"One of the Zodiacs, Scorpio, has descended. You should have an Initiator with you, correct? Take her and flee immediately. The Tokyo Area is... beyond saving now."
A calm yet steady voice came through the phone, ending with a clearly audible sigh of resignation.
One could imagine how much courage Seitenshi had mustered to make this call, and just how despairing she must have felt.
No doubt, Seitenshi was now pale, biting her lower lip in frustration, her white-gloved hands clenched into tight fists, her delicate frame trembling slightly as she stared at the images transmitted on her screen.
Yet, the moment her words trailed off.
The battle at Tokyo Bay in the distance had already begun. Even from this far away, the sounds of artillery fire could be distinctly heard.
Missiles, poison gas bombs, torpedoes, bunker busters...
Nearly every available weapon was fired in an instant, yet not only did they fail to inflict damage, they couldn't even slow its advance.
Even when a bunker buster managed to breach its tough outer shell, causing negligible damage, it would regenerate completely the next second.
And in the predawn darkness, a colossal beast loomed faintly over the sea, slowly making its way toward Tokyo Bay.
That was the Stage V Scorpio, its form resembling an infinitely enlarged, mutated flea. No one knew how many genetic materials from other creatures it had absorbed to become what it was now.
Its massive body, like a towering mountain, was covered in deep brown, cracked skin pockmarked with pustules of varying sizes, each studded with protruding crimson eyes. Countless tentacles, splitting and closing like snake heads, burst forth from its neck, head, eyes, and other parts, writhing wildly in numbers too chaotic to count.
The Stage V Scorpio's head was small, its mouth sunken as if toothless, while its entire body was adorned with numerous alternating flashing light bands.
And that towering form, reaching into the clouds, stood at a terrifying height of 400 meters—a full hundred meters taller than Planet Godzilla!
Simply standing there, it was the very embodiment of terror.
A single glance from afar was enough to evoke primal fear from the depths of one's instincts.
As Scorpio advanced through the sea, it impatiently swatted away missiles streaking through the night sky with its tentacles.
The explosions from the missiles vaporized the surrounding seawater, yet no visible damage could be seen. Even if a tentacle was unlucky enough to be blown off, it would regenerate swiftly, utterly unfazed by the fleet's relentless barrage.
"Mr. Mahiro, you must have seen the Scorpio by now? That's something beyond human capability to oppose, so please escape while you still can."
Seitenshi urged once more over the phone.
"What about you?"
"I... I will remain in the Tokyo Area. As its leader, it's my duty and responsibility to stand with the people who have supported me until the very end."
"You're as stubborn as ever, Seitenshi. But that's exactly why I admire you."
"This isn't the time for jokes..."
"I'm not joking." Mahiro interrupted. "I truly do admire you. And I won't run either, because there are still many things worth protecting in the Tokyo Area—the children, President Kisara, and you, Seitenshi."
"...Thank you for saying that, Mr. Mahiro. But against Scorpio, we're powerless."
"Surely not? What about the Ladder of Heaven?"
He was referring to a relic from the final days of the Gastrea War.
Though completed, this supermassive weapon—dubbed the "Ladder of Heaven"—had never even undergone a test run before being abandoned along with its base, bearing witness to humanity's defeat against the Gastrea.
Two parallel rails, each 1,500 meters long, pierced the sky at a 70-degree angle, disappearing into the thin clouds where their tops were often obscured by mist.
It represented the pinnacle of human weaponry, alternatively called the "Linear Super Electromagnetic Launching Device"—a railgun system capable of accelerating metal projectiles up to 800mm in diameter to near-light speeds.
However, Seitenshi's regretful voice came through the phone.
"It's useless. The Ladder of Heaven has been sabotaged by the Five Wing Syndicate."
"I see. That is unfortunate."
His tone carried no trace of regret—if anything, it sounded almost relieved?
Then he asked:
"Seitenshi-sama, do you believe in miracles?"
Miracles?
Seitenshi couldn't remember the last time she'd heard that word. Perhaps in her childhood, a decade ago?
During the Second Kanto Battle, everyone celebrated the miracle—the construction of the massive Monoliths whose Varanium-generated magnetic fields weakened the Gastrea, driving them back.
Successfully trapping humanity within these last remnants of land behind the Monoliths.
"Miss Kisara, if a miracle were to happen now, what form do you think it would take?"
In the chaotic operations headquarters, Seitenshi clutched her phone tightly as she turned to the woman beside her.
The uninvited girl who had exposed part of the conspiracy behind the lost Legacy of the Seven Stars now stood before the screen, watching the same images as Seitenshi before shaking her head.
"I don't know. But—Seitenshi-sama, if anyone can create a miracle, it would be Mahiro-kun."
Kisara stated with absolute conviction.
Meanwhile, at the harbor pier facing Tokyo Bay across the water.
The salty sea breeze ruffled short, pale golden hair.
"Are you planning to run away, Mr. Mahiro?" she asked in her usual calm tone.
"Why would you think that?" Mahiro asked in return.
"Because it's the optimal strategy right now. A Stage Five Gastrea is not something we can fight against. Though it's a shame we won't get to see those little friends at Arcadia anymore."
"Don't worry, we'll see them."
Mahiro reassured her.
He instinctively glanced at the massive beast slowly moving on the distant horizon, then looked back at the girl before him.
Not long ago, Kayo had accepted his invitation to join Arcadia, helping him build a utopia for the Cursed Children...
"Mr. Mahiro? Why are you staring at my chest right now? Even though I've agreed to become your tool, you can't give in to animalistic urges at a time like this. Scorpio is almost upon us, and I'm only ten—we can't do that sort of thing. Please restrain yourself."
While Mahiro had been deep in thought about strategy, his gaze had unconsciously lowered, landing on the young girl's chest.
As if to break the tense atmosphere, the girl spoke in her usual calm tone, making his lips twitch involuntarily.
"...Uh, Miss Kayo? When was I staring at your chest?"
"From just now until this moment."
The girl stated the fact expressionlessly.
"I was just thinking."
"I understand. Many animals awaken their instinct to preserve their species when nearing the end of their lifespan or facing death. In other words, the desire to reproduce is an instinct—nothing to be ashamed of. However, if the target is me, that's a mistake. I'm too young to bear life, so even if we mated, it would be meaningless. At most, it would only satisfy your sexual urges."
"...Your mouth is really something else."
This girl could actually say such bizarre things with a straight face.
"I'm merely stating facts."
"Alright then... Miss Kayo, do you even have a chest?"
"...I will. Please look forward to it."
The girl's face remained impassive, showing no trace of embarrassment as she rested her greatsword against her chest.
"I'm not looking forward to that, and besides—"
Mahiro paused mid-sentence, placing a hand on her small head and ruffling her hair roughly.
"I get that you're trying to ease my mind by saying these things, but as a girl, it's better not to talk like that."
"In life-or-death situations, dirty jokes are the best way to relieve a man's tension, aren't they?"
Though she appeared cold, Senju Kayo—with her high intelligence—occasionally enjoyed teasing or cracking small jokes. Even now, she could retort with complete seriousness.
The most frustrating part was that Mahiro had no idea how to counter her.
"Whatever..."
He gave up.
"Just stay here for now. Big Brother Mahiro will show you a miracle in the form of magic, okay?"
"?"
Kayo didn't understand what he meant.
But there was no need to understand, nor any way to ask.
Because at this moment, Mahiro was already standing at the very edge of the pier, pulling out that peculiarly shaped handgun once more. Around him, specks of light shimmered like fireflies—no, more like starlight.
"...So beautiful."
It was the most breathtaking sight Kayo had ever seen in her life. Of course, the person enveloped in that starlight was also incredibly handsome.
But then, she noticed the muzzle of Mahiro's gun suddenly begin to change.
It was like a scene straight out of a sci-fi work—the weapon was being reconstructed, transforming from a handgun into a sniper rifle, though the barrel appeared semi-transparent.
"Tch, if it weren't for the auxiliary targeting system Tatsuya installed on my CAD, casting a spell at this range with a general-purpose magic device would've been pretty tricky."
Mahiro muttered under his breath before closing his eyes.
"Multi-Scope"—Deploy!
"Consciousness Domain"—Expand!
"Spirit Eyes"—Activate!
Through Multi-Scope, he constructed a domain, projecting his consciousness within it, then used Spirit Eyes to observe.
Finally—
"Trace Information Dimension"—Begin!
Yet the very next second, his brows furrowed tightly, sweat beading across his forehead.
Untraceable. Unanalyzable.
To be precise, his Copy Eyes could glimpse it, but the human brain alone was incapable of parsing it.
Because the genetic composition of the Scorpion was absurdly complex—tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of genetic traits jumbled together. Even its elemental composition was ludicrous, covering nearly half the periodic table!!!
And that wasn't even accounting for the isotopes.
How could such a creature defy all logic?
Never had he imagined that one day, he'd be defeated by the limitations of his own hardware.
"In that case... let's try another approach."
Strategic-Class Magic—"Abyss"—Activate!
An overwhelming surge of magical power erupted from Mahiro's body, as though he himself were about to dissolve into light.
Immediately, the sea began to tremble, as if struck by a magnitude 7 or 8 earthquake!
Under the gaze of everyone present, the Scorpion began to sink beneath the waves.
A hemispherical pit, three kilometers in diameter, formed in the water, swallowing the creature whole.
Its flailing tentacles, each capable of stirring up monstrous waves with a mere flick, now struck the walls of water without so much as a ripple.
Then, a bone-chilling cold spread across the sea's surface.
From a distance, it looked like the mist trailing a ghost ship, but wherever the fog touched, everything froze solid.
Even the churning seawater turned into glacial land.
Through the drones, the command center saw the truth in the transmitted footage.
"...It's just... one person?"
"How is this possible? Is this another mechanical soldier from the New Human Creation Plan?"
"If someone can achieve something like this... isn't it just too absurd?"
...
The ministers, who had been panicking and preparing to flee just moments ago, now stood in stunned silence, their eyes glued to the figure on the screen.
Meanwhile, Seitenshi and Kisara had already recognized the one walking across the glacier, unleashing that icy mist.
It was undoubtedly Mahiro!
"So this is the miracle he spoke of?"
If that were the case, perhaps they truly could defeat the Stage Five Scorpion!
At the very least, this was what Seitenshi prayed for in her heart.
Even Tendo Kikunojou, the most composed among them all, remained silent, his gaze solemnly fixed on the figure on the screen.
Yet, whether filled with doubt, curiosity, or awe, one thought remained unchanged—
We, the Tokyo Area, are saved.
Frost was spreading.
In mere moments, it had frozen the entirety of Tokyo Bay, along with the colossal Scorpion!
Though the range of this "Domain of Ice Mist" was vast, it hadn't reached absolute zero. While it could freeze seawater into unbreakable glaciers, it couldn't completely immobilize a Stage Five Gastrea.
Still, temporary restraint was enough.
Mahiro activated his flight magic, leaping up to land atop Scorpion's head, then drew the super-varanium alloy syringe.
Using "Molecular Severance," he sliced through Scorpion's hardened armor and plunged the syringe deep.
The glowing, fluorescent blood rapidly filled the tube, while the writhing flesh healed at an incomprehensible speed, resonating with the blood inside the syringe as if trying to consume it.
Though Stage Fives were immune to the magnetic fields emitted by super-varanium alloy, a mere vial of blood could easily suppress them.
"My objective is complete. Now, it's time to say goodbye, little one. I'm sorry I can't save you."
Mahiro crouched down, gently stroking Scorpion's head as he murmured.
Indeed, he had traced Scorpion's origins—it was originally the younger sister of a pair of twins, transformed into Scorpion through the experiments of Nanahoshi Village.
The elder sister had similarly become a Stage Five Gastrea: the Plague King, Libra.
As absurd as it sounded, this was the cruelest, most tragic truth of this world.
At the same time, Mahiro pressed the muzzle of his CAD against Scorpion's skin, and the surging psion light flared once more.
"Cocytus—activate."
Instantly, Scorpion, which had been on the verge of breaking free from the ice, ceased struggling—as if frozen anew.
But this was different.
Cocytus, a mental interference spell, was the magic that had once earned Yotsuba Shinya the title of Snow Queen.
Unlike Domain of Ice Mist, which froze the body and overwrote the information body, Cocytus froze the mind. The body would stiffen and halt as the spirit "stilled."
The interaction between mind and body could also cause partial crystallization of the flesh.
A frozen mind would never awaken. A frozen mind could not perceive death, nor command the body to die.
For a massive Gastrea like this, it was practically the perfect counter.
But this alone wasn't enough—Scorpion's body had to be erased.
So he soared high into the sky, hovering at an altitude of three thousand meters.
"Strategic-class magic—Glacial Age—activate!"
The magic "Glacial Age" represents the ultimate manifestation of the Domain of Ice Mist.
If the Domain of Ice Mist composed of liquid nitrogen could reach -210°C, then the Glacial Age pushes it to the thermodynamic limit—absolute zero at -273.15°C.
Within this one-kilometer radius, all molecular motion ceases, infinitely approaching complete stillness.
This was a spell he adapted from Miyuki's expertise, refined through his brain's computational domain—an ultimate magic that rivals mass-destruction spells like Gram Dispersion or Material Burst.
"And now, the final step—'Fourth Phase Transition,' activate!"
While people were still marveling at why Tokyo Bay and the Scorpion had frozen solid, while the command center debated how to dispose of the Scorpion's remains—
A shrill alarm suddenly blared.
It was a high-radiation alert.
On the screens, a blazing orb of light abruptly materialized above the Scorpion's head.
Its radiance, like the sun itself, dispelled the darkness over Tokyo—and the orb seemed to be expanding!
At the peak of its expansion, intense electromagnetic radiation obliterated the drones circling overhead.
And as the orb consumed it, the Scorpion began dissolving, particle by particle.
"Fourth Phase Transition" wasn't some profound magic—it simply converted matter into plasma.
Under such extreme cold, the plasma sphere emitted ultra-high heat capable of annihilating all matter.
No matter how potent a Stage V's regenerative abilities were, it remained bound by biological limits. Nothing could recover from such violent thermal expansion and contraction—every cell, every fiber of its being, was utterly destroyed.
Returned to nothingness.
The first light of dawn crept over the horizon as Kayo stood at the harbor docks, watching the Scorpion vanish beneath that sun-like brilliance. She couldn't help but murmur:
"...Is this the miracle you spoke of? It truly is beautiful... just like you."
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