Lady Ripple!

Ah, everyoneThank goodness. You are all safe!

Ripple was relieved to see the faces of Silva, Leone, and many other students around her.

Safe or not depends on how things go from now. Its a little bit dicey out there, you know?

When Leon called out to her, Ripples eyes widened.

L-, Leon!? Wh-, why are you here!?

Well, lets not ask that now, okay?

As it is an emergency, we take whatever help is needed. Im sorry for letting you see something as dirty as him, Lady Ripple. Well have him in custody as soon as were done.

Oi oi, what kind of thing do you take me for? Im trying to help you out, man.

N-, now now. Thats all well and good, butthen, that means were in a pretty tight situation? What happened?

Lady Ripple, please put your hand here.

Silva held out the barrel of his rifle Artifact filled with mana to Ripple.

Kay!

Ripple touched the barrel and she immediately noticed the change in herself.

Ah! I dont automatically absorb the mana!? That means, Im!

Yes. We believe weve summoned the last Magic Stone Beast.

The anomaly that happened to Ripple took advantage of the Beastmens special extrasensory to summon Beastman Magic Stone Beasts. The Beastmen had already died out as a single species, and thus there would be no new instances of Beastman Magic Stone Beasts. In other words, its number was finite. Ripple not absorbing the mana was a sign that there were no more of them.

Th-, thats so thank goodness. I dont have to bother everyone anymore, do II can become everyones Hyrule Menace again!

Seeing her tearful face made not only Silva, but also Leone, Liselotte, and everyone felt proud of what they did. It was worth every risk and effort.

At the same time, it made her feel reliable as well. Hyrule Menaces were the guardian deity of this kingdom. She was the heart and the soul of the Knights who fought against Magic Stone Beasts.

She was the most dependable person in this situation. That Ripple had returned.

Still, Lady Ripple, we cant be all happy about it.

Ah, yeah, youre right. You said were in an emergency, what happened?

Yes. The last Magic Stone Beast you summoned wasa Prisma.

EEEeeehh!? One of my fellow Beastmen became a Prisma!? N-, no way

Well, its not a full Prisma just yet, but its still way stronger than any Magic Stone Beast Ive encountered so far, you see I guess those Prismas are monsters alright.

Where is it now!? We have to stop it!

Its currently running amok within the Academys ground, outside this subspace. The Principal made a barrier so it wouldnt go out into town, but because it was about to launch a wide-area attack, we

We were, all thanks to Leones Artifact, able to evacuate to this subspace. However, the Principal remained outside by herself to keep the barrier standing.

Miliera did!? Thats reckless!! At any rate, we have to go back there fast!

Silva nodded strongly at Ripples words.

Yes, Lady Ripple! Only a Holy Knight armed with a weaponized Hyrule Menace can take down a Prisma! I may still be in training, but should you lend me your power, I shall show you I can do it! Please!

Silva wecant do that yet.

B-, but why!? Am I still not enough?

Thats not what I meant. Leon said that its not a complete Prisma just yet, right? If thats the case, then maybe we have other ways to defeat it. Im just saying, we have to do everything we can.

Lady Ripple, you said the same thing as the Principal!

Holy Knights and Hyrule Menaces are the aces for Midlanders. Its called an ace because you dont show your ace that easily. Well, youll understand it soon enough if you keep up your training.

You who threw your status have no right to say anything.!

Ha-ha! Aint that the truth!

Either way, were going! Leone, can you bring us back?

Yes!

As Leone released her Gift, the scenery changed completely. It returned to the scenery of the collapsed Knight Academy enveloped by a Barrier.

Compared to before the Prisma released its countless beams of light, the buildings were even more devastated, almost completely rubbles, while the ground was riddled with craters.

Miliera! Are you okay!?

Aah, Miss Ripple! What impeccable timing! I pushed through somehow, but I really could use some help!

Principal Miliera sounded okay, but she seemed to be suffering from various shallow wounds. She was breathing quite haggardly, too. She must have really been exhausted.

However, putting it the other way around, she was able to survive Prismas vehement attack and got away with just shallow wounds and nothing more.

Yeah, leave it to me! Ive been causing everyone trouble all this time, so let me protect all of you this time! Thats what it means to be a Hyrule Menace, after all!

Ripple revealed her twin golden guns in her hands and held them up. With a light jump, she stood in front of Miliera to protect the latter.

Then, as she turned to face the Prisma and gazed at it, she recognized.

Eh!?A-Aaahh N-no way! It cant be

Tears began to swell up in her big eyes as she looked at the monster.

Miss Ripple? Whats wrong!?

M- ,my dadthats my dad! He became a Magic Stone Beast when a Prism Flow destroyed our Beastmen village! And now hes here!

It was a story from a long, long time ago. A distant memory of a time before Ripple became a Hyrule Menace.

Her father, the chief of the Beastmen race, was struck by Prism Flow and became a Magic Stone Beast. The village was destroyed, and Ripple was the only survivor.

Had he been living as a Magic Stone Beast since then and even turned into a Prisma?