Cursed Guardian

Chapter 9: Invisible man

I felt my sudden fall to the ground as the insane person turned into a massive snake and looked at me. Just in time, my katana struck her eye. She immediately went berserk, thrashing her long tail wildly. I fought off the weakness creeping over me, aided by the strong wind supporting me.

I held onto my katana tightly in my hand. I closed my eyes, focusing on my surroundings. I cleared my mind and, for the second time, I hoped to achieve the impossible.

During those moments, all I could hear was the insanity raging. I suddenly felt the chilling touch of my palm, which I had used to hold my katana. As I opened my eyes, I felt a surge of weakness, but my gaze landed on my katana gleaming in the white light. I was amazed, compared to when I was fighting with Zero I was out of control.

Turning to Violet, she had disappeared from her previous position. To end it all, I swiftly threw the katana at the insane person for the second time. Feros quickly ran towards me, seemingly trying to protect me from any potential harm. My gaze landed on the katana lodged in the insane person's forehead. Even her entire body was engulfed in the light emanating from my katana.

For the second time, I felt a powerful explosion as I threw the katana. I was thrown back, but Feros, being large, shielded me from being hit. I also felt someone embracing me before I landed on Feros' body.

The entire training room was enveloped in light, dazzling to the eyes. Only the sharp cries of the snake echoed in the room. I closed my eyes as I felt myself losing consciousness. Although I had been lying on the ground earlier, I felt embraced by an unseen figure behind me.

"Can I rest now?" I whispered with a weak voice, eyes still closed.

"You should not," he whispered to me.

"But why? My training is already over, right?" I asked again with my eyes closed.

"Open your eyes and you will see," he whispered. When I opened my eyes, I saw Miss Violet holding two large needles, the white light fading from her back.

"What are you going to do?" I struggled to strengthen my voice amidst my weakness. She looked at me for five seconds with her cold gaze before she answered.

"Fight me with all your strength."

"I-I can't do it anymore," I gasped for breath, but she just smiled.

"Then, I have to finish you," she whispered as numerous needles flew towards me.

"Don't worry, whatever happens, I will catch you when you fall, and I will protect you just like what Feros did," the invisible figure whispered to me, and I felt a warm and gentle touch on my neck. I realized he had kissed my neck, causing me to feel a surge of electricity.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I smiled at what he did. Despite the theft of my life force, there were people willing to help me in times of need. Even though I hadn't seen his face, it was enough for me to feel the sincerity in his words and to feel a special connection with him.

My gaze returned to the needles approaching me. I had no intention of doing anything at that moment, but I couldn't help but smile when I saw Feros reaching the last stage, growing larger.

How did this happen? Just a while ago, he wasn't this big, but now? His size had doubled?

I also saw his tails emerging one after another. His one tail turns into three, then into five. Tears of joy streamed down my face when I fainted at the Lurca Division, seeing his three tails, but now he already had five tails.

He suddenly growled, surprising me the most. The flying needles towards us suddenly stopped in their tracks. Then, their surfaces turned into fragments of ice, and before I knew it, all the needles exploded and turned into white dust. This was what he did when I faced the sword chasing me. I covered my mouth in joy as tears streamed down my face. I couldn't believe what was happening. I had completed Feros' last stage without realizing it. I cried out with joy and slowly wiped my tears.

"But this is not the end of your training, Kim, as I said earlier, fight me with all your strength," Miss Violet said, jumping up and summoning her Guardian.

"Heronia auravoir!" Suddenly, a violet color appeared beneath her feet, and her Guardian materialized with a slim figure but with huge white wings. She then flew towards us as if they were going to attack. I felt hands on my waist.

"Let's move," the invisible being whispered to me. I didn't resist because my body was really weak. He guided me as I walked, feeling like I would collapse at any moment. I glanced back at where Miss Violet was. My eyes widened as I saw the purple flames flickering on Heron's body and even on hers.

"Those are poisonous flames, don't get near them," the invisible man warned me.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Go out the door to escape from her. Even if she scolds you, do it. Do what will save yourself," he explained.

"Huh? This is just part of our training, she won't kill me," I argued.

"She's too serious about this. Can't you see I don't want you to be in danger?" he replied firmly.

He was right, but I needed to face this challenge to prove to everyone that I had something to offer and especially that I was not the Snow Flame Stanford they referred to. I stopped walking, and even though I couldn't see him, I knew he was surprised.

"What are you going to do?" he asked.

"I've made a decision. I need to face this challenge because avoiding a battle to survive is not a solution. We will continue to be pursued until we are caught. Sometimes we need to face and fight to make it disappear completely," I explained to him.

"You are right! Then you will fight them, while I'll be your weapon and armor," he said. I turned to face Miss Violet.

"But I don't have enough strength."

"I will give you some," he said, and I felt his right hand enter under my clothes, on my back.

"W-what are you doing?" I asked nervously.

"Give you some strength," I gasped as his warm palm touched the middle of my shoulders. I felt a warm sensation and in a few seconds, it was as if electricity was transferring through my body. I closed my eyes as if my whole body was electrified by what he did. Shortly after, I felt my strength return. He removed his hand from my back.