Chapter 26 - "Core"
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Riku lay sprawled against the shattered wall, vision blurred in one eye. Warm blood trickled down her forehead, forcing her to squint through the red haze.
Above her, the monster towered—bulky, armored hide cracking with purple mana veins. One Eye glowing blue like dying stars. It raised a massive fist.
*Not yet,* Riku thought.
She rolled—barely.
The fist slammed down.
CRASH!
Ground exploded. Dust and debris flew. The impact shook the street like an earthquake, stones rattling, broken buildings groaning.
Riku pushed to her feet, sniper rifle slung over her shoulder.
She dodged the next punch—side-stepped, leaped through a shattered window into the nearest building.
The monster roared—deep, guttural.
It charged after her.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM.
Each step sent tremors through the walls. Plaster fell from the ceiling. The building shuddered like it was alive and dying.
Riku sprinted through the lobby, vaulted over rubble, hit the stairs.
Up—two at a time.
The monster smashed through the wall behind her.
CRUNCH!
Wood and concrete flew.
She reached the second floor, ducked into a hallway.
The monster's arm burst through the floor below—grabbing, missing.
She jumped out another window—grabbed a ledge, swung her body like a pendulum, parkour-flipped to the fire escape below.
Landed.
Ran.
The monster kept coming—twisted legs from her earlier shot slowing it, but not stopping.
It lunged—palm swinging wide.
WHAM!
Riku flew—crashed into another wall.
Pain exploded in her side. Ribs—definitely broken.
She gasped, breath shallow.
*I need distance. I'm a sniper. Can't shoot from this close.*
She staggered up, blood dripping, and ran again.
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Flashback.
Classroom at Peak Harem Academy—years ago.
Miku and Riku sat side by side, notebooks open. Twins—same ponytails, same focused eyes.
The teacher—older woman, scarred arm—paced at the front.
"Mana monsters," she said. "Some can see us. Some underdeveloped ones can't. But all have weaknesses."
She tapped the hologram board.
"Main ways to kill: Slash in two or full blast—for small to medium sized. But for bigger ones? Not easy to cut them apart."
She zoomed on a monster diagram.
"Break the mana core. Every monster has one. Position varies—not fixed. Sometimes hidden under skin. Sometimes visible—glowing from outside."
Miku leaned over to Riku.
"Remember that. Aim for the glow."
Riku nodded.
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Back to now.
Riku gasped for air—lungs burning, ribs screaming.
The monster charged—earthquake steps.
BOOM—BOOM.
She looked back.
Saw it.
The core.
In its left eye—blue glow, pulsing.
*Yes. There.*
She reached a building—grabbed the drain pipe, climbed—parkour style, foot on ledge, hand on window sill, up.
The monster lunged—grabbed for her.
She flipped backward—dodged by inches.
Landed on the roof.
Ammo check—last one.
She shouldered the sniper.
Aimed.
Scope locked on the glowing left eye.
Steady.
Fire.
Blue energy lanced out—straight and true.
The monster swung at the same instant—massive palm connecting mid-air.
The shot hit.
The monster roared—eye exploding in purple light.
It staggered.
Fell.
THUD—CRASH!
The ground shook one last time.
Riku flew from the impact—crashed onto the roof edge.
Slid.
Grabbed the ledge—barely.
Pulled herself up.
Collapsed.
Gasping—fast, shallow, hand pressing her side.
Blood seeped through her fingers.
It hurt.
She lay there, staring at the smoke-filled sky.
The monster didn't get up.
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*End*