Battle

One hand after another clasped Theus's, and one Banshee after another rose from the sea, their eyes resolute.

Banshees had never been weak creatures. They were willing to shed their own blood to defend their home.

It didn't take long for all the Banshees to sign the Symbiotic Pact with Theus.

As the Life Pool expanded, Ash's injuries had become almost negligible.

She stared in surprise at the hideous scar around her waist. Yes, with life force coursing through her, the wound had turned into a scar.

Ash tested her body and felt it brimming with strength. She hadn't felt so full of life in a long time.

The other Banshees rose from the seawater as well. Each was tall and imposing, and as they stood together, their scales glinted coldly in the moonlight, like a wall of ice.

Watching them, Theus couldn't help but marvel. In an age of cold weapons, these Banshees in heavy armor would be nothing short of killing machines.

A few roars came from outside the cave. Theus looked over and saw that Connor had circled around with the monster Monica had become and was now coming back.

But—

"Why has she gotten so big?!"

The Banshees' expressions turned solemn.

The wailing monster no longer bore any trace of Monica. Swirling masses of Pollution had gathered into a grotesque creature the size of a church.

At that size, it was beyond anything humans could fight, wasn't it?

Theus glanced worriedly at the Banshees beside him.

They, in turn, looked toward Ash.

The contrast was even clearer on land. Ash was several times larger than the other Banshees, and her muscular frame alone spoke of the explosive strength within.

But even a warrior as powerful as her might not be able to stand against that mountain-sized monster.

"Monica..." Ash murmured. Then she shook her head and turned around, her expression firm.

"My lord, we can handle her. Please stay back."

The Banshees' faces showed a hint of sorrow.

Their numbers had always been small. After their battle with the Fishmen, only a handful remained—few enough to fit in this one cave.

That was why the Banshees were so united, and why the bonds between them ran so deep.

Monica was the youngest of them all. She was adorable and mischievous, and everyone loved her.

Sadly, the Pollution inside her had already become too severe to reverse. The Banshees might be able to defeat the monster she had become, but they wouldn't have the strength left to restrain her and try to ease the Pollution.

This was already the best outcome they could hope for. No further sacrifices were needed; both the Banshees and Theus had done everything they could.

And yet, just when they had finally found a home, Monica would have to leave them forever.

The Banshees lowered their heads, holding back their grief as they followed Ash out of the cave. They had no time to waste.

The monster Monica had become was growing stronger by the second.

The Banshees had endured hardship and tasted every dish fate had served them. They had been through so much that this was just one more parting.

The Banshees felt the same thing at once. They exchanged glances, then closed their eyes together.

The power of their minds linked them.

A moment later, they opened their eyes and looked ahead. Resolve was all that remained in each of their gazes. They quickly spread out; that brief link had been enough to plan their tactics.

It was time.

Some distance away, Connor rode in circles on horseback. Seeing the Banshees back on their feet, he relaxed a little.

His forehead was slick with sweat. The monster was as huge as a mountain, but it was hardly slow. If it hadn't struggled a little to turn around, it might have caught Connor already.

Even now, he was at the end of his strength. The horse beneath him panted heavily, wheezing like a broken bellows.

The horse was at its limit. Only by constantly forcing it to change direction had Connor barely managed to evade pursuit.

Thank goodness. They'd made it in time.

Connor lifted his head. A Banshee in the distance signaled to him, and he nodded in understanding.

The massive monster roared as it charged. Connor yanked the reins, and his horse veered sharply to one side.

The monster rushed past them and roared as it reached for horse and rider, but missed them by a hair.

Its huge body struggled to brake, gouging a deep furrow in the earth. Black Pollution sprouted into arm-like tendrils and pressed against the ground to slow it down. Once it had nearly stopped, it frantically clawed at the dirt in its new direction, writhing and twisting as it prepared to turn.

It was about to move again.

Just then, a Banshee charged in and slammed into the monster.

The black Pollution rippled in rings like an overinflated balloon. It wailed as it wrapped around the Banshee, trying to swallow her.

But the Banshee broke away the instant she struck. The Pollution clinging to her slid off, hissing curses in frustration.

She had activated Flesh Magic at the moment of impact, making her impossible for the Pollution to consume.

Once she was far enough away and had checked that no Pollution remained on her, she deactivated Flesh Magic to conserve her strength.

The massive monster had just exhausted its momentum and hadn't yet gathered new strength. Not only had its charge been interrupted, but the impact rocked it so hard it nearly lost its balance.

It could work!

Ash's eyes lit up. This was the Banshees' tactic: they would keep harrying the monster from its blind spots, wearing it down.

Ash, circling at a distance, would look for a chance to kill it with a single strike.

She held a long trident, one they had taken from the Fishmen. Not long ago, she had wielded it to carve a path out of the Abyssal Trench and lead her people to Castel.

"Too bad I can't use magic," she murmured.

The life force from the Symbiotic Pact had healed her wounds, but the effects of exhausting her magic remained.

Suddenly, she turned her head.

"Nini?"

Nini had left her position and was heading toward the cave.

Ash was puzzled and had just started to question her when she noticed Theus waving at her from the cave.

"I have a plan! Just hold it off for now!"

Theus's voice sounded in her mind. It was an ability granted by the Symbiotic Pact, allowing him to communicate with her over a moderate distance.

Ash nodded without hesitation and turned to fill the gap Nini had left.

She didn't know what her lord was planning now. She only knew that she had to carry out his orders.

She trusted her lord. Theus had never let her down.

She was willing to be Theus's sword, cutting through the brambles in his path. She didn't need to think about anything else.

It gave her a sense of security.

But she didn't notice that a sense of anticipation was beginning to grow in her heart.