–CHAPTER 3–
CHERRY BLOSSOMS THAT BLOOM IN WAR
After I went after Azel, Maria and Milicia stayed behind to fight Ernesto.
"You two were left here to die."
"Milicia, stay behind me. I'll take him down."
Milicia hid behind a car. Maria always looked after the rookies—why? That's a secret she keeps to herself.
Ernesto lunged forward, claws activated. Maria jumped to defend herself but got hit.
"What's wrong, little girl? Can't keep up with me?"
She laughed, tore off one of his arms, then threw five smoke grenades—special ones that didn't need pins to activate.
"Just a little smoke won't help you hide."
He came from behind and pierced her with a sword called Sakura's Foot.
"That didn't even tickle."
He threw her against a building famous for its valuable antiques.
Meanwhile, I was with Azel.
"Azel, you have nowhere to run."
"I'm not running, you stupid kid."
Ernesto was punching Maria relentlessly, not letting her catch a breath.
He grabbed her by the foot and threw her against a vehicle. She couldn't get up.
Maria pulled out her last smoke grenade and threw it into Ernesto's eyes.
"I told you, foolish woman."
He grabbed her and threw her into a restaurant.
"What's the matter… crying because you didn't stay home to take care of your family?"
That shocked Maria—reminding her of a conversation with her late older sister.
"Maybe one day I'll be as brave as you."
"Maybe one day you'll protect those three."
"But I can't say… Hayato doesn't take it seriously, Dan's way too competitive, and Karla is really scared."
"Even so…" She held a sakura flower. "Beautiful flowers can grow even in the middle of war."
"Alright, I'll take care of them."
"Good. You'll be as beautiful as a flower."
Then she snapped back to reality—she hadn't been able to protect Karla. She had to watch those two go through all that.
Maria... stood up.
"What's wrong? Nervous… or is your family dead?"
Maria stayed calm, activated her number's energy, unleashing a tattoo-like mark of flowers around her body, increasing her speed twelvefold.
"What the... how did you get so fast?"
She didn't answer and slashed his arm, which couldn't regenerate.
"How… I can't regenerate?"
"My sword carries the most powerful poison in Japan: the red spider lily."
"That flower's deadly to any living being."
"Exactly. Now die like the insignificant trash you are."
Ernesto tried to fight back but was severely wounded.
"Impressive, Miss Maria," said Milicia.
Dan had disappeared, and Azel managed to lose me, but everything stopped when I saw this.
"You again? Thought you were dead!"
Dan appeared covered in blood—he'd killed 200 No'Kai on his way.
"You arrogant son of a bitch, I'll kill you in the name of House Rose."
Revealing that Dan is nobility—but why now?
Next chapter: MONSTER VS PRIDE
Thanks for reading this chapter. Stay tuned for the continuation!