Four years.
It had been four years since Shin had seen her, much less sensed her presence. Even if she wasn't physically present, he could feel her daunting aura engulfing everything around it. Her mere existence swallowed everything as if it were an endless abyss. His body trembled as the memories came back to him. His breathing and heart rate increased as he looked around frantically.
"Shin, run! Take Tala and run! Now!" a girl with dark violet hair and purple eyes urged.
"Shin…! Shin, help! Shin!"
"SHIN!"
Shin's eyes snapped open. Ichika grabbed his face, staring at him with a worried expression on her face.
"Ichika… I…" An overwhelming feeling of helplessness threatened to drown him. A crushing sense of weakness began to grip his body. However, the mere thought of Ichika being mercilessly cut down before him allowed him to gather some motivation to face her down. He let out a shaky sigh as he tried to reassure his best friend with a smile. "I'm… I'm going to be okay, Ichi."
"Shin-chan… Sophia, what do we do?" Ichika asked, turning to the white-haired exorcist.
"We need to go. We need to get out before she gets inside the Church," Sophia said. "Rias, can you teleport us all back to the Occult Research Club?" she asked.
Rias nodded. "But you're going to need to explain to me what the hell is going on. Akeno, bind the Fallen Angel."
Akeno nodded. She raised her hand, conjuring red magic circles around Raynare's wrists. Raynare attempted to protest but an overwhelming but brief pulse of immense divine energy made her freeze. Her eyes widened in fear as if she felt the presence of an apex predator.
"All of you, gather around me," Rias ordered.
Everyone in the room hastily moved next to Rias. Rias closed her eyes and created a crimson magic circle beneath the group. A flash of red light brightened the usual dark sanctuary of the Church. In an instant, the light enveloped them before dying down.
At first, they were confused. Rather than the cozy, warm, and somewhat aged appearance of the old school building, they were greeted with the same dark interior of the abandoned church. The damage from Raynare and Ichika's battle along with the earlier scars from Shin and Sophia's brief one-sided scuffle with Freed's were still present.
"Wha…? I…" Rias was at a loss for words.
"Did you do the spell wrong?" Sophia asked.
"No, I didn't spell wrong. I cast it perfectly. Let me…" Rias cast the spell once more. However, no matter how many times she cast it, they always ended up in the same place, just at different locations within the Church.
"We can't leave," Shin said, stepping forward. His left eye was now glowing a deep shade of crimson. His jaw tightened. "Ran."
Ran nodded and walked up to her master's side.
"Rias, get out of here," Shin said, glancing over his shoulder. "And take Ichika with you—"
"What? No! NO! I'm not leaving you here!" Ichika protested.
"I'm not going to hear it. Go and run!" Shin yelled, glaring at her.
Ichika's eyes widened and she took a step back, surprised by the fierce look on her childhood friend's face. There was a hidden resentment in his eyes. A resentment that was not directed at her yet she felt it all the same. Shin's eyes were no longer impassive in their gaze. Instead, there were deep dark pools of anger.
"I'll stay too," Sophia said.
Shin said nothing and turned his back to Ichika.
"Go," he said, his tone far gentler this time. Shin's ki surged forth, intermixing with the innate divinity of his Stigmata. Pixels manifested around him, coalescing into various weapons. Clarent's black blade crackled with red lightning.
"Ichika, go. This… is something none of you can handle," Sophia warned. Her wings spread forth.
"And you can?" Ichika asked.
"No, but we can buy you time. Now go!" Sophia ordered.
The group nodded and turned to run. Ichika bit her lip, staring at Shin's back for a few seconds before hesitantly running away. However, as the group tried to make it out of the Church, the moment they left through an exit, they re-entered through another entryway.
"Shit," Shin cursed as he watched them leave and re-enter through different doorways. "She's locked this entire place down!"
"..." Sophia's body tensed. "She's… hellbent on trapping us here. Why? Why here?"
"I don't know but we need to get them out of here," Shin said.
"Shin-chan, we can't—"
"I know. I know. Stay close," Shin said, stepping closer to her.
"Shin, what's going on?" Rias asked. "Do you know who's doing this?"
He swallowed a lump in his throat. The anger within him bubbled to the surface as he answered her.
"I do. It's—"
"I never expected us to reunite under such similar circumstances, my foolish student. But to think you'd be involved with two of them."
A woman's voice echoed through the Church. Her tone was soft yet it carried an unmistakable air of authority. Each word she said carried a weight behind it that caused them all to stiffen.
Shin tentatively took a step forward, keeping the others behind him as he eyed the approaching presence.
The woman's white hair glinted underneath the rays of moonlight that filtered in through the gaping hole in the Church's wall. Her face and clothes were stained in fresh blood, though the blood was barely visible on her dark red coat and black button up. Her red and blue eyes gazed upon them, causing an untold pressure to press on their shoulders. A crown of four red horns sat on her head. Despite her seemingly unassuming presence, her very existence commanded fear from the ones that stood before her.
"It's rather strange, isn't it?" the woman asked.
The Devils in the room subconsciously took a step back.
Ichika stayed behind Shin, feeling a shiver creep down her spine.
"Why are you here, Goddess of Chaos and Order, Yaldabaoth?" Sophia asked in a tense voice.
"Yaldabaoth…?" Ichika whispered.
[That woman is the Goddess of Chaos and Order. A figure in Gnosticism and a member of the… well, former member of the Three Factions. She is… its most powerful living deity. Be careful, Partner. That woman can cut even an Ultimate Class Devil down in a single stroke.] Ddraig warned.
Ichika nodded, keeping her eyes trained on the Goddess before them.
Yaldabaoth gazed at them impassively. The look on her face appeared to disregard their existences entirely, seeing them as nothing more than children attempting to play in a forest full of wolves.
Shin glared at the Goddess, now unfazed by her imposing presence.
Yaldabaoth ignored Sophia's question before locking eyes with Shin.
"You… You think you can show your face in front of me after what you did four years ago?" Shin growled.
Four… years ago? Ichika thought. She looked to Shin, who had a look of hatred and anger on his face as he stared the Goddess before them down.
Her body tensed. Not once in her life had she seen a look of pure resentment on Shin's face. To see such a look on his normally calm face sent a wave of unease through her. She clenched her fists, keeping Boosted Gear at the ready.
Yaldabaoth raised an eyebrow at his words. "I told you, didn't I? What happened four years ago was necessary to protect the world's continued existence."
"Necessary… she was innocent! They both were!" Shin barked.
"If you're here for the Devils, Yaldabaoth, then I believe killing them will only bring you trouble. Your reputation across the globe isn't exactly the greatest right now. You've felled people from several pantheons including a couple of Gods. Imagine how much stress will be on you if you behead the sister of the Current Lucifer," Sophia said, attempting to get the God to leave.
Yaldabaoth shook her head. She closed her eyes as if she were in contemplation before speaking. "I could care less what happens to mere devils. I'm not here for them, nor am I here for Shin."
"You… As if I would let you repeat what you did in Hungary here!" Shin roared, brandishing Clarent at his Sponsor.
"What happened in Hungary, what happened to you, to your Blade Twin, and to that girl you were protecting, it was a necessary tragedy in order to maintain the world's current trajectory," Yaldabaoth replied unfazed by his rage and thinly veiled aggression.
"And now, I shall kill that girl." Yaldabaoth's eyes lingered on Ichika. "To prevent the world from being thrown into ruin, her death is necessary."
"What… necessary…" Shin's mind snapped.
A shockwave blew through the room, sending the remaining pews and pieces of rubble flying through the air. Everyone shielded themselves as the shockwave ripped through them.
"SHIN!" Ichika yelled, narrowing her eyes as she tried to find him. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw him.
In the midst of the buffeting winds, Shin's blade was locked against the scabbard of Yaldabaoth's own sword.
Shin's eyes were awash with rage and hatred. His grip on Clarent tightened as he pushed down against the scabbard of his master's sword. His hateful eyes locked with her own cold ones.
"Damn it! Ran, on me!" Sophia cursed as she rushed forward toward the two.
"You! I'll kill you before you can even lay a finger on her head!" Shin yelled as he jumped off. He rushed forward again, swinging his blade in a furious rage.
To the others, his graceful swordsmanship—while steeped in rage—moved fluidly and at such speeds that they could barely see it.
However, Shin's eyes widened as Yaldabaoth effortlessly parried all of his attacks. He staggered back as she deflected his final blow.
"Even if it is you, my Contractor, I shall not allow you to get in the way. The Queen of Conquest shall die," Yaldabaoth said.
"Shin!" Sophia appeared behind Yaldabaoth and swung her scythe at her unprotected back. However, the Goddess merely raised her arm, blocking the scythe's blade with her sheathed sword.
Sophia's eyes went wide with surprise. A sudden unseen force slammed into her side and threw her across the room. She was brutally thrown through a pillar and crashed outside.
"Sophia! Damn it—"
"This time, you won't interfere, Shin."
He looked up and was met with the sight of the butt-end of Yaldabaoth's sheathed sword filling his vision. He gasped in pain as he was thrown through the altar, through the hole in the Church. The earth shook terribly as Shin violently landed on the ground.
"Now then…"
A bolt of golden lightning struck her. Yaldabaoth turned, unfazed by the attack. Her eyes gazed upon each member of the Gremory Peerage.
Koneko lunged forward, landing a devastating punch to the Goddess's solar plexus. Wind displaced the dust around them. Much to Koneko's horror, Yaldabaoth remained rooted to her spot. "H-How…?"
"Do not interfere."
Koneko gasped as she felt her ribs break underneath the force of the blow. It was merely a tap but the strength behind it was incredible. She was thrown through the front doors of the Church. Koneko bounced violently a few times as she hit the ground before coming to a stop.
Yuuto rushed around Yaldabaoth, wielding the Holy Eraser. He sliced into her, cutting multiple times. But his rapid strikes failed to land a single blow. Sparks flew as all of his strikes were blocked by Yaldabaoth.
"You're fast but weak," she said.
With speeds he couldn't comprehend, Yuuto soon found himself embedded in the statue of a saint. Cuts littered his body and blood poured profusely from the numerous small wounds.
I… I couldn't sense her movements…? He thought.
Yaldabaoth turned to face Ichika, Asia, Rias, and Akeno.
Asia took a step back, stumbling in fear. She tripped and backpedaled away. Her green eyes were wide with terror as she gazed upon the deity before her.
"Queen of Conquest." Yaldabaoth appeared in front of Ichika. Her blank gaze registered an emotion akin to loathing. Her grip on her sword tightened.
Ichika wanted to move. She wanted to get out of the way and run. Every cell in her body was screaming at her to move from her spot, however, the fear she felt paralyzed her. All she could do was tremble and await her death as it slowly approached her.
"Don't you dare touch her!"
A black and red orb flew at Yaldabaoth. However, without even looking, the orb was sliced in half.
"—!?" Rias's eyes widened. She gritted her teeth as she jumped between Yaldabaoth and Ichika. "As long as I breathe, you will not lay a finger on a member of my peerage! Akeno!"
Above them, Akeno raised her hand, gathering copious amounts of electricity. The sky rumbled as Akeno fired a powerful bolt of lightning at the God.
"Weak." Yaldabaoth clicked her sword out of its scabbard. In an instant, the lightning bolt was cut in half, causing it to strike different areas of the Church. Akeno let out a scream of pain as the slash sliced into her shoulder.
"Akeno!" Rias yelled in worry. She turned her eyes on the Goddess. Potent demonic power surged around her, causing a dark red aura to envelop Rias's body. Her hair began to float and the ground shook as Rias's anger reached a tipping point. "My Knight and Rook. And now my Queen? You even want to take the life of my dear Pawn. How dare you… touch my family!?"
"Family? You refer to that girl behind you as family?" Yaldabaoth said. "That girl is—"
"A member of my peerage! And a Devil under the name of Gremory! For the harm you caused them, and the fact that you threatened my palm's life, I'll make sure not even a single atom is left once I'm finished with you." Rias's eyes glowed dangerously. Her cold tone echoed through the battlefield.
Black and red energy gathered in her hands. With a loud cry, Rias unleashed it all on the deity before her. An explosion shook the Church as the blast leveled the entire western wing, tearing up the Earth and building.
Rias panted as she stared at the dust cloud in front of her.
Ichika's body remained tense as they waited for it to settle down.
"You misunderstand one thing, child of Gremory. That girl behind you is not a devil."
Rias's eyes widened. An agonizing pain shot through her entire arm as she fell to one knee. Her shoulder had been torn open, sliced apart in such a precise manner that she didn't even register it until a few seconds after it had happened. Blood spurt from her wound, staining her uniform in the same crimson shade as her hair. She clenched her jaw and stared defiantly at the Goddess before her.
Yaldabaoth took a step forward, walking up to them slowly.
"Y- You…"
"When you reincarnated that girl to be your pawn, she was resurrected but not in the way you wanted. That girl is no Devil. That girl is—"
"Ichika! Rias!" Shin appeared above Yaldabaoth and swung a blade down atop Yaldabaoth's head.
Yaldabaoth backstepped, avoiding the sword by a mere inches. Her eyes narrowed as Shin stood before her, battered but alive.
"You're making the same mistake you did four years ago by protecting that girl. I distinctly remember how this same encounter went in Hungary," Yaldabaoth said, taking a few steps toward them.
Shin tightened his grip on Clarent. "Yeah… I do. But… this time, I'm going to kill you before you can even touch her."
Yaldabaoth paused, gazing into her Contractor's eyes. "..."
A blast of black flames engulfed Yaldabaoth the moment she took another step. Ran appeared next to Shin in a burst of black flames. Fire coated her hands, taking the shape of massive claws.
"These flames… hmph, I thought you died 12 years ago but it seems that—"
Yaldabaoth craned her neck, avoiding Sophia's scythe. She shifted on her feet a few inches, landing a myriad of blows on Sophia. The exorcist gasp before jumping back.
"Oi, Shin. Got any idea why I can't sense her movements? Even if she is moving extremely fast, our bodies have been slammed so many times that we should be able to sense her habits and intent by now," Sophia said, stumbling as she landed.
Shin kept his grip on Clarent tight. His eyes never left that of his Sponsor's. "The Apex of Nothingness."
Sophia's eyes widened. "Tch… fuck… well, if I knew we're fighting one of the three people in the world that can definitely be called monsters, I would've written my suicide letter beforehand," she said wryly. A tense smile was on her face as she eyed the Goddess warily.
"I don't care how high she's reached," Shin pulled a black talisman from his pocket. He held it out in front of him. A swirl of black and blue flames roared to life around Shin, encasing him in a cyclone of fire. "I'm going to kill her here and now. For Ichika… and for her. And for Mio."
"Mmm? You're going all out?" Yaldabaoth asked. Her grip on her sword tightened ever so slightly.
"I told you, didn't I? I won't let you touch a hair on her head," Shin said. The vortex of fire swirled and churned, roiling into a single form in Shin's hand. "Solar Revealing Charm - Hirume." A glistening black and silver katana appeared in Shin's left hand. He launched its sheathe at Yaldabaoth.
The Goddess swatted it out of the way, following it up with a quick block from Shin's two swords.
"Sophia!" Shin jumped back.
"Hmmm?" Yaldabaoth raised an eyebrow as violet light engulfed her entire form. She looked up and saw Sophia gathering black mist into her hand. "Qemetiel and Serenity. A Power of God class Miracle along with a Covenant from the Goddess of Death herself. Aren't you special… however…"
The violet light faded away as soon as Yaldabaoth snapped her fingers. "No matter what power it is… as long as it is a power belonging to an Angel or a Devil, it has no effect on me."
"We know… that's why…!" Shin rushed forward, swinging both swords at her head.
The Goddess deflected both blades before thrusting the scabbard into Shin's torso. Shin slid back.
The moment Shin was thrown back, the black mist slammed down on Yaldabaoth.
"A Covenant can still affect you!" Shin yelled. He raised Clarent into the air. His right eye glowed with a bright blue color.
Substantial analysis completed…
Source Protocol engaged… applying transformations…
Reason reconstructed and morphed…
In the air behind Shin, multiple weapons manifested, all possessing the same blue and red cores. The weapons morphed until they took the form of several heavy machine gun artillery. The barrels glowed as they unleashed a hail of blue energy bolts.
"Haah! Onigari-Ryu - Hikarigiri!" Shin swung Hirume and Clarent at blinding speeds, unleashing cutting waves of lightning and black flames.
The hail of energy bolts, corrosive black mist, lightning, and devouring black flames detonated a few seconds after impact. The Church shook violently. A small mushroom cloud rose into the air. Everyone watched the smoke with bated breath.
Sophia landed next to Shin, panting. Sweat dripped down her forehead. "You think we…?"
"No, not even—" Shin's eyes widened as a flash of silver light glinted in the smoke. The smoke was sliced in half. Blood sprayed everywhere as he fell to one knee, gripping his left shoulder.
"Shin—!?" A translucent glass shard lodged itself in Sophia's side, causing her to fall to the ground. The glass glitched and crackled as if it were an infection that reality was trying to erase.
"I didn't think you'd go this far just to protect that girl. I have to admit that you have improved significantly in the past four years. Did my tutelage take you this far or did the Lake Spirit and the Sword Saint help you?" Yaldabaoth walked out from the smoke, body completely unharmed by their most powerful attacks.
"Why… are you so relentless in trying to kill Ichika?" Sophia gasped. "Are you hunting devils for sport now?"
"Devil? That girl is not a devil. She never was," Yaldabaoth said.
Ichika's eyes widened considerably. Rias furrowed her brow as she took a step, holding her arm out protectively. "Impossible… I reincarnated her with my pieces! She's a member of my peerage—"
"The light turned white, didn't it?"
"—!?" Rias and Shin's eyes widened simultaneously.
"How did you… know?" Shin asked.
"Mother saw it. That girl… is the same as that Tala girl you were protecting four years ago. In order for the world to continue existing, she must perish in order to prevent the other three from ever reawakening. I thought Amaterasu did away with her 12 years ago but it seems that… she merely lay dormant. I will correct that mistake," she said.
"I won't let you—"
The tip of Yaldabaoth's sword stopped before Shin's throat. He gulped, feeling it just barely grazing his skin. "If this is the extent of your resolve, then I'll answer yours with my own. Even if it's you, do not think for a moment that I won't hesitate to cut you down."
Shin glared at her. "As if I'll let you—"
"Don't you touch him…"
"Hmm?" Yaldabaoth looked up at Ichika. Her normally impassive gaze morphed into one of slight surprise.
A sudden surge of power ripped through the Church, forcing the Goddess back. Shin looked back, wind battering his face. He squinted as he tried to look through the clouds of dust that were being kicked up.
"You dare lay hands on what is mine… and threaten to kill him in front of me. My servant's life is mine and no one else's! I'll erase you for daring to destroy my property." Ichika stepped forward. Her voice took on a deeper tone. Her normally brown eyes turned a silvery-blue and her hair was slowly turned white.
"I- Ichika…?" Shin said.
In the distance, a man walked down the street. He had enough trouble getting here due to his status as a foreigner, even if he did act the part of an ambassador. His black coat fluttered slightly in the wind. His golden eyes caught sight of the place he was heading to. However, his destination was swallowed underneath a mysterious black orb that occasionally shimmered with a myriad of colors. He sighed, running a hand through his black hair.
His eyebrow raised slightly as he felt a ripple pulse through the world.
"Oh? Has she finally woken up for real this time? I wonder just what exactly is going on in there," the man mused.
"So… you've finally decided to come out, Queen of Conquest," Yaldabaoth said. She reacted almost immediately, dodging Ichika's outstretched fist.
The girl followed up with a relentless volley of blows.
[Boost]
The announcement from the Sacred Gear sounded submissive and subdued rather than the standard forceful announcement it usually uttered.
"Boosted Gear. This is troublesome… to think that the White Horseman would attain a Longinus," she muttered under her breath.
"Heh… are you afraid? A paltry power like this rightfully belongs to me. Insects like you… only exist to be crushed under my heel." "Ichika" rose into the air. Her flowing white hair and silver eyes glowed. A pallid flame gathered in the palm of her hand, forming into a massive bow. "Die."
Yaldabaoth narrowed her eyes.
"Ah… that's right… my loyal dragon slave, grant your Queen your powers." As if in response, the once green gem of the Boosted Gear turned white.
[Boost. Boost. Boost. Boost. Boost. Boost. Boost. Boost. Boost. Boost. Boost. Boost.]
The flaming arrow in Ichika's hands grew more intense and powerful. An overpowering white light began to outshine the moon, causing the night sky to darken considerably.
"Now… kneel and die before me like a loyal rat." "Ichika's" voice became strangely hypnotic. Everyone in the Church who heard the voice felt the irresistible urge to kneel before her.
"The power of a Law…" Yaldabaoth gritted her teeth as she resisted "Ichika's" hypnotic voice.
"She's half-baked…"
"—!?"
"Mmm? It seems you resisted my order. It doesn't matter." An arrogant, sadistic smirk appeared on "Ichika's" face as she let the arrow loose.
Yaldabaoth reacted immediately. Her eyes glowed. Black pixels gathered around the scabbard of her blade. "True Tetragrammaton - Tohu Cherev." The moment the sword was clicked out of its scabbard, a series of black lines sliced across the world, cutting the flaming arrow into scattered embers.
"Ichika's" eyes widened considerably. "You dare to—"
"You're still a half-baked Horseman. You cannot even access the full might of your Law."
"Ichika" turned quickly but was knocked to the ground by Yaldabaoth. She quickly got to her feet and held her hand out. Her eyes glowed and the world seemingly bent to her will. Gravity intensified, locking Yaldabaoth in the air. She closed her fist, causing everything to fly toward the Goddess at immense speeds. Beams of light warped and converged on her, however, gravity and the objects flying toward the Goddess were cut apart.
"Ichika!" Shin got up despite the pain and ran toward her.
Yaldabaoth burst from the smoke appearing above her. Despite her sudden and immense increase in power, "Ichika" was not quick enough to react to Yaldabaoth's night-instantaneous movements.
She soon found herself slamming violently into the ground. Blood spurt out of her mouth. Ichika pushed herself off the ground. "You… insect…" "Ichika" glared at Yaldabaoth as the Goddess approached her.
"Spare me your words, White Horseman. Now… lay down and die silently." Yaldabaoth raised her blade and swung it down.
Shin jumped in front of the arc of the oncoming blade and prepared for the worst. "Ichika's" eyes widened at the sight.
However, before Yaldabaoth's sword could make contact, a violet barrier appeared around the two. The God of Chaos's sword bounced off harmlessly.
"My, my. I knew your Authority to control time and space was powerful but I never knew I had to pull out all the stops just to get inside. That… really annoys me."
"Mmm? Lake Spirit," Yaldabaoth said.
A flash of blue light appeared above the violet cube that encased Ichika and Shin.
"You—! Spirit! Heed my command! Release me from—"
"Go to sleep, Ichi." Vivi yawned as she snapped her fingers. A shower of blue powder appeared above Ichika. The girl tried to resist but was claimed by the sweet embrace of sleep. As soon as she fell unconscious, Ichika's hair returned to normal.
"V- Vivi…," Shin said weakly. "You're late…"
"A thank you would have been nice. Slipping past her authority was the most annoying part of my day," Vivi said. She raised her hand and flicked her wrist. A crackling violet light gathered in the palm of her hand before firing at the Goddess.
Yaldabaoth swung the scabbard of her sword, blocking the beam of energy. The energy beam dispersed, scattering into various energy orbs that erased any structure they came into contact with.
She raised her hand. An array of different weapons and objects appeared in the air around them, ranging from the mythological and divine to the weapons born from the genius of man. All of them were aimed at Yaldabaoth.
"No way… this is the Authority of the Lake Guardian from Arthurian Mythology," Rias said in awe.
"Let's see if your Tehom can slice through my Reconstruction, Goddess of Chaos." Vivi's eyes glowed ominously as power crackled around a thousand more weapons manifested in the room.
Yaldabaoth's gaze darkened. Her grip on her sword tightened considerably. However, as she was about to unleash her attack, her eyes widened.
"What? I have the Conquest Queen before me," she said. A small magic circle appeared next to her ear.
"..."
"What…? Impossible. How…? Seven of them…" Yaldabaoth sheathed her blade. A grim expression fell across her otherwise divine features. "I made sure that there was nothing left—"
"..."
"I… understand. Fine." Yaldabaoth sighed as she dispelled the magic circle. "It seems… we will have to cut this encounter short."
Vivi raised an eyebrow at her words. "Do you really think I'd let you get away, God of Chaos?" Vivi asked.
"As if any of you can keep me here. All of you are too weak." Yaldabaoth drew her blade and slashed a rift in the world. "Just know… I will be back for that girl. Something more pressing has arisen."
"You…" Shin pressed his right hand against the violet barrier.
"My foolish student, I will warn you now. That girl…" Yaldabaoth's gaze slowly shifted over to the unconscious Ichika. "If you allow that girl to continue to exist, she will eventually take everything from you."
Yaldabaoth then turned around and walked into the rift as it closed behind her.
Vivi waited for a few seconds before dispelling the barrier. She landed on the ground and caught Shin as he was about to fall. "You did well. Rest up, idiot," Vivi said.
"Vivi… Ichika… she's…" Shin reached out toward his unconscious friend before fatigue and blood loss finally caught up with him and he finally fell unconscious.
Yaldabaoth
A mysterious goddess who Shin calls his master.
A Gnostic God who represents the Order of Heaven and the Chaos of the Abyss.
Her journey of thousands of years culminates at this moment. Having forgone the company of her loved ones, she has acquired immense strength and skill, cutting her own limits and ascending into the heights of nothingness.
"Gaze upon me... then fall into the Abyss."
The advance of this Fallen God in her quest to end the servants of Entropy shall not be hindered, even by the Laws of the World.