She was right. They looked less like fearsome monsters and more like oversized, fuzzy plushies. But Setsuna's gaze didn't soften for a second.
"Stay alert. These are the Zenki and Goki I told you about."
"...Those things?" I asked skeptically.
"Yes. They look ridiculous, but do not underestimate them."
While we braced ourselves, the woman pulled out yet another charm.
"Charms, oh charms, let me slip away... Triple Talisman Art: Kyoto Daimonji-yaki!"
A roar of fire erupted from her talismans, forming the massive kanji for "Great" (Dai) in the air. In that instant, my Psychokinesis picked up a sudden shift in the atmosphere.
"Negi! Behind you!"
"Wha—?! Gwah!"
A shadow manifested behind Negi, striking him with a heavy blow and snatching Konoe away in a single, fluid motion.
"Young lady!" Setsuna cried out. She lunged forward to pursue, but she was forced to stop and swing her sword in a wide arc to parry an invisible strike.
"Oh my, oh my. As expected of a fellow practitioner."
"Tch. This sword style… Shinmei-ryu?!"
"Correct~! I'm Tsukuyomi of the Shinmei-ryu. Nice to meet ya~!"
"...You're Shinmei-ryu?" Setsuna asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
I couldn't blame her. Usually, Shinmei-ryu practitioners carried an aura of sharpened steel, like Setsuna. But the girl standing before her, dual-wielding swords, looked like a total airhead.
However, my Psychokinesis was screaming. This girl wasn't what she seemed. That "ditzy" vibe was a mask. Her true nature was something far more dangerous.
"Setsuna, be careful," I warned. "She's not what she looks like."
"...Understood."
While I spoke, Negi had already begun his counter-chant. He pointed his staff at the wall of fire.
"Flos Horti: Scattering Windstorm!"
A localized gale erupted from the tip of his staff, tearing the flames apart and extinguishing the blaze instantly.
As the smoke cleared, we saw them: the Onmyoji woman, the white-haired boy holding the unconscious Konoe, and the "airhead" swordsman standing guard.
Character Status
Name: Axel Almar
Level: 38
PP: 625
Stats:
Melee: 262
Ranged: 282
Skill: 272
Defense: 272
Evasion: 302
Accuracy: 322
SP: 462
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consume SP to enhance Slime performance)
Growth Type: All-Rounder / Special
Terrain Ratings: Air: S / Land: S / Sea: S / Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accel (SP 4)
Effort (SP 8)
Focus (SP 16)
Direct Hit (SP 30)
Awaken (SP 32)
Love (SP 48)
Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9, SP Regen, Concentration)
Psychokinesis Lv.10
Attacker
Gunfight Lv.9
In-fight Lv.9
Morale Limit Break
Geass (Gray)
Magic (Fire)
Magic (Shadow)
Magic (Summoning)
Dark Magic
???
Kill Count: 376
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