"Hao!"
Hao didn't look back, even as Presia’s scream of concern reached him. He charged straight ahead, his eyes locked on the figure of Shiroi bound to the Treant’s massive trunk.
(I have to get close and find a way to break those restraints. I don't exactly have a plan yet, but if I don't do this...!)
He felt that most of the responsibility for Shiroi’s predicament lay on his shoulders. This was his chance to atone for his failure.
It was dangerous, certainly. But compared to Yugo, who was facing off against a Magic Armor Beast the size of a house all on his own, this was nothing. Or so Hao told himself as he closed the distance. Unfortunately, Naruru had already spotted him.
"You there! A little piece of vermin like you thinks he can get close to me? You're a hundred years too early for that!"
"Crap—!"
Hao was an aspiring Magic Knight, and he’d believed he could manage at least some basic evasion or defense. However, the speed of the incoming branches far exceeded his wildest imagination.
A direct hit seemed inevitable. As the log-sized branch closed in, Hao squeezed his eyes shut in anticipation of the impact, crossing his arms to shield himself. But when he timidly opened his eyes after a dull, heavy thud echoed through the air...?
"Honestly, every single one of you! Can none of you wait for even a second?"
"Y-You’re—!"
"Marcos!"
Marcos had intercepted the attack just in time, blocking the branch with his Giga Scissors. He spat the words out irritably, swinging his left arm to shove the branch aside. Yugo, who had just incinerated another limb of the beast, called out to his rival with a grin.
"Thanks, Marcos! What about the villagers?"
"They’ve already been moved to a safe zone! And Yugo, stop trying to handle a monstrosity this size by yourself! Learn to wait for reinforcements for once!"
"I knew you guys would be right behind me. In fact, look at that—perfect timing."
Marcos snorted at the words, clearly moved by the trust his rival placed in him.
He blocked several more incoming branches with his Giga Scissors, catching them with practiced ease before turning his attention back to the dazed Hao.
"What are you standing around for? Didn't you rush into this mess to get something done? Then do it. If you've lost your nerve, get back. You're just in the way."
"W-Who said I lost my nerve! I'll do it! I'm going!"
Spurred on by Marcos's abrasive brand of encouragement, Hao sprinted forward once more.
Marcos watched him go, using Golden Cutting to slice through any branches that tried to pursue the boy. He turned a slight smile toward Naruru.
"Is this really the time to be focusing on us? Don't you realize someone even more terrifying is sharpening her blade?"
The moment Naruru heard those ominous words, a purple light tore through the darkness of the night sky.
Melt shimmered under the moonlight as she manifested multiple magic swords. She took aim and sent them whistling toward Naruru.
"Alright, let's do this! Sword Flash!"
"Waaaaah!?"
One, two, three, four, five... Melt manipulated the floating blades, sending them streaking toward the enemy.
The swords didn't pierce the Treant’s hide. Instead, they precisely sliced through the thick vines binding Shiroi, stripping him from the Magic Armor Beast’s grasp.
"C-Crap!?"
"Nice one, Melt!"
"Heh-heh! You can always count on me for cover fire!"
Melt landed gracefully and gave Yugo a peace sign with a beaming smile.
Hao let out a ragged sigh of relief as he managed to catch Shiroi as the boy tumbled from the Treant’s body. Seeing her prize slip away, Naruru screamed in a frenzy.
"I won't let you! If I just catch you and that brat again, nothing changes!"
"T-This is bad!"
Hao clutched Shiroi to his chest and tried to run, but the Treant’s branches were already closing in on him.
However, the attack was intercepted yet again. A shadow cut through the air, blocking the wood before it could touch them.
"Seventh Tool, Mode: Wood-cutting Saw!"
"Gugya!?"
A mechanical roar filled the air as the branches reaching for Hao were shredded to splinters.
Anhel, wielding a Magic Item that looked far more like a chainsaw than a saw, glanced back. She instantly reverted the tool into her heavy hammer and pressed the flat of it against Hao's backside.
"Hold on tight to that kid! Don't you dare let go!"
"Wait, what? W-What are you going to—eeeeeeek!?"
Anhel swung the hammer in a powerful upward arc, scooping Hao into the air. His scream echoed through the pitch-black night.
Drawing a perfect parabola, Hao literally flew from the Treant’s side all the way back to Presia and the others. He landed spectacularly on his rear and collapsed into a heap on the ground.
"H-Hao! Are you okay!?"
"Y-Yes... I managed to enhance my body with Magic Power just in time..."
"Hey, Ann! Don't you think that was a little violent!?"
"They’re safe, aren't they? We didn't exactly have time to be gentle," Anhel retorted, switching her weapon back to the chainsaw mode to hack through another branch.
Yugo gave a strained laugh at her logic, but then Hao—who had just been launched across the battlefield—shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Yugo! The hostage is free! You don't have to hold back anymore! Finish it!"
"Heh! Nice guts, Mr. Vice President! Alright then... time to take out the trash!"
"Gugh! Hieee!?"
The momentum Naruru had gained from her Treant had been completely sapped, and her final insurance—the hostage—was gone.
Yugo’s Magic-Slaying Crimson Lotus Blade gleamed as he turned his gaze toward the despairing Naruru.
"You’ve sucked up enough Magic Power from the villagers to be stuffed by now, right? Then how about some dessert to finish the meal? I'll even make sure it's piping hot!"
"I-I-I don't want it! I don't need any! P-p-please, just forgi—!!"
She begged for her life, sensing the end, but she was far too late.
Yugo channeled a massive amount of Magic Power into the greatsword that stood taller than himself. He leaped high into the air, with Skull following his lead.
The red-hot blade flared into a brilliant crimson, venting plumes of fire from its length. Yugo locked his sights on the Treant and gripped the hilt with both hands.
"Magic-Slaying Crimson Lotus Blade: Roaring Flame Sword Dance!!"
"Hiegyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Mass, sharpness, and incinerating heat—every element of the weapon was channeled into a single, devastating Downward Vertical Slash.
A streak of red light sliced through the massive tree from crown to root. An instant later, pillars of fire erupted from the two halves as they fell apart.
It was over. As the Treant was pulverized and reduced to ash, Naruru was ejected from the center of the beast. she slammed face-first into the dirt with a painful groan.
"Ubugh! U-Ugh... No! My Slime Fragments! The power to create my Ideal World is...!"
She lifted her head after that violent collision with the earth, watching in horror as the viscous fluid that granted her the Slime Power evaporated under the lingering heat of the flames.
Her ambitions were dead. She stared in shock as her power vanished—but the true nightmare was only just beginning.
"Hey there, Mastermind... We’ve got a little business to settle with you...!"
"How dare you steal my face! Thanks to you, I got sexually harassed and humiliated! It was the worst experience of my life!!"
"Hie-hieee! S-Somebody, help me!"
Anhel and Melt, both furious over having their identities stolen, loomed over the girl as she tried to crawl away.
It was a classic case of bad luck following worse luck. As the two girls began a ruthless retribution on the sobbing Naruru, Yugo and Marcos watched from a distance, muttering to themselves.
"Yeah... that's it. Behold the maiden's wrath that shakes the earth."
"The culprit was terrifying enough, but she's nothing compared to the fire in Melt and Ann’s eyes. Honestly, their anger might be hotter than your sword."
Witnessing exactly what happened when those two were pushed too far, the men shared a solemn nod, silently vowing never to find themselves on the receiving end of such a fate.