A powerful tremor reverberated through the building, causing Toa to halt in her tracks.

“…Kei-kun.”

The image of the young man who had stayed behind to hold off Rokuhara flashed through her mind. She knew he was strong.

But as time passed, an overwhelming unease and fear welled up from deep within her heart at the thought of leaving him behind.

“Toa, don’t stop. You decided to trust him, didn’t you?”
“…Yeah, you’re right.”

Seeing Toa resume walking, Mizuhi nodded approvingly and tossed aside a security guard. Several other guards and the remains of security robots were scattered at her feet.

“According to the data provided by that streamer… we’re almost there.”

The sound of explosions and sirens echoed throughout the central district, rendering any attempt at stealth meaningless. Mizuhi and her companions struck down every enemy in their path until they stood before a door.

“This is it.”

The stark white door served as the entrance to a hidden experimental facility.

(This is where illegal experiments are being conducted… Miroku must be one of the victims.)

Pressing the barrel of her gun against the door, Mizuhi said, “Let’s go, Toa,” and pulled the trigger.

The explosion blasted the door off its hinges. Mizuhi stepped through the smoldering entrance, her power keeping the flames at bay.

“—Mizuhi?”

In the pristine white room, she was there. Wearing what appeared to be experimental medical clothing, her face looked slightly worn.

But there was no mistaking it—it was Miroku, the blue-haired girl Mizuhi knew.

“Miroku-chan!”

Toa spotted her and called out joyfully. But Miroku turned her face away, refusing to meet their eyes.

Mizuhi’s expression didn’t change as she spoke a single phrase.
“We’re going home.”

Miroku only shook her head. Seeing this, Mizuhi stepped forward, determined to take Miroku by force if necessary.

It was then that a voice rang out from the room’s speakers.

“Ah, no, you can’t do that. She’s a valuable test subject of mine.”

The voice belonged to someone in a glass-walled room above. There stood a ghastly girl, clawing at her ruined skin without care, looking down at them.

“…That’s—”
“Do you know who I am? The unparalleled genius of Kiso Academy, Professor. Though I rarely appear in public, I didn’t expect intruders like you to make it this far. Remarkable, really. Fectom Academy students are quite something.”

Her words were condescending, like a judge appraising inferior goods. Mizuhi aimed her gun at Professor and fired without hesitation. The bullet was stopped by an invisible barrier.

“Such a feeble attack. Not even worth studying. I’d prefer not to waste time fighting here… but you leave me no choice.”

Professor manipulated her console, and a hatch beneath the glass room opened. A filthy, monstrous dog emerged.

The overwhelming magical aura and its unnatural size left Mizuhi no doubt—it was a demon beast.

“We’ll kill this thing and take Miroku home.”
“Right!”

Toa manifested her heavy artillery and took aim. Seeing this, Miroku spoke up.
“…What are you doing? Surely, you’re not thinking of fighting, are you?”
“There’s no other way. I’m taking you back, even if it’s by force.”
“Miroku-chan, let’s go home!”

The demon beast stood between them and Miroku as if to protect her.

“Do you really think you can defeat Orthros? Ordinary explorers like you? Hahaha, impossible. It’s one of my masterpieces… though it incorporates Shieru’s computations.”

Professor manipulated the console again, causing Orthros to let out a massive roar. Simultaneously, tanks attached to the walls began emitting a faint light.

“…!”
“Shieru, are you okay?”
“No problem. Computation is my domain.”

Shieru, who was connected to Orthros, briefly grimaced but quickly nodded at Miroku’s concerned question.

“As expected of Demonsgear. This experiment with Orthros will pave the way to surpassing that wretched Ouroboros!”

Laughing ecstatically, Professor continued operating the console like a child playing a game.

“It’s coming, Toa!”
“Got it!”

Orthros slowly opened its massive maw.

Mizuhi seized the moment to fire several bullets, but they were ineffective.

“…A high-density magical barrier!?”
“Do you think my inventions have weaknesses? Absurd!”

A beam of light gathered in Orthros’ mouth and shot toward Mizuhi and Toa.

“—!”
“Ahh!”

Mizuhi tackled Toa and rolled away just in time. The beam obliterated the spot where they had just been standing, continuing upward to pierce the ceiling and reveal the night sky beyond.

“Magnificent! Such power exceeds expectations. With Shieru’s computations, the output is incredible!”
“Adjusting discrepancies. The next shot won’t damage the ceiling.”

Mizuhi swallowed hard as she witnessed the overwhelming power. Her body trembled instinctively, understanding that a moment’s hesitation would have meant death. Toa was equally stunned.

This light was unlike the one from Sorciera—it was cold and mechanical, designed to kill without hesitation.

“…Mizuhi, take Toa-chan and run,” Miroku said calmly.

“You must protect Fectom Integrated Academy from now on. Stop wasting time on unnecessary matters.”
“…I see.”

Mizuhi stood up.
Then, aiming her gun, she glared at Orthros.

“It seems you won’t understand unless I knock some sense into you.”
“You stubborn fool…! Nana-chan, please!”

Orthros roared, but Mizuhi had already begun sprinting.

(This massive body… it can’t move properly on its own. The Professor specifically mentioned that girl was essential. If so, disabling the machinery connecting them should neutralize this entirely.)

Abandoning the idea of attacking Orthros directly, Mizuhi dashed past it, aiming her gun at the machine beside Miroku.
The water tank in which the girl floated, and the mechanical pedestal supporting it—
These were the core of Orthros’ strength. Knowing that, Mizuhi targeted only that.

“I’ve already anticipated such a move.”
“!?”
“Gah!”

A sudden, tremendous impact struck Mizuhi from the side, slamming her into a wall.

(Was that… its tail?)

Forcing her fading consciousness to stay alert, Mizuhi looked at the tail, coiled like a whip.

(I didn’t expect an attack using its tail from this canine-like form. I see, it won’t be so easy after all.)

Mizuhi quickly changed her plan of action.

“Toa!”
“…! Got it!”

Hearing her name, Toa instantly understood what was needed.
She raised her heavy cannon, deploying multiple magic circles in the air around her.

These were no ordinary circles; they were for a convergence blast, the pinnacle of magical artillery.

“Do you think I’ll let Toa fire that while I’m here?”
“She’ll fire it. That’s why I’m here.”

Once again, Mizuhi sprinted toward Shieru’s pedestal.
Firing a flurry of bullets as she ran.

(With Miroku so close, I can’t afford to detonate the bullets recklessly. I must aim precisely.)

Each bullet was a lethal shot aimed at the pedestal. Orthros, using its tail, blocked them all.

“My bullets are still alive.”

The deflected bullets ignited, forming shapes that surrounded the pedestal. The bullets then rained down upon it.

“A move like that… I don’t—!”
“You wouldn’t know, Miroku. The current you, who acts like you’ve left the academy, wouldn’t understand!”

The number of bullets now exceeded what Orthros’ tail could block.
Orthros rushed forward, positioning itself in front of the pedestal and Miroku, using its entire body’s magical barrier to intercept the barrage.

Seeing this, Mizuhi smirked.

“It moved, didn’t it? You’ve realized you need to move to face me.”
“…Don’t tell me, Mizuhi, your plan is to buy time for Toa to fire the convergence blast?”
“No, I’m serious about destroying it. Toa’s shot is just the backup plan.”

As Orthros defended, Mizuhi sprinted and fired another round of bullets.

(This thing is powerful, but that very power makes it difficult to control. It can’t handle both Toa and me at once.)

Mizuhi’s strategy was a simultaneous attack on Orthros itself and the pedestal that controlled it.

(I distract it while Toa’s convergence blast kills the main body. That’s the only way to penetrate its barrier. Alternatively—)

Another idea crossed her mind, but Mizuhi dismissed it as uncertain.

“Hah.”

Seeing Mizuhi’s relentless movement, the Professor sighed in exasperation.

“Do you think I haven’t already considered this? Honestly, I despise foolish children like you.”

The Professor’s voice echoed, calm yet disdainful. Shieru showed no surprise, continuing her calculations silently.

“Calculations complete. Mizuhi, if you engage Orthros in combat, the match ends in seven moves.”
“Then come try me.”

Mizuhi grinned fearlessly.
She pulled the trigger, aiming once more at the pedestal.