They passed through the ravine. Before them, Mount Kagaminaki towered into the sky. The morning sun struck the silver minerals on the mountain's face, setting them ablaze with glittering light. "[whispers]...It's huge." Ryou murmured. But their voice was strained. Not because the mountain was big. Because Yura was beside them. Ever since that night by the campfire, they'd been restless. Ryou stole a glance at Yura's profile. Black hair swaying in the wind, narrow eyes gazing up at the mountain. *Thump.* Their chest was so damn loud. "[angry]I-It's not that impressive, okay! A mountain this size is nothing!" Ryou deliberately raised their voice. Yura glanced at Ryou. "[cold]...I see. Then why are you so red." "[angry]I-I'm not red! That's just the morning sun!" "[sarcastic]...Hah. Are you stupid." "[angry]Shut up! Come at me!" The usual bickering. But Ryou's heart was pounding as they said it. (*Crap, I can't even look at them properly.*) Yura wasn't facing Ryou either. But their ears were just a little red. The distance between them had shrunk, yet they couldn't be honest. *Scrape.* Ryou dragged their greatsword and started walking. —That's when it happened. *BOOM!!* From behind a boulder, a massive shadow burst forth. The ground shook. "[angry]Whoa!?" Ryou instinctively raised their greatsword. But it was heavy. The shadow landed on a rock with a thunderous crash. A man. A gigantic body you had to crane your neck to see. Wild, reddish-brown hair. Gleaming golden eyes. A deep scar on his left cheek. A dangerous, beast-like scent radiated from his entire being. "Gyahahahaha!!" The laughter echoed through the mountain. "Took you long enough to get here, you bastards!" Kiba. The Reverse Scale fragment in Ryou's hand grew hot and glowed white. The same light shone from Kiba's hip. "I'll be taking that fragment!" Kiba spread his brawny arms wide. Muscles bulged, veins standing out. A body he'd gained from the swap, one he loved to flaunt. "Look at this body! Power is everything! You think I'd ever go back to being that miserable little runt I was!?" Spittle flying, Kiba roared. His golden eyes gleamed with madness. "If you bastards are gonna take down Miravolte, then I'll stop you. To protect this body—I'll crush you to pieces!" "[angry]What did you say, you bastard!" Ryou lifted their greatsword with both hands. *Scrape.* They stepped in. And swung down with all their might. —*CLANG!!* Kiba caught the greatsword with one hand. Completely unfazed. "Gyahaha! What's with that strength! You're like a little girl!" Kiba twisted his wrist. Ryou's body, greatsword and all, went flying. *SLAM!!* Their back smashed against a boulder. "[angry]Guah!" All the air left their lungs. Blonde hair in disarray. Their skirt torn, blood seeping from their thigh. Yura drew their bow. But the string was newly replaced. They didn't know the right tension. *Fwish—* The arrow flew. Kiba deflected it with his armor. A light *tink*. "You think a peashooter like that's gonna work!?" Laughing, Kiba charged straight at Yura. "[scared]—!" Yura leaped sideways. But Kiba was faster. A massive hand seized Yura's arm. *Yank.* "[cold]Let go!" Yura struggled. Kiba kept pushing them toward the edge of the cliff. Below the cliff was a deep ravine. A white-frothed river roared as it surged through. If they fell, they'd die. "You're first!" Kiba moved to hurl Yura off the cliff—in that instant. "LIKE HELL I'LL LET YOU!!" Ryou, injured body and all, sprinted over with everything they had. Their arm hurt. Their leg hurt too. But none of that mattered. They threw their whole body between Yura and Kiba. —*WHAM!!* Kiba's fist struck Ryou's arm directly. *Crack.* The sound of bone breaking. "[angry]GUAAAAAAAH!!" Ryou screamed. The momentum slammed them violently against the rock. *CRASH!!* Their right leg bent in a direction it shouldn't. "[scared]Ryou!!" Yura screamed. Not their usual cold voice. A trembling, shriek-like voice. Ryou clenched their teeth and looked at Yura. "[angry]...Shut up. What're you yelling for." Blood dripped steadily from their arm. Ryou tried to stand on their broken arm. But their right leg wouldn't move. "[scared]Why... did you shield me...!" Yura's black eyes were wide open. Ryou, face twisted in pain, grinned. "[serious]Because I thought... losing you would be bad." A brusque voice. But their face was dead serious. Yura's chest tightened. "Gyahahaha!! What's this, a tearjerker!? Don't make me laugh!" Kiba wore a leisurely grin. Then, from his chest, he pulled out a small orb. "I planted these in your armor ahead of time. For moments just like this!" Kiba smashed the orb against the ground. —*HISSSSSSSSSSSS!!* Ryou's breastplate and Yura's shoulder guard burst open. White smoke erupted from inside with tremendous force. "[scared]Wha—what is this!?" In an instant, the smoke dyed the entire area pure white. They couldn't see a thing. Not Yura's figure, not Kiba's. "Yura!! Where are you, Yura!!" Ryou shouted. In the smoke, they couldn't tell direction or distance. They reached out their arm. They grasped nothing. "YURAAA!!" Their voice went hoarse. Smoke entered their lungs, making them choke. —That moment. The ground beneath their feet vanished. "[scared]Eh—" It was the cliff. The smoke had just hidden it from view. Their body hung in the air. *ROOOOAAAAAR!!* Freezing water. Ryou's body had fallen into the river below the cliff. The violent current tossed them about. Their broken arm struck a rock, sending searing pain through them. "Yura... Yuraa..." Ryou's cries faded into the river's roar. Under the water, their vision blurred. Consciousness slipped away. (*Yura...*) In the cold water, Ryou's awareness sank into darkness. The smoke cleared. At the foot of the mountain, there was no one. No sign of Ryou. No sign of Yura. Atop the cliff, Kiba laughed loudly. "Gyahahahaha!! One fell in the river, huh! As for the other—" At Kiba's feet, Yura lay collapsed. Bound with rope, unable to move. "You can take a nice long rest in the mountain prison!" Kiba hoisted the fallen Yura effortlessly onto his shoulder. "Like hell I'm ever going back to my original body! I'm gonna live forever in this ultimate form!" Still laughing, Kiba vanished into the mountainside. Only the eerie laughter continued to echo through Mount Kagaminaki. Downstream. Blonde hair drifted on the cold water's surface. Ryou was caught on a rock, limp. Their breathing was shallow, consciousness not returning. But their right hand alone gripped something tightly. The Reverse Scale fragment. It glowed white, faintly. As if praying for its owner's safety.