Campione: Strongest# 476: Counter Force?

On the mountain road to Misaki City, a black Toyota sat parked beside the dark, quiet roadside, wrapped in dense forest.

The car rocked rhythmically, but its raised windows blocked all outside view, concealing the dim interior.

Inside the darkened car, Haru—invited by Fujino to do 'push-ups'—panted slightly, exercising carefully to avoid harming his partner's future.

Suddenly, Haru's brow furrowed. He raised his head sharply, his gray eyes knife-sharp as they pierced through the left window's dark glass toward Kanbuko City.

"My Divine avatar dissipated??" His voice carried seven parts surprise, three parts bewilderment.

Though hard to believe, the suddenly severed connection in his mind told him plainly—his Divine avatar representing the Lord of the Christian pantheon had fallen.

As the connection broke, massive information flooded Haru's mind—all the avatar's memories from this period.

Despite the Reality Marble's obstruction, these memories had transmitted through their soul connection before the avatar's death.

Haru closed his eyes, continuously processing the information. From entering Ogawa Apartments to encountering the Dark Six to the ambush from behind—scenes played like a movie in his mind.

After a moment, Haru sighed softly. "This is troublesome."

The backstab had come from the Seventh Ancestor Forest of Einnashe. Clearly, this forest with only feeding instincts had also fallen under the Dark Six' control.

Logically, a mere demonic forest couldn't stop a deity. Yet fate was always so peculiar.

"Alaya—!" Haru's brow tightened, his expression grave.

That final force that killed his Divine avatar—Haru knew it too well. Since entering this world, this power had constantly surrounded him.

It was the power of Alaya, one of the two Counter Forces—the absolute superior of deities born from faith.

In Haru's intuition, Alaya—who'd developed a distinct 'personality' through his anomalous existence—had never intended to attack him.

Yet Alaya's power had undeniably erased his Divine avatar.

Though he couldn't understand how it was done, the Dark Six had clearly usurped part of Alaya's authority.

At least in the Divine avatar's final vision, the enemy already possessed a certain degree of Counter Force aura.

"...What's wrong?" A gentle voice filled with concern spoke softly.

A pale hand tinged with pink reached up, stroking Haru's furrowed brow as if to smooth away the wrinkles.

Fujino's face carried lingering allure, her wine-red eyes—shimmering like aged wine in crystal—fixed intently on Haru's face.

Haru reached out, gently brushing aside Fujino's sweat-dampened bangs. His lips curved upward as he spoke with excitement: "Nothing. Just encountered an opponent worth fighting after so long. I'm a bit thrilled."

'The Dark Six Meeting a nascent Counter Force just as I'm perfecting my own Origin—the perfect whetstone has been delivered to me?'

Haru grinned, showing an incredibly excited expression.

A flash of inspiration struck. Haru muttered: "Hmm? She's there, so safety shouldn't be an issue. But just in case, I'll send two puppets."

Fujino, lying beneath him, didn't interrupt his monologue. She simply stroked his face gently, her eyes brimming with unshakeable affection.

"...Once more." The soft whisper rang out.

Having finished his arrangements, Haru heard this and frowned slightly. "A second time? Your body can't handle it. It'll hurt badly."

"Will it really hurt that much~?"

Looking at the completely aroused girl before him, Haru slapped his forehead helplessly. "Chasing 'pain' again?"

"Fine, I'll give it to you." The next second, Haru grinned wickedly.

The black sedan once again released melodious cries.

—————

At Ogawa Apartments' entrance.

A sharp blade pierced through Araya Souren's heart.

Shiki stared in shock at the figure appearing behind Araya. Her dark eyes, after a moment's astonishment, transformed into boundless joy.

"Ngh—!" Araya grunted, grimacing as he shifted his massive body to look behind him.

Seeing who it was, Araya showed a stunned expression.

"Oh my, big guy, you're really tough! Still not dead after I hit your heart's death point?" A curious female voice rang out softly.

A girl in a faded yellow kimono with a red jacket thrown carelessly over it, her black hair cut short at ear-length, played with her blade while studying Araya's body with curiosity, as if searching for the next attack point.

"SHIKI—!" Shiki's joyful call echoed through the atmosphere.

SHIKI tilted her head, looking at the beaming Shiki in the distance. Her lips curved upward. "Though smiling's nice too, Shiki, I still prefer your cold expression."

"Eh? Really?" Shiki touched her cheek, speaking dumbly.

"Two Shikis? What's happening here?" Araya resumed his bitter expression, speaking heavily.

What answered him was SHIKI's razor-sharp blade.

The blade cut through night sky, following Araya's neck's death line, severing his head completely. Blood sprayed three feet, painting brilliant colors on SHIKI's yellow kimono.

"Sorry, big guy. I don't talk much during fights." SHIKI flicked her blade, shaking off the crimson blood, her face indifferent.

The next second, the indifferent girl suddenly showed a bright expression. She rushed forward, grabbing Shiki's right hand and running.

"SHIKI??" The bewildered Shiki stared at SHIKI dumbly, letting the girl pull her forward.

She had too many questions—why wasn't she dead? Why was she here? Why run immediately? Too many questions jammed in her throat, leaving Shiki unable to speak, only calling the other's name softly.

But as someone once united in body and mind, SHIKI—even separated—still had telepathy surpassing twins.

The girl answered Shiki's questions succinctly:

"I'm still dead! Uncle's Third Magic made me a spiritual body. Why am I here? Because I was worried about you! As for running?"

"Uncle's Divine avatar got taken out—we have to run!"

Seeing Shiki's blank face, SHIKI smiled sweetly, her blade stabbing the apartment's edge—the Reality Marble's death point.

CRACK!

With a soft sound, the bounded field covering Ogawa Apartments split open—a gap large enough for three people.

In that instant, invisible Counter Force surged into this 'otherworld.'

[Crisis source identified. Guidance program initiating.]