Tiara stumbled back, blood streaming from the wounds that riddled her body. Her breathing was labored, her war hammer feeling heavier with each swing. The Omega Dire Wolf, though battered, still surged with an unnatural energy, its berserk state pushing it beyond its limits.
The beast lunged, and Tiara barely managed to sidestep its claws, swinging her hammer in a desperate counterattack. It struck the wolf's hind leg, breaking bone, but the creature didn't even falter. Its glowing, malevolent eyes focused solely on Tiara.
The wolf charged, snapping its jaws at her. Tiara raised her hammer, blocking the attack, but the force sent her skidding across the ground. Her aura flickered, the brown light dimming as exhaustion weighed her down.
"I… I won't let you win," Tiara growled, struggling to her feet. But even she knew her body wouldn't last much longer.
As the wolf stalked toward her, its teeth bared and muscles coiled for another strike, a sudden cry split the air.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!"
Ada appeared, sprinting onto the battlefield, her face contorted in fury. In her hands was a gleaming steel sword—Tedric's favorite weapon.
Tiara's eyes widened. "Ada…?"
The young Postknight didn't respond. She hurled herself at the wolf with reckless abandon, swinging the blade with surprising strength. The weapon slashed across the wolf's flank, drawing a deep, crimson gash. The beast howled in pain, retreating a few steps.
"Ada, no!" Tiara shouted, her voice hoarse. "You're too—"
"I'm NOT letting this thing take anyone else!" Ada screamed, cutting Tiara off.
Her fiery determination was palpable. With each strike of the sword, Ada pushed the wolf back, her movements faster and more precise than before. The blade gleamed with an almost ethereal light, as if Tedric's spirit guided her hands.
The wolf snarled, swiping at Ada, but she ducked, sliding beneath its massive form and slashing upward. Blood sprayed from its underbelly as the beast howled in agony, twisting to snap at her.
Ada dodged again, her footwork flawless. She pivoted, bringing the sword down in a brutal arc that severed one of the wolf's claws. The beast reeled, its movements becoming erratic as it tried to adapt to Ada's relentless assault.
Tiara watched in awe, her body trembling. "How is she…?"
Then, it happened.
A fiery rose-colored aura erupted around Ada, surging outward like a flame catching air. The energy crackled with intensity, enveloping her in a radiant glow that seemed to ignite the battlefield.
Her eyes burned with newfound resolve as she raised the sword. "This ends NOW!"
---
The Omega Dire Wolf snarled, its dark magic clashing against Ada's blazing aura. The two forces collided, creating shockwaves that shook the ground.
Inside the walls of the Academia, the impact was felt like a distant earthquake. The ground trembled, and the windows rattled. Students and instructors paused, their faces etched with concern.
"What was that?" a Lina whispered, clutching his staff tightly.
"Is it coming from the battlefield?" another student Patric asked, his voice trembling.
Elizabeth, who was tending to injured knights in the infirmary, felt the tremor beneath her feet. Her hand instinctively gripped the edge of the table for support. "This isn't just any battle," she murmured, her expression grim.
She turned to a healer stationed beside her. "Check on Almond's condition again. Quickly!"
The healer hesitated, his expression reluctant. "He's stable, but…"
Elizabeth didn't let him finish. She stormed toward the corner of the infirmary, where Almond lay unconscious on a cot. His face was pale, his breathing shallow but steady.
She knelt beside him, placing a gentle hand on his forehead. "Almond…" she whispered, her heart aching at the sight of the once-proud knight brought so low.
Turning back to the others, Elizabeth's voice hardened. "The injury to his chest was too deep. He fought bravely, but if we don't get him to a proper medical unit soon, he may never fully recover."
Ada surged forward, her aura fueling her every move. She danced around the wolf's attacks, her sword flashing like lightning. Each strike landed with devastating precision, leaving deep wounds that oozed dark ichor.
The wolf lashed out desperately, its claws raking the air. Ada leapt over one swipe, slamming the sword into the beast's shoulder. The force of the blow sent it crashing to the ground, its body convulsing as its berserk state faltered.
Tiara, still kneeling, felt her own aura dissolve as her strength gave out. She watched helplessly as Ada pressed her advantage, her attacks relentless.
"You've done enough, Tiara," Ada said without looking back, her voice firm. "Let me finish this."
Tiara nodded weakly, her heart swelling with a mix of pride and sorrow.
---
The battlefield was a blur of blood and fire as Ada drove the wolf further into a corner. Her aura burned brighter with every passing second, her rage and determination fueling her beyond her limits.
The wolf, now cornered, let out a low growl, its dark magic flaring one last time. But Ada didn't falter. She raised Tedric's sword high, the blade glowing with her aura.
"This is for Tedric!" she roared, bringing the sword down in a decisive strike.
But just as the blade was about to connect, Ada's aura flickered. Her body wavered, the strength draining from her limbs.
"No…" she whispered, her vision blurring.
Her knees buckled, and she collapsed, the sword slipping from her grasp.
---
The Omega Dire Wolf, sensing her weakness, regained its footing. Its dark magic surged again, though weaker than before. With a guttural snarl, it lunged at Ada, its jaws wide open.
"Ada, MOVE!"
Oliver's voice rang out from the sidelines, desperation lacing his words. He extended his hand, trying to summon magic, but nothing came. His mana pool was completely depleted.
""Damn it! Not now! I need mana! I need—"Oliver cursed, his voice breaking. "ADA!"
---
Ada lay motionless, her body too drained to react. The wolf's shadow loomed over her, its jaws inches away from ending her life.
The battlefield seemed to hold its breath.