Late September, above the equatorial anomaly ice ocean—
The flames of a holy war launched by the Cross Church clashed with the high-tech weaponry manufactured by a certain city in the Far East, causing an unprecedented collision.
Steel torrents, countless magical arrays, sacred chants, endless barrages, erupting artillery—gunpowder smoke and magical residue completely engulfed a region that should have belonged to tropical rainforest climate. And the battle only grew fiercer.
But in that moment, when the orange blade of light that pierced heaven and earth descended, everything changed.
The outcome of the war seemed as if it had been rewritten by a single person. As far as the eye could see—coastal islands sinking, shoreline land collapsing…
The fracture of the continental shelf near the coast had devastating consequences. In an instant, hundreds of millions of tons of land debris plunged into the icy ocean. The iceberg sea zone, previously stabilized by the Queen Fleet's large-scale freezing ritual from the Queen of the Adriatic Sea, disintegrated at once.
Crack crack craaack—!!
An earth-shattering rumble expanded in all directions, hammering people's eardrums and nerves.
Like stones being pushed into a lotus pond from high up, the immense pressure and displacement caused the ocean beneath the ice cap to instantly boil over. It burst through the thick ice layer, soaring into the sky and crashing down in torrents—tens of millions of tons of seawater descending like a mountain.
The countless tons of seawater, flung into the sky by the explosive heat from the orange beam, rose amid the shockwaves tearing through the battered ice sea, then condensed into clouds.
These overwhelming condensation clouds first appeared around the canyon where the orange beam had struck and vanished. Then, following the collapsed coastal terrain, they rapidly spread, merged, and rose—forming a towering wall of water that blanketed the entire sea horizon.
Total devastation. Both the Roman Catholic Church's "holy war" fleet and Academy City's mechanized military halted their assault nearly simultaneously.
What's certain is, after the war, regardless of who wins, the Malaysian gov||ernment stands to profit with zero losses. The only one who might be unhappy is Singapore.
Because on the Malaysian Peninsula, the long-desired but previously unobtainable "canal" had now been carved out halfway by that slash from the orange sword. Just a little more and it could open up to the Pacific.
From a bird's eye view, the pillar of light that originated from Banda Aceh on Sumatra Island crossed the strait and landed on the Malaysian Peninsula. Unfortunately, it only extended about 200 kilometers. Officials in Malaysia watching this must be hopping mad.
Sigh! Why didn't you just push a little harder?!
As for Kamijou Touma, who had faced the beam head-on, he felt like he had just walked through the gates of hell.
"Cough cough... That was Fiamma of the Right! Leader of God's Right Seat, the Roman Catholic Church's darkest division, de facto controller of the Vatican, and instigator of this world war! Be on your guard! Even I wouldn't stand a chance against him!"
At that moment, the voice of Kanzaki Kaori rang out in his mind, somewhat weary.
Her words echoed in the minds of all Academy City combatants at Banda Aceh base.
To accommodate Index, the little nun who hated and struggled with tech devices, this served as a backup communication method beyond the standard network—linked telepathically via Shokuhou Misaki's mental powers.
And now, it was being used. After that attack from Fiamma of the Right, electromagnetic signals, extreme cold, extreme heat, hurricanes, and various atmospheric disturbances had wreaked havoc. Either the communication gear was damaged, or the signal channels were distorted—complete radio silence wasn't uncommon.
"Fiamma of the Right... So he's the one who started it all. The one we're supposed to defeat!"
Looking up at the slender man in a red suit slowly descending from the sky above the coastal waters, Kamijou Touma was filled with rage.
He extended his right hand into a clenched position. Behind him, a massive translucent silhouette began to manifest.
Fiamma of the Right let out a breathy, ecstatic laugh that sounded like he might expire from delight.
"Hahaha... Ahahahaha!! I didn't expect both Index and Imagine Breaker to be here. All the better—saves Yours Truly the trouble of making another trip."
As he spoke, a squirming motion came from behind Fiamma of the Right. From his right shoulder, a mass of light with five twisted fingers slowly emerged.
Even allies reacted with dread upon seeing him. "That's the 'Holy Right'... the power of God..." Biagio Busoni murmured in fear as he backed away across the deck.
The nuns of Agnese's unit also looked terrified. Even though the man's physique wasn't especially trained, he radiated an overwhelming pressure.
"Even if I'm not destroying your disgusting nest inside Academy City and watching your miserable, delightful screams firsthand—it's all the same in the end."
Fiamma landed on the icy deck of the Queen of the Adriatic Sea.
"Interesting. With all these grunts around, your divine punishment spell still doesn't work?"
Pff!
Spitting out bloody saliva, Vento of the Front, bracing herself with her spiked mace, had a face twisted from the heavy drain of magical energy. The crucifix at her tongue tip jingled faintly.
"You think everyone has natural advantages like you? There's a strong mental esper hidden in that underground tin can across from us. Be careful—they've stabilized the emotions on their side so much, it's like they've been frozen. My spell won't activate properly."
Vento's signature technique as a member of God's Right Seat was her divine punishment spell. It required specific emotions to trigger—targeting anyone harboring a designated emotional state.
The spell was meant to incite hostility and overwhelm targets. That's why she dressed the way she did, with so many piercings on her face—to provoke.
Depending on the level of hostility, the spell had different stages: seizing consciousness, restraining the body, or even blocking external interference. No matter the stage, once caught, it was over—unless the caster determined punishment was no longer necessary, recovery was impossible.
But unfortunately for her, no matter how much she provoked or insulted them, the Level 5s across from her were like stone—barely any reaction. No hostility. Yet their attacks were merciless. It left Vento completely lost.
Only the spiky-haired guy had strong emotional fluctuations, but since his Imagine Breaker nullified supernatural powers, it was useless...
Thankfully, she had high compatibility with the strategic spiritual item Queen of the Adriatic Sea. By applying idol theory principles, she could perfectly control the Queen Fleet and unleash over 200% of its firepower.
If Terra of the Left had been in her place, he'd already be dead. His "Execution of Light" spell only worked in duels or ambushes. Against multiple Level 5 opponents? Certain death. Even Acqua of the Back would've struggled.
"Vento of the Front, still holding up?" Fiamma let out a chuckle, tossing some "goods" acquired from the Russian Orthodox Church onto the deck.
"No shit. What's your plan?" Wiping the blood from her mouth, Vento stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the prow.
Unlike in the original timeline, where they clashed internally—especially after Fiamma destroyed Saint Peter's Basilica—in this world, though they weren't exactly friendly, Vento and Fiamma shared a united front against a common enemy.
After all: Terra of the Left was killed by Selene. Acqua of the Back was enslaved by Selene. The Pope and Vatican City—including the basilica—were destroyed by Selene. Academy City was waging an all-out extermination war against the Roman Catholic Church...
How could they afford internal conflict? With Selene as such a colossal common enemy, there was no way Vento would fall out with Fiamma.
"The activation conditions for the Star of Bethlehem have all been prepared..."
"You still haven't gotten your hands on Imagine Breaker..." Vento of the Front glanced across the cratered coastline at the spiky-haired sea urchin darting around. "Fine, I'll create an opening."
BOOM—!
Land-sailing.
Under Vento's control, the Queen of the Adriatic Sea surged forward, crashing into land, dragging the entire Queen Fleet with it.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One by one, the ice-built guard ships were hurled onto land like cannonballs, shattering on impact. The scattered ice glittered like moonlight gemstones, covering the ruins of dozens of kilometers of cityscape with a thick layer of crystalline frost.
Zzzzzzz!
Countless neon green beams blasted from the woman with chestnut-brown hair, tearing through the falling guard ships like meteors. The energy within those green streaks distorted the very air. Crack crack crack!—the ice hulls disintegrated.
Fssshhh~
Long, rod-like crystals made of black triangular prisms dropped to the ground and sank into the snowy terrain, releasing trails of white steam.
"Huff..."
Taking another diffusion-support semiconductor from a nearby support robot holding a crate of them, Mugino Shizuri panted lightly. She had fantasized plenty about this kind of lavish barrage—but in practice? It was exhausting.
"Magic, huh... While the results are similar—both are forms of supernatural power—the way it operates is completely different from what I've seen in Academy City."
That colossal blade from earlier? Yeah, she was out.
Even without powers, based on physical strength alone she could probably beat all these frail freaks like they were kids!
Looking at the newly arrived Fiamma of the Right and her own side's Accelerator—both slim, delicate types—Mugino growled internally.
Too bad that wasn't realistic.
She had accepted the truth: she simply wasn't on par with the second or third-ranked espers. Those two could fly, brawl, and tank hits. She couldn't. Her role was more like a fixed artillery turret. Sure, she had raw strength, but it wasn't useful here.
"The enemy's strongest is here. Where's our Number One?"
Whooosh!
Slashes, gales, shockwaves, beams—Kakine Teitoku unleashed everything at once, obliterating the endlessly regenerating guard ships.
Six pure white wings unfurled behind him. Bathed in holy white light, the angelic wings expanded dramatically—nearly thirty meters in span—as Kakine shielded a several-kilometer radius below.
His sharp eyes locked on Fiamma, who had landed.
No good. That guy's energy output... I can't match it. Neither can Accelerator. Boss, where the hell are you?
"Selene is no longer in Academy City," came a calm voice in everyone's mind—Shokuhou Misaki. "According to the latest intel, after destroying the Roman Catholic Church's HQ, she traveled to Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church has formally requested a ceasefire with Academy City and declared war on the Roman Catholic Church."
Banda Aceh underground base, near the evacuation submarines in the safe room.
"Thanks, little Misaka. When we get back, Onee-sama will buy you some yummy cake."
"Hehe, Misaka is awesome, right?" said the miniature Last Order with pride. "Misaka Misaka brags, hmph! Let's see you call Misaka a useless freeloader now."
"Mhm, good girl." Shokuhou Misaki, wearing white gloves, gently patted the child's head.
Though she wanted to keep playing with little Misaka, more pressing matters awaited.
With Last Order by her side, and using the Misaka Network to expand her psychic range, Shokuhou Misaki had seen the news bulletin on the screen: [Russia Declares End of War, Condemns Fiamma's Imprisonment of the Supreme Archbishop, Declares War on the Roman Catholic Church.]
She broadcast the intel immediately.
"In other words, the only large-scale mobile force left to the Roman Catholic Church... is the fleet right in front of you."
"So the Russian Orthodox Church pulled out of the war with Academy City?! That's amazing! Lady Selene really did it—solved the world war problem in no time!"
Propping up the battered but sturdy Sogiita Gunha, Kamijou Touma was ecstatic.
"Then if we take down these bastards in front of us... this absurd world war is over?"
But in the next moment—before either could act—both of them flinched violently!
"Ah, yes, but why would Yours Truly ever lose?!"
A mocking voice wrapped around Kamijou Touma's ear.
"Did you know? The moment I get close to you, the outcome's already decided."
A faint crimson silhouette quietly appeared twenty paces ahead, revealing Fiamma of the Right—grinning with his trademark malicious smile.
BOOM!!
The ice shards beneath Kamijou Touma's feet burst with thunderous force, glowing brightly and forming a chain.
"Touma! That's... a massive magical array! Use your right hand to destroy it!!" came Stiyl's frantic scream.
"Hahaha—too late! Star of Bethlehem... Rise!!"
Crack crack crack—!
...
Crunch—crack!
Silver-white combat boots adorned with holy lily emblems crushed melting snowflakes along the path, leaving deep impressions.
"Tsk tsk. The Star of Bethlehem, huh? So Fiamma of the Right wants to play the new-age Jesus."
Pale fingers bent like bows, joints cracking sharply.
Standing at the edge of a steep sea cliff, Selene lazily stretched.
"You... still not ready to move?"
A gender-ambiguous figure in green surgical robes stood barefoot atop jagged rocks. Their calm green eyes reflected the newly risen land across the strait.
"No rush. Why build the stage ourselves when someone else already set it up for us?"
Chuckling lightly, Selene raised her hand in a toasting gesture, then turned and handed Aleister a fingernail-sized, colorless crystal.
"What's this?"
"I'm going to inject Honkai energy into Fiamma of the Right. With this, you'll gain temporary authority to usurp his body. What happens next—I'm sure the Director doesn't need my instruction."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven