"Captain, the Ethereal have all revolted! Are you done over there yet?"
On the second floor of the boys' dormitory, a fully manned ten-person squad was squeezed into a narrow corridor. Rifles roared in their hands, and every so often someone yanked a grenade from their belt and hurled it down the hall.
Explosions shook the floor. Dust exploded upward, and fragments of brick and stone blasted out in all directions, hitting both Ethereal and soldiers indiscriminately. But thanks to superior equipment, the Ethereal suffered far more damage than the soldiers.
Even so, the squad was nearly at its limit. Four out of the ten were already wounded, bleeding heavily, forcing two others to split their attention to tend to them. Their line was on the verge of collapse. One soldier, his helmet knocked crooked, shouted at the top of his lungs without even turning around. His walkie-talkie had been smashed by Black—shouting was the only way to communicate.
"The report's already been sent! Section Chief Hoshimi Miyabi is on her way!"
The squad leader shouted back, his rifle spitting fire nonstop even as he spoke to headquarters. The tongues of flame chased Black through the narrow corridor—yet not a single bullet landed.
Black moved like a crowned prince, every Ethereal throwing itself forward to shield him without hesitation, offering their bodies as shields if they had to. Even though the dormitory only housed low-tier Ethereal like Tyrfing and Arlaune, under Black's command they were fighting human soldiers on equal footing.
[Hss~ hss!]
Black, wreathed in swirling black mist and leaning blood-soaked against the wall, issued another silent order. The eyes of all nearby Ethereal flashed as their formation shifted. Then, with one last cold glance at the squad, Black turned and headed toward the stairwell.
"Captain! The Ethereal are changing formation!"
In close-quarters battle, every shift in the enemy's behavior stood out. The crooked-helmet soldier immediately shouted the warning.
The squad leader didn't respond—he could see the situation clearly himself. He didn't need the reminder.
But the Ethereal's behavior was beyond strange.
Dozens of Tyrfing stepped forward in unison, forming a solid human wall. The cramped hallway was instantly packed tight, leaving no room to breathe, let alone fire through. Even as the soldiers' weapons roared endlessly—bullets pouring out like a flood—the Tyrfing locked arms and held firm, the glowing [Core] atop each head blazing brightly.
"Ahhh!"
The crooked-helmet soldier screamed, dropping his rifle and switching to the submachine gun slung behind him. He rose to his feet and swept the corridor, his expression twisted as muzzle flashes lit up his face.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Legs shattered, heads snapped downward, Ether Substance splattered midair—the Tyrfing wall finally started to buckle. Everyone's eyes lit up with hope. Even the four downed soldiers momentarily forgot their pain, expressions flooding with relief and joy, throats tightening as if ready to cheer—
Ssssh!
A sudden sound froze every face. Their joy stiffened instantly.
A few Tyrfing at the edge of the wall drove their blade-like arms deep into the surrounding concrete walls, sparks flying in bursts.
Clang!!
The blades locked in place—and the collapsing wall stopped collapsing.
"Yaaah!"
The lead Tyrfing shrieked, pushing forward with its body. They held the line!
The crooked-helmet soldier blinked in disbelief—but reacted quickly, grabbing a grenade from his belt and pulling the pin.
"I'll blow you to—"
He froze mid-sentence.
Behind the Tyrfing wall, dozens—no, hundreds—of Ether Bullets exploded outward.
One stray shot slammed into the floor, gouging a three-centimeter crater. Above that crater, countless more bullets erupted—Ether Substance flaring wildly as raw destruction filled the air.
The long-suppressed Ethereal had finally bared their fangs.
T-this…
The squad leader went speechless.
The Tyrfing had formed a shield wall to block gunfire—buying the Arlaune in the back the time they needed to unleash a devastating volley.
Could Ethereal really think like this?
There was no time to ponder.
The squad leader reached behind him, then slammed his fist into the floor.
"Everyone, get over here!"
The crooked-helmet soldier tossed away the grenade and rushed to him. Even the injured four were dragged over by their comrades, all taking shelter behind the squad leader.
Suddenly—the blue tube in the squad leader's hand burst open. Blue lightning crackled violently, then surged upward like a barrier, rapidly expanding to intercept the incoming Ether Bullets.
Sizzle!
Sizzle!
Like insects hitting a bug zapper, Ether Bullets disintegrated the moment they touched the electric field, dissolving into wisps of purple smoke drifting upward.
The squad leader exhaled sharply and raised his hand.
"When the barrage stops, we all—"
Boom!!
A thunderous crash cut him off.
He looked up at the ceiling, confused.
Boom!!
Another crash. Fear twisted across the squad leader's face—he'd clearly realized something.
Before he could speak—
Boom!!!
With the third crash, the ceiling collapsed.
Countless chunks of concrete and debris rained down. The four already wounded soldiers were knocked unconscious instantly. Even the squad leader—perfectly fine a moment earlier—took a slab to the head and blacked out.
In his fading consciousness, he saw dozens of creatures leap down from the ceiling like dumplings from a steamer basket. Even soldiers spared from the falling rubble were instantly pinned beneath them, screaming in agony.
The cries around him snapped the squad leader back awake—but he was powerless.
Because he realized Black was holding him up with one hand.
A razor-sharp wingtip hovered right before his face.
[Keh-keh-keh~]
Wreathed in black smoke, Black let out a chilling cackle, savoring the sight of the squad leader turning purple as his throat was squeezed shut. His eyes narrowed, as if fantasizing about the squad leader's next stage of helplessness as his breath vanished.
Still, the squad leader refused to submit. His glare burned so intensely it seemed he wanted to devour Black.
Tsk. Boring.
Losing interest, Black flicked his wrist. The wingtip drifted closer—so close it brushed the squad leader's neck. A cold shiver shot through his body as death approached—
But Black suddenly froze.
He sensed a familiar, terrifying aura.
Then—
BOOM!!
A brilliant ice-blue blade tore through the air, splitting the second-floor dormitory floor cleanly in half.
Through the smoke, Hoshimi Miyabi shone like a radiant gem. She glanced at the severed arm she'd carved off Black—then lashed out with a powerful kick.
Thud!!
Black blasted backward.
The Tyrfing wall the soldiers had failed to break for so long exploded the instant Black smashed into it, the shockwave blowing them apart. But the momentum didn't stop. Black flew straight into the wall at the far end of the hall—
Crack!!
The wall shattered, and he was hurled out of the building.
Hoshimi Miyabi lowered her leg.
The squad leader—kneeling, gasping for breath—stared in stunned disbelief.
Black… had been kicked out of the building.
"Are you okay?"
Hoshimi Miyabi crouched beside him.
"I—I'm fine. I'm totally fine!"
The previously stoic squad leader suddenly flushed red.
"Um… Section Chief Hoshimi Miyabi, I'm a huge fan—could I maybe—wait! Don't go! Section Chief Hoshimi Miyabi! Section Chief!"
"Good. Stay safe."
As soon as she heard "I'm fine," she turned and walked off immediately, one hand already moving to her earpiece.
"This is Hoshimi Miyabi. No. 11, gather all soldiers around the spatial rift near the second floor of the boys' dormitory. Eliminate nearby Ethereal and give Black no chance to recover."
[Understood.]
"Yanagi, Soukaku, Harumasa—you three will seal off Black's escape routes. Widen the perimeter if necessary, but do not let him escape."
[Roger.]
[Hehe, got it, boss.]
[Sigh… back to work. Still, with the Section Chief leading the hunt, Black shouldn't stand a chance, right?]
"Yes. Your top priority is also to eliminate the Ethereal. Without recovery, Black's combat power will plummet."
Ending the call, Hoshimi Miyabi stepped out of the dormitory, eyes locking onto Black's fleeing silhouette.
In the next instant, her gaze sharpened—her figure blurring into near invisibility as she took off in pursuit.
This time… I won't let you escape.