"Mental power... it can't be restored."

Hearing her words, I instantly recalled a term from a book I’d read days ago—mental overload.

Like a gun with infinite bullets: the heat from firing could still make it explode, rendering it useless.

If someone casts too much magic, even with mana left, their mind won’t hold up.

Seeing Tida’s pale face, I understood immediately.

That Elven Magic didn’t just drain mana—it devoured mental power terrifyingly.

"Master, it’s fine. Reinforcements arrive in five minutes. Leave spellcasting to me—"

"Xia," Tida said, watching Xia sway before her as if insisting "I’m okay," her lips pressed tight. "I know your exhaustion."

"Mas—watch out!"

"Messe!"

A sharp syllable hit my ears. Tida and Xia shot forward like gusts of wind. Where they’d stood turned to ash.

"Rrha ki gagis wearequewie hymme!"

The sixth-tier demon beast missed its strike. Xia and Tida locked eyes, leaped onto a tree, and chanted in unison—their bond made them telepathic.

A crystal-clear beam erupted before them. Under the eerie, blood-red moonlight, it rippled with haunting beauty.

But as it appeared, both paled—the spell drained their already exhausted bodies.

Even Xia, perched on Tida’s shoulder, grew slightly translucent.

Arrows fell. Tree shadows spun. The blood moon vanished. Light points deepened.

Leaves drifted down, soft and dim, soundless.

The crystal light coalesced into sharp, colorful arrows. They pierced the cool air, streaking straight at the beast.

"Huff..." As they flew through darkness, I caught their faint, hurried breaths. This was their strongest attack—given with everything they had.

Even if it didn’t kill the beast, they’d aimed to disable it for five minutes.

But...

This was a sixth-tier demon beast. Nearly a thousand times stronger than a first-tier one.

Could Tida’s all-out strike—even she who could annihilate first-tier beasts—disable it for five minutes?

The answer was obvious.

The strike vaporized falling leaves. The cold night wind turned scorching. As light and dust cleared, the beast still stood.

Blood soaked its body. Its back was torn and raw. Yet the wounds didn’t weaken it. Instead, the bloodthirsty beast roared, even more frenzied.

"Yiyi... you—"

The one beside me saw the battle tipping against us.

I turned. Her eyes held worry and care.

"If Yiyi doesn’t want to stay, she can leave with a teleport scroll now... I won’t risk Yiyi’s safety."

"No... Master, don’t worry. Yiyi isn’t afraid."

Under the Contract, I said it. But seeing that bloody beast, fangs bared, fear gripped me.

If I ran now, those two Elves would die.

After such a powerful spell, they had no magic left.

"Your opponent is Yiyi!"

I gripped my ring, teleported behind the beast advancing on Tida and Xia. Magic gathered in my hand. An ice arrow shot into its deepest wound.

The beast howled in pain, whirling to glare at me. In its ghost-fire pupils, I saw my fragile reflection.

Enraged by my sneak attack, it bared vicious fangs.

I should... hold out until the War Ancient Tree arrives. Just under five minutes. It has to be possible...

Even if not, I have no retreat now.