When Ralph first got involved, he had some hesitation.
But seeing Lilith and her companions stepping up, he quickly understood the situation.
Since he had agreed to cooperate, there was no turning back. His best option was to play along and make the most of the arrangement.
"There are two plans," Kaizen began.
"First, you and Minibus can actively search for the targets. Using the connection between Minibus and its kind, our team will stay nearby. When you locate the targets, let us know, and we'll handle the rest. You won't need to fight the monsters directly, and we'll ensure your safety.
"The second option is to openly reveal Minibus's existence, using it as bait to lure other monsters. Depending on the situation tomorrow, we can do both simultaneously."
...
That Night
The campfire burned out as night fell.
Room assignments were made. Lilith and her companions stayed inside while Kaizen, Dominica, Ralph, Hadji, and Hassan took the outer room. Each claimed a corner for themselves, bundling up with old clothes due to the lack of blankets.
...
The Next Day
The team set out. Ralph stepped onto the main street, visibly nervous. Kaizen and Dominica stayed hidden in the shadows while Wendy remained at the wooden house, guarding Lilith and the others.
Business at their shop had been temporarily suspended, with the excuse that heavy rain had ruined their tools. Wendy made just enough pancakes for everyone to eat. Lilith and her group, though not used to simple meals, devoured them gratefully.
Dressed in fresh clothes, Ralph left the slums and ventured into the city—a place he'd never been before. His hands trembled slightly, knowing the risks involved.
"Stay alert, Minibus," Ralph muttered.
"I know," Minibus replied calmly. "Those creatures are much stronger than me."
A middle-aged man noticed Ralph and began tailing him, his eyes narrowing.
"That aura…" the man muttered to himself. "It's familiar."
Minibus spoke softly to Ralph. "We're being followed."
"By who?" Ralph's heart raced, but Minibus stopped him before he could turn around.
"Stick to the plan. Keep moving," Minibus urged.
Nodding, Ralph turned into a narrow alley, with the man following close behind.
"Hand over your source energy, kid!" the man growled.
Ralph spun around just as the man's head exploded into writhing tentacles, sharp tips lunging toward him.
"Is this what a monster's true form looks like?" Ralph thought, frozen in place.
Before the attack could land, a dark figure appeared.
"Ryunosuke Akutagawa!"
A crimson claw slashed through the tentacles faster than Ralph could follow.
With a sickening sound, the tentacles were severed, and the man's body was sliced apart. Yet, even in pieces, the monster kept moving. New tentacles sprouted from the severed parts, writhing ominously.
Kaizen stepped out of the shadows, a stylus in hand.
"Resilient, aren't you?" he muttered.
With a flick of his wrist, the stylus pierced the monster's core. Moments later, its color darkened, and its movements slowed before it finally stilled.
Dominica approached, her eyes narrowing. "Is that Gallo's poison?"
Kaizen shook his head. "No, it's from Crystal Feather Bone. It's highly effective against fragmented alien beasts."
Ralph watched in stunned silence. Despite knowing the monster's strength, it had been eliminated with almost casual ease.
"Kaizen is this powerful?" Ralph thought. "If he wanted to, he could kill me in seconds. His promise to protect us might actually be genuine."
That day, Kaizen's team took down three more alien beasts.
...
Ten Days Later
Kaizen stood before a crystal ball, watching the progress displayed on its surface: 99%.
Only one area of Horun City remained to be cleared.
"If all goes as planned, we'll finish tomorrow," Kaizen mused.
A spark of anticipation lit up his eyes.
"When it's done, the Fifth Nen Beast will manifest. I wonder what it will be…"
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