That would shift the equation.
If the seeds of hatred toward Genestella were sown not only in Asterisk but all over the world, ordinary people and Genestella would be thrown into irreconcilable conflict.
“You’ve brainwashed those terrorists too then, I take it?”
“You could say that. Then again, perhaps not. Most of them were already dissatisfied with the reality that Genestella are forced to endure. I merely fanned the flames a little. It is possible to embed feelings of hatred in a subject, but it takes considerable time and effort. That approach isn’t suitable for large numbers of subjects.”
“Large numbers…? How many people have you brainwashed?”
“I can’t remember them all. Surely no less than ten thousand.”
“T-ten thousand…?!”
Minato couldn’t even imagine the destruction that would result if so many people were to engage in acts of terrorism all over the world at the same time.
“Every year, countless Genestella gather in this city from all over the world, and every year, just as many leave again for the outside. All I had to do was identify the most suitable individuals from among them. There are, of course, those who don’t wish to resort to force even under my influence, but there are also those who have already established their own terrorist cells. They will gladly increase their ranks by themselves, which is naturally an immense help to us.”
“But…if Genestella and ordinary people start fighting each other, wouldn’t the odds of us winning be miniscule?”
Right. The groups were simply too different in number. Individual Genestella might be superior in terms of combat power, but that alone wouldn’t be enough to overturn the entire global order.
“We have another plan to help with that. It is not necessary to kill all ordinary people in order for the Genestella to win. All that is required is to seize control of the true ruling class—the integrated enterprise foundations. Though at that point, the Golden Bough Alliance will no longer be involved.”
The Varda-Vaos paused there for a moment, letting out a deep breath.
“…The first attempt was the Jade Twilight Incident. That failed due to my inexperience. I still didn’t understand you humans, and Helga Lindwall’s abilities were overwhelming. My second attempt was to bring about a new Invertia. That seemed like the most effective way to set the world in order, but that too was foiled on account of Madiath’s foolish sentimentality. We were on the cusp of sending Ecknardt to the moon.”
“Huh…?”
Sending him to…the moon?
“And now we come to the third attempt. This time, I will see the plan to fruition. I will permit no one to stand in my way…!”
With those words, a jet-black light gushed out from the Varda-Vaos, along with an intimidating aura underscoring the depths of her determination.
“Now that we have talked at length, perhaps you realize the futility of attempting to further interfere with our plans? If so, then leave. If you hurry, you two alone may survive.”
“Oh? I doubt it,” Claudia said, dismissing the Varda-Vaos’s argument with a soft smile. “On the other hand, if we defeat you here, you’ll lose your hold over those terrorists’ minds at least, no?”
“Not necessarily. Quite a few affected by my powers will not be able to stop themselves even if released. Especially those who belong to larger organizations… Your first priority should be yourselves. Do you really think you can win?”
With those words, black light gathered around the Varda-Vaos’s right hand, and a huge, distorted battle-ax took form.
Her intimidating aura was now positively murderous.
Nonetheless, Claudia maintained her cool. “Yes, of course. After all, you’ve always feared my friend here, haven’t you?” she said, brandishing the twin blades in her hands.
“Feared? Me? Ha! What on earth are you saying…?”
“Then why take the trouble to tell us this long, meandering story of yours? It’s obvious. Yes, you were trying to buy time until the end of the championship match. But most of all, you’re trying to avoid fighting—against the Pan-Dora,” Claudia said with a faint, knowing smile.
“…! Damn you!” the Varda-Vaos cried. A huge mass of black radiance emanated from around her as she bore down on Claudia.
“Enfield!”
Claudia, however, still fixing her foe with a sweet smile, didn’t even try to avoid it.
“Huh…? What’s going on…?”
“Impossible…!”
Even though Claudia had been fully engulfed by that black light that had given Minato such an intense migraine not long ago, she remained unmoving, her smile unwavering.
Instead, she gently spoke the following words: “You’re an Orga Lux, and as such, a fundamentally rational being. If you could have defeated us with your powers, you wouldn’t have wasted your time engaging us in conversation. The reason you didn’t attempt to stop us is that you understand the true power of my friend here. Of course you do. Because both she and you are the work of Professor Ladislav Bartošik. You’re practically siblings, so to speak.”
Claudia’s laugh was like small chimes sounding in the wind—then, the Varda-Vaos lunged toward her, ferociously slamming her battle-ax down against her defenseless foe.
And yet—
“What…?!”
“Huuuuuh?!”
The next moment, Claudia had somehow appeared behind the Varda-Vaos—the twin swords of the Pan-Dora aiming right for her neck with a brilliant flash.
“Tch!”
The Varda-Vaos leaped away just quickly enough to dodge the blow. For the first time, her face was awash with indignation and rage as she glowered back at her attacker.
“Oh my,” Claudia remarked. “You are fast. I suppose a regular attack won’t suffice.”
“…Impossible. Impossible, impossible, impossible! You can’t have mastered the Pan-Dora’s true powers!”
Minato knew of a type of speed that operated on the level of another dimension. During her training at the Liangshan, Xinglou had moved faster than anything she had ever seen before—and while she had seemed completely invisible to the eye at first, little by little, she had gradually learned to discern her actions.
But even with her well-trained eyes, she hadn’t been able to catch any of Claudia’s movements just now.
Maybe she hadn’t been moving at all. Was it possible that she had shifted instantaneously, as Sylvia had done during her quarterfinal match in the Lindvolus…?
“What was it you said before? That there is no way we could defeat you, even using the Pan-Dora’s clairvoyance? You’re probably right. Even if I exhausted my entire stock of accumulated clairvoyance, I doubt it would be enough against you. But you’re too honest. You didn’t say using the Pan-Dora’s powers. Was that out of respect for your fellow Orga Lux? Or a sense of pride in her abilities? Either way…” Claudia paused there, before flashing the Varda-Vaos an altogether different kind of smile—a sneer. “You know you’re doomed.”
“How dare you…!” the Varda-Vaos roared, almost inarticulate.