"Worm-like bastard, go die."
The sphere of light burst open in Mugino Shizuri's hand, scattering brilliance as it shot toward the crystalline object.
In the next instant, the object shattered into pieces.
Immediately after, a sight enough to shock the eyes unfolded.
The originally single beam of light split into nearly a hundred rays, like a rampaging laser, shooting out in all directions.
Dozens of slender electron beams exploding all at once raised the surrounding temperature in an instant.
It was an area-attack resembling a peacock spreading its tail.
Haramura Makoto's pupils contracted sharply. He pulled out a large handful of objects from his pocket and tossed them into the air.
Bang bang bang—
Flames erupted around him as dozens of bullets poured out in a torrent, and his figure retreated several dozen meters in an instant.
Boom boom boom—
Deafening explosions rang out, and the shockwave swept across the surroundings.
The smoke from the gunpowder veiled the entire battlefield, obscuring all vision.
"Hmph, such boring tricks. Do you really think bombs can block my Meltdowner? What wishful thinking."
Mugino spat to the side with contempt.
She stepped forward two more paces, arriving beside Kinuhata Saiai, looking down on her.
Given the density of her rays earlier and the width of the alley, no matter how fast that guy ran, he couldn't possibly have dodged her attack.
In Mugino's mind, Makoto was already riddled with holes.
"Could it be he injected some drug…?"
She frowned at Kinuhata, still kneeling unconscious, and crouched down.
As for Frenda, that traitor who had leaked intel, Mugino was definitely going to eliminate her.
It didn't matter whether Frenda had been threatened or not—once she committed such a fundamental betrayal, forgiveness was impossible.
But if there was still a chance to save Kinuhata, Mugino would try.
After all, replenishing a specialized combat force like Item was no simple matter.
Otherwise, even after all this time, they wouldn't have remained at just four core members.
Losing Frenda was one thing, but if they also lost Kinuhata—the team's shield—then in terms of fighting strength, only Mugino herself would remain.
Takitsubo Rikou's powers were purely supportive, and she wasn't strong in combat.
That was why Mugino had chosen earlier to drive Makoto away from Kinuhata's side rather than risking an outright kill.
As for her initial merciless attack, it had merely been a test—to see how much Makoto valued the hostage.
If he didn't care, then even if her shot missed Kinuhata, he would have abandoned her and Mugino would've finished her off instantly.
But if he did care, then Mugino would try, like she had just now, to pull Kinuhata back alive.
"That idiot even managed to run… tch."
Lifting Kinuhata's eyelid and confirming she was indeed unconscious, Mugino felt a pang of annoyance.
There weren't any vehicles here, nor any passersby.
Which meant… she'd have to carry Kinuhata back to the main road herself.
"Takitsubo, get over here."
Mugino stood up and called out.
She herself was absolutely not going to carry Kinuhata on her back.
Bang—
Agonizing pain shot up from her tailbone, the blow striking from behind—a heavy, crushing punch.
"So it's like that… even you've betrayed me? Fine then, you can die too."
That familiar attack pattern.
That impossible angle of attack.
No one but Kinuhata Saiai, who had been right behind her, could've done it.
Enduring the pain, Mugino twisted around, green light spheres forming around her.
"Die!"
But Kinuhata was already standing, holding something like a remote control in her hand.
With a slight sidestep, she avoided the close-range Meltdowner shot.
Then she pressed down hard.
"Damn it—"
Alarms screamed in Mugino's mind—or rather, fear itself surged up inside her. Her face was twisted in terror.
Boom—
Flames and thunderous blasts erupted at once.
Kinuhata didn't even look back, bolting away from the battlefield.
Whoosh—
Ten missile warheads roared with fire, riding the shockwave and wind, locking onto Mugino's position.
"Damn it, I won't die here!"
Mugino shrieked like a madwoman.
Unlike her usual green light orbs, a circular barrier of the same hue manifested above her, dissolving all ten warheads before they could strike.
"I'll kill you. Not just you—your family, your friends, everything you have. Anyone connected to you—I'll wipe them all out! Damn it! Damn it!!"
The killing intent and madness in her words were overwhelming, almost unimaginable in their intensity.
"It's true, that's a terrifying threat. And I believe you, Level 5. But… Do you really still have the strength to carry it out?"
Mugino opened her mouth to curse back, to vent her rage.
But—
"What…?"
"My body… won't… move…"
It was as if her limbs no longer obeyed. No matter how much she commanded them, nothing responded.
Buzz—
Even the light sphere she had just formed disintegrated.
"What's going on, what's going on…?"
The bravado was gone. Her face was left with only panic.
Even the pain in her bleeding abdomen was drowned out by the shock.
Why was Mugino always so violent?
Part of it was her spoiled upbringing as a pampered rich girl.
But more than that, it was her power itself—the intoxicating thrill of being able to snuff out life with ease, that sense of supremacy.
And now, stripped of that power?
She was nothing more than a bird with broken wings, trembling in fear.
"Now, Misaki!"
Mugino's nerves jolted—
But then her mind went dark.
Her consciousness was completely wiped away.