When a buddy's in trouble, you really do run!
Malinda grumbled about Arthur's "leaving without a word"-she knew perfectly well that her partner must have discovered something and slipped away in secret.
But that did nothing to stop her from wanting to curse him.
Because-
The Step-Entry before her had come specifically to counter her.
Her power relied primarily on "smoke," with "undead" as a supplement.
The opposing Step-Entry, meanwhile, wielded "storms."
What happened when smoke met a storm?
Naturally, it was blown away without a trace.
And the undead power that remained?
Without her mainstay, "smoke," the remaining thirty percent of her "undead" power would also be utterly suppressed by her opponent's "storms."
The pipe in Malinda's mouth began flickering rapidly.
Not out of anxiety.
But hesitation.
Do I have to use that move?
Everyone had a trump card they kept in reserve.
Malinda was naturally no exception.
But...
Using that trump card would most likely bring her enormous trouble.
That was something she absolutely did not want to see.
So-
Stall!
At that thought, Malinda took a deep drag of smoke.
Then she exhaled forcefully.
At once, the dense smoke turned into banks of mist, completely shrouding the surroundings.
But the next moment-
Whoosh!
A gale raged. The stern-faced, middle-aged man in military uniform raised a hand, and the entire bank of mist was blown away-but Malinda had vanished as well.
In her place was an undead creature.
Or, more precisely, a Skeleton Warrior appeared behind the Step-Entry, bringing its rust-covered longsword straight down.
At the same time, a skeletal hand emerged beneath the Step-Entry's feet and clamped firmly around his ankle.
An icy power surged into his body through its grip.
But it was immediately blown away.
Whoosh!
The gale rose again.
Not only was the icy