𝒲𝒾𝓃𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝒲ℴ𝓃𝒹ℯ𝓇𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒹： 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓌 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℱ𝓇ℴ𝓏ℯ𝓃 ℋℯ𝒶𝓇𝓉

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑈𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑠： 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 47

*
"Do you fear death? (Never) Is your courage unwavering? (Beyond doubt!) Remember our heroes' names, follow their lead. March once more onto the battlefield. For our family, homeland, and nation. (For glory) For our ideals, dreams, and future. (For hope) Come back, we've been waiting."

**
Savanaclaw Dorm - Spelldrive Stadium

"You'll never see the light of another day!" Leona roared, his corrupted voice echoing with a guttural hatred. He unleashed a devastating gust of swirling dust and slicing wind toward the group like a sandstorm infused with malice.

Everyone's eyes widened in alarm.

But Y/n was faster.

She dashed in front of them, her ice-flower sword drawn, slamming it into the ground. A massive wall of crystallized ice burst forth, shielding everyone just in time. The overblotted magic struck the barrier with a deafening impact, sending cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.

"Argh...!" Y/n hissed in pain, dropping to one knee, her wings flickering behind her from the magical backlash. The sheer pressure made her shoulders shake, the barrier groaning under the weight of Leona's fury.

"Mon Chérie!" Vanitas cried out, eyes wide. He started toward her, but Isfrid was already ahead of him in a blur of frost and fury.

His magical pen glowed icy blue as he touched the barrier. Shards of light raced across its surface, reinforcing it just in time. "Are you out of your mind?!" Isfrid growled. "You're still healing from that lazy beast's spell, and now you're trying to be a shield in your weaken strength?"

"But how will I ever grow stronger if I let fear of my weakness limit me?" Y/n replied coldly, standing and slicing through the remainder of Leona's spell. The shimmering barrier shattered into harmless frost.

"Grrrr..." Leona growled in response.

"We're going with the strategy we used against Riddle," Y/n declared, ignoring his words. Her voice was calm but firm. "This time, I won't let myself recklessly get injured."

"Isn't that the same reckless plan that severely injured to the point of being in a coma during Riddle's overblot?! You were wrapped in vines and bleeding!" Vanitas shouted, alarm flickering in his sharp blue eyes as he stepped closer to her, gloved hand trembling slightly.

"No. Absolutely not," Isfrid snarled, cutting in before Y/n could speak. His voice was low, icy, protective. "I won't allow you to go through that again. I don't care what strategy you think will work."

"This time," Y/n said softly, meeting her brother's furious gaze, then glancing toward Vanitas, "I won't be alone."

Her tone grew stronger as she turned to the others. "I'll shield you from Leona's attacks. Focus your magic on weakening him—just long enough for me to finish this."

"You'll get hurt again," Isfrid hissed through clenched teeth. "I can't lose you. Not to him."

"You won't." She glanced back at him with a flicker of warmth before turning to face the storm. "After all... I have such a reliable big brother fighting with me."

Isfrid's breath hitched. His heart, already consumed with a possessive devotion, thundered in his chest. Her words—so soft, so trusting—made something unhinged bloom behind his calm expression.