Shallow Vernal repeatedly creates and destroys, shifting between dimensions without pause. Even though it would be difficult for her to completely defeat Kuromueina in this way, it would be enough for her to buy time.
As she was repeating her one-sided attack, she saw a faint flash of light, to which she turned her head away from its trajectory.
The flash of light grazed Shallow Vernal's cheeks and left a small scratch, but of course, it healed instantly. However, Shallow Vernal stopped moving, inwardly astonished.
The damage from the current strike is negligible... But the fact that "a strike was sent her way" was astonishing.
Shallow Vernal had been attacking from a place Kuromueina shouldn't be able to attack all along. That's the reason why she was unable to make a counterattack before... At least, from the capabalities of the Kuromueina that she knows of, this shouldn't have been possible.
But in reality, such a counterattack came. That's why Shallow Vernal stopped moving. Immediately afterwards, Kuromueina teleported in front of her, striking her with her fist.
As several dimensions collapsed in the aftermath of her strike, Kuromueina slightly smiled.
[I finally found you, Shiro!]
[...I guess you really won't just let me get away.]
The reason why Kuromueina was able to get to where Shallow Vernal is is because of her inherent ability "Prologue" which she activated.
If one had to describe it, the true essence of that power... is "generating possibilities". The moment she uses her power would become the Prologue, and from that point forward, the story can change in any way she wants. Just as how the future is filled with infinite possibilities.
Until a few moments ago, it was impossible for Kuromueina to instantly teleport between worlds and dimensions. However, Kuromueina can now do such a feat.
"The power to change the impossible into the possible".... That is the Prologue: The Beginning of the Story. The power she possessed because she had raised many baby birds, standing at the beginning of many people's stories.
With this power, Kuromueina gained the ability of instantaneous teleportation, allowing her to arrive at Shallow Vernal's side. In this situation, the advantage would be held by Kuromueina, who has better direct combat abilities.
However, even if that's so, she was unable to truly defeat Shallow Vernal. With the two powers Shallow Vernal held, Epilogue and The Last Story, truly defeating her was out of the question to begin with.
Even if Kuromueina used her power of Prologue makes it possible for her to block the unblockable Epilogue...
Kuromueina would only end up as "a being who made it possible to to block the Epilogue"... Her power... rather than fighting against it, it wouldn't even be able to compare with it.
Not a single person or thing can resist their end. No matter what means they use, no matter what ability they have... Unless all stories end, the end for the being called Shallow Vernal wouldn't arrive.
But now, at this time, that out-of-the-question factor holds no significance.
The Epilogue is now in Kuromueina, and Shallow Vernal has no intention of taking it back. Kuromueina's current goal is also to stop Shallow Vernal, not to defeat her.
If that is the case, then it is possible for Kuromueina to win the battle. And thus, the scales of this battle are tipped in Kuromueina's direction.
[——————]
[Wha... Shiro... You...]
[——————]
[...Kuhh!?]
However, even if Kuromueina gains victory over Shallow Vernal...
[——————]
[SHIROOOOOO!!!]
That doesn't necessarily mean that "it would lead to her saving Kaito".
...Kuromueina had been wrong about something this whole time. She had been wrong about the time when Shallow Vernal had predicted her defeat in advance...
Agreeing to fight against Kuromueina, knowing that "even if she won the battle against her, she wouldn't be able to save Kaito", Shallow Vernal knew that she would need to "use her own body as a pawn to buy herself time"...
Yes, the very fact that Kuromueina agreed to this fight... was all "just as Shallow Vernal planned".
When I arrived in front of the university's gate with Alyssa, I saw a familiar figure, looking like she just arrived as well.
[Oya? If it isn't "Iris-san", what a coincidence~~]
[...Kaito... Alyssa... Good morning.]
[Good morning, Iris-san.]
(T/N: The "I" on Alice's best friend Iris' name is pronounced like the letter E, while this Iris is pronounced as "Ai"-ris.)
She is Iris Leavitt-san, and as can be clearly seen from her name, she is an exchange student. She is an incredibly beautiful woman with snow-white hair and ruby red eyes.
(T/N: アイリス・リアフィード / Airisu Reafiido)
However, she has a record of not fitting in well with her surroundings due to her reserved personality.
Alyssa and I got to know her because we were seated right next to each other in our first lecture at the university, and since then, we've become good friends and are currently belonging in the same laboratory.
[Ahh, that's right. Here, Iris-san, I also brought you a souvenir.]
[....Thank you... What's this?]
[It's a carved wooden statue that can be found in most tourist spots.]
[...Really? ...Errr... I'll take good care of it.]
After Alyssa handed over a wooden statue that was probably modeled after some kind of animal, Iris-san thanked her and nodded her head, accepting it.
As I looked at this scene filled with smiles, I felt my head ache again.
[Kuhh...]
[...Kaito? A- Are you alright?]
[Y- Yes, I'm sorry. My head's aching a bit...]
[W- We need to call an ambulance...]
[Ah, no, it's already abating, so it's alright!]
[...Really? ...Don't push... yourself too hard, okay?]
Not only is Iris-san a really kind person, she is also quite the worrier. When I cut my finger on my notebook once before, I remember how she became flustered and tried calling an ambulance.
Well, I'm happy that she worries about me that much but...
[But, Kaito-san. Seriously, are you alright? How about you go absent for the day and take some rest? If you worry about your attendance, I can manage it with one of my Journalist Secret Techniques, "Perfect Vocal Cords Mimicry".]
[No, I'm really alright. Rather than that, I want to ask what kind of superhuman you think journalists are.]
I'm sure she's worried about me, but it's just like Alyssa to always include her jokes at least once... Well, in her case, what was scary is that the things she's saying were something she could really do...
As I was wondering what these sudden headaches I've been having, I headed to the university with Alyssa and Iris.