88: Awakening ※

This chapter is told from a third-person perspective.

Immediately after Vilijanian was targeted by the telekinetic attack carried out by the serial grotesque murderer.

The law enforcement agencies of the Flaretanbo system simultaneously sprang into action.

"Data acquisition complete. Only a terminal registered under the name Maeglinia Spafena was logged into the surveillance satellite. Since Maeglinia Spafena's biological information was used for both the terminal and satellite login, her involvement is confirmed at minimum."

First, an artificial intelligence hacked into Maeglinia's personally owned satellite and secretly extracted information without her knowledge.

The stolen information included clear images of the Viridiana clan being attacked right at that moment, as well as footage of past victims being assaulted, captured from satellite orbit.

Furthermore, with cooperation from the Security Maintenance Agency, the Imperial Army, the Flaretanbo System's governing body, and the staff of the Iwani Nature Reserve, it had become nearly certain from an impartial standpoint that only Maglenia's surveillance satellites were capturing images of the Viridiana clan at that moment.

At this stage, the Security Maintenance Agency had conclusively determined that Maglenia was involved in the series of gruesome murders.

Proceeding to the next phase.

"Satellite secured successfully. Engine shutdown confirmed. No physical data destruction system, such as a self-destruct mechanism, appears to be installed."

Securing the surveillance satellite took a little time, but it was ultimately successful without issues.

It was originally launched as a personal satellite, repurposed for the crimes—apparently, the perpetrator never expected their modus operandi to be exposed.

Moreover, the video feed cut out as the satellite was secured—this was the only place where the attack on Viridianiya ceased, causing the intelligence unit to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

"Her daughter... the culprit...!? At the very least, she's involved...!?"

Negotiations with Baron Spafana had also begun.

Upon hearing the news at work, the baron collapsed on the spot, staring blankly in shock.

"Yes. In that case, would you be so kind as to assist in securing Miss Meglenia Spafana as smoothly as possible?"

"...I shall cooperate. Deliver this to my household steward. It will serve as proof of my instructions to assist the Public Security Agency's investigation. Additionally, I shall provide authorization for destruction and combat within the estate grounds, just in case."

"Are you certain about this?"

"Of course. If it's true, I can't help but feel an endless despair, like the vastness of the universe, and a burning anguish in my gut. And even if it were lies or conspiracy, I couldn't prove my innocence without your cooperation. Before I can protect my family, there's only one path open to me—cooperation. Just... "

"Just?"

"I have a bad feeling... that my daughter has already transformed into something else, taking on her form... this feeling... "

"......"

Yet even so, the baron carried himself with courage, showing a willingness to cooperate.

It was the proper demeanor of an imperial noble—dedicating himself to protecting his family, and by extension, the nation and its people.

"Master Steward. It seems we've received permission."

"It appears so. Then, I shall guide you."

Immediately after receiving permission from Baron Spefarna, police forces move in to secure Maeglinia herself.

Disguised as the baron's guests, they enter the baron's estate and head toward Maeglinia's room.

While the negotiators are lightly armed, the rest are heavily armed, equipped for counter-terrorism operations. Near the window in Maeglinia's room, personnel in powered suits stand ready.

In case of emergencies, all household members except the steward and Maeglinia had already been escorted outside the mansion under surveillance.

"Uuu... Maeglinia Baron Spefana P Flaretanbo. You are currently suspected of being the perpetrator in a series of serial murders. If you quietly comply with our instructions, we won't resort to force—so please come out here!"

There was no reply.

"Meaglinia Spetfana! Respond immediately! ……. No choice, then."

"No choice indeed……"

"Break in!"

Thus, they breached the entrance.

Thanks to prior thermal detection scans, they knew Meaglinia was at the center of the room.

So they smashed through the door, shattered the window, broke through the wall from the adjacent room, and surrounded Meaglinia from all sides as they stormed in.

And then, they saw it.

Hehehe, hehehehehe, hehehehehe, hehehehehe!

The sight of Maeglinia laughing heartily in front of the monitor of the information terminal in the center of the room.

"Brilliant! Magnificent! Absolutely magnificent!! I was right all along! The eyes! Only special eyes can nurture a spark! To truly understand the Cosmic Monster, one truly needs these special eyes! Ahhh! What strength! What overwhelming cruelty! A mere imposter like me, who accidentally obtained such power, is effortlessly crushed—unable to even approach it!! How magnificent it is!!"

"Meaguribyu!?"

The officer who tried to call out to Meaguria was crushed.

As easily as a child accidentally crushes a tiny insect while trying to catch it, as if gripped and squashed by an invisible hand.

"Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!"

Ah, Princess Vilijanila, I'd like to ask you something. How exactly do you harness the power of the Cosmic Monster? How do you make your guard, Satu Seeteks, utilize that power? I wish to hear, without reservation, everything from your first encounter with the Cosmic Monster up until now. But I suspect it won't be a simple matter. As someone of your stature, your words must be as firm as steel. Earlier, I was angry and let my emotions get the better of me—but this time, I’ll take your fingers, one by one…

Seeing their comrades being crushed, the group that had come to secure Maglenia immediately realized it was impossible to capture her alive.

Thus, everyone aimed their guns at Maglenia's entire body and fired their blasters.

"「「「!？」」」"

"No, that won't work. If I couldn't win at this range, I certainly can't prevail at a distance where we could even talk. I first need to gather strength. Fortunately, having seen the genuine cosmic monster up close—far more closely than before—I've now figured out how even a fake like me can boost my power..."

The energy beam from Megalina, even including the shield, was enough to effortlessly vaporize a human being upon direct impact.

Yet Megalina remained unscathed, seemingly unaware even of the people surrounding her.

"Oh, good afternoon. How rude of you, old man. If you have guests coming, please let me know."

"W-w-well, m-my, my, m-mistress..."

And at last, here, Maeglinia realized.

The fact that she was surrounded by heavily armed officers.

Yet not the slightest fear stirred in her heart.

She had long anticipated the day that would come—having awakened the dormant genius within her by peering through a telescope at the space monster-like creature that had caused a collision between two spacecraft, a genius that should have remained asleep for life.

Moreover, having directly experienced the force of a real space monster through the lens of a surveillance satellite—something that had already awakened her dormant genius—she now viewed the weapons aimed at her as no more threatening than a small animal playfully nipping at her.

"Keep firing!!"

"It seems we'll need to deal with these disrespectful guests all at once."

The officers continued firing their blasters.

Yet she paid no mind, lightly swaying her arm...

"!?"

"But I'll allow it. Even your eyes can serve as a helping hand in bringing me closer to the Cosmic Monster. I won't say it's an honor—I simply followed my own path. The only thing necessary to pave that path was, by chance, human eyes. If I were to explain it in a way you might understand... it's no different than slaughtering livestock for food."

Just that alone turned the officers and the butler into scattered flesh fragments, leaving only their eyes behind.

Not only that, but the walls of the Spafana baronial family were shattered, the pillars collapsed, and a massive hole opened up leading down into the underground.

Then, the remaining eyes flew into Magelina's chest, sinking in like stones dropped into a swamp.

"Hmm, it seems rather inappropriate to have plucked out eyes after death. Remember that. That aside, we must hide for now. I can sense the presence of the Cosmic Monster approaching this way."

The nobleman's household, now devoid of any living being except for himself.

Magelina vanished from there.

What remained behind was a mountain of rubble from the Spafena noble family, and fragments of flesh amounting to dozens of people.

The scene was soaked in the smell of blood and dust, presenting a chaotic, hellish spectacle.

Shortly after, a massive creature invisible to the human eye appeared above the Spafena baronial family's estate.