The winter wind blew, bringing a chill while also dispersing the thick smoke.
"—!!"
"Don't look away, Nia."
Pinning down the still struggling Nia, Yutsuki pressed her head, forcing her to look ahead.
Not far ahead, another inverted Honjou Nia could be seen.
It was a very tragic scene.
A pang of pain clutched her heart, and Yutsuki couldn't help but bite her lip in self-reproach.
Even knowing this was a necessary act, it was impossible to remain indifferent while watching a family mber suffer such severe injuries.
Perhaps the inverted Nia couldn't understand what she was seeing, but Yutsuki still shouted loudly, as if to imprint this scene into her mind.
"Do you see it, Nia? This is the 'future' you saw back then! Right now, you are still alive! And similarly, he didn't die either!"
"..."
Nia's lifeless eyes stared silently ahead.
A blood-soaked hand was pulled out from "Nia's' chest. The inverted "Nia" stood unsteadily back on the ground, the wound on her chest slowly healing. In Nia and Yutsuki's eyes, she changed from a girl into a boy.
Yes, the person Artemisia had just hunted down wasn't Honjou Nia herself, but Shido, who had used Haniel to disguise himself as Nia under the cover of Kotori's smoke screen.
...
Just last night, no, it should be said early this morning.
"What if... the 'Honjou Nia' killed in the future you saw wasn't actually Honjou Nia? How about that?"
After a long thought, Shido said to Reine and Yutsuki.
"The Honjou Nia who was killed..."
[...isn't Nia.]
Hearing Shido's words, Reine and Yutsuki couldn't help but frown in confusion. Then, they seed to understand Shido's idea and widened their eyes in surprise.
"Shin... you're not thinking of..."
"Mhm." Shido nodded and stated his idea, "I'll use 'Haniel' to turn into Nia, and fulfill this future in her place."
[...If Kotori-chan were here, she definitely would have vetoed it without a second word. Honestly, Shido, your ideas are always so crazy.]
On the other end of the phone, Yutsuki scratched her hair and sighed with a bitter smile.
"Yutsuki, is this thod feasible?"
[Indeed... there is a significant possibility.]
After hesitating for a mont, Yutsuki nodded.
Being pierced through the chest might be a fatal injury for Nia, but for Itsuka Shido, who possessed healing abilities, the result wouldn't necessarily be the sa.
At their current level of control, ensuring that Honjou Nia could remain undead even after having her wound pierced by the enemy was extrely difficult to manage. But from this perspective, Shido's idea was indeed a good breakthrough point.
"...I object... it's too dangerous..."
Reine slowly shook her head.
"This thod... is equivalent to putting Shin directly into the enemy's hands... One wrong move... Shin... you will die..."
"But Reine-san, if we don't do this, Nia might die."
"Even so, no... As Yutsuki said, if Kotori were here, she definitely wouldn't agree to your thod either... Shin..."
Her tone seed slow and exhausted, but it showed no sign of compromise. Faced with Reine's opposition, Shido felt troubled.
[Shido, I admit your thod is very interesting, and it's highly likely to be the breakthrough to our current problem. But at the sa ti, I also have no intention of agreeing to execute this plan yet.]
"Yutsuki?"
[First, you need to understand these points.]
Staring at Shido through the screen, Yutsuki said seriously,
[First, although this thod seems to resolve the consequences caused by Future Glimpse, it's only a possibility. At this stage, we have no evidence to guarantee it will definitely succeed. In other words, even if you disguise yourself as Nia and get stabbed by the enemy, Nia's ending might not change. Your efforts would have been in vain.]
"Uh..."
[Second, your thod is not the only one available. I admit your plan has the highest success rate, but it's not the only one. Even without using your thod, I have a certain degree of confidence in keeping Nia alive.]
After a brief pause, Yutsuki added on the phone.
[However, saving her life is all I can guarantee.]
"Eh..."
[Third, you have to understand. If we test this plan, it ans you have to actively throw yourself into danger. Although I will try my best to minimize the danger of this plan, even if it has a 90% success rate, it doesn't an you can ignore that 10% risk. Not just Reine-san, but as your family, I also don't want you to put yourself in danger to save soone else.]
"Mhm... I understand."
Shido nodded obediently.
[But I also know that saving Nia without taking risks is impossible.]
Sighing lightly, Yutsuki continued earnestly.
[So, if you still choose to use this plan to save Nia after understanding all this, I won't object. But right now, what you should be saying to us isn't 'If I don't do this, Nia will die', but promising us that you won't push yourself too hard and will co back safely.]
"You're absolutely right."
Shido closed his eyes, weighed Yutsuki's words for a long ti, and then answered firmly.
"Reine... I want to save Nia. But at the sa ti, I also promise you, and everyone else, that I will definitely co back safely."
After a mont, Reine finally nodded in compromise.
"...Since Shin says so... I understand... I'll persuade Kotori..."
...
"Shido, how are you?"
[Phew... I'm fine, the Wizard here has lost consciousness. The wound is also healed, it hurts a lot, but no problem.]
Hearing Shido's answer, Yutsuki sighed in relief.
"How about going back and having everyone take a look at you? I believe everyone would be very willing to try all sorts of thods to blow away your pain, especially Origami~"
[Haha... spare ...]
Shido couldn't help but smile bitterly. Perhaps because they had successfully crossed the most dangerous step, their moods were much lighter.
Looking towards where Yutsuki and Nia were, he originally just wanted to confirm their safety. However, he saw that less than a hundred ters behind Yutsuki, a dark figure was hiding behind a silenced monster, aiming a cold gun barrel right at Yutsuki.
"Yutsuki, dodge quickly!"
Shido shouted without thinking.
Hearing Shido's warning, Yutsuki didn't hesitate. She released her grip on Nia's joints, kicked her back to push her away, and used the montum to jump in the opposite direction.
The next second, the enemy pulled the trigger, and a cold bullet shot silently from the barrel.
—BOOM!
Right where Yutsuki and Nia had just been, like a boulder thrown into water, the ground eroded by Nia's Spirit power exploded violently, scattering black mud mixed with clumps of dirt.
Specially processed magic bullets, and non-tallic ones at that. Judging what attacked her, Yutsuki couldn't help but frown.
There's another Wizard ambushing nearby besides Artemisia.
Honestly, even without Shido's warning, Yutsuki's ability could have sensed the bullet approaching within a certain range and dodged the snipe. But in such a rush, she probably wouldn't have been able to help Nia dodge it too.
Although Nia had now landed in an extrely undignified face-plant posture and seed to have lost consciousness... well, it couldn't be helped in an ergency.
"I got careless..."
Yutsuki scolded herself secretly.
Solving the problem of Future Glimpse didn't an the incident was over. Nia's crisis hadn't been resolved, and DEM wouldn't just admit defeat and retreat because Artemisia was incapacitated.
Even knowing this, Yutsuki still subconsciously relaxed her guard for a mont.
"We've only just reached the starting line..."
Whispering a warning to herself, Yutsuki let out a soft breath and adjusted her mindset.
Looking along the bullet's trajectory, normally, after their position was exposed, a sniper would relocate and hide to prepare for the next round of sniping. But right now, the enemy uncharacteristically abandoned their cover and charged straight towards Yutsuki.
Are there other enemies?
Yutsuki frowned in confusion.
Earlier, to prevent Nia from noticing her, Yutsuki kept her power restricted very low. Now there was no need for that. Yutsuki used electromagnetic waves to detect the personnel currently in the area.
Nia, Shido, the unconscious Artemisia, herself, and the Wizard who suddenly rushed out. There were only five people in the area right now.
"Shido, you're too far away! Protect yourself first. I can handle things on Nia's end."
—Bang! Bang! Bang!
Perhaps carrying different firearms, the Wizard fired three consecutive shots while sprinting, aiming at Shido, Yutsuki, and Nia respectively.
The sa magic bullets as before. While more than enough for a sneak attack, they obviously posed no threat to the already alert Shido and Yutsuki.
But clearly, the enemy didn't expect the attacks to harm Shido and Yutsuki, rely serving as a distraction. The real target was the unconscious and defenseless Nia.
[Zadkiel!]
Shido summoned a wall of ice to block the bullet.
"Ratziel—Canon Mode."
As Yutsuki's words fell, the lightning flashing around her transford into a dark blue chanical bow, and simultaneously turned into a pincer-shaped turret fixed to her wrist.
Since the land in this area had been eroded by Nia's Spirit power, there was no tal grit nearby to manipulate. Yutsuki loaded pre-prepared tal tokens into the muzzle and, swinging it like a sword, swept Ratziel forward horizontally.
A spark flashed in front of Yutsuki.
Under Ratziel's precise calculations, the bullet hit the bow arm of the Angel flawlessly and was deflected aside.
"Railgun!"
Just as the magic bullet was about to hit Nia's body, a scorching orange-yellow beam suddenly intercepted the trajectory, swallowing and pulverizing the bullet.
Seemingly not expecting her attack to be neutralized so perfectly, a hint of surprise could be vaguely seen in the Wizard's movents.
Then, seemingly changing her mind, the Wizard slightly altered her flight angle, abandoning Nia and attacking Yutsuki.
"Mordred!?"
Seeing clearly the Realizer equipped on the enemy, Yutsuki's pupils contracted sharply.
Although she couldn't see the enemy's face because of the goggles, Yutsuki was certain that the armor the enemy was wearing right now was the CR-Unit equipped by Origami in the previous world, the sister unit to Ellen's exclusive equipnt developed by DEM, Pendragon.
And what fired the magic bullets earlier wasn't a normal firearm, but the exclusive weapon of this armor—Clarent in its artillery mode.
Arriving in front of Yutsuki, the Wizard raised her arm and swung down. The Clarent in her hand instantly took the form of a sword, slashing towards Yutsuki.
Yutsuki blocked the attack with Ratziel.
Seemingly intending to overpower Yutsuki with pure strength, the Wizard increased the intensity of her Territory, the massive gravity forcing the ground to cave in.
"..."
Yutsuki silently withstood the attack, bending her knees as if exhausted, while secretly aiming the tal tokens hidden in her palm at the enemy.
R—
However, just then, the enemy suddenly let go of her weapon and grabbed Yutsuki's wrists with both hands.
With a Boom—!, the Railgun fired right past the enemy. Although not a direct hit, the accompanying wind pressure still blew away the goggles the enemy was wearing.
It was a black haired woman, looking around twenty-five years old, appearing very dignified and mature.
"Ryougi Yutsuki, no,Yutsuki-san."
Gripping Yutsuki's wrists tightly, this woman looked at Yutsuki's face, a shy blush appearing on her cheeks, and softly spoke her na.
Like a child acting spoiled to ask their parents for a toy, the other party showed a bright smile unsuited for her age and said to Yutsuki in Chinese:
"I love you, so could you please—invert for to see?"
In an instant, Yutsuki felt an unprecedented chill.
It was exactly the sa feeling as facing Westcott. With just this short sentence, Yutsuki could tell for certain that the other party was definitely not normal.
However, although she asked Yutsuki a question, this woman didn't seem to intend to listen to Yutsuki's answer. Still holding Yutsuki's wrists, she turned around and exerted sudden force, throwingYutsuki over her shoulder.
(An over the shoulder throw!?)
Never having thought a Wizard would actually use such simple hand to hand combat on a Spirit, Yutsuki was caught off guard and pulled into the air.
If she was thrown to the ground like this, she would lose the initiative and be completely suppressed by the enemy. Making this judgnt in an instant, Yutsuki gathered lightning at her wrists.
Even though it was through the armor, the massive electric current caused the other party's hands to lose sensation due to paralysis, letting go of Yutsuki's wrists mid-throw.
Thus, Yutsuki, who should have been slamd hard onto the ground, was rely tossed into the air and landed steadily.
Ow—!
A sharp pain shot from both sides of her shoulders, making Yutsuki gasp secretly.
(Did I dislocate them when I broke free just now?)
"Ah~ So numb. Amazing, amazing! As expected of Yutsuki-san, both judgnt and action are so clean and crisp. Truly worthy of the person I love."
Not annoyed that her attack didn't work on Yutsuki, the woman excitedly clapped for Yutsuki, praising her with a satisfied look.
Yutsuki couldn't help but look at her with a strange expression. The woman seed unable to bear Yutsuki's gaze and shyly looked away.
"Um, it's working hours right now, could you not look at with such passionate eyes... Otherwise, after this is over, we can find a hotel... I'll keep you company..."
"..."
Yutsuki felt the corner of her eye twitching continuously.
Although there were many things she wanted to retort to, she forced down the urge and asked:
"Um... are you actually a guy?"
"Hehe~Yutsuki-san, you really know how to joke. I'm definitely a woman."
"Then are you a yuri enthusiast?"
"No, strictly speaking, I should belong to the type that swings both ways."
Great, the type I'm worst at dealing with. Yutsuki thought speechlessly.
"Um... regarding that first sentence, can I consider that a confession?"
"Of course! I transferred all the way from China specifically to et you! When I saw your file, I was certain you are the destined person I've always been looking for!"
Hearing Yutsuki's words, the woman nodded very happily. Then, seeing Yutsuki's troubled expression, she seed to realize sothing, scratched her cheek, and apologized,
"Ah, that confession just now was indeed a bit impolite for a first eting. Then, could we start by dating?"
"I don't think it's just a matter of being impolite..."
If Yutsuki heard correctly, this woman had definitely said the word "invert" just now.
(I really don't understand what this woman is thinking... Well, considering Westcott is such a weirdo, it's not surprising his recruited subordinates are weird too.)
Yutsuki thought to herself.
"Then... suppose I accept your confession right here. Could you just retreat directly?"
"No can do." The other party refused without hesitation, answering with an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry, although I really do love you. But work and personal feelings must be kept separate. Besides, Yutsuki-san is definitely planning to break up with the mont I retreat."
Yutsuki pursed her lips, neither agreeing nor denying.
"Completely correct. You understand my thods quite well."
"Of course, because you're the person I love. Then, although I'm very sorry, Yutsuki-san. I'll be taking Sister... hm?"
Just as the woman was about to fly towards Nia, she suddenly realized that her feet had at so point been firmly frozen to the ground by a layer of solid ice.
"I see, the reason you suddenly started chatting with was to stall for ti and wait for backup. As expected of Yutsuki-san."
Nodding in realization, the woman paid no mind to the ice that had already spread to her knees. She turned her head towards Itsuka Shido not far away.
"Even knowing you have healing abilities, I didn't expect you to be so energetic after having your chest ripped open by Artemisia. Handso."
Breathing heavily, Shido looked at the woman before him and slowly spoke her na.
"Ai... Mulian..."
"We et again, Itsuka Shido. I've finished reading the manga you guys sold, it was very interesting."
Mulian smiled and waved at Shido.
Staring into the other's eyes, although he had a mountain of questions in his heart right now, Shido knew this wasn't the ti to ask them.
"I won't let you hurt Nia."
"Well... I'm just doing the job my boss gave ."
Mulian shrugged and answered faintly,
"Handso. I admit that you've won. Unlike Ellen-san, I don't have enough magic power to break free from ice created by a Spirit's power. However—you are too naive."
Saying this, Mulian took a small flare gun from her waist, pointed it at the sky, and pulled the trigger. The flare screeched as it ascended into the air, leaving a trail of blue smoke.
"A flare gun?"
Before Shido could comprehend her intention, a deafening roar suddenly echoed from the distant city center, followed by a massive explosion.
Towering skyscrapers crumbled under the shockwave of the explosion. Iron poles, trees, building debris—countless fragnts were blown into the air by the blast, and so even fell right at Shido's feet.
Simultaneously, using the force of the explosion, a figure flew towards them at a speed visible to the naked eye. In just a blink of an eye, she appeared right in front of Shido.
The strongest Wizard—Ellen Mira Mathers.
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