"Th‑This … what is all this…?"

Nia's [Rasiel] fluttered on its own, automatically recording this avalanche of never‑before‑seen information.

The hands of Kurumi's clock‑eye whirred at dizzying speed.

"So that's how it is… a multiverse theory. How exhilarating."

"!!!"

Ellen was the most shaken of them all.

As a senior executive of DEM, she had always believed Spirits had to be annihilated—yet what she had just witnessed showed countless worlds where extraordinary beings co‑existed in harmony.

In that instant, her worldview crumbled.

"Time's about up," Rei Ao said, clapping his hands.

"Let's pay a visit to the true master of DEM. Kurumi-san, care to come along?"

Kurumi offered an elegant curtsey.

"With pleasure. I'm most interested in the one who truly holds DEM's reins."

"W‑Wait!" Nia cried. "We're just going to walk into DEM headquarters? Isn't that suicide?"

Rei Ao gave her a mysterious smile.

"Miss Nia, when did you start imagining their net could actually catch us?"

He sliced open a spatial rift, shimmering with strange light.

"An express train straight to DEM HQ. Anyone boarding?"

Tohka stepped to his side without hesitation; Kurumi followed with a soft laugh.

Nia bit her lip, hesitated, then stepped forward.

Only Ellen remained where she was, expression complex.

"Ellen-san?" Rei Ao extended a hand.

"Not coming? Let's visit your dear Mr. Westcott."

At that name Ellen visibly trembled.

At last she moved into the rift.

…

Inside DEM Headquarters

The nausea of teleportation passed, and the five found themselves in a pristine white corridor.

Scarlet DEM emblems on the walls silently proclaimed their location.

"We're really inside DEM HQ?" Nia whispered, scanning nervously.

Almost the instant they appeared, shrill alarms blared through the building.

"Alert! Unauthorized spatial distortion detected!

Alert! Spirit‑energy response detected!"

Kurumi giggled behind her hand.

"My, my—no turning back now."

Shadows writhed beneath her feet.

"But I can leave whenever I want~"

Rei Ao ignored the alarm and strode forward. "Stay close."

Tohka gripped the Sandalphon and kept pace.

Nia clutched the [Rasiel].

Kurumi observed everything with amused interest.

Ellen moved heavily, face grave.

They rounded a corner—

Dozens of mechanical soldiers stood in firing formation, gun barrels aimed.

"Intruders detected! Eliminate immediately!"

Energy bolts rained toward them.

Rei Ao didn't even blink—he snapped his fingers.

Time—froze.

The world stopped.

Bolts hung motionless in midair, robots locked in firing pose.

"Come on. Westcott's waiting."

He led them through the statue‑still battlefield until they reached a massive black door deep within the compound.

Rei Ao released the time stop and knocked politely.

"Enter," came a cultured male voice.

The door slid aside. In the spacious office, a man stood with his back to them, admiring the view.

He turned slowly—

Isaac Westcott, true master of DEM.

"Ellen, it appears your mission failed," he said in a terrifyingly calm voice. His gaze swept the group and settled on Rei Ao.

"And this gentleman is the reason, I presume?"

Ellen lowered her head.

Tohka stepped forward, bow aimed at Westcott.

"So you're DEM's leader? Why hunt Spirits?"

Westcott's slight smile sent chills through the room.

"Why? To seize their power, of course."

He spread his arms, eyes burning with zeal.

"Spacequakes, Angels, Astral Dresses… such wondrous power—how could it not be harnessed?"

"Harness?" Nia snapped. "Do you realize I've been hunted from my own home? I live every day in fear!"

Westcott did not flinch.

"Necessary sacrifices."

His eyes shifted to Rei Ao.

"So, the man who strolled into DEM's innermost sanctum unnoticed—what is it you want?"

Rei Ao said nothing at first. He walked to the liquor cabinet, poured a glass of red wine, sipped, nodded, then turned.

"Mr. Westcott… do you know what I despise most?"

His voice dropped to arctic cold.

"People like you—who think they can dictate others' fates."

The room's temperature seemed to plunge.

For the first time, wariness flickered in Westcott's eyes.

"Thirty years ago, you, Ellen, and Allen triggered the first Spirit emergence," Rei Ao went on. With every word, the rainbow light in his eyes blazed brighter.

"And now you hunt Spirits. Ironic, isn't it?"

Westcott's expression cracked.

"How do you know that? There's no record of—"

"I told you," Rei Ao set down his glass, "I hate people like you."

He turned to the four women.

"Ladies, anything you'd like to tell DEM's big boss? Speak freely."

Tohka raised her bow.

"Stop hunting Spirits—or I'll cut you down."

Nia pushed up her glasses.

"I'm done being prey."

Kurumi's smile grew predatory.

"Mr. Westcott, I'm always seeking time worth devouring. Yours looks… delicious."

Ellen said nothing, turmoil churning in her eyes.

Westcott suddenly burst into laughter.

"Ha‑ha‑ha! Amusing—marvelously amusing!"

His laughter swelled.

"But you seem to have forgotten one thing—this is my domain!"

He slammed a hidden button on his desk.

The office walls turned transparent, revealing hundreds of armed mech‑soldiers outside, weapons fully charged.

"Now—shall we renegotiate the terms?"

~~~

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