Kaizer stood still.
The wind howled around them, carrying dust, blood, and the scent of scorched stone.
His visor flashed, scanning Axel's vitals.
[RUNEBIND STATUS: CRITICAL]
[CORE TEMP: 189% SAFE LIMIT]
[NEURAL RESPONSE: ERRATIC]
[CONCLUSION: DEATH IMMINENT — 82% CHANCE]
"…You're killing yourself just standing there," Kaizer whispered.
He put Steel Howl onto his back with magnetized click.
The glowing veins across his suit dimmed.
Full Moon Mode: Deactivated.
He looked at Axel, barely upright, shaking, mist rising from his limbs.
Kaizer exhaled.
"…It's okay, brother."
He turned toward the bodies of his fallen exterminators. One by one, he lifted them, careful, silent, respectful. Placed them into his dropship.
"I can see it now. You'd rather die than stop protecting them."
The ship's engines ignited.
Moments later, Kaizer was gone. A white blur disappearing into the crimson sky.
Axel stood a heartbeat longer.
Then...
He collapsed.
His helmet retracted.
Blood sprayed from his lips.
His limbs convulsed violently as his body entered seizure.
"AXEL!!"
Kyra sprinted, dropping Brakka's head with a soft thump.
"Wait... wha... ow," Brakka muttered as she woke up.
Kyra dropped to her knees beside Axel, gripping his shoulders, eyes overflowing.
"Please don't die! I need you! I need you more than anything! "
Sylthea and Korrak arrived next.
Sylthea was grim, analyzing Axel's condition.
"If only I had Nature magic," she hissed, biting her lip. "I could heal him."
Korrak crouched. "His breathing is failing. He is overheating, it's like he is melting from the
inside…"
Then a voice cut through them.
"…I can save him."
All eyes turned to Brakka.
The ogress sat up, cracking her neck. Her tongue slid over a cut, and it sizzled closed.
Her saliva hissed faintly, healing the wound like molten glue sealing metal.
"I forgot," Sylthea whispered. "Ogre saliva, it's biologically reactive. It stimulates aggressive healing in any living tissue."
Brakka rolled her shoulders.
"I owe him anyway."
She stepped forward, then paused, face burning scarlet.
Why am I nervous? she thought. It's just spit. This is just… medical.
She knelt.
Scooped Axel's head up closer to her face.
And then...
She kissed him.
Steam erupted from the contact.
A deep, heated kiss.
His wounds, split lips, bleeding eyes, fractured jaw, began to glow, then sizzle, then seal.
His chest stopped seizing. His breath returned. The color returned to his face.
Kyra squealed, covering her eyes. "AHHH! I'M NOT LOOKING!!"
Sylthea raised her brow. "That's not first aid. That's a full-body scandal."
Korrak muttered, wide-eyed. "Is this... normal healing?!"
Brakka pulled back suddenly, red-faced and trembling.
"I-It worked! H-he's fine now, see?!"
Axel blinked awake just as she dropped his head in flustered panic.
THUNK.
"OW." he grunted. "Seriously…?" said as he sat up.
Brakka's face was a furnace.
Kyra launched into Axel's arms, hugging him tight.
"You're okay! You're okay!!"
Axel weakly patted her head, still confused.
"…What happened?"
Sylthea smirked. "Let's just say you owe Brakka dinner. And breakfast."
Brakka turned away in embarrassment, arms crossed, steam rising off her ears.
Axel groaned, rubbing his skull.
"…What the hell did I miss?"
They laughed. Except Brakka who continued to blush.
Later as Black Wolf was repairing the suit...
The forest path stretched out before them, damp with dew and bathed in the amber light of a settling sun. Trees arched overhead, their leaves whispering with every breeze, while soft birdsong returned to the air, nature slowly reclaiming what war had burned.
The group walked quietly for a while. The tension had faded, replaced by the soft sounds of footfalls and rustling brush.
Korrak adjusted the shield on his back. "Those Orcs that Axel freed… think they'll settle in this forest?"
Sylthea nodded. "Probably. Axel gave them a shot at freedom, knowing their chieftain, they'll build something new. Maybe a hidden village, somewhere deep."
Kyra looked up from holding Axel's hand. "I hope they name it something cool. Like... Freedom Fang Town!"
"...Please never name a village," Sylthea said flatly, though smiling.
Axel chuckled quietly, then fell into step beside Brakka.
She hadn't spoken much since they left the battlefield.
"Hey," he said, glancing sideways at her. "Do you know how far you pushed Kaizer?"
Brakka didn't look at him, just kept walking with her usual heavy steps.
"…Fifteen percent," she muttered.
Axel's eyes widened.
"Fifteen? Nobody's ever pushed him past five. He's one of the Seven Apex Eliminators..."
Brakka blinked. "That's a dumb name."
"It is," Axel admitted, "but it's the official title for the strongest Exterminators."
He looked at her with genuine admiration.
"You're seriously strong, Brakka."
She instantly picked up the pace, storming ahead without looking back.
Her entire body was turning scarlet.
"…You okay?" Axel called.
No answer.
He frowned.
"Black Wolf… what's going on with her?"
The voice echoed inside his mind now.
"Maybe ask someone else, Romeo."
Axel blinked. "Wait, you're in my head now?"
"Used 5% of my demon core. That means we're 5% bonded. I hear your thoughts, inner doubts, awkward confusion. All of it."
"...Cool."
He hurried back toward the others. Kyra immediately latched onto his hand again.
"Sooo," Axel asked casually, "why is Brakka acting like that?"
Sylthea exchanged glances with Korrak.
Korrak scratched his head. "Uhh…"
Sylthea tried. "It's complicated. I mean, she did…"
Kyra cut in, cheerful and direct as always.
"She kissed you! Like this...!"
She stuck out her tongue and leaned forward in an exaggerated MUAH, waving her arms like an ogre.
Axel's face turned crimson.
"What?!"
Brakka suddenly spun on her heel and shouted from ahead...
"I WAS JUST HEALING YOU!"
Everyone froze.
Even the birds went quiet.
Brakka's face was redder than dragon fire.
Axel cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck.
"…Thanks."
They locked eyes for a moment.
She turned away again.
They both blushed harder.
And the rest of the group burst out laughing.
Korrak wheezed. "The kiss of life!"
Sylthea smirked. "Truly, a battlefield romance."
Kyra beamed. "We should write a poem about it!"
Axel sighed, smiling faintly despite himself.
And somewhere deep in his mind, Black Wolf muttered...
"…They are worse than demons."