After storming out of the clubroom, Yukari ran without stopping, her breath ragged as Tsukune’s words echoed painfully in her mind. The jeers of her classmates joined the chorus of doubt and loneliness that haunted her.

She’s just a kid. Barely eleven years old.

Why is she even here? This isn’t a place for babies.

A witch? Witches aren’t real monsters.

You’re no better than a human.

The cruel voices, both old and new, swirled in her head. Yukari muttered to herself, “I’ve always been alone.”

If I believe it, it won’t hurt as much. It’s my armor.

She closed her eyes tightly to fight the tears, not noticing someone in her path until she collided with them. The impact jolted her backward. “Ouch!” she exclaimed, more from surprise than pain.

Still stinging from her confrontation with Tsukune, Yukari snapped, “Are you blind? Watch where you’re going, you oaf!”

A cold voice responded, “You’re the one who should be more careful.”

Yukari’s heart sank as recognition hit her. The voice belonged to Tadashi. She looked up to see his face, twisted into a smirk that made her stomach churn. Instinctively, she tried to step back, but he grabbed her arm with a vice-like grip.

“Enjoy provoking me, do you?” Tadashi sneered, his tone dark and menacing.

“C-Class president!” Yukari’s voice quivered with a hint of panic. Surrounding them were other students, some she recognized, others she didn’t—one looked too old to even be a student.

Tadashi leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he whispered, “I bet you got a kick out of making a fool of me yesterday, didn’t you?”

“I-I didn’t!” Yukari protested, struggling to pull free. But Tadashi’s strength, bolstered by his lizardman nature, held her firm.

He laughed, a chilling sound that made Yukari’s skin crawl. “I’ve been waiting for the moment you strayed from Moka and Tsukune.”

As the group encircled her, Tadashi’s face twisted further into something grotesque. His lips pulled back in a grin that revealed sharp teeth, and a forked tongue flicked out between them. “As your class president, I’m going to teach you some respect.”

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

While Yukari was being taken away, Moka and Tsukune were locked in an argument in the clubroom.

“I don’t understand why you’re defending Yukari so much,” Tsukune said, frustration thick in his voice.

“But—”

Before Moka could continue, Tsukune, still raw from the day’s events, cut her off, “How can you stick up for her? Do you enjoy seeing me get hurt?”

Kurumu, observing the basin Yukari had conjured earlier, kept her distance from the confrontation. This side of Tsukune was unfamiliar, and she had no intention of getting caught in the crossfire.

Moka’s expression hardened. “It’s not like that at all! Do you really think I like seeing you get hurt? You were so compassionate with me and Kurumu—why can’t you show that same compassion to Yukari?”

Tsukune fell silent, taken aback by her words.

Moka pressed on, her voice now filled with a mix of anger and sadness. “Can’t you see that Yukari is hurting, just like I was?”

With that, Moka turned and left the room, leaving Tsukune and Kurumu alone in an uneasy quiet.

Trying to lift the heavy silence, Kurumu offered a nervous chuckle, “Well… Yukari really does live up to the witch stereotype.” She paused, noticing Tsukune’s downcast look, then added quickly, “You can see why witches aren’t well-liked.”

Tsukune’s attention shifted, curiosity sparking in his eyes. “Everyone hates witches?”

Kurumu nodded, relieved that he was willing to listen. “Yes. Historically, witches didn’t originally exist as a separate race. There are two major myths about their origin: they were either humans who acquired the power of monsters or monsters who sought to harness human qualities.”

Tsukune’s brows knitted in confusion. “So they’re kind of like a hybrid of humans and monsters?”

“Exactly,” Kurumu confirmed. “They’re known as ‘beings of the borderline,’ capable of existing in both worlds. And that’s why they’re distrusted.”

“But why?” Tsukune asked, still puzzled.

Kurumu leaned forward, explaining, “Witches can blend into human society easily, and they can wield youki like monsters. Unlike us, they can also use anki, which humans use. My mother once told me that youki symbolizes individualism and selfishness—traits most monsters embody. It’s why youki can’t be used to heal others. Anki, on the other hand, is connected to unity and selflessness. Witches, with their ability to wield both, were always seen as walking a dangerous line between two worlds.”

Tsukune’s confusion deepened. “So why were they hated for that?”

Kurumu sighed. “Because witches were often seen dealing and healing humans, gaining their trust and protection in ways other monsters couldn’t. It created resentment. Monsters started to fear and persecute them. Then, over time, even humans began to see witches as monsters, leading to witch hunts and more brutal persecution. No one trusted them. No one welcomed them.”

Realizing the implications, Tsukune’s anger melted away. He whispered, “They’re excluded… and discriminated against…”

Kurumu nodded solemnly. “Yukari wasn’t exaggerating when she said she’s always been alone.”

The word alone echoed in Tsukune’s mind, shifting his perspective entirely.

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Tadashi dragged Yukari deeper into the dead forest, away from the academy's safety. When withered trees and eerie silence surrounded them, he shoved her hard against a tree, drawing a pained yelp from the young witch.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Halfway through his transformation, Tadashi ripped off his tie, his voice slithering with malice. “Witches… you’re all filthy, ssstinking traitors.”

Yukari’s glare wavered, but she held on to a shred of defiance. Tadashi’s chuckle slithered out as his lackeys transformed around him. Their faces elongated, human teeth turning into rows of sharp fangs. Scales, varying in green, brown, and yellow hues, rippled over their bodies as their limbs grew lethal claws.

Tadashi, now fully in his monstrous form, hissed, “Half-breeds like you don’t belong with usss. You’re nothing but betrayal wrapped in weak human flesh.”

The other lizardmen growled and hissed, their eyes gleaming with hunger. The forest was swallowed in their guttural echoes, vibrating with menace. When the noise subsided, Tadashi’s voice struck Yukari like ice. “Time to vanish, little witch.”

Trapped against the tree, Yukari’s eyes darted frantically. Desperation flared as she fumbled for her wand, holding it out in a shaky hand. “Stay back, or I-I’ll—”

Before she could finish, Tadashi lunged forward, snapping his powerful jaws down on the wand. Metal crunched between his fangs as he tore it from her grasp, chewing and swallowing it, absorbing its energy with each bite.

Mitsuya smirked. “Boss, how do we make her disssappear?”

Tokage, with a twisted grin, offered, “The fog hides everything… Let’s eat her.”

Yukari’s last hope shattered as Tadashi swallowed the remnants of her wand. “M-My wand…”

Powerless, she felt her resolve crumble. Without it, she couldn’t cast any strong spells.

Tadashi licked his lips. “You’re right, she’s young and tender…”

Tokage and Mitsuya hissed in agreement, their chuckles cold and cruel. Nihebi stepped closer, eyes locked on Yukari. “Looks like we didn’t need to call for backup.”

Tadashi sneered. “Seems like your vampire friends aren’t much for loyalty, are they?”

Tears pricked at Yukari’s eyes, blurring the encroaching faces.

Her silent despair only angered Tadashi more. He lunged, ready to strike.

“Stop!!!”

The commanding shout pierced the air, halting Tadashi mid-attack. Every head turned toward the source. Moka stood a few feet away, breathless from running, but her eyes fierce with determination. “Take your hands off Yukari!”

Tadashi’s eyes narrowed. “Ah, the famous vampire… so you did come. Your timing is perfect.”

The lizardmen exchanged glances, mesmerized by Moka’s beauty, their hunger now mingled with a different kind of longing. Sensing this, Tadashi’s lips curled into a wicked smile. “Pretty Moka… you’ve just sealed your fate.”

The group started to shift, encircling Moka, like hunters to their prey. Moka stayed rooted, eyes locked on Yukari, who stared back, eyes wide with terror.

“M-Moka, please, run! Forget about me!”

Moka’s expression softened, a reassuring smile breaking through her steely determination.

I won’t let you be alone, Yukari.

“No! You’ll get eaten! Or worse!” Yukari shouted, panic spilling over.

Despite the encroaching crowd, Moka stepped forward, causing them to pause and take an instinctive step back. Her eyes never left Yukari as she spoke, “I’m sorry, Yukari. I can’t do that.” A gentle smile touched her lips as she added, “Whether you like it or not, I’m here for you. You don’t have to handle everything alone anymore.”

“B-But—”

Moka’s voice cut through Yukari’s faltering protest, firm and unwavering. “I know that’s what you’ve been searching for—someone to rely on. You don’t need to love them to the point of obsession, and you don’t need to push others away just because you’re afraid they’ll leave you.”

Yukari, still held in Tadashi’s iron grip, shook with frustration. “Moka! Stop talking nonsense! Just run!” But as she locked eyes with Moka, a deep recognition settled within her; she knew that expression all too well.

“Yukari… I know what it’s like to feel alone.”

Moka’s voice softened, but her conviction remained unyielding. “I’ve been there. But now, I’m here to help. I’m your friend. You can count on me.”

Yukari’s defiance crumbled into silence as Moka’s words resonated. The crowd of lizardmen, however, stirred uneasily, their agitation flaring into something far more predatory.

Tadashi’s voice cut through the air, seething with rage. “Get her! No one ignores me!”

Tokage, closest to Moka, lunged forward with a feral gleam in his eye. Moka instinctively flinched, retreating a step. The lizardman smirked at her reaction. “What’s wrong, vampire? Aren’t you supposed to be strong?”

He reached out, grasping Moka’s wrist. But the combination of adrenaline and her deep-seated anger at Yukari’s plight made her react with unexpected force. She yanked her arm back, and Tokage, unable to withstand her raw, untrained strength, was hurled like a rag doll across the clearing, crashing into a tree and collapsing into unconsciousness.

Silence descended, thick with shock. The lizardmen stared, now seeing Moka not as a timid girl but as a dangerous force, even without her powers fully unleashed. Their wariness turned into steely determination; they recognized her as a threat that needed to be dealt with properly.

The realization made Yukari’s heart clench. “No! Leave her alone!” she screamed, desperation clear in her voice.

As the lizardmen surged forward, a shadow dropped from above, and Kurumu landed in front of Moka, her wings unfurled in a striking display. With a sharp flash of her claws, the lizardmen instinctively recoiled, wary of her reach.

“Kurumu?” Moka’s voice wavered with surprise as she took in the unexpected sight.

Kurumu shot her a confident wink, which Moka responded to with a small nod of understanding. Turning her attention to the encroaching crowd, Kurumu smirked. “Really? Ganging up on one girl? You should be ashamed of yourselves,” she taunted.

A chorus of hissing erupted from the lizardmen, one of them stepping forward with a sneer. “This isn’t your fight, succubus.”

Kurumu chuckled, her eyes narrowing. “Oh, but it is. You’ve already offended someone important to me.”

Tadashi’s eyes blazed as he glared at her. “What are you talking about—”

His retort was cut short by a sharp yelp as Yukari, in a desperate act, sank her teeth into his arm. The sensation, dulled by his thick scales, nonetheless drew his fury. “You little—no one bites me!”

His attention shifted, rage focusing on Yukari as he raised his arm to strike.

For an instant, the lizardmen’s collective focus wavered, drawn to their leader’s snarl. Kurumu seized the opportunity, a smile curving her lips.

Got you now.

Drawing on the power she’d improved since her battle with the mermaids, Kurumu harnessed her energy, weaving it seamlessly with her natural charm. This time, it wasn’t an uncontrolled burst but a refined surge—a wave, sweeping out like a rippling wall. The technique was honed to conserve her youki while ensuring maximum impact.

~Charm Wave!~

The power rolled outward, enveloping the lizardmen within range. Tadashi faltered, momentarily paralyzed as he fought against the surge. The others were not so fortunate; they crumpled to the ground, their bodies shuddering under the overwhelming pleasure that coursed through them. The clearing filled with gasps and groans as the wave took hold, leaving most of the lizardmen incapacitated.

When the wave of power subsided, Kurumu shouted, “Tsukune, now!”

Bursting out from behind a nearby tree, Tsukune charged toward Tadashi. The lizardman leader snarled, eyes narrowing as he swung his claws at the oncoming ‘vampire’. Anticipating the attack, Tsukune deftly sidestepped the charm-weakened strike and lunged for Yukari, wrenching her free from Tadashi’s grasp.

With a roar, Tadashi lashed out with his other claw, catching Tsukune’s back with a shallow slice. Pain seared through him, but adrenaline pushed him forward. He lifted Yukari and staggered a few steps before the wound on his back forced him to collapse. Luckily, he fell closer to where Moka stood.

Kurumu's eyes darted between the recovering lizardmen and the fallen Tsukune. “Moka, come on! We need to reach Tsukune before it’s too late!” she called, urgency lacing her voice.

Moka’s eyes widened, and she nodded without hesitation. The two sprinted forward, Kurumu leading the way. One lizardman lunged at them, only for Kurumu to slash him down with a swift strike of her claws. “Seriously? You’re not vampires or werewolves—don’t even try!” she taunted, yanking Moka along.

Yukari, shaken and cradled in Tsukune’s protective hold, stared in disbelief as he struggled to his feet. A deep red gash streaked across his back. “T-Tsukune?! But... why? Why are you here?” she stammered.

“I…” Tsukune’s voice wavered as he stood, placing himself between Yukari and the advancing Tadashi. “I think... I understand you a little better now...”

He turned slightly, meeting Yukari’s wide eyes with a reassuring smile. “Like Moka said… you’re not alone anymore.”

Yukari’s eyes filled with tears at his determined expression. She opened her mouth to tell him to run, to leave her and save himself, but no words came. The conviction in his stance said everything she needed to hear.

Tsukune gave Yukari a brief, reassuring smile before refocusing on Tadashi, whose gaze was now dark and menacing. The two squared off, reading each other’s movements.

This really, really hurts, Tsukune thought, fighting to keep steady breaths. He pushed through the pain with sheer determination, grasping at half-remembered meditation techniques he’d once heard of but never studied.

Tadashi, meanwhile, fought off the lingering effects of Kurumu’s charm, using his rage as a counterbalance. He snarled, eyes glinting with malice. “You’re mocking me! I’ll tear you apart!”

With a roar, Tadashi lunged.

Despite being an ordinary high school student just months ago, Tsukune had spent countless days exercising, training to keep up with Moka and protect his friends. The girls’ voices rang out in alarm as Tsukune met Tadashi’s charge head-on.

“Tsukune!?” Moka and Kurumu yelled. Yukari gasped, clutching her hands to her mouth. She knew Tsukune wasn’t a vampire so worry quickly welled up in her.

Anticipating Tadashi’s attack, Tsukune ducked as a claw swiped overhead, grazing the air. In a move fueled by desperation, he dropped low and grabbed Tadashi’s legs, putting his entire weight into a push. Tadashi’s balance faltered under the combined effect of the charm and Tsukune’s force, toppling him to the ground with a thud.

With Tadashi momentarily down, Tsukune surged forward, throwing a punch that landed squarely on Tadashi’s scaled face. Pain shot through Tsukune’s fist, but he grits his teeth. Tadashi, unfazed by the strike, growled and flung Tsukune off with a powerful buck, sending him sprawling to the ground.

“Die!” Tadashi roared, eyes blazing as he leaped toward the fallen Tsukune.

From the distance, Moka and Kurumu’s expressions turned frantic. They pushed forward, but the crowd of lizardmen was beginning to recover, threatening to block their path. Panic clawed at them as they saw Tadashi closing in on Tsukune.

Tsukune tried to scramble back, but he knew he wouldn’t make it in time.

Just as Tadashi’s shadow loomed over him, a sudden force intercepted, delivering a solid kick to Tadashi’s jaw and sending him crashing into a tree. The lizardman leader groaned, momentarily dazed.

A familiar figure stood between Tsukune and his attacker, extending a hand. “You okay, Tsukune?”

Relief flooded Tsukune’s face as he grasped the hand of a friend.