The roots of the huge plant that Ulex had germinated continued to attack endlessly, Shiko and Asuka could contain them less and less to which they were very tired of fighting them, it was then that Alba jumped very high, until almost touching the ceiling to throw a great burst of fire towards all the roots, thus hitting all of them and burning them making them disappear at the same time, giving a break to the other two young people who were fighting against them.
Once Alba landed on the ground again, Ulex wasted no time to create more of these roots, but this time without using them to corner and pierce his opponents, if not to crush his current threat, Shiko seeing Alba very clueless, quickly activated his "boost" and cut all the roots that were directed at the young woman -You have great power in your hands, but it's no use if you die right now!- were the words that Shiko addressed to her, making her just stay quiet and continue in combat, when they turned back to look at the plant again, they observed that the roots had stopped spawning, but it had something that choked its flaccid neck, which rose little by little until it almost came out of its mouth, it was then that Asuka perceived the movement and shouted at Shiko -Shiko, let Alba position herself behind you, they plan to spit out some kind of poisonous energy so use your defensive move to avoid getting hurt!- immediately Shiko took Alba to position her behind him and use his technique, when the huge plant spat out what it had on its neck a huge beam full of poison was directed towards these two young people, but thanks to Asuka's warning, Shiko knew what to do, he defended himself with his "Blade shield" and prevented both him and Alba from being hurt.
-What happened to the pride you had before you started the battle, little swordsman? - These were the words that Ulex addressed to Shiko when he saw that the young man felt cornered by his powers, however Shiko did not present having been provoked at any time, he ignored such words and returned to Asuka to try to tell her a plan he had, but these were interrupted by more words from Ulex.
-Ulex: They really are weak opponents! If you think my villainous monologue is cliché, yours is worse than an ordinary hero!
-Asuka: I don't care if you call us ordinary, we are here to protect all the innocent lives of this continent, our common sense as people tells us that we must do it.
-Ulex: Human beings are so naive...
-Shiko: I have no reason to continue listening to the stupid words of a monster in the form of a human who can't even stand on his own!
In the middle of the conversation, due to the fury that the young people felt, they could not notice that the whole provocative dialogue was just a distraction to gain time from the plan that the guardian had, some small seeds had germinated under Alba's feet without realizing it, to which Ulex said -You have no reason to listen to me... But that doesn't take away from how naive and easy to fool you are- instantly, these seeds grew quickly and created a kind of cocoon full of thorns which began to surround Alba, the girl as soon as she noticed the situation, threw the magic sword she had -Shiko, Grab it!- were the last words that the young woman exclaimed before being completely enclosed by the cocoon, leaving the sword within reach of the swordsman, Shiko seeing Alba being locked up began to hit the cocoon repeatedly with her sword, but the edge of it was not enough to break it, to which Ulex seeing Shiko's desperate act began to laugh -Waaaaajajajaja! Now only the princess is left! - the desperate young man, upon hearing these words, did not hesitate twice to address Asuka to tell her -Asuka, use a "boost" on yourself and take the princess anywhere you like, but get her out of here! - Asuka, very determined did what Shiko told her, touched her boots and used her boost to give them speed, take the princess and be able to leave the room they were in. Ulex wouldn't let this girl get away, to which he regrew many roots to catch her, but Shiko, who picked up the sword that Alba had thrown, incinerated them all in one move making Asuka's escape with the princess a complete success.
In the middle of the corridor, Asuka ran carrying the princess on her back to which while advancing she ran into Ana, she did not know who the girl who escaped carrying the princess was, stopped and asked:
-How did you enter the castle and where are you taking the princess?
Asuka, not wanting to waste any more time, replied very irritated:
-That doesn't matter now!" Go and help the young man who is fighting in the tower, I'm sure he won't be able to continue alone-
With these words alone, Ana was able to understand the whole situation in an instant, to which without saying anything else, she allowed Asuka to go out with the princess and continued to advance towards where the whole fight was taking place.
Meanwhile, the one who turned the roots that emerged from the plant into ash over and over again, began to get tired of fighting and Ulex seeing his opportunity ordered the huge plant to attack him with its roots so that he would be devoured just like Lisa. The young man was helpless and cornered and just as the plant was about to eat him, Ana's voice was heard shouting -Move: Object! - and Shiko switched places with the bed that was in the room, avoiding being eaten. When he looked to the door, he saw Ana who had arrived in time to help him -I am not going to ask about everything that has happened, first we must exterminate that horrible thing! - she said calmly and ready to end such a hard battle.
Ana, very determined, only made a snap with her fingers and froze the germination point of the roots to prevent them from continuing to grow, making Ulex frightened when he saw the powers of this sorceress –Okay, now all that's left is for their huge mouth to be stopped, Shiko, I trust you won't let me die. I'm going to stop that thing and you with that strange magic sword you have cut off its core and have it completely incinerated, Ok? - Shiko, frightened by the helplessness that Ana was showing, without saying a word he just shook his head up and down to signal that he understood what she was saying to which he waited for the young woman to make her move.
Ana threw herself very close to the plant to which it attacked her, and in one chomp ate the young woman, Shiko very frightened by the event was frozen at the thought that the young woman had been killed, but suddenly many sharp columns of ice came out from inside the entire mouth of the plant, piercing it and leaving it totally stunned, Through a hole she made inside, Ana came out of her and shouted very energetically at the swordsman -That's it, it's all yours!- Shiko was surprised by the enormous control that the girl had, and by how the situation of the battle turned in such a short time. Without letting Ulex make any other moves, he used "Dashing" to quickly reach the plant and cut it from the core once and for all, and once piercing it with the sword it began to burn completely, while it was incinerated it began to hit the ground with its mouth many times causing a collapse of the entire tower in which they were, Ana used her magic again to teleport with Shiko in an area near the collapse.
Meanwhile outside the castle was Asuka who was in charge of taking care of the princess, while looking around for more people, she noticed that there was a guard nearby to whom she went to ask him to take care of the princess so that she could go to combat again, after talking to this guard and he accepted the commission, she saw the total collapse of the tower, to which she went to the place as quickly as he could.
After all the collapse, and that the cloud of dust that was raised by the disaster dissipated, in a part full of rubble Shiko rose somewhat injured next to Ana looking around, he asked him:
-Shiko: have... have we won? Alba, she was in the tower locked in a cocoon!
-Ana: Do not worry... since that cocoon is her, I have saved it by putting it somewhere else near here.
-Shiko: What a relief... but we've only defeated that giant plant, I doubt Ulex died or fled.
-Ana: Obviously, but I have no idea where it is, I can feel its wave nearby... I also don't feel Lisa's wave anywhere, according to me she was with you.
-Shiko: Ana…
In the middle of the conversation, they were interrupted by the appearance of Ulex, who approached them from the air and said:
-Well, well... I think I've underestimated you; you have many powerful allies with you, but unfortunately, this time I'm not going to use my plants to fight... I'll do it myself.
Despite being tired, Shiko looked at him again with fury and determination to continue fighting. -I don't care what tricks you use to fight... I'm always going to slow you down, whether it's hard or easy I won't let you and your stupid leader continue to do your scheming- with a mocking tone, Ulex said to Shiko the following:
-What are you going to do? - I've been able to take care of every fighter who's ever come, one of them is dead and the other will be soon, while she's drowning in that cocoon and I'm sure that ice woman will end up the same, all because you're weak... You always need help and they always have to be protecting you.
Shiko accepted Ulex's words... he knew that everything was true, he had not been able to protect Lisa's life or his own life since he had to resort to Ana's help... But at that moment he not only felt sadness, the young man was determined as well –You're right, I may be weak, I may not have been able to protect the lives I cared for... But for that reason I will continue, so that in the future I can defend everyone I can and to make myself stronger than anyone else, I don't just plan to fight for those around me, I'm going to fight for myself, my convictions and to prevent more stupid people like you from continuing to emerge!- Then he took out the magic sword, took it in his left hand and at the same time drew his own sword which he held in his right hand and stood once again, on guard to fight. Ana witnessed all the words that they spoked to which she could grasp the reason why he couldn't feel Lisa's wave, but she could not even feel sad about the moment she was in... she had to be stronger than ever in order to accompany Shiko in the fight.
When they were about to start their second fight, Asuka's voice was heard from afar - Hey! - to which Shiko turned, and while he was walking closer, he asked her:
-Do you plan to start the fun without me? Do you know how long I was waiting for this moment?
Shiko replied to her duo with a smile to which he said:
-I would never forget my partner, well Asu, get ready because now we are getting serious!
-Anna... sorry for asking you this favor, but I feel that the battle would be easier if only the two of us fought, you may feel angry... grudge... or don't even know how to feel about everything he has caused, but we assure you that he will be defeated, so you better go take care of the princess wherever Asuka has left her- Shiko said to Ana in the most serious way he could, Ana hesitated to do what the young man told her... but she understood the situation so he chose to go for the princess, so then the face to face fight against Ulex began...
To be continued…