"...In summary, the situation is roughly like this now."
Ritsuka briefly explained the current situation to Musashi.
"The Head of Department... that is, Natsukawa Naoki, is still trapped inside that Naraku Worm. We have no way to save the Head of Department, so can Musashi help us?"
"Uh... I understand the situation, but..."
Musashi glanced at the Naraku Worm, which was over fourteen hundred kilometers long and getting closer, her face slightly awkward: "I've never cut something this big. Besides, look, my sword is only this long, how am I supposed to cut something that big?"
That overly reasonable statement left everyone silent.
Arcueid grabbed Ritsuka's wrist: "So Merry, why did you say she could save Naoki?"
[Uh, I just felt like she should be able to. After all, I know things related to Musashi from Naoki. She is a Void Swordsman who can even cut through a void hole opened by a Dyson Sphere, a sky-sphere type space-time fortress from another universe. She has a special Mystic Eye that can cut things, so cutting the Naraku Worm shouldn't be a problem... But it seems it can't?]
"Uweee... I didn't even know I was that strong. What is a Dyson Sphere anyway?" Musashi scratched her head. "Well, although I am indeed much stronger than ordinary people due to Naoki's protection, I haven't reached that level yet. Let alone the limits of the Void or anything like that, I haven't even touched it. I'm not even proficient with Heaven's Eye yet."
"If asked to cut, of course I can, but I really can't guarantee I can save Naoki."
Musashi's words left everyone silent once again.
It could be attempted, but there was no guarantee of success.
[Aoko, your turn.]
"Eh?"
Called by Merry, Aoko was surprised for a moment: "What should I do?"
"Use your magic. You once gained power from your future self without changing your current self. Now use that magic on Musashi, transfer the power of her future self to her current self—you should be able to do that."
Musashi of the future.
Aoko nodded: "I understand, that's no problem—then let's begin, Musashi, don't resist at all from now on. I will transfer the power of your future self to your current self—after that, we leave it to you."
"Oh... Oh, I see."
[Less than two minutes left, hurry up.]
At Merry's urging, Aoko took a deep breath and began chanting her magic loudly. Accompanied by Aoko's chant, everyone present felt a strange aura spreading around her and Musashi.
It was a special aura reminiscent of a roller coaster moving up and down, as if the existence of the two people was rising and falling, floating unsteadily in space.
Then—
*SWISH!*
Under everyone's gaze, Musashi's hair visibly lengthened, continuing to grow until it reached her waist before stopping. The lack of maturity she initially possessed also disappeared at this moment, replaced by... a motherly feeling?
Yes, like the feeling of a mischievous young girl who, after a dozen years, transformed into a mature housewife.
Slowly opening her eyes, Musashi looked at her own hands with a slight surprise.
"This... is me?"
She herself could clearly feel that her current self and her self of a few tens of seconds ago were in completely different dimensions, like the difference in absolute experience and knowledge between an adult and a child.
"I placed your self ten years from now into your current self." Aoko explained. "We leave it to you, Musashi. Your self ten years from now, can definitely do it."
"Of course."
Without the slightest hesitation, as if accustomed to it, Musashi immediately agreed, then drew her two beloved swords from her waist.
A powerful sword aura was released from her body at this moment.
Feeling the aura, Angelica and Atalanta frowned.
(This aura is...)
(A god?)
Although not too strong, what enveloped Musashi was clearly a divine aura—Musashi ten years from now, is she connected to a god? Protection? Or a blessing? Or is it a power she possesses?
No, that's not the point right now.
The important thing is whether Musashi is currently capable of cutting the Naraku Worm.
"Namu, Tenman Daijizai Tenjin—"
Musashi chanted a mantra of sorts.
Accompanied by a sound like a prayer chant, behind Musashi, a giant Bodhisattva statue suddenly appeared in the air. Its four arms each held a Holy Sword radiating different light.
"Niou Kurikara, Shoutenzo!"
As if controlling the Bodhisattva statue, in Musashi's voice, the giant Bodhisattva statue raised high the four Holy Swords it held, slashing at the Naraku Worm like divine punishment!
Four sword beams that seemed to cleave the sky and earth fell from the air.
And after that—
"Ken-Gou Batto!"
Sheathed her two swords, Musashi held her breath. Five-colored divine light erupted from her sword blade like a storm shooting into the sky, rising straight up, and instantly expanding into a gigantic light sword nearly a hundred meters long!
"Ishana, Daitenzo!"
The final chant completed, Musashi swung the giant light sword in her hand with all her might!
In an instant, the five slashes merged into one. That merged light slash seemed to tear the world itself! As it fell upon the Naraku Worm, it tore and destroyed its massive body, instantly cutting a gap several kilometers long!
Success!
[A crack in the Naraku Worm is confirmed, and it continues to expand—good, with this, Naoki should be able to return!]
Merry's words lifted everyone's spirits.
And then—
*ZING!*
Within the torn Naraku Worm, everyone saw a ray of light, as if from a distant star beyond the heavens, slowly rising from the boundless darkness of Naraku. And as time passed, the light became increasingly dazzling.
Naoki was on his way back.
The emotion called hope began to spread in everyone's hearts. And finally...
*THUD!*
A platinum-white light meteor landed on the deck of the Vimana. The figure of the Star Holy Sword Wielder, clad in platinum-white armor, appeared before everyone's eyes.
His gaze swept over everyone present, Naoki smiled slightly.
"I'm back."