Abandoned Factory District.
"Is it some kind of Spatial Barrier?"
Kinuhata Saiai swallowed hard, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
As a survivor of the Dark May Project, she knew exactly how terrifying a Level 5 was. Their destructive power, computational ability, and sheer range were dimensions apart from a Level 4. Even a hundred Level 4s tied together would be slaughtered by a single Level 5.
"This is super bad..."
Her Offense Armor was created by transplanting a fragment of Accelerator's thought patterns. It compressed nitrogen into a defensive shell. While it boasted Level 4 attack power and could tank sniper fire, it was nothing compared to the monsters at the top.
If Mugino fought Accelerator, she would be instantly killed.
And this man... he just laughed off Mugino's attack.
"They actually figured it out, huh? Interesting."
Mugino Shizuri snapped out of her daze. Instead of fear, a bloodthirsty smile spread across her face.
"This is my first time fighting against another Level 5. It's all because of that damn rule that 'Rankings are absolute.'"
She raised her palm. Four emerald spheres of unstable energy materialized around her.
"Frenda. Takitsubo. Kinuhata. Get lost."
"It's a one-on-one fight between monsters now."
"Hey! Mugino, you're super all alone..." Kinuhata started to protest, but stopped when she saw Mugino's eyes.
Mugino would never change her mind. She was proud. She cared about her ranking more than her life. She wouldn't give up an opportunity to crush a rival Level 5.
"You'll only get in my way. I won't be paying attention to your safety."
"Okay."
Kinuhata turned to order the retreat.
"I'll run first! In the end, I can't help here anyway!"
Frenda had already grabbed Takitsubo and sprinted twenty meters away. She was impressively fast when running for her life.
"Idiot! Let go of Takitsubo and run in super different directions!"
Kinuhata cursed and sprinted after them.
"A Level 5 Spatial Monster could catch us all in a super instant! Split up!"
If that guy dropped another meteor shower without Mugino's interception, they would all be having tea in heaven.
"Knowing the skill gap and running without hesitation... As expected of experienced Dark Side operatives."
Yuuya watched them scatter with a nod of admiration. Then, he turned his gaze back to the woman confronting him.
"Meltdowner is no match for Move Point," he said mockingly. "Even between Level 5s, there are insurmountable walls."
"So what?"
Mugino's eyes were sharp and filled with savagery.
"So what if you're a Spatial User? As long as I kill you here, those stupid researchers will have to rewrite the rankings. I'll prove that Meltdowner is far superior to your half-baked tricks!"
VWOOM!
Three beams of Atomic Collapse shot toward Yuuya in a triangular formation.
"That's a ridiculous reason. But you've subconsciously underestimated me."
Yuuya kept his hands in his pockets. He didn't teleport. He didn't dodge.
"I don't look down on Meltdowner. I simply ignore it."
Zzzzt!
The high-energy electron beams hit him dead on.
And dissipated.
He felt nothing. The Star Grail rejected the harmful reality of the attack.
However...
Riiip.
"Ah."
His school uniform tore in three places, revealing the skin underneath.
'This is really annoying,' Yuuya thought. 'The Star Grail protects me, but it doesn't protect my clothes. If I fight strong guys in the future, I'll end up naked. This was my best shirt.'
"Heh. Simply ignoring it?"
Mugino's face twisted in fury.
"Then let me show you the limits of your calculation! Even a Spatial Barrier has Downtime! You can't calculate the defense formula forever!"
She believed he was using a high-speed teleportation barrier—teleporting the attacks away upon contact. That required calculation. And calculation had gaps.
Hum-hum-hum!
Four, five, six... Seven silicon spheres appeared around her.
"I'll overwhelm your brain! Stand there and be riddled with holes!"
Seven emerald rays shot at him relentlessly, slashing the air like lightsabers.
Yuuya ignored them. He walked forward.
The beams hit him, sizzled, and vanished.
Mugino watched him approach, her anger mixing with a creeping dread.
'A barrier that lasts this long? Does his formula have no downtime? That's impossible! How much computing power does he have?! Is his brain a supercomputer?!'
"I'm tired of letting you shoot," Yuuya said, his voice dropping an octave.
"Now it's my turn."
BOOM!
The concrete beneath his feet cracked.
Yuuya vanished.
He didn't teleport. He ran.
With his Body Enhancement, his muscle fibers generated 25 tons of force. He closed the 30-meter gap in a fraction of a second.
"So fast?!"
Mugino's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
She was prepared for him to teleport objects. She was prepared for him to teleport behind her.
She was not prepared for a Spatial User to rush her with physical speed.
'Damn it! My eyes can't track him!'
By the time she realized he was there, a fist was already buried in her gut.
WHAM!
"Guh—!"
A sharp, blinding pain exploded in her abdomen.
Mugino's feet left the ground.
A sour taste flooded her mouth as bile and stomach acid surged up her throat. Her vision blurred. The shockwave traveled through her spine, temporarily shutting down her brain.
The calculation for Meltdowner collapsed.
CRASH!
She flew backward, rolling through the debris before slamming into a twisted shipping container.
"Ugh... Cough..."
Mugino slumped to the ground. Her eyes were wide and trembling. Saliva and bile dripped from her lips.
She clutched her stomach, her body convulsing.
"It hurts... It hurts..."
She was a Glass Cannon. Terrifying offense, but her physical defense was that of a normal athletic girl.
One punch.
That was all it took.
....
.....
.....
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