The Flamebound Serpent roared, its massive coils uncoiling from the broken shrine like rivers of molten stone. Its eyes burned with hatred—no, with hunger—as if it had waited centuries for a soul strong enough to consume.
"Uh," Kazuki said, pointing, "Is it supposed to have four jaws?"
Raigen flapped higher into the air, crackling with lightning. "That's a cursed evolution form. The Trial's final seal has corrupted. This isn't just a test anymore—it's a rampaging mana beast!"
Skye let out a low, warning growl and leapt forward, fur bristling, ready to engage.
Aurelis didn't flinch.
Fire blazed around her like a sunburst, her blade now glowing white-hot. The cola bottle Kazuki had tossed earlier still steamed beside her feet, empty. Her hair floated slightly in the heat shimmer. And for the first time… she was smiling.
Not a forced, heroic smile.
A real one.
"You look like you're actually having fun," Kazuki whispered.
"Don't ruin it."
The serpent struck. Fast as a whip. Its body blurred, crashing toward them like a living volcano.
And then it hit—
Nothing.
Aurelis had moved. Instantly. Flame danced in a ring around the serpent's neck as she appeared above it mid-air, blade slashing in a glowing arc.
The serpent screeched as burning lines etched across its scales.
Kazuki's eyes lit up. "Whoa! That was so cool!"
"Focus!" Raigen shouted, diving into formation. "Split its aggro. We need an opening at the core—the black gem in its throat!"
Kazuki summoned his mana.
Level 23.
Not bad for a guy who tripped over a divine sword three days ago.
He snapped his fingers. "Smile, buddy, you up?"
The little slime emerged from his shadow, blinking with innocent goo eyes.
Then it grinned.
"Okay. Let's be unreasonably chaotic," Kazuki said.
Battle Formations: Clarity vs Chaos
Aurelis moved like a trained warrior-angel. Every movement had purpose. Her flames sharpened around her like wings.
She dodged a burning tail swipe, then redirected the heat midair, flinging it back as a compressed fire lance. It pierced one of the serpent's outer coils, forcing it to recoil.
She was dancing with destruction.
Meanwhile—
Kazuki yeeted a giant rock at its eye.
"Take this, gravity-assisted pain!"
It… bounced off.
But as the serpent turned—
Smile was already inside the serpent's scales, pulsing with rainbow light.
Its eye twitched.
Then the eye exploded.
"YES!" Kazuki whooped. "Smile for MVP!"
The serpent shrieked, writhing. Its body glowed brighter as it surged with corruption.
Then—it changed.
Black thorns of mana burst from its back.
A wave of reverse mana rolled outward—cold and draining, like all fire was being sucked away.
Aurelis faltered midair.
"Kazuki—my flames—!"
"I gotchu!"
He jumped between her and the wave, hand glowing.
[Passive: Hero's Idiocy Activated] [Effect: Immune to Common Sense. Also sometimes dark magic.]
The reverse mana hit him.
…And nothing happened.
"Still warm!" Kazuki beamed.
Raigen nearly crashed from disbelief.
"You're the dumbest protection ward I've ever seen," Aurelis said breathlessly.
"Compliment accepted!"
The Final Strike
Raigen shot lightning from above. Skye leapt at the serpent's throat. Smile multiplied into thirty mini-Smile clones, each punching the serpent's brain with chaos mana.
But it wasn't enough.
The serpent, desperate and wounded, surged one final time—its jaws gaping open, the black gem inside pulsing with cursed power.
"Now!" Raigen shouted.
But Kazuki was already running.
"THIS IS FOR THE TIME YOU INTERRUPTED OUR LUNCH, YOU SCALY JERK!"
He leapt—tripped—bounced off Smile mid-air—
And landed right at the serpent's core.
Aurelis followed a second later, her blade charged with all her remaining mana.
"Together," she said.
"Yup. Fire and fail. Let's go!"
They struck.
Kazuki punched the gem with a bag of grilled mochi (don't ask why it worked).
Aurelis pierced it with flame.
The serpent screamed—its body exploded into golden cinders—and everything went white.
Aftermath
When the light faded, they were standing in silence.
The ruins had transformed.
No longer cracked and cursed—but glowing softly with flame-petals and old light.
And at the center floated a bird made of fire and grace.
Tenrei.
She hovered in front of Aurelis, her wings vast and gentle.
"You burned away your resentment. And you accepted chaos beside you. That… is enough."
She tapped Aurelis's forehead with her beak.
A searing mark appeared on her skin—then vanished.
[Title Acquired: Flameheart Companion of Tenrei]
[New Companion Bond Forming…]
And from the ashes behind the statue—
A bird the size of a horse, made of golden fire and ancient eyes, stepped forth.
It bowed before Aurelis.
Kazuki gasped.
"IS THAT YOUR MONSTER BIRD?!"
Aurelis turned, stunned. "I… I guess so."
Raigen chuckled. "Looks like you're not the only one with overpowered friends now."
Smile burbled something incoherent, possibly jealous.
Skye licked Kazuki's hand comfortingly.
Kazuki laughed.
"This was awesome. I mean terrifying. But also awesome."
Aurelis exhaled.
"Yeah. It was."