"I'll go with you!" Artemisia said. "I can't just stand by and let DEM trample this city however they please. Besides, those people and I still have a score to settle!"
Anger showed clearly in Artemisia's words. Manipulating mories, dragging ordinary people into this, deceiving and hurting her close friends—even soone like her, who considered herself fairly good-tempered, was now furious.
Hearing that, a trace of surprise and hesitation appeared in Mukuro's eyes. But very quickly, she shook her head and refused.
"With the injuries you have suffered, you should not fight again. Coming along would only make you Muku's burden."
"Don't look down on . Injuries like this are nothing…"
Artemisia gritted her teeth and tried to force herself up. But Miku had already stepped to her side first and whispered into her ear.
"Don't force yourself. Rest properly."
"Wait…"
In an instant, Artemisia felt her vision sway. A thick drowsiness surged into her mind. Although she tried to stay awake, she was still unable to resist the sleepiness and fainted.
"I didn't expect her to fall asleep from just a little suggestion… Looks like she really was exhausted."
Miku was slightly surprised. Logically speaking, for a Wizard of Artemisia's level, even injured, interfering with her mind should have been extrely difficult.
"Homu. It seems Ar-sothing's body was not the only thing worn down. Her heart had long since been stretched to its limit."
Looking at the sleeping Artemisia, Mukuro could not help reaching out and gently stroking her hair as if soothing a child. A trace of gentleness appeared in her eyes.
Honestly, Mukuro had quite a good impression of this upright Wizard before her.
"Sorry. Muku originally has no right to interfere with another person's choice, but Muku does not wish to watch soone walk to their death either… Rest assured. For the wrongs you have suffered, Muku will seek justice."
…
At the sa ti Mukuro and Miku left Tengu City with AST and the Wizards, the Wizards who had previously been granted spirit power by Westcott had already reached the battlefield through the underground tunnels.
"I can't believe we were actually forced back. These guys are harder to deal with than I imagined."
Looking at the Wizards relentlessly pursuing them from behind, Yamai Kaguya could not help looking annoyed.
If there were only two or three of them, Kaguya still had confidence in fighting them. But if ten or twenty Wizards like this surrounded her, she could only avoid their edge for now.
"My other half, this can't continue!"
Sensing that the Wizards' spirit power was still growing stronger, Kaguya spoke to Yuzuru with so worry. With their speed, naturally, they did not need to worry about being caught by the Wizards. But their mission was to stop the unmanned machines from destroying the anti air equipnt inside Tengu City. If they wasted too much ti with these Wizards, causing Tengu City's fire support to weaken, the situation for Kotori and Yutsuki, who were clashing with the airships in the sky, would beco more and more disadvantageous.
"Let's release our Astral Dresses. With the full power of us children of typhoon, this rabble won't be a problem."
Yuzuru frowned and hesitated for a mont, then slowly shook her head.
"Patience. Calm down, Kaguya. Yuzuru feels it is still too early to use our trump card." (TL:a bit early~)
Although releasing their Astral Dresses would allow them to temporarily regain their full power, once their spirit power was exhausted, the backlash would leave them unable to fight for a short ti.
Therefore, although Yutsuki had let everyone judge the timing of their Astral Dress release themselves, she had required them to act in groups of at least two, so that once one person lost combat ability, their companion could protect them.
Yuzuru and Kaguya's situation was a little special. Yutsuki had treated the two of them as one person when making arrangents. Because of that, if they wanted to release their Astral Dresses, the two of them had to reach a consensus first. (TL:Ailen x ahh situation)
After Yuzuru reminded her, Kaguya cald down considerably and realized that using it now would be a bit excessive.
"Then what do we do? Accelerate and force our way through?"
Yuzuru and Kaguya exchanged glances, then nodded.
"…Agreent. For now, that appears to be the only thod."
"Yuzuru! Kaguya! This way!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice reached their ears. Hearing it, the Yamai sisters saw that Tobiichi Origami had stopped in front of them at so point.
Yuzuru and Kaguya's eyes lit up instantly. Without hesitation, they flew to Origami's side and took her hands.
One second later, the Wizards only felt a flash of white light. When they looked around dully, the three Spirits before them had already vanished.
"They shouldn't be able to catch up here for now. Are you two all right?"
After escaping outside the Wizards' field of vision, Origami asked the two.
"Hoo… Saved. Thanks, Origami. As expected of my ally."
"Gratitude. Why is Master Origami here?"
Yuzuru asked with so confusion.
"Soone else is stopping Ellen. We ca to help you."
Origami briefly explained. Tohka was currently handling the machines. Hearing this, the Yamai sisters could not help letting out a relieved breath.
"Where's Yoshino? Isn't she with you?"
Noticing that Yoshino was not behind the Yamai sisters, Origami asked.
"Kaguya and I are searching for her too. We accidentally got separated while retreating earlier."
"Yoshino alone…"
Hearing that, Origami could not help frowning. Seeing Origami's serious expression, the two of them beca uneasy.
"Question. Is sothing wrong, Master Origami? Yuzuru rembers that Yoshino's ability should counter Wizards. Even if she cannot win, retreating should still be possible."
"I know. But those Wizards are different."
Origami shook her head, her expression grave.
"Tohka and I encountered another group of Wizards earlier. As far as I understand, although they obtained spirit power reinforcent, they only react to a Spirit's spirit power. They must have been brainwashed or hypnotized sohow. ntally, they've beco extrely dull and extre, as if only their obsession with Spirits remains. I'm worried… Yoshino might be left with so kind of trauma."
…
In another corner of the city, Yoshinon, who had already transford into Zadkiel, was running quickly through an empty street.
"Are you okay, Yoshino-chan? Are you tired?"
"I'm fine… Yoshinon… I'm still okay."
Sitting on Yoshinon's back, Yoshino lightly shook her head, then looked back and murmured uneasily.
"Don't worry, Yoshino-chan. Those Wizards won't be able to catch Yuzuru-chan and Kaguya-chan. Maybe they've already shaken them off and are coming to et up with us right now."
"Mm… You're right…"
Hearing Yoshinon's words, Yoshino relaxed slightly.
However, at that mont, several dark-purple lights suddenly flashed from the shadows within Yoshino's field of vision.
"Yoshinon!!"
"Whoa there!"
Along with Zadkiel's low roar, several thick ice walls rose behind them. With a series of cracking sounds, ominous black spirit power seeped out from between the cracks in the ice walls.
Taking advantage of that opening, Yoshinon leapt with all four limbs, jumped onto the wall of a tall building, fixed its body in place with ice, and crouched there while keeping watch below.
"They caught up this fast? This ti, they were only frozen for five or six seconds."
"Their spirit power is getting stronger… Ice at that level… can't freeze them anymore."
Very soon, the ice walls were broken open. Several frost covered Wizards walked out. Seeing the empty street before them, they froze dully for a few seconds before raising their heads together and staring at Yoshino, their lips moving.
"Spirit…"
With that, the Wizards activated their thrusters and aggressively flew toward Yoshino.
"Ugh! What a bunch of ghosts who just won't go away!"
Continuing to create ice walls to block the enemy's attacks, Yoshinon complained unhappily.
"In that case…"
Yoshino took a deep breath, gave up on continuing to flee, and turned to face the attacking Wizards.
"Zadkiel!!!"
Very quickly, cold white air once again enveloped the Wizards. Solid ice spread out of nowhere from their feet, finally freezing both their legs and fixing them to the ground.
The black light on the Wizards' bodies flickered continuously, as if they were trying to break free from the ice. But although the ice this ti only restrained their legs, its strength and spirit power density far surpassed before. No matter how the black light struck against it, the ice did not move at all.
Stepping out from the icy mist, Yoshinon looked at the immobile Wizards and laughed loudly as if venting its frustration.
"Haha! Give up! This is the result of Yoshino-chan's special training! No matter how much you struggle, you won't break free! How about it? This ga of tag ends here."
Yoshino looked helplessly at Yoshinon, then spoke to the Wizards.
"Don't worry… I won't hurt you… Once this is over… I'll let you go."
"Spirit…"
"Spirit… Spirit…"
"—Spirit."
However, the Wizards turned a deaf ear to Yoshino's words. They rely stared blankly at her, repeating the sa word like broken robots.
Then, after confirming that they could not break free from the ice around their feet, the Wizards showed neither anxiety nor anger. They simply silently aid the magical swords in their hands at their own thighs.
"Wait? What are you doing—Yoshino, don't look!!"
"Eh—"
Before Yoshino could react, a sound completely different from ice breaking—a fresh, real sound of severing—rang out from the Wizards' bodies. Red stained the snow white ice, condensing into chunks of crimson ice crystals within the cold air.
"Spirit…"
However, there were no screams and no wails. The Wizards, having lost their legs, floated into the air like ghosts using their Territories and armor thrusters, approaching Yoshino bit by bit.
"Ah… ah… ah…"
Looking at that cruel scene, Yoshino's face turned completely pale. Tears appeared in her eyes, and she opened her mouth helplessly.
"Why… Why…?"
Original Author's PS: This is bad. What am I even writing? TL:Stop giving Yoshino-chan PTSD!! But next chapter is good though
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