One-way traffic

As a replacement.

The monster, twisted like a lump of flesh and so disfigured that its face was indistinguishable, immediately began to move.

"Aaaaaaahh ...

Faced with the inhuman presence, the villagers were completely thrown into a state of panic.

Just seeing that face is enough to instill deep fear in people, but that is not the root of their fear.

The other party simply took away several lives right in front of them.

Without any warning or reason, it was just such an ordinary scene, as casually as picking a flower from the roadside.

The illogical monsters continue to pose a threat to humanity.

"Everyone! Please calm down and try to evacuate in small groups. Children, stay with me for now!"

If we're talking about who can react first to the anomaly, it has to be someone who also possesses extraordinary abilities.

Kamishirasawa Keine, being a yokai, immediately began evacuating the people.

Of course, she wasn't the only one doing this; other leaders followed suit, with the vulnerable retreating first. The children gathered around Kamishirasawa Keine, and she did her best to ensure the safety of those who were more difficult to protect.

Even so, people still find it difficult to cheer up in the face of the current situation.

the reason is simple.

Because that fleshy monster in human form has absolutely no logic to it.

It neither roared like a typical monster nor made any moves that would make people aware of its danger.

It simply stood still, slowly walking forward.

It has no facial features, only a face with a gaping, blood-red mouth that trembles from time to time, and even the way its head twists makes it impossible to know what it is doing.

Moreover, even if they escaped, the dangers they would face would still be significant.

As the crowd gradually dispersed in an orderly fashion, the humanoid monster with its head tilted slowly opened its mouth, from which a clear liquid was flowing.

Like rain, it sprayed the condensed bodily fluids directly from its mouth.

"Whoa!"

Kamishirasawa Keine immediately scattered the children back and hid herself as well.

One of the drops of clear liquid fell directly onto the spot where she had been standing.

Then, the thick ground sank deeper into the ground.

That depth must be at least three centimeters.

"What...what is this?!"

Even Bai Ze himself couldn't discern the other party's true form.

She could never have failed to recognize a youkai that had already appeared in Gensokyo's history, but even after staring at it for several seconds, she still couldn't figure out what kind of being it was.

This only proves that this kind of monster does not exist in the history of monsters.

Ultimately, it's hard to say whether such a monster is actually a demon.

Before the other demon hunters and the monsters responsible for protecting humans arrive in the village, they must hold on first.

Bang——! !

Before that, dozens of rays of light exploded directly from the monster's body.

It was a shimmering, mercury-like light.

Its main body is a series of small, sharp spears.

"That's it."

Alice Margotroved, the blonde puppeteer.

The girl's expression changed from the indifferent look she had always given to everyone to a wary look in her eyes.

Given that innocent lives had already been involved, she could no longer allow the other party to continue.

"Shanghai! Penglai! Prepare to deploy the troops!"

"Yay—!"

The dolls followed her instructions and lined up in a neat and orderly fashion.

Just like before, these petite dolls once again condensed the spears formed by magic and rained them down on the monster.

boom--! !

A series of sounds, like explosions, followed.

Since the spears held by Alice's dolls are made of magic, they explode like bombs the moment they touch the enemy's body when thrown from a distance.

As you can see, the monster's upper body has been completely reduced to ashes.

"Great--!"

"That solves everything, Professor Bai Ze!"

The boys and girls standing behind Kamishirasawa Keine cheered with joy.

however.

Huiyin's expression changed drastically.

"how come!"

"What…?"

Even Alice is the same in this respect.

The two girls looked at the monster's remains with surprise.

No.

That wasn't wreckage.

Having lost his upper body, he slowly stood up.

—Gurgle, gurgle.

A thumping sound, like boiling meat, was heard.

Amidst the repulsive and disgusting sounds, the monster's body gradually grew back into a human form.

"Woo..."

The faces of countless people and children around turned pale instantly, and some even began to vomit uncontrollably.

Alice and Huiyin both looked very uneasy.

However, they were more concerned about something else.

Alice's dolls had indeed blasted the monster's upper body to smithereens before. If something like this had happened, it would only mean one thing.

The monster's remains were scattered everywhere after being blown up.

What if even fragments of the body could be restored?

Now, the answer is unfolding before everyone's eyes.

"This is impossible...!"

The old man who had previously presided over the ceremony spoke in a trembling voice.

One, two, three... fifteen identical figures stood up at the same time.

Being blown up by Alice doesn't mean the end.

The shattered pieces of flesh had already spawned identical monsters all around.

“Uwaa ...

By the time Huiyin came to her senses, it was too late.

One of the monsters had already approached the children.

It silently raised its hand, and its outstretched fleshy arm instantly grabbed one of the girls' bodies.

"Little Bell!"

Huiyin stared wide-eyed at the monster, but it was already too late.

"Ah...woo-wah...!"

The little girl, who was probably only ten years old, trembled and dared not make any movement. She could only stare at the monster that was holding her tightly, as if she was about to cry.

Its gaping maw slowly opened.

In an instant, the scene of flesh and blood flying everywhere, or her body being melted into purplish-red residue by that unknown liquid, would completely befall her.

Alice and Keine, both girls, are non-human beings, but even they are powerless to change the situation at this moment.

then.

Just as despair was about to descend.

—Someone's shoe sole kicked the other person in the face without mercy.

The gaping maw, which seemed poised to devour the girl's entire body, was twisted into a grotesque shape.

"Eh?!"

The girl who had been captured exclaimed in surprise and confusion.

Her response was nothing more than a cold remark.

"reflection."

For an instant.

The number one ranked superpower in Academy City, the strongest superpower, capable of manipulating all directions of energy in the world, is now unleashing its most representative ability.

Bang——! !

As if to tear the impending tragedy in two, an invisible reflective membrane burst forth with overwhelming force from the sudden appearance of the white figure.

By focusing the surrounding forces, the reflected force will be more than twice as strong as before.

The monster was sent flying by the force of a direct impact, like a sports car crashing into it.

Bang! !

The monster's body crashed directly into a barbecue stall not far away, causing the wooden cart to collapse and the wreckage to fall on top of it.

When she came to her senses, the girl realized that she had landed safely.

"Well, that..."

"Get out of here."

Although the girl wanted to express her gratitude, the pale, ghostly figure spoke in a merciless tone.

"You brat, stop causing me trouble and disappear to a place where you won't get in the way."

The young girl immediately dared not say anything more.

Although she was terrified, the girl still bowed politely before leaving in the face of the man's menacing tone.

Glug, glug glug—

At this moment, the monster lying on the ground had split apart again.

"Alice! And you over there, Bai Ze, you two are in charge of evacuating the kids and the others!"

"Huh? But if that's the case!"

"I can't be bothered to listen to pointless talk."

However, in response to Kazue Kamishirasawa's concerns, the number one being simply responded with his actions.

He slammed his right cane onto the ground.

In an instant, he manipulated all the energy around him.

It was like an invisible gust of wind; the monster, which was being buried under the cart and gradually splitting apart, was thrown into the air by that impact.

"Worry is for those who need protection, not for bastards like me."