Time rewinds a little—to the third day of the Japan Defense Battle, before the sun had risen.

“An unfamiliar ceiling.”

The boy who finally got to say the words everyone dreams of uttering once in their life, in the perfect situation, opened his eyes.

“Good morning, Kenya.”

“Tanaka-san!”

“How are you feeling? You were pumped full of some pretty heavy meds… You had pneumonia, so take it easy, alright?”

Kenya glanced around the room.

This was the infirmary—a private suite, and ridiculously luxurious to boot.

Probably the kind reserved for nobility. Had Road pulled some strings?

“My stomach’s a little queasy, and I’ve got a headache, but otherwise, I’m good!”

“Haha, you’ve been out for nearly three straight days. It’s been three days since the Empire Sword Martial Festival wrapped up.”

“That long… Where do I even start? What’s going on with the world?”

Had Road become emperor? If so, what happened to Odin?

Kenya sat up slowly as he grilled Tanaka on the global situation.

“Yeah, I’ll fill you in on everything.”

Tanaka laid it all out—everything he knew.

Road ascending to the throne. The World Alliance launching their war.

And then…

“Reina went alone!?”

To rescue her father, she’d headed off to the 13th District by herself.

“Yeah, just this morning. In Aphrodite, her personal ride. She’ll be there in a few hours.”

(A world war… Kaguya and Reina fighting each other… No way. That’s absolutely not happening.)

“Tanaka-san! Takemikazuchi!”

“Huh? Oh, uh, it’s still at the arena… No one else can pilot it worth a damn.”

“Lend it to me!”

“Wait, what’re you—? You can’t mean…”

“What else? It’s obvious.”

Kenya leaped out of bed.

“I’m here to save the heroines. I came to this world to change it all.”

◇Before Deployment: Road and Zeke’s Conversation◇

“Zeke, command’s yours. If it looks hopeless, pull back immediately. Japan matters, no doubt… but we don’t have eyes on their full strength, and I can’t lead from the front.”

“Understood. But we’ll dig in. To the bitter end. Holding here gets us way closer to your goal, Lord Road.”

“…I still need you around. Don’t go dying on me.”

“For the world’s sake… this life’s not worth sparing.”

“Lord Road, I’ll fight. With my life on the line.”

Time snaps back to the Japan Defense Battle—early morning on the third day.

Staring down the enemy KOGs before him, Zeke opened a chat channel.

“The reports were spot on. Didn’t expect both of you here on this battlefield.”

Zeke Silfield faced them head-on.

“Long time no see, Military God Zeke. You slipped away last time, but you’ll atone for torching my homeland right here.”

“First time for me, Military God. Name’s Byakuren. Burn it into your memory—the man who’s gonna kill you.”

The EU’s top pilot, Thor the Thunder God, in his lightning-yellow Mjolnir.

Asia’s ace, Byakuren, riding the flowing-river-blue Seiryu.

And one more.

A girl in a blazing red machine, squaring off against him.

It happened just as they tried pushing back the recaptured front line.

Zeke was bound to counter.

Just as Byakuren’s squad predicted—the Military God arrived, leading his unit.

“Zeke-san! Damn it! Not yet!!”

Zeke’s forces got pinned by the World Alliance’s overwhelming numbers—more than double.

But Zeke’s rallying command had boosted them to parity.

“Heh. For an old-timer like you to come all this way just to die by my hand… A knight couldn’t ask for more.”

“No need to downplay it. Lose you, and this line crumbles for sure. You’re the linchpin—the Military God’s reputation and the man himself.”

Byakuren had nailed it.

Holding out three days was a morale miracle.

Largely thanks to Zeke, beloved by every last subordinate.

Zeke led from the front, risking life above all.

To keep him alive, to protect him—they all fought.

The whole army, hearts set on defense, formed an ironclad bastion against the Alliance onslaught.

But flip that around…

“Exactly. You’re the Military God. Break you, and it’s done. Pick up where we left off last time. Let’s go!!”

Zeke falling meant losing their reason to hold.

The Earthguard forces would collapse.

Thor snatched the massive hammer from his back, blitzing in at lightning speed.

Mjolnir’s signature weapon dominated multi-foe brawls, rampaging across the field.

One-on-one? Still devastating—one hit an undefendable crusher for any grunt.

That colossal hammer bore down to smash Zeke.

Any average knight? Dead on impact.

Average knights, anyway.

“Hmph!”

Zeke parried—the Military God, empire’s elite, batting away the killing blow.

Softness conquers hardness.

Aikido fluid: sword cradling the hammer, flowing it right back.

Too refined for KOG—a master’s art.

Zeke, barehanded virtuoso, mirrored it perfectly in-machine.

Kaguya whispered at the sight.

“Strong… Way stronger than me, no question, right now.”

Her read: beyond Asia’s 13 Gods—herself included, all of ’em.

Zeke Silfield was overwhelmingly superior.

Except Asia’s best, Byakuren, matched it blow for blow.

“That’s not cowardice!! Military God!!”

Deadly range.

“Ngh!”

“Zeke-san! Help’s coming— Whoa!!”

“Handle your own fight! I’m good!”

Byakuren’s azure spear thrust to impale—but Zeke’s sword knocked it aside at the brink.

Spearmanship alien to Thor’s: impossible blocks for grunts, a writhing blue dragon strike.

Thor. Byakuren.

Zeke shook off their frenzy desperately.

Outnumbered. Outspecced.

Superior across the board—yet he held, parried.

Oni-god ferocity.

“I won’t fall!”

Life-chipping grind—minds shatter under less.

Hammer, spear, sword—Zeke’s iron will sustained it.

Instant-death barrages. Zeke evaded, endured every one.

Life-or-death brink dredged old memories; omnipotence surged.

Zeke Silfield had awakened, beyond doubt.

“Mass-pro mass-pro holding like that! True to the man who razed half my nation!!”

“You wanna tally? How many of my men’ve you dropped!!”

Thor and Zeke traded barbs over KOG comms.

“Rumors check out, Military God! Stronger back in the day?”

“Strongest right now. Always. ‘Cause!”

“Guh!”

“The people I wanna protect? They pile up with the years.”

Zeke deflected Byakuren and Thor.

Zen focus peaked—Zeke hit Osiris-tier power now.

Pity mass-pros capped it.

Still, 2v1 against world elites? He endured.

Zeke Silfield, fully awakened.

Thor, Byakuren couldn’t steamroll; Zeke stonewalled.

Balance teetered—slightest nudge to tip.

Just a spark of inferno…

“Think you’re the only one with skin in the game?”

Kaguya flanked Zeke post-parry.

Zero hesitation on the split-second breather after his defense.

Kaguya breached the apex.

Real-war life-stakes XP dwarfed drills; explosive growth.

“Wha!?”

Kaguya struck from behind.

Scarlet flash zeroed Zeke.

Flawless. She’d lurked for this alone.

No dodging that slash.

“Farewell, Military God. Japan’s ours.”

The crimson blade pierced—

Kreeeen!

Scarlet sword repelled; metal screech rang out.

Kaguya glared daggers at the interloper robbing her shot.

“…Who the hell are you?”

She emerged trailing cherry blossom flurries—a snow-white beauty of a machine.

“I’m Reina Silfield. Ring any bells?”

“Oh… Right. Earthguard forces.”

Voice she’d heard endless times. Friend’s.

But now…

“Long time no see, Kaguya.”

An enemy’s.