I DO NOT OWN HIGHSCHOOL DXD OR ANY OTHER ELEMENT FROM OTHER ANIMES/MANGAS.

"… …" – Speaking

'… …' – Thoughts

(The Next Few Days)

When Ayato arrived at the classroom, he was right on the verge of being late, just a moment after the first bell before lessons began. Most of his classmates were already in the classroom. Of course, Asagi was among them.

"—Asagi!"

"Ahh, Ayato Good morning." Noticing Ayato quickly approaching her, Asagi made a nonchalant wave.

It was as if the tumult in Ayato's room that morning had never happened; her attitude was exactly the same as usual. "So you got to school after all. There you go. So it was worth the effort to wake you up."

"Woke him up? Whaddaya mean?" Yaze, whom Asagi was teaching sample problems to, picked up her words with his sharp ears. Rin Tsukishima, also nearby, murmured

"heh"…as she gave Ayato look rich in meaning. "That is not something I can just let pass by." "Please do. She slapped me awake and that's it, really."

As Ayato dealt with them appropriately, he leaned right beside Asagi. He moved his face close to her ear. "Anyway, Asagi, you have a minute?"

"Eh? What's this, out of the blue? Class is about to start." Even as her mouth voiced complaints, Ayato insistently grabbed Asagi's arm; Asagi did not shake him off. Their classmates watched with deep interest as Ayato led Asagi out of the classroom by her hand.

But as clumsy excuses would have the opposite of their intended effect, he didn't say a word. At any rate, without bumping into any teachers, Ayato brought Asagi to the emergency stairs where there was no sign of life.

"Sorry. There's something I just have to ask of you."

"What's that? I have a bad feeling about this but…" Asagi glared at Ayato with a suspicious look on her face. As expected of someone who'd known Ayato for so long, she seemed able to read him very well.

"I want you to look into the Kano Alchemical Somethin' Corporation— especially branch companies and research labs here in Itogami City."

"Huh? Why do I have to skip class to do something like that?" Ayato earnestly bowed his head in response to Asagi's natural question. "I'll treat you to dinner or dessert after, so please!"

"I don't wanna. That Himeragi girl probably put you up to it, anyway. I do not wanna help with something like that." Asagi bared her teeth in irritation as she spoke. Ayato had vaguely noticed previously, but Asagi and Himeragi didn't seem to get along very well. He didn't know the reason why, but their relationship was a rocky one.

"Set that aside, then. At least look into this Nalakuvera thing they're importing."

"…Nalakuvera?" For some reason, Asagi responded to the unexpected word. She grabbed Ayato by the chest and pulled him close. "What is that? Do you know?"

"Nah. It's some kind of ancient relic excavated from a tomb somewhere, but…" Ayato explained in a strained voice. It was the information Natsuki had given to him only a bit earlier.

"Ancient relic…huh? And this is related to Kano Alchemical?"

"Yeah. Probably." Glaring at the nodding Ayato, Asagi went "hmm" and exhaled. She shifted her gaze toward an empty space as if pondering it a little.

"Fine. I'm just a little interested so I'll play along." Asagi grinned broadly as she spoke. "Th-that so. Huge help. What should we do?"

"Well, first we need a computer connected to the Internet. At this hour, the student council room maybe?"

"Student council room?" Come to think of it, Ayato recalled, there were a bunch of terminals used for school website administration and office work.

"But it's locked, isn't it? Needs one of those smart cards the security company uses."

"It's all right. Leave it to me." As Asagi spoke reassuring words, she grabbed him as she practically leaped forward, walking toward the student council room. Classes were just about to start, but that didn't seem to bother her especially. If anything, she seemed to be having fun with the situation with Ayato, but as he was used to her whimsical ways, he didn't think that was particularly odd. "I was cracking encryption of this level in kindergarten…see?"

Asagi took out her cell phone, tapped it against the student council room door, and with impressive force, a cascade of numbers flowed across the screen; he didn't think it was even five seconds when the lock opened. She'd apparently used the phone's internal digital cash terminal to hack into the security company's digital lock. Of course, Kojou had not the slightest idea how she could do that.

"…You really are incredible. Now, anyway."

"Th-this isn't anything to get worked up about. Cut it out, you're embarrassing me." Asagi's face reddened as she spoke in a seemingly angry tone. And twisting her tongue in apparent displeasure, she glared at Ayato.

"And aren't there other things about me you should be complimenting?"

"Eh?"

"What's with that shocked look?!"

"Ah, now that you mention it, your forelocks are shorter than they usually are I—"

"Well, excuse me for cutting them too short! Just pretend you don't see it!" Asagi's eyebrows stood up as she delivered a left hook to Ayato's rib cage. Ayato let out an anguished breath. He didn't really get it, but he had the sense he was getting extremely irrational treatment from her. "So why do you wanna know about the Kano Alchemical stuff?" Asagi asked while booting up a computer located in the middle of the room.

"I wanna know about the Nalakuvera thing they're secretly importing. Apparently it's been taken by leftovers of a terrorist group called the Black Death Emperor Front."

"Nalakuvera…huh? I think this is probably what you're talking about, Ayato." Asagi, typing on a computer showing nothing but numbers on the screen, finally displayed some kind of file on a large monitor.

What the monitor displayed was a stocky, egg-shaped mass of stone.

It was a round body all curled up, like that of an insect. Or perhaps it was a war machine with thick armor cladding its sturdy frame…

"An artifact unearthed in a dormant state in the late twentieth century…so a type of inorganic life-form. A living weapon, huh."

"Living weapon?"

"In modern terms, it's something like an unmanned fighter plane. It says, since they think it was based on the Pushpaka Vimana in Indian mythology and the Prince Nezha worshipped by Taoists, it probably has several weapon systems and flight capabilities."

"I didn't really get all that, but I gather that it's dangerous." Ayato spoke with a very weighty mood. He didn't understand what it was in concrete terms, but if this was a weapon on a mythological level, there was no doubt it contained exceptional power.

The words Natsuki had used, "weapon of the gods," might well have been no empty boast. "Yeah, you could fight even the First Primogenitor with this…so that's why the Dead Black Emperor Front wants it."

"First Primogenitor? You've been talking nonsense since earlier, you know?" Asagi narrowed her eyes as she looked at Kojou

with suspicion. Unable to come up with a natural-sounding excuse right away, Kojou went,

"Er,hat's…," as he became flustered. Then…

"…!" A moment later, Asagi fiercely wrapped both arms around Ayato's neck, pulling him down onto the floor. Ayato, now glued tight to Asagi in a deep embrace, was very confused.

"A-Asagi?!"

"Shh! Be quiet!" As Asagi spoke in a quiet voice, she forced Kojou's body down with her own under the computer desk. She was staring at the door at the entrance to the student council room. Though Ayato was sure it had been locked from the inside, he felt someone coming in.

"Who is it?"

"Matsui-sensei maybe. Student council advisor. He takes his job unusually seriously." Asagi mumbled a "muu" as she made a clawing motion with her fingers. A middle-aged male teacher came into the student council room, sat on a metal pipe chair, and began putting papers in order. Any way one sliced it, leaving the student council room without him noticing was virtually impossible. The quick-thinking Asagi had turned off the computer screen, but if Matsui came close, the hiding Ayato and Asagi would be quickly exposed.

"This isn't the time for admiration! What'll we do?!"

"I said, be quiet! Wh…where do you think you're touching?!"

"It's not on purpose! It's 'cause you're pushing on me!"

"I-it's a tight space so I can't help it!" In a quiet voice, Asagi made a meager sigh, but it blew right into Ayato's ear. That wasn't the only place they were close together; one of Ayato's arms was touching Asagi's ample breasts, and at some point Ayato's wrist had come to rest right between Asagi's thighs.

Asagi couldn't help being sensitive to every little movement Ayato's body made.

However, as neither could pull back from the other, both of them stayed down and kept their breathing in check.

Asagi may not have been as slim as Rias, Akeno, Mio Stella or Yukina, but the volume of her chest felt much different. He could not help but notice the perfume, shampoo, and other feminine scents drifting in the air. Realizing his heart was beating faster and his throat was feeling parched, Ayato unwittingly made a sound through clenched teeth.

These were ill omens, the precursors of vampiric urges. At this rate, it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility Kojou might lose his senses and attack the completely unsuspecting Asagi, just as Yukina had worried might happen.

"Asagi…those earrings, are those…" They were small gold stud earrings. Ayato had bought them for Asagi's birthday…or more precisely, she'd forced him to buy them for her. Today was the first day he'd seen Asagi wearing them. Kojou wondered what kind of change in her mental state this indicated.

"You sure took your time noticing, stupid Ayato." Asagi made a broad, charming smile, her eyes a little teary as she looked up at Ayato. Ayato slipped and thought she was very pretty. Right around that time, Ayato felt Matsui the teacher leaving the room. His sense of tension dropped like a rock. Then…

"A-Ayato?! Are you all right?!" The next moment, Asagi's eyes bulged as she saw the large amount of blood spurting from Ayato's bleeding nose.

"Eh? Whoa?!" Flustered, Ayato covered his nose with both hands. His vampiric urges, having risen all the way to dangerous levels, fell apart with ease and vanished. Yes. Sexual arousal was the source of vampiric urges, but the mouth did not actually care whose blood it was—even if the blood was his.

"Well, what can I say…? I was an idiot to expect something from you with the mood like that." Asagi made a meager sigh as she stuffed pocket tissues she'd taken out from somewhere into Ayato's nostrils. Ayato, having won the battle against the hybrid vampiric urges, sniffed with a tired look on his face.

"Have you calmed down a little?" Asagi asked with a languid look as she looked at Ayato, tissues still packed into his nose. Having slipped out of the student council room, Ayato and Asagi were heading to the rooftop garden. On the cramped-feeling Saikai Academy grounds, flower beds and benches had been placed on the rooftops, open to students as a substitute for a courtyard. That said, the sunlight was indeed fierce, so not many students used it. It was a particularly harsh environment for a hybrid vampire like Ayato. But few people making use of it meant that there was little chance of being seen by anyone else, so it was a convenient place for avoiding the prying eyes of students.

"Sorry it ended up with you skipping class."

"Yeah, it did. Well, I'm all right, but…my grades are good, and I have a surplus of attendance days."

"Ugh…my attendance days should be just barely enough with the extra lessons on summer break…" Ayato made a forlorn groan, as if trying to avert his eyes from reality. Taking an unexcused break from classes was pretty much guaranteed to get him a scolding from Natsuki the next day. While he'd gotten some results in return, the answer was bizarre.

The true nature of the Nalakuvera and its location remained unknown. Gardos and his people probably had it right there with them. Of course, as Natsuki had said, so long as the command method remained undeciphered, the sample they possessed had quite a crippling flaw. That was the gist of it, anyway. "Hey…Ayato."

Watching Ayato's deep-in-thought face from the side, Asagi suddenly posed a question. "That Nalakuvera thing from earlier, it was smuggled in along with a stone tablet, right?"

"Yeah. That's about all I remember, though."

"That formula written on it, it's…bad if that gets deciphered, isn't it?"

"Pretty much. If it had someone sane looking after it that's one thing…but why is that part bothering you that much?"

"Eh?! No way, it's not bothering me at all." Asagi averted her eyes in an unnatural way as she spoke. The heck's that about, Kojou wanted to ask her, but before he could, Kojou's stomach made a large rumble. Asagi could barely contain herself.

"Ayato, did you have breakfast?"

"Like I could eat anything in that situation." Ayato glared at Asagi with a resentful look.

The mastermind behind the spoiling of the Akatsuki residence's peaceful morning patted Ayato's back with an unapologetic smile on her face.

"I suppose not. It can't be helped…Asagi the Kind Sister will grant you half of her bento box."

"You're just hungry, I'm sure. Not that I'm complaining about gettin' half, mind you."

"You should be more thankful. It isn't often I split my food up with someone else."

"I have this feeling I'm always treating you to meals, though." Asagi fished her bento box out of the pouch she'd brought with her from class.

It was an unexpectedly small lunchbox for a girl who could eat such a surprisingly large amount. Noticing that there was only one pair of chopsticks, Asagi seemed to hesitate a bit, but in the end, she apparently didn't mind. After plucking up the plump fried egg, taking a bite as if sampling it, Ayato opened his mouth to say, "What, you eating that?" to which Asagi announced,

"You're wide open!" stuffing the rest into Ayato's mouth.

"This is delicious."

"Yeah. I have to admit, that woman knows how to cook." Asagi spoke about her mother as if they were unrelated. Her parents had only remarried two years before; she wasn't connected by blood to her current mother. It wasn't that they didn't get along, but she felt enough distance with her to avoid calling her

"Mom." As it was somehow a different subject to comment on, Ayato bit into his fried egg while changing the subject.

"To think our school has a place like this."

"Apparently that girlfriend of Motoki's told him about it. It's the first time I've been here myself, since I heard that only couples came here during summer break to eat lunch togeth…" Having said that much, Asagi suddenly went silent.

She seemed to suddenly realize the situation both of them were in.

Here they were, skipping class and sharing the same bento.

Furthermore, she'd used her own chopsticks to bring food to Ayato's mouth… An impartial observer could not believe they were anything but a couple on very good terms.

"I-I'm going to get something to drink. You can have the rest of it!"

"R-right." After pushing the bento box onto Ayato, Asagi ran off with incredible vigor.

Ayato didn't understand the reason why she'd blush like that now, but without thinking deeply, he figured, Guess she has moods like that some days.

At any rate, he gratefully ate up the meal handed to him and began to think about how he'd get the information about the Nalakuvera to Yukina.

It was the next moment when the concrete bench Ayato was sitting on shattered with a great roar.

"…Th-the heck?!" A moment later, Ayato's body was sent flying by the blast.

The impact toyed with Ayato like a rag doll, making him roll onto the roof's surface along with the rubble. He wondered if the bench had exploded, but of course that was impossible.

There was a one-meter diameter crater gouging the spot where the bench had been a moment before.

The damage was as if someone had tossed a hand grenade, but he did not detect any scent of explosives. In its place was the vestige of ritual energy.

It was a release of internal power resembling Yukina's special skills—a physical attack incorporating ritual arts. "—You're really quite something, Ayato Hiryu, skipping class to go on a secret rendezvous with a classmate."

Ayato Summoned Sirenia to Defend Himself from the Release of internal Energy from Unknown Voice lying faceup, heard a scornful voice coming from above his head. Immediately looking up, Ayato saw a tall, slender teenage girl. She was wearing a short, pleated skirt and a summer vest. That much fit a normal schoolgirl, but the giant sword in her left hand decidedly did not. It made him think of an airplane wing. It was a long, elegant sword. The blade was about 120 centimeters long. The sword blade was thick, seemingly fused along a pattern of straight lines that ran across its surface. It had a silvery glow as it reflected the rays of the sun, greatly resembling Yukina's Snowdrift Wolf.

"You're…the girl from yesterday…"

Ayato knew this girl's name. She wore her long chestnut-colored hair bunched up in a ponytail. Like a cherry blossom in bloom, she had neat, charming, beautiful looks. And she was gazing at Ayato with a menacing look…

This was Sayaka Kirasaka, War Dancer of the Lion King Agency. "What the heck are you doing here? Aren't you keeping Vattler under surveillance?" Ayato asked as he got on one knee and then rose, glaring right back at Sayaka with Sirenia in His Right Hand. Sayaka's expression did not even twitch.

"Right now, the Oceanus Grave is anchored outside of Japanese territorial jurisdiction. Dimitrie Vattler is currently retired to bed. My observation mission has been temporarily suspended."

"Oh, really. So what does that have to do with blowing up the bench I was sitting on?"

"…I have been observing your actions until now, Ayato Hiryu." Sayaka pointed the tip of her sword at Ayato as she spoke. Ayato gripped his Sword in frustration."You've been 'observing' me, too?! Is that all people from the Lion King Agency do?!"

"Silence, criminal!"

"C-criminal?!" Ayato's mouth was agape at Sayaka's unexpected rebuke. Seeing Ayato's reaction, the corners of Sayaka's eyes rose farther. "Don't play dumb with me, Fifth Primogenitor. You've sucked Yukina's blood, haven't you?"

"Uhh…" Ayato faltered as his greatest debt to Yukina was pointed out. "That couldn't be helped! It was the only way to deal with the emergency situation at the time—"

"I understand that. Of course I do. If not, my little angel Yukina would never have tamely let a stupid fool of a worthless, filthy Hybrid man like you suck her blood."

"Do you have to put it that way?!" Naturally Ayato lost his temper and protested. However lowly he felt on the inside, he didn't want to hear all that from a girl he only just met. However, Sayaka gripped her sword with both hands as she shook with anger.

"You are the man called the Fifth Primogenitor. If you had been a man worthy of that title, wrapped in a noble, dignified personality worthy of Yukina, with an income of over ten million yen yearly, and castrated yourself as proof of your eternal love and absolute submission to her, I thought I'd spare your life alone, but…"

"That's crazy talk! Aren't those insanely high standards?!"

"And yet when I came and saw you, you were flirting with other girls…"

"Wait a sec, what are you talking about?"

"Playing dumb will get you nowhere. Since morning, you brought a classmate into your own bed, slipped a secret rendezvous in the student council room past Yukina's eyes, and on top of that had a fun time on a secluded rooftop, eating food, sharing the same chopsticks, I saw all of it. How indecent!" Sayaka became furious all by her lonesome as she laid out the charges before Ayato. Seeing the glow of her raised sword, Ayato's cheeks went pale.

"W-wait! Asagi and I didn't actually do anything to apologize for…"

"That's what all unfaithful men say! 'Lustrous Scale'!"

"—Wait, what are you trying to do with that sword?!"

"Yukina came to this island to watch over the Fifth Primogenitor. If you die, there'll be no reason for her to stay here, and no actions of yours that can make that girl cry…!"

"Why does it have to be like this?!" Ayato raised an unrestrained yell at Sayaka's exceedingly overbearing, wildly leaping logic. However, Sayaka was beyond reasoning with, swinging her sword down without mercy. It was a sword attack so swift that even Ayato's hybrid vampire blazer-boosted kinetic vision couldn't completely follow it. Ayato Blocked with Sirenia relying mostly on intuition, just barely avoiding a direct hit.

"Why did you block that?!"

"If I didn't blocked it, I'd die!"

"So die like a man already, Enemy of Woman! How dare you humiliate my Yukina!" Sayaka continued to swing her sword as she continued pressing her irrational claims.

All Ayato did was Block with His Sword Sirenia. In pure combat proficiency, Sayaka's swordsmanship was as good as Yukina's or better. However, thanks to her anger, she was putting in an excessive amount of force, dulling her normal skill in the process. Thanks to that, Ayato was somehow able to Block her attacks.

"Running your lips across her neck, breathing on it, nibbling on it, she doesn't even let me do that often! Unforgivable!"

"You mean this is just jealousy?!"

"If it wasn't for you, she wouldn't have to face such danger. She has no reason to fight the Lotharingian Armed Apostle and the Black Death Emperor Front remnants at all!"

"Uhh." Though Sayaka had lost herself to her anger, her words accurately struck the parts of Ayato he least wanted touched. Yukina having to devote most of her daily life to watching Ayato and her being involved in dangerous combat were both attributable to Ayato's existence. So long as Ayato continued to be watched by Yukina, Yukina would be bound to Ayato's existence. No matter how stubborn she was, no matter what noisy lectures he might endure, that was why Ayato could not bring himself to hate her.

"You don't have just that Aiba girl. You have a little sister, your Auntie, and lots of friends and Fans at school, don't you?! And you want to take Yukina from me?! My only friend in the whole world…?!"

Thanks to Sayaka's yelling robbing him of the ability to concentrate, Ayato was just a moment too late reacting to her attack. Sayaka thrust her sword forward with such a force that it was like bloodlust given physical form. As he realized he couldn't evade it, Ayato girded himself for the impending pai—

"Oh, crap…!" That instant, every hair on Ayato's body stood up as he realized something was shifting inside him. He sensed the awakening of great demonic power; he had the sense his blood was boiling throughout his body. Responding to Ayato's instincts for self-defense, one of his sleeping Beast Vassals was waking up: a new Beast Vassal he could not yet control…

"Eh?!" Sayaka's expression froze as her sword, which should have thrust through him, was deflected. Her attack had bounced off an invisible wall that had sprung up with A yat

o at its center. The invisible wall was really a shock wave. The vibration, rumbling like an earthquake, made cracks run along the concrete rooftop, while Kojou was enveloped in a swell in the air that had become a whirlwind. The Beast Vassal gave rise to this level of calamity even before awakening, using only a small fraction of its magical power. Then…

"Ayato?!" Unable to do anything but stand still, Ayato's ears heard the shout of a girl. It was Asagi, carrying a plastic bottle, who had shouted. She'd bought her drink and returned. Noticing Sayaka confronting Kojou, Asagi came running. Asagi's willfulness had come out at the worst possible time. Nor could Sayaka, standing still in the face of the unexpected situation, do anything to deal with it.

"Dammit! Asagi, stay back!" Ayato screamed, not caring how he looked. It was taking all Ayato's strength to stop the Beast Vassal from running amok; he had nothing left for controlling the leakage of demonic energy.

"Eh?! Ow…ah…aaaah!" The indiscriminately released atmospheric tremor assaulted Asagi as a destructive, supersonic boom. Asagi covered both of her ears in anguish and collapsed then and there. She'd lost consciousness, unable to withstand the violent change in atmospheric pressure.

"Ayato Hosokawa! Stop this…!" Sayaka shouted while brandishing her sword. That sword's protection was no doubt why she was fine despite the same supersonic boom as had hit Asagi crashing over her as well. However, unlike Yukina's Snowdrift Wolf, it apparently couldn't completely negate Ayato's magical energy.

The destruction of the rooftop, unable to withstand the release of such enormous demonic power, accelerated.

"Asagi!" Ayato raised his voice in anguish as he realized Asagi's body, lying on the rooftop, would be caught up in the destruction. That instant, he heard a shrill ting sound, like two pieces of metal meeting each other, and a small shadow danced above Ayato and Sayaka's heads.

"—I, Maiden of the Lion, Sword Shaman of the High God, beseech thee!" Her school uniform's skirt and her black hair fluttering as she landed, a schoolgirl poised a long, silver-colored spear. As if dancing, she waved the spear about, thrusting the tip into the rooftop, which itself was on the verge of shattering.

"Oh, divine wolf of the snowdrift, let the echoes of thy thousand howls become a shield and repel this calamity!" As if responding to her solemn incantation, the silver-colored spear emitted light. This was the glow of the Schneewaltzer, the Lion King Agency's secret weapon, able to rend any barrier and to nullify the demonic energy of a primogenitor. As if cowed by its radiance, Ayato's release of magical energy ceased as well. The ground tremors and atmospheric sounds made by the Beast Vassal on the verge of awakening vanished as well; Ayato's sense that his own blood was on fire also eased.

Though he had not succeeded in controlling the Beast Vassal, the danger of it running wild seemed to have passed for the moment. Though the rooftop looked like a ruin, with cracks everywhere, Asagi was safe, if not by much. Ayato and Sayaka, their strength exhausted, simultaneously sank down where they had stood. They were still like that as Yukina slowly approached.

"What are the two of you doing in a place like this?" Speaking very curtly, she thrust the end of Snowdrift Wolf into the ground right before their eyes.

No doubt she'd sensed Kojou and Sayaka fighting and had rushed out of class. Yukina's slender shoulders seemed to make little bounces up and down as she breathed.

"Er, that's… Miss Jealousy here launched an unprovoked attack…"

"Th-that's not true. This pervert was engaging in indecent behavior behind your back…" Like puppies being scolded, Ayato and Sayaka pointed at each other as they spoke. Yukina put a hand on her hip, speaking as if she was a sister several years older. "I can largely guess what happened here, but…Sayaka."

"Y-yes?"

"Watching the Fifth Primogenitor is my mission. Do you wish to interfere with that, Sayaka? Do you trust me so little?" Sayaka's back shook like a scared little girl as she vigorously shook her head. Yukina exhaled rather deeply. "And senpai…of course, you understand what would happen if a Beast Vassal went berserk in a place like this. How would you take responsibility if something happened to all the students here?"

"…Sorry. I'll do better. Sorry." Ayato felt like vanishing as he bent his back forward. If Yukina hadn't come when she did, Asagi would definitely have been hurt from Kojou's magical energy running wild. When he pictured that, his body was gripped by a great deal of fear. Compared to his fear of losing Asagi, Yukina's bitter scolding felt like the gentle reproach of an affectionate mother. But Kojou's relief lasted no longer than that.

"Yukina! You ran out so fast and hard, are you all right?!" Ayatoheard agitated footsteps when a schoolgirl in a middle school uniform poked her face out. It was Nagisa's familiar voice. In surprise, Shizuku looked over at Asagi, lying on the half-destroyed rooftop, and Ayato and Sayaka in the middle of reflecting on their sins.

"What happened? Wow, what is this? Why's the rooftop all messed up?! And, Asagi?! Is she hurt?! What'll we do?!"

"…Both of you, please reflect on what you've done for a while. Shizuku and I will bring Asagi-senpai to the clinic room, so please go. Take care of Snowdrift Wolf for me." Yukina, speaking in a quiet voice, handed the spear over to Ayato in its neatly folded carrying form. Certainly they couldn't just leave Asagi lying down like that; but having said that, she couldn't waltz into the clinic room with her spear in hand. As she would also have to administer first aid to the unconscious Asagi, Yukina and Nagisa would bring Asagi together with them to the clinic room. As Yukina's plan was quite logical, Ayato had no special objections. With one exception.

"Eh? By reflecting together…you can't mean, me and Miss Jealousy here?!"

"Wh-wh-why do I have to be with this indecent man?!" Ayato and Sayaka hurled insults at one another as they fiercely objected. Yukina looked down at both of them, her eyes as frigid as a glacier. "Is there a problem with that?" Ayato Sayaka silently shook their heads, both kneeling formally then and there to display their willingness to consider their mistakes.

There was no sign of the special needs teacher in the clinic room; there, substituting for her in her absence, was Astarte. Astarte was normally quite close to the clinic room; apparently Natsuki had picked up on the girl's usefulness, dragging the girl home as her own personal maid.

Currently, the homunculus girl was clad in a somewhat perverse maid outfit, complete with a white apron, leaning over the side of the bed as Asagi slept. Originally, she was a homunculus designed by a pharmaceutical producer for drug experiments.

She had the knowledge required to function in a medical setting burned into her flash ROM as part of her basic setup. It was said she had a high degree of medical knowledge equal to a freshly certified doctor.

"—Medical check completed." Having completed a simple check, Astarte raised her expressionless voice.

"I deduce light shock caused by a shock wave and a sudden change in air pressure. There need be no concern about aftereffects. However, I recommend rest and quiet for the remainder of the day."

"Understood. Thank you very much." Yukina exhaled in relief, thanking Astarte now that her diagnosis was complete.

Even Yukina's hardened cheeks regained just a bit of their softness. That Asagi had not been seriously injured was good news. If Ayato learned Asagi was not all right, he would surely be hurt deeply. And half hiding behind the relieved Yukina's back, Shizuku was fidgeting about.

"Y-Yukina, it's a maid. I've never seen a real maid before. Why is there a maid in the clinic room? Or is that a new style of white gown? Some kind of freebie for the students? Yukina, do you know her?"

"Er…"

Yukina was a bit at a loss for Shizuku's rapid-fire questions. They were all questions to which Yukina was uncertain what response to make. So, in place of the distressed Yukina…

"Astarte is a maid in my employ, Shizuku Sparda." Natsuki, suddenly entering the clinic room, tossed her statement out without compunction. Nagisa glanced over, her eyes widening in shock. "Ah, Ms. Minamiya. Thank you for always taking care of my brother. Those clothes are very pretty."

"A very polite girl, I see, quite unlike your brother." Natsuki returned Shizuku's polite bow of her head with a brazen, haughty smile. Even the ever-vainglorious Natsuki was happy when complimented for her clothes. Then Natsuki glanced back at the still-sleeping Asagi. "And this is the result of your lack of rigor as a watcher, transfer student."

"Yes. I'm sorry." Yukina made no excuses and lowered her head. "Hmph," Natsuki snorted, seeming annoyed.

"Then I'll leave cleaning up this mess to you. I'd really like to go pay that fool Ayato Hosokawa visit right now, but I have an urgent matter to attend to."

"…You know where the Black Death Emperor Front is hiding?" Yukina furrowed her eyebrows as she asked. "The sub-float currently under construction. It's a straight-up hideout. I understand how you feel, but do not stick your nose into this. Handling these terrorists is our job." As Yukina nodded in acknowledgment, Natsuki made a composed smile.

"I'll leave Astarte here. If you're short on nurses, use her." Natsuki left her comment behind as she immediately left the room.

In the meantime, Shizuku had begun treating the sleeping Asagi. Treatment didn't mean anything special; while adjusting her blankets and checking the position of her pillow, she looked jealously upon Asagi's long eyelashes, making a sigh of lament, and sniffed her perfume just a little. Yukina couldn't help but make a strained smile at how Shizuku's form made her muse upon Shizuku's blood ties to Ayato… …The next moment, Asagi suddenly opened her eyes.

"Er…where is this? The clinic room?" Asagi winced in pain as she put a hand to her head, slowly getting up. In front of her, Shizuku leaned over with great vigor. "Asagi, you're awake? You know who I am? How many fingers do you see? Does it hurt anywhere? Did Ayato do something to you?" Asagi was taken aback for a while at Shizuku's forceful inquisition.

"It's hard getting grilled like that just after waking up. Mm, what happened, anyway?"

"Errr, seems like one of the roof's pipes ruptured. That's when you fainted from shock." "Pipe? Rupture? Ahh, come to mention it I think I heard this high-pitched sound." Asagi furled her eyebrows as if recalling the unpleasant experience. "Mm, but I thought Kojou was being chased around by some weird chick with a sword… Where's Ayato?"

"I'm sorry, Aiba. She's a friend of mine. Hiryu-senpai is safe as well." Yukina timidly stepped out in front of Asagi as she spoke. As if perplexed, Asagi's eyes batted at Yukina's sudden confession. Asagi didn't seem to understand what Yukina was doing here in the first place.

"…Err, you're Himeragi, aren't you? What was your friend doing attacking Ayato?" Yukina became a bit incoherent at Asagi's highly legitimate question. "That's, I think…jealousy directed at Hosokawa-senpai, perhaps?"

"Jealousy? What, because I was together with Ayato.

"I suppose so. That is one cause, I think." Sayaka's jealousy was directed against Ayato for stealing Yukina from her, but of course Asagi knew no such thing.

More simply, Sayaka was jealous because she and Kojou were getting along—Asagi understood that to mean, in other words, Sayaka was fond of Ayato.

That moment was when Asagi internally pegged Sayaka as "foe." And of course, Shizuku, who had the same misunderstanding, drew close to Yukina, seeming quite full of interest.

"What's the meaning of this? She's not a Saikai Academy student. She's very pretty, but since when did Ayato know her, anyway? Was it good to leave Ayato together with her? There's not going to be some weird chemistry between them…?"

"Eh? R-right. I think Hosokawa-senpai and Sayaka will be all right now but…" The tail end of Yukina's words petered out, no doubt because she couldn't reject the possibility that both would resume their dispute. However, her halfhearted answer only annoyed Asagi further. "How can you just dismiss it like that?"

"…Asagi?" Shizuku raised her voice in surprise at Asagi's tone of voice, which had become very sharp. Asagi shrugged her shoulders a little. "This has been bothering me for a while. What kind of relationship do you have with Ayato? Ayato's always sneaking around with you, but what do you know about Ayato"

"That's… I'm sorry, I cannot answer that." Yukina firmly shook her head. Asagi glared at Yukina further, making a sound of displeasure. "The heck is that. Fine, I'll just have to ask Ayato myse—"

"No, er, Asagi-senpai…!" Yukina nervously moved to stop Asagi as she pulled off her blanket and rose up. Astarte, having so far not said a word, took that moment to wedge herself into the girls' conversation.

"—Warning. I have detected the presence of intruders within the school."

"Intruders?" Asagi, of course, froze in shock at the completely unexpected words, but Yukina did as well.

"Two intruders in total. Based on their movement speed and endurance, I deduce that they are unregistered demons." Astarte steadily continued her warning. Yukina's eyes immediately rose to the rooftop.

"Demons?! They couldn't be after Hosokawa-senpai?"

"Negative. I anticipate that this location, the Saikai Academy Clinic Room, is their intended target."

"Eh?" For a moment, Yukina could not comprehend the meaning of what Astarte's words conveyed. As she stood there, someone suddenly clung to her back. "No way…," Shizuku murmured as her entire body shook violently. Hearing her voice put Yukina in shock. She was muttering weakly, as if a completely different person than her usual lively self. Shizuku's terrified face was completely pale; her fingertips were cold, as if they'd lost all blood flow. This was clearly no ordinary condition. "Shizuku?"

"What'll we do, Yukina…? I'm…scared…" Yukina was bewildered, embracing Shizuku, who continued to shudder like a newborn chick, with one hand. She had heard that the residents of Itogami Island, a Demon Sanctuary, made them accustomed to the existence of demons. In fact, even when the people on the island saw demons with their demon IDs in the city, it gathered little attention. Middle school girls wearing short skirts were subject to far more intense gazes. The crime rate among registered demons was well below average; if demons committed a crime, the well-armed Island Guard came out in force to restore order. The ordinary residents of the island had no reason to fear demons. But that did not explain why Shizuku was so frightened.

"I don't really get this, but let's run for it. It's better than staying here!" Perhaps because she saw Shizuku shaking like that, Asagi spoke those words while heading for the clinic room exit. But before she arrived, the door opened violently. Seeing the silhouette barging in, Asagi let out a short yelp. A large man wearing a gray military uniform appeared as if to block Asagi's path. His face was covered with silver bestial hair, with sharp fangs poking out from his tapered lips.

"…Beast man?" Hearing Asagi's murmur, Nagisa made a sound of fright. Strength surged into the arm Yukina was embracing her with. Yukina was confident she could defeat a single beast man in unarmed combat. But that was if Yukina was alone. It was far more difficult if she had to cover Asagi and Nagisa, even if she had the element of surprise; all the more so with Shizuku in this state of despair. Leaving her spear behind had been a complete blunder on Yukina's part. Even on school grounds, she should never have let Snowdrift Wolf go.

"You found her, Grigore?" Another beast man wearing a military uniform entered after the first. This one was still in human form, but the middle-aged man possessed an incredibly oppressive aura.

"It's one of these three, Lieutenant Colonel. Comparing their scents one by one, we'll know soon enough." Speaking in a grating, hard-to-understand voice, the beast man tossed the small shoe in his hand onto the floor. Upon seeing this, Yukina inhaled sharply. They'd come all the way to the clinic room following the scent of that shoe. In other words, the owner of the shoe was who they were after.

"I can't tell these Japanese faces apart… Fine, then. Bring them all. They'll serve as bargaining chips, I'm sure. As hostages."

"…"

Asagi slowly backed away while glaring at the approaching beast man. A moment later, an antiseptic, unaccented voice echoed throughout the room as the girl in a white gown stepped forward.

"—Homunculus Guardianship Regulations, Special Exception Number Two, Basic Self-Defense, Invoked. Execute, Rhododac—" But she never completed issuing her command to her man-made Beast Vassal. With a speed that even Yukina could not react to, the man in the military uniform, who'd been called Lieutenant Colonel, drew his pistol and shot her. In an instant, six shots struck Astarte, sending her body suddenly flying right against the wall. Asagi and the others were in shock at the ghastly scene unfolding right before their eyes.

"…Lieutenant Colonel?" The beast man's face questioned if his superior's attack was overkill against a little girl, even if she was a homunculus.

"I sensed a strange demonic energy flowing from this doll—some kind of self-defense system, perhaps." The lieutenant colonel spoke casually as he put his gun away. He spoke with no special self-reflection or regret. But Yukina, watching his savage attitude, knew that he had made the correct decision as a soldier. An artificial Beast Vassal with overwhelming combat capability dwelled within Astarte's body.

Without any prior warning, he'd detected its presence and had rendered the host incapable of combat before she could summon the Beast Vassal—not a decision a normal military man could make. This man was an absurdly skilled, first-rate soldier. There was no way Yukina could defeat him without Snowdrift Wolf in her hands. No, she wasn't sure she could win, even with Snowdrift Wolf…

"Ahh, sorry for scaring you. Relax. If you obey our instructions, we don't intend to cause you any harm." The lieutenant colonel spoke in fluent Japanese as if to ease the terrified girls' concerns. "One among you is Asagi Aiba, yes? We have a little job we'd like you to do. I promise that once it's finished, we'll release the three of you unharmed."

"…Who are you people?" As if to shield Yukina and the others, Asagi stepped forward, questioning the men back. She had to be just as scared as the rest of them, but her voice did not tremble at all. The lieutenant colonel looked over Asagi's valiant display with an expression of praise. Precisely because he was a soldier of such valor, he displayed respect for courage in others. Perhaps it was simply their fashion. "I apologize for our rudeness. I am a crude man who knows nothing but battlefield tactics and must apologize for not introducing myself to a lady." The man who had been called Lieutenant Colonel removed his hat as he spoke with a gentlemanly demeanor.

"My name is Kristof Gardos—a former soldier of the Warlord's Empire, currently a revolutionary activist. Some would call me a terrorist." As he named himself Gardos, Yukina watched him, sucked in her breath. He had a great forehead and a sharp, hooked nose. He had an elderly face boasting both intelligence and a stern, oppressive feeling. On his cheek was a scar that stood out. A large, old scar…

(Meanwhile inside the Hallways)

A lone young man ran, threading the spaces between the buildings stretching around the monorail platform. He was wearing a Saikai Academy boy's high school uniform. His hair was short and lightly dyed; he wore closed-type headphones around his neck. He was Motoki Yaze, classmate of the Fifth Primogenitor, Ayato Hososkawa. "Aw crap, Ayato, you bastard, that's the place you pick to rampage through?" Yaze clicked his tongue in irritation at the sandstorm-like noise that still afflicted his ears. Itogami Island's weather was good that day, with a rare, gentle breeze blowing. However, as he stood on the monorail platform, powerful eddies blew roughly all around him.

"My 'soundscape' is a wreck thanks to you! Those Beast Vassals of yours are nothing but trouble." As Yaze spoke, he fished a number of medicinal pills out of a pocket. They were twin-colored capsules that resembled cold medicine sold over the counter. Tossing them into his mouth, he violently crunched them without even a sip of water. Motoki Yaze had a special type of genetic makeup known as "HyperAdapter." He was no demon, but a human born with unusual abilities. A psychic might be a much simpler way to put it. The Yaze family was deeply involved in the corporate alliance that founded the Demon Sanctuary, but it was also a family line that cranked out a great many people with special abilities.

Motoki, too, was one of those aberrant people. Using a type of psychokinesis, Yaze's sense of hearing was as accurate as a high-precision radar system. It was as if he saw sound with his own eyes. Using his uncanny sense of hearing, Yaze had a monitoring net deployed all over Saikai Academy, allowing him to observe everything within the school. Ayato was one of the people he was monitoring. A passive ability reliant only on listening to sound—furthermore, even Yukina, possessing excellent Spirit Sight, could not detect Yaze's watching. But his soundscape had weaknesses, of course. Just like how an image from a camera bathed in bright light will be washed out, big, explosive noises destroyed the soundscape. The seismic waves released by Ayato's Beast Vassal were more than powerful enough to rip his delicate field to shreds. It took some seventy-four minutes to re-create the field as it was destroyed. Asagi Aiba's abduction had coincided with the time his defenses had been down.

"Going after Asagi with that timing, though…that Gardos bastard ain't right in the head, either!" Yaze muttered while tossing several more capsules into his mouth. It was right after Kojou's Beast Vassal had released so much demonic energy. Of course Gardos and his men had noticed the existence of the Fifth Primogenitor.

However, in that moment, it was equally true that Saikai Academy's security system had been taken down in the process. Their top priority was the timing for success with the abduction, even at the risk of encountering a primogenitor. That took no small amount of courage.

Yaze was chasing the Black Death Emperor Front car Asagi and the others were being transported in. He was on his own two legs pursuing the car running at some sixty kilometers per hour. The ninety-kilometer-per-hour tailwind blowing fiercely all around him made it possible for him to sprint at that speed in bursts. The flow and direction of the signal might change, but microphones and speakers fundamentally worked the same way. It was the same for Yaze's ability. His ability, normally used to passively "listen," was now creating a disturbance in the movement of the atmosphere; in that moment, Yaze had created a squall of his own volition, freely manipulating the flow of the air. Of course, this wasn't a power a flesh-and-blood human could use without cost. The pills Yaze had taken were chemical drugs that boosted his abilities temporarily. The side effects were serious, and overuse would bring a suitably heavy cost. Even so, they were all he could rely on at the moment.

"Heliport? Are they planning to take them off Itogami Island…?" Realizing where the Black Death Emperor Front was heading to, Yaze finally lowered his speed. It was a civilian aviation company's helipad at Island East.

Most of its business was aerial photography and sightseeing tours for tourists, but it rented out helicopters as well. A helicopter apparently kept on standby lifted off as soon as Asagi and the other tied-up girls were loaded into it. If they were heading off the island, even Yaze's ability wouldn't be able to follow them farther.

But— "…Will it reach?" Yaze gulped down a large number of pills, covered his ears with his headphones, and closed his eyes. He unleashed his ability, feeling as if his nerves were on fire. Yaze's field of vision suddenly opened wide, giving him a clear picture even tens of kilometers over the ocean. Several hundred meters above Yaze's head, a double of him was created out of the airflow itself. Using atmospheric vibrations to emulate his flesh and nervous system, he transferred his consciousness to it.

Yaze named this, his trump card, "Air Loading." Though it used the same principle as astral projection by spiritualists, Air Loading, related but with the advantage of physical form, could convey images just as accurately as the physical eye. But as he discovered the destination of the helicopter now far over the ocean, Yaze was deeply perplexed.

"That's the Black Death Emperor Front's hideout…? What's the meaning of this?!" A moment later, Yaze heard a sarcastic voice coming from directly behind his real body.

"Acoustic control, I presume? Hmm…quite a rare ability; quite different from Druid magic. Perhaps an ability similar to mystics on the continent?" "The hell?!" The drawback of Yaze's ability was projecting his consciousness to his double greatly reduced his own body's awareness. He barely managed to respond to the voice, but he still couldn't locate the speaker. Then Yaze sensed a massive surge of magical energy from behind him. It had a weighty explosiveness to it that rivaled even Ayato's Beast Vassals.

"What the heck's that power—?!" Yaze's double was enveloped by magic power resembling a ray of light and annihilated. Someone on the ground had shot his concentrated mass of air out of the sky as it flew some several hundred meters aboveground. Letting out an anguished moan from the pain of the backlash, Yaze collapsed onto the ground.

"That's crazy. Why are you…?!" This time he shouted at the sight of the man standing there. Standing against the backlighting was a tall man, laughing as he lightly snapped his fingers. A giant mass of flame writhed behind his back.

"Sorry, it's inconvenient for me if you interfere with them just yet…Don't worry, you won't die. Probably." Before the man finished speaking, the flame snake lashed out at the ground beneath Yaze's feet. The superheated cinder blocks burst apart; pulled down by gravity, they fell in pieces like an avalanche. Below was the watery surface of a transport canal that continued to the ocean.

Unable to even scream, Yaze was pulled down along with the debris, making a spectacular splash and sinking down into the muddy water.

(Meanwhile on the Roof)

Around that time, Ayato and Sayaka were seated beside each other at the emergency stairway behind the school gym, away from prying eyes. At first the atmosphere had been very stormy, but as time passed, that had indeed waned.

With unexcited expressions on their faces, both gazed up absentmindedly, watching the flow of the clouds, until Sayaka finally made a small yawn. As she did so, Kojou glanced in her direction, watching the side of her face.

"…Wh-what are you looking at?" Sayaka suddenly glared at him, her cheeks reddening.

"Err. Sorry," Ayato apologized with an annoyed wave. Sayaka's lips curled in annoyance at how Ayato was dismissing her like a noisy puppy. Similar sour notes had been struck several times over since earlier, thoroughly draining Ayato and Sayaka's mental energy. "Hey. How long do we have to be like this for?"

"Until Yukina comes back, I'd think?" As Sayaka spoke, she clutched a pair of bags she'd placed on top of her knees. One contained the keyboard case that held Sayaka's sword. The other was the guitar case holding Yukina's spear.

"Just to make things clear, I don't really want to spend even a single moment together with an indecent man like you. What if I get pregnant from breathing the same air as you?"

"Huh?" Sayaka's eyes widened in shock. "Why are you apologizing? It's creeping me out."

"Oh shut up! I mean, I think you were right to say what you said, Kirasaka." As Ayato spoke, he pulled the hood of the parka he was wearing down over his eyes. Talking about this while looking into the other person's eyes was making him blushy somehow.

"With the Armed Apostle old man not long ago and with the terrorist business this time, Himeragi's been involved in troublesome incidents on my account. So I thought, it's natural that her friend would be upset about it." For some reason, Sayaka tapered her lips with a look of dissatisfaction.

"Certainly it is your fault, but it couldn't be helped because it's Yukina's mission to watch over you; it's not like she's helping you because she wants to. You don't really need to worry yourself about it."

"Ah…well, that may be so, but it's still true she helped me." Ayato shook his head with a pained smile mixed in. Sayaka was such a contrarian that she'd switched to consoling Ayato midway through her words. Having herself realized that midway, Sayaka made an expression of loathing.

"You're certainly an odd Hybrid… Usually I don't think one would thank someone watching him. Or maybe you go for that sort of thing?"

(The Situation with Shizuku and The Others)

Yukina and the others were in a cramped room with the windows covered. Originally, it had probably been a warehouse for storing foodstuffs and the like. It was a dreary room, not furnished with even a single chair. The pipes on the ceiling were bare and exposed; the floor was slightly rusted. Having been blindfolded when they were brought in, they didn't know the conditions around them. The room was probably belowground. The gentle rocking of the building that they felt might have simply been from being brought by helicopter.

"Hey…where do you think this is?" Asagi, curled up on top of an empty wooden crate, asked tentatively. The look on her face was harder than usual, perhaps because she felt responsible for Yukina and Nagisa being abducted along with her. But that didn't mean she was in a panic. Taking relief in that, Yukina shook her head.

"I do not know. I believe that the helicopter flew for about ten minutes, so I do not think we could have been brought very far but…" Watching that reaction from Yukina, Asagi narrowed her eyes in apparent suspicion.

"You're very composed, huh? You're not scared?"

"Eh? Ah, er…that is not so, but ah, you're calm, too, Aiba."

"Is that so?" Asagi murmured, looking slightly embarrassed as she glanced at the side of Shizuku's face as she slept. Shizuku still out cold as she clung to Yukina's shoulder. Asagi must have thought that Shizuku fainted from fright at the abduction. However, the truth was, as she was falling into a state of panic, Yukina knocked her out with a blow. Though she took no pride in her violent means, it was the only way she could protect Shizuku in that situation. She'd have been in danger of a complete mental breakdown if Yukina had left her alone like that. Yukina felt that Shizuku fear toward demons was indeed abnormal. It was clearly unnatural for a resident of a Demon Sanctuary.

"…It's because I saw Shizuku like that. I felt like, I have to keep it together, see." As if noticing Yukina's misgivings, Asagi spoke with a strained smile.

"Do you know why Ayato, Keiko and their family moved to Itogami Island?"

"…No." Yukina slowly shook her head. Ayato and his family had relocated to the Demon Sanctuary Seven years ago. Even the reports of the Lion King Agency did not contain the reason why. This was in spite of all immigrants to the Demon Sanctuary undergoing thorough background checks…

"I'd like you to keep this just between us." Asagi stood her index finger up against her lips as she lowered her gaze slightly. It was rare for her to display a frank, serious expression.

"Shizuku almost died once."

"Eh?"

"Seven years ago, she got wrapped up in a train incident involving demons. She somehow survived, but they were saying she might never regain consciousness, let alone return to a normal life…" Asagi shook her head a little as she spoke. Yukina's lips quivered in complete astonishment.

"But Shizuku doesn't show the slightest sign of…"

"Yeah. I don't know the details myself, but she's apparently getting some kind of special treatment. This is a Demon Sanctuary, after all." Yukina fell silent at Asagi's explanation. The Demon Sanctuary of Itogami Island was a scholarly city. Research was performed on demonic bodies and abilities on a daily basis, leading to the development of new technologies and products.

And that research included top-level medical technology: experimental, unapproved medical technology. "Her wounds are completely healed, but I expect she gets regular checkups even now; seems like it cost a lot of money, too. I think it has something to do with why, after their parents divorced, their mom doesn't get back to the house much." Having said so much, Asagi made a large shrug of her shoulders. She seemed embarrassed at having spoken in such an uncharacteristically serious manner.

"So that might be why Shizuku afraid of demons despite being half Devil" "You'd have to ask her about that, but I wouldn't be shocked if it is." Yukina nodded without a word. She felt like she understood why Ayato having gained mixed blood vampiric powers against his will, was so desperately trying to hide the fact from his little sister. The daily life they currently enjoyed couldn't possibly continue if Shizuku learned that one of her blood relatives had become a hybrid himself.

"I'm not thanking anyone for being watched," Ayato said back in a sullen voice. "It's just, the watching's a bother, but Himeragi's a good person."

"I thought you were a completely hopeless man, but it seems you're at least somewhat sentient. I'll concede that much." Sayaka looked pleased somehow as she spoke. It seemed his complimenting Yukina put her in a good mood. She really does like Yukina, Kojou thought with a smile, so why does she have to look down on me like this? "But I can't give credit for such plain compliments. If you're going to properly praise Yukina, you need to show more resolve and respect."

"…What's a way to compliment with resolve and respect?" "It's nothing complicated. All you need to do is faithfully describe Yukina as she really is: her fair skin; the soft, golden hair of her cheek; the little mole under her collarbone; those lines from her shoulder blades, just like an angel's wings, to her oh-so-tight waist to her curvy hips, weaving into that golden rump…!"

"…That's all physical appearance, isn't it?!" Ayato interrupted, unable to bear Sayaka's starting to ramble on about Yukina's charms any further. "There's other things to compliment, too, aren't there?! And you sound totally obsessed!"

"…Besides her appearance?" On her guard, Sayaka looked at Ayato. This man is dangerous, indeed…

"I suppose. Certainly there's when I quietly slipped into Yukina's bed and had her lingering scent all around me… Ahh, such bliss…"

"…Who compliments people on their scent?!" Ayato raised his voice, a sharp headache coming on. "I don't mean that; talk about her personality, geez! She's so serious, and she works so hard. She goes a surprising way for other people even though she's shy, and she's really strong-willed, but also has some soft spots and weaknesses and stuff…"

"N…not bad, Ayato Hosokawa" Sayaka looked at with a dumbfounded expression. "To think you could compete with me…"

"Er, not that I'm trying to compete with you, but…" We ain't exactly on the same page here, thought Ayato, feeling fatigued. "I'll have you know, I've been in the bath together with Yukina!"

"Like I care! This crazy contrarian stuff's gettin' on my nerves!"

"Oh, shut up! I've been with that girl since she was seven years old. I've spent a longer time with her than her actual family has, so…" As she spoke, Sayaka thrust her cell phone before Kojou, as if delighting in victory. Displayed on the screen was an old photo showing two young girls.

"Like that can happen! Whaddaya think a hybrid is?!"

"I wouldn't put it past you. You drank my Yukina's blood—you drank my Yukina's blood!" With a resentful tone of voice, Sayaka made a subdued groan. Ayato thought, Well, this is depressing, making a deep sigh. Thanks to that, Ayato somehow realized for himself that both of them were just being stubborn. If he was dealing with someone younger, like Yukina, he'd just smile and let little bits of trouble roll off of him; if it was someone older, like Natsuki— appearances aside—he'd be plenty willing to exercise humility. As he was thinking about that, he suddenly met Sayaka's eyes. She seemed to have been watching Ayato for the whole time he was thinking. Then… "Hey."

"Hey." After getting along so poorly, both opened their mouths at the same time. Sayaka made an annoyed snort, urging Ayato, "You go first." Ayato shrugged his shoulders in dismay. "Er…I mean, sorry. For stuff."

(In the Infirmary)

His back resting against the wall of the clinic room, Ayato trembled. Even though he'd been calling Asagi and the others by cell phone, all he got was a voice message saying they were outside school grounds. Apparently the report was right—they really had been abducted by the Black Death Emperor Front. But Ayato couldn't understand the reason why. Certainly, Yukina was after the Dead Black Emperor Front, but that was no reason to abduct her. All the more with Asagi and Shizuku, who shouldn't be related to the Black Death Emperor Front in even the slightest way…

"Wait…" There was one thing, and only one, that tied the girls together. Ayato ground his teeth as he remembered. The Nalakuvera. Ayato had asked Asagi to look into the smuggled ancient weapon, but for some reason, she seemed to already know the name. Also, she'd been drawn to the stone tablet that showed how to control the Nalakuvera. Ayato was well aware of Asagi's skill as a password cracker. If the Black Death Emperor Front figured they could use her skills to decipher the stone tablet…

"Ayato Hosokawa, haven't they dispatched an ambulance yet—?!" Sayaka's urgent voice interrupted Ayato's train of thought. She was in the middle of giving the gravely wounded Astarte first aid.

"They dispatched an ambulance, but looks like it's not gonna arrive right away."

"Why not?!"

"Dunno. But I figure it has something to do with that helicopter crash. Maybe they're running short, maybe the road's blocked?"

"I see…so that's it…" Sayaka bit her lip in apparent anguish. "She won't hold on at this rate. If I don't stop the fluid leakage at least…"

"Stop the bleeding you mean? But…" Ayato pulled back on the verge of saying, Can you even do that? Astarte's gunshot wounds were on a level that would have instantly killed a normal person.

Even with a powerful man-made Beast Vassal dwelling within her body, Astarte was not a homunculus tuned for combat. Her physical durability was likely on par with a normal person's.

"It's all right. I'll take care of it. You bring over antiseptic and bandages." Saying those words in a tone that thrust aside all doubt, Sayaka took something out from the cuff of her uniform. It was a metallic needle about fifteen centimeters long, so thin that the naked eye could barely make it out.

"Nervous system mapping is Type One—Standard Humanoid. This should work…" As Sayaka murmured under her breath, she plunged the needle into Astarte's back. "Kirasaka?!"

"Don't worry. It's like acupuncture. It's putting her into a coma and maintaining her vitals at a bare minimum. This should stop the bleeding and minimize cellular and brain damage."

"…Acupuncture…you can do that?" Kojou looked at Sayaka's delicate fingertips in bewilderment. Certainly she was the only one he could rely on in this situation, but… Then, Sayaka made a hearty laugh, seemingly meant for her as much as for him.

"I told you, Lion King Agency Shamanic War Dancers are specialists in curses and assassination, right? It's my mission to control whether someone lives or dies. I absolutely won't let a girl who helped Yukina die right before my eyes!" A frighteningly serious expression came over Sayaka's face as she spoke.

Ayato's eyes were stolen by the sight of her. He felt that Sayaka, as she continued to treat Astarte's fresh bleeding, was somehow sublime, even beautiful. Shamanic War Dancer—in other words, a dancing priestess. No doubt that just like Yukina, she was a spiritualist through whom the voices of the gods reverberated, seeing and knowing all.

"…I have a suggestion, Fifth Primogenitor…" The powerless homunculus girl, still on the floor, called out to Kojou in a voice that threatened to disappear. Kojou brought his ear close to her lips.

"Astarte?"

"Master is…currently…en route to the Black Dead Emperor Front's hiding place…to apprehend them…I believe Asagi Aiba and the others abducted by Kristof Gardos were headed to that same Black Death Emperor Front's hideout…"

"…So Asagi and the rest might be being held right where Natsuki's going?"

"Affirmative." Having conveyed all the information she needed to, an expression of relief came over Astarte as she closed her eyes. She then lost consciousness completely. She entered a deep, deathlike sleep. However…

"She's probably going to be all right. Hospitals in a Demon Sanctuary should have homunculus tuning vats, and girls like her don't have to worry about organ rejection." Sayaka spoke while slumping down to the floor. A satisfied smile came over her lips.

"I see. You really saved the day, Kirasaka. Thanks for coming." As Ayato exhaled in relief, he offered his hand to Sayaka. She took his hand and got up.

"Er, yeah. Thanks… Er, not that I was doing this for you, of course!" Suddenly regaining her senses, Sayaka violently shook free of Ayato's hand. "That hurt. The heck's up with you?"

"Nothing at all. Go die already…sheesh." Spitting her words behind her, Sayaka headed toward the clinic room's lavatory, washing off her bloodstained hands. In the meantime, Ayato tried using his cell phone one more time. It was a call to Natsuki's number. But…

"…Figures there's no signal! Shit, even if Natsuki knows where the terrorist hideout is, if I don't know where she is, it doesn't mean a thing!" As the cell call refused to connect, Ayato promptly gave up, making an exasperated sigh. If Natsuki was heading toward the Black Death Emperor Front hideout like Astarte said, there had to be combat taking place. There was a high probability Asagi and the others would be caught up in the fighting. He had to hook up with Natsuki and tell her about the abduction before that happened. But Ayato had no way of figuring out where Natsuki was at the moment…

"Ayato Hosokawa. The homunculus said her master was heading to apprehend the Black Death Emperor Front, yes?" Sayaka returned from washing the artificial plasma off her, stripping off her stained summer sweater as she spoke. "Yeah."

"Then there will be fierce combat."

"I know. That's why I'm so nervous." Kojou replied with irritation. Sayaka looked at Ayatolike he was a complete idiot. She spoke as if she was a famous sleuth teasing a clueless detective.

"So. Question: Where is there fierce combat taking place on this island, right now?"

"Ah…" Where was a fierce battle taking place, like a helicopter being hit by a surface-to-air missile and crashing? Ayato clapped his hands together as he recalled the location and Activated his Sacred Gear Divine Dividing.

Itogami Island was fundamentally made up of four Gigafloats—East, West, South, North—but the island also had numerous smaller extension units all around it. They fulfilled various functions, such as floating crude oil depositories, dry docks for repairing ships, or even serve as a giant Dumpster for the storing of nonflammable waste. The buildings on Itogami Island's Sub-float No. 13 constituted one such landfill facility.

Sayaka's whole body virtually froze at her shock from being lifted up into a bridal carry. In the meantime, Ayato made a small bite into his own lip. He used the taste of blood swirling in his mouth as the trigger to unleash his vampiric strength. Clutching Sayaka all the while, he ran toward the sub-float. The only thing the police had sealed off was the bridge connecting the sub-float to the island.

In other words, they could get across from anywhere, as long as they didn't use the bridge. The distance between it and Itogami Island proper was about eight meters. Even a normal human being could leap that distance with a running start…if he was an Olympic track and field athlete.

With the aid of a vampire's strength, he should have had ability to spare even with some added baggage…or so he thought.

"…Whoa?! Huh, that was closer than I figured." Landing just over the edge of the sub-float's cliff, Ayato made a ragged exhale. One step short and any misstep would have put them in danger of falling right into the sea. Perhaps it was indeed difficult to make such a leap while carrying another person, even with the strength of a Generation vampire. Or perhaps Sayaka was heavier than she looked… Just as Ayato had that rude thought…

"Wh-wh-wh…what do you think you're doing?!" Sayaka suddenly went wild in Ayato's arms. "We got across, didn't we? Didn't have to hurt any policemen, either…"

"This doesn't count! This doesn't count, you hear me?!" Sayaka pounded Ayato's head while saying seemingly meaningless words. It really must have gotten to her; the punches were far more timid than one would expect from a Counter-Demon Attack Mage. "What the heck are you talkin' about? And don't move around like that, we'll fall into the ocean!"

"Shut up, be quiet! Burn to ash!"

"Ow?! Hey, you, quit with the sword, that ain't funny!" For some reason, Sayaka had tears in her eyes as she swung her sword. Ayato instantly dodged it, but fell down then and there with Sayaka still in his arms, ending up pinning Sayaka to the ground. With Sayaka not ceasing her attacks even then, Ayato somehow managed to pin both of her arms down.

"…What are you two doing?" Suddenly, a mass of frills suddenly appeared before Ayato and Sayaka's eyes, seemingly walking out of thin air. She had an expensive-looking parasol and an overly adorned black dress; Ayato knew only one person who would wear an outfit like that amid Itogami Island's never-ending summer.

"Natsuki? Weren't you taking on the terrorists?"

"I have to let the Island Guard people get the glory some of the time. It seems the assault team has the Black Death Emperor Front survivors on their heels, so they don't need the help." Natsuki replied while giving the continuing firefight at the watchtower a long look. So the Black Death Emperor Front was holed up inside there, just as Ayato and Sayaka had deduced. "

So, why is this mouth calling me Natsuki?"

"Ow, ow, ow, stop that…" Natsuki twisted the unresisting Ayato's cheek, hard. Kojou's arms were unavailable, busy as they were keeping Sayaka pinned down. "It isn't the time for this…Himeragi and the others have been kidnapped and might be host—"

Without Ayato being aware of it, the all-too-overwhelming powers of the Fifth Primogenitor and The Vanishing Dragon had distorted fate, drawing him to the field of battle. The teenage boy was truly a trouble magnet; one couldn't take their eyes off him for a second. But that was probably the very reason he'd protect that city. However, that certainty made Yukina all the more uneasy. The Nalakuvera was a weapon brought back to life to fight primogenitors. On his own, as his power stood now, Ayato might not be able to defeat the ancient weapon.

He needed power.

It was a situation Yukina hadn't wanted to think about, but there was something she needed to tell Ayato Hosokawa before a truly worst-case situation presented itself.

"You'd think Sayaka would be the last person to end up entangled with senpai, but…" As Yukina murmured, she put the cell phone to her ear. As the call connected, she heard Ayato's voice.

It was a moment later when Kojou's cell phone rang in response to an incoming call. "Aw, shit. Who is it at a time like th—" Complaining all the while, Kojou took out his cell phone, sucking in his breath when he saw the caller ID displayed. "Asagi?!"

"…It's me, senpai." After Kojou shouted forcefully, his ear detected a dissatisfied-sounding sigh from Yukina.

"Eh?! Himeragi?" A sudden, unexpected assault threw Kojou off-balance.

"Yukina, are you all right?! Where are you now?!" Sayaka pressed her face against Kojou's ear as she shouted. Unsurprisingly, she was quick off the starting block where Yukina was concerned. On the other hand, she apparently hadn't noticed that she was in an extremely intimate position against Kojou. Sayaka's breaths were tickling his cheek.

"I'm all right," Yukina replied in her usual, overly serious tone of voice. "Right now we're inside the Oceanus Grave. At present, neither Aiba nor Nagisa have been harmed." "I see. For the time being, it's a lot safer over there than here with us." Ayato was so relieved that it drained him, and he allowed his thoughts to slip, self-derision and all. "So you are indeed close to the Nalakuvera."

"Y-yeah."

"Sticking your nose into another dangerous place on your own…you really should realize what a dangerous person you are, senpai. Did something happen between you and Sayaka?"

"Er, well, never mind that, we never thought they'd bring that thing out…"

"W-we heard that you and the others had been kidnapped, and I was worried…" Scolded by the clearly unhappy Yukina, Kojou and Sayaka continued making painful-sounding excuses. But Yukina cut them off midway. "But it's good that you did. Senpai, please slow the Nalakuvera down so that it does not approach the city itself."

"…Slow it down?"

"Yes. Right now, Aiba is deciphering the Nalakuvera's command codes. When she is finished, the current indiscriminate rampage can be stopped, you see."

"Asagi's… I see, so that's what it is…" Kojou made a solemn nod. He didn't know the fine details, but he had a pretty good idea what situation Yukina and the others were in. As Kojou had expected, the Black Death Emperor Front was using Asagi to decipher the ancient weapon's command codes. Asagi was searching for the commands to stop the rampage; in other words, the terrorists couldn't control the Nalakuvera, either.

"…Slowing it down is plenty. Please do not try too hard to destroy it and increase the devastation further. Now, Sayaka…"

"What? If there's something I can do, say it!" As Yukina called her name, Sayaka's voice leaped out as she kept her ear pressed to the phone. But Yukina brushed her off with a chilly voice. "Please move back a little. I want to speak with Hosokawa-senpai alone."

"Eh? Ehh?!" Looking like she was about to break into tears, Sayaka reeled backward, squatting and hugging her knees then and there. Kojou felt some sympathy for her as he shook his head at the sight. "

…Speak about what, Himeragi?"

"There's no time so I'll be brief." Yukina audibly cleared her throat. She started over, asking her question in an urgent tone. "Senpai, do you think a second Beast Vassal and Your Juggernaut Drive might be necessary ?"

"Second Beast Vassal and My Juggernaut Drive?" Ayato swallowed as Yukina's question got right to the point. Taming a Beast Vassal required blood, just like when Kojou had sucked on Yukina's blood to bring Regulus Aurum under his control—blood of a quality high enough to satisfy the Beast Vassals of the Fifth Primogenitor.

I can't believe Ayato Hosokawa was asked to fight the Nalakuvera on his own by Yukina of all people.' thought Sayaka shocked. He recalled that Her Master had told her that Ayato was able to use his Massive Amount of Magic as a replacement for his lifespan when using Juggernaut Drive for a very long time.

Ayato's voice went shrill as he imagined what would be required to obtain it.

"N-no, I don't think so. I haven't thought about that for one moment!"

"I see. If that is so, good and well, but actually…" Yukina continued, "About Sayaka," lowering her voice to a whisper.

"…Eh?!" When Ayato finished listening to Yukina, he bit his lip in silence for a while. For brief, fragmentary information to have shut Kojou up like that meant it was quite outside his expectations. Her back still curled, Sayaka looked up at Ayato in silence, resentment in her , having somehow regained his composure, shook his head as if getting the cobwebs out.

"Got it. Leave it to me. I'll slow it down one way or another."

"Understood. Be careful, senpai." With that, the call ended. Kojou looked toward the destroyed watchtower as he thrust the phone into a pocket. The Nalakuvera, still buried in rubble, wasn't moving. It had no doubt destroyed the Island Guard's mechanized platoon to dispose of the most pressing threat before it. But that did not mean in any way that the crisis had passed.

Something like an eyeball on the Nalakuvera's head continued ceaselessly scanning the area. It was gathering information on what targets it should move to eliminate.

At the slightest provocation, the Nalakuvera would resume combat; there was little doubt that this time, it would put Itogami Island to the torch.

"How's the Island Guard retreat going?" Vattler smoothly made an instant reply to Ayato's question. "They just made it outside the sub-float. The number of casualties is less than I expected." Why are you answering that? Ayato thought, glaring at him. If he was observing the entire area, he surely knew exactly when combat would begin anew. But…

"Got it. I'll take it on, then. The captured girls are in your hands, Natsuki." Without asking anyone's opinion, Ayato so declared. Natsuki twisted her elegant parasol, glaring at Ayato with a sour look. Perhaps she was angry at his arbitrary declaration; perhaps she simply didn't like the way Ayato casually spoke her given name. But—for once—she voiced no complaint whatsoever. That must have meant she was tentatively on board.

"Do you not think stealing someone else's prey is poor manners, Ayato Hosokawa?" For his part, Vattler made that mild objection. However, Ayato wasn't taking the bait.

"If you're gonna talk about manners, coming onto another guy's turf and doing as you please is pretty rude. Stay out of this until I'm down for the count, Dimitrie Vattler." The young noble nodded and relented surprisingly easily. Then…

"Then, I shall give you, ruler of this land, a present to display proper respect, so that you can fight without hesitation…Manashi! Uhatsura!"

"Wha—?!" Kojou was at a loss for words as Vattler released a wave of enormous magical energy. Two snakes surpassing ten meters in length appeared behind the youthful aristocrat's back. The first was a black snake that looked like a raging sea; the other was a blue snake, like the surface of a pool frozen solid. These were the Beast Vassals of Vattler, the Master of Serpents. Furthermore, he was using two simultaneously. The two intertwined together in midair, changing shape to become a single giant dragon.

"Fusing two Beast Vassals together?! So that's Vattler's special ability…!" Kojou spoke in a hard voice at the sight of the Beast Vassal, which resembled a raging waterspout. Yukina had said it once. For Vattler, a noble of a younger generation, to have defeated a higher-ranking Wiseman, he must possess some kind of special power. This was likely the key to unlocking that secret. Ayato had never before heard of the existence of a vampire who could fuse two Beast Vassals into a single, more powerful Beast Vassal. But the truth was, the fused Beast Vassal Vattler had called forth was giving off magical energy on par with Ayato's Regulus Altairyu. This constituted ample proof Vattler really did possess power near that of a primogenitor.

"Well, like this, I think." Vattler made a satisfied-seeming murmur as his raging ultramarine dragon descended. It then destroyed every single anchor connecting Sub-float No.13 to Itogami Island proper. These anchors, made out of concrete blocks and metal wires and weighing several hundred tons each, were shattered into little pieces like glass; as a consequence of those explosions, the sub-float slowly began to float freely over the ocean.

"You cut the sub-float off from the Itogami Island mainland…?!" Kojou looked up as he realized what Vattler was aiming for. The young aristocrat leered back.

"This way, you can use your power however you like without concern for damage to the city. Do ensure that you amuse me."

"R-right…" For a moment, Ayato hesitated as to whether to give token words of thanks, but he immediately put that thought aside. He realized that the Beast Vassal's attack just then had done considerable damage to Itogami Island's mainland as well. Ayato was absolutely certain that the man's talk of damage to the city was just an excuse for him to throw his weight around.

"The Nalakuvera's on the move, Ayato Hosokawa!" Kojou hastily looked back as Sayaka's urgent voice reached his ears. The Nalakuvera knocked away the debris and girders around it, its entire body finally on display. It was a six-legged tank some seven or eight meters tall. Taken as a whole, it looked something like a giant ant wearing the shell of a lobster. There were two small arms that resembled feelers connected to the elongated, elliptical head. The armor's texture seemed like clay or bronze, indeed giving it an "ancient weapon" look.

"Hmmm. It seems to have gone active from judging my Beast Vassal to be a threat. I see, so it is indeed running on a self-defense program alone…"

"So, you're the reason it started moving?!" Kojou glared and shouted as Vattler murmured in a detached manner. The Nalakuvera's crimson eye glared at both of them, firing a beam of light.

"Ayato !" Sayaka shouted while poising her sword. "Aw, shit! So this is how it's gonna be!" As blast winds bathed Ayato's entire body, he put up a very Strong Barrier to put a stop to the ancient weapon's rampage.

(Couple minutes Later)

Luckily, Ayato was right there, reflexively catching her back as she fell faceup. He raised his eyebrows as his palms conveyed the presence of something quite ample and flexible.

"…Hya?!" As Ayato ended up generously squeezing Sayaka's breasts, she let out a very girlie yelp.

Realizing the true nature of what he was grasping, Ayato quickly pulled both hands away. Thanks to the summer sweater, he hadn't noticed, but Sayaka was apparently the well-endowed type. In spite of being so slender, the volume of her breasts was incredible.

"Er, sorry." Ayato felt awkward as he apologized. Sayaka pressed her hands over her own breasts while glaring up at Ayato. "What are you apologizing for? Did you do it on purpose? So you indeed have foul, evil intentions?"

"I do not. It's not that, but…Himeragi told me about it on the phone earlier." Sayaka tilted her head with a puzzled look. "Yukina? What did she…?"

"The reason you hate men." Ayato looked down at his own feet as he spoke, lowering his voice. The look on Sayaka's face stiffened, becoming like that of a doll.

"Sorry. I didn't know you're scared of men touching you." Yukina hadn't explained the fine details, but "Is that wound from before all right?" had a pretty good idea of the circumstances.

As a child born with excellent spiritual ability, she was frequently treated badly by her parents. Sayaka's one and only father was apparently the type of man who routinely used violence against her. When her father died before Sayaka entered primary school, the Lion King Agency took her in. However, the fear she felt toward her father at such a young age still remained in her heart in the form of a general hatred of men.

Ayato didn't want to offer some kind of cheap sympathy, but he didn't think Sayaka could be faulted for it. Even though it was an emergency situation, Ayato reflected on the fact he'd picked her up, pinned her down, and insensitively touched her quite a bit all around.

For a while, Sayaka gazed at Ayato, an astonished look on her face. Then, she suddenly grabbed hold of Ayato's lips, roughly twisting upward. Ayato, unable to brush her hand off, objected without offering any resistance.

"What are you doing?! That hurts!"

"I wonder why Yukina talked to you about that…" Sayaka spoke as if she was posing the question to herself. His lips still being twisted, Kojou shrugged his shoulders. "She lectured me not to do anything that'd scare you. She was worried about you."

"It's not that I'm scared of it, it's more like, it's disgusting? Gross?"

"That's even worse. Normally that'd put me down." Forcefully shaking his head, Ayato finally freed his lips from her grasp. Sayaka watched his red, swollen lips with a smile. It was a gentle, smiling face with no hostility whatsoever.

"You really are a strange Hybrid." Sayaka gently touched the back of Ayato's hand with the fingertips of her freed-up right hand.

She increased the strength of her grip, as if carefully confirming something.

Ayato watched her with bewilderment, having no idea whatsoever what she was up to. But he somehow understood that for Sayaka, touching a boy of her own volition was very much an act of courage.

"Is that wound from before all right?"

Sayaka looked at Ayato's leg with a worried look. The leg wounded when he'd shielded Sayaka. Ayato lightly flexed his knee up and down. Some pain still remained, but he'd regained almost all sensation. "It's healed enough I can walk on it at least?"

"I see, that's good… Um…th-thank you for saving me." As if blushing, Sayaka lowered her face as she spoke. Ayato's heart made a heavy thump and blood rushed through his arteries at her cherubic, white cheeks, the refined bridge of her nose, and her long emphasized eyelashes.

"Cold?!"

"Wh-why?! I was finally nice to you and everything…!" Sayaka's cheeks fiercely swelled at Ayato's completely unexpected reaction. Ayato shook his head as he put a hand to his back.

"No, it's not you… There's something cold against my back…" That moment, a delicate cry of "Hya!" came out from Sayaka's mouth. When she pressed on her uniform's shoulder, it had somehow become thoroughly drenched. Water was falling like rain from all over the sub-float's framework.

"What's this? Seawater?!"

"Shit…this float's goin' all to hell!" No matter how stoutly constructed a sub-float, Vattler's Beast Vassal recklessly severing it, the Nalakuvera's rampant laser fire, and the finishing blow with Regulus Altairyu, had apparently exceeded its limits. Ayato and Sayaka simply hadn't noticed how water was already leaking in from all quarters.

"This isn't the time for complaints! We have to find a way back to shore and fast!" Sayaka coolly pointed out the situation. The water wasn't leaking in especially strongly, but if the seals of the anti-flooding bulkhead were to rupture, escape would become far more difficult. It didn't feel very good being dripping wet and holed up in a place like this.

"So how 'bout we fly along one of the walls like when you're lost in a maze with my Divine Dividing?"

"Anything's good as long as it's fast!" As they traded silly banter, Kojou and Sayaka began to walk forward.

(Few Minutes later)

"Shit…this one's a dead end, too, huh?" Ayato's tired voice echoed amid the darkness. They were inside one of the narrow maintenance shafts spread throughout the sub-float. Logically, the path would continue all the way to Ayato and Sayaka had completely lost track of where they were. However, seawater continued steadily lapping at their feet. Water leaking from overhead had already drenched Ayato and Sayaka from head to toe even Ayato flying with Divine Dividing.

"Even if a master swordsman can split a boulder in two, you can't dig a tunnel with a katana, huh."

"Yeah." Making a weak smile as she spoke, Sayaka sneezed; it was oddly charming. Ayato noticed that her drenched shoulders were shivering a bit.

"Figures it's cold down here, all wet like it is." Murmuring as he made white breaths,Ayato's eyes suddenly fell upon Sayaka's breasts. Her wet, open-neck blouse was clinging to her skin, with her bra easy to see through it. The light pink floral pattern wrapped around two bountiful hills separated by an enchantingly deep valley. To a vampire's night vision, it was an image far more vivid than was necessary.

"What is it?" As Ayato suddenly went silent, Sayaka peered at his face, as if there was something mysterious about it.

"R-right," went Kojou as he averted his eyes in a hurry. Sayaka looked squarely at Kojou, a suspicious look on her face, and finally gasped before covering her own breasts.

"Ayato Hosokawa…!"

"I-I'm not! I thought, it's cold, so I figured maybe I should lend you my parka…"

"As if I'd wear a parka drenched with your hormones! I'd get pregnant!"

"Like hell you would! What—do you really think abominations are here?!" Ayato yelled quite loudly. But for some reason, he did not hear the expected retort from Sayaka. She hung her head on the spot and began messing with her fingernails. "…I-it makes me feel bad for Yukina somehow."

"Ah? Yukina's got nothin' to do with this. Here, put it on already." Ayato forced his own parka onto the girl's shoulders. She was still drenched, but the warmth from Ayato's own body heat would surely help a tiny bit. As if tasting that body heat for herself, Sayaka pulled the parka's collar closer.

"Hey, Ayato Hosokawa?"

"What now?"

"Do you think it'd work out if you used a different Beast Vassal?"

"Well…in this situation, I suppose, yeah." Ayato frowned as he remembered someone having asked him a very similar question not long ago. Ayato had inherited the twelve Beast Vassals of the Fifth Primogenitor and the Sacred Gear of the Vanishing Dragon. Surely one of them could blow the debris to bits in this situation; the one that had been on the verge of pulverizing the school's roof, perhaps.

"…But when Regulus Alitaryu came against my will before, it burned a section of Island East to a crisp. If something like that happened here, an artificial island on its last legs like this would sink straight to the bottom of the sea." This said, Ayato made a sigh. Why did the Beast Vassals of the Fifth Primogenitor have to be so difficult to use? But Sayaka continued to look up at Ayato.

"If you can control it, it's fine, right? Yukina let you suck her blood so that you could, right?"

"Kirasaka, it's not like you're that tall, anyway. A hundred sixty-six or seven, about there? That's normal good looks in my book." As a Blazer competitor, Ayato found height of Sayaka's level to be completely normal. He even thought that her eye level made her easier to talk to up close. Perhaps the last phrase came off well, for Sayaka's mood improved slightly.

"Even so, I was the tallest girl in my whole school! Thanks to that, I kept getting the royal princess treatment…"

"Royal princess treatment…?" Ayato remembered how she'd desperately yelled,

"This doesn't count." She seemed oddly worked up about it, but to Sayaka, who was so sensitive about her height, it was a pretty big deal.

"Th-that's why I was just a little happy. That's never happened to me before." Sayaka spoke, beet red to the tips of her ears. "S-so it's really just that. It's not that I fantasized about someday having a fateful encounter with a man who sweeps me off my feet and falling in love with him or anything…!"

"R-right." Ayato was a bit relieved that Sayaka wasn't actually angry. Right now, she looked like an ordinary high school girl, just like Ayato's classmates. You wouldn't think she and the War Dancer who fought the Nalakuvera so valiantly were one and the same.

This was probably the Sayaka that Yukina had always seen as her roommate. He could even agree with the thought that she was cute. Sayaka grabbed Ayato's uniform over his stomach and gave it a gentle pull. In doing so, she pulled herself closer to Ayato.

Before Ayato knew it, the two were close enough that their breaths were mixing together.

"So…keep this secret from Yukina, okay?" Sayaka's voice trembled as she murmured. It was no doubt because of cold and fear. But seeming to have made her decision, her trembling ceased the instant she leaned fully into him.

"I thought I'd let you suck my blood to thank you, just once. Or perhaps I'm not good enough?" Ayato was moved by the sight of Sayaka's teary eyes looking up at him. "No, nothing like that, but are you all right with this, Kirasaka…?"

Sayaka responded to Kojou's concerned inquiry by gently moving her hands around his back. Ayato and Sayaka's bodies were still cold and dripping wet. However, their skin, pressed together like this, conveyed gentle warmth to the other.

"I'm…not afraid of you. Strange, isn't it…? You being the World's Mightiest Vampire and all…" As Sayaka said that, she gently touched Ayato's mouth, Ayato's sharp, tapered fangs…

The flow of water into the corridor increased in vigor, strongly enough that they might be swept away if they were not embracing each other so strongly. Finally, their two silhouettes merged into one, with Sayaka's minute pants echoing across the surface of the water as Ayato sucked her blood.

"Shit…it just ain't gonna work." Yaze made ragged breaths as he spat out the remnants of the capsules he'd stuffed down his throat. The chaotic vortex of air around him was an aftereffect of having used his ability. He'd hurled Yukina's left-behind Snowdrift Wolf all the way to the Oceanus Grave floating atop the ocean. It was makeshift work only possible with Yaze's control of the wind, but that much had worked out. Yukina had defeated Gardos as he'd hoped. According to Yaze's calculations, Yukina and the other girls would finally be safe. He hadn't counted on the Nalakuvera's control codes being deciphered faster than he expected. "

Even Himeragi can't do anything against that ancient weapon. Damn you, Asagi, I risked an adverse reaction to help you, but you just had to work so damned hard…" Yaze spat out frail complaints while slumping down to the ground. Watching Yaze like that with an amused expression, Vattler, wearing his gaudy three-piece suit, spoke.

"I see. So as an observer, you are forbidden from direct intervention in combat. This must be quite hard on you…"

"Only 'cause you got in my way back there. Would've gone a little better if you hadn't." Yaze glanced sideways at Vattler, glaring. Yaze had realized the Black Death Emperor Front had been aboard the Oceanus Grave right after Asagi and the girls had been kidnapped. If he'd been able to leak that intel to the Island Guard, they wouldn't have fallen for the decoy operation; things would've no doubt unfolded much differently.

"But thanks to that, it's been quite an amusing sight." Vattler said that without the slightest bit of shame. Five Nalakuvera units were being hauled out of the Oceanus Grave just as it pulled alongside Sub-float No. 13. Even one of the ancient weapons wielded considerable combat ability, but they had six in total. To Vattler, that surely made it a deeply fascinating battle. This was what he'd come all the way to a small island in the Orient for.

"Now then, Gardos's preparations appear to be complete, so perhaps it's my turn finally?" Anticipating a battle to the death as he had not known in some time, Vattler began cheerfully walking forward. Yaze made a sarcastic laugh behind his back.

"Don't be so sure. Let me say this as the Fourth Primogenitor's best friend… I don't think you should expect him to behave according to plan." As if to back up his words, the area around Vattler and Yaze was bathed with a painful, high-frequency ringing. What followed was a ferocious tremor that made the entire sub-float creak and tremble.

"…Oh my," Vattler murmured with what seemed like admiration. An incredible mass of magical power had emerged from beneath the sub-float, releasing an ominous, indiscriminate surge in all directions. It was a wild, violent mass of energy surpassing even Vattler's fused Beast Vassal. Such a thing did not exist on Itogami Island, with the sole exception of the Beast Vassals of Ayato Hosokawa, the Fifth Primogenitor…

"There you are, Ayato." Yaze murmured in apparent satisfaction, closing his eyes, his strength seemingly exhausted. An explosive sound gushed out from underground, becoming a shock wave that blasted through the surface of the sub-float, sending a huge amount of debris swirling into the air. Even so, the roar that shook the ground did not vanish. The tremor warped the condensation in the atmosphere, creating a shimmer; finally, the shimmer changed into the form of a beast: a giant beast, bearing two horns, with an incandescent, glittering mane… Gardos's conduct was swift and decisive.

"One of the Fifth Primogenitor's Beast Vassals! Grigore! I'll head out in the queen. Hold him off until then."

"…Copy that, Lieutenant Colonel." With that final phrase over the radio, the first Nalakuvera went on the move with a roar. It headed toward the twin-horned Beast Vassal as it scattered its crimson beam all about.

"Wait, Kristof Gardos!" Yukina turned her silver spear over and chased after them. With a scornful, annoyed look at her, one of Gardos's men threw something. It was a metallic cylinder about the size of a tin juice container. Yukina was terrified the moment she realized it was a grenade.

Their hostages, Asagi and Shizuku, had been left behind on the upper deck. If they took that at point-blank range, the defenseless girls would be blown away without a trace. Yukina gave up on pursuing Gardos and rushed to cover the girls lying on the deck. Her intent was to use her body as a shield to protect them both from the grenade explosion.

"…!" But Yukina was not struck by the impact she had resigned herself to. Far into the distance, a small bit of water spray flew up and scattered over the sea. "Eh?" Confused, Yukina rose to her feet. There had been no time to pick up the grenade and throw it. There certainly hadn't been enough time to spare to hurl it that great a distance. But the grenade had been moved regardless, as if someone had teleported it along with the space around it…

"…It would seem you're all safe, relatively speaking." Right before Yukina's eyes, empty space formed what seemed like a ripple, with a small woman gently walking out of it—a woman with an elegant dress and a black-frilled parasol. "Thanks to your swinging that spear around, the barrier around this ship was torn, so I was finally able to teleport in. I must thank you for shielding my students, Yukina Himeragi."

"Ms. Minamiya?!" Yukina was struck with surprise as she looked up at the void from which Natsuki had emerged without a sound. Spatial teleportation was a type of magic of the utmost difficulty. Even within the Lion King Agency, only a few people could use it on an individual level. She'd never even heard of a user who could employ it with the same ease as entering a neighboring room. Her appearance might have been cherubic, but she was apparently more of a monster than Yukina had imagined. Perhaps it was to be expected of the Fifth Primogenitor's homeroom teacher. Her constant haughty attitude toward him wasn't for nothing.

"I'll take them to a safe place. What will you do, transfer student? Coming with us?" Natsuki inquired as she embraced the sleeping Asagi and Shizuku. Yukina shook her head as she rose up. "I will rendezvous with Hosokawa-senpai. I'm his watcher, after all."

"Hmph. Quite the workaholic. Do as you like," said Natsuki as space bent nearby. She roughly tossed the still-asleep Asagi and Nagisa into it. Then, with a slight hint of mischief, she smiled with a small chuckle. "But your help may not even be needed."

"Huh?" Leaving that significant-sounding comment behind, Natsuki vanished into thin air. Still confused, she searched for Ayato, who was surely in combat with the Nalakuvera. Above the sub-float, Ayato's Beast Vassal was dominating the damaged ancient weapon: a bicorn with an incandescent mane; a Beast Vassal unknown to Yukina. There was only one thing that could mean.

Somewhere Yukina couldn't see, Ayato had sucked on someone's blood. For some reason, thinking of that fact made Yukina distinctly uncomfortable; she was a little perplexed at how irritated she felt. But from a rational perspective, of course Yukina was angry at his sucking on another person's blood off on his own, without even a word to his watcher. Yes, that's all it is, Yukina told herself. It was then that Yukina heard the ringtone for an incoming call beside her. The ringtone was from Asagi's smartphone. Looking at the name displayed on the screen, Yukina answered the call.

"Hey, young lady. The job's finished." The voice she heard through the digital link was the artificial voice of Asagi's partner. With Itogami Island's citywide functions in its grasp, making a call to a cell phone was no great feat.

"Err…Mogwai, was it?"

Kojou and Sayaka were standing together on top of a road on a gently sloped hill. It was the first time in a while they could see the bright sun above their heads. The summer sea breeze felt good over their cold, wet bodies. Behind Kojou and Sayaka, there was a crater one could mistake for a dried-up lake about three hundred meters in diameter. In a concentric circle, the steel plates that covered the sub-float's surface had caved in; and in the center of that sunken crater, an incandescent bicorn raised an ear-splitting roar.

"…You're really something else." Looking back at the crater, Sayaka made a sigh of lament, looking utterly beside herself. But her words were tinged with a tone that seemed somehow amused. "Certainly that got us back to the surface, but you didn't have to make that ridiculously huge crater, too. If I hadn't protected us from the debris with Lustrous Scale's barrier, we'd both have been buried alive."

"If you've got a problem with it, tell it to him. I was gonna be happy if it just did somethin' about the debris blocking the corridor." Ayato retorted in a voice that oozed mental fatigue. Yes, the power of the newly obtained Beast Vassal had blown away the debris in the corridor. That's all Kojou wanted. However, what actually happened was that the Beast Vassal, figuring, If the ceiling's too high to escape, just lower it, engaged in wholesale destruction. Thanks to the vibration and shock waves, the sub-float's internal pillars and walls were pulverized, making the ceiling cave in on them. Regulus Aurum was a huge heap of trouble, but this wild, twin-horned horse was every bit as much so, perhaps even worse…or perhaps that exceedingly horrid sense was just a figment of his imagination. But right now, he was relying on that ferocity.

"Yukina really is in danger from being close to someone like you." Sayaka looked up at Kojou as she spoke. There was none of the old sharpness in her voice. She nestled against him as they stood, a smile coming over her face.

"That's why, this one time, I'll take very good care of you. Let's settle this quickly." Sayaka's gaze was turned toward the sight of the ancient weapon landing once more. This was the wounded Nalakuvera that Ayato and Sayaka had initially fought against.

Its form hadn't changed since the last time they'd seen it. However, its movements were clearly different. They were intelligent movements reflecting the will of a pilot. It used the caved-in terrain as a shield as it launched a crimson beam from its sub-arm. On his own, Ayato probably could have never dodged such an unorthodox attack. But Sayaka's sword stopped the speed-of-light attack cold. Taking good care of him as she'd promised, she was acting as Kojou's shield.

"Get over here, Beast Vassal Number Nine: 'Al-Nasl Minium'…!" The flesh of the seemingly shimmering Beast Vassal was like an incredible oscillation given form. The two horns that thrust out of its head resonated like a tuning fork, spreading about a fiendish, high-frequency vibration. This vibration could reduce boulders to dust, rip through metal. In terms of annoyance to the neighbors, it was without question the most awful of Beast Vassals.

And the roar of the bicorn became a barrage of shock waves that assailed the Nalakuvera. The titanic magical energy possessed by the primogenitor's Beast Vassal transformed the "oscillation" into a mass of physical energy and pounded it home.

It wrecked the weapon of the gods to its core. The armor was shattered, the endoskeleton broken, and the radical change in the air pressure heated the surrounding air thousands of degrees Celsius, scorching the machine.

Blown several hundred meters away, the Nalakuvera came to a halt. "Oh, crap…is the pilot inside…dead?" It was Kojou who was beside himself at the bicorn's merciless attack. There had to be a Black Death Emperor Front terrorist inside the Nalakuvera. He didn't think anyone could survive being blown away that spectacularly, but…

"A beast man's life force is too strong to die from just this. I don't think he'll be moving for a while, though." Sayaka shouted right into the unnerved Kojou's ears. "More importantly, the five units over there! Smash them before pilots can get in!"

"R-right!" Sayaka was pointing at the Nalakuvera that'd been brought out of the Oceanus Grave. Lacking pilots, the units were inert, even now. Like that, it should have been possible to smash them without any difficulty. However, when the incandescent bicorn moved to attack the swarm of ancient weapons, its giant body was struck in the side by an equally giant explosion.

"…The heck?!" What halted the advance of the bicorn was a flying disk spewing out flames. It greatly resembled the chakrams used by a certain god of battle from western China.

And the chakram that violently crashed into the bicorn exploded, becoming enveloped by a giant whirlwind of fire. Apparently the chakram was really like a missile with a warhead packed with explosives. Its power was probably equal to or greater than guided missiles for attacking built-up urban areas. It wasn't enough power to defeat a primogenitor's Beast Vassal in a single blow, but it certainly was capable of halting the bicorn's charge. The annoyed incandescent Beast Vassal shook off the flames that lingered over its entire body.

The bicorn glared toward the aft deck of the Oceanus Grave. Something massive ripped apart the beautiful megayacht's hull and emerged. It was covered in the same type of armor as the Nalakuvera, but much, much larger. It had eight legs and three heads. Its torso was swollen like that of a queen ant. Chakrams poked out of gaps in the armor covering the torso, resembling a multiple launch rocket system…

Then Ayato Summoned the Divine Dividing Wings & flew up into the sky. He started to Spread his Arms.

"Here we go—Balance Break!"

[Vanishing Dragon BALANCE BREAKER!]

After that sound, a snow-white aura covered Ayato's form. Ayato was encased in white dragonic armour with blue jewels on the back of each hand, knee and a large one set on his chest piece.

"I, who is about to awaken, Am the Heavenly Dragon who has taken the principles of supremacy from God." Ayato started, his armour starting to grow and shift as it became sharper and more dragonic. Ares' eyes widened in shock for a moment before they narrowed as he launched himself towards armoured Draphalem as he continued "I envy the "infinite" and I pursue the "dream". I shall become the White Dragon of Supremacy..."

A long tail formed behind him of thin plates as his wings grew larger and the 'bones' that made up them merged into a single limb and grew a noticeable point at the joint in the middle. His size had settled at about five metres tall although his hunched body made it deceptive to judge.

"I won't let you stand up against !" Valter roared, Kazuhiko only to get a smirk as the brunet countered "And I shall take you to the limits of white paradise."

The more dragonic helmet parted to show lines of razor sharp teeth as Ayato uttered the last words before the whole armour roared out [Juggernaut Drive!]

A wave of power surged out of the armoured dragon's form in a deafening roar that even has Ares falter for a moment.

...

"Another has embraced the power."

"Another has fallen into the curse."

"Another wishes to destroy those against us."

Ayato gritted his teeth as he was bombarded by the thoughts and wills of the past hosts of [Divine Dividing], his vision having gone black once he had finished the chant for [Juggernaut Drive].

"Give in!"

"It's impossible to resist!"

"Embrace the destruction." Ayato felt hands move to grab parts of his body as he focused his will on how he was going to stop this form from taking his control.

"I won't fall to this curse like you lot have!" Ayato shouted back to the darkness, igniting flames over his body that started from both of his hands. In his left hand was [Cryo Flames] while in his right was [Lunar Flames], both of them swirling over his body and combining in a pale Blue purple-silver flaming aura that burned the hands and illuminated the darkness and making the shadowy figures of the past hosts hiss and retreat from him as he added "And if I have to I'll purify and scorch all of you from this prison!"

A wave of Blue violet-silver flames burst out from his body to send the past hosts away before he noticed his vision had returned and The Nalaukera was right in front of him before a giant fist slammed into his face and sent him flying as Ayato chuckled in a deeper tone as he retorted "I haven't turned myself into a monster, War God. And there will be no war while I still breathe."

[Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!]

[Longinus Smasher!] An enormous blast of Violet Blue aura fired from the Mouth of the Massive White Dragon.

Unable to withstand the impacts of the falls, cracks ran all across the Nalakuvera armor. They resembled heavily eroded boulders, finally making a great sound as their giant bodies cracked open.

Sending their self-repair function into berserk, the Nalakuvera had dismantled themselves. Finally, all of the ancient weapons crumbled to dust, carried by the wind into the sea, vanishing.

The Next Arcs Will Be the Treaty Arc and The Black Sword Shaman Arc

To Be Continued