In the haze of fading consciousness, I finally understood.

I understood why he was willing to endure so much pain just to protect us.
That unwavering strength of heart.

Before me stood a Hydra with no fewer than 17 heads towering above.
And on our side, our greatest melee fighter, Flare, was incapacitated.

This was dire.
There was no better phrase to describe our situation.

"Dammit!"

What should we do? Think!
Abandoning Flare to flee was not an option.
It was either defeating the Hydra or rescuing Flare from the rubble.

But the overwhelming foe before us wouldn’t grant us time to think.

"GRAAAAAAAAAHH!!!"

A deafening roar erupted as the largest head raised itself towards the heavens.

Following its call, the other heads began to move.
Six heads formed a perimeter around the main head, releasing a poisonous mist.
The remaining ten charged straight at us, a sight akin to a monstrous black wall in motion.

"Let’s go, Tetra!"
"…Yeah!"
"I will handle the poisonous mist!"

Tetra and I moved to the frontlines, while Lycia took the rear, preparing to counter the Hydra.
Thus began a battle that was nothing short of reckless.

Five heads lunged at Tetra.
The other five turned their attention to me.

Each head exuded a presence equal to an A-rank monster.
Facing five at once was like battling five Minotaurs simultaneously.
There was no room to monitor my surroundings while engaging this threat.

All Vision!

I delved into a heightened state of concentration, predicting their movements and focusing entirely on evasion.
I wasn’t confident I could counter every attack, but I thought I could buy a few minutes.

That assumption was quickly proven wrong.

"This is…!"

I’d gravely miscalculated.
These weren’t five independent monsters. They were part of one Hydra.

Their coordination was on an entirely different level.
Each head perfectly synchronized its attack with the others.

Suddenly, I found myself surrounded, every avenue of escape cut off.

"Master!"
"Ike!"

Lycia, from her vantage point, shouted my name, recognizing the danger.
Tetra tried rushing to my aid, but the Hydra’s relentless assault held her back.

I couldn’t expect help.
If I wanted to survive, I had to rely on my own strength.

At that moment, I pulled out a High-Rank Magic stone from my pouch.

The Hydra's heads loomed closer, jaws agape.
I shouted with all my might.

Fire!

A wall of flames, radiating enough heat to scorch even the air itself.

If it could even slightly hinder the enemy's attacks—

"Huh?"

—I couldn't immediately comprehend what had happened.

A heavy impact struck my abdomen, and my body was sent soaring high into the air. As my consciousness began to blur, I managed to grasp the situation.

The wall of flames I had created did have some effect; five of the heads had paused their advance before it. But one head had lunged through the fire, its body bypassing the flames, and attacked me. Worse still, the body that had pushed through the flames was completely unscathed.

"Gah!"

I slammed hard onto the ground, landing on my back. Something acidic and vile forced its way out of my stomach. The strain of using magic beyond my limits with the magic stones, combined with the Hydra's attack and the fall, sent searing pain coursing through my body. I tried to rise, but my body refused to cooperate.

"This is... bad..."

With Flare gone, our forces were already weakened. If I, acting as the decoy, fell now, victory would slip beyond our grasp—and even retreat would become impossible. Lycia, though skilled, was not equipped to fight in close quarters against an A-rank opponent. Even Tetra, the strongest of the three in terms of raw power, couldn't possibly handle over ten heads at once.

Despair loomed ever closer. Five heads advanced toward me, intending to deliver the finishing blow.

"Ike!"
"Master!"

I could faintly hear Tetra and Lycia shouting from afar. But it was too late. They wouldn't make it in time.

...So, this is the end, huh?

I wouldn't survive this. At best, I could only hope for Tetra and the others to escape. Should I issue the order to abandon me and flee?

"...No, that kind of command is meaningless."

I had spent so much time with them, sharing countless experiences. Even though it had only been a short while since they gained free will, I understood them. Just as I would never abandon them, they would never abandon me.

"...I refuse to give up."

In the scant seconds remaining, what could I possibly do? Think. Think. Think. What was needed for all of us to escape this alive?

One thing.

There was only one answer.

It was absurd to wish for it now. I knew that. But even so, I couldn't stop myself from hoping.

There was someone else.

For us to fight with everything we had, for all of us who had been through so much together, we needed her. Only when the four of us stood united could we stand against this strongest of foes.

So, I...

Amidst my fading consciousness, I held onto the thought of her. I called out to her in my heart.

And then—

"Huh?"

The sound of rocks crumbling echoed through the entire space.

I didn't understand what caused the sound, but in the next instant, I saw it.

A crimson flash of a sword glimmered before my eyes.

Dozens of flashes cut deep into the Hydra’s necks, leaving multiple wounds.

"GRRAAAAARRRGHHH!!!"

The Hydra writhed in agony from the sudden onslaught of damage. But my attention wasn’t on the Hydra—it was on her.

A girl draped in crimson, with fiery red hair.

She stood with her back to me, holding a stunningly beautiful sword with a blade as red as blood.

I could hardly believe it. And yet, what I saw with my own eyes was undoubtedly real.

Joy surged within me as I realized she was unharmed. I called out her name.

"...Flare!"

At my voice, Flare turned her head slightly and gave a firm nod.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Ike."

She knelt down slightly as she spoke, her expression calm yet resolute. Her determination left me momentarily awestruck.

"GRRAAAAHHH!!!"

But there was no time to bask in the joy of Flare's return. The five injured heads roared in fury, their eyes burning with hostility as they focused on us.

“Damn it…!”

Earlier, we had managed to deal damage through a surprise attack.
But now, with Flare clearly marked as their enemy, it would be difficult to handle five heads simultaneously.

Yet even in such a dire situation, Flare remained calm.
With a gentle voice, she began to speak.

“I’ve always thought about it.
How Ike always maneuvered to keep us from getting hurt.
How he sometimes sacrificed himself to protect us.
It made me so happy, but at the same time, I thought—
How pathetic I was.”

Flare turned her back to me once more, facing the Hydra head-on.

“But I understand now.
I was hurt, broken, and lost consciousness… yet, I’m here.
Because I wanted to protect Ike, Tetra, and Lycia.
Because I wanted to protect everyone.
That alone gives me limitless strength. You felt the same, didn’t you, Ike?”

Then, pointing her sword at the Hydra, which was preparing to strike, Flare shouted:

“That’s why it’s my turn now.
With everything I’ve got, I’ll cut down all who stand before us!”

Flare stepped forward with her left foot.
Her stance gripped the ground, propelling her forward with immense force.
She charged toward the Hydra with speed incomparable to before.

“Haaaah!”

Once again, her sword flashed.
The blade, swung at lightning speed, slashed through the Hydra’s bodies one after another.

“Incredible…”

Just moments ago, she had struggled against two of its heads.
Now, she was overwhelming five simultaneously.

A relentless onslaught that left no room for the enemy to retaliate.
In mere seconds, she unleashed dozens of attacks.

Watching this unfold, I couldn’t help but reflect.
On the moment they gained consciousness.
On how their abilities dramatically increased in tandem.

By pouring my heart into them, they had gained sentience and, with it, power.
For these dolls, perhaps the strength of their hearts directly translates into their physical might.

…Come to think of it, Lycia had said something similar.
By channeling emotions like hatred and jealousy, she transformed her purification magic into black flames.

Their strength grows alongside the depth of their resolve.
This display of limitless potential unfolding before my eyes felt almost divine.

“Flare, to your right!”
“!?”

Three new heads emerged.
Flare momentarily ceased her offensive, focusing on evasion.

“Damn it.”
“Tetra!?”

Right then, Tetra was thrown toward us.
Barely managing to land on her feet, she was panting heavily.

“Sorry… I let the ones I was dealing with escape.”
“No, you did great.”

She had held her own against an enemy stronger than herself for this long.
There was no way I could fault her for that.

“Master! I’ll heal you immediately.”
“Lycia… I’m counting on you.”

Lycia arrived and activated High Heal, a high-level healing spell.
Thanks to her, I could move more freely again.

With Flare and Tetra working together, they were holding their own against the ten heads.
But it wasn’t enough. Defeating these heads alone wouldn’t be enough.
We had to take down the massive main head towering in the back.

Should I act as a decoy again to lure some of them away?
…No, that wouldn’t change the situation.
At best, I could handle two heads.
That wouldn’t create the opening Flare needed to reach the main head.
What we needed now was an overwhelming blow to turn the tide!

We’re so close. Is victory still out of reach!?

“No… I refuse…”

For a moment, I thought it was my own subconscious voice echoing my thoughts.
The words perfectly mirrored my despair.

But it wasn’t me.
It was Tetra, who muttered those words heavily while battling the Hydra.

Usually stoic, her profile was now tinged with sorrow as she continued:

“I don’t want to just be protected by Flare and everyone.
I don’t want to drag everyone down. I want to be stronger.”

Her voice quivered with frustration as she held back tears.

Currently, Flare was dealing with seven heads, while Tetra faced three.
Perhaps she felt inadequate in the face of such a division.

It was evident to anyone that Tetra was contributing to the fight.
I could have reassured her of that.
But I chose to remain silent and simply watch her.

—From Flare and Lycia, I had learned something.
It’s the desire to overcome one’s shortcomings and gain strength that fuels them.

That’s why I waited for Tetra’s answer.
I believed in her.

“If Flare is the blade that cuts through everything,
Then I will be the shield that protects everyone from everything!”

Tetra extended her hands forward.
Azure light began to gather at her fingertips.

“This… is…”

Witnessing the scene, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.
As a martial artist-type, she used magic internally to enhance her physical abilities.
She wasn’t designed to project it outward.

But now, Tetra was pushing past her limits,
Claiming the power that lay dormant within her.

And then,
Tetra shouted, unleashing the form of the power she sought.

“I am the shield that protects all.
The azure shield that rejects everything—Aegis!”

In no time, a transparent blue shield, only a few millimeters thick, took shape.

And then—

"Take this!"

Tetra did the unthinkable—she punched the blue shield.

The force launched the shield like a projectile, slamming into three of the Hydra's necks and denting its torso deeply. It was hurled several dozen meters backward.

"Hardened armor!"

I shouted in realization.

A skill known as Hardening, used by martial artists and tanks, enhanced one’s physical resilience, increasing body hardness.

Tetra seemed to have forcefully manipulated the magic power used for Hardening to form a shield instead. The result was a shield with such incredible density it could crush the Hydra’s torso.

A crude, brute-force solution, but one that could shift the tide of this battle.

If Tetra could fend off the enemy's attacks while Flare delivered offensive blows, we might just be able to reach the main head!

"Raaaaaaaaargh!!!"

"What!?"

But just as we were preparing to act, the Hydra's main head roared again.

The six heads surrounding it stopped emitting their poisonous mist and instead charged directly at us.

"More heads won't change anything!"

"I'll block them all!"

Flare readied her sword, and Tetra deployed her blue shield.

Even with additional heads, these two were a formidable wall.

"—!?"

But as if mocking our resolve, the sixteen Hydra heads—including ten newly joined ones—changed direction at the last moment.

Instead of attacking Flare or Tetra directly, they spread out, bypassing them entirely.

"No way!"

"We can't keep up with all of them!"

Focusing solely on the ones coming toward them was manageable, but dealing with all the scattered heads at once was impossible.

Flare’s sword slashed through seven heads. Tetra’s blue shield halted eight more.

But—one head slipped past them, rushing straight for me and Lycia.

If it’s just one head, I can handle it.

"Doll Decoy!"

I activated my skill to lure it toward me.

If I could hold the line here, it’d be our turn to strike back.

But the Hydra ignored me entirely, rushing past as though I didn’t exist.

"What the—!?"

The target was Lycia.

But why? The decoy skill should have worked. It should’ve drawn the Hydra's aggression toward me.

Why would it prioritize Lycia, who was solely on support duty, over Tetra or Flare, who had actually damaged it?

I felt a piercing gaze.

The main head, standing apart from the rest, was staring directly at us with its golden eyes.

…Could it have figured it out?

That the only reason we were still holding on was because Lycia was cleansing the poison?

If we lost her, our formation would crumble instantly.

A monster capable of such strategic thinking…!?

"Raaaargh!"

"Damn it!"

The Hydra lunged for Lycia with its massive jaws wide open.

There was no way she could dodge that attack with her current agility.

At this rate, Lycia would be lost—

—I wouldn’t let that happen!

I poured every ounce of my magic into enhancing my body and dashed toward Lycia.

"Lycia!"

"Ah!?"

At the last second, I managed to shove her lightweight body aside.

Her blue eyes widened in shock as she reached out toward me.

"Master!"

Her gaze shifted between me and the Hydra, now perilously close to me.

Despair, the shadow of death—it was all right there.

I knew it—I couldn’t avoid this.

"Master, no!"

Flare and Tetra screamed, their voices tinged with hopelessness.

They, too, realized there was no escaping my imminent death.

…So this is how it ends, huh?

I couldn’t even muster the strength to fight back.

As if time itself slowed, memories of my past flashed through my mind.

"There may be some big meaning behind you becoming a puppeteer."

"Oh, you're awake, Ike."

"Flare is always the one getting praised. I want some praise too."

"I've wanted to meet you for a long time... Master."

—The precious moments I couldn’t afford to lose.

And lastly, I remembered a promise.

“…You absolutely have to keep your promise. Not just saving Mother—you all have to come back safely!”

That’s right—I made a promise!

"A promise… I promised Iris!"

I would survive. I had to survive!

My necklace, hanging by my neck, gleamed as I clutched its transparent stone tightly.

The moment I did, it emitted a blinding white light.

"This light… it’s…!"

The Hydra lunged, its massive jaws closing around me.

But just before it could crush me, the light from the necklace exploded, obliterating the Hydra's head entirely.

Only I remained, standing there unscathed, clutching the charm Iris had given me.

This necklace—or rather, the talisman that Lene passed to Iris—protected me.

I understand it now.

The power imbued in this necklace was that of Lene the Hero.

It was probably meant to protect Iris in times of dire peril.

By borrowing its power, I was able to fend off the Hydra's attack.

No matter how much I thank Iris for lending me the talisman, it will never be enough.

The necklace still contains some of Lene's magic.

It seems it wasn’t entirely depleted when it obliterated one of the Hydra's heads.

Moreover, the Hydra struck by Lene's magic shows no signs of regeneration.

…The Hero’s magic likely includes the power of annihilation.

Perhaps this force is what prevents the Hydra from regenerating.

“…I see.”

At that moment, an idea occurred to me.

“Iris, please, lend me this power just a little longer.”

Resolving myself, I stood.

To bring this battle to its final conclusion.

“Are you alright, Master!?”
“Yeah, somehow. The fight is reaching its climax. Let’s finish this.”
“Yes! Absolutely!”

Tears brimming in her eyes, Lycia nodded repeatedly.

I felt ashamed of my inadequacy for worrying her so much.

Turning on my heel, I fixed my gaze on the massive head.

Its golden eyes seemed to lock onto mine.

“…”

“Sorry for struggling this long. But it ends now.”

Having made one of its heads incapable of regenerating, sixteen more—including the massive one—stood before me.

Even in the face of such an overwhelming threat, I felt no fear.

I issued orders to Flare and Tetra, who continued fighting against the swarm of heads.

“Tetra! Create the largest shield you can manage!”
“…Got it! But I’ll need some time!”
“Flare, stall them! Just for a bit—can you hold off most of the heads alone?”
“For a few seconds, maybe! But not much longer than that!
If only their movements were a little slower…”

“In that case, it’s my turn to step up,”

Lycia stepped forward just as I thought we’d hit a wall.

“I feel the same as Tetra.

I’ve been shielded by Flare and Tetra, and even let you face danger, Master.

It doesn’t matter that I fight from the rear. I want to protect everyone, too.

So now, I’ll give it my all!”

Black flames appeared in Lycia’s hands.

The intensity and heat were swelling to unprecedented levels.

“My flames of envy burn only what I designate as an enemy!

Still, this firepower alone would be deflected by the Hydra’s scales.

—Then, the solution is simple!”

Brandishing the massive black flames before her, Lycia shouted:

“If the scales deflect my attack, then I simply won’t consider the scales my enemy!

I’ll incinerate it from within! Burn from the inside out—Flame Of Envy Transcend!”

The unleashed black flames engulfed the entire space.

Though large enough to touch us, they produced no heat.

“Gyaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!”
“Ruuuuuuuuuugh!!!”
“Ggyoooooooohhh!!!”

Only the Hydra, designated as the target, was affected. Its insides burned, and its movements slowed.

An incredibly merciless technique.

“This is it!”

Using the black flames as a smokescreen, Flare slashed through the Hydra’s heads one after another.

A few dozen seconds later, Tetra finished her preparations.

“My mana is fully charged.

Now I’ll use it to create a shield.”
“Good—Flare! Fall back!”
“Got it!”

Flare retreated from the swarm of heads and landed beside me.

I handed her the necklace.

“This?”
“It’s the talisman I borrowed from Iris.

It contains Lene the Hero’s magic.

Using this power, we should be able to defeat the Hydra once and for all.

Flare, I’m entrusting it to you.”
“…I understand, Ike.”

Nodding with a determined look, Flare grasped the necklace firmly.

From the remaining magic, it was clear there was only enough for one final use.

That last attack had to be aimed at the massive head.

As Lycia’s black flames caused most of the Hydra’s heads to writhe in pain, the massive one remained motionless, observing us.

With its overwhelming power, even Flare’s awakened strike might not be enough to defeat it.

That’s why I had to make every possible preparation.

“This is it—the final battle.

Flare, next—”
“…Leave it to me!”

After giving Flare brief instructions, I shouted at Tetra.

“Tetra, deploy the shield! Smash them with all your strength!”
“Understood—Azure Shield Aegis, maximum deployment!”

A massive azure shield over 50 meters in diameter appeared before Tetra.

It encompassed all sixteen heads, excluding the massive one.

“Shatter them!”

With a powerful stomp, Tetra launched the shield, sending the heads flying.

The Hydra’s heads collided, tangled together, and became immobilized.

A mountain of Hydra heads formed, with Flare standing atop it.

From this elevated position, she launched toward the massive head.

“This ends now!”

Adjusting her posture mid-air, Flare raised her glowing sword, infused with the Hero’s magic.

With this attack, everything would be decided.

"GRUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

The moment I thought that, the giant central head let out the loudest roar yet.

What followed was a shocking sight unfolding right before my eyes.

From within the mass of entangled and immobilized heads, a number of them tore apart the bodies they were attached to and burst free.

Six heads emerged, climbing up by devouring all the others.

Six long necks rose from below, aiming straight for Flare, who was flying toward the giant central head.

"Dammit!"

I clicked my tongue reflexively.

I understood the situation too well.

At this rate, Flare's sword would strike the giant head at the exact moment the six necks reached her.

Even if she managed to slay the giant head, she’d go down with it.

And attempting to dodge would be nearly impossible, considering her limited mobility in midair.

"Flare…!"
"Flare!"

Both Tetra and Lycia cried out her name.

Flare's expression stiffened for a moment, caught in a dilemma.

She could either risk her life to take down the giant head or attempt the nearly impossible task of evading the attack.

The choice was hers alone to make.

"Like hell I'll let this happen!"

But I wasn’t going to accept those options.

After everything we’d been through, was my only role to rely on Flare now?
No. There had to be something I could do—something only I could do.

Flare had found inner strength and become a blade to cut through everything.
Tetra had embraced her vulnerability and turned it into an indomitable shield.
Lycia had uncovered infinite potential and gained new powers.

So what about me?
What could I do?
What was the one thing only I, a puppeteer, could achieve?

"—I see."

I reached the answer.
It was a simple realization.
I wasn’t the strongest on my own. But I could make them the strongest.

That was my role.

"Flare! Keep charging forward!"
"Ike!? —Alright!"

I used it. The skill I had refrained from employing ever since they gained their own wills.

To take them beyond their limits—

I activated it.

"—Puppet Strings Manipulation!"

In that instant, dozens—hundreds—of magical threads extended from me, entwining around Flare's body.

This was a skill that allowed me to manipulate puppets with my will.
Out of respect for their independence, I had avoided using it on them.
But now, with this skill, I could eliminate the constraints of midair movement for Flare.

Naturally, there was a risk.
If Flare and I weren’t perfectly in sync, my control could hinder her instead.

But I wasn’t worried.
I knew without a doubt that our hearts and minds were aligned.

"Let’s go, Flare!"
"Yeah, Ike!"

My magical threads moved in perfect harmony with Flare’s actions.
Her powerful movements were accelerated by my control.

Six necks surrounded her, poised to strike.
The giant central head loomed ahead, its massive jaws wide open.

At this moment, we challenged the strongest opponent yet.

"UOOOOOOAAAAAA!!!"
"GRUAAAAAAGHHHH!!!"

Spinning in midair, Flare swung her radiant sword.

The blade’s circular motion severed the Hydra’s six attacking necks one after another.

Finally, the sword reached the central head.

Its overwhelming hardness was incomparable to the others.

On her own, Flare could never have cut through it.

But we weren’t alone.

The magic of Lene enhanced the blade’s power.
Lycia’s Flames of Envy weakened its defenses.
Tetra’s azure shield accelerated Flare’s momentum.
And the united will of Flare and me swung the blade.

Together, we created a technique that surpassed all limits.
And we shouted its name in unison:

"—Radiant Halo: Rondo!"

The blade, now faster than sound, formed a shining circle.

The supersonic strike finally severed the giant head.

"GRUAAAAAAHHH!!!"

The giant head, its golden eyes wide in disbelief, plummeted to the ground.

"Flare!"

Flare, too, was falling, her stance disrupted by the strain of the supersonic strike.
The threads of my skill had snapped, unable to withstand the force, leaving me unable to catch her.

"No problem."

Tetra reached Flare’s landing point and caught her with ease.
Relief washed over me.

At the same time, the giant head crashed to the ground.
The Hydra’s remaining necks dissolved into ominous black mist, leaving behind a single black magic stone.

"…Is it over?"

With the Hydra reduced to a magic stone, there was no chance of regeneration.
Yet I struggled to grasp our victory—it had been such a formidable foe that I couldn’t believe we’d won.

"Ike!"
"Ike!"
"Master!"

"Whoa!?"

Lost in thought, I was suddenly swarmed by Flare, Tetra, and Lycia.
We tumbled to the ground together.

"We did it, Ike! We won!"
"Yes, it’s the result of all our hard work."
"Indeed! And now, I’ll be expecting my reward, hm?"

"Flare, Tetra, Lycia… Yeah, we did it. We won."

Looking at their joyous faces, I finally felt the truth sink in.
From deep within, an overwhelming joy surged.

Victory against the strongest foe.
We couldn’t have achieved it without everyone here.
They were the best companions I could ever ask for.

Overcome with emotion, I hugged all three of them tightly.

"Eh!? I-Ike!?"
"How satisfying. Hehe."
"M-Master! This is unexpected, but I like it!"

"Thank you. All of you, truly… thank you."

Though I had so much to say, only those simple words came out.
But they understood perfectly.
Their gentle smiles said it all.

"You're welcome, Ike!"
"I’m glad I could help you."
"This victory belongs to all of us. We are grateful as well."

Their words filled me with happiness.

But then, I remembered.
This joy wasn’t just for the four of us to share.

There were people waiting for us.
Someone who had saved us from despair.
Someone who wished for our happiness more than anyone.

I stood up and smiled.

To claim the future we had fought for, I said:

"Let’s go home. To Iris and the others."

And so, we successfully defeated our strongest foe yet, the Hydra.