One Shot, One Kill

As she watched Firona's figure grow ever clearer, blood glinted in Jupetz's eyes, and her heart leaped with excitement.

(Almost there!)

(Only three hundred meters left.)

(I'll catch you, you little bitch, and peel that cute little face right off------!)

Fixing his gaze on Erigat's back as it drew ever closer, Nuobolik bared his teeth, looking vicious enough to devour someone whole.

(Two hundred fifty meters, two hundred meters, one hundred fifty meters.)

(This time, I'll close the distance to the absolute limit before making my move.)

(I'll make sure you never fly again------!)

Feeling the ruthless killing intent steadily closing in from behind, Firona and Erigat both remained impassive, their gazes blazing.

The two wounded hunters lured the Clowns—their natural predators—behind them as they weaved through the tangled forests of the swamp world, racing at full speed toward the same destination.

Then, when a certain moment arrived, the pursuers' mental focus, which had been locked on the fleeing pair's backs all along, was abruptly broken by a faint disturbance from afar.

At that moment, only one hundred meters remained between Jupetz and Firona, ninety meters between Nuobolik and Erigat, and three hundred meters between Firona and Erigat.

Across this span of nearly five hundred meters grew a vast, tangled expanse of dense water forest, greatly obstructing Jupetz and Nuobolik's view ahead.

Even so, the two instantly sensed that something was wrong from the vibrations of air being torn apart.

(Huh!?)

(What's going on!?)

(Something's coming from the other side------!?)

Suddenly sensing a change, Jupetz and Nuobolik's pupils dilated sharply. Shock filled their faces, the surging killing intent upon them freezing solid, while an extremely bad premonition rose in both their hearts. Their full-speed charge immediately began to slow in an emergency.

Yet unlike the bewildered Clowns, the two hunters