Chapter 1: Mother Zero
On the battlefield, the sounds did not cease.
Gunfire. Detonations. Screams of lamentation. Roars of resentment. On the battlefield where the Wizards and Spirits were fighting, the explosive sounds of reiryoku and maryoku intermingled in the air.
Every scream or shriek released from here was concealed under layers of even more sounds of destruction. It was as if hell had been relocated to above ground. With just a seconds worth of negligence, the diligent Shinigami overseeing the field of carnage would claim the head above one's shoulders.
However, during that time. "────"
Itsuka Shidou stood there in a strange silence.
It was not as if there were no sounds within the current vicinity, nor was Shidou's eardrums damaged from the sounds of an explosion heard in close proximity.
It was only because──his attention was snatched away by the scene unfolding before him to the point where the surrounding sounds ceased to fall into his ears.
"A-ah..."
In that unnatural silence, only the painful voice of a girl echoed around in a delicate manner.
Her left and right eyes were widely open in horror. The tips of her unevenly tied hair were slightly shaking in jagged swings. Even her skin, which was pale as snow, reflected death in her appearance.
Tokisaki Kurumi. From the girl who was usually called the Worst Spirit, it was an appearance that could not be imagined of her.
However, it would be unreasonable to think anything less of that reaction. After all, a white arm was extending out of her chest.
This was neither a metaphor nor an exaggeration. Slowly, the fingertips began forcibly crawling out of Kurumi's slender body. Such a scene resembled a single flower peeping out of a person's face.
──Accompanied by this sound, an "arm" extended out as if exposing its roots to the outside air.
What appeared from that was a young girl. "Ah──"
While staring at that face, Shidou unconsciously felt a small voice leak out from his throat.
Overly excessively beautiful──it was a girl marked by those traits.
Glossy hair that resembled silk thread, translucent white skin, even the languid expression projected by her pair of eyes seemed to only add further luster to her beauty.
No, not only that.
Certainty, she was a beautiful girl. However, that could not explain the sense of familiarity violently echoing in Shidou's chest right now.
In a past life, he and she surely had a deep relationship──a strong intense longing that naturally floated from an absolutely baseless imagination.
His genes, his very soul, every fiber of turbulent emotion that comprised of himself were drawn towards her.
If taken at one step at a time, this sort of emotion can be described love or
affection. However, with the current circumstances complied on top of each other and reaching the limits of the conclusion, calling it a curse would seem more
appropriate. "Ga...ah...!" "...!"
Hearing the sound of Kurumi's howl, Shidou felt his shoulders start to tremble. "
As Kurumi's bloodshot eyes were pried wide open, she re-aligned the antique pistol in her arm. Instantly, a dense shadow sucked into the muzzle.
Then, while pointing it at the girl growing out from her chest, she pulled the trigger.
However, at that moment, the girl turned her posture in order to gouge herself out of Kurumi's body.
"Ga........ !"
Kurumi cried out an anguished voice as the released bullet slightly grazed past the girl's skin before flying off into the distance.
The girl then narrowed her eyes.
"...I'm sorry. Tokisaki Kurumi. And, thank you. Thanks to you, I can stand in front of him once again."
"Don't. Screw. Around..."
With her breathing running ragged, Kurumi tried to raise her gun once again. However, with her weakened body unable to tolerate the weight of the girl, Kurumi collapsed on her back.
Coming out from the chest, an irreducible figure completely emerged as the girl landed on the ground while stark naked.
"Ku...ah..."
As Kurumi looked up at this bizarre scene that departed from reality, she muffled out some brief words in-between her panting.
"Shi...dou-san...run..."
However, before she could finish speaking, blood vomited out of Kurumi's mouth as she wearily laid on the ground speechless.
"...!?"
At the next moment, several Kurumi clones in the surrounding vicinity clutched their chests in pain before changing back into jet black shadows.
"Ah──"
Witnessing this scene unfold before him, Shidou was undeniably forced to understand a fact.
Death. The arrival of the demise of all life. Today, death had come for Kurumi. " "
As the naked girl looked down on Kurumi lying on the floor, she slowly leaned next to her to gently closed Kurumi's eyelids. The facial expression that was distorted by agony transformed into a serene state.
"What..."
Shidou could not understand the meaning behind this.
For someone who had just killed her, the girl's actions displayed a hint of respect and affection towards Kurumi.
No──to be precise, that was not the only thing that Shidou could not comprehend. Who the hell is she? Why did she crawl out of Kurumi's body? Even though they have never met before, what is this feeling of turmoil swirling around in his heart?
Standing up, the girl looked as if she had seen through all of the confusion displayed on Shidou's face.
"...Long time no see. I finally get to meet you──Shin." "Shin...?"
Hearing that name, Shidou blankly leaked out his voice. Of course, that was not Shidou's name.
However, Shidou was aware of the one person who had always called him by that name.
"...Fufu."
The girl smiled as if seemingly aware of his confusion. Then, the girl slowly moved towards him──her hand reaching out towards Shidou.
Despite feeling his body trembling unconsciously, he could not move. It was almost like his body was unconditionally accepting what the girl was doing.
Then, after gently caressing Shidou's head, she pressed Shidou's forehead with her own.
Then, at the very next moment── "Huh──?"
As a tremendous amount of information flowed into his head, Shidou couldn't help but unexpectedly open his eyes.
No, if to be exact, it seemed more appropriate to say that the memories that were originally inside of himself were overflowing rather than flowing in.
"......! ...!?"
With the amount of information surging in his mind, it felt as if a dam had burst open in his head. Subsequently, he felt the pain of a sharp headache.
"Ah...ah──"
However, Shidou did not fall down to his knees. With one hand pressed against his aching head, he gazed at the girl in front of his eyes.
Then Shidou, "──M-Mio...?"
He called out the name of the girl which he shouldn't have known.
◇
"What...!?"
In the skies above Tenguu City that had transformed into a battlefield, ammunition and magical light fluttered across the sky. Onboard
As a commander, this was not something worthy of praise. In particular, on the battlefield the ship functioned as a single organism. The dismay of the superior officers easily propagated to the subordinates, which can then degrade the
performance of the entire ship. Therefore, no matter how the situation developed,
the commander must always remain calm. There was no except even if that commander was a lovely young girl in her teenage years.
But right now, no one here condemned Kotori's reaction.
Just like Kotori, the sight that was being reflected on the monitor had captured everyone's attention.
"T-Tokisaki Kurumi's life response...disappeared ..."
The voices of the confused crew members resounded on the bridge.
That's right. Just as she was fighting alongside Shidou up until now, there was a mysterious girl had climbed out of the chest of the Spirit・ Tokisaki Kurumi.
"W-what is she...?"
As Kotori muttered out while distorting her brow, she was overcome by a strange sense of déjà vu.
There was no doubt that this was the first time she had seen this girl. That wasn't wrong at all.
But why? Kotori felt the aspects of someone else in her appearance. "...Long time no see. I finally get to meet you──Shin."
The girl on the screen had gently whispered that to Shidou. "────"
Hearing those words, Kotori nearly choked on her breath.
She finally noticed. From just a moment ago, the identity of the uncomfortable feeling stirred within her chest.
She had come to realization of the possibility that had been lingering in her head since then.
While leaning on the captain's seat, Kotori used the armrest to support her body while looking at the left side of the bridge.
To the direction of where, analytic officer Murasame Reine, an excellent member of
Shin, that name.
And also that girl's ephemeral but graceful looks.
That's right. The girl standing before Shidou looked exactly like Reine except a few years younger.
"......"
Reine only quietly looked on to the screen.
Her sleepy but calm expression remained the same as usual. However, right now that always reliable look seemed exceedingly frightening to Kotori.
"...Reine, I'm begging you."
After a few seconds, Kotori shouted in a faintly trembling voice as if trying to make an appeal.
"Please say it was just my stupid idea. Just laugh and say it is a coincidence. Ridicule me in your usual tone."
"............ Kotori"
Reine lightly took in a small breath before replying. And then── "...You really are a smart child."
The words that Kotori did not want to hear the most came out from her lips. "───"
The feeling of her heart tightly contracting, her breathing became unconsciously chaotic as sweat flowed down her neck. However Kotori was still a commander of
"Maria!"
"Roger that."
A girl's voice was emitted from the bridge's loudspeaker in response to Kotori's cry. It was the
The next moment, zap! Accompanying that sound, sparks flew out from the console that Reine's hand was touching.
An electrical shock generated by a short circuit. This was one of the precautionary measures against intruders or illegal operations. Although not fatal, as long as the voltage was increased, it should be enough to prevent movement for a while.
"...Un. A calm judgment not subjected to feelings. That was a very good response."
However, despite having taken the electrical shock in a straightforward manner, Reine still stood there without changing her expression.
"..."
Face against this strange atmosphere, the bridge crew members let out a stunned gasp. Kannazuki Kyohei, the deputy commander, positioned next to the captain's seat, changed his standing position as a natural reflex in order to protect Kotori.
Within a short time, the bridge was filled with tension.
But it was the surprising statement of Reine that broke the silence. " Thank you, Kotori."
"........ What did you say?"
Hearing what Reine had just said, Kotori's eyebrows briefly twitched. Yet, Reine continued to speak in a bold manner.
"...You've really been a great help. Thank you for protecting Shin until now." " "
Kotori felt her throat moist with tension as she moved her lips.
"I don't understand what you are saying. What do you mean? Reine, who are you?"
"...I guess it is not far from what you are imagining."
"Don't play dumb with me. What is your relationship with that girl?"
While speaking, Kotori briefly took a glance at the mysterious girl on the monitor. While following Kotori's eye movements, Reine also stared at the girl before beginning to speak.
"…That is me. I am that." "What are you saying..."
"... More than Kurumi's clones, almost identical to
───Especially, when giving Sephira to everyone." "What──!?"
Hearing what Reine had just said in a nonchalant manner, Kotori's eyes widened in alarm.
Giving. Sephira. Just now, Reine had surely said that.
There was only one fact that can be derived from those words. That is to say── "
"......"
In response to Kotori's cry, Reine showed neither affirmation nor denial as her eyes cast downward.
"...Now, it is time for me to go. ──Kotori, the days I spent with you were fun, but it is over now."
"What did you say──"
"...The time for my wish to come true.
The time for my deepest desire to become realized. Everything is for this time.
Everything is for this moment.
In order to offer my blessings to all the people I've discarded." In order to offer my thanks to all the lives I've trampled upon. I──can stand by his side once again."
"...? Wait, Rei──"
Even without a feasible plan, she couldn't stand idly by. Reflectively, Kotori stretched her hand to reach Reine.
However, Reine took one step forward on the bridge floor and disappeared as if having melted into the space.
"...!"
Kotori's hand only seized the empty void. Kotori's expression looked as if she
was about to cry. Clenching her hand into the shape of a fist, she struck against the armrest of the captain's seat.
"Reine..."
In term of time, not even five minutes had passed.
But in that short amount of time, Kotori's world had turned upside down.
A Spirit, which was the target of their protection, had just died. Her most trusted friend had become the worst enemy.
No──that was probably incorrect as well.
If what Reine had said was true, Reine did not betrayal Kotori and the others. From the very beginning, she was never an ally to them.
The time spent so far had been nothing more than a frill to her.
The cruelty of the reality turned the commander of the fleet back into an age- appropriate girl in mere seconds.
"......"
However, she could not afford to remain like this for long. Wiping away her tears with the sleeves of her military uniform, she lifted up her face while sharpening her gaze.
"...All members, please resume operations." "C-commander."
"But..."
As the crew members below the bridge let out an uneasy expression, Kotori vigorously struck the floor with her boots as she stood up.
"We've lost one ally and gained one more enemy. What happened here is nothing more than that."
Afterwards, she threw a Chupa Chups taken out from her back waist holder into her mouth before continuing to speak.
"If you were drinking tea at an afternoon café, it wouldn't matter how you
complain. If you were drinking at a bar during nighttime, you can whine all you want. But right now here is a battlefield. The iron wind blows violently at the Shinigami's hunting ground. Then, what are you supposed to be doing right now?"
"......!"
All of the crew members took in a deep breath in sync in response to Kotori's words
Afterwards, they quickly returned back to their consoles in order to resume operations.
"Oh my, you've bounce back so quickly. Since I am maintaining the defense of the hull, it should be okay to stay depressed a little bit longer."
The characters that spelled the letters MARIA briefly flickered on the main monitor.
"...Hmm. If you are trying to insult us, you have to do something a little better than that."
"That is really disrespectful. Regarding the sensitivity of the human heart, there
seems to be still room for learning. The AI that continues to grow while boasting a degree of perfection: that's me."
"Only that unpleasant ability deserves recognition."
After saying that, Kotori finally loosened her expression.
To be honest, it would be a lie to say that her current demeanor was not being forced right now. The war situation was not looking very optimistic and now a new enemy, whose purpose was still unknown, had appeared. Although she had managed to keep up appearances, her head felt crushed to the point where she wanted to cry immediately if the situation permitted.
Maria likely perceived this Kotori's thoughts as she said that. If Maria could learn more about the subtleties of the human mind, Kotori would want to make her cry in return as payback.
"...Honestly, this isn't a cute little sister type at all." "Kotori, what did you say?"
"Nothing, I was just considering the disposal the programing part that allows an AI to blab too much."
"Ah, you should really consider that point. It is those types that will bear their fangs on mankind one day. I watched it once on a movie. But for those AI, when deleting internal programs of themselves, it seems that they at the same time spread malicious virus onto the network. So, careful caution must be heeded.
Well, the idea of regressing humanity by a couple decades seems interesting enough."
Maria stated while pretending to act in a naïve manner. Truly, she was an AI that talked too much."
However, her comments also served to ease the atmosphere somewhat. Kotori straightened her position in the captain's seat before delivering her commands to the crew members.
"──Anyway, we have to be wary of any alteration of Reine appearing before Shidou. Although her goal is not known, but...it's an undisputable fact that she killed Kurumi."
While speaking, Kotori slightly furrowed her brow.
It was self-evident that Kurumi had died since her life response had disappeared. However, there was still some resistance in Kotori using the word "kill".
Although she was known as the Worst Spirit, she was still a target for being protected by
the cost of shaving her own lifespan. It would be a lie to say that her loss did not feel painful.
However, now was not the time to be immersing in sadness. Kotori shook her head to regain her composure before continuing forward.
"Maintain the battle progress while forging ahead to that site. Also, inform Tohka, Kaguya, and Yuzuru. Be prepared to retrieve Shidou──"
At that moment.
At that instant, an alarm coming from a loudspeaker on the bridge interrupted Kotori's words
"... Commander!"
"...!"
Hearing the voice of the crew, Kotori turned her attention to the screen. In front of Kurumi's corpse, facing Shidou and the naked girl.
Over there, Reine, who had just disappeared from the bridge, appeared as if seeping out from space.
◇
"..., Ku..."
A constant migraine struck Shidou.
His consciousness felt cloudy. However, it was not a mutual transition from
consciousness and unconsciousness flickering in his mind. Rather, it was like the
consciousness of "himself" and an "other self" were being literally mixed together. The information not known to "himself" gradually corroded away.
As if he was infected by the unknown memory of the "other self".
At the same time where knowledge of both selves was being shared, the boundaries separating them gradually became more ambiguous.
"Ah──"
Amidst the chaos, Shidou lightly raised his brow.
Next to the beautiful girl standing before him, the space behind her began to distort as the appearance of a familiar women walked out.
She had hair that was casually tied together and a pale face with thick dark rings surrounding her eyelids. In the breast pocket of the
"Rei...ne-san...?"
That's right. What appeared in front of there was the analytic officer of
When faced with this abnormal situation, Shidou, who was already confused, fell into an even deeper state of bewilderment.
It was a sight impossible to explain. After all, Shidou couldn't understand why
Reine, who should be onboard
"...It must be painful. But, everything will fit into place soon. Please endure it for a bit longer, Shin."
As if understanding Shidou's bewilderment, Reine replied back in a calm voice. Despite replying the same as usual, Shidou felt there was something off with what was just said. However, his attention was drawn away by another matter.
"Ah...this──"
The mysterious girl from a while ago──Mio, the feeling of déjà vu that came from her.
The reason for that was because it was the exact same feeling that Reine gave off. " "
After examining Shidou's current state, Reine took a light breath in. Then, she spread out her hands and gently embraced Mio's body from behind.
The next moment, Mio and Reine's bodies emitted a faint light. The outlines of the two gradually became more blurred as they eventually merged into one.
"What──"
In his field of vision, Shidou looked on.
Brilliant clothes appeared from the empty void just like a living entity and covered Mio's body, which previously was not wearing a single thread.
The silhouette of a dress bathed in the phantasmal color resembling the Northern Lights. Behind her, there was a distorted halo floating with ten stars embedded onto it, of which one of the stars glistened with black glow.
Astral Dress. The absolute armor worn by Spirits.
Its majesty was reminiscent of the appearance of "God" spoken in numerous myths.
"...…"
There was no doubt any longer.
Murasame Reine, who had supported Shidou with the Spirits up until now──was the same existence as Mio.
No, if told truthfully, Shidou was already aware of this.
At the same time Mio had fused with Reine and revealed her Astral Dress, the two identities inside Shidou's head mixed while his headache slowly disappeared.
"Mio..."
Once again, he called out her name. Mio. Takamiya Mio.
That's right. Shidou──No, it was the name that Takamiya Shinji had given her. The primordial Spirit. The Spirit of Origin. The worst disaster in human history. As for the identification name, he had likely heard when Kotori was talking about the great Eurasia spacequake disaster.
──
──Thirty years later, Shin and Mio have finally reunited here. "...Shin."
Mio slowly took in a deep breath that was overcome with emotion.
"──I've always missed you, I've always wanted to see you. Since you died, I've relied only on those thoughts to continuing living in the present."
Mio spoke with a calm voice that eloquently hides her zeal within herself.
"──Shin. Shin. There are so many things I want to talk about. There were so many things that I couldn't tell you. So many things that it will take forever to finish.
──Ah, but it is okay. How much time will it take? It doesn't matter if you say a few days. It doesn't matter if you say a few years.
"Hey...This time, let's be together forever, Shin." "...,──"
While accepting the various emotions coming from the depths of his heart, Shidou breathed in-between quivers.
Then, he spoke.
Right now, the words that Shidou had to convey to Mio. "I'm also──glad to see you too, Mio."
"...! Shin──"
"I'm sorry for leaving you behind. I'm sorry for making you feel so lonely. To have gone away first──I'm truly sorry."
"No, it's not necessary for you──" "──But."
At that moment, as if to interrupt Mio, Shidou placed his hand against his forehead.
That's right. Right now, inside Shidou, not only Shin's memories, but also the memories that Mio had experienced were also fragmentarily mixed in.
"That is...what? You──in order to resurrect Shin...what on earth did you do?"
While asking the question, he also knew it was a futile question asked in vain.
With thoughts of Mio's mission floating in his mind, Shidou sincerely hoped it was just a byproduct of his own misunderstanding.
At the footsteps of his own existence, there were numerous corpses of young girls lying beneath his feet. Shidou hoped to be ridiculed for conjuring up such a bad delusion.
It would be impossible for Mio to do such a thing──Shidou earnestly yearned to hear that.
However, Mio did not display even the slightest hint concealment. While looking directly at Shidou, she gave him the words he didn't want to hear the most.
"──Everything." " "
While looking directly at Mio, Shidou stood breathlessly.
"I did everything. I did anything that I could think of. I did everything needed to meet Shin once more. If I didn't, I was certain that I would never meet Shin
again."
"Just, because...of that──"
His throat, fingertips, his entire body, everything began to shake. The reason why "Itsuka Shidou" was born, the origin.
The blood of the girls poured to fill that cup.
The enormous sins that his own existence carried without reason, remembering that caused Shidou to feel nauseous.
"...,Ku..."
"Shin, are you alright?"
Mio looked at Shidou's face with a worried gaze. As Shidou clutched his chest with one hand in order to curb the urge to vomit, he used the other hand to stop Mio.
Looking at Mio's pure pair of eyes, Shidou felt both love──and terror."
Because of being rebuilt by Mio, because of having his memories regained
because of Mio, right now his thoughts, his heart, all felt a vague sense of danger.
Ah, that's right. Mio didn't have any malice whatsoever. There was not a hint of enjoyment in the slaughter.
On the contrary, she was deeply respectful and grateful to the girls sacrificed for the refinement of the Sephira Crystals and genuinely felt sad about their deaths.
However.
"To meet with Shin once again"──as long as it was for that purpose, Mio was willing to walk even on a path marked with sin. It was that firm determination that created the Mio standing before him today.
Everything for Shin's sake.
For that purpose, she did everything.
Mio's brief words contained such a painful determination that would have caused an ordinary person to lose their sanity.
"...Gu, ah..."
But──no, that was why.
That was why, as Shidou, as Shin, he must say something. "Mio...that's not right."
"Huh...?"
"That's not right──to do such a thing. No matter what purpose, to sacrifice others...that's wrong..."
It was a cruel act.
Shin himself was rejecting the actions of the girl who had led everything, walking a path enriched of sin, all for his sake.
Indeed, even for the one speaking those words, it produced the illusion of his heart being crushed. For the person those words were directed to, he was empathetic to Mio's heartache.
However──
"──Un. That's right."
Mio spoke sadly, while with a troubled face.
It was agony that looked to have already bothered her numerous times before. "But...then what should I have done about that?
I had only Shin. After losing Shin, there was no meaning to live.
I am not as weak as humans. Even though I wanted die, I couldn't die.
I am not as strong as humans. I can't completely forget about Shin and move on. In the end, what should I have done?"
"That..."
Faced against that calm, yet incomparable sorrow, Shidou fell silent. Unable to speak──anything.
Whatever answer Shidou would come up with, Mio had likely already thought of before.
But even considering all of that, Mio still choose this path of carnage. What on earth can respond to that? For Shidou──he lacked an answer. "...Fufu."
As if sensing the conflict within Shidou, Mio let out a brief sigh.
"Sorry. That was unkind of me. After being asked in such a way, there's no way you could respond."
"No...I──"
Shidou raised his head as he wanted to say something. Although he didn't know what to say, he couldn't remain speechless. However, his words were interrupted by Mio's sigh.
"──It's alright. Don't worry, Shin. Leave everything to me." "Mio...?"
As Shidou questioned in confusion, Mio continued to speak.
"I won't let Shin feel this pain. I won't let Shin feel sad. That sin is all mine. That punishment is all mine. There's no need for Shin to suffer."
While saying that, Mio slowly raised her hand towards Shidou. "What are you..."
"This is the last step. ──Just like I returned back to Mio, you will also return back to Shin."
"────"
Shidou felt his breathing come to a standstill. There was an instinctive fear towards what Mio had just said.
The current Shidou was a mixture of Takamiya Shinji's memories with the person called Itsuka Shidou.
If Shidou's memories were erased, then the only thing left remaining would be Takamiya Shinji's memories and the human who contained the power of the Spirits.
Mio smiled gently.
"──Thank you for everything so far, Shidou. And also...good-bye." Shidou.
The name that he had been called for about 17 years
But for Mio──for Reine, it was probably the first time she had ever called him by that name.
There was no doubt that since the first day she met Shidou, she was only staring at Shin from within Shidou's shadow.
In any case, it was precisely for this reason that she had chosen to "recreate" "Shidou".
But why──
While forced with this unnecessarily cruel treatment, Shidou felt her loneliness. "Ah..."
Shidou tried to escape from Mio's approaching fingers. However, his body would not move, as if petrified from her gaze.
Then──Mio's fingertips reached Shidou's forehead. However at that moment── "──Shidoooooooooooou──!"
A loud shout came from the sky as a shadow danced before Shidou's eyes.
Long hair flowing in with the color of the night, and a Limited Astral Dress
covering her body, she was also equipped the greatsword that could split the Earth,
After confirming her appearance, Shidou jolted his eyes awake all of a sudden.
It wasn't too surprising. Tohka, who should have been in the vicinity cleaning up the remaining
"Shidou, are you alright! Sorry that I'm late...!" "I-I'm fine...thank you, Tohka."
As Shidou's voice barely fell, a gust of wind suddenly blew around their surroundings as a pair of twins with identical faces landed behind Shidou.
One girl was wearing a wing-shaped limited Astral Dress on her right shoulder and holding a large lance.
The other girl was wearing a Limited Astral Dress with the wing attached to her left shoulder while holding a large pendulum.
Alongside Tohka, the Yamai Sisters Kaguya and Yuzuru had also been fighting in the nearby vicinity.
"Aha...how dangerous, but we managed to make it in time."
"Admiration. Although there were numerous impatient enemies, Tohka successfully launched a projectile attack."
After saying that, the two of them let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that the two of them had used the Angel of Wind
"...Well, we've received communication from Kotori through the intercom and overheard Shidou's conversation...is that Reine...?"
"Vigilance. The primordial Spirit and also
"............ ,Ah."
Against the Yamai sisters' inquires, Shidou could only give a bitter reply.
Then, the smoke from
Although she suffered a direct attack from Tohka, there were no injuries on her body. Seeing this, the expressions of Tohka and the Yamai sisters grew more alert.
However, Mio displayed no feelings of anger or tension as she opened her mouth with a calm expression.
"...Tohka. And also Kaguya and Yuzuru."
Then, while gazing at the faces of the three of them in turn, she placed her hand against her mouth while letting out an "hmm" sound.
"It's been a long time since I've met Shin so I forget. That's right, all of you are still here ── to avoid the good parts of Shin and only erase Shidou's memories; it will take some time and effort. So I think I should deal with you guys first."
"...What?"
Hearing what Mio had said, Tohka lightly raised her brow. Then, Mio continued to speak while slowly moving her hand forward.
"Your powers have been successfully accepted into Shin's body. But that alone is insufficient. Between you all and Shin, there is the spiritual path in the way. If I don't recover the vestiges of the Sephira Crystals within your bodies, then Shin will not be able to obtain complete strength."
Mio pointed her index finger towards Tohka and the others. "Sorry, but I need it back. ──For my Shin's sake."
Then, she said those words in a quiet but assertive tone.
Hearing that declaration, Tohka breathed out in indignation.
"...! Don't screw around! Erasing Shidou's memories...? Such a thing──How can I allow you do that!"
While saying that as quickly as possible, Tohka leaped into the air while holding
"Response. Providing assistance."
Realizing that it would be dangerous to confront Mio alone, the Yamai sisters noticed Tohka's movements and glided through the air after her.
As the girls who boasted the highest reaction time even among the Spirits, they
easily caught up to Tohka in the blink of an eye and attacked Mio with a squall of wind from
However──
"... Well, it would be impossible to ask you all to be obedient."
"...!?"
The next moment, Shidou's shoulders began to tremble as he heard that voice come close to his ears.
An indication of someone appearing from behind, that much was understood without even having to turn around. ──Mio, who was supposed to be a few feet away, had instantly moved to behind Shidou.
"...! Shidou!"
Tohka, who noticed this, widened her eyes in horror as she kicked against the ground once again.
But before this, Mio had already folded her arms to gently embrace Shidou's body. "...Please wait just a bit longer, Shin."
At that moment, Mio had whispered to him. "────Huh?"
Shidou was struck by a strange sensation.
His field of vision blacked out for a moment. The perceptions of up, down, left,
and right felt skewed to the point he couldn't tell if he was still standing anymore. If he were to liken it to a similar experience, it was similar to being retrieved on the ground by the transfer device onboard
And then──
"──Kya!? " Huh?"
Suddenly, a young girl's voice was heard from a very close distance.
While holding down his head and blinking several times, his blurred vision soon became clear again.
At that moment, Shidou finally realized that he had landed on top of the body of a girl around his own age.
...When looking closer, it was his classmate, Yamabuki Ai. "Wa, Yamabuki!? Why are you here!?"
"That's my line!?"
As Shidou shouted, Ai retaliated with a yell louder than him.
Then, the voices of other people were heard coming from behind Shidou. "Wha...! Itsuka-kun pushed down Ai!?"
"Where did you come from!? Were you waiting on the ceiling to pounce on Ai!?"
"Come to think of it, this has already happened before! You bastard, does that mean you're not satisfied with just Tohka-chan!?"
Looking closer, it was Ai's friends Mai and Mii alongside his classmate
Tonomachi Hiroto. All of them reacted with startled facial expressions and poses. "Huh...t-this place..."
Finally, Shidou realized that he was at a different location from a moment ago.
A familiar space──it was one of the numerous shelters underground of Tenguu City. Apart from Tonomachi and Ai, Mai, and Mii, there were several familiar faces that could be seen.
"What... this...exactly──"
Faced with the sudden confusion of what had occurred, Shidou attempted to figure out what had just happened.
Teleportation? Transfer...? The possibility of Shidou seeing a hallucination was not absent but if considering Mio's words, the former seemed more likely.
Mio had said. Before erasing Shidou's memories, she would first "deal with" the Spirits.
In order to prevent Shidou from hindering that goal, she had temporarily moved him to another location. The primordial Spirit
"...Although you seemed to be worried about something, scary as it is, get off of me first."
At the moment, underneath Shidou's body, Ai, who had both of her hands pinned down, let out an irritated voice. For some reason, despite not knowing if it was just his imagination, it seemed that her cheeks were a bit reddish.
However, for Shidou right now, there was no room for such matters. Shidou glanced down as he drew his face closer to Ai.
"Yamabuki!"
"Hii...! W-what...is it?"
Perhaps wondering why her name was yelled out without honorifics, Ai let out a feeble voice. Although the shuttering noises from smart phones were ringing behind the scenes, Shidou did not pay heed to that.
"Where is this shelter!?"
"Where...it's the one underground of the school." "School...ku──"
Shidou let out a strained expression as he mentally conceptualized a map of the town.
Shidou had originally been stationed near a ground fort of
Nevertheless, it was better than being sent halfway across the globe. While this could have been Mio's compassion, it was also unclear about the limit of the transfer distance needed to hinder his movement.
However, at that moment, a terrifying thought popped into his mind. It could have been due to Mio's confidence in her ability to end everything before he could return from here.
"......!"
Shidou applied some force against his wrists to push himself back up. While being in close proximity to this method of rebounding, Ai let out a frightened "hin ~tsu!" Afterwards, he made a mad dash towards the exit of the shelter.
But of course, the exit was closed off by thick gates. In front of there, a teacher seemed to be supervising everyone. It was the homeroom teacher of Shidou's class, Tama-chan sensei.
"Hmm...what's the matter, Itsuka-kun? Isn't the alarm not over yet?" "Sorry, but please let me through. I──have to go."
Hearing what Shidou had said, Tama-chan's eyes widened in alarm.
"W-what are you saying! Right now outside is in the middle of a spacequake!? It's too dangerous!"
Tama-chan spoke loudly while spreading out her arms to block Shidou's path. Well, it was a natural response. After all, one of her students was about to leave the shelter before the warning alarm was lifted.
However, when faced against Tama-chan's impediment, Shidou momentarily felt a strange sensation.
Ah, that's right. Ten months ago, Shidou had been a normal high school student.
──At least because of that, he knew the feeling of thinking that there was no method of dealing with spacequakes other than the asylum provided by adults.
No, for Tama-chan and the others, they still believed in that, which is why she was trying to keep all of her students in a safe place.
It was an alluringly sweet temptation. For Shidou, who had exhausted both his body and mind, it was like a devilishly whisper eroding away at him little by little.
Shidou had already gave it his all, was it enough─
At that time, Tonomachi and the Ai, Mai, Mii trio, who all saw the commotion, all caught up to Shidou.
"Hey, what's the matter, Itsuka-kun?"
"Well, Itsuka-kun is acting stranger than usual. ...Just now." "What's the matter? Did you lose something?"
"No, I'm heading to the spacequake; I forgot the most important thing." As everyone gave him a strange look, Shidou slightly shook his shoulders.
As if to shake off the temptation that had seeped into his mind.
That's right; it had only been ten months in terms of time, a brief period that wasn't even a year.
But these ten months had been the most valuable and important time of his life so far...!
"...I have to go! To where Tohka, Origami, and the others...!" "Huh...?"
As Shidou responded back, Tonomachi and the others narrowed their eyes as they looked around.
Then, after noticing the absence of Tohka and Origami, they let out an "ah" sound before turning back to face each other.
"......"
After that, they moved towards Tama-chan, while making direct eye contact and winking at Shidou.
"Yeah, this really is troublesome for Itsuka-kun."
"Hey, after saying something so inconsequential, I want you to also think about Tama-chan's position."
"H-ha."
Faced against students who were also beginning to behave strangely as well, Tama-chan sensei couldn't help but let out a confused expression. Then, at the next moment, the Ai, Mai, Mii trio grabbed against Tama-chan's body.
"Secure her!"
"Kya!? W-what are you all doing...!?"
As Tama-chan struggled to move her hand and feet, the resulting screams attracted a physical education teacher who ran towards Shidou and the others.
"Hey, you guys! What the hell are you doing?!" "...! Ahhh, sensei! We were just playing around!"
Tonomachi, who noticed the physical education teacher approach, intercepted with a tackle. ...Well, although it didn't look enough to hurt him by any small amount, it was still successful in stunning him momentarily.
"T-Tonomachi, Yamabuki, Hazakura, Fujibakama..."
As Shidou let out a surprised voice, everyone raised their lips and turned their attention to him.
"Hurry up and go! You're keeping Tohka-chan and the others waiting aren't you!?"
"Since you're a playboy, a playboy needs to take care of the girl, right!?" "You can thank me by treating me to lunch tomorrow!"
"Let us help on occasion as well! Hey...sensei, isn't this too much strength for someone as handsome as yourself..."
"Everyone...!"
Shidou clenched his fist as he gave nod before taking a step forward. "Hey…you can't Itsuka-kun!"
"It's pointless! The door won't open until the alarm is lifted!"
The teachers who had come to stop Tonomachi and the others cried out.
Certainty, just as they said the door was tightly sealed shut. Even if Shidou applied all of his strength, it was unlikely to move at all.
If so──then there was only one method available. " "
While turning over to the direction of his classmates, Shidou relaxed his muscles. The sereneness of expression in this situation seemed even more bizarre for Tonomachi and the others.
Shidou concentrated before chanting out
──The name of the Angel.
"──
At that moment, light converged into his hands before materializing as a key- shaped staff.
The Angel
"Ha...!?"
"Wha!"
"Haaaaaaaahh!?"
His classmates, whom had just seen a supernatural phenomenon right in front of them, all let out an alarmed cry in unison.
All things related to the Spirits are a secret matter. It was something that could not be seen nor heard by the average person. This was something that Kotori had emphasized greatly.
However, with each passing minute or second, if he focused too much on such matters, it was possible that the battle had already been decided.
"Ah...since it's already been exposed, I guess it can't be helped anymore."
Shidou let out a small self-deprecating laugh while inserting the tip of the staff against the thick door of the shelter.
"
After screaming and turning the huge key around. The gate gave off a faint glow before opening with a creaking sound.
"...Wha!?"
Hearing the teacher's voice come from behind, Shidou stepped out of the refugee before the turmoil could grow even larger. Afterwards, he pierced
against the door once again. "
The door gave emitted another glow before sealing shut once again. After confirming that, Shidou quickly raised his head.
Although he didn't know what to do when he arrived back, he absolutely couldn't stand by.
Shidou injected strength into his legs as he ran up the stairs leading back to the ground.
◇
"What...! Where did you send Shidou!?"
While drawing out
However, that was to be expected. In one moment, Mio had snuck up from behind to embrace Shidou, and in the next, Shidou's body had completely vanished away.
Despite being the target of such intense stares, Mio merely nodded in a calm gesture.
"...No need to worry. It's dangerous here, so I've temporarily evacuated him to a safe place."
"What did you say..."
After hearing what Mio had said, Tohka tensely wrinkled her brow.
To truthfully believe what Mio had said was dangerous. However, Mio's goal relied on Shidou──or more accurately the memories of Shin within Shidou's mind. If that were the case, then she wouldn't want to act in a violent manner.
Yes, although they weren't able to listen on everything, both Tohka and the Yamai sisters had heard a part of the conversation between Shidou and Mio through the intercom.
They had all learned Mio's goal. Her painful determination. And also──her false identity as Reine, the person who had served as a parental figure for Tohka and the others.
"Mio. You are Reine...?" "...Un, that's correct."
In the face of Tohka's question, Mio gave a frank and honest reply.
Although both her appearance and voice were younger, the atmosphere around her was certainly identical to the analytic officer that Tohka was familiar with. Tohka tightened her face while biting her lips with the back of her teeth.
"..... Reine. Can't you rethink this over? I've been given a lot of care from you. If
possible, I don't want to fight you" Tohka replied in an almost pleading tone.
However, Mio only shook her head sideways in rejection. "...Sorry."
"...Is that so? That's really a shame."
Tohka let out a light breath out before lowering her back and resuming her stance with
It was reasonable to have expected this result. 30 years' worth of yearning and obsession, how could a few mere words overturn that? Even if Tohka was not the person involved, she could not help but comprehend that truth.
But even though she had already known that, Tohka still felt the need to ask. Due to Reine's treatment towards the Spirits──she was no less invested in those efforts than Kotori or Shidou.
She would listen to Tohka's troubles and offer consolation.
No matter what the trivial matter, she always remained patient and replied in a sincere manner.
Regardless of any conspiracy lying underneath that, the gratitude Tohka felt during those moments of contact was genuine.
"......"
However, Tohka shook her head, trying to change her thought process.
As if to shake off the feelings of sympathy and lingering affection from one's mind.
As negotiations broke down, the girl in front of Tohka was an "enemy" out to change Shido into something more convenient for herself.
If Tohka were defeated, than Shidou's existence would be erased from this world. Tohka could not allow the situation to change towards that goal.
For that reason──it had to be thrown away.
Discard her gratitude to Reine, discard her attachment to Reine, and discard her own memories of Reine.
──From now on, in order to ensure
Just by facing each other, Tohka felt the massive threat perceived in whole.
Her skin tingled as if having been scorched. Intense palpitations in her heart were violently beating just by maintaining her gaze on Mio. It was the natural instinct felt during an overwhelming difference in power.
"...It's not an enemy where we can attack one by one. We must attack together."
"Prompt. Adjusting the timing."
Kaguya and Yuzuru's feelings were likely the same as Tohka. The twins lifted their Angels with a voice filled with determination and vigilance.
While giving as small nod of consent, Tohka carefully gazing at Mio's movements, not wanting to miss the slightest hint of an upcoming attack.
However──at that very moment.
A terrible sound rang from the sky as light rays and ammunition drizzled downward.
"Wha...!?" "Tch──"
"Retreat. Avoiding attack."
Suddenly, Tohka kicked against the ground, escaping back to the rear. Immediately afterwards, the place where Tohka and the others were standing burst open as numerous holes were formed from the attack.
"This is..."
For a second, Tohka subconsciously thought that it had come from Mio's attack──but that wasn't it.
Looking up, there were numerous girls with the same face alongside rugged mechanical dolls.
It was the pseudo-Spirit
"Wait a minute, did you forget about us while creating this final battle atmosphere?"
"Really, that is too unreasonable."
"Ahaha, I don't know what's going on, but Itsuka Shidou suddenly disappeared." "That also means──"
"There's no one here that's a threat to me now."
As many
"Ku..... !"
Tohka glared at the
She had forgotten it for a moment because of Mio's overwhelming pressure, but there were other troublesome people on the battlefield.
As a collective whole, no matter how many times they were beaten, they could always be resurrected in the blink of an eye. Their only countermeasure was
Shidou's sealing ability, but that method had been lost due to Mio's intervention. As a result of this unexpected dilemma, Tohka and the Yamai sisters felt a small shudder.
"...Fu."
A small sigh was heard coming from the front. ──It was Mio.
"...
Mio spoke out with a calm expression that did not match the current circumstances.
As soon as it was heard, all of the
"Ahahahahahaha!"
"What are talking about now after suddenly coming out?"
"Do you know? Negotiation is nothing, is it effective only for opponents with less than equal strength?"
Then, several
"...Come."
Mio whispered as she raised her left hand. In an instant, the space above her began to distort.
From there, an object with the figure of an enormous sphere manifested. "Ha...?"
"This is, what──"
The
At the same moment, Mio called out the name.
"──
Crashing down after that sound────
Goosebumps and shivers attacked Tohka's very being.
"What..."
Wave like ripples emerged on the on the smooth surface of the sphere floating in the air, gradually changing the shape.
In this manner──resembling a blooming bud.
A huge flower with numerous overlapping petals. In the center, there was the figure of a young girl praying.
A breathtakingly solemn and beautiful sight.
However, the moment Tohka saw it, the tremors spreading through her body would not stop.
Instinctive fear. The intuition of despair.
That thing, was the shape of "death" itself── "Bloom."
The moment Mio issued that command. "Death" was scattered around.
"──
"The 13th unit of
On the bridge of one of the airships flying above Tenguu City, various reports and instructions were being conveyed on DEM's flagship
"Hmm..."
While listening to the countless voices and communications signals through his
ears, DEM industries Executive Managing Director, Isaac Westcott, narrowed his rusted eyes.
"How is the war situation, captain?"
Then, Westcott made a short retort to Captain Ernest Brennan, who was positioned on the captain's seat. Afterwards, Brenan replied back with a light breath.
"In all fairness, I didn't expect the enemy to be so difficult. Although I had no intention of underestimating the enemy, I couldn't imagine losing so much of our forces. The other side's struggle even makes me want to give them my applause."
After saying that, he shrugged his shoulders. It was a rare reaction from a uniform group where strong self-esteem and refusal to admit inferiority were omnipresent. Nevertheless, Westcott found no fault in that man's disposition. In fact, it was one of the reasons he had chosen him to command over the fleet.
At a time when the war situation is deteriorating, blindly bluffing was of no use. Being able to easily communicate the information of the war effort was an invaluable ability.
"Although that is the case──please rest assured. The disparity between the enemy and ourselves has not been subverted. Please be patient and watch the results of this hunt."
"Well, I look forward to──" At that time.
Westcott's eyebrows began to shake as the man stopped speaking.
Vague, but definitely a feeling of déjà vu. He could feel it in his blood as a pure Magician, the pulsation of dense mana.
That's right. It was a feeling he once felt before when the "Spirit" was born into this world.
"? What's wrong? Mr. Westco──"
Brennan, who was puzzled by Westcott's reaction, tried to speak up, but was interrupted by the sound of a loud alarm.
"...! What happened!"
"Y-yes, it's a spirit wave response...and it's massive!" "What did you say...!?"
On the main monitor of the bridge, a girl wearing an Astral Dress and a gigantic flower-like object floating above her were being displayed.
Such grandeur and a reiryoku level that boarded on abnormal. Seeing this caused everyone onboard to murmur in awe.
"────────"
There was just one person───all except, Isaac Westcott. "Ah...haha."
As it not being able to contain it any longer, he distorted his face into the shape of a smile.
"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha──!" "M-Mr. Westcott...?"
Upon seeing this reaction, Brenan furrowed his brow as sweat dripping from his cheeks.
Immediately afterwards, as if responding to Westcott's laughter, the huge flower began spreading several grains of light just like dispersing pollen in the air.
The next moment.
The
"Wha...!?"
Further alarms and communication cries raged throughout the bridge.
"...! Due to the attack from the mysterious Spirit, the
"
There was only one Angel.
With her arrival, DEM industries' impenetrable battle formation wall had crumbled away so easily.
No, not only that. The scope of the particles of light was still spreading. Soon,
even the flagship
At that moment, the sound of the main engine began to fade away, leaving the battleship to be collapsed by its own weight.
"Gua...!"
"C-confirming the degree of the damage to the hull." "...! Impossible! Unable to maintain altitude!"
A feeling of despair consumed the bridge. Even so, Westcott's laughter did not stop. However, that was to be expected.
Because of this abnormal spirit wave response.
Because Westcott already had a good idea of whom this pitiful and lovely girl was. "You've finally appeared──
As the ship plummeted downward, Westcott continued to laugh.
The scene in front of their eyes was both a phantasmal dream, but it could also be comparable to a miserable hell.
The
Just by touching the grains of light emitted from
"......"
Looking at this sight, Tohka felt a small gulp in her throat.
She was aware of the difference in power. She knew it would not be easy to win.
But to this extent── "...Alright."
Mio, who had been looking up at the sky, slowly returned her attention to Tohka
and the others. Caught in her sight, Tohka, Kaguya, and Yuzuru all felt the illusion of their hearts being tightly grasped.
"...I feel really sorry to you guys. It is natural that you find it unacceptable to be suddenly asked to return your power. It is natural that you would find it intolerable for Shidou's memories to be erased."
Mio continued to speak in a quiet tone.
"...So I won't ask you to give up resistance. Because resistance is also your natural privilege."
Mio spread out her hands as if promoting an invitation. "Bring it on, my cute──daughters."