Campione: Strongest# 487: If Possible, Please Run

RUMBLE—!!!

The river flowing beneath the Bridge suddenly began flowing backward—seawater from the estuary surging inland.

Like the apocalypse itself, water from Tokyo Bay rose into towering waves dozens of meters high. Tens of thousands of tons of seawater, churning with riverbed sediment, surged over the flood barriers with deafening roars, crashing toward the bridge deck.

For a moment, the only sound echoing across the bridge was the earth-shaking thunder of surging waves!

Faced with this apocalyptic scene, Altrouge and her companions remained unfazed. Eons of experience had battle-hardened them—a mere tsunami wasn't enough to cause panic.

Their only concern was that drowsy female voice that had spoken when the tsunami appeared.

"Reversing Tokyo Bay's waters? This level of water manipulation..." Strout's gaze sharpened as he watched the yellow-brown tsunami with grave concern.

He gripped his sword True Demon tightly, stepping out from the group, advancing toward the tsunami step by step. His seemingly slow movements covered the distance to the bridge's right railing in half a second.

Black magical energy poured into True Demon as strange crimson patterns gradually covered the blade's surface.

The massive wave crossed dozens of meters, bearing down mercilessly on the bridge deck!

"It's you, isn't it? The Twenty-First Ancestor—Water Demon Sumire!" Strout shouted, veins bulging on his sword arm.

The next second, True Demon swept horizontally!

Malevolent black magical energy erupted from the blade. A phantom sword of magical energy suddenly overlaid True Demon itself.

Instantly, Strout seemed to wield a hundred-meter giant sword, cleaving the dozens-of-meters-high wave cleanly in two.

For a moment—absolute silence!

Tens of thousands of tons of seawater collapsed under gravity's pull, erupting in towering spray.

At that moment, the scattered droplets mysteriously trembled, then shot toward Altrouge's group like bullets, shrieking through the air.

Altrouge frowned slightly. Her pale, smooth hand waved gently, fingertips flashing with blood-red light. The water droplets shooting toward them suddenly froze mid-air, then collapsed.

"As expected, it's useless~" The sorrowful female voice suddenly rang out.

Altrouge turned her head, narrowing those crimson eyes with interest as she examined the figure that had somehow appeared on the bridge ahead.

A black-haired woman, appearing twenty-five or twenty-six, wearing a white t-shirt and dark blue jeans that completely failed to hide her explosive figure.

Though beautiful, her hazy eyes and flushed face resembled a hungover drunk. Her entire being radiated an inexplicable air of defeat—like a white-collar worker drowning her workplace failures in alcohol.

Altrouge narrowed her eyes. The Twenty-First Ancestor, Water Demon Sumire—a variant Dead Apostle dwelling in water. Though ranked only twenty-first, she was actually fierce enough to break into the top ten.

However, despite her formidable strength, facing four Dead Apostle Ancestors on their side, the Dark Six couldn't possibly have sent just her alone.

With this thought, Altrouge covered her mouth, laughing mockingly. "Oh my, I didn't expect you'd be the one blocking me. But are you alone? Water Demon Sumire?"

Before Sumire could respond, a mature, magnetic female voice rang out softly. "Of course she's not alone, Eclipse Princess of the Black."

Tap. Tap. Tap.

High heels clicked against the ground.

A woman with blood-red hair slowly approached from the bridge's other end, walking like a runway model, sauntering leisurely toward Altrouge with feline grace.

Looking at the scantily clad woman—essentially just strategic fabric patches covering important areas—Brad, maintaining his Reality Marble beside them, drew his knight's sword. His face showed obvious disgust, as if seeing something revolting.

"Oh, it's you, the public bus? The Fifteenth Ancestor—Rita Rozay-en."

Rita Rozay-en stopped walking, returning his disgusted expression. "Still not dead, you fucking queer!"

After cursing Brad, Rita looked at Strout with sultry allure, throwing him a flirtatious wink. "Long time no see, Strout~"

Hearing this, Strout's serious, dignified expression immediately changed, turning extremely unpleasant.

The Fifteenth Ancestor was the type who'd grab random men off the street when bored. Being targeted by such a woman made even Strout somewhat nervous.

Altrouge raised an eyebrow, a flash of disgust in her eyes as she gazed at Rita. Naturally, the True Ancestor princess utterly despised women who couldn't even maintain self-respect.

Scanning the surroundings and detecting no other enemy presences, Altrouge gently raised her pale wrist, aiming first at Rita.

"Use whatever trump cards you have. Otherwise, don't blame me for not warning you before your soul is obliterated."

Altrouge's eyes blazed with pride as she looked down at Rita imperiously. Even facing a Dead Apostle Ancestor, at her full power, she had absolute confidence in victory.

Seeing her master preparing to act, Primate Murder slowly extended its forelimbs' claws, swishing its tail as it looked at Sumire with ill intent.

Beside them, Brad and Strout also gripped their greatswords, slowly locking onto Rita and Sumire.

Even with overwhelming advantage, the three and one beast still chose to gang up on their opponents.

As for such behavior violating the strong's principles? In this cruel world, those who upheld such things already had grass two meters tall on their graves.

Having sobered somewhat from the cold wind after leaving the water, Sumire spoke lazily: "Sorry, but we really don't want to fight you at full power—or Primate Murder."

As her words fell, a bitter male voice suddenly erupted:

"I am Caubac Alcatraz. I'm sure you've all heard my name. If possible, magi, Dead Apostle Ancestors, and Church members—please flee this city!"

[Reality Marble—The Labyrinth!]