Sharkai Bai opened his eyes to find himself lying in bed. He pushed himself up and scanned the room. The furniture arrangement and quantity clearly marked it as a cheap inn.

"Haven’t you noticed how much cooler it’s gotten? We’ve arrived. This is a town in the Flame Archipelago," Xia Feina said.

Seeing Sharkai Bai awake, Xia Feina stood up, poured a cup of warm water, and handed it to him.

After drinking, Bai felt a wave of warmth spread through his body. His spirits lifted slightly.

Just as he’d hoped, Snowlotus hadn’t stopped him or harmed Xia Feina when she arrived.

As Sharkai Bai pondered his next move, Xia Feina walked over to him.

"I understand your resolve now! So, protect me with all your effort, you perverted classmate Bai!"

Xia Feina had fully accepted it. Instead of worrying about Bai, she’d let him act on his own will.

—She decided to sit quietly in the darkness, waiting for Sharkai Bai to save her.

"Then, no more talk of giving up. Ever."

Sharkai Bai replied with a smile.

He stood, put on the clothes Xia Feina had bought, and gazed out the window at the night sky. After basic treatment from the town doctor, his body had recovered fifty percent.

"What? Want to go out? Volcanoes everywhere—I don’t think this town has much to see."

"Well... it’s not just the scenery... I recall the map mentioning how hospitable the women here are in the Flame Archipelago. Heh heh..."

Bai accidentally blurted out his true thoughts. Realizing his grave mistake, he braced for Xia Feina’s furious flurry of punches.

In a Flame Archipelago town, a young man dressed like a Wild West cowboy entered the inn where Sharkai Bai and Xia Feina stayed.

"Excuse me, are these two staying here?" he asked, leaning on the reception desk and showing two photos.

The elderly clerk glanced at him and shook his head. "Sorry, sir. We can’t disclose guest information."

"Oh? Then let me ask again—have you seen these people?" The youth slapped a stack of bills onto the counter.

The clerk’s eyes darted around. Seeing the boss absent, he quickly pocketed the money and feigned indifference. "Third floor. Room 306."

As the youth headed upstairs, the clerk pulled out the bills to count them carefully.

Sadly, had he known this inn would be completely destroyed in five minutes—and he’d owe a massive debt—he’d never have given that information.

Meanwhile, in room 306 of an inn on the Aire Continent’s Flame Archipelago, an awkward intimacy filled the air.

"H-hey..."

"It’s all your fault...!! You pervert...!" Xia Feina’s face flushed crimson. She’d lost her balance during their roughhousing, pushing the boy onto the bed. Now she straddled Sharkai Bai’s stomach, legs spread.

Knock knock knock!

Just as the tension peaked, a knock echoed at the door.

"L-let me get that first..."

"Y-yeah... okay..."

The moment Xia Feina lifted off him, Sharkai Bai’s heart cheered like he’d escaped death.

He opened the door. Seeing that familiar face, his pupils dilated instantly.

The cowboy-clad youth grinned and waved. "Hey~! Classmate Sharkai."

"Xia Feina! Get down!!!!"

...

BOOM—!!!!!!!

After an eerie silence, a massive explosion ripped through a corner of the town.

"If the academy’s covering the bill, I won’t hold back!" Wilkor complained, scratching his head. His fists were wrapped in black energy, smoke clearing around him. "Ugh~! Losing rock-paper-scissors to those guys cost me precious sleep. What a tragedy~~~!"

"Cough! You okay, perverted Bai?"

"...I’m fine!"

Supported by Xia Feina, Sharkai Bai stood and faced his enemy.

The student council vice-president. Academy Rank No. 3—Wilkor.

"That airheaded president, who’s been slacking off lately, ordered me to tie you up and drag you back."

"Fall here, Wilkor."

Though barely healed, Sharkai Bai clenched his fist and charged, swinging at Wilkor.

"Your speed’s dropped. Unhealed wounds? Or can’t you use that stimulant-like power anymore?" Wilkor noted the bandages peeking from Bai’s collar and his eyes—no longer glowing purple. In a flash, Wilkor appeared behind him. His right hand morphed into a black wolf head, slamming into Bai’s back.

"Pfft!"

Bai flew backward from the punch, skidding to a half-crouch. He covered his mouth, blood seeping through his fingers.

"Watch out!" Xia Feina’s warning reached him. Before Bai could look up, Wilkor’s fist crashed into his chest.

"Celestial Blast: Wolf Form!"

Bai shot dozens of meters into the air, then crashed down like a corpse.

(I... must stand up!!!!)

Sharkai Bai screamed inwardly, fists tight. Spitting blood, he struggled to his feet.

(If... I can just gather enough strength to land one punch, I’ll win!)

"Too slow, classmate Sharkai!" Wilkor’s voice hissed in his ear.

"RAAAAAAGH!!!!!" Bai roared, spinning wildly. He swung his power-charged right fist at Wilkor behind him. Wilkor’s lips curled into a faint smile.

BOOM—!!!

Wilkor flew backward, embedding himself in a wall.

With Bai’s current punch speed—worse than an average human’s—he shouldn’t have hit a combat-mage like Wilkor.

"Hah... beating me up like this... I won’t thank you for it." Wilkor’s eyes closed, unmoving.

Bai pressed a hand to his chest, staggering toward Xia Feina. His vision darkened. As Xia Feina cried out, he sank into Chaos.