Infinite Ephialtes.
The trump card of Gilheld Asuma.
There are certain conditions for this trump card to be activated:
First, Gilheld must be in danger or a losing battle.
Second, he has to directly touch his opponent's forehead to use it.
And finally, as he touches his opponent, he must say, "Infinite Ephialtes," to activate the move.
There is a slight setback.
If Gilheld says, "Infinite Ephialtes," any time before he uses the move, he becomes unable to move since Infinite Ephialtes directly puts his mana into his opponent's brain forcing the replay of their greatest nightmare in order to kill them.
As Weissmann shook occasionally on the floor, Gilheld sighed.
Since he had just used the move, he was unable to move to a certain extent. He could move his arms and upper body but his legs were not functioning.
Gilheld panted as he looked over at Weissmann.
"Finally..."
He breathed.
"You're going to die..."
Gilheld could not hold the sinister smirk any longer. As he smiled, he laughed. And he laughed. To no end.
His goal... had finally been fulfilled.
"Enjoying yourself?"
As Gilheld stopped laughing, his position changed in an instant. His body screamed out to the pain in his chest and his vision darkened slightly. He breathed heavily and tried his best to understand the situation.
Gilheld could not.
"You're back now."
A voice spoke.
Weissmann appeared in Gilheld's view.
Weissmann seemed perfectly fine. He was not grovelling on the ground or injured in any way. The man was fine. As if nothing happened.
Gilheld's heart began racing. His heart rate went up and up, unable to understand the situation and... another feeling...
Fear. He was scared. He knew it himself. He knew...
He was going to die.
"Wow. You're scared, aren't you?"
"What..."
Gilheld winced from the pain.
"...happened?"
"Try to think back."
Weissmann encouraged, pointing at his own head. Gilheld stared blankly. His eye opened wide as he remembered.
"No... way... I never..."
A stomach-churning smirk peered up on the principal's face.
"Yes, indeed."
He lowered his voice; there was a cold chill to it.
"You never used Infinite Ephialtes on me. I used it and your greatest nightmare played, though it was only half of it. Now, look at yourself."
Weissmann pointed downward at his chest. Gilheld steadily lowered his head. On his shirt, there was a blood-red stain. He could feel internal bleeding in his organs. His arms and legs were functional either.
"You're merely a doll."
Weissmann laughed uncontrollably after whispering in Gilheld's ear. He glanced at Gilheld's withdrawn expression.
"It's great! Y-your expression! I can see your desire to-to-to... Hahahahahaha!"
The man could not stop himself.
Gilheld stared blankly at the laughing Weissmann. The light in his eye disappeared. He only wanted to die. Gilheld had nothing left.
He was powerless now. Without his Singularity, who would follow him? Gilheld ruled out of fear and with fear. Now that his Fear has betrayed him... All he had left was death.
Weissmann's laughter died out and so did his enjoyment. He kicked Gilheld in the face, causing him to fall onto his back.
The principal then grabbed Gilheld's hair and dragged him upwards. Their faces were level.
Weissmann's eyes lost colour and glowed yellow once more.
"Do you want to die?"
He asked.
Gilheld did not reply. He kept the same lifeless stare.
"If you die, I can end your suffering..."
He whispered.
Gilheld did not respond once more.
"DO YOU WANT TO DIE?!"
Weissmann shouted, annoyed.
This time, Gilheld flinched. His mouth shivered. The words would not form easily, until...
"Y-yes..."
They broke out.
"I... want... to die..."
Another sinister smirk appeared on Weissmann's face.
--
"That's the last of them..."
I said, throwing a minion onto the floor.
It took me a while, but I cleared out all of the minions in the conference hall.
And, no, of course, I didn't kill them.
I'm 15, almost 16, I don't have the guts right now.
There were a few students left in the conference hall who helped me, however, some stayed in their corners, hiding.
I don't think they had any practical practice. Well, neither have I.
I feel quite tired from fighting all of those guys. I'm surprised I lasted. Even with the help from others.
"Shoya."
A voice called out.
As I turned around, Ayaka came running to me. She looked slightly battered. But, if she's okay, then that means...
I looked beyond Ayaka. Yumeko was on the floor, tied up, unconscious.
Let's not mention the cracked floorboards under her. That must've hurt.
"Ayaka, are you okay?"
"Yes."
She noticed my gaze.
"Sorry about your sister. I had to."
"Ah, no! It's fine. I think you should attend to the students though."
I pointed at some unconscious students and the ones who fought with me.
They stuck to their word when they said that they wouldn't kill anyone. Any student, anyway.
She sighed and smiled.
"You're right. I'll get right on it."
And there she goes...
Ayaka should attend to herself first. Those cuts don't look too good.
Weissmann went to battle Gilheld...
I want to be the one who kills that motherfucker, but, as I said, I'm 15. I can't. Plus, I'm weak.
"Oi."
A haughty voice called out.
I shivered.
"Not going to help your sister out?"
I looked over to the stage. Ai-nee was sitting upright, glaring at me.
"I wonder why you didn't get up sooner."
"Well, Principal Weissmann beat me to it. As soon as I was able to move, after that unbearable rattling pain, Weissmann and Gilheld jumped out."
She pointed upward.
The hole in the ceiling from when Yumeko and Valhalla came through.
Suddenly, the main doors of the conference hall burst open. I raised my hand out at the door, on instinct, but lowered it once I saw Kuro.
"Ma-"
She stopped once she saw others.
"Shoya!"
Kuro waved happily.
I lazily waved back while smiling.
Ah, she looks cute. Why, I wonder?
Her cute fucking cat ears, of course! God, she even has the tail! It's been almost a month since I last saw her cat form! I think I'm tearing up...
As Kuro ran toward me, I heard another voice whine in pain.
That's when I noticed, she was carrying something--Ahem--someone behind her.
She threw him out in front of her. He landed right before my feet.
The man looked to be grown. He was big and dressed fairly well. The man was tied up in, what seemed to be, mana chains. He also had scratches all over him.
"Let go of me! I'll never tell you anything!"
He groaned.
I took a step back and sighed.
"Who's this?"
I asked, pointing at him.
"Don't know. Don't care."
Kuro said, putting her hands on her head.
"How rude!"
He shouted at her.
"I am Derek Rome! The Chariot! I serve the Father and command a whole battalion! If you do not let me go, they shall rain down hell onto this school!"
Yeah, I can see why she didn't care for his name.
"Sorry, but what are you part of again?"
"I am of the Major Arcana."
You didn't say that, but okay...
I thought, awkwardly.
"Major Arcana..."
I heard someone else mutter. I looked up.
Tatsuya, Anastasia and Emika were at the open doors. They walked toward us.
I guess they finished their battles at the same time as me. Tatsuya sprinted over to me. He seemed to have business with this 'Chariot' guy.
Stepping to the side, I moved out of his way.
Emika gave me a quick "Hello," and I returned it with a smile and nod.
"Hey, what did you say about being involved with the Major Arcana?"
He knelt and asked.
"I told you! I am the Chariot [VII]! I am a part of the Major Arcana!"
The man, Chariot-san, announced.
I'm curious.
"Yo, Tatsuya, what is this, 'Major Arcana?'"
He turned to me but Anastasia gave me the answer.
"They seem to be a group who work for Father. Since they're based on Tarot cards, there are 17 of them."
She said.
"17? But I thought there are 21 Tarot cards..."
I questioned.
"Well, the Father is the World. Apparently, the Magician is on the side of humanity. The Wheel of Fortune was killed in this conflict and-"
"Wait, who killed that guy?"
Anastasia had downcast eyes.
"Well..."
"It was me."
Tatsuya confessed. He seemed regretful. I could tell from his eyes.
I reached out my hand.
"Tatsuya, are you okay?"
I asked, concerned.
"Shoya!"
Emika shouted.
"He didn't do it on purpose! He gave his Familiar some mana and she went berserk! He couldn't do anything to stop her!"
Emika wanted to protect him. I know that.
I calmed her down by patting her on the head.
"It's fine. I believe you that Tatsuya didn't do it on purpose. Besides, even if you didn't tell me, I would believe him any day. Right, Tatsuya?"
I smiled at him. He saw my smile. Tatsuya cried slightly and smiled back.
"Thanks, Shoya."
--
Weissmann was on the roof of the skyscraper, watching Altria from it. He looked at Altheria Academy specifically.
"Well, now..."
He muttered.
"Everything has been set."
He spread his arms out and smiled.
"Soon, there'll be a new World Order..."