630,

Saving Eumerika was the priority. For now, as long as they could get into position, they could try disrupting their opponent with words and buy some time to think of a way to rescue her.

Unfortunately, the King of Dusk fired at once, the bullet striking the concrete wall beside Cyclone.

It seemed their position had already been seen through.

Luckily, someone grabbed Cyclone from behind in time, allowing him to dodge the fatal shot.

“I-I made it…”

It was none other than Little Dragon.

“Then we’re even now…”

Come to think of it, Cyclone had saved Little Dragon the same way that day.

Another figure appeared across the alley.

It was Eileen—and she was wearing a full set of mage equipment.

The little, fire-red mage moved along the wall on the other side.

Cyclone couldn’t help shouting.

“Why are you two here?!”

The moment he finished speaking, Little Dragon hurriedly covered Cyclone’s mouth.

“Two? Hah? One person wasn’t enough to face me, so you had to bring two more?”

The King of Dusk burst out laughing and advanced in Cyclone’s direction.

“Do you really think I’m stupid enough to just walk over there to you?”

But after taking one step forward, he retreated again.

He stepped on Eumerika’s back and aimed his gun at her head.

“Come out!”

The composed King of Dusk shouted and threatened Cyclone with the hostage’s life. It was a very solid move.

On the other side, even if Cyclone reunited with Little Dragon and Eileen, it wouldn’t change the situation.

Just then, a cold blade descended behind the King of Dusk.

Yuna leaped down from the air, approaching the King of Dusk from behind without making a sound.

She had thought this strike would bring everything to an end, but the King of Dusk held a magic gun in his right hand while drawing a longsword with his left.

With a backhanded swing, he blocked Yuna’s attack.

“What the hell?! Why is this guy so damn hard to kill?!”

Cyclone, who had been watching from behind the wall, couldn’t help cursing. He wanted even more to charge out and fight the other man head-on.

Fortunately, Little Dragon was holding him from behind. Otherwise, that impulse might really have caused a disaster.

Lying on the ground, Eumerika vaguely saw people fighting beside her.

Through the hazy afterimages, she seemed to recall memories from the past.

“Who are you?!”

With a huge iron hammer strapped to her back, she stood with her arms crossed in front of a group of people.

Behind her stood another woman, just as short as Eumerika.

“Big Sis, he just took down all four of our top fighters in one go!”

Eumerika shifted into a swaggering pose, thrusting both hands into her trouser pockets like some big-shot gangster as she advanced toward the “him” ahead.

“Bernan! She’s the famous leader of the Water Shrine. If she didn’t have a few tricks up her sleeve, how could she make her way in this world?”

The young Miss Boche followed behind Eumerika as well.

“You people are something else. Five of you are already down, and you still want to keep fighting?”

Just like now, the immortal vampire leader of the Water Shrine let out a sigh.

“You’ve been causing quite a ruckus lately, fighting and killing all day long. Don’t you know there are so many more beautiful things in this world, and…”

“Huh?! Are you trying to preach to us?! Hahahaha!”

Eumerika burst into laughter, and the followers behind her immediately joined in.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk! Today, this shrine leader will use love to bring you around!”

With a comical grin, the leader continued.

“Before the Goddess of Water, everyone is equal! Don’t worry~ Every one of you will receive my love today!”

With that, the leader raised her fists.

“Attack!”

At her command, Eumerika’s subordinates charged at the Water Shrine.

“Hey! Hey!”

The brief memory ended there, and Eumerika finally realized that she had just passed out.

Cyclone had carried Eumerika into a church in his arms, princess-style.

“Hey! Quit playing the flashback card. You can’t die yet!”

After laying Eumerika down on a pew, Cyclone immediately tore open her clothes.

“There’s something lodged in her right breast. There’s smoke… No, I have to get it out!”

“Leader… cough! Cough…”

Ignoring Cyclone’s words, Eumerika’s vision began to blur again.

Smack!

Cyclone slapped her, finally bringing Eumerika back to her senses a little.

“If you want to see your shrine leader again, then you have to stay alive! Hang in there!!”

As he spoke, Yuna appeared beside Cyclone.

“This is bad! Look! She’s been marked for tracking. That bitch already knows where we are!”

Cyclone looked at Eumerika’s chest. A flickering black crest was announcing the arrival of the Grim Reaper.