The air around the battlefield still crackled with tension. The S-Rank beast snarled, tearing itself from the trees where Saria had flung it. Its blood-red eyes locked on her with primal rage.
Liora stumbled toward her, but Saria held out a hand.
"Rest. You've done your part."
Her voice was calm, but firm, unshakable.
Liora hesitated, chest heaving. Nellie supported her, nodding. "We'll watch Garth. Don't get in her way," Nellie whispered.
They stepped back.
Saria stood alone.
The monster didn't wait.
With a roar that shook birds from the trees, it lunged, faster than before, claws wide and mouth open with fangs ready to tear.
Saria exhaled once.
And moved.
The beast struck the air. Saria was already behind it.
Her sword flashed, slicing deep into its hind leg. The beast screamed, staggering.
It turned, furious, slamming a claw downward.
Saria didn't move.
Not until the last second.
She sidestepped effortlessly, dragging her sword across the monster's forearm in one clean stroke. Blood sprayed, but her blade was spotless. It moved too fast to catch a drop.
The monster's attacks became wild, desperate, claws, bites, and swipes.
Each one missed.
Saria danced through them like wind between the trees.
"Slow," she muttered. "All roar, no bite."
With each dodge, she landed a blow, small cuts at first. Weakening it and tiring it.
But then,
The real strike came.
The monster reared back, gathering power for one final charge.
Saria crouched.
She vanished.
A boom echoed as she launched herself upward. In a blink, she was above the beast, in midair with her sword glowing silver with condensed mana.
She called out:
"Phantom slash."
Then she fell, a streak of silver fire from the sky.
Her blade struck the beast's skull, cleaving straight through it and slamming its massive body into the ground.
The earth shook.
Silence followed.
When the dust settled, Saria stood in the crater.
The monster twitched once.
Then stopped.
Dead.
Saria sheathed her sword and turned back to the others. "Told you," she said with a grin, "I've still got it."
Liora collapsed to her knees, half from relief, half from exhaustion.
Nellie laughed weakly, helping Garth sit up as he groaned awake. "You're terrifying," she said.
"Yeah," Liora whispered. "But thank the gods she's on our side."