Part 1
Night was beginning to fall, and the first stars peeked timidly through the sky.
A portable stage, illuminated by bluish spotlights, had been set up on the Seisen testing campus—an open area far from the main stadium.
There, Professor Eleonor Duval, now dressed in a far more dazzling and elegant outfit, stood ready for the final event of the day.
Beside her were Akari, still visibly upset over the tournament's outcome; Touma, who continued reviewing data projected onto his lenses; and the Chinese pilot Li Meiyun, serious and focused.
One of Duval's drones handed her a microphone as thousands of spectators followed the broadcast from the stadium's giant screens.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at the final event of this beautiful starry night!" she announced enthusiastically, making a grand gesture.
"The student with immeasurable power… the bearer of a pure-power Astra Core! Her fists have no equal." She pointed at Akari, who simply crossed her arms with a pout.
The audience cheered, though many whispered skeptically.
Duval continued.
"And she will face the new anti-Nulvoid combat prototype developed by the Chinese government."
She pointed to a massive tarp nearly ten meters tall. With an elegant snap, her drones descended and removed the cover.
Slowly, the gigantic robot came into view.
The stadium audience reacted in unison.
"Oooooooh…!"
"Is that girl seriously going to fight that?"
"…This has to be a joke."
"It looks like a walking war tank…"
Even Tanaka, a robotics expert, was impressed.
Duval took another step forward.
"And if you're worried about our student's safety," she glanced briefly at Akari, "the government of China has sent one of their best pilots to ensure the demonstration is a complete success."
"Presenting… Li Meiyun!"
The young Chinese woman bowed respectfully.
"Remember, this is only an exhibition," Duval warned, fixing her gaze on Akari. "There's no need to destroy everything… that equipment costs millions."
Akari looked away, whistling innocently.
"With that said… best of luck to both of you!"
Duval stepped aside elegantly as Li ascended the robot using a mobile platform.
Akari, meanwhile, took a deep breath and approached Touma.
"I just want to go to my room and change out of this horrible outfit…" she muttered, tugging at her combat uniform. "It makes me look like a guy."
"I don't think it looks that bad on you," Touma replied with a smile. "It's just… not as colorful as you are."
"Grrr…"
"Come on," he added, giving her a light tap on the shoulder. "Just give that thing a few punches and then let's go get ice cream, okay?"
Akari's eyes widened and a huge smile lit up her face.
"Yes! Although… I'd like us to have dinner with my family, too."
"Whatever you say, Your Majesty," Touma replied with an exaggerated bow before heading to the analysts' designated safe stand.
Akari was left alone in front of the imposing mecha, wondering whether that oversized toy would withstand her blows… or if it would break apart like all the other prototypes she had fought so far.
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Meanwhile, Director Rheinhardt walked through the Seisen gardens with a serious expression—something that seemed unlike his usual personality.
"I know you're there. Come out already," he ordered firmly.
From between the bushes, an elegant blond man dressed entirely in white suit emerged, smiling with a chilling theatrical flair.
"Your reputation precedes you, Vergil von Rheinhardt… or should I say Hidetaka Rengouji."
Vergil's face showed only a flicker of surprise.
"I haven't heard that name in a long time… I see you're well-informed. I suppose you're not an ordinary Nulvoid."
The man let out a soft, almost musical laugh.
"Of course not. I am no inferior being. My name is Fausto… a Herald of Darkness."
Vergil tightened his grip on his magic staff, materializing it into his hand.
"I'm guessing you didn't come here for a stroll or to admire my wonderful magic numbers."
Fausto extended his hand, and a razor-thin sword appeared as if rising from the shadow itself.
"I only came to witness the 'special event.' It would be such a shame if that Juggernaut were to… go out of control. Don't you think?" His smile twisted into something unsettling. "So then… you and I will dance under the moonlight, Sir Vergil."
The director's gaze hardened like never before.
"As long as I'm the director of Seisen… I won't let you get away with this!"
The two fell silent.
Waiting.
Measuring each other.
They knew that whoever made the first move… would ignite the spark of battle.
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Li Meiyun was already inside the control station of the gigantic mecha. Indicators lit up one by one as she reviewed the panels with precision.
"Calm down, Li…" she told herself. "We've piloted this hunk of metal a few times already. Just breathe…"
She gripped the controls and gave the initial command.
"Core activated."
"Astra Core synchronization, 100%."
"Armor at 100%."
"Juggernaut… activated."
The control room lit up as if it were a spaceship. Graphics, sensors, and alerts began projecting all around her as the mecha fully awakened.
Outside, the crowd roared with excitement at the sight of the monstrous robot powering up, as if they were watching a sci-fi movie come to life.
The Juggernaut's bright red eyes flickered on.
"TARGET LOCKED!" its robotic voice boomed across every loudspeaker.
The mecha's camera rotated… and locked onto tiny Akari.
"EXTERMINATION MODE ACTIVATED!"
Its massive arm rose like a metal mountain.
Touma, seated in the safe analyst stand, felt a chill crawl down his back.
"Did it just say… 'extermination mode'?" he muttered in disbelief.
Ellie appeared in the display of his lenses.
"Touma-sama, my readings show anomalies. The Juggernaut seems to be emitting the same energy signature as the Nulvoids."
Even Akari frowned, confused by the mecha's words—but she had no time to think. The gigantic fist came down like a meteor.
The small girl smiled with a mix of excitement and defiance. Her red aura burst around her body.
"Bring it on, big guy!"
With a shout full of energy, Akari slammed her tiny fist against the Juggernaut's massive metal fist.
The ground shook.
Neither side yielded.
Akari pushed with all her strength, and the Juggernaut pushed with murderous force.
Then, with a metallic screech, the robot's back split open, and
a missile launcher rose from within.
"INCREASING FIREPOWER!"
A massive missile shot straight toward Akari.
A second missile launched at a different angle… aimed at the stadium.
In the cockpit, alarms exploded in red.
"The controls aren't responding!" Li screamed, seized by panic.
The entire room was bathed in red lights, the controls vibrating as if the mecha rejected her commands.
The central monitor displayed an endless list of glowing red targets beneath a single label. "TARGETS."
The first missile struck where Akari had been a second earlier, unleashing an explosion that lit up the entire campus.
"Akariiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!" Touma screamed in despair.
The second missile flew toward the coliseum… and chaos erupted in the stands.
The starry night over Seisen… was suddenly on the brink of becoming a nightmare.