Migi's transformation back to her human form was seamless, her feet gliding across the ground as she readied herself for impact.
The familiar ice rabbit, its presence etched in Chung's very essence, charged towards her with unbridled ferocity.
Its eyes, crimson pools of rage, promised nothing but death.
As she awaited its arrival, Migi's fist began to crackle with electric energy.
This wasn't how she had envisioned the fight unfolding.
The thought of battling alongside Ryan tugged at her heart, far more crucial than facing off against a lesser spirit.
Time was of the essence – she needed to end this swiftly.
Her foot dug into the earth, leaving a small crater as her eyes took on an ethereal blue glow.
In that moment of suspended time, Migi's mind raced.
She recalled Ryan's teachings, his gentle guidance in honing her abilities.
A bittersweet smile tugged at her lips – how far she had come, and yet, how much further she had to go.
The rabbit lunged, its icy form a blur of motion.
Migi's enhanced senses allowed her to track its movement, each millisecond stretching into an eternity.
She could see the individual ice crystals forming its body, could almost hear the crackle of its frozen joints.
Baaam-!
Her lightning-infused fist connected with pinpoint accuracy, striking the center of the rabbit's head.
The impact resonated through the battlefield, a thunderclap in miniature.
Lightning arced outward, dancing across the ground and scorching the air.
The rabbit's head didn't merely implode – it shattered into a thousand glittering shards, each fragment carrying traces of Migi's electrical fury.
Blood and viscera painted the ground in a macabre tableau, chunks of frozen meat scattered like grisly confetti around Migi's feet.
The headless body stumbled, twitched, and collapsed.
For a heartbeat, all was still. Then, as if by some unseen command, the corpse began to disintegrate.
It crumbled into fine, sparkling particles that drifted upward, carried by an otherworldly breeze.
Migi knew this phenomenon well – the safe mode for spirits to heal and regenerate.
A contracted spirit couldn't truly die unless its master was killed or weakened to the point of losing the contract.
The ice rabbit was merely retreating, hibernating within its master until it could be summoned once more.
'That was easier than I expected,' Migi thought, a mix of relief and concern washing over her.
'Sigh! I should go find Darling... he shouldn't be left alone.'
Her eyes scanned the chaotic battlefield, taking in the ebb and flow of combat.
Members of Riei's household were being pushed back, struggling against the relentless assault of the Obsidian Wraith.
It wasn't entirely surprising – these spirits were more accustomed to entertainment than warfare, their talents lying in realms far removed from bloodshed.
Migi gritted her teeth, conflict brewing within her.
Should she aid Riei's people, tipping the scales in their favor? Or should she seek out Ryan, fighting by his side as she longed to do? The answer seemed obvious, yet a nagging doubt lingered.
As she wrestled with indecision, a heart-rending scream shattered her reverie.
"Nooooooo! Spirit King!!!"
Migi's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. She whirled towards the source of the cry, her gaze settling on a sight that chilled her to her very core.
Riei was charging through the ranks of the Obsidian Wraith, her face a mask of fury and desperation.
But it wasn't Riei that held Migi's attention – it was the scene unfolding beyond her.
There, amidst the chaos and carnage, stood Chung.
His form was bloodied, yet he moved with the confidence of one newly healed.
In his grasp, held aloft by the throat, was Ryan. The Spirit King hung limp and unconscious, blood seeping from wounds that spoke of a fierce battle.
"And this was the best you could do, huh? Spirit King... I must say, I'm highly disappointed." Chung's words dripped with exhausted satisfaction, a grin splitting his blood-spattered face.
Migi felt as if an invisible hand had closed around her own throat, choking off her air.
She struggled to breathe, to move, to do anything but stare in horror at the scene before her.
"Everyone! Protect the Spirit King! Change in plans!!!" Riei's voice cut through the battlefield din, spurring her people into action.
The other spirits, finally grasping the gravity of the situation, felt a potent mixture of rage and fear course through them.
This wasn't about contracts or obligations – it was about protecting the man who had shown them kindness, who had given them more than just a place to stay or work.
As one, they abandoned their individual skirmishes, cutting down any Obsidian Wraith foolish enough to stand in their path.
Their charge towards Chung was a testament to their devotion, a living wave of determination and loyalty.
Migi, however, remained rooted to the spot.
It wasn't fear that held her – it was the horrifying realization of what Ryan's defeat could mean.
The Spirit of Origin could only reincarnate after death if he had fully connected with all his destined partners.
Ryan, with barely a single contract to his name, was terrifyingly vulnerable.
The implications crashed over her like a tidal wave.
This wasn't just a battle – it was a fight for the very future of their world.
Chung, ever perceptive, quickly grasped the shift in the tide of battle.
He could feel his contracted spirit resting within him, lending him strength.
The sight of Riei's forces converging on his position brought a cruel smile to his lips.
"Is this really how you want this to go, Spirit King of failure?" he taunted, giving Ryan's limp form a shake. "A snake princess and her prostitutes coming to rescue you? How pathetic."
With a single, powerful stomp of his foot, Chung unleashed his true might. A wave of ice exploded outward, racing across the ground with frightening speed.
It engulfed everything in its path – friend and foe alike – creating a frozen wasteland where once a battlefield had raged.
As the ice crept ever closer to her position, Migi finally broke free from her paralysis.
With a cry of defiance, she summoned her powers, ready to face whatever came next.
The fate of the Spirit King – and perhaps the world itself – hung in the balance.