Black Amber wasn't the least bit anxious.
In fact, she practically hoped a few of those meteors would actually plummet down onto the city.
That would've delivered the most potent dose of panic to everyone. A shame really, since Amber would undoubtedly hate such a spectacle, so she had to let that idea go.
Truth be told, Amber wouldn't obstruct Black Amber's thoughts or actions.
She believed Black Amber wasn't devoid of humanity; even if meteors struck, they likely wouldn't cause casualties.
But did Black Amber truly know herself?
If Amber weren't in this world, then those meteors raining down on the city would mean nothing to her.
Still, the current situation was acceptable.
While the direct impact and sense of crisis were somewhat lacking, subsequent measures could make up for it.
As time wore on, the meteor assault grew increasingly fierce.
Hoshimiya Mukuro's face remained utterly expressionless, only feeling a deepening weariness toward these beings that shattered her tranquility.
To reclaim the day-in, day-out peace she cherished, she decided to use her power as a final warning.
The meteors, which had been hurled in waves at the Wizards, now 'closed' together under Mukuro's power, merging into a single colossal mass over a kilometer wide—a meteor capable of effortlessly annihilating a small country upon impact.
Even more terrifying, three such meteors had materialized in the blink of an eye.
Mana's face paled visibly.
What was once within her ability to handle had now escalated completely beyond her capacity to resolve.
She could only muster every ounce of strength to shatter these meteors as much as possible.
It wasn't just Mana who paled; everyone witnessing this scene was terrified.
Every nation and organization with satellite surveillance and monitoring capabilities directed their accountability demands at DEM.
They didn't know the specifics, only that DEM's Wizards were the ones engaged in the battle.
But they couldn't reach Westcott. Remembering he was currently at a Schicksal technology exchange conference, they simply sent their communications directly to Schicksal.
Watching the rapidly multiplying avatars on the screen and the barrage of questions, Westcott found himself in a rather bitter spot.
"This operation wasn't arranged by me," he could only say. "Right now, we also have no way to contact that Wizard squadron."
"We're not here to listen to you shirk responsibility! What we want to know is how this situation is going to be resolved!"
The U.S. representative chimed in, "It's not just DEM. As the foremost organization benefiting from the most conveniences and privileges in the field of Spirit countermeasures, shouldn't Schicksal present a solution?"
Nobody was a fool. At first, they thought Westcott had lost his mind or was acting on insufficient intel, creating this massive mess.
But now it was clear there were other layers to this, involving Schicksal at the very least.
However, nobody cared about the underlying drama; they were focused solely on the immediate crisis.
"The Immortal Blades are already on standby at high altitude, ready to destroy the meteors before they impact. No harm will come to Earth."
Black Amber remained unhurried, showing no sign that the situation was of grave concern to her, nor any fear of the meteors falling from the sky.
"Passively weathering attacks isn't a sustainable strategy, and that Spirit likely has more tricks up her sleeve."
The representative from Shenzhou also showed worry, tentatively asking, "Bishop Mobius, how much do you know about that Spirit?"
"Pretty much everything, down to the roots."
As she spoke, Black Amber transmitted Hoshimiya Mukuro's capabilities to everyone in document form.
Well then. The hearts hanging in suspense could now drop—for good.
"You're saying that Spirit, who can halt Earth's rotation at will, is currently right above our heads!?"
The U.S. representative's face flushed with agitation.
"Why does a Spirit like that even exist!? Can you vouch for the accuracy of this information!?"
No one could blame him for breaking down and questioning frantically. Anyone would instinctively want to deny such a thing because it was utterly terrifying.
Why would a Spirit capable of annihilating the world in the blink of an eye appear?
Weren't Spirits previously just city-level threats?
Westcott, for his part, seemed rather indifferent now.
Not only because he could accept the world's destruction, but more importantly... he realized his own actions no longer mattered.
Mobius had clearly outmaneuvered him, and was intent on crushing him completely for good.
Resentment and bitterness? Of course, there was some. But such emotions were meaningless.
"How should we deal with this Spirit, Ms. Mobius?"
Shenzhou asked.
At those words, all the discussions ceased abruptly. Previously, they had mocked Schicksal for its incomprehensible policy of not killing Spirits.
If they possessed the power to easily kill or even capture Spirits, then Spirits were essentially lab rats to them—what need was there to play the hypocrite, pretending to be the good guy?
"Coexisting peacefully with Spirits," indeed.
But now it was different.
Faced with this Spirit capable of effortlessly destroying humanity, they felt as if they'd returned to the early days when they had zero understanding of Spirits, helplessly watching them casually obliterate cities and nations—the era when they could only rely on Schicksal's mercy.
After all... humanity's most powerful force currently rested in Schicksal's hands. The only entity possibly capable of opposing that cosmic Spirit seemed to be Schicksal.
Facing everyone's expectant gazes, their eyes practically pleading for a reassuring answer, Black Amber finally revealed a triumphant smile.
"Rest assured. Durandal will take action."
...Huh?
This response gave everyone pause, even drawing a complex look from Westcott beside her.
While he'd heard earlier about sending Durandal to deal with the cosmic Spirit, Westcott hadn't taken the Spirit's terrifying scale seriously at the time—or rather, he was still half-skeptical.
Now, looking at those massive meteors, each over a kilometer in diameter, their sheer visual impact and sense of oppressive pressure almost leaping from the screen... and she still said Durandal would handle it?
Westcott did believe Schicksal would have a way, but he certainly hadn't expected this way.
"You're saying... Durandal can fight a monster that casually flings kilometer-wide meteors, has unrestricted spatial movement, ends anything she touches, and can stop Earth's rotation?"
The U.S. representative's eyes widened in disbelief.
Seriously... girl?
It wasn't just the U.S. representative whose eyes were wide; everyone who heard this sank into astonishment and suspicion.
We've been publicizing Schicksal's dangers, claiming they have ambitions to rule the world.
But you guys turn out to be even more outrageous than we imagined? Forget ruling the world—from the sound of it, you could destroy it. Is Durandal even human?
Fortunately, everyone present was ultimately rational. Despite a brief moment of shock, they quickly regained their composure.
While she said Durandal would "take action," there was a difference between "stopping" and "negotiating."
Presumably, "taking action" meant using Durandal's strength combined with some deliberate show of weakness to demonstrate "we're not to be trifled with," thereby entering negotiations...
Right?
They were truly at a loss.
Faced with such a world-ending cataclysm, of course they hoped Schicksal had sufficient power to stop it.
But seeing the crisis might be under control, they now wished Schicksal weren't that strong... Because if they really were that powerful...
Some dared not think further.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.