Editing BlazBlue:Phase Shift 2 Chapter 1

In the center of a dim room, a pale white light had been lit. It was a transparent sphere floating in empty space and was about the size of a human head. Rather than electrons, the borne light was made by magic utilising alchemical techniques.

The sphere, which was hanging in the air as if set on an invisible pedestal, was surrounded by five figures.

One was a petite girl wearing a full length robe. Beautiful platinum blonde hair was overflowing from the hood she wore, sparkling like sunlight as it was struck by the bland light.

Standing next to her was an even more petite silhouette. Its height was about that of a human child, but its appearance was like a bipedal cat. The tail protruding from its back was long, the odd thing was that it branched into two.

The third figure, in contrast to the other two, was a tall, middle-aged man wearing a grumpy look. He was wearing a refined attire including a high quality shirt and vest, but they couldn't hide the glimpses of the sturdy build underneath.

Standing in line with him was a tall man of a similar height, but with a far thinner figure. Standing with both hands inserted into the pockets of his long coat, he wore a low hood that meant even his eyes were hidden in shadow.

And then giving each of them glances as they stared at the sphere, another girl stood. Long hair crossed over her waist, her skin was white enough to be called transparent. Her most obvious feature was the large triangular hat placed on her head.

The thin man was Yuuki Terumi.

They stood silently in thought while staring at the sphere. Inside it, the shifting images of the current world situations were being projected.

"...So far, the representatives of many nations which have met with catastrophe are currently taking refuge in Ishana. There are preparation to devise a plan for the cooperation of each nation, with Ishana as the focus."

In the silent room, Trinity began to talk in her slow, soft voice that was like a ripple unfolding on water. Responding to her voice, the images of those catastrophe ridden countries were floating and disappearing in turn.

Frowning with a sad expression for a moment behind those spectacles, Trinity pushed up her large round glasses up her nose a little and continued on.

"However as for the countries with relatively low damage, the nations are being cautious to ensure they participate in the efforts centered on Ishana. As yet, discussions are still ongoing and have yet to reach a conclusion as there are countries that do not deign to participate in the congress. No, if there's still no conclusion, then it's still okay but..."

"So a confrontation is growing between the countries that have representatives in Ishana and those that don't. ...Even though this isn't the situation for quarreling between mankind."

Taking over Trinity's sorrowful words, Valkenhayn spoke with a grimace. Looking at him with his large eyes, Jubei's cat mouth snickered.

There was a degree of discomfort in the clear male voice of the beast, but no one in the room took it to mind.

Gazing at the shining sphere, the bridge of Jubei's nose wrinkled.

"They ain't gonna understand unless they see with their own eyes. About the terror... of ''The Black Beast''."

The Black Beast.

Seven years ago... between 2099 and 2100 AD, it appeared. A monster similar to a gigantic mass of shadow.

Together with the appearance of the Black Beast, the world was filled with substance called ''seithr''. Guided by seithr, the Black Beast's destructive scars were marked all over the world starting with Japan.

Without any means to fight, humanity was driven back. In merely six years after the Black Beast's appearance, the total population of the world was decreased by half.

But last year, the last day of 2106 AD. At the very same day that marked seven years had passed since the Black Beast emerged. As quickly as the monster which terrorized the world emerged, it was suddenly gone.

"It has been eight months since the last appearance of that monster. This long absence of its activity must have dulled the nations' judgment. Among them, there are people beginning to appear who say the Black Beast is no more."

"The threat hasn't disappeared yet... Even now the seithr mist is still blowing throughout the world. The remnants of the Black Beast are also still threatening people..."

"Not gettin' the cooperation of the countries means the cooperation between Ishana and United Nations ain't going well. The investigation for the missing 'Kushinada's Lynchpin' is still going on. But since the UN's planning to do it their own way, gettin' intelligence is complicated."

Jubei spoke in words mixed with sighs while the long tails on his back swayed, alert. At the same time, the floating lengthy image stirred in the sphere.

A noise from the five extending shadows resounded. A sharp, cold voice muttered. A large triangular hat stood out. It was Nine.

Staring at the sphere floating in the air, Nine folded her arms under her voluptuous chest and supported her chin with her fingers as she pondered.

Nine remembered clearly the words she had heard eight months ago, down to his tone of voice. No, those words didn't become clearer as the days went by. Day by day... as the period where the disappearance of Black Beast continued, she realized that he spoke the truth.

There were still four months until the pronounced one year ended. If a year passed, it would likely, surely appear.

Nine's sharply pointed voice was like putting ice on the stretched string of the room's tension.

Beside the owner of the voice, stood a man. He wore a low hood that hid his expression and he hadn't opened his mouth until now. He was Yuuki Terumi.

His mouth, his only facial feature exposed by the dim light, began to speak.

"Eyyup. ...Also, don't make me explain the same thing over and over. You getting senile, bitch?"

But she immediately shook off the fury from her gaze and turned to the other direction, her hair spinning.

"Armagus... If I remember correctly, it could make normal people who ain't a mage able to use magic. "

"The fundamentals of magic and armagus are different. Magic borrows the spiritual power that's originally present in nature and then puts that to use. In regard to armagus, it's invoked by utilizing seithr. If there's no seithr, it can't be used. Since ordinary people can't handle seithr, a ''grimoire'' is necessary to make it feasible."

"Although I said grimoire, it doesn't mean that's the real form. It changes the gathered seithr in the armagus, kind of like a converter. Anyway, it makes it possible for even people outside Ishana to attack the Black Beast."

The development of armagus had begun approximately half a year ago. Nine was the one who had fabricated armagus' base theory, but Terumi was indispensable in completing it in such a short amount of time.

Terumi possessed massive knowledge regarding the Black Beast and seithr. It was because of that knowledge that establishing armagus' form was possible.

Nine had heeded those words, yet she had taken Terumi out from the deep basement of a certain castle. She also had firmly applied ''Mind Eater'', a magic that made him completely unable to defy its user, controlling over his will.

"But although I said ordinary people can use it, it doesn't really mean that anyone can do it. An aptitude is required in themselves. The manufacturing of the grimoire is going well, but there's an insufficient number of people who could use it. If it remains as it is, the counter measure for Black Beast would be imperfect. If possible, it should be a powerful measure, rather than being able to exhibit strength without having to be bound with seithr. For example..."

"Like the weapons we use?"

Similarly, Trinity also held out the specialized weapon Nine had developed. The small cane could transform by taking the nature of magic Trinity wanted to use in mind.

"Yes. But even then, they're still weak. It shouldn't be like armagus which is only a substitute for magic or those prototypes given to you guys... We require weapons that have a more specialized ability in order to defeat the Black Beast."

His slender body was turned toward the sphere floating in the room like always, but the glance that had a suggestive indication drifting about was aimed at Nine.

"You okay not telling our dear friends the details? It's looking like you're making the weapons in the dark here~ ...You hear me?"

"I don't need you to interrupt this conversation. Be quiet, Terumi."

As she spoke with a tone of voice as if holding him down, Nine hit the floor with her high heel. The rough but somehow graceful noise rang sharply around the room.

If Nine told him to be silent. Terumi would do so. Mind Eater was that kind of a magic. Terumi was silent, but he stood while still grinning like a maniac.

Drawing her gaze from the face that looked like it was holding back a burst of laughter, Nine sighed in annoyance.

As if to calm the irritated Nine, Jubei made a bitter smile. He then shrugged his small shoulders.

"So as of now, there's only one way to effectively attack Black Beast. If the weapons Nine spoke of have been completed, we'll be able stand on equal ground with that monster and challenge it."

Playing her fingers around the brim of her large triangular hat which stood as a symbol of wisdom, Nine pointed her chin toward the space between Jubei and Valkenhayn.

"...And? Where's the only person who has the means to attack Black Beast, Hakumen, gone?"

The empty spot where the harsh words were thrown to was supposed to hold a sixth person standing together with them.

The island was painted with lush green nature and a lovely townscape. It was known as ''The Mage's Guild'' outside the island.

On the other side of history, the Mage's Guild had constantly influenced change in the world. The organization existed to protect and enhance alchemy and magic, the techniques that should have been forgotten in ancient times. They didn't belong to any country nor bend to anyone. At present, there was a grand academy established in the center to pass down the continuously inherited ancient wisdom and vast knowledge to the next generation.

The raised tall trees were sparkling, bright green from the summer sunlight. Between those trees, the white sunlight filtering through and fell upon the small stone pavement that was like stitching on the ground.

Although its vicinity was encircled by buildings related to the academy and Mage's Guild, this place didn't have a very enclosed feeling at all. Rather than a courtyard within a school, it appeared more like a hidden garden.

Sitting on a deserted bench set under the shade of a tree in the corner of the garden, Celica A. Mercury was swinging her feet.

The academy uniform in shades of white and black had a magician's motif on it. The short mantle on her back was fluttering in the wind. Her thick, light brown hair that was tied in a high ponytail and the treetops of the courtyard were rustling together, making refreshing noises.

There was a brick building belonging to the Mage's Guild at the end of a path close to her. There was a meeting being held inside a council room which had barrier that wouldn't let any voices or information leak out. Celica's older sister, Nine, was participating in the meeting.

Celica was waiting for her sister and her companions to come out after the meeting ended.

The wind carrying the scent of greenery was softly blowing through.

Seven years ago, along with the appearance of the Black Beast, seithr had overflown throughout the world and polluted the atmosphere. It lessened the wind, weakened the waves, and made the soil barren. The seasons lost their characteristics as the weather became disturbed. The creatures that were constantly exposed to thick seithr would lose their original form and go mad, destroying everything.

As a matter of fact, there was an incident last year when the barrier had been damage, resulting in seithr entering the island for a short period. But Celica didn't know much about that as the incident occurred immediately after Celica slipped out of the island on important business. When Celica returned to Ishana, the barrier had already been repaired completely.

While narrowing her eyes to block the sunlight shining into them, she smiled gently.

What she was picturing beyond the light and green curtains was the face of a friend important to Celica.

In just a few days, he became awfully close to her. He had helped her. He had supported her. He had protected her.

"Fufu, I'm sure he'd be amazed. Ah, but he might have actually seen a similar place. After all, he knew so much about magic even though he's not from this island... He's such a mysterious person."

Without realizing, she actively talked to herself in this place devoid of other people.

She met him eight months ago, during the end of last year. He was tall, had white hair and a green eye just on his left side. He was rough around the edges, but very kind.

Since they parted so suddenly he had never told her much about himself, Celica didn't get to know him well enough. But a lot of the strength he'd given her was always burning inside Celica's chest.

There was never a moment when she forgot about him. He was important, precious...

Suddenly, a light was glimmering at the edge of Celica's gaze.

It was probably the sunlight filtering through the trees. But when the light blinded Celica for an instant, her sight was completely engulfed in the next moment.

Her shout of surprise didn't manage to escape.