It didn't take me long to reach the camp, though Edward hadn't come along as he claimed he had something he needed to do. What greeted me, however, was a the sight of Alex laying on the ground, his body full by bruises and gashes, blood pouring from multiple cuts and staining the ground beneath him.
Mirai stood over him, wielding a stick. As soon as Alex noticed my arrival, his gaze shifted toward me. Despite the pain clouding his eyes, they widened slightly, and a faint, pained smile stretched across his lips.
Before he could speak, Mirai's relentless assault continued. He drove an elbow sharply into Alex's jaw. Alex's face contorted in agony, but Mirai remained indifferent, his voice cheerfully nonchalant. "You really are something, shifting your focus while fighting me. I honestly thought you'd dodge that last hit." He shook his head slowly, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.
Alex, struggling to regain his composure, raised a shaky hand to reposition his dislocated jaw. He clenched his fists, his eyes momentarily blurring with pain, but as they regained their sharpness, bolts of lightning crackled around him, lashing out at Mirai. Mirai dodged effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. As Alex tried to catch him off-guard from behind, Mirai was already ahead; he delivered a swift kick without even looking, sending Alex sprawling once more.
Mirai maintained his focus on Alex but now turned his attention to me, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he spoke cheerfully. "So, are you planning on joining him? He seems to be struggling a bit."
"You damn psycho! Is this what you call struggling A BIT ?" Alex shouted, launching himself at Mirai, but he had already reached his limits and lost consciousness.
There was no point in answering Mirai, so I shut my eyes, focusing intently on channeling mana into my back. Moments later, eight massive spider legs materialized, their dark forms twitching as darkness enveloped them.
"Pathetic," a voice sneered.
"Didst thou say something?"
I opened my eyes, locking gazes with Mirai, who seemed momentarily puzzled by my question. He said nothing, merely watching as I launched myself toward him, enhancing my legs with mana to increase my speed. Mirai attempted to close the distance but had to abruptly step back as two of the spider legs shot out, nearly impaling him. A misstep would have meant a swift end, but he avoided it effortlessly.
I pressed forward, using the spider limbs to restrict Mirai's movements. Yet, his demeanor remained calm. He watched with a curious, almost amused expression. "Interesting, indeed," he said, his eyes narrowing in interest. "This is different from others I've seen, though the concept remains the same."
As Mirai leaped to evade two of the limbs aimed at his legs, six more lunged toward him with deadly precision. His smile widened as he grabbed all six legs in mid-air, their sharp tips inches from his body. Mirai hurled me upward, slamming me repeatedly against the ground.
Just as I hovered above him, I dissolved the mana, causing the spider legs to vanish. Mirai leaped up to face me, his fist aimed at my solar plexus. Anticipating the strike, I concentrated mana into that exact spot, but Mirai, thinking I was enhancing my durability, ignored it. To his surprise, his fist passed harmlessly through me. Seizing the opportunity, I grasped his other hand and channeled my mana into my fist, driving a punch straight into his face.
"Alex, thou shouldst have stayed awake to witness this."
Mirai's grin widened. "So, Alex really wanted to punch me in the face so badly. It explains a lot," he murmured softly. His hand shot up, and a storm of punches began to rain down on me, each blow shattering my bones.
I collapsed to the ground, feeling only numb as my body was devoid of pain. My eyelids grew heavy as I gazed vacantly at the moon, its sight repulsive to gaze upon. I surrendered to exhaustion, closing my eyes.
"Mere coward, run away like you always do," a voice taunted, though I barely perceived it.
The last thing I heard before losing consciousness was the mocking voice, fading into the back of my mind.