The dragon's roar echoed through the Magic Domain, sending shockwaves through the air. Its wings unfurled like massive shadows, casting a sinister gloom over the battlefield. Flames danced along its jagged teeth, a promise of destruction waiting to be unleashed.
Rose tightened her grip on her sword, her tail flicking nervously. "So, genius," she said, her voice sharp with tension. "What's the plan?"
Kai adjusted his glasses, his calm exterior betraying the tight grip he held on his weapon. "Don't die."
"Oh, brilliant," Rose snapped, rolling her eyes. "Why didn't I think of that?"
Before Kai could respond, the dragon reared back and unleashed a torrent of flames. The ground erupted in fire as they both dove in opposite directions, the intense heat licking at their skin. Rose hit the ground hard, coughing as smoke filled her lungs. She scrambled to her feet and glared at Kai. "If this is your idea of teamwork, we're doomed!"
Kai, unperturbed, straightened his glasses. "We need to flank it. I'll distract it; you go for its weak points."
Rose scoffed. "Distract it? And what am I supposed to do, ask it nicely to hold still while I stab it?"
Kai gave her a pointed look. "You're good at drawing attention to yourself. Use it."
The dragon lunged at them with a deafening roar, its jaws snapping down toward Kai. He dodged just in time, but the beast swung its massive claw toward him. "Barrier!" Kai shouted, a translucent shield forming in front of him to absorb the blow.
Rose, meanwhile, sprinted toward the dragon's side. She leapt onto its claw, using it as a platform to run up toward its neck. "I've got this!" she shouted, raising her sword.
But the dragon turned its head sharply, its fiery gaze locking onto her. It reared back, flames gathering in its mouth.
"ROSE!" Kai's voice rang out as he muttered a spell under his breath. With a burst of energy, he launched himself toward her, grabbing her mid-air and pushing her out of the way. The fire roared past them, missing by mere inches.
The two hit the ground hard, Kai grunting in pain as he shielded her from the brunt of the impact.
"You idiot!" Rose yelled, sitting up quickly. "You might not die here, but if this were real, you'd be ashes!" Her tail bristled with frustration as she glared at him.
Kai winced, propping himself up on one arm and adjusting his glasses with the other. "If this were real, you'd be the one who was ashes," he shot back, his voice quieter but no less firm.
Rose blinked, her glare softening slightly. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Kai pushed himself to his feet, his expression resolute. "We can't do this alone," he said, his voice steady. "Rose, you're fast and skilled in close combat. I'll support you with magic. Trust me."
Rose hesitated, gripping her sword tightly. She glanced at Kai's face—calm, determined—and nodded. "Fine. But if we lose, it's your fault."
Kai smirked faintly. "Fair enough. Now let's end this."
The dragon roared again, sensing their renewed resolve. It lashed its tail, tearing through the ground as it prepared to strike. Kai raised his hand, muttering another spell. "Barrier!" A glowing shield formed just in time to block the dragon's fiery breath. "Rose, go!" he shouted.
"On it!" Rose sprinted forward, weaving through the dragon's attacks with agility and precision. She darted toward its legs, slashing at the tendons to weaken its movements. The dragon roared in pain, thrashing wildly.
Kai stayed back, his eyes focused and his hands glowing with energy as he launched spells to distract and contain the beast. A blast of fire came his way, but he deflected it with another barrier. "Keep moving!" he yelled.
Rose leapt onto the dragon's back, gripping tightly as it bucked and twisted. She climbed toward its neck, her sword glinting in the fiery light. But the dragon suddenly reared back, its wings flapping furiously, nearly throwing her off.
Kai narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. "Rose, hold on!" he shouted, his voice tinged with urgency. He began chanting a spell, the air around him shimmering with raw energy.
"What are you doing?!" Rose shouted, struggling to keep her grip.
Kai's voice was calm but firm. "Ending this. Trust me!"
As he finished the spell, a wave of energy surged toward Rose. She felt her body lighten as Kai's gravity magic wrapped around her, lifting her effortlessly into the air.
"Rose, aim for the head!" Kai yelled, his voice carrying over the roar of the dragon.
Rose's eyes widened as she realized what he was doing. "You're flinging me like a spear?!"
"Exactly," Kai said, a rare smirk crossing his face. "Now go!"
With a final push, Kai's magic propelled Rose forward at incredible speed. She gripped her sword tightly, aiming directly for the dragon's head. The world blurred around her as she soared through the air like a missile.
"Take this!" Rose shouted, driving her sword deep into the dragon's skull. The beast let out one final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing to the ground with a thunderous crash. Flames sputtered out as its massive body fell still.
Rose landed gracefully, breathing hard as she pulled her sword free. She turned to Kai, who was leaning against a rock, visibly exhausted but smirking nonetheless.
"Not bad," she admitted, brushing ash off her sleeve.
Kai adjusted his glasses, a faint hint of pride in his eyes. "I told you it would work."
Rose rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "You're still a nerd."
"And you're still impossible," Kai retorted, but there was no malice in his tone.
The Magic Domain began to shimmer and fade as the voice of their teachers echoed around them. "Well done, you two. A bit messy, but effective. Training complete."
As they returned to the real world, Rose glanced at Kai, her smile lingering. "Don't get used to this teamwork thing."
"Trust me," Kai replied with a smirk. "I won't."
The veil of the Magic Domain dissipated, revealing the familiar training room. The once-imposing dragon dissolved into particles of light, its roar replaced by the quiet hum of the room. Rose and Kai stood in the center.
Takashima, who had been observing quietly, gave a small nod of approval. "Your student is impressive," he said, glancing at Miu with a faint smile.
Miu grinned, crossing her arms with a triumphant look. "Your student's just as impressive," she replied, tilting her head toward Kai.
Takashima smirked faintly. "No, you're wrong. Mine's more impressive."
Miu blinked before narrowing her eyes. Without warning, she punched him lightly in the shoulder. "Oh, shut up, Mr. Modesty. You're just jealous."
Takashima raised an eyebrow, rubbing his shoulder. "Jealous? Hardly. I'm just stating the obvious."
Miu rolled her eyes, turning toward Rose and Kai, who were exchanging their usual banter. "Come on, let's not argue about this. They both did well. For once."
Takashima chuckled quietly, his gaze softening as he looked at the two students. "Fine. Let's call it a draw. For now."
Miu clapped her hands together, her tone suddenly cheerful. "Alright, enough of this serious talk. Let's get something to eat. Watching you two fight has been exhausting."
Rose's ears perked up at the mention of food, while Kai adjusted his glasses with a small sigh. The group headed toward the exit.