Yatogami Tohka looked up at the AST operatives who kept firing on her—especially at the silver‑haired girl whose eyes burned with grim resolve.
Tohka could tell that the hatred in that girl's gaze was not directed at Spirits as a whole, but at her personally.
There was no time to ponder it further—another volley was incoming.
Drawing a deep breath, Tohka made her decision.
"Final Sword: Halvanhelev!"
A vast mass of violet energy gathered on the King's Sword, swelling into a radiant blade dozens of meters long.
Yet Tohka did not swing it at the AST. Instead she angled the tip toward the ground and brought it down with all her might.
The earth shuddered. A yawning chasm opened at her feet, and the column of dust and the shockwave briefly blocked the AST's line of sight.
When the dust settled, Tohka's silhouette had already vanished into the sky.
"Target has fled. Awaiting instructions," an AST member reported.
Origami lowered her weapon, expressionless, staring after Tohka.
"Mission failed. Withdraw," she ordered.
"Inform HQ: a Princess‑type Spirit has displayed a new form and formidable power—threat level should be reassessed."
Boosters flared as the AST members pulled out.
No one noticed the tall figure standing under the shade at the edge of the battlefield, watching with keen interest.
A girl leaned against an oak, heterochromatic eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Interesting," she murmured, her voice a mix of velvet and manic delight.
"That princess is even more… captivating than I expected."
Her gaze followed the direction Tohka had gone, lips curving into a meaningful smile.
"A Spirit who refuses to harm humans… I simply must make her acquaintance."
Her body melted into the shadow at her feet, leaving only a whisper drifting on the breeze: "Let's see how long you can keep this up, Yatogami Tohka…"
Tohka landed in a patch of woods on the city's outskirts.
She dismissed Sandalphon; the glow of her Astral Dress faded.
In its place appeared an ordinary purple dress—part of the "worldly disguise" she had learned from Rei Ao.
"Now then, what should I do next?"
Dusting off her skirt, she surveyed her surroundings with curiosity.
Beyond the trees lay a bustling metropolis: skyscrapers sparkled in the sunlight and streets teemed with people.
She stepped carefully out of the woods and merged into the crowd.
No one gave the beautiful girl with purple hair and eyes a second glance—hair dye and colored contacts were common in such a diverse city.
Strolling along, Tohka was captivated by the shop windows, especially the display cases of pastry shops. The colorful cakes and sweets made her stop in her tracks.
"These desserts don't look as tasty as the ones Rei Ao gave me, but… I still want some…"
She pressed her face to the glass, eyes shining.
"Spirit. 'Princess.'"
A sweet yet menacing voice sounded behind her.
Tohka stiffened and whirled around, hand instinctively reaching into the air—where Sandalphon should have appeared.
But she had sealed her power to avoid drawing attention.
Before her stood a girl in a red‑and‑black gothic dress.
Her twin tails were asymmetrical; her left eye gleamed gold like a clock face, while her right was wine‑red.
She held an ornate parasol and wore a mysterious smile.
"Who are you?" Tohka asked warily, body tilting forward, ready to fight.
"Ara‑ara, no need to be so tense~"
The girl giggled and spun; her skirt blossomed like a flower.
"I'm Tokisaki Kurumi—just like you, a Spirit."
Tohka relaxed slightly, though her confusion deepened.
"But you… look different."
Kurumi narrowed her golden clock eye.
"Every Spirit is unique, dear Princess."
"What fascinates me is you—you appeared in this world without triggering a spacequake, and you chose to flee rather than retaliate when AST attacked."
She stepped closer, whispering in Tohka's ear.
"I've never met a Spirit like that."
Tohka backed away to widen the gap.
"I don't know what you mean. I just… don't want to hurt humans."
Kurumi clapped theatrically, though the smile never reached her eyes.
"But you know, sometimes sparing others means harming yourself."
Tohka frowned. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
This person… didn't feel friendly.
Kurumi's smile faded; her expression turned solemn.
"I'm simply curious what role an unconventional Spirit will play in this twisted world."
Her enigmatic smile returned.
"Perhaps one day, we'll be allies."
"Indeed~ For the sake of this world~"
Kurumi turned to leave, then glanced back.
"Of course, my idea of 'salvation' might differ from yours."
Tohka wanted to ask more, but Kurumi's form melted into the crowd like wax, leaving only a bell‑like laugh.
"What a peculiar person…"
Shaking her head, Tohka let the matter drop.
She glanced at the sky: the sun was already sinking westward.
"Time to find a place to spend the night," she muttered, continuing down the street.
She never noticed the figure perched on a rooftop across the way—Tokisaki Kurumi, legs dangling, watching her every move.
"A kind Spirit, a dangerous Spirit," Kurumi mused, producing a glass of red wine from the void and raising it toward the sunset.
"And with me in the mix… this play just keeps getting better."
For Every 100 Powerstone = 1 Bonus Chapter! Please Vote for more Chapters!
(.)com/Bleam Google seaʀᴄh novｅlfire.net
— Currently You can Read 220+ Chapters Ahead of Others!