Airi hovered in the air, a dark aura surrounding her body. Her eyes and mouth were still pale white, like a terrifying mask. The meteor and fire serpent had already been destroyed, and the lava was slowly cooling, but her presence remained deeply unsettling.
Nova quickly stepped forward and began casting a binding spell. Bright magic circles spun rapidly, forming chains of light that attempted to restrain Airi.
"Now… I'll stop you!" Nova shouted.
But Airi easily rejected the spell. The chains shattered instantly, unable to withstand the overwhelming dark power flowing through her.
"What… it didn't work?" Nova said in shock, staring at the broken chains.
Arou stepped forward, his voice loud and emotional. "Airi! Snap out of it! I don't want to fight you! You're my friend!" he shouted, trying to reach her through the dark aura.
---
Suddenly, Airi's expression began to change. The darkness slowly faded. Her pale eyes and mouth returned to normal.
But what remained was clear—her left eye was injured, and her left arm had been severed from her previous battle with Scarlet.
Airi immediately lowered her head, her voice trembling.
"I'm sorry… I… I didn't mean to attack you all…"
---
The sky, which had been dark moments ago, slowly brightened again. Sunlight broke through the clouds, bathing the hill in warm light. Dust and remaining lava swirled gently, creating a peaceful atmosphere that contrasted the chaos before.
Arou, Nova, Haru, and Tomo stared at Airi, still shaken.
"Airi… your eye… your arm…" Arou said quietly, struggling with his emotions.
Haru and Tomo exchanged glances, unable to speak. They knew their friend had gone through something unimaginable—and now stood before them, injured but alive.
Airi lowered her head again, holding back tears.
"I'm sorry… for scaring you all… I promise I'll become stronger, and I won't let something like this happen again."
Nova looked at her softly.
"What matters… is that you came back. That's enough."
Arou placed a hand on her shoulder and gave a small, warm smile.
"You did great, Airi. But don't carry everything alone. We're here for you."
---
The sky was clear, the wind gentle. The tension from the battlefield slowly disappeared.
That day, it wasn't just the defeat of the Demon King that ended—but also Airi finding her way back to herself, even if marked by the scars of battle.
---
The air was fresh again. The battlefield had cooled down, leaving behind a damaged but peaceful landscape.
Nova stood in front of Airi and began casting a healing spell. A soft blue light wrapped around her injured eye and missing arm. Energy flowed gently, restoring her body—her arm slowly regenerated, and her left eye returned to normal sight.
Arou let out a sigh of relief.
"Good… you're healed, Airi."
Airi moved her hand and blinked in surprise.
"I… I can see again… and my arm… it's back?!"
Nova smiled gently.
"What matters is that you're whole again. Just don't push yourself too far."
---
Soon, villagers who had been hiding in fear began to appear from the nearby village. They gathered around, cheering and thanking them.
"Thank you… for defeating the Demon King!" one of them shouted. "We were too afraid to even leave our homes!"
Nova shook her head and smiled.
"Don't thank me. Thank her…" she said, pointing at Airi.
"She's the one who defeated Scarlet."
Airi looked embarrassed and lowered her head slightly.
Suddenly, an old woman approached from the crowd. Airi noticed her and blinked.
"Eh… grandma?"
The old woman lightly tapped Airi's head.
"Ouch!" Airi flinched.
"You reckless girl," the woman said, pulling her into a hug. "You don't understand what you did… it could've killed you. But you still stood up. You're amazing."
Airi's eyes softened, slightly teary as she smiled.
"Thank you… grandma…"
---
Haru and Tomo watched the scene, impressed.
"She's really a true hero…" Tomo murmured.
Arou stood beside Airi, smiling faintly.
"Today, you didn't just fight a Demon King… you protected everyone. That's what matters most."
---
The battlefield was now calm. Only the sounds of grateful villagers, chirping birds, and a soft breeze remained.
The village that once lived in fear was now filled with joy. People walked freely again, smiling and preparing a small celebration.
In the middle of it all, Airi sat with Arou, Nova, Haru, and Tomo. Her body was fully restored, and her golden-thread aura was now calm—no longer wild, but controlled.
A small child ran up and handed her a flower.
"Thank you, big sister! You saved our village!"
Airi smiled warmly and accepted it.
"Thank you… I just did what I had to do."
---
Haru and Tomo sat nearby, still amazed.
"I didn't think Airi could defeat a Demon King alone…" Haru said.
Tomo nodded.
"And even after being seriously injured… she still stood back up…"
Arou smiled at them.
"Strength isn't just power. It's courage, calmness, and teamwork. You should learn from what you saw today."
Nova added softly,
"True strength also means controlling overwhelming power. That's what makes Airi different."
---
As the sun began to set, the wind grew gentle and warm.
Airi looked up at the sky and smiled faintly.
"I promise… I will keep protecting my friends, this village, and the world we cherish."