When the mutant had launched its attack, it had actually taken the energy from its very own body. The system information confirmed that much.

In ethereal form, the shadow spectre can only be attacked with magical attacks. As this enemy deals its own onslaught of magic, it will drain its mana heart and also the source of its life force.

"We might be able to outlast it," eX-0281 said with an exhilarated gasp. That plan, however, would remain contingent on how quickly the Disco Menace could deal out damage.

Another [Lightning Storm] exploded from her hands. As the cloud of electrical energy surged for the mutant this time, it had better prepared itself.

The shadow spectre performed a true [Fade] out of existence, just long enough to evade the magical attack altogether. When it returned, the streaks of the shadow began merging and solidifying once again.

Target: Shadow Spectre (Corporeal Form)

Vitality: 50%

Discrete Parts: Mana Heart (70%)

Mana Reserves: 700 Mu

Less damage had been taken off its health than if the shadow spectre had endured the hit, revealing the intelligence that had remained of the corrupted soul. Though the missed attack was disheartening, everyone seemed poised to win this fight.

In accordance with her higher mage class and more robust ley system, the Disco Menace had higher magical defenses as well.

Member: Victoria "Vickie" / "Disco Menace" [Human]

Vitality: 70%

Mana Reserves: 4,056 Mu

The [Shadow Pulse] had only wiped 5% off her health in contrast to his 25%, nevermind that eX-0281 had both the shoddy [Ice Wall] and eX-0704 protecting him.

"Wait," he murmured. With the shadow spectre in its physical form, this was his chance. Bouncing on the balls of his feet, eX-0281 determined that he felt a bit warmer and shifted forms. He blasted forward with his wings, claws extended for the center of the shadow spectre.

In both its forms, the mana heart was visible as a yellow-tinged orb at its center. Much like its eyes, the mutant's core glowed against the swirling shadows around that point. If eX-0281 were to rip out its heart, he wondered if that could end the fight here and now.

By the time his claws shot through its body, the shadow spectre had shifted again.

Target: Shadow Spectre (Ethereal Form)

No damage was done by his claws, but soon thereafter, a [Lightning Bolt] went flying nigh instantaneously across the field.

The lightning struck the shadow spectre, and as the current rippled through its body, eX-0281 felt a similar zap shoot up his arm. His claw had just been inserted through the shadow spectre's haze, after all.

Target: Shadow Spectre (Ethereal Form)

Vitality: 40%

Unfortunately, the enemy was not the only one who had been damaged. Whether the Disco Menace were his enemy or ally, the thunder resistance had served him well around her.

Name: eX-0281 [Sub-Dragon Shifter (Dragon Form)]

Vitality: 53%

Barely any health had been taken off, but it was more the principle of the thing. "Don't attack me," he growled through the speaker.

"Don't get in my way," she snapped right back. "Lizards, just get to safety! You're underleveled out here."

Though eX-0281 made the move to fall back as ordered, he lingered close to the edge of the fight. The Disco Menace might not appreciate me, but I know I was onto something there.

Even if she could handle the mutant all by herself, that did not make fighting it solo the ideal situation. The party had much of the overworld to traverse, and after that they would have to save Charlotte's mother—nevermind the trek back. The sooner they could take out the shadow spectre, the better.

Immediately after the assault against it, the spectre returned to its corporeal form and prepared another weakened version of a shadow attack.

Apparently, the Disco Menace wanted to rush to the end of this fight as well. Her hoverbike became alive with electricity, its motor overwhelmed through the way that she pushed more power into it. Charging on her bike with pipe in hand like a jouster, the Disco Menace also endeavored to strike the mana heart.

When she goes in with the physical attack, the shadow spectre will shift forms….

A second person needed to be ready on standby to enact a magical attack. Though eX-0281 knew this, he panicked for a second thinking that he did not have a proper magical attack.

Once more, he reaffirmed to himself that all magic skills were grounded in the basics. eX-0281 already knew how to [Manifest Ice], so he drew in a deep breath.

From a different angle than the Disco Menace's charge, he saw his new opening. Just enough mana had recovered to try something.

Mana Reserves: 5 Mu

eX-0281 expelled all available mana units into [Manifest Ice] around his claws. Just like how he had a habit of freezing his hands to things, he found it easy to encase his own claw in his element. The magical extension of his claw was ill-formed like the wall, but he felt proud of it nonetheless.

Cold, cold, cold! The sensation of ice against the scales on his hand was some sort of irony, but he could endure this.

eX-0281 propelled himself forward with his wings, coming at the shadow spectre from the other side as the Disco Menace.

When she rushed by the shadow spectre, the form shifted just as he had expected. Of course, the Disco Menace would not have a lizard-brained grunt soldier coming up with an idea that she had not. Her pipe alit with electricity like a broken, live wire.

Nevertheless, the shadow spectre faded once more. Luckily, the Disco Menace breezed by him on a different path. Between the two of them, no matter where the spectre would reappear, one of them could quickly pursue it.

As the shadow spectre returned to the physical realm—still in its ghostly form—eX-0281 altered his course.

Target: Shadow Spectre (Ethereal Form)

Vitality: 30%

Discrete Parts: Mana Heart (60%)

Mana Reserves: 600 Mu

Determined to land a successful hit, eX-0281 flung himself forward with the icy claw extended. His hand struck against the mana heart which made the shadows convulse viscerally.

Target: Shadow Spectre (Ethereal Form)

Vitality: 10%

Discrete Parts: Mana Heart (60%)

Mana Reserves: 600 Mu

A high-pitched, strangled cry like a baby banshee came from the shade as its health had been sent critically low.

"I did it!" he cheered.

The system rejoiced with him in kind, sending some notifications his way.

[Ice Claw] learned!

Updating profile for eX-0281….

In contrast, the shadow spectre did not share in the same enthusiasm. Still in ethereal form, its shadowy form swirled around its mana heart just like when it had launched the [Shadow Strike]. Except this time, the entire body of the shade condensed down to that singular point. The streaks of shadows were consumed like a black hole devouring light.

This would be its dying attack.

eX-0281 felt the intake of cool air catch in his throat. Turning heel, he tried to dash as far away as he could. The new direction naturally carried him closer to the Disco Menace.

"Liz 2, no!" she cried out. Her voice spiked in pitch, sounding more concerned than she normally did. A [Charged Dash] via her hoverbike closed the distance between them in a flash, and she leaped off the bike with a flip in the air.

When she landed, the Disco Menace crossed both arms across her chest and reinforced herself with electricity rippling across her skin. Her mask dazzled with a few colors of the discotech theme, and beneath that, her eyes must have closed in peace.

Member: Victoria "Vickie" / "Disco Menace" [Human]

Vitality: 70%

The spectre turned into a river of shadow which flowed straight for eX-0281. With the Disco Menace between them like a bulwark, her body absorbed the attack.

Vitality: 37%

She collapsed like a limp doll to the ground and knelt there, slightly swaying as the shadow magic was dispelled from her body. If the attack had wiped that much off of the Disco Menace's health, it probably would have killed its true target: eX-0281.

Likewise, the monster had sacrificed its life in that final move.

Target: Shadow Spectre (Ethereal Form)

Vitality: 0%

Discrete Parts: Mana Heart (0%)

Mana Reserves: 0 Mu

"Ugh." A soft, pained grunt could be heard over the headset. Already, the Disco Menace forced herself back to her feet.

No way. eX-0281 could not believe his eyes. Had the Disco Menace really used her body to shield him? Unless the shadow spectre were still alive and casting some sort of illusion magic, he did not understand how this could be possible.

A part of him could not help but feel guilty, especially as he skipped to the last bit of the shadow spectre's description.

The mana heart is also the most vulnerable part of the shadow spectre in which to deal critical attacks.

Beware: the shadow spectre will consume all of its remaining mana and try to haunt its opponent with one last attack before its death.

eX-0281 shook his head, feeling so foolish now. Though he had tried his best, maybe it would have been better if he had not tried at all. The Disco Menace might have been trying to set-up the spectre more carefully for a clean kill, at least until he had messed it up.

"Disco… Victoria," he opted to say instead. His wings carried him towards her, and he tried helping her walk.

"Don't you dare say anything," she said, flinging one hand up to his face. "Let's keep moving." As she limped back to her hoverbike on her own, she summarized some information that he could probably find in the shadow spectre's profile, if only he had read it more thoroughly.

"If there's shadow spectres in the area, there's some murderhobo cult around here that makes them. There'll be a lot more of 'em, so let's get out of here."

"Victoria," he said again. "Thanks."

Though her mask was unreadable as always, her head snapped around at him to glare. "You'll be too useful in the city to let you die here. That's the only reason why I did that—"

"Just accept the thanks. Sheesh."

Even then, the Disco Menace could not return a simple nicety like you're welcome. She became more irate and snapped, "Next time when I say stay out of the way, it'll make things a lot easier for us both if you listen. Just like how I told Lottie to jump." Her voice broke off for a moment, almost seeming to flinch at her own callousness.

More calmly, she continued, "That's not how you kill spectres unless you have a death wish. You draw down their vitality enough, then go in for the kill. Wipe out the last third of their health all at once." Her pipe was brandished around as if to make her point more clear.

"S-Sorry." eX-0281 returned to his sheepish demeanor, already knowing that he had handled the shadow spectre incorrectly. Still, he thought that he had done a pretty good job, not having known any better. In a sad mutter, he left her with, "I was just trying to help."

The Disco Menace tilted her head back from where she perched on the bike. After giving him a moment of consideration, she said, "You'll be more helpful after you train some more. Just listen to my orders for now, yeah?"

"Yeah…." He thought about how he was good at that, never thinking for himself as a soldier for Grandesia Power Company.

eX-0281 returned to eX-0704 and touched his elbow in the dark. "It's gone now."

His friend had remained at the same spot in the dark, a sitting duck. A slight tremor ran up eX-0704's arm, but he quickly shied away from eX-0281's touch. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't wait to get back to Grandesia—where I can see."

"I know. Me too." eX-0281 felt thoroughly spooked too, especially if there could be more shadow spectres in the area like the Disco Menace had said.

Between shadow spectres and stalker behemoths, eX-0281 determined that he did not like shadow elementals all that much.