Monday, October 20, 2025
Sakamiya University - Main Building
Conference Room 2nd Floor
12:23 PM
The Astral Examiner Device began displaying enemy information in translucent screens:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Name: Maelghor
Type: Crawler
Classified: Minion
Life Points: 520
Threat Level - Category: 2 - E
Enemy Count: 52
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Another separate display focused on the colossal worm-like creature towering above the others. The screen identified it as:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Name: Morthamraga - The Corrupted Wyrmlord
Type: Crawler
Classified: Boss
Mystic Power: ???
Life Points: ??? (100%)
Threat Level - Category: 7 - E
Enemy Count: 1
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Another transparent screen appeared alongside, showing additional brief information regarding threat-level categories:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Enemy Threat Information:
Maximum Threat Level Per Category = 10
Threat Category = E, D, C, B, A, and S
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
"ONLY A LEVEL 7E THREAT..??!!"
Many in the room, including high-ranking military officials, cried out in disbelief.
Shocked by the revelation, they couldn't comprehend how such a terrifying monster—the massive boss leading the second wave—could only be classified as a 7E-level threat. Most had assumed a boss of that scale would be in a far higher category.
And yet, this new data brought sharp clarity to the enemy they were facing.
"I just remembered something... that allowed me to summon this—the Astral Examiner Device, which can identify enemies and battlefield conditions. It appears whoever or whatever sealed my memories also gave me access to this device."
Luna revealed that another piece of her memory had returned, and with it, the ability to summon the AED.
"Maybe your memories are returning little by little with each extraordinary event, Luna." Miyuki suggested, theorizing that Luna's memories had been sealed and were slowly reawakening.
"It seems that way, Miyuki." Luna replied softly.
"Maelghor… Morthamraga… Hmm… those names sound completely alien to us—then again, they're not from Earth after all." Vice Marshal Shoji Arakawa commented, frowning slightly as he pondered the strange enemy names.
"Operators, hurry and input all this data into the official Japanese military database immediately!" General Victor commanded the two nearby operators.
"Understood, General!" the two operators replied in unison.
— — —
Main Parking Lot - Front Lobby
Haruto stared at the massive scythe softly glowing with a subtle purple radiance in his hands. Its large blade, forged from an unknown yet seemingly incredibly sturdy metal, glistened mysteriously under the gentle, mystical illumination.
This scythe is extraordinarily large and seems extremely dangerous… he thought, cautiously examining the weapon by slowly rotating it to observe it from various angles with just his right hand.
But why… Why does it feel strangely comforting, as if it's a missing part of myself, now finally returned..?..
Haruto's thoughts trailed off into silent contemplation as he continued staring thoughtfully at the impressive weapon.
Beside him, Kanna hovered gently a few feet above the ground, her wide eyes captivated by the small dancing flames flickering gently around her boots. She glanced downward, experimentally lifting one foot forward and back, like someone carefully trying on new footwear at a shop. Warm pulses of gentle heat radiated subtly beneath the soles of her boots.
"This… this is unbelievable." she murmured in awe, spinning slowly in the air. "I'm hovering. I'm literally flying, Haruto. I don't understand how, but somehow my body already knows exactly how to move using these Phoenix's Fiery Boots."
"Haruto, do you feel… different too?" Kanna asked hesitantly, still struggling internally to accept the surreal reality as she floated steadily in place.
"Different? I'm not entirely sure." Haruto replied, gripping the enormous scythe tighter and raising it effortlessly above his head with one hand. "I can't really explain it clearly. But somehow, my body knows exactly what to do with this."
VHHOOOMMM..!
Demonstrating, Haruto quickly swung the scythe smoothly to the right, bringing the sharp blade swiftly downward, then abruptly stopping the blade mere inches before it could touch the ground. A strange humming sound was heard as he swung it.
"Look how precise my movements are." he remarked quietly, surprised at himself.
Kanna nodded, drawing in a deep breath. "Perhaps… we should try some movements and attacks."
— — —
Back to Conference Room
"Those giant worm monsters… and that powerful boss, capable of destroying an entire city in less than an hour, have already caused many casualties and depleted our heaviest weaponry. Yet, their leader is classified only as a threat level 7E? This is… horrifying." Colonel Hayato spoke quietly, his tone filled with unease as he continued studying the data.
"If that's the case… what happens if someday enemies with higher threat levels appear? D… C… or even B?" Governor Saeki asked, but no one in the room could offer a response.
Silence fell across the room. No one had an answer. No one wanted to imagine what kind of horror could exceed what they had already witnessed.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop, the atmosphere growing heavier as the implication sank in. Everyone shivered, disturbed by the terrifying prospect of facing enemies more powerful than Maelghor or Morthamraga.
Their eyes reflected pure dread.
"Ara ara… if that's the case, this world might just end.. with all of us…"
Kyoka Futaba, the 37-year-old Head of Sakamiya University, breaking the silence at last in a strangely calm tone. Her voice held a sharp, playful edge.
She rested her right palm on her cheek and tilted her head slightly to the right and smiled. A beautiful smile that, for some reason, sent an eerie chill through the room.
No one could tell if she was joking… or simply stating… the inevitable.
— — —
Lobby and Hallways
Several young men exchanged disbelieving glances, their voices a frantic whisper. "Dude, she's literally hovering with flaming boots. Like a mage or something!"
Another young man blurted out, "That girl… she's like Ironman—no, Ironwoman! Look at those flaming boots! That has to be some kind of advanced military tech. She's flying like it's nothing."
A middle-ranked soldier, a man who had served in the military for more than a decade, narrowed his eyes as he watched her hovering in midair.
His voice was filled with stunned disbelief, "That's not from the JSDF. There's no exoskeleton. No visible propulsion. No jetpack. Just… boots on fire. And she's flying? How?!"
Another voice interjected, equally stunned, "Forget that! Look at that big Scythe! That's straight-up Grim Reaper's weapon!"
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd like a wave of electricity at the mention of the Grim Reaper.
Nearby, a small cluster of female college students recoiled instinctively. A terrified shiver ran through them as they stared at the gleaming purple Scythe.
A woman with glasses pointed shakily at the young man holding the weapon, her voice barely audible.
"T-that… that's a Scythe, right? Is he… is he The Death himself?"
Beside her, another woman trembled, both hands covering her mouth as her eyes widened in horror.
"Why is he carrying something that looks like a killing tool? Is he really… could he actually be…"
A female professor, her voice cracking under the weight of dread, muttered with growing panic, "That man with the Scythe… he's terrifying. It's like… like he's the embodiment of death, here to reap souls!"
"KYAAAAAHH..!!"
Several other women screamed in fear, their legs trembling violently as the word The Death echoed in their ears.
"But…" a male student, breathless and trembling, couldn't take his eyes off the young man's figure.
"…Somehow, seeing him hold that weapon… makes me feel safe."
A female staffer in her early thirties, tears forming at the corners of her eyes, pressed herself against the glass.
"I just… I can't believe this is real. But they… they don't look evil at all."
**
Main Parking Lot - Front Lobby
Haruto stared at the barrier ahead, roughly 20 meters in front of him. He stepped forward with his right foot, grounding himself into a battle stance.
"Alright. Step back for a moment, Kanna-chan. Just like that screen said earlier—maybe we can unlock new skills by performing certain movements. I'm going to try something."
"Okay, I'll observe from above." Kanna floated higher, giving him enough space as she watched him closely from midair.
Alright… let's try this..
Haruto took a deep breath, trying to calm the wild pounding in his chest. Though hesitation lingered in the back of his mind, he pushed it away with resolve and began to move.
Without further hesitation, he bent his knees slightly to gather his strength. Then he launched himself forward in a powerful jump, soaring several meters off the ground..
WUUUSSSHH..!
Air rushed past him, and in one fluid motion, Haruto rotated his body forward, flipping midair with a smooth, stunning somersault. The Scythe followed his movement naturally, almost as if it were guiding him rather than the other way around.
"Whoa, Haruto-kun, that was amazing!" Kanna exclaimed in awe, her eyes wide as she watched how effortlessly he moved.
At the peak of his jump, Haruto swung his Gravity Scythe downward in a clean vertical arc. Time seemed to slow around him. The curved blade carved through the air, leaving behind a trail of shimmering violet energy.
It sliced forward with a soft, haunting hum—one that rippled the very air, distorting the space it passed through.
VWOOOOM..!
The hum deepened, vibrating through Haruto's core, sending a chilling tremor down his spine.
What… what is this sensation..?..
He thought, momentarily stunned by the surreal experience.
Gravity pulled him back down sharply. His feet landed gracefully on the ground, and the Scythe slammed into the surface with a thunderous impact.
BRRUUAAAKK..!
A radiant purple vertical slash surged forward, tearing through the ground ahead, carving a shallow trench into the hardened surface. The massive slash of energy hurtled toward the barrier at alarming speed.
FWOOOSSSHH..!
"Ahh! Watch out!" Kanna shouted instinctively, covering her mouth with her hand in surprise.
Haruto blinked, his breath catching in his chest.
"Huh? A purple slash? I didn't even aim…" He stared at the glowing arc racing forward. "Eh, wait..?"
He stared wide-eyed at the vertical arc of purple energy racing forward, ripping apart the earth beneath it as it headed directly toward the barrier.
As realization hit him, his expression froze in disbelief.
"EEEEEHHH..?! That was meee..?!"
SCHLAAAAASSSHHH..!
He hadn't targeted anything—yet the dazzling wave of violet energy collided effortlessly with two massive worm-like monsters that happened to be at the front line just behind Luna's golden barrier.
SCCRRREEEEEE..!
The creatures barely had time to scream. Their grotesque forms split cleanly in two, disintegrating into fine particles like ash in seconds, scattered by the wind.
Silence fell around them.
Neither of the two students moved. Their bodies froze as the surreal scene slowly settled in.
Haruto's mind raced, desperately trying to understand what had just happened—how the Scythe had released that powerful, slashing energy without any apparent trigger.
"It was… pure coincidence. I… I didn't even aim." Haruto stammered, his voice hollow. He stared blankly at the fading particles in the air.
"I wasn't even aware they were there..."
Kanna drifted closer, still hovering a few feet above the ground. Her eyes shimmered with awe as she observed him.
"That was incredible… It's like your body and the weapon moved on their own. Did you think of that movement before you jumped, Haruto-kun?"
Slowly, Haruto stood upright, lifting his gaze toward the enormous blade of the Scythe still embedded deep in the ground where it had landed.
"Yeah… I was thinking of trying a difficult move, just to see if it would work. And… it felt natural. Like my body already knew exactly what to do… just from the thought alone."
To his surprise, a glowing notification screen suddenly appeared before his eyes:
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
New MADOUKAI Skill learned!
— Abyssal Blade — Level 1
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
A translucent notification hovered in front of Haruto.
He had just unlocked a new skill.
"Whoaaa..! I really got a new skill!" Haruto exclaimed in shock.
He then grabbed the massive Scythe with his right hand and pulled it from the ground effortlessly, as if pulling out a knife from a soft butter.
This is incredible... Maybe... we actually have a chance to win... he thought, a small, hopeful smile curving on his lips.
Then, without hesitation, he rested the shaft of the enormous weapon on his shoulder with ease, carrying it as if it weighed nothing at all.
Kanna nodded thoughtfully beside him, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "In that case... let me try something too. Maybe I can unlock a new skill as well."
Haruto stepped back a little, the large Scythe still resting on his shoulder, and nodded at her encouragingly. "Be careful, Kanna-chan. But I think you'll be fine."
A gentle smile spread across Kanna's lips.
"Yes, I'll be alright."
—
Kanna floated higher into the air, ascending several meters above the ground. She drew in a deep breath and instinctively flexed the muscles in her legs. The flames around her boots flared up, crackling and humming with renewed vigor.
"HEYAA…!"
FWOOOSH…!
Kanna twisted her body slightly and launched a sharp middle side kick with her left leg. A short burst of flame erupted from her boot as the kick completed. Not satisfied with just one, she pulled her left leg back again and...
"HEYAAAAA…!"
FWISH… FWOOOSH… SWISH…!
In the blink of an eye, Kanna propelled herself into a rapid sequence of elegant side kicks, using only her left leg while advancing forward with smooth, fluid motions.
High, low, middle—each kick accompanied by momentary bursts of flame in dazzling patterns, dancing around her like glowing brushstrokes.
The precision of her movements and her ability to maintain balance made her resemble a seasoned martial artist who had trained for years.
"Wow, amazing, Kanna-chan. You're like a Taekwondo master." Haruto praised, his eyes wide in astonishment at the seamless perfection of her kicks.
Fully immersed in the sensation, Kanna allowed instinct to take complete control. With her right leg drawn behind her, she 'jumped' even higher again using her left leg as a launch point, spinning sharply to the left.
"HAAAHH…!"
Then, with effortless grace, Kanna performed a magnificent mid-air jumping roundhouse kick with her right leg, leaping and pivoting as though stepping off an invisible platform suspended in the air.
Time seemed to slow down around her as the Phoenix's Boots unleashed a blazing explosion of fire at the peak of her spinning kick.
FWOOM… FWOOM…!
Without warning, two blazing projectiles erupted from the sole of her fiery right boot, leaving behind scorching trails across the empty air. The twin fireballs surged forward at incredible speed—
KABOOOMMM…!
Like homing missiles locked onto a target, both fireballs arched through the air and struck a giant worm-like Chaos Beast at the front of the formation.
Just like the monsters Haruto had struck earlier, the one hit by Kanna's fireballs had no time to react. Incinerating the creature in an instant. It let out a faint, strangled shriek as it was engulfed, then disintegrated rapidly into black ash within seconds.
Gone!
Kanna floated down gently, staring at her legs in disbelief. "Did…did I just…?"
A transparent notification screen appeared in front of her…
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
New Madoukai skill learned!
— Flame Shot — Level 1
New Madousei skill learned!
— Explosive Impact — Level 1
(Triggered after hitting a target under certain conditions, with a chance)
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
"Two new skills..! Haruto-kun, look, I got two! Madoukai and Madousei!"
Kanna exclaimed joyfully, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she waved her hand toward him.
— — — — —