"Kotori, what on earth is happening?" Shido asked urgently as he watched the massive pillar of light flare up on the Fraxinus screen.
"I'm not entirely sure. But the spirit energy in that area is spiking at levels we've never recorded before,"
Everyone on board the Fraxinus stared at the screen with concern. The sight was breathtaking and ominous, making the whole crew uneasy. Shido swallowed, his gaze tinged with worry.
"I have a bad feeling about this, Shido," Tohka said, her face openly anxious.
"It'll be alright, Tohka. Everything will be fine."
Kotori straightened, determined. "Standing here guessing won't solve anything. We're heading there to investigate directly."
Immediately, the Fraxinus engaged its cloaking Territory and began moving swiftly toward the Mariana Trench. On the radar, numerous strange signals started appearing.
"Kotori, look! Why are there so many planes and battleships there?" Shido pointed at the screen, surprised.
"Yeah…" Kotori frowned. "Could it be they're investigating this phenomenon as well?"
Shido looked closer. "Wait, isn't that… D.E.M.?"
Twenty massive black warships appeared in the sky, rising slowly from behind the clouds. They formed an arrowhead formation with a large red ship at the center, accompanied by countless planes from various nations.
Outside D.E.M.'s warships, tens of thousands of
"Westcott must have noticed us."
Kotori clenched her fists. "There's no avoiding it. A battle with D.E.M. this time is inevitable."
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from behind. "It's been a while, Shido-san. Since that time at RaiZen High School."
"K-Kurumi? How are you on Fraxinus?" Shido turned around, startled. Standing before him was Kurumi, wearing her signature mysterious smile.
"Shido, step back!" Tohka yelled as Kurumi moved closer.
The spirits immediately stepped forward, shielding Shido and preparing to fight. "Kurumi!"
Kurumi chuckled softly, raising her hand. "My, my, Shido-san, and everyone doesn't look so well, do they?"
Shido steadied himself and replied, "Yeah, maybe. But what brings you here?"
"Ah, just to inform you that… D.E.M. plans to use all spirits as vessels, then eliminate them to harvest Qlipha. And to do that, their main target is none other than you, Shido-san."
"Me?" Shido stammered, feeling a heavy weight on his chest.
Kurumi tilted her head, her voice calm but unsettling. "They'll stop at nothing to kill you right in front of the spirits. Thanks to my clones, I've uncovered this plan."
"It seems D.E.M. has accelerated their schedule. Today, they might make their move."
Shido swallowed. "Kurumi, I know it's selfish, but… Please, help us!"
Kurumi narrowed her eyes with a sly smile. "Alright, but Shido-san, what will you offer me in return?"
"What do you want?" Shido asked, tense.
Kurumi put a finger to her lips, pondering. "Let's see… How about Shido-san's spirit energy?"
"Don't be absurd, Kurumi! If you take Shido's spirit energy, you'll be doing exactly what D.E.M. is trying to do."
"Right, that's insane!"
"We won't let you take Shido's spirit energy."
Everyone protested strongly, rejecting the offer outright.
"Calm down, everyone," Shido reassured them, then turned to Kurumi. "Hm… I agree to your request."
"Shido? What are you thinking?"
"No, Shido. We're enough to protect you."
"Kikiki, you're still the same, Shido—" Kurumi chuckled, but her laughter was suddenly interrupted by a pained gasp.
"What's wrong, Kuru—"
"H-Hand?!"
Her eyes widened in terror, her unevenly tied hair trembling. Even her pale, snow-like skin reflected death in her expression.
Tokisaki Kurumi. Once known as the most infamous spirit, now wore an expression no one could have imagined. But her exaggerated reaction was understandable, as a white arm extended from her chest.
This wasn't a metaphor or exaggeration, nor some Halloween illusion. Pale fingers began to crawl out of Kurumi's slender body. It looked like a solitary flower emerging from a person's face.
With those sounds, the arm stretched out as if exposing roots to the outside air. The figure emerging was a young girl.
"Ah—"
Staring at her face, Shido felt an unconscious voice rise in his throat.
So beautiful—A girl possessing such unique traits.
With hair as soft as silk, and flawless pale skin, even her sleepy expression seemed to heighten her beauty.
No, it wasn't just that. The feeling of familiarity surging within Shido was inexplicable, like he and she shared a deep bond in a past life—a natural yearning welling up from an utterly baseless imagination.
"All of this should end now." Murasame Reine took a quiet breath before speaking.
Kotori, leaning back in the captain's chair, felt an ominous presence approaching.
The girl in front of Shido looked exactly like Reine, only younger. Her usual sleepy but calm expression was still there. However, at this moment, that normally reliable face felt terrifying to Kotori.
"Ga…ah…!" "…!" Hearing Kurumi's groan, Shido felt his shoulders start to tremble.
"
As Kurumi's blood-red eyes widened, she adjusted the pistol in her hand. Instantly, a dense shadow was sucked into the gun's barrel.
"Shi…do-san… Everyone… Run…!"
"
But just then, the girl twisted away, breaking free from Kurumi's body. Kurumi let out a cry of pain as the bullet shot straight toward Shido and the group.
"Ku—" Shido instinctively reached toward Kurumi, but he and the others were slowly engulfed by the black void.
◊
A black hole suddenly opened in midair, and one by one, everyone, including Shido, fell out.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" Shido yelled as he plummeted.
"Ouch! That hurt!" Tohka said, sitting up and rubbing her head.
"Where are we?" Origami asked, her eyes scanning the area warily.
Shido looked into the distance. "The pillar of light is still there. We must have landed on an island near that area."
"Tohka, what happened with Kurumi?" Shido asked, still bewildered by the recent events.
"Moreover," Kotori interjected, "Who was that girl? And does she have any relation to Reine-san?"
Shido turned to Mukuro. "Mukuro, can you use
Mukuro shook her head, her tone anxious. "It's too dangerous, Nui-sama. Kurumi exhausted her power to help us escape."
She lowered her head slightly. "And right now,
Shido gritted his teeth, frustration welling up inside him. "Damn it!"
"Look! The beam of light is shrinking!" Kaguya exclaimed, pointing towards the distant beam, her voice betraying her fear.
"Affirmative. It does seem to be gradually disappearing," Yuzuru remarked, her voice calm, though the tension in her eyes was unmistakable.
"It'd be best if we temporarily retreat. Staying here is too dangerous," Kotori suggested, casting a sharp glance at each member of the group, seeking their agreement. No one opposed her, and it seemed the group had unanimously decided to pull back.
But just as they prepared to move, a powerful voice rang out from behind.
"Stay right there, every one of you."
The group turned, startled, and found themselves face-to-face with a familiar threat, now carrying an even more menacing aura. As the beam of light vanished entirely, the water's surface grew still, restoring a semblance of ordinary calm.
Suddenly, from the depths, a small, dark figure shot up like an arrow, piercing through the ocean's surface and soaring skyward. The sheer force of its ascent stirred massive waves, rocking the enormous battleships nearby.
"No way… it's him…"
Shido's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice barely a whisper, as he was filled with shock at the sight before him.
"That Astral Dress… there's no mistaking it…" he stammered, his tone tinged with bewilderment.
"But how does he have both arms? Didn't he lose his left arm completely in the battle at the DEM Corporation grounds?" Tohka's astonished gaze lingered on the figure.
"No, it's unmistakable. This oppressive aura… that voice…"
Shido took a deep breath, then shouted, unable to contain his disbelief.
"W-Watano? Is that really you… WATANO?!"
"Shido, I'll show you. This world… has chosen me…
Kotori urgently warned, "Everyone, be careful! Watano has regained his memories! And not only that, his spiritual power—and his arm—are both restored! We may have to fight him again!"
"Fight? Interpret it however you wish," Watano replied coldly.
"
Two massive energy spheres formed from both sides, one embodying the sun, the other the moon. They coexisted in defiance of all human understanding of the universe.
"The sun? But it's 2 AM!" Kotori gasped.
Not just them; hundreds of thousands of planes and battleships from nations worldwide could no longer stay idle. Instantly, they locked onto him as the target and opened fire. Missiles, artillery rounds, and even laser cannons from DEM's battleships launched toward Watano, turning the scene into chaos, as if the world had plunged into war. A massive number of Bandersnatch units joined the assault.
"If I were to cower before such a grand display, wouldn't I be disappointing those risking themselves to attack me?"
"…"
As
The enemy's attacks vaporized in the searing heat or froze instantly, vanishing before my eyes as if they never existed.
"Allow me to return the favor to you foolish lot."
With a sweep of my hand to the right, the sun emitted a torrent of brilliant sparks. They shot forth at the speed of light, unstoppable, leaving no option but to accept them as one would sunlight.
The sparks blazed across the sky, obliterating battleships and aircraft in an instant. Explosions roared like thunder, flames surged, consuming everything in their path and illuminating the night as though it were midday.
Amid the violent display, I remained there, unshaken in the vastness of it all.
"This is bad. Watano's far stronger than before. We need to retreat while he's distracted by the assault," Kotori said anxiously.
"Indeed, boy, I'll take care of the rest." A commanding voice rang from behind them.
"The chairman?" Kotori gasped.
"Woodman-san?" Shido's voice was equally stunned.
In front of them, a young man with pale blond hair appeared, clad in golden CR-Unit armor,
"Karen… and the chairman… why are you both here?"
"No time to explain, Karen will guide you out. I'll try to hold off The Merciless," Woodman said, his gaze fixed on the battlefield.
"That's too dangerous! You may be killed!"
Woodman chuckled softly, calm. "Now, now, don't make it sound like I'm weak. Though… perhaps I am."
After a brief silence, he added, "Which is why I have to help you escape."
"Karen, take them."
Karen looked back at Woodman one last time, unable to bear parting from him. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks. She led the others to a nearby escape craft that had been prepared.
"Everyone… please, heed Woodman's words. Don't let his sacrifice be in vain," Karen said, her tears flowing freely.
"Karen-san…"
◊
"All units, engage him with everything! Move forward!"
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
"Keep advancing!"
Thousands of fighters surged toward me in a frenzied assault, even though they knew death was inevitable. Yet these fools continued, clinging to the faint hope of victory—a hope nearly impossible.
"Such a bore!" I sighed, gazing into the distance, unaffected by the chaotic scene.
"Of course you'd be bored standing there," a voice rang out closer than I'd expected.
I raised an eyebrow, surprised to find someone had managed to approach me. "Oh? And who could get this close to me? The esteemed Elliot Baldwin Woodman?"
Woodman met my gaze, his eyes sharp but calm. "You even know my name? It's as if we've met before, isn't it?"
I offered a cold smile. "Only I have seen you before, Woodman."
Woodman didn't respond immediately, his gaze lingering a moment, seemingly assessing the situation. I continued in a mocking tone, "Now, entertain me, will you? Before I hunt down Shido's group."
Woodman gave a faint smile, unfazed. "Perhaps I can't fulfill your request."
He didn't hesitate for another moment. In an instant, Woodman activated the Cr-unit armor
"GAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Interesting," I scoffed. "Alright, let's see how long you can last."
With a casual flick of my hand, I signaled the moon behind me to summon a storm of icy arrows, gleaming like cold stars in the night sky. Each arrow shot down, aimed directly at Woodman. Yet, he showed no signs of hesitation; instead, with a graceful motion, the Cr-unit
"Your speed's slower than I thought," I remarked, stepping forward, readying a fresh attack. "Let's see if you can handle this!"
With a wave of my hand, the sun above began emitting massive flares, raining down like a meteor shower, each flare blazing with heat capable of melting metal. Woodman instantly took to the air, dodging the assault as best he could. But before he could fully evade, the moon launched a barrage of ice blades, striking at his position.
Forced into a defensive stance, Woodman's armor shone brightly as he struggled to deflect the relentless onslaught. But I wasn't about to give him any respite. Just as he fended off the last blade, I was already before him.
"Too slow, Woodman!" My fist struck his energy shield head-on, detonating with a violent impact. The clash shook the air around us, the ground below splitting open, while waves from the ocean erupted in massive swells.
Woodman staggered back, managing to hold his balance.
"You're more formidable than I expected," he admitted, his sharp gaze locked onto me.
I sneered. "Well, shouldn't you try something stronger then? Don't leave me disappointed."
His response was to grip his spear tightly, accepting my challenge.
"Very well. You won't be waiting long." With incredible speed, Woodman charged, his spear blazing with a brilliant green light, exuding a fearsome power.
"
The weapon's raw force reverberated through the air, exerting pressure not only on me but on Woodman himself. The sound of cracking bones echoed from his body, a clear sacrifice to wield this destructive power.
A massive energy surge gathered at the spear's tip, its radiance rivaling the very sun and moon I commanded. It was a towering pillar of energy, threatening to obliterate everything in its path.
Woodman, despite the agonizing toll on his body, pressed on toward me, his face etched with unyielding determination. The very fabric of space around us distorted from the immense power of Gungnir.
I stood my ground, feeling the approaching energy from the spear. "So, this is your last card?" I murmured, my gaze indifferent to the blazing green light.
I twisted my arm slightly, manipulating both the sun and the moon in my grasp. The two colossal sources of power began merging, creating an unprecedented storm of energy. The brilliant solar light intertwined with the icy glow of the moon, forming a massive energy column parallel to
"
*BOOM*
The two colossal forces collided midair with terrifying force. An apocalyptic explosion erupted, akin to the birth of a supernova, like the impact between two massive planets. The pressure from the collision spread at a blinding speed, waves of destructive energy radiating in every direction, obliterating everything within miles. The ground shook violently, the air tore apart, and the entire landscape descended into chaos and ruin.
As the light faded, a deathly silence blanketed the scene. I stood firm amidst the devastating waves, unshaken. Woodman, on the other hand, began to collapse under the overwhelming strain of his own attack. Cracks spread across his Cr-unit armor
"Honestly, this outcome doesn't surprise me much." I extended my hand toward him, his breath growing faint. "Now... let me release you from this."
A focused beam of sunlight ignited on my palm, flaring up with raw intensity. In a single moment, that light engulfed Woodman's entire form, reducing him to ash. His remains scattered into the air, vanishing as if they'd never been.
◊
"Everyone, keep moving! We're almost at the ship!" Karen urged the group, worry clear in her voice.
"Wait… Is someone there?"
"Kyaa, she's gorgeous," Miku's eyes sparkled as she noticed a figure in the distance.
A silhouette came into view, her presence exuding an intense allure even from afar. Her beauty was otherworldly, but a mysterious strength radiated from her, unsettling everyone around her. She had arrived here with one mission: to revive the one she loved most. Yet, to do so, she had to destroy the very things she had once cherished.
"Is… is that Reine?" Kotori gasped, shock and fear written across her face.
Hearing Kotori's question, the woman who resembled Reine said nothing. She simply stood there, her quiet gaze fixed on Shido's group.
"Kotori, thank you for helping Shido make it this far. But from here on... leave it to me," she said with a calm yet resolute tone.
"Leave it to you? What do you mean—?" Before Kotori could finish, the woman teleported right in front of them.
"
Immediately, a massive tree with sprawling branches and roots engulfed the space, transforming the entire landscape. It now resembled a giant game board, where everything was under her control.
"Where's Karen-san?" Shido asked worriedly, scanning his surroundings.
"Don't worry, Shin. She's fine. I simply separated her from everyone else." The Reine-like woman replied gently, though her voice was icy.
"Reine-san, this is…?"
"This is
"Shido! Ahh!" Tohka screamed as roots suddenly sprouted from the ground, coiling tightly around all the surrounding Spirits except for Shido.
"Roots?" Tohka struggled in vain, unable to break free.
"Where are these roots coming from?"
"T-Tohka, everyone, what's happening?"
"Shido, run, now!" Tohka cried out, her eyes desperate as she looked at him.
But the mysterious woman didn't give Shido a chance to escape. She suddenly appeared in front of him, gently placing her forehead against his, as if transferring a deeply buried memory.
"Wh-What—" Shido stammered, barely registering the words before a sudden, searing pain throbbed in his head. He collapsed, clutching his head, as fragments of forgotten memories flooded back like something long buried resurfacing with brutal force.
"Shin, are you all right? Have you remembered everything now?" Her voice was soft yet undeniably powerful.
"Ah... Yeah. I'm fine... Mio."
"Mio?" Kotori gasped, staring in disbelief at the girl. "So she's... Mio?"
"And who's Mio? I've never heard Shido mention anyone named Mio," Tohka muttered, her brow furrowed in confusion, though she was powerless to intervene in her current state.
Shido was silent for a moment before lifting his gaze to Mio, his face full of remorse. "I'm sorry, Mio… for leaving you alone all this time."
Mio responded with a sad smile. "It's all right, Shin."
"But is it really okay to do this, Mio? To sacrifice countless lives… just to bring me back… it's not right…"
"But what choice did I have? I wasn't weak enough to die like a human, nor strong enough to live without you."
"Even so… slaughtering so many… it's wrong." Shido's voice trembled with sorrow.
"It's fine, Shin," Mio replied softly. "I'll take responsibility for every atrocious act. Once I reclaim all my Sephira crystals, I'll erase Shido's memories, and then we'll return to how things were before—like nothing ever happened."
"Mi—" Shido barely had a chance to speak before tendrils erupted from the ground, coiling around his body and sealing his mouth, preventing any further protest.
"Soon, we'll be together again… once more," Mio murmured gently, her eyes alight with unyielding resolve. "This time, no one will keep us apart."
She turned to the Spirits, who lay tightly bound, her gaze sad but resolute. "Thank you all for looking after Shido. And for those precious, happy memories."
In the next instant, white ribbons shot up from the ground, piercing each Spirit's chest without a moment's hesitation. Other bands swiftly gagged them, silencing any cry before it could escape. A deathly silence filled the air as Mio looked down upon their helpless faces, a fleeting regret passing through her determined gaze.
Slowly, the Sephira crystals were extracted from the Spirits, each Spirit's eyes dimming, their life force seeming to drain away as their inner lights flickered out.
Bound and powerless, Shido could do nothing but watch, tears streaming down his face, overcome with helpless pain and despair. He cried out in futile pleas, hoping Mio might reconsider, but even more, those tears were for his own impotence in this moment.
Behind Mio, a mystical aura twisted, ten stars slowly revolving around it. Each time she recovered a Sephira crystal, a star lit up with the crystal's unique color. Currently, nine stars shone—representing the Sephira reclaimed from Kotori, Yoshino, Kaguya and Yuzuru, Miku, Natsumi, Origami, Mukuro, Kurumi, and lastly, Tohka. Only one crystal remained—the one in my possession.
"Just one more," Mio said softly, her eyes burning with purpose. "Wait for me, Shin."
She ascended, leaving the Sovereign Territory
"
Mio summoned a colossal blossom, within which Mayuri's radiant form gleamed among its soft petals. The petals bloomed open on her command, scattering countless brilliant sparks, instantly killing anything they touched—except those strong enough in spirit energy or magic to resist.
The radiant motes pierced through the Territory shields protecting her enemies, rendering the Bandersnatch forces around the warships ineffective.
The massive D.E.M. ships, despite their formidable armament, couldn't withstand such overwhelming, destructive power. They were obliterated with an eerie calmness, as if no true resistance had ever existed, all fading into nothingness in absolute helplessness.
Watching this apocalyptic display, surpassing even my own mastery, I couldn't help but clap, a hint of admiration in my voice.
"Bravo, Reine-san… No, I suppose Mio-san would be more appropriate?"
Mio turned, her eyes ice-cold.
"I was looking for you as well, Watano."
I narrowed my eyes, a faint smirk playing on my lips.
"By the way, where's Shido? Don't tell me you stashed him on the other side of the planet?"
Her expression remained steady, her voice steely with resolve.
"No need to look. You'll never have the chance to see Shin again."
I chuckled dismissively.
"Yes, perhaps that's true. Because once you're down, it's all over. Finishing off Shido is just a matter of time."
"And I need the Qlipha within you."
Without a second's hesitation, we both lunged at each other, unleashing our strongest attacks.
"
"
The entire space trembled violently as our overwhelming forces clashed. My power, wielding the searing brilliance of the sun and the unfathomable depth of the moon, charged toward Mio. Opposing it was
These forces weighed upon each other, clashing intensely, as though the entire world were being crushed between two unstoppable forces.
"First, no one will escape from here." Mio instantly set the first rule for her Sovereign Territory, creating an unbreakable hold over the space.
"Confident, aren't you? But I had no intention of running!" I retorted, my voice defiant.
"In that case, you won't escape this blow," Mio responded coldly, activating her power. "
The deadly flower bloomed from the ground once more, unleashing a storm of deadly motes that rained down upon me like a lethal downpour.
"Knew it," I thought, prepared to counter.
"
I poured all my destructive solar energy into a divine flame. From my right hand, the golden fire erupted, blindingly intense, too brilliant for anyone to look upon directly.
The deadly motes from
"
The divine flames intensified, obliterating every mote in an instant, then surged toward Mio. Without hesitation, she unleashed her angel
The two colossal flames collided with unimaginable force, generating towering columns of heat that swirled violently in the air. Both powers clashed, blazing fiercely until, at last, they neutralized each other, vanishing into the void as though they'd never existed.
"That was a blazing start," I muttered, smirking, my breaths heavy but my gaze aflame with defiance.
"It's not over yet," Mio replied coolly.
"
Instantly, enormous feathered guns appeared by Mio's side, unleashing a barrage of brilliant light bullets in tandem with massive icy spears from the angel Zadkiel, hurtling toward me.
"Bring it on!" I shouted, feeling the chill spreading through my body.
"
The icy power of moonlight burst forth, enveloping the entire space. The sky instantly shifted into a frigid night, where the moonlight wasn't gentle but instead sharp and bone-chilling. Every beam was now like a blade of frost, slicing through all in its path.
Energy from the moon coalesced into giant floating shards, each one reflecting an eerie blue light. These shards then rained down, freezing everything they touched in an instant.
Even Metatron's beams couldn't escape, frozen mid-flight and shattering like glass. Everything within the space seemed to be swallowed by the absolute stillness of ice.
The remaining ice shards shot toward Zadkiel's massive spears, creating a violent clash. The sound of shattering echoed harshly, and in a split second, an immense blast of steam erupted, veiling the battlefield in thick white mist.
A flick of my wrist dispersed the mist instantly.
"Looks like we're evenly matched, huh?"
"No, Mio. I just haven't unleashed my full strength yet," I replied, my gaze piercing.
"Oh, is that so?" Mio's smirk was faint. "Then how about this?"
"
Mio summoned a delicate bud no larger than her palm, from which a concentrated beam of energy radiated—the pure essence of
But I showed no panic as I watched it approach. As it neared, the moon within my territory contracted, instantly absorbing and completely neutralizing the attack.
"Feeling afraid yet? Or do you still want to continue?" I asked, a smirk of contempt spreading across my face.
"You are indeed strong, but as long as you remain within the angel
"Rule: Prohibit
"How… How can this be?" Mio gasped in shock.
"The almighty angel
"Why… why are you unaffected?" Mio stepped back, her voice uncertain.
"There's only one reason," I replied coldly. "It's because I am far stronger… than you."
I raised my hand, a defiant glint in my eye. "Now, let me show you just how easily I can crush that
"
Both the sun and the moon began to contract, slowly spiraling around my palm, merging. The moon gradually turned a deep crimson, as the sun fused entirely into it. The sky was immediately shrouded in thick darkness, blanketing the entire area, rendering everything around us into a ghostly haze.
"This… is what you call a True Territory." I declared, my gaze icy.
"Prohibit
Mio looked at me, her eyes filled with a resolve I hadn't seen before. She could not believe that all the rules she had imposed had been nullified so effortlessly. Shock gradually turned into fury.
"This… this cannot be… No angel should possess the strength to surpass
"Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter. What you need to understand now, Mio, is that you can't win against me." I lifted my hand, red light from the moon erupting, spreading throughout the space.
"Isn't your true desire to be free? Then let me help you fulfill it."
"Don't mock me!" Mio shouted, her voice filled with anger and despair.
"
Her final angel—a shapeless entity, the embodiment of absolute nothingness. As Mio's trump card,
But what is light without the dark?
As the light of
"Even
"Hahaha, I told you. This battle was meaningless from the start. The outcome was decided from the very beginning."
"I can't… I can't give up… Shin is still… waiting for me." Her final words were filled with pain and resolve.
I sighed, looking into her dimming eyes. "Let me help you reunite with him."
I teleported beside Mio, my right hand raised, fingers curled into a blade shape. Without hesitation, I raised my hand, preparing for the final strike.
"Thank you for creating the world of Date A Live. And farewell."
My hand came down, sharp and precise, slicing cleanly through her neck. No hesitation, no remorse.
The cut was flawless, and Mio's body began to dissipate. Her fragments mingled with the air, leaving behind the 9-colored Sephira, with a pure white Sephira shining faintly in the center.
I flicked my hand, clearing away the lingering traces of blood. Standing before the 10 Sephira floating in midair, a strange feeling welled up within me.
"Nearly a year… I've come this far…"
I withdrew the angel
"These are what created the world of Date A Live, and also what brought suffering upon the people here."
As chaotic thoughts swirled in my mind, I gradually pressed all 10 Sephira into my chest. Each one merged into my body, but strangely, this time, I felt nothing. Unlike when
Perhaps it was simply that my existence had transcended all things, beyond all definitions words could provide.
However, one force remained uneliminated—D.E.M. Corp. Although I had destroyed most of their forces, five battleships lingered, and more importantly, the mothership was still operational, indicating Westcott and his followers had not yet been eliminated.
"There's still trash lingering in the skies? I'll finish cleaning up."
With a single blink, I teleported directly into the heart of the mothership's cabin, appearing right behind Westcott.
"Hello, Westcott. Long time no see, huh?"
"What the—?!"
"Don't you dare!" Matther, despite not being equipped with her CR-unit, lunged at me, attempting to protect Westcott.
However, her feeble attack couldn't even touch me.
"How remarkable… A being even stronger than the original spirit we created," Westcott marveled, eyes wide with astonishment.
"Then let me show you the power of the very thing you created."
"
A deadly blossom bloomed, piercing the thick metallic hull of the spaceship, scattering lethal sparks that enveloped the entire room.
"Beau—"
"IKE—"
Before Westcott could finish his sentence, the flower of
I teleported outside, standing amid the vast expanse of space, watching the total annihilation of D.E.M., the final remnants of evil vanishing in a radiant sea of fire.
"Now, only one remains."
◊
"T-Tohka… Kotori… Everyone… Please… Wake up…"
Shido desperately shook the lifeless bodies lying on the ground, his hands trembling as he touched each familiar face. His own face was marred by utter despair, his eyes drained of the last glimmer of hope.
"I… I have to find Mio… There must be a way to save—"
"Do you really think so?"
An emotionless voice sounded from behind, causing Shido to freeze, his whole body stiffening in fear.
"W-Watano… Where is Mio… What… what has she—"
"She's dead. I killed her myself."
"You're joking, right?"
"Joking? See for yourself." With a snap of my fingers, a screen appeared before Shido, replaying my entire battle with Mio, not omitting the final scene.
"No… This can't be…"
Looking at his shocked and devastated expression, I felt no pleasure in mocking him. Instead, I stomped on the ground, summoning an imposing throne amid the battlefield. I stepped forward, sat down, never taking my eyes off Shido.
"Hey, Shido. Do you know how foolish I was, justifying everything as protecting humanity, just to seek revenge on you?"
"How I craved your attention so much that I allowed things to come to this."
"I'm tired of playing the hero, and I no longer bear any responsibility to save those people."
"What… What are you planning?"
"If you can't save those you love… why not try to save this world?"
I lifted a finger, all 11 Sephira of the spirits gathered above it. The small, brilliant gems gradually fused, forming a single, blinding orb of light. Then, I flicked it, sending it soaring into the sky, where it began to drift down slowly, like a cherry blossom petal softly gliding on the wind. "If it hits the ground, who knows if Earth can withstand it."
"Are you… Are you planning to die with it?"
"Not at all. Aren't you going to save this world? Show me what you can do."
Shido said nothing, his gaze locked onto the falling light.
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He immediately summoned the wings of
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Shido summoned every angel he had sealed, pouring his strength into striking at the light, attempting either to destroy it or at least slow it down.
"HAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"No way… It's still there and still falling, not even slowing down."
Shido strained with all his might, pouring every ounce of power into his final strike, yet that tiny light continued to descend, defying all his efforts.
"I... I've done everything I could..." Shido gasped, his gaze unfocused, his body losing strength as each of the angels began to fade away.
From below, I sat upon my throne, looking up at him with a detached expression.
"So, you tried your hardest and still couldn't save them?" I scoffed, glancing down at Shido, who now was nothing more than a weary, defeated figure.
Shido looked up, his eyes filled with anguish and despair.
"Watano... please, stop this! You're just seeking revenge on us, aren't you? The others... they have nothing to do with it."
"Stop?" I let out a cold chuckle, rising from the throne and slowly approaching him. "That's impossible."
Shido clenched his fists, his voice clinging to the last shred of hope. "But... you said there was a way to stop it, didn't you?"
"A way?" I tilted my head, a mysterious smile on my lips. "Do you really want to know, even if it could cost you your life?"
Shido paused for a moment, his breathing heavy. But his gaze hardened with newfound resolve.
"If that's what it takes to protect everyone, I'll do it."
"All you need to do is use your own body to shield that glowing core. It will disappear," I said, my eyes icy.
Shido looked at me, and after a moment of silence, he spoke, "But promise me, Watano. If I manage to stop it, you'll spare this world."
A flicker of surprise stirred within me at his plea, but I responded simply, "Fine."
As the core descended, mere inches from the ground, Shido forced himself to stand one last time, his eyes blazing with unwavering determination.
With every ounce of strength, each breath unsteady, his staggering legs still pressed forward toward the hovering core, ready to confront the dreadful force I had unleashed.
"Haaaaa!" Shido yelled, his gaze shining with that final resolve.
The moment the core touched Shido, a massive surge of energy erupted. Light and darkness entwined in an instant, consuming him and creating a blinding halo. The earth trembled, and the air grew so thick it nearly froze.
He screamed in agony, his cry echoing to the heavens, a final plea mingling with absolute helplessness. His body started to shatter, skin and flesh splitting open, revealing ghastly wounds, raw and charred. Blood flowed in torrents, blending with the exposed, fragmented bones barely clinging to a human form.
The flames of
As the light faded, Shido collapsed to the ground. His eyes dimmed, yet held a quiet peace.
"How utterly foolish," I whispered, feeling an odd stirring as I looked at Shido's self-sacrificing figure.
Shido looked up at me, his gaze full of acceptance, but he managed a faint smile. "Watano... you promised..."
I watched him for a long time, then closed my eyes, nodding slightly.
"Yes. I promised."
With that, I turned away, raising my hand to dispel the lingering remnants of power scattered in the air.
The last fragments of light faded, marking the end of every grudge, every pain, every sacrifice without end. As Shido closed his eyes and let out his final breath, I stood in silence, gazing down with an unfamiliar heaviness, as if a part of myself had vanished alongside him.
"Farewell, Shido."