the right places. I don't even feel restricted."
Nirin flexed her fingers, eyes wide. "Even the gloves fit perfectly! These are awesome."
Ai tilted her head back, the faint glow from her neck crystal reflecting in her eyes. "Then let's really test them. No reason to waste time walking—we can just move through the trees."
Lisa frowned slightly. "Wouldn't that expose us? These crystals glow… even if faint, it's still light in a forest this dark."
Ai smirked knowingly. "Check the inventory."
At her words, both Lisa and Nirin opened theirs—and sure enough, among the slots rested an item:
A cloak.
They tapped it, and with a ripple of shadow, heavy cloaks wrapped over their suits, hoods dropping down to their brows. The cloaks were pitch-black, swallowing even the faint blue glow. A thin mask unfolded from the hood, covering their lower faces.
Nirin twirled in place, cloak flaring. "This is just wonderful."
Ai drove her torch into the dirt, killing the flame.
Lisa blinked. "Why'd you—"
"No need," Ai interrupted smoothly, her voice muffled under the mask. "The suits have night vision built in. Use your eyes."
Nirin tested hers and her eyes shined slightly and gasped softly. "Oh… it's like everything's tinted, but brighter."
Lisa extinguished her torch too, the last ember dying into ash.
The three stood cloaked, masks and hoods on, like silent hunters of the night.
Ai tugged her hood lower, and as she did, the cloak reshaped itself—tailoring perfectly to her frame. She stretched the mask across her face, voice steady. "Masks are necessary. Dirt, smoke, whatever—we won't breathe it in."
Lisa nodded, practical as always. "Fair point."
Without another word, Ai bent her knees and leapt. Her boots landed softly against a thick branch, her cloak barely stirring. She pushed off again, climbing higher into the canopy. The others followed, cautious at first—until they realized how natural it felt.
The boots gripped bark like suction, and soon they were darting from trunk to trunk, their cloaks blending with the forest's darkness. To any observer, they'd look like faint shadows flitting between branches.
For a few minutes, only the rustling of leaves and their faint breaths filled the night.
Until Ai stopped abruptly on a thick branch, hand raised.
"Did you hear that?" she whispered.
Lisa balanced beside her. "Hear what?"
Nirin landed lightly on another branch, ears straining. "If anything, it's… too quiet—"
A sudden blur lashed out from the shadows—straight for Nirin.
Her eyes widened, too slow to react—
Ai appeared in front of her in a flash, her right hand glowing as a translucent purple shield materialized. The strike slammed into it, sending sparks across the dark. The shield absorbed the blow and rippled like water before vanishing.
Nirin's daggers shimmered into her hands, her eyes narrowing.
Lisa unsheathed her glowing energy sword in one hand, stance firm.
Ai drew hers too, her violet shield hovering protectively on her left arm. "Stay sharp."
The figure leapt down into faint moonlight, cloak fluttering. Its hood fell back, revealing the face of a man twisted with hostility.
"An enemy?" Nirin spat.
Ai lunged forward immediately, blade flashing. The remnant raised its arm—shards of water burst from his palm, hissing through the air.
Two clanged against Ai's shield, splintering into droplets. But one grazed her arm, tearing a shallow cut through the suit. She hissed, eyes narrowing, before she rammed her blade through the man's chest. His body collapsed, cloak spilling around him.
"Stay alert," Ai muttered, wiping the blade clean. "If there's one—"
Lisa's eyes shot up. "There are more. But… they're running."
"Running?" Ai's mind raced before the realization struck. Her voice sharpened.
"They're heading for the camp to warn the others! Don't let them escape!"
Nirin launched herself off a branch, chasing the shadows. Lisa and Ai followed, cloaks flaring behind them.
The remnants darted like animals through the trees, their cloaks blending with darkness. Ai and her group gained on them—until one suddenly twisted back.
Its arms writhed and expanded grotesquely, stretching like tentacles. In a whip-like strike, they coiled around Nirin, dragging her screaming into the darkness.
"Nirin!" Lisa shouted, starting forward.
But Nirin's voice echoed back, fierce despite the struggle: "Don't worry about me—keep moving!"
Ai grit her teeth, snapping her gaze to Lisa. "She'll hold out. We stop the others."
Lisa cursed under her breath but nodded, doubling her speed.
A sword gleamed suddenly in Ai's path. She caught it by reflex, steel crashing against steel with a sharp clang that rattled through her arms. Sparks burst in the dark as their blades locked.
Ai used the pressure to jump slightly back, the remnant quickly jumped towards her, Ai parried his sword and kicked him in the gut followed up with a straight strike.
The remnant used the momentum to leap back, then suddenly inhaled sharply. His chest expanded—and a torrent of fire roared from his mouth.
The flames surged, engulfing Ai's vision. She raised her shield just in time, the purple barrier flaring and cocooning her whole body. Fire rolled past her, heat licking at her arms through the shimmer. She coughed through the smoke but didn't retreat—she charged forward, bursting through the flames with narrowed eyes.
Her sword slashed down in a vertical arc. The remnant caught it, steel shrieking against steel.
Their blades locked again, teeth-gritting force pushing against one another. He shoved her back and swung low; she parried, sparks flying as their swords ground together. Ai stepped inside his guard, driving her knee toward his gut. He twisted aside, countering with a slash aimed at her ribs.
She dropped her weight, ducking beneath the arc, then snapped her blade upward in a rising strike. The remnant blocked, their swords clashing inches from their faces. Both fighters shoved with raw strength until the lock broke, sending them staggering back a step.
The remnant roared and lunged again, his blade a silver blur. Ai met him stroke for stroke—parry, riposte, sidestep, counter. Their feet shuffled and twisted in the dirt, every movement sharp and precise. Sparks erupted with every clash, the rhythm of combat like a violent drumbeat in the night.
He slashed at her head; she ducked, spinning low before snapping her sword toward his thigh. He deflected, their blades scraping so close the vibration sang through her bones.
The remnant tried to overwhelm her with a flurry—high, low, then a feint to the side. Ai matched him, her motions cold and exact, her face unreadable as her sword met his again and again.
Lisa landed beside Ai—but before she could even raise her sword, a spear swept low at her legs. Instinct flared; she vaulted backward, flipping as the ground split open where she'd just stood, fire spiraling up from the spear's path.
Her boots hit the dirt, heat licking at her ankles. Her eyes widened. "What the—?"
The remnant spun his weapon in a wide arc, the spear's shaft igniting with whirling flames until it became a blazing wheel of fire. It hissed upward, lashing toward her like a whip.
Lisa gritted her teeth and dashed forward instead of retreating. Timing it to the spin, she planted a boot on the burning shaft itself and kicked off with a sharp pivot. Her momentum carried her upward, cloak snapping behind her. She twisted in midair and drove her heel across the remnant's jaw.
Crack. He stumbled sideways, teeth gritted, growl rumbling as sparks scattered off his spear. Snarling, he lunged again, spinning the flaming weapon in vicious arcs.
Lisa dropped low, sliding under one sweep, then rolled aside as the spearhead stabbed down where her chest had been a heartbeat earlier. The ground exploded into sparks and fire.
Her sword flashed out in return, steel ringing against the shaft. The impact jolted through her arms. Sparks danced between them as she pressed, but he shoved back with brute strength, forcing her to skid in the dirt.
She glanced sideways through the clash. Ai was still trading blow for blow with her own opponent, her shield and blade catching bursts of fire, both fighters locked in a furious rhythm.
And just beyond them—Lisa's sharp eyes caught it—a third remnant, the runner, already darting deeper into the forest.
"Tch." She bared her teeth and twisted aside as another spear thrust carved the air where she'd been standing.
Then—without hesitation—she moved. She deliberately stepped in front of Ai, intercepting the downward strike Ai had been about to block. The clang rang like thunder.
Ai's head snapped toward her, furious. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Lisa's voice was sharp, commanding. "The last one! Don't let it escape!"
Ai's eyes narrowed, but she didn't argue. She twisted, crouched, and then launched upward into the canopy. Branches whipped aside as she vanished into the treeline, pursuit swift and silent.
The spear remnant snarled, eyes snapping after Ai. He spun, fire roaring up his weapon, and leapt to give chase—
But a shadow lashed out.
Lisa's arm whipped forward, a black whip snapping through the air. It cracked like thunder as it wrapped tight around his torso. The whip glowed faintly, energy pulsing through it, and with a vicious yank, Lisa slammed him face-first into the dirt.
The ground shook with the impact. He writhed, growling, struggling as fire still flickered around his weapon, but the whips bit deep, sparking with power. His muscles locked against the current, his movements stuttering and breaking.
Lisa's lips curved in a sharp smirk beneath her hood. "Gotcha."
Her gaze slid to the sword-wielding remnant still circling nearby, hungry for another strike. She raised her blade in her free hand, cloak billowing with the heat.
Lisa muttered, eyes hard. "Guess it's just you and me now."
She chuckled lightly as she opened her shield.
'This feels so damn real, I'm scared I might really die right now.'
"It's my first time being alone with a boy please go easy on me."
And in the distance above, Ai's figure flickered from branch to branch, the forest swallowing her silhouette as she hunted down the final shadow before it could reach the enemy camp.
Ai darted through the canopy, eyes locked on the faint flicker of movement ahead. The remnant was already far—too far. Her jaw tightened, frustration flaring.
"This isn't enough…" she muttered, her fists clenching.
She slid her sword and shield onto her back, instead raising her hands. With a click of her wrists, thin, metallic whips uncoiled from the special gloves strapped to her forearms, hissing faintly with energy.
Ai flicked one forward. Crack! The whip coiled tightly around a thick branch, snapping taut. She swung, momentum carrying her forward. A second whip lashed out, catching another branch—and for the first time she vaulted between them like a pendulum, propelling herself faster.
But she could feel it—the speed wasn't enough. The remnant's shadow was still slipping away.
"Tch… come on," she hissed, her voice tight, "just adapt already."
She cracked the next whip, and this time something clicked. Her body moved smoother, instinct sharper, as though she'd already done this a hundred times. She let the air-boosting burst from her boots fire at the exact moment her whip yanked her forward. The result was explosive.
FWOOOSH!
Her speed tripled in an instant, branches blurring past, her cloak snapping like a banner in the wind. Ai's lips curved into a fierce grin.
"I really do have an insane ability."
The distance collapsed. Within moments, she was behind the fleeing remnant. His ears twitched at the sudden rush of air—too late. A whip cracked across the clearing, coiling around his torso. With a savage pull, Ai yanked him straight off his feet.
THUD!
He hit the dirt hard, rolling in a spray of leaves and soil. Ai landed in front of him in the same breath, her boots digging deep into the earth, whip retracting with a metallic snap.
Neither had time to recover.
The remnant snarled, dual blades flashing out in a silver blur. Ai's sword was already in her hand, her shield strapped across her arm.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Steel shrieked as her blade caught both of his in a lightning-fast exchange. Sparks lit the darkness as the two pressed, broke apart, then re-engaged in the same heartbeat.
He swung left—Ai ducked low, her blade skimming upward to deflect the second strike. His boot lashed out, forcing her to block with her shield, the impact reverberating through her arm. She pivoted, twisting her body just in time as one of his blades sliced across her cloak, missing flesh by inches.
They disengaged, boots scraping against the earth. Both stood still for only a breath, chests rising with controlled rhythm, before launching forward again.
This time Ai pressed. Her sword cut diagonally, forcing him to raise one blade in defense. The second she felt the contact, she twisted, letting her whip snap from her glove to coil around his second weapon. With a yank, she disrupted his stance—enough to force him back two steps.
But the remnant was skilled. He wrenched his blade free, spinning with a reverse slash that whistled toward her throat. Ai ducked, boots firing a burst that shot her under the strike. She slashed upward as she rose, sparks flying as he just barely caught her blade with his second sword.
Their weapons locked, faces inches apart, both glaring fiercely.
Ai's mind sharpened, assessing his pressure, his technique. 'The ones before were 2-star… maybe 3-star. But this one… is definitely 1-starand he isn't even using his ability.'
A thrill lit in her chest, and her lips curved into a dangerous smirk.
"Perfect," she said, voice rising, steady and resolute. "Let's test my training… by throwing my life on the line!"
She shoved him off and launched forward again, her sword a streak of silver. The remnant roared, dual blades crossing as he lunged to meet her head-on.
Steel rang like thunder in the night as their clash ignited the forest clearing.
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