[The episode begins back in the Ark and aboard the Utnapishtim's ship. The crew continue to work at maximum speed as alarms continue to sound regarding the ongoing crisis down in the city.]
*Alarm Ringing*
Rin: (serious expression) Everyone! Provide me a sit-rep.
Hanako: We've identified twenty-four False Sanctums! Not only that, there appears to be different copies, at least two of the same enemy. They've divided into four Sanctums at the six major districts.
Yuuka: (sweating face) Their numbers keep growing, reaching over ten thousand! Is it because of the added False Sanctums that they multiplied this far?
Rin: What about contacting the surface?
Momoka: The radio chatter is jumbled. Everyone's calling out on every channel asking for help and reinforcements. (sweating face) So far, Trinity and Millennium are the worst ones in a bad spot.
Kayoko: There's more. Our teams report the Dimension Engines are currently being repaired. The numbers of the Chroma forces have risen and are focused on reversing all our progress.
Ako: Ugh... All that work into destroying them. We need to fight back!
Kayoko: The teams are in combat right now...
Rin: How about Sensei? Are they all right?
Ayumu: Y-Yes! They responded they're on their way back.
Rin: All right. Do we know how much time we have till the False Sanctums bring an end to Kivotos?
Yuuka: (hesitant expression) Mmm...
Rin: ...? Well?
Himari: Yuuka and I already ran the numbers. It's no use. However we go about this, the city will be lost before we defeat the Ark of Atrahasis.
Rin: Please, say it.
Himari: ...Less than an hour. Even if we make a dash for the main control room, we won't make it in time.
Rin: (sweating face) ...
???: Ah, the sweet tone of misery. How nostalgic.
[Pseudos appears as a hologram inside the ship...]
Momoka: (angry expression) You again? How did you access our comms?
Pseudos: The communication link was wide open. I simply let myself in. So, how goes the end of the world? Enjoy witnessing your city's final moments?
Ako: *angry twitch* Grr... I had enough of your provocations! I'm cutting the call!
Rin: Wait.
Ako: (surprised face) Huh?
Rin: Pseudos, what is your objective? For what purpose do you work for the Chroma? You know what it is capable of, how it destroys worlds. So why? Why help it?
Pseudos: ...My aims are my secrets. As for why, let's simply say I have business with their devotees.
Hanako: Devotees? The Nameless Priests?
Pseudos: They and the Chroma possess something of desire to me. I intend to have it. The destruction of Kivotos is necessary for my plans to come to fruition. Whether the students survive is up to them and their own strength. As to why the city's destruction is imminent, the fault lies entirely on both them and the Sensei.
Rin: (serious expression) What?
Pseudos: The students of Kivotos are blatantly overconfident in their abilities to face the dangers of tomorrow. They believe their former memories grant them strength, to predict the future and repeat their victories. None of it is strength. That... is false inspiration. True strength is not freely given or obtained, no, it is earned. Like the path of adulthood, there are no shortcuts to success. As for the Sensei, they may be adequate as your instructor, but they are a failure of a responsible adult. Moments ago, Sensei abandoned the chance to defeat Phrenapates, alone, face-to-face. If they defeated them, then the mission would be complete and the city saved. Instead, they walked away and abandoned the mission the moment they discovered their students' lives were in peril. Such utter and obvious weakness. What does it matter if a single student lives or dies? Does protecting the few outweigh the survival of a world? No, it should not. The main reason you are at this critical point lies on your Sensei, for they could not and DID NOT prepare any of you for this. They are to blame for youth's ineptitude as they also lack the will and skill to do what must be done. Sensei will never abandon any of you, and that is their weakness.
Everyone: (worried faces) ...
Rin: (sweating face) ...
Pseudos: Ah... Finally. A mutual understanding. Each of you brought this upon yourselves. I am all but a guide to show the error of the way ahead.
[The scene transitions back to the Rabbit Platoon who finished providing first aid to their leader and friend Miyako...]
(NOTE: Erosion effect)
Moe: Done! First aid complete!
Saki: We need to get her to a medical facility asap!
Miyu: (nervous expression) B-But there's so many enemies around us... How are we going to get through?
Saki: We have to try! If our leader's fighting for her life, then so will we.
Goldsheep: *yawn* Ah, what a shame. Guess I'm not having rabbit stew tonight.
Saki: How can you say that!? We're fighting for our lives and you're over there making crack jokes. Take this seriously! The city is about to be destroyed.
Goldsheep: Yeah, why is that? Just a few days ago, a little special forces girl told me everything was under control. Now here we are. Counting down the end. It's your faults for not keeping your word.
Saki, Miyu, Moe: (worried faces) ...
Goldsheep: Haha, what? Nothing to say? You girls already look like you've given up.
Miyako: (weak voice) ...No. We haven't.
Saki: !! Miyako!
Moe: Leader!
Miyako: (picks herself up and wounded) ...The Rabbit Platoon doesn't give up. Not as long as there's a fighting chance.
Miyu: There is?
Miyako: (nods her head) Sensei... they're still fighting up there. Everything may seem impossible here, but we can't lose hope. The spirit of SRT is still with us, and our justice will prevail. I know... it will... (faints back to sleep)
Saki: !! Miyako!
Moe: Hold on!
Goldsheep: (smiling face) ...Gwahhaha! Making a valiant speech and fainting right at the end. You SRT girls are such a blast to laugh at!
Saki: (boiling anger) Why you...
*Boom*
Students: !!?
[As they talk, the Chroma forces return led by Chroma-variant Hod. Their numbers are in the hundreds and march towards the direction of the SRT students...]
Miyu: Th-The enemy forces are coming back!
Saki: We need to leave! Miyu, help me grab Miyako. We'll retreat the other way-
Moe: We can't! That way leads to a dead end!
Saki: What about left or right?
Moe: Those lead us back to the way we came, right where the Chroma are waiting for us.
Saki: (sweating face) Ugh... We're trapped...
Miyu: (crying expression) *sniff* We're doomed...
Goldsheep: (confident expression) Don't be such pansies. Times like these, you got to stare down the barrel of the enemy's gun and show no fear. That's when they'll get really~ terrified, and finally, they'll turn around and run with their pants down.
Saki: Are you crazy!? That's insane!
Goldsheep: Haha! Just watch and learn, rabbits. (starts walking towards the direction of the terrors) Big sis will show you how it's done.
Saki: Hey- Wait!!
[At the Shanhaijing district, the crowd starts to run away from the giant monsters that were rampaging down the streets. Suddenly, a Plum Blossum child trips on the ground as Kokona notices...]
(NOTE: Erosion effect)
Plum Blossum Student: (cries uncontrollably) Wah!! It hurts!
Kokona: (notices the child) *gasp* It's dangerous there!
[As Kokona rushes to comfort the child, the False Sanctums reach her and the child only a foot apart. The first Sanctum leading the group lifts its foot and covers the sky under Kokona as it prepares to stomp her. Kokona holds the child tightly and closes her eyes in anticipation for the end...]
Kokona: (closed eyes + crying expression) *sniff* Oneesan, everyone...
*CRASH*
[As the shadow of the giant overshadows Kokona and the child, a voice above her breaks the silence...]
???: What a brave soul.
Kokona: ...? (slowly opens her eyes)
Dark Shadow: I commemorate your strength to protect the young. However, children should not sacrifice their lives so soon. That is the responsibility of grown-ups.
Kokona: ...! (shaking expression) I-I-I am a grown-up! Th-That's why I'm here, to protect this child! What would you know-
[As Kokona looks up, she discovers the same shadow she was speaking to was holding the giant's foot with NOT a single hand, but her foot with her leg at a full 180-degree angle split, keeping the other foot planted on the ground, while standing upright and keeping both hands tucked behind her back as if she wanted to keep them of getting dirty. Kokona is in awe of the sight and couldn't make out the shadow's face due to the giant's foot blocking out the light...]
Dark Shadow: ... *chuckle* (holds in laughter) Pfft... What a childish-desire... A youngling wishing to be a grown-up. (regains composure) Ha... I'm so glad I returned when I did. Moments like these are hard to come by.
Kokona: (mesmerized expression) Uh... Your leg...
Dark Shadow: Hmm? Ah. It's only proper to stop a foot with another. Should one use their hands, it would be difficult to wash them before the next meal.
[With a single push of her foot, the Chroma giant is pushed ever so slightly back, but it's foot soon comes back down. Once both feet were touching the ground, the shadow lady extends her arm forward, her palm open with all five singers aligned, and takes a stance. When the giant's foot falls down to range, the lady pulls the open hand into a fist and strikes, completing a perfect one-inch punch onto the enemy's foot.
*BOOM*
The force of the attack was so strong, it let up the sound of a huge explosion and blew a gust of wind outwards towards the enemy forces and next to Kokona. Kokona braces herself until the strong winds die down...]
Kokona: (braces the wind) Ahh!!!
[After the air calmed down, Kokona opens her eyes and finds all the False Sanctums marching through the streets of Shanhaijing have been pushed back along the border of the district. As she looks around, she notices the air has become much clearer and the red erosion coming from the crimson red sky disappeared from her surroundings albeit only a small circle. Meanwhile, the lady that saved her is now hidden behind a layer of fog gathered by debris and dust...]
(NOTE: Erosion effect)
Dark Shadow: Hmm... Not quite there. I may have to get a bit serious to rid this district of terror. Ha... It's been far too long since I released so much energy.
Kokona: (shocked face) *gasp* We're saved...
Dark Shadow: Run along now children. I shall take things from here. (starts walking towards the direction of the False Sanctums)
Kokona: W-Wait a second! Who are you!?
Dark Shadow: No one important. Simply a hungry customer passing by... (leaves the vicinity)
Rumi: Kokona! (rushes to Kokona's side)
Kokona: !! Rumi-san!
Rumi: Thank goodness you're okay.
Kokona; W-Who was that lady? One moment she was there, the next the bad guys were sent flying away!
Rumi: (serious expression) ...I don't really know. ...! Which way did she go?
Kokona: S-She left in direction of the Giant Sanctums...
Rumi: (faces the direction of the False Sanctums) ... Come on! We're getting out of here!
Kokona: Huh? Aren't we going to help her?
Rumi: I have a feeling we might get caught in the middle if we try! Here, I'll carry the girl.
Kokona: O-Okay!
[At the Hyakkiyako district, the lady in white suddenly appears a top the highest branch on the tree of deities and has a bird's eye view of the entire district. Then, she bends down and places her hand on the branch...]
(NOTE: Erosion effect)
Blind Lady in White: Sorry to intrude, but I must borrow your strength, o' deity.
[With her palms together, the lady begins to channel energy through her hands. The tree of deities responds in kind as its cherry blossoms starts to glow with a radiant pink light. The students start to notice the cherry blossom trees around the district begin to glow as well...]
Yukari: !! Woah...
Renge: ...? Yukari! Why did you stop? The next wave is about to happen, we need to head to the next position!
Yukari: Renge-senpai, look!
Renge: ...?
Yukari: The cherry blossoms... they're glowing! What a vibrant color...
Renge: Yeah... (shakes her head) N-No! We can't get distracted. Kikyou is waiting for us, come on!
Yukari: Ah! Right! (leaves the area)
[At the same time in the D.U. district, Chroma Hod and its army of automatons catch up to the Rabbit Platoon's position. However, a single hobo stands in their way, facing them without blinking an eye. Hod looks down at the stranger and lets out an ear-piercing screech...]
(NOTE: Erosion effect)
Chroma Hod: (mechanical screeching) *SCREECH*
[After the terrifying roar, Goldsheep stands unfazed and continues to put on an arrogant smile...]
Goldsheep: (arrogant smile) *chuckle* You call that a "roar?" No. This... This is a "roar."
[At the GSC building in the observation room, the sensors pick up unknown spikes of energy throughout the key districts where the False Sanctums were on route...]
Haine: (surprised face) ...! Aoi-san! Over here, take a look at this!
Aoi: What is it Haine?
Haine: The sensors are picking up mass readings coming from Gehenna, D.U., Hyakkiyako, Shanhaijing, and Millennium! Something big is happening!
Aoi: (sweating face) Mmm... Is it the False Sanctums preparing for the final attack?
Haine: N-No! It's not! It's something else... Some kind of other power!
Aoi: Huh?
[At the Millennium Science School in the fortress city Eridu, Mili stands firm and puts her foot forward, preparing for her big moment. She takes off her pink sweater, revealing a full body skin-tight suit underneath. The black suit covers her entire body up to her neck. Data symbols light up on the suit's surface, lines of neon blue light begin to trace on the front and the back, and the lines gather to form huge blue circles on the middle of the chest area to form a computer power symbol. A Halo appears above her head with a data-holographic effect till it becomes an Alien UFO design with blue and green colors. Then, she begins to levitate in the air while carrying Kei. She levitates her body as if she were lying on a bed, then opens her eyes and shows her radiant glowing blue eyes...]
(NOTE: Erosion effect)
Mili: Command start, copy Atrahasis Protocol! ...Complete! Bootup program! Plus... enable add-ons! Commence modification tool! It's time for an upgrade!
[As she continues to levitate in the air, Mili highlights different parts in the fortress city and Eridu, then through an invisible gravitational pull, gathers the parts together towards her position. Like building blocks, the parts build into a single creation, a cannon big enough to rival the Atrahasis Protocol Sword of Light...]
Mili: Connect resources to Mk.XII! ...Connection complete! Reallocate available resources through SSD for One MILI-Zetta-Byte!
[The new weapon appears in the shape of a satellite, and in the middle gathers the final piece, the parallel Sword of Light in Kei's hands. As energy begins to gather inside the makeshift Satellite Cannon, Mili lifts her hand with her fist clenched and shouts at the top of her lungs with a bright smile...]
Mili: Everything deserves an upgrade! A MILI-TIMES BETTER!!
[Back aboard the Utnapishtim's ship, the students also notice bright beacons of light shining throughout the major districts...]
Ayumu: !! Rin-san! Massive spikes of energy have been spotted in Kivotos! And... It's not coming from the False Sanctums!
Rin: What?
Pseudos: (surprised tone) Hmm?
[Several events happen simultaneously in a series of scenes...]
[As the Rabbit Platoon watches from afar, Goldsheep takes her hands out of her pockets, changes her stance to plant her feet firmly on the ground, then tenses her body and arms to the point of revealing her strong muscles. Finally, she opens her mouth wide open and lets out an extreme sound...]
Goldsheep: (wide open mouth) *RROOAAARR*
[Atop the tree of deities, the lady in white finishes her channeling and clasps her hands together, her forearms horizontal and index and middle fingers raised, creating what looks like the tiger hand sign...]
Blind Lady in White: Nippon: Cleansing Domain.
[At the Shanhaijing district, the four False Sanctum Chroma Giants stare down the strange lady with anger and rage...]
Dark Shadow: Come tyrants, I desire to take you all on at once.
[Next, they pounce at their target at the same time...]
Dark Shadow: Art of the Immortal Fist... Consecutive Venom Snake strikes.
[At Eridu, Rio is baffled by the sudden spike of power on the rooftop where the new weapon had appeared...]
Rio: (sweating face) Wh-What is this? A surge of energy is converging at Eridu?
Mili: Sword of Light: Atrahasis GALAXY NOVA! Fire!
*Sword of Light: Galaxy Nove fires* *BOOM*
[On her command, the ground Satellite-Cannon fires, sending a huge steam of energy 10x bigger than Arisu's Blinding Light straight towards the Ark. The crew and the enemy are shocked by the incoming attack, believing it will destroy the floating fortress...]
Himari: !! High-energy beam on route to the Ark. This power... it could destroy it!
Momoka: (panicked expression) Ah!! And us along with it!
Rin: Brace for impact!
[At the same time, Pseudos and Phrenapates react immediately to energy beam as it makes contact...]
Phrenapates: ...!
Pseudos: (long-range comms) ...! Evade!
*Explosion*
[The Galaxy Super Nova beam makes contact with the multidimensional superimposition state of the Ark. It penetrates clean through, damaging the field and disrupting the Ark's systems, but the fortress remains intact.
However... the laser keeps going and eventually makes contact with another target, the surface of the moon. At the dead center, the laser penetrates through the center of the moon and comes out the other side. After the attack dies down, the moon is left with a big hole from front to back while remaining in orbit and intact. From the surface, the students who saw the feat they witnessed become dumbfounded by the incredible destructive power. As a cloud Halo above Millennium is created from the aftermath, Mili stands sweating and nervous from what she had done...]
Mili: (sweating face) ...Aww crap.
[After the simultaneous attacks were over, the students recover and witness something unbelievable around them. The air was easier to breath in, the fog in their minds was starting to clear, and the sky, the crimson sky was pierced through. The five major districts possessed zones clear of the Chroma's erosion, like a ray of light shining through a storm, and above the clouds were five circles piercing through the crimson sky...]
[At the Shanhaijing district...]
Kokona: (closed eyes) Mmm... Why is it so bright?
Rumi: ...! Kokona! Open your eyes.
Kokona: What? (opens her eyes) ...! *gasp* Shanhaijing... It's all colorful again...
Rumi: The False Sanctums... They're gone too.
[At the D.U. district...]
Kanna: ...! (shocked face) What the- What in Kivotos is going on now!?
Kirino: Director Kanna! Look at the sky! There's a huge hole up there!
Kanna: (baffled expression) Not only that, the crimson red colors covering the district is gone too.
Fubuki: Does this mean we're saved?
[At the Millennium district...]
Neru: (confused face) Eh!? What happened?
Toki (Abi-Eshuh): Neru-senpai, it appears the Chroma's erosion has faded in this area, possibly due to the high energy blast originating from Eridu. I suspect it must have something to do with Rio-senpai.
Neru: Huh? How did you know that?
Toki (Abi-Eshuh): Simple, because I am the perfect maid.
Neru: *angry twitch* Why you...
[At the Hyakkiyako district...]
Michiru: (surprised face) Wah!! What the heck is going on!?
Tsukuyo: A-All the enemies, th-they started lighting on fire!
Michiru: I saw that. I want to know how!
Tsukuyo: N-No clue... But that fire felt different. I mean, it wasn't red, but a blue fire...
Izuna: Hmm...! Oh, oh! I know what it is!
Michiru: Hmm? What is it, Izuna?
Izuna: (sparkling eyes) ...It's ninjutsu! I'm positive!
[Meanwhile in the Gehenna Academy, the Prefect Team were mesmerized by the sudden display of the clear zone in their district area...]
Chinatsu: Head Prefect!
Hina: I see it. (deep thought) ...It looks like we're safe, for now.
Chinatsu: Who or what do you think caused this? Could it have been Sensei?
Hina: I don't know, but I intend to find out.
Gehenna Student A: AH!! What's that in the sky!?
Gehenna Students B: Incoming!
Hina: (surprised face) ...! Everyone take cover!
[Out of nowhere, a huge object falls from the sky and crashes into the half-built Pandemonium Society Diet building...]
*CRASH*
Iori: *cough* *cough* What was that!?
[After the dust settles, the unknown object that crashed in the academy becomes clear. A defeated Chroma Binah lies in the rumble. There appears to be two black wounds on it's body, one on the torso region and another on it's face. The Prefect Team look in awe at the False Sanctum that was causing trouble hour before now lie completely broken and beaten...]
Hina: (shocked face) It's... Binah.
Iori: Huh?! One of the False Sanctums? How'd it end up here?
Hina: (the direction Binah came from... The Abydos district?)
*Whoosh*
[Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind blows over the Gehenna students as a shadow flies past. Hina notices the shadow in the skies before it disappeared...]
Iori: Ah!! What now?!
Hina: (What was that just now? A flying UFO?)
[At the same time in the amusement park near the Trinity district, Hifumi walks through the shut down park alone. She passes by several shut down attractions that come to life through the Chroma's power, turning into automated defense units that launch attacks at her. Hifumi quickly runs for her life until she makes an unfortunate mistake...]
Hifumi: (running for her life) *huff* *huff* Ah! (trips and falls down)
[Hifumi trips down and scraps her knee. She loses track of her gun and her surroundings without realizing she was inside a dark tent...]
Hifumi: (struggles to get up) Ugh... Huh?
[As she gets up, she notices the presence of an unknown enemy in front of her. From the shadows, Chroma Goz appears with their scary smile and deranged eyes, staring down at Hifumi and striking fear into her heart. Hifumi falls backwards on the floor again and struggles to grab her gun...]
Hifumi: (terrified expression) Ah! Uh... My gun, where is it? (closes her eyes and cowers) Mmm...
[Hifumi cowers in fear, closing her eyes as Goz prepares to attack her. Suddenly, a falling object appears in the crimson sky and crashes through the ceiling of the carnival tent and lands on top of Chroma Goz, defeating them in an instant. Like a meteorite traveling through the sky, it breaks through the crimson erosion and leaves behind a ray of light from the hole in the clouds. Hifumi is taken aback by the sudden revelation and sees only dust...]
Hifumi: *cough* *cough* (Wh-What was that?)
???: (hearty laughter) Ah-HA-HA-HA!!!
Hifumi: (realization) ...!
[As Chroma Goz's defeated body disappears, the dust begins to settle and reveal a dark silhouette beneath. While the heart-warming laughter was familiar to Hifumi, the figure reveals herself to be a lady with a black turtleneck tank top that pronounces her sizable chest, long tan jeans with her black slippers, light blond hair tied into a bun while wearing pink lipstick, and large angel wings that cover almost all of her body. The lady stands before Hifumi, smiling, spreading her angel wings wide open, and shining under the ray of light from the open ceiling. Hifumi could only stare in awe as color and light return to her eyes...]
Rea: Aha-Ha-Ha-Ha! (smiling face) Hello angel~! Or should I say, I'm back~ Hifumi! (casually smiling and waving)
Hifumi: (speechless + in awe) ...
Rea: Hmm... I wanted our reunion to be a surprise, but MY! It appears I was the one surprised, finding the city in danger. Goodness, what has happened since my leave? I may have wished for revenge, but not like this.
Hifumi: R-Rea... (leaking tears)
Rea: ...?
[Before Rea could say another word, Hifumi jumps in and embraces Rea with a hug. Rea is unprepared by the sudden move as she is oblivious to what occurred in her absence. At the same time, tears begin to pour out of Hifumi's eyes as she is overflowing with emotions of reunion and hope...]
Rea: (surprised face) Oh!
Hifumi: (uncontrollable tears) *sob* Wah!!! La-Lady Rea!!! *sob* I...I MISSED YOU!!! Wahh!!!
Rea: (warming expression) Aww... Hifumi. (embraces Hifumi with a hug and wraps her with her large wings) *chuckle* I missed you too~.
To be continued... Episode 4: Safe Zones