The battlefield lay in ruins. Jagged stones jutted from the ground where massive shockwaves had struck, and smoke curled from scorched earth as the last of Lucifer's enraged monsters either lay defeated or fled in terror. The air was thick with dust, blood, and the lingering energy of summoners' auras clashing. Rocky stood at the center, shadows twisting and fading around him, heart still hammering from the intensity of the final strikes that had felled the legendary summoner in just three blows.
But victory did not bring him peace. His eyes scanned the ruins, instincts honed sharper than any weapon, searching for the one thing that mattered more than the battlefield itself: Sylvia.
The dark castle loomed in the distance, its spires cracked and smoking from the chaos of battle. Rocky could sense the faint echo of her aura. It was weak, but still there. He hadn't been able to protect her before, but now… now, nothing would stop him.
Risha hovered closer, her presence a calming anchor amid the chaos. "She's in the northern tower," she said, her voice tense but steady. "Lucifer… he must have left her trapped there after using her as bait."
Rocky's jaw tightened. Shadows wrapped around his legs, stretching and twisting like living chains as he prepared to move. "Then we go. Now."
Without hesitation, he blurred forward, aura flaring so intensely that the battlefield itself seemed to bend around him. Rocks exploded outward as he dashed through the shattered horde, monsters leaping to intercept him only to be shredded instantly by the afterimages of his movements. Each step was precise, adaptive, a perfect balance of offense and defense. Risha's powers had given him a foundation, but what he moved with now was entirely his own.
As he reached the outer walls of the dark castle, he saw the remnants of Lucifer's last defenses—a ring of summoned monsters, enormous and grotesque, lingering even as their master lay defeated. Their eyes glowed red with residual rage, but Rocky didn't hesitate.
"Risha," he said, voice low but firm. "I need you to cover me. Take them down."
Risha's ears twitched, and a sly grin appeared. "With pleasure."
The demoness-turned-summon surged forward, her aura igniting like wildfire as she tore through the remaining monsters. Shadows stretched from her form, ripping enemies apart with lethal precision. Rocky didn't wait—he blurred past the fray, moving higher and faster, scaling the fractured walls of the castle in a single, fluid motion.
Inside, the northern tower was a twisted labyrinth of broken stone and dark magic, still humming faintly from Lucifer's previous enchantments. Rocky could feel Sylvia's aura more clearly now—her presence was faint, bruised, but unbroken.
"Sylvia!" he called, voice echoing off the crumbling walls.
A faint movement answered him. She was chained to a pedestal in the center of the tower's main chamber, her sword shattered at her side, armor dented and scorched. Her golden hair fell over her face, but when she raised her head, her eyes widened—not with fear, but recognition and relief.
"Rocky…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "I—I knew you'd come."
He didn't waste a word. Shadows snapped at the chains, slicing through them with surgical precision. Each link fell away with a metallic clang, and Sylvia stumbled forward, weak but upright, as Rocky caught her.
"You're safe now," he said firmly. "I won't let anyone hurt you again."
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she clutched his arm, leaning on him as strength slowly returned. "I knew you'd… come for me," she murmured.
Outside the tower, Risha had finished off the last of the remaining monsters. She hovered near the broken wall, watching the scene unfold with a mixture of pride and curiosity. "He's not just a summoner," she muttered to herself. "He's… something else entirely."
As Rocky and Sylvia moved toward the shattered window, ready to leave the tower, a sudden tremor shook the castle. Even with Lucifer defeated, residual energy from the dark summoning spells pulsed through the ruins. Rocks shifted, ceilings groaned, and dust fell from above.
Rocky adjusted his aura, wrapping it around both of them to protect against falling debris. "Stay close to me," he warned, moving in a blur toward the exit. Shadows stretched into jagged wings, carrying them both safely across collapsing floors and through falling beams.
Sylvia held tight, her trust absolute despite the pain and fear she had endured. "You've… changed," she said softly. "I've never seen you like this… so powerful."
Rocky's eyes softened, but his focus never wavered. "I've changed because of you," he said. "Because I can't lose you."
Finally, they burst through the shattered outer wall of the tower. The wind whipped around them, carrying the smoke and dust of the ruined battlefield. Risha caught up, hovering above them with a triumphant grin. "Well, that was fun. But you two should move—there's still debris and… well, a lot of angry monsters might wake up if we're not careful."
Rocky ignored the joke, scanning the horizon. The battlefield was quiet now, the horde decimated, the dark castle itself weakened from the clash. Yet he knew better than to assume victory was absolute. "Let's get out of here," he said, his aura still blazing.
They moved together, shadows propelling them away from the ruins. Sylvia, though exhausted, stayed close to Rocky, her hand lightly resting on his arm. Each step, each leap through the air, was a reminder of the trust they had forged through chaos and danger.
Once they reached a safe distance, Rocky finally slowed. Shadows receded, aura dimming to a manageable glow. Sylvia collapsed into his arms, exhausted but smiling through her bruises. "You really did it," she whispered. "You… defeated him."
Rocky tightened his grip around her, feeling the exhaustion hit him all at once. "It wasn't easy," he admitted. "But nothing will ever make me lose you again."
Risha landed beside them, folding her arms as she studied the pair. "Well, you've certainly earned my respect… and a little fear," she said with a smirk. "I've seen a lot of summoners, Rocky—but you… you're something different."
Sylvia looked up at him, determination returning to her eyes. "We still have to make sure the empire is safe, and that the rest of Lucifer's followers don't take advantage of his defeat," she said. "But… with you by my side, I believe we can."
Rocky nodded, aura flaring faintly once more, the energy of the battle still thrumming through him. "Then we do it together," he said. "All of it. No one will stop us—not now, not ever."
For a moment, the three stood together, surveying the battlefield. Broken stones, twisted towers, and scattered monsters marked the aftermath of an impossible clash. The sun broke through the clouds, casting light on the ruins. Even in destruction, there was a sense of rebirth.
Risha tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "You know," she said softly, almost to herself, "this boy… this summoner… he's going to change everything."
Rocky didn't respond immediately, focusing instead on Sylvia. He could feel the faint tremor of her aura stabilizing, the lingering pain in her body slowly fading under his protective energy. "Everything changes," he said finally. "And we'll face it together."
Sylvia nodded, her hand finding his. In that silent connection, there was a promise—a bond forged in fire, battle, and trust. Nothing could break it, and no force in the world could challenge it now.
Behind them, the dark castle smoldered, a ruin of the legendary power that had threatened to consume the world. Ahead, the horizon stretched wide, full of possibilities. Rocky, the once-legendary target and now unstoppable summoner, had proven not just his power, but his heart.
And in the aftermath, as the wind carried dust and ash across the battlefield, he and Sylvia began their journey home—together, unbroken, and stronger than any enemy could ever hope to be.