— — — — — —
⌠⟦Rainbow • Predator⟧⌡
A second rainbow trait?
Did something trigger it?
For a moment, Kira's brain ran at full speed, yet he couldn't quite piece together what went wrong.
Honestly—
He still hadn't figured out what actually triggered these traits of his in the first place.
[Rainbow • Anime Gate]— the first one had appeared when his daughter had given him a buff.
[Rainbow • Predator]— and now this second one had awakened when Eirin Yagokoro cast a spell on him.
"So…"
Kira thought to himself, "Does that mean whenever someone casts a spell or buffs me, I can awaken a rainbow trait?"
"Uh…"
His mouth twitched slightly. He quickly shook off the thought. "Yeah, right. Don't be ridiculous."
If it were really that simple, he would've farmed rainbow traits into oblivion by now.
"What's wrong, Kira?" Eirin noticed something was off.
"Hm…"
After a short pause, Kira asked, "Saeko, Rika, Shizuka—can you feel a connection between yourselves and me right now?"
"Yes, City Lord!" x3
Even Saeko didn't call him "Kira-kun" during work—she always kept it professional.
Kira thought for a moment, then said, "Eirin, cancel the spell."
"Understood."
Eirin had already guessed what he was thinking. With a simple wave of her hand, the spell dissipated.
But the moment it faded—
Saeko frowned slightly, closing her eyes as if feeling something carefully. After a few seconds, she asked softly, "Miss Eirin, did you just cancel the spell?"
"So that's where the issue lies." Eirin immediately caught on.
Kira nodded in agreement. "When your spell attached to me, it felt a lot like when Kaguya used Eternity and the Moment on me. It triggered my ability to connect with other worlds. Now it seems… another power of mine has awakened, probably similar to your magic, Eirin."
"As for how to apply it… Hm…"
Kira hesitated, then, almost unconsciously—just like granting access through the Anime Gate—he "authorized" the girl in his arms, Kaguya Houraisan.
Kaguya felt it instantly.
Lifting her head with a graceful smile, she said, "Father, I can feel the link between us now."
"As I thought."
"In other words," Kira said, "it's the same as the portal. Once I grant access, the connection forms."
After a few quick tests, he nodded. "Saeko, Rika, Shizuka—you three can head out. I need to see if this works across worlds, and what effect your zombie hunts will have on both you and me."
Kira wanted to test his Predator trait. Judging by the name, the linking effect should only be a minor anility.
"Understood."
Saeko nodded firmly. Without hesitation, she led Rika and Shizuka through the Anime Gate—and vanished.
Eirin remained behind, thoughtful. "So both of your rainbow abilities were triggered under special conditions… by the Princess's power, or by my magic?"
"No," Kira shook his head. "It's more like—compatibility. A perfect resonance that triggered the awakening."
"In other words," she mused, "your techniques, spells, and energies—all of them are things you've learned, observed, and internalized. They're refined within that massive smelter of yours and fused into one whole."
"But these two awakened powers seem to be innate to you. It's just that the activation conditions are unknown."
"Meaning," she continued, "you might have other dormant powers waiting to be awakened."
Of course, that was Eirin Yagokoro for you—sharp as ever, her deductions flawless in just moments.
Kira could only smile wryly. "I can't say for sure. But you're probably right. There's still too much I don't understand… I'll have to study this slowly."
"My body is really strange."
"That's fine." Eirin nodded.
Then she stood and turned to leave—no doubt heading off to more research.
But before she exited, she added casually, "Kira, come by tonight for a physical examination."
"Got it."
Kira didn't refuse. After the first time, there was no awkwardness left.
---
Apocalypse World
At Rika's home—
Saeko Busujima, Rika Minami, and Shizuka Marikawa stood together once more.
They'd only been gone half a month.
But when they returned… it was like night and day. Even their auras had changed completely.
Eirin's training might've lasted only two weeks, but for these three, it had felt like clawing their way up from the very depths of hell.
"Saeko, you test first?" Rika lifted her hand, a sleek black pistol materializing in her grip. She smiled.
"Alright."
Saeko nodded slightly. With a swift motion, her violet blade appeared once again.
In an instant, she vanished from the room.
Out on the street, the zombies wandering aimlessly only saw a flash of razor-sharp violet light—
—and the next second, every single one of them was cleanly bisected.
The purple blade light sliced through the air, and in its wake, every zombie's body shriveled up, as though drained of life itself.
They turned into husks, then crumbled into dust, scattering in the wind.
Faint wisps of grayish energy rose into the air and flowed straight into Saeko's body.
"Phew…"
With a clear metallic clink, she sheathed her blade, exhaling slowly. The blood-red glint in her violet eyes faded away.
Rika and Shizuka stepped out to meet her.
"Saeko, let me buff you," Shizuka said, raising her hand as soft light rained down onto Saeko.
Rika asked, "So, Saeko—how does it feel?"
.
.
.