Let's Train Heroine

The forest was deathly silent as Hima's body hit the ground. The once vibrant and confident magician now lay motionless, her legs severed just below the knees. Blood stained the dirt beneath her, pooling around her as her golden hair spread in a halo around her pale face.

The magical barrier she had been maintaining flickered out of existence as soon as she fell, leaving Julia, Rina, and Olive exposed to the open air. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze.

"Hima!" Julia's voice cracked as she dropped to her knees beside her fallen comrade. Her hands hovered over the stump where Hima's legs had once been, shaking. "No, no, no... this can't be happening." She glanced at Rina and Olive, desperation in her eyes. "She's... she's lost her legs."

Rina's face darkened, her jaw clenching as she knelt beside Julia. Her heart ached for Hima, but she knew this was no time to grieve. They were still in danger. "We need to get her out of here," Rina said, her voice strained but steady. Her gaze flicked to the forest beyond. The demon was still lurking, waiting.

"We need to move. Now."

Olive, always the stoic one, looked at Hima's ruined form in stunned silence. For the briefest moment, the assassin's icy exterior cracked, her usually unreadable face twisting in an expression of deep concern. But she quickly masked it, knowing they couldn't afford to lose focus now. Her hand tightened around her knives, her black eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement.

"She's not going to make it if we don't move fast," Olive said in a low, grim voice. "We need to find shelter. That demon won't wait long."

Julia clenched her fists, fighting back tears. She had never felt so helpless. Her magic sword—so powerful in her hands—had been utterly useless against the demon. All her strength, all her skills as a leader, had failed to protect her team. And now Hima had paid the price.

"Let's go," Julia whispered, her voice thick with guilt. "We'll carry her—"

Before Julia could finish, the ground trembled beneath their feet, and a deep, guttural growl echoed through the forest. The demon was coming. Its massive shadow loomed from the trees, its acid-dripping teeth glinting in the faint light. The air grew heavy with the creature's presence, oppressive and cold. Julia, Rina, and Olive exchanged a glance. The fight wasn't over.

Rina stood up, gripping her heavy sword with one hand while bracing herself for the oncoming battle. Her muscles ached, and exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her, but she couldn't let it show. "We need to hold it off, just long enough to escape. Stay close," she ordered, her voice sharp as steel.

Julia nodded, forcing herself to focus. She summoned the last of her magical energy, her sword glowing faintly with ethereal light. But deep down, she knew it wasn't enough. They had thrown everything at this demon, and nothing had worked.

The demon emerged from the shadows, towering over them, its grotesque form illuminated by the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the trees. Its eyes gleamed with malice, and its mouth twisted into a horrifying grin. The acidic saliva dripped from its jaws, sizzling as it hit the ground.

Olive was the first to strike, her knives flashing as she moved with lightning speed. She darted toward the demon, aiming for its joints, hoping to find some vulnerable spot. But the demon was faster. Its massive claw swung through the air, narrowly missing Olive as she ducked and rolled out of the way.

Rina charged in next, swinging her massive sword in a powerful arc. The blade collided with the demon's side, but just as before, it passed through the creature's flesh as if it were cutting through smoke. The demon barely flinched, its body twisting and reforming around the attack.

"We can't hurt it!" Rina shouted in frustration, her muscles straining as she pulled her sword back for another strike. "None of this is working!"

Julia gritted her teeth, raising her magic sword high. "We have to keep trying!" She swung her blade with all her strength, sending a wave of energy toward the demon. The attack struck the demon's chest, but once again, the creature simply absorbed the blow, laughing as it stalked toward them.

Olive danced around the demon's attacks, her movements precise and calculated. She managed to land a few quick slashes with her knives, but it was like trying to fight a storm with raindrops. The demon was too powerful, too overwhelming.

Then, as Olive was preparing for another attack, a sudden, intense feeling of dread washed over her. Her instincts screamed at her to move, and she looked up just in time to see something horrible—a second demon, slightly smaller but just as terrifying, emerging from the darkness. Its eyes locked onto her, and before she could react, it hurled a massive ball of glowing green acid straight at her.

"Olive, watch out!" Julia screamed, her heart lurching in her chest.

Olive spun on her heels, trying to dodge, but it was too late. The acid struck her in a searing explosion of pain. The corrosive liquid splashed across her face, chest, arms, and stomach. The burning sensation was immediate, intense, and unbearable.

Olive screamed—a sound so raw and visceral it sent chills through Julia and Rina. She dropped to the ground, her body convulsing as the acid ate through her skin. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, and Olive's once-immaculate face was now a mess of charred skin and exposed muscle. Her body spasmed uncontrollably, her mind overwhelmed with the agony.

Julia's heart broke at the sound of her friend's cries, but she couldn't afford to lose focus. "Olive!" she shouted, but Olive was beyond hearing, her mind consumed by the pain.

The demon, seeing Olive fall, advanced with terrifying speed, its claws poised to finish her off. Julia and Rina were barely holding on, each strike from the demon leaving them more battered and broken. Blood dripped from their wounds, their armor cracked and useless.

Julia's breath came in ragged gasps as she fought to stay on her feet. Her body was covered in cuts and bruises, and she could feel her strength waning with each passing second. "Rina," she gasped, "we can't keep this up..."

Rina, equally exhausted, swung her sword in a desperate attempt to keep the demon at bay. "We don't have a choice!" she growled through gritted teeth. "We can't let it win!"

But even as they fought, it was clear they were losing. The demon's attacks were relentless, and they had no way to fight back effectively. Every time they struck, the demon reformed, mocking them with its resilience.

Then, as quickly as it had begun, the fight stopped.

The demon, towering over them, suddenly paused. Its eyes flickered, and its grotesque mouth twisted. Without warning, it turned away from them, retreating into the shadows as if it had lost interest in the fight.

Julia and Rina stood frozen, their hearts pounding in their chests. "What… why is it leaving?" Julia asked, her voice trembling with confusion. "I don't understand."

Rina, panting heavily, shook her head. "I don't care why. We need to move. Now."

They didn't waste another second. Julia hurried over to Olive, who lay on the ground, her body still trembling in pain. She bent down, lifting her friend as gently as she could. Olive's skin was blistered and burned, but she was alive, barely. "I've got you," Julia whispered, tears stinging her eyes as she cradled Olive in her arms.

Rina, abandoning her heavy sword, rushed to Hima's side. Her heart ached as she looked down at her fallen friend, her legs severed and blood still oozing from the wounds. Without hesitation, Rina hoisted Hima onto her shoulder, grunting under the weight. She paused for a moment, her eyes falling on Hima's severed legs lying a few feet away.

For a split second, she considered grabbing them, hoping that somehow they could be saved.

But there wasn't time.

The demon could return at any moment, and staying here any longer would mean certain death. Better to lose her legs than her life. Rina shook her head, steeling herself, and turned away from the severed limbs. "Let's go," she muttered, her voice cold and determined.

Together, Julia and Rina ran through the forest, their bodies aching, their minds spinning with despair. They didn't look back. There was nothing left behind them but death and shadows.

They had survived—for now—but at what cost?

After leaving, they rushed to nearest city as soon as possible, without stopping for single second, Rina and Julie rushed to hospital.

Thanks to being S Class, Hima was still alive even though she lost a lot of blood, and Rina also had put stopped her bleeding.

Olive was alive as well, even though skin burn down, melting away, and Julia also put magic around her injury, she can't stop the damage but she can slow it down.