Little Red Riding Hood, Mi

(Miluno)

Got it!

Experience the power of Metal's custom-made Iron Hoof Battle Boots!

Wrong...

Although I hit the target, I didn't feel any real impact on my foot; there was no feedback of force whatsoever. It was like kicking a piece of cloth...

"Miluno, watch out below!"

Mono's warning: a cold glint flashed from beneath the witch's red cloak, slashing towards my left leg, which I was using to support myself for a whip kick. It was incredibly fast; even as I accelerated, the long, hooked claws wreathed in black mist approached at a visible speed, subtly stinging my skin.

I thought she was on the first floor and I was on the fifth floor.

Turns out, she was on the tenth floor and had already seen through my plan.

I hadn't even recovered from the force of my whip kick, how was I supposed to dodge this claw attack?

"Use a clock!"

Mono reminded me, and I gripped the pocket watch hanging on my chest. The moment I pressed it, my consciousness was ejected from my body, but time within my body came to a complete standstill. Little Red Riding Hood's claws struck my leg but failed to cause any damage. Even the invincible black mist could not corrode time.

At this Present Moment.

A dial that can hide in paused time, completely immune to damage.

The long red cloak finally landed, and I could finally see Little Red Riding Hood's true face: a Wolf Woman with short gray hair and blue eyes. She was quite clumsy, a real furry friend, though her face was smooth and that of a normal young girl. However...

She was wearing a muzzle.

These are protective gear for dogs used to prevent them from biting people or eating random things while being walked.

Because of this, she couldn't open her mouth wide enough to speak.

It's worth mentioning that her claws grew directly from the back of her hands, like the protagonist in a certain superhero comic book. She had a horn-like single horn on her left forehead, similar to mine, but much shorter, barely showing outside her bangs.

Mono was still cheering meaninglessly in his ears.

"Oh! Little Red Riding Hood has turned into the Big Bad Wolf?"

The Wolf Woman, having removed her cloak, seized the opportunity to leap backward, landing on a street lamp by the roadside. The moon was behind her, creating a composition that resembled preparing to unleash a deadly attack.

"Ugh--"

Because she was wearing a gag, she couldn't open her mouth and could only let out low growls.

I pressed the pocket watch again, letting my consciousness return.

"So, you're also a wolf -Simulacrum Factor? Actually, I know one of your brothers. How about we stop fighting?"

Although I was just trying to get close to them with words, I didn't intend to show any mercy to these Modified Witch, nor would I have any room for mercy. This Big Bad Wolf had a very fast reaction speed. Even if it couldn't keep up with my speed, it could still dodge attacks with its crazy reflexes and even fight back.

This guy is practically an all-around enhanced version.

"Miluno! Believe in yourself, your magic is invincible!"

The little guy was acting as a cheerleader, but I didn't think I'd lose.

"Full of confidence?"

Certainly.

Even the elites of the Supreme Council are nothing more than Modified Witch. If they can't even handle her, how am I supposed to fight Fomalhaut one-on-one?

Although the Wolf Woman was frenzied, she wasn't stupid. Knowing she couldn't keep up with my speed, she swung her claws from afar, sending a corrosive black mist crisscrossing towards me. But trying to use this to escape my close range was simply wishful thinking.

I kicked the lamppost she was standing on, breaking it and forcing her to jump up. At the same time, I grabbed the fallen lamppost with both hands and smashed it down on the top of her head, trying to knock her to the ground... but I failed.

The lamppost was easily severed by the wolf's claws, but I still managed to prop it up with the remaining half and shove it into the roadside flowerbed.

"Aww!"

With a loud shout, she ripped off her gag.

Then it spewed out a large amount of corrosive black mist from its mouth.

I managed to avoid it.

But the lamppost I left behind, and the asphalt road in front of her, vanished into thin air. Even the lingering black mist continues to spread, corroding the surrounding vehicles and buildings, creating an inaccessible forbidden zone...

This stuff is incredibly corrosive.

"Wow! She has a second stage! Have you figured out how to deal with her?"

The little thing spoke as if watching a show, and said, "So, is this all the 'Moonlit Gale' contestant is capable of? You're already struggling to deal with one Modified Witch, and you still want to take down all the other witches!"

Being mocked by the little thing is unpleasant; this corrosive black mist is indeed domineering, instantly corroding anything it touches...

"That's right, anything! Have you ever wondered why she wears a gag? Have you ever wondered why the other Monster didn't stay to help her? Because she's not immune to her own magic! Otherwise, if she just wrapped her whole body in that black mist, she would have absolute power in both offense and defense!"

Mono's analysis makes some sense.

Perhaps inducing her to use the Black Mist Spray again, then kicking her into my own Black Mist, could cause significant damage?

However, implementing this plan will likely be somewhat difficult.

This Wolf Woman isn't stupid. Since she's so wary of my magic, she probably won't let me succeed so easily...

"I'm going to go."

He picked up the combo sword that had been knocked away from the roadside and broke it in two right in front of the Wolf Woman.

"As for you, it's about time you set off."

"Awoo--"

Dodging the incoming black mist one after another, I charged at her again. Wielding two short swords, I sacrificed strength and attack range for a high-frequency combo, which was easier to suppress the Wolf Woman's attacks than with a long sword. However, she was unwilling to use her breath attack easily, and only used her claws wrapped in black mist to parry.

My blade was able to resist the corrosive effect of the black mist, but the black mist that splashed up during the collision still made me break out in a cold sweat several times...

The Wolf Woman was losing ground and her defenses were becoming increasingly strained. My attacks were accompanied by a time-slowing effect.

But time is a heavy burden.

The claws in her hands grew increasingly dull and slow.

Rather than have her heart pierced by me, the Wolf Woman, seeing no way to defend herself, ultimately chose to open her mouth.

"Oh ho, she's going to use that move!"

Amidst the little creature's squeals, I took a step back.

The gushing colored breath corroded the road surface, forming huge craters in the road, while the lingering black mist permeated the craters, slowly expanding the area of erosion.

If I get hit by that attack, even with Ceruno's protective shield, I'll still be dead.

The Wolf Woman, fearing I would kick her in, also took a large step back.

But would retreating be useful?

I pressed the Past Moment rewind, and my consciousness was ejected from my body. The Wolf Woman, aided by the pocket watch, began to Rewind. She had been repeatedly defeated by me, so the Rewind always managed to push her back into the black mist...

It's over.

Press the pocket watch again, and time begins to flow.

But for the Wolf Woman, it was as if she had suddenly appeared within the black mist she herself had exhaled. The corrosive black mist that she had spewed out began to erode her body, and a heart-wrenching howl immediately followed...

"Poor thing, she was already being careful enough."

The Wolf Woman's magic was extremely powerful, but unfortunately, she herself was not immune to this power, and ultimately suffered a backlash and died...

"Wait, Miluno."

The little thing patted my cheek and pointed to the Wolf Woman in the black mist.

She's not dead!