The development was nearly inevitable: the Flame Hazes who'd decided to oppose the God of Humanity came knocking on Shana's and Alastor's door.
Their intentions were obvious—if they had help from another deity, especially the God of Retribution, whose authorities included judgment and punishment, their chances against that mysterious God of Humanity would undoubtedly increase significantly.
At the same time, they never ceased trying to uncover the origins of this enigmatic Goddess of the Underworld.
While seeking Alastor's support, the Flame Hazes straightforwardly questioned Shana and the God of Retribution, asking whether they knew, or at least recognized, this deity who had suddenly appeared. After all, compared to her displayed power, the uncertainty of her origins and intentions was far more unsettling.
They held a thin hope: perhaps Alastor, as a similarly ancient and noble deity, could offer crucial clues about this mysterious peer—even the smallest hint would be invaluable, since intelligence was precisely what they lacked most right now.
Alastor, gentle and patient by nature, did not insult or drive away the Flame Haze messenger, yet neither did he reveal even the slightest detail about Nitocris. He merely responded that he, too, knew little about her.
Only after the messenger departed did Alastor finally let loose his pent-up irritation.
"Those people must be insane! What gives them the confidence to believe they can oppose a Pillar of the Present World in this human realm? Could it be they actually intend to exile the Goddess of the Underworld using the same forbidden spell that once sealed the Snake of the Festival?"
But this was nothing like the previous situation. The Flame Hazes had only succeeded in exiling the Snake of the Festival back then because the God of Creation had held no guard against them, even harboring a measure of benevolence and acknowledgment. Added to that was the absolute asymmetry of information—never had the Snake anticipated they possessed such a forbidden sealing ritual designed specifically against gods, catching him completely off guard.
Yet despite these tremendous advantages, the Flame Hazes of that era still paid a horrifying price, treading upon countless corpses of their comrades, finally imprisoning that god within an eternal cage in the interstice between worlds. Without either of these two conditions, their exile would've certainly failed.
Therefore, if they now placed their hopes on that forbidden sealing spell again, it would be utterly meaningless.
"It has been far too long since a god's majesty appeared upon this land. The Flame Hazes have already forgotten what it means to fear a god, de arimasu."
"Reckless arrogance."
If anyone had the right to speak to this, it was Wilhelmina Carmel. During her first encounter with Nitocris, due to her own recklessness, she'd been pulled directly into the goddess's divine realm and had personally confronted that endless, immense divine majesty capable of determining life and death itself.
Thus, more clearly than anyone else, Wilhelmina understood that these Flame Hazes who loudly declared their hostility towards Nitocris were absurdly naïve, utterly reckless. This wasn't bravery—this was absolute suicide.
At this moment, Hirai Yukari sat among them. The messenger hadn't recognized anything unusual beneath her ordinary appearance, treating her merely as a regular human. Perhaps inwardly puzzled how an ordinary person could be so close with the Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter and the Manipulator of Objects, the messenger nonetheless didn't pursue it further, allowing Alastor to silently breathe easier.
Knowing Nitocris's character, even if these Flame Hazes openly declared hostility against her, she would probably disdain even paying them attention. However, should they dare direct their hostility toward Hirai Yukari, Nitocris would genuinely erupt in fury.
Several months had already passed since Nitocris left the human world, entering alone into the gap between worlds.
Christmas approached, streets gradually adorned with colorful lights and Christmas trees, silently proclaiming the year's imminent end.
To Hirai Yukari, this year felt like a dream or fantasy, overturning everything she previously understood about the world.
Gods, Crimson Denizens, Flame Hazes, Unrestricted Spells, Bal Masqué... these terms that should have existed only in fantasy novels had forcefully rushed into her everyday life.
This year, she and her parents had experienced the miracle of death and revival.
This year, she became the contractor of the God of Humanity.
This year, she'd become friends with a Flame Haze—a girl named Shana.
This year, alongside the goddess, she defeated countless dangerous Crimson Denizens, saving countless lives.
Throughout these months waiting for Nitocris's return, anxiety had gripped Yukari and Shana's hearts. Even though Alastor and Wilhelmina often comforted them, unease arrived like an unstoppable tide, silently tormenting them during quiet moments.
Only occasional phenomena appearing in the skies brought tidings from that distant battle, indicating Nitocris's fight against the Snake of the Festival had yet to conclude.
Fortunately, Nitocris ultimately returned just before Christmas.
"I can only say he deserves his title as a Crimson God wielding Authority over creation. Although the Snake of the Festival wasn't top-tier in destructive power, his methods were endlessly inventive, and his vitality so annoyingly resilient that it took me precisely thirteen thousand five hundred deaths before I finally defeated him completely."
Under the gazes of excitement and calm from Shana, Yukari, Wilhelmina, and the others, the long-silent golden pendant once again echoed Nitocris's voice.
"So, you really didn't need to worry about me. From start to finish, I had the advantage in that fight. The reason I came back late was only because he was too stubborn to die quickly."
"Noisy noisy noisy (Urusai urusai urusai)!" Shana swiftly turned her face away, arms crossed tightly over her chest, chin raised stubbornly high, though the tips of her ears quietly reddened. "We weren't worried at all! Don't flatter yourself… Yukari and I knew you'd win from the start."
But she held this stubborn pose for barely a few seconds before laughter burst from her lips. Her eyes curved into bright crescents as she fixed her gaze on the pendant, softly whispering:
"Welcome back, Nito."
"Welcome back, Kami-sama," Yukari quickly added, unable to hide the overflowing joy at the corners of her eyes and lips.
"So, did you kill the Snake of the Festival?" Alastor asked, clearly concerned.
"Not exactly." Nitocris's voice carried a trace of imperceptible fatigue yet remained composed. "You Crimson Gods embody the laws of the Crimson Realm. Completely killing one of you would severely damage both the Crimson Realm and the world's balance. Besides, defeating the Snake of the Festival was my secondary goal—what I truly desired was his Authority."
"Therefore, I only destroyed the Snake's physical form, severing the connection between body and soul, and divided his physical form into three thousand parts."
As the Goddess of the Underworld, Nitocris had always been an expert at manipulating souls. Even though the Snake of the Festival was the God of Creation and Certainty, after losing his physical form and being reduced to mere soul, he became nothing but prey in Nitocris's eyes, no longer capable of causing trouble.
And now came those three thousand pieces, containing the Authority of Creation.
"Next, using the concepts of 'Three Thousand Great Daos' and 'Three Thousand Worlds,' I will use the Snake's physical form as material to create a new world between the human world and the Crimson Realm. This new world will serve as a barrier, blocking all Denizens attempting to enter the human world. Afterwards, I will drive every Crimson Denizen and Flame Haze currently within the human world into this new realm."
"Meanwhile, I'll use my Authority of Judgment to establish absolute rules there, forbidding all beings within from stealing Power of Existence from others in any form. Finally… I need your help, Shana, Alastor."
According to Nitocris's plan, she would build her own shrine in the human world and appoint Hirai Yukari as its shrine maiden. Yukari would receive both Nitocris's divine protection and the world's own favor, becoming essentially invincible within the human realm. Even Sydonay wielding Shintetsu Nyoi would not stand a chance against her.
While Yukari safeguarded the human world, the new realm required overseers and guardians.
In Nitocris's judgment, Shana and Alastor were undoubtedly ideal choices for overseeing and managing the new world.
Alastor's impartiality and immense strength, proven through countless eras as the Crimson God of Judgment, made him entirely trustworthy. Shana's pure conviction, unwavering willpower, and decisive clarity forged through battle were precisely the qualities indispensable for maintaining order in the newly established world.
Additionally, the core rule Nitocris established—that of "no stealing Power of Existence"—posed very limited restrictions on the God of Retribution Alastor and his Flame-Haired contractor, Shana. Even if Nitocris didn't explicitly grant them managerial authority, Alastor's divine stature and Shana's pinnacle strength among Flame Hazes alone would suffice to let them move freely in this new world—Xanadu—with minimal hindrance.
When Nitocris asked Shana directly for her thoughts, Shana blinked, momentarily silent. Then, a brilliant, flame-like smile blossomed at the corners of her lips, gradually lighting up her entire face—a bright, unwavering, dazzling smile free of any shadow or hesitation.
"So, the chance to finally repay my debt to you has come... isn't that right?"
"...Yes." Even though no one could see Nitocris's face, everyone, Shana included, clearly sensed the gentle warmth within her voice. "If you had refused, I'd really have been troubled... After all, besides you, there's no one else I could trust with this."
"Oh, is that so…" Shana muttered softly, pretending to be mature as she repeatedly nodded, unconsciously folding her arms across her chest. "Then it really can't be helped, can it? Yep, can't be helped at all... Since I'm the only person Nito can entrust things to."
The more she spoke, the softer her voice grew, yet a warm, sunset-like flush uncontrollably bloomed on her cheeks, and the dazzling brightness of her smile had long since betrayed the small pride and joy hidden in her heart.
Alastor also approved of Nitocris's proposal, expressing that since it clearly benefited the world's order and balance, there was no reason—neither emotionally nor logically—for him to refuse.
There was also another reason...
"You've planned out the path ahead with such meticulous care. As a fellow deity who likewise presides over judgment, I simply cannot allow myself to enjoy the fruits of your labor without lifting a finger. No matter what, I must contribute my own strength as well." Alastor's tone carried a subtle, nearly helpless respect as he spoke these words.
Naturally, the faster all this could be accomplished, the better—after all, those crazed Crimson Denizens were still wreaking havoc and attacking humans everywhere.
Thus, with the assistance of the will of humanity itself, Nitocris extended her divine presence across the entire human world, sending her voice directly into the minds of every Crimson Denizen and Flame Haze, openly declaring her thoughts and plans to them all.
"Flame Hazes! I know exactly what rumors you've believed and how you view me. I'm a god who responded to humanity's cries for help, and so I won't defend myself. Indeed, I failed to save you when you needed me most—curse me all you want."
"Yet now, I am about to exercise my Authority. I will banish every abnormality from this human world, ensuring tragedies caused by Crimson Denizens will never recur. When my Authority is fully activated, all that relates to the Crimson Realm shall migrate into the new world. Your mission will be fulfilled, your battles over."
"For those unwilling to leave, I shall grant them peaceful, ordinary lives. For those without attachments, I'll send them into reincarnation, letting them be born into happy lives next time. Those yearning for the new world will be sent along with the Crimson Denizens into Xanadu, to begin anew."
Nitocris's announcement alone might still have sparked suspicion and resistance, but at this critical juncture, the God of Retribution Alastor appeared to vouch for her. Even more shocking, Shahar, the God of Guidance who seldom intervened and remained ever enigmatic, broke his silence to deliver an oracle confirming every word Nitocris had spoken.
Alastor might still hold some possibility of bias or deceit, but the oracle delivered by Shahar, the deity responsible for invoking and conveying divine messages, was absolute truth—shattering any remaining doubts. Naturally, certain individuals would still inevitably resent Nitocris's actions; that, however, was unavoidable—the complexity inherent in human hearts.
The new world.
Because it fundamentally mirrored the human realm, a reflection of reality itself, nearly all its landscapes and customs closely resembled the human world.
Thus, while humanity quietly celebrated Christmas Eve in warmth and serenity, this newly born world also welcomed its very first Christmas Eve.
Nitocris stood quietly beneath a massive Christmas tree glittering with starlight. She had shed her divine attire and now wore ordinary winter clothing; even her imposing divine aura was subtly withdrawn, revealing a rare warmth and gentleness that felt intimately human.
As she silently admired the brightly decorated tree, laden with twinkling lights, gift boxes, and jingling bells, suddenly a voice rang out from behind her.
"Hello there. Are you waiting for someone?"
Hearing this almost playful greeting, Nitocris's lips curled up softly. Turning around slowly, she gently replied, "I was waiting for the two of you."
Immediately, Shana and Hirai Yukari's figures came into her sight.
Shana playfully clasped her hands behind her back, leaning forward with a bright smile as she tilted her face upward to gaze into Nitocris's eyes. Within her deep, dark eyes sparkled a lively, teasing warmth, and the corners of her lips curled into a cheerful, affectionate arc. Beside her, Yukari seemed slightly bashful, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her clothes, always holding that faint yet unmistakable tension whenever facing Nitocris. Still, her eyes shone remarkably bright, capturing the scattered starlight reflecting from the festive lights around them.
Under the Christmas tree, both girls wore fluffy, adorable winter clothes. Shana wore pink, paired with a white scarf wrapped snugly around her neck, while Yukari wore soft, goose-yellow attire, complemented by a warm brown scarf.
In this new world, Nitocris no longer needed Yukari's body as a vessel to manifest physically; she could appear freely through her own will alone, allowing them to stand together like this.
To stand beside the goddess herself, sharing the festive warmth, casually enjoying these playful moments—this once-distant dream turned real filled Yukari's heart with indescribable excitement and pure joy.
"So, you'd better spend plenty of time with us."
Together, the two girls reached out their hands simultaneously towards Nitocris, palms down, patiently awaiting her touch.
Shana's smile shone like the warmest winter sun, brilliantly radiant and eagerly playful; Yukari's smile gently danced upon her lips, reserved but unable to conceal the dazzling starlight within her eyes.
Facing these two very different yet equally sincere invitations, Nitocris's lips lifted subtly, forming a soft, gentle smile. She extended her hands, taking each girl's hand at once.
The night ahead remained long. Perhaps, before she departed, she could accompany these two girls for just a little longer…
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A/N:
Alright, this marks the end of the Shakugan no Shana arc. To be honest, when the author (that's me) initially caught up on all three seasons and seventy-two episodes, it nearly fried my brain... because this series spends most of its episodes just teaching you how to date. That confession Shana made atop the Snake of the Festival's head took me three seasons of waiting! Three seasons, dammit!
The bonus episodes were pretty fun, though, especially that one where Shana and the protagonist swapped bodies—worth rewatching when you have spare time.
Here's a joke: Shana was manlier when using the protagonist's body, and the protagonist was cuter and more elegant when using Shana's (covers mouth and laughs).
By the way, lately I've run out of novels to read. Anyone have recommendations similar to this one? No abandoned ones, please, and nothing too short (like just two or three hundred thousand words).
I had been reading one where the protagonist becomes Fu Hua at the start, but the author got sick. And the other one—"Speedrunning Worlds Starting from Liuying"—I'll wait until the author finishes the Xié Dié arc before continuing.