But before she can smash into the wall face first and ruin her good looks, a chain apparently made of light itself snakes after her like a bullet, unceremoniously snatching her by the ankle and halting her movement with some severe whiplash.

She vomits mid-air. Poor Kiku. But whatever that was probably prevented a potentially fatal injury.

I spin back to look behind me. The chain leads back to Yuuzu, who has one eye closed in a grimace and is being supported up by a simultaneously worried and relieved looking Rishya. Such a complex and surprisingly beautiful expression. The brown haired girl is also coughing in a sitting position now.

So much has happened whilst I was gawking in a flap. I need to stop panicking and get myself together!

I slap my cheeks.

"Are you ok, Miss Yuuzu? And your friend?" I ask her as Kiku is literally reeled in like a fish on a line.

She looks up at me with some surprise as I address her, but Rishya gleefully answers for her, interposing herself between us in a happy jump.

"She is! We really saved her, Elijah!"

Yuuzu stares briefly at Rishya and me, and smiles warmly.

"Thank-you kindly for the assist, Ser Elijah. I owe you a debt." Her voice is highly lyrical.

"Not at all. You've just rescued my swordsgirl as well."

Just on cue, swirly eyed Kiku finishes being reeled in like a fish, and is deposited next to us.

The beast returns to roaring behind us and combat has resumed already over my shoulder.

I nod to Yuuzu, and crouch to check out Kiku with concern. She looks more green than usual and is passed out. Her grip is still tightly on one other blade, but she is breathing and otherwise appears unhurt.

"She will be ok. She will be. I will make her." Rishya chants to herself, balling her fists. She has a cute determined expression when I look to her as she comes down next to me.

"I trust you, Rishya." I nod.

She gawks for a second, then nods with determination.

I breathe out, standing up in time to witness another pair of lightning bolts smash the beast away from a desperately parrying Aria. She leaps back, panting. The red haired girl takes her place in a flurry of blows, apparently still as energetic as ever.

But... we need to finish this soon, or a death really will occur...

How can we chain it down?

Chain it... what about Yuuzu's...

The brown-haired gothaloli girl suddenly appears next to me. She looks like quite the ojou-sama, with her long brown hair, but the image is suddenly spoiled as necrofire vertically spikes from her right fist, and forms into a giant bow made of dark steel.

She pulls one of those scary arrows out that Kaede found earlier, answering that question, and with a draw that baffles the imagination from her slender frame, lets rip with the arrow.

It hits with some force, smacking aside the beast's scythe just enough for it to completely miss the agile red haired girl, who proceeds to kick the beast’s skull once more, sending it reeling, before back-flipping away.

The arrows have barbs.

Is this it? It's worth a shot.

"Nice shot. Do you think you can hit close to the crystal?"

She looks at me and snorts with some disdain.

"I have already tried that. The movement makes it difficult. And when it does connect, the damage is insignificant."

"But you can certainly get it close? That's all I need!"

She gapes incredulously as I pat her shoulder, and I then immediately turn to Yuuzu.

"Miss Yuuzu?" I ask. "Are your chains able to pin the beast down?"

She also looks surprised.

"Uh... not likely. I can... maybe... trip it up?"

I look back to the other girl, who has pulled another barbed arrow. A roar resounds behind her again.

"Can you hit the crystal in that window of time?"

"Hmmph! Naturally... but I just said..." she debates.

I rudely grab the arrow off her, take a vial, and skewer the wadding on one of the arrows barbs. It remains quite secure when I tug at it.

"Now it will damage." I state, matter of factly.

She snatches the arrow back.

"This?! Don't be ridiculous!" She complains.

"Perhaps you should trust him, Kurono." Yuuzu replies. "We have a debt to repay. This man and Rishya saved us."

The brown haired girl is Kurono? I see. She seems stubborn.

"I... whatever. I will make it count."

Yuuzu smiles at her, and Kurono blushes and looks away.

Oh... oh my... so she plays for the other team?

I grin at this interesting (and possibly premature) revelation. Well... time for crazy plan part two!