Zombies.

Had it been a week earlier, the concept of zombies would have been something Nao associated completely with the realm of fiction. They were an impossible creature, an illogical monster born from the fearful imaginations of humanity. A being that could not, would not, survive in what was reality. Yet there they were, shambling wrecks of rotting flesh lumbering towards them. Undead simulacrums of humanity, stumbling through a dilapidated hotel. And she was ... unphased. Unperturbed.

That in itself was perturbing.

Had she truly adapted to the supernatural situation so readily?

Nao gripped onto the rod-like weapon that Fujisawa had somehow acquired for them.

Yes.

She had.

When she had returned home after that night, her first reaction had been to break down, for the emotional walls she had established to collapse and allow the entire experience to be revisited, understood in its entirety. Yet as the events of that day replayed themselves in her mind, she had ... reached an epiphany. Whatever was the cause of this confidence in herself, in her new abilities, she did not know. It was as unknown to her as it was to anybody else. Yet it did not matter.

She could protect people.

She had vowed to do so.

And that was her [b]duty[/b].

A compass spun and spun and spun and spun and a snake hissed.

"[color=a36209]Dikē, neutralise them with a Zan![/color]"

Nao rushed in front of Fujisawa, swinging her compass-wielding arm out to materialise her shining goddess. Its mask of stars glowed, and a wave of force rushed from its body to remove one of the undead creatures before them.

"[color=a36209]Sir, Fujisawa, are you two fine?[/color]"