Chapter 3.18 - Wednesday, July 20th, 7.32am

Current time: 7.32 am.

It's been ten hours since the 'hunting ground' started.

After I take in place of Nightwalker, I have been watching while standing just right outside the borderline of the hemisphere.

I thought I could find ways to help them escape, but I gave up that thought afterwards.

Even if they escaped from the 'hunting ground'… what then?

I soon learnt from Forsjá that there's no way to destroy nor get into the 'hunting ground'. Because the 'hunting ground' is meant initially to trap their preys without allowing them to escape.

In these ten hours, the three of them never got the chance to rest at all— the moment they try to take a break, Dómr would make a surprise attack, exhausting them even further.

Stamina and mana… they are almost at their limits.

"…!"

… Pearl's and Asha's wounds aren't healing anymore.

They had to take on Dómr's full blows because their body size is limiting their options to dodge.

Only Felix, the smallest of them all is able to evade most of Dómr's intense attacks.

However, I don't think her spirit to dodge could last any longer.

Once again, Dómr retreats to the edge of his 'hunting ground', increasing his speed as he runs on the border, encircling them.

Confirming his target, he rams on them with full speed— even with Pearl's size and weight, she was knocked over, hitting the invisible wall of the 'hunting ground'.

"Damn it— Dómr…!!!"

BAM!!!!!!

Once again, I throw a punch on the wall of the 'hunting ground' with my fist.

…I could no longer feel my hands in those punches earlier.

How many times has it been…? A hundred…?

I have been throwing punches on that exact same spot. And for the first time, there's a tiny visible crack on it.

Seeing that crack made me throw more punches on the same spot.

BAM— BAM— WHAM!!!!!!!!

"Enough already— Big brother…!!!"

Just before the fourth punch could reach, Restia stops me by grabbing my arm. This is the third time Restia stops me by grabbing my arm.

"Don't bother, Restia. I won't stop."

Saying that, I flick her away— where she falls on the ground.

"Ngh…!"

BAM!

"Ugh— Restia, you…!?"

What's with this ridiculous power…!?

Getting back up from the ground, Restia, with tears, delivers a low kick on my right leg.

I immediately kneel down from the power of her kick.

Even if she casts strengthening magic on her body— it will be cancelled once she touches me. This means— this is her original power.

"Forsjá…!"

"Urk…!? Get off…!!!"

Restia orders Forsjá to step on me with her paw.

Even if I order Forsjá to get off, she didn't listen to me.

But— why now…!? She could've stopped me long ago with this method.

Then, I find Restia looking at the fainted man, who's been knocked out for almost twelve hours.

"Wake up…!!! How long are you going to sleep…!?" She said to him, where she's going to step on him with her foot.

WHAP!

Before Restia's leg could land on him— he stops her foot by grabbing it with his hand.

"…Sheesh. Such a rude little girl." He muttered.

"……!"

This piercing feeling—

"A-Arf…!"

Forsjá suddenly retreats and kneel down in all fours, trembling in fear.

"What's wrong, Forsjá…!?" I said as I got up.

"Oh… right. I forgot you can't feel any mana." That man murmured to me, as he stands and pats off the ice and grass on him.

He… feels entirely different.

"To face me the way I am now without any hesitation… I commend your bravado, little girl."

Restia's expression leaks out hints of fear.

Even though she fears, but she's fighting against it— for my sake, for their sake.

A big brother like me would never back off. The thought of backing off when my little sister is afraid does not exist.

Thus, I immediately went to her, standing in front of that man in her stead.

"Don't bully my little sister," I said to him, glaring at him in the eye.

Though he feels entirely different now, but— I could see hints of cold sweat on his forehead.

Restia then grabs on my clothes, shivering.

"…His mana— is terrifying."

Those are the words I hear from Restia.

…I get it now.

He's… finally in top condition.

Because he needs to heal his internal injuries with his mana, he's not able to fight Dómr with all he has. The mana he's been using to heal his injuries has been completed.

"Have you… gotten back your memories…?" I said to him.

"………………"

He did not reply.

Somehow, with a smirk, he then shifts his gaze at the 'hunting ground'— with a sentimental look.

Then, extending his hand as if he's asking for something—

"…Permutatio." (…Exchange.)

—three magic circles appear under Felix, Asha, and Pearl.

With a bright flash— their positions were swapped.

Felix, Asha, Pearl, without any energy to spare— they could only lie on the ground without moving an inch.

"Restia, Forsjá— heal them…!"

Hearing my words, Restia and Forsjá immediately ran to them, applying healing magic on their injuries.

However, this is just an emergency first-aid. I could only check on their injuries later.

For now, this is the fight between Dómr and that man.

"……!"

Dómr— is afraid!?

Seems like they are talking, but I can't hear them because of the 'hunting ground'.

As he steps closer to Dómr, Dómr would back away while trembling in fear.

Eventually, Dómr's tail finally touched the edge of his 'hunting ground'.

Then—

KACHING— BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!

—a large beam.

"Ngh…!"

A powerful blast like a railgun, light blue in colour— shots at that man from Dómr's mouth.

…a beam made by compressing cold wind.

It was so powerful that the 'hunting ground' was destroyed by his own blast.

…and that man takes it head-on— he was blasted along with it till it reaches the beach.

With that one powerful attack, anything that is blocking its way is wholly destroyed. The landscape changes entirely.

I wouldn't be surprised if the blast would vaporize him instantly.

"Growl…!"

However, Dómr did not look happy at all.

…It's as if he knew that attack did not work.

He stood there without moving an inch, still putting on his guard.

I immediately run to Restia and cradle her on my chest.

"Restia— just how dense is his mana right now…!?"

The piercing feeling that I felt from him is the result of his dense mana.

"…His mana is so strong— even if papa and mama add up together… it's not even able to reach half of his."

His mana was that powerful!?

"Oh…? Thanks for the compliment, little girl."

""!?""

He's behind us…!? I did not sense his presence at all…!?

"Grr…!"

Dómr charges towards us with a powerful tackle—

"…SIT."

"…A-Arf…!"

THUD.

—A POSE OF SUBMISSION!!!!!!?

"Hmph."

Five golden magic circles suddenly appear around Dómr, surrounding his body.

“Delere jubente.” (Delete command.)

T-T-T-T-T-TICK— TOCK— CLACK—

The magic circles rotate, like unlocking a safe with clicking sounds, the magic circles then disappear.

"How is it? Do you still want to kill them…?" He asks.

"…Not anymore," Dómr replied.

"A-Aaauu…!"

Forsjá immediately rushes to Dómr, snuggling him on his body, while sometimes licking him on his head.

"Phew…"

That man heaves a sigh of relieve.

However, instead of sitting down— he walks to Felix, touching her body, starting from her front paws.

"N-Nya…!?"

Felix's resistance earns her a paralyzing spell.

"Hey—"

"…Hmm, as I expected— you are the one with the lightest injury." He said.

He's ignoring me again.

"A few cracked ribs will be healed in a couple of days." He added.

"!"

Hearing his remark, I quickly run to them.

But when I reach Felix, he quickly walks away and switches his target to Asha— pulling a sword out from his magical storage the moment he touches her left hind leg.

"G-Grawr…!?"

Asha is completely freaked out when he pulls out a transparent-blue sword.

"Munda, caecus." (Cleanse, blind.)

Casting a purifying spell on his sword and Asha's body— he stabs his sword onto Asha's left hind leg.

"Grawr……?"

Though he cuts her flesh open, it doesn't seem like Asha is in pain, but it seems she could feel that her flesh is being cut open.

Asha didn't struggle because she can't see.

"Crap. So many pieces…"

Asha's tibia and fibula are broken into many pieces— seven pieces…?

Shoving his sword back into his magical storage, he reaches his hands for her broken bones— placing them correctly back to its original places.

"Restituere." (Restore.)

"Grawr……!?"

Seeming to feel the pain coming from that spot, Asha struggles— earning herself a paralyzing spell.

The bones were left till a state where it's not entirely restored.

It was a wise move because if it's completely restored, the body's healing mechanism will grow weaker.

Then he gently pinches his purified fingers between Asha's flesh and tissue, casting a healing spell, closing her flesh.

He then feels his hands at Asha's chest afterwards.

"Grawr…!!?"

"Hmm… broken ribs…? Well… it doesn't seem to puncture your lungs— I will leave it like that."

Finally, casting a paralyzing spell on Pearl— he leaps onto her head, then walks on her body.

TAP. TAP. TAP. TAP. TAP.…

"One… Two… Three…"

…………………………………

When he finally reaches her tail, he jumps down.

"214 cracked and 153 broken ribs. Your organs are fine, and your scales will be replaced in your next skin-shedding season."

His diagnosing skills— it's incredible.

Since I've learnt some medical skills from two amazing doctors before, I could tell that his diagnosing skills are undoubtedly accurate, and well-surpassing mine.

Though when comparing him to Mattanarafa's parents— he still has a long way to go.

That man, stood still and stared for about a few seconds, he nods, then walks and sit next to me.

"And you, brat— whatever you want to ask— do it after I wake up—"

THUD.

With that, he falls on his back on the ground.