In space, a woman floated serenely, enjoying her solitude and tranquility.
Zodiac is a beautiful young woman with a voluptuous figure and long blonde hair that reaches past her body. She ties her hair in an Odango style, with ribbons around the buns.
Her astral dress is lilac and white, resembling a Qipao. The ends of her skirt, adorned with constellation patterns, are split at the hem. Extensions of dark blue and purple hair, resembling rabbit ears, are attached to her buns. She also wears transparent purple gloves engraved with constellation patterns. Lastly, she wears high heels attached to metal greaves, resembling the leg armor of medieval knights.
It is because of this peculiar astral dress and her dwelling in space that she was called "Zodiac."
"Fumu... That dream again."
Opening her beautiful golden eyes, Zodiac murmured.
For the past few days, she had been having strange dreams. In her dreams, she regained her emotions and died—or more precisely, she committed suicide.
Such a terrifying dream should be a nightmare, yet Zodiac didn't think so. In the dream, she was happy, and an indescribable feeling grew within her.
Because of this feeling, she took the initiative to give up her life.
Zodiac didn't know how to feel about this. She, who had sealed her emotions, felt nothing, but her Sephira crystal flashed every time she dreamed and died, as if it were happy that she had died.
"What is happening? Muku can't understand it."
Shaking her head, Zodiac wanted to close her eyes again. But since this dream appeared every time she slept, Zodiac began to doubt if sleeping was the right thing to do.
"Mmm... What should Muku do?"
Zodiac was in a dilemma. She wanted to call her angel and seal this dream along with her memories to return to tranquility, but a part of her refused to do so, especially her angel, who trembled every time she tried to seal her memories and dreams.
Moreover, sealing her dreams would make her unable to sleep, putting her in an even worse situation.
It was because of this that Zodiac didn't know what to do. Everything was very confusing...
"Mukuro Hoshimiya."
Suddenly, she trembled. A strange voice called her. In space, where speaking should be impossible for humans, this voice made her Sephira crystal start to flash and send spiritual pulses. At the same time, a flashback of her dreams flashed in her mind. This voice belonged to that man...
"..."
Zodiac didn't speak but slowly turned around. When she did, she saw the person who had spoken to her...
Zodiac opened her eyes wide. She knew this person. This man appeared every time she dreamed. He was someone Zodiac could never forget...
This man, for whom she took the initiative to commit suicide, was the man who confused her in her dream and used her...
"I've come for you, Mukuro. You have to come home..."
"..."
Zodiac didn't respond, but her breathing became more frantic, and her cheeks flushed. Her spiritual power increased; she had entered a strange state of excitement.
Yuki narrowed his eyes. Every spirit was the same. Whenever they came into contact, they went crazy for each other. Though he was calm, his Sephira crystal was also flashing.
"Ah... Ahh... Ahhhhhh."
*Creak*
Suddenly, Zodiac couldn't take it anymore. She touched her chest, and the seal she had placed on her emotions broke by force...
"Ahhhhhhh! Michael!"
This sickening feeling that made her incapable of control made Zodiac look at Yuki as her prey. Her angel materialized, and the key formed in her hands. At the same time, her spiritual pressure increased, trying to intimidate her prey...
"Muku has been waiting for you! My love!"
Yuki didn't know if Mukuro remembered the other timeline or if these words simply came from her heart.
Her expression was terrifying, and the glint in her eyes was dangerous. Even so, Yuki expected this.
Mukuro was like this. Even in the other timeline, the connection with Mukuro was due to this strange sensation of wanting to devour each other, where negotiation was impossible. The only thing that mattered was the victor.
Therefore, there was no need to hesitate...
"Let's go."
"Ahhh!"
*Boom
Yuki's provocation was met with Zodiac's force.
"¡Lataib!"
Multiple wormholes opened around Yuki, and meteorites were launched.
Yuki calmly watched as each bus-sized meteorite hurtled toward him. His eyes changed, and he slowly raised his hands...
"Shinra Tensei..."
*Boom
The repulsion was strong enough to destroy all the meteorites and wormholes.
However, Mukuro didn't give up after her failed attack. A beam of energy accumulated at the tip of the enormous key in her hand and attacked...
But what Mukuro didn't expect was that Yuki again raised his hand and absorbed the energy beam without taking any damage...
"Humph! Muku was right... I can't defeat you in this form... Humph!"
However, this didn't stop Mukuro. On the contrary, her eyes shone dangerously, and she brought the tip of the enormous key to her chest.
"Michael, Shift!"
A light illuminated her chest, and the energy in her body increased exponentially. The light stopped shining, and Mukuro's astral dress had changed to a wilder form, even her hair now tied with two tassels at the ends. However, the biggest change was that Michael had transformed into a spear with key-like notches at the tip.
Yuki calmly watched this transformation. This was Mukuro's strongest form as an angel, so Yuki was not surprised. On the contrary, the orbs of truth appeared on his back, and one of them turned into a black sword.
"Good, this is what I was waiting for. Enough games, let's fight to our hearts' content."
"Ahhh!"
Mukuro's expression was extreme, and she responded with a frontal attack...
*Boom
---------------
England, DEM Base
"Ike, our radar has detected high levels of Reiryoku."
Speaking with a solemn expression, Ellen manipulated the holographic screen, and Wescott responded with a lazy smile...
"Oh? Who is it this time? Princess? Emperor?"
Since Emperor attacked the base on Neryl Island, Wescott had been paying attention to Reiryoku signatures, especially the energy signatures of Emperor, the powerful male spirit who had altered the danger levels of the spirits.
"It's Emperor. Additionally, there is another Reiryoku signature, an unknown spirit as we do not yet have its Reiryoku signature."
Every time a spirit appears, DEM records its energy signature to know which Spirit will appear in the world. However, the Reiryoku that appeared along with Emperor was not yet registered, so there was no doubt it was a new spirit...
"Oh? Where are they?"
"In space..."
Pointing toward the sky, Wescott's smile widened. The male spirit was the reason why his plan had been delayed and why he had to modify it. However, he still did not have the full power data of the spirit.
And this was the perfect opportunity to do so...
"Good! Our chance is here."
The holographic screen changed, and images of the battle between Yuki and Mukuro gradually appeared...
(A fight? Hahaha! Excellent!)
Wescott didn't care why both parties were fighting, but he wouldn't miss this opportunity.
There was no better way to test Emperor's limits than by fighting another spirit.
"Ellen, oh my dear Ellen, you better not disappoint me."
A while ago, Ellen, as the most powerful mage in the world, had boldly stated that there was no spirit she couldn't defeat. Fortunately for Wescott, the time had come to test these words.
"Leave it to me."
Ellen frowned at this but still responded firmly...
Emperor is strong, but so what?
She was strong too!
Additionally...
"Take Mana and that girl with you; they may be useful."
"Understood!"
Without saying another word, Ellen left the office. Her eyes narrowed slightly. She had a feeling this fight wouldn't be easy.