She needed to grind a little longer.
"Ugh I wish I could level up soon too," Kanoe Yuuko pouted, floating nearby with her hand on her chin.
Lynn smirked.
He was happy about Miko's level-up and even more so because the Tokyo Plan was still in motion.
Once the plan was complete, the entire Tokyo region would be crawling with Gastrea.
And without a doubt, there would be plenty of Stage IV Gastrea lurking around.
For Saeko and the others, this would be a perfect opportunity to level up.
Saeko might even break through to a High-Class Devil in one go.
Then after updating their blessings, Miko and the others set off for Tokyo to retrieve the remaining Cursed Children.
Tokyo In A Shopping Mall
A blind white-haired loli, her face wrapped in bandages, stood calmly.
Around her neck hung a shabby wooden sign, and at her feet sat a cracked ceramic bowl.
"I am a Cursed Child from the Outer Area."
People passing by glanced at the sign, their gazes filled with disgust.
Due to the heavy surveillance in this area, they refrained from physical violencesettling instead for glares and a few muttered insults before walking away.
The white-haired girl, however, remained unfazed. As if oblivious to their disgust, she began to sing.
A sweet, gentle melody drifted through the corridor.
Ding!
A crisp sound echoed from the ceramic bowl.
"Ah! Thank you!"
Her face lit up with a smile, but as she crouched down to pick up the coin, she realizedit was just a soda can pull-tab.
Disappointment flickered across her face.
"Haha! She's still falling for it!"
Two young men walked away, laughing with their arms slung around each other's shoulders.
"She never learns, does she?"
"Yeah, but isn't that what makes it fun? Every time we come here, she's an easy source of entertainment."
"Haha! Damn right! Cursed Children should just drop dead already!"
"Who the hell would ever care about trash like them?"
It was clear this wasn't the first time they had done something like this.
The girl's expression faded back into blankness. She continued singing, hoping thatjust maybeher voice would spark a sliver of sympathy in the hearts of passersby.
But judging by her still-empty bowl
That hope had already been crushed.
Busujima Saeko stepped into the scene at that moment, her sharp gaze sweeping over the two laughing men.
She licked her lips instinctively.
Their master had left the cleansing of humanity in the hands of the Seitenshi.
Howeverhe had also told them something else.
For the time being, they were free to do as they pleased.
And if that meant killing a few people along the way well, that was perfectly fine.
After all, when faced with such filth, it was hard to resist taking action.
Shing
A sharp gleam flashed.
Saeko's blade sliced through the air.
In an instant, both men were cut in half.
Blood splattered across the corridor.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
Screams erupted as panic spread through the mall.
"Eh?"
The white-haired loli, blind and unable to see what had happened, tensed up.
"Is is it a Gastrea?" she asked hesitantly.
Pat.
A soft hand rested on her head.
Saeko's voice was gentle.
"Little one do you want to come with me?"
"Eh?"
The girl flinched, her expression uncertain.
"M-Me?"
Saeko thought for a moment before rephrasing.
"How about becoming my Initiator?"
"Eh? EH?!"
The girl gasped, her face filled with disbelief.
"M-Me? Even someone like me is that okay?"
She couldn't understand it.
Why would anyone choose her as an Initiator?
She was blind.
She wasn't useful in any way was she?
—
Similar events unfolded throughout Tokyo.
The Devil Lolis moved unhindered.
If they encountered humans they didn't like, they simply killed them.
No hesitation. No remorse.
"A-AHHHH!! The Cursed Children are revolting!!"
"They're attacking humans!!"
"I always knew it! They're monsters! We should have exterminated them all from the start!!"
Slice
Before he could say another word, his head rolled off his shoulders.
A Devil Loli, her wings flaring, flew toward another target.
That man's voice had dirtied her ears.
—
From behind a floor-to-ceiling window, Seitenshi watched as chaos engulfed Tokyo.
Yet, contrary to expectations, there was no sorrow in her expression.
Instead
She felt relief.
"The fate of humanity doesn't matter anymore."
—
Tendo Household
Ever since news of Tokyo's uprising broke out, Tendo Kikunojo's brows had been furrowed deeply, never once relaxing.
"The Cursed Children Are they crazy?"
How could they rebel against humanity?
"I knew it! Those monsters can't be trusted!"
ClickClick
Suddenly, the sound of crisp footsteps echoed through the halls.
Tendo Kikunojo's eyes flickered with surprise.
An unexpected guest had stepped through the Tendo family's gates once again
.
.
.
The Last Tendo
Tokyo Tendo Residence
Inside the newly rebuilt Tendo estate, Tendo Kikunojo sat in silence, his sharp gaze locked onto Tendo Kisara.
After a long pause, he finally spoke in a deep voice.
"I never expected you to come back."
Kisara grinned, but there was something terrifying in her eyes.
Her fingers rested on the hilt of her cursed blade.
"You old bastard. Bet you never saw this day coming, did you?"
Kikunojo remained seated, his tone calm and unwavering.
"You've grown bolder in the time you've been away from the Tendo family."
Truthfully, Kisara's return had caught him off guard.
But did she concern him?
Not in the slightest.
At the end of the day, she was still just a foolish little girl.
"Hmph. Still as arrogant as ever, I see."
Shing
The cursed blade was drawn.
A chilling glint reflected off the polished steel, mirroring Kisara's twisted expression.
"Die."
Kikunojo's aged hands grasped the katana before him, and for a brief moment, his clouded eyes shone with clarity.
His voice was sharp as a blade.
"Kisara You may have earned the full inheritance of the Tendo sword style."
"But"
With a swift motion, Kikunojo rose to his feet, unsheathing his sword in an instant.
"Never forgetthe techniques you use bear the name 'Tendo'!"
Kisara let out a cold laugh.
Then
Black flames erupted around her body.
She didn't even bother making a dramatic declaration of vengeance.
She didn't need to.
Asura state: "Activated."
Her pupils gleamed with bloodlust.
Vengeance Mark: Mortal Enemy.
Skill Activation: "Queen of Vengeance."
Special Effect: Enhanced Damage Against Marked Hated Targets.
Boom!
The very air trembled.
In a blink, Kisara vanishedmoving at an inhuman speed.
By the time Kikunojo's pupils dilated in shock
Shing!
A single slash.
His swordshattered.
A thin, nearly imperceptible line sliced through the air behind him.
Kisara had already reappeared at his back, her eyes gleaming as she admired the fresh droplets of blood on her blade.
Kikunojo stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief. His lips trembled.
"H-How How could this be?"
Splurt!
A fountain of blood sprayed from his body, staining the walls.
His face was frozen in shock as his body collapsed.
Even in death, his eyes remained openunable to accept his fate.
Kisara smirked.
Pure. Absolute. Satisfaction.
But
"Not enough."
"Still not enough."
Slash!
With her blade still dripping with blood, Kisara strode forwardheading deeper into the Tendo estate.
Whoever she encounteredshe cut down without mercy.
Screams filled the halls.
"Kisara! It's meyour brother!"
"I was wrong! I know I was wrong!"
"Pleaseplease, spare me!"
"Have mercy"
Splurt!
Another head rolled.
Another corpse fell.
Stepping out of the blood-drenched mansion, Kisara took a deep breath.
The Tendo clan was gone.
WellAlmost.
There was still one person left.
Herself.
The name Tendo held no meaning anymore.
She murmured to herself.
"I wonder What is Lynn-sama's surname?"
Perhaps
It was time for her to take a new name.
Thud!
SuddenlyA young man dressed in black rushed onto the scene.
His expression was fierce, but the moment he laid eyes on Kisarahe froze.
"Kisara?"
Thenhis gaze dropped to the bloodied sword in her hand.
His face went pale.
A terrible realization dawned on him.
"Wait No Don't tell me"
Without another word, Satomi Rentaro dashed past her and ran into the Tendo estate to make sure.
Moments laterHe returned.
His expression was dark, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto Kisara.
And then
He growled, voice trembling with rage.
"TENDO KISARA!"
He gritted his teeth, his fists trembling.
"WHY?!"
"Why did you do this?!"
Tendo Kisara gave him a cold, indifferent glance.
"Isn't revenge normal?"
Satomi Rentaro let out a bitter laugh, his rage boiling over.
"This This isn't justice!"
"I won't allow it!"
Kisara scoffed, looking at him as if he were an absolute fool.
"Allow it?"
"Who the hell needs your permission?"
With an expressionless face, she sighed, clearly unimpressed.
"You know the thing I hate most?"
"People who won't shut up about 'justice' this, 'justice' that."
Boom!
Her long black hair whipped around wildly as a dark aura surged from her body.
The whites of her eyes were gradually swallowed by inky blackness.
She raised her swordpointing it directly at Rentaro.
"If you're standing on their side"
"Then that makes you an enemy too."
Rentaro marked as a vengeance target.
Skill Activation: "Queen of Vengeance."
Special Effect: Increased damage against sworn enemies.
Devilization: Final Form "Sinful Rebirth."
All physical attributes enhanced.
"Sinful" state activated: The greater the malice, the faster the damage.
A sharp whoosh cut through the air.
Kisara disappeared before Rentaro's very eyes.
His pupils contracted
His artificial eye activated at full power, scanning for her shape.
But
Nothing.
Just nothing.
BANG!
His instincts kicked in, and he barely managed to raise his arm
CLANG!
A sharp metallic ring echoed as his cybernetic limb deflected the incoming strike.
His sleeve was sliced open, revealing the glowing blue glow of his cybernetic arm.
"Oh?"
Kisara arched an eyebrow, momentarily surprised.
She hadn't expected him to have a trump card like this.
Nor had she expected his cybernetic enhancements to be this good.
ButShe had no intention of clashing with him head-on.
Her form twisted.
In a flash, she vanished from his sightreappearing behind him.
Schlick!
Rentaro gasped, blood trickling from his lips.
His eyes flickered with disbelief.
A blade had pierced straight through his chest.
"H-How!"
He never imaginedThat Kisara could be this strong.
Kisara whispered in his ear, her voice laced with cold amusement.
"Satomi Rentaro"
"Take your fake righteousness and go join that old bastard, Tendo Kikunojo, in hell."
"I'm sure he'll be needing you down there."
Tokyo
The entire city shuddered with fear.
People locked themselves inside their homes, their voices trembling with terror.
Days Later
The chaos finally began to settle.
Some of the braver survivors ventured out to check the state of the city.
The streets were emptier than before, eerily silent.
ButThere was something missing.
The Cursed Children were nowhere to be found.
The survivors let out sighs of relief.
"Hah Good riddance!"
"Those damn monsters should just stay gone forever!"
"Damn it, what the hell was the government doing these past few days?! And the policewhere the hell were they?!"
As they continued their bitter complaints
—
Seitenshi stood before the Legacy of the Seven Stars, her gaze unwavering.
ThenShe issued her final command.
"The Gastrea are about to invade Tokyo. All citizens are to report to the frontlines for battle."
When the decree spread, the survivors froze.
"What?"
"Us?" On the frontlines?!"
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"Why the hell should we be the ones fighting?!"
"What the hell is the government doing?! Isn't this their job?!"
"What about the Cursed Children?! Send those freaks to fight instead!"
"Yeah! Only the Cursed Children can handle the Gastrea!"
"Send the Cursed Children!"
A new wave of protests erupted.
People took to the streets, shouting and demanding answers.
But soonThey realized something terrifying.
All the Cursed Children were gone.
Just like they had always wished for.
So now?
.
.
.
The Fall of Tokyo
That day, humanity was once again reminded of the terror of the Gastrea. And this time without the protection of the Cursed Children.
"No! No! I don't want to face the Gastrea!"
Panic spread like wildfire.
"Where are the Cursed Children? Hurry up and bring them back to protect us!"
"Please, we're begging you! Just like before, protect us again!!"
"We promise! We'll accept the New Gastrea Law! We'll ensure the rights of the cursed children are upheld!!"
Desperation made them suddenly sound just, even compassionate.
ButIt was all a lie.
They weren't truly regretful. They weren't seeking redemption.
They were just afraid.
They pleaded, offering promises, swearing to change. Yet, the Cursed Children remained nowhere to be seen.
A heavy silence hung in the air.
And thenThe ugly side of humanity raised its head once more.
"No! No way! I have to get out of Tokyo!"
One desperate cry became the spark.
That Stage V Gastrea...It was an unstoppable disaster.
They had to escape.
The citizens quickly snapped out of their daze, grabbing their belongings, dragging their families along, and rushing toward the airports, train stationsAnywhere but Tokyo.
They had to get to Osaka! Or Sendai!
Anywhere but here!
Tokyo was in complete chaos.
And yet, no officials stepped forward to stop them.
BecauseThere were no officials left.
Seitenshi stood by the window, her face unreadable as she gazed at the rioting Tokyo below.
Disappointment settled deep within her heart.
