Silence fell.
Even the fire seemed to quiet down.
---
Yakumaro felt it.
Something was ending.
---
His friend exhaled slowly.
---
"…Hey."
---
Yakumaro looked at him.
---
"…Don't come closer."
---
"…What are you—"
---
"Stay. There."
---
The tone…
Left no room for argument.
---
Yakumaro stopped.
---
"…You'll die."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
A small smile.
---
"…Probably."
---
Yakumaro's eyes widened.
---
"…Then run."
---
"No."
---
"…Run."
---
"…I said no."
---
Silence.
---
The creature stepped forward.
---
And in that moment—
Everything moved.
---
Faster than before.
---
His friend pushed forward—
Every ounce of strength.
---
Strikes.
Explosions.
Shockwaves tearing the ground apart.
---
For a moment—
Just a moment—
---
He overwhelmed it.
---
Yakumaro's eyes widened.
"…He's winning…?"
---
Then—
Everything stopped.
---
The creature stood still.
---
Its eyes…
Sharp.
---
It had learned.
---
Completely.
---
In an instant—
It moved.
---
Too fast.
---
Too clean.
---
A strike—
---
Silence.
---
Yakumaro's breath stopped.
---
His friend…
Didn't move.
---
A deep wound.
---
Straight through.
---
Time froze.
---
"…No…"
---
His body fell.
---
Slowly.
---
Like everything had lost meaning.
---
Yakumaro ran.
---
"NO!"
---
He reached him.
Caught him before he hit the ground.
---
Blood.
Too much.
---
"…Stay with me…"
---
No response.
---
"…Don't do this…"
---
A faint breath.
---
Then—
A whisper.
---
"…You… finally moved forward…"
---
Yakumaro's hands trembled.
---
"…Don't die…"
---
A pause.
---
"…Good."
---
His eyes…
Closed.