crimson blur

*"Where the hell is Glenn when we actually need him?"* Linya grumbled in frustration.

Even Ir. Dale had given up on her confidence at this point. Meanwhile, Arrosa's eyes locked onto one direction.

A crowd was rushing toward them.

Arrosa remained calm. Silently, she activated her skill.

*"Execute: Stealth Domain."*

A veil of invisibility shrouded the three of them.

They had no idea what was happening, but staying here would only slow them down, Arrosa thought.

She had an idea.

She had analyzed the situation beforehand and prepared an artifact that might come in handy.

A loud noise erupted.

Arrosa immediately grabbed both Linya and Dale and pulled them away. The situation was spiraling out of control—after all, this district was right in the heart of the city.

*"Arrosa, what are you doing?"* Linya asked, her expression shocked.

*"Why are you running, Arrosa? Are you trying to escape responsibility?"* Dale added, her tone sharp.

Arrosa ignored them, tightening her grip as she pulled them forward.

*"We're in big trouble."*

They ran, weaving through narrow alleys. The ground beneath them had been altered—everything in this place had been set up deliberately.

Linya suddenly turned to Arrosa, about to ask something. But Arrosa, maintaining her calm expression, gestured for her to stay quiet.

*"Look over there!"*

A voice rang out.

Arrosa immediately grew cautious.

After a moment, she spotted the source—a girl playing with her dog.

The girl's clothes were filthy and ragged.

*Gulp.*

Arrosa swallowed hard.

*"We've already lost,"* she muttered, her face tense.

*"What do you mean?"* Linya asked, panic creeping into her voice.

*"Come on, think of something!"* Linya demanded, her panic escalating.

She knew that if Arrosa had said something like that, it meant it was the undeniable truth.

*"Hey, smart girl, do something!"* she said, shoving Dale's shoulder.

*"You talk too much. Do it yourself! What do you think I am, some kind of portable tool?"* Dale snapped back, irritated.

*"But this isn't my area of expertise!"* Linya protested.

*Their argument continued behind Arrosa.*

*"Both of you, shut up,"* Arrosa said, trying to calm them down.

*"What's actually going on?"* Linya asked.

They stood at the heart of the abandoned district.

*"Hahahahahahahahahaha!"*

A voice cackled.

*"How interesting."*

A hooded figure emerged from the shadows.

*"Are you satisfied, Dale?"*

The hooded figure sneered.

*"How far have you come? And yet, you're still being carried around by that pink-haired agent."*

She continued, her tone mocking.

*"Relax, I won't stop you. But they will."*

In an instant, a massive wave of people flooded the slums. Their footsteps echoed through the narrow streets, suffocating the atmosphere with an overwhelming pressure.

Dale stepped toward a small child playing in the corner.

With a calm voice, she said, *"Listen carefully. Take this and give it to everyone."*

The child took the small object with a curious look.

*"Okay, big sis! What's your name?"* she asked innocently.

Dale patted the child's head gently. *"My name… is Dale."*

From a distance, Linya observed the interaction with a suspicious gaze before approaching.

*"What did you just give that kid? You're not some kind of child predator, are you?"* she teased.

Dale sighed.

*"It's a defense potion I made. Even a bomb blast won't kill someone who's taken it. But its effects are limited, so we have to end this fight before time runs out."*

Linya smirked.

*"So you have a soft side, huh, Dale?"*

Her teasing was abruptly cut off by Arrosa's firm voice.

*"Both of you, get ready!"*

And then, the battle erupted.

Enemies swarmed from every direction.

They flooded the slums like a swarm of locusts. Some emerged from the dark alleys, others leaped over fences and rooftops of dilapidated houses.

Without warning, fireballs shot toward them from unseen positions.

Linya darted to the side, barely avoiding an explosion that erupted behind her. The heat scorched the air, but she kept moving, weaving through the enemy's assault.

Arrosa, with precise reflexes, waited until the fireball was mere inches from her body before sidestepping it at the last second, letting it pass harmlessly.

Meanwhile, Dale stood her ground.

A fireball hurtled toward her.

But instead of dodging, she simply raised a hand—

—and swatted it away like an annoying insect.

Linya and Arrosa froze for a split second.

But there was no time for surprise.

Arrosa swiftly analyzed the situation.

*Forty-five enemies.*

That was the number she had counted so far.

But before she could formulate a strategy, a loud voice rang out.

*"Execute: Gain Charge!"*

One of the enemies activated a buff skill.

A thick red aura enveloped them, enhancing their strength and speed drastically.

Within seconds, their attacks went from chaotic to precise and coordinated.

Eleven enemies rushed at Linya all at once.

Linya crouched low, sweeping her leg in a *slide kick* that took them all down in a single movement. Bodies crashed onto the ground.

But they weren't done.

One of them grabbed Linya's ankle before she could get up, yanking her back down.

At that moment, something flew through the air—

A small bottle.

As soon as it shattered, a shockwave burst outward, repelling all enemies near Linya.

But the assault didn't stop.

From the rooftops, another group of enemies began unleashing *paralyze* attacks.

Blue lightning crackled through the air, striking down relentlessly.

Arrosa clenched her jaw. *This is bad.*

But she was already prepared.

Her fingers gripped a small, black disc—

The *Pulsar Plate*.

*"Get back!"* she ordered.

Dale and Linya immediately retreated.

*"Execute: Stealth Field!"*

*"Execute: Incandescent!"*

A blinding white light exploded outward, consuming the entire area.

The enemies, caught off guard, were instantly blinded.

But Arrosa didn't need sight.

She only needed sound.

The rhythm of their heartbeats.

The scrape of their shoes against the ground.

The shallow breaths they took in panic.

In a split second, her blade was drawn.

She moved.

In the blinding light, only sound remained.

*"Slash!"*

Her sword cut through the air like a flash of lightning.

*"Slash!"*

Blood sprayed into the air, marking crimson lines on the battlefield.

*"Slash!"*

A soldier tried to block with a dagger—too slow.

*"Slash!"*

Arrosa spun mid-air, cutting down an enemy who had attempted to attack from behind.

Bodies collapsed in silence.

As the light began to fade—

All that remained was the aftermath.

Blood soaking the ground.

And enemies lying motionless.

Suddenly a voice appeared, echoing, surprising them.

sound echoing from a distance

"as expected from this pink agent

is it (crimson blur)".

"(arrosa the crimson blur)".