Just as Shuo Nangong was about to calm Tohka and Origami, the shrill wail of the spacequake alarm split the air over Tengu City.
"Woooooo—"
"All personnel, attention! A spacequake is imminent. Nearby residents, please prepare to evacuate..."
Spacequake? That means... Yoshino's back!
A spark of anticipation lit up Shuo's eyes.
"Shiori, take Tohka to the shelter, or head back to Fraxinus if you prefer. I'll handle the Spirit situation!" Shuo instructed, his tone firm but gentle.
"But... I want to stay with you!" Tohka clung to his arm, her reluctance written all over her face.
He ruffled her hair, offering a reassuring smile. "Be good. I'll be right back."
"Okay..."
"Mm. Be careful."
With one last worried glance, Shiori and Tohka dashed toward the underground shelter, their figures vanishing down the corridor.
Shuo turned to Origami—only to find her halfway through changing into her Realizer unit. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Origami, don't tell me you're suiting up to join the AST again and fight Spirits?"
Origami nodded, her voice flat but resolute. "I'm with AST. It's my duty to engage Spirits."
Before he could protest, she was already fully suited and heading for the epicenter.
Shuo darted forward, grabbing her wrist. "Origami, we agreed—you promised me you'd stop targeting Spirits! About your parents... once this is over, I'll tell you everything. I swear."
Origami froze, her eyes locked on his. Five seconds—maybe six—passed in tense silence.
"...Alright."
She relented. Shuo watched her head for the shelter, relief flooding his chest. Time to lay it all out, once and for all. Better a clean break than endless pain.
His phone buzzed—Kotori.
"Hey! New Spirit just appeared. Get moving!"
"I know. I'm on my way!"
—
At the heart of the spacequake, a young girl in a green cloak, rabbit ears flopping, lay sprawled in a crater. Her eyelids fluttered open. Yoshino blinked, confusion giving way to panic as she took in the wreckage—a bombed-out street, buildings cracked and crumbling, the destruction radiating from the pit where she lay.
Before she could gather her thoughts, voices echoed overhead. Just as she feared, several girls in Realizer units hovered above, weapons primed.
"Target confirmed: Fourth Spirit—Hermit. All units, attack!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
A barrage of bullets and missiles rained down, all aimed at Yoshino's trembling form.
"Oh no, this is bad!" Yoshinon—the rabbit puppet—opened its comically wide mouth, arms spread protectively.
"No one hurts Yoshino!"
A frigid, ice-blue field erupted, deflecting every attack. Still, Yoshino huddled in the corner, shivering—why, after waking up in this strange world, did everyone in armor want to hurt her?
—
Shuo arrived on the scene, scanning the chaos. AST was supposed to be fighting Yoshino, but something was wrong—she was being absolutely pummeled. Yoshino was gentle, never one to fight back, but she should've been able to escape.
Then he spotted her—a blonde girl, sword swinging with brutal precision. Yoshino barely dodged each strike.
That blonde was Ellen—Director of DEM's Second Executive Department, self-proclaimed strongest wizard in the world.
Before Shuo could react, Ellen sent Yoshino's giant puppet flying and lunged, blade aimed at Yoshino's heart.
Shuo stepped between them in an instant.
From every direction, the Chains of Heaven burst forth, radiant and divine, wrapping Ellen in an unbreakable snare. Her sword halted mid-swing, unable to budge even an inch.
"You?! The mysterious male Spirit!" Ellen's eyes widened, recognition flickering as she recalled the files—the man who'd stormed DEM's lab and rescued the Second Spirit nun.
Shuo grinned, voice dripping with chuunibyou bravado. "Spirit? Please. I'm a god—the one and only Kami."
Yoshinon, now safely back in Yoshino's hand, giggled. "Hahaha, you're hilarious, big brother—but thanks for saving Yoshino again!"
Yoshino peeked out, water-blue eyes wide, her gratitude barely audible. "Um... thank you, big brother."
Ellen strained against the Chains of Heaven, her Realizer unit whirring, but it was useless.
"Damn it, let me go! Do you really want to make DEM your enemy?" she spat, her face equal parts furious and clueless.
Shuo folded his arms, gaze sweeping over the crowd with regal contempt. "I'll let you down—but listen up. AST, DEM, anyone—stay away from the Spirits and my family. This is your only warning."
The assembled soldiers bristled, faces sour.
"Spirits are dangerous! We can't just back down!"
"We're AST—we don't take orders from you!"
"..."
Ellen glared, refusing to yield. "I'm the strongest wizard in the world—I won't lose to anyone!"
Shuo didn't bother arguing. Instead, he decided to show them the gulf between their power and his.
He dialed his strength down, just enough to make a point. Blue energy surged, wings unfurled from his back, his eyes burning crimson-blue. He gripped a massive sword—no, two—and a thousand-meter-tall demon god materialized behind him, casting a shadow over the battlefield.
"Ignorance breeds fearlessness. Let me show you how vast this world truly is!"
He swung the Susanoo swords. Sword energy tore across the landscape, reducing distant mountains to ash. Another slash ripped open the sky itself, the force barreling into space, erasing satellites as it went.
The crowd watched in horror, jaws slack, hearts pounding.
Was this really something a human could do?
No one dared move. The terror was overwhelming—too much for any mind to process.
"Now you understand the difference between us? This is your warning. Remember it—or else."
With that, Shuo took Yoshino's hand and vanished.
Ellen and the AST soldiers remained rooted to the spot, minds blank with shock.
Elsewhere, in the shadows, a gothic girl watched, licking her lips, eyes gleaming with unhealthy fascination.
"Ahh... such overwhelming power. Looks like I've found a new target."
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