The cave was a tomb of silence, the sealed wall a cruel monument to Renjiro's fall. The air hung heavy with the stench of blood and ash, the monster's mocking laughter the only sound piercing the suffocating quiet. Selena knelt on the cold stone floor, her silver hair falling over her face as she clutched the ground, her body trembling. Haruto stood frozen, his mind unable to process the reality of Renjiro's absence, his hands limp at his sides. Himari's eyes were wide, unblinking, her face a mask of disbelief. The group's hearts pounded in unison, each beat echoing the unbearable truth: Renjiro was gone.
Suddenly, Yuki leaped behind the monster, her fiery sword swinging toward its neck in a blazing arc. The creature ducked low, its movements unnaturally fluid, and kicked backward without looking, striking Yuki's stomach with a brutal thud. She flew several feet, crashing to the ground, blood pouring from a gash on her head. Takeshi charged from the front, his sword infused with roaring flames, launching a devastating fire attack that pierced the ground and engulfed the monster's position. Smoke billowed, filling the cave with choking haze, the heat searing the air.
Yuki staggered to her feet, blood dripping down her face, her vision clouded by the smoke. "Does that thing… is it still alive?" she gasped, her voice trembling.
Takeshi's expression was grim, his bandaged arm shaking as he gripped his sword. "Nope. Didn't give it much damage," he said, his voice low.
The monster cleared the smoke with a single swing of its massive palm, its bulging eyes gleaming with sadistic glee. "Kekekeke!" it cackled, its voice a grating rasp that clawed at their nerves. "What are you going to do? That silver-hair kid is gone! You all still think you can win against me? Kekeke!" Its saliva dripped to the ground, pooling in glistening puddles, its jagged fangs bared in a grotesque grin.
The ground cracked violently, a massive spike erupting from below, piercing the monster's chest with a wet crunch. Reina's voice rang out, desperate and commanding. "Now, Yuki, Takeshi! It's our chance!"
Yuki and Takeshi dashed forward, their movements synchronized. Yuki's eyes burned with cold determination as she unleashed her ultimate technique: Blades of Five Horizons.
First Movement – "Rending Arc"
Her sword slashed diagonally from left to right, fast enough to split the air with a piercing whistle. The strike carved across the monster's torso in a single, fluid motion, the cut so precise that blood didn't spray immediately. The creature staggered, its stance broken, confusion flickering in its bulging eyes.
Second Movement – "Cross of Ruin"
Before the monster could react, Yuki reversed her grip, her blade slashing back from right to left, intersecting the first wound in a burning X. The creature gasped, its breath stolen, its limbs trembling as the wounds tore through muscle and aura.
Third Movement – "Disassembling Strike"
Yuki stepped in, her blade dipping low before sweeping across the monster's stomach, opening a deep horizontal gash. Two brutal cuts followed—one severing its hands, its claws clattering to the ground, another carving its legs, forcing it to its knees. Her movements were precise, merciless, like a craftsman dismantling a flawed creation.
Fourth Movement – "Expanding Tempest"
Yuki inhaled sharply, the wind twisting around her in a controlled spiral. She spun, her sword carving a sweeping circle that grew larger and heavier with each rotation. Pressure waves sliced the air, cracking stone and lifting dust, the invisible blades of wind shattering the monster's remaining aura. The cave trembled, the group instinctively flinching at the predatory fear her technique evoked.
Fifth Movement – "Heartpiercer"
In a blink, Yuki vanished. No flash, no sound. She reappeared before the kneeling monster, her sword thrust forward in a single, merciless pierce through its heart. The blade ruptured bone, tore through its core, and silenced its life. The creature's eyes widened, then dimmed, its body collapsing forward as Yuki calmly withdrew her sword.
"Now, Takeshi!" Yuki shouted, her voice steady despite her bloodied face.
Takeshi held his sword vertically, combining fire and wind elements in a blazing inferno. He brought it down in a single, devastating strike, the attack piercing the ground and splitting the monster into two halves with a thunderous boom. The cave shook, dust raining from the ceiling as the creature's body fell apart, lifeless.
Yuki and Takeshi collapsed to the ground, panting with relief. "Is it really over?" Yuki asked, her voice hoarse.
Takeshi nodded, exhausted. "It's over."
Reina approached, her face pale but resolute. Takeshi looked up, gratitude in his eyes. "Thanks, Reina, for creating the chance."
Reina shook her head, her voice soft. "It's nothing compared to both of yours."
But Selena, Haruto, and Himari remained frozen, their eyes fixed on the sealed wall, horror etched into their faces. Selena's tears fell, her sobs breaking the silence. "It can't be real… my brother is gone," she whispered, her voice cracking with grief. Haruto pressed his forehead, his fists clenched, guilt consuming him. Himari stood motionless, her mind unable to accept the loss.
Takeshi, Yuki, and Reina moved to comfort them, their voices gentle but strained. Selena's sobs grew louder, her voice desperate. "Is it real? Again and again, is it real?" Haruto's voice was low, laced with self-blame. "I didn't react fast enough…"
Takeshi turned to Yuki, his expression urgent. "We need to recover before anything happens again." He faced Himari. "Heal everyone. It's not time to overthink. We need to recover."
Selena suddenly stood, her hands igniting with fire element, her eyes wild with anguish. She punched the sealed wall with full force, again and again, flames scorching the stone. Yuki's eyes widened, grabbing her from behind. "Selena, stop!"
"Let me go! I need to help him!" Selena shouted, struggling against Yuki's grip.
"Are you insane? We don't know what will happen to us!" Yuki yelled, their voices clashing in a frantic argument.
The puppy, silent until now, began barking furiously at the monster's corpse. A chilling laugh echoed through the cave. "Hehehe…" The monster's voice, grotesque and mocking, sent ice through their veins. "Hey, kids, you think I'm really dead?"
The group froze, turning slowly in pure horror. The monster's severed body parts crawled toward each other, flesh pulsing as tentacles stretched from the cuts, reattaching with sickening wet sounds. Its body reformed, whole and grotesque, its bulging eyes gleaming with malicious delight. "Hey, kids, I never thought you'd be this strong to cut me down. It's interesting, very interesting!" it cackled, its merciless laughter shaking the cave.
Selena's eyes widened, Haruto's rage igniting as he stood, his broken sword trembling in his grip. The monster's gaze shifted, its voice dropping to a curious growl. "Hey, you blonde hair and red-eye girl, are you radiating this much aura? This aura… very cold. Both of you are enough to scare me."
Selena and Haruto stood, their presence heavy with power, while Himari shouted, "Hey, damn monster!" Takeshi and Yuki exchanged grim looks, knowing their attacks had done little. Reina stood behind them, her hands trembling.
Haruto's voice was furious. "Hey, monster, where the hell is he gone? Tell me!"
Selena, without words, launched multiple sand spikes, the sharp projectiles hurtling toward the monster. It leaped backward, dodging effortlessly. Haruto vanished, reappearing before the creature, drawing a radiant light blade. He swung horizontally, the strike exploding with lightning, splitting the monster's upper and lower body in a blinding flash. The ground shook, waves of electricity scorching the cave. Haruto reversed his grip, slashing the lower body, but its legs kicked, slamming him to the floor, his feet carving long marks as he fought to stay upright.
"You need to know about the kids," the monster taunted, its body reattaching with grotesque pulses. "Prove your worth, and I'll tell you how to reach him. But I don't guarantee he's alive." Its laughter was a knife to their hearts.
Himari prepared to heal, but Haruto shouted, "Himari, don't involve yourself! Heal from the back. If you get injured, this gets complicated!"
"I'll heal you all from the back, but it's difficult!" Himari replied, her voice strained.
Haruto smirked, his eyes burning. "Everyone, let's do it!"
Yuki and Haruto dashed forward, their diagonal swings missing as the monster leaped skyward. Selena launched a combined fire and ice attack, a fireblast from her left palm and an ice shard from her right, the elements colliding toward the creature. Takeshi's fire-infused blade swung horizontally, a blazing arc cutting through the air. Reina raised her left hand, sand gathering to form spikes that shot forward. The monster swung its claws, releasing compressed air waves that collided with their attacks, triggering a massive explosion that shook the cave.
Haruto and Yuki emerged from the smoke, charging the monster. It slammed its fist into the ground, scattering stone and dust to distract them. They stepped back, Himari healing from behind as the six stood united against the monster's overwhelming presence.
Suddenly, the creature froze, its bulging eyes narrowing. It spoke to itself, its voice low and reverent. "My lord, what's okay? My lord, I will back."
Haruto shouted, "Who are you talking to? Just who?"
The monster laughed, "Hehe, you're all lucky. I have to go. If you want to find the silver kid, walk through this cave. You'll find the end. This loop cave has already ended now." Its laughter echoed as it turned to ash, fading into nothingness. The group rushed to stop it, but it was gone, leaving only despair.
They knelt on the ground, hope crumbling. Selena screamed, blaming herself, "I couldn't protect my brother!" Haruto stood silent, gripping his light blade. Himari healed everyone, her hands trembling. Takeshi's voice was grim. "Renjiro most probably lost so much blood, vital organs damaged. That place might be colder… he may freeze to dea—"
Haruto cut him off, his voice sharp. "Don't say anymore."
Reina, Yuki, and Himari comforted Selena, whose sobs echoed in the cave. "Let's heal the wounds quickly and move," Reina urged.
The puppy trotted to Haruto, touching him. His wounds healed instantly, the group's eyes widening in shock. Reina gasped, "Can dogs really heal others?"
Himari, realization dawning, said, "Heal quickly, everyone! Use the dog's ability. We need to be quick!" She combined her healing with the puppy's power, mending their injuries as they prepared to press forward.
Far away, in a frozen wasteland, Renjiro lay unconscious on snow-covered ground, the cold winter wind howling through a dense forest. His body trembled as he slowly opened his eyes, regaining consciousness. Pain shot through him as he touched his stomach, stunned to find his wound completely healed. Nearby, a sword gleamed in the snow. He crawled to it, gripping its hilt, realizing someone had healed him and left it for safety.
He stood shakily, the biting cold air making his body tremble, his breath visible in the frigid night. A sound rustled behind him. He turned, peering into the deep, dark forest. Dozens of red eyes glowed in the shadows, staring at him with predatory intent. His heart sank, his voice a whisper. "Looks like… I'm going to die again."