End Of The Battle

"I told you..." Arin whispered, his voice cold and resolute. "I won't lose here..."

*WHOOSH*

In a swift motion, Arin swung his sword, aiming for Seraphine's exposed neck.

"Aghhh!!" Seraphine cried out, and at that exact moment...

*WHOOSH*

Blood Energy erupted from her body, diverting Arin's sword mid-swing, but he had anticipated this.

Without missing a beat, a Water Spike formed in his left hand. With a swift, calculated movement, he drove it deep into her back.

"Ugh....." Seraphine groaned as the Spike twisted inside her, but Arin wasn't finished.

He knew that vampires could regenerate, and a wound like this wouldn't be enough to end Seraphine. Before she could recover...

*WHOOSH*

Arin gathered all his remaining strength in his right hand. While still twisting the Water Spike with his left, he swung his sword again, this time towards her neck.

The air rippled with the force of the swing as the blade sliced toward its target.

Seraphine felt a surge of fear as danger loomed. Her body refused to obey her commands. "AGHHH!! Why can't I turn?!"

Arin's grip on the Water Spike held her in place, twisting it deeper, making it impossible for her to move.

Her eyes, once filled with rage, now brimmed with terror. She stuttered, struggling to speak.

"CHAOS!!!!" Seraphine screamed, her final cry before...

*SLASH*

Her head separated from her neck, falling to the ground and rolling to a stop near a tree.

Even in death, Seraphine's last expression, a mix of shock and fear, remained frozen on her face.

Arin exhaled, a long breath as he wiped the blood from his sword with a single, practiced swing. He glanced at Seraphine's severed head, lying lifeless by the tree. Just as he was about to retrieve it...

"Ugh..."

"Chaos!" Tessa's voice pierced through the night as she dashed toward him, catching him just before he collapsed.

With her arms wrapped around him, she gently lowered him to the ground, his head resting on her lap.

A deep frown creased her brow as she looked down at him. His mask was stained with blood as he coughed, a sight that surprisingly tightened her chest.

"Chaos...." Tessa began, her voice soft, almost a whisper. "Are you okay? You pushed yourself too hard."

A wave of confusion swept over her. Why was she so worried? They barely knew each other, apart from their shared goal.

"I'm fine," Arin replied, his tone unreadable.

'I guess it took a toll on me...' Arin thought. 'But that'll change with time.'

He understood from his knowledge of the Extra's Stand Skill that, as he adapted, the skill would demand less from him. Though using it for an extended period would still come at a cost.

Tessa finally relaxed upon hearing his voice. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly before opening them again.

Arin had stopped coughing, a relief to her, though he remained weak and not yet ready to stand.

'What a battle...' Tessa reflected. The intensity of the fight between Chaos and Seraphine replayed in her mind, and she realized how outmatched she had been in following their movements.

The silence between them stretched, filled only by the distant howls of wolves and the chilly night breeze.

Finally, Arin spoke, breaking the quiet.

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" Arin murmured, his gaze fixed on the glowing orb above.

Tessa followed his gaze, staring up at the moon peeking through the canopy of trees. "Yes... It is."

But her thoughts soon wandered back to Arin. 'What if... what if I remove his mask?'

Now that she considered it, the opportunity seemed perfect. 'He's vulnerable... He won't be able to resist. It won't hurt, right?' she rationalized.

Her eyes narrowed as she studied him, still deciding.

Her right hand slowly moved upward, inching closer to Arin's mask. She hesitated, trembling slightly—not out of fear, but from a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

'Tch... Okay, I'll do it. Nobody will get hurt,' Tessa resolved, her expression hardening as she steeled herself.

In one swift motion, her hand shot forward, ready to pull off his mask. She had always been curious about the person behind it. Was it someone she already knew? Or was it a complete stranger? She would find out now because...

*WHOOSH*

Before her fingers could reach the mask, Arin's hand shot up, gripping her wrist firmly and halting her in her tracks.

"Don't even think about it..." he muttered, his voice low but clear enough for her to hear.

Tessa recoiled slightly, surprised by his swift reaction. She hadn't expected him to stop her.

Arin knew Tessa's curiosity would get the better of her; it was something he'd predicted. He was prepared for this.

"Hmph," Tessa huffed, trying to regain her composure. "Let go of my hand."

Arin couldn't suppress a smirk as he saw her trying to act tough. "As you wish."

He released her hand and continued gazing at the moon above.

Tessa stared at him, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts.

She leaned back against the tree, her head tilted upward. 'I don't even know what to think...'

She remained like that for a moment before she felt movement and instantly looked down.

"Oh, you're fine now," she muttered as Arin lifted his head from her lap.

"Hmm," Arin replied. "Those were some really soft pillows."

Tessa's face flushed bright red as her eyes widened. "What are you talking about?!!"

Arin didn't respond. Instead, he stood up and examined his cloak. The dirt and torn parts had already mended themselves, confirming the cloak's remarkable properties.

His eyes flicked toward Seraphine's head, still lying in the same spot, and he started walking toward it.

His strength was returning, and the exhaustion that had weighed him down was rapidly fading.

Tessa squinted, watching Chaos with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Where are you going?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Arin paused, glancing back at Tessa over his shoulder. "I have to retrieve something..." he replied, his tone carrying a note of seriousness. "Something important..."