At Iwata Station, by the front of the Koutetsujou, stood a towering Black Smoke frozen solid by Ayame's icy arrows. Residents of both the train and the station gazed upon it in fear.
Staring at the monster, Rei Ao looked utterly unperturbed. Instead, he complimented Ayame's handiwork:
"Ayame, it looks like you've refined your skills further."
Ayame smiled politely.
"I'm doing my best, so I can be of more use to you, Rei Ao-sama."
Rei Ao teased, "Then I'll have to give you a proper reward soon."
"Eek"
Ayame blushed. She knew exactly what he meant by a "reward."
"Rei Ao-sama"
Mumei interjected anxiously. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm worried we're running out of time for Horobi."
Rei Ao waved a hand calmly.
"Don't worry, she's not dead."
Because Horobi had become the Black Smoke's core, she was still alive in some form.
With a snap of his fingers, there was a boom! a torrent of flames erupted, setting the Black Smoke ablaze.
Ayame's frosty gaze sharpened, and in a flash, the remnants of the Kabane forming the Black Smoke ignited under azure-red fire, burned to nothing before they could even scream. From within the flames, a blue orb of light shot forth and landed gently on the ground in front of them.
As the glow dissipated, it revealed a pulsating golden Kabaneri heart wrapped in black, writhing with hyperactive virus infectionHorobi, nearly unrecognizable as human.
"Rei Ao-sama, can you truly restore her from that state?" asked Yukina, frowning.
She knew Rei Ao had turned those fully infected by the Kabane virus back to human form before, but Horobi looked far beyond saving, more twisted than any normal Kabane. At least normal Kabane retained a vaguely human shape, while Horobi looked more like a living virus.
Slinging an indifferent glance her way, Kajika gave a curt, "Rei Ao-sama said he can save her, so he can."
Rei Ao raised a hand, indicating for them to be quiet.
"No need to argue. Restoring her really isn't complicated."
From his perspective, Horobi differed significantly from a typical Kabane. A Kabane was effectively a reanimated corpse driven by the virus, requiring actual resurrection powers to return fully to life. But Horobi wasn't dead; she'd been artificially turned into a Black Smoke core, akin to a Kabaneri. Her own consciousness lay dormant, suppressed by the hyperactive virus. So if he just neutralized the virus, Horobi would awaken.
He crouched down, placing a hand on the single patch of skin left uncorrupted by the black matter near her chest.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Horobi ignited in flames, much like the Black Smoke moments ago.
"!!!"
Mumei recoiled in alarm, thinking Rei Ao might be burning Horobi alive. But then she remembered the tradeand Rei Ao had promised to help. Surely he wouldn't kill her.
Indeed, within two or three seconds, Horobi's inhumanly mutated body began to shift. The virus burned away, reduced to ash by the blaze. Her human form emerged, unclothed, so Rei Ao draped his jacket over her.
'Geez, my poor jacket's always the sacrifice,' Rei Ao thought wryly, recalling he'd also left another jacket with Fujimiya Sumika.
Yet Mumei stood there in utter shock: the distinctive Kabaneri heart Horobi once had wasgone?! She should've been a Kabaneri before.
~~~
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Chapter 195: The Fool, certainly not Klein
Seeing Horobi, whose mutation was extremely severe, fully restored caught many people in the group chat off guard.
Frieren: "Strange. She was already like that, yet she could still be restored? How did he do it?"
Frieren: "I recall Rei Ao mentioning that if the Kabane mutation was too severe, it couldn't be reversed."
Shizue Izawa: "Rei Ao isn't who he used to be. He's a lot stronger now."
Shizue Izawa: "Both Sister Velzard and Sister Velgrynd said he's not far behind them anymore."
Shinoa Hiragi: "Though I'm not sure how powerful he truly is, I have seen him easily kill the First Progenitor."
Frieren: "Ah, so he grew stronger. That explains it."
Frieren: "Makes sense."
Yomogawa Ayame: "Rei Ao-sama, truly amazing!"
Akame: "That person's waking up."
"Mm"
Horobi's expression twisted slightly as she slowly opened her eyes.
She sat up in confusion, looking down at the warm jacket draped over her, with no clue what was going on.
"Mumei, the trade is done, but I'd like to know what exactly happened," Rei Ao addressed Mumei.
Mumei?
Hearing that name, Horobi's memories became clearer. She recalled injecting the Black Plasma in front of Mumei, following the young master's plan to become a Black Smoke. She should have ended up fulfilling Biba's strategy. Yet here she was, alive.
"Yes. I'll tell you everything, Rei Ao-sama," Mumei answered through pressed lips.
Rei Ao then spoke to Ayame, Kajika, and Yukina:
"Go ahead and move her to the train car. You can explain the rest to her."
"Understood!"
"Horobi-san, this way, please."
Horobi realized she was alivecertainly because of Mumei and this stranger before her. She gave Mumei and Rei Ao each a complicated look, then rose with the jacket wrapped around her and followed Ayame's group into the carriage.
After that, Mumei recounted in detail everything that had occurred. When she finished, Rei Ao arched an eyebrow and snorted:
"So Biba did all that just to witness my power? Calling it 'challenging a god'?"
He couldn't fathom Amatori Biba's logic. For the sake of revenge, the man toyed with all sorts of crazy tacticsand now apparently wanted to provoke him, the so-called 'god,' so as not to interfere with his vengeance.
Mumei lowered her head in turmoil. She no longer knew how to feel about her brother. The way he'd treated Horobilike a disposable pawnterrified her. His cold, detached gaze showed he didn't view Horobi as a subordinate or even a person. She had no idea how to face such a brother.
While Mumei's thoughts churned, Rei Ao glanced up at a nearby building, lips curving into a faint smile.
"Challenging me comes at a cost, Mumei. Want to come along and visit your brother, face to face?"
"Huh?"
Mumei blinked. Next instant, she felt her body lighten.
"The God and the God's Priestess, is it?"
On the top floor of a multi-story building, Amatori Biba was frowning deeply, gazing off into the distance where the Black Smoke had vanished. He'd seen the Black Smoke freeze over near the Koutetsujou, then get obliterated by flames soon after. No human should've been able to handle a Black Smoke that swiftly; even his Hunters were no match. He suspected this so-called 'god and priestess' rumored to be on the Koutetsujou were indeed extraordinary.
"It seems I'll have to keep a closer watch on the Koutetsujou."
As for any talk of gods or priestesses, he didn't believe in superstition. In his eyes, the enemy had merely mastered a more potent use of the Kabane virus. After spending so many years researching italong with Kabaneri and the virus itselfhe thought he had near-complete knowledge. Yet he hadn't the faintest clue how anyone could so effortlessly dispose of the Black Smoke.
"If I could get my hands on that research"
A glint flashed in Biba's eyes. Completing his revenge against his father would be much easier.
"You're curious about power? I'd like to know what power you're hoping for."
"Who's there?!"
Biba spun around at the unexpected voice.
"Mumei?"
He saw Mumei first, but realized immediately the voice belonged to the man at her side.
"Brother!"
Mumei herself was confused as to how she'd appeared in front of Biba. She hadn't even registered that Rei Ao must have whisked her here with some mysterious ability.
"So you're Amatori BibaMumei's brother, trying to 'challenge' the so-called god and priestess on the Koutetsujou?"
Rei Ao eyed Biba with amusement.
""
Biba briefly studied Mumei's guilty expression. He presumed she must've leaked his information but showed no strong reaction, keeping his refined air.
"I am indeed Amatori Biba. May I ask who you are and howand whyyou came here?"
After all, his Hunters were supposed to be patrolling this area. How had Rei Ao arrived so silently, bringing Mumei along?
"Rei Ao. Also known as the 'god' you want to challenge."
With a calm gesture, Rei Ao crooked a finger.
Pop!!!
Biba's coat ripped open. Three black-and-white syringes tumbled from beneath his clothes, hovering in midair: some filled with black fluid, one with white.
""
Staring in shock, Biba mentally threw out words like 'sorcery' or 'witchcraft.'
"Black Plasmahypercharges the Kabane virus so a Kabaneri becomes a Black Smoke core. White Plasmasuppresses the virus's activity. All in all, your research in this world isn't half-bad."
Rei Ao casually identified the two different substances.
"."
Biba's expression darkened. How did this man know everything, including the properties of Black and White Plasmadetails even Mumei wouldn't know? Surely someone among his researchers had betrayed him. He resolved to track the mole down and have them executed.
But alas, he himself was out of time.
"Urgh!!!"
He suddenly cried out in pain, eyes wide with horror as he clutched his chest. Three of the black-fluid syringes had jammed themselves into his heart. In the next moment, all three needles pressed down simultaneously, injecting the Black Plasma into his body.
And of course, the one responsible was none other than Rei Ao.
Realizing he was losing consciousness, Biba panicked. 'My revenge hasn't even started. I can't die here!' He refused to let his years of planning go to waste. Survival instincts flaring, he desperately reached out for the White Plasma. If he could just get it, maybe he could turn things around!
~~~
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Chapter 196: Die Trying.... (Bonus Chapter)
Amatori Biba strained with all his might, desperately trying to grab the white plasma that floated so tantalizingly close.
Just as his fingertips were about to brush the vial, he gasped in horror:
"What?!"
The white plasma zoomed away, landing neatly in Rei Ao's hand.
"Since you said you wanted to challenge me," Rei Ao remarked coolly, "I'll give you the 'strongest' form you could possibly take. Let's see what that does for you."
Holding the vial of white plasma, he smirked as he summoned flame to incinerate it.
"You!"
Biba's expression twisted with rage. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, dark, viral matter began gushing from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. The virus had gone hyperactive, and his body was mutating.
"Brother!"
Mumei stared at Rei Ao in bewilderment. "Rei Ao-sama, why are youwhy?"
"There's no 'why.'" Rei Ao's tone was cold. "He tried to pick a fight with me. Nobody gets to do that without consequenceseven if he's your so-called brother."
He genuinely did not care if someone was a brother, father, motherif they provoked him, he would deal with them without hesitation. A powerful being didn't need a reason to kill someone who annoyed him; annoyance itself was reason enough. Letting Biba ascend to the world's apex as a Black Smoke was already more mercy than he deserved.
Of course, Rei Ao didn't plan to drag the innocent people of Iwato Station into this. So with a brief transfer spell, he took the now-mutating Biba and Mumei to a remote wilderness.
"Uuhhh!"
Black matter engulfed Biba's entire body, while the Kabaneri heart in his chest glowed fiercely with golden light.
Boom!
The ground shook; hordes of Kabane converged on their location, drawn by the virus's overpowering energy.
Mumei suddenly realized her brother was now in the same condition as Horobi had been. She wanted to plead for himbut before she could open her mouth, Rei Ao spoke quietly:
"Mumei, don't say something that will annoy me, even if I am interested in you. Cross me, and there's no saving you."
"..."
Mumei's body froze. She could sense from Rei Ao's tone that he wouldn't budge. She also remembered the trade had already been completed; she had no standing to ask for further favors. If she dared to plead for Biba, she suspected Rei Ao would cast her aside permanently. The internal struggle was reflected in her eyes. In the end, she remembered how Horobi was treated how Biba had sacrificed her. A faint sense of relief surfaced in her heart.
"..."
Mumei chose silence. In the conflict between Rei Ao and her brother, she sided with Rei Ao. It wasn't some romantic feelingjust a change in her perspective. Spending time with Ayame and the others, following the group chat's various broadcasts, had widened her worldview. Even though Biba had saved her life once, after witnessing his callous treatment of Horobisomeone who revered himshe could no longer see him through rose-tinted glasses. His habit of creating Black Smokes at the cost of other people's lives, all to test Ayame, had shattered her devotion to him.
Previously, she might have blindly obeyed his orders in a feverish adoration. Now, she had matured enough to recognize his cruelty. She still felt a pang of guilt, but she had done what she could. So she chose to stand by Rei Ao's side, watching everything unfold in silence.
"Huh?"
Rei Ao had expected Mumei to have some dramatic meltdown over her "big brother." Seeing her do nothing, he was a bit surprisedand impressed.
"ROOAAARR!!!"
By then, the massive swarm of Kabane had fused with Biba's mutating body. Thanks to the triple injection of black plasma, the virus's hyperactivity was off the charts, attracting a colossal number of Kabane. As more and more fused, a towering giant rose, hundreds of meters tallvaguely horse-shaped, yet with enormous, sky-darkening wings.
"Amatori Biba, huh. Suitably dramatic that you turned into a flying horse Black Smoke."
Rei Ao couldn't help a wry remark. Then he yawned.
"No more Kabane are coming. I guess this is the best you can do."
Indeed, it was likely the largest singular Black Smoke this world could produce. Still, to Rei Ao, it was just a big target, easily crushed if he felt like it.
"Oh? Striking first?"
With a heavy hum, the colossal, horse-like Black Smoke raised an enormous black hoof, stomping down on them both. From a normal viewpoint, it was a scene of pure despair: the sky blotted out, everything going dark as a gigantic pillar of flesh slammed toward them. There was no place to run the stomp radius alone was huge. Even if Mumei was Kabaneri, she was little more than a strong human. One hit, and she'd be flattened.
