“Mt. Fuji Explosion Disaster”

The number of victims in the Kanto area was approximately 100,000, and the total economic damage was approximately 540 billion yen. It was said to be the largest local human (mysterious being) disaster in Japan’s history.

The main culprit, wanted in the world at the SSS level, was the Ark Dominion General, Dragius III.

「At that time, Hinosmera, the Purgatory Mysterious being, was an “executive” of the Ark Dominion.」

Dragius III, the king who presides over the mysterious beings, began to speak quietly.

Ten years ago, Hinosmera, who boasted overwhelming power due to her characteristics of manipulating flames, was referred to alongside Tagaraak as “Ark Dominion’s pride, the flaming sword and the iron shield”.

However, Hinosmera was so overconfident in her own power that she put into action an outrageous plan without considering the safety. It was a ridiculous strategy to “cause Mt. Fuji to erupt and destroy the Japanese archipelago in two”.

「Of course, most of the Ark Dominion, including myself, were repulsed by the plan that would cause so much damage. However, the power of Hinosmera had grown to such an extent that she was able to push through with the plan.」

Hinosmera’s obsession with the Mt. Fuji eruption project was so great that a number of skilled heroes took a stand against her, but they were defeated at every turn.

However, in the final stage of the plan, it was her compatriot Dragius III who punished Hinosmera for attempting to assimilate with Fuji’s magma reservoir.

Dragius sealed Hinosmera and her plan to erupt Mt. Fuji were stopped in its path.

Even so, the damage could not be contained, and the explosion caused by the battle between Dragius and Hinosmera resulted in many casualties. Hinosmera was imprisoned deep underground in the Ark Dominion, and Dragius was stigmatized as the main culprit in the Mt. Fuji Explosion Disaster.

「……This is the truth about the Mt. Fuji explosion disaster」

The truth that Rintaro heard from him was far from the image of the villainous mysterious being that he knew. The reality was that the most heinous cases involving mysterious beings in Japanese history were actually an internal conflict and purges in the evil organizations itself.

「If that is true, then General Dragius is not a mysterious being, but a hero!」

「Fuhahahaha! Is my quality sufficient? The true nature of mysterious beings is neither evil nor good. You know that best.」

Dragius grinned, lifted the edge of his mouth, and placed his wrinkled, dead-tree-like hand on Rintaro’s shoulder. Neither evil nor good. When Rintaro heard those words, he imagined the face of his closest subodinate, who was waiting for him.

He clenched his fists tightly, vowing to bring back Samecchi, who was stolen from him by the purgatory mysterious being Hinosmera.

「It’s Rintaro. This is just my intuition, but the key to this matter is none other than you….. Please save Samecchi, save Hinosmera.」

Rintaro silently gave a small nod and looked back at Dragius’ face. His face looked more like an old man caring for his grandchild than an evil leader.

…………

In Tokyo Station, on the other hand, the early morning was like a bee stinging a hive. Since it was still before dawn, there was not enough manpower to issue evacuation orders. All Shinkansen trains were suspended from departure, and people in Tokyo Station were confusedly following the instructions of the police.

While the police were guiding the evacuation, the heroes, the only deterrent against the mysterious beings, were anxiously waiting inside the defense line.

「Damn!　If we don’t do something, the whole Ginza area will be in ruins!　Why can’t we take the fight to them?」

「Don’t be distracted, newcomer. Protecting the lives of the people is our top priority. And if we stay on the defensive, we have a chance to win, even if we’re not as well coordinated.」

In a defensive position in front of Tokyo Station were countless wounded warriors standing up for justice, as well as several giant robots gathered from all over Japan. These heroes were selected from all over the country to “make up for” the frequent incidents of mysterious beings attacking in the dark.

「And there is only one enemy, right?　There’s no way they would come charging in against all these heroes.」

「Yeah, it’s like coming to die. If they are sane, they’d turn around before they get there.」

As if mocking his words, a huge black pillar of fire rose in a part of the defense line. Immediately after, there was a shock and a roar, and a heat wave enveloped the heroes.

「Gyaaaah! They are charging in!!?」

「It’s different from what they said, isn’t it! Strengthen the defense! Fill in the blanks that were left behind!」

To the panicked defense line, Hinosmera, the Purgatory Mysterious being, walked up to them majestically and slowly.

「Good day, everyone, I’ll be comin’ through for a bit.」

「All personnels, protect!　There are still civilians behind us, don’t let anyone through!」

「Get ready！ Get readyyyyy!!」

The heroes all pointed their guns drawn from their hips, their giant bazookas, and their robotic cannons at the assailants at once. Hinosmera, however, did not seem to be in any particular hurry and extended her palm toward the sky.

「“Musumefusahose(むすめふさほせ)”」

The black flame became a whirlpool at the tip of her palm and turned into the largest sphere they had ever seen. It was like the sun dyed in darkness.

「This is bad, That thing is…… evacuate, evacuaaaate!」

「Don’t retreat, you idiot!　Protect the citizens!」

「No, it’s impossible against that! There’s no way we can handle it!」

Hinosmera lightly waved her hand, and the black sun slowly began to move toward the heroes at a speed that seemed as if it was jogging. Clearly, destruction unmatched by previous reports was approaching the warriors.

「Help me! Motheeeeer!!」

「“Buuuuuurniiiiiiiiing Heeeeeeeaaaaaaat Gloooooveeee”!!!!!」

Immediately after, a bright red flame ray shot out from the side and pierced the center of the black sun. The crying heroes saw the back of a man in a red suit.

「The red light that makes your heart roar, Victor Red!! Thank goodness, it looks like I managed to get here in time!!」

The red mask and the V-sign shining on his chest. Victor Red, a.k.a. Kurenai Retto, a hero among heroes belonging to the Tokyo Headquarters, faced the Hinosmera, the Purgatory Mysterious being.

…………

The sound of multiple engines rumbled in the still dimly lit dawn of Shinagawa.

A total of 30 vehicles, including vans and trailers, depart one after another from the huge underground parking lot known as the dungeon of Tagaden Tower. From the radios attached to each vehicle, a proclamation from General Dragius was heard.

『All personnels, the subject is Samecchi, or rather, Hinosmera, the Purgatory Mysterious being!　Make sure you secure the subject before the Hero Headquarters!』

『Car No. 1 Tagaraak, understood, ja!』

『Car 2 Bearion, copy that!　My arm are itching!』

『My brethren, who use human wisdom to hold a frenzied feast, the North Star has met with friendship and is pointing to his land…』

『Car No. 4 Death Green, copy that.』

With the response from the corps commanders, the “Purgatory Mysterious being Hinosumera with Samechi Siege Operation” was launched, the first such operation since the four executive officers were formed. The naming sense is, as always, the work of their Leader, Dragius III.

『This is Scout One, wan. We’re in pursuit, maintaining a certain distance, wan              . The target is engaging the heroes just before Tokyo Station, wan.』

『This is Scout Two, nyan na. The heroes are Victor Red and many others, nyan na. There are probably about 30 men, there are also robots, nyanzo.』

「wan wan nyan nyan, it’s so noisy. I think we made a mistake in selecting personnels.」

「That’s undeniable, but fresh information is an important weapon. Mayuzumi, don’t neglect mapping.」

Rintaro answered Kirika as she grumbled in the back seat of the van. Minato, sitting in the passenger seat, switched the car navigation system to TV mode and searched for Samecchi’s location from the broadcast video.

「Rintaro, it looks like the heroes are devoting most of their strength to the defense of the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station.」

「…… I guess they’re planning to set up a defensive line and push back south. Even though they are from the Hero Headquarters, they are pretty good, aren’t they?」

The mission has two main points: first, to secure Hinosmera…… before the heroes “dispose” of Samecchi, and second, to neutralize the Hinosmera that had possessed Samecchi.

In order to do the former, scouts and bodyguards have been sent out immediately after Hinosmera’s escape. So far the heroes had been unable to stand against Hinosmera’s flames. However, there was also the information that Victor Red had appeared, so they can’t let their guard down.

「Senpai, why don’t we just let them go at each other and come in when they are worn out?」

「No. As long as she is in Samecchi’s body, I have to avoid a situation where, just in case, the heroes’ side wins.」

And then there is the latter problem, the conundrum of having to separate hinosmera from the Samecchi’s body.

「If we can synchronize with the hero headquarters’ movements and successfully lure her to Tokyo Bay…」

Rintaro drew a map of Tokyo in his mind, thinking fast. At the very least, Rintaro was convinced that the Purgatory Mysterious being Hinosumera’s weak point was water.

It may be naive to think that fire is weak against water, but the time when Samecchi gained power coincides with the time when they became kanadzuchi. Also, when actually confronted, the Hinsumera fearing the water from the sprinklers, ran away.

Water, though not deadly, is a sufficient weakness for Hinosmera. At that moment, something hit the windshield of the van.

「That’s it! Minato, can you switch to weather forecasting?」

「Aah, wait a minute… Rintaro! I see, if this is the case…」

On the screen showing today’s weather, a huge white cloud covering the entire Kanto region was displayed. Rintaro looked up at the sky through the windshield and saw dark, dreary clouds covering the early morning sky.

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<142: Ark Dominion Emergency Assembly
144: The Pinnacle of Heroes>