Astraea (Flame of Judgement) 

All that could be heard was wailing.
A voice trembling with rage, cursing the very existence of the gods from the bottom of her heart.
The owner of that voice was a girl who had lost everything to the gods’ empty words… Sylvius.
The girl who had lived in a world far removed from strife, and who had always received unconditional love, was now directing her hatred towards the woman standing before her, her sorrow palpable.

“I won’t accept you! You can’t possibly be right!”

The surge of emotion was so fierce that she could kill with hatred alone.
But Astraea, the Star Goddess… spoke calmly without even batting an eyebrow.

“I am the goddess of justice, so I am absolutely right… But at the same time, I know that “justice” takes different forms for each person… If you wish to prove your justice, you must first become a “Performer”.”
“…If I become a Performer, will I be able to kill you?”
“Yes, becoming a “Performer” means getting closer to the gods… Performers have the right to question justice.”

As if speaking words of supreme sanctity, the woman who called herself the goddess of justice explained the only way to kill her own being.
For Sylvius, these words were a revelation, and at the same time, they became her reason to live.

“I… will kill you… Astraea…”
“I’ll be waiting, Sylvius.”

With these words, Astraea left the burnt field as Sylvius, who remained motionless, stared at one point.
Her figure was no longer visible.
Yet, the hate-filled expression of Sylvius, who had sworn to kill her with her own hands, continued to burn Astraea’s heart.

“I feel your justice painfully clearly. I want to know if your justice is right. But I am not a goddess for you alone…”

Astraea clasped her hands together and whispered as if in prayer, then disappeared somewhere.
She had something to do.
The gods were disappointed in the humans who have spread throughout the earth.
And before their punishment rained down on earth, she must find potential Performers with new values ​​who can guide humans and lead them to the world above the skies.

“Please, show me… the justice you all hold dear.”

What kind of humans would be chosen by her own method of selection, “the Flames of Judgement”?
Gazing at the “threads” descending from the celestial realm to the earth, Astraea’s heart became filled with anticipation.

“…the people are burning.”

From the balcony in her room, a girl named Saare gazed blankly at the walled city below. Watching the flames that had instantly transformed the town into a hellscape of raging inferno, she murmured thus.
Was it a surprise attack by hostile fanatics? Or perhaps a vassal state had raised a rebellion? Or… Even just running through the concerns that instantly came to mind, there were countless possibilities.
It was the fate of a hegemonic nation that had subjugated all through force, something Saare had been taught since childhood.
Perhaps that was why.

“My soldiers are useless.”

Saare’s expression didn’t waver even as she watched her own people writhe in the flames.
She hadn’t realized she was this cold-blooded. As Saare muttered to herself, preparing to leave the room for the assault on the royal castle…

“Congratulations.”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from behind her.
There had been no sign of her presence. Saare turned around instantly. In her hand was a narrow sword, drawn so swiftly she hadn’t even noticed when.

“Who the hell are you?”

Her gaze, filled with murderous intent, pierced the woman.
The woman, seemingly unconcerned, held up the scales and sword in her hands and slipped smoothly into her attack range.
Saare was strangely irritated by her smile, indifferent to both battle and pain.

“You are a linked being. Your outstanding talent has been recognized by heaven.”
“I asked who you are. Answer me.”
“I am Astraea, the Star Goddess of Judgement and Justice. I extend my hand to you, who has overcome the Flames of Judgement.”
“Goddess…? You’re nuts.”

The self-proclaimed goddess began to speak with a clear voice, as if singing.
That the gods’ wrathful punishment was about to fall upon the humans infesting this world.
That Astraea had sifted through humanity to find those bearing divine blood, seeking to prevent this.
And that those who survived her selection, those possessing the strong will to unite people’s hearts and guide them to the righteous path… were declared worthy to become “Performers.”

“A Performer, huh…”

As the woman said, divine blood flowed through Saare’s veins. As proof. she had overwhelming physical prowess surpassing everyone else, and she had never been defeated in battle.
Even when she consciously held back her abilities, the result remained the same.

“Heh, heh heh…”
“Please do not grieve. From now on, many people will-“
“Hey.”

Interrupting the woman’s words, Saare asked.

“Are there others like me?”
“My, my.”

Her reaction and sharp gaze were different from the girl Astraea had met in that remote village.

“Even I don’t know the exact number.”

Astraea suddenly looked up at the sky.
Though Saare squinted when she followed her gaze, she saw only the ceiling. But Astraea could see countless threads stretching from the earth to the celestial realm.

“A lot, many of them.”
“I see. That sounds… is gonna be very fun.”

A sudden stroke of luck for a lonely conqueror who had never fought anyone to her satisfaction.
For her, the Star Goddess’s selection was undoubtedly a fateful day.

This place had built a society quite different from the countries and villages Astraea had visited.

“Even a goddess such as me is surprised… hehehe.”

Straining not to fall backward, Astraea gazed upon a structure that seemed built by human tenacity.
Stones of the size of a human adult were packed together densely, piled skyward as if striving to reach heaven.
And atop it all stood a colossal stone statue of a woman, laughing as she trampled what appeared to be gods beneath her feet.

“I’m glad they all left already.”

Had this been an era when gods still walked the earth, such an act would surely have been deemed treasonous, met with their divine judgement.
That was how blasphemous that idol was.

Astraea looked around and spotted a straw hut, built as if to hide within the shadows of the trees.
Just seeing its rough construction gave her some idea of what kind of place this had been.

“Oh, are you wishing to join as well?”

An oddly high-pitched voice of a woman echoed from somewhere.

“…Where might you be?”
“How silly of you not to know yet. I am right here!”

The voice came from the idol.
No, actually… it was from the one seated atop the stone base where the gods knelt at the idol’s feet.

“You too survived those flames, didn’t you? Then, if I can subjugate you, I could draw nearer to becoming a supreme being… a goddess.”
“Hehehe, how pure you are.”

The woman’s laughter echoed.
She continued her insolent attitude toward the true goddess.

“I’m not fond of heights… but I suppose I have no choice.”

Seeing that the woman had no intention of descending Astraea began moving toward her to explain that she possessed the potential to become a Performer.

“…So I was chosen by the gods! Is that what you mean?”
“Yes. Congratulations, Flodia.”
“Finally… Finally! My charm and magic are on par with the gods… no, perhaps even surpassed them!”

The woman calling herself Flodia began interpreting Astraea’s words to suit her own convenience.
Astraea felt that the beauty Flodia clung to was indeed worthy of standing alongside the gods. And that very beauty was also the factor that had built this twisted society.
The fact she had been able to command enough people to construct such a vast structure was proof that she could qualify as a hero.

“So, the conditions for you to be invited to the celestial-“
“Hey, you.”

Flodia’s mouth formed words, abruptly interrupting Astraea.

Become my servant.

Though no words were spoken, Astraea was certain she had heard those very words.

“…”
“Um… Is something wrong?”
“I see, it doesn’t work on deities.”
“Huh?”

For just an instant, Flodia twisted her lips in disgust and glared at Astraea.

“Then allow me to explain again. I’m reaching my limit…”
“That’s enough. I’ll become a Performer and join the ranks of the gods, that’s for sure.”
“Hehehe, is that so? I shall watch from the sky as your justice is fulfilled.”

Leaving Flodia behind, who continued laughing loudly in the same position as the idol, Astraea headed to where the next candidate was.

The fourth Performer Astraea encountered was the daughter of a long-standing clan of priests who conducted funeral rites for the dead in a neighboring village.

“…”

Her name was Colette.
A girl with a unique aura, she had no voice to speak.

“…”

Perhaps drawn in by said aura, Astraea also fell silent and did not explain the mission assigned to Colette.

“”…””

Time passed with not a single word.
It was Colette who broke the silence.
She thrust both hands into the large pockets of her black work skirt and fitted objects of indescribable shape onto each hand.

“Hey, where’d you come from?”

Those objects were finger puppets.

“…Huh?”
“We’re Nymph. Colette’s friends.”
“Um…”
“Hey hey hey, tell us your name!”

Colette pressed closer to Astraea with her face hidden by the puppets. For just an instant, Astraea felt as if she’d met the eyes and gaze of Nymph, even though they shouldn’t have been there.

“I am Astraea, the Star Goddess of Judgement and Justice. Nymph, I came from the sky to speak with your friend.”
“From the sky?” “Wow!”

Astraea recounted the events that had happened.
She quickly understood that while Colette’s words and actions were somewhat eccentric, she was a kind-hearted girl at her core.
And she had grown up receiving endless love from her family, just like Sylvius.

Just as Astraea finished telling her everything and was about to leave, Colette stopped her.

“Lady Goddess.”
“Yes, what is it?”

Colette didn’t answer Astraea’s question. Instead, she began something using the two Nymph.
She had the puppets facing each other, as if they were talking among themselves.
It seemed she was improvising a puppet show.
Their roles appeared to be Colette on the left and her sister on the right.
Though the puppets’ expressions were unclear, Colette, standing between them, compensated by rapidly changing her own.

The play’s plot began with the selection that occurred in that place, and it was about how Colette lost her voice at the same time as she lost her beloved sister.
How she could hear the voices of the dead even before meeting Astraea.
And how she decided to become a Performer to bring her sister’s soul back.

“I’ve decided, I will become a Performer.”

Astraea, who had watched Colette’s puppet show with bated breath, tried to offer praise at its closing act, but unfortunately, both her hands were occupied.
After smiling awkwardly and saying, “I see,” she decided to give her compliments to Colette instead.

“I’m glad to know of your resolve. The gate leading to the celestial realm opens only for the chosen. I pray from heaven that you will become one.”
“…”

Colette nodded slightly.
Watching Astraea vanish into the sky, she turned to look behind her.
Lying on the ground, there was a rectangular wooden box with iron fittings on the corners.
It was an handmade coffin Colette had crafted with such care.

“Per’s soul isn’t going anywhere. She’ll always be with me, forever.”

The final moment with her beloved sister resurfaced in Colette’s eyes.
Disregarding her own body consumed by the Flames of Judgement, she was desperately shielding her younger sister until she turned to ash.

　『コ……コ……、レ……ット…………』

“Co… Co… Let…”

She never knew what her sister had tried to say in her final moment.
But Colette was certain she was alive today because of her sister.
Inside that coffin lay what had been her sister.
Every last grain of her ashes, carried here without spilling a single one.

“Let’s aim for the celestial realm together, my dear Per.”

At that moment, a faint “clatter” echoed from within the coffin.
As if answering Colette’s wish.

After traveling the world to select those qualified to be Performers, Astraea’s final stop was a city built on a flat plateau atop a sheer cliff.

“Hehehe, what a nostalgic place.”

That plateau had developed its own unique ecosystem, revered and feared by those living below as “the place closest to the gods.”
And within the city built around its central church, devotees of the gods still lived to this day.

“It’s done, Lady Astraea.”

A dark figure appeared not far from Astraea. It walked straight toward her and knelt before her.

“Well done, Pandora.”
“M-my name…! I-I couldn’t possibly! We have dedicated our lives to the gods in heaven… Yet for you to take notice of me personally, I-I’m so honored.”

Pandora rattled off her words, flustering nervously before the goddess she worshiped.

“Just as it is your duty to dedicate your life to us, it is my duty as a goddess to bless you. You have shown the purest form of justice, Pandora.”
“H-how… how could you say my name again…!”

As if kneeling before Astraea wasn’t enough, Pandora pressed her forehead to the ground, savoring the goddess’s blessing.

“Oh, why are you hiding your face?”
“M-my body is impure now. I cannot expose it before Lady Astraea…!”
“I don’t mind.”

When the goddess said that, Pandora couldn’t say a word.
She took a deep breath, murmuring “Well…” before revealing her face to the goddess.
Peering out from beneath the cloth was a girl whose face still bore traces of freckles.

“At last you show your face, hehehe.”
“H-heh…!”

Born on this secluded plateau, she was trained from childhood as a devout believer.
It was for the selection ritual whose arrival was unknown.
And today, finally, said ritual was fulfilled in Pandora’s generation. It was impossible not to be excited.

“L-Lady Astraea… D-Do I truly possess the potential to become a Performer?”
“Of course you do. Have you not already made a great decision? You’ve already taken the first step… Have faith in yourself. Otherwise, my blessing would have been “not right,” wouldn’t it?”
“W-W-What have I done…!”

Pandora hastily bowed her head to Astraea, who was pouting in lament.

“Please raise your face. To be welcomed into the celestial realm, you need only show that you possess sufficient potential and talent. Then, the gates will naturally appear before you.”
“Ah, ahh… Lady Astraea… Our sacred goddess…”

Pandora wept with joy.
And she vowed to become the Performer Astraea sought.

“Lady Astraea truly is a beautiful being…”

After watching Astraea going back to heaven, Pandora cast off her robe on the spot.
Her pale, emaciated body bore the scars of a horrific ritual. And dripping from her wounded flesh was the vast amount of blood shed by her kin.

“Thanks to all of you, I have been blessed by Lady Astraea… Ah, how wonderful.”

Unable to contain her excitement, she began stomping on the spot.

“Quick, quick, I must go to her!”

Pandora descended to the earth she had never set foot upon before.
She never stopped walking until the door leading to the heavens opened.

“All those I have met have shown their own values… their justice, and found their way to me.”

With a hint of nostalgia, Astraea spoke to the girls who had become Performers.
Saare, Flodia, Colette, Pandora.
Each one of them possessed pure radiance and their own sense of justice.

“And… even now, there are those who continue to struggle, trying to show me their own justice.”

Her gaze fell upon countless threads swaying, stretching from the celestial realm to the earth.
At times tangled, at times linked, they emitted a brilliance stronger than the dawn that stains the heaven crimson.

“…Oh, is that…”

At that moment, a thread shining particularly brightly caught Astraea’s eye.
It was… Sylvius’s thread.
It glowed even more intensely crimson toward Astraea, as if crying out, “Choose me!”

“Hehehe… Well done to have made it this far…”

The threads around her snapped midway and fell to the ground. With each thread that fell, hers transformed into a stronger, more solid one.
The faint, fragile glow Astraea had felt when first seeing Sylvius was no longer there.

Sylvius’s only desire was to exact revenge on the goddess.
Driven solely by that purpose, she had achieved her growth.

“All conditions to test your potential are now fulfilled.”

With those words, Astraea lowered the tip of her sword toward the floor.
In that instant, light poured in from nowhere… and a pure white apostle with untarnished wings appeared.

“The final trial begins. Please judge whether Sylvius’s justice is worthy of a Performer.”
“Understood, Lady Astraea.”

The pure white apostle vanished back into the light.
Then, he descended upon the battlefield where Sylvius was locked in combat with countless heroes.

The dawn-lit celestial realm, a place reachable only by the chosen ones…
There, Astraea had waited.
For those who would slay the gods in the name of their own justice.

“To be honest, I underestimated her a little. I never thought she could make it this far.”

Sylvius was nothing more than a roadside stone with little power, compared to those Astraea had met on earth, who bore strong divine blood.

“But she showed me the chains of the heart that humans possess. That only humans can forge.”

Humans fight with each other.
It is an act the gods should abhor.
But conflict itself arises when those holding different values clash. On the other hand, no conflict would occur among those who share the same value; they would join hands and forge connections.
And these overlapping bonds become stronger and stabler.

“Please look at her now.”

With that, Astraea tapped the floor with her sword.
Instantly, a square-shaped space appeared before her. Within it, girls raced up a staircase leading to the celestial realm.
All were heroes who had survived Astraea’s selection.
And the girl leading them all was…

“Sylvius… what a pure radiance.”

The goddess’s lips curved gently.
Even though she had lived through eternal ages, she had never before witnessed the justice Sylvius had so thoroughly imparted and honed.
It was a black, ominous flower of evil in full bloom.
Astraea addressed the girls she had blessed.

“Can you defeat her?”
“Ah…”
“Hehe, you’re nervous, aren’t you?”
“N-no! That’s not it!”
“Then what’s the matter?”
“Lady Astraea seemed so delighted, I couldn’t help but be captivated…”
“Eh?”

Until the Performer Pandora pointed it out, Astraea hadn’t realized her own heart was fluttering like a maiden’s.

“Oh my, this doesn’t suit me… hehehe.”
“Seeing you laugh like that makes me almost jealous of her.”
“We’ll eliminate that girl.”
“Exactly. If we drive her back and prove to the gods that we are the true Performers, the divine seat you desire won’t be taken from you.”
“Hmph… No need to tell me.”
“I’m counting on you all. Now, she should be arriving soon. Are you ready?”
“Of course-“

The moment the space closed, a roar that shook the dawn-lit celestial realm echoed out, as if replacing the silence.

“ASTRAEA!!!”
“I’ve been waiting for you, Sylvius.”

Her eyes, filled with rage, twisted as if ready to tear Astraea’s throat apart.
In the eternal twilight, a “crimson” deeper than dawn’s glow was about to cross.

“Guh…! Y-you saw through my sword…! Impressive…”
“I’m sorry… Per…”
“No… I don’t want to die… Lady Astraea…”

One by one, they fell in battle.
After a desperate struggle, the fight between the heroes led by Sylvius and the Performers blessed by Astraea was reaching its end.
Only Flodia was left.
Half of Sylvius’ body was pierced by Saare’s sword, and her jet-black wings were mangled beyond recognition by Colette and Pandora.
She was already covered in wounds.
Yet the outcome against Flodia seemed all but decided.

“Wh-what… Why won’t my ‘words’ reach you!?”
“Words? Ah, I couldn’t understand why you kept ordering me around, but I see now.”
“Impossible! My words are the words of God. No human could possibly dare… to defy them!”
“Human? He, hehe… Hahahahahaha!”
“Wh-what’s so funny!?”
“I abandoned humanity long ago! From the day I resolved to kill Astraea with my own hands!”
“Wh-what… how… could…”

With her own resolve alone, she could even brush aside the words of God.
Faced with a beast beyond human, Flodia’s will to fight shattered.
As the least powerful of the Performers, she relied on her “words” to no avail; there was no point in fighting.
Flodia fell back, trying to escape Sylvius, who was slowly approaching her.

“Hii… D-don’t come! I-I don’t want to be killed by a monster-“

Suddenly, her retreat stopped.
Flodia cautiously looked up to find the goddess standing there, her smile unbroken.

“The final Performer you chose is quite the coward, Astraea.”
“L-Lady Astraea! Please, send me back to earth! I admit defeat!”
“…Why are you so worried?”
“…Huh?”

The goddess made an unexpected question.
Being worried over anything was the last thing on Flodia’s mind now.
Finding a way to preserve her beauty was far more important than anything else.

“There’s nothing to worry over, you know? You need only uphold your own justice.”
“Bu-but, I already-“
“That is not justice.”

Astraea declared sharply.
There was no room for argument. The only path forward for Flodia was to take the action Astraea deemed correct.

“You must continue to demonstrate. I believe you are my proxy of justice, and one with enough talent. Now, Flodia, can you stand?”
“Ah, ah…”
“It’s alright, no need to concern. I’m here with you.”
“Haha-“

Flodia rose to her feet and stumbled toward Sylvius as if about to fall… then passed right by her.

“Oh?”
“Hmph, wasn’t that the right judgement? Even if a few of you came at me, my body wouldn’t get a single scratch. Now then, it’s about time we begin, Astraea-“

Having lost interest in Flodia, Sylvius turned back toward Astraea, and that’s when she saw it.
The sight of the scales slipping from Astraea’s hands, shattering on the floor with a high-pitched clatter.
And the twilight-colored robes she wore, slowly staining deep crimson.
Astraea remained bowed, simply surrendering to her transformation.

“What the…”

In that moment, a scream erupted from behind.
Flodia, who had reached the staircase leading to the earth, had been pierced by a sword of raging flame.
In the dawn-lit celestial realm ruled by Astraea, only those who uphold justice are allowed to remain.
Flodia defied that rule and received her punishment.

“Th-those flames…!!”

She couldn’t forget them.
Those flames bore an uncanny resemblance to the accursed flames of judgement that had taken everything from Sylvius and ended her life as a human.

“ASTRAEAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
“No… no… my judgement must never be wrong.”

Slowly raising her face, she wore a frozen smile.
There was no trace of the mercy, compassion, or the efforts she had shown to stand besides humans.

“So this is your true form, huh.”
“My justice wavers not. It shall never waver.”

As Astraea clasped her hands like a maiden offering prayer, the crimson that dyed the celestial realm formed a circle around her… creating countless swords of flame.

“As the Goddess of Judgement and Justice, you absolutely cannot be wrong. Yet here you are, invoking justice to bolster your own resolve. How pitiful, Astraea.”
“I merely wish to guide humans before the gods’ punishment falls upon the earth-“
“We need no divine mercy! I’ll prove that humanity can survive without gods! I will kill you!!!!”
“My justice is absolute!”

As if echoing the goddess’s lament, the equilibrium of the dawn-lit celestial realm began to shatter.
The impact rippled through its glittering structure, causing it to slowly begin falling toward the earth.
Once everything crumbled, much of the earth would face destruction even before the gods’ punishment fell.

What would determine that future… was only one justice.

The title of her story episodes refer to CHUNITHM’s boss songs (Rebellion, World Vanquisher, Λzure Vixen, 玩具狂奏曲 -終焉-, 混沌を越えし我らが神聖なる調律主を讃えよ, otorii INNOVATED -[i]3-, 宿星審判). The last episode’s title is Astraea FoJ’s signature song.