Date A Re:Live
S2 Chapter 47: Choronzon Havoc, Part 12
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]
HYPE LEVEL HAS BEEN CRANKED UP TO 12! Woo! *chuckles* Excuse my hyper nature, I just had some glazed donuts and they tend make me a little crazy if I eat too many, they might even be why I sometimes can update more than once a day instead of just daily. *giggles* Either way, I'm really excited not just because this is the Season 2 finale, but because I finally got to reveal the Ethereal Form last chapter ^^
Before we get to today's start notes, let me explain a bit more on what I meant about the Ain, Ain Soph and Ain Soph Aur correlation. You know how we have a Sephira for Da'at? Well, that's actually God when he's been filtered for our comprehension, he resides in the three forms of Ain, mainly Ain Soph which tends to be the one most often referred to when mentioning them in the Kaballic Sephirot.
In canon, this could reference the First Spirit's power which in Vol 16 is stated to be too toxic to humans, hence filtering and refining them through multiple hosts to make them into Sephira Crystals. Either that, or considering Phantom/Reine has silver hair which is often associated with Da'at, Phantom represents Da'at and the First Spirit represents Ain Soph. *shrugs* Hard to say, hopefully Vol 17 answers that more.
For this story, I'm using it like this. When the Spirits are using their Limited Astral Dress, they're associated with Ain which represents Nothingness. When they use their Astral Dress in their full states, then they're associated with Ain Soph which represents Limitless. The Ethereal Form is what associates with Ain Soph Aur, the Limitless Light. As the Ethereal Form represents light and hope... yeah, that's kinda self-explanatory there ^^;
It will probably be a while before you see the Ethereal Forms show up commonly, for one I still need to find out what to name their Archangels as for Tohka's, I just used the name of her Full Form's Angel: Shekhinah, and reaching a pinnacle of hope is a lot harder than reaching one of despair. In fact, Tohka can't freely use this form yet, Seigo kinda gave her a one-use bypass. Secondly, they are MUCH more powerful than the Inverse Forms.
I can't say more about it just yet, Season 3's gonna answer that question. What I can say is that like the Inverse Forms , the Ethereal Forms all have unique code names too. I'll share what the they are at the end of the chapter, except Tohka's which will be on the data sheet I'm about to put below, I didn't do it last chapter for the sake of suspense ^^ *giggles*
With all of that cleared, time to end this season with a bang, and then we'll finally get to the first of Season 2's movie arcs, Ars Install. Now let's... begin!
-Ethereal Tohka, Code Name: [Monarch]-
Archangel: Shekhinah, the " Emperor of Annihilation " - Sandalphon's Archangel counterpart, it shares a similar shape to Nahemah with some details of Sandalphon and the crystalline edge glowing purple instead of blue or red, but unlike Nahemah is vastly different from its original. Shekhinah has the power to unleash Tohka's energy blast through it and even move, form a barrier around itself, and/or attack independently if Tohka needs her hands free. The throne of Shekhinah is a crystal/platinum color, and its energy slashes can also be manifested as energy saws, energy spears, and etc. The most powerful ability of Shekhinah is that when Tohka swings it like a normal sword, it can still cut an enemy within a ten-foot distance of the slash.
- Alternate Form: Lahathelev, the "Sword of Reclamation" - The Ethereal counterpart of Sandalphon's Halvanhelev technique, and Shekhinah's most powerful ability overall, and similar to its normal form, has additional powers compared to it where Paverschlev didn't. Unlike Halvanhelev, the throne doesn't need to be destroyed to activate it as the throne will combine with it automatically of her own will, and after forming, Tohka can actually have it extend to double its length. What makes the Lahathelev most powerful however? Where Halvanhelev and Paverschlev just sent their power flying out, Tohka has full control on where the power of Lahathelev goes, and can concentrate it all to release to even an incredibly small area.
- Alternate Form: Excalibur - The Ethereal counterpart of Chrysaor, Tohka can drive it using her willpower, but can also allow it to move of its own free will if it wishes. Along with being able to use the slash wave, energy blasts and piercing abilities of Chrysaor and Durandal, while also applying any the abilities exclusive to Shekhinah, if the Archangel is sheathed inside of it, then Excalibur will have the ability to split three vehicles in one which allows it to be more versatile and allow Tohka to have two others ride if they need it. This form works great alongside Prometheus due allowing its full power and Tohka to have Shekhinah on hand simultaneously.
- Alternate Form: Aegis - By compressing her crystal powers and shedding part of Shekhinah's frame, Tohka can use that shed piece with the crystal to create a shield that she can use. Due to the shed part of her Archangel's frame, Shekhinah will have less power but be able to strike faster while in this state, the Aegis shield also enhances her barrier and compresses it to a level where it can actually reflect incoming attacks back at their caster if long range or throw them off with the recoil of the attack if close-range.
- Alternate Form: Prometheus - By focusing her energy and willpower into Shekhinah, Tohka can actually divide Shekhinah into two, allowing to dual wield. While slightly weaker than Shekhinah as a whole, having access to two swords effectively makes Tohka stronger. The biggest benefit of this form is it allows Tohka to still have Shekhinah on hand, but also activate the Excalibur's full power simultaneously if needed.
- Alternate Form: Gandiva - Shekhinah's frame opens and shifts, transforming the sword in a gun/bazooka-like form, Shekhinah can't be used like a sword due to the shift in the frame and while it can still parry attacks, it will do so less effectively and be more prone to have its parry overpowered. To make up for this, it channels Tohka's energy blasts into a super-fast rapid fire, or a powerful concentrated beam, both attacks cause Tohka to be next to completely immobile when using it.
- Alternate Form: Tiamat - By placing Shekhinah onto her back as if she was sheathing it, Tohka can make her Archangel shift into a pair of wings. While this causes her offensive abilities to drop while using it, her defenses are doubled and her speed is tripled, allowing her to attack fast and take more hits, the wings' blades are also like daggers, meaning she can use them like a sword if she flies in the right manner.
- Powers: As the pinnacle of Tohka's abilities, anything she could do in either her normal or Inverse Form is usable here even stronger, and her Ethereal Form has even more tricks of her own. Most impressively about it is the fact she has four alternate forms unlocked in it, and her original ones have gained several new powers to compensate how her Inverse Form didn't have any new abilities, only enhancing the power of the ones she had and making the Durandal mobile without her.
While in this state, all of Tohka's non-Spacequake ranks are at least an S-Rank, and her physical stats are all over 200. Her intelligence is even enhanced and doubled in this state due to the multiple new forms making her more adaptable and strategic. Where Tohka's other forms often needed to be present around actual rock to maximize their power, Ethereal Tohka can use her earth powers' full potential regardless of where she is, and like her Inverse form doesn't need to shift her body.
The strength of the crystals she forms isn't fully known, but Rinne theorizes they may be as strong as the fictional Adamantine metal. Her energy blasts can also not only fire in multiple waves of shots, but she can concentrate it as a beam limited by where she points her finger, though she can also channel it through Shekhinah instead of she chooses. Tohka isn't unbeatable by any means despite all this power, but the moment she calls it out, don't expect any strategies that worked on her prior forms to help anymore.
Risk Factors: SSS
Spacequake: AAA
Spirit's Astral Dress: S
Archangel Rank: S
Strength: 258
Consistency: 237
Spiritual Power: 241
Agility: 215
Intelligence: 200
A/N: Fun fact about Ethereal Tohka's code name, it doesn't only refer to a royalty title like Princess or Sovereign, but also her signature butterfly ribbon via the "Monarch Butterfly", hooray for usable double meanings! ^^
Everyone stared at the sight before them, Tohka's new form that took both her previous forms, fused them together, and came out as a coloration opposing her Inverse Form that radiated with as much if not more strength than her Inversion ever could.
The crew members on the Fraxinus were all giving the most stares, and before they ever realized it, the sound of various systems beeping sounding off before eventually catching their attention and alerting them that the analyzing functions of the Fraxinus' systems had come back on.
"Commander, the analyzing systems have just been restored, I'm going to take a look at Tohka's new form." Shiizaki stated, making Reine nod as she did. After a few seconds... Shiizaki gasped at the results she received.
"Shiizaki, just what are you seeing from the reading?" Reine asked, surprised by how quickly Shiizaki reacted as she did without a warning alarm having gone off. Shiizaki turned to Reine almost immediately after this.
"I've never seen readings so high before, her negative emotions don't even exist, and every other emotion is maxed out. Not just that... her emotional graph for her hope is so high the system can't recognize it!" Shiizaki answered, surprising her fellow crew mates. "It's almost as if... this form exceeds her Inversion!"
Reine's eyes widen at that.
"A power even stronger than an Inverse Form? This is... a Spirit's hope? No, it can't just be that, this must what my brother believed in. The power that comes from Human and Spirits together." Reine breathed, looking at the miracle she saw before her.
Meanwhile inside the Arbitel, a similar yet also very different range of reactions was present.
Marina was so shocked that there was a good chance her android body's functions had to reboot, she wasn't even aware of the dark spirit power for [Marionette] and [Sovereign] had appeared in here wires upon their destruction.
Ellen looked a mix between surprised, scared, but mostly fury. Tohka had once again gotten stronger and having lost to Tohka when she awakened her true power, and having yet to officially defeat her without tricks or an unfair advantage like the kidnapping... this was insulting to her pride. The most extreme among the reactions however?
It definitely had to be Westcott's that earned that honor, and for good reason too. Westcott's beliefs were the polar opposite of Ratatoskr's, and the Inverse Form was a personification of them that he was responsible for creating, but this form? It was the opposite... a form of hope, the one thing he despised.
"What... the hell... is this?" Westcott demanded, his eyes shaking as if the form was a mythical creature that shouldn't be able to exist, and yet someone just proved wasn't mythical right before his very eyes. "This is impossible, I won't accept it... I'll refuse to accept this!"
"Checking readings now..." Marina replied, taking a look at the results and seeing results similar to Shiizaki. Though rather than emotional graphs, it was a reading of stats and Tohka's current Spirit rankings. "W-What!? No way!"
Westcott slowly turned his head at her.
"What are they?" Westcott asked.
"Uh... father, with all due respect I don't think you want me to an-" Marina replied, but Westcott glared at her.
"What! Are! They!?" Westcott demanded, making Marina gulp. "You will share them now!"
Marina shivered before taking a deep breath.
"She's a SSS-Rank Spirit, Spacequake level is AAA-Rank, Astral Dress and Angel are both S-Rank..." Marina answered, already feeling Westcott's anger and the others' surprise to the statistic she was sharing. "Strength: 258, Consistency: 237, Spiritual Power: 241, Agility: 215, and Intelligence: 200!"
"No way, you mean she's registered as stronger than her Inversion!?" Chinami asked in surprise, and Marina just turned her head. Chinami's eyes twitched. "No freaking way, there's actually something more powerful?"
Westcott's fist trembled as he squeezed it so tightly, he nearly broke the seat he was currently sitting on.
'This isn't possible, it's a lie!' Westcott thought, looking at her form. 'And I'll find a way to prove it soon enough, this form will fall to the true power of the Inversions, that much I can promise! Just wait and see... [Princess]!'
Choronzon's single remaining eye stared angrily at Tohka as she floated before him, the ultimate Demon King roared angrily before his eye gem shifted to truly showcase that anger, making it look like he had an eyelid closed in a manner of someone scowling.
"How dare you... how dare you insult me like this! Tell me, tell me what that form of yours is so I know how angry to become in my attempts to murder you annoying little bastard!" Choronzon screamed angrily, making Tohka blink a bit.
"Uh... I have no idea what this form is called, I'm not even sure who named the Inverse Form." Tohka admitted, scratching her head. Choronzon screamed something incomprehensible as Tohka looked at Sandalphon's evolved form. "Hey Sandalphon, you have any ideas what to call this?"
[Dunno, but you tend to be good with naming things. Oh, and right now it isn't Sandalphon, this new form's telling me this... I am the Archangel Shekhinah! I feel an incredible power right now, it's... it's... it's so ethereal!]
Tohka gasped as she snapped her right hand.
"That's it, listen up Choronzon!" Tohka declared, getting the ultimate Demon King's attention. "This is my Ethereal Form, so it's time you see how my hope overcomes your despair! Let me show you what I'm made of!"
"Oh sure, I'll see what your made of when I rip you to pieces!" Choronzon roared, soon flying towards Tohka who rushed at him in return.
Tohka slashed Shekhinah and purposely missed Choronzon, making the Demon King laugh in mockery... until he suddenly screamed as a purple cut formed on his side, shocking everyone who saw it.
"Tohka didn't even touch Choronzon, how did Tohka do that?" Rio asked surprised.
"Oh my god, I'm grasping at straws right now, but I think it's possible this evolution of Sandalphon can actually cut without making direct contact if used within a certain radius. It's almost like there's an invisible extension we can't see!" Rinne replied, just as shocked.
"So, this is the power of Tohka's hope in physical form, it's so amazing! I should have known, the moment I heard your voice... you've given us this hope, part of you still lives on in this world Seigo!"
The others all look at Rinne surprised, while some of the others who weren't as familiar with Shido's father, or at least the name of his father, were a bit confused.
"Wait, did you just say Seigo? What does he have to do with this?" Kurumi asked.
"Everything, and I can't believe I never realized it. 30 years ago, Westcott's evil influence reacted to all the negative feelings within the souls of the Spirits he killed, and that despair create the taint that caused the Inverse Form." Rinne explained, soon turning to the others.
"However, there was someone else who's influence had affected me before that, and I never even realized it. Before he went off to save Shido, Mana and Tohka from the DEM... he promised me he would make it back alive. Even if he didn't, I had strong hope from his words, his love, and that last hug he gave me."
Nia soon widened her eyes as she pieced Rinne's words together.
"Seigo had already given a taint to the Sephira Crystals before Westcott had, but his wasn't evil born from the shadows of despair like Westcott's, the one Seigo created was good that was born from the light of hope! This Ethereal Form... Seigo's the progenitor of it!" Nia gasped, making the others all stare as they looked at Rinne who nodded.
"Papa made this? Then that would mean... Papa's still with us, he's inside everybody!" Rio gasped happily, soon jumping in joy. "Papa, Rio says hi!"
- (*Seven Deadly Sins - Perfect Time*) -
Choronzon turned to Tohka and panted in agony, and soon Tohka flew towards him again.
"SHIDO!" Tohka called out, and unlike before...
Inside of Choronzon's body, the unconscious Shido was seen, and at that moment...
"SHIDO!"
Shido's hand twitched slowly, and suddenly he opened his eyes, while only seeing blackness he recognized that voice.
"...Tohka?" Shido wondered, soon feeling a purple light form where his heart was.
"Shido, I'm coming!" Tohka shouted, making Shido hear her voice ringing out to him again. He shifted his head as a purple light came closer.
"Shido, I'm coming!" Tohka shouted, and at that moment she saw Choronzon turn at her and roar as he began charging a familiar multiple colored strike, but only with the pink color this time. A weaker version of the Chaotic Divergence.
"You think you're so mighty, I'll take great pleasure in smashing that so-called hope into oblivion! CHAOTIC DISTORTION!" Choronzon screamed, firing it off at Tohka who simply stayed in place to stare at it.
"Try whatever you want, I will stand against all of it!" Tohka shouted, soon grabbing part of Shekhinah as she focused her crystal powers. "AEGIS!"
Tohka ripped off part of the frame and that section of Shekhinah merged with her crystal powers to form a shield, and what happened next shocked everyone as that shield managed to take the entire Chaotic Distortion without breaking!
"WHAT!?" Choronzon gasped, soon seeing the Aegis shield shine. "That's impossible-"
Choronzon had no time to finish as the Aegis suddenly reflected his own attack back at him, making him release a loud distorted scream as he was shot towards the ground and tumbled across by his own attack. Tohka soon put her shield back into Shekhinah and whistled.
"EXCALIBUR!"
From the ground, a crystal-platinum colored version of Tohka's throne formed before shifting into vehicle form, Tohka dropped onto it and sheathed Shekhinah inside as it drove towards the ultimate Demon King.
"So what? That trick may be fancy, but I know exactly where you-"
Soon the Excalibur broke into three, scattering around and confusing Choronzon as they moved too fast for him to notice which one Tohka was riding on, he gave a shaken sound of panic to what was going on.
"Whoa, just look at her! She's amazing!" Kotori said in awe, especially since what had been an invincible enemy before now was now being beat by Tohka so easily. If she didn't know any better, destroying the gem powered by Inverse Tohka caused Choronzon to lose any strength that made him a threat.
"I can't believe she has so many new tricks too, her Inverse Form was never like the rest of ours, it didn't get anything new... and yet this form has so many new tricks I'm still shocked!" Mayuri nodded, her eyes shining a bit. "Take him down Tohka!"
Choronzon screamed as one of the three Excaliburs rammed into him and pierced through its thick skin, the second fired energy blasts and beams like a swarm of mosquitoes biting him, and the main Excalibur that Tohka was riding spun and sent out tons of slash waves.
After dealing enough, Tohka soon grabbed onto Shekhinah, and Choronzon cackled mockingly at her.
"Oh, you planning to weaken your little ride now? Go ahead, it'll only aid my efforts to crush you!" Choronzon mocked, and only saw Tohka smiling to his shock. Knowing this he suddenly sweated. "Wait, you're smiling... what are you about to do!?"
"I'm about to think I'd like to dual wield." Tohka replied, soon grabbing Shekhinah tightly. "PROMETHEUS!"
Everyone's eyes widen as Tohka unsheathes Shekhinah... and yet it also doesn't leave the Excalibur either! She had doubled her Archangel into two blades, Choronzon panicked before taking off even higher into the sky.
"Oh no you don't! Shekhinah, time for you to spread your wings and fly!" Tohka exclaimed, throwing Shekhinah into the air towards the Demon King.
[Alright, time to show my own moves! Taste my power you Demon King wannabe!]
Tohka charged an energy blast from her finger, and soon smaller blasts formed around her, a beam shot out of her hands as the smaller blasts became simultaneous waves of small scatter blasts, Choronzon screamed as they hit, along with Shekhinah thrusting forward on its own and cutting through his body.
After taking a moment to stop and gather all the power Tohka used for her shots, Shekhinah released some spirit power before shifting its form and becoming more like a gun/bazooka, though with two sections similar to the arcs of a bow.
[GANDIVA!]
Shekhinah fires an even longer beam and blasts Choronzon down a bit, the three Excaliburs rush from below it and smash into him, making Choronzon scream in pain from the force of the impact as only one Excalibur flew out and the second Shekhinah flew into Tohka's hands, the original changing back to its normal form and doing the same.
"No... no, no, no! I will not stand for this insult!" Choronzon roars, soon glowing and creating purple energy in the form of Inverse Tohka copies, all of them flying towards Tohka. "I WILL DESTROY YOU, I WILL END YOU!"
"You're the one who'll be destroyed!" Tohka declared, focusing her eyes as she zoomed forward and began spinning, both blades of Shekhinah cutting through all the clones in an instant, Choronzon roaring as he keeps creating them in a vain attempt for his anger to overpower his enemy.
"TIAMAT!"
Tohka sheathed both blades of Shekhinah on her back despite there being nowhere to put them, and suddenly they changed into a pair of wings floating over her back. (A/N: Think her Full Form's wings) and in a single moment, her speed tripled as she simply cut through the copies with her doubled defense and the wing's blades.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Choronzon screamed in fury and fear, soon noticing Tohka fly towards him... directly at his eye. And in a single moment, Tohka flipped and cut through it, making him scream as he was cut right open and Shido was revealed.
"Shido!" Tohka exclaimed happily, making Shido get up and notice her.
"Tohka!" Shido shouted, Choronzon roared as quickly closed the two inside of his body by sealing the wound... only for Tohka to cut him from within as she slashed his insides with Shekhinah, flying out with Shido in her arms. "Tohka... I knew it, you're OK! You're OK!"
Shido hugs her, the two both crying as they were reunited and the others all cheering. Choronzon screamed in rage and fury as his dark spirit power flooded out, and Tohka turned to look at him. She made a serious face and teleported over to the others, handing Shido to Rinne.
"Leave the rest to me!" Tohka declared, making Rinne nod as she flew off.
"As much as I'd like to help, I think we all know right now this is Tohka's fight. This is the proof of all her training... and the best insult we can all give Westcott!" Rinne smiled, watching as Tohka stood before Choronzon.
As she stood before the ultimate Demon King, he began to form a familiar blast of multiple colors from his remaining eye gem, but this time because he was forcing it when he didn't have another charge to fire yet... using the Chaotic Divergence was ripping his body apart.
"I will not lose to you, I will not lose to anyone! This world's doomsday is now and you can't stop it! I'll risk killing myself just to guarantee it if I have to!" Choronzon screamed in an insane manner. The charge grew larger as Tohka raised Shekhinah into the air.
"LAHATHELEV!"
Tohka screamed loudly as the remaining Excalibur flew and shifted back into its throne form, soon turning into fragments as it swirled around Shekhinah and turned into a long crystal-platinum sword that had a shape at its end like a dragon, but unlike the demonic one of Paverschlev, looked noble, sleek and holy.
"Try all you want, you'll still meet your end today! This is the power of Humanity and the Spirits combined as one!" Tohka exclaimed, holding Lahathelev behind her, and the head of the sword's eye glowed and opened its mouth before the blade doubled in length! "Lahathelev! Shatter this nightmare, do it now!"
"CHAOTIC DIVERGENCE!" Choronzon screamed at his loudest.
The ultimate attack of the ultimate King and the strongest attack of the Kingdom's Archangel soon clashed with each other, everyone staring as they clashed with equal force in a deadlock.
Tohka soon shouted as her power flared out, and Lahathelev concentrated it all to the tip of its blade, soon allowing it to cut through as it smashed right into Choronzon's eyes gem to his horror, and rather than exploded out everywhere... everyone bit of Shekhinah's power encompassed the area where his body was as it exploded.
"And the winner... is my hope!" Tohka stated, turning as Shekhinah returned to normal and Choronzon screamed as he exploded in a burst of bright purple smoke. Making everyone cheer as she won the fight, and soon enough, the dark clouds the Demon King created faded to reveal the sunrise in the horizon.
- (*insert song end*) -
"She did it, she just beat Choronzon! She won!" Origami cheered, soon hugging Miku as they started happy dancing. Tohka soon flew down to everyone, and looked at Shido with a bright smile and teary eyes.
"Tohka... thank you, though how'd you do this?" Shido asked, pointing at her current form.
"Let's just say..." Tohka answered, sniffling a bit. "...Your dad doesn't give a damn about what death wants, and part of him lives in me. Lives in all of us."
Shido's eyes widen a bit, and he looks at Rinne who was crying happy tears and nods. Then as if responding to his mention, Seigo's illusion fully manifested within the whole group, surprising everyone while Rinne's eyes widen at the sight.
"Seigo..." Rinne cried.
"Rinne, I've missed you so much. I never thought I'd get to see you again in any form." Seigo smiled, taking her hands.
"But... but how? The revival wave couldn't bring you back? If this isn't your soul, how are... how are you here?" Rinne begged, tears shedding without her control. "How are you still here with me, even in this form?"
Seigo chuckles a bit.
"Doesn't everyone say love is a power that breaks all boundaries with its miracles? It created the one Tohka made, my soul is indeed gone... but my will lives on. In the Sephira Spirits, and... lives in you." Seigo smiled.
"In... me?" Rinne breathed, crying even more tears.
"That's right. Oh, and are you listening Reine, your big brother has something to tell you." Seigo stated, causing Reine while still on the Fraxinus to listen as she slowly turned the volume on the audio up.
"What you've all achieved here, and what I've all shown you today... I'm proud of all of it. Of you for never giving up, for Rio for working so hard for you and for me, even though she never got the chance to meet me."
Rio soon felt herself begin to sniffle, soon crying as Mayuri hugged her.
"Of Mana for always staying by her brother's side no matter the danger, and for Shido... for remembering the words I told him so long ago. Even if I can never hold you physically again, I'll always be here through you Rinne. So keep living for both of us, oh... and here's something I meant to give you long ago."
Seigo soon began to fade, and Reine felt Seigo's illusion flow into her.
"I'll always love you Rinne... so, never forget that!"
Soon he vanishes into spirit power, and in Rinne sees something fall into her hands. It was a small simple ring made of crystal without any extra decor on it made, only the words [Rinne x Seigo - Eternally Loved] etched onto it.
Rinne silently teared up as she realized this was the ring he intended to give her long ago to make their marriage official, she hold it close as all her tears finally left her eyes and she cried with a smile on her face.
"I promise you Seigo, I'll never forget!" Rinne cried happily, her cries overlapped with Reine's who she heard through her headset.
The other Spirits and Ratatoskr members gave similar sniffles or became misty eyed to it, as did the rest of the world due to the broadcast still having not ended. Even the emotionless Mukuro noticed a tear shed her eye somehow. However, their touching moment didn't last long...
"YOU THINK I'M DONE FOR!?" Choronzon roared, making everyone turn as from the smoke, a dark jagged version of Uriel was seen before it shattered and left a dark pink gem floating in the air. The former was Choronzon's true form, and the latter... was his Qlipha Crystal.
"No, I'm far from it... you've ruined everything! If that's what you want, then... I'll simply destroy the world via suicide! I'll swallow it whole myself! What more fitting way to do it then what Humanity fears most from beyond this planet!"
Suddenly, the energy around Choronzon distorts as he takes the sky... and begins forming a Black Hole!
"Damn it, that bastard's still alive! What can we do against that? Was Tohka's new power still not enough!?" Natsumi asked, while everyone was too far from the black hole... it was only growing, they didn't have much time before it would. The rest of the world starts running in a panic.
At this moment, the Arbitel, which was closer to the black hole, but also far enough away to escape the pull of the ever-growing event horizon as it sucked everything nearby into its vortex. The Arbitel's still invisible form opened parts of its haul to reveal secret attachments installed just for this occasion.
"Finally, our chance to steal the dark spirit power of Ruler is here. Prepare to use it the moment the ship reading's state its reached the prime peak of its power." Westcott stated, smirking heavily as after this, he would only need [Sister] and [Zodiac]'s dark spirit power for his plans to succeed.
"I guess we should thank [Princess] for her little power up, gives us what we need. Unless every Spirit can do it then what she's accomplished is of no concern to us." Marina cackled, looking at her wires which already had the dark spirit power from eight of the spirit within them.
"How delightful this is, to think we're about to show the world our true threat by killing the creator of a black hole. Let that be irony, because no one will give us problems when they see how easily we can destroy them."
Jessica and Ellen give similar expressions, while Chinami gives a dark look, cracking her knuckles as she instead anticipated how this power would let her kill the Spirits, especially Origami who she owed payback towards.
As the Spirits looked at the black hole forming before them, Rinne looked at the ring Seigo gave her and put it on her finger before making a determined face and walking in front of all of them and getting their attention.
"No Natsumi, Tohka's power was more than enough, the fact we're seeing that crystal is all I need to give us the chance to victory. I can't do it on my own... Nia, tell the current Zodiac we'll need her. To save the Earth, I need every Sephira Spirit's power to help me." Rinne answered, making each of them look at her.
"Please trust me, I know what to do. I may not have my full power, but what I do have the First Spirit is all we need! When all of us are together, there's something only together we can do, so once again... do you trust me?"
After looking for a while... Shido and Tohka look at other and nod as they put out their hands. Soon the others all follow, and Nia uses Raziel to see it tell her Mukuro said {I will trust you} as her answer.
- (*Date A Live II - Hurricane*) -
"Thank you, now... lend me your power!"
Everyone glowed slightly, sending their power towards Rinne, with Mukuro dropping some of hers via a portal, once all of it gathered around Rinne. Her eyes glowed as she focused it and flung it towards Choronzon, causing it to circle his Qlipha Crystal in the black hole's center.
"Huh?" Choronzon wondered in confusion.
"When the Ten Sephira Crystals powers are combined with my powers, they temporarily bend rules of reality, such as halting a black hole. In my world, this is how it was born, but here it's enough to temporarily delay us for the method to stop Choronzon." Rinne explained.
"How are we gonna do that?" Miku asked.
"Simple, we're going to do what's never been done in the history of the Spirits since the we came into existence... destroy a Sephira, or rather a Qlipha Crystal!" Rinne answered, making everyone gasp. "That's right, but we can't do it alone. Reine, we need Ratatoskr and the whole world to aid us. Only together can we save the world."
The Fraxinus crew stared in shock, and soon she nods.
"Alright, tell us what we need to do and we'll do it." Reine answered, and soon Rinne smiled.
"OK, listen closely..." Rinne replied, beginning the explain the plan.
As everyone in the world was still panicking, the Fraxinus sent out an alarm as Reine took over the broadcast and get their attention, though made sure to cut the Arbitel's connection off so they didn't hear and interfere.
"Everyone, we know you just panicked over the declaration of Choronzon's black hole, but fear not... one of the Spirits fighting to save it told us we CAN stop it, but we need your aid to do it!" Reine stated, getting everyone to gasp.
"Listen carefully, Ratatoskr will do the hard part, but we need you to do something for us. Gather everything that can make, reflect, refract, produce or gather light in any way, shape or form. One you do, you'll see a machine with a portal above it. From there, just aim the light towards it!"
At that moment, everyone ran off to get anything that fit under that category, not wasting a second in doing so.
Meanwhile in space, Mukuro flew around a bit as she formed everyone portal she could to every location on Earth, and soon after a bit she formed one near Tenguu City's Ratatoskr base.
"Let's see, which objects are..." Mukuro said, looking around for them. Soon she noticed a satellite dish and some light producing machines stored in a single area. "There they are, let us hope this plan actually works and isn't crazy delusion thinking."
Mukuro uses the portal to suck them all in, while holding onto the satellite, she moves all the light production machines into the other portals, and after positioning the satellite in a certain spot, she forms another portal below the satellite.
"OK, what else do I need to do?" Mukuro wondered, looking at the words from the instructions that Nia sent over to her. Realizing she needed to wait, she did so. "OK, just a bit longer before I'm needed."
Mukuro gripped Michael tightly.
"Shifuru - Release."
Michael changed into a halberd-like weapon, and her Astral Dress shifted to become more like a warrior princess version of her original outfit. The aura she released along with some of the new black coloring made it almost seem like she Inverted, but luckily, she was just using the full extent of her powers by unlocking Michael's true potential.
"Hold nothing back." Mukuro stated.
Soon everyone across the world gathered mirrors, flashlights, prisms, anything that could make some form of light and rushed towards the light productions machines as they were set to fire upwards into the portals and at the satellite.
Once Rinne noticed everyone was ready, she resumed her announcement.
"Alright everyone, we're all set! I'm starting a countdown for one-minute! The moment you hear the alarm sound off, aim them at the machines all at once! We've only got one shot, if we fail then it's over!" Reine reasoned, soon replacing her face with a one minute timer, each second making a beep.
Everyone go ready as they get themselves in position.
Back with the others, the others tap their headsets as Reine replies to them.
"Alright everyone, the people of Earth are in position and Westcott didn't intercept our broadcast. Zodiac's positioned the satellite and we're waiting for the one minute mark, are you all ready?" Reine asked.
"Don't worry sis, we've got this." Rinne replied, soon looking at the spirits. "Alright... Rio, Mayuri, Maria, Shido. The five of us will enhance everyone's powers the best that we can. Everyone else, the moment the light hits... fire your strongest attacks!"
Everyone nodded and charged up their best attacks as around the world, the timer neared the last 10 seconds. Rinne and the remaining Spirits used everything they had to empower the Sephira Spirits aside from Mukuro.
"OK everyone, in 3... 2... 1... NOW!" Reine ordered.
Soon everyone began using their method to give the light machines their light, all of them going into the device as they blast it upwards into the portal, causing all of it to gather onto the satellite from a certain angle, soon causing the satellite to gather it and release it all towards Choronzon directly.
"THE LIGHT, IT BURNS! STOP IT!" Choronzon screeched, the light blinding him due to its overwhelming amount. Soon enough, his Qlipha Crystal was shown beginning to burn and shake, Rinne noticed a slight glow and her eyes focused.
"NOW!" Rinne screamed, and at that moment everyone fired!
Tohka with Gandiva, Origami using Artelif - The Crown Cannon, Yoshino blasting an icy cyclone through Siryon, Kotori blasting the Megiddo, Kurumi firing off a charged Astra shot, Natsumi copying Metatron and using firing green light from its pillars, the Yamai twins using an El Kan'aph arrow, Miku using a powerful sonic scream, Nia using Thoth to make a bunch of blasting weapons and Mukuro firing off a beam through the same portal releasing the light onto Choronzon.
At that same moment, the Arbitel crew saw everyone's attacks on Choronzon's Qlipha Crystal, surprising them.
"What the hell is this!?" Marina asked, soon seeing Choronzon's Qlipha Crystal shake heavily. "Wait... no way, it can't be! They couldn't be-"
Marina never got to finish her crystal as Choronzon gave his final ear-piercing scream, and the entire Qlipha Crystal that represented his consciousness shattered into pieces, blowing everyone back, and drawing the Arbitel inwards due to its position.
- (*insert song end*) -
Everyone looked to see the Black Hole slowly shrink.
"We did it, the black hole's going away!" Rio cheered, hugging Rinne close.
"Yeah, now even if the weapon form of Choronzon somehow appears again, the consciousness within is deader than dead. He's not coming back." Rinne smiled, looking at everyone with a smile. "Everyone, both here and throughout the world... we did it! Thank you all!"
Cheers were seen throughout the world at the reveal, and suddenly Shido noticed something by the black hole as the Arbitel lost its invisible.
"Guys, look over there!" Shido gasped, and everyone looked to see the Arbitel trying to fly away from the slowly fading black hole... but it wasn't working no matter how much it pushed its engines or increased its speed.
"What's happening, why can't we get away!?" Jessica panicked.
"It was the explosion, we've been pushed into the event horizon of the black hole!" Chinami answered, horror and dread all over her face. "There's no way to escape it!"
The crew showed the same horror.
"We're going to get sucked in!" Ellen screamed.
"No!" Westcott roared defiantly, and noticing the dark spirit power she had on hand, Marina quickly ran to the ship's main systems and jabbed her wires inside in a desperate attempt for them to do something about their situation.
Meanwhile to everyone outside, the entire crew's screams were heard as the black hole swallowed the Arbitel before disappearing. Needless to say, no words expressed the shock everyone had regardless if they saw it via broadcast or directly.
"It... swallowed Westcott and his allies, does that mean he's gone? Did we finally get rid of him?" Origami wondered, looking at the others. Some looked hopeful and believed that was it, but the others gave more doubtful faces.
"Maybe it did, but... that guy became a living husk from how I separated the Sephira Crystals. I wouldn't be surprised if that bastard somehow survives that and this is only a temporary reprieve." Rinne admitted, soon sighing a bit before giving a light smile. "What we do know is... today, victory is ours."
Everyone smiled at that, they had faced a threat that surpassed the Deus and they had won. True heavy losses were taken... but the Earth survived and would live another day and many more to come. Taking the chance, Nia began walking away without anyone noticing.
'I think you're ready Shido, but I'll wait until you're 100% again before I give you the chance. Only fair after the Hell you went through.' Nia thought before vanishing from view entirely as she wrote something in Raziel.
~The next day
Rinne and Reine were both watching the city from the top of the Ratatoskr classroom's rooftop, both staring at the sky as they watched a few construction buildings change the logos on DEM branch building stationed in the city with Ratatoskr's logos, something happening in the rest of the world as well.
"So, it's really true, part of Seigo's still alive? He isn't completely gone?" Reine asked, looking at her sister-in-law.
"Yeah, he told me himself." Rinne said, looking at the ring resting on her right ring finger. "To think that he left hope in everyone, and now it makes sense. For there to be darkness, there has to be a light casting it. To have an Inverse Form, you must have another opposite to it. I can't use it because I don't have the Inversion taint, but..."
Reine held a hand to her heart, smiling.
"The taint of hope, and Seigo's love... his will survives in it, survives in me. That hope spread to the rest of the Spirits, our hope. Maybe one day we can quell the Inversions' anger, and maybe... that power can be used for good. I don't think it's just Seigo either, I bet somewhere in me... Isamu's still there too."
"You know what, I believe you. That's why I decided I'd adopt Mayuri, call me crazy, but... it's almost like he was saying 'I left her for you, the child we could never have'. It's so strange, but it's like ever since Shido sealed Tohka, we've all been learning more about ourselves." Reine smiled, looking at Rinne who smiled back.
"In fact, maybe it isn't impossible to bring them back. If their souls are gone but not their wills, maybe we just need to find another way, Rinne... will you help me find that way, somewhere and somehow?"
Rinne smiles, and soon the two give a handshake to cement their promise.
"I will, maybe we might never find it, but... I want to believe in this hope that we've been given." Rinne replied.
"Mama! Auntie Reine!"
The two turned to see Mayuri, Rio, Maria and some other members of Ratatoskr behind them, a fully recovered Mana with them as well.
"What is it Rio, everyone?" Rinne asked.
"We thought that since we have this chance, let's all have a day off. Even if Westcott survived I doubt that he's gonna somehow come back that fast. We should enjoy this chance we have before its gone." Mana answered, and the two sisters-in-law looked at each other before nodding.
"Alright, let's go have some fun then!" Rinne smiled, soon running towards them as Reine sighed and followed, though by walking instead.
Meanwhile at Tenguu Square, Miku had just finished singing a song as part of the Ten-Oh Festival's second day of events, and Shido was heading to the room she was using as a break room as she requested him to come. The others hadn't told him yet, so he was clueless to why she wanted to see him, so the moment he opened the door...
"Yay, you came! Darling!" Miku sang, hugging him to his surprise.
"Wait... darling!? Did you knock a screw loose, I thought you hated all men?" Shido asked, making Miku giggle as she stepped back.
"Well you aren't all men darling, after all I did kinda help save your life." Miku replied, hearing that made Shido recall she did help everyone, but he thought that was a necessary evil since Nia came too and the last Spirit was... somewhere helping them.
"OK, is that why you sent me this random letter?" Shido asked, showing the letter that asked him to come here. "It said you wanted to talk about something alone. So, what is it?"
Miku smiles and gets closer.
"Wow, you work fast." Miku replied, and soon surprised Shido as she kissed him.
Right at that moment, Miku's Astral Dress vanished as her powers were effectively sealed away, leaving only her unique hair ornament. The moment she broke the kiss, she gasped as she realized she was naked.
"What? How did you do that?" Miku asked while blushing, though turned a bit with a smile. "Darling, I didn't know you were so perverted."
"What!? No, that's not it! This is-" Shido began, however Miku cut him off as she turned to smile at him.
"Relax, I'm just teasing you. The other girls already told me everything so I knew this would happen." Miku smiled, making Shido realized she had let her seal him of her own choice, which could only mean...
"You let me seal your powers, but... why?" Shido asked, still unaware of what happened. "You were so against it before."
Miku gazed into his eye.
"Long ago, I was hurt very badly by someone... and before I knew it, I found myself unable to trust anyone. I could only trust my powers and how they influenced people for me. I forgot my wish, and why I truly wanted to sing." Miku explained, and Shido listened.
"Even though I realized you were Shiori so early, part of me didn't truly forget who I really was. Even after all I did, even after I got you captured, and hurt Tohka so badly... she and the others didn't hold against me, they reached out to me. Now I know, you're good, you'll keep the promises you make. You and the others... are all people I can always trust."
Miku hugged Shido close, surprised at hearing her story, but now it made sense how she reacted. She had just been afraid, and now she wasn't anymore.
"So even if I lose my voice again one day, and even if people don't listen to me or my songs anymore... as long as I'm with you that'll be enough. Because then I'll sing just for you as long as you want."
"Miku..." Shido breathed.
At that moment, Shido panicked as the door opened and slowly turned his head like a machine, though luckily rather than a fan or some kind of staff, it was just Natsumi who ended up being at the door.
"Miku, are you done with the sealing yet, your fans just asked for an encore! It's getting crazy out... there..." Natsumi exclaimed, trailing off as she saw the situation before her and blinked a few times before shaking slightly. "Shido, what are you doing!?"
"No wait, there's a reason for this!" Shido panicked, trying to calm the situation.
"Hey, darling?" Miku asked, making Natsumi blink at the pet name she gave him. Taking mental note that she'd explain to Miku why she shouldn't use that 24/7. "Will you... please watch my encore?"
Shido blinked before nodding, Natsumi shifted her eyes slightly as she realized what Miku was about to do. She smiled a bit after.
'Miku, that's pretty brave of you. Guess we can tell her the surprise after it's over.' Natsumi thought.
Back out on the Tenguu Square's stage, everyone cheered as the lights came back on, knowing they were getting an encore. Shido and the others were all watching from one of the wall stands holding their own glow batons.
"Thank you all so much everyone! Before we begin, I'd like to say that I'm going to be singing a special and important song. Recently some new friends of mine told me that you should never be afraid to face your past, so I hope you all enjoy it." Miku announced, everyone cheered in response.
- (*Date A Live II - My Treasure*) -
Soon as the song began, Tohka's eyes widen as she recognized the music... she was singing the first song from her album as Tsukino Yoimachi, which could only mean this song was her way of admitting who she was.
'Go for it Miku.' Tohka thought, a smile on her face.
Many of the fans stopped moving their glow batons, realizing what song it was themselves and that Miku choosing to sing it meant revealing her old stage name. At first it seemed like they'd stay this way, but then Hiroto begins waving his batons and the others follow his lead.
"Singing in the showers, me believing I am on... a stage! Hearing my~y~y~y voice, resound in the room. La! La! La~a! La! La! La~a! I sing on. Reverb is bouncing... off each wall around me, every echo sounds... so special and so astounding!" Miku sang, not doing anything special this time.
"Even though, I am happy~y I hope that I... won't forget, how I felt one before! Let me sing you a song & let's sing along, the greatest gift of all are all the stars up in the sky! Millions sparkle... above, and light... the... night!"
Soon the music came to an end as the song came to a close.
- (*insert song end*) -
Miku waited to see what kind of reaction she would get, and what she got? Well...
"MIKU!" The crowd all cheered, multiple times in a row.
Miku looked with surprise, even looking left and right for proof, and as if an echo to her attempts to sing to her fans heart the year before when she had lost her voice... her fans had come around. It brought tears to her eyes, and she smiled.
"Still can't believe proof to the scandal being fake was left in the old room of that old DEM guy who tried to ruin her, still can't believe how fast we got it out." Natsumi replied, soon looking at the others. "I think we all know that only did a little itself."
"Yeah, her voice reached her fans like she always knew they would." Tohka smiled, happy things with Miku finally took a turn for the better. "She's finally back."
After the crowd cheers lowered a bit, Miku held the mic up to say some words of thanks.
"Thank you so much, everyone out there... thank you!" Miku said happily, some tears of joy still in her eyes. "And thank you darling! Thank you so much, I love you!"
Suddenly the crowd collectively gasped, the Spirits all went white eyed at her boldness while Shido went white and breathed out a sound for the same reasons as both groups did, his only luck being Miku did nothing to point him out by name or a spotlight.
"She didn't!" Kaguya stated.
"I believe she just did." Yuzuru replied.
"You're so popular, aren't you?" Natsumi giggled.
"W-w-whoa..." Kotori sputtered out.
"Darling?" Yoshino blinked.
"Uh..." Origami blinked.
"Miku, you are the bravest woman I know right now." Kurumi stated, blushing slightly.
"Miku..." Tohka said, her mouth giving an annoyed pout.
Shido groaned and slowly slumped onto the ground, all while Miku waved in his direction. It was clear to him by this point that his harem was no longer predictable with Miku's addition into the mix.
'Well, at least there's only two Spirits left and I know how one of them acts.' Shido thought, sweat dropping a bit.
Shido and Tohka were standing by the viewpoint that had pretty much become their special spot by this point, Tohka was explaining everything to Shido about what happened after he manifested Choronzon.
"I see, so that's what happened. Well... to honestly tell you the truth, I can't even remember what happened after I got KOd by Ellen. Probably best I don't remember how I entered an Inversion." Shido admitted, scratching his head. "Either way, thank you for saving me. In the end, you kept your promise to me more than I did to you."
"Yeah, although... now I'm worried." Tohka replied, making Shido stare and blink at that.
"Back when I first Inverted, I felt a strong pain in my chest as if I was becoming someone else. Like my screams went faint as if they were far away. When I... uh, Ethereal Shifted, it felt like I was truly accepting everything that made me who I was. Yet, it feels like I can't do it again, not without doing something else... something I don't know, or even if I could do if I found out."
"Tohka..." Shido replied, looking worried. Although soon he feels Tohka take his hands. "Huh?"
Tohka smiled brightly.
"It doesn't matter, because right now you're right here and I'll never let you go through that again." Tohka continued, keeping her cheerful look. "Even if you lose yourself again somehow, know this. I'll take your hand like you did the day we reunited all those months ago. Because I'm you're hero, just like you're mine."
Shido soon smiled at that, as long as they had each other, they wouldn't fall to anything that tried to tear them apart.
"Tohka..." Shido said.
"Shido..." Tohka said back.
The two hugged and kissed each other, sharing a single moment they'd wish would feel like an eternity. Unfortunately, only 7 seconds after starting their kiss...
"Hey! No fair Tohka, you're using your main girl status to cheat!" Natsumi declared, making the two stop as they turned to face her, Miku and the Yamai twins.
"Darling, don't give Tohka all your attention!" Miku added, sharing Natsumi's annoyed look.
"That's right, we too want to hold hands, get an affectionate hug and then kiss you!" Yuzuru continued, giving an odd smile with a point tooth showing.
"We all share you, so it's only fair." Yuzuru finished.
Shido sputtered and blushed at the situation while Tohka made a pouty face that her alone time with Shido got interrupted.
"Darling!" Miku said, grabbing his hands and trying to get a kiss.
"Hey, you just kissed him earlier today! I get to kiss him first!" Natsumi complained, keeping her from making lip contact with Shido.
"Excuse me? I think it should be me!" Kaguya countered, grabbing on Natsumi's arm.
"I believe I'm the rightful girl to be kissed next." Yuzuru interjected, grabbing her sister's arm.
Soon enough, all four of them began to argue, while Shido slowly tried to walk away before they noticed, only for Natsumi to grab his arm.
"Shido, just where do you think YOU'RE going?" Natsumi asked, her eyes giving a scary look in response.
"Run away!" Shido screamed, trying to get away from them.
Soon all of them including Tohka ran after him, while Nia revealed she was watching the whole thing, and laughing as she turned Raziel to show everyone she wrote {Have the others interrupt Shido and Tohka's kiss} inside.
‹DATE A RE:LIVE, SEASON 2 - END›
That's right, you saw what you think you saw! This is how Westcott's group avoids getting retaliated by the world... they're not in it to face said retaliation! I will confirm right now, only to avoid any misconceptions or thoughts they're being replaced, that the Arbitel crew did survive due to what Marina did at the last moment there. The reason that worked? That'll be the first scene of the Ars Install movie, so be a little patient, I can say where they are now will be their new base. Although until Mukuro's arc next season, they can't do much since the DEM loyalists are scattered at the moment.
Also, since I guess most of you realized it was Seigo who helped Tohka achieve it, and since we've already had a character who caused the Sephira Crystals to be tainted due to evil... yeah, you likely guessed it right after seeing the previous chapter. Seigo's love and hope for Humanity also tainted them while Rinne had them right before he went to save his kids and Tohka from the DEM right before his death, but neither of them were aware. The good news is similar to Origami's parents, Seigo lives on within this other taint, though it's his will in his case due to his soul being broken.
What Rinne and Reine were talking about? Well, who knows, maybe I will actually revive Seigo and Isamu? Since finishing this season has me in such a good mood, I'll tell you all a secret, you know how my writing style is foreshadowing with a bit of twists involved? Well... let's just say even if I say I won't do or will do something, I'm likely tricking you, after all there's a reason I uses faces like this :3, in my author notes. *giggles* You just have to figure out if I'm trying to be serious, or if I'm trying to trick you so you won't see something coming.
Before I say anything more about the movies, time for today's guest review replies: "Seeker213 - Yep, screwed over his chances to steal Choronzon's power, if he got that the heroes would be in big trouble. So that's a reason he didn't get it, but he at least got an essence of Inverse Tohka's dark spirit power, leaving him with everything else he wanted. As for the lemon one-shot thing? Uh... 0_0 *blinks*"
"Well, I wasn't planning on it, but then again I didn't plan on the one-shot lemon for my DxD story. I guess I could try it... though I can't make any promises. I'll try, but just don't consider it as a guaranteed thing until I possibly mention it in a later chapter's author notes. Also, I'll keep your song in mind, I might even use it for the Ars Install movie since it feels like it'd work best in a virtual realm."
Anyways, for the Ars Install arc we'll be having Shido and Tohka swap back their protagonist and deuteragonist roles, because Tohka's finalized the character growth this season had set for her and her... *thinks* we'll call changing into the Ethereal Form the "Ethereal Shift" since I can't think of a better name. We're also getting a surprise visit from none other than Kotori's parents too!
Not just them, another pair of people are gonna show, but I can't say who yet. What I can say though? If you wanna guess who in advance, the hint is in this very arc, see if you can spot it ^^ *giggles* As for Rio Reincarnation? That's going to be extremely different, like with Origami's arc, as since there's no Eden and no real overall antagonist, all I'll say is Rio is indirectly responsible for the arc. Well, that's all until the movies everyone, so till then... stay awesome ^^
Also, as I promised... here are the Ethereal Forms' code names!
Origami: Seraph
Nia: Bishop
Kurumi: Dream
Yoshino: Yuki-onna
Kotori: Hearth
Mukuro: Nebula
Natsumi: Magician
Kaguya and Yuzuru: Tempest
Miku: Idol
Tohka: Monarch
-Spirit Bond Levels & Passive Abilities-
Tohka - 100%, MAX (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)
Miku - 48% (Pain Reliever)