The moment the sword stabbed Gumiho, Nymeria's legs trembled and she collapsed, barely managing to sit by pushing against the ground with her hands.
Nymeria was only at half her strength, and yet, since the battle started, she had been using one lethal technique after another while covering herself in Soulforce. Moreover, the ice barriers she created were not to be underestimated.
She must have used every last drop of her Soulforce in that previous attack. It was a given that she was feeling tired.
On the other side, Gumiho fell to the ground— frozen, yet still standing.
The ice around her face and hands began cracking, and this time, not one but both of her tails started glowing.
"She's gonna sacrifice her remainin' tails," Jambavan shouted, bolting on all four towards her.
As he reached closer, he opened his mouth wide, his enormous fangs aiming for Gumiho.
But before he could land the attack, a shattering sound filled the area as Gumiho's hand broke free from the ice and clutched Jambavan's mouth, forcing it shut.
Nymeira's sword pushed out of Gumiho's stomach and fell to the ground. She started turning into a giant, her fangs grew longer than my body, and the hand that had been holding Jambavan's neck was now wrapped around his entire torso.
She clenched her fist and crushed him. Blood splattered like an erupting volcano. The air was filled with the sound of breaking bones and screams of Jambavan.
She slammed him into the ground and then launched her fist upward like a missile.
The space around her hand shattered like a mirror as it plunged into the void.
"What is she trying to do?" I muttered, slowly rising to my feet.
She pulled her arm out, grabbing something in her hand.
It was Vyaghra.
She forcefully broke through Vyaghra's ability and dragged him out of the darkness.
"Your Majesty, please… stop," Vyaghra pleaded.
She stared at him for a moment before hurling him upward.
While he was still in mid-air, she opened her mouth wide. Purple petals circled her fangs, forming a huge sphere of thousands of petals that violently collided with each other.
"Oh no, I can't let that thing hit Vyaghra," I blurted, grabbing my sword.
I had only taken a single step forward, but she had already launched the sphere at him.
Vyaghra, trying to defend himself, raised both arms and then swept them down in opposite directions.
C
R
O
S
S
I
M
P
A
C
T
Dark energy emerged from his claws, forming a cross-shaped blast that struck the sphere rushing toward him.
The instant 'Cross Impact' struck the sphere, an ear-piercing sound tore through the forest.
The sight at that moment was so terrifying that it seemed as if a third moon had appeared in the sky, trying to engulf the entire world.
"This—this is way out of my league," I muttered, staring at the sight beyond comprehension. My hand instinctively let go of the sword, as if my body had already given up.
"Stop spacing out and run," Nymeria shouted, pulling me by the wrist. "If that thing bursts, nothing of us will be left."
"But Vyaghra and Jambavan are still there."
"I don't care. You get out of here this instant. Nothing else matters," she whispered, holding my hand tightly. "I can't let you die because of me again."
"She-she is right. There is no need to risk my life," I thought. "Gumiho's remaining tails are slowly vanishing. I can just come back later when she is completely exhausted."
I was about to turn back, but then... I saw something.
Vyaghra was still in the air, holding the 'Cross Impact' against the sphere.
And not only that—Jambavan had also risen to his feet and begun throwing punches at Gumiho.
"Why... why are you going to such extreme lengths?" I shouted. "We should retreat for now."
"No, we can't," Vyaghra shouted back. "If all of her tails vanish... cough, cough..."
Blood spat from his mouth before he could speak further.
Meanwhile, Gumiho, controlling the sphere with one hand, slammed her other massive hand onto Jambavan, trying to flatten him.
The ground beneath Jambavan crumbled; his knees bent as he blocked her fist with both hands.
"If all her tails vanish..." Jambavan roared, pushing her hand back. "She will die."
With a brief pause, he spoke further, "Raj! Ya remember what Ay told ya before the battle? We'll create an openin', so get ready."
I bent down, grabbed my sword, and murmured, "Sorry, pretty lady, I can't run away. You see, these gods have put their faith in me. So how can I refuse the plea of these gods?"
I pointed the tip of the sword at my neck and thrust it upward, piercing my throat.
"What the hell are you doing, Raj?" Nymeria screamed, her voice cracking as she grabbed my falling body.
"Alert! The host is in critical condition.
Blessing of Ruru activated!"
The deer spirit rose from my body, pulled out the sword, and wrapped itself around the wound on my neck. Then it spread across my broken arm, filling it with muscle fibres and veins.
"One day, I will die of a heart attack and you will be the reason for it," Nymeria muttered, tearfully.
"Don't say such harsh words, pretty lady," I replied. "I will definitely make it up to you later."
"Are you sure you can still fight?" Nymeria asked. "Ruru's blessing consumes a huge amount of Soulforce."
"I'm glad you're worried. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do."
"I won't stop you if you have made your decision," she said, handing me the sword. "I only have one request: please don't die."
"Don't worry," I said, patting her head before moving towards the battle.
Ruru's blessing could cure all wounds, but the physical exhaustion remained.
My body was healed but empty. It was like being given an F1 car without fuel and having to push it manually.
On the other side, Vyaghra, who was holding down the sphere, shoved his hands into the centre of 'Cross Impact'.
With an agonized scream, he spread his arms, turning the cross into an enormous dark disc.
The sphere entered the space inside the disc and vanished from the forest.
Then, mustering the last bit of strength left in his body, Vyaghra brought his hands together with a loud clap. The disc in front of him closed shut and faded away into thin air.
"Don't let the Queen die," he whispered as he fell freely, fainting from fatigue.
Meanwhile, Jambavan, who was being crushed under Gumiho's colossal hand, gripped her fingers over his shoulder and, with a deafening howl, flipped her forward, slamming her gigantic body to the ground.
"What a monster," I murmured, taking slow steps toward Gumiho.
"It's time to put an end to this battle," I intoned, planting the Vajra into the ground.
"Vivi, activate Jambavan's blessing."
***
Agnivrat03's here with the fourth question.
Question 4: What is the attribute of Jambavan?