"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Eerie howls echoed.
The ground began to tremble visibly.
"This is... the presence of Gastrea?"
Kisara's expression changed. She leaped out the door.
But as fast as she was...
Others were faster.
She had barely rushed out the door when, before her eyes, Artoria and the others appeared before her.
'When?'
Kisara's pupils contracted sharply, a look of shock in her eyes.
She hadn't even noticed how they moved.
'What was the deal with these women?'
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Kisara, lost in thought, was interrupted by the shaking.
Under her gaze...
The area was surrounded by countless Gastrea.
"This situation is definitely abnormal."
Kisara glanced at Ayato, who was walking over. "Sir, have you offended anyone recently?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, just a hunch."
Kisara shook her head. "After all, so many Gastrea appearing here together is rather suspicious."
Although the Outer District was dangerous...
It was rare to see so many Gastrea gathered together with such a clear objective.
"Perhaps."
Ayato looked towards a pile of debris in the distance, a playful look on his face.
Kisara said, "Sir, since I'm here, why not place an order?"
"Since it's our first cooperation, I can give you a discount."
"There's no need."
Ayato shook his head. "Artoria, handle it."
"Okay!"
Artoria nodded and shot forward like an arrow, leaving afterimages in the air.
"Just... her alone?"
Watching Artoria's actions, Kisara grew anxious.
In her view...
Artoria's actions were far too reckless.
Even if she was strong...
There were too many Gastrea.
She stamped her foot, ready to intervene.
'Oh well, it seems I was never cut out for business. This would be another loss.'
But before she could move...
What happened next made her eyes widen.
Artoria's figure appeared in mid-air, surrounded by countless Gastrea.
Clang!
She drew her sword with her right hand. An invisible blade swept out, unleashing a brilliant slash that shot in all directions.
Squelch! Squelch!
Blood sprayed. Countless Gastrea were cleaved in two.
Their massive bodies crashed to the ground, kicking up dust.
Crack! Crack!
Artoria landed. Another slash, tearing the earth apart.
Cries of pain rang out incessantly. Dozens of Gastrea exploded, blood staining the ground.
The next moment,
Artoria's figure seemed to turn into a streak of light, appearing directly behind a group of Gastrea.
The air seemed to pause briefly.
Then, geysers of blood sprayed, and the sound of Gastrea collapsing.
"Th-this...?"
Watching this one-sided battle, Kisara was completely stunned.
'How powerful?'
'Who was this woman?'
'Were such slashes something a human could perform?'
She swallowed, full of disbelief.
Although her own Tendo-style iaido could also produce flying slashes...
At best, a distance of ten meters was the limit.
But this person... was hundreds of times better.
"Power... such power?"
Kisara unconsciously clenched her fists, a look of fascination in her eyes.
'If I had such power, I could take revenge, right?'
Instinctively,
She looked at Ayato.
She wanted to ask, but hesitated.
A moment later,
The area was a complete mess.
The ground was covered in broken flesh, blood pooling everywhere.
The air reeked of fishy-stench.
Artoria sheathed her sword and slowly returned to Ayato's side.
"..."
Seeing this, Kisara finally snapped back to reality.
'That's it?'
'It's over?'
'A horde of hundreds of Gastrea... was just killed like that?'
…
Elsewhere.
Several figures poked their heads out from an abandoned building.
"Monster... that's a genuine monster. Is she a Cursed Child too?"
One person said, heart pounding.
"Look closely, she's an adult. Nothing like a Cursed Child."
The leader slapped her and said solemnly, "Regardless, the mission failed. We're pulling out."
"As for this woman... let the higher-ups deal with her."
As he spoke, he quietly retreated, afraid of attracting any attention.
But just then, a ghostly voice sounded.
"Since you're here, don't leave."
"What?"
They instinctively turned their heads and saw a woman with long black hair smiling at them.
"Ma'am."
The leader put on an ingratiating smile. "We just happened to be here. Please don't misunderstand..."
Boom!
Before he could finish, a flame shot towards them, turning the people around him into charcoal.
"Spare... spare me."
The leader immediately knelt. "It... it has nothing to do with me. Please... please... let me go."
"Enough nonsense."
Utaha waved her hand. A magic chain bound him hand and foot, dragging him before Ayato.
"Master, this one seems to be the leader."
"Mm!"
Ayato nodded. "Who sent you to lure these Gastrea here?"
"If I tell you, can I live?"
"Actually, even if you don't tell me, I know who it is."
Ayato smiled. "Nothing more than those officials in Tokyo."
"Master already knows?"
Utaha raised her hand. "Then he's useless."
Seeing this, the man was terrified. He quickly said, "Spare me! Let me live. I can be a witness. Please don't kill me!"
"Let him live."
Ayato shrugged. "Let my naive servant see the filth and ugliness of the world."