Chapter 75
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Since there was no real need to hide their presence, Michelle took the opportunity to educate the Ensigns as they walked.
“If someone can’t afford guiding medication, they end up relying on illegal hallucinogens, or they just go berserk from guide deprivation. It’s always one of the two, Lieutenant Michelle Grace.”
“Good answer, Ensign Ricola. And both types have one thing in common: they’ve lost their minds.”
Michelle stopped walking. The explosions were now close enough to sound like they were right in front of them.
“Just like that guy.”
A guttural, inhuman growl echoed through the ruined building. A man, hunched and drooling, stood in front of a gaping hole, glaring at them.
“Guides—none of you are feeling any symptoms like your energy being drawn out or anything weird, right?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Then this guy isn’t about to rampage. So what’s wrong with him?”
Even Michelle, who had seen her share of unhinged Espers, was surprised by the man’s state.
“His entire eyeballs are blood-red.”
She’d seen Espers high on illegal d***s before—seen them drool, lose control, even wet themselves—but never with eyes like that. Not even Espers on the verge of a meltdown looked like this.
Michelle frowned, repulsed on instinct.
“Might be some kind of eye infection, so everyone, do not make contact with him, got it?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Even if he seems okay for now, don’t let your guard down, and keep your energy locked down so you don’t leak—Look out!”
Before she finished speaking, a burst of fire erupted from the man.
Everyone scattered fast. Peter froze for a second but was yanked out of harm’s way by Ricola.
“Th-thanks, Ricola.”
“Forget thanking me—just keep your wits about you, Peter Ludd!”
“Damn it! Of all things, why does it have to be fire?”
Michelle, swearing, shoved Peter toward the side.
“Go get Captain Bailey Rosem!”
Another wave of fire crashed down. Michelle countered with her own flames, the two streams clashing in the air and filling the space with blistering heat.
“Seriously? Another natural-type Esper—and with the same power as Michelle?”
Brenda scowled. Espers with natural powers were usually far stronger than those with other abilities. And facing someone with the same power as Michelle put them at a disadvantage.
If they were the same level, they could duke it out to the end, but this was a city; collateral damage would be enormous.
“Samuel, Ricola, help me out!”
The first priority was stopping the flames.
Brenda began piling up debris with telekinesis to make a barrier. Samuel quickly joined in.
Ricola, instead of helping, knelt and put her hand to the floor.
“Ricola, what are you doing?”
“I’m going to summon the earth.”
“But we’re on the second floor. You’re going to try to draw up the earth from this far away?”
If Ricola used her Ground ability, she could raise a barrier of earth to block the fire. But that was only easy if she was in contact with the ground—this distance was a huge challenge, especially for a Bronze-level Esper. It was dangerous, too.
“If you try to draw up the ground from down there, you might just collapse the whole building. Maybe it’s not worth the risk.”
“So you’re saying we should just die here, Samuel Norah? We can only hold off fire with fire for so long! And besides…”
She glanced at Michelle, lowering her voice.
“That Esper might actually be stronger than Lieutenant Michelle Grace.”
Michelle was losing ground. With every retreat, the enemy’s flames pressed in harder.
Even fire Espers could be hurt by another’s flames. One wrong move and Michelle could be burned alive.
Ricola was right—the only way to save Michelle was to try this.
“I’ll help. I can use telekinesis to help you draw up the earth, right?”
“Good idea, Brenda Lancelot.”
The three exchanged a glance and nodded.
Ricola closed her eyes, reaching toward the gap in the floor. Sweat beaded on her forehead.
“Ricola, tell us when you feel it—”
“Aaagh!”
It was Michelle’s scream.
She was rolling on the ground, coughing out smoke. Samuel turned to look for the enemy Esper, but the man was right there, suddenly in front of him.
“G…guide…”
The man croaked, reaching out his burning hand toward Samuel. Only then did Samuel realize he’d let his energy shielding slip just a little.
Just as the man’s hand was about to touch Samuel, someone barreled into him—Brenda.
Brenda and the man tumbled together. The man raised his burning hand to strike her—
“No!”
A mound of earth suddenly fell onto the man’s hands, extinguishing the flames with a sizzle. A breathless Ricola locked eyes with Brenda.
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