A violet light pierced through the churning darkness, overwhelming even the brilliant moonlight. The air grew still, heavy with a tension that seemed to await some dreadful event. From above, a great sword descended slowly, as if released by the invisible hand of God. The hilt and blade were both a deep, absolute black, an inky void reflecting the faintest trace of the ethereal violet light, appearing like a dark streak suspended in the sky.
Its arrival deepened the surrounding gloom, amplifying the eerie atmosphere and exerting a crushing, supernatural pressure on everything around, as if a divine being was descending upon the world. I reached out, allowing the sword to fall gently into my palm. The moment I touched it, a surge of power coursed through me, as if the sword possessed a soul of its own—a soul of immense authority and strength.
Violet rays burst from the gem embedded in the guard, spreading throughout the space, causing everything around me to blur. The coldness from the blade seeped into my very bones, yet it also filled me with an overwhelming sense of strength, as if I had become one with the sword.
"How... How could you possess that, WATANO?!" Tohka shouted from a distance, her voice trembling with agitation.
"How...?" I mused over her strange question.
I didn't know why I wielded such power. This was not something that technology like the Realizer could produce. The sword was none other than the demon king of the angel
I laughed, a cold and maddened sound that echoed in the ominous space.
"So that's it... THAT'S IT!!!"
"Hey, all of you. Have you always seen me like this?"
"ANSWER ME!"
"That's right," Kaguya shouted back at me, her voice filled with anger. "Stop it, Watano!"
"Both of you, please, don't fight anymore," another voice called out, full of worry and pleading.
I looked around, recognizing the voice as Shido's. He stood on the beach, his eyes filled with determination and concern.
"Watano, I know something is wrong. Stop and think carefully," Shido said, his voice trembling. "You still have a chance to turn back, Watano!"
I could feel the confusion and fear emanating from those around me. They didn't understand what was happening, but their eyes said it all: fear, bewilderment, and a sliver of hope.
He took another step forward, his voice urgent. "Watano, listen to me! We can find a way to solve this. Don't let this power control you."
"Hope? Solve?" I laughed, the sound reverberating through the still, darkened space.
"Perhaps you think this is a punishment imposed on me by God. But to me, it's different; this seems like His intention, a cruel and beautiful gift."
I paused, my eyes gleaming with triumph and hatred. "Don't you see? This is not just power. This is purification, a power that transcends human limits. He gave me this power to save those weaklings from the disgusting might of you all."
"God saw my smallness, my weakness, and decided to bestow it upon me as a curse—a curse to drive you all away from me, to show me the dark truth of this world, to destroy everything I once believed in."
With
"You'll never defeat us!"
"Agreed. That's right."
Kaguya quickly raised her spear to block, but against my overwhelming power, her spear shattered pitifully. The sound of metal breaking mixed with Kaguya's painful scream as she was flung back. Bright red blood spewed from her mouth, staining the dark sky.
"Is this the spear you're so proud of?! Trash!"
"How dare you!!!"
Yuzuru lunged at me from the side, the pendulum in her hand whirling towards me with deadly speed. But to me, she was nothing more than a leaf in a storm. I dodged easily, then countered with a powerful slash. My blade tore through the air, slicing through her wing.
Yuzuru staggered back, her eyes filled with horror. "How are you so strong now... You really are a monster."
Hearing her words, I couldn't suppress a cold, echoing laugh in the dark space.
"You're calling me a monster?—Hahaha, I must admit you got that one right."
"That's right, I'm the monster in your eyes! THE MONSTER NAMED
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!" Yuzuru screamed, her eyes lighting up with a faint glimmer of hope as she attempted one final counterattack. Her bloodstained pendulum swung with all the strength she had left. But it was too late for her.
With a swift move, I dodged her attack in the blink of an eye and quickly grabbed the chain of her pendulum.
"Got - you - now," I hissed each word into her ear as time seemed to freeze in that moment, my blade slicing through Yuzuru's body. She froze, her eyes wide with shock and despair. Crimson blood poured from her body and mouth as her life force drained away.
"YUZURU!!!" Kaguya's voice was filled with horror at the terrible sight.
Yuzuru trembled, her pale lips struggling to form her last words. "Sorry... Yuzuru… didn't do… well..."
"YOU BASTARD!!!"
Kaguya's voice erupted in fury as energy surged from her body, creating a powerful, raging storm around her. It seemed like she was about to reverse under such a devastating blow to her spirit. But I no longer cared. I was no longer who I was before.
I sheathed my sword, Yuzuru's blood still dripping from the dark blade, falling into the still water like the echo of despair. I watched as her lifeless body slowly fell into the sea, then slowly looked up, my gaze sweeping over the others who stood frozen in shock.
"Who else dares to face me, STEP FORWARD?"
Suddenly, AST forces appeared. Perhaps the surge of spirit energy I unleashed triggered an alert at their base. The roar of engines echoed from afar, signaling the arrival of AST members. The dark sky was torn apart by the green lights of their Realizer weapons.
The AST quickly surrounded the area, weapons drawn and Territory barriers deployed, forming a tight circle around me.
"Surrender now, spirit! You're surrounded; if you don't want to be harmed, surrender now!" The familiar voice of Captain Kasukabe carried the decisiveness and resolve of an unshakeable leader.
Knowing that my mask had been shattered, revealing half of my face, I realized my identity could be exposed if they saw me directly. So I turned my back to them, speaking calmly.
"Good evening, everyone! Don't worry, I'm not your enemy. I actually appreciate all of you who have fought against the evil known as spirits."
"Since you're here, may I offer my opinion? Have you considered revealing the existence of spirits to the entire world, showing that they are the cause of spacequakes and terrible disasters, so that humanity can fight them on their own?"
"Or maybe we could work together?"
"Don't talk nonsense! A spirit like you could say such things?"
"Besides, the truth about spirits must remain hidden to protect the peace of humanity. If this is exposed, it would only lead to chaos and doom."
"What a shame. If that's your stance, then I—"
My words were drowned out by the deafening roar of a massive engine behind me.
"What's that in the sky?" Captain Kasukabe exclaimed in alarm.
I turned to where the captain was looking, and there, a massive black warship, smoking from the rear, was plummeting toward the island at a terrifying speed.
"Captain, the ship is falling toward the island. If it continues at this altitude, it will cause immense casualties!" A member urgently reported.
From my memories, that ship was unmistakable—it was the
Everyone's faces around me turned rigid, their eyes filled with terror as they witnessed the horrifying scene unfolding before them. The massive warship, a symbol of D.E.M.'s power and authority, was plummeting from the sky like a dying star, bringing with it inevitable destruction.
"Is there... no way to avoid this disaster?" Shido muttered in despair.
"If only... Yuzuru hadn't been so badly injured... IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, YOU BASTARD." Kaguya, cradling the severely wounded Yuzuru, screamed at me in fury.
Amidst the impending doom, I stood there, feeling every accusation and fear from those around me. But instead of regret or worry, I only smirked. Because, to me, this was perfectly fitting.
"I'll show you what true power is! Watch closely!"
""PAVERSCHLEV""
A colossal throne appeared in the sky, as if it had been waiting for this moment all along. The throne was pitch black, glimmering with crimson streaks like blood, a symbol of absolute power and dominion. It hovered above me, radiating an aura so oppressive that the very air seemed to compress under its weight.
Without hesitation, I hefted Nahemah and, with a mighty swing, cleaved the throne in two. The shattered pieces didn't dissipate; instead, they began to converge, swirling into a dark vortex. Each fragment melded with
With all my strength, I raised
The moment the light struck the ship, its thick metal armor began to crack. The force of the blow spread out, causing the vessel to shatter, fragments scattering like a storm of steel. The debris rained down, igniting small explosions upon impact, their fiery glow staining the night sky red.
The sound of rending metal, the deafening blasts, and the trembling sea beneath my feet only heightened the brutality of the strike. In that instant, the warship was reduced to wreckage. I stood there, gripping Paverschlev, surveying the destruction I had wrought, a cold smile of domination curling on my lips.
"No way… How could something like this even be possible…?"
"You must be joking…?"
Amidst their terror, I slowly spread my arms, as if to embrace the entire space around me. The dark energy within me surged once more, flaring up like a blazing black inferno. The swirling darkness began to coalesce, forming pieces of armor that gradually materialized on my body. My chestplate extended powerfully, bearing the symbol of mercilessness, etched deep where Yuzuru had struck my heart, a mark of divine wrath.
And most importantly, the shattered mask was now fully restored.
I declare with all my might as I stretched my arms wide, standing tall in my war god's armor, exuding an overwhelming aura, unyielding like a mountain before a storm.
"LET ME REMIND YOU ONCE AGAIN! I AM
"EVEN IF I'M A MONSTER, I'LL BE THE ONE THAT DESTROYS ALL GREATER MONSTERS."
"COME ON THEN! ALL OF YOU, CHARGE AT ME! I WILL CRUSH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! HAHAHAHA!"
My laughter echoed through the air, creating an overwhelming sense of dread, as if I were the embodiment of doom itself. Every laugh carried a sentence, an unalterable decree, etched deeply into the minds of those trembling before me.