Tokyo, Chiyoda Ward, a certain embassy.
Late at night, bright lights illuminated a conference room.
Representatives of the Five Great Powers, people of various skin tones, gathered around an eight-person circular conference table, exchanging information with solemn expressions.
"What's happening in the sky?" the bearishly built blond Russian representative asked coldly.
"A powerful being from the Abyss is attempting to manifest in reality," the tall, gaunt French representative with a monocle replied calmly.
"This is the fifth time this year, isn't it?" The refined Chinese representative wearing rectangular glasses frowned. "When did the Abyss become so active?"
Hearing this, the eldest among them, an English gentleman wearing a bowler hat, felt his heart sink and pressed further: "Can our current forces repel it? If we need to use Abyss Artefacts, which seal would need to be lifted?"
The dark-skinned, thick-lipped American representative said coolly: "The Supreme Chairwoman of the SDS has previously contacted us, assuring that they would handle this incident."
At this, the Chinese representative asked with slight mockery: "That Enchantress? Heh, how typical of the so-called peacekeepers."
The eldest Englishman raised an eyebrow at this remark before turning back to the American representative: "Can the SDS really handle this?"
"The SDS claims they'll deploy a Demigod..." The American representative hesitated.
"A Demigod?"
"The organisation that's always been so secretive is actually willing to let a Demigod show themselves now?"
The Englishman's sceptical expression made the American representative visibly uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, the tall, thin French representative said calmly, "According to intelligence from Twin Wings, beings that cross boundaries will be suppressed to a level slightly weaker than Demigod."
"From that perspective, if the SDS is willing to deploy a Demigod, they do stand a good chance of dealing with whatever's in the sky."
"Shouldn't we have more insurance?" the Chinese representative said with a smile. "Like contacting a few more Demigods to intervene."
"For example, perhaps America could reach out to that Hao Asakura?"
Hearing this, the American representative shot an uncomfortable glance at the Chinese representative.
Asking them to contact Hao Asakura, who had been active in America and caused so much trouble?
Was this deliberately meant to provoke him?
After a moment's silence, the American representative said, "We'll attempt to establish contact with Hao Asakura."
"Oh, contacting that legendary Great Onmyoji who's been active for a thousand years?"
The English representative showed mild surprise before nodding: "Given his experience with several such interceptions before, he would indeed be quite reliable."
"However, after this matter, we'll still need to discuss how to deal with those responsible for this incident."
The American representative nodded, then said in a decidedly unfriendly tone: "Let's designate the Phenex Society, Truth Astronomy and the Hell Sect as terrorist organisations."
The other four representatives raised no objections, immediately passing the motion.
At this point, the French representative adjusted his monocle and said coldly: "How should we deal with those causing trouble in Akihabara?"
As he spoke, he looked towards the representatives from Russia, the United States, and China.
After all, geographically speaking, these three nations could mobilise forces closest to Japan.
Faced with this question, Russia's representative responded with unusual directness:
"Just send in the troops to take them out!"
Hearing this, the representative from China immediately vetoed the suggestion:
"Deploying troops would be too conspicuous. For powerful individuals like these, it's best to use even stronger individuals for targeted elimination."
Pausing for a moment, China's representative added:
"Dispatch the Rapid Response Force instead."
"Eliminate those terrorist troublemakers with precise strikes!"
"If you lack the resources to handle this, I'll take care of it myself."
The other representatives exchanged glances before silently agreeing to the proposal.
Though the American representative had some reservations, since the SDS had already mobilised forces to intervene, he found it difficult to oppose China's stance and reluctantly acquiesced.
Soon, the discussion moved to the next agenda item.
"This incident has caused too much commotion. Too many common citizens saw what was in the sky—how should we handle it?"
"Let's say it was a holographic projection test. Isn't the SDS about to launch a new product?"
"That virtual game still in testing? Sword Art Online, was it? Will that work?"
"Better than doing nothing at all!"
"Then it's settled..."
In the brightly lit conference room, the final decision was made.
...
South of Akihabara, on Kanda Bridge.
Thud.
Gokuro Seto casually tossed the lifeless, desiccated corpse onto the ground and spat in disdain.
"So the only ones who showed up were third-rate trash?"
"Or has Akihabara been too peaceful for too long, leaving you Joint Task Force lot rusty and decrepit?"
With a cold sneer, he glared at the brown-haired Caucasian clutching his severed arm ahead of him and mocked:
"If this is all the French Joint Task Force is capable of, I'll be sorely disappointed."
"Oh, I almost forgot—without women or midgets leading you, you were always weaklings to begin with."
"You!" the brown-haired man cursed through gritted teeth.
"Is that all you've got left? Just empty words?"
Gokuro Seto strode forward in disappointment, calmly raising his hand.
"Weaklings should just bow out here."
As he spoke, his right arm elongated, twisted, and transformed into a crimson blade of flesh and blood, drawing a horrified gasp from the brown-haired man.
"Die!"
Gokuro Seto swung his arm down—
Thud.
"Hmm?"
His expression shifted as he tilted his head slightly, staring at the severed arm now lying to his right. His gaze flickered to his own shoulder, cleanly sliced off at the root.
"...Since when?"
The howling wind carried a calm male voice:
"Right when you raised your arm just now..."
Gokuro Seto looked up at the sky.
There, hovering mid-air with hands in his pockets, was a brown-haired young man clad in a deep blue trench coat.
But what caught Gokuro Seto's attention most were the youth's pale cyan eyes.
Those eyes instantly matched a name in his memory.
"Cyan eyes... You're Kazuma Yagami?! The contracted one of the Wind Spirit King?!"
Above, enveloped by the wind, Kazuma Yagami gazed down impassively at Gokuro Seto.
"Sorry about this, but the ambassador is in a hurry, so could you just die here quickly?"
Upon hearing this, Gokuro Seto realised something and roared angrily:
"Attacking your own kind? You damn domesticated lapdog!!!"
As the words fell...
Gokuro Seto's vision spun 360 degrees before his head thudded onto the ground, levelling with the horizon.
Then, a sharp gust of wind swept through, tearing the severed head to shreds.
When the wind settled, Kazuma Yagami hovered mid-air, eyeing the headless corpse with distaste:
"How crude... I was properly married into this, you know. Well, properly 'wedded in', I suppose."
After muttering to himself, Kazuma Yagami didn't spare the corpse another glance, letting the wind carry him away.
...
In the park.
Li Jianlin, covered in fist marks and bullet holes, leaned heavily against a ginkgo tree, panting as he smiled bitterly at the tall, green-haired woman in bagua robes and the grey-skinned zombie in blue robes beside her.
With great effort, Li Jianlin raised his hand, only for it to drop limply halfway. He forced a wry smile:
"Fist speed so fast I couldn't even react... and that zombie getup..."
His gaze flickered to the emotionless zombie standing like an iron tower before settling on the tall woman:
"The Shaman Arts of Western Hunan's Taoists truly live up to their reputation."
"Which Taoist might you be?"
"Tao Run."
The green-haired woman replied impassively:
"Finish it, Bruce. Take his head back as proof."
"ROAR!!"
The towering zombie bellowed, its hand flashing like lightning across Li Jianlin's neck, effortlessly severing his head.
Once her Guardian Spirit completed its task, Tao Run turned, frowning at the now-calm night sky as she murmured:
"Is it over already?"
...
"Finally over~"
Chisato Nishikigi stretched lazily atop the torii gate before glancing down at Kotoko Iwanaga's small corpse, cleanly bisected beneath it:
"Next up is handing the bodies to Big Sister so she can submit them to the Union, right?"
"Probably need to buy them back for research too."
Takina Inoue remarked calmly while holding a specialised phone:
"The department will cover the expenses, though Director... no, Luo Shu might get a slight headache from it."
"But I've got a feeling Luo Shu will make the person in question pay instead," Chisato whispered while eyeing Kotoko's corpse.
Sighing at the thought, Chisato looked up at the tranquil sky:
"I wonder if things are going smoothly on Luo Shu's end..."
...
Meanwhile.
Back at the Hidden Management Department garrison, Luo Shu sat in the reception room, staring blankly ahead.
"Nooo~~ Kotori won't be separated from big sister~~"
"Look, even if you say that..."
Miko Yotsuya struggled to restrain the little radish clinging to her:
"I just want to buy coffee downstairs..."
"Then Kotori's coming too!!"
"No, I told you, you can't go out like this... you're literally on fire!!"
Watching the girl, dressed in an ornate fire-patterned haori and wreathed in flames, thrash about, Luo Shu fell into deep contemplation.
—Had he really rescued the right person?