Who Gave You That Confidence?

The tactical nuclear blast was immensely powerful. Although it was only a tactical nuke with a relatively low yield to limit the affected area and collateral damage, the explosion still wreaked havoc on the city. Most of the neighborhood had been leveled, with remnants of collapsed buildings smoking, while formerly towering skyscrapers were reduced to skeletal remains.

Thankfully, civilians had been notified in advance, allowing them to evacuate in time. Without that preparation, the casualties would have been unimaginable.

Nuclear weapons are a double-edged sword; while effective in attacking enemies, they can harm allies as well. Captain Aizenk was well aware of the severe effects of radiation. Even with advanced technology, it would take considerable time to remove all traces of fallout. Despite these risks, he was resolute in using the nuke. He believed that the Spirit, though perhaps uninjured, would be drained from the previous battles, leaving her in a weakened state. This would be the perfect opportunity to capture them, even if it meant sacrificing part of the city.

However, what he saw on the display screen filled him with a cold dread.

On the monitor in the control room, an exquisite face appeared in the center of the screen, looking directly up as if aware of their presence. Her lips curled into a faint, chilling smile.

Normally, Captain Aizenk would have admired Kaguya's ethereal beauty, but now, for reasons unknown, he felt an inexplicable terror, as if his very blood had frozen at that moment.

He didn't know that this was the effect of Kaguya's ocular powers. Even though he was viewing her through a monitor and not in person, his mind was still affected by the pressure.

"Deploy the Behemoth Unit, all forces mobilize!" Aizenk commanded without hesitation, gritting his teeth. "Authorize use of any and all available weapons, including new manifestation devices. Dispatch fighter jets and drones, increase artillery support—eliminate every last one of them."

"Yes, sir!"

Having issued this series of orders, Aizenk managed to calm down somewhat, leaning back in his chair with a determination to see this through.

Meanwhile, amidst the ruins of the city…

"They actually used a nuclear weapon—utterly insane. How are they any different from the Spirits they're fighting?" Origami muttered, biting her lip. Although her face remained expressionless, there was a hint of anger in her voice.

"Hey, hey!" Origami's words instantly drew Tohka's ire. Puffing out her cheeks, she retorted, "What do you mean, 'no different from Spirits'? I'm not a bad guy! If you people weren't always chasing me, I wouldn't be fighting back. Clearly, you're the ones at fault!"

"I don't see it that way," Origami replied coldly, turning to face her. "If you Spirits hadn't appeared, there'd be no need for AST or the wars, and innocent people wouldn't be dying."

"Like it's my choice to be here!" Tohka retorted, flustered. "I didn't ask for any of this—I just suddenly arrived in this place."

"Then leave. Go to some remote mountain where no one will bother you," Origami replied while holding Kaguya's arm, her voice devoid of emotion. "Please, live on like a primitive."

"You—did you just call me a primitive?" Tohka glared, her anger rising. "And why should I leave? I want to stay with Kaguya!"

"All right, enough," Kaguya interrupted, rubbing her temples, "or I'll have to 'punish' you both."

Origami's face unexpectedly flushed red at the word "punishment," her cheeks tinged pink all the way to her ears, as if she'd recalled something significant.

Tohka blinked, puzzled. "Punish? What kind of punishment?"

"Ahem." Realizing her slip of the tongue, Kaguya cleared her throat. "It's nothing. We can talk about that later. Let's deal with our current enemies first."

Tohka glanced suspiciously between Kaguya and the now-silent Origami, feeling an odd sense of unease. But just as she was about to ask more, she noticed black dots appearing on the distant horizon, speeding towards them. Though frustrated, she kept her thoughts to herself.

"These are the Behemoth units—combat robots with enhanced firepower. I heard DEM recently upgraded them, so be careful. They'll be tougher than before," Origami said, her AST experience providing insight into DEM's weaponry.

Origami and Tohka assumed combat stances, ready for battle, with even Yoshino showing a rare determination.

The Behemoth robots halted just short of their targets, raising their thick, heavy barrels and aiming them down at Kaguya's group. With a rumbling sound, countless missiles shot forth, leaving fiery trails as they rained down from above.

The sky instantly darkened as the wave of missiles blotted out the sun. Origami and Tohka's expressions turned tense, their palms growing sweaty. These Behemoth units were no longer the weaklings of the original story; they had been enhanced by DEM. While each robot alone posed little threat, the sheer number made them formidable. Without Kurumi's cloning abilities, evading this barrage was nearly impossible.

Seeing the missiles descending with no chance to escape, Origami and Tohka braced themselves for a fierce struggle. But then Kaguya smirked, stepping forward with a composed expression. Raising her hand, she said coldly:

"Such annoying flies… Who gave you the courage and confidence to think you could face me?"

As her words fell, a dark, purple-tinged sphere appeared in her palm, crackling with electric arcs. The energy was so intense that the very ground around her began to crack and shatter.

This was Kaguya's Tailed Beast Ball—or, more accurately, an enhanced version, containing malevolent chakra. It held several times the destructive power of regular chakra, though it came at the cost of greater strain on her body.

For the first time, Kaguya was using a Tailed Beast Ball infused with malevolent chakra.

Origami, Tohka, and Yoshino looked on, stunned. They had known Kaguya was powerful, but they hadn't anticipated she was this powerful. Even Tohka, herself a Spirit, could feel the oppressive might radiating from the black sphere. She had never sensed anything so overwhelming.

Finally, as her companions looked on in awe, Kaguya flicked her fingers, sending the Tailed Beast Ball streaking forward like a comet. It tore through the sky, heading straight for the Behemoth units above.

With a loud "boom," a dark silhouette fell from above, crashing heavily onto the ground and creating a large crater with debris and dust flying everywhere. When the dust finally settled, a twisted mass of metal appeared, emitting wisps of black smoke. This was one of the Behemoth Unit robots that had been in the sky moments before, now reduced to a heap of scrap metal, unrecognizable from its original form.

Meanwhile, fiery streaks shot down from the sky like falling stars, one after another, each trailing colorful, vivid flares like a magnificent fireworks display—except that the pungent odor of smoke filled the air.

Origami stared wide-eyed at the sight in disbelief. Just moments ago, a single powerful blast had obliterated the entire Behemoth Unit along with the missiles they'd launched. The robots that took the brunt of that immense energy blast were vaporized instantly, leaving nothing, not even ash. In the sky, the clouds were swept away by this fierce energy, revealing an expanse of clear blue sky.

Tohka, too, was stunned. The scale of the destruction was far beyond anything a spatial quake could cause. The energy was so vast that it distorted the very space around it. Even her own Sandalphon couldn't produce anything close to this level of devastation.

Only Yoshino seemed oblivious to the situation, looking on with a puzzled expression. But even though she didn't fully understand, her unwavering trust in Kaguya left no doubt in her mind—even if the situation was ten times more outrageous, she would still believe in her.

"They thought they could challenge me with such pathetic pawns? I can't tell if they're too confident, too ignorant, or just plain stupid," Kaguya scoffed, looking up at the sky with a disdainful smile.

Meanwhile, on the airborne command ship...

"What?" Captain Aizenk was visibly shaken, momentarily speechless. "Are you saying the entire Behemoth Unit was destroyed? How is that possible?"

"Yes, Captain. The Behemoth Unit…" The operator swallowed nervously and continued, "They reached the target's position but were struck by a massive energy beam, and we lost all contact. The satellite radar shows nothing. If nothing went wrong…"

The operator trailed off, unable to finish. But the implication was clear: if one of their strongest units had gone silent, it likely meant the entire Behemoth Unit had been wiped out. In normal circumstances, there would have been at least some electronic signal, yet now there was none at all.

"This…this can't be!" Captain Aizenk shouted, his face twisted with frustration and disbelief. "Wasn't the Behemoth Unit equipped with manifestation devices? What happened to their Personal Territory? How could they be wiped out so easily?"

"They were equipped with manifestation devices, and the Personal Territory was active," the operator stammered, "but it seemed to have little effect before…"

Captain Aizenk's expression darkened, his hopes plummeting. Securing those advanced weapons had cost him a great deal of effort. If they'd truly been destroyed, it would be a substantial personal and financial loss, and the board would undoubtedly hold him accountable.

Just then, a voice rang out in panic. Another crew member rushed over, calling out urgently.

"Captain! We have a problem!"

"What is it this time?" Aizenk snapped, already on edge.

"The silver-haired Spirit…she's heading straight for the command ship. At her current speed, she'll be here in minutes," the crew member reported, voice shaking.

"What?" Aizenk paled. "That's impossible. We're stationed over 20,000 meters in the air, near the edge of the atmosphere. Even if she's a Spirit, she can't possibly reach us here."

"Captain, look!" The crew member hastily turned to the control console, frantically pressing keys.

On the monitor, a white figure rapidly approached, speeding through the air toward them. Her velocity was so high that the surveillance cameras struggled to keep pace, and she seemed to be accelerating. She would reach the command ship in no time.

Captain Aizenk's pupils constricted, his expression changing as he quickly gave an order: "Is the massive concentrated mana cannon ready?"

This massive mana cannon had been specially enhanced by DEM, its firepower more than doubled, with high-energy impact capacity exceeding even that of a nuclear bomb. Not only was it more powerful, but it also delivered a more focused blast, making it exceptionally destructive—a weapon designed specifically for fighting Spirits. It was far more potent than the concentrated mana cannon on Kotori's airship.

However, the massive mana cannon had one drawback—it required a ten-minute charge time to reach full power.

"The energy is still charging and has only reached 80% capacity," an operator reported. "It will need another five minutes to fully charge."

"We don't have that kind of time," Aizenk replied, his eyes steely as he waved his hand. "Target her and prepare to fire."

"But sir…" The operator hesitated, turning to Aizenk. "Firing now could damage the ship, and it might even…"

"Silence!" Aizenk bellowed. "Do you want us all to be killed by the Spirit? Follow my orders and prepare to fire!"

"Yes, sir!"

Aizenk's face was tense, knowing that firing prematurely would damage the ship, but he had no choice. If the Spirit reached them, they would face far worse than structural damage.

On the exterior of the airship, a black, thick cannon extended outward, gathering immense energy. Sparks and lightning crackled around the barrel, radiating a terrifying aura.

At last, a blinding beam of light burst forth, tearing through the sky with an ear-splitting roar as it streaked toward Kaguya.

With a resounding "boom," an intense white light engulfed the scene, turning the world an ashen hue. The powerful shockwave cleared the surrounding clouds and even shook the airship.

Inside the airship, the crew watched the giant monitor with bated breath. The intense energy disrupted the camera feed, filling the screen with static.

As the static faded and the image on the screen cleared, everyone's eyes were glued to the display.

"Is there any sign of the Spirit?" Captain Aizenk asked, his hands gripping the edge of the console, sweating in apprehension.

"It seems…" The operator frantically typed away at the keyboard. "There's no trace of the Spirit, and we're not detecting any residual Spirit energy in the air."

A thrill of excitement flashed across Aizenk's face. "Are you saying…"

"I'm certain that the concentrated mana cannon hit the target," the operator replied with a smile. "Barring any unexpected circumstances, I believe we've…eliminated the Spirit."

"Excellent!"

"Victory!"

Cheers erupted within the ship as the crew exchanged high-fives, their relief and elation palpable. Even Aizenk couldn't suppress his excitement, taking a hearty swig of whiskey from a bottle on his desk.

But then, a melodic voice suddenly echoed through the command center, halting the crew in their tracks, their celebratory expressions freezing as dread replaced their joy.

"Oh? Are you having a party? How lively! If you don't mind, may I join you?"

Their movements slowed as if their heads were rusting in place. One by one, they turned toward the source of the voice, their eyes widening and pupils contracting in horror as they saw a breathtaking silver-haired girl approaching them gracefully, as if she were strolling down a quiet path.

From the depths of their hearts, a cold, primal terror took hold.

If AST's operatives could at least put up some resistance, the ordinary crew members aboard the airship had no means of fighting back whatsoever. Lacking manifest devices, they were no more capable than helpless chickens, and killing them would be as effortless as squashing ants.

Seeing the beautiful silver-haired girl appear aboard the airship, the crew immediately panicked. No enemy had ever infiltrated their airship before—and now it was a spirit.

How she had broken through the airship's powerful spatial barrier, no one could explain, but none of them had the time to dwell on it. The only thing on their minds was escape. But at twenty thousand meters high, where could they flee?

"Guard squad!" Captain Aizenk shouted furiously. "Get the guards here, now!"

But Kaguya had already begun her slaughter.

Her almond-shaped eyes curved into crescent moons, her flawless face beaming with a radiant smile as she advanced lightly and gracefully toward them, holding a projected Sword of Promised Victory.

At this point, the crew members had all pulled out their sidearms, not hesitating to fire at Kaguya, though the terrifying beauty before them seemed to embody death itself.

Ratatatata!

Bang bang bang!

The barrage of bullets burst from the guns, raining toward Kaguya.

But automatic rifles outfitted with manifest devices couldn't so much as scratch her, let alone these simple chemically powered guns. These weapons might be powerful against ordinary people, but to Kaguya, they were little more than playthings.

A sneer crossed Kaguya's lips as she gave a gentle step forward, instantly shooting forward like an arrow off the bow. Her fair arm lifted, wrist flexing as her sword traced fluid arcs, slicing the oncoming bullets into dust as if they were mere lumps of clay.

In the rapid succession of crisp sounds, sparks burst in every direction.

The crew gaped in shock, watching the silver-haired girl in the distance who seemed to move like a ghost through the hail of bullets, gracefully deflecting the shots. In an instant, she was upon them, her lips curving into a smile as her arm whipped through the air. A flash of cold light streaked past them like a shooting star.

Flesh and blood flew as arcs of crimson filled the air.

"Ahhhh!"

The screams cut off abruptly as several heads, along with severed limbs, were tossed high into the air. Blood sprayed skyward, erupting into a red mist that splattered onto the display screens, filling the air with the thick stench of iron.

Kaguya moved as a streak of light, tearing through the crew like a lion among sheep, her swift, flashing blade cutting them down effortlessly. With each sweep, fresh red blossoms bloomed across the deck.

Realizing that their guns had no effect and that they were being ruthlessly slaughtered, the crew's morale shattered. Panic-stricken, they scattered in every direction.

But Kaguya showed them no mercy, pursuing them relentlessly. These wretches had no chance of escape, and in a short time, they were nearly all dead.

"P-please, don't kill me," whimpered a portly crewman, falling to the floor and scooting backward. His back was against a wall; he had nowhere left to run. His face contorted in terror.

"Not kill you?" Kaguya tilted her head, offering a smile. "Alright, I won't kill you, if you can manage to do one little thing for me."

"R-really?" the crewman asked, incredulous.

"Of course," Kaguya said, her smile broadening as her sword hovered by his throat. "First, though, you'll need to complete one small task for me."

"O-okay," he stammered, feeling the cold, sharp blade pressing into his neck, making his hairs stand on end.

"It's quite simple," Kaguya said. "Just touch your elbow with your tongue, and I'll spare you."

The crewman froze, stammering, "T-that's impossible." Even a fool knew that no one could lick their own elbow; the human body simply couldn't do it.

"Exactly." Kaguya's face lit up with a radiant smile. "Which means sparing you is impossible as well."

The crewman's face twisted in terror as he opened his mouth to plead, but a cold flash had already sliced across his throat.

Blood sprayed outward as the man's head flew skyward, landing with a heavy thud on the ground. Blood spurted from his neck like a fountain.

"Foolish creature," Kaguya sneered. "Did you really think I'd spare you? Too naive." She swung a kick at the severed head, sending it crashing into the wall with a loud smash as it exploded like a rotten melon, scattering chunks of flesh and bone.

"How disgusting," Kaguya muttered, her face twisted in distaste.

At that moment, a clamor of footsteps echoed closer. The airship's guard squad had finally arrived. Yet, when they stepped into the control room, they froze at the sight before them.

The place was a blood-soaked wreckage, with crimson stains splattered across every surface. Severed limbs and chunks of flesh hung from the walls, illuminated by the crackling sparks of exposed wires. Bodies lay scattered across the floor, with pools of fresh blood slowly spreading.

"Sh-shit."

Even though the guard squad had been through grueling training, seasoned by brutal battlefields and unspeakable violence, they gasped, their spines crawling as the blood's sickening stench hit their noses. Several nearly retched at the sight.

Just then, a sweet, melodic voice cut through the silence, making them instinctively aim their weapons in its direction.

Bathed in the cold glow of the lights, the guards saw a silver-haired girl whose delicate face curved into a gentle, dazzling smile.

"Just a bunch of weaklings, not even enough to get me warmed up," Kaguya scoffed with disdain, flicking her arm. Blood splattered off her sword in crimson droplets, leaving dark red stains on the floor. "With that kind of skill, you dared to show your face? I don't know what Westcott was thinking, sending such useless fools."

Glancing around at the bloody remains and corpses surrounding her, Kaguya moved forward, seeking any survivors in the airship.

Meanwhile, Captain Aizenk had lost all his former bravado. Curled up in a dark corner of the control room, his body shook uncontrollably, beads of cold sweat running down his forehead as he held his breath, nervously scanning the shadows around him, feeling as if his heart might leap out of his chest.

Had any crew seen him now, they would have been stunned—how had their once-powerful captain turned into such a frightened wreck?

However, Captain Aizenk should count himself lucky; Kaguya had already killed all the crew aboard, so no one would witness his miserable state.

Regret gnawed at Aizenk now. This mission was originally just meant to keep Kaguya occupied, but he had insisted on taking matters into his own hands, issuing attack orders without consulting the board. He figured that with the new weapons, he could wipe out the spirits in one stroke, making his position on the board more secure, possibly even securing a promotion.

Clearly, he had been foolish. If Westcott himself could have defeated the spirits, why hadn't he done so? And if the tech truly surpassed spirit power, Westcott wouldn't be so obsessed with capturing it for himself.

After the earlier battle, the lights had been damaged, leaving the control room in pitch darkness, broken only by the occasional flicker of short-circuiting wires and the crackling sound of electricity.

"She should be gone by now, right?" Aizenk whispered to himself, looking around the dark room. But he was too paralyzed to crawl out from under the table. Just as he was mustering the courage to emerge, a soft voice suddenly cut through the silence, sending a chill through his veins.

"Found you~ I've found you~"

Aizenk's pupils shrank, his face going deathly pale, his limbs icy, his heart pounding painfully. He felt something warm and wet drip onto his face, and when he shakily wiped it and brought his hand up to the flickering light, he saw it was red—fresh blood. Aizenk's eyes widened in horror.

"It took me a lot of effort to find you, Captain Aizenk," the ethereal voice drifted closer, sounding both distant and disturbingly near.

Aizenk's face turned ashen, drained of all color as he clutched his pistol with such force the grip began to bend under his hands.

"I wonder…how should I kill you?" the voice mused. "Or perhaps… you'd like to choose? Don't worry, I won't let you die easily. I'll let you savor every second of being tortured; who knows, you might even come to enjoy it."

In terror, Aizenk's mind nearly shut down under the oppressive aura. A feeling welled up in his stomach, and with a sudden bang, he went completely still, eyes rolling back, body spasming briefly before collapsing, dead.

"You dared to try a sneak attack on me? You've got guts—seems I'll have to teach you a lesson...eh?"

Noticing something, Kaguya's face froze in confusion as she stepped forward, delivering a sharp kick to the table. With a tremendous crash, the table shattered, revealing Captain Aizenk sprawled on the floor.

But something was off—Aizenk's eyes were wide open, bloodshot, and yet vacant, with no light in them. His body lay limp and lifeless.

Kaguya nudged him with her foot, then again, noting with irritation, "Did he…die of fright?"

But his empty eyes, dilated pupils, and lifeless body showed all the signs. He was indeed dead, beyond any doubt.

Kaguya, who had seen all manners of death, had never encountered one quite like this. Few had ever died simply from fear of her, and he was the first captain who had. To die of fright—how absurd.

She had intended to toy with him first, seeing as he'd insisted on throwing himself at death's door. Dying this way felt like a waste.

With a tinge of regret, she thought, I wanted to toy with him more. But he was too fragile and died so easily. What a disappointment.

Though the airship hadn't sustained catastrophic damage, its crew had all been slaughtered. Blood and severed limbs littered the deck, while chunks of mangled flesh and brain matter made the sight unsightly.

The ship looked powerful and intimidating, ideal as a base of operations, much like Kotori's vessel, which served as a mobile command platform. But after considering the bloody mess and lingering stench, Kaguya ultimately dismissed the idea.

Kaguya herself wasn't one to be affected by gore or fear. After all, she had slain many and feared neither spirits nor ghosts. If they couldn't face her in life, they certainly couldn't after death.

But bringing Tohka and Yoshino aboard this grisly scene was probably unwise, especially with Yoshino's timid nature. She could easily be traumatized.

Regret briefly crossed her mind as she thought, I should've thrown them overboard instead. At least that way, the airship would still be usable.

And so, in a thunderous explosion, the airship—once one of DEM's finest, outfitted with exceptional equipment and weaponry—was reduced to a blazing fireball. It disintegrated into countless fragments, plummeting from the sky like a stunning, if fleeting, meteor shower.

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40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven