the beginning after the end perfect duo

Death's a Friend

Tom's insides were starting to melt—not from the hit he had just received, but from the rising temperature of his beast will form. *Phoenix Burst,* he ought to call it.

This transformation, gained through countless hours of grueling training alongside his on-the-run companion, had elevated his control over mana to unparalleled levels. The energy around him no longer merely swirled—it danced, obedient to his will, a living extension of his power. But his human body, now stretched beyond its limits, was beginning to break. His brown hair had flared into a fiery crimson, and his irises glowed like molten gold. Each pulse of mana that surged through him left cracks in his already fragile shell.

Tom's breathing was ragged as he turned his gaze toward Uto. The towering figure of their pursuer stood firm amidst the chaos, his blade gleaming with power and his eyes locked on Tom with chilling intensity. Uto didn't speak—he didn't need to. His presence alone was a declaration of dominance, and the mocking smirk on his face only deepened the growing despair. A predator cornering its prey.

Yet, Tom refused to let that be their end. *Not here, not now.*

With trembling hands, he drew upon his last reserves, focusing on the threads of mana connecting him to his companions. The world around him trembled as the mana erupted into a storm, tearing through the fabric of spacetime. Uto's smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing in surprise as he lunged forward, his blade flashing with an attempt to interrupt the spell—but it was too late. The world shattered into light.

---They landed abruptly, stumbling onto soft, dew-covered grass. The air here was heavier, rich with mana that hummed faintly in their lungs, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped. Smooth hills rolled in the distance, bathed in the soft hues of dawn, and far beyond, the jagged treeline of the Beast Glades loomed like silent sentinels. To the east, the towering gates of the Sapin Kingdom glinted faintly in the morning light, a reminder of safety just out of reach.

For a moment, relief washed over them. They had escaped. The oppressive weight of Uto's presence was gone, and the serenity of this place offered a fleeting solace. But the cost of their escape lay before them.

Jasmine stood frozen, her wide eyes fixed on Tom's still body. She clutched her chest, her breathing shallow, unable to reconcile the storm of emotions swirling within her. Mira, by contrast, fell to her knees, her sobs breaking the silence. Tears streamed down her face, her hands trembling as she buried her head in them, mourning the loss of her comrades and overwhelmed by the weight of Tom's sacrifice.

Lilia, however, moved without hesitation. She dropped to her knees beside Tom, her hands hovering over him, unsure of what to do but desperate to help. Her eyes, wide with worry, darted across his face, his still form, the faint traces of mana flickering around him. To her, Tom wasn't just a hero or a companion—he was more. Her voice broke as she called his name softly, trembling but hopeful, willing him to wake.

Jasmine finally spoke, her voice a whisper that cracked under the strain. "He's... alive, isn't he?" None of them answered, though they all wanted to believe it. ---Back in the moments before their escape, Uto had stood unwavering, his smirk a symbol of his confidence. But when the mana storm erupted around Tom, his composure faltered. He'd underestimated the boy—just slightly, but enough. His strike, though swift and brutal, missed its mark as the portal enveloped them all.