Quldald of the Whirlwind, having ceded Nayuta to his comrade, brought his keep upon eastern Shikoku. Looming above the ocean, a mirage in the sky, his citadel of cyclones overlooked a city called Tokushima by the locals, the capital of a prefecture by the same name. The archmage gazed out, scanning the enemy territory, when he noticed something.
“Ah, is that a stronghold I spy?”
The Defense Force’s Camp Tokushima was located just by the coast, though the long campaign had left the bastion a far cry from Quldald’s own. Still, it was clear at a glance that the base was still occupied.
Thus, Quldald decided to indulge in his whimsy.
With a detachment of just a few of his Anomalies, the archmage took to the field personally. His heart was simply aflutter with thoughts of the black and gold warrior. For it was he who was indeed more fit to do battle with the great hero. Scullchance was no more, and it would soon be time for a vengeful reunion. This little distraction was but an appetizer for the main course to come.
“How disappointing,” he sighed. “It seems I chose my opponents prematurely. Perhaps they needed some time yet to mature.”
Camp Tokushima was already in flames. It was a sea of fire as far as the eye could see. Quldald found himself less than satisfied but told himself not to blame the locals for his inability to stay his hand.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a flash of white streaking its way towards him from the northeast. Almost like a shooting star.
“Oh?”
When the shining entity stopped before him, the light faded to reveal a noticeably short and young boy. He was smaller in stature than even the black and gold warrior, and his hair was pure white. He wore typical garb, customary for the locals—a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans. The cloth he’d cloaked over himself was worn and tattered. His eyes were sunken, dead.
But all of this was secondary to what drew Quldald’s eyes first—a red scarf around the boy’s neck.
“Hello, Earth boy,” he greeted. “Tell me, why do you wield the Shroud?”
“Why the hell do you think?” the boy snapped. “I’m Devicer Seven. That’s why.”
“Well now! And what brings you before me?”
“Same reason it always is.” He stared deep. “To kill you, archmage.”
The features in his complexion appeared more defined than those of many of the Japanese Quldald had come across. And yet he spoke the local tongue fluently. What was more, the boy could seemingly fly through the air, and his eyes—they carried a darkness too deep for a boy as young as the soprano tenor of his voice betrayed.
The Chosen Dharva rejoiced. Another chance meeting for another chance experience. Simply splendid.
✦ ✦ ✦
| STANDARD DROIDS VS THE PANDEMONIUM SERIES |
Natsuki: It’s pretty nice having so many droids around Nayuta.
Yu: They seem a little different from the Asura Frame’s, though.
Ein: I should hope so. The Asura’s Pandemonium swarm may be of similar construction, but they are one with the mad god itself.
Aliya: When they’re hosted by the Asura Frame, they receive power and energy from it directly, so they really are sort of like miniature projections of it. We’re not talking just hyper-advanced drone technology—this is sci-fi territory.
Ijuin: I don’t know any UAV that could fly like a plane with an actual pilot, after all.
Aliya: Actually, at least in terms of close combat, manned craft tend to be at a disadvantage against the speed and instincts of beast-type Anomalies.
| WILD GAME |
Ijuin: Remember those pheasants? Honestly, if you hadn’t told me what it was, I woulda assumed chicken.
Yu: They are sorta like free-range poultry, and they’re not very gamy.
Ijuin: Deer’s good too, but still kinda lacking, y’know?
Yu: I like the simple taste of red meat. Especially when it’s nice and lean.
Ijuin: You fool! You fatless fool! I’m dyin’ for some pork or beef! The good stuff! I want it to DRIP with fat!
Natsuki: Ha! Good luck finding either of those in the wild in Japan!
Aliya: We could find boar at Awaji Island or back on the mainland. And it’s possible some farm pigs might have escaped and gone feral.
Yu: There’s definitely a market for whoever wants to go fetch some and start up a ranch again.
Ein: I hear sheep are more suited to domestication. They’re docile, have many children, and most of all, they’re delicious.
Ijuin: You don’t find too much of that kinda meat in Japan. But man, mutton curry and lamb chops sound sooo good!
| WEAPONS IN NAYUTA |
Natsuki: So everyone in the city gets a weapon, but what’s with all the Russian guns?
Ijuin: They’re more user-friendly than Japanese makes, and easier to build. Countries all around the world copy their models. Anyone with the right tools could make ’em. As long as you’re not too worried about quality, that is.
Aliya: Nayuta’s primary concern is with Asura Frame development, not conventional weaponry. So as far as firearms are concerned, they prioritized mass-producibility and efficiency.
Yu: Ironically, that’s exactly why we came here, huh?
Ein: I hear that the war on Russia’s Eastern Front has sent no small amount of their people and resources to the settlement, seeking refuge.