The factory roared with chaos.
Metal screamed.
Heat and pressure filled every corner.
Centipede staggered backward.
Its armor—broken.
Its body—burned.
"…you… insects…!"
For the first time—
Fear crept into its voice.
Then—
Without warning—
WHOOSH!!!
It turned—
And fled.
"…it's escaping!" Hina shouted.
Shin clicked her tongue.
"…fast."
But—
From the shadows—
A figure appeared.
Right in its path.
Miyagi Aoi.
Silent.
Calm.
Bow already drawn.
Her eyes—
Focused.
Unshaken.
"You're not going anywhere."
The arrow trembled slightly—
Energy gathering.
"…Mizu no nagare."
The air around her shifted.
Moisture condensed.
"Raion Shotto."
TWANG!!!
The arrow shot forward—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A high-pressure blast of water exploded on impact—
Piercing straight into Centipede's exposed flesh.
"AAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The Demon screamed—
Its body shaking violently—
Pinned—
Unable to move.
That moment—
Hina moved.
"Now!"
She leapt into the air—
High above—
Her katana raised.
"…Hi no nagare."
Flames erupted again—
But this time—
Different.
Hot—
Yet…
"…warm?"
Hina's eyes widened slightly.
"…what is this…?"
The fire burned red—
Then—
For a brief moment—
It turned—
White.
Pure.
Blinding.
Calm.
Then—
Back to crimson.
But stronger.
Far stronger.
Hina's voice echoed—
"Hi ga moete imasu!!!"
She descended—
SLASH!!!
A single strike.
Clean.
Absolute.
The world seemed to freeze—
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The impact split the ground.
Flames erupted violently.
Centipede's body—
Paused.
Then—
Slowly—
Split in two.
Silence.
Its body collapsed—
Burning—
Disintegrating—
Gone.
The fire faded.
Hina landed.
Breathing heavily.
"…I did it…"
Aoi lowered her bow slowly.
"…we did it…"
Shin stood behind them.
Watching.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…that flame again…"
A pause.
"…it changed."
Hina looked at her katana.
"…just now…"
"…it felt different."
Shin didn't answer.
But her gaze—
Was serious.
"…this isn't normal."
Outside—
The cries of families still echoed faintly.
Unaware—
That the nightmare had just ended
Or the new threats
And far from the end.
To be continued…