Chapter 13: A Narrow Escape

Wanmie wished time would freeze at this moment, but the AST forces outside the barrier had no idea what she was thinking.

Outside the barrier, mid-air, the AST troops equipped with CR-UNITs kept bombarding the defensive barrier that radiated a bone-chilling cold wind.

However, the shells they fired couldn’t cause any substantial damage to the barrier.

Liaozi frowned.

Although Hermit’s offensiveness was low, the defensive barrier she generated was the most troublesome.

No matter what weapon they used, they couldn’t break through it.

She glanced at Origami beside her, expressionless, a hint of reproach in her eyes.

If Origami hadn’t acted on her own, they wouldn’t be facing this predicament.

They knew Hermit and Abysm were inside the barrier, yet they had no solution.

“Origami, if you act on your own again next time, you’re confined.”

Liaozi’s tone was heavy with threat, but Origami remained indifferent.

“Let’s break the barrier first, then talk.”

Liaozi shook her head helplessly.

Origami’s personality did make things difficult, but as she said, before thinking about how to punish Origami, they had to break the barrier.

“All units, increase firepower!”

At her command, the AST forces gathered above the barrier opened fire in full force, filling the sky with a whirlwind of flames.

Inside the barrier, as spiritual energy continuously drained, the biting cold wind stopped howling, but the explosions overhead became especially deafening.

Wanmie reluctantly released Shinomiya.

Facing the AST’s firepower, this barrier should be nearing its limit.

Wanmie was naturally unafraid of the AST’s siege, but Shinomiya was just flesh and blood—how could she withstand their relentless bombardment?

She had to consider how to get Shinomiya out of here.

Of course, the only viable method was the same as last time when facing Allen’s attack: carrying Shinomiya by her side, using Void Movement to teleport together to a safe place.

“Shinomiya, can you break this barrier?”

Wanmie whispered.

Shinomiya looked up, her big watery eyes filled with confusion and puzzlement, a flicker of wariness flashing through them.

Wanmie didn’t explain much, only said, “Sister has a way to take you out of here. You just need to break the barrier. After that, you don’t have to worry about anything else.”

Shinomiya hesitated but trusted Wanmie’s sincere gaze.

With a small wave of her hand, the huge barrier dissolved into countless points of light, vanishing into the air.

“The barrier’s down!”

One of the AST soldiers shouted as countless shells and bullets rained down like raindrops on Wanmie and Shinomiya.

Shinomiya was frightened, closing her eyes tightly and clutching Wanmie’s skirt.

Wanmie frowned deeply.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t scared facing this scene.

Even though she knew she was safe, she couldn’t remain completely calm.

Not far away, Liaozi stared intently at the situation below, contemplating her next move.

Last time, Wanmie used a bizarre tactic to escape.

This time, she would never make the same mistake again.

But then, Origami suddenly moved beside her.

A white figure ignored the hail of bullets and charged straight toward Wanmie and Shinomiya.

Liaozi’s face immediately turned grim.

“Damn it! Cease fire! Cease fire immediately!”

The AST soldiers stopped firing at once upon receiving the order, but the bullets already fired sped terrifyingly toward Wanmie and Shinomiya.

The Territory Field could block some bullets and bombardments, but the energy contained in this hail of bullets far exceeded what the Territory Field could withstand.

Origami’s action was essentially courting death!

Faced with the dark storm of bullets, Wanmie closed her eyes; after all, the sight was too horrifying.

But in the next moment, Wanmie suddenly sensed a threat rapidly approaching her.

She opened her eyes and saw a pale fist hurtling at her face at a terrifying speed.

“Damn it!”

Wanmie cursed loudly as the fist slammed into her face.

With a crisp crack, she was sent flying like a kite with a broken string.

Origami ignored Wanmie, who had been knocked away, and with those emotionless eyes glanced at Shinomiya, raising her spear and aiming it at Shinomiya’s head.

Seeing the dark muzzle of the gun, terror surged to its peak in Shinomiya’s heart.

At the same time, the hail of bullets descended.

Origami could easily deploy the Territory Field to shield herself from harm.

She wouldn’t get hurt at all and could easily survive.

But Shinomiya had already exhausted a lot of spiritual energy maintaining the defensive barrier and couldn’t instantly use it again.

It seemed to be a dead end.

Origami glanced sideways at the incoming bullets, expanded the Territory Field, and simultaneously pulled the trigger.

“Don’t underestimate me!”

The instant Origami pulled the trigger, a shadow flashed.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed.

At the same time, the hail of bullets rained down.

The violent explosion caused a slight tremor throughout Tengū City, smoke billowing up.

“Origami!”

Before the smoke cleared, Liaozi rushed toward Origami’s position and disappeared into the haze.

A gentle breeze stirred the rustling green leaves.

When the smoke dissipated, a huge crater dozens of meters wide had appeared where Wanmie and Shinomiya had been.

The shrine that had stood there was gone, only the solitary Torii still standing a short distance away.

In the middle of the crater, Wanmie and Shinomiya’s figures were nowhere to be seen.

Origami lay there, covered in blood, but her face showed no pain—only unwillingness and fury.

They escaped again!

Seeing this, Liaozi immediately ordered her men to carry Origami onto a stretcher.

Her expression was complicated as she watched Origami being taken away.

She couldn’t understand how her own team had ended up with such a problematic member.

But from how Origami looked, she probably wasn’t seriously injured.

“What exactly is this Abysm…”

After two battles, Wanmie’s displayed power wasn’t actually that strong; even Origami could easily defeat her.

But like a cockroach, though they could beat her, they couldn’t finish her off.

Whenever given the chance, she disappeared without a trace—it was really troublesome…

Liaozi sighed deeply. Looks like there’d be no holidays for a while.

As long as Abysm existed, she’d be working overtime.

After Origami was carried away, Liaozi immediately announced the withdrawal.

However, she didn’t notice a comically shaped Rabbit Plush lying at the edge of the crater.

Nor did she notice that shortly after they left, a girl picked it up, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

“You’re so cute. From now on, you’re coming with me~”