Beyond Amphoreus.
The black tide continued to spread toward the fleet.
And within that fleet…
A massive chibi-style Herta, swinging an equally enormous hammer, shouted things like "Kuru-Kuru!" or "Ever see a diamond this big? It's all yours~!"—it was practically like she was acting cute.
But even though it looked like she was putting on an adorable show…
Every time that hammer came down, it unleashed a surge of pure Imaginary Energy, crystallizing into gigantic gemstones that crashed into the heart of the black tide, wiping out swathes of the tide's creations.
She even got carried away at one point, charging right up to Irontomb.
Brought the hammer down right on its head.
The blow actually forced Irontomb to take a step back.
Then Big Herta, cursing and grumbling, manually overrode her and hauled her back.
Such a wildly contrasting, colossal war machine.
Drew astonished looks from countless onlookers.
The Galaxy Rangers were practically dumbstruck.
They knew geniuses were eccentric, but they'd never imagined an eccentricity quite like this. Sparkle nearly laughed herself to the floor.
She kind of wanted a similar giant Sparkle doll for herself.
If she remembered correctly, the bracelet the other her had given her seemed structurally similar to that Herta machine.
Maybe she could ask around about it later.
Another eye-catching sight…
Was the incredibly sleek, vast fleet from Planet Screwllum.
A fleet that seemed to load armaments out of thin air, changing forms with almost zero cooldown or resource cost.
Different weapons systems could be switched and combined on the fly.
It simply didn't look like it belonged to the same era as the other fleets.
--+--
Meanwhile, on another front…
Celenova, true to the agreement, detached that batch of troops previously controlled by Bai Ming.
Under her own command, they charged recklessly toward the overflowing black tide, utterly regardless of losses.
Not that Celenova was particularly honor-bound.
She just never had any intention of taking these troops back with her.
Who knew what backdoors Bai Ming might have left in units he'd controlled?
Celenova would have to be insane to keep using them.
And besides…
"Tch, they look way too similar. Staring at it is like staring at Bai Ming himself."
After noticing the strikingly high resemblance between Irontomb and Bai Ming's form…
She instinctively started hitting even harder.
Almost like she was venting her fury.
And Celenova's actions were what truly shocked everyone else.
"Holy crap, why is Celenova's fleet opening fire on Irontomb too?"
"Could the rumors be true? Did Herta and the others actually manage to steal Irontomb over to their side?!"
"Then that construct a while back that looked like Irontomb… could that have been a simulated Irontomb?"
"They can even simulate something like that? What's the difference between a genius and a god at this point?"
"Yikes, Celenova's going so hard… Could it have been Irontomb behind that photo album leaked earlier?"
"…"
Just as 'Cyrene' had predicted.
Once Celenova's troops began attacking the black tide spilling from Irontomb…
Everyone's attitude shifted.
Some even speculated that it was the defected Irontomb that had secretly calculated and posted Celenova's photo album onto the StarNet.
And this theory gained widespread acceptance.
Otherwise, why would Celenova be fighting so viciously?
Like it was her mortal enemy.
--+--
For now, it's unknown how Celenova would react if she heard this rumor.
Inside the staff, Demiurge and 'Cyrene'…
Had now joined forces to confront Irontomb's will.
The anomalous phenomena brought forth by Irontomb's birth had naturally spread across all of Amphoreus.
And as the Thirteenth Titan…
Demiurge called upon all the people of Amphoreus.
The voices of the twelve Chrysos Heirs echoed behind her, carrying the wishes of Amphoreus.
Empowering Demiurge to gather the strength of the entire world.
But before that…
'Cyrene' stepped forward, clutching a massive bow.
With each step, her body grew larger.
Step after step.
By the time she stood before Irontomb…
Her stature was as towering and immense as Irontomb itself.
"Fallacy…"
This time, it was finally a body that felt right.
'Cyrene' raised her right arm—the one holding the bow—and flexed it slightly.
Countless tendrils of the black tide surged toward 'Cyrene'.
"Sister? Be careful…"
Seeing this, Demiurge simply channeled the immense flow of data and hope being directed at her and shared it all with 'Cyrene'.
Feeling the collective will of countless souls from Amphoreus, 'Cyrene' grinned widely.
Noticing Demiurge flying to her side, she gave a slight nod:
"Demiurge, watch now… watch how your big sister corrects what's flawed!"
With that, 'Cyrene' lifted the longbow.
Her wrist twisted.
Faced with a threat so close, Irontomb instinctively tried to resist.
"Conclusion… annihilation…"
Yet 'Cyrene' suddenly raised her voice sharply:
"Repeat after me—"
She didn't draw the bowstring. Instead, she raised the bow like a blade high overhead, then swung it down with immense force—
BOOM——!!!!!!
"LOVE!!"
A slash capable of shattering the very world, accompanied by that resounding shout, slammed mercilessly into Irontomb's body.
The violent force, carrying an unparalleled will, nearly tore its chest apart.
Irontomb's massive frame was thrown backward, reeling.
Its outstretched arms reached forward, trying to seize 'Cyrene'.
"Error… annihilation… annih…"
Irontomb's murmuring continued, but clearly 'Cyrene' wasn't in the mood for chatter.
The moment the blade in her right hand finished its arc, her left hand clenched into a fist and shot upward.
Then, once again in that gentle voice, she cried out:
"Wrong, try again—HOPE!!!"
BOOM——!!!
Another devastating punch hammered into Irontomb's chest.
That ultimate will, laden with storm and resentment, was forcefully driven into Irontomb's frame.
"Er… error… calculation… annih…"
Irontomb's murmuring clearly faltered.
"I said—LOVE!! HOPE!! Are you deaf?!!"
'Cyrene' simply tossed aside the bow that never felt quite right in her hands.
She simply shaped her hand into a blade once more and brought it down again and again upon Irontomb! Driving it back step by step.
It should have been a scene brimming with hope.
But for some reason…
Demiurge's expression was a bit complicated.
Weren't she and her sister supposed to be gentle, lovely beauties…
Big sister was wearing such a cute dress, holding such a beautiful bow…
How did this turn into pummeling with bare fists?
And is this really how you spread love and hope??
Is… is this right?
Watching her sister, who was now throwing punches and hand-chops while shouting things like 'Love and hope, are you deaf?!'…
Demiurge sank into a deeply conflicted state of mind.
Big sister looked like she was having fun, even if it was a bit… unconventional. Should she learn this too?
Hmm… should she really learn this??
The real Cyrene, watching from outside, couldn't take it anymore.
No!!!
Don't use my face to go on such berserker rampages!!
And Demiurge, don't you learn this either!!
Why not use the ceremonial sword? Or at least that bow!
Don't wear a frilly dress and high heels while laughing and throwing punches like that.
What kind of hellish tableau would that be?
Compared to Cyrene's 'despairing' wails…
Mydei was thoroughly enjoying the show.
He felt like it was him throwing those punches on the field.
And the one laughing the hardest was Cipher.
She practically wished she could jump in and take over the fight herself.
--+--