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I've been calling for Naturia this entire time, but she never answered my call. At this point, I felt like I was growing desperate. My mind was going crazy, my thoughts were becoming chaotic, and fear was taking over my heart. My entire body felt shrouded in this cold fear that I couldn't even remove.
But when I muttered out those simple words, which I see my parents sometimes say to bring their Spirits out, it worked. Out of all things, such words were actually enough to bring my Spirit out even in the depths of darkness itself, even in front of the maws of death? I couldn't help but cry out in happiness when she appeared. Even in such a state, I was happy to see that I could still have her, even in my last moments.
At this point, I was sure that bringing her out was just pointless. After all, I was in a situation where I would inevitably die. No matter how much I struggled, it would be futile.
But… there should be a way. I'm sure there has to be. I have to abuse my own abilities, my mana, everything. Even if it hurts, even if my body feels like it's going burst into pieces when I overuse my mana, even when I feel like my soul is going to tear apart into pieces.
"Foo!"
"N-Naturia…! It worked!"
Naturia emerged like a flash of green light in the middle of the darkness. It felt overwhelming, as if she had come to save me, a miracle even… but even though I thought her appearance would help…
"Huh? A Spirit? Well, that won't change anything."
As he said that, the skeleton slowly walked towards us. In the meantime, the shadows covering his body began to turn into long tentacles with sharp tips. Then, he pointed them at us. For some reason, he wasn't using Death Beam again. Why? Can't he easily kill us that easily? Or… can he not conjure it yet?
Certainly, such a strong spell couldn't be conjured continuously without any side effects. Perhaps he requires more mana, and he used it all up so he's using something less costly?
Whatever the case, the tentacles heading our way could easily pierce through my fire wall and our bodies, killing us on the spot.
With that in mind, I looked at Aquarina struggling to stand up. I have to protect her; I can't let her die here.
I've already died before, so I can die again. Sure… that was fine.
But I don't want this precious little girl to die. I don't want to… I don't!
"Metabolism Acceleration."
FLASH!
I infused my body with the Life-attribute spell as my metabolism was enhanced tenfold. From how the spell worked, the more mana I used, the more it was enhanced.
In any case, I need to. I have to go all out if I don't want her to die. I'll use it all, even if my body is torn into pieces.
I don't care anymore!
FLASH!
My muscles suddenly began to hurt after I activated the spell, as if countless tiny needles were piercing them all. My organs felt the same while my blood began to flow so quickly that it was evaporating. My skin also became redder as vapor came out of my body. However, even though I was feeling great pain, I felt like my body was surpassing its own limits, the limits of strength that a four-year-old could possibly reach.
After getting used to it, I stood up in a single second, rushed towards Aquarina, before conjuring a fire wall… all in three seconds. That was the same amount of time it took for the shadowy tentacles to reach Aquarina, successfully managing to block them.
FLAAAAAASSHHHH!
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
"Hmm? You got faster all of a sudden…? Heh, no matter how much you struggle, the difference in power is way too big! You'll hopelessly die, and there won't be anyone coming to help you!" said the skeleton, laughing maniacally as more and more shadow tentacles began to make their way towards me.
"Fire Wall! Fire Wall! Fire Wall! Fire Wall!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
I continuously conjured the only spell that can do something for us. I needed to buy time, as much time as possible! Constant walls of flames began to appear one after another, protecting us all around and even more above us. On the other hand, an endless sea of darkness continued to fall over us like a rain of black spears.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
The fire walls began to fall apart one by one in mere seconds. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep up for too long. My entire body was about to burst into pieces. Sure, my mana was coming out, yes, but my body… it was as if it was a balloon taking in too much air. In any moment, it would burst.
Crack…!
And then, I felt it. The mana broke the bone in my left arm and shattered it into pieces in an instant.
CRASH!
After that, my right arm exploded. Blood spurted out everywhere as I could see the bone below the muscles that were blown apart.
"S-Sylphy?!"
Aquarina cried in horror as she saw my entire body beginning to be torn apart by the pressure of my mana.
"D-Don't worry…! Agh!"
"FOO!"
Naturia desperately conjured Verdant Light over my body. Although my wounds didn't heal, the bleeding stopped. Some scars emerged over the ugliest wounds, but even with all that, I was barely hanging on. Unfortunately, my healing spells were not strong enough, even with Naturia's help. I tried summoning roots and plants, but there wasn't anything I could use here. I had no seeds with me.
CRASH!
"GAHAHAH! GOTCHA!"
Suddenly, the last fire wall broke apart as shadow tentacles reached my body.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
With the horrendous sound of my flesh being torn apart and pierced by dozens of shadow spears, I vomited out a mouthful of blood, I saw my arms, legs, torso, chest, all except my head, all of it was pierced by the shadow tentacles…
Nngh…
My mind began to flicker. It seems like I was about to die for rea.
My senses started to become muddled due to this. I felt anemic.
"Aggh…!"
"S-Sylphy? …No! No! NOOOOOO!!!"
"Hahahaha! You're next, little girl!" laughed the skeleton, looking at Aquarina.
But for some reason, I wasn't dead yet.
I don't know how this was possible. After all, I should be dead. My guts were splayed outside my stomach, my lungs were pierced, I couldn't even breathe.
Yet… I'm still here?
"Oi… you've still got to kill me…" I said as I touched the shadow tentacles with my hand. Soon, Naturia's very spiritual essence of nature and life began to flow inside the tentacles of death and darkness.
"Eh? I-Impossible- Nngh?! UNNGRRYYYYAAAAGGH…!"
Then, I heard the bastard scream in agony for the first time.
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