The rooftop battlefield had turned into a wasteland of cracked tiles and shattered railings. Dust drifted through the air as the Malwisp staggered back, its glowing orbs flickering violently from the damage Serena and Yuma had inflicted.
But it wasn't finished.
The creature shrieked, its two long tentacles snapping forward like whips. Its massive clawed arm lifted high, gathering energy as the defensive orbs around its body began spinning faster.
Stud hovered nervously in the air.
"Oh no… oh no no no… that's not good."
Yuma tightened his grip on the steel bar still faintly glowing with Stud's energy.
"What is it doing?!"
"It's building up a counterattack!" Stud squeaked. "Move! MOVE!"
The Malwisp slammed its claw down.
The shockwave raced across the rooftop like an invisible blade.
Yuma froze for half a second—just long enough to realize the attack was aimed directly at him.
Too fast.
Too late.
"Yuma!"
Serena suddenly shoved him with all her strength.
The impact knocked him sideways just as the energy wave struck.
BOOM.
Serena took the hit instead.
Her body slammed into the rooftop railing, the metal snapping apart as she was launched backward into open air.
"SERENA!"
For a split second, time seemed to stop.
Her glasses glinted in the sunlight as she fell.
Then Yuma moved.
Without thinking.
He sprinted and dove off the rooftop.
Wind roared past his ears as he reached for her.
"Got you!"
His arms wrapped around Serena midair.
But gravity was unforgiving.
They were falling straight toward the side of the school building.
"Hold on!" Yuma shouted.
Serena winced, barely conscious.
"You idiot… why did you jump…"
Yuma twisted his body just before impact.
CRASH!
They smashed through a classroom window on the upper floor of the adjacent school building.
Glass exploded everywhere as the two crashed across the classroom floor, desks and chairs scattering violently.
The room fell silent except for the sound of shattered glass sliding across the tiles.
Yuma groaned, trying to push himself up.
Pain shot through his ribs.
"…That… hurt…"
Serena lay beside him, breathing heavily.
She tried to stand—
—but her legs buckled immediately.
"Ah…!"
She collapsed back down.
Yuma crawled toward her.
"Serena!"
"I'm fine…" she muttered weakly, clearly lying.
Her arm trembled when she tried to move it.
Yuma realized quickly.
She couldn't stand.
The impact and the earlier attack had injured her badly.
Meanwhile, Yuma himself could barely remain on his feet.
His legs shook as he slowly stood.
"You stay down."
Serena frowned.
"Yuma… don't…"
Then the sound came.
CRUNCH.
Something was crawling through the broken window.
The Malwisp.
Its massive clawed arms dragged against the floor as it forced its armored body through the shattered frame. Its glowing orbs pulsed slowly, like a predator that had finally cornered its prey.
Stud floated in through the broken window after it, panicking.
"Oh this is bad—this is REALLY bad!"
The Malwisp's glowing eyes locked onto Serena.
It began moving toward her.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Yuma stepped forward.
His legs trembled, but he didn't move aside.
"Hey!"
The Malwisp paused.
Yuma lifted the steel bar again, gripping it tightly despite his shaking arms.
"This fight…"
His voice was hoarse, but determined.
"…is with me now."
The creature hissed, its tentacles twitching.
Yuma pointed the bar at it.
"Leave Serena out of it."
Behind him, Serena tried to push herself up again.
"Yuma… stop… you can't—"
Yuma didn't look back.
"Just stay down."
The Malwisp lunged.
Yuma swung the bar with everything he had left.
CLANG.
The blow barely staggered the creature.
Stud floated nervously near Yuma's shoulder.
"Kid… I hate to say this…"
"…but you're in serious trouble."
Yuma tightened his grip.
Blood dripped from his arm onto the floor.
"Yeah," he said quietly.
"But I'm not letting it touch her again."
The Malwisp raised its claws.
The classroom shook as the next attack began.
And this time—
Yuma stood alone between Serena and the monster.