Chapter 1242: The End of Nippon Has Come
"Hey! Shouldn't we be working together right now?"
Watching him leave without a shred of conscience, Sayaka stamped her feet in anger.
I understand wanting to save someone!
But why didn't you take me along?
"No, this is for the best!"But Kojou Akatsuki's deep voice cut off her thoughts."
"If the Bee Snakes truly emerged from the Saint Annihilation legacy, then the source of the problem lies at the bottom of Kaminawa Lake. Them going there might actually help us!"
"Your task is to hold off these demon beasts as much as possible. Especially you, Sayaka Kousaka and Shio Fibikawa—your cursed tools are the only ones capable of wide-area suppression!"
"I-I understand!"
"I'll do my best!"
Sayaka and Shio nodded nervously.
Under the cover of Yukina Himeragi and Yuri Hanamiya, Sayaka transformed Koukarin into bow form and fired spiritual arrows alongside Shio, who wielded an identical bow.
A massive dual magic circle spread across the sky, crushing the invading Bee Snakes and significantly reducing the pressure.
"This should make things easier, right?"
Sayaka let out a relieved sigh.
"But there are still so many demon beasts!"
Yukina gazed toward the forest at the mountain's base, her eyes filled with concern.
The Bee Snakes in the sky numbered at least tens of thousands!
Could the Self-Defense Forces handle those Bee Snakes that even bullets struggled against?
"Lady Kojou!"
Just as she was thinking this.
A man in military uniform came rushing up from the foot of the mountain.
"I'm Tatsuomi Azama, Third Special Lieutenant of the Self-Defense Forces and person in charge of the Saint Annihilation legacy! The number of monsters is overwhelming—our soldiers are no match for them. Please send curse technique masters to assist!"
"What a hassle...!"
Kojou immediately felt a headache coming on.
"Everyone, relocate to support the Self-Defense Forces! You girls, come with me!"
"Yes!"
...
Tiny golden light swords whirled around them like infrared trackers, piercing every approaching Bee Snake one after another. The monsters couldn't even get within ten meters.
Sitting on his door-sized giant sword, Kojou felt an extraordinary sense of security.
If only the speed could be slightly slower, he'd call it a divine skill.
Unfortunately, it couldn't.
Streaking through the sky, the two quickly crossed the forest area and arrived above Kaminawa Lake.
"So many Bee Snakes."
Eiji looked down at the lake below and couldn't help but marvel.
Countless Bee Snakes continuously emerged from the vast water surface. The Saint Annihilation legacy known as the Black Shell was like a gate to hell—once opened, it drew endless monsters swarming forth.
"Asagi!"
Kojou suddenly cried out.
"Where?"
Eiji quickly turned to look. Had the wife-detection radar activated?
Following Kojou's gaze, Eiji spotted a simple altar made of redwood on the lakeshore. Lying on it was a petite golden-haired girl.
Beside her stood a white-haired girl who appeared to be around fifteen years old. Dressed in shrine maiden attire, her body rippled with endless threads of spiritual power.
It was that white-haired girl who, under the assault of countless wasp snakes, protected Aquora at the center, holding her ground quite firmly. Neither of the two girls showed any signs of injury.
"Come forth! The twelfth Beast—Alrescha Glacies!"
Eiji extended his hand.
A mist of blood burst from his arm, taking the form of a Beast that resembled a fusion of a mermaid and a monstrous bird.
As soon as the enchantress appeared, she spread her arms amidst a series of eerie, coquettish laughter, releasing waves of freezing air.
Endless white mist instantly enveloped the entire Kamunami Lake.
In Kojou Akatsuki's eyes, it took only a moment for the vast Kamunami Lake to be completely frozen over, leaving no gaps whatsoever. The temperature plummeted by dozens of degrees in an instant!
With the entire lake surface frozen solid, the wasp snakes became rootless driftwood, no longer able to emerge endlessly.
"The twelfth..."
Kojou shot a cold glare at Eiji.
"Hurry up and let me down!"
"Off you go!"
A golden light sword slowly descended from the sky.
It finally landed on a makeshift altar by the shore.
Watching the two jump down from the light sword, the white-haired girl wore an expression of utter disbelief.
"That Beast just now... Could it be that one of you is...?"
"Aquora!"
Kojou completely ignored her, dashing straight toward Aquora.
But no matter how hard he shook her, Aquora wouldn't wake up. Kojou immediately turned a fierce gaze toward the white-haired girl.
"Are you Kurahashi Shina? The Second Saint of the Lion King Organization? What's wrong with Aquora? What did you do to her!"
"I am indeed."
Kurahashi Shina glanced at the instantly frozen lake, then at Eiji.
Finally, she sighed and fixed her eyes on Kojou.
"Don't worry, young man. I have no intention of harming this girl. Though I used her, I've done my utmost to sustain her life. I merely temporarily separated her soul from her body earlier and just recently returned it, so she's disoriented for now. She'll recover after some time."
Hearing this, Kojou finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Upon closer inspection, though Aquora was unconscious, her breathing was even, and there were no visible injuries on her body. It truly didn't seem like anything was seriously wrong.
Coupled with the fact that he had seen Kurahashi Shina protecting Aquora from the sky earlier, he reluctantly accepted her explanation.
This prematurely aged girl wasn't inherently evil—it was just a matter of differing stances.
"Since Aquora is fine, Kojou, you should stay here for now."
At that moment, Eiji's voice cut between the two.
Most of the surrounding wasp snakes had flown off in all directions, and the few that remained were no match for Kurahashi Shina. Staying here wouldn't pose any danger.
"What about you?"
Kojou looked over in surprise.
"I'm going to check the bottom of the lake!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Eiji stomped down.
The ice surface cracked open a hole just wide enough for a person, and Eiji's figure instantly dropped through.
"Still so many wasp snakes?"
As soon as Eiji landed in the water, he saw countless wasp snakes crashing against the ice, trying to escape from the lakebed.
The moment they spotted him descending, they surged toward him like mad.
"Hmph, come forth! The fifth Beast, Regulus Aurum!"
The Golden Lion roared furiously from the lakebed.
Golden lightning surged forth, instantly blanketing the entire lakebed. The immense heat reduced all the serpent-wasps to charred remains in an instant!
Lakeside.
Even beneath the icy surface, Kuroto Shiro could sense the overwhelming power as she watched the lightning branch out like veins across the lakebed.
"So that's how it is."
She stood there for a long time before letting out a deep sigh.
"Nihon's doom has come."