Chapter 60: The Inverse

Shidou and Kurumi were now walking toward the direction briskly where the building of DEM stood. They occasionally encountered men and women in a frenzy mode who, based on their

Of course, Kurumi wouldn't allow it and as soon as they were about to reach Shidou, she would just shoot them inconsiderately. Just like how she has incredible control over her Spirit abilities, Kurumi made her bullets nonlethal for the sake of Shidou's sanity.

Shidou was aware of this already.

"Can you tell me what the plan is again?"

"Silly Shidou but I will indulge you nonetheless." She said as she shot another individual, causing to blast them away and lose consciousness. "Let Ritsuka take care of [Diva] for a while and at the same time, we will infiltrate that building." She pointed toward that particular building once more.

*WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*

The alarms were already blaring loudly by the time they arrived and somehow Kurumi anticipated it. Just appearing near the building already provoked the alarms. Kurumi could only smile in glee as she looked up and saw a swarm gathering at the top of the buildings.

Bandersnatch. Those stupid robots mooks would only serve to annoy her the most.

"Kurumi! How do we infiltrate the building?" Shidou asked her again once more as he wanted clarification but Kurumi did not care at all.

"You'll see..." was all Kurumi could say as they finally stood in front of the building itself. There is no entrance that can be easily sneaked in and Wizards on standby were immediately on active as they treated Shidou and Kurumi as a treat.

Did Kurumi just drive themselves into doom?! No, that would be incorrect, Kurumi just drove him into his own doom!

Shidou dreaded it already as Bandersnatches and nondescript Wizards surrounded them. Shidou glanced toward Kurumi again and realized that she had already been swallowed by darkness down the ground, with her pale left hand left waving at him before it eventually disappeared.

What the hell!? Kurumi just left him to the enemies themselves.

Shidou felt betrayed and prayed for his own safety as one Bandersnatch suddenly rushed toward him, intending to cut him to pieces.

*BOOOOOOOMM*

Shidou instinctively covered his eyes in order to protect his eyesight from that blast and when he opened them, the assaulting Bandersnatch was nowhere to be seen, instead, a large hole appeared on the side of the building out of nowhere. Shidou could only watch in bafflement. The other Bandersnatches and Wizards were immediately alarmed that an outside force had suddenly appeared and immediately scattered away from Shidou.

Shidou could only slump on the ground, his knees weakened from the near-death experience. He was breathing rapidly.

*BOOOOOOOM*

Lancer suddenly arrived from the sky and a crater was formed underneath her feet as she landed. She twirled her spears as she observed most of the enemies buzzing above them.

Shidou couldn't help but look up at his second savior. "Ms. Scarlet!"

Scathach only looked at Shidou in dismay upon hearing that makeshift name, then shifted her focus above once more; the Wizards and Bandersnatches were beginning to synchronize in order to attack her efficiently.

...and Shidou being here could complicate it any further and might hinder her from the fight. Yes she was aware that he intended to save Tohka no matter what.

Scathach, without any word, suddenly took Shidou's collar; praying that it was sturdy for her next action.

"Ms. Scarlet? - HEH!?"

Scathach with all her might, swung Shidou with all her might and threw her to the hole she had created earlier; an opportunity she had no doubt tried to exploit. It was no problem for maestro Scathach to accurately hit her own target, but she still ignored the prospect of whether Shidou could survive this or not.

*WOOOSH*

"AAAHAHAHAAAHHHHHHH!" Shidou could only cry as he soared above the ground and straight to the tenth floor where the hole was found. He already instinctively covered his head with his forearms as he braced for impact inside the floor.

All in all, Shidou survived the experience but not without scratches, wounds and broken bones he suffered from impact. A thing that his innate healing ability has no problem to mend it.

Still it was a sucky experience.

"Nee, Ritsuka-chan, why don't we sit over there and have a nice talk just like what you've suggested?"

"Thanks but no thanks, I'm more satisfied standing here." Ritsuka insisted.

"I see..." Miku truly understands her, or was just trying to. "Such as shame that I took a liking to you."

"You do? Perhaps, can I ask you to free them from your voice… no, too bad." Ritsuka teased. At least, Miku can tolerate any female in front of her but this was getting painful. Even if she didn't even uttered any words, the Master of Chaldea was sure that Miku wouldn't give them easily.

Ritsuka then looked toward the crowds, all of them seemingly quiet and eyes devoid of conscience despite the broiling chaos around them and then toward the Spirits, who are fiercely protective of their onee-sama.

The commonality between the group is that they are being controlled by Miku herself.

"So you are trying to create a harem huh?" Ritsuka directed her sight on [Diva] once more.

"Oh yes, sort of." Miku truthfully said. "I really wanted to be cuddled by cute girls of variety." She then hugged herself in her own presentation. "You can hug me if you want to, I insist." She said with a lascivious sight.

However, Ritsuka was immune to charms already, courtesy of being always surrounded by beautiful Servants thru and fro."Thanks but no thanks… " Then she caressed her chin.

Then Ritsuka just sighed. "I do wonder what is your endgame here." Miku only tilted her head in wonder. "If what you are aiming for is harem then you are doing it wrong."

"...!" Miku was in unease upon hearing it.

"Have you've seen your followers around you?" Ritsuka's voice was tinted with anger.

"W-what's wrong with them though?! Of course, they love me for what I am." Miku said defensively.

"They , the former Spirits around you, do not pledge their loyalty to you… it is obvious that they already belong to Shidou, the one you named as a scum."

"Do not dare to sputter that scum's name!" Miku growled. "I only saved them from the clutch of that scum! They are arrogant, rapacious and greedy. The Spirits deserve to be with me more." She proudly proclaimed.

"Oh?" Ritsuka pitied the [Diva]. "Don't you think you are a scum too?"

Miku reacted in anger. "How dare you compare me to filth-!"

"You said that all of the scum are greedy and vicious, right? Then why do you do the same? It is as if you are a hypocrite."

Miku attempted to retaliate but found her throat lodged. Why did she believe that Ritsuka was right? No…

Then she held her head in pain and closed her eyes as she trembled for no reason. She refused to acknowledge that Ritsuka was right and yet… why can't she? No, she's not the same as those who hurt her in the past, they were scums of the earth no matter what!

"That's fine, that's fine, not everyone at the start of their harem is always right."

Miku opened her eyes in confusion. What was Ritsuka trying to imply? She was flabbergasted that she forgot why she was in a state of denial earlier.

Even Ritsuka's Servants were confused too.

"If you really wanted to start a genuine harem like Shidou. Don't you think you need their trust and genuine affection? Your voice-controlling ability might be effective in the short-run but it will be a disaster in the future, I assure you."

Is Ritsuka teaching her how to have a harem of girls?! Even though Miku was proud of her own self, the Master of Chaldea's advice might be productive.

"I might have been hard on you how you steal Shidou's harem but my only problem is that it is unfair and cheating that you use your mystical voice to grab their affection."

"P-Pardon?" Miku, as well as Ritsuka's Servants, were very confused right now. What was Ritsuka trying to say?

Ritsuka was thinking deeply for a moment, seeing that she encountered a roadblock in her conversation once again. If only she could convince Miku in a different way.

"How about this? If you can save Tohka-chan right now, you can totally count me in in your harem."

Heroic Servants were now alarmed. Yes, their Master has became a degenerate, no- she's already is

"S-Senpai! What are you trying to do!" Mashu was the first one who tried to argue the agreements as she was alarmed by the Master's bet. Ritsuka looked at Shielder with confidence, as if she was saying that it's all within her plan. If only Mashu trusted her in this proposition.

Miku however, her eyes were literally twinkling in delight. She's freakin drooling from imagination upon hearing Ritsuka's bet like a dog. When she was finally out of her thoughts, she became determined to the point it scared Mashu.

"Yes! I will do it!"

"No killing of the 'scums' for a moment… even better, if you can tolerate his presence as you help each other save Tohka-chan!"

"Of course! Anything for my future harem partner!" Miku's eyes were littered with hearts and her nostrils blowing steam. Ritsuka hoped her message was clear and crystal as it reached Miku's ears, since [Diva] decided to fly away straight to the tower.

The notion of a willing partner of Miku might have made [Diva] captivated to the point she was willing to do it for the sake of fulfilling her deep desires.

Is Miku really that desperate for genuine affection other than brainwashing?

"Master..." Ritsuka could feel the cold touching her nape. Of course, she was fully aware that her own Servants demand attention and so she slowly turned around to her Servants who were waiting for her explanation.

Everyone has judging eyes and folded arms beneath their chest, some of them even tapped their heels in suspicion. It is truly

"Master..." Circe's voice was charming and yet filled with venom. Caster showed her face with her best intention and yet hidden beneath was a dark aura, promising that her Master will be turned into a pig if it was an inefficient answer.

"W-wait, I can explain!" Why does her excuse sound like a typical boy with a harem? Ritsuka could only dread what was about to unfold to her destiny.

Luckily, her punishment might await for a while because the people whom Miku controlled were now freed and confused at the moment. It seems that Ritsuka doesn't need to plead for [Diva] to at least free these people.

Still, it is unfortunate that Miku took all of the Spirits to her as she went away hurriedly.

Ritsuka managed to gather her guts. "Let us separate and take all of these people to safety… particularly inside the bunker." She said to her Servants. Indeed, after Miku deliberately removed her control over the people, their safety is now a major concern.

The Master of Chaldea could feel that something is about to happen sooner or later.

For Shidou it seemed that the cons outweigh the pros. He has arrived inside the tower through Scathach's accurate throwing and suffered terrible fractures all over the body while spouting blood. His innate ability to heal doesn't even cover the pain he suffered.

...and now after the majority of his body being recovered, two unknown Wizards, who happened to be on that floor, overshadowed his own pitiful body. They were inspecting him.

"Do you think it's dead?"

"I think I saw it breathing..."

Shidou contemplated whether he would move or not, especially when one of them was holding a rifle aimed at his own body. He forced himself not to stifle a groan, especially when the pain still did not subside.

*BANG* *BANG*

Two shots rang the floor and immediately the two Wizards dropped dead before him. Shidou was shocked it happened while pretending to be dead and he knew who was responsible for it and the worst of all, he couldn't do a thing about it.

Footsteps resounded the floor until it was right in front of his face.

"C'mon, stop playing Shidou.." Kurumi teased him playfully as Shidou stood up wearily. Despite the majority of his body now restored, lethargy struck his body. He appreciated that Kurumi held off herself from maiming people outside but it is a different issue when she killed off two Wizards in cold blood, nevertheless, Shidou tried to stray away from the topics as fast as possible.

"Y-you just left me down there!" Shidou tried to argue with her, pointing down where Scathach was currently engaging squads of Wizards and Bandersnatches.

"It's an emergency, Shidou-san. Even with a ceasefire between them, I am not that confident to face her once more." It might have been a sound reason but Shidou couldn't help but hear the sarcastic tone with those words.

"Anyways, we need to hurry!"

"No need to, I found where she was being contained."

"Where?"

"On the top floor… although I couldn't join you this time..." Kurumi replied sadly.

Shidou felt hurt but understood what Kurumi meant. She's just using him as a way to infiltrate this high-security building and now that she just achieved, their truce ended here. Besides, she can slay him on the spot but chose not to.

"Say hi for Miku from me..." she said before she melted down the darkness and before Shidou could catch on what she meant.

"The what?!" Shidou was suddenly alarmed when sounds of glass shattered grabbed his attention.

With her dress tinted in a blue and yellow hue, Shidou immediately identified who the heck entered the same floor as him and it was the [Diva] herself.

Miku just recently arrived and outside was a handful of Spirits she brought in order to combat the Bandersnatches and Wizards outside, not that Shidou needed to know.

Their eyes met and he knew it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Mable was silently chuckling in delight. It felt satisfying when all of your plans fell in the right place. As for her resident sitting 'comfortably' on the chair, it seemed that she was about to wake up.

Adeptus Mable was currently inside the sealed chamber, over-laden with territory in order to make the cage more sturdier.

"If I were you, I would stop whatever I am about to inflict to her." Mable warned her fellow Adeptus, who felt certain animosity on both Tohka and Mable. Ellen was visibly infuriated by Mable's warning, especially when she contemplated that she might be right.

"Darling, you are about to release your frustration on that poor being, Spirit or not." Mable said with a sure tone. "Surely, we can't just risk killing our precious participant by your incessant feelings?"

Ellen's hand was trembling from anger, seconds away from deploying Territory and destroying Mable.

"Ellen, that's enough!"

His voice alone made Ellen more obedient, as it recedes her own emotion. Even though Ellen was now calm, she couldn't help but think how unusual it is for Wescott to give favors toward Mable and how it made her envious toward the latter.

The feeling of killing that whore will be satisfying if given time so she willfully steps back as Wescott makes its way toward Tohka.

Tohka was still confused as heck, as her eyes were still pitifully hazy. She attempted to stand up but found herself being rooted to her own chair. That's the time when she realized she was strapped down violently.

"Y-you, let me go!"

Tohka struggled a lot but to no avail.

"Hmm, interesting... struggle a little bit more, I daresay." Wescott commented, with a devilish grin adorned on his face. "Let despair take all of yourself," he commanded.

"W-who are you! Let me go!" Tohka only cried in anger and wariness, as she still attempted to escape from the chair despite the immense failure.

"Mable-chan here said, that no matter amount of torture could possible sway you, even robbing you of your dignity and chastity might not even work." Wescott remarked as Mable nodded in confirmation beside him. "... as long as Shidou remains."

"S-Shidou-kun? He's here?!" Tohka's expression shifted into curiosity and hopefulness, and when no one answered her, she became more restless. "Shidou-kun, will definitely save me and defeat all of you!" Tohka said childishly.

Wescott was amused by this and chuckled genuinely. "Of course, what you said was true, in fact, he's on his way up here." He said as a large screen appeared behind him, showing Shidou progressing the floor together with a certain Spirit.

Tohka observed the screen and her eyes were twinkling in admiration and hopefulness. Wescott noticed it and was amused by it even more.

With these fleeting senses of hope, one mighty downfall is all it takes to relapse this bound Spirit into despair, one that he wanted to occur willingly.

Oh, how thrilling it would be if that were to happen, even more after that.

So, it is time for Mable to prepare for this event. Sooner or later, Ritsuka and her merry band of Heroic Spirit would come to this building in order to aid Shidou. It was by a stroke of luck that she was a tad busy evacuating the civilians and not even thought of sending some of her Servants.

No, Mable does not belittle Ritsuka by any sense. Never. She will deny herself a thousand times more than underestimating the Master of Chaldea. She had already experienced that.

It's just that she needed an ample amount of time.

Perhaps, a mindless Demon pillar would take a job?

Miku and Shidou were walking together, well Shidou respected a considerable distance between [Diva] and him. With her being tolerable with his existence was as much as a favor to him in saving Tohka.

Shidou already produced a Sandalphon which he previously wielded on the island in order to cut down any intruders and security measures on each floor. Miku too helped using her voice and Spirit abilities. They have already covered almost half of the building and now they are on their way toward the top.

"I wonder what you will do with that cutesy maid, scum." Miku commented, just enough for Shidou to hear it and make him pause. "Let me guess, ravage her, take her as a slave and what else?"

Incidentally, Shidou was already dedicated upon keeping himself quiet since Miku was just trying to rile him up since their encounter below floors.

"I don't know what happened to your past, Miku-san..." He looked at her with a hint of sympathy. "...but I pity you." He said before he continued moving on.

As usual, Miku was pissed off. How dare Shidou looked at her with a pity, despite how she treated him upon realizing that he was a man.

She hurriedly matched Shidou's walking pace and joined him side-by-side. "How dare you look at me like that?! I am not someone to be pitied for!"

As usual, Shidou just ignored her ramblings and just continued on, occasionally defeating some Wizards that were guarding the floors.

"Fine, silent treatment, isn't it?" Miku was on the verge of blowing up but her self-control was something else. "I will prove to Tohka-chan that she's worthy of mycollection."

Shidou eventually stopped upon hearing it and Miku was pleased that she managed to pissed him off.

Shidou just gave her an intense glare of hate that Miku didn't ever see in her own life." Tohka-chan isn't some kind of collection, Miku-san!" Miku shook from Shidou's firm word, making her froze from fear. Maybe Miku regretted making Shidou angry.

Shidou gritted his teeth in frustration. "I just want to save her and that's it… Nothing more, nothing less!" He desperately tried to keep his emotions in check. "Is your perception so warped that you immediately see every man as an evil, lecherous piece of shits!?"

Miku only kept quiet while maintaining a gaze filled with mixed emotions.

"That's why I pity you, Miku-san." Shidou said finally before continuing their journey. Miku then just automatically followed him behind, as if she was ashamed that she played with his already broken heart.

No, she doesn't want to believe in Shidou in general. She'll just satisfy her judgement once they have reached the top and face Tohka-chan for real. She'll have to weigh Shidou's words on how truthful he is.

She admitted that this is the first time she doubted herself upon crossing the line. This is the first time Miku has seen someone so angry at her genuinely. If Shidou wanted to reinforce his words then he must prove himself not by his words alone but also through his action and will.

It seems that they are nearing their destination once more and that they are lucky that they didn't encounter any enemies at the higher floor.

Then the whole building shook. Is it an earthquake?

*RUMBLE* *RUMBLE*

Scathach could only stare at the sky as hundreds of Bandersnatches and Wizards were destroyed on the spot upon the appearance of something vile and sinister.

No, she couldn't believe it, in fact, it shouldn't be possible in this world… or is it. The ground near the building collapsed upon jutting out of the ground.

A Demon Pillar itself, with its ominous flesh and blinking eyes that covered every inch of the shaft. it casually grinded against the tower as it wrapped around it, as if securing it for no reason.

Scathach has one idea and it reeks of suspicion. God forbid, if that Bodhisattva was behind its summoning, better if she has a reason for this or she will drive her spear through her heart many times like a madman!

Then Scathach engaged the Pillar, driving multiple spears through its eyes despite its ridiculous regenerative ability.

The battle has become a four-way battle between the Wizards and Bandersnatches, the Spirits, the Demon Pillar as well as Scathach herself. The confusion among them as to who should be the target first were being exaggerated.

Suddenly, the Master of Chaldea arrived at the area together with the few of her Servants after evacuating all of the possible civilians near this area.

"What's happenin'-what the heck!" Even Ritsuka was taken aback by the huge pillar coiled around the building. It's been ages when Ritsuka has seen one since the singularities and the remnants.

Could this be the purpose of her arrival here? There's only one way to find out and that would be to cut it down to smithereen. She could feel her blood boiling from the thrill of the upcoming fight.

She glanced toward her Servants that are currently present. Circe, Jackie, Drake, Mashu and Scathach are enough to take this Pillar. Immediately, they understood what their Master motioned.

Destroy the Pillar as efficiently as possible.

For Shidou, there is no time to gawk down and wonder what was happening down the ground. The intensive rumbling means he needs to save Tohka quickly before this building could go awry. Even Miku understood the connotation and hurried together with him.

They have finally arrived at the possibly the top floor so far. Shidou immediately prepared the Sandalphon he currently wielded, placing it in front of him.

The floor was eerily quiet despite the constant shaking, evident with a soundproof structure all around this floor.

Reaching the center, Shidou could only focus on the certain individual he was hoping to save.

"Tohka!" He exclaimed which took the attention of the [Princess] as well as those of who are currently present on this floor. Miku was the only one who remained at the entrance, wary of the individuals that are seemingly too powerful for her to handle and whom Shidou foolishly ignored in favor of reaching toward Tohka, who was currently strapped on a heavily chair adorned with wires and whatnots.

Still, it seemed that Miku had no reason to tease Shidou anymore.

"Interesting, Shidou indeed arrived." Wescott commented with a hint of interest, as if he was the sole reason why Shidou was here. He doesn't need to lay his hand as they themselves will turn the plan in motion.

"Shidou!" As if discovering her newfound strength, Tohka managed to escape from the clutch of the throne and immediately rushed toward Shidou, not knowing that there is a barrier erected between them already.

*BONK*

Tohka was thrown away by the impact, skidding away on the floor and away from Shidou, who tried to break into the invisible barrier but to no avail, despite slashing away at the force in desperation.

"T-Tohka, hang in there!" Shidou was now extremely worried, especially when Tohka was now sporting a bleeding forehead due to the unfortunate head impact. They were only a barrier away from touching each other.

"Now, now, Shidou don't give me that look." Wescott suddenly commented and raised his arm, showing that he wasn't armed or anything after Shidou glared at the pale man, whom he presumed was pretty responsible for this entire chaos. He wisely then raised the sword and pointed it at him.

"You can save your princess of course, but before you could do that…." His eyes twinkled in amusement.

*SHLUCK!*

and blood suddenly poured everywhere.

Her heart beat rapidly as she dropped herself to her knees in defeat.

There is no sound….

If only this is a dream-nightmare….

Why, just why?! Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Shidou, Shidou… ?

Blood. Blood was everywhere. She was exempted from being stained by his own blood, because of the freaking barrier, dirtied itself for her.

Impossible. He..

He's dead….!

Dead…

Dea…-

...It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. She can't endure this anymore…

...I don't want to live in this world anymore. This cursed and wicked world. She had lost hope…

Her only hope…

Malevolence.

It's Hopeless. Before she could be overridden with grief… It's over. Darkness engulfed her. Corruption.

Thus, an Inverse has been born...