And now, White Queen
Love, love, deeply in love with you.
Loving, loving, falling in love with you.
Thinking only of you in my heart.
Not expecting, not excepting this love to bear fruit.
I only wish, I only hope that you must……
Not forget me??
Singing like a mayfly.
Dying like a mayfly.
Her teeth were unceasingly shivering.
In front of her, that obedient girl had completely changed into a monster for some reason.
But the biggest problem was that she was brought in here for some reason.
Her heart was full of an incomparable ominous feeling.
Moreover, this place was??
“The Cradle……”
“I decided on here for the appointed meeting because this place is the first place where I met??”
Rook muttered while having an intoxicated look.
In the previous battle, she was already understood her abilities and her views on herself. In order to survive, it was necessary to make the maximum effort possible.
Whatever it took to live a second longer??she held onto that prayer. But at the same time, she understood that possibility was extremely low.
“……”
If she chose silence, the other party would inevitably kill her if she didn’t do anything. Anyhow, she had to keep her talking.
Stopping Rook from being immersed in her memories, she saw her opportunity to open her mouth.
“……Besides me, have you been serving someone else?”
“Of course, did you think that you were my master?”
Rook shrugged her shoulders.
“I guess I had convinced myself of that.”
“Yes, I haven’t even the faintest recollection of your name.”
“Momozono Mayuka! Really, at least remember someone’s name!”
The sounds of rough breathing.
A comical skit performed in the sense that the feeling of death was approaching by the second.
“……Huh, aren’t you going to ask me?”
“Ask? Ask about what?”
“Why I brought you here.”
“To serve as your hostage, right?”
“No, you aren’t worthy of being a hostage.”
She was well aware of this as well??Mayuka grouchily complained in her mind.
“In order to replenish my reiryoku, I’m going to gouge out your Sephira fragment now.”
Aah, sure enough??it had turned out to be this.
“Wait, wait. Even if you don’t absorb my insignificant reiryoku, you still have ‘The Voice of the Moon’!”
Listening to that, the girl pulled out ‘The Voice of the Moon’ in front of Mayuka.
“That is no good, that can’t be done. Because that is something offered to that person. Because I came here to obtain this.”
“Huh……w-wait a second, did you pretend to obey me just to obtain ‘The Voice of the Moon’?”
“Yes, all for the sake of that person.”
Her response was filled with devotion and faith.
It was frightening to imagine the object of this girl’s fervently devotion.
“But, I have obtained ‘The Voice of the Moon’. All I have to do now is waiting for that person to come??”
“Don’t you think they’ll catch up to you?”
“I can kill any Quasi-Spirit following after me.”
“Ah……even if that opponent was Tokisaki Kurumi?”
Rook’s expression broke down.
Agitated, she stared at Mayuka with cold murderous intent.
Here was the critical moment. Mayuka desperately kept thinking while letting those words roll off from her tongue.
“You didn’t win, right? You couldn’t win so you had to escape here. If she catches up, how much stronger do you think you can be by absorbing my reiryoku? During that battle, you’ve already wasted so much reiryoku. Don’t tell me that you think you can win against her now?”
Rook grabbed her by the neck??shaking it with all her strength.
This moment was the last threshold separating life and death. Mayuka didn’t want to think like that as she prayed at the same time.
God, the great Spirits, future generations, I will never plot any schemes ever again. I will never sing again as an idol. I will change careers, I will find another way to survive and find the right path for herself.
“Such a noisy fly. I’ll extract the Sephira fragment now.”
So please, don’t let me disappear……!
“??!”
At that moment, even Mayuka could feel the thirst for blood as a monster swung down without hesitation. A so-called combination weapon that combined a hammer with a halberd. In the Ninth Region Yesod, there was only one girl who could handle such a dangerous weapon.
“Guard!”
This girl was Biscuit Smasher, or otherwise known as Tsuan.
Her killing blow was blocked by .
“Tsuan……!”
“Tokisaki Kurumi is my prey. Anyone trying to intercept that is my enemy. And incidentally, I want to fight you too.”
“A troublesome person has showed up……!”
Rook smacked her lips as she retreated to the back??Tsuan would not tolerate this insult as she moved forward and swung her weapon.
At the same time, Mayuka softly landed on the ground.
She deeply thanked God for answering her prayers and renewed her oath.
“……Going to another region……”
Everything was good as long as it was a place where she could live a stable life.
While thinking so, Mayuka decided to hide first. While she was unseeingly crawling about, she still felt the joy of survival. As long as she firmly believed in this joy, she could continue holding onto the belief of not wanting to disappear (die).
In fact, Rook was exceedingly calm fending off Tsuan.
Because she only though of charging forward to attack, it was easy to read, easy to control, and easy to avoid.
Despite this, she was still at a disadvantage. Naturally, it was because she wasn’t able to extract Momozono Mayuka’s Sephira fragment while engaging in that frank chat.
Insufficient, her power was completely inadequate. Still, it was better than fighting Tokisaki Kurumi right now.
Twice, three times, four times, five times, six times, during each exchange of blows Rook smoothly evaded. The slightest mistake would mean her head being smashed in, but Rook was unafraid.
She originally wasn’t afraid of death or pain. As long as she did her best to die fulfilling her duty, she could contribute to that person. No, she intended to be useful.
When helping others, you’ll have value.
So, she could die now without any regrets.
Yes, she could die at any time. She was now dedicating the remainder of her time exuding the brilliant radiance of her life.
Come, shine more and then disappear??!
“Scatter!” “Discharge!” “Take her life!”
The huge scythe shrank, splitting apart into innumerable pieces and released as arrows.
“What……!”
So this was the reason why she secretly kept fighting in close range.
Tsuan’s body was targeted by the red arrows shot out with tremendous force.
“??Great Rotation!”
Tsuan spun her body and halberd with great vigor while activating . Still, she couldn’t completely block the attack as countless arrows pierced her body.
“Guuuuuu.”
“Ku……”
But she wasn’t dead. Her ability to respond to this situation was no small feat??she had used her own Astral Dress to freeze the stabbed areas to prevent a fatal injury.
It appeared she was enduring the pain of frostbite. Then, now was the time to deliver the fatal blow.
“Combine.”
It changed back to a huge sickle. This time Rook rushed forward to gouge out her Sephira fragment.
The sound of a gunshot.
Rook stopped while stunned. No way……it couldn’t be.”
“Tokisaki……Kurumi……!!”
It wasn’t the same idol dress she used while dancing. Such gorgeous clothes were not suitable for the Cradle. In other words, Kurumi was wearing her usual dress that brought out her elegant, lovely, and terrifying qualities. The Astral Dress bearing the name of the highest rank??Spirit Dress of God’s Authority Number 3 .
“……Surprisingly fast.”
Kurumi shrugged her shoulders in response to what Tsuan had said.
“It’s because I was supplied an ample amount.”
“Supplied……no way.”
Luku was stunned. Kurumi had used her Angel on the crowd gathered by the Dominion Banouin Mizuha and Kirari Rinemu??after getting prior consent beforehand.
“However, flying all the way here was tiring. I believe it must be the same for you?”
Kurumi spread out both of her hands??and roared.
“
Her classical rifle and pistol appeared on both her hands.
And there was a huge clock behind her.
“Now??allow me to trample you down like an ant.”
Rook remained silent.
Perhaps, she was keeping her vigilance on both of them now that Tsuan revived herself after she stopped the bleeding and endured the frostbite. Of course, she was still well within the range of Kurumi’s guns and didn’t intend to use her full power on escaping.
Silence.
……Suddenly, both her shoulders began shaking.
“She’s laughing……?”
“Or perhaps she’s crying?”
Kurumi and Tsuan both gave their respective guesses??it was Tsuan who hit the nail on the head.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry??White Queen.”
“This reiryoku I obtained for you.”
“I will be wasting it on defeating them.”
“Please don’t think that I’ve betrayed you, please don’t think that I am desperately trying to survive.”
“Because they are your enemies. Tokisaki Kurumi is a given, but even Tsuan is our enemy.”
“Ah, how sad??how truly sad. Even so, you will tell me this. For I who am immersed in uneasiness and tears is comforted!”
“Fortunately, I am alive. Ah, ah ,ah, it hurts! My heart is sore! But I have to do this White Queen!”
Then, she did hesitate in grabbing ‘The Voice of the Moon’??the microphone that was a lump of reiryoku broke down into pieces.
“…..Tch.”
“How troublesome……!”
A huge amount of reiryoku flowed out from the broken pieces of the microphone, all of it being sucked into Rook’s body.
“How sad! How sad! How sad! The taste of betrayal is so bitter……! The love that I can never get back is too sad! So, at least I have to kill them to prove my loyalty!”
The huge amount of reiryoku condensed??even Kurumi was now convinced that the battle at the concert hall was the opening act.
“Tsuan-san, can you lend me a hand?”
“……Alright. It seems she has regarded me as an enemy as well. Only, I have one condition.”
Kurumi felt a faint premonition of dread as she answered back.
“I will if it is possible for me to grant.”
“Very simple, I want to fight against you again in the next region.”
“……I promise you.”
It appeared that Kurumi still had to worry about Tsuan’s presence next time.
“Understood, very good. Tokisaki Kurumi…..it’s coming.”
As Tsuan said, Rook lifted her giant sickle and screamed.
“Multiply!”
As soon as she said that, the number of huge sickles increased to eight. This was not division but rather proliferation.
“Sharpen!” “Ignite!” “Melt!” “Split!” “Paralyze!” “Disappear!”
As soon as those huge sickles were given their commands??their shapes had transformed accordingly. They remained ever changing. Although its number was different from Doll Master who possessed an army, they were both a flock of monsters that had overwhelming power.
“Which weapon has the most power, perfect control, and looks to be the most troublesome of this group? ……Tsuan-san, what do you think?”
“There’s no difference in any of them……all I need is to knock them down.”
“I see. I won’t help you.”
“Don’t expect me to give any support either. Or rather, don’t get in my range. When I plan to attack, you’ll surely get caught in it.”
“Yes, yes, of course. I may accidentally take advantage of your predicament. I will apologize for your martyrdom now.”
“…..I request you not make me a suffered casualty.”
“I understand, but I only understand that is??!”
Rook was holding onto a single huge scythe as the other seven were floating around guarding her.
She displayed a fearless smile as she gave commands to them.
“Assault!”
The seven scythes sharpened, ignited, rotated, melted into a muddy mess, split apart, released electric shocks, and vanished into thin air??all at the same time to attack those two.
“The First Bullet !”
Kurumi increased her mobility to avoid the seven scythes. The sharpened blade scratched her body as soon as it came near contact, the flaming blade scalded her as it quickly approached, and she received damage from the rotating blade. Just passing by caused her to feel smudges on her Astral Dress??it was beginning to melt.
In fact, it felt as if a monster had not only improved its ability but also split into eight equal parts.
Kurumi let out a sigh while realizing that point.
“The Second Bullet !”
Kurumi prevented the rotating blade from approaching her at the last second. Looking up, flying in the sky??three other huge scythes were automatically trailing behind.
“This……!”
Even with ’s rifle and pistol, she was unable to repel, blow away, and destroy the huge scythe. ??despite being an Unsigned Angel, it still boasted super-high quality destructive power.
Rather than strengthening herself, she was increasing the number of weapons to augment her war potential. Although it was a simple combat method, it was effective as it was vicious.
“??Ku, the First Bullet !”
Kurumi continued to increase, increase, and increase her speed. The three huge scythes used their reiryoku to relentlessly pursue after her.
It couldn’t continue on like this. She need to aim for the king, no it would be attacking the rook in this case.
However, she had no choice but to give up on that idea after firing a few shots.
When focusing on defense, she needed to get close enough to attack from the rear to disturb Rook’s ability. But it was impossible to shoot from this long distance. Moreover, doing so in this poor condition would only waste time and reiryoku.
She must use the First Bullet the Second Bullet and another ability to break through this dilemma.
The Third Bullet ??meaningless. An Unsigned Angel would not age.
The Fourth Bullet ??the amount time that could be rewind was limited. Moreover, it would make no sense if the opponent issued the command to increase her numbers again.
The Fifth Bullet ??if she tried to foresee the future, then all she would see is herself fleeing from these huge scythes.
The Sixth Bullet ??not available.
The Seventh Bullet ??she considered it for a little before quickly dismissing it. She wasn’t sure if she could completely destroy those weapons even with time stopped.
The Eighth Bullet ??that ability was currently unknown.
The Ninth Bullet ??not even an option.
The Tenth Bullet ??that had already been used. It didn’t make sense to use it again.
The Eleventh and Twelfth??couldn’t be used.
Kurumi took a deep breath.
Rather than being forced into a desperate situation, it was their opponent that was being pushed into a corner. This was likely Rook’s strongest attack, after which all of her tricks will be exhausted.
“Freeze!”
The giant scythe, which had been acting as a flamethrower, suddenly changed and began spewing out icicles that served as a homing missile onto Kurumi??with a constantly barrage from both her pistol and rifle, Kurumi shattered the icicles.
In the span of those few seconds, the rotating blade slashed Kurumi’s back. However, she convinced herself that it was better than being stabbed.
The frozen scythe began to produce icicles again. There was no end to this as Kurumi pointed her rifle and began firing blindly. Then, at the speed reaching the level of a machine gun, she began suppressing the production of the icicles.
Time flowed slowly.
The time, which had just been replenished in a large quantity beforehand, was starting to slip away as if a hole had open at the bottom.
Perhaps sensing Kurumi’s impatience, Rook coldly raised the corners of her mouth to smile.
Should she resolve herself to charge forward in a self-destructive attack?
Kurumi abandoned such desperate thoughts……though the idea still weighed in her heart. She felt too indecisive. After all, this strategy was too reckless and cruel.
But beyond that, there was no other way of defeating this opponent??Kurumi was convinced of that.
Kurumi turned to look at Tsuan.
As expected, she was struggling. The split blade assaulted her as the invisible blade scratched her entire body. Each time she landed on the ground close to Rook, a strong electrical current impeded her movements.
However, fortunately none of the scythes were capable of inflicting too much damage.
And Tsuan wasn’t the type of person to let this level of damage obstruct her.
Their dilemma was this state of equilibrium where neither side was advancing or retreating.
In that regard, Rook had the advantage. The amount of reiryoku obtained from ‘The Voice of the Moon’ was huge and could easily last another month.
Tokisaki Kurumi and Tsuan likely only had enough for a couple hours at best.
In other words, no matter how much these two struggled, there was no chance for victory.
Rook smiled, full of conviction for her victory while also keeping a cautious gaze at both Tsuan and Kurumi. Both of them seemed to have recognized their situation.
As a result, they only had one strategy left.
“No choice but to risk it all……!”
The fact of the matter was that this was a desperate charge.
“Guard!!”
The four scythes that were attacking immediately block Kurumi’s path like a shield.
“The First Bullet !”
All of Kurumi’s attempts to break through were shot down.
Every method was blocked down by the huge scythe that could freely change shape.
“Damn……!”
Seeing Kurumi’s face wrinkle in distress, Rook was extremely pleased. After all, she had to retreat without landing a single bullet on her.
Perfect.
Right now she was in complete control of this situation, Rook thought.
The strongest known Quasi-Spirit and the feared Spirit were being suppressed by this Empty girl.
A few more hours??no, there was no need to endure that much longer. As long as that person was arriving, it should be settled in ten more minutes.
Tokisaki Kurumi was trying to launch another reckless assault again. Rook snickered, that was proof of her desperation.
As long as she could hear the contents of their conversation through her huge scythe, they would continue being helpless and achieve nothing.
As long as they continued to stubbornly rush forward, she wouldn’t lose
“Impossible, Tokisaki Kurumi. With our power, we can’t break through those giant scythes.”
Tsuan calmly advised Kurumi who appeared desperate. Kurumi kept shooting from her old fashioned pistol while shouting.
“If you can’t get through, it’s the end of the road! I will break through somehow. You stop those huge scythes with your Astral Dress !”
“……It’ a dead end anyway. Understood, figure out a way to break through.”
Not a one person assault, but one led by two people??here was the key moment. Rook was also physiologically prepared.
“Keep up with my pace, Tokisaki Kurumi. ??storm.”
Accompanied by that roar, her Astral Dress produced an avalanche, entangling the seven huge scythes blocking their way. The surrounding area was eclipsed by a blizzard??obscuring one’s vision.
“I can’t see……!”
It’s was now impossible to tell where they will attack from here. Was this their strategy? Or did it happen by chance? Regardless, Rook still had seven great invincible soldiers.
“Guard! Search!”
The seven
Now, where will this attack come from? Above? Below? Another reckless charge from the front?
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
The answer was indeed quite unexpected??a frontal assault. Straight from this blizzard with a beast-like momentum.
Kurumi was holding her rifle in her hands, bravely marching forward. No shots??perhaps she was preparing to aim, but her speed was slower than before. This was simply a suicide attack.
Kurumi’s companion Tsuan was right beside her, as the two of them rush forwarded together as if inviting death onto themselves.
“……Counter.”
Rook whispered softly. The seven scythes immediately transformed into fierce weapons to intercept the two of them who were charging forward in a kamikaze attack. Three of them turned into shields to prevent any sniper fire from Kurumi. Two of them melted into mud and entangled their feet. The last two became sharpened spears aimed at both of their hearts.
“To…………Tokisaki Kurumi!”
Tsuan yelled out while giving a rare look of worry. However, Kurumi shouted back.
“It doesn’t matter! Continue marching forward??!!”
Kurumi’s vigor caused a chill to travel up Rook’s spine. The mud and shield couldn’t stop her.
As long as she wasn’t completely penetrated by the spear, Tokisaki Kurumi wouldn’t yield……!
Rook promptly made the decision to use the entangled mud to completely hinder their movements while swapping out Tsuan’s position with Kurumi.
At this range, Rook didn’t want to deal with that girl now.
Shield??leave it as it is. Rook cautiously raised her own huge scythe. And so, the two spears??or rather the two huge spears that had changed into, pierced Tokisaki Kurumi’s body.
“Ku……ki……”
Blood spewed out. Even for a Spirit, there was the pain from bleeding. Even if it wasn’t a fatal injury, it was an injury that ensured they couldn’t make this reckless assault again.
“……Fire!”
Still, Tokisaki Kurumi continued firing bullets. The shadowy bullet flew with horrific killing intent as it broke the three pieces of that had transformed into shields.
“This……!!”
, the last and original one, she swung it around??to repel back the attacks.
The strong impact even made her arm feel numb.
However, the reward for paying this price ensured that none of the bullets reached her body.
Victory belong to her????????or at least it was supposed to be.
“……Really, that child. I clearly told you that you could escape if the opponent was coming right at you.”
“Huh……”
If those last words could to send a chill up her spine, this calm voice just was enough to shatter Rook’s usual heart into pieces.
Behind.
At very close range.
Click, the loaded sound was coming from??an old fashioned pistol.
The owner of this voice was Tokisaki Kurumi.
“How……”
Rook couldn’t take another step. Even the roots of her teeth were trembling in fear. Even so, she was able to confirm what she had seen before.
What was originally Tokisaki Kurumi peeled away and turned into another person.
“That’s ……Higoromo Hibiki……!?”
The special characteristic of her Unsigned Angel .
Her Unsigned Angel could not only take away the target’s abilities but also easily imitate their appearance.
(But, how did they cooperate? There was no time for exchange, no signs of discussion. If it was telepathy, she would have had a means on eavesdropping on this……) Kurumi didn’t answer Rook’s question. Because this originally wasn’t meant to be a trick. She had pretended to load her bullets while secretly hiding her hand in the shadows. There she had sent a message to those two through the smartphone’s conversation app.
Smartphones were also circulating in the Neighboring World and many Quasi-Spirits used them to keep in contact. In order to facilitate contact, Kurumi decided to reluctantly use this. It seemed that it had worked this time.
Because of this, Hibiki learned of the plan that Kurumi was going to implement.
Hibiki would turn into Kurumi. Using Tsuan take away Rook’s vision, the real Kurumi would use that to switch places with Hibiki. Hibiki would charge forward while Kurumi from behind after Rook let her guard down.
“Well, it won’t last for long. The object has to remain in front of me or I can’t imitate it.”
Through the use of her Unsigned Angel , Hibiki turned into Kurumi. Because she was imitating the current Kurumi, even injuries were faithfully replicated. However, it was only the appearance. On the inside, she was still Higoromo Hibiki.
“I will give you this gun first. Basically, I have already loaded the bullets. You’ll only have to pull the trigger. Even though you look like ‘me’ only in appearance, please retreat immediately afterwards.”
Unusually, Kurumi gave a sad look??worried whether or not she would die from this plan.
The girl patted herself on the chest.
She was proud of being relied on.
“Please leave it to me, Kurumi-san.”
“……Yes, I’m counting on you.”
Those words touched Hibiki’s heart. Ah, she’d always known it was worth risking her life to hear those words from Kurumi-san??
Higoromo Hibiki smiled as she saw off Tokisaki Kurumi.
“A decoy……horrible woman.”
“It’s just as you say.”
Kurumi agreed with Rook as she pulled the trigger. Of course, she had precisely aimed to completely smash apart the Sephira fragment she possessed.
“Gu……”
Hearing that noise, Kurumi stopped the movements of her fingertips. Enough, she was already on the verge of dying. Since the Sephira fragment was shot and shattered, the enormous reiryoku from ‘The Voice of the Moon’ began to leak out. If she tried continuing fighting like this, it would leak out completely and she would die. Even if she tried to treat this, she would need to remain motionless for now.
Even after confirming Hibiki was safe, it wouldn’t be too late to kill her.
“Hibiki-san!”
Tsuan had already pulled the spear out of her body. Hibiki laid helplessly on the ground, smiling and making V sign gesture as she saw Kurumi rush over.
“I??did??it??”
Naturally, Kurumi punched her on the head.
“It hurts!”
“Didn’t I tell you to get out of the way? My plan of using you to lure her into a trap may have succeeded, but that doesn’t mean you should charge to the front like a fool!”
Kurumi pointed her muzzle on Hibiki’s head while checking on her injuries.
She didn’t suffer from any fatal injuries. She should be able to recover from this??it should be reasonable to say that
“……Are you okay?”
“No problem.”
“This much isn’t an issue. Compared to that??”
“Yes, I understand.”
It was good that Hibiki was safe and fine. Now there was only the matter of finishing off Rook as soon as possible.
Kurumi understood this clearly. She was a believer whose obedience would never waiver.
It wouldn’t be easy to arrest here in the Ninth Region Yesod. And moreover, it was expected that she would be once again targeting the lives of the people here.
She must die.
She must be brought down.
This was a shared consensus that all three of them had reached together. So no one interfered when Kurumi pointed her pistol once again at Rook.
“Do you have any last words to say?”
It wasn’t so much a taunt as a sincere inquiry. Kurumi felt obliged to listen to it no matter what compliant it was. However, Rook returned the gesture with silence??
“Last words……? So you will listen to me?”
“Of course, let me hear you speak.”
“Farewell.”
For a final greeting it was appropriate if a little clichéd.
Kurumi thought about this as she pulled the trigger.
No
She ought to have pulled the trigger.
“I love you.”
This voice, as if descended from heaven, echoed in every direction.
This voice, or perhaps coming from hell, was buried with venomous loathsome thorns.
“Everything born in this vast world??I love each of it, I loathe each of it. I want to destroy it all; I don’t want to do that. But, I want to consume it all??only that point is true.”
“Aah……”
Rook let out a euphoric voice.
Kurumi understood this meant reinforcements had arrived.
Moreover, that this was the person that Rook deeply worshiped.
The strength of this person was definitely above Rook. In other words, the number of enemies had increased. Kurumi was well aware of both points.
But there was a single point.
This alone made Tokisaki Kurumi’s head feel overburden to the point of wanting to collapse.
The impression of the girl in front of was??white, white, white.
She appeared like an Empty??but there was one crucial difference.
Her appearance was exactly the same as Tokisaki Kurumi.
The left eye was a light blue clock.
She was holding a saber in one hand. There were minuscule components included on the blade that made it resemble a precise machine.
“My apologizes, my apologizes, White Queen.”
“It’s fortunate that you are alive.”
Rook was on the ground begging for forgiveness. That girl didn’t so much as look at her while saying that. Just hearing that filled Rook with joy. On the other hand, that girl was staring intently at Kurumi. With exactly the same posture and completely opposite tone of color as Kurumi, she was staring intently at her.
The atmosphere was too tense where speaking was not even permitted.
Tsuan and Hibiki looked on from behind at this change in circumstances and above all else??the uneasy feeling of this girl being the splitting image of Kurumi made them unable to say word.
This situation was too strange.
“??Are.”
At the moment of hearing the sound of her own voice thrown at her, Kurumi felt a fierce shock.
It wasn’t the feeling of karma or perhaps fate. Or rather this conclusion was logically reached.
“You are??”
“You are??”
Despite not knowing who their counterpart was here, both sides reached the same understanding??
They were enemies to each other.
More than anything else, she and herself were enemies. A horrible mutual understanding.
She smiled.
Kurumi also smiled.
In that case, both knew what the other side was going to do next.
Fight!!
The saber and old fashioned gun clashed, creaked against each other in a mutual trial of strength.
Upon seeing this, both of them cried out.
“
“????????!!” (Kanji written as Lunatic Emperor) The fractured shockwaves and thunderous roar rushed towards Kurumi like an avalanche. Use the Seventh Bullet to stop her time, use the First Bullet to deceive her, and then finally launch a barrage of bullets to kill her.
A well-tested pattern for certain victory.
She was completely unguarded against the Seventh Bullet . Furthermore, with her accelerated speed, Kurumi fired a barrage so fierce that it couldn’t be called anything less than overkill.
It ought to have been like that
“The Libra Bullet .”
The causality within this space was reversed. In front of her eyes, the pure white monster resembling Tokisaki Kurumi hadn’t been shot at all. Tokisaki Kurumi never pulled the trigger.
Or rather the one shot??was herself.
“Ga, ah……!!”
Falling down, falling down, Kurumi desperately tried to analyze the current situation. She had certainly shot and the Seventh Bullet and stopped the target’s time. However, just before that, she didn’t expect this white Kurumi to summon a pistol composed of gears and steel and pull the trigger on her.
That was the only action she took. Without dodging, she allowed the Seventh Bullet to strike her body??and a moment later Kurumi’s own time came to an abrupt halt. After that, all of the bullets fired ended up shooting herself.
Kurumi immediately realized this situation. From that shot alone, she was able to roughly grasp this situation.
An ability appearing similar but dissimilar to herself. In terms of world configuration, this concept was similar to the idea of a mirror self.
If Tokisaki Kurumi supervised time??
Then this other Kurumi was controlling space. That is to say her ability used was the concept of distorting space.
For example, with the bullet that was just used, the concept of attacker and receiver was reversed, breaching the notion of common sense.
Whether they exist in physics or philosophy, time and space are uncertain concepts??but without them humans couldn’t survive.
“How troublesome……!”
It was a difficult situation where both sides were incompatible with each other.
But even worse, after the fight with Rook, Kurumi was force to conclude that??
White Kurumi knows the abilities of . Her method of coping with the Seventh Bullet
was the best evidence of that. Knowing that time would be suspended, Rook avoided her guns and this White Kurumi used her own ability to reflect the damage.
12 bullets??although there were several bullets that she has forgotten how to use, each one of them was an extraordinary ability that could control time??but it wouldn’t work unless the target was struck.
What should she do?
What should she do?
What should she do?
“……! Tsuan-san! Finish off Rook!”
Thinking, thinking, she put her brain hard at work thinking. First of all, they had to eliminate Rook. If she recovered strength from the object of her devotion being here, then the trouble would be immense.
Tsuan, with almost no time in-between, immediately obeyed Kurumi’s judgement.
However, something completely unexpected had occurred in front of those two.
“Rook.”
“Y……Yes!”
“Have you been defeated?”
“Yes! My apologizes, Queen.”
“Then, do you know it is time for you to leave the stage?”
She declared in a somewhat hearty tone that was different from Kurumi. Rook nodded in joy.
“Yes, please enjoy yourself.”
At the same time she said that, the saber glistened as it stabbed Rook in the chest.
“Wha??”
“……”
The two of them stood in shock. White Kurumi ignored this as she took out Rook’s heart……the Sephira fragment and swallowed it whole without hesitation.
Even though some of it was used earlier, the huge reiryoku from ‘The Voice of the Moon’
instantly became hers.
Rook stared at this scene with a smile.
Incomparably free and at ease, as if having no nostalgia for the world??on the contrary it was believable that this was an act of salvation.
Then, with the remainder of her power, she handed her Unsigned Angel to white Kurumi and disappeared into nothingness.
In an instant, the word martyrdom passed through Kurumi’s mind. At the same time, it was also a meaningless and wasteful act. ??Were they really the same?
White Kurumi swayed her saber freely into the empty space, shredding the space open to serve as an entrance.
“Come here, Pawn.”
“Yes.”
Softly, a girl with no distinct features appeared from the crevice. She appeared with a transparent white color, white clothes, white hair, and red eyes.
“From now on, you are Rook.”
After having said that, White Kurumi handed to her and didn’t hesitate to shot her.
The appearance of the Empty that received this blow quickly transformed into Rook.
Not only the same Astral Dress, but even the rough outlines of her face became identical to Rook.
“……Sharing……reiryoku……?”
Hearing Tsuan muttered that out, Kurumi thought that wasn’t necessarily correct.
The moment white Kurumi shot her bullet, she had certainly muttered??“The Scorpio Bullet
.” This was likely a bullet that could attach a signature onto a freshly created chess piece.
Pawn, that girl’s purity meant she could be shaped into any role……no matter how many times she was killed, she could always be resurrected by this powerful enemy.
White Kurumi opened her mouth to speak.
So, Rook. I have to fight off this enemy, so please guard me.”
Rook readily accepted the indifferent command.
“Yes, White Queen. I will serve to protect you as Rook until my next death.”
The combination of a White Rook and White Queen meant the invitation of the Grim Reaper.
Even with three people on their side, the issue of numbers was no problem to the majesty displayed by their enemy.
Kurumi gulped, opening her mouth after some hesitation to call out to someone’s name.
“……Hibiki-san.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Run away.”
She didn’t even have to look back to tell that Hibiki was giving off a look as if having been abandoned.
Of course, Kurumi was asking her to take refugee rather than abandoning her. No, she could also tell that she would only sustain injuries by staying here.
However, that must mean their current situation was the worst case possible.
“Run away and call for help. Please, I’m requesting this from you.”
“…………!”
Hearing an unwilling groan in her ear, she could tell that Hibiki was already gradually moving away. White Kurumi gave a look as if telling the new Rook to chase after her.
The Quasi-Spirit extolled by everyone as Biscuit Smasher, if it was Tsuan she would make an excellent partner to ensure that Hibiki can get away.
Today, Kurumi’s goal was only a single person.
“I want a little more information on since it will be our new power later.”
“As you wish White Queen……how should the mouse be disposed of?”
“If it is used to promote my horror, then I don’t care of the method.”
Mouse?
Kurumi felt confused. It seemed there was also someone else present. Was she referring to Momozono Mayuka? No, that doesn’t appear to be the case……forget about it, there was no time to think of such matters now.
“It’s coming……Tokisaki Kurumi. Let’s fight again at another opportunity.”
Already in this situation and she still wouldn’t forget about that future appointment. Kurumi felt dumbstruck as pulled out both her rifle and pistol together.
“??I don’t know who you are, but I know what you are.”
Black Kurumi made such a declaration.
“??I know who you are, but I don’t know what you are.”
White Kurumi also made an announcement.
“You are??”
“You are??”
“A harmful pest.”
“A sacrifice.”
In the gentle graveyard where Emptys gradually disappeared, the Cradle turned into a miserable hell in the blink of an eye.
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