---In the end, the mission comes above everything else. That's why I'm here.

Staying and attempting to defend this nation from Valheim's assault isn't part of my current objective.

So there's no reason to pause. No reason to stay.

I'll accompany the others to mend the crystal. That's the objective I've been assigned.

Doing anything else would be a dereliction of my duty.


...

Sahuagin.

Their eyes are well-suited to low-light conditions. The darkness of the cave, deep water, these are the kind of environments that such creatures thrive within.

That which allows them to see in such dark locations, however, is also a critical weakness.

"Shield your eyes for a moment!" I call to the others as I reach into my bag, fingertips brushing over the smooth spheres and the thick wicks of each of my explosives. The smoke bombs wouldn't be ineffective, but the lasting impression on our opponents would be lessened. No, I know exactly what the best option for handling these creatures is.

I draw one of my flash bombs from my bag in my right hand, flicking the wick with my thumb as magical energy rushes towards it. A shower of sparks fills the air as it ignites, an I take aim to the rear of the oncoming fish-beasts. As I do, I swiftly take each of their positions and armaments into account, taking advantage of the Haste effect to do so in the short span of time I have before I must release the explosive.

I don't want to wait to advance until the bomb has exploded, after all.

I raise my hand high into the air and release the flash bomb, sending it hurtling towards the sahuagin formation, trailing sparks and flames---

Before it hits the ground, I draw my sword and immediately begin sprinting forward.

Now to shield my eyes---

A crack much like Malina-san's Thundaga fills the cavern, a bright flash through the fabric of my sleeve passing in the span of an instant.

But that one instant will be enough.

Stunned or not, the first of sahuagin I meet is not heavily defended.

My sword opens its neck and releases the dark red torrent from within it in a single flash of movement, painting the stone cavern with its life.

Its corpse is still falling when I reach its fellow. The blast of light and sound was quite sufficient to stun the creatures, leaving them stumbling, clutching their heads and covering their eyes, some dropping weaponry.

I raise my hand and bring it sharply down, cutting cleanly through flesh and bone and splitting the head of the next of the sahuagin in half, killing it instantly.

Another, pierced through the neck. Another, its right arm removed and killed with a thrust through the eye. Yet another with its throat cut.

I move from enemy to as swiftly as I can, before any have a chance to recover. Efficiency. Lethality. That is the mark of an Asakura kunoichi. Even against inhuman foes, clean and efficient kills are the best way to conclude a fight.

The creatures would recover eventually, but I'll kill as many of them as I can before that point.