Chapter 43 — Wrath vs. Blue Braver

The figures of Wrath and Sloth stood atop the giant puppet's head, peering through the shattered window. Endou's eyes remained locked on the two of them, watching their every move.

With her hands tucked into her pockets, Wrath made a slight movement.

In an instant, her figure disappeared.

Endou's eyes widened, but he reacted quickly.

"...Transform!"

Endou shouted as he hurriedly activated his Braver device.

His clothes dissolved into countless particles of light, and within seconds, he was clad in his Blue Braver armor. Sleek blue plating adorned with subtle water-wave patterns enveloped his body, while his helmet formed around his head, concealing his face behind a translucent blue visor. As the transformation completed, the familiar power of Stellar Energy surged through his body.

BANG!!!!

A thunderous impact rang out.

Endou barely managed to block the incoming kick with his crossed arms.

CRASH!!

Despite blocking the attack, the force was overwhelming. His body was sent flying backward, crashing through the wall behind him before disappearing beneath the falling rubble.

"Endou!"

"Mr. Endou!"

Olivia and Nero shouted in panic as they stared at the destroyed wall where Endou had crashed.

Then Wrath slowly stepped forward.

"...Hey, Endou..."

She spoke as she gazed at the rubble.

"...I know that wasn't enough to kill you. Get up so I can break every bone in your body..."

Wrath said with an eager smile, casually brushing her long, messy black hair aside. Her visible crimson eye glowed with excitement, reflecting her eagerness to unleash more violence upon her former comrade.

"...W-Wrath..."

Sloth's trembling voice came from atop the giant puppet's head.

Wrath turned toward her, wearing an annoyed expression.

"...I-I already..."

"...brought..."

"...an army..."

"...of puppets..."

"...So..."

"...can I...?"

"...leave...?"

"...and go..."

"...home...?"

Sloth muttered nervously, her gaze lowered toward the ground. Her emerald-green eye and glowing yellow eye, marked by a star-shaped pupil, both avoided Wrath's gaze as she anxiously rubbed her fingers together.

"...HAAAAAAAAH?!"

Wrath exclaimed, her voice filled with exaggerated annoyance and irritation.

Sloth immediately flinched, trembling at the outburst.

"...Don't speak nonsense! Your puppets become slow and useless when you're not around!"

Wrath snapped as she began cracking her knuckles.

"...If I find out you've left early, I'm gonna break your damn legs!!"

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"...S-scary..."

Sloth whispered fearfully, reluctantly accepting that she had no choice but to obey.

THUD!

THUD!

THUD!

The giant puppet continued climbing the building, carrying Sloth on top of its head. As it ascended, its enormous body gradually disappeared from view until it was no longer visible through the shattered window, leaving Wrath alone with the people on the floor.

CRRRRRK... RUMBLE...

Suddenly, the rubble began to shift.

Chunks of broken concrete slid aside as a figure emerged from the debris.

Endou finally stepped out from the wreckage, his Blue Braver armor still largely intact. He brushed the dust from his armor and straightened his posture, preparing himself for the fight ahead.

"...Sakura..."

He muttered with a serious expression.

Wrath tilted her head slightly, a faint, mocking smile spreading across her face.

"...Nero."

Nero, who was still on the ground, raised his head when Endou called his name.

"...Take Miss Olivia and everyone else on this floor out of the building. Find somewhere safe to hide..."

Endou ordered without taking his eyes off Wrath.

Nero hesitated for a moment before clicking his tongue in frustration.

"...Tch!"

He then turned toward the frightened people around him.

"Attention, everyone! Follow me to the emergency stairs!"

The people in the hallway finally snapped out of their shock. Nero and the security guards quickly began guiding them toward the emergency exits.

"...Mr. Endou..."

Olivia hesitated, glancing worriedly at Endou.

However, Nero grabbed her by the arm and urged her to follow him. Reluctantly, she went with Nero and the fleeing civilians.

Wrath didn't even spare the escaping people a glance, treating them as little more than a swarm of irritating flies buzzing around her.

Endou narrowed his eyes as he assessed the terrible situation.

He didn't have time for this.

He needed to reach Military Base Delta 55 and assist Yuki as soon as possible. But Starlight City was now under attack, and Sakura—no, Wrath—was standing directly in his way.

"...You're worried about Yuki... aren't you?"

Wrath remarked mockingly, as though she could read his mind.

"...Don't worry about her... Greed will take good care of her..."

She added with a sinister smile.

Wrath then loosened the pink tie of her black uniform slightly, preparing herself for battle.

Endou clenched his teeth in frustration.

He had to finish this fight quickly and get to Base Delta 55 before it was too late.

Suddenly, a swarm of dark cherry blossoms began swirling around Wrath, filling the air with an ominous presence.

At the same time, a stream of water began spiraling around Endou's body, its powerful currents gathering around his armored form.

Both combatants raised their hands.

In the next instant, Wrath unleashed a fierce wind of dark cherry blossoms while Endou released a torrent of powerful water.

The two attacks collided violently in the middle of the hallway, unleashing a tremendous shock wave that shook the building.

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Back at Military Base Delta 55, one of the many squads rushed toward the cafeteria, moving quickly through one of the base's hallways.

"...Faster! Keep moving!"

The squad leader shouted.

Nearly twenty soldiers followed behind him, all armed with the new Stellar Energy rifles and ready to engage the enemy.

RATATATATATATA!

"...!?"

The squad leader and his men suddenly heard the sound of multiple soldiers firing their Stellar Energy weapons.

Looking ahead, they spotted two soldiers near the end of the hallway, where the corridor split into two separate passages. Both were firing frantically toward one of the adjoining hallways.

From their position, the approaching squad couldn't see what the two soldiers were shooting at.

"...Keep firing!"

One of the soldiers shouted desperately.

"...I can't! They're everywhere!"

The other soldier screamed in panic as they continued firing into the adjoining hallway.

"GYAaaaaaaah!"

Suddenly, both soldiers screamed as something seized them and dragged them around the corner.

"...!?"

The squad leader and his men froze for a moment.

Then, almost simultaneously, they raised their rifles and aimed toward the corner where the two soldiers had disappeared.

Click! Click! Click!

The soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons, their fingers hovering over the triggers as they waited for whatever was hiding beyond the corner to appear.

Silence fell over the hallway.

Then, abruptly, a girl's head peeked playfully around the corner.

"...Ohhh! We found more people!"

The girl exclaimed cheerfully.

She had long crimson twin ponytails, narrow crimson eyes, and an impossibly wide grin. Her expression was one of pure delight, as though she had stumbled upon a group of friends rather than a squad of armed soldiers.

The squad leader's face turned pale.

He recognized the enemy immediately.

It was Greed, one of the Witches of Sin.

"...Hehehehe! Come on, my cuties! I found more people for you to play with!"

Greed said enthusiastically, waving one hand toward the corner as if inviting someone to join her.

From beyond the corner came a horrifying sound.

Skritch... skritch... skritch... skritch...

Thousands of tiny feet crawled against the floor, growing louder with every passing second.

The squad leader and his men stared in horror as countless black goblins began pouring around the corner.

They crawled over one another, their glossy black bodies reflecting the hallway lights. Their pointed ears twitched, their sharp teeth gleamed, and their glowing white eyes fixed hungrily on the soldiers.

More and more emerged from the shadows, spilling across the floor and crawling along the walls as the swarm advanced toward them.

There seemed to be no end to their numbers.

"...!"

For a brief moment, the soldiers stood frozen in terror.

Then the squad leader snapped out of his shock.

"FIRE!!!!"

The command echoed through the hallway.

The soldiers immediately opened fire.

RATATATATATATATA!!!!

Thousands of brilliant Stellar Energy bullets streaked through the air, illuminating the corridor as they tore toward the advancing swarm.

The battle for Military Base Delta 55 had begun.