Hundreds of students from the noble faction were instantly subdued by the purple ether weapons that came flying from somewhere.
Ziklin was in the process of joining forces with the main Gjallarhorn group to detain the captured noble faction students in the correctional facility.
Suddenly, a tremendous shockwave hit them. When they came to their senses, the towering walls that had been firmly erected from the outskirts to the center of the Golden Street were collapsing one by one.
Rumble──!!
With another resounding shock, the sound of a massive collapse was heard in the distance. Walls that seemed impervious to invasion crumbled, and in their place was a presence like a black mountain range advancing steadily.
“Argh…!”
Ziklin staggered to her feet with a strained expression. There was no time to leisurely lie around. She perked up her black wolf ears and surveyed the surroundings.
Students were scattered across the streets.
The regular students and dwarf residents had already evacuated to the distant dormitory areas or auditorium due to the alarms that sounded the previous night. In the streets, now turned into ruins, students wearing the black uniforms of the <United Student Council> forces were either unconscious or staggering.
“Ugh…”
“Re-report… Situation of damage in Squad 3…!”
“…!”
“Ugh… I-I have to stay… conscious…”
“Damn it…! It’s already… that far…!”
Ziklin heard the pitiful sounds with her sensitive ears.
‘Aside from the squad leaders, nearly all of them are in a state akin to combat incapacity…’
Eleven squad leaders had just reached the third level of training, prepared for the shock with their keen senses. Everyone else had been swept away by the shockwave and was lying unconscious or injured.
Even the squad leaders were busy moving the wounded, trying to care for their squad members. Even for the top-tier fighters in the academy city, who used [Wave Ether], fighting that gigantic snake in such circumstances was impossible.
“Is this… annihilation?”
Ziklin staggered and tried to find the thunderclap of the blue-and-white lightning that was surely still fighting somewhere.
‘At this rate, we won’t even be able to hold out until we meet up with the vanguard of <Aesir Girls’ High School> operating in other areas… The <United Student Council>’s independent forces have essentially been wiped out… Where is the president?’
But the noble sound of thunder was drowned out by the overwhelming noise of destruction.
The black snake’s body filled her field of vision. Even though it was several hundred meters away from Ziklin, its colossal size, which obscured even the white of the towering walls, made it feel unreal.
“…”
Like a conquering monarch advancing toward the throne, no army remained in this place to block the black entity’s path.
Whoooosh──!!
Whoooosh──!!
Dozens of armored puppets followed the conquering monarch, advancing to determine the fate of the academy city and Yggdrasil.
They marched proudly toward Yggdrasil.
There was nothing they could do to stop it.
If they tried to stop it, only death awaited.
“…”
Ziklin looked up at the sky without a word. The midsummer heat was nowhere to be found, and only cold clouds of dust and wind blew under the cloudy sky.
“…”
Is this… destiny?
Is all history doomed to repeat destruction in the end?
The land once ruled by the beastfolk nobles had bowed before the might of the military factions led by the Aesir family. Yet, even that thousand-year-old order was now being shattered by this transcendent being.
“…”
Yet, Ziklin steadied her grip on her greatsword.
“…I see. This is the end.”
Clang─!
Then, she would remain and fight to the end on this final battlefield.
There were those better suited than her, with her dim wits, to tend to the injured and rally the remaining forces scattered throughout the academy city.
‘Though I’m from the <Public Bana Boarding School>… I refuse to conform to the changing order now.’
What she did best was to charge forward… She became vice president to follow the respected president and fight to the last.
Now that Yggdrasil’s fate was precarious.
It was time to fulfill her duty.
‘Vice Secretary Bell… and Treasurer Erda. I entrust the rest to you. Please support the president well.’
As one belonging to the order of the old world, she would resist to the last.
And she would disappear in the midst of this academy city’s transformation.
“…”
With that resolve, Ziklin summoned all her ether.
And she shouted at the transcendent being passing by.
“I am the vice president of the <United Student Council> defending <Academy City Jörd>!! I will show you the blade of those who protect the academy city─!!”
Tatat!
Ziklin charged without hesitation.
Though it was colossal enough to be unreachable no matter how much she ran.
Though she knew she couldn’t win, no matter how much she thought about it.
Even so, she ran without hesitation.
But…
There were numerous enemies trying to stop the guardian of the old era from approaching the god of snakes.
The bombardment of black ether weapons forming around the massive body of the ‘snake’. And the relentless attacks of the automated armored weapons targeting those approaching.
“…!”
Ziklin saw the dark elf with the snake tattoo around her eyes in the distance. Another traitor, she was smirking down at her while perched atop the armored weapon.
“Andrea──!!”
“Heh, you’re charging in even after seeing this force? Something’s wrong with your head, isn’t it?”
“You!! You all─!! I’ll kill you─!!”
“It’s hard enough finding people, so stop doing things that don’t pay off. Why don’t you join us instead? Even if the world and power change, money remains.”
“Shut up─!!”
“Oh, okay. Then die.”
Andrea gestured dismissively at Ziklin. At her signal, the magical armored weapons charged forward.
Whoooosh─!
“…!”
Ziklin swung her massive greatsword at the magical armored weapon blocking her path. At the very least, she wanted to prove that she hadn’t succumbed to this moment of ruin.
Swish─!!
“Ugh?!”
But with the relentless attacks of the numerous enemies charging at her, her greatsword lost its way in the air.
Whoooosh─!
Swoosh swoosh swoosh─!
Dozens of magical armored weapons surged toward her.
A storm of densely packed black armaments.
‘…I apologize. President.’
It was at that moment when Ziklin sensed her end approaching.
Flash─!
Amidst the gray sky, a massive golden light gleamed.
At the end of a burned-out history, a light of hope blazed.
“…?!”
“…?!”
Andrea and Ziklin.
The two, who had been facing off near the colossal snake, looked up at the sky simultaneously. A massive golden wave was crashing over the center of the academy city, encircling the circular street.
“Gold…?”
“What is… this…?”
Befitting its proximity to Yggdrasil.
The street named after the most glorious color.
Golden ether surged, dyeing the Golden Street.
A golden curtain.
A golden aurora.
A golden dress.
The massive golden ether flowed from somewhere in the Golden Street. It painted pictures in the sky, following the rhythm that flowed like a melody.
[Ahem, ahem…]
A sound of someone clearing their throat echoed from somewhere. And within the golden rhythm, a girl read a fairy tale with a trembling voice.
[Memories of morning, the dawn star reflected in the red bicycle, so gentle that it brings tears.]
Then a massive image was etched onto the gray canvas.
As if a giant was drawing with a golden crayon, the scene resembled…
Ziklin and Andrea muttered simultaneously.
“…A cat?”
“…A cat?”
At that moment.
The enormous golden cat image moved comically.
It moved its mouth as if yawning after a nap, drooling slightly.
-Meoww──!
From the giant cat image, as large as the ‘snake,’ warmth flowed, and fear could not be felt at all.
“…!”
Ziklin felt the emotion to be all too familiar.
-Ziklin, you’re the strongest here, so take the lead.
-…!
-If I fall, you will lead them next.
-Yes…!
It was the same… It was the same emotion she felt when the president acknowledged her, someone often disregarded for her lack of intelligence… That pure and earnest emotion from the first time she was praised by someone made her heart race anew.
Thump─!
The golden ether resonated and seeped into that pulse.
‘The ether… is recovering…? Why…?’
In a hurry, Ziklin turned her gaze back to the sky and the cat image.
-Meoww──!
The mouth of the golden cat image opened.
From its mouth, countless cats began to spill out.
Like a massive dungeon gate opening, a stream of cats poured forth.
“…?!”
“…?!”
Like tens of thousands of golden stars etched into the night sky,
An overwhelming number of cats were pouring out.
-Meoww──!
-Meoww──!
-Meoww──!
The sparkling cats raced through the sky, riding red bicycles.
-Meoww──!
-Meoww──!
-Meoww──!
They pedaled at an incredible speed, leaving afterimages… pouring down from the sky like a waterfall. And those tens of thousands of cats moved like a stream, charging toward the giant snake’s head.
Boom─!
A brilliant explosion so dazzling that the dull sky shimmered with golden light. Each time the cats collided with the black ether, golden explosions overlapped tens of thousands of times, creating a deafening roar.
Boom, boom, boom, boom──!!!
The green 'dragon,' surprised by this sudden turn of events, shouted in an alarmed voice as the snake's advance abruptly halted.
[Wh-what the heck is this ragged thing─?! Golden magic?! Could it be?! No… The magic used by the inferior gold race shouldn't work anymore─?!]
-Meoww──!
-Meoww──!
-Meoww──!
And… the approaching golden trail.
The golden carriage drawn by countless flying cats.
The girls riding in it were heading toward the snake's head.
Whoosh──!!
“…!”
Ziklin saw it. The president was there, along with the [Violet Spinning Wheel] and… the pink-haired girl.
‘The president herself is stepping in…! But who on earth is that pink hair…?’
Andrea clicked her tongue at the sight and muttered. She gestured to the dozens of magical armored weapons, preparing to lead them toward the snake's head.
“…I didn't anticipate this. It’d be troublesome if the client dies.”
“…!”
As Ziklin hurriedly raised her greatsword to stop Andrea,
“Andrea──!!”
A voice called out from behind.
Some of those voices were all too familiar to Ziklin.
Despite being in shambles, their eyes still shone brightly.
Receiving the golden aura descending from the sky, they resonated fiercely.
“That’s enough!!”
And the ether skills were unleashed.
Attacks to clear up all grudges from the past night were launched.
[Blind Stitch]──!!
[Justice Strike]──!!
[Justice Flying Kick]──!!
[Revolutionary Flag]──!!
[Flashing Sword Assault]──!!
The thrown daggers formed patterns.
The arrows shot relentlessly chased.
The mist-cloaked girl swung her sword in midair.
The ether-exuding flag hindered the magical weapons.
A flurry of sword strikes was unleashed, creating a massive explosion.
And…
A brown-haired girl wielding a crimson sword stood beside Ziklin. She smiled and spoke.
“…Sorry for the chaos, but we’re not too late, right? We’ve come to support from <Central Prism Academy>. …I’m here with Senior Bell.”
“…You all!”
“Although we’re delayed beyond the originally planned operation time… we’ll join from now on.”
Albit, wielding a glowing red sword, looked at Andrea. She seemed busy deflecting various ether skills while controlling the magical armor puppets.
Then, from behind, a ragged-looking Bell burst out, grumbling.
“Hey! Albit! I said I’d say that line! You were so pale earlier, not knowing what to do!”
“Bell was the same way, though─!”
“Shut up, Sigrun!!”
“Isn't this the wrong time for arguing?!”
“Ugh?! Another attack?! Justice Kick!!”
“That’s not a kick, though?!”
Smiling wryly, Albit responded.
“Hehe, but… the situation has changed.”
Albit watched the golden cat carriage heading toward the snake’s head. More precisely, she looked at the pink-haired girl riding it.
“I don’t know why, but if Senior Clara steps in… I just feel like it can be done.”
“…”
Ziklin heard those words and pursed her lips, rebutting.
“…If it’s done, it’ll be the president who does it.”
“…”
An awkward silence followed.
But Andrea was the one to break it.
She barely dodged the attacking party’s onslaught and shouted in frustration.
“…Huff. This is tiresome. You fools can’t see the bigger picture. Just die already.”
Albit and Ziklin replied simultaneously.
“We’re the ones who are tired of it!”
“We’re the ones who are tired of it!”
So let’s end it.
Andrea.
*
Boom─!!
I landed on the snake’s head with Hilde and Freya. Offnir stood there, emanating a menacing aura.
“Blue and white, and violet, huh… and the inferior race who knows the prophet.”
“Oh my…☆ I don't like the title you’re calling me by♪”
“Kukuku… Should I change the name that’ll be engraved on your tombstone?”
“Hmm─☆ Let’s see… I’ve heard [Pink Spiral] too often, and [Faded Spiral] doesn’t suit my current sparkly☆ self…”
As I spoke, the golden cats swarmed around me.
They soon transformed into familiar shapes, hovering by my side.
-Meoww──!
-Meoww──!
-Meoww──!
Daggers.
Long swords.
Greatswords.
Spears and bows.
I grabbed a dagger adorned with a golden cat illustration. From it, the fairy tale of a girl’s life resonated.
“Indeed.”
To the enemy who threatens everyone.
Tremble in fear as you call me…
Call me the God of War.