Yuri stood before the injured female, her heart heavy with the weight of the woman's words. She could see the fear and desperation in the woman's eyes, and knew that there was something truly grave at stake.
"Whatever you do…you must not let Master go with Asrath…he must not meet with the Observer, I beg of you!" the woman implored, her voice trembling with emotion.
"I understand," Yuri said softly, her voice gentle but resolute.
"Under no circumstances should he meet with the Observer!" the woman yelled, her voice hoarse with urgency. Despite her injuries, she still managed to sound aggressive.
"I said I understand," Yuri repeated, still keeping her voice calm and soothing even though she was clearly getting annoyed.
But the woman was not satisfied. "No you don't!" she suddenly yelled, her eyes focused on the ground as tears followed. "You don'understand….I've been restarting, from the same point, over and over and over and over and over and … over… again."
Yuri's heart sank as she listened to the woman's words. She could feel the weight of the woman's despair, it felt as though she was the one feeling it.
"Every time, he dies. No matter how many times I restart, he still dies, right in front of me…every…time." The woman cried, her voice breaking with emotion. "He…he always slips from my hand and there was nothing I could do!"
Yuri felt a lump form in her throat as she listened to the woman's words. She knew that feeling of helplessness all too well, the despair of watching someone you care for slip away despite your best efforts.
"I had to watch him die every time, from my failure," The woman said, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you don't do something, he's really going to die this time..do you get it? Master is going to die!"
Yuri's heart clenched with sorrow as she looked into the woman's eyes. She could feel the urgency of the situation, the gravity of the consequences if they failed.
But she also felt a fierce determination building within her. She would not let Master die, not if there was anything she could do to prevent it.
"I understand," Yuri said firmly, her voice filled with conviction. "And I will do everything in my power to make sure that Master is safe. I swear it."
"If you are truly me from the future, then I have no doubt you've tried everything in your power to protect him…this only means I have to try harder".
The woman's eyes searched Yuri's face for a moment, before finally nodding in agreement. "I'm glad you understand… I was just…".
Suddenly, Yuri's eyes widened in shock as the woman's hand exploded, leaving her writhing in pain on the ground. Blood gushed from the wound, staining the ground red as the woman clutched at the stump where her hand used to be.
"What the hell just happened?!" Yuri gasped, staring at the woman in horror.
"I'm… I'm in a battle." The woman gritted out through clenched teeth, her face twisted in agony. "Divanchi is keeping the enemy busy".
Yuri felt a cold sweat break out across her skin as she realized the gravity of the situation.
"We need to get you help," Yuri said, her voice urgent as she knelt beside the injured woman.
But the woman shook her head, her eyes blazing with determination. "No. That would be…stupid. What you need to do Is complete the copulation ritual with master, after that…you'll have the power to reset".
Yuri could see the desperation in the woman's eyes, the sheer willpower that kept her going despite the pain and trauma she had endured.
"Copulation? Sure…I'll get it done." Yuri vowed, clenching her fists with determination. "I won't let him reach the Observer."
The woman nodded, her eyes closing as she slumped against the ground. "Good luck," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You'll need it."
Yuri felt a surge of determination fill her chest as she rose to her feet, her heart set on stopping Asrath before it was too late. But as she turned to leave, she could not shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the back of her mind, a sense of dread that whispered of things yet to come.
…..
Like a shock, Yuri suddenly opened her eyes and found herself laying on the ground next to the remaining o f Sato's subordinates.
She immediately stood up from the ground, "I passed out?" She uttered, looking around to see how lots of people were lying unconscious on the ground.
"Oh right…master was holding a meeting with and then…" Yuri paused when she suddenly remembered the discussion she had with her future self.
Her heart was pounding with confusion and anxiety. She took deep breaths and tried to clear her mind, but her thoughts kept circling back to the ominous warning her future self had given her.
She sat on the rocky ground, her eyes fixated on a distant point, lost in her thoughts. The unconscious bodies of Sato's subordinates were scattered around her. The sky was turning orange as the sun began to set.
"Could it have been real?" Yuri muttered to herself, her voice barely audible. "What did she mean by 'watched him die over and over again'?"
Yuri tried to shake off the uneasy feeling, but it lingered like a bad dream. She felt a sense of responsibility to protect Sato, but she didn't know how or where.
As she sat there lost in thought, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see one of Sato's subordinates, a young beastman with bandages around his arms, looking at her with concern.
"Miss Yuri, are you okay?" He asked.
Yuri looked at him, momentarily surprised. She had been so lost in her thoughts that she had forgotten where she was.
"I'm fine," She said, forcing a smile. "Just lost in thought."
The young man nodded, but Yuri could tell he was still worried. She tried to put on a brave face and focus on the task at hand.
She looked at the beastman and asked, standing to her feet with a smile, "Where is lord Sato?".