Soka watched as Hayato took a number of hits to guard him.

He wanted to tell him to evade the attacks, but he focused on the spell he had been doing. Finally, it was ready. "Equip metal!"

A pointed double-edged blade equipped to Soka's right arm. "Hey, don't worry about me! I'll be fine. Thanks for buying me some time," he said, beginning to cut the vines that had been restraining him. Even if he only managed to free himself by the time the others had finished off the creatures, it would be better than being stuck here and having someone else defend him.

"Finish them off if you can! I'm a bit tied up here."