turn her into Spirit back then.

Then,

“..........!?”

Suddenly, Shidou could sense something dangerous and turned his glance to a certain direction.

Perhaps it was because his senses were sharpened from using a Spirit’s Reiryoku. Or else, it’s all because the presence of that person over there is way too bizarre to the point that he couldn’t ignore it. Though he wasn’t sure what it is--------But there’s a [Foreign] existence that slipped in between them who wasn’t here until just now. He knew and felt that person’s presences clearly.

It’s not only Shidou; all Spirits who were present there also pointed their gazed towards the same direction.

While being looked by everyone, that man was walking slowly towards Artemisia and Nia.

He was a man with ash-blonde hair and wearing a black suit. Shidou looked at that man with a surprised gaze.

“Isaac Westcott.........!”

Shidou called out for that name while half-shouting. He looked at him with an astonished look. That man------Westcott twisted his lips.

“It’s been a while since we met directly, Itsuka Shidou. I’m glad that you’re healthy.”

While Westcott said those words, he stopped right in front of Nia.

And then he stared at the floating black gem above her, he created a smile out of curiosity as if he had never seen this kind of thing before.

“How wonderful. This is the Inverse Sephira Crystal ---------- Qlipha.”

And then Westcott took a look at it affectionately, he glanced at Artemisia.

“Good job, Artemisia. Seems like hiding you was the right decision. --------Itsuka Shidou and <Ratatoskr>’s people. There’s something I wanted to say to you too. It’s all thanks to you that I’m finally able to take one step closer to my dearest wish.”

Declaring those words loudly, Westcott slowly extended his hands to the gem. “You..........What the—“

“What, you asked? Haha, are you the one who is questioning that? You, who have obtained the power of 8 spirits within yourself.”

“W-What........?”

Shidou asked that while knitting his eyebrow, Westcott gripped the Qlipha--------And then, he inserted it into his own chest.

“Wha...........!?”

“Ku------Oooooooooo-----“

From the Qlipha, a pitch-black light started spreading around that place. It was accompanied by the ringing of an electricity-like sound. The place that had entirely become just like the night in an instant changed the surrounding scenery.

And then----------A few seconds later,

That [Night] had gathered and was absorbed into Westcott.

Over there, there’s no Qlipha that existed anymore.

“Fu----------“

However, Isaac Westcott was seen standing there with Reiryoku covering his whole body. The chest part of his suit was completely burnt off.

Right. He looked exactly like a Spirit.

“Haha, hahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha-------!”

Westcott bended his body and gave out a loud laughter. Upon looking at that appearance, Kotori’s face became pale.

“It can’t be true......Did he just insert the Sephira into himself......!?”

“Don’t be stupid, that kind of thing........”

Before he could finish his words, Shidou choked. -------Those words Westcott said earlier rang in his head.

“The power of a Spirit.........?”

Shidou let out a dumbfounded voice, Westcott threw a glance to them with an amused look.

“That’s right.”

And then he lifted up his hand to the air and called out its name.

“----------Beelzebub<Tome of Divine Corruption>”

That is the name of the Demon king.

“Wha—”

Shidou raised a panic voice, at the same time; a book appeared on Westcott’s hand from the empty space.

At the moment, Westcott raised his eyes in surprised.

“Hou.......? What a wonderful thing, isn’t it? Although this is the first time I’ve used a Demon king, I’m able to know its power and ability in an instant. I guess this is how?”

Westcott lifted up his hands as if leading an orchestra.

As if following that, <Beelzebub>’s pages fluttering around just like with Nia before, from those pages, several black monsters came out.

“What........!?”

Shidou raised up a surprised voice. Even if Westcott has absorbed Spirit’s Reiryoku, similar to Shidou, it’s unexpectable for him to be able to use a Demon King only in such a short time.

“I see......So everything written down in this book will become true? Hahaha, it’s worthy of its reputation as a Demon King. The power to defy all the logic and truth in this world. Don’t you think it’s splendid?”

“Kuh.......”

Shidou grinded his teeth while staring at Westcott.

Then, in Westcott’s back side, Ellen who was fighting with Tohka and the others, flew down and stood next to him.

“Ike.”

“Yes, Ellen. You also already did a great job. ------Just see. This is the light of our way, the radiance of the great Demon King.”

“---------Its’ wonderful. But, it’s not enough.”

“Aah. Only this much isn’t enough. Only one isn’t enough. To fulfill our dearest wish.”

Westcott threw a sharp glance towards Origami and the others.

At the same time, Tohka and the others ran to Shidou while catching their breath. Somehow similar to Ellen, they sensed something dangerous and returned back to Shidou.

“Shido! Are you alright?”

“Aah.......But, Nia is......!”

The situation had become worst. With the strongest wizard in the world Ellen as his companion, as well as Artemisia who has a power equal to Ellen. And then ----------The Demon ing <Beelzebub> which is in Westcott’s hands, along with the army of black monsters. Although there are several Spirits with him, the enemy is too powerful.

No, before that, giving Nia first aid is more important, they have no time to fight against Westcott and the others. What should they do--------?

Then, Shidou was sweating while thinking. But Westcott merely loosened his lips.

“------However, I already achieved my main goal to obtain the Demon King. Don’t you think it’s enough for today?”

“............!?”

Shidou knitted his eyebrow upon hearing Westcott’s words. Shidou strengthened his grip on <Sandalphon>. He doesn’t know what Westcott’s actually aim was. There’s the possibility that Westcott said that to catch them off-guard and then will follow by urging Ellen and Artemisia to attack them.

However, Ellen inclined her head upon hearing those words.

“Is that alright?”

“Aah, anyway, my body cannot keep up with inserting multiple Demon Kings at the same time. Besides..“

After saying that, Westcott showed a twisted smile on his face.

“Isn’t it better to save something you enjoy for later?”

“.........Tch.”

At the moment, Shidou felt that the Spirits choking at the same time.

The malice that he felt since the first time they previously faced Westcott began to expand.

This man can’t be described as cruel or brutal. He can only be defined as ------ [Abnormal].

Right. He can feel a vague fear towards this man. That is, rather than being feared because of facing someone who holds a mighty power, it’s better to say that is the fear of facing something [Unknown] that exceeded one’s common sense.

“--------Understood. Well then—”

“Aah. Let’s go.”

After Westcott said that, Ellen and Artemisia nodded a little before kicking the ground.

After warning the Spirits, they shrunk their territory area, and three of them disappeared into the sky.

“Let’s meet again soon. Itsuka Shidou and all the Spirits. Please enjoy your peaceful days even though you only have a little left.”

“Wha..........Wait! Where are you going—“

“Shidou!”

Kotori grabbed Shidou’s clothes, who trying to catch up to Westcott and the others. While Shidou was distracted by it, Westcott and the others vanished into the sky.

“Although I understand your feelings, but please calm down! We can’t do anything to chase them right now! Besides—”

Kotori gazed towards Nia who was collapsed on the ground. Shidou gasped.

“Nia!”

Landing on the ground, they rushing towards Nia, who was sinking in a sea of blood.

The wounds on her body looked terrible; especially the wound created by Artemisia’s sword after it had stabbed her in the stomach. She was hardly breathing and obviously couldn’t hold herself any longer.

“Dammit....! Kotori! The Realizer!?”

“I already arranged it! But, since <Fraxinus> cannot operate, we can’t use teleportation! I already prepared a car, so wait a minute! However....<Ratatoskr> has never treated a Spirit who’s Sephira was stolen! I don’t know what will—”

“Kuh—”

Shidou distorted his face. However, Origami’s voice could be heard from the other side.

“Anyhow, it’ll be dangerous if this continues. First, we should stop her bleeding.”

“Y-You’re right. But how.........”

“In the case of the large amount of bleeding from her stomach, it’ll be difficult without proper equipment. For the common first-aid treatment, we currently have no way other than wrapping her wounds with a piece of cloth. However, I don’t think that will be effective.”

“The, what should we do.........?”

“Calm down. ----Natsumi.”

“Eh!?”

Natsumi let out a surprised voice upon hearing her name being called suddenly.

“Ah, I-I got it..........!”

However, Natsumi understood Origami’s intention right away. Natsumi ran towards Nia’s side.

“<Haniel>..........!”

After Natsumi said that, a broom-type Angel appeared. Then, the mirror hiding at the edge of the broom started shining; all of the terrible wounds on Nia’s body were erased.

It’s not like Nia’s wounds were healed. Using <Haniel>’s power, Natsumi changed Nia’s body which was filled with wounds into a neat body without wounds.

“With this......I think it’s a little bit better now. But, I can’t return back the amount of blood which has already lost, and I couldn’t heal wounds inside her body. If we don’t give her medical treatment soon....”

When Natsumi said those words, Nia’s situation got worse. Although all the wounds were already gone, her face turned pale and her breathing was gradually getting smaller.

“Dammit.......Nia! Can you hear my voice? The car has almost arrived!”

Holding Nia’s hand, Shidou spoke with a pray-like tone.

However, his shout was in vain, Nia’s hand become colder. Shidou felt irritated, impatient and helpless. He punched the ground in his frustration.

Then---

“.............! Wait, Shido.”

Then, as if noticing something, Tohka was staring at Nia with a sharp gaze, as if trying to make sure of something.

“As expected.......Shido, although it’s faint, Nia still has some Reiryoku left!”

“What did you say!?”

Shidou widen his eyes, Kotori took a deep breath as if noticing something as well.

“I see.....Before Nia was stabbed by the girl who came flying down from the sky, Shidou was able to return a part of Nia’s consciousness, even if only a little........! At that time, her inverse form wasn’t complete anymore.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“There’s a possibility that the Sephira that Westcott snatched away back then wasn’t in its complete form! Perhaps in Nia’s body, there’s still a little part of the Sephira left behind.........!”

When Kotori said that, Shidou shook his shoulders.

In the beginning of the month, the conversation Shidou heard about him going berserk was floating in his mind.

“Kotori---------You’ve had said that there’s an interval of Reiryoku circulating in a path connecting me to all of the Spirits........didn’t you?”

“Yes, that’s............”

Then, Kotori realized what Shidou was thinking.

“Shidou, don’t tell me—”

“Aah---------This is a bet, but I’ll seal Nia........!”

Right. There’s a flow of Reiryoku formed between Shidou and all the sealed Spirits. In that case, if Shidou can connect the paths to Nia, Shidou thought that he might be able to supply Nia with the Reiryoku between him and the other Spirits.

Of course, Shidou still doesn’t know whether Nia’s affection level towards him has risen to the level where he could seal Nia or not.

However, it’s just like what Kotori said earlier, there’s no other way than to believe. -----That Shidou and the others’ feelings will be able to reach Nia.

“-------Nia. Please, accept.......me. I don’t mind if you take away all of my power! That’s why—!“

Shidou said that as if pleading to her. With everyone watching, he brought his lips towards Nia’s lips slowly, and then their lips touched each other’s.

At the moment, Shidou stiffened his face at the coldness of Nia’s lips.

However right away, Shidou felt a familiar sensation of something warmth flowing into his body, even if only a little.

“..........!”

There’s no doubt, it’s the sensation of whenever he sealed a Spirit’s Reiryoku. When their lips separated, he called out Nia’s name in shouting manner.

“Nia! Nia!”

“Wake up, Nia!”

“Nia........san!

All Spirits raised their voices as if following Shidou.

Soon, Nia started to twitch her hands.

And then, she let out a hoarse voice.

“................, Everyone......No need to shout, I........Can hear........You......All.......”

“---------! Nia!”

As Shidou shouted, Nia closed her eyes once again, and then moved her lips a little.

Although her voice can’t be heard-----But from her lip’s movement, she can be seen spelling five letters: [T] [H] [A] [N] [K] [S][1].