Dao Of Heaven

Chapter 234: Sheele—Don’t Let the Pink Elf Near Me!

After Sheele was taken into custody, a long time passed before the aftermath of the Sixth Honkai Eruption was finally dealt with. Half of the Honkai trials were now behind them, and the Previous Era still held the advantage.

But Elias dared not relax in the slightest.

He knew very well that everything so far had been nothing more than appetizers.

From the Seventh Herrscher onward, the difficulty of the Honkai's trials would increase exponentially! Even he would find it hard to remain calm.

After all, the Herrschers to come were all "abnormal" in some respect.

Elias was already considering that it was almost time to gather the remaining Flame-Chasers.

Though the road ahead was dangerous, there was no need to be overly tense. For now, peace still held.

Under his and Mei's command, Fire Moth was making preparations for the future. With the successful development of soulium, many plans could finally be put into motion.

The Divine Key Project, the ELF Project, the Moonlight Throne Project, the Chimera Project, and the Stigmata…

Of course, none of these things could be conjured up all at once, but progress bars were slowly filling.

And now, Elias had one more daily task besides subjugating high-level Honkai Beasts.

Inside the Deep End.

"Hi, Sheele. I came to keep you company."

"Elias, why are you here again?! I don't welcome you! Go away!!"

"Hm? Sounds like someone wants another spanking."

"You—!"

In Sheele's private room within the Deep End, the Herrscher girl wore an adorable pink dress, hugging a Homu doll Elias had conjured for her with his Authority.

At the mention of spanking, Sheele flinched instinctively, clutching her backside while her face flushed with embarrassment and anger.

"Hehe~ how cute. Anyway, let's eat first. Without your Core, you can't afford to skip meals."

"I don't need human food!"

"Oh? Then are you saying you'd prefer non-human food? Very brave. Next time, I'll have Mei cook for you."

The image flashed in his mind of Mei, whose face looked every bit the housewife, yet couldn't cook at all.

The last time she had whimsically invited Elias to dinner, cooking personally, she had nearly poisoned the Seven-Core Herrscher + MANTIS right to death.

That had been food unfit for humans—culinary skills rivaling those of a certain lightning archon from Teyvat!

"Let's see if you're still so haughty after eating Mei's cooking. But don't worry, with me here, I'll at least make sure you survive it."

Elias placed a tray of food from the cafeteria in front of her, but the girl just turned her head away with tsundere defiance.

"Hmph! I'd rather starve to death than eat a single bite!" Sheele declared with hands on her hips, full of confidence.

Gurgleeee~

No sooner had she spoken than her stomach gave a pitiful growl.

Elias: "Pfft~ Nice ventriloquism."

Sheele: "…It's all that snake-like woman's fault! Otherwise, I wouldn't be like this!"

Mobius had certainly not gone easy on her lately. Though Sheele hadn't been put on the operating table, she had endured just about everything else possible.

And so, a minute later—

"Nom nom nom nom! Mmmph!"

"Slow down. No one's stealing your food. If you choke and die eating, you'll become an even more disgraceful Herrscher than the Herrscher of Ice."

"I don't actually want to eat it! Leaving it there was just an eyesore, so I forced myself to take care of it!"

"Ah, yes yes~ of course."

Elias thought to himself: in the end, no one escaped the law of 'smells too good.'

Sheele devoured the lunch like a true food warrior. Elias, practiced by now, took a napkin and gently wiped her mouth, then the two sat on the bed, grabbed controllers, and started up a co-op game.

"Today I'll definitely beat you!"

"Heh~ if I lose even a sliver of health, I'll count it as your win."

Glancing at his record of over a hundred consecutive victories, Elias had no intention of holding back. And though Sheele was crushed into despair every time, the next day she always came back to challenge him again… only to be crushed once more.

According to Fire Moth's investigation, before becoming a Herrscher, Sheele had also been a pitiful child.

Her parents died, her relatives seized the inheritance, and afterward Sheele was sent to an orphanage. But the orphanage's owner was no good person either—secretly trafficking children.

That person was already dead now, the very first victim Sheele killed after becoming a Herrscher.

Putting himself in her place, Elias felt it was natural she would become a Herrscher bent on destroying the world. After all, Sheele had never experienced the beauty of this world—only its malice.

And now, though she was his prisoner…

Elias had not harmed her aside from extracting her Core. Instead, he brought her many things she had never had before: pretty clothes, delicious food, fun games, entertaining movies, and more.

"Sheele, I understand your resentment toward the world. But not everything in it is awful. If you destroy it, you'll never taste happy water again, never play games, never see how novels end."

Elias spoke as he guided her, hoping that anime, games, and junk food might save the girl's despairing heart.

"...Hmph! I-I don't care about any of that!"

Sheele clenched her teeth stubbornly, but the flicker in her eyes betrayed her wavering feelings.

That moment of hesitation cost her—her character in the game was swiftly defeated by Elias' seamless combo.

"Ahhh! Elias, you cheated! That was a sneak attack! Too underhanded! I don't want to play anymore, this game sucks!"

"Stop making excuses. If you're bad, just practice more."

"Hmph!"

Sheele puffed out her cheeks, but Elias only ruffled her hair and handed her several small bags.

"Here. Elysia asked me to deliver these clothes to you. She also said next time she's coming to the Deep End to play with you."

"Don't let that woman come near me!"

At the mention of Elysia's name, Sheele flinched all over, her face filled with disgust and dread.

She instinctively hugged her chest and shivered, recalling the recent trauma of being dominated by the Pink Elf—

Being treated like a dress-up doll, forced to watch pink movies, force-fed and made to chat… Sheele gnashed her teeth at the clothing bag Elias held out.

She hated pink dresses! But the last time Elysia visited, she had stolen all of Sheele's other clothes, leaving only several pink skirts, forcing Sheele to choose between wearing pink or going bare.

If Elias hadn't been visiting her every day…

Sheele felt she likely would have chosen to go without.

"Uh… I thought you two got along pretty well."

Elias scratched his head awkwardly. He had noticed that Elysia's interest in Sheele was even higher than her usual tormenting of Mobius.

"As if! That hateful pink devil! And I hate all other humans too!"

Sheele vented her anger by squeezing the Homu doll in her arms.

Elias sighed helplessly at her appearance.

Despite how well they seemed to get along now—enough to feed her, pat her head, and play games together—Sheele only treated him that way.

If anyone else approached her, her first instinct was to lash out with the remnants of her Herrscher of Death Authority. Killing intent was practically ingrained.

"By the way… why don't I feel that same hatred toward you, Elias? Are you really human?" Sheele asked with a suspicious expression.

She bore an instinctive loathing and resentment toward humanity. This was the mission branded into her soul as a Herrscher—to annihilate humanity and destroy civilization.

Perhaps her lost humanity could be cultivated again, but this curse would never disappear.

Like the core programming of a machine, it was an absolute, unbreakable command. Even now, without her Core, Sheele could not defy that mission.

And yet, strangely, she did not feel it toward Elias. Though she still "hated" him for capturing her and stealing her Core, she had no urge to kill the white-haired boy.

"Of course I'm human—or at least, that's what I believe. But, eh~ looks like getting you to turn away from the darkness won't be easy." Elias gave a bitter smile.

He knew exactly why. Though he considered himself human, objectively he was a Herrscher—an extremely Herrscher, a seven-Core Herrscher—the same kind of being as the girl before him.

The mission Honkai had given her targeted only humanity. Elias was not included, and so Sheele felt no urge to kill him.

(It really does seem the Herrschers of the Previous Era are fundamentally different from those of the Current Era. On that side, Herrschers can maintain their humanity, and once they decide to betray the Honkai, they truly can defy its will. It's almost like someone in the future rewrote the base code, removing the restriction on Herrschers…)

Elias frowned. By now it was nearly certain that Sheele could never truly stand on humanity's side. It wasn't about her willingness—it was that Honkai bound her.

Anyone else would likely have given up and focused on how to wring out her remaining value. But…

"Forget it. No need to rush. I'll think of a way to free you from Honkai's restraints. But for now… let me show you more of the world's beauty."

"Hmph, I never asked you to."

"Mm. But this is something I want to do."

Elias smiled lightly, unconcerned by Sheele's cold words.

Though it sounded similar to something Otto might say, Elias believed in the power of emotions. He believed emotions could create miracles, that love could transcend everything, and that nothing was truly impossible.

From here on, he would teach Sheele—so full of resentment for the world—what love was, what warmth was, what happiness was.

He had no proof at all.

But Elias believed that if he could accomplish this, then one day those beautiful emotions would transform into a sword, and in unimaginable ways, cut through the curse of the Honkai.

After all, humanity's specialty was exploiting loopholes.

Even if Honkai had branded the Herrschers of the Previous Era with the absolute mission of killing humanity and destroying civilization…

If a loophole could be found, if the rules could be twisted and reversed, then perhaps they could still fight for humanity. To most, that was impossible—but to Elias, it was not. After all…

He possessed a power called [Miracle].

From the bottom of his heart, Elias longed for that ability, hoping it could overturn everything and rewrite fate at the crucial moment.

"Looks like you two have been bonding quite well."

Just then, a jealous female voice sounded.

Elias instinctively pulled Sheele closer, and as expected, the girl instinctively tried to attack.

"Mei? What are you doing here?"

"I came to deliver your approval notice. Your application has been granted. But honestly—you could've decided this on your own. Why did you bother submitting a request?" Mei asked curiously.

"Because this isn't just about me." Elias shook his head, at the same time stroking Sheele's head again.

"Hey, what are you talking about?"

Sheele restrained the killing intent Mei provoked in her and asked coldly.

"...Herrscher of Death, you've been granted permission to go outside."

"Eh? What? You're letting me leave?!" Sheele's eyes widened in shock.

"Of course, it's not like you can go wherever you want. You're only allowed to leave the Deep End and make contact with the outside under restrictions. Treasure this chance—it wasn't easy for Elias to secure it for you."

Mei's tone carried a trace of jealousy as she pulled a black soulium collar from her pocket and held it out to Sheele.

"Your permitted range of activity is within five meters of Elias. And don't forget to wear this collar. It has a transmitter and a listening device. Plus, if you wander too far, it'll 'remind' you with a certain shocking method."

Arms crossed, Mei explained coldly. In truth, she didn't think Sheele deserved this. Many others opposed her being allowed out.

It was only because Elias' prestige was so high that the request had been approved.

After all, even without her Core, Sheele still possessed physical abilities far beyond normal humans. She wasn't completely harmless. And combined with humanity's instinctive rejection of Herrschers…

If not for Elias' guarantee, Sheele would likely never have set foot outside the Deep End for the rest of her life. Even so, her permitted range of activity was only by Elias' side.

"Human, do you really think I'll accept this treatment? You think you can restrain a Herrscher? Ridiculous! Whoever wants to wear this collar can wear it—it won't be me. It's like being a dog."

Sheele sneered at the collar. Why would she even want to go outside? Wasn't her current life just fine? She had food, drink, and entertainment.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Mei pushed up her glasses, eyes full of mockery. A Herrscher? Without her Authority, what kind of Herrscher was she? And what was wrong with being a dog? Countless people would love to be Elias' dog.

"Herrscher of Death, it seems Elias has been too kind to you. He hasn't taught you that a prisoner ought to remain humble and obedient."

"Y-you—what are you trying to do?!"

"Nothing. Just letting you stretch your legs."

Mei twirled the collar around a finger, laughing softly.

Minutes later—

"This hateful woman!!!"

Sheele raged, tugging desperately at the collar around her neck. She had been forced out of prison.

"Uh… they even included a leash."

Elias' expression was complicated as he looked at the leash in his hand.

One end was in his grip, the other connected to Sheele's collar. With the girl fuming in rage, she looked just like a black cat bristling and yowling.

"Damn it! Why won't this thing break?!"

"Well, it's soulium, after all."

"Damn, damn it! Fine! Since you've let me out, don't blame me if I go on a rampage! I'll wreak havoc, I'll destroy the world, I'll escape!"

"Sheele, I advise you not to."

Elias, already knowing what would happen next, kindly offered a warning. But expecting her to listen obediently was wishful thinking.

Sheele stormed forward—one step, two, three, four, five, six…

Bzzzzzzzzzt!!

"Ababababa—!"

High-voltage current surged from the collar, dropping Sheele to her knees as black smoke rose from her body.

Elias shook his head. He knew it would end like this.

He was willing to be gentle with Sheele, but that didn't mean others would be. Once she tasted the cruelty of the outside world, she would finally realize how good Elias truly was.

"Take this thing off me."

Sheele staggered to her feet and demanded.

"No. Even if Mei went a little overboard, this is necessary. As long as you behave and listen, you won't have any problems."

Elias shook his head. The electric collar was unpleasant, sure, but the girl was still a dangerous individual. It was a necessary safety measure.

"Damn it!"

Sheele scowled, kicking a stone away before shrinking back close to Elias' side.

Her hand brushed the collar nervously, and she swore that once her power returned, she would put one of these on that hateful woman as well.

"Let's go. We're out now, might as well look around."

"I don't want to."

"How about I take you to eat something good, and maybe buy a few new outfits?"

"…Well, I suppose that wouldn't be so bad."

Chapter 540: Water Park Tickets and Swimsuits

The salesgirl immediately understood—yes, the store could indeed handle deliveries.

Whenever new arrivals came in, posters and introductions would be sent out to regular customers. If they saw something they liked, they would simply contact the manager via phone or Line, pay online, and the manager would have the staff pack the clothes and send them out by courier.

"That's possible, but you'll need to pay in advance, including shipping costs."

"Even for local delivery, there's a fee?" Kotomi Izumi asked.

"For local delivery, there's no charge. But since it's local, wouldn't it be easier for you to just take it home and give it to your friend directly?" The salesgirl asked, a little puzzled.

Kotomi coughed, thought for a moment, then explained: "Actually, that 'friend' I mentioned earlier is… my lover. I think this long down jacket is nice, so I wanted to buy one for her too."

"Oh! I see, you want to surprise your lover, that's why you're having it delivered instead of giving it yourself. When she opens the package and finds the down jacket you sent her, she'll definitely be touched.

"And the friend who's trying on clothes in the fitting room right now—she came with you to help pick a gift for your lover, right? Is this your first time in a relationship? That's totally normal. Back in school, the first time I dated, I also brought a friend along to help me pick a gift for my boyfriend. We spent half a day choosing. Ah, youth really is wonderful. In the blink of an eye, I'm older now, and that boyfriend from school has long since become someone else's husband.

"Ah, sorry, once you reach a certain age, seeing young people makes you sigh like this." The salesgirl finished with an apologetic smile.

The one trying clothes in the fitting room is also my lover. And how are you so good at talking? I didn't even come up with an excuse yet, and you already finished making it for me… Kotomi thought silently, then nodded.

"Ah, yes… that's right. Sister, you should talk more like this. I think before long, you'll be able to replace the manager."

"Oh no, you flatter me. I just know how to talk a little. In this business, being a sales clerk isn't about other skills—you have to know how to speak. People who are too shy could never do this job."

The salesgirl often flattered customers, but rarely got compliments herself. Hearing Kotomi's words, her smile widened, and she eagerly continued:

"These days, girls rarely take the initiative to create romantic gestures for their lovers. Relationships can't just rely on one side giving. There has to be balance."

Among the same long down jackets, Kotomi didn't pick the khaki color, but chose a white one instead.

"This one. But change the size for me, this one's a bit too big."

"Got it, no problem. Please wait just a moment."

Not only was the salesgirl good with words, she was also efficient. She noted down the product code and jogged off to the stockroom, quickly returning with a white down jacket.

Just then, Megumi Kato came out of the fitting room wearing the khaki long down jacket.

It had to be said, the khaki coat suited her very well.

"How does it look?" Megumi spun around in front of Kotomi, asking.

Kotomi was never good at saying fancy words like the salesgirl. What she feared most while shopping was when her girlfriend asked for her opinion after trying something on. All she could manage was a simple: "Really pretty."

Even though it was just three plain words, Megumi still felt very happy hearing them. Smiling brightly, she turned back to the fitting room to change out of the jacket and get ready to pack it for purchase.

As Kotomi watched Megumi walk back inside, she quickly turned to the salesgirl and said: "Three down jackets, check out. Also, give me an address slip. I'll write down the address and have it delivered today. I'll cover the shipping fee as well, understood?"

The salesgirl nodded vigorously, her expression saying I get it, you young people are so romantic. She swiftly brought out the payment code and address slip. After paying, Kotomi picked up a ballpoint pen and began writing on the slip.

Kotomi wrote down the Yuigahama family's address, putting the recipient's name as: Yui Yuigahama.

After all, this white down jacket was meant for Yui.

The salesgirl began helping with the packaging, first wrapping up the white down jacket and setting it aside near the counter to avoid Megumi Kato noticing when she came out. Only then did she slowly start wrapping the two khaki coats.

When Megumi came out of the fitting room, she noticed Kotomi had already paid. She leaned close to her ear and whispered: "So the great author Izumi-sensei has this much money now? These two coats aren't cheap."

Not two… three… Kotomi thought awkwardly to herself, forcing a smile.

"While I was waiting for you, I just went ahead and paid."

"Kotomi, aren't you going to try on your coat in the fitting room? If the size isn't right, you can still change it now. But once we go home and cut off the tag, you won't be able to exchange it."

Megumi glanced at the two khaki coats being wrapped up as she spoke.

Kotomi shook her head. "Since high school, I've always bought this size. No need to try it on."

After saying that, Kotomi suddenly felt bold. She reached out and held Megumi's hand. "You're really that eager to wear matching couple outfits with me, huh, Megumi~?"

"What else?" Megumi chuckled in reply. She had long realized her little cutie loved to flirt without even noticing, making her want to kiss her right there on the spot.

If it weren't for the salesgirl still being present, Kotomi's lips would have already been captured by Megumi's.

The salesgirl, after finishing the packaging of the two khaki coats, was just about to call out to them, but then she caught sight of Kotomi and Megumi holding hands. She didn't think much of it—just assumed it was a sign of close friendship between two girls.

After all, back in her own school days, she herself had always liked touching her female desk mate's thigh.

"Ladies, your coats are all wrapped up. Anything else you need?"

"No, thank you." Megumi said, taking the two bags.

"Thank you for your patronage. Please come again!"

After leaving the store, Kotomi and Megumi strolled around some more, though they didn't find any other tops they liked.

"Should we buy a dress? When you win the Tokyo Metropolitan University National Youth Art Prize, you'll probably need a formal dress for the event, right?"

"The second exhibition hasn't even started yet. It's way too soon to think about prize-winning pieces. There are lots of excellent entries—I can't guarantee I'll win anything." Kotomi laughed playfully.

There was also something she didn't tell Megumi: in the Izumi family, all the formal wear, dresses, and shoes for events were custom-tailored in advance.

There was no need to go out and buy a dress at all.

But Kotomi didn't say it, because she didn't want Megumi to feel the gap in their family backgrounds was so wide.

Well-matched families?

Even if Megumi's father was the section chief of finance at Tokyo Central Bank, looking up, he still had no qualifications to directly face the Izumi family—let alone be considered well-matched.

"I remember there's a movie theater upstairs. Want to go check it out?" Megumi Kato noticed that Kotomi didn't seem to enjoy shopping for clothes very much. Remembering how much Kotomi liked movies, she made the suggestion.

"But none of the movies showing here look interesting…"

Kotomi flipped casually through the shopping mall brochure she had picked up earlier. It listed the features of each floor and the distribution of shops—like how the third floor was focused on food. It also listed the movies currently showing in the cinema, along with posters and ads.

After glancing over the movie titles and posters, Kotomi didn't find anything she liked.

"How about swimsuit shopping, then?" Megumi suggested.

"Swimsuits? But it's almost winter."

Kotomi was confused. Most outdoor pools and water parks had already closed for the season. In autumn and winter, people who wanted to swim usually went to indoor pools.

"My dad's friend gave him a few tickets to a hot spring water park. My dad doesn't have time to go, and my mom can't swim and isn't interested, so he passed the tickets to me and told me to invite some classmates. I haven't decided who else to give them to yet, but one ticket definitely belongs to you, Kotomi."

"Heh, so you just want to see me in a bikini, huh?" Kotomi grinned mischievously, deliberately teasing Megumi.

Every time they got intimate, even if Kotomi was the one to start it, things would gradually shift until Megumi was the one in control—and Kotomi ended up on the receiving side.

Kotomi had always thought of herself as the "top" in their relationship, so she had strong opinions about this. Whenever she got the chance, she would say whatever came to mind to tease Megumi. Seeing Megumi blush always gave her a huge sense of satisfaction—enough to keep her in a good mood for the whole day.

"Stop… Can't I even have a little secret? You've already seen right through me." Megumi answered shyly, a blush spreading across her cheeks.

Of course, she was pretending. She had long realized that Kotomi loved seeing her blush, as if it gave Kotomi a great sense of accomplishment, making her happy for an entire day.

So whenever Megumi wanted something, she would just play along, feigning embarrassment at Kotomi's teasing. Once Kotomi was in high spirits, she would agree to anything.

"Then let's buy swimsuits. The hot spring water park… even if we don't swim, we can just relax in a hot spring pool. One ticket for you, one for me. What about the rest—have you decided who to give them to?"

Kotomi thought she had succeeded in making Megumi blush again and was feeling smug about it.

"Not yet," Megumi said lightly.

Because it'll just be the two of us going to the water park… Megumi thought to herself with a smile in her eyes.

Her father really had received hot spring water park tickets and given them all to her. But she hadn't told Kotomi the exact number. Instead, she had vaguely said "a few" to make it unclear.

In truth, there had only been three tickets.

And Megumi had secretly torn one up, leaving just two—so she and Kotomi could have the water park all to themselves.

She had even heard that right next to the water park was a five-star hotel.

Thinking about that, her smile deepened. Looks like I need to get Kotomi to buy a few swimsuits~

They arrived at the swimsuit shop inside the Chiba Shopping Mall.

With online shopping so convenient, far fewer people came to shop at malls these days. Some floors barely had any customers at all throughout the day, leaving the place feeling quiet. The only lively spots were the supermarket on the first floor, the food court on the third, and the cinema at the top.

It was no exaggeration to say that now, about 80% of the people who came to the Chiba Shopping Mall were heading there for the cinema. After all, it had an IMAX theater, one of the most popular in Chiba City.

What's more, part of the reason the restaurants and food court on the third floor could still keep business was thanks to the cinema. After watching a movie, many customers would naturally head down to the third floor for a meal before leaving.

Now that it was autumn heading into winter, even fewer people came to buy swimsuits. Those who did enter mostly just walked a circle around the shop before leaving. The swimsuit shop manager was even considering whether to close early in a few days.

Across from the swimsuit store was a women's clothing shop that had customers year-round. Every time the swimsuit shop owner looked at the crowds over there, he would sigh: If only I had opened a clothing shop instead.

The staff had gone from five people down to just one.

This one remaining clerk had a pretty easy job these days. With autumn already here and winter around the corner, almost no customers came to buy swimsuits. She would open the store at 9 a.m., sit on the sofa behind the counter all day, and sometimes not even see a few customers enter.

Her daily routine was simple: play on her phone, buy lunch at the third-floor food court, take a nap on the sofa afterward, then watch dramas, movies, anime, or read novels with her headphones on. She would slack her way until 8 p.m., tidy up, lock up, and head home. That was her workday.

Of course, there were occasional busy times too, and when that happened, she still worked diligently. After all, she hoped even more than the boss that the store could keep running. A job this easy was almost impossible to find again.

Today, by the shop's standards, business was considered lively. A pair of swimming goggles and two swim rings had already been sold, enough to make the lone clerk feel a little overwhelmed.

It's been a long time since the store has been this busy, she thought.

When Kotomi Izumi and Megumi Kato walked into the store, the clerk quickly greeted them. "Welcome. How can I help you? Are you looking for swimsuits or goggles? We also have snorkeling gear."

"We'd like to pick out some swimsuits first."

"Would you like me to introduce some styles?"

"No need, thank you. Oh, by the way, do you have fitting rooms?" Megumi asked.

"Of course. Just head upstairs, the changing rooms are on the second floor. Please take your time browsing, and if you need anything, just call me."

With that, the clerk hurried off to help some other customers pick out goggles. After all, the store would be closing soon for the season, only reopening near summer next year. Until then, she needed to sell off as much stock as possible.

Chapter 628: From Now On, This Place Shall Be Called Selene’s Garden

Terror—that was everything here.

—!?

An indescribable chill swept through, as though the whole body were freezing and about to shatter.

Where… was this?

In the darkness, a boy wearing an oversized checkered cap curled up like a child. His colorful eyes bore the symbols of squares and spades. Dressed in a pink jacket and blue shorts, his brows were furrowed.

On his androgynous, delicate face flickered confusion, remembrance, anger, fear… as though he were immersed in a dream—a dream of birth, from nothing into being.

"Weakling."

"Are you truly a god?"

"The last Old Deus… Tet…"

A cold, arrogant voice echoed in his mind.

His name was Tet.

The God of Games, the sole Old Deus who had ruled the world of Disboard for six thousand years since the end of the Great War, establishing the Ten Covenants to bind the world.

This voice pierced mercilessly into the flaw he had buried deepest—his weakness!

Tet could feel his thoughts slipping out of his control.

Even with his five senses dulled after having his most important treasure—the symbol of the One True God—wrenched away, he could not resist the fear brought by this so-called God-Emperor, the Goddess of Finalty, the Will of Honkai. His teeth chattered from the tremors.

Tap, tap, tap—

Clear, rhythmic footsteps echoed through the boundless dark, like waves crashing against cliffs.

Each beat struck his nerves, followed by searing pain, thousands of blades ripping into his godly essence. He curled tighter, trembling helplessly.

His mind, his structure, his faith, his godly core—his everything was laid bare, as if stripped naked and pinned open like a specimen.

His muddled mind could not even transmit proper commands to his powerless body.

"Six thousand years of war… Humanity truly is weak. Riku Dola, with nothing but feeble strength, tilted the balance of that war… yet the final fruit of victory could only fall into your hands."

"Picking up scraps, sitting back and reaping the spoils—isn't that all it was?"

"How enviable… your luck."

The cool, detached female voice drifted in the darkness. Tet knew—she was prying into his past, analyzing his being.

No lamp was needed. Her very presence was light, dissolving the dark between her and the Old Deus.

The next moment, a rumbling crash.

Splrch—!

A violent impact struck his abdomen, sending his body flying backward.

"Ugh…!"

The Old Deus' frail frame slammed onto the black surface, ripples spreading across the transparent waterscape beneath.

In that instant, he regained fleeting control over his thoughts and body. His five senses returned. He realized how unsightly he looked, sprawled and broken.

The next moment, unbearable pain engulfed him.

In the flickering haze of his vision, Tet saw it—his chest and abdomen were pierced through by a long spear of obsidian laced with platinum patterns, nailing him to the void.

He… was impaled.

Breath failed him, balance crumbled, his legs gave way.

He knew full well what awaited a powerless Old Deus before such a savage and tyrannical god.

And sadly… even knowing it, without the Suniaster, Tet had lost all means of mutual destruction.

Unless, by miracle, his assailant suddenly decided to gamble everything on a game with him.

But…

As his dimming gaze traced the light back to its source, even his thoughts froze.

A violet-crimson shadow, burning, eroding space-time, exuded silent pressure. It was something that did not belong to this world—a god from beyond.

The cold sun hung high above.

Selene, clad in platinum regalia, stood lightly upon the threshold of collapsing space. In her fingers twirled a crystal radiating the brilliance of the galaxy, its glow flickering under the sunlight, dazzling and enthralling.

It was a multifaceted crystal—known as the Suniaster!

A conceptual artifact capable of granting its wielder supreme power.

The one who possessed the Suniaster would claim the title of the One True God, standing above the sixteen races, and gain the absolute authority to command and reshape the entire world of Disboard.

It bore the power to erase the world at will and recreate it anew.

For this reason, pursuit of the Suniaster was the root cause behind the Old Deus' Great War six thousand years ago.

It was designed to appear only when the strongest power revealed itself.

Thus, the Old Deus believed that only by killing one another could the Suniaster manifest, and the surviving god would obtain it.

The story of Tet's birth, the manifestation of the Suniaster, the dying wish of Riku Dola, and the weakest Old Deus' eventual claim of the artifact all validated this belief.

"Why?"

Disgust flashed clearly in Tet's eyes.

"Do you hate so much a world without war, a world without death?"

From Selene, he sensed the same aura as Artosh, the God of War.

An Old Deus that fed upon hatred, battle, malice, and blood.

During the Great War, Artosh was among the most powerful Old Deus, hailed as the War God, creator of the Flügel, one of the god-killing weapons.

And now, what difference was there between the pale steel tide ravaging the earth and the Great War six thousand years ago?

It was nothing more than the beginning of another cycle.

In truth, during the coronation gambling games for Elkia's next monarch, it was only at the moment Raiden Mei made her move that Tet resolved to use the Suniaster's power to erase these outsiders who dared wield violence beyond the Ten Covenants' restraints.

Because summoning magic was not itself an offensive art, in magical nations such as the elves, summoning creatures from other worlds was not uncommon.

In other words, the ease with which Raiden Mei and the infiltrators entered was not because the Suniaster lacked dominion over the world, but because its wielder—Tet—was simply too stupid…

Without the Suniaster, he was nothing!

Even elves or dwarves might claim the glory of slaying a god upon him.

Since summoning magic existed, Tet had long ignored Disboard's porous borders, so long as none broke the Ten Covenants.

After all, even he often traveled to other worlds to play and amuse himself.

The Suniaster made him, and the Suniaster broke him.

Overreliance upon the artifact reduced him, for its power was never truly his own.

Without fusion, Selene forcibly subdued Tet and tore the Suniaster from him—devouring it whole.

"Why ask what you already know, Tet?" Selene smiled faintly at his protest.

"As one of our kind, you understand."

Indeed, in some ways, Selene resembled him.

But compared to her, Tet had gone further into indolence and complacency.

He was unfit to sit upon the throne of the One True God.

Had Artosh the War God won the Great War and claimed the Suniaster instead… imagine it. Six thousand years of growth, an army of Flügel in full scale…

Horus and his Luna Wolves would not have had it so easy. A prolonged war of attrition would have been inevitable.

"Riku Dola schemed, guiding conflicts among the races, sacrificing countless lives for humanity's future glory. And in the end…"

Selene, now privy to the detailed memories of the Great War, already knew the truth.

"Ha… six thousand years have passed, and humanity remains in absolute weakness. Slaves beneath pigs and dogs, with nothing but the word 'race' tacked on. Is that what you call admiration?"

Her words had barely finished when—shhk!

Another Subspace Lance tore through the void, piercing Tet's chest!

"Your birth was born of the faith of Riku Dola and the Ex-Machina Schwi Dola. It was humanity's wish that placed you upon that throne… Yet to humanity, you showed no favoritism, only absolute fairness."

Selene's scarlet eyes gleamed coldly as she spoke. "How laughable… That kind of fairness is the greatest injustice."

"You think the other fifteen sentient races would thank you?"

"No, they hate you. To see mere ants—creatures they could crush with a finger—stand as equals, while being bound to grant them equal treatment under your Covenants… that is humiliation."

"In the end, this world you named 'Disboard' was nothing more than your personal garden, a prank of your own making."

"The strong weakened, the weak grew weaker. A stagnant, sealed-off world—utterly rotten."

Selene looked down at Tet with disdain.

Yes, Selene too intended to enslave this world. She was no nobler—her motives perhaps even baser and more selfish. Yet it did not stop her from scorning the so-called 'Game Order.'

Game Order? In my Empire, if one dares shirk labor, I'll throw them onto the fiercest battlefield as fodder.

As for Tet, she truly held him in contempt.

After the war ended, he did nothing but play—whether in Disboard or wandering other worlds—for thousands of dull, meaningless years.

Always playing!

What use was there being the One True God?

Even I… ahem. Even I, Selene, only idle when I choose. Most of the time, I am a diligent sovereign, guiding my Empire's path with sleepless devotion.

"Fall into eternal slumber."

"From this moment, the Ten Covenants are abolished!"

Snap!

At Selene's finger snap, violet-red light spread beneath her feet. The void writhed ominously, as Honkai energy tendrils surged upward like octopus limbs.

Twisting, squeezing, churning…

Crack!

A crisp bone-breaking snap.

Tet's arm shriveled like dry wood, its energy drained away, before shattering under the crushing grip of the Honkai thorns.

His divine essence was being stripped away?

In his dimming consciousness, unable to speak—his godly essence severed into dormancy—Tet could only endure the waves of helplessness.

Until his thoughts ceased, plunging fully into darkness.

Crunch… crunch…

The horrifying sound of chewing.

"Flügel, Ex-Machina, Dragonia, Gigant… Mmhm, looks like my collection will grow nicely."

...

Elkia Kingdom, Royal Castle.

Something caught Fiel Nilvalen's fading consciousness as she slipped toward the dark.

The Suniaster changing hands, the fall of the God of Games—she knew a new order was arriving. The Empire.

And its master was no different from Artosh the War God—one who glorified violence and battle.

Horrible…

The very kind the elves despised most. But she had no choice…

...

Eastern Union Embassy in Elkia.

The roar of wheels thundered closer, heavy tank destroyers racing toward the embassy district, their cannons aimed high and menacing.

Rumble…!

"Wahh! What's happening? When were the Ten Covenants abolished?!"

In a corner, a frail fox-eared girl in a vivid kimono clutched her ears, struggling against the sudden gunfire that shook the air. Her violet-red eyes brimmed with panic, her blue-purple hair trembling.

The change was too sudden—her mind had yet to catch up.

"Izuna-sama, look o—"

Splatter!

Blood, brain matter, and flesh painted the corridor walls. The hulking tiger beastman collapsed headless, his corpse thudding heavily to the ground.

The stench of blood mixed with beast musk choked the air.

"Attack! Crush these alien scum! Show them the Empire's iron fist!"

An auxiliary officer, enraged at the audacity of nonhumans establishing privileged embassies in human lands, bellowed from his tank hatch.

...

Elkia National Library.

Within the solemn shelves, light flared as the outside rumbled. Golden eyes glowing with spirit energy stared out the window. The roar of war, the stench of blood—her long-suppressed battle lust boiled.

"The Covenants are gone… My power… has returned?"

...

Sky City—Avant Heim.

Dragon lairs.

The Gigants' realm.

...

Almost simultaneously, the dormant might of the fifteen sentient races began to stir. The Spirit Corridors, long stagnant, blazed anew.

The power that had once scarred the planet to exhaustion, driving the races into mutual slaughter—

From this moment, revived!

Chapter 558: A Large-Scale Cuddle Scene

After chatting idly with the group members for a while, Eriri withdrew her attention from the chat group.

By then, it was already past ten in the evening.

During the two hours she had spent talking with the group, she had also maintained the posture of hugging Shiraori from behind.

Of course, besides chatting, Eriri would occasionally engage in small conversations with Shiraori.

Perhaps because it was Eriri, Shiraori didn't display the same level of social anxiety she usually had around others, where she could hardly speak.

At this moment, Shiraori was resting peacefully in Eriri's arms while watching anime on the television. She was thoroughly enjoying such a warm and gentle moment.

"Shiro, it's getting late. Time to go to bed now."

Eriri squeezed the hand she had placed over Shiraori's chest and nuzzled her cheek against Shiraori's flawless white face.

Such intimate actions had happened often during these past two hours, sometimes even more daring ones, so Shiraori had already grown used to it.

Of course, this didn't stop her from going crazy in her heart over Eriri.

Externally, however, Shiraori remained quiet and reserved.

"Mm… Master, can I sleep with you tonight?"

Turning her head slightly, Shiraori met Eriri's eyes at close range. Her gaze was filled with anticipation and a faint plea.

"Of course~"

Eriri didn't reject her little pet's request. With eyes like that, if she refused, Shiraori would surely be disappointed for a long time.

Receiving Eriri's approval, Shiraori instantly became excited.

"Thank you, Master, you're the best~"

"Alright then, let's head back to the room. Tonight, I'll leave the task of bathing me to you."

"Yay!"

...

The night quickly passed. After bathing together and sleeping in each other's arms, Shiraori's dependence on Eriri had reached its peak.

As for Aoi Kujou, who had been displaced from her spot as Eriri's bed companion, she didn't feel unhappy. Being able to monopolize Eriri for over two months had already left her satisfied.

By the time they had lunch the next day, Mirei Shinohara—who had reconciled with her parents and explained her situation—had also returned.

But when she found out Shiraori had slept with Eriri the previous night, even the most delicious lunch suddenly seemed tasteless to her.

Soon after, she threw herself into Eriri's arms, acting spoiled and insisting on sleeping with her too.

It had to be said—when a white-haired loli acted cute and spoiled, the effect was devastating. And Eriri couldn't resist it at all.

So naturally, the outcome was obvious: that night, Mirei Shinohara replaced Shiraori and slept by Eriri's side.

The next morning, Eriri led everyone in her household back to the Saekano world.

At the same time, she established a World Gate between the two worlds.

...

"We're back."

Crossing the World Gate, Eriri looked at the plaza filled with rows of gates leading to other worlds and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Aside from Aoi Kujou, everyone else looked around curiously, even D and Meido.

Gazing at the exquisitely constructed World Gates all around them, curiosity filled their eyes.

"So these connect to other universes?"

They already knew the function of the gates, and that each one led to a different universe. Naturally, they felt the urge to explore.

Eriri smiled and nodded. "That's right. If you want to explore, you can go anytime. I've already granted you access to the gates."

Hearing this, D said nothing, only giving a quiet nod.

Meido, however, showed a smile full of anticipation. "Thank you, my lady. I'll definitely go take a look when I get the chance."

Just then, one of the World Gates not far from them suddenly stirred.

A short-haired beauty in a white sundress stepped out from the gate.

When she saw Eriri and the others nearby, her delicate face instantly lit up with joy.

"Eriri-chan, you're back!"

As she spoke, the short-haired beauty in white sandals quickly walked toward Eriri.

Hearing the familiar voice from her right, Eriri immediately turned her gaze and showed a bright smile.

"Haruno-nee, long time no see."

That's right—the short-haired beauty who had just stepped out from the World Gate leading to the Oregairu world was none other than Haruno Yukinoshita.

Without saying a word, Haruno wrapped Eriri in her arms the moment she reached her.

Because Haruno was dressed rather lightly, Eriri could clearly feel the soft, voluptuous chest pressing against her.

"Yes, it's been two or three months, hasn't it? I've missed you to death."

"Alright, alright, I'm back now, aren't I~" Eriri patted Haruno's back gently.

Haruno didn't reply, only savoring the warmth of Eriri's body in silence.

After more than ten seconds, she reluctantly let go.

Then she turned to greet Aoi Kujou, who was standing behind Eriri.

"Long time no see, Aoi-san."

"Long time no see, Miss Haruno." Aoi politely nodded in return.

After greeting Aoi, Haruno finally shifted her gaze to Shiraori and the others nearby.

"Eriri-chan, are these more of your new family members? Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Hearing this, Eriri didn't refuse and proceeded to introduce Shiraori and the others one by one.

As Eriri gave her introductions, each of them responded differently.

The socially anxious Shiraori and the aloof D only gave Haruno a silent nod. Meido, on the other hand, confidently introduced herself as Eriri's personal maid.

As for the usually cheerful Mirei Shinohara, she appeared a little nervous as she greeted Haruno—after all, this was the first person related to Eriri that she had met since coming to the Saekano world.

Moreover, from the scene she had just witnessed between Haruno and Eriri, she thought they must share a very close relationship.

So she worried about leaving a bad impression on Haruno.

But Haruno herself didn't think much about it. After Eriri finished, she also introduced herself openly.

"Hello everyone, my name is Haruno Yukinoshita. You can call me Haruno-nee~"

Since Shiraori, D, and Meido all looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, and Mirei Shinohara looked even younger, Haruno assumed she was older than them, so she naturally told them to call her oneechan.

Mirei reacted quickly and obediently called her Haruno-nee, while the other three didn't respond at all—clearly not taking her words seriously.

But Haruno didn't mind. It was just a habitual tease for her, and she didn't actually care about how others addressed her.

As for Eriri, she didn't reveal D and Meido's true ages or strength either. She planned to introduce them to everyone later anyway—perhaps then she could enjoy Haruno's surprised expression.

...

Eriri and the others didn't stay long at the World Gate plaza. After Haruno and Shiraori's group had met, she led everyone to the dining hall of the villa.

Since it was still relatively early, the elementary and middle/high school girls who had to attend school were still at home eating breakfast.

So, when Eriri and the others appeared, all the girls and lolis in the dining hall instantly stirred.

"Eriri, you're back!"

Arifureta was the first to notice. With a flash, she rushed to Eriri, and the two of them, as if in perfect sync, spread their arms and hugged each other tightly.

Because Eriri hadn't announced the exact time of her return in the chat group, Arifureta was overjoyed to see her.

"Mm, I'm back."

Eriri affectionately rubbed her cheek against Arifureta's face, then planted a natural kiss on her lips.

At that moment, Illya, Enju Aihara, and more than ten other lolis abandoned their unfinished breakfast and rushed to surround Eriri and Arifureta.

"Eriri-nee, you're back!"

"Eriri-nee, I missed you so much!"

"Eriri-nee…"

One after another, voices filled with surprise and joy echoed throughout the dining hall.

Looking at the rows of adorable faces, each glowing with bright smiles, Eriri couldn't help but show a radiant, heartfelt smile herself.

She then began patting heads one after another, giving kisses here and hugs there, quickly soothing the lolis who had surrounded her.

Outside the circle, Utaha Kasumigaoka and the others simply smiled as they watched Eriri interact with the lolis.

Although they missed her as well, they weren't about to compete with the children for the first chance to hold Eriri.

As for Arifureta, being the first to spot her was her own skill, after all.

Once the lolis had been comforted, they didn't continue clinging to Eriri and Arifureta. They knew the other older sisters also missed Eriri, so they didn't hog her completely.

When space opened up around Eriri, Utaha and the others who had been waiting on the outside finally came forward.

"Eriri, you finally decided to come back."

Utaha cast her a playful glance, but then, unable to hold back her longing any longer, she spread her arms and pulled Eriri tightly into her embrace.

"Welcome back!"

She whispered softly in Eriri's ear before pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

Caught off guard by the sudden kiss, Eriri didn't hold back. Instead, she turned the tables and pressed her tongue into Utaha's mouth, kissing her deeply in return.

"Mm, Utaha-senpai, I'm back."

After finishing with Utaha, Eriri turned to Megumi Kato.

Even before the New Year, Megumi had already explained everything to her parents. Afterward, she moved into the villa to live with everyone.

But during Eriri's absence of over two months, she had temporarily returned to her parents' home.

Yesterday, upon hearing from Arifureta that Eriri would be coming back in the next few days, she returned to the villa early.

If she had come back even a day later, she would have missed the chance to be among the first to see Eriri.

"Megu-chan, I'm back."

Eriri spread her arms, hugging Megumi face-to-face. Their foreheads and noses touched affectionately, and they could clearly feel each other's breaths.

"Mm, welcome back."

Megumi hugged Eriri tightly in return, her delicate face blooming with a happy smile.

Like that, the two of them remained cheek-to-cheek for over ten seconds.

When they finally separated, Yuzuru Hanyu could no longer hold herself back.

"My turn, my turn!"

She squeezed her soft body into Eriri's embrace, then eagerly cupped Eriri's cheeks and planted several kisses on her left and right cheeks—and even her lips.

Then she buried her head in Eriri's chest for more than ten seconds.

"Alright, I'm satisfied. Next!"

After finishing, she obediently stepped aside.

Watching Yuzuru's smooth and bold actions, even Eriri was momentarily stunned.

"When did you get so daring?"

Eriri pressed down on Yuzuru's head, then lifted her chin with her fingers.

Immediately, a flushed face, as red as a boiled shrimp, appeared before her.

Seeing this, Eriri instantly knew Yuzuru was all bark and no bite.

"So you're not that brave after all—you still know how to be embarrassed."

With a teasing smile, Eriri used her free hand to pinch Yuzuru's cheeks.

Hearing Eriri's words, Yuzuru shut her eyes tightly like someone accepting their fate. Her cheeks only grew redder.

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. You did very well just now. You deserve praise~"

Instead of continuing to play with her, Eriri gently kissed Yuzuru on the lips before letting her go.

Once freed, Yuzuru immediately fled back to the table, burying her burning face into her arms, too embarrassed to meet anyone's gaze.

At the same time, in her mind, the voice of the so-called "Strongest Plagiarist," a veteran yuri-obsessed system, rang out in festive excitement like it was celebrating New Year's.

"Ooooh! Host, well done! You did it perfectly!!!"

Chapter 313: Creating Genesis Together with Bulins!

The technologies obtained from the Three-Body world mainly included sophons, photoids, dual-vector foils, pocket-universe creation, and law manipulation.

After the widespread use of sophons and photoids, the research focus naturally shifted toward pocket-universe creation.

Half a month later—

Kayo Senju brought a few research lolis and Bulins to report to Setsuna.

"Commander, we've preliminarily grasped the method of pocket-universe creation and request to conduct an experiment."

"That fast?"

Setsuna looked at the little lolis with some surprise.

In his impression, pocket-universe creation was something civilizations close to god-tier mastery could achieve only in the late stages of the Three-Body world.

It was essentially slicing off part of the universe's matter to create an independent spacetime system.

Many civilizations sought to hide inside such pocket-universes to avoid two-dimensional reduction and destruction of the universe.

"Creating a universe."

Just hearing the concept alone was enough to know it was an extremely complex undertaking.

"Uh…"

"To be precise, we only understand the principles of pocket-universes from a popular science perspective. As for the detailed technical processes, we don't quite get them yet."

"It involves dimensions of space, spacetime manipulation, and many other areas we've never researched before. Everyone's still learning."

The little loli scratched her head in embarrassment.

"It will probably take two or three more years to fully master this knowledge."

For the research lolis to reach god-tier civilization technology within just a few years was already a mark of their extraordinary brilliance.

But the shipgirls were more curious about something else:

"If you haven't learned it all yet, how did you build a pocket-universe?"

"…"

Kayo Senju's face flushed. After holding it in for a while, she admitted awkwardly:

"The data on pocket-universe creation given by the Zero-Homers included detailed blueprints and design schemes. Their language is very complicated, and their design concepts are strange. We had some trouble understanding…"

"So I showed it to a Specialized Bulin…"

"And then the Bulin said she understood it."

"?"

One of the Specialized Bulins raised her hand.

"Bulin thinks she can build it, buli!!!"

"…"

The research lolis looked somewhat defeated. After all their hard work pulling all-nighters studying literature and data, they were still outdone by a Bulin's sudden flash of inspiration.

It was like a professor spending ten years researching controlled nuclear fusion without success—only for some random green-skinned passerby to glance at it and say, "I think you can just do it like this," and the problem was solved.

"Oh, impressive."

Setsuna ruffled the Specialized Bulin's hair.

"So we want to let the Bulins try to make a pocket-universe. Then we'll research the finished product. That should speed things up."

"And in the future, we can also improve its flaws."

Kayo Senju suggested earnestly.

"Alright."

Setsuna agreed without hesitation. He was also eager to see pocket-universe creation technology firsthand.

Though Bulins were strong, what they created was only according to specific blueprints.

Going further would depend on whether the research lolis could adapt the technology into something they wanted.

"Tell me what you need."

He waved his hand.

"Mhm…"

Kayo Senju pulled up a list on the holographic interface.

"A pocket-universe is an independent spacetime system apart from the universe."

"It's like blowing a bubble on the edge of the universe's space. This bubble universe becomes separated from the main one, forming a smaller, independent bubble."

The technical details were far too complex for Setsuna and the shipgirls to follow, so the little loli explained in simpler terms.

"So, it's like creating a little bubble-world?"

Setsuna asked.

"Mm… that's one way to understand it."

Kayo Senju nodded.

"Everything inside the bubble is independent of the outside. Even if the universe is destroyed, as long as the bubble's matter is sufficient, it can continue to exist."

"In the Trisolaris universe, so many civilizations wanted to use small worlds to escape the collapse and two-dimensionalization of the universe, returning to the pastoral age—that's the reason."

Genesis.

Setsuna could only think of this one word.

Artificially creating an independent spacetime pocket-universe—this was the power of god-tier civilizations.

"Mm, there's another matter. The materials to build pocket-universes can only be drawn from the universe. The larger the bubble-world created, the greater the consumption."

A research loli continued explaining.

"For example, to create a pocket-universe the size of Earth, the consumption would be about the resources of 5–6 Earths."

"To make a solar-system-sized pocket-universe would cost the equivalent of 5–6 solar systems' resources, including their stars."

By size classification, pocket-universes could range from city-level, nation-level, continental, planetary, and up to star-system scale.

The smallest one recorded was Universe No. 647 from the original story, where Cheng Xin lived. Just one kilometer square, it consumed around 500,000 tons of matter according to Sophon.

Larger pocket-universes required several times more matter than their intended volume. Below planetary size it was manageable, but once reaching star-system scale, the cost was absurd, requiring the consumption of multiple stars.

"The largest recorded was galaxy-scale. To create a Milky Way-sized pocket-universe would consume the resources of several massive galaxy clusters."

"As for higher tiers, even the Zero-Homers had never built them."

Kayo Senju read from the data.

"Oh…"

A galaxy-sized pocket-universe sounded astounding, and the shipgirls were full of awe.

Gudako raised her hand, connecting the dots:

"Since we have so many vassal worlds, couldn't we drain a few universes and build a bubble-world as large as the real cosmos?"

"???"

Kayo Senju froze for a moment.

"You have imagination. Theoretically, yes—if we had enough resources, we could build a one-to-one scale new universe."

"But I really can't picture a method to drain an entire universe's resources. Even with FTL, developing a whole cosmos is incredibly difficult…"

"I know! The Commander taught me."

...

Gudako spoke confidently:

"Fishing can never empty a pond of fish. To be efficient, of course you use a pump to drain it dry—in this case, an ether-phase device…"

Thump—

Setsuna stopped Gudako's endless imagination and brainstorming.

Building a universe of equal size was certainly appealing and cool.

Inside a pocket-universe, every parameter could be self-defined—essentially becoming its master.

But food had to be eaten one bite at a time, and roads walked one step at a time.

"Let's start with a city-level pocket-universe."

He thought it over.

A planetary-level one would consume several planets' worth of resources—unnecessary for now.

For the first attempt, experimentation came first.

Shwoosh shwoosh shwoosh—

Setsuna approved the resource expenditures the research lolis requested.

"Understood."

The little lolis and Bulins left cheerfully.

Faintly, their chatter could be heard:

"Bulin, Bulin, can you really make a small world?"

"Of course, Bulin has completely understood, buli!!!"

"Then how will you cut space from the universe?"

"With Super Meow-Meow No.1, burin!!"

"…Then what about the mirror devices for the pocket-universe?"

"Still with Super Meow-Meow No.1, buli!! My hammer is the hammer that crushes stars, kya!"

"…"

"Can I try using your meow-meow hammer?"

"Bulin thinks you wouldn't know how! Ba—ka!!!"

"…"

Setsuna and the shipgirls exchanged looks.

The combination of research lolis and Bulins was cute, hilarious, and powerful.

...

After sophons fully took over administrative work, both Setsuna and the shipgirls noticed they had far fewer tasks.

Productivity was completely liberated by artificial intelligence—no more tedious daily data analysis.

All they needed to do was set a general direction periodically, and the details would be neatly managed by sophons and Angeloids.

Life became highly routine.

In the mornings, after breakfast served by the Royal Maids, Setsuna would conduct a routine patrol around the capital.

Some little lolis were still attending classes. Depending on their progress, even the slowest had begun middle school-level courses. Soon, large numbers of research lolis would join the workforce.

With three million high-quality scientists, they could support all the research needs of an interstellar empire.

Beyond the academy district was the residence of the Horse Girls.

The uma musume studied basic knowledge while continuing their training.

They had little direct connection with the empire's development—unable to build ships, conduct research, or fight wars.

But whether Horse Girls or Catgirls, they were undeniably part of this nation.

"Trainer—ah no, Commander!"

On the training grounds, Special Week, Silence Suzuka, and a few others saw Setsuna, stopped their running, wiped sweat, and ran up.

"Commander, long time no see."

"Mhm, I heard you went to another universe to fight aliens recently?"

Special Week's ears twitched as she asked.

They knew nothing of interstellar war, imagining it only from what shipgirls said or what little information spread.

"It must have been tough, right? I'm just glad you came back safe…"

"I have no talent beyond running. I can't help you, I'm sorry…"

Silence Suzuka lowered her head as she spoke.

"It's fine. As long as you're living happily here, that's enough."

Setsuna patted her head.

"Fighting is left to those skilled at it. You just do what you love."

"You're part of the Starsea Empire. There's no need to belittle yourselves."

"Mhm… thank you."

Silence Suzuka nodded softly, then raised her head, eyes carrying a trace of hope:

"Um… Commander, could you watch my next race in person?"

"I want to show you the results of my training here."

After staying at the base so long, she felt more and more that Setsuna was someone she could only look up to.

Whether shipgirls, dragon girls, Heroic Spirits, or Spirits—they were all far stronger than her.

Even trying to get closer to the Commander, she didn't know how.

All she could rely on was her one talent: running.

"Sure, I haven't really watched a horse race before."

Setsuna smiled and agreed, then pulled out a crate of carrots.

"Here—premium space carrots grown at the starbase. Enju Aihara said they taste ten times better than those on Earth. I can't tell the difference, so you have them."

"Think of it as nutrition before the race."

"Waa—"

Special Week's eyes sparkled as she happily accepted.

"Thank you, Commander!!"

The Horse Girl gave him a warm hug, her tail wagging like a puppy's.

"…"

"Commander's getting more and more natural at charming girls, tsk tsk."

Gudako clicked her tongue in admiration.

His ability to casually max out favorability was astounding.

"What you really mean is: why isn't he charming me?"

Formidable delivered a critical hit without hesitation.

"???"

After completing his daily patrol around the capital—

When free, Setsuna would visit other planets or star systems.

Everywhere in the Solar System and its surroundings—except gas giants—Bulins and Angeloids could be seen.

They were building small colonies and industrial zones, steadily expanding the empire's borders.

In this universe, devoid of alien rivals, there was no competition for resources. They could simply farm and grow at leisure.

At night, depending on mood, Setsuna decided whether to visit shipgirls in the port, or spend time with Heroic Spirits, Spirits, or dragon girls.

Or gather everyone on the Eternal Snowfall and distort time for a few days of fun together.

A month passed quickly.

One day, in the Azur Lane port—

Setsuna was tangled up with the Illustrious sisters, wondering whether to give his lazy little sister Indomitable a few more rounds of IV therapy, when news arrived from the starbase.

"Commander, we built our pocket-universe!!!"

...

After the starship descended above the starbase, they boarded a shuttle and traveled to the research district.

There, Setsuna and the accompanying shipgirls met an excited Grey, Kayo Senju, and the proud-looking Bulins.

"Commander, I swear, this is the greatest invention I've ever seen…"

"Those sub-light primitives of the Three-Body world actually had some tricks up their sleeves in space and dimensional science, tsk tsk…"

Grey grabbed Setsuna and pulled him straight to the experimental plaza.

On the empty platform, aside from piles of engineering equipment and raw materials, there was almost nothing else.

"Pocket-universe? Where is it? Isn't it supposed to be city-sized?"

Yukikaze peeked around curiously.

"The pocket-universe's spacetime is independent from ours. You can only see its entrance, not its whole form."

"Unless you can break into higher-dimensional space… well, maybe sophons could see it."

Grey lifted a remote-control-like device and pressed a button.

Whoosh—

A strange object rose from the ground.

It was a rectangle traced out by faint glowing white lines, like a door about human height, floating in midair.

The lines were thin and dim. Against the cosmic black background, it was hard to notice.

Using sensors to scan, however, revealed intense spatial distortion around the "door"—so extreme it defied explanation.

"Oh! Just like in the books!"

Yukikaze and Tashkent bounced excitedly, trying to rush inside.

But they passed right through and landed dumbfounded on the other side.

"I haven't added your data to the recognition system yet."

"Without permission, you can't enter the pocket-universe."

Grey chuckled…

After a moment of operation on the holographic panel…

"Alright, let's go."

Setsuna and the shipgirls passed through the transparent door.

Chaos and darkness.

For an instant, he felt exactly as when a ship engaged its warp drive—a vacuum of time.

There was no time here. Only when he entered did time begin to flow.

It felt like a second and like billions of years all at once.

The darkness gradually faded, and a sun lit up the sky.

They stood on a hill.

Below lay a small city, about the size of the capital's satellite city, comparable in area to ancient Chang'an.

The city was neatly planned, clearly modular in design.

Some Bulins and Angeloids were working, constructing industrial zones and residential blocks.

In the distance stretched farmlands reaching to the horizon. Freshly tilled, not yet sprouting crops, with little yellow chicks tilling and fertilizing.

Looking up, they saw a blue sky overhead—just like the capital in its early days of construction.

Turning back, the entrance had vanished without a trace.

Looking to either side or behind, they saw the same city again, like a mirror image.

Even their reflections stood there.

Yukikaze waved, and the mirror Yukikaze waved back.

She made a funny face, and the mirror did the same.

"Oh?!"

The group followed the streets forward.

At the city's edge, taking one more step forward carried them straight into the mirrored world.

Looking around—they were back at the starting point.

"Whoa?!"

The little shipgirls and Spirits who had come along gasped in awe, stunned by the ingenious design.

In this space, no matter which direction you walked, reaching the edge would bring you back to the beginning.

It was like a room with four walls, a ceiling, and a floor.

But here was the strange part: the ceiling was also the floor, and of the four walls, each opposing pair was actually one. In essence, there were only two walls.

If you walked from one wall toward the opposite, once you reached it, you instantly returned to the first wall.

"This is Misner space. Amazing, right?"

Grey explained with a smile.

"This is a universe. Though only city-sized, its principle is the same as a real cosmos."

"It has independent space and spacetime laws. Even most physical constants can be adjusted."

"Um, is it like the 'cave heavens' in novels?"

Tashkent raised her hand. It felt similar to those mystical pocket realms described in stories.

"Much more advanced."

Kayo Senju replied.

"The bubble-universe exists independently of the universe. Even disasters that sweep across the universe cannot affect it."

"And its entrance can be carried around. If Commander wishes, he could mount many pocket-universes on a ship…"

Chapter 312: The Old and New Aeons of Destruction, War Begins!

"Although I don't understand how this happened… it's really incredible."

Yunli gazed up at the shattered sky of the Xianzhou. In that instant when the Aeon dispersed the black beast tide, she, as a Cloud Cavalry trooper of the Alliance, naturally recognized Firefly, the former Emanator of Destruction.

"That elder sister… she's become an Aeon, and the Aeon of Destruction at that. I don't know how, but it's truly amazing."

Yanqing lay collapsed atop the ruins of a half-destroyed building, gasping heavily, too weak to even lift his sword.

"The beasts… they've been dispersed. Hah… but…"

But it was already too late. Even when he had still had strength left earlier, the black beast tide had already halted its assault and begun to retreat.

After the dome of the Xianzhou shattered, countless beasts had swarmed into its inner realms. In only a short span, more than eighty percent of its population had been devoured.

Aside from the Cloud Knights and the high-ranking Six Charioteers, the vast majority of Xianzhou citizens were merely long-lived mortals. Even the weakest abyssal beasts were far beyond their ability to resist.

Though there were many Pathstriders among the populace, each one faced an endless wave of beasts stronger than themselves.

The internal chaos only accelerated the slaughter. Even someone like the General—a Hunt Emanator—was powerless to stem the tide.

"Jingliu, look! That's an Aeon! So enormous, so powerful!"

Bailu, clutching Jingliu's hand, tugged at her in awe.

"Oh… right. I forgot, Sister Jingliu, you cannot see."

Jingliu turned her gaze toward the colossal Aeon whose radiant body blazed across the cosmos like a star.

"So this is the birth of an Aeon… I never imagined I would live to witness such a sight."

"Well… then again, it makes sense. In a calamity of this scale, the birth of an Aeon is not strange."

The last Swarm Disaster, which devastated two-thirds of the universe—had given rise to several Aeons. Compared to that, this black beast tide was no less deserving.

...

Aboard the Astral Express—

Stelle pressed her face against the observation glass, her mouth gaping in shock at the scene before her.

Because Firefly's location was so close, nearly within reach, the Express felt as though it were sitting right beside the Aeon.

The overwhelming force of her Holy Body filled the universe. Even the Astral Express—crafted by Akivili themselves, so durable that even Aha would struggle to split it apart—was now immobilized, as though locked into space.

"Firefly! That's Firefly, it must be her! She actually became an Aeon! This is unbelievable!"

Ever since boarding the Astral Express, Stelle had traveled through Jarilo-VI and several other planets before reaching the Xianzhou. As the carrier of a Stellaron, she naturally attracted the gaze of Aeons, and had already felt their glances—gaining the Paths of both Destruction and Preservation.

From the grand scale of the cosmos, the Express looked like nothing more than a speck of dust before Firefly's Holy Body. Though they were still distant, her divine form filled every inch of the Nameless' vision.

Even Welt Yang's expression was one of disbelief. Normally calm and composed, his mind now felt blank.

"That… truly is Miss Firefly, without doubt. Destruction—the Aeon of Destruction…"

"The last time we met was less than two system hours ago. What kind of change could she have experienced to ascend into an Aeon so suddenly?"

Before coming to this universe, Welt had studied the records of Aeon births carefully.

The origins of Aeons were always veiled in mystery. Still, there were certain consistent rumors.

The conclusion was that every Aeon's birth required a spiritual transcendence beyond imagination—an elevation surpassing all intelligent life in the universe.

Each Aeon's birth was utterly unique, without precedent or parallel.

"Destruction… the Aeon of Destruction. Could Miss Firefly's ascension truly be the same as Nanook's?"

"Two Aeons? Two identical Aeons of Destruction?"

-It was said that Nanook's birth came from a galactic war of utter annihilation. That war engulfed Nanook's homeworld, leaving him displaced and tormented by endless suffering.

Within the unending agony of war, Nanook realized the truth of the universe amidst despair.

In pain, hatred, and rage, he saw the errors of civilization, the errors of the cosmos, the errors of life itself.

If civilization was a cancer silently spreading among the stars, and conflict was the only language between intelligent beings, then to correct such an error, to erase the stain upon the universe, he would become the embodiment of entropy—the destruction of civilization, the destruction of the cosmos itself.

It was through such extreme fury, hatred, and suffering that Nanook became an Aeon.

March 7th, like Stelle, pressed against the observation car's glass, eyes wide and mouth agape.

Dan Heng remained silent, yet his widened eyes revealed his shock.

Only Himeko, after the initial wave of astonishment, placed her hand over her chest. At her touch, a pure white glow flickered faintly.

Her own Path of Trailblaze was trembling. The newly ascended Aeon Firefly's Path shared an unknown connection with her own—similar, as if born from the same source.

At this moment, every being who became an Aeon within the Star Rail Universe bore the imprint of Teyvat.

All Laws flowing down from the Imaginary Tree were being drawn into Teyvat. To the Imaginary Tree, the Star Rail Universe now resembled a massive black hole, endlessly devouring the Laws flowing from it.

The Imaginary Tree had no complete consciousness, only the instinct of its mechanisms. Thus it indiscriminately rained down every Law into the universe, resonating with philosophies to construct Paths.

A Path was not formed from a single Law, but from many. The one Law that dominated became the core.

For example, Preservation contained within it the Principle of Existence—this was why Qlipoth could forge a pseudo-cosmic wall. Similarly, Harmony contained the cluster of Order, and so on.

Noah exploited this flaw in the Imaginary Tree's mechanism, endlessly devouring Laws.

As long as the devouring did not exceed the capacity of a super single-universe scale, the Great Will of the Tree and Sea would not notice anything amiss. And even if it did—what then?

...

Firefly's Holy Body slowly opened its eyes. Her voice spread throughout the cosmos, redefining a new Path of Destruction.

[Destruction exists for the sake of a more beautiful rebirth]

Instantly, her new Path of Destruction clashed with the old, forcing Nanook to appear before Firefly—the newly born Aeon of Destruction.

[Destruction exists to reduce all things to nothing]

Rumble—

The two identical Paths clashed violently, radiating throughout the universe, like two stones cast into a lake—whose ripples would spread farther?

This was a direct collision of philosophies. Neither was strictly right or wrong. The question was: which philosophy better served the universe's future? That one would prevail, devouring the other Path.

Watching this scene from Teyvat, Noah's lips curved upward. Finally, it has come. Though Firefly had not endured much struggle to ascend as an Aeon, for him, that was perfectly fine.

In the multiverse, each single universe was unique. Yet as long as a universe possessed instinct, it had underlying logic for continuation. Without doubt, Firefly's vision of Destruction was far more aligned with the cosmos than Nanook's.

The outcome had been decided from the start.

The Aeons of the Star Rail Universe were indeed powerful, not bound by their cosmos, even able to traverse between neighboring universes. But they were still bound to the Imaginary Tree—the source of all Laws and Truths. Within the Imaginary Tree's logic, a universe could not possess two identical cosmic cornerstones. That would disrupt universal balance.

"Hehe… not enough, not enough. More, I need more."

Behind Noah appeared a withering halo of prismatic light. From the void, endless multicolored streams of brilliance converged into the halo.

This halo was none other than the Laws descending from the Imaginary Tree into the Star Rail Universe. Those streams of light were the filaments of Law.

The Law of Space, the Law of Time, the Law of Continuance, the Law of Existence, the Law of End, the Law of Life, the Law of Death, the Law of Soul, the Law of Quantum, the Law of Imaginary…

All manner of Laws endlessly poured in.

"What a pity. These Laws cannot be taken in complete form like those native to the Star Rail Universe, since this cosmos lacks the corresponding philosophies."

Noah sighed with mild regret, though not too much. Even incomplete, these Laws were still of single-universe strength. Once he obtained the seeds, he could cultivate them into completion himself.

He also now understood the quality of Laws within the Imaginary Tree. All were only at high single-universe level—none reached super single-universe. That was natural: only the Tree and Sea as true multiversal held such power.

But the difference between high single-universe and super single-universe was immeasurable. A high single-universe strike could destroy multiple great universes; a super single-universe strike could obliterate countless great universes.

"I've already gathered one hundred twenty-eight types of Law, but it's still not enough."

"Tsk tsk… even just this much is enough to push Teyvat to super single-universe. Such a massive harvest, all at once."

With over a hundred Laws, more than five Truths, and multiple great universes (Cosmologies) stacked upon the main one, this cosmos would practically embody super single-universe scale.

But aside from himself, the strong within the universe had yet to grow to their destined positions.

What intrigued Noah most was discovering another mechanism of the Imaginary Tree.

Once the Imaginary Tree detected abnormalities in a universe, it directly pruned it away—like clipping a leaf.

Thus, no matter how frantically he devoured Laws, the Great Will of the Tree and Sea would not notice. And the Star Rail Universe itself had already been pruned, tumbling toward the Sea of Quanta.

When the time came, he could simply fish it out.

It was the ultimate bargain—one move, countless gains.

Boom—

The instant the new Aeon of Destruction clashed with the old, Noah's attention was drawn back.

...

Two identical Paths collided head-on. One had to fall.

[Destruction exists to reduce all things to nothing]

Nanook struck at Firefly, this time without the Principle of Destruction, relying solely on the Path's raw power.

The Path of Destruction burned madly. One-third of the cosmos turned a dangerous crimson, as billions of galaxies collapsed under its force.

The orbits of countless galaxies fell into chaos. The massive gravitational frameworks—the Great Attractor, forged by Qlipoth, the Aeon of Preservation, to stabilize the galactic order—shattered instantly.

One-third of the universe's stability had been temporarily shattered.

Though the cosmic structure was damaged, for galaxies to actually collide with one another would still take billions of years.

Moreover, the universe itself would automatically readjust its operation.

And without the support of Law, even an Aeon could not truly destroy the universe by relying on Path alone.

[Destruction exists for the sake of a more beautiful rebirth]

Facing Nanook's direct assault through his Path's philosophy, Firefly ignited her own newly born, unique Path of Destruction.

"Nanook! To annihilate civilization, life, and the cosmos itself is absolutely not the truth. Beyond destruction lies rebirth, the renewal that follows sin burned to ash! Destruction must grant the universe new life."

Firefly's Path of Destruction spread directly over Nanook's Path.

The clash of philosophies was perilous in the extreme—an attack that struck at the very root.

It was just like when Xipe and Ena once clashed. Under the collision of philosophies, Ena fell instantly, without even engaging in combat, his Path utterly devoured.

As the two Paths overlapped and tore at one another's ideals, half the universe was stained with the crimson of Destruction.

"Civilization is the cancer of the cosmos. Life is the source of conflict. The very existence of the universe is error. To erase all is the truth."

Nanook's will poured toward Firefly in unrestrained frenzy.

Crack—

The cosmic starry sky across tens of millions of light-years shattered beneath the collision of the Aeons' wills, like glass splintering apart. Galaxies were trapped within countless fragments of large-scale cosmic space.

Crack—

Another rupture appeared—this time from the cornerstone itself.

Under the all-out clash of philosophies, the old Path of Destruction fractured. Shards of philosophy splintered off from it.

Nanook's Holy Body, already broken twice before, split apart once more—from shoulder to waist, one arm shattering into countless fragments, golden blood spilling across millions of galaxies.

Yet Nanook did not waver, even as his Path crumbled.

To him, all things deserved to be destroyed—including himself. Only after obliterating all creation would he extinguish himself.

[Civilization must be destroyed. Life must be destroyed. All existence of the universe must be destroyed.]

Under Nanook's will, the fracturing of his Path accelerated further.

Chapter 22: Bury the Thunder!

At that moment, within the forest, Darnic—still working alongside Caster—sensed the gathering storm clouds and thunder overhead. He raised his head, his expression turning grim.

Crack…

A bolt of lightning split across the sky, illuminating the deep forest below.

"What's wrong, Darnic?"

Caster noticed him pause and turned back, seeing the man's furrowed brows.

"I specifically ordered Saber to remain inside the fortress."

A heavy unease clouded Darnic's face.

Caster, realizing the matter, turned his senses toward the depths of the forest, probing the flows of magical energy from afar.

"Indeed… Saber is currently clashing with a Servant of the Red Faction. That immense magical aura—I cannot mistake it."

He confirmed Darnic's fears.

"…."

Darnic immediately connected a magical communication line to Fiore, who was stationed at the fortress watchtower.

Sensing the flow of prana, Fiore 'answered' the call.

"Uncle?"

"Fiore… was it you who ordered Saber into battle?"

Hearing the sharp, almost accusatory tone, Fiore lowered her eyes slightly, pressing her lips together. She turned her gaze toward the distant forest where the Shogun fought.

"Yes. It was I who sent her, Uncle."

She did not deny it—she admitted plainly.

"Why did you let Saber fight? I've said before: unless absolutely necessary, we must preserve her strength!"

His voice grew harsher. And indeed—it was true she had disobeyed orders. His anger was inevitable.

"I'm sorry… Uncle. But this was the Shogun's own will. I could not stop her."

"Could not stop her?! You are her Master!"

"…."

She did not answer immediately. Instead, she sighed deeply, her hand brushing unconsciously over her paralyzed legs.

"You are right. But… I do not wish to constrain her too much as a Master. Besides, Berserker is in grave danger right now, and Caules is helpless. If Berserker is recalled, the enemy will only grow bolder in harassing the fortress."

That was her reasoning—what she felt was the most valid justification.

"…Is that truly your decision?"

Darnic's voice sank into silence, then questioned again.

"Yes. Even if it means violating orders, please punish me alone. But do not blame her."

Fiore knew very well: even so, Darnic would never have her use a Command Seal to recall the Shogun. To him, her seals were as precious as Vlad III's—they could not be wasted lightly. Thus, in the end, he would have no choice but to tolerate the Shogun's willfulness.

Though he was her uncle, if forced to choose between him and her Servant, she would not hesitate. She would choose the Shogun without regret. That was the resolve she bore as Raiden Shogun's Master.

...

Deep within the forest, the Shogun and Achilles' battle still raged on… though in truth, it was utterly one-sided.

Clang! ×N

After a flurry of sharp weapon clashes and a thunderous explosion, Achilles gritted his teeth and leapt back to his starting point.

"Tch…"

Clicking his tongue, he wiped the blood trickling down his forehead.

From the smoke and dust emerged a slender figure. With only a casual flick of her sleeve, the haze dispersed instantly.

Unlike Achilles' battered appearance, the Shogun advanced with graceful steps, naginata in hand, her body wreathed in coursing lightning. She hadn't even activated the Chakra Desiderata—it wasn't necessary.

"I heard you wished for a duel with this vessel? Then I shall grant it."

She leveled her naginata, her cold words echoing toward Achilles.

"Heh… don't boast without thinking of the consequences."

Achilles smirked scornfully, then shifted again into a charging stance.

"But tell me… why not draw your sword? You… take out your blade! You're Saber, aren't you?!"

To see her refusing to unsheathe a sword felt like an insult—like he wasn't worthy of witnessing her true skill. The thought stoked his fury, and he shouted angrily at her.

"…For you, there is no need to draw a sword."

The Shogun listened to Achilles' furious shouting without the slightest reaction. She only let out a quiet sigh and spoke calmly… her honest truth.

"!!"

Achilles instantly bristled with rage!

"You woman!!"

Boom!

He stomped forward, shattering the ground beneath his step, and in the next instant he appeared before her, thrusting his spear straight at her forehead.

The Shogun did not even blink. A flash of violet lightning flickered—and she vanished from his sight, reappearing behind him in a single bolt.

"Tch…"

Achilles quickly swung his spear around, striking backward with sharp precision!

Whoom~

But once again, the Shogun transformed into lightning, flickering to his flank, as though mocking him.

"Arghh!"

This time Achilles anticipated her movement. He lunged with a preemptive strike, his spear whipping toward her position!

Clang!

The Shogun made no attempt to evade. Raising her naginata crosswise in both hands, she caught the thrust cleanly. The violent clash rang out like thunder, releasing a shockwave that blasted the dust and dirt outward in waves.

Meeting his eyes briefly, she then flicked his spear aside with ease—before unleashing a storm of slashes from every angle!

Clang, clang, clang! ×N

Ten strikes per second, raining relentlessly upon Achilles! The only things between them were blinding sparks and streaks of violet lightning carving through the dark.

Every sweep of her blade tore through the trees, the forest around them shredded as if by a frenzied grinder.

Achilles was driven back step by step under the onslaught. Despite pouring in all his strength to resist, his armor cracked and split under the rapid blows. Finally, overwhelmed, he abandoned the clash, trying desperately to knock her weapon aside and retreat.

The Shogun let go of her naginata's shaft with one hand. In that instant, the weapon floated upward as though alive, suspended above her palm. Lightning filled the entire area, thundering wildly.

As the naginata spun by itself, it drew down the lightning of the heavens. A violet storm roared into being, the clouds above funneling their thunderbolts into its blade.

Her amethyst eyes glowed faintly.

"Bury the Thunder!"

Her cold, beautiful voice resounded as she spoke the incantation. The lightning of the heavens converged into one point—then struck downward in a cataclysmic torrent!

Crack!!

With a deafening roar, the naginata's storm of thunder burst forth, unleashing a tsunami of violet lightning that engulfed the battlefield.

It was like a flood of thunder, a raging tide of light. Walls of lightning, several stories high, swallowed the ground, the trees, and everything before her. The crushing wave bore down upon Achilles, tiny as an ant before the storm. The scale alone seemed enough to consume the entire forest—let alone one man.

"Ugh… w-wait! You serious?! You're actually going all out?!"

Achilles' rage was gone—replaced only with astonishment and disbelief. He hadn't come tonight to decide victory or defeat against Saber—only to test her strength. But she clearly intended to annihilate him!

So much as a word out of place, and she unleashed a Noble Phantasm!!

Chapter 21: Divine Punishment

"Uwahhh~!!"

Crack!

With a roar from Berserker… her war hammer became engulfed in golden lightning.

"Ahh!"

With a mighty swing, the lightning transformed into a beam of light, surging straight toward Achilles on the opposite side!

Zzzzt… The golden current churned up dust all around, like a great dragon, striking fiercely at the Red Faction's Rider.

"Heh…"

Achilles only sneered, slipping aside in a swift sidestep to dodge the incoming beam. Seizing the opening right after Berserker's attack, he stepped forward in an instant and flashed directly in front of her.

"!"

Berserker was clearly shocked to see him appear before her.

"Spacing out in battle is a bad habit!!"

Whoosh, whoosh!

With a sharp shout, Achilles swung his spear straight toward her face!

Bang!

"Ugh!"

Berserker hastily raised the shaft of her hammer just in time to block the thrust. Even so, the sheer force drove her body backward until she crashed into a wooden post behind her.

"Not bad… but still not enough!!"

Wham!

After knocking her away, Achilles instantly dashed to her side and kicked her hard in the ribs.

"Arghh!"

Berserker cried out in pain, her body sent flying—but she didn't crash to the ground. Twisting midair, she regained balance, then slid across the earth before standing again.

"Huff… huff…"

She panted, somewhat exhausted, but her eyes beneath her hair still glared viciously at the irritating man before her.

[Berserker… remember, another Archer is hiding nearby.]

Her Master, Caules, spoke into her mind. Immediately, she leapt back several steps, shifting her focus to the surrounding forest, gripping her hammer tightly.

The next second—

Whizz!!

An arrow, carried by crushing wind pressure, shot forth without warning from somewhere in the forest!

"!"

Shluk!

As expected, the arrow pierced her shoulder.

"Ughhh!!"

Berserker roared furiously, jumping back again.

Whizz! ×N

Several more arrows whistled toward her.

Bang! ×N

Berserker evaded a few, using the trees as cover, then yanked the arrow out of her shoulder. Now the fight had turned into two against one—and she was the "one."

At that moment… she caught sight of a sudden flash of light. A far more oppressive arrow than before shot past her face, streaking straight into the forest!

Perched hidden on a tree trunk, Atalanta was just about to nock another arrow when she suddenly felt a wave of killing intent!

Too late to dodge—

Shluk!!

A sniping arrow grazed her cheek with precision, blood splattering instantly!

"Tch! So the enemy Archer's here too!"

Clicking her tongue, she leapt to another tree, preparing to exchange fire with her foe.

"Missy, are you alright?!"

"Yeah… the enemy's Archer has found me. Leave him to me—you handle Berserker!"

Whizz!

Narrowly dodging Chiron's ranged attack, Atalanta shouted to her ally in passing, then leapt once again to another trunk, beginning her duel with him.

"Tch… how troublesome!"

Seeing Berserker charge at him again, Achilles muttered in annoyance before lunging forward with a rapid flurry of spear strikes!

Clang, clang, clang! ×N

Berserker struggled to fend off the blows, locked in fierce weapon clashes. Almost every strike grazed her body, cutting into her flesh. She was being completely suppressed.

The clashing of weapons rang out with sharp bursts of wind, and the surrounding trees were left marked with countless slashes.

Finally, Achilles pressed his foot against the shaft of her hammer, kicking her back once more.

Crash…

Berserker slammed into the ground, struggling to rise.

Achilles only shrugged, resting his spear casually on his shoulder.

"I'm getting bored. If you don't want another beating, then call Saber out! Tell him Rider wants a duel! Don't tell me you're trying to preserve Saber's strength? Do you think you alone can beat me—!!"

Just as Achilles was about to continue mocking, he suddenly sensed something unusual in the air around him! Alarmed, he leapt back several steps, tightening his grip on his spear as he scanned his surroundings.

"This aura…"

His leisure vanished instantly, replaced by deep wariness. His body tensed, bracing for danger.

The night sky above had changed without him realizing it. Lightning flickered faintly among thick, black clouds that now filled the heavens. A heavy, oppressive gloom spread across the entire space.

His body felt unbearably heavy, as though trapped in another dimension. Breathing grew difficult, his ears no longer caught the rustling of leaves—only the pounding of his quickening heartbeat. The suffocating pressure of a gaze bearing down on him spread through his whole being.

"Damn…"

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. To force such fear into a warrior like him… just who was the enemy?!

Before he could react, a violet mitsudomoe-shaped eye of lightning suddenly appeared behind him. The thunder eye opened wide—space shattered, and time itself slowed to a crawl!

From within stepped forth the Shogun, her form solidified, violet elemental energy surging into the blade of her naginata. Aiming at his back, she unleashed a strike like divine punishment itself!

Crack!!

With thunderous brilliance, the blade carved into Achilles' back, leaving a violet scar of light several meters long across the space.

Shluk!!

In an instant, a torrent of blood gushed from his back, spraying outward like a crimson fountain.

Following through with the slash, the Shogun's body flashed to his front. As time's flow returned to normal, Achilles' bloodshot eyes widened in shock at her silhouette. His expression twisted as agonizing pain surged from his back throughout his entire body.

"Arghhh!!"

Blood spurted violently as he collapsed to the ground, coughing out red as his spear fell from his grip.

"!"

Berserker, watching from the side, froze in shock. Just a moment ago it seemed as though nothing had happened—yet in an instant, Achilles was reduced to this state.

The ground beneath him was drenched in blood. But the Shogun knew he was not dead. At the moment she struck, she had felt his life remain intact. He must possess some kind of Noble Phantasm that revived him from death.

"Ughh! You… cough… are you the Saber?"

Achilles, struggling on the ground, forced himself up just enough to glare warily at the Shogun.

"To withstand this blade and remain alive… you are the first."

The Shogun slowly paced before him, naginata in hand, her cold and elegant voice echoing in his ears.

"Oi, oi… how's this 'alive and well'? I'm in agony here!"

Achilles roared angrily, forcing himself upright again. The massive wound across his back—enough to split him apart—began slowly to regenerate.

The Shogun narrowed her eyes slightly.

Resurrection?

But she had accounted for this. That strike was not her Musou no Hitotachi. If it had been, he would have perished without doubt.

"Heh… so it's just like your Lancer said. At first, I didn't believe it. But now… I've experienced it firsthand."

Before they set out, Karna had warned him that Black's Saber was not to be taken lightly, urging them to be prepared. And indeed, as he said—without his Andreias Amarantos: Amaranth of the Brave, that strike would have ended not only his life but his very essence!

However… Achilles had noticed something. The strike just now had not been full strength. The divine force behind it should have completely destroyed his immortality Noble Phantasm. And yet… it did not.

He glanced at the Shogun's naginata.

Was it the weapon?

In other words, that devastating technique wasn't meant for the weapon in her hands, but for another blade entirely!

Heh… how interesting…

Chapter 20: Can You Restrain a Warrior’s Lust for Battle?

Deep within the forest, a fierce battle was underway—

"Trap of Argalia!"

Crack!!

Facing the oncoming charge of Berserker, Astolfo grasped his knight's lance with both hands and called out its true name.

Bzz~

Golden light gathered at the lance's tip, condensing into a beam that shot directly at the hulking man.

Upon striking him, the light shifted to his leg.

"Hahaha!!! Battle! Batt—ugh ah!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the next instant, his left leg dissolved into golden particles and vanished into the air… The force of his momentum sent his massive body crashing to the ground with earth-shaking thuds.

"Ugh…?"

Berserker pushed himself up, confusion in his eyes as he looked at his missing left leg, still glowing faintly with golden light.

"Heh heh As long as you touch this lance, your foot is forced into spirit form! Pretty neat, right?"

Astolfo strutted forward, chest puffed out in pride, shaking his knight's lance with a smug grin.

"Hahaha! If that's all you've got… it's nowhere near enough—!"

Unfazed by such a trick, Berserker forced himself upright.

Whoosh!!

He raised his massive arm, greatsword in hand, and swung down at the youth before him!

Shluk!

But in that moment, three black, miasma-coated spikes erupted from the ground, piercing his torso and lifting his huge body into the air.

"Gahhh…"

He spat blood.

"Guess it's someone else's turn now…"

Seeing the main force arrive, Rider quickly slipped away.

"Mm?!"

Wiping the blood from his mouth, Berserker then heard the sound of approaching hooves and marching feet. He lifted his gaze.

"Rebel, Berserker of Red. If what you seek is one with authority, then before you stands he who claims the pinnacle."

The Grand Prince himself, astride his steed and accompanied by Caster and others, arrived before the giant.

"Hahahaha!"

Yet Berserker only laughed louder, wrenching the spikes from his body and charging once more, great blade raised high!

Snap…

At that instant, Caster snapped his fingers. The soil beneath Berserker writhed as though alive, turning to sludge and binding him fast.

"Kazikli Bey."

Scarlet mana gathered in the Grand Prince's palm, condensed in his grip.

Boom!

A surge of magic rippled outward, and countless spikes erupted from the earth!

Shluk, shluk, shluk!!

They pierced into the giant's body, merging seamlessly with Caster's spell.

"Rebel, be transformed!"

Shluk!

One spike drove through Berserker's neck, spraying blood. His boastful strength faltered instantly as his head drooped, steam rising from his body.

"I leave the rest to you."

The Grand Prince turned his steed and departed, leaving behind only that simple command. His part was done.

"As you command, my king."

Darnic bowed, then looked to the robed man beside him.

"Oww! My back! I'll head back first I'm exhausted"

Feigning pain, Astolfo seized the chance to excuse himself and fled.

"Wait… Rider! Damn that fool!"

Celenike fumed, glaring after his vanishing figure.

"Caster, I intend to sever this Servant's connection and force a new contract. Assist me."

"I understand. But… we are not alone here. Other Servants' presences linger nearby."

Caster nodded, but the eyes behind his mask narrowed as he sensed something, warning the others.

"Is that so… Others hidden in the forest? No wonder this one could charge in alone. He was the bait."

From the fortress, Archer's vantage must cover the field well. Support would not be difficult.

"Then… I leave the remaining battle to you, Berserker."

At Darnic's command, Frankenstein materialized from spirit form, nodding silently.

A few minutes later…

In a part of the forest, a green-haired man with a long spear—Achilles—leaned casually against a tree, whistling idly, as if waiting for someone.

Step, step…

"Hm?"

He stopped whistling at the sound of footsteps and looked up… Berserker had already appeared before him.

"Yo~"

He stood up and greeted him lightly…

"Ah… Berserker?"

Achilles chuckled, but his expression soon hardened—though he still carried that lazy air about him.

"Man… they really underestimate me, huh~? Thinking they can deal with me using some mad dog? Hey… even humiliation has its limits!!"

With his roar, every bird and beast in the woods scattered in terror.

"Grrhh…"

Seeing Achilles' infuriating attitude, Berserker trembled with rage, her expression twisting ferociously.

"Oi… bring out your Saber. I want a real opponent."

Achilles looked down on him with disdain, openly provoking.

"Uwahhh!!"

Berserker could bear no more. She charged forward, her massive hammer crackling with lightning, and swung down!

"Angry, are you? Good!!"

Achilles' grin turned feral as he rushed in, his spear clashing against the war hammer!

Bang!

Boom, boom!!

Explosions thundered deep in the forest, clouds of dust rising high.

Meanwhile, the Shogun stood upon the fortress watchtower's edge, her violet eyes fixed upon the distant battle. Her vision was sharp enough to rival Archer's clairvoyance.

The night wind stirred the hem of her purple kimono and its long, flowing sleeves, her bangs swaying lightly. Bathed in moonlight, she was like a living painting.

"Shogun… can you see anything?"

Beside her, Fiore glanced at her profile and asked softly.

"Our side has engaged… but… they are at a disadvantage. The enemy has the upper hand."

The Shogun narrowed her glowing eyes, her calm, matter-of-fact tone making the others present instinctively quiet and steady.

In her gaze… Berserker was being completely overpowered, suppressed from the very start.

"Impressive… to rival clairvoyance without being an Archer."

Chiron, bow drawn and aimed, took the chance to praise the Shogun.

"Berserker…"

Caules was deeply worried for his Servant…

"Archer, cover her!"

Gordes barked an order.

"At once… Hm?"

Chiron immediately drew his bow, ready to fire toward the battlefield, but in the next instant he froze, sensing something.

"What is it?"

Gordes demanded.

"There is another presence… is that Red's Archer?"

Being an Archer himself, he was acutely sensitive to his counterpart's aura. He knew instantly. This complicated matters greatly—for the enemy Archer was surely lurking, waiting for the chance to strike at their Berserker.

"What?! Then what are you waiting for?! Shoot that Archer!"

Gordes urged impatiently.

"No… I cannot find him. I can sense his aura, but not his precise location. He's hidden too well. Only if he looses an arrow will I be able to pinpoint him."

Chiron shook his head.

"Then… doesn't that mean we'll lose one of our Servants first?!"

Gordes clenched his fists in frustration.

"Berserker… beware. Another Archer hides in the shadows around you."

Caules quickly sent a mental warning to his Servant through their link.

"…."

Fiore, realizing the gravity of the situation, instinctively turned to the Shogun… who just so happened to look back at her.

"The time has come. This vessel… will fight."

The Shogun informed Fiore. Though she could have simply teleported, she thought it better to notify her Master. As for Darnic's talk about reserving her strength until the end—what nonsense. Whether she or Ei, both were warriors. The choice of when to fight was theirs alone. No one else had the right to decide.

"Mm… Shogun, be very careful."

Fiore did not hesitate in the slightest. She nodded firmly, for she understood where the Shogun's heart lay.

The Shogun inclined her head slightly in return. Violet lightning coursed over her body—

Bzzzzt~

The next second, she vanished in a flash of thunder.

Since they wished for her to enter the fray… she would oblige.

Chapter 19: He Smiled Like a Child

Boom! Boom! Boom!

From the northern forest of the Fortress of Millennia came an unending series of thunderous crashes, like a pile driver striking the earth. The forest's beasts scattered in panic at the relentless noise, each impact shaking the entire woodland!

"Hehehehe! Hahahahahaha!!!"

In that moment, a massive Spartan warrior, several meters tall, charged joyfully toward the fortress with great strides. His booming laughter, like clanging barbells, and his constant grin turned the scene into one both comical and grotesque.

Crack!

He hacked away the branches blocking his path, advancing without hindrance, as if afraid others might fail to notice him.

And he was not alone… perched upon the trees behind him were two Servants of the Red Faction, their eyes fixed upon the charging giant, as though intending to use him as bait.

Bzzz~!

The next second, the giant stepped onto one of the automatic magic traps set around the fortress! Several magical circles instantly formed around him, unleashing fierce beams of light!

Boom!!

A violent explosion erupted upon the giant's body, filling the forest with thick smoke and dust.

"!" ×2

The two Servants trailing him instinctively shielded their faces and quickly glanced at the still-active magic array below.

"Magical defenses, huh… Seems we're close to the target, missy."

The man with the spear on the left turned to the beast-eared woman beside him, who carried a bow.

"My name is Atalanta, Achilles. Don't call me missy."

Atalanta sighed, correcting the man at her side.

"Hehehehehe… Hahahahaha!!!"

Below, the giant, struck by the trap, once again bellowed with laughter. From the smoke emerged his colossal frame—utterly unscathed, his joyous grin unchanged.

"Enemy! Hahahaha!!!!"

With a booming voice, the giant once again barreled forward toward the fortress. Naturally, the two behind him followed in pursuit.

...

"Ha mm"

A soft, sweet yawn with a hint of charm pulled the Shogun's thoughts back. She glanced down at the girl in the wheelchair making such an adorable gesture.

"Rested enough?"

She asked casually.

"Mm… Every time after taking medicine, I sleep well. This way, I'll have the energy to last through the night."

Fiore turned her head and smiled as she answered.

"Do you always rely on medicine to sleep?"

"It's not like that… Normally, I sleep whenever I feel sleepy. Just now, it was only the side effect of the medicine. Once it sets in, I take the chance to rest more."

Fiore understood the faint concern hidden in the Shogun's words, so she shook her head slightly, reassuring her.

"...Medicine is three parts poison. Best to take less of it. Unless absolutely necessary, it should be avoided."

The Shogun shifted her gaze toward the corridor ahead, speaking words of caution.

Hearing this, Fiore lowered her head with a faint smile, her expression becoming gentler.

"Mm… I'll remember that, Shogun."

Clack…

They pushed open the grand doors of the hall… everyone was already present.

"Is everyone here? Caster, it's time."

It seemed the two of them were the last to arrive. After Darnic gave a signal, Caster manipulated the floating screen, projecting the scene outside the fortress.

By using a magically-animated eagle flying overhead as the relay point, the spell's range far exceeded that of normal clairvoyance magecraft—an extremely useful application.

Everyone, including the Shogun and Fiore, looked toward the screen. There, a burly half-naked giant was rampaging through their forest!

"Whoa~ What the heck is that thing?"

Astolfo muttered dumbfounded, lips trembling.

"A Servant of the Red Faction, no doubt…"

Chiron concluded calmly.

Darnic spoke then,

"Everyone, this Servant is charging straight toward the Fortress of Millennia, day and night without pause. I judge him to be the 'Red Faction's Berserker.'"

His words were met with composed silence from the others. After all, the Holy Grail War had officially begun yesterday. From then on, an enemy attack at any time was no surprise.

But really, was charging in alone like this not a problem? Foolish as it was, since he was a Berserker… among the seven classes, only he could do such a thing.

"Doesn't he even listen to orders?"

Astolfo asked in surprise.

"Heh… Perhaps this is his Master's command. He could well be intended as bait."

Gordes sneered dismissively.

Fiore calmly turned her eyes toward Darnic on the steps…

"Uncle, what do you intend to do?"

Her tone was steady.

"Of course, we cannot let this opportunity slip. If all goes well… we may even turn Red's Berserker into one of our pawns."

"Darnic… let us hear your plan. This is why you gathered us here, is it not?"

The Grand Prince, seated upon his throne, now rose and turned toward Darnic, his tone solemn and dignified.

"Yes… my king."

Darnic smiled faintly, nodding in assent.

"The glorious battle is about to begin!"

And so… under the command of Darnic, lord of the fortress, the operation to capture Red's Berserker quietly commenced.

Though the Shogun offered to eliminate him in a single strike, Darnic shook his head. For the sake of future plans, Black needed to preserve his life. Since he was already within the fortress's range of control, killing him could be done at any time—there was no need to rush.

Hearing this, the Shogun no longer concerned herself. After all, this was his plan. If trouble arose later, it would be his burden alone. Why should she waste her effort?

That said… she had heard that Servants summoned by the Holy Grail War were all heroes or figures of renown from history. And yet—

"Hehehehe!!! Battle!! Battle!! Hahahaha!!"

The voice still echoed from the projection…

Her violet eyes gazed wordlessly at the screen's image of the "cheerful giant infant."

Did such a hero truly exist?

A few hours later—

With the plan finalized, the members of Black stood upon the ground before the fortress gates. It was now around nine at night, the sky entirely black.

Present were Caster and Master, Rider and Master, and Lancer and Master—six in all. Together, they faced the dense forest, shrouded in night.

"Why not send Saber as well?"

"No… Saber's strength must be preserved as our trump card. Against Red's Berserker, the rest of us suffice."

They had all witnessed the Shogun's battle with Karna in full. Such divine power was certain to be the key to victory.

"That Berserker was born for battle, and he is destined to die in it."

Darnic gripped his staff tightly, gazing at the faint haze rising from the forest, murmuring his sentiment.

"It is strange that he can even speak… our Berserker cannot say a word—"

"Uwahhh!!"

From atop the castle wall, Caules' sister hollered down angrily at Rider.

"Ah~ sorry, sorry! I just meant—since he can speak, maybe someone could reason with him?"

Astolfo instantly cowered.

"The chances are slim. In his eyes, there is only the enemy."

"Then let us greet that Berserker with an iron hammer! Rider, you first!"

The Grand Prince turned toward Astolfo, who rested his head in his hands, looking rather bored.

"Eh?"

Rider was dumbfounded. Why him?!

"Go, Rider! Show us the strength of the Twelve Paladins of Charlemagne!"

His Master, Celenike, twitched the staff in her hand as she commanded him.

"Ugh~! I really don't want to do something so barbaric… but fine, I'll show you my strength!"

Bzzz~!

The next instant, golden light welled up in his hands… golden particles condensed into a silver-and-gold knight's lance.

Whoosh, whoosh!!

Spinning it skillfully, he slammed his feet upon the ground with a bang, kicking up dust as he sprinted at high speed toward the Berserker deep in the forest!

The others watched with confident smiles, not even questioning why a Rider was charging on foot.

Fiore and the Shogun, meanwhile, stood with Chiron and Frankenstein on the fortress's watchtower, observing the distant movements. Caules and Gordes were there as well.

Below, the Grand Prince calculated Rider's timing… then ordered Darnic and the others to accompany him into the forest. Before leaving, he glanced back once more at those still upon the fortress wall.

"Berserker, you will accompany us as well."

As a precaution, it was better to have another hand.

Frankenstein looked to Caules. When the boy nodded, she vanished from sight.

"Archer, I leave the cover to you."

Darnic also turned back to Chiron above, instructing him.

"At your command. Rest assured."

With a bow in hand, Chiron smiled and gave a formal bow in return, putting their minds at ease.

Chapter 18: Artificial Human? Divine Creation?

As the side effects of the medicine began to take hold… Fiore felt herself growing drowsy. Though her mind remained awake, her eyelids grew unbearably heavy… even speaking became difficult.

"Shogun… could you… carry me to bed? Haa… I want to sleep for a while."

Fiore weakly asked the Shogun, her fragile voice carrying the sense of a girl who might shatter at a touch.

Without replying, the Shogun directly lifted the girl into her arms like a princess and placed her onto the bed, carefully covering her with the blanket.

"Shogun… when I'm asleep, you don't need to stay with me. You can go wherever you wish… It's safe here. I'll be fine."

Lying beneath the blanket, Fiore murmured softly as her eyes, already unbearably heavy, slowly closed. The strength in her fingers clutching the Shogun's sleeve weakened until finally, the Shogun tucked her into the quilt.

Watching the slumbering beauty for about a minute, the Shogun stepped soundlessly from Fiore's private room, closing the door with gentle precision.

Before leaving, she glanced once more at the decorations on the door, her eyes narrowing slightly… a trace of violet energy spread within the room.

Though the place was indeed safe, her cautious nature led her to layer her own protective wards around the chamber. Should anyone approach, the wards would signal her, allowing her to recognize the intruder.

Now, she intended to wander the halls of the castle… or perhaps go outside to observe the scenery of a land beyond Teyvat.

[This girl truly likes you…]

It was Ei's voice that spoke to her then.

'What do you mean by that?'

[Those gestures, those eyes… I can feel it.]

'You are sensitive to such things?'

Usually, she would not pay such matters any heed. Why today? The Shogun was puzzled.

[Not exactly. It's just that you, Shogun, are still bewildered and unfamiliar with emotions. But I'm no better—I don't fully understand them myself.]

Ei's tone was gentle, admitting her own uncertainty. If she had yet to grasp them, how could the Shogun?

'Because I am not flesh and blood… I am only…'

[Though you are my puppet, as your creator, I wish for you to feel more of these things. After all… every mother hopes her child will grow, does she not?]

Strange as it sounded, it was not out of place. Ei was indeed her mother—for it was Ei who had created her.

The Shogun paused briefly at these words… then, after considering them, resumed her steps.

At that moment, Caules appeared at the far end of the corridor. Upon seeing her, he froze slightly before stopping in place. The Shogun glanced at him, but without speaking, walked past the boy.

"Saber… where's my sister?"

Yet before she passed completely, he addressed her back.

"…In her room, asleep."

The Shogun did not turn, replying simply.

"I see… Sigh… my sister… she is different from the other magi. You could say she has yet to make certain resolve. Her body and mind are still immature. I don't want her hurt in this war. Saber, will you promise me to protect her?"

Caules' tone grew serious as he looked at the slender figure ahead.

The Shogun turned her face slightly toward him…

"There is no need to remind me. That is my duty to begin with."

"…I see. Then I can rest assured. I'll be going."

Relieved, Caules smiled faintly, then pushed open the large doors and departed the hall.

"..."

The Shogun silently watched the direction he left before continuing her steps.

Tap, tap…

Unexpectedly… as she passed through another corridor, a group of uniformed servants rushed toward her. More accurately, they were homunculi—the exclusive resource of Yggdmillennia, cultivated to serve as vessels of magical energy.

Upon seeing her, the group halted and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Saber… Lord Caster is searching for an escaped homunculus. Have you seen him?"

A female homunculus stepped forward, politely inquiring.

Escaped? A homunculus?

The Shogun narrowed her eyes slightly, then shook her head.

"I have not seen him."

Indeed, she had not. Along the way, aside from Fiore's younger brother, she had encountered no one else.

"I see… Forgive us for disturbing you."

The homunculi bowed once more, then hurried past her, running down the corridor.

Speaking of homunculi…

'Ei…'

[The Shogun is far from something as mundane as a homunculus… You are a precious creation formed from my genes, a true soul, and my essence. How could such a being be compared to a mere homunculus?]

[Yes… if we must give it a name… let us call it a "divine creation."]

"This place feels so cold…"

The Shogun closed her eyes, complaining helplessly.

[Cold? But your body temperature is perfectly normal… where would this coldness come from?]

Ei's voice carried confusion… such absentminded reasoning was indeed her nature.

"Sigh… never mind."

The Shogun gave up. She was already accustomed to such conversations between them—half in jest, half in comfort. Perhaps, in this way, loneliness would never touch her.

At that moment, passing by a certain door, the Shogun happened to overhear voices inside. Her hearing was many times sharper than that of ordinary people, allowing her to catch the sounds within quite clearly.

"It seems his magic circuits almost went out of control. And then… it's overexertion, isn't it?"

"Overexertion?"

Inside, Rider Astolfo leaned on the edge of the bed, looking at the short-haired brown-haired male homunculus lying naked atop it.

"Most likely, ever since his birth… he has never once walked."

From the other side of the bed, Chiron placed his hand upon the boy's leg, scanning it briefly with magecraft as he analyzed.

"Eh?"

Rider was clearly surprised.

"Because he was made to be like a battery for supplying magical energy."

Chiron explained calmly.

"I see… then he's like a newborn baby, isn't he?"

Astolfo's expression turned sympathetic and complicated as he gazed upon the frail youth lying on the bed, his tone laced with pity.

"…Why would you help him, Rider?"

Chiron looked across at Rider, his voice tinged with resignation.

"Because I want to help him!"

Astolfo answered without a trace of hesitation—simple, direct, and cheerful, though it seemed almost unreasonable.

"…You realize Caster is searching for him, don't you?"

"Ahaha… who cares about him?"

Astolfo laughed carefreely, utterly unconcerned with how his betrayal might trouble his side.

"…I will leave this room empty for now. It's unlikely anyone will discover him, but if anyone knocks, do not answer. And you must not reveal this matter to any other Servant or Master. Do you understand?"

Chiron stood at the door, turning back to remind Rider solemnly.

"I know already… don't worry~!"

Rider waved with a bright smile.

"Rider, will you take responsibility to the end?"

"I'll help him for as long as I can accept it. I will never abandon him!"

Astolfo's words were firm, enough to make Chiron pause in surprise before smiling knowingly. He then opened the door and stepped out.

Once Chiron had left the corridor, a faint gathering of violet lightning particles appeared, forming into the Shogun's figure. Her gaze, cold and indifferent, lingered upon the door for a moment before she dissolved once more into lightning and vanished.

She despised such "traitorous" behavior… Yet it was not enough to compel her to intervene. For now, she would leave it be.

Chapter 65: Authority Attack

The system's light orb spun once in the air.

"Though I don't fully understand, it seems we're saved for now."

As a consciousness body, Satsuki also heard that string of system alerts just now.

Those three charging 'players' had clearly used some kind of bug or cheat. Their shortcut-style method of clearing seemed to trigger a dungeon detection mechanism, causing all monsters to lose their normal aggro settings. It even summoned monsters and Bosses from the other heavens.

From one of the gates emerged the colossal Asura Demon Lord and the Rakshasa Marquis, bringing their retinues along. They swung massive, curved blades as they stepped forth.

The Asura Demon Lord was a towering four-armed humanoid monster, face twisted and ferocious, muscles knotted, clad in gleaming golden armor. Around it floated a ring of resplendent swords, each radiating vigilance.

Beside him, slightly smaller in stature, was the Rakshasa Marquis. This humanoid fiend sat cross-legged on a black lotus throne, his entire body adorned with strange jewels of gold and silver. His twisted hands firmly gripped a magnificent waist blade.

Unlike the Asura, who devoted himself entirely to martial prowess, the Rakshasa Marquis's abilities were far more versatile—not only terrifying in melee combat but also wielding inconceivable spellcasting. Super-tier magic was child's play to him. His strongest trait was the ability to resurrect any target unconditionally, while also altering the revived being's template—so long as it fell within the Rakshasa lineage.

From another gate emerged the third heaven's Gandharva, followed by a host of celestial beings. Draped in translucent veils, their graceful figures shimmered faintly in the air. Their violet eyes carried the permanent passive effect of 'Enthralling Mortals.' Any target gazed upon for too long, without allies to intervene, would fall into eternal mind control. Furthermore, each celestial was a top-tier magic caster and healer.

The wide-area "Brahma Chant" buff surrounding the Six Heavens was constructed by the songs of these celestials.

The Asura Demon Lord and Rakshasa Marquis were the guardian Bosses of the second heaven, Trāyastriṃśa. The Gandharva was the Boss of the third heaven. Each of their individual strengths surpassed the four level-150 guardian Bosses of the first heaven.

The fourth heaven, Tuṣita, was an extremely complex four-dimensional labyrinth. Its Boss was the labyrinth itself and thus could not be moved here.

The fifth heaven, Nirmāṇarati, contained no enemies. Instead, it was a paradise—a continent overflowing with gold, jewels, and women, filled with every imaginable delight. In reality, it was a prison. Those who entered would be eternally trapped if they could not resist temptation and uncover its loophole. Under even stronger "Brahma Chant" brainwashing, they would be converted into demon-Buddha followers. For players, this meant becoming dungeon enforcers. Though the exact process was unclear, its killing power was said to be strong enough to pierce even world-class defenses.

In short, just to face these three glowing enemies, this End-Tier dungeon had mobilized nearly all its available power—everyone except Satsuki's own statue-body.

Golden runes flared across the colossal demon-Buddha statue—symbols representing the concept of "invincibility."

In this state, Satsuki's true body, the demon-Buddha statue, could not be targeted or attacked.

Yet, this sight did not ease her mind.

Even in the face of such overwhelming force, the three figures merely paused for a moment. Relaxed, they floated in midair, casually surveying the army of Bosses and mobs. Through her Tenseigan's vision, Satsuki noticed these three had no definite forms—only humanoid silhouettes made of colored light, cloaked entirely.

Then, for the first time, she heard their voices.

"There's even a detection mechanism? Interesting. Seems the programmers put real effort into this dungeon. Impressive." The golden figure on the left spoke lightly.

The red figure on the right twisted dramatically in the air and shouted loudly: "Ohhh Three heroes against endless waves of monsters I'm fired up!!!"

"Just Berserk state?" The blue figure in the lead swept a cold glance around, then raised her hands to her chest, forming a gesture.

From her body spread a colossal magic array, vast enough to blanket the entire sky.

Every monster and Boss within its range—Satsuki's demon-Buddha statue included—instantly had all buffs stripped away, even its supposed invincibility.

"All targets locked. [State Fill]—Authority, activate."

In that moment, all the mighty monsters and Bosses froze stiff, then toppled one after another, dead in an instant. Whether mere mobs or World-Class Bosses, they were no different.

On ground and sky alike, the scene unfolded like a massive domino effect—Satsuki's entire army collapsing in waves before her eyes.

It was exactly like what had happened in the first heaven.

No—there was one difference: the numbers. Here, the scope was vastly larger, requiring her to use an even greater search ability beforehand.

"State Fill? Authority?"

Satsuki's sharp senses caught onto the key words.

"System, are there any spells or abilities related to those terms?"

But this time, the system uncharacteristically failed to answer immediately.

"Run, Host."

"Hm?"

"I can guarantee these people are absolutely not players. There's no way players of this level could exist—what a joke!"

"They're clearly GMs. I've been collecting data on their actions all this time, but only when the status bar showed you being hit by an authority attack did I realize it."

"Authority attack?" Satsuki finally noticed her status bar below, where numerous combat messages had popped up.

[You have been targeted by an [State Fill] authority attack.]

[Your authority rank: End-Level.]

[Result: Attack invalid.]

"GMs?" Satsuki murmured.

"Host, you finally believe me for once?" The system's voice brimmed with relief, but in the next breath it slumped back into its familiar uselessness: "But what do we do now? No matter how strong monsters are, how can they possibly defeat GMs?"

Ignoring the system, Satsuki fixed a grave stare on the three figures already closing in on the demon-Buddha statue. Her mind spun rapidly—

The system's program hadn't issued any emergency warning. That likely meant she wasn't entirely without hope. And just now, her status bar showed her authority rank as End-Level—apparently even higher than theirs.

That must have been why the State Fill didn't kill her.

But… how should she fight back against them?

After that map-wide [State Fill] authority attack, the Sixth Heaven of Desire now held nothing but the colossal demon-Buddha statue—and the three figures striding through it as if it were empty space.

After that map-wide [Status Fill] authority attack, only the colossal demon-Buddha statue and the three figures moving through the battlefield like it was empty remained in the Sixth Heaven of Desire.

Even they seemed slightly surprised that the statue had withstood the attack.

"The final boss of this dungeon isn't simple. It actually survived Blue-chan's Status Fill without dying?" The golden figure spoke with a trace of solemnity.

"In that case, I won't be able to contribute much more offensively," the clear voice of the blue figure replied. "If we want to retreat, now would be the time."

"Retreat? Too soon for that~." The red figure's tone was burning with excitement as he gazed at the demon-Buddha statue in the sky. "Since it can't be filled with a death state, then we'll just create its death directly!"

With a swing of his right hand, a golden spear appeared.

Before Satsuki could react, the spear pierced forward with a speed that seemed to cut through the boundary of time, stabbing directly into the statue's forehead.

"[World's Fall]—a spear only GMs can wield. It amplifies my [Instant Death Authority] into [Super Instant Death Authority]. In this game, aside from those with Supreme Authority, no one can resist it!"

[Super Instant Death] was one of the highest forms of authority in the game, its level surpassing even the number-one-ranked world-class weapon, the [Longinus: Spear of Deletion]. Compared to [Status Fill], [Super Instant Death] was far more domineering in single-target judgment.

At the point where the golden spear clashed with the colossal statue, dazzling light and sparks exploded outward.

It was faint, but the spear was slowly pushing forward. Once it pierced through the immense protective layer of authority, Satsuki would be erased instantly—no chance of survival.

This was the ultimate clash of powers in this world, a direct contest of authority against authority.

It was no longer a matter of players or mortals.

In every sense, this was an unmistakable [War of the Gods].

"Host, hurry! While the demon-Buddha statue is holding their attention, transfer your consciousness into another monster. It may be disgraceful, but at least you'll live!"

The system's advice was timely and rational. Against such foes, perhaps there really was no other choice.

But Satsuki instantly rejected the suggestion.

"Running would only delay my death. If I want to live, I have to defeat them."

Since receiving the Strongest System Across All Worlds, she had long since accepted this reality. She knew her future was filled with countless formidable enemies—some she would never be able to defeat. If she fled now, would she flee again next time? Would she hide forever, becoming a so-called strongest who never dared raise her hand?

What a joke!!!

Dancing on the edge of life and death didn't faze her—but it awakened a long-lost desire to challenge such power head-on.

If one asked why, perhaps it was simply because the words [Strongest] carried an irresistible allure. And from the moment she, Satsuki Ōtsutsuki, accepted this system, she had been destined to walk a path of endless challenges.

It was a mutual choice, with no regrets between life and death.

This resolve drove Satsuki's consciousness to make a shocking decision.

Fixing her gaze on the clash of spear and statue, she flashed forward, plunging directly into the statue's body, determined to merge with it once again.

"If I must die, then I'll die together with it."

But just as she was about to fuse with the statue, her 360-degree vision caught sight of the golden system orb—it too was following closely behind her, diving toward the statue.

Seeing her gaze, the orb spun frantically in the air. "Th-this is just the internal program acting on its own!"

For once, the system not dragging her down in a critical moment was… unfamiliar.

Satsuki let out a rare, quiet laugh, then sank back into darkness.

Returning to the void, her heart was calm as still water—just as she had been in the Naruto world. No matter how powerful the enemy, whether in her past life or now in this female body she had crossed into, she would never accept defeat.

In the outside world, at that very moment, the colossal statue stirred…

Bolts of lightning and serpents of thunder erupted, crackling wildly around it. Black lotus blossoms bloomed and withered in the air, each petal holding within it the rise and fall of a world, filled with stars that gathered into radiant clouds, weaving into a vast and endless galaxy.

Crack—crack—

Fragments fell from the statue's surface. The giant form, now fused with Satsuki's consciousness, split with jagged cracks, golden light bursting outward from within.

The golden spear—already nearly piercing the forehead of the demon-Buddha statue—was suddenly blasted away by that radiance.

Clang—

A crisp sound rang out as the indestructible golden spear gave a mournful cry, then snapped in two in midair. Before the disbelieving "eyes" of the three GM avatars, the weapon known as [World's Fall] fell, shattered.

Yet there was no time to process what had happened. In the same instant, a destructive energy erupted from the statue, sweeping across the field. For the first time, the three invincible figures were forced backward at extreme speed. The golden GM seemed to recall something, his voice filled with horror:

"Red-Phoenix, Blue-Dragon—run! This is End-Tier Vipralopa Power!!"

End-Tier Vipralopa Power!

The fastest to react, Blue-Dragon, immediately attempted to lock the three of them with invincibility status. But in the next moment, she realized her [Status Control] authority had completely failed.

A debuff labeled Vipralopa Power appeared in her status bar—its duration marked as N/A. Under its effect, her authority-based abilities could not activate.

"Qilin-senpai, your authority is Energy Control. Can't you restrain this force?"

"If it were only world-class energy, I could. But End-Tier Vipralopa Power exceeds the limits of my authority." The GM named Gold-Qilin was already afflicted by the same terrifying power. He turned to the dazed Red-Phoenix. "I fear your spear…"

"I tried to restore Red-Phoenix-senpai's weapon with my [Status Fill], but the system prompt said it could not bypass the Vipralopa Power." Blue-Dragon lowered her voice. "I'm sorry. I'm useless—I couldn't help anyone."

"Don't blame yourself, Blue-Dragon." Gold-Qilin placed a hand on her shoulder. "We must retreat at once. Log off and report this to the higher-ups."

With that, he grabbed the still-broken Red-Phoenix and slapped him twice, hard, across the face.

"This isn't the time for despair. Move! While our invincibility hasn't fully worn off!"

The blows finally snapped Red-Phoenix back to his senses. Looking at Gold-Qilin with despair, he muttered, "I know you're a normie, Qilin-senpai, but to hit me so roughly while treating the girl so gently—"

"What was that?"

Seeing Gold-Qilin's golden, stern face, like a square-jawed uncle glaring down at him, Red-Phoenix wilted instantly. "N-nothing."

Just then, a strange voice echoed inside all three GMs' minds. It was as if three different voices spoke simultaneously, layered with chilling reverberation.

"Now you want to flee? Too late."

The moment those words fell, the seals around the demon-Buddha statue shattered completely. The surging destructive force it had held back could no longer be restrained. In a single breath, it expanded outward, sweeping across the entire Sixth Heaven of Desire.

Wherever the power passed, space fractured, earth collapsed, and the once-blue sky turned black with thunderclouds and lightning.

Even the background music shifted into its exclusive theme: [Return of the Demon-Buddha].

"This guy really has flair… not only intelligent voice lines, but even a dedicated BGM."

As Red-Phoenix muttered, he suddenly noticed the red glow around him fading. His true in-game form appeared—a winged being with scarlet feathers.

Blue-Dragon and Gold-Qilin, too, were stripped of their GM authority light, revealing their true avatars: a female dragonkin with blue scales, and a light elf, respectively.

"Damn… the Boss's Vipralopa Power has completely suppressed our GM authority. We—"

Before she could finish, a system prompt appeared.

"Your invincibility status has been forcibly removed by a higher authority."

The message struck like thunder. Without invincibility, they were fully exposed within the Boss's Vipralopa Domain.

On their system panels, the debuff Brahma Chant appeared, its percentage climbing rapidly.

"What?!"

Even the always-calm Gold-Qilin was shaken. GMs were supposed to be untouchable, protected by WORLD's blessing. No existence had ever been able to harm them.

Yet now, that foundation was shattered—by the first-ever End-Tier dungeon Boss.

From the mist that always cloaked the statue's three-faced head came a voice, overlapping and resounding:

"Such cliché last words. Is that all you can offer?"

What?!

Before they could process why the Boss responded with such intelligence, chanting erupted all around them. Under its power, they saw the Brahma Chant debuff in their status climb rapidly toward 100%.

Every command, every skill, every function grayed out—unusable. Even the chat window was locked.

This was completely abnormal.

But they had no chance left.

"If you're powerless… then drown."

A wave of dark energy swept over the three immobilized GMs. In their final sight, the Brahma Chant reached 100%, engulfing them in a scarlet-black hellscape.

Chapter 152: Vela—F*ck, Washuu's Incompetence

Whether research into surgeries capable of transforming humans into ghouls, along with Kakuhou, high-Rc organ cultivation and transplantation projects, should be considered the development of weapons of mass destruction—that was the question.

Vela believed it was.

The US military command stationed in Japan, as well as the Tokyo Prosecutor's Office, both of which had received the Special Commissioner's request for deployment regarding the ghoul issue, agreed—it was.

Even if it was not now, in the future it very well could be.

One word: Investigate!

That night, neon lights shimmered on the waterfront.

While the CCG launched a heavy offensive in Ward 7, sweeping through ghoul nests, Tokyo's streets remained as bustling as ever.

Crowds thronged, ceaselessly flowing.

Even though the giant LED wall outside department stores broadcast live reports of investigators annihilating the large ghoul organization MADAM, killing countless registered ghouls by name, destroying 'talent' trafficking dens, and raiding ghoul restaurants to rescue kidnapped hostages awaiting slaughter, the reactions of passersby remained lukewarm.

A few exclamations and complaints: "Sugoi ne," "Why aren't the ghouls wiped out yet," "Baka, the Commission of Counter Ghoul is useless, what a disgrace—needing Americans to step in before they can uncover such filth." Then, as if nothing unusual had happened, people lowered their heads again, returning to idle chatter, sighing in resignation, or hurrying along in the grind of work…

After more than a century of coexistence with ghouls, Tokyo's citizens had long grown accustomed to endless news of battles between the CCG and ghouls.

Until—

Vrrrmmm… vrrrmmm…

A roar of engines suddenly rumbled from the Yokota Air Base in Fussa, western Tokyo, tearing through the neon night.

Multiple Apache attack helicopters escorted MH-6 Little Birds and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in special operations formation, crossing the boundary of Nishitama into Tokyo's central wards.

Behind them, a convoy of Humvees and armored vehicles carrying heavily armed US NBC defense troops sped onto the intercity expressway, heading straight for Ward 6.

Just then, Tokyo TV cut its regular anime broadcast.

Ward 7 CCG Branch.

In the central interrogation room, Vela, having shed her [Arata-Ayato-α] equipment and changed into standard duty uniform, stood before a one-way mirror. Holding a corrugated cup of coffee, she sipped lightly, exhaled warm breath, and observed the Yasuhisa sisters, who sat at a reinforced Quinque steel interrogation table, confessing to crimes committed after their half-ghoul transformation and making accusations against CCG Headquarters, the Washuu clan, and several Special Class investigators.

Beside her stood a squad of US soldiers in camouflage fatigues. They busied themselves setting up a portable signal relay, receivers, monitors, and remote command-and-control equipment.

On the screen appeared a live feed of the Yasuhisa family villa in Ward 6.

"Commence operation."

At Vela's command, the technical sergeant switched feeds, bringing up first-person footage from US special operations troops fast-roping into position.

With firepoints established, the assault began swiftly.

Boom—!

The screen jolted violently as the villa's windows shattered. With a massive directed blast, the floor collapsed, exposing the cracked ceiling of a hidden underground lab.

Gunfire erupted, mixed with eerie, inhuman roars. As breaching charges blew doors apart, Vela's mixed force of elite CCG Ward 6 investigators, North American counter-ghoul operatives, and US special forces stormed inside.

The delayed feed revealed a brightly lit laboratory crammed with cultivation tanks and transparent cylinders.

Organ vats, freezers packed with bloody flesh, operating tables, and control terminals were scattered everywhere.

Inside, several experimental subjects had already broken free—deliberately released.

Though barely retaining human shape, most had bloated, grotesque bodies, dull expressions, and only mindless roars. Single kakugan glared as their erratic Kagune thrashed violently.

The instant they saw the intruding humans, like starving beasts sighting fresh prey, they flew into a frenzy, pouncing without hesitation.

In an instant, the laboratory erupted in a storm of automatic rifle fire, general-purpose machine gun bursts, and heavy weapon roars. Everyone had loaded anti-ghoul Q-bullets—blood and flesh flew as inhuman roars and explosions thundered nonstop…

"That is… that's Rank-1 Ota?!"

A Ward 6 investigator recognized one of the modified subjects. His face darkened as he cursed: "Damn Akihiro Kanou, that madman—he actually kidnapped investigators for experiments?!"

Watching for a moment, Vela judged that the battle required no concern from her.

These experimental products looked fierce but were brainless failures, charging headlong into gunfire. Only a handful retained even basic reason.

She picked up the microphone on the desk, asking: "Report. Has Akihiro Kanou been located?"

"Negative. Only ghoulified abominations present at the site…"

Unexpected, yet expected.

Heh. Vela sneered.

As expected.

Someone had tipped Kanou off. He had already slipped away.

"The problem is indeed far deeper than it appears."

She cast her gaze across the Ward 7 investigators present, deliberately voicing the obvious.

Ring-ring.

With the bell, Yukinori Shinohara pushed open the door, followed by a grim-faced Iwao Kuroiwa, Marude Itsuki, and Kousuke Houji.

Rarely, Marude wore no mocking smile.

Standing at Vela's side, his face tense under the side lighting, he glanced at the Yasuhisa sisters inside the interrogation room, then at the footage of the Yasuhisa family underground lab. His expression turned somber and unreadable.

Such a vast, complete laboratory setup with abundant subjects—clearly not something Akihiro Kanou and the Yasuhisa family's past investments alone could support. There had to be hidden backers.

"Never thought Nanase Yasuhisa's daughters would end up ghouls, serving that lunatic Kanou, who seized their fortune and turned mad scientist…"

Slapping his own forehead, Marude flung down the written testimonies detailing ghoulification surgeries and Kanou's illegal experiments.

After receiving Vela's message, he had rushed from Ward 1 straight to Ward 7.

Through fax, he had already read the full report on the Ward 7 ghoul restaurant sweep—especially the account of reserve investigators turned into ghouls.

"Even the Yasuhisa family's Sphinx Company, its assets, its properties—seized illegally by Kanou. These girls were top CCG Academy students, not some blockheaded muscle trained only at the Countermeasure Education Facility. They studied law basics, didn't they? Why not report to the Academy leadership? Why not tell Amon, or us? Even going to the police would've spared them this misery."

The Sphinx Company—run by Kurona and Nashiro Yasuhisa's father, Nanase Yasuhisa.

Its business was supplying Rc solution to the CCG, an essential raw material for Rc suppressants, CRc gas, ghoul-specialized Q-bullets, and Quinques.

A key CCG partner.

It had once invested in CCG's artificial ghoul research for stronger anti-ghoul measures, but was later abandoned for unknown reasons.

Nanase Yasuhisa and his wife had both perished in a ghoul attack.

Marude spoke bitterly: "Why trust us so little? Even if it meant being turned into ghouls, cast into hell itself—they'd rather trust Kanou, who suddenly swooped in to seize their inheritance, all for some half-baked theory?"

"Such an obvious case of vulturing off orphans… Damn it, why were they so stubborn?"

"Enough, Marude."

Yukinori Shinohara pressed a hand on Marude's shoulder.

"When they lost their parents, they were still high school minors. At that age, Kanou preyed on them, forced them into experiments, and confined them to a dark laboratory cut off from society for years. It's understandable their minds didn't mature. You can't judge them by adult standards."

He sighed, glancing into the interrogation room at the Yasuhisa sisters.

Had none of this happened, they would likely have become investigators like Suzuya Juuzou, and probably been assigned under his command.

"Perhaps in their eyes, the corrupt and callous CCG was even more detestable."

"Damn it, one mess after another!"

Somewhat irritated, Marude ruffled his hair, sighed, straightened his tie, and composed himself before turning toward Vela, who sat quietly sipping coffee with a detached air, as though simply watching a play.

"So, Russell, if I'm not mistaken—you already suspected there were problems inside the CCG. No wonder. On your second day back, you launched such a massive raid. You didn't want to give those rats and parasites time to react or collude."

He too had suspected internal rot in the Bureau, but never thought it ran this deep.

"Obvious."

Tossing her empty cup into the trash, Vela flexed her hands, turned, and gave him a glance.

"Just now, the CIA already verified anomalies in the Yasuhisa mansion's electricity usage and suspicious supply shipments. That none of this was noticed under your noses means one thing—either incompetence, or an inside traitor. All signs point to grave issues within the CCG, and Tokyo's high society as well."

Marude nodded bitterly, feeling both helpless and humiliated.

For a department to be exposed as infiltrated—pointed out by international investigators and laid bare—was a crushing disgrace anywhere in the world.

"Russell, with US forces directly intervening in Kanou Akihiro's case, the Bureau will suffer heavy criticism. Couldn't we…"

Marude knew full well he had no authority over Vela. Though technically Section II Chief, and she Deputy, everyone understood her title was honorary. Still, he tried, hoping to salvage some face for the Tokyo Commission of Counter Ghoul.

"There is no 'couldn't.'"

Shaking her head, Vela cut him off flatly.

"Marude, I trust you. But this isn't about criticism. Whether rot collapses or bone is scraped to cure poison—the choice must be yours. I've torn the wound open. If problems exist, if disgrace exists, then expose it, solve it, wash away the shame. That is the right attitude."

Practical words, but easy to say from her position.

If it were the North American Commission that had been compromised, Vela knew the first reaction of her superiors would be no different from Marude's—cover it up, fix it internally, preserve face. But in Japan, she had no such concerns. Here, she could claim the shining moral high ground, pointing fingers without restraint.

The Special Class investigators present listened silently, not interrupting. Instead, they quietly discussed the Yasuhisa sisters' testimony and written accusations against the CCG leadership.

"…I understand."

Realizing US involvement could not be undone, Marude slowly exhaled, picked the report back up after a pause, and nodded.

"I agree with your resolution, Commissioner Russell."

"After all… we have no other choice, do we?"

The support of this senior, powerful CCG Special Class left Vela satisfied.

The Washuu clan had lost their legitimacy.

And as for the seat of CCG Bureau Director—was Marude interested?

"At this point, patchwork fixes mean nothing. Break to rebuild, Marude…"

Her lips curled, indigo eyes glinting with goading intent. Stepping closer, her fingertip tapped the interrogation transcript in his hands, leaving something behind. "Internal investigation."

With that, she turned toward the exit.

Creek. A US officer entered at just the right moment, leaning close to whisper in her ear: "Commissioner, Operation No. 2 is ready."

"Mm… lead the way."

She nodded.

"As for the Yasuhisa sisters—their protection and surveillance falls to you, Shinohara."

Straightening her uniform slightly before leaving, Vela gave Yukinori Shinohara one final reminder: "They're vital witnesses. Handle with utmost care."

Then she strode out.

"…."

Shinohara watched her back disappear. Silence filled the room again. Turning to speak, he noticed Marude's face—bearing an uncharacteristic sternness he had never seen before.

"Marude, what is it?"

"What else? One thorny problem after another…"

Unknowingly, Marude's hand had crushed the interrogation transcript into creases. He tucked away the slip of paper Vela had left him, then lifted his gaze to meet those of his old comrades—Kuroiwa Iwao, Yukinori Shinohara, and Kousuke Houji.

"Gentlemen, our troubles have just multiplied."

Marude let out a self-mocking laugh before saying gravely: "If we mishandle this, the CCG could suffer devastating losses. Japan's countermeasure agency would become an international laughingstock…"

In his clenched, sweat-soaked palm, the small slip blurred—

[The Washuu clan has problems.]

Yukinori Shinohara spoke: "We stand with you, Marude. At times like this, it really does take external force like Russell's to break our deadlock."

"Commissioner Russell is right. Problems are a disgrace—but exposing and solving them is how we wash away shame, not by hiding them."

Kuroiwa crossed his arms. "As Special Classes, with such rot in the CCG, the responsibility is ours."

Houji nodded. "Should we convene a Special Class meeting and inform Tanaka Maru and Anura—"

Before he finished, a thunderous explosion shook the building, very near the interrogation room. Marude's face changed. He kicked a chair aside, shouting: "What the hell happened?!"

"Report—ghouls, enemy attack!"

"What?!"

…

Moments earlier.

Vela had left the interrogation room, speaking with the US officer about the raid on Kanou Akihiro's lab and the subsequent sweep.

"The plan you ordered—bold and ostentatious, a diversion. The CIA and cyberwarfare units have already begun monitoring numerous businessmen and politicians on the list."

"Good. Have the Special Investigation Division of the Prosecutor's Office move as well. The big financiers behind the ghoul restaurant—drag them all out. That's a big slice of cake…"

As they spoke, Vela rounded a corridor corner. Approaching were two investigators carrying Quinque cases—one short and stout, the other tall and thin.

"Oh?"

Seeing them, she gave a soft exclamation.

A big catch—delivered right to her.

The tall, slender one was a young man with black hair covering his left eye, red pupils, and a beauty mark at the corner of his right eye. His features were striking and delicate.

He, too, recognized her. His eyes widened, then lit with barely contained excitement. Rushing forward, he bowed deeply like a fan before an idol: "Ah, greetings, Special Class Russell. I am Nimura Furuta, Rank-1 Investigator of Ward 23."

The stocky, heavy-set investigator followed.

"Special Class Russell, thank you for your trust. Receiving your summons, I hurried here from Quinx detention without delay."

Lifting his hat in salute, his scarred, reconstructed face twisted into a frightening mask. He patted Furuta's shoulder as the younger man remained bowing in excitement.

"This is my partner, an excellent junior. Diligent, highly motivated. Upon hearing he could join your command in Ward 7, he volunteered for overtime to accompany me."

Shiki Kijima—Associate Special Class from the Ward 23 Ghoul Detention Center, also an accomplished interrogator.

Studying the man's disfigured features—the ears and nose pared down, skin visibly grafted—Vela recalled his file and inclined her head politely.

She had requested him deliberately. A minor detail in her planning, now yielding unexpected gain.

Without drawing attention, Vela stepped forward to help Furuta upright. She looked at Kijima. "Madam A, and the trash captured from the ghoul restaurant, will be left to you and First Class Kureo Mado. One condition: squeeze out every drop of value."

Her tone was casual, her orders absolute.

The kind of humans who paid to watch gladiatorial fights and dine on fresh human sashimi had no innocence, no rights, no political standing worth considering. However they were tormented, it mattered not.

"My pleasure."

Kijima pressed his hat to his chest, lips curling into a ghastly grin full of twisted malice.

Beside him, Furuta—helped to his feet, still flushed with excitement—bowed again. The bright corridor light reflected off the polished floor, obscuring his expression.

"I look forward to your results, Associate Special Class Kijima… and Rank-1 Furuta."

Vela smiled faintly, brushing past them to rejoin the US officer.

"All right, Furuta, let's get to work," Kijima said eagerly, already itching to torture ghouls.

"Mm…"

Furuta's harmless smile lingered as he turned—

Bang!

The gunshot froze everyone.

"Special Class Russell?!"

"Commissioner?!"

It was Vela.

Beretta M9 smoking in hand, she gazed at Furuta, who clutched his bleeding face.

"You!"

The sclera of his right eye turned black, the iris glowing crimson. A kakugan. Blood trickled down his forehead as the bullet clinked onto the tiles with sharp clarity in the suffocating silence.

Furuta stared at her, the harmless smile gone, mouth twisting into a grotesque mask.

Vela only chuckled to herself.

"Should I blame Washuu's incompetence… or that the CCG's rot runs deeper than I imagined? That even man-eating ghouls can become investigators now? And one-eyed at that."

Chapter 233: Digging the Core, Taming the Herrscher of Death, Sheele

At the deepest depths of the Pacific Ocean.

"To think you actually captured a Herrscher alive. Is there anything in this world you, Elias, cannot do?"

"Hurry and let me go over! I can't wait to properly study her!"

"Hahahaha~! As expected of The Deep End, designed by this century's greatest magician, Vill-V! Even an apostle of the gods, a Herrscher, has no chance of escaping. Truly, I outdid myself!"

Dr. Mei, Mobius, and Vill-V all stared with excitement at the imprisoned Herrscher of Death, Sheele.

This was humanity's first time capturing a Herrscher alive! Capturing the apostle of the gods itself! The significance was beyond measure!

Unconsciously, the three turned to Elias at their side. Their eyes overflowed with admiration that could not be contained. This boy was simply too incredible, as if there was truly nothing he could not accomplish!

"..."

For some reason, Elysia remained silent.

Staring at the Herrscher girl named Sheele on the monitor, she once again felt a sense of kinship. More and more, she suspected that her true identity might also be that of a Herrscher.

But when she remembered that she felt the same kinship toward Elias as well, a sliver of relief bloomed in her heart.

"Vill-V, what's the situation? Does the Herrscher of Death have any chance of escaping?"

"None whatsoever! Her Authority seems to only affect living beings. This prison is built entirely of soulium—there's absolutely no way she can escape!"

Vill-V spoke proudly, not realizing her words nearly drove Mobius insane with jealousy.

(What?! A prison built entirely of soulium? Does she have resources to spare like that? Haven't her funds been cut? Damn it, Mei you bastard, what happened to my research budget…)

The snake clutched her chest in agony. Right now her funding was so pitiful that even instant noodles had to be split across two meals.

Looking at Vill-V's extravagant, unrestrained appearance, Mobius was overcome with jealousy.

"Mobius, why are you looking at me like that?"

"No reason. Just wondering where exactly my research budget ended up. Why is there such a huge gap between us, Mei? Don't you agree…"

"Cough, cough! Anyway—Elias, what do you plan to do with the Herrscher of Death?"

Feeling the piercing stare of those snake-like eyes, Mei shuddered and quickly changed the subject.

The dangerous topic of budget must never be touched! She could never admit she had diverted Mobius' funds into her own projects.

Once Mei's words fell, all three women turned curiously toward Elias, waiting for his response. How to deal with a captured Herrscher was no trivial matter.

In truth, once news spread of the Herrscher of Death being captured alive, countless people around the world had already begun scheming. Some wanted to dissect her and unearth the secrets of Herrschers. Some wanted to interrogate her and force the truth of the Honkai. Others simply demanded she be executed.

But whatever their intentions, one thing was certain: countless eyes now watched the Herrscher of Death, Sheele, with hungry desire. Yet none dared make a move.

Because this Herrscher was Elias' prisoner.

After defeating four Herrschers and now capturing the sixth alive, his prestige was beyond question. No one dared to touch the Herrscher without his permission.

"I want… to tame her."

Elias' gaze remained fixed on the monitor, where Sheele sat in silence.

The moment his words fell, all four girls revealed astonished expressions.

"You said… you want to tame this Herrscher?"

"My god, is that even possible?"

"No… maybe it is. Don't forget, she's the only Herrscher so far who's actually begged for mercy."

"I still think it'd be better to let me dissect her."

Elias paid their voices no mind, his eyes locked steadily on the monitor.

He knew well that Sheele's begging was nothing more than a façade. In the original timeline, when Kevin spared the Herrscher of Death, she immediately attacked humanity again.

It was proof that even this was but another form of the Honkai's deception.

Just like how the Herrscher of the Void's Authority countered humanity's long-range weaponry, how the Herrscher of Thunder's accompanying Honkai Beasts targeted humanity's melee elites, and how the Herrscher of Wind's ability to escape targeted humanity's lack of speed.

As for the Herrscher of Ice… she died too quickly to be studied.

In any case, the Herrscher of Death, Sheele, begging for mercy was also nothing more than another Honkai scheme, aimed at exploiting humanity's sympathy.

If Elias had not known the story, once he softened and released her, the losses would have been unimaginable. But…

(I don't remember exactly how the Herrschers of the Current Era regained their humanity and broke free of the Honkai's shackles. But since the Current Era managed it, perhaps the Previous Era can too.)

Even if the Herrschers of the Previous Era lacked true humanity, they still displayed emotions. Since that was the case, Elias felt it was worth trying. If humanity couldn't be restored, then he would cultivate it anew.

And, from a personal standpoint, he truly didn't want to kill this Herrscher girl who looked exactly like Seele.

(If I can find a way, maybe in future cycles I could do the same as in the Current Era—conquer the Herrschers, and turn them into allies who fight for humanity. And…)

If he could reawaken the humanity within this Herrscher girl, make her stand on humanity's side, and gain the recognition of the people—then even if his Herrscher identity was exposed one day, there would still be room for negotiation.

"Taming a Herrscher… such a thing sounds like a fantasy. But if it's you, Elias, I feel it might really be possible."

Mei thought for a moment before speaking. In truth, she agreed with Mobius this time—having a living Herrscher to research and analyze could yield monumental discoveries.

And that path carried the least risk.

But since this was Elias' decision, then surely it was the correct one. Moreover…

(It feels like with Elias' methods, he might really be able to conquer a Herrscher. After all, if he could deal with Eden in just a single night, could a Herrscher really be harder?)

"So, what do you plan to do—subdue her by sleeping with her? Although this Herrscher of Death looks underage, remember that the laws protecting humanity don't apply to Herrschers. You can do as you like, Elias."

"Mei, your expression really doesn't make me want to 'do as I like.'"

Elias rolled his eyes. Women truly were creatures that said one thing and meant another. But truthfully, he did have confidence.

After all, it was Seele. Whether White Seele or Dark Seele, Elias could handle them both with ease. Though this one was "Sheele," she didn't seem much different.

"Before subduing—cough, taming her, I need to pull out the wildcat's fangs so she doesn't bite anymore. I plan to dig out her Herrscher Core while keeping her alive," Elias declared.

Though The Deep End was unbreakable, caution was still warranted when dealing with a Herrscher. Yet both Mobius and Mei shook their heads at once.

"We've already run a full body scan on her. The X-rays didn't find any Herrscher Core inside."

"You two sure work fast. But Herrscher Cores are far more special than most people think. It's normal that X-rays can't detect them."

Elias spoke as if unsurprised.

Seriously—did people really think Herrscher Cores just grew inside bodies like kidney stones? As a Herrscher himself, Elias understood better than anyone.

A Herrscher's body was merely the fixed coordinate of the Core.

In reality, every Herrscher's Core existed within the imaginary space. Only when a Herrscher died, and the coordinate was lost, would the Core drop from imaginary space into the real world.

And the place it dropped into was their body.

(After all, the size of a Core isn't that small. Each one is usually about half the size of a palm. To think it was just stuffed inside a body—ugh~!)

Elias shook his head at the uncomfortable thought. For someone like him with multiple Cores, his body wasn't exactly a handy pouch to stuff things into.

In fact, Otto's artificial Herrscher project was exactly that—forcing a Core into the flesh of a Valkyrie, then leaving it up to fate whether she could adapt to it or not.

For example, Wendy had been made that way. But the consequence was severe erosion of the body by Honkai energy. Even if she became a Herrscher, her strength was pathetic, and the Core could be easily taken away.

After all, storing a Core in flesh and blood versus storing it in imaginary space were two completely different concepts. A body of flesh was like an unlocked box—you could cut it open with a scalpel and dig out the Core.

But hidden within imaginary space, it was as if stored inside a fortified vault. Unless you smashed the vault—killed the Herrscher—there was almost no possibility of seizing the Core.

When Elias dug out Wendy's Core back then, it had been easy only because she was an artificial Herrscher, and her Core could be taken directly.

But the Sheele before him was a genuine Herrscher. To obtain her Core without killing her was practically a fantasy.

After all, the "vault's" password was known only to its owner. Without the ability to open imaginary space, one wouldn't even have the chance to attempt cracking it.

However…

"No problem. Leave the Core extraction to me." Elias smiled confidently, patting his chest.

Wasn't it convenient? As the Herrscher of the Void, he possessed the ability to open imaginary space. He could obtain the Core without harming the Herrscher's life.

Of course, even as the Herrscher of the Void, opening the imaginary space tethered to another Herrscher wasn't easy. But that was only a matter of time. Eventually, he could force it open.

Like a safe with a password—once you knew how many digits, you could simply try every possible combination.

"You really are capable of anything, aren't you?" Mobius widened her eyes in shock.

"Heh, up to now, Fire Moth has never discovered the Second Herrscher's corpse or who stole her Core. Looks like the answer has finally surfaced." Mei teased, glancing at Elias.

"In that case, now I'll activate the [Imaginary Interferometer] to make this Herrscher girl behave. Then, Elias, you can do whatever you want with her."

Vill-V spoke in a tone that could easily be misunderstood. She pulled out a switch and pressed it hard. Instantly, the Herrscher of Death who had been thrashing wildly on the monitor convulsed and collapsed to the ground, her Authority temporarily sealed.

...

"What's happening?! My power is gone?! No—it's not gone. Something strange is interfering, stopping me from properly using my Core!"

Sheele stared at her own hands in horror. Unable to use her Authority, she felt utterly insecure.

Just then, the door that hadn't budged no matter how she attacked it suddenly swung open. A white-haired boy stepped inside—the very human who had captured her, Elias.

"Human! What are you trying to do to me? I warn you, don't come any closer! Or I'll kill you!"

"Still putting up a tough act, huh? Give up already. Oh, right—if you're willing to hand me your Core yourself, this will all be much easier, and you won't feel anything strange."

Elias flexed his wrists and fingers. The last time with Wendy hadn't been proper, so this was truly his first time extracting a Herrscher Core. He was a little nervous.

It reminded him of a certain hero who transformed using three coins. That series really had been all about "digging out hearts"—everyone was constantly pulling out Cores with chest shots.

"Hand over my Core? Dream on! Wait—what are you trying to do? No, don't! Stay away from me! Don't hurt Sheele!"

"Your personality is like those two fused together. Sharp-tongued like Dark Seele, but the moment you're scared, you turn into timid White Seele."

Elias found it fascinating. This Sheele was arrogant yet cowardly, carrying Dark Seele's madness and yandere streak while also showing White Seele's frailty and weakness. He thought she truly had potential for discipline.

Although right now the Herrscher of Death displayed only the flaws of both sides, if tamed properly, perhaps she might one day show the strengths of both.

Dark Seele's bravery and strength.

White Seele's gentleness and kindness.

If those were combined, Elias could hardly imagine what a wonderful girl she would become. But that was a goal for the future. For now, what he needed to do was confiscate her dangerous weapon.

"Relax. I don't think it'll hurt."

Elias pressed down Sheele's hands with his left, while his right hand—glowing with the power of the Herrscher of the Void—reached toward her chest. A gate of imaginary space slowly opened within her.

"Don't—don't come any closer!"

Sheele tried to struggle, but she could not resist Elias' strength. This Herrscher, who should have made the world tremble, now shivered like a frightened little lamb.

As Elias' hand reached into the gate of imaginary space, as expected, a repulsive force surged forth, like magnets of the same pole pushing apart. However…

"Sorry, but this isn't up to you." Elias ignored the repulsion and forced his way in.

The Authority of the Herrscher of the Void burst forth. His hand plunged deep inside, searching for Sheele's Core.

"Guhah! N-no! Something's coming in—this strange feeling—my… my Core!"

"Mm. Finally found it."

Elias' eyes narrowed as his hand, reaching into Sheele's body, grasped the Herrscher Core. With a sharp pull, a black Herrscher Core was torn out.

"Yaaahhhhhh~!"

Sheele's eyes rolled back as she let out a bizarre scream.

In the monitoring room, Elysia, Dr. Mei, Mobius, and Vill-V instinctively pressed their legs together tightly.

"You bastard! I'll kill you, I swear I'll kill you! Give me back my Core—that's Sheele's! You can't take it!"

Tears welled in Sheele's eyes as she gnashed her teeth. Her face flushed red with shame as she stood on tiptoe, trying to snatch back the Gem of Serenity in Elias' hand. But at less than one and a half meters tall, she couldn't reach it no matter how hard she tried.

In the end, all she could do was angrily pound Elias' chest with her tiny fists.

"It belongs to me now. But if you behave well in the future, abandon the Herrscher side of the Honkai, maybe—I might return the Core to you."

Without her Core, Sheele could no longer truly be called the Herrscher of Death. With one hand pressing on her head, Elias rendered her wild punches useless, striking only empty air.

Yet inside, Elias felt a little disappointed.

Even with her Core removed, Sheele hadn't regained humanity. She remained a Herrscher personality of the Honkai.

"What nonsense are you spouting? I'm a Herrscher! How could I ever betray the Honkai?!" Sheele bristled in fury.

"Mm? Isn't betraying the Honkai common sense for a Herrscher?" Elias replied seriously, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

"I don't understand a word you're saying! You despicable thief, give me back my Core right now! Or else—I'll get really mad! Sheele can be very fierce! Awooo—uwahhhhhh!"

"..."

Elias glanced down at the girl biting into his arm, only to end up hurting her own teeth and bursting into tears. He could only shake his head helplessly.

It seemed there was still much training to be done.

Chapter 539: Wanting to Have More Common Topics with You

After walking for half the day, they could finally see the Chiba Shopping Mall in the distance.

Kotomi Izumi let out a long breath of relief and said, "Next time we come to the Chiba Shopping Mall, let's just ride shared e-bikes."

"I feel like walking hand in hand with you like this is also pretty nice."

Megumi Kato didn't feel tired at all. She enjoyed this time alone with Kotomi. Every time she was with Kotomi, she secretly wished that time would slow down… slower and slower.

Just one more traffic light and they would reach the Chiba Shopping Mall. While waiting for the green light, Kotomi took out her phone to check Amazon. The PS5 she had added to her shopping cart earlier still hadn't dropped in price or gotten any discounts.

Although she already had a PS4, which was enough to play most games, and she mainly played games on her computer anyway, both the PS4 and Switch she bought ended up barely being used.

Especially the Switch—along with the Xenoblade Chronicles limited edition Pro Controller. After finishing the Xenoblade series, it had just sat on her desk as a display piece, unused for months.

Even so, Kotomi still wanted to buy a PS5. The reason she wanted it so much was mainly because she had recently watched a YouTube review, where someone said: the PS5 controller feels silky smooth, just like touching a beautiful girl's thighs.

The moment she saw that line, Kotomi realized—she had to buy a PS5! Even if only for the controller!

She definitely had the money. In fact, with her manuscript fee this month, if she wanted, she could buy ten PS5s—keep one to play, and display the other nine just to look at.

But Kotomi didn't want to buy one right after release. Right now the PS5 was still full price. What if she waited a while longer and the price dropped? Or Amazon had a discount campaign?

"What are you looking at? Can I see too?"

Standing beside her, Megumi noticed Kotomi had been staring at her phone and asked curiously. Even though she wanted to know, she didn't lean over directly. She felt that even though she was already Kotomi's girlfriend, she should still wait for Kotomi's permission before looking.

"Of course."

Kotomi nodded, letting Megumi lean closer.

"What's this?" Megumi glanced at the Amazon product page on Kotomi's phone and asked in confusion.

Megumi had never been very interested in games. She barely even played mobile games. After all, her phone only had 32GB of storage, so even if she wanted to, she couldn't download many.

Until she met Kotomi. Wanting to have common topics with her, she cleared out half her phone's storage just to download Azur Lane.

When she realized Kotomi often played PC and console games, she knew she couldn't play those herself since she only had a tablet and no consoles. But she had Google Chrome on her phone. Every time Kotomi mentioned a game, Megumi would jot down the name in her notes, then go home and look up playthroughs and commentary videos online.

For example, Kotomi often played the Dark Souls and Bloodborne series.

Megumi had never played them, but by watching walkthroughs she went through the entire series story, over and over again, even looking through artbooks and lore explanations, memorizing a large chunk of the game's setting.

This way, when Kotomi talked about those games, she could join in and chat with her. That way, she and Kotomi could share more common topics!

"PS5, a gaming console. If I buy it, I'm thinking of buying a TV with it too. But as you can see, the price is pretty steep." Kotomi shrugged with a smile.

Leaving aside the price, her main concern was that she wanted to buy both the console and the TV at once. But since there was already a TV at home, there wasn't really a need to buy another one yet. How was she going to convince her parents that she needed another TV?

That was also why Kotomi still hadn't bought the PS5.

She couldn't possibly bring it home and tell her parents: Mom, Dad, look! I bought a new router and got a raffle ticket with it. I tried my luck and won a brand-new TV! Huh? How much was the router? Only 1,000 yen!

Thinking of this, Kotomi let out an awkward laugh in her heart. After all, her PS4 had been bought for her by her dad, and both her parents enjoyed gaming too. There was no way they'd believe a PS5 came from a router raffle.

Sometimes when Kotomi was playing CS:GO, her mom would happen to come into her room. Standing by her side watching for a bit, she would smile and ask: "Wow, a Factory New AK-47 Fire Serpent? Press F to inspect it. Oh~ it even has a StatTrak counter. Switch to the knife—wow! A Factory New Karambit Lore! So, how much did you spend on this? Next round, let me see you snipe with an AWP."

"This game console and gaming TV really are expensive…"

Megumi Kato glanced at the price of the PS5 and the XR-75X90J gaming TV below it, then looked at Kotomi's eager expression. She began thinking about how much New Year's money she still had left.

It seemed she still had around 20,000 yen. Should she keep saving up? Maybe then she could buy this PS5 and gaming TV for Kotomi and give it to her as a birthday gift.

If Kotomi was happy, then no matter how much money she spent, it would all be worth it! Megumi thought.

The light turned green.

"The light's green, let's cross." Kotomi put away her phone, took Megumi Kato's hand, and said.

"Mm, okay." Megumi nodded, though in her heart she was already thinking about buying Kotomi that PS5 and TV.

Stepping into the Chiba Shopping Mall, the cold air from outside was instantly shut out.

"Where to first?" Kotomi asked. She wasn't very used to shopping, so she planned to follow Megumi's lead.

"Let's go to the 5th floor to look at clothes. Winter's almost here, I want to buy a down jacket first."

Taking the elevator to the 5th floor of the mall—

Before they even decided which store to visit, Kotomi spotted her target first. Not far away was a McDonald's, and she wanted to get some ice cream!

"Megumi!"

"Alright~ let's go get ice cream."

Megumi already knew Kotomi's habit of wanting ice cream as soon as they entered somewhere warm. Without hesitation, she took Kotomi's hand and walked with her to McDonald's to buy ice cream.

In fact, even if Kotomi hadn't said anything, the moment they stepped out of the elevator and she saw McDonald's, Megumi had already planned to bring Kotomi there for ice cream.

"There are quite a lot of people in line. Why don't you sit here and wait for me? I'll go line up. What flavor ice cream do you want?"

"Just a plain cone is fine."

When she reached the McDonald's dessert counter, Megumi Kato realized the line was unusually long. Thinking that Kotomi had already walked all the way from home to the mall, she probably wouldn't be in the mood to stand in line anymore, so she told Kotomi to sit on a nearby bench and wait for her.

While Megumi was lining up, Kotomi sat on the bench and looked toward the dessert counter. Her eyes were suddenly drawn to a poster outside.

McDonald's new dessert — Frozen Heart Croissant .

Originally, Kotomi only wanted a plain cone. She had never been very interested in McDonald's new dessert items. Just like how she only ate glazed or honey-flavored donuts, when it came to ice cream, she stuck to plain cones.

Until she saw the poster for the new Frozen Heart—soft bread paired with vanilla ice cream. Just imagining the taste in her mind was enough to make her drool.

Kotomi swallowed. She didn't want a cone anymore. She wanted the Frozen Heart. She hurriedly ran over to Megumi. Seeing her little penguin suddenly run toward her, Megumi thought Kotomi had gotten restless and wanted to be held. So the moment Kotomi reached her, Megumi wrapped her arms around her.

"Megumi, I don't want a cone anymore, I want that Frozen Heart." Kotomi tugged at Megumi's sleeve.

"Call me 'wife.'"

"Wife~"

Kotomi's sweet voice was irresistible. Megumi bent down and kissed her on the cheek, satisfied, then said:

"Got it, one Frozen Heart. I'll remember. Now go sit back down and wait for me. Didn't you say you were tired just now?"

"Mm!"

Kotomi nodded firmly. Before leaving, she even gave Megumi another quick kiss—so small she thought no one noticed.

But behind them, a few middle school girls in line had all seen it and showed expressions of thanks, I've been sweetened. One of them even looked at her own best friend differently on the spot.

"Hello, welcome to McDonald's Dessert Counter. What would you like to order?"

"One strawberry sundae and one Frozen Heart. By the way, the black syrup on the ice cream inside the Frozen Heart—is that blueberry sauce?"

The server turned to check. "On the Frozen Heart? Oh, no, that's chocolate syrup. Vanilla ice cream and soft bread with chocolate syrup tastes great together."

"Sorry, could you change it to strawberry or another fruit sauce? My girlfriend doesn't like chocolate."

"She doesn't like chocolate? Of course, no problem. How about strawberry syrup?"

"That works, thank you."

After preparing the Frozen Heart and strawberry sundae, the server handed them over to Megumi, only then realizing—wait, did this girl just say girlfriend?

Girlfriend?

G-Girlfriend?!

"Here, hold this."

Megumi handed the Frozen Heart to Kotomi. Since it was just wrapped in paper, with ice cream and syrup inside, it couldn't be put in a bag.

"Eh? Did you change the syrup on top?"

"Mm, it was chocolate originally. Since you don't like chocolate, I had them switch it to strawberry. Ta-da~ same syrup as my sundae." Megumi smiled as she showed her strawberry sundae.

The two sat together on the bench and finished their ice cream. Then Megumi asked, "Should we just eat lunch here at McDonald's?"

"I saw Burger King on the first floor earlier. I want a Whopper." Kotomi replied. If Burger King was an option, she would definitely choose that first.

On the 5th floor, Megumi found a down jacket that felt soft and comfortable just by touching it.

"This women's down jacket is a versatile khaki long coat. How about we each get one?" Megumi suggested.

Kotomi didn't really want to buy it. Mainly because she thought she already had enough down jackets at home. "I already have several down jackets. You should just buy yours."

Kotomi had never liked shopping, mainly because she disliked trying on clothes over and over again.

The salesgirl standing nearby, seeing that one of the two coats might go unsold, wasn't about to just let the deal slip away. She quickly urged:

"Miss, you can't put it that way. For us women, new clothes are like vitality. Even if you don't wear them often, just buying them brings happiness. A cold front is coming soon, and the whole Tokyo area and surrounding cities will drop in temperature. It'll be especially cold in the mornings and evenings. This long down jacket is perfect for winter—you'll understand once you wear it when it gets colder. It's super warm."

"Let's just buy two, one for each of us. We can wear them as matching couple outfits," Megumi Kato leaned in and whispered into Kotomi's ear.

As Megumi spoke, Kotomi was silently thinking: So the cold weather really is coming… Winter is almost here.

Tokyo winters were very cold, so indeed it was time to prepare warm clothes in advance.

The salesgirl took advantage of the fact that both Kotomi and Megumi were beautiful girls and showered them with endless flattery.

That was the skill of a salesperson—turning the ordinary into something extraordinary. And since Kotomi and Megumi were already beautiful, the compliments only felt more convincing.

The salesgirl kept praising them nonstop, thankful she had just drunk some water, otherwise her throat would have gone dry. She practically wanted to praise them straight into the heavens.

For Megumi, she had always been told she was pretty since childhood, so hearing compliments didn't faze her much.

Kotomi, on the other hand, whenever people praised her a few times, she could add ten more lines of self-admiration on her own.

Megumi wanted this long down jacket mostly because she wanted a matching couple outfit with Kotomi. Seeing Kotomi stay silent, she nudged her lightly: "Don't you think khaki looks nice? Let's buy two."

"Alright then." Kotomi reluctantly nodded. She didn't want to buy new clothes, but since Megumi wanted it, she would go along with her.

Besides, after hearing the salesgirl mention the coming cold front, Kotomi also felt it might not be a bad idea.

The salesgirl helped Megumi pick a size that fit, and Megumi took it to the fitting room. Kotomi, however, said: "I don't need to try it on. This size is the same as mine. Just bring me a brand new one from the stockroom."

The salesgirl kept on praising, her mouth running like it was rented and about to expire:

"Miss, I've been a sales assistant here for years, and you two are the most elegant I've ever seen—more beautiful than celebrities. Once you put on our down jackets, it'll be flawless, absolutely stunning."

Kotomi glanced at the rack, then lifted her hand slightly, as if signaling the salesgirl to stop. The salesgirl, good at reading the mood, shut her mouth immediately. Once it was quiet, Kotomi spoke again:

"Do you have this down jacket in other colors?"

"Of course we do."

"Then can you ship it? I mean, if I buy it here, but don't take it with me, instead leave an address, can you pack it and deliver it there? This jacket really does look nice. I want to buy another one for a friend."

Chapter 627: Age of Conquest? No, the Age of Empire!

"Reason."

"Eh?"

"Give me a reason to accept your surrender. Too straightforward a surrender makes it hard to believe. Surrendering for the sake of a single slave—no matter how I see it, the motive is suspicious."

"I don't want to see the words 'accepted surrender, prisoner rebelled' appear in my mission report."

If that really happened, who knows how Natasha Cioara would tease me. Just imagining it gave me a headache.

The incandescent blade of the Domain of Sanction rested against the slender, swan-like neck of the elven girl. Raiden Mei's wrist twisted ever so slightly.

Ssshhk—

The barely audible sound of sharp steel slicing skin rang out. On her fair neck, bright crimson blood with the smell of iron welled up. The stark contrast was shocking to the eye.

At that moment, from a corner of the ruins, a young girl's panicked cry rang out. "Fiel!"

Was that the human puppet she risked her life to protect?

Fine then…

The Queen of Thunder silently raised her left hand.

"If that's how it is, then let's confirm one more thing."

BZZZT!

A shrill, ear-splitting buzz erupted. Thunder crackled. Her idle left hand swung forth like a drawn blade—slash—!

The sudden gale tore through the ruins, shattering colossal boulders into powder. Rubble and even the flowerpots of the royal garden were uprooted and hurled into the air.

Crashhh—

Slowly lowering her hand in a knife-hand gesture, crimson thunder horns atop her head, the Queen of Thunder's pale violet eyes gazed coldly at the elf girl, now utterly stupefied.

"Chlammy!"

The blonde elf with long ears, seeing this, lost all composure.

Her eyes widened to the extreme, only to be swallowed an instant later by blinding arcs of thunder, so swift they surpassed sight itself. The explosive arcs shredded everything around her.

"AAAAHHHH you bastard—! You dare act as an Old Deus! I, Fiel Nilvalen, swear upon my life— even if I descend into hell itself, I will kill you!!"

All grace and dignity were gone from Fiel Nilvalen's face, replaced with gritted teeth and fury.

BZZZT—!

Her eyes snapped shut, then opened again—her pupils glowing violet. Bloodshot veins spread across her sclera. Her eyes, shaped like a cross formed by four diamonds, burned with hatred and venom.

In that instant, behind her, magical arrays appeared, hovering every few meters apart. Intricate runes glowed as torrents of magic siphoned from the Spirit Corridor made the air prickle with dread.

One, two, three… seven?! Eight?!!

If any elf from Elven Gard saw Fiel Nilvalen now, they would be dumbstruck.

Was this not the so-called failure?

A noble-born who could only reach the level of a 'Dual-Caster' with the help of amplifiers, expelled from the White Tower Academy, mocked as the "Shame of Nilvalen."

Yet what stood before them was no failure, but a genius beyond compare! A once-in-millennia prodigy!

Among elves, those who could maintain six spells simultaneously were already considered elite Sixfold Magisters. Sevenfold Magisters existed only among the ancient elders—the very foundation of Elven Gard.

And now, this girl was casting seven spells at once? And even an eighth circle was forming…?!

"Void Zero Protection, Pseudo-Heavenly Smite—!"

Fiel Nilvalen, who had always hidden her true power and played the fool, now pushed her limits under extreme rage, touching upon the legendary realm of the Eightfold Magisters.

When was the last time the Nilvalen family produced an Eightfold Magister?

According to records, it may have been as far back as six thousand years ago—during the Great War, before the Ten Covenants were established, when the head of the Nilvalen family was Think Nilvalen.

The spell Fiel Nilvalen had cast was none other than the degraded imitation of the Heavenly Smite—the same legendary attack that once destroyed the elven capital during the Great War.

Even Jibril, when wielding the true Heavenly Smite, had to expend massive power merely to resist part of its force.

In a sense, it was a blessing in disguise.

But to Fiel Nilvalen, all that remained was regret. She should never have agreed to Chlammy's request to come to Elkia!

If she could, she would rather remain only a mere Dual-Caster if it meant Chlammy could remain safe and sound.

"Seems you weren't lying."

Just as she was on the verge of exploding, Raiden Mei's detached voice drifted through the chaos:

"Won't you rein in your magic? I may survive… but that girl you care about so deeply may very well die under your attack…"

"What?!"

Thud!

A figure collapsed. As the smoke dispersed along with the thunder, a scorched ravine carved deep into the earth came into view.

At the end of that smoldering gash stood the black-haired girl, sitting limply on the ground, duck-sitting in shock.

On either side of her, less than a meter away, ran charred ravines splitting apart. It was obvious—Raiden Mei had deliberately avoided striking her, the slash was intimidation only.

Even so, the girl was utterly broken with fear.

Frozen, trembling, vacant-eyed, her mouth opened and closed. When awareness finally returned, Chlammy Zell's vision dimmed, her ears ringing with a sharp buzz. Her body felt as if it were scattering into dust.

In that instant when the lightning had struck so close, the searing sparks had already grazed her skin, numbing and tingling… She had thought she was already dead.

"Uhh… I'm sorry, Fiel… it's my fault… my selfishness has harmed you…"

"Chlammy!"

As though reclaiming something most precious, Fiel Nilvalen forcibly aborted her pseudo-Eightfold spell, coughing blood from the backlash, yet still rushing toward her without hesitation.

Yes, even with her back to Raiden Mei.

That much was enough for Raiden Mei to confirm it—this elf was telling the truth. She truly cherished and protected this human girl, despite her race's scorn that deemed humans as slaves and livestock.

"Don't cry, don't cry, Chlammy…"

Seeing the elf embrace the black-haired girl in her arms, soothing her with genuine human warmth, Raiden Mei's brow twitched.

Their bond might be deeper than she thought.

Not merely like close friends or sisters… more like mother and daughter.

Why did this feel so familiar?

Was this how she had once comforted Kiana after she failed an exam…?

"If my intelligence is correct, the elven nation, Elven Gard, is a slave state. Humans there are worth less than pigs or dogs."

No time was given for these two to share in their survival. Raiden Mei's tone was calm, task-focused, her grip steady on the Domain of Sanction.

"Well. Never mind. I'll give you a chance. According to your offer of surrender, I must bring you both to Elven Gard. If we delay, it may be too late."

"What do you mean?"

Like a mother hen shielding her chick, Fiel Nilvalen placed herself in front of the human girl, distrust written plain on her face.

The sight was laughable—an elf acting more like humanity's ally than a fellow elf.

"You think Elven Gard can remain uninvolved?" Raiden Mei retorted.

"You… Not just Elkia. You mean to completely overturn the Ten Covenants of the God of Games? To return to the Age of Conquest from six thousand years ago?"

"Age of Conquest? No… The world of Disboard will usher in an Age of Empire!"

Zzzzt—

With the Queen of Thunder's stride, the violet-red blade edge traced across the ruined ground, leaving a glowing scar of ominous light.

From the rift, countless motes of light rose, drifting like fireflies, gradually illuminating the royal capital shrouded beneath storm clouds.

Twisting, rolling, cold, shuddering…

In a daze, Fiel Nilvalen felt a burning sensation pricking her consciousness. The sight her eyes captured left her in utter disbelief.

"No way… that's… Elven Gard?"

Once a vast, jungle-like primeval forest, it now burned with rolling smoke and raging flames. Amid the sea of fire, the outlines of towering arboreal structures could still be seen, solemn and majestic, collapsing one after another with thunderous crashes.

BOOOOM!

Explosions roared endlessly, shaking the skies.

Within the burning elven capital, torrents of gunfire raged freely. Guided munitions streaked through the air in serpentine arcs. Energy weapons howled, bolters roared, bullets tore through everything like hail…

The earth quaked as though thousands of cavalry thundered across it. Giants clad in pale armor loomed skyward, blotting out the sun, their immense firepower raining down in an unending storm.

Every bombardment shook the ground, raising gales, shrouding the skies, sending mud, animals, trees, and stone soaring into the air before crashing back down. In the span of moments, thousands of homes were reduced to dust and ash.

Like a surging tide, the Luna Wolves poured forth—countless pale-armored giants scaling the citadel base of Elven Gard's capital, advancing into the brilliance of the elves' spells.

The banners of auxiliary and vassal armies snapped in the air, their war cries shaking the heavens, firestorms towering skyward, searing winds boiling earth and sea.

"As expected of the Astartes. Their efficiency is unmatched. The full-scale assault has already begun."

Raiden Mei withdrew her gaze, nodded, then took a deep breath. "Raven, enough games! Time for business!"

Staring blankly at the devastation wrought upon her homeland's capital by the towering, pale-armored warriors, Fiel whispered, "A new race of sentient beings, created by gods…?"

"…You could say that."

Raiden Mei did not deny it.

After all, were not the Astartes created by Selene herself?

"To think such a massive mobilization of forces went unnoticed by the High Council… Hah, a bunch of arrogant fools, lost in past glory."

As she soothed the human girl into slumber, the elf's inhuman eyes flickered strangely at the sight before her.

"Who said this was a massed invasion from outside? The infiltration units assigned to Elven Gard and Elkia were no different in scale."

At those words from the woman who seemed like a god, Fiel's pupils shrank sharply.

"As you guessed—it's spatial…"

The Herrscher of Thunder opened her eyes, hand closing around her blade's hilt. She twirled the weapon, Honkai energy coursing backward along the blade, flowing skyward in a seamless motion.

BZZZZZZZT—!

The sky itself shattered under the quaking of violet-crimson energy. Cracks spread across the heavens, extending down into the earth.

From the luminous scar she had traced, a vortex storm of interwoven violet and crimson flared, tearing apart the very fabric of reality.

"Infiltration operations were never just about assassinations, arrests, or intelligence gathering. More importantly—they were about establishing teleport beacons."

The next moment—thrum!

Waves of distortion rippled outward, a blurred silhouette emerging, countless figures gradually coming into focus.

Thud. Thud.

Footsteps like thunder grew clearer. Treads rumbled past. Power armor clanged. The golden double-headed aquila banner unfurled. The shadows of the Imperial Army, the Astartes, the Titans—solidified completely.

Fiel Nilvalen's heart trembled. Such a massive teleportation ritual—even the Flügel could never achieve this.

"What price must I pay?" she asked quietly.

"No rush."

As the Herrscher of Thunder, Raiden Mei could sense Selene, especially when Her Majesty chose not to conceal it.

"You guessed I was some so-called Old Deus? My answer is no. And now—the world shall welcome its eternal master. Behold… what true godly might is like, a dominion of dread."

Her words had barely fallen when—BOOOOM!

The skies of Disboard shattered. Across the world, the colossal chess-piece monuments cracked and toppled with thunderous crashes.

"AAAAHHHHHHH—!!"

A mournful wail resounded, transcending time and space, reaching every sentient being of Disboard—or more precisely, every one of the sixteen sentient races bound by the Ten Covenants.

Without warning, the elf girl felt searing agony coursing through her entire body, every nerve aflame. Each cell felt pierced by a thousand burning blades, her whole body consumed by torment.

"The Ten Covenants… have failed…"

She knew clearly what this meant.

And as the Covenants' restrictions dissolved entirely, from the darkness came a voice—a woman's, prouder than the Flügel, more immense than the Gigants, colder than the Old Deus themselves. It resounded in the minds of every sentient race.

"Weakling."

"Are you truly god?"

Chapter 557: Kawaii

She never expected that someone would be generous enough to casually distribute such important points to other group members, and judging by the looks of it, this wasn't the first time either.

Though she thought this way, her speed in grabbing the red packets wasn't slow at all. After all, she didn't know how many red packets there were, and if she missed her chance, she would regret it to death.

Fortunately, the final result did not disappoint her—she successfully grabbed a red packet.

However, when she saw the exact number displayed inside, the calm expression she had always maintained completely collapsed, and her delicate little mouth opened involuntarily.

[Ding, you have received 7,500,000 points.]

"Seven million five hundred thousand points?"

Looking at her current total, Natsuki Minamiya pinched her cheek in disbelief. The pain that followed told her that everything happening now was definitely not a dream.

But to further confirm the authenticity of these points, she immediately began using them to enhance her strength.

As the points were consumed, Natsuki Minamiya could clearly feel her power skyrocketing at an astonishing speed.

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): This red packet actually had so many points? I grabbed more than 4,000,000!]

[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 4): I also grabbed over 4,000,000 points, that's so much!]

[Echidna (Level 4, Stage 7): Not bad, not bad. Another 3,000,000 points in hand.]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Oh my, looks like your luck was pretty good. But mine wasn't bad either—I grabbed more than 5,700,000 points, hmhm~]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Looks like Chika-chan's luck has really improved. Not only did you get two invitation tickets in a row, but even the red packet amounts you've grabbed are increasing.]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Hehe, it's nothing. Proud.jpg]

[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Hmph, what's there to be so proud of? It's just a bit over 5,000,000 points. Look at mine.]

[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): 6,000,000 points.jpg]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): You're only a little higher than me.]

[Moeha Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 1): I also grabbed over 3,000,000! Thank you, Eriri-nee!]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): No need to thank me~]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Natsuki-chan, Frieren-chan, how much did you two get?]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): 7,500,000!]

[Frieren (Level 2, Stage 8): I grabbed 6,800,000.]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Not bad, not bad. With these points, your strength will quickly improve. Keep working hard.]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): Mm, thank you!]

[Frieren (Level 2, Stage 8): Thank you!]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Don't be so formal. Since you've joined our chat group, that makes you family. And there's no need for family to be so polite~]

Seeing Eriri's message, the four who had just joined the group felt moved.

Their sense of belonging to the chat group instantly deepened.

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Speaking of luck, we still have to look at the luckiest person in our group, Maple. How much did you grab?]

[Kaede Honjou (Level 7, Stage 2): I grabbed 10,000,000…]

[Risa Shiramine (Level 7, Stage 1): Oooh, as expected of Maple.]

[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 4): That's more than double mine!]

[Elaina (Level 7, Stage 2): Cursed luck of the lucky one!]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Huh? Everyone grabbed so much… Eriri, just how many points did you send out this time?]

Looking at the numbers everyone was reporting, Chika Fujiwara finally felt something was off.

If calculated by the amount sent out last time, with fifty-six members in the group (not counting Eriri), the average should have been around 1,800,000.

But now, everyone was getting 4,000,000–5,000,000, with even 7,000,000 and 10,000,000 appearing.

More outrageous still, Maple had actually grabbed 10,000,000 points. By this calculation, could it be that the others only got less than 1,000,000?

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Not too much, just about double what I sent last time.]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Twice the amount, meaning 200,000,000 points.]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): No wonder everyone grabbed so much.]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): Excuse me, does that mean points are easy to obtain?]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): I'd like to know too. According to the group introduction, 200,000,000 points is enough to raise someone above Level 6. That's terrifying.]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Of course it's not that easy to obtain. It's mainly because we have Eriri. Otherwise, we'd probably still be stuck around Level 2 or 3.]

[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): You're thinking too highly. Level 2 or 3? If not for Eriri, we might have all died during the very first Task.]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): That's right. The group being able to develop this far is all thanks to Eriri.]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Otherwise, when facing the villain chat group back then, we probably would have been wiped out.]

[Arche (Level 7, Stage 2): Exactly. If not for Eriri, I might still be living in fear of the Great Tomb.]

[Miko Yotsuya (Level 7, Stage 1): Mm, without Eriri, I'd probably still be living under the shadow of evil spirits.]

[Ais (Level 7, Stage 2): Me too.]

[Riviera (Level 7, Stage 1): If Ais hadn't joined the chat group, it wouldn't have been so easy to defeat the Black Dragon. It's all thanks to Eriri.]

[Tina (Level 7, Stage 2): Mmhm, Eriri-nee is the best! Thanks to her, Enju-chan and I can live carefree like this.]

[Mine (Level 7, Stage 2): Same for me. If not for Eriri-nee, I'd probably still be starving.]

[Shouko Nishimiya (Level 3, Stage 8): Eriri-nee healed my ears.]

[Kanae Kocho (Level 7, Stage 2): Ara, everyone's praising Eriri, so I'll add my voice too. Without her, we never could've defeated Muzan so easily. I might have died to Upper Moon Two, just like in the original timeline.]

[…]

[Kaguya Shinomiya (Level 7, Stage 2): That's right. Everything is thanks to Eriri-sama. Otherwise, I wouldn't even have joined the chat group!]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Eh? Kaguya-chan, wasn't I the one who invited you? I even spent 1,000,000 points!]

[Kaguya Shinomiya (Level 7, Stage 2): Without Eriri-sama, where would you have gotten 1,000,000 points?]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): …Fair point.]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Oh my, why is everyone suddenly getting so sentimental? You're making me embarrassed.]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): Seems like everyone really adores Miss Eriri.]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): I see.]

Reading through all the messages, a warm smile naturally appeared on Natsuki Minamiya's face.

The harmonious and affectionate atmosphere of the group made her genuinely grateful she had joined.

The same was true for the other three. Even Frieren, who wasn't very sensitive emotionally, was quietly moved.

It made her want to learn more about the group members, and to know more about Eriri, the one who brought them happiness.

For Darkness, who longed for friendship, the chat group was without doubt the most ideal place.

She eagerly looked forward to fully integrating into this group.

Of course, if there were also sadistic people here, that would be even better…

...

[Asuna Yuuki (Level 7, Stage 2): By the way, hasn't it been a long time since our group had a task?]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): That's because we're all so strong now. It's nearly impossible to encounter danger in our own worlds. And since crossing paths with transmigrators isn't easy either, naturally no group tasks have appeared.]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): What a pity. If only more advanced systems showed up, our point reserves would become even greater.]

[Kaguya Shinomiya (Level 7, Stage 2): Be satisfied. The points we have now are already enough to last us a very, very long time.]

[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): I'm so envious of you veterans. If not for this time when the newcomers joined and I managed to grab a few million points, I'd still be broke.]

[Echidna (Level 4, Stage 7): Indeed, a few million points isn't nearly enough to spend.]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): Do you all have that many points?]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): It's alright, just over 2 billion. Only enough to raise us a small stage. The further you go, the more points you need.]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): …]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): By the way, Natsuki-chan, have you become a teacher yet?]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): Not yet. I only just graduated from university not long ago.]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Ohhh, no wonder when we call you Natsuki-chan, you never say 'don't call a teacher with -chan'.]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): Even if I'm not a teacher, I still hope you won't call me Natsuki-chan.]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): But "Natsuki-chan" sounds so cute, doesn't it? The little Natsuki-chan is adorable too.]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): …]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): Even if you say that, I don't feel happy at all!]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Looks like Natsuki-chan has deep feelings about her figure. She even changes her body to look like an adult in her dreams.]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): What's wrong with that? At my age, keeping this childlike figure looks completely inappropriate!]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): What's inappropriate about it? Just look at how many loli figures we have in the group.]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): [Arifureta photos] ×5 [Milim photos] ×5 [Shinobu photos] ×5 [Jibril photos] ×5 [Tatsumaki photos] ×5]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): See? Each of them is older than you, and yet they're all very cute!]

[Tatsumaki (Level 7, Stage 1): …I also care about my figure, alright!]

[Jibril (Level 7, Stage 2): Whatever form Master desires, I will become. Everything of mine belongs to Master!!!]

[Kiss-shot (Level 7, Stage 2): Kakaka, I don't care either. As long as Eriri likes it, that's enough.]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Well, I feel about the same.]

[Milim (Level 7, Stage 2): Wahahaha! It's just a figure, what's there to care about!]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): See? None of them care, so Natsuki-chan, you don't need to worry about your body shape either.]

[Tatsumaki (Level 7, Stage 1): ???]

[Tatsumaki (Level 7, Stage 1): Eriri, are you ignoring what I just said?]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Come now, don't be upset. Besides, I didn't even mention you. Go check the chat history if you don't believe me. See if your photos are in there.]

When sending this message, Eriri directly asked Little Skirt to delete the five photos of Tatsumaki she had just sent.

So when Tatsumaki and the other members went to check, naturally they didn't see any photos of her. Of course, they didn't think they had been mistaken either.

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Eriri: As long as I delete quickly enough, it means I never sent them!]

[Adele (Level 7, Stage 1): Little Skirt: That's right, it was all me!]

[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): 6]

[Tatsumaki (Level 7, Stage 1): Eriri, you're cheating! Angry.jpg]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): How am I cheating? Just tell me—did you see the photos or not?]

[Tatsumaki (Level 7, Stage 1): …]

Reading Eriri's shameless reply, Tatsumaki was so furious she didn't know how to vent.

Yet she couldn't bring herself to get angry at Eriri. Nor did she dare.

So, she could only sulk quietly in silence.

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): So, Natsuki-chan, you must be confident. Being small is also very cute!]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): And Frieren-chan too~]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): …]

[Frieren (Level 2, Stage 8): …]

Natsuki Minamiya suddenly felt an urge to quit the group.

Of course, it was only a thought. She wouldn't actually leave over such a trivial matter.

As for Frieren, she didn't feel much—only that she seemed to have been slightly offended.

Chapter 312: A Shipgirl Like You Needs IV Therapy

OOOOH—

Outside Earth's orbit, aboard the Eternal Snowfall, the wide command bridge erupted in cheers.

A planet-class starship—its sheer size was astonishing.

Even if several naval bases, three world shipgirls, and all the Spirits, Heroic Spirits, and research lolis were brought here, the place would still feel spacious.

The living area was equivalent to a large city.

Banquet halls, residential zones, even hot springs and a cinema—everything was fully equipped.

The Eternal Snowfall itself was a mobile combat platform. Its internal design concept had already far surpassed the category of a mere starship.

With the help of the holographic dome device, even while inside the ship, one could look up and see the starry sky above.

It never gave the sense of being confined in a room or cabin.

"Ahem, this time the temporal distortion ratio is 120 times. I hope you all enjoy your time on the Eternal Snowfall."

Setsuna cleared his throat.

"Yay!"

The little shipgirls below erupted into cheers.

With a 120x temporal distortion, one night of eight hours equated to 40 days in the outside world.

After merging with the Allspark, Setsuna had grown increasingly proficient at manipulating his own temporal distortion.

Combined with the wondrous state of man-ship unison, sooner or later he would be able to make a single night last one or two years.

This had also become a standing project after every expedition.

In the past, only the harem group members were invited. After the Eternal Snowfall became a Juggernaut, it turned into a grand celebration for all.

The planet-class starship was vast enough to meet nearly every entertainment need.

Destroyer shipgirls eagerly rushed toward the cinema and hot springs.

The research lolis, too, finally had a rare chance for vacation.

Kayo Senju originally thought of using the temporal distortion time to study more of the Three-Body world's gains, such as pondering over mathematical laws.

But the other research lolis looked at her with puppy eyes:

"Chief, Commander said we're on holiday. Let's rest a few days."

"…"

The blonde loli sighed and thought for a moment.

Spending more than a month here only amounted to a single night outside. It wouldn't delay research.

"Alright then, everyone, free activity."

"We'll work again after returning to the starbase."

"Yay!!!"

In an instant, the little lolis and little shipgirls mingled together, the residential areas full of darting cuties.

Meanwhile, above the command bridge was the adults' domain.

Beyond a long corridor lay the vast captain's residence.

Modeled after Earth's villas, it sprawled over ten thousand square meters.

Shipgirls, dragon girls, Spirits and more gathered there to enjoy long-awaited private time with their Commander.

Indomitable was dumbfounded as she was brought before Setsuna by Formidable, Illustrious, and Victorious.

"Commander, this is our lazy little sister~."

"Tsk, she's always sleeping in the port. This time she actually volunteered to come—"

Formidable patted Indomitable's back, emphasizing the word "volunteered."

Then she promptly sat herself down in Setsuna's lap.

"Oh?"

Setsuna looked with mild surprise at the voluptuous, beautiful shipgirl.

She had long black hair, and her brown-green eyes carried a trace of laziness.

Indomitable, the fourth Illustrious-class carrier—sister to Illustrious, Victorious, and Formidable. A practitioner of minimalism, she usually lazed about idly in the port.

Unless her name was called on an expedition, she could hole up indoors indefinitely.

Her figure inherited the Illustrious-class armored carriers' trademark proportions—astonishingly large.

Of course, what drew the most attention was her peculiar maid outfit.

Her upper half could hardly be called "clothing," more like Sirius's skimpy ready-to-drink attire, covering only a few critical spots with scraps of fabric.

Her lower half was clad in a black maid skirt and white pantyhose—a common style among Royal maids.

Yet no matter how Setsuna looked, it always seemed like key areas were missing some fabric.

Such was the usual Azur Lane fashion, indeed.

"Don't you think your maid outfit is a bit improper?"

Chen Hai blinked, glancing toward Belfast.

At most, Royal maids wore low-cut outfits. The bolder ones might open a few windows here or there.

Indomitable seemed to be heading in a strange direction.

"Mm, ah, Formidable said Commander really likes Royal Maids, so I tried out this maid outfit out of curiosity…"

"But, it seems like the size is a bit off…"

Indomitable looked rather puzzled.

"It's fine, it looks good."

Setsuna gestured for her to sit beside him.

Sister ships should sit neatly together—the four Illustrious-class sisters, not a single one missing.

"Ah…"

As she felt Setsuna's arm wrap around her waist, Indomitable's cheeks flushed.

"Commander, ah…"

"Indomitable, you can't be so shy~"

Formidable scolded her lazy sister in the tone of an elder.

"If you don't take some initiative, the Commander will be snatched away."

"Do you know how many of our sisters are waiting for this chance?"

In the port now, it wasn't the Commander pursuing shipgirls—it was the shipgirls pursuing the Commander.

"Eh…"

Indomitable drew out her voice, as if to show she understood, but also as though it was a bother.

She glanced at the Royal Maid team.

"Commander, having so many maids to serve you, you must be living so comfortably… I'm so envious…"

"Then why not join them? Let Belfast train you?"

Setsuna smiled as he asked.

"No, maid work is too troublesome… I can't do anything."

"Then how about a tour of the Eternal Snowfall?"

Setsuna asked.

"You haven't really been aboard much, have you?"

"Mmm…"

Indomitable dragged out her voice again.

"Better not. Just changing into this outfit and walking in front of the Commander already used up all my energy."

"Ahh, just thinking about walking all the way here from the Akame ga Kill world today already makes me feel exhausted… yawn…"

As she spoke, she even yawned.

"???"

Setsuna was stunned. His understanding of this lazy Illustrious-class sister deepened.

"Commander, massage me, my arms are so sore."

"Mm, if I could just nap here, it'd be even better."

Indomitable simply flopped onto the sofa, an expression that said: I'm lying down, Commander, do as you like.

"Hey?"

"That's going too far?!"

Formidable was half angry, half amused.

She had worked hard to drag Indomitable here so she could deepen her relationship with the Commander, yet her initiative was practically zero.

"Forget it, I'll do it."

Setsuna chuckled and signaled the Illustrious sisters to step outside, leaving him alone with Indomitable.

"A massage, huh…"

"Belfast and Sirius massaged me before. I barely learned a thing or two, not very skilled, so don't mind it."

Setsuna sat on Indomitable's legs, brushed her waterfall-like black hair to one side, and began massaging her shoulders in the maid captain's style.

Carrier shipgirls had excellent figures, with just the right amount of softness. Her fair, delicate skin was pleasing to the eye.

"Mm…"

"Commander, you're actually pretty good at this."

Indomitable was surprised, but didn't resist.

Soon, her eyes narrowed in comfort.

Zzz…

Zzz… Zzz…

As he massaged, Indomitable drowsily opened her eyes.

"Um, Commander, isn't your massage range a little too big?"

"Mm… if you don't want it, I'll stop."

Setsuna thought to himself that indeed, among the Illustrious-class armored carriers, she was the largest, and the feel was quite good.

"You're bad…"

Indomitable pouted, then turned her head away.

Burying her face in the pillow, she muttered softly:

"Commander, you can do whatever you want…"

"Mm, I'm not as gentle as Illustrious, nor as lively as Formidable, so I'm probably not very likable. So, if you want to take advantage of me, just go ahead… mm…"

"Just don't disturb my sleep, and don't go too far…"

"?"

"As expected of you."

Setsuna was amused by her utterly lazy honesty.

But since the shipgirl herself had said so, there was no reason to hold back.

"Indomitable, you know, laziness is an illness—it needs treatment."

He continued massaging her shoulders as he spoke.

"Oh~"

Indomitable drowsily responded.

"Commander, what do you think should be done? Actually, just letting me sleep would be enough… Zzz…"

"No, your condition is rather severe. You need an IV."

"Eh?"

...

The Eternal Snowfall quietly hovered outside Earth's orbit.

From Constantinople's perspective, only a dozen minutes had passed since the shipgirls boarded the Eternal Snowfall.

But aboard the starship, a full day had already gone by.

"Commander, today it's our turn to be with you~"

"Yesterday we let Indomitable have you, don't you forget about us~"

Formidable pushed open the bedroom door at the top of the command bridge.

In the dimly lit room, two figures lay sleeping in each other's arms.

Indomitable's long black hair was spread messily across the bed as she slept soundly.

"Oh?"

Formidable revealed an as expected expression.

She chuckled softly, drew open the curtains, and activated the holographic dome.

The dazzling starlight outside projected into the room.

"Wake up!!!"

"Mmm…"

Indomitable drowsily opened her eyes and sat up.

She shook her head and gathered up her waterfall-like hair.

Looking down at the half-fallen white stockings clinging to her legs, she paused, then gently pulled them back up with her fair fingers.

After slipping back into her barely-there maid outfit, she let out a long sigh.

The moment she got out of bed, her legs gave way, nearly stumbling into Formidable's arms.

"Hey? Are you alright?!"

Formidable was startled and helped her onto the nearby sofa.

"So tired… so exhausted…"

Indomitable's face was one of utter despair.

"Commander is a liar."

"?"

Formidable tilted her head. It was her first time seeing a shipgirl complain about Setsuna like this.

"Commander said I was too lazy, that I needed IV treatment, and even oral meds…"

"Liar. After the treatment I just felt even more tired. He even said I needed several courses…"

"???"

Formidable yanked the amused Setsuna off the bed and jabbed an elbow into him.

"Really? You bully my sister like this?"

"?"

"Didn't you also learn quickly without being taught? What's the problem?"

Setsuna asked curiously.

"I-I-I… I was just afraid of embarrassing myself, so I asked Taihou for tips in advance!"

Formidable's face flushed red as she tried to explain.

Then suddenly realizing what she said, she pinched Setsuna hard.

"Why did I tell you that ahhhh—!!!"

"…"

"Then go back and rest."

Setsuna looked at Indomitable.

"If you don't want to, in the future I can just find Illustrious, Victorious, or Formidable. I won't disturb your lazing around."

"…"

Indomitable thought for a few seconds, visibly conflicted.

"No, I want to."

"But having to come to you every time is troublesome. Could you come to my dorm instead?"

She seriously proposed to Setsuna:

"Mm… I'm home most of the time. If you have free time, come find me for a date. But please don't ask me out somewhere, let's just date at home, okay?"

"As compensation, hmm… I'll give myself to you…"

"?"

Setsuna confirmed it—Indomitable was indeed the most unusual of the Illustrious-class sisters.

She preferred being passive.

...

The happy party time passed quickly.

One morning—

When Setsuna opened the curtains and saw the sunlight shining over the capital city below, he realized the temporal distortion effect had ended.

Stretching lazily, he still felt a little unsatisfied, though his body told him it was enough.

"Commander, this past month on the Eternal Snowfall was great, wasn't it?"

Taihou leaned against him from behind and asked.

"Mhm."

There were so many set meals to choose from aboard the Eternal Snowfall.

Spirit family bowls, black-and-white combo rice, and the Illustrious-class sisters' combo meal.

It was dazzling to behold.

And when tired, he could enjoy Madam Shoukaku's care.

Of course, usually that only made him more tired.

Even the three-core system of Allspark plus double Wisdom Cubes had its limits.

"Left arm hugging a big sister, right arm holding a loli—only in the quiet of night do you realize life isn't easy, tsk tsk."

Meanwhile, in the living room, Gudako suddenly let out a sigh.

"Tch, loser."

"Even when the Commander throws a party, you're not invited."

Taihou and Jeanne Alter shot her a glance, while some shipgirls deliberately shouted:

"Ritsuka, you're definitely plotting another night raid on the Commander!"

Gudako widened her eyes: "How could you slander me out of nowhere…"

"Slander? That day I saw the Commander bathing with Mio, and you used transformation magic to turn into Tohru, trying to sneak in."

"But then the dragon girl caught you and chased you across the bridge."

Essex clicked her tongue.

"!!!"

"I didn't!"

Gudako's face turned red.

"How can something between Master and Commander be called a night raid?!"

Then came a string of incomprehensible talk—things like "saving humanity," "waiting for the right chance," "Heroic Spirits sneaking out," and "once I become Grand, I'll make Commander marry into my family."

The Eternal Snowfall was filled with cheerful air.

...

A few days later—

Setsuna's life returned to routine affairs.

During the two months of the Three-Body world expedition, he had entrusted the base's work to the shipgirls and Angeloids.

They seemed to have managed everything neatly, and the development of outer star systems was proceeding in good order.

He casually pulled up the star map to check the status.

[Civilization Overview]

[Civilization Type: Technological Civilization]

[Technological Level: Space Age (FTL)]

[Territory: 36 Star Systems]

[Population: 85.332 million]

[Species: Humans, Shipgirls, Sirens, Dragons, Catgirls…]

"Wait a second?"

Leaving aside the increase in star systems, the star map showed that the Starsea Empire had already occupied the Solar System and dozens of surrounding star systems.

Across the major planets of the Solar System were traces of Bulins and Angeloids.

They were steadily building footholds and colonies on each planet, developing resources there.

The Empire's borders stretched nearly a hundred light-years. Not much for an interstellar civilization, but considering that only a few short years had passed since they first ascended to the skies and mastered FTL—it was an impressive achievement.

What shocked Setsuna most was the population count. Compared to the last time he checked, it had more than doubled, rushing toward the hundreds of millions.

"This is the result of implementing Commander's controllable Bulin-fusion concept."

Yat Sen explained.

"Previously, upgrading the Juggernaut consumed enormous resources of the Starsea Empire. To supply the raw materials, over a dozen vassal worlds began developing the Solar System."

"Now that the major fleets have finished refits, resource consumption isn't as heavy. All surplus materials are being used to create Bulins and Angeloids."

"Bulins and Angeloids take starships to develop other star systems, and then use the resources they acquire to create more Bulins and Angeloids."

"No wonder."

Setsuna understood.

For a civilization controlling dozens of vassal worlds, development didn't follow a straight, gradual line.

Once a certain threshold was crossed, growth became explosive.

—That threshold was FTL.

Having FTL technology meant quickly developing not only their own system but the surrounding ones.

Hundreds or even thousands of light-years could be traversed instantly. By removing long transit times, expansion speed multiplied.

Before, the main world's resources depended on the production of a dozen Earths from vassal universes.

Now, by developing those universes, they could pool resources from multiple solar systems, entire galaxies, even entire universes.

With such abundant rear production zones, the Starsea Empire would hardly ever face resource shortages while expanding.

Bulins producing Bulins, Angeloids producing Angeloids.

More Bulins meant developing more planets, producing even more Bulins and Angeloids.

With infinite resources, the two had entered an endless recursion, stepping on their own feet to climb into the sky.

"At the current rate of development, our total population is projected to surpass 100 million in two months, reach 1 billion in two years—"

"And within five years, exceed 10 billion."

Sophon gave Setsuna a precise projection, then added:

"This is a conservative estimate under the assumption Commander doesn't acquire additional technologies from other worlds. In reality, it may happen even faster."

"…"

Yat Sen, Richelieu, and Belfast looked at each other.

"Does anyone remember, when we first arrived in Constantinople, we only had 30 shipgirls and 300 Bulins?…"

"Our world was called Azur Lane, wasn't it? Why does it feel like the Commander is playing Bulin Lane instead?…"

"We're a machine empire, aren't we?! We must be, right?!"

"Good thing."

Setsuna nodded.

"These are all high-quality populations. The more, the better."

"We'll fill every solar system, galaxy, and universe with Bulins and Angeloids!"

Chapter 311: Descent of the Law, Firefly Ascends as Aeon of Destruction

"A new Aeon of Trailblaze! Me?"

Himeko knew the gift of Trailblaze she had received was very unusual. She herself was her own Emanator, and she could even define her own Trailblaze.

But she had never imagined she could become something as great as an Aeon.

Now, the information within her mind told her that as long as she walked her own path of Trailblaze, blazed forward, and defined Trailblaze, then she could inherit the divine seat of Akivili, ascending instantly.

"So that's how it is… this isn't the power of an Emanator left behind by Akivili, but rather the power granted to a successor."

The pure white light of Trailblaze, after shining brightly for a fleeting instant, slowly faded away.

"Eh, Himeko, you were glowing just now!" March 7th exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh, I worried you. I'm fine." Himeko shook her head with a smile.

Pam toddled over, swaying with the conductor's hat on its head, and spoke sternly.

"There's bad news. The Express detected that all Silver Tracks have been destroyed. The train has lost its defined route. Right now, it's like a headless fly, without a clear destination."

"But fortunately, the Express has backup star charts. We can re-lay Silver Tracks and resume exploration."

"Of course, there's also good news."

"This calamity, which spread across the whole universe, has erased all traces of the old Trailblaze."

"The Astral Express has judged that all journeys from now on will be completely new Trailblaze. Which means—the Express will never again face an energy shortage."

The Astral Express's power to lay Silver Tracks and blaze trails across the universe came from Trailblaze itself. Only by pioneering new worlds could the train gain the momentum to move forward.

Originally, the Express had barely enough energy to travel across two galaxies at most, which had worried Pam greatly. But now, its freedom of motion had been secured.

March 7th asked curiously, "Energy shortage? The train can even run out of energy?"

Pam turned to March 7th, then glared fiercely at Stelle, several anger symbols bursting out on its forehead.

"The matter of energy aside, I must now severely criticize passenger Stelle!"

"The train forbids bringing pets aboard! Right now, immediately, at once—send that pet off the train!"

In an instant, the atmosphere inside the Express turned lively as Stelle and Pam began a battle of wits and antics.

Not far from the Astral Express, a small interstellar ship passed by.

"Well, this turned out rather anticlimactic. After all the preparations for a cosmic catastrophe, who would've thought it would end like this. Don't you think so, Firefly?"

Silver Wolf lounged idly, her gaze shifting toward Firefly, who was staring intently at the distant Astral Express through the ship's viewport.

Firefly nodded. "Mm, a bit anticlimactic. I thought the black beast tide would be like a universal locust plague, but it turned out very different."

"The destructive power of the black beast tide is secondary. Its true terror lies in its ability to dissolve from within. And even amidst despair, there remains a visible hope."

At the helm, Blade let out a cold laugh. "That's not the terrifying part."

"It's the invasion and testing of hearts. Any being capable of thought—whether organic or machine—cannot resist it."

"No civilization can withstand this kind of survival selection. Resistance is impossible. To force it is like an insect blocking a carriage."

Silver Wolf tilted her head. "By that logic, we're not exactly the benevolent kind either. Why is it that we, the infamous Stellaron Hunters feared across the cosmos, weren't attacked?"

Kafka smiled as always, her tongue lightly tracing her lips as though savoring a trace of honey.

"Perhaps we only understand part of civilization's selection mechanism. Maybe, by its standards, we don't count as villains?"

"After all, the ultimate goal of us Stellaron Hunters is to prevent the end of the universe."

Firefly pondered for a moment, then spoke softly. "I don't know why… but a phrase suddenly came to mind. Maybe it fits the mechanism of the black beast tide."

Blade asked in a low voice, "Oh? What phrase?"

Both Silver Wolf and Kafka turned to look at her.

Firefly said uncertainly, "Maybe… it's… to fight for all that is beautiful?"

At this point, Firefly quickly shook her head, her cheeks flushed red. "I-I just suddenly thought of that phrase."

"After all, if we must give everything a final purpose, then doesn't the ultimate goal of the black beast tide seem to be making the universe more beautiful?"

"Just like the resonance of the Path of Destruction granted to me by that Lord."

"Destruction is for the sake of a more beautiful rebirth."

She truly believed this, and she was indeed practicing the principle that destruction exists for the sake of rebirth.

In her eyes, the black beast tide was clearly a great blessing for the universe and for civilization.

It erased in one sweep all cruelty, coldness, darkness, and disharmony from the universe, allowing civilization to return to its most beautiful state.

It was like breaking a crooked tree, so that its branches might grow again correctly.

At this moment, Firefly's body began to radiate a fiery red light of Destruction.

The resonance of the Path of Destruction responded to both the current state of the universe and the philosophical ideal Firefly practiced.

The remnants of Nanook's philosophy, left within the resonance of Destruction, were shattered by Firefly's own ideals.

The state of the universe itself now proved that Firefly's philosophy was more correct than Nanook's.

In a universe, under the same Law, whoever's philosophy aligned more closely with reality—the scales of Law would tilt toward them.

This was like a balance: whoever was right, the balance tilted in their favor.

The Principle of Destruction descended, connecting with Firefly's newly forged Path of Destruction.

Bzzzzzz—

Firefly was stunned, but the information brought by the Principle of Destruction instantly calmed her.

She had unexpectedly met the conditions to become an Aeon.

But she hadn't done anything to shake the entire universe yet.

In truth, she didn't need to. That was simply the unreasonable nature of Law.

Neither Nanook, Lan, Fuli, nor Yaoshi had accomplished any universe-shaking deeds before.

The path they walked and the philosophies they embodied aligned with the standard of Law's descent. Naturally, their path and philosophy fused to become a new Path.

And since Firefly had already possessed an incomplete Path, becoming an Aeon was even simpler for her.

"Ah! What's happening? Firefly!"

"What is this? Such powerful pressure!"

"Why did such Emanator-like power suddenly erupt from you, Firefly?"

Boom—

A crimson light of Destruction erupted, shining like the morning star of the universe, visible to every galaxy in existence.

This light pierced through causality in the most unreasonable way.

The speed of light would take hundreds of billions of years to cross the universe, yet the radiance of an Aeon's birth spread across the cosmos in an instant.

Time, space, universal laws—all were meaningless before an Aeon.

"Ahhhh! Firefly! You—!"

As Silver Wolf screamed, Firefly shone brilliantly, as though becoming the incarnation of light itself. Her radiance pierced through the ship's hull as she stepped into the vastness of space.

"Everyone… don't worry. I can't explain everything right now. I can only say this—I am about to become an Aeon. The Aeon of Destruction."

Firefly's voice was warm as she looked at her worried, astonished companions.

At this moment, she felt her being rising toward an unfathomable height. Her consciousness and perception were continuously evolving within an indescribable, ineffable force.

As her cognition rose, the dimensions of the universe unfolded before her eyes.

Three-dimensional… four-dimensional… five-dimensional… six-dimensional…

It was as if she had broken free from a painting. The sensation was nothing short of miraculous.

Her body too transformed under this wondrous power into a higher-dimensional state. The laws of the universe, its operation, its structure—everything revealed itself before her.

Firefly's words left Silver Wolf, Blade, and Kafka utterly shaken.

"Hiss… she's becoming an Aeon! The Aeon of Destruction? That's impossible… Ah! It's that thing! The thing that made Firefly an Emanator of Destruction."

As the universe's greatest hacker, Silver Wolf's sharp mind instantly pieced together the cause and effect.

"That gift—the one given to Firefly by that great Aeon!"

Blade's eyes widened, staring at the dazzling Firefly like she was a supernova. "Becoming an Aeon…"

Kafka's face also showed astonishment. "An Aeon… the Aeon of Destruction?"

"I remember now," Kafka continued. "Elios once said that the newly born Aeon of Hope fought Nanook and won."

"Could it be… that this power was torn directly from Nanook?"

Back then, when the Aeon of Hope granted Firefly her power, they had all been present. Yet none of them had asked what exactly it was—only how strong she had become.

"An Aeon…"

Silver Wolf suddenly grew excited. "Wait, if Firefly becomes an Aeon, then we'll be friends of an Aeon! If an Aeon is my friend, who in the entire universe would dare mess with us again?"

Blade muttered in a low voice, "Shouldn't the first concern be what happens when two Aeons of Destruction exist at the same time?"

Two Aeons of Destruction—such a thing had never been heard of.

When two Aeons shared overlapping Paths, they were destined to be enemies. The broader Path would consume the narrower one.

Just like Order and Harmony.

...

From possessing merely galaxy level Emanator strength, Firefly's power skyrocketed under the force of Law to the level of a single-universe being. Her once-ordinary body was steadily transformed into a Holy Body.

A Holy Body was a cosmic vessel, carrying the essence of the universe itself. To possess such essence meant to qualify as one of the universe's cornerstones, capable of bearing the weight of an entire cosmos.

Within the context of the Teyvat Universe, this Holy Body was equivalent to the Almighty God's divine body.

In other words, ordinary single-universe beings could not affect her at all.

The power granted by Law to a Holy Body was too overwhelming. Once one became an Aeon, their size and form inevitably aligned with the Path they embodied.

In other words, most Aeons were grotesque in form. Even those who retained humanoid appearances bore indescribable traits.

For example, the Aeon of Abundance, Yaoshi, became androgynous, with six arms and eyes embedded in every limb.

The Aeon of Harmony, Xipe, manifested as a tri-faced head, with a body of interstellar clouds and fragments of philosophy woven together.

The lower body of Lan, the Aeon of the Hunt, had become a war chariot, while its face had turned into a cross-shaped star.

But the Path of Destruction within Firefly had long since been assimilated into Teyvat by Noah, eliminating such defects entirely.

A Holy Body would naturally exist, but she could still switch back into her human form.

And this Holy Body was not grotesque or distorted, but rather a magnified, divine form.

Under the power of the Principle of Destruction, Firefly's philosophical ideals fully merged with her once-incomplete Path. Within the Principle of Destruction, that Path was completed, then expanded without limit.

The new Path of Destruction radiated outward into the cosmos as Firefly's Holy Body took shape.

As the Holy Body swelled larger and larger, the new Path of Destruction rapidly spread to cover the entire universe.

Firefly's Holy Body expanded to the size of a star. She retained her original appearance, yet her arms were veined with cracks like molten magma. Her body was wrapped in a dress woven of crimson light.

Her eyes turned scarlet, like two burning stars, while a halo of magma formed behind her head.

In tone and aura, she bore great resemblance to Nanook—but with an even greater divine quality.

Bzzz—

The radiance of Firefly's Holy Body instantly evaporated the black beast tide clouds that lay within its glow.

In a single moment, hundreds of thousands of galaxies were freed from the abyssal power's black-red shroud.

The Astral Express and the Xianzhou Alliance, located within the same galaxy where Firefly had ascended, stood as though directly before her—almost within arm's reach.

All who survived in the Xianzhou Alliance gazed in shock at the massive, clearly visible form of the Aeon.

The Xianzhou's high-ranking officials had once looked upon Lan, the Aeon of the Hunt, and witnessed its sacred form. They immediately recognized the presence before them as an Aeon's true body.

Even those who had never seen one knew instinctively, upon beholding it, that this was an Aeon.

For the upper ranks of the Xianzhou, who had spoken directly with Firefly many times before, the shock was indescribable.

General Jing Yuan, exhausted to the point his limbs were weak and barely able to support himself on his blade as he knelt half-collapsed, stared in disbelief.

"An Aeon… the Aeon of Destruction? How is this possible? That Emanator of Destruction… has become the Aeon of Destruction itself?"

"What has happened to the universe? Or is it that my Mara is flaring again, and my very cognition has begun to collapse?"

Chapter 17: What Is This Vessel's Wish?

Before the war officially began, the Masters and Servants spent their very short moments of free time in the Fortress of Millennia according to their own thoughts.

Although last night's midnight battle between the Shogun and Karna had been fierce enough, it still could not be considered the true beginning of combat between the Black and Red Factions. It was merely an unexpected incident over the contest for Ruler.

Since most of the Holy Grail War would take place at night, Fiore would occasionally take short naps during the day to relieve her fatigue.

At this moment, in Fiore's room, the Shogun stood gazing out the window. Upon hearing a faint sound beside her, she turned her head. Under her gaze, Fiore sat by the table, taking a small pill bottle from her pocket. She poured two pills into her palm and placed them on a napkin atop the table.

Because her glass of water was placed on the opposite side, Fiore tried to reach for it but failed. Left with no choice, she attempted to wheel herself over to fetch it.

"…"

Seeing her action, the Shogun moved first. She walked to the other side of the table, poured warm water into the cup, then came to Fiore's side and handed it to her.

"Ah… thank you, Shogun."

Fiore froze for a moment, then accepted the cup with both hands, smiling a little shyly. In the process, her fingers brushed lightly against the Shogun's.

"It is nothing."

The Shogun answered simply, then watched the girl's movements.

"Is your daily life always this inconvenient?"

She recalled the details from just now and asked.

"Mm? Ah… no, not really… normally there are servants with me, hehe… If it were only me, then indeed, everything would be inconvenient."

Fiore gave a bitter smile…

"But I never thought… the Shogun would voluntarily take care of me. You are so gentle, Shogun~"

Fiore lifted her azure eyes, gazing at her softly.

"What words are these? Since you suffer from illness, lending aid is only natural. Moreover, you are the one who summoned me here… to be responsible for you is what I should do."

The Shogun let out a faint breath, her cold, elegant voice answering the girl.

"…It seems summoning you was truly the right choice."

Fiore murmured in gratitude… she was indeed fortunate.

Taking the two pills from the napkin, she placed them into her mouth at once, then drank several sips of warm water. Leaning back in her wheelchair, she rubbed her legs gently, waiting for the pain to subside.

"What medicine is this?"

The Shogun, watching her actions, asked curiously.

"It is… a painkiller. It eases the pain in my legs. The side effect is an irresistible drowsiness, but it's not a big problem."

While waiting for relief, Fiore wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. Her voice and tone were weak as she answered the Shogun.

"Is it painful now?"

"Yes… very painful… but I've grown used to it. It doesn't hurt every day."

Fiore smiled faintly at her.

The Shogun narrowed her eyes slightly at the sight of her frailty… then pulled a chair to sit in front of her. Placing her fair hand lightly upon Fiore's thigh through the black trousers, her eyes glowed faintly with violet light.

"Mm… Shogun?"

Fiore looked at her action with some confusion.

"Do not fear, I will do nothing untoward."

Reassuring her in a low voice, the next moment, a faint violet radiance spread from the contact point. The Shogun closed her eyes slightly, then reopened them as her elemental power flowed into Fiore's legs.

"Mmhh~"

Fiore felt a wave of tingling numbness and let out a soft, alluring gasp without meaning to. Her azure eyes grew misty.

"What do you feel now?"

The Shogun asked softly while releasing her power.

"Mm~ it feels… good… and a little tingly."

Fiore, blushing like a kitten, described the sensation. The pain vanished instantly, replaced by a gentle warmth.

"That is good."

The Shogun withdrew her power and raised her eyes to the girl's flushed face.

"I have temporarily eased your symptoms. The rest will depend on the medicine."

"Mm…"

Fiore nodded lightly, then lowered her gaze to the fair hand resting on her lap… slowly, she placed her own hands over it, cherishingly wrapping it with both of hers.

The Shogun did not withdraw her hand from Fiore's gentle grasp. As a puppet, she did not fully understand such deep and complex emotions—perhaps even felt bewildered by them. Yet her self-awareness told her that, in this moment, she should not resist.

"This vessel… has one question."

Her voice was steady, neither loud nor soft, as she addressed the girl sitting so close before her.

"Mm? What is it you wish to ask, Shogun?"

Still holding her hand, Fiore raised her gaze to the woman before her.

"The Holy Grail… that thing… can it truly grant wishes?"

The Shogun asked the question that weighed most upon her heart. The so-called Holy Grail, said to grant all wishes—was it truly as miraculous as they claimed?

"The Holy Grail… well… it is said that it holds infinite magical energy, enough to realize any wish. To magi, it is also the tunnel leading to the Root."

Fiore replied softly, her voice delicate.

"Any wish can be granted?"

The Shogun pressed again.

"…In theory, yes. But I cannot say with certainty."

"…Then what is your wish?"

The Shogun looked directly at the girl.

"My wish…"

Fiore bit her lip, hesitant to speak. She feared that saying it aloud would cause the Shogun to think less of her.

"…"

The Shogun remained silent, patiently watching her.

"My wish is, in truth, a selfish one… I only wish to use the Holy Grail to cure my legs."

Hearing this, the Shogun's gaze drifted downward to those slender legs hidden beneath black trousers…

"Even though curing them would cause me to lose my magic circuits… I still want to set foot upon this earth with my own strength… That's… such a small wish, isn't it? Compared to others, it must seem insignificant, unworthy…"

Seeing the girl lower her head in discouragement, the Shogun only shook her head faintly.

"Wishes are never measured by size. They are measured by their worth. Besides… all people harbor selfish desires."

As though perceiving Fiore's gaze, she added—

"Even gods are no exception."

The Shogun's quiet words carried their meaning to her.

Fiore felt her heart ease a little at those words. Perhaps this was the Shogun's charm—that even her cold voice could bring comfort.

"Shogun… what is your wish, then?"

Since even gods possessed desires, Fiore yearned to know what kind of wish this beautiful woman before her might have.

Her wish…?

The Shogun was briefly lost in thought. Slowly, she withdrew her hand, then stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the horizon where heaven and earth met.

Could one such as she, a puppet, truly have a wish?

She could not help but ask herself.

She had been created for "eternity." Ei had fashioned her for that purpose alone. If she were to speak of a wish… then Ei's wish should be counted as hers.

"Inazuma's 'Eternity'… that is this vessel's wish."

At last, she spoke the words embedded deep within her heart…

Within the Plane of Euthymia, Ei opened her eyes. Her expression was complicated—more than anything, filled with worry.

"Shogun…"

She whispered softly.

Chapter 16: This Blade Will Be Held Until Next Time!

The light of dawn slowly rose from the east, illuminating the dim heavens.

The once grassy plain had been reduced to barren land. With the flames fading, a man and a woman faced each other once again, standing firmly amid the ruined battlefield.

Around Karna, unquenchable flames still burned, circling him like a barrier. Around the Shogun, currents of lightning lingered in the air, a halo of violet thunder dispersing radiant sparks behind her. Their weapons, once hurled away as Noble Phantasms, now reformed in their hands through the gathering of particles.

"A marvelous battle. To fight you has left me more than satisfied."

Karna glanced at the golden glow of the rising sun behind him, then turned back to the woman before him. He wiped away a faint cut across his cheek, which healed almost instantly.

"..."

The Shogun's violet eyes narrowed slightly as she regarded the man, who seemed to merge with the sunlight itself.

"At this rate, we'll be fighting until the sun has fully risen. I have no objection to that… but your Master seems to have something to say."

Karna spoke calmly.

At his words, the Shogun tilted her head slightly, casting a glance toward the distant car. Behind the window, Fiore shook her head gently and gestured for retreat.

It seems she received word from the fortress, the Shogun surmised.

"In that case, let this end here. Today's blade shall remain unspent… until next time."

The Shogun twirled her naginata gracefully, then leveled it toward Karna as her cold voice carried her verdict.

At her expression, the faintest smile tugged at Karna's lips.

"Indeed, Black Saber. To have faced you in my first battle—I am truly grateful for this fortune. I will remember our pact. Until we meet again."

As his words grew faint, his body dissolved beneath the sunlight, scattering into golden motes that drifted into the blue morning sky.

"Wait—Lancer!"

Jeanne suddenly remembered she still had questions for him, calling out loudly. But her voice could not reach him. She exhaled a sigh.

"Phew…"

Fiore, too, released a breath of relief. The battle had kept her heart racing. Thankfully, her Servant was unscathed… though the enemy was far from a simple foe.

In the distance, the Shogun watched Karna's presence fade. She lowered her naginata, dispersing the particles of lightning with a flick of her sleeve. The halo of thunder behind her melted into the air, and the glow in her eyes dimmed slightly.

She turned, walking back toward the waiting vehicle.

"That was truly a magnificent battle, both of you."

Jeanne stepped forward to greet the Shogun as she approached the car.

The Shogun gave a silent nod. From the back seat, the car window lowered, revealing Fiore's face.

"Um… may I confirm—you are Ruler, correct?"

Fiore asked cautiously.

"Yes… Jeanne d'Arc, descended here as Ruler."

Jeanne replied as she bent closer to the window.

"Then… may I call you Miss Jeanne?"

Fiore asked tentatively.

"I have no objection."

Jeanne answered firmly.

"My name is Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia, Master of… Saber. We came today to ensure your protection."

Fiore spoke smoothly, her voice carrying the practiced courtesy of noble etiquette.

"For that… I must thank you. Though I still do not understand why the enemy struck at me so swiftly."

Jeanne sighed softly.

"Miss Jeanne, would you consider accompanying us back to the Fortress of Millennia?"

Fiore finally revealed her intent.

"The Fortress of Millennia?"

"Yes. It is our Black Faction's base. For now, your situation seems precarious. Would it not be better to stay with us and rest safely? It would also give you time to recover."

Fiore's eyes flicked briefly toward Jeanne's belongings, scattered across the ground from Karna's earlier attack—her undergarments, casual clothes, and daily necessities.

"..."

Jeanne hesitated for a moment, then shook her head lightly.

"No, that would not be fair."

In the end, Jeanne refused.

Meanwhile, the Shogun absently played with a sphere of lightning in her palm, toying with it like a child.

[As I thought…]

Ei sighed softly.

'What do you mean?'

The Shogun stopped and asked.

[Even in polite speech, she reminds me so much of Ayaka.]

'And you scolded me before… yet are you not the same?'

The Shogun retorted with quiet exasperation.

[…Mm, yes. That thought slipped out unconsciously. My mistake.]

Upon hearing Jeanne's refusal, Fiore felt a small pang of disappointment. Her plan had failed, but she had prepared herself for this outcome. Her expression betrayed nothing.

"If Miss Jeanne wishes to better observe the Holy Grail War, our fortress can provide you with the best vantage point. Please, at least consider it."

Just in case, she tried persuading once more.

But Jeanne only shook her head again.

"My perception can cover all of Trifas at once. You need not worry."

Seeing Jeanne's second refusal, Fiore accepted it. Forcing her would do no good. After all, as she knew well: a forced melon is never sweet.

"I see… then forgive me for troubling you, Miss Jeanne."

She apologized politely.

"It is no trouble. Your consideration is appreciated."

Jeanne reassured her with a gentle smile.

"Mm. Shogun… let us go."

Fiore suppressed the urge to laugh at the sight of her Servant idly playing with lightning, and instead called softly.

At her voice, the Shogun crushed the lightning sphere in her hand and vanished into particles of violet light. Fiore gestured for the maid to start the car. After nodding farewell to Jeanne, the white vehicle pulled away.

Watching it go, Jeanne furrowed her brow.

"There is something amiss with this Holy Grail War…"

She whispered under her breath.

...

Inside the car, Fiore glanced at the empty seat beside her. She gave a helpless, affectionate smile.

"Why will you not show yourself, Shogun?"

"Do you require me to?"

The Shogun's voice was ethereal.

"Well… since we're sitting together, wouldn't it be better if you were present?"

Fiore replied with a gentle smile, turning her eyes toward the empty space.

In the next moment, a beautiful figure of violet light shimmered into being beside her, seated properly.

The Shogun seemed unused to the act. Eyes closed, she sat rigidly, hands folded neatly upon her thighs, her shapely legs pressed close together—her posture prim, almost overly so.

"Shogun… you need not be so stiff. Just relax by my side."

Fiore giggled softly, scooting a little closer to her Servant to reassure her.

"This is not stiffness… only that this vessel feels out of place here."

The Shogun answered, still seated with perfect composure, unbothered by Fiore's closeness.

"Out of place?"

Fiore tilted her head, puzzled.

"Do you not think my presence here feels somewhat unnatural?"

The Shogun glanced at her, then looked forward through the glass.

"Unnatural? Not at all… I think it's wonderful."

Fiore answered lightly, though in truth, a little part of her simply wished to spend more time together.

"…."

The Shogun turned her gaze back, her violet eyes locking with Fiore's.

"…Did I say something wrong?"

Fiore asked nervously. Under such a gaze, it felt as though her very heart was being seen through, leaving her flustered and shy.

"No. Since you say it is good, then I shall set aside my concern."

Her voice softened ever so slightly. With that, she looked away again.

"…Mm."

Fiore's lips curved in a gentle smile as she nodded.

Chapter 15: To Face the Radiance of Thunder Directly, This Alone Is Worthy of Praise

Boom!!!

On the wide plain, blinding explosions erupted one after another, shattering the earth and sending thick dust into the air.

Clang! Clang! ×N

Accompanying the flashes of red and violet figures was the deafening clash of steel.

If at the beginning one could still barely follow their movements, now nothing could be discerned except the sparks of impact and the streaks of light flashing past each other. Each time their silhouettes crossed, violent detonations followed.

Clang!

Their weapons collided again. For the nth time, their gazes met—her violet eyes glimmering coldly as the Shogun faced Karna.

Hum!!

Her entire body erupted with a surge of thunderous radiance, cracking the ground beneath her.

"!"

Karna immediately disengaged, retreating rapidly as his crimson cape flared wide. Mana surged into it, shielding him from the woman's lightning force.

"There is no escape."

In the next instant, the Shogun's form blurred into thunder itself, flashing behind Karna… a sweeping strike!

Crackle!

The slash left a deep scar carved into the earth, its edges corroded by the violet elemental power.

Clang!

Karna spun his spear up in time to block, his hands numbed, the ground beneath his feet fracturing. He answered with a powerful thrust!

The Shogun braced her naginata before her chest, the impact hurling her backward. Yet she turned the force to her advantage, rising into the air, her feet landing upon steps of violet mana formed in the void. But she gave him no respite—

In less than a second, she had already flashed before Karna once more.

"!"

For the briefest instant, even Karna faltered, his reaction a half-beat too late.

"Too slow."

The Shogun's cold voice carried her mockery as her blade fell.

"…."

Karna frowned slightly. Out of courtesy, he did not curse, but the crease of his brow betrayed his recognition of danger. The naginata's thunderous edge drew closer and closer, forcing him to twist aside at the last instant!

The blade passed mere centimeters from his skin.

Then the second strike! The third!

Each swing trailed arcs of dazzling violet light, leaving afterimages as the naginata cut through the air. Karna evaded them by the narrowest of margins. But the Shogun did not rush—she had expected this much. Her foe was no ordinary warrior.

With a final flourish, she spun her naginata and drew it back. Reading his next move, she pressed her foot into the earth.

Boom!!

A lightning-fast thrust launched forth, her strike like a thunder dragon carving across the battlefield. Its blazing trail seared the earth black.

Clang!

Karna raised his spear, gathering mana through his body, and their weapons collided once more.

Boom, boom!!

The explosion of mana blasted the land, sending shockwaves howling outward like a storm.

Their figures broke apart again, only to hurl themselves back into the fray, clashing in blinding bursts.

Clang, clang, clang! ×N

The tempo of their strikes rattled like machine gun fire—ten blows in a single second. With every impact, the ground splintered further, great fissures ripping across the plain.

Her naginata blazed with violet lightning; his spear roared with searing flame. In the dead of night, from afar, it was a battle of light and spectacle beyond imagining.

Clang!

Breaking from a rapid flurry, the Shogun leapt once more into the air, stepping onto her conjured platforms of lightning. Karna too leapt back, regaining his stance.

[To remain unshaken before thunder's might… his strength is not to be underestimated. Shogun, you must not take him lightly.]

Within the Plane of Euthymia, Ei opened her eyes, speaking a warning.

The Shogun gave a subtle nod. Gathering immeasurable thunder around her form, violet sparks filled the air. Raising her naginata, she spun it once before lowering its tip to the ground.

Mana surged into the weapon. The skies darkened further, clouds twisting into a vast black vortex. Lightning spilled endlessly from it, converging upon her blade. The very air around her distorted and trembled under the pressure.

"To be able to face the radiance of thunder directly… that alone is worthy of praise."

Her violet eyes blazed beneath the storm, filled with divine pressure. Her cold, resonant voice rang with ethereal echoes, resounding in the ears of all present. In that moment, the slender figure suspended in the heavens seemed like a god descended to earth.

"I see… a Noble Phantasm, then?"

Karna showed no fear before her gaze. Calm as ever, he looked up at the figure wreathed in lightning. With a simple murmur, he too rose into the sky. Reversing his golden spear for a throwing stance, he pointed his other hand toward the Shogun.

Whoosh, whoosh!!

Scarlet flames engulfed his spear, the scorching heat twisting the very air around him.

On the ground, Jeanne immediately sensed the danger and leapt backward several times, distancing herself from the area of impact. From the distant car, Fiore clenched her hand marked with Command Spells, unease filling her heart as her eyes locked on her Servant's form in the sky.

"Engulfing Lightning—Timeless Dream: Eternal Stove!"

Her voice rang out, melodious yet chilling. With that chant, the Shogun unleashed mana several times more potent than before. The air around her became saturated with thunder. Raising her naginata, Engulfing Lightning, she hurled it forward. The weapon streaked across the night sky like a violet meteor!

"Brahmastra Kundala!"

Karna likewise invoked his Noble Phantasm. Wreathed in flames so intense the atmosphere itself warped, the Indestructible Blade hurtled forth to meet hers. In the next instant, the violet meteor collided with the scarlet star!

A blinding light burst across the night sky. The earth for kilometers around shattered, fragments rising as if gravity itself were broken.

The next heartbeat brought forth a colossal explosion—an inferno mushroom cloud rising like a mountain, blazing like a second sun.

Its shockwave tore through the dust, hurling boulders and shaking the land.

Whoosh!!

"Ugh!"

Even Fiore, inside the car, was thrown against the side door by the impact, tumbling into the space beneath the backseat. Though bruised and in pain, she was unharmed. Thankfully, the blast had not overturned the vehicle. Gritting her teeth, she struggled to haul herself back onto the seat, legs offering her no aid.

"Shogun…"

Her concern was not for herself, but entirely for her Servant.

Nearby, Jeanne had also leapt to the car, shielding herself behind it.

This apocalyptic clash was transmitted through Caster's artificial familiar, projected onto a screen within the Fortress of Millennia. All present stared in stunned silence at the scene.

"To possess such destructive force… truly worthy of the Saber class."

The Grand Prince chuckled in satisfaction. This was the level of a "Noble Phantasm for slaying nations."

"But… why does she wield a polearm instead of a sword?"

Rider, Astolfo, scratched his head in puzzlement.

"Well… she must have her own reasons. Likely tied to her true name, her Noble Phantasm, or the tales of her life."

Chiron answered calmly.

"Even so… that destructive power is simply…"

Caules stared in disbelief at the mushroom cloud glowing on the screen.

"In any case, her strength is beyond question—more than worthy of the Saber class. Even to the point of exaggeration. She stands equal to that Lancer."

Darnic's eyes shone with approval as he gazed at the display of destruction.

Indeed, Fiore had drawn a treasure beyond compare.

Chapter 14: Both Shogun and Shadow

Boom, boom!!

Another flash of lightning split the night sky, illuminating the two figures locked in a clash of blades below.

"Black Faction's… Saber…"

Standing behind the Shogun, Jeanne discerned her class and whispered aloud.

"Oh? Saber?"

Karna glanced once more at the naginata blocking his spear, then fixed his eyes on the Shogun's gaze.

"..."

The Shogun remained utterly silent, her flawless face expressionless as she stared back at Karna. From the steadiness of her hands, without the slightest tremor, it was clear she did not fear his strength.

"!"

Bang!

Her violet eyes narrowed slightly. With a sudden surge of strength, she easily deflected Karna's spear. In the same motion, she spun the naginata elegantly behind her before slashing horizontally toward him!

Knocked off balance, Karna steadied himself midair, gathering red mana into his spear. His body lifted, floating briefly before he thrust downward again!

Boom!!

Another deafening roar erupted, sending dust flying as red and violet mana collided, their shockwaves shaking the earth.

The violent surge of energy forced Jeanne to shield her face, while the white car parked at a distance—where Fiore waited—rattled wildly under the pressure.

Purple lightning and crimson mana clashed, striking against each other as if the very heavens rejected their coexistence.

In the next instant, the Shogun blurred into motion, her form transforming into thunder itself. She reappeared behind Karna, naginata poised in a powerful upward slash!

Whoosh!

A sweeping arc of violet energy tore through the earth, slicing it apart like the fin of a shark, surging toward her foe.

"!"

Years of battle-honed instinct allowed Karna to react instantly. Unfurling his crimson cape, he soared into the sky, narrowly evading the lethal strike. From above, he reversed his grip and hurled his golden spear downward at the Shogun!

But instead of dodging, she chose to meet it head-on. Her movements were fluid, almost graceful—she spun her naginata once like a dancer, then planted it firmly with one hand while forming a hand seal with the other.

Crackle!!

Violet currents gathered in her palm, distorting the air itself. She raised her hand and caught the incoming spear as if seizing a lightning bolt itself!

Crackle, crackle!!

Mana flared violently where spearhead met palm, forming a shimmering wall of purple energy that stopped the missile-like strike.

Boom!!

The backlash hurled the spear back toward Karna's hand. In the same breath, his form blurred into a streak of red light, reappearing behind the Shogun as he thrust once more!

Clang!

The Shogun ducked low, swinging her naginata into place at her neck in a stylish maneuver, deflecting the spear once again. With a push of the haft, she forced the weapon aside.

Karna anticipated her motion and pressed down, driving the naginata into the earth. The blade sank deep into the ground.

"Prepare yourself."

Narrowing his eyes, Karna intoned coldly as he raised his crimson-charged spear, aiming straight for her chest.

Yet the Shogun showed no hint of panic. Her violet eyes merely flicked toward the spearpoint before she decisively released her weapon. At the last instant, she sidestepped, executing a flawless Mikiri Counter.

Thud!!!

Her left leg snapped upward, pinning the spear's tip beneath her foot with a resounding impact.

"!!"

For the briefest instant, Karna's heart faltered. A slender, delicate foot had pinned down his weapon—and he could not wrench it free.

At that moment, the Shogun's lips curved into the faintest trace of a smile. Exploiting his hesitation, she used her left foot as a pivot. With a twist of her body, her right foot kicked upward, striking the naginata's haft and sending it spinning into the air.

Catching the weapon at eye level, she grasped its hilt with one hand. With a smooth rotation of her body, she slashed horizontally at Karna's neck!

Sensing the blade's breath upon his skin, Karna released his trapped spear and twisted his floating body sideways, narrowly evading the strike.

Hum~!

The piercing screech of clashing steel rang in Karna's ears, though his expression remained unchanged—even as a few strands of his silver hair were shorn away.

He gripped his spear tightly, pouring mana through his entire body!

Sensing unsteady footing, the Shogun decisively stepped upward along his spear's shaft, vaulting into the air. At the same time, Karna blurred into a streak of red light, distancing himself from her.

He landed upon the ground far away, while the Shogun descended gracefully, as light as a swallow. Her naginata slid smoothly into place behind her back, her kimono's skirt and sleeves billowing like ethereal wings in her wake.

All of this had transpired in mere seconds—

Bang!!

The billboard Karna had previously stood upon finally succumbed to the remnants of their clash, collapsing heavily between them.

"Black Faction's Saber—your skill is remarkable. But… why does a Saber wield a polearm?"

From the distance, Karna posed the question.

"..."

The Shogun gave no answer, her silence unbroken.

Karna narrowed his eyes slightly and pressed again.

"It seems your goal is also Ruler, is it not?"

"..."

Still, the Shogun stood mute, only her glowing violet gaze fixed coldly upon him.

"…Not fond of words, then. In that case—"

Karna concluded.

"It is merely that I have nothing to say to an enemy."

The Shogun's cold voice cut him off.

"I see… I like that spirit of battle, Black Saber."

Karna allowed a faint smile.

"..."

The Shogun's eyes narrowed further. The spirit of battle? What meaning does he place on that…?

Karna then turned his gaze toward the distant white car, its passenger—the girl in the back seat, Fiore. Through the glass, she too was watching him.

Saber's Master, then.

He confirmed silently, before shifting his attention to Jeanne standing behind the Shogun.

"Since the Black Faction has revealed themselves, then I shall begin with you. Will the two of you face me together?"

Karna leveled his golden spear at the violet-haired woman in the kimono.

The Shogun merely closed her eyes for a moment.

"Foolish question. This is a duel—there is no honor in numbers against one."

Her cold reply cut the air as her violet eyes opened again.

Karna looked into her gaze and smiled with satisfaction.

"Very well… I will remember those words. You are my opponent. This is the pledge of warriors."

Scarlet mana surged once more around his body.

"Your eyes bear the gaze of a hero—and of a god. Let me savor this battle with you. My name is Karna, son of the sun god Surya! Black Faction's Saber—if you fear not my spear, then come at me!"

The aura of his mana spread outward like a storm of fire, engulfing the area around him.

In the Shogun's eyes, violet light shimmered once more. Waves of crackling thunder surged outward, lightning particles flooding the space. Behind her manifested the great wheel of countless eyes—formed from interlocking tomoe and the Mitsudomoe, radiant with power. If Karna was a blazing tempest of flame, then the Shogun was an endless ocean of thunder.

"Narukami Ogosho… Beelzebul."

Her cold, resonant voice rang out.

Since her opponent had declared his name, she too offered hers in kind. Long ago, Ei had entrusted her with all authority. Now, in this moment, she was both Shogun… and Shadow.

Chapter 64: GM

Shitennō Heaven—the first heaven among the Six Heavens of Desire Realm, where Satsuki currently resided.

From the system data she had just reviewed, Satsuki now understood her identity. From being an autonomous person to becoming a boss—this kind of experience was truly strange.

But she quickly composed herself and turned her gaze toward the screen before her. The projection was enormous and could change according to her will, making it very convenient to observe.

At this moment, in the very center of Shitennō Heaven, a large group of players with red IDs had gathered.

This projection device not only allowed her to observe the scene but also let her hear the voices of those present.

Unfortunately, there were simply too many players. Though they were distinctly divided into three teams, each spoke different languages, making it hard for Satsuki to understand them clearly.

These three groups seemed to be discussing something. Among them, one team clearly held the advantage, because behind their leader stood three figures cloaked in capes.

Just standing there, those three drew the gaze of nearly everyone present.

Eighty to ninety percent of all eyes were focused on those mysterious figures.

Just as Satsuki was about to enlarge the image for closer observation, the one in the lead—clad in a red cloak—spoke. To her surprise, she found she could understand his words, for it was standard Japanese.

"Since we've already agreed on the division of spoils, it's time for the three of us to act. After all, it's the first time we've ever had a chance like this."

Another figure in a blue cloak spoke with a clear and melodious female voice: "Exactly. This is the very first dungeon that requires us to take action. I don't know why the higher-ups approved it, but the opportunity is rare~ Besides, once we're done, there's a hefty bonus waiting. Why wouldn't we?"

From within the yellow cloak came the voice of a mature man: "My household expenses have risen lately. Just had a kid, so I need to earn as much as I can. Finally managing to secure this opportunity—I won't be letting it slip away."

"They seem to know each other well, and they must be quite popular among the players," Satsuki thought as she watched. "They should be the leaders of this dungeon raid. Let's see how they plan to proceed."

...

The three cloaked figures did not converse further with the others. After exchanging nods with the leaders of the other teams, each of their bodies began to glow with light.

"Tier 3 Magic—Flight?"

At the sight of this magical glow, the corresponding spell name automatically surfaced in Satsuki's mind.

"But I thought flight was forbidden in the Six Heavens of Desire dungeon. Am I mistaken?"

She watched the three rise into the air, but her peripheral vision confirmed that no one else had taken to the sky.

Did they possess special items? Or were they special classes?

Either way, these three were worth paying close attention to.

"Host, you need not worry. Not just with three players—even with three hundred or three thousand, it would be impossible at this stage to breach the first layer of the Six Heavens of Desire."

Satsuki did not respond. Her eyes remained on the three figures, but she also kept an ear out for the system.

At present, only it could gather information beyond her reach. Though unreliable, its words might still contain valuable details.

Having received tacit approval, the system unusually assumed the role of commentator within Satsuki's consciousness. Normally it never had such treatment, so now it was explaining with particular zeal.

"Host, don't underestimate this first layer, Shitennō Heaven. Although its difficulty is not as high as the later layers, it requires a special mechanism to clear. In this large map, there are four boss-level monsters positioned in the four directions. Only by defeating them in a specific order can the teleportation gate to the second heaven be opened. Otherwise, their HP will reset, even the defeated bosses will revive—directly entering a berserk state capable of wiping out entire parties. What's more, after a certain interval, these four bosses randomly teleport around. Because each boss has a completely different skill set, without four teams familiar with all their abilities and perfectly coordinated command, clearing the first stage is nearly impossible."

Then, Satsuki saw from the projection the three glowing figures, each radiating a different divine light, flying off in separate directions.

Not grouping together, but splitting their forces?

Switching the screen into three windows, Satsuki locked onto each of them to observe their strategies. What appeared next on the projection left her shocked.

In one of the views, the figure covered in red light maintained only a single magic—a shield-like spell—before charging fearlessly into the swarm of elite mobs pouring through the sky like insects.

"Reflect Shield?"

This spell was not particularly strong. It was a relatively low-tier caster's magic that reflected a portion of incoming damage back at attackers. It wasn't considered very practical, since casters typically had low HP, and the reflected damage was based only on a percentage of what they themselves endured. At most, players would invest a few points in it as a prerequisite skill.

"To dare rush straight into a mob with just that—this player must be insane."

But before the system could finish mocking, reality delivered a merciless slap across its "round face."

Thousands of elite mobs hurled themselves at the red figure. Yet the instant their attacks struck the Reflect Shield, without a sound, every last one disintegrated into dust.

"Eh?"

The sight left the system completely frozen, unable to process. And that was only one of them.

Satsuki turned her attention to the blue figure. Without casting spells or making any gestures, every elite mob that entered a radius of about five hundred meters around her instantly collapsed to the ground, their life force vanishing without warning.

Meanwhile, the golden figure radiated an incomprehensibly vast aura. Even Satsuki could not discern its structure. Under its illumination, all the energy and matter within the elite mobs began to riot. Their bodies ruptured layer by layer from within, shattering completely.

...

Under the power of these three, no—it couldn't even be called an attack—they simply moved forward, and the mobs that the system had claimed could contend with max-level players were annihilated instantly.

"This is impossible!"

For the first time, the system screamed inside Satsuki's mind. Clearly, the sight shook it to its core.

"These are players of this world?" As a mere consciousness observing, Satsuki's tone grew serious. "You said you chose the strongest boss template for me. Yet from what I see, those three look more like bosses than I do."

If the system had really transferred her into a dungeon already being farmed casually by players, her own safety would be in jeopardy.

The so-called Strongest System Across All Worlds now teetered on the edge of a crash, utterly unable to interpret what it was witnessing.

Frantically, it reviewed the boss data it had chosen for Satsuki.

"No, Host—I definitely selected the final boss template of the ultimate End-Tier dungeon."

In most online games, the strongest boss resides in the strongest dungeon, and the strongest dungeon also contains the most powerful mobs.

The mobs in the Sixth Heaven of Desire were supposed to be top-tier elites, at least ten levels stronger than the current players. By all logic, it should have been impossible to wipe them out so easily.

Based on its prior intel, the system had calculated that while a single Sixth Heaven elite mob might be manageable for a top player, two would already be a struggle. With three or more, without special tools or methods, any player would be doomed.

Yet the strength of these three figures had shattered all of the system's assumptions, rendering its data laughably useless.

Thus, in true fashion, the so-called Strongest System could only declare:

"Host, there is definitely something strange about this."

...

Satsuki let out a sigh. She shouldn't have sighed, but she did anyway.

"This useless system's answer was not unexpected. What's truly surprising is that just a moment ago, I actually thought it was somewhat reliable. Its greatest strength might just be in arranging the strongest possible opponents for me."

In the end, she could only rely on herself.

Satsuki once again focused her attention on the screen.

"Judging by those three's performance, so-called elite mobs can't even wear them down. The only hope lies in stronger bosses."

As she thought this, one of the images was suddenly covered by a massive shadow. Without effort, she could see it—a giant golden-winged divine bird flew across the horizon, heading straight for the red glowing humanoid figure. The icon of the Golden-Winged Garuda was green, which meant it was her ally and could be controlled.

Just by appearance alone, Satsuki could tell this bird was no ordinary being. Its golden feathers radiated countless divine visions, and on its head gleamed a wish-fulfilling jewel. Its speed was so fast that its body seemed to vanish into golden light. From that fleeting figure, Satsuki managed to read its data.

Eight Divisions Heavenly Dragon—Garuda: Level 150

Rank: World-Class Boss

Below, there had been a long string of stats, but the Garuda's speed was too great. In an instant, it moved out of her readable range.

At the sight of this Garuda, the system finally felt it could contribute something useful.

"Host, this is one of your subordinates. In this world, the max player level is 100, but Garuda is level 150 and a World-Class Boss. Wiping out that enemy should be easy—"

The system hadn't even finished the word "easy" when the red glowing figure simply raised its hand.

"[Dragon Lightning]."

"Hah, using a Tier 5 spell against a level 150 World-Class Boss?" The system sounded smug. "Even super-tier magic wouldn't necessarily break its defenses, and he's attacking with Tier 5? That caster must be an idiot."

In the Dragon Lightning system of spells, it was a mid-tier lightning magic. It didn't stand out much among spells of its level, having only two traits—[Sure Hit] and [Paralysis].

The mighty Golden-Winged Garuda didn't even bother to dodge, already gathering a golden lightning breath in its beak.

That breath was comparable to a super-tier spell.

But then—the massive Garuda was struck by that tiny bolt of lightning, smaller than one of its feathers.

Satsuki clearly saw the Garuda's entire body convulse, electric snakes racing across its form. The paralysis effect instantly interrupted the lightning breath it had been about to unleash.

"This is impossible! World-Class Bosses are immune to all control effects!" The system blurted out, too late as usual.

But reality didn't bend to its words. The red figure quietly muttered another phrase, one that Satsuki heard distinctly.

"Grant [Instant Death Authority]."

Kyeeaaahhh!—

From the paralyzed Garuda came a shrill, agonized cry. Its enormous body twitched violently in the air, wings flapping twice in a death spasm, before spiraling down and crashing into the ground.

The impact shook all of the Sixth Heaven of Desire. Unlucky mobs beneath its bulk were instantly crushed to death.

But it didn't end there. From the Garuda's corpse erupted torrents of poison gas and miasma, flooding a quarter of Shitennō Heaven in moments. Even the Buddha-empowered ground corroded into pits several meters deep. Then, the Garuda's body ignited in a blue-green poisonous flame.

Only then did its death animation conclude, leaving behind the unending inferno that burned across half the sky.

As the Garuda perished, countless beams of light shot forth from its body. The meaning was clear: the loot would start at relic-level equipment, with chances of divine-class or even world-class items dropping if fortune favored them.

World-Class Bosses are called such because they have a tiny chance of dropping specific world-class items. These items are usually parts of the Boss's own body. Because of this, World-Class Bosses themselves benefit from world-class protection—each one is born with a "WORLD" buff. This grants them the ultimate safeguard of an entire world, making them immune even to the effects of world-class items.

"One strike… to instantly kill a level 150 World-Class Boss, Garuda?" If the system had a face, it would now be the perfect picture of shock. "Garuda had complete lightning resistance—how could this happen?!"

Witnessing this, even Satsuki realized something was very wrong. Against such opponents who completely disregarded basic rules, the normal her would have immediately chosen to strategically retreat using space-time ninjutsu. Though proud, she was not foolish. She knew well the concept of "strength is only relative" and would never stubbornly fight blindly. But now, she couldn't move at all.

She truly didn't know if having such a system was fortune or disaster.

The red figure, after instantly killing Garuda, acted as if it had done nothing of significance. It didn't even glance at the beams of loot, instead flying straight in another direction.

Elsewhere, the golden figure had also dealt with his encountered Boss—an eight-armed Asura King. Perhaps once extremely formidable, but in battle, it fared no better than Garuda. The moment its massive body entered the golden aura's range, it ruptured from the inside out. Even its [Immortal Vajra Body] trait couldn't last three seconds.

As for the blue figure—it was even more outrageous. Satsuki had yet to see her lift a finger. All the mobs, even Bosses, collapsed dead the instant she approached.

At one point, when she encountered a Boss, the random teleportation mechanic activated, dropping a second Boss beside her. Yet, even against two level 150 World-Class Bosses at once, she made no move. Both still fell instantly, lifeless before they could act.

The process was like theater. As soon as the blue figure arrived, the Bosses dropped dead. Satsuki couldn't even understand how she was doing it.

"System, can the Time-Space Medal be forcibly activated?"

"No, Host." The system now panicked as well. "The previous emergency trigger only activated because the internal program detected an unavoidable lethal crisis. Right now, I'm getting no such response. And even if it did trigger a warning, your Time-Space Medal has no energy left. It's impossible to teleport."

"What did you just say?" From its words, Satsuki sensed something important.

"Host, I said your Time-Space Medal has no energy and can't transmit you."

"No, the line before that." Satsuki repeated: "You said, 'The internal program only activates if it judges an unavoidable lethal crisis, but right now I'm getting no response.' In other words… what I'm facing now isn't considered an unavoidable lethal crisis?"

Could that be true? Or was it just wishful thinking?

She had no time to ponder. Something far more terrifying occurred. The moment the four first-layer Bosses were slain, a massive teleportation gate appeared at the center of the vast first-layer map.

Simultaneously, an identical gate appeared in the center of the Sixth Heaven of Desire.

Whether or not they had killed the bosses in the right order, the first layer's gate was directly linked to the sixth? Even Satsuki, with her limited understanding of the game's mechanics, knew something was terribly wrong.

But she had no time to dwell on such details. Even if the mobs in the Sixth Heaven were stronger than those of the first, against those three monstrous beings, there would be no hope of survival.

What now? Their strength was so far beyond her comprehension—how could she even fight?

Moments later, the three differently colored figures, each trailing a long tail of light, flew out from the teleportation gate.

Swish—Swish—Swish—

The instant they appeared, the three of them rushed straight toward Satsuki's direction. Though still far away, she could already feel the sensation of being locked onto by predators.

At that moment, an unfamiliar system alert suddenly sounded.

"Detected abnormal target. Detected massive anomalous data. Detected target permission irregularities. Detected abnormal attack methods."

"Countermeasure calculation in progress…"

"Countermeasure calculation in progress…"

"Countermeasure calculation in progress…"

"No viable countermeasure. Initiating forced teleportation of all other-layer Bosses. Granting all targets [Berserk State]. Cut them down!"

As the voice finished, several enormous teleportation gates materialized, instantly surrounding the three glowing figures on all sides.

Chapter 151: Vela—As Special Commissioner with Full Authority

The red sun sank in the west, the passage of time blurred amidst blooming blood and surging adrenaline.

With Nutcracker slain, Madam A captured, and Mr. PG dead… the leader of the organization "MADAM," Big Madam, had been forced to appear, only to be besieged by investigators led by Yukinori Shinohara. The massacre inside the ghoul restaurant had already reached its final act.

The blockade of escape passages was completed smoothly. Under the command of Branch Chief Taishi Fura and North American agent Dennis, Ward 7's CCG branch successfully sealed all surface exits of the restaurant. With the encirclement complete, it was now time to pursue the remnants with all strength, exterminating every last one.

No gaps in the encirclement. Total annihilation!

That was the operational goal set by Vela.

The tactic of "leaving one side open" did not apply to ghouls, nor to a city as densely populated as Tokyo.

Step, step.

Emerging from the D-zone escape passage littered with corpses of mutilated ghoul diners, Vela strode through the hollow, silent evacuation hall. She ascended the wide gilded staircase, red carpet rolled down its steps, making her way unhurriedly toward the restaurant's core.

She had to admit, these ghouls who had blended deepest into human society, styling themselves as the upper class, certainly had a sense of ceremony.

The bourgeois flavor—fitting.

Kureo Mado led his squad behind her.

Among them, Madam A, frail to begin with and now injected with Rc cell suppressants and a heavy dose of anesthetic, had lost consciousness entirely. She was crudely stuffed into a restraint bag and carried on an investigator's back. The Yasuhisa sisters, also injected with Rc suppressants but still conscious, were shackled in Quinque handcuffs.

Nashiro, less injured, supported Kurona, who had taken a brutal kick from Vela.

Amon Koutarou, carrying his dark blue long-handled heavy Quinque, looked on with a conflicted expression. Around him, North American operatives kept rifles slung across their chests or Quinques in hand, ready for any attempt at resistance from the sisters.

Amon opened his mouth several times, wanting to ask, but each time fell silent.

Only Vela's voice, speaking with Kureo Mado, and the chatter over radio reporting squad status and receiving orders, broke the air.

Along the way, their unit occasionally crossed paths with scattered CCG squads hunting down stragglers.

Rat-tat-tat-tat! Gunfire rang. The lavish interior decorations were shredded as if gnawed by dogs. The ghouls' organization was in ruins. Their leaders of S-rating and above—dead or crippled. The remaining B- and A-rated ghouls, terrified out of their wits, no longer posed any real threat to investigators.

One squad advanced step by step, Quinques in hand, forcing a ghoul to flee in desperation. Trapped in a corner, with gunfire cutting off escape, blades and gun thrusts came in succession. Steel pierced through chest, pinning the ghoul to the wall.

Elsewhere, seven or eight ghouls huddled together in flight, only to be cornered in a room by a mixed squad of over a dozen CCG investigators and North American operatives. They were slaughtered like livestock.

Ukaku Quinques fired in volleys, drowning out muffled cries.

Close-combat Quinques cleaved, blood spraying like fountains.

American-style rapid strikes smashed faces, scattering chunks of flesh.

Just a day before, this ghoul restaurant had butchered "ingredients" live for its guests' meals. Now, the roles had reversed—the "ingredients" were ghouls, and what feasted upon them was Quinque steel.

"Hey, Charlie, how many did you drop?"

"Four, maybe six. Who knows? Tokyo ghouls are this bold? A measly B-rated dared to charge my line… Did it think my assault rifle was a toy? At least the rest learned quick. You, Mike?"

After saluting Vela as they passed, two North American operatives exchanged casual words that left the Yasuhisa sisters deeply shaken. To be spoken of like pigs or dogs—hearing such disdainful tones firsthand, as the targets themselves, struck deep.

As top students of the CCG Academy, daughters of Nanase Yasuhisa—a wealthy man who had funded the CCG's artificial ghoul project—the sisters had received the best education. Their English was more than good enough to understand every word.

Before long, they reached the core of the ghoul restaurant. The darkened space was thick with blood and gunpowder. Dispatching with a single spear thrust a crazed ghoul who had leapt at her from a corner, Vela strode across the ruined reception area and spectator seats, her gaze falling upon Yukinori Shinohara, clad in the living Quinque armor [Arata].

"It's over…"

He sighed heavily, laying a hand gently on Suzuya Juuzou's shoulder.

Around him stood Chuu Hachikawa, Take Hirako, and Taishi Fura, forming a semicircle with weapons drawn.

In the rubble-strewn center lay the corpse of a woman—or at least, judging from her clothing and upper body, a female form. The pool of blood spreading slowly beneath her showed she had only just died.

Metal braces in her mouth. A massive, tank-like build, thick golden chains and bracelets, vulgar in her extravagance.

There was no doubt. The SS-rated ghoul 'Big Madam.'

Clap, clap.

"With Big Madam eliminated, the operation against the ghoul restaurant can be considered complete."

Vela clapped, drawing all eyes to her. Clearing her throat, she stepped forward, glancing at Suzuya, who stood calmly over the corpse of the one who had once been his tormentor.

Yes—his tormentor.

It was Big Madam who had abducted Juuzou, raised him as a 'butcher boy' in her ghoul restaurant, and even smashed his reproductive organs in cruelty. It had been Shinohara's squad that stormed 'MADAM' and rescued him.

In a sense, the only 'mother' figure in Suzuya's childhood memories—though twisted—was this grotesque woman. And now—she was gone.

"Rank-2 Suzuya, are you able to continue with the mission?"

"Russell, about Suzuya…"

Shinohara hesitated, wanting to ask Vela to allow him more time to adjust.

But—

"I'm fine, Shinohara-san."

Juuzou looked at the body, shaking his head calmly. "Actually, no matter what others say, I never hated her."

"The reason I destroyed 'Mom' was because you taught me: I am human, I am an investigator. Investigators kill ghouls. That's only natural. Didn't you always say we must do everything possible to prevent what happened to me from happening again?"

Though his sense of normal humanity was still weak, though he was often detached, eccentric, even unhinged, he could feel Shinohara's sincerity—the care of a guardian treating him like his own son, the earnest wish to guide him into a fine investigator.

And because of that, he made his choice.

"Juuzou…"

Shinohara was stunned.

Before he could express his emotions, Juuzou's tone shifted back to its usual quirky cadence. He bounced up cheerfully before Vela.

Smack! Shinohara slapped his face into his palm.

Education—still a long road ahead.

"Ne, ne, Special Class Russell, Special Class Russell! On the radio earlier, you said something about Kurona and Nashiro—did you really meet them? They really became ghouls?"

His eyes gleamed with excitement.

"That question, we'll answer, Juuzou."

"Eh, it really is Kurona and Nashiro."

Handcuffed, escorted by Amon Koutarou, Nashiro supported the weakened Kurona as they appeared in the hall, answering Juuzou's question. Shinohara and Vela exchanged glances, both expressions turning grave.

"Kanou Akihiro, is it?"

Vela had already briefed them briefly over radio earlier. If memory served, Kanou had once worked for the CCG…

"Whether it is or not—we'll investigate and confirm."

She made no attempt to hide the fact she had already drawn her own conclusions.

"Right here, speak. In front of Special Class Shinohara, Associate Special Class Hachikawa, First Class Mado, Rank-1 Amon, First Class Hirako, First Class Fura. Before both our Japanese and American colleagues. If you have grievances, speak them all. But if you cannot account for yourselves and are judged to be lying—I will have you made into Quinques."

At that, the gathered investigators fell into thought.

Grievances?

What did she mean by that?

Take Hirako, sharp in political instinct, narrowed his eyes at Vela. What grand game was she playing? Problems within the CCG? Or dissatisfaction from North America at CCG's years of incompetence? Or something else?

"Ne, ne, what's the real reason? Why did you become ghouls? If you became ghouls, does that mean I can cut you down now?"

While other investigators hesitated, Suzuya Juuzou—once their classmate at the Academy—had no such reservations.

"You—!"

Nashiro flushed with anger.

"Enough, Nashiro."

Kurona wore a look of weary resignation. The reaper stood watching nearby. Though she had no desire to betray the lofty ideals of 'Father,' nor the conviction that the world was trapped in a twisted 'birdcage,' she knew the weight of priorities.

Nashiro was her only family. If she refused to speak—or lied—Vela would indeed kill her.

"Suzuya, one day you'll understand. The CCG's hidden truth. This world is bound by a man-made 'birdcage,' and the Washuu clan and the CCG are that very cage!"

"For their own interests, they will never completely eradicate ghouls. Because if ghouls were gone, the CCG and Washuu would lose their purpose. My father—he invested heavily into artificial ghoul research for the sake of the CCG and humanity's future. But because he touched forbidden domains, saw what should never have been seen—he was silenced by you all…"

"Record that."

Vela rubbed her chin with interest, her smile turning ever more amused.

"Back it up. Send it to Headquarters in Ward 1. In my capacity as Special Commissioner of the North American Commission of Counter Ghoul [Tokyo]."

She emphasized her title.

"The testimony of former top Academy trainees and daughters of a major CCG project investor—whether this is Kanou Akihiro's doing or an internal Washuu matter—I expect Bureau Chief Washuu and the Chairman to investigate thoroughly. That is my will, and the will of the North American Commission."

In truth, Vela thought, Kurona's claim that the CCG hunts ghouls but never to extinction—was hardly unique. The same applied worldwide.

After all, if one didn't take, another would. How else would Commissioner Smith take his share?

That was why she saw herself as an enforcer, not a bitter avenger. Ghouls must be struck down—but not eradicated.

It was the same in North America. As long as the Commission of Counter Ghoul existed, there would be budgets, entrenched interests, livelihoods depending on the fight. It had become an industry, a business, a field of technology…

Compared to Tokyo's CCG—so narrowly focused, so regionally bound—America's system was broader.

After all, America had its own conditions. The North American Commission of Counter Ghoul not only governed the Americas, but acted as an international anti-ghoul police force, intervening worldwide.

It was never purely anti-ghoul, either. Homeland defense, counter-federal crime, public safety, anti-narcotics, counter-cults, organized crime suppression, international intelligence gathering… overlapping with CIA, FBI, NSA. Competition was natural. Priority depended on circumstances.

Japan, on the other hand, was already in chaos—damaging its international image.

But of course, Vela couldn't say that aloud. It would shatter morale among the rank-and-file investigators who bore blood feuds against ghouls.

Better to play the benevolent official, magnanimous with others' sacrifices. That mantle—Vela would take up.

"This matter," she said, passing Shinohara's side, "I'll handle."

Then, pressing her earpiece, Vela formally declared: "Ward 7 ghoul restaurant operation—victory complete."

"Associate Special Class Hachikawa, you continue eliminating stragglers, clearing threats."

"First Class Fura, you are Ward 7 Branch Chief. Local reassurance is your strength. Lift warning zones stage by stage as appropriate. One requirement—no accidents."

"First Class Mado, coordinate with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and courts. Tell them this: I, Vela Adelheid Russell, Special Commissioner with full authority, demand cooperation. Identify all ghouls executed in this operation, and immediately confiscate all personal assets."

"First Class Hirako, notify the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Inform them I require all details on the restaurant property, surrounding land, contracted construction firms, and large-scale capital circulation. Submit the report to my office within three days. The sooner, the better. And don't forget the financial documents seized inside."

"Special Class Shinohara, since Suzuya is your partner, I leave Kurona and Nashiro in your care. Protect and monitor them. Compile their testimony with your own annotations and submit to me. Back it up. Copy to Ward 1 Headquarters."

"As for Bureau Chief Washuu—I'll handle him myself."

"As for Kanou Akihiro and his half-ghoul lab—Dennis, Rick, draft a request to the military. On grounds of hidden development of bioweapons of mass destruction, seek deployment of the US-Japan joint NBC defense forces."

…

Chapter 232: The Herrscher of Death, Seele of the Previous Era

The Sixth Honkai Eruption had suddenly broken out. This time, the Herrscher descended directly upon a prosperous metropolis, and in an instant, the Eruption slaughtered everyone there.

"This Eruption covers the entire city-state. The concentration of Honkai energy is 1.5 times greater than that of the Herrscher of Ice. We are currently carrying out extermination and rescue operations simultaneously. But be cautious—this Herrscher's lethality is extremely high."

Inside the transport aircraft, Elias and the others listened grimly as Dr. Mei relayed the information through the comms.

"We have designated this Herrscher as the Herrscher of Death. At present, she appears to possess the ability to release black mist. All life within the area enveloped by the mist has been erased."

"From how the stationed Fire Moth branch was instantly wiped out, it seems even fusion warriors cannot resist this black mist. However, the mech legions are not significantly affected."

"Therefore, aside from Elias, who may act on his own judgment, all fusion warriors must strictly follow orders. The main assault force will be Helixcraft's mech legions. Until protective suits that can block the black mist are fully adjusted, no one is to act recklessly."

Everyone in the aircraft—except for Elias—swallowed nervously, then nodded firmly.

Although the Herrscher of Death did not unleash apocalyptic, world-shattering powers like previous Herrschers, her deathly black mist—like something drifting from the underworld—was just as terrifying. It made one's blood run cold.

Even fusion warriors could not withstand it. One touch, and death was certain. Most people speculated that her ability was essentially a form of poison.

"Elias, what do you think of this Herrscher's ability?" Elysia turned to ask.

"What do I think? Sitting down and watching works just fine." Elias patted the seat beneath him, joking.

"Eh, I meant…"

"I know. Don't worry. This Herrscher poses little threat to us. Just follow my orders when the time comes, and we'll clear this stage easily."

"Mm! Got it!" ×N

Hearing Elias speak so confidently, as though the Herrscher of Death was nothing to fear, the unease that had been gnawing at everyone vanished. They instantly steadied, calm as old war dogs.

Moreover, Elias hadn't concealed his voice—his words had gone through the comms into everyone's ears. Morale soared sky-high. The army's will was solid as steel!

"Laaaaah aaaaah!"

At that moment, a rousing song rang out through the comms. In an instant, everyone felt their fighting spirit ignite. Whatever fear remained was completely burned away.

"Eden, is that you singing?"

Elias pressed his headset in surprise. Perfect. Now they had their BGM—victory was guaranteed.

"It's me. Forgive me, Elias. Dr. Mei wouldn't let me go to the front lines, so instead I offer this battle song to the heroes fighting to protect humanity. This is all I can do right now."

Eden's voice came through the comms.

At once, the soldiers' morale surged again. Elias had steadied their hearts, and Eden had kindled their fighting spirit. It was as if everyone had been injected with adrenaline—their strength instantly multiplied several times over.

"Thank you, Eden. That's a huge help. With your voice as our BGM, this victory is already in the bag. Just watch from the command room. This Herrscher isn't a hard problem."

Even Elias felt fired up, his blood boiling. Eden's singing was a powerful buff.

"Mm. Do your best, Elias—and be safe."

In Fire Moth's command room, Mei's face was expressionless as she monitored the incoming data. With absolute rationality, she made one correct decision after another.

Among them was calling Eden over to sing a battle hymn for the departing warriors. That had been her idea, and the results exceeded all expectations.

Even Mei herself was shaken. Just that one song had nearly set even her absolute rationality ablaze. The effect it had on the soldiers' morale was unimaginable.

As for Eden's request to sortie, Mei had decisively rejected it.

What a joke—what could a superstar with an ordinary human body possibly do on the battlefield? She'd only be sending herself to her death. If she wanted to go that badly, she should at least donate all her money first.

"Don't worry. With Elias there, it won't be a problem."

"…Mm."

Eden prayed silently for victory, all the while shaken to her core. Though she was only watching remotely through satellite observation, this was her first time witnessing the descent of a Herrscher.

Simply by being born, the Herrscher had destroyed an entire nation, sacrificing millions of lives. It was utterly terrifying.

As she looked at the deathly black mist still expanding outward, Eden dared not imagine what kind of despair it would be if it engulfed the entire planet.

Yet alongside her fear, she also felt deep astonishment.

Watching the coordinates marked with Elias' position on the screen, Eden saw with her own eyes how the previously anxious warriors instantly steadied themselves after hearing the boy's voice.

Eden: "So this is your authority, Elias—your prestige."

...

Meanwhile, Elias and the others had already reached the skies above the target city. Though the black mist blocked satellite surveillance, Honkai energy readings clearly indicated the Herrscher of Death was here.

Before anyone could speak, Elias had already stepped to the front of the cabin and spoke coldly:

"I'll go down and investigate personally. You circle around here and clear the Honkai Beasts in the sky."

"Yes, Captain Elias!" ×N

Against a Herrscher-level enemy, none could question Elias' command. His word was the sole truth, absolute and supreme—even Dr. Mei could not refute it.

Without hesitation, Elias leapt straight into the city shrouded in black mist.

"Scans show Captain Elias' life signs are stable! He's moving swiftly through the city to investigate!"

"Excellent. As expected of him!"

In the command room, Mei clenched her fist. She hadn't expected Elias to be immune even to the Herrscher's black mist. Once again, she was reminded of just how exceptional and reliable he was.

"Ah… all dead already, huh."

Landing in the fog-cloaked city, Elias gazed helplessly at the empty streets.

Not only humans—even grass, trees, any form of life had been equally claimed by the mist of death. The city had become a true city of the dead.

"I need to find the Herrscher's location quickly."

Unfurling his dragon wings, Elias soared at imperceptible speeds through the city. The black mist not only withered life but also interfered with perception and detection.

Fortunately, he was fast enough. After five minutes, in one corner of the city—

Elias finally found the only other living being besides himself. Without a doubt, she was the Herrscher of Death born from this Eruption.

"Oh my, someone's finally come~ Big brother, are you here to play with Sheele?"

In the midst of a withered field, a young girl stood casually. Black-blue shoulder-length hair, crimson eyes like blood—she wandered this world as though it belonged to her alone, delighted by Elias' arrival.

"Seele?!"

"How annoying! It's Sheele, not Seele~! To dare miscall my name—you'll pay with your life, big brother!"

"..."

Elias raised an eyebrow. Even he couldn't hide his surprise—because the Herrscher of Death looked exactly like Seele!

From one perspective, she was his toughest opponent yet.

After all, with that face, even Elias would need time to steel himself before striking. Fortunately, this time he had no intention of killing a Herrscher.

(So the Herrscher of Death of the Previous Era is an alternate-timeline counterpart of Seele, huh… interesting.)

"Why aren't you saying anything, big brother? Aren't you here to become Sheele's toy? But how did you survive in my domain? Oh well… since you're here, struggle all you like—and entertain me!"

The Herrscher of Death smiled with yandere delight. In the next instant, she lunged at Elias.

"…Her personality feels exactly like Dark Seele's."

As the Herrscher of Death lunged at him, Elias easily parried her strikes, remarking casually. The tone, strangely familiar, stirred memories in him—it had been a long time since he'd heard something like it.

On the other side, the Herrscher kept trying to decompose Elias with her Authority, only to find it utterly useless. Frustration soon twisted her face.

Her lack of patience was just like Dark Seele's.

But Elias frowned slightly, finding something odd.

Unlike the Herrschers of the Previous Era, this one's expressions were too vivid, almost human. Yet that should have been impossible.

"Why? Why doesn't my Authority work on you? That's impossible! Die already!"

After repeated failures, she was frantic.

"…If this were at the House of the Hearth, just for saying that, Dark Seele would've been spanked at least fifty times—publicly, in front of everyone."

Elias chuckled. The Herrscher's behavior was both nostalgic and strange—nostalgic because it was like Dark Seele's temper, strange because the real Dark Seele would never speak to him like this.

"Enough. I'll have plenty of time to play with you later. For now, surrender yourself, Herrscher of Death!"

"Surrender? Don't be ridiculous!"

The Herrscher's Honkai energy erupted, her black mist of decay surging out with full force.

Yet it couldn't even harm a single strand of Elias' hair.

For white flowers, symbols of Creation, had already begun blooming.

"What?! That's… Creation!"

Seeing the opposing Authority, the Herrscher—Sheele—widened her eyes in shock.

Of course she recognized it. It was the counterpart to her own—Creation, the opposite of Decay!

Pure white blossoms bloomed in the deathly fog. The same Authority, but wielded in opposite ways: one to create life, the other to erase it.

And when Authorities were equal, only Honkai energy output decided the victor. Against the output of a Herrscher bearing seven Cores… Elias only smiled.

The Herrscher gems embedded in his draconic form all lit up, endless Honkai energy surging from the white-haired boy.

Creation overwhelmed Decay in an instant. Countless white flowers spread across the city, banishing every trace of black mist.

"As I thought—too easy. For me, the Herrscher of Death is nothing more than a freebie." Elias looked on with satisfaction at the beautiful scene he had created.

"This… this is impossible! How can you wield the same Authority as me?! Just what are you?!" Sheele's voice trembled with panic.

"Me? I'm the one here to keep you company… kidding. But you're out of options now, aren't you?"

Elias smiled, plucking one of the white blossoms to inhale its fragrance.

No one in the world understood the Herrscher of Death better than he did.

Unlike other Herrschers, the Herrscher of Death was a complete domain-type Herrscher, with no real ability to fight individual opponents. Her main method of attack was her black mist of Decay, ensuring automatic death to all who approached.

What made her difficult was her ability to heal herself.

But… she had encountered the one person in existence who perfectly countered her.

Elias' Creation nullified her Decay. Unless her output surpassed his, her black mist could not exist within his sea of flowers.

That meant her Authority was sealed.

And a Herrscher unable to use Authority could even be defeated by ordinary soldiers.

"It's done. You can come down now."

With the mist completely dispersed, the barrier obstructing entry vanished as well. Elias called in the Fire Moth soldiers, instructing them to deal with the Honkai Beasts born from the Eruption.

At the same time, Elysia, Kevin, Kosma, and Sakura leapt down from the transport.

There they saw him—standing amidst a sea of white flowers, a vision so breathtakingly pure and sacred that they could only be mesmerized.

"What are you all dazing off for? Come here."

"O-okay!"

The group hurried over to Elias, gazing in awe at the captured Herrscher of Death. Never before had they seen a Herrscher appear so "harmless and powerless."

With her Authority neutralized, Sheele the Herrscher of Death was nothing at all. At this point, not only were the fusion warriors stronger—even Hua could probably defeat her.

"Elias, are these white flowers your ability?"

"Mm. Beautiful, aren't they?"

Elias answered proudly.

In the Previous Era, using Herrscher Authority was dangerous. If his Herrscher identity were discovered, all the prestige he had built up would collapse in an instant.

Thus, he always used it with the utmost caution. The Herrscher of Fire's power was the one he used most, but he disguised it as his MANTIS ability. After all, fire-based abilities weren't rare—it wouldn't raise suspicion…

It was just that his flames burned a little too fiercely.

Now, even though he had used the Herrscher of Rebirth's Authority on such a large scale, he showed no concern. After all…

"This power really is beautiful."

"Captain really is an angel."

"I want to take a flower back as a keepsake."

"This is the exact opposite of the Herrscher's power."

The Fire Moth warriors—indeed, anyone who saw Elias wield Creation—had no doubt. The pure white sea of blossoms contrasted so strongly with the black mist of Decay that not a soul would believe they shared the same origin. To them, this holy and breathtaking ability could never be related to a Herrscher of destruction.

At that moment, Kevin slyly raised his greatsword, intent on stealing the finishing blow. But the next instant, a shocking sight occurred.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please don't hurt me! Sheele won't dare again! I beg you, spare me…"

The Herrscher of Death dropped to her knees on the spot, tearfully looking up at them. Gone was the yandere arrogance—now she appeared frail and pitiful, stirring even protective instincts.

"W-what?!"

"A Herrscher… begging for mercy?!"

"Does she still have humanity?"

Kevin, Elysia, Sakura, and the others nearly dropped their jaws. Even in the command room, Dr. Mei was stunned.

(Hm? This timid, familiar look… isn't she acting exactly like White Seele?)

Elias gazed at the Herrscher in surprise. A Herrscher begging for mercy was beyond anyone's imagination. But he, knowing the story, understood—this was merely her ploy.

"Not killing you is fine~ But in that case, you'll have to go to prison. Don't worry, I won't give you another chance to kill anyone. As long as I'm here, your Authority is useless. Now, stretch out your hand obediently."

As he spoke, Elias produced a pair of soulium handcuffs crafted by Vill-V. Under Sheele's sour expression, he clasped one cuff onto her wrist, and the other onto his own.

"Herrscher of Death—subjugation and capture complete!"

Chapter 538: Your Sister Will Always Be Your Sister

Although she had already eaten at the Yuigahama house, Kotomi Izumi still sat down to join her parents for breakfast. Eating wasn't important—it was more about sitting together and chatting.

"Let's not bother cooking lunch. We'll eat out. Kotomi, what do you want for lunch?" Kaneyoshi Izumi asked.

"Talk it over with Aimi. I already have plans to go shopping at the Chiba mall with Megumi this morning—we arranged it a few days ago."

When Akina Izumi heard this, she didn't say anything, but she did raise her eyebrows slightly, as if thinking: Goodness… straight from Yui's bed in the morning, and then off to go shopping with Megumi? Switching seamlessly between girls, huh?

"Do you have enough money?" Kaneyoshi asked automatically, the moment he heard his daughter was going shopping. He even started reaching for his wallet.

"I've got enough. I just got my manuscript payment this month."

"Don't spend it all once it comes in. You need to learn financial management. If you don't understand something about it, just ask me," Kaneyoshi said with a smile. Even though Kotomi was already earning money herself, every month he still gave her 50,000 yen in allowance.

Every time Kotomi said, I'm already earning my own money, Kaneyoshi would always laugh and reply: "In your parents' eyes, you're still a child."

"When you're out shopping with friends, at the very least you should take the initiative to pay a few times. If you're too generous, they might think you're looking down on them, but if you're too stingy, you'll gradually have fewer friends. You need to find the right balance."

While saying this, he still transferred 100,000 yen to Kotomi through his phone.

"I understand, Dad."

"Want another bowl?"

"A big one!"

"Haha, alright."

After breakfast, Kotomi volunteered to wash all the dishes and pots until they were spotless.

"Aimi's still not up?"

"She was up late doing homework last night, so she's sleeping in," Akina replied.

After washing up, Kotomi tiptoed upstairs and gently pushed open Aimi's bedroom door.

Sure enough, she was still sleeping in.

Kotomi was well aware of her sister's beauty—that delicate, lovely little face, that fair and tender skin. They all spoke of one truth: as Aimi grew up, she would only become more and more charming.

Thinking this, Kotomi's smile softened. She stood quietly by the bed for a while, watching her sister sleep, before chuckling lightly and turning to leave.

Smack.

Just as she expected, the moment she turned away, her wrist was caught by Aimi's hand.

Your sister will always be your sister. Kotomi had already seen through her sister's act of feigned sleep while standing by the bed. So she had only pretended to leave, teasing her a little.

Sure enough, the moment she turned, before she even took a step, Aimi grabbed her wrist.

Kotomi looked down at her with a smile. "Awake?"

Aimi blinked, then realized she had fallen for her sister's trick! She pouted unhappily. "So you do remember to come back home…"

Her sulky look made Kotomi want to laugh but also feel helpless. She had only spent one night at the Yuigahama house—was that really worth acting like she'd been gone for ages?

"How could I not come home? My cutest little sister is waiting for me here." Kotomi sat down by the bed, smiling warmly.

Such simple words were surprisingly effective for Aimi. Her pretty face flushed pink, and she muttered shyly: "Always such a smooth talker…"

Her words sounded like she didn't like Kotomi's flattery, but in truth, Kotomi knew if she hadn't said it, Aimi would have sulked at her for the entire day.

Seizing the moment, Kotomi suddenly pulled back Aimi's blanket, making her yelp. Who just ripped off the covers in the middle of a cold morning?! She was about to grab her pillow to smack her sister when Kotomi tossed her coat onto the floor and slipped right into Aimi's bed.

"O-Onee-chan! What are you doing?!"

Aimi's mind blanked for a moment.

"Are you hungry?" Kotomi didn't answer her question, but instead asked one of her own.

"Not really." Aimi shook her head. She really wasn't hungry—she had already decided to just wait until lunch.

"Alright then, I'm still sleepy. Keep me company and let's nap a little longer!" Before she even finished speaking, Kotomi pulled Aimi into her arms.

Aimi didn't resist. In fact, why would she? Her expression practically said: Happiness came too suddenly.

And just like that, nestled in her sister's embrace, the just-awakened Aimi quickly drifted back to sleep.

Once Aimi was fully asleep again, it was nearly 10 a.m. Kotomi carefully slipped her arm out from her sister's hold. Even though she had been the one to hug Aimi first, Aimi had soon taken over, holding on tightly.

Picking up the coat she had tossed onto the floor earlier, Kotomi returned to her own room to change clothes. After all, today she was going shopping with Megumi Kato. Putting on fresh clothes and a touch of light makeup was only natural.

Once she was dressed, there were still twenty minutes left until 10.

"Megumi is always the one waiting for me. This time, I'll be the one to wait for her." Kotomi decided to head straight over to Megumi's house and wait at her door. She wanted to see the look of surprise on Megumi's face when she came out and found her already there.

She grabbed a small handbag, slipped in a fully charged power bank and charging cable, along with some spare change, then headed downstairs, ready to leave for Megumi's house.

But just as she pushed open the front door, Kotomi spotted a familiar figure standing under a streetlight not far away.

Short black hair, slender legs wrapped in pristine white stockings, the perfect lines disappearing neatly into round-toed shoes. A girl of flawless beauty who always carried a faint, understated presence—fresh and graceful as always—was standing beneath the streetlight, waiting for her. When she saw Kotomi step out, her face lit up with a smile.

"Kotomi~!"

"Megumi, you came early again. I was planning to head over to your house this time and surprise you, just to see what kind of expression you'd make when you walked out and saw me waiting!"

Kotomi puffed her cheeks in mild annoyance as she walked over, realizing that even though she had left twenty minutes early, she was still beaten by Megumi.

Megumi could never resist Kotomi's pouting lips. Every time she saw them, she would lean in and kiss her deeply. Only after a long while did she let go, pinching Kotomi's cheeks affectionately.

"My little cutie, why do you tempt me the very moment we meet?"

Megumi Kato already had a good figure, and today she was dressed in pink tones, paired with white over-the-knee stockings that tightly hugged her slender legs.

Kotomi couldn't help thinking to herself: Megumi has torn so many pairs of my pantyhose. Maybe… today I should seize the chance to turn the tables? You know, give her a taste of her own medicine.

"What are you thinking about?" Megumi asked with a laugh, instinctively taking Kotomi's hand and noticing her restless expression.

"Nothing at all!" Kotomi shook her head firmly.

A cold gust of wind blew by, and Megumi instinctively shrank her neck. To match her white over-the-knee stockings, she had worn a skirt today. Even though Japanese girls were used to wearing skirts in autumn and winter, it was still a little chilly.

Kotomi, however, had gone against her usual style and wasn't wearing pantyhose today. Instead, she wore loose brown pants, paired with brown-and-white platform sneakers and short white lace-edged cotton socks. On top, she wore a dark blue loose hoodie. One word summed her up—warm!

Halfway along, Megumi lightly stamped her feet. "Kotomi, I'm cold."

"Then… how about we skip shopping today and head home instead?" Kotomi suggested with a mischievous grin.

"No way!" Megumi shot her a glare. This little penguin was definitely asking for trouble!

Kotomi chuckled, then took Megumi's hand and tucked it into her own pocket. "Is that warmer?" she asked.

"Still a little bit cold." Megumi's eyes glinted mischievously as she glanced at Kotomi's collar, clearly wanting to slip her chilly hands inside and make Kotomi shiver.

With just one look, Kotomi immediately knew what Megumi was planning. She had plenty of experience pulling that trick herself. Quickly, she warned:

"Megumi, I'm telling you—if you dare stick your icy hands in here today, I won't let you touch me for six months!"

"Okay, okay~" Megumi replied with a carefree smile, completely unconcerned. After all, Kotomi had made this kind of threat before.

And what happened then? Not even half a day later, Kotomi had grabbed Megumi's hand herself, dragged her to the sports storage room, and whined with tears in her eyes: "Why haven't you kissed me all day today?"

And then she was the one to kiss first.

Not even half a day later…

After passing through two traffic lights, Kotomi asked:

"I haven't been to the Chiba mall much before. Megumi, do you know the way?"

"Of course I do, don't worry. I won't let you get lost," Megumi assured her.

"Getting lost isn't the issue. What I want to know is—how much longer do we have to walk?"

As a homebody, even though she had the stamina of the Queen of All Females, Kotomi still kept her old habits: sit whenever possible, lie down whenever possible. For her, this weekend walk already felt way too long!

I just want to go home and play Apex… Kotomi thought to herself. Ever since she tried playing Apex with the Elite Series 2 controller the other day, she felt like she had discovered a new world.

So it can be this smooth with a controller?!

Of course, smoothness aside, maybe because she was still new to the controller, her already unreliable aim became even worse. She could empty an entire magazine and still not take down a single enemy.

"We're still a bit away from the mall. Probably another ten or twenty minutes of walking," Megumi estimated after thinking for a moment.

Kotomi immediately looked around for a taxi.

But then she thought again: the Chiba mall was a bit far from both her house and Megumi's. Walking took about twenty minutes, but a taxi would definitely be faster—as long as there wasn't traffic.

Still, taking a taxi for just a twenty-minute walk…

"Let's just think of it as a stroll. We'll take our time and walk there."

The moment Kotomi thought of how much taxi fare would cost, she instantly found the motivation to keep walking to the Chiba shopping mall!

Back at the Yuigahama house…

Yui Yuigahama slept in until 9 a.m. After waking, she went to the bathroom to wash up. Once ready, she returned upstairs to her little sister Yuka's room to wake her.

"Wake up, Yuka, the sun's already shining on your butt. Didn't we agree last night that we'd go to the Chiba shopping mall this morning to buy new clothes for Mom? If you don't get up now, I won't take you to Burger King for a kids' meal with a toy at lunchtime."

Yui held Yuka's shoulders and shook her gently until she finally woke from her dreams. Who knew what kind of dream she had been having? The corner of her mouth was even wet with drool.

Yui wiped it away with her hand, suddenly feeling nostalgic for when Yuka still wore a drool bib.

At first, Yuka still wanted to flop onto her sister and keep sleeping. But the moment she heard about Burger King and the kids' meal toy, her eyes flew wide open. In a flash, she stripped off her pajamas and quickly changed into her outfit for going out.

"Let's go, Onee-chan!"

"We should at least have breakfast first…" Yui said with a helpless smile. It was the first time she had ever seen Yuka change clothes so quickly.

She picked her up and carried her to the bathroom.

"Yuka, what were you dreaming about? You drooled in your sleep." Yui asked as she set her sister on a little stool. At her height, Yuka still needed a step stool to reach the sink.

"I dreamed Penguin-Oneechan and Mom were sleeping together…" Yuka said innocently while brushing her teeth.

Bonk!

Before the words had even finished, Yui smacked her on the head with her hand, scolding her sternly:

"You must never say things like that to Mom, and you can't say them to your Kotomi-nee either. It's way too rude, got it?"

"Uu…"

Yuka rubbed her head, pouting. It hurt a little, and she felt wronged. She really had dreamed that Kotomi and Mom slept together. Even if Kotomi didn't become her sister-in-law, becoming her new mom wasn't bad either!

Yuka could hardly remember how many times she had called Kotomi "Mom" in her dreams last night.

Stupid Onee-chan. You lost to Mom in my dream, letting her marry Penguin-Oneechan, and now you're just taking it out on me, huh?

Yuka finished washing her face and brushing her teeth with her little face scrunched up in an adorable pout. Even through breakfast, she stayed sullen, unable to figure out why she was being scolded when she was only telling the truth.

Tomoka Yuigahama noticed Yuka's mood and quietly pulled Yui aside. "What's wrong with Yuka?" she whispered.

"She's just sulking. Don't mind her," Yui said irritably. She really thought it was time to discipline her little sister properly. They had spoiled her too much, and now she dared to say anything that popped into her head.

After breakfast, once Tomoka had changed clothes, the three of them headed out together toward the Chiba shopping mall.

On the way, Yui bent down and offered Yuka a piggyback ride. Yuka didn't say anything, just obediently climbed onto her back, letting her sister carry her.

Moments ago the two sisters had been sulking, but just like that, their little quarrel had silently disappeared.

Chapter 626: I Surrender!

BOOM!

BOOM!!

BOOM!!!

Blinding bolts of lightning shot into the heavens, each thunderclap exploding like a mine in the ears, pounding the eardrums like a heavy hammer.

The tremendous roar of thunder bridging heaven and earth shook even the skies, its reverberations visible to the naked eye—wave after wave of resounding blasts, distant and muffled at first, then swiftly nearing, sharp and deafening.

Crack-crack-crack—!

From the very foundations of Elkia's royal castle, cracks spread like countless serpents crawling madly outward.

Snap, crackle, pop~

In that instant, every citizen near the royal castle saw it—the incandescent glow of lightning, godlike in brilliance, bursting from the fissures of the great hall.

"The royal castle?!"

"Isn't today the final day of the 'Royal Selection Tournament' gambling cycle?"

"The coronation of the new king… what happened?!"

People murmured anxiously.

"This… this doesn't look like a game. It looks like a fight? Wait—! A fight?!"

Almost instinctively, the realization sent chills through every Elkian. Thoughts of curiosity vanished, replaced by raw survival instinct.

"Impossible!"

"A battle?! But the First Covenant of the Ten forbids all killing, war, and plunder!!"

But before the citizens could sort through their chaotic thoughts—

BOOOOOOMMMMM!!

A greater shock struck. The stone-paved avenues shattered in an instant, shockwaves tearing through flowerbeds and gardens around the castle, sending fountains of debris surging more than ten meters high.

The oncoming blast of force made the watching citizens stumble, nearly falling flat on their faces.

At the same time, panicked footsteps and shrill cries echoed from the castle's trembling gates.

"A new god! A new god has come!"

"The gods' war is beginning! The Ten Covenants of the God of Games have lost their power!"

"Great God of Games, where are you?!"

They were the nobles of Elkia, who had come to witness the coronation.

But now—those once dignified aristocrats were indistinguishable from commoners, their finery forgotten, reduced to terrified, scrambling wretches fleeing for their lives.

"AAAAHHHHHHH—!!"

"We're going to die, going to die, going to die!!"

A red-haired, spiky-headed boy hefted his fragile, doll-like younger sister onto his back and yanked a crimson-haired girl with him, screaming madly, his voice shrill and desperate.

"Stephanie! Didn't you say it was just gambling?! Why are they fighting? With our flimsy bodies, one lightning strike and we'll be ash!!"

The boy ran amid the stampede, his sharp eyes scanning in every direction, his instincts guiding him to dodge the collapsing walls and falling stones with astonishing precision.

"Brother…"

On his back, the frail white-haired girl buried her face against him, her long messy bangs hiding her crimson eyes as she whimpered like a frightened animal.

The sudden storm of lightning and killing intent had terrified her completely.

"Don't be afraid, Shiro. Brother is here. You'll be fine. We'll be fine. I—"

CRASH—BOOOOM!

Another thunderclap tore through the air. Long after, the tremors still rattled their eardrums, leaving the boy fearing he had gone deaf.

Closing his mouth, the red-haired youth kept running. Yet perhaps from curiosity, or that reckless impulse unique to a certain kind of teenager, he dared glance back.

In his crimson pupils was reflected the sight of the royal hall collapsing completely, and the pillar of blue-white lightning piercing the heavens.

The sunlight was blotted out completely by thunderclouds. Bolts of lightning, thick as barrels, filled the sky, forming massive whirlpools of light, suffocating in their intensity.

Honestly… God of Games, can I go home?

The thought suddenly appeared in the mind of the boy named Sora.

So different from the arrogant, confident, and cocky declaration he had made just minutes earlier: "At last, I've come to a world where I can be reborn… Then I'll become king, reclaim territory, and play to my heart's content!"

This wasn't him quitting halfway—it was him being tricked!

Yes. My name is Sora, eighteen years old. I once lived with my sister Shiro in another world.

One day, in a chess game, we defeated a god named Tet—the God of Games. And then he brought us to this strange fantasy world called 'Disboard.'

A world where games decided everything, where winning a game meant gaining everything—it thrilled me.

Soon after, Shiro and I arrived at the last human nation of Disboard—Elkia. There, we met Stephanie Dola, granddaughter of Elkia's late king.

Through a series of encounters, I came to see Stephanie as a kind and gentle girl. I decided to help her defeat Kurami Zell, who had cheated with the aid of other races to win.

But…

Tet, you said you were the only god, that in this world even gods could not kill one another, right?

And yet the attacker who appeared just now recited a litany of divine names… and every one of them sounded terrifying. Not to mention the sheer power was overwhelming.

Even though I bolted the moment things went wrong, I still caught the words: End, Destruction, Slaughter, War…

Listen to that! Those domains make Tet's 'Games' sound laughable by comparison.

Why is it that I've barely arrived, played a few games, and already gods are at war?!

Just then, a soft, trembling voice broke through my thoughts. "Stephanie, what's wrong?"

Shaking off his panic, Sora realized he had to pull harder on Stephanie's hand to keep her moving. Her pace was slowing.

She stopped altogether, then suddenly tore free and ran back. "Eh?! Are you crazy, Stephanie?! It's dangerous!"

"I am a Dola! Guarding Elkia is my responsibility! The library—it was my grandfather's life's work! I can't let it be destroyed!"

Her emerald eyes shone with determination. Though tears brimmed at the corners, she overcame her instinctive terror of the thunder and sprinted toward the royal library.

Sora didn't understand why, but he instinctively followed.

For some reason, he felt an unusual fondness for this girl he hadn't known long. Was it attraction? Or a bond like family? He couldn't say. It was as if it had always been there.

The last time he'd felt this way was when his father remarried, bringing into his life a new little sister—Shiro.

A genius girl, born with unmatched intellect.

And her brother, born with innate flaws, his abilities lacking.

Too abnormal to fit in, the two matched more perfectly than real siblings ever could.

"Stephanie, down!" Sora shouted.

In that instant, he lunged, tackling her to the ground. A heartbeat later, a thunderous blast shook the air as a section of wall collapsed, and a brilliant slash of lightning carved through, scattering rubble.

BOOOOM!

One after another, cascading strikes poured down like a waterfall, the sound swelling like waves before ending in a crashing impact like a mountain falling.

"You okay?"

Sora pushed himself up, sniffing the air. The acrid scent of ozone filled his nose, the smell of air scorched by lightning's searing heat.

"Brother…"

Shiro crept up beside him, her eyes shimmering with tears. Pitifully, she raised her phone, encased in a pink bunny cover. "My phone broke…"

The violent electromagnetic aftershocks swept across them again and again. With no military-grade shielding, civilian electronics had already failed. Smoke thickened in the air.

Sora could already picture it—his game consoles and tablet, brought from his old world, were probably dead too.

This world is too dangerous. Shiro and I should just go back…

"Staying is suicide. This place is too dangerous. So long as we live, there's always another chance," Sora urged desperately.

"But…"

The responsibility of royal blood made Stephanie hesitate. Then suddenly, her emerald eyes widened. Trembling, she pointed behind them. "Sora, Shiro—behind you…!"

"A phone? An electronic device with no place in a medieval fantasy world… So, you two are the so-called outsiders?"

A woman's charming laugh echoed with the click of heels crunching over stone. Out of the smoke of collapsed walls carved open by lightning, a tall, black-robed woman stepped forth.

Her wine-red clawed rings gleamed like the scythes of death itself. From the haze shone serpentine pupils—rose-red eyes glowing ominously. Shiro shrank back behind her brother, trembling.

"Stephanie Dola, descendant of Elkia's royal line… and two extraordinary yet utterly feeble outsiders. It seems my luck is good."

"I surrender! I surrender! I demand protection under the Geneva Conventions!"

Exposed by a single glance at their phone, hearing words like 'medieval' and 'fantasy' spoken aloud—Sora flung his arms wide before the black-robed woman, shouting with all his might.

If they refused to play games, refused to fight with brains, and instead put a blade to his throat—what else could he do?

"..."

At his cry, Natasha Cioara gave a short laugh.

As expected. Outsiders. Just like them, these two were foreigners to Disboard…

"Take them. If they resist, execute at your discretion."

"Yes, ma'am." ×N

From the shadows, Imperial infiltrators emerged. In the terrified eyes of the boy, the girl, and Stephanie, they clamped on shackles, chains, and gags, then bundled them roughly into sacks.

When it was done, Cioara pressed her earpiece. "Spectators dispersed. Three targets secured. Electric Dragon, do you need assistance?"

"No. Cioara, clear out the civilians and seal the castle."

"You're merciful. From what I know, the Luna Wolves soldiers don't see these humans as kin at all."

"They're irrelevant. Within the bounds of Imperial law, this is my personal choice."

Clang—!

A white radiance flared. The omen ring of sanction manifested. Crimson oni horns jutted from her brow, her armor reflecting violet lightning. From the void, Raiden Mei drew the thunder-clad blade, the Domain of Sanction. Its crackling wail matched the sparks along its edge, framing her sharp eyes beneath her violet princess-cut hair.

The elf Fiel Nilvalen's khaki cloak was in tatters, her body seared with countless blackened burns. Bloodied indentations marred her skin, the proof of battle's toll.

"I'm curious," Mei said coldly. "From what I know, humans in elven lands are less than cattle—slaves. And yet you, an elf, risk your life to protect this puppet. Even to the death."

"What makes her so special? Or were you given a death order to guard her?"

Mei knew nothing of Kurami Zell and Fiel Nilvalen's bond. All she knew was what intelligence had told her. And the harder Fiel fought to shield Kurami, the more curious Mei became.

This elf was willing to risk everything to protect a human girl. Instinctively, Mei judged: Kurami Zell must hold a secret of immense importance.

"Very well. Let's see what makes her so different!"

BZZZZT—BOOOOM!!

Raiden Mei's brows drew tight with killing intent. Violet-red lightning burst outward, the ring of thunder blazing bright behind her, crimson oni armor manifesting. Her divine majesty was like a prison, like a queen of thunder descending upon the world.

"Impossible! How could Fiel lose? The elves' magic never loses to any race—that is why they are Disboard's greatest nation. To face them head-on is certain defeat, without exception."

The frail, black-haired girl Kurami Zell struggled to push off the rubble pinning her down.

Her veil was gone, her mourning garb in tatters, her body smeared with dust and stone fragments. Her small face was cut with sharp scratches. Despite the elf Fiel Nilvalen's desperate efforts to protect her, the weakness of the human body was all too clear.

Even the shockwaves alone had sent her sprawling, her head ringing, her movements sluggish and unsteady.

Raised in the elven nation of Elven Gard, she had grown up accustomed to elven victories. Now, faced with her mistress Fiel's defeat, her worldview shattered. She could hardly believe it.

(PS: Due to the elves' system of slavery, Fiel Nilvalen was nominally Kurami Zell's master. But in daily life, the two addressed each other as friends.)

"Kurami… cough, cough… I will protect you."

Fiel forced up another defensive spell. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Though capable of wielding seven-layered spellwork simultaneously, she had never once fought a real battle. Born after the Great War, she had only ever used magic to assist in games.

But against Raiden Mei—this was a real fight. And with Kurami at her side, a burden to defend, she was more cornered than ever.

"Unbound by the Ten Covenants… an Old Deus…"

Her eyes lifted to the blazing thunder ring above, a manifestation of lightning itself.

A terrifying thought crossed Fiel Nilvalen's mind.

Why had Tet, the God of Games, not intervened?

She had studied the Nilvalen family's archives regarding the Old Deus.

The Old Deus—

First of the Ixseed. Beings born of wishes and concepts, arising from the planet's essence, granted divinity through prayer and desire, thus attaining the Divine Essence.

Lightning, too, held the potential to give birth to such a god.

Just like her people's Creator God—Kaeneth, the Forest God.

The Ten Covenants bound the Ixseed, yes. But against the first of them, the Old Deus, such restrictions held little weight.

The God of Games was only the representative of that race.

Should a new god arise—especially one born from the primal concept of lightning itself—unless Tet used the power of the Suniaster, even he might be unable to stop it.

"If you seek the world's faith, if you mean to gain strength through prayer and worship, then so long as you spare Kurami…"

"I, Fiel Nilvalen, head of the Nilvalen family of Elven Gard, hereditary High Council member and acting senator, swear this: I will lead the elves to worship you."

"And if Kurami is crowned Queen of Elkia, all humanity will bow to you as well."

Her decision was instant. If Raiden Mei truly was Old Deus, then there was no point in continuing. Defeat was absolute.

Some races could slay gods—but not the elves.

In Disboard's history, only two had done so. One had nearly been exterminated for it. The other—created as weapons by gods themselves—had annihilated the divine entirely.

And now, Fiel sensed other powerful presences closing in, their killing intent locked onto Kurami.

"I surrender. May we speak?"

"Surrender?"

She was no Astartes, bred for slaughter. Despite her cold exterior, Raiden Mei's heart was far softer than Durandal, the fleet commander.

Slowly, she descended. With a casual sweep, she set the thunder-clad blade—the Domain of Sanction—against the elf's slender throat.

"I can promise it."

Hands raised, unresisting, Fiel Nilvalen met her gaze, unwavering, her voice firm as she declared her vow.

Chapter 556: Theory of Severing Lifespan

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Alright then, I'll go watch the memory footage first.]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Frieren-chan, Natsuki-chan, Victoria-chan, I'll chat with you later. You can also go check out the memory footage related to yourselves.]

Seeing the memory footage with their names on it, Darkness and the other newcomers didn't hesitate at all. They immediately entered their respective memory footage to watch.

They wanted to confirm whether the memory footage truly recorded their past and future as the group members had described.

Very soon, within just a few minutes, Natsuki Minamiya finished watching her memory footage in immersion mode. Her face revealed an expression of extreme shock.

The footage clearly recorded everything from her birth until now—even things she had already forgotten were fully displayed.

That alone was already terrifying enough. But even more shocking was that it recorded everything from now until the moment of her natural death.

It even included descriptions of major events she had not participated in personally. This wealth of detailed information gave her a comprehensive understanding of the future structure of the world.

With the past events acting as a basis, Natsuki had no doubts about the authenticity of the memory footage.

"To think it really allows one to see both past and future… The existence behind this chat group must be extraordinary. Especially the one who knows my past and future—without question, they stand far above even the True Ancestors."

Her eyes focused on Eriri's name, filling her with deep reverence.

Though knowing her own future pleased her, she also wished the footage could be visible only to herself.

Still, she wasn't so ungrateful as to resent Eriri for this. On the contrary, she felt satisfied, since the footage hadn't shown anything that violated her privacy. Otherwise, she wouldn't know how to face the other members in the group.

At this moment, she had fully accepted the existence of the chat group, no longer holding the same wariness as at the beginning.

"In a few months, the Fourth True Ancestor will awaken on Gozo Island. Should I interfere in that event… or should I let it proceed naturally, allowing Kojou Akatsuki to become the new Fourth True Ancestor?"

Recalling this major event that would occur in just a few months, Natsuki felt uncertain.

"But before that, I should first get to know more about the chat group and its members."

Thinking of the message the group leader had posted earlier, Natsuki began reading the chat group introduction.

At the same time, the other newcomers—Darkness, Frieren, and Victoria—also finished watching their memory footage.

Compared to Darkness and Frieren, Victoria's memory footage was far more uneventful.

As the princess of the Samanark Principality, her life was mostly spent either studying magic at her residence or visiting the "Nekoya" restaurant in another world to enjoy its delicious cuisine.

Although in the future several of her descendants died due to short lifespans, leading to some internal unrest in the principality, no major upheavals occurred.

Overall, both her past and future were rather ordinary. Instead, what stood out to her were the many things about the wider world she learned from the footage—things she had never known before.

Darkness and Frieren's futures, however, were much more complex.

Darkness's future showed her journey with an adventurer party, while Frieren's showed her ten-year crusade against the Demon King alongside the Hero's party, and then later, another journey with the Hero party's successors.

Since it was all viewed as mere footage, they didn't truly empathize with their future selves, nor did they develop special feelings toward the people or events shown.

Compared to that, getting to know the members of the chat group seemed far more important.

Thus, just like Natsuki, they turned their attention to reading the group's introduction.

By the time they finished, they had gained a thorough understanding of the chat group and knew its members all came from different worlds.

More importantly, they had also learned about the power levels of the group members.

Natsuki Minamiya glanced at her strength rating in the chat group—Level 2, Stage 7—then looked at the general average of Level 7 among members, and finally at Eriri's overwhelming Level 8, Stage 9.

She realized her earlier thoughts had been far too conservative.

It wasn't just about being above the True Ancestors. Compared to the chat group members, her entire world was practically insignificant.

If she possessed such strength, she wouldn't just be able to guard the Prison Barrier and Demon District—she could rule the entire world under her own laws with no issue.

Frieren also thought of this. With her deep hatred for demons, if she possessed such overwhelming strength, she could easily annihilate the entire vile race.

When Darkness and the other newcomers finished reading about the chat group and its members, preparing to communicate, they instead saw a strange sight on the chat interface.

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): There's a pervert in the group!]

[Asuna Yuuki (Level 7, Stage 2): There's a pervert in the group!]

[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): There's a pervert in the group!]

[…]

A long string of identical messages spammed across the chat, leaving Natsuki Minamiya, Frieren, and Victoria—who hadn't yet seen Darkness's memory footage—completely confused.

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): What are you talking about? Who's a pervert?]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): Yes, I'm curious too~]

[Frieren (Level 2, Stage 8): …]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Just watch Lalatina's memory footage and you'll understand.]

[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): I've never seen someone so perverted before. Lalatina, in terms of perversion, you're the strongest!]

[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): And why are you all rewarding her for it?]

[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 4): Don't call me Lalatina—call me Darkness! Dakune~su!!!]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): So you don't deny being a pervert, right, Lalatina?]

[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 4): Guh… How could you treat me like this? I'll never submit!!!]

[Lefiya (Level 7, Stage 1): Ama… amazing!]

[Riviera (Level 7, Stage 1): Lefiya, don't say nonsense. Be careful not to catch her perversion.]

Seeing the members all bullying Darkness, Natsuki, Frieren, and Victoria didn't comment right away. Instead, they decided to watch Darkness's memory footage first.

A few minutes later…

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): Human personalities are diverse, so developing this kind of perverted psychology is understandable. We should understand her and be tolerant of her…]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): …Alright, I can't say this with a straight face. Lalatina, you're really perverted!]

[Ruri Gokou (Level 7, Stage 2): Lol.]

[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 4): Guh!]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): Oh my, what an eye-opener, Miss Lalatina. No wonder everyone calls you that.]

[Alice Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 1): Speaking of which, among the newcomers there are two elves. I wonder how they compare to Riviera and Lefiya.]

[Riviera (Level 7, Stage 1): Even if we're all elves, the elven races from different worlds should still have some differences.]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): I'm only a half-elf.]

[Lefiya (Level 7, Stage 1): Speaking of that, according to your memory footage, your parents were both human. So how are you a half-elf?]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): I don't know either. But in our world, people like me are called "Changelings."]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): And because of lifespan differences, Changelings are often discriminated against and rarely find happiness.]

[Frieren (Level 2, Stage 8): Compared to humans, elves' lifespans are far too long.]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): Yes…]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): You don't need to worry about that here. Issues like lifespan differences will never be a problem in this chat group.]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): That's right. So you two don't need to worry—here, except for the newcomers who just joined, everyone's lifespan far surpasses yours.]

[Frieren (Level 2, Stage 8): Why? Even Flamme couldn't resist the erosion of time.]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Flamme? You mean your teacher, right? Even though she was much stronger than an ordinary human, her life essence was never sublimated. In the end, she was still bound by the lifespan of a human.]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): But it's different for us. If you've read the group introduction, then you should know about points, right?]

[Frieren (Level 2, Stage 8): I know.]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): The effect of points is huge. Just sixty-something points already improved my strength by a lot.]

After finishing reading the chat group introduction, the very first thing Natsuki Minamiya did was check in.

Following the system prompt, she converted the 67 points she gained from the Check-in System into strength, boosting her power instantly.

Though the improvement seemed small, for her, it was an incredible leap.

[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 4): I also checked in for points! I feel like my defense has gotten even stronger!]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): Points don't just increase your strength. They also enhance your life essence. The stronger you become, the longer your lifespan will be.]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): So if you don't work hard to raise your power, your lifespan will never catch up to ours~]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): That's wonderful. That way I won't have to live alone anymore. From now on, please take care of me, everyone.]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): Oh, right—the door to the Restaurant to Another World will appear in three days. Would you like to come with me to taste the cuisine there?]

Perhaps because of the friendly atmosphere in the chat group, Victoria didn't feel any wariness toward the others. Instead, she openly extended an invitation.

[Erina Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 2): Sure, just let me know when the time comes. I want to see what the cuisine there is like. It better not disappoint me.]

[Alice Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 1): I'm coming too!]

[Victoria (Level 2, Stage 5): Don't worry, it'll definitely satisfy you—especially the dessert called pudding. It's my favorite!]

[Erina Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 2): Eriri, are you coming with us?]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Not this time. Maybe later.]

Eriri was planning to resolve the Seraphim issue in a few days, after which she intended to personally take D on a one-month journey across the worlds.

Since she had given her word, she would not go back on it.

Though she was curious about the dishes at Nekoya, compared to her promise with D, it simply wasn't as important.

She could always visit the restaurant later.

[Erina Nakiri (Level 7, Stage 2): Alright then.]

[Arifureta (Level 7, Stage 3 / Group Leader): If Eriri isn't going, then I won't either.]

[Lalatina (Level 2, Stage 4): Delicious food from another world? I want to go too…]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): But a Cross-Realm Teleportation talisman costs 1,000 points. That's far beyond what us newcomers can afford.]

[Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9): Don't worry, Natsuki-chan. Since you've joined the group, I won't treat you poorly.]

[Natsuki Minamiya (Level 2, Stage 7): ?]

[Kyoko (Level 5, Stage 2): Finally, red packets! I've been waiting so long.]

[Echidna (Level 4, Stage 7): Perfect timing, my points are almost spent.]

[Chika Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 2): Oooh, hurry, hurry!]

[Elaina (Level 7, Stage 2): Red packets? Of course I'm in!]

[Moeha Fujiwara (Level 7, Stage 1): +1]

Seeing Kyoko and Echidna's words, and recalling the Red Packet System mentioned in the chat group introduction, Natsuki Minamiya suddenly realized something shocking.

Just as she was about to ask, the system prompt suddenly chimed.

[Ding, Eriri (Level 8, Stage 9) has sent a Luck-Based Red Packet.]

Seeing this notification, Natsuki realized the surprising thought she had just had was actually true.

Chapter 311: Are You Crazy? Sophons Are Your Wives Too?!

After roughly finishing the story of their Trisolaran journey to their stationed companions—

It was time for the most exciting part: tallying up the spoils.

They had spent a long time in the Trisolaran world, and from the Trisolarans, the Singer, the Zero-Homers, and other civilizations of varying levels, they had reaped all sorts of things.

"Here, first up are the things from the Trisolarans."

"We obtained sophon-manufacturing technology, along with a few other miscellaneous gadgets."

Kayo Senju projected some data onto the holographic screen.

"The droplets were merely probes, useless to us. Our tachyon sensors can instantly scan the surrounding star regions, so we'll skip that."

"Sophon, however, is a microscopic particle created by the Trisolarans. It can extract energy from the vacuum, travel at speeds extremely close to light, and use quantum entanglement to achieve instantaneous communication."

"It can also enter anywhere through microscopic higher-dimensional space, and freely switch its own dimensional state."

From the perspective of the Starsea Empire, the Trisolarans were just sub-light natives they could crush at will.

Their tech tree, too, was quite skewed.

They could manufacture higher-dimensional sophons, two-dimensionalize them, etch circuits into them as supercomputers, and then fold them back into microscopic eleven-dimensional form.

When it came to dimensional science and technology, the Starsea Empire was still largely blank.

"Isn't that the thing they used to lock down human science? What can we do with sophons?"

Tohru tilted her head.

"Sophon itself is also a highly advanced artificial intelligence. It can simultaneously process billions of threads, while monitoring the movements of an entire planet."

"All of its reasoning and calculations are based purely on logic and data analysis, unaffected by emotional interference. It is the perfect assistant tool."

Setsuna thought for a moment.

"We can assign them to govern our vassal worlds."

"Oh yes!!!"

"Glory to science!!!"

The shipgirls immediately cheered.

The Starsea Empire had more than a dozen vassal worlds. Normally, shipgirls took turns stationed there to manage them.

Although the natives of the vassal states were always respectful toward their suzerain and never dared to cause trouble—

It was still another world away. Staying there for months at a time without seeing the Commander was boring.

Most shipgirls weren't very interested in ruling worlds anyway. They preferred to stay by the Commander's side.

Now, sophons could free them from such duties.

From a ruler's perspective, sophons were even more suitable than shipgirls, since they could monitor an entire world's movements in real time.

In their eyes, no secret could be hidden.

"Mhm, a super AI? Sounds kind of like Grey?"

Everyone looked at the nanobot girl, noticing some similarities.

"Please. I can beat Zero-Homers and local natives into calling Commander 'Daddy.' Can sophons do that?!"

Grey scoffed.

She insisted she was the pinnacle of artificial intelligence technology.

"Next are the things seized from the Singer's ship."

The little loli continued.

"Photoids and dual-vector foils."

"Mhm, photoids were already used to refit the shipgirls over there. Now the expedition fleet all has photoid launchers. From this day forward, we officially have rapid star-destroying capabilities."

"Dual-vector foils are far too dangerous. They are strictly forbidden in our home universe and vassal worlds. Except for a few being used in Trisolaran space for research, all are kept under the Commander's custody."

Setsuna nodded.

"If there's ever a need to use them, you'll have to come to me for approval."

"Also, stationed shipgirls should have Bulins install photoid launchers for you. Same goes for Kancolle and Arpeggio—these things are simple in principle, and easy to retrofit."

"Ohhh!!!"

Several little shipgirls manifested their rigging, proudly showing off their newly installed photoid launchers to the others, who looked on enviously.

"Last month we even held a star-shooting contest!"

A little blue-haired shipgirl wearing a tiger-head hat bragged to the stationed Spirits and dragon girls.

"Sister Tai Yuan hit three stars, Sister Fu Shun hit five, Tashkent hit four… but me? I hit six!!!"

"Hmph, that last shot was mine—it'll hit thirty years later! The Commander said so, I'll definitely hit it!!!"

Fu Shun was unwilling to concede, arguing with Chang Chun over who had actually hit more stars with photoids.

"If it's not now, then it's not a hit!"

"Thirty years later counts! The Commander said so!"

"What if it gets intercepted?"

"Impossible!!"

"…"

Everyone else listened with black lines on their faces.

"Good grief!! You girls go out once, and now your idea of fun is shooting suns?!"

The Heroic Spirits were dumbfounded by the destroyer shipgirls' casual chatter.

These tiny destroyers, usually treated like children—Nero, Jeanne d'Arc, Jeanne Alter, and others often played with them in their spare time.

Now, they wielded weapons capable of destroying stars and even wrecking entire star systems.

Compared to that, Noble Phantasms like Excalibur, Golden Theater, or Jeanne Alter's curses suddenly seemed trivial.

Kurumi Tokisaki glanced out the porthole at the sun, tugged on Setsuna's sleeve, and hesitated:

"Um, Setsuna-kun, I do hope you'll show some restraint here?"

"After all, unlike shipgirls, I can't survive in outer space with just my body, let alone fly FTL."

"We won't!!"

Chang Chun and Fu Shun solemnly swore.

"The Commander said anyone who plays with photoids in this universe will get spanked. Absolutely not!!!"

"Oh?"

"Really? Spanked by the Commander? That's… such a scary punishment… maybe I should give it a try."

Chapayev manifested her rigging as she spoke, eyeing the star map for a target.

"I'll do it."

Richelieu flexed her silk-gloved hands with a cold expression.

"…Never mind."

The others who had been tempted immediately lost interest.

At last, they came to the greatest harvest of the trip.

The data obtained from the Zero-Homers…

"Mhm, I skimmed through what they sent over…"

"In terms of basic science, we don't need it. Our Stellaris-era science far surpasses that of the Zero-Homers' alliance."

"But when it comes to matters involving universal laws, we believe there's great application value."

The research lolis and a few Sirens listed out a report.

Two items were marked as most important:

[Pocket-Universe Creation Technology] and [Mathematical Laws].

"We've already heard the Zero-Homers explain mathematical laws. By constructing mathematical models, they can deduce everything that happens in the universe."

"And guide all things to develop according to their will."

"Unfortunately, their sub-light mathematical models don't apply to us. We'll need to rework them under our own universe's rules."

Kayo Senju added.

"That way, we too will have foresight of the future, and even abilities akin to manipulating causality."

"Hiss—"

Everyone shivered.

Foresight of the future. Manipulation of causality.

Such abilities were no longer just weapons, but abstract concepts.

Just hearing the names was enough to know these powers were utterly absurd.

The thought of two civilizations, each mastering mathematical laws and causality manipulation, going to war—it was enough to make one's head ache.

"As for pocket-universes, they appeared later in the third volume of Trisolaris."

"They're expansions of the greater universe, with independent constants and timeflows—a bubble cosmos isolated from the main one."

Setsuna continued.

"Er… you can think of them as miniature pocket-worlds, with parameters you can set however you like."

In the later Trisolaran era, when the greater universe faced destruction, many civilizations built pocket-universes to try to escape annihilation.

Inside, they waited for the main universe to cycle back to singularity, and return to the pastoral age.

But taking too much matter from the main cosmos created new problems.

Cheng Xin's choice to return the pocket-universe in the end was wise, though leaving behind only a five-kilogram biosphere was… puzzling.

"Can we build one?"

A small shipgirl asked.

"Yes. But it will take considerable resources. We could start small, as a test."

Setsuna considered.

"Independent time outside the greater cosmos?"

Gudako caught on immediately.

"So that means… we could also adjust the flow of time inside the pocket-universe?"

"Of course."

Setsuna gave her a strange look.

"So that means… inside a pocket-universe, you could… drive the Eternal Snowfall silver—"

Whack—

Before she could finish, a sharp hand-chop landed on her head.

"Is your brain filled with nothing but trashy thoughts?!"

"Wait, you're lecturing me?!"

...

At the shipgirls' strong insistence, the first Trisolaran technology to be put into use was the sophon.

The Bulins spent a week constructing a giant particle accelerator in Earth's orbit.

The construction techniques came from the sophon itself, which had once been used to monitor Earth.

After the Trisolarans were wiped out, Nymph obtained control of that sophon, which carried with it a portion of Trisolaran technical data, and promptly handed it over to Setsuna.

The blueprints and schematics were all written in Trisolaran script. The research lolis had considered studying and translating them further—

But the Bulins claimed they understood it just fine.

So Setsuna gave the order, and the project immediately went into motion.

"This time we'll use high-energy collisions to trigger reaction, producing thirty protons, then unfold them into two dimensions and etch in supercomputer circuits."

"If all goes well, we'll manufacture thirty sophons."

On an open plain outside the capital, Kayo Senju proudly reported the progress to Setsuna.

One sophon was enough to govern an entire world. Considering the growing number of vassal worlds to manage, they decided to produce several at once.

As the Empire's borders expanded, sophons could even be promoted to sector governors, managing multiple star systems or nebulae.

"Mhm, begin."

Setsuna nodded.

"Activate the particle accelerator, bruin!!"

With a Bulin's command, the massive, city-sized, oddly-shaped particle accelerator in Earth's orbit roared to life.

High-energy particles were accelerated to near-light speed within its tubes, colliding to briefly distort the fabric of space.

Overhead, the starry sky twisted into bizarre graffiti.

"What's happening?"

The shipgirls, watching curiously, looked up.

"Sophon exists in eleven dimensions. When unfolded into higher dimensions, what we see in three-dimensional space is only its projection."

"It's like how a two-dimensional being could never perceive the whole of three-dimensional reality—only its projection on a flat plane."

Kayo Senju explained.

"Oh…"

The crowd half-understood.

It was hard to imagine that just a few years ago, these same little lolis were starving and shivering. Now they stood at the forefront of the Starsea Empire's research.

They had conquered light-speed, surpassed it with FTL, and now they were advancing toward dimensional science.

The anomalies in the sky lasted only a few minutes before the lolis in the space station began unfolding the sophons into two dimensions.

The Starsea Empire's technology was far more advanced—there would be no blunders like the Trisolarans' early sophon experiments, which created the so-called Magic Eye civilization.

A thin, dimensionless plane was spread out in the cosmos, draping itself over Earth under the pull of gravity.

Then, countless Bulins manifested their rigging, each wielding their meow-meow hammers, and set to work upon the two-dimensional sophon.

They etched circuits into it, shaping it into a supercomputer.

By now, the research lolis and shipgirls had long since stopped questioning how Bulins could use hammers larger than themselves to inscribe nano-, femto-, and even yoctometer-scale circuits.

If the Bulins said it worked, then it worked.

If it couldn't be built, they would simply reply: "That's not Bulin's job."

Such was the chaotic might of Azur Lane's magic, and the very foundation of the Starsea Empire.

A few days later, the first sophon was complete.

It reverted to three-dimensional form, becoming an invisible fundamental particle, hovering over Earth's North Pole.

[Sophon-2 ready. Awaiting orders.]

A holographic display opened before Setsuna, accompanied by a cool, clear female voice.

"Stand by."

Setsuna gave the concise order.

In the following days, under the Bulins' tireless hammering—

The particle accelerator continuously produced protons, unfolded them into two dimensions, and etched circuits.

They returned to three-dimensional form as fundamental particles.

What the Trisolarans had labored with all their might to create as a singular super-intelligence, the Starsea Empire could now mass-produce.

Five days later, all thirty sophons were completed.

[Sophon Unit Two ready]

[Sophon Unit Three ready]

[Sophon Unit Four…]

On the holographic interface before Setsuna, the sophons were neatly listed by number.

Counting the one captured in the Trisolaran universe that was still monitoring humanity there, the total came to thirty-one.

"Wait—just sending them to govern vassal worlds, is that really appropriate?"

"Humans can't even interact with sophons, right? Or is Commander planning to completely block their science?"

Formidable blinked, realizing a problem.

Sophons were invisible to humans. They could monitor an entire world, but their ability to directly intervene in the material world was weak.

Responding to sudden incidents might be troublesome.

"Didn't the Trisolarans already show us how to solve that?"

Setsuna smiled and clapped his hands.

Shwoom—

Several rows of metal stasis pods were carried over by the Angeloids.

Inside each pod lay a girl.

They had delicate, oriental-style features, dressed in dark kimonos with hairpins adorning their heads.

Pale-skinned, eyes closed, they rested silently.

"???"

"Don't tell me… this is…"

The shipgirls were stunned.

"Dolls?"

Gudako blurted out.

"Commander, Commander… I didn't expect you to be dissatisfied even with shipgirls, making toys for yourself instead? Tsk, tsk…"

Whack—

Setsuna smacked her on the head.

"These are for the sophons! They'll control humanoid robots!!!"

He had faithfully recreated the appearance of sophons from the Trisolaris story, crafting them physical bodies.

Having a form would make things far more convenient.

"Each sophon controls one."

Setsuna ordered via the holographic interface.

"Understood."

Thirty sophons descended from Earth's orbit.

From invisible higher-dimensional states, they entered the robots' bodies and immediately took over their control systems.

"…"

Two neat rows of identical girls slowly stood up, bowing gently toward Setsuna.

"Sophon at your service, my Lord."

Their movements were graceful, their expressions calm, carrying a faint air of nobility.

In any human world, they would undoubtedly turn every head on the street.

"Sophon Units Two and Three, remain in the administrative center to assist with this world's management."

"The rest of you—govern the vassal worlds."

Setsuna swiftly assigned them their respective jurisdictions.

Each sophon's computational power could easily manage an entire planet. With their humanoid bodies, crafted with Angeloid technology, they could also suppress rebellious natives if necessary.

Information flowed instantly between all sophons, and from the Eternal Snowfall's mainframe, their status could be monitored in real time.

"Understood."

...

Across the vassal worlds—

Shipgirls stationed in administrative centers looked with surprise at the sophons who had arrived to take over.

Even after multiple upgrades had greatly enhanced their abilities, they had to admit that expertise mattered.

As advanced AIs, sophons could grasp every aspect of a world's state in an instant.

Production, population, industry, agriculture, pollution—nothing escaped them.

Photographic memory was merely a basic function.

From the data alone, they could generate complex development plans that no one else could even understand.

At the same time, no disturbance in the vassal worlds could slip past their eyes.

It was no exaggeration to say that if you asked a sophon how many grains of rice a person had eaten for lunch yesterday, it could answer immediately.

"Zzz… this is great. With sophons helping, I don't have to do any work anymore…"

In the Akame ga Kill world, Indomitable tidied up her belongings.

Yawning, she prepared to return to the port area to sleep.

"Stay in your room forever, why don't you."

Formidable said casually while combing her hair before the mirror.

"Tonight the Commander's holding a celebration on the Eternal Snowfall for the triumphant return. He's even going to use temporal distortion authority to give us a one-month vacation."

"Indomitable, care to guess which Illustrious-class carrier wasn't invited?"

"???"

The black-haired, green-eyed shipgirl jolted with a shiver.

"No way! You've got to take me this time!!!"