"Observation results: no corresponding records in the past. Unable to formulate a response, forecast, or prediction based on statistical data."
"Observation values: no anomalies detected. Unable to fully detect electromagnetic waves."
"Cosmic rays directed at Earth cannot be detected."
"Visual feed from artificial satellites has been lost. Contact with the Mauna Kea Observatory has been severed. At present—Earth can no longer observe any other celestial bodies."
...
Amid the string of eerie system broadcasts, the operating Chaldeas' Celestial Sphere suddenly halted, froze in place, and cracks began to spread across its surface.
"Wha—?! I didn't do anything, I swear!"
Before Shiomi could even question him, Goredolf panicked the moment he was grabbed by the collar and blurted out his defense.
He was well aware of the value of that device.
Judging by his panic, it was clear he truly didn't know what was happening.
Shiomi had only intended to question him on instinct due to the sudden development, but seeing no need to push further, he let go.
"Intruders confirmed! Magical energy detected at the main gate, third gate, and sixth gate! What is this… it's increasing?! It's still increasing?!"
A technician in the control room reported after confirming the situation via radar.
However, the observation mirror SHEBA had also ceased functioning.
Romani immediately ran back to the command console and activated Chaldea's surveillance system, projecting the footage onto every available screen.
What they saw was an army of human soldiers, clad in bizarre uniforms and wearing medieval plague doctor masks, completely surrounding Chaldea—led by a silver-haired girl.
Security at each gate radioed in, reporting they were under attack.
One by one, the guards Goredolf had brought began to scream. The transmissions went silent.
"Tch…"
Shiomi clicked his tongue, grabbed Olga Marie's hand, and started running. Whatever the enemy was, the attack on Chaldea had already begun. They had to prepare for immediate evacuation.
As they fled, Shiomi shouted toward Romani.
"Doctor! Stop watching the monitors and get out—now!"
Romani didn't hesitate. He gathered the few staff still in the control room and made for the exit.
"Hey! Where are you all going?!" Goredolf stood frozen, shouting frantically. "What's happening?!"
"If you don't know, then just run—unless you want to die here!"
Shiomi didn't wait for a response. He took Olga Marie and ran, meeting up with Romani and the others in the corridor.
"From here on... we follow the plan!" Da Vinci called out.
"But Chaldea!" Olga Marie hesitated. "And my... body!"
Shiomi stopped and held her shoulders firmly.
"Staying alive comes first! Chaldea, the Magic Crest, none of it matters if you're dead. Don't... let what I did to save you be for nothing."
"...I understand."
His words brought her back to her senses.
They dashed through Chaldea's corridors, heading for the hangar where Da Vinci had stored the mobile fortress.
"Da Vinci, take the lead. We're heading to the container. Romani, contact the others—whether it's Lady Aesc or the Grandmaster, tell them to bring everyone there right away!"
But the speed of the invasion had been far beyond expectations. The halls of Chaldea, pristine just moments ago, were now in ruins.
Unremoved Christmas decorations lay scattered, trampled and mixed with shattered glass and debris.
"Stop!"
Shiomi suddenly called out. Gungnir appeared in his hand, spinning.
A flash of fire streaked forward, and bullets clattered to the ground in front of them.
The enemy soldiers had already breached the facility and were advancing toward the control room, suppressing all resistance in their path.
Dead bodies of both review team members and Chaldea staff littered the way.
These soldiers—clearly—had no affiliation with the Mage's Association.
"Da Vinci, keep everyone safe."
Shiomi took a deep breath as his mostly recovered Magic Circuits began to flow again, mana surging through his body.
The enemy soldiers were just about to reload when a flash of cold light tore through them. Their bodies crumpled to the floor in an instant.
"Sorry—I'm in a hurry." Shiomi gave his spear a quick flick. It was still spotless.
The strike had been so fast, not even blood had time to stick.
He turned back and motioned for the others. They immediately resumed their dash toward the hangar.
The number of enemy soldiers was clearly limited—too few to secure Chaldea effectively. Splitting into separate squads to suppress different areas had worked against them. Once one team went dark, reinforcements couldn't arrive in time.
Soon, the hangar doors came into view.
Outside lay the bodies of countless soldiers, most appearing to have been slain by spears or long swords.
The doors were wide open, revealing a container nearly as large as the control room. Standing guard outside were Scáthach, Morgan, and Artoria, all on high alert.
The moment they spotted Shiomi and the others, visible relief washed over their faces.
"Any survivors?" Olga Marie asked.
"When we received the signal, the soldiers had already breached Chaldea," Scáthach replied, shaking her head. "We did what we could while heading here, but only managed to find seventeen survivors. Including the ones with you, that makes nineteen staff members total."
Of course, that number didn't include Shiomi's family, Olga Marie, Romani, or the other top-level personnel.
"Hey! Don't leave me behind—wait for me!"
Goredolf stumbled into view at the hangar entrance. He looked completely disheveled, covered in blood and grime, but miraculously free of any serious wounds.
"Why are you alone? Where's everyone else?" Shiomi turned to question him.
"They... those soldiers... they killed them all..." Goredolf panted, legs trembling.
If he hadn't known a bit of Magecraft, he probably wouldn't have made it this far.
Behind him, a dozen or so bird-masked soldiers approached fast.
Shiomi quickly made a decision, yanking Goredolf up and throwing him into the container.
"Lock him up. We'll question him after we get moving."
Scáthach and Artoria immediately pinned him down—one with a spear, the other with a sword—and shoved him inside.
"What about Sensei?" Olga Marie called after him.
"I'll cover the rear. Start the container—now!"
Shiomi reached for the hangar door and slammed it shut, then charged straight at the soldiers that were closing in.
There were dozens of them, stronger than typical troops—but still no match for him.
After cutting down the last of the immediate pursuers, he turned toward the corridor window.
"Once the container starts sliding down the slope, I'll break the window and jump onto it—"
He didn't even finish the sentence.
A sudden chill swept over him. He spun around, spear in hand, and blocked a strike just in time.
"Unfortunately, this is where your journey ends."
As Shiomi laid eyes on the attacker, he realized—he wasn't all that surprised.