From the distance, Phoenix flew with Bondo, glancing back to see the destruction Hajime had left behind. Phoenix muttered under his breath, “That’s not a devil… that’s Hajime.”

  The battlefield was silent, save for the crackling of dying flames. Hajime staggered slightly as he walked away from the smoldering wreckage, the last remnants of his blue flames flickering out. He gritted his teeth, his breathing labored. His body, already strained from the intensity of the battle, gave a sudden jolt of pain as the poison still lingering in his system surged through his veins.

  He dropped to one knee, coughing violently before a thick stream of blood escaped his mouth, splattering on the ground.

  “Tch… this damn poison…”

  From behind, soft footsteps approached. Hajime didn’t need to look to know who it was.

  “Young master!”“You’re still—”

  “It’s fine,”“Just… give me a moment…”

  Ignoring his weak protests, Storyshift knelt beside him and gently lowered herself to sit on the broken ground. She patted her lap softly and looked at Hajime with determination.

  “Rest,”

  Hajime blinked at her, his exhausted gaze meeting her concerned one. “You don’t have to—”

  “Hajime.”

  With a resigned sigh, Hajime relented. “Fine… but only for a little while.”

  He leaned over, resting his head on her lap. The tension in his body began to fade ever so slightly as he let his guard down, his breathing still ragged but more controlled. Storyshift’s hand instinctively went to his hair, brushing through it gently.

  The world around them felt eerily quiet after the chaos, the crackling of distant fires now a faint hum. Storyshift glanced at Hajime, her expression softening.

  “You always try to take everything on yourself… You need to rest sometimes, too, you know,”

  Hajime let out a small, dry chuckle, his eyes closed. “I don’t… have time to rest… not with everything happening…”

  “Everyone’s alright for now,”“Phoenix will get Bondo to the others. They’ll be okay for a little while… and you’ll be okay, too.”

  Hajime didn’t respond immediately, the exhaustion and poison finally catching up to him. For the first time in what felt like forever, his mind quieted. The warmth of Storyshift’s lap and her calming presence dulled the sharp edges of the pain in his body.

  As he drifted into a light, much-needed rest, Storyshift whispered softly, more to herself than to him:

  “You’ve done enough, Hajime. I’ll be here… I’ll always be here for you.”

  The fires around them flickered, the smoke drifting lazily into the sky as the two sat together amidst the ruined battlefield, a brief moment of peace in the chaos. Meanwhile, the remaining members of the music club hurried down the war-torn streets, their pace quick but their nerves on edge. The destruction from the earlier attacks stretched as far as they could see—collapsed buildings, fire still licking at the remains, and the faint sounds of screaming echoing in the distance.

  Sockoo led the group, her fists clenched tightly as her mind raced with worry. Hajime had stayed back, and they hadn’t heard from him since.

  Suddenly, a massive shadow swept over them

  “What was that?!”

  When the dust settled, they all saw it. Soaring through the smoke-filled sky in its giant, majestic form

  The group gasped as they spotted Bondo cradled carefully in Phoenix’s talons

  “Bondo!”

  Phoenix’s powerful wings flapped, creating another gust of wind before it began its descent. As it approached, the air grew warmer, and the faint glow of its feathers illuminated the worried expressions of the music club members.

  Emily“Is… is he okay?”

  Phoenix landed gracefully on the ground a few feet away, carefully lowering Bondo to the ground. The bird’s eyes, glowing with intelligence, scanned the group before locking onto Sockoo.

  Sockoo rushed forward, dropping to her knees beside Bondo. “Bondo? Hey, wake up! You’re okay now, we’re here…”

  Bondo groaned weakly, his eyes fluttering open. Despite his exhaustion, he managed to offer a small grin. “I… you guys I’d handle it,”

  “Idiot!”“You nearly got yourself killed!”

  Phoenix let out a low, melodic call, its massive form now resting protectively near the group. Rizra turned her gaze upward and asked quickly, “What about Hajime? Did he…?”

  Phoenix tilted its head, its eyes narrowing slightly as if deep in thought before letting out another soft cry.

  “He stayed back,”“Hajime ordered me to bring Bondo here. He’s still fighting… but he’ll come. He said he’d come.”

  Sockoo’s fists tightened as she stood up, her gaze determined. “Hajime…”

  “We have to keep moving,”“If Hajime stayed back, he’s buying us time. We need to make it count.”

  Emily knelt beside Bondo, channeling her magic to ease his pain. “We’ll keep going… Hajime will catch up. He always does,”

  Sockoo exhaled sharply, wiping her eyes as she turned back to the group. “Fine. Let’s go. Phoenix, keep an eye on the skies—if Hajime’s in trouble, I want to know.”

  Phoenix gave a soft chirp in agreement before spreading its wings once again, ascending back into the air with a powerful flap that sent waves of heat rolling across the group.

  As they continued moving forward, the music club members silently carried a renewed determination. Bondo’s bravery and Hajime’s sacrifice weren’t going to be in vain—they would press on, trusting that Hajime would return, just as he always promised. As the group moved forward, Amy

  kept glancing back at Bondo, concern etched deeply on her face. She walked alongside him, steadying his steps when he stumbled, despite his protests.

  “I’m fine, Amy,”

  “No, you’re not fine!”“Stop pretending! You’re lucky Phoenix got you out of there before that villain finished you off.”

  Bondo gave a tired smirk, though it did little to reassure her. “You worry too much. I told you, I can handle—”

  “Enough!”“Just keep moving. I’ll catch up,”

  When it was just the two of them, Amy turned to face Bondo fully, her eyes sharp but full of worry. “Why did you stay back? You knew you couldn’t win that fight!”

  Bondo avoided her gaze, his smile faltering. “I had to buy time. Hajime was the only one who could deal with that mess, and…”“You all needed to get out of there. Someone had to stay.”

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Amy’s heart clenched at his words. “And what if Phoenix hadn’t gotten to you in time? What if you… didn’t make it?”

  Bondo stayed silent, finally meeting her gaze with a calm look. “It would’ve been worth it.”

  Amy froze, her hands trembling slightly. “Don’t say that,”“Don’t you dare say that. You’re not just some sacrifice, Bondo! You’re part of this team. You’re important… to me.”

  Bondo blinked in surprise at her words. Amy rarely spoke so openly, her tough exterior often hiding how deeply she cared for her friends.

  She took a deep breath, her voice softening. “So don’t do that again, okay? Don’t throw yourself away like you don’t matter. We need you… need you.”

  For a moment, the two stood in silence. Then Bondo managed a small, genuine smile. “Alright, alright. You win.”“I’ll be more careful next time.”

  Amy frowned slightly but nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Good. Now come on, let’s catch up with the others before they get too far.”

  Bondo let her help him forward, a new determination settling in his chest. He wasn’t just fighting for the team—he was fighting for the people who believed in him. And he wasn’t going to let them down. Got it! Here's the revision:

  As BondoAmytall man wielding a jagged scythesilver-haired woman

  Bondo stepped forward protectively, his body crackling with faint lightning. He was battered and exhausted from the earlier battle, but his determination kept him standing. Amy, holding her injured arm, watched nervously as the two villains approached.

  “You’re making this easy for us,”“One barely standing, and the other barely breathing.”

  The silver-haired woman smirked. “Guess this will be over quickly.”

  Amy’s psychic energy flickered weakly as she tried to form a barrier around them, but her power faltered. “Bondo…”“We can’t fight them both like this.”

  Bondo clenched his fists. “We don’t have a choice. I’ll keep them busy. You focus on recovering.”

  Before Amy could protest, the silver-haired woman vanished in a blur of motion, reappearing behind her.

  “Gotcha,”

  Amy barely dodged, stumbling forward as one of the blades grazed her leg. Blood dripped onto the ground, and she gasped in pain.

  “Amy!”

  The scythe-wielder used the opening to lunge forward, swinging his weapon in a deadly arc. A wave of dark energy

  Bondo panted heavily, his vision blurring from exhaustion. He could feel the strain of using his lightning for so long, but he refused to back down.

  The scythe-wielder grinned. “Still standing, huh? I’ll give you credit for that. But this ends now.”

  Amy weakly raised her hand, trying to push the man back with her psychic powers, but her strength was fading fast. “Bondo… don’t do this alone…”

  Bondo glanced back at her, his expression a mix of frustration and resolve. “Amy, just stay down. I’ll handle this.”

  The silver-haired woman reappeared beside the scythe-wielder, the two villains now towering over Bondo.

  “Brave, but stupid,”“You’re outmatched.”

  Bondo’s legs shook, but he forced himself to stand tall, his lightning crackling around him faintly. “Outmatched or not, you’re not getting past me. If you want her, you’ll have to go through me first.”

  The scythe-wielder chuckled darkly. “That can be arranged.”

  He raised his weapon, the air around them growing heavier as a dark aura enveloped the blade. Bondo braced himself, ready to dodge, but his body screamed in protest. He was at his limit.

  Amy, watching helplessly, felt a surge of guilt and fear. “Bondo, don’t—”

  But before she could finish, the scythe-wielder swung his weapon, releasing a massive wave of dark energy.

  Bondo gritted his teeth, raising his lightning in a desperate attempt to counter the attack. The two forces collided, the impact shaking the ground and sending debris flying.

  When the dust settled, Bondo was on one knee, his breathing ragged. The villains stood unfazed, their smug expressions unchanged.

  The silver-haired woman leaned forward, her daggers glinting in the dim light. “It’s over, kid. You should’ve stayed down.”

  Despite the overwhelming odds, Bondo forced himself to his feet, his fists trembling. “Not… yet.”

  Amy stared at him, her eyes wide with fear and admiration. “Bondo…”

  Bondo didn’t look back. “I’m not giving up. Not while I still have something to protect.”

  The villains exchanged amused glances, ready to strike again.

  The battle wasn’t over, but it was clear that Bondo was running out of time. As Bondo stood on trembling legs, the villains prepared to strike the final blow. Suddenly, his eyes glowed with a fierce, electrifying lightEye of Awakening

  A sharp, searing pain tore through his head, forcing him to clutch it tightly. His breathing became erratic as he stumbled backward.

  “What’s this?”

  Inside Bondo’s mind, a deep, commanding voice echoed, each word cutting into his thoughts like thunderclaps.

  “Will you succumb to the fact that Hajime is stronger?”

  Bondo gasped, the pain intensifying as memories of his fights with Hajime flashed before his eyes—his defeats, his struggles, his sense of inferiority.

  “Will you live on, knowing this is your limit?”

  The question hit him harder than any blow he had taken before. His mind raced with doubt, frustration, and anger. Was this really all he could do? Would he always stand in Hajime’s shadow?

  The voice grew louder, more forceful, almost taunting. “If you desire to surpass… If you wish to break free from your chains... then let me grant you the Power of All.”

  Bondo’s body trembled violently as he dropped to his knees. His mind screamed in agony, but something deeper—something primal—stirred within him.

  Through gritted teeth, he growled, “I… I accept!”

  His voice rose to a roar as an overwhelming surge of power coursed through him. His body was engulfed in blinding blue and white lightning

  “It’s Thunderwolf!”

  In an instant, his form transformed. A wolf-like aura cloaked his body

  The silver-haired woman staggered back, her confidence shaken. “What the hell is this?”

  The scythe-wielder tightened his grip on his weapon, his smirk replaced with unease. “He’s… evolved. No matter. He’s still outnumbered!”

  Before they could act, Bondo vanished in a flash of light, reappearing in front of the scythe-wielder. With one swift motion, he slashed his hand forward, the wolf’s claws extending from his lightning aura and ripping through the scythe’s dark energy.

  “Too slow,”

  The scythe-wielder cried out as the force of the attack sent him flying backward, slamming into a wall with a deafening crash.

  The silver-haired woman hesitated, her daggers trembling in her hands. “Stay back!”

  Bondo’s aura expanded, the lightning wolf snarling as it deflected the incoming projectiles with ease. He lunged forward with inhuman speed, appearing behind her before she could react.

  “You shouldn’t have ambushed us,”

  Amy, watching in awe, could barely believe her eyes. “Bondo…”

  she whispered.

  Bondo’s transformation held for a moment longer, his glowing eyes scanning the battlefield. Then, the power began to fade, the wolf’s aura dissipating as his body trembled with exhaustion. He fell to one knee, gasping for air, but victorious.

  Amy rushed to his side, her psychic energy lifting him slightly to support his weight. “Bondo, are you okay? What was that?”

  Bondo, his voice weak but resolute, muttered, “I don’t know… but it was enough.”

  They both looked at the defeated villains, their mission to buy time successfully accomplished—for now. As Bondo knelt on the ground, his breathing heavy, a faint shimmering light appeared beside him. Amy turned her head sharply, sensing something unusual. Out of the light stepped a small wolf, its fur made of glowing, crackling electricity. Its eyes mirrored Bondo’s—a piercing, determined gaze.

  The wolf tilted its head and let out a low growl, though it wasn’t hostile. Instead, it seemed to radiate familiarity, like it had always been a part of Bondo.

  “What… what is this?”

  The little wolf sat down, its tail swishing as it looked up at Bondo. Then, in a voice that was both calm and commanding, it spoke:

  “So, you accepted the power I offered. Good. But let me ask, Bondo… do you understand what it truly means to surpass your limits?”

  Bondo blinked in shock, still reeling from the intensity of the battle and his transformation. He stared at the wolf, his voice shaky. “Who… what are you?”

  The wolf let out a faint, almost amused huff. “I am Thunderwolf, the spirit of the power you now wield. I’ve always been with you, buried deep within your soul, waiting for the moment you were ready to claim me.”

  Bondo’s eyes widened as he processed the words. “You’re… my spirit? My power?”

  The wolf nodded, its eyes glowing brighter. “Exactly. But don’t think this is the end of your journey. The strength you’ve tapped into today is only a fragment of what I can offer. If you truly want to surpass Hajime and protect what you hold dear, you’ll have to prove yourself worthy of my full power.”

  Amy, still supporting Bondo, interjected cautiously, “Wait, so you’re saying Bondo has some kind of… spirit guardian? Like a partner?”

  The wolf turned its gaze to Amy, its expression unreadable. “Not a partner. I am his essence, his potential. But whether I become his ally or his undoing depends entirely on him.”

  Bondo clenched his fists, his body still aching from the battle. “Why now? Why did you show up now?”

  Thunderwolf’s ears perked up, and its tone grew more serious. “Because you were ready to let go of your doubts. The questions I asked weren’t just for show—they were the key to unlocking me. You accepted the truth of your limits and chose to defy them. That’s why I answered your call.”

  The wolf stood, pacing in front of Bondo as if testing his resolve. “But be warned. Power like this doesn’t come without consequences. Every time you draw on me, you’ll face trials that will push you to your breaking point. Are you prepared for that, Bondo?”

  Bondo gritted his teeth, meeting the wolf’s gaze. “If it means protecting my friends and standing on equal ground with Hajime… then I’ll do whatever it takes.”

  Thunderwolf let out a soft growl of approval. “Good. Then prove it. You’ve taken the first step, but the path ahead is long. Call on me when you’re ready to face what lies beyond your current limits.”

  With that, the wolf began to dissipate into crackling sparks, its form dissolving into the air. But before it vanished completely, it turned back to Bondo one last time.

  “And remember, Bondo—strength isn’t just about surpassing others. It’s about understanding yourself.”

  As the wolf disappeared, Bondo felt a strange warmth in his chest, as if a part of him had been unlocked. He looked at Amy, who still seemed stunned.

  “Did that just… actually happen?”

  Bondo gave a faint smile, despite his exhaustion. “Yeah. I think it did.”

  The two of them stood in silence for a moment before Amy shook her head, a nervous laugh escaping her. “Okay, you have a wolf spirit. That’s… new. But for now, let’s focus on getting back to the others before we’re ambushed again.”

  Bondo nodded, his determination renewed. “Right. Let’s go.”

  The two moved forward, but in the back of Bondo’s mind, he couldn’t stop thinking about the wolf’s words—and the power he had just begun to tap into.

  When danger strikes again, Bondo—broken, exhausted, and cornered—faces the truth he’s long avoided. In that moment of desperation, something ancient awakens within him. Thunderwolf answers his resolve, granting Bondo a glimpse of power beyond his limits. Victorious but shaken, Bondo learns that this strength is only the beginning—and that surpassing others means first understanding himself.

  As the chapter closes, one truth becomes clear: Hajime isn’t the only one changing. The storm is spreading.