Chapter 1238: The Maidens of the Lion King Organization
"Narcissus... Does Ayano-sama mean that friend of Sayaka's?"
Shifting her gaze from the elderly woman, Yukina Himeragi looked at Sayaka with a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know either..."
Sayaka was also stunned.
What was going on?
That Eiji guy actually had such high-profile recognition?
He'd mentioned before having connections with the Lion King Organization - was that actually true? And something only someone at the level of the Three Saints would be qualified to know about?
"BOOM!"
Suddenly, a violent explosion echoed from the forest at the mountain's base.
Flames shot skyward as smoke and gunpowder filled the air.
"What's happening? Are there intruders?"
Sayaka's attention was immediately pulled back to the present.
"Isn't the Self-Defense Force supposed to be guarding the forest area?"
Yukina also tensed up, then suddenly pointed downhill.
"Sayaka, look over there!"
On the long staircase, two girls wearing identical uniforms to Yukina's were running toward the forest, likely heading to assist.
"Yuina and Shio? Let's go too, Yukina!"
"Right!"
Exchanging a glance, the two immediately rushed toward the forest.
...
Eiji moved through the Self-Defense Force positions as if encountering no resistance.
Whether bullets or missiles, he deflected them one after another, sending soldiers tumbling down in disarray while exploding missiles set the forest ablaze.
Tanks, trucks - he sent them all flying with single kicks.
"Retreat! This is no opponent we can handle!"
"Where's the Anti-Demon Regiment? Call the Anti-Demon Regiment!"
After several minutes of exchange, the soldiers were finally defeated by fear, screaming as they fled the scene.
Simultaneously, the Special Anti-Demon Regiment arrived on site.
The first thing heard was the piercing sound of engines.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat—!"
Following immediately, Gatling guns spitting blue flames poured down nearly a hundred rounds per second, while missiles specially designed against demons swarmed forward as if they cost nothing.
"A bomber?"
Eiji looked up at the sky.
A dark bomber about fourteen to fifteen meters long circled overhead, multiple machine guns continuously firing as missiles launched from its cabin descended with trailing flames!
Eiji pushed off with his foot, instantly vanishing from his position.
"Can't acquire target? What's happening?"
The pilot was momentarily stunned.
"On your back!"
When he reappeared, Eiji was already on the bomber's back.
A pleased smile spread across his face as he grabbed and pulled, metal screeching as the bomber lost part of its wing.
After three to five tugs, an entire wing was completely torn off.
Soon enough, the bomber wobbled erratically before crashing into the forest below.
Eiji landed on the ground.
Too bad there's no Gundam!
Otherwise today would have been perfect for experiencing what it feels like to tear apart a Gundam with bare hands!
"BOOM!"
Immediately after, a giant fist descended from above, hammering toward his head.
It was a massive stone doll over five meters tall, its entire body emitting a strong metallic luster, each step causing the earth to tremble.
"Hmph!"
Eiji threw a punch upward to meet it.
Fists collided, but the tiny fist, as small as an insect's, struck like a nail, shattering the massive iron fist of the metal stone puppet. The entire arm cracked loudly, breaking into numerous fragments that fell like rubble.
"Useless! As long as my puppet stands on the ground, it can revive endlessly!"
A confident voice echoed from the shadows.
As she said, after the arm was shattered, the stone puppet absorbed energy from the earth. Countless rocks converged, and within three seconds, its body was fully restored.
"Die with your commentary!"
Eiji sneered.
Before the opponent could react, he charged at the stone puppet, wrapped his arms around it, and lifted it from its feet.
"Boom!"
With a burst of inch force, the puppet's body shattered into pieces, crumbling into powder that scattered across the ground.
Not even a trace of its form remained—the spell itself was broken, let alone any chance of revival.
"Impossible!"
The woman in the shadows was deeply shaken, crying out in shock.
"Is that all?"
Eiji brushed off his hands, his face full of dissatisfaction.
"Is this it? Is this it? This isn't even enough to warm up!"
Elites directly under the Defense Minister, members of the Special Anti-Demon Corps in the Self-Defense Forces—was this all they were capable of?
At this level, I could kill my way through seven times in seven seconds!
Every single one would be an instant kill!
"Don't get too cocky!"
"We'll be your opponents!"
Before the words faded, two girls with short black hair charged from a distance.
The slightly wilder girl held a bow.
The more obedient-looking girl gripped a sword.
The two seemed highly skilled in coordination, advancing in a clear formation, one in front and one behind, rushing toward Eiji.
"Rosenkavalier Plus, boost on!"
The girl in front raised her silver greatsword with a sharp expression.
A blue fluorescent light flashed along the blade as she swung it furiously at Eiji!
Where the sword passed, space seemed to be coated with a thin film.
"Ha!"
Eiji grinned widely.
He reached out and effortlessly caught the tip of the silver greatsword.
The sword came to an abrupt halt!
"Huh?"
The girl blinked, her face full of disbelief.
The Rosenkavalier Plus was the sword form of the Six-Style Heavy Anti-Demon Bow—a mass-produced version of the Kōkarin's sword form. Its blade was imbued with a spell simulating spatial severing; it should have been impossible to block head-on!
But upon closer inspection, Eiji had tightly pinched the sword's tip between his thumb and forefinger.
He hadn't grasped the blade—that would have been suicidal. Even if it was only simulated, it possessed power akin to severing space, and his body was, after all, still made of flesh.
However, the weapon's greatest weakness was that it required a "slashing" motion. Once the slash was halted, the spell couldn't be activated.
By pinching the tip, Eiji prevented her from completing the slash, rendering the spell useless.
"Yui!"
The girl behind her was at a loss.
According to their private rehearsals, no enemy should have been able to block Yui's slash head-on. The moment Yui and the enemy crossed paths was supposed to be her cue to unleash a curse assault with the mass-produced bow form of the Kōkarin—the Rosenkavalier Plus bow.
But the opponent had completely defied their expectations, thwarting their combined attack from the very first move.
Not only that, because Yuri was blocking the way, she couldn't casually attack for fear of harming her.
"Worried about her? Then have her back!"
Eiji lifted the silver greatsword and threw it along with the girl toward her.
Fiberglass Shio quickly moved her weapon aside just as Hanawa Yuri crashed into her arms. The two tumbled into a heap on the ground, their bow and sword clattering as they fell.
Eiji stepped forward.
"Wait, Eiji! What are you going to do to them?"
Just then, brown ponytail flying wildly.
Sayuka finally arrived at the scene, hurriedly inserting herself between the two parties, nervously shielding the two girls behind her.