She needed more defense if she wanted to survive, but even that wouldn't be enough. Health, defense, speed… she needed everything, all at once. Without more speed, Varos would tear through her before she even had room to breathe. The glowing stat windows shimmered before her eyes like a desperate beacon of hope.

  They had to rise. She forced them to rise. So she desperately willed them to go up!

  [Raw Values]

  DEF: 34 [+3] → 114 [+83]

  SPD: 32 [+3] → 112 [+83]

  ??? ??? ???

  [Accumalated Particles]:

  Distributable = [445 Points]

  ??? ??? ???

  The stat lights flickered in front of her—DEF jumping from 34 to 114, SPD from 32 to 112—and the moment they rose, she felt the change hit her like a shockwave: her body tightened, her footing steadied, her thoughts snapped sharper and faster. But even as that strength rushed through her, she knew it still wasn't enough.

  A blue-red slash streaked across her vision, and then Varos's blade ripped into her shoulder, the pain burning straight through her new defenses. She staggered back, hot breath bursting from her lungs in ragged pants, panic hammering at her as she realized he was still faster. She almost crumbled, her wound sizzling, bright and terrible, like mist.

  She choked out, "Anger fuels me! Anger fuels me! Fuel me!" and staggered backward, stumbling away from the monster who was already closing the distance despite everything she had just gained.

  {Health: 30%}

  {Emotional State: 53%}

  {Approaching Condition: [Rage Active at 50%]}

  "Almost there…" she wheezed.

  "Tuckered out, little Rex?" Varos laughed, sharp and mocking, his voice scraping against her pride.

  {Emotional State: 50%}

  {Approaching Condition: [Rage Active]}

  ???

  [Idalia's Rage]

  [Rage Values]

  STR: 84 [+52] → 252

  DEF: 114 [+83] → 342

  FPWR: 164 [+130] → 492

  ??? ??? ???

  Idalia's mind snapped like a bone under pressure. Rip! Tear! Break him apart! The thoughts exploded through her skull, wild and relentless, the world bleeding red around her as rage swallowed everything else; strange and hazy yet electrifying to the core.

  "Not even close!" she roared, her voice rising like a feral cub pushed beyond reason, every nerve burning as she hurled herself at him with claws eager to carve. She slipped beneath his next slash with instinctive speed, twisting and leaping, letting rage pull her where thought could not.

  He struck again, and for her, time pulled thin—Varos's scarred sneer sharpening into the only thing she could see. It infuriated her. She wanted to smash it, tear it, end it, though she had no idea why that need burned so fiercely. The {Rage} whispered its answer: another predator before the kill, a rival that had to be crushed. In that moment, she accepted it completely.

  "Let's see if you can handle this!" Varos's cry sliced through the field, a flicker of red-blue energy gathering around his sword like a storm cloud. "You think your fury can match my skill? Wrong!"

  In that moment, everything clicked. Idalia snarled deeply, recalling Lyrawinn's lessons: channel the pain, harness the chaos, and let it flow. She released a guttural growl as she charged him, diving low to evade another blow that would have cleaved her in two.

  From the corner of her eye, she spotted Kelix, still down but trying to gather himself.

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  "Stay down, I've got this!" Idalia shouted, though she felt a pang of worry ripple through her chest. Her reason said, quietly: Together, they could finish this. But {Rage} declared loudly: But first, she had to take down the knight!

  She feigned left, watching Varos's eyes dart to follow her, and then she leapt to the right, digging her claws into the balcony's edge for leverage. "Now!" she yelled, too loud to hear her own heart thundering.

  With a powerful thrust, she propelled herself straight at Varos. He raised his weapon, and in that critical moment, Idalia twisted her body mid-air, aiming her tail for his legs. She struck true, sweeping them from beneath him.

  Varos stumbled, the surprise in his eyes for just a blink, but that was all she needed. Using the momentum from his loss of balance, she surged forward, claws out, ready to end this.

  "Animal or warrior? Let's find out!" she howled, as she landed on his torso, knocking the wind out of him. She pressed her claws to his throat, feeling the rush of victory flooding her senses.

  "You think this is a game?!" he sputtered, struggling beneath her. The knight's metal fist slammed into her chin, but Idalia twisted with the momentum, the impact only fueling her fury. Everything turned a hot red as her vision blurred to focus on her target. Thoughts scattered away, no longer a burden.

  Her eyes glowed, and her throat burned with a new sensation. But her instincts recognized it—the new technique ignited inside her chest. Too angry to think clearly, she let out a furious atomic blast that burst forth from her mouth—[Atomic Burst].

  Her prey, Varos, widened his eyes as the blast surged forward—a wave of shimmering spatial energy fueled by all the rage and pain that had built inside her. The air crackled, lighting up the night like the eye of a volcanic eruption, hot and relentless.

  "NO!" Varos shouted, but it was too late. The force of her attack crashed into him, launching him off the ground and sending him sprawling backwards. Dust and shards of stone exploded around them, erupting into the air as Idalia's fury carved through the battlefield.

  Then—BOOM!

  The knight hit the ground hard, the impact trembling the very stones of the balcony. For a brief moment, silence engulfed the scene. Idalia stood, chest heaving, heart racing.

  The world around her was a blur, everything slowed down as she took in the aftermath of her attack.

  Kelix slowly rose to his feet, wide-eyed with disbelief. "You… did it," he gasped, his voice shaky yet filled with awe. "I didn't think you—"

  "Save it!" Idalia interrupted, eyes still locked on Varos, who was now struggling to regain his footing. He groaned, trying to push himself up, but it was clear the fight had slipped from his grasp. The ferocity that had once defined him seemed dulled, and he stared up at her with a mix of resentment and shock.

  "You think this is the end?" he panted, determination flickering in his eyes. "I will rise again, beast. You can't—"

  "Shut it!" Idalia snapped, her voice sharp as a blade. She stalked toward him, ready for one last strike if he dared to move. "I'll tear you to shreds!"

  Just then, a flicker of movement caught her eye. Kelix was on his feet, though unsteady, wielding a lightning rod that sparked with intense energy.

  "I'm back!" he shouted, his voice shaky but determined. He hurled the lightning rod at Varos, who watched in shock as the crackling projectile soared like a comet. "Together, Ida!"

  Idalia saw her chance before it struck true. Another [Atomic Burst] erupted from her throat—the explosion of energy tore through the space between them, sending shockwaves radiating outward, rattling the very foundation of the tower.

  Kelix's lightning pierced. Idalia's atomic fury crashed. Varos was thrown back, his body slamming into the stone railing. The impact shattered the support as he plummeted, howling like a dark silhouette against the backdrop of stars.

  Idalia gasped, panting like a wild beast freed from possession. Her limbs trembled as she regained her footing. The rage that had once fueled her now ebbed slowly, leaving her breathless.

  ???

  [Idalia's Calm]

  [Rage Values: Obsolete]

  STR: 252 [+52] → 84

  DEF: 342 [+83] → 114

  FPWR: 492 [+130] → 164

  ??? ??? ???

  "Did we… really just do that?" she panted.

  Kelix wiped the side of his lip, smiling through his pain. "Of course, Ida." He patted her head—soft, unexpected, but comforting. "Great job, partner." Idalia couldn't help but preen under the praise. Since Kelix rarely complimented anyone, she claimed this as a grand tribute to her triumph.

  But before she could bask in the victory, a sudden rumble shook the balcony. The stones beneath their feet trembled as if the very foundation was shifting.

  "Uh, Kelix?" Idalia glanced at him, her brow furrowed in concern. "Did we just make a bigger mess?"

  "Yeah, I think we did!" he replied, eyes darting around as cracks spidered out like jagged veins across the floor. "We better get out of here!"

  Idalia nodded, her heart racing, adrenaline still coursing through her veins. She turned back to where Varos had been, but there was nothing left but darkness spilling over the edge. "Is he… really gone?" She could hardly believe it.

  "He better be," Kelix muttered, trying to steady himself against the crumbling wall. "But we can't wait to find out."

  With that, they leapt toward the nearest exit, a narrow doorway that led deeper into the tower. Pushing through, Idalia glanced back one last time, half-expecting Varos or Nyla to spring up, furious and ready for more.

  Fortunately the balcony was silent now, except for the soft, eerie sound of stones settling.

  "Keep moving!" Kelix urged, and they plunged into the dimly lit hallway. The air was thick, heavy with dust and foreboding energy.

  Most likely the Colonel's.

  "Do you think he's expecting us?" Idalia whispered.

  "Honestly? I don't know," he admitted, trying to catch his breath. "But I'm here to end this. It'll be over soon enough…"

  She wanted to ask him questions, but she kept her jaws tight as she noticed the vengeful glare in his eyes. His mind was set.

  They ran down the corridor, their footsteps echoing eerily. Idalia's senses were on high alert, every sound seeming magnified in the tight space. She could feel the walls closing in, the shadows creeping up on them.

  As they barreled forward, they entered a spacious chamber filled with flickering torches. Strange symbols danced around the walls, illuminating the aged stone like a twisted forest.

  "What is this place?" Idalia wondered aloud, slowing her pace as curiosity crept in.

  "Maybe some kind of old magic room?" Kelix said, his eyes scanning the intricate designs. "We should be careful. This could be a trap."

  Idalia nodded, feeling the weight of the moment. "Or it could be our path toward your prey." She stepped further in, her instincts urging her to explore, but soon realized her leg was limping, dragging slightly behind her.

  "We'll stop here for now," Kelix grasped her tail, stopping her from moving forward.

  Reacting to the tug, Idalia spun toward him, uneasy and flustered. "Don't touch that!" she exclaimed. Then she eased herself. "Aren't you in a hurry, Kelix? It would be bad if he escapes."

  "He won't." That word, spoken flat.