Tamamo picked up and took a sip from her cup of tea as she read the foreign textbook. She picked up her fountain pen and started writing down runes and equations. On the other end of the table, her classmate Yukina just finished her food. They were in a small restaurant on the edge of the capital city of Kamagami.
“Hey Tamamo, have you decided where to go after we graduate?” Yukina asked as she turned her focus to the lake west of the city.
“Well, we don’t have much funding left. We might need work back in the Confederation after the next trip.” Tamamo replied just as she finished her work and closed the textbook, signaling an end to their long journey.
“It’s near the end huh, After two centuries of traveling around the world with you… well, I guess it’s millennia and seven centuries for you.” Yukina replied with a slightly sad expression as she recalled the past.
“Every journey will eventually come to an end, but mine is far from over. I’ll just start another a century or two later.” Tamamo replied as she paid the bill. “Someday, somewhere, there would be a solution and a way to save Alyce.”
“Are you still blaming yourself for what happened in Chaodis?”
“...”
“Sorry, I should not have brought that up.” Yukina turns her attention to the sky. Through the clear blue sky, it is possible to see the opposite side of the world, the far eastern region of the Kromarina continent.
“How about, the Imman Empires?” Yukina suggested their next study designation pointed at the sky.
“The Immans huh, the trio empires of mortals, the birthplace of Magitech.” Tamamo commented then she took another sip of tea.
“Even the Edem Administration is concerned about their Imperial expansions,” Yukina said quietly as she turned her focus to the artificial ring built by the sun.
“The administration is just as heaven is just. Immans are descendants of humanity, after all, they bear the 7 deadly sins.” Tamamo commented before letting out a sigh as she hugged her Ayakashi fox tail.

This is a world without a horizon, with terrain that curves up like the inside of a sphere. At the center, it’s the sun. Half of the sun is covered with an ancient artificial shell that regulates day and night. This world is inhabited by many mythological beings but humanity.
They would call this world Tectunia, a world inside Utopia.

The year is 1784 AD.

Ayakashi 0: Memories of Yukina - Tectunia Content

Two hundred years since the beginning of the Novoruskian, Rusenian, and Sikorskovian Imperial expansions. They are also known as Imman Imperialism. Despite their mortal biological property, the Imman had invented occult tools that allowed those without wasting decades of training to cast magic. These tools known as Magitech sparked an industrial revolution and allowed the Immans to disrupt the order of the mythologicals. In 1770 AD, shortly after the formation of the Kugonavna Coalition, the General Assembly of the Edem Gatekeeper Administration managed to create a temporary truce between the two.
According to old records, Immans was originally a human group of outcasts and refugees of the Novoroyskan Peninsula of the surface that certain gods took pity on and allowed to live in the mythological realm(Tectunia). To survive in the inner world, their biology was changed by the certain divine to adapt to the world of the inner core.
And now, more and more nations states, and political entities are growing unsatisfied with their expansionist behavior.
However, some rebellious factions or demonic-aligned geopolitical entities were indifferent or straight-right supportive of the Imman empires.
One such political entity is the Mansion State of Parascosmilium and its protectorate, the Ayakashi Confederation. Despite everything, they maintained normal relations with the Immans, at least for now.

March 7th, 1785. Urainaritetsugen, Ayakashi Confederation.
The sacred fortress capital on the side of Mt. Fushimi never stops emitting steam from its thousand chimneys. Powered by hot springs, the eternal capital of the Ayakashi Confederation watches over its realm. With the Kitsune, or fox spirits of harvest being the least affected by the corruption of human wishes, they had been the ruling class of the Confederation since its foundation. At the tallest point of the fortress sits a giant shrine surrounded by pools of hot sprints, which is the seat of power. Behind the grand shrine, there lies a port, an airship port on the side of the fortress wall. A Rusenian Imperial vessel had docked at the port.
“Tamamo look! This thing is massive!” Yukina pointed at the Magitech engines of the colossal airship. Tamamo stayed silent as she observed the pipes that went in and out of the hull. “Imman innovation is surely something,” Yukina commented as they went through customs.
After the two went passed customs checking, Tamamo followed the curious Yukina who quickly boarded the vessel.
“I think we should put our things in the room first, Yukina,” Tamamo suggested to stop Yukina from going exploring. Right after they’ve organized their belongings in their room, Tamamo follows Yukina around the ship as they explore the ship.
Not before long, the anchor was raised and the vessel began leaving Urainaritetsugen, leaving for Krisiov, the capital of the Rusenian Empire.
Yukina slammed open the hatch and got herself to the first deck. “Hurry up, Tamamo! We’re gonna miss it!” She called to her friend who was still walking up the stairs to the hatch, exhausted.
“Right. I’m coming.”

It was the first time Tamamo saw the world from the sky. The rice fields of the Ayakashi confederation turned into a giant carpet of green. And at the center of it, Mount Fushimi with a small fortress city on it. Everything became unbelievably small, or the world was unbelievably big. “I think that’s my house!” Yukina pointed at the outskirts of the capital.
“Hmm… yeah, probably,” Tamamo replied with uncertainty, she turned to Yukina and she was already gone, rushed off to somewhere.
“It is my house!” Yukina’s voice came from the other side, Tamamo quickly turned to the other side. She saw Yukina looking through the stationary device on the deck with two cylinders. During this period, Tamamo did not know the name of this device, she later found they were called binoculars in her study in Rusenia. From the start of this journey, Tamamo realized Yukina was enthusiastic about Immans technology to the point it became an obsession.

March 21st, 1785. Krislov, Capital of the Rusenian Empire.
Following Yukina, Tamamo arrived at the deck with her belongings. Covering the intense sunlight of the morning, Tamamo slowly exited to the outdoor deck. The scale of industrialization of the city shocked her to the core.
Giant gears tower over the massive clockwork city. Upon closer inspection, there were countless mechanical moving parts. It was as if the city itself was one living being.
To save expenses and experience the city, the two decided to walk to the Academy. Holding onto a paper map she got from the port, Tamamo led the way while she had to constantly make sure the curious Yukina didn’t run off to her own. Hundreds of airships filled the skies and thousands of Magitech-powered automobiles were on the road.
Not before long, Tamamo realized they were standing out due to their unusually light simple clothing. The locals were well dressed, complicatedly dressed. Multiple layers of clothes resume the surfacers in books. “We should dress like the Rusenians.” Yukina suggested. “Looks like a pain to put on,” Tamamo replied.
The towering complex was decorated with Magitech parts on the exterior. Clockwork machines divided the structure into many sections. In the garden, there was a statue of a titan supporting a three-dimensional compass that also pointed to the Inner Sun. The St. Ostorivskyy’s Insitute for Arcane Knowledge sits on the top after the capital's southern district. From here, one could easily see the Imperial Palace at the city's center.
After paper finishing the entrance paperwork at the office, the two were guided by a senior student to their dormitory.
“This is the first time I’ve seen an Ayakashi in the academy.” The senior student named Damir told them as they climbed the stairs.
“Well, we live on the other side of the world after all,” Tamamo replied.
“May I ask what faculty you two are entering?
“Faculty of Arcane Engineering.”
“Oh? That’s a difficult one to take.”

Damir showed Yukina to her room first, number 208. The room’s window faced the Imperial Palace, with a perfect view. Yukina’s attention was already absorbed into the window view not before long. “I’ll come drop by later,” Tamamo told Yukina before she and Damir left the room.

“I’m in the Faculty of Arcane Social Studies,” Damir said before he stopped at the end of the hallway. It was also where Tamami’s room was, number 209.
“I see.” Tamamo gave him a short reply before opening the door. The room was more or less the same as Yukina’s. A bathroom on the left, a kitchen on the right, and a bed next to the window.
“Well, then I’ll be going. I’ll see you two later in the dining hall.” He said before he left. Tamamo quickly unpacked her belongings and began to put clothes into the closet. Not before long she found herself lying on the bed, exhausted. Turning her head to the window, the sky was slowly turning purple. Realizing it was about time to meet up with Yukina, Tamamo pulled her lazy self out of bed and took the room key off the table.
Just before she reached for the doorknob, she realized she hadn’t checked the bathroom. It was said the Imman Empires had the most advanced plumping system at their time. Tamamo went and entered the mysterious bathroom. Assuming everything was powered by Magitech, Tamamo looked for a light switch in the bathroom.
After turning on the light, there was a bathtub and a type of toilet she had never seen before. Unlike the ones in the Ayakashi Confederation, this toilet had a lever on it. The strangest thing was no fireplace under the bathtub. Tamamo wondered if Immans takes cold baths.
Without thinking any much more, Tamamo headed for the door and left her room.

The dining hall was well decorated to welcome the first years. There were also displays of projects invented by graduates on the side of the hall. Tamamo and Yukina decided to take a look at those inventions and walk around the hall first because the two couldn’t figure out where to sit.
Tamamo took an interest in an incomplete anti-reality engine concept and stopped to flip through the thesis placed in front of the mechanism.
“Tamamo?” Yukina called from the front.
“I’ll catch up in a second.” She replied, Yukina nodded and went ahead.

“...The black mud that spilled from the Tainted Grail back then had a similar effect…” Tamamo muttered as she reminded herself of her ancient past and sins in Chaodis.

“Alyce…” Tamamo murmured the name of a certain someone she knew as she checked the name of the graduate. However, there was no name. There was simply a logo with an inverted apple.

Meanwhile, Yukina was getting tired of reading about the inventions, so she went to line up in the canteen. However, her tail accidentally knocked over some girl’s drink and it spilled onto her luxurious shirt.
“Ugh. What’s up with you!?” The girl and her friends yelled at her angrily. Yukina immediately apologized. The angry group of girls immediately stood up and on their guard, about to pick a fight. “First years huh? And by the looks of you… you’re not a local nor one from an allied realm.” One of them murmured.
“Is it because we are Immans so you’re looking down on us huh? Like the Gatekeeper Administration?” The girl with the stained shirt asked with ill intent.
“It was an accident, I swear.” Yukina tried her best to diffuse the situation. Unlike the other species of this world, the Immans are not born with special abilities. This was also what resulted in the development of arcane technology for Imman public use on an industrial scale.
Misunderstanding happens all the time between Immans and the other species. Yukina knew that and she kept trying to calm down the situation.
However, the group’s commotion caught other student’s interest. Naturally, the other students sided with their fellow Imman classmates. The other foreign students stayed quiet, so as not to cause any trouble.
“Hey fox girl, do you know who this is?” One of the girls asked as they pointed at the girl with the stained shirt.
“This is Anastasia of the Iashvili Family of Rusenia.” They announced. Now Yukina knew she had gotten into bigger rich girl trouble than she had expected.
“Now, now. I’m a very forgiving person. I’ll overlook this act of disrespect if you kneel before me.” Anastasia said.
“As expected of the princess of the Iashvili family!” Parts of the crowd commented as they cheered. Knowing that was the quickest way to solve this potential diplomatic issue, Yukina slowly got her knees down on the floor. However, before her knees fully touched the floor, someone pulled her from behind and held onto her collar like a mother cat carrying a kitten.
“Looks fun, what are you all doing?” Tamamo asked with a menacing smile, she released Yukina as she interrupted the crowd.
“And you’re?” Anastasia asked as she tried to intimidate Tamamo.
“Shouldn’t you introduce yourself first before asking another’s name? Young Miss?” Tamamo replied sarcastically.
“I’ve already introduced myself earlier… Oh, I feel sorry for you, even though you have those large fox-like ears, it is truly unfortunate you are deaf.” Anastasia also replied sarcastically.
“The name is Tamamo no Mae. If there are any disputes, I think we should settle this on our first day. As it may affect our academic performance if we drag this till class starts.” Tamamo introduced and suggested as she took off her left glove, implying a duel.
“A mere first year challenging a second year? Very well. The upperclassman must correct the mistakes of the newbies.” Anastasia replied, she took out a mechanical wand as she took off her glove, about to drop it onto the floor.
“Time out!” A loud voice interrupted the two parties. Soon the crowd began to make way for a guy who looked like a second year. It seemed that a person’s appearance was a surprise to everyone. Even Anastasia was surprised, she quickly changed her expression to a more welcoming one.
“Markus of House Novak of Garucia. May I ask what brings you here?” She asked politely. Rusenia Empire was a combination of Rusenia in the west and Garucia in the east, an elective monarchy. And House Novak was related to the Garucia royal family.
At the time Tamamo noticed the change of tone in Anastasia’s wording. Perhaps it was merely a political mannerism, or perhaps Anastasia had a crush on Markus. She couldn’t figure that out even in the end.
With Markus, the misunderstanding was quickly resolved, and everyone returned to their dining table.
“Are you two alright?” Markus asked Tamamo and Yukina.
“Yeah, thank you,” Yukina replied while Tamamo looked away.
“The professors will soon make an announcement. Have you two found a seat.?”
“Uhhh…” Yukina looked at Tamamo. And Tammao rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Well… if that’s the case, why don’t you two come over here and sit with us?” Markus suggested. The two had no reason to refuse, so they followed Markus to the second-year’s table.
“Oh, you two!” A familiar voice called out. It was Damir.
“You two already met Damir?” Markus asked, and Yukina explained their encounter earlier.
Despite Markus being in the faculty of Arcane Engineering, it seemed Damir and Markus were good friends. Perhaps they knew each other below the academy.
The three were very talkative, with only Tamamo being the quiet one. Tamamo knew, unlike the long-living species they’d met during their journey. Immans can only live up to 60 years. Making a close connection with them would only bring pain later on, as she experienced this firsthand a millennia ago with humans.
“You’re in Arcane Engineering as well!?” Yukina asked to confirm with Markus.
“I’m in 2nd Year. If there’s anything you don’t know. You can ask me.” Markus replied. Yukina accepted his offer and thanked him.
And so their Arcane Academy life was off to a little rough start.

Every day after the lecture, Yukina would join Markus’ study group while Tamamo studied alone, as she searched the institute’s library every day. Searching for anything related to the inverted apple insignia. She thought she could find something within the first month or two. But the institute’s library was simply too big. Due to Tamamo’s common presence in the library, she was sometimes mistaken for the librarian’s assistant. Tamamo also slowly noticed Yukina and Markus grew closer and closer during their time in the dining hall as the days went on. She also noticed Anastasia began to glare at their group, probably out of jealousy. Yukina’s academic score soon surpassed her other classmates, including Tamamo. This was probably a result of her desire to catch up to Markus. Tamamo did not understand what Yukina saw in Markus. Nevertheless, she continues her search in the library.

Then one day, Anastasia came to the library for Tamamo.
“You.”
“You.”
The two greeted each other with hostility when their gaze met. The two glared at each of their guards. Then Tamamo broke the silence as she put the book back on the shelf.
“You want to continue what we started?” Tamamo asked, implying their long-due duel.

And of course, Anastasia who had high pride would not refuse such an invitation. And so the two went to the courtyard with their weapon of choice. Anastasia brought a Magitech staff of her creation. While Tamamo brought a Magitech staff she made recently in class, one that resembles a Khakkhara. Both were powered by an arcane crystal battery. Unlike sorcery from the Confederation, where talismans and faith are the consumables. The arcane battery is the consumable here, this was what allowed the Immans to use sorcery without being acknowledged by human beings on the surface.

Anastasia started igniting the leaves around the staff’s IS field, she then increased the temperature within the field as she sealed the oxygen from the outside of the field. After that, she points her staff at Tamamo before allowing oxygen to flow into the IS field again. As a result, a controlled stream of fire backdraft was directed at Tamamo.
“The heck?” Not understanding what Anastasia did, Tamamo quickly leaped and dodged the stream of fire. She had never seen such a controlled explosive stream of hot gas that was capable of accurate aim.
Before Tamamo could figure out what Anastasia did, another stream of fire was fired at her. She quickly got up and dodged the attack. Anastasia was not giving her time to think at all.
“What’s wrong? Have you been paying attention in class?” Anastasia mocked her as she continued her attack.
Using her staff, Tamamo levitated rocks and threw them at Anastasia. However, those rocks were stopped by Anastasia by they reached her.
Tamamo was puzzled at how Anastasia managed to continuously fire at her without worrying about her arcane battery. She then levitated more rocks and had them shape each other before vibrating the sharpened rocks at ultrasonic and firing them.
Anastasia was surprised at how fast Tamamo was learning and coming up with new tricks. Instead of blocking her attack, she dodges them. She then smiled as the fire at the tip of the staff was compressed and continuously heated until it turned purple. It was a state of matter Tamamo had never seen before, nor did it have a name given to it yet. It was plasma.
Using methods unknown to Tamamo at the time, Anastasia fired a stream of purple gas at her.
The fox girl leaped and dodged as she created a shield from rocks on the ground. The heat beam melted the surface of the shield. Tamamo acknowledges Anastasia’s talent and knowledge were far superior to her. However, Tamamo had one more trick to try. She stood up and rushed toward Anastasia in close range. “What are you- This is a battle of Arcane-” Before Anastasia could finish, Tamamo clashed her staff with Anastasia’s. The IS field on their staff was interfering with each other, however Anastasia’s one still has fire in it. “You- are you trying to hijack-”
“Precisely,” Tamamo replied as she adjusted the frequency and wavelength of her IS field to interfere with Anastasia’s.
“Get off me, you stupid fox! This is a barbaric way of combat!” Anastasia yelled as the flame on top of her staff grew intensely before shooting into the skies.
Tamamo realized if she failed to reach the requirement, Anastasia’s staff’s IS field might lose control of the flame, putting both of them in danger. So she decided to copy both the frequency and wavelength but flipped its value. Creating a complete destructive interference. The more Anastasia uses the staff’s arcane battery, the more arcane it neutralizes.
Not belong long, the battle was over.
Tamamo who had reserved her battery had won by a tiny margin, as cancelling out Anastasia’s attack also required the same amount of energy.
“You’re insane. That could’ve caused an uncontrolled explosion.” Anastasia complained.
“Sigh. So. Why are you here.” Tamamo asked as she lay down on the ground.

It turned out Anastasia wanted to know the relationship between Markus and Yukina. Which, Tamamo also doesn’t know much about it. “What? Jealous?”
“O- Of course not!” She replied.
Tamamo slowly got up, but a book dropped out of her bag.
“Club records?” Anastasia asked after she saw the title of the book.
Tamamo thought for a second, Anastasia was the last person she wanted help from. However, there was no progress in her research for half a year. It won’t hurt to ask, would it? That was what Tamamo thought.

“According to legends that project belongs to a mysterious study group called ‘Revision’. There should be a record of their existence in the Club records… however, it’s well known the names of the members have been crossed out. To be honest, I think it’s something the professors made up.” Anastasia explained as she directed Tamamo to turn the pages.
It was there. A strange club named Revision, with all member names crossed out.
“Why did you want to know about them anyway?” Anastasia asked as she followed Tamamo who ignored her after she got her answer.
“Hey, animal! Don’t you have any manners? You’re talking to a noble!”

And also, due to unexpected circumstances and their common goal of separating Yukina and Markus. They two became close rivals, who would fight each other from time to time. This also caused a distance to grow between Damir, Markus, and Yukina’s group and Tamamo.

“Forget about him. Yukina.” Tamamo said. The two were taking shelter from the rain in a park outside the Institute. “Yukina. You’re an Ayakashi.”
“So what if I am!?” Yukina argued back.
“You cannot fall in love with a human. If you do, you will become truly alone.”
“Who decided that? Isn’t that just your own experience and opinion?”
“Yukina!”
“What right do you have to scold me? You made your human immortal, didn’t you? Frozen in time! At the cost of-” Before Yukina could finish, Tamamo slapped her and looked away.
The two stayed silent and reflected on themselves as they waited for the rain to stop.

Despite Tamamo’s warning. Eventually, Yukina went out dating Markus in their second year. Markus also found out about Tamamo against their relationship, but he did not understand why. Which resulted in Tamamo no longer eating at the dining hall.

Tamamo continued her research on Revision with help from Anastasia from time to time. She eventually tracked down an old manuscript stored in the deeper part of the library. It was a documentation of all projects and research done by Revision. The document like others was also nameless. Tamamo concluded her search and copied the manuscript before returning it to the library.

For the next two years, Tamamo lost interest in Arcane Engineering, she only studied to graduate. After they entered 3rd year, Tamamo would rarely interact with Yukina and Markus. However, from time to time, Tamamo would hear noises from her walls that distract her from writing her research assignments.
As the days of being a student at the institute come to an end. The geopolitical tension between the Imman Empires and the surrounding nations began to rise. Fewer and fewer exchange students came every year. While Tamamo can’t say for the other two Imman nations, Rusenia was starting to heat up with military parades.

In the end, Yukina decided to stay with Markus after graduation. Tamamo eventually gave up on separating them. However, she did ask them to go back to the Ayakashi Confederation with her, as war was coming. Yukina refused, as she liked life in Rusenia.

1789, February, 20th, Tamamo returned to Urainaritetsugen of the Ayakashi Confederation. As usual, every few decades, to prepare for the next journey, Tamamo had to pick up a job to get travel expenses. With her knowledge and status, she managed to enter the exorcist corps of the Ayakashi Confederation.
Unlike the stable deities of other nations. The beings of the Ayakashi Confederation’s identity are considered unstable. Due to the Ayakashi being easily influenced and corrupted by human interruption and evil wishes. The Confederation formed the exorcist corps to purge all contaminated residences and reincarnate them. While it’s called a confederation, in reality, it was the Kitsune race that does the governing. Due to them being the icon of harvest, they were the most stable and suitable spirits for the job.
The cleansing of contamination used to be difficult, and at the cost of many lives. This was due to the purification ritual could only be done at a close range with blessed blades and ritual circles. However…

December 1st, 1792 AD. Huci, Ashihara no Kuni, Ayakashi Confederation
“Ready your positions!” The commander ordered his soldiers as Tammao watched from behind in the storm.
The exorcist corps all formed a horizontal line with a stick-like weapon pointed at the corrupted deity at the other end of the street. Buildings were destroyed and many residents were casualties, this fiend had a long-range IS field, and it would be considered a difficult opponent.
“Fire!” The commander ordered.
The exorcist corps pulled the trigger the moment the gas meter on their weapon reached critical. The stick-like weapon released projectiles with a sound of explosion, directed toward the enemy. Those were steam-powered muskets. Projectiles contained Atsuryokumizu, a mineral found in the holy hot spring water from the Grand Shrine. The fiend collapsed onto the ground after being hit, then its corpse started to vaporize into the air.
“Well, it certainly seemed the Tangegashima you’ve invented worked.” The commander complimented Tamamo’s achievement.
“With this, contamination would be easier to deal with at a long distance. And require less training compared to our old ways.” Tamamo replied as she shook the commander’s hand.

Based on the Revision’s notes, Tamamo was able to complete the first Anti-Reality Levitation Engine by feeding Corrupted Atsuryokumizu to pieces of flesh kept alive in a container. By limiting the wavelength and frequencies, Tamamo's research team was able to limit its chaotic IS field to enter a negative value for gravity. Due to the tension between the Gatekeeper Administration and the Imman Alliance. Tamamo’s invention brought the High Priestess’s attention, she ordered the construction of dragon-hunting warships.

Within a short time of two years, five Takamagahara-Class Light Battleships entered service. These green wooden airships were equipped with two Corrupted Atsuroykumizu Levitators. Equipped with two 26cm triple gun mounts and ten 20cm secondary guns. Due to spiritual pollution emission from the engine, the engine unit is protected by ceramic walls. However, the primary weapon was the exorcist firing squad’s muskets. The improvement of the Tanegashima musket was done by adding a talisman and having it directly connected to the ship’s Atsuryokumizu deposit. It would amplify the purification effect by changing the shape of the IS field to a cone, allowing it to take down colossal enemies.

Tamamo was promoted to captain of the Tanikaze. The second ship of the Takamagahara-Class.

April 26th, 1797 AD. Outskirt of Garucia, Rusenian Empire
“Is that what you’ve been up to?” Yukina laughed at Tamamo’s naval uniform.
“Well as a priestess candidate, I didn’t have any choice. Plus… it was Wlefvelia Nio who suggested it… sigh.” Tamamo muttered as she drank the sake aggressively. Yukina and Markus were married. Unfortunately due to naval affairs, Tamamo could not attend their wedding. While the relationship between Yukina and Tamamo had been repaired. Markus still distrusts Tamamo. This was understandable for Tamamo with the history of her being against their relationship and probably misunderstood her for not being able to attend their wedding. After they graduated, not chasing after power, the two settled on a farm owned by the Novak family.
“I heard you became an inventor back in the Confederation,” Yukina asked to confirm.
“Yeah, I guess,” Tamamo replied as she poured sake onto the choko sake cup. The door to the hallway suddenly creaked open. And a child look peeked through the gaps.
Tamamo paused for a moment to collect her thoughts.
“Is that kid who I think she is?” Tammao asked Yukina in confusion. Yukina turned to the door and looked, and then she signaled the child to enter.
“Come here, introduce yourself to Tamamo,” Yukina said to the child as she lifted her to her lap.
“Yura Novakova. I’m Four.” The child said.
“Yukina!? You had a kid before you were married?” Tamamo asked and Yukina responded by laughing at Tamamo’s surprised expression.

November 11th, 1799 AD. General Assembly, Gatekeeper Administration, Edem
“There is no reason for us to intervene in regional affairs. The formation of this organization was to govern the gate to the surface world. Nations rise and fall all the time, there is no reason to fund mercenaries for the Kugonavna Coalition Rusenia.” Wlefvelia Nio of Paracosmilium argued from the speaker’s platform. The responses were negative.
“The world is a giant organism. We must help those in need, think of it as building a better Tectunia.” The opposition from Penglai replied.
“I don’t remember we found this organization to be a world government. Penglai.” Nio replied.
“We don’t need opinions of those who are not of high heaven.”
The majority voted for the Administration to fund mercenaries for the Kugonavna coalition. In which the number of enemies the Immans had only increased.

On February 1st, 1800 AD. Rusenia, Novoruskia, and Sikorskov did the unthinkable. The Imman fleet had led a surprise attack and had taken over the Inner Core and its day-night regulating shell. Demanding a seat in the Gatekeeper Administration, as well as cease funding mercenaries in Kugonavna.

February 14th, 1800 AD. General Assembly, Gatekeeper Administration, Edem
“The Celestial Emperor and much of the Heavenly Court of Penglai proclaims support for the Gatekeeper’s Administration, ruling that the 3 Imman nations acted in insolence and bound by human sin. Humans were never meant to be within the realm of gods and were only let in out of divine pity, but returned that pity with greed and betrayal. In favor.” The Penglai representative spoke as they pressed the green button.
“Heaven is Just. In favor” a representative of another nation proclaimed as they voted.
Soon, most celestial-aligned nations voted in favor of the purge of Immans from Tectunia. The seats of Paracosmilium, Ayakashi Confederation, and a few nations were empty. Their representative did not attend the assembly. This would be known as Bloody Valentine in history.

An ultimatum was sent to the Ayakashi Confederation by the Gatekeeper Administration. Demanding them to assemble their forces to retake the Inner Core. Having no choice, the 3rd Exorcist Fleet was sent to battle with the Imman Navy.

May 20th, 1800 AD, East of Rusenian Airspace, Inner Core High Orbit
“Sikorskov battle group spotted at 1!” The lookout shouted through the speaking tubes to the bridge.
“Use Arcane Signals to demand their surrender,” Tamamo ordered from the map table.
“But our orders were to sink any Imman ships…”
“Do it.”
The Tanikaze uses light signals on the Sikorskov ships, demanding their surrender. However, in response, they returned fire.
“20 to dive, 10 to starboard!” Tamamo ordered the moment she saw sparks coming from the Imman vessel. An explosion could be felt from the tail of the Tanikaze.
“Damage report!” The Haruto, the XO shouted through the speaker tubes.
“Secondary 10 and 5 are done. Section 7 is on fire.” The officers reported through the tubes.
“Damn it. Get the fire under control. We’ll dive under the clouds for cover-” Haruto ordered but he was stopped by Tamamo.
“Get the Exorcist Firing Squads on the deck. Max output to the Tanegashima musket relay stations.”

On the deck, a group of shrine maiden Ayakashi with cabled muskets got into positions. Magic circles could be seen appearing in front of their muskets.

“Idiotis” Tamamo murmured while looking at the Imman warship before giving the signal to fire.
The destructive energy that was fired from the muskets was amplified by the tampering with the engine’s IS field. In a bright flash, the Imman warship was in flames. Tamamo and the bridge officers saluted to it.
“Sigh. Not a single one of them wants to surrender.” Haruto commented as he looked at the sinking Imman warship.
“Well. The administration did say to purge them…They won’t come to terms with us anymore.” Tamamo replied as she walked away from the window. Looking at the map on the table, they were getting closer to Rusenia core territory.
“Unusual IS Field distortion signature from above, the origin is probably from the Inner Core!” The radar officer suddenly reported, interrupting the silence.
“What-” Before Tamamo could say it, a bright light landed in the direction of Rusenia. A giant explosion followed, then a blue mushroom cloud. The shockwave hit the Tanikaze and destroyed some of her secondary guns.
“What the hell was that,” Haruto asked the scouts through the speaker tubes.
“No idea! It’s from Administration fleet i Inner Core Low orbit.”

Tamamo and Haruto rushed to the outside deck and looked up at the Inner Core of Tectunia. Tracing where it was fired from a group of hooded Administration beings were in ritual position in mid-air.
“Barbarians,” Tamamo muttered as she glared at the hooded figures. Just when the hooded beings were chanting for a second strike, three Imman ships charged into the ritual circle and disrupted their work.
Using this chance, Tamamo rushed back onto the bridge and carefully inspected the map.
“Maintain current course! We’ll now conduct a recuse operation.”
“Captain, that’s Imman Territory,” Haruto argues against it.
“Not anymore,” Tamamo replied just as the clouds cleared, what’s left of eastern Garucia was in flames.

(Optional BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9xLk4OLIak)

May 20th, 1800 AD. Outskirt of Garucia, Rusenian Empire
It was a sea of flame, nothing was left of the nearby village, plantation. Protected by its IS field, the Tanikaze docked at one of the surviving ports.
“Move!” Tamamo ordered as she pushed officers out of her way, exiting the ship.
They ran to the village center, nearly every building had collapsed. Burnt corpses were everywhere on the ground. However, there were survivors. Tamamo immediately ordered her crew to take the survivors away as ran toward the farms.
Left and right, the crops were on fire.
Arriving at the Novak residence, the house had already collapsed and its debris was in flame. “Yukina!?” Tamamo shouted, looking for a response as she took out a compact arcane wand to start removing the burning debris.
“Stupid Markus!? Yura!?” She called as a step into what used to be the kitchen. “Yukina!?” She called once more. Using both her hands and arcane, Tamamo started removing the debris frantically. She closes her eyes and focuses in listening for the sound of breath in fiery noise.
There was a faint sound of someone alive in the house. Tamamo immediately turned over and started removing the debris.
“Yuki- …na..” Tamamo called, but she was shocked by the sight of the debris. Yukina was found protecting her unconscious child. However, Yukina’s lower body was nowhere to be found.
Tamamo checked Yukina’s vitals, but there was no response. Tamamo let out a sigh and carried Yura out of the debris.
“Markus!?” Tamamo shouted and checked for Markus, but there was still no response.

“Captain!” A voice shouted from above. Tamamo quickly turned to the source of the voice. Her ship the Tanikaze was approaching, and Haruto was shouting at her from the lower deck.
“We got to hurry! There’s an Imman ship approaching!”

After getting back on the ship, Tamamo left Yura in the medical bay with the rest of the survivors who were being treated before rushing back on the bridge.
“What’s the situation?” She asked Haruto.
“Single Rusenian Battleship approaching from 10.”
“It’s not reinforcement?”
“Unlikely.”

Tamamo took out her binoculars and tried to see the Rusenian ship for herself in the dense ashen skies. The Imman ship was flying the Iashvili family’s flag. “Anastasia,” Tamamo murmured
“Signal them, we meant no harm, this is a recuse operation,” Tamamo ordered, knowing Anastasia’s pride would never surrender.
“Captain! We can’t-”
“Haruto, write whatever the living crap about me you want in the report. But now, follow these orders.”

The Tanikaze began to use light signals in an attempt to communicate with the Iashvili’s ship. But there was no response, and the Imman ship began to aim their guns at the Tanikaze.
“It’s no use… Get the Exorcist Corps on deck!” Haurto ordered.
Tamamo rushed to the door on the side of the bridge and went outside.
“Anastasia!” Tamamo shouted at Imman's vessel. However, the Imman warship began firing.
“Maximum Speed! Hard to port! Dive! Dive! Dive!” Haruto immediately ordered in response to the attack.
“Aim for the guns and fire!” Tamamo ordered the Exorcist Corps. A stream of hot gas accompanied by a magic circle flew through the burning landscape and landed on the main guns of the Imman warship, destroying their weapons.
However, while all their weapons were destroyed they were heading for a collision course with the Tanikaze.
“Anastasia! Don’t make me do this.” Tamamo murmured, she then gave the order to fire at the Imman ship’s arcane engines.
The sound of rapid arcane release from the damaged engine could be heard from the Imman vessel, however its momentum remained. With survivors on board, Tamamo could not risk negotiating with the Iashvili ship anymore.
“You are an annoyance till the very end, Anastasia.” Tamamo murmured and she ordered to destroy the incoming Imman ship.

Hours after the Tanikaze retreated from Rusenian territory. Markus regained consciousness and crawled out of the debris. “Yukina? Yura?”

In October 17th, 1800 AD. The War of Retribution ended with a bloody genocide of 97% of the Imman population. Rusenia, Novoruskia, and Sikorskov have now disputed wasteland temporarily governed by the Administration. Nations that supported or stayed neutral during the conflict were democratically punished by depriving them of light from the Inner Core for the next century.
However, it was not over. Near the end of the war, there was a resurgence group of Imman extremists that had successfully opened a gate to the surface world. The Administration had sent abominations to track the group down. However, one Imman managed to escape. His name was Markus Novak, and he was wanted by the Gatekeeper Administration.

Due to the huge casualties of the War of the Third Coalition, the influx of the dead was far beyond what Tectunia was capable of handling in a sudden. This resulted in a rebellion or strike against the Administration’s work ethics for the Underworlds. With Markus Novak still in mind after a century. The Administration launched Project Horus to send spies into the human world in order to better prepare for an influx of dead and to locate Markus Novak. Breaking ancient non-interventionist oaths that the founding members upheld millennia ago.
To continue her search for a way to save Alyce, Tamamo had to join the Administration’s Project Horus to return to Chaodis. And she did, she entered the gates in 1924 AD, the eve of the Kjanuan-Impeckan War under a new name. Kaguya Fushimi.

But that’s a story for another time.

Epilogue
Main Elevator Shaft, Student Council Sanctum, Minervaindexca; 0.0_2.1;13/04/2024
“Iridescence is certainly cruel, don’t you think so, Eudokia? But shouldn’t you tell Yura the truth, Kaguya?” Pina asked while she lay on the seats of the elevator after hearing Kaguya’s story. But the Student Council President did not answer. All three of them wore the SSS inverted apple armband.
“Telling her what? Her father became a terrorist?” Kaguya replied.
“Kaguya. Our paths align, however, our goals are not the same.” Eudokia redirected the conversation as she looked out at the elevator’s window. They were heading deep underground.
“Either way, using the Tainted Grail would catch the Administration’s attention,” Kaguya replied looking out the window as well.
“To save one at the cost of a hundred million. Or a hundred million at the cost of one. Worry not, I would certainly be the witness and archive it in history.” Pina interrupted the two.
“I don’t remember we ever had a Nephilim P(rotoype)-7. Shut up, imposter.” Kaguya replied, finding Pina to be annoying. “It’s the only Type P(retender), show some respect, fox,” Pina replied as her dark halo with an eye hologram appeared above her head.
“You-”
“She is vital to our plans. Kaguya.” Eudokia added.

The elevator stopped at the bottom level. It was incredibly dark. There was no way to tell where the walls or even the ceiling was. It was just a void.
Eudokia took out her flashlight and led the way into the darkness.
“What is this place,” Kaguya asked. Then suddenly with Pina snapping her fingers, the lights were on. What was before Kaguya was a colossal statue-like object made of unknown material. Its design bears some resemblance to a Nephilim mainframe.
“Ah… I see it has already grown to this stage.” Pina commented acting like it was a surprise.
“When did you start building this thing,” Kaguya asked Eudokia after she noticed the Tained Grail was acting as the heart of the colossus.
“Isn’t it amazing. The technology of the Harvesters?”
“Eudokia, don’t tell me you-”
“The United Pupatorian Synchronized Intellect destroyed The Iridescence. However, we have it in control with the help of your proposed IDM Field theory. We have to thank you for that, Kaguya.” Eudokia replied coldly, paused, and took a deep breath.
“To be honest, I can’t relate to you. Saving a single girl from two millennia ago seems more important to you than saving 148 million lives.” Eudokia continued.
“...”
“However, until the time comes, I assume you will aid me in completing this ultimate Editor device?” Eudokia reached out her hand to Kaguya.
Kaguya hesitated, but Pina sneaked up behind her and grabbed her hand, forcing her to shake Eudokia’s.
“To Miotia-Candor” Eudokia said, pressuring Kaguya to change her goal.
“To the testament of human wisdom,” Pina said, implying to overthrow of the natural order.
After hearing the two’s own goals. Kaguya finally made up her mind.
“For Alyce Chaodis.”

All the chess pieces were in their places. Pina let a small smirk.
“Will divinity achieve humanity first or will divinity achieve humanity first? Let the race begin.” Pina proclaimed with a devious smile.

Tigritsa Mountain Range, Rouvskia Empire, September 12th, 1800 AD
The snowstorm had no sign of stopping. However, one man cursed with immortality climbed out of the forgotten ruins deep inside the mountains. Looking for civilization, for warmth.
“Yura…”

Next: UKMC III Minervaindexca

Chronological Order
-Ayakashi 0
-UKMC Zero
-UKMC I Civil War Arc
-UKMC I Far-East Yotsubishi Arc
-UKMC I Sepranta Tree arc
-UKMC I Akima Arc
-UKMC II Miraculium Arc
-UKMC AS Songstone Arc
UKMC III Nephilim: Aurea of Light

Further Information can be found in #rias-zone of NU discord
Old posts can be found in dispatch and factbook.