After Shido regained his energy yesterday, Tohka and Yoshino, who had been worried about him, ca to visit the Itsuka house. Kotori managed to brush them off with the excuse that Shido had suffered from appendicitis, a perforated stomach, acute gastric ulcers, duodenitis, and cholera all at the exact sa ti, eventually collapsing in the bathroom before being recovered by the Fraxinus.
Seeing Shido looking completely full of energy today, Tohka and Yoshino's moods brightened up, leading to a very happy dinner ti. And then...
The next day, Mikoto arrived at school just like usual.
[Is Shido... going to be okay...]
During Reine's physics class for the first period, Mikoto stared out the window deep in thought, nimbly spinning a ballpoint pen between her fingers.
For so reason, she felt like the outside world was getting darker, and a subtle, oppressive feeling began to fill the school.
The classes eventually ca to an end amidst this uneasy feeling. Mikoto, who usually left early in the afternoon to return to the shrine and handle its affairs, stayed until school ended today because of Kurumi.
Mikoto packed her bag, planning to wait for Shido at the door so they could walk back together. Logically speaking, to ensure a smooth conquest, she should let Shido have as much alone ti with the Spirit as possible to raise affection. But Kurumi was an exception. If possible, Mikoto really didn't want Shido to be alone with her.
[!!!]
The mont she stepped out of the classroom, an intense wave of fatigue washed over her.
Thud! Thud!
All around Mikoto, her classmates began to collapse one after another.
"Shadows?"
Looking down, she saw shadows as black as ink covering the classroom—and even the entire school. The shadows were greedily draining the life force of the people and converting it into Spirit energy.
"I see. So this was your goal all along, Kurumi."
Mikoto always had one question regarding this Spirit who had murdered ten thousand people: Why did she kill? It didn't seem like she did it for fun, nor did it seem like she held a grudge against the human race.
This shadow was undeniably Kurumi's power. Kurumi was gathering Spirit energy by draining people's life force. In other words, her motive for killing was strictly to harvest Spirit energy.
Then the reason she targeted Shido was obvious. Having sealed Tohka, Yoshino, and Mikoto herself, Shido's body stored the Spirit energy of at least three Spirits.
"Shido..."
Mikoto struggled to stand up, but her body felt as heavy as lead.
"Yakumo-senpai!"
Right at that mont, Shido ran into the classroom.
"Are you okay, Shido?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. According to Reine-san, the Spirit energy sealed inside is protecting ."
"Is that so? Thank goodness."
Seeing that Shido was unhard, Mikoto smiled in relief. However, Shido's next sentence quickly wiped that smile away.
"Kurumi is on the roof. I have to go stop her."
"Wait! Kurumi's goal is your Spirit energy. If you go up there right now..."
To Mikoto, facing Kurumi alone was no different from throwing a sheep into a tiger's den.
"Kurumi wants my Spirit energy, right? In that case, I have a bargaining chip," Shido smiled, as if he had just realized sothing.
"Shido... don't tell you..."
Thinking about Shido's healing ability, it was easy for Mikoto to guess his plan. If Shido told Kurumi, "Release this barrier, or I'll kill myself" what choice would Kurumi make?
Undoubtedly, she didn't know about Shido's regenerative powers. To avoid losing the massive source of Spirit energy right at her fingertips, Kurumi would have no choice but to back down.
"Anyway, I promise I'll save her."
There was no ti. With every passing second, the students lying in this shadow barrier were growing weaker. After confirming Mikoto was safe, Shido bolted toward the roof.
"Shido..."
Mikoto watched the direction Shido ran, struggling to pull herself up.
[Shido is in danger.]
That thought kept swirling in her mind. Even with a bargaining chip, it didn't change the fact that Kurumi was an incredibly dangerous Spirit.
"Phew..."
Taking a deep breath, Mikoto desperately focused her consciousness, pouring her entire heart and mind into the sheer anxiety of "Shido is in danger." And in the next second, a warm sensation welled up from within.
Golden light sparkled, forming a golden solar halo and a heavenly crown. The young girl, having manifested a partial Astral Dress, stood up and ran out of the classroom.
However, she hadn't taken more than a few steps before a girl in a crimson and black Astral Dress appeared in front of her.
"Tokisaki Kurumi."
She hadn't waited for Shido on the roof; instead, she had co down here.
"Good day to you, Yakumo-san."
The girl politely lifted the hem of her skirt and curtsied.
"So that you do not interfere with my plans, please keep company here for a little while."
Kurumi pulled two flintlock pistols from the shadows and pulled the triggers without hesitation.
"Tsukuyomi!"
The dark of night transford into a divine realm, protecting Mikoto within it. Although Kurumi didn't have the attack power to break the barrier, Mikoto felt a growing sense of anxiety.
[So that you do not interfere with my plans...]
Logically speaking, if Kurumi was fighting her here, Shido should be safe. But if Kurumi herself had so other plan, that was a different story. The most important thing right now was to rush to Shido's side, not to get tangled up in a fight with Kurumi here.
Unfortunately, Tsukuyomi was not suited for offense. Mikoto could only expand her domain little by little against Kurumi's barrier.
Suddenly, the spacequake alarm blared from outside the school.
"Ara ara~. The '' on the roof is quite an, isn't she?"
Kurumi looked toward the direction of the rooftop.
"Don't tell ..."
A sudden chill ran down Mikoto's spine.
"Kihihihihihi! That's right! If she does this, a lot of people will definitely die!" Kurumi laughed maniacally.
"How could you..."
Although she didn't know how Kurumi did it, it was clear that she was summoning a spacequake of her own free will. Right now, every student in the school was unconscious inside Kurumi's barrier. No one could evacuate. Once the spacequake hit...
[At this rate...]
Gritting her teeth, Mikoto desperately expanded her barrier. anwhile, Kurumi laughed wildly as she bombarded Tsukuyomi with countless Spirit energy bullets.
Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, the spacequake alarm abruptly stopped, and Kurumi's shadow barrier began to recede.
"What's going on?"
This was clearly beyond Kurumi's expectations, and a look of panic flashed across the girl's face.
[Shido!]
Mikoto knew perfectly well that Shido must have done sothing on the roof.
"Seal!"
But this wasn't the ti to think about that. Taking advantage of Kurumi's panic, Mikoto expanded Tsukuyomi in one breath, pulled Kurumi inside the barrier, and completely bound her with a Shinawa (sacred rope).
"Wh-What is this!?"
Kurumi fired her guns repeatedly, but it had absolutely no effect.
"I'm sorry, but just stay here quietly for a little while."
Leaving the sealed Kurumi aside, Mikoto sprinted toward the rooftop.
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