OBS Chapter 115 The Great Attack: Minerva
Chapter 115 The Great Attack: Minerva
"Huff...huff, we're finally here..."
After being taken away from AST by Cyril, Mikie, panting, ran continuously from the center of Tengu City to the outskirts, constantly dodging surveillance cameras.
However, perseverance pays off, and we finally arrived at the foot of this abandoned building sandwiched between several tall buildings.
"Oh my, I didn't expect you to actually dare to come, Mikie Okamine. I have to say, you're lucky to have survived the clutches of the number one wanted person on our SSS list, the Flame Beast."
At that moment, Ashley, still wearing her Raizen High School uniform, leaned against the door and said, seeing Miki looking over, she even flipped her hair in a self-assuredly cool manner.
"Ashiri!"
When Mikie called her name, Ashley crossed her arms and nodded rhythmically, while Cyril led Mikie past Ashley and inside.
After entering the second floor of the base, Miki looked around curiously.
The room was dimly lit and dilapidated. Leonora, holding a sniper rifle, was sitting on the sofa with a fierce look in her eyes, which made Miki feel a chill run down her spine.
After Ashley came up, Cyril led Mikie to a table, his expression becoming extremely serious.
"Miki, you should know that you were being monitored when you escaped with me, right? This could very well cause your hard-won dream of joining AST to fall apart. Is it worth it?"
After only a moment's hesitation, Miki gave a firm answer:
"If I'm mistakenly accused of colluding with you, I'll be kicked out of AST for betraying them. But if I stand by and watch someone die, I can't be proud to be an AST member..."
At this point, Mikie's eyes became agitated. "I was very concerned about what Bell said, and I failed to understand the people who needed saving before the truth was revealed... If something like that happened, I would feel guilty for the rest of my life!!"
"Coming with you was probably the right choice, which is to believe what Bell said and to believe that you know the whole truth! And if you want to help, you have to believe in the other person, right?" Miki said with a smile after she finished speaking, her arms crossed. Perhaps this was the thought of this kind-hearted girl.
“Yes…maybe you’re right…” Saisil said, as if she saw a kind shadow of Artemisia in Mikie.
As she thought about it, Saisir turned around, took out an English document from under the table, and handed it to Mikie.
"This is the Ashcroft file related to DEM. It contains everything you want to know."
Ashley, who was standing to the side, watched with dissatisfaction but said nothing, since sharing information was indeed the best approach.
Miki took the document, and when she saw the contents, her head started to throb. "Ashcroft... Ugh?!"
Before I could react, my brain seemed to connect with the [Red Cat] outfit I was wearing, and my consciousness became blurred, with many sounds and images merging into my mind.
Entering a flashback, we find that day when Artemisia found the three SSS members training.
"So... I've decided to accept that offer."
"Huh!?" The three of them were puzzled at the same time.
Before the three could react, Artemisia continued with a smile:
"If my power can be of any use, I'm happy to contribute it to create a world free from war more quickly... I agree to the experiment proposed by DEM. After world peace is achieved, the four of us will retire together and live a happy and fulfilling life."
After Artemisia finished speaking, the images and sounds switched rapidly again.
After Artemisia arrived at DEM to begin her experiment, a bald, Mediterranean-looking man appeared before her, and her consciousness began to fade.
"Artemisia, you've finally arrived. Welcome!"
Artemisia's memories played out, her consciousness growing increasingly blurred, "Is...but...this is?"
"Are you feeling disoriented...? But please don't worry. Everything that follows will be treated as an 'accident,' so you can just relax and go back to sleep."
Then Artemisia looked up at the man, who simply said excitedly:
"Next, a brand new manifestation device and Sleeping Beauty will be born..."
After the memory playback ended, Mikie stared at the information for a long time, unable to recover.
"After reading that intelligence report, you should know that the organization that took Artemisia is called DEM, and the person who did it is Edgar. However, we have already dealt with it in our own way, but there are people in the DEM who want to seize Ashcroft's power."
As Saisir said this, his expression grew increasingly serious. Once, he couldn't believe it and decided to infiltrate DEM alone, where he discovered the truth. However, he was attacked by Minerva, a former SSS member who is now a DEM hound.
Although he managed to escape with serious injuries, he was still seriously injured by her.
After reading all the intelligence, Mikihime threw down the document with an incredulous look on her face.
"What... the 'core' of the new manifestation device [Ashcroft] is based on the brain information of a certain magician."
As Mikihiko thought about it, it became increasingly terrifying to realize that [Alice], [Hollow Dragon], [Leon], [Unicorn], and even the [Red Cat] she was currently wearing were all made by humans.
“Only those who wear Ashcroft can use the power that Artemisia possesses, which far surpasses that of ordinary magicians, at the cost of Artemisia’s will…” Mikie said, tears already welling up in her eyes.
"That's right! This is why we're taking back Ashcroft, to reclaim our stolen 'lover'! Now that we're here, Mikie, you should understand that this is the only way to avoid a fight, so hand over your 'Akaguri Cat' to us."
In response, Mikihiko replied, "I...I can't hand it over yet..."
"...Is that so? That makes sense. Even knowing that Ashcroft was created at the cost of Artemisia, it's still an essential piece of equipment for defeating the elves. So we can only continue fighting over it like before..."
“No… that’s no longer necessary!!” Mikie said before Cyril could finish speaking.
"We should collect all five Ashcroft units to revive Artemisia, but I cannot make this decision alone. I must report to the AST. Please give me that data for safekeeping!"
"Our real enemy is DEM, and we should fight him together!"
Saisil remained silent after hearing this, after all, Hyakume had also made the same suggestion, and this was the best plan in the ideal.
Just then, without warning, the stronghold suddenly emitted a deafening roar! Immediately afterward, a powerful shockwave spread rapidly outward from the stronghold, sending dust and debris flying everywhere it went.
“That’s right, no matter where you run, no matter where you hide, I will find you…”
A dark-skinned magician appeared before everyone. "Alright, hurry up and give Ashcroft back to me. It's been so long, Cecilia, Leonora, and Ashley, I've missed you all so much..."
She smiled, but the aura she exuded was extremely frightening, and Saisil also said to Mikie:
"This is the pursuer I was just talking about who wanted Ashcroft, the former second strongest magician in SSS, now the head of DEM's First Executive Division... Minerva Liddell!!"
Minerva looked down at the crowd and said, "You must be tired of being hunted by now, but the good news is that life ends today."
"How did you know we'd be hiding here..."
"When I received the news that you had appeared at AST, I immediately followed you here."
With that, Minerva drew his standard lightsaber with a cold expression and said arrogantly, "Syssil... you once escaped from me at DEM Corporation. If I could, I would like to take care of you myself."
"Ashiri!!!"
"Syssil shouted, and Ashley then threw the Ashcroft that was on her to Leonora and Syssil.
'oh!'
"[Lyon]!"
"【unicorn】!"
"【Hollow Dragon】!"
"start up!!!"
The three of them, along with Miki, were dressed in Ashcroft's attire.
Then, Mikie extended her cat paw from her arm and said to Minerva with a serious expression:
"Four of them! I've heard about the atrocities committed by your DEM. If you intend to rescue Ashcroft here, then I will be your opponent!"
"I will not let you have your way. I will definitely resurrect Artemisia..."
Upon hearing the name Artemisia, Minerva's face instantly darkened. "Artemisia...?"
"Don't mention that name to me! I'll kill you!!" Minerva's face twisted, her eyes filled with murderous intent as she slowly walked towards Mikie.
"Artemisia...Artemisia...Why does everyone keep bringing up that name? Why...why is it always her...? Why not me?!"
Seeing Minerva's crazed state, Miki was instantly dumbfounded, wondering why this person's attitude had suddenly changed so drastically, and why his killing intent was almost materializing, although it was still somewhat different from when she met Ming.
“No matter how much time passes, I will never be able to… since I cannot surpass…” Minerva’s sword, filled with murderous intent, slashed towards Mikie without any attempt to conceal it.
Sehir rushed forward, sword in hand, to block him. "You've got it wrong, your opponent is me...!!"
“Sehir…that’s right…” Minerva finally calmed down.
Seraphim was also knocked back a few steps by the sword. Facing such a powerful enemy, Seraphim did not turn around and said to Mikie, "You are just an outsider, so go hide next to me."
"But...but!"
Miki gritted her teeth, still wanting to help. She gripped the cat's paws tightly. At that moment, Minerva waved her hands, and a large number of laser wires rushed out from all around.
Saisil shouted, "Watch out!"
The group quickly tried to dodge, but Mikie was too close, so Cyril had no choice but to give up his chance to escape and kicked Mikie aside, who was then tied up.