The Monster Wave's Conclusion
Estina's startled reaction upon seeing him again was a bit unexpected.
"...Why the surprise?"
"Just three weeks? You really don't disappoint. Your recovery speed too."
Her genuinely shocked expression only made him feel more uneasy.
"How long did you think it'd take?"
"Most people need at least half a year for that kind of life. And even then, just to get a feel for it."
"...So that's what you had me doing."
"You couldn't do anything while dealing with the Overbound aftereffects anyway. If you've told the Sword Emperor everything, your value lies solely in your martial prowess..."
Tiny pursed his lips at Estina's brutally realistic words, which stung his pride a little.
"I hoped you'd at least get a sense of it while recovering..."
Estina kept sighing in admiration, leaving him no room to argue, so he changed the subject.
"Anyway, the monster wave shows no sign of stopping? Things don't look good."
Tiny's gaze swept over Estina and her surroundings. Her face was pale, as if from another grueling night, and the Elven Knights looked ready to collapse. The situation seemed worse than three weeks ago.
"Ah, they came swarming like they were covering the horizon again. Had to use Spirit Wave once more at dawn. I should just smash that damned Great Labyrinth to pieces."
"...You've thought about that plenty."
A wry smile crossed both their faces at the same time. A place even legendary Aura Masters couldn't conquer. In his past life, Tiny—having reached Aura Exceeder—had barely escaped with Nocturne. The Great Labyrinth was part of the world even the temples had abandoned.
The scars left by the Demon World War, recorded as humanity's victory in ancient times, were that deep.
'Even if we win this era's Demon World War, the aftermath might...'
Tiny shook his head to dispel the grim thought.
"...We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Too early to worry about aftereffects."
Estina patted his shoulder as if reading his mind.
"So bulk up quick before then. Why are you still so scrawny? You used to be huge."
Her sudden taunt as she looked down at him was the cherry on top. Among female elves, Estina was tall, towering nearly 10 cm over him now.
From someone who shared his past life's memories, it might sound odd, but Tiny could only manage a wry smile.
"Can't eat properly. Thanks to you, I pushed too hard, and everything went to recovery."
In truth, he'd barely recovered his battered body from the empire with the Red Boar tribe's feast. Since then, rushing nonstop, his meals in Elvenheim had been just portable rations after linking with Jay, plus elves' staples of fruit and vegetables. Not much quantity, and meat was only raw from the wolf family. Even that fueled his Nian Ti to heal Overbound aftereffects, so his height lingered around 170 cm.
"So when do you think you'll bulk up again? Wasn't that insane destructive power from your size, strength, and explosive attributes? Setting Nocturne aside."
Tiny could only tilt his head.
"...You didn't see this life's memories?"
"I didn't read every complex thought like your secret arts. You wouldn't have either, right?"
"Ah... yeah. Anyway, I won't grow that big this time."
"What? Why?"
"No need. I can get stronger without it."
"You're not slacking on your base power just because of spirit arts, are you?"
"Of course not. Even purely physical—my past life's bulk was from misguided ambition. It threw off my balance, stunting growth."
This life's realization. Confidence laced his words.
Estina nodded, eyeing him up and down curiously.
"Oh? So this is your full size?"
"No!! I'm only fourteen...!"
Her dismissive gaze made him snap, but with a soul over thirty whining about being young, his face flushed.
"Ugh. Well, body's young, so it'll grow more. Up to my innate limit. Better for progress."
Even as he spoke, her smirking expression irked him, so he added:
"Anyway, I'll end up taller than you eventually."
Estina smiled and ruffled his hair roughly.
"Why, why!?"
"'Cause you're cute."
"What!?"
She chuckled.
"Grow fast, little knight. The world needs you complete ASAP."
"...Yeah. But if you used Spirit Wave again, don't you need my help?"
"Nah, replenished from Kyleum."
"Huh? Then!?"
"Yep, not just you grew. I'll show more later."
Tiny's surprise was warranted. The ancient great spirit Kyleum held a higher realm than others, uniquely sustaining manifestation without contractor aid.
In his past life, Estina kept Kyleum in mana overcharge, recycling it when low for endurance. But recharging took peaceful days, so late in the apocalypse, she'd stuck with Tiny.
"Good news."
"Even better news."
"What?"
"Won't be here long."
"Hm?"
"Three Spirit Waves wiped out tens of thousands each. Even a brutal monster wave like this should end soon."
"Right."
"Back to Elvenheim to root out traitors. You can help till then?"
"Of course."
"Then, if no issues, you'll leave."
"...Yeah."
"Wish we could stick together."
"Can't be helped."
"True."
Even sharing past memories, Estina couldn't aid beyond elven affairs. Like the Sword Emperor symbolizing imperial might, her movement as elven martial icon risked massive unrest.
"So today, I'll show spirit arts' max. Watch close."
"Huh?"
"Your memories helped me master acceleration solid."
Tiny's face lit up. She'd learned a pinnacle technique twenty years early.
"So learn well. Thoroughly."
Her confident smile had reason. Till sunset, Tiny received spirit arts tutelage.
"Stage 4 Potential Link is basics. You're far."
Estina explained firmly.
"Stage 5 is true spirit arts. Direct spirit power use. Like my Eagle's Eye, Wind Attribute, acceleration."
As she said, Wolrang's powers stemmed from it; Tiny couldn't wield them proactively yet.
But.
"Reach stage 7 superhuman like me, and use its awakened Tribal Enhancement. Know what that means?"
Wolrang's new ability held infinite potential—if Tiny led, applying to humans, not wolves.
"In mass war, Tribal Enhancement could be game-changing. Imagine: you regain past power, unleashing it mid-human army."
Personally, acceleration tempted more, but tactically unmatched. From charge leader to strategy core.
'Awesome...'
His heart raced at the thought.
"So raise spirit arts like base power."
Reading him, Estina grinned and continued.
"Watch me tonight. Your senses will catch our link with Kyleum. Got it?"
That night, facing sporadic Black Desert monsters, Estina and Tiny took frontline.
"Watch close, Tiny. Wolf senior, you too."
"Grr, huff."
Wolrang, now huge enough to crane its neck up at, required Estina's full arm stretch to pet. No riding this fight—they'd test its grown power at full size.
Animus-boosted, it transcended stages even without traits.
Then.
"Incoming!"
"Ready!"
"♬♪!!"
Elven Knights bustled at the monsters.
"Here we go."
The World Tree guardian—Sky Knight to humans—unleashed enhanced might.
A massive hawk phantom overlaid her; she vanished like illusion.
KABOOM!
Explosions rocked monster frontlines.
"Fire!!"
"♬♪!!"
Elven arrows followed late, but Tiny focused on Estina.
'Impressive.'
Green aura arrows pierced all; Estina flanked, sword cleaving giants.
Her bow and sword split manifold, shattering everything. Like clones assaulting all sides.
Tiny smiled at the spectacle.
'Acceleration. Mastered it.'
Kyleum's pinnacle: no support magic pierced aura rights on superhumans—foe or ally. Hence transcendent weapons' value.
But spirits' efficient power interfered like them. As now.
Tiny tracked her from start, memorizing mana patterns. More unfolded.
"Kyleum!"
- Kieeeek!
Sky-diving eagle shredded with talons, beak, wind blades.
Tiny felt their mana flow—cleaner, efficient than his to Wolrang.
His comrade, Sky Knight, reborn.
'Cool. Mana's overly vivid, though.'
Her consideration. He absorbed, imprinted it.
"Your turn, Wolrang!"
Poking its side, the fired-up wolf—rivaling the eagle—charged.
The shrunken wave cleared fast from then.