"Can we even help?" Miyu muttered to herself.
"Quick! Let's head to that clock tower! Its height and size are a perfect match!" Yuna yelled, her pace picking up.
"Roger!" everyone replied, their urgency evident.
"Only 40 minutes left until the monsters arrive..." Yuna whispered to herself, her determination unwavering.
"C-Can we make it?" Yukki asked, breathing heavily. It was clear she had given her all.
"Yukki, are you alright? You seem exhausted," Yuna looked back and noticed Yukki's labored breathing.
"I-I'm fine! I've just never run with all my might before!" Yukki replied, her pace gradually slowing.
"Well, we can't linger. Yukki, hold on!" Yuna leaped back, catching Yukki's hand and lifting her up, securing her onto her back. Yukki was taken by surprise, and her face turned as red as a tomato.
"A-Ah... Yuna! W-What are you d-doing?" Yukki stammered in embarrassment.
"Hold on tight. I'll gradually increase our speed. Nerium, we'll go ahead!" Yuna shouted as she gained momentum, moving faster and faster.
"Alright! We'll catch up later!" Miyu responded, and Shiro nodded. Nerium also increased her pace, keeping up with Yuna. They had ten minutes left to reach the clock tower, and the monsters were due to arrive in 35 minutes. Eventually, they made it to the tower without having to ascend the lengthy stairs; they leaped to the balcony instead.
"Nerium, Yukki, get ready!" Yuna jumped up to the tower's spire.
"W-We're here!" Miyu and Shiro appeared from the stairs.
"Great timing!" Yuna exclaimed.
"Now, Nerium, please draw the magic circle I taught you." Yuna signaled to Nerium.
"Roger," Nerium replied, sketching a magic circle with four empty slots on each side.
"Yukki, catch this!" Yuna tossed an object to Yukki, who caught it.
"A magic stone?" Yukki questioned.
"Place one in each of the empty slots! We have 20 minutes left!" Yuna directed.
"Roger!" Yukki responded, slotting the magic stones into each vacant space. As she completed the task, the magic circle began glowing as if responding to their efforts.
"P-Pretty..." Yukki, Miyu, and Shiro were entranced by the light's beauty.
"Don't get distracted! The light can mesmerize you if you let it!" Yuna warned, and they snapped out of their reverie, closing their eyes.
"W-What?!" Yukki exclaimed.
"Now, everyone! Stand in one of the slots!" Yuna descended from the spire and stood in one of the designated spots.
"Roger!" Everyone took their positions.
"Now, everyone, chant with me. If you don't know the chant, just follow my lead. And if you're unfamiliar with magic, don't worry, I'll explain later!" Yuna called out.
"Roger!" everyone echoed.
"O God, the one who brings us protection, hear our prayer and shield us from the demons." Yuna began to chant, and everyone joined in. With their unified efforts, the magic circle grew even brighter.
"Permanent Barrier!" Yuna shouted the spell, and a radiant light shot into the sky, spreading to cover the city with a massive protective barrier.
"W-We did it?" Yukki muttered to herself as the magic circle's glow subsided.
"We did it!!!" The crowd erupted into cheers, but Yuna suddenly seemed drained, her mana spent.
"Y-Yuna! Are you alright?" Nerium called out worriedly.
"S-Sorry... I think I overexerted myself... take it from here..." Yuna collapsed, unconscious.
"Yuna!!" Panic rippled through the group as they hurriedly descended the clock tower and carried her back to the guild. Remarkably, the demons had abruptly ceased their advance, just before reaching the barrier.
"We're back..." Yukki, Nerium, Miyu, and Shiro entered the guild, Yuna in their arms.
"Oh my god! What happened to Yuna?" Aira rushed over, immediately examining her.
"It's okay, she's just a little tired. And it seems the demons have stopped; the barrier has been successfully cast over the city," Yukki assured.
"T-Thank God..." Aira sighed in relief, while the other adventurers stared at Yuna with concern.
"A-Ah!" Yukki suddenly exclaimed.
"W-What's wrong?" Aira looked worried.
"Wait... I think I have a mana potion for Yuna!" Yukki frantically searched Yuna's bag.
"A mana potion?" Aira appeared puzzled.
"Yuna will explain later, I think... found it!" Yukki reached into Yuna's dimensional bag and retrieved the mana potion surprisingly quickly.
"I-Is this it?" Yukki held up the potion.
"Nerium! Can you help Yuna lie down? I'm going to try giving her this," Yukki looked at Nerium, who nodded and helped lay Yuna down.
"E-Excuse me, Yuna..." Yukki opened the potion's lid and began to carefully feed it to Yuna.
"I-It's not working... why?" Yukki's voice trembled.
"It's probably because she can't drink it," Miyu offered her insight.
"T-Then!" Yukki took a sip of the mana potion and carefully fed it to Yuna. Though embarrassed by the situation, she was resolute, and this time it seemed to take effect. Yuna's body began to relax.
"Ugh... Yukki...?" Yuna slowly opened her eyes.
"Whoa!!!" The background echoed with shouts of surprise. It seemed everyone was concerned for Yuna.
"Argh!!" Yuna winced in pain.
"W-What?! Yuna, what's happening?" Yukki panicked.
"Yukki... the mana potion you gave me... is it an ultra mana potion?" Yuna mumbled to Yukki.
"U-Ultra mana potion?" Yukki repeated, confusion evident.
"The one I consumed earlier was a low-level version... and this must be a very high-level one... my mana is being overwhelmed... my body can barely contain it," Yuna explained further.
"S-Sorry, Yuna!" Yukki bowed her head, apologizing.
"It's alright... as long as you don't give it to an ordinary person... it's fine. Their bodies would be overwhelmed by mana, and then..." Yuna continued.
"And then?" Everyone was intrigued, their curiosity piqued.
"Explode," Yuna declared, her tone intimidating. The group was taken aback, the revelation shocking them. The mana potion Yuna had consumed had the potential to cause someone's body to explode.
"..." Yukki fell silent, her face reflecting her realization. She had unwittingly given Yuna a potion that could have ended her life.
"It's fine, Yukki. Don't beat yourself up. I won't die from this potion. I always make sure they're safe before creating them," Yuna reassured, patting Yukki's head. Yukki began to cry.
"Th-There, there..." Yuna embraced Yukki, who was initially surprised but soon cried even harder.
"I don't know what I'd do if I lost you, Yuna!!" Yukki clung tightly to Yuna.
The others smiled softly at the touching scene, giving them some privacy. However, Nerium remained by their side, also embracing Yukki, while Miyu and Shiro watched, captivated.
"Yuna... just who are you?" Miyu's smile grew as she muttered to herself.
"W-What... do you like her?" Shiro's question caught Miyu off guard. She blushed fiercely at the unexpected inquiry.
"W-What are you talking about?!" Miyu's response was flustered.
"Nothing... it's fun to tease you every now and then," Shiro grinned playfully.
"Ah... this is the first time I've seen Shiro smile," Miyu whispered to herself.
"There, there, Yukki. Everything will be alright. I'm not going to die from a potion," Yuna finally managed to calm Yukki down. Yukki nodded in response.
"Good... then let's head home, shall we?" Yuna got up and reached for Yukki's hand.
"A-Ah..." Yukki was surprised, but she didn't resist.
"L-Let's go home..." Yukki replied bashfully.
"Let's go, Nerium," Yuna extended her hand to Nerium as well.
"Mhm," Nerium nodded, taking Yuna's hand.
Yuna was mentally exhausted from casting the barrier spell, which required an immense amount of mana. Even with their combined efforts, Yuna had borne the brunt of the burden, and she deserved a rest after such an ordeal. Finally, they reached the main gate.
"Oh? Yuna, you look quite tired. You should take a break," Alex noticed Yuna's fatigued appearance.
"Is it that obvious? Haha," Yuna chuckled.
"This isn't a laughing matter, Yuna!" Yukki scolded Yuna, causing her to collapse to her knees, her stamina still depleted.
"Sorry... it seems my legs have given out..." Yuna muttered.
"Yuna, are you sure you're okay?" Yukki looked concerned.
"Well... this is a problem. Your home is straight to the west, right?" Alex pointed westward.
"Y-Yes, that's right. Why?" Yukki asked.
"Well, just in case, I was about to finish my shift anyway," Alex said, lifting Yuna up.
"W-Wait, Alex!" Yuna protested, blushing in embarrassment.
"Even if you're strong, you can't fight exhaustion! Ahahaha!" Alex laughed heartily, leaving Yuna even more embarrassed.
"Are you sure you want to carry Yuna home? We'd be grateful, but..." Yukki looked worried about potentially troubling Alex.
"Ahahaha! It's fine! I'm off duty now, after all!" Alex laughed again.
"And besides, just sleep, Yuna. I can tell you're pushing yourself too hard; you can barely keep your eyes open," Alex whispered to Yuna.
"S-Sorry... I'll take you up on your offer..." Yuna mumbled and promptly fell asleep.
"You see? She's clearly exhausted... she fell asleep just like that," Alex muttered to Yukki.
"Then... let's go. We don't want Yuna sleeping outside, after all." Yukki and the others began walking.
"Let's go," Alex replied, providing Yuna with the rest she desperately needed.
To be continued