Innocence Seekers: April Light/Chapter 3/Episode 46
This is the twenty-second episode, "Red versus White" (赤隊対白隊), of the third chapter of Innocence Seekers: April Light.
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Episode text
"A week has passed since we retrieved the World Orbs and repaired the fire-elemental orb. Mira headed off to Erelia's Netherworld to help the others repel the Donsilan invasion. As for me... well... I was stuck on Fuenod..."
After school, the girls got together in the classroom.
–Uzuki: Everyone, how did you go in the tests?
–Aoi: Quite well, as usual. Of course, Wakaba managed to get top spot again.
–Wakaba: Tehehe...
–Benio: If I hadn't got that particular question wrong, I could've...
–Wakaba: Well, tough luck. But you'll never beat me.
–Benio: You...
–Aoi: Benio, stop that!
–Uzuki: Ah, I guess Benio was second again.
–Aoi: Of course. She was just one point below Wakaba's total score.
–Uzuki: Well, maybe I should show you my results.
Uzuki placed her marked tests on her desk. The other girls gathered around to see.
–Eun-Yeong: Wow... those scores are really high...
–Wakaba: Let's see... wait, Uzuki, you're also tied for second!
–Uzuki: Eh?
–Eun-Yeong: Do you four compete for test scores or something?
–Benio: Well, I've been trying to beat Wakaba for the past year or two. But this is the closest I've come so far.
–Wakaba: However, Uzuki usually has the lowest total score out of us four. It seems a bit weird that she's five points ahead of Aoi this time around.
Eun-Yeong looked at her own marked tests.
–Wakaba: Anyway, Eun-Yeong, what did you get?
–Eun-Yeong: Me? Well... I could never beat you four...
–Benio: Come on, tell us.
–Eun-Yeong: If you insist. My total is 453.
–Aoi: 453? That is still quite high, you know. We're kind of outliers given our 490-plus scores.
–Eun-Yeong: Anyway, what do you think Tamaki got?
–Uzuki: She probably got 500 again. After all, she does have that Inherent Ability.
–Eun-Yeong: With that Inherent Ability, I'm kind of surprised she hasn't completed high school yet.
–Uzuki: Well, she's also an integral member of the Mimori Flower Club, and she has refused all offers to skip grades.
Nakawa entered the classroom, alongside Tamaki.
–Nakawa: Miyana-san, everyone, we need to speak.
–Uzuki: What is it, Nakawa-sensei?
In the staff room:
–Nakawa: I'm sure you're all aware of this, but today is your last day at this school.
–Uzuki: That we understand. We'd like to thank you for this time.
–Nakawa: No worries. Anyway, Miyana-san, your sister told me that you and your friends must leave immediately.
–Uzuki: What did she mean by that?
–Nakawa: It's a joint assignment by the Zodiac Warriors and Puella. You are to head to West Pimbia.
–Aoi: West Pimbia? If I recall, there was a Portal Monolith there.
–Uzuki: So, we're supposed to use that Portal Monolith?
–Nakawa: I do not know any more about this assignment. You'll see when you arrive there.
–Uzuki: Ah, I see. Anyway, I think we should get going now.
–Nakawa: Hold on. Eun-Yeong, you asked about joining the girls in their quest, right?
–Eun-Yeong: Ah, that's right.
–Nakawa: Well, I asked your parents and they said that they're fine with you going. I've already informed Puella that you will be accompanying Miyana-san, so you can go with them right now.
–Eun-Yeong: Ah, thanks.
Uzuki got up from her seat.
–Uzuki: Well, let's go, everyone!
–Everyone: Right!
The girls exited the staff room and headed out of the building. They saw a car in front of the school gate. Waiting outside was Hiyori.
–Uzuki: Ah, Hiyorin!
–Hiyori: Uzuki!
–Uzuki: But why are you here?
–Hiyori: Well, my mother will take you to the airport, and from there we will head to West Pimbia.
–Aoi: Wait, isn't it a bit too soon? I mean, we only just left school.
–Hiyori: Well, of course we'll take you back home to change.
–Eun-Yeong: Um, Hiyori...
–Hiyori: I know already. Yayoi told me. But are you sure you want to travel alongside Uzuki?
–Eun-Yeong: I'm sure. I might not be as powerful as the other girls, but I want to prove to myself that I can be of use to everyone.
–Hiyori: Eun-Yeong, I'm sure you can be of use to everyone. After all, what matters is not how powerful you are, but how strong your conviction is. Anyway, Uzuki, shall we go?
–Uzuki: Ah, we should.
–Hiyori: Well, everyone, hop on.
The girls entered the car.
Just outside the Miyana residence, Uzuki and Eun-Yeong were sitting in front of the house. While the two were waiting, Uzuki was kicking her legs, sending bits of snow that had built up from a recent storm up into the air. Some of the snowflakes made contact with Eun-Yeong's bare leg, causing her to react.
–Eun-Yeong: Uzuki, could you not kick the snow?
–Uzuki: Ah, sorry.
–Eun-Yeong: Still, it doesn't snow as much in Tokyo, right?
–Uzuki: That's right. We probably only get a few days of snow every winter, unlike here.
–Eun-Yeong: Anyway, I noticed that Wakaba and Benio were able to speak the Namari language fluently. That wasn't something I expected from children who've been raised entirely in Japan.
–Uzuki: That's true, but they do have ties to Namari. After all, Benio is one of Akari's cousins.
–Eun-Yeong: And what about Wakaba?
–Uzuki: Well, she's a granddaughter of one of the co-founders of Harumi Computing.
–Eun-Yeong: Wait, this is the first time I've heard of it. Sure, she has the same surname, but...
In the distance, Uzuki saw Wakaba running towards the two girls.
–Uzuki: Ah, she's here.
Wakaba caught up with the two.
–Wakaba: Ah, what were you talking about?
–Eun-Yeong: Well, I was curious as to why you're able to speak Namari fluently.
–Wakaba: That? Well... I was wondering why my mother taught me a strange language, but then I met Uzuki, who also spoke the same language.
–Eun-Yeong: And do you speak to Benio in the language as well?
–Wakaba: Well, of course. Also, it took a while for Aoi to get a hang of it, but she can understand it pretty well.
–Eun-Yeong: I see. Anyway, don't the people back home comment about you speaking 'in dialect'?
–Uzuki: It isn't a problem. The teachers at Mimori are quite tolerant of students speaking something other than Japanese.
–Eun-Yeong: And Wakaba, are you really one of the granddaughters of one of the co-founders of Harumi Computing?
–Wakaba: You didn't know? Although, the Harumi name and interest in technology do go hand-in-hand. Aside from my grandfather's interest in computers, my mother works with the integration of technology with magic, among other things, and my older sister is a budding magic device technician. As for me, well, I'm planning to follow in my grandfather's footsteps.
–Uzuki: Anyway, Aocchi and Benio should be coming by now...
Just as Uzuki spoke, the car pulled up to the residence.
–Eun-Yeong: Ah, I guess we should get going.
–Uzuki: Yes.
The three girls entered the car.
"From here we headed to the airport, to take a plane to Widberg. There, a helicopter was waiting for us, and that helicopter took us to the location of the air-elemental World Orb in West Pimbia. Now, it's just a matter of finding the Portal Monolith. Mira said that she used it to head to Erelia's Netherworld, and Erelia herself confirmed that it was active, so now we must look for it.
"Everyone, we're coming."
In West Pimbia, Uzuki and the others were traveling through the snowy forest to find the Portal Monolith.
–Benio: Uzuki, do you have any idea where this Portal Monolith is?
–Uzuki: It has to be here somewhere...
–Aoi: Uzuki, that's not really reassuring...
–Uzuki: Well, Tama-chan and Miporin said that they found it around here on their way.
–Eun-Yeong: Uzuki, leave it to me.
–Uzuki: Eh? Eun-Yeong, what do you have in mind?
–Wakaba: You're not just going to point in a random direction, are you?
–Eun-Yeong: Oh, please, I'm not going to do that. Anyway, I figured this is the best time to reveal my Inherent Ability.
–Aoi: Your Inherent Ability?
–Uzuki: Eun-Yeong's Inherent Ability is Heavenly Fabric, and it allows her to sense and manipulate force fields, including gravity. If I recall, Portal Monoliths actually have a wormhole inside, and are also surrounded by a powerful mana field, so it should be easy for her to sense one.
–Wakaba: But inactive ones wouldn't have a mana field, right? Although it will still have the wormhole...
–Eun-Yeong: You're right, but Uzuki said that it should be active. Anyway, here goes...
Eun-Yeong began to cast a spell, and a cyan magic circle appeared beneath her feet.
–Eun-Yeong: From what I'm sensing, we're right on top of it.
–Uzuki: So that means we have to dig?
–Benio: There has to be a way in somewhere around here.
–Eun-Yeong: There is; just follow me.
–Aoi: Ah, right.
–Benio: Wait, how were you able to find the entrance? It doesn't emit any force fields or anything like that.
–Wakaba: Benio, this might go over your head, but every interaction in this universe is governed by force fields; in fact, when you get to small enough distances, no interaction involves touching. You'll learn more about it in high school.
–Benio: Ah... okay, whatever you say.
–Eun-Yeong: Anyway, let's go.
–Uzuki: Right.
The girls followed Eun-Yeong to what appeared to be a hole in the ground.
–Wakaba: So this is the entrance...
Benio jumped in.
–Wakaba: W-Wait! We don't know what's down there!
–Aoi: It'll be alright, Wakaba. Come on.
The rest of the girls jumped in.
The girls approached the Portal Monolith, which was bathed in a cyan glow.
–Uzuki: So this is it... is everyone ready?
–Wakaba: We are.
–Uzuki: Alright, then...
Uzuki held her hand up to the Portal Monolith, and began to cast a spell. A yellow magic circle appeared in front of her hand, and the Portal Monolith responded with a flash of cyan light.
–Benio: Is this...
–Uzuki: Everyone, let's go.
Uzuki walked into the light and disappeared. The others followed her.
When the glow died down, the girls found themselves on a snowy field.
–Wakaba: Is this Erelia's Netherworld?
–Uzuki: Looks like it. However...
Uzuki noticed several demons running towards the girls.
–Uzuki: It looks like we have some company.
The demons stopped right in front of the girls, out of breath.
–Demon A: Y-You gotta help us! The Donsilans... no, the Whites... they've decimated us!
–Uzuki: Wait, what's going on here?
–Demon B: Well, those Donsilans, they just appeared out of nowhere and launched an attack on our settlement. We've lived under Sugrum's protection for centuries, but this is far beyond the capabilities of any Overlord.
–Uzuki: Got it. How many of you are left?
–Demon A: We still have around 10,000. But the enemy numbers in the hundreds of thousands.
–Aoi: So we're grossly outnumbered... I think I have an idea.
–Eun-Yeong: Aoi, what do you have in mind?
–Aoi: I sense a second, separate force arriving here. A preliminary analysis of their mana signatures suggests that they might be allies.
–Wakaba: So, you're saying that we should hold off the enemy until they arrive?
–Aoi: Unfortunately, there's no other way. But I sense an unusually high concentration of background mana, so if we act soon, we may be able to exploit that.
–Demon C: So you're suggesting that we fight back?
–Uzuki: Aocchi... is that really a good idea?
–Aoi: Eh?
–Demon B: The young lady is right, you know. It'd be suicide for us to attack them now.
–Demon A: However, we have no option to retreat. We're kind of backed into a corner.
–Uzuki: I see. I have a better idea. You bolster your defences and prepare for a siege. I will take them on.
–Demon B: Wait, are you crazy? Are you really going to take all of them on alone?
–Uzuki: No. I have my friends. We will hold them off until reinforcements arrive.
–Demon A: Understood.
–Benio: I've been thinking, why did you come to us? We're humans; what did you expect from us?
–Demon C: Perhaps, but we know power when we see it. You girls are quite powerful.
–Uzuki: Anyway, let's go. Eun-Yeong, do you know where the enemy is?
–Eun-Yeong: I believe they are gathering in the south.
–Uzuki: Okay, then. Follow me, everyone!
The girls took flight and headed south.
In the distance, the girls saw the Donsilan army. They were in awe at the sheer size of the army.
–Wakaba: Is that... no way... there are so many of them...
–Aoi: Wakaba, let us begin.
–Wakaba: Okay. Just follow the plan, right?
–Aoi: That's right.
Wakaba transformed her weapon into its twin cannon form. She aimed her weapon at the army, and began to cast a spell. A green magic circle appeared beneath her feet, and a pair of massive green orbs appeared in front of her.
–Wakaba: Secret Skill, Blast Calamity!
The two orbs were launched straight towards the army. Although they tried to shoot the orbs down, the orbs were relatively unscathed when they hit the army, knocking out thousands of enemy soldiers and countless artillery pieces. Suddenly, the army started shooting magic bullets at the girls. Benio put up a barrier to defend the group against the barrage, while Aoi entered Full Burst mode.
–Aoi: Bloom, my flower.
After the flash of blue light, Aoi drifted in front of the barrier and held out her left hand. Mana began to gather into the flower bud on her hand.
–Uzuki: Wakaba, keep attacking!
–Wakaba: Ah, right.
Wakaba sent more magic orbs toward the army, and each time they impacted they dealt hundreds in additional casualties.
–Uzuki: Bloom, my flower!
With a flash of yellow light, Uzuki entered Full Burst mode. She began to cast a spell, and a massive yellow magic circle appeared beneath her feet.
–Eun-Yeong: Uzuki, what are you...
–Uzuki: Just see.
Uzuki pointed her sword at the army, and muttered a short incantation. After completing the incantation, she announced her attack.
–Uzuki: Full Burst Skill, Lunar Lightning!
Almost on cue, a massive flash of light appeared right where the army was. This was accompanied by a massive thunderclap, and the light evolved into a mushroom cloud. When the cloud dissipated, half of the army was wiped out.
–Eun-Yeong: You know... I think we can actually defeat this army.
–Benio: No... we shouldn't underestimate them.
A red magic circle appeared beneath Benio's feet, and a massive fireball appeared in front of her.
–Benio: Secret Skill, Blast Calamity!
Benio sent the fireball at what remained of the army, knocking out around three thousand more. She continued her barrage as Wakaba stopped her attacks due to a lack of mana.
–Eun-Yeong: Ah, Wakaba, are you okay?
–Wakaba: I'm fine.
–Eun-Yeong: Well, it's my turn now.
A cyan magic circle appeared beneath Eun-Yeong's feet. Several cyan orbs appeared above the army. After expanding, they sent a massive barrage of metal rods toward the army, taking out another few thousand soldiers.
–Uzuki: Aoi, are you ready?
Benio stopped her attacks.
–Aoi: I am. Back away, everyone!
The other girls backed away. Aoi began to cast a spell, and a massive blue magic circle appeared beneath her feet. A massive ball of water appeared in front of her, and the flower bud on her left hand began to open.
–Eun-Yeong: Is that...
–Uzuki: Aoi's Inherent Ability, Blossom of Ruin. It allows her to absorb mana passively, and gathers it into a powerful attack.
–Wakaba: But this is the first time I've seen her use water instead of ice.
–Uzuki: Me too, but... this time...
–Eun-Yeong: Uzuki?
Aoi closed her eyes and focused. As Benio's barrier began to fail, she grasped her spear in her right hand. At the right moment, she took aim at the army, and poked the massive ball of water.
–Aoi: Secret Skill, Blast Calamity!
–Wakaba & Benio: Ehh?!
The massive ball of water was sent straight towards the army. Upon impact, it decimated the army, leaving only around 15,000 soldiers left. Almost on cue, another army arrived from the west. Uzuki looked towards the second army and noticed that Aria was leading the army.
–Uzuki: They're here! Aria and the others!
–Eun-Yeong: Thank goodness...
–Uzuki: And it looks like they have around 30,000 with them.
The incoming army almost immediately began to attack the army the girls were fighting, diverting their attention. Meanwhile, Aria and Melody flew straight towards Uzuki and the other girls.
–Aria: Uzuki! You're finally here.
–Uzuki: Aria... Melody... where are the others?
–Melody: Kanade is back on the Spica, currently coordinating the space battle with the rest of the Red forces. Lyra and Mira headed to the Overlord's Castle along with Erelia.
–Aria: Ah, that reminds me. Uzuki, you need to head to the Overlord's Castle as quickly as you can.
–Uzuki: Eh? But what about this battle?
–Melody: We'll take care of it. Uzuki, you and your friends must go now. Also, Tamaki and Miho are heading to the castle as well.
–Uzuki: Ah, I see. Anyway, where is the Overlord's Castle? Suddenly, a witch space portal appeared beside the girls. Out of it emerged a young girl, dressed in green and with green hair.
–Wakaba: Ah, and who are you?
–Girl: Ah, I'm a witch by blood. The name's Menoroa.
–Wakaba: Menoroa? Are you going to take us to the Overlord's Castle?
–Menoroa: Erelia ordered me to.
–Uzuki: Ah, so she wants us there. Anyway, let's go, everyone.
–Menoroa: Ah, okay. Everyone, come with me.
Menoroa entered her witch space, and the other girls followed, leaving only Aria and Melody behind.
Meanwhile, on board the Spica, Kanade was observing the progress of the battle on the displays. The two fleets began at around 2,000 ships each, and the battle had only just begun.
Suddenly, an emergency warning appeared on one of the displays. Kanade inspected it, and opened a communication channel.
–Admiral: This is the Deviant, please state the situation.
–Kanade: I've just received information of an exceptionally powerful entity having been sent to the surface around 20 kilometres from the Overlord's Castle.
–Admiral: I see. Kanade, who is in charge of protecting the castle?
–Kanade: I believe that Lyra and Mira are responsible for that area. Also, I've been informed that reinforcements are heading there right now.
–Admiral: Kanade... I know you want to head to the surface to help, but we need you here to help with this battle.
–Kanade: That I understand. I won't abandon you. But...
–Admiral: By the way, do you have any information with regards to Alcea's whereabouts?
–Kanade: Unfortunately, no. All I know is that she's not on the Netherworld.
–Admiral: Is that so... I hope she does not interfere this time...
–Kanade: Anyway, let us focus on the task at hand.
–Admiral: Right.
The communication channel closed. Kanade took out her pendant.
–Kanade: I've been wondering... just why do I have this pendant? And for how long? My memories... who was that person?
Lyra and Mira were flying over the forest at speed, trying to reach the Overlord's Castle as quickly as they could.
–Lyra: Ah.
–Mira: Lyra, what is it?
–Lyra: Ah, Uzuki and the others have arrived. They're heading to the Overlord's Castle as we speak.
–Mira: I hope they can get there in time. I sense a powerful being.
–Lyra: Mira, what is currently there?
Mira took out her pendant and focused on it. A massive orange orb appeared in front of the pair.
–Lyra: What is that?
–Mira: A snapshot of the wheel of fate. That is the adversary near the Overlord's Castle, and I see no endpoint.
–Lyra: No endpoint? Then, you mean, we can't defeat it?
–Mira: The future isn't set in stone, so we can't say it's impossible to defeat it. But we need a lot of things to go our way if we are to win. In other words, we must bring about a miracle.
–Lyra: I see. Well, I hope we can pull through.
The orange orb disappeared.
–Mira: Anyway, we need to go faster. Lyra, hold on to my hand.
–Lyra: Ah, right!
Lyra took hold of Mira's hand. Mira began to cast a spell, and a pink magic circle appeared behind her. Suddenly, the pair sped up extremely quickly, so quickly that they were now traveling at supersonic speeds.
–Lyra: <Ah!>
–Mira: <Lyra, bear with it. Oh, and don't try to speak right now.>
–Lyra: <Ah, okay.>
The pair sped into the distance.
End of Episode 46