Approximately one kilometer from the old shop, on the top floor of a commercial building, a temporary command center had already been established.
Ellen Mathers, dressed in a high-grade DEM Co. combat uniform that accentuated her capable demeanor, stood like a statue at the edge of the railing, her sharp gaze piercing through the high-strength glass window, precisely landing on the seemingly calm old shop in the distance.
Behind her, several elite operators from DEM Co.'s Second Executive Department were monitoring equipment, while members of Amamiya City's AST Unit assisted them.
—Due to Captain Ryouko Kusakabe having led some elites with Takamiya Mana to confront the suddenly appearing "Nightmare," a senior officer was coordinating the scene as acting captain.
"Target 'Phoenix-in Chinatsu' has entered the designated area, located inside 'Kanmi-dokoro.' Sergeant Tobiichi Origami and key hostage Itsuka Shido are also present," the acting captain reported.
"How is the 'Creator Reverser' system charging?" Ellen asked without turning her head, her voice cold and clear. "Charging to 78%, deep scan is in progress simultaneously, full lock is estimated to require…"
Just then, a piercing alarm suddenly blared from a high-sensitivity Reiryoku detector!
On the screen, the value representing Reiryoku intensity surged dramatically, and the waveform analysis module rapidly operated, instantly drawing a conclusion—
"WARNING! High-intensity, high-recognition Reiryoku fluctuations detected! Waveform feature comparison… 97.8% match! Confirmed target: 'Herrscher of Reason'! Source location: Target's current location 'Kanmi-dokoro' and surrounding areas!"
"What?!" The acting captain's face changed.
"This intensity of fluctuation… Is she going to manifest her spirit dress? Or activate her Angel?"
Almost at the same time the alarm sounded, another AST member responsible for monitoring the interior of the old shop also reported urgently:
"Acting Captain! Target Chinatsu has left her seat and entered the shop's restroom!"
(Such strong Reiryoku erupting in the restroom? What is she trying to do?) Ellen's eyes narrowed.
And the AST acting captain next to her immediately made a judgment.
"Notify the ground standby team to act immediately! Evacuate all civilians from 'Kanmi-dokoro' and its surrounding areas in the most discreet manner!"
"Prioritize the safety of the old couple, send two people disguised as shop staff or family members to replace them! Move quickly to avoid alerting the enemy!"
"Yes!"
The acting captain immediately issued orders, and an AST team disguised as ordinary citizens began to move swiftly and silently.
However, just as the ground evacuation began, an even more piercing, city-wide sharp alarm, like tearing cloth, resounded through the sky!
—Spatial Quake alarm!
"Spatial Quake?! At this time?!" The acting captain looked at the direction of the alarm in astonishment, "Is it 'Nightmare'?!"
As if to confirm his guess, Takamiya Mana's slightly hurried and annoyed voice came through the communication channel, with the background of violent explosions and the roar of collapsing buildings:
"This is Takamiya Mana! Nightmare has actively triggered a Spatial Quake! The range is not large but the timing is tricky, the combat environment is extremely chaotic, and we are being held back!"
"The target has broken through the interception and is moving at high speed towards… coordinates (XXX, YYY)! Repeat, Nightmare has disengaged and is escaping!"
Everyone in the command center, including Ellen, turned their gaze to the tactical map.
The direction of Nightmare's escape reported by Mana, its extension line, pointed directly, without deviation, to their current location, to the old shop!
"Two Spirits are going to meet?!" The acting captain exclaimed in shock. This was undoubtedly one of the worst-case scenarios!
Ellen Mathers's face still showed no emotional fluctuations, but her gaze instantly sharpened like a blade.
The sudden change in the situation was unexpected, but it did not panic her.
Her brain operated at lightning speed like the most efficient computer, weighing the pros and cons, and instantly formulating a new combat plan.
"Notify all peripheral interception units!" Ellen's voice carried an undeniable decisiveness.
"Abandon the original evacuation cover formation, advance immediately, and establish an interception line along Nightmare's predicted path! She must not be allowed to rendezvous with the 'Herrscher of Reason'!"
"Yes!"
Immediately after, Ellen turned to the AST communications officer responsible for contacting Origami:
"Immediately send a top-priority directive to Sergeant Tobiichi Origami: Operation plan changed!"
Her speech was rapid, her instructions clear: "One, provide a pre-set 'safe' route map to the nearest Spatial Quake shelter. This route needs to conveniently pass through a sparsely populated area suitable for sniping. Instruct her to immediately guide the target along this route to evacuate the old shop and proceed to the shelter, using the excuse of avoiding the Spatial Quake."
"Two, inform her that the 'Creator Reverser' system will enter final charging and target lock mode. Our sniping point will be set at the pre-set coordinates of the route she guides."
"Three, emphasize: Her core mission has changed to—ensuring the target is lured to the sniping point; the final purification procedure will be executed once the target enters the firing range!"
"Understood!" The communications officer immediately began encoding and sending the message.
Ellen took one last look at the old shop in the distance, then turned and strode towards the strangely shaped, giant weapon radiating a faint blue light, the "Creator Reverser," which was set up in the center of the floor and heavily protected.
"Accelerate system charging! I want 100% charging and absolute lock completed before the target enters the designated position!" "Yes, Executive Officer!"
The command to kill was quietly issued, along with the Spatial Quake alarm.
The original plan of in-shop control or luring to a confined area for combat was forced to change into a precise assassination during transit, due to Nightmare's unexpected interference and Chinatsu's sudden burst of Reiryoku.
And Origami became the most crucial piece in this assassination.
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