"ROOOOAR!"
The monster roared and charged straight at Phaga. Its speed wasn't fast, but its stride was firm and unrelenting. Even as Phaga's aura grew more intense, the creature paid it no mind, swiping a claw toward him.
Phaga immediately folded his parasol, the sudden sunlight making him frown slightly.
But it didn't slow him down. With a sharp motion, he deflected the monster's claw, his right hand curling into a bladed grip as he struck toward the creature's chest.
Clang!
A piercing screech rang out as his fingertips scraped against metal, sparks flying in every direction.
Phaga's expression darkened. Even that hadn't pierced its defense.
Still, that wasn't enough to dishearten him. It only meant that brute force alone wouldn't break through its shell.
There were plenty of other options—and this thing wasn't particularly strong anyway. First, he just needed to restrain it.
With that thought, Phaga swung another claw strike. Sparks burst again, just like before—but this time, the monster was sent spinning through the air, thrashing wildly for three full rotations before crashing down.
Before it could get up again, Phaga's foot came down hard. His boot crushed the monster's head, grinding it into the ground and leaving a deep crater beneath his heel.
The creature's metal skull struggled frantically under his boot, digging up clouds of dust as it scraped at the hole.
"Rrgh..."
"Rrgh..."
As the others approached, the creature kept writhing, growling in a low rasp as it clawed its way closer to Phaga—its hand nearly brushing his pant leg.
Thud!
Ellen swung her scissors down with full force, smashing them into the creature.
The monster froze instantly. Its outstretched arm tensed... then went limp.
"That should hold it for now, right?"
Ellen kicked her scissors up onto her shoulder, tilting her head toward Phaga.
Phaga raised his parasol again, his boot still pressing firmly on the monster's head. He even ground it down harder, cracks spreading through the cement beneath his foot.
"Subdued, but only temporarily," he said quietly.
Lowering his gaze, Phaga examined the monster's back where Ellen had struck—but there wasn't even a scratch.
After a moment of silence, he sighed. "We need to find a way to deal with it. Otherwise, it'll be back on its feet any second."
No sooner had he spoken than the creature's eyes flickered. Its body twitched, energy surging once more.
Realizing it couldn't lift its head under Phaga's foot, it instead thrust both arms forward. Its spine arched backward unnaturally, legs curling like a scorpion's tail—clearly trying to kick Phaga in the stomach from below.
Unfortunately for it, Ellen wasn't blind—and she wasn't about to just stand there and let it attack Phaga.
Her giant scissors came crashing down again, this time coated in a layer of icy blue frost.
Even Phaga's eyelids twitched at the sight, and he quickly withdrew his foot.
"Hmph."
With a cold snort, Ellen slammed the scissors down. The blow pinned the monster in place as a thick layer of frost instantly spread across its body, freezing it solid.
A perfectly round ice sphere rolled out, the scissors still embedded on top. Inside, the creature was frozen mid-flail, its heels nearly touching its own head.
"Mmmph... Achoo! It's freezing!"
Grace waved her hands to clear away the icy mist, then immediately wrapped her arms around herself, shivering as she backed away.
Out of everyone there, she was the least dressed.
In the distance, Koleda came running over while holding Eous, panting by the time she reached them.
"Is everyone alright? No one's hurt, right?" she asked hurriedly.
"No... Achoo!"
Grace shuffled a few steps farther away, hugging herself tighter before managing a reply. "Phaga and Ellen have the monster under control. Now we just need to figure out how to finish it off."
"If it's some kind of technological construct... maybe lightning or fire would work? If not, maybe Ether could be useful."
Little Eous trotted up and offered his suggestion.
"That works! Let's go with what the Proxy said! My brothers and I will take the lead!"
Still full of energy, Anton struck a pose—one hand on his hip, the other gripping his electric drill—as he laughed boldly.
Beside him, the crane-like Hans joined in enthusiastically, slamming his massive clawed arm against the ground. "Go for it, Big Brother Anton!"
"Alright, I'm going in!"
Anton turned back, gave Hans a thumbs-up, adjusted his gloves, and charged forward, raising his buzzing drill high.
"Wait! Hold on!!"
Before the drill could come down, Anton felt something tugging at his pant leg.
He looked down—it was Eous, pulling at him with all his might. The little screen on his face squinted into a [＞ ＜] shape as he cried out, "If you drill into it and don't kill it, what if you just break the ice and set it free?!"
"But if I don't break the ice, how am I supposed to shock it through the surface?"
Anton bent down, peering at Eous from beneath his arm.
Eous wasn't giving up. "We should at least talk it through first! Give me a second to think!"
Big Ben joined in, nodding in agreement. "Anton, calm down. I think Miss Proxy has a point."
As soon as he spoke, Grace and Koleda also began to side with Eous, nodding slightly in support.
Anton turned toward the others, hoping to see where Victoria Housekeeping stood.
Phaga met his eyes, gave a slight nod, and said calmly, "Victoria Housekeeping supports all of the master's correct decisions."
Great. No one was on his side.
Anton wasn't foolish enough to think Phaga meant him when he said "master."
After all, Koleda was the president, Grace had been the one to suggest hiring Victoria Housekeeping, and Big Ben had paid for their services.
He didn't even make the list.
Deflated, Anton muttered, "Fine... we'll discuss it first... Hey—"
Crack!
A faint sound interrupted him. Instinctively turning his head, Anton saw fissures forming across the surface of the ice sphere containing the monster.
Eous immediately slapped both hands to his face and screamed, "Anton! What did you do?!!"
Anton stumbled backward, scooping Eous into his arms as he ran. "I didn't even touch it!!!"
Boom!
The ice sphere shattered, sending shards flying in every direction.
Big Ben slammed his tamper into the ground and shouted, "Get behind me!"
Grace and Koleda dashed over at once, grabbing Anton and dragging him with them.
Phaga, acting in a flash, pulled Ellen close, lowering his parasol to shield them both from the flying shards.
"ROAR!"
A furious roar erupted from the shattered ice. A massive pair of scissors flew through the air, only to be deflected by Phaga's redirected force.
But it wasn't over yet.
Even as he blocked the blow, Phaga felt something shift beneath his feet. His eyes lowered instinctively—
And suddenly, countless Ether crystals sprouted from the ground. One of them shot upward at alarming speed, knocking his parasol aside before he could react.
The moment it was tilted, a frigid gust swept through.
Phaga focused sharply—the monster was already lunging toward him, its claws poised to strike.
Clang!
The creature landed, its metallic head flickering with light, as though confused by the dark red membrane in front of it.
Phaga slowly spread his wings and tore a strip of cloth from his shoulder with his left hand. "My steward's coat is ruined," he said softly. "I'll have to make a new one when we get back."
Earlier, he hadn't even had time to take off his outer coat before unfurling his wings.
"Mhm."
Ellen nodded slightly, glancing toward the scissors lying nearby. Her pupils trembled. Reaching out, she pinched Phaga's waist lightly.
"Phaga, look over there."
Phaga turned to look—and his brow furrowed.
Ellen's scissors were already showing signs of Ether corrosion.
"Everyone, don't panic! The men are here to help!"
Meanwhile, on the other side, three intelligent machines were brimming with eagerness to jump in.
Hans was the most enthusiastic, raising his mechanical claw high, ready to bring it crashing down.
"Tsk."
Phaga flapped his wings and soared upward with an irritated click of his tongue.
"These idiots."