"Raiha!" Yugo’s voice cracked as he screamed. He had just watched the explosion rip through the air, sending Raiha’s small frame flying.
Panic erupted among the zoo staff, but the students of Luminous Academy reacted with practiced precision.
"Marcos! Front and center!" Yugo barked.
"Got it!" Marcos shouted back. He raised his Giga Scissors toward the direction of the shot, bracing himself to defend against a follow-up attack.
Entrusting the counterattack to him, Melt turned her attention to the terrified employees. "Everyone, into the building! Now!" she commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos.
She gestured toward a nearby structure that offered cover from the sniper’s line of sight. As she did, she conjured and hurled magic swords to keep the agitated animals from closing in on the fleeing crowd.
Elena joined the effort, her voice straining as she pleaded with the animals to stand down while simultaneously herding the staff members toward safety.
"Yugo! We'll handle the sniper. You get Raiha!" Melt yelled over the din.
"Right! I'm on it!" Yugo replied.
While the evacuation was underway, Marcos and Ryuga stood their ground. They deflected the incoming fire bullets, one with his massive shield and the other with the swift, precise strokes of his katana.
Yugo scooped Raiha’s limp form into his arms and bolted for the building. Once inside, he scanned the room. "Is everyone alright?"
"We’re fine," Melt said, rushing to his side. "But Raiha... how is she?"
"I’m... I’m okay," Raiha gasped, her voice strained. "I managed to throw up a Magic Barrier at the last second... Ugh!"
"Let me see. I can use recovery magic," Melt said, guiding her to a secluded corner to assess the damage.
Raiha had reacted quickly enough to prevent a fatal blow, but the injury was far from minor. Melt’s face darkened as she examined the girl's scorched skin.
"Don’t look so worried," Raiha whispered. "It’s not as bad as it looks. You haven’t forgotten what I am, have you?"
"That... well, yes, but..."
Raiha was a Half-dragon. Like Zaraki before her, she possessed a life force and physical resilience that far exceeded human limits. Even so, the sight of the raw, angry burns made it impossible for Melt to simply take her word for it.
"Melt, what’s her condition?"
"She’s stable, I think. If I treat her with recovery magic, she’ll be back on her feet soon."
As she began the treatment, Melt explained the situation to Marcos and Ryuga, who had just retreated into the building.
Ryuga caught his breath when he saw the painful wounds etched into Raiha’s body. "Damn it," he hissed, his knuckles white as he gripped his sword. "I let my guard down. I never imagined there was a third accomplice."
"Unlike the two who are controlling the animals, this one attacks directly," Marcos noted grimly.
"Two animal tamers and a sniper," Yugo mused, trying to piece it together. "Is that all of them?"
"Animals and... a sniper?" Elena repeated softly.
Marcos noticed her distant look. "What is it, Elena? Did you realize something?"
"It might be nothing, but..." she started, her brow furrowed. "The way they're doing it... it feels like they’re hunting."
"Hunting?" Marcos brought a hand to his chin. It made perfect sense. Using 'hunting dogs' to flush out and corner the target while a sniper picked them off from the shadows was the most fundamental strategy of a hunt. Up until now, their motives had been a blur, but perhaps this wasn't just a test of power. Perhaps it was sport.
The realization hit him like a physical blow. "It’s not the animals. They’re the tools. Their real targets... are humans!"
The culprits were using their abilities to treat people like game. With multiple attackers involved, they were likely even competing for the highest score. They were turning the zoo into a stage for a gruesome game.
This was clearly their first attempt, evidenced by the rough edges of their execution. But if they escaped now, they would refine their methods. The game would only grow more sophisticated and deadly. They had to stop it here.
However, a major problem stood in their way.
"We're stuck," Yugo muttered, looking out the window. "If we step outside now, we’re sitting ducks for that sniper."
"But if we stay here, they'll just move on to other people!" Elena cried. "We have to do something!"