"Shiori-nee!"
Unlike Mana, Shiori had no combat ability whatsoever. As an ordinary person, she absolutely had no chance of surviving against a Spirit.
Watching Shiori appear in such a dangerous place on the screen, Kotori let out a cry akin to a plea for help.
And at that moment…
"Warning. Spacequake detected. Spiritual power fluctuations detected."
"Warning. Spirit 'Emperor' detected. Please be advised!"
As the AI system of the aerial warship Fraxinus issued warnings, the image on the large screen instantly vanished, replaced by crackling static.
"It's Emperor, Commander!"
"Yes, I understand. Emperor has appeared."
Looking at Kannazuki's surprised expression, Kotori forced herself to stay calm.
"Set the Princess aside for now. Prioritize Emperor as the primary target. Dispatch all combat units. Also, connect me with the AST's person in charge here."
Taking a deep breath, the 'Emperor' Kotori referred to was a male Spirit who had appeared roughly a year ago.
Yes, unlike all the female Spirits recorded in history, Emperor was a male Spirit.
There wasn't much data on this new Spirit, not even his appearance. The only two encounters were due to the appearance of the Storm Spirit.
Kotori only knew that Emperor was a Spirit who could freely control his spiritual fluctuations, and he seemed quite favorably disposed towards humans, consistently controlling the power of his Spacequakes.
Upon the AI detecting Emperor's spiritual fluctuations, Kotori's first instinct was to capture him.
After all, compared to other female Spirits, Emperor's existence was even more conspicuous. He might be the key to unraveling the mystery of Spirits.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Tengu City.
[After using the power of the Kabbalah Tree of Life to seal Kotori's spiritual power, you fell into a deep sleep due to the unfamiliar energy within your body.]
[Just like the time with the SSS-rank Clow Card that touched the rule of 'Time', Kotori's Fire Spirit power was the rule of Fire, Kurumi's Zafkiel was the rule of Time, and Nia's Rasiel was the rule of Knowledge.]
[For you at this stage, digesting and utilizing these rules required energy.]
[During your slumber, Nia and Kurumi vanished from the scene. One continued creating manga under the pen name Honjo Soji, while the other enjoyed the world's beauty with her clones.]
[As time passed, you awoke one year before the main story began.]
[After spending some intimate time with Nia and Kurumi, you sensed the spiritual power of a pair of Spirits.]
[Rushing to the location where these Spirits appeared, you discovered they were the Yamai Sisters, Yamai Yuzuru and Yamai Kaguya.]
[Using your own spiritual power to seal the Spacequake caused by the two sisters, you discovered their true nature of mutual understanding and care.]
[The reason they engaged in endless daily battles was rooted in a mindset of mutual sacrifice, each hoping to disappear so the other could become the complete Yamai Kazamachi.]
[Suggesting they compete in different ways instead of causing such destructive Spacequakes, the presence of Kurumi and Nia by your side fostered initial trust from the Yamai Sisters towards you.]
[After that, Yuzuru and Kaguya also entrusted their spiritual power to you and began their 'normal' competitions.]
Traveling the world with Kurumi, Nia, and the Yamai Sisters, experiencing the beauty of freedom, Ryuya returned to Tengu City when the main story was about to begin.
Detecting the spiritual fluctuations of the final Spirit, he immediately appeared at the scene.
"Itsuka Shiori, long time no see."
"You should rest for a while."
Looking at Shiori, whom he hadn't seen in four years, Ryuya simply used magecraft to put the girl to sleep.
"You are..."
Seeing Ryuya's face, memories of the incident four years ago surfaced in Shiori's mind.
But before she could speak, she fell asleep.
Shifting his gaze back to the mysterious girl, Ryuya looked at her angelic face, clearly remembering this was the girl named Yatogami Tohka.
"Are you... also here to hurt me?"
Her mind flooded with countless memory fragments of Mio's love for Ryuya, watching Ryuya block her Sandalphon, a hazy mist formed in Tohka's eyes.
It was a despair she hadn't felt even when all humans despised and targeted her.
"Hurt you? No."
Shaking his head, Ryuya noticed Tohka seemed on the verge of berserking.
Although even if Tohka reversed into 'Tenka', she wouldn't pose a threat to him, there was no need for Tenka to emerge now...
Tossing Sandalphon aside, he gently embraced Tohka, "I'm here to help you, Tohka."
"Tohka? You're calling me?"
Blinking, her emotions stabilizing somewhat in Ryuya's embrace, Tohka was essentially a newborn child.
Having no concept of a name, she didn't know who Ryuya was. She only knew she really liked this warm embrace.
"Yes, I'm calling you."
"This isn't the place to talk. Come with me. I'll take you to meet your sisters."
Taking Tohka's hand, Ryuya picked her up in a princess carry. As their figures vanished, the Spacequake disaster alert was instantly lifted.
Moments later...
"Too late?"
A newly arrived girl, wearing AST's combat gear, had snow-white hair and a cold aura.
Looking at the devastated street, Origami first checked on Mana and the others, confirming they were only unconscious. Then she approached Shiori.
"Hey, Ratatoskr. I'm on site. Both Emperor and the Princess are gone."
"Send your people down. I've sent you the coordinates."
Speaking concisely, she hung up immediately. Origami stared at the destroyed street, lost in thought. After a long while, she finally murmured, "That Emperor... could it be you, Onii-san?"
Clearly remembering Ryuya, who saved her life four years ago, Origami had begun frantically training her body after that incident.
In the young Origami's view, finding answers on how to stop Spirits and become stronger was elusive. Thus, she could only desperately train her body and turn her weak subjects into strengths. Stubborn as a machine, she imposed strict demands on herself.
Consequently, her body and spirit, honed to the limit, finally broke through their inherent shackles. At a young age, she became the AST's person in charge in Tengu City. The words 'impossible' never existed in Origami's dictionary.
Food, entertainment... she abandoned everything. Every day, she would recall the image of Ryuya saving the street deep in her heart. Unconsciously, Origami began to worship that figure as her deity.
And this sentiment deepened to an unprecedented level two years ago, after her parents died in an accident, leaving her utterly alone.