The Raijinhorn Thunder Stag lowered its head, lightning coiling violently around its antlers. The air trembled with power as it let out a thunderous roar that shook the trees.

  Then it charged.

  The ground cracked beneath its hooves as it rushed straight toward Kaito, thunder exploding in waves around its body.

  “Kaito!” Serena shouted.

  She thrust her staff forward.

  “Ultimate Ice Spike!”

  The ground before the charging beast erupted. Dozens of massive ice spikes burst upward in jagged formations, creating a frozen barricade. The Thunder Stag slammed into the first row, shattering ice into glittering shards.

  Frost steam rose around it.

  Kaito stepped forward.

  “Crimson Lance.”

  A long spear of blazing flame formed in his hand, heat rippling through the air. Without hesitation, he hurled it toward the Thunder Stag’s head.

  The flaming lance tore through the wind—

  —but just before impact, the beast’s crystal-yellow antlers flared brilliantly.

  Lightning erupted outward.

  A concentrated thunder beam collided with the Crimson Lance mid-air.

  BOOM.

  The fiery spear shattered instantly, scattering sparks across the clearing.

  The Thunder Stag roared and surged forward again, thunder exploding beneath its hooves.

  Renna dashed ahead, placing herself between Kaito and the beast.

  “Crimson Slash!”

  Her sword swept in a wide arc, crimson energy slicing through the lightning surge. The collision exploded violently, thunder and flame clashing in a shockwave that blasted her backward several meters.

  She landed roughly but rolled to her feet.

  Kaito moved beside her. “We need to get closer.”

  Renna wiped the corner of her lip and grinned. “Then support me.”

  Kaito raised his hand toward the earth.

  “Titan Mountain Spike!”

  The ground surrounding the Thunder Stag trembled. Massive two-meter stone spikes erupted in a circle, trapping the beast within a jagged prison of rock.

  The Thunder Stag reared violently, lightning cracking against the stone barriers.

  “Keep its attention!” Kaito shouted.

  Renna dashed forward, circling the trapped beast at blinding speed. Each step left faint crimson afterimages.

  “Hey! Over here!” she taunted, slashing at its legs.

  The Thunder Stag turned its glowing gaze toward her, fury burning in its golden eyes.

  High above—

  Serena lifted her staff skyward.

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  “Glacial Fall!”

  A massive two-meter-wide chunk of compressed ice materialized overhead, swirling with freezing mana. The air grew sharply colder.

  She aimed carefully.

  The Thunder Stag sensed the threat. It lowered its head, antlers glowing brighter than ever.

  The ice boulder descended rapidly—

  —but thunder surged upward.

  Lightning wrapped around the falling ice stone, vibrating violently. For a few seconds, ice and lightning clashed midair—

  Then—

  BOOM.

  The ice shattered in a violent explosion, fragments raining down like frozen meteors.

  The Thunder Stag roared triumphantly—

  —and in that brief moment of distraction—

  Renna moved.

  She dashed forward in a blur of crimson.

  “Dragon Execution!”

  Her sword ignited with blazing energy. A crimson dragon silhouette formed along the blade as she leaped upward.

  One clean slash.

  The dragon-shaped arc tore through the Thunder Stag’s neck.

  Silence.

  The beast’s body froze mid-roar.

  Then slowly—

  its head separated and fell to the ground.

  Lightning flickered weakly… then faded.

  The Raijinhorn Thunder Stag collapsed.

  Dust and embers drifted through the clearing.

  Kaito exhaled. “Finally… we took it down.”

  Serena stepped beside him, smiling with visible relief. “Yeah. We really did it.”

  Renna sheathed her sword and smirked. “Ohh? You two look pretty close as usual.”

  Serena’s cheeks turned pink. “We’re just celebrating.”

  Kaito clapped his hands lightly. “Alright, let’s secure it. And good job, Renna.”

  Renna grinned proudly. “That was a fine slash.”

  Kaito stored the Thunder Stag’s massive body and head into his Item Box, and the forest slowly returned to quiet.

  A Peaceful Night by the Lake

  They returned to the carriage and found Kael asleep awkwardly on the horse’s back.

  Kaito sighed. “Kael.”

  The boy jerked awake. “What?! Thunder?!”

  “It’s done,” Renna said casually.

  They rode until they found a small lake an hour away — calm water reflecting the twilight sky.

  Renna tied the horse securely while Kael prepared his sleeping area. Kaito and Serena began preparing dinner together.

  Serena sliced vegetables while Kaito seasoned freshly caught fish.

  Renna leaned against a tree, watching them with narrowed eyes.

  “Hehhhh… you two really enjoy doing this.”

  Kaito didn’t look up. “We’re just making food.”

  Serena’s cheeks turned red. “Y-Yes, just cooking.”

  Renna tilted her head. “Then why are you blushing, Serena?”

  Serena turned quickly. “It’s… a bit cool tonight.”

  Kaito chuckled softly. “Let’s eat before it gets colder.”

  They sat around the campfire once again, plates balanced on their laps. The fish was tender, the vegetables warm and comforting.

  The lake shimmered under the rising moon.

  After dinner, Renna and Serena went to wash their body in the lake, their laughter faintly echoing. Kael retreated early into his tent, exhausted.

  Kaito stayed by the water a bit longer, casting a simple fishing line.

  The quiet felt earned.

  When Serena returned, her long blue hair slightly damp, she sat beside him on a log.

  The stars had begun to scatter across the sky.

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

  “Yeah.”

  They sat in comfortable silence.

  The lake reflected the stars like another sky beneath them.

  After a few minutes, Kaito stand and headed toward the tent — only to pause.

  Kael wasn’t there.

  Serena approached from behind.

  “Kael sleep on the carriage on my place,” she said softly. “They said we could use the tent.”

  Kaito blinked. “Oh.”

  A brief silence lingered.

  Then he spoke carefully, “Then… why don’t we sleep together tonight?”

  Serena froze.

  Her heart pounded.

  “…Okay,” she whispered.

  Beneath One Blanket

  Inside the tent, the air was warm from the lingering heat of the day. A soft blanket covered the ground.

  They lay down side by side.

  At first, a small gap separated them.

  Then Serena slowly shifted closer.

  Kaito’s hand hesitated… then gently wrapped around her waist.

  She rested her head against his chest.

  The steady rhythm of his heartbeat calmed her.

  “Are you nervous?” he asked quietly.

  “A little.”

  “Me too.”

  She smiled softly.

  The wind rustled outside. Somewhere in the lake, a fish leapt and splashed back into the water.

  Kaito brushed a strand of blue hair away from her face.

  “You are like a star that stay far away from me,” he said. “You are my sunshines.”

  Serena “No don’t say something like that I am just a normal girl who living a normal life and enjoy everything that I have.”

  Kaito “Then I really enjoy and excited doing this kind of thing with you. I will stay by your side forever.”

  She tilted her face upward.

  “Thank you… for always standing in front of me.”

  He tightened his embrace slightly. “I’ll always protect you.”

  She shook her head gently. “We protect each other.”

  He smiled.

  Their lips met softly in the quiet darkness.

  Not rushed.

  Not desperate.

  Just warm and steady.

  A promise without words.

  Afterward, Serena rested fully against him, one hand lightly gripping his shirt.

  “Please stay like this tonight,” she murmured sleepily.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Outside, the wind moved gently across the lake.

  Inside the tent, beneath shared warmth and quiet breathing—

  they slept peacefully.

  The storm had passed.

  And under the stars,

  their bond grew even stronger.