The shaking wasn't showing any signs of stopping. But then there was a sudden movement of the ground causing me to almost trip. Luckily it only slowed me by a little. We'll be safe after we get ou—

A long and uncomfortable chill stopped me in my tracks. It was the same as earlier. The feeling was absolutely repulsive when I feel that annoying chill crawl throughout my body.

Looking up instinctively, I saw ten, no, fifteen swords varying in classification fly at me as if it were some sort of kamikaze planes. The movements were so smooth and quick that I almost got holes pierced throughout my and Naomi's body. But luckily I dodged it by a hair's width.

Looking where I just stood earlier, the swords were cleanly pierced into the tiles. Not even cracks from the seams were seen.

I stood there, baffled by the unusual magic used on those weapons. But I then quickly collected myself and turned to run out the glass doors, with Naomi on hand as she closed her eyes tightly.

Then as if god was forbidding us from leaving the building, the walls and pillars supporting the roof near the door crumbled and fell down to the ground with dust scattering around.

I leapt back, away from the rubble and the beams of metal used as reinforcement for the walls. Letting Naomi down carefully, I faced her and held onto both her shoulders. She was giving me an expression of worry as she stared.

"You need to get out of here quickly. I have something to d-!?"

My eyes completely widened. Looking at my own arms, they were shaking as if I would be using up all my fear this very day. Something was coming. Rather, it was someone.

"Are you okay?!"

Naomi quickly tried to support me while my legs gave in to some yet to be seen monster.

Ahhh... She's such an angel.

I nodded.

"Some actually survived? Interesting..."

An unfamiliar voice resounded throughout the now-silent mall. The silence was absolutely deafening when I tried focusing on my hearing. I looked around, and saw no one but Naomi,...... And the hundreds of bloody corpses shredded and pierced by a sword through their hearts.

What happened here?! Did I really not notice this carnage because of me focusing too much on Naomi's safety?!

Naomi then looked at the large amounts of bodies getting drained of their blood and gave a despaired expression and quickly drew closer to me, pulling on my clothes as she trembled.

"Kazu... I... I can't handle this..."

Her voice filled with fear, she seemed as if she was at the brink of tears. I needed to get to the bottom of this. How did this happen? That voice earlier... Who was it?

I quickly surveyed our surroundings, now focused on an irregularity that may or may not be around us. Then, I looked to the second floor, only to see someone sitting on the glass railings.

He was sitting comfortably with his legs crossed. He also looked as if he was the same age as us. Partnered with his almost pitch black hair, he wore long, black pants, a dress shirt, and some sort of blazer with a tattered cloak with a hood on top of all that.

His aura was awfully sinister, which was unusual due to his calm and seemingly playful manner. Just who is that guy?

"And now you notice me?"

He then slowly raised his right hand up. What's he doing? I quickly grab hold of Naomi's hand, getting ready to avoid whatever thing that guy would do.

"What a disappointment."

His hand swung down, with the blades that once stabbed the bodies of hundreds following his non-verbal command. It was an attack aimed at us, specifically, our chests.

I quickly assessed the situation we were in. We were obviously in danger, but from who exactly? Someone who has the ability commonly named ⟨Telekinesis⟩? No that's incorrect. If that was the case, then…

I tapped the tip of my shoe onto the ground, consciously discharging and manipulating a questionable amount of electricity. I magnetized my own body and the blades aiming towards us. Though it stung me for a bit, the amount of electricity I received was only a small amount compared to the quantity I was used to.

I really had to focus on manipulating the electricity and regulating the amount of it. Since Naomi was basically holding onto me, I had to prevent any current from reaching her. And due to the fact that I also had to charge the dozens of blades about five meters from stabbing us, I basically had to use about twenty million volts to create a strong enough electromagnet to be able to repel them.

Now forget all that! It's not important. But after magnetising most of my body and all of the swords, upon reaching a certain range the blades were repelled and stabbed into the floors and walls. I was unsure of my calculations but luckily I wasn't incorrect.

I immediately took off the magnetic field I created around my body and the swords as to not be crushed by any random chunks of metal around us. Sighing right after, I glanced at the boy who attempted to take both our lives. He seemed pretty surprised by what he saw, he was even grinning slightly.

Since I thought that his main power wasn't ⟨Telekinesis⟩, I quickly thought up of an alternative power to go up against. It was either ⟨Metal Magic⟩ or ⟨Sword Manipulation⟩. But since none of the steel that made up this building was controlled or shaped into weapons, it was likely ⟨Sword Manipulation⟩ and not ⟨Metal Magic⟩.

A swing of his arm, that was the signal that the blades would attack his preferred target/s. And after the swing, he won't be able to manipulate the blades unless he either swings his hand again or the strong force affecting it disappears.

He isn't swinging his hand, so I guess that was also correct.

Then checking on Naomi who was behind me, I noticed her slightly shaking. And I noticed that a bit of the electricity from earlier passed through my measures and was able to hurt her. I immediately tried to heal her a tiny bit then drew a little closer to her.

"Naomi," I whispered. "Go find my aunt. She's one of the ACMs(Anti-Calamity Mages). Help them get here as fast as you can"

"I can't do that! I can't just leave you he-?!"

"Do it for me please! I can stall for a few minutes..."

She looked at me with a reluctant expression. But as she knew that time was ticking, she just nodded and immediately ran off. ⟨Godspeed⟩, it's the first time I've seen her use that skill...

Even my cloaked adversary seemed surprised by her speed. Really, he just looks so childish. But I can't let my guard down. He's dangerous, exceedingly more dangerous than any normal killers.

"Welp, that was pretty stupid of me. I should've attacked while you two were flirting!"

"Yeah, dumbass."

A grin surfaced right after, then he disappeared from the railings and quickly appeared in front of me. How the hell did he escape my view?!

He closed his right hand into a fist then swung at the center of my chest. So fast!

I turned my body to dodge the attack and luckily it only grazed my left shoulder. But the pain was so intense that it was as if it was covered by salt.

"Tch!"

I then charged my right hand with electricity and used it's electromagnetic properties to attract one of the swords that was attached to the steel beam. And since my body was tolerant to large amounts of electricity, I felt only a little sting as the electricity flowed within my body.

And now that I have a weapon in hand, I swung it to cleanly slice off his right arm. I knew that this wouldn't be much but didn't plan on killing him. I just had to stall for as long as I possibly can.

The blade then lopped off his arm without hindrance, causing him to jump back and grab hold of his separated arm. And as if it was the usual thing to do, he pressed his dismembered arm onto the place it was once attached to. And unsurprisingly, his arm was attached as if it didn't even experience any damage at all.

"Hooo~ You're the first to even injure me! In this world, that is." He smiled, feeling excitement from what's to come after.

"There's more where that came from." I grinned back at him.

"Big talk for a huma-"

I dashed towards him, with my body fully enhanced and my speed increased exponentially by the skill named ⟨Flash⟩. And as I reached him, I chopped off every single one of his limbs.

He wasn't bleeding at all. But I do know he wasn't human. It's absolutely strange that he isn't since us humans haven't discovered even one creature that has this much similarity to us. Other humanoid creatures are almost impossible to come by, especially in our planet.

I have a really bad feeling about him…

I then went behind his seemingly hovering body then stabbed the sword into his bare neck, embedding it with no plan to pull it out. Smoothly taking out a simple coin out my pocket then flipping it, I frowned.

As the falling coin aligned with my hand,with a simple flick of my thumb and the assistance of my power of lightning and electricity, I tried creating a railgun charged with more power than I had tried before, which was something I've wanted to do for a long time due to something I've watched in the past but damn, I didn't think it would be this powerful.

It was as if I had a portable atomic bomb at the palm of my hand, the only difference is, that it was a deadly freaking railgun. It even disintegrated the whole body of that guy, leaving only a single finger from his left hand.

I then looked at the steaming hole in the wall of the mall. Oh, that's an easy way out. Tiredly walking to that easy escape, my body felt as if I hadn't slept a bit for a whole week. Well, it's not like I can't handle a little fatigue.

Crap…my legs are giving in already. I just hope that guy doesn't regenerate...

The air blew gently as I slowly stepped out the mall filled with the victims of that otherworldly creature. Though, it wasn't that otherworldly. It was pretty mediocre. Like it was just a puppet. But it killed people who were innocent and minding their own business…not that I had anything to say, attempting to ditch other people due to my selfishness.

Ah… She's back.

I stared blankly at the girl hurrying towards me. Even now, I just can't take my mind off of how important she is to me.

Hey, your clothes... they're already so dirty.

She seemed...slow. Has she used up her mana on ⟨Godspeed⟩? I shouldn't really worry since it's her.

"Behind you!!!" She screamed as she sprinted with all the strength she had left.

You've gotta be kidding me.

I felt a sharp pain through my back. It was something I've never felt before. But it seemed to be reduced due to my fatigue slightly numbing the pain.

I looked slightly downwards, seeing the thin blade of what seemed like a longsword piercing my whole torso.

[Executing Order no. A02. Eliminate all who pose a threat immediately without fail.] A robotic yet human voice said from behind me.

I tried to look behind me, but I only saw a glimpse of who stabbed me. It was the one from earlier. He was even able to regenerate from a single finger. How the hell?!

He had a different aura from before, he now seemed like he was completely automated unlike earlier. His right eye pulsed a deep shade of red with a number of miniscule strings of digits and letters revolving around his pupil. And his pupil, was now replaced with a string of text saying [Auto Mode].

[Next target acquired. Estimated distance, twenty meters. Scanning for a suitable skill to use.] It then raised its left hand towards Naomi. [Scanning successful. Executing skill no. 1, Fireball, estimated mana consumption, 5,000.]

The air around his palm started crackling and combusting, with the heat from its surroundings being accumulated in one point.

You goddamn piece of crap!

I struggled to get the sword out of my chest, luckily, it wasn't that durable and I was able to snap its blade.

With the little strength I had left, I sprinted towards Naomi to block the attack. If I use my own body as a shield, she won't have to suffer an injury.

I then stood as a wall between the ball of flames and Naomi's body. There was no other choice, I already used up all my mana.

[Previous plan has been interrupted. Shifting skill no. 1 to skill no. 4, Blazing Javelin, estimated mana consumption, 5,000.]

You have to be really shitting me right now.

The sphere then morphed into a pole shaped object with an astonishingly pointy end, and swiftly pierced the air as it moved like a bullet towards us.

I then quickly turned to look at Naomi…

I'm sorry…

I tried to speak, but no words came. I could only feel two things as everything around me seemed to slow down; The javelin tearing through the skin at my back, and Naomi, who was right in front of me, wrapping her arms around my body.

Why didn't you run?

I couldn't see her face at that second, but I did catch a glimpse of something sparkling. Her tears? Maybe. I didn't really know. But I was certain about what I heard next.

"I'm so sorry…" she whispered.

The burning javelin pierced our bodies with no resistance, as if it was still flying through the air. It made my body writhe in pain as both of our bodies dropped to the ground.

I was left crippled, only able to move my right side and head a little. Looking to my right, I saw Naomi, at the same state at me, bleeding to death.

I couldn't do anything at the time but just stare at her unmoving body.

[Current targets, inflicted with fatal injury. Time before expiration, 2 minutes. Advisable to leave and search for more info about this world.] The inorganic voice of the manipulated doll resounded.

Two minutes... that's all we have left huh…

Hm?

Naomi's head began to twitch lightly and turn towards me, with a stream of tears flowing down her face.

I tried reaching towards her. But of course, I was unable to and just laid there, with no more will to get closer. I could still probably talk but I don't know if she could still hear me at this point and time.

"Hey…" She called, weak and slightly hoarse, her voice sounded. "Do...you still…remember that vow we made...back when we were thirteen?"

Back when we were thirteen…?

"Y...yeah, I remember" I spoke weakly.

"It...started with...The time may come when we separate, right?" She inquired me.

"Yeah, then…But everlasting is our connection…"

"The world may change,"

Her voice seemed to slowly weaken as she spoke.

"It may even collapse."

Same as hers, my voice drifted ever so slowly.

"But always we stay,"

She continued, almost forcing herself to speak

"Beside each others' arms."

I did the same, she can't be the only one hurting.

"Nothing can stop us,"

Her voice really sounded weak, it hurts me a lot more than what I expected.

"Be it Death or God...Cough!"

I spat out blood after I spoke. Yup, I'm dying alright.

""We will stay together, for our eternity.""

At the exact moment I lost my life, the last thing I saw was a smiling expression from her face. She was happy. As if she knew that the vow wasn't just a simple childish vow.

She knew,

That we'd meet again.

<To be continued…>