Hanato's Perspective — Hirito
The battlefield fell into complete silence.
Then—
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!
The Razorblade Monster's thunderous roar shook the steel framework of Tokyo Tower.
Its metallic scales rattled violently as it pointed one enormous claw toward us.
As though responding to its command, the countless Mini Razorblade Monsters began moving.
One step.
Then another.
Soon dozens of crimson eyes were locked directly onto us.
The creatures growled in unison.
The sound alone was enough to make several reporters stumble backward.
Police officers instinctively raised their weapons despite already witnessing moments earlier that conventional firearms were completely useless.
The Mayor stepped backward, shielding Lilie behind him.
Even the television crews hesitated.
The cameras continued rolling, but many of the cameramen had visibly pale faces.
Nobody wanted to be standing where we were.
Unfortunately...
We didn't have a choice.
I tightened my fists.
"There are..."
I counted them quickly.
"...fifty-two."
Ryuhou's voice echoed calmly inside my mind.
"One corrupted vessel."
"Fifty-one corrupted police officers."
I quietly exhaled.
"A five-versus-fifty-two battle."
Ryuhou chuckled.
"Not quite."
I blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"You."
"My three Phantom Images."
"And Shina."
"...Five."
I smiled faintly.
"...Right."
I stretched my fingers before stepping forward.
Dark shadows began gathering beneath my feet.
The surrounding streetlights flickered.
The shadows around nearby buildings slowly stretched toward me as though being pulled by an invisible force.
"Phantom Image."
Dark mist erupted around my body.
One silhouette emerged.
Then another.
Then another.
Three identical copies stepped out from the darkness.
Each clone possessed the same black outfit.
The same flowing scarf.
The same glowing crimson eyes.
The nearby reporters gasped.
"...There are four of him!"
"Which one is real?!"
Even several police officers looked stunned.
One cameraman instinctively zoomed in.
The four of us stood shoulder to shoulder.
The monsters hesitated.
Even they seemed confused.
I glanced toward Shina.
"...I hope you know how to fight."
Because honestly...
I wasn't sure how long the four of us could hold back an entire army.
Hina's Perspective — Shina
Vetrex...
So that was his name.
The name echoed quietly inside my mind.
Not a god.
Not a savior.
Not someone chosen to protect people.
Just someone who had obtained incredible power...
...and decided to use it for himself.
He manipulated Reno's pain.
He transformed innocent police officers into monsters.
He endangered countless lives without the slightest hesitation.
His strength existed only to satisfy his own ambitions.
Then...
What about us?
I slowly looked around.
The frightened civilians.
The exhausted police officers.
The reporters who refused to stop broadcasting because the people of Tokyo deserved to know the truth.
The Mayor protecting his daughter despite being terrified himself.
Yuki...
Shouji...
My mother...
Everyone I cared about...
They were all somewhere in this city.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Praying.
Ryuna spoke softly.
"Hina..."
I slowly closed my eyes.
"I understand now."
Everything finally made sense.
Being chosen by an Essence...
was never about becoming someone above everyone else.
It wasn't about glory.
It wasn't about being worshipped.
It wasn't about power.
It was about responsibility.
I wasn't chosen because I was special.
I was chosen because someone had to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.
Someone had to stand between despair...
and hope.
Someone had to keep moving forward...
even when they were afraid.
Vetrex used his powers for himself.
Hirito risked himself for strangers.
That was the difference.
I slowly opened my eyes.
A smile appeared across my face.
"We're nothing like you..."
I whispered.
"We were chosen..."
"...to protect people."
The words escaped almost unconsciously.
"To protect our families."
"To protect our friends."
"To protect everyone."
The instant that conviction settled inside my heart—
A brilliant white aura erupted from my body.
Warmth spread throughout every part of me.
The glowing light wrapped around my arms.
My legs.
My hair.
Even my eyes began shining with a brilliant white radiance.
Ryuna gasped.
"You did it!"
Her cheerful voice echoed through our Essence Link.
"Congratulations, Shina!"
"You've awakened your first true ability."
"...Celestial Boost."
I slowly raised my hand.
The white aura danced gently across my fingertips.
"...So..."
"This is Celestial Boost..."
Then...
Everything changed.
The wind stopped.
No...
It hadn't stopped.
It had become unbelievably slow.
The drifting dust barely moved.
The fluttering police tape seemed frozen.
Even Hirito's scarf floated through the air almost motionlessly.
I looked toward the advancing monsters.
Their footsteps...
were crawling.
It felt as though time itself had slowed.
Ryuna giggled.
"It isn't the world that's slow."
"...You've become incredibly fast."
Before I could even process her explanation—
My body moved.
Instinct.
Pure instinct.
I pushed against the ground.
The world disappeared.
Hanato's Perspective — Hirito
"...Huh?"
One second...
Shina was standing beside me.
The next—
She vanished.
There hadn't even been a gust of wind.
No flash.
No explosion.
She simply...
disappeared.
My eyes widened.
"...Where did she—"
BOOM!
One Mini Razorblade Monster flew through the air.
Another collapsed.
Then another.
Then another.
The battlefield exploded into motion.
White flashes danced between the monsters faster than my eyes could follow.
One after another—
The creatures collapsed unconscious.
Every impact echoed across the street.
CRASH!
THUD!
BOOM!
The army that moments earlier had looked unstoppable...
was falling apart.
"...Impossible..."
A police officer whispered.
Even my Phantom Images had stopped moving.
There wasn't anything left for us to fight.
Within mere seconds...
The final Mini Razorblade Monster collapsed onto the pavement.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The white aura gradually faded enough for everyone to finally see her.
Shina stood quietly in the center of the street.
Not even breathing heavily.
Not a scratch on her.
The dozens of defeated monsters surrounded her like fallen dominoes.
"...Woah..."
The word escaped my lips before I realized it.
I couldn't believe what I'd just witnessed.
Ryuhou sounded just as amazed.
"The Essence of Light..."
"...has truly awakened."
Before anyone could react further—
A gentle white radiance spread across every unconscious monster.
The light washed over their corrupted bodies.
The jagged metal scales began dissolving into glowing particles.
Their claws slowly returned to human hands.
The crimson eyes faded.
One after another...
The Mini Razorblade Monsters reverted to their original forms.
Police officers.
Every single one of them.
The surrounding crowd erupted into stunned murmurs.
"They're changing back!"
"They've returned to normal!"
"It's a miracle!"
Several officers slowly regained consciousness, confused and unaware of what had happened.
Tears streamed down the Police Chief's face.
"My men..."
"They're alive..."
Mayor Shiniki stared speechlessly.
The television cameras captured every second.
Across Tokyo, millions of viewers watched the impossible unfold live.
Shina slowly turned toward the nearest camera.
For a brief moment...
The entire city seemed to hold its breath.
She smiled gently.
Her voice carried remarkable confidence.
"People of Tokyo..."
Every microphone captured her words.
"I want to make you a promise."
She placed one hand over her chest.
"No matter who stands against us..."
"No matter how long this battle lasts..."
"Hirito and I..."
"...will protect Tokyo."
She looked directly into the camera.
"And we'll protect everyone living in it."
The conviction in her voice reached far beyond the television screens.
Her white aura slowly disappeared.
The wind gently lifted her silver hair.
Around her, dozens of rescued police officers were beginning to awaken.
Above us—
The Razorblade Monster let out a furious roar that echoed across Tokyo Tower.
It had witnessed everything.
Its army...
had been erased.
Elsewhere in Tokyo
Inside a small café several districts away, nearly every customer had gathered around the large television mounted on the wall.
The emergency broadcast had replaced the usual afternoon programming.
Students from Seika Academy stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the battle unfold.
Yuki leaned so close to the television that she was almost touching the screen.
"I knew it!"
She grinned excitedly.
"I told everyone there would be heroes!"
Shouji scratched his cheek.
"...You actually did."
Several classmates stared in amazement as the police officers returned to normal.
Among them stood Selena.
Unlike the others, she remained quiet.
Her lavender eyes never left the television.
When Shina made her promise to protect Tokyo...
A gentle smile appeared on Selena's face.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't dramatic.
Just a small, sincere smile filled with quiet hope.
"...They're really fighting for everyone."
She whispered the words softly enough that only she could hear them.
For the first time since the chaos had begun...
She felt that perhaps Tokyo still had hope.
Back at Tokyo Tower, the Razorblade Monster's furious roar echoed once more.
The true battle...
was only beginning.