Note: Some may feel that Mayuri's powers are somewhat exaggerated, but this is fanfiction, so I've made her 'slightly' stronger than the original😌
***
"[ ?! ]"
The eyes of the Goddess of Life flew wide open in an instant. Her elegant face turned cold and sharp. Her keen instinct sensed danger threatening her 'Daughter'—the pure Spirit she protected with all her soul.
Without wasting time, she rose with graceful yet powerful movements. Her aura flowed like a warm, soothing wave, contrasting with the tension now covering her beautiful face.
"[Impossible,]" she whispered, barely audible.
The energy aura she sensed was just one step away from Tier Transcendent—power capable of tearing the world apart in the blink of an eye. The rules of the Gods forbade direct intervention in mortal affairs, but this time, the Goddess of Life was willing to bear all consequences.
Wasn't she the one who had sworn to protect that Spirit from all evil? An oath spoken with her own blood and soul.
'[The outside world was never suitable for a being so innocent and pure,]' she thought with a heavy heart.
As the Goddess of Life gathered energy to teleport, the space around her suddenly vibrated. A calm yet intimidating voice filled the atmosphere:
"Sorry, but you are not permitted to leave this place."
Suddenly, nature changed drastically. The clear sky turned dark with thick black clouds gathering. Fierce winds roared, tearing trees and scattering leaves. Purple lightning struck violently in the dark sky, creating a scene both magnificent and terrifying.
The Goddess of Life looked up, her eyes narrowing at the woman floating in the air. The woman's beauty was no less than her own—perfect in every aspect.
With purple lightning as her backdrop, the woman stood with deadly elegance. Her long dark purple hair billowed in the wind, her purple eyes with dark blue pupils radiating a coolness paradoxical to the danger emanating from her. The beautiful purple kimono she wore gleamed in the lightning, complemented by dark purple stockings enhancing her beauty.
A small birthmark by her right eye added charm that would captivate anyone. Most striking—the purple circle with six pinwheel points radiating electro energy behind her. 'Chakra Desiderata,' the highest power manifestation of the Electro Archon.
But the Goddess of Life was not captivated. All she felt was the cold threat of death.
"[Who are you?]" she asked, her tone calm despite her instincts screaming caution.
To the naked eye, the woman's aura merely equaled Hunter Rank SS+, but the Goddess of Life's intuition sensed something far more dangerous—as if this woman could take her life at any moment.
"Me?" The woman tilted her head with an elegant, nonchalant movement. "I have many names, but given our current situation... Raiden Shogun suits me better."
"[Raiden Shogun?]" The Goddess of Life frowned. The name was foreign to her ears, but that aura...
"[Your courage in confronting a Goddess is commendable, whoever you are,]" she said, gathering life energy around her.
"A Goddess?" Raiden Shogun closed her eyes briefly then opened them slowly. Purple lightning flashed in her beautiful yet deadly eyes. "I wonder... I have killed several Gods before with my sword. Are you much stronger than they were?"
"[What?]" The Goddess of Life was stunned. Killing Gods? The seriousness in the woman's voice suggested this was no mere threat.
Before the Goddess of Life could process this information, the sky rumbled more fiercely. Purple lightning struck with astonishing intensity, enveloping Raiden Shogun's body in blinding light.
From the woman's chest, a sword hilt appeared—gleaming in electric purple light. Without hesitation, she drew it out, revealing a blade radiating intense electro energy.
'Musou Isshin'—the legendary sword that symbolized the power and glory of the God of Eternity. A sword that had tasted the blood of countless creatures and entities throughout its existence. The Chakra Desiderata resonated with the sword, flooding it with pure and deadly electro energy.
It was then that the Goddess of Life felt Death staring directly into her soul.
Without further warning, Raiden Shogun launched her strongest sword technique—one that had once stopped the heartbeats of Gods.
A slash that could split an island in two.
A slash that created cracks in dimensions.
A slash that penetrated all forms of defense.
"<
Her voice was calm, but what followed was pure cataclysm.
Time and space itself seemed to freeze. A giant purple luminous slash projection swung at a speed beyond sight. Tremendous energy erupted, creating shock waves that destroyed everything.
SLASH....!!! BLAAAAAARRR....!!
The dimension-piercing slash leveled the entire Life Forest in an instant. Ancient trees that had stood for thousands of years vanished into dust. The ground shook and cracked, creating deep ravines that spewed life energy into the air.
As the dust and blinding light began to fade, all that remained was destruction and silence.
***
Absolute chaos.
That's what greeted Shou's eyes when his consciousness returned. The young man stood frozen, his body stiff as a panorama of hell unfolded before him.
The pitiful cries of children split the air. Screams of pain and fear from thousands echoed in all directions. Mass panic created waves of negative energy that felt like poisonous fog. Amid it all, hungry biting sounds were heard—inhuman voices enjoying fresh meat.
[WARNING! WARNING!! ENERGY ABOVE RANK SSS DETECTED! EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY! ALL HUNTERS RANK-]
BOOOMM!!
The city's emergency alarm roared loudly, but in an instant, all security systems were destroyed—crushed by waves of Magical Beasts surging like a tsunami of death.
Every corner of the city was now filled with an incalculable number of Magical Beasts. Bitten residents transformed into frightening entities—half zombie, half monster—immediately attacking other humans with insatiable hunger.
Amid this destruction, Shou could only stare emptily at the dark sky filled with gold and purple lightning flashes.
"AaaAAAHHHHH!"
A girl's heartrending scream split the air, so full of pain and suffering it could tear at anyone's heart. Tragically, no one cared—no one had time to care.
Instead, people pointed at the girl with fearful and hateful looks, considering her the source of the disaster that had befallen them.
That assumption wasn't entirely wrong. A giant black orb with angel wings hovered above the city, resonating with the girl's screams. Each time she screamed, the orb released golden lightning bolts that destroyed everything they touched.
The lightning made no distinction between friend or foe. Magical Beasts, Hunters, civilians—all turned to dust under these indiscriminate attacks.
Kerubiel... The Angel that Shou had thought would be the key to his power to reach the pinnacle of the world, had now transformed into a harbinger of destruction that would annihilate everything—including himself.
Behind all this chaos, a colossal figure laughed with an inhuman voice.
Its body size exceeded the world's tallest mountain. Its bulging belly moved each time it laughed. Its skin glowed red like fresh blood, with sharp horns protruding from its head. Its eye sockets emitted a red light that made anyone who looked feel their soul being sucked away.
No guessing was needed to recognize this creature.
Demon.
More precisely, Sin of Greed, Mamon—one of the seven highest Demons whose existence nearly equaled God or Goddess.
'Impossible... There's no way we can win...'
Shou froze in despair as choking energy pressure hit his body like thousands of tons of concrete. Each breath felt like drawing acid into his lungs. Each heartbeat felt like a hammer blow to his chest.
There was no chance of victory. Even the most foolish person knew the best option was to flee.
But flee? Where to? How?
Impossible. Even if he used all his power and abilities, he would perish in an instant if Mamon directed even the slightest attention toward him.
And worse...
"M-mayuri..." Shou's voice sounded broken and hoarse.
His soul felt torn watching the pure Spirit who had been under his protection slowly being corrupted by darkness. The girl who was usually calm, innocent, and pure now writhed in pain—her body convulsing and trembling violently as if fighting something trying to take over her.
The girl's thoughts and feelings were in turmoil because of Mamon's vicious emotions seeping into her pure heart, contaminating and damaging it from within.
As a result, the more Mayuri suffered, the more uncontrollable Kerubiel became. The Angel would only obey when Mayuri's emotions were stable and calm. But now, with the girl's feelings in disarray...
What is love? What is freedom? What is peace? What is affection?
These concepts began to dissolve in Mayuri's mind, replaced by anger, fear, and confusion. Even the six emotions she inherited from the six other Spirits began to fade away.
All that remained in her heart was... absolute chaos.
Slowly but surely, the pure Spirit that had never been tainted would transform into a killing machine that would take millions of innocent lives.
"Damn... Damn... Damn it..."
Shou wanted to curse aloud, but the severe injuries he suffered made his voice sound like a hoarse whisper. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, creating a red line contrasting with his pale face.
'System... System... System!!! SYSTEMM!! COME OUT AND HELP ME!!'
Shou screamed in his mind, pounding his own consciousness searching for the entity that had always helped him. But despair gripped his heart more tightly when the System gave no response whatsoever.
The System he had always relied on had somehow disappeared since Mamon's appearance, leaving him alone to face this hell on earth.
No hope remained. They would all die like this—without resistance, without honor.
Light slowly faded from Shou's eyes.
'Damn... Damn... Will I end here?'
Just as the last hope was almost extinguished within him, the sound of a tremendous explosion accompanied by a burst of blazing golden fire pierced the dark sky.
BOOOOMMM...!!!
"You filthy Demon, don't think this is OVER yet!!"
'That person... He's still alive?'
Shou's body trembled. His eyes narrowed, trying to focus on the direction of the voice. Through the smoke and dust, he saw Vian Lightsun—the empire's third prince—still standing tall with a cold expression filled with suppressed anger.
Vian wasn't alone. Several Rank S Hunters still held on, supporting each other, though their bodies were covered in wounds and blood.
But their condition was practically the same—dying.
Like candle flames with just a spark left, they could be extinguished at any moment with a slight breeze. That was their current condition.
"[Kikiki... You're still holding on? You should just sit quietly, waiting for death... Foolish humans]"
Mamon's terrifying voice echoed in the sky, making the Hunters shiver and nearly lose consciousness from the choking negative energy pressure.
Vian was in a similar condition, but he bit his own tongue until it bled to maintain his consciousness.
"Heh, compared to the Empire's power, you're nothing!! You're just a filthy Demon!!" he challenged bravely, though fresh blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
"[Brave words... Unfortunately, I'm not so foolish as to be provoked by an insect's words. Now, die]"
Mamon, that terrifying creature, merely exhaled casually, but simultaneously, all the Magical Beasts around them seemed to receive an invisible command. They went berserk with brutality—some even instantly evolving to equal Rank S Hunters!!
"Bastard!!"
Vian cursed loudly. He roared angrily and without hesitation used all his remaining fire power, burning dozens of Magical Beasts in an instant.
But the same couldn't be said for the other Hunters. Some didn't even have time to fight back and immediately became food for the hungry Magical Beasts.
'...We can only die...'
Shou's gaze dimmed again watching this horrific scene. Resistance was futile. Even though Vian was a Rank SS+ Hunter, in the end he would still die—they would all die.
As Shou almost completely surrendered to fate...
"You bastard! How long will you lie there?! GET UP! DON'T JUST STAY SILENT!! MAKE THAT GIRL COME TO HER SENSES!!"
People might be confused by Vian's shout, but for Shou, those words had a much deeper meaning.
The young man's body trembled, his eyes widening with shock.
"GET UP NOW, YOU BASTARD! IT'S NOT YET TIME TO GI-PFFFT!"
As Vian shouted with all his might, sharp claws suddenly pierced his chest from behind. Fresh blood spurted from his mouth.
But instead of giving up, Vian used that pain as a trigger for anger. With a fierce growl, he released a burst of golden fire that blazed brilliantly, turning dozens of surrounding Magical Beasts to ash in an instant.
BOOOMM..!!
Vian seemed possessed. While shouting incoherently, he continued to emit flames that exceeded his capacity—burning not only his enemies but also his own body.
"GET UP! GET UP!!! I SAID GET UP, YOU BASTARD!!"
"[HAHAHA! YES! YES! TRY UNTIL YOU DESPAIR!! KEEP TRYING HARD! HAHAHA!]"
Mamon laughed with sadistic joy. He couldn't wait to see the stubborn Vian finally crushed in total despair.
However...
'Get up... I must get up...'
Shou felt his entire body burning from within. Every movement, no matter how small, sent waves of almost unbearable pain. But his determination burned hotter than the pain.
As if there was a mysterious power supporting him, he slowly managed to raise his broken body.
Fresh blood wanted to spurt from his mouth, but he forcibly swallowed it back. The salty and fishy taste filled his mouth, but he ignored it.
'Walk... I must keep walking... To reach her location...'
He had to do it. If not, then...
'Mayuri will continue suffering. That girl will continue to be in pain...'
He would never forgive himself if that happened. Wasn't he the one who had resolved to protect that Spirit no matter what?
'...NO TIME TO HESITATE ANYMORE.'
With heavy steps full of suffering, Shou focused on staring at the girl despite his blurred and dizzy vision.
The Spirit who was once always captivating and clean was now almost unrecognizable. Her body was covered with burns, bruises, and blood—whether her own or others'. Her usually calm aura now fluctuated wildly like an injured beast.
Kerubiel, sensing Shou's presence and considering him a threat, immediately directed deadly golden lightning strikes at him.
But suddenly, a transparent golden shield appeared protecting Shou, blocking Kerubiel's attack.
BOOOMM..!!!
'Huh? This...'
[Sorry for System's delay, Host! To help Host forcibly, System had to be temporarily deactivated]
'So is this barrier your doing?'
[Yes and no! It's true that System is using it, but ultimately, the source still comes from the same being]
'You mean...'
['Holy Realm'—this is Takamiya Mayuri's ability that creates a protective field to shield and heal its target. This isn't its original function, but System has modified it]
'...'
[Please remember, Host. This field won't last long]
'...Damn, I know that.'
Thanks to Holy Realm's effect, Shou's steps became slightly lighter, but...
'Even now, you're still helping me...'
Shou felt a tremendous wave of guilt hit his chest. All this time, he had hidden so many secrets, lied, and even hurt the Spirit's feelings.
Yet despite all that... this pure Spirit still cared for him. Still protected him.
This made Shou's determination burn even stronger.
'After all this is over...'
"...I won't hide anything from you anymore. Therefore..." Shou looked at the Spirit before him with a fiercely stubborn gaze. "Come on!! OPEN YOUR EYES!"
As his finger touched Mayuri's skin, suddenly the System's voice rang clearly in his mind:
[Ding! Removal of Divine Protection of Life Goddess initiated!]
[Ding! Removal successful, negative emotions received by Takamiya Mayuri will also disappear!]
From the beginning, the reason why Takamiya Mayuri became uncontrollable was because of the Divine Protection given by the Goddess of Life. That divine protection indeed provided privileges, but also made Mayuri able to feel emotions from other creatures around her.
When Mamon appeared with an incredibly strong vicious aura, that Divine Protection became a boomerang. Mayuri, innocent and pure, couldn't withstand the flow of such powerful negative emotions, causing Kerubiel to lose control.
To return Mayuri to normal, they had to remove the Divine Protection of Life Goddess—and it worked.
Shou couldn't think of anything at the moment.
He just stared in awe at the figure before him.
Takamiya Mayuri, who had been full of wounds and contamination, now returned to being filled with purity and innocence—as if experiencing rebirth. No more traces of suffering and anger on her peaceful face.
Her blonde hair shimmered softly, her pair of pink eyes radiating warmth. The quite revealing black dress with a pair of boots and golden gloves made her appearance so elegant yet strong.
Angel-like wings spread beautifully behind her. Her aura was again filled with gentleness and warmth, like a mother embracing her child with full affection.
"Mayuri..." Shou's voice sounded low and choked with emotion.
And for the first time since they met, Shou saw something truly surprising.
The girl—who rarely smiled—now had a smile full of gentleness and understanding.
"...Thank you," she said in a voice that seemed to come from heaven.
Shou's mind went blank. The young man could only stare, hypnotized by a smile so pure and sincere.
And then...
WOSHH!! JEDAARR!! BOOOMM!!!
A scene both amazing and terrifying unfolded before everyone.
From the sky that had been dark, thousands of golden lightning bolts struck in all directions with amazing precision. Unlike Kerubiel's previous uncontrolled attacks, these lightning strikes now had clear and specific targets.
Those targets were none other than the Magical Beasts.
Hundreds, even thousands of Magical Beasts instantly vanished into dust under the merciless rain of lightning. Not one escaped this divine punishment.
Along with this, various natural elements moved as if obeying Mayuri's will. Tremendous tornadoes spun and destroyed enemies. Dazzling fire explosions burned monsters to their bones. Deadly ice layers froze and shattered whatever they touched.
Then...
"<
Mayuri's gentle voice spread into the minds of all humans still alive. This voice was so calming and soothing that the terror and fear in their hearts instantly vanished, replaced by an inexplicable feeling of peace.
Not only that, warm golden light spread throughout, healing their wounds in the process. Broken bones reconnected, gaping wounds closed quickly, their vital strength gradually recovered.
Everyone, including Vian, could only stare in awe at Takamiya Mayuri's figure now shining like a star in the darkness—like an angel descended from heaven to save them all.
Some surviving Magical Beasts flew attacking toward her in desperation. But before they reached Mayuri, a deadly energy slash split them all in two—without difficulty, without effort.
The source of that attack was a large two-handed sword held by Mayuri with the elegance of a true swordmaster.
'Sandalphon'—the Angel of one of the strongest Spirits that ever existed. A sword whose power could allegedly cut space and time, even the entire concept of reality itself.
Basically, there was nothing Sandalphon couldn't cut. It wasn't an exaggeration to say the sword was one of the strongest weapons in the entire world.
But unfortunately, since this wasn't Mayuri's original Angel, bringing out its full power was almost impossible. And indeed, Mayuri had no intention of relying on Sandalphon to end this battle.
Instead, she would use her own Angel—the true power that had been hidden all this time. And to do that...
"I'm sorry... Your lives may be in danger, but... I need your help..." said Mayuri calmly, her voice soft yet clearly heard amid the chaos.
The remaining Hunters looked at each other doubtfully. They had witnessed Mamon's power, and they knew how thin the hope for survival was.
"How much time do you need?" asked Vian seriously, blood still flowing from his wounds that hadn't fully healed.
Mayuri looked at him with mysterious calmness, as if she had made a major decision. "Five minutes..." She shook her head slightly. "No, one minute is enough."
"I see." Vian closed his eyes, trying to suppress the doubts churning within. "Although it's very difficult considering that creature could kill us in seconds, we'll try our best."
"Third Prince!" one Hunter shouted in protest.
Vian turned sharply, his gaze as cold as ice. "What? Do you want to defy my orders?" His voice was calm but full of threat, making the Rank S Hunter's courage immediately shrink like a candle blown by wind.
Vian clicked his tongue in annoyance, his jaw hardening. "Well then, let's begin!"
***
'W-what does Mayuri want to do?' thought Shou, his heart pounding.
[Most likely... Takamiya Mayuri wants to open Kerubiel's final form]
'W-what?!' Shou gasped, his face immediately paling. 'Wait, if she does that, won't she lose control?!'
[Not certain. Kerubiel is an Angel that moves according to its owner's feelings. As long as those feelings are positive and strong enough, it's not impossible to keep Angel Kerubiel under control]
'Positive feelings strong enough? Does she have—'
Suddenly, a memory surged into Shou's mind—a truth that had been hidden behind the girl's existence.
The reason for Takamiya Mayuri's birth.
"I am a Spirit born from the love feelings of six Spirits and I inherited some of their powers, but... What's stopping me from inheriting their feelings?..."
"Ah..."
Love.
Without doubt, that was the strongest positive feeling—stronger than anything humans could imagine.
Love is a feeling so deep, it makes people blind to danger.
Yes... So strong that the original Takamiya Mayuri didn't hesitate to sacrifice herself for the victory of a man named Itsuka Shido...
And now, Takamiya Mayuri was also using that love feeling—a blinding love—to end this battle...
"Heh..." Shou smiled bitterly, feeling a strange bitterness in his chest.
Truly... He was very jealous of the man who had made Mayuri fall in love enough to willingly throw away her life.
"Help me this time... Kerubiel."
Mayuri closed her eyes, resting her forehead against the giant black orb with the gentleness of a lover. Golden light began to radiate from her body, forming a sacred aura that dazzled.
"Come on... Show your power... <
In that instant, Kerubiel seemed to rage. Its form changed in the blink of an eye, transforming from a giant black orb with wings into a colossal golden drill with far more magnificent and threatening wings.
Its size was so large it covered the land surface. Reiryoku energy flowed through its body like a boundless river—so tremendous it felt unlimited.
A grand and magnificent aura radiated, creating air pressure that made people bow in awe when seeing it.
Looking at this perfect transformation, Mayuri just smiled gently, her eyes gleaming with determination...
"So... Begin, destroy that creature..."
BOOOOOMMMM..!!!!
A tremendous reiryoku explosion shook the earth, changing the weather in an instant. Clouds rolled away, as if afraid of being burned by the pure energy emitted by Lahathelev. Magical Beasts that dared approach instantly vanished into dust, destroyed by energy projectiles targeting them without mercy.
Golden electricity swirled at the tip of Lahathelev's drill, concentrating with such high intensity it caused electrical disturbances in the farthest cities. Electrical networks flickered, electronic equipment began to malfunction.
To increase Lahathelev's power, Mayuri also activated the Angel 'Gabriel.' Not stopping there, she drained all her reiryoku, risking everything for one deadly attack.
Of course, it wasn't accurate to say Mayuri's reiryoku was completely depleted—because if totally depleted, her existence would instantly vanish.
Mayuri's current state was more accurately described as 'almost out of reiryoku.'
And even if her reiryoku was truly depleted... 'She' didn't seem to mind at all.
'Really... This sacrificial feeling is very disturbing,' Shou thought, watching Mayuri's determination with mixed feelings.
"[Hahaha!! IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL BUYING TIME!? NOT EVEN A MINUTE, AND YOU'RE ALREADY FALLEN?!]"
Mamon laughed crazily, his voice thundering across the sky. His sound waves alone could rupture ordinary humans' eardrums, creating unbearable pain.
But suddenly, that laughter stopped. Mamon felt a real threat for the first time. His glowing red eyes stared at Mayuri and the golden shining Lahathelev.
"[Oho? Interesting! THAT'S REALLY AN ATTACK THAT COULD KILL ME!! TRULY ENTERTAINING! THEN WOULDN'T IT BE RUDE IF I DIDN'T RESPOND?! HAHAHA!!]"
Mamon's figure rose with terrible majesty. His body size towered until piercing the clouds, each step making the ground crack and rumble. A tremendous earthquake followed, shaking the entire battle area.
Ominous [Mana] gathered throughout Mamon's body, its intensity comparable to the colossal energy gathered by Lahathelev.
Even so...
Mayuri wasn't intimidated in the slightest.
The only moment that frightened her was when she had to part with the person she loved. Other than that? Even death was nothing more than a meaningless shadow.
"Let's end all of this..." whispered Mayuri, her voice soft yet full of determination.
Mayuri took a deep breath, gathering her remaining strength.
Wooooshhh!!!
Maximum power began to release, creating air pressure capable of destroying everything.
"[HAHAHA! COME FORWARD! SHOW ME YOUR STRONGEST ATTACK!!]"
Mamon wasn't intimidated at all facing the terrifying energy gathered by Lahathelev. In fact, he seemed excited, anticipating Mayuri's expression when realizing her attack had failed.
Mamon was too confident in his power. Although his current power was far below the full power equivalent to Tier Transcendent, he still believed nothing could match him, including even Rank SSS Hunters.
Only Transcendent beings had the power to kill him—and Mamon didn't think there were beings of that class that would appear here.
But Mamon had made a fatal mistake...
"In that case... I won't hesitate..." said Mayuri with mysterious calmness.
Then... the world was enveloped in golden light mixed with brilliant blue that blinded everything. Its light was so dazzling it made everyone's eyes widen.
Love, affection, determination, longing, and all other positive emotions—Mayuri staked all her feelings in this single attack without the slightest doubt.
Her blinding love became the core of this power. So strong it felt enveloping the entire area, making people gasp when feeling its intensity.
And as a result... That light of pure reiryoku power swept away anything in its path.
KAABOOOOOOOMMM.....!!!!
The vast ocean instantly evaporated, creating thick fog that enveloped the battle area. An attack with explosive power many times more powerful than a nuclear bomb caused total destruction.
Shock waves swept everything, blowing humans away like dry leaves. Continuous aftershocks endlessly collapsed buildings, uprooting trees. Sustained wind pressure could potentially erase any remaining life.
Hot vapor swirled in the air, covering vision until nothing could be seen. Only darkness and destruction.
A terrible roar was heard from Mamon—a sign of the last resistance from that terrifying creature—but it only lasted for a moment before stronger shock waves hit, destroying everything.
The last thing Shou saw before losing consciousness was...
The figure of a young girl with the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Time seemed to have passed endlessly. People awoke in confusion, believing they had perished from the tremendous explosion earlier.
'Is this death?' they wondered.
'Then why is there no pain?'
Their vision was pitch black, as if swallowed into a bottomless abyss.
As confusion enveloped them, a gentle voice reached their ears...
"Please... Wake up..."
The voice was so clear and soothing, like morning dew in springtime. Suddenly, warmth began to embrace their cold and stiff bodies.
When their eyes slowly opened, a vast expanse of clear blue sky greeted them without a single cloud—as if all the chaos before had been merely a nightmare.
Kerubiel still hovered in the sky—the black winged sphere that had earlier spread destruction. Yet strangely, no one felt fear anymore.
Because...
The angel still stood there, now wearing a simple white sailor school uniform, no longer in her luxurious Astral Dress.
With a gentle, calming expression, Mayuri looked so beautiful and enchanting as her form was enveloped in sacred light that healed the wounded.
No one could speak. All were stunned, as if hypnotized by the sacred beauty.
The Rank S Hunters felt ashamed and guilty, realizing they had attempted to kill the 'angel' who now saved their lives.
Even Vian, who had insisted on eliminating Mayuri, now stood motionless.
With hesitant steps, the young man approached Mayuri. "You..."
"...I'm sorry," Mayuri interrupted, her voice soft yet full of sadness.
"Huh?" Vian blinked, surprised by the unexpected statement.
Mayuri didn't look directly at him. Her eyes gazed far away, as if looking at an unchangeable past. "Because of me, many innocent people have lost their lives. I'm sorry..."
"..."
Everyone was stunned hearing Mayuri's sincere words. Though her expression seemed calm, the tremor in her voice betrayed her deep feelings of guilt.
"You're not wrong..." Mayuri finally turned to Vian. "If I die, then... Kerubiel will also disappear. Therefore..." Her gaze met Vian's directly, full of willingness. "...Kill me."
"..."
Vian froze, unable to speak. The girl before him looked so fragile and tired, as if she had carried the world's burden on her shoulders.
"Do it... Right now, I'm at my weakest... Kerubiel won't be able to react after all that... This is your only chance..."
"I—"
"DON'T DO IT, YOU BASTARD!"
A furious roar broke the silence. All heads turned, searching for the source of the voice.
Shou stood with ragged breaths. Though uninjured thanks to Mayuri's healing, his tattered clothes proved he had gone through a life-and-death battle.
"Don't you dare kill her!" shouted Shou, his voice hoarse with emotion. "She just saved us all! The monster's appearance wasn't Mayuri's fault! It was just a coincidence!"
"No..." Mayuri shook her head weakly. "This isn't about that monster... From the beginning, a being like me shouldn't exist in this world..."
Sorata was about to protest strongly when a young girl's sobbing caught everyone's attention.
"Hiks... Please... Stop saying that... Don't die..."
The little girl—the ship captain's daughter whom Mayuri had saved—ran forward with streaming tears.
"Y-you don't have to die!" cried a middle-aged man. "There are still many things you can do in this world!"
"True, that black sphere in the sky killed many people, but we know it wasn't your fault!" added another.
"You just need to learn to control it! Don't give up so quickly!"
The crew members Mayuri had saved began to call out one by one, their voices full of support and understanding.
"Big sister... Don't die... Hiks..." sobbed the little girl, hugging Mayuri's legs tightly.
Mayuri could no longer refuse. Her heart was touched by their sincerity. With a gentle smile, she nodded. "Yes... Don't worry... I won't die..."
"Really?" asked the little girl, her eyes sparkling with hope.
"Mm-hmm..." Mayuri nodded, stroking the little girl's hair with great affection.
Everyone sighed in relief—but tension returned when Vian stepped toward Mayuri.
Shou immediately moved to protect Mayuri, though his body was still weak. "What are you trying to do? Let me tell you, if you dare touch a strand of her hair, I'll fight you to the death!"
"..." Vian stared sharply, his expression cold and unreadable. A moment later, he clicked his tongue. "Tsk, you misunderstand... From the beginning, I never intended to kill her. I just..."
Vian shifted his gaze to Mayuri, his expression softening slightly. "...Thank you for saving us. That's what I wanted to say."
"Huh?" Shou blinked in disbelief.
"What? I'm not so shameless as to forget the kindness of someone who saved my life." Vian straightened his shoulders with dignity. "So... I, representing the Lightsun Empire, will guarantee your safety from now on."
"What?!"
"P-prince, what are you thinking?!"
The Rank S Hunters exchanged confused glances, their faces pale. Vian's statement was equivalent to declaring that Mayuri's enemies were enemies of the empire—an implication with enormous and dangerous consequences.
The problem was, after this incident, Mayuri would surely have many enemies—which meant the empire's enemies would also multiply!
With the various problems they already faced, plus protecting Mayuri, the situation would become increasingly complex and dangerous!
However...
"Silence." Vian's voice was cold and firm. "This is my decision as the Third Prince. Consider it logically—making a potential Rank SSS Hunter an ally or letting her die, which is more valuable to the empire?"
"T-that..."
The Hunters fell silent, unable to argue. Rank SSS Hunters were indeed very rare and valuable. It took decades or even centuries to produce a Hunter of that caliber. Even the Lightsun Empire, known for its combat strength, had only 2 Rank SSS Hunters.
"Then stop talking so much," said Vian coldly, then turned back to Mayuri. "How about it? That's not a bad offer, is it? You don't have to come with me to the capital. You're free to go anywhere as long as the empire can still protect you."
This time, no one dared oppose Vian's decision. The offer made Mayuri fall silent, appearing to consider it.
"I..." Mayuri's gentle voice broke the silence. "Don't know what to do, but that offer sounds very beneficial to me. So..." Her gaze shifted to Vian, full of gratitude. "...From now on, I'll be in your care."
Vian smiled faintly, satisfaction in his gaze. "Of course. As long as I live, no one can touch you."
"..."
Shou, witnessing all this, clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, his teeth grinding with emotion.
In his heart, he desperately hoped Mayuri would reject Vian's offer, but he also knew—this was the best choice for her safety.
'I am... too weak...'
Shou recognized his weakness. Although he was quite strong by novice Hunter standards, his opponents this time were beyond human comprehension and could only be faced by special beings like Mayuri.
'I need to become stronger. Strong enough until this world trembles and fears me.'
With burning determination, Shou resolved to train the power he received from Mayuri to its maximum limit.
Looking at Kerubiel still hovering in the sky, he thought silently.
'If I could control that creature and other Angels... There would be nothing to fear anymore.'
[Keep your spirits up, Host. The System will always support you]
Reading this message, Shou smiled faintly. Seeing Mayuri's peaceful face, he took a deep breath.
'Whatever happens, I'm glad everything is over...'
Everyone prepared to return, relieved that the crisis had passed...
SLAB!
"Eh?"
Time seemed to freeze.
Mayuri, the girl who had been calm and gentle, now stood motionless. A sharp ice sword had pierced her chest without warning.
The girl's eyes widened in shock and confusion. Even Mayuri herself seemed not to understand what had happened.
Red liquid began flowing from the corner of her mouth.
"Ugh..."
Blood spilled forth.
"M-MAYURI!"
"YOU BASTARD!"
Sorata ran frantically toward her while Vian, with a face full of rage, immediately attacked the mysterious assailant!
BAM!!
Battle erupted again. The tremendous collision between ice and fire was blinding—
—but fate had other plans.
BLAARR!
"Agh!"
Vian was thrown back and slammed hard to the ground, his body pinned beneath a crushing cold foothold.
Deadly ice quickly froze his body. The Rank S Hunters who tried to help their master were surprised by the roar of a giant ice dragon that swept them all away mercilessly.
"D-damn it... Ugh..." Vian coughed blood, his eyes full of hatred. "Frost Assassin..."
The masked figure standing before them was none other than Lux...
"Y-you... Have been waiting all this time..."
"You guessed correctly," Lux replied flatly. "Unfortunately, there's no prize for your accurate guess."
"W-what do you want from that girl?"
Lux tilted his head, a gesture that would almost look innocent if not for the murderous aura emanating from his body. "A foolish question. Just like you who wants her power, I want it too."
"D-damn you..."
"Under normal circumstances, I would have difficulty attacking her," Lux continued casually. "But thanks to you and that uninvited Demon, I could attack the girl without any resistance whatsoever."
"The Empire won't let you escape!" threatened Vian, struggling hard to free himself from the ice locking his body.
"A frightening threat," Lux replied mockingly. "But unfortunately, it doesn't apply to me."
Lux turned and walked away casually, ignoring Vian as if he were nothing but a worthless insect.
Vian tried to struggle, but in vain. His body, already weakened from the previous battle, was now even more helpless.
The same happened to the other Hunters. They all lay powerless, defeated without meaningful resistance.
"M-mayuri..."
Meanwhile, Shou cradled Mayuri's blood-soaked body. His hands trembled violently, tears flowing freely down his cheeks. He tried to press on the wound in the girl's chest, but blood continued to flow without stopping.
"Ugh... Ugh... Stop... No need to try anymore..." said Mayuri weakly, her cold hand touching Shou's face.
"NO! Please! Hang on! I beg you, hang on!" Shou screamed desperately. "System! DO SOMETHING, SYSTEM!"
[ ... ]
The System didn't respond, making Sorata even more hysterical.
"DAMN IT!"
Why?
Why did misfortune continue to befall him?
Insulted, mocked, abandoned, and beaten... He had endured all that suffering, and now the world was trying to take away the only person he truly loved?
"Please... Hang on..." Shou begged between his sobs. He couldn't bear it anymore, too exhausted by all the trials.
If he lost Mayuri, he might lose his sanity.
A gentle touch caressed his cheek. Shou looked up and saw Mayuri smiling peacefully despite her deathly pale face.
"You don't need to cry for me..." she whispered. "I am a Spirit born from feelings of love. From the beginning, my fate was destined to be like this..."
"No... Please..."
[Host! Dodge!]
BOOM!
A blast of ice hit Shou directly, throwing him several meters. His body was severely injured, nearly fatal.
Yet with steel determination, he forced himself to rise, only to see the Frost Assassin standing beside Mayuri.
His mind was chaotic, filled with anger and despair.
"DAMN! BASTARD! DON'T GO NEAR HER! GET AWAY FROM HER— UGH! UGH!"
Shou was too weak to do anything. He could only watch in horror as the masked figure lifted Mayuri's chin with his cold fingers.
"Hm... Interesting... This is the first time I've seen such a pure Spirit..." murmured Lux, his voice sounding intrigued.
Lux's gaze behind the mask flashed with curiosity.
Whether due to severe injury or extreme exhaustion, Mayuri's eyes were no longer focused, her vision blurry and unfocused. The girl's expression looked confused, her cheeks faintly flushed.
As if hypnotized or misidentifying the figure before her, Mayuri's weak hand slowly raised, gently caressing Lux's mask down to his neck...
"Ah... Ah... I..." Mayuri tried to speak, but her voice choked. With teary eyes and a hazy gaze, she whispered faintly. "I... missed you..."
With those words, the beautiful Spirit lost consciousness.
Surprisingly, even in her unconsciousness, Mayuri wrapped her arms around Lux's neck, embracing him tightly as if afraid of losing him.
"Hm, truly an interesting anomaly."
Something that was never in the scenario that Lux had so carefully crafted. Yet, a thin smile still spread across his face. After all, the core of his plan had been fulfilled.
With a graceful movement, Lux lifted Mayuri's injured body in a princess carry. Mayuri's white dress was stained with crimson blood, contrasting with her pale skin that now looked paler than usual. Despite the height difference between them, it was no obstacle.
Lux shifted his gaze toward Shou. The young man still stood frozen, his eyes empty as if his soul had been torn from within.
"I told you," said Lux in a voice that was cold yet melodious, "that borrowed power of yours will become mine." His hand gently stroked Mayuri's hair, as if calming a sleeping child.
Shou clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white. Cold sweat ran down his temple while his body trembled with anger and fear.
"Y-you can't do that..." his voice caught, "I-I'm still connected by contract with her! Remember! If I die, then Mayuri will die too!" he shouted with a broken voice.
In his heart, Shou cursed himself. He never wanted to use such a threat, but what other choice did he have? For Mayuri's safety, he had to do whatever he could. Their contract bond was the only trump card left.
He clearly remembered the terms of their contract—if one of them died, the other would follow. A clever plan as insurance, but...
"Ah, that," Lux tilted his head with an unnatural movement. "It seems you haven't realized it. Since I appeared... this girl has already terminated your contract."
Those words hit Shou like thousands of ice needles.
"Huh? T-terminated the contract? Y-you must be joking..." His voice trembled, more like a whisper of fear.
Lux chuckled softly, a sound like crystal bells being shattered.
"You really don't know anything about this Spirit, do you?" His words pierced through Shou's doubts. "She is a Spirit full of goodness. So, isn't it natural that she would terminate the contract when her contractor potentially faces death?"
Shou's eyes widened. Those words felt like a direct blow to his chest.
"No, no, NO!" He screamed while trying to summon Kerubiel's power—the power that had become his identity.
Usually, golden lightning would flash from his hand, surrounding his body with a frightening aura. But this time... nothing happened. Only emptiness and suffocating silence.
Slowly, Shou could feel his body, once strong and agile—equivalent to a Rank B Hunter or higher—begin to weaken. His muscles seemed to shrink, his bones felt brittle, and the energy that usually flowed abundantly through his body now felt like a drying river.
He returned to his initial physical state—a Rank E Hunter. A loser.
"Thank you for everything," said Lux with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "From now on, this Spirit belongs to me."
Lux's gaze shone with supernatural light, creating strange shadows on his perfect face.
"So... goodbye."
In the blink of an eye, the air around them swirled, creating a small vortex of glittering ice dust. Mayuri still lay weakly in his arms.
Then both vanished, leaving only ice dust that slowly fell to the ground and melted.
Shou fell to his knees. His world shattered in an instant. His power, his status, and most importantly—Mayuri—all taken from him.
"AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"
His scream echoed, marking the beginning of a journey of madness that would change his destiny.