"(This isn't good... I think I have to take a risk.)" ( Kuro )
"We need to reach the underground bunker. Stay close before... watch out!!!"
Using shadow step, Kuro appeared behind one of his enemies, slitting his throat before he could realize what was happening.
The others tried to catch him, but it was too late. Cloe's younger brother disappeared into the darkness from where he had come.
One of the [White Corps] members started shooting flames randomly into the room, trying to hit him.
"You'll have to do better to stop me!" (Kuro)
"Don't waste [mana] unnecessarily! Keep moving! Form a diamond formation!"
Harnessing his silent killer skills, Kuro's friend continued attacking from the shadows whenever he could, using his throwing knives and daggers.
All of it proved useless. The protectors of Mikan were well-trained and now knew how he operated.
"I won't be able to kill her before she reaches the safe room. I just hope Cloe is in position."
As the group approached the final meters before the stairs leading to an underground, [magically] resistant bunker, a wave of sand entered through a window, hitting the two leading the formation.
Cloe had struck with pinpoint precision. Using [stealth] and [telekinesis], she had bypassed the perimeter wall of the house, blocking the only corridor leading to the safe room with a wall of sand.
"Here she is!"
"Get her!"
"Don't let her escape!"
In less than five seconds, all the [White Corps] guarding the exterior rushed her, unleashing every [magic] spell they had at long range. The girl had to defend herself with a sand dome.
"(Now comes the hard part!)" (Cloe)
******************************
A few hours before Fumio led his students into the mission, he and Cloe had an important conversation about his role in the operation.
"Kusanagi-san, in this mission, you'll be our heavy hitter. Most of the [White Corps] will be handled by you. Your only task is to keep them busy, but if you have no choice, you are allowed to kill them." (Fumio)
"Understood, Fumio-sensei, I'm ready to go." (Cloe)
"No, not yet. First, I want you to take these."
The 30-year-old handed her at least 7 vials of a strange liquid. The 17-year-old looked at the liquid with a strange expression.
"What is this? It looks...?" (Cloe)
"It's a compound created by the Triad, called [Dragon Blood]. I won't bore you with the details—just remember, it will enhance your powers for a limited time." (Fumio)
"Wow! That's fantastic! But I have a huge 'but' coming." (Cloe)
"Yeah... it has several side effects. Use it only if you have no other choice. In the worst case, your [magic] instability could worsen again." (Fumio)
Cloe involuntarily swallowed her saliva. She had just regained a balance—physical and mental—that she lacked since the experiments in the laboratory where she was raised.
Thanks to this, her power was no longer so uncontrollable as it once was. Losing all of this frightened her, more than she would ever admit.
"Kusanagi-san, I wouldn't ask so much if it weren't—" (Fumio)
"I trust you, Fumio-sensei! I will do what I must! For me and for others, I will do my best!" (Cloe)
"...I like to see you so determined. But don't risk more than you should tonight." (Fumio)
"Got it!" (Cloe)
In the present, Cloe was bombarded from all directions by various types of magical attacks.
Under such continuous fire, her fragile sand dome was the only defense preventing the [White Corps] from tearing her apart.
"(They're much stronger than I expected! I need more [Dragon Blood]!)" (Cloe)
Before she could take another vial, the ground beneath her started to tremble suddenly.
"Wh-"
The younger sister of Kuro understood what was about to happen, just a second too late. A small column of solidified earth formed from the ground, striking her in the stomach and flinging her out of her own dome.
"GAAH!"
If she hadn't used [mana manipulation]:[armor] from the start of this fight, she likely would have suffered a broken sternum and multiple organ damages.
While mid-air and with her vision slightly blurred, Cloe immediately noticed the incoming attacks.
"[Sand Sphere]! [Minor Heal]!"
Before the next wave of enemy fire could hit her, the sand she had created solidified around her, protecting her, while she used another [magic] to heal the light injuries she had sustained.
"Don't stop the assault! She can't keep creating sand forever!!!!"
"Understood!!!!" (the others)
Inside the dome, which had landed heavily on the ground, the young [mage] was focusing all her concentration to prevent her defenses from collapsing.
"Kohaku-chan, I need help!" (Cloe)
"Hold on, Cloe-chan, I'm coming!" (Kohaku)
From the bunker, the [operator] of the group took command of some drones he had positioned above the house to redirect them toward the battlefield.
Like kamikaze pilots, the electronic devices dove headlong toward the [White Corps], crashing forcefully.
"Attack from above!!!!" (Kohaku)
Few drones reached their targets before being shattered by the enemy [magic], and those few that did reach couldn't kill any of the targets—they knew how to use [armor].
"Cloe-chan, I managed to stun one of them and take out two others! The others are regrouping! You have seconds!" (Kohaku)
In that brief window granted by her best friend, Cloe managed to drink another vial of [Dragon Blood].
The effect was immediate; she felt her powers surge.
Beneath the dome, tremors intensified. The teenager quickly understood what was about to happen.
"No! Not again!" (Cloe)
Focusing, she manipulated the sand just enough to make her dome roll to the right, avoiding the column that would have once again sent her flying into the air.
"Cloe-chan, I'll be your eyes! The enemy closest is southeast, less than 10 meters away!" (Kohaku)
"Got it!" (Cloe)
Even inside the dome, under enemy onslaught, empowered by the vial, the young [mage] now had the strength to counterattack, thanks to Kohaku's support.
A large hand of sand formed atop the dome, aimed at the nearest [White Corps].
The attack was slow; the sneaky [mage] easily dodged the blow.
"He dodged it!? He's 4 meters away, on the left now!" (Kohaku)
From her hand, small sand projectiles were fired, hitting the enemy's uniform through the gaps, causing bleeding from the holes, staining the white clothing red.
"Hit the full target! He's down! Bleeding heavily!" (Cloe)
"Ahhhhhhh!" (one of the enemies)
Seeing his colleague wounded and dying, one of the enemies roared in anger, rushing toward Cloe's dome.
"Enemy northeast. He's trying to close in at close range. I don't think he's [magic] or [esper], but he's definitely using a [magic weapon]!" (Kohaku)
"Tell me when he's about to reach me!" (Cloe)
The [White Corps] advanced, wielding a large broadsword similar to a Claymore, its blade coated with a thin layer of ice.
"Stop, you idiot!"
"Hold fire, damn it! Or you'll kill her!"
Her colleagues halted their shots on Cloe's sand dome to avoid friendly fire.
"Eight meters to engagement!" (Kohaku)
Cloe began to soften her defenses. She relied on her best friend, who acted as her eyes and ears.
"Five meters to engagement!" (Kohaku)
"(I can't afford to miss, or I'll be doomed...)" (Cloe)
"Three meters to engagement!" (Kohaku)
"(...The move has to be perfect, no hesitation!)" (Cloe)
"Here he comes!!!! Go, Cloe-chan!"
The pseudo Claymore plunged into the sand dome, easily freezing the sand upon contact.
"!? "
The [White Corps] immediately realized something was wrong; it had been too easy to penetrate a defense that had withstood the combined power of her colleagues.
"(Now!)" (Cloe)
Indeed, similar to what had happened to Hajime during the three-way sand challenge, her opponent's [magic weapon] became enveloped in [sand blades].
The sword started freezing the sand again, but during those few seconds needed to free her weapon, the [White Corps] was fully exposed.
"[Falcon Blades]!!!"
Emerging from her defenses, Cloe struck the opponent's side with her [magic weapon]. Her fingers, shaped like claws, pierced the enemy's uniform and tore into the flesh.
"AHHHHHH!!!"
"[Mummification]!!!"
In a few moments, thanks to the booster she received from the [Dragon Blood], Cloe drained all the liquid from her opponent, killing him and turning his body into a mummy before her incredulous colleagues' eyes.
"Kill her, damn it!!!!!" (the enemy shouts)
"[Sand Dome]!!!"
The assault resumed, more powerful than ever. While inside the dome, Cloe grabbed another vial she had received from Fumio, preparing for what was to come.
"Cloe-chan! Signal when you're ready!" (Kohaku)
"I'm ready! Tell him to go!!!" (Cloe)
One of the [White Corps], closest to the perimeter wall defending the property, was kicked in the groin from behind.
His groan of pain was unheard over the noise of the attacks.
"[Lightning]!!!!" (Kimiko)
With one hand, Kimiko struck down the law enforcer, and with the other, she launched more lightning at her nearest enemy.
Only now did the [White Corps] realize she was there.
"Hi! Mind if I join the fun!?" (Kimiko)
Smiling behind her gas mask, the youngest of Fumio's students equipped her brass knuckles and advanced toward her enemies.