◇ One hour after Tanaka left Kai.

Kai: “…Huh? Where am I?”

I woke up in a hospital room. An unfamiliar ceiling, on a white bed, next to it is a small TV of an old type.

Old Man: “You’re awake… As expected of an S-Rank. You have an astonishing recovery ability.”

An old man was sitting next to me, holding out both hands. From the old man’s hands, a gentle green light was emitted. This is the light that occurs during healing magic.

Old Man: “Just a little longer… There’s still a little scar left, but the wound is closed for now. You should be grateful to me, who was called Japan’s Blackjack as an A-Rank healing magician.”

Kai: “Yes, thank you… (Wouldn’t that simply be Blackjack…)”

*Blackjack is a nickname for a really skilled and famous doctor/surgeon.

The old man, who I couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious. When I tried to get up, he stopped me with his hand. It seems that I am still being healed.

Blackjack: “Really… That’s why I hate clearers, they’re always reckless… Think about the one who has to heal you. Well, if you’re not dead, I can fix everything! Hahaha!”

Kai: “I’m sorry, thank you.”

This old man feels like the antithesis of an artisan. But his skills as a doctor seem to be certain. I’ve heard that if a healing magician has knowledge as a doctor, they can judge which parts to heal first, which increases the survival rate. Moreover, if he’s a famous doctor, aka Blackjack, he might be able to heal any wound as long as you’re not dead.

Blackjack: “Besides, Tokyo is in a terrible state right now, and my grandson’s work is increasing… It’s a dangerous world. It seems to be the work of the God-Destruction Cult, are you going to fight too? There were soldiers waiting outside.”

I looked at the TV that the old man was watching.

Kai: “What!?”

And then I wake up my hazy consciousness and remember.

What’s happening in this country right now, and what Tanaka-san told me before I fell. There, the terrorist acts of the God-Destruction Cult happening in Tokyo were being broadcast.

Reina, Tendou-san, and Chairman Kagetora are fighting against the God-Destruction Cult.

And one more person, Tanaka-san, who is always there for me, is running towards Reina.

◇ Meanwhile, in Tokyo

Chairman Kagetora: “Nuuh!! Ryunosuke! Save Reina!”

Tendou: “If I could do that, I wouldn’t be struggling!! Reina, just run away with all your might!!”

Kagetora is in a one-on-one fight with Rogue. Tendou is in a two-on-one fight with a man who looks like a knight, Zoid, and a wizard man, Freya. Both are fighting with all their might, and the situation is still balanced.

And there’s one more pair.

Reina and Sophia, the daughter and mother, are also fighting.

But it wasn’t a fight.

Archbishop Sophia: “Reina, please. Don’t move… This time, I’ll seal you properly.”

Reina: “No, no!!”

Reina, while sobbing, steps back one step at a time. Sophia advances towards Reina with a gentle smile.

Archbishop Sophia: “Reina, be a good girl, okay? You have to be sealed properly, and then you’ll be freed from God. So… don’t trouble Mama too much.”

Reina: “No, no…”

Reina flashes back to the past. She remembers the hideous past that she doesn’t even want to imagine, the memory of the past called the sealing ceremony, when she sees her mother’s face.

Archbishop Sophia: “Reina…”

Reina: “No!!”

Sophia tries to touch Reina. Reflexively, Reina, while crying, shakes off that hand.

It was at that moment.

Archbishop Sophia: “Why… why won’t you listen to Mama!!”

Reina: “Eek…”

At that angry voice, Reina trembles.

Archbishop Sophia: “Last time, I could only do your right foot and right hand, so I could only do half. So let’s do it all today, Reina. Then Reina can escape from God’s control and be free!!”

Reina: “Ahh…”

Reina remembers. The ceremony of the past, where she was crucified on something like a pedestal. The screams, tears, and blood wouldn’t stop as the sword was thrust into her right foot and right hand. Those wounds are still there.

Reina: “Mama stop, please. Forgive me…”

Reina, crying and trembling like a small child. She’s not in a state where she can fight anymore, it was that traumatic for her.

Archbishop Sophia: “Reina. All that’s left is your left hand and left foot, and finally your neck. That’s when it’s complete… okay, Reina. I’m going to save you. Mama’s going to protect you. It’s okay.”

Sophia’s hand is raised towards Reina. Despite her gentle expression and words, her madness was trying to take Reina’s life.

Reina closes her eyes tightly. She’s trembling with fear, unable to resist.

It was right after that.

Unknown: “Firewall!”

A wall of fire separates Reina and Sophia.

Unknown => Tanaka: “Reina-kun! Run away! I’ll buy some time here!!”

The one who appeared there was Tanaka Issei. An A-Rank magician and the vice president of the Avalon guild. Tanaka had arranged for two military combat aircraft to be prepared so that Kai could be picked up immediately.

Tanaka had been negotiating with the United States while Kai was clearing. The U.S. military had, in the first place, been asked to defend against the God-Destruction Cult through the Dungeon Association, so they readily agreed.

He arrived directly in Tokyo from the Futenma base in Okinawa on that fighter plane.

Their speed is incomparable to a passenger plane.

And now, he’s made it to this scene. He creates a wall of fire between Reina and Sophia and runs over to pick up the sobbing Reina.

Chairman Kagetora: “Tanaka-kun! Well done!”

Archbishop Rogue: “Are you going to look away, Kagetora!!”

Chairman Kagetora: “Kuh!”

Kagetora feels a moment of relief at Tanaka’s arrival. If it’s Reina and Sophia, Reina is overwhelmingly stronger, but Reina can’t fight Sophia. If Tanaka joins the fight, it should somehow work out, because in Kagetora’s memory, Sophia was only as strong as a lower A-Rank.

But even still, it’s a bad match up for Reina. But Tanaka is different, Kagetora thought it could work. But, seeing Kagetora’s relieved face, Rogue denies it with a laugh.

Archbishop Rogue: “Do you still think Sophia is weak? Sure, ten years ago she was only about A-Rank at best, but her skill was just special. There’s no way the archbishop of the God-Destruction Cult could be weak, right?”

Chairman Kagetora: “Archbishop… S-Rank… No way… Tanaka-kun! Take Reina and run, don’t fight! I have a bad feeling about this, Sophia is──!?”

Kagetora realizes something and raises his voice. He gives a loud order to Tanaka to get out of there. Sophia is growing using some kind of power, but what it is, they don’t know.

But Kagetora, who had a bad feeling from experience, shouts at Tanaka. Tanaka is in danger as it is, he feels a chill down his spine.

But it was already too late.

Sophia’s madness is already beyond help. She doesn’t hesitate at all about the lives of the powerless.

Archbishop Sophia: “It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Tanaka-san?”

Sophia and Tanaka converse on the other side of the wall of fire.

Tanaka: “Sophia-san… Could you please stop right there? Ichigo wouldn’t want this.”

Archbishop Sophia: “Hehe, you’re as usual. But I don’t have time to chat right now—”

That was a momentary event.

Archbishop Sophia: “—Please die.”

Sophia’s hand dyed bright red.

Reina’s face dyed bright red. However, the ones who were injured were not the two of them.

Tanaka: “!? …Gohh!”

That blood was Tanaka’s. Sophia, who walks straight through the wilderness as if the wall of fire means nothing, pierced straight through Tanaka’s abdomen with her hand. The speed was too fast for Tanaka to react, and Sophia’s strength was not as Tanaka and the others had perceived it.

The bright red, bloody hand of madness, trying to extinguish the flame of life, ends Tanaka’s life.

Reina: “Ta, Tanaka-san! No, no!!”

Reina screams.

Tendou: “Issei-san!!”

Archbishop Freya: “Do you have the luxury to look away? Black Dragon”

Tendou: “Damn!?”

Chairman Kagetora: “Tanaka-kun!…!?”

Archbishop Rogue: “I won’t let you, Kagetora”

Chairman Kagetora: “Guh!!”

Tendou and Kagetora, who were momentarily distracted by that, were attacked and buried in rubble. With this, they can’t help Tanaka.

Tanaka: “Reina…ku…n. Ru…n. To… where Kai-kun… is. If it’s him…”

Tanaka clenches the hand that pierced him. Trying to buy as much time as possible, he grabs Sophia, even though he’s on the verge of death.

Reina: “Tanaka-san! Tanaka-san!!”

Tanaka kneels on the spot, losing the light from his eyes as he vomits blood.

Tanaka: “I’m… okay… Reina-kun… run away… quickly…”

The flame that burned as one of the representatives of this country is now turning into a thin flame that seems to be about to go out at any moment.

There was no one in this place who could save Tanaka. Reina is sobbing, and Tendou and Kagetora are blocked. Reina can’t move, she can’t even run away.

All she can do is scream in front of Tanaka, who is growing cold.

And Sophia raises her other hand.

Archbishop Sophia: “Goodbye, Tanaka-san. Please give my regards to the master.”

No one in this place can stop that blow.

Crack!

“—Lightning”

Except for him, who is like a lightning bolt that dispels the darkness.