Huh?
You!

　As I jumped out of the shadows, I was immediately noticed by a few knights.
　The knights drew their swords and charged at me, but.....

Get out of my way!　Fireball Multi-Shot!

　He released a fireball and landed it at the knights' feet.
　The knights were swallowed by the blast of fire.

　The power is narrowed down, so they won't be hurt much.
　However, by giving them the fear of being suddenly swallowed by the flames, he succeeded in stopping them in their tracks.

''Everyone!!!!''

　The pillars that began to discharge electricity began to glow blue.
　In response, a square pyramid of transparent walls formed.

　The transparent wall formed to cover everyone...
　At the top of it, the lightning strikes born on the four pillars converge.

　I can only have a bad feeling about it.

　I increase my speed further, but........

Hey, Lane!
Huh?

　Arios slashed at me.
　Unlike the other guys, his speed is an order of magnitude higher.
　I couldn't avoid it and pulled out my Kamui to catch it.

''Move, Arios!
'Haha, what's the rush?　Are those people that important to you?
Of course!
'Kuh-ha-ha!　Hahaha!　Yes, your face. That's what I wanted to see. For mocking me so much you'll have to pay for it!
'I can't keep up with Arios' stupid delusions!　Get out of my way!
I don't like it. More importantly, it's the start of a fun show. Here's something you should see, Rain.
What...?

　Arios snaps his fingers.
　As if in conjunction with that movement, the four columns glow.

　The light converges on the apex of the wall of the quadrangle...
　Immediately after.
　It was a lightning strike and it went down on everyone!

'Ahhhh!

　While she couldn't move, only Tania was able to spread her wings.
　She stretched her wings to protect everyone....

　A lightning strike struck its back.
　It hurt Tania's back and wings, as if the blade was raging.

''Kuu........''

　As the thunderstorm subsided, I saw Tania's battered and bruised form.
　Everyone screamed.

'Tania!　Are you okay?　Hey, are you okay?!
"Ugh, shut up I'm a dragon race.
'Take it easy, sir!　Sola and the others are now diminished in their abilities because of the magic locks!
'That's right!　It's impossible to take an attack like that and stay unharmed!
I'm fine, I'm fine...

　Through the transparent wall, Tania looked at me.

''Rain, we'll be fine.......................so go ahead and take out that brave man!
Tania.........ugh!

　He pulls his body up a few gears.
　I shake the Kamui with all my strength and cut it off with Arios.

''Hahaha, you're feeling better now.
Shut up!
'But you're moving more slowly than before, aren't you?　You seem to care about those guys that much.
I told you to shut up!
"What do you think would happen if I did this?
Stop....

　Arios snapped his fingers again.

　The lightning strike fell again...

'Unyaah!

　In his captivity, Kanade forced himself to move his body and kick up the lightning bolts that were falling.
　No matter how much the cat spirit race, they can't nullify magic.
　And moreover, they are now restricted in their abilities.

''Auuuuuuuuuut!

　Lightning strikes ran through Kanade's body.
　He would remember the pain as if he was being slashed by a sword.
　Kanade's face contorts and a scream spills out.

　Tania screams loudly.

'Kanade!　How reckless you are!
I don't want Tania to tell me.
I don't have to!　Even if your power was suppressed, you're the dragon race, so you have a certain resistance to magic in your own way. But you, the cat spirit race...!
'Ummm....that hurts so much....'
How is it possible to...?
I can't let Tania hurt you all the time.
"...Kanade....
We're friends ... hmmm ... we're all in this together at all times.
Ugh...!

　Tania struggled to break the locks, as if they were applied to the battered but inspired Kanade.
　But there was no escaping the lock that held her body and her magic in check.

'It's a wonderful friendship, it's inspiring. But how many more rounds can you withstand?
Arios, you...!
"Haha, you're moving around a lot again, Rain. Do you think you can beat me like that?

　It's Arios' plan to hurt everyone.
　Get me so worked up that I'm losing my cool and my judgment...

　I know that.
　I know that, but........

"d*mn it!

　I can't stop the blood rushing to my head.
　My dearest friends have been hurt and treated so badly I can't keep my cool!

"Make gravity control!　Matter creation!

　We need to defeat Arios as soon as possible!
　To do this, I'm going to use every ability I have.

　I have doubled the gravity on Arios.
　On top of that, I've created an earthen wall to surround Arios, blocking his movements.

　If I can hit them with magic in this state...!

You really have a lot on your mind right now, don't you?　Are those people that important to you?
'Of course!　You lie here and I won't let you mess around anymore!
Oh, my God Rain. That's why you're screwed.
What?

　Instantly, a killing spirit hit him from right beside him.
　Reflexively, he held Kamui up like a shield.

　Immediately afterwards, there is an impact like a collision with a carriage.
　He couldn't withstand it and was blown away.

''Ignitorance!''
Holy Arrow!

　Red and white twin blasts flew at me.
　I was out of stance and unable to avoid or prevent them.

''Guh!''

　It's a direct hit, and you're in terrible pain.

"You may be screaming about your buddies and your companions, but I have friends too. Did you forget that?

　Aggus, Lean and Mina were standing behind Arios.

　d*mn.........how could I forget the three of them....
　Normally you wouldn't make that mistake!

　My fall also unlocked my abilities, and Arios broke free from the wall of dirt and regained his freedom.

'Haha, you're hapless, Rain. You look good crawling on the ground like that.
Arios... you...!
I love the look on your face. There's still time. Now, you have more time to entertain me.

　Arios raised his hand to signal the surroundings.
　The knights rushed in all at once.

''Kutu........!

　Forcing his aching body to move, he judges the knights.
　Catching or avoiding the sword...
　He strikes a counter and takes away the power of the fight.

　The opponent is just following Arios' orders.
　It's not the knights' fault.
　There's no way they can kill me, and inevitably, I'm asked to go easy on them.

　Seeing me like that, Arios scoffs at me.

'Oh, come on. You've been pushed to this point and you're worried about your opponent?　You're really ... you're a disgusting person, you know. The sight of that hypocrite makes me cringe. Hey! I want that guy hunted down thoroughly!

　As for Arios, he'd like to see me put my hands on the knights.
　Then the treason would be applied in earnest and........
　More than anything else, it would be fun to do so.

　But ... I'm not going to let you down.

　I'm not going to take a life that has nothing to do with helping everyone else.
　If I did that, I would not be qualified to stand next to everyone else.
　I can't face Kanade and Tania, who present themselves and sacrifice themselves to protect their friends.

　I will never do what Arios expects me to do.

　But..........

　We're going to be impoverished.
　Eventually we'll be cornered, and we'll take a decisive blow... and that's the end of it.
　Before that happens, we must somehow defeat Arios or save everyone else, but....
　d*mn it, I don't know what to do!

　I can't think of any way to defuse the situation.
　They are trapped in a cul-de-sac with no way out.