I stepped cautiously among the rubble and dust that filled the air of the cave. Mira's breathing still sounded erratic behind me, but this time, the continuous sobs had faded. I could sense the despair that had once gripped her slowly melting away. Though still fragile, she was in a better place now.

Mechanical wolf monsters continued to emerge, their red eyes reflecting the hidden lights of their internal mechanisms. This wasn't the first time we had fought such creatures, but something about them felt different this time. They were more aggressive, more coordinated.

I glanced at Mira standing beside me. Her face, usually etched with anger and frustration, was calm now, but there was a new intensity in her gaze.

"I'm going to help you this time, Prince," Mira said, her voice steady but filled with determination. She pulled out her large scissors, wielding them effortlessly as if the giant weapon were just a toy.

I didn't have time to respond before the first attack came. A wolf with iron claws and a muzzle bristling with sensors charged toward us, its speed surpassing Neumann's predictions.

"Neumann! Focus on analyzing them! I need visual support!" I shouted as I drew my sickle, casting a small defensive spell to shield us from the initial wave of attacks. But as I stepped forward, Mira was already in motion.

In a swift motion, she swung her scissors. The sharp clang of metal echoed loudly as the blades sliced through the mechanical wolf, cleaving it in two. I froze for a moment, taken aback by her speed.

Mira didn't give me a chance to ponder. "We have a lot more to face. Don't fall behind, Prince!" she called out without looking back, pressing forward. She swiftly dispatched the next monsters, each wolf falling easily under the arc of her scissors.

I was both amazed and shocked. I had always known Mira was strong, but seeing her in real battle... she seemed like a different person. Every move she made was precise, calculated. Gone were the despair and death wish that had once dominated her. Only focus and determination remained.

We faced wave after wave of attacks. As I took down one wolf in front of me, Mira had already destroyed three more ahead of her. Mechanical body parts fell, leaving trails of electric sparks and synthetic blood scattered across the cave floor.

I turned to face Mira after securing our area, hoping to catch my breath for a moment, but suddenly Mira stopped, her body tense, her gaze fixed on the cave wall behind us.

"Prince… do you feel that?" she whispered.

Before I could ask what she meant, a massive wave of energy surged from a distance. It felt like a colossal explosion of magic, obliterating everything in its path—a raw power that shook the entire cave. Even the ground beneath my feet trembled, and small rocks began to fall from the ceiling.

"What is that?" I asked, but Mira reacted more quickly.

"Abigail," she replied, her voice filled with fear and concern. "It's… Abigail in danger. I have to get there!"

Without waiting for my approval, she charged toward the cave wall in front of us. With a single swipe of her scissors, the stone wall split open like paper, and Mira leaped through. I had to hurry to follow her.

"Mira! Wait!" I shouted, but she either didn't hear me or didn't care.

I forced myself to run faster behind her. Mira moved straight ahead, cutting through every wall that stood in her way. Nothing could stop her. The mechanical wolves that tried to block her path were instantly obliterated by the swing of her scissors.

"Mira! Neumann, give me an analysis! Which way are we going?"

Neumann hovered beside me, her digital form appearing anxious. "The surge of magic is coming from the same direction Mira sensed. It seems accurate. Abigail is there... and Jack might be with her."

I bit my lip, incredulous at how quickly the situation had escalated. "We have to get there as fast as we can!"

Mira leaped again, her scissors shimmering with magical energy as she sliced through another wall. When she landed on the other side, I noticed signs of fatigue on her face, but her spirit remained unbroken.

She turned briefly, her eyes filled with determination. "Move faster, Prince!"

I could only nod and follow her again. Every wall that blocked us was effortlessly breached. Every monster that attempted to halt our advance was cut down without mercy. Mira moved with a singular purpose: to save Abigail.

Yet even so, a sense of dread lingered in my mind. That massive explosion of energy… it couldn't have come from just one person. "What's happening to them? What could create such a surge of energy?"

Mira's desperate voice from those final moments echoed in my head. Now, her resolve felt like a double-edged sword—strong but incredibly fragile. If something happened to Abigail… what would become of Mira?

When I finally caught up to Mira, I saw the last wall she had cut through standing wide open. On the other side lay a vast cavern, and there she was. At the far end of the room, I saw a familiar figure. Abigail was sitting on the floor, exhausted and defeated. In front of her loomed a massive mechanical scorpion, its enormous pincers poised to crush anything in their way.

And across the room stood Zeratile, the sorcerer responsible for all this chaos, staggering. His face was pale, his body covered in wounds, yet he wore a victorious smile.

Without a second thought, Mira charged forward, swinging her scissors with all the strength she had left. I followed closely behind, my mind echoing one relentless thought: We must win… for them.

***

Jack and Abigail stood at the edge of devastation, their breaths coming in ragged gasps, their bodies worn out. The massive mechanical scorpion monster summoned by Zeratile loomed before them, poised to strike. In the heavy silence that hung in the air, they both knew their strength was almost depleted. Abigail bowed her head, wiping sweat and blood from her face, her sharp eyes now softened with a deep sense of guilt. She had used all her power, even the demon magic she had long hidden from Arche, but it still wasn't enough. Jack stood beside her, his body trembling from a series of brutal attacks. They were both on the brink of exhaustion.

Suddenly, the sound of crumbling walls caught their attention. With a loud crash, the cave wall on one side of the room cracked, split, and shattered into fragments. From behind the rubble emerged someone they recognized. Mira, wielding her giant scissors, stepped into the room with a cold, fierce gaze that Jack had never seen before. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

"Mira!" Jack shouted, waving his arms toward her. Inside, a flicker of hope that had almost extinguished reignited.

Abigail looked up, her eyes locking with Mira's for a brief moment. But she didn't say anything; her mouth was sealed tight. The look Mira gave her felt like a knife piercing Abigail's heart. The guilt that had once been a mere whisper now surged within her like a tidal wave. She wanted to speak, to apologize, but the words caught in her throat.

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Mira didn't say anything to Abigail. Her gaze swiftly returned to the looming scorpion monster, which now grinned menacingly with its sharp fangs. Jack, standing next to Abigail, realized that they couldn't defeat this creature on their own. With Mira here, they had a chance.

"You came just in time," Jack said, taking a deep breath. He began to chant his unique green ice magic, but his body was nearly spent. "We'll fight together!"

Mira didn't look at Jack; she just nodded briefly. She stepped forward, her cold eyes fixed on the monster, ready for battle. At that moment, Arche arrived, following closely behind Mira. His gaze immediately fell upon Abigail, who was exhausted and sitting on the floor. She looked so fragile, so worn out.

"Prince," Mira suddenly spoke in a firm but calm tone. "I leave Abigail in your care."

Arche nodded quickly and moved toward Abigail without hesitation. "I'll protect you," he whispered softly to Abigail, who looked taken aback by his presence. But Abigail was still too engulfed in her guilt to respond meaningfully. Her eyes glistened, staring straight ahead without a word.

"Mira…" Abigail whispered, her voice nearly drowned out by the chaos of the battle around them. But Mira, standing tall in front, didn't turn around.

Mira glanced briefly at Abigail, her look quick but enough to show she was listening. However, without allowing time for explanations or further words, her focus snapped back to the mechanical scorpion. Cold and composed, she whispered to herself, loud enough for Jack to hear standing nearby.

"How dare you touch Abigail…" she said, her voice low and filled with controlled anger. The aura around Mira suddenly shifted, her cold demeanor transforming into one of fierce determination. She lifted her giant scissors, illuminating the room with a powerful magical glow.

Jack felt a surge of power from Mira, and it surprised him. "We'll do this together, Mira," he said firmly, despite his labored breathing. "I won't let you fight alone."

"No," Mira replied coolly, still staring straight at the monster. "I'll destroy it myself."

Jack was taken aback, but he knew arguing was futile. Mira's resolve was unshakeable. "Alright," he finally relented. "But I'm here if you need help."

Meanwhile, Arche knelt beside Abigail, gently holding her hand. "Abigail," he called softly. "You don't need to feel guilty. Mira… she knows what happened. And I'm sure she'll understand once this is all over."

Abigail still stared blankly, though she could feel the warmth of Arche's grip. "I don't know, Arche. I've gone too far," her voice hoarse and full of regret.

"No," Arche replied, his tone filled with conviction. "It's not too late. You can still make things right. We can fix this. Mira will understand because she… she also wants you by her side."

Abigail's expression began to soften. "I hope you're right…" she murmured quietly, almost inaudibly.

Before them, Mira was poised to attack. With a powerful swing of her giant scissors, she charged forward. The scorpion monster reacted swiftly, launching an explosive blow with its mechanical pincers that sent dust and debris flying into the air. The sound of clanging metal echoed as Mira's scissors clashed against the monster's massive claws.

"Zeratile, you have nowhere left to run," Mira whispered to herself, her voice nearly drowned out by the metallic clangs. But the anger and determination in her tone were palpable, sending chills down Jack and Arche's spines as they watched from a distance.

The monster fought back fiercely, but Mira was much faster. Each movement she made looked like a deadly dance, evading attacks while retaliating with lethal slashes. Metal fragments and mechanical parts flew off every time her scissors sliced through the giant scorpion's body.

Jack remained alert nearby, ready to assist if needed, while Arche stayed close to Abigail, watching the battle with caution.

"Mira…" Abigail murmured softly, her eyes starting to regain focus. She watched Mira fight with all her might, struggling for her sake. For the first time in a long while, Abigail felt a spark of motivation to rise, to fight back, even though guilt still loomed over her.

Mira darted towards the massive mechanical scorpion with a speed almost imperceptible to the eye. With a swift swing of her giant scissors, she easily severed one of the monster's legs, sending metal and wires scattering and creating a shower of sparks. The scorpion recoiled, groaning in an unintelligible mechanical language. Yet, its large size was no match for its speed. With its gleaming metal claws and legs, the creature surged forward faster than anyone could anticipate.

Jack and Arche watched in awe from a distance, their eyes glued to the thrilling confrontation. Jack whispered, "A monster that big can move that fast… It's impossible."

Arche nodded, his gaze never leaving Mira. "But look at Mira… She isn't even fazed."

Mira flashed a sadistic smile, one that sent shivers down anyone's spine. The rapid movements of the scorpion didn't seem to intimidate her; in fact, it appeared to thrill her. She deftly dodged each time the monster's tail lunged at her, countering with swift strikes that took down another leg.

One by one, the scorpion's legs were chopped off, producing a screeching metal sound as the creature struggled to maintain its balance. But the monster reacted quickly, regenerating its legs with new mechanical components that emerged from its body.

"Regeneration?" Jack exclaimed in shock. "How can this monster keep repairing itself?"

Yet Mira only laughed. It was an unmistakable, manic laugh, brimming with twisted delight. "Look how easily you're falling apart," she said, her voice low and raspy. "But I can keep cutting you, and that just makes me want to play longer."

With even greater speed than before, Mira dashed around the scorpion. Each time one of the monster's legs reappeared, she sliced it off without hesitation, creating a rain of metal shards and wires scattered across the cave floor. The scorpion struggled to strike back, thrusting its tail and clawing with its massive pincers, but Mira deflected every attack with her scissors, like a maestro conducting a deadly performance.

"You're too slow," Mira taunted, her eyes sparkling with madness. "And now, I'm starting to get bored."

Zeratile, hiding in a far corner of the cave, watched in horror. He couldn't believe his eyes. "This is impossible…" he muttered, his voice trembling with fear. "This… this can't be. She shouldn't be this strong!"

Mira continued to chuckle softly, severing the scorpion's legs one by one, even as the monster regenerated. Each cut, each swing of her scissors was filled with an almost maniacal joy. The scorpion's tail jabbed at her repeatedly, but Mira easily evaded them. Finally, the tail moved too slowly for her, and with one swift slice, she cleaved it in two.

The scorpion let out a horrific scream, but Mira merely snorted. "I've played with you long enough," she said in a cold tone. "You're no longer interesting."

In one quick leap, Mira jumped onto the scorpion's body, staring directly at its control center. With a swift motion, she brought her scissors down, plunging them into the mechanical heart of the monster, cutting through metal, wires, and the magical energy that powered its massive form. The scorpion trembled, its body shaking as its mechanical components began to fail spectacularly.

Relentlessly and mercilessly, Mira continued to dismantle the scorpion into tiny pieces. Each severed part could no longer regenerate, completely destroyed beneath the might of her giant scissors. The monster was now nothing more than a heap of broken metal lying on the cave floor.

Mira stood atop the ruins of the monster, her breath steady. Jack and Arche stared in awe and shock at the brutal power Mira had displayed. The madness in her gaze slowly faded, replaced by the icy calmness that was her usual demeanor.

Zeratile, trembling in fear, crawled backward, his eyes wide with unmistakable terror. His remaining hand shook, and his frail body looked like it would collapse at any moment. "Please…" he whispered, his voice hoarse with desperation. "Don't kill me… I'll give you anything… anything…"

Mira turned, her gaze sharp and menacing. She walked closer, her steps slow but purposeful. Each movement radiated a chilling calm, while the giant scissors in her hand glistened with the remnants of the mechanical blood from the monster she had just defeated.

"Please…" Zeratile begged again, his body now completely trembling. "I can help… I can fix all of this…"

Mira stopped right in front of Zeratile, who was still crawling backward. Her cold gaze bore into him mercilessly. "You touched Abigail," she said slowly, each word dripping with controlled rage. "And that was your last mistake."

Zeratile looked at Mira with eyes filled with terror, rendered speechless by fear. But before he could react further, Mira lifted her scissors high above her head. In one swift motion, she brought them down, severing one of Zeratile's arms.

He screamed in agony as blood gushed from where his arm had been. But Mira didn't pause. She kept moving, each cut, each slash delivered with a chilling calmness. One by one, she sliced through his legs. Zeratile's screams echoed in the cave, but Mira remained unfazed.

At last, with Zeratile's body reduced to a mutilated, helpless state, Mira looked down at him, her cold gaze filled with a serene hatred. "This is your end."

With one final cut, she ended Zeratile's life, slicing him into pieces just as she had done with the mechanical scorpion. Jack and Arche watched from a distance, both silent and unable to find their voices.

Mira took a deep breath, then turned around, her expression slightly more composed. She walked over to Abigail, who was still stunned, and said calmly, "Now, it's all over."

Yet beneath that calm exterior, the madness that had once glimmered in Mira's eyes seemed far from gone.

***