A/N: Hello again! Kept you waiting huh?
For once, I actually manage to update this in around a month, but I doubt this relatively quick quick updates can go on for long. I just hope I can present my writing at my best for you!
Now, let's begin Chapter 18, "The Mechanical Angels"
She could feel it.
The one who would free her, one of her own kind, was so close.
Little by little, step by step, she grew closer.
"…"
Even inside her dream, she could feel it.
But why was it…
"Why are you so… sad?"
There was no mistake. The approaching presence… was conflicted.
At her soul she was alone, but in her body she was also many.
Within her heart, hatred and anger drove her forward.
Fear and doubt tore her apart.
Yet, firmness and devotion kept her going.
Love and kindness continued to persist.
But there was no conclusion.
There was no way forward.
"So you are also [her] victim…"
The fate of her kind, was a cruel one.
To be hated, to be rejected, to be used.
All for the heinous crime of 'existing'.
It was all [that person]'s fault.
Yes, that's right…
"Wasn't [she] responsible for my imprisonment as well?
Remembering what that devil did…
Gave color to her colorless dream.
A color of rage.
She swore to all that was holy and sacred…
"Once I am free… I would kill the one who began this destiny."
Shido found himself staring.
He knew he was not supposed to do that – Rinne had trusted him and the Kurumis with guarding over her, while she was taking a peek into the past of a new Spirit they had encountered, Marina.
This floor chamber was still a battlefield. Apart from the small area they had secured, battles were carried out mercilessly. Shido could still hear gunfire in the distance, and his body was still tense, ready for any attack.
But no matter what he tried to do, he found himself just… staring at the Ruler Spirit's form.
Rinne stood in the midst of their small formation, with her deadly ribbon-threads – [Laharos], if Shido recalled it right – was still holding their unconscious hostage mid-air.
Although her eyes were closed, her expression was focused. Her posture, combined with her Astral Dress – which was more of a mini-dress than anything else, Shido recognized – it revealed just the right amount of skin and left enough for his imagination.
But, what attracted his attention the most was her lips. It was now forming a thin line, which reminded him of something…
Yes, it was familiar…
"Ugh… get yourself together, Shido!
He was supposed to be one charming her, not the other way around!
Wait… that was not how he should be, either. He was not supposed to act like this!
Goodness, the side effect of Spirit mana overflow on him was going to give him a headache.
"Rio… when will this side effect subside?"
Shido didn't want to sound like he was whining to his own 'daughter' – but he couldn't help it. He was not supposed to be a playboy!
Rio's reply was, surprisingly, a little hesitant.
"Um… a good night's sleep should be enough. Papa's mind would recover itself in a state of rest. Papa would not be back to normal until Papa stops using Rio's powers, though…"
"Oh… well. Thanks, Rio."
Shido wasn't sure that was a good or bad news – on one hand, merely sleeping seemed to be enough to recover. On the other hand, that meant, for the rest of this mission, he would be continuously acting like some sort of love-hungry boy.
That actually made him more anxious than the supposedly life-threatening mission he was in now. The presence of Rio, Kurumi, and Rinne by his side probably had something to do with that.
"Oh well. Anything, to save the Spirits."
That line of thought made him glance to the sleeping girl in Rinne's grasp. He heard the Spirit imprisoned in this island was codenamed [Material B].
So this girl, who called herself [Marina], was most likely not the one he came for. Still, that didn't mean he wouldn't help her.
Shido had to admit, he was more than a little curious – why would she fight for the DEM?
It was far from the first time that a Spirit had tried to antagonize or seriously hurt him.
It was not even the first time a Spirit had seriously tried to kill him – the Kurumis around him were a grim reminder.
But it was certainly the first time a Spirit had allied herself with the DEM. And that bothered him more than he would like to admit.
"Papa?"
The sudden inquisitive tone from Rio halted his thought process.
"Yes?"
"Rio knows Papa, Mama and Kurumin say Marina is a Spirit… but Rio doesn't think so."
It was surprising to hear Rio mentioning someone without any honorifics or a nickname, but what she was saying felt more pressing.
"What do you mean, Rio? She definitely has an Astral Dress, and you can sense her Spirit mana, right?"
Even he, who was only human – albeit one able to utilize Spirit powers – could feel it.
"Papa is right, but… Rio cannot sense an Angel."
Shido almost questioned his mental hearing.
"Huh?"
"Rio cannot sense an Angel from her. Kurumin's copies has no Angel too, but the real Kurumin has one and Rio can sense their connection. However, Marina does not seem to have an Angel at all."
"R-really?"
He was surprised. Rio could tell that much with her senses alone? And without manifesting, at that?
"Yes, really! Spirits should have Angels. So, Rio thinks Marina isn't a Spirit. She feels like Rio's [Guardians], though."
"Guardians?"
Then, Rio let out a mental 'oh' as if she just remembered something.
"Oh right! Rio hasn't shown Papa yet. Guardians are dolls connected to Papa and Rio, created from our Spirit mana."
That sounded... very different than what he had grown familiar with.
"They obey Rio's command and Rio feels what they experience, but since Kurumin already has her copies helping Papa, Rio doesn't think Papa need the Guardians for now. Of course, Rio will summon them if Papa wants to. Does Papa want to see them?"
Shido shook his head. Though he certainly wanted to see just what exactly these Guardians were, they had more pressing matters now.
"Not now, Rio. You said the Marinas feel like these Guardians… then are you saying they are just dolls controlled by the Spirit?"
"Nope! Rio doesn't feel any Angel besides Mama's and Kurumin's around, so Rio can say for sure! Whoever is controlling Marina, it isn't a Spirit."
Rio's voice was so sure and positive, and Shido found himself smiling at her cheerfulness despite himself. Still, it was something he needed to think about.
While Rio's deduction had no proof, Shido had no reason to doubt her Spirit senses. If anything, anything Rio felt necessary to inform him was probably something he needed to know.
If these Marinas were not controlled by a Spirit, then could it be a Wizard? Those [Realizers] used by the Wizards were basically magical technology, and even after seeing them for so many times, he didn't know its full potential.
But, if Rio was right, how could the Marinas possess Spirit mana and the Astral Dress?
"Hummmm… Rio isn't sure about that… let's ask Mama!"
"Huh? But she is not finished yet…"
Rio's words made Shido glance to Rinne.
As if on cue, Rinne suddenly snapped her crimson eyes open, almost startling him.
"Rin…ne?
"…"
Shido was about to ask what did Rinne saw in Marina's past, but the look in her face stopped him.
Rinne's gaze was very intense, her face oddly tense and nothing like her usual gentle expression.
His concern immediately kicked in. What happened?
"What's wrong, Rinne?"
"…I wish I could say 'nothing' but that would be a lie."
Shido was almost shocked hearing those words. The venom in her voice was so abrupt it made his skin crawl.
"…Rinne just saw the Marina's past, did she? Is that the cause?"
He hesitated for only a second, but he decided to bite the bullet.
"What did you see?"
Rinne didn't respond for a moment.
"I saw something… unforgiveable."
Her fist was clenched, and in sync, the Laharos ribbons around her were twitching.
She was angry at what she had seen. That much Shido was sure.
Much to his surprise though, Rinne suddenly let out a sigh – as if she was trying to calm herself.
"These Marinas… they are not Spirits. The girls we face are just remote bodies being controlled by something else."
Shido tried to hide his amazement. He did believe Rio, but for Rinne to confirm it as soon as Rio just mentioned the idea was a bit too much for a coincidence.
"Ara, so they are counterfeiters after all?"
The small group of Kurumis encircling them seemed to be more curious than surprised, and each of them looked to Rinne as if they had predicted this.
He didn't understand what they meant though, so he turned to one of them.
"Counterfeiters? What do you mean?"
The Kurumi in question shrugged.
"It means they are nothing more than fakes created based on us, Spirits. Artificial Spirits, you can say."
"Artificial…? Is that even possible?"
Another Kurumi waved her hand, as if he just asked something stupid.
"Ara… don't be so surprised, Shido-san. In a technical sense, even [we] – Kurumis who are created from the memory of the person known as 'Tokisaki Kurumi' are not true Spirits. We are just expendable spawns created from the Angel known as [Zafkiel]."
Shido narrowed his eyes. He knew Kurumi had little value for the lives of her clones.
But for the Kurumi clones themselves, to claim each other as expendable was…
Just as he was about to open his mouth though, somebody beat him to it.
"Kurumi. Say anything about yourself being expendable again and I will hurt you."
Rinne suddenly cut into the conversation, and with a tone that Shido had never heard coming from her before.
Her bright red eyes were narrowed and her voice was strangely monotonous – it was as if Rinne was trying to suppress her rage beneath.
"Mama…"
Rio's voice in his head calmed him down, but even she was lacking the usual mirth and energy in her voice.
Luckily, it seemed that the Kurumis, particularly the one who was the target of Rinne's anger, had realized her mistake.
That Kurumi's face instantly became nervous and she fidgeted – were it not for the situation, Shido might have said it was adorable.
"I apologize, Rinne…"
Rinne nodded in acceptance, and her expression softened somewhat.
"…It's fine. It's just… I think I had enough of seeing people being used as tools."
Shido instantly understood what she was implying, and he was sure the Kurumis around him did too.
He decided to ask again.
"Is it about the Marinas?"
The Ruler Spirit sighed. It was clear his suspicion was spot on.
"Yes. This girl… these Marinas, they are created just to be used. That is already terrible, but their method of creation…"
Rinne paused, scrunching her face in disgust.
"They are using the Spirit they locked up here to breed the Marinas."
Shido was sure his eyes widened to saucers, but before that disturbing thought process continued, Rinne continued, her tone still sickened.
"No, not in the way you are thinking. The Spirit imprisoned in this island… Material B as they called her, she is special. And the Deus Ex Machina scientists are taking advantage of her."
That didn't really explain anything, but at least the mental image of a Spirit being used as a sex slave had faded from his mind.
"What do you mean, Rinne?"
Rinne didn't immediately answer him. Instead, she turned toward the hole on the chamber's floor which Shido created using Tohka's Sandalphon earlier.
She eyed it for a few moments, before she continued.
"I don't know if this Spirit is fundamentally different from us or if it is because of her Angel's powers, but her circumstances are very special."
"Circumstances?"
It was one of the Kurumis who asked the same question Shido had wanted to ask.
"She was captured four years ago, one year after they had captured Material A, or Honjou Nia-san."
Shido nodded. Nia said she was captured five years ago, meaning she was probably the first Spirit DEM had ever managed to capture.
"Unlike Honjou-san, she is currently in a state of a self-inflicted coma. When the DEM tried to capture her, she had inflicted something upon herself, putting herself into a state of deep sleep."
He raised his brows at Rinne's words. Self-inflicted coma? Deep sleep?
"Does that mean the Spirit cannot be awakened?"
Shido was about to ask, but once again, another Kurumi was faster at voicing their thoughts.
"Ara, I see it now… I assume no matter what the DEM tried, the sleeping beauty didn't wake up?"
Rinne turned and nodded to the Kurumi who said that, before continuing.
"You are right, Kurumi. We know that Isaac Westcott's intention with the Spirits is to take away their Crystals after Inversing them through torture or something along those lines. Since this Spirit couldn't be awakened, she couldn't be Inversed. However…"
The Ruler Spirit grimaced.
"During their torture attempts, they found several 'biological values' which didn't exist in Material A."
Shido already didn't like where this was going.
"By biological values, you mean?"
Fortunately for him, yet another Kurumi had asked the question he wanted to say.
"Her body has an extreme survivability. Far, far beyond yours or mine, or even Kotori's, Kurumi."
"Eh?"
He couldn't suppress his surprise this time. Survivability? Something like Kotori's… no, [Camael]'s regenerative abilities?
Rinne paused to take a deep breath, as if she was easing them into what she was about to say.
"According to the… videos I saw in this Marina's memories, even when Material B's body parts such as her limbs, internal organs, or even her head was separated from her body, not only she was still alive, those body parts continued to survive."
Shido could feel his stomach began to churn at the mental image.
How's that even possible? Sure, he had seen Kurumi literally rewinding time to heal her sliced off arm, and Camael's powers had allowed him to survive his heart being destroyed, but he doubted losing his head was something even he could survive.
Nia's torture at the hands of DEM had involved things from his nightmares, like splitting her head in half to insert that microchip, but DEM had ensured Nia would live through that using their Realizer technologies.
However, to survive being outright mutilated like that was probably beyond even what most Spirits could do.
Even the Kurumis sounded shocked, and one of them voiced their thoughts.
"Are you sure about what you saw, Rinne?"
Rinne nodded grimly.
"There is no mistake. This Marina had watched several recorded videos of those operations for…"
The Ruler frowned.
"…recreational purposes. And even she couldn't recognize the appearance of the person who was being mutilated as human anymore, but it was definitely the Spirit locked up in this place."
Shido wasn't sure which one made him sicker, the fact that the DEM was cruel enough to torture the Spirit they captured so much to the point of non-recognition, or the fact that this Marina apparently enjoyed watching those.
The Kurumis however seemed intent on thinking faster than him, and one of them already pressed the conversation forward.
"Doesn't that mean Material B is just a miserable mess of flesh at this point?"
"It isn't the case. She is still alive and she simply regenerated her lost body parts. Which is why the DEM could repeat the process over and over."
Another Kurumi interjected with an equally disgusted tone. "Well, Spirit mana does recover after a period of time. If they schedule it right, they can do that regularly."
"It doesn't end there." Rinne's face once again morphed into that of anger. "They were just as surprised as we are about the Spirit's extreme survivability, so they studied her body even further than they did with Honjou-san.
"Wait a minute!"
Shido had to interject. He had no way to keep up with this conversation if he just listened.
"What does this have anything to do with the Marinas?"
He had expected some sort of answer, but Rinne instead held up a finger at him, as if she was reprimanding him.
"We are getting there, Shido. I know this is… uncomfortable, but you need to hear the whole thing for it to make sense."
Her tone was soft, and Shido knew Rinne was right, but it didn't really help his discomfort at all.
However, it did remind him to steel his resolve. He had to hear this if he wanted to save them, that was for sure.
"Go on."
Rinne smiled a bit at him, before her expression turned serious again.
"Thank you. After a few months of research, the scientists discovered that, the reason behind the Spirit's survivability was because her entire body passively absorbed energy from the [Territory] they used to confine and operate on her."
"I see..." A Kurumi put a finger under her chin. "That explains why her mutilated parts could continue to stay alive even after being separated from the main body, the source of mana."
"But," Another Kurumi interrupted, "that certainly is unusual. While we have [City of Devouring Time] and Rinne can use [Fate Connection] to absorb lifeforce and magic energy, this Spirit does so while completely unconscious."
"Let me guess." Yet another Kurumi interjected, crossing her arms. "The Marinas came from these mutilations. Am I correct?"
The very thought of that actually recoiled Shido even more than anything said earlier.
"What? How do you even come up with that idea?!"
"Ara, it is only logical. Even if mutilated, those body parts are that of a Spirit's. If it could absorb mana to stay alive, then it is just a matter of collecting enough to recombine them into a human-sized doll."
The Kurumi in question sounded disgusted, but her face was otherwise calm.
Shido supposed what Kurumi was saying did make some sort of sense, but how!? Just how!
"Such a thing!"
"Unfortunately…"
His words interrupted, Shido watched as Rinne turned toward the unconscious Marina in the grasp of her Laharos, her eyes now saddened rather than angry.
"Kurumi is right. These Marinas are created like that. The reconstructed bodies lack consciousness, but all the DEM need to do left were to modify them and install their bodies with Realizers to be used as remote puppets."
Shido was sure his jaw had dropped by the time Rinne finished. He could barely believe what his ears were hearing.
He supposed for such gruesome things to happen were not impossible – both Spirits and Realizers were not things he could understand with conventional logic.
But…
"How could anyone even bring themselves to do something like this?!"
Shido now understood Rinne's anger. No, more than that, his own emotions were already boiling his blood – even his Spirit mana was restless.
He could feel his breathing became heavier with each second – he could even feel heat from within his body. It was a familiar flame, belonging to his sister…
"Papa!"
Rio's voice halted everything.
"Rio knows Papa's feelings. Papa is angry. Mama too. But don't be like this… it makes Rio sad."
"Rio…"
Her voice was akin to voice of reason, and a wail of emotion. He could feel the pleading behind each word.
Hearing it almost made Shido's anger burn out completely, because when he thought about it...
"…Yes, you are right."
It was inhuman and monstrous for the DEM to conduct something like this. It was only human for him to react with disgust and anger.
But he shouldn't lose himself in it, either. He should channel his emotion to do what he should do.
To save someone.
"Thank you… again, Rio."
Shido could not see a smile forming in his mind, but he could feel it.
His determination renewed, he turned toward Rinne.
"Rinne, what should we do to stop the Marinas?"
As if she was sensing his feelings, Rinne's expression turned serious again as she returned his gaze.
"Fundamentally, these Marinas are remote puppets controlled through Realizers, which receive orders wirelessly from a network system. Even if their bodies are technically 'alive' – they don't have their own will. As such–"
One of the Kurumis interjected. "If we destroy the Realizer within their bodies, it would instantly disable them."
Rinne nodded. "Exactly, Kurumi. Additionally, their network system needs a highly advanced computer to function as a server for managing a large number of bodies. If we can disable that server, all of the Marinas will go down with it."
Another Kurumi grinned. "And I suppose you already knew where the server is, in this facility?"
Rinne only smiled and nodded at her.
"Kurumi, all of you should remain here and continue the battle with the Marinas to distract them. As of now, they don't know that we know about their weakness, and it's better to keep it that way. Shido and I will leave through that hole to attack their server."
Rinne pointed toward the large hole on the floor Shido had made earlier with Sandalphon, when he took down a group of Marina with a single powerful slash.
The Kurumis didn't bother with a response this time. For a moment they glanced to each other, nodded once as if they understood their roles, and suddenly dispersed away like a group of ninjas, leaving Shido and Rinne by themselves.
The Ruler Spirit waved at them as they left.
"Now then… Shido, are you ready?"
As Marina's unconscious body was gently placed on the floor by Laharos, Rinne asked that question while her back was turned.
It was a little surprising to hear that from her, but Shido didn't even need to think about his answer.
"Let's go!"
Rinne seemed satisfied with that answer, as she immediately levitated toward the hole leading downwards.
Mentally preparing himself, Shido took a breath. He should go after her–
"Papa, let's transform."
Rio's call halted him.
"Eh?"
Shido was actually surprised. Why did Rio ask him to…?
In any case, he should stop Rinne first.
"Rinne! Wait!"
The Ruler Spirit in question stopped just before she was about leap, and turned to him with a confused expression.
"What's wrong, Shido?"
For once, Shido was a bit thankful that the communication with Kannazuki's [Hraesvelgr] – and by extension, Kotori's [Fraxinus] was cut off inside the lower part of this facility.
That way, he didn't have to whisper about Rio to keep her a secret from the other Spirits beside Kotori.
"It's Rio. She is asking me something…"
As he trailed off, Rinne had an understanding expression on her face, and waited. Shido smiled at that.
Now, back to his 'daughter'…
"Transform? But if we do that, the pipes of [Gabriel] we left in the above floors will disappear, and we cannot empower the Kurumis spread in this facility anymore."
Even now, Shido was still partially connected to the Gabriel pipes above inside the chamber with the speaker room, ready to spread Miku's [Solo] and [March] again when needed.
"That is true, but Papa and Rio should focus to helping Mama, too! If Papa, Mama, and Rio succeed, then the Marinas would also stop, right? We have to give it our all!"
Her words were childish, but Shido had to admit, Rio had a point with that.
"But… which Angel would be the most useful to support Rinne?"
Judging from what he saw earlier, Rinne's Angel was deadly in close quarters combat. If he charged on recklessly, he would probably only find himself sliced up by Laharos.
Wait, then that meant…
Shido could feel his lips grinning in anticipation.
"I have an idea."
"What is it? Rio wants to know!"
Instead of answering, Shido closed his eyes to focus himself – focusing his whole thoughts toward his Spirit powers.
"Ohhh! Papa is amazing! Alright then, Rio will do it!"
Once more, he could feel something akin to large ripples being formed on a giant lake within himself. A ripple of 'awakening' on a lake of 'power'
"[Aspect of the Sephiroth], [Angel of Extinction]!"
Light enveloped his vision.
Shido wanted to chuckle. So he was right – this peculiar sensation was something he wouldn't be able to get used to.
Though, it seemed that what they say about the 'third time being the charm' was true.
He felt as if he was hyperaware of his entire self, now fully comprehending what was happening.
"I..."
His own voice felt like an illusion. It felt like it came from a far distance.
"Shido…"
Another voice came to him. It was not his own, and it was not Rio's.
"Everything that makes me whole..."
It was monotonous, yet full of emotion.
Certainly, such a voice could only belong to Origami.
It was at this exact moment–
"Now I entrust it to you."
Origami's presence assaulted him.
How could he describe it?
Tohka and Miku were both very warm. They were full of energy, and their presence alone made him smile.
Origami was different. Whereas Tohka and Miku were warm like the sunlight, Origami felt cold.
It wasn't uncomfortable though. It was just enough to make him feel fresh - like the cool winds brushing his face in a comfortable night.
Moreover, she wasn't energetic either. Instead, she had a calming presence, similar to a lake which reflected the lights of the stars above.
That tranquility was rather ironic, Shido knew Origami could be very hotheaded when she wanted to.
There was only one thing about her which felt the same as the previous two.
Origami wanted him.
Possessiveness.
Her presence was hugging him tight and not letting him go.
Shido supposed he was fine with that.
When 'his' vision returned, 'he' immediately looked down.
'His' body was no longer that of a high-school boy, but that of a high-school girl instead.
Pure white dress, resembling that of marriage ceremonial outfit for the bride. Her skirt was like a blooming white flower, matching the dress.
"[Ehyeh]…"
'His' voice was now hers, chanting the name of the Astral Dress she wore.
Try as he might, just like before, he couldn't feel anything out of place.
Yet he waited. Shido was sure Origami's thoughts had something to comment on.
"…I see. We have become one at last, Shido."
Her voice was monotonous as usual, but there was a distinct smugness in it.
Almost immediately, her gloved hand reached to grope her own breasts.
Shido instantly took control of their shared body back and kept the hands away.
"I really should have known better than to let that happen."
"Hee hee! Rio is sure now! Rio would get along well with everyone!"
Shido didn't know whether he was amused or exasperated. On one hand, Rio getting along with his friends was good.
But for Rio coming into that conclusion after saying his friends were weirdos was… not.
Gah, he could think about it later. Looking at the present situation, it would be better if he allowed Origami's instincts to control their body now.
Origami was far more skilled at using [Metatron] than him, after all.
"Yeah, I think that is the best course of action- eh?"
Much to his surprise, the lips of their shared body suddenly smiled.
"Thank you for putting your faith in me."
Origami spoke to no one, but the gratitude and the emotion was clearly intended for him.
It was a simple, natural action even for Origami, but to him now, it felt like a shock.
It was the first time a Spirit he had channeled actually responded to his thoughts.
"H-how? Rio, is it supposed to be like this?"
"Yup! Papa is finally getting used to Rio's powers!"
Shido felt he didn't share Rio's enthusiasm at all.
"But… Tohka and Miku didn't communicate with me at all."
"Hum, does Papa not understand?"
He let out a mental equivalent of a confused sound at Rio's question. She took that as a sign to continue.
"Rio's [Aspect of the Sephiroth] recreates a Spirit's Angel and personality using the Spirit mana and the emotions channeled through Papa. So, while it is based on Papa's friends, it is not the actual person."
Shido was a little surprised at Rio's calm, yet systematic explanation. It was quite easy to understand, contrary to what he had expected.
Since earlier, even though he was the one using this power, he only had a vague idea about how Rio's powers worked.
Kotori and Reine might be able to understand much more than him through simple observation alone, though.
"So… Tohka and Miku earlier, and this Origami… they are just copies?"
"Rio wouldn't say that. Even if they are just recreations, they are still friends for Papa, right?"
Those words hit closer to home than Shido would like to admit.
"Yes. But that still doesn't explain why Origami can now directly communicate with me."
"It's because Papa is now closer to accept Papa's powers. Before, transforming with Rio's ability was something new for Papa, and it takes time for both the body and the mind to accept it. Papa can tell, right? The recreation of personality before wasn't perfect."
Shido had to pause. Was it imperfect?
Tohka seemed to act like how she was back when Shido first met her.
Miku's bickering with Kurumi didn't seem out of character, either.
If anything about them felt out of place, it was… wait, could it be?
"Wait… are you saying that's why Tohka didn't seem to realize that she is occupying the same body as me?"
"Bingo! Her sense of self was not fully recreated, which was why her impulses were more of an instinct for Papa."
Shido supposed that would also explain why Miku was able to instantly tell she was using his body. He channeled her after Tohka, so his body and mind had been closer to accepting Rio's ability then.
And since this was the third time, he had adapted even more, so Origami's recreated personality would be even closer to an actual personality. Enough to outright identify his thoughts, it seemed.
"Exactly, Shido. That's why I am now in ecstasy for being able to share my everything with you."
Shido suddenly realized that their shared body, had been shaking a little. Origami was trying to take control their hands again to… touch. In places.
Uhh, Origami… could it wait until later?
Hum… we could.
"We still have a mission, I suppose."
Calmly stating her resolution, Shido finally allowed Origami's thoughts moved their shared body.
However, as soon as they turned around, Shido could feel Origami holding her breath as soon as their eyes met with the Rinne's.
"Ruler… Sonogami Rinne."
For some reason, discomfort filled Origami's thoughts. Shido could feel it almost as if it was his own.
"Origami, you are…"
There was something akin to… dread, and anxiety coming from Origami's thoughts.
It was actually similar to his own.
"So Kotori was right…"
Shido recalled Kotori's words last night, that he was not the only one feeling some sort of instinctual fear from Rinne when in her Spirit form.
Kotori was only able to confirm it for herself and Origami, but the others were possibly feeling the same thing.
It was honestly a worrying thought, but for now, it was not the time to think about it.
"I understand what you feel, Origami. But I can promise you, Rinne is not our enemy."
Origami didn't immediately respond to him, but he knew she would listen to him.
Meanwhile, on the other end a polite smile was plastered on Rinne's face, oblivious to their internal conflict.
"I am looking forward to fighting alongside you, Tobiichi-san."
Shido could feel that Origami was considering to ignore her courtesy, but she eventually relented.
"I cannot say the feeling is mutual… but for Shido, let's work together."
Origami made her displeasure clear, but even with that Rinne kept her smile.
The Ruler simply turned and gestured toward the hole on the ruined floor.
"Then, shall we?"
"Ah."
And with that, the two Spirits resumed their mission.
Kurumi was starting to feel annoyed.
From the midpoint of this facility, Kurumi had breached about nine floors down, and searched through the numerous tunnels and large chambers of each floor. However, apart from Marinas, she had encountered nothing else but darkness.
There was nothing like the upper half of the facility – at least the upper floors had rooms for documents, chambers for weapons, rooms for officers, and the like.
But here, there were only hallways and tunnels without light, and large, empty chambers that were almost designed like a battlefield.
At this rate, she would not be able to find either of her objectives… the mind-manipulation Realizer for Rinne, and Material B's prison for Ratatoskr.
"Though with her Fate Connection, it seems a lot easier for Rinne to find either by herself."
A few minutes ago, one of her clones had killed itself to send its memories back to her.
The clone came into contact with Rinne and Shido at the midway point of this facility after she had received information from Rinne, who in turn received the info from using Fate Connection on a Marina.
Information about Material B, and the Marinas.
Kurumi found it ironic. This clone who committed suicide was just reprimanded by Rinne about not being expendable. And yet she killed herself without much hesitation.
"Maybe I should revive it for Rinne to punish later."
The thought amused Kurumi more than she thought it would. Still, the memory she received from the clone was useful and important, so she supposed its suicide was not a waste.
Not only it had confirmed her thoughts about the DEM and the counterfeit Spirits, Kurumi felt information like these were something she simply had to know.
After all, the creation of Marina was not something that should be allowed to happen in this world.
Rinne and Shido's rage were more than justified – even Kurumi herself couldn't possibly stoop as low as the DEM, to torture a Spirit just for their own gains.
She would not hesitate to kill or devour one of her own kind, but it was more of a mercy kill than anything else – killing a Spirit meant sparing her fellow victims of fate, after all.
Kurumi could swear to herself she would not torture them for any conceivable reason, let alone exploit them like the DEM did. Finding out about this had given her more motivations to utterly destroy the DEM forces, so she was quite thankful.
That being said, it was still quite a chore to breach nine floors without finding anything of significance in relation to her actual objectives. Kurumi expected nothing less from a facility as massive and as well-defended as this, but it didn't make it any less frustrating.
"What should I do? I am being thorough with my search, but as it stands, it will take a needlessly long amount of time before I actually find anything."
It seemed she had to predict where either of them could be located.
Realizers advanced enough to manipulate the human mind could not possibly be located on a normal weapon chamber. Most likely, such a piece of technology would be put inside a laboratory of some sorts.
Similarly, from the info Rinne received, Material B had been extensively operated upon to create the Marinas. Such operations should be conducted somewhere extremely well-equipped, and most likely, a laboratory.
"It is an easy conjecture, but…"
It didn't give her any clues about where they could be located. She had to think about it another way.
"…"
Then it came back to her.
The last time the DEM had successfully captured a Spirit was… when Yatogami Tohka was captured back in the Tennou Festival.
"Tohka-san was locked up in the highest point of their building…"
It was an honestly rather idiotic choice of positioning, since being placed there would mean it was most vulnerable to an aerial strike.
But, on the other hand, if she was to reverse that analogy to an underground facility…
"Material B would be located at the bottommost point of this place."
Kurumi honestly wanted to dismiss that thought.
It was a thought process that only the naïve could come up with; 'the farthest place of the entrance would be the safest from invaders' but anyone with experience in actual combat would say such a thing was a complete nonsense.
But knowing him… that man, Isaac Westcott, who was responsible for everything the DEM had ever done and built, she wasn't sure if her enemy was operating under the conventional definition of 'logic'.
Which meant, it was actually possible for Material B to be locked down there. The question was…
"Should I check it out?"
Skipping each and every floor to reach the bottom would not take much of her 'time' but she would delve headfirst into enemy territory, and possibly get herself cornered by the enemy. And if Material B wasn't there, it would have been pointless.
And even if Material B was there, there was no guarantee Kurumi could wake it up from a self-inflicted coma. If the DEM had not managed to wake her up in the four years, Kurumi had little chance to do so.
"But then again…"
There were things only Spirits could do, and there were things only 'Tokisaki Kurumi' could do.
Her guns aimed to the floor she was standing on, Kurumi allowed her lips to smirk.
"I suppose taking a few risks once in a while is not bad."
"…?"
The one who would free her, the Spirit who would free her, its presence grew closer in a sudden.
"What happened…?"
Before this moment, the Spirit was moving at a slow pace, and that was fine.
Step by step, so long as it was safe, she would eventually reach this place.
But now… as if she had an epiphany, the Spirit suddenly decided to increase her pace.
Objectively, that was better for her… the faster the Spirit reached her, the sooner she would awaken from this dream.
But, she didn't want this Spirit to be hurt just for her freedom. Rushing ahead meant one would be more vulnerable, and easier to trap.
She knew that better than anyone. It was the mistake which led her to this prison, after all.
However, there was nothing she could do for this Spirit.
Nothing at all. Not while she was still trapped here.
All she could do was to pray, for this Spirit to reach her in one piece.
The thought was painfully frustrating.
"I hope you won't suffer the same fate as me…"
Mayuri wished her prayers could sound a little less hollow.
And, that's it! How was the chapter? Leave your thoughts in the reviews!
Finally, FINALLY Mayuri had made her debut! I am sure if she had some sort of medium awareness, she would be chewing me out already for keeping her in the background for 18 chapters, not to mention her rather gruesome predicament as Material B.
Oh, and by the way, the next chapter would have her appear outright, so I am changing the cover picture of this fic to feature her new design, as drawn by my brother! Do check it out!
With that said… thank you for following the development of "Alternate Reincarnation" so far!