Chapter 38: Prelude (1)

***

The ‘Red Devil’ Virdel, who destroyed the Empire, closed her eyes.

This isn't enough to reach that realm.

She took her stance and lowered her body.

Suaaa-

In the silent forest where even the sound of insects couldn't be heard...

Only the sound of the wind occasionally found her and soothed her loneliness.

Suaaa-

In front of a small grave, in a naturally formed clearing, the girl, Virdel, stood with a sword, eyes closed, focusing without a single movement.

Her lower body was clad in a strangely alien blood-red full plate armor, while her upper body wore a simple shirt.

The girl held the scabbard with her left hand and gripped the sword with her right, poised as if ready to draw the sword at any moment. It seemed like the sword could spring out at any second.

Though she didn't move an inch, the falling leaf that passed in front of her was cut in half as if sliced by the sword.

There was no sense of Mana nor Aura.

The sun rose, hung high, and set again, but the girl did not move, as if she had turned into a statue.

Finally, as the sun hid behind the mountains and the moon took its place, the girl, who seemed like she would never move, opened her eyes.

“Haaa... In the end, I couldn't cut it.”

Her self-deprecating voice echoed through the forest.

As she turned around, the air behind her rippled like waves. However, even this didn't seem to satisfy her, as her steps were bitter as she walked away.

She recalled a voice from a few days ago, imagining a certain someone speaking.

[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]

-Ah... The Hydra just won’t cut it. To be fair, It's because it's a battle suit in the first place.

“Is there no way?”

[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]

-Well... I mean... Maybe if you can cut through dimensions? Then it could be possible? Hehe

“...I will achieve it no matter the cost.”

[A message from the Administrator has arrived.]

-eh? ah lol don’t worry too much about it. It just takes some time. We're still researching, after all.

That was the end of the conversation.

Karlstein's words, meant to comfort her, felt different to her.

I will definitely cut through dimensions.

She wanted to meet him soon.

She was determined to succeed in cutting through dimensions, beyond just Vacuum Slashes.

No matter how long it took.

She was bitter about not being selected by the Oradge this time.

As such, she firmly resolved not to miss the next opportunity.

***

Keisha, looking exhausted, slumped into the massage chair.

“Ugh!”

However, even the massage chair couldn't calm her mind and body.

“Crown Prince... That son of a bitch! I will surely avenge this humiliation...!”

She gritted her teeth as she recalled that day.

That fateful day when people gathered after she had assassinated(?) the Debran.

Her eyes met with the Crown Prince, who had a complex expression.

Relief? Admiration? Fear? Pity?

Seeing the Crown Prince, who was overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions, she reflected on her own actions.

I’m a completely batshit crazy bitch...!

She had worn strange clothes, performed unbelievable feats, and talked to herself in the air.

It couldn’t go on like this.

Szzzzz- Beep-

On the rectangular screen, a blue-skinned Debran in military uniform with numerous medals spoke solemnly.

-Inferior and primitive beings. As of now, ‘Incineration’ shall commence

The officer's face exuded a sense of superiority far beyond the Debran she had killed before. His expression, looking at them like insects, was unmistakable even across species.

-We have come to judge your foolish sins. The sin of daring to touch a noble Debran. You shall repay with your lives. So, accept death quietly.

His expressionless announcement was devoid of any emotion. Almost as if stating an obvious fact.

Keisha gritted her teeth and hurried somewhere.

***

Even while broadcasting, the Debran officer felt a sense of wonder.

No matter how ordinary the probe soldier, or rather, the scout, was, they were equipped with a space probe and basic gear. They shouldn't have died in such a primitive place.

What exactly happened?

They had already scouted the target planet extensively. There shouldn't have been any threats to the scout. As someone who had conducted Incineration and Data Collection on the second suitable planet, he knew this well.

But was it necessary to worry so much? It was just one scout after all.

They'll crawl out if we press them hard enough.

Thinking this, he was about to order the entire army to attack. He had already received approval from the main force.

Now it was time to bestow a bombardment of purification on the foolish primitives.

Right then.

“Commander, a high-grade energy source has been detected!”

“What do you mean? Hasn't the probe already been completed?”

“W-Well, about that...!”

“Other than the Etar collected by the scout, there shouldn't be anything... Was the report wrong...?”

The Fleet Commander, in charge of the reconnaissance fleet, received the data handed over by his adjutant.

“High-Purity Etar? No... This is... It's not Etar. Even Etar can't reach this level. Something far superior to Etar...”

“The estimated amount exceeds the combined total of all the medium-sized battleship units! Moreover...!”

The Fleet Commander couldn't believe his eyes as he reviewed the data.

“Is this really true?”

“Yes. The high-energy reaction is so concentrated that it's immeasurable.”

“Yet it can still be so stable?”

“We are not able to understand it either.”

The Fleet Commander, initially looking serious, soon had a look of pure joy on his face.

“Adjutant! Send a communication to the Supreme Commander.”

“Yes! Understood.”

“Haha! This might be an energy source superior to Etar!”

“I-If that's the case...!”

“This is a groundbreaking discovery! We must secure it! Contact the main force!”

The Fleet Commander barely suppressed a joyful scream.

Beep-

“Supreme Commander, this is the Reconnaissance Fleet Commander...”

As the Fleet Commander’s report continued, the Supreme Commander’s expression began to slowly change as well.

***

Shortly before the report reached the Supreme Commander.

Keisha entered her quarters near her private lab and searched for something.

A giant white metal case, towering over her height, laid in the corner of the room.

It was something the Oradge had prepared for her to use in case of emergency while he was away.

After some hesitation, she finally activated the case.

Click- Click- Srrrr- Click-

Soon, something blindingly white pierced through the building and soared high into the sky.

Magical Girl Armor Mode /genesisforsaken