The Showdown ends and A Confession!

The bears rose to their feet, standing tall as they slowly came together, their eyes burning with unbridled rage.

The ground trembled under their feet as their power surged, the very air around them thick with anticipation.

Ryuu and the others stood shoulder to shoulder, unwavering in their resolve, their eyes locked on the encroaching demons.

Ryoko stepped ahead, her ice sword gleaming in the dim light, her presence calm yet filled with a deadly intent.

"Let's end this..."

She spoke, her voice icy and composed, the weight of her words hanging in the air.

Beside her, Ryuu stood firm. His body radiated heat, flames curling around him as his eyes turned a fierce crimson.

His energy surged, the very fire of battle burning within him.

"Together!"

He shouted, his voice a battle cry that set their hearts aflame.

In unison, they dashed toward the oncoming horde of demons, their feet pounding the ground in perfect harmony.

The evolved bear, leading the charge, let out a deafening roar, shaking the very earth beneath them.

The demons, with their bloodlust evident in their eyes, charged forward as well, their numbers seemingly endless.

"They're coming from all directions! Stay alert!"

Shigeru yelled from his position, standing far behind to protect Masumi and Zanu.

Sweat poured down his face as he gripped his weapon tightly, the urgency of the situation clear.

"Don't let your guard down!"

"I'll clear the way!"

Akiko declared, her voice filled with determination.

Without another word, she shot forward like an arrow, her speed so unnatural that it seemed as if she was skating on ice, leaving a trail of gusting wind in her wake.

Reaching the front lines, she paused for a split second, her eyes narrowing as the demons closed in on her.

She breathed deeply, centering herself, then raised her hand high.

"Upper high-level wind magic!" she called out.

"Cross Death!"

With a sharp, commanding motion, two invisible slashes of wind shot toward the demons in a perfect X formation.

The air split with a deafening roar as the blades of wind sliced through the horde, cleaving through demons with brutal precision.

Pshhh!

The slashes cut deep, their path relentless. Demons were split in two, falling to the ground in pieces.

The others, stunned by the sheer power of the attack, hesitated for just a moment, creating a brief opening for the others to act.

"That's an A-rank master for you..."

Ryuu thought, awe momentarily flashing in his eyes as he watched Akiko's destructive power.

But despite the devastation, the demons didn't retreat.

Instead, more continued to pour forward, relentless in their assault.

But Akiko's attack had given the others the opportunity they needed.

Ryoko wasted no time, her ice sword shimmering in the light as she dashed forward.

She moved with grace and precision, stepping into the space Akiko had created, her blade slashing through the air.

With a cold tone she said.

"Upper High level magic...

Frost Blade Cut..."

Pshhh!

An icy slash erupted from her sword, freezing the demons in its path.

The cold air spread quickly, freezing another wave of demons in place, leaving them vulnerable.

"Yes! The demons are slowing down!" Seichii shouted, a grin spreading across his face. "We've got them on the ropes!"

But even as the others held their ground, the demons were still coming, their numbers unfathomable.

They couldn't afford to stop now.

"We can't just stand here. Let's show them what we've got!"

Ryuu said, a fierce smile spreading across his face.

Seichii's smirk mirrored Ryuu's, the two warriors ready for whatever the demons would throw at them.

Together, they took off toward the advancing horde.

Seichii stopped in his tracks, eyes narrowing as he scanned the battlefield.

His focus shifted, his energy gathering around him.

"Get ready, demons!" he roared.

"Upper intermediate level wind magic...

THE WIND CHASM!!"

With those words, a massive tornado erupted from the ground, spinning violently as it roared toward the demons, trapping them in its deadly vortex.

The winds howled, pulling the demons inside as if they were nothing more than leaves caught in a storm.

It was a force of nature unleashed, an abyss in the sky.

Ryuu, not missing a beat, raised his hand toward the sky, his red eyes burning with intensity.

"Upper intermediate level magic...

THE ETERNAL FLAME!!!" he bellowed.

The ground trembled as fire surged from beneath the earth.

The ice around the battlefield began to melt, the heat rising rapidly.

Flames erupted from the ground, surrounding the tornado with blistering heat.

Seichii and Ryuu exchanged a glance, nodding at one another in perfect synchrony.

"UPPER HIGH LEVEL MAGIC...

THE DEATH PIT!!"

they both shouted in unison.

The earth beneath the trapped demons shattered, and from the cracks, hot, molten magma burst forth, engulfing the tornado and the demons trapped within it.

The fiery cyclone roared to life, the magma swirling around like a pit of hell.

The demons roared in agony as the magma seared them to ash, their forms disintegrating in the heat.

The others stood back, stunned by the sheer power of the combined attack.

It was a masterpiece of destruction, an unstoppable force.

"When did they get this strong?"

Shigeru wondered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The heat from the blast was overwhelming, but it was hard to look away.

Ryuu and Seichii walked back toward each other, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction.

"Nice work, man,"

Seichii said, giving Ryuu a playful grin.

They high-fived, their smiles wide in the brief moment of victory.

"It's not over yet!"

Akiko called out from the front, her voice sharp and urgent.

"More demons are coming!"

A new wave of demons surged forward, seemingly endless in their numbers.

The ground shook as they approached, their roars deafening.

Carol stepped forward with a grin, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"It's time for me to show off too!"

She said, her voice filled with confidence.

She raised her hands, and a golden light enveloped her.

Slowly, a golden spear formed in her grasp, glowing with untold power.

"The almighty Triana, let's show them what we've got—"

Before she could finish, Rajin appeared beside her, cutting her off with a wave of his hand. His eyes were calm, his expression unreadable.

Rumble!

As he raised his arm, the sky darkened as thunder rumbled above them.

A powerful thunderstorm brewed, clouds swirling ominously overhead.

A bolt of lightning struck Rajin, surrounding him in a crackling purple aura.

His body pulsed with electric energy, his hair turning purple as his eyes glowed with thunderous power.

With a swift motion, he raised his spear and struck the ground with it, the very earth trembling beneath him.

"Body Manifestation..." Rajin said in a low, detached voice.

Shatter!

The air exploded with a surge of power as a devastating shockwave of lightning shot toward the demons.

The ground cracked and splintered as the lightwave tore through everything in its path.

Demons were obliterated instantly, their bodies turned to vapor in the blink of an eye.

In seconds, half of the demon horde was reduced to nothing more than dust, scattered on the wind.

Rajin stood motionless, his expression unchanged, as the battlefield fell eerily quiet.

Carol, standing behind him, stared at the devastation with a mix of annoyance and astonishment. "This guy… always trying to show off."

Rajin just stood there motionless, he rolled his eyes over to a tree beside the corner. He walked up to the tree as he sat under it's shadow.

He looked at Carol as he stared in her eyes.

Suddenly, his head fell as his hair turned back to black. He fell to the ground unconscious.

"What…? Did the the ten minutes ended? That's why he felt unconscious!? But why was he staring at me?"

Carol muttered, confused, but her thoughts were interrupted by a growl from the approaching demons.

The demons closed in, surrounding Rajin as he lay unconscious beneath the tree, their eyes filled with malice.

Carol narrowed her eyes, realizing what Rajin had intended.

(Was he asking me to protect him while he's asleep? Hell no!)

With a growl, one demon raised its blade, preparing to strike Rajin down.

But in an instant, Carol was there, her Triana intercepting the blade with a loud clang.

"Do you guys know it's bad manners to attack someone while they're sleeping?"

She said with a twisted grin.

"Let me teach you some manners."

The demon snarled, raising its other blade to strike again, but Carol was quicker.

Before it could react, she cut off the demon's hand with a single slash.

Thud!

The demon howled in pain, stumbling back as its blood spilled onto the ground.

But Carol wasn't finished. She smiled maniacally, her gaze fixed on the demon as she delivered a final, brutal strike.

Thud!

The demon's face was split in two as it collapsed to the ground, its body lifeless. Blood soaked into the ice-covered earth.

"Annoying..."

Carol muttered, her voice dripping with disdain.

The remaining demons, now visibly afraid, backed away, fear flooding their expressions.

Carol's smile only widened as she stepped forward, pointing her Triana at them.

"Yes... yes! I love that look! Fear me! Kneel before me!"

She hissed, her voice twisted with madness.

With a burst of speed, she vanished.

Carol smiled darkly as she reappeared in front of one of the demons, her eyes cold and calculating.

"Got you..."

She muttered, the demon's head falling to the ground with a sickening thud as it rolled away.

She turned back, her smile growing more twisted as the rest of the demons recoiled in fear.

"Ha-ha-ha! Yes! I love that! Fear me! Kneel before me!"

Carol's voice became manic, her laughter echoing over the battlefield.

The demons, now filled with terror, hesitated for just a moment, allowing Carol to take full advantage of their fear.

Meiko, watching the chaos unfold before her, couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and fear.

"S-she's really a freak!"

She muttered under her breath, the sight of Carol's unhinged madness making her shiver.

But it wasn't the time to focus on Carol. Meiko's attention snapped back to Hibino, who was still in her arms.

His body was tense, but his expression was full of determination.

"Meiko! It isn't the time to stand around! The demons are coming!" Hibino's voice was urgent, filled with resolve.

Meiko blinked, shaking herself from her moment of distraction.

"Right, Hibino, right!"

She said, quickly standing beside him. They both watched as the next wave of demons approached, their eyes full of fury.

With a synchronized motion, they raised their hands, preparing to unleash their magic.

"THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE LEVEL MAGIC: FLAME OF THE ABYSS!"

They both shouted in unison.

A rush of black flames erupted from their hands, swirling around the demons like a living, breathing force.

The flames consumed their enemies, melting their flesh and burning them from the inside out.

As the demons screamed in agony, their forms began to dissolve into nothingness, their essence consumed by the relentless fire.

Meiko grinned wickedly.

"That's the result of inhaling my dark fumes!"

She laughed, watching the devastation her magic had caused.

Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction, but Hibino simply sighed beside her.

"Yes, yes. You're the best,"

he muttered, his tone dry.

But before they could fully celebrate, a demon rushed forward from behind Meiko.

Hibino's eyes widened in horror as he saw the attack coming too late.

"MEIKO!!"

He screamed, throwing himself in front of her.

The demon's blade slashed through Hibino's back, blood spurting from the wound as he grunted in pain.

"Hibino!"

Meiko cried out, her voice trembling with fear as she watched him fall to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

She quickly caught him, cradling his body in her arms as she tried to keep him conscious. "Hibino, are you alright?!"

Hibino's face was pale, and his breath came in shallow gasps. He raised his hand weakly, a faint smile on his face despite the pain.

"R-run away..."

he managed to whisper, his voice strained with agony.

Meiko's eyes filled with tears as she shook her head.

"No! I won't leave you here! Not like this! I'm not abandoning you!"

She sobbed, her hands shaking as she tried to help him.

She refused to let him die, not after everything they'd been through together.

Roar!!!

The demon roared as it raised it's blade again.

Hibino got annoyed as he screamed.

"I SAID RUN AWAY! Cough-"

He screamed as he coughed blood. Meiko cried as she looked at him.

"No, I won't!"

She said, Hibino was utterly confused as to why she was acting like this.

"B-but why?"

Meiko held him close, her tears falling freely as she buried her face in his chest.

"I love you, Hibino. I always have... All these years, I loved you the most.

You were the only one who ever truly saw me, the only one who didn't leave me when everyone else did...

when even my own family abandoned me... You were always there for me, cheering me up when I was sad, making me laugh when I felt like the world was against me.

How could I leave you behind now?"

Her voice cracked with emotion as she spoke, her heart raw and open.

"I don't care if I die. If I can be with you... then I'll be alright."

Hibino's eyes went wide in shock as the truth of her words sunk in.

His mind swirled with confusion, his breath quickening as his heart raced.

"M-Meiko..."

Before he could say more, the demon raised its blade again, preparing to strike.

Meiko closed her eyes, bracing for the worst, but just as the blade was about to come down, a sudden burst of light cut through the air.

"NO!"

Carol's voice rang out as she appeared in front of the demon, her Triana staff raised high.

With a single swipe, she severed the demon's head from its body, the rest of its form crumbling into dust.

"Stop getting all lovey-dovey in the middle of a battle, will you?"

Carol scoffed, rolling her eyes before walking away.

"Ridiculous."

She sighed,Meiko, still shaken but relieved, stared down at Hibino, her heart still racing.

She pressed his head gently into her lap as she checked for any signs of serious injury.

"He's losing consciousness..."

Meiko whispered, tears falling from her eyes.

She looked around frantically, searching for someone who could help, but the battle raged on around her.

As the demons continued to surge, she spotted Masumi lying under a tree, Zanu still in her arms.

Without hesitation, Meiko carefully lifted Hibino into her arms, rushing toward Masumi.

On the other side of the battlefield, Ryuu, Ryoko, and the others were fighting fiercely.

The demons showed no sign of letting up, and the exhaustion in their eyes was clear.

They were all battle-worn, breathing heavily from the constant onslaught.

"Ryuu!" Seichii called out, her voice strained.

"How many more of these demons are we going to face?! They never stop!"

Ryuu looked over at him, sweat trickling down his forehead.

"We've been fighting for hours! It feels like there's no end to them!"

The demons, however, continued to pour in, relentless and unforgiving.

They roared, advancing like a wave that would never break.

Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath their feet, and the demons began to collapse.

Blood poured from their eyes and mouths, and the entire horde fell to the ground in unison.

"What the hell?"

Ryuu asked, his voice low with disbelief.

Rika appeared, walking casually toward them. She stretched, clearly unfazed.

"Ha, finally done," she said, yawning.

"Ozawa-san?" Ryuu and Seichii gasped, looking at her with wide eyes.

She shrugged nonchalantly.

"It's a lower High-level Array—THE HELL LAND."

Akiko gasped in surprise.

"Wait, when did you learn to deploy a High level Array like that?!"

Rika stretched again, clearly unimpressed by the complexity of the spell.

"Took me two hours to set it up. I'm still not great at it. Master could've done it in just a few minutes."

As she spoke, the remaining demons began to crack apart, their forms disintegrating into sand and dust, leaving nothing but a void where they once stood.

"What's happening?" Seichii gasped, his eyes wide with shock.

"It's due to the Array," Akiko explained, her tone steady.

"The Hell Land Array drains the life essence from everything within its boundaries, turning them into dust."

Seichii was stunned.

"Can something like this even aloud to exist!?"

He asked, his eyes full of astonishment.

Rika shrugged as she looked at Seichii, seemingly unaffected by the devastation she had wrought.

"It's not like it's that impressive. I still need to improve, though."

Before anyone could say anything else, Seichii's thoughts were interrupted by a strange voice that echoed in his mind.

"There are many things you don't know about this world, kid..."

Seichii froze, his eyes wide with confusion. He was sweating heavily as he looked here and there. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it.

"Papa!"

Zanu's voice broke through his thoughts, and he quickly turned around to see her standing there, looking up at him with concern.

They all got stunned when they saw here.

(When did she got behind us!?) Was the only question in their mind.

Seichii's heart skipped a beat as he rushed toward her.

"Zanu! You're awake!" he exclaimed, his smile forced but filled with relief.

"Zanu is fine!"

Zanu replied brightly, her energy infectious. Seichii held her tightly, trying to push the nagging worry from his mind.

"It's seems Masumi-san is awake too, let's head back."

Ryoko said with her cold tone as she walked ahead, they other followed her leaving Seichii alone.

Zanu looked at Seichii's confused face as she asked him.

"But papa doesn't seem fine. Is something bothering papa? Tell Zanu, she will help you"

Zanu said her eyes burning with confidence, Seichii looked at her as all his problems faded away.

"Nothing, Let's go back to the others," Seichii said, still unsettled but putting on a brave face.

Together, they walked back toward the others, Seichii's thoughts swirling with confusion, but for the moment, he was grateful that Zanu was okay.

What was happening in this strange world, and who is that unknown figure that keeps appearing in Ryuu's and Seichii's mind.

This world is full of things they don't know about. Will they ever get the answer they're searching? No one knows as they continue to live their lives in this unknown world.....