It was time for the meeting. A giant portal opened inside the hidden level of the
Strikers' mansion and Lucy, Tokihana, Hayanobu, Jeremy, Darius, and Greg
emerged. In the middle of the room sat a long table. Megumi occupied the far
edge; Daikenji sat straight across from her. Aiji and Rikuya flanked Daikenji.
Next to Megumi were an empty seat for a girl almost no one recognized and
another seat taken by Mitsuyo, now an established Striker. On the left side of
the table were Jeremy, Darius, and Greg. On the right sat Mamoriko, with
Tokihana and Hayanobu beside her. The unfamiliar girl—purple hair, darker
purple eyes, pale skin, hoodie and jeans—looked small and alert.
Lucy stood
apart from the others, facing the table.
"So…"
Megumi began, all eyes flicking to her. "It's been brought to my attention that
something big happened in Memphis. Anyone care to explain, Lucy Minami?" The
same question echoed on everyone's faces.
Lucy drew
a breath. "I have pressing news I'll address in a moment. The point of tension
is that I formed an alliance with the saint of Diligence."
Every head
turned, and with the exception of Tokihana, every face widened in shock.
"Lucy— is
that true?" Mamoriko's voice was pained.
"Lucy-chan…"
Aiji's tone matched Mamoriko's.
Megumi
clasped her hands together. Daikenji and Greg did their best to keep poker
faces, but concern showed. Jeremy stayed neutral; Darius looked sympathetic.
Rikuya appeared taken aback and slipped a hand onto Aiji's shoulder. The
unknown striker watched Lucy, curious to hear more. Hayanobu seemed shocked but
oddly accepting.
Then
Mitsuyo stood up. "You fucking bitch! You know what he did to me, and you still
decided to ally with him?"
Lucy
looked defeated. "Hey—don't talk to my little sister like tha—" She raised a
hand. "No. It's okay, Mamoriko."
Mitsuyo's
expression flickered from utter disgust to raw sadness. "Damn it, Lucy. I
actually liked you. I thought someone had come to save me after all those
nights I prayed. But I guess demons disguise themselves as angels to deceive
humans."
Those
words hit Lucy, but she held her ground.
"I say we
hear her out," the unfamiliar striker said.
All eyes
turned to her.
"Name's
Saimi Mamorimi," she offered. "Megumi's mentioned me — I'm the Strikers' spy."
Lucy
tilted her head. Oh — the one who caught the footage of Diligence killing the
café worker.
"Oh. Nice
to meet you, Saimi-san."
"Nice to
meet you as well, Lucy-san. I heard great things about you. 'Living Rewrite,'
right? It was awesome watching you kick Shuten-dōji's ass," Saimi said,
genuinely excited.
Lucy
allowed a small smile. "Thanks. Nice to know I have fans."
"But
anyway—present your case," Saimi said, gesturing.
Lucy
squared her shoulders. "Look, everyone, I know this looks bad. But I need you
to understand — I didn't do this for myself. I did it for us. Aside from his
crimes, Akuto is talkative; he's been honest with me. I've gained information
from him that can benefit us."
"So—if
Hitler helped you, would you team up with him?" Mitsuyo yelled.
Lucy's
face fell. "No. But listen—there's a bigger threat than the Saints."
Everyone
leaned in; even Tokihana tightened her fist.
"Go on,"
Megumi and Jeremy said at once.
"Yuki and
I sensed a presence far more dangerous than Diligence when we beamed down.
Diligence was waiting there, and then a strange man walked up and threatened
him. You know that whole 'prepare' thing? Apparently 'prepare' is about him —
we were being prepped for him."
Lucy's voice rose as she spoke.
"Wait —
what do you mean by 'prepare'?" Jeremy asked.
"Well,
when the Saints first received their powers they heard the word 'prepare,'
presumably from Odamakura," Megumi replied.
"Oh,"
Jeremy said slowly.
"But let's
address the elephant in the room: we have bigger fish to fry. Who is this guy?"
Megumi asked.
"Diligence
says 'prepare' is all he can say," someone muttered.
"Yeah,
obviously," Mitsuyo snapped back. "Because he's evil and withholding
information — maybe if you had half a brain you'd get that!"
There was
a tense silence.
"Let Lucy-chan—speak!"
Aiji shouted.
"Thanks,
Aiji-kun," Lucy said, grateful for the prompt. "Mitsuyo, I understand where
you're coming from. He did terrible things to you. But this alliance is
temporary. As soon as I drain him dry of information, our deal ends. I told him
that to his face. I'll attempt to kill him in Memphis — and if I can't,
Daikenji-sama and I will team up to beat him. Please trust me. I don't like
him. I don't want to be his friend. This is only for intel on the Saints.
Please—bear with me. I beg you."
Mitsuyo
clenched her fists; tears spilled down her face. "I'm sorry for yelling,
Lucy-chan. I just don't want anyone near that…monster. I'll hear you out and
trust you. But please — don't get too close to him."
"Okay, you
two hug it out," Megumi said, easing the tension.
Mitsuyo
walked over and hugged Lucy tightly. Lucy returned the embrace with equal
force. Mitsuyo then sat down.
"Now I'll
relate some information Diligence gave me," Lucy said. Everyone leaned closer.
"The baby
in Megumi-senpai's womb may be the Saint of Gratitude — Nusumi."
The room
went grim. Even Tokihana looked disturbed; Lucy didn't elaborate.
Megumi
rubbed her belly. "He's… Nusumi?"
"My child
is Nusumi…" Daikenji said, unable to keep a poker face.
Even
Greg's eyes went wide.
"And
Diligence asked we name him Yukito," Lucy added.
"Well
then… that sounds like a wonderful name," Megumi said, trying to be light. "I
think we can do that."
"I don't
object," Daikenji added.
"Is that
so…" Jeremy said coldly. "Well, that means we'll have to kill him."
The room
snapped to attention. "Excuse me?" Daikenji said sharply.
"I mean —
it's the only logical explanation. What if the Saints come, take him back, and
kill millions in the process?" Jeremy argued.
They
considered it. Megumi replied, "Diligence himself doesn't think the child is
Nusumi. Chasity does — and he made it clear they do not want Nusumi, and they
want the child to have a good life."
"How do we
know he's not lying?" Jeremy asked.
"We
don't," Lucy answered. "But Diligence seems genuine. I doubt he'd lie or use
underhanded tactics."
"Even so —
what if the child turns evil and uses his powers to kill others?" another voice
asked.
"I've
already removed the Blessing of Gratitude," Lucy said firmly. "No way will he
be able to use it."
"So you
absorb Saints' abilities. That's something I knew already — but I wonder: is it
corrupting you?" Jeremy pressed.
"No. I'm
exactly the same as before."
"Yeah, she
is," Mamoriko said.
"Regardless,
I think the safest course is to kill the baby, just in case the Saints invade,"
Jeremy insisted.
"No. I
won't let you kill my child," Megumi shouted.
"It makes
sense that a Japanese would be so selfish, considering all the things you've
done in the past," Jeremy sneered.
"Jeremy,
that's racist as hell," Darius snapped.
"Who
cares. Plus, unlike you Strikers, we Counter-Strikers are allied with the US
government because of my intelligence. There's no way all of you can take on
the most powerful nation in the world — especially since there are already more
people like Greg in development." He stared at Greg, who had not spoken.
A long,
heated debate followed until Lucy finally cleared her throat.
"Listen —
I understand the arguments. But hear me out."
"Speak,"
Megumi said.
"I will
protect Yukito even if the Saints attack and the Striker base falls." The room
leaned in. "But if Akuto is perhaps wrong — if this child truly is Nusumi…"
"Then
what?" Jeremy asked.
Lucy's
voice went flat and measured. "Then I'll fight."
"Is that a
threat, Minami?" Greg asked.
"I
wonder," Lucy said.
Suddenly
the ground began to tremble.
"We're
like fifty feet underground — what the hell is shaking us?!" Megumi yelled.
"An army,"
Lucy said with a smirk. "Rikuya-kun, take us to the surface."
"Right
away, yes ma'am!"
They
teleported to the surface. Behind Lucy stood millions of behemoths and
abominations: dragons, wyverns, starborn serpents, void stalkers — even a host
of yokai — jorōgumo, Hachishakusama, Kuchisake-onna, and many more. In total,
over three thousand different creatures had assembled; if unleashed, they could
flatten nations.
"Lucy
Minami… we will leave the child alone. But don't say we didn't warn you,"
Jeremy said, defeated.
"Well, now
that that's settled," Megumi said.
Rikuya
swallowed them back into the room, and the meeting continued for another thirty
minutes until it reached its conclusion.
bamboo forest
The
Counter-Strikers had been transported away by Tokihana, and to Lucy's shock,
Rikuya challenged her to a fight. Now, they stood across from each other in the
middle of the bamboo forest, wearing their casual outfits. Aiji watched
nervously from the sidelines.
"Are you
sure you want to do this, Rikuya-kun?" Lucy asked.
"I am," he
replied firmly.
"Oki, but
don't cry if I hit you a little too hard."
"Uhh,
Rikuya-kun, put hands on her!" yelled Aiji.
"Wow, so
you're cheering for your best friend and not your girlfriend?" Lucy teased.
"Wait—uhh…
Lucy, beat him up!" shouted Aiji.
"Hey,
man…" Rikuya muttered.
"Bro,
damn, just fight already!"
Rikuya
immediately changed into his shadow battle armor.
"Oh, nice.
I can play that game."
Lucy
formed a giant mech around herself. It was brown, bulky, and mechanical, with a
minigun attached to its left arm and a sword mounted to its right. A lever on
each arm switched the mounted weapon, and a contraption on its back opened and
closed — likely a trigger for her Ephemeral Barrier.
"Yo, what
the hell!" Rikuya yelled.
"I'll call
it Rewriter's
Mech."
Both mechs
squared up, fingers interlocking as they clashed.
"Prepare
for this!" Lucy shouted.
Using all
her strength, she flipped Rikuya over, his mech smashing into the ground with a
thunderous crack. Dust and dirt exploded around them as Lucy's mech loomed
above.
She
transformed her right arm into a blade and stabbed at Rikuya with blinding
speed.
This
girl's insane!
thought Rikuya, ejecting from his destroyed mech and summoning a new one
mid-air.
Okay…
stay outta close combat with her.
"Ready up,
Rikuya-kun!" Lucy teased.
Her left
arm shifted from a minigun into a cannon — and fired Kappa. The summoned Yokai wrapped
their long tongues around Rikuya's mech, restraining him. A massive block of
ice from Yuki-Onna's magic crashed down, freezing his armor solid.
"Awesome,"
Lucy said with a grin.
She leapt
from her mech, her right arm morphing into a steel gauntlet. In one swift
motion, she ripped Rikuya out of his armor—accidentally slicing his arm in the
process. But as she did, he embedded a shadow into her arm.
"Ow!" Lucy
winced.
She
stepped on his chest. "Do you give up?" she asked, smiling.
"Ugh…"
Rikuya groaned.
"Look, I
don't wanna hurt you too much—I cut your arm off by mista—"
Lucy
stumbled backward, coughing blood.
"Haha,
looks like it's hitting you pretty hard," Rikuya said, smirking.
Lucy
covered her mouth, blood dripping through her fingers.
"I tried
something new," Rikuya explained. "I infused my shadows to make your blood
unstable. I meant to knock you out, but you're too damn strong."
"Good job,
Rikuya-kun," Lucy said, her tone calm and proud. "I won't take you lightly
anymore. You could rival Tokihana-chan and Hayanobu-kun as well… I didn't
realize you had so much potential."
"Thank
you, Lucy-chan."
Suddenly,
Yuki jumped out of her shirt, morphing into a phoenix and healing her
instantly.
Before
Rikuya could react, Lucy vanished.
"Huh?
Where did sh—"
She was
suddenly right in front of him, killing intent radiating from her. He threw up
a shadow to block—but when it dropped, a pale woman stood before him, wearing a
white surgical mask and coat.
"Don't
tell me…" Rikuya muttered.
"Do you
think I'm pretty?" the woman asked.
"So-so,"
he replied.
The woman
tilted her head—and before she could move again, a shadow bullet blew her head
clean off.
Then
Rikuya felt a crushing blow to his ribs. He turned—but no one was there.
"Right
here."
He spun
back to see Lucy smiling. She now wore twin gauntlets.
She struck
him—once to the face, then a swift kick to the shin, then a brutal uppercut. As
he flew up, she leapt and suplexed him, driving his head into the dirt.
"Give up
yet?" she asked casually.
He pulled
his head from the ground. "N—"
Before he
could finish, she kicked him across the clearing.
"You
know," she said, "I've never used this one before."
Behind
her, a massive Daitengu appeared.
"Hello,
Living Rewrite," the great Yokai said, ruffling her hair gently.
"Hello!
Can you beat that guy up right there?" she asked, pointing at Rikuya. "It's
just a sparring session, don't kill him."
"Understood."
The
Daitengu swung his fan, unleashing a violent gust that slammed Rikuya into a
tree.
"Thanks,"
Lucy said cheerfully.
"You're
welcome."
She
dismissed the summon and sighed. "You know… I should be able to do this
myself."
Lucy
erected a massive barrier, pushing Aiji out of it.
"Lucy,
what are you doing?!" Aiji yelled.
"A black
hole should be fine."
"Lucy—are
you crazy?!"
Lucy
created a black hole roughly the size of her head. Even one that small could
destroy Earth in minutes—but her barrier contained it.
"Arghhhh!!!"
Rikuya screamed as the gravitational pull began to tear at him. "Oh no you
don't!!" Using his shadows, he countered the pull, forcing his body to resist
spaghettification.
"Hmm…
okay, I see you, Rikuya-kun."
Lucy
compressed space itself into a blade so dense it shimmered—then launched it,
slicing through the black hole and Rikuya's other arm.
"Ahh!!!"
he screamed, collapsing to his knees.
Lucy stood
over him, serious and silent. Yuki, perched on her head in miniature phoenix
form, opened his beak—charging a beam strong enough to vaporize him.
"I give,
Lucy-chan… I give…"
"Good."
Yuki fired
the beam, but it turned crimson at the last second—healing Rikuya instead of
harming him.
"Thank
you, Lucy-chan… for the spar."
"You're
welcome, Rikuya-kun."
Lucy
smiled and hugged him. "You did great. I didn't expect you to counter my black
hole."
"Thanks…
that means a lot."
Lucy ran
to Aiji and dropped her barrier. Aiji lifted her up, spinning her before
kissing her deeply.
He set her
down. "I love you, Lucy."
"I love
you too, Aiji-kun," she said with the brightest smile.
Yuki
jumped from her head, returning to a pelican form. Lucy hopped on his back, and
within seconds, they were flying toward Base Yuki again.
She walked
to her room, collapsed on her bed, and hugged Yuki—who shrank down into her
arms like a stuffed animal.
"I need a
long eight-hour nap," she mumbled.
Yuki
chuckled softly. "That's hardly a nap, Lucy-sama."
Lucy
smiled faintly before drifting off to sleep. Yuki followed soon after.