The sudden report caused everyone's expressions to change drastically.
"The entire region of Japan…?"
Just how powerful was the existence that had descended?
Could it be—
Related to that incident from thirty years ago?
Back then, the spatial quake had nearly engulfed half the planet before it mysteriously vanished.
And now—
A disaster of similar scale had appeared once again.
Something unprecedented.
Kotori Itsuka didn't hesitate.
She immediately reported the situation upward while simultaneously issuing evacuation orders across every city in Japan.
Within moments—
Panic spread.
Countless civilians rushed into shelters.
Those too far away scrambled to find any form of cover.
What Kotori didn't notice—
Was the change in the woman beside her.
Reine Murasame.
The usually drowsy, listless woman had become… serious.
Unusually so.
A spatial quake of this magnitude—
It wasn't something a normal Spirit could cause.
"…Could it be… him?"
A certain figure surfaced in her mind.
And with that thought—
Her heart began to tremble.
Under everyone's watch—
The spatial quake descended.
A purple veil of energy enveloped Tenguu City, as if something was about to emerge.
Kotori's face turned pale.
She had already prepared herself for the worst—
For Japan to be erased from the map.
But then—
Something unbelievable happened.
The violent energy…
Was being pulled.
Drawn toward a single point.
The intensity of the quake rapidly dropped.
The alarms began to quiet.
Before everyone's eyes—
The vast sea of purple energy compressed, shrinking, condensing—
Until it became a normal-sized spatial quake centered over Tenguu City.
Bzzzz—
With a resonating hum—
Several buildings vanished instantly.
Leaving behind a massive crater.
And at the center of it—
Two figures stood.
As the dust settled—
A voice echoed.
"…What a hassle."
"Still making such a mess as always."
The speaker—
Izumi.
His presence immediately drew attention.
And in the next instant—
A violet slash tore through the air toward him.
Izumi raised an eyebrow.
He casually lifted a hand—
Smack.
The attack shattered instantly.
Even the surrounding dust was blown away.
And only then did he clearly see his attacker.
Long black hair.
Eyes like polished crystal.
A suit of purple armor.
And a massive greatsword in hand.
It was none other than—
Tohka Yatogami.
Izumi sighed.
"Attacking someone the moment you meet them… that's a bit rude, don't you think?"
Tohka snorted.
"Hmph!"
Without a word—
She charged again.
Her hostility toward him was obvious.
But in the next moment—
The surrounding space froze.
Completely.
Izumi walked forward calmly and knocked her lightly on the head.
"Before you attack someone, try figuring things out first."
"I'm not one of those people chasing you."
Tohka froze.
"…Really?"
"You're not lying to me?"
Her tone softened instantly.
Simple.
Straightforward.
She believed him.
After all—
If Izumi could immobilize her so easily…
There was no reason for him to deceive her.
Izumi couldn't help but feel speechless.
"…Seriously?"
He sighed.
"If I wanted to do something to you, do you really think you could resist?"
Tohka blinked.
"…That makes sense."
And just like that—
She accepted it.
Soon, she began complaining.
"You know, every time I appear, people try to kill me!"
"It's so annoying!!"
Before long, she had completely opened up.
Izumi had somehow become her outlet.
Her chatterbox tendencies took over as she talked endlessly.
Watching from above—
Kotori was stunned.
"…What am I even looking at?"
Beside her—
Reine's eyes filled with tears.
"…Finally…"
"I found you."
Before Kotori could react—
A radiant white light burst from Reine's body.
In the next instant—
Her form changed.
The dark circles beneath her eyes vanished.
Her entire presence transformed into something divine.
Then—
She disappeared.
Rushing straight toward the ground.
Kotori stood there, dumbfounded.
"W-What!?"
"Reine… is a Spirit too!?"
Her mind couldn't process it.
Not just her—
Everyone aboard the airship was equally stunned.
Meanwhile, on the ground—
Izumi was in the middle of naming Tohka.
"From now on, you'll be called Tohka."
"Yatogami Tohka."
Tohka's eyes lit up.
"That sounds great!"
"Alright! My name is Tohka now!"
Then she leaned closer.
"Hey, what's your name?"
"I still don't know it."
Izumi smiled.
"Izumi."
"You can call me Izumi."
Tohka beamed.
"Izumi…!"
"Got it. I'll remember that!"
At that moment—
His name was firmly etched into her heart.
For some reason—
She felt an instinctive trust toward him.
Just then—
Several girls in combat suits rushed toward them.
At the same time—
A pure white figure descended from the sky.
Izumi had already noticed.
He stood up slowly.
"Tohka, get up."
"Let's welcome our guests."
He looked upward—
At that white figure approaching rapidly.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"…That was fast."
From her eyes—
He could tell.
The mark he had left behind…
Had worked perfectly.