* * *

Under the star-filled sky, the Spirit Forest in this area no longer shines.

The trees, which boasted jewel-like bark, were broken at their roots or knocked down by the aftermath of the battle, and stained with mud.

Flowers that once shone brightly were invaded by poison, and completely rotted away.

"............Fuuu..."

In the center of such a completely ravaged forest, a deformed figure exhaled roughly, looking displeased.

A lovely girl, whose body has numerous tentacles extending from it, swaying in the air.

It's Emi.

"...Tch, geff."

Emi, with her legs shoulder-width apart, arms crossed, eyes closed, was repeating deep breaths.

But after suddenly clicking her tongue, she spat up blood.

...It's a side effect of mana absorption.

She has already defeated and torn apart the medium spirits that attacked her, as well as the two great spirits, and has captured their fragments in her 【Black Extending Jaw】.

She was particularly thorough in mincing the great spirits.

It may seem cruel... but spirits will revive if not dealt with this way.

Emi learned that from the Whistle Medium Spirit.

By capturing the fragments in her 【Black Extending Jaw】 and absorbing their magical power without leaving even a trace, the neutralization of the spirits is finally complete.

They are truly a troublesome species.

Emi's mana absorption speed also has a limit.

If she raises the absorption speed to try to absorb everything forcefully, her body will be damaged.

A sharp pain will run through her, and she will spit up blood like now.

<Calm down, Emi, slowly, slowly...>

"Fuuu... fuuu..."

Listening to the voice of the resident in her mind, Emi closed her eyes again and focused, composing her ragged breathing.

However, at the same time... she doesn't forget to pay attention to her surroundings.

This is enemy territory.

She has already been attacked many times.

She is not careless.

That's why.

BUBUBU...

The faint buzzing of wings... mixed in with the wind...

Emi... noticed it!

"RAAAAAAH!!!"

The next moment!

Emi opened her closed eyes, quickly turned around, and at the same time, unleashed a sharp hand chop!

A magic-infused slash, 【Mantis】, was released!

GAKIIN!!

And then, that 【Mantis】 caught a glistening, shining sword.

It was just about to split Emi's body vertically in two, but its trajectory was deflected by 【Mantis】, and it pierced into the rotted ground.

<<<Nu!!>>>

However, the killing intent is not yet gone!

Without a pause, a new sword's horizontal slash attacks.

"RAH!!!"

Emi barely avoided it by pulling her right leg back and crouching slightly.

The combat techniques taught by her master.

The form training she has repeated without fail!

The ever-accumulating practical experience!!

This is an almost unconscious evasive action, supported by all of that!

"AAAAH!!!"

And immediately after dodging the two attacks!

Emi instantly clenched her fists, imbued them with magical power, and lunged at the enemy who had launched a surprise attack!

Up to this point, it was a matter of less than a few seconds. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

That's why Emi.

Still doesn't know what kind of existence the enemy is.

Since this place is in a dimly lit night forest, she hadn't been able to see its full form.

It uses a sword.

Probably, a spirit with a structure that mimics a human body.

That's what she had assumed.

That's precisely why.

Emi counterattacked immediately after dodging the two slashes.

A human has two arms.

Therefore, after a two-hit attack... a large opening is created!

<<<You fell for it!!>>>

"!?"

But, Emi's rule of thumb.

This time... it backfired.

The enemy retreated in response to Emi's charge.

And at the same time... it swung down a third sword, which Emi hadn't expected!

"RAAAAAAH!!!"

Emi abruptly stopped her attack, twisted her body, and avoided that attack by diving diagonally to the right.

She thought she had taken advantage of an opening... but this is the result.

Conversely, she had left herself wide open.

Emi wanted to click her tongue at her own immaturity, but there was no time for that.

Because.

<<<HAAAAH!!!>>>

The fourth sword!

Fell onto the ground with a thud, and was swung at the defenseless Emi!

The sharp, glistening blade approached Emi's body at a speed that the naked eye couldn't perceive.

And it cut her flesh.

...Just before that!

"RAAAAAAH!!!"

<<<Nuu... !>>>

Emi moved in an unnatural trajectory, as if blown sideways.

She pierced the ground with her deployed 【Black Tentacle】 and used it as a starting point to pull herself.

"............"

<<<............>>>

With this, the match is reset.

Emi and the enemy faced each other in silence, glaring at each other.

Here, Emi, for the first time, calmly confirmed what the enemy that had attacked her was.

It was a deformed figure, which could be described as a bipedal, humanoid insect.

It stands on the ground with a pair of legs.

And with two pairs of legs... arms, it holds a total of four swords.

I see, so that's why it has so many moves.

And its body is so large that you have to look up...

It wears a hood on its head, hiding its face.

However, for some reason.

Emi, in the overall form of this enemy.

She felt a faint sense of déjà vu...

<<<...Hmm, for such a young body, you're quite impressive. To have dodged my swords so well.>>>

And here.

The insect-type great spirit praised Emi with a hoarse, old man's voice.

"No, all I could do was dodge. I'm still immature."

<<<Kakaka... a terrifying little girl.>>>

Contrary to the clashing killing intent, they are exchanging words peacefully.

Both have their power circulating throughout their bodies, ready to move at any moment.

A state where whoever shows even the slightest opening will be cut.

"But I've revealed the trick of your four arms. You can't surprise me anymore. I'll kill you."

While saying that, Emi gradually increased the degree of her 【Body Enhancement】.

Her immense magical power, stretched taut throughout her body, would probably kill a hundred ordinary people standing behind her with just the shockwave from the motion of swinging her fist.

An outstanding individual.

This insect-type great spirit had met such individuals, so-called heroes, many times in his long life.

Among them, this girl is in a class of her own.

Not just a hero... it's questionable whether she's even within the category of a creature called a human.

However.

<<<I'm being underestimated... !>>>

This spirit is not yet serious either...!

<<<【Underworld Protection】!!>>>

The insect-type great spirit first let out a bark and made his entire body shine red.

This is the light that the medium spirits who attacked in a group earlier were wearing!

Emi raised her guard, but the spirit's actions didn't end there.

<<<【Misleading Form】!!>>>

Next, when the insect-type great spirit shouted... five duplicates, exactly the same as the spirit before her, appeared, surrounding Emi!

Not just the form... even the presence is the same!

A very advanced illusion!

"!?"

And in the small gap when Emi, reflexively panicking, moved her gaze slightly, the insect-type great spirit had started moving.

The six insect-type great spirits circling around... it's impossible to tell which is the real one anymore!

<<<<<<<<<【Protection】!!>>>>>>>>>

And finally, the six insect-type great spirits shouted that, in unison.

And then all six began to glow with a green light in addition to the red.

Judging from the words, this is, in all likelihood, a buff that increases defensive power!

In other words, with this, this insect-type great spirit can be considered to have been considerably strengthened!

Sweat involuntarily beaded on Emi's forehead...!

<<<<<<<<<Girl. What is your name?>>>>>>>>>

And here.

The insect-type great spirit quietly spoke to Emi.

Such an individual.

A human, more outstanding than any he had ever met.

Whether he wins or loses, the insect-type great spirit... wanted to know the enemy's name.

"I am a traveler. Emi Rune."

Emi answered that succinctly.

The standard phrase she always uses for self-introduction.

<<<<<<<<<I see.>>>>>>>>>

Nodding at that reply, the insect-type great spirit.

<<<<<<<<<I am...>>>>>>>>>

The insect-type great spirit solemnly returned his self-introduction.

And that... was also a standard phrase he always uses for self-introduction.

<<<<<<<<<............I am... the spirit... of the Myogomyogoshugo...>>>>>>>>>

"The spirit of the Myogomyogoshugo!?"

<<<<<<<<<THAT'S RIGHT! I AM THE GREAT SPIRIT OF THE MYOGOMYOGOSHUGO, MYOGOSHUGO! THAT IS THE NAME... OF THE ONE WHO WILL KILL YOU!!!>>>>>>>>>

The next moment!

The six Myogoshugos, in their duplicated forms, raised their swords in unison... and attacked Emi, one after another!

------

【Myogomyogoshugo】

A cicada-like insect, distributed throughout the world of Ardyst.

Appeared since Arc 2, and at that time, was an important source of nutrition for Emi.

Although there are regional differences, their chirping is distinctive, and in this work, 'The Omake Reincarnator', it often appears in scenic descriptions.

Such a Myogomyogoshugo... finally bares its fangs at Emi!