Shiki-chan and I hadn't set up a meeting place, so knowing her, she must have gone to the center of the battle on her own without caring about anything.
I came to an apartment complex, the same one Shiki-kun told me about yesterday. But this is all worse than he thought.
Inside the orange jacket I had a pistol, which helped me a lot to destroy the heads of the [Dead] that were between the entrance and me. But there was a second contingency problem, and that is that there are many [Beasts] around.
I'm not as good at stealth as Shiki-kun, so I must be extremely careful not to disturb any of these [Beasts]. Although if they notice my presence, I immediately blow their heads off using [Magecraft].
Although [Beasts] are a problem, it is not my greatest concern. Since the entire apartment complex is packed with ice.
My body temperature can't be optimal in here, which spoils my mobility a bit.
If this doesn't work for me, I don't want to know how Shiki-kun and the [Princess of the True Ancestors] are doing right now. I hope they are fine, minimum.
I don't mind having to do all of this, but it really bothers me that I have to avoid slipping all the time on the stupid ice.
Also, if we are facing [Vampires], I would like to top it off with the [Sealed Box], that would be the most radical thing that would make Shiki-kun admire me without a doubt.
But I guess I can do something.
From the sleeves of the jacket I slip pieces of paper with runes drawn on them. It's a useful medium that I use when I don't have the time to make runes with [Magecraft], it can consume long minutes of my time, plus I don't want to say complicated words for today.
I want to get this over with as soon as possible, so without hesitation, I stick the [Rune] on one of the ice walls and moments later, it starts to fall apart.
However, it is not as easy as it sounds, since the place where the rune melts the ice, it quickly hardens again. Ok, that was a waste of paper and blood.
So it's at a certain point in the walk that I realize that half the building is in pieces and outside, an ice dome surrounds what appears to be the battlefield.
Oh, wow.
This is almost of biblical proportions.
The strong wind moves my hair tied in a ponytail. Then a shadow approaches to my right and stops right next to me.
Calmly, I see her out of the corner of my eye.
She is a bluish-haired woman dressed in nun's clothes. With swords between her fingers, I see that she is ready for combat at all times. Her name is Ciel and I know her from all my travels while she was escaping from the [Mage's Association].
She looks a bit calm, but I can tell that even she is worried about what goes on inside that dome.
─Shiki-kun told you to come?
─No. It is impossible to ignore the giant dome that is drawing too much attention, I am curious... and I know this is the work of Vlov Arkhangel.
─You saw those [Beasts] down there, right? Those things...
─They are from Nrvnqsr Chaos. This is a unique opportunity, two [Dead Apostle Ancestors] in one place. Touko, what are you doing in this place? You know you shouldn't get involved.
─I know... but it's about Shiki-kun. He must be inside that thing right now, and I need to go save his skin.
Ciel looks at me with wide eyes in surprise, it seems that she had not understood the question that she asked her in the first instance about whether Shiki-kun called her to come here.
Ciel's expression got twice as serious now that I mentioned Shiki-kun in this place.
As we were exchanging glances, a third of us arrived and in an instant, the entire ice dome was destroyed out of nowhere.
I smile confidently, knowing that she has already arrived here too.
Ciel takes me by the arm and leads me with her to descend to the ground. The temperature drops a few more digits during our approach to where the ice dome was previously.
Her black hair, like coal, moves with the air, in the same way that the yukata she is wearing and a red leather jacket is being moved. Carrying an ornately patterned knife, she looks in our direction as we approach.
In the distance we watch a couple of major battles taking place.
Brutal murders of [Beasts] and [Dead] are being committed right now and I could finish them all in one go, but that wouldn't be fun.
The girl with black hair and no expression on her face looks at us silently.
We exchange glances and I am the first to speak.
─Long time no see, Shiki-chan.
─Same here, Touko.
It was a simple greeting without much contact to begin with. Right now is not the right time for formalities, so all I have to do is give directions.
─Ciel, you go help the [Princess], we will stay with Shiki-kun, okay?
The blue haired one nods silently. Hmm, I just hope there is no rivalry between the two of them while they are fighting the enemy that the [Princess] has.
Shiki-chan and I go to the right, while Ciel goes to the left. Our paths part momentarily; but all this is to fulfill a common good.
Our footprints are in the snow for a few moments, before being covered once more. Shiki-chan seems completely determined to fight right now.
The closer we get to the place where Shiki-kun is having her fight, the more [Dead] appear. To take care of them, I shoot them with my pistol and Shiki-chan simply swipes her knife through the air to finish them off. They each have different styles of combat, but I suppose we can coexist occasionally.
Arriving.
We appreciate an extreme art scene.
Shiki-kun finds himself moving around, following his calibrated survival instincts.
Those instincts that he has from birth, what Shiki-kun really carries in his blood.
The perfect gift for murder.
Shiki-chan and I stop our walk, while we watch as Shiki-kun, with some torn parts of his clothes, is cutting and avoiding the attacks of the [Beasts] that arise from inside a tall man in black clothes. and pale skin.
His expression couldn't be more horrible and terrifying.
But even if they are dogs, deer, tigers, or even a crocodile, Shiki-kun doesn't back down for an instant and only cuts through them with pinpoint precision.
From here I am able to feel it. Shiki-kun's killing intent right now is absolutely not normal. Everything he does, every move, no matter how small, is perfectly timed to avoid fatal damage and takes only minor damage.
Skillful with the knife, as always, Shiki-kun makes a reverse grip on the metal blade and kills a wolf that came to attack him. A splendid and perfectly timed reaction.
It's certainly very good, but it's not enough to make Shiki-chan sit still seeing all the mistakes he makes while taking minimal damage.
I guess for now I can stay outside and see how things unfold from here.