Chapter Summaries

• Plot: As Lingmeng and Origami prepare to leave the battlefield, DEM reinforcements attack. Lingmeng crushes their missiles effortlessly, but Kotori calls her back for the approaching performance and promises backup. The backup is Mana Takamiya, Shido’s long-missing younger sister, now recovered and wearing a much more advanced Realizer. Lingmeng and Origami withdraw, leaving Mana to face the Wizards. Mana reveals that she has quit DEM and attacks Jessica, destroying her Realizer and launching a close-quarters fight.
• Character developments: Mana returns after disappearing following her battle with Kurumi. Her new equipment suggests she has grown stronger, and she now openly opposes DEM rather than serving it. Lingmeng remains confident in battle but is reluctant to leave others behind; Kotori’s reassurance lets her trust Mana with the defense.
• Character interactions: Mana greets Lingmeng as her “sister-in-law” and calls Origami the same, recalling Origami’s earlier joke that she was Shido’s girlfriend. Lingmeng and Origami are surprised by Mana’s return and new outfit. Mana and Jessica exchange accusations: Mana condemns DEM for risking civilians, while Jessica demands to know why a top-ranked Wizard is defying Westcott. Mana answers by announcing her resignation and attacking Jessica.
• Themes: The chapter highlights loyalty and defection, as Mana breaks with DEM despite the danger of opposing Westcott. It also contrasts the company’s ruthless pursuit of Spirits with the protagonists’ concern for civilian safety, while emphasizing trust: Lingmeng must leave the fight and rely on Mana’s promise to hold off the attackers.

Key plot points and events

• Mana defeats DEM captain Jessica quickly, then prepares to fight the remaining Wizards alone.
• Lingmeng brings the injured Origami to a secluded spot in the woods and calls her captain, Ryouko, to arrange her pickup. Origami wants to return for the performance, but Lingmeng insists she rest.
• Lingmeng reveals that she can use electricity to unlock Origami’s phone. She explains that interfering with Realizers would be far more difficult without an Angel with advanced AI.
• On the way back, Lingmeng asks Kotori about Mana. Kotori explains that DEM’s experiments greatly enhanced Mana’s Realizer compatibility but damaged her body. Mana joined Ratatoskr and received treatment; she is now using Ratatoskr’s powerful Fenrir Realizer to hold off the Wizards.
• Lingmeng returns to the school event just as Shiori, Tohka, and the others are about to perform. Their band is announced, and the audience applauds.

Character developments

• Mana is shown to be an exceptionally capable fighter, and her history reveals the hidden physical cost of DEM’s experiments. She has chosen to cooperate with Ratatoskr and is now fighting to protect the Spirits.
• Lingmeng balances concern for Origami with determination to get back to the performance. Her humor and confidence remain prominent, even while she handles the crisis.
• Origami is badly injured but still wants to fulfill her role as lead singer. Her question about Realizer interference shows her alertness to Lingmeng’s abilities; she appears reassured by Lingmeng’s answer.
• Kotori has taken responsibility for Mana’s treatment and recruited her into Ratatoskr, motivated by concern for her survival.

Significant themes

• Power and its cost: Mana’s combat strength comes partly from harmful experimentation that nearly destroyed her health.
• Care amid conflict: Lingmeng and Kotori both prioritize others’ safety, while Origami struggles to keep contributing despite her injuries.
• Duty versus self-preservation: Origami wants to honor her commitment to the performance, but Lingmeng insists that recovering comes first.
• Humor alongside danger: Lingmeng’s playful manner provides levity amid the battles and urgent decisions.

Character interactions

• Mana defeats Jessica and challenges the other Wizards, establishing a sharp contrast between her calm competence and their shock.
• Lingmeng teases and persuades Origami, then contacts Ryouko, who reacts with urgency and surprise at learning Lingmeng is there.
• Kotori explains Mana’s background and current role to Lingmeng, clarifying why Mana is fighting.
• Shiori and the others welcome Lingmeng back with relief; despite her joking claim that she “saved the world,” they prepare to perform together.

Key plot points and events

• Shiori and four Spirits—Lingmeng, Tohka, Kaguya, and Yuzuru—take the stage to compete against Miku. Shiori is overwhelmed by the crowd, but reminds herself that she has faced far more frightening situations and is supported by her friends.
• The band begins its rehearsed instrumental accompaniment. Just as the vocals should start, Kotori reports that damaged electrical wiring has made the prerecorded track unavailable.
• Lingmeng realizes she may have caused the problem by leaving severed wires unrepaired after a previous battle. Shiori is expected to sing live, but freezes under pressure and cannot remember how to begin.
• Seeing Shiori falter, Lingmeng asks Tohka whether she remembers the lyrics. Tohka confirms that she memorized them, and Lingmeng proposes that they take over as lead singers. The passage ends as Shiori hears two voices begin to sing.

Character development

• Shiori moves from stage fright toward confidence by recognizing how much stronger she has become through her past experiences with the Spirits. The unexpected failure of the audio track briefly sends her back into panic, revealing that her confidence is still fragile.
• Lingmeng remains calm and resourceful under pressure, quickly devising a backup plan. She also privately feels guilty about possibly causing the electrical failure.
• Tohka shows unexpected preparation and reliability: although she cannot read the lyrics, she has memorized them by listening.
• The bandmates demonstrate readiness to support one another rather than letting Shiori face the crisis alone.

Significant themes

• Courage through companionship: Shiori’s resolve comes from knowing she is not performing alone.
• Adaptability: The group must respond to a sudden technical failure and improvise rather than abandon the performance.
• Growth through past trials: Shiori draws strength from the far greater dangers she has already faced.
• Responsibility and unintended consequences: Lingmeng’s earlier decision to leave the damaged wiring unrepaired may have created the crisis.

Character interactions

• Shiori asks Lingmeng whether she is nervous; Lingmeng’s casual confidence contrasts with Shiori’s anxiety.
• The Spirits exchange encouraging looks and words before playing, reinforcing their solidarity.
• Kotori informs the performers of the emergency and tells Shiori she must sing live.
• Lingmeng quietly asks Tohka to take the lead, and Tohka’s memorized lyrics give the group a way forward.

Key plot points and events

• Shiori’s band performs at the Tengu Festival. He initially feels crushed by the pressure of competing with Miku, but seeing Lingmeng and Tohka joyfully singing helps him remember that music is meant to make people happy.
• Shiori regains confidence, plays with renewed energy, and joins the singing during the second verse. He becomes absorbed in performing with the Spirits, forgetting the contest and simply enjoying himself.
• The audience responds with thunderous applause. Back in the lounge, Yuzuru praises the group but teases Shiori about his weaker singing.
• Shiori asks Lingmeng about her promised unreleased song. She reveals that she has prepared a separate performance and leaves to change.
• Lingmeng returns in an elegant white evening gown, surprising the group. The venue announces the next act: Chimeng-chan, the online celebrity with over ten million followers.

Character developments

• Shiori moves from anxiety and rivalry toward confidence and genuine enjoyment. He discovers that he wants to sing alongside his friends, despite not being an especially strong vocalist.
• Tohka performs with spontaneous, imperfect singing that nonetheless energizes the crowd; she is happy to share the stage with the others.
• Lingmeng shows both her desire to bring people joy and her dedication to her creator career. Her dramatic new outfit signals a distinct performance—and perhaps a more public side of herself.
• Yuzuru and Kaguya contribute to the band’s successful performance, while Yuzuru keeps her teasing, blunt manner in the lounge.

Significant themes

• Joy over competition: Shiori’s performance improves when he stops fixating on beating Miku and focuses on the fun of making music together.
• Imperfection and sincerity: Tohka’s improvised singing and Shiori’s less-polished vocals still connect with the audience because they are heartfelt.
• Public and private identities: Lingmeng’s appearance as the celebrated Chimeng-chan raises anticipation around the difference between her familiar self and her online persona.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng and Tohka’s smiles reassure Shiori and help him break through his performance anxiety; the Spirits welcome him when he joins their song.
• After the performance, Shiori and Tohka share their excitement, while Yuzuru jokes about Shiori’s singing.
• Shiori questions Lingmeng about her promised song, but Kotori’s message and Lingmeng’s costume reveal that a separate solo performance is about to begin.

Plot points and events

• At the Tengu Festival, the announcer reveals that Lingmeng is the famous online musician Chimeng-chan. Her friends are astonished to learn their classmate has a huge following.
• Lingmeng explains that she is performing separately from the Maid Band: Raizen High School needs as many acts as possible to compete with Miku Izayoi’s school.
• Her solo performance begins with a medley combining “Trust in You” and “Date A Live.” The first half is upbeat and romantic; the second shifts into a darker, more desperate mood. The seamless arrangement and Lingmeng’s singing energize the crowd.
• Mid-performance, Lingmeng manifests her Limited Astral Dress, Senban. The transformation heightens her queenly stage presence and draws cheers comparable to Miku’s own reception.
• Miku watches with amused surprise, while Shiori and Kotori react to Lingmeng revealing her Astral Dress publicly. Lingmeng continues performing, pleased that her strategy is working.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng is embarrassed by the grand introduction and revealing costume, but her competitive drive pushes her to embrace the spotlight. She deliberately matches Miku’s spectacle and popularity, determined to help her school win.
• Shiori supports Lingmeng from beside the stage and understands her “fight magic with magic” approach, though she is startled by the public transformation.
• Kaguya and Yuzuru tease Lingmeng about her fame; another friend expresses admiration. Their surprise underscores how little they knew about her public persona.
• Miku responds playfully to Lingmeng copying her transformation, joking about suing her and demanding compensation.
• Kotori is shocked that Lingmeng has manifested her Astral Dress at the festival.

Significant themes

• Public identity and private discomfort: Lingmeng’s fame and confident stage persona coexist with embarrassment about being watched.
• Competition and spectacle: She believes success against Miku requires matching her in every area, from popularity to performance effects.
• Art as emotional contrast: The medley moves from hopeful romance to a plea amid despair, demonstrating Lingmeng’s musical skill and the power of performance to shift an audience’s mood.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng finishes her stage performance to roaring applause, charming the audience with a promise of more original songs and encouraging them to vote.
• She privately admits that the songs she has released were taken from music in her previous life, though she performed them herself. For the competition, she had found and combined the first two Date A Live theme songs after Xier Ya temporarily eased her access restrictions.
• After the remaining schools perform, the host announces the rankings. Sencheng University Affiliated High School takes third place.
• Raizen High School’s Maid Band comes second, narrowly losing to Rindouji Girls’ Academy. Miku’s school therefore wins, and she claims the agreement entitling her to Shiori, Lingmeng, and the five Spirits Shiori sealed.

Character developments

• Lingmeng remains outwardly confident and playful, but her success is built on a secret she feels guilty about: passing off borrowed songs as her own. She also shows resourcefulness in choosing a medley suited to the Date A Live setting.
• Shiori tries to reassure the defeated performers, but Miku’s smugness irritates him—even though he does not intend to break their promise.
• Tohka, Kaguya, and Yuzuru are crushed by the loss, with Tohka worrying that her singing may have caused it.
• Miku becomes openly triumphant and uses the result to enforce her bargain.

Significant themes

• Performance and authenticity: Lingmeng’s genuine skill as a performer contrasts with the concealed origins of her music.
• Competition and disappointment: The close result makes the loss especially painful for Raizen’s performers.
• Promises and control: Miku treats the agreement as binding and asserts ownership over the group after her victory.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng receives enthusiastic praise from Shiori and the others, while privately hiding her plagiarism.
• Xier Ya communicates with Lingmeng through her computer, teasing and threatening her while helping her access the theme songs.
• After the result, Shiori comforts the upset Spirits, but Miku interrupts to taunt them and remind Shiori and Lingmeng of their promise.

Plot points and events

• Lingmeng and Miku discover that their stage performances have tied for first place—the first tie in Tengu Festival history. Shiori is relieved: neither side has won their bet, so Shiori and the sealed Spirits avoid becoming Miku’s “toys.”
• Shiori enthusiastically lifts and spins Lingmeng in a celebratory hug. Lingmeng is embarrassed but finds the affection unexpectedly pleasant, while Tohka and the Yamai Sisters look on enviously.
• Miku insists the tie means Lingmeng has not beaten her. Lingmeng points out that their wager concerned the overall first-day champion, not just the stage division.
• The results reveal that Rindouji’s performance in the exhibition and sales divisions suffered after Miku concentrated the school’s resources on the stage show. Raizen’s Maid Café earns enough votes to secure the overall victory, completing a comeback.
• As the award ceremony begins, Lingmeng approaches the gloomy Miku and playfully gestures for her to smile.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng proves both confident and strategically sharp: she anticipates the tie, remembers the bet’s exact terms, and recognizes how Miku’s priorities weakened Rindouji elsewhere. She celebrates with Shiori and tries to console Miku, though her teasing keeps the moment light.
• Miku goes from triumphant certainty to frustration and anxiety as she realizes the tie does not settle the wager—and that her own decisions may have cost her school the overall win.
• Shiori shows open affection and trust toward Lingmeng, embracing her without hesitation. Her relief at the tie turns to joy when Raizen wins overall.
• Tohka and the Yamai Sisters celebrate Raizen’s victory by crowding around Shiori, while also showing jealousy over Shiori’s hug with Lingmeng.
• Kaguya and Yuzuru boast about their contribution to the win, joining the group’s celebration.

Significant themes

• Winning versus teamwork: Miku’s single-minded pursuit of the stage title damages her school’s broader performance, while Raizen succeeds across multiple divisions.
• Fairness and precise agreements: The outcome depends on the distinction between winning one event and winning the overall festival day.
• Affection and camaraderie: Celebration, teasing, and physical affection contrast with the competitive rivalry, suggesting that friendship matters beyond the results.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng and Shiori remind Miku that their victory came from teamwork: their stage performance tied, but classmates working behind the scenes helped them win.
• Miku refuses to accept defeat and dismisses the value of human teammates. When Shiori argues that people and their bonds matter, Miku summons her Angel, Gabriel, in the venue.
• Gabriel’s sound does not physically injure anyone; instead, it lets Miku seize control of the audience and performers, leaving them motionless and silent.
• Miku uses the controlled performers to restrain Shiori, then appears to have taken control of Lingmeng as well. Lingmeng sides with Miku, and Miku declares that she no longer needs to honor their agreement because her powers can get her whatever she wants.

Character developments

• Miku becomes openly defiant after losing. Her wounded pride turns into anger and manipulation, and she uses her mind-control ability to prove that she can dominate the very bonds Shiori praised.
• Shiori stands by her belief that people can work together and matter to one another. Even when captured, she remains confident that Lingmeng will help—making Lingmeng’s apparent betrayal especially shocking.
• Lingmeng first tries to console Miku and explain the value of teamwork. She then appears to switch sides, though the scene leaves open whether she is genuinely controlled.

Significant themes

• Teamwork versus domination: The contest demonstrates that cooperation can achieve what individual performance cannot; Miku responds by forcibly controlling others.
• Accepting defeat: Miku cannot tolerate losing and shifts blame rather than acknowledging her opponents’ efforts.
• Trust and betrayal: Shiori’s faith in Lingmeng is shaken when Lingmeng appears to obey Miku.
• Power and choice: Miku treats mind control as a shortcut to getting what she wants, directly opposing the voluntary bonds Shiori values.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng and Shiori try to soothe Miku and persuade her that her classmates’ contributions mattered.
• Miku rejects their reasoning, using Gabriel to control the crowd and performers.
• Shiori confronts Miku and calls on Lingmeng for help, but Lingmeng instead approaches Miku at her invitation.

Summary

• Miku takes control of the venue: After manifesting her Astral Dress and Angel, Miku’s control over others appears stronger. She boasts that everyone present is now her Doll and declares that the world should revolve around her. Lingmeng is also under her control, though her behavior remains mischievous and lewd.
• Miku discovers Shiori’s secret: While groping Shiori, Miku notices something unexpected. Her attendants expose him, revealing his safety shorts—and then pull down his underwear, confirming that Shiori is a boy. Miku is horrified, having assumed he was a girl.
• Lingmeng and Miku grow closer: Lingmeng confirms Shiori’s identity and reassures Miku that she herself is a girl. Miku clings to Lingmeng for comfort, while Lingmeng affectionately pats her head. Shiori watches with jealousy and confusion, privately feeling as though he has been displaced.
• The crowd attacks Shiori: Miku resumes playing her Light Keyboard, sending the stage performers, host, and audience charging at Shiori. He decides to rush Miku, hoping that stopping her will free them.
• An unexpected defense appears: Lingmeng prepares to protect Miku, but before Shiori can reach her, a sudden drop in temperature and a wall of ice stop him. A familiar voice speaks from behind, setting up the next confrontation.

Character developments and interactions

Miku shifts from triumphant control to shock and vulnerability when she learns Shiori is male, then seeks comfort from Lingmeng. Lingmeng remains loyal to Miku under her influence and openly indulges her, even as Shiori hopes she will intervene. Shiori moves from embarrassment and jealousy to urgent action, choosing to confront Miku despite the danger.

Themes

The chapter emphasizes control and loss of agency, as Miku commands the crowd and Lingmeng; identity and mistaken assumptions, through Miku’s discovery of Shiori’s sex; and jealousy, intimacy, and comic embarrassment, especially in Shiori’s reaction to Miku and Lingmeng’s affectionate exchange.

Key plot points and events

• Yoshino, Kaguya, and Yuzuru appear in their Astral Dresses and attack Shiori. Miku has used Gabriel’s music to control them, along with Lingmeng.
• Miku celebrates having so many Spirits under her control and orders them to eliminate Shiori. She keeps Lingmeng close, indulging in an intimate moment that Shiori interrupts.
• Tohka arrives but proves immune to Miku’s influence: earphones she wore during the performance blocked the song. She rescues Shiori from the first wave of attacks.
• Shiori realizes Miku’s influence has reached Kotori through the communication system. Kotori responds as though controlled and cuts off contact.
• With the audience and controlled Spirits closing in, Shiori and Tohka are left fighting to escape. Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters continue attacking despite Shiori’s pleas.

Character developments and interactions

• Shiori shifts from confusion to desperation as he recognizes that nearly everyone around him has become an enemy. He still tries to reach the controlled Spirits rather than simply treating them as opponents.
• Tohka becomes Shiori’s sole ally. Her accidental protection—wearing earphones because the music disrupted her rhythm—turns into a crucial advantage, and she acts quickly to save him.
• Miku grows more confident and possessive, delighted by the Spirits she has gathered and especially affectionate toward Lingmeng. She regards Shiori as an obstacle to be removed.
• Lingmeng appears to accept Miku’s control completely, returning her affection and siding against Shiori.
• Yoshino, Kaguya, and Yuzuru attack under Miku’s influence, while Shiori’s attempts to make them stop fail.

Significant themes

• Music as control: Miku’s Angel turns a performance into a means of subjugating both Spirits and ordinary people, even through communications aboard Fraxinus.
• Isolation and trust: Shiori loses allies one by one, leaving him dependent on Tohka’s accidental immunity.
• Affection and coercion: Miku’s apparent intimacy with Lingmeng is complicated by the fact that Lingmeng is under her control, blurring genuine affection with domination.

Key plot points and events

• Shiori and Tohka find themselves isolated against Miku, several thousand spectators, and the Spirits Miku has turned to her side—including Yoshino, Kaguya, and Yuzuru. Even Kotori is under Miku’s control.
• Tohka attacks Miku with Sandalphon, but Lingmeng effortlessly destroys the sword wave. Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters then overwhelm Tohka with ice and wind attacks, sending her through the ceiling.
• Tohka surprises Miku by returning through the ceiling for a close-range strike. Miku counters with a powerful sonic blast, but Tohka is suddenly moved out of its path.
• Lingmeng reveals that she was never under Miku’s control. She has been pretending to cooperate and now takes Miku hostage, intending to make Miku release everyone herself.

Character developments

• Lingmeng is revealed as calculating and immensely powerful. She can resist Miku’s commands and has her own mental abilities; her apparent loyalty was an act meant to create an opportunity.
• Miku loses her composure when her control over Lingmeng proves false, though she had seemed confident and playful during the fight.
• Tohka shows resourcefulness by using the ceiling to launch a surprise attack, but Miku’s unexpected sonic ability catches her off guard.
• Shiori is left anxious and bewildered as the odds appear overwhelming, then watches Lingmeng’s reversal change the situation.

Significant themes

• Deception and hidden motives: Lingmeng’s apparent submission conceals a plan of her own.
• Power and control: Miku’s command over the others is challenged by Lingmeng’s superior Spirit Power and resistance.
• Cleverness over direct confrontation: Lingmeng chooses patience and leverage rather than trying to free thousands of people individually.

Character interactions

• Tohka urges Lingmeng to resist Miku, but Lingmeng calmly insists she has been clearheaded all along.
• Miku treats Lingmeng like a devoted protector until Lingmeng turns on her and takes her hostage.
• Lingmeng explains her strategy to Miku—and to the stunned Shiori, Tohka, and controlled Spirits—making clear that she played along to protect Shiori and Tohka while waiting for the right moment.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng reveals she was never under Miku’s control and turns the tables, holding Miku hostage to force her to release Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters.
• The controlled Spirits hesitate to attack while Miku is in danger. Miku reluctantly agrees to free them, though she strongly resists the prospect of having her own powers sealed.
• Before she can act, the ceiling collapses. Lingmeng and Miku narrowly avoid being crushed, but the distraction lets Miku escape her grasp.
• Ellen Mira Mathers enters through the hole in the ceiling, confirming that Jessica and the others failed. Lingmeng angrily mocks her for making a dramatic entrance.
• Kaguya and Yuzuru seize the opportunity to rescue Miku and carry her to safety. Miku thanks them affectionately, while Yoshino joins them.

Character developments

• Lingmeng shows she is resourceful and confident enough to bluff as a villain, using Miku as leverage while preferring to avoid fighting the other Spirits. Her attempt to resolve the situation is interrupted just before it succeeds.
• Miku gives in when her life seems at risk, but remains horrified by the idea of being sealed—especially since she now knows Shiori is a man.
• Kaguya and Yuzuru act quickly and cooperatively to protect Miku once Lingmeng is distracted.
• Tohka and Shiori are relieved to learn Lingmeng was not controlled, then become wary when Ellen appears.

Significant themes

• Deception and shifting loyalties: Lingmeng’s apparent weakness was an act, and the roles of villain and hero keep blurring.
• Power and coercion: Lingmeng uses threats to compel Miku, while Miku’s control over the other Spirits has placed them in similar danger.
• Interrupted resolution: A sudden outside threat derails a possible peaceful solution and turns the standoff into a larger confrontation.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng taunts Miku and pressures her to release the Spirits; Miku weighs her pride against her safety.
• Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters threaten Lingmeng but hold back to protect Miku.
• Ellen’s arrival sparks Tohka’s hostility and Lingmeng’s sarcastic complaints.
• Kaguya and Yuzuru rescue Miku, who responds with an exuberant, physically affectionate thank-you.

Plot points and events

• Ellen arrives at the venue and announces her mission: capture Lingmeng, Tohka (“Princess”), and Shido Itsuka—who is disguised as Shiori.
• Lingmeng keeps Ellen occupied while Tohka attacks, but Ellen’s Territory blocks the strike and sends Tohka flying. Lingmeng catches and rescues her.
• Knowing Shiori and Tohka are primary targets, Lingmeng teleports them away despite Tohka’s offer to stay and help. Lingmeng remains to face Ellen and Miku’s controlled Spirits.
• Lingmeng taunts Ellen, traps her with golden chains, then attacks with an electrically charged hand strike. Ellen breaks free and blocks the blow with her Territory, but Lingmeng pours on enough power to crack and shatter the barrier.

Character developments

• Lingmeng shows confidence, tactical skill, and protectiveness: she stays behind to cover the others’ retreat and uses humor to provoke Ellen while looking for an opening. She also hopes to test whether she can free the other Spirits from Miku’s control.
• Tohka acts bravely to protect Shiori and offers to fight alongside Lingmeng, though Lingmeng sends her to safety.
• Shiori/Shido is embarrassed by Lingmeng’s blunt description of his disguise and hurt when Ellen assumes it reflects his personal interests.
• Ellen remains composed at first, but Lingmeng’s taunts provoke visible anger. She demonstrates formidable defenses and combat reflexes.

Significant themes

• Protection and self-sacrifice: Lingmeng accepts danger so Shiori and Tohka can escape.
• Confidence, rivalry, and provocation: The fight is as much a contest of nerve as strength, with Lingmeng deliberately irritating Ellen.
• Power and strategy: Lingmeng combines barriers, restraints, teleportation, and precise timing against Ellen’s superior Territory.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng and Ellen trade taunts, escalating their personal rivalry into a fierce duel.
• Tohka’s protective attack is quickly countered, and Lingmeng catches her before she hits the wall.
• Lingmeng reassures Tohka and Shiori, then teleports them away against Tohka’s wishes.
• Ellen’s mistaken interpretation of Shiori’s disguise embarrasses Shido and adds a brief comic beat amid the confrontation.

Plot points and events

• Lingmeng is caught off guard when Kaguya and Yuzuru interrupt her attack on Ellen. Miku explains that she wants to capture Lingmeng herself, so she agrees to cooperate with Ellen.
• Ellen says she is only ordered to capture Lingmeng and two other targets, but admits she needs help to keep Lingmeng from escaping. The two form a temporary alliance, despite Lingmeng’s protests.
• Miku plays “Gabriel—March,” boosting the strength, magic, and confidence of Ellen, Yoshino, and the Yamai Sisters. Lingmeng is unaffected.
• Empowered by the song, Ellen rushes Lingmeng and cuts her abdomen before Lingmeng can respond. Lingmeng retreats and realizes that Miku’s support ability has made Ellen far more dangerous.
• Lingmeng uses her time-stopping power to attack Ellen while time is frozen, landing a rapid series of blows and a kick to the abdomen. When time resumes, Ellen is hurled into a wall.

Character developments

• Lingmeng recognizes that she underestimated Miku and shifts from relying on direct combat to using her powers strategically. Despite her injuries and surprise, she remains confident and resourceful.
• Miku proves to be a powerful battlefield supporter, capable of dramatically enhancing allies. She pursues Lingmeng for personal reasons and readily makes a deal with Ellen.
• Ellen sets aside her pride and accepts help, then becomes a much greater threat once Miku empowers her.
• Kaguya and Yuzuru intervene together to protect Lingmeng from Ellen’s attack.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng angrily challenges Miku for teaming up with a Wizard, while Miku dismisses her objections and treats their alliance with Ellen as a convenient arrangement.
• Ellen and Miku cooperate warily, each pursuing her own goal: Ellen wants to capture Lingmeng, while Miku wants to punish and capture her first.
• Lingmeng and Ellen’s fight escalates sharply after Miku’s song boosts Ellen, but Lingmeng turns the tables with her time-stop attack.

Significant themes

• Alliances of convenience: Enemies cooperate when their goals overlap, even without trust.
• Support as a force multiplier: Miku’s music changes the balance of the battle more than direct attacks do.
• Adaptability and resourcefulness: Lingmeng responds to being outmatched physically by changing tactics and exploiting her unique abilities.

Key plot points and events

• Lingmeng fights Ellen, Miku, and the mind-controlled Yoshino and Yamai sisters. Although Miku’s Spirit Power has greatly strengthened the others, Lingmeng blocks the Yamai sisters’ attacks and attempts to break Miku’s control with a Spirit-infused command.
• Yoshino, Kaguya, and Yuzuru briefly falter, but Miku strengthens her song and regains control. Lingmeng realizes she must stop Miku, yet cannot attack freely because the controlled Spirits could be used as hostages—and Ellen is still in her way.
• Aboard Fraxinus, Reine returns to find Kotori and most of the crew acting under Miku’s influence. Shiizaki explains that Miku lost, then used her Angel to control nearly everyone at the venue except Lingmeng, Shido, and Tohka.
• Before Reine can help, the ship announces that Kotori has activated the Silver Oak Sword, a powerful cannon aimed at the plaza. Kotori intends to kill the people there for defying Miku.
• Shiizaki and Reine try to stop her, but Kawagoe and Minowa restrain them, insisting that they are acting against Miku. Kotori confirms that they will not be allowed to interfere.

Character developments and interactions

• Lingmeng remains composed and tactical, testing her opponents’ strength while looking for a way to free them. Her concern for the controlled Spirits limits her options.
• Miku proves willing to use her Angel to control others and preserve her advantage, while Lingmeng recognizes the danger her influence poses.
• Yoshino, Kaguya, and Yuzuru briefly respond to Lingmeng’s attempt to reach them, showing that her mental powers may be able to disrupt Miku’s control—but only momentarily.
• Reine and Shiizaki try to regain control of Fraxinus and protect the plaza. Their efforts are thwarted by Minowa and Kawagoe, who are also under Miku’s influence.
• Kotori is controlled enough to order a devastating attack, while Kannazuki enthusiastically supports her, treating the situation as his “utopia.”

Significant themes

• Control versus free will: Miku’s power turns friends and colleagues against one another, even aboard Fraxinus.
• Restraint and responsibility: Lingmeng cannot simply defeat her opponents because they are being manipulated and could be harmed.
• Escalation and danger: A personal confrontation grows into a potential mass-casualty crisis when the cannon is aimed at the plaza.

Plot points and events

• Miku controls the Fraxinus crew and has Kotori prepare to fire the ship’s cannon, even though Lingmeng and thousands of spectators remain at the venue. Shiizaki protests, but Kotori is about to press the button.
• Mana returns to Fraxinus in her Realizer, incapacitates Kotori, Kannazuki, and the rest of the crew, then learns what has happened. Reine asks her to use her Territory to free the crew from Miku’s control.
• Mana contacts Lingmeng and urges her to retreat while Fraxinus regroups. Lingmeng agrees: she had been trying to find a way to break Miku’s control, but Miku’s enhancements and Ellen’s interference make success unlikely.
• Lingmeng escapes using her spatial ability. Miku is frustrated but is comforted by Yoshino and the Yamai sisters.
• Ellen reports to Isaac that Lingmeng has escaped. Isaac tells her not to keep pursuing the nearly impossible target and instead to capture another spirit in the area as a test subject. Ellen accepts the new objective.

Character developments

• Lingmeng shows practical judgment: she abandons a difficult fight rather than risk wasting time, and prioritizes regrouping.
• Mana proves decisive and powerful, swiftly rescuing Fraxinus’s crew and preparing to counter Miku’s control.
• Reine and Shiizaki act to prevent Kotori from firing on a venue full of civilians, then coordinate the response.
• Miku remains possessive and vindictive, but her frustration eases when the spirits around her comfort her.
• Ellen recognizes that Lingmeng is difficult to capture, while Isaac’s reassignment shifts her focus to easier targets.

Significant themes

• Pragmatism over recklessness: Lingmeng retreats when the odds and circumstances make victory unlikely.
• Control and responsibility: Miku’s influence threatens both the crew and innocent spectators, making intervention urgent.
• Escalating danger: Even after Lingmeng escapes, Isaac’s decision to target other spirits means the operation continues.

Character interactions

• Shiizaki confronts Kotori’s plan, but Mana’s arrival prevents the cannon from being fired.
• Mana and Reine exchange information, and Mana coordinates Lingmeng’s retreat.
• Miku’s allies soothe her after Lingmeng escapes; Miku then invites Ellen to tea, but Ellen initially ignores her to report to Isaac.
• Isaac calmly redirects Ellen from pursuing Lingmeng to capturing another spirit.

Plot points and events

• Ellen captures Miku by the throat, explaining that her employer has changed the target despite the peace treaty. She dismisses Miku’s trust in her as naïve.
• Furious and disillusioned, Miku attacks Ellen with a powerful sound wave, briefly stunning her and forcing her to release her.
• Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters seize the opening. Yoshino freezes Ellen, while Kaguya and Yuzuru bind and strike her, driving her into the floor.
• Ellen emerges unharmed, knocks Yoshino away, then silences Miku and pins her down with her Territory. The pressure forces Miku to spend most of her Spirit Power resisting it, preventing her from boosting the others.
• With Miku’s support suppressed, Ellen overwhelms Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters. Realizing they cannot win, Kaguya and Yuzuru decide to create an escape opportunity for Miku.
• They use a powerful tornado to lift Miku through the venue’s open ceiling and carry her toward the city. The chapter ends with Ellen watching Miku escape.

Character developments

• Miku shifts from trusting Ellen to openly hating her, but still fights back with courage and ingenuity despite being restrained.
• Ellen remains composed and confident, demonstrating her exceptional strength. Her betrayal of the treaty exposes her pragmatism and disregard for Miku’s trust.
• Yoshino, Kaguya, and Yuzuru show loyalty to Miku by intervening and, when defeat seems inevitable, choosing to sacrifice their own chance to escape so she can get away.

Significant themes

• Betrayed trust: Ellen’s broken promise confirms Miku’s painful belief that humans cannot be trusted.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: The Spirits risk themselves and work together to protect Miku.
• Power and vulnerability: Even a noncombatant Spirit like Miku can disrupt Ellen, but Ellen’s superior strength ultimately lets her suppress Miku and the others.

Character interactions

• Ellen’s betrayal turns her relationship with Miku from apparent cooperation into direct hostility.
• Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters rally to defend Miku, coordinating attacks against Ellen.
• Kaguya and Yuzuru communicate without words of affection or hesitation, then cooperate to give Miku a chance to flee.

Key plot points and events

• Ellen pursues Miku as she escapes the venue, but Yoshino seals the roof in ice, buying Miku time to flee with the Yamai Sisters’ wind.
• Ellen turns on Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters. She crushes them with her Territory, then painfully suffocates them until they lose consciousness.
• Ellen reports to Isaac. He is satisfied that she has captured the three planned targets—Hermit and the two Berserkers—and tells her not to pursue Miku.
• Ellen carries the unconscious Spirits away from Tengu City Plaza.
• In a nearby forest, Miku recovers from her escape and sees Ellen leaving with Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters. She realizes they have been captured but is too weak to challenge Ellen.

Character developments

• Ellen remains efficient and ruthless, but Miku’s escape frustrates her. She follows Isaac’s orders and accepts that the mission is still a success.
• Miku feels a brief flicker of emotion at the Spirits’ capture, recognizing that they risked themselves to save her. Yet her self-centeredness prevails: she chiefly regrets losing her “toys” and worries about their fate without considering their feelings.
• Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters show loyalty and courage by helping Miku escape, though they are left defenseless against Ellen.

Significant themes

• Power and vulnerability: Even formidable Spirits are helpless against Ellen’s overwhelming Territory when weakened.
• Self-interest versus loyalty: The Spirits protect Miku, while Miku regards them as possessions and views their loss mainly as a personal setback.
• Cruelty and dehumanization: Ellen’s torture and Miku’s objectifying attitude both treat the captured Spirits as means or property rather than people.

Character interactions

• Yoshino and the Yamai Sisters obstruct Ellen to help Miku escape; Ellen retaliates by incapacitating and torturing them.
• Ellen and Isaac briefly coordinate by Earphone: she reports the outcome, and he confirms that capturing the three Spirits fulfills the assignment.
• Miku’s response to the captured Spirits contrasts with their sacrifice: she feels some concern for what may happen to them, but her possessiveness and regret dominate.

Key plot points and events

• After Ellen captures the three Spirits, Miku hides rather than risk confronting her. She vows revenge on Ellen, but panics and ducks into the trees when Ellen flies nearby.
• Once Ellen leaves, Miku blames Shido and Lingmeng for her predicament. She decides to return to Tengu City Plaza, where thousands of spectators remain under her control, and use them to search for the pair or force them to appear.
• Lingmeng teleports to the Itsuka residence, where Shido and Tohka are waiting. Shido is anxious because the other Spirits and the Fraxinus crew have been captured, and Lingmeng has faced Miku and Ellen alone.
• Lingmeng returns safely but admits she has not defeated either opponent, since Miku and Ellen teamed up. She resolves to act faster next time. The chapter ends as she examines Shido with a regretful expression.

Character developments

• Miku remains proud and vengeful, but her bravado gives way to fear when Ellen is near. She also becomes more focused on using her followers as leverage against Shido and Lingmeng.
• Lingmeng is confident and protective, reassures Shido and Tohka, and acknowledges that she needs to avoid being caught off guard again.
• Shido feels guilty and worried that Lingmeng is bearing the danger while he is safe at home, though he is relieved to see her return.
• Tohka shows loyalty and concern, offering to fight anyone who threatens Lingmeng.

Significant themes

• Bravado versus vulnerability: Miku’s grand declarations contrast comically with her fear of Ellen.
• Betrayal and revenge: Miku sees herself as wronged and turns to retaliation, despite her own role in deceiving others.
• Responsibility and protection: Shido’s worry and Lingmeng’s return highlight the burden of protecting their friends.
• Escalating danger: With the other Spirits and thousands of spectators under Miku’s control, the conflict remains unresolved.

Character interactions

• Miku privately directs her anger at Ellen, then at Shido and Lingmeng, imagining revenge against both.
• Tohka comforts Shido and offers to protect Lingmeng; Shido welcomes Lingmeng home and prioritizes her safety over the failed confrontation.
• Lingmeng jokes about being the Strongest Spirit, then vows to deal with Miku later and turns her attention to Shido.

Key plot points and events

• After the Tengu Festival, Shido changes out of his feminine clothes, prompting playful teasing from Lingmeng about missing “Shiori.”
• Lingmeng realizes Kurumi has been secretly following her and confronts her. Kurumi emerges from the living-room shadows, startling Shido and Tohka.
• Kurumi says she attended the festival partly to watch Shido dressed as a girl and Lingmeng’s performances. She also admits she watched Lingmeng fight without helping.
• Kurumi reveals that Ellen has shifted her attention to Miku and has already captured the three Spirits who were with her. This becomes the chapter’s cliffhanger and sets up the rescue operation.

Character developments

• Lingmeng remains alert, confident, and protective, stepping between Kurumi and the frightened Shido and Tohka. She is also irritated that Kurumi watched her battle rather than helping.
• Shido is still shaken by Kurumi’s earlier attempt to consume him and Lingmeng. He is also embarrassed that Kurumi saw him performing in women’s clothes.
• Tohka responds protectively, positioning herself between Shido and Kurumi and staying ready to fight.
• Kurumi maintains her teasing, manipulative manner, but her warning about Ellen’s attack shows she is willing to share information with the group.

Significant themes

• Trust and danger: Kurumi provides useful information, but her past violence makes it difficult for Shido and Tohka to trust her.
• Protection and responsibility: Lingmeng acts as a buffer between Kurumi and the others, while the news of the captured Spirits creates an urgent need to help Miku.
• Humor amid tension: Teasing about Shido’s disguise and Kurumi’s theatrics contrasts with the growing threat.

Character interactions

• Lingmeng and Shido banter about his feminine clothes before the mood shifts.
• Shido and Tohka react fearfully to Kurumi’s arrival, while Lingmeng confronts her calmly.
• Kurumi provokes Shido about his “Shiori” appearance and compliments Lingmeng; Lingmeng brushes off the flattery.
• Lingmeng challenges Kurumi for not helping during the battle, and Kurumi offers evasive excuses before delivering her warning about Ellen.