Climax

I couldn't understand it at first. 

He went out of his way to save me, by sacrificing the state of his mana vessel and risking the chance of not being able to use his magic ever again.

Despite having been under intense affliction, he now decided to rush into the oncoming onslaught with no fear.

Even though…he's not that strong, even though he's been through sadness of being unable to save me from the injuries that have lasted on me now…he's still going.

Why?

Right before he left, he turned his gaze to me immediately. It reflected a will to do his best. It was at that moment that I finally knew what he was about to do.

Before I could even react, they had both sped off without hesitation. I was going to ask what he was planning to do, but he was already gone.

He dashed forward without any hint of backing down. 

Thus, I clenched my fists and tried to force myself into ensuring that I did not hold anyone back.

With my Affinity of Spirit Arts - [Elemental Runes], I would help him.

As Bella Kamazaki, I would assist Daizen Shizaki, the one who became the goal of reaching in terms of fearlessness and never giving up.

That was the night where my life truly changed, as I started to become acquainted with the Knight Beyond the End.

***

"Aya-san, let's do this! Together!"

Declaring this with a loud voice, King spoke to the green haired girl with vigor, and she replied with an unusual passion-filled cry.

"Alright then!!"

With massive vines emerging from the soil beneath, Alexandriya Aya's [Vines] quickly pummeled into the attackers, and King, kicking off of the ground with almost supersonic speed, smashed the heads of two wolves with a kick of beast-like strength, before smashing the ground in front of them with his bare hands and instantly destroying the earth beneath them, unbalancing and disorienting many as the ground collapsed. He blitzed onto higher ground just in time while carrying Yukino and Kamazaki in his arms.

Aya, collapsing with the descending rubble, sent a large, sturdy vine out of her palms and into the free arm of King who released the duo from his grasp, and hoisted her up.

"That was close, sorry about that."

"You're strong…and fast- oh, behind us."

Spotting about a dozen more wolves advancing from the opposite side of the damaged land, Aya warned the group of incoming danger, King grinned as his tiny fangs shone in the moonlight.

"We're still in sight of Neo and Shizaki but we're at a distance. Let's finish this quickly and reunite with them down the hill."

They all prepared themselves with a battle-ready stance, and prepared to fight.

***

Shizaki sidestepped away from Neo's line of fire as the latter unleashed a torrent of red hot flames. It instantly engulfed the many of the wolves at once, with the bloodcurdling howling and yelping causing Shizaki to grit his teeth.

I hate seeing animals die like this…but, if we don't protect ourselves…!

Most of the wolves leaped forward while still being covered in flames. About ten turned to Neo, but with a swift forehand, he blasted a whirlwind of fire at them. The cracking noise of fire eating away at the ground grew louder as it burst forward with merciless pace. 

"Can't let them get close."

Sencho Neo was given an incredible Affinity of Magic, but every person had a weakness. In his case, he had to ensure that he could not be within close range, while not accidentally causing a forest fire.

Shizaki himself was cornered by three attackers. With a click of the tongue, Shizaki pushed them back with [Turbulence], and poised himself, ready for a counter. 

One bared its fangs and leaped from the left, but he turned and dodged, with another instantly attacking from the right, he blew it back with a blast, and the third pounced on him with its iron-like claws digging into his skin, causing Shizaki to yell in extreme pain.

He used his right arm and landed a direct hit, striking its eyeball with all his might, with the wolf rolling away in pain and blood flying out. The other two countered, with Shizaki using a continuous wave of air to push them back. He was now lying down with his blood from the exposed wound of his chest seeping through his shirt lightly as he was sweating and crawling back. As his two opponents slowly pushed against the wind-like barrier, about five more were arriving behind them from the depths of the forest as if they were reinforcements.

"Damn!!!! Neo-kun, are you-"

"I'm alright!!"

One Timberwolf roared through the fire, swiping at Neo, but with a side roll, he easily dodged the attack. A quick maneuver from his attacker saw it too close for comfort.

"Smart."

He fired a ball-like shot at his opponent, which the wolf easily avoided and with great agility closed the distance between them. Neo met the attack with his own defense, grabbing the jaws right of his attacker just as they were about to close in on his head. He then initiated his magic and the flames sparked and burst forward from his fingertips, riveting through the entire wolf's body at lightning speed. Two more challenged him from behind, and Neo threw the burning corpse into one, sending both sprawling, while sending a strong low kick at the other, sending it flying back.

Still four more tried to attack from all sides.

"....Tiring."

The masked defender pulled back his middle finger with his thumb on both hands and flicked, with a single bullet of fire sniping through the head of each wolf around him with insane accuracy. Spotting one more, the two sockets of the eye carvings on his mask lit up with a red hue, and laser-like fire shot into the wolf, slashing it into pieces. 

"Neo-kun, that was awesome!"

"These guys just won't quit, huh…?"

Realizing that a plan of simply pushing back his attackers won't work, Shizaki glanced at Neo, while trying to come up with a quick solution. He looked pale, and right now, his [Turbulence] was just delaying the inevitable, unable to deliver the final blow like Neo's [Flash Flames].

As he got up, many wolves that he were unable to finish off cautiously crept closer as he stopped using his wind to push them back.

Think, think, think!

He was tired, and began to think about his mana capacity. 

No, he thought. He was just getting started. He just needed to…

"Babyface!"

Shizaki turned as a rock was sent flying right behind him. It wasn't aimed at him, but flew onto the ground in front of him.

Kamazaki had called out to him, from the ascent of the hill, as she and her group made their way towards them as reinforcements of their own.

They finished their portion! Nice!

"Dodge now!!!"

He glanced at the rock, noticing a glowing carved mark on it.

Ah, so that's it…

He instantly tried to get away from it as the wolves headed in its direction, right in front of Shizaki.

Kamazaki opened her mouth to speak. She took a deep breath, and yelled.

"Replicate [Vines]!!!"

A surge of plant-like vines bolted from the rock, striking all seven wolves and immobilizing them.

And as Shizaki looked on ahead, he saw no more reinforcements crawling out of the tall bushes.

He sighed, with his heart rate still high.

"Haaaah…haha…"

Shizaki could only let out a sigh of relief and displayed a weak smile.

Yukino and Aya rushed toward Shizaki, while King and Kamazaki approached Neo.

A strong gust of fiery scorches saw off the last attacker as Neo stood strong. Kamazaki stepped back and fanned herself with her hand.

"Don't you ever…I don't know…sweat…or something? Cause I'm already getting kinda sweaty just by being close to your flames. "

"I'm heat resistant. I don't burn by my own flames but I can get burned by others', and I don't get sweaty from my own flames, but I can by others."

"Interestiiiiing. So does it span to not feeling hot when drinking hot stuff too or-"

"Do you normally ask these many questions?"

"Yes, she does. You're finally learning how Affinities work, Kamazaki? Of course he won't get hurt by his own flames."

"-hk, shut it, Yukikama-chan."

"Hey, hey!!"

King and Kamazaki went straight into a bantering session while Neo sighed.

Satou Yukino stooped down and hoisted Shizaki up.

 "How do you feel?"

"I'm alright. Thanks, Yukino."

He flashed a little smile and a warmer smile returned.

"...Nothing was good about this night. Don't you think so, Yukino-kun?"

"Haha…most things were not good, I think."

"Yeah, you're right Anyway, let's get out of here, and fast."

"Yeah."

And with that, the group started running up the last of the hill.

Shizaki started off a bit slow, and was currently in last, but he was confident in his running.

He decided to take one last look at the forest behind him.

And as he turned…

His heart stopped.

He finally saw it. No, rather, it had allowed him to see it.

In the small depths of the dark forest within, slowly emerging from behind one of the trees…

The shadow-like hooded figure with only its blood-ridden smile visible waved goodbye.

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

(Chapter 17: Climax.)