Observer

The trees shook violently as the girl's armored body crashed into the trunk with bone-jarring force.

"Lyra!" a panicked girl shouted, her bloody white and purple cloak fluttering wildly as she rushed forward, her flowing purple robe billowing behind her.

Before leading to this…

A low, ominous growl resonated through the darkness, casting tremors through the air. The canopy's shadows seemed to deepen, as if darkness itself was taking form.

"Stop hiding, little mice," the voice sneered, dripping with malevolence. "There's no escape from me..."

Reiji's heart skipped a beat as the voice's source emerged. "The hell was that deep thundering voice." he muttered, his voice edged with disbelief.

He stifled a shocked gasp, clamping his hand over his mouth to muffle the faintest sound. "Mmmph..." The source of the voice emerged, sending a chill down his spine.

Reiji's eyes darted between the knight and the mystical girl, briefly pausing to gauge their reactions. 

Then his gaze shifted back to the colossal black stone creature. Its massive axe sliced through the air as it advanced, each step radiating an ominous foreboding.

Reiji thought, "What an ugly creature. It's just like the smaller ones, only bigger—and with that menacing aura."

While Reiji analyzed the creature, a sudden fireball exploded against its face, flames briefly obscuring its monstrous form.

Reiji's eyes darted toward the source, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Did she get him?" he thought triumphantly.

"Exi flamma, consumere in mea voluntas! Fireball!" the girl chanted, her voice steady and deliberate.

"She's still casting spells?" Reiji wondered, a mix of awe and urgency flickering in his mind.

The mystical girl continued casting the fireball spell relentlessly, her breaths growing heavy with exhaustion.

"Brutal. Good thing I didn't step in to help these people," Reiji thought approvingly.

The barrage of fireballs ceased, leaving the creature shrouded in a thick veil of smoke.

"Hmmm..." A low growl rumbled from within the veil of smoke.

Then, with a powerful swing of its axe, the creature cleared the smoke, and a sharp, unforgiving gust of air swept through the surroundings.

"Ohh, it's way sturdier than its minions," Reiji confirmed, "That's why…" nodding to himself.

"Lyrien, fall back a little," Lyra, the knight, ordered as she returned to the mystical girl, having dealt with some of the smaller rock monsters closing in.

"Huff... Huff..." Lyrien's heavy breathing echoed through the air. "I'm sorry, sister. My mastery of fire magic isn't enough to pierce its defenses," she said, panting.

"Your mastery isn't the problem. This guy's just a high Ascended-level beast, or maybe even a low Sentinel-level tier," Lyra comforted Lyrien.

"So this creature is a beast just like Bobbin, how can it talk like normal?" Reiji wondered.

"Ignis, mea virtus est! Flames Fervor!" Lyra chanted. With it, Lyra and Lyrien were enveloped in a fiery aura, boosting their physical abilities and damage absorption.

"Intense." Reiji commented.

"Sister! You should've just focused on boosting yourself!" Lyrien reasoned.

"I can't afford that," Lyra responded resolutely. "I'd rather die here knowing I've done everything to protect you than take a chance at survival and abandon you."

"Sisterly love, that's sweet," Reiji mused, oblivious to the dire situation of the two strangers.

"Are you two cute little mice done? I've given you enough time for your sweet talk," the stone beast growled, its voice dripping with malice.

Then the beast began laughing maniacally. "Tragedy befalls those who seek greater power than they can handle," it stated, its voice dripping with cruel amusement.

Following his poetic remark, the beast hurled his axe with terrifying force, targeting the exhausted Lyrien, who was too slow to react and dodge.

Thankfully, Lyra managed to pull Lyrien out of the axe's path, saving her just in time.

However, the beast wasn't done. His massive frame didn't hinder his speed as he charged toward the two girls, who were just starting to regain their balance after dodging the axe.

In Lyrien's eyes, the massive hand of the beast loomed, its shadow casting over her. But once again, Lyra stepped in, parrying the beast's hand away with a fierce determination.

"Thank you," Lyrien said as Lyra carried her away from the beast.

The beast laughed again maniacally. "You mouse in armor, why not just abandon that weak little mouse and spare yourself, eh?" he taunted, his laugh echoing through the air.

"You actually have a running chance against me, honestly," he added, laughing again.

With a burst of speed, the beast charged toward the pair, swinging its arm for a heavy punch.

Seconds before impact, time seemed to slow in Lyra's vision. From the way the beast was closing in, she knew there was no way to dodge the punch while carrying Lyrien.

Without hesitation, she threw Lyrien to the side and took the hit, shielding herself with only her sword.

The sword shattered on impact, and Lyra was sent flying, violently crashing into the trunk of a nearby tree, blood spilling from her mouth.

"Lyra!" Lyrien shouted, her voice filled with panic.

"Lyrien, behi—" Lyra muttered before completely losing consciousness.

Lyrien didn't get a chance to react and ran toward the unconscious Lyra, the beast lunged at her, attempting to grab her by the body.

Lyrien's eyes darkened as the reflection of the beast in them drew closer and closer.

The beast's red, menacing eyes and its twisted smile were the last things Lyrien saw.

With all hope lost, Lyrien muttered, "Help..." before a tear escaped her eye and her consciousness slipped away.

Then, a sudden strike from above pinned the beast's hand to the ground, impaling it with a spear.

The beast growled in pain, then yanked his hand free from the pin and turned to face forward.

As his hand slowly recovered, the beast's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden appearance of a lean, slender man, unable to believe that the power pinning his hand to the ground had come from him.

"Cocky beast, bullying two girls doesn't make you look strong, you know? But taking you down most certainly does."