Roar.
Just then, a Demon Beast noticed Naya. It opened its great maw and roared at her, then sprang toward her in a few leaps.
Facing the Demon Beast charging swiftly at her, Naya's eyes held not the slightest fear. With unwavering resolve, she raised the spear in her hand and thrust it into the beast's open mouth.
The Demon Beast before her... no, it could only be called a wild beast. It possessed no intelligence whatsoever, which allowed Naya's spear to pierce easily into its mouth.
The next moment, Naya was brutally pinned beneath the beast. More than ten seconds later, she struggled immensely to push away the corpse crushing her, wrench her spear from its mouth, and continue toward the city wall.
When she reached the wall, Naya froze. The wall, built from enormous boulders, was now battered beyond recognition, mercilessly destroyed by the Demon Beasts.
And her brother, Pillar, lay at the village entrance, covered in blood, lying there in utter stillness.
"Brother."
The moment she saw Pillar, Naya could no longer hold herself back. She ran toward him.
"Brother, Brother, how are you? Brother."
Naya set down her spear and slowly lifted Pillar into her arms. Pillar coughed up a mouthful of blood and looked at Naya.
Slowly raising his hand, he gently brushed aside Naya's hair, then smiled.
"Little sister, forgive your brother. Your brother won't be able to protect you anymore. From now on, little sister, you'll have to live on your own. Don't cry. You're all grown up now, so why... why cry?"
Pillar stroked Naya's face as he spoke with a smile. Blood continuously ran from the corner of his mouth, showing no sign of stopping.
"No... Brother, don't die. No..."
Tears streamed from Naya's eyes as she looked at Pillar before