Chapter 8 - Assault.

Ultron POV:

Humans, in essence, are reckless.

They are smart, yes, and they are also cautious… in most cases.

And yet, they're somehow still being dumber than a rock in important times.

Many tragedies in history are caused by their own foolishness. All those deaths can be avoided, if only the humans are as careful as they are.

And in the end, others have to pay the price, despite being on the sideline…

… Like with the boy, and the city, here.

"What do you mean by 'decimating' the city?!"

The boy, looking a bit uneasy with my statement, questioned me. And yet, despite his best effort to be intimidating, I can't really see him in such light.

In fact, he's more of a pitiful kitten with such a pathetic manner of all things. Which raises my question again, why did those at didn't train him?

"I say what I will, Itsuka, and this city will pay for your hostility."

"Hostile? We didn't—"

"You kinda did that when snatching away my pal here."

I cut him off of his poorly executed excuse, now finally landed beside Nia.

… Frankly, I never thought it would come to this. But to think that those humans even try to steal someone in front of my eyes, all for the sake of them falling in love with this guy, disgusted me.

I know that they're desperate, consider that this is their only shot at "saving" the Spirit. And yet, they never even try to do that sooner.

But when given their chance, they can't even do it properly, which kinda startles me. They have the best tech in this world, and they still opt to wait…

And worse of all, worst than the criminal stealing things… The reason for those to act this weirdly "affectionate" toward the Spirits finally nailed the coffin.

In the end, neither the DEM or Ratatoskr have any true valid reasons to actually side with the Spirits.

… Seems like no matter the circumstances, all the Sapien species are all the same. They only strive for what benefits them the most, not for the other.

"Since you're all gonna vanish here, I'd love to explain the cause to you."

I started to explain with the startled teenager, without any emotion behind my voice. 

I don't really have to do that honestly, but someone has to tell them the consequences of stealing.

Besides, if I ignore them this time, who knows what idiot-tactics they will try next?

So that's why I need to set the tone, to show them what forces they try to reckon with. After all, no methods are as effective as field-experience.

And also… I need to clarify something from them. 

"Right now there's a super-weapons currently charging at this very city. And in less than 2 minutes, this city will be like another casualty from a Spacequake."

"What—You're bluffing!" 

"Then shall we wait for it? To see whether all these lives here vanished or not?"

But despite my warning, the kid still leers at me with a hint of doubt, as if all I said was just a bluff. No matter, he'll soon have to take me seriously.

The kid begins to speak with himself, which of course to the . But then, the kid's movement suddenly came to a halt, which was exactly what I expected.

"Can't call your pals?"

"…!"

I sneer at him with an emotionless tone, as he slowly looks back at me with a hint of doubt.

"You… You behind this?"

The kid questioned me with a disbelief tone, as I just shrugged back at him which answers his doubt. The kid's eyes widened in horror with my response, as a bright light then started to form right on top of the town.

The kid immediately acknowledged the light and looked back in awe, as Honjo just let out a sigh beside me for some reason.

"What?"

"Nothing."

I asked her with curiosity, but she quickly hid her frown away from me. Weird, but not my concern right now.

Was she uncomfortable with me destroying the city? 

Probably…

"What is that…?"

"That's the , ultimate contingency plan."

As the kid was still in awe with the weird light in the sky, I quickly addressed his question as I stepped toward him.

The kid looked back at me with a slight hint of confusion, as he asked back at me now with his fear more visibly on his face.

"What the… contingency?"

"As I said, it was their contingency plan. The final, yet ultimate, one… for you."

The kid, now finally folded with my revelation, gasped with fear and surprise with my sentences.

"You didn't know? That they planned to kill you once you after all of this?"

"… What?"

The kid's eyes widened in fear, as he looked back at the bright yet deadly light slowly engulfed the whole city. Time is rapidly running out, along with everyone living in the city's proximity… Well, mostly.

As far as I'm concerned, this blast won't even scratch the Spirit living in this city, nor this kid. So in the grand scheme, this would be the fastest way to find the hiding Spirits resulting from the assault at DEM.

Well, if that was my true intention by the way… I mean, why would I try something so wasteful? And even if I did succeed, how can I convince others to join my side with that genocide act?

"… You're lying."

"Why would I? Why don't you ask them yourself?"

The kid frowned with my response, as I just let out a simple huff. If he still places his faith in them after this, I'd try to kill him for real this time.

After all, what kind of peaceful organization would build an orbital mass-destruction weapon capable of flattening a whole city, and using a student to deceive the Spirits, giving them false hope just to buy themself a bit more time?

No one.

… And speaking of which, time to greet their faithful fool. 

POV:

"Captain, all the systems are back online!"

The blond, namely Kannazuki, shouted back at the captain's seat, as the screen showed all systems' conditions which were all returned to their control, which of course excluding the .

Despite that, with all of their systems back online, all of them begin to work their way on stopping the ultimate weapon, and retrieving Shido back on board.

"Captain?"

The blond looked back in confusion after a few minutes of silence, just to see no one else at the captain seat.

"This is…?!"

With a surprising cry, the black screen then shows the confrontation between the and Shido, along with the familiar fiery silhouette standing in between.

"Captain?!"

Everyone on board was all shocked with the newly arrived Spirit, just sitting there all dazed with this new revelation for a while…

Ultron POV:

"Hm?"

"Eh?"

Honjo and the kid let out a weird sound, as a faint red aura suddenly flows out of the frowning kid toward the sky, attracting their attention altogether… only to be shocked with the newly arrived foe/ally.

"It's your time to go now, ."

Descended from the sky with the fiery aura around her, wearing a rather revealing kimono along with a ginormous halberd on her shoulder and locked her eyes on me, is the twin tails on the ship… and the one who hides the most from this little kid.

At my current resources and body, I stand no chance against this girl by a long shot. 

Her flame, as I estimated, is nearly as hot as the Sun's surface. No material on this planet can resist such temperature, even accounting for the protection. 

Her weapon, which is called , can create even greater flames that can even torch the very Earth and can switch between close-combat or ranged attack.

Vibranium can easily fend off her flame as far as I remembered, and my perfect body back then could just one-shot her already with the Mind Stone… that would be the case if this world had either of them…

Which kinda makes this easier altogether. After all, brute forces aren't the only methods to end someone's reputation.

"Stand back Shido. I will end this quickly."

Finally descended to the ground, the girl pointed her ginormous halberd at my face while commanding her brother. And yet, despite the upcoming confrontation, the kid is still standing there looking straight back at the girl.

"Do you hear me, Shido?! Go!!"

"… Okay."

With a hesitant expression, the kid suddenly disappeared into thin air, as the brat let out a sigh of relief for a brief moment before glaring back at me and Honjo…

Speaking of which, why was Honho being really quiet?

I slightly look at her face hidden with her nun hat, and immediately see something wrong. 

She… afraid? No, from the look of it, she's… being terrified of her?

But why? I have no recollection of them meeting at any point before. In fact, the day she was captured is mere days before the twin tails inherit her Spirit power, so this should be the first day they met…

… Wait, if I'm remember correctly, it should be—

"Die!!"

As I was still stuck within my thought, the twin tails lunged forward with the halberd swing backward.

Without any hesitation, I grabbed Honjo by the collar and sprinted upward. A moment later, the fiery halberd swept through our location, blowing away the whole paved road with some tree on its trajectory.

So much for so-called "saving Spirits", when she almost killed Honjo with that attack of hers.

"Honjo!"

I called out for my companion as the twin tails didn't realize that the attack hadn't connected yet, due to all the fire blinding the view, but she didn't respond in any way. 

In fact, she just stared blatantly at the fire with empty yet dreadful eyes, confirming my earlier suspicion. 

"Hold it!"

I called out to the annoying gremlin, but she ignored it altogether and proceeded to lunge toward me with a murderous gaze. So no communication it would seem.

"Tch!"

I clicked my non-existence tongue, while beginning to keep distance from the fiery gal with Honjo, now having fully passed out, on my back. I already know how hot-headed she can be already, but to think she would actually ignore another Spirit… 

So much for the so-called "saving the Spirit" motive.

"You sure you wanna kill me here? Who told you that killing me would stop that little toy of yours?"

"…" 

I taunted with a hint of sarcasm, but that didn't seem to work at all. So she's more of a dumbass than I thought, noted.

But still, what to do with this now… Originally I wanted Honjo to run away as I was staying here "lecturing" them as a whole, but I forgot to acknowledge Honjo's trauma here…

I definitely will make up with her after this.

"!!"

[BOOM!!!!]

As I tried to lead the brat far from the park, a single beam of pure heat came straight toward me still with Honjo on my back.

Without hesitation, I hack into the teleporting system and move her onto their ship just before the attack connects. Although I did hate them for reasons, their ship admittedly is the safest location for her at this very moment.

The beam swept by my back, destroying all the projection along with the main anti-gravity repulsion, which dropped me straight down the ground.

Luckily, or maybe not, my body didn't get destroyed by the impact. But it surely damaged all my remaining arsenal on this body, so I'm not like a fish dried out on the beach waiting to be the main course—

—Weird time to make a joke about, though.

"…"

The brat slowly descended to the ground, with her halberd pointing toward my face. Not even a minute and I was already down, and to a non-trained Spirit nonetheless…

Which further proves my point about their strength. Such gifted beings, yet misguided. What a shame really.

Well, I really need a hand right now…

"!!!"

An angry yet vengeful spite coming straight from the sky towards our location, attracted the brat's attention. And aiming straight to the brat is a certain white bob hair, wearing a thin bodysuit coated in a simple .

Speak of the Devil…

Origami POV:

Where the heck… is that guy…?!

Standing in the center of the district after spending all that time chasing after them to no avail, I finally lean down on the wall.

Despite my best effort, he somehow can easily disappear from me, along with a Spirit nonetheless…

… I wonder, did it really know about the one back then? The one who took everything from me 5 years ago…

Although this could just be a lie to run from me, it's not like I'm in any better position. Despite my very best, all of my effort and determination, all I got about that Spirit back then is a 0…

I even abandoned my normal life to join the DEM, sacrificing all my personal time to train until my body gave up, all just for the sake of revenge, but all ended in vain.

And when I started to think this might go nowhere, suddenly someone just casually comes into my life, teasing about my parents' killer and running off like that…

… This may be stupid, but this is the best clue I ever have… Even if I have to offer this bod—

[BOOM!!!!]

A loud explosion shook the whole place, as a black cloud erupted from the park just over the hill before me. And at the same time, my phone suddenly began to beep non-stop… which can only mean one thing.

… My phone detected , meaning the appearance of a Spirit.

"… Spirit."

I immediately equipped a simple , one that can only be used during emergencies such as this very moment, and took off right at the smoke cloud…

When I finally arrived at the place, a part of the hill was already decimated away, with 2 silhouettes inside the crater, with one of them being the one I was looking for.

That familiar fire surrounding her… there's no mistake.

.

The culprit of the Tengu fire 5 years ago.

My parents' killer.

After all that time… she's here, right in front of me, looking as devious as she can be…

Finally… I can avenge their death!!!

Ultron POV:

Well, it seems like I owe her this time.

Not that it would do me any good in defeating her, seeing that that brat just casually swung the halberd to stop her useless barrage. The white bob hair rolled quite a bit before, for some reason, stopping right beside me, with dirt and bruises all over the body.

She then took a stance, preparing to launch at her again with a bloodshot gaze, as the brat returned with a rather cold look.

"Itsuka Kotori…"

"Origami Tobiichi."

Both of them grunting their opposing names, their gaze still not wavering a bit.

"So you're …"

"To think the Master Sergeant of DEM is in the same class as Shido… The Earth is truly round."

"You… kill my parents…"

The white hair tightened her shaken grasp, to the point of dripping blood as she just kept leering at that brat with nothing but a vengeful gaze.

And surprisingly, in return, the brat stuttered for a bit with the white hair statement with a seemingly surprising expression for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by a weirdly smugness expression.

—Although, as far as I can see, her facade this time is vastly more unstable than before.

"Stand aside!"

The brat commands the white hair with a demanding voice, which is vastly different from her "captain" tone on that bridge. But it resulted in an opposite reaction, as the white hair lunged herself toward the brat.

The white haired swung her handy photon blade to her heart, but the brat easily dodged it by slightly moving her body a bit. 

And in a fraction of a second, the brat returns the favor with a straight upper kick back and knocks away the blade along with her entire body back to where I stand.

Not surprising honestly, considering how undergeared she is currently.

"Want some help?"

"…?!" 

The white hair turns her head with my proposal as she struggles to get up, and her eyes immediately widen in awe.

Yet another unsurprising expression, consider that I'm now in my original look with almost all of my projections destroyed by this little brat.

High chance that this won't work at all, and she would just ignore it to continue her avenge in vain…

Well, not that I have anything more to lose. Besides, leaving a remark with her would certainly help both of us too… if what I think is correct.

After all, what's better than leaving a chance for such a vengeful girl for her to blindly follow?

But, to my surprise, the girl just simply nodded and turned back to the brat. 

Weird… I thought this girl would love to deal with herself, considering her actions until now…

Oh well, not that I wanted to complain…

Nia POV:

It hurts.

It hurts!

ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT!! ITHURT—-

I open my eyes.

"You're awake."

Said the young lady with a dark circle beneath her eyes, while applying a wet handkerchief on my forehead.

A sense of familiarity suddenly swept through me, but quickly went away.

I stare at her.

"Although there's nothing wrong with you, I suggest you to re–"

"Where am I?"

I interrupt her boring advice with a nonchalant voice, flatter than her even.

Although I have a vague guess, I still need confirmation.

"You're on board the ."

The lady answered me with a flat voice, confirming my suspicion altogether.

Just then, the door at the corner of the room swipes open showing a familiar boy.

I stared at him.

"Honjo-san!!"

The kid rushed by my side with a worried expression, as the lady stepped aside.

"You okay, Honjo-san?! Are they doing anything to you?"

… I feel uneasy with his hospitality.

"I'm… fine."

"I see, that's so good to hear…"

The boy let out a sigh of relief, as I just glanced back at him. This kid… is he blind or something?

Even the toddler can see how tired and agitated I am, yet this kid somehow believed me. Is this ignorance of what…?!

Whatever, not that this would be a thing for me—

"… I'm sorry."

Hm? What?

What the heck is he doing?

"I'm sorry for interrupting you guys earlier, and I was being too full of myself…"

… 

I summon my and begin to read through the past, as my eyes flinch as I further read down the lines. So it is because of him that that brat can find and attack us… with that fiery aura…

… Well, I kinda expected that already. Which leads me to another problem for later.

For now, all I know is that he's all alone with that hot-headed brat down there… and I can't even do anything in return.

How annoying.

I look at the duo.

"So, you guys kidnapped me and provoked my companion, all for the sake of saving me?"

I sneer at them with a clear hint of disgust.

Saving Spirit eh… Well that a lot coming from those who choose to ignore in the first place!

"I…"

"Yes."

The boy then began to panic, while the lady just casually shrugged in agreement with my question… 

… Weird.

"Sorry for being this reckless, miss Honjo. But we just can't let you in the hand any longer, especially after it makes the hand dirty with innocent blood."

The lady quickly issued the answer to me with a hint of guilt, but it didn't work at all as I already knew it beforhand… and this further plummet their position in my mind.

"Wh-what?"

The boy begins to express a fearful yet surprised expression, looking straight at the lady with a whole lot of confusion.

"That girl… kill someone?"

"Yes, Shido. She killed someone before meeting you, all by that thing."

The lady exhaled a breath before turning to the boy, who started to act all panicked, with a nonchalant expression. 

I then silently called forth the to read the current situation down there, and immediately furrowed my brow with discomfort.

"Tch…!"

And before any of them could realize, I then swoosh out of there in a blink of an eye.

That damn ! What were they thinking?! They dare to poke the dragon face and blame the dragon for defending itself?! Unbelievable!

Yeah, no way in hell can I work with them… even if that means I can live a normal life again…

I quickly appeared again at the same place I left, as a loud bang suddenly echoing down the hill.

The battle was still raging on, and I was just on time…