When Tsukishiro Yanagi heard Hoshimi Miyabi's words, her first reaction was actually disbelief.
It wasn't that she didn't believe what Hoshimi Miyabi said, nor was it that she didn't trust her judgment of the current situation.
It was because of her attitude.
This grave attitude, to Tsukishiro Yanagi, immediately illustrated the severity of the situation.
Even Soukaku, who was usually not very clear about the situation, couldn't help but tighten her grip on her specially crafted War Ghost Blade Banner when she realized that the Chief, Hoshimi Miyabi, was showing such a grave expression.
Every time they faced completely unknown situations and dangers, aside from the weapons in their hands, the thing that brought the greatest sense of security was always their Chief, the Section Head of Hollow Special Operations Section 6.
And for something to make even the Chief show a grave expression...
"It's okay, the Chief is the strongest!"
Secretly cheering herself on and tossing the emotions that had subconsciously arisen to the back of her mind, Soukaku hoisted the Blade Banner in her hand and kept up with the pace of the two people in front of her.
By discerning the direction from which the sounds of battle were coming, the three of them, led by Hoshimi Miyabi, immediately rushed toward the scene of the fight without hesitation.
At least, before actually seeing who was fighting at the scene, Tsukishiro Yanagi still held onto hope. She hoped that the person fighting the monster was actually another powerhouse of New Eridu who, like them, had found this place one step ahead through that intelligence.
Although, looking at it now, that possibility was infinitesimal.
On the way, Hoshimi Miyabi explained the information she had judged through the sounds.
"I heard the sound of a giant creature spraying high-pressure airflow, which is completely consistent with the attack method Yanagi described."
As her voice fell, when speaking of the other side, Hoshimi Miyabi hesitated rarely for a moment before continuing:
"Judging by the volume of the commotion, the other existence... might even be on par in terms of body size? But it also feels like something is wrong somewhere..."
After pondering slightly for a moment, as if realizing something, Hoshimi Miyabi immediately denied her previous judgment regarding the opponent's size.
Her fox ears twitched subconsciously, and while her fingertips tapped lightly and unconsciously on her scabbard, eager to try, she immediately corrected herself:
"This commotion doesn't sound like the noise made by another large creature attacking. Instead, it's a bit similar to the style of commotion when I fight with full force inside a Hollow, but when actually comparing them, there are significant differences."
With that, Hoshimi Miyabi, who rarely offered such long explanations, had actually said so much in bits and pieces this time. It was evident that she actually couldn't quite put her finger on the situation of this battle either.
At the very least, she had never seen such a commotion before.
So, she could only choose to retell all the situations she could collect as much as possible, intending to hand it over to Tsukishiro Yanagi—who usually conducted data collection and analysis during combat—to analyze the intelligence.
Regarding these seemingly contradictory words, Tsukishiro Yanagi, who had become very familiar with Hoshimi Miyabi after a period of working together, still immediately understood what she wanted to express.
However, the hand gripping her Remnant Blade, "Flawseeker," began to tighten slightly due to the nervousness caused by the implications.
To be initially considered by Hoshimi Miyabi as having the destructive power of a large monster, only to be self-corrected and defined as somewhat resembling the commotion caused when she fought... this meant the destructive power caused by the opponent had at least reached the level of an existence on the same tier as Hoshimi Miyabi.
In fact, the actual situation might be even higher.
After all, no matter what, this was outside a Hollow. Without the support of sufficient Ether energy, the final result would only be lower destructive power, or a shorter duration if attacking with full force.
But even so, the opponent possessed the same destructive power as the Section Chief inside a Hollow.
As for the "significant differences" mentioned afterward, that was likely due to differences in fighting styles.
With a little analysis, Tsukishiro Yanagi quickly deduced the approximate strength information of the opponent. It was just that the analyzed content was not so wonderful.
Immediately realizing that what followed would be a tough battle, Tsukishiro Yanagi nodded very gravely and said:
"Understood. The opponent is at least of the Void Hunter level, same as you, Chief. If combat is required later, then that unknown existence will be left to you, Chief."
"As for other existences that might affect the battle, just like usual, Soukaku and I will intercept them."
Hoshimi Miyabi nodded silently upon hearing this, agreeing with Tsukishiro Yanagi's arrangement for the upcoming battle.
As the sharpest blade of Hollow Special Operations Section 6, taking on the most difficult battles like this when carrying out missions was inherently her duty.
Moreover, regarding the strong enemy she might face next, Hoshimi Miyabi, being a battle maniac, was actually already unable to stop herself from feeling eager to try.
Looking at Hoshimi Miyabi, who was already starting to look a bit impatient, as if she would hack away the moment she arrived at the battlefield, Tsukishiro Yanagi, knowing full well she would really do that, immediately spoke up to stop her:
"Chief, it's not yet clear whether the opponent is a target that needs to be subjugated. Do not launch an attack immediately upon arriving at the scene!"
After all, whether it was waiting for the outcome of the battle between the two before acting like the oriole behind the mantis stalking the cicada—in the case that both needed to be subjugated—or confirming if one side was a human support auxiliary, a decision could only be made after actually seeing the scene.
The opponent this time was not an Ethereal.
Fighting on sight would not work.
"Mmh..."
Hoshimi Miyabi, having her thoughts read, paused slightly in her movement of leading the run, but ultimately nodded with some reluctance.
Suppressing the fighting spirit in her heart that had already begun to burn fiercely due to the roar of that monster in the distance, Hoshimi Miyabi took Tsukishiro Yanagi and Soukaku, rushing quickly toward the battle site.
Very quickly, the three of them arrived at a high-rise building on the edge of the battlefield at top speed.
However, when they clearly saw the terrifying battle scene below from their commanding height, all three couldn't help but subconsciously hold their breath.
They saw a white monster, resembling an extremely massive bat, dancing in the air as if floating.
Its neck collar was inflated incomparably huge, so much so that it could be said to be on par with all the parts behind its neck combined.
It made those who saw it subconsciously only notice the white ball on its neck collar.
And the extremely cute face that could be vaguely seen in the photos had also become as hideous as an evil spirit, revealing the sharp fangs in its mouth as it roared in anger.
Pure white fur covered its body except for its tail, making the monster floating in the air look like an oversized white fluff ball.
As long as one saw it, no one would doubt its softness and comfort level.
And the constantly flapping wings behind it, along with all other characteristics, completely matched the content of that forum post. Everything, without exception, indicated that what the post said was not false.
Following two consecutive blasts of high-pressure airflow spraying from its mouth, the massive airflow washed over everything in front of it, sending everything on the ground flying.
It constantly swept away everything on the ground.
The power of this air cannon was so great that even on the rooftop where Hoshimi Miyabi was, she felt the strong wind blowing against her face.
But if the three of them were to switch positions to the ground floor...
Relying on its incomparably powerful wind pressure, at least Hoshimi Miyabi asked herself and knew she couldn't escape unscathed.
And if it were Tsukishiro Yanagi or Soukaku, under circumstances where they couldn't even stabilize their bodies, injury would be inevitable.
If the things they hit when blown away weren't too friendly, the situation would take a turn for the worse even faster.
Of course, relying on Hoshimi Miyabi's speed, she wouldn't need to face this air cannon head-on anyway.
Based on all these conditions, the source causing those scenes described in that intelligence report had also been found.
It was nothing else but this monster in front of them that seemingly posed little threat.
To be honest, at the very beginning, Hoshimi Miyabi herself hadn't expected that after failing so many times before, this time the intelligence was actually true!
Because of Tsukishiro Yanagi's persuasion earlier, she herself had become somewhat unconfident.
But regarding everything in front of her, Hoshimi Miyabi currently didn't have any joy that her persistence had finally paid off.
Instead, she stared fixedly at the figure standing amidst the large patches of bright red blood on the battlefield below.
Although the floating monster's angry roars and air cannons had never ceased, its severed tail and the several hideous wounds on the parts of its abdomen without white fur all proved that it was actually at the end of its rope.
Accompanied by the continuous loss of blood from the wounds, the Paolumu's strength was also quietly and continuously disappearing with the flow of blood.
And this was exactly its opponent's goal.
From beginning to end, his goal was to hunt it while ensuring the materials remained as intact as possible by letting the blood drain away.
After all, keeping the fur intact was best.
It was just that, for the three members of Section 6 who didn't know the objective, this battle was a purely bloody hunt.
The fresh blood it shed on the ground was simply about to form a lake, subsequently turning into a blood mist under the high-intensity wind pressure of the Paolumu's air cannon and being blown in all directions.
Countless drops of fresh blood turned into raindrops in the wild wind, smearing every part of this small square. The blood made everything look terrifying and gory.
It looked as if they had walked into a B-movie where blood packs cost no money.
The incomparably thick smell of blood shrouded the entire square even under the constant blowing of the strong wind, to the point where the three on the building could faintly smell it.
At this moment, Tsukishiro Yanagi, who hadn't yet recovered from the bloody scene before her eyes, had subconsciously pulled Soukaku over and covered her eyes with her hand.
But the enemy opposite it, the one who had turned it into its current state, was the existence that truly made the three involuntarily hold their breath earlier.
Heavy footsteps echoed in this small square, every step splashing crushed stones.
He stood there, like a black fortress rising from the depths of hell.
Looking from the building afar, what he carried on his shoulders was not armor, but two twisted, coiled, pitch-black giant horns.
The roots of those horns were as thick as ancient trees, and the ends were sharp enough to pierce the sky, wrapping around his body like hideous ghostly hands.
The black armor wasn't purely pitch black; instead, under the sunlight, it reflected a deep blue.
As if it completely absorbed all that light.
Dark red veins lingered upon it, turning into distinct vessels everywhere on the armor's body, like cooling lava flowing underground.
At the same time, it looked like dried bloodstains seeping into every crack of the armor.
Countless thick iron chains wrapped around various parts of the body, but compared to armament, these iron chains looked more like restraints.
Just like they were restraining the monster hiding within this suit of armor.
And if the expression of the monster flying in the air was like a hideous evil spirit, then the existence standing opposite it seemed like a God of Destruction who had broken free from his chains.
Meanwhile, when facing the Floating Cannon that even Hoshimi Miyabi felt she would inevitably be injured by if she took it head-on earlier, He just unshakeably placed that shield flashing with red light horizontally in front of him.
If that really was a shield.
The shape—which, if not exactly the same as in the video file, could be said to be a scaled-down version of the Diablos head with almost no difference—did not waver in the slightest under the bombardment of the air cannon.
At the same time, as the blood scattered by the air cannon shrouded the top of the armor, it added another touch of crimson to the armor's dark red patterns.
The fresh blood flowed along the patterns and dried, making the original dark red become even more conspicuous.
As if it were thirsting for fresh blood.
The scene before her eyes made Hoshimi Miyabi involuntarily suspect that these dark red patterns were probably formed after the blood stained from hunting various monsters like this had dried.
And to form such obvious patterns, exactly how long had the other party killed like this to achieve it?
That armor, carrying unparalleled madness within its hideousness and boundless terror within its majesty, seemed as if it wanted to destroy everything that approached it.
Yet the movements of his hands didn't pause in the slightest.
In the sight of the three, after He forcibly took the air cannon directly with the shield, he quickly inserted the longsword in his left hand—which resembled a monster's spine—into the shield on his right hand.
The next moment.
Accompanied by the axe blade popping out, the hiss of the sword blade sliding past the slot in the shield resounded through the entire square.
But what reached the ears of the three was not the clanging sound made by metal friction, but a sound like crushed rocks grinding against each other.
It was as if it were the friction sound between bones when a monster extended its head and began to stretch its body.
Everything, absolutely everything, looked just as if the monster in that concert video had truly resurrected.
Lightning-like patterns exploded on that weapon. As if the accumulated energy had reached the weapon's internal limit, the overflowing energy lingered upon it, striking out arcs of electricity that pierced the air.
With a violent exertion of force from His hands, the combined weapon was swung violently.
After the axe blade traced an arc in the air, it was swung behind him. Then, as if mobilizing the strength of his entire body, his body was released in an instant like a taut spring.
The massive axe blade traced a perfect arc in the air, landing heavily—not biased, not too much and not too little—right on the abdomen of the Paolumu flying in the air.
Accompanied by the wildly spinning axe blade slashing through, instantly, a tearing wound several times larger than those previous sword cuts appeared on the Paolumu's abdomen.
And the Paolumu's abdominal tissue, which resembled hard rubber, could not provide any defensive effect at all when facing such a tearing attack. Like plasticine under a chainsaw, its body was instantly torn apart.
The blood, of which not much remained, gushed out like a downpour at this moment, turning into a heavy rain beneath its body.
"Super Discharge!"
Bathed in the rain of blood, a low voice came from within the armor, sounding both like a human speaking and like the armor itself roaring.
Thud!
As the axe blade smashed onto the ground, terrifying energy was released instantly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!!
A series of violent explosions blasted open along the direction the axe blade pointed. The terrifying energy swept away everything before the axe blade; several deep pits appeared instantly on the ground ahead, demonstrating the terrifying power of this attack.
At this moment, Hoshimi Miyabi even felt the building beneath her feet begin to let out a mournful cry of being overwhelmed.
But this was merely the aftershock produced by His attack hitting the ground.
And in the sky.
Even though it didn't take the full hit, the Paolumu, which was already at the end of its rope, could no longer endure it and fell from the sky.
After letting out a final, violent mournful cry to this world, the Paolumu collapsed completely.
There was no more sound.
Everything about this made people subconsciously feel that this existence wasn't anything good either.
Looking at the two monsters below, even Hoshimi Miyabi, whose fighting spirit was high, was subconsciously a bit stunned.
However, this was naturally not because she was afraid. On the contrary, regarding this opponent, Hoshimi Miyabi's fighting spirit was rising higher than ever before.
She froze actually because...
The thing Yanagi said couldn't possibly exist was attacking another thing she said couldn't possibly exist.
It was even a complete crush, judging by the situation.
Everything was too dramatic, so much so that her brain couldn't quite turn the corner for a moment.
____
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