Chapter Seventy-Six: The Deal with the End (3k3)
Dark clouds heavily pressed down on the sky above Kawayama City, as if they intended to swallow the entire city whole.
The light emitted by the purplish-black stars could not penetrate the thick cloud cover.
The wild wind whipped around the silver-white hair of the End, revealing her exquisitely beautiful face.
Her pure white dress fluttered in the wind, like a flower blooming in the breeze, the hem creating waves that stirred up.
The expression of the End was serious, her starry eyes, sparkling with a purplish-black light, vigilantly surveying her surroundings.
A powerful surge of magical energy rushed in from all directions, like a tsunami.
The enemy’s first attack quietly came with the first drop of rain.
The End swiftly raised both hands, and the shadow beneath her feet suddenly twisted, attempting to rise quickly and form a screen to counter the attack.
But it was still a step too late.
The first round of attacks from the storm accurately struck two targets before the barrier took effect—
“Thud.”
Accompanied by a dull sound.
Ueda, who had just been struggling to support his body, was accurately hit on the back of his head by a raindrop mixed with the fierce wind, losing consciousness instantly and crashing heavily to the ground.
Similarly unconscious was the old man, who had already been lying on the ground. He was hit on the forehead by a drop of rain that fell from the sky, completely unprepared, and fainted on the spot.
“Eh—?”
The unexpected situation left the End momentarily dumbfounded.
She widened her eyes, her fair and delicate face filled with confusion.
The two people who had just stood in front of her, opposing her—
Had actually been ambushed and quietly fallen into a deep slumber like infants.
The wild wind and pouring rain swept over the whole of Kawayama City, as if draping a white rain curtain over the city.
The cold rain mercilessly soaked the pure white dress of the End, the white fabric clinging to her skin, outlining the slender curves of the girl’s body.
With her vision blocked by the rain, the End’s expression instantly became more vigilant.
The enemy was evidently well aware of how to deal with someone who possessed the “Star Authority.”
Their figure concealed within the storm.
At that moment.
Before the End had time to devise any counter-strategy, the enemy, hiding in the storm, took the initiative to act first—
“Oh no—eh???”
A slender and graceful figure suddenly descended from the sky, lightly landing in front of the End.
She couldn’t help but utter a surprised exclamation.
The opposing figure actually chose to give up the advantage of hiding in the shadows and directly appeared before her.
This sudden move left the End momentarily unable to react.
Enemy? Friend? She couldn’t distinguish for a moment.
However, judging by the expression on the other’s face, it seemed that the other party regarded herself as an enemy… right?
Before the End stood a black-haired girl about the same age.
Her deep, night-sky-like black hair was tied back in a ponytail, revealing an adorable and upright face.
However, that pure and beautiful face was now clouded with gloom, her expression grave.
From any angle, this girl approached her with a full measure of hostility.
Yet, the End was somewhat puzzled by the girl’s attire—
The only garment the black-haired girl wore, a light blue thin coat, had become transparent due to the rain, revealing a daringly small and revealing bikini underneath.
It boldly showcased a silhouette entirely opposite to her innocent and cute face.
Whether it was the round and full peaks in front, or the voluptuous thighs below, this outfit made everything look exceedingly provocative, the thin fabric outlining the extremely feminine and mature curves of this black-haired beauty.
In such a tense moment, she suddenly appeared before her in this manner…
“… a shameless exhibitionist?!” the End tilted her head and made a judgment.
She expressed her deep admiration for the girl’s dedication to her lifelong fetish.
“???”
The slightly out-of-place reaction from the other girl left Nagino stunned as well.
“At a moment akin to the final battle, your first words are this!?” Nagino couldn’t help but mentally complain.
But this was also good news.
“End” had invaded the starry eyes, descending here.
But the soul of the original body still lingered.
If it were truly the End, such a reaction would be impossible.
Perhaps it was the influence of Amamiya Tsubasa’s original character.
This indicated that the invasion from the End had not yet been deep—
“Um… I don’t think girls should let others see them in such an unashamed manner…” the End raised a hand to express her opinion.
Her fair and beautiful face turned slightly rosy.
Perhaps it was due to Tsubasa’s original conservative and ladylike nature influencing her.
“…”
However, as another party involved, Nagino now felt somewhat at a loss about how to react.
She had been prepared to return to save her “younger sister” from her previous life.
And their first formal meeting—
Would be her “younger sister” mistaking her for a shameless exhibitionist and “brother” who loved wearing bikinis?
For a moment.
Nagino regretted it.
Regretted making a deal with the End.
“It would have been better to stick to the original plan and attack the End fragment before me from the shadows!” Nagino silently thought.
…..
…..
The End fragments.
Were the key to the star rituals controlled and launched by the Star Association in the original work of “Star Shadow 2.”
In the original work of “Star Pull,” the End would perish at the hands of the first generation protagonist, “Hikari.”
Her soul and authority would disperse into countless fragments, scattering throughout the world.
The End fragments held the soul and curse of the End, and once eroded by the fragments, one would slowly turn into a monster.
In the original work of “Star Pull,” the protagonist fought alongside all the heroines in the final battle against the End.
Consequently, after the End’s demise, the fragments were buried within them.
This is the reason why all the heroines of “Star Pull” would be cursed and become the bosses in the sequel “Star Pull 2.”
In her previous life, Nagino chose to confront the End alone to avoid this outcome.
Moreover, she did not kill the End but instead chose to forcibly make a contract using “forbidden methods,” sealing it within herself.
Thus, in this world, there should be no End fragments.
And no one cursed by them.
But upon her reincarnation as “Amamiya Nagino”—
She discovered Kawayama City, ruled by the false god Bai Ling.
This indicated that all her efforts in her previous life had been in vain.
For some reason, the End fragments had still scattered into this world—
It seemed that after her “death,” something had occurred in this world beyond her expectations.
……
Time returned to when Nagino hurried back to Kawayama City.
The purplish-black stars descended.
Also awakening the End within the depths of Nagino’s soul—
“Would you like to trade? Just like a true contract—” the voice of Nagikage echoed within Nagino’s soul.
Hikari, I know you don’t want to kill that descended vessel~
But the vessel will sooner or later be completely corroded by the curse, turning into a new End—
So, I want to make a deal with you~
I can help you recover the fragments from the vessel and free her from the curse.
“And you collect all the fragments to help me descend into this world—”
In the dream, Nagikage revealed a naive and innocent smile, articulating her true purpose.
“….. Why should I trust you?” Nagino replied solemnly.
This had not been mentioned in the original works of “Star Pull” and “Star Pull 2.”
The End could recover the cursed fragments?
“This isn’t the first time, is it?” Nagikage smiled:
“Last year, you retrieved fragments from that child, successfully awakening me.”
Nagino recalled that day, the purplish-black starlight gushing from the false god Bai Ling.
That was the End recovering the fragments from Yui?
What she had done at that time was merely to recover the “authority” on Yui—
No wait.
The End was the embodiment of the “Star Authority”…..
“It seems you’ve figured it out, Hikari.”
This indeed explained why, after the incident with the false god Bai Ling, the speed at which she was eroded by the curse increased, and the signs of the End awakening within her became more pronounced.
Because she had acquired the fragments that belonged to Yui within her.
At this moment, Nagino understood.
The End within her wanted to be resurrected, to descend into this world in its complete form.
“What do you think? Would you like to trade?” Nagikage’s smile grew even more pronounced, for she knew that the gentle and kind Hikari could never refuse this proposal.
“Is all of this within your control?” Nagino replied calmly.
“No, rather it’s all within your control, isn’t it~” Nagikage’s lips curled up, revealing a crescent-like smile: “You had planned it long ago, to eventually die before Kanade—”
To be personally killed by Tsukimi Kanade.
“Hikari was originally going to die, so why not save a few more people contaminated by fragments before that?”
“……” Upon hearing this, Nagino fell silent, not responding.
“Don’t worry, I won’t lie to you, because this is the soul you set up for me; I don’t know how to tell lies……”
“So, shall we complete the terms of the contract?”
Sworn by souls—
The deal is established?
……
……
The best method to deal with the End, or the Star Authority.
Is to be the only one within its field of vision.
Then attack from the shadows.
The Star Authority must “see” the object to resonate with the soul.
So for the End, the people around her are the opportunity for her resurrection.
And now at the Amamiya mansion.
Only the End and Nagino remained.
The unconscious old man and Ueda had already been moved to safety by Garuda during the recent commotion.
To oppose the End, Nagino didn’t need to appear before her.
She could simply use her storm abilities to launch a long-range attack from a distance.
But doing so would kill Tsubasa, and she wouldn’t be able to recover the fragments.
So Nagino appeared before her openly.
She was tempting the End to resonate with her soul.
Her soul contained the “true essence” of the End; as long as she dared to resonate, the End would take the opportunity to recover the fragments.
—Come on! Resonance with me!
Nagino thought to herself.
In that moment.
The End seemed to understand Nagino’s intention.
“….. Um, I’m sorry, even though you are strong, but… I don’t want to become an unashamed exhibitionist.”
The End politely bowed and apologized.
Influenced by Tsubasa’s character, she preferred to maintain the modesty of a lady over sheer power.
“…..” Nagino felt her face heat up slightly.
But she decided to ignore the other’s statement.
“Hmm, it seems the plan has been uncovered…..”
Nagino controlled her facial muscles, displaying a troubled expression.
“Uwa~ this exhibitionist doesn’t listen to others at all~”
As she spoke, the End unfolded blades made of shadows.
Although she had no interest in the soul of this black-haired girl before her, it didn’t hinder her plans to turn her into a sacrifice.
“Don’t keep saying exhibitionist, exhibitionist every day!”
Nagino, flushed, picked up the blade from the ground.
“It’s not like I wanted to turn out like this!”
