[Although things are going according to plan now, are these people actually going to act as planned later? If they can't figure it out, I'll have to keep holding back in the fight… If I hold back too much, I might expose myself and get caught.]
On the battlefield, the attacks grew increasingly fierce. Exaggerated combat effects completely filled the sky. The aftershocks from each clash between Twilight and Li Bei looked terrifying enough to easily destroy the Blue Earth if not for the protective barrier.
However, at the very center of this supreme battle, while Twilight and Li Bei's expressions looked ferocious, there was actually not a hint of nervousness—after all, they were all on the same side. They were just putting on a show for the people below. Could they really start fighting for real?
With their strength, if they truly went all out and the protective measures bought from the system failed to hold, the Blue Earth would genuinely explode on the spot.
Faced with Twilight's concerns, Li Bei could only reply—[Don't worry, it's all stable.]
Although he himself wasn't a hundred percent confident, being human, the most important thing was confidence! Moreover, given his understanding of these lunatics, he believed that even if their combat capabilities were crippled and their brains completely shut down, their trust in the clones and their insane obsession would still lead them down the path he had arranged.
Otherwise, he would really have to risk flipping the table…
…
So, is this the time?
The fierce battle in the sky, even for Makima, a great devil already at one of the pinnacles of combat power in the Chainsaw Man world, was still difficult to see clearly—but this didn't prevent her from sensing that life-or-death determination.
Twilight was no match for that entity. The only thing she could do was persevere, slowing down the pace of her defeat… The outcome was unchangeable. If this continued, her only end would be death.
She clearly could have survived if she had pretended her consciousness was erased, perhaps even finding a real opportunity to escape control one day.
Makima glanced at Caelus and the Astral Express crew, who were staring blankly at the sky beside her.
Evidently, this was probably the reason why Twilight was fighting so desperately.
To risk one's life fighting for family and friends… So this is what it feels like? Touching the piece of paper in her chest pocket, Makima's gaze gradually turned serious—then now, it was also her time to risk her life for her friend.
"Aki Hayakawa, still alive?" she asked calmly. After hearing Aki Hayakawa struggle to his feet behind her, Makima said coolly without turning her head, "If you're still alive, call out that Future Devil. It has two choices: one, to honestly help me, or two, to be controlled by me and then honestly help me."
"What are you talking about… What do we need that thing to help us with?" Aki Hayakawa's current condition was definitely not good. Although he wasn't injured, as the only truly ordinary person present, the pressure he felt was enough to put a huge strain on his body.
Fortunately, this situation wouldn't kill him for now, so Aki Hayakawa could still stand up and question Makima's baffling statement.
"Besides, the Future Devil has never been obedient. Even if I tell it, it might not—"
Makima said nothing. She merely turned her head silently and glanced at Aki Hayakawa. And just that momentary gaze made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
There was no killing intent in her eyes, only indifference. It was as if she wasn't looking at a living being, but a tool she needed to use. That gaze couldn't even be called contempt; it was simply a belief that the object of her gaze was fundamentally different from herself.
"Sigh, how terrifying… This woman isn't even that strong, why is she so confident?"
Just as Aki Hayakawa felt his blood run cold, the peculiar voice he often found annoying sounded in his ear, and what it said next made him feel even more horrified.
"The thing she's looking for should be to the north… Hmm, it seems to be a bit further north from this city."
That Devil, who always shouted "The future rules!" and spouted incomprehensible nonsense, who seemed indifferent to everything and feared nothing, had actually chosen to obey Makima's orders now?
"Don't be surprised. This woman is like a mad dog right now. Even if I say I won't help, she'll force me to assist… Since that's the case, why resist?" The Future Devil chuckled dryly and said no more.
Aki Hayakawa could only truthfully relay its words to Makima. Although he didn't know what she was looking for, Aki Hayakawa didn't think this woman would do anything meaningless. Since she definitely wanted to save Shoko, he had no reason not to help Makima.
And Makima didn't hesitate in the slightest. She immediately found Otto, then grabbed Aki Hayakawa and quietly disappeared from the spot.
Aki Hayakawa didn't know what she had said, but on his way out, he saw Otto and all the others, including Denji who remained behind, begin to use all their strength to launch attacks towards the sky, attempting to assist Twilight in her battle—although their attacks barely served as a distraction, they could at most be considered as not dragging Twilight down.
…
As everyone was going all out attacking Li Bei in the sky, Welt couldn't help but take the opportunity while panting beside Otto to ask him in a low voice, "Otto, are you sure that person is trustworthy?"
"Old friend, if it were me, you wouldn't ask such a foolish question." Otto maintained his offensive on the sky with the Void Archives, seemingly putting all his thoughts into the attack. Only Welt, who was extremely close, could hear his voice. "Look at Caelus and Kevin. Acting like them is what needs to be done now."
Welt subconsciously looked up at Caelus and Kevin, the strongest among them. At this moment, they were at the closest point to the center of the battlefield, fighting with all their might to create attacking opportunities for Twilight.
They even frequently made moves that risked their lives for injuries. If Twilight's power couldn't heal their wounds, the two of them might have already died in battle.
Welt knew why they were fighting so desperately. Because Makima had told Otto that she had a trump card, personally handed to her by Shoko, that could turn everything around. And now, they just needed to use every means possible to keep Li Bei's attention entirely focused on the battlefield.
Just by hearing such uncorroborated words, these people had abandoned all other plans and chosen to engage in what seemed like a suicidal attack, like ants trying to shake a giant tree.
Perhaps Makima was lying completely. Perhaps the means did exist but wasn't actually that powerful… Welt could find too many reasons not to execute Makima's plan, yet these people had chosen to stay.
"Otherwise, should we run away, Elysia? For you, perhaps there is such an option, but for us, there isn't."
Otto's tone was calm, but Welt could only see madness in his eyes. "I will take her back."