Chapter 264: Bizarre Battle (1/2) (1/2)

Seeing that Natsumi is planning to show off her abilities, I adopt a smile as I step back to enjoy the show.

Shortly, the AST reaches our location and begins hovering around in the air while keenly observing us.

As I thought, I don't recognize any of them from before. I wonder how their strength compares to the group that Origami is a part of...

Setting my thoughts aside, I focus on a brown-haired woman who seems to be the one in charge of this small group.

Currently, she is pressing her finger against a device attached to her head and saying something. I reckon that she is receiving orders from her comms and is going to be relaying them to the rest.

A few seconds later, my assumption proves to be true as the girl suddenly points at us, no... at me and exclaims, ”I just received direct orders from the higher-ups. Our main priority is the male spirit.”

Hearing her words, not only the girls, but even I am a little surprised.

So, they're finally going to focus on me, huh?

Natsumi who seems to have heard her giggles and says, ”You seem to be popular. Still, a male spirit, huh? No wonder you claim that it's pointless for you to escape.”

As a response to her words, I shrug my shoulders and say, ”So, they're going to be focusing on me. What will you be doing?”

”Isn't that obvious?” she responds while clenching her broom, ”Leave it to big sister to deal with.”

Amused, I chuckle for a few seconds before saying, ”Sure. Go on ahead.”

Following my words, the AST initiate their attack by releasing a series of missiles toward our location.

Sensing no threat, I am assured that the missiles are unable to so much cause a scratch on me. But the same can't be said about my clothes and Natsumi, probably.

And so, I prepare to use Vector Manipulation on the missiles, but that proves to be unnecessary as the incoming missiles suddenly freeze mid-air.

Glancing over at Natsumi who is exuding some energy, I note that this is her doing and not some peculiar feature of the missiles themselves.

Before I can make an inquiry regarding her power, a bizarre scene occurs before my eyes as Natsumi smacks her broom into the ground and yells, ”Haniel!”

Following her yell, the numerous missiles in the air suddenly turn into some comic-like steam as strange onomatopoeic words appear before they disappear and reveal different types of vegetables.

The next moment, the missiles-now-vegetables begin to shakily make their way to the ground, completely avoiding us.

Just as I was beginning to think that the situation can't get any more puzzling, the vegetables 'explode' as more onomatopoeic words appear along with some comical explosion that does absolutely no damage to the ground or anything close by for that matter.

Despite having lived an irregular life with multiple out of the norm happenings, this is the first time that I've felt an ability is ridiculous.

Curious about the nature of her power, I decide to watch her more carefully as she continues to deal with the assailants who staring at us with bewildered looks on their faces.

”Don't use ballistics!” the brown-haired girl exclaims, ”Use purely energy-based attacks!”

”Yes!” the girls respond as they begin to prepare for another attack.

”Shido! You need to get out of there! There is no guarantee that the spirit will protect you!” Kotori's concerned voice reaches my ears.

”There isn't a need for that. It's not like they can harm me anyway,” I mutter.

Kotori doesn't say anything else, so I focus back on Natsumi who has now raised her broom.