The Dead-End Corner

The footsteps were so heavy, they almost made the ground shake. Despite their weight, their tempo was incredible. As if it were a song, the rhythm of those footsteps grew louder and faster.

“Charlotte, please snap out of it!” Zoe shouted.

The beast tried to crow, but only a loud cry came from it. The scream echoed through the dark underground paths until it reached them. Zoe covered her ears, and Charlotte started, and her mind snapped back to reality.

“What was that!?”

“We have to hide!”

They pressed themselves against one of the earthen walls of the dead-end chamber. Zoe gently laid Alysia down on the ground. The hero’s attack left both her and Gerald dazed.

From one second to the next, everything went silent.

Charlotte and Zoe tried to listen carefully.

The beast’s sounds were gone.

“Charlotte, what should we do?” Zoe whispered.

“I don’t know.”

Almost on tiptoes, Charlotte approached the beginning of that dead-end path where they were trapped. Her hand was shaking.

Zoe tried to follow her, just as carefully, but stopped halfway.

“Be careful!” Zoe whispered again.

Charlotte just nodded and continued. Her steps were like those of a turtle. She watched every step and covered her mouth to avoid making any sound. Finally, she reached the corner.

She took a deep breath and slowly peeked around the corner.

Right before her eyes was the beast.

Unable to hold back a scream, she ran back to Zoe as fast as she could, without taking her eyes off that thing.

“Are you alright?”

Its chicken head gradually appeared in the corner of the path. It fixed its gaze on them.

“What?”

As it walked, the rest of its body appeared. In the darkness of the underground, all they could see was the faint silhouette of a human with a chicken head.

Zoe’s mouth opened wide just as her pupils dilated.

The beast walked toward them. Its legs moved erratically, and its head seemed to move back and forth with each movement. It felt as if it were choking on its own heavy breathing.

It stood in front of them.

With incredible speed, the beast attacked with its root-like arm.

Barely able to react, Charlotte lunged at Zoe.

They fell to the ground, dodging the attack.

The beast let out a muffled cry.

“We have to fight, Zoe!”

“But—”

“We don’t have another choice!”

Zoe looked at the beast. “Alright, I’ll follow you”

Both of them got up from the ground.

“We will need Alysia and Gerald.”

“I’ll prepare two cards for them to recover.”

“I’ll cover you.”

“Wait!”

Zoe pulled out her pocket watch, and a shining card was dispensed. She gave it to Charlotte.

“I prepared it for you for quite some time.”

“Thank you, Zoe.”

Zoe activated her pocket watch and walked over to where Gerald and Alysia were lying. Sybil was also there, crouching down and covering her ears.

Charlotte, now, stood in front of the beast.

The beast’s head would twist every so often.

She could hear the roots and dead wood of its body creaking.

The beast took a step.

Charlotte squeezed her eyes, trying to see better, but all she could make out was a shadow in the darkness.

Soon she realized that a bunch of roots were in front of her face.

Charlotte could barely step aside. Some of her yellow hair ended up on the ground.

She had to swallow hard, and her whole body couldn’t stop trembling.

The beast let out a cry directly at Charlotte.
Charlotte stepped back.

The beast transformed the tips of its root-like arms into sharp stakes.

It tried to stab Charlotte.

She dodged the attack.

It launched a second attack.

This time, Charlotte blocked it with her arm.

She almost lost her balance, but managed to stand on her feet.

“I can’t keep dodging forever.”

Charlotte knelt and put her hand on the ground.

Some root sprouted and tangled around the beast.

It started to writhe and groan in pain.

“It’s so strong.”

Charlotte felt a lot of pressure in her arm.

The beast was moving more and more violently.

“I can’t hold it.”

It broke Charlotte’s roots.

The beast charged at Charlotte. Its attacks were more aggressive.

She had no option but to back up.

Soon, she noticed she was running out of space.

The beast didn’t slow down.

She was about to be cornered.

I need to think of something.

The attacks didn’t stop.

Charlotte’s back hit a wall.

The beast raised its arm and drove its root-like arm into her.

Charlotte felt the impact.

She opened her eyes. The beast's arm was pressed against her, but she didn't have a single scratch.

Zoe’s card.

The beast roared in front of her face.

“Go away!”

Her left arm turned into thousands of sharp roots that pierced the beast.

She picked it up and slammed it against the wall.

A cloud of dust formed.

She approached slowly.

There was silence.

Without warning, the beast lunged out of the cloud.

It hit Charlotte directly, sending her flying.

Cough, Cough.

Without Zoe's protection, Charlotte felt the blow.

She stayed on the floor, feeling as if the air had been knocked out of her.
“Charlotte!”

“I-I’m fine…”

The beast started approaching her.

“I’ll prepare another card of protection for you.”

The beast came to a sudden stop.

It turned its head to look at Zoe.

Now, it was heading toward her.

“Wait…no… leave her alone…”

Charlotte was still lying on the floor.

“Please, leave her alone…”

With no other choice, Zoe activated her pocket watch. Her hands were shaking.

The beast, staggering, was closer and closer.

Summoning all her strength, Charlotte tried to stand up.

Her body, still sore, almost slipped.

She used her arms to keep her from falling again.

Pushing herself to the limit, she got up.

Agh…

She pointed her arm at the beast.

Ouch…

Focusing her attention, she once again transformed her arm into a thousand roots.

They lashed out toward the beast and quickly tangled up in it.

The beast was immobilized.

This time Charlotte used all her strength to keep it tied down.

“Zoe, get out of there!”

“Y-yes.”

As best she could, Zoe hoisted Alysia onto her back. Sybil helped her with Gerald, who was a little more awake. They ran over to Charlotte.

The arm and the roots stretched far enough to slam the beast against the wall.

“Now, we can escape,” Zoe suggested.

“No.”

“Excuse me, Charlotte?”

“That thing will follow us…”

“Maybe, but we might lose it now.”

“But if not… It will go into town.”

Zoe remained silent.

“You’re right… But what can we do?”

“Your cards are ready?”

“Almost”

Charlotte stepped forward.

From the rubble, the beast emerged once more.

“Charlotte?”
“Don’t you worry, Zoe. I’ll protect you.”

Charlotte looked at her arm.

It was full of roots and wood. Unlike before, some small flowers sprouted in it.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

She felt the roots of her arm moving around.

A thousand memories flashed in her mind.

One of the branches in her hand began to grow until it formed a long stick. It extended even more, forming a sharp point.

The roots, branches, and the wood itself formed what looked like a sword.

She opened her eyes.

“I’ll protect everyone,” she said, aiming her new sword at the beast.

The beast screamed.

Clack!

Her sword clashed with the beast’s heavy body.

Squaaack!

The beast attacked with its claws made of roots.

Charlotte blocked them.

When she had the chance, she struck again.

Thwack!

Pieces of wood and roots flew off the beast’s body.

The beast attacked with both its arms.
Charlotte shielded herself with her sword.

The attack was fierce.

She stumbled backward, losing her balance.

Before she could recover, the beast attacked again.

Suddenly, a sphere of water came from behind.

Splash!

The beast was sent flying.

Next to Charlotte, Alysia and Gerald finally joined her.

“I told you I’ll kill it myself,” Alysia said. She was still breathing rapidly, and her legs were shaking.

“I’m sorry for my behaviour, Miss Charlotte.” Gerald’s breathing had calmed down. Only his face was pale. “The prince ordered me to protect you, so I apologize.”

“We’re ready, Charlotte.” Zoe joined behind them. Her pocket watch ran clockwise.

Sybil hid behind them.

“We'll finish it in a single attack.”

“What?”

The beast got back up.

Squaaaaaaack!

Its scream made the ground shake.

The root and branches on Charlotte’s arm returned to their usual form. The sword disappeared.

She knelt.

“What are you doing?”

“I need to combine both of your Magica.”

“What?”

“Understood, Miss Charlotte.”

The wounded beast ran toward them at full speed.

“Charlotte?” Zoe asked worriedly.

It was getting closer and closer.

Charlotte placed her hand in the ground.

Roots shot from the ground, trapping the beast halfway there.

“Zoe, card!”

“I’m on it!”

She held the Magica Card between her fingers and threw it. This wasn’t meant for her teammates, but for the beast.

The card hit it right in the chest, and it glowed purple.

The beast grew weaker, and although it tried to break free, its movements were less fierce.

“Now!”

“Pure Aqua Magica. Snake.”

“Electrica Magica. Thunder lightning.”

A lead sphere with an electric trail and a snake formed of water shot out.

The Magica struck the beast and amplified.

The beast began to writhe as the water and electricity burned it.

“It's still alive!”

Charlotte remembered something.

She took the lighter out.

“Mister Gerald, I need you to shoot this with the strongest lightning Magica you can.”

“Understood!”

Charlotte threw the lighter at the beast.

“Now!”

“Pure Electrica Magica. Lightning from above!”

Gerald shot another lead sphere.

He hit the mark.

It exploded, and the beast burst into flames. The two types of Magica and the fire reacted strongly together, instantly eviscerating the beast.

Everything fell silent. The beast was gone.