I try to attempt anything in my capacity to stop the attack.

Casting a spell.

Yell for her to crouch.

Throwing myself to push her away.

But not even a word or spell gives me enough time to stop Kaira from landing the attack.

Aurelia gets hit by the spell, one that is designed to collect heads from enemies, meant to be used as a powerful damaging spell against enemies to deliver the final shot.

It is like everything is moving in slow motion. I see the spell hit her directly in the neck before I can move a single finger.

Aurelia gets launched by the attack.

Karina, who is still behind Kaira gasps, I hear Lisa do it as well. No sound from the old man.

She falls at my feet, eyes closed, and her scythe travels a few more meters through the floor.

For a moment, I feel a cold, dreadly and dark feeling that she died in front of me, that I let her die.

The only thing that stops me from succumbing to said dark feeling, that consuming and destructive thought, is the message that appears on my System Screen.

[Arelia was critically injured]

She is still alive. Most likely barely, but has not died. But I still have the same fear as if she did, having a cold shudder take over my whole being.

"Shame… I was waiting for more of a fight." Kaira chuckles with a hand on her mouth. "Ahhh… she barely withstood a couple of hits, even after getting healed by your priest… How pathetic! And this is what beat Maxwell? He is even more pathetic!"

I shudder. I look at her. I look at Aurelia. I look at her again.

My breathing is getting faster. I start to growl.

When did I start growling? I don't remember doing it as often as a human. I don't remember much from it anyway.

I am showing my teeth at her while each hair from my fur stands up.

"Oh, my, you got angry?" She is still smiling. "I recommend you to stay put unless you want me to kill you as well."

"Y-you…!" My fists tighten in my hands.

This is the first time ever Aurelia is in the ground, and this piece of shit is mocking her like she is nothing.

If only I was faster she wouldn't have been like this. If only I did not hesitate and fucked up the way I did… would i have been able to do something different?

I fucking hate myself for this…

"Not good…" I hear Ash. "Let's go!"

"No…" I answer.

"Amber…" Lisa says.

"Huh? What? Think a simple mage that depends on items can defeat me?" She stretches her hand and prepares a fire spell. "Goodbye, little fox-girl."

I grab Bloodless with my hand, pull it and touch the blade.

I cast [Icebolt] multiple times at her in a barrage.

It catches her by surprise, and attempts to block it with the Barrier, but she gets overwhelmed and many hit her.

I continue until my MP drops to 0 and I am left with half my HP, casting faster than what my regeneration can hold me.

Her body gets thrown backwards when she gets hit with several, recoiling from the energy on each connected spell I hurl at her.

Several messages with damage appear on my screen.

She immediately stands.

"W-what the-!" she mutters while looking at me with wide eyes.

I stretch my arm and cast [Ice Stake] on top of her.

The ice forms into a pointy stake on top of her, she notices and moves in the last second before the drop.

The ice shatters.

"Y-you are not weakened, right?" She says with squinted eyes.

"Your intel is wrong." I put Bloodless back inside of the scabbard. "Aurelia did not make Maxwell flee… It was me."

Her eyes go wide when I reveal that. She takes distance from me, and smirks.

"You are crazy, aren't you, little fox?" She says, her tone of voice changes now, more shaky. "To sacrifice your friend to act weak…"

Her words strike something in me.

"Lisa, keep healing me and keep Aurelia alive" I say.

I look back over my shoulder, and she shudders but nods.

I turn back at Kaira.

"Sacrifice? Say it again." I dare her.

She gives me a smug smile before standing up straight.

Something in my chest starts to feel warm. Not hot, just warm, right in the middle of my bosom, yet I don't know what.

"Seems I struck a nerve? As I said, you just sacrificed…"

I still don't know how, but I manage to break the distance with a speed I have never been able to use before.

Adrenaline? Simple anger? The way the system works no one knows? Or it just felt that way?

I just feel so much anger. A rage I cannot contain.

How dare she say I was intending to sacrifice Aurelia?

Fuck her!

Fuck her!

I know it is my fault. If I wasn't so stupid she would be fine.

If I would just go for a strong spell she would be fine. If I wasn't weak she would be fine.

I just see her face go from a smug smirk to a shock as I intend to blast her with electric spells, while my left hand is touching Bloodless.

I cast, using the short distance, [Shock Grasp], a spell that makes my hand conduct electricity. A short ranged spell meant for close quarters combat.

She creates a barrier as my hand swings, it clashes.

I feel the hit against the barrier in contact, the heavy energy trying to go against my spell.

But I pierce through.

Like glass, it shatters.

And my hand connects with her face.

[Your hand delivers a shocking strike to Kiara (-5670)! She is severely injured!]

[Shock Grasp burns her MP!]

"Shit!" She curses from the pain and sudden loss of a portion of her magic pool.

My hand pushes her back, her body is still in shock but she tries to pull through, casting an electric spell at me.

The spell, a [Death Ray], travels towards my face.

I smirk.

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