「Gyogugugugu...!」
「Gyo, ga...!?」
The Sahagins’ reaction to Sakura’s aura-infused words was split down the middle.
One group, consumed by burning rage, lunged at her; the other, struck by primal terror, scrambled to escape back into the sea.
Those who chose to counterattack were cut down by the naginata Sakura swung, their bodies bisected and sent rolling onto the sand like the comrades who had fallen before them. As for the fleeing monsters, Ryuga pursued and struck them down with his blade. In the end, only a single creature managed to dive into the ocean and escape by the skin of its teeth.
「My apologies! One got away!」
「Leave it to me, Ryuga!」
The Sahagin that had dived into the water utilized its natural aquatic prowess to flee at high speed. Watching its retreating back as it rapidly distanced itself from the shore, Yugo twisted the handle of the weapon in his hand once more and yanked it back toward his chest with all his might.
「Blaster Bowgun Sniper Mode...!!」
With the handle pulled back like a cylinder, Yugo locked his gaze onto the fleeing Sahagin. Magic power converged alongside compressed wind at the muzzle of his weapon, forming a potent Wind Bullet.
The range was sufficient. His aim was true.
Though he felt a twinge of guilt at the prospect of gunning down a fleeing enemy from behind, Yugo quietly squeezed the trigger.
「Blast Volley...!」
The moment the trigger was pulled, the extended cylinder snapped back into its original position with a sharp metallic clack. Driven by that momentum, the Wind Bullet accelerated to a terrifying speed, piercing the escaping Sahagin through its back.
「Gya...!?」
Its body punctured by the ultra-compressed wind and the magic power contained within, the Sahagin let out a final, gurgling shriek. The moment its twitching body collapsed, the resulting explosion sent a geyser of seawater into the air, raining a massive spray down upon the beach.
「It is finished. I am simply relieved that there were no civilian casualties.」
「Yeah. Still, shooting an enemy in the back as they run... it doesn't sit right with me.」
「It was a necessity, Yugo-dono. Had we let it escape, it likely would have returned with reinforcements. Under these circumstances, annihilation was the only path forward.」
Yugo and the others spoke as they stood over the site where they had repelled the Sahagin swarm. Sakura continued to offer encouragement to Yugo—who felt a lingering bitterness over killing an opponent that had lost its will to fight—while Ryuga stared down at the monster corpses littering the sand.
「Something is wrong,」 Ryuga muttered. 「This is a major tourist destination. One would expect rigorous safety measures to be in place.」
「You're right,」 Yugo agreed, his own doubts beginning to surface. 「It’s bizarre that there were no defensive measures against a monster attack.」
Safety was the top priority for a resort like this. The idea of monsters appearing was normally out of the question; if such a risk existed, the area should have been cordoned off. Yugo wondered if, like some B-list shark movie, the officials in charge of Wind Island had knowingly opened the beach to avoid losing tourist revenue.
As his suspicions grew, Fee attempted to run toward the group. However, he stopped when he noticed Marcos—who had just finished escorting the children to safety—wearing a dark, somber expression.
「Another new style...」 Marcos whispered. 「Just how much further will he go...?」
「Marcos-san? Is something wrong?」
「No... it’s nothing. Do not mind me.」
When Fee called out, Marcos realized he had spoken his thoughts aloud. He started for a moment, then shook his head in dismissal. Remembering the conversation Marcos had previously had with Ryuga, Fee realized that seeing Yugo master the new Green Armor had likely stirred complicated feelings within him. Fee decided not to pry any further.
「Regardless,」 Marcos said, pointedly changing the subject, 「the coastal security here is abysmal. Permitting a monster attack at a major resort is utterly scandalous.」
「I agree,」 Melt added, having not heard his earlier mutterings. 「Everything about this feels off, like... huh...?」
Melt froze mid-sentence, her eyes wide with shock as she stared past Marcos. Puzzled by her sudden rigidity, Marcos turned to look at her.
「What is it, Melt? Is there something on my—?」
He stopped when he felt a presence looming behind him. He slowly turned around.
「Kaaaaniiii...!!」
「What?! What in the world is this?!」
Standing there was a bipedal crab letting out a bizarre, drawn-out groan. It had a rounded body and massive pincers on both arms, and while it was clearly a monster, its sudden appearance left both Marcos and Melt a step behind in their reactions.
As they stood frozen, the Crab Monster spread its massive pincers wide and lunged, looming over Marcos as if to swallow him whole.
「Kaaaaniiii!!」
「Ugh! Waaaaaaaagh?!」