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By noon the next day, Saeko Busujima gathered everyone together and started assigning out the task of saving the world.
The squad leaders stayed the same, and everything followed the original plan.
As for overall command, after some discussion between Saeko and Venom, they decided to hand that responsibility over to Yuriko Takagi.
According to the intel, Yuriko was a strong, capable woman—someone used to leading others. With her sharp judgment, it shouldn't be a problem.
The squad leaders weren't happy about it at first, voicing their protests one after another, but in the end, they had no choice but to accept. After all, if even the boss had agreed, who were they to argue?
One by one, people started drifting away, until only Shizuka Marikawa and Saya Takagi were left behind.
"I've decided to take the two of you with us," Venom said, emerging now that it was just the three of them. "But the choice is still yours to make."
Shizuka and Saya exchanged puzzled looks, neither sure what to say.
Venom went on to give them a quick explanation about himself, and then mentioned what he and Saeko had decided—to leave this world altogether.
"That's the situation. So what do you two want to do?"
"I don't really care," Shizuka said lightly, shrugging. "Wherever Saeko-chan and Venom go, I'll go too."
She never looked like she was taking it too seriously. She had no real family left here anyway, so it didn't matter to her where she ended up.
"Let me think about it," Saya said after a moment of hesitation. Then she turned and walked out of the hall.
"We'll be waiting in the basement tomorrow night," Venom called after her. "If you're not there… we'll take it as your answer."
That night, Saya shared a room with Yuriko. Naturally, the topic came up.
In the end, Yuriko said something that gave Saya her answer:
"If you're not sure, then you should go find out for yourself. Otherwise, you won't even get the chance to regret it later."
With that, Yuriko left her alone.
Saya stood there, thinking it over for a long time, until finally, her mind was made up.
The next evening, as twilight set in, Venom, Saeko, and Shizuka waited quietly in the underground lab.
"Looks like she's not coming," Venom said, staring at the doorway. Time was up, and Saya hadn't shown. That told him everything.
"Yeah." Saeko nodded. Maybe it was for the best that she stayed behind.
"So… shall we begin?" Venom asked.
"Yeah," Saeko said again with a calm nod. It was time.
Saeko Busujima gave a small nod. The time had finally come.
"Start what? What are you two talking about?"
Shizuka Marikawa tilted her head, looking at them in confusion.
Venom chuckled softly and opened up a shadowy space.
"Shizuka, wait for us in here."
"Mm, alright. But don't take too long."
She nodded quickly and stepped inside without hesitation. Venom closed the portal behind her.
"Wait! Sorry, I'm late!"
Saya Takagi appeared in the doorway, out of breath.
"So, you've made up your mind then?"
Venom gave her a grin.
"Of course I'm going. I want to see if this is something I'll regret."
Her eyes hardened with resolve, and without another word Saya walked into the shadow space as well. Venom silently sealed it shut and turned to Saeko at his side.
"Are you ready?"
"If it's you, I'm always ready."
Saeko smiled faintly.
"Then let's begin."
Venom's smile widened. In an instant, Saeko's clothes dissolved into black liquid, wrapping around her body until she was completely covered. Her figure twisted and merged until she looked just like Venom.
"It's time."
Venom slowly pulled a silver card from his system space and willed it to activate.
The card cracked apart in his hands, fragments scattering in the air before fusing into a glowing white vortex.
"A new world… Venom's coming to play."
He bared his teeth in a sinister smile and stepped forward into the whirlpool of light.
As his figure disappeared inside, the vortex shrank, smaller and smaller, until it winked out of existence.
The room fell into silence.
"....."