Chapter 103: Canary and Ayse

The Erosion Organism stared straight at them, waiting for them to fall, like a giant serpent waiting for its prey to enter its mouth, its fangs and claws bared menacingly.

A silver light flickered.

Ephnel stepped on a “step” once more, and their falling figures paused for an instant.

In that moment, Yukina’s eyes sharpened.

She held her breath and suddenly released the bowstring.

The air was pierced, and a deafening sonic boom exploded in front of them.

The sharp wind pressure lifted Yukina’s hair, stinging her cheeks like needles.

In an instant, a dazzling blue-white arrow shot past like a meteor.

The blinding light pierced the Erosion Organism’s hand, then exploded with a roar.

Amidst the creature’s shrill screams, the blue-white meteor completely penetrated its entire arm and the building behind it.

A fierce hurricane sent rubble flying everywhere.

In the blink of an eye, the azure arrow had disappeared into the dark distance.

Yukina didn’t know if its energy had been exhausted and it had annihilated, or if it had simply exceeded her field of vision.

She only knew that this incredible arrow was an attack she had launched.

Ephnel also glanced at Yukina with some surprise, mentally comparing this attack with the one launched by Fuurin Shion.

The conclusion was: aside from precision and skill, the Order energy contained in Yukina’s arrow was far greater than Fuurin Shion’s.

Although it was an unwise strategy to consume so much energy on a medium-sized Erosion Organism, for an Agent, the amount of energy that could be mobilized in a single blow directly determined her upper limit.

Take Ephnel for example: she could shoot down a “Whale” type Erosion Organism in one hit, but other Agents couldn’t.

This was the difference in “upper limits.” In actual combat, such a difference was often enough to determine life and death.

Ephnel suppressed the thoughts in her mind and focused her gaze ahead.

She suddenly asked Yukina, “You were aiming for its chest, weren’t you?”

At this moment, Ephnel and Yukina had landed steadily on the high tower, thirty meters away from the Erosion Organism.

“Mmm…” Yukina nodded, “I’m very sorry… I didn’t make it…”

“Agents themselves have a high degree of compatibility with the Order weapons they possess, and this advantage is further enhanced by the amplification of their physical abilities. But this doesn’t mean that Agents don’t need training. For a first battle, you’ve done very well.”

Ephnel simply evaluated Yukina’s first strike.

“Although you didn’t hit its heart, the result was not bad. Yukina, you must remember that the weak points of Erosion Organisms are not concentrated in the heart or head like ours. If you can’t kill it in one blow, prioritizing the destruction of its limbs to weaken its offensive capabilities is a very applicable combat strategy. And for you, who is weak in close combat, this attack strategy is even more important. You should practice it more.”

Ephnel didn’t actually know how to use a bow.

The combat strategies she told Yukina were all things she had seen from Fuurin Shion.

For a beginner like Yukina, the experience Fuurin Shion had accumulated in countless battles could provide tremendous help.

At this moment, the Erosion Organism, with one of its arms severed, let out a piercing, miserable roar and charged straight towards Ephnel and Yukina.

Startled by the creature’s roar, Yukina subconsciously took a step back.

“Don’t be afraid, continue to attack it.”

Ephnel’s delicate voice came from beside her.

Yukina calmed herself, took a deep breath, and drew her bow again.

But whether it was due to excessive tension or something else, this arrow went wide, barely grazing past the Erosion Organism’s side without causing any damage.

Yukina’s heart sank.

The Erosion Organism was now less than fifteen meters away from them.

She frantically drew her bowstring again, but Ephnel’s voice came from her side.

“This distance is already pushing it for you. I’ll take it from here.”

With that, Ephnel took a step towards the rapidly approaching Erosion Organism.

In a flash of silver light, a long spear shining with silvery-white moonlight appeared in front of her.

She gripped it with one hand and then charged forward.

Under Yukina’s nervous gaze, the ground under Ephnel’s feet caved in from the immense force, cracks spreading out.

The contact between Ephnel and the Erosion Organism happened in the blink of an eye.

In that instant, the Erosion Organism raised its tail high, its sharp claws descending rapidly.

But Ephnel stabbed the tip of her spear into the ground, using the momentum to flip over and leap up like a pole vaulter.

As the claws arrived, the long spear in her hand had already left the ground.

Upside down in the air, a silver light flashed under Ephnel’s feet.

As her body spun, she shot towards the Erosion Organism.

The silver long spear swung around from her waist, carrying an immense force that could break through anything, and fiercely struck the top of the Erosion Organism’s head.

With a loud bang, rubble flew everywhere.

Yukina could almost feel the tremor from under her feet.

When she looked again, Ephnel had already retracted her spear behind her, leaving behind the shattered, almost-penetrated ground, and was walking towards her.

Behind her, the starlight left behind after being “banished” gradually rose.

Yukina was almost stunned by the sight.

…

“Erosion Organisms don’t have flesh and blood like we do. Merely destroying a part of their body may not necessarily kill them. The key to eliminating an Erosion Organism is the use of the Power of Order. This is something you have to learn slowly in battle.”

Ephnel retracted her long spear and said to Yukina.

Yukina nodded.

She knew that as an Agent, she still had a lot to learn and train, not just in mastering combat skills and tactical strategies, but also in controlling the unique Power of Order of an Agent.

The other Agents were already very proficient in using the special props for Agent combat missions, could understand Ephnel’s mission instructions without too much explanation, could handle several Erosion Organisms on their own, and could exert powerful combat strength in coordination with the Power of Order.

Basic abilities like “steps” or “weapon recall” were something everyone knew, except for Yukina, who still didn’t know how to do them.

Her only reliance now was the bow in her hands, but if she were to be besieged by several Erosion Organisms like the one just now, she would immediately be in danger.

This was the gap in training and combat experience.

She still had a long way to go to stand by her sister’s side as a support.

“There are at least seven more Erosion Organisms…” Ephnel didn’t know what was on Yukina’s mind.

Half a minute had passed since they landed and banished one Erosion Organism.

From below came the dull, beast-like roars of the Erosion Organisms, and the long wail of the evacuation alarm.

“Our mission officially begins now. The view here is very open, which should be a convenient condition for you. You will report the battlefield situation to me in real time from here, and you can try to support me when you can.”

Ephnel pressed a few buttons on her bracelet, looked into the distance, and then took out a somewhat exaggerated-looking pistol and handed it to Yukina.

Yukina was taken aback.

“Do I need this…”

“This is a signal gun, not for killing people.”

Ephnel explained, placing the signal gun in Yukina’s hand.

“Next, I’m going to assist in the evacuation of the people here, but our communication may not always be clear. So, if you encounter danger, just fire a shot into the sky with this. I’ll receive the signal.”

“Mmm…”

Yukina nodded nervously, clutching the signal gun tightly.

It was clear that she was actually very scared.

Ephnel looked at the silent Yukina, pursed her lips, and as if possessed, she leaned in front of Yukina.

While holding Yukina’s fingers with both hands, she gently stood on her tiptoes, closed her eyes, and left a light, fleeting kiss on the corner of Yukina’s lips.

Yukina was startled by the sudden attack, then she saw Ephnel raise her hand, ruffle her hair, and smile at her.

This scene was familiar.

At a certain moment four days ago, Ephnel had looked at her with the same gaze.

Yukina had always wondered what kind of mood her sister was in when she was still her “brother,” when she said goodbye to her, left home, and went to fight the Erosion disaster.

Now, she seemed to understand a little.

“Onee-chan…”

Yukina raised her hand slightly, then paused.

Ephnel said nothing, took two steps back, then without looking back, she strode forward, leaped high, and jumped off the high platform.

The next second, her figure appeared in the air more than ten meters away.

A silver light flashed under her feet, and she leaped out again.

Yukina stood where she was, watching Ephnel’s back, and tightened her grip on the longbow in her hands.

…

On the other side, Canary and Ayse had just entered the battle.

Unlike Ephnel and Yukina, Canary and Ayse did not choose to act separately.

Instead, they landed directly in a densely populated area and jointly attacked the large Erosion Organism that was chasing them.

At this moment, several terrifying wounds had already appeared on the Erosion Organism’s body.

The cold, clear light of their blades, with the combined attack of Ayse and Canary, continuously left more wounds on the creature’s body.

The Erosion Organism’s hands had no fingers, but were dark blades like scythes.

It angrily swung them horizontally, trying to force back the two who were attacking it.

But Canary suddenly took a step forward, stood in front of Ayse, and shouted, “I’ll parry it!”

Canary’s Order weapon was dual blades, making her one of the rare Agents, like Tachibana Sara, who held Order weapons in both hands, while Ayse’s was a straight sword.

She spun her body and swung her blade horizontally with great speed.

Bright sparks exploded between her and the Erosion Organism, but her strength was no match for the giant monster before her, and her blade soon tilted.

However, she did not retreat.

Her strike was aimed at the side of the scythe-like blade, with the purpose of deflecting its point of impact.

Her other blade was immediately brought up in front of her arm.

Her body sank slightly, and she met the monster’s scythe at a very precise angle, actually managing to guide the scythe into the air.

The giant Erosion Organism, having just swung its attack, could not retract its force, and its arm was also raised high.

It staggered back two steps, and at this moment, its chest was completely unprotected.

Similarly, Canary, having forcefully parried the monster’s attack, was now in a state where her old strength had faded and new strength had not yet been generated.

She could not take this opportunity to attack.

But Ayse, who had been waiting for an opportunity behind Canary, was different.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

She was already in an attack stance, and the moment Canary moved aside, she shot out like an arrow, charging towards the monster whose middle gate was wide open.

She switched to a two-handed grip on her straight sword, raised it to her shoulder, and with a combined effort, she swung down at the moment of contact with the Erosion Organism, creating a huge gash in its chest.

Then she quickly retracted her blade, stepped forward again, and with all her strength, she swung around and cut, completely severing the Erosion Organism at the waist.

But the Erosion Organism did not die.

Its huge body still retained its vitality.

It raised its scythe, roaring madly, and struck down again.

Ayse turned her blade sideways and parried the scythe’s attack at an angle, letting the attack land beside her, sinking deep into the ground.

“Mahiru!”

“I’m coming!”

She shouted loudly, and the girl with dual blades behind her leaped high, landing on the giant scythe.

The cold light of her dual blades flashed as she ran straight along the monster’s arm.

The monster, at this moment, also sensed a great crisis and struggled to pull back its scythe, but Ayse forcefully kicked the giant scythe that had just moved, pinning it down again.

By now, Canary had already reached the front of the giant Erosion Organism’s head.

…