Watching the girls finish off the creature and then move deeper into the cavern, Ruben let the crystal dim, the projection vanishing until only the faint glow of its runes remained.

Beside him stood Wayana, the Wark girl Logan had tamed along with her tribe, and Irma, the maid who had been at Ruben's side since the start. Both had been watching silently; their faces reflecting pride and worry in equal measure.

Logan exhaled slowly, fatigue pressing down on him. His mana core still pulsed unevenly as it tried to repair itself.

He hadn't dared use any magic since the battle. He knew he was going to be in a world of trouble when Lisa returned, but in his mind, it wasn't so bad so long as he took it easy and avoided pushing himself.

Leaning back in his chair, he gave Ruben a faint smile, though his body ached with the weight of recovery. "Impressive work with that armor, Ruben. I'm not the only one improving by the day. And the girls… they did better than I expected." He sipped from the tea Irma had brought him, its warmth easing the dryness in his throat.

Ruben crossed his arms, the faint scent of oil and hot metal still clinging to him. "They did better than that," he said firmly. "To fight in the air only minutes after putting on new suits? That's not just skill, that's trust in their own growth." His gaze softened, though pride gleamed in his eyes. "As for the armor, most of the credit goes to Marie. I only handled the protective aspects. The way it reforms and adapts? That's all on her. Honestly, I think she has implemented hidden functions that even I don't know about. She and Silvia… they're geniuses."

He tilted his head back toward the now-dark crystal. "Midair combat against wind-driven monsters? Most fighters would've panicked. But they didn't. Their defense held. The few mistakes they made weren't weaknesses, just gaps to fill with strategy."

Logan nodded, though the smile slipped. "I know… but it doesn't change the fact that you helped me once again. Do tell me if you need any help or anything else from me.

"Don't worry about it, bro," Ruben said, his tone firm but calm. "You should know by now it isn't about taking and receiving with us. We just do what needs to be done to help each other. Who knows, next time it might be me who needs saving, and I know I'll be able to count on you." His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Logan's face.

"Now tell me… how are you really taking the loss? That's what's bothering you, isn't it?"

Logan sighed; he felt the weight of the world over him.

His thoughts drifted back to the clash, to the cold steel of the man's gaze, to the helplessness he had felt as the blows rained down. "What can I say… I wasn't strong enough to handle that thing on my own."

He clenched his fist, jaw tightening until it ached. "I can live with my own weakness. What I can't stand is the defeat that Scorch and Zephyr had to endure. They shouldn't have to push themselves that far, risk their lives, just to cover for my mistakes."

The words hung heavy in the air.

Ruben's eyes softened, though his tone stayed firm. "Logan, you weren't the only one brought here. You're not responsible for ending this war alone. Everyone has a part to play, and while we all started out rough, we want and need to fight alongside you. Just look at the girls, everyone's working their butts off, same as you and your creatures. So, relax. We'll get through this."

Logan looked at him for a moment, then finally released a slow breath. "…You're right. I keep slipping back into my old lifestyle, thinking I have to do everything on my own…" His gaze drifted toward the now-dark crystal. "But I'm not alone here. I was given this power to bond with others for a reason."

Ruben gave a small grin, patting his back, part encouragement, part test to see how badly Logan was still hurt. "That fight with the armored harpy was interesting, too. Those metallic feathers gave me a few ideas. If Lisa managed to recover enough of them, I might be able to forge something useful. If the alloy was light enough for the bird to stay airborne, then it has potential. Weapons, armor… maybe even something experimental."

Logan's whose back felt like it was being hit by a rowing paddle, began to walk away slowly. "I just hope you're thinking about a weapon for yourself, too. I'm counting on you to help us when we move on the Empire…"

Logan stepped out into the courtyard, the cool air brushing against his face.

Beyond the walls of his mansion, the ground trembled faintly under heavy steps. Scorch was waiting just outside, the towering dinosaur's scales bandaged where the warrior had broken through his tough skin.

Luckily, all his limbs were intact, and his bones and muscles were back to normal.

Zephyr, who had stretched his wings, circled low before perching nearby, his great talons scraping the stone floor before coming close to Logan.

Most of his companions had grown far too large to stay within the city walls, yet a few, like these two, were given freedom to move about without anyone minding much.

They were his first bond in this world, his oldest and most powerful monsters, the ones who had grown alongside him in this other world.

Scorch loomed closer, nostrils venting hot breath, frustration evident through their bond.

[We… want to fight, get stronger,] the dinosaur rumbled, his voice heavy with shame. [More levels master. I will win this time.]

Logan placed a hand against his scaled snout, and the emotions of his creature quickly changed into joy. "We won't fight that guy alone next time. We gotta accept it, we lost badly, but it wasn't your failure, Scorch, you and Zephyr… we tried our best. Just don't worry about it yet, we'll grow stronger together."

Zephyr placed his large meter-long face near his shoulders gently.

He, in his four-meter-long frame, had to be careful since one wrong move could crush Logan.

The large eagles' feathers were soft, though, and Logan patted Zephyr's face and beak.

[Need to train also… I, my winds could not cut him. My gales bent before his power. I am sorry, master.]

Logan looked from one to the other, then felt a sudden squeeze at his wrist.

The bracelet there, the form Scarlet had taken, tightened against his skin.

His very first companion, the crimson majesty who once shielded the castle beneath a dome of thorns, stirred as if to remind him that she, too, shared their pain.

"Yeah, I feel you, Scarlet," Logan murmured, brushing his fingers across the band until it eased its grip. "You want to grow stronger as well. And one day, you'll be more than just a bracelet. We'll get you there. This time, through easier battles that won't kill us."

His gaze hardened, fist curling tight. "Like the girls, we need to keep improving, keep perfecting our morphing ability. That fight showed us what waits deeper in the labyrinth. Once I'm healed, we'll train until we're ready."

Scorch rumbled low, not frustration this time, but resolve. Zephyr spread his wings wide, sending a gust that rattled the courtyard gates.

Logan lingered in the courtyard a little longer, letting the wind settle after Zephyr's display.

His body still ached with every step, but the heaviness in his chest felt lighter now that he'd spoken to them.

Slowly, he turned back toward the mansion. His gait was unsteady, the kind of weakness that came not from wounds but from a mana core still frayed and fragile.

Before he could reach the steps, a reflection from the sun's rays seemed to hit him from the side, almost blinding him. The glow came from a strange blob that bent and swirled before reforming into a familiar shape.

"Kryst?"

She had arrived in the same of a bird which slowly turned back into her original slime form before turning into her human form, a slender girl which still had skin like a translucent crystal, her features delicate, almost ethereal.

Her eyes glowed with the soft light of the same color as her core.

Without a word, she closed the distance and wrapped her arms around him.

Logan exhaled sharply at the sudden contact that seemed to heal him with just a touch. He soon felt the warmth of her magic seep into him.

The embrace wasn't just physical; her crystalline body softened, enveloping him partially, threads of mana threading through his chest and shoulders. His aches dulled almost instantly, his battered core soothed as if submerged in cool, healing waters.

"…Kryst," he murmured, resting a hand on her back, feeling the faint vibration of her powerful light-based magic. "Thanks for coming, I feel better already..."

The crystal girl only held him tighter, her body glowing faintly as she poured her essence into mending him further.

Logan let the silence linger for a few seconds before the slime took on the shape of his armor. For the first time since the labyrinth, he felt… safe.