"YOU! I'LL KILL YOU!"
"What a racket you're making. All for those 3 centimeters you... well, used to have, down there." (Kimiko)
"SHUT UP!"
At those words, Ivan's mind went into overdrive. His cunning side was completely overridden by his rage, the pain he felt in his groin, and the wound to his pride.
"When you got excited, how far did you reach? Scarcely 6 centimeters?" (Kimiko)
"Could you just shut the hell up?! Can't you see he's about to tear us apart?!" (Hajime)
"It's not a problem. Together we can take him down."
"[IRON SKIN: LEGS]!"
Fueled by fury, he charged forward against the two members of [New Dawn]. The enhanced strength of his lower limbs made him faster than a bullet.
Hajime, using all his agility, grabbed Kuro and moved out of the way of the [Black Ghosts]'s trajectory. Fortunately for him, he wasn't the target; otherwise, he wouldn't have had a chance to dodge the charge in the condition he was in.
"[Mimicry]."
Kimiko, who was the target of the man, blended into the surrounding environment, just like a chameleon.
The girl was confident that her enemy wouldn't have the ability to locate her while she used this [magic]. Unfortunately, she was gravely mistaken: thin metal wires were attached to her clothes.
"You can't escape me!"
One of Ivan's arms became long and flexible like a whip, and it went to strike the young [mage].
"(Tsk! So he can sense where I am!)"
Kimiko didn't lose her composure, despite the fact that she was risking her life. One hand went to her belt, and from there she took two thin cylinders that joined together, elongating into a spear with a sharp point at one end.
Using her makeshift lance, the teenager parried the incoming attack. Unfortunately, she had underestimated the strength of her opponent.
The force of the blow sent her flying several meters away, straight into a brick wall of the abandoned factory.
"[Mana Manipulation]: [Armor]!"
The impact was softened by the [mana] from the girl, which saved her from any broken bones and other injuries, although it did not prevent her from feeling the pain of the hit.
"!?"
Kimiko didn't have time to think when she saw the other hand of the [Black Ghosts] directed toward her.
"You old pervert! Trying to touch a 16-year-old like this! You're a damn maniac!"
This time, the new companion of Kuro and Hajime decided to use the "dodge and strike" approach instead of "block and strike."
It was clear as day that she didn't possess the physical strength needed to compete with Ivan. Therefore, she had no choice.
With speed worthy of a [Beta Rank], the young girl skillfully avoided the man's second attack.
Taking advantage of an opening created by the blind rage dominating the old [mage]'s mind, the adolescent hurled her lance like a javelin.
"[Flash]!"
But not before charging it with a good amount of electric energy. The weak point of the man, who used [metal] magic for defense.
"Take this, old groper!"
The girl's weapon flew straight towards the [Black Ghosts]'s face. Automatically, he hardened his skin to iron.
The lance's tip failed to pierce the reinforced skin of the man. But, in return, it transferred the electricity into his body, causing him to experience an electric shock.
"Ahhhhahhagr!"
Paralyzed by the jolt, Ivan couldn't do anything to stop Kimiko, who seized the opportunity to approach the now defenseless and weakened [mage].
The new companion of Kuro and Hajime had an idea when she reached her adversary.
With a well-placed kick, the 16-year-old struck again at the [Black Ghosts]'s groin.
For the second time, the man let out a strangled scream as he fell to the ground in pain.
"This is what a creepy old man deserves for harassing a 16-year-old like me: impotence!"
This time, Kimiko did not stop there; taking two brass knuckles from her belt and putting them on her hands, the [mage] charged her weapons with electric energy.
"Now I'm going to give you a facial, so you won't scare kids away with your ugly mug. Thank me later!"
The subordinate of Goto could not defend himself from the beating he suffered. The pain in his groin had weakened him, and the continuous electrical shocks he endured were putting his muscles into chaos, preventing him from moving.
On the other side, however, the metal protecting his face prevented the brass knuckles from seriously injuring him. His face was just a bit bruised and sore; if he hadn't had [mana] to use his [magic], Kimiko would have truly changed his features by now.
Meanwhile, Goto's stepson, who had been observing the fight from the beginning, after putting Kuro to safety, remained motionless in front of the sight.
"(Kuro and I have endured hell to avoid being killed, while she beat him in under 5 minutes? She's really strong!)"
Deciding it was pointless to wait anymore in the shadows, for an opportunity to attack now that the struggle was over, Goto's stepson stepped out of hiding.
Out of the corner of his eye, the silver-haired boy noticed a detail that was escaping his savior, who was too engaged in enjoying the one-sided beating she was giving the [Black Ghosts].
"Hey! Watch out!" (Hajime)
"Huh? You idiot, can't you see I have him deflated....... huh?" (Kimiko)
Kimiko was strong, that was a fact; at the peak of her potential, she could defeat both Kuro and Hajime without any trouble. Fumio and Yukihime knew it.
Unfortunately, though, the girl had a bad habit of underestimating the abilities of her enemies. This was the reason why the [Omega Mage] didn't want to include her in the team. One way or another, her recklessness would endanger her teammates.
"I told you I would kill you, brat!" (Ivan)
While being beaten, Ivan managed to use one of his fingers, elongated and sharp like a razor blade, to penetrate the concrete covering the floor of the abandoned factory without his opponent noticing.
Shortly after the stepson of Goto had warned his new companion, the metal finger had done its job, emerging behind the adolescent in the gas mask, and piercing through her back, puncturing a lung.
Blood began to flow from Kimiko's mouth and nose. The [Black Ghosts] tried to rise to kill once and for all the annoying girl who had humiliated him not once, but twice, in the same day.
"No!" (Hajime)
Unfortunately, his plan was not realized. Hajime landed a solid punch to the man's face before he could deliver the final blow to the girl before him.
The boy's hand suffered a small fracture due to the man's metal protection, but he still managed to send him flying a few meters away.
"Are you okay!?" (Hajime)
"I-I've never felt better… [Heal]!"
The wound Kimiko had sustained began to heal thanks to her powers. Although she had used a good chunk of her [mana] to do so.
"Damn it! He's getting back up!" (Hajime)
The man rose from the punch delivered by the silver-haired boy, then spat out two bloodied teeth; apparently, his punch had penetrated the mage's defenses to a certain extent.
"Damn! I'll kill all of you, filthy delinquents!" (Ivan)
The holder of the [Grimoire] gritted his teeth from the pain he felt in his wrist, and took his weapon in both hands.
His new companion, who was beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder before using the little [mana] that remained to give him a boost.
"[Heal]! [Enhancement]!"
The damage Hajime had sustained healed in an instant, while every ability of his was enhanced for a short period, thanks to Kimiko's [magic].
"I'm running low on [mana]. I'll give you the honor of defeating him for me, don't fail."
The stepson of Kaori didn't need to be told twice. Gripping [Tepes I] tightly, he charged at Ivan, who transformed his hands into metal swords for defense.
The man's strength and [mana] had considerably decreased after the encounter with his last opponent.He focused so much on defense that he depleted his reserves. Not to mention that the multiple electric shocks he had endured had damaged his body more than it appeared.
"Get out of the way! So I can eliminate that bitch!" (Ivan)
"Try if you can!"
Hajime caught the [Black Ghosts] off guard by delivering a hard headbutt. The man's nose broke with a sound that was pleasant, according to a certain [mage] watching the battle.
"(His metal is weaker and more fragile! At this point, he must be out of strength!)"
The adolescent wasted no time, utilizing the opening created, he stepped back to have the necessary space to swing his katana and cut Ivan's chest.
"FUCK!"
The cut was not deep, but he was still bleeding profusely.
Knowing that this wasn't enough to stop him, the stepson of Goto had the idea to aim for the throat this time.
"(No! I can't kill him! He might have useful information for us!)"
Remembering the previous clash, the owner of the [Grimoire] caught the old [mage] off guard yet again by delivering a kick to his groin.
Once again, the man let out a strangled scream of pain before receiving a solid punch from Hajime to his jaw, sending him straight into dreamland, collapsing to the ground unconscious.
"Hehehehe! Now he'll definitely be impotent! Well, we've done a favor to the world! Great job, mate!"
And so, the mission was complete. Two minutes later, Cloe and Fumio arrived. They helped to tie up Ivan and take him to the bunker, where he would be interrogated.