Cycles of Eternity

The air was heavy, thick with the metallic scent of blood and the suffocating heat radiating from the monster's body. Raku could barely stand. His left arm, lost in the earlier battle, was a constant reminder of how close he had come to death.

In front of him, the Cerberus stared him down, its three heads growling in unison. Every movement of the beast was precise, almost calculated, as though it relished prolonging the fight. The flames that wreathed its body danced in time with its breath, casting flickering orange and red hues across the room.

Raku gritted his teeth, feeling his strength wane with every passing second. The stump where his left arm once was burned with pain, but he couldn't afford to stop.

"This doesn't end here..." he rasped, extending his right arm, engulfing it in flames to brace for the next attack.

The Cerberus charged again, its claws tearing through the stone floor as it lunged at him. Raku waited until the last possible moment before dodging to the side, twisting his body with almost inhuman precision. He managed to evade the beast's jaws, but one of its claws grazed his side, tearing through his clothing and leaving a deep gash.

"Tch! Damn it…"

Raku staggered back, panting, as the flames around him began to intensify. Though his body was at its limit, something deep within him refused to give up. The thought of his friends kept him on his feet.

The Cerberus didn't give him a moment's respite, unleashing a torrent of flames from one of its mouths. The searing heat engulfed the room, and Raku barely managed to roll out of the way. Even so, the flames licked at his right leg, burning through his clothes and scorching his skin.

He screamed in pain but didn't let it stop him. With great effort, he pushed himself back to his feet, leaning against the wall for support.

"I have to find a way to beat you…" he muttered as the Cerberus circled him slowly, a predator stalking its prey.

Then, something within him shifted. The flames surrounding him began to respond to his emotions, no longer chaotic but controlled, shaped by his will. Raku raised his right hand, and the fire condensed, taking the form of an improvised weapon: a short blade forged entirely from fire.

"What...?" he whispered, surprised by his own power.

The Cerberus roared, enraged, and charged again. This time, Raku stood his ground, watching the monster's movements intently. When the first head struck, he ducked and delivered an upward slash with his fiery blade, severing the creature's jaw.

The beast recoiled, snarling in pain, but the other two heads pressed their attack. Raku dodged a bite aimed at his torso and blocked a claw strike with his right arm, now reinforced by the flames.

"I can do this..." he muttered, starting to believe in his victory.

With a battle cry, he threw himself forward, dodging and striking with precision. Each attack weakened the Cerberus, its movements growing slower with time. But Raku, too, was nearing his limit. Every strike drained his energy, and his body trembled with exhaustion.

Finally, he managed to bring the beast down. Seizing a moment of distraction, he focused all his remaining power into a final blow.

"This is for them!" he roared, hurling himself at the Cerberus with everything he had.

His fist struck the monster's chest, unleashing an explosion of fire that illuminated the entire room. The Cerberus let out one last, anguished howl before collapsing to the ground, its body consumed by flames until it crumbled to ash.

Raku fell to his knees, panting. The flames around him slowly died out, leaving only smoke and the overwhelming fatigue in their wake.

"I did it..." he whispered, staring at the spot where the beast had stood.

Though barely able to stand, the resolve in his heart forced him to rise. He couldn't stop now. His friends needed him.

"Wait for me... I'm coming."

---

In another part of the tower, Kaori was battling what seemed to be an endless army of skeletons. The room was littered with bones and shattered weapons, but for every one she struck down, another would rise to take its place.

Her body was on the brink of collapse. Her arms trembled from the effort of holding up her sword and shield, both of which were cracked and battered from constant use.

"Enough already!" she shouted, smashing another skeleton with a downward strike.

The skeletons gave no response. They did not retreat, nor did they hesitate. They simply advanced relentlessly, as if driven by a force that demanded her downfall.

She stepped back, bumping against a wall, raising her sword in a shaky attempt to block the next attack.

"I can't give up... I can't..." she murmured, trying to convince herself.

A skeleton wielding a spear lunged at her. Kaori blocked the strike with her shield, but the impact sent her stumbling. Another skeleton took advantage of her moment of weakness, loosing an arrow that embedded itself in her leg.

"Ahhh!" she cried out, collapsing to her knees.

The pain was excruciating, but she had no time to wallow in it. Another skeleton raised its sword, and Kaori barely managed to deflect the blow with her own. The situation was desperate.

Finally, in a moment of distraction, she was surrounded. The enemies' weapons found her: swords, spears, and arrows pierced her flesh. Her shield clattered to the ground, and her bloodied hand let go of her sword.

Kaori fell onto her back, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. Blood poured from her wounds, pooling beneath her. Her hands trembled as she tried to move, but her body refused to obey.

As her vision began to blur, fragments of memories flashed in her mind.

"Is this... how it ends?" she whispered, her body growing limp.

The skeletons pressed their attack, their weapons piercing her again and again. The pain was unbearable, and Kaori let out a faint gasp before collapsing fully, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

As her life ebbed away, fragments of memories flooded her thoughts.

A field of flowers, bathed in sunlight.

A young Kaori ran through a field of sunflowers, laughing. A familiar voice called out from a distance.

"Kaori, don't go too far!" It was her mother, smiling as she watched her.

Training in a dojo.

Kaori, sweating and panting, practiced with a wooden sword. Her master, an older man with a stern expression, nodded approvingly.

"You have talent, Kaori. But remember: the sword is not just a weapon; it's an extension of your will."

A conversation by a fire.

Kaori and Shirogami sat beside a campfire, the flames reflecting in their faces.

"Do you think we'll ever get back home?" she asked, staring at the stars.

Shirogami was silent for a moment before replying.

"I don't know. But no matter what happens, we must protect each other."

A whispered promise.

Kaori clasped the hand of someone whose features she could barely recall.

"No matter what happens, I'll always stay by your side."

The sound of crunching bones and metallic steps pulled her back to the present. The skeletons were still advancing, fully surrounding her. Kaori tried to move a hand, but all she managed was to spill more blood.

Her eyes, heavy with exhaustion, began to close as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't... protect them."

The world around her faded to black, but deep within, a light began to stir.