Chapter 6

Shiori: Okay, let's do it like this! You take care of one, and I whop the other.

Shiori: And when they're both gone, we bail out at once because every Strapper in the vicinity will be aware of our unwanted presence!

Hayato: You've got it, Shiori. Time to dance!

Expecting a grueling fight, we stand our ground as Shiori produces her weapons, a wrist crossbow and a kodachi, a manageable short sword.

Fueled by feral fury and hunger, one of the beasts charges at Shiori head-on, my partner dodging the attack by sliding beneath its long body.

The enemy I'm supposed to overcome decides to take a different approach, climbing up the ceiling to drop its weight on me.

I roll back, avoiding its devastating attack.

Not having a split second to aim my weapon, I fire from the hip in rifle mode again, hitting its bony shoulder.

The Strapper wails in pain, dropping the club as it doesn't have the strength to wield it anymore.

Aware that even without its weapon the beast is a major threat, I shoot again, puncturing its chest.

Unsurprisingly, the bones it was using for protection do nothing to stop my scorching laser beam.

Hayato: You picked the wrong people to make them your dinner, fool!

Looking forward to putting the monster out of its misery, I open fire one last time, the headshot it copes rendering the beast motionless.

That drained the rifle's battery...

I won't be able to fire it again until we reach the surface.

I heave a sigh as I spot Shiori still sparring with the other Strapper, impressed to see her moves.

She fends off its strikes dexterously, keeping her feet moving as she flows through the arena.

She's definitely not an amateur bounty hunter.

Shiori: Ugh, aren't you an ugly pinhead? Allow me to improve your beauty with an arrow to the face!

With a nimble motion, Shiori releases an arrow that penetrates its head, though apparently, it's not enough to defeat the creature as it continues flailing its mace.

Shiori: Playing hard to get, huh? Fine! Let's have it your way, beast.

Eluding the Strapper's clumsy attacks, Shiori rushes at its tall body, slashing its bone armor with the kodachi.

Pieces of the monster's clothes fall to the ground, exposing its naked flesh.

Shiori: He-he, much better! We'll see if you can survive... THIS!

Unprotected, Shiori reloads the crossbow and fires several times, every volley landing on the same spot.

Groaning, the Bone Strapper launches one last strike before it falls flat on the rocks, joining the other two beasts in their eternal slumber.

Shiori: Phwaa... Ha-ha... That was intense... A little too much for my taste.

Shiori: You could've lent me a hand, you know? You were staring as if to see who'd come out on top!

Hayato: You were faring well on your own, Shiori. Plus, as I said, my weapon is in dire need of charging.

Hayato: I cannot use it anymore, not until we exit Blackflame Peaks.

Shiori: This is something I can't wait to do. Let's scram, Hayato!

Unwilling to take part in another battle, we begin to run down the hallway, discerning troubling noises in the distance.

SARA: Warning, more enemies are approaching your location.

SARA: The sensors suggest it might be at least ten individuals after you.

Shiori: Ten?! We can't dispatch that many! Especially if your magic staff or whatever conked out.

Shiori: This is it, Hayato! Everything is lost!

Hayato: No, not yet. Keep on running. I'll cover our retreat.

Shiori: Excuse me? Are you out of your goddamn mind? They'll tear you apart!

Shiori: Don't play hero now! I'm sure we can think of a better plan.

Hayato: Just do it, okay? I know what I'm doing.

Shiori: Pfft, alright, if you say so... If you sacrifice yourself, I'll be able to escape at the very least!

Following my command, Shiori departs from the tunnel, leaving me alone in front of the menace.

I have a set of explosives in my backpack. It's extremely risky using them like this, but I have no choice.

Feeling the pressure of the clock, I place the charges on both sides of the passageway, waiting for the horde of Strappers to appear.

Before long, their muffled grunts become blaring growls, the creatures racing to have the first bite.

Hayato: Move closer... A bit closer...

Hayato: There we go!

I activate the detonator with my thumb, setting off the explosives.

My plan works out as the ceiling collapses, blocking the shaft and making impossible their passage.

However, soon enough I discover my plan was too effective as the entire subway begins to crumble.

Hayato: I'm getting out of here... Posthaste!

Turning my back on the disintegrating ceiling, I dash forward, mindful to avoid the boulders plunging from above.

Like a rain of gravel, stones fall dangerously close to me, sending fragments flying in every direction.

Hayato: I'm not going to make it... I'm not going to make it unless I jump!

Hayato: HIYA!

Aware that the instability of the passage was going to catch up to me, I leap with every ounce of my energy, narrowly avoiding what would've become my tomb.

Tons of debris lie before my eyes. What once was a tunnel now is an impenetrable wall.

Shiori: Wow, dude... What kind of wizard are you? You wield so much power it's actually insane!

Shiori: You could've done that before and saved us the trouble.

Hayato: I nearly buried myself, Shiori.

Hayato: Plus, I'm quite sure that the blast made the halls a whole lot more dangerous.

Hayato: Any underpass could come crashing down at any given time.

Shiori: It's not really our problem anymore because we escaped. Suck on that, Bone Strappers!

Shiori: Tonight, you'll be eating a mouthful of rock soup.

Hayato: Instead of mocking them, why don't we resume our climb? Fate loves irony.

Shiori: Yeah, yeah... Anything you say, dude.

Shiori: You should be thankful I waited for you! That's not usually my style.

Hayato: I could tell. So thank you, I guess.

Shiori: Ehh? What do you mean you could tell? I was joking!

Shiori: I'm a lovely girl who has never done anything wrong in her life.

Hayato: The more you insist, the less I believe it. But it's okay if you want to convince yourself.

Hayato: Fake it until you make it, right?

Shiori: Hmph, whatever...

Rolling her eyes, Shiori trusts the map and takes one narrow passage, lighting the way with her torch.

The beam of light cast by my flashlight begins to flicker, so I use this moment of respite to recharge it with its crank.

I barely know Shiori, but even if I can respect her as a warrior, I can tell she's the kind of woman who focuses more on herself than on her surroundings.

I'll keep a close eye on her lest she attempt to play any tricks on me.

A contract is as reliable as the people who sign it.