"Ur Fura!"
A blinding green light burst from Ram's palms as a sharp wind blade tore through the air, heading straight toward the giant Wolgarm's vital point. Horrifyingly, the Wolgarm revealed a humanlike sneer. It neither dodged nor retreated. Instead, its thick right claw swept forward with tremendous force, shattering the wind blade into scattered currents of air.
"Die!"
Ram's roar echoed throughout the forest again. A second wind blade, even more condensed and powerful, whistled forward. This time, the Wolgarm slammed its front claws heavily into the ground. With a rumbling sound, a three-meter-high earthen wall rose from the soil. The wind blade exploded upon impact, carving countless cracks across the surface of the wall as debris and dust scattered everywhere.
"Cough!"
Ram suppressed the taste of blood rising in her throat and immediately tried to condense her magic again the moment the earthen wall collapsed. However, her overexerted body had already reached its limit. A mouthful of fresh blood spilled from her lips, and the magic gathering in her hand instantly dissipated.
She clutched the magic tool tightly. The stored mana that Carlisle had left within it poured out like water bursting from a broken dam. The marble-shaped device flashed rapidly.
Ram crashed to her knees, sweat dripping from her chin. Every breath she took was accompanied by searing pain.
"It's not… over."
Ram forced herself to stand again, trembling. A faint green glow flickered weakly in her palm. She spat out a mouthful of bloody before pushing forward, her legs propelling her into a sudden charge toward the giant Wolgarm.
Two ordinary Wolgarm lunged from both sides. Their claws and fangs aimed straight for her vital points.
"Get lost!"
The claws of the Wolgarm on her left grazed Ram's shoulder, instantly soaking her clothes with blood. She ducked low as the wind blade in her right hand carved a sharp arc through the air, slicing open the throat of the second beast with precision.
Hot blood from the demonic beast splashed across her face, carrying a nauseating stench.
Without hesitation, Ram used her forward momentum and aimed the wind blade directly at the large Wolgarm's head. The green light cut through the air with a piercing whistle.
However
Boom!
The Wolgarm's massive claw struck even faster. Ram did not even have time to defend herself before a violent pain shot through her chest. Her body was sent flying backward like a kite with its string cut.
"Senpai!"
Subaru shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. Her body, enhanced by magic, burst with astonishing jumping power. She caught Ram's flying body in midair, and the two of them crashed heavily onto the ground.
"Senpai, are you alright?"
"I can still… fight!"
Ram gritted her teeth as veins bulged on her forehead, struggling with all her strength to push herself up. But her limbs felt as heavy as lead. No matter how she tried, she could not move even an inch.
Cold sweat mixed with blood dripped from her chin, forming small dark pits in the muddy ground.
"What a joke… why now of all times!"
Her trembling fingers tightened around the magic tool, desperately trying to draw out the final traces of mana within it.
But the marble had already gone completely dark.
Carlisle's stored mana had been fully exhausted.
Ram released an unwilling growl from deep in her throat.
In the distance, the heavy footsteps of the Wolgarm slowly approached.
The giant Wolgarm released a deafening roar as its towering three-meter body lunged forward. Its metallic claws slashed through the air, unleashing five deadly streaks of cold light aimed directly at their throats.
Subaru quickly reached out and supported Ram's shoulder. Her magic-enhanced body tightened to its absolute limit.
At the moment the claws were about to reach their necks, Subaru lifted both of them into the air.
Swoosh.
The sharp claw tips grazed Subaru's skirt, tearing several long rips into the fabric. The two of them arced through the air before landing heavily in an open space three meters away.
Subaru dropped to one knee to absorb the impact while her other arm still supported the nearly unconscious Ram.
She carefully placed Ram beneath a nearby tree. Through the torn fabric of the pink-haired girl's clothes, savage claw marks could clearly be seen.
Subaru slowly stood up and turned to face the colossal beast.
Ten steps away, the Wolgarm tilted its head as it observed them. A playful glint flickered within its crimson vertical pupils. It deliberately scraped its claws against the gravel on the ground while a low gurgling sound emerged from its throat.
Subaru understood immediately.
This monster was enjoying itself.
It was savoring this cruel game of cat and mouse.
"Don't… don't be afraid. Don't be afraid."
Subaru took a deep breath.
The giant Wolgarm standing before her was most likely the origin of the curse. It was the creature that had pushed Carlisle to the brink of death.
The thought that the knight who always carried such a gentle smile might disappear forever stabbed painfully into Subaru's chest.
She crouched down and carefully pried open Ram's tightly clenched fingers, taking out the now dim magic tool. Her fingertips trembled as she placed it into the groove of the necklace hanging around her neck.
"Yin Sealing Technique!"
As the incantation was spoken, a translucent barrier rose up, surrounding Ram and the children.
"Senpai, let me handle this."
"Before you collapse completely… never call for help."
"No! How could you possibly!"
Ram tried to stand, but the barrier blocked her.
"Please!"
Subaru suddenly raised her voice. Her plea was choked with emotion.
She gently touched the necklace with trembling fingers.
"Carlisle…" she whispered softly.
"We… have to survive together."
Those final words instantly filled Ram's eyes with tears inside the barrier.
Subaru slowly straightened her body and faced the hideous giant beast alone.
She felt the remaining mana circulating through her body. Gathering the mana into her limbs, her body immediately became lighter.
As the Wolgarm's claws sliced through the air toward her again and again, Subaru moved lightly like a falling leaf, barely evading the deadly claws each time.
"Ha… ha…"
Her breathing grew uneven as sweat ran down her cheeks.
The cunning Wolgarm clearly had no intention of ending the battle quickly. Instead, it seemed to enjoy the thrill of hunting, slowly driving her toward despair.
Cruel amusement flickered within its crimson eye.
The surrounding pack of Wolgarm silently formed a circle around them, watching the bloody spectacle like an audience.
Subaru forced herself to calm down, her gaze fixed firmly on every movement the Wolgarm made.
When the beast swung its claw again, she suddenly noticed a flaw in its movement.
"El Minya!"
A purple crystal arrow shot from her fingertips, striking directly into the Wolgarm's left eye.
Blood burst outward as the Wolgarm released a thunderous roar, stumbling backward several steps.
"Now!"
Subaru quickly began forming a second arrow as purple mana swirled in her palm.
But at that critical moment, a dark shadow lunged from the side.
A sudden chill brushed against her neck.
Sharp canine fangs pierced her skin.
Bang!
"May the spirit of magic shelter you."
The defensive magic activated automatically, violently repelling the attacking Wolgarm.
However, the sudden interruption caused her arrow to miss its intended target. It only left a shallow cut across the Wolgarm's neck.
"Damn it…"
The thought had barely crossed her mind when a massive shadow fell over her.
The enraged Wolgarm slammed into her with tremendous force. Her body flew through the air like a rag doll before crashing violently into a tree trunk.
"Cough…!"
Blood burst from her mouth as the world spun violently around her.
She struggled to stand, but even lifting her arm felt impossibly difficult.
The Wolgarm's footsteps grew closer.
The shadow of death slowly descended.
"How could this be…"
She desperately tried to lift her body.
But every movement was met with unbearable pain. Every bone in her body screamed in protest.
Her arm trembled violently, unable to support her weight.
"It hurts… it hurts so much… but I can't fall yet…"
Subaru clenched her teeth, struggling to stay conscious.
But the Wolgarm had no intention of giving her the chance.
It released a deep growl as its massive claw rose high into the air, slicing through the wind before crashing down toward the girl lying on the ground.
Bang!
Subaru's body was struck again and slammed against the ground.
Her consciousness began to fade.
The world before her eyes slowly blurred into a pale mist.
Her fingers weakly clawed at the soil, trying to grasp something, but only cold mud filled her hands.
"Why… am I so useless…"
The despairing thought echoed endlessly in her mind.
She hated her own weakness.
She hated herself for being unable to protect the people who mattered to her.
She forced her eyes open.
Through her blurred vision, she saw the monster standing before her.
Its enormous body loomed over her.
Its eyes burned with furious rage.
It slowly approached her and opened its enormous jaws. Its sharp fangs glinted coldly beneath the moonlight.
"No! Subaru!"
Ram stood frozen, her heart feeling as if it were being torn apart.
The barrier of the Yin Sealing Technique flickered weakly, its light gradually fading as Subaru's life seemed to slip away.
Ram felt as though an invisible hand were choking her throat, making every breath painfully difficult.
Carlisle's final words echoed again and again inside her mind.
"Never push yourself too far. You must call for my help. Please."
Call for help?
If she called him, what would happen?
What would Carlisle do?
What price would that man pay, the man who was willing to descend into hell for the sake of her sister?
Ram's throat felt blocked as her breathing grew heavy.
She did not want Carlisle to carry any more burdens.
But the situation had already spiraled completely out of control.
"No… I can't…"
Ram's voice trembled as the conflict within her nearly tore her apart.
But at the exact moment the Yin Sealing Technique finally shattered, Ram's sanity collapsed along with it.
She could no longer endure the crushing guilt.
She could no longer face everything alone.
Her voice erupted from the depths of her throat, filled with despair and helplessness, echoing across the night sky.
"Carlisle… help!"
...
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