A few minutes earlier…
Separated from the Shogun, Fiore maneuvered nimbly across rooftops with the aid of her mechanical arms, leaping from building to building… until at last, she found her target: the Master of Red's Saber—Kairi Sisigou. The man stood calmly in a dim alleyway, cigarette in hand, as though he had known she would come.
"..."
Fiore furrowed her brows slightly, scanning the surroundings to check for any ambush.
No traps set? She pondered briefly.
Seconds later… once convinced the area was clear, she dropped down from the rooftop. Her mechanical claws pressed to the ground.
Clack…
The arms flexed like springs, absorbing the impact perfectly without letting her feel the shock of landing.
Indeed, Kairi had not laid any magical traps. He was simply smoking, openly exposed to her sight without the least hint of defense.
Because he knew—against this girl, such petty tricks were useless, a waste of tools.
Click…
As Fiore stepped closer, her mechanical claws clicking softly against the ground, Kairi flicked away the nearly spent cigarette and ground it under his leather shoe.
Their gazes met—
"I think we can skip the introductions, don't you?"
He smiled faintly as he spoke to the girl suspended in the air by her claws.
Fiore, in turn, offered a polite, practiced smile—the kind used in business.
"Mhm, you're right."
Her clear, delicate voice echoed softly between the buildings of the narrow alleyway.
Clack!
Fiore then drove her upper claws into the walls on both sides, lifting herself slightly higher as she spoke again.
"We both know each other's names already… but as a matter of principle, allow me to issue a warning."
"…Please, go on."
Kairi shrugged indifferently. He knew exactly what she would say.
"You should withdraw at once, necromancer."
Her tone shifted to a formal, stern cadence, her delicate voice deepening faintly.
"This entire region is territory under the jurisdiction of Yggdmillennia. I am willing to overlook your trespass and let you leave unharmed."
Her azure eyes locked firmly with the gaze hidden behind his sunglasses.
"But if you ignore my warning, then you will pay for your foolishness—with your life."
Her voice was neither loud nor soft, yet the echo carried clearly to his ears.
"Oh… I see. But do you think I'll listen?"
Kairi chuckled lightly, spreading his hands.
At his words, Fiore's expression curved into a knowing smile. As he said—she already knew he wouldn't listen.
"You won't."
"But… if I don't say it, I can't clear my conscience. Since you've chosen this path yourself, don't blame me for what comes next."
"Ah… of course I won't. Because that is the fate of magi."
Kairi gave a bitter chuckle, then smiled lazily in reply.
He understood clearly—since she had warned him, she would not hesitate to strike to kill.
And neither would he!
The fate of magi… Hearing his words, Fiore's heart stirred faintly. But in the next second, she shook the feeling off.
Without another word, Kairi reached into the holster at his back and drew a sawed-off shotgun. At the same time, the flow of magical energy around him surged.
Seeing him move first, Fiore did not hesitate either, plunging swiftly down from above.
Kairi Sisigou… as a necromancer, he surely imbued his weapons with tricks. Not the sort of cheap illusions easily seen through—but still, dangerous traps.
Fiore's mind spun rapidly. He must also know she was specialized in spirit evocation and biomechanics… she had to be careful!
Bang!
With a thunderous blast, the shotgun flared, firing a special round of his own making. The bullet shot forth as though alive, homing straight for Fiore's forehead.
"Jupiter: Tin arm of Protection, intercept!"
At her command, the magical circuits in her legs flared briefly. The twin mechanical arms instantly crossed before her.
Whrrr—
An electronic shield shimmered into being in front of her.
Bang!
The bullet struck the barrier, its tip bending on impact before clattering harmlessly to the ground.
"!"
Kairi was startled for only a second before he immediately bolted toward the mouth of the alley with practiced agility.
Seeing this, Fiore swiftly maneuvered her arms in pursuit.
"Mars: Iron arm of War, pursuit!"
At her command, the mechanical claws leapt onto the walls, carrying her forward like a spider as she closed in rapidly from behind. With a burst of strength, one steel arm shot forward in a powerful punch toward Kairi's back!
"—!"
Without turning his head, Kairi caught sight of the looming shadow cast by the streetlamp and rolled instinctively!
Bang!
The steel fist smashed straight through the concrete wall beside him, leaving shattered rubble in its wake.
"..."
Fiore frowned slightly, then turned her gaze back toward Kairi, who had already dashed behind a nearby car. She drove her other claw into the wall at her side, suspending herself midair like a stationary turret.
"Haa… damn… if I hadn't dodged that, I'd be finished!"
That blow could have shattered his organs in an instant!
Breathing heavily, Kairi crouched behind the car, shaken, then peeked out cautiously toward Fiore's position as he reloaded his shotgun.
"Saturn: Lead arm of Roaring, fire!"
Seeing her opponent refusing to emerge, Fiore switched to a different command—long-range assault mode.
A faint layer of code-like data flickered across her azure eyes as a virtual targeting reticle appeared before her vision.
At once, her right mechanical arm shifted form, gears whirring as the steel claw transformed into the muzzle of a weapon. Below, her legs briefly flared with the glow of magical circuits.
The next second, a storm of luminous bullets rained forth with the roar of a machine gun, spilling out from the transformed barrel!!
The barrage swept across the ground, striking the car in a hail of fire—
Bang! Bang! Bang! ×N
Countless bullets clattered and ricocheted, forcing Kairi to duck low, covering his head as he pressed himself against the wreckage!
"Shit! Just how many attack modes does that thing have?!"
He cursed furiously. Was this really modern technology? Driven by the magical circuits in her legs?
If he destroyed her legs… victory might be his.
But as his gaze flicked through the shattered car window, catching sight of Fiore's legs dangling beneath her skirt, he knew—
Such a feat was nearly impossible!
Even as she fired relentlessly, Fiore felt his eyes glancing toward her paralyzed legs. She already understood what he intended—to cripple her, to destroy her legs and disable her completely.
But would she ever allow that?
Her thoughts hardened, and in response, her barrage only grew fiercer.