Silence hung between the expanse of stars.
Mukuro slightly lowered her head, her long hair drifting gently in the void.
"Fumum," she finally spoke. "The pale mist that watches over the stars… a strange name."
Gabriel did not take offense.
His gaze instead shifted to the cosmic sea of light in the distance—a cluster of stars that seemed close, yet unreachable.
"Not strange," he replied calmly, "just full of mystery. Like this universe… vast, beautiful, and never fully understood by humans."
Mukuro followed his gaze for a moment, then returned her eyes to him.
Her golden eyes were clear—but closed, like a door locked from within.
"What is your purpose in coming to me, Muku?" she asked flatly, without excess emotion.
Gabriel turned to her.
"To watch the stars," he answered. "To discuss infinite possibilities. Isn't that beautiful in its own way?"
He raised his right hand to chest height.
Pale white mist emerged from his palm, swirling slowly like a breath of cold air, then spreading around them.
[- Dark Matter Magic: Malchut Schloss des Leerenlichts -]
In an instant, a transparent, spherical field formed, enveloping the space around them—a Bounded Field that separated the area from external disturbances.
Mukuro narrowed her golden eyes slightly.
Her hand extended forward.
"Michael."
Light gathered, forming a massive key—cold, weighty, a symbol of authority capable of opening or closing anything.
But before the key could move—
"Stay calm," Gabriel said softly, his voice as serene as the pale light rippling beneath his feet.
Mukuro paused.
Michael remained in her grasp.
She stared at Gabriel without blinking.
"This space has been isolated," she said coldly. "You have taken control of Muku's domain. Provide your reason… before Muku shuts you out."
"Heh." Gabriel let out a soft chuckle. "Ash already said—watching the stars and discussing the limitless possibilities of the universe, right?"
A brief pause.
"Then look," he continued calmly.
He snapped his fingers.
[- Dark Matter Magic: Haniel Umgestaltung des Leerenlichts -]
In an instant, the Mana within the Field was drawn to a single point, causing the space around them to appear folded—depth and distance lost all meaning, as if the coordinates of existence were being rewritten.
The distant stars felt close.
The void became a canvas.
Not an attack.
But… a demonstration of possibility.
Mukuro watched.
For the first time, the reflection in her eyes was not distant constellations—but a void too dense to be called empty.
Gabriel lowered his eyelids slightly.
"There is no world here yet."
He snapped his fingers once more.
The point did not explode.
He… opened it.
Like a wound in reality.
Silent. Soundless. Flashless.
Yet the space around them tensed, then stretched—as if something from before time itself had been released.
Invisible waves swept outward. Protons and neutrons scattered within the artificial space, forming tiny glimmers—like faintly glowing primordial particles.
Then something unseen began to organize itself.
A vast network.
Mukuro could feel it—Gabriel's Dark Matter acted as a gravitational framework for a world yet to be born.
"Structure…" she murmured softly.
And the first lights began to ignite.
Gabriel's thin smile widened slightly, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"Now… accelerate."
In the next instant, Mukuro witnessed a spectacle that even to her exceeded the limits of comprehension.
Massive gas clouds collapsed.
Stellar cores ignited one by one.
Galaxies spun like silver vortices in a black ocean.
Nebulae bloomed… then faded.
Within the Field, millions of years seemed to pass in a single second.
Mukuro remained still.
Yet the reflection in her eyes was no longer empty.
She saw creation.
She saw destruction.
She saw a cycle that favored no one.
***
Almost at the same time, night fully swallowed the skies over Tengu City.
Beyond the city limits, far from streetlights and human noise, Morgan walked calmly among the dark forest trees.
Her steps were light, almost soundless, as if the ground itself refused to disturb her.
"…even a small amount of magecraft can cause a commotion," she said coldly. "This world is far too sensitive."
As she meant, moments ago Morgan had constructed a hidden Bounded Field within the forest—a pivotal anchor point to be later used as a gateway to Rinkai.
Yet the release of her magical energy, though controlled, had still been enough to trigger the city's Spirit alarms.
This world overreacted to powers it could not comprehend.
Therefore, to avoid unnecessary interference, Morgan no longer disguised herself as an ordinary resident.
This time, she chose her true form.
She wore the attire of the Winter Queen.
A long, predominantly black gown wrapped her body in a silhouette both graceful and commanding, adorned with glowing blue accents that formed symmetrical patterns reminiscent of ancient magical sigils.
The layers of fabric fell heavy and majestic, conveying authority rather than mere beauty.
A bright outer cloak draped from her shoulders, contrasting with the dark main garment, like snow blanketing the night.
Small golden ornaments adorned its edges—subtle, yet clearly signaling that she was no ordinary mage.
Her long silver hair flowed straight past her waist, glimmering pale under the moonlight.
Atop her head rested a black crown crowned with sharp blue crystals, and a black veil partially obscured her face.
In her hand, a blue-glowing Demon Spear moved in harmony with her steps, as if the world around her adjusted itself to her presence.
Morgan did not dislike this attire. It was the most honest manifestation of herself.
Previously—at Gabriel's request—she had set aside this grandeur for modern clothing to blend in with humans.
Now, in the silent forest with no witnesses, there was no reason left to pretend.
A few steps later, a missile tore through the night air and struck directly toward Morgan.
The explosion rocked the forest—fire and shockwaves swept through the trees, the ground split open, and wooden debris rained down like shards of shattered spears.
Yet at the center of the devastation, Morgan remained standing.
A transparent layer of protective magic surrounded her, vibrating only faintly like the surface of water disturbed by a pebble.
No injuries.
Not even her gown was disturbed.
From the distant sky, armed silhouettes streaked through the smoke at high speed—AST Units in combat formation, led by Captain Ryouko.
"The attack hit the target," one of the units reported. "But… no effect whatsoever."
"Switch to close-quarters combat," Ryouko ordered firmly. "Maintain formation. Target is an unregistered Spirit, estimated Level AAA."
"Understood!" the entire unit responded in unison.
As the dust slowly settled, Morgan lifted her gaze to the sky, eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching soldiers.
Her gaze was calm.
Observant.
She recalled Gabriel's brief explanation.
They were called Wizards.
Humans who used a Realizer—a device that allowed manipulation of reality through computational calculations, creating control zones called Territories: Voluntary Domains.
Within these, the laws of physics could be "bent," forming a modern form of magic born from science.
The Realizer was implanted in the brain, enabling its user to construct a personal Territory, enhance the body beyond human limits, and control specialized combat units.
However, the strain on the brain was immense, requiring a Wiring Suit to stabilize the system.
Morgan studied them like a noblewoman observing a newly discovered toy.
A faint smile appeared on her lips—not mockery, but intellectual curiosity.
"Combining magic and science…" she murmured softly.
Her cold eyes reflected the glow of the approaching Wizards' machinery.
"Not bad," she continued calmly. "For the Magi of this world."
The Demon Spear shifted slightly in her hand.
"Very well… let's see how far these toys can imitate true miracles."
***
Inside the Fraxinus command room, the air felt heavier than usual.
The main screen displayed thin wisps of smoke rising among the forest trees.
Flashes of energy crisscrossed, while the silhouette of an unregistered Spirit moved swiftly, evading the hail of fire from the AST units.
No alarms sounded, yet the line of red indicators lighting up was more than enough to make the tension press against the chest.
Kotori sat in the command chair, one hand supporting her temple against the armrest.
The tilted lollipop remained faithfully at the corner of her mouth, but her gaze was sharp—fully focused on the screen before her.
"Report the situation," she commanded firmly, without raising her voice.
Reine stared at the data on the screen, her fingers moving calmly over the panel.
"Interesting… its spiritual energy level is stable. No signs of losing control." She tilted her head slightly. "However… the wave patterns don't match any Spirit data we have. Its frequency… is 'alien.'"
Kotori nodded faintly, her expression unchanged, as if she had already anticipated that answer.
"So, just like the previous case."
Kyouji adjusted his glasses. "Right. This Spirit—like the one that appeared a few days ago—isn't in the Ratatoskr or AST archives."
Shido, standing behind them, stared at the screen with a worried look.
"Lately… why are there so many Spirits without data?" he muttered softly. "One Spirit appearing was already a commotion. Now it's like… they're deliberately showing up."
__
Author's Note:
Ehehehe~ Mukuro 😌
Please support me, give me all your power stones, leave a comment, and share your favorite character list!! ✨✨✨