Noko's ears perked up, her eyes shining with excitement as she bounced:
—"Wow! This group is full of strong people-nya! I'll do my part too!"
Her bow glowed with golden light as she unleashed a volley of light-imbued arrows, forcing the Kurotama back.
—"Good! Let's attack together!" Zara commanded, firing disorienting lightning bolts at the ghost.
Maya charged her sacred fire-wrapped sword, while I supported with Purify spells. Cornered, the Kurotama froze in place.
—"We finally did it!" I sighed in relief, hands on my knees.
Smiles broke out on everyone's faces... except Zara's.
—"Something's wrong," she muttered. —"When ghosts are defeated, they vanish. But this one... hasn't."
At that moment, the Kurotama shrank back into a small aura and shot toward me at blinding speed.
—"REN, LOOK OUT!" Zara screamed.
The others couldn't react in time. I watched the Kurotama's aura approach in slow motion, and then...
—"Ren!" Purin's voice rang in my head again. —"Use your sword! Light it ablaze like Maya did!"
—"What?! You mean set my sword on fire?" I replied, confused.
—"Yes! You have the ability to replicate others' powers. Remember when you cast lightning against the dragon!"
—"Replicate powers?... But I don't know how!"
The Kurotama was inches from my chest.
—"DO IT, TRUST ME!" Purin urged.
I gripped my sword, recalling the sensation of replicating Zara's lightning. I visualized Maya's flames, the heat...
WHOOSH!
My sword ignited. The three girls stared in shock.
—"That's... m-my..." Maya swallowed hard.
—"Yes," Zara added, eyes locked on me. —"Just like with my lightning that time. Ren... what are you?"
The Kurotama clashed against my flaming blade. It was a battle of strength, and I was at my limit.
"I can't hold on..."
—"DON'T GIVE UP!" Purin cheered. —"Push your powers further! I believe in you!"
—"But Purin..."
—"YOU CAN DO THIS!"
I closed my eyes, and my sword's flames shifted color—turning pure white.
—"I can't believe it," Zara gasped.
—"What?!" Maya nearly dropped her weapon.
—"Ren... fused the sword's flames with Purify," Zara said, awed.
With a final roar, I poured everything into the strike:
—"HAAAAA!"
The Kurotama recoiled, unable to withstand the assault. Its form dissipated completely. I collapsed to my knees, exhausted.
—"WOW! My instincts didn't lie-nya!" Noko tackled me in a crushing hug. —"You're the strongest!"
—"W-What are you doing?! Get off Ren!" Maya yanked her tail.
Zara smiled in relief:
—"Thank goodness it's over."
—"Ouch, Noko... that hurts," I groaned, rubbing my side.
Maya offered a hand to help me up:
—"You okay?" she asked.
—"Yeah... thanks, Maya," I replied, accepting her help.
Her smile vanished as she suddenly shook me by the shoulders:
—"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! HOW DID YOU USE MY TECHNIQUE?!"
I flinched as Zara stepped closer, arms crossed:
—"Ren... I've been thinking since the dragon incident. What you did today and back then isn't normal." Her voice dropped. —"What... are you, exactly?"