For the AST, the nightmare was far from over.
After Tianqi Sanluo learned the truth, AST headquarters, after long discussions and analysis, finally made a very reluctant decision:
They issued an order requiring all AST members stationed in cities near where Genie (Shura) descended — upon hearing the alarm, they must immediately evacuate the city and divide into groups to engage Genie (Shura) in turns, stalling her as long as possible until she Lost.
A war of attrition — crude, but effective for buying time.
Although this tactic would undoubtedly deplete AST's forces, headquarters could no longer afford to care. It was the only way to protect the greater number of lives.
By contrast, DEM Company merely watched from afar, showing no reaction at all.
Inside DEM headquarters, a handsome white-haired man around thirty sat with one leg crossed over the other, lounging casually on a sofa as he slowly savored his coffee.
On the table before him lay a file he had been staring at intently.
Isaac Ray Balam Westcott.
"Isaac, how rare—are you actually reading company documents?"
The voice came from a tall, striking woman with long, waist-length golden hair and violet eyes standing beside him.
Ellen Mira Mathers—Isaac's secretary, and the world's strongest magician.
"Hm? Oh, Ellen, you mean this?"
Isaac raised an eyebrow, set down his coffee, and smiled as he picked up the file from the table.
"If you call this a company document, then I'd say—it's quite an interesting one."
Ellen leaned over casually for a glance.
"A Spirit?"
"Correct."
Isaac handed her the file. "Take a look for yourself."
Ellen was already mentally prepared; after all, the only thing that ever piqued Isaac's interest was Spirits.
The report was very detailed, describing the Spirit's appearance and estimated capability ratings.
> Codename: Genie (Shura)
First Manifestation: Japan, in [redacted] City
Spacequake Magnitude: SSS
Result: Entire city annihilated.
Abilities: Possesses two Angels—one commanding fire, the other ice.
Combat Rating: Overwhelming. In her first appearance, she toyed with and annihilated hundreds of AST members; in her second manifestation, she once again wiped out several hundred in less than a minute.
Threat Level: SSS.
As she read on, Ellen's expression gradually shifted. When her eyes landed on the SSS threat designation, she raised an eyebrow.
"SSS? Isaac, you're bold as ever."
"Of course. Though Spirits that command fire or ice have appeared before, none of them can compare to Genie (Shura)—at least not in raw, observable power, wouldn't you agree?"
"I can't argue with that."
Setting down the file, Isaac opened his laptop and played the most recent combat footage between Genie (Shura) and AST.
Even though Ellen had mentally prepared herself, when she saw the blazing inferno unleashed from Tianqi Sanluo's Angel, her brow instinctively furrowed.
"This is her second manifestation?"
"Mm. The most recent one we've observed."
Isaac tapped a few keys, switching the display to a new screen—Genie (Shura)'s spirit energy waveform.
"Ellen, more than the footage or reports, this—this is what truly fascinates me."
That sly, mischievous grin—one unique to Isaac Westcott—spread across his face.
"A spirit energy waveform? What about it?"
Ellen, who had seen Isaac obsess over Spirits for years, had never known him to be so intrigued by mere wave data.
"Ellen, what do you see here?"
"Honestly? Nothing special—just that her energy is ridiculously strong."
Ellen answered truthfully.
Normally, a waveform chart was useful only to identify Spirits. She couldn't fathom why Isaac was so fascinated by this one.
"Then let me show you another."
Isaac tapped the keyboard again. A second waveform appeared on-screen.
"! This is…"
With a direct comparison, Ellen's eyes sharpened instantly.
"As expected of the world's strongest magician—you noticed it right away. These two Spirits' waveforms seem unrelated, yet both share an identical resonance frequency. In other words, their powers are—at least to some extent—of the same origin."
Isaac smiled as he drained his cup of now-lukewarm coffee.
"Isaac… whose waveform is this second one?"
"Deus (God)."
"!!!"
Now Ellen understood why Isaac was so fixated on Genie (Shura).
Since the Eurasian Spacequake thirty years ago, Isaac's interest in Spirits had been singular—focused almost entirely on Deus (God) and those like her.
"Other Spirits' waveforms might share similarities with Deus (God), but only Genie (Shura) shows a nearly identical resonance frequency."
"And that," Isaac said with a smirk, "is why I gave her that name."
While Ellen pondered, Isaac handed her his empty cup.
"Ellen, would you make me another coffee?"
"Of course. Please wait a moment."
Though she disliked being interrupted while thinking, this was Isaac—so she complied.
Moments later, she returned with a steaming cup.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
Isaac smiled courteously as he took a sip—like a refined gentleman.
"Isaac… so you suspect that Woodman…"
"He doesn't have the guts. Besides, there's no longer a spiritual vein on Earth capable of birthing a second Primordial Spirit."
Isaac chuckled, continuing to browse the Genie (Shura) data.
"That's exactly why she interests me so much. It suggests a possibility—that perhaps, even without a spirit vein, new Primordial Spirits can still arise naturally."
"That's just a hypothesis."
"Indeed. Just a hypothesis."
Isaac reclined on the sofa, gazing lazily at Ellen.
"So, what do you want me to do? Should I go capture her?"
Ellen, confident as the strongest magician alive, never believed any Spirit could defeat her.
"Let's not."
"Huh? Isaac—don't tell me you doubt my abilities?"
Ellen frowned, surprised by his response.
"Ellen, it's not that. What I mean is—someone who might rival Deus (God) herself… do you really think she'd be so easily captured?"
Isaac's grin faded; his tone turned serious.
"Or are you saying you could defeat Deus (God)?"
Ellen fell silent. Even she, the greatest magician in the world, could not claim that.
"…Then what's our next move?"
"We watch."
Isaac's trademark sly smile returned as he lifted his cup once more.
"A great tree draws great winds. With a Spirit this violent and flamboyant, you can bet we're not the only ones paying attention. At the very least, Woodman won't ignore her."
He sipped his coffee and glanced toward the window.
"A savage, bloodthirsty Spirit… I wonder what Woodman will think of that?"
"You're awfully relaxed about all this." Ellen sighed.
"Of course I am. Genie (Shura) has only appeared twice so far."
Isaac chuckled, eyes gleaming with curiosity as he gazed outside.
"I can't help but wonder—if Genie (Shura) were to undergo inversion… what would she become?"
"Honestly, I feel like she's already inverted."
"Ellen, between you and me—I feel the same."
Isaac stood, closing his laptop, still wearing that elegant, devilish smile.
"Ellen, if the chance arises, try to capture her. After all, Sample A hasn't shown any signs of inversion yet… I wouldn't mind adding a Sample B."
Ellen straightened at once.
"Understood, Isaac. You'll be hearing good news from me soon."