While Ruby was crouching down, choosing a necklace at a small stall,
"This one, meow. How much is it, meow?"
The old man selling answered softly,"That will be 10 units… little girl."
"Thank you, meow… I'll take this one."
Ruby picked up a blue heart-shaped necklace and wore it around her neck.
"Wow, it's so cute, meow."
She turned to Mas with a bright smile, as if wanting him to say something. Mas spoke with his usual calm face,"Hmm… it's pretty. I think it's beautiful."
"What… that's all you're going to say, meow?"
The three of them walked away from the small stall, moving farther along.
"Meow, mew, meow, meow~"
Ruby sang a strange song while running ahead of the other two.
"Hurry up, meow! I'm the fastest cat in the world, meow! If you're slow, I'll leave you behind!"
Suddenly, something appeared, dashing at high speed. From the rooftop of a house, the roof collapsed as the figure shot straight at Ruby. She barely saw it for a split second before it reached her and kicked her stomach hard. Ruby was sent flying, but Mas rushed in and caught her in time. Ruby coughed up blood heavily, unable to move, her consciousness fading, her face blank.
"Eh… what's happening? Why can't I move… Eh… it hurts so much, meow…"
Her voice grew weaker.
Mas, cradling Ruby, looked furious as he turned toward a red-haired woman.
"Kai, look after Ruby! I'll handle this."
Kai, panicking, quickly ran to Ruby and held her.
"Are you okay, Ruby?"
Ruby's face was blank, but she whispered faintly,"It's okay, Kai… we need to run."
Kai spoke seriously,"Ruby, can you transform into a cat?"
Ruby replied,"Yes…"
She turned back into a cat and immediately fainted.
Kai picked up Ruby's body and ran, saying,"Mas, I'll head to the ship!"
Mas replied as he faced the enemy before him,"Go quickly, kid, I'll catch up."
"Red hair, all black clothes, eyes like blood, always looking angry… I know you. Yujin of Wrath."
Yujin spoke coldly, her arms crossed, her face indifferent as if she felt no fear at all."Oh, they ran away. Whatever. My target isn't you. I just wanted to see how strong the Caretakers are. Turns out you're just bottom feeders, huh." She sighed, "Haaah…"
Mas got into a fighting stance and launched forward, punching Yujin in the stomach, sending her flying.
Yujin was blasted back but landed with her feet, skidding across the ground, leaving deep footprints.
"That's it? Feels as light as an ant bite."
"Fine… I'll show you."
Mas dashed toward Yujin at high speed. Yujin also charged at Mas, and they clashed violently.
Yujin kicked Mas, slamming him into a wall, shattering it. Mas burst out of the building and punched Yujin.
Yujin blocked, her face showing slight surprise."What? He can withstand my strength?"
Mas kicked Yujin hard in the side of the neck.
Yujin was sent crashing through walls, floor after floor, coughing blood. She wiped her mouth, looking at the blood on her hand.
At that moment, Mas was already upon her, landing an uppercut to Yujin's chin, sending her flying into the air.
"Arghhh!" Yujin floated mid-air, unconscious… When she regained consciousness, she shouted,"Damn it! You bastard!"
She shot down like a falling star, slamming into the ground with a deafening BOOM, destroying the surrounding area in a wide radius.
Inside the shabby white van-like spaceship, Kai looked hopeless and lost."Ruby… how is she?"
Ruby, in her cat form, said,"Just give me a little time and I'll recover. We Beoda heal fast… it's lucky it wasn't fatal."
Meanwhile, Mas rushed back at high speed, returning to the ship and heading straight to the cockpit.
"We're leaving now. This place isn't safe."
The ship lifted off and fled.
"We have to get back to base… before they find us again."
Back at the devastated battlefield, Yujin stood among the ruins, her face slightly angry. She muttered,"They escaped…" then shouted,"Damn it, you bastard!!"
Mas, piloting the ship, said with a serious face,"Kai, put Ruby in her cat form into the capsule at the back of the ship. It will slow the damage. We'll head to base and get her treated."
Kai pressed the switch to open the capsule and carefully placed Ruby's body inside.