The magical samurai rushed toward me.
Their armor echoed through the underground ruins.
Behind them…
Kakashi was already locked in battle.
Dark magic and blue magic clashed again and again, shaking the entire chamber.
“You really trust her to escape?” the young man said with a teasing smile.
Kakashi blocked another attack.
“I trust her more than you think.” The young man laughed.
“Then let’s find out.” He waved his hand.
“Catch the Vessel!” The samurai immediately charged toward me.
I looked around.
“…Seriously?” The first samurai swung his sword.
I quickly stepped to the side.
The blade barely missed me.
Without thinking…
I grabbed his wrist and twisted it.
“Hey!” The samurai lost his balance.
I drove my elbow into his face.
CRACK!
He stumbled backward.
I immediately kicked him hard in the chest.
BOOM!
He crashed into a broken stone pillar.
Before I could catch my breath…
Another samurai attacked.
I ducked under his sword.
He leaned forward.
I drove my knee straight into his stomach.
The force made him bend over in pain.
His sword slipped from his hand.
I quickly picked it up.
“…Why is this thing so heavy?” I complained while trying to lift it.
Another samurai charged at me.
“No time to complain…” I gripped the sword with both hands.
As he swung his weapon…
I instinctively blocked it.
The impact almost made me lose my balance.
My hands hurt.
I clenched my teeth.
The samurai attacked again.
This time…
I turned my body and swung the sword with all my strength.
The blade cut across his neck.
The magical samurai froze.
Then…
His body shattered into black particles.
“…” I stared at the sword in silence.
“I’m…” “…Sorry.” There wasn’t even time to think.
Another one attacked.
Then another.
I relied on instinct.
Dodging.
Blocking.
Counterattacking.
One by one…
The magical samurai disappeared into black particles.
By the end…
My breathing had become heavy.
Small scratches covered my arms.
The sword slipped from my hand and fell onto the ground.
“…Sorry…” I whispered again before turning around and running toward the exit.
— From the battlefield…
Both Kakashi and the young man had witnessed everything.
The young man’s playful smile slowly faded.
“…Interesting.” “So an ordinary human defeated magical samurai.” Kakashi remained silent.
But deep inside…
He was surprised.
“…She adapted…” “…Much faster than I expected.” The young man smirked.
“Looks like your Vessel is more entertaining than the reports suggested.” Kakashi calmly answered, “You’re paying more attention to her…” “…than your own mistakes.” “Tch.” “You always know how to ruin the mood.” — I ran as fast as I could.
“I just have to get out…” The exit was only a few steps away.
Then— BZZZT!
A glowing wall of magic appeared before me.
I almost ran straight into it.
“What?!” I touched it carefully.
“…Seriously?” “No way…” I tried another direction.
Another barrier.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.” Looking around quickly…
I spotted a large broken stone pillar.
“That’ll do.” I hurried behind it and quietly hid, trying to slow my breathing.
— Meanwhile…
The battle continued.
Dark magic exploded across the chamber.
The young man suddenly smiled.
“I almost forgot.” He looked at something hanging beneath Kakashi’s hoodie.
“A souvenir from Aetheris?” His eyes narrowed.
“…Or should I say…” “…the prison of the Twenty-Tails?” For the first time…
Kakashi’s expression changed.
The young man lunged toward him.
His hand reached for the silver locket around Kakashi’s neck.
“I’ll be taking that.” Kakashi immediately caught his wrist.
“…Don’t.” The young man pushed harder.
“If I can’t have the Vessel…” “…I’ll take the Twenty-Tails itself.” Blue magic burst from Kakashi’s hand.
The young man was forced backward.
Both of them slid across the stone floor.
The locket swung in the air.
For a brief second…
Everything became silent.
Then…
The silver locket began glowing.
A soft white light escaped through the cracks.
Kakashi’s eyes widened.
“…No.” The light grew brighter.
The air became unbelievably heavy.
The young man slowly stepped back.
“…What’s happening?” Deep inside the seal…
Something had awakened.
A pair of brilliant blue eyes slowly opened.
A majestic white wolf rested within endless light.
Its long, glowing fur flowed like snow in the wind.
Faint blue markings shimmered across its body.
Beautiful…
Yet overwhelming.
The wolf slowly lifted its head.
Its eyes turned toward the darkness surrounding the young man.
It had sensed him.
It had sensed the darkness inside him.
The wolf let out a deep growl.
The entire chamber shook.
Cracks spread across the glowing seal.
Kakashi reached toward the locket.
“Stop!” “It’s too soon!” The light exploded.
CRACK!!
The seal shattered.
For one heartbeat…
Everything stood still.
Then— A deafening howl echoed through the underground ruins.
ROOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRR!!
The sound shook the earth itself.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
The walls trembled violently.
Both Kakashi and the young man were thrown backward by the explosion of magical energy.
Hidden behind the broken pillar…
I covered my ears in fear.
“W-What was that…?” My heart pounded uncontrollably.
“…What…
made that sound?” The chamber continued to shake.
And somewhere within the blinding white light…
Something enormous…
Was beginning to awaken.
End of Chapter 20