— — — — — — —
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.
But—It 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 then—The 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 stations—Anywhere 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.
Because…There 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.
"No... it won't work..."
Leaving Tokyo was not an option.
---
At the airport
A single slash cut through the air, blood staining the ground.
Tendo Kisara slowly sheathed her blade, standing at the front alongside an army of Devil Lolis.
"No one is allowed to pass."
Her icy voice echoed throughout the entire airport, sending shivers down the spines of those present.
Especially when they realized—She had just killed someone.
"Th-Those… Those are Cursed Children with wings…"
Fear seeped into their voices as they trembled.
These winged Cursed Children were different.
These ones… would actually kill them.
But—
Behind, there was an endless horde of Gastrea.
Between monsters and devils, they had to choose.
"Screw it! I'm getting out of Tokyo today!!"
A man roared in defiance.
Splatter!
Blood rained across the airport.
Tendo Kisara and the Devil Lolis didn't hesitate.
Humans had only two choices:
Die now.
Or be infected by Gastrea and die later.
Tokyo was now a sealed city.
No one leaves. No exceptions.
Their eyes widened in despair.
Behind them—Gastrea.
Before them—Devils.
They had nowhere to run.
---
Meanwhile…
Lynn was reincarnating over two hundred thousand Cursed Children.
He summoned hundreds of thousands of Devil's Pieces at once, manipulating them with his magic, pressing them onto the bodies of the young girls before him.
Then—Power surged.
An endless wave of strength poured into them.
A tidal wave of pure magic erupted from Lynn, twisting the very air around him with its sheer force.
He clenched his fists, exhilaration flooding through him.
He was now one step closer to reaching the level of a Maou.
---
A few days later
The Gastrea Stage V.
The Zodiac Gastrea—Scorpio.
A monster the size of a mountain, its entire body covered in jet-black armor, descended upon Tokyo.
It slowly crept toward the city.
The people shuddered in absolute terror.
They wanted to run.
But they couldn't.
And as for resisting...Just laying eyes on the beast made their legs go weak.
Hate? There wasn't even the will left to hate.
Where were the Cursed Children now? Why weren't they protecting them?
Weren't the Cursed Children supposed to atone for their sins by defending humanity?
They were the ones cursed, the ones who should suffer!
Why were they being punished instead?!
Even now, at the brink of extinction, Humans did not repent.
Only fear.
...
The Scorpio Gastrea moved slowly, but its mere presence had already unleashed a flood of destruction.
Stage I. Stage II. Stage III. Even Stage IV.
Countless Gastrea swarmed Tokyo like an unstoppable tide.
Without the protection of the Cursed Children, the ordinary people were utterly powerless, incapable of even resisting a Stage I Gastrea.
"AAAAAHHH!!"
Tokyo was drowning in screams of despair.
— — —
Seitenshi stood silently, watching the chaos.
Her blue eyes held no emotion.
No sadness. No anger.
Only a cold, unattached understanding that humanity was beyond saving.
Even now, in their final moments, they cursed and blamed others instead of looking inward.
"These people…"
"They aren't worth saving."
With no hesitation, she turned around and lowered her head slightly toward the man sitting at the desk behind her.
"I apologize, Lord Lynn. I was too naive."
Lynn sat with his legs crossed, casually twirling a pen between his fingers. He didn't respond.
If his Familia hadn't been short on manpower, gathering the Cursed Children wouldn't have taken so long. And he would have wiped out all humans much earlier.
Seitenshi's plea for help had simply been a passing entertainment in the meantime.
After all, humanity was already doomed from the moment he appeared in this world.
And soon, in their despair, they would become nothing more than a never-ending source of experience for his Familia.
Seitenshi clenched her fists, waiting anxiously for his response.
Then—She bit her lip, her face turning red.
With trembling hands, she reached for the hem of her white dress, slowly slipping it off her shoulders, revealing her flawless, white body.
Then, she knelt.
Pressed her forehead to the floor.
A perfect, formal dogeza posture.
"I… apologize, Lord Lynn."
Her voice wavered, but she forced herself to continue.
"This… is the only way I know how to atone for my arrogance."
She understood.
She had overstepped.
She had asked too much.
She had been selfish, so she had to make amends.
But…She had nothing else to offer.
Lynn lacked nothing.
Not wealth. Not power. Not influence.
Even her own body had long since belonged to him.
But still—This was all she had left to give.
Her pale skin burned with a soft blush as she whispered, voice barely above a breath:
"L-Lord Lynn… I… I even took the time to study… certain skills."
"I-I hope… I can please you."
Oh?
Lynn raised an eyebrow, amused.
His sharp gaze swept over her trembling form, and she shivered under his scrutiny.
Then, he rose from his chair, standing over her, looking down with a smirk.
"Well then…"
"Let's see…"
"…if your studies paid off."
"Y-Yes…"
"Ahh~~"
---
Tokyo…
Humanity drowned in despair.
Those who didn't die…Turned into monsters.
Twisted by the Gastrea virus.
Consumed by pain.
By hatred. By fear.
That day, Tokyo fell.
.
.
.