"—Hah!"
With a low shout, Tohka swung Sandalphon, cutting the surrounding Bandersnatch to pieces, making a small empty space.
Not missing this chance, Shido grabbed Tohka and moved about four ters in space.
But soon, the path Tohka cleared was filled by a large number of drones. Magic bullets poured out from countless gun barrels.
"Shido, they are coming again."
"Got it."
Shido hurriedly used Zadkiel to summon an ice shield, blocking the drones' shots.
"Damn it... This is endless. Just how many drones does DEM have?"
Looking at the Bandersnatch filling almost his entire view, sweat appeared on Shido's forehead.
Although he had ntally prepared himself when he decided to charge into DEM's drone army, the actual resistance was far beyond what he imagined. Shido felt like he was walking in a swamp, where taking even a few steps was very difficult.
[According to Yutsuki's investigation, since September, after DEM lost a large number of Wizard mbers, the production of these drones began to increase a lot. Although their combat power is a bit weak, compared to training a Wizard, the cost of making a drone is much lower. Plus, because they do not fear death, they can replace Wizards for many dangerous missions. This plan was proposed by Westcott in mid-October last year, officially approved in late November, and production started across DEM branches worldwide.]
"...Maria, even if you explain this to , I don't understand."
Hearing Maria's answer, Shido said with a bitter smile.
[In conclusion, at a normal production speed, DEM currently should have no less than four thousand drones in stock.]
"...Four thousand."
Hearing the numbers Maria gave, the corner of Shido's mouth twitched. Thinking that the hundreds of drones in front of him were just a small part of the total enemies, Shido felt his scalp tingle.
Honestly, while a single drone's power is nothing to be afraid of, when their numbers reach a certain level, they beco very troubleso.
(Forget it, no matter how many enemies there are, what I have to do won't change.)
Breathing out, Shido relaxed his shoulders. While keeping the ice shield up to block the drones, he quietly watched Mukuro's situation.
As expected, just as Shido's group was surrounded and found it hard to move, Hoshimiya Mukuro was also heavily surrounded by a dense swarm of drones. She kept using her Angel to summon rocks and Spirit energy beams to fight back.
And clearly, the pressure Mukuro faced was much greater than Shido's.
[Without human command, the Bandersnatch will attack targets with obvious Spirit energy first. Because you are using Ratziel to limit your Spirit energy output, Shido, the drones are focusing their attacks on Mukuro.]
"I see."
Honestly, Shido hadn't expected his unintentional action to cause this situation.
"Tohka, I'm counting on you again."
"Mhm, leave it to ."
After getting enough rest, Tohka raised Sandalphon again and began clearing the surrounding Bandersnatch.
Just like that, although progress was slow, Tohka and Shido successfully managed to get behind Hoshimiya Mukuro.
(Good... it seems Mukuro hasn't noticed us.)
Shido secretly breathed a sigh of relief. While the drones' attacks greatly slowed down their movent, they also provided good cover.
"Tohka, I'm ready."
"Mhm."
Getting Shido's signal, Tohka took a deep breath. Sandalphon in her hands began to glow with colorful light as Spirit energy filled it.
The great sword swung down with great force. Purple Spirit energy left the blade, turning into a sharp crescent moon that swept away all the Bandersnatch blocking the path between Mukuro and Shido.
"—Raphael! Haniel!"
The mont the path was clear, Shido deployed the Angel and charged toward Hoshimiya Mukuro's back at top speed. He thrust the fake Michael in his hand towards Mukuro.
"Michael—Lataib."
However, just as Shido thought he was going to succeed, a small door appeared in front of him, sucking the tip of Michael into it.
"Even though the enemy forces suddenly increased, Muku never ignored your danger."
Without even looking back at Shido, Mukuro calmly raised her Michael and fired a beam of Spirit energy into a door she had opened herself.
[Shido! Retreat!]
"—!"
Although Maria said that, Shido knew well that due to the speed of his dash, he couldn't change direction to dodge Mukuro's attack.
"Zadkiel!"
At the critical mont, Shido summoned an ice wall in front of him, blocking the direct hit of the Spirit energy beam.
However, that was all it could do. After being hit, the ice wall slamd into Shido, pushing him far away.
Although Mukuro wanted to chase after him and finish Shido off, the Bandersnatch sward her at that mont, blocking her line of sight.
"Far more troubleso than expected... Itsuka Shido."
Mukuro couldn't help but mutter softly. Honestly, Itsuka Shido's judgnt and reaction speed sowhat exceeded her expectations.
...
"Are you okay? Shido!"
Hurriedly catching the rebounding ice wall and seeing a dizzy Shido, Tohka couldn't help but ask with concern.
"Ah, ah. I'm fine... Thanks, Tohka."
Shido shook his head, waiting for his mind to clear a bit. Looking in Mukuro's direction, he sighed with so distress.
"...I was too naive. Thinking I could use Michael just by getting close to Mukuro."
Thinking about it now, Shido realized he hadn't thought it through. From the mont he showed the fake Michael, Mukuro had kept a very high level of guard against him. Naturally, she wouldn't simply allow Shido to use Michael on her.
Moreover, Michael was originally Mukuro's Angel. Mukuro clearly knew better than anyone how to deal with its attacks.
(Is there any way... to make Mukuro show an opening—!?)
However, right in the middle of his thoughts, without any warning, a severe pain filled his brain.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
[Shido!?]
"Shido? Shido, what's wrong?"
The cries of Tohka and Maria gradually faded away. Under the effect of the intense pain, Shido felt his vision go completely dark.
Just then, a cold electronic voice echoed in his mind.
[—Condition t—Triggering probability passive—Future Glimpse—]
Suddenly, Itsuka Shido felt the world spin, and the scenery before him returned to outer space.
—This ti, you cannot escape.
Mukuro?
Shido widened his eyes in surprise. He saw Mukuro, who should have been fighting the Bandersnatch, leaning out of a door and appearing directly above him.
—Die, Itsuka Shido.
After making this statent, Mukuro looked at Itsuka Shido coldly and thrust out Michael.
...
"—!?"
His eyes snapping wide open, Shido frantically looked around. Mukuro was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Tohka was looking at him with a worried face.
"Shido!? Are you okay?"
"Ah... I'm fine. Sorry to make you worry."
Gently patting Tohka's head, Shido softly comforted her.
Despite saying that, the headache still left his face extrely pale. Shido could even feel cold sweat covering the clothes beneath him.
Furthermore, although he understood the scene he just saw wasn't reality, Shido also knew in his heart that it wasn't a hallucination either.
That was the future Itsuka Shido had to face next.
(Is this the Future Glimpse Yutsuki ntioned... No wonder she hated this ability so much.)
Looking at Ratziel on his wrist, Shido couldn't help but think. Setting aside what the future showed, just the side effects when this ability activated were enough to make Shido suffer for a good while.
(Ratziel, turn off the Future Glimpse ability.)
[Understood—Probability passive Future Glimpse—Deactivated—Complete.]
Upon receiving this answer, Shido secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He now understood why Yutsuki called this ability Russian Roulette. If, like Nia, he was unlucky enough to be locked into an almost dead-end future, he really wouldn't be able to laugh even if he tried.
However, Shido's luck this ti wasn't too bad.
"Maria, Tohka."
Looking at Hoshimiya Mukuro in the distance, Shido revealed a confident smile.
"I've thought of a way to unlock Mukuro's Heart."
Original author's PS: As expected, I'll give up on writing Mukuro in classical way; I don't have that talent.Her dialouge will be normal from next chapter.
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