20demayo Page 328
Page 328
The sound of flesh being torn apart was particularly jarring in the silent street.
Araya Sōren had a deep, bone-revealing wound on his right shoulder, and blood finally began to gush out uncontrollably.
"Ahem..."
He knelt on one knee, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"What exactly are you...? This kind of power can't be from an ordinary magician..."
Mana Ouma stood a few steps away, blood dripping from her fingertips—blood that wasn't hers.
She casually flicked her hand, and the blood droplets traced several arcs in the air.
"ordinary?"
She giggled, her voice clear and melodious like a silver bell.
"I never said I was an ordinary magician."
Araya Sōren's brain was working at lightning speed.
He originally thought that Ryougi Shiki was the biggest variable, but he didn't expect that this suddenly appearing girl was the real monster.
Her attacks were completely haphazard, yet each strike precisely targeted the weak points in his defense.
Her magical fluctuations were unpredictable and strange, neither like magic nor sorcery, but more like some kind of... primal power.
Just as Araya Souren was pondering a countermeasure, Ouma Mana suddenly stopped her attack.
She listened intently, as if she heard something, and a bright smile immediately spread across her face.
"Ah, Shiraishikawa is calling me home!"
She said cheerfully, then turned to leave.
Araya Sōren was stunned.
"Wait! You're just going to do this—"
Sakura Mana glanced back at him, and that look made Araya Sōren feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
That was the look a predator gives its prey, filled with condescending pity.
"You had a lot of fun today, uncle."
She said with a smile.
"But if we meet again next time... it might hurt even more."
After saying that, she really skipped away, as if the life-or-death struggle just now was just an insignificant game.
Araya Sōren collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
He trembled as he took a small bottle from his pocket and drank the liquid inside in one gulp.
The wound began to heal slowly, but the lost left arm could not regenerate.
"A spare body... must be replaced as soon as possible..."
He muttered to himself, his eyes filled with malice.
"The plan must be accelerated... Ryougi Shiki's changes are still under control, but that girl..."
He struggled to his feet and, dragging his broken body, disappeared into the night.
Tonight's failure made him realize that his own strength alone was no longer enough to cope with the changes.
He needs more cannon fodder, more pawns, to ensure that the path to the root is not blocked.
On the other side, Mana Ouma rushed home almost at breakneck speed.
Her heart was pounding, not from the lingering effects of the battle, but from Shiraishikawa's rare, proactive call.
Chapter 402 Intense Pressure
Since Ryougi Shiki appeared, Shiraishikawa's attention seems to have been diverted quite a bit, which makes Ouma Mana feel uneasy.
"I am back!"
She pushed open the door, her voice filled with joy.
However, when she saw the scene in the living room, her smile froze on her face.
Shiraishikawa lay lazily on the sofa, while Ryougi Shiki sat next to him, so close that they could almost feel each other's breath.
What made Sakura Mana's heart clench even more was that Shiraishikawa's hand was still on Ryougi Shiki's shoulder, the posture so intimate it was glaringly obvious.
q[un yaoqi (eight) Siqi Shiou < "Ah, Zhenming, you're back."
Shiraishikawa looked up at her, gave her a familiar smile, and then opened his arms.
"come over."
Mana Ouma almost reflexively threw herself into his arms, but this time, she didn't whine or complain as usual.
Instead, she rested her chin on Shiraishi's shoulder and looked at Ryougi Shiki with a defiant gaze.
Suddenly, Shiraishikawa felt a deep aura near his ear; it was the intense pressure released by Ouma Mana.
As Eve, she had always been the most worry-free person for Shiraishichuan, but the aura she exuded at this moment made Shiraishichuan realize that the situation was not good.
"real name?"
Shiraishi Kawa called softly, but all he saw was her red-glowing eyes fixed on Ryougi Shiki on the sofa.
Ryougi Shiki maintained her indifferent expression as she slowly ate her Häagen-Dazs.
Her slender fingers held the small silver spoon, her movements as elegant as if she were attending an afternoon tea party rather than being in the midst of an impending conflict.
"Oh, looks like someone's unhappy."
Ryougi Shiki's lips curled into a smile, but her eyes were as cold as ice.
Mana Ouma's breathing became rapid, and Shiraishikawa could feel the surrounding air seem to freeze.
She gripped her skirt tightly with one hand, her knuckles turning white, while her other hand held a fist in mid-air, ready to summon the holy sword capable of severing everything.
"Real name, calm down."
Shiraishikawa quickly pulled Ouma Mana from his arms and used his body to shield the two girls.
He could feel Ryougi Shiki's gaze from behind.
"Sichuan..."
Mana Ouma's voice was filled with suppressed anger.
She just said—
"Regardless of what she said."
Shiraishi Chuan interrupted her, his voice low and firm.
"That's not what you think."
Ryougi Shiki stopped in her tracks as she was about to get up and take out her dagger.
She looked at Shiraishi's broad back blocking her way, her eyes filled with complex emotions, before finally lying back down on the sofa.
A hint of dissatisfaction lingered in her eyes, but a deep joy also indicated that she was pleased with Shiraishi's actions.
"What a nosy person."
Ryougi muttered to herself, but then scooped up another spoonful of ice cream and put it in her mouth.
Shiraishikawa didn't turn around, but looked intently at Ouma Mana.
Her face was filled with anger, her chest heaved violently, and her usually gentle eyes now held a dangerous glint.
"This must be what they call a 'battleground'..."
Shiraishi Kawan smiled bitterly to himself.
He decided to solve the problem with action. Without saying a word, Shiraishikawa directly grasped the hand that Ouma Mana was holding loosely.
His warm palm enveloped her slightly cool fingertips, conveying a silent comfort.
"what!"
Mana Ouma, who was originally furious, immediately let out a cute exclamation, and the anger on her face instantly dissipated, replaced by a rapidly spreading blush.
Her breathing calmed down, and the red light in her eyes gradually faded.
"Chuan...you're too cunning..."
Her voice softened, taking on a coquettish tone.
Shiraishikawa gazed at her with a smile.
"I really like my real name."
He directly conveyed his inner feelings to Mana Ouma through a spiritual connection.
That cherishing, that dependence, that genuine unwillingness to see her angry.
Mana Ouma's expression completely softened, and she pouted and complained.
"All you do is say nice things..."
But deep down, I felt satisfied because of his sincerity.
She stepped forward and rested her forehead on Shiraishi's shoulder.
"No rest tonight, as compensation for being neglected."
Shiraishichuan smiled helplessly and reached out to ruffle her soft, long hair.
"A gluttonous child."
"I'm not a child!"
Mana Ouma protested, but couldn't help rubbing her hand against his.
Just then, a soft cough interrupted their tender interaction.
Shiraishikawa turned his head and saw Asagami Fujino standing not far away, looking at them with resentful eyes.
Chapter 403 Shifting the Topic