Kana's breaths came unevenly as she stood in the middle of the kitchen, eyes locked on the shifting, jagged body of the paper wolf.

The faint glow of its eyes unnerved her, its movements precise, calculated, like it was more than just a simple conjured beast.

She clenched her fists, trying to summon courage, but a part of her faltered.

'How am I supposed to fight this thing…?'

The wolf crouched low, ready to pounce again, and Kana braced herself. But then, a familiar chime rang in her head — her system's voice, calm and firm.

[Reminder: Host possesses maximum stats. Skills available. Awaiting activation command.]

Kana's eyes widened. In the chaos, she had nearly forgotten.

'That's right… I'm not weak anymore.'

She pressed her lips together, drew a steady breath, and whispered in her heart.

'System… I trust you. Activate the best skills for me. Guide me through this.'

[Affirmative. Combat support initiated.]

At once, the world around her shifted. The frantic pace of the wolf's movements seemed to slow, every detail sharper and easier to track.

The sound of claws against tile echoed like distant thunder, and even the swish of its tail cut through the silence in clear rhythm.

Her own body felt lighter, stronger — as though her limbs finally matched the instinct buried within her.

When the wolf leapt, jaws wide and aiming for her throat, Kana didn't flinch. Her body moved before doubt could take hold.

Mana surged to her fingertips, and a shimmering barrier materialized in front of her with precision.

The wolf slammed into it head-on, its snarl breaking into confusion as the force repelled it backward, claws screeching against the magical surface.

Kana's heart thudded, not from fear this time, but from exhilaration.

'I can do this.'

Before the wolf could regain its balance, another pulse of mana surged outward at her system's guidance. This time, it wasn't defensive. It was sharp, destructive.

A flash of light burst from her palm, striking the wolf squarely in its chest. The explosion rattled the walls, scattering fragments of burning paper across the kitchen floor.

The wolf stumbled, its form flickering, pieces struggling to hold together. It tried to stand, growling weakly, but its body betrayed it.

Inch by inch, the creature collapsed, until finally it fell still in a crumpled heap.

Kana exhaled shakily, her entire body trembling. She had won. She had actually won. Relief surged in her chest, but it didn't last long.

A crushing weight settled into her legs, and before she could stop herself, she collapsed onto the floor, her arms struggling to hold her up.

"Kana!"

Lysera's voice cut through the haze. The barrier around the kitchen had finally faded, and in an instant, Lysera was by her side, her arms wrapping around Kana's shoulders.

She looked pale, drained, her breaths shallow. Lysera's eyes softened with both relief and worry.

"You did it. But don't push yourself anymore. Rest. You look like you're going to collapse any second."

Lysera whispered, brushing sweat-matted strands of hair from Kana's face.

Kana wanted to protest, to say she was fine, but her body betrayed her. Her limbs felt unbearably heavy, her vision dimming at the edges.

She let her head fall against Lysera's shoulder and managed a weak smile.

"Thank you…"

Then darkness took her, her body shutting down from exhaustion.

Lysera carried her carefully, laying her down in bed. For a moment, she simply stood there, watching Kana's chest rise and fall, reassured by the steady rhythm of her breathing.

She brushed the back of her hand gently against Kana's cheek, her jaw tightening.

"She pushes herself too hard…"

Lysera muttered under her breath, though her tone was more tender than scolding.

Reluctantly, she left Kana's side and returned to the kitchen. The memory of the wolf still lingered — its eyes, its strange persistence.

She expected to see its remnants still scattered across the tiles, proof of what Kana had overcome.

But when her gaze landed on the center of the floor, she froze.

The wolf's body was gone.

In its place lay nothing but the same sheet of paper that had started it all, fluttering softly as though caught by a breeze.

It looked harmless now, just a piece of parchment. No glow, no movement, no trace of malice.

Lysera approached cautiously, her hand hovering above it. There was no mana signature left — at least none she could detect.

Still, the memory of that barrier keeping her from Kana burned fresh in her mind, and she didn't dare dismiss it as an ordinary scrap.

She crouched down, narrowing her eyes.

"So this was you…"

With deliberate care, she picked up the sheet and turned it over in her hand. The texture felt normal, but faint symbols were etched into its fibers, ones she didn't recognize.

It was dangerous, clearly. But it was also evidence.

Her gaze hardened, and she slipped the paper into her pocket.

"We'll see what you are once Irielle returns. You won't stay a mystery for long."

The room fell quiet again, the chaos of the fight already fading into eerie stillness.

Lysera stood there for a long moment, her mind heavy with unanswered questions. Who sent the wolf? What were they after? And why target Kana so directly?

Her hand drifted to her pocket where the paper rested. Whoever had made it, she swore silently, they would regret underestimating Kana — and her.

With that, she turned back toward Kana's room. For now, the girl needed rest. The battle could wait.

Lysera lingered by Kana's bedside, listening to her soft, steady breathing. The girl looked fragile in her sleep, nothing like the force who had stood against the wolf.

Lysera's gaze softened, but her hand clenched into a fist at her side.

Whoever was targeting Kana had power, cunning, and intent — but they had underestimated Kana's will to survive.

Her thoughts drifted back to the strange symbols carved into the paper now hidden in her pocket. Answers were needed, and soon. She exhaled, whispering to herself.

"We'll figure this out… together."

For now, all she could do was keep watch.

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