With the powerful swing of Tereba's mantis arms, Kiyoshi flew across the battlefield. As Kiyoshi recomposes himself, Tereba and Minka quickly charge toward Kiyoshi. Minka, with her spider-like body, leaps into the bear by trees disappearing from Kiyoshi's sight whilst Tereba, continues his forward assault on Kiyoshi. Tereba quickly uses his Raptorial forelegs to rapidly swing at Kiyoshi as if he had two katanas attached to him.
Kiyoshi manages to hold off Tereba's attack but is concerned about the whereabouts of his lover, Minka. Kiyoshi orders Kivuli to protect the young couple until he can locate Minka and a shadow instantly emerges from Kiyoshi and surrounds the young people who were still in a trance. With his and Tereba's battle intensifying, Kiyoshi maintains his guard for a surprise attack from Minka.
Kiyoshi noted to himself that even though Tereba was a terrifying monster, he wasn't much of a challenge. He was freakishly strong and his forelegs were extremely durable, but his prowess as a combatant was poor. As Kiyoshi's mind was more focused on finding Minka than fighting Tereba, who was currently in front of him attacking.
In the midst of battle, Kiyoshi concluded this must be because they are ambush predators, and this is the first time they actually have to fight prey to kill. Since they usually just put their prey in a trance before consuming them. With this revelation, Kiyoshi decides to focus on finishing Tereba first, as it will most likely draw Minka out. As she will do anything to protect him.
Kiyoshi turns all his attention on Tereba and begins pursuing the monstrous creature with a vast array of sword swings and techniques. Which turned the predatory creature into prey. With a thrust of his sword, Kiyoshi stabs Tereba in one of his eyes, blinding that eye. With a painful and beastly roar, Tereba screamed out in pain. As the moanful roars of pain echoed the forest, several projectiles flew in the direction of Kiyoshi.
With a backflip, Kiyoshi dodges the aerial attacks to see that he was attacked with balls of acid and spider webs. It must be Minka? Kiyoshi thought to himself, as his theory was proven to be correct. All he need to do was continue to attack and injure Tereba and Minka will reveal her to him in order to protect her lover.
As the balls of acid and spider webs continue to rain from directions unknown. Kiyoshi continued his assault on Tereba, with the latter only being able to defend himself, as Kiyoshi was becoming too much for the monster to handle. With both of the monsters' attacks being easy to avoid, Kiyoshi was quickly able to damage Tereba severely by cutting off one of his forelegs.
Tereba tried to counter by finding himself in the worst position as Kiyoshi made a slash running down his back, creating an opening that revealed Tereba's spin. But before Tereba could recover from his previous injuries, Kiyoshi stood on the shoulders of the monster, driving his sword into Tereba's forehead. Tereba stood motionless as blood ran down his face from his forehead and dripped to the ground, evaporating instantly. Tereba's eyes slowly rolled to the back of his head as he tried to mumble the words Minka, my love, am sorry.
As Kiyoshi slowly pulled his sword from the Tereba's head, a loud and monstrous scream emerged as Minka jumped out of the canopies of the forest trees. She recklessly threw herself at Kiyoshi as she had nothing else to lose since Tereba was done for. Kiyoshi launched himself from the shoulders of the fallen creature and into the direction of Minka.
And with one smooth swing of his sword, cut through the underside of Minka's body, cutting her down the middle in the process. Blood and entrails poured from the night sky like nightmarish rain in a demonic hellscape. Kiyoshi stands with his back facing Minka and Tereba as he breathes a sigh of relief that the battle was finished and that the young couple was safe.
Kiyoshi turned to see both Minka and Tereba slowly crawling toward each other as life steadily leaves their bodies. Minka extends one of her spider legs at Tereba with him using the last of his forelegs to come closer to her, as they touch each, making the appearance of the two monstrous creatures holding hands.
Kiyoshi stands in front of the two creatures as they continued looking into the eyes of the next. With sorrowful and grieving tears flowing from their eyes, both apologized to the other for failing to protect each other. The young samurai continued to stand over the dying creatures as they try to preserve the life of the next before saving their own life.
"This is what true love looks like, then. Love a cursed one like me will never know." Remarked Kiyoshi as a pitiful smile comes across his face. With his words echoing through the field, Minka and Tereba took notice and turn to see the downhearted facial expressions of the enemy that had best them.
After observing the painful expression of their enemy, Minka turns to Tereba, stating that the over eight hundred that they lived had turned them into old fools. Remarking that with all these years passed, they have become the very thing that robbed them of a normal life all those years ago. With the last of her strength, she thanked Kiyoshi for setting them free and that she needed to make one last request for him.
She needs him to go into her and Tereba's bedroom. inside next to the bed, was a box. She needed him when never he was in Astral to bring that box to their daughter Jessica. She reassured Kiyoshi that their daughter was fully human and wasn't affected by the curse. With nothing more to say, she turns to Minka one last time and asked if he was ready to which he responds he is ready for anything once he is with her. And with the two eternal lovers disburse into dust, leaving the remaining hopes and dreams in the hands of the young samurai who defeated them.
Kiyoshi looked on as the ashes of the Minka and Tereba blow off into the distance before attending to the young couple. With the young couple safe and unharmed, Kiyoshi escorted them back into town and headed back to the inn once they were safe. With hesitation, Kiyoshi made his way to Minka and Tereba's bedroom. Their bedroom was set up like Kiyoshi's own. The only difference is that the walls were filled with pictures of them and a young girl. Which Kiyoshi presumed was their daughter when she was younger.
And right next to the bed, exactly where Minka instructed, was a small wooden box. The wooden small was square and about one foot on each of the sides. The lining of the middle of the box was pure gold. On top of the box stood two golden statues. One of a princess in a beautiful flowing ball goon with her hands outright. The second statue was that of a young man in common, clothes on one knee, kissing the hands of the princess.
There was no visible opening or way to open the box, but that was to no concern of Kiyoshi, who gently placed the box into his pocket and left the inn. As Kiyoshi strolls through the town of Lilax Rejesha, sampling the various street foods and observing the beautiful sights of the town. He passes by the spa where he was somewhat kidnapped over the last couple of days of this "vacation" to bid them farewell.
The female staff who grew to adore the handsome but mysterious client waved at him, begging him to return to the spa one day. Some of them even blew kisses for him as he left. From the out-shirks of the town, Kiyoshi stands looking over at the town with a smile on his and the box for Minka's and Tereba's daughter in hand. His long hair blew wildly in the fresh spring breeze. He turns away from the town of Lilax Rejesha throwing his cloak and hat on as he proceeds through the vast lands to his next destination and mission, feeling renewed and energized from his time spend in the land of relaxation and restoration.