A Cunning Attack!

They all stood together, staring at the huge Mont Blanc in front of them as the sunrise fell on top of the snowy mountain range.

"Let's move forward, it's already afternoon. We need to reach the town as soon as possible.

The demons have become really cunning and hide in the dark night to attack swiftly.

It might become dangerous for us to remain in the forest after dark."

Shigeru said as he turned to the group. They all looked at him with serious eyes.

"Let's get moving, then!"

Shigeru said as he began to walk into the deep forest. Akiko and the others followed behind him.

Seichii took Zanu in his arms as they went into the forest.

They were now walking through the deep forest. The trees were covered in snow as they walked, with ice falling from the branches.

The direct sunrays were making the ice melt, but an icy cold breeze flowed all around.

"P-papa! Z-zanu's cold..."

Zanu said, shuddering. Her face was turning red as her vision began to blur.

"Zanu, what happened!? Are you feeling cold?"

Seichii looked at her and quickly took off his coat to wrap it around Zanu. He touched her forehead.

"It's bad! She's having a fever. We need to bring her to a warm place as soon as possible!"

Seichii said with concern in his eyes. They all looked at him. Meiko walked out, her eyes narrowed in frustration.

"Huh? What can we even do in the middle of the forest? Why did you even bring her here in the first place!?

I told you not to make her a hurdle for us. Now, what are we going to do!?"

Meiko said loudly, twitching her eyes.

Seichii clenched his fists as veins appeared on his hand. He was staring at Meiko.

"P-pa....p-papa.."

Suddenly, Zanu raised her hand weakly as she called out to Seichii with a soft voice, gathering his attention.

Seichii looked at her weak condition, and all his anger vanished, replaced by desperation.

"Let me see her!"

Ryuu said as he walked near Seichii. He looked at Zanu and placed one finger on her forehead.

"H-hey, what are you doing!?"

Seichii asked Ryuu.

"Just wait, dumbass! I'm trying to warm her up with my fire magic!"

Ryuu said, closing his eyes. His finger turned red as a flicker of fire came out of it.

The flicker touched Zanu's forehead. Zanu began to sweat as her body slowly warmed up.

"I-it's warm."

She murmured as a little smile appeared on her face.

"It's working!"

Ryuu exclaimed, a smile appearing on his face. Seichii also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Seichii-kun, can I hold her for a bit?"

Masumi asked Seichii, tilting her head.

Seichii was confused but nodded.

"Yeah, but what are you going to do?"

Seichii handed Zanu to Masumi and asked her.

Masumi just smiled and looked at Zanu, closing her eyes.

Psh!

Suddenly, a green ring appeared above Masumi's head, which she then placed on Zanu's forehead.

Zanu felt relief as her body returned to normal. Her fever began to fade, and she drifted into a peaceful sleep.

"I totally forgot about your healing magic! Thank you, Masumi-san!"

Seichii said, rubbing the back of his head. Meiko sighed and turned away, beginning to walk.

"Haa! If everything is fine now, can we go already!? It's really becoming chilly here!"

She said, rubbing her hands. Ryoko looked at them and sighed.

"I might be at fault for this."

Everyone looked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean by that?"

Ryuu asked. Ryoko showed her palm. Little ice crystals appeared on top of her hand.

Gasp!!

Everyone gasped as they looked at the ice flakes.

"Waa! Ryoko-san, it's cute!!"

Masumi said as she went near her, looking at the ice flake in Ryoko's hand with sparkling eyes.

"Ryoko-san, what's this? Why are ice flakes appearing in your hand!?"

Ryuu asked Ryoko. Ryoko sighed as she looked at him.

"It's nothing. Whenever I'm in a snowy place, my ice magic begins to react with it and merge into the environment.

That's why it's getting colder and colder around here."

Everyone looked at her, stunned. This was the first time they had heard of such a phenomenon.

Ksh!!!

Suddenly, the bushes began to shake. They all became alert, looking around them.

The bushes shook even more violently.

"What's happening? Are the demons coming!?"

Pop!!

Suddenly, a rabbit popped out from the bushes and looked at them. They all looked at the rabbit and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Haa! It was just a rabbit. It had me scared to death!"

Ryuu sighed as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Suddenly, Ryoko turned her head, her eyes widening.

"Nagamine-san, watch out!!"

"Wha—"

Ryoko called out to Meiko, who looked at Ryoko in confusion, but suddenly, a blade came from the bushes.

"Meiko!!!"

Hibino rushed and pushed Meiko out of the way.

Gsh!!!

The blade struck him in the leg.

"HIBINO!!"

Meiko screamed as she rushed toward Hibino.

Gsh!!!

"AAH!!!"

The blade retracted from Hibino's leg as blood splattered from the wound.

Hibino screamed in pain, blood continuing to pour from his leg.

"Hibino-san! Are you alright!?"

Masumi rushed toward him. Ryuu and Meiko helped him to stand.

"Let me heal you!"

Masumi said, joining her hands and closing her eyes.

A green circle appeared over her head and encircled Hibino's leg. The bleeding began to stop, and the wound began to heal.

Masumi opened her eyes but began to fall. Seichii rushed to her and caught her.

"MASUMI-SAN!? WHAT HAPPENED!?"

He asked, looking at her pale face. Masumi smiled weakly at him.

"I'm just tired from using my magic again and again. My body still isn't capable of using my powers for too long.

I'll be alright after some rest."

Masumi said as she closed her eyes. Seichii held her tightly as he looked at the others.

"What should we do? Was that a demon?"

"Probably!"

Seichii asked them, concerned. Ryoko replied in a cold voice.

Her eyes were sharp as she looked around their surroundings, as if reading the demons lurking in the shadows.

"It's at least a C-rank demon, with sharp fangs and the ability to extend them.

And it's very cunning... It's going to be a problem!"

Ryoko said, scanning the area. Everyone tensed when they heard her.

Psh!!!

Suddenly, the bushes began to shake again. They all became alert, looking at the shaking bushes.

Phir!!!

Suddenly, a red blade came through, cutting everything in its way. It was aimed directly at Rajin.

Rajin stood there, his blank expression unchanged.

"RAJIN, WATCH OUT!!"

Ryuu screamed, running toward Rajin. But just as the blade neared him, Rajin rolled his eyes toward the blade.

He raised his hand and suddenly... the blade stopped as he grabbed it with his bare hand.

Everyone was stunned, but a little smirk appeared on Ryuu's face when he saw him.

(That's the Invincible Solitude we know!)

Rajin raised his hand in the air, pulling the blade. The blade broke as demons from the bushes came flying toward them.

Roar!!!!

The demons screamed in pain as blood fell from his hand. It was a large, black bear-shaped demon with blades instead of paws.

The demon glared at Rajin, who stood there lifelessly with the broken blade in his hand.

Rage filled the demon's eyes as it raised its other blade.

It dashed toward Rajin at full speed.

Rajin stood still, staring at the demon.

The demon swung its blade toward Rajin's neck.

Psh!!!

But before the blade could reach Rajin, blood spattered on the ground as the demon was sliced in half.

Ryoko stood behind him, holding an ice sword in her hand. Everyone was in awe, unable to see when she moved.

Even Rajin's lifeless eyes stared at her in disbelief.

The demon fell to the ground, surrounded by its own blood.

Ryoko regained her posture as the sword in her hand vanished.

"It wasn't a tough demon, but there might be more dangerous demons lurking in this forest.

They might be even more cunning than this one. We need to reach the town as soon as possible.

Masumi-san has already used all her power and can't use it again for some time. If any one of us gets injured this time, it wouldn't be a good outcome.

Let's hurry up to the town!"

She looked at the others, who were still stunned and staring at her.

Ryoko's eyes landed on Ryuu, who was continuously staring at her.

"R-Ryuu-kun, why are you staring at me like that?"

She asked, looking away from him. Ryuu came to his senses, his eyes wide.

"RYOKO-SAN! HOW DID YOU DO THAT? YOU WERE INSANELY

COOL RIGHT NOW!!"

Ryuu exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. Ryoko's face turned a little red as she looked away.

"I-is that so!?"

All the others were staring at them with dark looks on their faces.

(Can you both stop with your flirting in the middle of a forest!?)

Grr!!!

Suddenly, a growl broke the silence, catching their attention. They turned to see the demon's body twitching, and they gasped in shock.

They watched as the demon's wound began to heal, its body rejoining as it slowly stood back up.

"T-the demon... I-it's e-evolving!?"

Everyone gasped as they saw the demon's body reforming. It was as if the creature wasn't finished yet and was growing stronger, more terrifying.