Phylicia collapses to the ground again, paralyzed by fear.

  "I can't move…" she admits, terrified. "I need to help them, but I can't. It's useless—no matter how hard I try, I can't move…"

  Seeing her determination, and feeling just a little stronger myself, I force myself to stand, though it takes everything I have.

  "Don't worry. I'll protect you."

  Even as I say it to calm her, I know I'm in no condition to promise something of that magnitude.

  With the little strength I have left, I walk toward the others, ready to use whatever remains of my energy—even my bare hands, if that's what it takes.

  A faint, almost nostalgic smile appears on all their faces.

  "I knew you wouldn't give up on us so easily, Dion," Patrick says firmly.

  "Shame I won't get to see how far you could all go… You have so much talent," Aelric adds.

  "It's true. I'd say you're the best first-year students this school has ever seen." Nyxithra agrees.

  "You exaggerate… but I must admit, each of you has great talent. And Dion… your magic is incredibly powerful," Talrico says quietly, a little embarrassed.

  "You should loosen up a bit, Talrico," Patrick teases with a grin.

  "They're right. We can't let it end here. You can't die here."

  "Dion, what do you mean by you can't?" Patrick asks, lowering his guard.

  "I'm sorry, guys."

  These kids have enough talent to keep pushing forward, to defeat the evil that looms ahead. After this, they'll understand how weak they still are—and how hard they'll need to work if they want to protect their friends and family.

  I know you must hate me right now, for wasting the chance you gave me… but I trust they'll succeed.

  Patrick tries to grab my hand again, but the gem releases another shockwave, throwing them all back once more. I feel the gem gathering even more magic, and with it, more strength surging through me. The cyclops doesn't stop—he only picks up speed as he draws closer.

  "Protego Maxima!"

  An invisible barrier forms around where they fell, shielding them from any spell or attack. It's a smaller version of the Great Barrier that protects the academies of the world. It consumes immense magic, but this time I manage to cast it successfully, thanks to the gem fueling me.

  The barrier blocks out their desperate shouts, but I can imagine the words they're screaming: "Stop!" "Don't do this!" "You're an idiot!" Maybe Patrick and Phylicia will never forgive me. Maybe Alphonse will have to live through the same loss I did when I lost him in the past. But… I think I can trust them with this.

  Without another word, I take my wand again—this time in the hand where the gem burns with power. The cyclops, almost as if smiling, charges more violently, using his lone arm to smash the ground and propel himself forward. The wolves close in too, circling me, waiting for me to fall so they can attack the others.

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  I cast spells to drive the wolves back, keeping them from striking too soon. I manage to kill one, but the other changes course and charges straight for me.

  Both beasts, bloodthirsty, leap at me at once, giving me no time to cast another spell. My eyes close, accepting my end so quickly… something I know I shouldn't be doing. I shouldn't give up so easily.

  Then, with sudden clarity—as if everything slowed to a crawl—I open my eyes. Channeling enhancement spells, I propel myself at high speed, darting between the cyclops and the wolf, narrowly dodging both attacks.

  The cyclops, bewildered, scans the area for me. I've never felt so much magic flowing through me. Right now, I have more power than I ever did in my past life. All of it comes from the gem, now blazing brighter than ever.

  While the cyclops searches, the wolf locks onto me by scent and charges again.

  Another vision flashes in my mind—I see the cyclops and the wolf from another angle in the cavern, rushing at me. A strange sensation runs through my body. When I come back to myself, my eyes immediately turn toward the great door.

  A massive creature, like a giant panther, races straight toward me. For a moment, I fear it's yet another beast I'll have to fight. But instead, the dark-furred feline lunges—not at me, but at the cyclops, sinking its huge fangs and claws into him.

  Looking closer, I see it bears a gem on its forehead—the same as the one embedded in my arm, the same as the one Iolite carries. The thought sends a chill through me. As the beast attacks the cyclops, its glowing eyes meet mine—eyes that shine just like Iolite's when we first met.

  There's no doubt. This giant feline is Iolite. I don't know how she got here or why she's in this form, but her gaze tells me I'm not alone—that she'll fight at my side.

  Relief and joy well up inside me at the sight of her. It feels as if she and I are more connected than ever. Just seeing her again makes the gem surge with even greater power. My body feels lighter, stronger, faster.

  I dodge the wolf's attacks with newfound agility, moving effortlessly, as if I were someone else entirely. I can strike the wolf with my bare fists now, forcing it back long enough to finish it with a spell.

  While Iolite keeps the cyclops occupied, I leap onto the wolf's back with blinding speed. It doesn't even sense me there at first. In my mind, I picture the rocks around me reshaping—losing their rough form, sharpening into spinning cones like rockets.

  The image in my head becomes reality, without the need for a spoken incantation. The wolf turns to strike me, but it's already too late. The stone projectiles launch forward, piercing its body again and again until it collapses lifeless on the ground.

  On the other side of the battlefield, I hear Iolite cry out. Looking over, I see the cyclops clutching her throat, ready to snap it.

  Without hesitation, I sprint forward and hurl a blazing fire spell at him, forcing him to release her and turn his fury on me instead.

  A fatal mistake.

  With his guard lowered, Iolite seizes the chance. She lunges, clamping her jaws around his neck and tearing it open with devastating force. Blood gushes everywhere.

  The dying cyclops stumbles a few steps, then crashes to the rocky floor. Iolite has done it—she has defeated the cyclops.

  But even as he falls, her massive form begins to shrink back. She reverts to her original self.

  Limping, Iolite runs toward me. I can barely stay standing. My body has been pushed far past its limits—muscles torn, bones broken, blood pouring from deep wounds. I can't take another step. The gem's glow fades, and its burning subsides.

  Most of my clothes are in tatters. With the last of my strength, I kneel and gather Iolite in my arms.

  "You saved me, Iolite… thank you."

  My body collapses to the ground. The barrier I cast around the others vanishes, along with every spell I had sustained. The warmth of Iolite's body, curled against my bare chest where my clothes are torn, is the only comfort left to me.

  "Dion!!!" The chorus of my friends' voices shakes the cavern as I catch a final glimpse of their silhouettes running toward me—before everything goes dark.

  Publication schedule:

  Monday: HP: Dion the magician who changed everything

  Tuesday: INVINCIBLE: SECRET PROJECT

  Wednesday: VAREN: THE REBIRTH OF A NEW WORLD

  Thursday: HP: Dion the magician who changed everything

  Friday: I Reincarnated and Now They Call Me the Blood Demon

  Saturday: INVINCIBLE: SECRET PROJECT

  Sunday: VAREN: THE REBIRTH OF A NEW WORLD