Time should have continued to flow, but the ordinary office worker passing by activated Bites the Dust.
Let's go thank him with a Joestar ambulance.
Time rewound to a few minutes ago, the setting sun not yet fully sunken below the horizon.
At the highest point overlooking the entire plateau, Tobiichi Origami was already in position.
She was clad in a standard AST CR-Unit, like an emotionless sculpture, lying motionless in the pre-set sniper position.
Clutched in her hand was not an ordinary sniper rifle, but a CCC—a long-range sniper weapon enhanced by a Realization Device and specifically designed to combat Spirits.
The cold rifle body pressed against her cheek, and the crosshairs of the sniper scope were firmly locked onto the purple-haired girl below, Yatogami Tohka, who stood shoulder to shoulder with Itsuka Shido, wearing a Raizen High School uniform.
Beside her, Ryouko Kusakabe was also fully armed, her brows tightly furrowed as she observed the situation below through her scope. Her expression was not good.
"Tsk... What exactly are those guys up to?" Ryoko couldn't help but complain in a low voice, her tone filled with anxiety and dissatisfaction.
"Although it's confirmed to be the Spirit [Princess], she is currently in a silent manifestation state, without her Astral Dress. Theoretically, she has lost her strongest defense as a Spirit. But..."
She paused, her voice dropping even lower, as if afraid of being heard by others outside the communication channel:
"What if... I mean, what if this shot isn't instantly fatal, or if there's some deviation, leading to the Spirit's rampage... Look around!"
She gestured for Origami to look at the residential areas near the plateau that hadn't been fully evacuated, and the bustling streets further away.
"The ordinary populace hasn't undergone large-scale evacuation at all! If the Spirit goes berserk here, the Spatial Quake and subsequent battle will be an absolute disaster! We won't be able to deploy effective defense and evacuation in time!"
Sounding the Spatial Quake alarm for forced evacuation? That also wouldn't work. The piercing alarm itself could very likely stimulate the Spirit's sensitive nerves, becoming the fuse that ignites this 'bomb.'
"It's a no-win situation!" Ryoko irritably ran a hand through her hair.
"I just hope those bigwigs sitting in their offices can sober up a bit and not issue that foolish'shoot' order."
However, Tobiichi Origami's expression remained unchanged; her gaze was still coldly fixed on Tohka through the sniper scope.
Hearing Ryoko's words, she merely stated in an unruffled tone: "In that case, I will be very troubled, Captain."
No personal emotion could be heard in her voice, only a nearly fanatical certainty.
"Spirits must be eliminated. The best way is to completely eradicate her before she causes greater destruction. Chopping her into pieces and feeding her to the dogs is the correct way to handle her."
"Origami!"
Ryoko couldn't help but raise her hand and lightly tap Origami's helmet with her knuckles, making a "clunk" sound.
"Child, can you not speak so extremely!"
She sighed, her tone becoming serious, trying to make Origami understand the gravity of the situation with real-life examples: "Have you forgotten the example of Heavenly Judgment? A Spirit who might have had room for communication, because of our actions, has now become a terrifying entity specifically aiming for revenge and confrontation!"
"She even actively recruits other Spirits, and with her mobility and destructive power, she is something our human society currently struggles to resist head-on! If [Princess] also turns into the next Heavenly Judgment, or even worse, because of our provocation... who will bear the consequences?"
Ryoko's concerns were not unfounded. An uncontrolled, hate-filled Spirit's threat level would increase exponentially.
Origami was silent for a moment, seemingly performing some logical calculation, but in the end, her deep-seated hatred for Spirits overrode all rational considerations.
Her finger remained steadily on the trigger guard, not loosening in the slightest.
Just then—
"—This is Headquarters. Confirming target Spirit [Princess] is in a silent manifestation state, defense significantly reduced. Authorizing on-site operational units to execute sniper command. Repeat, authorizing execution of sniper command. Target—Spirit [Princess]. Ensure a single decisive strike to avoid the possibility of her rampaging."
The cold, emotionless command clearly reached Ryoko and Origami's ears.
Ryoko's heart sank abruptly; her last hope was shattered. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but nothing came out.
She could only helplessly close her eyes, take a deep breath, and when she opened them again, only heavy helplessness and grim determination remained.
"...Origami, did you hear that?" Her voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Command received." Origami's reply was still concise and cold.
The crosshairs of the sniper scope more precisely framed Tohka's chest. Her breathing slowed, her heartbeat was steady, and the whole world seemed to quiet down, leaving only the target, the crosshairs, and the trigger that was about to be pulled...
On the plateau, Shido was extending a hand of affirmation and acceptance to Tohka. And a fatal crisis, like the Sword of Damocles, hung over her head.
"Bang—!"
The gun fired.
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