[KRRR-SHING!]
Kyouka's blade descended like a guillotine, aiming straight for the One-Horned's thick neck—
CLANK!
It stopped mid-swing.
Kyouka's eyes finally shifted to the woman sitting atop the beast—her hand raised, calmly catching the sword with nothing but the back of her clawed fingers.
???: "My, my... Aren't you strong?"
The woman's voice was playful, almost amused.
Long, silvery-white hair flowed down her back in thick waves, with four ring-shaped tufts orbiting around her head like satellites—two hovering like halos above her temples. Her body was wrapped in a skin-tight black suit that left nothing to imagination, the curves of her thick thighs and heavy breasts barely restrained by a pristine white coat hanging loosely from her shoulders.
With a relaxed smile, she gently pushed the sword away.
[WHSSH!]
Yuuki quickly leapt back. The One-Horned followed suit, distancing itself with a slow, heavy stomp.
The two riders stared each other down.
Kyouka's instincts screamed—something about this woman was wrong. Beyond strange. Her every nerve was on edge.
Yuuki, however, had gone completely silent. His eyes were locked on the woman, narrowing.
There was something disturbingly familiar about the woman's aura. Something buried deep in the feeling she gave off. He knew who she was yet, His thoughts swirled—but Kyouka spoke first.
Kyouka: "Who are you?!"
The woman tilted her head.
???: "I am... the one who fights the Demon Defense Corps."
[BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!]
Suddenly, multiple explosions erupted behind the One-Horned!
Wind and dust blew through the air like a whirlwind.
Kyouka and Yuuki instinctively shielded their faces.
It was Himari. From a nearby ridge, she launched a full barrage from a modified grenade launcher, blanketing the woman and beast in thick smoke.
Himari: "Take that, monster!"
[FWOOOSH—!]
???: "How rude."
A beam of pure light pierced through the smoke, screaming toward Himari like a death ray!
The air twisted as her hair expanded into a massive umbrella-like shape. Her jaw unhinged, stretching wide like a beast's maw.
[SCHWIIIING!]
Himari tried to conjure a shield—too slow!
The blast slammed into her, sending her body flying through the trees like a pebble skipping across water.
[BA-DOOM!]
Yuuki: "Himari!"
And it wasn't over. The Shuuki horde had already merge. Limbs and bones fused grotesquely into a towering colossus. A new monster had taken form.
It roared and lunged at Kyouka and Yuuki—
Shushu: "I've got this one!! Chief, focus on the rider!"
Shushu dashed in, intercepting the beast with a full-powered punch, The ground shook beneath her charge.
Kyouka's grip tightened around Yuuki's chain.
Yuuki glanced at Himari's crumpled form, then at Shushu's strained stance.
(Things are getting bad…)
He felt her intent clearly—Kyouka was consumed by fury.
???: "Oh, by the way—have you seen my little brother?"
Yuuki blinked.
???: "He's the most handsome man in the world..."
With a giggle, she pulled out three red-and-pink colored peaches from somewhere—hidden within her massive, flowing hair.
Kyouka's eyes widened.
(Peaches?! But the limit is one fruit per person—how...?)
The woman took a bite, chewing slowly.
???: "He used to say he'd marry me someday. So cute. I wonder how he's doing now..."
Kyouka had had enough. She gave the signal.
Yuuki shot forward like a bullet, the chain dragging behind him.
[BAM!]
The One-Horned reared up, intercepting Yuuki mid-charge. Their fists clashed—shockwaves cracked the ground.
Kyouka: "HYAAAH!!"
She followed up, blades whirling.
Claws met swords. Steel rang against bone. The woman laughed joyfully mid-battle, her monstrous hands now fully transformed, blocking Kyouka's strikes with unnatural precision.
Her hair lashed out—[WHIP!]—punching like giant arms.
Yuuki traded blows with the One-Horned, both beasts carving craters into the earth with each strike.
Kyouka gritted her teeth. Despite her speed and technique, the woman was too powerful. Every movement carried overwhelming force—and Kyouka had no peach-enhanced strength. Her own power didn't empower her—it empowered Yuuki.
A weakness she couldn't afford right now.
Yuuki finally landed a solid punch across the One-Horned's jaw—[SMASH!]—stunning it.
That opening was everything.
Kyouka leapt in air, blade high above her head.
Kyouka: "HAAAA!"
The woman, snarling, gathered energy in her mouth again—her jaw unhinged wider than before, glowing with that same blinding light.
Yuuki crouched, ready to take the hit—or so it seemed.
But suddenly, he raised his right hand, and whispered in a low voice that was only heard by the women.
Yuuki: "Yo, Nee-chan. Been a while."
The woman froze.
[GUKH! COUGH! COUGH!]
The energy in her throat flickered, misfired. She hacked violently, barely holding herself upright.
Her eyes locked onto Yuuki.
For just a second, the playful façade dropped.
She saw him clearly.
Her expression broke.
???: "Yuuki…?"
[KSHHH!]
Kyoukas sword miss the mark as she Dodged it and signalled the One horned.
Kyouka: "YUUKI!!"
She sprinted toward them calling Yuuki.
But it was over.
The One-Horned turned, carrying the woman away as she retreated beyond the rocky mountains.
Kyouka: "Cowards! Don't run!!"
She was about to give chase when—
[BOOOOM!!]
An explosion shook the battlefield.
Just a little away Yuuki was already charging towards the titan shuuki. Leaping in the air he punched it in the chest.
Yuuki's punch obliterated the colossal Shuuki in a single, devastating blow. Its core shattered like glass.
Shushu lay nearby, bruised and exhausted. Now back to her normal size, Himari was half-conscious, about to be crushed moments earlier.
Yuuki stood between them, chain dangling from his collar.
Kyouka stared.
Her lips trembled. She bit them hard—blood trickled down her chin.
(Can't believe... I let my rage blind me… I left them. I nearly let precious subordinates, my family die… If not for Yuuki...)
She remembered. She had pushed Yuuki into the path of that beam without hesitation. To kill the One horned no matter what.
Her hand curled into a trembling fist.
With a growl, she punched herself across the jaw.
[THWACK!]
She staggered but didn't fall.
Kyouka: (This is the last time. I won't... I can't let that happen again.)
Without hesitation, she ran to Himari and scooped her up in her arms.
She glanced at Yuuki.
He nodded.
No words were needed.
The battle was over.
The Shuuki hive had been destroyed in the chaos.
But what remained... were questions? And a lot of them.