The stab came a bit suddenly, but posed no threat to Damian.
He caught the little knife easily between two fingers.
It was a common fruit knife, harmless to any Saint.
Tink!
With a light pinch, the blade snapped in two and fell to the ground.
Damian glanced at the little girl with the blood-smeared face.
Her big eyes were full of horror, at a loss. She drew back her trembling hand and asked, "Are… are you human?"
"Yes. Flesh and blood."
Damian smiled slightly, patted her head, and soothed her.
The sunlight was just right.
The girl lifted her head with effort and felt dazed.
This big brother's smile was gentle and bright. His handsome, rugged features and tall, powerful frame made her feel like a spring breeze—as if she'd met a god walking among men—so very good to look at.
She stared, almost spellbound, a blush slowly rising to her cheeks.
"Is this your family?"
Damian looked at the dead woman beside them.
"She's not."
Tears shimmered in the girl's eyes, her voice pained. "My family… they've all been killed."
As she spoke, tears rolled down. But she bit her lip stubbornly, glanced around, and fought not to sob, as if wary of something.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here. Nothing will happen."
Damian patted her head and used the Healing Needle again.
"Ah!"
Warmth flooded through her at once. She hummed in comfort; her cheeks flushed deeper. Wiping her tears, she pleaded, "Big brother, again!"
Damian curled his lip and muttered inwardly, "So greedy at your age—what will you be like when you grow up?"
One shot of Healing Needle was enough to treat bodily injuries—and sometimes even trauma of the mind.
Two shots would bring most of the way back from severe injury. The girl hadn't been that badly hurt—she was already healed now. She must like the physical and mental comfort the Healing Needle brought—it was easy to get hooked.
Just like Shaina and the others.
Damian wouldn't indulge her again.
Women—no matter the age—can't be spoiled.
"Did you see a tall woman in a mask wearing armor pass through here?"
Damian asked.
"I remember—there was a very powerful big sister. She killed lots of monsters. She saved lots of people."
The girl's eyes brightened at once.
As expected, Damian pressed for details and quickly got the gist from her.
There had been a fierce clash here before Damian arrived!
When the monsters attacked the town, Shaina led two Silver Saints to protect the people and took them to the largest town to the north.
That big sister cut down everything in her path and turned the tide.
The girl and others, though, were captured by the Apostles amid the chaos and didn't escape. Most people got away.
"Shaina—found you!"
Damian let out a breath and smiled. "Come with me. Let's find a safe place."
…
Redwood Town.
It was under heavy siege.
Because the town sat on high ground and had redwood palisades around it, it hadn't been breached quickly.
Many of the defenders kept firing their guns.
The giants outside didn't press a frontal assault; they ringed the palisade as if waiting for something.
A long‑legged woman in a Cloth was holding the gate with two other Silver Saints.
She moved like the wind, strikes fierce, taloned hands roaring like a tiger.
Wherever she went, giant blood sprayed as she felled them on the spot—dashing and deadly, cutting down scores.
That valiant, graceful back flitted through the aliens like a scythe made flesh, harvesting lives.
She was Shaina, the Ophiuchus Silver Saint.
The other two were Babel of Centaurus and Arachne of Tarantula, assisting Shaina's attacks.
In the selfless killing, Shaina had no idea she'd become an idol of worship among those saved.
Eyes full of admiration watched the tall, armored woman—envy, heat, shock, reverence…
Just moments before, it was thanks to the masked woman's relentless slaughter that the tide had been turned and Redwood Town barely held, protecting hundreds of survivors.
Otherwise, as mere civilians, guns or not, they were no match for giants.
"What a nuisance."
After beating a wave back, Shaina vented a long breath and rested briefly.
Her fighting style suited one-on-one—swift, overwhelming, sweeping all before her.
But it couldn't last.
As she stepped back, the giants stirred, jaws yawning in a frenzy of roars—so shrill they made heads swim—part cheer, part disruption.
Shaina was clearly affected. Her quick movements slowed.
An Apostle in warped armor took his shot—pouncing without warning, spear lunging faster than sound. Before Shaina could react, the spearpoint was at her brow, grazing her bangs.
Feeling the gust in her face, Shaina tapped her toes, forehead skimming past the point—but the tip, like a viper, curved and chased on.
"Shaina!"
"Shaina, look out!"
Babel of Centaurus and Arachne of Tarantula blanched.
Thunder Snake Claw—Whirlwind!
Faced with the barrage, Shaina's Cosmo flared and she unleashed a brutal finisher.
With a shout as she struck, her hand clawed. Quicker than the ear could catch, she raked the Apostle's chest and drove him back.
Cosmo roaring, she leapt into the giants and spun with slashing claws—like a meat grinder, launching a mad slaughter.
For a time, blood fountained and limbs flew.
"Spinning, leaping, I close my eyes… The clamor can't see whether you're enraptured or not; in snowy summer nights I don't stop…"
Unconsciously, a familiar song drifted in Shaina's ears.
She'd heard it somewhere.
Yes—Damian had sung it. Because the melody was nice, Shaina sometimes hummed along.
Why was Damian's singing in her ear?
It had to be my imagination!
After Thunder Snake Claw, blood stained the ground and many giants lay in pieces.
Shaina exhaled long. The move had devoured Cosmo—too much. She had to rest.
The Apostle seized the moment and charged again, blood‑slick spear stabbing for Shaina's chest.
As the spear thrust toward her, screams broke out. The two Silver Saints couldn't save her in time.
Suddenly!
A figure dropped from the sky.
Boom—he smashed the Apostle to the ground.
He'd landed butt‑first and drove the Apostle's head and torso deep into the earth, turning him into a puddle of meat.
Everyone stared, stunned at the sudden turn.
Who was that?
He'd dropped out of nowhere and crushed an Apostle?
"Hm?"
Shaina stared in astonishment.
The one who'd fallen from the sky was a ruggedly handsome man. He stood tall and proud, features striking, eyes like cold stars, a charming smile at his lips.
"Ah… I think I'm sitting on someone?"
The handsome man lowered his head, startled by the Apostle under his butt, and jumped up at once.
As he stood, the giants around them seemed to receive a retreat signal and melted back like a receding tide.
Seeing what he'd been sitting on, the man seemed spooked. He turned to the dumbstruck crowd with a wry smile and spread his hands:
"I really didn't mean it."
"Shaina—what a coincidence. Fancy meeting you here!"
Yes—the one who'd squashed the Apostle with one butt‑drop
was Damian.
(End of Chapter)
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