nucmednet Chapter 105 The Great Attack Arc: Ashcroft
Chapter 105 The Great Attack Arc: Ashcroft
The black, casual space separated the corner of the bench from the park, and the four people inside stood quietly, creating a very solemn atmosphere.
The threads intertwined and coiled, and although they didn't entangle her body, based on the sharpness of the magical threads they had just displayed, her intuition told her that she wouldn't even be able to escape, and that she would likely be cut into countless pieces.
Looking at the man in front of her, beads of cold sweat dripped from her forehead, but looking at Ashley who was still being held hostage behind her, Cyril forced a calm expression and her brain was racing.
“Gentlemen, if you wish to talk, would you please find another place, Ming? It’s not convenient to talk here…” Sai Xier suggested, swallowing hard and looking at Ming again.
"Oh? Little sister, don't you think I'm here to kill you?"
"How...how could this be? You...you're neither from DEM nor AST, and if you wanted to get rid of me and Ashley, you should have done it before we even realized what was happening, right?"
The analysis was so logical that Ming nodded in agreement, and the threads surrounding Sai Xier dissipated.
The Hundred Eyes behind Ashley finally deactivated its display device. Ming glanced at Cyril, then at Ashley, whose face was etched with displeasure, and said:
"Let's go, I don't think I need to ask you to leave, do I?"
"Ah! Why should we listen to you... Ahhhhh..." Before Ashley could finish speaking, Cyril immediately covered her mouth without saying a word.
“Of course, of course, we’ll take you both with us,” Saihir said with a forced smile.
After saying that, he pulled Ashley along and followed Ming forward. Although Ashley was unwilling, she knew that she couldn't resist at this moment, so she had no choice but to lead the way.
Along the way, Ashley pushed Cyril and her wheelchair through the streets.
"Saihir, why did you agree to these people of unknown origin?!"
Upon hearing the question, Sehir glanced at the two people following behind and, while being pushed, tapped the armrest of his wheelchair in response using the SSS code:
"No, Ashley, quite the opposite. Even if we reclaim [Ashcroft], we still have no way to withstand DEM's attack. If we can use them for our own benefit..."
Ashley listened to Cyril's explanation and nodded in agreement, seemingly understanding but not quite.
"Hey, Klein brothers, can you understand what they're talking about?" Bai Mu finally leaned close to Ming's ear, his face showing some curiosity.
"Nonsense, I used to be an SSS-level player, do you think I wouldn't know their vibration frequency to use coded messages?"
"Then what do you want..."
"Give them a hand, and incidentally lure Shido into the game."
Ming's lips curled up slightly, thinking to himself that these two juniors were quite clever. As for helping them... he would consider it as repaying his former employer.
At this moment, at the AST base...
Upon learning of the origami attack, Ryoko led her team in a manhunt, while Mikie lay quietly in the medical room, remaining unconscious.
In the girl's dream, Miki's consciousness retraces to the depths of her childhood memories.
It was in her former home, in a luxurious mansion called Okamine, where her father, "Okamine Kotaro," was sternly reprimanding her, and all she could do was apologize.
“I…I’m sorry…Father…I didn’t get the score you expected…No…but I’ll try my best…so…um…”
In her memory, the girl tried her best to plead with her father to give her another chance, simply because she did not want to be neglected by him.
However… the girl's defense did not move her father in the slightest; Okamine Kotaro merely said with a cold gaze:
"No need. Anyone who has any expectations of a piece of trash like you is an idiot. You are a disgrace to the Gangmin family!"
Her father's face was cold and his words were icy. Without a doubt, every word he spoke was like a sharp blade, deeply piercing Miki's heart and causing the young girl to feel as if her heart was being torn apart.
Immediately afterwards, the girl was kicked out of her home. A dejected Mikie walked slowly down the street, her head bowed. Her father's words, "useless," struck her heart like a hammer blow, even conjuring up thoughts of suicide in her mind.
Just as the girl was wandering aimlessly, the spacequake alarm suddenly sounded. After several beeps, the crowd scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing to the shelter.
Only the forlorn Miki continued to walk slowly forward.
"I remember at that time, I was determined to die and did not try to escape."
"Until... the demon that destroyed the world (Tohka, who was still being hunted) appeared before me. I still remember how terrified I was that I couldn't get up. I could only lie on the ground alone, looking at the demon in fear. I really couldn't understand why such an unbelievable thing could happen in reality."
When I met that devil's cold eyes, fear overwhelmed me like a tidal wave. Only then did I realize... I still wanted to live, I didn't want to die!
However, it was all in vain; the demon's greatsword was already raised high, ready to strike me down.
Just when I was in despair, I suddenly saw the "Warriors" (AST) rushing towards me from afar. They stepped forward without hesitation, as holy as angels, and successfully repelled the demons and protected me.
This was the girl's first encounter with AST. At that time, Mikie vowed to dedicate herself to it and become a hero who could make a difference, in order to gain her father's approval.
Recalling this vow, Miki suddenly snapped out of her reverie, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling above and at her familiar origami senior sitting beside her, peeling an apple.
"you're awake."
Origami gently placed the perfectly peeled apple on the table, then slowly raised her head. Her beautiful face was expressionless, as if covered by a layer of frost.
"Origami-senpai...where is this?" Mikie asked, still half asleep, upon hearing Origami's question.
"Inside the base."
"After that...right! Was the bomber caught?"
At this moment, Mikie's eyes revealed an extremely urgent expression. She was eager to find the answer that could resolve the doubts in her heart.
"They escaped, and during the pursuit, the commander of the Kusaka unit was attacked."
Origami said calmly, but after hearing this, Mikie got up without saying a word, took Origami's hand, and rushed outside until they reached the door of the Second Special Command Room.
As soon as she rushed into the house, Miki immediately shouted:
"Captain, are you alright? I heard you were just attacked!"
Miki's tone was full of worry and fear, however... as soon as she stepped into the command room and pushed open the door, what came into Miki's eyes was not the seriously injured captain, but Ryoko who was standing there safely and commanding, and Takamiya Mana who had just arrived and was leaning against the wall.
"That's right, but I immediately counterattacked and easily defeated the enemy. Long-range sniping attacks can't hurt me."
Ryoko proudly put her hands on her hips, eager to hear Mikie's cheers.
Upon hearing this, Miki's eyes gleamed as she gazed at Ryoko and said solemnly:
"The captain is amazing!"
"Haha! Aside from that can't-play and sneak-attack [Flame Beast], what have I, Kusakabe Ryoko, ever been afraid of!"
"What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and close the door. We still need to interrogate the prisoner." At this moment, Liaozi was immersed in his subordinate's words of admiration when a slightly childish voice suddenly urged him from the side.
A petite girl with blue hair and a single ponytail stood quietly by the wall. This person was Takamiya Mana, who was sent from DEM to join AST.
Upon hearing this, Ryoko, Mikie, and Origami all slowly turned their heads and stared at the prisoner trapped in the chair.
This person has short, jet-black hair, cold eyes, and features that are distinctly British, making him seem unapproachable. He also has a sharp gaze and remains silent throughout.
Seeing this, Liaozi took out a photo of "Aishili" from his pocket and said to the prisoner in a deep voice:
"Hmm, a photo of Ashley Sinclair, a former member of the British SSS. I suppose you must be her teammate."
At this moment, Liao Zi's face was ashen, a sinister and terrifying smile on his lips. He stared at the prisoner, sending chills down one's spine, as if the consequences would be unimaginable if he did not answer.
"Captain, what is SSS?" Miki suddenly interjected.
"(Special Sorcery Service) is the full name of the British anti-elf force SSS, which is similar in nature to AST."
Ryoko said in a deep voice. Mikiko seemed to understand after hearing this, and then Ryoko continued to stare coldly at the prisoner.
Suddenly, the prisoner's previously stern face contorted in pain. Then, her eyes quickly reddened, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, like a flood bursting its banks.
The prisoner sobbed, and his body began to involuntarily cry out:
"Waaaaah, no...no...I don't want to! I'm afraid of pain...Ashiri...Syshill..."
Upon seeing this, the surrounding AST team members exclaimed in unison in surprise:
"So weak!!!"
Upon hearing this, the prisoner burst into tears like a flood bursting its banks.
"Wa ...
Seeing this, Liaozi smiled and nodded, saying affirmatively:
"Hmm, you were a member of the SSS team's special elf unit before you were named Leonora Hills. As for the Cecil you just mentioned, I feel like I've heard of her somewhere before."
After being subjected to less than a minute of "interrogation" by Liao Zi, Leonora immediately confessed everything she knew.
"Waaaah... Our goal is... the new manifestation device [Ashcroft] that will be delivered to the Sky Palace garrison base tomorrow. The previous plan was to prepare for reducing the pre-emptive actions of the AST garrison members."
"How dare they steal our 'Ashcroft' to commit evil deeds!" Ryoko's forehead veins bulged, and she stared wide-eyed, looking very angry.
"What is Ashcroft?" Mikie Okamine and Origami asked at the same time.
"【Ashcroft】is a manifestation device that can greatly enhance one's own power. As long as this power is used, one will have the ability to fight against spirits."
Liaozi's expression turned extremely serious.
"Its theft could have an immeasurable impact on the world." Mikie and Origami exchanged a glance, knowing full well that this was no small matter.
"We must protect them with all our might!" Origami said firmly, and Mikie immediately followed suit.
However, suddenly, Ryoko Kusakabe interrupted Mikie's words.
"Miki, you just need to go back and rest. Because your abilities are too weak, you don't need to protect the front line. Just rest well."
"No, I want to fight too! I want to prove my worth!"
Even though Mikie was rejected, she still wanted to contribute to AST. However, Origami, who had always respected her, also agreed.
"No, Mikie, you're not capable enough to go right now."
"Ah! Why..."
Before Mikie could finish speaking, Origami expressionlessly escorted her out of the AST base.