The factory trembled.
Steel pipes rattled.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Centipede moved first.
WHOOSH!!!
Its massive body lunged forward—
Faster than expected.
"Spread out!" Shin ordered.
Hina dashed to the side—
Katana ready.
Aoi—
Vanished.
Gone.
"…?" Hina blinked.
Shin didn't react.
"…she's in position."
Centipede's body twisted—
Segments snapping like metal chains—
CRASH!!!
It slammed into the ground—
Cracking concrete apart.
Hina rushed in.
"Don't underestimate me!"
SLASH!!!
Her blade struck the demon's body—
CLANG!!!
"…what?!"
The impact echoed like steel.
The skin—
Too hard.
Not even a scratch.
Centipede laughed.
"Pathetic."
It swung its body—
WHAM!!!
Hina barely blocked—
"—ghh!"
She was pushed back violently.
Shin stepped in.
Her spear flashed forward—
THRUST!
CLANG!!!
"…tch."
Even her attack—
Didn't pierce it.
"…its defense is abnormal."
The pressure in the room increased.
Centipede moved again—
WHOOSH!!!
Its legs stabbed forward like spears.
Shin dodged effortlessly—
Hina followed—
But barely.
"…this is bad…"
Meanwhile—
Hidden in the shadows—
Aoi watched silently.
Her presence—
Gone.
Blended into the surroundings.
Camouflage.
Her breathing slowed.
Her eyes sharpened.
"…movement pattern…"
She tracked every motion.
Every shift.
Every rhythm.
"…there…"
Her gaze focused.
"…found it."
Back on the battlefield—
Hina wiped blood from her lip.
"…fine."
Her grip tightened.
"…then I'll burn you down."
She lowered her stance.
"…Hi no nagare."
Her voice steady.
"Hi ga moete imasu."
FWOOSH!!!
Flames erupted again.
Hotter.
Stronger.
The factory lit up in orange.
Hina dashed forward—
SLASH!!!
Fire clashed against Centipede—
SZZZZAAAA!!!
The surface burned—
But—
It held.
Centipede roared—
But didn't fall.
"…not enough?!"
Hina gritted her teeth.
"…then take this!"
She gathered more flame.
More heat.
More power.
"…Hi no nagare—"
The air trembled.
"Doragon no iki."
FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!
A massive wave of fire exploded forward—
Taking the shape of a blazing dragon.
It swallowed Centipede whole.
The factory shook violently.
Everything burned.
Silence.
Smoke filled the air.
Hina panted heavily.
"…I got it…"
But then—
CRACK…
Her eyes widened.
From within the flames—
A shadow moved.
"…no way…"
Centipede emerged—
Burned.
Cracked.
But—
Alive.
"IS THAT ALL?!"
Its voice roared with fury.
Hina staggered back.
"…that's impossible…"
Suddenly—
A voice echoed above.
"…you exposed it."
Hina looked up.
Shin.
Standing above—
Balanced on a broken beam.
Her spear pointed downward.
Eyes cold.
Focused.
"…Kage-hō."
The air shifted.
"…Tsuinshadou."
In an instant—
She disappeared.
Then—
SHHHK!!! SHHHK!!! SHHHK!!!
Multiple afterimages appeared.
Strikes—
From every direction.
Too fast to follow.
THRUST! THRUST! THRUST!
The spear pierced again—
And again—
And again—
This time—
CRACK!!!
The armor broke.
Centipede screamed.
"AAAAAAARGH!!!"
Its hardened shell—
Shattered.
Fragments flew.
Exposing something beneath—
Flesh.
A weak point.
From the shadows—
Aoi's voice whispered softly—
"…now."
Hina's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…got it."
She stepped forward.
Flames igniting once more.
Brighter than before.
This time—
She wouldn't hesitate.
To be continued…