As Selena raced down the crowded street, people were gathering, craning their necks to see the source of the earlier explosion. Without slowing, Selena leaped onto a nearby building, sprinting across rooftops to avoid the packed streets below.
Soon enough, Selena reached the poorer district of the city, marked by run-down buildings with grimy steel facades that hadn't seen a wash in years. Despite noticing guards scattered throughout wealthier sections, this impoverished area had suspiciously little security presence. It sickened her to see greed thriving openly in a bustling trade city—clearly, there was more than enough wealth to spare.
Dropping quietly onto the empty street, people scattered or turned away upon seeing her—some even ran outright. Selena could only imagine how terrifying she looked, sword drawn and eyes fierce with purpose. Ignoring their reactions, she quickly approached the warehouses where the activity seemed highest.
Two guards stood at the entrance, yawning from apparent boredom. One turned abruptly, noticing her approach, and hurriedly chanted a spell, panic coloring his voice.
"O flame, destroy my foes! Fireba—"
In a blur, Selena dashed forward, slicing the magic circle apart mid-air. The flames sputtered harmlessly into nothing.
"Intruder!" shouted the second guard, desperately sounding an alarm. Doors burst open as men spilled outside, weapons drawn.
A large man, presumably their leader, eyed her hungrily, a leering smile spreading across his lips. "Hey, girl, drop the sword and surrender. We promise we'll treat you real nice, right boys?"
"Yeah!"
"Lookin' real fine, aren't ya?"
"Hey, boss—isn't she the one we're supposed to grab and sell off?"
Disgust twisted my stomach. "You've been kidnapping children, haven't you?"
The men exchanged uneasy glances. One shrugged indifferently, "Anything for profit."
Selena scanned their ranks, noticing a few individuals who looked uncomfortable, ashamed even, clearly forced into their roles.
"You have no right," Selena stated coldly, voice dripping with fury.
"Hear that, boys? She thinks she's clever!" Their laughter erupted, harsh and ugly, though a few faces stayed grimly silent.
"So, where are you keeping the kids?" Selena demanded, tightening her grip on the sword.
"Why don't you come closer and find—" His taunt ended abruptly as his head tumbled to the ground. My blade, swift and silent, had already struck.
"Charge!" came the panicked cry as fireballs and water bolts flew toward her. Without hesitation, Selena cast Gale Claw, effortlessly dispersing their spells. Closing the gap, Selena cut swiftly through the ranks, launching ice spears to eliminate their ranged support. Efficiency mattered—every second counted.
In mere moments, the yard fell silent, bodies scattered around me. Only three men remained alive, trembling, eyes filled with terror and remorse.
"Why did you do this?" Selena asked coldly, leveling her blade toward them.
"You think we had a choice?" the first cried, eyes full of anguish. "They threatened my family! If I didn't join, they'd have taken my wife and kids next!"
The second man spoke bitterly, gaze averted in shame. "They beat me half to death. Forced me to be an example. I didn't want this life."
The third trembled visibly, "Stealing, dealing drugs—I could handle that. But trafficking people? Seeing innocent families ripped apart... it broke me."
Selena softened slightly. "Tell me where they're keeping the captives, and maybe there's still time to save them."
"There's a tunnel beneath the warehouse," the first explained hurriedly. "Wide enough for two at a time. We bring them halfway through the tunnels, where someone waits with jewels and gold. Our boss has been doing it for four years, but lately, they've increased demand—started taking kids, the homeless, anyone they can grab."
Selena's heart clenched painfully. "And none of you found that suspicious?"
"Of course we did," the third man whispered hoarsely, eyes haunted. "But if you spoke up, you died."
"When's your next shipment? Are others here against their will?"
"One other," the second answered urgently. "Tom, he was the bookkeeper. He's kept where the shipments are stored. He tried helping a merfolk girl escape, and they punished him severely. I heard they got her back, planning to sell her at auction—her rarity meant a higher price."
"Get out of here," Selena ordered sharply, turning toward the warehouse entrance. "This place won't exist much longer."
They didn't hesitate, scrambling to their feet and fleeing into the darkness. Selena steeled herself, stepping inside with renewed resolve—this cruelty would end tonight.
Selena moved swiftly through the enemy base, her katana slicing through guards as effortlessly as if they were blades of grass caught in a storm. Her face was cold and detached, determination masking the ache that tugged at her heart with every life she took. Selena did not relish killing—she never had—but today, remorse was a luxury she refused herself. These were people who traded lives for gold, and mercy had long since fled from their hearts.
As she reached a hallway, a group of mages began to form a circle, their spell-casting chants filling the air. Selena's eyes narrowed. She wouldn't give them the chance. Her form blurred, stepping in quick, precise movements, interrupting their incantations. Each mage fell in rapid succession, their spells silenced before they could manifest.
Soon, she entered a room lined with makeshift beds and rickety furniture—a grim barracks for those who enforced cruelty for profit. Selena hesitated only briefly, scanning the weary faces of terrified men who scrambled away. She wondered if there were more like the three she'd encountered earlier: men forced into service by fear rather than desire. But she couldn't stop now—not while lives hung in the balance.
Finally, she burst through another door into a grim chamber illuminated by dim, flickering torchlight. The scene made her blood freeze. Four men stood there, knives pressed against the throats of women, children, and frightened adults, their eyes wide with desperation.
"One more step, and they all die," a man sneered, pressing the blade tighter against a child's trembling neck.
Without a second thought, Selena dropped her katana to the ground. It clattered loudly against the stone floor.
"Good girl," the thug mocked, a sinister grin spreading across his scarred face. "Now—"
"Everyone," Selena interrupted him, her voice calm yet commanding, "close your eyes."
Confusion flickered across the hostages' faces, but they complied instantly, trusting this fierce stranger who had already risked everything for their sake. Selena's eyes flashed as she activated her Sharingan, crimson irises swirling with powerful chakra. She attempted to place the men under genjutsu, aiming to incapacitate them without further violence.
But something went wrong.
Instead of falling quietly into illusions, the men's bodies convulsed violently. Blood seeped from their eyes, noses, and ears. With guttural cries, they collapsed to their knees before falling still, lifeless on the floor.
In a blur, Selena moved, swiftly appearing behind the fallen men before their bodies could even touch the ground. She grabbed each one in quick succession and hurled them forcefully against the far wall, their limp forms hitting stone with brutal finality.
She exhaled sharply, irritation tightening in her chest. Her crimson eyes dimmed slightly, their swirling tomoe slowing to a halt. 'Overstimulating their brains definitely isn't what I had in mind,' she thought bitterly. Her frustration grew, gnawing at her composure. She wanted precision, subtlety, control—yet despite all her efforts, the genjutsu remained wild and dangerously unpredictable. She still hadn't discovered the key to properly harnessing it, a fact that grated on her pride and patience.
Selena forced away her irritation, shifting her attention quickly back to the hostages, her tone softer and reassuring. "Are you all alright?"
A quiet, trembling voice broke the tense silence. "Yes… Thank you, lady."
A small boy bolted forward, rushing to the side of one of the freed men and wrapping his tiny arms around him tightly. "Daddy!"
The man sank to his knees, tears slipping down his worn face as he embraced his child fiercely. "It's okay now, son. I'm here."
Witnessing their reunion eased some of Selena's lingering frustration, restoring her sense of purpose. She glanced around at the others, her eyes gentle but focused. "Does anyone know where they took the bookkeeper—the one recording all the transactions here?"
A shaking woman raised a timid hand, her finger pointing toward a heavily bolted door. "In there. After they punished him, they locked him up. He's been there all day."
Selena nodded, swiftly retrieving a ring of keys from one of the men she'd thrown aside. She handed them over to the woman gently, her voice firm yet comforting. "The way out is clear. Get to safety and notify the city guards. Tell them exactly what happened here."
Turning without hesitation toward the locked door, Selena drew her blade once more. With precise, practiced movements, she sliced through each lock, the chains clattering heavily to the floor.
Gathering herself, Selena pushed open the remains of the door, determined to see this through—and silently vowing she would master her genjutsu, no matter how long it took.
Selena slowly entered the room, finding herself face-to-face with a disheveled figure sprawled on the floor. The man was bruised all over, his skin marred by deep purple and black blotches, his clothes torn and stained with blood. He flinched at her approach, eyes wide with terror, attempting to drag himself backward.
"Easy," Selena murmured softly, kneeling beside him and pulling out a small vial filled with a healing potion. "Stay still."
"No! Please—" His voice was ragged, barely audible. "Don't hurt me…"
"Relax," Selena said firmly, yet gently, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You're safe now, Tom. Drink this."
"H-How do you know my name?" Tom rasps out.
"Easy now. Drink first, ask questions later." Selena murmured as she brought the potion closer to him.
Tom stared at the potion hesitantly, but when Selena guided it to his lips, he drank obediently. Slowly, his breathing steadied, and the worst of his injuries started to fade, bruises softening to mere shadows of what they'd been. His trembling gradually eased as clarity returned to his eyes.
"Who… who are you?" Tom managed to ask, his voice still hoarse but clearer now.
"Someone here to help—provided you cooperate," Selena replied, her tone patient yet unyielding. "You're going to turn yourself in. Bring all the evidence needed against those who run this place. Trust me, they'll lose everything by day's end. If they think escaping will be easy, they'll learn quickly that my partner hits more like a hammer than a sword."
Tom's eyes widened again, a glimmer of hope mixed with lingering fear. "What about me? They'll kill me for sure."
"I won't let them," Selena promised firmly, compassion softening her expression. "The people responsible for this mess will fall. And as long as you're honest about your part in this and help bring them down, you'll survive this. I'll make sure of it."
Tom studied her carefully, searching her face for signs of deceit, but found none. His tense posture relaxed slightly. "And after? What happens to me?"
"You pay for what you've done," Selena answered truthfully. "But you'll be alive and able to make amends. Not many get that chance."
He nodded slowly, digesting her words, relief mingling with guilt. "It's late... but maybe it's not too late to start doing something right."
She offered him a faint, understanding smile. "It's never too late, Tom. Now, tell me, how do I reach the tunnels?"
He straightened, finding his resolve, and quickly explained the route she needed. Selena absorbed every detail, then rose to her feet.
"Good luck," Tom said quietly as she stepped away.
Selena paused at the doorway, glancing back briefly. "You too. Do right by the people you've hurt. That's the best apology."
With that, she left Tom behind, determined to finish what she'd started, heading swiftly toward the tunnels he'd described.
Selena followed Tom's directions carefully, navigating through the hidden passage behind the bookshelf in the concealed room. The tunnel, carefully obscured, had clearly been constructed with meticulous planning. Whoever their benefactor was, they had gone to great lengths to avoid detection while moving their human merchandise.
Not one for subtlety when faced with such cruelty, Selena blew the wall apart without hesitation, rubble and dust scattering into the dimly lit passageway. She stepped into the newly revealed path, her footsteps echoing slightly as she descended. The tunnel was initially lit by intermittent lamps, casting pools of yellow light across rough-hewn stone walls. However, after a while, the illumination ceased entirely, plunging Selena into complete darkness.
Undeterred, Selena activated her dark vision, her eyes glowing faintly as the world around her transformed into clear shades of grey. The walls felt closer now, oppressive as she continued onward. Soon enough, she realized she had moved beyond the city's boundary; no signs of human life registered above her within the expansive radius of her senses.
The silence stretched until faint glimmers of light appeared again ahead. At the same time, she finally sensed life signatures—distinctly non-human and unsettlingly familiar. Her heart sank as she recognized the demonic aura: the husks she had encountered before. Her earlier suspicion rapidly became a grim certainty; those poor abducted souls were indeed being transformed.
She moved swiftly, striking silently and mercilessly through the lurking demons. They never saw her coming, falling lifelessly to the ground before they could even register the danger. Selena continued on, cautious yet resolute, her path now fully illuminated by regular lamps along the corridor.
Eventually, the tunnel widened into a massive underground cavern. At its center stood a large, sterile building with sharp, angular architecture. Guard posts dotted each corner, vigilant eyes scanning the perimeter. Selena effortlessly vaulted onto the rooftop, avoiding detection. Her movements were precise, each step deliberate as she slipped quietly inside through an unguarded vent.
Within, the sterile scent of antiseptic and chemicals filled the air. Selena moved methodically, employing transmutation spells on locked doors, silently thanking Hajime for the intricate engineering behind her outfit and equipment. Room by room, she uncovered the truth—rows upon rows of glass vats lined the corridors, filled with a viscous, dark liquid obscuring whatever horrors lay inside.
Her pulse quickened as she examined the pods more closely. Labels on each container indicated how long the subjects had been captive. Most read around five weeks. Her gut twisted sharply as she realized just how extensive the operation had become.
Selena clenched her fists tightly, her resolve hardening. Whatever atrocities had transpired here, she was determined to end them—permanently.
Selena's senses strained against the overwhelming surge of mana radiating throughout the building. The flow was concentrated, pulsating from a source deeper within the heart of the structure. Following it, she navigated halls lined with eerie tubes, her life-detection skills muddled by the excess energy and half-alive presences suspended in unsettling stasis.
She moved swiftly and silently, cloaked by her concealment skill, passing countless rooms filled with more of these grim experimental setups. Eventually, she approached a hallway guarded by two demons stationed by a significant-looking door. She drew close, confident in her stealth until, suddenly, her concealment shattered—the proximity nullified its effect, alerting the guards instantly.
Instinctively, Selena summoned ice spears, launching them forward, only for both demons to dodge with surprising speed.
"Damn, we nearly got killed!" one demon exclaimed, panic evident.
"Quiet! We're under attack! Thank the upgrades or we'd be dead already," snapped the other, turning sharply to face Selena.
Selena tilted her head, intrigued rather than alarmed. "So, you're quicker when I'm careless. Interesting."
"Do we really need to transform for just one intruder?" the panicked one hesitated.
"Just shut up and do it! We'd be dead without the enhancement!" barked his companion, pain already contorting his expression as both demons began their transformation.
Selena watched curiously, activating her Sharingan. Unlike Tio's elegant, natural transformations, these demons grotesquely forced their bodies into unnatural states. Their skin stretched painfully, muscles bulging irregularly, faces warping grotesquely into distorted caricatures—one becoming an oni-like brute, the other something resembling a bizarre chicken hybrid.
She couldn't help but laugh. "What did you two do to yourselves? You're hideous!"
"See? I told you!" the chicken-man wailed, clearly embarrassed.
The oni roared angrily, charging down the hallway with surprising agility, sword raised. Despite his speed, Selena noted his movements were clumsier than the husks she'd fought before. Without hesitation, she drew her obsidian blade, slicing cleanly through the oni's arm.
The demon cried out in shock, desperately pressing the severed limb back to his body. Selena watched, fascinated, as magic knitted flesh and bone back together seamlessly.
"Regeneration from monster skills," she mused. "Now that's intriguing."
"You scared now, human? Just you—"
She didn't wait for his bluster, swiftly decapitating him in a smooth, practiced motion.
The chicken-demon, panic-stricken, unleashed a torrent of flames. Calmly, Selena summoned a blade of wind, splitting the fiery assault harmlessly in two.
"So, you absorb skills from monsters," she observed, stepping forward menacingly.
Realizing his disadvantage, the demon smashed a crystal, immediately triggering alarms throughout the facility. Selena swiftly ended him before he could even move again.
Entering the room beyond, she found two chimera-like demons frantically gathering papers. Without hesitation, Selena drew Abraxos, dispatching them instantly, their bodies collapsing lifelessly to the ground. Her eyes quickly surveyed the room—tubes contained partially transformed individuals, some clearly succumbing to huskification.
At the far end, one demon ignored the chaos, utterly engrossed in the nearest tube. Another demon beside him desperately tugged at his sleeve.
"Doctor Zanahi, we must flee! The intruder is right here!"
The doctor turned slowly, eyes widening in surprise, recognition flickering behind his spectacles. "Ah, the girl from the reports," he said calmly, snapping his fingers as he recalled. "From the Dual Smasher Party, wasn't it?"
His assistant trembled beside him, panic evident, but Doctor Zanahi only stepped forward, completely unfazed by Selena's menacing stance.
"Fascinating! Your eyes—I've never encountered anything quite like them. What are they exactly? During your last battle, I watched the footage of you single-handedly overwhelming a horde of twenty thousand. You made my husks look like mere toy soldiers! Truly remarkable! It forced me to significantly enhance my creations; falling behind isn't an option, after all. Tell me, how did you achieve such extraordinary power?" he rambled rapidly, leaving Selena momentarily taken aback by his scientific fervor despite the peril.
Selena tightened her grip on her blade, readying herself, unsure if she felt more disgusted or intrigued by the doctor's peculiar enthusiasm.
****
Elsewhere, Hajime had just finished rescuing Myu. The little mermaid girl clung to his coat, wide-eyed as he pointed up to the sky, showing her what his "fireworks" looked like—remnants of his earlier attack still crackling in the distance. They rejoined the rest of the party just outside the city limits, but Hajime's brows furrowed almost immediately.
"I can't sense Selena," he muttered, scanning the skyline with narrowed eyes.
That was enough to set Tio on edge.
"She wouldn't vanish without a word... Do you think she needs help?" Tio's voice was already rising in pitch, a note of panic lacing her normally smooth tone. "Maybe she's hurt, or trapped, or—"
"If she needed us," Yue cut in softly but firmly, "she would've signaled by now."
"But how would she signal us if she—" Tio tried to push, but Shea wrapped her arms around the dragon woman's shoulders, pulling her into a firm hug.
"This is just how she is, Tio," Shea said with a gentle smile. "We've fought so many times, and I've never won—not even once. She's tougher than she looks."
"But Shea," Tio said, a little breathless, "you're the newest after me. You didn't have to fight her before joining. You wouldn't—"
"SSSHHHHHHHH! Tio!" Shea hissed, covering her mouth. "We do not need to bring that up!"
Myu blinked, staring at them with innocent curiosity. "Why are you all talking like this? Who's Selena?"
Hajime didn't answer at first. His gaze lingered on the city, then swept past it to the wilderness beyond. After a moment, he said simply, "A friend."
Just then, a rumble echoed from the nearby mountains. Everyone turned in unison as a sharp crack split the air—followed by a geyser of frost erupting from deep within the rock, freezing the entire side of the mountain in seconds. An enormous spike of glistening ice jutted skyward like a blade from the earth.
Yue raised an eyebrow. Shea let out a low whistle.
"Well," Hajime said dryly, "looks like she's doing just fine."
The party stood in stunned silence, staring at the ridiculous sight.