The forest trembled.

  A deafening roar ripped through the trees as the Lightning Bear burst from the shadows like a living storm. Its massive body crackled with arcs of blue electricity, fur standing upright as thunder crawled across its skin.

  It didn’t hesitate.

  It charged straight at Serena.

  “Kaito—!”

  “I see it!”

  The ground beneath the monster exploded upward.

  “Earth Spike!”

  Jagged stone pillars erupted from the soil in a violent chain, stabbing toward the charging beast. The spikes slammed into its chest and legs—

  —and shattered instantly.

  The Lightning Bear plowed through the stone like it was brittle glass.

  Serena lifted her staff without missing a beat.

  “Wind Cannon!”

  Compressed air blasted forward like an invisible hammer. The force struck the monster head-on, pushing against its momentum just enough to slow its charge.

  “Split!” Kaito shouted.

  Both of them dashed in opposite directions.

  Kaito slid across the forest floor and thrust his hand forward. Flames spiraled violently around his arm, compressing and sharpening into the shape of a massive spear.

  “Fire Spear!”

  He hurled it with everything he had.

  The blazing weapon screamed through the air and pierced the Lightning Bear’s right leg in a burst of fire and sparks.

  The beast roared in pain.

  “Now, Serena!”

  “Wind Cutter!”

  Dozens of razor-thin blades of wind slashed across the monster’s body. Lines of shallow cuts appeared across its fur, blood spraying into the air.

  But the creature didn’t fall.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Instead, its eyes burned brighter.

  And it charged again.

  Straight at Serena.

  “Too fast—!”

  She slammed her staff downward.

  “Sky Dash!”

  A burst of wind exploded beneath her feet, launching her into the air. In a blink, she shot past the charging beast and reappeared behind Kaito.

  Kaito was already chanting.

  The sky above the forest darkened.

  A massive magic circle ignited high in the heavens.

  Serena’s eyes widened.

  “You’re casting that already?!”

  Kaito pointed upward.

  “Meteor Fall!”

  A flaming star tore through the clouds.

  The Lightning Bear noticed too late.

  The meteor crashed into the forest with apocalyptic force.

  BOOOOOOM.

  The world became fire.

  The ground shook violently. Trees snapped like twigs. A shockwave blasted outward, flattening everything in its path.

  Serena threw her arms forward.

  “Wind Shield!”

  A barrier of swirling air wrapped around them as the explosion roared past.

  Silence followed.

  Ash drifted through the air like snow.

  Kaito exhaled heavily and gave a tired smile.

  “We… actually did it. That took a lot of effort.”

  Serena smiled back softly.

  “You did it well, Kaito-kun.”

  Then—

  A roar exploded from the crater.

  Thunder burst upward like a lightning pillar.

  Both of them froze.

  “That… impossible.”

  The Lightning Bear climbed out of the crater.

  Burned. Bleeding. Furious.

  And glowing brighter than before.

  Serena tightened her grip on her staff.

  “At least C-Rank… This won’t be easy.”

  Kaito clenched his fists.

  “I’ll cast one last spell. I need time.”

  Serena stepped forward.

  “I’ll hold it.”

  Kaito nodded.

  “Make it quick… please.”

  She smiled.

  “I’ll try my best.”

  The ground froze instantly.

  “Frost Dominio”

  A blizzard erupted from Serena’s body. Frost swallowed the forest in seconds, freezing the Lightning Bear in a massive prison of ice.

  For one moment…

  Everything stood still.

  CRACK.

  Lightning burst from inside the ice.

  The prison shattered.

  The monster charged again.

  Serena didn’t retreat.

  She raised her staff toward the sky.

  Dark clouds spiraled overhead.

  “Thunder Storm!”

  Lightning rained down like divine punishment. Bolts struck the bear again and again, carving deep wounds across its body. Blood sprayed across the frozen ground.

  Still it walked forward.

  Step by step.

  Through the storm.

  Behind her, Kaito finished his chant.

  A massive crimson sphere hovered above his hands, pulsing like a miniature sun.

  “Serena! Move away!”

  She shook her head.

  “If I move… it might dodge. Do it!”

  His eyes widened.

  “…Please be safe.”

  He thrust his hands forward.

  “CRIMSON EXPLOSION!”

  The blazing sphere shot forward and swallowed the Lightning Bear.

  The explosion that followed dwarfed everything before it.

  A sun bloomed inside the forest.

  Serena raised an ice wall in desperation—

  The wall cracked instantly.

  The blast slammed into her body and threw her backward.

  Her vision faded.

  “Kaito… kun…”

  Darkness.

  “SERENA!!”

  Kaito sprinted forward and cast—

  “Mountain Shield!”

  A wall of stone erupted between Serena and the inferno. He caught her in his arms as the shockwave tore past them.

  Tears filled his eyes as he looked back toward the burning forest.

  He raised his trembling hand.

  “Frost Nova.”

  A wave of ice spread across the land, freezing the flames before they could consume the forest.

  Then gentle rain began to fall.

  “Healing Rain…”

  Warm droplets soaked their wounds.

  Kaito looked down at Serena’s unconscious face.

  Relief flooded him.

  His vision blurred.

  His legs gave out.

  The last thing he saw… was the frozen crater of the fallen monster.

  And then—

  Darkness.