Omniscient POV
The morning air was crisp as Tobio walked alongside Lavinia and Natsume, his mind still mulling over the events that had led them here. After finishing their breakfast and enduring the hellish training, they set out to find Kouki.
After leaving the hideout and arriving downtown, Minagawa Natsume handed Tobio a micro SD card.
"This has data prepared by the 'Governor General.' Just insert it into your phone and install the app."
Tobio powered on his phone, which he'd turned off the previous night to avoid contact with anyone. Given the danger, he couldn't attend school or involve others until the situation was resolved.
Once he inserted the card, the app automatically installed and displayed photos of the 233 students who had become Utsusemi.
"For future reference, memorize their faces," Natsume instructed.
Many were unfamiliar, but it would be useful to recognize them later.
Following Lavinia's lead, Tobio and Natsume were searching for Kouki when Natsume suddenly stopped them all again.
"Hey, don't you need to name your puppy? It would be better, you know. You saw how helpful it was in that mock battle earlier," said Natsume, prompting Tobio to contemplate it.
Having a name for the puppy inside his shadow would certainly be more practical than just calling it 'puppy'.
"Yeah! You do need to name your puppy. Give it a cute name!" said Lavinia excitedly with a smile, her bright blue eyes glancing at the small creature at Tobio's side, encouraging him.
Tobio glanced down at his puppy, who padded along quietly, always alert. "A name, huh… I'll think of something."
After a moment, Tobio made up his mind and thought of a name. Then, his puppy suddenly emerged from his shadow, looking at him.
"Your name will be... Jin. I'll call you that!" said Tobio, causing the puppy—Jin—to bark and nod in affirmation. But before long, Jin suddenly disappeared into his shadows.
Soon, they arrived at a deserted department store, thanks to Lavinia's teleportation. The store's windows were dark, and the entire place gave off a desolate, abandoned vibe.
Tobio and Natsume stood in front of the deserted department store, a place that had become nothing but dangerous.
The building was completely empty, and the worst possible location to be ambushed by the Utsusemi.
Still, the light from Lavinia's staff shone brightly toward the inside, indicating the presence of Samejima Kouki.
Natsume, realizing the situation, spoke. "It wouldn't be strange if this place had become a den of Utsusemi."
The black puppy, which had been missing, had returned, a sign that the master's body was likely in danger. The large size of the store meant there could be more Utsusemi than they could anticipate.
"Let's go inside," Lavinia said, showing no hesitation. The main entrance was sealed, but they found the staff door pried open—Samejima's likely entry point.
Once inside, the darkness was oppressive. Natsume handed Tobio a flashlight as Lavinia, her staff glowing, led the way. They spread out, moving cautiously through the first floor.
"Which floor is he on?," Natsume whispered.
"I'm not sure. My magic's restrained here, but I know he's in the building," Lavinia replied, her staff flickering. Something inside was affecting her abilities, even if only for a bit.
Natsume suggested, "Let's search floor by floor. We can't risk rushing to the top and running into a large group. Can you use any communication magic?"
Lavinia nodded, drawing a circle in the air, producing a spell that embedded tiny crystals in their ears. Tobio flinched as the magic took effect, but Natsume grinned.
"Can you hear me?" she tested, her voice now echoing inside his ear. Tobio, still adjusting to the strange phenomenon, nodded.
"We'll split up to search. Check in when we reach the second floor," Natsume instructed. Tobio and the others spread out.
As Tobio moved through the empty department store, his heart raced. The store was stripped bare, filled only with plastic sheets and ladders for demolition.
The lack of hiding spots was a small comfort, but the eerie emptiness was unnerving. The memory of his normal life just yesterday clashed with the nightmarish reality he faced now.
The black puppy at his side, blade protruding from its head, gave him some strength. His determination came from his desire to save his classmates—and reunite with Sae.
Tobio pressed on, hearing Natsume's voice in his ear, "Anything on your end?"
"Nothing so far. You?"
"Nothing here either. Griffon hasn't found anything yet."
As he approached the escalator, Tobio's puppy suddenly stopped, staring intently at a pillar. Tobio shone his light toward it but saw nothing.
Then, from behind the pillar, a white cat emerged. Not a normal stray, Tobio realized—it could be an Utsusemi.
Before he could react, a tall figure stepped out—Samejima Kouki.
Samejima, shielding his eyes from Tobio's light, sighed, looking at his phone. The puppy and the cat stared each other down, but neither moved.
"So, another survivor?" Samejima muttered, scratching the back of his head. "You with Natsume and the witch?"
Samejima purposely avoided mentioning that heartless black cat, Kuroka. In his eyes, that black cat had a heart just as dark as her fur.
He also considered Tobio a survivor since he didn't match the ones shown in the app—an app Tobio had also been given earlier.
"Yeah, they're searching the first floor."
Samejima grimaced. "Figured. I was tracking down a lead, but now they've found me."
Suddenly, Samejima's attention shifted to the escalator. His gaze sharpened. "There's something here."
The cat and the puppy also fixated on the same spot. Tobio couldn't see anything, but the feeling of a presence lingered.
Samejima glanced at him. "Learn to sharpen your senses. With the Sacred Gear, even a beginner can pick it up."
Before Tobio could report to Natsume, her voice echoed urgently in his ear. "Ikuse-kun! We're under attack! Lavinia and I are holding them off—what's your status?"
Tobio responded quickly. "I found Samejima! Should we come to you?"
Samejima chuckled. "So it seems the witch girl is there with her? If that's the case, shouldn't there be little reason to worry about that birdbrain (Natsume)? It's too bad, but they'll have to wait for me to finish my business upstairs."
Saying that, Samejima picked up the white cat, placed it on his shoulder, and proceeded to ascend the escalator.
"Oi!" Natsume yelled.
As Tobio tried to call him back, Natsume's voice was transmitted. "Ikuse-kun! Go after him!"
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Don't worry about us! Lavinia's got it covered."
A crash and a flash of red light filled the first floor. Lavinia had already taken care of a monster with ease. Despite his worry, Tobio knew Natsume and Lavinia could handle themselves.
"Got it! I'll follow Samejima. Stay safe!" he called out, before chasing after Samejima.
When Tobio reached the second floor, the lights were unexpectedly on, flooding the area with brightness.
Tobio and Samejima were momentarily blinded by the sudden brightness, but the light revealed the entire floor.
Before them stood monstrous creatures—giant insects, crabs, and turtles—alongside their fellow classmates, now Utsusemi. There were about ten opponents.
Samejima, undeterred, smiled fearlessly and advanced. "Byakusa, let's go."
His cat's tail transformed into a lance on his arm. He taunted the Utsusemi before swiftly piercing a spider monster, lifting and tossing it towards the enemy.
With quick precision, Samejima and Byakusa worked together, taking down more monsters, and targeting their weak points.
Meanwhile, Tobio, facing the familiar frog monster, dispatched it effortlessly with Jin, his black dog, slicing the enemy in two. Samejima noticed Tobio's skills and whistled in approval.
Samejima took on a mantis and a stag beetle, overwhelming them with his lance. Tobio, cleaning up his own enemies, realized the sheer power of Jin and Samejima's Sacred Gears, far surpassing anything artificial.
However, Samejima hit a wall when facing a turtle monster, whose hard shell deflected his attacks. That's when Jin, acting instinctively, pierced the gap where the turtle's head had retracted, killing it instantly.
Impressed, Samejima remarked, "If attacking the shell doesn't work, go for where there is none. Looks like your dog picked that up fast."
Within minutes, the Utsusemi were defeated, and the students who had summoned them collapsed unconscious.
Samejima asked Tobio, "Why didn't you flee? What's your reason for fighting?"
Tobio replied, "There are people I wish to save, no matter what."
Samejima softened for the first time. "Seems you're not just some indecisive guy."
As they ascended the escalator to the third floor, Samejima smirked. "...A woman is it?"
That single word came as a complete surprise. Even though Tobio had only spoken of 'people I wish to save,' Samejima had apparently seen through that.
As a result of it being comprehended, Tobio became flustered and his face turned red.
"Eh! N-no, that's..."
Samejima laughed as Tobio spoke while stuttering.
"Haha, a woman, huh? Isn't that great? Putting on such strange airs of justice, that's quite good."
Looking back, Samejima extended his hand.
"I'm Samejima Kouki."
Tobio, in spite of his surprise, immediately reached out and accepted the handshake.
"Ikuse Tobio, I'll be in your care."
This was Ryoukou High School's former number-one delinquent——Samejima Kouki. But, it seemed that he was a much more decent guy than rumored.
They ascended to the fifth floor, where a swarm of Utsusemi awaited, numbering at least thirty. These grotesque monsters varied in shape and size, their ominous eyes fixed on Tobio and Samejima.
The sight of so many creatures gathered in one place was overwhelming. Among the masses, Tobio spotted a monster resembling a giant plant, a sight that startled him.
Samejima's attention, however, was focused on a single figure. Tobio followed his gaze to a man in his late twenties, sharply dressed in a business suit. The man's smile was fearless, almost mocking, as he approached them with an air of confidence.
"Yah, just two of you? Or is there some third person down below?" the man asked, his sarcastic smile not fading.
Samejima's tone turned threatening. "The mastermind?"
"——You could say that I'm one of them," the man replied calmly. "My name is Doumon Kazuhisa. I'm involved in the 'Four Fiends Project'. Thought I'd come to inspect the scene for fun."
"...Four Fiends? What the hell is that?" Samejima demanded, the phrase unfamiliar to him but not to Tobio. Samejima had already left to become a vigilante before listening to such explanations.
Doumon looked briefly puzzled before chuckling. "Hou, hasn't that 'Gang of Fallen Angels'—Grigori—mentioned it yet? Well, no matter."
With a simple gesture, Doumon signaled the Utsusemi to move forward. He spread his hands, still smiling as he addressed them. "In any case, you're coming with me. We need the cat and dog you carry. The Utsusemi? They were just small experiments."
Samejima, undeterred, clenched his fists. "The genuine sacred gear——that Sacred whatever... You dragged them into this mess for some ridiculous reason. Why don't you release my pal while you're at it?"
Doumon's expression barely shifted as he replied, "Ah, yes, your friend Maeda Nobushige. He's already been turned into an Utsusemi."
At this, Samejima's face twisted with rage. Tobio could feel the fury radiating from him. Maeda was one of Samejima's closest friends, someone he had often seen hanging out with at Ryoukou High School. The mention of his name only fueled Samejima's desire for revenge.
"In that case," Samejima snarled, "I'm gonna pummel you, you damn bastard!"
Without hesitation, the lance re-formed on Samejima's left arm, his body tensed, ready for combat.
"Truly vulgar," Doumon muttered disdainfully.
Samejima glanced at Tobio, briefly assessing the situation. "Have birdbrain and the witch girl not shown up yet? This guy's tough. We need help with the mastermind."
Tobio nodded and quickly contacted the others. "Minagawa-san, Lavinia-san, how are things over there? We're dealing with a big crowd upstairs."
Natsume's frantic voice came through the earpiece. "We're swamped! Utsusemi is attacking from outside, and we can't break away! Even Lavinia's fire and paralysis aren't stopping them. I'd say there's about sixty!"
——Sixty?! That's not much better than what we've got here!
The situation was dire on both floors. Tobio could hear Lavinia in the background, suggesting she freeze them all, to which Natsume desperately protested, warning her not to freeze the entire place.
"...Understood. We'll hold our ground as best we can," Tobio responded.
"We'll survive!" Natsume replied, determined.
Samejima, listening in, sighed. "Birdbrain never changes, always so reckless. Well, we just have to do what needs doing."
He turned to Tobio, his expression serious. "We can't let that bastard Doumon get away. I've got questions for him."
Tobio nodded. "Yeah, I know."
With that, they stepped forward alongside their partners—the puppy and the cat—ready to face the advancing Utsusemi. The monsters came at them in waves.
Samejima's lance and Tobio's puppy cut down the gigantic centipedes and grasshopper-like beasts, killing them with precise strikes. The close-range attackers were easy to deal with, but those attacking from a distance with ivy and tentacles proved harder to manage.
Tobio and Samejima had to carefully cut through the entangling vines and reptilian limbs to press forward.
Despite the number of Utsusemi, Tobio found it strange that they weren't all attacking at once. Instead, only small groups of four or so came at them at a time.
It didn't make sense; Tobio was still new to his awakened powers and could have been easily overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Why weren't they trying that?
He glanced at Doumon, who stood watching the fight with interest, occasionally giving a small gesture to direct the Utsusemi.
It hit Tobio—Doumon was actually observing them, purposefully holding back the full force of his monsters to watch how they fought.
Samejima seemed to catch on as well, clicking his tongue in annoyance. "So, he's just watching us, huh? Acting like this is a damn show. A total waste!"
Doumon's calm demeanor only seemed to fuel Samejima's anger further.
As Tobio and Samejima defeated a pair of flying Utsusemi, Doumon, with a nod of approval, reached into his breast pocket and pulled out several talismans covered in magical symbols.
"Ah, yes. It's clear now. The genuine ones are different, no need to keep comparing them to the artificial ones. Samejima Kouki, you truly handle your sacred gear well. As expected of someone carrying a part of the 'Four Fiends'. I think it's time we switch things up."
Doumon began chanting softly, releasing the talismans. They floated in the air, forming a glowing pentagram before a large shadow appeared on the floor.
The shadow bulged and shifted until it took shape—a massive, three-meter-tall figure made of clay. It was faceless, with arms as thick as telephone poles, and its sheer size made it an imposing threat.
Doumon smirked. "This is a prized creation of my family. My clay doll will capture you."
With a snap of his fingers, the giant clay doll came to life.
Samejima tightened his grip on his lance and spat, "It doesn't matter if it's that witch's magic or your stupid clay monster. I'll cut it down."
Doumon only sneered. "Compared to what you possess, this is far superior. Truly unfortunate for you."
The clay doll swung its massive fist, the force vibrating the air. Samejima dodged, barely avoiding a direct hit, and counterattacked with his lance.
However, the blow bounced off the clay surface with a dull thud. The doll's body was too tough for Samejima's weapon to pierce. Tobio's puppy slashed at it with wing-like blades, but again, no damage was done.
Doumon laughed. "My doll surpasses you. Now, let's finish this."
With another spell, Doumon summoned a second clay doll behind them, trapping Tobio and Samejima between the two towering figures. The situation was quickly turning dire.
"Damn it!" Samejima cursed, his frustration growing.
Tobio could only grit his teeth as the clay monsters closed in on them, completely surrounded.
"Well then, how should we do this?"
Tobio and Samejima were pinned to the floor by Doumon's clay doll, its arms restraining them. Tobio could feel the immense strength of the clay figure and realized there was no escaping by his own power. Their puppy and cat were held by another clay doll, removing any chance of freedom.
Doumon, calmly operating a mobile device, glanced at Tobio with distaste. "You seem to have led that person here," he remarked, instructing the Utsusemi behind him, "Go, before they arrive."
Among them, Tobio spotted someone familiar. "Sasaki?" His friend stood there, expressionless, once again leading the resurrected lizard monster.
Doumon explained, "Yesterday, you defeated this child, but with our technology, we resurrect them using even a single body part."
Tobio, though confused, shouted, "Stop it, Sasaki! It's me, Ikuse!" But Sasaki remained silent, his face emotionless.
Samejima gritted his teeth. "They won't stop unless you take down the company controlling them."
Doumon, enjoying their reaction, pushed Sasaki closer to the puppy's blade. "Still, you wouldn't kill a human, would you? Imagine what would happen if your gear tasted human blood."
Tobio, horrified, struggled to break free, but the clay doll's grip was too strong. Samejima cursed, "You coward!"
The man's eyes, dyed with insanity, looked at them cheerfully, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
He was going to murder Sasaki using the puppy's own body...!!
Tobio was speechless at such a horrifying thought, yet he fought desperately to break free from the clay doll's hand. But despite his struggles, the creature's brute strength left him completely immobile.
"Damn it!! You coward...!" Samejima yelled, fighting in vain.
The man sighed, his demeanor unfazed. "What are you talking about? If you really think about it, it's your fault for not getting on that luxury liner. Your Sacred Gears must have sensed the danger, inducing your fevers.
And thanks to that bothersome group of those who fell from heaven, we didn't realize your absence sooner. Their manipulation of information threw us off. Those black-winged pests..."
His bitter smile widened. "Well, they call themselves the Grigori, those who watch over the children of God. Fitting, isn't it? The Sacred Gear is a gift from God, after all. But now, even Akatsuki is getting involved..."
Sasaki suddenly whispered, "Traitor." Tobio's heart sank. Was he a traitor for not going on the trip? Had this abnormal situation been his fault?
His mind drifted back to a memory of Sasaki before the trip, talking about confessing his feelings to a classmate, Morose. Sasaki had been a normal high school student, laughing, crying, and dreaming.
Now, Sasaki's voice broke through, "I... kuse..." Though his face remained blank, tears fell from Sasaki's eyes. "He... lp..."
He wasn't fully conscious, but somewhere deep inside, he had called out to Tobio.
Tobio's own tears fell as he watched his friend suffer. Doumon, thrilled by the sight, said,
"This is magnificent! He's still partially conscious. We must report this!" To Doumon, Tobio and his classmates were nothing more than objects, tools for experimentation.
Tobio couldn't hold back his rage any longer. "Don't fuck with me! Why use Sasaki and the others for your experiments if they aren't good enough?"
Doumon sneered, blaming them for not participating in the trip and forcing his group to resort to Plan B.
"We needed young people for our 'Four Fiends Project.' Their cooperation was essential."
Tobio's anger intensified. His friends shouldn't be involved in this. They deserved normal lives, not this nightmare.
Doumon, amused, recalled, "Ikuse... you're close with Toujou Sae, right? She's become an excellent Utsusemi."
Seeing Tobio's reaction, he continued, "She cried out for you during the experiment. Tobio, Tobio... she kept calling your name."
Tobio's fury reached its peak. Tears streamed down his face as he glared at Doumon with murderous intent.
These people were evil, driven by their greed, willing to harm Sasaki, Sae, and anyone else for their twisted experiments.
——I won't allow it. I'll rescue them.
At that moment, Lavinia's words echoed in his mind.
"The power of desire... Sacred Gears grow stronger from strong desires. That doggy responded to Tobi's deep desire."
Tobio glanced at the black puppy struggling against its restraints, its body trembling as monsters held it down. His chest tightened, and a rush of raw emotions flooded him—anger, desperation, and a fierce need to protect.
"You were born from my shadow," he muttered, voice low but intense. "Can you feel it? My emotions, my desires? Can you become my blade? For my sake, kill them."
The puppy's red eyes flared brightly, reflecting Tobio's boiling rage. A pulse rippled through his body, stronger than anything he had felt before. His bond with the puppy felt different, deeper—almost like their very souls were linked.
"If you can feel it, then... for my sake, become that blade."
His heart thundered in his chest. Suddenly, something inside him burst open. It was as if the dam holding back his darkest emotions shattered, unleashing a flood of murderous intent.
"Kill! Slaughter them all! Tear them apart!!"
Tobio's voice erupted into a scream, his raw emotion pouring out. Dark energy exploded from both him and the puppy, spreading like a shadowy wave. The clay doll restraining Tobio began to dissolve as the dark energy devoured it, releasing him.
The sheer force coursing through his body overwhelmed him, filling him with a terrifying power. His heartbeat quickened as he felt the energy consuming him, but he didn't care—he embraced it.
The black puppy, responding to Tobio's rage, sprouted countless blades from its body. Together, they broke free, standing side by side, both consumed by the black aura that now surrounded them. Tobio's eyes locked on Doumon, who stood frozen in disbelief.
Tobio didn't flinch. He wasn't scared of this new power coursing through him; he felt strangely in control, as if it had always been there, waiting to be unleashed. His gaze hardened, and he extended his hand.
"—Pierce, everything."
With those words, the black aura around the puppy intensified, and in the blink of an eye, blades erupted from the shadows beneath the monsters.
The Utsusemi creatures didn't even have a chance to react—they were skewered instantly, their bodies collapsing like broken puppets.
Tobio's eyes darted to Samejima, who was still restrained. The clay dolls holding him were torn apart by more blades that shot up from their shadows, slicing them cleanly in half.
Tobio's mind whirled, as he realized what his puppy could do: Jin could manipulate shadows, growing blades from them as long as they were within his sight. A cold satisfaction settled over him.
"Wh-what is this!? Blades from shadows!?" Doumon stammered, his face pale, eyes wide with fear. "This ability... it's unknown!"
Tobio took slow, deliberate steps toward him, his expression unreadable. Doumon frantically threw talismans at him, but Jin emerged from the man's own shadow, neutralizing the attack with ease.
The transfer ability—Tobio knew it well now. Jin could move through shadows freely, and Tobio understood exactly how to use it.
Doumon collapsed to the floor, scrambling to escape. The confidence he had shown moments earlier had completely vanished, replaced with terror.
Tobio's voice was calm, but filled with icy menace. "You're all that's left."
Doumon, eyes wide with fear, babbled incoherently as he backed away. "Stay away! Please! Stay away!"
Just as Tobio was about to strike, a sudden light appeared on the floor—a magic circle. From it emerged a man in his forties, stern and commanding.
"Kazuhisa! Retreat now!"
Doumon recognized him instantly. "Section Chief Himejima!"
Tobio froze at the name. Himejima? His heart skipped a beat. No... it couldn't be...
In the brief moment of distraction, Doumon retrieved a cylinder from his pocket and fired it. A blinding flash filled the room, and Tobio instinctively shielded his eyes. When his vision cleared, both Doumon and the man were gone, the magic circle fading. The Utsusemi creatures had vanished too.
Samejima, panting heavily, sighed. "Heh, they got away."
The black aura surrounding Tobio dissipated, and he suddenly felt drained. Exhausted, he collapsed to the floor, his body trembling from the emotional and physical toll.
From the escalator, two familiar figures approached—Minagawa Natsume and Lavinia. Their clothes were dirty, and Tobio could tell they had been through a fight of their own.
"Ikuse-kun! Samejima-kun! Are you okay?" Natsume called, concern lacing her voice.
"You're late, birdbrain," Samejima shot back, though he was clearly relieved to see them.
Natsume scowled. "Who are you calling birdbrain!? You're the one who rushed in like an idiot!"
As the two bickered, Lavinia knelt beside Tobio, her soft voice breaking through the chaos. "Tobi... your desire reached that child, didn't it?"
Tobio looked at the puppy—Jin—who was wagging his tail beside him, still radiating strength. A tired smile crossed Tobio's face. "Yeah... thanks to you."
Lavinia smiled warmly. "That's excellent."
Natsume, having finished her argument with Samejima, sighed. "Well, now that we're all together, it's time to meet the 'Governor General.' Last time, he didn't answer all our questions."
Tobio nodded, though his mind was still spinning from everything that had just happened.
After a brief rest, they slipped out of the department store, ready to confront the 'Governor General' and finally get some more answers.