Cheers to Battle! | Episode 1: "Explo--"

[Reader Advisory]
This work contains battle scenes involving sword fighting, magic, and monster subjugation🌱
Please be aware if you are sensitive to intense depictions⛱️
[Introduction]
This story is a work of fictional fantasy.
It is planned to be delivered as an eight-part short series✨ Well then🐾

Episode 1: "Explo--"

Whirrr.

Whirrr.

A white light began to swirl at the tip of Saika's staff.

"Explo--"

"W-wait!"

Dabed's voice overlapped with the incantation.

"Saika, don't use that right away!"

"Why not!"

"What do you mean 'why not', you...!"

As if to trample those words, the dark brown minotaur kicked the ground.

Its white horns pointed toward Saika.

The stone floor rumbled.

"See, it's coming!"

The staff pointed forward again.

"That's why I told you not to fire a big move right off the bat!"

"That's not it, Fireball!!"

A fireball flew, trailing a thread of light.

Boom.

Fire sparked on the Minotaur's chest.

"Hey, ouch, ouch, ouch. That was way too close!"

Dabed shouted, turning his face away.

"It didn't hit you, did it!"

"It's hot!"

"You're an old man, aren't you? Just endure it."

"Wha—I still think I'm young!"

"In your own mind, maybe."

A low growl came from beyond the smoke.

The smell of burnt fur drifted over.

"Dabed, shall we try catching it for a moment?"

"Catch what?"

"Mino-chan."

"Don't add '-chan' to it. And don't talk as if catching it is a given."

In the back, the giant body moved.

Thud.

The stone floor shook.

Saika grinned, keeping her staff resting on her shoulder.

"If you stop it once, I'll make sure to hit it properly this time."

"Don't say 'this time.' It makes me nervous."

In the back, the white horn sank low.

The sound of stone floor being scraped drew closer.

"So, what are we going to do?"

"Aim for the legs. I'll handle the rest."

"Eh, that's boring."

Dabed held his sword up in front of his face with his left hand.

He inserted a jewel imbued with flame into the hilt's recess with his right hand.

Click.

A red light raced from the base of the blade.

With a whoosh, the air rippled.

"Just do it!"

Saika swung her staff, looking dissatisfied.

A small fireball burst at the approaching feet.

Thud.

The giant body sank slightly to the left.

"Now!"

Dabed stepped in beneath the white horn.

Vwoooom.

The horn grazed over his head.

The heated blade slashed diagonally from below.

Slash.

A heavy impact reverberated through both of his arms.

"Ugh, ooooooh!"

Dabed pushed out a shout as he swung his blade through.

A thick arm danced through the air like a black shadow.

The massive body tilted heavily to the side.

The hand that had fallen to the ground was still trying to grab something.

"You did it. Leave it to me."

Behind him, Saika's staff was raised high.

"Please. Hey, I kno--"

"I know."

Red particles had already begun to gather at the tip of Saika's staff.

A faint resonance was turning into sound.

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and her eyes began to shine.

Vwoom.

At the tip of the staff, a ribbon of flame began to overlap and coil.

This time, Dabed didn't stop her.

"Firestorm!"

A vortex of flame swirled up from the ground, engulfing the wobbling giant.

Whoosh--.

The minotaur's voice cut off amidst the flames.

As the fire dissipated, only a black scorch mark remained on the stone floor.

Where the massive body had been just moments ago, there were no arms, no horns, and no shadow.

Only the smell of burning lingered in the air for a while.

Dabed lowered his sword and watched the flames grow small and fade deep within the orb.

"...The Orb of Fire—was it too early to use it here?"

"You still have more, don't you? We won, so isn't that fine?"

Saika said lightly.

"Phew, that took a bit out of me."

She lowered her staff and rolled her shoulders slightly.

"Saika, stay rested for a while. You understand?"

"Yes, yes."

Dabed sat down on a nearby stone and slowly closed his eyes.

In the distance, a bell rang once.

I made a story song🎈
You can listen to it in 30 seconds.
I created it with Gemini (Lyria 3).
Please listen here☘️
　↓Listen🎯

What do you think?
If you'd like, I'd be happy if you could leave your thoughts in the comments✨🐾

Episode 2: In Progress (Tentative) "The Man with the Shield"