What needs to be done now is to use Tokisaki Kurumi's power to hit Tobiichi Origami with The Twelfth Bullet. For the current Yoshino, sending one person back five years ago is nothing, but the main problem is that she has to go back to the past with her. She needs to prepare some things and also give Tobiichi Origami some psychological preparation.
"I'm ready now! I can depart at any moment," Tobiichi Origami said to Yoshino. At the same time, her hand clutched a pocket in her skirt, seemingly holding something. This action was noticed by the sharp-eyed Yoshino, who immediately understood Tobiichi Origami's plan.
'It seems Tobiichi Origami had already met with before coming here. If she were to return to the past alone, to deal with the Spirits, wouldn't she definitely use the spirit crystal given to her by Phantom? At that time, the reversed Devil of the Angel would appear, which might just play into DEM's hands.'
"Then let's begin." Yoshino immediately drew out Tokisaki Kurumi's spiritual power, and the sapphire void of her right eye transformed into an ancient golden clock. Just as she was about to summon Zafkiel, she suddenly realized she didn't know the exact date of the incident five years ago. Sending her to the wrong time would be a waste of effort. So she asked Tobiichi Origami, "Do you remember the exact date the incident happened?"
"August third, five years ago." Tobiichi Origami immediately answered Yoshino's question. For her, she would absolutely never forget what happened that day.
"Understood. However, I hope Tobiichi-san doesn't harbor any ulterior motives. If you make any unexpected moves, I will directly use my ice ability to freeze you," Yoshino warned Tobiichi Origami. Tobiichi Origami was very intelligent and calm. But it was precisely this calm girl who, when facing matters related to her parents, would act extremely irrationally and recklessly.
When annihilating Spirits, this usually incredibly calm girl would charge directly into battle. She would even disregard her captain's and superiors' orders to kill Spirits. If such a girl truly encountered her enemy, this usually incredibly calm girl would likely go mad, so mad that to kill her enemy, she would directly disregard the surrounding ordinary people and launch an attack. It was precisely this reason that led to the final tragedy.
"The extent of time reversal is determined by the spiritual power required, but the duration of stay in the reversed time point is also determined by the ability pre-filled into the bullet. Once the duration of stay exceeds the spiritual power paid in advance, it's impossible to remain there, even if one wishes to. So, Tobiichi-san's The Twelfth Bullet will be paid for by you, Sister Kurumi."
"I understand." Tokisaki Kurumi nodded, knowing Yoshino's meaning. The best way for them to arrive in the past simultaneously was to use The Twelfth Bullet at the same time, preventing Tobiichi Origami from returning to the past before her and causing unforeseen events.
"Come forth! Zafkiel!!" *2 Both shouted simultaneously. As their voices faded, a giant golden clock appeared behind them. An ancient rifle appeared in Yoshino's right hand, aimed at the Roman numeral twelve on the clock. At this moment, a large amount of black mist surged from the number twelve into the rifle in her hand. The dense black mist, like a strong current, caused the rifle in Yoshino's hand to vibrate wildly. High-concentration spiritual power was also running wild. Knowing that a decision needed to be made immediately, Yoshino aimed the gun at her temple and looked at Tokisaki Kurumi.
"It's fine." Tokisaki Kurumi raised the corner of her mouth at Yoshino, giving her a reassuring smile. Then, both nodded simultaneously and pulled the trigger of their rifles.
"Bang!" As the dark bullets struck both of them, their bodies twisted. It was as if they had fallen into a small black hole, and as the distorted part gradually expanded, Yoshino and Tobiichi Origami's bodies gradually disappeared into the distortion.
Finally, they vanished.
The moment she was hit by The Twelfth Bullet, Yoshino felt like she lost consciousness for a brief moment. After her consciousness returned, she felt a strong sense of dizziness and nausea. It seemed this was the feeling of her existence being completely distorted. She turned and saw Tobiichi Origami in the same state as her, and she felt relieved. Then she began to survey her surroundings.
Buildings were burning, and the fire was spreading. The streets were filled with the sirens of fire trucks and ambulances, people's panic and screams, and the chaotic sound of footsteps. All these sounds intertwined with the sea of fire, forming a scene like hell.
"This must be the scene of the great Tengu City fire five years ago, right? It's truly cruel." Watching the panicked people frantically fleeing through the streets, Yoshino sighed helplessly, turning her head away, unable to bear looking at the scene.
Although this great fire in Tengu City was not intentionally started by Itsuka Kotori, it was caused by her inability to control the spiritual power within her. This must be what she cared about most in her heart. Many people died because of her.
She was a Spirit who could control water and ice. With her current power, extinguishing such a large fire would be effortless. However, doing so would definitely cause an irreversible major historical change. This world did not have a parallel universe theory; what happened in the past would directly feedback into the future. She did not currently have the power to change history at will without caring about the extent of the impact.
Moreover, if she did such a thing, the will of this world would not let her off. Even if she had gaia and alaya as backup, it would be the same.
Tobiichi Origami, who had also regained consciousness, saw herself in Tengu City, engulfed in fire five years ago. She then took out the item she had prepared beforehand from her mouth. It was the spirit crystal that Phantom had given her earlier, but she didn't know how to use it. As she was pondering how to use it, the spirit crystal automatically floated up, intending to enter Tobiichi Origami's body. Just before it succeeded, a pair of small hands directly grabbed the spirit crystal, preventing it from entering Tobiichi Origami.
"As I thought, Tobiichi-san. You didn't simply want to return to the past to understand the truth of the matter, but rather wanted to use our abilities to go back and change history to save your parents." Looking at the somewhat restless spirit crystal in her hand, Yoshino drew out the power of the kabbalah tree of life within her, and it immediately calmed down. Then, the spiritual power within the spirit crystal slowly replenished her own spiritual power, and in no time, it lit up the first particle within her body.
"Give it back to me! This is the only power I have to save my parents!" So what if she had broken her promise? As long as she could save her parents, what did it matter if she deceived others?
"This is a spirit crystal that can transform humans into Spirits. Using this, you can indeed gain the power to eliminate Spirits. However, you will also become the Spirit you despise the most. Is this truly the outcome you desire?" Looking at Tobiichi Origami, who was glaring at her with anger, Yoshino asked calmly. Using the power of a Spirit to eliminate Spirits, what an ironic thing.
"...As long as I can eliminate the Spirit who killed my parents, what does it matter if I become a Spirit!" When she realized she had almost become a Spirit, a strong sense of nausea surged in her heart. But she thought, if she could use this power to kill the Spirit who murdered her parents, then what did it matter if she became a Spirit?
"What a naive thought. This whole thing started because of you, yet you imagine it to be so easy. I wonder if you'll collapse when you finally learn the truth." Looking at the willful Tobiichi Origami, Yoshino could only hope that she would truly be able to accept the truth she was about to see.
"For now, I'll put this away. I will take you to see the truth you want to know. Let's go now." Regardless of what Tobiichi Origami wanted to do, Yoshino took Tobiichi Origami to Tobiichi Origami's home. In no time, they arrived in front of a residential house, where a couple was holding a child's hand. After they rescued the child, suddenly enlarging flames trapped them.
"Dad!! Mom!!" Seeing this scene, Tobiichi Origami screamed loudly, and as she tried to rush forward, her feet were frozen by Yoshino, rendering her unable to move. "What are you doing! Hermit!! Let me go!!" Her exquisite face became somewhat distorted due to her intense emotions, showing that she was extremely anxious and angry.
"I told you that you cannot stop the progression of history. There are some things I want you to clearly understand. If I'm not mistaken, the attack should be coming now." Just then, a white beam of light descended from the sky, engulfing Tobiichi Origami's parents, who were in the sea of fire.
"Dad!!! Mom!!!" Seeing this scene, Tobiichi Origami also roared with all her might. However, it was all in vain. But she remembered that her original purpose for coming here was to understand the true culprit who killed her parents, and she turned to look at the figure in the sky above.
"It's you! You're the one who killed Dad and Mom! I will never forgive you! Even if I have to...!!!!?" Tobiichi Origami didn't finish her sentence; her pupils widened instantly when she saw the figure of the Spirit in the sky.
"Sigh~ That's why I didn't want you to see this scene. This is a cruel truth," Yoshino said helplessly, looking at the stunned Tobiichi Origami.
Sometimes, the truth of things is very cruel, because it brings despair.
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