Chapter 42 — Full-Scale Invasion

In Starlight City, inside a news building, a man with short blue hair, dressed in a formal blue suit with a matching tie, emerged from an interview room.

It was Endou Tachibana, the Blue Braver.

He had just finished an interview addressing the public's concerns and discussing the countermeasures the government was implementing to ensure the safety of the country and the rest of the world against the Witches of Sin.

After addressing the public's concerns, Endou stepped into the hallway, where a man with long black hair, dressed in a black suit, was waiting for him.

"...Endou..."

The man's name was Nero Tatsuki, a government-appointed assistant assigned to accompany Endou. Officially, his responsibilities included assisting Endou with his duties and protecting him from potential threats.

However, Endou knew the real reason the government had assigned Nero to him.

He was there to keep a close eye on him and ensure that he followed the government's orders.

"Endou, you'll have another interview at nine o'clock near the plaza. If we want to arrive on time, we should start moving now."

"....Very well..."

Endou muttered as he followed Nero.

As they walked, he glanced through the enormous windows overlooking Starlight City. Since they were several floors above the ground, he could see almost the entire city beneath the bright morning sun.

The streets were bustling with people going about their daily lives. Cars moved through the intersections, pedestrians walked along the sidewalks, and the city's skyscrapers reflected the sunlight.

Despite how peaceful everything looked, Endou couldn't shake the feeling that another battle could break out at any moment.

After all, the Witches of Sin were still out there, and nobody knew when or where they would strike next.

"...Excuse me, Mr. Endou!"

Suddenly, a woman's voice called out from behind him.

Endou turned around just as a woman came running toward him.

"...Huff... huff... huff..."

The woman struggled to catch her breath. She wore a formal business suit and had short blonde hair, matching blonde eyebrows, and square-framed glasses.

Before she could approach Endou, Nero immediately stepped between them, positioning himself protectively in front of the former Braver.

"...Who are you? How did you enter this facility?"

Nero demanded, signaling to the nearby security guards to remove the woman.

"....Wait! Mr. Endou! Please, just hear me out for ten seconds!"

The woman shouted desperately as the guards began escorting her away.

"...It's all right. Let her speak."

Endou intervened, raising a hand to signal Nero and the guards to step back.

Nero reluctantly moved aside, allowing the woman to approach.

"...Tell me. Who are you, and why did you come to see me?"

Endou asked.

The woman took a moment to catch her breath before looking directly at him with a serious expression.

"...My name is Olivia... and I have a message from Doctor Willow."

"....!?"

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At the mention of Doctor Willow, the scientist who had discovered Stellar Energy and created the Bravers, both Endou and Nero widened their eyes in disbelief.

"...The message is... if you wish to defeat the Witches of Sin and save humanity, please come and meet me at these coordinates immediately."

Olivia explained as she handed Endou a small piece of paper.

"...What nonsense are you talking about?! Doctor Willow is dead!"

Nero shouted, his expression filled with complete disbelief.

Olivia lowered her gaze nervously, seemingly holding back information she wasn't ready to reveal.

Doctor Willow was more than just the man who had helped save humanity; he was also a trusted friend of Endou and all the other Bravers.

Endou, however, was certain that Doctor Willow had passed away.

The scientist had died peacefully in his sleep from old age, shortly after the Bravers had saved the world from King Cosmos.

All seven Bravers had attended his funeral, and Endou himself had seen the doctor's body with his own eyes.

The possibility that this might be a trap crossed his mind. After all, the Witches of Sin had repeatedly demonstrated how dangerous and unpredictable they could be.

However, as he looked into Olivia's eyes, his instincts told him that she might be telling the truth.

"...Please, tell me exactly who you are and how you're connected to Doctor Willow..."

Endou murmured, willing to hear everything the woman had to say.

"...I-..."

"Endou!"

Olivia was interrupted when Nero suddenly called out to him.

"...?"

Endou and Olivia turned toward Nero in confusion.

The man had a shocked expression on his face, one hand pressed against his earpiece as he received an emergency transmission.

"...Endou! Military Base Delta 55 is under attack!"

At those words, Endou's eyes widened in shock.

However, he quickly regained his composure, his expression turning serious.

"...Prepare the emergency jet! We're going to assist Yuki and General Horikita immediately!"

Endou shouted as he turned around and hurried toward the exit.

"...Wait, Endou! We need approval from our superiors before you can engage the enemy!"

Nero shouted as he followed him.

"...Mr. Endou, wait! It's important that you go and meet Doctor Willow right now!"

Olivia desperately called after him, following close behind.

However, Endou ignored them both.

At that moment, only one thing mattered to him.

He needed to help Yuki.

She was one of the remaining Bravers, and the Witches of Sin had already demonstrated their willingness to target the people closest to them. He couldn't afford to let another one of his former comrades suffer the same fate as Taichi, Roland, Sakura, and Saki.

THUD!

Suddenly, Endou stopped in his tracks.

A heavy impact echoed through the building, shaking the entire floor beneath their feet.

THUD!

THUD!

The sound repeated, growing louder with each impact.

Everyone in the hallway exchanged confused glances as the floor trembled beneath them.

"...What?!"

Nero suddenly exclaimed in shock as another emergency transmission came through his earpiece.

THUD!

THUD!

THUD!

The impacts grew louder and closer, accompanied by the unsettling sound of something enormous scraping against the building.

After receiving another transmission, Nero turned toward Endou with a panicked expression.

"...Endou! Starlight City...! The entire city is under attack!"

Endou's eyes widened.

Before he could even begin to comprehend what was happening, a deafening explosion erupted nearby.

CRAAAAAAAAAASH!!!!

The enormous glass window at the end of the hallway shattered into countless fragments.

Everyone on the floor screamed and threw themselves to the ground, covering their heads as shards of glass scattered across the room.

Endou raised an arm to shield his face before turning toward the shattered window.

Nero, Olivia, and the other people in the hallway also looked toward the destruction.

What they saw left them frozen in disbelief.

A gigantic wooden hand was gripping the edge of the building.

THUD!

THUD!

Something enormous was climbing the tower.

The sound of wood creaking and straining echoed through the hallway as the massive hand tightened its grip on the structure.

Everyone watched helplessly as a gigantic face slowly appeared beyond the broken window.

It belonged to a colossal humanoid puppet made entirely of wood.

Its expressionless face loomed over the building, its enormous eyes staring into the hallway as though searching for something.

"...!"

However, Endou's attention wasn't focused on the gigantic puppet itself.

His gaze was fixed on the two figures standing atop the creature's head.

The first was a girl with long, messy black hair streaked with dark pink that left only one eye visible. She wore a dark outfit accented with pink details, including a pink plaid tie and skirt, along with a chain accessory hanging from her clothing. Her visible crimson eye stared directly at Endou, filled with irritation and contempt.

A mocking, angered smile spread across her face as she looked down at him.

It was Wrath, one of the Witches of Sin.

Standing beside her was a much smaller girl with bright green bobbed hair. She wore an oversized black sweater uniform with sleeves that nearly swallowed her hands, along with a green ribbon around her collar.

One of her eyes was emerald green, while the other glowed yellow with a star-shaped pupil.

The little girl glanced shyly toward Endou before quickly averting her gaze, her timid posture contrasting sharply with the terrifying creature beneath her feet.

It was Sloth.

"..."

Endou's expression grew serious as he stared at his former comrades.

From somewhere below, the screams of terrified civilians echoed through the city.

The peaceful morning had been shattered, and Starlight City was descending into chaos.

After everything that had happened, the day had finally arrived when Endou would have to face his former friends once again.

While Military Base Delta 55 was under attack, the Witches of Sin launched a simultaneous assault on Starlight City.