"Cough, cough, cough..."
Frenda Seivelun leaned against the wall, coughing violently. Her pale little hand covered her mouth, but blood seeped through the gaps between her fingers.
"Frenda, withdraw first."
Kinuhata Saiai wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. Her long life in Anbu had taught her to overcome the urge to turn and flee.
"Okay."
Frenda Seivelun, who showed great potential as a traitor, turned and ran.
"Tsk~"
Mugino Shizuri, at the very front, clicked her tongue. Not only was Frenda Seivelun seriously injured, but Mugino could also hear steady breathing coming through her earpiece.
It was the breathing of ITEM's fourth member, Takitsubo Rikō. Earlier, she had locked onto Su Xiao's aura through the nearby AIM Diffusion Field. The instant Su Xiao released his aura, her esper ability had been affected. On top of that, she had just taken a drug—namely, a body crystal (body crystal: short for "esper ability crystal." Using it could cause an esper ability to run wild, greatly enhancing it while also making it uncontrollable). As a result, Takitsubo Rikō had fallen unconscious for a short time.
Body crystals were absolutely not a good thing. Using them damaged the brain. After repeated use, one would become a yandere, while long-term use even carried the risk of becoming a vegetable. In more serious cases, it could lead to brain death.
In a single exchange, two of ITEM's four members had already lost their combat ability. It looked pathetic, but that was not actually the case. Takitsubo Rikō's main role was finding enemies and sensing their precise positions. She had already completed her task perfectly, so it did not matter if she remained unconscious for a short time.
As for Frenda Seivelun, her ability was to set up bombs. Her direct combat ability was