Chapter 372 - The Strong

WHACK!

Kuro had just evaded the harpy's claws. But who would have thought that the elemental would suddenly change the course of its attack? He got caught solidly on his abdomen as he had used his arm and hands to form seals and fortified the barrier. If he hadn't, the people outside would definitely see what was going on. He was not good enough to maintain it alone and couldn't multitask.

URGH…

The impact sent the Fuuma catapulting several meters. Kuro sweated, his vision blurry, as a nauseating feeling engulfed him due to the pain. Ozomene let out another scream as she hurriedly rushed to give Kuro a finishing blow. Her claws high up, ready to descend, but was distracted by something in the air.

Ozomene stopped and sniffed. Kuro saw as the harpy brought down its claws as tried to analyze the air. Then it stiffened. The harpy's face crumpled into one of enrage – much angrier than it had been earlier and he didn't know why.

SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK!

Ozomene screamed murder and suddenly rushed out towards the back of the house, leaving Kuro dumbfounded.

What did just happen? He thought he was a goner for sure. But why did Ozomene suddenly leave as if she was after someone she wanted to kill? Kuro was thinking about it when he realized where the harpy ran away to and was horrified.

His body jerked as he tried to sit up, but pain ȧssailed him. His vision became blurry again, and it took too much of his will to stay awake. As soon as he fainted, the barrier would be gone.

But the women…

They were in danger, and Kuro was disabled.

Tsk!

Sacrificing his remaining strength, Kuro raised his hand to let out a distress signal, hoping that someone could come and save the women. But before he could release his energy, a figure appeared before him.

"Save your energy," Perun ordered him softly as he leaned over and placed a finger on his forehead.

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty," Kuro stammered in shock as he felt his energy returning in waves.

"Your Majesty, I'm alright. Please save the women. The harpy went after them," he said and Perun's eyes narrowed, making him nervous. "I m-mean I'll go since my energy's restored," he revised but the other shook his head.

"No need. I'll go save them, myself," Perun announced as he flicked his finger, and the barrier solidified as in evolved into something much stronger.

Kuro turned to the sky and saw Perun's seal hovering over them and he understood that he no longer needed to supply energy to the barrier. He opened his mouth to say thanks, but the King of Heaven was no longer there, and he collapsed spread-eagled on the ground in relief.

====

"This way," Yuuka said as she grabbed Chiaki's hand and ran with her towards the back of the estate.

The Maki House was not as big as the Cedar Palace, so it was very easy to cross the whole property in minutes. Yuuka guided Chiaki towards the back gate so they could go out there and run away from this place. She now realized how stupid she had been coming here. She had seen how the man came to save them from the monster. But it was obvious to see the disparity in their strength.

The man would die and it would be her fault.

Because Yuuka insisted on coming here, the man had no choice but to become the bait and stall the monster so they could escape.

Tears rolled down Yuuka's eyes. But she still had the presence of mind not to break down at the moment. She would need to make sure that Chiaki was safe. If not…

If something happened to her too, Yuuka would never be able to live. She couldn't face everyone who had been kind to her. It was her fault.

Soon, the gate was within sight. However, as soon as they were only a handful of meters from it, a menacing sound screeched from behind and both women were horrified to see the monster jumping down from where it leaped far away, closing in the distance between them. It landed just around four meters away from them, its pair of blood-red eyes glaring.

SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWRK!

Its scream was accompanied by a wave of malice emitting from its body. By now, both Chiaki and Yuuka stood rooted on the spot, unable to move in fear.  However, just as the harpy lunged at them, Yuuka forced her arms and feet to move. She pulled Chiaki behind her and stepped in front, shielding her just as the harpy's claws struck.

Yuuka and Chikai closed their eyes waiting for the pain. But a second passed, then two, then three, and yet, there was nothing.

Huh?

The women opened their eyes in time to see the broad back of a tall silver-haired man in front of them, shielding their bodies just as Yuuka shielded Chiaki. The man had his arm raised, holding the harpy's claws with his hand.

It was obvious by the way the elemental screamed and struggled that it tried to get away, but the man's strength prevented it from taking its clawed hand back.

Strong…

Yuuka's eyes widened at the sight. She knew how the other man had struggled to deal with this monster, and yet, this man who was supposed to be ill could easily stop the monster.

The man turned his amethyst gaze on them. "Are you alright?"

His soft voice reverberated in Yuuka's being, and she frowned at the nostalgic feeling caused by it. But it was absurd as she only ever heard him speak a few times.

"Y-Yeah," Yuuka answered.

The man's violet gaze lingered on her body as if to confirm her words. When he was satisfied, light appeared in his hand that was holding the struggling harpy. It burst and engulfed the monster like a huge wave, eliciting one pitiful scream from it before it dispersed into nothing.

Huh?

To say that she was shocked was an understatement. She had just seen someone using powers or some sort to kill a monster. The man did it too while looking at her!

But there was no room for questions at the moment. The man held out his hand to her. "Let's go," he urged and with an unexplainable force, she found herself reaching out and taking that hand.

Er…

"Go," Chiaki said as she pushed her towards the man when she hesitated, and she silently followed as the man, Kazehaya Sora guided them to the house.