Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto or Toaru Kagaku no Railgun/Toaru Majutsu no Index
The Trinity of Tokiwadai
Chapter One Hundred Twenty Three: Magic God Othinus - The End and Beyond
As Mikoto and her team neared the Sargasso, a literal horde of constructs suddenly materialized, causing her heart to race with alarm. Her sharp eyes narrowed as she recognized several of them from earlier encounters, though their names escaped her. The icy giants, jagged stone forms covered in frost, were familiar, as were the shadowy automata with glowing orange cores. But there was no time to dwell on that. Not when fiery, armored figures, clad in Norse-inspired armor with intricate runes etched across their chests and shoulders, were launching fireballs with every punch!
The fiery constructs weren't the only ones unleashing a barrage of attacks either. The icy giants were also hurling boulders and lances of ice as their cold forms hovered over the waters of Tokyo Bay. Above, ethereal winged constructs fired radiant arrows, while skeletal figures in frozen Viking armor, standing on ice sheets forming beneath their feet, threw spears of ice, their glowing eyes cutting through the chaos. Meanwhile, the shadowy automata with gears and chains embedded in their bodies hovered ominously, firing bolts of shadow from their pikes.
Thankfully, Lessar-san expertly swerved their speedboat through the relentless onslaught, narrowly dodging the barrage of attacks. Her sharp, instinctive evasions sent everyone tumbling, and Mikoto clung tightly to the boat's edge, fighting to keep her footing as they sped toward the Sargasso. The chaos was overwhelming, with attacks raining from every direction, but there was no room for hesitation. They had to break through the constructs' attempt to stop them and reach the twisted pile of shipwrecks ahead. Gremlin had to be stopped, and they were running out of time.
"Gremlin is really into using spells based on the themes of the nine realms of Norse cosmology, aren't they?" Lessar-san commented with a shake of his head. "First, we run into Muspells before we met up with the rest of you, then there was the Svartálfas at the river mouth and now this!?"
"They do." Accelerator agreed. "Frenda and I fought the Niflheim version constructs before we met up at the river mouth too."
"That'll be Niflgroves." Index-san said, gesturing at the nearest band of ice zombies among the horde chasing them across Tokyo Bay.
"Whatever! I didn't ask for their name." Accelerator said with a snort. "I bet you guys faced the others too?"
Mikoto nodded. "Index-san and I faced off against some Jötunnrise."
"And Kashiwagi-san and I fought the Álfheimr." Naru piped up.
Frenda-san, who appeared to be counting down on her fingers, turned to the resident Magicians, her expression lighting up with intense curiosity. "What about Midgard, Asgard, Vanaheim, and Helheim?"
"There is no Midgard variant of the spell as that's the mortal world and that's where we are." Index-san explained.
Picking up the explanation, Birdway-san continued. "There's no Asgard and Vanaheim variant either as they are godly realms and the spell doesn't have the power to call upon that kind of power."
"What about Helheim? That's one of the Norse Nine Realms too, right? I remember reading about it somewhere." Kamijou asked, looking surprisingly interested.
"There is such a spell, Hespell." Index-san explained, placing one hand on her hip while raising her other hand with an index finger pointed upward. "However, it's the most divergent of the summoning spells linked to the Nine Realms, as it falls under Necromancy - an entirely different school of magic from the rest."
Birdway-san nodded and added to the explanation. "It is likely that whoever is casting these spells for Gremlin probably isn't a Necromancer and so left it out."
As they drew closer to the Sargasso, a massive giant suddenly surged up from the depths of the sea, rising with the ominous grandeur of Godzilla in a classic kaiju film. The ocean waters cascaded off its enormous form, spraying in all directions as its colossal figure loomed over the horizon. Its shadow stretched across the water as it ascended, the waves crashing violently against the shoreline, mimicking the awe-inspiring entrance of a giant monster. The sheer size of the creature dwarfed everything around it, and with each thunderous step, the ground seemed to shake as if in response to the terrifying force of nature rising to block their path.
The massive construct was a towering, mountain-like giant, its entire form made of dried clay. Rising an astonishing 500 meters above the ocean's surface in Tokyo Bay, it loomed like a living mountain, dwarfing everything around it. The creature's body was rough and cracked, with deep fissures throughout, revealing the parched texture of hardened clay. Every movement caused dried fragments to crumble and fall from its immense frame, as though the very earth was shedding its skin. Its sheer size and weight exuded a powerful, ancient presence, as if an elemental force had risen from the depths. And riding on its shoulder was the familiar figure of Thor that Mikoto recognized from the Incident during the Ichihanaransai.
"A Mokkerkalfe!" Birdway-san gasped as the massive giant emerged in their path, its clay form towering over the speedboat they were piloting towards it at full speed.
"Yeah, and it's huge!" Lessar-san exclaimed, her eyes wide as she assessed the colossal figure blocking their route. "So, how do we get around it?"
Before anyone could react, Thor sprang from his perch on the giant's shoulder, leaping in a smooth arc and driving his arm into the Mokkerkalfe's head. The force of the blow shattered its massive head, exposing a large, glowing orb embedded within that must be the core of the construct. With a single, decisive squeeze, he crushed the core, sending cracks racing through the giant's frame. In mere seconds, the Mokkerkalfe crumbled apart, its towering clay form disintegrating into dust and clearing the path ahead.
In response to this unexpected turn of events, Othinus materialized next to Thor, floating calmly beside him in the air. Her gaze was steady, her tone mildly curious yet unfazed. "Thor, you're betraying me? Why?"
The figure beside her shifted, the familiar blond, slender youth with a feminine air that Mikoto recognized as Thor transformed into a different visage: a man with short blond hair, green eyes, a modest aquamarine shirt, and a camel-colored vest.
"I'm not Thor." He corrected, his voice calm. "I'm Ollerus."
Without warning, Ollerus fired a concentrated beam of raw magical power at Othinus. She countered immediately, deflecting the attack with a sweep of her hand as their battle ignited, flashes of power ricocheting through the air. The clash escalated rapidly, each spell and strike creating a trail of energy as they moved. Their battle shifted quickly back toward the Sargasso, a storm of magical forces, flames, and raw energy trailing behind them as they fought at blinding speeds. The air vibrated with their immense power, the very atmosphere charged with the force of their conflict, pushing waves through the sea below as they neared the heart of the Sargasso.
"So, um, what do we do?" Lessar-san asked from the controls of the boat.
"We skirt around the fight." Ruiko said in a commanding tone. "Our priority is Gremlin's attempt to complete Gungnir, not to defeat Othinus. That objective comes first. We'll face the Magic God only if we must."
Mikoto, Naru, Accelerator, Frenda-san, Kamijou, Birdway-san, and Index-san exchanged determined glances, each nodding in agreement with Ruiko's plan. Their expressions mirrored a shared understanding; they knew their true mission lay within the depths of the Sargasso. They thus all nodded in acceptance of Ruiko's plan. Kashiwagi-san, for her part, just shrugged, seemingly intent to just go with the flow.
"Right. Got it." Lessar-san nodded in acceptance of the consensus, her gaze fixed on the waters as she skillfully steered them toward the Sargasso, deftly dodging any stray shots from the fierce battle raging between Othinus and the mysterious Magician known as Ollerus that had suddenly attacked her.
As Ollerus and Othinus clashed in the distance, the group pressed forward, steadily drawing closer to the Sargasso. The horde of constructs Gremlin had summoned now lay far behind, their threat seemingly neutralized for the moment. However, just as a sliver of calm settled over the team, Ruiko's voice cut through the tense silence with a sharp warning. "Something's coming at us from below!"
Almost immediately, the waters in front of them began to churn violently, frothing as massive tentacles shot out with alarming speed, each one aiming directly at their boat, threatening to capsize it. Instantly, Ruiko quickly took charge of the situation, her voice cutting through the chaos of the turbulent water and attacking tentacles. She barked commands to Lessar-san, who was manning the speedboat's controls.
"Left, now right! Faster, Lessar-san!" Ruiko shouted, her eyes darting between the writhing tentacles and the path ahead. Lessar-san reacted immediately, sharply veering the boat in the directions Ruiko commanded to dodge a few tentacles that threatened to capsize them.
Mikoto wanted to leap into action, but Accelerator was faster, beating her to the question. "Ruiko, should we-"
"Accel! Not now! Lessar-san! Sharp turn! Left!" Ruiko barked as a tentacle swiped dangerously close to the boat's side. Lessar-san swerved just in time, the monstrous appendage splashing back into the bay.
"Hard right! Hard right!" Ruiko ordered again as another tentacle shot straight up before crashing down in front of them. Lessar-san expertly turned the boat, narrowly avoiding the impact.
"Duck and weave through!" Ruiko shouted as two massive tentacles rose, forming a tight corridor. Lessar-san sped through the narrow gap, barely squeezing through just before the tentacles slammed shut behind them, sending a huge wave crashing upward, soaking the boat in mist.
"Right! Veer right!" Ruiko just moments before two tentacles shot up ahead, twisting together like giant columns and forming into a daunting blockade. Obeying the command, Lessar-san's hands tightened on the wheel as she swerved, the boat nearly tipping as it skimmed the edge of the crushing limbs. The tentacles snapped together just behind them, creating a powerful wave that rocked the boat as they slipped by.
A heartbeat later, a massive tentacle surged up from the left, swinging wide with enough force to crush their boat in one blow. Ruiko's command cut through the chaos. "Dive left and gun it!"
Lessar-san instantly obeyed, jerking the wheel to the side, the boat narrowly skirting the monstrous limb. They sped by just as the tentacle struck the water, sending a shockwave through their wake.
Before they could catch their breath, two more tentacles erupted from the depths, twisting around each other in a lethal dance. The monstrous limbs spiraled upward, coiling together like a tightening spring, forming an inescapable trap that closed in rapidly. The water churned violently around the rising trap, creating waves that buffeted the boat from all directions, amplifying the danger as the spiraling tentacles loomed closer, ready to ensnare them in their crushing grip.
"Zigzag and push through!" Ruiko barked urgently. Lessar-san maneuvered the boat in sharp, agile turns, narrowly slipping between the coiling tentacles as they constricted, each swerve a split-second away from impact.
"Got you." Ruiko said as they made their latest escape from the attacking tentacles. With a focused grunt, she presumably extended her telekinetic powers deep into the dark waters of Tokyo Bay. A moment later, from the depths, an enormous construct, another Mokkerkalfe, began to rise, its clay-like form towering over them as it broke through the surface. The hulking construct loomed above them, its imposing presence casting long shadows across the water.
It was a massive Kraken-shaped construct crafted from constantly flowing dark clay, with twisting, tentacle-like appendages. Its surface was studded with numerous glowing orbs embedded across its form, giving off an ethereal, mystical glow. The clay of its body shifted continuously, creating a fluid, dynamic texture, while the intricate patterns across the body enhanced its eerie, animated appearance. The design blended the terrifying shape of a sea monster with an otherworldly, magical essence, emphasizing its powerful and ominous presence.
"A non-humanoid Mokkerkalfe?!" Birdway-san shouted, her voice tinged with frustration. "How, by all Magic, did Gremlin manage to shape it into a Kraken?"
"Stuff it, Birdway!" Lessar-san snapped back, her hands tightly gripping the speedboat's controls as they zoomed past the immobilized clay giant that Ruiko had dredged from the depths. "You can figure out the details later! Right now, we need to focus on destroying it!"
Lessar-san's desperate zigzagging to avoid the Mokkerkalfe's massive tentacles earlier had forced the boat to significantly cut its overall speed. This sudden deceleration allowed the horde of constructs that had been trailing them to finally catch up. In seconds, the swarm surrounded them, pressing in as the team braced against the oncoming wave of enemies.
The relentless wave of constructs bore down on them, drawing closer with every passing second. Frost-coated Viking zombies staggered forward, their brittle, ice-encrusted forms shimmering under the waning light as they neared striking distance. Hovering above, ethereal elven-like constructs glided with unnatural grace, their radiant bows drawn and ready. Behind them, the towering icy giants readied their boulder-sized projectiles. The shadowy automatons advanced with cold, mechanical precision, gripping shadow-forged weapons as they prepared to unleash a barrage from their pikes. Among them, fiery humanoids exuded intense heat, flames crackling ominously as they came closer, clearly preparing for an onslaught as soon as they closed the remaining distance. Mikoto's focus sharpened as she anticipated the first wave of attacks, readying herself for the inevitable fight.
Naru, visibly frustrated, exclaimed. "I'm sick of getting swarmed by these adds!"
"Naru, be serious!" Mikoto scolded and shot Naru a look even if in her mind, she couldn't help but agree with her kohai's sentiment. The endless waves were wearing on her.
Sweat streamed down Ruiko's brow as she strained to keep the Mokkerkalfe suspended, her telekinesis visibly holding the creature in place. Despite that, she barked orders with an authority born from her experience in World War 3, where she'd coordinated the international forces that had destroyed the Star of Bethlehem.
"Kashiwagi-san, take charge of shielding us from these lesser constructs that are closing in." Ruiko instructed sharply.
Kashiwagi-san nodded, her eyes glowing a fierce red as she raised a hand, her voice steady and defiant. "The audacity of Gremlin… using fire against me, an Incarnation of Kagutsuchi!"
With a single, sweeping motion, she pulled flames from the nearby fiery constructs, molding them into a white-hot ring of fire encircling the boat. The mystical flames absorbed and neutralized incoming attacks from the horde, burning bright and fierce, creating a protective barrier unlike anything ordinary fire could achieve.
"Kamijou, Lessar-san, be ready for melee if they get too close. Oh, and keep our non-combatant safe." Ruiko added, shooting a pointed look at Index-san, who was, predictably, standing idly by.
Lessar-san nodded, setting the boat to autopilot and moving to stand beside Kamijou.
"Birdway-san, Naru, use your magic and chakra respectively to manipulate the water of Tokyo Bay to take over restraining the Mokkerkalfe." Ruiko commanded, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.
Without delay, Birdway-san shifted her Symbolic Weapon into its cup form, and used the water magic it granted her to summon massive tendrils of water that coiled around the Mokkerkalfe's limbs. Naru followed this up by freezing the tendrils solid, locking the creature in place.
"Everyone else, take on the lesser constructs. Destroy them with extreme prejudice!" Ruiko's voice rang out.
As the group carried out her orders, Accel added his own brutal touch, amplifying the detonations of Frenda-san's Handheld Anti-Tank Warheads into massive blasts that took out waves of constructs. Mikoto joined in with rapid railgun shots, each one tearing through the enemy ranks. They were an unstoppable force, systematically eliminating any threat that dared approach. All the while, Lessar-san and Kamijou stood ready to engage any construct that managed to slip past their defenses. So far, none had breached their fortified line, but Mikoto couldn't help but cast a wary eye toward the writhing sea of enemies, knowing that anything could happen in this unpredictable battle.
Amid the intense fight, Frenda-san, visibly intrigued, called out to Ruiko. "So what's the plan once Birdway-san and Naru have it restrained?"
Ruiko smirked, unfazed by the chaos around them. "I'll be putting that clay squid down."
With her telekinetic hold released, the massive creature thrashed against the icy tendrils that now bound it. Several ice bonds cracked and shattered under the giant's strength, only for Birdway-san and Naru to quickly summon fresh restraints, reinforcing the creature's bonds and keeping it tightly contained. Even as the Mokkerkalfe fought, writhing and smashing through some restraints, the duo's swift reactions managed to keep it under control.
"Good job, everyone." Ruiko called out, her voice calm and assured.
With the burden of holding the Mokkerkalfe back lifted, she activated her Angel Mode. Her prismatic wings unfurled, feathered and radiant, each plume glinting with vibrant AIM energy that matched her multicolored halo. Empowered by this transformation, she accessed her emulated demolecularization ability - normally a taxing feat - with renewed strength, her wings flaring as she channeled her power. Fixing her gaze on one of the Mokkerkalfe's glowing cores, she focused her energy in a precise, devastating burst. In an instant, the core disintegrated, leaving a perfectly spherical void in the construct's clay-like body. The surrounding mass crumbled away into dust, cascading down as though the Mokkerkalfe was a fragile statue, shattering from the inside out.
Despite this, the remaining cores pulsed intensely, and the construct began to regenerate, filling in the damage as though it had never been struck. A sight that had Mikoto groaning in frustration. "Why do all our enemies have to be regenerators these days?"
Ruiko just shook her head with a reassuring smile. "It's not a problem. I expected this. Now that I know it regenerates, it's time for my proper counterattack."
To prove this point, Ruiko's wings once again flared with overwhelming energy, her Angel Mode surging as she unleashed the full power of her emulated demolecularization. Mikoto couldn't be certain exactly how Ruiko was detecting the cores buried deep within the Mokkerkalfe's mass - there was no way all of them were immediately visible - but she guessed it had something to do with her enhanced sensory abilities. After all, Ruiko wasn't just targeting the glowing cores that were easy to see; she was also focusing her attacks on seemingly unassuming sections of the construct, as though she knew exactly where each core lay hidden.
Ruiko's pinpoint assault punched gaping holes through the massive construct, its once-intact form now riddled with damage. Chunks of its clay-like mass began to crumble away, first breaking off into large, jagged pieces, which tumbled into the sea below. However, these fragments didn't remain for long. The larger chunks rapidly disintegrated into finer particles, breaking down until nothing remained but a cloud of dust drifting over the water.
Seeing what her friend was capable of Mikoto couldn't help but be impressed by both the raw power and the surgical precision Ruiko demonstrated in neutralizing not just the visible cores but the hidden ones as well. Every part of the Mokkerkalfe had been efficiently targeted, ensuring no chance of regeneration. It was a show of complete dominance over the massive construct, leaving Mikoto momentarily speechless at the sheer effectiveness of the attack.
With the Mokkerkalfe dealt with, Ruiko, Naru, and Birdway, had without a word immediately turned their attention to the horde of lesser constructs still swarming the team. Naru and Birdway-san shattered their previous ice restraints, creating a barrage of razor-sharp icicles that rained down like deadly hail, piercing through the advancing enemies. Simultaneously, Ruiko unleashed a series of concentrated beams from her radiant wings, each one slicing through the constructs at intricate, unexpected angles, efficiently dismantling them. Their combined assault turned the tide, and with the team's continued efforts, they swiftly dismantled the remaining constructs until none were left standing. The coordinated attacks, each precise and unyielding, cleared the field of enemies, leaving them unchallenged as the last remnants of the horde crumbled away.
With the battle concluded, Ruiko dismissed her Angel Mode, the radiant prismatic wings and halo fading from sight. Turning with a calm, commanding expression to the Incarnation of Kagutsuchi, she ordered. "Kashiwagi-san, drop the ring of fire."
As the flames dissipated, the team spotted something alarming in the distance: Fiamma of the Right had joined the fray, fighting alongside Gremlin's traitor against Othinus. A sight that prompted Ruiko to quickly bark new orders. "Floor it! We need to be at the Sargasso yesterday!"
Lessar-san sprinted back to the controls, throwing herself into the seat and immediately taking command of the throttle. Her hands flew over the controls with practiced precision, her expression fierce with focus as she brought the engine to full power.
"Got it!" She shouted over the roar of the boat, the vessel surging forward under her steady grip. Pushing their speed to the max, she cast a determined glance toward the distant Sargasso. "Those two are going to need backup. Othinus is too much for them alone!"
As they approached the edges of the Sargasso, Kamijou's brow furrowed with unease.
"Are we even sure this place is still part of the real world?" He asked, casting wary glances around the eerie expanse.
Index-san began to answer, but Accelerator cut her off, smirking. "Does it even matter?"
Kamijou hesitated, then gave a small nod. "I guess not."
In the distance, they saw Ollerus and Fiamma fall from the deck of a nearby wrecked passenger ship within the Sargasso, both appearing limp as they plunged toward the water below. Kamijou and Index-san gasped in alarm, but Ruiko quickly reassured them. "Relax. They're still alive, just unconscious."
"Besides, I think we should be more worried about ourselves." Mikoto remarked as Lessar-san brought them to a stop at the Sargasso's edge, where a makeshift pier of rusted metal and decaying wood jutted out from the ruins of a wrecked ship. The twisted remains of the hull and deck created a precarious platform beneath them, creaking under the slightest shift. As Mikoto's gaze shifted, she caught sight of Othinus, freshly victorious from her fight with Ollerus and Fiamma of the Right, turning to face them. Her expression held a lazy contempt, her eyes cold and calculating, as though they were little more than a minor annoyance.
"You're too late." The Magic God said with an air of casual disdain.
As they reached the pier, Touma, unsettled, turned to Othinus and searched the area with his eyes. "What about the lance?"
"The forging ended in failure, but that's irrelevant." She replied with a dismissive tone. "All I want is to complete my transformation as a Magic God. With or without the lance, I've already achieved what I want."
"What's that supposed to mean!?" Accelerator demanded.
Her gaze swept over the team, cold and unbothered. "Gremlin, the war, everything. It was all a decoy."
Naru scoffed, crossing her arms with an exasperated look. "I don't understand a single thing she's saying! It barely makes sense!"
Mikoto nudged her sharply, her eyes fixed on Othinus. "Shush! Now's really not the time."
Ignoring the exchange between Naru and Mikoto, Othinus raised her hand to her right eye socket, which appeared disturbingly vacant. With a calm and deliberate motion, she reached into the empty space and drew forth a lance. The weapon she held was elegantly crafted, its form both beautiful and intimidating. A pointed, leaf-shaped blade sat at the tip, etched with an ornamental leaf motif that lent it a touch of artistry, as though it was a weapon forged for something beyond mere battle. The blade flowed seamlessly into a slender shaft wrapped with intricate, vine-like bands that spiraled downward, almost giving the impression of a living, organic design. These golden bands twisted toward the base, where they split into tendrils that transitioned to a faint, reddish hue, as if touched by fire or heat. In Othinus's grip, the lance radiated a quiet, ominous power, its elegance matched by a deadly aura, leaving no doubt that it was a weapon of unique and terrible purpose.
Lessar-san's eyes widened in horror as she recognized the weapon in Othinus's hand and gasped. "That's… Gungnir? How!? Intel said she hadn't finished it yet…"
Othinus laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "Ah, but you see, my power as a Magic God has always been fickle - a 50/50 chance of success or failure. That's precisely why I wanted Gungnir in the first place, to complete my apotheosis and wield my power with unwavering certainty. When Gremlin's attempt at forging the lance failed, I decided to rely on my own strength. With a bit of luck, I succeeded."
The team stared in stunned silence, unable to process what they were witnessing. The implications of a complete Magic God with a flawless weapon sent chills down their spines.
Othinus's laughter echoed through the air, cold and taunting, as she spun the lance in her hand with a casual grace that belied its immense power. The lance moved effortlessly in her grip, each turn exuding a dangerous aura, the intricate patterns of swirling bands glinting ominously in the dim light. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and contempt as she raised the weapon skyward, its tip gleaming with a malevolent energy. It was a simple, almost dismissive gesture, yet it held a weight that sent chills through her onlookers, as if this one movement could command the heavens themselves to tremble.
"Little fights are so troublesome." She said, her voice filled with a casual disdain. "I think I'll just end the world."
And just as she declared, the world ceased to exist.
There was no warning, no time for anyone to react - everything Mikoto knew vanished in an instant. One moment, she was prepared to face the Magic God, her senses sharp and her resolve strong. Then, all at once… nothing. Not a gradual dimming, but an immediate, brutal erasure. Her sight, her hearing, her very awareness vanished into a crushing, endless blackness, as though her existence itself had been erased in a single, merciless moment.
In a pure white Phase of the world, Aiwass and Babalon observed Othinus wield her powers to reshape the Surface World. Every motion of her will sent ripples through the delicate structure of Phases layered over reality, bending them to create a fractured and tormented world around Kamijou Touma. To Aiwass and Babalon, these shifts in the world appeared almost surgical, as Othinus pressed her power to its utmost limit, testing the boundaries of creation in her attempt to break the hero before her.
Aiwass watched in silence as the Surface World teetered on the brink of collapse. On that layer of the world, Kamijou Touma stumbled through the wreckage of Shibuya, his mind unraveling as the world turned against him. Othinus had carefully orchestrated this reality to crush Kamijou Touma mentally, stripping away everything he held dear. She appeared beside him, vanishing and reappearing like a ghost, pushing him deeper into despair. The people he trusted, the city he fought to protect, all now saw him as a monstrous evil, a distortion of his true self. In this twisted world, even his own parents declared him an abomination. Othinus was relentless, manipulating everyone's perception - not through brainwashing, but by subtly shifting their view of Kamijou Touma's past actions. The once-heroic figure was now a target for the world's hatred.
As Othinus's first world reached its bitter conclusion, Kamijou Touma's final stand culminated in inevitable tragedy. Yet he remained defiant, refusing to yield to Othinus's demands. Left with no choice but to suffer, he watched as Tsukuyomi Komoe, his beloved homeroom teacher, delivered the fatal blow, her knife sinking into him without hesitation while Othinus crouched nearby, observing dispassionately. With that deathblow, the world itself collapsed. Everything Kamijou Touma had once known crumbled away for the second time, leaving only darkness in its wake. Aiwass observed it all, unmoved.
As the previous iteration of the world dissolved, a new world began to take shape. A cold, dimly lit classroom bathed in the soft hues of fading daylight emerged from the void, its oppressive silence a stark contrast to the chaos that had come before. Othinus sat casually on the teacher's desk, watching Kamijou Touma from afar as he struggled to process what he had just experienced. This world was different. It was calmer, but no less devastating. Here, Kamijou Touma was confronted with an imposter living his life, someone else who had taken his place while everyone around him remained oblivious. His existence, once central to the world, now felt meaningless. Othinus allowed him to contemplate this twisted reality, her gaze unwavering as she silently challenged him to understand the futility of his struggle.
From the void, Aiwass mused silently to himself, noting the shift in Othinus' tactics with a detached curiosity as he watched the unfolding events, understanding the subtlety of her new approach. So, she's abandoned sheer chaos in favor of a more insidious, gradual, psychological attack to unravel him piece by piece.
Despite the overwhelming sense of loss, Kamijou Touma held firm. He refused to deny the world he had fought so hard to protect, even if no one remembered him. As Othinus tried to strip him of his identity, questioning his very sense of self, Kamijou Touma's resolve only strengthened. It didn't matter if the world no longer recognized him. He determinedly declared that he would rebuild his connections, start anew if he had to. But Othinus wasn't finished. She presented him with a cruel choice, showing him a class photo and demanding that he correctly identify himself if he wanted to regain his existence. A task that Kamijou Touma was unable to achieve due to Othinus' manipulation making him impossible to differentiate between himself and his imposter. It was a final assault on his fractured sense of identity, meant to push him into surrender.
Yet Kamijou Touma remained defiant. Even as the weight of this iteration of the world pressed down on him, he clung to the belief that he was Kamijou Touma. Othinus, displeased and surprised, seemed to realize she couldn't break him as easily as she had hoped.
Impressive. Aiwass mused, reflecting on this moment of defiance as he silently observed the events unfolding alongside Babalon.
They both understood the pattern that was unfolding: a relentless cycle of destruction and creation, meticulously designed to break Kamijou Touma and mold him into a pliable tool. Othinus' true aim wasn't simply to destroy him but to use him as a vessel to trap the Imagine Breaker. She knew that killing him outright would only cause the mysterious power to transfer to another host, complicating her plans. And she couldn't do without it. She needed the Imagine Breaker as a reference point, a stabilizing force when she finally began crafting her perfect world. Thus, instead, her strategy was to shatter him mentally, leaving him broken and obedient, ensuring that the Imagine Breaker remained anchored to him.
However, as Othinus discarded the second iteration of the world to create yet another, Aiwass could already sense the inherent fragility in Othinus' plan. It was evident that this cycle of destruction and creation could not sustain itself indefinitely. Sooner or later, something - or someone - would inevitably break it. Either Kamijou Touma's resolve would collapse, turning him into the tool Othinus sought, though Aiwass doubted this outcome, or he would find the strength to finally defeat the Magic God.
A sigh from Babalon had him turning to his 'sister' with a cocked eyebrow, a very human gesture that he had picked up, and asked. "What is it?"
"It's nothing. It's just the various temporal and spatial shenanigans that Othinus created is giving me a headache."
"You can't get a headache." Aiwass pointed out, earning himself a glare in reply.
Aiwass watched his "sister" with a flicker of amusement, his attention drawn to the oddly human gesture she'd adopted. Babalon's glare, though entirely foreign to her true nature, was an uncanny imitation of a human expression - a "stink eye" that seemed almost calculated in its precision. It was a reminder of how their prolonged interactions with humanity had subtly imprinted upon them, shaping their mannerisms in small, sometimes absurdly mortal ways. Amused, Aiwass acknowledged how these lingering human traits had woven themselves into their identities, an influence that persisted even as they observed the events unfolding before them with a detached, cosmic indifference.
Despite his thoughts on the matter, Aiwass was not above teasing his 'sister' on her behavior. "You're acting far too human, Babalon."
"So?" She said with a very human shrug. "There's nothing wrong with that. Besides, you're just as guilty of that as I am."
Deciding that it would be too troublesome to even address that oh so accurate observation, Aiwass instead chose to change the topic. "Tell me, Babalon, are you certain that Othinus will restore the world as you've anticipated? If she fails to return it to the path we've aligned, much will need to be reworked."
His tone was casual, but the underlying implication of potential disruption to their plans was anything but trivial. Picking up on that, Babalon hastened to reassure him. "If she does not… Well, we'll intervene when she reshapes the Surface World again. We'll simply step in and make the adjustments ourselves."
"What exactly do you mean to do?"
"Oh, nothing too difficult." Babalon said with a grin. "We will just need to subtly manipulate the Phases to restore the world as it should be when Othinus is remaking it without her noticing whilst simultaneously stripping her of most of her power."
"That is extreme." Aiwass retorted with a frown. "Doing so will complicate the immediate scenario with Othinus."
"That's alright." Babalon said with a dismissive shrug. "We can adapt around that. It beats having all our work undone."
"I suppose." Aiwass nodded in agreement.
"Right?" Babalon replied, her tone playfully teasing. "For now, how about we return our attention to what is transpiring between Kamijou Touma and Othinus?"
"Sure."
Aiwass and Babalon redirected their focus back to Kamijou Touma and Othinus, just in time to observe a decisive moment. They watched as Kamijou Touma's relentless resilience finally caused Othinus to hesitate, making her reassess her path of destruction. His unwavering determination to protect the world even when facing an endless cycle of recreated realities meant to break him finally succeeded in illustrating to the Magic God the invaluable nature of what she sought to destroy. Kamijou's willingness to sacrifice everything, including his own life, underscored a fundamental truth: that real strength lay not in unmaking the world but in understanding and preserving its unique worth.
"He's done it," Babalon remarked with a hint of satisfaction.
Aiwass nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes. It saves us the trouble of intervening."
For Aiwass and Babalon, the outcome of Kamijou Touma's confrontation with Othinus was not just significant but vital. Othinus' decision to restore the world to its original state meant they no longer had to intervene to preserve their own plans. Had Othinus continued her path of destruction, Aiwass and Babalon would have been forced to step in, potentially tipping off their plans to their enemy. Instead, Othinus' realization and subsequent restoration of the world aligned seamlessly with their objectives. The order of things, which was the very foundation of their larger schemes, had been reinstated without their direct interference. This moment of equilibrium was crucial, a pivotal reversion to the status quo that allowed them to ensure their future plans would remain intact and undisturbed.
With the pieces once more in place, Aiwass and Babalon shifted their focus forward, already planning the next moves in their cosmic game. They had witnessed Kamijou Touma's victory over Othinus, and now their attention turned to a much larger battle - their ongoing fight against the Great Demon. Their goals reached far beyond the small, transient moments of human history, as they prepared to face their ancient and powerful foe. Each step, each calculated move, was part of a grand design they had long been orchestrating, with Kamijou's actions serving as just one of many pivotal moments in their intricate plans.
In a Phase near the Pure World, unaffected by the chaotic temporal and spatial distortions Othinus had inflicted on the Surface World, the Will of the Misaka Network manifested. The surrounding void remained largely motionless, its dark expanse only broken by faint currents of static that pulsed softly around her figure. This form, resembling a Misaka Sister constructed purely of flickering static, captured an ethereal, almost ghostly quality, as if she were an echo of the Misaka Network itself projected into the silent emptiness.
Upon materializing, she turned to face the Phase's other occupants - a trio of luminescent, humanoid figures, each radiating an aura of distinct brilliance in orange, white, and blue. Their features were obscured by the intensity of their respective aruas, which gave them an almost otherworldly presence. With a calm, steady voice, she addressed them, her form flickering slightly in the dark void as the static around her shifted in response.
"I have done as you asked /return." She informed the trio. "I gave Kamijou Touma the pep talk he needed when he was on the verge of despair /return."
The white humanoid entity offered her a smile and nodded. "You did good, Will."
"Thank you /return," The Will of the Misaka Network nodded, accepting the gratitude with calm grace. "Though /backspace, I must admit /return, I'm surprised my message was enough to give him the resolve to stand against Othinus /return. Given the unimaginable depths of despair he'd reached due to the countless failures he faced and the sense of helplessness weighing down on him /return, I didn't anticipate even the faintest glimmer of hope could make a difference at that point /return."
"That's what makes him a hero." The luminescent blue entity offered with a tone of quiet admiration. "He might stumble, but he always rises again to continue the fight. All he ever needs is a spark of encouragement, just enough to remind him of the strength he already has."
"Sounds like someone is still crushing on Kamijou." The orange humanoid said, offering the blue entity a teasing grin. "I thought you gave up on him already."
The blue entity huffed, a faint spark of challenge in its aura. "What I said is simply an observable fact. Or do you take issue with my assessment?"
The orange entity gave a resigned shrug. "Nah, I'm not arguing against the truth. As much as it grates on me sometimes, especially when he's at his most idealistic or self-righteous, Kamijou is a hero."
Ignoring her compatriots, the third entity addressed the Will. "Do you have any questions for us?"
"Yes /return." The Will agreed with a nod. "Two of them /return."
"Go ahead and ask."
"My questions are interrelated /return, so I would like to ask them together /return. Is that an issue /escape?"
The white entity gave an encouraging nod, while the orange entity cut in impatiently. "Just ask already!"
"Oi! There's no need to rush her just because you're so impatient." The blue entity chided, crossing her arms with a frown.
The orange entity shot back. "I'm not impatient! I just don't like pointless waiting."
The white entity sighed in exasperation, a sound that spoke to long-suffering patience as she rolled her eyes at her companions' antics. It was clear from her expression that this kind of exchange was hardly new to her, and she seemed ready to rein them in if needed. However, instead of doing that, she turned to the Will and with an encouraging nod, she let a small, reassuring smile play across her features.
"Please, go ahead and ask." She said, her tone calm but insistent. "Before these two end up even more distracted."
"Thank you /return. Then I shall proceed /return." The Will responded with a soft smile of gratitude. "I understand that I was uniquely qualified for this role /return, as one of the few entities capable of perceiving the many iterations of the world that Othinus created and erased using her powers as a Magic God and the Gungnir /return. My existence is atemporal enough that communication with me wouldn't immediately expose your own presence /return. But why me /return, specifically /escape? Why would you choose to use me as an indirect influence to help Kamijou instead of intervening yourselves /return, even if that intervention would risk revealing your existence /escape?"
"You're really overestimating the size of the shortlist we had to work with." The orange entity said with a dismissive snort. "It's not like we could've reached out to Aleister Crowley or his pet Secret Chief, Aiwass. And Kamijou hasn't even met True Gremlin or the Transcendentals at this point in the timeline, so they were obviously out too. The only other realistic option besides you was, Science forbid, Coronzon. Can you imagine us actually asking her for help!?"
The blue entity nodded. "Even if he had met them, we'd only be on decent terms with some of them in the future. At that point in the timeline, though, the other Magic Gods or Transcendentals didn't even know we exist, so asking them wasn't an option. Besides, they're not as atemporal as we are and wouldn't know we'd get along in the future. So, you were really the best candidate we had."
"As for why we couldn't directly intervene," the white entity said, picking up the explanation. "As you largely surmised, we need to keep our existence a secret. There are beings even in that time who despite whatever precautions we take have a high likelihood of detecting us and would be able to identify us for what we are. Knowledge that would risk divergence in the timeline."
"If that's the case /return, then I suppose hiding your existence is a reasonable precaution /return." The Will replied with a nod. "If the divergence between timelines was too great /return, it could put even the existence of beings such as yourselves at risk /return."
"It's not as big a risk as that." The orange entity scoffed. "We're unmoored from time enough to have enough of a headstart to fix any timeline changes that might negate our existence."
"Don't be so overconfident." The blue entity chided her orange counterpart. "If the divergence is big enough, the temporal alteration wavefront might travel too fast for us to fix things before we are overwritten."
"I'm not being overconfident. You're the one being overdramatic!" The orange entity bit back. "I'm sure no matter how big the change to the timeline, we'll manage."
The blue entity shot back with a teasing glint in her eye. "You said that last time, and look what happened. We nearly had a repeat of that Temporal Implosion incident."
"Nearly isn't the same as actually, now is it?" The orange entity winked, leaning in with mock defiance.
The blue entity sighed theatrically. "Maybe next time you can 'manage' without throwing us all into a chaotic time loop."
"Chaos makes things exciting!" The orange entity quipped, grinning.
"Exciting for you. A headache for the rest of us." The blue entity muttered under her breath.
Noting how this was already the second teasing argument between the two during their short conversation, the Will concluded this was likely their usual dynamic. Part of her felt disappointed that such advanced beings would engage in such playful bickering. Yet, knowing their origins, she understood.
Shaking her head in fond exasperation at her compatriots' behavior, the white entity turned to the Will. "Any other questions?"
The Will of the Whole Misaka Network shook her head.
With a gentle smile, the white entity reached over, giving the Will a soft, affectionate pat on the head as she praised her warmly. "You're such a good girl for helping us out like this, Will-chan."
The Will's cheeks flushed at the gesture, and she quickly pouted, mumbling a reminder. "I'm not one of your daughters /return, you know /return."
A trace of reluctant fondness softened the Will's tone, hinting at her struggle to resist the white entity's motherly warmth. Ignoring her mild protest, the white entity merely smiled and gave a gentle dismissal.
"Run along now, Will-chan."
The Will sighed, acknowledging the unchangeable nature of their dynamic with a respectful nod. She knew there was little she could do to shift the white entity's view of her. Casting a last glance at the two other entities, still locked in playful bickering, she quietly disconnected from the Phase. Her thoughts turned forward as she departed, her atemporal nature gave her unique insight but she lacked true prescience. And now, her curiosity rose, wondering what Kamijou Touma, having finally triumphed over Othinus, would do next.
Othinus's laughter echoed through the air, cold and taunting, as she spun the lance in her hand with a casual grace that belied its immense power. The lance moved effortlessly in her grip, each turn exuding a dangerous aura, the intricate patterns of swirling bands glinting ominously in the dim light. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and contempt as she raised the weapon skyward, its tip gleaming with a malevolent energy. It was a simple, almost dismissive gesture, yet it held a weight that sent chills through her onlookers, as if this one movement could command the heavens themselves to tremble.
"Little fights are so troublesome," she said, her voice filled with a casual disdain. "I think I'll just end the world."
And yet… Nothing happened. Well, not exactly. Othinus' confident declaration of world-ending power seemed almost laughable as, instead of obliterating everything, her spear - the legendary Gungnir - shattered into motes of light, disappearing as if it had never held any power at all. It certainly did not destroy the world like she claimed it would.
As Naru focused, her chakra began to surge, gathering in a powerful, tangible force around her. She could feel the immense energy pulsing through her, ready to be unleashed. But just as she braced to strike, Kurama's voice echoed sharply in her mind, laced with an unusual sense of caution.
Something's off. He warned. She hesitated, feeling the tension and uncertainty in his tone.
What do you mean? She asked, a frown creasing her brow.
Kurama's voice carried an unusual wariness as he replied. I can't put my finger on it, but the energy in the world… it just feels different. Like something's shifted beneath the surface.
"Stop! Everyone, stop!" Kamijou's voice rang out, urgent and desperate, but the plea was lost in the heat of the moment as nearly everyone on the team launched their coordinated assault.
An attack that Othinus reacted to by raising a translucent white barrier in front of her, its surface alive with shimmering Norse runes that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. The magical shield glowed softly, its ethereal form ready to absorb whatever devastation was about to be hurled at it.
Their collective power surged toward the Magic God. Kashiwagi-san led the assault, conjuring blazing fire lances streaking across the battlefield and erupting upon contact. Birdway-san swung her Symbolic Weapon in sword form, slicing the air with razor-sharp wind blades aimed directly at Othinus. Lessar-san joined in, tossing one of her spice bags and using its contents as a catalyst and with an incantation, sent a turbulent wind blast surging forward, packed with explosive energy. Accelerator's horizontal twister spiraled in, followed by the thunderous launch of Frenda's three Handheld Anti-Tank Warheads, each zeroing in on Othinus's position with deadly precision. Rui-chan fired a storm of particle beams that sliced through the air, and Mikoto's railgun shots shot forth like blazing comets, homing in with lethal intensity. Even Naru, despite Kurama's warning, quickly donned her Festung Demon Frame and conjured a Bijūdama. Though hastily formed and somewhat weakened, it hurtled forward with deadly intent.
The combined attacks struck the barrier with violent force, causing it to pulse and glow under the relentless pressure. The translucent shield flickered, holding for a brief moment before it gave way, shattering in a brilliant cascade of light. The impact that bled through the fallen barrier sent Othinus sprawling backward, her form briefly lost in the dust and debris.
As Naru dismissed her Demon Frame, her pulse quickened, a flicker of hope sparking in her chest that the barrage had finally ended the battle. But her thoughts stilled as Kamijou suddenly sprinted forward, a look in his eyes that held both relief and an undercurrent of fear. His urgency was palpable, adding a new tension to the air that left Naru momentarily at a loss, unsure of what he intended next.
"Othinus!" Kamijou shouted, his voice resonating with an urgency that left Naru momentarily speechless. The depth of Kamijou's concern for the Magic God settled heavily over the battlefield, sparking confusion even in her demon partner. Kurama let out a low, uncertain chuff, a rare sound that betrayed the fox's surprise at this unexpected turn of events.
Naru and Kurama weren't the only ones left stunned by Kamijou's sudden concern for the wellbeing of the Magic God. Almost the entire team was too. So much so that Rui-chan, Mikoto-senpai, Accelerator, Frenda-chan, Birdway-san and Lessar-san all paused in their preparations to launch fresh attacks at Othinus in shock.
"Touma! What are you doing!?" Index-san shouted, just as confused as everyone else by the sudden turn of events.
Seriously!? What by Science is going on!? Why is Kamijou even concerned about Othinus!? Isn't she the enemy?
I dunno… But if I was a betting fox, I'd put money on it having got something to do with the strange air in the world.
Even as everyone was stunned into inaction by Kamijou's inexplicable actions, Kashiwagi-san remained utterly undeterred. Unmoved by his plea, she continued her relentless advance toward the fallen Othinus, who lay sprawled on the ground, a resigned expression on her face. With a deadly, deliberate stride, Kashiwagi-san closed in, her intent unmistakable. Her voice echoed across the battlefield with chilling finality as she incanted. "Kazan no Ibuki (火山の息吹/Breath of the Volcano)!"
With a powerful exhale, she unleashed a torrent of molten rock, ash, and flames that roared forward like a volcanic eruption. Midair, the fiery stream split and transformed, scattering into a deadly barrage of molten bullets that filled the sky like blazing shrapnel. Each projectile glowed with an intense, unearthly heat, raining down with relentless force, zeroing in on Othinus with an overwhelming, crushing intensity. The fiery onslaught lit up the air, a burning storm aimed to bring the Magic God to her knees.
Kamijou dashed forward, his sole focus on intercepting the spell aimed at Othinus. With mere moments to spare, he positioned himself between Kashiwagi-san's searing attack and the Magic God, his Imagine Breaker raised to absorb as much of the assault as he could. However, the force and reach of Kazan no Ibuki were too great to fully negate; fiery shrapnel blasted past his arm, scorching his clothes and searing into his skin. Despite the intense pain, Kamijou merely grimaced, stubbornly bearing the injuries without flinching.
A flicker of shock crossed Othinus's face, her single eye widening in disbelief as she took in Kamijou's defiant stance, his battered form shielding her.
"W-Why?" She stammered, her voice barely a whisper, astonishment overcoming her as she processed the selfless lengths Kamijou had gone to protect her.
"Kamijou Touma, what are you doing?" Kashiwagi-san demanded with a frown from the [Imagine Breaker] as she continued her relentless, murderous advance on Othinus.
Kamijou disregarded the Incarnation entirely, directing his frustration toward Othinus instead. His tone was firm, almost scolding, as he fixed her with a hard stare. Disappointment evident in his gaze, he said. "You knew you wouldn't be able to defend yourself properly once we returned, and you didn't think to tell me?"
"There's no point." Othinus replied with a dismissive shrug. "The spell Ollerus and Fiamma used in our fight, the one to turn me into a fairy. it's tearing me apart from the inside. And don't even think of using Imagine Breaker. It's too late; the damage is already done. I'm resigned to my death."
"No, you're not dying! I'm not letting you!" Kamijou's voice rang out with fierce determination, as if his words alone could make it true. "You're different now. I don't sense any of the darkness in you that would warrant this fate. You have to live, Othinus! You need to face what you've done and make amends. Even if I have to fight the entire world to make it happen, I will save you!"
""Are you insane!?"" Mikoto-senpai, Birdway-san, Lessar-san, and Index-san all yelled in unison, their voices overlapping in a chorus of shock and disbelief.
Kurama's take was very different. Spoken like a true hero.
So, are all heroes insane?
To a degree. Kurama told her with a shrug. True heroes stand up for what they believe in no matter what and that takes a certain amount of insanity.
I guess…
Even as Naru had her brief conversation with Kurama, Kamijou, ignoring his allies entirely, wordlessly lifted the weakened Othinus into his arms and took off, disappearing deeper into the maze-like structure of the Sargasso. His face set in unwavering determination, he moved swiftly and silently, navigating the narrow, dimly lit corridors with a single-minded focus on putting as much distance as possible between himself and the others. Each step carried a sense of urgency, as if he was fully prepared to shoulder whatever dangers awaited them alone.
Kashiwagi-san, unfazed by Kamijou's unexpected move, relentlessly chased after him as he fled, carrying a largely insensate Othinus in his arms. She raised her arm with steady resolve whilst doing so and chanted. "Wanyūdō Ensha no Noroi (輪入道炎車の呪い / Curse of Wanyūdō's Flaming Wheel)!"
With a forceful sweep, she hurled a blazing wheel of fire toward Kamijou, its scorching trail lighting up the path ahead. Kamijou barely dodged in time, twisting his body to shield Othinus from the attack, the fiery wheel dissipating into embers as it crashed into a nearby wall.
Frustrated but determined, Kashiwagi-san switched tactics, flicking her wrist as she incanted, "Enko no Mai (焔狐の舞 / Dance of the Flame Fox)!"
Her new spell conjured foxfire bolts that zigzagged unpredictably toward him, aiming to trap him. Kamijou twisted mid-run, raising his right hand to dispel the oncoming flames with Imagine Breaker, the fiery foxfire vanishing on contact as he pushed forward, refusing to let Kashiwagi-san close the gap.
Seeing her previous efforts fail, she traced an arc in the air with a fierce glare. "Ryūen no Ya (龍炎の矢 / Dragon Flame Arrow)!"
With the incantation, a dragon-shaped arrow burst from her fingers, roaring through the air. Kamijou dropped low, rolling to evade the blazing projectile as it streaked past him into the darkness.
Kashiwagi-san let out a growl of frustration, determined to bring him to a halt. With both hands clasped together, she invoked her next spell. "Hōō no Kirameki (鳳凰の煌めき / Radiance of the Phoenix)!"
A radiant, fiery phoenix burst forth, scattering into hundreds of burning feathers that incinerated anything they touched. Kamijou shielded Othinus with his own body as he dispelled the flames closest to him, though the scorching heat singed his clothes.
Each spell came with fierce incantations and deliberate gestures, her frustration building with each failed attempt to bring Kamijou down. Naru, watching from a distance with the rest of the task force - Rui-chan, Mikoto-senpai, Accelerator, Frenda-chan, Birdway-san, Lessar-san, and Index-san - could hardly believe what was transpiring. Confusion reigned among them as Kamijou, who had accompanied them here to confront Othinus, now appeared to be defending the Magic God. It defied all logic, and yet Kamijou remained silent, his determination unwavering as he carried Othinus further into the labyrinthine depths of the Sargasso, leaving the others mystified in his wake.
Okay. Enough of this madness! Time to get some answers! Naru thought as she turned to the person there she trusted to know what was going on.
She wasn't the only one who had turned to Ruiko though. So had Accelerator and Frenda-chan, but Naru beat both of them to the punch and asked the question they all shared first. "What is going on!?"
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless as always!
And thus, the multiple looping world resets has been resolved with most none the wiser for it! Touma saved the world, got a new member of his harem and the rest of the cast are just WTF-ing at his heel turn against their BBEG of the arc. It's a confusing thing, at least from their eyes.
Nameless: As you can see, just like with Leivinia and her group, or Touma's full fight with Freyja in the last chapter, we chose to skip over Touma's experiences while Othinus kept destroying and recreating the world to break him. We did so following the same reasoning as before: we're not rewriting canon, and nothing has changed in those events from the original. Additionally, those events didn't significantly influence what we decided to show. Therefore, we chose not to include them. If you'd like to read what happened, we encourage you to go read canon. Beyond that though, how was the chapter? Was our original take on things a good read? If you'd be so kind, please do let us know.
Before I go, I'd like to address Phantom Dark-Knight's review on FFN, suggesting we could kill Touma if we wanted. Here's a summary of my responses over PMs: Yes, we know we could kill off Touma, but we've chosen not to. While we're not entirely tied to the canon rails, we aim to follow the same general trajectory, and at this stage of the story, he remains the central driving force behind much of the canon storyline. Removing him now would completely disrupt that momentum. We're aware he dies in Genesis Testament Volume 10, but we haven't reached that point in Trinity of Tokiwadai yet, and we might even conclude the story before then. Besides, Volume 11 implies he'll be resurrected, so killing him would feel unnecessary and ultimately pointless. That said, we don't hate him, despite what some might think. At worst, we find him a rather dull protagonist. What we're really interested in is exploring how other characters might react to his actions in a more grounded and nuanced way.
Okay. I'm done. The stage is yours, E4E, take it away!
E4E: You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!