Koushi watched as Ellen Mathers completely overpowered Tohka below, and Shido was thrown back by the shockwave; although his mind was racing with complaints, he still clung to one last hope:
(It's fine, it's fine! According to the script, Tohka is about to collapse and will immediately 'Lost' back to the Neighboring World! That kid Shido is tough as nails; his sister will use teleportation magic to snatch him away soon! Everything is under control! I'll just sit back and enjoy the show...)
He subconsciously adjusted his binoculars, wanting to see if Ratatoskr's airship should be appearing yet.
However, as the binoculars swept over the tall buildings surrounding the battlefield, they caught some unusual reflections and personnel wearing gear different from the standard AST Unit equipment.
(Hmm? Are those... DEM's logistical personnel? Why are they climbing so high? Installing lightning rods? No, wait!)
A bad premonition surged in his heart. Koushi's eyes narrowed, and concentrating his mind, he muttered, "Understanding Analysis!"
Azure data streams flashed across his eyes, and the view was instantly overlaid with countless analytical data points and structural schematics.
The structure of the devices being set up by the DEM logistical personnel, their energy operation mode, and the invisible force field currently being woven... the conclusion was reached instantly!
[Warning: High-intensity spatial stabilization/lockdown field detected!]
[Effect: Local spatial coordinates are forcibly anchored, low-intensity spatial phase shifts (including the 'Lost' phenomenon and short-range precision teleportation) have been blocked!]
[Estimated Duration: Unknown (Based on enemy energy supply)]
[Breakdown Difficulty: High (Requires higher-level authority or violent destruction of the generators)]
!!!
The color instantly drained from Koushi's face, and he nearly dropped the binoculars in his hand.
(Spatial lockdown?! Are these DEM guys... planning to catch a turtle in a jar?! Tohka can't escape! And Shido... Kotori's teleportation...)
He abruptly looked down. Tohka was already struggling under Ellen Mathers' storm-like assault, her spirit dress showing damage, while Shido was trying to get up, his face filled with confusion and helplessness.
(How could this happen?! The script wasn't written this way! Aha! Are you messing things up again?!)
Fear instantly seized him. Ellen Mathers' title and her terrifying battle record felt like a bucket of ice water poured over him, chilling his hands and feet.
He recalled everything he knew about Ellen Mathers: the "world's strongest magician," "easily soloing Spirits," "single-handedly fighting the entire Ratatoskr"... (Me fighting Ellen Mathers? Seriously? Are you kidding me! She's a monster who can challenge Spirits one-on-one! I could only flee miserably even from Master Origami... She'll instantly kill me! Absolutely!)
His body trembled slightly. He almost wanted to turn and flee the rooftop, clutching his chest tightly as the fear nearly suffocated him.
His instinct for self-preservation and watching the drama screamed hysterically. He subconsciously took half a step back, frantically searching for an excuse to continue laying low.
But when he looked down again, the scene that met his eyes struck him—
The battle below grew fiercer. Ellen Mathers' attacks were like a torrential storm. Tohka struggled to block them, wielding Sandalphon, and signs of damage had begun to appear on her spirit dress.
To protect Shido, who was nearby and nearly stunned by the shockwaves, she had to forgo many opportunities to dodge, absorbing some of the attacks head-on.
"Bang!" A precise beam finally broke through Tohka's defense and struck her shoulder. Tohka grunted, stumbling back, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, retreating right in front of Shido.
And just then, perhaps out of instinct, or perhaps a negligible surge in his heart, Shido actually struggled to stand up, spreading his arms, trembling yet resolutely shielding the injured Tohka, shouting something toward Ellen Mathers in the sky.
Even though his legs were visibly shaking!
Ellen Mathers' movement paused slightly, apparently not expecting such an action from an ordinary human.
She glanced at Shido indifferently. After judging him to be non-threatening, her attention refocused on Tohka, and the light blade in her hand flared up again—
It was this glance! It was this insignificant pause, caused by the courage of a tiny human!
On the rooftop, the last string in Koushi Hōoin's mind, named "sanity" and "fear," snapped.
Shido's foolish yet incredibly brave figure, Tohka's injured yet stubborn gaze, and his own cowardice—gained power yet only wanting to run away... formed a glaring contrast.
In that moment, many scenes flashed through Koushi's mind: the last time he met Miku (Yoisaki Tsukino) and the sense of powerlessness; the indignation over Natsumi's fate, yet the self-loathing for being too afraid to act; and... the daily banter with Shido and Kotori, though he always thought about betraying his allies, they truly were... friends.
Intense emotions churned within him, finally transforming into fierce anger directed at his own previous timidity!
(What... am I even afraid of...)
(They... are my friends...)
(Koushi Hōoin! You bastard!)
(When you had no power, you could only watch tragedy unfold and tell yourself, 'I am powerless'!)
(Now that Aha has shoved power into your hands, are you still making excuses and retreating because you're scared?!)
(They... are my friends!!!)
(Are you kidding me!!!)
(I stayed silent before Aha came, and I'm still silent after Aha came, so didn't Aha come for nothing?!)
The fury directed at himself erupted like a volcano, instantly overwhelming his fear of Ellen Mathers!
"How... can a hero flee from battle!!!"
The roar burst from his mouth, driving away all hesitation and fear! Koushi suddenly stood straight, his eyes filled with nothing but determination!
He ripped out the [herrscher core of reason] hanging around his neck, simultaneously pulling the [all-encompassing drive] cube from his pocket!
"Aha! As you wish! Watch closely, this is my damn 'Pleasure'!"
He did not choose the Silent Mode, but instead slammed his consciousness toward the dangerous option—[Grand Entrance Mode]!
"Henshin!"
"Rationality Sequence, Override! Maximum Output! Kaleidrive Shift!!"
"Rationality Drive! For The Herrcscher! For The Happy!"
He roared as he inserted the core into the driver! A blue pillar of data light, more violent and wider in scope than before, shot up into the sky! Like a meteor flying in reverse, it instantly captured the attention of everyone on the battlefield!
A massive digital magic circle unfolded in the air, the roar of construction echoing across the battlefield!
"The Herrscher of Reason!"
The massive energy fluctuations even interfered with the city's electrical system.
The needles of all detectors instantly swung wildly, and piercing overload alarms simultaneously rang out on the AST Unit and DEM channels!
This sudden, undisguised, massive Spirit Power reaction instantly seized the attention of everyone on the battlefield!
"What?!"
"Another Spirit?!"
"This reaction... it's the one from last night!"
The AST Unit stirred in commotion.
Right at this moment of universal attention, Koushi's thoughts raced at an unprecedented speed!
The power of the The core of reason was pushed to its limit!
"Understanding Reconstruction! Imagination Acceleration!" He clasped his hands in the air, exerting the full output of the powerful Jurisprudence Authority!
"Target: All surrounding DEM strongholds equipped with lockdown devices! Construct—[Titan Mech - Mass Production Model]! Mission: Destroy the lockdown devices and expel non-combat personnel!"
Following his command, countless blue data streams materialized on the rooftops of the surrounding tall buildings, quickly coalescing into massive, heavy, powerful steel giants—the Titan Mechs from the Honkai world!
Their eyes glowed red, and they unhesitatingly raised heavy fists and cannons toward the unsuspecting DEM logistical teams!
"What?!"
"Enemy attack! It's Mechs!"
"Protect the device! Ugh—!"
The DEM logistical teams were completely unprepared for an attack coming from behind and within their perimeter. Their light weapons were like tickles to the thick-skinned Titans. They were instantly sent sprawling, and the lockdown field began to flicker violently and destabilize!
Simultaneously, Koushi's own transformation was complete! But this time, his appearance was drastically different!
Koushi had also made fine adjustments to himself! "spirit dress Color, Overwrite! Scarlet! Like a raging fire! Like determination!"
The blue and white of his spirit dress was quickly rendered into a blazing red, like burning flames! The Crown of Rationality behind his head also transformed into a fiery halo!
As the data light dispersed, what appeared on the rooftop was a tall, composed middle-aged male. He wore a well-tailored dark suit, a waistcoat underneath, an elegant tie knotted at his collar, and round-rimmed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. The gaze behind the lenses was sharp and calm. His appearance was exactly that of Welt Yang.
However, above this classic scholarly image surged the immense power of the Herrscher of Reason. Ethereal blue data streams flowed faintly around him like breathing, constructing a translucent armor outline over the suit, which both retained the scholar's composure and added the Herrscher's majesty and sense of power. The Crown of Rationality behind his head transformed into a fiery halo, signifying his current non-human status.
(Excellent! It's Welt's appearance. This calm and reliable exterior is exactly what I need! To divert attention and maintain my identity.)
Feeling the surging Jurisprudence Authority within him and adopting this stance that combined elegance and power, his confidence soared. He decisively waved his hand, no longer showing any hesitation.
"Understanding Reproduction! Construct: Motorcycle of Truth."
A heavy motorcycle with more aggressive lines and a blazing red paint job appeared beside him, accompanied by surging data streams!
Koushi... no, now "Welt," swung his leg over the motorcycle. The engine roared like a giant beast!
"Vroom—Boom!!"
The Scarlet Comet, carrying "Welt," shot directly off the edge of the high-rise rooftop like a burning meteor, tearing through the sky.
His target was Ellen Mathers, who was preparing to continue her attack on Shido and Tohka below!
"Hmm?!" Ellen Mathers noticed the fierce incoming impact. She temporarily abandoned her suppression of the ground targets, turning and holding her light blade horizontally in front of her!
"Hearken—to the roar of the sun!!!"
"Welt" let out a shout of fierce fighting spirit that completely contradicted his appearance (though his inner sense of shame was through the roof).
He wrapped the Reason Law Authority around the front of the motorcycle, forming a massive drill-shaped energy impact body, which slammed violently into Ellen Mathers' defense!
Boom—!!!
Like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky! A huge explosion and shockwave spread through the air! The light was so dazzling it blinded onlookers!
Ellen Mathers was forced back several meters by the full-force collision, which was concentrated Jurisprudence Authority. A trace of surprise flashed across her face, not due to the power, but due to the opponent's method of attack, which completely defied all common knowledge of Spirits.
"Welt," meanwhile, used the recoil to backflip, landing steadily in front of Shido and Tohka, his back to them. The Scarlet Comet motorcycle dissolved into data.
Shido stared blankly at the tall, yet incredibly reliable, back blocking him and Tohka, and the soul-stirring declaration, as tumultuous waves surged in his heart.
Tohka's amethyst eyes also reflected the figure of "Welt," filled with confusion, yet containing a hint of... faint light.
The balance of the battlefield began to shift subtly, thanks to a fun-loving individual stepping forward.
(Koushi's inner thoughts: Wait, Ellen Mathers isn't going to rush over, right! Help me, ahhhh!!!)