The St. Regis Rome was an old hotel located at the heart of Rome. The five-story building loomed over them as they approached it. The streets outside were lined with parked cars, each of differing design, and some of the guests were dropped off by their chauffeurs who drove their exorbitantly priced luxury cars. From what the pair could see, there were heads of state and members of the Church all entering the building.

"I feel like I'm underdressed," Shin said, adjusting his tie.

"Stop touching it. You look fine," Ichika said, hugging his arm.

Shin blushed when he felt two soft, large mounds smother his bicep. His eyes swiveled over to glance at his childhood friend. The dress Ichika had decided to buy was a blood-red dress. It was something that she deemed fitting for her role as the Red Dragon Empress.

It had a halter neck with crisscrossing straps that connected to a black choker she had bought for the occasion. The straps exposed a healthy amount of her cleavage. The skirt of her dress extended down to her ankles, of which it had thigh slits that exposed a considerable amount of her left thigh, leaving little to the imagination. On her left thigh, she wore a black strap which she said was for fashion but Shin was 100% certain that Sophia had put her up to it.

Her hair was down for once, styled in a wavy cascading pattern. It was a stark contrast from her usual, asymmetrical hairstyle.

Overall, her colors matched his. He wore a black suit with a silver vest, a black undershirt, and a red tie. His hair was slicked back. However, what he wore now was now an afterthought to the sight before him.

That dress shows so much skin… Shin thought as his eyes drifted down to her chest.

"What? Not even going to compliment me?" Ichika grinned, enjoying the flustered look on his face.

"Ahem. You look great," Shin coughed into his hand. His ears and cheeks were bright red.

The two crossed the street, entering the hotel and mixing in with the different guests.

[Awww, are you two lovebirds getting on without me?]

Sophia's voice echoed in their ears, causing them both to jump.

"Fucking hell! Don't do that!" Ichika hissed silently.

[Pfft. Anyway, if anything goes wrong, Asia and I are outside. Remember, your disguises] Sophia said.

"Yeah, copy." Shin said.

[What are they?"]

Shin rolled his eyes. "Ichika and I are an affluent couple from Germany under the names of Roland Heinrich and his wife, Yuriko Heinrich. We came here to attend the charity event and are disillusioned by the ways of the Church."

[Aww, you do remember. Remember you two, you gotta really sell the couple part so don't forget to sneak in a few kisses here and there.]

Ichika and Shin's faces turned red at the sound of her teasing voice.

"K-K-Kiss!? No one ever said anything about kissing!" Ichika stammered.

[Really? I could have sworn I told you two to kiss. Anyway, remember how I told you we'd be working together? Well, the Traditionalists sent two of their exorcists to help us. I think you know them already. They're already inside.]

"Know them? Who are they—!?"

[Hey guys~!] Irina's voice chimed in through the channel.

"Rin-chan," Ichika said.

Shin nodded as he entered the ballroom with Ichika.

The ballroom was packed to the brim. Different tables were already occupied by various groups, each one containing one influential figure after another. Some of them were people he recognized from the news. There were several notable celebrities, some of them from movies and TV shows Shin had seen before.

Shin's eyes darted around the room and spotted several cardinals speaking to what looked like the businessman of a tech company. The cardinals had mixed expressions on their faces, ranging from masked confusion to utter boredom and disinterest.

[Xenovia and I see you two so if anything goes wrong, we can move in.] Irina said.

"Huh? Where are…?"

"They're to the left of us," Shin said, nudging her side gently.

Ichika followed his gaze and spotted the Exorcist duo. They were dressed in suits. Irina tied her hair into a tight bun and held a tray of champagne glasses. Xenovia wore similar clothing but had an apron around her waist. In her left hand was a bottle of champagne.

[I don't understand why I have to wear this ridiculous outfit. This is not optimal for combat at all.] Xenovia said.

[Come on, Xenovia! It's all part of the act. Now look like you belong here and not an emotionless robot.] Irina snapped back.

"Did you two spot him?" Shin asked.

[Yup~! Father Marco's over to your right. He's surrounded by other clergymen so you might have to wait for a moment. Besides, it's not every day you get to go to a ball, right? You two should enjoy yourselves.] Irina chirped.

The two turned to see their target. The bespectacled, sleep-deprived priest stood next to a man who appeared to be a bishop. His slimy smile sent shivers down Ichika's spine as his eyes flitted to each woman in the ballroom.

"Um…"

[Remember, you two have to sell the couple part.] Sophia reminded them.

"B-But, do we really have to kiss?" Ichika whispered. Her cheeks grew red at the very notion of her kissing Shin.

[Well you don't have to but it will really help.]

The two navigated their way through the ballroom. Shin swiped two glasses of champagne from Irina's tray. Irina winked at him, causing Shin to roll his eyes.

[Shin-chan! This is a private channel with just you, me, and Sophia.]

"Why do I even have a private channel?" Shin asked quietly.

[Well…]

[Irina and I talked and decided this was for the best. While we do have the main frequency to keep you and Ichika updated, this was best for us to direct you on how to properly act.]

"Act? Act like what?" Shin whispered as he handed a glass to Ichika. Ichika had her eye trained on the crowd, occasionally glancing at Father Marcos.

[Like a proper date, you idiot.] Sophia replied.

"D- Date! This is a mission!" Shin whispered.

[It is a mission. A mission of love!] Irina chimed in.

[Now Shin. I know outside of Ichika, you've never seen a woman outside of your sisters, niece, and mom so this will be a true learning experience for you.] Sophia said. Her giggles could be heard from his earpiece.

"I hate you two so much!" he said.

"Hate who?" Ichika asked.

"N-Nothing," Shin said. "Just… Irina said something stupid."

[Hey!]

Shin ignored her voice and focused on monitoring their target.

"Jeez, just how long are they going to talk? The Cardinals don't even seem that interested in the guy but he just keeps yapping," Ichika said.

"Well, whatever, it is, we can't let him out of our sight. Let's just start slowly moving in and—"

"That man… feels dangerous."

Shin felt a prickling sensation in the back of his mind. He discreetly glanced at the empty space to his left. Vivi's translucent form hovered in the air, visible to his eyes only. Her eyes were glowing blue as she stayed next to him.

What? Shin asked.

"I can sense two Excalibur fragments here. They're both with your friends. But that's not what feels off. That man... has a dangerous presence around him." Vivi said.

"We'll be careful," Shin reassured her.

Vivi's silence was palpable. Shin pursed his lips as an inkling of discomfort creeping up in the back of his head.

"You look tense. Loosen up a little," Ichika said, holding his hand.

"Vivi said she can sense something off about the guy," Shin whispered.

"What? Vivi? I don't see her," Ichika said.

"She… She can talk to me telepathically. It's one of the perks of a Stigmata," Shin said.

"Well, isn't that cool? How do we approach him? Do we have to make up our own sob story?"

"Sophia gave us a script. Uhh… it says we're a couple who's been trying for children and praying. We've tried everything medical science has to offer and then moved onto religion. Uhh, the priests at supposed healing churches laughed at us and a ton of bishops looked at us like we were crazy. Oh, we apparently had 10 miscarriages. Wow, that's dark."

"Pretty on par with her sense of humor." Ichika smiled as someone passed by them. "Okay, dear husband, should we move in?"

Shin glanced at Father Marco for a few seconds. There were still too many people around Marco. They needed to get him alone or else someone might overhear. He didn't know if the others were in league with Marco to sell out the Church to Valper.

"No, let's wait. There's too many people around him right now. Let's just hang back for now. Besides, we've never been to a ball so we should enjoy ourselves."

Ichika raised an eyebrow. "Really? You hate parties."

"Well, I hate them because I have to talk to other people. But, it's just us. As long as you're here, I should be fine. Besides, it's been a while since we've been able to relax and have fun together, between all the jobs Sona's been sending us on back in Kuoh and now this whole Excalibur conspiracy. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm happiest when I get to spend time with you like this, Ichi," Shin said.

Her eyes widened as his words sank in. A blush began to spread across her face, staining her cheeks and ears red. Her body temperature rose considerably as her heart began to race. Metaphorical steam wafted off her ahoge.

"Ichika? You okay?" Shin asked, noticing her flushed cheeks.

"That's… not fair. You always say things like that… it's not fair," Ichika mumbled, trying to hide her blush.

"What are you… oh." Shin's cheeks turned slightly red as his mind registered the words that just came out of his mouth. After a few seconds, he offered her his hand. "Well, then… since we are supposed to be a couple for this, would the Fair Empress be so kind as to grant her loyal Knight a dance?"

Ichika's mouth opened slightly before covering her mouth to suppress her laughter. "W- What was that?" Ichika laughed.

"Shut up. I'm trying you know," Shin grumbled.

Ichika smiled softly before taking his hand. "Of course, the Red Dragon Empress shall graciously grant her Knight a dance."

The two moved closer and Shin placed his other hand on her waist.

"W- What are you—!?"

"We're dancing, remember?"

Ichika bit her lip and nodded. She gingerly reached up with her left hand and placed it gently on his shoulder.

The two swayed, clumsily attempting to move in sync as they turned in a circle. Music played in the background, almost drowning out the world around them. For a moment, it was just them dancing alone in an empty ballroom. No job. No peril. No threat. It was just Shin and Ichika.

"Shin… I—"

[Yoohoo! Before you two love birds drift off into your own world, Father Marco is free.] Irina's voice echoed through their earpieces. The two almost jumped from the suddenness.

"Jesus Christ, Irina!" Shin said.

"Give us a heads up!" Ichika hissed.

[Sorry, you two were so engrossed in each other that I had to. Next time, I'll try not to interrupt.] Irina's voice had a teasing tone to it.

"Ichika," Shin said as he turned, allowing her to see Father Marco.

Ichika's eyes locked onto him. "She's right. Let's go."

"Yeah."

"Wait."

"What is it?" Shin asked.

"Remember, we're supposed to be a married couple," Ichika said, latching onto his arm.

Shin blushed slightly at the contact before nodding. The two slowly made their way off the dance floor, making their way through a sea of people toward Father Marco.

Father Marco stood off in a corner of the ballroom. He had shuffled away slightly from the bishop he had been accompanying. He pushed his glasses up as he tried to shy away from the large crowds that had been forming across the ballroom.

"Alright, ready?"

Ichika nodded and tightened her grip around his arm. She blinked a few times, summoning a few tears to her eyes. "Ready."

[Wow, Ichika. I didn't know you could cry on command.] Sophia whistled through their earpieces.

"I'm also in the theater club. I act occasionally."

"Alright, he's right there. We need to—"

"Oh, honey. What do we do? That's the third Bishop that told us there was nothing he could do!"

Shin blinked, hearing the genuine emotion in Ichika's voice. He almost turned to gawk at her when he felt her pinch his arm. He winced before coughing. "D-Darling," Shin began. His face turned slightly red. "L-Let's not get too hasty—"

"God has done nothing for us, Dear! I… the Church cannot solve our problems! I just want to have a child! But I... I keep failing. How can I call myself a mother if I can't even bring my own child into this world!" Ichika cried, tears flowing down her face. "If… If only there were a way for us… I… I feel like such a burden to you."

"Ichi— Yuriko, you're not a burden. We will have our child. I swear by it. There has to be a way. Even if it's not from the Church," Shin said.

"Oh, Roland." Ichika smiled, blinking back tears. She reached up to cup his cheek.

"Signore, Signora."

The two turned to see Father Marco approaching them. There was a sort of predatory look on his face as he laid eyes on Ichika. His lips curved upward slightly as he got closer. The smile soon faded, only to be replaced by a slightly melancholic expression. He clasped his hands as if in prayer.

"Signora, Signore, I could not help but overhear your troubles. I truly apologize for all the grief you went through at the hands of my colleagues," Marco said, bowing his head slightly.

"I- I'm sorry. It was just that… you see, my husband and I came to this event in hopes of finding a miracle. We've been trying for children for 5 years and yet…" Ichika choked back a sob.

[My God, Ichika can act.] Irina quipped.

"I-I see," Marco said. He rubbed the back of his head nervously.

Shin wrapped his arms around Ichika. He felt her body shaking. Whether it was from anticipation or if she was actually faking her sobs, he didn't know. He looked down at her. "Honey, it's okay. I'm sorry, Father..?"

"Marco. My name is Marco, signore," Marco said, shaking his hand. "I am sad to see such a young couple in their prime devastated by such an outstanding loss."

"Yes, it was our dream to have a child of our own. My wife and I wanted to start a family, you see," Shin said. "IVF, hormone therapy, we've tried everything. The… repeated failures are chipping away at our hope. Yuriko and I turned to the Church to see if there was something that could be done. We figured religion could help us where science failed but… we've been taken advantage of and laughed out of various churches. Whether it be the mega-churches in America or even the Cathedrals here in Europe… no one seems to take our request seriously."

Marco hummed in response. Shin noticed something glimmering in his eyes. A gleam he'd seen a few times when someone wanted to take advantage of those desperate for help. It was pure, unadulterated greed. He most likely didn't look past their physical appearance and just assumed that since they attended the charity gala, they were wealthy, not even bothering to question their age.

To him, he and Ichika were just walking dollar signs.

"Signore, what if I told you that there is a way for you two to have your own child?" Marco said, feigning concern as he handed her a handkerchief.

"W-What? B-But… the bishops and priests said that n-not even the Church can perform such miracles if God does not allow it. Can you really help us where others have failed?" Ichika whispered, hope evident in her voice. Her eyes widened slightly. She could see the barely hidden avarice glimmering in his eyes.

"The Church will tell you many things in an attempt to keep power to themselves. However, I will introduce you to a colleague of mine who can make your dreams of having a child come true," Marco said.

[Press him. This is what we need. We just need him to give up the location of their hideout here in Italy.] Sophia said.

"Colleague?" Ichika asked.

"A brilliant man. He used to be a bishop until the Church excommunicated him and stole his research. His name is Valper Galilei," he replied.

Shin coughed into his hand. "When do you want to meet? We… As long as Yuriko is happy, we can meet him anytime, anywhere."

Marco's lips twisted into a thinly veiled, triumphant smirk. He held his hand out to Shin as if to shake it.

Shin reached out, firmly shaking his hand.

"I can get into contact with him right now. The man is here in Rome on some business. In the meantime, we can discuss the details of this deal, signora, signore," Marco said.

Ichika let the waterworks flow, pushing her face into her hands in order to put on a convincing show. Beneath her hands, her lips curved into a triumphant smirk.

"So, give me a second to schedule a…" The words in Marco's mouth suddenly died. His eyes unfocused as he saw something in the crowd. Something that made his skin go several shades paler.

Shin narrowed his eyes slightly as the man was rooted to his spot, transfixed by something that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Shin glanced over his shoulder and saw nothing. However, a tug at the edge of his subconscious told him otherwise.

"I-I'm sorry about that, signora, signore. It appears that I must attend to some business," the priest suddenly said.

[Don't let him leave. Irina, Xenovia, do you have a visual on him?] Sophia asked.

[We do. Shin, Ichika. Try to stall him. We'll move to your location!] Irina said.

[Shin, get him to talk. We need the location of where Valper is hiding out here in the Vatican.] Sophia said.

Shin gripped Marco's hand tightly. "If… if it's alright with you, can we perhaps set up a location to meet now? My wife and I don't have any way to contact you…"

Marco's skittish eyes darted around the room as if looking for something. He shook his head hastily, trying to keep his voice even. "Signore, unfortunately, I cannot. The man I have the pleasure of being a colleague to is very secretive and I must get his permission to reveal anything." He freed his hand from Shin's grip with surprising strength. The fear and anxiety in the man's eyes were palpable.

"But, Father, please. We'll do anything," Ichika begged.

"I am sorry, signora. Now…," Marco pulled a phone out of his robe. "I have some business I have to attend to. I assure you that I will contact you."

Before either of them could get a word in, Marco pushed his way through the crowd.

"Shin-chan," Ichika said.

Shin nodded. The two took off, making their way through the crowd after him. A couple of feet away, the pair could still see him, clumsily walking through a sea of people. They kept their pursuit until several waiters and a large crowd walked past them, obscuring their line of sight. Ichika and Shin tried to push through the crowd but the sheer size of the crowd hindered their progress considerably.

"Irina! We're stuck here! Do you see him?" Ichika asked.

[We did but we lost him. I think he went through the emergency exit.] Irina replied.

[He was heading north. Irina and I will meet you two there] Xenovia added.

After several minutes of shoving and pushing, Shin and Ichika finally made their way to the northern side of the ballroom. He looked around before clapping his hands together. Ran appeared on his shoulder in a swirl of black flames.

"Ran, I got his scent on my hand. Find him," Shin said, allowing Ran to sniff his hand.

Ran barked and hopped off Shin's shoulder. She padded over to a slightly open fire escape.

"He's there. Let's go," Shin said. His eyes glowed as Failnacht manifested in a swirl of blue pixels.

"L-Listen! Listen to me! I was just getting us a source of funds! Valper doesn't trust you guys to hold up your end of the bargain!"

Ichika and Shin's footsteps were light as they slowly slinked their way through the back alleys of Rome.

"He's here, Master," Ran said.

"We'll take it from here. Hang back, Ran," Shin whispered.

Ran nodded before vanishing in a swirl of black flames.

Father Marco's voice could be heard echoing through the alleys. There was no one in sight. The sound of the gala had faded away as soon as they left the building, leaving only the ambient noises of tourists and cars in the distance.

"So what if I was about to give them Valper's position? They are civilians. We can change the narrative like we always do after we eliminate them," Marco yelled.

Shin signaled for Ichika to stay behind him as he pressed his back against a wall and peeked around the corner.

Marco was on the phone, yelling at whoever was on the other end.

"Liability? If anything you guys are the liability. You promised Valper you'd have the Excalibur Fragments in the Vatican within your grasp by the end of the week," he said. "Now Kokabiel is questioning whether or not you're capable of holding your end of the bargain!"

"Kokabiel…?" Shin whispered.

"Shin. Something's wrong." Vivi's voice entered his head.

"What?" he whispered.

"This place… it feels odd. That presence from earlier got stronger. I've felt it somewhere before but I can't quite put my finger on it," Vivi answered. "It's actively interfering with my ability to manifest next to you using your Stigmata."

"What…?" Shin mouthed. His hand shook slightly. Vivi was always there. A constant presence that popped in and out of his life as she pleased. However, now that she was seemingly cut off from him, it made him feel uneasy. Nothing had ever broken their bond. The mark on his eye was proof of that.

"What's wrong?" Ichika whispered.

"Vivi can't manifest," Shin said.

"What? You think it's Father Marco?"

"And another thing!" Marco's sudden shouting caught their attention once more. "Your threats don't scare me. You're all bark and no bite. You need us more than we need you. After all, was it not you who came to us first? You needed us."

"Needed them?" Ichika mouthed. "For what?"

Shin shook his head. His grip tightened around Failnacht. His eyes were fixed on Father Marco, who was completely oblivious to their presence as he continued yelling over the phone.

"Oh, that's rich. We have a Fallen Angel Cadre supporting us. What can a bunch of no-name humans do to help? The minute you asked for the data from Project Daybreak, we were in control of the deal," he spat.

"Project…"

"Daybreak?"

The two echoed the term.

"What? You're cutting me off? You can tell that woman she can fuck off too! I won't fall for her tricks again! When Valper hears about this, he'll—!?"

Father Marco never finished his response. A silver flash of light was all they saw before the priest fell over. There were several knives embedded into his back.

Shin's eyes widened as he jumped from his spot around the corner, aiming Failnacht at the body. His eyes narrowed as he took a look at them. The more he stared, the more he felt an overwhelming wave of nostalgia wash over him. That was until every instinct he possessed screamed at him to move.

As if on autopilot, Shin spun on the balls of his feet, raising Failnacht to block the blazing sparks coming from the collision of his pistol and the gleaming blade of a sword.

That sword... No, it can't be.

His jaw tightened as he came face to face with a silver-haired woman wearing a featureless white mask. After a few seconds of locking weapons with Shin, the woman jumped back.

Shin briefly glanced down at Father Marco. He was still breathing but barely. He just needed to get him out of here. His right eye glowed blue and a small cross spun lazily around his pupil. Blue light crackled at the tips of his fingers. Failnacht dispersed into a series of blue lights.

"Who are you?" Shin asked.

The woman said nothing. Her legs bent as she lowered her center of gravity. Her hand drifted down and hovered over the handle of her chokuto.

Shin's eyes widened. That stance is…

He quickly manifested Clarent in his hand as the woman's body blurred out of existence His body automatically reacted, blocking the woman's lethal slash. A cut slashed itself across his cheek. His eyes widened when he finally saw the weapon up close. The blade. That design. His jaw tightened as he stared at the woman.

"You… How do you—"

He was cut off as the woman's leg slammed into his side, sending him careening into a wall.

"Shin!"

Ichika darted toward the woman.

[Dragon Booster]

Her fists met nothing but air. Her head snapped up, frantically seeking her target.

A clash of metal caught her attention as Shin and the woman seemingly appeared behind her. Their blades were locked and she saw a look in Shin's eyes she hadn't seen in a long time.

"You… Who are you!? How do you have her sword!?" Shin demanded. A blue aura crackled around Shin. Lines traced themselves across the air as the faint phantom images of different weapons began to appear around him. In a blind rage, Shin lunged forward, slashing furiously.

"Answer me!" he demanded.

"..." the woman said nothing as she easily blocked Shin's attacks.

Clang!

Clang!

Their blades met in a deadly dance. The concrete below them was sliced apart and blood sprayed everywhere.

Despite Shin's seeming ability to read the woman's moves, there was a vast disparity in strength.

The woman's body blurred as she riddled Shin's body with small cuts. A shockwave knocked him away, causing him to slam into a brick wall. He crumbled like a tower of wooden blocks, barely able to support himself with Clarent.

Ichika ran toward the woman, clenching her jaw. She pressed her finger to her earpiece. "Xenovia! Sophia! Irina! We need backup now—"

Ichika ducked as the blade sailed above her head. A small portion of her hair was cut off.

She jumped back, gaining distance from the woman.

"Shin, we need to…" Her eyes darted toward her friend, only to see Shin frozen in place as he stared at the woman in disbelief. It was as if he was seeing a ghost.

Ichika bit her cheek as she slowly turned her attention back to the woman, who was slowly walking toward her. Fear crept into her chest, causing her to feel suffocated. Her feet widened as she dropped into a stance. Even then, her body shook as the woman— no, death slowly approached her.

The masked woman raised her sword, about to swing it down to slice into her when a blast of violet light cut through the air. The masked woman's body vanished into nothing and reappeared above in a blur of unfathomable speed.

"I got here just in time. There was something interfering with your signal—" Sophia could barely finish her sentence as she jumped back.

A hail of knives penetrated the ground where she stood.

Above them, the woman stood on a clothesline. An ominous red aura crackled in the palm of her hand. Faint red lines traced themselves across the air, drawing the outlines of knives in her hand.

That feels just like—

[Ichika, move!] Ddraig's voice roared to life inside her head.

The woman swiped her hand forward, unleashing a hail of blood-red knives that sailed across the air.

She jumped back, avoiding the first volley of knives. However, as the second volley approached at rapid speeds, her back hit a wall. She raised her arms and closed her eyes, fully expecting to feel the sharp blades reduce her to a pincushion.

However, she felt nothing. She slowly opened her eyes, only for her to gasp in horror as at the sight she was met with.

Shin stood in front of her. Knives littered the floor but it was clear he was unable to deflect all of them.

"Shin!" Ichika cried out.

Shin stumbled forward. His knees shook and buckled, forcing him to use Clarent as support. There were a few knives embedded into his body: one on his shoulder, three in his abdomen, and two on his chest, piercing deep into his left lung. Blood trickled out of his mouth as he looked up to meet the masked woman's featureless gaze.

"Shin! Shin, hang in there—"

"Go!" Shin barked as he tried to stand.

However, his body had no more strength to do so. His efforts were met with pain as he fell back down, only to be caught by Ichika.

The Masked Woman glanced between Shin and Father Marco.

"Sophia…" he rasped.

"On it!" she nodded. Her wings unfurled from her back and she took off toward the assailant.

However, the masked assassin moved faster. She threw a knife at Father Marco, piercing his skull and effectively ending his life.

"Damn it!" Sophia swung her scythe, unleashing a wave of cutting violet light.

SHNNNNNN! The sound of the light wave shattering mid-flight echoed across the alleyway.

"What—!? How did she—!" Sophia curved to the right, dodging a hail of knives. She turned her gaze back to the woman, who had jumped into the air. Her chokuto shot out of its sheath and she slashed a portal in the air beneath her.

Before anyone could react, the woman fell into the portal and vanished.

"Shin! Shin, damn it! Wake up!" Ichika's voice echoed through the alley as the battle ended.

Shin coughed, sending a glob of blood splattering onto the cobblestone road beneath. His breaths came out in weak rasps as his lungs struggled to take in air. His vision began to blur as his brain began to receive less and less oxygen by the second. Hypoxia was beginning to quickly set in as blood filled the space in his lungs.

"No, no! Stay with me!" Ichika begged.

Shin's eyes slowly fluttered shut as darkness began to slowly creep its way across his field of vision.

"Damn it! Irina, Xenovia, coast is clear. Bring Asia quickly! Shin is down!" Sophia's voice was a dull echo in the background, drowned out by his slowing but thundering heartbeat.

Ichika's heart almost stopped when she saw Shin's breathing begin to grow weaker. His lips began to turn blue as he struggled to take in air. Tears streamed down her face as she held onto her childhood friend tightly, shaking him slightly to keep him awake.

"No, no, no, don't do this to me. Stay with me, Shin. Shin…? SHIN!"

Ichika's frantic cries were the last thing Shin heard before darkness finally claimed him and he passed out.

Just to get some general housekeeping down.

Royal Rain: Well, if the last chapter was her being humbled, then this chapter was a wake-up call. Ichika is way in over her head in this mission but sometimes, you gotta sink or swim. And don't worry, Shin's lack of money will be a running gag that I'll use from time to time. I don't want to overuse it you know because then it'll be less of a running gag and more of a forced joke.

But yeah, if there was ever a better time for Ichika to realize she is way out of her depth, it would be now. This will be a really nice motivator for her later and actually set the foundation for a lot of the choices she makes later on in the story. Of course, I wanna mix a few things in later that will make this worse haha.

Dante687: Thanks, man.

Now, moving on. Yes, Shin is dead. Just kidding. As if I would kill the protagonist off this early, it took me 47 chapters in my other fic to kill off the protagonist, I won't do it this early. But yeah, this chapter is supposed to be a segue into the proper meat of the arc. I'm sure you all saw me drop the arc title in the chapter, hehehe. But, yeah, the arc will pick up from here. Some goodies are awaiting our two MCs at the end of the arc but what it is, will be a surprise! Now, I'm sure some of you... from OG Azure are expecting me to have Akane come in and absolutely wreck Kokabiel but we'll see. We'll see. Until then, I'll see you all later.