He slowly stood up and pushed the round-framed glasses up his nose (his actions were steady, but internally: Where did these glasses come from?! Oh, the Authority brought them...).
The lenses reflected white light under the glare of the explosion, obscuring his gaze.
The scene was silent. The AST Unit, the remaining DEM personnel, and Shido and Tohka on the ground all stared dumbfounded at this sudden appearance, radiating a powerful aura and an inexplicable sense of reliability... "Spirit"?
(Damn it, I rushed out in a moment of hotheadedness.)
(No, no, I can't fight him head-on... but I can use strategy. My greatest advantage isn't the Herrscher power, but knowing the plot as a crosser!)
He slowly stood up and pushed the round-framed glasses up his nose. The lenses reflected white light under the glare of the explosion, obscuring his gaze.
His mind, however, was running at high speed like an overclocked processor:
(Calm down! Koushi Hōoin! A burst of enthusiasm and this ridiculous outfit won't be enough to defeat Ellen! I finished complaining about the outfit before I appeared! Don't let your mind wander and replay songs you heard last night, like a student taking an exam! My Authority level is so low, I absolutely can't be reckless!)
(DEM Company, Isaac... these bastards who treat Spirits as tools and prey, wantonly playing with lives and covering up the truth... just looking at them makes me sick! I've hated you since '08; you're the same damn type as your brother's brother, Mapo.)
(Since I'm going to spoil the game, I might as well completely muddy the waters! Ratatoskr has always been looking for Spirits and trying to resolve things peacefully, right? Then I'll reveal the truth and see who ends up suffering! At worst, I'll self-destruct and go to the neighboring realm; no one will ever catch me!)
(Alright! Then I'll give you all an 'epochal discovery' that cannot be ignored! Even if my current power Authority is still relatively low, affecting one area is better than none!)
A bold, even crazy, plan instantly formed in his mind. At the same time, a tiny button was subtly deforming.
(The AST Unit and DEM's Understanding of Spirits is based on the 'Eurasian Great Disaster' thirty years ago. Both Ratatoskr and the boss of DEM Company know about the 'First Spirit'.)
(In that case... from now on, I, 'Welt,' am not some newly born Spirit. I am one of the 'First Spirits'—born alongside that disaster thirty years ago, hidden until now, silently observing this world, and only deciding to appear at this moment!)
(Only this way will my questioning of those truths be logical and reasonable! Only this way can I maximize the shock and attention of Kotori and the highest levels of Ratatoskr! Only this way can I force them to invest massive resources into this 'new discovery' of mine!)
(That's right! I'll do this! I'll disguise myself as an antique from the same period as Takamiya Mio! I'll turn myself into a walking, talking 'living fossil of history' who is extremely dissatisfied with the current situation!)
(Ellen... the more eager you are to interrupt me, the more it proves you have something to hide! The more you want to cover up, the more I need to hammer these questions, like nails, into the minds of every AST Unit member present! Especially into Master Origami's mind!)
As his thoughts raced, the scene remained silent.
"Welt" scanned the ready AST Unit, his gaze finally settling on Tobiichi Origami.
He deliberately let his voice carry the calmness of one who had experienced great changes, yet contained an undeniable authority, as if stating an ancient fact:
"Members of the AST Unit and this young lady from DEM Company. Before you swing the weapons in your hands based on instructions from the state—weapons that also originated from that disaster—could you temporarily suppress your hostility and consider a few questions... that have troubled me for thirty years?"
He specifically emphasized "thirty years" and "DEM Company," subtly implanting his assumed background.
His voice seemed to possess a certain magic, causing the AST Unit members, who were preparing to attack, to subconsciously pause.
"Humans! If Spatial Quake and we Spirits are purely natural disasters, why have they only occurred frequently in the last thirty years of Earth's billions of years of history?"
(He... he knows about thirty years ago? He refers to himself as 'we'? Were there more Spirits than one back then? Or were there other observers besides us? Who... who exactly is he?!)
"Silence! Utter nonsense! Stop spreading demagoguery here and shaking morale!"
Ellen's expression in the air finally changed drastically! She knew better than anyone how fatal this Spirit's words were! Especially the implied "thirty years" and the questioning of the nature of power—this was definitely not something a new Spirit should know! She had to stop him immediately!
"It seems... honest communication is always so difficult, especially in front of vested interests."
"Welt" sighed, his tone carrying a profound sense of helplessness, as if he had already anticipated this.
(She's panicking! She's scared! Nice~ Plan successful!) This further cemented his facade as an "ancient existence."
"Why did the Realizer and its core technologies, the 'CR-Unit' and 'Territory,' along with their theoretical basis and application technology,'suddenly' appear and become applicable only after the 'Eurasian Great Disaster' thirty years ago?"
(This Spirit... is wrong! How does he know this?! Is he really... No, impossible! He must be eliminated immediately!)
"As a Spirit, do you only know how to play these ridiculous word games and clumsy attempts at sowing discord?"
Ellen shouted sternly. The thrusters on her back erupted with astonishing light, instantly transforming her into a white bolt of lightning charging toward "Welt"! This time, her killing intent was unprecedentedly intense!
(So fast!)
"Welt"'s pupils constricted. He activated his Authority almost instinctively!
"Understanding, Recreate! Construct: Assault Shield · Layered!"
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Several rhombus-shaped energy shields, flashing with blue data patterns, instantly unfolded layer upon layer in front of him!
"Futile!" Ellen's cold sneer accompanied the sharp whistle of her light blade descending!
Slash—Boom!!
The outermost shield was easily torn apart and exploded like paper! Followed by the second layer, and the third! Broken energy fragments scattered like ice crystals!
(Tsk! The strength is completely insufficient!)
Using the momentary gap bought by the shields, "Welt"'s feet suddenly erupted with a stream of azure particles. His figure rapidly shot backward, while his hands grasped forward in the air!
"Understanding, Recreate! Construct: Heavy Sniper Rifle—'Angel's Sigh'! Ammunition Loaded: High-Explosive Spirit Power Armor-Piercing Round!"
A huge sniper rifle, exaggerated in shape and full of sci-fi flair, instantly materialized in his hands! Without even aiming, he violently pulled the trigger at the white figure in front, whose speed had slightly decreased after breaking through the shields!
Boom!!
The massive recoil caused him to pause in mid-air. A thick, azure light arrow roared out like an enraged dragon, shooting directly at Ellen!
"Petty trickery!" Ellen didn't even dodge, merely holding her light blade horizontally in front of her!
Bang!!
The light arrow accurately struck the light blade, exploding into a dazzling turbulence of energy that temporarily obscured the view.
(Now!)
"Welt" didn't hesitate. He turned, and the data stream at his feet erupted again, trying to create distance! He continued speaking words concerning the truth of Spirits and the Spatial Quake.
"And DEM Company, which manufactured and provided you with this equipment, and taught you that Spirits are disaster..." His gaze seemed to casually sweep over Ellen in the air, "...Did they truly explain the ultimate essence of all this power to you? That 'Territory' is far more complex than a simple energy shield or propulsion technology; its root source is exactly the same as ours, the'Spirits'."
"Do you only know how to run away like a rat and throw this garbage?!" Ellen's furious shout was close at hand, and the searing heat of the light blade tearing through the air assaulted him from behind once more!
"Understanding, Recreate! Construct: Propulsion Unit · Overload Burst!"
"Welt" fiercely grit his teeth. A pair of temporarily constructed auxiliary propulsion wings instantly unfolded behind him, unleashing thrust far exceeding the norm.
This allowed him to narrowly avoid the fatal strike with a bizarre maneuver involving a near-right-angle turn.
The wind pressure generated by the light blade cut off the stray hairs on his forehead and even left a scorch mark on his suit jacket.
But Koushi's goal had been partially achieved. He successfully planted the seeds of doubt in the hearts of the AST Unit, and even a wider scope, while drawing all the hostility onto himself.
"As a Spirit, do you only know how to play these ridiculous word games and borrow the power of human creations? You are trash!" Ellen shouted sternly. The thrusters on her back erupted with astonishing light, instantly shaking off the momentary stiffness from the impact, and she transformed into a white bolt of lightning charging toward "Welt"!
"It seems communication is ineffective." "Welt" sighed (She's panicking! She's panicking! She knows the truth is this way!), seemingly helpless, but in reality, he had anticipated this.
The two, one chasing and one fleeing, weaved and fought between the city's skyscrapers at astonishing speed!
Blue data streams and a white meteor of death collided and intersected repeatedly, triggering continuous explosions and scattering energy sparks!
Broken glass and architectural debris rained down from the sky.
Ellen's attacks were ferocious and precise; every swing of her light blade carried the momentum to tear everything apart.
"Welt," meanwhile, was like dancing on a knife's edge, relying on the instant Understanding and construction ability of the The core of reason to continuously create various obstacles, shields, and even disposable decoy clones.
Coupled with his extremely showy yet desperate flight path, he barely managed to hold his own.
But anyone could see that he was completely on the defensive; every dodge was extremely perilous, and the consumption rate of his constructs far outstripped Ellen's destruction speed.
This aerial chase was like a tiger hunting a sly rabbit, breathtakingly intense!
He raised his hand, and an azure data stream surged out from behind him like a fountain!
"Understanding, Recreate! Construct: Anti-Entropy Mecha Legion! Target: Intercept her!"
In an instant, countless drones, self-destructing robots, light mechas, floating turrets... materialized out of thin air like an iron tide, densely swarming toward Ellen! Although these creations were numerous, due to Koushi's current Authority level, their individual strength was not high; they were adequate for fighting logistics troops, but struggling against a top-tier hero unit.
Ellen was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep. The light blade in her hand was like the Grim Reaper's scythe; every swing effortlessly sliced large swathes of mechanical creations in half, triggering continuous explosions! Her speed barely decreased!
"Ridiculous! Is this all your power is? All show and no substance! Let me show you how utterly vulnerable your toys are in the face of absolute power!" Ellen's voice cut through the flames of the explosions, laced with cold mockery.
Ellen's light blade tore through the air once more, descending with suffocating energy pressure!
The composite armored shield that "Welt" hastily constructed was split open like a piece of paper, and the blast wave violently threw him away.
He tumbled several times in the air before barely stabilizing himself. The suit jacket on his chest was ripped by the aftermath, revealing the spirit dress underneath, which was flashing with streams of data light.
(Damn it! If this keeps up, I'm really going to become Ellen's achievement point! I need to find a way to fire one more damn shot!)
However, as she destroyed more and more mechas, her expression gradually shifted from disdain to shock and suspicion!
Because these mechanical creations were not being teleported from somewhere, but were continuously emerging from behind that "Spirit"!
It was as if... as if he was creating them out of thin air!
(How is this possible?! This isn't spatial teleportation! This is... construction? Generation? A Spirit ability I've never seen!)
Just as her mind was slightly shaken by this discovery, the DEM logistics team was almost completely wiped out under the Titan's attack, and the spatial sealing devices were largely destroyed.
Koushi hovered in mid-air, scanning the entire scene—the startled AST Unit, the furious Ellen, Origami caught in confusion, the injured and bewildered Tohka, and Shido, who was shielding Tohka and watching him.
"Welt" seized the opportunity. While continuing to maintain the output of the mechanical tide, he shouted out his long-prepared declaration at the top of his lungs, his voice cutting clearly through the roar of countless machines and spreading across the battlefield:
"This is my true power! Understand, Analyze, then Recreate! Anything I have seen, as long as my Understanding is deep enough, I can bring it back into the world! As long as I am alive, and my will has not perished, this army—this iron tide driven by Understanding and belief—will never fall!"
He spread his arms, as if embracing the entire battlefield. Even though he was using his power to the point of coughing blood, he still stared fixedly at Ellen in the sky, his suit jacket fluttering loudly in the blast waves:
"I am—Welt of Anti-Entropy! The Herrscher of Reason!"
"Here, I declare war on all those who impose the blame for disaster upon the innocent, cover up the truth, and wantonly exploit power!"
"Humans! Come forth! Bring it on! Use your swords and cannon fire to verify—"
"See if we—those existences you call'Spirits'—are truly qualified to live in this world!"