As the original epicenter of the Apocalypse Virus outbreak, Roppongi was crawling with infected individuals.
Out of every ten people, at least six were probably infected.
Some more seriously than others.
Officially, GHQ claimed that Roppongi residents refused to take the vaccine and thus had to be quarantined.
Naturally, that was a lie meant to fool the outside world.
Who wouldn't take a free vaccine? You'd have to be an idiot.
But with how expensive the vaccine actually was, how many residents of Roppongi could afford it?
So when the Illuminati appeared offering vaccines, they immediately became a symbol of hope for the locals.
Maybe the allure of the vaccine was too strong, because the growth of Gai and the others' sect started snowballing rapidly.
By the time Souta managed to personally develop a Level 1 miracle that could release electricity, membership in the Illuminati had already surpassed 10,000.
Their mythology-promotion handbooks had become as common in Roppongi as takeout menus.
Of course, most people joined just to get the vaccine.
The number of true harbingers had to be adjusted down.
But Souta wasn't worried.
With miracles as bait, a wave of fervent faith was just around the corner.
So far, he had granted miracles to hundreds of people.
Many of them began treating the local thugs like mini-bosses in a dungeon, running back and forth every day to "grind."
Gang hideouts were smashed left and right.
Soon, no one dared to be a thug anymore.
The rules of the Illuminati began to spread across Roppongi.
This lawless zone was starting to become orderly.
As for the GHQ-affiliated Antibodies, they were forced to flee under the pressure of so many "superpowered individuals."
After all, how could they fight people who weren't afraid of bullets?
You shoot them, nothing happens.
They shoot you, you're dead.
Who would continue infantry combat like that?
Even GHQ's prized land-based mecha, the Gespenst, got twisted into a pretzel when someone walked up to it behind a divine shield and casually touched it.
Some individuals even had defenses strong enough to shrug off anti-ground missiles, protecting entire squads as they charged forward under gunfire, reaching out and "patting" anything in sight.
Whatever got touched mecha or whatever had ended up deformed.
How the hell were they supposed to fight that?
The Antibodies had no choice but to retreat temporarily and await new orders from Shuichiro Keido.
Meanwhile, Souta was grinning ear to ear.
With his followers constantly using miracles, Source Energy was pouring in like crazy!
In less than two months, the divine power he'd gathered rivaled what he earned in the Akame ga Kill world.
After devouring all that power, his divinity leveled up now Level 7.
Both his power and max capacity had increased again.
Souta was tempted to turn everyone on Earth into one of his priests.
Of course, that was just a fantasy.
He couldn't possibly maintain stable Source connections with that many people at least, not yet.
After he developed a new healing miracle based on fundamental force manipulation and material recomposition, Gai came to him.
"The Antibodies have been driven out of Roppongi," Gai said bluntly. "We might be in trouble."
You kicked the enemy out and now you're in trouble?
What kind of logic was that?
"You know about the Leukocyte, right?" Gai asked.
"The orbital lasers?" Souta vaguely remembered.
"Yeah. They're a trio of ground-attack satellites operating in a quasi-zenithal orbit, flying in a figure-eight pattern.
One is always positioned over Japan, capable of striking any location regardless of terrain or buildings.
Their purpose is to prevent anyone from escaping Japan. After all, the country is seen as the source of the virus and is heavily monitored."
Gai's face turned grim.
"The Antibodies withdrawing from Roppongi might not be a good sign. We could be facing a direct threat from the Leukocyte."
"So basically," Souta asked, "we're staring down a space-based weapon?"
"Is it a kinetic strike system, or does it fire high-energy lasers?"
"Lasers," Gai confirmed.
This was top-secret intel, but with Tsugumi as their top hacker, nothing was out of reach.
"I'll handle it," Souta waved casually.
"One more thing," Gai added. "The Kuhouin Group has reached out to us."
"Kuhoin?" Souta immediately recalled a name: "Kuhoin Arisa?"
"Huh?" Gai looked at him. "Yeah, Arisa Kuhoin is the heiress. You know her?"
"Not personally. But I know of her," Souta replied. "She's a hardcore masochist. The more strict and domineering you are with her, the more she'll enjoy it."
"…Did not expect that," Gai muttered. "That's just twisted."
Souta didn't comment, just gave him a glance.
"The Kuhoin Group wants to connect with the god the Illuminati worships… Do you want to meet them?"
Souta rejected the idea instantly.
He had miracles to develop and no time for political handshakes.
"They've got resources, though. Could help with our supply issues," Gai suggested.
"The Order's growing fast, and we're starting to run short."
"No need for all that," Souta waved it off. "I can create supplies. And soon, the Illuminati will spread beyond Roppongi, we'll have partners lining up. Kuhoin isn't special.
Just tell them: 'Give if you want. If not, then get lost. You think anyone can just meet me?'"
Gai was starting to notice that Souta had grown more reclusive lately.
But when a god speaks, you obey.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Tsugumi rushed in, face full of panic.
"Bad news! Real bad! GHQ arrested Shuichiro Keido and officially took over the Antibodies. They just announced they'll launch the Leukocyte strike on Roppongi, tomorrow!"
Gai's brows immediately furrowed.
Right behind Tsugumi, Inori, Ayase, and the other core members entered the room.
"GHQ announced the attack in advance. I suspect they're trying to destabilize us and cause panic," the strategist Shibungi said calmly.
"They likely have another goal in mind."
"Souta, what should we do?" Inori asked urgently, stepping closer.
Souta rose from his seat and gently patted her head.
"This… is an opportunity," he said with weight in his voice.
"An opportunity… to put on a show."
"You mean…" Gai's eyes lit up, "You're going to act?"
"Exactly." Souta nodded. "But before the performance, we draft the script."
"We need a plan?" Tsugumi asked incredulously. "Aren't you just going to charge in?"
Souta punched her on the head without warning and said calmly:
"Show some respect, brat." 😭💢