"Are you the one behind this, Towa-sama?"
Shiori's calm voice echoed through the stone pillars and dusty old shelves. The chill of the underground chamber bit into her skin, the flickering candlelight dancing wildly—remnants of the dark magic that had just been unleashed.
Towa stood still for several seconds before stepping forward, emerging from the shadows. Her hood now fully lowered, exposing emerald eyes glinting with a mix of irritation, fatigue, and... disappointment.
"The one behind it?" she sneered. "That's a heavy accusation, Shiori Novella. Are you sure you're ready to hear an answer you might not be able to bear?"
Shiori didn't respond. Her eyes remained locked on Towa's, her ever-present smile unmoving—but her grip on the magic pistol stayed firm. Ready. For anything.
Towa raised both hands—not to attack, but as a gesture of restraint. Yet her words cut sharper than any spell:
"I could throw you back to the Council chambers. Right now."
Shiori's breath caught in her throat. One step. That's all it took for Towa to close the gap.
"Don't forget who you are, Shiori. You're the leader of Advent. You were pardoned, not freed. You're crossing a line now... and they—" she lifted her gaze toward the stone ceiling, as though referring to beings far above them, "they're watching."
Shiori clenched her jaw.
"And you'd use that... to run from the truth?"
Her pistol lowered slightly, but the glint in her eyes was as sharp as any blade.
"I don't need a confession, Towa. I just want to know... whose side are you really on?"
Towa didn't answer.
She turned, walking away. Her footsteps echoed softly on the stone floor—measured, composed, fully in control.
"I am investigating this, yes."
She finally spoke.
"But not for you. And not for Holocorp."
Shiori froze.
"You're holding information that could save lives... and you choose silence?"
Towa halted at the edge of the shadows.
"I once believed in justice. I once believed in Sora, in Subaru... in the system. Until I realized that system has no place for people like us, Shiori."
She glanced back, her gaze piercing.
"I want to see... how far you'll go to stay loyal to an organization that threw you away."
Silence.
Only the flames of the candles continued to flicker. Finally, Shiori lowered her pistol completely.
She had lost. Not because she lacked power, but because Towa's threat was very real—if she were dragged back to the Council, it wouldn't just be her. All of Advent would be at risk.
Towa vanished into the shadows. Gone.
Shiori slowly sank onto a stone support.
"I can't... fight her. Not yet."
She looked up at the empty bookshelves above.
"But I can prove I didn't choose the wrong place to stand."
With one deep breath, she rose again.
Holstering her pistol, she pressed the communicator on her wrist.
"Subaru-senpai... Towa's not the culprit. But she knows something."
"Then what will you do?" Subaru's voice was tense.
"Be a detective... and the leader of Advent." Shiori began walking out of the chamber.
"I'll find the real thief—and if I must, I'll make Towa talk... in my own way."
"Fool! Come back right now! Meet me at the police HQ, don't endanger yourself further, Shiori."
With a sigh, Shiori relented and followed Subaru's order.
A-D-V-E-N-T
"..."
Elsewhere—
Under the rising moon, three figures—Ookami Mio, Aki Rosenthal, and Usada Pekora—stood atop one of the city's tallest skyscrapers. Acting under Haachama's orders, their mission was to recruit the Ancient One, newly awakened, into their cause. A cause that would plunge the world into darkness and fear.
Bathed in moonlight, the three watched with wicked smiles as demons began crawling out of the portals of darkness below.
"Now we wait. The Ancient One will either appear... or not," Aki said, her long blond hair dancing with the wind's gentle touch.
"She will. That girl said this portal will definitely draw the Ancient One from her hiding place in another realm." Mio, leaning against a steel beam with arms folded, responded with conviction.
This was a dangerous gamble, one Mio took knowing full well it would likely mean her expulsion from Holocorp. But that girl had promised something that would end her eternal boredom.
As the Wolf Goddess, Mio lived for battle. She'd gladly tear down or slay anyone who dared stand in her way. She hadn't joined Holocorp out of loyalty—she wanted to conquer it. But instead of defeating Sora, she was crushed by none other than Shirakami Fubuki.
That loss still burned inside her. Since then, she'd become unruly, ignoring rules, constantly testing Fubuki's patience. It was no surprise Holocorp branded her a liability.
"If the Ancient One does appear, Sora-senpai will be the first to respond-peko. So how do we sneak in without that Hero Goddess catching us-peko?" asked Pekora, swinging her legs playfully from a beam.
"Simple. I have a little plan to keep that goddess occupied." Mio flashed a sly grin, turning to look down at the darkened city where the portals continued to bloom.
A-D-V-E-N-T
"..."
This time, team formations had been organized personally by Sora based on combat compatibility. In the main city, the available Holocorp members were: Zeta, Iofi, Cecilia, Iroha, Ayame, Roboco, Lamy, Raora, Noel, Gigi, Kanata, Reine, Watame, and Elizabeth.
Botan had been excluded from active duty—Sora had assigned her a separate special mission.
Sora's formation went as follows: Justice members in one unit, followed by Iroha, Roboco, and Reine. Another team of Ayame, Lamy, and Zeta. The final team included Noel, Kanata, Iofi, and Watame.
As Vice Commander, Roboco requested that Lui and Chihaya join this mission. Though they declined to be placed in an official team, both agreed to assist in their own ways.
Despite being a strategic genius within Towa's group, Lui was a deadly sharpshooter. The twin eagle pistols hidden under her cloak weren't just for show.
And Chihaya? More than just a genius mechanic—her green-black sports car held thousands of hidden weapons.
Once Zeta reported in, Roboco relayed Sora's orders. The teams mobilized.
"I've compiled the data. As the only holy knight capable of wielding Sanctuary magic, I'm leaving the site's safety to you, Liz!"
Coordinates of ten dark portals were transmitted.
"Received. Leave it to me, Roboco-senpai," Elizabeth replied.
Elsewhere, the Justice unit was assembled.
Raora, the fierce panther girl, prepared her iron claws. Gigi, the gremlin, flexed her oversized mechanic gloves. Cecilia calmly spun her spear.
Elizabeth planted her greatsword into the asphalt, her blue flame glowing brighter as she closed her eyes.
"Ten portals confirmed, locked by Roboco-senpai's data. Now sing, Liz," said Raora, activating her divine eyesight.
Gigi grinned ear to ear. Hearing the Scarlet Queen's voice was her favorite part of any mission.
Cecilia, too, closed her eyes, sharpening her hearing.
"Understood," Elizabeth whispered.
"Level 9 Song Magic: Scarlett Requiem, activate!"
With her sensory magic having borrowed Raora's divine vision, Elizabeth cast ten spell circles at once.
Her voice poured out—soft yet commanding:
"This is paradise on earth, a sanctuary for human life. No evil shall escape from it, for those who are wicked will never find the way out."
The blue flame on her chest flared brighter. Her powerful voice soared. Beneath each magic circle, a transparent light spread, forming sanctified zones.
Raora scanned once more—thirteen demons had slipped through. She quickly alerted the rest of Holocorp's warriors.
"The barriers are set! It's time, friends!" Elizabeth lifted her blade to her shoulder, glancing at her comrades, eager to join the fray once more.
Justice was ready to fight.
A-D-V-E-N-T
"..."
Just after... the portal's rise—
So many thoughts plagued Shiori's mind: the demon attacks labeled terrorism by the media, the mysterious disappearance of ancient books from the city library, and the growing suspicion surrounding Tokoyomi Towa.
Even now, according to Subaru's latest report—just as she attempted to deliver her private investigation results—another wave of demons had struck.
"What's really going on, Subaru-senpai?"
"You don't need to know, Shiori. Remember your oath to The Council."
The Council's condition was clear: Advent must not interfere with strange events in this world. In exchange, they'd be granted freedom.
To risk her team's lives for answers would be selfish. Especially for someone like her—a former criminal mastermind.
She knew how much Fuwamoco, Nerissa, and Bijou longed for peace without the scrutiny of Justice or H3RO.
So she obeyed.
"I understand. But... what about the missing books?"
"I'll personally oversee your investigation. But if this ties into the current crisis, our alliance ends."