Simultaneous Event (1)
Rupist said, "First, let's think."
The standoff had been brief, but in Rupist's mind the army of Heaven remained vividly imprinted.
"The faithful seceded from Heaven, the immortals were conscripted into Ra Enemi's service and then scattered when the Synod collapsed."
Most of them were probably dead.
"What finally stood against us is all they had left: angels and mara, fairies and giants." Even so, humanity's forces were hard-pressed to contend with them.
Sein said, "Heaven isn't the only thing. The elite of the demon race are still spread across the world. And soon they'll fully open the Demon Realm."
As the atmosphere grew grave, Shirone spoke.
"Our goals are threefold. First, join the humanitarian relief efforts currently being carried out from the Ivory Tower. Second, suppress the demons and prepare for the Demon Realm. Third, subdue Heaven's army and, in essence, stop Ra Enemi."
Nade asked, "Ra Enemi? Didn't we already stop him?"
"We had many discussions. Possibly about everything in the universe. But one thing is clear…"
Shirone turned to Amy.
"Ra Enemi loves Amy."
Only that fact could explain why he had withdrawn from every great confrontation.
"Huh?"
Everyone who knew Amy turned to look. Tess, stunned, asked, "What are you talking about? Why Ra Enemi all of a sudden?" Amy's face flushed.
"Well, you see…"
She hadn't done anything to feel guilty about, but she had missed the chance to explain the whole sequence of events.
"So when he first opened the Demon Realm…"
Feeling Shirone's gaze, Amy walked on eggshells as she recounted the whole matter.
"Ah."
Hearing the explanation, it made sense why Ra Enemi had withdrawn when faced with Shirone.
"Still, that's amazing."
Tess said, "The fate of the entire world was at stake, right? And yet he chose Amy."
Amy protested, "That's not it! It was purely a philosophical issue, so I—"
"It's okay."
Shirone smiled. "Everyone has a heart. And while they have a heart, nothing is absolute. Amy's feelings can change at any time."
"But I really don't plan to!"
"Yes, I believe you. What I mean is the operation of all those hearts. If Ra Enemi had chosen the world over Amy…"
Recalling the standoff, Shirone confessed honestly.
"It might have been me who shattered into fragments."
No one could guarantee the outcome. Miro, serious-faced, gazed into the sky.
"Someone will be watching from somewhere, to judge whether their heart is more precious than the entire world."
"Yes. It won't take long. The Ra Enemi I confronted has almost reached that point. He might even become a Buddha and return at any moment."
If only one heart were resolved.
"That's why we need a simultaneous event. If we don't unite humanity's hearts as quickly as possible, then we truly won't be able to defeat Ra Enemi."
Garcia asked, "Do you really think that's possible?"
"Humans are all different, and the criteria that define 'one' vary. To be honest, I'm not sure I myself can belong to that integrated mental system."
Of course she had a strong sense of duty to humanity, but she wasn't magnanimous enough to accept every person.
"I know it's a hard task. But if it had been impossible, Ra Enemi wouldn't have been so tormented."
Dante asked, "So is there a method?"
"No, I can't promise anything. We're here because all the factors of the machinery of Good, Evil, and Compassion are in play. Even evil is an axis that affects the world. Had demons not run rampant, could a World Union have been forged in human history?"
"Hmm."
Garcia found the point reasonable.
"Times are changing fast."
"Yes. The wheel of Good, Evil, and Compassion is charging toward the end of the world. The Law is predictable, but you can't analyze the workings of the hearts contained within it. We can only do what we can and accept the results."
Armin asked, "What can we do? If no choice we make will yield results…"
After losing Habitz she had realized one thing: life is the sum of such complex factors that things rarely go according to plan.
"There is only one thing I ask." Shirone laid out the path. "Do what your heart commands. Do what you truly want to do — that's all."
Above the atmosphere, surrounded by endless darkness, Ra Enemi sat cross-legged and watched the planet below.
'He couldn't defeat Shirone.'
Because universal love had been stronger.
'But do you know, Messiah of the Age? The reason the Buddha's merit couldn't surpass compassion…'
Perhaps it was because the world's evil hadn't fully matured yet.
'Of course, it's the power of the good.'
Miro was holding back that evil.
'But for how long? If the world becomes murkier than it is now, even a Buddha might erase his heart.'
Sadness clouded Ra Enemi's gaze over the planet.
'The universal love seeping into the world — the Buddha's merit will be watching from here. Will we… be worthy of existing?'
The commanders of the Allied Forces followed Shirone's words.
'What you truly want to do.'
They could go meet their families, or if they feared death they could abandon the war. Shirone said looking into one's heart was the beginning of the Ultima system.
And the wills shaped that way would seep into universal love and set the wheel of Good, Evil, and Compassion turning.
"Then, I'll go." Surprisingly, many of those who had gathered under a single banner left the battlefield.
Miro said wryly, "Humans are certainly diverse."
"Ultima is a higher-dimensional psyche that recognizes all individuality. Righteousness — that is, unity — comes afterward. Someone who doesn't know their own heart cannot understand another's."
Shirone, who had answered that way, asked, "Miro, will you stay?"
"Of course I'll stay. After all, this is the heart of the battlefield. Now then, those who remain here…"
Rian and Nade, Amy and Tess naturally stayed where Shirone was; among the Twelve Apostles, the Azure Dragon Eitra and the Thunder Dragon Blitz held their ground.
Armin and Kuan left, and Sein assisted Miro.
'Dante, Liria, and Eden are tracking pockets of the demon remnants, Garcia and the Allied Forces are repairing Vashka's walls.'
And the most important part:
"You, Shirone, will be present at all those places."
"Yes. Depending on how broadly you define the observer's domain, I think the city of Vashka can be covered by the Spirit Zone without quantum transmission."
"Hmm, I see. Spatial movement will be easy too. The Ultima system is certainly effective."
"Hehe, then can I have just Shirone?"
Everyone turned to Tess in disbelief. She fumbled, then added, "Why, what's wrong? It's funny! Imagine it." The longer the silence stretched, the more anxious she grew.
"No, not that kind of imagining! I was only joking, really! It's true!"
It was the sort of joke only honest Tess could make, but the problem was exactly how honest she was.
Shirone liked that about her.
"Haha, okay. I believe you."
They finally felt like they'd returned to their friends.
"Now Iruki will—"
Shirone's expression suddenly hardened.
"What's wrong, Shirone?"
"…No, it's nothing."
They managed to smile again, but their eyes were subdued compared to before.
Miro guessed, 'This isn't about events here.'
Perhaps something sad was happening to Shirone far away.
"Arrggh!"
Countless angels ground their teeth against an invincible grief.
The sentiment Shirone poured into the Hand of God was, "Please fly far away."
Judging by that, the Hand of God's power struck most strongly at Heaven's greatest warriors.
'Formidable force.'
Ikael, who had already crossed the central continent and entered the northern land, watched the swiftly flowing sky.
Shirone, Hexa, Hand of God. Grefin. The disappearance of Anke Ra. The rank of archangel.
"Archangel."
Three great angels and mara, freed from Hexa's influence, gathered around Ikael.
"Yes. Report."
"The army seems to be regrouping under Ashur. But Imir and the giant unit will likely act independently."
Uriel asked, "Shall we stop them?"
"No—let them be. I will handle it personally."
Satiel stepped forward. "Archangel, I want to ask why you did not intervene."
When they first arrived in Vashka and Imir opened the assault, Ikael had not ordered an attack.
"Have you regained your memories, perhaps?"
Ikael's silence made Satiel's question sting more sharply.
"I still have a faint sense. If the archangel's duties—"
With a tearing sound, Ikael halted so suddenly that the distant great angels scrambled back.
"Satiel."
At the cold voice, Satiel's halo trembled.
"Yes, Lord Ikael!"
"Whatever judgment I make is the archangel's prerogative. Do you stand above me?"
"No. I'm sorry."
He had rebuked the great angel so icily that raising the subject again would be unthinkable for a while. But by coincidence—
"Ikael."
Light smoke condensed before the angels and Shirone appeared.
"You…"
Satiel's judicial light ring, Nostalgia, spun menacingly.
An inscrutable rage.
And Ikael's halo, still unruffled.
'What? What is there that I don't know?'
"Shirone."
Ikael stepped forward slowly.
"Did you come alone?"
"Yes. We probably… have something to talk about."
Ikael's eyes flicked to the rear as if checking.
"It seems you have nothing to say to me."
A sad emotion flickered across Shirone's face.
'Ikael…'
So many things had happened.
She had first received Ataraxia in Heaven, and in the second battle she had even opposed him.
The reason she was so cold was…
'You've truly… recovered all your memories.'
It must be maternal instinct.
The vague, hopeful feelings he'd cautiously pressed against were gone.
All that remained were the horrific tragedies clearly engraved in her halo and the accusing gazes of angels who still doubted him.
'It must be maternal instinct, but—'
Shirone wanted to speak with dignity despite everything.
"Ikael, I'm not weak anymore. So you don't need to fear anything."
Ikael's gaze was clear, but it felt as if something snapped and cut off.
It was probably the limit of what she could bear.
"I don't understand what you're saying. As the archangel—"
"It's not your fault."
Ikael's halo, finally unable to contain itself, trembled with tremendous intensity.
Shirone, pouring feeling into their words, said, "My dying… it wasn't your fault, Mom."