The time shifts to the present.

To the moment when the boy carved open his destiny, and his friend became emperor.

“I will fight, against the World Union. They have declared war on our nation. The Empire will not lose—I promise you that.”

Road Earthguard, having conquered the Empire Sword Martial Festival, proclaims his ascension to emperor.

At the same time, he vows to repel the World Union’s declaration of war.

This morning, the World Union began their sortie toward Japan.

They were still out at sea for now, but by nightfall, the decisive battle was expected in the former Tokyo—the capital of the 13th Special District.

And with the Empire Sword Martial Festival concluded, the world shifts into an era of upheaval.

…

“Zeke! You’re going to fight? In Japan? Against the Japanese?!”

“Yeah, it’s Lord Road’s orders. We’re fighting.”

Issei Tanaka learns the truth.

The Asia Union and the EU have joined forces as the World Union.

And right now, their invasion to reclaim Japan has begun.

“B-but! The emperor! Lord Road! He promised to return Japan!”

“The situation has changed. Lord Road has chosen all-out war with the World Union. This is for our defense.”

“No way… Why… It was all a lie…”

Zeke pats the shoulder of the dejected Tanaka.

“War is coming. I’m an Earthguard Empire soldier. From now on, I’ll be defending Japan. What about you?”

“What do you mean, what about me…”

Then Zeke approaches Tanaka, scribbles something on a piece of paper, and hands it to him.

“You stay here. From this point on, it’s the warriors’ stage. So stay put and look after Mikazuki. And… this.”

What Zeke hands over is a single sheet of paper.

Written on it is…

“An address? This is a Japanese address… and a map? No way, this place is…”

Zeke nods at the question.

“Tanaka, even I can’t predict how the world will turn out now. But Mikazuki holds the potential to change this world. I’m counting on you. And that place… it’s my selfish request. If something happens to me, tell Mikazuki to go there with Reina.”

“Zeke…”

And with that, Zeke boards his KOG and takes off alone toward Japan.

To defend Japan from the World Union—from the Japanese themselves.

The disparity in forces was overwhelmingly against them. Road was on the move too, but he couldn’t mobilize the army right away.

Even so, as the one entrusted with Japan, he would defend it to the end.

…

“First, gather intel on the enemy. We don’t even know how many there are yet! And hurry up with the headcount of the garrison forces in the 13th District. Time’s short!”

“Understood!”

Road, now emperor, begins taking every measure he can with his subordinates.

But he could only move the bare minimum of troops.

If he mobilized large forces, Odin might launch a surprise attack.

Key nobles and many of Odin’s private soldiers had vanished without a trace.

Road knew they had relocated somewhere else the moment he became emperor.

(But to go this far in wrecking everything… You’re thorough where it counts, Brother.)

Odin had prepared a plan for defeat at the Empire Sword Martial Festival.

He was a mass of pride, but excellent enough to anticipate the worst-case scenario and act on it.

Thorough enough to scramble the chain of command so pursuit wouldn’t be easy.

But that meant…

(A coup will definitely happen somewhere…)

Only Road foresaw Odin’s rebellion in his heart.

That’s why he had to conserve forces now, including for the fight against Odin.

He couldn’t send substantial reinforcements to Japan. With enemy strength still unknown, it was unclear if they could even hold the defense.

“Grasping the domestic military strength too… Damn, Brother really tore everything apart.”

First, he had to assess what forces could actually be mobilized domestically.

Odin had taken just enough personnel to utterly disrupt the Earthguard military’s command structure.

“You lot! No time for sleep!! This is the real test. Three days! Get it together in three days! Or we won’t even be able to send reinforcements!”

“Yes, sir!”

…

◇ Kaguya’s Perspective

“How’s it feel?”

“Byakuren, so this is what you were talking about.”

Out at sea, atop the transport fleet, a young man calls out to the girl gazing at Japan.

“Yeah, pretty nice surprise, huh?”

“I’m not taking it from you. I’ll seize it back with my own hands. And…”

Kaguya eyes the more than twenty KOGs loaded aboard.

Including that dedicated machine in blazing fiery red.

“With this Fire God Kagutsuchi, I’ll definitely take it back. My personal machine—absolutely.”

“Yeah, the princess included, all thirteen Asian gods are out here this time. Plus EU’s Thor and their other heavy hitters. That guy’s strong. Even I’m not sure I could beat him.”

“That’s reassuring. You’re really going all out, aren’t you, World Union?”

“Yeah. Today’s battle is the signal flare for our counterattack. If we lose here, the world can never defeat the Earthguards again. That’s why we absolutely must win. I’m prepared to stake my life on it.”

Byakuren speaks not as his usual flashy pretty boy self, but with the stern face of the Asia Union’s military representative.

He understands full well what defeat in this battle would mean.

That’s why this reclamation operation must succeed at all costs.

“I get it. We absolutely have to win. That’s why…”

The girl understands it too.

With that, Kaguya gazes from the sunny sea at the distant landmass.

Her homeland, Japan.

The precious nation that was stolen, the land where she lost her dear brother, and…

(Kenya, I’ll definitely take it back… You protected me with your life, so watch over me.)

The place where the boy she loved so dearly had shielded her with his life.

“I’ll absolutely take Japan back.”

Red flames burn in her eyes.

Backed by an equally crimson KOG.

That red evokes Japan’s flag of red and white—the blazing sun disc, named for the fire god.

All that’s left is for the white to join it.

Whether that white lightning will be an ally, however, remains unknown.