The Heroes (1)

"That should be it..."

After navigating the chaotic city, the shop finally emerged on the horizon.

As I sprinted toward it, my attention was abruptly diverted to a figure lying amidst the wreckage of a fallen building. Surrounded by shattered glass, flames, and debris, she lay vulnerable.

"....!! Noah!"

Without a second thought, I rushed towards the fallen structure, leaping through the fire. Just in time, I shielded the girl's body with my back, preventing a pillar from crashing down on her.

"...ugh."

Surviving the impact due to [Obsidian Body], I pushed the pillar aside, letting it crash harmlessly to the ground.

Swiftly, I lifted the girl, shaking her awake.

"Noa—?"

To my surprise, she wasn't Noah. Although there was a striking resemblance, the differences were evident. This girl had shorter brown hair, and unlike Noah, she lacked the bunny ears hidden inside her helmet.

Recalling our past conversation, realization struck me.

"...Is this her sister?"

Lost in thought, I examined the unconscious girl, questioning her fate. Despite my attempts to rouse her, there was no response.

"There's no way you can be dead..."

Unexpectedly, the [«CĄ̷U±¡ø̵̧̡Π (MAX)»] system activated.

"...?"

Perplexed, I questioned the system just as I felt a faint heartbeat from the girl.

"...She's still alive."

That's a relief...

A sense of relief washed over me, although the unfamiliarity of that emotion startled me.

"...Relief?"

Shaking off those thoughts, I refocused on the task at hand. Time was of the essence.

"...Ugh, there's no time to think about this."

Resolute, I retrieved a potion and carefully administered it to the unconscious girl. With a gentle touch, I ensured she drank it without any complications.

"...."

My expression remained stoic as I attended to the girl, silently hoping for her recovery amidst the chaos.

As the last drop of the potion met her lips, its effects swiftly took hold. A subtle energy flowed through the girl, and her wounds began to heal at a remarkable pace. In less than ten seconds, the ragged breathing gave way to a calm rhythm.

...This should be good for now.

"I need to hurry..."

With determination in my eyes, I closed them momentarily, reaching out to Otuko through telepathy. I instructed her to alert the others and initiate phase 2 of the plan.

'Alright... I'm heading to the designated coordinates you mentioned,' she conveyed, concluding our brief telepathic exchange.

Rising to my feet, I gently positioned the girl on my back. Waste no time, I thought, and swiftly set off toward Solis's location.

Opting for efficiency, I decided to take a shortcut by navigating the rooftops. Although such rooftop sprints would typically be thrilling, urgency drowned out any sense of excitement. There was no time for distractions.

Bounding across the rooftops, I made swift progress toward the south. The cityscape passed in a blur beneath me as I leaped from building to building, each landing precise and purposeful. The unconscious girl on my back remained secure, her life now out of immediate danger.

As I neared the designated coordinates where Solis was stationed, the sound of distant clashes and roars echoed through the city. The chaos of the battle resonated with every rooftop I crossed, a stark reminder of the urgency at hand.

Upon reaching the rendezvous point, I descended from the heights and found Solis engaged in a fierce battle with a group of monsters. Her movements were a dance of lethal precision, spells cast with deadly accuracy. The creatures, unable to withstand her onslaught, fell one by one.

"Solis!" I called out, catching her attention amid the fray.

She turned toward me, her eyes locking onto the unconscious girl on my back. With a nod, she quickly dispatched the remaining monsters before approaching.

"What happened?" Solis asked, her gaze shifting between me and the girl.

"Noah's sister," I explained briefly. "We need to get her to safety and regroup. Phase 2 is in motion."

Solis nodded in understanding. "I'll clear a path. You get her out of here."

Without wasting a moment, Solis unleashed a barrage of spells, creating an opening for our escape.

We left through the hidden exit and blocked it by blasting it with a bomb.

And thus, we regrouped.

***

In the midst of the chaotic battle, Julius, Eveline, and the other heroes executed the all-out attack with meticulous coordination. The Boss, a colossal wolf with a star-marked forehead, faced relentless assaults from all sides.

Julius, wielding his sword with precision, aimed for the real wolf. Beside him, Eveline unleashed her magic with formidable force. The third hero, strategically positioned, complemented their attacks with a relentless barrage along with the other support team.

Simultaneously, the remaining three heroes and their companions focused on combating the shadow, deciphering its elusive movements and striking at calculated intervals. Each engagement was a synchronized dance, a ballet of blades and magic against the formidable adversary.

Despite the intensity of the battle, the heroes exhibited a remarkable unity, seamlessly coordinating their movements to exploit the vulnerabilities of the Boss and its shadow. Their teamwork became a symphony of attacks and retreats, a strategic ballet choreographed to maximize efficiency and minimize risks.

As the clash continued, the heroes tirelessly pressed on, determined to overcome the formidable foe and fulfill their mission to protect the city.

Thus, the air crackled with magical energies, echoing the determination of these valiant heroes in their battle against the monstrous threat.

In the midst of the fierce battle, Julius expertly dodged the descending claw, countering with precision air spells directed at the Boss. Although the attacks missed its vital points, the invisible strikes inflicted wounds on its leg. It would surely hinder its movements.

Taking a brief respite, Julius noticed Eveline nearby, a grin on her face.

"You're tired already?"

"...?"

He noticed that Eveline was also nearby, grinning.

He shook his head, responding with determination, "Haaa... Not as tired as you!"

As the two exchanged a knowing glance, they proceeded to go back to their assault. Meanwhile, the three heroes confronting the Boss's shadow seemed to gain the upper hand.

However—

"...!!?"

Crack—!

Cracks echoed through the air as the wolf's claws landed on Julius' sword, shattering it.

"Brother!"

Juliette's alarmed voice reached them while she was preparing to throw her next spell upon noticing what was about to happen.

"...?"

"Ugh!"

Thankfully, Eveline intervened just in time to save him.

"Stay focus!" She roared loudly, while desperately pushing the Boss away using her whole strength. However, due to her lack of conserved mana, she knew that she couldn't stay long there.

"....!!"

Fortunately, Leo, the supporting hero, arrived in the nick of time, using his strength to hurl the Boss into its shadow.

"Haaaa!"

"Guuaaaarr—!?"

As the dust settled, Leo clenched his fists, ready to join the fray with an assertive declaration.

"Don't forget about me!"

The other heroes, including Eveline and Julius, couldn't suppress their amusement as they watched Leo's impressive feat. Recognizing his physical strength, they never anticipated that he could single-handedly push away a Boss, especially with his battered body—the very hero who narrowly avoided being devoured earlier.

Had Julius and Eveline not intervened, Leo might have met his end. Fueled by a desire to settle the score and avoid indebtedness, Leo's resilience shone through.

"... Seriously."

Julius and Eveline exchanged glances, shaking their heads in helpless amusement.

Before they could react, a colossal fireball streaked past Julius, targeting the Boss. A voice rang out, "The Wave has not been finished! The Boss is still alive."

Baaaam—!

Juliette, panting heavily, served as a stark reminder. Their expressions shifted from amusement to urgency as they turned their attention to the dust-covered Boss.

"..."

The moment two white glowing eyes pierced through the dust, an intense chill crawled down their spines. The hair on their bodies stood on end as the massive wolf emerged.

The star on its forehead turned black, its eyes aflame like the shadow. What captured their attention was its size, suddenly doubling as they had to crane their necks to see it.

—Grrrrrrrr!

The wolf's entire form became visible, its claws and sharp horns now bathed in white flame. In contrast to earlier, it now cast a shadow, signaling a sinister transformation.

"It became one..."

As they realized it came alone, a collective thought echoed among them.

The second phase of the battle had begun in earnest.