__+__
"Let’s see you try."
I took a single step forward.
Slowly.
The music was still playing.
Heavier now.
The rain outside beat down harder.
__
I raised my hand slightly.
"And amidst that destruction..."
I began to circle.
Pacing around Yuna.
"...emerges a single hope."
Yuna tensed slightly.
I stopped behind her.
"A hero."
I raised my hand toward the ceiling.
"Born of divine miracle."
Yuna immediately raised her wand.
Higher.
"Hero Yuna!"
Suddenly, lightning struck.
The window flashed white in an instant.
A deafening boom echoed.
Yuna flinched.
Almost covering her ears.
I lowered my hand.
Slowly.
"The legendary witch..."
Silence.
__
The rain poured even heavier outside.
I backed away again.
And faced her once more.
Yuna took a step forward.
"Firebolt!!"
She swung her wand at me.
Fast.
I tilted my head slightly.
"Missed."
I moved my hand in a clawing motion.
"Claw Slash."
Yuna took a step back.
"Mana Shield!!"
She raised both hands.
Her wand nearly slipped.
I stopped.
Watching her.
"You won’t be able to destroy it."
Yuna stared at me.
Serious.
__
I smirked faintly.
"Says who."
I raised my hand high.
"Telekinesis."
I looked up at the ceiling.
"Be drawn in..."
I gripped the empty air.
"...and fall."
I lowered my hand slowly.
"This is a meteor."
Yuna immediately looked up.
Reflexively.
"...me-me..."
She panicked a little.
"...what’s a meteor, Papa...?"
I stayed in position.
Hand still raised.
"A meteor is a very large celestial object."
I lowered my hand a bit more.
"And I am bringing it down right now."
Yuna fell silent.
For a few seconds.
"...Oh..."
Then her expression changed.
"That’s cheating!"
I didn’t answer.
"Use your imagination."
__
Yuna immediately started thinking.
Hard.
Her eyes darted left, then right.
Then—
she raised her hand.
"Mana Hand!!"
I paused slightly.
"...What?"
"I’m going to throw it into the sky!"
She swung her wand upward.
I immediately reacted.
"Gah—!!"
I took a step back.
"Impossible!!"
I stared upward.
"To think Hero Yuna was this strong...!"
I opened my hand.
The meteor—
was "stopped."
Then it flew back up.
And disappeared.
I looked at Yuna again.
She smiled slightly.
Confident.
__
But she didn’t stop there.
"Ancient vine seeds!"
She thrust her wand toward the floor.
Using her left hand for support.
"...Grow!"
She raised the wand.
I looked down.
"..."
Imaginary vines began to "wrap" around me.
I shifted my body slightly.
As if restrained.
"These vines..."
I pulled my hand.
"...won’t be able to stop me."
I stopped.
Looked at her.
__
"God Mode."
I stomped my foot.
Lightly.
Crackk!
Then I moved fast.
Behind Yuna.
Wrapping my arms around her from behind.
Not tightly.
But enough to keep her from moving.
"I’ve caught you... Hero Yuna..."
I leaned down slightly.
"Now..."
I paused for a moment.
"what are you going to do? Hmm?"
Yuna froze.
"...Uhh..."
She looked to the right.
To the left.
"...U-Um..."
Yuna remained frozen.
Her hand half-raised.
I stayed behind her.
Motionless.
Waiting.
__
"I..."
She tried to think fast.
"I..."
Nothing came out.
I leaned in slightly.
"Are you done?"
"Not yet."
"Hurry up."
"Hold on..."
Silence.
__
The sound of rain continued outside.
The music was still playing.
Yuna suddenly thrust her wand forward.
"Flash!"
I paused.
"...What?"
"To blind you."
"It has no effect."
"...Why..."
"The Demon King is immune to light."
"Oh..."
She started to panic again.
Trying to move.
Struggling.
To break free.
"...Hmm... a valiant effort..."
I brought my lips close to her ear.
"...but... it is not enough."
I kept my hold on her.
"Your time is almost up."
"...Wait..."
She took a sharp breath.
"...I have one more..."
I stayed silent.
Giving her time.
Right at that moment—
Ding-dong.
The sound of the doorbell.
__
I released my grip.
"Hold on."
I walked to the door.
The music was still playing in the background.
A little out of place now.
I grabbed the doorknob.
And opened it.
The door swung open.
Someone was standing outside.
Before I could get a clear look—
"Explosion!!"
THUD!
Something hit my face.
Soft.
But hard enough.
A pillow.
I didn’t move.
The pillow dropped to the floor.
I looked straight ahead.
The person at the door—
froze.
I remained silent too.
__
Behind me—
Yuna was standing.
In a dramatic pose.
Her wand pointing forward.
"...Direct hit..."
__+__