"Why are you both looking at me like that?" Asagiri Utsunomiya first asked after noticing the incredulous gazes of Asuna Yuuki and Kotoko Iwanaga, then retracted the chain connected to the dagger, who had escaped the Minotaur-like Specter's bite, wrapping it around his forearm. He swung the blood-stained dagger with one hand, even continuously drawing circles in the air beside him with the dagger, as easily as playing with a toy.
After that, he said, "Even without using my Persona's ability, dealing with a specter of this level is still very easy for me."
"The point is, you're too exaggerated..."
*Screech!!!*
*Thud!!!*
Just as Asuna Yuuki was halfway through speaking, she heard the Minotaur-like Specter's angry shriek and saw its tall, burly body break free from the crater in the wall, its four hooves once again landing on the ground.
"Tch..." Asuna Yuuki first made a sound of displeasure, then said, "Is it really hard to kill..."
"It being hard to kill is perfect. We can practice our tactics." Kotoko Iwanaga first replied, then covered her right prosthetic eye with one hand, using only her left eye to meet the gaze of the Minotaur-like Specter. Following this, she activated her newly acquired skill, Gaze of Curses.
The moment she activated the skill, Kotoko Iwanaga felt a slight dizziness and fatigue, representing the consumption of mental energy.
In the next instant, Kotoko Iwanaga's deep purple left eye suddenly dimmed slightly, and a faint black mist seemed to emerge within her eye.
*Screech!!!*
The Minotaur-like Specter, which had been tensing its body and preparing to charge at Asagiri Utsunomiya, suddenly swayed. It was as if its skill preparation had suddenly been interrupted. It vigorously shook its head, but even standing steady was difficult.
At this moment, Asuna Yuuki, who was over ten meters away, had already gripped the handle of the Exorcist Longsword in her hand. In next instant, her figure was like a blur, using all her explosive power to perform a thrust at the fastest speed.
"Captain!"
"Got it."
Asagiri Utsunomiya, who was less than three meters away and closest to the Minotaur-like Specter, responded with a nod.
Looking at the Minotaur-like Specter, which was still in a dizzy state due to Kotoko Iwanaga's Gaze of Curses, Asagiri Utsunomiya recited the name of his new skill softly, "Castling."
In the next instant, Asagiri Utsunomiya, who had been standing there, suddenly appeared over ten meters away, a location originally belonged to Asuna Yuuki. Meanwhile, Asuna Yuuki who was originally there appeared in his previous location, holding the Exorcist Longsword in a thrusting posture, unleashing all her speed, and charging forward fearlessly.
Seeing Asuna Yuuki suddenly appear in front of it, the Minotaur-like Specter wanted to defend itself, but it was already completely too late.
Only the tip of the sword, flashing with cold light, gradually magnified in the reflection of its pale white eyeballs.
◆◇◈◇◆
"...is it done?" Asuna Yuuki muttered.
Watching its massive, black fur-covered body gradually dissipate, she didn't rush to put away her weapon. Instead, she gripped the hilt tightly until she confirmed the Minotaur-like Specter had completely vanished without a trace. Only then did she exhale in relief, canceling the summoning of her weapon.
"That combo skill of yours is really something." Kotoko Iwanaga first praised white adjusting her beret, then looked at Asagiri Utsunomiya and said with a cute smile, "Captain's Castling, when swapping positions, maintains the original state of both parties. This is equivalent to a full-speed Violet instantly teleporting over ten meters right in front of the enemy, giving them no time to react at all."
Asagiri Utsunomiya nodded slightly, chuckled, and replied, "That's true, but only Violet can use this kind of combo skill with me. For someone whose reaction speed and physical balance aren't as outstanding as hers, suddenly teleporting and swapping positions while in a full-speed sprint would only cause them to lose balance and run straight into the enemy's attack, essentially courting death."
Kotoko Iwanaga blinked her purple eyes and made a playful, cute expression as she said, "Hmm, but it doesn't have to be a combo skill, right? You can bind multiple targets anyway. If I'm in danger in the future, I'll trouble Captain to use this skill to save me~"
"Haa..." At this moment, Asuna Yuuki, who had slain the Minotaur-like Specter, looked down at her hands and let out a long sigh. Then she said, "I can vaguely feel it... after eliminating this guy, my speed... it really seems to have increased a bit..."
Asagiri Utsunomiya nodded and spoke solemnly, "Yes, strive to become Asuna the Flash as soon as possible. Shiny Pokémon are something every Pokémon Trainer wants to collect."
"Collect what? What exactly do you take me for?"
Asagiri Utsunomiya replied without hesitation, "Family!"
"Really?" Asuna Yuuki sounded skeptical, but the corners of her lips couldn't help but curve upwards.
After a brief silence, she raised her hand and tucked a strand of her flaxen hair behind her ear as she said, "Although Necro had the monster pull out the camera wire, we should still leave as soon as possible before the security guards who heard the commotion arrive. We can chat more when we get back."
"No, it's not over yet."
Asagiri Utsunomiya suddenly said that, then shifted his gaze towards a certain direction.
"Standing there watching for so long, even eavesdropping on our conversation, aren't you going to come say hello?"
"Huh?"
Hearing Asagiri Utsunomiya suddenly say that, Asuna Yuuki and Kotoko Iwanaga couldn't help but show expressions of confusion. Following his gaze, they looked over and only then noticed a girl standing quietly beside a water dispenser. She was wearing a white dress paired with a red jacket and a white beret.
"Eh? Since when?"
Kotoko Iwanaga muttered, and she and Asuna Yuuki were both stunned.
They hadn't noticed the existence of such a girl nearby at all, from beginning to end...
Looking closely... this short-haired girl had a very delicate and cute face. Although her figure was slender, it was clearly curvy, incomparable to the living, walking, talking washboard named Kotoko Iwanaga.
However, the girl's presence seemed a bit strange.
Like calm lake water without ripples, or a fawn leisurely strolling in the forest, her entire being exuded a quiet and serene temperament. Even though Kotoko Iwanaga and Asuna Yuuki were currently looking at her, they always felt as if the girl's presence was very faint, easily overlooked if one wasn't careful.
"Um... I'm sorry."
The girl apologized, and her voice was very pleasant. There was no panic or anxiety in her expression and tone; she simply spoke at a steady, comfortable pace that made one feel at ease.
"I didn't intentionally try to eavesdrop on your conversation. I just felt it wasn't a good time to interrupt you earlier. I should introduce myself."
After a short pause, she said, "Hello, I'm a first-year student at Toyogasaki Academy, Megumi Kato. It's nice to meet you."
Asuna Yuuki showed a hesitant expression, thinking to herself about this girl who called herself Megumi Kato—
—Wasn't her attitude a little too calm?