Non-Administered World #97, Star Rail Universe…
It did not take long for the Alliance to receive Void Archives' priority transmission. Chaldea, Arthra, the Astral Express crew, the Mahora defense group, the Gateport-Meldiana defenders, and the other major defensive fronts received the message almost simultaneously.
Along with the transmission came several sets of coordinates and three separate firing windows, each only a few seconds apart. The information also included Reinforce Zwei's calculations, detailing exactly how the three attacks needed to be timed if they wanted to break through Dormammu's dimensional protections before he could rearrange them again.
Welt studied the data carefully before looking toward the massive breach in the sky. "So Sirin intends to use the existing breaches as the pathway between the Real World and the Dimensional Gap."
Himeko slowly nodded beside him while reviewing the same coordinates on her communicator. "And your opening attack has two objectives. Break through the first portion of Dormammu's defenses and clear the Quantum Shadows gathering around the breaches at the same time."
"Exactly." Welt adjusted his glasses. "But your part will be equally important."
"Indeed. Once your attack lands, Rein-chan will only have a few seconds to study how Dormammu's dimensional protections react, narrow down the possible location of his true body, and calculate the coordinates for my attack." Himeko gave a small smile as she looked over the timing window again. "It seems she'll be working under quite a bit of pressure."
Welt glanced toward her. "And after your attack, she will have to do it again. Study the next reaction, narrow the location down even further, and send the final coordinates to Noah before Dormammu can recover."
Himeko's smile became slightly strained.
"Like I said… no pressure."
Welt gave her a brief look before turning his attention toward the damaged Gateport battlefield around them. Quantum Shadows were still emerging from the distant breach, and several groups were already trying to move toward their position.
"Which means we cannot allow anything to interrupt Reinforce's timing."
[You won't have to worry about that.]
Chrono's voice suddenly came through their communicators.
Across the battlefield, several TSAB teams were already moving into position. Aerial mages descended around Welt and Himeko while Midchildan and Belkan magic circles appeared across the ground and sky, establishing a wide defensive perimeter around the two of them.
[All Barrier Teams, establish the firing zone!] Chrono ordered from Arthra. [Nothing crosses that defensive line unless Welt or Himeko specifically requests it. Attack Teams, intercept anything that gets close before it can interfere with their preparations.]
"Roger that, Admiral!"
The response came from several squads at once as barriers rose around the firing position and the TSAB mages turned their attention toward the approaching Quantum Shadows.
Several instructors and senior combat mages from the Wales Magic Academy soon joined the TSAB forces around the Sanctuary grounds, adding their own barriers to the defensive perimeter. Wizards and witches from the British, French, German, and other magical groups followed, reinforcing the firing area with protective enchantments while continuing to bombard the Quantum Shadows emerging from the Gateport breach.
The Potters and Greengrasses remained near the front as well. Charlus, Fleamont, and Damien moved between the defensive lines, binding or blasting apart anything that managed to slip through the magical bombardment while the rest of their families supported the nearby mages and kept the route toward Welt and Himeko clear.
The goblins were no less active. Ragnok brought his weapon down on another Quantum Shadow before immediately pointing toward the defensive perimeter.
"Keep those ugly things away from the firing zone!" he shouted. "Those two space humans need room to prepare their attacks, so nothing gets past us!"
A goblin warrior nearby glanced toward him. "Space humans?"
"That is not the important part!"
The warrior shrugged before turning back toward the approaching enemies. "Fair enough."
Between the TSAB barriers, Meldiana's mages, the wizards and witches from across the continent, the Potter and Greengrass families, and the goblins holding the frontline, the entire Sanctuary force gradually adjusted its formation around the two Nameless. Nobody was withdrawing from the battle or abandoning their previous positions. They were simply changing priorities for the next few minutes, making certain that nothing reached Welt or Himeko while they prepared their attacks.
Charlus looked back toward the two of them as another barrage of spells passed overhead. "Whatever you intend to use, don't waste any effort worrying about us. Everyone here can handle whatever comes through that breach."
Welt gave him a small nod. "Thank you, Lord Charlus. We appreciate the assistance."
"And we'll make sure that trust isn't wasted," Himeko added, placing one hand against her chest.
Another communication window appeared beside them, showing Marisbury and Kirschtaria inside Chaldea's Command Room.
[Chaldea has received Miss Reinforce Zwei's calculations,] Marisbury reported. [Our dimensional observation systems are now synchronized with Arthra.]
Kirschtaria glanced toward another set of readings beside him before continuing. [We'll monitor all five breaches and the Quantum Shadows surrounding them. The moment Lady Sirin opens the path, Chaldea will begin providing continuous corrections to the firing route.]
Welt raised an eyebrow. "You intend to adjust the trajectory while the attack is already moving?"
[If necessary,] Kirschtaria answered. [Reinforce's coordinates should be accurate, but Dormammu is unlikely to remain perfectly still once he realizes what is happening. If his position changes, we'll compensate for it.]
A faint smile appeared on Himeko's face. "That will certainly be useful."
[We're also preparing emergency spatial stabilization,] Marisbury added. [Lady Sirin will be connecting all five breaches to the same opening inside the Dimensional Gap. If the dimensional barrier becomes unstable during the process, Chaldea will reinforce the surrounding space and prevent the connection from spreading beyond the coordinates Reinforce provided.]
"Thank you, Director," Himeko said.
Marisbury shook his head. [There is no need to thank us. You and Lord Welt are taking on one of the most important parts of this operation. The least Chaldea can do is make certain both of you have a clear shot when the time comes.]
Before Himeko could answer, another group of Quantum Shadows appeared beyond the Gateport breach site. The Sanctuary defenders immediately reacted, several teams shifting toward the western perimeter before the approaching enemies could get any closer.
"Contacts approaching the western perimeter!"
"We see them! Keep them away from the firing zone!"
Spells and magical artillery immediately fired from behind the defensive line, striking the first group of Quantum Shadows as they entered range. Himeko watched the battle for a moment and quickly noticed that nobody was calling for either her or Welt to assist. The Alliance understood what their role was now. For the next few minutes, everyone else would hold the line and give the two Nameless enough room to prepare their attacks against Dormammu.
"Looks like they really intend to let us concentrate," Himeko said with a small smile.
"Then we should make certain their effort is worth it," Welt replied before stepping away from her.
His assigned firing position was several hundred meters ahead, located along an open section of the Gateport where nothing would obstruct the path toward the Void Rift Sirin would eventually create. Himeko began walking toward her own position as well, but after only a few steps, she suddenly remembered something and stopped.
"That's right. Admiral Chrono, Director Marisbury, I actually have a request."
[What is it, Miss Himeko?] Chrono immediately asked, while Marisbury quietly waited for her to continue.
"It isn't anything too troublesome, but I'll need to borrow Dan Heng, Caelus, and March during my attack."
Both Chrono and Marisbury raised their eyebrows at the request. Dan Heng, who had been standing not far from Himeko, slowly turned toward her as well. Several worlds away at Hogwarts, March practically appeared in front of the shared communication screen the moment she heard her name.
"Eh?! You need us?!"
Caelus stepped into view beside her. "Borrow us for what?"
Chrono frowned slightly. [Miss Himeko, could you explain why you need all three of them?]
Himeko smiled. "I'm confident that my attack already has enough power, but having the three of them with me will increase it even further. More specifically, I need what all four of us share as Nameless."
Dan Heng's expression changed slightly as he began to understand.
"The Trailblaze."
"Exactly." Himeko nodded. "I need their identities as Pathstriders of Trailblaze."
Chrono looked increasingly curious. [Miss Himeko, what kind of attack requires three additional Nameless to strengthen something that already needs to reach star-system-level output?]
Himeko glanced toward Dan Heng before looking at March and Caelus through the communication screen. Her smile remained calm, though there was something in her expression that made all three Nameless realize she had been planning far more than she had told anyone.
"It's an attack meant to make sure the Trailblaze can continue moving forward."
March tilted her head and frowned. "That somehow explained even less."
"Agreed," Dan Heng replied flatly.
Caelus simply stared at Himeko for another moment before giving up on trying to guess what she had planned. "Alright. So what exactly do we have to do?"
Himeko's expression softened as she looked at the three of them.
"Believe in your own way of Trailblaze," she answered. "And when the time comes, answer its call."
She then looked toward Chrono and Marisbury.
"When I begin my attack, I'll call March and Caelus directly to my side along with Dan Heng. So when the three of them suddenly disappear from their positions, please don't panic."
Chrono narrowed his eyes. [You can summon them directly to you?]
"Something like that." Himeko smiled.
March immediately became suspicious. "Miss Himeko…"
"And one more thing," Himeko continued before March could start interrogating her. "When everyone sees my surprise, please remain calm."
The communication channel went quiet for a moment.
Marisbury slowly raised an eyebrow. [That statement is not particularly reassuring.]
Chrono covered his face with one hand. [I was thinking the same thing.]
"Ahahaha, it's nothing bad," Himeko reassured them with a soft laugh. "It might just be a little overwhelming for everyone seeing it for the first time."
"That somehow still doesn't make me feel better," March muttered.
Chrono finally sighed from the Arthra. [Fine. March, Caelus, you're temporarily reassigned to Himeko. Follow her instructions when the second attack begins.]
"Yes, Admiral!" March answered immediately.
"Understood," Caelus replied beside her.
Himeko then turned toward Dan Heng. "And you?"
Dan Heng sighed, already looking resigned to whatever she had planned. "Considering you refuse to tell us anything else, I suppose I'll find out at the same time as everyone."
"That's all I need." Himeko smiled before continuing toward her assigned firing position.
Several hundred meters away, Welt had already reached the center of the prepared firing zone. Around him, the TSAB Barrier Teams completed their final preparations while Meldiana's mages and the gathered wizards reinforced the defensive perimeter from behind. Above the battlefield, Chaldea's continuously updated calculations marked the coordinates Sirin would eventually use to connect Earth to the Dimensional Gap.
[Arthra synchronization complete,] Amy reported through the network.
[Chaldea dimensional observation systems are ready,] Marisbury followed.
"Meldiana support is ready!"
Charlus raised his wand as several members of the Potter and Greengrass families took their positions around him. "Potter, Greengrass, and the rest of the wizarding forces are ready!"
Ragnok lifted his weapon from the middle of the goblin formation and gave a wide grin. "Goblins are ready! Just tell those two to make the damn shots count!"
"We will," Himeko answered with a smile.
A final notification sounded through the shared network before Void Archives addressed every participating force.
[Alliance, confirm your preparations.]
[Arthra ready,] Chrono answered first.
[Chaldea ready,] Marisbury followed.
[Sanctuary defensive forces ready.]
Welt tightened his grip around his cane and calmly stepped into position. "Welt Yang, ready."
Himeko looked toward Dan Heng beside her before glancing at March and Caelus through the Hogwarts feed. All three gave her a firm nod.
"Himeko and the Astral Express team are ready for the second attack."
[Confirmed. I will inform Captain and the others that Earth-side preparations are complete,] Void Archives replied.
Welt raised his eyes toward the enormous dimensional breach above them, and Himeko followed his gaze. Somewhere beyond that opening, Sirin was already waiting for their confirmation while Noah and Hayate continued keeping Dormammu occupied.
Everything on Earth's side was ready, and now they only needed Sirin to open the way.
—------
Back in the Dimensional Gap, Void Archives' voice reached Noah and the others just as Noah used the Force to pull Dormammu directly into the path of Hayate's Claíomh Solais.
[Captain, everyone on the other side has confirmed their positions. My old friend Welt is ready, Miss Himeko and the others are prepared for the second attack, and the Alliance has secured both firing zones.]
Noah immediately grinned. [About time! Sii! Hachan! Rein! We're starting!]
[Hai desu!] Reinforce answered.
Hayate moved first, flying higher above the battlefield before raising Schwertkreuz.
"Balmung!"
Hundreds of mana swords appeared around her and immediately rained down toward Dormammu. He roared in anger and raised both arms, creating several matter blades to intercept them, but Noah activated Trailblaze before the two attacks could collide.
The trails of Hayate's swords changed.
Instead of meeting Dormammu's blades, the entire barrage moved around them and continued straight toward its intended target.
Dormammu's eyes widened. "You…!"
The mana swords pierced through his manifested body one after another.
"TRAILBLAZER!"
Dormammu immediately searched for Noah and spotted him already running across a series of Force Platforms farther ahead.
Noah glanced back at him and smiled. "Good. Follow me."
That was enough.
Dormammu abandoned Hayate and charged straight toward him.
Noah accelerated across the Force Platforms while using the Force to pull broken landmasses, ruined buildings, pieces of infrastructure, and other debris into Dormammu's path. Dormammu simply smashed through everything placed in front of him, far too enraged to notice that none of the obstacles were actually meant to stop him.
They were there to control where he went.
Every time Dormammu tried to move around an obstruction, Noah altered the trail ahead of him. When he attempted to attack from another angle, Noah changed the destination of his movement and forced him back toward the route Reinforce had calculated. Hayate supported him from the opposite side, using her spells whenever Dormammu began drifting too far away from the intended position.
[Seven hundred meters…] Reinforce reported.
Dormammu broke through another floating structure and continued chasing Noah, only for a white Belkan circle to suddenly appear beside him.
"Brionac!"
Hayate's beam struck Dormammu from the side and forced him several hundred meters toward the coordinates.
[Four hundred meters…]
Dormammu recovered and turned toward Hayate in fury, but Noah immediately threw another Force-assisted strike into his back and redirected his momentum again.
"Eyes on me!"
"YOU DAMNED TRAILBLAZER!"
Dormammu charged after him once more.
Noah's grin widened.
[Two hundred meters…]
By then, Sirin had already withdrawn from the direct fight. She floated far away from Noah, Hayate, and Dormammu, positioned directly in front of the distant silhouette of the real world. Embrace the Void rested firmly in her hands as she stared toward the five enormous breaches Dormammu had torn through the dimensional barrier.
All five were now within her sight.
Sirin slowly tightened her grip on the scythe.
[Ten.] Void Archives began the countdown.
Sirin twirled the enormous scythe once before taking her stance. Her Quantum Astral Emblem shone with bright purple light as Quantum energy gathered around her and flowed into Embrace the Void.
[Nine.]
Dormammu finally caught up to Noah and immediately threw a massive fist toward him. Noah turned at the last second, raising Shamash to meet the attack with a smirk.
[Eight.]
The impact pushed Noah backward, but he held his ground long enough to keep Dormammu exactly where Reinforce needed him.
[Seven.]
Hayate pointed Schwertkreuz toward Dormammu. "Restrict Lock!"
Several Belkan circles appeared around him as magical bindings wrapped around his arms and torso.
"GRAAAH! THIS ANNOYING BINDING AGAIN?!"
Dormammu tore through several of them, but more immediately formed and tightened around him.
[Six.]
Noah pushed away from Dormammu and moved several meters back, giving himself enough room as Shamash began gathering more Imaginary energy.
[Five.]
[Coordinates confirmed!] Reinforce announced. [Noah-san, he's exactly where we need him desu!]
"Perfect."
Noah stopped retreating and raised Shamash, pointing the burning greatsword directly toward Dormammu as he continued charging it.
[Four.]
Sirin closed her eyes and focused on the damaged dimensional barrier surrounding the world. The Authority of the Herrscher of the Void answered her call, while Embrace the Void glowed brighter in her hands as she poured even more Quantum energy into the Astral Gear.
[Three.]
One by one, Sirin located the five existing breaches Dormammu had created. Mahora. The Mediterranean Crossing. North America. Egypt. And the Gateport site.
All five were still connected to the Dimensional Gap.
[Two.]
Sirin opened her eyes.
"Embrace the Void… Release!"
The scythe expanded as a massive blade of Quantum energy formed along its edge.
[One.]
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!"
Sirin swung Embrace the Void with all her strength, sending a huge purple crescent across the Dimensional Gap toward the five breaches surrounding the world.
[ZERO!]
CRAAAAAAACK!!!
Rather than creating another opening, Sirin seized the damage Dormammu had already caused and forced all five breaches to expand and connect directly to the same location inside the Dimensional Gap.
Across the real world, the five damaged sections of the sky tore open at the same time. The darkness that had filled the breaches disappeared, and everyone looking upward was suddenly given a clear view into the Dimensional Gap beyond them.
Floating landmasses filled the other side.
And at the center of that battlefield stood Dormammu, with Noah and Hayate surrounding him while Sirin remained farther away with Embrace the Void still raised.
[PATH OPEN!] Reinforce shouted. [Welt-san, you are free to attack!]
Back on Earth, Welt slowly opened his eyes.
"You know nothing of the weight behind this power."
Imaginary energy surged around him as the gravity within the firing zone rapidly increased. Cracks spread beneath his feet, and several nearby defenders were forced to brace themselves despite the barriers surrounding the area.
Welt raised his cane toward the massive opening Sirin had created.
"Witness the stars shatter before you… Survive or be destroyed. There's no other choice."
A black sphere formed above him and rapidly expanded as the gravity around it became stronger.
"PSEUDO BLACK HOLE!"
The black hole shot toward Sirin's passage and passed high above the Gateport site. The moment it reached the dimensional border, its gravitational pull spread toward the five breaches surrounding the world.
Thousands of Quantum Shadows were immediately caught.
Across Mahora, Egypt, North America, the Mediterranean Crossing, and the Gateport, the creatures gathering around the breaches were ripped away from the dimensional barrier and dragged toward Welt's attack. Entire groups of Quantum Shadows disappeared into the black hole one after another as it continued along the exact path Reinforce had calculated.
Across all five battlefields, defenders stopped for a moment and stared as the remaining Quantum Shadows were suddenly pulled back toward the openings they had been trying to enter through.
At Hogwarts, March's eyes widened as she watched the sight through the Alliance feed. "W-Whoa…"
"Uncle Yang really isn't holding back anymore," Caelus muttered as the black hole continued pulling Quantum Shadows into itself while moving toward Dormammu.
Within seconds, Welt's attack crossed completely into the Dimensional Gap and continued straight toward its final target.
By the time Dormammu saw it coming, it was already too late.
"NO!"
Dormammu immediately struggled against Hayate's bindings, burning through several chains as he tried to force his way out. Noah, however, raised his free hand before Dormammu could escape and activated his Trailblaze Authority.
The possible routes Dormammu could use to break free began disappearing one after another. Every path that would have allowed him to escape the bindings or move away from the incoming black hole was changed into one that would fail before reaching its destination.
Dormammu's eyes widened as he realized what Noah had done.
"YOU!"
Noah grinned. "Trailblaze Application Seven… Alter the Meaning of the Journey."
Finally, the gravitational pull reached Dormammu.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
Dormammu's manifested body was dragged toward the black hole along with the remaining Quantum Shadows. The dimensional protections surrounding him began breaking apart one after another, entire sections being ripped away and swallowed along with everything caught in Welt's attack.
Reinforce immediately focused on the changes around him. [First hit confirmed! His dimensional protections are collapsing! I'm starting the search for Dormammu's true body now!]
Countless calculations appeared around her as she tracked the reaction produced by Welt's attack. Hayate kept her eyes on Dormammu while the black hole continued tearing through his defenses, her grip tightening around Schwertkreuz.
"Come on… Come on, Rein… You can do it."
Within seconds, Reinforce detected several dimensions around Dormammu reacting differently from the others. Her eyes moved rapidly between the readings as she compared them, eliminated the incorrect possibilities, and recalculated the path for the second attack.
[Found it! I have the reaction from the first attack!] Reinforce announced. [Adjusting the second firing coordinates now!]
[Rein…] Noah tightened his grip on Shamash while keeping Dormammu trapped in place.
[Almost there…]
Another set of calculations finished, and Reinforce's eyes widened.
[SECOND FIRING WINDOW CALCULATED!]
Void Archives immediately transmitted the new coordinates to Earth.
[Miss Himeko! Coordinates received! You are clear for the second attack!]
"Understood."
Himeko smiled before looking toward Dan Heng beside her, then toward March and Caelus through the communication channel.
"Ready?"
Dan Heng tightened his grip around Cloud-Piercer and gave her a firm nod. "Ready."
[Ready!] March answered immediately.
[Let's do this!] Caelus grinned.
Himeko looked toward the Dimensional Gap beyond Sirin's opening, her expression becoming serious.
"You're about to relearn who the Nameless truly are."
She closed her eyes, and crimson flames suddenly erupted around her.
Welt immediately turned toward her as the amount of energy surrounding Himeko rapidly increased. "Himeko…?"
The flames continued building around her before bursting outward, revealing Himeko in an entirely different form. Her long red hair now reached her waist, gradually fading into black near the ends with a thin white outline. A V-shaped ornament made from golden stars and a white laurel held part of her hair up, while a curved decoration of white stars and a red rose rested against the right side of her head.
Her usual attire had also completely changed. Himeko now wore a sleeveless white dress with a high collar and wing-shaped panels around the skirt, with a glittering red underskirt visible beneath it. A long coat rested over the dress, fastened tightly at the waist by a golden clasp before extending behind her into two long coattails decorated with constellation patterns near the ends. A red cape with gold lining rested across her shoulders, accompanied by golden epaulettes and several smaller ornaments shaped like stars and celestial instruments.
A golden crest decorated her collar, while an eight-pointed star rested prominently against her chest. A white rose sat above her right breast with a tassel hanging beneath it. Her left hand was covered by a red glove reaching to her wrist, while a longer white glove covered her right arm to the elbow. Several golden bracelets resembling small astrolabes circled her right wrist, and a single eight-pointed golden star hung from her right ear.
He stared at her in surprise. "…What?"
Himeko raised her eyes toward the Dimensional Gap, where Dormammu was still trapped within Welt's black hole, then lifted her spear as the banner of Trailblaze spread from it.
"The fire carries on. Together… we are the Trailblaze!"
A massive golden light suddenly appeared high above the Gateport, immediately drawing everyone's attention toward the sky. Something enormous began emerging from within it, first revealing a gigantic armored frame before its engines, mechanical limbs, and finally the enormous lance held firmly in both hands came into view.
Welt's eyes widened at the sight.
Ragnok slowly lowered his weapon. "…What in the bloody hell is that?"
Himeko smiled as she looked toward the colossal machine. "Everyone, please meet Starblazer. The star-chasing giant that accompanied the Nameless and the Astral Express throughout their journey, safeguarding the path of Trailblaze wherever it went."
The light of Trailblaze surrounded her and Dan Heng. At Hogwarts, the same light appeared around March and Caelus, causing both of them to look down at themselves in surprise.
"Whoa!" March exclaimed. "So this is what Miss Himeko meant?!"
Before Caelus could answer, all three Nameless disappeared at the same time. The next instant, March, Caelus, and Dan Heng appeared inside Starblazer alongside Himeko, their Trailblaze energy immediately flowing through the giant machine as all four of their wills connected with it.
Starblazer's eyes ignited with light while its massive engines went to life. The Starblazer raised its huge lance and aimed it directly toward Dormammu.
[Starblazer online. Initiating route clearance.]
====== Chapter 233 END ======