Mikoto Misaka: "Enjoy, enjoy… Hmph, Rei Ao, you're not planning on doing something that kind of bullying, are you?!"
Bibi Dong: "Silence. Rei Ao would never do such a thing."
Yotsuya Miko: "I also believe Rei Ao-nii wouldn't force anyone."
Mikoto Misaka: "But the way he's phrasing it, plus those few girls… No matter how you look at it, it's pretty suspicious~?"
Frieren: "Rei Ao always spouts some pervy lines. Just watch."
Mikoto Misaka: "This… fine."
Under the blood-red moonlight that pierced the shattered dome, scattered shadows fell across scorched earth.
Rei Ao stood at the center of the ring-shaped rubble, the hem of his black windbreaker stirring despite the still air.
Seven young women, deliberately left behind by him, were confined within a five-meter radius by an energy field he had set.
"Why…us?"
Holding her katana with blood-drained knuckles, Aoi Sangu's voice trembled. Cold sweat ran along her taut jawline.
Just a few minutes ago, she had personally witnessed this mysterious man raise his hand and reduce that 'Fifth Trumpet'—the "Seraph of the End" monster—to dust. In the blink of an eye, he'd caused all life within a ten-mile radius to vanish without a trace, leaving only the seven of them behind.
Biting her lip, Aoi asked,
"Why only us?!"
Rei Ao's lips curved.
"Merely because I happen to want to keep you seven around."
Shigure Yukimi abruptly dropped to one knee, her officer's trousers scraping the ground with a rasp. Despite her fear, she forced herself to raise her head: "You're not a vampire…nor a human. Could you be a Seraph?"
As someone who knew about the Seraph of the End experiments, her mind was racing, trying to find relevant data. But she couldn't recall any record matching the power of this man before her.
The others exchanged looks, each gripping their Cursed Gear with deep alarm.
"Hey!"
Suddenly, Mito Jujo let out a cry.
Her demon-arm sword began quivering beyond her control, the runic inscriptions on its blade rapidly fading as though in panic.
The same thing was happening with everyone's Cursed Gear, trembling as if horrified.
"Heh." Rei Ao chuckled softly.
He walked to Shigure Yukimi, who still knelt on one knee.
"You tried deducing I might be a product of your world's experiments, but I'm afraid your guess is incorrect."
He leaned down, using a single finger to tilt up the female officer's chin.
"I'm not one of those man-made test subjects of yours, but rather—"
"That's enough! No matter who you are, you murderer—prepare yourself!"
With a furious roar, Rika Inoue lunged. Her speed, augmented by Cursed Gear, was so fast she left afterimages. Even Yayoi Endo had no time to stop her.
The tip of her blade pressed against Rei Ao's throat. At first glance, it seemed about to cut his skin. But in reality, at about three millimeters away from flesh, it halted—like an invisible barrier lay between them.
Rei Ao didn't even shift his gaze.
Rika Inoue's eyes widened. She watched as her demon-arm weapon disintegrated from the tip, crumbling into black fragments that scattered like windblown sand.
"I do appreciate your courage for daring to strike at me."
Rei Ao's tone suddenly turned distant. With his gaze still calm, he gently tapped her forehead with one finger.
Bang!
She collapsed like a baby, clutching her head with a cry of pain.
Then Rei Ao swept his eyes over the others.
"Anyone else want to take a shot? I'll give you a chance."
"…"
Silence.
No one could comprehend how Inoue's Cursed Gear had vanished so easily.
"You bastard!"
Mito Jujo abruptly drew her sword, pointing it at Rei Ao.
"No matter your ability, slaughtering so many people is unforgivable—I absolutely will not—"
"Don't be reckless!"
Sayuri Hanayori quickly grabbed her arm.
"Slaughter, you say?"
Rei Ao folded his arms with a faint smile.
"I merely sent them home, that's all. Of course…"
His gaze skimmed across the group.
"They're only alive for now, pending final decisions."
"Sent…home? What nonsense!"
Mito Jujo said harshly, though her tone wavered with hidden fear.
She and all her comrades had clearly seen everyone vanish in an instant, leaving only these seven behind.
At that moment, Mito noticed standing next to Rei Ao was Hiiragi Shinoa, holding the unconscious Mirai Kimizuki in her arms.
"Hiiragi Shinoa, why are you siding with this demon?"
They recognized Shinoa, of course, or at least had some acquaintance with her.
"Heh."
Shinoa gave a half-smile.
That expression made Mito's eyes burn with fury.
"Traitor!"
She clenched her teeth. Her hatred of traitors made her want to lash out at Shinoa. She moved to punch, but her fist was instantly blocked by Krul's single finger.
Compared to Rei Ao, Krul was as weak as an ant, but to normal members of the Imperial Demon Army, the third progenitor vampire was a threat they couldn't shake.
"Quiet."
Krul said icily.
Having become Rei Ao's servant, she knew her role: to handle minor obstacles.
Shigure Yukimi saw the vampire's interference and said grimly, "Vampire Queen, the Third Progenitor, Krul Tepes—so you truly are from the vampire side! Dammit!"
Krul's appearance made her "confirm" Rei Ao was with the vampire faction.
"Heh."
Rei Ao chuckled, raising his hand to lightly stroke Krul's soft hair.
She went rigid for a moment but didn't pull away; she recognized the situation. As his servant, she lacked the power to resist.
In front of these Imperial DemonArmy girls, seeing Krul allow herself to be touched so docilely by him was shocking indeed.
"You see, ladies, this Krul here is now my servant," Rei Ao said breezily.
He tossed out the remark as if it were the simplest fact.
"…Impossible!"
Shigure Yukimi gasped. "A third progenitor vampire, a queen, becoming your servant?"
Sayuri Hanayori and Endo Yayoi exchanged disbelieving glances.
A lofty vampire queen the likes of Krul was actually someone else's underling?
More absurd than doomsday.
~~~
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