Epilogue I: Aftermath

As the deafening explosion erupted, a lone figure floating in the sky far away slowly narrowed its gaze.

Among the wide expanse of rubble below ground, its eyes tried determine who the victor was from the massive collision between the two Spirit's respective attacks.

Its eyes remained fixed down until the victor was shown as the dust and smoke was slowly blown by the passing wind.

In battles with similar situations like these, the victor should always rise up as it overcomes its challenge and the loser would be destined to stay down. Cliched and as stupidly obvious as it may sound to be, it was without doubt a irrefutable fact.

Soon, the entity's eyes widened albeit slightly. The victor has risen up.

"...."

To the entity's slight displeasure, it seemed that the victor didn't sustain that much damage from the blast—or to its other speculation, the damage it sustained have already begun to heal in the first place. Truly, it was not good as the entity's calculation towards the condition of the victor was far from perfect.

Nevertheless, that fact won't change the actions that this entity planned in hand...no, well, it may have to require some adjustments.

Still holding it's respective weapon as it remained vigilant, the victor began to strode forward to its downed opponent.

"..."

The entity watched the victor who slowly approached its fallen down opponent. The two seemed to be conversing with each other.

And just like that, a few seconds passed. The entity then slowly stretched out its hand as Reiryoku gathered forming as it converged into a single 'orb' of light.

"—N.... —O—.... A—...."

It silently muttered. Cracked words that doesn't really mean nor even sound anything from a normal person's perspective. But no, the orb was anything but 'normal'.

Soon, the orb morphed into small white glowing flower that began to emit small particles of light. For anyone who can see what this entity made by now, they would clearly feel the primal instinct of dread and fear.

That very small flower itself embodies the concept of true death. Despite its 'simple' appearance, the emitted particles of light that comes out from the flower sported properties that could more or less 'instantly kill' anything alive or moving that it comes in contact.

A barrier nor any kind of shield would do naught against it. It cannot be blocked by those [Realizers] made by these humans. Even an [Astral Dress] would only hold for a while before completely disabling it.

Yet, despite knowing how deadly and potent the flower's capabilities is, it seemed that the entity was slightly dissatisfied about it. Limited as the entity's power may be in this state, the 'flower' that it made seemed to not meet its expectations due to its short time limit, durability, and versatility—but its still passable on fulfilling its job.

The entity expected it to be more larger and to even last longer in order to seal off any chances of these variables escaping its 'particles' release. But here was the result, it can't do anything about it as long as its form was 'restricted' at this cloned state.

"...."

The victor didn't seem to notice the entity's presence yet. Either the victor was too focused towards its opponent to notice, or maybe the victor didn't really notice the entity's presence up above the sky.

Most likely, the latter.

The entity was now bidding time until the 'flower' fully blooms to its splendor. Yes, as long as the entity 'finishes' up its blooming, eliminating variables like the 'victor'—even alongside the loser...who could be considered as its 'daughter' as well in a sense, would be necessary.

In order to reach 'it'—Her goal. Her promise.

"Ara Ara?"

It was then, a voice called out which didn't really caught or gained the interest of the entity.

"Ah~ I really wonder what's happening as of late. To think that someone like you would appear this openly, is this my lucky day perhaps?"

The owner of the voice 'rather' sounded joyful, but if anyone heard the way she sounded it, the comment was devoid of honesty. In fact, it rather sounded annoyed and surprised.

Without even responding to the gun aimed dead at the entity, it kept its gaze towards the flower in its hand that was planned to be released.

Before the entity could drop it, swiftly, the girl pulled the trigger.

*BANG*

And she aimed another gun towards the entity and now, she decided to shower the entity with a rain of bullets.

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

And yet, when the guns fell silent, the entity was unharmed, having hardly even felt the impact of the bullets, feeling as though a feather had brushed up against it—or in another case, the bullets just seemingly passed through just like when you hit empty air.

Only after that, the entity turned its face to the girl—Kurumi Tokisaki, with an undefined expression. The reason for that is that her face could be more or less described as blurred from an outsider's eyes.

"Kihihihihi~" Kurumi laughed as she smiled. "Is that enough to get your attention?"

"...."

"Silent treatment after all the time you've spent bothering me, how cold," Kurumi said. "Still, our encounter was really unexpected. Never I had the thought to easily find you...even though you occasionally annoy me each and every time only at the next second to disappear...and that thing..." Kurumi stiffened as her attention turned to the flower on the entity's hands.

Kurumi's eyes narrowed. The instinctual fear that she felt when she bore her eyes on the flower immediately kicked in. Her body was screaming to get away and take distance.

It was the first time she saw and felt dread to a degree like this. Is that this entity's Angel? In the first place, she knew this entity was a Spirit. So by simple deduction, the answer would be yes. But Kurumi still wasn't sure about it since she haven't seen this entity's Angel even back then since no circumstances made the entity do so.

As such, her vigilance was heightened to the highest possible degree. For all she knows, this entity couldn't be reasoned in the first place.

'Don't come in contact to anything that comes out from it...' Kurumi thought as she turned her face from the flower to the entity. '...Or else, you die. Is it?'

"....—"

The entity then moved its hand, flickering with small motes of light, she pointed it to Kurumi. At the next moment, the lights that was emitted from the flower began to fly to her.

It was at that moment Kurumi had made her decision. She flew away and took distance while readying herself. Whatever the entity was doing now, it should be put down with haste.

"<Zaphkiel>!" Kurumi declared as she called out her Angel. The Angel took form of a gigantic golden clock as it soon manifested behind her as she soon aimed her guns to its chosen numbers up high.

This battle has little worth at first in Kurumi's grand goal of eliminating the 'First Spirit', but by her observations. The entity wasn't the type to show up in the open unless she finds someone to turn into a Spirit, or if it is something that is in need for the entity's interest.

That eliminates the former, for it was clear that it wasn't applicable in the first place.

Showing a ferocious grin, Kurumi decided. Even if this battle would cost some of her 'time', derailing what the entity's goal here should be worth it.

Besides, she has a battery to charge up her time, isn't it? As long as there is any living being with enough 'time', that would be already considered as one. Tenguu City—or rather, even the whole country and world would fit the bill.

That is, if she lost her moral compass and proper reasoning as a human. But gladly and sadly, she didn't.

And as she had concluded, the target of this entity was none other than the individual who had won the battle earlier and the boy who she had met a few days prior, Rei Ainsworth.

"For this enigma to make such drastic moves in order to eliminate you, aren't you quite of a trouble-magnet Rei-san?" Kurumi uttered as she giggled in amusement.

'Maybe adjusting my schedule for meeting you again faster might be worth it after all'

And so, another small yet deadly skirmish took place up above the skies.

——

[3rd PoV]

Despite the numerous layers that Rei made as an insurance in order to 'keep' the battle contained, it soon turned out that his actions all ended up in naught as the collision of their attacks destroyed it all.

The place was in utter ruin. It was as if a nuclear blast just took place in the area.

Inverse Tohka suddenly jolted out from her sudden slumber. Her eyes were still particularly blurry but she can tell that she was lying among the dust and concrete.

Her astral dress looked worse than she could imagine, it was just enough to protect her from a huge explosion to the point it was literally in tatters and barely covered her curvaceous body, not that she didn't mind such small details though.

She tried to move but found her joints and muscles too weak, even wiggling her fingers were too much of a task.

All she could do was laugh terribly. There is no doubt that the bastard couldn't survive this encounter. Her chest rose up and down in difficulty as she tried to take in air.

She laughed so loud that she didn't notice someone was approaching her. That's when she realized who it was when the feeling of dread...came setting in.

The dread that she felt was however accompanied with another emotion. Contrastingly from dread, she also felt...relief, the bastard was alive and well. She honestly wondered how can such contradicting emotions mix well in her heart.

Just like Inverse Tohka, Rei too survived the inevitable blast. His clothing was more or less still intact. Some of his skin smothered with cuts and bruises all over—which was alarmingly being healed at a fast rate.

His gaze remained neutral, much to her displeasure. Did the bastard even gave his all when they fought? She doesn't know and she doesn't want to know.

But there are clear things present at this current situation.

Unlike her, the bastard has the strength to walk without difficulty. As much as she wanted to do the same, she couldn't.

It is obvious who is the winner of the battle and Rei decided to check on her as soon as he confirmed his victory.

Inverse Tohka could only grit her teeth in her own failure and slowly replaced by fear and dread when Rei was now overshadowing her.

'He is stronger...and the winner,' She thought as she gritted her teeth.

Then she found herself crying… why was she crying? Why is her cheeks now wet? It only made her more baffled than ever.

Rei who was still holding <Raguel> on his hand, stared at Tohka's figure on the ground.

"It's over," Out of his broken, bloodied lips Rei announced toward Tohka.

Tohka was somehow crying all over and doesn't give him a clear reply. This Tohka was still in the state of inversion and after subduing her, this was the result.

To be clear, this was only the 'second' time that he saw Tohka cry. That's why it was somehow foreign to him seeing her do so.

Rei was about to speak further but...

{Finish 'her'}

...A mysterious voice interrupted his thoughts and made Rei hesitate for a moment. Rei was annoyed that he was disturbed by some kind of voice that comes out from nowhere.

{Finish her!}

The mysterious voice demanded urging him to move. Yet, he didn't.

'Is this a mind invasion trope or something?' Rei scoffed silently as he frowned.

'Should I go to a psychiatrist in a later date?' Rei thought jokingly. Even so, he seriously considered going though. It won't hurt to do so, right?

{FINISH HER OFF, YOUR OPPONE—!}

Rei pulled his blade away and struck it in the ground as it soon dematerialized at the next second. At the same time, he also dematerialized his Astral Dress which turned into motes of light as it was replaced by his casual attire.

Soon, the mysterious voice ceased to exist much to his relief. But even with that...

'Shit...'

....he still couldn't help but curse at himself deep in his thoughts.

Why? There was this part of him that was infuriated that he couldn't finish off his 'opponent'—who was designated as Tohka at the moment. It was concerning honestly. The 'conditions' applied in using this [Alternative]'s would really come bite him back in the future if left unattended.

All he can do now was to stare at her fiercely, and show that his resolve was as strong as it should be.

With the barriers slowly dissipating, Rei looked up in the sky, like a cracking glass, the barriers were in complete mess. Soon, the broken pieces fell down as it turned into wisps of mana soon after.

Rei faced Tohka once more, who was still evidently crying and sobbing for a reason. Seeing this nature of hers in his 'normal' perspective, he couldn't help but gently hugged her tightly, as if reassuring her.

"I...I'm sorry," Rei apologized to her with a broken voice. "Everything is over. It's alright," he reassured her.

Inverse Tohka was taken by surprise when she felt his embrace and much to her surprise, she didn't mind it at all and accepted it. The feeling of how familiar his embrace is.

Inverse Tohka, who had been held in his arms for a while, seemed to have calmed down a little, and then tried to push him away with the miniscule strength that she has, and opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind for something. At this point, she now stopped crying.

"Y-you!" Inverse Tohka exclaimed as her eyes widened.

What was this bastard doing?! Didn't they just try to kill each other just a while ago and now, he was comforting her?! Also, she noticed that his guard was completely down at this very moment. Isn't it the best time to end him with a swift strike?

Unfortunately, to her massive dismay, she has no strength to do so.

Rei was somewhat happy that somehow she still has strength to talk to him. "Do you remember me, Tohka? Are you okay?" He put his hand on her cheek as he gently wiped away her tears.

Startled for a moment, she paused before answering.

"Bastard, do I look like I'm okay?" She sarcastically asked before slapping his hand away.

"Haha. Well, you're not," Rei replied. Honestly, it was a stupid question in the first place, yet he still asked. All it's purpose was to somewhat lighten the mood.

'Rei...?' She thought his name subconsciously.

Inverse Tohka could feel it, her head turning gears at the mention of his name in her mind but to no avail, it didn't stop. "You are the one who I need to kill...!"

Rei wasn't even surprised at her threat and it doesn't help that she was still teary-eyed as she said those words. Her goal was clear from the start. To kill and make him gone. The reason? To simplify, it was Rei himself.

Now how would he handle this predicament?

"I know...and you can try doing that later. I'll be there to relieve your anger, frustrations, and anything...but first," Rei paused as he let off a soft smile. "Don't move your body too much, you will just strain your body more than it already is"

She wanted to retort as she tried to move but to no avail she was too wounded and exhausted to even move a finger at this point.

Rei knew that Tohka must not need to move due to her current condition. In fact, she was barely clothed at all with her Astral Dress, it wouldn't be wrong to say that she was already naked in a way. As such, he prioritized the welfare of Inverse Tohka before her decency and so he pulled out a jacket from his [dimensional pocket] and placed it on her bare body.

Inverse Tohka flinched when the jacket was placed on top of her shoulders. She was promptly confused and bewildered that the boy wasn't even trying to kill him after confessing her motives.

"We need to get you treated first, Tohka. After that...I'll try reassure and fill you up with the questions and everything you may have in hand," He explained.

It was obvious that he was worried over her, much to Inverse Tohka's dismay once more.

Yet...she felt warmth welling up inside her. This can't go on...

It was then, that feeling dawned upon them.

Rei looked up, wondering where it came from and that is where he witnessed it at first sight.

'Motes of light...? Huh, snow...? Wait—!?'

Rei's thoughts were abruptly stopped as he widened his eyes. His body froze in realization.

Impossible!

Rei didn't expect 'Her' to make a move against him already!

Alongside him, Inverse Tohka also flinched as a quelling anger and suppressed feeling of fear enveloped her entire body. 'So 'She' decided to get me caught up as well... nothing less I would expect from you, mo—'

She cut off what she was thinking soon after before turning her gaze towards Rei who was still standing stiff frozen. Rei remained immersed all by himself thinking of several countless possibilities happening next in hand. That wad until Inverse Tohka snapped him out of it.

"Bastard! Don't just stand still!" Inverse Tohka called out with agitation and...worry laced in her tone. "Avoid those! Don't you dare come in contact with any of that!"

"!"

In instinct, he knew. Swiftly, he carried Inverse Tohka in his hands in a bridal carry as he leapt away on a [gate] before those motes of light fell on them. The place they were transported too was on the rooftop of a high building with considerable distance from where they came from.

Quickly, he scanned the area as he traced where these motes of light which brought the two Spirit's dread came from.

Less than a second after, he found a glowing flower hovering in a distance on the air. Rei quickly summoned one of his pillars as it was then aimed at the said flower.

"[Incinerate]"

He commanded as a ray of compressed purple flames was shot. With trailing wisps of flames, he confirmed the disappearance of the said flower...but the motes of light was another issue. Still, the place where they are could be considered as safe at the moment.

"We're safe here," Rei said as his eyes didn't left where the cause of this was located from before.

Much to his disappointment, it seemed that 'she'—the perpetrator, had already left the area as soon as Rei noticed what was happening. He either let his guard down and did not notice her presence, or maybe she was too far or was hidden in a distance out of his reach.

Rei then gave up the idea of tracking 'her' any further as he clicked his tongue. He knew that something bad would already just come out of it if he does so at the moment.

Soon, a voice called up interrupting him from his thoughts.

"...Let me down"

Rei only looked back to see Tohka was now standing as he let her down, her only covering which is Rei's jacket has been abandoned to the ground. He froze when Inverse Tohka was looking straight to his own eyes.

"...Tohka?" Rei was clearly unaware of what Inverse Tohka was trying to do.

"I'm exhausted..." She grumbled before continuing. "You want 'her'—your Tohka back, right?" Inverse Tohka questioned him vaguely and the way she didn't even flinch from her question means that she was very serious about it.

"..."

Inverse Tohka immediately grasped his collar and pulled him closer to her own cheeky face. It doesn't even help that Tohka was barely covered by her own Astral Dress and that his own body was touching each other boldly.

This made Rei slightly perplexed as he soon voiced out his thoughts.

"What are you planning to do?" Rei said in pure curiosity as a smile made it's way on his face. "Well, even if I know, there are things that must be prioritized first. We need you to get treated now immediately," Rei reasoned as he locked his eyes with her showing concern.

Seeing his smile, Inverse Tohka slowly widened her eyes. Forget about his concerned look, that smile somewhat felt that it was given to mock her from losing!

"I know your tricks, bastard! Kissing me will make me go away, right? Why didn't you took the liberty of exploiting it?!" Inverse Tohka was visibly enraged and then just calmed later on.

"But you need to get treated you first," In order to stop the bastard from talking nonsense, Tohka flared her angry eyes.

"Make me disappear already!" She demanded.

"...Disappear..."

"Yes, you heard that right bastard..." Inverse Tohka spoke as she squeezed those words in pain from her mouth. "...so please. I'm not the one who you should be concerned on. 'She' is the one who currently needs you"

Inverse Tohka didn't retort anymore and then just straight dunk her lips into Rei, biting his lips in the process.

Rei didn't expect this 'Tohka' to be so bold of her sealing even though they haven't even dated nor developed positive feelings for each other. To be exact, it was the complete opposite as she considered him at some point to be her most hateful enemy.

This was his general knowledge before sealing but the fact that it seemed to be working right now is mind-boggling.

Eventually, a soft glow coalesced into the air.

And so, the sealing took place.

...

...

...

The two of them seemed to be in a standstill. Tohka, the Inverse one...? No, that wasn't entirely correct....? Isn't it?

Rei, kept on blinking not only once, twice, nor thrice, but several more times in empty thoughts. Rei himself was oblivious to what just happened. He was being held by Tohka's—or the Inverse Tohka's strong arm on his collar.

Her weak state was apparent. Inverse Tohka was visibly struggling while standing up as she held his collar.

He knew that the sealing was successful and the proof of it was that Tohka was lacking her Astral Dress completely but why she haven't returned to her innocent, ehem...nay. Why haven't 'his' Tohka returned?

Inverse Tohka could only watch Rei's eyes with confusion and frustration. Rei prepared for the worst outcome to happen.

"You!" Tohka...the Inverse one, gritted her teeth in frustration. "Why am I not gone!?" Her wish to disappear in this world was really eager. After all, her take over was 'overdue' already.

"Even if you ask me that..." Rei expected for Inverse Tohka to return to her original form, and when her powers were sealed as an outright inverse, he could feel his head lost.

It might be possible that the Tohka he knew will no longer exist...but that was far from reality.

Inverse Tohka abruptly took her hands off Rei as she clasped her head in confusion, as she doesn't know what to do. Without even looking back, she just went away, opposite of Rei barefooted and naked.

"Tohka, where are you—?" Rei exclaimed as he stood up and caught up on Tohka amidst the ruins. Fortunately, Rei doesn't need to catch up upon her...

*THUD*

...since Inverse Tohka unceremoniously dropped down the ground farther from him.

Rei was approached the downed Inverse Tohka as he then held her in his arms. It was then, he heard someone that made him freeze.

"Rei...?"

Rei could not mistake that aloof voice. He slowly turned around to realize that his thoughts turned out to be true. He was still in a state of shock that he couldn't even talk.

Tohka returned. Although, just like her inverse counterpart, she was also naked...

"Ah... so it wasn't just a dream hehe," Tohka with half-closed eyes said as she smiled weakly in relief. "But Rei, why do I feel so weak...? Uh, what happened...?"

Tohka was trying to understand what exactly happened around them and before Rei could reach her, she unceremoniously became unconscious and dropped on the ground. Luckily, Rei just got in time to catch her body and held her in his free arm.

Looking back and forth towards the two identical girls on his arms, he couldn't help but feel conflicted as he felt joy as if he had just won a grand prize while also feeling trouble upon how many things might come out of it.

Before he could contemplate any further, he had noticed that several presences were moving straight towards this way. By taking a guess, it was probably the AST or DEM's Wizards.

Rei decided to open a [Gate] immediately while carrying both Tohka's who was currently naked on his arms. All he wanted for now is for them to be safe from here right at this very moment.

——

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[A/N: As you can see, it seems that it notified you guys that I uploaded a new chapter even though it isn't. In fact, as you know, it was not.

More or less, this is a 'Re-upload' of the original chapter.

Sorry for the sudden inconvenience for this.

The reason for this is that there are some details that does not align with how things should've been on the overall structure of the story.

I won't mention all of it since it will be spoilers from the Light Novel as well as the future progression of the story. But here I will explain the revision that I made.

That one is of the way the confrontation of Kurumi and Phantom was made. There was a fatal error in that part, in fact, [Phantom] was only a temporary codename given to her on Vol. 6. That means Kurumi doesn't know what her codename is, alongside the clue on her 'real identity' as well.

As you can see a major blunder that I didn't notice not until I reread the novel a while ago. And this would affect how the interactions would take place in the future.

Other than that and some other few details, everything is well. If some may ask if Tenka really knew 'Her', then yes. It is mentioned a few times in the latter parts of the whole novel series.

That is all I guess. For those who bothered reading this long note, then I appreciate the effort. With that guys, see ya in the next update]