Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 22
OP Song:
Summertime Render OP/Opening 2 Full『Natsuyume Noisy (夏夢ノイジー)』by Asaka
Insert Song: Start
Dies irae - Animation OST: Ewige Wiederkunft
PART 1
Flashback
Sometime during the Great War...
Gabriel the Archangel could not help but eavesdrop on a specific conversation that was happening somewhere else, one that was private and neither angel nor fallen would know. There was Azazel, the Wandering Angel of a distant future, talking with their Father. Their Father was wearing simple middle eastern clothing that reminded one of Aramaic origin. His hair was grey as it was glorious. His holy presence was subtle but not frightening.
Whether her Father moves or speaks, he does so with a sense of clarity and remains calm. Majestic and gentlemanly, and his voice, once known for such immensity of strength, was quiet, a perfect kind of baritone voice that is considerate but fair. His face was also somewhere along the lines of a blond Galilean. And his light blue eyes were such that they seem to penetrate deep within one's soul.
Currently, both Father and Azazel were walking in a kind of beautiful garden, somewhere on Earth, where no one would expect.
"Ah, I see. So the two Heavenly Dragons will come one day, some point near the end of the War. That is quite a risky tactic for you to tell me these things, my son," the Father smiled.
Azazel was quiet. But Gabriel, upon looking at his handsome face, looked troubled because of his grimacing features.
"...You're not my enemy, Father, never have been and never will be. I am merely telling this so that we can both safeguard the future that I came from...and..." Azazel's eyes drop to the floor. "There are two boys that I know who have yet to even be born even in my time who may need the powers of those dragons for what's to come."
Gabriel can see her father smile a bit as if he knew something but did not want to say it. "...Well, I am sure to keep a close eye on them now that you have notified me of this. Is there anything else that needs telling me?"
"No," Azazel shaking his head. "There is none."
"Hmm, I see," Father looked amused but his eyes were probing deep, trying to search for something. Then his smile turns normal but proud. "Look at you..."
"Hmm?" Azazel made a questioning hum, stopping in his tracks.
"...You are so much different from the Azazel of now..." Father looked sad. "The fact that whatever happened that led to you becoming this was not something I ever wanted nor intended."
"...That was not your fault...nor anyone else's..." Azazel reassured, sporting a saddened expression.
"Still...sometimes, I wonder...if I was ever a good Father to any of you children...but the war that is happening between Heaven, the Underworld, and the Grigori seems to say otherwise..." Father sported a saddened expression. Gabriel in turn widened her eyes, and the urge to contradict her Father about that felt strong.
...But.
"Don't say that."
Azazel beat her to it. His tone was lightly growling in frustration, his eyes never wavering as he looks into the Father's eyes.
"You are not responsible for our sins. You never were. We all made our choices in the end and we eventually learn to either commit to them or learn too late of taking said choices back. But you are not responsible, no matter how many people blame you. They blame you...because they don't want to look at themselves in the mirror and face their own reality. They blame you but they don't blame themselves. That is all. Nothing that needs to complicate things. At the end of the day, they are just spoiled brats with no idea of what the world is truly like, no matter how much they think they had it all figured out. Stupid people...doing stupid things."
Azazel turns his back and made a few steps. Gabriel in the meantime was sporting an expression of amazement, conflict, and worry.
The Father made a sad smile. "Is that speech directed for those who have fallen or for those who are still on the fold...or for you, my son?"
Azazel stops walking. And he remained silent. His expression was never seen, adding to the suspense. And after a few minutes, Azazel glances back.
"...All three."
And thus, Azazel disappeared through a magic circle, leaving behind a saddened Father.
The Father sighed heavily, shaking his head in a sorrowful tone. And then...
"Gabriel..."
"...!"
"I know that you are there. You can come out now."
Gabriel made her presence known, decloaking herself, and revealing her sad, concerned face, walking towards her Father.
"...Father, forgive me for asking, but what is the context of your conversation about?" She asked.
"...Oh, something of importance for the future," Father smiled as he gently pats her hair. "Also, there is a special task that I have in mind for you."
"What is it, Father?" Gabriel asks.
"Watch out for Azazel, the Azazel of the future...he may need your heart...more than any other refined quality that I have made you..."
And thus, Father had commanded and entrusted a special task to his most beautiful and glorious messenger of Heaven. And it would be so, even when he is destined to pass away just as history recorded him.
The God of the Bible had a suspicion that he had kept, one that he hid from every angel. Oh, but he knew that only one angel knew of what was to come. He can sense his possible demise from afar ever since this Great War had started. For countless millennia, he was on this Earth, watching over mankind, his finest creation to date, along with his glorious angels, and the paradise that was of the Earth.
Imagine, him, the Creator, having seen it all, and he had seen secrets that even he kept to his angels.
Of a history untold, of a time forgotten, of a remnant history that had been destroyed in the most debasing and thought-provoking manner, of a war without end, forever and ever.
"It is as decreed that this gospel will serve as the cornerstone of this new cosmology."
He remembers. A time before time. When Earth had yet to be formed. When there were still ultimately little fewer stars than what the current universe would see. the universe was still in a somewhat conflicting state between order and chaos. He can never forget the glorious beings of divinity that had once come and brought him out of the darkness of his sleep, and as a paradox, he was the first among all known and unknown gods.
Yes, he was there when these beings came and rearrange this universe.
Who are these beings?
Their language is unspeakable to a mortal's tongue. Their faces cannot be beheld without one's eyes burning to a crisp. Their shape was but strange and complex, with a multitude of wings that engulfed them, and their faces were that of mighty eagles who speak with high contemplative praises and laws.
"It is decreed that this world would be conjoined from a multitude of destroyed and borrowed apocryphal, blending them into one. So shall it be. So shall it be. So shall it be."
With one voice, these creatures spoke and the universe would submit to their law. The birth of the new world commences in full. A strange cosmology indeed, one with different rules of physical and metaphysical property and order.
These creatures were of the Johannine Lords, the highest ranking among the dreaded and powerful Anawim. A memory that never went away from him. Intimately, the God of the Bible knew of many things, even ones that most inhabitants would not know. Countless realities are under their rule, including the main reality where the God of the Bible existed.
Through an intimate knowledge and skill of omniscience, he knew that his world was but an echoing memory of things that had passed away. There was a previous iteration of the universe that he knew. And that was something that he would recognize when he would see his son, Azazel, in the times of the Great War. His eyes had told him everything that needed to be told. There was no other need for words.
And his heart turned sad for the poor wayward angel. Neither angel nor fallen. He does not belong anywhere. He is on his own. His own angel. And his wings speak of such, for they were neither pure white doves nor dyed black crows. It was of a color of silver.
PART 2
Flashback
It was several years ago.
Director Elliot Baldwin Woodman, wearing his best military suit, was looking from one side of the window, watching a certain red-haired child, a very young one, no more older than seven or eight years of age, writing down complex mathematical equations in a modified moveable blackboard, many of which were relating to specific coordinates. There were some of his subordinates, scientists and men of fine expertise, watching over her and some were taking down notes.
Since the accident of a Soviet experiment that occurred on August 3, 1991, there have been specific individuals classified over the years as Whispered. This child—Kotori Itsuka was one of them, and she had been recruited to Ratatoskr at a very young age in light of the Whispered Protection Program (WPP), specific classified protocols relating to how Ratatoskr and other allied organizations are to handle a confirmed Whispered.
Whispered are those with their own secret knowledge, capable of creating what is usually called by the umbrella term Black Technology, advanced technology potentially far surpassing those that came from before or the present time. They are the vital key and element to the security of this world's future.
"It seems that the girl is doing well, Adept."
Woodman turns around, seeing a man with black hair and grey lines on the side, with a black goatee with greyish features. He was wearing a black business suit, with a white collared shirt and an accompanying black necktie. There was a scientist's lab coat that was covering his blazer. He looked a bit worn out.
"...Having a bit of trouble in the side of perdition, Eagle?" Woodman asked.
Azazel - Codename: Avenging Eagle, sporting a deadpanned expression. "Oh, nothing that's new. Just boring old politics per usual. I was in a private meeting with Odin and some of the Asgardians." He looks at the screen, showing the girl and the scientists inside. "How's the girl doing?"
"Quite the intelligent child, this one," Woodman muttered with a sad smile. "But then again, I should not be surprised. I knew that I would eventually have to recruit this child into my organization at some point, but I never would have thought that she would become one of the Whispered. That unfortunately would only make her a target for some terrorist organizations."
"Like Phantom Task or Amalgam," Azazel said with both of his arms crossed.
"Yes," Woodman confirmed, narrowing his eyes. "This child is my responsibility even in this new reality that we both find ourselves in, but I never would have imagined that the Kotori Itsuka of this reality would be a part of the Whispered. I suppose that this is somewhat in response to the utter lack of Spirits in this timeline."
"This world is just as predictable as it is unpredictable, old friend. Nothing in our worlds may stay exactly the same in this new reality, you'd know that," Azazel said.
"That is true," Woodman spoke with a sad tone. "But then, how I wished that this world's Kotori Itsuka would not have to share the same exact burdens as the versions that I'm more familiar with."
And they both continue to stare at the window in silence, thinking of the future to come. At some point, they begin another conversation, this time relating to someone connected with Kotori.
"The boy has yet to recover his memory I suspect," Woodman said.
"...Yes," Azazel nodded. "He still does not remember anything about his past. Some may say that this is a good thing, relieving him of the sufferings that continually plagued him, but we both know that this memoryless life would not last forever. At some point, Shidou Itsuka is going to have to confront the darker truth of his origins once more...and I feel that he may as well turn back into the Lonely Soldier that he used to be."
"If that day ever comes, we of the TSOF would be there for our fellow comrade when he needs us," Woodman explained with a grim determination on his face.
Yes, the boy that they were talking about is in fact one of their own. At some point in the distant cosmic war that they fought, Shidou had been a soldier. No longer was he just a non-combatant civilian. He cannot afford such luxuries when everything was burning around him.
What was he known during the War at some point when he stopped being a civilian?
Sergeant Shidou Itsuka.
Temporal Special Operations Forces (TSOF).
Codename: Little Remnant.
Serial Number: KS24479
PART 3
Present Time
Among the hallowed race of the Anawim, there is one among them all that is the most well-known of his kind, for he was one of many that had fought in the dreaded fields of the War, and his admirable and swift feats were merely told in passing as legends.
He was a tall individual, with gold eyes that can flash in the darkness, along with short-cropped Ivy-league hair with traces of grey sides and a facial beard. He wore a grey jacket and dark blue jeans. Black shoes and grey socks. His seasoned and war-weary face was a little shade of white and dark. Quite normal of an appearance overall, no different from an average human and capable of blending within the crowd without further troubles, and yet this man was not human, but he is one of the more powerful of the Matthean Lords risen above his mere ranking, and he is one who even the higher rankings of the Marcan and Lucan are weary of. For he represents one of the ten Watchers that have the utmost authority, whose firm loyalties are only answerable to the Johannine High Council.
But what was he currently doing at this time?
Why, he was simply keeping his distance and watching the events unfold, waiting for an appropriate opportunity. Like his imprisoned compatriot and a few of his kind, he can feel the effects of this spiritual spillage and the phenomena. Already by now, he knew that everyone in this world, especially those of higher power and authority, would be aware of what is currently happening.
But he was still remaining as he was, hidden in the shadows, and content on watching. No, more like he was guarding the arriving Spirit that had caused this.
Yes, he is one among those of the Anawim who is not in favor of eliminating the Spirits. Most of them are of the innocent and it is not the Way of their people to punish the innocent. Well, the one Spirit who had arrived, the one who is now drawing the direct attention of everyone, is far from innocent, knowing of her many crimes. She has yet to be fully absolved of such under divine law.
Of course, considering her definitive sentence for now would have been carried out in part by virtue of her powerlessness and how Black RX would be the designated watcher, he would say it fulfills the judicial conditions in part. Although, some of his brethren may not think so as much.
But now, what worries him was not because of the First Spirit nor would the dreaded interdimensional empire that would now make its presence known. It was something else. Whatever brought this Spirit back had finally triggered that forbidden door. The arrival of Rinne Sonogami and Rio Sonogami were in fact ripples to this event of Mio Takamiya's arrival. And now, the world would have to worry greatly.
But what forbidden door was he referring to?
It was a world that the Anawim made sure to lock away from the rest of this cosmos. It was a world that is only considered to be the nightmarish reality of what the Three Factions in this world and other beings of the supernatural would want to prevent from happening.
A world where the Great War never ended.
And he—Zafkiel Binah—is standing watch, waiting for the moment when the inevitable comes. Only then would he unmask his presence and assist the Century King Black Sun and the Century King Shadow Moon.
And in relation to this forbidden world, one that may leak through the cracks, he would not have to worry about warning the right people. He had a feeling that the Time Walker has taken care of it in his stead. And that is what concerned him more. Professor Paradox's appearance. If he is here, then the situation is truly dire.
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ENDER LILIES | Mili - Harmonious (Extended, Slowed, Reverb) + Rain ambient
There was a place in the suburban area that was somewhere near the mountain range. Cracks were seen from different parts of the road and some of the houses nearby. People have already fled and evacuated the general area. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt by what had just happened.
"...Ah."
And there was a labored sigh that came out from the mouth of a beautiful but pale woman that was lying on the floor, showing a grimaced expression. What had just happened? She was thinking right now. She would slowly open their eyes and draw open her breath. Opening her eyes, she revealed a blue color that signified the deep ocean, she would see...the flickering cracks in the sky, the snow-like flakes that were falling on the ground. And she can see a swirling black sphere that was right in the center, acting like the eye of a cyclone. There were also three pinkish crosses that were seen from various distances that mimicked something of the crucifixion. The clouds were all greyish and sobering, like it was about to rain. And there was a clasp of pinkish thunder that was now being heard from the skies.
Then, she looks around to find herself in an abandoned street. No one was around the road except for a few abandoned vehicles nearby. She slowly decides to push herself a little, allowing her to form a sitting position as she held her forehead, grimacing.
KKKKKKKKKKKssssssssssssssssssssHHHHHHHHHHH
Her head felt like it was having a migraine. And an influx of memories was pouring out that made it hard for her to breathe. Her teeth gritted. Everything felt painful. Her eyes were slowly leaking tears. Her hands were brushing her let-down hair and face. Her fingers felt cold.
"Ah!"
That was right. She had...She had seen things... Things she did not want to see. But wait...She looked around from all directions, showing an extremely worried expression. A name came up to mind. Shin. Shidou Itsuka. Shin. Her dear child. Her most precious child. The child that grew up without her for the majority of his life. The child that she did not want to abandon but felt compelled to because of many grieving reasons. The child...that was a part of her plan...
"...Shin."
Her tone was desperate, pleading, begging, just from one single word that was uttered under her graceful lips. She turn her face by force as her eyes wandered in every direction while she still lay on the ground. She tried to lift herself up. Difficult. Although, it could still be manageable. She needed to stand up. And as the memories all came back...
"...Shin."
...Yes, she is starting to remember. She remembers the excruciating experiences that she was brushed aside. She felt like being pulled apart into several distinguishable molecular phases. She had seen stranger things to tell the tale. She had seen the rise and fall of civilizations unknown to her. She had seen terrible monsters from the light and dark coming from unknown directions, as imperfect of a term as that sounded because some of them did not employ such and such things. She had seen many things. But most of all...
"...Shin."
...She had seen her son. Her son had been suffering tremendously as flashes came to her mind. The numerous times he died. It made her want to throw up, to be angry, more than enough, she desired destruction upon those who would dare lay a finger on her precious Shin.
But where? Where oh where was he? Where was her little one? Where was her most precious baby boy?
She needed to find him. She needed to see him. She needed to make absolutely sure that her son was alright.
But she noticed something odd. She felt a bit taller. Ah...I see, she thought. She was in an adult body, the body of one Reine Murasame, the Fraxinus Analysis Officer, and the one with the codename: Phantom. The only thing that was missing was her glasses. And...
"...Ah."
...Her teddy bear. She last gave it to her son after...passing away...at least, she thought she would.
"...Ahh...Ahh...Ahh..."
Heir last heirloom. Her most precious gift. Where was it? Because her son had it. That was the only memento she only had about Shinji. And what was the point of giving it to her son? Was it to serve as a reminder for when she was gone, just like how it reminded her just how much Shinji was gone?
And there was something else. She felt...so weak. Was that why she could not stand up with her own two legs? She lost a major part of her, for she was now more than half the person that she used to be. She was no longer a Spirit. She felt excruciatingly human. Overall, she felt nothing of her true glory, of her true power, stripped bare like a naked woman with no clothing, metaphorically speaking of course. She can feel the cold temperature of her surroundings. Even when she had a coat on, it never really gave comfort to the coldness and lack of warmth that was circulating deep within her soul, a swirling manner of emotions that never made her rest.
The fact that she felt truly and utterly alone.
No one around for miles. Not even a familiar face. Just ruins of a civilization that fled and evacuated. Where was she? And as she draw breath, there was a thought that passed through her mind. She needed to find herself.
Where is he? How is he?
And she felt like those were stupid questions in light of the memories that were coming back. Formerly, they were jumbled up, but now, it was becoming somewhat clear.
"...No...Shin...Shin..."
Her heart raced as she draws breath. With sheer willpower, she tries to stand up. Just a few liftings from her feeble arms, a little kick from her legs, and now she was slowly standing up.
Then what?
She tried to use her feet, slowly and carefully due to feeling a kind of fatigue, to take the first step. And she covered her chest with her arms as if feeling cold. She slowly moves first. Then the next. Then the next. But she falls down on the fourth step, falling down to the ground as a mighty mother bird could not fly her broken wings. The impact hurt a bit, her head swirling and her graceful hair ruffling a bit. Her breath was ruffling a bit and her face was etched into a sorrowful tone, showing her troubled confliction.
Amidst the pain, she tried to stand up. She was trying to stand up. But couldn't. And so, she tried to move her hands...her arms...she needed to move. And she was moving. And thus, she was forced to move like a butterfly with no wings...no, even more than that...she was forced to act like a mere worm that was now eating dirt as she tried to move from her position, feeling the cold asphalt floor.
Was this her punishment then?
To be left with not even a strength of her own power. To be left with nothing that made her into a mere, weaker human. No, what she is now would be less than human after all of the deeds that she performed. Yes, she could argue that it was not out of malice that she did all of those things...but...after that face...that heartbroken face...the face of her son...
...He did not yell at her. He did not blame her. He did not hate her. He only asks one question.
"...Why?"
In that hoarse, dried-up tone. He looked at himself alone. He looked at his. What was he imagining that time, he wondered? Was it blood? Was it guilt? Because, yes, the main reason behind the Spirits...was all because of Shidou Itsuka. She remembered his heartbroken face and tears. He felt responsible, that she noted.
"...Shin."
She muttered softly, her eyes still drawing out tears. She needed to find her son. She needed to find him. She wanted to be there for him. She wanted to hold him. And she was thus reminded of the time when she had given him away. A hurtful throb pushed through her heart that was penetrating into her more than a mere sharp edge sword. She felt so weak that she could hardly stand up.
And she crawled like a pitiful weakling. She crawled to the dirt of the road. And there was no one around to assist her. Everyone is gone. And she ended up in a place where she did not know. What was her plan in the end? All for nothing. She did not even get to reunite with Shinji. Even death was cruel to her and showed no mercy, and thus decided for another alternative. There was no way that she would be left off so very easily, not with all of the accumulated blood on her hands.
And she crawled. And crawled. And crawled. With tears in her eyes as she felt physically exhausted.
And then...
"...!"
And then...she noticed something. She stopped moving. Her eyes looked to what lay in front of her and saw...someone? But it was...quite familiar to her. Even underneath that bodysuit that resembled a grasshopper for a face and red large eyes. They were both just completely still. No one moved. But their eyes were speaking several thoughts. There was no voice. Only a look.
The winds were becoming a bit colder, Mio Takamiya—Reine Murasame noticed. But it wasn't just the physical aspect. It was as if something had passed deep into her soul. Who was this person from the distance?
...No, she did recognize him. She felt something when she saw this individual. And then...
A flash of light engulfed this figure, returning him back to normal. And it revealed someone...
"...Ah..."
Her eyes, still filled with tears, widened. This familiar presence, that familiar appearance, that dark blue hair, and widening amber-brown eyes. A young man...no...not young man...she can somehow tell...it was his eyes that spoke differently...those eyes...that were now leaking tears just like her...
Shidou Itsuka. Her son. The boy she gave birth to. The boy she loved. Her son. Here. Her one joy in the midst of every sin that she had ever committed. The very last time she saw him was the time when she saved him and the rest of the Spirits from Wescott, giving her life so that her son could live.
He was now walking fast towards her. His eyes did not hold any kind of hatred for her. His eyes showed only happiness, but also sadness. And she, Mio Takamiya, would try to speak.
"...Shin..."
She muttered. And she would try to raise her arms towards her son, wanting to touch him, to see his face, to know that he was alright.
...And.
After a few more steps, Shidou finally made his way to his mother, with rushing tears in his eyes, and crouches towards her, helping her up gently. He couldn't say anything. But he worries. He sees his mother laying down on the floor, wearing a thick overcoat overlaying a white dress. He wanted to say something. He wanted to say anything as he looked into his mother's probing, tear-jerking eyes. But he couldn't. His voice felt stuck as he cried as well.
...But.
He can feel the gentleness on his face, on his right side. The palm of her hand caressed and wanted to be sure that it was truly him. Both were crying, and their expressions were grimacing while their eyes clearly felt a spark of joy and sorrow intermixing together. Shidou touches his mother's hand that was on his face.
"...Shin," She muttered. Her face showed a sign of hopefulness. "...Shin...Shin...Shin..."
Mio felt like a broken record. She only kept calling out to him, the son that she had abandoned twice over. She sees the young man...and an old man underneath...seeing the grey hair and hollow eyes. The scene between the present and past seems interchangeable. As she continually uttered her name, like a chirping bird who only knows one word, she can remember...her boy's sorrowful face, broken and weary.
She sees smoke rising from several directions. The ashes of fallen bones continually and unnaturally rise up in various symmetrical shapes. The explosive discharges from energy weapons were being parried from one vector to another. Heaven itself seems to have its stars fall down. The terrible battle between the gods was recalled into her mind. Thousands of screaming voices. Among them all, there was her son, standing in the midst of a lonely hill, taking cover along with a couple of troopers with green T-visors and camouflage colors, carrying advanced rifles.
...He looked older but his body looked like how he was when he was in high school.
His face is all worn out that is accompanied by a few wrinkles, his hair now has whiter edges on both sides of his hair, and his bag eyes were tired, but forced to keep awake and watch due to the battle that was happening. He was wearing a set of military attire, dark grey in color, carrying a kind of highly advanced rifle.
"You alright, kid..."
An echoing voice came forth. A man who was wearing what looked to be a dark brown military trenchcoat, full-body military jumpsuit, with two handguns placed on the chest holsters, and dark grey pants, with violet sharp-edge eyes and black hair with white spots that were formerly gold, and with an overall handsome war-weary face. He was using his right hand, placing it on Shidou's right shoulder.
The Shidou of that time could only make a crestfallen smile, one that looked...broken...unfitting... If the other Spirits were to see something like this, their hearts would wonder anxiously.
"Don't worry about it...Avenging Eagle..."
But his eyes told a different story. Scars that still remained were present in his eyes.
And that memory of a War that never ended fades away...
"...Shin..."
Mio, using every bit of her strength and willpower, no matter how much fatigue she is experiencing, would embrace her son. And embrace him she did. Her hands were placed on his back. Shidou was surprised for a bit, but...nevertheless couldn't help but shed even more tears. And Mio was the same. The embrace was a long-awaited one for Mio. Did she not carry Shidou as an infant in her arms so long ago before giving him to someone else for his own safety and that of her own plan that she would put into motion? He was just so very small. When she first laid eyes on him, she thought that...after Shinji...he was the most beautiful thing in the world...it almost sparked the colors of the world back to her...just almost...
"...Ahh...Ahhhh...Ahhhhhhh..."
Both mother and son were crying as they embrace each other. Their voices weren't loud but of a softer touch as their tears fell down on their faces. A familial kind of love. More than a lifetime's worth. Shidou had so many things to tell his mother, ones that he never had been able to tell. He wanted to say that she did not have to worry about the sins of the past, that he did not hold all of what she did against her, and that no matter what she had done in the end, she was still his mother. The mother he had missed so dearly.
And they cried as they embrace one another, with the snowflake-like particles coming down.
Keeping an appropriate distance away, there was White RX, Rinne Sonogami, and Sona Sitri watching from afar.
"...No way," Rinne muttered softly, widening her eyes.
She would recognize that person that was now embracing her husband softly and was silently crying together. It was that Spirit, the same Spirit that had planned so many things into motion, including Rinne's entire existence. The progenitor of all of the Spirits. The mother of Shidou Itsuka.
"...That's his mother, isn't it," Sona did not ask, only stating a matter of fact, narrowing her eyes towards this scene. Rinne paid close attention to Sona, the latter explaining further. "My husband used to tell me all about her, every single detail that he can remember, and of course, that one precious thing that was in his current possession, one that is kept in the house."
"Eh?" Rinne sported a curious expression. "A precious thing?"
"A little stitched-up teddy bear that can fit in a breast pocket," Sona smiled sadly, looking at Rinne in the eye. Rinne widened her eyes a bit, instinctively recognizing what Sona was telling her.
The significant object that the Spirit of Origin would never like to part with and keep with because it reminded her of a special someone and that someone had given her that bear, and she of all refused to restore the bear to normal conditions for fear of tampering with it and turning it into something else.
"Sometimes, I see my husband embracing that bear by himself...I once asked about it and he told me that it belonged to his mother. That and one other thing was the only surviving object in his universe, the only two things he considered the most prized of all of his possessions, one that he would not trade to anyone, and these two objects were given to him intact by someone that he looks up to," Sona explained.
"Someone he looks up to?" Rinne muttered, curious by this statement. "Who?"
"...Now that...is the question..." Sona simply smiled in a mysterious, knowing manner, as if the question itself seems to be indicative of the identity of someone that is not here at the moment.
Who?
It was a person with the name of a question. A man of different faces. A person who is not here at the moment.
"...!"
And then they noticed something...
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Fate/stay night Heaven's Feel lll Spring Song - The Butterfly Flutters Theme
...But the happy reunion was unfortunately short-lived.
Large traces of dark red energy beams, one carrying explosive tons of firepower that could eradicate an entire city block, were heading towards the embracing mother and son. It would not be out of place to say that this is quite overkill. Both mother (despite feeling powerless at the moment) and son can sense the energies headed straight toward them.
...But.
"White: Haniel!"
But the explosions never reached them. They never reached even a hundred meters. Something stopped it. There was another person standing a few meters in front of them. He stopped it. But how? And that's when Mio noticed the similar appearance that the individual had with her son, only the bodysuit was white and he had green eyes. And his presence felt odd, almost familiar but not.
Who is he?
A question that triggered a certain memory of her son and one other person, strapped to operating tables.
Yes, this was him. Her son's best friend and brother.
And then, aside from him, two other individuals decided to appear as if they teleported instantly. Both of them were women.
Mio was rather surprised.
She recognized one of them, Rinne Sonogami, now clothed in her Astral Dress, but she can tell that her power is not up to about 100% capacity and is still operating at low levels, but nevertheless, she is quite strong enough to handle herself in a fight. The other...odd. This woman with short black hair and violet eyes, wearing a one-of-a-kind magical girl uniform, with a staff in hand.
And yet...why does this other woman have some kind of connection to her son? She can just tell. Was this what people call a mother's instinct? No, it was not just that. Mio can tell instinctively, even when she is virtually powerless, who is the most connected with her son. Rinne was an obvious example. She can just feel the bond between her and her son, and she is well aware of the intimate history between the two. But she notices this woman, someone she is not familiar with, carrying the same bond.
"Kyoudai, you alright?!" The individual that stopped the explosions, White RX, turn to Shidou.
"...Yeah."
Mio turns her face, looking at her son, still gently holding onto her. But...she notices something else. A kind of cold stone expression, his eyes narrowing, turning from brown to subtle gold. He can feel his touch holding her tightly, she can see his gritting teeth underneath his closed mouth.
No, I'm not losing her again! I'm not losing my mother again! Not this time!
"...Shin..." Mio could only mutter as she can hear the feelings and thoughts of her son.
"Ah, ah. As expected of darling, it would not be so very easy to take you out since you always have friends to back you up. But that just makes it more fun and interesting."
"...!"
A haughty and flirtatious voice came echoing throughout the surrounding areas.
Shidou immediately recognized this voice from anywhere as he felt a slithering snake run through his spine. Sona would twitch, negative feelings rushing in in relation to the voice due to how it addressed her beloved husband. Yes, darling, that was not a random nickname just thrown out. It was specifically addressed to Shidou Itsuka, indicating an interest...more like an obsession.
"...Damn it...It just had to be her..." White RX muttered with a grimaced expression, knowing just how much this meant to his kyoudai.
"...Eh?" Rinne wondered what White RX meant. As a matter of fact, she was...how does one put it, concerned, twitching, swirling feelings of jealousy, possessiveness, and overprotectiveness instinctively crossed her mind? The word "darling" felt like a grating to her ears. Something cold entered within her. This was not just some random nickname that was thrown out. This voice, one that interlaced between bittersweet sugary spices and poisonous snares, was addressing someone by that name.
There were only two men here, Shinichiro Takamiya and Shidou Itsuka. Which of the two? Rinne looks at Sona and noticed the latter's cold expression and slightly gripping her staff.
And that's when Rinne realized something. Call it a wife's instincts if you will.
Darling...was in reference to Shidou...
But it was more than just a hint of affection that came from that voice. With the context in mind, there was a history behind that certain tone of voice.
"...Although, I'm really sorry to ruin your family reunion. It was taking a bit too long and I wanted to gladly introduce myself to my future mother-in-law. I hope you can understand that."
...Yes, both Rinne and Sona felt like they wanted to grab something and hurl it. They did not like that tone of voice by instinct, especially when this voice mentioned the term 'mother-in-law' which indirectly indicated their husband. Sona most especially since she knew this voice longer than Rinne. They both felt like twitching and their knuckles were growing cold.
At some point, something was appearing a few meters away. Everyone notices. There was the visible presence of static. Accompanying it were...dark blue butterflies that were flapping from random directions, like a swirling chaotic pattern that reminded one of an impressionable painting. And coming out was the sound of fabric and little chiming bells.
An ominous wind was kicking in. Blowing from the straightforward direction. And out, lo and behold, came a figure that had materialized from the strange static.
It was a woman whose beauty looked to be ethereal. Her face was perfect and ageless, lining up with her mysterious, but ominous smile. Her soft black hair that reached down to her back was blowing gracefully along with her priestess attire. She was walking casually as if strolling along towards a party, except she was uninvited. She was not carrying anything as both of her hands were placed behind her back. And the sounds of the ominous thunder that overlay the flickering skies would make the scene feel haunting.
Sona narrowed her eyes, clenching her Kaleidoscope, steeling both her mind and heart as she confronts her natural enemy. Rinne felt a cold breeze rushing into her, warning her by instinct, that this woman was not someone you can take lightly.
"Hmm...Hmm...Hmm..."
There was nothing that would indicate the threat of this woman. All she does is hum like a carefree bird that had simply decided to come and announce her presence with the sound of her singing-like voice. It was a tone that felt like it belonged to a children's cartoon with a mouse sticking in it as a byproduct. Her bodily movements swayed and her eyes only stared at Shidou directly. Her eyes did not indicate anything from the outside, but that familiar and disturbing stare would send Shidou shivers down his spine.
Has anyone, especially a superhero, ever experienced a kind of woman that is literally obsessed with you?
Well...Shidou can definitely tell that...yes...he has and is now experiencing something like that. Although, the term 'stalker' does not begin to cover the slices of this woman's general personality.
And they all see the woman stopped. Her ocean orbs, narrowing like a lizard, were looking with casual interest at those present.
For Mio Takamiya, once she had gotten a look at this figure that had suddenly announced herself, she can feel that this woman is dangerous. She felt like a trickster that had so many pockets that carry something interesting and yet can swipe at the last moment for a renewed interest. Her mana signature, while subtle, was not lost to Mio, for she can tell that she naturally attracts all types of spiritual energy to match and improve upon her craft.
This was not like the Wizards of DEM that she had once faced. This woman was something else. And, from the way her eyes were moving, she seems to be more focused on her Shin. The look on Shin's face, a grimacing, troubled one, was more than enough for Mio to know that her son and this woman have a history to tell. And, a mother's instinct was thawing out from her heart.
The woman looks left and right, towards Sona and Rinne. She definitely recognizes the former, having fought her before, but her current line of thought was more focused on the ladder.
She claps her hands, which made everyone pay attention, with some like Shidou and Shinichiro flinching. She smiles innocently as if she did nothing wrong.
"Well, howdy do, everyone," She spoke with perfect English before switching to perfect Japanese. As she did so, she grab the sides of her attire and gave a princess-like bow. "Pardon the lack of introductions for those who may not know me, but allow me to fully rectify them. My name is The Summoner Witch of the Deep Night, High Sorceress Supreme of the Glorious and Bountiful Blue Ribbon Empire. It is truly wonderful that we all meet face to face."
Her eyes turn to Mio with an innocent smile on her face. "And it is especially gratifying to see you alive and well, my dear mother-in-law."
"...?!" Rinne widened her eyes a bit. A pang entered her heart a bit, along with other complex feelings. Who was this woman and what was her relationship with Shidou?
"...Hmph," Sona sported an unimpressed look that underneath lay a heated and cautious line of thought, readying her Kaleidoscope in position, but not indicating where or when to potentially attack as the staff was still standing up straight, with its lower edge placed on the ground. "Those are rather bold words for someone who is associated with the enemy...and especially someone who my husband would never dream of marrying and had rejected such advances."
"Husband?" Mio muttered, slightly widening her eyes towards Sona. She looks back at Shidou who only made a slight smile of embarrassment.
"I'll explain later...okaa-san," Shidou finally said the word at long last with a sorrowful smile on his face, the words that he had failed to say before. Mio in turn widened her eyes as her heart ached with swirling emotions. If it were any other circumstance, she would let loose her tears once more, but she needed to maintain focus due to the unknown probable enemy that lay just right around her corner.
"Hmm," Summoner simply made a curly jester smile after remaining silent for a bit. "Now that's quite harsh of you, Lady Sitri, considering you are already sharing your husband with someone else." She said the last part while looking Rinne, who was now attentive and frowning. "Yes, yes, I know who this other person exactly is, isn't that right, darling?"
Shidou was only silent but made a narrowed displeased expression. Rinne on the other hand was growing a little frustrated. She really, really did not like this person. There was something about her that was irking her, and that is quite a feat because that is not something anyone can just do. But the way this woman was referring to Shidou did not really sit well with her. This was not like how other Spirits would address Shidou, nor was it the way and tone of one Miku Izayoi, but it was something completely different.
A tone that wants nothing except oneself. A tone that desires the object of her choosing without necessitating the option of sharing. A tone that spoke of a heart full of avarice and lack of thought of the other.
This woman overall, just from the first few moments of encounter with her, felt like she was the exact opposite of Rinne Sonogami.
"Oi," White RX had enough of this farce, considering it a waste of time while annoyed at the rather obvious tactic that Summoner was trying to pull. "Quit this second-guessing bullshit, you succubus sorceress, get to the point already and what exactly do you really want?"
"Ara ara, such a lack of tact for the uncivilized. Is that not obvious, my dear Shadow?" Summoner made a shrug of the shoulders. Her face and tone made a solemn declaration, with her ocean orbs glowing a bit, raising her right arm toward Mio's direction while her left arm was raised sideways in a downward fashion. It was almost as if she were a priestess announcing a sermon. "Upon the infallible orders from our Supreme Emperor, I am tasked with handling the capture of all of the Spirits that are to appear upon this world, and yes, that would of course unfortunately include my dear mother-in-law...and the third-rated woman."
"Figures..." White RX muttered, narrowing his eyes.
"Third rate..." Rinne muttered, narrowing her eyes and feeling the urge to clench her fists. Sona in the meantime also narrowed her eyes at the lack of respect that Summoner was insinuating against her fellow sister and co-wife.
"Summoner," Shidou did not like the way she addressed his wife in such a way. The urge to punch her was getting a bit stronger, but he had to focus on keeping his distance while also standing by his mother's side. "My wife is not a third-rated woman."
"Wife? Which one, darling? I'm counting only two, plus adding three," Summoner sported an amused expression, putting her right index finger to her face.
"Don't play coy with me. You are not my wife and never will be, and I will say it as many times as it is necessary," Shidou spoke with a determined expression.
"...Is that so?" While Summoner was smiling, her smile was not reaching her face. Rinne, when she was looking at Summoner, felt troubled and disturbed, especially her eyes that were flashing red, flickering like electricity, and also turning dark. She can tell by instinct that Summoner's mood was sour and bitter.
Insert Song: End
ED Credit Song:
Chaos;Child (2017) Full Ending HD | "Chaos Syndrome" by Konomi Suzuki + Lyrics
Start:
...But as the conversation was still taking place.
Shidou and Shinichiro both noticed something. They can sense something coming. Rinne and Rio would notice something as well. And Mio also noticed this. A kind of speeding force that was hurling itself towards...Shidou?!
As Shidou turns around, an impacting echo was heard, with the breeze lightly being felt. His eyes and everyone else's slightly widened.
Now there were two individuals that were right behind Shidou. One was undoubtedly Kamen Rider Kabuto, all transformed and ready for action, already in Cast Off mode. And he was currently blocking a right hook from...another Kabuto?!
No, that wasn't it. He looks like Kabuto, but there was something different about him.
His body suit was white and had a sleeker dark blue armored body. His thighs and lower legs had the side armor plating and his feet had the armored boots, along with the silver knee pads too. His upper arms now only had a single silver plate covering the sides as did his forearms. His forearm armor plates connected to silver wrist bands which also connect to a White Handguard trimmed in silver on each hand. His shoulder armor was also less bulky. The top parts were a shiny blue color while being trimmed in silver. The outer sides of the shoulder armor were flat yet slightly rounded.
His chest plate is more pronounced, looking like body armor. Nearly completely dark blue in color, only the lower sides around his ribs and parts of his back were trimmed in silver. A white track line separated the chest armor, giving it the appearance of two solid pectoral plates and two solid abs plates.
The top of the helmet was mostly dark blue in color while the bottom half was silver and trimmed in white. The white linings also seemed to separate some of the silver areas, giving it a distinguished look, really like that of a beetle. The white part of his helmet was also trimmed around his silver mouth plate and his red eyepieces. On the top of his helmet was a small forward-facing silver horn. The long dark blue horn from before went right up the middle of his helmet and slightly spread out to the sides at the tip of the horn.
"Oh, hello brother, it's been a while since our last race," He spoke underneath the armor.
"Savitar," Shinji Tendou (Ikari), also known as Kamen Rider Kabuto, spoke as his blue visors flashed along with his eyes, recognizing his fierce rival and enemy.
Kamen Rider Savitar. That was the name of his old enemy. The personal enemy of Kamen Rider Kabuto.
"And seeing the lack of time, let's go for a run."
CLOCK UP!
He said that as he vanished with a burst of speed that was accompanied by a bluish color. Kabuto widened his eyes. With quick thinking, he would go after his adversary, one with yellow lightning that emanated from his body.
CLOCK UP!
A special type of function embetted into their Clock Up system, the thing that makes these speedster Kamen Riders go faster than light, was through the use of a certain cosmic energy force known as the Speed Force. What is that? It is a natural cosmic energy field and force that can spread out from its origin cosmos and into every other, based on the concepts of velocity and movement, a representation of reality in motion, the very cosmic force that pushes space and time forward.
"Hmm, quite fast, but not fast enough, as expected," Summoner spoke with a simple nod, looking unsurprised, putting both of her hands behind her back.
And suddenly, large explosions were heard from a distance. Several meters ahead, there was a battle erupting. It was between the Valkyrie Legion and what appeared to be flying white faceless humanoid mecha drones with dark blue wings and armor that were parrying every strike that was hurled at them. The Valkryie Legion of course kept pushing on, using their Territories to siphon up the large hail of blue plasma fire and make use of it in the other direction, decimating countless drones. But the problem was that more were coming.
"What the actual hell!" exclaims Captain Ryouko Kusakabe on the radio chatter, with a tone of exasperation and irritation.
She would use her Territory to reflect multiple blue energy beams back at five of the drones, exploding into ash. And then, she would use a light white sword that materialized into her hands, slicing the drone that had teleported near her, right through the chest and then decapitating it, and then kicking it towards two of its comrades, exploding as a result while at the same time, the action provided cover fire to some of the Valkryie Legion pilots.
"Tck, looks like the Commander was right," Ryouko muttered.
Flashback
A few hours ago...
"The Blue Ribbon Empire?! Are you sure, sensei?!"
Commander Kotori Itsuka, now sitting on her command chair, was speaking with Azazel via a holographic screen. Origami and the rest of the girls were in the same main bridge of the Fraxinus ERX, having transported themselves here. Azazel, sporting a grim expression, was relaying to Kotori and the girls about the current threat to the returning Spirits.
"Ah, Paradox gave me a heads-up about them, but he also warned me of one other thing, Kotori-chan. This event is not an isolated incident, and I can confirm as much from what Tabane related to me. Whatever is happening here is also happening in another universe, DCMK Universe-Prime to be exact," Azazel explained.
"Baron's Earth? Why there specifically...?" Kotori muttered and noted with concern, putting her right hand to her chin. "And speaking of Baron, has he made contact with you yet in light of this incident?"
"He did actually," Azazel smiled a bit. "From what he told me, it's already causing a major fuzz around his Earth and whatever dimension his universe is connected to, so he's admittedly busy on his end at this time. Thankfully, nothing important seems to be happening there for the most part except for whatever is happening in the skies like what everyone else in our world is seeing. However..."
There was something in Azazel's eyes that conveyed a sense of urgency.
"...I would ask you to keep your guard up as well. From what Paradox told me, the Blue Ribbon Empire may not even be the major problem that we would deal with. It's why I've called IS Academy to send in their best fighters to form a defensive perimeter around the entire city just in case something comes through and slips away, for the sake of following containment procedures."
"Wait? Are you telling us that we may be dealing with more than just a Spirit's arrival here?" Kotori asked.
"Hopefully not, but here's to both fingers crossed if what would happen as Paradox said would come to pass," Azazel muttered grimly.
Present Time...
"As much as I would love to stay and chat right here, I believe another cue is coming in," the Summoner smiled a bit.
As if on cue, a shaking of flames was now coming straight towards them in a quick-paced succession, burning the asphalt floor and whatever object lay in its path. At the same time, Summoner disappeared, and the only thing visible was the lava heading straight for them all.
But then...
SOIYA! KACHIDOKI ARMS! IZA SHUTSUJIN! EI! EI! OH!
...Something stopped the lava from continuing onwards, and it was due to someone who was appearing from the zipper crack that had opened, with a left hand raised, revealing Keiichi Morisato, also known as Kamen Rider Gaim. But his appearance was different now, more evolved. The studs on his samurai helmet now had two additional sharp antlers. There was a silver guard accompanying his mouthpiece. His armor became bulkier, with additional orange armaments. There were twin orange sashimono marked with his emblem on his back. There were two attached scabbards on his waist. This form was known as Kamen Rider Gaim Kachidoki Arms.
Now, he was currently wielding a sword that was a combination of both of his weapons, the Musou Saber and the Hinawadaidai-DJ-Ju, in his right hand. And following after him, there was the presence of two individuals that were walking alongside Gaim. And the zipper portal closed immediately right after.
"Seekvaira? Sairaorg?" Sona muttered as she widened her eyes, recognizing the two people that stepped out along with Gaim, fellow Devil Kings, and fellow comrades.
Seekvaira Agares was now wearing what appeared to be a mechanized futuristic dark blue body suit with a sleek and moveable design, two dark blue and white wings attached to her back, red visor glasses covering her eyes, along with a white headband that has a G letter on the center. Overall, she was wearing a modified IS that she would term as the Turn A Victory.
Sairaorg Bael was now wearing lion-themed armor, complete with a set of gauntlets, chest armor, and other parts of the body, while also wearing a red shirt and pants underneath, along with a headpiece that has the symbol of a lion in it. He was wearing his Sacred Gear known as Regulus Nemea, and with the use of a technique called Touki, there was a certain mixture of white and gold aura, subtle but effective, fit for a Lion King.
"Yo, Sona, glad to see you're doing well," Sairaorg spoke with a confident smirk, putting his left palm to his right clenched hand, while he and the others were looking at somewhere.
"Hmph, impressive counter. As expected of a true successor of a god to stand in my path to victory."
A swirling black substance encircled their straight point of view, revealing a very tall individual wearing bulky black armor, with four curved horns found on his helmet, along with a black cape attached to his back, blown by the winds. His eyes, glowing red, were seen underneath the helmet.
"Ares," Gaim muttered in recognition, narrowing his eyes underneath his helmet.
Ares Mars, a Greco-Roman God from an entirely different universe. A warrior god through and through.
"We meet once again in the fields of battle, Morisato Keiichi—Kamen Rider Gaim. I had a few hopes that we would battle without any other individuals getting in the way, but I suppose that this would make due."
At the same time Ares was talking, Gaim would suddenly materialize near Ares' back and perform a sword-slashing maneuver, but Ares anticipated it by summoning a kind of fiery blade. His blade and Gaim's blade clashed, revealing sparks of flames that fell to the ground. And they both take themselves to the skies as they continue to attack with their blades, with several sparks of flames of orange and black flying, all at high speed, completely unmatched by the naked eye.
"Let's go, Seek," Sairaorg said.
"Right," Seekvaira nodded.
And they both blasted off to the skies and would also engage in the battle between Gaim and Ares. Their movements were quick-paced, invisble to the naked eye. Seekvaira, using her time manipulation, managed to get near Ares' location faster, calculating the exact distances within her mind, and mentally commanding her IS to fire from multiple directions, firing red energy beams and projectiles from several angles. All of them materialized, locked on to Ares, and fired.
Gaim teleported at the last moment, and red chains were seen to materialize on Ares, keeping him locked, if a bit temporary for the former as various projectiles all headed towards him. Only...
...With the assistance of his dark magic, he dissipated these projectiles, the only thing left was dark flames that ooze the stench of death. And the perfect opportunity struck as Sairaorg performed multiple punches on Ares, which he blocked swiftly and with his red eyes glowing. And Gaim would follow suit as he assisted Sairaorg, using his sword to perform violent sword energy strikes that took the form of orange slices.
While everyone on the ground was watching...
"Well, I suppose it's my turn to enter the show."
Something appeared, decloaking oneself from his camouflage. It was an individual wearing a silver mask, wearing a dark grey cloak, and wearing a dark blue bodysuit. He was currently putting his arms in a crossed position, standing tall and simply content in merely watching his opponents.
"Copy Master," Sona muttered, narrowing her eyes.
Copy Master is a dangerous enemy working for the Blue Ribbon Empire, one that has the capability to replicate the physical skills, be it combat or athletic, of anyone he observes thanks to his photographic reflexes, along with certain powers through the use of his advanced armor.
Why did Copy Master decide not to attack? That is what Sona thought. And that's when she also realized immediately that Copy Master was waiting for someone.
A sword strike?! Appearing out of nowhere?! No, not just nowhere. Somewhere in a reflection nearby an abandoned car that was near Copy Master's location. It was Keitaro Urashima, also known as Kamen Rider Ryuki, using his Dragsaber to slash him, only for Copy Master to disappear and reappear a few meters away.
"Ryuki, just the man I've been waiting," Copy Master spoke with a solemn tone.
Then, he would dodge a sudden attack from both sides. Both Issei Hyoudou and Vali Lucifer, both in their Juggernaut Compact Forms, appearing from both sides, tried to tag him, only for Copy Master to disappear...
BOOST!
DIVIDE!
...And reappear. Issei and Vali, combining their powers together, both fired large energy bursts with their hands, ones dancing of crimson and bright white, towards Copy Master who was standing there on the side of a rooftop nearby...
...And he also essentially blocked their powers with a kind of mirror. But the mirror was of course a double-edged sword because...
"Cha!"
From the other side of the mirror was Ryuki who came out of the mirror and would use this opportunity to deliver multiple sword strikes on Copy Master, but the latter parries it with a kind of white-colored blade that hummed while it blocked the metal part of the sword. A furious frenzy erupted between the clashes. No matter what Ryuki did, even when he fired flames with his palms, Copy Master can block each and every single attack with his laser sword and with also replicate Ryuki's flame techniques. Issei and Vali would teleport after them and engage Copy Master in the fight while assisting Ryuki.
DIVIDE!
"...!" Issei felt some part of his strength waning. Normally impossible, but unfortunately...not so much when dealing with Copy Master.
"...Have you forgotten since our very last encounter, little dragons?" Copy Master spoke while kicking Issei away towards a few rooftops, landing on another rooftop, and breaking some of the roofs that he landed.
"...I can copy every move and tactic that you both can make, within the limits of reason of course."
At the same time when Copy Master was talking, Vali was taking to the skies, teleporting for appropriate distances, and was about to fire large energy bursts, but...
"...!"
A highly advanced missile that materialized from another dimension hit Vali at point blank, sending him crashing to a nearby building's window, cracking it, and shattering the glass.
DND HOT AND COLD FLAME VENT!
A cooling lava descended upon Copy Master who transported himself immediately to another location.
DND RAY OF FROST VENT!
He raised his right hand which cools out the cooling hot lava that was heading straight towards him from multiple directions. And then he blocks Ryuki's attempted sword attack which made another round of sword attacks and dodging movements that takes them to several locations around the suburban area. And two annoyed Heavenly Dragons, gritting their teeth, would follow them with swift speed.
"Damn that discount Taskmaster!" Issei exclaims with a sense of irritation.
From above, swirling flames and sparks were seen furiously dancing above, along with quick-paced transmissions and speed that made them hard for the naked eye to keep track of.
"Hehehe." At the same time, Summoner only materialized again, revealing her amused smile. "I knew that those boys, even with their personal agendas, would be a useful bunch."
Her eyes now looked at both Rinne and Sona, at both Shidou Itsuka and Shinichiro Takamiya, and then most especially at Mio Takamiya who were all watching her.
"...Anata," Sona muttered with a grim tone. She was now speaking to her husband whose ears were perking up, noticing his wife calling him. "You and Shinichiro-san should take your mother and get away. I and Rinne would handle this ourselves. You understand?"
Rinne looked a bit surprised as she turned to Sona who gave her a slight knowing smile. This battle between them and Summoner would not just be an ordinary one. It would in fact be a more personal one. Because as Rinne realized, this woman in front of them was someone that had a history with her husband. Rinne had resolved to try to discover about her husband's new life.
This was one of them. Despite her newly found natural dislike for this woman, the woman is nevertheless a part of her husband's history. Though from the hints that she can gleam from first impressions, something was instinctively telling her to be cautious, especially with the way she was looking at her husband.
Shidou, while looking conflicted, realized the subtle but insightful points that his wife was trying to make. Now was the time for him to focus more on his mother. As long as she is here, there is a risk of her capture by enemy forces. Now, he is greatly concerned for both of his wives, but he also trusts them to be able to handle themselves. In fact, now that Rinne had gotten some of her powers back, it would ease her worries a bit.
"...Alright," Shidou spoke simply. Then he looks at his mother who was sporting a concerned expression.
"...!"
To the surprise of Mio, Shidou would stand up and start carrying Mio with ease. She was quite light as a feather, as pale as snow.
"Okaa-san, hang on tight," Shidou said with a serious expression. Then he turns to White RX who nodded at him.
Afterwards, they both disappeared, along with Mio Takamiya.
"Aww, and I was hoping that I can still chat with darling," Summoner pouted a bit.
"Unfortunately, you would have to make do with myself and of my fellow co-wife for now," Sona would place her left hand on the bridges of her glasses, making its optical lenses shine a bit. Her expression was serious, followed by a deadpan tone. Then the tone turned serious, even narrowing, as her blue eyes were flashing with subtle killing intent. "I will say this as many times as it is necessary. I will not hand over my husband to you or to anyone else, my co-wife of course being an acceptable exception to the rule."
Summoner could only smirk back a bit, looking at the two wives of Shidou Itsuka who were narrowing their eyes on her.
"Well, I was of course planning to stick around and entertain the company of my darling's...well, concubines," The way she said the term 'concubines' made both Rinne and Sona twitch because it was more on the lines of insulting and lack of respect. It was like she was trying to get through their buttons.
Was this a deliberate tactic? For Sona, it felt that way, along with a tinge of personal vendetta. Sona would know due to recalling other similar moments aside from this, how subtle but nevertheless salty Summoner had become for the past years or so when she married Shidou. Perhaps, it was a genuine kind but twisted nonetheless.
"...Say, now that we have the playing field all to ourselves, mind if I play first?" Summoner asked playfully, summoning her staff that was seen from her right hand.
"Don't leave us hanging here, nyan."
Both Rinne and Sona notice a magic circle appearing. No, more like two red magic circles. They were all continuously hovering upward, revealing two women.
"Kuroka, Le Fay," Sona muttered.
"Oh~?" Summoner raised her eyebrow.
Le Fay Pendragon was sporting a grim expression, narrowing her eyes at Summoner as she has her battle staff in her right hand.
Kuroka Toujou, sporting a cat-like smirk, putting one hand to her waist, spoke with a haughty tone. "Still salty as ever, wench? I would have thought that you had gotten over that phase by now. It's not a good look for you, nyan."
"Heeh," Summoner looked amused more than anything. "If you two are here...then..."
Summoner looks up a bit, looking to her east, seeing two magical girl figures standing on a rooftop with their Kaleidosticks at hand, both of whom were narrowing their eyes at her.
A young foreign but beautiful woman with long white hair and crimson eyes, wearing a pink and white dress, with pink gloves, and a pink-white cape.
A young woman with long black hair and golden brown eyes, wearing a black and blue dress with a white cape.
"...Quite the nerve, showing yourself at this time, Summoner," one of the women, Illyasviel von Einzbern, spoke with a soft, but clear voice, one that is seemingly heard from the distance between the rooftop and the ground upon which Summoner and a few others stand. Ilya was smirking like a predator, and her eyes were mysterious as it is sharp.
"...Well, this is hardly fair," Summoner mused a bit. "All of my darling girls ganging up on me. I find that hurtful really."
"Knowing who you are exactly underneath that beauty and skin, you don't deserve Itsuka-kun," Miyu Sakatsuki spoke with a narrowed tone. "There are plenty of women who are more than enough to keep him company as close friends. Even when he rejected us, we still stand by him in case he has need of us."
"...Hmm?" Rinne could not help but note that response. She is not surprised by such things at this point, but still wonders how many women had gained affection for her husband.
"...Well, I suppose this makes the present battle so much fun."
And then, something was materializing right above her. A kind of Iron Maiden that opens up, revealing spikes.
"...Ne, Sonogami Rinne," Summoner twisted her neck with a smile that was cold and slasher-like. Her eyes were turning blood red, making Rinne cautious and troubled. "Do you think you can catch the chains of my love?"
And then suddenly chains would descend down in droves from the sky, targeting everyone on the ground.
End
New Characters:
Zafkiel Binah - A: Jensen Ackles
