"Roar!"
A chilling, heart-stopping roar reverberated above Loc Lac's web of crisscrossing streets. Even halfway across the city, it was clearly audible.
At the sound, the Egyurasu that had been circling overhead and occasionally diving to harry the Hunters abruptly went berserk and swarmed forward as one.
Some hurled themselves at the Hunters in suicidal lunges, clawing and biting. Others swept low overhead, spewing dragon flame and setting the streets ablaze.
Chaos erupted throughout the streets and alleys.
"Have these bastards gone mad?!"
A member of the Loc Lac Rangers wielding a Sword and Shield rolled clear of a diving Egyurasu's lunge, then scrambled to his feet as he cursed under his breath.
His words had barely left his mouth when another Egyurasu lunged at him from behind. Its slender, fishhook-like talons were about to pierce his back.
A tall, powerfully built figure charged in and rammed his Large Shield forward, smashing the ambushing Egyurasu into the courtyard wall of a house beside the street.
"Captain Nuri!"
The Egyurasu pinned against the wall thrashed wildly. Nuri tilted his head aside to evade its snapping jaws and bellowed, "Save the chatter! Move!"
The Sword and Shield user, who had narrowly escaped death, rushed in and drove his blade several times into the immobilized Egyurasu's vulnerable chest and belly, finally killing it.
"Look out!"
Another Hunter nearby shouted a warning.
Yet another Egyurasu came diving down, sparks swirling in its maw as it prepared to unleash a fiery breath attack.
"Boom-hum!"
A formless wave thundered into it. The impact struck like an invisible giant fist, interrupting its breath attack and throwing it off balance in midair, nearly sending it headfirst into the ground.
At the last moment, however, the Egyurasu recovered. Beating its wings frantically, it pulled out of the dive and climbed back into the air, leaving the follow-up shockwave to strike empty space.
"Tch."
Lambert clicked her tongue in displeasure as she watched the Egyurasu fly beyond her attack range.
These Egyurasu were considerably tougher than the ones they had cleared from the desert. Back then, a direct hit from her Echo Wave would probably have sent one crashing straight to the ground or, at minimum, left it stunned and disoriented for several seconds.
The one just now had been diving while preparing a breath attack, yet after taking her Echo Wave head-on, it had still pulled out of the dive and climbed away. In the end, however, it could not avoid being shot down.
Several Bowgun rounds whistled through the air and drilled precisely into its relatively soft abdomen, sending sprays of blood into the air. The climbing Egyurasu wailed as it plummeted once more.
This time, it had no chance to take flight again. Nuri, the closest Hunter, rushed forward in a few strides and smashed its skull with his Gunlance.
Another Egyurasu had been dealt with, but the Loc Lac Rangers captain was clearly unhappy.
He spotted Lambert peeking out from the alley with Vari cowering behind her and roared in anger.
"Why have you come out?! Get back immediately!"
The flock of Egyurasu that had accompanied Guanzorumu was far stronger than expected. They were skilled fliers and coordinated their attacks, making it extremely difficult for 1★ or 2★ Hunters to hold their own. The battle had already taken a heavy toll.
An ambush by several Egyurasu could leave even 3★ or 4★ Hunters severely wounded.
Nuri was grateful that, before the battle, Boss Joda had ordered the 1★ and 2★ members to guard the refuges from defensive positions with their backs to the fortifications. The order had at least reduced casualties among the Rangers' rank-and-file members.
Even so, some refused to stay put and slipped out of the refuges, such as the two standing before him.
Lambert remained composed beneath Nuri's glare. "The refuge assigned to us is underground and extremely sturdy. Even a Monoblos might not be able to pry open its cast-iron hatch, let alone an Egyurasu. There's no point staying inside."
Nuri raised his Gunlance and fired repeatedly, driving back an attacking Egyurasu, then turned back with gritted teeth. "If you could figure that out, couldn't you put that clever little head of yours to work and ask why Boss Joda assigned the two youngest kids to that refuge?!"
Vari, mild-mannered and somewhat timid by nature, said quietly, "But Ms. Lambert said that if Loc Lac fell, nowhere would be safe, no matter how sturdy the refuge."
"I think what she said makes sense."
"Don't listen to her nonsense!" Nuri said in exasperation. "Those words might carry some weight coming from elite 4★ or 5★ Hunters who risked their lives on the front lines, but what gives you two kids the right to say that?"
"Not necessarily." Lambert's lips curled, lending her expression a dangerous edge. "I've just discovered something rather interesting."
"Those Egyurasu flying around are a real nuisance, aren't they? What if I told you I can make them gather in one place?"
"You–"
Nuri's furious expression practically screamed, "I've heard enough of this lunatic's nonsense. I'm stuffing you both back into the refuge right now!"
Lambert hurriedly cut him off. "I'm serious! I'm a super genius. Altaïr and Isis noticed me and took me under their wing before I'd even graduated! You might not believe me, but do you doubt Altaïr and the others' judgment?!"
In a crisis, a little exaggeration was unavoidable!
"..."
Nuri choked. Though he remained unconvinced, a clear flicker of hesitation crossed his face.
Of everyone Nuri knew, Altaïr was the most talented.
When Altaïr was still 1★, Nuri had already reached 2★. Two or three years later, Altaïr had become a 5★ Hunter while Nuri was still only 3★, and even that rate of promotion was considered fast among ordinary Hunters.
Lambert's challenge, "If you don't believe me, don't you believe in Altaïr's judgment?" made his heart skip a beat.
Altaïr had once told him in all seriousness that Lambert's talent and future achievements might surpass even his own.
Seeing Nuri waver, Lambert pressed her advantage. "Cover me. I need a little time to prepare. I'll show you what I mean."
Without giving Nuri a chance to respond, Lambert hauled the Wind Horn around in front of her. She crouched low with her back hunched, tossing her head and shaking her legs as she tinkered with it feverishly.
As she adjusted the strings, she muttered nonstop, "If I remember correctly, this should be the frequency I stumbled onto earlier. Add a little emotion... anger, intimidation... Ah, I can push this much further. Mm, just a little more..."
This was not a bustling Loc Lac street, but a chaotic battlefield.
Before long, an Egyurasu spotted the three of them, shrieked, and swept into a dive.
Nuri had no choice. He raised his Large Shield to protect Lambert's flank and, alongside Vari, whom he believed Lambert had already led astray, moved to meet the oncoming enemy.
With Lambert wholly immersed in her own world, Nuri and Vari could neither dodge nor move freely while protecting her. Bunched together, the three made a perfect target.
The Egyurasu pack was far from stupid and quickly noticed this. Several immediately closed in, opening their maws and inhaling as they readied their breath attacks.
"Both of you, back against the wall! Get behind me!" With no other option, Nuri raised his Large Shield and braced to take the incoming breath attacks head-on.
At that moment, however, Lambert leaped out from behind him, her face alight with an almost manic grin. "Come on! Do as I command!"
As she swung the Hunting Horn, a bizarre wave of sound, something between a Monster's roar and a sonic boom, rippled outward.
"Rrraaawwwrrrr!"
The Egyurasu encircling the three froze in unison, then scattered explosively, hurtling wildly toward the other Hunters along the street.
"Ah, um... maybe I added a little too much..."
(Translated by yourtl.app)