"Hmph!" With a cold snort, Shuichiro Keido spoke with a superior smile. "Shu Ouma, do you know why I am absolutely certain that Kurumi Tokisaki is a naturally born Void Genome bearer? Because Kurumi Tokisaki is just like Yuu. Even after ten years, their appearances have not changed in the slightest. Their youth remains eternal."
"Kurumi-san looked exactly like this ten years ago." Shu Ouma was instantly filled with shock as he stared at Kurumi, his heart trembling. Just what kind of ancient monster have I fallen for?
"Shu-kun, you must be maliciously speculating about my age. I won't even turn sixteen until December this year," Kurumi immediately protested unhappily at Shu.
"Then why did you look like this ten years ago!" Shu Ouma reflexively retorted without even thinking.
"That's naturally because of the Void Genome's modification. If you don't believe me, ask Yuu. He's only fourteen this year," Kurumi said, pointing at Yuu with a slightly irritated expression.
"Ahem! Indeed, I'm only fourteen this year," Yuu said with an innocent smile.
Just two fourteen-year-olds. Yet even countless sixteen-year-old angels couldn't compare to them.
"Ha! So that's the explosive truth. I was wondering why the Angels have been so lenient toward GHQ for the past ten years, completely turning a blind eye. Turns out the Angels were just too young—naturally playful." Shuichiro Keido showed a look of realization, as though everything suddenly made sense. No one seemed to find this strange at all.
Among the GHQ officers, three older officers burst into laughter, clutching their stomachs, while the others looked at them with pity. To laugh at such a time—don't they realize how serious the consequences of bad digestion can be!
"What a convincing explanation. I can't even argue against it. So Kurumi-san is only sixteen. Perfect, perfect, I've just turned sixteen myself. Being a little older doesn't matter," Shu said, clapping his palms together, speaking once again without thinking.
"Shu-kun, you're such an idiot!" Kurumi suddenly cried out shyly (and a little deviously), tossing a white box straight at Shu.
Shu caught it and froze. Damn, isn't this the same medical box that healed me last time! Kurumi-san, I was wrong, I know you never lie! Please don't throw that thing!
"Ha ha! Time's up! Kurumi Tokisaki, did you think I talked so much just for fun? I've been stalling! Now I can control the virus. You're all going to die!" Shuichiro Keido suddenly shouted arrogantly. With a powerful swing of his arm, countless crystalline virus spikes shot toward everyone.
Shu Ouma panicked, instinctively reaching for his Void. But it was too late. The virus spikes were already upon him. He couldn't summon his Void in time.
Clap! A sudden sound of hands striking echoed. A silvery light gleamed from everyone's chest. Various strange and uniquely shaped weapons appeared before the virus spikes, shattering the incoming attack.
Among them was Shu Ouma's Void. Even though Shu was the protagonist of this world—and part of the boss's suppression force lay within him—Kurumi still forcibly drew out his Void. Because Kurumi was the Queen of Voids.
A person's Void varied from individual to individual. And the Voids of these officers were all weapons. That was precisely why Kurumi had brought them here—this was an immense fighting force.
"Impossible! How could this be! Extracting everyone's Void in an instant—and without physical contact. Even Yuu can't do that. Why can you?" Shuichiro Keido was shaken, his original plan to cripple Kurumi's fighting power in an instant completely shattered. How could she summon everyone's Voids simultaneously? It defied logic.
"Ara~ Yuu didn't tell you? His Void Genome originated from me. I'm not just a mere Void bearer—I am the Queen of Voids," Kurumi said calmly. Then her wine-red eyes shifted toward Yuu. "Though I must say, Yuu, it truly surprises me to see you standing on his side."
"Because! I am the Angel's knight," Yuu said with a gentle smile. Kurumi quietly gazed at him for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"Hahaha!" Suddenly, Shuichiro Keido, who had just been panicked moments before, burst into wild laughter.
"So that's it! So that's how it is. Kurumi Tokisaki, back when I was still in the Research Facility, I discovered something strange. Whenever you approached the pathogen crystal, it became abnormally violent. Now I understand—it's because you are the Queen of Voids. You and the virus are natural enemies. Then let me make a bold hypothesis—if you come into contact with the virus, wouldn't that trigger a viral eruption and bring about Lost Christmas?" Shuichiro Keido burst into manic laughter. Then with a wave of his hand, a dense mass of crystalline virus spikes shot toward Kurumi.
Crack! A colorful shield blocked all the spikes in front of them, shattering every single virus spear into dust. Daryl smirked arrogantly and turned to Yuu. "Hey, brat. I refuse to acknowledge that you, standing on the opposite side of the Angel, are the Angel's knight. The Angel's true knight right now is me."
"Hehe." Yuu gave a gentle smile, his expression soft and kind, which only made Daryl more irritated.
"It's useless! This is the virus's domain. I can attack from all 360 degrees. Your shield can't withstand it." Shuichiro Keido grinned confidently, commanding the virus to attack Kurumi from every direction. In an instant, a sphere of deadly crystalline spikes enclosed her completely.
Crack! The sound of shattering crystals rang again. The virus spikes crumbled into glittering dust, revealing Kurumi surrounded by a glowing, multicolored sphere. Daryl laughed. "Who said I couldn't defend from every angle? My Void was spherical from the start."
"Then I'll just kill you first." Shuichiro Keido furiously directed the virus to attack Daryl. But before the spikes could reach him, several shadows flashed by. A ring of GHQ officers surrounded Daryl, intercepting all of the attacks.
"To ignore our presence... that's quite troubling," one of the GHQ officers said as they charged forward. The GHQ forces moved out, launching an assault directly at Shuichiro Keido.
"Voids differ in strength. Allow me to shatter yours." Seeing the soldiers' fierce momentum as they broke through the viral blockade, Gai Tsutsugami rose to his feet, gripping his long halberd, and charged at them.
But the first strike against Gai came not from a halberd—but a sword. A blade glowing with cold white light. Gai's expression darkened, and he immediately withdrew his halberd, leaping back. He dared not clash weapons with Shu Ouma's Void; he still vividly remembered how Shu's Void once shattered a satellite in outer space.
"Shu Ouma, your opponent is me." A spatial rift opened beside Shu, and another sword slashed toward him. The two swords collided fiercely, ringing with sharp steel. Shu stood his ground, unmoved, while Yuu staggered several steps backward.
"You're not my match. Kurumi-san said it herself—my Void is the strongest." Shu's expression turned cold as he leveled his sword toward Yuu, though his gaze was truly fixed on Gai. The one he truly wished to stop was him.
"Of course I know that! Because you are the King chosen by the Angel to save all humanity. Shu Ouma, I envy and hate you. Do you have any idea how many people yearn for the title of king? And yet you, born as one, are so complacent. Why should you be king?" Yuu shouted, gripping his sword tightly as he launched a frenzied assault on Shu.
"Gai Tsutsugami, hurry! Even my Void can't hold against Shu Ouma's for long!" Yuu yelled as Gai's expression hardened. Gai gripped his halberd and rushed into the GHQ formation. Shuichiro Keido immediately directed the virus to assist Gai's advance. As long as they could break Kurumi's shield and let the virus touch her body, the true victor would still be him.
Narrowing her eyes as she watched Gai breaking through the encirclement, Kurumi seized the moment. Instantly, her kaleidoscope expanded to immense proportions, enveloping Gai within and isolating the virus outside.
"You're really asking for it." With a flash, Kurumi appeared before Gai, who had just turned to strike the shield. She caught his wrist with one hand, swept her leg against the crook of his knee, forcing him to kneel.
Then Kurumi reversed her grip and pulled out the long halberd from Gai's hands—thrusting it straight through his abdomen. Instant defeat. Gai Tsutsugami fell in an instant, shocking everyone present.
However, Kurumi kicked Gai's body out of the kaleidoscope barrier, sparing his life.
Boom! Taking advantage of the moment when Yuu was distracted, Shu Ouma struck him back with a single blow. Then, from the tip of Shu's sword, a white blade of light shot forth, shattering the viral shell encasing Inori. Inori slowly stirred awake, her eyes dazed and unfocused.
"Stop! If you keep attacking, I'll kill her." Yuu, collapsed on the ground, reached out—and from the void of space itself, pulled out a bound woman.
"Haruka!" Shu Ouma shouted anxiously, halting in his tracks. The woman Yuu had seized was none other than his adoptive mother, Haruka Ouma.
"Yuu, you should know that if you make even a single mistake, I can save her in an instant," Kurumi said calmly, her tone composed. Since she had once chosen Yuu to be her knight, she now had to take responsibility for all of his actions.
"Cough... cough..." Gai Tsutsugami, lying on the ground, dispelled his Void and coughed up blood. Suddenly, he pointed at Inori and began shouting furiously.
"Inori! Do you finally understand what you are? You're just a sacrifice—nothing more than an offering! You exist solely to awaken Mana!"
"You think you're human? You're not. You're just a thing—a cheap, disposable thing! Kurumi Tokisaki could make hundreds, thousands of you without even trying."
"Shut up!" Kurumi's fury erupted. She rushed straight toward Gai like a bolt of darkness.
Almost as if divine inspiration had struck, Shuichiro Keido instantly withdrew the crystalline platform beneath Inori's feet. Inori fell through the opening, plummeting down.
"You're still dreaming of earning Kurumi Tokisaki's affection? Hahaha! Don't make me laugh. You? Worthy of her? Kurumi Tokisaki bears the brilliance of countless halos—she's the noblest of all beings! And you're just a thing she could create by moving her lips! How dare you stand beside her? Why don't you crawl into some corner where no one can find you and kill yourself already? You're shameless—utterly worthless trash!"
"No..." Inori gasped, blood splattering from her mouth as she hit the ground. Ignoring the pain coursing through her body, she stumbled to her feet and ran, tears glimmering as they fell one after another.
"Gai Tsutsugami! I must admit, your poisonous tongue is unmatched." Enraged, Kurumi changed direction midway, leaping down the void after Inori. If Inori really found some deserted corner to end her life, then this world would truly be doomed.
Smack! A sharp slap struck Gai's face, hard enough to make him spit blood.
"Gai, I'm utterly disappointed in you," Shu Ouma said coldly, staring at him. Shu could feel the pain Kurumi's noble existence brought him—and he could imagine the despair Inori must now be drowning in. Living would be more painful than death.
"Haha! The Angel is gone! In the end, we're the true victors!" Shuichiro Keido suddenly burst into laughter.
At that moment, despite his wounds, Gai ran toward the high platform without hesitation and scooped the unconscious Mana Ouma into his arms. Meanwhile, a spatial rift opened behind Yuu. With one hand, he shoved Haruka toward Shu. But in that same instant, a sword tip burst through Haruka's chest—right before Shu's stunned eyes.
Splurt! Haruka collapsed into Shu's arms. Her blood soaked his clothes red. And in the next moment, Yuu appeared behind Gai, taking both of them and vanishing into the spatial rift.
"Wha—what...!" Shuichiro Keido froze, staring blankly at the GHQ officers closing in on him like demons.
With Mana Ouma gone, he could no longer control the virus. There was no way he could defeat the GHQ forces now. But why—why had Gai and Yuu fled when victory was already within their grasp?
"Haruka... Haruka..." Shu trembled as he called out, but the woman in his arms no longer breathed. Her body grew colder and colder. All he could see was the dazzling, blood-red color before his eyes.
"Ahhh!" Shu Ouma howled to the heavens—a cry of anguish like a wounded lone wolf, filled with despair and pain.
He gently laid Haruka's body down. His figure swayed unsteadily as he rose, dragging his black sword along the ground, leaving a long scar in its wake.
"Wait! Dr. Ouma was killed by the Gravekeeper Yuu—it wasn't me! I had nothing to do with it! In fact, I had a good relationship with Dr. Ouma—we were on friendly terms!" Shuichiro Keido stammered, retreating in panic.
"Heh..." Shu's lips curled into a demonic grin as he suddenly raised his head. A red gleam of hatred burned in his eyes.
The black sword swung in a crescent arc. An old man's head flew through the air. The sword's darkness deepened even further.