Chapter 26: Chapter 21 - Queen of Barriers & Beats
"When the world was out of rhythm, she dropped the beat."
Scene 1: Road to Seoul
The morning haze clung to the cracked pavement as the team made their way toward Seoul. Once a neon-drenched city of idols, technology, and stardom, it now slumbered under layers of dust and ash.
Shojiro peered from the back of Karl's transformed Chariot Mode, muscles tensed with a strange anticipation. Ahead, half-collapsed signs still bore the silhouettes of pop stars and slogans from forgotten idol groups.
"Seoul," Karl muttered, checking the GPS overlay. "Former heart of Asia's entertainment. Now just another memory."
Max leaned on the window, his eyes reflecting the growing skyline, battered but proud.
"It was the loudest city in the world," he said. "Now it's quieter than a grave."
Morgz crossed his arms, scanning the horizon.
"Feels off," he said. "Like something's waiting for us."
Scene 2: Ghost City Seoul
They arrived at the outskirts by midday. The wind moved through empty streets like the breath of ghosts. Billboard screens flickered with glitched images of a smiling idol in a red outfit. Broken glow sticks littered the ground. Stages lay in ruins.
Shojiro stepped over a cracked album cover.
"I remember this place on TV. The energy... the people."
Karl looked around, his scanner blinking static.
"Nothing. No heat signatures. Not even scavengers."
Max's voice was low.
"No thunder. Just ghosts."
Suddenly, Morgz raised a hand.
"Guys... we're not alone."
Scene 3: Return of the VYTHRA-Eater
From the plaza's heart, shadows writhed. The VYTHRA-Eater returned, mutated and deadlier. It was larger now, with claws wrapped in sickly purple energy that pulsed with anti-regenerative corruption.
Shojiro dashed forward, his fist smashing into the creature's ribs. The hit landed—but his wound didn't heal. Blood dripped freely.
Karl's nanite pods launched missiles—only to be swallowed and absorbed by the demon.
Max loosed a bolt of black lightning. The creature bent the current around its body and hurled it back.
Shojiro staggered.
"My... wound. It's not healing."
Karl's eyes widened.
"It evolved... it's overriding Yggdrasil's regen link."
"We need to run," Morgz growled.
Too late. The demon lunged.
Scene 4: Enme Seiko Descends
A wall of light slammed into the demon's side, flinging it back. Another barrier hit from above. Then another. And another.
They stacked, layered, overlapped—until the VYTHRA-Eater was trapped in a cage of glowing plates, each one humming with divine resonance.
From the sky descended a figure in a mid-air spin, landing softly with one knee down, hand raised, surrounded by a soft golden shimmer.
Their outfit was a blend of torn idol gear and ceremonial cloth, glowing softly at the edges.Body slim, frame agile, eyes half-lidded in focused calm.
The boys instinctively thought the same thing.
"Is that... a dude?"
The stranger snapped their fingers. The barriers collapsed inward with a sharp chime, obliterating the demon into paste.
Silence fell.
Then they turned, brushing demon dust from their sleeves.
"Yo," they said casually. "Shrine maiden by blood. Idol by trade. Fifth Chosen. Creator Class. Primordial Aegira. You're welcome."
Shojiro blinked.
"Wait... you're Enme Seiko. The Enme Seiko."
Karl's voice faltered.
"I had your concerts in my archive… for educational purposes."
Max's jaw dropped.
"Didn't she— I mean, he— I mean…"
Morgz squinted.
"Wait… weren't you a guy?"
Enme paused, then tilted her head. "Huh? You thought I was a boy?"
She pointed to her chest.
"Does this scream 'boy' to you?"
The boys froze. Their brains short-circuited.
Then Enme smirked as a devilish idea bloomed in her mind.
"What? Still don't believe me? Wanna cope a feel?" While gesturing a squeezing motion with her hands
The boys' eyes went wide. Blood shot from Max's nose. Karl choked on air. Shojiro passed out for two seconds. Morgz's eyes rolled back.
"Just kidding," Enme said, turning with a wink. "But that was worth it."
Scene 5: Her Beauty Described
As she led them through the city, it became harder to deny the truth.
Enme Seiko wasn't just beautiful.
She was divine.
Her skin glowed faintly like porcelain under moonlight. Her wolf cut haired swayed with each movement, threading through the air like rippling ribbons of ink. Her eyes were sharp and heavy-lidded, glowing with light construct script. Even the way she walked—casual, confident—was magnetic.
Her voice shifted naturally between airy idol charm and commanding war maiden.
Shojiro whispered, "She's unreal."
Karl nodded like a machine. "Mathematically optimal appearance symmetry. My sensors are glitching."
Max muttered, "I've seen lightning storms less electrifying than her."
Morgz sighed. "She's the reason gravity exists. I'm calling it now."
Scene 6: Simpocalypse
Shojiro leaned over to Max.
"I think I'm in love."
Karl replied, deadpan.
"Same."
Max dropped to one knee. "Marry me."
Morgz growled. "Get in line. I called dibs."
Enme heard them all and laughed. "Please. I've got demons to crush before romance. But if you all fight to the death for me, maybe I'll consider it."
They weren't sure if she was joking.
But they all nodded anyway.
Scene 7: The Energy Returns
The streets of Seoul glowed faintly with Enme's seals as she led them deeper into the ghost city. Her constructs pulsed softly with rhythm, guiding their path like silent music notes.
Shojiro looked around, awe still painted across his face.
"I can't believe the queen of Seoul is a divine weaponsmith."
Karl grinned. "She sealed a VYTHRA-Eater like it was a warm-up act."
Max tilted his head. "And she's single. Probably."
Morgz stretched his shoulders. "This mission just became personal."
The ruins trembled.
But the team no longer felt afraid.
They had witnessed the wrath of the VYTHRA-Eater.
And they had seen a girl descend from the heavens and crush it with light.
The Queen of Seoul had returned.