The Phantom was bewildered. Not only did it lose track of its pursuer, but communication with "I/We" severed—a level of interference unknown to both itself and its host, Sergeant Charles Sullivan.
Before the Phantom stood an armed boy, silently poised. He gripped a gun-shaped CAD, not a firearm, which the Phantom instantly recognized.
The boy, aiming the black CAD, spoke.
"Surprised, White-Masked Phantom? No more chaos. Harm further, and I'll erase your existence, even your 'survival instinct.'"
The boy clearly knew Sullivan's nature. No ranged weapons were visible, and his eyes showed no intent to use them. Yet, the Phantom—Sullivan—felt cold sweat behind its mask, unable to read the boy's depths. Surrender wasn't an option. It responded.
"If we leave quietly, no pursuit?" it asked.
"I don't meddle in foreign affairs. The US caused this mess," the boy replied.
Despite alliance, the US ignored warnings about interdimensional threats, choking on its own greed. If Japan was threatened, elimination was justified, but the US bore responsibility. Deploying Angie Sirius was futile—physical and modern magic were ineffective, as warned.
"Still, attacking our mages doesn't erase your sins. Your presence stirs unwanted greed," the boy said.
"What—!?" (What's happening… consciousness…) Sullivan gasped.
The boy's magic made Sullivan's awareness fade rapidly. Unable to signal "I/We" or move its enhanced body, Sullivan's last sight was the boy in black combat gear, silver eyes gleaming.
"Spirit Dispersion worked well. First real test against Parasites," Yugen mused.
Spirit Dispersion, an external mental structure decomposition spell, destroyed only the spirit structure tied to psions. Unsure of its Parasite effect or strain, Yugen used Tenjin's Eye as a precaution. It risked obliterating Sullivan's original mind, but Yugen had a countermeasure. Swapping Odin for Valkyrie, he aimed at the collapsed Sullivan when his communicator buzzed.
"Yugen, one object approaching fast. Orders?" Himeri asked.
"Drop the barrier and retreat. Tell Miyuki and Tatsuya," Yugen said.
"What about you?" Himeri asked.
"Obvious. I'll handle both Sirius," Yugen replied.
Facing them revealed his identity, but also Angie Sirius's. He was ready. A blank message from Tatsuya signaled his encounter with Lina.
(Lina's in trouble. Tatsuya's a tough opponent now,) Yugen thought.
Tatsuya's cheat-like Regrowth and Decomposition, top-tier psion shields, and virtual calculation zone—once a handicap—now matched Course 1 students via psion training. His Trident simultaneous casting and incomplete Far Strike made him formidable. Yugen worried more for Lina.
Sensing an approaching presence, he looked up. The barrier was down, so the figure—flying in—spotted him. His presence wasn't suppressed, as combat demanded.
A girl in combat gear landed, sky-blue hair and silver eyes masked by Parade. Yugen instantly recognized Celia. Her gaze locked on him, marking her as Tatsuya's equal. She aimed a pistol.
"Kagurazaka Yugen?" she asked.
"If I say yes, you'll try to kill me anyway, Stars' Number Zero, Celia Polaris," Yugen replied.
Celia's shock made Yugen inwardly sigh. Information was vital for allies and enemies. He'd mapped USNA's network, including Stars' roster. Celia's alertness surpassed Lina's, but her reaction was inadequate.
Not surprising, given past-life experience and Shinkage-ryu training dulled his reactions to minor shocks. Quitting as a typical mage wasn't worth revisiting.
"No surprise. Great minds stress information. Your target's already gone. Check if you want," Yugen said.
Celia cautiously approached Sullivan, confirming no pulse or heartbeat. Standing, she aimed at Yugen.
"How? No external or internal damage. Mental interference magic?" she asked.
"Guess. How long will you brandish that?" Yugen replied.
Her familiarity felt like his past-life sister's vibe. If true, the gods broke their vague promise. Unlikely she'd die conveniently—unless she acted recklessly. Her vibe screamed "doubt."
"You know the mage you killed wasn't normal?" she asked.
"Because he's a USNA soldier? Or possessed? The latter's mind is gone, so no proof," Yugen said.
Even if correct, facing a woman—a mage surpassing Lina—didn't change her lack of Japanese authority. Pointing a gun was illegal here.
"I'm grateful, but you're suspected of strategic magic. Come quietly—" Celia began.
"Foolish," Yugen cut in.
Using Valkyrie, he cast Round Blade, shattering the pistol's reinforcement spell, and Amaterasu Resplendent erased its bullets. Celia pulled the trigger, stunned by the empty click. As a soldier-mage, she swiftly drew something and hurled it.
"Can you dodge—Dancing Star!" she shouted.
Thirty-two daggers, launched chaotically, fixed mid-air at her voice, then sped at Yugen, nearing subsonic speed.
(Subsonic blades—integrated device? Too slow,) Yugen thought.
Lethal to normals, but Celia didn't know Yugen survived worse—hundreds of sonic carbonized bokken via Phase Shift Armor. Her Dancing Star was child's play. Dodging narrowly, Yugen saw Celia sweat.
(Is he human? No time for that!) she thought.
Seizing the distraction, Celia drew a combat knife, activating Molecular Divider's virtual field. Diverting Parade's power to location spoofing, she charged with self-acceleration. A sound tactic, but Yugen's form turned to mist.
(Parade!? When—?) Celia froze.
Her knife wouldn't budge—her body was "frozen." Psions wouldn't activate. Moving only her head, she saw her daggers at Yugen's feet.
"Temporarily disabled your magic. Only a few hours, but I'll knock you out," Yugen said.
Using Valkyrie, he cast a spell, and Celia blacked out, collapsing.
Using Suiton Ruten in a Matoi no Nigemizu-like form, triggering Keppyo Tokai if cut, sealing Celia's magic. A mental interference spell, Keppyo Tokai blocked physical and psion activity. Yugen could make it near-permanent, but like Oath, it restricted both caster and target. Limiting it to hours reduced drawbacks—subtracting from infinite was negligible, a reality Yugen sighed at.
The knockout was Dream World, a psion-based mental interference spell used on Eimi. Effective once, it wouldn't work twice on Celia.
No jamming or interference detected, Yugen aimed Valkyrie at Sullivan's body, cast a spell, shouldered both, and flew into Tokyo's night with effortless steps.
At the rendezvous, the situation was one-sided. Lina, mask on but in her true form, had clearly clashed hard with Tatsuya. Breathing heavily despite her calm face, she'd fought intensely.
Tatsuya, Himeri, Miyuki—despite retreat orders—and two others were present. Chihime, Kagurazaka's head, spoke casually.
"Yuu-kun, looks handled," she said.
"Yeah. Expected Mother, but Yakumo too?" Yugen replied.
"Hey, Yugen-kun. Personal reasons, and your mother helped," Yakumo said.
Tatsuya looked exasperated, Miyuki gave a wry smile. Yakumo's antics were par for those who knew him. Lina noticed Celia.
"Yuto… Celia!? You beat her!?" she exclaimed.
"She was hasty, so I caught her off-guard. You had rotten luck," Yugen said.
He laid Celia on grass, avoiding asphalt. Turning to Yakumo, he spoke.
"Yakumo-sensei, take this guy. Too much hassle here," Yugen said.
"Got it. Looks best. Kagurazaka-dono, negotiations?" Yakumo asked.
"Fine, Yakumo-dono. Better handled together," Chihime said.
Lina started to protest about Sullivan, but Yakumo took him and vanished. Her serious gaze at Yugen was understandable.
"Yuto, do you know what you've done?" she asked.
"I do. The root's already 'removed.' Taking him back gets you pre-experiment Sullivan—no new intel," Yugen said.
Post-Celia, Yugen used Tenyo Shoran (Amaterasu: Five Elements Harmony), an advanced Regrowth. It restored decades-old states, even reviving within 24 hours. Using experiment dates, Yugen reset Sullivan pre-possession. No recent intel remained. Decades-long restoration altered appearances, rivaling Reinforce's danger.
The US overlooked Parasites Lina eliminated, unlike Shuji, Yume, and Shizuku's success abroad.
"Want to fight me, Tatsuya, Himeri, Miyuki, and Mother to pursue?" Yugen asked.
"I'm mad about Celia, but I'm not that stupid," Lina replied.
Sullivan would be held at Yakumo's temple, but his fate was unclear. Yugen avoided probing Blanche or Headless Dragon's buried matters for peace of mind. Lina, furious over Celia, lacked the strength to challenge a superior foe.