I made it into this forest.

My pursuers should be straight on my heels.

After all, I don't believe that they'll just let me escape with my findings.

Aggravatingly, my injuries are slowing me down.

I can only hope that my magic will allow me to evade the enemy.

Unfortunately, I only make it a relatively short distance before the wind tells me of pursuers behind me.

I try to shake them off through the mountainous terrain, but they are relentless and of considerable aptitude, managing to catch up with me.

I jump from one branch to the other, when suddenly I'm intercepted.

"Got you!" (savior)

Damnit, he caught up!

Just in time, I manage to angle my body to avoid a strike that would've cut me in half.

"You won't escape! Barrier!" (saint)

Before I can do something, a curtain of white light descends behind me.

I try to jump through, but the gaps close faster than I can sprint.

When I make contact, I notice that the barrier is not only solid but burns when I draw too close.

The saint seems to need to keep on concentrating to maintain the barrier, which means I at least don't have to fear more spells like this.

Nonetheless, those light users are really nasty opponents.

To think that both of them were so damn fast.

How am I supposed to get out of this predicament?

I need to deliver my findings to my creator or all of this will have been for naught.

Yet my situation is rather dire.

My body is weakened, while my opponents are apparently at full strength.

Their abilities are well-suited against mine and that weapon is devastating.

To make the situation more problematic, this saint might be sentient as well.

So I can't kill either of them.

The end of a sentient being is against what my creator wished for.

But fleeing obviously didn't work.

I'm at a loss.

"He’s trapped now, Sora! Finish him off!" (fairy)

Maybe I can injure them and then try to make my escape?

If the barrier has to be actively channeled, breaking this saint's concentration should be my way out.

In this case, I should somehow injure the saint, no matter how slightly, and aim for the legs of the savior so he won't be able to pursue me further.

I conjure two wind blades and charge.

Before I reach them, my shadows explosively swamp the area around me, to make my opponent lose sight.

Yet they answer with a blinding light from the saint.

Channeling two spells at once?

Damn, she's good.

However, I still know where I was aiming at and strike.

"Clunk"

Only to meet the steel of the savior's blade.

They merely need to give it a little shove and the sword evaporates my magical blades.

Only a jump at the last second prevents worse.

Still, I find myself with a small gash in my arm, where the dark seaps out.

"You got them! Now keep pushing!" (fairy)

"Yeah, yeah. Don't push me." (savior)

This doesn't look good.

The light of this blade is somehow wearing me out.

As if it burns my magic away.

The fight continues.

While I worried before if they might stall me long enough for reinforcements to arrive, it doesn't seem like I can even prevail against merely the two of them.

His strikes are heavy, he doesn't seem to tire out, and the blade is countering my magic.

Moreover, her light prevents any tricks of mine while at the same time keeping me from escaping.

More cuts add up the longer we clash, to the end I barely have the strength to stand.

In one last desperate attempt, I gather a shadow cloud and dash at him to deliver a final strike.

Yet like all the times before, the saint uses this vexing light to dissipate it, and the savior follows through on the so-created opening to charge at me.

This time, the blade finds its target.

Urgh.

I'm not dead yet, but the harm is done.

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I won't be able to defend against the next strike.

"He’s done! Finish him!" (fairy)

"I already said, don't push me!" (savior)

He walks up to me, sword raised, and that blasted saint by his side.

Urgh, seems like I'm going to disappoint my creator with my end.

"CRACK"

"What?" (savior)

Huh!?

I, I'm alive?

And the barrier is broken!

"So this is where your determination brought you, Lajus?" (Kroga)

I know this voice!

Kroga!?

Why?

How did this big guy get here?

His huge iron pillar raised in front of me, shielding me from the enemy.

"I'm disappointed. To think you would let it come to this which would hurt our ma-ma, master!" (Damina)

"Wha-what are you doing here? This is dangerous." (L)

"You are the last one who could state this!" (K)

"Truly. The one charging ahead is the one who has to be saved now. Who would have thought?" (D)

I don't understand how they got here, but I suppose I need to be grateful for not dying.

Such a failing would've saddened my creator, which is unforgivable.

Yet now they are with me here in enemy territory.

Promptly, I hear shouting from our opposition.

"Don't give up now! You can do it!" (fairy)

"Yeah, yeah. I'm on it." (savior)

"Be careful, Sora! Those aren't normal demons!" (saint)

"Understood." (savior)

I suppose I should follow her example and give a warning of my own.

"Beware, they use light element attacks!" (L)

"No problem." (K)

Once again that sword lashes out, but against Kroga's heavy pole, it can't compete.

Effortlessly, he swings this massive slab in the way of the attack and pushes his opponent all the way back.

The savior slides along the grass, yet without toppling over they regain their stance.

"Damina, this enemy is a sentient being. You know what that means." (L)

We can't go against the directive our creator gave us.

Well, it would theoretically be possible, but at the same time be unthinkable to forfeit their will.

"Wonderful. As if this wasn't already complicated enough." (D)

I see Kroga and his opponent engaging further in battle.

They clash, but Kroga's defensive style along with his superior strength helps him avoid any injuries.

Whenever the savior tries to prepare his footing, Kroga stomps, and earthen pillars rush at him to push him further back.

"Damn, this isn't working. Oh saint, lend me your aid! Lightwave!" (savior)

"Magic boost!" (saint)

"Whom"

Another stomp.

This time a protective wall of stone rises to protect Kroga and everything behind him as a growing wave of light slams into it.

"What now? We can't have Kroga continue like this. Eventually, reinforcements will arrive. He had a team with him." (L)

"Which is why we should deal with this now. Lajus, gather your shadow magic and wait for my sign." (D)

I look at her.

In front of us, Kroga and the savior once again engage each other.

Fierce slashes actually seem to give Kroga trouble.

To the side, that saint appears to be preparing something.

"Urgh. What are you going to do? We can't have Kroga fight alone." (L)

"Don't talk like this, maggot. I am, in fact, already fighting. Or how do you think we found you?" (D)

At her words, suddenly the whole forest seems to move.

From one moment to the other, branches reach out, brushwood grows, and grass rises from the ground.

Everything around us takes a darker turn.

"Took me long enough to claim control over those shrubs. Now let's see how they'll deal with this!" (D)

Suddenly, the greenery all at once explodes toward the enemy.

"Sora! Watch out!" (fairy)

"Very helpful!" (savior)

"Barrier!" (saint)

The plants grow to their positions, trying to wrap up everything in their way.

Whatever magic the saint was concentrating on is thrown aside as she’s forced to surround herself with light, keeping the vegetation at bay.

The savior on the other hand, slashes at every bit of green coming close.

Yet they keep on coming.

It looks like Damina got him.

"Fireball!" (mage)

"Magic boost!" (saint)

Oh no!

The rest of his team is here!

This will make this fight all the more difficult.

"Tsk. I wanted to catch him, but if this doesn't work, let's go for Plan B." (D)

Promptly, the branches and shrubs all come together to form another barrier right in front of us.

Just in time for a flaming explosion to blow them all to pieces.

"Lajus, I need those shadows now!" (D)

Okay, that was clear.

Hopefully that saint will need time between casts.

So my shadows erupt once more.

"Kroga, back! And take this baggage with you!" (D)

She's referring to me with baggage.

The next moment, a strong arm lifts me over my brother's shoulder.

We are escaping!

With Damina's ability to control this forest and Kroga's relentless strength, we can move unhindered by the enemy forces.

"What about our brother? Why isn't he here?" (L)

"Helfa is currently keeping the enemy forces occupied. However, even if his fire rages into an inferno, I would advise you to hurry up, before their flood extinguishes that flame." (D)

They all came to save me?

"Don't look like that. This is purely to spare our creator grief after she stated her will of protecting us." (D)

Yes, I know I'll have to answer for this.

----------------------------------------

- A bit later, palace -

"You said I wouldn't have to fight anything but mindless puppets! This was obviously not the case here!" (?)

"This was the way it was designed. It's not my fault that the other party changes these rules." (fairy)

"So, what now? Am I supposed to kill them? This is against our agreement!" (?)

"You were pretty close to making that happen." (fairy)

"I could've used magic to imprison him till it's over." (?)

"Doesn't sound applicable. You should rather deal with the threat entirely." (fairy)

"So what? I'll ask again! How am I supposed to 'deal' with them?" (?)

"You need to grow stronger. Head to the dungeons for they will increase your group's magic power. Also, your opponents... Their souls aren't under any restrictions. Even if their bodies were to perish, it's no problem to respawn them later on." (fairy)

"That word. I hope you know what you're talking about." (?)

"I do. I'm intimately familiar with the process." (fairy)

"Your word in god's ear." (?)

"Oh, believe me, they're listening." (fairy)