Kumodesu

We couldn't afford to keep stalling with it any longer!

But if we ran now, it would quickly catch up to us.

"I can still fight."

While dodging the relentless attacks, I heard Charlot's faint voice. Her complexion had improved slightly, but I still didn't think continuing to fight was a viable option.

"Don't push yourself. If you keep fighting, you'll die."

Lying in my arms, Charlot gave a faint smile.

"That was the original plan anyway."

I knew.

But… I couldn't do it.

"Even if you say that, I won't let you fight to the death."

"You're such a busybody."

Normally, I wouldn't worry so much—but this time, I couldn't help it.

Because it's her.

"I stayed behind so you could survive."

I froze when I heard that… and paid the price.

A sharp spike pierced straight through my waist, making me collapse in pain.

Still, I managed to throw Charlot aside.

Cerberus was now focused entirely on me, so she would be safe—for the time being.

As for me, after that fall, I immediately had to switch positions before more spikes could strike. I tried to keep away from Charlot to give her more time to recover.

The situation was dire, yet Charlot's words kept echoing in my head, making it impossible to concentrate. I slapped myself to regain focus, then threw myself entirely into evading Cerberus's constant assaults.

At times, it would fire sharp spikes, then split into two and rush me from both sides, forcing me to stay alert and keep my eyes on both the front and back.

Its stealth was still excellent—I could only react once the attacks were already close.

I had just dodged an attack from the front when another Cerberus struck from behind.

Luckily, Charlot arrived just in time to block the hit for me.

"Are you okay?"

Her condition earlier had already been bad; if she kept forcing herself to fight, she might not survive.

"I've recovered a bit. I can still fight."

"Don't push it."

I truly wanted to convince her to stop, but on my own, I wouldn't last long either.

Right now, our only option was to fight while retreating together.

Seizing an opportunity, Charlot knocked the Cerberus back and unleashed a powerful slash at the wall, causing it to collapse.

"Run!"

With that, she grabbed my hand and ran.

Right now, running was our only way to survive. As we fled, I threw large bombs behind us to create more barriers. It worked ,so far, Cerberus hadn't caught up yet.

Only when we had gained some distance did I calm down enough to treat my own wounds. The large gash on my waist had been bleeding nonstop, and I was starting to feel dizzy.

Suddenly, Charlot's earlier words echoed again in my mind—just thinking about it had almost gotten me killed.

"How's your wound?" I asked without thinking, while hiding behind a boulder.

"You've asked me that so many times already," Charlot replied, her tone calm but weak.

"Because it's important."

"What about your wound?" she countered.

Truth be told, my injuries were serious too.

Since the beginning of this battle, I'd taken more damage than she had.

But because Charlot was the main force, I always downplayed my own wounds.

"I'll live."

"Then so will I."

This girl…!

I didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.

"Do you think we've lost it yet?"

That was still the most critical issue right now.

"It won't be that easy."

She was right.

And then, out of nowhere, Cerberus suddenly burst through the wall on the left, blocking our path. It swung its tail with devastating force, destroying everything in its path.

Thankfully, Charlot reacted in time and pulled me back, avoiding a fatal blow.

"This time… I'm out of ideas…"

"Loyral."

Charlot suddenly called my name. I froze, a strange sense of dread rising in my chest.

"What is it?" I asked, trying to remain calm.

"Are you willing to die with me?"

I was shocked by the question. Deep inside, I still hesitated about something like that… But I had to give her an answer.

"Dying now would be a shame, but… I won't abandon you."

Charlot smiled at me.

That smile…

She rarely smiled so gently.

The last time I saw her smile like that was years ago—when we drank together, and she vented about the injustices women faced in the army.

"What are you planning?" I asked.

"To have one good fight… before I die."

With that, Charlot raised her sword once more. This time, it blazed with a deep crimson flame I had never seen before—not the usual emerald light.

The unease in my heart grew stronger. It seemed she was truly prepared for her final battle. But… why wasn't she using a protective barrier?

"Aren't you using a shield?" I asked.

"I don't want to hold back anymore. Just this once… I want to be free."

I didn't fully understand what she meant, but if she had already made her choice, then I could only do my part.

I activated [Nightmare] again, drawing in as much power as possible. It had been a while since I last used [Nightmare], so I could still absorb a bit more without losing control.

Charlot said nothing more and charged ahead.

I cloaked myself in stealth and moved to flank her from both sides.

Cerberus roared and lunged directly at Charlot, intending to crush her with its claws. But her speed had increased dramatically—she dodged easily, countering with a powerful slash at its front leg.

Cerberus roared, trying to swing its tail at her, but I quickly unleashed chains and bound its tail. Charlot seized the moment to strike the same leg again, slicing it clean off.

Cerberus didn't scream—it lunged forward, trying to retrieve its severed limb to regenerate.

But Charlot was faster.

She kicked the leg away, then used the opening after its missed attack to land another slash across its body.

Charlot… was completely dominating the fight.

Even I was stunned.

Her crimson sword must have held some mysterious power—every cut caused Cerberus to bleed profusely.

Was it a bleeding effect?

If so, it was its perfect counter.

Cerberus couldn't heal naturally, and continuous bleeding would only weaken it more and more.

We… might still win this!

Charlot showed no signs of fatigue.

But I couldn't just support her—I had to keep watching her closely. This level of power couldn't come without a cost, and if she collapsed before the battle ended, we'd both die.

Charlot relentlessly attacked, not giving Cerberus any breathing room.

Now missing a leg, it moved a beat slower than before. The difference was small, but Charlot saw it as a fatal opening.

Sensing danger, Cerberus fired a barrage of spikes to buy time and create distance. But Charlot slashed them all down, pressing forward without pause. Meanwhile, I conjured dozens of stone walls behind Cerberus to block its retreat, limiting its movement.

Charlot didn't waste the opportunity—she charged, striking it over and over.

I also sent flying daggers to harass it, waiting for a chance to strike at its throat.

When Cerberus was distracted, Charlot drove her sword deep into its body. It howled, but she didn't linger—she pulled the blade out immediately, leaving a gaping wound.

Seeing the opening, I threw a teleportation stone into the wound, swapped places, and shoved several bombs inside.

A sharp spike shot from its body and grazed my ear.

I could handle that.

I backed away—and then came the explosions.

Multiple detonations erupted inside Cerberus, making it stagger and bleed all over. Its insides clearly weren't as tough as its exterior.

Charlot capitalized, slicing off another leg, throwing its balance even further off.

We were still gaining the upper hand—never before had we forced Cerberus into such a desperate situation.

Suddenly, Cerberus let out a deafening roar, and explosions began erupting all around it. Though not massive, the blasts were enough to force Charlot back, since she had no shield.

I conjured stone walls to ease the pressure, and Charlot managed to retreat to my side.

"What is it trying to do now?" I wondered aloud.

Then… I saw it.

Cerberus split itself into two… and began devouring its other half.

We had to stop it!

It was trying to regenerate!

Even before I could act, Charlot was already charging forward. But more explosions erupted around it, trying to stop her. Charlot ignored the damage and kept going.

I followed, dodging and building barriers to protect her. We broke through the blast zone—Charlot was covered in wounds and blood, but she pressed on.

She reached Cerberus and slashed at its head, cutting through—but it didn't stop. Ignoring its injuries, it kept eating while using its tail and spikes to hold Charlot off.

I arrived and threw out my chains to drag the "prey" away—but the Cerberus being eaten had dug its limbs deep into the ground, anchoring itself.

Damn it!!

If this keeps up… it'll succeed!

Charlot tried to sever its mouth, but couldn't.

What was happening?

Was Charlot getting weaker?

"Your hair…"

Somehow, her once golden hair had turned completely silver.

"Don't worry about me! Just kill it!!" she shouted.

I knew… I knew from the start that this power came with a price. But all I could do now was obey.

I threw daggers repeatedly, slashing at its head. Blood and flesh flew, but it kept eating.

I couldn't pull the prey away.

Charlot couldn't sever its mouth.

Were we… really going to fail?

I searched desperately for another way—but before I could act, Cerberus finished eating. It roared, spun violently, and sent Charlot flying.

I managed to catch her.

Her face had gone completely pale.

With her silver hair, she looked almost ethereal… but it was a dangerous beauty.

"Can you still fight?" I asked.

Charlot didn't reply. She only gasped for breath. Her eyes had turned gray—they wouldn't open anymore. The crimson sword, once blazing, had already lost its light.

Cerberus had recovered.

Charlot… could no longer fight.

We…

Had failed.

But—maybe there was still one last chance. Last time, after digesting its prey, Cerberus needed time to stabilize and recover.

If we ran now… we might escape.

This was our only chance.