This is not the date I wanted.

Hearing Westcott's voice, Woodman closed his eyes and spoke slowly.

"I didn't expect you to be waiting here. You've prepared a lot of disguised escape routes. Is this the power of the 'Divine Eclipse Volume'?"

"Unfortunately, the 'Divine Eclipse Volume' is not very useful after being scribbled on by your elves. But after all, we are colleagues who have worked together before, so I understand your ideas to some extent. After eliminating most possible disguise routes, the rest depends on intuition."

"I see. As expected of old rivals, they are not that easy to fool."

After they looked at each other, they smiled in sync.

"So, what's up? If you're visiting an old friend, that's a pretty wild way to knock on the door."

"I'm really sorry. Well, it's not a big deal. I just wanted to take you and Kallen to the DEM for a stroll."

If you listen to Westcott's tone, people who don't know the situation might think that he just wants to invite his friends to his house for dinner. However, Woodman and Karen both know that Westcott's words are almost equivalent to completely destroying an organization.

Yes, Westcott is such a person. If he were thrown into the control room of a nuclear bomb detonation, he could just press the detonation button out of curiosity.

Of course, if that were all, it would be fine. The problem is, even if Westcott was caught in the explosion he caused, he would be able to walk back from the explosion site safely, and then say "The mushroom cloud of the explosion is so beautiful" - this is like the feeling after watching fireworks at a temple fair, and then continue to look for the detonation button of another nuclear bomb.

"What if I say no?"

Neither surprised nor angry, Woodman asked calmly after hearing Westcott's words.

"You're not going to kill me and Kallen outright, are you?"

"How could that be~ If that were the case, I would definitely call Alan over as well. This would also be a sign of sincerity, my friend."

Hastily waving his hands, Westcott said with a look of grievance,

"You have to understand that I have absolutely no intention of forcing you. Even if you refuse, I will let you leave on this helicopter, and I will make the attacking magicians retreat obediently. It's just that -"

With his eyes slightly closed, Westcott stretched his hand forward and called out softly.

——The Divine Eclipse Chapter.

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark vortex gathered in Westcott's hand, and finally formed the shape of a book.

"Before you leave, how about playing with me for a little while?"

With a childlike look of anticipation in his eyes, Westcott asked with a smile.

"You've finally revealed your true colors... Never mind. You were always a man who didn't listen to others anyway."

Looking at the object in front of him formed by the ominous miasma, Woodman touched his beard and sighed helplessly.

Although he didn't want to fight the Demon King, based on his understanding of Westcott, he would never stop unless they fought here.

"Elliot!"

"It's okay, Kallen."

"but."

Gently brushing away Kallen's hand, Woodman smiled and shook his head.

Slowly standing up from the wheelchair, Woodman walked to Westcott with a staggering step.

"Then let's get started. Speaking of which, Ike, this is probably the first time I've faced you like this."

"Isn't it? After all, I'm very weak. My legs are shaking just standing in front of you, Elliot."

Woodman chuckled at Westcott's playful joke.

(At most... two more times.)

After muttering to himself, Woodman took out a golden nameplate from his arms.

——————————————I am the dividing line for shifting perspectives——————————————

[Commander! Shidou-kun! Come in quickly! ]

The hurried urging voice of Kanbutsuki came from the warehouse.

Running in the corridor filled with artillery fire, Shidou and the others fought off the second wave of attacks from magicians and drones while rushing under Fraxinus EX.

Then, the surrounding scenery suddenly changed, and Shidao and his group were teleported into the interior of the airship.

[——Commander! I’m glad you’re okay! ]

"Well, sorry for the wait."

After taking a breath, Kotori nodded and brought Shidou and the spirits to the command room on the bridge.

"——How is the situation?"

After entering the command room, the aura around Kotori suddenly became serious. She put on her military jacket, took the extra-large lollipop presented by Kanna Tsuki, and asked her subordinates.

"Yes, there is an 'Arubateru' class airship in the sky above the base. There are about 230 magicians and Bandersnatch that have invaded the base. All technical staff have been evacuated, and there are seven injured. Thanks to Meng Yue's previous distraction, no one has been seriously injured or killed so far."

"Really... Thank you so much, it's a great help, Sister Mengyue."

Hearing that the casualty report was less than she expected, Kotori couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and looked at Mengyue with a little gratitude.

"It's okay. I have no reason not to save those who can be saved."

Mengyue shrugged to indicate that it was okay.

At this moment, Ormori Maria appeared on the big screen in the command room.

[Kotori, the aerial ship - Fraxinus EX. It's ready for launch. Shall we set off?]

"very good."

Hearing this, Kotori put the candy in her mouth with a hint of a smile on her face.

"Attention everyone! Open the ship's hold! Fraxinus EX - set off now!"

"Yes!"

Hearing Kotori's order, the crew members responded in unison.

The runway was set up and the engine was ignited, and just as the airship was about to take off, an alarm suddenly sounded.

[Warning! The hangar has malfunctioned due to enemy attack and cannot be opened normally. Now go to plan 2 - basic display device parallel drive, random field expansion, invisible camouflage automatic avoidance activation! ]

"Um, Kotori... Just now Maria mentioned option 2, which is parallel drive and invisible camouflage. What does that mean?"

Feeling the sound of a machine starting up somewhere inside the ship gradually getting louder, Nanashi asked a little uneasily.

"Ah - that! To put it simply -"

After thinking for a moment, Kotori concluded with a smile on her face.

"The enemy blocking the launch port is too much of a hindrance, so we have to force a breakthrough next."

"Eh?"

"Everyone, hold on tight!"

Hearing this, everyone hurried to find something suitable to hold on to in the house. Niya and Origami originally wanted to hold onto Shidou's back, but were forcibly pulled down by Tohka and the others.

When everything was ready, Ju Ya's voice sounded again in the command room.

[——Fraxinus EX! Launch!]

As the airship started, the inner wall of the hangar was suddenly squeezed into a circle by an invisible pressure.

Then, a strange floating feeling enveloped my whole body, and after a fierce collision sound, the scenery on the main screen switched to the sky.

[Report! There is an enemy aircraft confirmed over the base, how to deal with it? ]

In response to Maria's question, Kotori raised the corner of her mouth and answered without hesitation.

"Shoot it down within a minute!"

[Understood. World Tree Leaves - ① to ③, switch from reconnaissance mode to mine mode.]

"Kannazuki!"

"Understood, leave it to me, Commander!"

Afterwards, the auxiliary display showed the external structure of Fraxinus EX, and the branch-like part at the rear of the ship began to flash red light.

Then, under the cover of the invisible camouflage created in a random area, "something" separated sharply from the hull and surrounded the enemy aircraft at an alarming speed.

A few seconds later, accompanied by bursts of explosions, the DEM ship fell to the ground with thick smoke, without anyone knowing what was happening.

【52 seconds. 】

When she heard Maria's time announcement, Kotori couldn't help but whistle.

"Hmph~ It's just so-so. ——I'll make up for the lost time. Climb higher and break out of the atmosphere in one breath!"

"Yes!"

Then, as if it was a joke, the scene on the monitor changed rapidly as if the ten-times-fast-forward button was pressed.

Like an indestructible arrow of light, driven by the full power of the engine, Fraxinus EX broke free from the constraints of gravity, broke through the atmosphere in just a few minutes, and came to a world beyond the definition of "sky".

--universe.

28 Entering the battlefield

==============================

[Acceleration has ended, and the target has been reached.]

"call……"

After the uncomfortable floating feeling disappeared from his body, Shidou breathed a sigh of relief and raised his head to watch the scene on the big screen.

——Darkness without boundaries.

—There are countless planets.

——And not far away, like a lifeless stardust, the elf drifting silently in the universe——Hoshimiya Rokuko.

Shidou couldn't help but clench his fists silently.

There is no water, no food, no air, and no life. This is not an environment where humans can survive, either physically or mentally. However, this elf named "Hiroshiya Roku" has been staying in this despairingly silent world for who knows how many years.

Perhaps for her who has already blocked her emotions, this kind of comfortable environment where no one disturbs her is what she needs. But on the other hand, if she has so-called emotions, how would it feel to live alone in this world?

Shidao felt that he would probably choose to commit suicide before he collapsed.

Therefore, even though he knew that his choice would be called "hypocrisy", Gokawa Shido still could not choose to turn a blind eye.

"Meng Yue."

Shidou spoke softly.

"what happened?"

Meng Yue responded indifferently.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't leave Rokuko alone."

"Fool, how can you apologize like that?"

Hearing this, Meng Yue couldn't help but sigh helplessly.

"…But I don't want to argue with you at a time like this. Since you've apologized, I'll forgive you."

Just as Erya said, there was no unreasonable demands or sarcasm. Mengyue chose to forgive him with just an apology.

However, this was not a reconciliation, as Shidao knew that he had merely taken advantage of Meng Yue's kindness towards his family.

"……Feel sorry."

With a faint sense of guilt entangled in his heart, Shidou said with a hint of bitterness.

"Really? I told you I've forgiven you, why are you looking so listless?"

Seeing Shidao's silly look, Mengyue slapped him on the back in annoyance.

——Bang! The sound instantly spread throughout the command room, and everyone felt pain for Shidao just by listening to it.

"How about giving you a lift?"

Meng Yue asked with a smirk on her face.

"Yes...fully awake."

Feeling the burning stinging sensation coming from his back, Shidou replied with a wry smile.

"That's good."