Chapter 217

As for why Shirou suddenly changed his fighting style, it was mainly because the Rhodes Island team had just proposed the idea that this was a trap.

If this is a trap, then what he needs to do is to draw the other party's attention to him as much as possible.

If the other side sends out more drones or people to deal with him, things will be much easier for Chen.

If this isn't a trap... then it doesn't matter, the final result will be pretty much the same.

As for the Rhodes Island crew behind them... although they said they wouldn't watch over them, it was just talk.

If he has the capacity, he will still provide support, or perhaps the other party doesn't need his support at all.

203 Do you guys usually last-hit?

Although it was a choice made by the individuals themselves, Shirou simply wanted to do it this way.

That's all.

With Shirou leading the way, the Rhodes Island team only needed to follow.

"Wow... that's so brutal!"

Looking at the drone wreckage around him, Huang stuck out his tongue and said.

"You've seen even more ruthless ones before, what are you talking about?"

Scout's voice came through the communicators of Rhodes Island and the others.

He had seen their movements, especially the Shirou who was constantly throwing out twin swords.

The sudden appearance of weapons, and the method of using weapons as consumables...

The similarities reminded Scout of someone.

Although that person had burned himself out more than half a year ago, Shirou still reminded him of that guy.

He's always been by Amiya's side, a contractor, and he'll decisively step in whenever Rhodes Island or Amiya needs him.

That person is good in every way, except that he is too decisive in his actions, so decisive that many people are afraid of him.

Compared to that, Shirou's current performance can only be described as mediocre.

"Don't think about that too much for now. Focus on the battle at hand. Even though Shirou is helping to clear the way, we can't let our guard down. Blaze, you go and follow at the back. I'll lead the way."

Ace, who was standing nearby, spoke up to stop the two from chatting. Although the intensity of the battle was not high, this was not the time for the two to gossip.

Shirou was wholeheartedly eliminating all threats for them, and you guys were just complaining about their fighting style?

Be careful, or the black and white twin blades will fly towards your face if someone hears you.

Okay.

Upon hearing Ace's command, Huang immediately shut his mouth and slowed down, following behind Amiya and Rosemary.

This arrangement is not hard to understand: Shirou eliminates the dangers ahead, Ace guards Rosemary and Amiya, and Blaze covers the rear, guarding against threats from behind.

Scout, on the other hand, provided support from a distance, which is self-explanatory.

The Rhine Lab International team at the Lungmen office are also on their way. Including the three people from Shirou's side, there are twelve people in total right now.

That's enough to handle many things.

"This is...?"

Shirou, who was leading the way, noticed something was wrong.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just felt there was danger ahead.

How should I put it... that area was too clean, so clean it didn't look like a typical Slums street.

Is there anything ahead?

Seeing that Shirou had stopped, Amiya and the others also stopped.

"There may be an ambush or a trap."

Shirou stated his guess and pointed to something he found suspicious:

"That area was too clean, as if there was something there."

"Hmm... should we take a detour?"

Despite Shirou's explanation, the people of Rhodes Island knew absolutely nothing about the Slums and naturally couldn't see this difference.

However, since Shirou has already suggested it, and given the principle of prioritizing safety, it would be better to choose a detour.

"No, let's just trigger the trap."

After considering the possibility of taking a detour, Shirou felt it would take too much time.

If it's a trigger-based trap, he has plenty of ways to deal with it.

If it's just a simple ambush, then it's even simpler.

However, Shirou had one more thing to do before triggering the trap.

"Trace on─"

Crouching down and reaching for the ground, Shirou whispered.

Blue circuit diagrams covered the entire ground and stretched forward.

"..."

Upon hearing the words Shirou uttered, Ace, Blaze, Amiya, and Rosemary exchanged glances.

"It's a regular trigger-activated landmine..."

Just as Shirou had predicted, several landmines were buried beneath that clean area.

But it's just a landmine, far less dangerous than the worst quality Originium Bomb.

After all, if you're far away, it's just something that makes a sound.

Several blue phantoms of swords appeared, two of which left long blue trails as they rushed toward two different points.

Boom—Boom—

Two loud bangs followed, and a thick cloud of smoke obscured the road ahead.

Click-

A faint clicking sound came from above. Without hesitation, Shirou raised his right hand and shouted:

"Seven Circles of the Burning Sky!"

Numerous blue Magic Circuits emitted a piercing electrical sound, followed by the appearance of enormous, transparent purple petals above everyone's heads.

Through the transparent barrier, the group saw the spell drones floating above them and several people with crossbows aiming at them.

A barrage of crossbow bolts and magical drones rained down, striking the purple petals.

There wasn't a single crack, and Shirou seemed to be handling it with ease.

"That's really... amazing!"

Looking at the sturdy purple barrier, Ace couldn't help but sigh.

It's important to know that there are a lot of attacks coming down on it. Although Amiya can use her ability to create a barrier of about the same size as a shield, she can't handle such a dense barrage of attacks as easily as Shirou.

"Seven people? Requesting permission to attack."

Shirou even has the mind to count the number of people above him, and incidentally apply to Chen for permission to attack.

The disparity in combat strength between the two sides is excessive.

"Were you attacked? Yes, it was permitted."

Upon hearing Shirou's request, Chen immediately granted permission.

In fact, Shirou could have acted without applying for permission to attack, since it's hardly a legitimate operation right now.

From the moment the magical drones appeared, Chen knew that it would be impossible to suppress the enemy without taking any damage.

When she said "unharmed," she meant that the other side was unharmed, not that the Knights of the Round Table was unharmed.

After all, with Shirou as the tactical terminator, there aren't that many things to worry about. Weaker enemies can be directly suppressed.

But spell drones... these things are basically flying sorcerers, and Chen always gets a headache whenever he encounters one.

After all, even Hoshiguma might not be able to handle it reliably.

"Receive!"

Upon receiving Chen's instruction, all the swords behind Shirou rushed upwards.

The purpose of these swords is to prevent others from coming out to finish off the enemy; if no one else does, Shirou will simply remove them.

But now it seems that these swords are about to fulfill their original purpose.

"Aaaaaah!"

Screams continued, but Shirou did not kill them outright; at most, he pierced their hands with the swords.

Aren't you going to finish him off?

Ace watched as Shirou single-handedly dealt with all the enemies; after all, he was incredibly fast. If anything, perhaps only Scout contributed by shooting down a drone?

The fact that he asked this question does not mean that he actually wants to kill these people.

Rather, he simply wanted to confirm one of his guesses from this answer.

"Huh? Last hitting? You guys are used to last hitting?"

Upon hearing the question, Shirou was stunned.

I had already assumed you were a group of mercenaries recruiting child laborers under the guise of a pharmaceutical company.

I could let those things slide, but I never expected you guys to be so ruthless. You even finished off the opponent after they were down?

"Ahem... It's nothing, it's just that someone I used to know would always choose to finish off the opponent."

Seeing that Shirou was looking at him with a strange expression and even took a few steps back, Ace hurriedly explained.

"... No need for that. Just incapacitate them. I don't want to kill them unless absolutely necessary, especially since there are children here. It wouldn't be good if it got too bloody."

Once the hand is immobilized, it can no longer attack.

That's what Shirou thought.

Unless absolutely necessary, Shirou really doesn't want to take lives.

Even the lives of evil people are subject to this.

Having blood on one's hands and the burden that follows is far too heavy.

Besides, there are children present; it wouldn't be good if it became too bloody and violent.

Although things aren't much better now.

Making holes in a person's body is hardly a good example.

"Is that so...? That's good, keep it up!"

Looking at Shirou's expression and hearing what he said, Ace already knew the answer in her heart.

"???"

Hearing what the other person said, Shirou felt somewhat confused.

Is it true that riddle makers are the main theme of this land?

If it weren't for Chen still asking about the situation on the other end of the communicator, Shirou would have wanted to yell at him to stop being a riddle-maker.

"Shirou, how's things going on your end? Are you alright?"

Chen thought something had happened to Shirou when there was no response from the other party for a while.

"Buzz... I'm buzzing here... about the question."

Shirou gave a brief update on his situation, but it sounded somewhat disjointed to Chen.

"I can't hear you clearly, please say it again."

"Press the communicator," Chen said.