Like the blazing sun rising from the east, Alicetaria soared into the sky astride her divine white steed, her golden flames so intense that even the night itself seemed to be scorched away.
Golden bullets of magical energy hurtled through the air, trailing behind Alicetaria.
"Ha—!"
With a fierce shout, Alicetaria raised her hand sharply. Instantly, the ribbons of light wrapped around her wrist extended, forming a spiraling lance that she hurled downward with overwhelming force.
The barrage of incoming golden bullets struck that spiral spear, shattering uselessly into fragments of light. The spear alone continued downward, radiating a blazing divine majesty.
"[Stellar Shield]!"
A sturdy defensive barrier reflecting a starlit sky instantly appeared. The spear collided violently with it, and the resulting shockwaves nearly tore the heavens asunder. The tranquil night sky now resembled a lake into which a massive boulder had been thrown, generating wild ripples of energy.
Before the flames and smoke dissipated, a massive black silhouette burst forth. Alicetaria's eyes sharpened; the returning ribbons of light instantly shot forward again, clashing fiercely with two enormous blades.
Clang—!
Surprisingly, the seemingly delicate, luminous ribbons displayed incredible resilience as they blocked the giant blades. A deafening metallic resonance echoed, sparks spraying chaotically at their point of contact.
The massive enemy confronting Alicetaria, wielding twin curved blades, was a giant humanoid mech.
From the series Elemental Symphony of Vogelchevalier, there existed only two such specialized combat machines: the Vogelchevaliers entrusted by the Kingdom of Asmeria to Charon and Selesia, to battle the Avalon Brigade's formidable iron knights. Now, at last, they had arrived in this world!
Its slender, streamlined frame was painted dark violet with blood-red patterns that resembled veins, coursing with immense, eerie magical power.
Yet, despite their vast difference in size, Alicetaria matched the giant mech blow-for-blow, the two locked in a stalemate.
"Selesia told me you had no memories of your divine transformation, nor how you acquired such power."
Charon's voice echoed from within the Vogelchevalier via loudspeaker. "Yet from your expression, you don't seem entirely ignorant. Are you hiding something? Did you regain your memories? Or perhaps someone informed you?"
Alicetaria's expression hardened, and with a forceful push, she sent Charon's Vogelchevalier staggering backward.
"You talk too much!"
Golden divine flames suddenly flared wildly, their heat surging like a tidal wave. In that moment, Alicetaria herself seemed to become the sun, her steed the divine horse that carried the sun across the heavens.
"If you think you can afford to hold back against me, believing that this is the extent of the pressure I can exert on you, then I shall use my valor to shatter your arrogance! Feel with your own body the searing heat of this judgment flame!"
The sun, bearing flames hot enough to burn the skies, descended.
Though it was merely Alicetaria's thrown spear, this attack exploded with the intensity of the sun itself. It seemed as though the entire night sky had been pierced; a vast portion of the firmament turned from darkness to molten gold and crimson, seemingly melting and collapsing downward, coalescing around the spear as it fell from heaven.
Even the colossal Vogelchevalier appeared tiny before the descending, molten heavens—like an ant beneath a rolling wheel.
It felt like confronting the apocalypse itself.
Across Charon's face flickered astonishment, surprise, resignation—but never fear.
"This certainly has... created quite a misunderstanding."
His feelings toward Alicetaria weren't of arrogance; rather, it might have been precisely the opposite—he greatly respected her.
After arriving in this world and encountering their so-called gods, the Creators, he'd become aware of his role—the protagonist.
The heart of the story, the center of the world.
Mirokuji Yūya once described Creators as "fate personified with personality." Only they could save their worlds, because only this path could earn the audience's approval, allowing their stories to continue.
Thus, Charon wanted to understand… what kinds of individuals the other protagonists were.
And among them, Alicetaria was the one he cared most about.
Because they were so similar: both their worlds (their nations) stood on the brink of ruin, both faced terrifying enemies.
It was precisely this concern that made Charon speak more than necessary after meeting Alicetaria.
"This truly is incredible power. Such blazing brilliance like the sun could easily save a world—or just as easily destroy it."
"Since you accuse me of arrogance, then open your eyes wide and behold my full strength—the roaring soul of this new Vogelchevalier!"
Charon's Vogelchevalier began transforming, its four wing-like blades on its back glowing brilliantly. Magic energy gathered along countless circuits, converging into its chest, compressing, igniting, and finally releasing all at once.
A pillar of twilight-hued energy tore through Alicetaria's flame, directly colliding with her thrown spear.
The aftershock of their clash, though far distant, still reached here.
Flames burning away the night sky, jagged lightning spreading like cracks, winds wailing as if the heavens wept.
With such a massive commotion, who knew if "the government testing new weapons in the wilderness" could really cover this up? Oh well, that was Kikuchihara Aki's problem now.
No matter how fiercely the others fought outside, Altair's target remained singular from beginning to end—Van Gogh and Shimazaki Yuna.
"Ha—!"
The silver-white Vogelchevalier piloted by Selesia charged straight toward Altair.
Before appearing in the real world, Selesia's Vogelchevalier had been destroyed by Altair. However, after the Creators enhanced her powers, Meteora reconstructed her Vogelchevalier with a completely new magic. Of course, Selesia herself had gained new strength too.
Her massive blade slashed downward, its sheer mass granting immense power. Enhanced further by magic, this same blade had pierced through countless heavy knights of Avalon.
Selesia didn't expect to kill Altair outright; her priority was simply using the Vogelchevalier's physical might to push Altair back, preventing her from getting any closer to Yuna and Van Gogh.
She couldn't fathom why Altair held such murderous intent toward Yuna. But whatever the reason, Selesia wouldn't allow harm to come to her friends.
I must buy time for Yuna and Van Gogh to escape!
I must stop Altair here!
Thus, the silver-white blade sliced through the sky, fiercely clashing against dozens of sabers swirling protectively around Altair.
Clang—!
The metallic impact created a piercing resonance, yet Altair stood unmoved; instead, it was the enormous blade of Vogelchevalier that rebounded.
"Selesia-dono, truthfully, I admire you greatly. I sincerely wish you could become an ally who shares my ambitions."
Altair elegantly extended a hand toward Selesia, the motion graceful, as if inviting her for a dance.
She was always like this—maintaining that perfectly terrifying smile, a refined puppet who danced upon the stage for praise. Her every word, every movement blurred the line between performance and sincerity.
"We share a common enemy. Despite our different aims, we walk the same path… Those were your words."
Selesia stared at Altair cautiously, her voice solemn. "If you truly admire me, then how about abandoning your plan to kill Yuna?"
"What a pity, truly. But helplessness is common in this world, and twists and turns make for the best stories. Betrayal always makes the most memorable plotline."
Altair shook her head slightly, smiling and speaking gently.
Selesia wasn't surprised. She'd remained vigilant every second. She wasn't naïve enough to think a few words would persuade Altair.
She'd felt it earlier—Altair's killing intent, so viscous it could turn the air to blood, an intent purer and more ferocious than anything she'd ever known.
Without exaggeration, even after suffering countless losing streaks in ranked games, repeated critical failures in card games, souls-like games where the boss annihilates you sixty-eight times, or every gacha pull hitting rock bottom—your killing intent wouldn't compare to what Altair felt toward Shimazaki Yuna.
Just how deep was this grudge?
What exactly had Shimazaki Yuna, a Creator, done to Altair, a Creation, to deserve this wrath? Even murder wouldn't generate this hatred.
Yet after all this time together, Selesia hadn't sensed such malice from Yuna…
"You remain naïve, Selesia. Easily misled by appearances, deceived by false gods... Perhaps I should've forcibly taken you back then, instead of now having no choice but to kill you."
Altair sounded genuinely regretful.
Yet her performance was so exaggerated that Selesia had no intention of listening any longer.
"[Toufekia Ominipotens]!"
Countless bullets of light flew forth, yet Altair gracefully dodged, smiling casually.
"You're so predictable, Selesia-dono…"
"Take this!"
Selesia struck fiercely from above, exerting all her strength.
Yet her massive blade stopped between Altair's two fingers.
"You still don't understand. This has always been my story."
With ease, Altair threw Selesia aside.
A new attacker appeared suddenly, erupting violently.
"What… is that?"
Facing Hoshikawa Hikayu—wearing a swimsuit-like fighter's outfit, wielding nunchaku—Altair couldn't help but ask.
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