I dedicate this chapter to "Benjamin Franklin"

   The sun hung high, its golden light spilling across the Vermillion estate’s wide yard. Dust danced in the air, churned by every impact, every furious step. In the center of it all, Luna and the Fenrir clashed like two wild forces of nature.

   Luna charged barehanded, her movements sharp and feral. Her fists hammered against the beast’s thick hide, each strike landing with bone-cracking force. She ducked beneath a swipe of its claws, her heel snapping upward into its jaw with a sickening crunch. The Fenrir staggered, howling, but its counterattack came immediately—its paw slammed down, sparks of blue lightning crackling from its claws into the ground.

   Luna caught it. Both hands wrapped around the beast’s wrist, her bare feet grinding furrows into the dirt as she forced it back with sheer will. Then she twisted, flipping the monster over her shoulder, slamming it down hard enough to rattle the earth.

   “Come on! Show me more!”

   The Fenrir obliged, unleashing another roar that made the trees tremble. Lightning erupted outward, searing the ground black. Luna rolled, then sprang forward again, slamming her elbow into its ribs, her knee into its chest. Blood sprayed, spattering her cheek.

   And then, with a flick of her wrists, steel glinted in the daylight—two knives sliding into her hands.

   Her grin widened, unhinged, as if the blades themselves awakened something in her. She moved faster, carving into the Fenrir’s flank, slashing deep gashes across its body. Each strike was merciless, precise, a predator dismantling her prey piece by piece.

   Our eyes darted between Luna’s crazed expression and the beast’s bloody hide. 

   Liam's voice wavered. “I-Is Luna okay…?”

   “From which angle does she look okay to you?" I said "At this rate, she’s going to turn that thing into minced meat.”

   Liam flinched. “T-then shouldn’t we stop her?!”

   “Not necessarily. Look closer at the Fenrir’s wounds.”

   Everyone’s eyes shifted. Slowly, impossibly, the gashes were closing. Muscle and skin knit together as if rewinding time, until only faint marks remained.

   Laura gasped. “I didn’t know… Fenrirs could regenerate.”

   “They can,” I said. “Not many know this, but Fenrirs are a rare breed. They can slip between physical matter and a spirit state—pure mana. That also lets them turn mana from the air into part of their bodies.”

   Liam frowned. “But if it can become a spirit, why can't it just run away?”

   “Healing and self-defense are based on instinct,” I explained. “But shifting forms takes concentration. Right now, Freya is lost in frenzy-state after being transformed, so it's probably impossible for her. Though I'm not even sure if her consciousness is still somewhere inside this beast.”

   Laura bit her lip. “So what do we do?”

   “The best chance is to freeze her solid. I know the spell, but with my current amount of mana, I can only cast it once. And with that lightning pouring out of her body, she can escape easily.”

   Liam’s voice sharpened. “Then what’s the plan?”

   I thought for a moment, then smirked faintly. “All right. Here’s what we’ll do…”

* * *

   The fight raged on. Luna and the Fenrir tore into each other, claws against knives, skin against hide. Then the ground shuddered, and two massive stone arms burst from below, gripping the Fenrir’s torso and locking it in place.

   I looked at Luna and shouted with all my might. “LUNA! YOU’RE THE CUTEST IN THE WHOLE WORLD—NO, THROUGH THE WHOLE UNIVERSE!”

   Luna's face went scarlet, redder than fresh blood. “Wh-what?! M-Master, I… I am honored, but shouting that in front of everyone is so embarrassing!” 

   She trembled, then blinked rapidly, looking around. “Wait… what just happened to me?”

   “Glad you’re back.” Then, sharper: “Laura! Your turn!”

   Laura leapt, copper spear gleaming in the sun. With a cry, she drove it straight through the Fenrir’s paw, pinning it to the earth. The beast screamed, and instantly the electricity that had been crackling around its body surged into the spear. Bright arcs traveled down the copper shaft into the soil, grounding in violent flashes until the light fizzled out.

   Copper is an excellent electrical conductor with very low resistance, making it the path for lightning to travel to the ground. So with Bel’s magic and Laura’s physical abilities we used a copper spear to take out electricity from Fenrir’s body. 

   “Phase two!” I bellowed.

   Everyone moved away from the beast. I drew an Arcana, poured everything I had left into it, and slammed it forward. The card shattered—and a tidal wave of frost erupted, racing across the yard. Ice climbed the Fenrir’s body, devouring it in jagged spikes until it was completely frozen.

   My knees buckled. The world swam.

   “Master!” Luna was at my side in an instant, slipping under my arm.

   “Thanks…” I muttered, exhausted.

   She smiled faintly. “It is my duty as your maid.”

   Bel ran up, eyes wide. “Big brother! Are you okay?!”

   I patted his head, forcing a smile. “Yeah, just tired.”

   Liam exhaled. “Seriously… even after yesterday’s duel, you can still do that? You’re a monster.”

   I smirked faintly. “Won’t be doing it again anytime soon.” My eyes drifted back to the frozen beast. “Now… how do we transport this thing?”

   But before anyone could answer, the Fenrir’s body began to glow. Blue light pulsed from within the ice, cracks splintering outward.

   Not again…

   With a flash, the ice shattered—and the Fenrir dissolved into pure spirit form, its glowing essence swirling like mist.

   “Didn’t you say it couldn’t turn into spirit form?!” Liam shouted.

   “Damn it!” I snapped. “Stop it before—”

   But the spirit didn’t flee. It turned sharply—straight toward Laura.

   “Big Sister!” Liam cried.

   Too late. The spirit rushed at her and... surged into her chest, vanishing inside her like smoke drawn into a flame.

   "..."

   Laura stood frozen, staring at her own hands as if they belonged to someone else.

   Finally, I cleared my throat. “…Um. Laura? Do you feel anything weird?”

   She looked up at us, confused. “I… think I’m fine.”

   “That’s… good.”

   Well... Not exactly how I pictured it, but… one way or another, the Fenrir’s been dealt with.