Unexplained Anomaly

(This giant conch shell really is sturdy.)

(Even though all my abilities hit it at point-blank range, it's still maintaining its form. That means the Clown inside is still alive.)

(But even so, they must be badly hurt over there. As long as I repeat this kind of attack a few more times, victory will still be mine!)

With that thought, Firona's face once again filled with determination.

From the very moment she had pulled the trigger and fired, she had already begun gathering power for the second bullet in the chamber.

Counting from the instant Jupetz and the conch relic had been blasted into the air together, Firona's second "Vacuum Explosive Bullet" had finished charging in just three seconds.

(Come on, you disgusting beast. Let's keep going!)

As images of her comrades' gruesome deaths flashed through her mind, countless strands of killing intent swept through Firona's eyes, and her brain sent the command—"pull the trigger"—to her right index finger.

But it did not respond.

Only then did Firona suddenly realize that she could no longer feel the existence of her finger.

(Huh?)

Her face stiffening, she lowered her head and immediately saw that her right hand pressed against the trigger—her palm, glove, forearm, and sleeve alike—had all turned an ashen black-gray.

They were no longer light and nimble, but had become heavy, fused into one whole, utterly unable to move.

As though they had been petrified!

Faced with this sudden bodily mutation, Firona froze on the spot. A hair-raising sensation immediately surged through every nerve in her body like an electric current.

(W-what is this—!?)

(Why did my body suddenly turn out like this—!?)

(Could there be other Clowns lying in wait nearby, ones I overlooked earlier—!?)

Firona whipped her head around, her horrified gaze rapidly sweeping across the