A heavy veil of steam encompassed the area on the platform. From within its grey mask, a large figure emerged.

The Barhemoth shook its head to clear away the steam that poured out from its mouth. Such a powerful blast of energy took its toll and the beast seemed sluggish in its movements.

Arga gripped her sword tightly and let out a grunt.

“You bastard—don’t think for a minute that you’ll get away with that!” Arga stood ready with her sword in front of her.

Her hands were surprisingly steady and she pressed one foot forward, just about to charge ahead when she was interrupted by a sudden flash of light.

{Zephyr Blast activated}

“Hiyaa!”

I dropped from the ceiling as a gust of wind blew out from my hand. The strips of wind cut into the monster's face and it stumbled back unhurt but confused.

I landed on the floor roughly and rolled back onto my feet with an unsmooth motion. I kept my head focused ahead, not because the monster would soon attack, not even because I was afraid. It’s because I knew what would happen next.

How are you alive? What was that just now, are you secretly strong? That must have been a skill right? You kept your abilities hidden all this time?!?!!

I didn’t want to hear those kinds of questions again, followed by untrusting eyes. The eyes of someone who would easily use me to get what they want…everything would change now.

I could feel her eyes on me and I wanted to—no I needed to know what she was thinking.

My head gingerly rose to the side where Arga was standing and was met by a toothy grin and bright crimson eyes.

She was smiling and…it felt, warm?

“Seriously cool move back there! Glad you’re okay—just don’t scare me like that next time okay?”

Her voice was full of life, I could feel the raw emotion behind her words and that she meant it. My eyes wouldn’t deceive me, not about this, not again.

I was dumbfounded. I couldn't even reply with words, at most, I was able to respond with a confused mess of words.

“W-what—that’s it?”

“Hyaaaaaggghhh!! Roooooaaaaaaaagggghhhh!”

The monster's deep menacing cries came rushing at us like a breeze of wind.

Our exchange was put on pause as the hulking beast emerged from the steam ahead of us.

“That thing is tough, bad enough that it’s hard as hell but it can shoot lasers too?!” Arga cursed.

I observed its body, the constant blinking of its eyes and the rough motions that it would swing its head with. They were both leading to one conclusion.

“…we can beat it.”

“How so?”

I didn’t realise that I spoke out loud and quickly replied with a confused exhale. “Eh? Oh, it’s just…well…”

She was looking down at me with blank eyes, waiting for me to say something.

“It’s just…look at the way it's swinging its head around. Doesn’t it look like it's dazed or something?”

Arga followed the direction to where I was pointing and watched as the monster swung its head with aggressive shakes, further riling itself up.

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“Yeah, you’re right. It started doing that when it fired off that laser before right?”

I nodded in agreement.

Arga rubbed her chin as she spoke. “It did something pretty similar before when rammed into my sword. Is it some kind of recoil from its attacks then?”

“I think so. We should aim for that then— but that would mean...” As I said that, my head lowered and a troubled expression overcame me.

“What is it?”

“I noticed that the skin between its shell is really easy to cut through, getting through it though will be the problem.”

“Not a problem.” Arga chimed in. She boosted her sword onto her shoulder and gave a confident grin when speaking. “All you need is an opening, right? I can give you one.”

She can’t seriously be talking about a close-quarters fight with that thing? We still don’t even know the full range of its abilities yet and she wants to get in close with it. Her sword did manage to crack its gems before but it’s still too risky!

“That’s too unsafe, what if it—”

“Place some trust in your party.” Arga replied with a dead-stone expression.

Her eyes became sharp, I had never seen such a determined expression from her before. It was strangely intimidating, so much so that I was caught off guard and left speechless.

I felt it though, it was the same as when I fought the Rhaskan before but slightly different.

We’re talking without words like I can read her emotions.

Does she consider us a party?

I felt a little guilty, up to then I had seen her as someone possibly trying to use me. She was a kind person and I sensed that from the beginning but…something held back. I couldn't fully accept her or trust her.

She’s been fighting her all this entire time and I’ve been concerned about secrets, damn I’m trash! If she’s going to fight then the least I could do is follow with everything I have.

I nodded back and stood ready.

Arga smiled and broke away, she and the Barhemoth locked eyes and a moment later—charged.

She ran with her sword at her side, ready to be swung with a wide motion, while the Barhemoth ahead of her galloped on all fours with its arms breaking up stones with every step.

As the two sides collided, she separated her feet with a wide stance and swung. It flew out with a wide swing and collided with the beast's horn, stopping them both in place.

The reverberation from the attack shot all the way here, sending shivers across my body. I could see it from the rear that she was hurt. That much force and pressure surging through her body all at once was enough to send a grown man straight to the floor—and yet she was still going strong!

I said it before but—she’s strong!

Arga put all her strength behind her attack but the Barhemoth had more to give. Its body which had been kept low on all fours, grew taller as it held itself higher with its arms.

She was pushed back and was slowly sinking back into the ground, almost touching it. All that stood between her and the Barhemoths horn was Black Opal.

“Is that…all you got—!”

A raging flame erupted beneath her and engrossed her body, hugging her with a flaming gold aura.

Suddenly her sinking back rose and the beast was put on defence. Her strength rose to an inhuman level and looked to have put the two sides on equal footing.

{Target has activated Flaring Spirit} {Target's physical abilities have increased in relation to their passion}

With a large shove, she forced the monster to the side and caused it to fall to its side. With the motion of her shove, she pivoted to the side and was in line for an attack.

She held the massive double-handed sword into the air above her head and forced it down with a powerful crash onto the Barhemoths back.

Shatter

Only a handful of tiny shards remained planted on its back as her sword broke free from the crumbled blue stones. Its defences were quite literally smashed to pieces. As her attack concluded so did her skill and the golden fire was snuffed out.

Now it’s my turn!

I blasted forward with a trail of white blurring behind me and slashed through the monster's back.

A deep cut brought the beast's health down with a large drop and triggered a painful moan. The monster rolled over, swinging its arms and legs out like a baby as it fell over onto its bare back.

It picked itself up from the ground with all four of its glowing blue eyes facing towards me.

Suddenly the remaining shards on its chest and arms released a dimmer but still strong amount of light. It pulsated back and forth, building up a charge as the light in its mouth grew larger.

“Don’t let it—!”

Arga reached for her sword and charged ahead but the monster's glow had already subsided. All that was left was the blow.

My eyes widened and my body moved on its own.

I activated Rush Again and headed directly past the monster's sulked body and straight to Arga who was in line for its attack.

The beam had been fired and its full wrath released from the Barhemoths mouth. The heat surrounding its blast grew stronger, I could feel it building behind me.

I held out my hand, just hoping that I would make it in time. My eyes squinted, growing desperate as our hands got closer.

I could feel the heat from its beam trailing behind me, it wasn’t far off and once it hit—I didn’t want it to hit!

I want to protect her—I don’t know what this feeling is but it’s strong. It’s overtaking every other thought. The single goal to make sure this woman would survive.

The overpowering message inside my head, crying out over every other thought.

Protect your friend.

Our hands touched and I followed with a hearty scream.

“SHADOW STEP!!!!”