Chapter 34

"Quasi-Hydrotherapy Wave"

Soji's arms and legs, wrapped in casts, were enveloped by a wave of light.

"Alright, the fractures should be healed now."

"Huh... R-really! They're really healed!"

Despite seeming a bit unsteady, Soji stood up with his casted legs.

Then, he swung his right arm, which had been broken, several times to check its condition.

"Now, carry that girl and get on my back. I'll carry her outside."

"Y-Yes! Right away... Huh!"

"...It seems they won't let us go just like that."

Kuro looked at the entrance of the room, and two people entered.

"My name is Chie, and this is Seifek. Who are you?"

"Hmm. My name is Kuro, and I came to rescue these people. It would be appreciated if you could step aside quietly."

"That's not possible. We have our pride. We can't let you go without a fight."

"I see..."

As Kuro prepared for battle, Soji spoke to him.

"Kuro, those two are said to be Rank A extraordinary individuals. The woman has 'Perception,' and the man has..."

"That's enough. We won't let you say any more."

Seifek's activated 'Capture' ability stopped Soji's movements.

"I see, you used that ability to stop the building from collapsing. You weren't serious when you used it on me, were you?"

"You used it on me...?"

"Hmm? You didn't notice? This is the form I was in when we met before."

As Kuro said this, he transformed into a black cat.

"That form! So, you're the black cat that defeated Seifek and the others."

"That's right."

Kuro nodded in response to Chie's words.

"Last time, I couldn't capture you, but this time! 'Capture'!"

The moment Kuro transformed into a black cat, Seifek activated 'Capture' with all his might. However, Kuro's expression showed no sign of panic.

"To be able to use such a powerful ability while stopping the building from collapsing, you must be quite skilled."

"You're overestimating me. Even without the effort to stop the building, I can't stop you."

Seifek maintained a calm demeanor, but inside, he was astonished by Kuro's abnormality. He had activated 'Capture' to the point of stopping not only breathing but also heartbeats, yet it seemed to have no effect on Kuro.

"Hmm, if that's the case, will you let us go quietly? If I can rescue the hostages, that's all I need. I've already demonstrated my power."

Looking at the ceiling that had shifted, Kuro muttered.

"Indeed, your power is formidable. It's surprising that the organization couldn't find you until now. However, because of that, I can't let you leave without any results!"

Ignoring Kuro's warning, Chie drew a pistol. Her target was Soji, who was immobilized behind Kuro.

"I won't let you. 'Quasi-Defensive Barrier.'"

The bullet was deflected by an invisible wall.

"Is that Onmyōdō? Or perhaps, a demonic art? Either way, it doesn't matter!"

Ignoring the deflected bullet, Chie fired her gun repeatedly.

"It's useless. A weapon like that can't penetrate this barrier...!?"

Kuro was shocked. A bullet from behind grazed his cheek.

"It wasn't useless, it seems."

"Hmm... So, that's the power of your ability?"

"Yes. My 'Perception' can accurately sense the life force you emit. It can also easily detect the weaknesses in the barrier created by that life force."

Kuro's 'Quasi-Defensive Barrier' was designed to strengthen the areas where attacks were concentrated. However, it had a significant weakness: the areas not under attack were weaker.

Chie concentrated her gunfire on the front of the barrier while making one bullet ricochet off the wall, hitting the weakest point on the back of the barrier.

"Using the same principle, I can predict the techniques you use before they are activated. I won't let you get away easily."

"Hmm..."

Kuro was more focused on Chie's words and actions than on the fact that the barrier had been broken. The phrase "I won't let you get away easily" confirmed his suspicions.

"You don't intend to defeat me, do you?"

"W-What are you talking about?"

"The 'Capture' ability has little effect on me, and your 'Perception' isn't a decisive power. You might be able to stop me if you cooperate, but you can't defeat me. The ricocheting bullet could have been stopped with a slightly stronger barrier."

Kuro's defensive barrier was not at full strength. If he used his full power, it could withstand a direct missile hit without a scratch.

"However, you seem to understand this and still chose to challenge me. Why is that?"

"..."

Chie fell silent, realizing her strategy was being uncovered.

"Perhaps it has something to do with your comrades waiting on the lower floors? And the device in your breast pocket seems to have a purpose as well."

"!!!"

Chie was shocked and wide-eyed, realizing Kuro had already seen through the presence of her comrades and made a sharp prediction based on that.

"...You're right. I might as well be honest since you've already figured it out. We don't think we can defeat you. In fact, we would definitely lose in a fight."

"That's true. Even without Seifek supporting the building, I don't see any way I could lose."

Indeed, Kuro had several ways to counter 'Capture.'

"However, if we understand your abilities, we can find a way to deal with you. One of my subordinates on the lower floor has the same 'Perception' ability. The device in my breast pocket is a small camera to record the battle."

The camera in Chie's breast pocket was connected to the headquarters' PC. The 'Perception' ability of the subordinate waiting on the lower floor could sense information within a few hundred meters, allowing them to observe the battle.

The main purpose was to relay Kuro's information to headquarters.

"I see. I thought you were a fool challenging an unbeatable opponent, but you're a hero entrusting the future with possibilities. I'll reconsider my opinion."

"You don't need to reconsider. Just fight with all your might!"

With that, Chie resumed her gunfire.

However, the barrier Kuro reinforced was impervious even to a bullet hitting its weak point.

"I have my pride. It's frustrating to fight normally when I know I'm being observed."

While listening to Kuro, Chie continued firing, changing the type of bullets she loaded.

"I'll show you my full power out of respect. But whether you can understand my abilities from that is uncertain."

"!?"

At the same time as Kuro's words, Chie's finger pulling the trigger was stopped.

"Why! My finger!"

They were about to witness the true capabilities of the 'transformed cat' revered as a deity.

◇

"Why is this so? Why can you also release flying slashes!?"

Toy shouted, seeing the five mechanical puppets disassembled in an instant.

There were three mechanical puppets left, while Shiro was unharmed. The outcome was already decided.

"Kakakaka!"

"...I don't understand the words."

Shiro's catchphrase, "You have no chance of winning, surrender quietly!" did not reach Toy.

"But I can't let this end here. I'll take at least one with me!"

Sensing Toy's resolve, Shiro quickly put some distance between them. However, nothing happened.

"Yah! The ground is so muddy~"

"Ka!?"

Shiro turned around in a panic to see Rin already waist-deep in the ground.

The target Toy aimed to take with him was Rin.

"It's so hard to dig into the ground~"

With those words, Melt, riding a mechanical puppet, emerged from the ground behind Rin and launched a punch.

"Ka!"

Regretting having forgotten about Melt, Shiro rushed to Rin. However, even with Shiro's speed, the punch launched at close range was too fast to avoid.

"...Moo, Crow and Shiro said I shouldn't cut people without permission~"

In the midst of this situation, Rin, speaking to herself, raised a short sword still in its sheath above her head. Then—

"I won't cut, I won't cut~!"

"Huh, guh!"

She swung the short sword forcefully.

"Shockwave!? Why can that little girl also release a shockwave like the crow!?"

The shockwave generated by Rin's swing blew Melt and the mechanical puppet, along with the melted ground, away. Melt, who hit the barrier, fainted, and the mechanical puppet, hit by the shockwave at close range, had its limbs torn apart.

Toy, witnessing this, showed a look of shock that left his mouth agape.

"Kakakaka"

Shiro quietly landed beside Toy and let out a cry, as if to say, "The battle is over, surrender."

"Damn, it's come to this..."

This time, Toy understood the meaning of the words and turned the remaining mechanical puppets back into car form, raising his hands in a surrender pose.

"Toy and Melt lost!?"

"If they could defeat those two, who are close to Rank A, then that little girl and the crow must be Rank A extraordinary individuals!"

"Mu, I can't do it. I surrender too."

"Me, me too!"

The combatants, witnessing this, one by one dropped their weapons and raised their hands like Toy.

"Kakaka!"

"We won!"

The victory cries of one person and one bird echoed within the barrier.

"...Ka!?"

However, Shiro immediately noticed the strange occurrence on the upper floors of the building.

"Wow! It's so big and amazing!"

Not only Shiro, but Rin also noticed the strange occurrence.

"Huh...?"

"Is it transforming...?"

"What is this? What is that!?"

The combatants and Toy also noticed one after another, captivated by the sight.

Before them, the upper floors of the building were transforming into a giant robot.

◇

"Still not back..."

It had been almost an hour since Kuro and Shiro left.

Rin's whereabouts were starting to worry him.

"Ah! I can ask Neia to look for her!"

Although hacking surveillance cameras was not allowed, this time it was unavoidable. He would ask Neia to help find her.

"Neia, I have a favor to ask... Neia?"

"..."

No response, just like a regular smartphone.

"Is she surfing the web again?"

He had learned in the past two days that when Neia was focused, she became like a regular smartphone.

"When she's like this, she can't hear anything until she takes a break..."

He couldn't ask her to find Rin. All he could do was wait for Neia to take a break from her web surfing...

He decided to wait, making 'Substitute Talismans' to pass the time while watching the sleeping Shizukana.

Let me explain a bit.

Shiro and Rin can use 'Flying Slashes' and 'Shockwaves' due to the effect of naming.

The bond between the two deepened through naming, allowing them to share parts of each other's abilities.

In Chapter 20, when Rin was named, she gained the ability to speak, hinting at this. The fact that Rin could cut the building while avoiding people was due to her using a sense similar to Shiro's ultrasonic detection.

I apologize for not explaining this in the main story.