"You too... are you here to kill me?"
Beneath an expression on the verge of tears lay empty eyes that seemed to have lost all hope for everything.
While harboring doubts about her sister's claim that the girl was a Spirit, seeing how the mysterious girl had sent Mana and the others flying with a single strike, and now held that massive sword, Shiori knew the situation had escalated far beyond her understanding.
"Don't want to answer? It's fine... you will die anyway~"
Puzzled by Shiori's lack of aggression, the girl hesitated slightly but still raised the giant sword in her hand and swung it towards Shiori.
Meanwhile, aboard the aerial warship Fraxinus.
Unlike organizations like AST and DEM, Ratatoskr was an organization created to seek peaceful dialogue with Spirits and resolve conflicts between Spirits and humans through peaceful means.
"What's the status?"
The girl wearing a deep red military uniform, with the jacket simply draped over her shoulders, though young, exuded an aura of decisiveness and efficiency.
At first glance, she seemed immature, giving the impression that this child might not be up to the task.
But looking into her eyes, one would be influenced by their steadfastness. She was clearly a girl with absolute confidence, inspiring trust.
"The situation is critical, Commander."
In the control room, looking at the ground situation on the large screen, the man standing beside the command seat saluted the girl with a military gesture, elegant as a noble.
"The Spirit codenamed 'Princess' has been detected. The Spacequake she triggered this time is quite massive. If not handled properly, it could lead to the destruction of all Tengu City."
"AST personnel have been deployed. Your sister, Captain Itsuka Mana, is among them."
Hearing the man's report, Kotori frowned, "Mana-nee is there too? Given her strength, she shouldn't be a match for the Princess yet."
Well aware of the nature of AST's forces, which is a super combat unit designed to hunt and capture Spirits, surpassing human limits, Kotori knew their limitations.
Unfortunately, no matter how strong the AST's members were, their significant limitations compared to Spirits made it clear they couldn't oppose them.
Except for the Time Spirit who mysteriously disappeared years ago, AST's combat record seemed devoid of successes.
"Really, this foolish sister... I've told her so many times to just come to Ratatoskr."
Fully aware of the power gap between Spirits and humans, Kotori's true identity was the Commander of Ratatoskr, a member of the Round Table.
As the live feed played on screen…
"Mana-san has her own ideas, Commander. You should be happy for her."
"Kannazuki, shut up."
Kannazuki Kyohei, the Vice-Commander of Ratatoskr, was a man of absolute beauty, resembling a host.
His true identity was AST's former ace. No one knew why he left AST for Ratatoskr, but as for his personality... well, many Ratatoskr's staff found him somewhat unreliable.
After all, Kannazuki often fantasized about having a lord to serve. While he was excellent in practical command and operating Realizers, daily interactions were another matter.
Hearing Kannazuki mention Mana, Kotori clearly didn't want to listen. She just waved her hand and looked at the Spirit on the screen.
"This one's strength is a bit excessively high. Find a way to calm her down."
"How about it? Are our troops ready?"
Unlike AST's combat units, Ratatoskr's forces were inclined towards communicating with Spirits.
Watching the AST's troops being repelled on screen, along with Mana's figure, Kotori suppressed her inner worry and indicated that her own troops could be dispatched.
"Our troops are ready, but I think you should take a look, Commander. It seems Shiori-san is also there."
Pointing to a figure in a corner of the screen, Kannazuki was referring to the accidentally involved Shiori.
"Shiori-nee? How is that possible?"
Her face filled with disbelief the moment she saw Shiori, Kotori didn't understand why Shiori would be there.
However...
"Quickly, bring Shiori-nee back! Her body is fragile, she absolutely cannot stay near the Princess unharmed!"
As Kotori's words fell, the mysterious girl in the video also swung down the giant sword, striking towards Shiori.
Boom!
"Huh? Huh!"
The expected pain didn't come. When Shiori opened her eyes, she saw a man's back figure.
"Thought I was late. It's good I made it in time."
Holding Sandalphon with just his physical strength, Ryuya looked at the Spirit girl and released the spiritual power within his body, temporarily canceling out the intense Spacequake.
"You are?"
Looking at Ryuya, the Spirit girl felt a strange familiarity with this unfamiliar man. She froze for a moment, but then an endless surge of affection welled up from the depths of her heart… a tidal wave of love she had never experienced before.
"Why? Why am I crying?"
"Why? Why do I feel so strange?"
"Who are you? Just who... are you?"
Looking at Ryuya, the Spirit girl who appeared was the last standard Spirit created by Mio.
But unlike the process of humans transforming into Spirits, this Tenth Spirit was not originally human.
She was a life born from the natural combination of Takami Mio's spiritual power… the embodiment of Mio's unventable love for Ryuya.
The very essence of her soul was love for Ryuya. Even though it was her first time seeing him, her first time sensing him, that inexplicable familiarity and longing caused the Spirit to feel a mental collapse.
Unable to hold the giant sword, she could only walk towards Ryuya step by step, mechanically. The girl's heart was lost, but she clearly knew she yearned for one thing: to touch, to make contact with Ryuya.
As her fingertips lightly touched Ryuya's body, countless memory fragments flooded her mind… all memories of the past life Mio shared with Ryuya.
Tears had, at some point, completely soaked her exquisite face.
Looking at Ryuya, the girl softly uttered the name she shouldn't have known but were engraved deep in her memory.
"Ryu... ya..."