Circling the rim of the Exclusion Zone proved no small feat; in fact, it was considerably faster and easier to circumvent the Zone from its exterior. That is mostly because of how vastly different the area size inside from the outside, a result of the Zone's ability to warp space and defy reality itself.
Chitose refrained from carrying her phone or a watch, as the unconscious discharge of electricity she did during the trip tended to wreak havoc on most electronics. Nevertheless, she could estimate that her journey had consumed nearly two hours. In contrast, a complete round trip from the area outside the Zone would typically take her no more than half an hour.
This very trip still took a toll on her despite her using her family signature form that enhanced her physical ability and magic prowess. From the bottom of her heart, it still irritated her even slightly.
While walking toward the main gate to finish her circuit, Chitose began the process of undoing her magical transformation. The dense magical energy that had encased her gradually withdrew, allowing mud and dirt to adhere to her boots once more. Her waist-length white hair also reverted to its original silky black hue, though its length stubbornly refused to return to its prior neck-length cut. The only drawback she had whenever she accessed this form.
Still, the notion of Adrian braiding and tending to her long hair never failed to elicit an unladylike grin that spread across her face.
However, she swiftly pushed that thought aside, massaging her cheeks to dispel the wide grin. It wouldn't do any good for her image if someone other than her close relatives caught her in this state.
And just like that, someone actually approached her from the direction of the Sacred Crater main entrance.
"Tomoya," Chitose said to the adult man approaching her, displeasure evident in both her voice and scrutinized face.
"That won't do, Young Mistress Kamishiro. You should show more respect to your elders," he replied, drawing even closer to her with each step he took.
"Aren't you the one who keeps emphasizing that respect is earned, not given? Out of all people, you should understand why you've lost mine. Then again, what are you doing here, Head Security Chief? Shouldn't you be with your group at the main gate?"
"I sense immense mana coming, and here I thought it came from a beast," he said, eyeing his unholstered handgun.
She met his gaze with blatant animosity, her eyes narrowing. "I could become one if you push me."
"You don't have to be that aggressive, Young Mistress," he replied, his tone tinged with exasperation. "What would that boy say if he sees you like this?"
"He'll be the first to throw a hand at you," she said, smirking at the thought, her lips lifting slightly upward. Her faint smile ceased abruptly as she continued, "And don't bring him up for your convenience. You didn't give him enough respect yourself."
The man harrumphed. "I've given more than enough respect that plebeian deserves. If not for his merits outweighing the discord he brings to the family, we would've discarded him a long time ago."
"That plebeian happens to be the next heir of the main family. In case you failed to comprehend, that means he is your superior." Chitose remarked, giving him a sharp look before adding, "and you discarding him? Ha! Don't make me laugh. He defeated, nay, trashed a God—your God."
The man decided not to take another step closer. He had no intention of risking his life just to approach his interlocutor.
"And in doing so, he shattered the bonds we've held for generations, bonds born of collective sorrows and losses. Now, the others are no longer hesitant to assume the role of the main family, since they need not sacrifice their daughters any longer." The man, in an On-site Headquarter security uniform, circled around her, maintaining a cautious distance. ""The race for the head position has begun, and it's your descendants who will bear the brunt of it."
Chitose knew all too well. Her father had drawn the short end of the stick and had been forced to take the mantle of the next main family, a role that came at the cost of her life. The only other girl in her generation had already had her aunt selected as a sacrifice beforehand, and they vehemently refused to subject another to such a fate in such a short span.
Now, without the need to sacrifice their daughter, members of the other families will undoubtedly start moving to wrestle the power. Her dominion is strong for now, but after Adrian's passing in the future, it's a free for all.
"It seems you've forgotten," said Chitose, her fingers deftly tying her hair back with a rubber band she had prepared. "I am from the current main family."
Her opponent fell silent, a mixture of curiosity and confusion evident in his expression.
"That means I have access to classified records. And you should be aware that, even with that bond you are proud of, the family has done many despicable acts towards each other in pursuit of power or even leverage to control the main family."
He struggled to form a response, wanting to refute her but finding the words caught in his throat. This conversation had turned to the worse direction for him, he opted to silent than dug himself deeper at this point.
"Taiyou harbor incident, Minamoto's fall, and the Crownley standoff, just to name a few," Chitose said, ticking them off on her fingers.
The man could only grit his teeth in response, all of the incidents Chitose had mentioned happened during his family reigns, and all of them still had debilitating consequences that still felt to this very day.
Chitose began walking away from the man. "I understand you want to make other families feel the same sorrow and loss your family had experienced," she said, her voice firm. "I do think what happened to your grandmothers was cruel, but you should've known we didn't have any options back then." She glanced at him over her shoulder, her eyes resolute. "That's why I put an end to this, I will be the last sacrificial priestess ever recorded."
Mana gathered on her feet, a magic circle formed below her soles. Its blue shine was obscured by the dirty water, the runes on the circle were barely visible. With a powerful jump powered by the magic, she propelled herself high into the sky, ascending above even the tallest trees in the vicinity.
While airborne, she watched in awe as the overcast clouds abruptly dispersed, pushed away from the center of the Exclusion Zone like a blanket pulled off a bed. The clearing revealed the night sky, adorned with an uncountable multitude of stars.
Numerous streaks of light radiated brightly, each branching from the epicenter of the Zone. They danced across the clear sky, their movements like a celestial ballet, transforming the hues of the night with every graceful arc.
It was all nothing short of mesmerizing.
"He did it," she said under her breath.
This was a sign that the second Guardian had fallen —the path to the heart of the Exclusion Zone had opened. Now, only the last Guardian and the Protectorate stood between Adrian and the Core.
Chitose offered a silent prayer, hoping that Adrian's next encounter would bring no unpleasant surprises. Facing a newly discovered Guardian in its empowered form was challenging enough, and she wished it would be the worst thing he would face that day. While Chitose had never seen Adrian emerge from a battle with more than bruises, her worry for his well-being persisted. The uncertainties of the future weighed heavily on her heart.
Chitose couldn't help but break into a sly smirk at his endeavor. Even against a month-old Guardian with scant information available, he managed to traverse the layers with the same skill and speed he always displayed. This was the same creature that had never been bested by anyone other than Adrian himself. While it was only a matter of time until someone discovered its weakness and overcame it, for now, including this attempt, it had been defeated just twice, both times at Adrian's hands.
She chuckled softly under the wind's breath. "Right, he is doing his best."
Chitose felt her heart quicken its pace, each beat in sync with the surge of mana enveloping her entire being. The rubber band holding her long, black hair snapped, and her flowing tresses unraveled under a gust of wind. They underwent a rapid transformation, turning from ebony to a pristine white, starting from the roots and extending to the very tips until every strand gleamed with brilliance.
With resounding splashes, she landed in the muddy watery surface, her aura blazing even more brilliantly. Not a speck of dirt or mud dared to cling to her, and sparks of electricity rippled throughout her body. She leaned her body forward, ready for another run.
"I'll have to do my best too."
***
'How bothersome,' Adrian thought as he munched on another meat bun freshly picked from Chitose's room.
The fight was more of Adrian throwing random spells at the giant, hoping to accidentally find its weakness and finish the fight as quickly as he can. But really, the titan was really hard to crack. It was evident that a more sophisticated strategy was required to swiftly defeat the creature, a solution that still eluded him.
With one hand holding a half-eaten meat bun, he used his other hand to retrieve his phone through a dimensional rupture. Checking the time, he noted that it was already past eight. Calculating from the clock, the entire skirmish had lasted approximately half an hour. This was nearly double the time he had needed to best the thunder-clad tortoise. Even the recorded times he had for both the last Guardian and the Protectorate aren't this long each.
It was getting far too late, and Adrian hadn't even eaten dinner yet. Skipping a meal, any meal, was a surefire way to invite health problems the next day, at least in his case. His past experiences had taught him that lesson well. Fortunately, he had these buns he had bought earlier; they would suffice for the time being.
As he considered his own dinner, he couldn't help but think about Chitose. Chitose also hasn't eaten tonight.
Taking another bite of the bun, Adrian tried to reassure himself that Chitose would be just fine. After all, she had eaten half a dozen meat buns this evening, while he had only consumed four, including those he had earlier in the afternoon. With that amount, waiting an hour or two before dinner shouldn't pose any problem
But, is she?
Feeling less sure now, Adrian decided to reach out to Chitose through the Seeps. It would bring him peace of mind to get a direct answer from her. If she did need a meal, the least he could do for now was to offer her whatever she had at her own residence.
He really did crave a takeout, the thought of a full fried chicken combo meal was tantalizing at this moment. Yet, with the third phase of the Zone triggered, most radio-based communication had been severed. His only way to converse with someone outside was by teleporting to the destination. However, that came with the risk of the Zone maliciously resetting his progress, and he had no intention of starting from square one when he was already this deep.
"Better hurry then," he muttered, finishing the buns with one big, inappropriate bite.
With a leap, he propelled himself from the cold body of the titan he had just defeated. After returning his phone to its place through the dimensional rupture, he resumed his flight toward the center of the Exclusion Zone, his stomach now sated.
"Hmm, maybe another bun would do."
