Ars Goetians rushed forward toward the end of the frozen corridor. They finally saw what Igor and Mia had been warning them about—Wendigos. A small group stood just ahead on the path leading to the open area. The "evil wind" howled above, still blowing flakes of snow off the icy walls towering around them.
Akira gestured to take cover behind a snow-covered rock jutting from the ice wall. They all hid behind it, preparing for the battle that was undoubtedly coming.
Akira motioned for everyone to lower their voices.
Liza sat down, adjusted her overskirt, which hung loosely from her waist and whispered.
Liza: "Shoot, this is it! I hope you're ready, Cleo!"
Merlina, in her white cat form, regarded Liza with a look of ancient wisdom.
Merlina: "Arthur won't let anything happen to her, believe me."
Cleo smiled warmly at Liza but quickly regained her composure; her eyes flashed gold, shining with noble spirit and determination.
Cleo: "I'm ready if you are, friends."
Liza: "Wow, Cleo, you are WILD! Not like Senpai, though—I mean, you're almost at his level, but there's something different about you."
Liza narrowed her eyes, scanning Cleo as if she were a suspicious divine android rather than a human.
Standing by the wall to their right, Zhenzhen peeked out from behind a snow-covered rock.
Zhenzhen: "I think we need a rule—fight first, chit-chat later."
Liza gulped.
Liza: "Alright!"
Akira peeked out from behind the stone, observing his surroundings.
Akira: "Only a few of them, huh? I expected more."
Merlina: "Well, those two brag about obliterating every enemy nearby, so I expect no less from your pompous RIU council president."
Liza hissed.
Liza: "Just like you said, Mel! I hate four-eyes! She always thinks she's smarter than everyone else!"
Akira leaned against the snowy rock, holding his sword at his chest.
Akira: "It's not like that, Liza. She was different before her mother started to change her."
Liza: "Ha! Now Senpai's defending her—classic."
Akira: "I'm just saying she's not our enemy, that's all."
Liza faintly rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.
Liza: "If you say so, Senpai."
Zhenzhen turned to Akira.
Zhenzhen: "So, what's the plan? Charge and attack, or...?"
Akira met his gaze.
Akira: "Obviously not. We need a plan—and a quick one. Merlina, get ready to shift into human form immediately. No slacking this time..."
Merlina licked her paw and widened her eyes.
Merlina: "Like I'd ever slack, my boy! I'm ready to help however I can."
Akira nodded.
Akira: "Great. Now, Cleo."
Cleo's determination shifted to impatience—she was hungry for battle.
Cleo: "I'm awaiting your command, friends."
Liza gawked, jaw dropped in disbelief.
Liza: "Forget the 'holy roller' nickname, girl. You're my Holy Exterminator now. Am I the only one scared of her when she's like this?"
Merlina: "Like I said, it's because of Arthur, but there's something more in her, it seems..."
Cleo shot them both a glare.
Liza jumped back.
Liza: "That's what I'm talking about—she's crazy! Archangel Michael, have mercy!"
Cleo smiled warmly.
Cleo: "You've got nothing to fear from me, Liza. I'm your loyal companion, your friend."
Liza grinned nervously.
Liza: "I hope so. You're WILD, girl!"
Akira: "Okay, let's move. Our formation is simple. I hope everyone understood their roles. Cleo and I take the front; Merlina backs us up. Zhenzhen can unleash his full power without worrying about defense, along with Liza. I'll do everything I can to attract attention."
Cleo's golden eyes gleamed.
Cleo: "How about I attract their full attention?"
Merlina let out a playful whistle.
Merlina: "Arthur's girl raising the stakes—how about that?"
Akira cast a glance at Cleo, a blend of concern and irritation in his eyes.
Akira: "Cleo, you must understand I..."
Cleo gently interrupted.
Cleo: "Let me do this, Mister Akira."
Akira sighed, bowing his head.
Akira: "Can you please stop calling me that?"
Cleo gave him her trademark warm and strong smile.
Cleo: "I call you that as a mark of respect."
Akira shook his head.
Akira: "I'm against your proposal. What about you guys?"
He glanced around.
Liza: "Well, I think I can just burn these Wendigos—Shmendigos, or whatever they are—by myself, honestly..."
Merlina let out a soft chuckle.
Merlina: "Oh-oh, big ego alert, my dear?"
Liza faced her.
Liza: "What? Mel? You seriously think I can lose? After we melt this ice block, I feel fired up enough to destroy this entire black castle if I have to!"
Merlina shook her head in disbelief.
Merlina: "My, my, what a group of extraordinaries I've got myself into..."
Zhenzhen appeared on the verge of losing patience, but was unwilling to show it in front of the girls.
Zhenzhen: "Are we going or not?"
Liza, Merlina, and Cleo answered in unison.
Liza, Merlina, and Cleo: "Yes!!!"
Akira: "You could say it a little quieter, guys..."
One Wendigo, guarding the way, advanced toward them, aggressively scratching behind its head.
Wendigo: "Argh!"
Cleo suddenly charged forward, sword and shield ready in her hands. Behind the rock, a creature lunged at them. Even more of those fur-covered beasts emerged from the passage. At first, the monsters looked confused by the sudden movement, but as the group advanced, they fixed their gaze on Akira's team and started closing in.
Liza looked on, wide-eyed. The girl smaller than her, who looked like a timid angel only recently awakened as an Ars Goetian, was charging straight into the enemy ranks. Cleo threw her shield toward the enemies. The emblem on it flared brightly, momentarily blinding several Wendigos. The shield ricocheted between the snarling beasts with a sharp whistle, flying so fast it almost seemed alive. After the last bounce, it curved back like a boomerang, landing perfectly in Cleo's grasp as if guided by its own will, while she jumped with her hand raised.
Cleo sprang forward, shield raised and sword in hand, attempting to pierce her first target. Though the Wendigo's giant hand tried to seize her, the "Holy Roller" girl was faster; her tiny sword became a deadly needle, piercing the beast.
The Wendigo in front of her was a monstrous, nightmarish creature, like one ripped from a twisted fairy tale gone wrong. However, Liza noticed something was different about Cleo. The girl she knew was gone. Behind her friend floated a ghostly, towering projection of Arthur, an ethereal presence watching over her.
Uncalled by Cleo, Arthur floated behind her, softly laughing and applauding.
Arthur: "My, my, my Lady. You are righteous fury incarnate. Not a question of why this black-hearted boy, whom you met, was afraid of you so much."
Cleo flinched right before making another swift attack.
Cleo: "I'm honored by your tribute, Sir Arthur, but now's not the time."
Arthur smiled warmly before disappearing behind her again.
Arthur: "Of course, my Lady."
Liza tried to channel her power toward the group of Wendigos just behind the one facing Cleo. Akira rushed up to assist, but Liza remained rooted in place, stunned, struggling to gather herself.
Suddenly, a thunderous shout broke through the tension.
Zhenzhen: "Ars Goetia: Explosion!"
A massive projection of his fiery Phoenix spread its shadow over the enemies, sending a volley of flaming feathers hurtling toward the Wendigos behind Cleo and Akira. From those feathers, a swirling tornado of fire erupted, rising with fierce intensity.
Merlina shifted into her human form, leaving a trail of amber and azure sparkles behind. Twirling her staff as it glowed gold, she was ready to support her newfound pupils just in time.
Liza smiled, unable to hold back.
Liza: "Whoa, Mel! I didn't know you could wield your weapon like that!"
Merlina gave her a sly glance, still swirling her staff, raising her voice above the blizzard howling over them.
Merlina: "Like our master monk friend just said. Fight first, chit-chat later, dear. Don't lose focus!"
She made a brief pause and thundered.
Merlina: "Ars Goetia: Veil of the Vizier's Daughter!"
The protective veil, resembling a lacy, transparent, starry sky, covered Merlina's allies.
Liza flinched briefly, tried to focus once again, and faced the Wendigos.
Liza's Mind: "Right! Wait, whose daughter did she say she was, again?"
Meanwhile, Akira summoned his shadow fiend, Devilish, with a command.
Akira's voice boomed like steel during a storm.
Akira: "Ars Goetia: Baku Final Nightmare!"
A vast shadow descended from above, swallowing a Wendigo next to Cleo whole. Akira and Cleo pressed forward through the scorched remains of their enemies like a twin-tailed beast, leaving trails of light and shadow behind them.
The Wendigos behind them burned in flickers of red and green flame, their snarling faces twisting from rage to panic. Though they had seemed ferocious predators at first, now fear showed in their eyes. It was as if some sinister force had bound these creatures to a cruel master's will—not merely hunters, but beasts shackled by invisible chains, forced to obey.
Akira and Cleo slammed toward the last-standing enemies. Akira, wielding an uchigatana, pierced one more Wendigo with a flurry of quick piercing strikes, right after Cleo bumped the same enemy with her shield.
She shyly whispered to him.
Cleo: "I told you I could draw their attention on my own. You don't need to worry about me."
Akira raised his sword high, adopting a grim stance, then drove it through the last Wendigo, still standing among the fallen.
Akira: "I'm just like you, Cleo. I can't just stand behind and watch you handle your first fight by yourself. Arthur surely is strong, but I'm not expecting miracles."
Akira pierced the last Wendigo, lunging his blade deep into its chest.
Akira: "If we're going to do this, Cleo, we're going to do it together."
Cleo's expression softened into a smile of agreement.
Cleo: "Yes!"
Right before them stood their goal—the exit of the long, narrow frost passage. Just beyond it, a massive figure loomed at the center: a colossal Wendigo roaring in rage. The area opened into a circular clearing that led to the Citadel itself. The Dark Citadel towered behind the wide chasm, its silhouette looming ominously through the blizzard, rising behind the colossal Wendigo's shoulders.
Akira, still holding his sword, leaned against the snowy wall right at the mouth of the pass, glancing up from beneath his brow.
Akira: "Good luck with the big guy, huh?"
Merlina, in her human form, stood close to him, about to give an urgent comment or advice.
Merlina: "Not going to lie to you, freshman. This hulk isn't about having a friendly chat with us, unlike Alloces, even if we try to sugarcoat him."
Liza growled like an old motorcycle, following Cleo Williams as she advanced toward Akira and Merlina right after the fight.
Liza: "Don't tell me you did all that for the first time, unprepared!"
Cleo skipped along, proud of herself, even more so when she caught the praise.
Cleo: "I'm just happy to be with all of you again, Liza."
She glared, facing her once more with her yellow eyes.
Liza: "You're rocking, sister."
Cleo's eyes widened.
Liza looked at her.
Liza: "What?"
Cleo: "Nothing, I just didn't expect you to call me... sister."
Liza: "Ha! Cracked our little saint here!"
She playfully bumped her with her elbow and whispered.
Liza: "Gonna tell me?"
Cleo glanced at Liza with her puppy eyes.
Cleo: "I don't understand what you're implying, Liza..."
Liza narrowed her eyes in a sly expression.
Liza: "Sister fetish, you got it. I knew it!"
Cleo mumbled shyly. It was impossible to believe that this girl had fought brutal-looking monsters just moments ago.
Cleo: "Impossible, Liza! I don't even know anything about those fetishes you're talking about."
Yet, she reddened even more.
Liza lowered her voice, as she was a gossip queen herself.
Liza: "You know... Mel and I have that secret covenant. It's called — Soul Sisters!"
Cleo's expression was definitely "No way", but she said nothing. She glanced back and forth between Akira and Liza.
They closed in on Akira and Merlina, where Zhenzhen discussed the plan for the next attack with them.
Liza: "So, how goes it, 'sister'? Hehe!"
Liza teased poor Cleo until the girl hid her embarrassment behind her shield.
Liza: "Oh, come on, Cleo, just admit you want to join us, it's easy, 'sister'!"
Liza definitely knew that by calling her friend "sister", Cleo's heart skipped a beat. Cleo barely held her weapon, her expression on the verge of losing control.
Cleo: "No way I can join you, Liza! I didn't even know Lady Merlina!"
Liza: "Ha-ha! So why do you need me, bestie? I can put in a good word for you and you'll be with us — no biggie!"
Arthur, in Cleo's head, shook his head more than once, shaking it like a girl waving a handkerchief goodbye to her beloved.
Liza: "Just say yes already, girlie. Are you with us or not?"
Cleo, red as an apple, quickly shook her head in agreement.
Liza: "Ha! Let's go, 'sister'. You're one of us now!"
Liza took shy Cleo by the arm, and they stepped toward their friends, who were talking even louder.
The ground shook a few times. Snow fell onto Akira's head and Merlina's pointed hat from the passageway exit above. The beast standing in the center of the open sky-lit area roared even more fiercely, surrounded by lesser Wendigos who seemed to be praying around the colossal one.
Merlina shook the snow off her hat and, with a firm tone, faced Akira, Zhenzhen, and the girls.
Merlina: "Okay, boyas, no time to waste. Give the girls a quick tip on what we discussed, and if you're ready, I'll do what I must."
Akira turned toward Liza and Cleo, both standing with Zhenzhen.
Akira: "Cleo, Liza! We've got no time, get ready! This beast is going out of control!"
Liza: "What beast? Wha?.."
She looked behind Akira, trying to grasp his words. Liza was the only one—lightheaded as ever—who seemed to have completely forgotten the situation's true gravity. Beyond her friends, the wintry landscape stretched wide—a dramatic sweep of cold, rugged mountains forming a circular clearing, a natural arena set for battle.
A blizzard roared once more beneath the clear winter morning sky. Through it, the hulking beast and his monstrous band charged at them.
Merlina stood in front of Akira, forming a magical circle in the air with her free hand, fingers spread wide. Her other hand gripped her staff, which was glowing yellow, brighter with every second. A large blue glyph took shape in front of her, slowly rotating as she prepared to scan the beast through it.
Merlina: "Bad news for you, my children. This brute's got no weaknesses—magical fire included. So if you think this is gonna be a walk in the royal palace gardens, forget about it... Ah, and I don't know if this information means anything to you, but his name is Wendrathael."
Akira had raised his voice, shouting over the blizzard.
Akira: "Cleo, I think you can stand behind me this time..."
Arthur spoke louder in Cleo's head.
Arthur: "Milady Cleo, call for me!"
Cleo's eyes glared gold once more as she faced Akira.
Cleo: "Never. Ars Goetia - come forth, Prince Arthur!"
She rushed forward.
Arthur stepped in right from the air behind Cleo Williams, his blue cloak fluttering in the wind.
Arthur looked back at Cleo's companions with a noble grin.
Arthur: "Don't be angry at us, friends. 'Tis after all our due to crush the evildoers, ourselves!"
And in an instant, as blue-hued lightning, he rushed right at a group of overwhelming enemies.
A group of Wendigos blocked their path, the hulking one at the center. This monstrous, fur-covered beast bore massive antlers and a grotesque fusion of bear and deer features, its wide maw lined with jagged teeth. Among his lesser brethren, the Amber Hulk alone showed no trace of fear. Enraged, his eyes burned with an ominous red light as he advanced toward the little girl.
Arthur thundered.
Arthur: "Ars Goetia: Memory of Avalon!"
Arthur blessed his allies by summoning gray, soaring phantoms, his voice echoing across the surrounding mountains in the distance.
Shortly after, like a crack of judgment, Arthur transformed—his body becoming a streak of dark blue lightning, arcing through the swarm of enemies with flashes of electricity in his wake, moving at a speed that defied sight. Behind him came his mistress, the girl paladin, trailing gold. Small golden wings shimmered at her heels as she halted before the great beast, raising her shield, awaiting Arthur's return.
Arthur thundered once more.
Arthur: "Ars Goetia! Blade of the Promised King!"
Though the Hulk boasted massive, clawed paws and a pelt-like thick armour, none of it saved him. The blue wave Prince Arthur unleashed struck squarely into the monster's face, forcing the beast to recoil in a burst of divine force.
The Wendigos standing at the front were caught in Arthur's attack—some of them were cleaved clean through, others began to dissolve where they stood. A bluish arc projection had burst forth, striking all of them at once. Cleo seemed triumphant at first, and Akira and Zhenzhen charged after her toward the biggest one, the colossal Wendigo. But their trouble with the first truly fierce enemy they'd ever faced together was only just begun.
Not far behind the giant, Wendigos with crooked staffs were channeling dark energy, cloaking Wendrathael in a sinister black aura. To make matters worse, Akira—and most of the group—spotted even more of the same Wendigos standing along the surrounding cliffs. They stood praying, feeding even more power into the already terrifying giant.
Arthur, in the blink of an eye, realized it had been a mistake to leave Cleo for even a moment. The girl was strong—no question—but by the time Akira and Zhenzhen moved in, with Merlina and Liza at their backs, Wendrathael erupted in a new wave of fury. The ground shook beneath them as the beast bellowed in a dreadful, mind-numbing cry.
It seemed like pure bad luck—he raised his monstrous hand just as Arthur, Akira, and Zhenzhen were almost upon him—but the taloned limb came down too fast. It slammed poor Cleo square beneath her shield and sent her flying.
Liza blinked, snapping back to the brutal reality. Just like Merlina warned, it wasn't going to be "a walk in the royal palace garden".
She screamed.
Liza: "Cleo!"
Cleo's body was thrown far from the center of the fight.
Zhenzhen didn't hesitate. He bolted toward the casters at the back—the ones fueling the black aura around Wendrathael. With a sharp gesture to Akira, the two of them understood: right here, right now, they'd have to improvise.
Zhenzhen surged forward with a battle cry of his own, heading straight for the creatures hiding behind the hulking Wendigo.
Zhenzhen: "Kick Master!"
He leaped into the air and came down with a powerful diving kick, slamming one of the crooked-staff wielders flat against the ice.
Akira, seizing the chance, threw himself into the role of bait, taunting Wendrathael, dodging left and right, zigzagging like a rabbit trying to outmaneuver a bear. His goal was clear: pull the monster away from where Cleo lay unconscious.
Arthur was already close, reaching Cleo just as Liza and Merlina did.
Arthur: "Milady!"
He stood frozen, helpless for a moment, gripping his two-handed sword.
Merlina growled.
Merlina: "Not your fault, lad. Focus on deflecting those casters and protecting us. Don't just stand there, boy!"
She took a moment.
Merlina: "Ars Goetia: Beacon of Hope!"
Azure sparkles began to dance around Cleo, lying on the snow.
Arthur nodded, gritting his teeth, and stepped into position for a counterattack.
But for Liza, it was different. Cleo's sudden fall shook her—this girl who'd just fought like a golden-winged paladin, now lying motionless. For the first time, Liza saw Merlina's projection fully—an elegant woman in Eastern garb, lounging on a lavish, ethereal bed, smoking a pipe and exhaling a great plume of shimmering smoke.
Merlina raised her voice to the heavens.
Merlina: "Ars Goetia: Tears of the Forgotten!"
Rain began to fall—strange, starry rain, like dark blue and azure lights descending across the battlefield.
Liza, still stunned, clenched her fists. Her shock turned into fire.
Merlina: "Liza, dear... I don't enjoy asking this, but you're capable of more than just summoning wisps. You can call something else too... Gremlins."
Liza's eyes widened. She nodded at once.
Liza: "Sure!"
She focused.
Liza: "Ars Goetia: Gremlin Assault!"
Merlina grinned with mild disbelief.
Merlina: "Oh my... Here they come, the little scamps!"
A prism-shaped portal opened in front of Liza, and out spilled the creatures—small, goblin-like beings with dark green spotted skin, wearing tattered coats and oversized aviator goggles. And, surprisingly... each one was holding a hand cannon.
Without warning, the gremlins opened fire, darting and skittering around her as they aimed at the Wendigos on the cliffs, breaking their focus and disrupting the black aura feeding Wendrathael.
Merlina shook her head.
Merlina: "I hate these guys."
Despite Merlina's comment, Liza felt satisfied, having caused chaos among the enemy ranks.
Zhenzhen yelled at Akira.
Zhenzhen: "Try to lure him to the wall, for him to charge and shake the cliffs!"
Akira nodded, still holding his uchigatana in both hands, patiently dodging every one of Wendrathael's attacks, acting as a decoy.
Wendrathael's patience, however, was not endless; he became enraged once more and boldly charged at Akira, driving him toward the icy wall.
Merlina barked.
Merlina: "We need to do something real quick, my lads! Akira-boya is not going to hold this beast forever! Liza, sweetie, I hope you remember how to use your Ultima!"
Liza summoned 'Willy the Wisp' — a large green ball of light and fire, which acted on its own through another little portal of hers — and nodded toward Merlina with a firm expression.
Merlina: "Good. Now, Arthur, boy, don't be ashamed! It happens to the best of us. Instead of standing there being just a pretty boy, get ready to use your full potential, 'tis understood?"
Arthur firmly nodded.
Arthur: "I'm ready, Lady Merlina."
Wendrathael charged straight at Akira, cornering him against the frostbitten cliffs. The massive Wendigo made a death wager of his own, throwing the full weight of his fury into the charge.
Akira thundered.
Akira: "Ars Goetia: Come forth, Devilish! Shadow Step!"
Liza couldn't believe her eyes. In a blur, Wendrathael struck—but instead of Akira, his claws met only black smoke. The dark puff vanished into the beast's chest, leaving him bewildered. Akira now stood behind him, sword raised high, waiting for the monster to make a single wrong move.
Wendrathael's madness knew no bounds, his eyes glowing scarlet red as he hacked chunks from the cliff, not sparing even his own allies standing on it. Most of them fell with wild screams, but Wendrathael didn't stop there. He grabbed the smaller Wendigos, barely alive after the fall, and sank his sharp fangs into them.
Liza, Merlina, and Arthur stood on the other side of the natural coliseum, shouting through the evil-winded blizzard.
Arthur: "What a horrible creature."
Liza: "I thought Toasty said any warps are prohibited?"
Merlina nodded with a satisfied grin.
Merlina: "Aye, but Akira uses his own technique. This 'evil wind' seems to block only general teleportation abilities. A bold move for sure—but my boya isn't giving up so easily..."
Liza clutched her fist over her chest, fear twisting in her gut.
She shouted, desperate.
Liza: "Senpai!"
Meanwhile, her two green-hued Wisps and the Gremlins did their nasty job, shooting at the last remaining shaman Wendigos. The final group stood not far off, already being scorched by Zhenzhen's phoenix.
Zhenzhen thundered through the storm.
Zhenzhen: "Ars Goetia! Phoenix: Dive! Dive and blaze them all, my friend!"
The great firebird obeyed instantly, soaring into the enemy ranks.
Akira could barely dodge another round of Wendrathael's furious attacks. Each swipe tore through the air in front of the Warrior Ars Goetian with a shrill whistle.
Liza was on edge.
She thundered like it was the last thing she'd ever say.
Liza: "Ars Goetia, come forth—Esmeralda!"
Merlina barked again, facing Arthur.
Merlina: "No time to waste, my boy. You did well holding your ground and protecting us—now 'tis time to unleash this girl's full potential..."
Suddenly, Wendigo shamans snuck through a crack in the far wall, attempting to ambush them just as Merlina spoke. It was hard to see through the swirling chaos around the battlefield.
Arthur didn't hesitate. He raised his two-handed sword.
Arthur: "Ars Goetia: Avenger!"
Cleo tried to stand.
The Wendigos lunged toward Merlina, and Liza from behind—but Arthur was faster. He cleaved through them without a second thought.
Liza shielded her face against the blizzard's wrath.
Liza: "How can you even see through this snowstorm?"
Merlina: "Focus, Liza, dear!"
Liza nodded faintly, barely aware of what she was doing.
She thundered again.
Liza: "Ars Goetia!"
She faltered—but steadied herself. Hoping no one could hear her, she yelled over the deafening wind, voice cracking with desperation.
She extended her hands toward the place where she'd last seen Wendrathael fighting Akira.
Liza: "Esmeralda, please... Save my beloved once again. I will forever be in your debt. Ars Goetia: Twilight of Notre Dame!"
A weeping, green, ghostly woman looked down at her with gentle understanding. She seemed sorrowful at first, but the shared pain of lost love united them both, in body and spirit.
A spectral vision of Notre Dame de Paris descended from above, striking the massive Wendigo squarely atop the head, casting the battlefield in a mystical twilight.
Merlina's voice rumbled through the air.
Merlina: "Prince Arthur—now!"
Arthur finished off the last of the lesser Wendigos behind them. He turned back toward Cleo. She was barely standing, swaying slightly, wiping blood from her lip as if she'd just staggered out of a bar brawl.
Arthur's voice wavered faintly.
Arthur: "I await your order, Mistress Cleo."
Cleo raised her eyes, searching through the blur of frost and magic. Wendrathael stood in front of Akira, dazed, confused, and awed by the twilight summoned by Liza.
The green witch, Esmeralda, soared toward him and sank her ghostly teeth into his face, biting into his cheek.
Cleo finally found herself—gathering the last of her strength—and cried out with Arthur, their voices rising together.
Cleo and Arthur: "Ars Goetia: Last Light of the King!"
In that decisive moment, Arthur's sword released all the energy it had gathered—one final, world-breaking slash. A divine arc of light cleaved the air like a dying sun and struck Wendrathael square in the chest.
The beast roared in its death throes, its massive form beginning to dissolve—slowly, but surely.
Akira cast his gaze across the battlefield... and felt it. The worst of the storm had already passed.
After a long, steady pause, Akira and Zhenzhen dashed toward the place where Merlina and the girls stood with Arthur.
Liza rushed to hug Cleo, shouting.
Liza: "STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!"
She kept repeating it endlessly.
Cleo, guilty, whispered tiredly, hugging her with one hand.
Cleo: "Sorry, Liza. I'm so sorry..."
Akira came closer to Arthur.
Akira: "So, how's your bravado, 'fair knight'? Worth it, I presume?"
Arthur stood before him, ashamed.
Arthur: "Pray forgive me, but..."
Merlina wearily adjusted her enormous pointed hat.
Merlina: "Save it, freshman. Not his fault. He's an attacking fellow, and she's being awakened with a shield in hand. Cleo is truly a diamond in the rough. But she and Arthur are a combination of opposites. I'd explain more, but I'm surprised anyone could ever withstand a blow like this from this wild animal!"
Akira: "What are you thinking, Arthur?"
Zhenzhen gently placed a hand on Akira's shoulder.
Akira, irritated, glanced at him.
Akira: "What now?"
Zhenzhen shook his head in a gesture—it's not the time for squabbling.
Akira raised his voice.
Akira: "Explain. What are you thinking, Arthur?"
Cleo tried to stand up for her "inner self."
She could barely speak, but she tried as hard as she could, while Liza, still hugging her, kept calling her "stupid" endlessly.
Cleo: "Mister Akira..."
Akira: "Merlina, she's bleeding—her mouth..."
Merlina: "I've done what I can, freshman. You know I'm not omnipotent. My powers have limits too."
Akira let out a weary sigh.
Akira: "In the real world, it's going to leave a mark on you, Cleo. Don't do anything like that again."
Merlina: "Like I said..."
Akira blurted out.
Akira: "Save your excuses, Merlina! I understand you know this one from long ago... But that doesn't justify his recklessness!"
He paused. It was their victory, but Akira's mood cast a shadow over them all.
Akira: "Bah! I'm wasting time here. We're going to the infirmary first thing in the morning, Cleo. Meet me and Liza then. Also, give me your phone number—I'll call you at sunrise. If anything happens to you in reality, your noble knight will pay for it."
Merlina briefly raised an eyebrow.
Merlina: "But she's alive, freshman."
Akira: "Just help her if you have anything left, Merlina. That's an order. I need a moment alone."
Liza called out to him.
Liza: "Senpai!"
But Akira went the other way from them.
Merlina tilted her head.
Merlina: "Ordering me... I'm your teacher, Allah Almighty!"
Arthur: "He's right, Mistress Merlinaza. I wasn't quick enough to parry the blow."
Merlina sighed heavily, adjusting her pointed hat.
Merlina: "All's well that ends well, my boy."
Liza: "I don't understand... I mean, how do we even use all these powers? By instinct or something? And what about—'know this one from long ago'?"
Merlina: "Let's start from the beginning, sweetheart."
She paused briefly.
Merlina: "Ahem, Arthur and I have known each other since the time we wandered the Dreamscape together, long, long ago..."
Arthur softly nodded.
Arthur: "I was much more reckless then, Lady Merlinaza."
Merlina continued.
Merlina: "Aye, and you still are, my boy. Now, to your question, Liza, dear. Have you ever heard of 'mechanical memory'?"
Liza, still holding Cleo's head against her chest, nodded slowly.
Merlina: "'Tis a phenomenon where you retain characteristics or behaviors acquired from previous mechanical environments, even when placed in a different one. That's why it's called the 'inner self'—you are reflections of each other. You 'remember' what you need to do. So call it instinct, or whatever you like; it matters not. Like a baby learning to walk, eventually, you learned to use your powers in the Dreamscape. Capiche?"
She added the last word with a radiant smile.
Liza shook her head.
Liza: "Like hell, I'm supposed to understand what any of that means!"
Merlina: "Meanwhile, we should set up our resting camp here, perhaps in the middle. Soon, you'll all wake up in the real world. Arthur, laddie, we need to make a quick holy power circle—so they can leave their spiritual bodies here. They can't return to their pocket planes. I don't think Cleo even has one yet."
Arthur nodded.
Arthur: "As you command, Lady Merlinaza. Cleo can always rest in the Knighthood realm with me. The problem is, right now, we're all trapped here by the lord of the underworld."
Merlina: "Aye. Well then, chop-chop—let's go!"
She turned to Liza and Cleo.
Merlina: "Dearies, I'll start a fire. Go and tell Akira that we must all gather under the light of the circle for protection."
Liza nodded at Cleo. They slowly made their way toward where Akira was standing.
Liza and Cleo got closer to Akira. He stood not far from the passageway they'd left before the grand battle.
Liza: "Still sulking, Senpai?"
Akira glanced at her with a sigh.
Akira: "Liza..."
Liza gave a quick whisper to Cleo.
Liza: "Hold on for a second, Cleo. I have to tell him something."
Cleo nodded and tried to stand on her own, doing her best not to lose balance.
Liza approached Akira from the side.
Liza: "Grumpy Senpai!"
Akira barely held back a loud snort as he continued to pretend to observe something down the passageway.
Liza: "Hmm... who's Grumpy Senpai?"
She faced him from another angle.
Akira: "I can't believe you, Liza..."
He sounded like he was just about ready to give up.
Liza: "Here's Grumpy Senpai! Argh!"
She playfully pounced on him just as he turned to face her, and the two of them tumbled into the snowdrift beneath their feet.
Liza blushed as red as a cherry, finding herself nearly on top of him, her hands brushing the ground under the snow as she tried not to sink in completely.
Gathering the last portion of her courage, she beamed at him and said.
Liza: "Here you are! Grumpy Senpai!"
Akira smiled back at her sincerely, holding her by the waist with one hand.
Still looking away, he lowered his gaze and mumbled in a parody of her tone.
Akira: "Here I am. Grumpy Senpai..."
Liza beamed again.
Liza: "Ha-ha! I knew you couldn't be mad forever!"
Cleo suddenly appeared behind them with a squint.
Liza turned to face her, both puzzled and embarrassed at the same time.
Cleo leaned in, narrowing her golden eyes. Liza could see Cleo's cracked lip, the dried blood—yet there was something playful behind it. She whispered quietly enough that only Liza could hear, her voice timid but edged with teasing.
Cleo: "Who's the bold girl now, huh, Liza?"