Rainee clung tightly to Hermann as the world around her blurred into streaks of color.

  Woah! We’re going really fast!

  She glanced down, her eyes widening as she noticed Hermann’s legs had transformed.

  His true form?

  But Rainee quickly dismissed the thought—only his legs had changed, morphing into powerful, hoof-like appendages that had torn through the seams of his pants and destroyed his shoes. It was clear this partial transformation was meant to maximize his speed without having to enter his true form.

  Despite their breakneck pace, Rainee forced herself to focus. Her mind raced as she recited the directions Cottus had given:

  Section 72, shelf 27, 13th layer, cabinet 84... and section 73, shelf 8, 5th layer, cabinet 28.

  She repeated it like a mantra, determined not to forget. Though Keito had entered the archives before them, Rainee felt confident that Hermann’s incredible speed had put them ahead.

  We should be far past her by now, she thought.

  But as they approached Section 60, her confidence shattered. A massive, shadowy figure loomed ahead—the unmistakable silhouette of a spider’s abdomen, towering and grotesque. Attached to it was a woman clad in the unmistakable uniform of the Public Safety Committee. She was heading in the same direction as them. They were only lucky that Keito was in another lane, hiding them behind impossibly tall bookshelves.

  What?! How is she here already?!

  Hermann saw the figure too. His steps faltered, instinctively preparing to stop, but Rainee leaned close and hissed urgently, “Don’t stop! If we stop now, she’ll notice us! Just make sure she doesn’t see us!”

  Hermann swallowed his panic and nodded, his determination solidifying. Drawing on his youki, he pushed himself harder, using one of his limited flash steps to vanish momentarily, widening the distance between them and Keito.

  The air crackled as they surged forward, Rainee clutching tightly and glancing over her shoulder to ensure they weren’t being followed. For now, they seemed to have the advantage—but she knew it wouldn’t last long.

  As they neared the towering spider-like figure, Hermann slowed for a split second, timing his movements perfectly. He maneuvered so that a row of cabinets and bookshelves stood between them and Keito, shielding them from her view.

  Once in the blind spot, Hermann surged forward at full speed, pushing his transformed legs to their limit. He ignored the risk of being noticed, gambling that the brief cover would be enough to keep them hidden.

  On the other side, Keito abruptly snapped her head to the right, her sharp senses picking up a faint surge of youki. Her eight crimson eyes narrowed as she glared at the towering wall of cabinets and shelves. The energy signature was faint—practically negligible compared to her own power—but it carried a familiarity that gnawed at her. She couldn’t quite place it, but something about it felt infuriatingly recognizable.

  A surge of unease prickled through her, stoking her irritation. Gritting her teeth, Keito infused her massive body with youki. The energy coursed through her eight powerful legs, amplifying her already impressive speed. She charged forward, the floor trembling slightly under the weight of her monstrous form. Though she lacked the burst-like velocity of a flash step, her relentless stride made the gap almost negligible.

  Now, two parties raced through the vast archives: one desperately hoping to evade detection, and the other driven by a growing rage, praying for someone to unleash it upon. The chase was on, and the outcome hung by a thread.

  After Hermann and Rainee disappeared into the archives, Cottus returned to his work, his movements deliberate and unhurried. However, a fleeting thought interrupted his focus.

  Should I tell them about the archive’s teleportation function?

  He pondered it for a moment, his mind weighing the potential outcomes but his decision was quick.

  No. Not my responsibility.

  Without another thought, he dismissed the matter entirely and resumed his task, indifferent to whatever consequences might unfold.

  Sakari was an oni, a noble monster race that ruled Japan in much the same way vampires reigned over the West. Like vampires and werewolves, oni were classified as S-Class monsters, but their specialty lay in unparalleled durability and defense. While vampires were physically strong, astonishingly fast, and divinely beautiful—seemingly perfect in every way—and werewolves boasted even greater raw strength at the expense of youki potency, oni stood as the unyielding bastions among these three S-Class races, unmatched in their resilience.

  Unfortunately, durability was the only advantage Sakari had against Gin.

  As Gin transformed, his larger frame and monstrous power tipped the scales decisively in his favor.

  Sakari charged forward, determined to close the gap. Yet as she approached, Gin vanished in a blur, reappearing directly in front of her. To his eyes, her movements were painfully slow. She barely managed to raise her arms in defense, but Gin, now more than twice as fast in his transformed state, was already one step ahead.

  With his claws clenched into a massive fist, Gin delivered a devastating uppercut to her stomach. For the first time during their sparring matches, Sakari felt genuine pain. The force of the blow sent her hurtling into the ceiling, cracks spidering outward from the point of impact.

  Gin didn’t let up. He leapt after her with predatory precision, meeting her mid-air with another strike, this time driving his fist into her ribs. The impact forced a cough from Sakari, spraying saliva—and faint traces of blood—onto Gin’s body.

  The ceiling buckled and shattered as their battle carried them upward. Gin's relentless assault continued. Using the wall as a springboard, he propelled himself higher, twisting his body for maximum force. With the momentum of his leap channeled into his legs, Gin drove his knee into Sakari’s side.

  This time, the attack was supercharged with youki, its sheer power radiating through the air as Sakari’s body absorbed the crushing impact.

  An attack of this magnitude would have turned most creatures into red mist. Even Moka, at full power, would need to reinforce herself for such a blow. Yet, as Gin watched Sakari endure the devastating strike—clearly in pain but still relatively unscathed—he couldn’t help but acknowledge her immense durability once again.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Still, Gin knew that in his transformed state, he possessed the raw strength to deal enough damage to eventually bring her down. It was only a matter of time.

  As Gin's relentless assault continued, Sakari's body endured the onslaught, but her mind raced to keep up. Despite being completely outmatched, her years of training and honed instincts began to kick in. Timing her movements with precision, she managed to raise her defense at just the right moment, blocking what would otherwise have been a finishing blow.

  Gin’s strikes slowed for a split second as he registered Sakari’s sudden reaction.

  She’s able to react now?

  Still, the overwhelmingly powerful werewolf quickly dismissed the thought.

  Too late. It doesn’t matter now.

  Determined to end the fight, Gin ramped up the speed and intensity of his attacks. Whatever semblance of defense Sakari had mustered vanished under the onslaught. Each strike propelled them through the athletic building, smashing through ceilings, floors, and walls.

  Finally, one of Gin’s blows connected with devastating force, sending Sakari hurtling backward into a wall. The impact shattered the structure, unable to hold her weight, and she crashed through into another room.

  Both fighters landed on softer ground—a room lined with mats instead of the hard concrete or ring they were used to. Gin quickly assessed his surroundings, noticing students in familiar attire staring back at them in shock.

  Karate club?

  “Sakari? Is that you?”

  “Hey, that’s Sakari!”

  “A werewolf?? That must be Gin then!”

  Gin internally clicked his tongue in annoyance, realizing where they had ended up. His eyes scanned the expansive room, far larger than the others in the building. It didn’t take long for him to piece things together. The karate club, a bastion of combat-ready monsters, was a group even the Public Safety Committee avoided. Too many powerful members would make extortion or enforcement a costly affair for the committee.

  Great, Gin thought, irritated by the unintended audience. Just what I needed—a room full of people who could actually make this mess worse.

  “Let’s stop. I think I’ve caused enough damage,” Gin said, his voice rough and menacing in his wolf form, the deep growl reverberating through the room.

  Sakari stood up slowly, her body battered and bruised, yet her spirit unbroken. She wiped blood from her lip and gave Gin a feral smile, her expression almost as predatory as his. Shifting her stance, she pulled back both arms, planting her feet firmly.

  A tense silence fell over the room as Sakari took a deep breath. Gin tilts his head, curious.

  Wait, isn’t that Haiji’s technique—

  Gin’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Sakari’s youki vanished, her aura seeming to collapse inward. Then, with a fierce cry, she thrust her fist forward.

  “Vacuum Punch!” she shouted, the force of her voice carrying through the room as an invisible, pressurized blast of youki shot toward Gin.

  The attack struck Gin square in the chest. His massive body shuddered under the impact as his vision blurred. The sheer force sent him hurtling backward, crashing into the wall behind him.

  “She actually learned it?!”

  “No way! Haiji is going to flip when he hears about this!”

  “Sakari, you incredible beast!”

  The karate club members erupted in cheers and amazement, their excitement filling the room.

  Sakari turned to them with a triumphant grin, bowing slightly to acknowledge their praise. Then, straightening, she refocused her attention on Gin, her eyes sharp and determined.

  I didn’t want to use this technique so soon, she thought, clenching her fists. But he’s far stronger in his true form than I expected. If I don’t pull out all the stops, I won’t stand a chance.

  Seeing that Sakari had no intention of surrendering, Gin let out a deep sigh, his breath rumbling like a low growl. Rising from the pile of rubble, he stepped back into the karate club’s area, his towering form unscathed by her attack.

  Locking eyes with his resolute opponent, Gin shifted into a predatory combat stance, muscles tensing as his claws curled. His amber eyes glinted with feral determination as he prepared to lunge.

  So be it.

  “She’s gaining on us!” Rainee hissed urgently near Hermann’s ear.

  “I know! I can hear her footsteps!” Hermann snapped, his voice strained with exertion.

  Keito’s eight legs drove her forward with terrifying speed, her acceleration and top speed far outclassing what Hermann could manage. Flash step, a technique that provided bursts of speed, wasn’t something he could rely on endlessly. He still had two uses left.

  As Keito closed the gap, Hermann used his second flash step, vanishing briefly before reappearing farther ahead. Rainee clung tightly to him, her vision a blur from the sudden acceleration. The added weight of carrying her, however, slowed Hermann’s top speed, making each successive use of flash step less effective in widening the gap.

  Keito, undeterred, surged forward at full tilt, her arachnid legs pounding against the ground in a furious rhythm. The brief flare of youki from Hermann’s flash step only sharpened her senses.

  Her face seemed to peel back, revealing large arachnid fangs as her human fa?ade began to slip away.

  I knew it!

  A depraved hunger flickered in Keito’s mind, spurred by the thrill of the chase. These ‘prey’—whoever they were—were intruding on her territory, her mission. She didn’t need proof; their actions alone marked them as threats.

  Keito’s bloodlust surged. Kuyo’s words echoed in her mind, reminding her of the academy headmaster’s likely opposition to their organization.

  Traitors, she seethed. All of them!

  Her movements grew even more feral, each step infused with mounting aggression. Whatever quarry lay ahead, she would ensure they didn’t escape her grasp.

  Rainee, perched on Hermann’s back, turned sharply as she sensed the massive surge of youki barreling toward them with murderous intent. Her heart raced.

  At this rate, she’s going to catch up to us, Rainee thought, panic tightening her chest.

  Desperately, she looked down at her right arm, evaluating her options.

  My pathways aren’t fully healed... Can I even delay her with a spell?

  A destructive wave came to mind, but her energy reserves were painfully low. The most she could muster might push Keito back briefly—not nearly enough to stop her. Keito wasn’t on Moka’s level of power, but she was still vastly stronger than Rainee, especially now, filled with adrenaline and murderous intent.

  And Rainee herself? She was weaker than ever, barely holding on.

  There has to be something… anything.

  She scanned her mind, grasping for any solution, until her gaze dropped to the ground beneath Hermann’s pounding hooves. A flicker of hope sparked.

  The ground… I can manipulate it.

  Testing her idea, she sent a thin thread of youki into the earth ahead of them. A pulse of connection rippled back almost immediately.

  Yes! I can use this.

  “Hermann, listen,” she said, keeping her voice steady despite her racing thoughts. “I’ve got a plan. Don’t reply—just focus on running!”

  Hermann nodded wordlessly, his focus locked on their desperate sprint.

  Rainee took a deep breath, steadying herself. She gathered her meager reserves of youki, directing it carefully through her damaged pathways. Pain flared as the energy coursed through her, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself to endure. Channeling most of her strength to her repaired right side, she dispersed a smaller amount to her left, easing the worst of the strain.

  Muttering under her breath, she whispered the incantation. A subtle wave of youki extended outward, merging with the ground beneath them. Her vision shifted, her physical sight fading and replaced by a sensory map of the terrain.

  The vibrations revealed Keito’s arachnid form as a looming outline connected to the ground, her legs pounding with relentless speed.

  There!

  As one of Keito’s powerful legs reached out for its next stride, Rainee focused her will. A small hole formed in the earth, perfectly timed and just wide enough to trap the limb.

  Keito’s leg plunged into the hole.

  What?!

  The abrupt stop shattered her momentum. With her body still hurtling forward, inertia took over. Keito’s massive form flipped, her trajectory uncontrollable as she crashed into the walls of the archive, her exoskeleton scraping and smashing against the unyielding surfaces.

  Rainee pumped her fist in triumph. “YES!”

  Immediately, Rainee clapped a hand over her mouth, fear flashing through her eyes.

  What if that monster heard me?

  Hermann, still charging forward, glanced over his shoulder. “What happened?”

  “I tripped her!” Rainee hissed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Just keep running! We have to move fast!”

  Hermann nodded, his focus unbroken, and pressed on, his hooves pounding against the ground with renewed urgency.

  While Hermann and Rainee managed to temporarily outmaneuver Keito, Sakari was in dire straits. Gin’s relentless ferocity showed no signs of abating. After withstanding her vacuum punch, he unleashed a torrent of attacks, each one calculated to incapacitate her.

  Got… to… fight back, Sakari thought, her consciousness flickering like a dying flame.

  Desperately, she tried to summon a strategy, to muster the will to counter Gin’s monstrous power. She refused to give up. No matter how vast the gap between them, she would find a way to fight back.

  But her body had reached its limit. Exhaustion consumed her, and her arms fell limp, refusing her commands.

  Seeing her defenses falter, Gin seized the opportunity. He lunged forward, his claws clenched into a powerful fist, and delivered a devastating uppercut to Sakari’s chin. The force sent her head snapping back, and her vision went black.

  Unconscious, Sakari’s body began to collapse, falling toward the ground.

  N-