Destined Death

"Bzzzt—"

"This is RQ-190 Sentinel-5, officially entering New Mexico airspace."

A flat, triangular reconnaissance aircraft glided through the night toward New Mexico. This series of reconnaissance planes had originally been unmanned, but given the peculiarities of the supernatural era, pilots were often needed to make judgments—and to serve as expendable probes!

"Sentinel-5, be advised. You are expected to enter the Hikari zone in three minutes. Good luck."

"God bless America."

The pilot in a breathing mask replied calmly.

Since he had dared to fly into this area at a time like this, he had surely already settled his affairs—soon, a field of white-gold radiance appeared in the sky ahead!

The radiance appeared to hang motionless in the air, yet it was actually expanding at an astonishing speed. Fortunately, all of New Mexico consisted of that "Lord's" believers, and they had all rushed to Washington to protest at the first opportunity, preventing massive casualties.

The reason casualties were used to describe it was—

"May the Lord protect us."

As the pilot murmured softly, the Sentinel stealth reconnaissance aircraft plunged headfirst into the white-gold radiance.

"Bzzzt—the aircraft's structure is beginning to change!"

"My body... is mutating—"

"Praise the Lord. You are one, and also all; the Creator, and also the Ruler... bzzzt."

As fanatical praise suddenly erupted from the communications equipment, the communications officer at the Pentagon removed his headset and shook his head slightly.

"Damn it!!"

The American military commander slammed a fist into the console before him, glaring at the satellite image with eyes that seemed ready to devour someone. It showed the ever-expanding "halo."

"What the hell is going on over there? Why has this damned... light appeared?!"

A few minutes earlier, With New Mexico as its center, White-gold radiance had begun spreading without end.

Wherever the light reached,