Shido was precisely teleported to the predicted Spirit route—near the entrance of a large department store.
He subconsciously looked around but didn't see Koushi, who was likely teleported to a slightly more distant location to carry out his "stakeout" mission.
According to Ratatoskr's prior analysis, as a Spirit that appeared frequently, The Hermit's movement patterns had a certain regularity.
Combined with Reine's thought simulation, her escape route could be roughly determined.
Normally, the AST's primary equipment—the CR-Unit—was not suitable for combat in complex indoor environments.
They would often choose to wait for the Spirit to leave the building on its own, or in the worst-case scenario, like dealing with Tohka, force the Spirit out by destroying the building.
In any case, there would always be a short or long window of opportunity, which was Shido's precious chance to make contact with the Spirit.
However, the scene before him completely overturned Shido's understanding and was vastly different from Ratatoskr's predictions!
The AST members in the sky showed no hesitation or intention to wait!
They hovered in mid-air like a furious swarm of bees, their weapons continuously spewing fire!
Dense live rounds and miniature missiles trailing dazzling exhaust flames poured down like a torrential rain, mercilessly targeting the small blue figure frantically fleeing!
"Boom!!!"
"Da da da da—!!"
The explosions and gunshots were so continuous there was almost no interval!
The once bustling commercial street instantly turned into a sea of fire and ruins!
Shop windows shattered into dust under the shockwave, sturdy walls were easily torn apart, and billboards twisted as they fell from above!
Even more alarming was that even if The Hermit, relying on her petite size and agile movements, managed to hide in a still-intact building for cover, the AST's response was extremely brutal and direct—
Several members immediately adjusted their stance, and shoulder-mounted large-caliber grenade launchers or personal missiles instantly locked onto the target!
"Bang! Boom—!!"
High-explosive ordnance precisely hit the building's critical support points, and an entire wall, even half a floor, collapsed with a deafening explosion!
Smoke and flames shot skyward, instantly turning the area into a hell.
The small blue figure had no choice but to escape again, disheveled, from the rubble and flames, continuing to weave through the hail of bullets.
The cloak adorned with rabbit ears was already damaged, making her appear even more pathetic.
"This... What's going on?!"
Shido watched from below, dumbfounded, his heart almost leaping out of his chest.
This was completely different from the "brief lull" he had expected!
The AST's actions were filled with undisguised killing intent and destructive urges, as if they would stop at nothing to flatten the entire district just to utterly destroy that girl!
He immediately covered his earphone, his voice slightly distorted by urgency: "Kotori! Did you see that?! This isn't what we predicted!
They... they don't care about the destruction! What on earth is going on?!"
Kotori's equally grave voice came through the earpiece: "Ah, I see it.
It's certainly unusual.
It seems this AST commander... is someone with a particularly strong killing intent.
Or, they've received some kill-on-sight order."
At this moment, Reine's calm, unperturbed voice interjected, providing crucial information:
...According to intelligence we've intercepted, the AST Unit stationed in Amamiya City recently replaced a batch of brand-new, significantly improved Realizer units and accompanying weapon systems.
Their combat budget has nearly doubled compared to last month."
She paused, then continued her analysis: "The inferred reason is likely Welt Yang's previous public declaration of war, which instilled an unprecedented sense of crisis at the national level.
Therefore, they spared no expense, greatly increasing investment in anti-Spirit combat units, intending to suppress them with absolute firepower."
Kotori scoffed on the bridge, a lollipop in her mouth as she complained: "Hmph, quite generous with the investment.
Unfortunately, the idea is beautiful, but reality is harsh.
Spirits... especially Spirits who are even slightly serious, cannot be dealt with by this level of cannon fodder and stacked firepower.
It only adds to the destruction."
However, just as Kotori's words faded, the battlefield situation changed again!
A white figure, moving at an astonishing speed far exceeding that of other AST members, tore through the air like a white lightning bolt, rapidly cutting into the battlefield from the flank!
Her movements were fluid and sharp, instantly intercepting The Hermit who had just escaped from a half-collapsed building!
It was Tobiichi Origami!
And the equipment she wore was no longer the old CR-Unit Shido was familiar with.
It was a brand-new Realizer unit with smoother lines, more futuristic armor, and an overall pure white and light blue color scheme!
Ghostly blue energy streams flickered at the joints, and the thruster nozzles on her back were smaller, yet the flames they erupted were more solid and intense, granting her unparalleled mobility.
Most striking was the light blade in her hand—no longer the relatively simple beam saber of before, but a massive light saber that solidified like a physical object, with high-frequency energy pulsating along its edges, emitting a chilling aura that made one's heart palpitate!
Origami's face was expressionless, her grey eyes holding only the absolute calm of a locked-on target.
Without any superfluous words or movements, the light saber in her hand descended with a mournful tearing sound, like the scythe of death, precise and ruthless!
"Crack—!!"
The thick ice crystal shield, hastily conjured by The Hermit in front of her, which was sufficient to withstand conventional bullets, shattered like fragile glass before this enhanced light blade!
Ice crystals scattered, reflecting the sudden expansion of fear and helplessness in The Hermit's sapphire-like eyes!
Origami's new equipment, with just one strike, demonstrated an overwhelming performance advantage!
The danger of the battlefield suddenly soared!
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