Chapter 35 - Blood (4)

After the collision, Kaya staggers, on the verge of collapsing. Quick to react, her twin sister catches her just in time.

_ Kona: “ Kaya! Hold on to me. ”

_ Kaya: “ I'm fine. ”

_ Kona: “ Don't be silly! You're covered in blood and bruises! ”

_ Kaya: “ ... ”

_ Kona: “ I'm going to get you to safety at the foot of a tree. You need to rest. ”

Stunned, the orphans watch their friends' triumph.

_ Maïko: “ Unbelievable, they did it! ”

_ Shailly: “ Girls… ” she says, smiling.

This unexpected success strengthens the bonds that unite them, each rejoicing in their shared victory. At the same time, a neutral face is revealed, staring intently at Edna.

_ Pico: “ Um, you were talking about me, but at least I'm not lying down. ”

This is followed by a shift to the orphans.

_ Pico: “ Okay, shall we finish this? ”

At the same time, Memba rushes toward us at an impressive speed. In my haste, I assemble and then wrap my Source of granite from the ground around my body.

Pouncing quickly like a wild animal, its massive body is just a few feet from my eyes, intent on stabbing me. Caught off guard, I partially cover my forearms and face with granite, barely managing to block its blade aimed at my heart.

With the thickness of the granite, I protect myself slightly but with incredible stealth, he follows up with a kick to the stomach, throwing me several meters and revealing his brute strength.

_ Son: “ Ayden! ”

_ Memba: “ My level has nothing to do with this incompetent person. ”

_ Ayden: “ ... ”

His body trembling, Son decides to act anyway. He lunges forward and, with feline agility, springs forward, his stick brandished like a sword. His fear, momentarily eclipsed, gives way to fierce determination. With ease, Memba parries his attack simply with his arm.

Quick-witted, Son retraces his steps and then, with a sudden jerk, aims for his opponent's lower limbs. Less experienced this time, the colossus takes the blow without flinching. A combination of attacks follows. Each blow is a response to an anticipated movement, leaving Memba no chance to retaliate.

At the same time, another assault is launched toward Hazel's group, which dodges it once again.

_ Hazel: “ Damn it, he's been wearing us down since the beginning. We have to fight back! ”

_ Maïko: “ Shailly! ”

_ Shailly: “ I know! ”

An electric sphere appears in the palm of his hand.

_ Hazel: “ It swings repeatedly at 3-second intervals. That's when we have to act. ”

Then she swings it. Pico materializes a prism of the same size on his other forearm, which he uses to block the attack with ease. Seeing how easily her opponent defends himself, the orphan's confidence crumbles.

_ Shailly: “ A prism now… ”

Surprise! A hand appears in her field of vision.

_ Maïko: “ Pass me your magnets! I'll stick them to his feet! ”

_ Shailly: “ Okay! ”

Seeing her comrades fighting with all their might, Jenna, a spectator to these scenes, is filled with a rage to win.

_ Jenna: “ Everyone is fighting so hard... I'm scared... but I can't just stand there and do nothing... I want to change... and it's now or never! ”

Maïko rushes towards Pico, then transposes her entire arm, which is equipped with magnets, onto a tree behind him. Pico, determined to disrupt the girl's actions, materializes a cone, ready to fire. At the same moment, a feeling of paralysis takes hold of his lower body.

_ Pico: “ Tss, that damn mud again. ”

Maïko takes advantage of this moment to plant the magnets.

_ Pico: “ But that won't be enough to… ”

His eyes widen.

_ Pico: “ The other girl behind her just disappeared! ”

Shailly teleports behind Pico, ready to combine two electric spheres, maximizing her damage. Ready to unleash her fury, the concentrated energy tingles in her palm.

He has only a split second to turn his head and glance over his shoulder, just in time to see the sudden attack coming at his back. Thrown several feet to the ground, he looks down in confusion and sees a hole in the back of his coat.

In the aftermath, Hazel, drawing on her last reserves, summons a wave of mud, enveloping Pico's entire body. Under the assault of this unexpected force, he finds himself paralyzed, unable to offer the slightest resistance.

_ Maïko: “ Well done! ”