Phoebe POV:

‘Shun...’

I stood still and watched Filkruj batter his body around the Boss Room. He would get up, heal himself, and then charge back in.

“It is rather crude, but Shun is improving himself in real time at the expense of his own body... and mind. He is losing himself.”

I knew this would happen.

I bit my quivering lip; my vision blurred from the tears rushing to the side. The sheer amount of blood drenching his entire frame was enough to make most Adventurers pass out, but Shun kept on going.

He... embraced the pain. The way he fought was desperate for the injuries to pile and for blood to flow out of his wounds.

It was destructive.

“It’s... painful.”

Filkruj’s HP was approaching the 3/4 mark. Once it did, Katherine would have to make a move because this monster was hiding an insane amount of power.

“We should step in, Phoebe. His mind is... breaking apart.”

“I agree. This is the worst I’ve ever seen him. Shun can’t even feel his body anymore.”

It wasn’t that simple.

Filkruj crushed Shun’s head into the ground, decorating the area with more of his own blood. I wanted Shun to get knocked unconscious. We would then move in, deal with the Boss, then he would wake up in my arms, giving me an opportunity to explain he can’t do this anymore.

The results would force him to listen. I... I could get through to him then.

But the thing about Shun is his willpower wasn’t normal.

“I... can’t watch this any longer.”

“Go. I will support you all from here.”

We gave Katherine a nod before dashing in. That was when Shun’s glare locked onto us.

“STAY BACK! HE’S MINE!!”

“Shun, stop! He’s killing you!!”

He spun through the air, parrying hundreds of rapid blows from Filkruj. Their speed increased, but Shun couldn’t sense just how strong this monster was. He sidestepped to avoid a fist that fragmented the area further and peered down at me.

“No. I’m devouring him.”

‘!’

Shun’s cheeks rose. His lips stretched until they reached the border of eyes curved to the ground. The thin slits of darkness seemed to glow beneath a shadow that arched. It twisted into something... sadistic.

‘...’

“Rin.”

Shun caught Filkruj’s fist and reversed the force back toward him. The monster’s arm shattered due to the unexpected technique.

“COME ON!!”

Another trade, and another half seal for Rin formed. Filkruj tensed his arm to endure the force before smashing Shun around again. The key flaw with Rin was, once you’ve seen it the first time, you can adjust your strength to reduce the technique’s effectiveness. Filkruj didn’t choose this approach because he didn’t need to; the physical gap between them was too vast.

“Arrogant fool.”

His shattered arm almost finished its rapid recovery when Filkruj gripped Shun by the neck. The ground caved in before Shun’s body was dashed through the air.

“SHUN!!”

I flashed forward to catch his unconscious body soaked in blood. We didn’t watch the battle play out this way on purpose. Filkruj kept an eye on each of our movements and directed Shun into an ideal position that restricted our reactions. Armoured Sentri Knights kept Gerard busy. Sentri Guardians focused on Katherine, so once I moved, Filkruj’s fist timed my arrival.

“!”

Aiden caught the strike in the palm of his hand, and I retreated. Callouts weren’t necessary for the three of us; we had been together way too long.

“You seem sensible but far too weak.”

“I’m going to get very serious soon, Filkruj.”

The Sentri King peered down at Aiden. His lips soon curved into a slight smirk.

“What an interesting ability.”

Gerard arrived to provide support, but my attention was on Shun. His body was cold, and his breathing was weaker than it should be.

“Katherine! What are you waiting for?! Heal, Shun!!”

His blood continued to dye my clothes a darker hue. My heartbeat kept its rhythm, but my mind became increasingly disturbed.

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“Phoebe, would that be wise? Do you want me to provide a helping hand in killing himself?”

Katherine turned her body toward me. The gentle look in her gaze was no longer there—replaced with a deep seriousness. When I asked her about Shun, her eyes watered at the thought of whatever they discussed at night.

If it was Katherine, then Shun... may have opened up.

I wasn’t jealous. I was glad. I was happy until she told me he ran off to fight in the Night Wave. At that moment, Katherine did everything right. It was Shun who pushed her as far away as he could.

Now...

The tears spilt over.

It was my turn.

“I’ll stop him... So please...”

“As you will, Phoebe.”

Katherine understood my intentions. She splayed her hand, and water coiled around Shun. It healed his body at a rapid rate until his eyes flashed open.

“...Good. I can still go further.”

The brink of death meant nothing to him. He was in my arms, but his gaze rested on Filkruj.

“No... Shun, stay back or fight with us properly. Those are your only options.”

Shun ripped himself out of my grip before getting to his feet. I did the same—blocking his path to the Boss Monster. Right now, this was more important than the various Sentri trying to flood the battlefield. This was far more important than defeating Filkruj.

I needed to get through to him now or... It would be too late.

“This is my fight. Move.”

“Listen to me! You’re killing yourself!”

Shun’s jet-black eyes showed the depth of his pain. They revealed a scar so deep all that could be seen was darkness. His anger, his irritation, his annoyance; they all masked the vulnerability beneath.

Shun was human.

“You don’t know what it’s like to be powerless.”

His eyes bulged, but the tears escaping them didn’t lie. The additional torment he had put himself through led to this breaking point.

Shun was in pain.

“So I don’t care. I need the power. I need the power to end it all! Only then will I be free!”

My arms wrapped around him. I pulled his trembling body into a deep hug and pressed my head against his shoulder. Quiet sobs phased out the area around us. I couldn’t stop them; they just continued to fall at how broken Shun was.

“Stop it... This... is enough.”

He quaked. Tremors ran up and down his entire frame before I felt the tension of his muscles. The darkness sealed the opening shut, preventing any light from reaching further than his exterior.

“You’re in my way.”

‘!’

Shun shoved me to the side. I didn’t think his gaze could go any colder, but I was wrong. There was no emotion other than the desire to fight against Filkruj.

“Shun, you’re staying right there.”

“Move.”

“I won’t.”

“Tch.”

We... clashed against each other. A blast of air rippled out from our forearms meeting; the collision fragmented the area wet with tears.

“Shun, just calm down! You’re not thinking properly!”

I twisted my neck to the side, dodging his kunai before our hands blurred. I was a Sword Master, but hand-to-hand combat was a form of fighting no Ki Practitioner should neglect.

I slipped past his flurry and spun into a short elbow that launched Shun’s chest backwards.

“I’m perfectly fine.”

“!”

A kunai exploded the moment it pierced my arm. It was an attack I saw coming but had no choice to let hit. After seeing... me injured, wouldn’t Shun... come back to me?

“Come on. Stop me properly if you can.”

His lips curved into a smirk that goaded me forward. I guess I was naïve, or rather too optimistic. Since it came to this, I would carry out my original plan.

“...You’re right.”

An innumerable amount of white swords formed the Ki flaring out of my body. The ground splintered from the slight force I exerted, stopping only once I faced Shun.

“I’ll stop you because I love you, Shun.”

An amber sword tore through the darkness. It ripped open the entanglement, concealing a wounded heart before piercing into it.

Shun dropped to his knees.

His mouth opened once his hands gripped hold of his head. A scream penetrated the air; it speared through my heart at the sheer weight and agony within it. Tears cascaded to the ground, falling past my trembling lip.

Shun... was tortured.

“Shut up. Shut up. SHUT UP!! I’LL KILL YOU!!”

I closed the gap between us and fell in front. My knees hit the ground when my hands rested against his cheeks.

“...Look at me, Shun.”

His dark eyes looked at me but stared at someone else: the source of all his pain and suffering. Tremors reminded him of that experience. They forced his head to shake side to side; the confidence he had built up was stripped away with a single... look.

“G-get away from me!! S-stay back!!”

His voice regressed into an almost child-like version of itself. Shun tried to escape. He tried to run away, but my hands caressed his cheeks.

“Me.”

My lips spread into a soft smile. A smile that contained everything I felt for him and more. A smile that wanted there to be an us. Despite the baggage weighing him down, I would support him. I would be there for him.

Because I loved him.

The amber sword repelled the darkness. It stopped several attempts to extract the support—the love that the wounded heart needed. The tremors waned. The quakes subsided until the shaking stopped.

Shun hung his head down; black hair hid whatever face he was making, but it was alright now.

I reached him this time.

“It’s okay.”

My thumbs stroked his smooth skin. Once a few more seconds passed by, I began to tilt his head back up toward me.

“I’m... sorry.”

That was the first thing he said when our eyes met. There were no tears on his face, but I think he understood it. Maybe that’s why he touched me. He wiped away the tears flowing down my cheeks.

“I put everyone in danger.”

‘It worked.’

I pressed my forehead against his without breaking eye contact. The heat we shared became one, and I wanted to go a little further. A-anyway, we would have time later.

“No, Shun. We aren’t weak. Everyone is fine.”

I pursed my lips before placing them against his cheek. It was quiet, but a soft sound could only be heard between the two of us. I ignored the blood rushing to my cheeks and forced myself to not jump the gun by trying to finish what I started at the waterfall.

“I... can wait for you. First, let’s... deal with Filkruj.”

“...This won’t happen again.”

Shun didn’t just grip my hand; he interlocked his fingers with mine and squeezed them. I couldn’t stop my cheeks from rising or my heart from thumping away as I gave him a soft nod.

‘He’s warm.’

We got to our feet, still holding hands. I didn’t want to let him go now that we were so close. It was... surrea—

“...You can let go now.”

‘...’

I moved my hand away in a hurry. I guess I was the only one enjoying the moment. Guh! It was embarrassing enough that my cheeks felt way hotter than normal, but it wasn’t so bad once I saw his lips curve upwards at my reaction.

Filkruj’s HP was approaching the halfway point. He chose not to use the immense power he was hiding, and that worked out better for us. Even if he was baiting us into a trap, we might be able to kill him before he had the chance to show his hand.

“Retsu.”

Aiden’s spear shot forward when Shun arrived beside Gerard.

“Sha.”

Everyone within the Domain began to heal as long as Shun utilised that technique.

“I’m sorry, but I’m back now.”

Those words were enough to ease Aiden’s tension. The corners of his mouth rose, and a firm nod welcomed Shun back. Gerard’s lips parted into a bright grin, and for once, the party...

“Let’s deal with this Boss, and go home!”

“Well done. Both of you.”

Felt complete.

I rested a hand over my beating heart; a wave of relief and happiness washed away the anxiety I felt at losing him. I stared at his back, standing with the others, fighting with the others, and working as a team. I knew it was still early. Shun would need some more time, but he had me. He had us.

My eyes softened.

“I love you, Shun.”