Myoun let out a cold laugh, his gaze icy and abyssal. With a casual wave of his hand, a black whirlwind surged forth, obliterating the venomous serpents lunging at Shingin into dust. Yet, his expression bore no warmth. Instead, he shot Shingin a scornful glance.
"Don't think we're here to save you! Get out of the way, and stop being a burden!" Myoun's tone was merciless.
Shingin clenched his fists, his anger and guilt interwoven. His gaze fell on his senior classmates, who were shielding him from the relentless onslaught. Each deflected attack forced them to stagger slightly, yet they held their ground, undeterred by the intensifying assault from the Watcher.
"But... if they die because of me..." Shingin's heart wrenched, his fingers digging so hard into his palms that blood dripped to the ground.
Suddenly, a deafening roar resounded. The eight-headed serpent bared its fangs and spewed a torrent of corrosive venom directly at Shingin. Haiihito's massive steel hammer intercepted the attack, absorbing the brunt of the blow. Though Haiihito was pushed back several steps and his hammer began to smoke, he remained steadfast.
"Shingin, do you have time to just stand there? Snap out of it!" Kyobei roared impatiently, hurling a massive boulder at the serpent's head with his telekinetic force.
Simultaneously, Erukasu emerged from the shadows with chilling precision. His ghost-like movements made him nearly untouchable. In a single bound, his shadowy blade slashed through a cluster of minor enemies, cutting them down effortlessly. But even then, he spared Shingin no glance.
The Watcher's attacks grew increasingly ferocious, as if Shingin had become their prime target. Gazing at the four figures standing before him like immovable fortresses, Shingin's chest tightened with emotions—resentment, self-reproach, and an overwhelming dread. If they fell, how much longer could he stand?
"They're risking everything for me, while I..." Shingin ground his teeth, a flicker of desperation igniting in his eyes.
Pain seared through his chest, leaving him gasping for air. But in this life-or-death moment, his hands instinctively reached for his heart. His alien soul—four luminous blue orbs—began to emerge from within him, drawn by an unseen force. The radiant blue light shone brilliantly, like a meteor streaking through the night or a blazing inferno in the depths of the ocean. The energy emanating from the orbs seemed to freeze the very air.
"What is that? No, don't come any closer! Are you crazy?" Kyobei recoiled instinctively, erecting a telekinetic barrier to separate himself from Shingin.
"What are you doing?!" Myoun's gaze sharpened, black tendrils of energy coiling ominously in his palms, ready to strike.
"At least... let me contribute something..." Shingin's voice was hoarse but resolute. His trembling hands lifted the orbs, which he hurled forward. The blue light streaked through the air, hurtling toward the four.
"What is this!?" Erukasu growled, his shadows rising like blades to intercept the light. Yet the orbs seemed alive, bypassing all obstacles and merging directly into their bodies.
In an instant, the battlefield's energy shifted dramatically.
A dazzling brilliance erupted from the four of them as the blue light merged with their powers, creating an overwhelming aura that shook the ground. Thunderclouds above scattered as if retreating from the force.
"Shingin... you..." Haiihito clenched his fists, growling low with a mix of anger and awe. He felt the blue orbs' energy surging within, fusing with him, transforming his ironclad body with an unmatched vitality. Every muscle, every bone felt as though it had been reborn.
"That idiot... Do you think we need your charity?" Kyobei's eyes widened as his telekinetic shield expanded to an unprecedented scale, enveloping the battlefield. He realized his power was no longer solely under his control; it resonated with an ancient will, amplifying it infinitely.
"Hmph... unexpected," Myoun sneered, his body cloaked in black energy, now tinged with a deep blue. His pupils darkened, and the tendrils around him spiraled outward uncontrollably, consuming everything in their path.
Erukasu remained silent, but his shadows grew darker and denser, merging seamlessly with him. Around him, dozens of dark phantoms materialized, exuding an aura of destruction, poised for action.
The combined aura of the four radiated outward, forming a barrier so impenetrable that even the Watcher momentarily paused, his expression betraying shock and caution.
"He shared his alien soul with them...?" The Watcher's eyes narrowed as his eight-headed and eight-tailed serpents roared and lashed out, their tails slamming into the barrier.
But the blue energy's shield repelled them effortlessly, sending the serpents reeling in pain. Their agonized shrieks reverberated through the battlefield.
"What kind of power is this?!" muttered one of the Watcher's lieutenants, his fists crackling with energy that failed to pierce the barrier. Sweat beaded on his brow as realization dawned—this was no ordinary power.
"I can only do this much. The rest... is up to you, senpai!" Shingin's voice trembled with fatigue and guilt as his legs buckled beneath him.
"Idiot!" Myoun barked, but he unleashed a torrent of black energy, obliterating a swarm of minor enemies in a heartbeat.
Kyobei exhaled deeply, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by steely determination. With a sweeping motion, his telekinetic force crushed one of the serpent's heads into the ground, the impact resounding like a thunderclap.
Erukasu's shadows danced like black lightning across the battlefield, snuffing out enemy after enemy with ruthless efficiency.
Haiihito, a living fortress of steel, withstood the Watcher's onslaught, redirecting a devastating blow back at its source and forcing the enemy to retreat.
Their counterattack was swift and brutal, turning the tide of the battle in mere moments.
"Please, senpai... I'm counting on you!" Shingin murmured before staggering away, his steps unsteady, blood trailing from his wounds.
His legs felt like lead, and his body screamed in agony, yet his gaze burned with an unrelenting resolve. Somewhere far away, his mother and Shizuha were waiting for him. He had to survive.