Roselle weakly looked up, her vision blurred but slowly fog on the se before her. She saw Risebelle about to be hit in the air by the ining surge of dark energy. Desperatio her heart. She reached out a trembling hand, "R...Risebelle..."

  Roselle's mind flooded with memories of their time together. She recalled how, in the beginning, Risebelle had treated her as if she were an ignorant child, and perhaps she had been, in some ways. But under Risebelle's tough exterior, Roselle had found guidarength, and a bond that went beyond mere mentorship. They had argued, and faced challenges against the mages, but through it all, they had grown closer—like true sisters. Risebelle had taught her to survive, to fight, and helped her to believe in her own strength in more ways than one.

  Roselle cried out, "NOOOOOO!!!!!!" just before the bst struck. An explosion covered the entire sky. Roselle quickly sed her surroundings. She spotted Runebelle nearby, unscious.

  [System Analysis - Runebelle]

  Lifeforce: -55% (Critical dition - Close to Destru)

  With every ounce of strength she had left, she dragged herself towards Runebelle.

  "Hang on, Runebelle," she whispered. When she reached to her, she draped her own body over her sister's, shielding her from any further harm.

  Elsewhere, Alden y sprawled on the ground, though he looked up with a widened eye.

  Kintovar, her grappling hook still extended, stood at a distan disbelief.

  When the smoke cleared in the sky, Risebelle’s body desded with a loud crash. She now y on the ground. Her body now had a gigantic hole and blood ewed out all over the ground. Her systems were shut off moments after the impact.

  [System Message]

  Risebelle: Offline

  Critical dition - Repairs Required

  Lifeforce: -100%

  Magic: -75 % Magical Rupture

  System Shutdown - N/A Timeframe

  Damage Assessmeensive

  Repair Protocols Engaged

  Kintovar retracted her grappling hook, fully aware that she had failed to reach Risebelle in time. Risebelle, the creation she had poured so much of her knowledge and effort into.

  Roselle She crawled on the ground, not having the strength to get to her feet. She reached out her hands. Her vision was blurring with tears. She slipped down with her body trembling effort.

  "RISEBELLE!!!!!!"

  Roselle pouhe ground with her fist. Her cries echoed through the devastated ndscape." Risebelle, please, get up, say something. Do anything…You're… You’re the only one who lead us!"

  Roselle touched Risebelle's damaged body.

  Roselle touched Risebelle's damaged body. Her firembled while brushing against the torn flesh. She noticed the gaping hole in Risebelle's chest, and her heart sank into the deep water.

  "No, no, no," Roselle said in a panic after realizing the extent of Risebelle’s damages. Tears. She began to cry untrolbly. "Please, Risebelle, no… not like this Risebelle.. Not like this! Don’t leave me like this!"

  Kintovar, standing nearby, removed her sungsses and pced them on her head. Her own tears began to fall, but she spoke despite the heaviness she felt. "I fix this… I fix this… I …"

  Roselle looked up at her. "Dr. Kintovar..." she mao say, before trying t herself closer.

  Kintovar k down aly gathered Roselle into her arms. "It's going to be okay," she whispered, holding Roselle close. "I promise, it's going to be okay."

  Roselle g to Kintovar, her body wracked with sobs. "Please, don't let her die," she begged. "We 't lose her!"

  Kintovar nodded with her own tears falling freely. "I won't let that happen," she vowed. "It's going to be hard to fix Risebelle. I'll o find a way."

  Dark Whirlwind, her malevolent ughter eg through the devastated streets, turo Kintovar with a sinister grin. "Of course it's hard," she taunted. "You didn't even have a b iy, did you? You rushed here without thinking it through."

  Kintovar's eyes narrowed as she remembered Dark Whirlwind's presence. She gently released Roselle from her embrace, a determined look crossing her face. "I have to take care of this," she said firmly.

  "No, Kintovar, please," Roselle pleaded with fear. "Let's run away."

  Kintovar shook her head, a hint of a smile pying on her lips. "We will never escape if we keep running. You have to look after your sisters. Don't worry about me."

  Kintovar stood up. She twirled around, l her suo her face with a flourish. "I am Dr. Kintovar, the invincible stist who bat any mage," she decred with a fident grin.

  Roselle watched but still had fear on her face. "Be careful," she whispered.

  Kintnced back at Roselle."I always am.”

  Kintovar raised her arm. “Alright, Dark whirlwind, you’ve forced my hand…. Prepare yourself! Extreme teology: Mindsuit!"

  In an instant, a cascade of glowing, intricate lines of light enveloped her body. The light solidified into a sleek, futuristic suit of armor. The suit shimmered with an e glow, panels and circuits interlog perfectly to form a seamless exoskeleton.

  Kintovar stood tall, now the formidable suit. She looked every bit the invincible stist she had procimed herself to be.

  Dark Whirlwind's grin faltered for a moment."Impressive," she shough her tone held a hint of unease. "But do you really think a suit of armor will save you?"

  Kintovar's eyes, visible through the visor of her helmet, bzed with fidehis is not just any suit of armor,” she decred. "Mages wield extreme magic, but this Mindsuit is our equivalent. It's designed for stists like myself, capable of terag spells at that very level. In fact, I retly used this to defeat a headmaster from an isnd far away from the city."

  She took a step forward. "So, Dark Whirlwind, do you still feel fident?"

  Dark Whirlwind stared at Kintovar for a long moment. Then, slowly, she turned away with a sly grin. "This town looks suffitly destroyed, so my job here is done," she said with dession. "I did say I would spare your life, Kintovar. You should be honored by my mercy."

  Kintovar watched Dark Whirlwireat. The urge to pursue and front her enemy warred with the o tend to her fallen rades. She took a deep breath, l her arm.

  "You see, Kintovar, you're just like your creations. Limited. Powerless. Teology ever rival the magic of this world. Remember that."

  Dark Whirlwind paused, turning to cast a final g Kintovar. "Kintovar, you're just like your creations. Limited. Powerless. Hopeless. That suit doesn't ge anything. Teology ever rival the magic of this world. Remember that." With words, she began to vanish in a storm of darkness.

  Kintovar ched her fists, her jaw tight with frustration. She turned back to Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle . "We'll show her," she muttered under her breath.

  She k beside Roselle, gently toug her shoulder. "It's going to be okay," she said, “I’ll find a way to fix her, no matter what it takes. I refuse to let this be the end of her."

  Becky's appearance had ged since her st se with Dark Whirlwind. She now wore a striking white and rose dress-like tank top that she had acquired from the locals iy.

  Becky Clutched firmly in her hands was the Hammer that Kintovar had specially crafted for her. This formidable on bore the force of the earth itself. Becky swung the hammer with all her might, aiming to catch Dark Whirlwind while she was leaving.

  "Damn YOOOOUU!!!!!” Becky excimed. Sybil joihe fray with her agile swordpy, her movements graceful yet deadly.

  "You won't get away with this!"

  Kintovar, with a sense ency, called out to them,

  "Stop, Becky, Sybil! Dark Whirlwind is too powerful. We need a pn before we engage her again!"

  Dark Whirlwind, halted by Becky's furious cry and Sybil's determiaurned back with an irritated expression. "Idiots," she muttered under her breath, clearly annoyed. "I was about to leave and spare your lives."

  Becky's rough demeaed like a storm. "Spare our lives? After what you did? You destroyed everything!"

  Sybil's swleamed in the dim light as she spoke. "We 't just let you walk away after all this."

  Dark Whirlwind's lips curled into a sneer. "You really think you stop me? I have far more important things to attend to than dealing with pests like you, but since you wah so badly…"

  With a sudden surge of power, Dark Whirlwind unleashed a devastating bst of energy. Her i was to end the lives of Becky and Sybil. The destructive energy surged towards them, and just as it was about to make tact, Kintovar's desperate scream echoed through the chaos.

  "NOOOOOO!"

  In a blinding explosion of magical energy, the bst's destructive force was deflected, and a protective barrier surrounded Becky and Sybil. They looked around in astonishment.

  Suddenly, a massive figure stepped onto the se. His presence alone casted a long shadow over the battered city. He towered over most of the other people. He wore an e uniform with an emblem ad it in the shape of a barrier marking his affiliation.

  With a stern face, he gred down at Dark Whirlwind. Despite his imposing appearahere was a sense of g in his demeanor.

  Clearing his throat, he introduced himself with authority, "I am Str, the 1st Ranked Barrier Master of the Northern School of Barriers. I apologize for my tardiness. If our team had arrived sooner, perhaps we could have saved more lives."

  Becky and Sybil, still rec from the shock of the battle, exged bewildered gnces before turning their attention back to Str.

  Str approached them cautiously. With a geone, he asked, "Are you both alright? You've been through quite an ordeal."

  Beodded vigorously. Sybil managed a weak yet nervous smile.

  Str held a warm smile on his face. He patted their shoulders. "Good to hear. I am able to use healing magic that mend your wounds and ease your pain. It may be a bit different from what you may be used to getting, but I promise it will do wonders for you."

  Becky and Sybil exged curious gheir is were piqued by the mention of healing magic.

  Str and Dark Whirlwind locked eyes, creating an intense and silent standoff.

  Dark Whirlwind's lips curled into a mog smile. She turned away from Str with her dark aura vanishing.

  "He’s not worth my time time," Dark Whirlwind sneered before walking away. In a storm of dark magic, she vanished.

  With her departure, the skies above began to clear up. The chaotic battlefield started tain a sembnce of calm. The immediate threat had passed, but the scars of the battle remaiched into the cityscape.

  Str let out a deep sigh. He turned his attention back to Becky, Sybil, and Kintovar. There was much work to be done.

  Str spoke towards them with a sorrowful look. "We'll o tend to the wounded and start the process of rebuilding the city. But first, let me take care of your injuries with my healing magic. It won't take long."

  Str's deep voice resonated with power. He began the intation for his healing magic:

  "O benevolent spirits of the ethereal realm,

  Grant us yrace, in pain overwhelm.

  Heal these wounds, mend the broken,

  With yic's touch, let words be spoken. Heavens healing shield!"

  With these words, the blue barrier enveloped Becky, Sybil, and Kintovar, its gentle light suffusing their bodies. The soothing magic worked its wonders, knitting together wounds aalizing their strength.

  Becky and Sybil felt their injuries fade away, leaving them refreshed and energized. Kintovar, oher hand, experienced a renewal of her stamina and vitality. This appeared to be far beyond the scope of typical healing.

  Kintovar looked to Str with amazement, "This magic, it's incredible! This is nothing like the Mystical Forest's power. Thank you, Str."

  Str nodded. "You're wele. My healing magic is a gift from my school of barriers, and it mend even the most severe injuries. Now, let's focus on helping the city recover."