The Legacy of the Seven Stars could summon Zodiacs, so Altair brought the tricycle to lure Scorpio.
Tokyo's people, hardened by the Gastrea War, had buried their fear of Gastrea, redirecting it as hatred toward Cursed Children.
Altair intended to make them recall the terror of being dominated by Gastrea.
"Come. What you seek is here."
Clutching the tricycle in his claw, Altair's deep voice rumbled, his black dragon form evoking a demonic serpent from hell, steeped in darkness.
The Initiator girls left atop the Monolith trembled in fear.
"Is that guy… a Demon King?" Enju Aihara, among them, whispered, her fear mingled with curiosity as she eyed Altair on the Monolith's peak.
"What's a Demon King?" Kayo Senju, beside her, asked, puzzled.
"It's the villain from Tenshi Shoujo, the big bad who wants to destroy the world."
"Is this big guy gonna destroy the world too?"
"Definitely! He grabbed us because we have something he can use to end the world!"
Enju's imagination ran wild, her tension easing as she spun a tale. Her words sparked similar fantasies among the other girls.
Not all had a full grasp of reality. Ninety percent had been taken by the IISO as infants, collared, and trained as weapons. Once trained, they were assigned to Promoters, treated as tools until they died in battle or succumbed to the Gastrea virus's erosion, transforming into Gastrea.
Abandoned at birth and molded into war machines, most lacked human understanding. Enju, however, had been cared for by Rentarō Satomi, giving her a life closer to a normal child's.
"Guess how I'll destroy the world." Altair said, overhearing their chatter. Amused, he decided to play along.
"Ah! He heard us!"
"We're done for! He'll kill us!"
"Kill us?"
"Yup, he'll definitely kill us. Demon Kings always eliminate those who uncover their plans."
"You're pretty clever, knowing that. Since you've guessed the ending, you'll be first."
Altair lowered his massive head toward Enju, the most animated, startling her. She stumbled backward, falling onto the Somersault Cloud with a thud.
"N-no need! It's totally unnecessary! I'm just a nobody, not worth your time!"
"On the contrary, you're the only one who figured out my plan. You're no small fry, you must be the smartest. A clever girl like you can't be left alive. You'd ruin my schemes!"
Altair's tone grew menacing, as if he'd singled her out, plunging Enju into despair.
But Hiruko Kagetane and Kayo Senju saw through it. Kagetane's experience and Kayo's sharp mind recognized Altair's words as playful, like a storyteller teasing children. The other girls bought it, but they knew it was a ruse.
"Nooo, I'm not smart at all!" Enju curled up, clutching her head, too scared to meet Altair's draconic gaze.
Seeing her terror, Altair relented, lifting his head to face northeast. Scorpio had reached the shore.
The colossal Zodiac was a terrifying plow, its weight and size turning the land into mud. No structure or tree could withstand its absolute crush, carving a man-made canyon in its wake.
Tokyo's Self-Defense Force sprang into action. Ground units bombarded Scorpio with missiles, while air forces struck from afar.
The attacks were futile, barely scratching its hide. Scorpio's massive tentacles flailed as its mountainous body plodded forward.
Though night cloaked the sky, moonlight and the SDF's explosions lit the scene. Anyone in Tokyo with a clear view could see Scorpio's monstrous silhouette.
The SDF avoided targeting Altair, wary of his human-turned-dragon nature. A failed attack might provoke a retaliatory blast, risking a nuclear-scale explosion. They'd be held accountable for such a catastrophe.
Moreover, Altair's position atop the Monolith deterred them. Damaging the Monolith would invite Gastrea incursions during repairs, threatening their authority if Civil Security agents gained ground.
Tokyo's government announced Scorpio's approach, unable to conceal the apocalyptic threat. Citizens fixated on the northeast, their faces etched with despair as the behemoth loomed closer.
Scorpio's oppressive presence grew, its tentacles visible to Tokyo's residents, amplifying their dread.
As Altair had hoped, Scorpio's despair-inducing form rekindled Tokyo's primal fear of Gastrea. Stunned, some wailed in hopelessness, overwhelmed by the terror they'd long suppressed.
***
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