Chapter 249: A Sparring Match (Part 2)

Boom—!!!

The explosion echoed across the amusement park, deafening in its intensity. Thick smoke and sand surged upward, blotting out the silver-blue moonlight.

At the exact same moment the ambush was launched—

Buzz—

A white, bunny-ear-shaped aura lit up beneath Shana’s feet.

A basic enhancement skill—[Bunny ☆ Dash].

For a short time, it granted her speed comparable to a cheetah and astonishing jumping ability.

Whoosh—

With the agility boost, Shana moved like a pink bat, making several exaggerated mid-air directional shifts. In the blink of an eye, she landed steadily on another perfect high ground—the tip of an old pirate ship ride.

From above, her view was wide and clear.

“Phew…”

With one hand on her hip, she casually flicked her hair.

In the distance, smoke still lingered. The children’s facilities looked like smashed plastic, charred debris scattered everywhere.

“…Tch. What the hell was that?”

Shana curled her lip, staring at the smoke like it was garbage.

“So this is the hyped-up newbie from C District? I thought you’d at least warm me up a bit. But you just stood there like an idiot in the open… not even basic danger instinct?”

Anyone who could attract upper management’s attention that quickly—no matter how inexperienced—should at least deploy a shield or dodge instinctively when ambushed.

But that so-called [Gray Crystal]…

She didn’t react. Didn’t even move.

She was hit directly by a casual probing attack.

“Well… how disappointing.”

“A rookie puffed up by luck and company favoritism, too arrogant to even state her real name… in the end, this is all you amount to—”

—Eh?

Without warning—

“————Kyu——!!!”

A piercing shriek, several times sharper than before!

“What?!”

Before she could react—

A cherry-pink streak shot past her cheek!

An energy arrow!

By the time she realized it, it had already slammed into a rock formation behind her—

Boom!

The shockwave hit her face a moment later.

A thin line of blood seeped from her cheek, the sting only arriving after the explosion.

She had just brushed past defeat.

But compared to that minor pain—

The shock and fear were far more intense.

Her gaze stiffened as she looked downward through the gaps in the pirate ship.

The smoke had already been blown away by the arrow’s pressure.

At the center of a crater where even the sand had crystallized from heat—

That small silver-gray figure stood quietly.

Around her floated a semi-transparent shield shaped like an angry emoticon: (((╋┠д┨))).

Thanks to it, not even a speck of dust had touched her sailor uniform—not even the hem of her skirt.

She slowly raised her head.

Those clear, luminous eyes met Shana’s from over a hundred meters away.

There was no anger at being ambushed.

No panic.

No hurried retaliation.

She simply stood there.

Even the soft smile at her lips remained.

Like a dandelion swaying gently in the wind.

“……”

What… does that mean?!

What the hell does this girl mean?!

She clearly had the ability to follow up immediately!

So why stop?

Why look so relaxed?

Was she mocking her?

Was she saying—

“Your attack isn’t even worth scratching me. No threat at all. So… go ahead, perform.”

“……”

That sense of being utterly ignored—

Like sparks dropped into boiling oil—

Rage exploded through Shana’s mind.

“Crack…”

Her fists clenched tightly, crimson fury burning in her eyes.

“Don’t get cocky, you clueless rookie!!!”

She laughed in anger, voice sharp and shrill.

“You think blocking one casual shot gives you the right to act arrogant in front of me?!”

Her body straightened abruptly. The pirate ship beneath her groaned under the surge of spiritual energy.

Shana spread her arms wide, pink hair whipping wildly in the night wind.

“I’ll admit—blocking my energy arrow is impressive for a rookie of just one year!”

“But… what if there are more?!”

Buzz—buzz—buzz—

Spiritual energy trembled.

Behind her, the air tore open like bleeding wounds.

One. Two. Three. Four…

Nine crimson arrows slowly emerged—

Like nine monstrous serpents baring their fangs.

They radiated suffocating heat, turning the night sky into a hellish red.

“Watch carefully, rookie!”

The fear in Shana’s heart was replaced by dominance once more.

“For me to take you even slightly seriously and use this level of firepower… is already an honor!”

“So take that resentment of a weakling and—”

“—Senpai.”

“…Huh?!”

Shana froze.

Her entire motion stalled mid-action.

“Um, senpai~”

Lin Yu cupped her small hands around her mouth like a cute little megaphone.

“Could you… make a bit more?”

“…What?!”

Shana’s pupils shrank violently.

What nonsense was this lunatic saying?!

“Because…”

The girl below kept that same adorable gesture.

“Because… your arrows are really pretty!”

“When they fall from the sky, that red glow… it looks just like fireworks in an amusement park!”

“I really love fireworks! So…”

She blinked those innocent eyes, smiling sweetly.

“Could you make more for me to watch? Pretty please~ ❤”

Shana’s face twitched violently.

No response.

Fireworks?

Her proud skill… reduced to fireworks?!

BZZZZZZZZZ————!!

Her anger turned into a tangible storm of energy.

Without a word—

The already terrifying nine arrows behind her…

Multiplied.

Tripled.

A total of twenty-seven crimson arrows of destruction appeared—

Like a dense, inescapable net of death, covering the entire sky.

“Rookie…”

“Since you love fireworks so much…”

She swung both arms forward violently—

“—Then take that arrogant face of yours and be completely destroyed!!!”

Twenty-seven arrows descended—

Like a doomsday meteor shower,

Crashing down with unstoppable force.