Chapter 03 / Setting the Charge

Yes, Marisa was the key! If I could capture her, Razu would surely come to me! So then, I'd just blast her and take her away!

"Marisa? I heard an explosion, are you alright?"

No! Dammit! I didn't want him to be here! However, I didn't want to back out of the plan just because of this inconvenience...

I jumped up and flew up high, above the trees, and took aim into the clearing, at Razu. He looked up in surprise.

"Utsuho!?"

In my hand I held my spellcard, and shifted my aim towards Marisa's home. Razu turned and shouted into the house.

"MARISA! GET OUTSIDE!"

"What, ze?" she shouted from inside.

"Explosion Sign: 'Mega Flare'!"

I saw him make a quick movement to fly in the way of the beam.

BOOM!

The sound of the explosion was amazing. The flash was bright; my cape was flapping from the force of it. When the smoke cleared, I saw Razu, alive and well, behind a large red barrier. The house was undamaged. I scowled as he gave me a furious look. Marisa rushed out the front door and looked up at us.

"Raz! Okuu, ze!?"

The force field disappeared as Razu lowered his hands. He then pointed at me. His left eye was glowing an intense bright red.

"What do you want?"

"You have the nerve to ask that?" I shouted. "Surely you don't think I'd take that last defeat lying down!" I threw my hand forward and sent out several bullets into the ground around Razu. As the dust filled the area, I used the coverage to swoop down and take position behind Marisa, and before she could turn around, I hit her in the back of the head with my buster, and knocked her unconscious. I then hoisted her over my shoulder and quickly took flight into the still waking morning sky.

I could hear him shouting out Marisa's name into the sky, not knowing which direction I had went.