Chapter 65 ~ Divine Light
<span style="font-weight:400">With the enemy soldiers decimated by her and her squad, Aika floated down to the ground before Kanon and Kei as they stared at her speechlessly in shock.
<span style="font-weight:400">The front mask of her helm opened, revealing slightly covered, yet still, extremely beautiful countenance. And the moment they saw her, all doubts vanished, leaving them in even more shock.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hello, senpai~ Are any of you still hurt~?”
<span style="font-weight:400">The bubbly, cheerful tone of her melodic voice definitely belonged to Aika. And at this point, they had no choice but to ept reality.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hearing no answer to her question, Aika tilted her head and looked at them with a confused expression.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Senpai?”
<span style="font-weight:400">She waved her hand in front of Kanon’s face, and only then did she snap out of her daze.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, s-sorry! N-No, we’re fine… But… Y-You’re really… A-Aika-san, huh?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hehe~ The one and only~ Who else could be this beautiful~?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika winked at the stunned, short-haired girl, who was still too deep in the state of shock toment on her yful, narcissistic remark. But, even if she wasn’t, she couldn’t even refute her since Aika <i><span style="font-weight:400">was</i><span style="font-weight:400"> the most beautiful girl she had ever met in her life.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A-Aika-san!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Just then, Sayaka finally caught up and ran up towards her, followed by Kirihara and Toshikazu, who was resting his nodachi on his shoulder.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh~ Sayaka-senpai~ Kirihara-senpai and Erika’s eldest brother too~ I’m d you’re alright~!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“U-Uhn… Thanks to you… But that magic…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sayaka nodded her head gratefully for having saved them when they were almost overwhelmed by the enemy. She knew every magician has their secrets and to pry into it would be extremely inconsiderate. But her curiosity and disbelief still won over her considerate nature and gratefulness, leading her to mention in mutterings the miraculous spell that saved them.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hearing her words, Aika winked and ced her forefinger in front of her luscious pink lips in a shushing gesture.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fufu~ Neat isn’t it~ But keep it a secret okay, senpai~ If you don’t… Well… You might not be able to graduate~”
<span style="font-weight:400">“O-Of course! I-I was just… shocked. I-I’m sorry…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hehe~ That’s understandable~”
<span style="font-weight:400">Just then, Aika suddenly perked up and touched a part of her helmet near her ear. A transmission just came into themunication device within her helm, grabbing her attention away from Sayaka and the others before her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm? Ah, is that so~? Nice~ I’m also done here… Ah, the heli’sing? Uhn, then I’ll head over to you after they’ve boarded. Uhn, see you~ Chu <3~ Love you~ Ahahahaha~ Don’t be shy~”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sayaka and the others stared at her speechlessly… They were definitely taken aback when she suddenly appeared and unleashed an unbelievable magic spell they’ve never seen before at first. But now, after seeing how sweet and bubbly she talked with, presumably, Yuuji, they were reminded that the woman before them… was still the bubbly and cheerful first year student they know.
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika turned her attention back towards Sayaka, Kanon, and the others and gave them a brilliant smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good new, everyone~ The rescue helicopter ising to pick you guys up soon~ And once you’vee abroad, some of myrades will escort you to a safe ce along with Mayumi-chan, Erika-chan, Miyuki-chan, and the others~”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I see… Thank you, Aika-san.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sayaka lowered her head and thanked her once again.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Uhn~ No problem~ Then, we’ll be going around the perimeter to make sure the area’s safe for the helicopter’snding, okay~?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-Yes, thank you once again, Aika-san…”
<span style="font-weight:400">This time, Kanon bowed her head towards Aika and herrades. And immediately after, the rest of them also followed suit.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hehe~ You’re wee~ Then, we’ll be going~ Stay safe~”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Aika touched the flying unit in her beltpartment and began to float up, along with the rest of herrades.
<span style="font-weight:400">Then, with an immense burst of speed, they spread out in different directions at, Aika even faster than the rest, and disappeared from sight.
<span style="font-weight:400">Silence fell upon the previously chaotic area as they all watched speechlessly from below.
<span style="font-weight:400">“...It’s still hard for me to believe all of this.”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah… I never would’ve guessed she’s rted to the JSDF… Yuuji-kun and Tatsuya-kun as well…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nn…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kanon stared dazedly at the direction Aika just flew in, processing everything that had happened today…
<span style="font-weight:400">This day had just been so… baffling. Not only were they suddenly attacked by armed soldiers, tanks, and killer robots, they also found out that three of their juniors were in fact special officers that belonged in the military.
<span style="font-weight:400">She had never heard of such a thing… At most, she’d only ever heard about a student being a part of the ten master ns. But this…
<span style="font-weight:400">Kanon shook her head.
<span style="font-weight:400">No… perhaps the clues about their true identity were already there in front of them all along.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji’s immensely powerful magic and incredible engineering skills. Tatsuya’s unbelievablebat prowess and knowledge in CAD. Aika’s mind boggling amount of Psions and skill with magic…
<span style="font-weight:400">Perhaps the clues about their true identity were already there in front of them all along. They just simply haven’t connected the dots because it was just so… unbelievable.
<span style="font-weight:400">Just then, the whirring sound of helicopters could be heard in the sky.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, that must be the helicopter…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Everyone raised their heads to look at the sky at Toshikazu’s words, and they all let out a sigh of relief at the sight of therge, heavy-lift, tandem rotor helicoptering their way.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright then, once you’ve boarded, I’ll be regrouping with the rest of the police on the ground to evacuate any remaining civilians in the area. Remember to stay safe.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. Thank you very much for helping us, Mr. Chiba.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Toshikazu waved his hand casually and smiled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s the job of the police to protect civilians. Now go and leave this matter to the professionals.”
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Upon boarding the rescue helicopter, Toshikazu regrouped with his subordinates from the police department, while Kanon, Kei, and the others met up with Mayumi, Erika, Miyuki, Mari, and the rest inside the helicopter.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Chiyoda-san, everyone, I’m d you’re all okay…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kanon nodded tiredly, her lips curling with a worn-out smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes… Thanks to Aika-san, who came just in time before we were about to be overwhelmed…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah… So you’ve seen her magic too, huh…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kanon and the others all nodded to Mari’s words, and Mari and the others finally understood that their exhausted appearance wasn’t solely from the battle they fought, but from the shock they received as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mayumi let out a helpless smile… It was only natural for them to react this way.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see… Then please take a seat and rest. Although your stamina might’ve been recovered thanks to Aika’s magic, your mind must still be exhausted from the battle.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes… Thank you very much, Saegusa-senpai…”
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">17:18, Yokohama.
<span style="font-weight:400">With the orange-red hue of the afternoon sun shining upon them, four light-weight tanks equipped with heavy machine guns and two military robots marched down the streets of the Bay Hills Tower area, heading towards Yokohama’s downtown district where the battle was raging as reinforcements.
<span style="font-weight:400">The resistance they met during their assault was apparently much more fierce than they first expected. Although it was a surprise attack, the defenses were much more prepared to wee them than one would expect from a sudden assault.
<span style="font-weight:400">It seems that a special force of the Japanese Self Defense Military had somehow appeared much faster than expected. Almost no information about the special force was known since allpanies that encountered them had been decimated before they could ry any sort of information.
<span style="font-weight:400">All they knew was that this special force was capable of using extremely powerful magic that could destroy tanks andbat robots in seconds.
<span style="font-weight:400">Thus, although they were marching through an empty street, they were still on high alert.
<span style="font-weight:400">Upon turning the corner, the street was still quiet, baring the sounds of their machines, tank tracks, and their robots as they moved down the streets.
<span style="font-weight:400">Several soldiers, who popped the upper half of their body out of the tank and survey the surroundings, also hadn’t seen any signs of enemy soldiers in the vicinity.
<span style="font-weight:400">But just then, a silhouette appeared on the surface of the tank a soldier was riding on. He blinked, unsure of what it was. But several more began appearing, and only then did he realize they weren’t silhouettes.
<span style="font-weight:400">They were shadows!
<span style="font-weight:400">The soldier looked up and saw figures in jet-ckbat suits flying in the air, equipped with high caliber assault rifles and anti-tank weaponry. And three in particr attracted his attention.
<span style="font-weight:400">To the left was a figure holding two, light blue, gun-shaped CADs in both hands. To the right was an extremely voluptuous figure of a woman d in the same, jet-ckbat suit, with a ne shining brightly on her breasts. And at the center, a man with a golden gun CAD aimed towards them.
<span style="font-weight:400">Light shed from the gun, and it was thest thing the soldier saw before every molecule in his body, hisrades body, and the tank he was in was ripped apart violently into mist.
<span style="font-weight:400">“E-Enemy attack!!!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Above! Above! They’re in the skies!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“FIIIRREEEEE!!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">The sudden disappearance of a whole tank woke all of the soldiers out of their daze and turned their attention up to the sky.
<span style="font-weight:400">Immediately, all tanks andbat robots opened fire with their machine guns and shot the figures in the sky.
<span style="font-weight:400">But no matter how many bullets flew their way, not a single one managed to reach them. Every single bullet shot stopped a few meters before them in mid air, and stayed there.
<span style="font-weight:400">However, no one stopped firing their machine guns as they prayed and begged any of the Gods that would hear them for a bullet, at least one single bullet to reach their enemies.
<span style="font-weight:400">Their prayers were not answered, and when the man with the golden gun waved his left hand to the side, all the figures suddenly fan out and encircled them from above.
<span style="font-weight:400">Chaos ensued. But only for the ones on the ground.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji, Aika, Tatsuya, and the rest of theirrades were calmly subjugating the invaders from the skies.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuuji kept his gravity barrier that surrounded the enemy forces like a dome active, disallowing any physical attacks to reach him and hisrades and preventing their escape, while using his magic to crunch down one of the robots into a ball of scrap metal and mush.
<span style="font-weight:400">Tatsuya calmly aimed at the other robot and pulled his trigger, immediately misting it into thin air without a sound.
<span style="font-weight:400">And with Aika using her magic to heal any injuries and recover their stamina, he didn’t need to fly around and use his “Restore” magic on anyone.
<span style="font-weight:400">In just a few moments, only one tank remained… And the soldiers within couldn’t help but freeze in fear as they looked up into the sky with widened eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mahesvara… Even Sahasranama… And the Divine Light…”
<span style="font-weight:400">None of them could believe what they’re seeing… How lucky would they have to be to encounter all three nightmares at once…?
<span style="font-weight:400">Mahesvara… The God of Destruction known for erasing his enemies out of existence. The Divine Light, known for the light she emitted that brings even the dead back to life.
<span style="font-weight:400">And Sahasranama; thousand names. A title that belonged to the Preserver God, Vishnu, known to transform and send his avatars to the world to preserve and restore the righteous order of the universe when it’s threatened. With how many nicknames, epithets, and titles the Great Asian Union has given him, Sahasranama was the only appropriate title to describe the many names he has and his invincibility.
<span style="font-weight:400">The three named soldiers of the Great Asian Union were forbidden from mentioning as they were nightmares best left untouched. Now, the nightmare had appeared before them, and with it, brought upon utter destruction and death.
<span style="font-weight:400">Disbelief, helplessness, and regret were thest thing they felt before a sh of light shone upon them, followed by eternal darkness.
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">17:22 o’clock.
<span style="font-weight:400">Docked in Yamashita pier, the main pier that supported the Yokohama docks since the immense economic growth nearly a century ago, the Great Asian Alliance anchored their ship within a camougednding ship deck.
<span style="font-weight:400">Disguised as a cargo ship, the small ship was equipped mostly with surveince and intelligence gathering devices with only minimal weapons as it served as themand center of the invading forces in Yokohama.
<span style="font-weight:400">Although limited in equipment and technology that they could bring along for this covert, surprise invasion, they were still capable of sendingmands and receiving reports, coordinating all of their forces that they had set loose in the streets of Yokohama, targeting the Yokohama Branch Magic Association.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was a sessful surprise attack… At least, until they realize that their enemies were much more prepared than expected.
<span style="font-weight:400">Still, they were able to push the line forward and infiltrate the streets leading towards the Magic Association.
<span style="font-weight:400">But reports about their forces being annihted starteding in. At first, they came once in a while. But soon, they became much more often.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wiped out?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Y-Yes, based on the reports we received, it seems that they were wiped out in a powerful assault by an aerial unit using Flying-type magic…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Kuh… Bastards…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Themander clenched his hands into fists. How frustrating. This should’ve been a one-sided assault after they sessfully catch the defending forces by surprise! How could this kind of thing happen?
<span style="font-weight:400">“In addition, we have an unconfirmed report that…”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“What is it?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">He mmed his table, rattling theputer, documents, and pens on his desk. Just what kind of report did they receive? Was it some pathetic scream or call for help? <span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I-In ourmunications with the mobile unit, we picked up the word “Mahesvara”.
<span style="font-weight:400">“M-Mahesvara? That Demon of Okinawa…?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">Another staff officer, who recognized the name, couldn’t help but blurt that out, and themander plopped down to his seat. His hands still clenched in frustration.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s just a sick joke…”
<span style="font-weight:400">The name that was akin to imaginary monsters used to scare children like the boogeyman. Even now, he still couldn’t believe a magician with that kind of power existed… Truly, a sick joke simply meant to keep military officers on their toes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“B-But that’s not all…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What is it?! What other nonsense did you hear?!”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-We have also received the words “Sahasranama”, and the “Divine Light”...”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Truly… What a sick joke…
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Still shaken by the recent… revtions, silence filled the interior of the rescue helicopters as Mari, Kanon, Sayaka, and the others all tried to process it.
<span style="font-weight:400">Sitting in one of the seats, Kirihara pulled up his sleeves and looked at his right arm, observing it front and back.
<span style="font-weight:400">“My wounds… they’re really gone…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Kirihara-kun…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sayaka grasped the other hand Kirihara rested on hisp before he turned to her with a forced smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Heh, it would’ve been more understandable that all those wounds were just an illusion. But the pain… they were real…”
<span style="font-weight:400">He leaned back to his seat and plopped his arm down to his side helplessly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Never knew that kind of healing magic actually existed…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I agree… It was truly a miracle.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kei nodded in agreement as he looked at his hand dazedly.
<span style="font-weight:400">A miracle… There was no other way to put it. At least in his eyes, the light that shone upon him, healed his wounds, and renewed his strength was nothing short of a miracle.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shiba… Chiba… What kind of spell did Aika cast just now? Was it truly… Healing Magic?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Mari turned and looked at the two girls for answers. Out of everyone, these two, who were closest to Aika, must know at least something. And Miyuki, who knew less than Erika about Aika, turned to the short, orange-red haired girl who was sitting silently with her arms crossed and eyes closed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Silence fell once more as everyone turned their eyes towards Erika, before she opened her eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It wasn’t healing magic… Well, I guess it technically is, but not at the same time…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What do you mean?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“The name of the spell Aika cast is “Heal”, at least, that’s what she calls it. I’ve also heard it being referred to as a “Blessing” or “Miracle”. With it, she could make a full copy of the Eidos of a person up to 24 hours before sustaining injuries, and she could do it to multiple people at the same time. This is overwritten onto the current Eidos as a magic sequence, essentially returning the person into the state before they suffered the injury.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“T-That means… she could return numerous people suffering from lethal injuries in one go.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes… As long as they’re not dead, she could heal any sort of injuries and return them back to their prime. And she could do it without any drawbacks aside from the normal symptoms you’d suffer from magic exhaustion.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“This is…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Amazing, right? But apparently, she wasn’t satisfied with it and improved that spell so it could also recover stamina by supplementing it with her own Psion.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika shook her head tiredly with a helpless smile. She was proud of his fellow sister, yes. But after saying it out loud, she realized the absurdity of her words once again.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s incredible…! As long as it was sustained within 24 hours, any critical injury can be restored as if it never happened, right?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kanon perked up, trying to lift up the atmosphere.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s right. The demand for such a skill would know no bounds. Think about it, he could save thousands, even tens of thousands of live-”
<span style="font-weight:400">“In exchange for her freedom?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Erika’s venom-filled voice stopped Kei in the middle of his words. His eyes widened in shock when he saw the re Erika directed towards him as if he was her sworn enemy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“... You don’t know how much she had gone through to attain such God-like power. Do you think she was born with it?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Silence fell once again as Erika clenched her fist. What Yuuji and Aika experienced… Even for such God-like power, nothing would be worth it if they had to suffer from such torturous experience.
<span style="font-weight:400">“All they wanted was freedom… They never wanted this kind of power… And now that they have it, they still chose to use it to defend us… Do you still want to demand even more from them?!”