"Just hang on a little longer…"
The girl kept her eyes closed, concentrating as purple Renshi gathered between her palms, gradually forming a glowing circular sigil.
"I'm almost done."
Nearby, Alfie charged at the Alpha Darkside Spirit once more.
"Take this."
He swung his sword, but the creature knocked him aside with a single strike.
BAM.
Alfie crashed to the ground. Before he could get back up, the Alpha raised its leg.
He tried to move, but he was too slow.
BOOM.
Its foot slammed into his chest.
"Gaaah."
Pain shot through Alfie's body. He coughed violently, struggling to draw breath.
"This is bad…"
The girl's hands trembled as she continued gathering her Renshi.
"If this keeps up…"
She glanced toward Alfie.
"He's going to die."
Alfie lay motionless, his vision blurring as his consciousness began to fade.
The Alpha looked down at him before turning toward the girl.
"Now it's your turn, little one."
It grinned.
"I have no use for that brat. It's time I devour you and get out of here before the Shinras show up."
The girl froze.
"No…"
Her voice trembled.
"Not again…"
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked toward Alfie.
"Don't tell me he's dead."
Her hands tightened around the gathering Renshi.
"Why does everyone around me always end up dying?"
She forced herself to finish the technique.
"Please…"
The sigil between her palms suddenly blazed with purple-white light.
"Go."
A brilliant spark shot toward the Alpha's face.
"Gah."
The Darkside Spirit recoiled as the light exploded into its eyes.
"What the hell?"
The brightness was so intense that even the girl had to cover her own eyes.
"This is bad…"
She blinked rapidly.
"I thought I could focus the blinding technique only on him. I didn't expect it to hit me too."
The Alpha roared in frustration.
The girl counted silently.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
The light finally faded.
The Alpha slowly opened its eyes, its grin returning.
"It's over, girl."
It lunged forward and seized her in its massive arms.
"Let me go."
She struggled against its grip.
Suddenly, the creature's spine twisted.
CRACK.
A long, barbed tail extended from its back, rising above the girl like a spear.
The Alpha grinned.
"Now die."
But its tail abruptly stopped.
"What?"
It tried to thrust forward, only to find something holding it back.
The creature turned its head.
Its eyes widened.
Alfie stood behind it, blood covering his face and his clothes torn. He could barely remain upright, yet both hands were wrapped tightly around the monster's tail.
His veins bulged as he strained to hold it back.
"I won't…"
He clenched his teeth.
"Let you hurt her."
Alfie pulled harder.
"You monster."
The Alpha snarled.
"Get lost, you worthless vessel."
It violently flicked its tail.
BAM.
Alfie was hurled across the ground, rolling several feet before coming to a stop.
"Ugh…"
The girl stared at him in disbelief.
"Hey, boy."
Her voice trembled.
"I don't even know your name, but you've done enough."
She shook her head.
"Just run."
Alfie slowly pushed himself up.
"Don't die for me."
The girl shouted at him, but he reached for his sword.
Blood trickled from his temple, and his legs trembled beneath him.
"I will never abandon a human."
His voice was weak, but his gaze remained fixed on the Alpha.
"Never in my life."
He tightened his grip around the Sword.
"I'm not a Shinra…"
He raised his blade.
"But I believe I'm already one in spirit."
Alfie suddenly sprinted forward, putting what little strength he had left into his attack.
The Alpha turned.
"What?"
Alfie dropped into a slide, his sword flashing toward the creature's leg.
SLASH.
The blade cut cleanly through its ankle.
"ROOOAAAR."
The Alpha screamed in pain, its grip loosening.
The girl fell, but Alfie caught her before she hit the ground. He stumbled backward, holding her securely in his arms.
She stared up at him, stunned by what he'd just done.
"I'm not going down without a fight."
The Alpha staggered backward, glaring at its wounded leg.
"That sword…"
It stared at the blade in disbelief.
"How did it cut me?"
The wound was already beginning to heal.
"That's impossible."
Alfie raised his sword, struggling to catch his breath.
"I call it the Sword of Justice. I forged it to eliminate every last one of you."
His eyes narrowed.
"And you're going to be the first."
The Alpha stared at him before bursting into laughter.
"Hahahaha."
It slowly straightened.
"Not bad, kid. But I know exactly how to deal with foolish, stubborn boys like you."
The creature cracked its fingers.
"I'll rip your limbs apart and hang your corpse at the town gate."
Alfie glared back at it.
"Let's see you try."
The girl suddenly cleared her throat.
"Hey…"
Alfie glanced down at her.
"Nice catch."
Her cheeks reddened slightly.
"But… you're kind of touching somewhere important."
Alfie froze.
"Do you mind putting me down?"
"Ah, sorry."
He quickly set her on her feet.
She dusted herself off before looking toward the Alpha's injured leg.
"That wound you gave it…"
Her expression grew serious.
"It's already healed. If it keeps recovering like this, we're screwed."
Alfie raised his sword.
"Then we'll keep cutting until it can't heal anymore."
He charged forward again.
"Wait."
The girl suddenly looked up.
"Look out."
Alfie glanced overhead.
"What the…"
Sharp, black, rock-like shards rained down from above.
"Move."
He tried to dodge, but there were too many.
CRACK.
One struck his shoulder, another hit his side, and several more slammed into his body.
"Gaaah."
Alfie was thrown to the ground.
The Alpha watched calmly.
"That was just a little trick. I'm not even trying yet."
It raised its head toward the girl.
"Entertain me, little Renshi girl."
Then its gaze shifted to Alfie.
"And you…"
Its grin widened.
"Empty vessel."
The girl's expression changed.
"Don't you dare call him that."
She stepped forward as purple Renshi surged around her body.
"He has more heart and more fight in him than you ever will."
Her eyes burned with fury.
"You're the real empty vessel. You devour other people just to feel whole."
Her Renshi erupted outward.
BOOM.
Purple energy surged around her like a storm. Two glowing blades formed in her hands as ethereal armor of purple Renshi enveloped her body, pulsing with energy like thunderclouds.
She raised her twin swords.
"Let's dance, monster."
The Alpha stared at her before slowly breaking into a smile.
"Now this…"
It lowered its body into a fighting stance.
"This is going to be fun."