What? You say the apocalypse has arrived? Then why does GHQ still have any will to fight? Simple—because they already knew the end of the world was coming. So, while startled, they were not panicked.
Soldiers, after all, are creatures of obedience. As long as their superiors remained composed, they too would not falter. Thus, even though some GHQ troops had already been consumed by the virus, the army's morale held firm.
"Prepare to fire. Wipe out every member of the Funeral Parlor," barked Colonel Danton. In the original story, he had been a man of strong justice, though his fate was tragic—infected by the virus, then shot dead by the fickle Major Segai.
But now, he was neither infected nor destined for that death. With General Yan gone, Danton had become the highest-ranking officer left in command.
Click! Every gun was raised, aimed squarely at the surviving Funeral Parlor members. Sweat rolled down Tsugumi's face. What now? What do I do in a situation like this?
"Fi—"
"All GHQ personnel, heed my command. I am the founder of GHQ, codename Angel."
The magnetic, commanding voice rang out across the battlefield through the loudspeakers. The lower-ranked soldiers exchanged confused looks, but every officer froze in shock, then bowed their heads in reverence.
"Shuichiro Keido has betrayed humanity. For his own selfish desire, he has activated the virus key. By the authority of the Angel, I command all forces to cease combat immediately! Every GHQ soldier is to assist in suppressing the riots throughout Tokyo to prevent further casualties. All officers of Major rank and above are to gather beneath the Virus Tower and join me in stopping Keido. Execute these orders at once."
The words echoed across the war zone. Within seconds, GHQ officers began to mobilize. Troops dispersed through the city, focusing their efforts on calming the chaos and containing the panicking civilians.
Meanwhile, more than thirty officers assembled solemnly at the base of the newly-formed crystal tower, their expressions grave and reverent.
"What's going on? Why are all of GHQ's top brass gathering here?" Shu Ouma hurried toward the site, having arrived just moments too late to hear Kurumi's broadcast.
Step, step... The sound of high heels on marble drew every eye. Dressed in her black gothic gown, Kurumi approached, Daryl walking at her side. The aura she exuded was overwhelming—commanding, divine. A majesty that made even the proudest men bow their heads. Shu had never seen Kurumi like this. He stood frozen, unable to speak.
"Angel-sama!" Every GHQ officer dropped to one knee simultaneously, offering their deepest respect. Still stunned, Shu felt eyes on him—angry, demanding. Two nearby officers pressed down on his knees, forcing him to kneel as well.
"Rise," Kurumi said coldly, her tone calm yet suffused with unshakable authority—the voice of someone standing atop the very pyramid of power. The air itself trembled.
As the officers rose, Shu was pulled to his feet by one of them. His heart felt heavy. He had never seen Kurumi appear so regal, so untouchable.
He had thought he understood her. But now... he realized how wrong he'd been. He didn't understand her at all.
"You came," Kurumi said softly, her gaze briefly gentle as it fell upon him.
"Yes... because I remembered. There's still something I must do." Shu's eyes dimmed, sorrow flickering within them. Was it grief over his sister, whom he had once failed to save? Or sorrow over the impossible distance between himself and the Kurumi standing before him?
"Let's go." Just two words, calm and resolute. And with them, every officer followed Kurumi without hesitation, marching toward the Virus Tower.
As Shu watched their backs, he was struck by awe. Each one of them radiated light, determination, and faith. But none shone brighter than Kurumi. Her light led theirs—it was her resolve that gave shape to their courage.
He suddenly felt so small. Once, he had admired Gai Tsutsugami, aspiring to be someone as strong, as brilliant. But now, he understood—the light of Gai Tsutsugami was nothing compared to Kurumi's. Like a firefly before the full moon.
He realized the vast chasm between them.
Then, the air shimmered. A rupture tore open in the virus-filled sky, and from it leapt several dozen figures. They landed deftly on the crystalline surface, their eyes sharp, fixed upon the three standing on the platform—Kurumi, Keido, and Gai—and upon Inori, sealed in crystal.
"Shu Ouma!" Amid the gathered figures, Gai Tsutsugami's sharp gaze immediately locked onto Shu.
"Gai!" Shu called out his childhood nickname for him, his expression softening with sorrow.
"So, you've regained your memories. I assume your Void Genome has evolved to its highest state. You can now draw out another's Void without rendering them unconscious—hence why you brought so many armed allies." Gai's golden eyes swept across the dozens of GHQ officers assembled.
"So many people wielding Voids... quite the obstacle. Perhaps I should strike first—kill a few before they can summon their power," he muttered, eyes flashing with murderous intent as he summoned his long halberd-like Void.
"Wait! Let me extract your Void for you!" Shu moved quickly, reaching toward an older officer nearby. But just as his hand touched the man's chest, the officer seized Shu's wrist and glared at him.
"Don't rob me of my chance to earn honor."
Shu froze. Even Gai seemed momentarily taken aback. Neither moved.
Then came the inevitable interruption—the true villain's entrance.
"Well, well, Gai Tsutsugami, you're too hasty," said Shuichiro Keido, stepping forward with a faint, confident smile. "When the true mastermind hasn't even taken the stage yet, you should show some restraint. Or did you really think Shu Ouma could command GHQ's officers?"
And there it was—the classic flaw of every villain boss. At the moment they think they've won, they can't resist talking. Keido fit the archetype perfectly.
"Tell me, Shu Ouma, do you know why that officer told you extracting his Void would rob him of his honor?" Keido adjusted his glasses, his eyes gleaming with arrogance.
"It's because the feeling of having one's Void drawn differs depending on who does it. For example—if it's your lover, you'd feel warmth, sweetness. But if it's someone you deeply respect? You'd feel pride. Honor."
His voice was calm, measured, superior.
"You mean... there's someone else here besides me whose status is high enough to draw out their Voids?" Shu asked in disbelief.
"Correct." Keido smiled, clearly pleased with the answer.
"Could it be General Yan, GHQ's Commander-in-Chief?" Gai asked, frowning. To him, the GHQ leader had always been the highest authority.
"General Yan? Hmph. He was just a figurehead, a puppet placed on the stage." Keido scoffed, then raised his hand dramatically to point at Kurumi. "No, the one I speak of is the true founder of GHQ—the supreme commander whose codename is Angel: Tokisaki Kurumi."
The words hung in the air. Shu stood frozen, eyes wide. Gai's face stiffened. Around them, several GHQ officers exchanged knowing smirks.
For among them, three men knew the truth.
Keido believed "Angel" was only a codename. He had no idea that ten years ago, among the few who knew Kurumi's true identity, only thirteen had been from the military—and of those, just six had joined GHQ. After a decade, only three remained alive, and those three had guarded her secret fiercely.
Thus, Keido—merely a scientist—had never realized that "Angel" was not a title, but a literal description.
"My, my, so many hidden titles," Gai said with an edge of mockery. He remembered the awe he had once felt learning that Kurumi was both the head of the International Aid Alliance and the representative of seven nations in Japan. And yet, that wasn't even her full identity. His jealousy flared.
"Oh my, I never went around advertising myself," Kurumi said sweetly, her smile sharp. The jab landed perfectly—after all, wasn't Gai the one who had spent his life flaunting his own greatness?
"So then... Kurumi Tokisaki is the third person to receive a Void Genome?" Shu asked, his voice tinged with insecurity, his eyes full of self-doubt.
"What are you talking about? I was the one who injected the third sample," Keido replied smoothly, spreading his arms as if presenting a revelation.
Shu's expression froze. "Then why does Kurumi still have Void power?"
"Why does she have it, you ask?" Keido smiled again, his tone dripping with smugness. "Have you ever considered where the samples came from? To create the Void Genome, one needs a source—a natural prototype. Just as the virus itself was born naturally, so too was the Void. Tokisaki Kurumi was born a natural Void Genome host. Her genetic structure exists at the highest tier."
"Then... all our injected Genomes were derived from her genes?" Shu asked, voice trembling.
For a fleeting moment, he felt an odd, almost childish joy. But the thought of both Keido and Gai sharing her power twisted something unpleasant inside him.
"No," another voice interjected.
The soft-spoken boy who had been quietly sitting on the floor, staring at his phone—Yuu, the Gravekeeper—finally spoke, his tone calm. "The samples for your injections came from me."
Shu's expression flickered between disappointment and relief.
Keido laughed softly. "Strange, isn't it? Why assume there's only one natural Void host? Kurumi Tokisaki and Yuu are both born of that power. They are humanity's chosen—Adam and Eve."
The ever-serene Yuu froze for the first time. His expression twitched, a flicker of discomfort crossing his calm features. His eyes turned toward Keido—filled with an emotion that was neither agreement nor approval, but something far more complex.