There was no avoiding her attack at this range but
Target within capture range Firing netpositive
The raised tail fired the same white threads – or metal wires – that the spider had used to toy with the girl A shield-like web formed between the machine and the sword
The full-speed slice easily chopped through the impromptu shield but
The metal wires split their tips into fine brush-like hairs They were as sticky as a real spider web and they wrapped around the sharp blade
Splitting her sword into two came back to bite her Their halved weight kept the sharp edge from slicing through the thread so she could not cut the metal machine
The spiral of power Lucia had mentioned was true The angel could burn a demon with her flames but her scissors-like weapon had less luck against the solid Springloaded that was hard as a rock
Angel capture simulation complete
Oh n-
Checkmate
The needle at the end of the tail targeted Ange She deflected it with her other sword but
Kh
She paid dearly for leaving herself defenseless within the enemy’s attack range The scorpion had extended its pedipalps at the same time as its needle so it captured her arms and torso between them Khah Let me go Let me goo
The girl struggled but her arms were not strong enough to break free of their alloy bonds and her
swords were useless without use of her arms Not that she could have cut through its shell with the threads and wires tangled around one of them
A metallic groan accompanied every movement of the frighteningly nimble mechanical scorpion as it hopped back to the balcony with the girl in tow
It landed right in front of Mutsuki
Likely Serpent’s Eye possessor spotted within capturing range
Mutsukiyou idiot Why didn’t you run away
The machine had shaken the entire balcony when it had landed so the boy had fallen onto his butt The scorpion extended its mechanical tail with the girl still in its grasp
With the sound of splitting metal the tip parted into a crane shape
Ahah
Mutsuki’s hips had given out so he crawled backwards to escape capture But after taking aim the catcher caught up quickly
Plus his back hit something at the balcony exit and he could move back no further
He turned around and trembled like ice was licking at his heart
Machina stood there Her usual cold eyes were calmly observing the abnormal events
That was all the confirmation he needed but
I-Ibekusa
He felt like he was praying as he asked the question
Are you with FeTUS
Speaking it aloud filled him with a tremor not brought by fear
Just a few minutes before he had felt she was the closest person in the world to him She was no longer a mere classmate and that time had been so sweet and even more passionate than time spent with a lover He had been happy and he was confident she had enjoyed it too But when he thought back he had to ask why she had come here and why she had so easily opened her body to him
She gave a quick precise answer and an unconcerned nod
Are you one of FeTUS’s top level members The FeTUS Witches
Unable to move Ange only shouted angrily The other girl once more nodded
The boy’s mind went entirely blank and all strength left him
Then had she only allowed him her body and heart as an act to deceive him
He had longed for this classmate since spring
Just as he thought he was going to fulfill that desire the ground had crumbled below his feet
Mutsuki Pull yourself together You need to escape Mutsuki
Ange’s futile voice was drowned out by the rain and the boy had stopped moving Machina reached out a hand and the Springloaded’s mechanical hand approached from the front
The boy was surrounded and had no escape
The mechanical hand continued forward
Mutsuki Why you
It grabbed the body of the chosen one
Let goo
Why did Ange sound so confused
Because the crane-like hand holding the boy had broken to pieces
Or because the two mechanical bonds holding her had torn away like tofu
Ange
Mutsuki was just as baffled by the scene before his eyes
His gaze met Ange’s wide-eyed gaze Her eyes were as dignified and sharp as ever
But they had shed their usual blue and taken on a divine gold color
To match her eyes the usually blue flame wings were also burning gold
In a spherical shape around her everything was audibly vaporizing the balcony wall the window and even the Springloaded’s body But as always Mutsuki did not even feel warm
Whatis this
Machina looked just as curious as she stared at her own hand on the wreckage of the tail crane
She was the one that had destroyed the crane Her outstretched hand had passed the boy by and grabbed the Springloaded trying to capture him
As soon as she had touched it the tail had fallen apart as if all of the screws had been removed
It looked just like when the spider in the clock tower had been destroyed
Had she protected him Mutsuki was confused by both this and what had happened with Ange
Damage level 37% Within capture range negative Attack still possible Switching to attack
Two of the Springloaded’s legs had melted and its tail had come apart but it approached the angel and boy with its remaining six legs However
Ange and Machina swept their hands dismissively toward it
One hand melted it like chocolate and the other dismantled it
What in the world is this
They both looked curiously down at their own hand
The temperature of my purifying fire has increased It’s on an entirely different level
I can input the Anti-Code so quicklyThis is six times as fast
They were both surprised by their own power They exchanged a glance completely forgetting they were enemies
Ange remained utterly shocked but Machina ultimately calmed down
Our bodies Our cells and spirituality have raised our abilities to protect Fujita
Wh-what are you talking about Raised our abilities We can’t just get a power-up that easily
It is not that surprising The Serpent’s Eye affects every part of a woman And if he is the true origin
They both looked his way
Adam
The perfect man
Hm Wh-what are you two talking about
Mutsuki grew flustered when they both gave him a frightening look
Ange seemed dumbfounded and Machina gave a look of realization
Damagelevel 71% Movement impossible
The metal scorpion could just barely stand on its remaining four legs but it gave a staticky groan like a poorly-tuned radio
Securingclassified informationtop priority Selfdestruct approvedpositive
Panic filled Ange’s and – for the first time – Machina’s face
The astral source is reversing The core energy is being annihilated The algorithm is shifting from libido to death drive Oh no
Self-destruct Mutuski Get down
Ange charged forward wearing flickering armor of golden flames
She almost seemed to trample his collapsed form to shield him
Ange
At the same time Machina stood in front of the both of them and spread her arms
He saw both Ange and Machina trying to protect him
He saw the pouring rain grow a dark blood-red
Looks like my timing was perfect
Vvvv
The Springloaded let out a groan of surprise with only five seconds until it self-destructed
All of the raindrops on it became the dark red of blood and began wriggling about on their own so its surprise was understandable
Rock could not be cut by scissors but it was weak to paper
A moment later the black liquid surrounded the Springloaded and tossed it into the sky All of its
groans were drowned out by the rain
Mutsuki did not know if a machine could scream but he knew this one had to be screaming if it could
More and more rain wrapped around it slipped into the gaps between parts and easily took control At the same time it was smoothly carried up toward the source of the rain It moved