Infinite Journey: Dark Souls

The killing intent condensed into a beam, twice the amount of killing intent. As the door was kicked open, Xiaoyan walked to Zhi's side. Her calm and profound aura, which was unfathomable and filled with fear of the unknown, entangled with Zhi's sharp blade at this moment, and was directly aimed at the acting president who was contemptuously scanning the entire principal's office.

“Foolish people, aren’t you afraid of divine punishment for looking at the messenger of the gods with such eyes?”

These extremely arrogant words actually came from this guy's mouth, and what's even more unbelievable is that he withstood the killing intent of the two Ashes with just that arrogance.

"Gods? Divine punishment? If such things exist, I'd like to see them."

Zhi's killing intent was rising, and Xiao Yan had no doubt that she would act first and ask for permission later. However, the guy in front of her was arrogant in attitude but not in behavior at all. He had his arm around Da Shan's shoulder and was standing in front of him, which was practically telling the two of them that if they attacked, he would not hesitate to use this shield to block them.

"How could the gods personally receive you fools? My arrival is to punish you on behalf of the gods! Don't rush to interrupt me, and don't try to intimidate my poor witness with your imposing manner. Look, he's trembling with nervousness. Commander, you don't want your subordinates to be scared out of their minds, do you?"

Xiaoyan tried to regain the initiative in the conversation, and Zhi tried to suppress Dashan with her imposing manner, but the two Ashes cooperated perfectly, and the acting president was able to find other breakthroughs.

Yuri rested her chin on her hand in silence, her blue eyes calmly surveying the two opposing sides before finally responding after a long pause.

“You all, put away your bravado.”

The moment those words were spoken, the momentum of the two Ashes faltered for a moment. Sure enough, the first to show signs of estrangement was the leader himself.

The momentum is like a drumbeat, which is followed by exhaustion and then decline. Since their momentum has stalled, even if they don't want to back down, they can no longer maintain the initial intimidation that could suffocate ordinary people.

"And also, student council members, this is my territory! You barged in without permission, are you showing disrespect to your leader?"

The aura of Ashes receded, but the leader's aura was unleashed. This wasn't an aura of killing intent, but in the absolute home ground of the Afterlife Battlefront, the members of the execution team, united in their hatred of the enemy, also cooperated with the leader and slowly stood up.

Tensions.

"Hmph, you fools, this is the principal's office. I don't remember when you gained the right to use this place."

Not only Ash, but even Naoi was somewhat surprised. Yuri actually had the courage to stand up to them in this situation, in place of Ash. However, this was just a last-ditch effort; some things, once they happen, will not change their outcome.

"It seems that the acting president wants us to reaffirm our rights to use this place?"

In a flash, the thugs in the enforcement team immediately drew their weapons, seemingly ready to use force to claim ownership of the place at the slightest provocation.

"As expected of the biggest disruptors of school order, you bunch of fools are truly courting death—but rejoice, today, I, the divine messenger, am not here to punish you, but to expel those ashes!"

Replacing the ashes, meaning having an equal footing with the ashes, they are no longer a whole. By reason's decision, they have always been isolated.

"If you want to expel us, no problem, but first return the members of the SSS group to them, and we can talk somewhere else."

"No, no, no. If you're going to expel them, you need to provide evidence that will convince the ignorant masses. Today, I'll reluctantly let your illegal organization be a witness, to witness the sins committed by the Ashes!"

With his hands suddenly raised, the acting president, in a martyr-like posture, walked fearlessly to the very center of the principal's office, ignoring the threat of Ash and the surrounding weapons. He arrogantly surveyed the entire principal's office, then waved his hand, extending an invitation to Oyama, who had been silent since entering.

"Come, you foolish people who have abandoned darkness for light, loudly accuse the ashes of their crimes!"

As if a switch had been flipped, the baby-faced man shuddered, slowly raised his head, and cast his unfocused gaze upon everyone present.

"me……"

"Accusate! Appeal! File a complaint! Speak out what you have seen with your own eyes!"

Overwhelmed with emotion, the acting chairman's eyes glowed red, and his fangs practically bulged out.

"and many more."

The tone, which should have been cheerful, was now as sharp and forceful as a drawn blade.

The fierce aura surged again, along with the boiling golden heart fire.

"There's no need for your accusations. I will confess my crimes myself."

Pure, clear, and free of impurities, even in indifference, when the fire of the heart burns, is still vibrant and upward.

Glancing at the opportunistic weaklings, Ashweave turned around to face all the members of the group, exposing her back to the enemy without hesitation.

Ashflame stepped forward, shielding her companion's back so that she could show her determination without any reservations.

"Is this what ashes are?"

Yuri muttered to herself, revising her assessment of this race once more.

"Is this what ashes are?"

Asahina stared blankly, as if she had grasped the true meaning of ashes for the first time.

"This really is ashes."

All arrogance and conceit subsided. Gently pulling down the brim of his hat, Naoi Bunto concealed his gaze, but could not hide the dangerous curve of his lips.

Zhi began to recount the events, without any complicated causes and consequences or intricate details. She simply stated a fact, without concealment, seeking forgiveness, or offering explanations. She simply told everyone that the frontline strategist, Gao Song, had disappeared under her blade.

"This is the bloodshed I committed yesterday."

He concluded calmly and frankly faced everyone, leaving the members of the execution team momentarily at a loss for how to react.

Fools have a keen intuition. Even though reason clamors for punishment of the murderer, the clear fire in their hearts makes their intuition have no doubt about this sincerity... this sincerity that openly tells them that I killed the person.

Since she was the one who killed the person, of course she could say that sincerely.

The brim of his hat, which had been pulled down, was lifted up again, and Naoi Bunto, completely unconcerned, mocked him inwardly.

But who cares about who committed the murder?

Thirty intervals without a blade's confrontation

A lone clap echoed in the principal's office. It was the applause of the acting student council president, who was standing up for the clueless executive group. Gradually, all the student council members joined in the applause, which grew louder and louder, but the atmosphere that had been created was completely ruined.

In Xiaoyan's view, the acting president of the student council remained confident and composed throughout.

“Very impressive… well, a confession, but the one we’re going to accuse isn’t this Ash.”

These completely unexpected words came from a mouth adorned with a dangerous smile.

What do you mean it wasn't this Ash? Didn't they go to great lengths to stage that whole show to sow discord between Ash and the natives?

"Come on, Dashan, we've heard another tale of sin. It's time to speak out what we truly want to accuse!"

This time, no one could stop Babyface. He slowly began to move, like a puppet, stiff and mechanical, and after a few steps, he transformed into a grief-stricken accuser.

The first time a ferocious expression appeared on this unremarkable boy was when he strode up to the person he was accusing and, under her completely dumbfounded gaze, pointed his finger at her.

"I want to accuse! The ashes that truly brought misfortune to our world! Mikuru Asahina!"

Without giving anyone time to react, this sudden accusation continued.

"It was she who summoned the Dark Spirits! It was she who brought the plague! It was she who invaded our world! It was she who is leading our world toward destruction!"

"Do you remember how she suddenly appeared in our world? Do you remember how she disappeared from our world every few days? Do you remember how the Dark Spirit first appeared right behind her? Do you remember how the murderer who killed Gao Song followed her here?!"

"She was the original invader! The culprit who bound our world to the gallows!"

Every word is true and accurate.

Naoi Fumito smiled, a smile of absolute certainty.

Asahina cried, cried heartbrokenly.

Deception? False accusations? Absolutely not. They're just adding fuel to the fire, they're just undermining the cause.

Zhi lit the fire, and Asahina preserved the barrel of oil.

What's the use of being honest in the face of death? What's the use of being innocent in the face of facts?

The divide between the ashes and the battle lines existed from the moment Asahina arrived. Everyone selectively ignored the problem. If a new wall isn't built on top of this one, who can truly face this high wall? And if those separated by this wall don't tear it down themselves, who will be suffocated by it?

All the causes and consequences are now connected. The most important bridge between Ash and the front line has been dismantled. After the beautiful memories have faded like old photos turning black and white, the subtle contradictions presented in the newly reproduced photos are now so glaring.

The members of the execution team subconsciously cast unfamiliar glances at Asahina, and even Yuri couldn't help but sigh.

"We've been checked," Homura and Ori silently walked over to Asahina's side.

The girl collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. She felt wronged and wanted to explain, but what could she say? It was all the truth, and she couldn't even offer the most basic rebuttal.

Her defenses crumbled, her eyes were empty, and even the darkness that had been eyeing her heart no longer flowed.

Her companions lifted her up, using their bodies to shield her from the gazes of strangers, and prepared to leave the room filled with emotional abuse.

"and many more."

The acting president spoke up, saying that the entire plan was to isolate Ash, and that it would be a waste of their efforts not to take advantage of their weakness now.

"It seems you have no intention of defending yourselves. So where do you think you'll go when the student council begins sentencing?"

As soon as he stood at the main entrance, the members immediately formed a human wall, blocking the exit.

"Do you think simply leaving the SSS guild can wash away your sins? Don't you listen to the accusers and ask what punishment they want for you?"

Two pairs of dark eyes simply stared at him calmly, as if looking at a dead man.

"Get them out of this world! Get them out of our world!"

"Get them out of this world! Get them out of our world!" ×n

The accuser shouted, and everyone in the student council echoed his shouts.

The SSS group remained silent, their silence marked by indifference and apathy.

So he had no scruples. All he needed to do next was remove that desperate girl from this world, and his god's plan would be completely over!

He took out a crystal wrapped in white cloth, which was entirely black, and walked up to Asahina. She would never refuse to leave the black crystal now. In fact, this crystal, which had been modified by the mist, could make the world throw away her remnants at the same time, erasing all her connection with the world, so that she could never come back.

The other two Ashes she brought in naturally lost their anchor in this world and will return to where they belong, never to contact this world again.

"Did you hear that? Everyone's judgment on you. Now, get out of here...!"

His hand holding the crystal was grabbed, and the burning of the deep purple flames made him cry out in surprise, causing him to throw the black crystal away.

"Are you sure you're not mistaken about something?"

The cold voice now carried a chilling aura, and coupled with the katana slowly drawn from the waist, it was extremely dangerous.

"Isolate us, but try to drive us away? You'd better think twice before you try."

"You have nowhere to stand here! What are you still doing, shamelessly clinging to this place!"

Naoi Fumito finally realized that, despite all their calculations, they had overlooked the sheer brutality of the ashes.

"Even if we have nowhere to stand, we'll still wipe you out first."

It's that simple a principle, that simple a line of thought. The Ashes have never forgotten that they possess the ability to overturn the chessboard. They had some reservations before, but now that those reservations have automatically isolated them, what mercy do they have when they overturn the chessboard!

It's a pity that by doing this, they've really broken ties with Yuri and the others.

It looks like the Survey Corps' first mission is going to be a disaster.