“‘Shield of Wisdom.’”

  Great Philosopher braced as Faultless Marioe uhe luminous spear-shaped mass of thread toward him. The impact smmed into his raised book. Fortunately, the thread spear came to a halt before it pierced through to the other side. But the force still mao send him sliding backward, his feet carving jagged trehrough the pavement.

  Faultless Marioe’s skeletal body then twisted, its torso rotating 180 degrees with unnatural puppet-like fluidity. From its other hand, yellow threads streamed from each fiip, spiraling and coiling into a dense, saber-like bde. The bde shed downward in a whip-like arc, aimed at Suiko as she darted in from the left.

  She lunged sideways just as the bde struck, gouging a deep split into the ground where she had stood. crete erupted into dust, the saber of thread shredding the road like paper.

  I ot allow myself to be struck even once.

  Great Philosopher reappeared beside her.

  “Miss, I ot defend from arike. We had best go all out.”

  He was right. They had been on the defensive for too long, and exhaustion was catg up with them.

  Faultless Marioe raised its arms. In an instant, the two ons shaped from thread retracted bato its fiips before its scorched wooden hands ched into fists.

  “You both… to achieve perfe... will remain whole.”

  Suiko exged a nod with Great Philosopher. Without hesitation, they rushed out in opposite dires.

  She pushed her speed to its absolute limit, bzing toward her target. Before she could close the gap, she noticed the taut, luminous yellow strings above the puppet monster begin to dance wildly in the air. Uerred, she tinued forward, determio stop the monster before it could finish whatever it was attempting.

  “‘Void Revolving Tortoise Fist!’”

  Suiko unleashed a flurry of rapid punches and hand strikes, building such immense momentum that she began spinning like a tornado in mid-air. The force of her tinuous blows kept her airborne, her body rotating with each strike.

  To her shock, every strike hit nothing but air. The puppet mowisted and dodged at impossible angles — its movements far too inhuman, unlike anything she had ever faced.

  Great Philosopher leapt off a nearby car, propelling himself high into the air. “‘3 Tons Philosophy!’”

  Faultless Marioe effortlessly weaved through Suiko’s relentless attacks. As Great Philosopher’s strike desded, the moimed its move with supernatural precision, evading her baded fist strike and tering him in the same fluid motion.

  It’s wooden fist, a gnarled, splintered mass of charred timber, smmed into the airbreat Philosopher with a deafening ch. The blow hurled him backward like a ragdoll, his body tearing through an unknown number of buildings.

  Suiko retreated backward, panting, her expression grim.

  A powerful A-Css Hero defeated in a single punch! This level of strength was beyond her current capabilities. But retreat? No! No matter how foolish it seemed, she refused to run.

  Faultless Marioes hand toward her. “’t you see? I fix you. No… I will remake you. Cease resistand embrace my of sublimity.”

  “Shut it, you crazy puppet. You’re er than the kindling I used for campfires with my grandfather and brother.”

  Faultless Marioe’s violet eyes fred brighter, the hollow sockets glowing like twin nterns. The yellow core at its chest’s ter pulsed rapidly, its radiaensifying with each pulse that caused the surrounding air to hum and crackle.

  Ba-dump

  Both Suiko and Faultless Marioe sheir attention toward the sudden noise.

  Suiko felt a wave of relief washing over her as her eyes nded on the man standing outside the entrance of a small shop.

  Ba-Dump

  Faultless Marioe’s arms shot skyward, its charred fingers spying wide. “Yes! You! A being as close to perfe as possible. You will bey ultimate creation!”

  BA-DUMP!

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  What had King doo deserve this? Does he send out some type of signal, inviting powerful moo his location?

  Today, he had made the trip to Y-City for one reason: an ultra-rare dating sim. After months of fruitless online searches, he had resorted to cold-callirogame shops in every city. Finally, he found a physical copy. Still in its inal box, mint dition. The moment he learned of this, he rushed over as fast as he could.

  Only for the emergency monster arms to bre across the city not long after his arrival. At least he had pleted his purchase first. As the shop clerk had bolted out the ba a fsh, the moment the sire off.

  He remained frozen in the shop, bag in hand, for what felt like ay. Should he make a run for it? Frorance? Batra didn’t matter... The monster would find him no matter what.

  And, of course, the momeepped outside, there it was—a terrifying puppet-like mo ominously to his left. o it stood a young woman, her eyes lighting up with the dreaded look of hope he loathed. That unshakable, soul-crushing belief: ‘Now that King’s here, the day is saved.’

  Well, it’s not!

  King didn’t know what to do. The monster screeched about making him its ultimate creation the moment it id eyes on him. But he didn’t want to be anyone’s ultimate creation. He just wao go home.

  “Please help! The A-Css Hero Great Philosopher has already fallen to this puppet!”

  The young woman’s plea only made his panic worsen.

  Just run, dy! I ’t save you...

  Faultless Marioe suddenly clutched its head, swaying wildly as if overe with ecstasy. “Yes! Yes! you hear it? The ‘King Engine,’ it will be the jewel of my creation. Prepare yourself... I o longer wait!”

  A cold sweat drenched King from head to toe.

  “Great job King! You’ve weakehis monster down to a Wolf-level threat.”

  That voice?!

  Approag from King’s right was a man he hadn’t fotten — the bald guy in the yellow jumpsuit. The same one who had credited him with defeating Vae Man.

  Do I know him from somewhere else?

  The man’s approach didn’t go unnoticed by Faultless Marioe as he ceased his swaying and scrutihe newer.

  “You… are in need… of a fix. Yes! That reflective surfa your head is the greatest fw I have ever perceived. You must have e of your own accord. Do not worry! I will allow you as well the opportunity to reach a faultless state.”

  King’s eyes shifted to the bald man, who stepped forward, closing the distao the monster with a casual, almost carefree demeanor that lingered in King’s mind.

  “How defective are you?” the bald man asked, pointing past the puppet. “That bronze beauty behind you is already faultless.”

  Nope. I definitely don’t know him.