-1183- Not your turn to intervene

"Boom!"

In the cold sanctuary, the tricolored and rainbow-colored swords clashed, creating shockwaves akin to explosive gusts. As the impact reverberated, it blew away surrounding dust, filling the air with sand particles.

"What?"

"Ugh..."

Both Tokoyogi Yuma and No. 6 were taken aback.

"This is..."

"Whoa..."

Even Akatsuki Kojou and Avrora Florestina widened their eyes in astonishment.

Where everyone's gaze fell, a white girl silently appeared behind the armchair where Natsuki was seated.

Her pure white veil fluttered in the breeze, revealing healthy brown skin and ruby-like eyes fixed steadily on the towering Valkyrie in front of her. Despite facing a much larger opponent, the girl remained composed, gripping the tricolored sword firmly to meet the giant rainbow sword head-on.

"Altera..."

Seeing this scene, Rozen muttered the girl's name softly.

The one who intercepted No. 6's beast vassal was indeed Altera.

"Step aside."

Altera declared in a chillingly cold voice.

"The dreams of this girl are not to be disturbed by you."

With that statement, Altera's sword of the war god transformed instantly into a rainbow-like whip, soaring upward at remarkable speed, slashing ahead.

"Splurt!"

The rainbow whip cleanly bisected the unresponsive Valkyrie, slicing her in half at the waist, causing her to disintegrate into pure magical energy and vanish.

"This...!"

Tokoyogi Yuma was dumbfounded.

"To think she could cut through my beast vassal with just a single swing...!?"

No. 6 was equally shocked.

However, this was not something worth being surprised about.

With Altera's abilities, simply adding a bit of destructive force to her sword would render any beast vassal defenseless against her strikes.

Not to mention Tokoyogi Yuuma, even if she knew that Altera had destroyed nine beast vassals summoned by the original half a year ago at the Blazing Banquet, she wouldn't be so surprised.

However...

"Altera, you..."

Rozen stared at Altera in bewilderment.

Because Altera didn't materialize to counter No. 6's beast vassal upon Rozen's command but acted on her own initiative.

This was something unprecedented.

In the past, Altera never took action without Rozen's orders, silently maintaining her spiritual form and merely accompanying Rozen.

This time, Altera appeared on her own and intercepted No. 6's beast vassal, something Rozen hadn't anticipated.

But...

"Is that girl's dream so unbearable that it had reached the point that it needs to be awakened?"

Altera didn't look at Rozen but faced Tokoyogi Yuuma and No. 6, her expression unreadable as she spoke.

What Altera wanted to convey, Rozen could easily guess.

"For that girl, the dreams she's had in these ten years must have been very happy."

Altera spoke with an effortlessly convincing tone, emphasizing each word.

"For her, as long as she can continue to live with you on this island, these dreams, no matter how long they last, are happiness itself."

Altera affirmed this point.

Or rather, only Altera could be so certain.

After all...

"People only dream voluntarily for one reason, seeking happiness, and no other."

Altera, the destroyer of worlds, aggressor of civilizations, enemy of life, and the end of humanity, was such an existence.

But as the true giant god Altera, she, like Natsuki, sealed herself in a stone chamber, creating avatars to send to the surface to experience a happy life in the form of dreams.

Therefore, Altera was the most qualified person to speak such words.

"Her dream undoubtedly involves more than just keeping herself asleep to imprison sinners; it also includes this small happiness that allows her to continue dreaming peacefully, regardless of anything."

Altera stated firmly in front of Rozen and everyone present.

"In that case, no one has the right to awaken her."

Altera's voice, cold as a war god, carried emotions only at this moment.

Those emotions were both sympathy and pity.

Directed towards Natsuki, but also towards herself.

Therefore, Altera took the initiative.

"Who are you?"

Tokoyogi Yuuma questioned, her expression somewhat uncertain.

For Tokoyogi Yuuma, this unexpected guest could only be an enemy, with no other possible identity. However, the fact that the stranger possessed the power to fend off the Beast Vassal of the Fourth Primogenitor with just a swing made her inevitably suspicious and wary.

It should be said that, among those present, aside from Avrora, who had seen Altera before, no one should be free from doubt upon Altera's sudden appearance, right?

Only Rozen, looking at Altera's back, displayed a face filled with complex emotions.

In that instant, Rozen remembered the dreams he had been having.

One was a happy dream.

The other, a sad one.

The happy dream depicted a white girl galloping across the grasslands.

The sad dream portrayed a white giant ravaging the land.

Both dreams belonged to the girl before him.

Even now, the girl standing before him was merely the giant god Altera dreaming.

If that were the case, dreams must be something incredibly important to Altera, right?

However...

"No matter what kind of dream it is, there will come a day when it will be awakened."

Rozen's low whisper reached Altera's ears.

"...,"

Altera remained silent.

Due to the fact that Rozen was facing away, he couldn't see Altera's current expression.

But...

"Even if it's a dream that will eventually awaken, there's no reason to entrust its awakening to others."

Rozen took a deep breath, calming the turmoil in his heart.

In that moment, Rozen made his decision.

"Even if it comes to awakening, that's my responsibility. It's not your turn to intervene."

Rozen's tone became incredibly calm.

Like the calm before the storm, it filled others with dread.

"As expected, you are still going to obstruct me."

Tokoyogi Yuuma sighed.

Beside him, No. 6 stepped forward.

"For me, it doesn't matter."

No. 6 spoke while meeting Rozen's gaze.

"But since you have already made up your mind, let's begin here."

"Let the banquet between us commence."

A surge of maximum-level magic emanated from No. 6, shaking the air.

Rozen found himself bathed in the storm of magic.

"Just wait for me, Natsuki-nee..."

"I have to properly complain to you before I can rest easy..."

Muttering as if talking to someone, Rozen raised his eyes.

Magic erupted completely from his body.