Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 177

 Why? That was the first question that came to my mind in this life-threatening situation. I couldn't believe what was happening in front of me.

 "Brother...! Don't...! Stay away!!"

 My little sister, the white fox, screamed. Several unstable fireballs were hurled at the face of the bear-like monster. The flames, infused with youkai energy, were different from normal fire. The small fireballs hit the bear and exploded, letting out a beastly scream.

 "!?"

 I dragged my body away, seizing the chance to escape the danger. I quickly put some distance between us. Then I shouted.

 "Shirona, why...!?"

 "Because! Because you...!! Mother...!! Huh!?"

 Her voice was a mix of crying and blaming me for leaving home and facing the monster. Right after that, a roar echoed. Despite her fear, my sister desperately created fireballs around her.

 "Um, um... Ugh!!?"

 It was completely instinctive; she probably didn't even know how she was doing it. The movements of the fireballs she created were very unstable, but they barely managed to hit. The monster let out a small cry before getting burned.

 It was far from enough to take it down; it was more like a provocation.

 'Grrr!! Ooooh!!'

 "Eek!!?"

 Shirona froze under the glare of the 8 eyes. The fireballs she was trying to create vanished into thin air. She was completely terrified. It was a clear opening. The monster took a step forward, ready to charge.

 "I won't let you!!?"

 'Grrr!!?'

 The same was true for the bear. I took off my blood-stained clothes and threw them over the bear's face. Then I jumped up. I jumped up and stabbed the tip of my spear into the bear's forehead. I pushed it in deep, deep. A higher beast's scream echoed. I immediately ran away. I was fleeing. Full-speed run...!!

 "Big brother, amazing!!"

 "Idiot! Don't be so carefree...! Just hurry, we need to escape!! Mom, run away quickly...!!"

 I cut off my little sister's pure praise and shouted urgently at my mother, who was coming this way.

 "Damn it, you monster...!!"

 When I looked at the bear with its growling voice, it was desperately trying to tear off the clothes with its 4 giant arms, including the hidden arms growing from its back. The clothes pinned to its forehead by the spear tip were getting torn apart by the bear's countless claws and fangs. Because of that, it couldn't remove them, and its vision was still blocked...

 But still, it was just a matter of time.

 "...! Let's go quickly, it won't hold long!"

 "GROOOOAAARRR!!!!?"

 My shout was a bad move. Reacting to my voice, the bear charged even though it couldn't see. Its roaring growl shook the ground. The killing intent, the malice, the hostility made me freeze. My sister even more so. We couldn't escape...!?

 "!? You two...!!"

 My mother, who had rushed over in a panic, hugged me and my sister without hesitation. She turned her back to the monster and instinctively held us tight. It was a desperate struggle, a mother's determination. Even if it was meaningless, it was a brave act to protect her children.