The trio continued to employ the strategy.
Shin started to feel the fatigue weigh down on him.
'Fuck, this is too much.'
His strikes had become less precise, taking a bit more time to successfully kill an Abysmal.
But he was still in better shape than the siblings following closely behind him.
Shin could only sneak a few glances to check on them, until another Abysmal would jump and
attack him.
'Sooner or later, even Elder Sister would fall. Satoshi was already in a bad state.'
It started from minor injuries, until Satoshi started getting inflicted with major wounds.
His left arm was incapacitated by a deep gash on his shoulder, rendering it immobile.
In short, Satoshi was fucked.
Camilla was in a better state than him, albeit just a bit.
She had suffered major injuries as well, but she was still capable of moving around.Adrenaline was rushing to the two as they continued to follow closely behind Shin.
Finally after what felt like forever, the portal was finally visible from where they were.
It seemed like the success rate of the strategy had gone up from 1% to 50%. They just had to
keep pushing through.
Slash! Splurt!
The Abysmal numbers kept dwindling down at the trio's relentless siege.
They've successfully minced their numbers to almost a half.
But…
"AGHCK!"
An Abysmal sank its teeth into Satoshi's thigh, gnawing relentlessly.
"Satoshi– AGHHCK!"
Camilla was distracted at Satoshi's predicament, as an Abysmal managed to pounce on her.
A swarm of Abysmals gathered around the helpless Camilla, their gnashing teeth tearing into
her flesh.
"Fuck."
Shin instantly turned around, to help the two.The Abysmals all fell as Shin swiftly took them out.
They found themselves surrounded by a swarm of Abysmals, trapped on all sides.
Shin fought back relentlessly, enduring bites from every direction while swiftly dispatching the
Abysmals to give the two siblings some time to get back on their feet.
"Shit, we're nothing but a burden."
Satoshi clenched his teeth, as pain continued to surge from his wounds.
"Shin! Just leave us. You alone can make it to the exit, we'd just hold you back."
"Shut up, Camilla. I'm not leaving you two here to die. I'm not losing my Family, never again."
Shin had no time to think about what he said, as Camilla slowly stood up, seemingly frustrated.
As Shin was continuing to fend at the onslaught of Abysmals, Satoshi's voice cut through,
trembling with fear.
"Guys… I can't move."
Shin widened his eyes in shock. Instantly switching his gaze from the Abysmal to Satoshi, back
and forth.
"What do you mean you can't move?"
"If I try to move on my own, my leg would rapidly bleed.
"Shin could hear Satoshi's voice trembling.
Camilla was gravely injured, and Satoshi was out of commission.
'Think Artorius, there has to be some way to get out of this predicament.'
It was then when Shin remembered.
Assimilation.
If he were to use that, then there was a chance of them surviving.
But…
He didn't want to use it. He had promised the Patriarch to never expose himself as a Contractor.
However, there was no other choice. If he doesn't use Assimilation, then what was the point of
all this.
'What was the point of giving me a second chance, when I'd end up making the same mistake
again?'
Shin Nocturn, Artorius Castus had enough regrets.
Over the years, Shin continued to practice Assimilation.
He'd manage to Assimilate for a full two minutes.
'There's no other way is there?'Shin had made his decision.
'Noct… Assimilate.'
***
As Camilla leaned down to help Satoshi get back up, placing his arm on his shoulder.
The air suddenly shifted.
The concentration of energy seemed to radiate from Shin.
The two siblings glanced at Shin, who was constantly protecting them from the Abysmals.
Camilla could see Shin's complexions gradually worsen.
His clothes were tattered, cuts and wounds visible all over his body.
His cheek was grazed as blood continued to drip down.
Suddenly, a blue-blazing ember started to materialize from Shin.
'What… What is happening to Shin?'
Camilla and Satoshi stood there in a daze, as the blue-blazing ember started to disperse and
coat Shin's arm.
'What is this power…'
Camilla had never seen this before.She had never seen Shin use such power.
Camilla knew Shin never learned any magic. So she could conclude that Shin wasn't using any.
But having no idea that Shin had this kind of power left Camilla frustrated.
'Why did he hide this from us? Does he not trust us at all?'
She clenched her fist. But quickly dismissed those thoughts. After all, Shin was doing this to
protect them.
When he said he didn't want to abandon them, made Camilla happy.
Even though Shin had this big of a secret, she could tell how much Shin cared about them.
If he had any reason to hide this power, then it must've been for their sake.
Splurt!
Suddenly the number of Abysmals rapidly started to decline at the mercy of Shin's power.
He slashed and severed each Abysmal effortlessly. He didn't even have to aim for their weak
points.
Just one slash alone was enough to kill an Abysmal.
Finally the path towards the Exit Portal was clear, all they had to do was make a run for it.
Camilla strode forward with Satoshi leaning on her shoulder.They moved at a slow pace since Satoshi was heavy and Camilla was severely injured as well.
"Kkieeek!"
The last of the Abysmals finally fell, and the area around them was clear.
Shin instantly made his way to Camilla's side, taking Satoshi from her, and placing his arm
around his shoulder.
It seemed like the blue embers stopped, and Shin returned to his normal state.
"Guys… I'm so sorry…"
"Stop talking, Satoshi. It's no one's fault, we were all victims here."
Shin reprimanded him.
"Okay then… but Shin, what was that power?"
"I'll tell you about it later, let's focus on getting out of here first."
Satoshi nodded.
Camilla was curious as well, but didn't question further.
Whatever it was, she could hope that Shin would tell them once things settle down.
The portal was just a few feet away. If they could run, they would, but their body was too
fatigued to even try."Finally we're almost there."
"Yeah, I can't believe we survived that."
"Don't jinx it, Satoshi."
At the two siblings bickering, Camilla could see Shin let out a warm smile.
But then…
She could feel it…
No, they could all feel it, as Shin and Satoshi's eyes widened in terror.
"Shin, what was that?"
Camilla asked with a trembling voice.
"GO! FUCKING GO!"
In an instant, Shin pushed Satoshi down and gestured for them to hasten towards the exit, his
voice rising in panic.
Camilla was taken aback, Shin had never raised his voice before. Not even in the past when
Satoshi used to harass him.
She composed herself and instantly hurried towards Satoshi, who was pushed ahead, and
picked him back up.Suddenly, a black figure instantly darted towards Shin.
Successfully landing a blow on him, as its claws were dug deep in his shoulder.
"SHIN!"
Camilla screamed in panic.
The black figure seemed to emerge from the side.
"Just fucking go, Camilla! I made a promise didn't I!?"
Camilla couldn't do anything to help Shin as he engaged in combat with the figure.
Satoshi was surprised as well, his eyes were starting to strain with tears.
Slash! Cut!
The figure seemed to overpower Shin, as he continued to endure each blow.
It was somehow distracted by Shin.
But…
From a distance, an identical black figure was headed towards them.
No, it wasn't just one, but twenty.
Shin was already having trouble defeating a single one, and now twenty was coming towards
them?'The Fifth Wave was coming.'
Dragging Satoshi, Camilla gave all of her strength to hasten the pace.
Finally, before the figures arrived, Camilla and Satoshi finally made it to the Exit Portal.
Camilla called out to Shin.
"Shin! We've made it, hurry back here!."
Suddenly blue-blazing embers started to emit from Shin again, coating his fist.
What seemed like a one sided battle with the figure, had become a stalemate.
Even with the amount of power Shin had, he could only manage to match with the figure's
strength.
Then…
The figures made it towards them, surrounding Shin in a circle.
One of the figures was making its way towards Camilla and Satoshi as well.
But before it could reach Camilla, a sword clad in blue embers pierced through the air from
where Shin was and struck the figure, instantly killing it.
"SHIN!""Camilla, just go! Leave me, I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise. But please, you two have to
survive!"
"SHIN, PLEASE!"
Satoshi screamed, his voice trembling as tears beaded from his eyes.
Camilla was frustrated as well, tears flowing down her cheek.
Blue-blazing embers that were once coated on Shin's arm had rapidly started to coat his entire
body.
A blue flaming pillar gradually rose up from where Shin stood.
Shin turned around for one last look, and said,
"It was short-lived, but I was glad to have met you both. I love you guys, I hope you don't forget
me."
Shin smiled a heartbreaking smile, as a single tear flowed down his cheek.
Camilla knew she couldn't let Shin's sacrifice in vain, she had no choice.
She continued to strode forward to the Exit Portal.
But then, Satoshi tightened his grip on her shoulder.
"Sis, please we can't leave Shin behind!""I know, I fucking know, okay? But what can we do? We're weak Satoshi, absolutely fucking
helpless. All we can do is suck it up and not let Shin's sacrifice be in vain. So shut up and let me
do my part!"
Satoshi could only clench his fist as Camilla trembled.
T ears continued to strain the two sibling's eyes.
The fact that they'd have to leave Shin… No, to leave their brother behind shattered their hearts
into a million pieces.
All they could manage was to take the next step forward. The most excruciating step they had
ever been forced to take.