"Onee-san, why is this city still so ugly?"
At night, out over the sea off Itogami Island, two figures stood walking on the water.
The speaker was a woman in red. Her extremely revealing outfit had the flavor of an exotic dancer—provocative garter stockings and a long, hooded mantle that called to mind a mage's robe, all in a blood-deep crimson. She looked about twenty; judged only by her clothes she could be mistaken for a courtesan, but the fierce aura she gave off crushed such thoughts. She was a witch—a dangerous being bound by a pact with a demon.
"Yes, truly ugly," answered a sultry voice.
Its owner was dressed in pure black: a wide-brimmed, pointed hat, a deep-black cloak, and a tight black leather biker suit that covered her completely. Her curves were outlined to perfection, more alluring than nudity. She too was a witch.
The crimson witch and the jet-black witch.
The moment the two stepped onto Itogami, harsh searchlights flooded over them. Fully armed riot police spread along the coastal road.
"Ugh, how tacky, sis," the crimson beauty said, glancing at the security forces with distaste.
"Indeed. After a ten-year absence, couldn't they arrange a more fitting welcome?" said the black-clad one.
The two muttered as if no one else existed—pure arrogance, not sparing the security unit a glance.
"Warning to the intruders! You've entered the managed zone of the demon special district. Under the Special Zone Public Safety Ordinance we will detain you. Dispel your magical barrier and comply immediately!"
The squad captain shouted, but the two women didn't react.
"You have ten seconds. This is your final warning. If you do not comply, we will use force to detain you."
Weapons leveled at the pair. The two beauties only sneered coldly.
"Why are these rabble so noisy?"
"Hehe~ then do your best to entertain us."
Ten seconds flashed by—the unit opened fire without hesitation.
"Fire!"
Sparks tore the darkness; countless gunshots merged into a deafening roar. But the downpour of bullets couldn't touch the witches—huge tentacles bursting from the sea rose as their shield, batting every round aside.
"What is that?"
"A monster?"
"Who are those two?"
The squad reeled at the sight of the massive tentacles—thick, long, sickeningly eerie—semi-transparent flesh that evoked cephalopods like squid.
"Honestly. Residents of a so-called demon special zone getting spooked by a familiar of this level?" the crimson witch mocked again.
The black witch curled her lip. "Give it up, Octavia. This is the city where that impolite little brat lives. How worldly can this lot be?"
"True. Then we'll just have to lend a helping hand."
The crimson witch opened the book tucked under her arm, pressed her palm to the page, and letters flared with light as vast magic surged forth.
"Next, I'll use your blood to decorate this filthy city—make it beautiful."
The disgusting tentacles thrashed again—clawing and writhing, hideous and terrifying.
Bang-bang-bang—!
The squad kept firing, to no effect. The rounds couldn't pierce the translucent limbs—even emptying magazines did nothing.
"How can this be…!"
"Who the hell are they…?"
"No—don't!"
As the tentacles swooped, someone in the unit cried out in panic.
Ding—!
Just then, a transparent barrier appeared before them. The tentacles slammed against it—useless.
"This is dangerous. Fall back," said a voice.
"Huh?"
They looked up to find, at some point, a handsome black-haired man hovering above them.
"You are?"
"I'm Minamiya Natsuki's younger brother. Leave this to me. They're witches—out of your league," Shichen said tersely.
"Minamiya Natsuki's brother?!"
"Witches? That explains it…"
They believed him at once; they knew of Minamiya Natsuki—and knew she had a younger brother. Details were above their pay grade, but Natsuki's name alone earned Shichen their trust.
They also finally understood why guns weren't working against the tentacles—those were familiars, monsters rivaling vampire beasts. Unless an immortal vampire had summoned them, a human caster would die the moment their life force was drained. These two clearly weren't vampires—another, "off-path" method could summon such things: trading one's soul for power granted by demons—witches.
Minamiya Natsuki's existence was not unknown to the unit.
"That's right. They're the Meiya sisters—the Ashdown beauties," Shichen said, naming them.
"What? Witches of Ashdown?!" the captain exclaimed.
The Meiya sisters were international magi-criminals who had dared conduct a perilous magical rite in Ashdown under the North Sea Empire, triggering a calamity that erased an entire province. Ten years ago they had appeared on Itogami as well, causing unprecedented damage.
"They're not your opponents. Move out," Shichen ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
Without hesitation, the captain led his people away. The two witches didn't move until the last officer was gone.
"You say you're that Natsuki's brother? No wonder you recognize us," the crimson beauty said, smiling broadly.
"As a reward, let's take you," the black beauty murmured, smile sinister.
"Hehe~ If we catch that despised Witch of the Void's little brother and humiliate him in front of her, wouldn't that be fun?"
"Agreed~ And the boy is quite handsome. Teasing him will be delightful."
"Tease me? Getting ahead of yourselves, aren't you?" Shichen smiled coldly. Revealing though their outfits were, he had zero interest.
"Getting ahead of ourselves? Hahaha—you think being Natsuki's brother makes you tough?" the crimson one sneered.
"No. I think I'm tough because I'm the master of this island."
"'Master of this island'? What's that supposed to mean?" the black one frowned.
"Heh. You know nothing—and dare cause trouble on my turf. Brain-dead, the both of you."
He didn't bother explaining. He raised the back of his hand toward them; a crimson sigil—α—glowed there. Magic surged—roaring as if heaven and earth shifted—while the sea heaved into towering waves.
"What's happening?"
"Look—down there!"
Following the black witch's gaze, the crimson witch stared into the water—and her eyes widened with fear.
What colossus was that?
A vast black shape in the sea—its massive body marked with what looked like an α—like some leviathan of the deep.
"What on earth is—"
They trembled. The crushing magic rolling toward them, the dreadful shadow—it was enough to make their bladders quake.
"Kyogre. Origin Pulse," Shichen said, calm.
The moment he spoke, four maelstroms rose on the surface; power welled up, storms bulged as if ready to burst.
Then—
Boom—!
Four blue-glowing pillars of water shot skyward—bearing the witches' tentacle-familiars with them—until they vanished into the night.
Shhhh—
Rain poured down in sheets, then quickly stopped; the sea calmed, lightly rippling once more.
The two witches were soaked, their revealing clothes now even more suggestive—faint lines visible beneath. They clearly wore no underlayers. But they were far beyond caring; shivering, they watched the whale-like shadow fade from the sea—and only then turned back to Shichen.
"Wh-who are you?"
"Still that dense? And you think you're fit to seek revenge on Natsuki?" Shichen mocked.
"What?"
"Wait—you're the Fifth Primogenitor, aren't you?"