Evening settled over Nerulia Haven like a warm blanket, lanterns flickering alive one by one across the growing city. But tonight, instead of peace, the air tasted… metallic. Wrong. As if the world itself was bracing for pain.
Lyra stood outside the Healing Ward, staring at the sky with gentle hands clasped together. Her snow-white hair swayed in the cooling wind, and faint spirit light glimmered around her fingers, healing aura, instinctively reacting to danger.
She whispered, voice trembling ever so slightly:
"…It's coming."
Behind her, young trainee healers followed her gaze.
"Lady Lyra? What is it?"
She forced a soft smile. "Prepare emergency supplies. Just in case."
They ran, trusting her without doubt ... everyone did.
The gentle saint of Nerulia Haven.
The woman who rebuilt life from ruin.
But inside, Lyra's heart raced.
That presence… it felt like the day she lost everything.
Before Nerulia.
Before Yuto.
Before hope.
---
Memories Bleed
A tiny flash, not vision, but trauma resurfacing.
She saw again the old kingdom she once served, way before she was adopted by the Nerulians.
Noble halls. Peace. Laughter.
Then screaming.
Blood.
A monstrous corrupted beast ripping through guards like paper.
Her hands glowing desperately as she tried to save a child...
Then darkness.
She returned to herself, breathing unevenly.
"Not again…" she whispered. "I will not lose another home."
---
Alarms Ring
A horn blasted through the city.
"TO ARMS! EASTERN FOREST BREACH!"
Soldiers ran. Mages summoned light.
Zarek roared directions.
Mimi tripped but then fired sparks of lightning in panic.
Elira rushed towards the scene.
"Everyone move! Protect the civilians!"
Yuto arrived last. Calm, aura pulsing blue and silver, coat rippling.
Eyes sharp. Spirit core thrumming like a beating star.
"Elira, Zarek , take west flank. Mimi, Serphina , air reconnaissance, but no explosions unless ordered."
Mimi saluted dramatically. "No promises but okay!"
Advisor chimed:
[ Threat Level: B+ climbing toward A-rank.
Enemy type: unknown corrupted cluster.
Recommendation: go full anime.]
"…For once, we agree,... it's rimuru time!!!" Yuto muttered.
---
Suddenly....
The trees split open with a sound like bones snapping.
From the forest crawled twisted shapes, wolves with black bone protrusions, birds with too many eyes, a boar dripping purple smoke. Corrupted. Hungry. Dozens at first… then hundreds.
They roared, but then stopped, as if sensing something holy.
Yuto stepped forward, spirit aura surging.
Silver wind spiraled around him, a divine pressure that made corrupted flesh writhe.
"Go back," he warned, voice echoing unnatural calm.
"This city isn't prey."
But as they where being controlled by curroption...
The creatures screamed and charged anyway.
---
Guards clashed with beasts.
Magic blasts lit up the night.
Spirit-infused arrows rained from towers.
Yuto blurred forward, faster than wind.
Void-Step.
A flash. Bodies fell, purified by shimmering light.
Spirit Fang Slash!
Air detonated as a crescent of spirit force cut through a corrupted giant bear, purifying it mid-roar into particles.
[ Advisor: Overkill level aesthetic score: 10/10. I am proud.]
Elira danced beside him, fighting style, arrow and staff in hand, laughter breathless and sharp.
"You're getting flashy!"
"I'm trying not to die, thanks."
Behind them, Zarek swung an axe that crushed four beasts in one strike.
"THIS! IS! AMAZING!"
---
Lyra's Stand...
The Healing Ward overflowed already, minor wounds, poison burns, panic.
But Lyra didn't blink.
Hands glowing soft blue, she purified wounds, rewove flesh, whispered comfort.
Every time corruption touched someone, she burned it away, jaw tight, tears suppressed.
A rookie healer stammered, "Lady Lyra, you should rest.."
She smiled softly. "A healer rests after everyone stands safely."
A sudden screech, a corrupted hawk dove for the ward.
Lyra didn't hesitate.
She raised one hand, magic burst outward, gentle yet absolute.
Sanctified Barrier.
Feathers disintegrated, beast purified before impact.
Even the healers froze.
"…She's legendary," one whispered.
But Lyra wasn't proud.
She just murmured:
"Not again. Not again. Not again…"
Her voice cracked, she was shaking.
---
Before anyone could even think...
From the trees, silence. Then...
Boom!!
A massive corrupted stag, antlers dripping void. Power radiated from it like frost.
Yuto's eyes narrowed.
"A corruption commander-class…"
The stag spoke, voice layered, unnatural:
"Spirit-Child. You grow. But all light will rust."
Yuto's aura exploded.
"Not here."
He shot forward, but the stag fired a spear of black corruption. It tore straight towards..
Lyra.
Time blurred.
Elira screamed.
Mimi gasped midair.
Everyone's hearts froze.
Lyra closed her eyes, accepting death....
He didn't think, instinct moved him.
He moved in a burst of wind, body flickering between physical and spirit form.
His hand caught the corruption spear, and disintegrated it in a holy blaze.
Wind tore outward, purifying ground around him in a circle.
He stood before Lyra, back to her, aura like a divine storm.
"You're safe," he said softly.
Lyra clutched her chest .. breath broken, tears falling.
"…Thank you… Yuto."
For the first time, she looked fragile, not saintly, but human.
And the sight filled him with heat and fury.
He turned to the stag.
"You attacked my healer, my friend?..."
[ Advisor: Emotion level high. Permission to override restraint?]
"Granted."
---
Yuto vanished.
Appeared above the stag,mana hand shaped like a blade.
Spirit Execution!= Heaven Rend
Light tore through the beast, no scream, no resistance.
It died instantly, purified into shimmering dust.
Silence swallowed the city.
Wind drifted.
Lanterns flickered.
Breathing returned slowly.
Elira landed beside him, eyes wide.
"That was… beautiful."
Mimi clapped mid-air like a hyper squirrel.
"Sparkles! Pretty death sparkles!"
Zarek slapped Yuto's back.
"YOU ARE INSANE AND I LOVE IT!"
Yuto exhaled. "Yeah. That was… a little much."
[Advisor: Incorrect. It was EXACTLY much enough.]
---
Soon after...
The corrupted creatures fled, sensing doom.
Healers worked on the wounded.
Guards cheered, exhausted but victorious.
Lyra approached slowly, hands pressed together.
"Yuto… thank you. You saved me again."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"You save everyone every day. I just returned the favor."
She smiled, fragile but warm. Her fears of the past were now gone.
"You're our light, Yuto. Our hope. Please… don't ever fade."
A beat.
Elira looked away quickly, a flicker of something sharp in her eyes. Jealousy? Fear of losing him? Something deeper?
Yuto didn't notice. He was staring at the night sky .. where a thin ripple of corruption still lingered.
"They were testing us," he whispered.
"This was just the beginning."
[ Advisor: Correct. Next wave predicted within 17 days. Prepare harder.]
Yuto clenched his fist.
"I'll become strong enough to protect everyone. No matter what."
-----