"Seriously, what is even going on right now?!"
"March 7th, quit complaining and keep running!"
"I know, I know!"
March 7th and Dan Heng, who had finally left the Express to tour every corner of Herta Space Station, were now caught in a crisis. They moved with practiced urgency, evacuating researchers while systematically neutralizing the encroaching Antimatter Legion.
In theory, Herta Space Station was protected by a formidable defense shield that few external threats could breach. Relying on that safety, the station's population consisted mostly of researchers rather than combatants.
The root of this confidence lay in the station's creator: Herta.
A member of the illustrious Genius Club, Herta was a peerless figure in the scientific community. The station bore her name, a testament to her immense pride and intellect. She was a woman whose status in the field of science was truly singular.
Because of her reputation, no enemy had ever managed to infiltrate the interior before. This was the first time the station's sanctity had been violated.
The long period of peace had led to a reduction in security personnel. Now, there simply weren't enough guards to cover the vast reaches of the facility.
Recognizing the dire situation, Dan Heng and March 7th had stepped in to support the overwhelmed security staff.
"Ugh, why are there so many of them?!"
"Phew... Still no word from Himeko?"
"Nothing. I still can't reach Big Sis Himeko. It's like the comms are completely dead."
"...Then we have no choice but to head for the central hub."
As he spoke, Dan Heng swung his spear in a precise arc, the tip piercing through a Voidranger: Distorter and dissipating it into dark dust.
Suddenly, a Voidranger: Eliminator lunged at his back, its blades poised to strike—
"Not on my watch!"
An ice arrow shot by March 7th struck the creature true, instantly freezing it in a block of Six-Phased Ice.
Dan Heng didn't waste the opening. With a swift twist of his polearm, he shattered the frozen monster. March 7th scanned their surroundings and let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew~ I think we've cleared out this area."
"It looks like—March, look out!"
"Huh?"
At his sudden shout, Dan Heng lunged behind her, gripping his spear with both hands to form a desperate block.
CLANG!
A deafening metallic ring echoed through the hall. March 7th's eyes widened as she saw Dan Heng forced to one knee, the sheer impact of the blow vibrating through his weapon. She whipped around to face the source of the attack.
"That thing?!"
"A Voidranger: Trampler...!"
Dan Heng ground his teeth, struggling against the crushing weight of the heavy centaur-like beast. Despite its towering three-meter frame, it had struck with terrifying speed. Dan Heng's arms trembled under the pressure, but he managed to deflect the momentum, sliding out from under the heavy blade to regain his footing.
"Are you okay?!"
"Nrgh."
"If you're still grunting, you're fine!"
March 7th loosed a flurry of arrows at the Trampler, but the shots failed to find a weak point, bouncing off its reinforced armor. Her goal wasn't necessarily to deal damage but to halt its advance. Still, the fact that not a single arrow pierced its hide stung her pride.
"Ugh! Just hit already!"
Thwack!
"...Wait, what?"
By sheer luck, an arrow struck the glowing gem embedded in the Trampler's forehead. Its head snapped back with the force of the impact.
The Trampler went rigid, standing perfectly still. Dan Heng and March 7th stared at each other in confusion.
"Did we... did we get it?"
"March! Don't!"
Dan Heng yelled, but it was too late. March 7th had uttered the ultimate 'revival' curse used by protagonists everywhere. Her voice reached the monster, and as if beckoned by the words, the Trampler's head slowly creaked back to its original position.
The creature had no mouth, yet the aura of pure, unadulterated annoyance radiating from it was palpable.
"...It looks kind of mad, doesn't it?"
"I'd say that's a fair assessment."
"Ahaha... well then, there's only one thing left to do."
March 7th let out a sheepish laugh before her expression suddenly flipped to one of deadly seriousness. Seeing her change in tone, Dan Heng narrowed his eyes.
"You're planning to use that?"
"We don't have a choice. Unless you have a better idea?"
"The option to stay and fight—"
"Look at your arm! You're paralyzed from the shock of protecting me."
She gestured to his right arm. It was trembling violently, the muscles numbed by the sheer kinetic force of the Trampler's initial strike. Since the right was his dominant hand, he would be a liability in a prolonged fight.
"It'll fade in a few minutes."
"Well, we don't have a few minutes right now."
"...Fine. I suppose you're right."
Cornered by March's cold logic, Dan Heng conceded. A fellow companion on the Express—someone their own age—had once warned them never to mistake courage for recklessness. Ironically, the method they were about to use was one that very same companion had taught them.
"... ..."
Sensing the shift in the air, the Voidranger: Trampler lowered its guard and uncrossed its massive arms.
March 7th and Dan Heng tensed their bodies.
"Alright, I'll give the signal."
"Understood."
"3... 2... 1... GO!"
With a shout, March 7th fired an arrow straight into the air. Just before it hit the ceiling, the arrow exploded into a blinding flash of light, fragmenting into dozens of glowing projectiles that rained down upon the Trampler.
The beast crossed its arms over its face, bracing for the volley. When the impacts finally stopped and the smoke cleared, the Trampler lowered its guard to scan for the two intruders.
"?"
But the hallway was empty, save for a few drifting dust motes. They were gone. No shadows, no lingering traces—nothing.
To put it simply, they had successfully executed a technique passed down through the family of their female companion—a legacy starting from her father. The legendary 'Secret Move: Outta Here!'
The Voidranger: Trampler stared blankly at the empty space for a long time, as if stunned by the fact that they had acted so heroic only to run away so shamelessly.
"Huh? I sensed a presence over here... Was it just the Trampler's Ki I was picking up?"
"?!"
Unfortunately for the Trampler, those two were not alone.
"Well, as long as I'm here, might as well clean this up."
The newcomer just happened to be a Saiyan capable of achieving Super Saiyan status.
"!!!!!"
"This is called a 'Bind.' It's a technique that uses Ki to restrict an opponent's movement."
However, a Bind could be broken if the target exerted more power than the Ki used to set it. Bronie kept this in mind. Her father and master had always warned her: Even if you succeed, never let your guard down. She didn't. Instead, she extended her palm toward the frozen Trampler and shouted.
"Big Bang Attack!"
A spherical orb of condensed Ki manifested in her palm before roaring forward. It slammed into the Trampler, the energy expanding instantly into a massive, searing sphere that swallowed the creature whole.
When the light faded, the monster was gone. Vaporized.
"Hmm... the floor's a bit scorched. Guess I'm still not on Dad's level yet."
To any outside observer, she had deleted a high-level threat with terrifying ease. To Bronie, however, it was a lackluster performance. If her friends had been there, they would have probably looked at her with disbelief, but both were long gone.
She crouched down to inspect the shallow crater where the Trampler had once stood, then stood up and adjusted the brim of her cap.
"Now then, I wonder where everyone ran off to?"
She closed her eyes for a moment, then snapped them open.
Her irises shimmered with a distinct iridescent, rainbow light. Looking in one specific direction, Bronie let a smirk play on her lips.
"Found you."
In a blur of speed, she vanished from the spot, leaving only a fading afterimage behind.
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