Chapter 6 - Battle of Cosmos
The distant realm, engulfed within the celestial light of countless stars, threatened to immerse every speck of negligence. The otherworldly view made one ponder if they had already been transported into their own dreamlike fantasies. Sinking into the night, it was as if Heaven and Earth had their positions reversed.
Yet, this description was not necessarily untrue. After all, Itsuka Shidou was at an astronomical zenith higher than the skies, a place which held the planet Earth under the viewer’s eyes: the vast cosmos.
Everyone knew about space. Everyone was aware of the void. However, not many can say that they have trespassed on the domain of the gods.
Naturally, the diverse species on Earth could not survive here.
Not only did the absence of essential oxygen prevent biological processes from occurring, but the cosmic rays, which were normally blocked by the atmosphere, would cause detrimental effects on any living organisms. Unlike a fantastical landscape, this was a desolate world devoid of any life.
Despite these unfavorable odds, Shidou, without the assistance of a spacesuit or anything to preserve his lifeline, floated to the center of attention.
Although that may be so, it was a matter of course. Shidou did not enter the cosmos for mere sightseeing or swimming. He was there to unlock the sealed heart of the lonely girl who had fell into an eternal slumber within that barren, empty space.
“——Mukuro.”
Shidou calmly called out that name.
Mukuro, Hoshimiya Mukuro. He whispered that miserable Spirit’s name. A young girl, with flowing golden hair that was longer than her frame and a fluttering constellation-themed dress that entwined with her slim stature, gently drifted in front of Shidou. Emotion did not, or had ceased to, exist on her innocent face. Her gorgeous pair of golden eyes still viewed everything in the world without a hint of interest.
“——————Hm.”
Mukuro lightly exhaled a breath and spoke.
“Thou art pestilence at its core, and poor remembrance to add.” [1]
“Yeah, I’m a simpleton who doesn't give up and accept other people’s intentions.”
Shidou raised the corners of his mouth as he declared, while Mukuro merely sighed again. However, she could not find it in herself to harbor any disgust towards him.
Of course, that did not imply that the opposite was true. To be precise, Mukuro displayed absolutely no sort of emotion towards Shidou, be it malice or kindness. This unexpressive act merely deferred to her innate sense towards eliminating intruders in her territory. The abnormal mood stirred up the word puppet within Shidou’s mind.
“…………”
Nonetheless, that was understandable. Shidou shot a glance at the key- shaped staff held in the palm of her hand. It was the angel <Michael>, which possessed the ability to seal the functions of any object its tip stabbed into with a single turn of its bow.
According to Mukuro, she had utilized that power on herself, locking the window to her own heart. Exactly what personality resulted from that and how it affected Mukuro’s mind was unclear. Yet from that outcome, be it joy, anger, sadness, or pleasure, Mukuro possessed none of those sentiments.
And yet she, who had forfeited everything to drift in that location far from the surface, was interfered and unobserved by anyone, leading solely a wanderer’s purpose.
That’s why Shidou arrived once more after being rejected before.
“Be it so, what bids thee to return, though the present thee flickers not?”
Mukuro tilted her head and questioned. It was most likely due to her bored expression that the act of slanting her head seemed like a taunting provocation.
“That’s a given—I came to talk with you again, Mukuro.”
“What nonsense. The past reiterates: being drawn to thy hypocrisy shall confound Muku. Muku hath not sought salvation—”
“That’s wrong.”
Shidou interrupted Mukuro’s words in a stern voice. He firmly stared into her eyes and continued.
“I didn't come to talk to the current you. I came to talk to the previous you, the real Hoshimiya Mukuro whose heart isn't locked by <Michael>.”
“…Huh?”
Mukuro gave a snort of disapproval without the slightest change of expression.
“Fie. Dost thou disbelieve Muku’s selfhood? Muku hath time and again quoth herself, yet thou hark not. With what standing dost thou remark against Muku?”
“True, you’ve said it before. But why did you lock your heart? I haven't really got a clear answer from you for this one question.”
As if with intense satisfaction, Shidou tightly gripped his fists. Mukuro’s words suddenly appeared within Shidou’s head.
“Perjury lay not upon me. Ask thou why? Dispensable forfeiture, nay, and aspects of misfortune I say. I know not what I used to anymore.”
In their previous conversation, Mukuro had indeed stated that she sealed her own heart of her own volition. However, when she had been asked for the reason, she gave an ambiguous answer. Either she had been deliberately deceiving Shidou, or she truly could not recall with much certainty. Her true intentions as to why she had made such a drastic decision must not be that simple.
“…Ah, that’s right. Why didn't I notice it earlier?”
Accompanied by a sigh, Shidou verbalized that sentence. It wasn’t for Mukuro, but for himself. He directed that doubt to his former self who had been at a loss when Mukuro’s rejection struck his weakness. It was laughable, for him—Itsuka Shidou to not perceive that until the moment he spoke.
“I’ll ask you one more time, Mukuro. Why you are in a place like this, and why did you seal your heart? What in the universe have you gone through?”
“…………”
Mukuro put on a cheerless face, her mouth shut. After a few seconds had passed, she let out a breath.
“——Fine, forthwith.”
Shortly afterwards, as if her ears deafened towards Shidou’s question, Mukuro turned <Michael> in her hands and pointed its tip in his direction.
“Whether to heed mine admonishments or otherwise is thy leisure. Likewise, however Muku revies is her discretion.” [2]
As she made her declaration known, the floating rocks and mechanical debris surrounding Mukuro bombarded Shidou in a devastating blitz as if under her visual influence.
“——Ugh!”
The sudden assault forced Shidou to hold his breath, though it wasn't as if he was mentally unprepared. In actuality, Mukuro had also assailed him without prior warning during their last dialogue. If Shidou had not been conversing with her through a three-dimensional projection of himself, he would have undoubtedly died quite a few times.
However, being prepared had nothing to do with being able to react properly.
The incoming barrage resembled a volley of darts at most. Even so, when fused with a Spirit’s power, the onslaught could match the destruction of a miniature meteor shower. The fragments of rubble charged with bone- breaking, flesh-tearing might as it soared towards the determined Shidou.
“Kuh——”
Shidou defended using both his hands, making sure to protect his head by pulling his body back. Since he possessed Kotori’s healing flames within his body, unless he was killed in an instant, there was a chance for Shidou to recover completely.
However.
“——Eh?!”
Having expected to be mercilessly lacerated to death, the guarded Shidou abruptly exclaimed in a fit of disbelief as something contrary to his anticipations happened.
His reaction was comprehensible. After all, not even a single one of the numerous projectiles which Mukuro had launched hit Shidou. Every one of them had flown past him.
Of course, his lucky break wasn't due to Mukuro misadjusting the trajectory. It was as if Shidou’s body could sense the projectiles’ paths and just avoided them, similar to how buoyant objects floating on a liquid fan out with wavy ripples on the surface.
“This is…”
A familiar voice resounded from the receiver worn on Shidou’s ear.
“——I won’t let you take out my Onii-chan that easily.”
Their identity was obvious. It was the voice of Shidou’s sister, a commanding officer of Ratatoskr, Itsuka Kotori. She was the reason why Shidou was able to survive in outer space with only his normal clothes on. Kotori and the gigantic airship which she commanded, <Fraxinus EX>, were present there as well. As for the warship, it was currently utilizing the coverage of its Territory to shield Shidou’s body, allowing the sound of his voice to propagate through the vacuum of space and reach Mukuro’s ears.
“It follows the same principles as <Fraxinus’> automated evasion ability. The deployed Territory can detect any approaching entities and prevent them from coming into contact with Shidou’s body.”
“I see… Thanks for that, Kotori.”
As Shidou showed his gratitude, a voice other than Kotori’s reached his ears.
Only to Kotori??
“Haha… You too, Maria.”
As long as you are aware. However, please refrain from excessively relying on this ability. Compared to the Territory surrounding the structure of <Fraxinus>, Spirit powered bullets or not, those are simply inferior projectiles.
The Territory can still handle flying scraps, but it will not sustain the attack of an angel. In addition—?
Kotori abruptly cut off Maria’s elaboration.
“Un. Sorry, but don't count on us to assist you in carrying over your voice forever. We’ve got our own guest to deal with here.”
“…Okay, I understand.”
Guest, the mere mention of that very word provoked a complete reversal in Shidou’s mood as he looked back. The cause was relatively simple. A number of warship silhouettes could be seen appearing from the Earth in pursuit of <Fraxinus>. Without a doubt, those were the airships belonging to DEM Industries.
As Shidou was on the verge of making a move, four warship vessels which had attacked <Fraxinus> appeared in space and fiercely pushed on without any signs of stopping. And positioned at the center was the fated-to-be- enemies-with spaceship <Goetia>. Even for the revamped <Fraxinus>, simultaneously looking after Shidou and dealing with the spawned enemies would prove to be an extremely arduous task. Shidou steeled his resolve, nodded his head, and faced Mukuro once again.
“The Territory is more than enough. —Leave this to me.”
He silently whispered a phrase and extended his right hand at a slow pace.
The other party was a Spirit who held tremendous power, not to mention one whom Shidou’s words have had no effect on due to her unwavering heart.
However, Shidou had not travelled great lengths while completely lacking a viable countermeasure. Indeed, he knew of but one method to break the lock securing Mukuro’s soul.
“…………”
Shidou regulated his breathing, concentrated his vigor, sharpened his mind, and brought his convictions to fruition. With the hope of rescuing Mukuro as his guide, a figure gradually began to form within blurry rays of light.
He called out the name of that figure, the name of the angel that possessed incomparable strength.
——The name that could smash the abhorrent status quo, the sole key.
“<Haniel>.”
In an instant, following a blood-boiling sensation coursing through his body, an undulating radiance suffused the palm of Shidou’s right hand where a long weapon manifested there. Be that as it may, its length differed from those of rifles and swords. Looking at its rigid form and blunted end, rather than some weapon or staff, the item resembled a simple broom.
“……Ho?”
Mukuro responded to the angel <Haniel>, which suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“An angel, eh? Thou bear nary semblance to a Spirit.”
But she narrowed her eyes as if she immediately understood why.
“Me seems that aught hath me wit. That be the told sealing of spirit power by thou. Hm, maugre the wherefores draw breath in darkness, thou must have wrest many an angel from the hands of my kin, eke thy woos to Muku erewhile.”
“Don’t make me sound like a criminal—I admit it, this isn’t my own power. But the thought of capturing an angel has never even crossed my mind. I just want to save you from these powers that should have never been given to you.”
“Know thou not of repentance? ’Tis unfeasible, there exists not an angel capable of surpassing Muku’s <Michael>.”
“Is that so? Well, then—”
Shidou loosened the corners of his mouth and poured all his energy to <Haniel>’s handle as he shouted.
“<Haniel>——<Kaleidoscope>!”
In a split second, as if working in concert with his succinct recitation, <Haniel> emitted a faintly pale glow and fabricated a contemporary outward appearance. After a few seconds had come and gone, the resplendent <Haniel> transformed into something completely unalike its previous form.
——It had changed into a key-shaped staff. <Haniel> had flawlessly morphed into the same <Michael> currently gripped in Mukuro’s hand.
Mukuro’s heart had been sealed by Mukuro herself through <Michael>’s power. In other words, in order to unlock her heart, only she herself could do so. Thus, the only entity able to undo the present plight using this absolute rule was, without a doubt, <Haniel>.
“…What betoken thou?”
Her anticipations were exceeded. Mukuro called out with astonishment.
“Eerie forsooth, to think that thou hast the effrontery to mimic <Michael>.”
“That’s how it is. After all—”
Shidou simultaneously pointed one end of <Michael> at Mukuro.
“I’ll be able to talk with the real you this way.”
“Presumptuous loggerhead, give allowance for Muku to edify thee of thy place. To whatever extent thy façade feigns fidelity, dost thou verily ween that thou art free to reign over <Michael> with savoir faire?”
“Who knows, we’ll just have to test it out a bit.”
Shidou declared while calmly regaining the lost composure. With his abruptly beating heart, he was wielding <Michael> with both hands soon afterwards.
“—Here I come, Mukuro. I’ll definitely unseal your heart and save you.”
From the loudspeakers installed inside the bridge of the refurbished <Fraxinus>, Shidou’s fully determined voice reverberated throughout the room. Sitting on the commander’s chair, Kotori nodded her head, slightly rocking her hair, which was neatly tied into twin tails with her black-colored ribbons.
“I’ll leave it to you then, Shidou.”
After concisely saying so with steadfast willpower, Kotori tightly closed her eyes.
For Shidou, Hoshimiya Mukuro was a Spirit whose danger level could be compared with Tokisaki Kurumi and inverse Spirits. Although the Territory did serve some purpose in protecting him, sending Shidou out by himself to deal with her was an onerous decision, even for Kotori to accept.
However, the enemy currently pursuing Fraxinus was humanity’s strongest wizard, Ellen Mira Mathers, and the high speed warship which she commanded, <Goetia>, the ship which had once shot down <Fraxinus> in the past.
“All personnel prepare for battle stations! We’re up against the world’s most troublesome enemy! Stir up your mood!”
“Roger!”
The staff spread out in the bridge replied Kotori with nervous looks. Kotori motioned in confirmation and turned back her head. Behind her, there stood eight girls who didn't seem to suit the bridge fittingly. They were all Spirits whose powers had been sealed by Shidou up till now. Every one of them anxiously watched the image of Shidou displayed on the main monitor.
“Kotori!”
“Kotori.”
Between the two who simultaneously vociferated—one was a young girl who possessed characteristic dark hair that was the color of night and had clear crystalline pupils, while the other remained the only Spirit to remain composed in those dire circumstances—they were Tohka and Origami respectively.
Even Kotori could easily guess what they were about to say. After a moment of wavering irresolution, she earnestly sighed from the depths of her throat.
“…I guess you two have already made up your minds. Well, I never planned on having either of you getting involved in this fight at first, but now…”
Kotori faintly turned and exhaled once again. The organization under her command, <Ratatoskr>, was one which held safeguarding every Spirit as its utmost purpose and priority. The act of sending Spirits whose powers had been painstakingly sealed into the battlefield indeed conflicted with the corporation’s advocated intentions.
Nevertheless, everyone knew within their minds that it was not the time to emphasize on ancillary morals. Moreover, an unfaltering flame relentlessly kindled in their eyes, inextinguishable by anything Kotori could say.
“Fine. Could I ask for your help—”
Tohka and Origami nodded in sync before Kotori could even utter the length of a full stop.
No, there was more to that. All the other Spirits put forth their strengths and expressed their approval as well.
“I want… to help!”
“Heh, heh, with the power of us Yamai, even a hurricane can blow across the vacuum of space.”
“Agreement. We are unable to sit idle in this situation.”
“Exactly, exactly! My lovely Darling is out there fighting, I can’t just stay here!”
“…If Yoshino’s going, I’m going too.”
“Un! That’s right, a final boss battle where everyone joins forces! Ah, but my Spirit power is down now, so I guess I’ll be supporting you guys from the ship.
Sorry!”
As Yoshino, Kaguya, Yuzuru, Miku, Natsumi, and Nia respectively said so, Kotori put on a helpless expression.
“I get it. I’ll be borrowing everyone’s powers then.”
The Spirits raised their fists and shouted a war cry altogether. Their vitality- filled voices vigorously reverberated throughout the bridge, sending shudders all over Kotori’s body as if she was being yelled at loudly.
As if influenced by the Spirits’ boost in morale, the strain that previously painted the crew’s faces vanished in an instant and was replaced by alleviating encouragement. With refreshed determination and zeal, they bestirred themselves again. The Spirits’ voices appeared to relax the mentalities of the crew who were about to confront the most formidable enemy in history.
However—the surrounding lively ambience did not last for long.
The reason became apparent on the main display monitor as countless hordes of miniature machines were seen being deployed from DEM’s armada, swarming towards Shidou and Mukuro. Those devilish dark grey contraptions of humanoid figures were DEM Industries’ unmanned weaponry, the Bandersnatch units.
“Che…! Those bastards—”
“C-Commander! I’m detecting signals from something other than the Bandersnatch units!”
<Deep Love> Minowa suddenly interrupted Kotori’s cursing.
Of course, that could not be helped. After all, on the main screen something, completely unalike the Bandersnatch units, was moving within the vague shadows created by the innumerable machines.
To be precise, it was someone.
That person was a young girl who had blonde hair and was wearing a light blue and white colored Combat Realizer Unit.
“That’s…!”
“—Artemisia Bell Ashcroft.”
Origami uttered the girl’s name as her eyes stared intently at the screen.
Although her tone was quite calm and monotonous, a keyed up expression gradually formed on her face as her hands clasped tightly.
For Origami, this was a rarely seen response, though well vindicated.
Ultimately, Artemisia was a Wizard with power second only to Ellen Mathers.
She must be prevented from intercepting Shidou at all costs. Kotori began to speak in a plainly anxious voice.
“Kuh—Proceed with the drop-off according to their location. Tohka and Origami, you two will go first. Get on the teleporter quickly.”
“Un!”
“Understood.”
After replying so, Tohka and Origami hastily moved towards the teleporter unit installed inside the bridge. As Kotori watched the two with a half-glance, she issued an order to Fraxinus’ AI, Maria.
“Also, Maria, prepare AW-111.”
Roger, but it is still in maintenance. Is that fine? ?
“Yeah, Origami will make good use of it.”
“……?”
Origami acutely inclined her head since she was unaware of Kotori’s implications. Afterwards, a compartment was extracted from under the central automation console, wherein a branded silver object was slowly revealed.
Kotori seized the item in her hands and placed it before Origami. The girl could only fix her dazzled eyes onto the mysterious object as she received it.
“This is… emergency gear?”
“Correct. That’s a CR-Unit manufactured by Asgard Electronics, called <Brynhildr>. It’s our newest model, so it’d be great if you could exploit the equipment.”
Kotori explained so while giving a thumb up. As if she had immediately assembled the pieces of the puzzle together, Origami powerfully gripped the gear she held and lightly nodded her head.
“—I understand.”
“All right, and then let’s get going. Confirm the coordinates and begin the teleportation!”
Roger, starting the teleporter. ?
Maria’s reply to Kotori was transmitted through the loudspeakers. Soon after that, the bodies of Tohka and the others, who were standing on the teleporter installation, began to emit a thin, pale luminesce.
Just at the moment they disappeared.
“Yaaa……!?”
Fraxinus’ bridge suddenly quaked from a severe, unknown force, eliciting a yelp from Kotori. The commander was staggered by the unexpected assault, almost capsizing on her seat itself, as she barely managed to stabilize herself.
Be that as it may, Kotori and the crew members, who somehow contrived to stay seated, could be considered as rather fortunate since the adjacent Spirits had all lost their equilibrium and gracelessly toppled onto the floor.
“Kyaa…!”
“O-o-ouch… what happened…”
Nia gently rubbed her forehead, which had been knocked against the solid floor, while pouting her mouth with resent of the accident. To her chagrin, the one who then replied was one of the crew members situated in the lower section of the bridge.
“<Goetia> launched an explosive incendiary!”
“Our Territory has successfully neutralized the bombardment, no damage was sustained!”
The report caused the infuriated Kotori to furrow her eyebrows with rage.
“…Che.”
If <Goetia> had utilized ordinary magic-powered artillery shells, their might would have been effortlessly nullified by the Territory, and the effect of the blast would not have reached the bridge. Ellen was aware that Fraxinus’
Territory was nigh impenetrable; thus, she borrowed another Territory for the purpose of that attack.
It resembled the knocking of a door.
“Are you belittling us, Ellen Mathers…?!”
Kotori fiercely gnawed at the lollipop in her mouth with her teeth.
As if in response to Kotori’s rhetorical statement, the speakers inside the bridge began to sound a warning siren which signaled an incoming transmission from outside the ship. Without even having to guess who the sender was, Kotori commanded in a dolorous manner.
“…Put it through.”
“Roger!”
Accompanying the crew’s affirmation, after some miscellaneous electrical noise scurried through the display screen, the image of a young woman was shown on the now clear monitor.
She was a beautiful blonde female of Northern European origin with skin as pale as that of an ill patient. She was magnificently accoutered in a platinum circuitry which clearly upheld her status as a Wizard. If one were to judge from her outward appearance, her neck and wrists seemed thin enough to be snapped off by a minor amount of force.
At first glance, she would look like a normal—rather, a fragile foreign girl from anyone’s perspective. Nevertheless, her blue eyes were imbued with absolute self-confidence in her strength.
“…Ellen Mathers.”
“Indeed. It has truly been a lengthy while since our last conversation, Itsuka Kotori.”
Ellen responded with a mocking smirk. Her leisurely mien induced a quiver or two from the tips of Kotori’s brows.
This spectacle was not the first of its kind. When Shidou previously borrowed <Zafkiel>’s abilities in order to rewrite history, Kotori and Fraxinus had come face to face with Ellen in a similar manner—merely to be defeated in the end.
“You look like you haven’t been taught a lesson and emerged once more. But things won’t be going your way anymore.”
“Humph, is that warship the origin of your overconfidence? A new variety, I presume, however—it’s useless. I’ll shoot it down again no matter how many times it will take.”
“How dare you—”
At that moment, Kotori held her breath.
It was then that it had occurred to her—the significance of Ellen saying again.
Fraxinus had suffered a loss against <Goetia> during Shidou’s endeavor in the previous world. The Ellen of this world was not supposed to know even a sliver of the ordeal.
“…I see, so it was <Beelzebub>’s doing.”
Kotori faintly whispered.
The omniscient Demon King <Beelzebub> that Isaac Westcott had snatched away. It was no mystery that they were able to acquire unobtainable-by- normal-means information of the world before it had been altered.
“Hmm… Your boss is really fussy, like a kid who just got a new toy.”
“A kid, huh… What you said may not necessarily be untrue.”
“Ho? Even a manga wouldn't have something like this. If that guy had so much as the least amount of judgement, he wouldn't have personally come to the enemy’s base, more so as the ringleader.”
“…Huh?”
In the instant those words reached Ellen’s ears, for the first time, her face stirred into a grimacing caricature.
“What did you just say, Itsuka Kotori? Ike went to Ratatoskr’s base in person without me?!”
Along with shocking astonishment—or rather, ireful indignation—such pronouncements vociferated out of her throat.
“————”
This unpredicted reaction rendered Kotori flabbergasted and speechless as she gulped her saliva down with a cluck. She absolutely could not have misheard despite the awkwardness of Ellen’s speech—she had no idea about Isaac Westcott raiding Ratatoskr’s base.
“…Hm? Judging by your reply, you seem to be completely unaware of this matter. Not informing you about a fight that important, even though the both of you are on intimate terms. He doesn't have much trust in you, does he?
How quite unforeseen…”
“………”
Ellen became uncommunicative and was reticently lost in silence for a little while, breathing down Kotori’s neck with an expression like never before.
All in all, after slightly moving her lips as if she was thinking aloud, Ellen returned to her former relaxed disposition and tidied her long bangs.
“What a blatant taunt. Would I, of all people, believe in the enemy’s words?”
“You can confirm it yourself if you aren't convinced. Or perhaps, are you scared?”
“What you’ve spouted are all nonsensical lies, anyway. All right, if you insist, I shall go and verify the matter myself.”
As she declared so, Ellen put on an incisive, sharp demeanor and resumed.
“—Five minutes will be enough.”
The connection was severed simultaneously. The DEM warships, which appeared on the refreshed main display screen again, showed a variety of changes.
As they were keenly focused on <Goetia>, being the center of attention, the other three ships had secretly encircled <Fraxinus> before they had the chance to even notice. The flames of war stood on the verge of breaking out.
After a high-pitched groan, Kotori shouted her orders to the crew members.
“Set the attribute of the Territory to defense and fall back! Being surrounded will be hard to deal with, though, other than <Goetia>, they’re all small fries.
Before that happens—”
“Kotori-san!”
Kotori’s words were abruptly interrupted by a voice from behind—it was Miku’s.
“Please teleport us outside the ship! Let us take care of the small fries!”
Following her example, the other Spirits voiced their opinions as well.
“Kotori-san can take on Goetia…!”
“Kaka, Tohka and Origami have departed to Shidou’s location. We ought to follow suit.”
“You guys…”
Although hesitating at first, Kotori gave light nod.
“—Well, I’ll leave it to you to obediently stay here.”
“How did it come to that!? We can help with our powers too!”
“Calm down. It’s precisely because of your powers that I’m counting on you to remain in the ship as a last resort.”
“Eh…?”
“Doubt. What does that imply?”
Kotori’s statement made the Spirits rack their brains in a dumbfounded expression.
“Actually, even I’m fed up with doing nothing. But since it’s <Goetia> that we’re facing off against here, maybe—”
As she shifted her field of vision towards the Spirits, Kotori suddenly ceased her talking. The reason was very simple—one Spirit was missing.
“Eh…? Where’s…?”
“<Goetia> is approaching!!”
However, just then, a crew member’s voice was transmitted from the lower bridge section, instantly pulling back Kotori’s consciousness. There was no time for any careful consideration. Even if she had hidden herself away due to fear of battle, Kotori could not blame her for that purpose. More importantly, she did not plan on coercing her to provide any assistance. With a salute, Kotori issued instructions to the crew.
“Everyone wait for the perfect opportunity to strike! All personnel make preparations! We will be commencing soon!”
“Roger!”
The crew members’ firm affirmations reverberated throughout the bridge.
Kotori licked her lips and fixed her gaze on the platinum aerial warship that was displayed on the main monitor.
“Here I come, destined archenemy. I’ll let you enrich your intelligence regarding the brand-new Fraxinus’ strength.”
Afterwards, Kotori pointed at the screen and offered the following words.
“All right——let our battle <date> begin.”
“—<Unlock-R?taibu>.”
Accompanied by a fleetingly brief sound, Mukuro stabbed her key-shaped angel <Michael> into the void. As she turned, similar to a door being opened, a passageway was instantly unfurled in that space, forcefully drawing the many heaps of floating rock and rubble machinery around Mukuro.
“Evanesce.”
“……!”
In a split second, multiple gates were unlocked in a way that enclosed Shidou. The projectiles, which had previously vanished, flew out from the gates simultaneously. It was an endless barrage from all directions, from all 360 degrees, leaving no blind spot unharmed. Naturally, <Fraxinus’> Territory which was protecting Shidou responded accordingly, assisting him in avoiding the piercing barrage of bullets—yet to no avail. Unlike previously, there was absolutely no place for him to hide this time. The few inescapable missiles kept drawing near him, as if they had a merciless thirst for puncturing into Shidou’s body.
However, Shidou was not naive enough to stay in place like a sitting duck. He raised his left hand towards the front and shouted.
“<Zadkiel>…!”
In a flash—frigid draughts raced around Shidou’s surroundings, beginning to take the shape of a sturdy, ice shield. The incoming debris collided with the rigid chunks of frozen water, shattering into scant fragments of frost and verglas. Several shock waves remorselessly pounded Shidou’s feeble frame, akin to a helpless vessel being rampaged by an unrelenting tempest at sea.
Witnessing the event, Mukuro indistinctly narrowed her eyes.
“Hm, thou art able of bidding other angels verily. All the more jaundiced. Art thou in sooth a mortal wight?”
“I’ve considered that possibility before. But—”
Shidou gazed into Mukuro’s eyes with rapt attentiveness, taking a deep breath in the process. He then depicted an illusion within his mind and spoke.
“—For the sake of reaching you, I guess that now is not the time to be picky.”
With the Army-Breaking Songstress <Gabriel>, Shidou poured all his strength into his voice. The mystical incantations which propagated from inside Shidou’s throat vibrated his eardrums via Fraxinus’ Territory, bestowing on him a power that greatly surpassed the limits of a normal human.
“Uoooooooh!”
He curled up his legs in midair and immediately stretched them out the next instant with a forced exhalation. Naturally, there were no footholds or whatsoever in space. However, the Territory deluging Shidou’s body sensed his movements and propelled him forward in a wide leap. He closed in on the floating Mukuro at a high velocity.
Yet, at the next moment—
“…Huh!?”
Shidou reflexively suppressed his breathing.
The grounds for his reaction were well justified. Just before he arrived at Mukuro’s position, the shadow of a human figure draped in a suit of machinery suddenly appeared out of the corners of Shidou’s eyes.
“My apologies, this Spirit belongs to us.”
The blonde girl retracted her laser saber as she said so in an apathetic tone.
“You’re——”
Shidou remembered who she was—Artemisia Ashcroft, one of DEM Industries’ Wizards, and the girl who attacked Nia when she inverted.
It looked like she had come to the cosmos along with <Goetia>. Regardless of that fact, Shidou, who had previously amassed all of his available attention on Mukuro, was utterly unable to perceive even the tiniest sign of Artemisia’s swift advance up until the actual event itself occurred.
Artemisia’s sword took aim at Shidou’s vulnerable neck.
The boy was done for, screwed, toast. Shidou didn’t know whether or not <Camael>’s flames could heal a decapitated head. Granted that such a wondrous miracle proved to be feasible, Artemisia and Mukuro still would not patiently wait for Shidou’s head to slowly reattach to his body afresh.
However, within that short-lived period of ten or so seconds, a fervid emotion which held no regard for his own personal safety prominently emerged from Shidou’s heart.
That’s right. If Shidou were to die there and then, Artemisia would definitely assault Mukuro without the slightest hesitation. Of course, Mukuro was a Spirit. With the presence of her <Michael>, it was possible for her to make a quick escape to a faraway region despite any contingencies. She was even powerful to the extent that she could kill Artemisia instead.
On the contrary, if the latter were to happen, it would equate to Mukuro sealing her own heart forever.
Her options would be death or eternal stagnation.
For Mukuro, Shidou’s elimination merely meant that she would be left with those two remaining choices.
“Something like that… how could I ever accept it…!”
Shidou managed to control his weakened body and wield <Michael> with a forward motion. Naturally, it was too late for him to defend. Nonetheless, if Artemisia so much as relented a bit when she was carried out the deed, perhaps the beheading would not turn out to be a clean cut at all. Provided that Shidou’s head remained connected to his body by even the thinnest layer of skin, there was a chance for <Camael> to save his life.
Those were all probabilities without exception, purely imaginary reluctances.
However, they were the greatest efforts that Shidou could strive to accomplish.
The tip of Artemisia’s laser blade drew near Shidou’s throat. The razor-sharp edge of her sword formed with enormous magical power lacerated his bare flesh, incising an acute excruciation throughout his nervous system as the foul stench of scorched blood diffused across the space. —However.
“……U-Ugh!”
The one who quelled their breath was not Shidou, but Artemisia.
“Eh——?”
Hearing such an exclamation, he could not refrain from slow-wittedly exclaiming himself.
Shidou, who had thought he was dying just mere moments ago, still possessed the conscious ability to confirm the matter itself of his own accord, and his throat was able to verbalize as before. Shidou understood right away.
The saber which had grazed his neck was obstructed from underneath.
“——Shidou, are you all right?”
“Origami!?”
Shidou widened his eyes as he called out the name of the girl who had appeared before him. Origami stood there, adorned in an unfamiliar suit of machinery. Her ensemble was embellished with a streamlined pure white CR-
Unit, which was equipped with pauldrons and a breastplate resembling European armor. Her weapon, rather than a sword, looked more like an elongated spear.
“That outfit—”
“I’ll explain later.”
After Origami succinctly replied back, she swung her spear at Artemisia, who had lost her balance from the parry.
“Kuh……”
“……Ugh.”
Due to their Territories impacting each other, they could perceive the other’s energy and tenacity. Both Origami and Artemisia vaguely distorted their expressions into grimaces as a result.
Their intense magic concentrated at a single focal point, discharging blinding streaks of light throughout the pitch-black cosmos, shining on their eyes as well.
“Shidou!”
A voice reached his ears as he was just freed from the desperate impasse.
The next instant, his wrist was tightly gripped by a strength that threatened to dislocate his hand, pulling him away.
“Ugah!?”
Shidou couldn't help but yell, before realizing the significance of that action immediately afterwards.
In a flash, the space that Shidou had previously been in was thoroughly permeated by magnified rays of stinging light which emanated from Mukuro.
Supposedly, if Shidou was still blithely lost in a daze there, the life that Origami had saved would be pointlessly discarded yet again.
“Are you okay, Shidou?!”
“Ah, yeah, thanks a lot for that, Tohka.”
Shidou cast away the beaded droplets of sweat on his forehead and called out the name of the girl who had dragged him away from imminent danger.
Without a doubt, the one who rescued Shidou from that crisis was Tohka, wearing her limited Astral Dress and brandishing her angel <Sandalphon> in her hand. It looked like she had come together with Origami.
However, there was no time for respite.
Mukuro seemed to heave a sigh and simultaneously raised <Michael> once more, bombarding projectiles in their direction. It did not end there.
Innumerable humanoid figures appeared behind them—<Bandersnatch> units. The robotic machines fired artillery at Shidou and Mukuro.
“Guh… <Zadkiel>!”
“Hah!”
Shidou constructed a shield out of scratch using the angel while Tohka was fending off the Bandersnatch units’ attacks with <Sandalphon> at the same time. Naturally, this alone was not nearly enough to terminate the other party’s offensive.
Shidou, Ratatoskr, the Spirit hunters DEM, and the girl who deemed both sides as her foes, Mukuro, each for their own purpose had showered the cosmos with torrents upon plethora of spiritual and magical power.
“……Ugh!”
Yet, despite being caught up in the tumultuous maelstrom of war, Shidou harbored no dread. To be precise, another philosophy currently governed his line of thought.
“Tohka! Now’s your chance!”
“Un! I’ll clear a path!”
Tohka loudly declared so.
Both of their minds seemed to have connected for an instant as they thought up a scheme on the fly. That was to be expected. In battles, the speed and keenness of Tohka’s decision-making synchronized with Shidou’s mindset.
Indeed, Shidou and the others encompassed the exact center of the battlefield. Even with the shelter of Fraxinus’ Territory, it was a merciless combat zone where no error went unpunished. Each mistake cost direly—a ground zero brimming with overwhelming magical power.
At the same time, Mukuro found herself bemused with the state of affairs which menaced her to counteract. In fact, she was presently skirmishing anything approaching with magic rays or utilizing <Michael> to open doors that could engulf them whole.
“Let’s go, Tohka!”
“Ooh!”
After rallying with Tohka, they leaped together, throwing themselves into the brilliant streams of meteors.
In the pitch-black cosmos, two shadows entangled, collided, and drifted by each other.
Origami manipulated her own Territory and observed the balance regulator, receiving several pressing attacks from Artemisia in the process.
“Fuh—”
“Too naive!”
Origami fired a shot with her lance, but to no avail as the bullet was obstructed by Artemisia using her laser saber. The modicums of magical energy dispersed like sparking fireworks, casting light upon her eyes.
“Kuh—”
One slash after another, Artemisia began to slowly, but surely, close the distance between the two fierce combatants. Origami’s face became drenched in perspiration. Being endowed with the latest equipment did not fill the disparate gap between their abilities at all. This cruel fact made her reminisce the time when she once squared up to Ellen Mathers, albeit to have crumbled from her opponent’s godly strength.
“Heheh…”
Deeply engrossed in Origami’s facial features, Artemisia let out a soft hum.
“That combat Realizer unit of yours is rather eccentric, if I must say. Your spear can absorb any magic scattered in the surroundings and turn that power into the sharpened edge of a blade. A battle of stamina would spell the end for me.”
“………”
Origami’s eyebrows faintly quivered. Certainly, the laser-tipped spear held in her hands, <Einherjar>, possessed such an innate attribute as Artemisia had stated. For this reason, Origami could control and wield the generated magical power to coerce her adversary into a war of attrition.
“Such a CR-Unit beholds a new sight for me. Yet, you are a Wizard yourself.
For whose sake do you side with the Spirits?”
“………”
A scourging sense of affliction resided within that sentence. Artemisia was supposed to be acquainted with Origami. Unless she was an amnesiac herself, it was very difficult to imagine how she could have forgotten.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login