“How many of them are there?!”
“We can’t be sure, but we believe it’s just one demon. However…”
“Yes?”
“…It’s probably faster for you to see for yourself.”
Maha and Ruri followed the soldier to the entrance of the Base. The sturdy front gate was destroyed, and a dozen or so alchemists were launching their attacks from behind a makeshift barricade. But the demon appeared unfazed.
“Finally, you arrive,” said the demon.
“Huh? How? Miss Maha should have killed you!” Ruri exclaimed. The demon was the very same one that had slipped through the town’s barrier before, only for Maha to defeat her—Tao.
“As if that would be enough to stop me,” Tao said. She smiled wickedly as she continued to take the attacks unflinchingly. “I told you I hadn’t given up on the homunculus, didn’t I?”
“How is she still standing?!” someone yelled.
“We need to prepare something more powerful!”
“Enough. Pesky little cretins,” said Tao.
“Everyone, take cover!” yelled Maha, but her warning came too late. A blast of energy from where Tao stood swept back the barricade and the alchemists along with it. Maha and Ruri were protected by their automatic defenses, but the soldier that led them and the others were tossed back.
“Ngh…”
“Guh…”
“Everyone!”
“Should you be wasting your time worrying about others?” Tao closed the distance in one quick motion and swung her sharp claws at Maha.
Maha instantly drew her dagger in response and thought to dodge—before realizing Ruri was right behind her. Left with no choice, she blocked the attack fully. “Damn…!”
“How about this?!” cried Tao with a laugh as she began attacking with both arms, even working kicks in as well.
Maha would normally have let her opponent make an attack, then tried to dodge and counter, but she was put completely on the defensive now.
“Ruri! Get back!”
“Ah… O-okay.”
“Not so fast!” Tao’s eyes glowed, then a tough-looking wall that towered over Ruri appeared right behind her.
“Break it!”
“Quickchant, Spear of Mercury!” Given the urgency of the situation, Ruri chose what seemed like the best option she had. But it turned out to be ineffectual as the wall proved harder than expected, resisting even the powerful force of the mercury spear.
“I know you’re at least capable of that much. It’ll take more than that to break my wall,” Tao taunted.
Maha clicked her tongue, showing just how problematic Tao’s move was. If Ruri couldn’t get away, then Maha’s options were greatly limited in her close-range fight with Tao. Ruri herself still hadn’t learned anything other than how to fight from the back line, so asking her to get involved was just too much.
What do I do…? Maha thought as hard as she could while trying to withstand Tao’s fierce attacks. But the longer things went on, the worse her situation became. Diriyah had said before that alchemists were individually stronger than demons, but Tao was not only powerful enough to overwhelm multiple alchemists all by herself, she was even backing Maha, one of the strongest alchemists, into a corner.
“Miss Maha! It’s okay,” Ruri suddenly said.
“What? Ruri…?” Maha had a bad feeling and wanted to turn around but couldn’t with Tao in front of her.
“What’s this then? Are you surrendering?” Tao asked, amused.
“No. My life is not only my own. Being captured would mean world would end. So…”
“Ruri, no!”
Tao froze out of disbelief while Maha ignored any thought of danger and spun around to look at Ruri. Ruri uneasily held the still-unfamiliar grip of her dagger and aimed the tip at the base of her throat, drawing it close.
“Miss Maha… Goodbye.”
“Don’t!” Maha desperately reached out, but she was a step too far away. Ruri smiled weakly and—
“Just what do you think you’re doing, you fool?” a voice said. In the same moment, a powerful shockwave from behind Maha washed over her and Ruri, and rattled the wall Tao made.
“…Captain Ney,” Ruri said.
“Sorry for arriving late. …Looks like the demon got away.” Ney carried her large sword and stood with her right hand directed toward Ruri and Maha. Her expression was a mix of anger and exasperation. “I apologize for having to be a little rough, but what in the world were you thinking?”
The shockwave she made left Ruri with scratches here and there, but it didn’t seem like there was any danger to her life.
Maha pushed some rubble aside and stood up. She had some injuries as well, but nothing serious.
“Miss Maha. Are you all ri—” Ruri rushed over to Maha, only for Maha to slap her across the face. For a moment she was bewildered and didn’t understand what Maha had done. “Miss…Maha?”
“How could you?” Maha said in a low voice before briskly walking off. Ruri could only stare blankly as she left.
“…I’d say she’s in the right this time,” Ney said.
Ruri hung her head and looked at her feet.