The dust didn’t clear all at once.

It thinned slowly, drifting down in uneven waves until shapes began to show again.

Arthur was already moving before it fully settled.

"Nox!"

"I’m here!" her voice came back, shaken but alive.

Relief hit fast, but it didn’t last.

Because the rest of the scene came into view.

The wolf stood there.

Right in front of her.

Still.

Too still.

Its body was lowered, legs trembling slightly as if they could give out at any second. The ground beneath it was dark, soaked through where the blood had pooled and spread.

The cub slipped out of Nox’s arms the moment it saw it.

It stumbled forward, small and unsteady, then pressed itself against the wolf’s side with a soft sound.

The wolf didn’t move much.

Just its head.

Slowly.

It lowered it toward the cub, brushing lightly against it.

Arthur stopped a few steps away.

He didn’t say anything.

Didn’t need to.

The injuries were clear.

The spears hadn’t just hit.

They had torn through.

Deep.

Across its side, its back, even one of its hind legs barely held its weight anymore. Blood kept flowing, slow but steady, and the rise and fall of its chest had already grown uneven.

It had taken everything.

Not one attack.

All of it.

For a moment, no one in the group spoke.

Even Torren stayed quiet.

"...Damn," he muttered under his breath.

Nox stood there, hands half-raised like she didn’t know what to do anymore.

"I... I didn’t..."

Arthur shook his head lightly.

"You did what you had to."

His eyes stayed on the wolf.

His jaw tightened.

"...So did it."

The cub let out another small sound, pressing closer, almost trying to climb over the wolf like it could wake it up or keep it standing.

The wolf’s head dipped again, slower this time.

It didn’t push the cub away.

Didn’t try to stand straighter.

It just stayed there.

Arthur felt it then.

Not fear or hostility.

Something else.

Clear.

Even through everything.

He stepped forward.

Slow.

Careful.

The wolf’s eyes shifted to him.

Sharp.

Still aware.

Arthur stopped right in front of it.

For a second, they just looked at each other.

Then the wolf moved.

Barely.

One of its front legs twitched, dragging slightly against the ground.

Not an attack.

A gesture.

Arthur understood.

"...You want me to take it."

The wolf’s gaze didn’t leave his.

It didn’t need to nod.

Arthur exhaled slowly.

"...You’re sure?"

A pause.

Then the wolf lowered its head again, resting it closer to the cub.

Its body relaxed just a little.

That was enough.

Arthur nodded once.

"I’ll keep it safe."

Behind him, Ryn didn’t interrupt.

Neither did anyone else.

They all saw it.

Understood it.

Arthur crouched slightly, reaching out slowly toward the cub.

The small wolf turned toward him, eyes wet, body tense.

"It’s fine," Arthur said, voice quieter now. "Come here."

It didn’t move at first.

Then it glanced back at the larger wolf.

The wolf didn’t react.

Didn’t stop it.

That was the answer.

Arthur gently picked it up, careful with the way it shifted in his arms.

It didn’t resist.

Just let out a soft sound, still looking back.

Nox stepped closer, hands ready.

Arthur passed it to her.

"Hold it."

She nodded quickly, holding it close this time.

"I’ve got it."

Arthur looked at the cub for a second, then reached out and ran a hand lightly over its head.

"...We’ll handle the rest."

The cub didn’t understand the words.

But it felt the tone.

It stayed still.

Arthur stood up.

And turned.

His eyes found the guardian.

The thing wasn’t even watching them.

Not really.

It stood near the ritual formation, its body shaking slightly as the last of the tainted mana fed into it.

Its wounds were gone now.

Closed.

Its posture straightened as it laughed, low at first, then louder.

The sound wasn’t right anymore.

It didn’t sound human.

Arthur’s expression hardened.

"...Same as before."

Ryn stepped up beside him.

"You’ve seen this?"

Arthur nodded.

"They burn everything they have for a short burst. After that... they crash."

Torren rolled his shoulders. "So we drag it out?"

Arthur shook his head.

"Not this time."

There was something different in his voice now.

Ryn glanced at him.

"...You’re not planning to wait."

Arthur didn’t answer directly.

He just stared at the guardian.

The laughter grew louder.

More unstable.

The mana around it thickened again, but this time it wasn’t controlled. It leaked out, wild and uneven, like it couldn’t hold it properly anymore.

Arthur let out a quiet breath.

"...I hate this kind of fight."

Ryn smirked slightly. "You always say that."

"Yeah," Arthur replied. "Still true."

Then he stepped forward.

The guardian noticed this time.

Its head snapped toward him, grin wide.

"Ah... you’re still alive..."

Arthur didn’t respond.

Didn’t slow down.

The guardian raised its hand again.

The ground answered.

Spears formed.

More than before.

Larger.

Denser.

The air itself felt heavier as they took shape.

Behind Arthur, Nox tightened her hold on the cub.

Torren didn’t move.

Selene didn’t draw.

Ryn just watched.

They all knew what was coming.

The guardian threw its hand forward.

The spears shot out.

Fast.

Deadly.

Enough to tear through everything in their path.

Arthur didn’t dodge.

Didn’t step aside.

He stayed right where he was.

"...Arthur," Nox whispered.

He raised his hand.

Just slightly.

And the world seemed to shift.

The spears slowed.

Not completely.

But enough.

Like something had caught them mid-flight.

The ground beneath Arthur cracked faintly as the force pushed against him.

He didn’t move.

His eyes stayed locked on the guardian.

"...You’re done."

His fingers moved.

A small motion.

The spears stopped.

Then turned.

All at once.

Ryn let out a low breath. "There it is."

The guardian’s grin faltered.

Just a little.

"...What?"

Arthur didn’t give it time.

The spears shot back.

Faster.

Sharper.

Now driven by something else.

Wind wrapped around them, tightening their path, pushing them harder than before.

The guardian reacted late.