After hearing that, Chelsea made a quick connection and figured out the relationship between Mephisto and Uesugi Ryu.
So was their previous encounter a coincidence or inevitable after all?
"I'm screwed. Damn it..."
Chelsea felt a chill in her heart as she quickly dispelled her Teigu's ability.
A puff of white smoke drifted past as Chelsea spoke weakly.
"I changed back. Could you move your claws away now?"
Mephisto retracted its claws. With Chelsea's tiny frame.
The moment she entered its field of vision, she had already been doomed to fail escaping.
Mephisto's crimson eyes slowly shifted as it carefully looked Chelsea over.
A low and magnetic male voice sounded out.
"Looks like we really are fated..."
Before it even finished speaking, Mephisto's figure suddenly blurred for a brief instant.
Chelsea froze slightly and subconsciously reached toward her lower back.
The pocket where she stored her lollipops was already empty.
Three lollipops appeared in Mephisto's claws.
Mephisto peeled away the wrapping.
The pink lollipop was stuffed into its mouth.
One of its wings rested on Chelsea's shoulder as it shot her a provocative glance.
"Miss Lollipop~"
A bead of sweat slid down Chelsea's forehead. Even though the voice sounded nice...
She still felt like Mephisto had some strange thoughts about her.
Still, the transformation ability really was convenient. She could turn into any type she wanted.
Chelsea's mind rapidly raced for a way to escape.
At least she could still control the Air Manta beneath her feet.
Chelsea had a fair amount of knowledge about Danger Beasts.
But she had never seen a highly intelligent Danger Beast like Mephisto before.
The Air Manta did not care in the slightest about what was happening on its back.
Following Chelsea's previous commands, it dove downward.
The various buildings on the surface rapidly grew larger.
Chelsea parted her lips, just about to say something.
Mephisto spread its wings and turned to look at Chelsea.
A red flash passed by as Chelsea's face became blank with confusion, standing there motionlessly.
"Now then, time to get to work."
Mephisto spread its claws, which reflected a cold iron-like sheen beneath the moonlight.
The black-blue figure flashed by.
Puchi! Puchi!
A savage gash split open across the Air Manta's back as dark purple blood poured down like torrential rain.
The docile giant beast finally released an earth-shaking shriek as its body convulsed and smashed toward the ground.
Although the Air Manta had become far gentler after being controlled by the Teigu.
After suddenly being attacked and influenced by intense pain.
The Air Manta violently thrashed its body in agitation.
The once-docile giant beast released deafening screams as it tore through the clouds and plummeted straight downward.
Chelsea stood there blankly, as though she had already lost consciousness.
The sudden force directly flung her away.
But even while hypnotized, Chelsea still tightly clutched the Teigu case.
After the earlier explosion sounded out, most of the residents had already been awakened.
At this moment, people flooded the streets like ants on a hot pan.
"Don't push! Move one at a time!"
A man dressed in priest robes led a group while maintaining order.
"Don't worry. The High Priest is with you all!"
The Path of Peace held immense prestige in Jellalck, and the restless crowd quickly calmed somewhat.
The massive Danger Beast continued descending as its enormous shadow spread across the ground.
"What is that?"
Seeing the shadow suddenly appear beneath him, a little boy curiously raised his head.
A childish voice rang out.
"Dad, look! A flying fish!"
Very quickly, the civilians all noticed the enormous creature.
Some knowledgeable people instantly recognized the Air Manta.
Cries of alarm rose one after another.
"A Special-Class... Danger Beast!!"
The ferocious Danger Beast was right before their eyes, and the relatively orderly scene instantly collapsed.
Driven by survival instinct, most people began fleeing in panic.
The crowd erupted into chaos, and dozens of people were knocked to the ground in an instant.
The little boy who had shouted "flying fish" was also knocked over.
He cried helplessly.
"Dad!"
Countless shoes trampled across his tiny body while his father was swept away in the opposite direction by the crowd.
The members of the Path of Peace remained silent. At this moment, words no longer meant anything.
Within the surging crowd, they moved against the flow.
The leading man in priest robes crossed several steps and rushed directly in front of the little boy.
The distorted shadow continued growing larger.
Patter. Patter.
Several drops of dark purple blood had already splashed onto the ground, like the prelude to a coming storm.
Najenda appeared beside a nearby building, alone.
Tatsumi, Leone, and the remaining Revolutionary Army members were nowhere to be seen.
Noticing the falling Air Manta, Najenda widened her eyes and looked toward the sky.
Chelsea was nowhere in sight.
Within the deep night, the panicked crowd in the distance stood out the most.
Najenda's heart sank.
"Chelsea..."
There was no time to think further as Najenda immediately rushed toward the crowd.
As for whether this was bait intended to lure her out, that no longer mattered.