Jessica Bailey—and her team—faced a single army. That was the only way to describe the overwhelming force.
Under Isaac Westcott's revered orders, they attacked a Spirit with unmatched might: twenty Bandersnatch drones and ten wizards, including Jessica, armed with DEM Industries' cutting-edge gear.
Perfect. No Spirit could withstand such an ambush. Success would earn Westcott's praise, and for Jessica, civilian casualties were trivial in comparison.
"What… what!? WHAT!?" she screamed.
Impossible. It shouldn't be possible. Their flawless plan was being dismantled by a single girl. Jessica's fury erupted as she faced it.
Their state-of-the-art gear was indeed DEM's finest, a testament to their technological prowess. But it wasn't the strongest. The strongest was a weapon that bypassed human limitations, crafted with unparalleled ingenuity. DEM's ultimate creation, deemed a defective product for human use, was now proving its supremacy before Jessica's eyes.
DW-029, Annihilation Armament. Codename: White Licorice. Its operator—
"Why…!? How can you pilot Licorice!? Tobiichi Origami!" Jessica roared.
"…"
No obligation to answer. With a silent command, Origami sent White Licorice's white wings soaring, unleashing devastating force.
Resistance was futile. White Licorice was designed that way—hence its defective label. It could reduce even DEM's wizards to wrecks in thirty minutes. How could an AST wizard wield it? Yet, the monster before them defied logic.
The answer was simple: Origami Tobiichi was a genius, her relentless effort surpassing DEM's wizards.
"—!" Downing another wizard and drone, Origami scanned her surroundings. Despite the numerical disadvantage, her skill and White Licorice made numbers irrelevant.
Wielding a Spirit-slaying weapon against wizards was ironic. Using it guaranteed her punishment, but she flew regardless. Overhearing AST's "mutterings," she'd learned their absurd plan: capturing not just Takanotsume, but Shidou Itsuka.
Her resolve was set. Unlike the school trip, where a Spirit saved her powerless self, she now had strength. Origami would save Shidou, her heart's anchor, even if it cost her everything.
Ironically, her drive to save her loved one mirrored the Spirit she despised, a truth she'd never grasp.
"Shaddai El Chai, Ninth Divine Raiment!"
In a stage-world where light dimmed, a single radiance sparkled.
Her astral dress, a Spirit's absolute armor, was no shield for Miku but a dazzling gown, elevating her presence.
"Let's ramp it up—this is the real show!" Miku declared.
The crowd's fervor reignited. Without a mic, her voice alone filled the vast venue, resonating purely.
She sang. Just sang. No speakers, no lights—yet Miku's voice consumed everything. Shidou had underestimated her. Miku wasn't just a Spirit—she was an idol. Even without her voice power, she was a force. That was Miku Izayoi, the overwhelming existence Shiori challenged.
"…"
"Wow, that was amazing!" Takanotsume cheered, her praise heartfelt.
Shidou couldn't speak. Amid thunderous applause, they descended to the waiting room.
"What's wrong, Shidou?" Takanotsume asked. "You won't win if you're down!"
"…You're right," he replied.
She was right, but anxiety clung to him. Miku's performance was breathtaking—even to Shidou, who cared little for idols. The audience was enthralled. Despite Ratatoskr's stage sabotage to counter Miku's voice interference with Ai, Mai, and Mii, she'd turned it into her triumph.
Her strength, Origami's absence since morning, and the sidelined band members weighed on him, piercing his resolve with doubt.
"—You look glum," a voice said.
"!?" Shidou spun around.
He'd never mistake that voice. In the waiting room, meant for just him and Takanotsume, stood Kurumi, her sly smile gleaming.
"It's Kurumi!" Takanotsume exclaimed.
"Yes, I've come to cheer, however modestly," Kurumi said.
She took Takanotsume's arm, laughing together. Shidou hadn't expected her to infiltrate here. For Kurumi, it was child's play.
"Kurumi…" he began.
"That face won't win any battles," she said.
"I know, but…" he trailed off.
He understood. No matter Miku's prowess, he couldn't afford to falter. Yet, anxiety lingered.
Seeing his expression, Kurumi sighed with a fond smile, reaching out to cup his cheeks, gazing into his eyes.
"Be your usual, straightforward self on stage," she said. "Petty worries don't suit you. Acting on your heart—that's you."
"Are you saying I don't think deeply?" Shidou asked.
"No," Kurumi replied. "No matter how much you overthink, you always show your true feelings, don't you?"
It sounded the same, but she meant it as praise. Shidou, as Shiori, gave a complex look, making her giggle.
"Don't worry, I'm watching," she said. "And… those you've bound are here too."
"Huh?" Shidou tilted his head.
The door swung open, and two familiar voices echoed.
"Kuku, bow down, human! Summoned from the heavens, the Child of the Hurricane appears!" Kaguya declared.
"Arrival. Seems we made it for the climax," Yuzuru said.
"Yaguya, Yuzuru!?" Shidou gasped.
Dressed in their class's maid outfits, Kaguya struck a cool pose, Yuzuru expressionless. Kotori's "reinforcements" were the Yamai sisters, the Spirit pair Shidou had fought to save.
"Next, a band performance by Raizen High School volunteers!"
Guided by the announcement, applause filled the venue. Shiori, Takanotsume, Kaguya, and Yuzuru—four girls—took the stage. No one would believe one was a boy, so flawless was Shidou's disguise. Even Kurumi, watching, gave a bittersweet nod of approval.
Shiori on guitar, Takanotsume on tambourine, Kaguya on drums, Yuzuru on bass. The Yamais' skills, honed in their "72nd Storm-Calling Drummer Showdown" and "84th Best Bassist Contest," stunned Shidou and Kurumi. Who'd have thought their rivalry would shine here?
Their skill was impeccable. It was up to them now. Shidou glanced at each, receiving nods. Thanks to Kurumi's presence or his Spirit-saving battles, they showed little tension. Then, as Kurumi watched, it happened.
"…Oh?" Kurumi murmured.
The song didn't play. Kurumi knew they'd planned a pre-recorded track—a near-cheat. She instantly sensed something was wrong.
Shidou's demeanor shifted. Her Spirit vision caught his lips moving, speaking into his earpiece. A mic's feedback squealed briefly. The unused mic had been switched on.
Shidou froze, overwhelmed. Kurumi, who watched him closest, knew he was drowning.
"—!" She sprinted forward.
She couldn't interfere—this was their fight. But she had to say something, driven by instinct.
"—Ugh…" Shidou choked.
His voice failed, consumed by negativity. The performance continued, but stopping seemed inevitable. His trembling body and darkening thoughts spiraled toward ruin.
Don't give in! Calm down! he urged himself, but the shaking wouldn't stop.
Then—a song rang out.
"Huh…?" Shidou blinked.
Not the planned track. A different voice—Takanotsume's—revived his fading thoughts.
"Takanotsume…" he whispered.
She was singing, smiling, radiating pure joy. No duty, no mission—just her heart, as Kurumi had urged.
Through the clarity her song brought, he saw her. Only Shidou could spot Kurumi in the crowd. Their eyes met, and she smiled, her lips moving silently. No sound, but her words reached every part of him.
"Do your best."
Instantly, his body moved. Freed from overthinking, his fingers struck the strings fiercely. Her smile erased his doubts. Takanotsume's joyful song and his beloved girl's cheer—how could any boy not be fired up?
He just wanted to sing. It didn't matter if he was bad—he wanted to sing with Takanotsume, to show Kurumi their performance. Full throttle.
"—!" As the second verse began, Shidou joined Takanotsume's song. Her powerful voice didn't suit textbook playing. He strummed wildly, the Yamais seamlessly matching his reckless ad-lib.
No rules. The audience faded. This was their stage. Nothing else mattered—just the joy of it.
"…Ah!" The song ended, leaving pleasant exhaustion. Takanotsume ran to him, grinning. He raised his hand instinctively—a high-five echoed amid roaring applause.
Kurumi was gone, but Shidou believed, without proof, she'd watched to the end. He hoped their joyful performance reached her heart with gratitude.
"—!" Origami deployed a territorial field to block an unexpected barrage. It barely scratched her, but an attack from her blind spot was troubling.
Drone reinforcements. She'd downed over half, but more kept coming.
Yet—
"Not one finger will touch Shidou," she vowed.
No matter how many, she'd crush them all. Bandersnatch drones, capable of wielding realization devices, were formidable. But they were mere machines, far inferior to human wizards. Origami had already analyzed them.
Deploying a fixed territorial field, she halted the drones and wizards briefly. Missiles surged toward them.
"What are you!?" Jessica screamed, face pale with rage and fear as new Bandersnatch units fell.
Numbers meant nothing. No tactic could down the white wings. White Licorice's thrusters weaved through barrages, its field deflecting unavoidable hits. Annihilation was possible—both sides knew it.
"—!?" But White Licorice was supreme, not invincible. Hence its defect. Even Origami's genius couldn't change that.
Her vision blurred. Bullets pierced Licorice's armor, raising black smoke. Retreating to regroup, she felt her body's weight and sudden dizziness.
"Haha! Time's up!" Jessica laughed.
"This…" Origami wiped blood from her mouth, vision warping. Keeping Licorice airborne was taxing. She knew this sensation—her operational limit. Continuing risked permanent damage. That was White Licorice, the supreme yet defective weapon.
But she'd chosen it knowingly. She wouldn't retreat.
"Still…" she growled.
"Pointless!" Jessica taunted. "Once that happens, Licorice is done!"
More Bandersnatch silhouettes appeared. With such reinforcements, the situation could worsen, endangering not just Origami but Shidou at the venue.
"Now, the tables turn! You'll pay—" Jessica began.
"Then—it's time for a substitution," a voice interrupted.
A shadow emerged.
"What!?" Jessica gasped.
"—!" Origami's eyes widened.
A massive spiritual signature registered on her sensors, impossibly close. That voice—
"I knew you wouldn't heed my advice, but you're as stubborn as ever," the voice said.
"Tokisaki—Kurumi," Origami hissed.
"Yes, yes, it's been a while, Origami-san," Kurumi replied.
From the shadow, she took form—crimson-black astral dress, breathtaking beauty, crimson and clock-gilded odd-eye. Her transcendent presence confirmed her identity.
Nightmare. The incarnation of terror stood before Origami. In this surreal scene, Origami's guard stayed up, her words laced with venom.
"Why are you here!?" she demanded.
"No special reason," Kurumi said. "Call it a whim."
"Don't mock me—!" Origami snapped.
"If you want to shoot me, go ahead," Kurumi said. "If your body can handle it, that is."
Grimacing in pain, Origami glared at Kurumi's unguarded back. Her words held no deceit. If White Licorice were fully operational, Origami would've marked her as an enemy. Kurumi, a Spirit, was her target, with no reason to help.
But Origami wasn't foolish enough to waste energy in this critical moment. Despite their confrontation, she held back.
A substitution, Kurumi had said. If true, her enemy was—
"What are you!?" Jessica shouted.
"Oh my," Kurumi replied. "You wanted a Spirit, and here I am. Such a cold reaction. Ignorance is… cruel."
Dozens of Bandersnatch and wizards aimed at Kurumi. She smirked, her smile chillingly mad.
As they wished—a Spirit, though not their target. Unlike the Princess, a bit more… ferocious.
"Let's play a little," Kurumi said. "Thanks to Origami-san, I saw something wonderful. Consider this my small thanks—"
Countless shadows danced. From the darkness, contrasting the blue sky, white arms emerged—dozens, hundreds. A wizard's stifled scream echoed.
"You named me, didn't you?" Kurumi said. "As you wished—I bring your nightmare."
Before the white wings stood a black nightmare. None realized they shared the same goal—to protect. Nightmare took the battlefield stage.
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