"Do you feel it, Yoshino? Naive you trusted those guys from Ratatoskr, and in the end, to prevent you all from bringing disaster to the world, they eliminated all of you when you were completely unprepared. That's what those guys ultimately did, although the world also collapsed due to their actions." Back in the dark space, 'Yoshino' looked at the already lifeless-eyed Yoshino, knelt down, placed her on her lap, and gently stroked her head, saying,
"Because I was the last survivor back then, everyone was killed by those DEM guys trying to save me. Even in the very last moment, Mr. Shido took a fatal blow for me and died in my arms. Although Mr. Shido still had Kotori's power within him, my desire to destroy this world and curse it was so strong that Mr. Shido's power became connected to me. At that time, all the spiritual power in Mr. Shido's body concentrated on me. When the DEM personnel felt something was wrong and intended to act, I made my move."
"I killed everyone present except Mr. Shido; I left no one alive. Because they hurt the most important person to me, and my most important person was already dead. So I felt this world had no meaning anymore. After killing my way to DEM's headquarters and finding Westcott and Elliott, I killed them. Finally, I destroyed that world. If the people of this world hated spirits so much, then I would destroy this world full of malice."
"Do you know about the Great Eurasian Spatial Quake that caused 150 million deaths? I concentrated all the spirit power within me and used my full strength to unleash a Spatial Quake that affected the entire world. In the end, the entire world was destroyed, personally by me. To repair that world, the world's consciousness took action. It intended to restore the world to its original state, and I was an existence that was not allowed. So I put my consciousness into slumber, secretly watching you travel to another world."
Yoshino slowly narrated her story, ignoring the current Yoshino who was practically dead. Just as Yoshino was about to say something, a dazzling white light suddenly appeared in the dark sky. Yoshino looked up and realized that the glowing object was a card with Yoshino's image on it, though Yoshino didn't know what it was. After Astaroth replaced her as the evil spirit inside Yoshino, she had been unable to see anything. If it weren't for the help of the Magic of Darkness this time, allowing her to gain a stronger evil spirit than Astaroth, she might still be in a deep slumber now.
Just as Yoshino was wondering what this card was, it suddenly transformed into a pale blue door of light. Then, to Yoshino's shock, a familiar figure appeared before her. It was Natsumi, who had been killed by Ellen while protecting her. She now appeared here in a panic, seemingly searching for something.
"Why? Am I dreaming?" Yoshino thought, covering her mouth in disbelief. Although she knew that the world's consciousness had rewound the world, and everyone who had died in the past was now resurrected, she, who had been completely corrupted by 'evil,' never expected to see everyone again.
'I never thought I'd still cry. I thought I had shed all my tears back then. But now, what right do I have to see them? I'm no longer the innocent and naive Yoshino. Moreover, I've caused her to fall as well; she probably won't forgive me.' She stroked Yoshino's head on her lap, thinking somewhat dejectedly. She could feel that Yoshino's rate of falling was significantly slower now, perhaps due to the help of Astaroth and Zadkiel outside, which slowed the process.
"Yoshino! Eh? Yoshino... there are two?" Natsumi looked at the Yoshino in front of her with some confusion. She had just been resting in the living room with the Spirits when she suddenly received a message from the contract, saying that Yoshino was in danger, and then a door of light appeared before her. Rushing here, she found two Yoshinos in front of her. "Is this a bonus?"
"Uh..." Hearing Natsumi's words, a cold sweat ran down Yoshino's forehead. She remembered Natsumi having strange thoughts about her, but in the original world, Natsumi hadn't expressed it so clearly. What exactly had happened between her and Natsumi in this restarted world? Why did it feel like Natsumi's feelings for her had grown stronger? Did Natsumi's feelings for her in the restarted world remain? And then, when her reborn self met her again, was it influenced by the hidden feelings in her heart, leading to a forbidden relationship?
"No! You are not Yoshino! No, you are Yoshino, but you feel so strange to me. Although we don't have a contract connecting us, I can feel a familiar sensation on your body. Are our feelings for each other very strong?" Natsumi, who was about to rush up and hug Yoshino, noticed something abnormal about her. Yoshino's spirit dress was green, but she was wearing an unsettling dark purple. However, the other party felt very familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before, and they had been very close.
(Seeing this, everyone now knows why Natsumi felt a sense of intimacy the first time she met Yoshino, right? It truly was the choice of Steins;Gate.)
"You're still the same, Natsumi. I never thought I'd see you again, it's truly wonderful." Yoshino said with a smile, "The reborn you, after the world rewound, shouldn't recognize me. But it doesn't matter, I believe I can show you the things we experienced together, and the tragedies from before the world rewound."
Many more people appeared in the door of light, and gradually, everyone who had signed a contract with Yoshino appeared here. Kousaka Honoka and her nine companions, the two from Academy City, and the Spirits from Date A Live, including Evangeline, all appeared here. The memories shared by Yoshino in the space were received by everyone, and after understanding all that had happened, grim expressions appeared on their faces. They looked at Yoshino, who had been completely consumed by 'evil,' with complex emotions, unsure how to approach this Yoshino, whose heart was filled with despair and who had destroyed the world.
"Oh my, I never thought I'd see so many people, even Honoka has appeared. You must have received the call of the contract and rushed here to check on Yoshino's condition, right? It might be a little too late, Yoshino is already in despair and slowly falling." She lightly recounted the news of Yoshino being beyond help to everyone, completely without any thought that she herself was the culprit, merely stating the fact. "As soon as she completely falls, her soul will be devoured by darkness. The kabbalah tree of life within her will transform into the inverse kabbalistic tree of evil. At that time, it will destroy this world, bringing destruction to it. This world will then restart under the control of the world's consciousness."
"Why are you doing this? Aren't you and Yoshino one and the same? The world's ending has changed, and everyone has survived. Why are you doing this to Yoshino?" Natsumi questioned loudly, looking at the lifeless eyes of the lying Yoshino. Both of them were her most cherished Yoshinos, and even though she had been completely corrupted by 'evil,' she was still the Yoshino she loved! How could she bear to hurt her like this?
"Why do this? This is a test, a test of the Magic of Darkness. She already possesses pure strength; now only her state of mind needs to be properly trained. This world is not so simple; her taking on the Magic of Darkness test is to gain the power to protect everyone. So I want to see if she can endure the despair I once experienced, and let her tender heart grow."
"You bastard!" Suzuya Yuriko couldn't control her emotions and wanted to rush over, but was immediately stopped by Evangeline. Evangeline, without any suppression, could exert her full strength here, so she stepped forward to block Suzuya Yuriko's advancing steps.
"Don't disturb her. You should know that the 'evil' within a person cannot be eliminated. She was once Yoshino, but she was consumed by despair and became the 'evil' she is now. If you disturb the ritual Yoshino is performing now, it could lead to irreversible consequences for Yoshino. I will absolutely not let that happen." Evangeline looked at Suzuya Yuriko with crimson eyes, and a viscous killing intent flowed from Evangeline's body. The almost materialized killing intent carried a sweet, metallic scent that made everyone's expressions change.
"Tch!" Suzuya Yuriko clicked her tongue in annoyance, abandoning the idea of going forward and returning to her original position. She also knew that now was not the time for impulsive actions, and she saw that gaia and alaya had not appeared here, which also indicated that Yoshino's current situation was still within controllable limits.
Everyone looked at Yoshino with concern, gradually sitting down around her. Nozomi Tojo and Minami Kotori came to Yoshino's side, holding her hands and looking at her worriedly. Even if she fell into despair, they would always be by her side, accompanying her towards the light. This was a decision they had made together, and a vow that had never changed.
'You must pass the test, Yoshino.'
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