The trio reacted swiftly to the alarm. Mari laid the dazed Sekimoto on the bed, locked the door, and joined Tatsuya and Mayumi, who had already exited the hidden room.
"Intruders," Tatsuya said, glancing at the ceiling's message board. Mayumi and Mari looked up, confirming his words.
"Who's this reckless?" Mari muttered, a mix of awe and dread in her voice. After the hospital attack two days ago, Western Tokyo was under heightened police alert. The Hachioji Special Detention Center was at 200% vigilance, patrolled by 50% more officers. Only a skilled operative or a fool would dare breach it. Mari's gut told her it was the former.
"Tatsuya-kun, where are they coming from?" Mayumi asked.
"Rooftop entry. Likely parachuted or catapult-launched. They're near the east staircase, third floor," Tatsuya replied, checking his terminal.
Mayumi's eyes glazed over, activating her innate sensory magic, Multiscope, to scan the area. "Spot-on, Tatsuya-kun. Four intruders, armed with high-power rifles."
High-power rifles, designed to pierce defensive magic, used propellants three to four times stronger than standard assault rifles. Their advanced craftsmanship wasn't something street thugs could acquire.
"Guards are holding them off with shield barricades at the stairwell," Mayumi reported.
"Corridor exits are sealed with bulkheads," Tatsuya added, reading the building's 3D map.
Their position on the second floor near the central staircase gave them some leeway, but—
"They're coming here," Tatsuya said, his gaze sharpening on the central staircase. Mari's eyes followed, locking onto the exit.
"What?" Mayumi asked, momentarily confused.
A hulking young man appeared. Mari recognized him instantly. "Roaring Tiger."
Mayumi blinked, clueless, but Tatsuya's grim expression didn't waver—he knew the face and the threat without needing the name.
"We should escape, but it's too late," Tatsuya said as Roaring Tiger's eyes locked onto Mari. Stepping in front of the girls, Tatsuya stayed calm.
Mari grabbed his shoulder. "I'll take the front. Tatsuya-kun, guard Mayumi."
Tatsuya inwardly sighed—Mari was skilled, a top-tier third-year in magical combat, but Roaring Tiger was a transcendent close-quarters fighter. An irregular like Tatsuya stood a better chance. Still, Mari and Mayumi shifted to battle mode, ignoring his concerns.
Mari's hand whipped forward, transforming her modified skirt into a 20cm baton. As she and Roaring Tiger locked eyes, Mayumi struck first, unleashing a barrage of dry ice bullets. Roaring Tiger dashed forward, but half the projectiles hit, deflected by his Steel Qigong armor.
Undeterred, he charged Mari, who met him with a 40cm blade—a three-segmented short sword, its 20cm handle linked to two 20cm blades by fine wires. Mayumi's second volley, sharper and faster, forced Roaring Tiger to leap back. His instincts were spot-on; these bullets had double the piercing power.
Seeing his human-like expression, Mayumi fired a third volley. Roaring Tiger blocked with a physical barrier and lunged at her with godlike speed, bypassing Mari. But before Mari could react, Tatsuya stepped between them, unleashing a torrent of psions. As Roaring Tiger switched from information reinforcement to a physical barrier, Tatsuya's Spell Dismantling stripped his armor away.
Mayumi's next shot hit. Even a transcendent like Roaring Tiger couldn't fully recover from the shock of his barrier breaking. Though he rebuilt his Steel Qigong, Mayumi's high-powered, low-count bullets pierced through, dealing damage. From behind, Mari struck, and before the guards arrived, Roaring Tiger collapsed, defeated by three high schoolers.
Leaving Roaring Tiger to the four arriving guards, Tatsuya, Mari, and Mayumi exited the detention center. Thanks likely to Mayumi's Saegusa influence, they skipped questioning. As they walked, Mari hesitated before speaking.
"Tatsuya-kun… you know to keep this quiet, right?"
"My silence about your weapon or Douji Slash?"
Mari sighed, and Mayumi groaned. "You knew…" Mari said.
"You know everything, Tatsuya-kun," Mayumi added.
"Not everything. I won't discuss spell details, naturally," Tatsuya replied.
"I trust you, but… don't mention I can use Douji Slash," Mari insisted.
Tatsuya understood her concern instantly, giving a wry smile as he agreed. He respected personal freedom, especially for a high schooler, and had no interest in petty gossip.
"Let's head back," Mayumi said cheerfully.
"You seem happy," Mari noted.
"Maybe because Tatsuya-kun protected me?"
"Hey! He wasn't the only one!" Mari protested.
"I know, but without him, we might've been seriously hurt… or worse," Mayumi said.
"Well… true," Mari conceded.
Tatsuya, watching their banter from a step back, let another wry smile surface.
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