Kael stood over the smoking crater where the beast finally fell.
His arms trembled. His breath came out in ragged gasps. Blood trickled down his lip, but he was still standing.
The guardian lay motionless—its black fur now soaked in its own glowing crimson blood. Around its neck, tied with a silver cord, was a small crystal vial radiating a soft green light.
Kael reached for it slowly.
"This must be it…" he whispered, clutching the vial. It was heavier than he expected—not in weight, but in meaning. This tiny thing… is their last chance.
But he wasn't done.
Kyoushiro had warned him: there were more.
As he turned, the trees around him moved.
No—not the trees. The air.
From the shadows emerged more of them—beasts with jagged armor, horns, wings, and some even bipedal with weapons crafted from bone. Each one had glowing symbols etched into their chests—Wills of ancient power.
Fifteen. Just like Kyoushiro said.
Kael clenched the vial in one hand and raised his other.
"If you think I'm giving up now... you don't know me at all."
His aura exploded outward again, now more refined, spiraling in shades of deep indigo and silver.
Back in the infirmary, the skies above the academy shifted briefly—everyone looked up.
Kaede's eyes narrowed. "He's fighting again…"
Eri pressed her hand against the window, her face pale.
"Kael…"
Ryuu stood. "He's not alone."
Kaede glanced at him.
Ryuu looked down at his fist. "Tetsu and Hana… they're with him. I can feel it. In his Will."
In the other dimension, Kael launched forward, tearing through the undergrowth as the beasts charged.
The next battle began.
And Kael, even outnumbered, didn't retreat a single step.