Maki's kick had blasted Dagon into a crater more than half a meter deep.
The entire scene fell silent at once, everyone's movements freezing.
Kento Nanami, who had been about to rush over to save her, froze in place and stared blankly at the sight before him.
Naobito Zenin stood where he was. After a moment of silence, he suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahaha! Interesting! This is too interesting! Since when did you become so capable, Maki?!"
He laughed so freely that tears were nearly spilling from his eyes.
But Kento Nanami, standing nearby, was nowhere near as relaxed as Naobito.
He keenly noticed that something was wrong with Maki. With a grave expression, he looked at her and shouted:
"Who are you?! Are you still Maki?!"
Hearing that, Maki felt a surge of joy. She was utterly bewildered right now.
Just now, she had felt as though she were an observer, watching helplessly as her own body kicked Dagon away.
W-What... what... what is going on?!
Maki screamed inwardly.
She had felt the force of that kick with perfect clarity.
The power flowing through it was something she had never experienced in her life.
Although her physical constitution made her somewhat stronger than an ordinary person, she was nowhere near this terrifyingly strong!
What on earth had happened?!
While Nanami stared gravely at Maki, Naobito waved his hands with a smile.
"Ah, Nanami, no need to be so anxious. Maki may be different now, but she is still Maki at heart. She is one of us."
Maki's anger flared.
That damned old man—she was no longer herself, and he could still laugh?!
The more Maki thought about it, the angrier she became. Unable to hold herself back, she cursed directly at Naobito.
"**You damn old geezer, did drinking