Chapter 370: Hit First, Talk Later

Blood Harbor covered a wide area, but compared to the size of 【Compassionate Mother】, it was still not that large.

She chased after the Banshees all the way, quickly reaching the docks.

The Banshees split into two groups: some circled around with 【Compassionate Mother】, while others leapt toward a nearby ship—one of Castel’s steamships.

Soon, they carried several large crates back, which contained not only bullets but also explosive packs.

『Ash, this time we’re all set! We’ve got plenty of bullets!』

A Banshee shouted loudly as she ran, carrying a crate of ammunition.

But Ash did not reply. She simply kept firing, her silence carrying a hint of unease.

『Lady Ash?』

The Banshees’ fight was not particularly difficult. Their agility was far too great—just a simple dodge and 【Compassionate Mother】’s strikes, powerful enough to smash houses, landed on empty ground.

No matter how strong the attack, what use was it if it never hit?

Thus, the Banshees were even fighting in a somewhat relaxed manner.

But under Ash’s helmet, her expression grew more and more severe.

She hesitated for a moment, then asked through the Mind Link: 『Don’t you feel that something is wrong?』

『What’s wrong?』

『Is there a problem somewhere?』

『【Compassionate Mother】... doesn’t seem to be weakening.』

『Hah, isn’t that normal? She’s always been devouring believers. Right now we’re suppressing her growth. With so much ammo left, how could those Followers of the Mother Goddess outlast our firepower?』

The Banshees nodded. That was indeed their shared thought.

After coming ashore, they had followed the sounds of gunfire for quite a while before finding 【Compassionate Mother】. Along the way they saw the carnage—yes, there were many of the Mother Goddess’ followers, but not endless hordes. And here, near the ships, they had plenty of supplies.

They could outlast her to death.

The sky darkened. What had been a light drizzle gradually turned into heavy rain, the wind lashing it against the ground.

Ash’s voice grew heavy: 『Haven’t you noticed? There are hardly any Mother Goddess followers left.』

The Mind Link fell silent.

『At the beginning, when those believers were devouring her flesh, did you notice where they came from?』

『The Lower District?』

The Prince’s Harbor Guard had piled firearm powder in the Lower District. Many followers of the Mother Goddess were nearby, but the Guard hadn’t paid much attention to them—so long as they didn’t get in the way, it was fine.

After all, if they had been easy to round up, the Lower District wouldn’t have become a cesspit of filth, a place beyond governance.

After the explosions, the followers emerged from hiding, devouring 【Compassionate Mother】’s flesh, reviving her.

Thus, in the Lower District, 【Compassionate Mother】 had always been able to feed on followers.

But here, at the docks, everything was wide open, with no cover at all. Yes, some followers had tried to rush over, but they had long since been eliminated by the Holy Guard and Harbor Guard. They could never reach the docks.

Which meant—

『【Compassionate Mother】 hasn’t devoured any followers at all. All the damage we’ve done… has been restored?』

The Banshees lifted their heads in unison, for the first time with a trace of nervousness in their eyes.

『And haven’t you noticed—above 【Compassionate Mother】’s head... is Mira.』

This squad of Banshees had long been stationed near Blood Harbor. Granny came daily to report the situation, so they knew what had happened these past days.

『Mira has always communicated with us, even showing friendliness. She’s been cooperative toward the Mystics’ side too, with no reason to rebel, and she’s not lacking food… something’s not right.』

Ash slung a Gatling onto her waist, then pointed straight at Mira. 『I can’t shake the feeling... she’s the key to everything.』

The Banshees glanced at each other, hesitating, then asked:

『Then what do you think we should do?』

Ash slowly shook her head: 『I am not clever.』

『I am not skilled in strategy, nor can I figure out the truth.』

『Solving riddles... is not what I can do.』

But she raised her head, her gaze growing firm.

『But since this is a battlefield, then let it be solved in the way of the battlefield.』

She lifted the Gatling from her waist, swiftly loaded the ammo belt, raised it, and aimed at 【Compassionate Mother】’s head.

『If it cannot be understood, then just shoot it.』

All six of her hands gripped weapons, and in that moment, they all opened fire!

At the same time, she shouted: “Suppressive fire! Aim at Mira above 【Compassionate Mother】!”

“Empty several magazines first, then we’ll talk!!”

The Banshees roared in answer, their once-scattered fire instantly becoming concentrated.

Rain fell from the sky, while bullets sprayed upward from the ground.

Where before they had been firing all over 【Compassionate Mother】’s body, now every shot focused on her head.

The “Mira” fused into the flesh and monster beneath her shrieked endlessly, but now she was drowned in a storm of metal.

The monster howled, halting its attack. Every limb reached up to cover its head, desperate to shield “Mira” from the bullets.

『It’s working!』

『Hahaha! Even a Heretical God fears bullets!』

『Don’t waste time changing barrels. The ship has spare machine guns! When the barrels glow red, just swap them out!』

The Followers of the Mother Goddess charged madly, but the Banshees casually tossed a few explosive packs and stopped the mortals with ease.

【Compassionate Mother】 lost all ability to resist, standing there howling as she was pelted.

Everything seemed to be turning in their favor.

But the unease in Ash’s heart only grew stronger. She stared fixedly at 【Compassionate Mother】, until suddenly, horror flashed in her eyes.

She’s getting bigger!?

Before she could react, a voice intruded into the Mind Link—one not belonging to any of them:

『Retreat! Fall back immediately! Jump into the sea at once!!』

The Banshees froze, then without hesitation turned and leapt into the sea.

Boom!!

Almost instantly, the “Mira” atop 【Compassionate Mother】 exploded. At the moment of detonation, countless black threads erupted from her body, extending in all directions.

The Banshees had been warned. Diving swiftly into the water, their swimming speed was extraordinary. They quickly pulled far away, escaping the threads’ reach. But those on land were not so fortunate.

From a nearby vantage point, Galahad immediately shielded the Prince. Yet the threads seemed intangible, piercing through his body and then through the Prince’s as well.

In a back alley, Granny cast one glance at the Holy Guard in the distance, then stepped forward—but staggered, clutching her chest with a pale face. With no choice, she turned and fled bitterly.

From the shadows of a building, Gwen stared blankly at the distant sea, as though witnessing something unimaginably shocking. She did not even notice the black threads forming around her. Many pointed toward her, but just as they were about to pierce her, they twisted aside as if facing a natural enemy, veering away.

Meanwhile, the Harbor Guard, the Holy Guard, and even the civilians in Blood Harbor—as well as the still-living Followers of the Mother Goddess—were all pierced through by the black threads.