Chapter 52: The End of the Battle

 Mahiro’s transformed form—the one that imitated the Fourth Abyssal Calamity—began to collapse.

Across the chaotic battlefield, the Curse Seekers and Connectors, empowered by Iijima Kanon’s abilities, defeated the surrounding Abyssal Calamities one after another and steadily pushed toward the center.

Meanwhile, Shishiba Hohana faced a gigantic hybrid-type enemy alone. Sweat slowly trickled down her cheek as she desperately evaded its relentless attacks.

The hybrid’s body was covered in countless mismatched legs and faces, grotesquely fused together in irregular ways, each one lashing out in rapid succession.

Because of the effects of Point Focus, Hohana had already exhausted the stored slashes she possessed. Even after reloading them, she couldn’t afford to waste any on defense. Every strike needed to count.

"This is brutal!"

Even so, a fearless grin spread across her face as she dodged the incoming legs, slicing them apart while cutting through the biting faces and knocking away their fangs.

Thanks to the power she had gained as one Returned from the Abyss, she was somehow managing to keep up with the monster. But even then, her stamina was steadily being worn down.

Between attacks, her grip slipped slightly on the sword’s handle.

"Oh crap..."

A massive leg came crashing down toward Hohana.

At that moment, countless spears of light rained down onto the hybrid, halting its movements.

"Hohana, are you okay?"

"...Akegami, you took way too long."

From within the collapsing remains of the Abyssal Calamity Mahiro had transformed into, Akegami Sora emerged.

Beside her, Nishizono Mahiro and Shinozaki Nagisa awkwardly peeked out as well.

Nagisa’s complexion looked noticeably pale.

"Hey, you. What happened to you?"

"...It’s nothing."

"There’s no way it’s nothing. Akegami, did something happen?"

"...I’m not really sure either, but maybe Abaddon’s power was too strong, and the strain on Nagisa-kun got worse."

At those words, Nagisa lowered his head as if trying to avoid the subject.

"So this is as far as Akegami’s support goes, huh? Can’t be helped. I’ll handle the rest—"

"I-I’ll do my best too!"

Mahiro suddenly shouted, cutting Hohana off.

At first glance, she looked the same as always—but not entirely. Tufts of beast-like fur still remained across parts of her body.

Even then, her outline continued to flicker faintly, making her difficult to see clearly.

"...What exactly happened to you?"

"W-Well, the things I absorb with my skill usually disappear after a while, but sometimes a little residue gets left behind. And this time, I absorbed way too much, so I guess my body couldn’t fully expel it..."

Mahiro let out a dry, awkward laugh.

"I see. I’m sure Akegami and the others already lectured you plenty, so I won’t add to it. Just don’t push yourself so hard."

"Y-Yesh!"

Mahiro clenched her fist with determination, only to completely stumble over her words.

The hybrid began moving again.

"《Sound Wave》—'Crash Beat.'"

A deafening roar suddenly exploded across the battlefield, loud enough to make it seem as though an actual explosion had gone off.

At the same time, the hybrid’s massive body violently trembled.

"Ah, found Mahiro-chan!"

A battered-looking girl wrapped in bandages, casts, and even an eyepatch came running over with a cheerful smile.

"I-Iijima-san...!"

"You! No more reckless stunts, got it?! Seriously, you little troublemaker!"

"S-Sorryyy..."

"Ah, Mahhi’s back to normal!"

"Looks like things somehow worked out."

As the battered girl—Iijima Kanon—roughly fussed over Mahiro, Kisa and Reina came running up from behind.

"Perfect timing. Let’s finish that thing off."

At Hohana’s call, everyone nodded.

"《Sound Wave》—'Negative Beat.'"

First, Kanon’s skill slowed the hybrid’s movements.

Then, beastly faces created from the remnants of the Abyssal Calamity still lingering inside Mahiro’s body launched forward like bullets, gradually tearing chunks away from the creature’s torso.

"《Magic Word》—'Storm.'"

"《Soul Flame》—'Explosive Wave.'"

Without giving it a moment to recover, more skills immediately followed. The two abilities intertwined as flames spiraled violently through the wind, slowly burning away the hybrid’s legs.

"Slash Reload."

Then Shishiba Hohana took her stance. Light once again filled her blade.

The instant she stepped forward with all her strength, her body launched high into the air.

"《Slash Territory》—Point Focus."

Her sword swept through the air, carving a massive gash across the Abyssal Calamity’s body.

"One final shot! 《Saint Arts》—'Javelin.'"

Multiple spears of light formed overhead before plunging directly into the wound Hohana had created.

"And here’s the finishing blow! 《Sound Wave》—'Crash Beat.'"

The tremendous sound generated a crushing pressure that drove the spears even deeper inside. Burned legs crumbled away, and the massive wound across its torso widened further and further.

Eventually, the hybrid could no longer maintain its form.

Its gigantic body collapsed to the ground, broke apart, and vanished completely.

"That ended kinda anticlimactically."

In the end, the battle concluded without anyone suffering further injuries.

Originally, the hybrid had already been heavily weakened from its one-on-one battle with Mahiro. The concentrated assault afterward pushed it past its limits, causing its body to collapse entirely.

"...I’m exhausted."

Iijima Kanon slumped onto the ground. To begin with, her injuries had barely healed, yet she had still been running all over the battlefield. Her body had long since reached its limit.

"M-Me too..."

Mahiro was in much the same condition. The reckless way she had used her skill had pushed her body to the verge of collapse. Connecting with Nagisa through Connect Link had prevented the worst outcome, but even so, she could barely move.

"..."

Without saying a word, Shinozaki Nagisa also dropped to one knee. The burden from the power flowing into him from Akegami Sora had been far heavier than expected.

"Sorry, Nagisa-kun."

Sitting beside him supportively, Sora lowered herself to the ground as well. While using her powers, she hadn’t noticed it at the time, but she too had exhausted herself from overuse. Before realizing it, her body had nearly reached its limit, and the fabric around her chest had slightly torn.

The other three had managed to escape with mere exhaustion, but everyone present looked utterly battered.

Even so, they exchanged weary smiles, relieved that they had somehow made it through safely together.

The Fourth Abyssal Calamity—the disaster that had reigned as a threat for so many years—was completely and utterly erased that day.