Keystone Gate.
"…"- Yuuma, inhabiting Kojou's body, stood between Vatler and the Meyer Sisters, a flicker of tension in her eyes as she stared at Vatler.
To anyone in the supernatural world, the name Dimitrie Vatler was synonymous with terror. He was an immensely powerful man, rumored to be the closest thing to a Primogenitor, having devoured two second-generation vampires and absorbed their strength.
Yet what made him even more terrifying was his insatiable thirst for battle. He was the type to give in to whims or fleeting impulses, which made him all the more dangerous—nothing restrained him.
Yuuma was tense. Even in Kojou's body, she doubted her ability to do anything against Vatler, since most of her power was tied up just controlling Kojou's body, leaving her unable to fully wield his strength. She felt largely powerless.
"Kojou? No, you're not him…" Vatler narrowed his beautiful blue eyes as he stared at Yuuma in Kojou's body.
That handsome face was absurdly familiar, the silver hair purer than snow and colder than moonlight, and those deep blue eyes seeming to plunge into the ocean. Even though the clothing was slightly unusual, it strangely suited him.
He wore a white women's kimono with wide sleeves, complementing his silver hair and pale skin, giving him a mysterious, delicate aura. Unreal and cold.
[ Image ]
"It's an honor to meet you, Lord Ardeal," Yuuma bowed nobly toward Vatler. "My name is Tokoyogi Yuuma. I am the daughter of the Witch of the Notaria: Tokoyogi Aya."
"High Librarian of the Library… Huh!" Vatler nodded, a look of recognition in his eyes. "If I remember correctly, the Witch of the Notaria…"
He didn't finish, but everyone present understood the implication.
"Yes, she is sealed within the Prison Barrier," Yuuma continued without changing her expression. "That's why I borrowed the body of the Fourth Primogenitor to free her."
"And I don't think that's a bad thing for you," she added quickly, as if afraid of losing his interest. "Once the Prison Barrier is destroyed, it won't just be my mother who emerges—many legendary criminals will appear alongside her. I'm sure they will bring you great pleasure."
"Oh~ it seems you understand my desire to fight the strong perfectly," Vatler smiled mischievously, pleased with Yuuma's stance. She hadn't realized he wouldn't oppose her, but he had to protect her because of Kojou. That amusement, coupled with her eagerness to please him by freeing more criminals, thrilled him.
"Very well, do as you wish," he finally said, leaning against a nearby wall and closing his eyes calmly, waiting for Yuuma to finish.
'It seems he's convinced…' Yuuma breathed a sigh of relief, seeing Vatler seemingly persuaded by her words.
"Since you've finished, we've already located the Prison Barrier," Emma finally spoke, after enjoying the tension between the two.
As she spoke, a spatial force emanated from Grimoire: Number 539, spreading across the island and into the nearby sea, forming a translucent image of a dark castle, suspended between dream and reality.
"…" Yuuma glanced at the dark, almost illusory-looking castle, mixed emotions flickering in her eyes.
But…
Swish!
A purple magical circle appeared beneath her feet, and she vanished, unable to linger in her emotions—she worried Kojou might regain his body at any moment, so she had to act quickly.
Moments later, she appeared in a sub-float near the Prison Barrier.
"Finally… I'll be able to be free," she muttered, as a silhouette emerged behind her—a knight in blue armor with indistinct features.
Le Bleu.
This was the Guardian she had inherited from Aya while growing in the tube, shortly before Aya was sealed in the Prison Barrier.
Buzz!
A terrifying force erupted from Le Bleu, distorting space and time as a primal roar shook the entire island. A golden lion made of lightning appeared in the sky, firing a devastating bolt toward the Prison Barrier.
Roar!
Regulus-Aurum's roar shook the island, casting a fleeting glance at Yuuma before launching a golden lightning strike toward the barrier.
_
Some time earlier.
After using the bathroom, washing his face, and brushing his teeth, Kojou, in Yuuma's body, headed to the kitchen, where he saw a note and some food left by Nagisa.
{I'll visit Mimori-chan. Eat when I return, and catch up with me to celebrate Halloween.}
"…" Kojou glanced at the note and ignored it. He would go after Yuuma had finished her task to free her mother from the Prison Barrier.
The Meyer Sisters had revealed everything to him after demonstrating her power, with some added punishment—especially for Octavia, who seemed to enjoy it.
Thus, Kojou knew both the private and public aspects of Yuuma's plans and allowed her to act freely, though it wouldn't last long.
With that in mind, he opened the container holding the omelet, grabbed a spoon, and started eating quickly, planning to enjoy the festival with the girls—a rare chance to indulge in Halloween-only sweets.
'It's been a long time since I've felt this weak…' Kojou thought with mild pleasure, stuffing his mouth. Though Yuuma was not human and far stronger than ordinary people, to Kojou she wasn't truly different from humans, and he enjoyed this small freedom. He didn't have to place multiple seals on himself to control his power.
Kojou's strength was immense; he had placed 144 seals on himself—12 seals of 12 layers each—or else his power alone would distort reality and destroy the world, even without unleashing it, as it was enough to annihilate the universe.
The reward he had obtained previously, "Authority: Path of the Twelve Zodiacs," belonged to Little Garden, where Kojou possessed the twelve constellations of the [Ecliptic Path of the Twelve Zodiacs]: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. They had merged with his Beast Vassal.
The Ecliptic Path of the Twelve Zodiacs was so powerful it could destroy and restart the universe in Little Garden—a realm far stronger than this world—so Kojou always had to seal himself, or disasters would occur merely from his existence.
Thus, he felt a sense of liberation after swapping bodies with Yuuma, though part of his consciousness still monitored the Seal of the Twelve Stars, knowing it would be catastrophic if Yuuma removed it out of curiosity.
The seal applied not only to his body but also to his soul, and similarly to his Beast Vassal, whose power had surged monstrously after merging with the Authority. He used the Seal of the Twelve Stars on them too—applicable not only to his current Beast Vassal but also to his former ones.
Otherwise, the world would have long since ended if his Beast Vassals had run rampant outside.
...
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