It all began with a series of dry and cutting sounds followed by holes that began to appear in the Lizardman's body in an instant.
Something sliced across Flame's cheek, and red blood, just like that of a human, splattered.
"...I see, I thought I couldn't see the others. It was a gun, wasn't it?"
While hiding behind the Lizardman, who held a shield, Flame saw through the true nature of the weapon attacking him.
It was a weapon that didn't exist among the Asteris, a firearm that shot lead bullets using the power of gunpowder. Lacking magic, it specialized in accurately taking lives from a distance.
Flame had encountered this type of weapon a few times since arriving on Earth.
"..."
Flame narrowed his eyes. If his memory served him right, firearms were excellent at killing ordinary people, but they lacked the power. Aspita should have easily withstood even Flame's reflexive fire barrier.
However, the bullets being fired now were undoubtedly enhanced by magic.
"Don't stop! Keep shooting and shoot some more!"
Amid the gunfire, a woman's voice could be heard.
Flame's artificial eye moved restlessly, seeking the source of the voice, and found it in the distance of the night.
She was a woman with black hair tied in a single knot and sharp eyes. It seemed that she had concealed herself through a form of magic that obscured her presence. Leading her, there were a dozen or so humans wielding guns and shields, all relentlessly firing at Flame.
The woman in command, Ayaka Kagami, realized that Flame had noticed her presence, and she raised her voice as if there was no need to hide anymore.
"Come on, everyone! This is our moment! Exhaust your magic power to the last drop! If you dry up, I'll apologize to your wives later!"
The Special Anti-Magic Forces men with guns didn't know whether Ayaka was shouting out of anger or encouragement.
"Kagami! What about us who aren't married yet!"
"Isn't the time and money saved on AV worthwhile?"
"Don't mess around!"
"Yeah, idiot! Even if you get married, you'll be dumped when you're dried up!"
"Use love and technique, even if you're a pro!"
"This guy's a demon!"
"What do you think of yourself as a pro!"
"I don't know why you're complaining, but that's how it is!"
"You're noisy as hell! I'll shoot bullets up your butts, you idiots!"
While shouting at each other, all of them continued to fire their guns at Flame without taking their eyes off him.
Tsukiko, who had been saved at the last moment, watched with an indescribable expression.
"What they're doing is amazing, but... their conversation is terrible."
Tsukiko was right, but the magicians shouting loudly in their terrible conversation couldn't hear her.
They were holding what is known as a bolt-action rifle. Although outdated as modern weaponry, especially among magicians, it was clear that these were no ordinary rifles.
In this context, the critical factor was the simplicity of its structure. Apart from specialized magic tools like Kinraishou, magic tools and complex mechanisms didn't mix well. The operation of magic power required human intervention, while complex mechanisms were designed to function without human touch, making them incompatible.
That's why this bolt-action rifle was suitable for magic tools.
It was the 'Gorin-shiki Magic Rifle' manufactured by Houtensha, Japan's renowned magic tool manufacturer. By channeling magic power into the magical circuits integrated into the gun, it bestowed the five elemental powers onto the bullets. And this time, that wasn't all.
"We even went to the trouble of bringing out the expensive Souryu bullets!! We've got to get the job done!"
Ayaka yelled with a tinge of desperation as she fired.
The 'Soryu bullets (blue dragon bullets)' were a type of special bullet with magic imbued directly into the projectile. As the name suggested, they were imbued with the water element, with the power to easily eliminate fire-based anomalies. Naturally, the production cost matched their capabilities.
"How much is this going to cost in total?"
"Don't even think about it. It'll slow down your fingers."
"I heard you practically forced them to bring this out."
"Will a written apology suffice then?"
The men continued to load bullets into Flame without stopping, exchanging such conversations. Even though they hadn't made the bullets themselves, as magicians, they couldn't help but understand the cost and effort involved in consuming bullets like water.
After their 'Amagoshi Barrier' had been breached last time, they had switched to the strategy of hitting Flame in the face with a wad of cash. However, in a capitalist society, that was truly a double-edged sword.
In response to her colleagues' pitiful screams, Ayaka shouted,
"Men, stop making trivial complaints! Problems that can be solved with money should be solved with money!"
"Just so you know, it's not that kind of problem!"
"In the end, it's kind of similar, isn't it?"
Shouting, Ayaka glared at Flame.
Due to the fiery Lizardman, it was hard to discern his true condition, but he didn't appear to have suffered a fatal wound.
While she had mentioned solving things with money, Ayaka knew from experience that Flame was not an easy opponent to deal with using just money.
As if to prove this point, the Lizardman let out an especially loud roar.
"They're coming!"
"That's loud!"
"We still have some distance! Keep shooting without hesitation!"
The Lizardman raised its left shield and charged through the barrage of bullets without losing any momentum.
Despite being riddled with bullets, its body showed no signs of slowing down.
But Ayaka wasn't focusing on the Lizardman charging towards them; she was trying to see through to where Flame should be further back. She knew that Flame, when serious, wouldn't just let the Lizardman charge in recklessly.
And then, it happened.
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