"HUMMMM—!!!!"
A power more profound, more vast than Terry Bogard's, than Iori Yagami's, even than final boss Rugal's—overflowing with sacred, purifying energy—erupted like an awakening galaxy from her seemingly delicate body!
This was Absolute Domain—not 50%, not 60%!
But a level that made all of Tokyo tremble...
Absolute Domain 72%!!!
That terrifying power instantly forced back Goenitz's rampaging "Breath of Tempest" by half a measure!
"Oh?"
Surprise flickered in Goenitz's eyes.
"Worthy indeed of the shrine maiden who guards the Yata Mirror. This power approaches the domain of gods."
"But..."
That cruel, pitying smile returned to his face.
"Before a true god, it's still... worthless."
"Wind—tear her apart!"
He waved his hand casually!
"Yonokaze!"
Countless invisible wind blades, forming terrifying tornadoes, surged from all directions like awakened ancient flood dragons, bearing the supreme might to rend everything—crashing toward Maki!
Facing this strike capable of leveling a mountain, Maki's expression remained calm as water.
Her hands formed an incredibly complex seal brimming with arcane energy before her chest!
"Shield of Yata!"
A massive mirror surface composed of pure, white purifying energy—its surface floating with countless ancient runes—materialized before her!
The countless wind blade tornadoes slammed into the mirror!
Yet that terrifying force capable of shredding steel, the instant it touched the mirror surface, vanished like a stone sinking into the sea—completely absorbed and converted!
"What?!"
For the first time, Goenitz's expression changed!
"So this is the Yata Mirror's power? Interesting!"
"But defense alone won't defeat me!"
"Yami Doukoku!"
His figure vanished from its spot, transforming into a wind impossible to track with the naked eye, instantly appearing behind Maki!
A supremely sharp tornado shot up from directly beneath Maki's feet like Death's scythe!
Yet the instant that wind blade was about to touch Maki—
"Style 212: Shingo no Norito!"
Behind Maki, without any warning, appeared... another version of herself—an identical phantom formed of pure energy!
That phantom blocked the fatal blow for her at an impossible angle!
Maki's true body simultaneously launched her counterattack!
"Style 108: Tamayura no Shirabeoto!"
Her figure danced like a fluttering butterfly, instantly splitting into dozens of indistinguishable afterimages that completely surrounded Goenitz!
"Interesting! Too interesting!"
Goenitz was delighted rather than alarmed, letting out manic laughter!
He and those dozens of afterimages engaged in a dance of gods within the small shrine courtyard—a battle that would horrify any top-tier fighter!
...
Shibuya, shopping district.
"Ahh—! This strawberry crêpe is SO good! Cloud, open wide, ahh—"
Chizuru acted like a girl deep in the throes of first love, holding up her crêpe, happily trying to "feed" Cloud.
Cloud watched her carefree, sun-drenched brilliant smile, his heart aching in waves.
He knew: the happier this girl smiled, the more brutal... her sister's battle was becoming.
Just then—
Chizuru's feeding motion suddenly froze!
Her smile-filled face instantly went deathly pale!
A heart-rending pain from the depths of her bloodline seized her heart without warning!
"Sister...?"
She murmured, those bright phoenix eyes filled with disbelief and... endless terror!
Through the unique telepathic connection between twin sisters, she clearly "saw"—
At the shrine, her sister—always gentle and serene, seemingly omnipotent—was now half-kneeling in the ruins, drenched in blood!
And her opponent, that demon-like silver-haired man, was slowly raising his hand—the hand capable of judging all things...
"No... NO!!!!"
Chizuru let out a cry of utter despair!
She finally understood!
She finally understood why her sister had insisted on "kicking her out" today!
It wasn't about "creating opportunities"!
It was... a farewell!
"SISTER—!!!"
Enormous tears burst from her eyes! She tried desperately to rush back toward the shrine!
But a strong, warm hand grabbed her firmly.
It was Cloud.
"Let go of me! Let me go!" Chizuru struggled frantically, pounding against him. "I have to go back and save her! I have to save her!"
"Calm down! If you just run back now, you'll never make it in time!"
Cloud growled, using both hands to tightly restrain her trembling body in his embrace!
"Then... what should I do?!" Chizuru's voice was already cracking with sobs, filled with helplessness and despair. "What am I supposed to do...? Sob..."
"Use Phoenix Manifestation! Long-distance teleportation!"
Cloud's voice was gentle.
"I don't know how!"
The naive Chizuru hadn't noticed—how would a Kusanagi good-for-nothing know that the Kagura clan possessed such a secret technique?
Phoenix Manifestation required at least 70% Absolute Domain development to perform! And while Chizuru was extremely talented, her training time was still too short. Now she regretted why she'd spent all her time obsessing over motorcycles instead of training properly.