~ Support & Read 40 Advanced Chapters on Patreon
~ Bonus Chapter every 200 Powerstones!
<><><><><>
While Bokue Keikain was still changing clothes over at Asagi's place, two familiar girls who had made plans to head downtown were standing at a nearby bus stop just outside the apartment complex.
Even though she had just survived a seventy-four-hit ultra combo earlier, Nagisa Akatsuki still wore her usual bright, cheerful smile in front of her friend.
A cool evening breeze rustled past their ears.
Bathed in the warm glow of a street ad behind them, Nagisa turned her head to glance at the Sword Shaman beside her—Yukina Himeragi—who was staring tensely at the nearby intersection like she was heading into a battlefield, not just boarding public transportation.
Nagisa couldn't help but laugh softly.
"You don't have to be so nervous, Yukina-chan. The buses around here come pretty often—especially the ones that go downtown. I'd say there's one every five minutes or so."
"Uh… like which ones exactly?"
Yukina adjusted the strap of the guitar case slung over her shoulder—the one she used to carry Schneewalzer—and asked seriously.
In truth, there was a transit route map posted right behind the bus stop.
But since Yukina wasn't that familiar with Itogami Island's layout, she couldn't quite distinguish which routes actually stopped near the city center. The stop names didn't help either—they were all just a jumble.
"Well, let's see… this one, that one, and that one over there. All of these go downtown," Nagisa said, counting them off on her fingers. Then she chuckled, a bit helplessly.
"Basically, you don't have to stress so much. Just memorize the route numbers I mentioned. Once a bus rolls up, just take a look and hop on."
"R-right… got it…"
Yukina nodded, though her face made it pretty obvious she was still on edge.
BOOOOOOOM—
Just then, a low tremor rippled through the ground. High above the distant skyline, a massive wave of black-red flames suddenly erupted into the sky. It was more than ten kilometers away, so from the bus stop, it looked like a single jet of fire bursting upward. The sound barely registered—a faint rumble carried on the wind.
"Was that… a gas explosion?" Yukina asked, frowning as she turned toward the blast site.
Nagisa wasn't as alarmed. Just confused.
"That direction… I think that's the industrial zone. But this late in the day, it should be empty, right…?"
Before she could finish, Nagisa's eyes caught something strange flashing within the flames—a streak of crimson light… and what looked like a massive white arm.
Wait a minute—was that…?
"No, it's not a gas explosion. That's a familiar in battle!" Yukina exclaimed.
A gust of wind tore through the sky, scattering the flames and smoke just enough to reveal the silhouettes beneath—a blazing bird of fire locked in combat with a towering white arm, thick as a skyscraper column.
"W-What is that thing…?"
Nagisa stared in shock, mouth slightly agape.
Her own familiar—Regulus-Aurum, was already considered a large type. But that white arm? It was easily as thick as her lion's entire torso.
Which begged the question—what the hell did the rest of that thing look like?
The next moment, the massive white arm streaked through the air like a meteor, grabbing the firebird familiar mid-flight as if it were a baby chick. Then—CRUNCH.
The blazing familiar crumbled like soggy paper, scattering to pieces in an instant.
"…What the hell was that…" Nagisa whispered, lips parted in awe.
She'd never seen familiars fight each other before—was it always this over-the-top?
Yukina, however, had already dropped the guitar case off her shoulder and drawn Schneewalzer in one smooth motion, stepping forward into combat stance.
"Sorry, Nagisa. As a Sword Shaman of the Lion King Organization, I have to check this out. We'll have to postpone our trip downtown. I'll leave the guitar case at your place for now."
And with that, she leapt—her lithe body launching high into the air. Using only her physical strength, she landed on top of a streetlight, then bounded again, hopping from rooftop to rooftop, disappearing into the night.
"Wait—Yukina-chan…!"
Nagisa reached out instinctively, but it was too late—her friend had vanished down the street like a flash of silver.
But that thing… that white monster they just saw—could Yukina really take it on alone?
No way. Not a chance. She had to help too!
Nagisa hoisted the massive guitar case onto her back—it was nearly as tall as she was. Then she bent her knees and braced herself.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The moment she launched off the ground, a crater formed beneath her feet, blasting the bus stop into a thirty-degree tilt. The entire platform cracked, one end jutting into the air while the other sank into a deep hole.
And as for Nagisa—her figure soared into the sky like a cannonball, streaking toward the smoke and flames in the distance.
There, she saw a wounded vampire collapsed on the ground…
A girl fused with her familiar in the heat of battle…
And a church priest wielding a massive axe...
❁❁❁❁
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Now dressed in their matching yukata, Bokue and Asagi strolled leisurely along the street outside the apartment building.
Just two blocks ahead, the bustling downtown district glimmered under the lights.
The night air was cool and clear, the moon bright but outshone by the glow of streetlamps that bathed the roads in golden light. The sidewalks were busy—couples, families, and friends all out enjoying a post-dinner stroll.
Bokue and Asagi were among them—and stood out like sore thumbs.
Their yukata were striking: his was patterned with chrysanthemums and blades, hers with cranes and delicate blossoms.
Handsome boy. Beautiful girl. Her arms looped sweetly around his. He gently clasped her fingers in return.
It was… cinematic. The kind of moment you only ever see in anime.
"So, how does it feel? Comfy, right?"
Catching a few admiring glances—especially from the women passing by—Asagi smirked and leaned in closer to Bokue's side, boldly hugging his arm.
If you've got a man, show him off—
Because if you don't flaunt him now, someone else will, and by the time they do, it'll be too late to cry about it.
"Yeah… it's nice. Feels good."
Bokue nodded with a calm, objective tone.
"Right? I knew it~"
He hadn't lavished her with praise, but that simple approval was enough to make Asagi beam with satisfaction.
She even stood on tiptoe, trying to nuzzle her cheek against his—but thanks to their height difference, she only managed to brush her bangs against his earlobe.
And then—
FLASH!!!
The sky ahead suddenly lit up in a blinding gold, streaked with thunder and lightning. Descending from above, cloaked in lightning and fury, was a Massive Golden Lion.
Bokue froze.
"…Isn't that… Nagisa's familiar?"
<><><><><>
~ 40 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
<><><><><>
Keep the chapters coming—Support with Power Stones!