A shape sliced through the clouds, trailing heat and devastation in its wake. The dragon's massive body convulsed violently mid-flight, jagged arcs of pale electricity crawling across its scales like living lightning. The cruel device clamped around its throat pulsed with sickly light, each surge forcing the creature's muscles to contort unnaturally. With each spasm came involuntary bursts of flame that scorched the air—missing crowded rooftops by mere inches, melting stone paths that moments before had been filled with fleeing students.
This wasn't an attack. It was something far worse.
Chompy wasn't hunting them. Chompy wasn't in control.
Students scattered in blind panic, fear driving out every ounce of reason. Some dove behind ancient stone walls, others flung themselves into hedges or bolted for the distant courtyards, tripping over one another in their desperation.
The dragon let out a guttural cry — a sound that wasn't a roar, but something raw, something that sounded too much like pain. Its massive body slammed headlong into the astronomy tower, centuries-old stone crumbling like brittle glass.
Before anyone could even process it, the beast lurched sideways, wings thrashing wildly as it barreled into a row of benches, splintering them into shards of wood, then crashed through the ancient oak that had stood in the courtyard for generations. The trunk gave way with a sharp, sickening crack.
A roar tore from Chompy's throat — tangled in fury and agony, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
From the side, a blue-haired student burst from cover, fire gathering in his palms as he hurled a desperate barrage at the beast.
"Get away from them!"
But the dragon didn't so much as flinch. With a single, violent sweep of one massive claw, it swatted him aside like a doll. The boy hit the ground hard, skidding through the dirt.
With a ragged, convulsive beat of its wings, the dragon shot skyward, leaving students frozen in shock or fleeing blindly in its wake.
Inside the academy's eastern hall, Claire stared through the shattered window, the blood draining from her face as she watched her friend—the creature she'd raised from a hatchling—being tortured into madness.
"Chompy," she whispered, the name catching in her throat. Her fingers tightened around the windowsill until her knuckles whitened. "Darn it..."
Rose stepped cautiously beside her, eyes wide with worry. "He must be in so much pain right now."
"I know." Claire's voice was steel now, nothing like her normal animated chatter. She methodically checked her gear, tightening the strap of her quiver and securing her sword in its sheath. Her movements were precise, economical.
"What are you doing?" Takumi demanded, his voice rising in disbelief as he watched her preparations.
Claire didn't look up. "What does it look like?"
"That thing just collapsed half the north wing!" he pressed. "You can't be serious..."
"He," Claire corrected, her voice dangerously quiet. "Probably, but that's why i gotta go..." She moved toward the door with unwavering determination.
"Claire!" Rose called after her, anxiety threading through her voice. "At least wait for—"
But Claire was already moving, slipping through the door without hesitation, a silent shadow pursuing the chaos outside.
Takumi stared ahead, jaw tight, irritation simmering just beneath the surface. He let out a long, dramatic sigh — the kind that sounded like it carried the weight of every bad decision that had led him to this exact moment. Unhooking his scythe and slinging it at his waist, he muttered under his breath:
"Fantastic. Love a good death march."
And yet, his feet were already moving, trailing after Claire without missing a beat.
Liene caught up beside him, eyes sparkling with barely restrained amusement despite the chaos around them. She bumped his shoulder lightly, that familiar sly smile tugging at her lips.
"Fufu~ I like her spirit, boy…" she teased, her voice breezy, like they weren't literally running through a crumbling warzone.
Takumi scoffed, ducking instinctively as a distant blast rattled the hallway, dust falling from the ceiling.
"Yeah, well — it's misdirected spirit," he shot back dryly. "There'sa difference."
"My, my…" Liene hummed, vaulting effortlessly over a fallen beam without breaking stride. "Funny coming from the guy who once picked a fight with a hawk, twenty times the size of you just because it gave you 'a weird look.'"
Takumi winced, lips twitching.
"One time."
"Mmhm~"
Takumi winced at the memory. "Well, I got my ass whooped by a phasing maniac afterward, so reality hits hard..." His hand instinctively went to the scar hidden beneath his collar—a reminder of youthful overconfidence.
Behind them, Renji slammed his fist against the wall, his usually composed face contorted with frustration. "Please be careful!" he shouted after them before turning sharply on his heel. His fingers flew to his earpiece, pressing it firmly as veins bulged along his temple. "Damn it, we have a situation on our hands. I request backup pronto!" The words came through gritted teeth as he sprinted in the opposite direction, his footsteps echoing down the corridor as another tremor shook the academy to its foundations.
"Claire!" Rose cried out again, her face a mask of concern as she hurried after her friend without a second thought.
The dragon hit the ground hard.
A tremor rolled out from the impact, unsettling the earth beneath their feet. It thrashed — wings half-spread, claws carving deep trenches in the stone, head jerking against some unseen restraint. Its eyes, for a fleeting moment, caught the moonlight. They didn't burn with rage. They wavered.
"Attention students, there's a dragon currently on a wild rampage. Evacuate the area immediately for your safety…" The voice crackled through the old speakers as staff vehicles cut across the courtyard, gathering scattered groups wherever they could.
Then, with a guttural growl, the beast lifted from the earth once more — unsteady, but unrelenting.
The tallest spire of the academy—the observatory tower known as the Lumen Vault—caught a shard of moonlight as the dragon veered toward it. Its claws raked the stone with a raw screech, wings stuttering against the storm raging within, before it crashed onto a ledge, dislodging stone in a sharp, clinging impact.
Nearby, Isaac stood still, posture composed, precise as the sharp lines of his coat. Not a flicker of unease crossed his expression, though the acrid wind tugged faintly at his sleeves. His gaze never left the shape in the storm-lit sky — watching, calculating.
High above, a narrow-winged recon jet banked through the smoke, narrowly evading a pulse of flame. The dragon's roar chased it skyward, loud enough to rattle glass in the tower's broken windows.
Isaac raised a gloved hand, two fingers pressing against the earpiece at his ear. "Status report."
A crackle. Then Areina's voice, steady but carrying strain. "Areina here. Eastern courtyard's cleared. No severe casualties, students of all years accounted for. Medical teams active, west side still unstable. Sir… it's not trying to kill them."
"So I've heard," Isaac murmured, calm as ever. "Elaborate."
The beast clung to the tower's stone, dragging its claws in deep, jagged scars. A fractured noise broke from its throat — not a roar, not a scream. Something between.
The line hissed. "It's the pattern, sir. It's forcing people out — herding them from open spaces. Even with the device, its attacks are directed. Renji reported the same. This isn't a blind rampage."
Meanwhile, the guards pressed through the chaos, weapons drawn. Orders sharp, disciplined.
Renji shoved against them, desperation burning in his voice though it never lost its command. "Get out of my way! That's my companion out there — let me through, damn it!"
A guard moved to intercept, unflinching. "Sir, I need you to stand down. Situation is being handled."
"Handled?" Renji spat, voice rough. "Then what the hell are you standing here for?!"
Ann's voice cracked through the comms, sharp as a blade. "Are there any attempts to stop it? You're just letting it circle the damn tower?"
A pause. Areina's reply came low, firm despite the strain. "Negative. No engagement. Any strike risks escalating its aggression. Directives remain — observation and containment."
Ann swore under her breath, knuckles hitting the nearest pillar. "We wait while people bleed. Great."
Isaac didn't flinch. "Ann. Stand by."
Down in the courtyard, students huddled together, faces pale beneath the flicker of broken lamps and fires. Cloaks of Liraen blue and Ophiel crimson clung to slumped shoulders. In moments like this, titles meant nothing.
Isaac let the silence stretch, deliberate.
"Understood," he said, words crisp, almost too gentle. "Maintain surveillance. Confirm visual on the controller the moment you have it. Substantial findings through this channel only. If a clean opportunity arises, request confirmation immediately. No hesitation."
Another flicker of static.
"Copy that, sir. And… if I may—" A rare tremor in Areina's voice. "It's bad down here. Some of them aren't going to make it through another one of these."
Isaac didn't blink. "See that they do."
The line went dead.
Ann's gaze pinned him, sharp and unrelenting. "You've already figured this out, haven't you?"
Isaac's lips barely moved, a flicker of a smirk. "I have."
His gaze never left the spire. "And it'll reveal itself… soon."
Meanwhile, Claire reached the east courtyard, her chest tight, gaze snapping upward to where the dragon thrashed and snarled against the ledge. The night felt heavier here — the heat from earlier fires lingering in the air. The creature let out a low, guttural grunt as it slammed its claws into the stone again.
Claire scanned the area, eyes darting for anything she could climb, a way up. Her fist tightened at her side. Every instinct screamed to move, to help, and for once, the usual nerves didn't get a word in.
Footsteps pounded up behind her. Rose skidded to a stop, breath ragged in her throat.
"Claire! Slow—slow down!" she gasped, nearly doubling over. "Geez, you're—do you not get tired or something?"
Takumi arrived a beat after, hand braced on his knee, the other waving vaguely at the air.
"Remind me to curse whoever thought this campus needed so many stairs…" he muttered, sweat clinging to his hairline.
"My, my…" Liene trailed in, voice laced with that teasing, effortless lilt as she brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "Sunshine, you've got a death wish dragging us across half the grounds. My legs are about to mutiny."
Still, a smirk curled at the edge of her words.
Claire didn't look back. "We need a way to get up there. Capisce?"
The determination in her voice wasn't loud — it didn't need to be. The usual quirk was still there, but buried beneath a steel edge none of them heard often.
Rose hesitated, lips pressed together, then sighed and softened into a tiny, knowing smile. "You're not gonna let this go, are you?"
That unwavering gaze Claire kept on the ledge gave her the answer without needing to say a word.
Rose straightened, swiping the sweat from her brow. She forced a crooked grin. "Fine. Then let's find one. I saw a long ladder behind the observatory. I'll stay back, help the others, patch anyone you send my way — you calm Chompy down, alright?"
"Right. Thanks, Rose!" Claire called over her shoulder, already breaking into a run toward the back of the tower.
Takumi let out a dry laugh, shaking his head as he fell into step behind her.
"Yeah, yeah… lead the way, fearless. I'll just die quietly back here."
"Y'know," Liene smirked, watching Rose for half a beat as she turned toward the front of the academy. "You deserve to be called by your first name for that one, Rose."
"Tch—thanks. I'm honored," Rose shot back with a breathless chuckle, her voice light as she sprinted off toward the frontline.
And with that, Liene followed after Claire and Takumi, the grin never quite leaving her face.
Claire reached the ladder and, without a second's hesitation, shook her head and started climbing. The metal rungs rattled under her grip, but she didn't slow.
Behind her, Takumi and Liene finally caught up — just in time for the sky above to split with another guttural roar. A chunk of loosened debris cracked free from the ledge, tumbling toward them.
"Look out!" Takumi shouted, lunging on instinct. He tackled Liene out of the way, both of them hitting the ground hard as the debris slammed down beside them, smashing into the base of the ladder.
Claire's breath hitched as the shock sent a jolt through the metal. One of her hands slipped, leaving her hanging by her right, boots scraping for purchase.
"I'm good! I'm good!" she called hastily, forcing her glasses back up with her shoulder.
Takumi, still catching his breath, glanced to his left — just in time to see the wreckage had obliterated the lower half of the ladder.
"Ah, hell…" he muttered.
Then he realized.
He was still half on top of Liene.
And she was smirking.
"Err—boy?" Liene drawled, a teasing glint in her eye. "Mind getting off, or should I start charging rent?"
Takumi's face went a shade darker. "Uh… yeah—right, sorry."
He scrambled to his feet, brushing nonexistent dust off his coat like nothing happened.
"My, my," Liene purred, propping herself up on one elbow. "Don't get so handsy in a crisis, boy. Save it for dinner at least."
Takumi coughed, turning away to hide the flush rising up his neck. "Not… not the time, woman."
But the corner of his mouth twitched despite himself.
"You guys okay?" Claire asked loudly as she regained her footing and grip on the ladder "Yeah, you keep going, we'll figure out a way to assist you!" Takumi replied whilst still embarased and darted his eyes on Liene whom looked at him with one of her eyebrows raised
Meanwhile, Rose's breathing came in ragged, shallow bursts. Her hands trembled against her sides, eyes blown wide as the dragon's cry — raw, pained, aching — rolled through the night. It wasn't the kind of roar meant to terrify, but the kind that carried something deeper. It made her stomach twist.
She glanced up… then away.
Down in the courtyard, students stumbled from the shattered buildings, some leaning on each other, faces bloodied and dazed. A boy limped with a burned arm, a girl cradled her ribs. The medics were already scrambling, too few for the number of injured.
Rose's gut twisted tighter. She was terrified — god, she was terrified — but watching them stagger out one by one pulled something heavier over the fear. She swallowed hard.
Someone has to move.
Before she could convince herself not to, Rose broke into a sprint.
"Ma'am, stay back—let the professionals handle this—"
"I'm sorry, but I can't just stand here," she said, her voice breathless but firm, almost apologetic as she slipped past him. "They need help—please, just let me."
The doctor reached out, but she was already kneeling beside a collapsed student. Her hands trembled as they hovered over the wound, magic already blooming from her fingertips in a soft, golden glow.
"I've got it," she whispered, barely audible — more to herself than anyone else.
I have to, she thought.
Then another explosion blared from above the observatory tower as Chompy roared loudly before charging a ball of fire and blowing that above causing a massive explosion that shook the crowd below as Rose turned toward it in shock whilst Takumi and Liene stood below the tower in the tension of shock.
"Damn it, I need to be up there!" Renji yelled in frustration as teh guards held him back form running forward
As Isaac stood like an observer, a small smirk slip through the fire cleared and at first it wasnt clear to most but was to Isaac,
And then - movement.
Ann, beside him, her yees clicked upward in a shock of both the moment and in Isaac planning this out.
Claire stood alone at the edge of the ledge, wind whipping through her hair, strands lashing across her face. Her bow clung to her back, fingers twitching toward it out of instinct — but she didn't reach for it. Her teeth clenched tight, her jaw aching from the strain. Every pair of eyes in the courtyard was on her now, though she barely registered it.
Chompy was all that mattered.
Renji watched from below, a vindication he never asked for settling like lead in his chest. He never believed she'd actually go up there. And yet… nothing was stopping her. Not now. He could only watch, caught between disbelief and something heavier he refused to name.
"Chompy…" Claire called out, voice tight, trembling at the edges, but louder than she expected. "I know you're hurting… let me help. Please…"
Her hand slowly lifted, pulling away from her bow, palm open to the air. No clever plan, no shield between them. Just a girl and a monster — and for a second, in the flicker of firelight and shadow, it felt like the world held its breath.
Above, the survey jet hovered, the wind from its engines whipping the smoke around them. Areina clung to the side strut, watching with narrowed eyes as Claire edged closer, her free hand gently swaying up, then down, then up again.
"Status report." Isaac's voice crackled through her earpiece, cold and measured.
Areina's brow furrowed. "One student — Claire Aihara — climbed the observatory. She's… attempting to calm the dragon, sir. No way to reach or extract her. No cover. No backup."
A pause. Then — nothing. The line went dead.
Areina's stomach twisted. She kept her eyes on the scene below.
The dragon's body shuddered, muscles twitching, the device on its neck spitting another crackle of unstable energy. For a terrible, fragile moment, it slowed. Its chest rose and fell in ragged, uneven breaths. Claire inched forward, hand still raised, every nerve in her body screaming at her to stop.
And then—
A sound like a splintering crack tore through the air.
Without warning, the beast's pupils shrank, its body spasming as a surge of chaotic rage overwhelmed it. The calm shattered in an instant. A pulse of blinding fire erupted from its throat, roaring straight toward Claire.
The courtyard screamed. So did Rose.
Claire's eyes widened, terror locking her in place for a heartbeat too long. Instinct alone made her throw her arms up to shield her face.
Too close. Too fast.
And the world came apart again.
Then — just as swiftly — it stitched itself back together.
A sharp, clean sound cut through the roar, the unmistakable hiss of metal against air. Claire braced for heat and pain… but instead, a deep blast echoed as fire met steel, the impact rolling through the courtyard like distant thunder.
The shock of it made her crack an eye open.
Lowering her arms, her breath caught in her throat. Before her stood a figure — coat whipping in the storm of heat and wind, sword raised, the edge of the blade catching the fire's glow.
Her stomach lurched.
Kazuki.
The name hit her like a stone to the chest.
And then — his footing gave.
The blast hurled Kazuki backward, his body crashing into Claire as the two were flung across the ground, skidding hard through dust and rubble. Claire winced, pain biting into her side as they rolled and split apart, coming to rest on opposite ends of the scorched platform.
But despite a quick slight gasp, she barely registered it.
Her gaze snapped upward, locking onto the dragon as it let out a raw, ragged roar, wings spreading against the night. It shot skyward, scales catching the firelight as it vanished into the broken crown of the observatory tower, a final snarl trailing behind it like a curse on the wind.
A bead of sweat traced down Claire's temple, her pulse hammering in her ears, chest wound tight enough it felt like her ribs would splinter.
And then she saw him.
Kazuki, still standing — or rather, slowly rising, his movements stiff but unbroken. He barely reacted to the aftermath of the blast, his coat torn at the edge, his jaw set. A faint twitch at his shoulder betrayed pain, but his gaze remained level, eyes fixed ahead.
Claire's stomach turned. He was already moving again.
Her breath caught as Kazuki started toward a nearby ladder, posture rigid, the same impossible calm on his face.
"H-Hey!" Claire yelped, stumbling to her feet, nearly falling before shoving herself forward. "Wait up, capisce!"
Below, the courtyard watched in an uneasy silence. A strange chorus of emotions passed through the gathered students — murmurs rising like a low tide. Some scoffed, calling it reckless. A few laughed, brittle and nervous. But most stayed silent, their faces tight with a mix of dread, disbelief, and reluctant anticipation.
The tension felt like a held breath.
Isaac's voice cut through the comms, cool and unhurried. "Status."
A pause, the brief hum of static, then Areina's voice answered — tight, clipped, but steady. "You saw it yourself, sir. Claire Aihara intervened, Kazuki engaged. The dragon's ascended to the upper spire. No means of extraction. Situation remains volatile."
Isaac said nothing. The line clicked silent.
His gaze shifted to Ann, one brow raised in dry expectation. "This was your plan?"
Ann didn't look at him. "Yes."
She kept her eyes on the tower, the flicker of firelight catching in her expression — something sharp, something waiting.
Meanwhile, near the shattered remains of the ladder, Liene paced around the base of the tower, scanning for anything climbable, any ledge, any opening. Nothing. The stones were old, uneven, and too thick for a blade to find purchase.
Takumi sat with his back against the cold wall, frustration simmering in his chest, fist tightening as he stared at the ground. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding as his mind raced for a next move — something, anything.
Liene slowed in front of him, turning her head with a quiet tilt, lips pressed together in a line before she shifted her weight, glancing up the tower again.
"No other ladders, no elevators, boy," she sighed, voice carrying its usual lazy amusement but edged now with dry reality. "And these walls are too damn thick for my blade to make a dent. Tch… seems we've landed ourselves in a proper mess, haven't we?"
Takumi didn't answer.
Didn't even look up.
His frustration clung to him, thick and heavy.
Then —
"Boy~" Liene called, her tone light, teasingly sweet — the kind of singsong lilt meant to prod rather than scold.
Takumi blinked out of his thoughts, startled, glancing toward her with a frown. "What?"
Liene smirked, one hand lazily on her hip, eyes gleaming with that soft, teasing light. "Fufu~ Careful now. Keep scowling like that and it's gonna stick. Not a good look, boy."
She let it hang in the air a moment before softening, voice dipping like a calm breeze after a storm. "Don't drive yourself crazy over the stuff you can't reach from here. Focus on what you can. Capisce?"
Takumi huffed through his nose, a crooked smirk tugging at his lips as he pushed himself up. "Tch… starting to sound like a certain blond I know."
"Mm? And what's your move then, genius? We could really use that brain of yours right about now…" Liene tilted her head, grin lazy and knowing.
He didn't answer right away. Eyes flicked up toward the noise and flicker of chaos above them — calculating, sharp. When he spoke, his voice carried a note of sincerity beneath the usual sarcasm.
"Chasing after them now's a waste of time. Claire's probably got backup… her roommate, whoever that is, can cover her up there. But down here… it's that thing on the dragon's neck." He gestured vaguely upward, lips pressing into a thin line. "It's not out of control. It's being controlled."
A beat. Then he pulled out a compact laptop and a foldable satellite dish from his pouch. The motion was quick, practiced, but his expression was steady now, stripped of his usual flippancy.
"We cut the signal. That device is feeding it orders. We break that, we buy them time. Maybe even tip this whole damn thing in our favor and be in time for dinner."
Liene's grin softened, eyes narrowing in approval as a quiet chuckle slipped out. "Look at you… pulling plans out of your ass and sounding almost heroic."
"Yeah, yeah." Takumi snorted, shoving the dish into her hands. "Think you can get this halfway up the ladder? Needs to be high enough to jam the link."
She took it, their fingers brushing briefly. "Please." A teasing hum, the gleam in her eyes never leaving. "Give me something difficult next time."
Up above, Kazuki moved steadily up the ladder, his gaze fixed ahead — cold, unreadable, like always. Claire followed a few rungs below, her brow furrowed, thoughts spinning faster than her feet could climb.
What's with him…? Why does he keep showing up? And why won't he… just…
She stole a glance up at him, then back down, then up again. Her grip tightened on the rung. The words gnawed at her, growing heavier with every silent step upward. The memory of that hushed conversation between him and Isaac echoed in her head, and before she knew it, the dam cracked.
"What's your deal?!" Claire blurted out, louder than she meant to.
Kazuki didn't respond. But — his hand paused for a fraction of a second on the next rung. Not enough for most people to notice, but Claire did. She froze mid-climb, heart skipping.
He didn't look back. Didn't say a word. Just kept climbing.
Her chest tightened. Frustration clawed its way up as she gritted her teeth.
"You— you never talk to me!" she snapped, voice shaking as it tried to sound angry but cracked anyway. "You don't even look at me, and yet every single time… you just—"
She stopped. Her grip trembled on the ladder, breath catching in her throat. The words shifted, softer, breaking apart into something more fragile.
"I… I don't get it. I don't get you."
For a moment, the only sound was the creak of the ladder and her own pounding heartbeat. She swallowed, blinking hard, then spoke again, her voice quieter — not demanding this time, just… sincere.
"At least… let me thank you."
She kept her gaze on his back, waiting, hoping for… something. Even if it was just a word. A glance.
But Kazuki only climbed.
And somehow, that answer hurt more than any words could have.
Claire exhaled, a shaky little puff, then pushed herself to keep climbing too.
A sudden, furious roar split the air. The dragon above twisted in its frenzy, another searing beam of fire tearing through the sky toward them.
Kazuki moved without hesitation, his body shifting to one side of the ladder as the blast tore past, heat licking at their skin. Claire flinched, instinct taking over as she did what she had before — letting go of her right hand while clinging on with the other, swinging her body away from the wave of searing energy.
But this time, the tremor that followed was stronger. The ladder jolted violently, metal groaning, and her grip slipped.
"Ah—!"
For a split second, Claire felt herself falling — the rush of weightlessness, the burst of panic in her chest.
Then something caught her wrist. Firm. Unshaking.
She looked up, breath caught in her throat.
Kazuki's hand was wrapped around her wrist, holding tight. His face, as always, was unreadable — eyes calm, emotionless, like the storm around them wasn't even happening. Not a flicker of strain, not a word spoken.
Claire stared up at him, shock and confusion swirling in her chest.
Why…?
Without a word, Kazuki pulled her up — effortlessly, like she weighed nothing at all — and set her back onto the ladder rung. He didn't linger. No check to see if she was okay. No glance to meet her eyes. Just climbed ahead, silent as ever, leaving her in the lead.
Claire's heart hammered against her ribs. She clung to the rung, swallowing hard, eyes still wide.
What is with you…?
But she climbed.
Because even if she didn't understand him… even if he never said a thing…
He was still there.
And somehow, that meant something.
They kept climbing, the roar of the raging beast above growing louder, heavier, like a storm threatening to swallow the sky itself.
At last, they reached the top.
The world opened into a ruined platform, scorched and battered, with Chompy — the massive dragon — thrashing in a frenzy. His eyes bled, thick crimson streaks trailing down his scaled face. Veins bulged and throbbed unnaturally along his body, muscles spasming beneath searing wounds. His roar shook the walls, cracked the ground.
Kazuki reached the top first, pulling himself over in one smooth, effortless motion.
Claire hesitated. For a moment, she half-expected him to keep moving, to disappear into the chaos like he always did.
But then — to her shock — he turned.
And offered his hand.
Claire blinked, her chest tightening at the sight of it. No words. No glance. Just a hand, steady and waiting.
She reached out before she even knew she was moving.
Kazuki gripped her wrist and pulled her up without a flicker of strain. Claire scrambled onto the platform, heart pounding, and immediately covered her mouth with a trembling hand as her eyes landed on Chompy.
"Oh… oh stars… Chompy…"
The sight of him — veins bulging, blood spilling from his eyes, thrashing against some unseen force — made her stomach twist. The ground rumbled beneath them as the dragon stomped, the tremor knocking Claire off balance.
She wobbled, arms flailing to steady herself.
Kazuki didn't budge.
His feet remained planted, body motionless as a statue. Only the subtle shift of his hand mattered — the tip of his pointer finger brushing the hilt of the sword strapped behind him. A small, quiet movement in the face of a storm.
Ready.
Always ready.
Claire stole a glance at him, heart caught between terror and… something else she couldn't name.
Who are you…?
But the dragon roared again, and there was no time for answers.
Kazuki's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword. He bent low, a silent blur of intent, ready to rush in.
Claire's breath caught. Her eyes snapped to him — not the dragon.
And for a moment, her heart twisted in fear.
He's going to hurt him…
"Wait—!" Claire gasped, her hand shooting out instinctively.
But before she could finish, Kazuki stilled.
She blinked.
And then — quietly, without a word — she stepped forward first.
Kazuki's gaze followed her, a flicker of silent shock in his otherwise unreadable eyes.
Claire raised her trembling hands, palms open, moving slowly toward Chompy.
"Chompy… hey… I'm here…" she called out gently, her voice quivering but refusing to break. "I know you're hurting… but you don't have to fight this anymore, okay? Just… just hold on…"
The dragon growled low, confused. Blood still blurred his vision, and the device's cruel pulse tightened around his mind — but for a fragile moment, his eyes met hers.
Somewhere behind the rage… he hesitated.
From the jet's window above, Ariana's eyes widened.
"You've gotta be kidding me… Aihara's actually calming it…" she muttered under her breath, fingers clenching the armrest. "Damn it… why didn't I move sooner…"
Back below, Claire kept walking, slow and steady, hands gently swaying.
"It's okay… you're not alone anymore…"
But the device pulsed again. The crimson haze surged back, and with a feral roar, the dragon's maw opened, fire gathering in its throat.
"No—!" Claire's voice cracked — but not from fear of the flame.
Her eyes shot to Kazuki.
Not the dragon.
And in that second, her heart dropped.
He's going to kill him.
But in a blur, Kazuki moved.
Not toward Chompy's heart.
Not to cut him down.
But toward the blast.
He ripped his sword free, slicing through the incoming fire just long enough to dive in, the sheer force ripping the weapon from his hands — and slammed into the beast's neck, wrestling it away from Claire.
"Kazuki—!" Claire's voice hitched, shock flooding her.
His grip tightened against the thrashing creature, holding it back.
And then, without looking at her:
"Aihara," he muttered. "Move."
Her chest clenched. A thousand thoughts crashed in her head — starting with how does he know my name? — but none of them mattered now.
"Right!" she shouted, bolting toward the device.
Because no matter how silent, how unreadable he was…
He wasn't here to kill Chompy either.
And maybe — just maybe — that meant something too.
The dragon's bloodshot eyes locked onto Claire.
Crimson light bled from its pupils, its maw parting as fire gathered, the glow building in its throat like a rising sun of death. Claire's breath hitched, her feet bolting forward before her brain could even catch up.
"Chompy—wait!" she shouted, eyes wide, her voice cracking.
But the dragon wasn't listening. The crimson haze swallowed what little clarity remained, a feral snarl curling from its throat.
Then —
A distorted guitar riff screamed through the air.
Sharp, frantic, like claws on metal.
A fast, relentless drumbeat followed, pounding like a second heartbeat in the chaos.
The sudden sound made the dragon flinch, the crimson fire in its throat flickering. It let out a confused grunt, its massive head jerking as the control device on its neck sparked violently.
Claire blinked in sheer confusion, momentarily forgetting the fire and death aimed her way.
"Wait… what?"
Down below on the ladder, Liene grinned, one hand perched on her hip, the other steadying the satellite dish balanced precariously above her head. She tilted her head with a teasing smirk.
"Fufu~ Didn't peg you for the dramatic type, boy."
But Takumi didn't even glance her way, his eyes glued to his laptop as his fingers flew across the keys.
"What can I say," he muttered, lips quirking into a grin. "I'm a sucker for early 800s angst-metal. Call it a guilty pleasure."
Another guitar riff shrieked out from the device, Linkin Park's By Myself now blaring in distorted, glitchy bursts through the dragon's control collar. The signals crackled and faltered under the relentless assault of guitars and drums.
Takumi leaned back slightly, satisfied.
"Signal jammed." He shot a smirk up at the raging battlefield. "It's all you now, Claire."
Claire snapped back to reality.
"Right!"
Without hesitating, she grabbed an arrow from her quiver — hands trembling but eyes steady — and sprinted toward Chompy. The dragon's body twitched, torn between control and freedom, but the music's chaotic pulse kept it paralyzed.
In one clean, desperate motion, she leapt up, slamming the arrow's tip into the flickering device.
"Kazuki—!"
She didn't need to say more.
Kazuki was already there.
In one swift move, he gripped the sparking collar and tore the device free with a sharp jerk, wires snapping, a final distorted riff screaming out before it fizzled dead in his hand.
The dragon staggered, a low, shuddering groan escaping its throat as its eyes cleared. The crimson haze bled away, replaced by pained, exhausted clarity. It collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, the earth trembling under its weight.
Claire's shoulders sagged, the tension finally draining from her limbs.
She stepped forward, kneeling beside the creature's massive head. Her fingers brushed gently against its battered scales as the dragon let out a soft, weary rumble — a sound so different from its earlier roars that it almost sounded like gratitude.
"You're okay now… It's over, Chompy… Take it easy, big guy."
Up above, in the command post, Areina let out a quiet sigh of relief, a hand on her earpiece as she reported calmly, her professional tone returning.
"Sir, this is Areina. The situation's been resolved. I repeat, The situation's been resolved. Target is secured, awaiting dispatch. No casualties on our end."
The academy grounds erupted in a mix of cheers and exhausted applause. A wave of collective relief washed over the crowd — some breaking into grins, others laughing shakily, and a few walking away silently, heads low with unreadable expressions.
Rose and Renji both exhaled heavily, tension leaving their shoulders as they exchanged a nod.
From his perch above, Isaac watched it all, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. Ann stood beside him, arms crossed, eyebrows raised in quiet curiosity.
"Sometimes I wonder what exactly goes on in that head of yours," she remarked dryly.
Isaac's gaze didn't leave the scene below.
"Potential, Ann," he said softly. "I see potential in them."
Back on the field, Takumi stretched with a satisfied groan, cracking his neck.
"Well, that wasn't so bad…" he muttered with a crooked grin.
Liene landed effortlessly beside him, the faint breeze of her landing stirring the dust. She casually handed him the satellite device with a teasing tilt of her head.
"Fufu~ I'm more of an ambient, instrumental girl myself, you know."
Takumi snorted as he took the device back.
"Yeah? Well, remind me not to let you near my playlist. Wouldn't want to traumatize you."
"Too late," Liene teased, smirking.
Back at the top of the tower, Kazuki landed beside them, his footsteps light despite the chaos, sword sheathed. He didn't say a word.
For a brief moment, Claire looked up.
And their eyes met.
No words.
No smiles.
No obvious thanks.
Just a look.
A quiet, unspoken exchange between two people who didn't understand each other — but maybe, right now, didn't have to.
Claire took a step forward, but the earlier relentless stomping of the dragon had left deep fractures in the stone beneath them. A sharp crack split the floor — and before she could react, it gave out under her feet.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. The ground rushed away.
She gasped, eyes squeezing shut—
"Wah—!"
A firm hand caught her wrist.
Kazuki.
Without hesitation, he leapt in after her. Claire's breath hitched, eyes snapping open just as he reached behind her and yanked an arrow from her quiver. The arrow glimmered, its tip glowing a sharp, electric cyan.
"H-Hey—!" she squeaked, startled.
With one swift motion, Kazuki slammed the glowing arrow against the crumbling tower wall. Sparks burst out as the arrowhead scraped along the stone, slowing their fall with a screeching grind.
Claire clung to him instinctively as he spotted a nearby open window. In a blur of movement, Kazuki kicked it open mid-fall, pulling Claire with him as they tumbled through.
The pair hit the floor hard, rolling across the dusty ground before landing side by side against the wall, both panting.
Around them, students and staff inside the building stared in wide-eyed relief.
Kazuki, true to form, sat there in perfect silence — face unreadable, as if nothing about the night's insanity had fazed him.
Claire blinked… then burst into breathless, slightly hysterical laughter.
Kazuki turned his head toward her, confused.
"Why are you laughing?" he asked flatly.
Claire wiped a tear from her eye, still giggling.
"N-Nothing! It's just—this night's been insane, ya know?" she snickered again, voice a little shaky now. "And I… I don't even know anymore."
Kazuki watched her quietly. The low hum of jets hovering above rumbled in the distance, the sound a reminder that Chompy was safe now… that it was over.
Claire let out a shaky breath, the adrenaline finally wearing off. She glanced at him, a half-smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"…You're… really full of surprises, y'know that?" she murmured, voice soft and a little unsteady. "Didn't think you'd… jump in like that."
Kazuki didn't answer.
But he didn't look away either.
And for some reason… that was enough for her.