Chapter 223: If You Don't Stop, I'll Kill the Hostage
"Who are you?"
Although the man in front of him wore a smile, Hachiman Hikigaya instantly raised his guard to the maximum.
From what he had just said, it was clear he had anticipated Hachiman's movements and deliberately waited here—but was he alone?
Hachiman glanced down the empty alley behind Ryunosuke Uryuu with some doubt.
If it was just a mage trying to block the way, that wouldn't be enough to stop him.
"Who I am isn't important. What matters is, sir, could you hand over the little girl beside you?"
Ryunosuke's eyes gleamed as he rubbed his hands together excitedly.
In that instant, inspiration struck him. He couldn't wait to take the girl back to his temporary base for… his "creative work."
Hachiman's face darkened immediately upon hearing Ryunosuke's words.
"So you're Caster's master…"
The Demon-Slaying Blade appeared in his hand instantly, and Hachiman's voice dripped with anger.
He truly hadn't expected that the very target he had been searching for would have the audacity to appear right before him—and even try to touch Sakura…
"Oh ho ho, getting angry, are we…"
Seeing the weapon suddenly in Hachiman's hands, Ryunosuke's face showed a hint of curiosity. He opened his arms, and several magical beasts immediately emerged from the alley beside him. One of them held a very familiar-looking girl.
"Who's she?"
Hachiman frowned slightly as he looked at Rin Tohsaka, restrained by the tentacles of the beast in the rear.
He remembered having warned her earlier to go home. Judging by the current situation, she had obviously ignored his advice.
"Huh… is it that uncle from before?"
As Hachiman watched Rin, who had been completely under control and had a vacant expression, her body suddenly trembled slightly. Her gaze cleared again.
Seeing Hachiman confronting the mage who had captured her, Rin was surprised, but she didn't think Hachiman could defeat a mage capable of summoning magical beasts. So she remained silent.
She only looked toward Sakura and froze.
Though she had grown taller and her hair had grown long, she would never mistake her sister!
"Sakura!"
Gritting her teeth, Rin suppressed her excitement and didn't call out.
This was clearly not the right moment to reveal themselves—if Hachiman got distracted and injured while protecting Sakura, both sisters would fall into the hands of this perverted magus…
"Kill the boy, keep the girl."
Ryunosuke didn't realize that the other "gem" he had grabbed earlier was the girl's older sister.
He waved his hand, giving the command.
Two beasts stepped out from behind him, slowly advancing toward Hachiman and Rin.
"Sakura, stay here and wait for me."
Hachiman stroked Sakura's soft, long hair, warning her not to run off, then set up a magical array and charged at the beasts.
"Is he looking for death?"
Ryunosuke's face showed shock as he watched Hachiman engage the beasts in close combat.
Wasn't a mage supposed to fight from a distance using magic?
The approaching beasts extended their long tentacles, wrapping toward Hachiman.
At the same time, one opened a gap in its body, revealing a mouth full of fangs, ready to devour.
But a flash of ghostly green light severed several of the tentacles, and Hachiman, with a horizontal slash, cut one of the blocking beasts in half at the waist. He then raised his hand again, sending a wave of spiritual energy to crush another beast into a pulp.
"So next…"
Hachiman took down two beasts in just a few seconds. Without pause, he charged straight at Ryunosuke.
"This isn't what Lord Gilles said…"
Seeing Hachiman rush toward him, Ryunosuke didn't panic. Instead, he looked excited.
With a thought, all the beasts, except for the one holding Rin, twisted into strange poses and lunged at Hachiman.
"No, this number isn't enough…"
Seeing Hachiman easily dispatch two beasts, Ryunosuke immediately triggered the summoning of several more beasts with his larval eggs.
Afterward, Ryunosuke knelt on the ground, pale and panting heavily.
But upon seeing Hachiman surrounded by more than ten beasts, he immediately laughed loudly.
"This number… might be a problem…"
Hachiman's expression hardened as he assessed the number of beasts encircling him.
If it were a one-on-one fight, he would have no pressure. But the beasts clearly intended to gang up!
After a few seconds of standoff, one beast launched the first attack.
Immediately, as if triggered by a chain reaction, all the other beasts charged simultaneously.
"Sun Breathing—Waltz!"
Entering a breathing technique instantly, Hachiman spun once in place. Flames ignited on the Demon-Slaying Blade, temporarily repelling the surrounding beasts.
Stopping his spin, Hachiman leaped at the nearest beast while throwing several attack talismans with his empty left hand to prevent the others from coming to its aid.
"Within two seconds, it's a one-on-one fight."
This thought flashed through Hachiman's mind. He took a deep breath, leaving only the beast before him in his vision…
.
.
"Hey, hey, hey, this is a joke, right?"
Ryunosuke had barely recovered some strength and got up from the ground, only to find that of the dozen or so beasts that had surrounded Hachiman, only three remained struggling.
Soon, with a scream, the number dropped from three to two!
"Didn't he say these beasts were super strong? Why can't they handle a single human?!"
Facing Hachiman's murderous gaze, Ryunosuke instinctively stepped back.
Then, noticing Rin on one of the beasts nearby, his eyes lit up.
He summoned the beast holding Rin and issued a command to Hachiman.
"If you don't stop, I'll kill this one."
Important Announcement! New Fanfifction
Cote: Daily Intelligence System
Shimizu Akira unexpectedly transmigrated into the world of "Classroom of the Elite," becoming an ordinary student in Class D.
Relying on the advantage of foresight thanks to his daily intelligence system, Shimizu Akira navigates between the various factions.
Read ahead and Finish the Fanfction by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting