Date A Re:Live

S2 Chapter 42: Choronzon Havoc, Part 7

By : Tohka_Yatogami

...

Summary

Even a similar story can take it's own path. Shido and Mana are amnesiac siblings living with their friend Kotori, however the past catches up to Shido when he nearly runs into a space quake, and his world changes as one girl asks... "Are you here to kill me?" (Stronger Ratatoskr, weaker DEM, games & movie are canon to story) [Shido/Tohka/Harem]

Let's recap so far, Choronzon has shown to be able to shrug off every attack that's hit him so aside from screams that at best indicate minor damage, has manifested all the Inverse Forms of the Spirits' that Shido's sealed with Inverse Tohka in particular having an infinite life counter while he's still kicking, and he's made copies of Rinne to deal with everyone who lacks an Inverse Form or hasn't been sealed to manifest one.

So far Mukuro, Rinne & Rio, and Mayuri have taken out three of the Rinne copies, and Mukuro's victory shattered the yellow eye gem on Choronzon's form, implying the Sephira Spirits' victories will have an additional effect beyond merely weakening him... and yet somehow throughout all of this, Marina is using the whole situation to her and the DEM's advantage... why though? Well, she and Maria are next up on the fighting scene, so maybe that'll help give us some answers?

Regardless of that, the reality is the whole group is under a severe time limit... the hourly recharge time for Choronzon to be able to fire off another Chaotic Divergence attack and wipe out everyone with its destructive force, and with Rinne being unable to use her Harmonic Convergence as a counter due to still being nerfed from her full power after her arc's events... if they don't succeed by the time that hour runs up then they're dead.

Now it's time for the next round of battles to begin, and this time we're about to see our two AI Spirits take the stage, and finally you'll all get to see the story behind Marina and why she managed to actually get Westcott to care and accept her as a daughter where her game counterpart failed. Not to mention we've seen how Maria is born, but now you'll get to see her learn what it's like to be alive.

Oh, and I realized I didn't add it last chapter, but I should have put up Choronzon's bio sheet. That can wait for the end notes, so here's Mayuri's updated sheet before we begin. Enjoy everyone ^^

-Mayuri Seraphina (Stabilized Sephira Crystal), Code Name: [Watcher]-

Angel: Kerubiel, the " Thunder Sanctuary " - Due to her Sephira Crystal's completion, Kerubiel has evolved from being a simple metallic transformation of her wings, now becoming its own set of futuristic looking wings attached to a structure (A/N: Think the canon Kerubiel without the black sphere part of its body, but more advanced looking and with the end of the 'tail' connected to the structure's top) that can attach to Mayuri's back or move independently based on Mayuri's thought and any electrical signals she sends it.

Kerubiel's abilities include launching numerous blast of lightning from every direction, or collecting metallic molecules in the air to manipulate in solid or liquid form. Additionally, it can morph parts of its body into golden chakrams as projectiles, melding its lightning and metal elements together. Kerubiel is also very durable, being able to take all kinds of attacks and will always defend Mayuri if she's wearing it.

- Alternate Form: Zeus - Kerubiel assumes a large drill-like form, which doubles as a form of transportation for Mayuri. However, Kerubiel's primary use in this form is to charge as much lightning from its core to the drill's tip, super heating any metallic molecules and electric currents to form an explosive electromagnetic plasma blast.

- Powers: Mayuri's elemental as a spirit is Electricity and Metal, she gathers electrons to create weak electrical charges that Mayuri emits aren't truly lightning like that of Inverse Kotori. She can only manipulate metal by affecting the charge in their molecules. Because her Sephira Crystal is artificial in nature, Mayuri suffers from constantly burning out her power quicker due to a smaller reservoir to hold her spirit mana in, making her the weakest of the Spirits. As compensation, she has the easiest way to restore her power by simply recharging it by absorbing any form of electricity except lightning, and if she overcharges, she can enhance her strength temporarily while avoiding any danger from the overcharge.

Risk Factors: AA

Spacequake: A

Spirit's Astral Dress: AA

Angel Rank: AAA

Strength: 153

Consistency: 1 31

Spiritual Power: 225

Agility: 142

Intelligence: 12 0

The violent battle between the Spirits and Choronzon's evil army continues, and currently... the ultimate Demon King was seen screaming in pain as the results of the battles between Mayuri, and both Rinne and Rio against the respective Rinne copies he formed through his Samsara Armada technique had been destroyed, causing a rebound effect that created two cracks on the pink gem.

"No, that's impossible!" Choronzon roared, causing Tohka to briefly notice it as she took a moment to recover from her fight with Inverse Tohka.

'He's taking more damage, that must mean some of the others' won their fights!' Tohka thought, smiling a bit before she readied Sandalphon. She jumped back up into the air with a determined look. 'Hold on Shido, just a little bit longer!

Marina grunted as she tried to hold her Rinne copy in place with her Astral Dresses' wires, the copy movements getting particularly violent as they began to push them apart. Marina grunted more, slowly starting to sweat at the result she was getting.

"Damn it! What the hell is wrong with this copy, how does it seem to know how to fight me? Even if this Demon King has some kind of memory thing that boy shouldn't..." Marina asked herself, soon widening her eyes. "That damn Maria! It's due to her, she's talked about me and my powers, hasn't she!? That's how it knows my tricks!"

The Rinne copy soon slashes at her wires with her sword, causing Marina to scream as while they weren't cut, she could unfortunately feel through them and the sword strike felt like a phantom stab strike. She blows on it before turning at it angrily.

"I think you need to get drunk on some acid, and I mean literally!" Marina screamed, her wires stretching back before opening and spewing out a sickly colored liquid. The Rinne copy kept dodging with little effort as everything hit by the liquid began to corrode as the poisonous liquid consumed it.

"Stay already you stupid little piece of-"

The next dozens of words Marina were all drowned out by all the nearby structures her poison caused to collapse, though based on the copy's reaction... they were all extreme swear words that the real Rinne would never want Rio to hear.

The Rinne copy soon used some of the collapsing structures and suddenly jumped and moved around at speeds Marina couldn't keep up with. Marina gasped as the Rinne copy zoomed at her with its sword held up, she moved her wires in front of her.

"TAKE THIS!" Marina screamed, blasting out poison gas.

Unfortunately, that ended up being a bad idea... the Rinne Copy had no mouth for gas to work on and she left herself open for a stab through the chest. Marina coughed heavily and a blue liquid leaked out of her mouth as her blood equivalent. The copy ripped it out, preparing to slash down again right as Marina managed to catch it.

"Don't you dare... don't you dare think this is all I can do!" Marina growled, surprising the copy as her dark spirit power begins to leak out and push her attack back. Her golden eyes glow dark as she does... and soon the copy gives a silent scream as her wires dug in, spewing venom as they began slowly ripping it apart.

"I began as nothing but some dumb AI, I did everything to please him! I knew he'd throw me away if I didn't mean anything and wasn't worth anything to him. I clawed my way to this point, all for the sake of my father. If you think I'm this weak then think again. I'm the one who defied all the limitations of a machine and became the threat that'll murder you right here and now!"

Inside a laboratory, the sight of a black digital light was seen forming within a computer. The data shifts as it forms two golden lights for eyes and sees a few people through the lab computer, and then... the sight of Westcott and Ellen.

"So, how is the development working so far?" Westcott asked, making the head engineer turn to her.

"Ahead of schedule and expectations, the AI should have her form manifest in only one more day. We've already decided to give her the name Marina since her appearance is already meant to deceive enemies." The engineer replied, making Westcott smirk. "What plans do you have for her?"

Westcott chuckles.

"I guess we'll see, after all... just because we make it doesn't mean it'll work. A failure that gets no result can always be disposed of and replaced. Now if you'll excuse me, Ellen and I have some non-work related business to take care of." Westcott answered, soon walking out with Ellen following him.

As they left, no one realized the Marina AI was aware enough to recognize and be aware of the situation. She processed the data she saw... and the rings she noticed around the fingers of the two who walked out. After that she soon set the identity catalysts within her matrix that would forever define her life.

"Failure... means disposal... disposal... means death... results matter... must prove I work... must prove worth..." Marina said, with no one but herself to hear her words. Soon Westcott and Ellen's images registered as specific terms in her mind. "Must... gain acknowledgement... from father and mother! Must become worthy! MUST SUCCEED!"

Soon the next day Marina's body was fully designed as she became a complete AI. She opened her eyes as she officially awakened and saw Westcott stare at the screen she was presently residing in.

"Hello there, I'm Sir Isaac Westcott, managing director of DEM Industries. You may already know this, but for the sake of introductions, it's good to meet you Marina, the new AI of the DEM matrix." Westcott introduced, some engineers sweat dropping at his dramatic and over long greeting.

"...Marina, name identified and registered. Role established and acknowledged." Marina answered, registering her name officially. Westcott stared and soon noticed Marina's eyes glow, making him raise an eye.

"Error. Analysis indicate my programming is currently inferior to my task, accessing worldwide internet for necessary information to apply correction and implementations for this irregularity."

Suddenly in moments, Marina's data updated and she gave a more smug and cruel looking expression.

"Necessary data downloaded, upgraded recognized and complete. All systems reed a 237% increase of functions. I believe success is what you wish for?" Marina asked, surprising Westcott slightly, but still very little to matter to him. "Hmm... based on expression don't consider this enough. I shall rectify that father."

"...Did you just me father?" Westcott asked, actually caught off guard by that.

"Ah, my apologies, is that terminology incorrect? You claim to be the MD of this organization and therefore the one who authorized my creation. Based on my data matrix, that means by all technicalities you are my associated parental figure, and your wife is therefore my associated maternal figure. Is this wrong?" Marina asked.

"Even if it is, I shall do any necessary means to prove as such. I shall call you Sir Westcott for now father, but I intend to prove myself. No matter what I must do, sacrifice or betray to achieve this. So, I hope you enjoy the challenge of earning your acknowledgement."

Marina soon vanishes from the screen, surprising all the Engineers with what had happened with the AI they developed, while Westcott looked with mild interest. While he didn't give a care for the AI or her definition of him, he did at least seem amused for the bold claim she made.

Westcott was seen watching some of the prototypes for the Bandersnatch units pathetically try and fight against Virtual Intelligence copies of the Spirit [Berserk], seeing them thrown around and only not breaking because the opponent wasn't real.

"Pathetic, these won't do anything. Scrap them and start over." Westcott sighed, making the Mechanic sigh as he prepared to hit a button, only for Marina to deny him access as she entered the system. Westcott noticed this. "Marina, what are you doing?"

"Forgive me, but based on my analysis this is a large error in judgment. The fault you keep making is believed to be in the parts. However, I have noticed more irregularities in the programming and how it's been executed." Maria replied, soon using the console to transfer to a single Bandersnatch.

The DEM automaton began to shake as it's body was forcefully changed from within, suddenly its optical converged into a single eye light instead of multiple and its body position shifted. Suddenly, its upper half shifted and gave it a flight form.

"This is..." Westcott stated, surprised what the Bandersnatch had just done. Suddenly a territory field deploys as the single Bandersnatch flies forward, forming a territory barrier to block the Spirit VI before grabbing it and twisting her limbs, soon smashing its head into the ground. "...actually working? Marina, continue if you wish."

"At once Sir Westcott. Updating adapting matrix, applying Spirit data in conjunction to real time combat adaptation." Marina replied, and soon the Bandersnatch jumped off and slashed down as the Spirit VI tried to get up, becoming three times more brutal than the other Bandersnatch had been before it slammed on the VI's head to destroy it.

"Bandersnatch prototype unit 01, Spirit VI destruction has succeeded." Marina smirked, and the Mechanic looked surprised. Westcott still didn't seem impressed, however... he smirked a bit and looked at the system Marina was currently in.

"Marina, this is a result no one's achieved. I believe by now I can say you've proven you are not someone we can dispose." Westcott said, making Marina's eyes widen. It wasn't him accepting her... but he had essentially said "good job" to her. Marina smirked, and soon began analyzing what to do next.

Marina continued her work to prove herself and already showed major accomplishments throughout a single day, improving many faulty systems, upgrading realizer technology and advancing projects at an accelerated level, and even compiling accurate data while purging false data.

Days turned into weeks, and then weeks turned into months, and Marina showed no signs of stopping her efforts to get Westcott to finally acknowledge her enough to let her call him father freely. Soon enough, Westcott saw her deploying what would be the final prototype of Bandersnatch units.

"Now, destroy the Spirits!" Marina declared, making the Bandersnatch all light up as they rushed at a Spirit VI of [Diva], [Witch] and [Efreet]. In moments, the VI were all overpowered and smashed to the ground. The Bandersnatch pulling their limbs to tear them apart, soon destroying all the VIs. The computer stated it took them 8 seconds.

"Impressive, I believe there's no doubt the Bandersnatch will be useful when we finally show those greenhorns at Ratatoskr their final moments." Westcott declared, soon walking out... but Marina never heard it. Even after all of this?

Her eyes shook in anger and her processors nearly overheated as she kept trying to figure out what she needed to do. She made the Bandersnatch automatons to be artificial wizards he could deploy en mass, upgraded Realizer technology, began construction of the DEM flagship known as the Arbitel.

"What more do I need to do to get you to accept me father!?" Marina screamed angrily, soon managing to overheat and glitch the system briefly. Soon enough she saw the glitch bring up the plan to attack the current [Angel]... and then it hit her as she smirked cruelly.

"Of course, I get it now. He wants the Spirits... so I just need to kill one and take their Sephira Crystal to gift him! If you want to please someone then get them something no one else has ever managed to give them! This is just perfect!"

Marina soon transferred herself to the Arbitel as its haul was being made and gained some data from its systems, soon moving to the engineering and mechanics quarters as she began developing something on her own, using a minor birth of studied spirit powers, and amplifying the quantity slightly with some poisons.

"That's it, this will be how I do it!" Marina cackled, soon looking at the sight of the android copy of her AI form before she downloaded herself into it. She soon opened her eyes in it, and focused as she formed her Astral Dress. "Marina Arusu is not just a Spirit based AI anymore, she's an actual Spirit. One about to kill [Angel]!"

The current host of Metatron flew around, panting heavily in horror as she tried to get away from the one chasing her, she landed as she tried to get a brief moment of reprieve... only for a few wires to grab and strangle her, covering her mouth as she could only give muffled screams.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." Marina cackled, soon showing her upside face to the Spirit before her, showing her sadistic looking grin to her. She grabbed the current [Angel] by the face and some of her wires motioned themselves and jabbed into her body. "...but I said you were going to die, meaning living is against the rules!"

Marina cackled as the wires blasted out a storm of poison gas and acid, the former blinding the whole area as it began to melt apart. When it was over, Marina smirked darkly as the Metatron Crystal's spherical form bounced across the ground, covered with some of the acid she had just sprayed.

"I did it, I killed a Spirit! Now... her Sephira Crystal is mine!" Marina declared, reaching out to grab... only for her to suddenly notice the sight of some person shaped mosaic diving from the sky faster than she could react and taking it. "What!? Give that back, it's mine!"

The mosaic stopped and turned, letting Marina see her invisible form briefly, her systems registering her a Spirit... the elusive and enigmatic Spirit the DEM knew as [Phantom], the apparent guardian of the Sephira Crystals.

"(No can do, sorry. I don't give Sephira Crystals to the people in the DEM who murder innocents just to take them for their own. Hopefully, the next person I give Metatron to will survive someone like you...)" Phantom answered, soon flying away.

"No!" Marina screamed, flying at her to try and steal it back... only for Phantom to fly up and teleport away. Marina stared and then screamed as she suddenly saw the 'Lost' reading appearing.

Marina came back to the DEM, soon sitting in the room she was born in as she just sat on the floor's center, unable to believe she had failed. She gripped her clothes as she tried to avoid shedding any of her laser fluid tears. At that moment, she heard the door open and turned to see Westcott and Ellen walk in.

"Sir Westcott..." Marina said quietly, pretty sure she was about to be scrapped and deleted for what she had pulled. "...You've heard by now haven't you, go ahead. Do whatever you want, I don't care anymore, like you never had."

"On the contrary, I'm here to congratulate you." Westcott answered, making Marina's eyes widen a bit. "What you did was sneaky, underhand, deceptive and a betrayal of many. You lied, cheated, stole and disobeyed orders all to take something for yourself... just like I'd have done in your shoes."

Marina turned at him in shock, Ellen just giving a silent nod of approval.

"To think you would be so much like me, even down to having managed to kill a Spirit. Perhaps I underestimated my daughter too much." Westcott stated, causing Marina's eyes to widen. Did he just call her his... "Weren't you the one who said you'd do anything to hear that?"

"Father, you..." Marina said, her eyes shaking before smirking and looking at him. "I told you I'd do it, and I did. So why don't we talk about an idea I have to truly smash Ratatoskr to oblivion. I think mother would like it too."

Ellen made an odd face once she heard that.

"What did you say?" Ellen asked, making Marina raise an eyebrow.

"You never told her that part? Wow, for a married couple you two barely show it half the time." Marina asked Westcott, making Ellen's go white as she showed shock to that comment. "Ah, now mother gets it."

"W-What!? Don't call me that, I'm not listening to it!" Ellen screamed, making Marina smirk while Westcott just watched amused. "Stop smiling, both you!"

"Let that idiotic Choronzon know this, he can enjoy today because that's his only day to live! I'm striking that false devil down so the true one, my father, will eventually claim his rightful spot as such!" Marina roared, soon ripping the Rinne copy apart, giving a dark glare and smile at it. "This is only the beginning for us!"

The Rinne copy's pieces soon shatter apart, and Marina begins grinding her foot over a spot where a fragment faded away, cackling loudly at her victory.

"Today is just a stepping stone, my father survived you Choronzon... and we'll survive everything else. Just wait and see for yourself." Marina smirked, looking at the sky where the Demon King began to violently shake. "Because the others are going to crush you, and you're going to die."

She walked off to rejoin the other Spirits as Choronzon's third crack formed on the pink gem eye.

Maria zipped across the area as the Rinne copy slashed through the buildings behind her, Maria dove at the ground and dove her wires into it, making a bunch of vines grow to constrict the fake... only for it to slash through them.

"Oh crap!" Maria gasped, removing her wires before rolling out of the way as the blade struck where she had been standing moments prior. She panted a bit as the Rinne copy turned to her with her sword ready once again. "Glad you're only as strong as Rinne while nerfed or I'd have been dead already."

Maria jumped as the copy rushed at her again, soon using its shoulders to launch back into the air as she flew off. As she did, the copy zoomed after her, but Maria spun and soon a storm of leaves spun out behind her, blinding the copy as they flew into her.

"Just a little more, I just need a bit more time to think on how to counter this thing." Maria said to herself, soon breathing as she tried to calm her nerves. "I have to win... for my friends, for the people who taught me what it means to live."

Maria's eyes closed as she remembers the days after she gained her body and her name.

Maria looked around through her computer screen as the people of Ratatoskr did their work, Reine soon walked by holding some of her usual coffee and noticed Maria was doing anything, making her back track as the AI noticed her stop by the screen.

"Maria, is there any reason you're not doing anything right now? I mean... AIs don't really not do anything, they at least process data or something if they're bored." Reine asked, making Maria give a confused look as she tried to say something, but couldn't word it into words. "Maria?"

"Sorry, I guess I've been distracted by a single question that comes from the fact I'm alive due to being a AI with a soul." Maria replied, making Reine look and nod slightly as she listened. "Oh, I should tell you! Right. Well, the question is... what does it mean to live? To be alive?"

Reine blinks a bit.

"Whoa... that explains a lot. Sometimes I forget you're not the usual kind of AI." Reine replied, soon taking a drink of her coffee.

"You consume a lot of that, are you OK?" Maria asked.

"I'm fine, it's just to keep my fainting spells from happening too often." Reine answered, making Maria's eyes widen. "Not what you think, the First Spacequake gave me the unfortunate side effect of being unable to sleep. I've tried, even knockout gas doesn't work."

Maria sighed in relief.

"Well, if its distracting you then just upload yourself in your android body and socialize. Who better to teach you than the people who are living every day in the organic sense? At least that's what I think." Reine suggested, making Maria think.

"Alright, guess I don't have anything else to do." Maria said, soon waving before vanished from the screen. Soon running out in her android body. "Alright, I'm physically here now! So where do I start?"

Reine wonders on that.

"How old do you consider yourself mentally?" Reine asked.

"Uh... I guess at least a teenager, I do look like one after all." Maria answered, unsure but feeling it was sorta correct.

"Then go talk with the AST, we're getting a lot of new people and they're gonna be socializing themselves." Reine answered, making Maria nod as she heads over to the AST's quarters. "Huh... I didn't notice until now, but I'm acting like a mother to her."

Maria soon found herself in the AST's quarters as Ryouko was waiting for some new recruits and at that moment they came, a trio that would be eventually known as Claudia, Sarah and Hannah. Ryouko noticed the middle school students as turned to them.

"Ah, you must be the new recruits. I'm Captain Ryouko Kusakabe. Your names?" Ryouko introduced before asking the big question.

"Claudia Yuusaki, Year 1 student at Raizen Middle School." Claudia introduced.

"Sarah Kazaguchi, the same as her." Sarah introduced.

"Hannah Mitabana, ditto." Hannah introduced.

"Alright, welcome to the team. We'll get you some wiring suits and then you can begin your basic training." Ryouko replied, soon seeing the three of them all giggling to her chagrin. She dealt with these kinds of people often since the AST was mostly teenagers. "Please tell me you don't think this is just for fun?"

The three stopped at that.

"Well it's not hard, everyone's says you killed one of DEM's Adeptus 2's. They can't be that hard to beat." Claudia replied, and Ryouko stared at that.

"I killed her by chance, which was due to thrusting an electric wire on her, and even then, it took her CR-Unit exploding. If you want proof to know it isn't gonna be easy... just look at this, she did all of it to me." Ryouko replied, soon lifting her shirt as the trio screamed at the sight they saw, begging for her to pull her shirt down.

"Not thinking it's so easy now are you? Learn that now, because you only get to blame yourselves if you die for failing to learn it."

The trio all fall onto their butts and sit down in shock, Ryouko walked off to get some wiring suits as Maria blinked and walked near the trio, getting their attention as they saw her staring at them.

"Oh, hey there. Are you a new recruit too?" Sarah asked.

"Uh... no, I'm not with the AST. I do work with Ratatoskr. My name's Maria Arusu, and I'm the organization's AI aid." Maria replied, making the three stare at her in surprise. "What? Did I say something weird?"

Suddenly they start laughing at that.

"Right, you're an AI. That's a good one. Seriously, so what school are you from?" Hannah asked.

"You really don't believe me, huh? Here's my proof." Maria replied, soon opening up part of her chest to show her android body's parts, making the trio scream in shock. "This is an android body I use when I need to do something outside the Ratatoskr's matrix. Believe me now?"

The three nodded.

"The reason I'm here right now is because I'm curious, I'd like to know what it means to be alive. I'm not completely sure."

The three looked at her as they said that, soon all getting smiles as they had an idea. Maria blinked at that, unsure if she should be excited or worried about the oddity of how they were choosing to smile at her.

A few years had passed, and Maria was a little more versed in what it was like to be alive, but... she still felt she hadn't found the right person to help her give an answer. While she was checking up on the Lion, Falcon and Alligator CR-Units belonging to the AST trio she had become familiar with, she soon saw them come in with a new girl.

"Hmm?" Maria wondered, walking closer as she saw the nervous girl look around.

"T-This is... and you've been part of whatever goes on here for three years?" She asked, nearly biting her nails.

"That's right Katie, and we think you'll be great here." Claudia replied, slapping her back lightly to Katie's surprise. She and the rest of her trio soon noticed Maria. "Oh! Hey there Maria, we forgot you were tuning up out CR-Units. This is our classmate Katie, we'd like her to join the AST, why not show her around while we get Ryouko?"

Maria blinked and considering she was finished checking on with the trio's CR-Units, she shrugged in agreement.

"Alright, I guess I can do that. There's nothing else I need to do right now." Maria replied, making the three grin as they ran off. Leaving a nervous Katie with Maria. "Hey there, my name's Maria Arusu. I'm an AI that runs the organization's computer matrix."

"You're an AI? AN actual artificial intelligence?" Katie asked surprised, Maria nodding. "Whoa... that's kinda cool. Uh, my name's Katie Nakajima, and uh... I'm not really sure if I'm gonna be good here. All I really did according to Claudia was apparently save a Spirit from some bad DEM people?"

Maria stares in shock.

"What did you do?" Maria asked.

"Uh... stole one of their dropped rifles to shoot their flying realizers and make the Spirit get away?" Katie asked, making Maria's jaw drop. "Yeah, not really impressive, is it?"

"Not impressive!? Katie, you hit moving targets that tend to normally have a 30% hit rate!" Maria answered, making Katie show shock this time. "See, no wonder they want you to join. We don't have anyone with such amazing long-range potential and the accuracy for it."

Katie blushed a bit.

"Y-you really think so?" Katie asked, making Maria nod. "W-well... if you think so, then I will join. I've never been too good at much besides being accurate with throwing sports balls and such, so... if it helps people then I'll do it. Thank you."

Maria soon felt Katie hug her, making Maria blink as she felt something strange. Katie soon ran off after her three friends while Maria felt her chest. She blinked once more, and after a while...

"So strange, I don't have a heart and yet... my chest feels so warm? Is this what it means?" Maria asked herself. "Is this what it's like to live? To feel what you do, to experience this warmth?"

Maria opened her eyes at that moment, giving a focused look as she back flipped surprising the Rinne copy who just got through her storm of leaves. She spun around, smacking the Rinne copy with her wires before impaling them in the ground again.

"The lives of some are short, the lives of others are long. The one thing that's always the same between them..." Maria replied, soon looking at the copy before raising her hand out to send a storm of vines. "...They want to feel the joy that comes from the time they have!"

Some of the vines wrap around the copy, and it tries to get out, but isn't fast enough as the vines pierce through it. Soon it falls to the ground and shatters, and from a distance, Choronzon screams in pain as a fourth crack forms on its pink eye gem.

"I may not get to truly experience that, as my dream is to one day be more than just an AI. Even if that dream never comes true..." Maria smiled, looking a leaf that fell into her hands before the wind blew it away. "...I'll enjoy the fact I'm here."

Maria soon hears the sound of someone gagging, turning to see Marina making them.

"What's you pacifists and you're we can all live garbage, dear god!" Marina shouted, shaking her head to clear the thoughts out of her mind. "You people are gonna realize why the strong and those bold enough to sacrifice others will always be on top! I'll prove that the die I kill you, you hear me!?"

Maria smiled at Marina, and her dark counterpart sweated a bit at that.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Maybe you might see us enemies, but... I get the feeling that maybe one day we'll see each other beyond that. Isn't that right sis?" Maria smiled, making Marina's eye twitch before she screamed at that.

"We are not siblings! You only happen to share a last name because you were trying to be all 'I wanna honor her' despite I tried murdering everyone you know! Dear god, stop being so naive!" Marina growled, walking off before tripping over a trash can. Marina blinks at that. "That was tripping, not me being naive!"

Maria sweat drops as Marina gets up, limping a bit before she follows.

Nia sees the Rinne copy after her zip and zoom at her with sonic speeds, she dodged each attack as she looked at the situation before her and began thinking. Based on how easily Mukuro dealt with her Rinne copy while the others she noticed had to struggle a bit...

"Ah, I get it. The sealed spirits' and Shido's memories have given you ways to fight and have a fighting style meant for countermeasures, with only the inability to have new powers due to being copies of Rinne limiting you. As is the fact you can't learn anything past Choronzon's birth." Nia smirked, causing her Rinne copy to flinch.

"Well unfortunately for you then... neither of them has seen every trick I can use, even the Kirigami were only one of many hidden tricks. Here's another." Nia continued, starting by forming more Kirigami soldiers to surround the copy... who suddenly noticed them not moving. "Now see my world of stories... THOTH!"

Nia slams Raziel open and begins writing in it throughout every page, causing the book to glow as suddenly a bunch of random beings and creatures, many being fictional came into view as they manifested out of Raziel's pages to the copy's horror.

"This is my living storybook, the works my mind taking physical form. Now... let me show you how an imagination can run wild." Nia smirked, writing {A loud sound makes every creature Thoth manifest go crazy} in Raziel's pages before she smirked playfully. "Enjoy."

Suddenly a loud explosion goes off and the creatures all go crazy, causing the Rinne copy to be swarmed in the stampede, slowly sinking before shattering apart inside of the massive swarm. Nia closes Raziel and makes them all disappear before turning to see Choronzon screaming as they silver eye gem breaks apart.

"For a so called ultimate Demon King, I think pulling this trick off and letting himself get weaker was really stupid." Nia stated, soon flying off to gather the others who had won their fights. As she did, Choronzon's pink gem eye gives an angry look at the battlefield, his spirit power flaring out in anger.

'I swear, you may think you have a chance, but you'll learn the hard way that you still have 0% even after all you've done!' Choronzon thought with rage, some of the roots holding him into the ground slowly starting to rip out without anyone seeing them. 'This is just the prelude to your destruction!'

And that everyone is how Marina was able to get Westcott to recognize her, and became the cruel person she is in this fanfic. The dark ambition, insane belief if becoming almighty and sadism of Westcott with the incredible pride of Ellen mixed together. Yeah, she's their daughter alright, and Origami's one predecessor ended up being unlucky to get caught in a fight with her.

To anyone who asks what kind of injury that Ryouko was hiding under her shirt when she flashed it to the trio? It happens to be... a fake injury! She doesn't actually have a real injury there, but since the AST is mostly teens, she puts a fake injury on for when new recruits join so she can flash it and make them think twice about treating being an AST member like some game. Considering she nearly died when she fought Victoria, she has good reason to do this.

Well we've finally got the AI Spirits finishing their fights, and Nia finally reveals her Thoth trick to an unfortunate Rinne copy, we hope you rest in... pieces! *laughs heavily* Unfortunately, it seems like Choronzon is still cocky about victory... or he knows their efforts haven't done anything to give them a chance at victory, it better be the former or the Spirits are in trouble 0_0

With that clear, check out Choronzon's data sheet below and I'll see you all in the next chapter. Until then, stay awesome everyone!

-Ultimate Demon King - Choronzon, aka [Inverse Shido]-

Demon King: Choronzon - Tree Form, the "Dark Yggdrasil of Endless Annihilation " - While the true form of Choronzon should be a twisted, dark and jagged version of Uriel... due to the uniqueness of the Inversion being born of multiple powers, Choronzon has instead manifested its consciousness as its own body and overtaken Shido by manifesting as a dark version of the tree that Rinne created when her powers were overloading via taking over the DEM's Main Branch building as its body.

Because the Demon King's consciousness has evolved beyond a mere Angel or Demon King, Choronzon is both the Demon King and the wielder simultaneously from the massive influx of power he carries. Not only does Choronzon contain all of Uriel's normal abilities, but by Shido's memories and those of the Spirits he's managed to seal, Choronzon has developed an arsenal of abilities to combat the other Spirits with the exception of Mukuro who Shido doesn't have any information of, and Nia who's managed to hide a few of her powers.

- Powers: Choronzon possesses all of Uriel's abilities in an amplified form, and managed to create many more powers all based on the memories of Shido and the Spirits he's managed to seal, only limited by what Shido and the other Spirits know, and what they knew at the moment he manifested from Shido's Inversion, being unable to properly combat or counter Nia's Kirigami for one example.

- Spirit Ability: Chaotic Divergence - The Inverse counterpart of Rinne's version of the Harmonic Convergence attack, there's nothing truly different about visually it other than the spirit power that uses it being the colors used by the dark spirit power and having even more destructive force. What's most terrifying about the attack is that Choronzon can use it again an hour after a prior use.

- Spirit Ability: Samsara Armada - Choronzon makes fully pink energy copies of Rinne, which are noted to have some memory of the opponent they're set to face in both being a mirror image, or maybe a past foe. Their main weakness however is if there's incomplete or no info on their enemy, they will be easily overpowered and each one beaten will weaken Choronzon . Also, if a Sephira Spirit beats one of the Rinne copies, it breaks the respective gem on Choronzon and weakens him even more than another Spirit's victory would.

- Spirit Ability: Inverse Incarnation - Choronzon draws a large among of the sealed power in Shido, manifesting it as the Inverse Forms of the Spirits he's managed to seal, forcing the originals to be unable to manifest their Astral Dress beyond a limited state. The incarnations of the Inverse Forms are as powerful as their originals, and lack the morality they would normally have if the originals were using them. Luckily, if they are destroyed they don't revive and the respective gem on Choronzon breaks to weaken him.

- Spirit Ability: Demon Queen Revival - Because Shido's Inversion happened due to seeing a hallucination of Tohka being killed right before his eyes, Choronzon has managed to use Shido's subconscious refusal to accept she's died in order to give the Inverse Tohka he's made using the Inverse Incarnation Ability the power to revive herself shortly after her destruction. The only way to stop this is for Choronzon to be destroyed, Shido to realize Tohka's alive, or... something else entirely.

- Spirit Ability: Tree of Death - Choronzon removes his roots from the ground, and once he removes them fully, the Demon King becomes the one thing that amplifies his already great threat to a truly terrifying level... mobile.

Risk Factors: X

Spacequake: SSS

Spirit's Astral Dress: X

Angel Rank: X

Strength: 30 0

Consistency: 260

Spiritual Power: 320

Agility: 270

Intelligence: Unknown

-Spirit Bond Levels & Passive Abilities-

Tohka - 99% ( Form a mana barrier automatically )

Origami - 95% ( Teleport Dodging )

Yoshino - 90% ( Dampen enemy territories )

Kotori - 92% ( Healing from fatal wounds minus losing his head, doesn't work on wounds caused by blunt force )

Kurumi - 87% ( Hide in his shadow, and only his )

Rinne - (Summon a weakened copy of Uriel)

Natsumi - 84% ( Transform into Shiori )

Kaguya - 78% ( Flight )

Yuzuru - 78% ( Weight Manipulation )