At the Kitayama residence, Mikihiko and Sana sat at a large terminal, monitored by Ceria and Miyuki. Suddenly, a vision flashed through Ceria's mind—Lina unleashing Heavy Metal Burst toward a rocket launcher on South Shield Island. Electromagnetic interference followed, crackling static through the terminal's audio.
"Lina's here," Ceria said.
"Is that true, Ceria?" Miyuki asked.
"I saw her fire Heavy Metal Burst at the launcher…" Ceria confirmed.
"The southeast of South Shield Island—the Navy's defensive perimeter is ablaze," Sana reported.
Despite the flickering visuals from electromagnetic disruption, the scene corroborated Ceria's words. Then, a phrase from the terminal caught Miyuki's attention.
"Did I just hear 'unidentified submarine'?" she asked.
"I heard it too," Mikihiko confirmed.
He adjusted the built-in receiver to capture clearer audio, picking up an added civilian evacuation alert. Ceria seethed. Even if Stars aimed to neutralize strategic-class magic, attacking an allied nation's military facility—abroad, no less—crossed into "internal interference." The Stars Commander held authority under the Federal Military Penal Code's special provisions, including overseas conduct, but actions in allied nations required host government approval. Emergency provisions allowed post-facto consent, but neutralizing strategic-class magic didn't qualify.
"That fool Lina!" Ceria snapped. "Launching an operation before civilians fully evacuate? She's lost her mind! Ben's probably there too… Shizuka, the Defense Force airship is fastest. Ask Date-san to take us to South Shield Island."
"Us?" Shizuka hesitated, then saw Miyuki's expression and nodded, leaving to make arrangements.
Ceria grabbed Artemis from nearby. Had Lina confirmed civilian evacuation, Ceria wouldn't be so troubled, but as a Japanese citizen, she couldn't ignore Lina's reckless actions. Considering Molecular Divider, Lina likely had allies, but ignoring civilians to enforce military discipline stretched justification thin.
"Sorry, Miyuki, for dragging you into this," Ceria said.
"No… thank you, Ceria," Miyuki replied.
"With that grim look, how could I leave you behind?" Ceria teased.
Miyuki's concern for Tatsuya and Yugen made Ceria certain she'd follow regardless. Miyuki's power was a formidable asset, and though Tatsuya might scold Ceria later, she trusted Miyuki to intercede.
(Big Brother and Tatsuya are there, so failure's unlikely, Ceria thought, but I'll make the Pentagon pay.)
Ceria knew her own actions were extraordinary, and being sidelined from Stars' hierarchy was a precaution against friction. Yet, it branded her as "special," and the Joint Chiefs' conciliatory rank only backfired. Like Lina, she'd faced leering colleagues, and after thrashing dozens—triple digits by the time she stopped counting—she'd had enough.
As an aside, General Kudou granted his granddaughter's wishes, deeming her strategic-class magic unmanageable even for the USNA, partly as a jab at his brother. Some truths were better left unknown.
Yugen led Shia and several researchers through the facility, nearing the bridge linking the base to the airport, when he halted. The bridge was cleanly severed, and two figures in non-Defense Force suits stood before it.
"Hey, Captain," the male figure said, noticing Shia's group. "Those must be…"
"Likely the strategic-class magic operators," his captain replied.
Yugen overheard their exchange. Likely Stars—one wielded a sword-like device, the other a knife, their words dripping with a killer's glee.
"Leo, Erika, take care of them," Yugen ordered.
Activating Pseudo-Teleportation, he sent them near the cruiser. The pair, stunned as if witnessing a magic trick, realized a barrier spell enveloped the area, a fact their Thrust Suits—Stars' standard magic combat gear—confirmed.
"Yuto Kagurazaka…" the captain muttered.
"That's him, Captain. Can we take him out?" the other asked.
"No other way to break through," the captain confirmed.
Recognizing that defeating Yugen was their only way to dispel the barrier, he drew Valkyrie and deployed Murakumo. The psychopathic soldier, Ralph Algol, charged with a self-acceleration spell. A Second-Class Star, his skill matched his deranged mindset, but to Yugen, who'd faced beings beyond reason, Algol's speed was like "a fly landing." Switching Murakumo to a reverse grip, Yugen struck Algol's abdomen with the hilt, then used Valkyrie's Lightning Order to chain compatible spells, unleashing devastating force that sent Algol flying.
"Gah! This power… through a Thrust Suit? Now that's more like it!" Algol coughed.
His toughness was undeniable—worthy of a First-Class Star—but Yugen had no time to commend the man restraining him, Benjamin Canopus. Algol lunged again, linear and predictable, prompting Canopus to shout restraint.
"You Stars don't know the meaning of restraint," Yugen said. "Have some shame."
Brandishing Murakumo, Yugen stepped forward, cracking the concrete ground. Channeling the earth's power through his body into the blade, he invoked the Sword Saint's Four Great Mysteries: Nandan, Blade of Finality—Reiki Reppa.
Unlike Phoenix, which imbued the blade with ferocious attack power, Spirit Turtle severed any defense. Yugen used this mystery to signal his seriousness to Canopus. In its "illusory state," Murakumo didn't kill but induced phantom pain and mental exhaustion. Algol, overwhelmed by the latter, collapsed unconscious.
"Now, Major Benjamin Canopus," Yugen said, his voice laced with rare killing intent. "You may not be involved, but Stars has interfered with our nation again. How will you answer for it?"
"(This is the magician even the Commander fears, who repelled 'Polaris,' the world's greatest…)" Canopus thought, trembling.
With only vague reports—former Ten Master Clans, strategic-class suspect, and Lina's unbelievable accounts—Canopus now realized every rumor was true, facing a magician who could deceive the USNA's cutting-edge surveillance satellites.
"My demand is simple," Yugen said. "Cease harming the girls or destroying the institute and withdraw immediately. Refuse, and I'll take it to your Commander-in-Chief. Be ready."
"If we retreat now, no pursuit?" Canopus asked.
"I won't interfere further with Stars," Yugen replied. "But pursue my allies or the girls, and I'll cut you down without mercy."
Yugen dispelled the barrier. Canopus, carrying the unconscious Algol, retreated southeast via flight device. A rational man, he'd likely refrain from further action—but someone northwest, high in the sky, proved otherwise.
(Lina… planning to obliterate the institute—no, the entire island—with Heavy Metal Burst?) Yugen thought.
Yet, he remained calm, spotting Tatsuya nearby and sensing Ceria's presence. Lina targeted an armored vehicle with Heavy Metal Burst, but neither Yugen nor Tatsuya stopped it. As the plasma formed, it froze. Lina, baffled, exclaimed, "Definition collapse? Heavy Metal Burst forcibly terminated!?"
Ceria stood on a hill, Artemis in hand. Leaving the villa to Shizuka and Sana, she'd rushed via Defense Force airship with Miyuki and Mikihiko, landing first. She'd used Reverse Heavy Metal Burst, a safety spell she devised to counter Lina's strategic-class magic. By solidifying the plasma state, it destroyed the plasma definition, a technique unused due to Ceria's synchronization with Lina's magic domain. Even Heavy Metal Burst's developers were unaware of its counter.
Lina refocused, aiming to destroy the institute, but as the smoke cleared, the building had vanished. With her target gone, she prepared to return, deeming the mission a success—until a voice rang out.
"Why are you slipping away, big sister?"
Lina froze. That voice—her twin sister's, her other half. Turning fearfully, she saw Ceria's beaming face.
"Eek! A g-g-ghost!?" Lina shrieked, then yelped, "Ow, ow!"
Ceria, flying via Yugen's device, grabbed Lina's shoulder firmly, unimpressed by her sister's flight prowess. Lina's Parade spell faltered under the pain, despite her Thrust Suit—a secret between them.
Miyuki swiftly extinguished the southeast fire from Heavy Metal Burst, then unleashed Zero Niflheim on the nearby landing craft and submarine New Mexico. With Oath temporarily lifted, her magic froze the fleet and seabed.
(Miyuki, you hear me?) Yugen's telepathic voice came.
(Yugen-san, what's wrong?) she replied.
(Tatsuya's there, and Ceria's with Lina. No worries, but don't attack. I'm handling another matter, so Tatsuya's in your hands.)
(Understood. Be careful.)
Miyuki didn't know Yugen's plans but sensed their gravity. As his fiancée, she wanted to help, but her role was here, managing the frozen fleet. As Yugen's message ended, Tatsuya landed beside her and Mikihiko, followed by Lina and Ceria. For the record, Ceria wore spats under her skirt, unhesitant with the flight device.
Tatsuya explained the USNA's abandoned satellite, Seventh Plague, would crash within twenty-four hours, targeting the area. His magic could neutralize it.
"I got the latest trajectory data from Yugen," Tatsuya said. "To be safe, I'll disable Seventh Plague from high altitude. Lina, get me there."
"Got it," Ceria interjected. "Big sister, take Tatsuya to 140 kilometers."
"140 kilometers!?" Lina gasped. "That's practically space!"
Lina's shock met Ceria's unwavering glare, enough to unsettle even her twin.
"You fired Heavy Metal Burst without thinking," Ceria said. "Forget blame for now. You've troubled Tatsuya, so help him."
"Fine, I'll get him there," Lina conceded.
Lina readied her CAD, Ceria assisting with a massive virtual pillar for the movement spell to reach the target altitude. Once Tatsuya signaled readiness, Lina counted down.
"Three, two, one… Go!"
The Covert Mobile Suit's cloak transformed into a streamlined shape, launching Tatsuya skyward like electromagnetic acceleration. Miyuki tracked him through their bond, confident in Holy Trident but ready to assist his return as backup, per his request. Committed to her role, she fixed her gaze on her brother in the distant sky.
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