A Shymphony of Destiny

"So?" Lumino asked, still catching his breath. "Are we really doing this?"

Kael replied with absolute certainty, "Yup. And I already agreed—Alira's coming with us. Let's go out and destroy that library."

Alira scoffed, arms crossed. "Every time you say 'destroy,' I get the urge to slap you. I am coming, but I have three conditions."

Lumino glanced at her, hesitant. "Conditions?"

She held up three fingers. "One: Once I step outside this place, the support seal on the library will break. That will trigger a 30-minute countdown before the creature awakens. So during that time, you two need to defeat the Drools before it fully manifests."

Kael raised a brow. "Sounds doable."

"Two," Alira continued, "we have to get far away from this place before that awakening is complete."

"And three… once that thing rises, I expect the both of you to fight it. No excuses." She pointed directly at both of them.

Kael smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Easy. But why just us? What about you?"

Alira hesitated. Then, with an awkward cough, she confessed, "Fine. I'll be honest. You guys now that i'm a witch, right. I'm the White Witch. But I'm more of an alchemist than a fighter. I don't… do battle. And once the mana flow from this library collapses, I'll grow significantly weaker."

Kael groaned, rubbing his face in frustration. "You've got to be kidding me."

 But Lumino seemed lost in thought, eyes distant. Then, quietly, he spoke. "Lady Alira."

"Drop the 'Lady' Just Alira."

"...Alira," he corrected. "I have a question. This world—ever since I arrived. it's felt… empty. Abandoned. Has humanity truly vanished?"

Kael nodded in agreement, looking around.

Alira's expression turned grim. "Well... I've been in here for over 500 years. If what you're saying is true, then... maybe. Maybe humans really did go extinct."

Kael blinked. "Wait. Five hundred years? Are you human or not? What are you, a grandma?!"

"Shut up." Alira elbowed him hard in the ribs. "But wait," Kael grunted, still holding his side. "Are there other races in this world with long lifespans like yours?"

She sighed. "Wait… you two… You're not from Letruish, are you?" Both of them shook their heads.

"I'm from a different dimension. Reminvoyage. World code DF-1. Born and raised in Darwin City." Kael explained.

"I'm from the Great Empire of Thedore," Lumino added softly, "A small village called Ernela." Kael's face twisted. Now he decides to be specific?

Alira's mouth fell slightly open. "So it's true. You're from outside… Dimensional outsiders."

"Still, if Letruish really is deserted now… can an entire race really vanish in just five centuries?"

Kael folded his arms. "Then that monster waking up doesn't matter, right? There's no one left to burn."

"No," Alira said sharply. "It's still a problem. That creature doesn't just kill people—it destroys everything. It'll incinerate the earth, poison the rivers, wipe out entire ecosystems."

She pointed at herself. Then at them. "Besides… aren't we still people?"

Kael scratched his head. "Fair point… heh."

"Then let's go," Alira said. "The moment we leave the library, the countdown begins."

And with that, they burst through the ancient wooden doors and into the open ruins beyond.

Behind them, a hologram flickered to life.

[Countdown Initiated: 00:30:00 ]

As the trio sprinted forward, Drools emerged like sludge-covered corpses, dragging themselves from the soil and shadows.

"Damn it," Kael muttered. "Here we go!"

He dashed forward, his boots splashing through muddy ground. A Drool swung at him—he ducked, but the edge of the attack tore through his trench coat.

Lumino chanted under his breath, trying to stay focused. Why do they look like villagers? Faces from my dreams…stop thingking about it and just focus.

He raised both hands to the sky.

"Creator above, hear the voice of your servant—LIGHT PURIFY!"

A wave of holy light exploded from his palms, burning several Drools into steam.

Still, they kept coming.

The trio fought while retreating—every inch gained was stained with smoke and fire. Behind them, the once-great Forbidden Library began to crumble, piece by piece.

Alira paused just long enough to whisper, "Goodbye," before sending a volley of spellfire behind her. It struck the stone, and she turned away with tears in her eyes.

But then—

"Lumino!" Kael shouted.

Lumino had been knocked back, his body flying through the air after a massive Drool's punch. He hit the ground hard, sliding through the wet soil.

The strings in his wrist glowing red and tighting. The damn orb thread. "Damn—forgot we're not in the library anymore… Agh—!"

Kael landed right on top of Lumino.

"Oi! You okay?!"

Lumino groaned weakly. "I… I can't fight anymore…"

His face was pale. Fear gripped him like a curse. Kael grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him.

"Don't you dare check out on me now!"

"HEY IDIOTS!" Alira screamed from across the battlefield. "Fifteen minutes left! Get moving or DIE!"

[Countdown Initiated: 00:14:59 ]

"WE'RE WORKING ON IT!" Kael snapped back.

"Come on, Lumino!" he begged. "Get up—wake up, fight back!"

Kael slapped his cheek twice. Behind them, the Drool lunged again.

Kael stood up, body tensing. "Fine! You want a fight?!"

He drew his sword and pointed it forward.

"You want to see what a Shadow Hunter can do?! Let me show you!"

"Shadow Manifestation!"

Kael vanished in a blur, shadows wrapping around his body. He dodged the creature's massive fists, slicing deep into its chest.

The Drool exploded in a wet, muddy burst—splattering sludge all over Kael's face. He grimaced, wiped it away, and ran back to Lumino.

"Hey. You alive?"

Lumino opened his eyes.

"…What happened…?"

He glanced to the side—only to see the sludge from all the fallen Drools… slowly merging into a single, gigantic creature. A towering five-meter-tall monstrosity loomed above, humanoid but grotesque, radiating magical pressure that made the air vibrate.

"No way…" he muttered.

"No way," Kael muttered. "You're telling me that attack didn't work?"

From the distance, Alira shouted, "I forgot to mention—Drools can't die unless you kill the creator of the spell! WHICH I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THAT IS! SO—RUN!!"

Alira bolted in the opposite direction.

"Cowardly witch…" Kael muttered, grabbing Lumino and helping him up.

"We're leaving—NOW!!"

The two of them ran, just as a fiery light exploded behind them.

A massive beam of blue fire descended from the sky, engulfing the Drool.

The giant creature let out a hollow, garbled scream before disintegrating into ash.

Lumino skidded to a halt, eyes wide. His pupils reflected the flames.

"…What… was that?"

Then he saw it.

[Countdown Initiated: 00:00:01 ]

And there it stood.

A monstrous chimera, with a twisted lion's body, obsidian horns, and dragon wings ablaze with crimson fire. Its many eyes glowed molten gold. From its jagged mouth came a guttural screech that shook the sky.

Lumino froze.

Kael hissed through his teeth.

"…That's it."

"That's the one," Alira whispered from afar. "Drakeflamish."

Kael clenched his fists, heart pounding, and reached for Lumino's wrist.

"Damn it! RUN!!"

Kael ran, boots soaked in filth, coat long lost. Sweat dripped down his temples, dark hair whipping to the side as he darted through the thick mud.

"Damn it! I knew I shouldn't have agreed to this!" Kael still run didn't want to see that creature making some chaos behind him.

"Kael," Lumino's voice can be hear "what do you think that thing is?"

Kael winced. "No clue. And no time to figure it out. JUST RUN!"

"that's what in the book Called Drakeflamish." Said Alira suddenly appear in his left.

He glanced behind—there it was. That is the creature. Drakeflamish? Didn't expect it to be this massive.

"Run faster, Lumino! Why are you slowing down?!" Kael realized Lumino in his right start to slowing his pace.

"We should fight it," Lumino said calmly.

Kael nearly tripped in disbelief.

"You insane bastard!"

But there was no choice now. Kael came to a stop, planting his feet beside Lumino.

"Don't move recklessly. You know we can't be too far apart."

Lumino crouched into a stance, his fingers glowing faintly.

Kael turned just slightly to yell again—

"This is your fault! You cursed witch—!"

A voice cut him off.

"Well, you're the one who agreed, didn't you? Beside I'm scared too. But are we really let that creature making everything into chaos?" said Alira.

"Quit blaming each other and focus," she snapped.

Kael cursed under his breath. Why I agree about this before. Is that thing can be attack like this by my sword. Didn't think so.

"I know what's your thingking Kael." Lumino smiled beside him. "let's do this… I'll back you up."

The ground shook violently as Drakeflamish let out a bestial roar, wings of magma slicing the skies. The heat was suffocating, the air shimmering with embers as the Chimera of Catastrophe took its first step forward—each footfall enough to crack the earth beneath them.

"Lumino—stay within two meters," Kael reminded with a sharp breath, gripping his sword tight. The red thread connecting them glowed faintly, taut and pulsing, a living reminder of their binding.

"Got it," Lumino nodded. "Let's go, Kael."

Without waiting, Kael charged forward, gathering every ounce of mana into his blade. His shadow twisted and surged into the steel as he yelled—

"Shadow Manifestation: Crescent Drive!!"

A massive wave of shadow energy exploded from his sword, slamming directly into Drakeflamish's chest. The beast screeched and stumbled, but only for a moment. Smoke rose from its scales—unharmed.

"Damn it—!" Kael grit his teeth.

But before the creature could retaliate—

Flash.

A rift opened midair.

Lumino teleported—reappearing just above the monster's massive skull, hands glowing with divine energy.

"Holy Radiance! Full Dispel Bind!!"

Golden chains of light surged from his fingertips, wrapping around Drakeflamish's horns and jaw, searing hot against the beast's body. The chains held—just for a heartbeat—but it was enough to destabilize the creature's stance.

From below, Alira flung a vial, yelling, "Explosive Frost Flask—go!!"

The bottle shattered at the base of the beast's feet—a burst of freezing mist exploded, encasing Drakeflamish's hindlegs in ice. It roared again, wings flaring with rage.

Lumino landed beside Kael just in time.

"Still not enough!" he gasped.

"I can't even scratch it," Kael muttered. "We need to go harder—together."

They rushed forward—Kael sweeping low with his blade, Lumino launching a barrier to guard them. Their movements were synchronized, fluid, as if bound not just by the red thread—but by trust.

Kael would strike from below.

Lumino would teleport above.

Kael would bait.

Lumino would bind.

They struck, again and again, burning through stamina, clashing against a creature that barely acknowledged their blows.

Drakeflamish opened its maw.

FWOOM—!!

A storm of hellfire erupted.

"KAEL!!" Lumino screamed.

Kael raised his arms to block—but the flame was too fast, too wide. The fire struck him head-on, launching him backward, his trench coat incinerated, skin blistering under the sheer force.

"AAARGHH—!"

Alira shrieked, "Kael—!!" She dashed toward him, panting, hands trembling as she summoned one last spell.

"Mana Conversion: Spirit Heal!!"

A light covered Kael's body. The burns hissed, lessening—but Alira collapsed soon after.

"Damn!…I'm out of mana," she whispered.

Lumino's breath caught. Kael lay before him, coughing, blood on his lips.

"Kael…!"

"Get up…" Kael hissed, eyes wild. "Don't stop now…"

Lumino eyes widened, Kael is still fighting. I can not stop until that beast died. Lumino gritted his teeth. The air warped around him as a strange pulse echoed in his chest.

Then, a voice—one buried deep in Lumino's memory—echoed:

"Lumino… remember. Power means nothing unless you wield it for the sake of others. That's when it truly awakens. That's when it becomes yours." His grandfather's words.

"To protect is to grow."

Lumino's eyes flared—his blue sapphire pupils turning golden, Shining. Space itself bent slightly around him.

He placed one hand on the ground.

A rift opened.

"Dimensional Construct: Eternal Light Prism—Zone Shift!!"

A cubic prism of bending reality enveloped the battlefield—slowing Drakeflamish's movements inside. In this zone, time was fractured, gravity distorted.

"Kael… I need you for one last push," Lumino whispered.

Kael groaned, pulling himself up. His right arm was scorched badly, but he still gripped his sword.

He tried to rise—collapsed.

Then he felt a soft glow at his back.

Alira, pale and nearly collapsing, was beside him. Her eyes were unfocused, her hand shaking, but she reached toward him anyway. A final spell—a spark from her soul.

"Enchanted Surge... Transfer Strength."

A warm light enveloped Kael's body. His knees steadied. The pain didn't disappear, but his muscles no longer buckled. Alira slumped against rubble, barely holding herself upright.

"That's all I've got... don't waste it, idiot," she muttered with a weak smirk.

Kael clenched his fists, then turned to Lumino. "Now go. I've got your back."

They nodded—then ran together, one on the ground, the other floating through the prism's shifting planes.

Kael shouted—

"Shadow Bind: Tethered Descent!!"

He hurled his sword into the creature's exposed underbelly, pinning its body in place.

Then Lumino appeared above it, arms glowing brighter than ever.

"TIMEFALL STRIKE—NEXUS SUN!"

He brought down a massive, golden beam of collapsing time and holy light, focused like a spear of destiny—

It struck.

The beast screamed, the Prism imploded, and a radiant burst of energy engulfed the field.

When the light faded—

Its molten wings crumbled into ash midair, its roar cut short as the beast's body split apart in spirals of light and darkness, finally fading into dust carried by wind. Its massive form cracked, splintered into ash and fragments of forgotten magic. Drakeflamish is gone.

Kael collapsed onto his knees, flames still eating at the edge of his clothes.

He looked up, breathing hard.

Lumino turned to him, eyes filled with disbelief and emotion.

"Kael… we did it. We won."

Kael smiled. His vision blurred. Burnt skin, bloodied limbs, shaking hands—

But he could still see Lumino running toward him, the thread between them glowing faintly, still intact.

"…Took you long enough," Kael muttered weakly.

His eyes slowly fluttered shut, and the world went dark.