A Temporary Alliance
Urgh...!
*Huff* *Huff...!* There's no end to them...!
...And this isn't even all of them. More are coming.
An opening!
Ngh?!
Senior Sister Lyn!
This is bad...!
Do you really have the luxury to worry about someone else?
Captain! Look out!
...My hand's tingling.
This is the second time someone's blocked my technique today...
That stings my pride a little.
Don't rush, Xien. Time is on our side.
We can take it slow... pulling their strength out bit by bit.
Pull it out... slowly? That sounds kind of...
Like having ●●●, doesn't it?
...Hmm?
Tien, having ●●● slowly and with such focus too... Hngh!
Fufu... Very well, sister. Nice and slow...
Mm?! Hmmmmn...?!
●●●...? Senior Sister Lyn, what's ●●●?
I-I'm not sure either...!
Captain, do you know what ●●● is?
Y-you shouldn't say things like that!
...This is awkward.
Ah... Y-yes, you're right.
Sorry, Captain. But explaining that to Serpang and Toto would be—
No.
I meant it's awkward because there are too many enemies around.
Huh...?
Huh? Ah! Yes! Right! There are too many enemies!
And... every one of them is quite skilled.
Where are the town guards?! When are they coming?!
They aren't.
What...?
The moment we found Fei, we cast a Heaven-and-Earth Web around the area. Our allies are stationed at every path.
Aside from those gathered here...
No one outside will know what's happening. Fufu.
Coo...!
...We walked straight into the trap meant for Fei.
If we want to escape this... If we want to break a gap in the web...
There is only one option.
Lyn took a deep breath and steadied her stance.
Senior Sister Lyn...?! You're not—!
Coo!
Captain.
No matter what happens next...
Don't look back. Run straight into the alley. Do you understand?
Wind Moon Sword Art, Sixth Form.
That aura...!
...Everyone fall back! Now!
Pure Wind Serene Moon.
That much force from a sword technique...?
Just like Fei... everyone from the Wind Moon Sect is a monster.
But she can't use it repeatedly. The fact that they fled proves it.
We pursue.
Over here! The Wind Moon Sect disciples are here! ...Gah!
Ngh...!
Senior Sister Lyn, are you okay?! That technique takes too much out of you...!
...Fufu. I'm fine, Serpang. Don't worry.
Captain, do we continue down this path?
If we get through here, we'll reach the outskirts.
Good. We'll have a chance to catch our breath.
No. You won't.
...Fast. You almost took my head off.
Fei...!
I thought you ran away!
Ran away?! I merely retreated to plan for later!
That's basically the same thing...
Coo.
I'd like to punish you with some tickling, but first things first.
No matter where you go, enemies will chase you. Escape is impossible.
In my opinion...
They've cast a Heaven-and-Earth Web over the whole area!
...
...
W-what's with that reaction? Did you all already know? Was I the only one in the dark?!
Anyway... My point is...!
We'll break through! Yeah!
...
Just wondering...
Is Fei bad at explaining things?
Don't get the wrong idea, Captain. Not everyone from the Wind Moon Sect is like this.
Coo.
"Like this"?! What exactly do you mean by that?!
A true martial artist speaks with their blade! Verbal explanations are for scholars!
I presume you showed yourself for a reason.
What do you want?
...We're being chased by the same people, are we not?
Yes, though you're the reason for it.
Then let's team up.
I refuse.
Fei, you stole a manuscript from our sect's secret library and fled.
There is no circumstance in which we would ever join hands.
Hmm... Is that so? Then I guess that's the end of that.
What about you?
Me?
Yes. Captain, you're being chased as well, aren't you?
Even though you have nothing to do with this.
...Ugh.
That... is true...
...Coo.
An innocent bystander is dragged into this, yet you argue about principles before finding a solution...
You're stubborn, Lyn.
...Even if we join forces with you, the situation won't change.
No. It will.
There's a secret passage nearby that I know about. It leads outside NOA.
Outside...? Then we can't get help from the NOA Public Security. Isn't that dangerous?
...No. Our pursuers don't care about anything except taking us down.
If we stay in the city, others will get caught up in the conflict. If we want to flee, leaving NOA is the right choice.
It'll also allow us to whittle away their forces one-by-one.
Now you're finally getting it.
Even for me, facing that many alone would be difficult. I need help.
So let's cooperate until things settle down.
After that, we'll settle our own matters separately. I won't run this time. I swear.
...
So, what'll it be? Form a temporary alliance and fight? Or keep being chased?
I found her! It's Fei! She's here!
The Wind Moon Sect disciples are here too! I knew they were all in this together!
There's no time. Make your choice.
...It sounds like a reasonable proposal to me.
What about you three?
Um, I... Toto. What do you think?
Coooo?! Coooo...?
Fei, Serpang, Toto, and I all turned toward one person.
I...
You lost them?
Yes, ma'am! Their trail ends here.
A dead end...
Wait. Wooden boards on the ground? Could it be...!
...It's a tunnel.
A faint breeze, the strong scent of grass... it seems like it connects to the outside.
They made it outside NOA! Hurry, chase them down!