Winter slowly put down Rin's body on a slightly high yet out of sight place. She moved carefully so as to not damage the frail corps even further. Though, at this point, it was doubtful whether it was possible to be in a worst state than Rin.

“....Don't die, Rin.” Winter pronounced, a mix of frustration and worry on her face.

No one answered her since the girl in question was unconscious.

Winter stood still, unable to move as she already regretted accepting Rin's decision. Now, all she could do was pray that the girl wouldn't die—pray that she wouldn't become Rin's murderer.

“Don't die...” She repeated once again, clenching her hand.

Then she finally turned around, deciding to leave.

The city was still filled with monster, and nothing guaranteed none of them would come to this place. That's why, Winter needed to act fast. Rin's first request required her singularity, Replica, but her second request required someone else.

Winter needed to bring that person next to Rin, and fast.

◇

“—Ghh,ha!”

A small yet extremely sharp and scaly hand protruded through another petite body. The victim crashed blood and their expression quickly turned pall in natural consequence. Red lickid slowly died their clothes in the belly area, and it wouldn't be an exageration to say she received a mortal blow.

[With this, that's one of you down.] The dragon expressed, despite the atroce act he just commited.

However, the victim in question didn't seem to be on the same page as the monster. Her black short hair fluttered, going up to showcase her pefectly sculpted face despite the lack of wind. Her blue eyes shone, boring on the monster's scarlet one without an ounce of fear.

“...Sis taught me this a while back,” Then she began among a ragged breath. She moved her two hands, still untainted by her blood, and clucthed them on the humanized, dragon hand that pierced through her with all the strength she had left. “As long as you keep away the vital point, the human body can be tougher than it seems.”

Blood soon came tracing down out of her mouth, as though contradicting her words, yet she wore on a beautiful smile. Without letting time to the dragon to realize what was happening, Rena reached deep inside herself and used her psychokinesis ability to its maximum.

The area around her began to experience a rise in gravity, as was the dragon she holding to not escape. A greenish blue halo covered her and her oppenent, locking both of them in place in a perfect standstill.

And just like that, the one person who was left aside of the battle because she couldn't keep up had an opporntunity. There was no way, Raven would let go of it. Darkness moved at her will, envelopping the area in an instant.

Rena couldn't help but be amazed by that. Being part of the Kagane family, she was not only talented but a hard worker. It was to the point where she naturally assumed everyone around her age was weaker than her. Raven proved that to be a missconception.

Right before her eyes, the humanoid dragon that she had immobilized became a deep dark silhouette covered in shadow. And before she could even utter a single reaction, her opponent was pulled away in no gentle manner out of her immediate vision. She could perfectly feel Raven's frutrastion by just that.

Though as a byproduct, she stumbled on her knees since the hand that had pierced her belly had been forcefully taken out. She coughed blood, tainting the already destroyed ground in a red. Her consciousness shook once again, despite her effort to keep it awake.

“You alright?” Lia approached her in a hurried manner, worry and hastiness on her face.

“I'm...fine...” Rena answered, struggling greatly. “I can still..go..on..!”

Obviously, in clear contrast of her word, she didn't have the confidence she'd be able to stand up. However, the dragon was still alive and she needed to move to kill it. Her singularity roared inside her along with her Aura.

Nonetherless, it was a bandage tape that stopped her.

“You rest for a minute.” Lia said, her eyes now locked on Raven's fight with the dragon. “We'll manage somehow.”

With those words, Rena heard and saw the blue haired girl kicking the ground and going away. Battlefield didn't permit long time to talk, so despite reluctant, the black haired girl took the bandage tape and accepted the suggestion.

A little clumsy, she began to bandage the hole in her stomach. She protected her vital, yes, but blood loss was also dangerous. Though, just like her sister, first aid wasn't her forte either.

Among the monster and Elite fighting each other, it was truly a sight seeing the 13 years old girl trying to bandage herself. Out of place might be a word for it yet it somehow sounded wrong, too.

And the one who moved to interact with Rena, was Rin's 'accomplice', Winter.

Inducing confusion inside the little sister, the grey-haired girl took the bandage tape from her. Before Rena could protest or even move, Winter continued to bandage her, in a more clean manner.

“You are...?” The black haired girl asked, still confused.

Winter stayed silent for a second, thinking about her next words. “I doubt it will be wise of you to continue to fight in this state.” She pronounced with a firm yet calm voice.

Rena lifted her eyebrow at that, somehow feeling insulted. Sometimes, the cruel truth hurt, but being told that by someone who was in as bad a state as herself wasn't really pleasing.

“...I'm okay with being unwise.” She answered, slightly annoyed.

In response, she heard a small chuckle from ahead of her. Still twining the bandage on her belly, Winter finally achieved a smile. To which, Rena replied with an even more confused expression.

She opened her mouth again, only to be taken by speed by the other.

“You're pretty stubborn, huh,” Having finished the pseudo first aid, Winter cut the bandage tape away. She lifted her head and clashed her black eyes with the blue one. “In that case, how about you do me a favor?”

—And so, Rena would finally be able to see her sister, albeit, in a twisted manner.