Chapter 23 - Final Step 2

"One, two, three… Not bad." I was trying a few movements with my new mechanical left arm. 

"Really? That's a relief. Adjusting this arm was much harder than I thought." 

"Though it's not as flexible as a real arm, this is more than enough." 

"So, now that you have the arm, any plans?" 

"Plans... Actually, yes." 

"What are they? Tell me!" 

"I'm afraid I can't. But there's something I want to tell you before I go ahead with my plan." My voice grew more serious. 

"On January 5th, leave the city as far as you can." 

"Huh? Why?" 

"I can't explain any further. But trust me. If you want to live, leave this place before that day." 

"I'm serious!" 

"Uh, okay. I understand. I'll keep that in mind." 

"I have something else to take care of. See you later, Captain Watano." 

"Goodbye." 

After Mildred left, I returned to my room. It was already December 30th, the end of another year. 

"A new year, huh… Alright. On the 31st, I'll make my move!" 

Yes, I had planned a surprise attack on the first day of the new year. However, this time, it wouldn't be a grand, complex operation, but rather a spontaneous, personal act. 

Because my target wasn't Shido's entire group—just one spirit. If I succeeded, no one, no matter how powerful, could stand in my way anymore. That spirit would become the final key for me to cleanse all evil. 

And I couldn't afford to fail this time. Not again. 

◊ 

"Hey kid, want to read my work?" 

"First time at this anime event?" 

"Why not buy some souvenirs over here?" 

"Enough already! I'm out!" 

"Honestly. I should've just waited outside instead of coming in!" 

I was at the Comic Colosseum, a convention where 'mangaka' displayed their works. 

But I wasn't here to sell anything or check out the stalls. My goal was singular: the spirit, . 

But why target that spirit? And more importantly, why act in such a crowded place? 

I had meticulously planned for today. Blending into the crowd would help me hide from Ratatoskr's surveillance, and most importantly, Westcott and his crew were also after the Sephira inside today, December 31st. If he managed to seize it, he would become a greater threat than ever. That much was made clear in the movie, so I couldn't let that happen. 

"Where the hell are they?" 

At first, I thought this was just a small, casual event. But I was wrong. Surrounding me were hundreds of booths, large and small, scattered everywhere. 

Shoppers and visitors were crowding the pathways, all lining up, making the search harder than I'd expected. The already narrow paths were now packed even tighter as more people arrived. Laughter, chatter, and sellers' calls mixed into a chaotic blend that was almost impossible to escape. 

"Excuse me! Let me through!" 

"So tired… How long do I have to search for you… wait, Shido?" 

Amidst my futile search, I suddenly noticed a new crowd forming, standing in a long line. Even though fatigue was creeping in, I couldn't overlook any possibility, no matter how slim the chances. 

"Over there… Finally… I found you… Shido and the spirits…" 

If Shido was there, couldn't be far. Indeed, fate was on my side today! 

"Perfect, everyone's here… But perhaps it's not time to act yet. Too many innocent people around." 

As I got closer to Shido's booth, I overheard people talking. 

"What's with that circle? Aren't those girls adorable?" 

"Totally! And look, isn't that idol Izayoi Miku between them?" 

Suddenly, more people surged forward as they recognized Izayoi Miku. 

"Dammit! Stop pushing!" I struggled through the storm of fans rushing toward the booth. 

Unable to get any closer, I had to retreat from the crowd. 

"What the hell? Is this a manga event or a stampede?"

"-------------FROM NOW ON, COMICO COLOSSEUM IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!" An announcement rang from the center of the hall, signaling the official start of the event. 

If the chaos before was bad, things were about to get even worse. People poured in like tidal waves, rushing in waves. It was like soldiers charging into an enemy's base after the castle gates were opened. 

"Not again! Please, leave me alone!" I groaned inwardly, but the crowd showed no signs of slowing down. 

At that moment, Kaguya and Yuzuru stepped to the edge of the wall, beginning to organize the line there. 

"Good, a line. That should make it easier to watch them," I thought, hoping this would help with my observation. 

But then, another worry crept in. "If I get too close, the spirits will definitely sense my spiritual energy…" 

I stopped, thinking through my options. "Hmm… If I'm not mistaken, I can use magic to create a Realizer field to block it." 

"Deploy Territory." 

Immediately, an invisible Territory enveloped me. To be safe, I minimized the area to just around my body like a cloak of invisibility. 

"Mask, sunglasses, coat to cover my left arm, and finally, Territory," I muttered, finishing my disguise. "If they spot me now, I'll have to admit defeat." 

Despite all the preparations, the tension mounted as I neared the line, trying to hide my presence in the chaotic crowd. 

Then, Kaguya and Yuzuru came closer to where I was waiting. 

"Hey, you!" 

"What? Already discovered? If so—" 

"Reminder. You're in the wrong line. Please move over here." 

"Huh?! Oh, right. Sorry." 

After that, they continued moving down, holding up signs. 

"Phew… I thought they caught me! Guess my plan worked." 

One by one, people moved, and finally, it was my turn to buy a book at Shido's stall. 

"Of course! We will surpass you, Nia! For the sake of everyone who has supported me! And for your sake too, Nia!" Shido passionately debated with Nia at the neighboring booth, oblivious to my presence. 

"..." I silently watched, hearing Nia chuckle as she sold her books, responding to him casually. 

"Thanks for your enthusiasm! But no matter what you say, I'm not giving you a discount~!" 

"That's fine! Because I know we will win!" 

"Hey Shido, you're keeping the customer waiting a bit too long!" Kotori scolded from behind, noticing that I had been waiting. 

"Ah, sorry about that! Here you go, one copy, 500 yen." 

Shido hurriedly handed me a book. 

"You should focus more on selling, kid!" Nia teased, reminding him of his earlier distraction. 

"Thanks for your purchase!" Shido forced a smile, shaking my hand before moving on to the next customer. 

I walked away from the booth, relieved that I had avoided suspicion. "Why did I even do that?" I wondered. What was the point of all that just now? I could have simply watched from a distance without losing sight of them. So why buy this ridiculous book? 

"Well, since I've already bought it… Maybe I'll read it while waiting for them to leave." 

"Let's see… The title is 'Date A Live'? What kind of name is that? It sounds just like the movie title." 

The content inside was like a summary of how Shido met each spirit. Though it was written in just two days, it seemed relatively well-put together, not as rushed as some other works. 

"Why am I not in this, Shido?" 

"And why only write about their good sides? What about the times they directly or indirectly harmed humans?" 

"But that's fine. Once I defeat them all, I'll let everyone know the truth about this world." 

After that, I continued watching Nia, Shido, and the other spirits for hours. Time passed as they argued endlessly. The line at and booths didn't get any shorter. They had to keep selling. 

◊ 

An hour later, after all the comics were sold out, Shido and the others packed up their booth. All the spirits had changed outfits and moved toward a corner of the public park behind Tenguu Square. 

"Finally, they're done. Took long enough!" 

I followed them to the park, not far from the square. 

"Now, it's just a waiting game." 

And then, the inevitable happened. 

"Huh…? A, A, A, AHHHHHHHHHH, AAAAAAAA--------!?" Nia's expression filled with agony as she began screaming. 

"N-Nia… What's happening?" 

Not understanding what was going on, Shido rushed to Nia, who was suddenly overwhelmed with immense pain. A surge of dark spiritual energy started spilling from Nia's body, spreading across the ground. Moments later, an alarm sounded throughout the city as the powerful energy was detected. 

"T-This is—" 

"Nia! What's happening?" 

Shido and the others cried out in panic. Kotori seemed to have realized something.

"Kotori, what on earth happened to Nia?"

When Shido asked, Kotori responded with a pale face, "...Spirit energy levels at type E… Nia, she's Inversing!"

I stood from behind, watching everything unfold, not surprised at the cunning calculations of that sly fox Westcott.

As Nia continued screaming, wounds began to appear all over her body—on her arms, her legs, and everywhere else. A large amount of blood started pouring from those wounds.

And then… her spirit energy and blood enveloped her entire body, changing her appearance.

What stood before me and Shido's group now was the figure of a nun. But that silhouette was far from the bright image the name would suggest. It had become something far more sinister.

Everyone was utterly stunned by the scene before them.

"Stay calm, Watano! Not yet…" I reminded myself not to act impulsively in this tense moment.

Nia then let out a hoarse, unrecognizable voice. "-------------------------"

In response to Nia's call, a book resembling a Bible appeared before her.

"It's here, the Demon King ."

Just looking at it was enough to make everyone feel an overwhelming pressure.

floated in the air, opening automatically. Its pages turned at an incredible speed, scattering into the air and beginning to swirl around like a snowstorm.

"What is this?"

"Be careful, Shido. That's part of the Demon King. Those aren't ordinary pages," Kotori urgently warned.

From the scattered pages, monsters formed from darkness began crawling out of the book.

"!"

The monsters shrieked and charged toward Shido and the others.

"Tch…!"

But before the monsters could reach Shido, their bodies were blown away in an instant.

""

Origami, standing behind Shido, used her angel to attack the monsters. All the spirits there, except for Kotori, had donned their limited astral dresses and summoned their angels.

"Everyone…"

"I don't fully understand the situation… but I know we can't let this slide."

"We'll hold back the monsters! Darling, please save Nia-san!"

Tohka and Miku called out as they took their battle stances. As if in response, the pages of began swirling again, and countless more monsters spilled out.

"Not yet. It's still not time." I stood behind, watching everything unfold. It wasn't out of cowardice, but because I had been waiting for this moment for so long. Once I act, it must succeed.

"I'll save Nia. Everyone… lend me your strength!"

"Oh!"

Responding to Shido's call, the spirits shouted in unison. However, at that moment…

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but that won't happen," a voice echoed from a distance.

A girl clad in shining silver Cr-unit armor descended from the sky, landing opposite Shido and Nia.

"...Ellen!"

Shido frowned as he called the name of the blonde-haired girl with Nordic features. Ellen Mira Mathers, the strongest mage in D.E.M., a person who could fight on par with spirits.

"-----I see. She looks magnificent, . As expected from Ike."

Hearing those words, Kotori's face twisted in displeasure. "You think this is a fitting time? You did this, didn't you?"

"Yes. That spirit has been D.E.M.'s property from the start. Please leave now, and I'll let you off for today."

As Ellen spoke, she made a gesture as if to dismiss them. Shido gritted his teeth in anger.

"Don't joke with me! I'm not handing Nia over to you!" "I have no intention of answering to you."

Ellen ignored Shido's words, gripping the hilt of her sword and drawing it. A thick magical glow emanated from the blade of the laser sword , Ellen's exclusive weapon.

In response to Ellen's action, the monsters surrounding Nia simultaneously launched their attack.

However, Ellen merely furrowed her brows slightly. She expanded her Territory around her body, sweeping the monsters away.

"The power of the Demon King is indeed troublesome. I'll end this quickly."

As Ellen said this, she activated her Territory, raising and swung it toward Nia.

But before Ellen could get close to Nia, a barrier of light blocked the edge of .

Tohka, standing near Shido, had countered Ellen's attack. "I won't let you do that!"

"Trying to stop me? I don't mind… But this time, there'll be no mercy."

Ellen's gaze sharpened, and she unleashed an attack so fast that it was invisible to the naked eye.

"Guh…!"

I remained hidden behind, my every breath blending into the stillness around me, eyes fixed on the battlefield ahead. This was the moment I had been waiting for, the point where all my plans and calculations converged. My heartbeat quickened, but I stayed resolute—I couldn't let this chance slip away.

""

Without hesitation, I summoned the Demon King , which manifested in my hand, surrounded by a dark aura. At the same time, the familiar astral dress materialized around my body.

"One… two… three!"

I dashed forward at a terrifying speed, heading straight for Nia, who was focused on those around her.

"Now's the time!"

The slash from in my hand came down, and just as it was about to reach Nia, it was blocked. But this time, it wasn't Shido's group standing in my way—it was someone else.

A blonde girl with deep blue eyes like the sky. She was equipped with a standard Cr-unit, commonly used by Wizards.

"So, it's you, Artemisia Bell Ashcroft!"

"A spirit knows me? Fine, I'll take both of you down for Lord Westcott."

The commotion had alerted Nia. She turned her attention toward me and Artemisia Bell Ashcroft.

"Damn it!" I shouted in panic.

Before I could react, Nia used . With her special move , I was locked in place. Even Artemisia Bell Ashcroft was struggling to fare much better.

"Report! Requesting assistance, Ellen-san!"

At that moment, I was thrashing desperately, but there was no escape. Every effort was ensnared by an unbreakable bind. If things continued like this, Shido would have enough time to call Nia back and stop her from Inversing. That couldn't happen.

"DON'T MESS WITH ME!" I roared in sheer rage, feeling as though my entire being was burning with fury. Dark spirit energy erupted from within, enveloping my body, shattering the restraints. With this power, I broke free easily, just like during my previous confrontation with Miku.

"Can you move now?! Good, then die!"

Even though Nia was unconscious, she was shocked by the display of power I had just unleashed. Refusing to back down, she summoned more monsters to shield herself, trying to buy time. But it was too late.

""

The Nahemah in my hand merged with the throne behind me, transforming into the great sword , emitting an intense dark energy. With one swift but powerful swing, the blade sliced across, obliterating the monsters in front of me. They disintegrated into the air like dust in an instant.

"It ends he—"

"Not so fast, ."

I spun around, startled. "Ellen!"

"Long time no see, ! I thought you'd been wiped out ages ago." Ellen's voice was arrogant but sharp.

"You—!"

The tension mounted as, once again, my efforts were thwarted by people like Artemisia Bell Ashcroft, and now Ellen. Without warning, she lunged at me with her flaming , slashing down with enough force to tear through the very air.

I braced myself, blocking the attack with , the force of the impact vibrating through my arms, but I held my ground.

In that moment, I noticed Nia sneaking up behind me, attempting to strike while I was off-guard. However, what none of them knew was that I had been prepared for this from the start.

"You're not getting me that easily!" I shouted, grinning smugly.

"What?!" Ellen exclaimed, surprise evident on her face.

My left arm, which I had kept hidden under my cloak all this time, finally came into play. With a simple neural command, the arm transformed instantly into a laser cannon. In the blink of an eye, I aimed it straight at Nia, who was closing in from behind, her eyes wide with shock.

*Bang*

A brilliant golden beam shot out from my left arm, tearing through the space between us like a deadly arrow. Nia couldn't evade in time.

The beam pierced straight through her chest, striking her heart. Nia's eyes widened, her body freezing in disbelief at what had just happened.

Nia collapsed to the ground, her body lying in a pool of blood from the fatal wound.

"Nia!" Shido screamed, rushing toward her; but my Territory blocked him from getting any closer.

"Watano… You're still alive?"

"Don't you dare act surprised with me! I absolutely won't die that easily!"

At that moment, Nia's body began to emit a dark glow.

"....."

Nia, now unable to utter a single word, shook her head vaguely.

In the next moment, a crystal that seemed to be formed from the condensation of the night appeared from Nia's chest. Following that, the Astral Dress she wore started dissolving into a black mist.

"...!"

"Sephira!? But… That color is—"

As Shido gasped in shock, both Origami and Kotori also voiced their astonishment.

"Finally... I've done it…"

Suddenly sensing something dangerous, I turned my eyes to a certain direction.

Perhaps my senses were becoming sharper due to the use of both spirit power and magic, or maybe it was because the presence of that person was so strange that I couldn't ignore it.

"Isaac Westcott!" I shouted his name as I yelled.

The man curled the corner of his mouth into a not-so-friendly smile.

"It's been a long time since we met face-to-face, Itsuka Shido… and . I'm glad to see both of you still in good health."

"I'm surprised that someone managed to act faster than me in this plan. Well done, ."

"I don't need praise from a devil in human disguise…"

With that, I raised the crystal towards Westcott as if to provoke everyone present.

"Want to take it? Step over my dead body if you dare!"

"As if I would! Anyway, since the plan failed, there's no need for me to stay here… Until we meet again, Spirits, Itsuka Shido… and you too, ."

A flash of light surrounded all three of them, and they vanished as if they had never been there.

I turned towards Shido and the Spirits, who were still in shock over everything that had just happened.

"You see, Shido. I did it. I've killed a Spirit with my own hands."

"Watano, why did you go this far?"

"Why? I've told you many times already, and I'm too tired to explain it again."

Shido asked with a frown, while I gripped the Qlipha crystal tightly—then thrust it straight into my chest.

"W-What?"

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

The Qlipha slowly sank into my chest, and a pitch-black light began to spread everywhere. In an instant, the surrounding scenery changed.

After a few seconds, the light gathered and was absorbed into my body. The Qlipha had completely vanished.

"Phew!"

I let out a heavy breath, overwhelmed by the pressure from the Qlipha. The chest part of my Astral Dress had been entirely burned away.

"Ha…ha…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA." I bent over and laughed loudly. Seeing that, Kotori's face slowly turned pale.

"This… can't be real… He just inserted the Sephira into himself?!"

"Don't be stupid, that kind of thing…"

"IT HAPPENED!" I interrupted Kotori before she could finish.

"That's right. It's real, Kotori."

Then, I retracted , raised my hand to the sky, and summoned the second Demon King.

"[Tome of Divine Corruption], ." A book materialized in my right hand from thin air.

"What an incredible feeling! Just like when I obtained the power of the Demon King , even though it's my first time using it, I can immediately grasp its power and abilities."

"Surprised, aren't you, Shido? That you can acquire a Spirit's power through this method."

"Well, I've gotten what I came for, so… farewell." My form slowly began to fade, surrounded by a black spiritual energy as I spoke my final words.

"Wait… Hold on! Where are you going—"

"Shido!"

Kotori grabbed Shido by his shirt as he desperately tried to chase after me. While he was distracted, I had already disappeared into the sky.

Reappearing in the familiar room at the JGSDF base, I finally allowed myself to relax. Everything that had just happened seemed so fast that even I wasn't sure what had occurred… But the burning sensation in my chest from the Qlipha I had just absorbed reminded me of my first victory.

"… Enjoy your last days of peace. We'll meet again soon, Shido and all of you Spirits… haha… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…"