As the boss prisoner’s words rang out, “You're truly brilliant and outsmarting my league. You are dangerous wandering around this realm. I really need to kill you,” the air thickened with malice. His fiery gaze burned through them, his intent unmistakable.

“Hiro, run!” Kyren shouted, desperation lining his voice. He knew they were outmatched.

Hiro sprinted, but it was too late—massive flames erupted around him. His scream pierced the air as his left leg was scorched, leaving him immobile. "Arghh!" His cry cut through the chaos.

Kyren’s heart pounded as panic set in. Without thinking, he charged at the boss prisoner, his mind consumed with saving Hiro. His Gladius met the boss’s fiery punch, the blade trembling under the impact before shattering into pieces. Teeth clenched, Kyren steeled himself to block the next attack with his bare hands, but Hiro, despite his injury, launched himself forward. With a fierce kick, he sent the prisoner sprawling to the ground.

"Thanks, Hiro," Kyren panted, his voice shaky, sweat dripping from his brow.

“You okay?” Hiro asked, his face twisted in pain as he glanced down at his charred leg.

“This is nothing,” Hiro reassured with a grin, but the wince betrayed the agony he felt.

The boss prisoner rose again, snarling, his aura darkening. Electricity crackled through the air, igniting his second roots like a storm blending with the flames. His eyes gleamed with lethal energy.

Kyren’s gut clenched. “Hiro, this is bad. We need to run. This power… it’s like Patricia’s level.”

Hiro swallowed, his optimism faltering. "Yeah. We might be screwed this time." Fear flickered in his voice.

Before they could act, the prisoner, now moving like lightning, slammed a devastating punch into Hiro’s chest. The impact sent him crashing to the dirt, unconscious.

Kyren’s heart dropped as he watched Hiro fall. His mind spiraled into darkness, and the familiar hiss of the nightmare girl crept in, her voice slithering into his skull: “You will die... if... you will die...”

His grip loosened on what was left of his sword. His vision blurred, dread gripping him.

The prisoner boss prepared for the finishing blow when suddenly, a shimmering light barrier materialized around him, suspending him mid-air. Kyren snapped back to his senses and rushed to Hiro, pulling him away from the danger. Frantic, he scanned the area and spotted a girl with ashen hair, about their age, flanked by four other students. She pointed her wand at the prisoner boss, maintaining the barrier with calm focus.

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"Hiro, wake up!" Kyren urged, shaking him gently.

Hiro stirred, groggy from the blow. "What... happened?"

"We’ve got backup," Kyren said, trying to steady his racing heart.

Hiro blinked, eyes hazy. "Backup?"

Kyren nodded towards the boss prisoner, struggling within the light barrier. "Look. He’s trapped, for now."

But before they could catch their breath, the prisoner unleashed his full power, shattering the barrier in a violent explosion. “I’ll kill all of you!” he roared, his fury shaking the ground.

The girl with the light-root abilities narrowed her eyes. In an instant, she retaliated, sending a searing beam of light directly at him. Though he blocked it, his body convulsed from the damage. "ARGGGGGGGH!"

“Enough of this. I don’t want to kill you. Just press the button," the girl said coldly, her voice devoid of fear.

“Don’t play games!” The prisoner charged, but she swiftly cast another light barrier, this time around her group. His fist collided with it, triggering a massive explosion.

When the dust settled, his right hand hung mangled from the blast.

“Don’t throw your life away. You still have your left hand to press that button," she said, her calmness only enraging him further.

With a final, desperate scream, the prisoner prepared to unleash one more suicidal attack, but the girl’s eyes lit up again, the glow growing more intense. She unleashed a concentrated beam, and in an instant, the prisoner vanished without a trace, as if he had never existed.

"Whoa, what the hell just happened?" Hiro muttered, still disoriented.

Kyren looked around in shock. The girl lowered her wand, and with a sly smile, she approached them. “You’re safe now,” she said with a smirk, her confidence radiating.

"Thanks for the save," Kyren said, still wary despite the relief flooding his system.

“No problem, hehe," she giggled, the earlier tension seeming to dissipate.

As the relief washed over them, Kyren and Hiro stood up, still feeling the weight of their injuries but knowing they were now among allies.

“Nice to meet all of you,” Hiro greeted, his usual cheer slowly returning despite the pain radiating from his leg.

"Same to you guys. Now you can press your buttons," the girl said casually, a slight smirk curling her lips.

Kyren felt a sudden unease creep in. Something about her nonchalant attitude didn’t sit right. "But why?" he asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Just cooperate, guys. You’re decent. I don’t want any more encounters like that prisoner." She spoke with a light tone, but Kyren caught the edge in her voice.

Kyren and Hiro exchanged glances, realizing they were in a precarious position. They didn’t have their buttons, and even if they did, they weren’t going to press them. "Wait, let us explain," Kyren said quickly, trying to defuse the situation.

"Explain what?" the girl asked, eyebrow raised.

"That guy stole our button, so even if we wanted to give up, we can’t," Kyren clarified, trying to find a way out. “Maybe you can help us find one?”

The girl’s smile grew wider. “Oh, really?” she mused. Her eyes gleamed once more, the deadly light returning. “…Then I guess I have no choice but to kill both of you.”

The shift in her demeanor was terrifying. Hiro’s face drained of color, and he hissed, “Kyren, you got any bright ideas left?!?!”

“RUN!” Kyren shouted, shoving Hiro forward. They bolted, but the beam of light she unleashed tracked them, relentless and merciless.

It grew closer with every step. The brilliant light filled Kyren’s vision, and as it engulfed them, his last thought echoed in the blinding brightness: "Is this really how it ends?"