The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
Kanade screamed as she saw Rain being blown away.
Nina, Rifa, and Chiffon also looked panicked.
Seizing that moment of distraction, Lin went on a rampage. She effortlessly unleashed advanced magic in rapid succession, whipping up a storm of destruction.
Nina opened several subspace holes—dozens of them. She used them as shields to protect everyone, but there was a limit.
It was like trying to hold back the floodwaters of an overflowing river; no matter how sturdy the defense, it was gradually being eroded and would eventually be breached.
"Ugh… ughh…"
"A-Are you okay!?"
Finia rushed over to the wounded Rain. She immediately began healing, but the injuries seemed deep, and Rain couldn’t stand.
Seeing this, Kanade…
"…Unforgivable."
Her mind turned bright red with rage.
Wave after wave of intense anger surged within her, burning her from the inside out.
Her precious master.
The person she loved most.
The one she wished to stay with forever—the most important person in the world.
"Uunyaaahhhhhh!!!"
Kanade, consumed by fury, lunged at Lin.
"Guh! What the hell is with this one!?"
"Aaaaaaahhh!!!"
Kanade, blinded by rage, unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes.
Although every attack was blocked by multiple barriers, for the first time, Lin was forced to focus entirely on defense.
"How dare you… how dare you!!"
Kanade’s eyes darkened, and a black mist began to seep from her body.
Seeing this, Elfin and Shigure’s expressions turned grim.
"Stop!"
"Don’t let the anger consume you! You won’t be able to come back!"
They desperately called out to her, but their voices didn’t reach Kanade.
Only the anger of seeing her loved one hurt pushed her forward.
She had to annihilate her enemy.
Kill.
Crush.
Fueled by rage and hatred, she swung her fists.
She struck with all her might.
The sheer power was overwhelming—it even cracked Lin’s multi-layered barriers.
However… she was still just one step short.
"Don’t… get cocky, you damn cat!"
"…!?"
Timing her counter perfectly, Lin cast a spell at point-blank range.
A technique only possible due to her ability to use magic without chanting.
Kanade took the full force of the counterattack and was sent flying.
She rolled across the ground multiple times before finally crashing into a tree trunk, coming to a stop.
"Ugh…"
The impact knocked all the air from her lungs, leaving her unable to move.
But in that moment of stillness, she found a chance to think.
"What… was I doing?"
She had been consumed by rage, trying to kill Lin.
She hadn’t been able to think of anything else.
But… that wasn’t truly what she wanted.
She didn’t want to fight. She didn’t want to kill.
What she truly wanted was to be by the side of the one she loved.
And to smile together with her dear friends.
That was all.
As long as she had those two things, nothing else mattered.
But someone was trying to take that away.
Lin.
She was the enemy.
She had to be defeated.
However…
"Unyaa…"
Her rage clouded her thoughts, leaving her confused.
What should she do?
What was the right thing to do?
Kanade was afraid.
Her thoughts were completely lost, and she had no idea what to do or where to go.
"…Kanade."
"Ah."
It was Rain who brought her back to her senses.
After Finia’s healing, Rain had managed to regain enough strength to stand and called out to Kanade.
He spoke her name.
He was safe—he was alive.
Relieved, Kanade's eyes welled up with tears.
"Kanade-san!"
Right after, Chiffon shouted strongly.
Through her words, her eyes, and her heart, she desperately pleaded.
"Don’t make the same mistake! I once made a terrible mistake and hurt Rain and the others… but you must not! As Rain’s comrade, don’t lose yourself!"
"Nyaa… Chiffon…"
Chiffon’s words made Kanade’s mind clearer than ever before.
Fighting out of anger was wrong.
Lin was an unforgivable enemy—there was no doubt about that.
Chiffon was right.
She wasn’t fighting to kill.
She wasn’t throwing punches to vent her hatred or anger.
She was fighting for Rain.
For her comrades.
She was fighting to protect the smiles of the people she loved.
Remembering that, Kanade felt all of her doubts vanish.
"……"
Kanade closed her eyes for a moment.
She focused deeply, sharpening her mind and soul.
Like a thin, keen blade.
And then…
"Nyan!!!"
Kanade opened her eyes.
Her pupils shone with a golden light.
"Uunyaaahhhhhhh!!!"
"This is…!?"
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