Kiana: "That's not fair! The Apocalypse Game is totally singling you out!"
Bronya: "Fairness is rare, but a game that loses even its most basic fairness isn't a good game."
Tatsuki: "That's why it's an abnormal Apocalypse factor, not a normal 'game.' Bringing the Apocalypse down is its real end goal."
Tatsuki: "Still… the rewards are pretty nice."
Destroying a single planet netted Tatsuki over 4 million Apocalypse Points.
Honestly, he'd expected more.
If each interstellar bug was worth even 1 point, then a planet completely overrun should've been hundreds of millions, if not more.
Turns out he'd guessed wrong.
The Apocalypse Game wasn't that generous—as his strength increased, the points awarded for weaker individuals changed too.
But he did get an unexpected bonus: Sin power.
Those interstellar bugs were living organisms, not game code. Even they carried a trace of sin power.
For their kind, Greed and Gluttony were basically the main theme.
After absorbing the sin power from the entire planet, Chaos Wings changed—rising from lv 6 to lv 7!
For now, it wasn't a qualitative leap—still more of a bigger and stronger upgrade.
Most noticeably: Chaos Domain expanded, and its energy grew denser. Each Chaos Wings ability hit harder and had better effects.
And there was another change that didn't affect him directly: The power ceiling of Sin Apostles and Redemption Angels rose again.
At this point, the bodies he could grant them had reached lv 5.
Meaning Yukino and the others had effectively gotten a massive boost on top of their existing foundation.
Tatsuki couldn't help feeling excited about future battle planets.
Each one was basically a treasure vault.
…
Kurumi: "Tatsuki—how do I gain power like yours? I've heard about Apocalypse Points and the roulette abilities. I want to know how you did it."
Ch'en: "Yeah. I want to know too!"
Kurumi and Ch'en both craved more power.
One wanted to change the past. The other wanted to change the future.
Tatsuki: "In theory, if you have enough points, you can become as strong as me—or surpass me."
He emphasized in theory for a reason.
What he had was likely impossible to replicate, there were possible hidden Administrator privileges, the Apocalypse Roulette and Apocalypse Companions clearly reflected that, and his world had multiple Apocalypse factors that could generate points in the first place
His start had been built on solo grinding—killing evil spirits for points—then the first Apocalypse Game launched him into the stratosphere.
Kurumi Tokisaki: "Understood."
Ch'en: "Got it!"
Tatsuki: "…"
He didn't say more.
Even if his exact conditions couldn't be copied, being chosen for Apocalypse Companions and earning Apocalypse Points could still make anyone far stronger than they were now.
…
Outside the chat, the group had finished their discussion too.
The middle portion had been… lively.
Marin and Chika tag-teamed a dramatic retelling of Tatsuki punching a planet apart for Yukino and Miyuki.
Yukino was stunned—but more than that, she was proud. That's my man!
Miyuki, meanwhile, was completely shaken. So everything they'd said… had been real.
After the conversation ended, nobody's nerves settled easily—especially Miyuki, Yui's mom, and Yumiko.
Because the huge survival base didn't even have a visible clock.
With no clear sense of time—and no idea how precisely the daily decision would trigger—they decided to split up: some would practice and get used to their newly boosted abilities. Others would rest, staying in top condition in case something happened suddenly.
Tatsuki, on the other hand, had nothing to do.
Kanae also returned to the spiritual space.
Back in his room, Tatsuki was about to keep chatting when—
Knock, knock.
Haruno came in right after knocking.
To ensure everyone could respond quickly to emergencies, nobody locked their doors.
The locks were high-end iris scanners… but weirdly, that didn't make anyone feel safer.
It felt safer to leave the door open—because the people outside were friends you could trust with your back.
Haruno stepped in and closed the door behind her.
Tatsuki raised a brow. "Already gotten used to the upgraded Angel body?"
Haruno smiled and shook her head, walking closer with an exaggerated sweetness.
"Tatsu-kun… I'm a little cold. Can you give me a pair of white stockings?"
"Cold?" Tatsuki looked at her like she'd told a joke.
With fire powers like hers, cold was a ridiculous excuse.
Still, not knowing what she was plotting, he used his ability and created a pair of white over-the-knee stockings for her.
Haruno hooked them with a finger, sat on the edge of his bed, slipped off her shoes, and calmly pulled them on.
Tatsuki watched—purely as appreciation. Nothing more.
Once she was done, she casually rested her stocking-clad leg against his, toes flexing slightly as she looked up at him with a teasing gaze.
"Tatsu-kun… have you ever tried… something different?"
Tatsuki swallowed and immediately understood what she was hinting at.
Then he forced the thought down and snorted, half-amused.
"Yesterday wasn't enough for you? You're this proactive today—so say it. What do you actually want?"
Haruno didn't even pretend anymore. She stuck her tongue out with a playful little grin.
"Hehe. You caught me."
Then, more softly—more seriously—she leaned in.
"Tatsuki… I want to ask you to help my mother."
"I know you can protect anyone. But if the Apocalypse Game keeps targeting us, something worse is coming."
"And after seeing those swarms today… I'm not confident I can keep her safe in that kind of situation."
She looked at him straight on.
"Tatsuki… please help my mother. No matter how unreasonable the price is… I'll agree."
It was rare for Haruno to ask earnestly like that.
She'd resented her mother in the past—but when it came down to life and death, she still wanted Miyuki to live.
Tatsuki pinched Haruno's cheek, gentle despite the gesture.
"Haruno—don't do that with me."
"Yukinoshita-san and Yui's mom are both my mothers-in-law. I was going to protect them either way."
"And you? You're one of the women I've already chosen for my future. You don't need to bargain. Just ask."
Haruno's eyes softened.
"Tatsuki-kun…"
Relieved and moved by the way he accepted it so simply, she threw herself into him and kissed him hard—like she'd been holding her breath until she heard that answer… and the door stayed closed.