Boom!
Crimson flames erupted from the ground.
A kimono resembling feathered robes fluttered in the wind.
Kotori Itsuka bathed in the colossal blaze, her red eyes filled with bone-chilling killing intent.
Under that overwhelming murderous aura, Emilia couldn't help but glance down at her feet, noticing puddles of water covering the ground.
The puddles reached the soles of her high boots, emitting faint white mist.
Emilia's gaze sharpened. After a quick observation, she realised the ice sculptures she had created earlier and the giant ice hand Puck formed from condensed moisture had already melted nearly halfway.
Seeing this, Emilia immediately understood. She turned back to face the girl seemingly engulfed in flames, her expression grave:
"Manipulating atmospheric moisture... A fire attribute sorcerer like me?"
Meanwhile, Puck wiped sweat from his brow and said nervously:
"Not just that. This oppressive Spiritual Power... She's actually a Demigod?"
"To hide such a card up their sleeve... That man Luo Shu is truly cunning!"
Not the openly active Origami Tobiichi, nor the briefly encountered Kurumi Tokisaki, but another, seemingly younger Demigod woman who appeared even more formidable than both.
Just then, Kotori Itsuka raised Camael high above her head. Amid mechanical unfolding sounds, the giant axe-shaped Angel expanded by another third, now wreathed in brilliant crimson flames.
Holding the flaming axe nearly three times her size aloft, Kotori asked with a wild grin:
"I know it's probably impossible, but... care to surrender?"
"After all, if we start fighting, I can't guarantee you'll even have a whole corpse left!"
"Such violent words from a girl," Puck quipped before performing a mid-air backflip.
As he completed the rotation, a six-to-seven-metre-tall beast covered in ice and snow – resembling both a cat and a tiger – materialised behind Emilia, emitting a deep, androgynous voice:
"Save that talk for after you've won!"
Black-red lightning suddenly crackled to life, coiling around the beast's right paw.
In the next instant, with a thunderous roar, the lightning-wreathed claw descended mercilessly upon Kotori Itsuka.
Faced with the massive paw that could easily engulf her, Kotori merely sneered as identical black-red lightning erupted across Camael:
"Size doesn't determine punch strength, kitten!!"
In that fleeting moment.
The beast's lightning-clad paw collided with the equally thunder-wreathed battle-axe.
BOOM!
A white shockwave exploded outward as deafening thunderclaps shook the entire space.
...
Simultaneously with the rooftop clash.
Hidden Management Department, first floor.
Within a twelve-metre-wide corridor.
"What the hell are these... spider robots?"
"SDS war machines?"
"They've completely blocked the path. Looks like we'll have to destroy these things to proceed."
The witches who'd stormed the lobby stared warily at the massive mechanical constructs ahead.
Directly before them, three metallic spiders stood in perfect formation, barring all forward progress.
Pulsing white ripples spread across their silver surfaces.
The machines raised their foremost limbs high, serrated blades whirling around them like ribbons of light.
The hyper-velocity edges sliced through the air with ear-piercing shrieks.
None doubted these machines' lethality – the trio resembled Gundams brandishing greatswords as they bared their fangs at the witches.
The lead witch snorted contemptuously:
"Using military hardware against witches? The SDS are as foolish as those antiquated English pirates!"
"Prepare electromagnetic techniques! Fry these scrap heaps with EMP pulses!"
"Yes!" came the chorus.
Over a dozen witches raised their arms, ghostly blue technique patterns materialising across their hands.
Crackling silver-white sparks erupted as dense electromagnetic nets instantly engulfed all three machines.
Satisfied, the lead witch commanded:
"Move out. Next floor."
"Yes!" they responded, lowering their arms to advance past the disabled spiders.
But then—
WHIRR!
The supposedly neutralised machines abruptly transitioned from static defence to berserk assault, their aligned limbs sweeping horizontally in perfect unison.
Scarlet arcs sprayed through the air – severed thighs spiralling upwards, half-vanished skulls, bisected torsos.
The lobby floor became instantaneously carpeted with mutilated remains, everything painted crimson.
Within three seconds, the previously bustling corridor fell deathly silent.
...
Hidden Management Department, Observation Room.
Watching this brutality unfold on the monitors, Yukino Yukinoshita took a deep breath, her face pale as she muttered: "In Channel Three, all enemy targets eliminated. Zero remaining..."
As the words faded, Lacus's calm voice sounded:
"Report on the operational status of Vivu Unit 1."
Hearing this, Megumi Kato, seated on the other side, glanced expressionlessly at the data feedback on the right-hand computer:
"No abnormalities detected."
Listening to this exchange, Yukino Yukinoshita turned her head to observe the Chairwoman, who had witnessed the entire slaughter without so much as a flicker of emotion. She took another deep breath:
"Chairwoman, should we recall the test units from Channel Three?"
"No. Have them continue guarding Channel Three."
After saying this, Lacus sighed with some regret:
"It seems sorcerers below Hero Rank can't push the Vivu 1s to its limits."
"What about the Vivu 1 units in Channel 1 and Channel 6?"
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at the display screen and frowned:
"All Vivu 1 units in Channel 6 have been destroyed. Currently, the Demigod Itsuka is engaging the enemy there."
"As for Channel 1..."
Yukinoshita stared at the screen where a humanoid figure was barely visible within swirling cyan winds, her brow furrowing deeper:
"All Vivu 1 units in Channel 1 confirmed destroyed. Relevant data has been uploaded to the system. Should we deploy new interception forces?"
After considering this, Lacus calmly replied:
"Channel 6's complete destruction means the pseudo-Demigod with Concept Entanglement has exceeded Vivu 1's capacity as calculated."
"And Channel 1... These gale-force winds suggest a Wind Adept of Hero Rank or above?"
Megumi Kato nodded in agreement. "It seems Vivu 1 truly is just a Hero testing machine, exactly as Tabane Shinonono described."
The unspoken implication was clear: defeating the autonomous spider robots meant Hero Rank capability, while failure meant falling short.
Since the Vivu 1 gatekeeper couldn't handle Channel 1's target, stronger measures were needed.
Lowering her eyes, Lacus ordered calmly:
"Have Chisato and Takina prepare for Channel 1. It's time to test the Skill Demon God's capabilities."
"Ensure the Familia prepares backup support."
"Yes, Chairwoman!"