Orrick suddenly vanished.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The ground beneath Ryke exploded.
Ryke's pupils contracted.
*He's here!*
Orrick's fist was already coming straight toward him.
Ryke couldn't move in time.
But—
**SHRAAAAAK!**
A dark figure suddenly appeared between them.
The Specter raised both of its long arms.
**BOOOOM!**
Orrick's fist slammed into its crossed claws.
The impact sent a shockwave through the spatial port.
The Specter's body was pushed backward several meters, its feet scraping across the shattered floor.
Orrick immediately put distance between them.
His eyes narrowed as he stared at the creature.
"...What the hell is this?"
The Specter slowly raised its head.
Its crimson eyes glowed beneath its distorted face.
Orrick's expression became grim.
"An undead?"
Behind it—
Ryke collapsed onto one knee.
He let out a long breath.
"Haaa..."
His entire body trembled.
"That was close."
He slowly pushed himself up.
"Way too close for comfort."
Ryke glanced toward Pythia.
The dark mage was still controlling her vines, though her breathing had become noticeably heavier.
Ryke raised a hand.
"Hey."
Pythia glanced toward him.
Ryke gave her a small nod.
"...Thanks."
Pythia's expression remained cold.
"For what?"
"You know."
Ryke gestured toward the Specter.
"You just saved my life."
Pythia looked away.
"Don't get the wrong idea."
Her vines wrapped around another guard.
"I only did that because I need to complete the mission."
Ryke nodded.
"Yeah."
He wasn't offended.
"I know."
He picked up his rifle.
"And I don't mind why you did it."
He glanced at the Specter.
"You still saved me."
Ryke smiled faintly.
"So I owe you one."
Pythia's expression became annoyed.
"You owe me?"
She looked at him.
"As if I need anything from you."
Ryke's smile disappeared.
"...Damn."
He looked toward the ceiling.
"Everybody's just spitting on me at this point."
Pythia's eyes twitched.
"Shut up."
Her gaze returned to the Specter.
"And take care of that beastman."
Ryke stared at her.
Pythia continued.
"Quickly."
She clenched her injured arm.
"I don't have enough mana to waste."
Ryke's expression became awkward.
"Oh."
He looked at Orrick.
Then at the Specter.
Then back at Pythia.
"...Then we're screwed."
Pythia stared at him.
Ryke spread his hands.
"I don't know how you expect me to do that."
He pointed toward Orrick.
"That guy is stronger than me."
Then he pointed toward his rifle.
"And this thing isn't exactly a miracle weapon."
He shook his head.
"You better come up with something else."
Pythia's eyes narrowed.
"You're really useless."
Ryke sighed.
"When you hear something enough times..."
He raised his rifle.
"...it starts to lose its meaning."
Pythia clicked her tongue.
Meanwhile—
Orrick slowly stepped backward.
His eyes remained fixed on the Specter.
He rolled his shoulders.
"...Interesting."
His gaze became sharper.
"It seems I'll have to go all out to kill that thing."
Mana suddenly surged around his body.
**WHOOM!**
The air trembled.
A rune suddenly appeared across his back.
A brilliant red fire rune.
**FWOOSH!**
Flames erupted around him.
They wrapped around his arms.
His shoulders.
His legs.
Fire continued spreading across his body until he looked like a man engulfed in flames.
Ryke's eyes widened.
"...Damn."
He stared at the glowing rune.
"A rune?"
He looked around.
"Does everybody have one of these nowadays?"
Pythia suddenly turned toward him.
"What are you doing?"
Ryke blinked.
"Huh?"
Pythia pointed toward the Specter.
"Look at it."
Ryke followed her gaze.
The Specter was still standing.
But its body was covered in cracks.
Dark energy leaked from several wounds.
Its movements had become noticeably slower.
Pythia's expression became serious.
"It has already taken too much damage."
She tightened her grip.
"It won't hold for long."
Her breathing became heavier.
"I'll have to recall it soon."
Ryke nodded slowly.
"Is that so?"
He looked down at his rifle.
Then toward Orrick.
"Well..."
He shrugged.
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
He pointed at himself.
"I'm useless, remember?"
"You said it yourself."
Pythia's eye twitched.
"Shut up."
She pointed toward the rifle in his hand.
"Remove the safety."
Ryke froze.
"...The what?"
"The safety."
Ryke looked down at his rifle.
Pythia stared at him.
"Remove it."
Ryke frowned.
"Safety?"
Pythia sighed.
"The safety mechanism."
She spoke as though explaining something painfully obvious.
"Mana firearms have one."
Ryke stared at the rifle.
"...They do?"
Pythia looked at him as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Yes."
She continued.
"The weapons used by the military and most guards are designed to prevent their users from destroying themselves."
Ryke's expression slowly became interested.
Pythia pointed toward the rifle.
"Mana is being forced through the weapon when you fire an enhanced shot."
"Too much mana at once can damage the internal structure."
She glanced at the weapon.
"That's why the safety mechanism exists."
"It limits the amount of mana the rifle can accept."
Ryke's eyes widened slightly.
"So that's why..."
He remembered the strange resistance he'd felt when trying to enhance his shots.
Pythia continued.
"The safety prevents you from overloading it."
"But after firing several ordinary shots..."
"...the weapon can withstand a stronger discharge."
Ryke looked at the rifle again.
"So..."
He slowly turned it over in his hands.
"...the safety is there to keep the gun from destroying itself?"
Pythia nodded.
"Among other things."
Ryke stared at the rifle.
"...I didn't know that."
Pythia's expression darkened.
"Obviously."
Ryke ignored the insult.
"Where is it?"
Pythia pointed toward the side of the rifle.
"There."
Ryke looked.
His eyes moved over the weapon.
"...This?"
"Yes."
Ryke touched the small mechanism.
He looked toward Orrick.
The fire surrounding the lieutenant was growing stronger.
The Specter lowered itself into a defensive stance.
Ryke swallowed.
"So if I remove this..."
Pythia's eyes narrowed.
"You'll be able to force more mana into the rifle."
Ryke looked at the weapon.
"And if I put too much in..."
"The rifle could break."
Ryke nodded.
"And possibly explode."
Pythia didn't answer.
Ryke stared at her.
"...Possibly?"
Pythia looked away.
"Just don't be stupid."
Ryke gave a dry laugh.
"That's reassuring."
He looked toward Orrick again.
The flames surrounding the beastman suddenly surged.
**FWOOOOOSH!**
Orrick lowered his body.
His eyes locked onto the Specter.
The Specter snarled.
Ryke's expression became serious.
He placed his finger on the safety.
"...Alright."
**CLICK.**
The safety came loose.
Ryke tightened his grip.
His eyes narrowed.
"If this thing can actually handle more mana..."
He slowly raised the rifle.
"...then let's see what it can really do."
Across from him—
Orrick disappeared.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The Specter raised its claws.
And Ryke pulled the trigger.