It hurt. Every blow the demon rained down on him jerked his small body painfully. Several times, his teeth clamped down on his lips or his tongue and a trickle of blood would flow from his mouth. But the boy chocked back his tears and his pain, forcing himself to at least finish the incantation. That was his only hope of saving both the Ranger and himself.<br/><br/>He had just barely uttered the last word when he was lifted by the throat. The boy gasped and swung his legs, but offered no offensive opposition. He settled to close his eyes and stop moving, preserving what air he had left. Being released was perhaps the greatest relief the boy had felt in a long time.<br/><br/>Kosuke fell to the ground, gasping and rubbing his throat where red finger marks and bruises were forming. He already had several bruises and some cuts appearing from the earlier blows. He could see the demon contorting in pain. Then, it aimed at one final lunge, in attempt to complete the kill before being sealed away.<br/><br/>Kosuke took a breath and tried to focus. His voice was weak and slightly raspy, but he uttered one of the most powerful quick-shield charms he had against dark creatures. "Ward," he muttered simply, holding out one hand. Immediately, a sort of bubble of light formed around the boy.<br/><br/>This spell was basically a demon version of the Anti-Field. In other words, it would repel an enemy's force against them, and send them going backward with the same momentum they invoked to attack. At least that was how it usually worked. Exceptionally strong demons could sometimes pierce the field a bit, and sometimes even break it. That aside, the field did nothing against humans or light creatures. Kosuke hoped for the best.