The explosion from the previous battle had completely swallowed the Wind City.
For several seconds, there was nothing but white.
Snow.
Everywhere.
The streets, the rooftops, the temple grounds, even the clouds surrounding the Wind Temple had been covered in a thick layer of snow.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
Something enormous crashed through the clouds.
It was Airi Kazehana, the Wind Temple Guardian.
Her gigantic transformed body fell from the sky and slammed into the soft clouds surrounding Wind City.
The impact created a massive wave of snow that rolled across the rooftops.
Airi didn't move.
She was unconscious.
Slowly, the enormous spiritual energy surrounding her began to disappear.
Her gigantic body started shrinking.
The massive spiritual form gradually dissolved into countless particles of wind and snow, returning to her original size.
And the enormous Snow Lion behind Yuna began disappearing as well.
Its massive body faded into spiritual energy.
Its paws.
Its mane.
Its enormous head.
Everything slowly dissolved into the air.
Yuna, who had been standing inside the Snow Lion's head, slowly descended as the spiritual beast disappeared.
The remaining spiritual energy gathered around her body.
Then—
WHOOSH!
It returned directly into Yuna.
She landed softly on the clouds.
She was completely exhausted.
Her legs trembled.
Her breathing was heavy.
She looked toward the unconscious Airi.
For a moment, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Then she smiled.
"Finally..."
Yuna took a long breath.
"...Victory."
And immediately—
THUD!
Yuna collapsed onto the clouds.
A nearby Wind Martial Artist stared at her in disbelief.
"HEY! ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
Another one rushed over.
"You actually fought Airi Kazehana?!"
"That girl almost destroyed the entire city!"
Yuna barely had the energy to lift her head.
"I'm... fine..."
She wasn't.
She was absolutely exhausted.
Meanwhile, Airi's body finally returned completely to her normal size.
Her breathing slowly became steady.
Her fingers moved.
Then—
Her eyes opened.
She sat up.
Everyone around her froze.
Airi looked around.
Her expression was completely different from before.
The cold, controlled expression was gone.
Her usual personality had returned.
She suddenly stood up.
Then, with her usual ridiculously loud voice—
"YO!"
Everyone jumped.
Airi raised both arms dramatically.
"AFTER A BATTLE THIS BIG..."
She pointed toward the Wind Martial Artists.
"I'M HUNGRYYYYYYYY!"
Silence.
One of the Wind Martial Artists blinked.
"...What?"
Airi pointed at him.
"FOOD!"
She started rapping in her usual energetic rhythm.
"After fighting, after flying,
My stomach now is crying!
Bring me food, don't make me wait—
I'm starving at a dangerous rate!"
The Wind Martial Artist immediately saluted.
"YES, MA'AM!"
He turned around.
"YOU HEARD HER! GET FOOD!"
Several Martial Artists immediately ran toward the city.
Airi crossed her arms proudly.
"That's better."
Yuna slowly pushed herself up.
She looked at Airi.
Her eyes became watery.
Then—
HUG!
Yuna suddenly wrapped her arms around Airi.
Airi froze.
"Whoa."
Yuna held her tightly.
"You're finally back..."
Airi looked down at her.
"Back?"
Yuna nodded.
"You weren't yourself."
Airi scratched her head.
"I wasn't?"
"No."
"Did something happen to me?"
Yuna stared at her.
"You don't remember anything?"
Airi thought for a moment.
"Nope."
Then Yuna noticed something.
A long scratch ran across Airi's face.
It looked almost exactly like a giant claw mark.
Yuna's expression changed.
Airi noticed her staring.
"What?"
Yuna pointed at her face.
"Your face..."
Airi touched it.
"...Huh?"
She walked toward a small puddle of melted snow sitting on top of the clouds.
She looked down at her reflection.
Her eyes widened.
"WHAT?!"
She grabbed her cheeks.
"My beautiful face!"
Then she started rapping again at full volume.
"WHO DID THIS?!
Who attacked my beautiful cheek?!
Was it a tiger?!
A wolf?!
A monster?!
NO!"
She dramatically pointed at the sky.
"It was that giant CAT!"
Yuna covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Airi continued.
"That giant snow cat scratched my beautiful face!"
Yuna finally laughed.
"You're unbelievable."
Airi crossed her arms.
"I've suffered a terrible tragedy."
"You literally almost destroyed the entire city."
"And now my face is destroyed."
"Your face is fine."
"It is NOT fine!"
Yuna grabbed her hand.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Back to the battlefield."
Airi blinked.
"Why?"
"You need healing."
Airi immediately became serious.
"...Oh."
Yuna looked toward the distant battlefield.
"We need to make sure everyone is okay."
Airi nodded.
"Then let's go."
Yuna placed her hand on Airi's shoulder.
Her spiritual energy activated.
A faint glow surrounded them.
WHOOSH!
The two disappeared.
Meanwhile, back at the main battlefield...
The massive battlefield was still covered in destruction.
The survivors were being treated inside the medical camp.
Wounded Martial Artists were lying on beds.
Healing teams moved constantly between them.
Some were carrying injured fighters.
Others were using healing techniques.
And in the center of the camp stood Chenwei's mother, coordinating everything.
"Careful! Don't move that injured soldier yet!"
"Move the next patient over here!"
"Keep the barrier active!"
Then—
WHOOSH!
Yuna and Airi suddenly appeared inside the camp.
Everyone turned.
Chenwei's mother looked at them.
Her eyes widened.
"Airi Kazehana!"
Airi raised one hand.
"Yo."
Chenwei's mother sighed.
"You're alive."
"Of course I'm alive."
Yuna immediately pointed toward her.
"She needs treatment."
Airi protested.
"I'm hungry first."
"HEALING FIRST."
"...Fine."
The medical team immediately surrounded Airi.
One of them looked at the massive scratch across her face.
"What happened here?"
Airi pointed upward dramatically.
"A giant snow cat attacked me."
Yuna quietly muttered,
"It was her own Spirit Beast."
Airi looked at her.
"Traitor."
Yuna smiled.
The healers began treating Airi.
For the first time since the battle began, the chaos around them became slightly quieter.
But only slightly.
Because somewhere beyond the ruined city...
The real battle was still continuing.
And Yuna had only just awakened the power she had kept sealed away for years.
The next battlefield would belong to another Guardian.
Raika.
And this time—
Yuna wouldn't be the one fighting her.
Her husband would.