Chrono Paradigm
Chapter 36: Azure Miracle
AN: This chapter was supposed to be posted along with Chapter 35 as a one-year present for all of you, but I had to edit it heavily, and it ended up taking me the rest of the day. And before I get to this chapter, I finally reached 100 reviews! :D I never thought I ever get this many reviews, seeing as this is my first fanfiction ever (and it's an OC story nonetheless). I want to thank everyone one of you who took their time to leave a review to my story, and sincerely apologize for not acknowledging you. To my 100 reviewer (Guest), thank you for the constructive criticism. You do have a point, I guess the shift from Akira to Izanami was a bit too unrealistic considering just how much power Akira gained, but in my defense, I would like to point out a few things.
1. Whoever said Izanami 'killed' Envy?
2. Izanami was being suppressed by Akira, so when he let his guard down once he absorbed the Black Beast, Izanami found an opening and took over his body, seeing that Izanami also had as much access to the power Akira had as much as Akira himself since her soul was still inside of him.
3. Akira didn't use Terumi's soul to power himself up. He just kept it safe so that his existence would be assured. If Akira were to have used Terumi's soul as energy, he would've exhausted it and it would've been gone, meaning that Envy's existence would've been jeopardized.
I did not in any way mean any offence to you and I am truly grateful for you to take your time to point out the flaws in that chapter and if I did offend you in anyway, I deeply apologize. I'm just glad you enjoyed the story and just wanted to point out why I did it like that and I hope you enjoy the finale at least.
Now that I said what I wanted to say, let's go! The finale of Chrono Paradigm!
TEXT=people's thoughts
TEXT=distortion drives
TEXT=astral heats
The monster rammed the three of them, sending them straight into the air, despite them blocking the attack. Beast Kain flew into the air while Ragna and Jin landed on the ground. Beast Kain proceeded to shoot down Izanami, but she shrugged off the bullets and created several swords and unleashed them at him. Beast Kain looked at the Aegis, which began to glow.
"Let's do this, Luminous Aegis!" Beast Kain roared.
The shield obliged, and activated, shielding him from the storm of swords. Meanwhile, Ragna and Jin jumped into the air and slashed at Izanami while she was stationary. The attack seemed pointless, however, as Izanami didn't even get fazed from the attack.
"How do we take this thing down!?" Jin yelled.
"Doesn't matter how!" Ragna yelled. "We need to take this down no matter what!"
Izanami roared and flew up to the sky. She ripped a portal in the boundary and shot a tremendous black laser into it. Beast Kain looked around, and saw several other portals beginning to open.
"Shit! MOVE!" Beast Kain yelled as he flew over and grabbed Ragna and Jin.
The portals opened up, as the black laser shot out from it, forcing Beast Kain to dodge them while carrying Ragna and Jin. The portals opened up all over the place, forcing Beast Kain to survive the tempest.
"Jesus Christ!" Beast Kain yelled as he avoided all the lasers. "How the hell do we kill this thing when it can do this!?"
"We have to take it down somehow!" Ragna yelled.
"That's right, struggle!" Izanami boomed as she created two large swords, similar to the Murakumo swords and charged at the three.
Beast Kain hastily threw Jin and Ragna up into the air and flew back from Izanami, who began to swing her swords around and attacked Beast Kain. Beast Kain managed to distract Izanami so that Ragna and Jin could land safely, but was now dealing with the goddess on his own. Beast Kain mustered up all the speed he has to dodge the fatal strikes from Izanami, while trying to retaliate by shooting her in the eyes. Izanami absorbed the attack, and went for one grand cross slash, swatting the Black Beast with the gargantuan swords.
"GAAAAH!" Beast Kain yelled.
"Kain!" Ragna and Jin yelled.
He managed to regain his balance, and aimed his sword at Izanami as her swords dissipated.
"TAKE THIS!" he screamed as he charged energy into his sword and shot a tremendous red laser at Izanami.
Izanami responded by shooting her own laser from her mouth and to Beast Kain. The two blasts collided, but the dark laser easily overpowered the red laser and overwhelmed Beast Kain.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!" Beast Kain screamed in pain as the laser fried him.
"ARROWS OF ICE!"
As Izanami finished her attack, Jin shot several ice arrows at her, while Ragna jumped high into the sky, sword brandished for an attack.
"GRAVE BUSTER!"
Ragna charged the power of the Azure into his sword and slammed it at Izanami, causing her to shoot down a little. The blow actually did something, as Izanami groaned a little.
"! We can at least hurt her!" Ragna yelled.
But as Ragna fell, Izanami turned and raised her fist high up into the air.
"Fu–!"
Izanami slammed her fist into Ragna, and smashed him into the ground.
"BROTHER!" Jin cried.
Izanami lifted her fist, where Ragna somehow avoided getting flattened, but at the price of getting extremely hurt.
"Agh..." Ragna gagged as he puked blood.
"YOU BITCH!" Jin screamed in anger as he activated his Overdrive. "ARCTIC DAGGER!"
Jin unleashed a towering shockwave of ice, slashing Izanami with it and managing to push her back. Jin rushed over to his brother and helped him up.
"Are you alright, Brother?" Jin asked Ragna.
"I could've been better..." Ragna muttered as he got back up.
"Oh, so thou are not as powerless as I thought..." Izanami chimed. "Interesting..."
Izanami rose to the air, receded her wings and released them, whipping up a storm of lasers that filled the sky and rained upon them. Beast Kain rushed over to Ragna and Jin and held up the shield.
"Aegis!" Beast Kain yelled.
The Aegis responded and created a huge force field over them, shielding them from the storm.
"Thank God Iris gave us her shield for this," Ragna commented.
Unbeknownst to him however, the Aegis was burning Beast Kain's arm with each use. Beast Kain did his best to ignore the pain as he shielded Ragna and Jin. Once it was over, Beast Kain let go of the field, and rested his arm.
"Kain? What's wrong?" Jin asked.
"Looks like...it takes a lot more to use this thing..." Beast Kain muttered as he rested his arm.
"DANCE FOR ME, WHELPS!" Izanami cackled as she covered her face, which formed into a handle for the sword underneath her.
The sword began to twirl around, ripping the ground apart and forcing the three to run. The three ignored the debris that formed from the attack and just ran for their lives, until the sword let out one great thrust, blowing back the three with the force produced from it.
"Gaugh!? Are you guys alright!?" Ragna yelled.
"Doesn't matter!" Beast Kain yelled as Izanami reverted back to normal. "NIGHTMARE SOUL!"
Beast Kain activated his Azure Grimoire, and flew up to Izanami. Letting out a hefty battle cry, Beast Kain transformed his wings into the eight heads of the Black Beast and shot them at Izanami. They all made a direct hit, and it actually hurt the goddess.
However, that wasn't enough. Izanami simply chuckled as she slammed Beast Kain down to the earth, and began to form a huge ball of seithr.
"Oh shit..." Beast Kain muttered.
Beast Kain got in front of Ragna and Jin and activated the Aegis, while anchoring himself by stabbing the ground with his wings. Izanami finished creating the orb, and shot it into the air and warped out of there. The orb descended to the ground, creating an atomic explosion of seithr, decimating everything in its path.
"Gg...guh..." Beast Kain groaned as he withstood the blow.
Once the explosion extinguished, Beast Kain fell to his knees.
"Kain! What's wrong!?" Ragna exclaimed, until he saw his son nursing his burnt arm. "What the–!? Is the Aegis doing that...!?"
"Kain in his current state can't handle the Aegis due to their polar opposite components..." Jin muttered. "This is bad...our only defense against this monster, and it's hurting one of our own as recoil..."
"I'm fine...!" Beast Kain grunted as he stood back up. "We just need to focus on taking this thing down!"
"LET US SEE IF THOU CAN!" Izanami roared as she summoned eight turrets, similar to Mu's bits and Izayoi's shields.
"!? Noel...!" Ragna muttered.
"Even Tsubaki...!" Jin growled.
The turrets surrounded the three and charged up energy.
"Goddamn it!" Beast Kain yelled as he grabbed Ragna and Jin once more and flew up, just in time to avoid the turrets shooting eight intense beams.
The turrets pursued the three, surrounding them at a point and firing at once, making it more stressful for the beast warrior to avoid them, especially with his diminished stamina. Eventually, he messed up, as one of the turrets shot him in the back.
"Gaaugh!" Beast Kain cried as he let go of Ragna and Jin.
"Shit!" Ragna yelled as he fell.
The turrets followed the two siblings, while Izanami loomed over Beast Kain as he was recovering from the pain. Beast Kain realized this, and quickly flew back.
"PREDATOR STRIDE!"
Beast Kain's sword grew into a gargantuan energy blade as he charged at Izanami. As he sliced her, Izanami disappeared.
"Wha–!? An illusion!?" Beast Kain gasped.
Before he could react, Izanami reappeared behind him and smashed him between her palms.
"KAIN!" Ragna and Jin cried, until they had to fend off against the turrets firing at them.
Izanami smirked, until she felt a sharp pain in her palms. Her hands were slowly forced apart, as Beast Kain was pushing them back with his wings.
"I'M NOT...DONE YET!" Beast Kain roared as he shot the energy blade at Izanami.
It stabbed her face, causing her to scream in pain and swat Beast Kain away. He crashed to the ground, as Izanami pried the sword out and crushed it.
"CARNAGE SCISSOR!"
"EMPTY SKY FORM...WINTER'S REPOSTE!"
Ragna slammed the bits with his sword while Jin sliced through the shields and turned to Izanami.
"GRAVE BUSTER!"
"ARCTIC DAGGER!"
While they were falling, Ragna unleashed the energy of his Grave Buster and shot it at Izanami in a form of a shockwave. Likewise, Jin unleashed another shockwave of ice at Izanami. The two waves blasted the goddess, while they crashed to the ground. Meanwhile, Beast Kain got back up, but his helmet broke apart, revealing his face.
"Wha–!?" Kain gasped as he felt around, realizing that his head was now bare. "Goddamn it!"
"You worms struggle valiantly..." Izanami commented. "But in the end...thou are still worms...struggling to the very end...allow me to end thy misery!"
Izanami roared, as a time-stopping distortion filled the void.
"Oh shit..." Ragna muttered.
"She can use an Overdrive too!?" Jin gasped.
"Decimate..." Izanami said as she created a huge black sword; bigger than herself; in her hands, and smashed the earth with it.
The force was so strong, it sent the three flying into the air, even though they didn't get directly hit by it. As they were airborne, Izanami held the sword up, as it produced a black gleam that blinded everyone and shot them to the ground painfully.
"Gah...!" Ragna gagged as he puked blood.
"Guh...is there anyway to kill this thing...?" Jin asked.
"Thou cannot kill death..." Izanami boomed. "Now...I shall put an end to this suffering..."
Izanami flung her claws to the sides, as an eerie aura filled the air.
"What's going on–!?"Kain asked, until he felt something tugging at him. "What the–!?"
He looked down, and to his shock, a black portal was under him, where several undead hands were grabbing at him, clawing into his skin.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Kain screamed as he sliced off the hands, only for more to take their places.
"KAIN!" Ragna and Jin cried.
They tried to go over to help him, but found themselves under the same fate.
"Shit!" Ragna yelled as he tried to free himself.
Seeing that cutting them off won't do anything, Kain struggled to break free, and reached out to Izanami.
"I'm not done yet...!" Kain howled as he tried to fly up with force, but the hands wouldn't allow it.
"Thou have fought valiantly," Izanami praised the boy of the Azure. "But it was futile in the end...I shall let thou rest in eternal slumber...I shall give you death as your final parting gift...sleep now in eternity, free from your despair."
"BULLSHIT!" Kain screamed as he continued to rebel. "I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU WIN!"
"Thou has lost. There is no hope," Izanami said.
"SCREW THAT! I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP! I'M NOT DONE YET!" Kain howled. "I'LL NEVER GIVE UP! NO MATTER WHAT! I WILL BRING YOU DOWN!"
"Accept your fate."
"NEVER! WE DESERVE TO LIVE! WE DESERVE TO SEE THE FUTURE!"
Kain desperately tried to break free, but the hands pulled him that much closer into the portal. He couldn't hold on for much longer, as now only his head and left arm weren't sucked in.
"Damn it..." Kain murmured. "GODDAAAAAAAAAMNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!"
That was the last thing Kain yelled, before becoming completely consumed into the black void.
"KAIN!" Ragna and Jin screamed, as they were dragged in as well.
I...lost...
I failed...
I failed everyone...
Damn it...!
But...I guess I should've seen this coming...
I mean...our enemy was the goddess of death...
There was no way we could kill death itself...
We were doomed from the start...
I was wrong in thinking we still had hope left...!
You truly are pathetic right now.
'Huh...?'
Kain found himself in a black void. He realized that he was out of his armor and in his regular clothing. In front of him, however, was the missing armor.
"You..." Kain said.
"So after coming this far..." Beast Kain asked. "After overcoming all those obstacles...you're just going to give up here?"
"The enemy's the goddess of death!" Kain argued. "How can we win against that!? We can't kill death! We were doomed from the start!"
"Perhaps," Beast Kain said. "But it's better to try and fail than to give up all hope."
"We tried alright!" Kain yelled angrily. "And we failed big time! We were the last hope to humanity and we blew it! I was wrong to give everyone false hope..."
"...Boy," Beast Kain said. "Do you remember what I told you last time?"
"...There will be people who will think that something is good," Kain said, quoting the beast. "And at the same time, there will be people who will think that same thing is evil."
"And did you figure out what I was trying to say?" Beast Kain asked.
Kain shook his head, making Beast Kain sigh.
"Oy vey," Beast Kain said. "Then let's put it like this. Maybe the Goddess was right that the world is supposed to be a world of death and you were wrong in thinking that humanity deserved to live. Or you were right that humanity deserved to live, and the Goddess was wrong to believe that the world is supposed to be a world of death. In the end, these are all 'ideals'..."
Kain didn't look convinced, earning a sigh from his Beast self.
"Then let me ask you this," Beast Kain said. "Was it wrong for you to meet Iris? Was it wrong for you to meet everyone? Was it wrong for you to believe in your friends? Was all that pointless?"
"HELL NO!" Kain yelled.
"Then why do you plan to throw their hopes away like that?" Beast Kain asked.
"But you said that there was no right or wrong..." Kain said.
"...There is no right or wrong..." Beast Kain. "But for one person...the most important thing is what they believe is right or wrong."
"What I believe...is right or wrong...?" Kain asked.
"Yes," Beast Kain said. "Do you wish for your ideals to be right?"
"Of course! I want to...but..." Kain said. "I just can't! I can't win!"
"Of course you can, Brother!"
Kain looked up, and Beast Kain was gone. He turned around, and saw his own little sister, in a white dress.
"S-Saya!?" Kain gasped.
"It's been a while, Brother!" Saya exclaimed happily as she raced over and embraced him.
"B-But...how...!?" Kain gasped.
"I told you I would always be with you," Saya said. "Although this is quite the predicament you found yourself in."
"Saya..." Kain said, before tears began to fill his eyes. "I'm sorry...!"
"Why are you sorry, Brother?" Saya asked.
"If I was a better brother..." Kain started. "If I had looked out for you better...then you would never have gotten raped...you would've never have been through all this pain and misery...! Akira would've never became Envy! All of this would've never happened if I wasn't a lousy brother! I'm so sorry...Saya..."
"You're not a lousy brother!" Saya protested. "You did your best to protect and raise us! We would've never bothered to live if it wasn't for your support!"
"And look where that led to!" Kain yelled. "It's my fault you were killed and I lost Akira to that thing! I can't do anything right! I couldn't even protect my only two siblings!"
Kain began to break down sobbing.
"I'm pathetic..." Kain bawled.
"Brother..." Saya said, before squeezing her embrace. "You're not pathetic."
"How...!?" Kain blubbered.
"You taught me that I wasn't alone," Saya answered. "You showed me that I had friends to rely on. Friends who stuck besides us through thick and thin. Burai, Claude, Sieg, Itsuki, Kidou, Mary, Alicia, Hikari...and even Iris...We weren't alone...but it took me until death to finally realize that. You showed me hope. You're not pathetic. You're the best brother I could ever hope for."
"Saya..." Kain said.
"...I'm sorry for everything I did to you..." Saya apologized. "For the rape...for almost killing you...for everything...I just wanted you by my side...I didn't want to lose you to anyone...But I was selfish...I should've known that you would never leave me...and I should've learn to let my anguish go..."
Saya flashed a smile to her brother.
"You showed me that there's hope in everyone," Saya said. "Now it's your turn to see it."
"I..." Kain said.
"This isn't the time to give up, right?"
Now Saya had disappeared, and in front of Kain now, was Iris, holding her Aegis to her chest.
"Iris!" Kain exclaimed. "H-How did you–!?"
"I transferred my soul into the Aegis before launching it to you," Iris said. "I wanted to help you in any way possible, so I became your shield, I guess...ehehe..."
"You reckless idiot..." Kain said.
"Kain...you shouldn't give up," Iris said. "There's still hope left."
"But...there's no way to kill death," Kain said.
Iris looked at Kain, then sighed.
"Let me tell you something, Kain," Iris said. "Meeting you was the best thing that could've ever happened to me."
"What?" he asked.
"If I had never met you back at Ibukido for the first time...then who knows what would've become of me..." Iris said. "Although there were ups and downs from when we traveled together...I was amazed by how you never gave up...against Tsubaki...against Hakumen...against Nu...and against Envy...you were the one who gave me my Aegis...you were the one who told me to never give up. You were the one who comforted me in my time of grief."
"But..." Kain said.
"Oh God...Don't doubt yourself!" Iris scolded. "You can do this!"
"How...?" Kain asked. "How can I do this by myself?"
"Whoever said you were by yourself?" Iris asked.
"Eh?"
"Saya is right," Iris said. "You're not alone."
She came closer and laid on his chest and embraced him.
"We're all here for you," Iris said. "Every one of us."
Kain looked confused, until he turned around. To his amazement, all of his friends, past and present, were standing behind him. Tager and Kokonoe smirked at him, Azrael grinned at him, Tsubaki smiled at him while Makoto made a fist pump in the air, Noel and Celica gave him a warm, comforting smile, Burai grinned and gave him a thumbs up, Kagura made a toothy smirk while Rachel simply grinned, Kidou and Alicia smiled at him, Claude smiled and tucked in his hat as Sieg bowed, while Mary gave him a cheer, Hikari and Itsuki smiled, even Hakumen nodded in acknowledgment. In front of all of them, was Ragna and Jin. Ragna smirked at his own son, while Jin couldn't help but smirk at his other rival. Kain was shocked at all this.
"H-How...?" Kain asked.
"We all placed our hopes in you," Iris said. "You're not alone."
Iris' encouraging words felt warm to Kain. He felt a warmth that he never felt before. He couldn't help but cry, as he wrapped his arms around Iris.
"Right..." Kain said happily. "These guys were there for me...I can't let them down..."
"I'll be your shield and protect you from anything..." Iris said. "So let's go. Let's make the future."
"Yeah..." Kain said, as he lifted his left arm.
"...BlazBlue...activate..."
The void was now black. Satisfied, Izanami turned around to rest, until a harsh light pierced the scenery.
"What...?" Izanami asked as she turned around.
From where Kain had been consumed by the darkness, a bright light was escaping from light grew bigger and stronger, until it pierced the sky and something rose from it.
"What!?" Izanami gasped.
The black void disappeared, returning it into a pure white one. In the middle of it, was a figure wrapped in angelic wings. The wings unraveled themselves, revealing a man wearing white and blue armor similar to the the Kusanagi armor. He was wearing a black jumpsuit, where sword-like leg armor covered from his feet up to his knees. His arms was donned with the same white and blue armor. In his right hand, was the Blood-Scythe Telos transformed into a large naginata, where a brilliant blue energy blade was emitting from the actual blade. He was wearing a headgear that seemed to cover his forehead and chin, while he was wearing a face guard. Long blonde hair flowed freely from behind, as eight Murakumo sword wings surrounded him. On his chest was the Aegis, with the crevice opened to reveal one red eye. The man opened his own jolting blue eyes, as the black void completely dissipated as he flapped his wings that seemed to have come from the shield.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Izanami yelled.
The light from the man was so bright, that Ragna and Jin ended up emerging unconsciously from the black void that consumed them.
"H-Huh...?" Ragna asked. "What the hell...happened...?"
"Are you alright, Brother?" Jin asked.
"Yeah–The hell!? Up there!" Ragna yelled, pointing up.
They both looked up to see the man in brilliant white armor, and instantly recognized him.
"K-Kain!?" Ragna gasped.
"Is that his true self!?" Jin gasped.
'Kain' took a deep breath. He examined himself, amazed by the sight.
"So this is the Beast armor's true form..." 'Kain' said. "And I take it that it was your job to make this happen?"
"Well, that's what Alicia told me," Iris' voice rang from the Aegis as it looked up to him. "But wow...this is incredible..."
"Yeah..." 'Kain' said. "Looks like we still have a chance..."
"What trickery is this!?" Izanami demanded.
'Kain' and 'Iris' both glared at Izanami, as 'Kain' brandished his sword.
"This is the final gambit..." 'Kain' said. "It's all or nothing."
"Is that...the true Azure!?" Izanami gasped.
"...I am 'Izanagi'!" 'Kain' boomed. "THE END HAS COME!"
With that, Izanagi readied his sword, and charged at Izanami.
"RRRAAAUGH!"
Izanagi sped to Izanami and slashed her with his sword. Unlike last time, the blow actually hurt the goddess, as she screamed in pain and fell back.
"YOU!? 'IZANAGI'!?" Izanami yelled. "DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!"
"Whether I am the real one or not doesn't matter!" Izanagi said. "I will bring you down! Here and now!"
"IMPUDENT WORM!" Izanami growled as she unleashed another storm of swords.
Izanagi's sword wings dispersed from him, as he flew at blinding speed. The swords pursued him, but his swords destroyed all of them at a swift pace. Enraged, Izanami unleashed an intense laser at Izanagi, who in response, held up his left arm.
"Iris!" Izanagi yelled.
"On it!"
From his hand a huge force field deployed, shielding him from the blast.
"Judgment Blade!"
Izanagi swung his sword viciously, where Izanami was slashed despite not taking a direct hit from the blade.
"Testament Rifle!"
Izanagi aimed his sword at Izanami, where a harsh bullet of light shot form it and blasted her head. Letting out an angered howl, Izanami created a storm of lasers to pelt Izanagi with.
"Heavenly Storm!"
Izanagi's sword wings returned to him, where he unleashed his own storm of lasers to intercept Izanami's storm.
"HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY HAVE EQUAL POWER TO ME!?" Izanami demanded as she created her largest sword.
"DIVINE..."
Izanagi charged energy to his blade as he held it up high, which created a large blade of light and rushed at Izanami as she flung her sword down.
"BLADE!"
Izanagi slammed his sword at Izanami's sword. The two of them were equal in power, as they both flew back. But Izanagi wasn't done yet. He charged energy into the Aegis.
"Ready?"
"Uh huh!"
"ARCADIAN BLAZER!"
Izanagi unleashed a huge torrent of light from the Aegis at Izanami while she was down, overwhelming the goddess with the light.
"AAAAAAAUGH!" Izanami screamed.
Once Izanagi was done, Izanami fell down a little, as Izanagi retained his wrathful expression.
Ragna and Jin, during the time, was stuck watching the carnage Izanagi was having with Izanami, and were awestruck.
"Holy shit...!" Ragna exclaimed, watching the battle from below. "Kain's insane!"
"So he had the potential of a Murakumo as well..." Jin said. "No...the Black Beast armor must have been his Murakumo...but just not fully developed at the time."
But as they watched, Izanami slammed her right hand above Izanagi, who shielded it. She then used her free hand to uppercut him.
"KAIN!" Ragna yelled.
He rushed over to help, but Jin stopped him.
"Wha–!?" Ragna gasped. "Jin!? The hell!? We need to help him!"
"How!?" Jin yelled. "At this rate, we'll only get in the way! There's no way to compete with them now!"
"But we can't just leave him alone!" Ragna argued.
As Izanagi recovered from the blow, Izanami created a seithr bomb and hurled it at Izanagi.
"Tch! Unyielding Mirror!"
Izanagi created a huge shield, which bounced back the bomb at Izanami, who disappeared before it exploded.
"Damn it! Where did she go!?" Izanagi growled.
Izanami reappeared above Izanagi and smashed her fists onto him.
"GAUGH!" Izanagi gagged as the goddess pinned him to the ground.
As Izanami tried to flatten him, his sword wings reacted and stabbed her claws, forcing her to pull them back out of pain.
"So we're equal at best..." Izanagi grunted as he got back up.
"Any ideas?" Iris asked.
"Well, let's try this," Izanagi said as he pointed the blade to the ground. "BLUE GLEAM EDGE!"
Izanagi stabbed the sword into the ground, where several blue swords of light shot up from the ground and stabbed Izanami. As Izanami cried in pain, Izanagi flew back, exhausted.
"How much more can this bitch take...?" Izanagi asked.
"You need to finish her off with the Amenonuhoko!" Iris explained.
"The Ame–what?" Izanagi asked.
"Your spear!" Iris explained. "Your Blood-Scythe in its form now can destroy the 'existence' of anything! Even death!"
"Oh now there's a way to kill death," Izanagi groaned. "How's that even possible?"
"You're not 'killing' death," Iris said. "You're erasing the 'existence' of 'Izanami'!"
"Well, how do I do that then!?" Izanagi yelled. "There's no opening where I can land a clean hit!"
While he was bickering with Iris, Izanami ripped open a portal, and blasted a laser in it before it closed in on itself. Several other portals surrounded Izanagi.
"Shit..." Izanagi muttered as he wrapped his wings around himself and activated the Aegis.
From all the portals around him, the same black laser blasted him in one huge collision of energy the force of a satellite cannon. Once the lasers died down, Izanagi unraveled himself.
"That was close..." Izanagi commented, until he found himself being grabbed by the monstrosity. "GAH!"
Izanami held an iron grip around Izanagi as she squeezed him in her grasp.
"I shall make you suffer...you fake god!" Izanami cackled as she tightened her grip.
"Gah...augh..." Izanagi gagged.
"BLACK ONSLAUGHT!"
"ARCTIC DUNGEON!"
As Izanami was about to completely crush him however, Ragna and Jin jumped up towards
"Huh...?" Izanagi asked.
Ragna jumped up as Jin stabbed her head, freezing her and stopping the hands from doing anything and let go of Izanagi. Ragna landed next to Jin, his sword transformed into a large scythe which he used to swing about, slashing and hacking the hands. Ragna then stabbed Izanami's head with his large scythe, in which he and Jin grabbed the scythe and pulled, somehow successfully pulling Izanami's head and restricting her.
"Ragna! Jin!" Izanagi yelled.
"Now's your chance!" Ragna yelled. "Finish her now!"
"Wha–!?" Izanagi gasped.
"We can't hold her for much longer!" Jin yelled as he held the scythe with all of his might. "Strike her down while you still have a chance!"
"THY...FOOLS!" Izanami screamed in anger as she freed herself fromthe ice.
She tried to grab Ragna and Jin, but Izanami suddenly lost control over her body.
"AUGH...AGH..." Izanami gagged as she couldn't seem to control herself. "YOU...FOOL...YOU STILL REBEL EVEN NOW...!?"
"What? What's she–?" Izanagi asked.
Leave...my Brother...alone!
"Akira!?"
"KAIN! DO IT NOW!" Ragna screamed.
"DO IT ALREADY YOU FOOL!" Jin screamed.
"Kh...! HOLY BLADE OF THE GODS!"
Izanagi held his spear with both hands and struck down upon Izanami right after Ragna and Jin jumped off, stunning the goddess.
"If a thousand lives are extinguished, even more shall emerge to replenish the earth," Izanagi chanted as he held his spear up high, where Izanami was pelted by several streams of light, courtesy of his eigth sword wings.
"Thou shall witness the gleam of hope and life, and bask in its holy radiance..." Izanagi went on as the light gathered to his blade, which became larger than Izanami as he held it in a stabbing position.
"FEEL THE POWER OF THE AMENONUHOKO!"
Izanagi unleashed the power of his spear and stabbed Izanami in the face. The death goddess screamed in agony as the seithr and darkness comprising her body began to dissipate.
"He did it...!" Ragna gasped as he saw Izanami turn into nothing.
"RETURN TO THE UNDERWORLD AND STAY THERE!" Izanagi boomed as he ripped the spear out of her.
Izanami could only wail in agony and pain as she was reduced to nothing. Her existence was erased by the holy blade of Amenonuhoko. Izanagi's spear returned to normal as the last bits of Izanami was extinguished. From the dissipated seithr, remained Akira.
"Akira!" Izanagi cried as he flew over to him.
"B-Brother..." Akira moaned exhausted.
"Thank God...you're still alive...!" Izanagi exclaimed happily.
"Looks like...you heard my plea..." Akira muttered weakly. "Should've known that something like this would've happened though..."
"Why?" Izanagi asked.
"Izanami was still within me..." Akira said. "So whatever I gained, I was just essentially giving her access to it as well...so when I had everything I wanted...she was able to take it from within..."
"Well that was smart of you..." Izanagi deadpanned. "Still...thanks for the last minute support..."
"Hehe...although...I'm impressed...and shocked..." Akira commented weakly. "I can't believe you would...actually come to save me..."
"You're my brother..." Izanagi said. "Of course I'd come to save you."
"Even after knowing that I was Envy?" Akira asked.
Izanagi nodded in response. Akira just chuckled.
"You're pretty strange...Brother..." Akira chuckled. "Now...kill me..."
"W-What...!?" Izanagi blurted.
"I still have Terumi's soul...within me..." Akira moaned. "With the Blood-Scythe in its true form...you can erase Terumi from existence...and make sure Envy never comes to existence..."
"But if I do that now...!" Izanagi argued.
"I know...I'll die..." Akira said. "But...after all this shit...I feel adventurous...I feel like gambling on you and your so-called 'future'...I want to see if you annoying humans can actually change things..."
"What the hell're you talking about!?" Izanagi yelled. "I'm not gonna kill you!"
"You tried to do so earlier..." Akira muttered.
"That's because I had no other option!" Izanagi yelled. "But now...I know that you're still in there! C'mon! Let's get out of here! We'll find a way to turn you back to normal!"
"Hehe...you're too naïve Brother..." Akira chuckled as he used the last remains of his power to pull the spear to his chest, stabbing him through the heart.
"Wha–!?" Izanagi gasped.
"With me out of the picture..." Akira panted. "The endless despair...will finally be broken...I won't be able to torture all of you ever again...now the future will change for the better...although personally...I liked my idea better..."
"A-A-A-Akira...!" Izanagi stuttered in shock.
"Goodbye Brother..." Akira said. "You're the best brother I could ever ask for..."
As Akira gave him a faint smile, he began to disintegrate into light, tears escaping from his eyes.
"Akira! Wait!" Izanagi cried desperately as he reached out to grab him.
"You're...finally...free...Bro...ther..."
But as he clenched his fist, all he had in it was light, as Akira completely disintegrated into the Boundary. Trembling, Izanagi descended to the ground, falling to his knees.
"Kain!" Ragna and Jin yelled.
They rushed up to him, but found him in his grief.
"Damn it...GODDAMN IT!" Izanagi screamed as he punched the ground. "IT'S NOT FAIR! I BECOME FREAKING GOD AND YET I STILL CAN'T SAVE MY ONLY BROTHER! GODDAAMNIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT!"
"Kain..." Ragna could only say as his son began to break down in sadness.
"Kain..." Iris said sadly, as she could only watch Izanagi cry.
As he continued crying, a bright light shined down upon them. They looked up, to their shock, to see the Master Unit, still intact.
"Amaterasu!?" Ragna gasped. "But how!?"
"Looks like once Izanami was gone, the Master Unit was freed," Jin said, turning to Izanagi. "You can control it now. Unlike Akira, who forced it to obey him, I have a hunch Amaterasu will listen to you, 'Izanagi'."
Izanagi wiped the tears from his eyes and stood back up. Ragna and Jin nodded to him, as he nodded back, getting the message. His heart still ached at the sight of the death of his own brother, but there were still other lives to be saved.
Everyone was still waiting for the future.
"Listen to my voice, Master Unit Amaterasu!" Izanagi boomed "I, Izanagi, command thou! Restore time to its original state!"
As if to respond to him, Amaterasu began to gleam brilliantly, blinding everyone in front of it.
"Ugh...Wh-What happened...?" Ragna asked.
"Did we make it...?" Jin asked.
They looked around, and saw that they were on top of the tower, before the world got consumed by darkness.
"W-We did it..." Izanagi said in shock. "We saved the world..."
"Yeah..." Iris said. "Wait, what about everyone!?"
They turned around, and saw everyone recovering from the apocalypse.
"Ugh...what happened...?" Kidou asked.
"You guys are alright!" Izanagi exclaimed. "Thank God..."
"Kain...?" Burai asked, before taking a good look at him. "Holy crap! The hell happened to you!?"
Everyone managed to regain consciousness to see Izanagi, Ragna and Jin.
"Ragna!" Mu and Celica exclaimed happily.
"Jin!" Izayoi exclaimed happily.
The girls went over to their lovers and embraced them happily, while everyone else went over to Izanagi.
"Well I'll be..." Kidou said. "So when d'ya get this puppy?"
"The Izanagi Armor..." Alicia gasped. "So Iris managed to do it..."
"Iris did this?" Izanagi asked.
"Iris has the 'Light of Purification' the moment she obtained the Aegis," Alicia said. "That was the counterpart to your darkness...she accomplished her goal, and set your true self free from the darkness."
"So this is supposed to be Beast Kain?" Claude asked.
"Whoa...that's freakin' cool!" Mary cheered.
"Th-Thanks..." Izanagi muttered.
"Iris?! Iris!" Hikari cried.
They looked over to see Hikari and Itsuki shaking Iris' body.
"What's the matter?" Kidou asked.
"Iris won't wake up!" Hikari cried desperately.
They all looked worried, but Izanagi stepped up.
"Allow me," Izanagi insisted.
"K-Kain!?" Hikari gasped. "Y-You look amazing..."
"Thanks," Izanagi said, as he removed the Aegis from his chest and placed it on Iris. "You did well, Iris. Now to return you to your body..."
Izanagi's wings lifted into the air, as a light shined from the Aegis. The crevice closed up once the light vanished, and Iris began to open her eyes.
"...You alright?" Izanagi asked.
"That felt weird...to say the least..." Iris groaned as he lifted her head.
Izanagi chuckled as he petted her head.
"So...did we win...?" Mary asked.
"You tell me?" Izanagi asked as he looked up to the sky.
It began to clear up, revealing a bright blue sky.
"We did it?" Makoto asked.
Mary nodded in excitement.
"WOOHOO! WE WON!" Makoto and Mary cheered, leading to everyone else cheering.
"It's all over now...?" Litchi asked Bang.
"Yes, Miss Litchi," Bang replied happily. "This accursed battle is finally over!"
"Thank goodness..." Litchi sighed. "...You hear that, Roy? It's all finally over now..."
"Finally all this shit's over..." Kokonoe sighed. "I need a drink."
"Would you like coffee, professor?" Baldr asked.
"Yeah...I'm pretty sure a lot of new shit's gonna happen after this though," Kokonoe grumbled. "I'm gonna need all the energy I can get."
Baldr and Tager simply chuckled at Kokonoe's usual grumpy attitude, relieved that everything was over.
Kagura settled his sword down and looked over to the horizon. The aftermath of Ibukido sank into his vision.
"Looks like we're doing another renovation job..." Kagura sighed. "Damn it..."
"At least everything's over," Bullet said.
"That, you're right my dear, that you are right," Kagura smirked. "...Those brats...they really changed a lot of things...I couldn't imagine how things would've gone if they never showed up..."
Azrael stared at the blank sky.
"A penny for your thoughts, Mister Mad Dog?"
Azrael looked up to see Amane.
"Ah?" he asked.
"What's on your mind?" Amane asked.
"What's it to you?" Azrael asked.
"Oh, well since the world's finally at peace, I was wondering what everyone would do now," Amane said.
"The answer to that's simple," Azrael scoffed, before making a grin. "I keep fighting. I'll keep fighting those who're strong. It's my calling after all. But..."
Azrael looked over to the group.
"...Tch...I guess I rubbed off a little off of Kain..." Azrael snickered. "I became a little soft..."
"Well now, this is interesting," Amane chimed.
"And what about you?" Azrael asked.
"Me? I just keep doing what I love," Amane chuckled. "Traveling the world and seeking fresh new talent...I've yet to see the stage of the world. I don't plan to quit before reaching it."
Hakumen sheathed his sword. He looked around.
"So...the battle has come to a close..." Hakumen said.
"Looks like it, Haku," Jubei said, sighing. "Now I can finally let these old bones take a rest. I'm tired. Might go to the Kaka hot springs to just relax."
Jubei stretched his arms, as Hakumen looked up to the sky.
"...So this is the end, eh?" Hakumen asked.
"...You finally found your place at heart?" Jubei asked.
"...Not until I settle the score with the boy..." Hakumen said. "The future is now freed from the shackles of despair and evil...I want to make sure that it is rested in good hands."
"Then why not challenge Ragna?" Jubei asked.
"...In due time," Hakumen simply said.
Carl looked to the sky, with an expression that was somewhat melancholic.
"Carl? You alright?" Makoto asked.
"Huh? Oh, I'm alright, Miss Makoto," Carl answered. "I was just wondering...if Father was still alive...what would he think of this new world now?"
Nirvana placed a hand on his shoulder.
"...Right, Sis..." Carl said sadly. "He would think that...but at least...he's resting in peace now...at least his sacrifice didn't go in vain..."
"Carl..." Makoto said, before hugging the child. "It's alright..."
"I know it is..." Carl said. "And I would've never have thought that I would be melancholic about my Father of all people...but...everything's over...I don't have to keep struggling anymore...right?"
"Of course," Makoto assured Carl. "And if you still have to, I'll be by your side this time!"
"Thank you...Makoto..." Carl said happily.
"I'm so glad you're alright, Jin," Izayoi said, the happiness oozing from her words.
"Yeah...I'm glad I got to see you again..." Jin admitted. "But now, there's a lot of work to do now...We need to set things right, so that this tragedy doesn't happen again. I can count on you, right Tsubaki?"
"It'll be my pleasure," Izayoi said happily.
"Ragna...! You're alright!" Mu exclaimed happily as she tightend her embrace.
"I knew you'd come back! I just knew you would!" Celica exclaimed happily as she tightened her embrace as well.
"Alright! I get it! You two are super happy to see me, now get off! I can't breathe!" Ragna gagged.
"Oh, is the vermin rolling around in his spoils of lust?" Rachel chimed.
"Screw you, Rabbit," Ragna growled as he pried Mu and Celica off of him. "So in the end, you still make a rude remark to me eh? C'mon, I helped save the freaking world, can't I get a little respect out of you?"
"It was actually the boy who saved us though," Rachel said.
"Well, I still helped," Ragna muttered.
"...Ragna...you truly matured..." Rachel said. "I'm proud..."
"What?" Ragna asked. "What did you just say?"
"I won't say it again," Rachel said. "Honestly, you still do not pay attention to people, you imbecile."
"Well that lasted long," Ragna said sarcastically. "Still...I'm glad you're alright, Rachel."
Rachel looked surprised, but smiled at the act of consideration.
"Thank you, Ragna," Rachel said.
Izanagi looked around. Everyone was rejoicing about the battle finally coming to an end. Terumi was gone. Envy was gone. And Izanami was gone. Izanagi took a deep breath, as his armor began to dissipate, and he reverted back to 'Kain'.
"...It's all over..." Kain said.
"Yep..." Iris said. "Hehe...it feels strange..."
"How so?" Kain asked.
"It's like we just woke up from a long dream..." Iris said. "And we find ourselves in a new world..."
"Then we better get exploring..." Kain joked.
Kain searched deep into the seas of his soul, searching for the soul of the Black Beast that was in him, wanting to thank him for the moral support. But strangely, he was gone.
"Huh...?" Kain asked. "I can't find the Black Beast."
"Maybe it's because you unlocked the Izanagi Armor," Iris pointed out.
"So...the Black Beast is gone...?" Kain asked.
"I guess..." Iris said.
Kain felt saddened. He was happy that he was no longer the plague of the world, but felt sad that he could no longer interact with his dark self, the one that he had for his entire life up to now.
"...Damn..." Kain simply said as he looked at his left arm. The gauntlet no longer existed, but his arm was still completely black.
"So...what now?" Mary asked.
They all looked at her.
"I mean, we took down Envy, you guys took down whoever it was you were trying to take down," Mary said. "And everything's good now. So...what do we do now?"
"Right...we still need to get back to the future..." Kain said. "Alicia! How do we do that?"
"Oh it's very simple really," Alicia said. "We don't."
"Huh?" Kain asked, until he saw his arm destabilizing and suddenly turning transparent. "What the–!?"
All of the future kids looked at themselves, and found that they were destabilizing just like Kain as well.
"The hell!? What's going on!?" Burai yelled.
"Did you really think we could go back to the future without a stable route back?" Alicia asked. "We changed the future with our actions. With Terumi gone permanently, there is no catalyst for Envy to appear in our future. Our future has been altered. In other words 'we' don't exist anymore, and thus our existences will be erased."
"WHAAAT!?" everyone gasped.
"You gotta be freaking kidding me!" Burai yelled. "Then explain Hakumen! How the hell is he still here then!?"
"Unlike us, Hakumen is bound to the Master Unit," Alicia explained as her arm became transparent. "His existence is assured until he exhausts himself."
"Oh come on!" Burai yelled. "Then what about Kain! He freaking owns the Master Unit, so why is he disappearing!?"
"Must I repeat myself?" Alicia asked. "Well anyways, we should all say our goodbyes."
They looked at each other, then to their respective families.
Burai walked up to Bang and Litchi.
"Well...I guess this is it..." Burai said. "...I don't know what to say man...first thing you know it, the world is saved, the next thing you know it, and you're getting erased by God's magic eraser."
"Burai..." Litchi said, almost looking like she was about to cry.
"Wha–!? C'mon! Don't cry!" Burai blurted. "We'll meet again!"
"Really?" Litchi asked.
"Of course, as long as you get it with the old man," Burai said, causing Bang and Litchi to blush furiously. "That came out wrong."
"You were a great warrior, Burai," Bang said. "You truly have the spirit of Ikaruga in your veins. I'm proud of you...son..."
Burai looked up in shock, then smiled.
"I guess…" Burai snickered, as his existence became even more destabilized. "Looks like it's time."
"We'll miss you, Burai...!" Litchi exclaimed, her voice breaking.
"I hope you guys can deal with raising me!" Burai exclaimed.
"We'll be looking forward to it!" Bang exclaimed loudly.
Burai smirked, feeling nostalgic from hearing his father's famous loud tone.
"Well...as a parting line..." Burai said, as he pointed to the sky. "Don't mess with Ikaruga, punk!"
The three began to laugh, as tears began to fall from Burai's eyes.
"Bye...Mom...Dad...!" Burai said. "I'll see y'all in the future...!"
With that, Burai vanished.
Alicia went over to Rachel, where Valkenhayn appeared besides her.
"It would seem that it is time for you to depart," Rachel said.
"It would seem so..." Alicia said sadly. "I will miss you, Mother..."
"...Tell me, child," Rachel said. "What are your parents' names?"
"Eh? Lloyd and Éclair Marchenland," Alicia answered.
"...Very well, I shall remember them," Rachel said. "And I shall remember you with pride, Alicia Alucard."
Alicia looked shocked, as tears began to fall from her eyes.
"There might not be a chance that I will ever meet you again...Mother..." Alicia said. "What will be of the Alucard Estate then?"
"I'm sure we'll meet again," Rachel said. "And this time, I'm sure you shall have a much happier life."
"But..." Alicia argued, until Rachel hushed her.
"If you do not have any hope, then what good will that do?" Rachel asked.
"O-Of course...Mother..." Alicia said as she became even more destabilized. "Heh...in the end...I never got to confess my feelings for Kain..."
"Then why don't you, Madam Alicia?" Valkenhayn asked. "There is still time."
"Maybe...but," Alicia said, looking over to Iris. "She loves him more than I do. And he loves her more than me...as his childhood friend...I shall see it to observe that..."
"...You may rest now, Alicia," Rachel said. "You certainly deserved it."
"Thank you...Madam Rachel..." Alicia said. "My time with you has been salvation...and one of the best times of my life...farewell..."
With that, Alicia vanished.
Kidou went over to Kagura and Bullet.
"Welp, looks like it's time for me to bite the dust," Kidou said. "Wow...can't feel as cheery as usual..."
"Well no shit, you're pretty much dying," Kagura said bluntly.
"True that..." Kidou managed to chuckle, as his arm disappeared. "Well, at least I was able to save the one person I wanted to save..."
"Who?" Bullet asked.
"Oh you'll know," Kidou smirked.
Bullet looked confused, as Kidou looked over to Kain.
"They finally grew up," Kidou said. "Too bad Kain's disappearin' like me. That sucks..."
"You did well though, Kidou," Kagura said. "You worked your ass off more so than most of the others. I can tell from our first fight."
"I still can't believe I didn't win," Kidou muttered. "Even in the past, ya still manage to one-up me."
"Hey, it's not my fault," Kagura said.
"Hehe, I'm just playin," Kidou said. "...I'm just glad that everything's over..."
"Right..." Kagura said.
Kidou looked at the rest of his body, and found that it was destabilizing as well.
"Well, looks like it's time," Kidou said. "Bye Dad! Bye Mom! Have fun in the future!"
"Yeah–wait, Mom?" Bullet asked. "As in...ME!?"
Kagura did a spit take after hearing that.
"Na ha ha ha ha! Where d'ya think I got the white hair from?" Kidou asked. "...That elixir I had ya drink was to prevent a seithr virus from spreadin' in ya, which caused yer death."
"Whoa...thanks..." Bullet said.
"No problem," Kidou said, smirking as tears began to fall from his eyes. "What? Can't I control myself? It's just my mom that I never met in my life...I'll see her again someday..."
"Kidou..." Bullet said.
"Well...see ya in the future Mom! Dad!" Kidou exclaimed.
With that, Kidou vanished.
Sieg departed from Claude and went over to Kokonoe and Baldr.
"Sieg..." Baldr said.
Sieg looked at his father.
"Well...I don't know what to say..." Kokonoe admitted. "I never expected myself to be ina scenario like this."
Sieg nodded in response.
"But...if anything...I have to thank you," Kokonoe said. "You were a shit ton of help. And managed to help me with my emotional ties...although I hate to admit that part."
"Professot..." Baldr said, then faced Sieg. "I heard from the Professor about your fate. Rest assured, we shall not let you die again. We'll make sure you get to live the world with your own two feet, instead of being trapped in my war machine."
Sieg's eyes widened, as tears began to escape from the crevices of his mask.
"Hey, c'mon, quit it with the waterworks..." Kokonoe said. "I get it that you're happy but...c'mon..."
"...Thank you...Mom...Dad..."
The two looked up in shock, as Sieg opened up his helmet to reveal his face. His soulless blue eyes had happiness in them, as he was a smile as his body destabilized even more.
"I...love...you two..." Sieg said.
With that, Sieg vanished.
Claude and Mary went over to Carl and Makoto.
"Well...I guess this is goodbye..." Claude said.
"This feels...so weird...and yet...sad..." Mary said.
"Don't' worry you two!" Makoto assured them as she hugged Carl. "We'll make sure you two are born again in the new future!"
"M-Makoto!?" Carl blushed.
"Th-that's assuring..." Claude said nervously.
"Oh God, the mental images..." Mary gagged. "But besides the point. It was a lot of traveling with you guys."
"Likewise," Carl said.
Nirvana nodded in response.
"If the future is born anew...then that means we'll be born anew..." Claude said. "Will that mean all the struggles we went through are for naught?"
"Of course not!" Makoto argued. "Those were all to lead you all to a new future! A better one!"
Claude looked up to his mother, then chuckled as he began to destabilize even further.
"Of course, what was I thinking," Claude said. "You're always right, Mother."
Makoto grinned. Claude then faced Mary.
"What about you?" Claude asked. "Aren't you going to confess to Kain? Or Itsuki?"
"Wha–!? Sh-shut up!" Mary stammered blushing. "It doesn't matter anymore!"
Mary looked a little sad. Her existence began to fade even more.
"Although, it would've been nice if either of them noticed..." Mary said. "I guess I'll have better luck next time."
"You go girl!" Makoto cheered.
Mary grinned as she stood next to her twin.
"We'll meet again," Claude said, tears falling from his eyes. "Hopefully in a new, better future."
"Until then, bye Mommy! Bye Daddy!" Mary exclaimed, tears falling from her eyes.
With that, Claude and Mary vanished.
Itsuki and Hikari went over to Jin and Izayoi.
"Looks like this is the end of our journey," Itsuki said.
"It would seem so," Jin said. "You proved yourself."
Itsuki looked at his katana. It was glowing brilliantly.
"At least I was able to re obtain what I lost..." Itsuki said happily.
"I can't believe you two are going to disappear..." Izayoi said, almost about to cry.
"Do not fret, Mother," Hikari said. "We'll be able to meet again...in a few years..."
Jin and Izayoi blushed at that remark.
"Hikari," Itsuki lightly scolded his sister.
"Sorry..." Hikari said.
They both realized that their existences were becoming fainter, as they dropped their swords, which disintegrated into light.
"It's almost time," Itsuki said.
"Yes...it is," Hikari said.
"Are there any regrets you have?" Izayoi asked.
"...I wish I could've made better choices in my life..." Itsuki said. "But I shall correct that in my next life. I'm sure of it. I know now of my own naivety. I'll make sure that it doesn't repeat again."
"...I wish I could've been the one to purify Kain..." Hikari said. "It was what I believed to be my purpose...but...in the end, it wasn't..."
Tears fell from Hikari's eyes.
"I wanted to be with him..." Hikari sobbed. "I know he loves Iris...and Iris is much more worthy for him...but...my heart still hurts..."
Izayoi placed a hand on Hikari's cheek.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find someone," Izayoi assured her.
Hikari looked surprised, but then smiled.
"Thank you...Mother..." Hikari cried.
"We cannot thank you two enough..." Itsuki said. "We'll show our gratitude in the near future."
"You're not crying." Jin said. "So you won't miss us?"
"Of course I will," Itsuki said. "But I know...that we will meet again. I'll just wait patiently for that day to come."
"Well now," Jin smirked.
"...Farewell...Father..."
With that, Itsuki and Hikari vanished.
All that was left was Kain. Ragna, Mu, Celica and finally Iris were with him, as his existence became more brittle.
"Well...so this is how it ends, huh..." Kain said.
"Kain..." Ragna said.
"We've been through a lot...Ragna..." Kain said. "Promise you won't forget about me?"
"As if I'll ever forget about you," Ragna said. "I'll see you again."
"Count on it," Kain said, as he then faced Mu. "Noel..."
"I can't believe you're going to disappear like this..." Mu said at the verge of tears. "After everything you've done for us..."
"Don't cry, Noel..." Kain tried to appease her, but she ended up crying anyway. "We'll meet again. I promise...and this time...I'll be a better son..."
"Stupid..." Mu sniffled. "You'll always be a great son...and we'll have so much fun together as a family..."
"Right," Kain smiled. He then faced Celica. "I'll leave Ragna and Noel to you."
"You can count on me," Celica said. "Thanks again for everything..."
"What? All I did for you was get you from not committing suicide," Kain said.
"But without you, none of this could've been possible," Celica said. "For that, I thank you."
"I think you're over exaggerating a little..." Kain muttered. "And now I have a second mother...this is gonna feel weird..."
Everyone gathered around Kain, as he faced Iris.
"Well...looks like this is it..." Kain said as he became more transparent. "I...don't know what to say..."
"K-Kain..." Iris said. "Are you really going to disappear?"
"It looks like it..." Kain said. "...It's been a wild journey...huh..."
"Y-Yeah..." Iris said.
"...You know, I have to thank you, Iris," Kain said.
"Eh?" she asked.
"Well, if I haven't met you back at Ibukido, then who knows what would've happened..." Kain said. "I would've never been able to navigate through this place...hell...there were a lot of times where you helped out a lot."
"Please..." Iris slumped. "I didn't do anything..."
"Are you being serious right now?" Kain asked. "You defended me so many times before, before and after you got the Aegis. You defended me when I went berserk in my Beast form twice, you stood up to Hakumen of all people, you helped me when Saya died, and if it wasn't for your shield, then we would've been dead by now. I owe you so much..."
Kain smiled at her as he became more and more transparent.
"Because you were there for me...I was able to fight..." Kain said.
Iris was on the verge of crying as Kain stepped back. He turned around, wanting to hide his own tears.
"It really was a long road...eh...?" Kain asked. "It was so long that it was irritating...but...it wasn't too bad...now I have to go through all of that again...huh...well...I wish you the best of luck...Iris..."
"...Kain..." Iris said.
"Yeah–?" Kain asked, but he was interrupted by her kissing him, shocking him.
"I-Iris...!?" Kain asked after she let go.
"I love you, Kain," Iris said. "I loved you ever since we first met...and I'll always love you for eternity, even after death."
"Iris..." Kain said, shocked by the confession, but smiled. "The feeling's mutual."
Kain returned the kiss, as they locked themselves in a compassionate kiss.
"I'll wait for you," Iris said, letting go. "No matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you."
"Thanks," Kain said. "When we meet again...I hope I'll still love you then."
"If not, then I'll make sure you love me again," Iris smiled.
"Yeah..." Kain said, tears flowing down from his eyes. "...Until then...bye Iris..."
"Bye...Kain..." Iris said.
They locked themselves into one last kiss, until Kain completely disintegrated into light, letting go of Iris. The girl looked up as the light flew into the sky, as she fell to her knees.
"Iris...?" Noel asked.
"Noel..." Iris asked her. "Is it possible for me to see Kain again like this? Even after 20 years?"
"...I know you two will," Celica said. "I'm sure he'll remember you, even if he is born anew. If Ragna and I can do it, I'm sure you can too."
"Celica..." Iris said.
"No matter how much time passes, I'm sure of it..." Ragna said. "He'll remember you. The love you two have can overcome time."
With newfound hope, Iris looked up to the sky, as the sun began to emerge into the sky, lighting the new day.
20 years had passed ever since that fateful day. With the newfound knowledge that everyone gained form their future children, they knew what was to come, and what to do now.
With Homura now still alive, he took over as the new Imperator, where Bang was left in charge of the remnants of Ikaruga. The Ikaruga Federation was given back their land which was taken from them by the NOL, and they became an independent nation, with Bang as its new leader. As a cover up, Bang pretended to capture 'Ragna the Bloodedge' and handed him over to Homura so it looked like Bang purchased the land from them to preserve the pride of Ikaruga (although Ragna escaped a literal day later. All according to the plan). Meanwhile Litchi went back to her clinic at Kagutsuchi, where she worked hard to make up for siding with the NOL during the war, soon after marrying Bang. Orient Town soon forgave her, after all she did for them and hearing that a dear friend of hers was being held hostage during the whole thing. Three years later on January 21, Burai was born.
Taokaka returned to the Kaka Village, now more determined than ever to capture the villain "Rawgnya" so that she can make Good Guy proud. Although being explained that "Rawgnya" and "Good Guy" are the same person, it just went from one ear to the other, as the Kaka continued her exploits to become the greatest vigilante ever.
Makoto officially joined Sector Seven as one of its newest field operatives, and she took Carl and Nirvana with her. Still distraught over his parent's death, Carl was skeptical at first, but Makoto convinced him to move on, and look forward to his new life. Carl eventually gave in, as the two officially started their relationship while working for a newly reformed Sector Seven. Four years later on January 21, both Claude and Mary were born.
Speaking of Sector Seven, Kokonoe took over as its new leader, and made an alliance with the newly reformed NOL. Although not much has changed, Sector Seven no longer antagonizes the NOL, as the two worked together to make a new system to give the world a new power source, now that all the seithr in the world was obsolete, thanks to Akira. Tager and Azrael were still allied as Sector Seven's field operatives, but to their surprise, Azrael was more obedient than before. When they asked him about it, he only claimed that he'll cooperate until the day he gets to fight Kain once again. Baldr's prototype weapon systems became the basis for the new energy source, essentially making Baldr the savior of the world's energy crisis. The man was now dating Kokonoe, and was contempt with it. Three years later on October 3, Sieg was born.
As Homura took his rightful place as the Imperator, Kagura became his right hand man, while Jin became his left. Kagura got the rest of the Duodecim to cooperate, and now the NOL was completely reformed, no longer a corrupt government. Interestingly enough, Homura and Platinum developed a closer relationship, much to everyone's shock, which soon developed into a romantic one. Bullet decided to work for the NOL as their undercover agents, and ended up dating Kagura, much to everyone's shock as well. Two years later on January 6, Kidou was born, and this time, he had his mother to support him this time.
Rachel tracked down Alicia's original parents and protected them from their foretold death. Grateful for it, Alicia Marchenland wanted to study under Rachel to learn how to become as strong as her. After her parents agreed to let her train with Rachel, Alicia became her newest student. Alicia asked Rachel if she had a successor to the Alucard family, but Rachel replied to saying that she did in fact have one, but Alicia is to not learn of her existence until the time has come.
Amane continued his travels around the world with his troop, searching for the 'stage of the world' he dreamt about. More content with his life, he bid farewell to everyone and departed, giving up on trying to recruit Carl so that he can live his new life, but claimed that he will visit once again.
Jin became the head of the Kisaragi Family, and immediately married Tsubaki, not wanting to lose her again. The Yayoi Family, being close allies with the Kisaragi Family, allowed Tsubaki to marry Jin, although somewhat reluctantly due to their usual principles. Jin was too unsure that he would make a good father, Tsubaki assured him that he would be a great father, and together, they wouldn't repeat the mistakes their own families did in raising them. Jin had also reconciled with Ragna and Noel, and wished them the best (although somewhat hesitantly at first). Three years later on December 21, Itsuki was born, and several months later on March 20, Hikari was born.
As for Ragna, well, he married both Noel and Celica and moved to a secluded hierarchical city that didn't know of 'Ragna the Bloodedge'. Ragna opened up a restaurant at where he lived, while Noel became a nursery school teacher in the neighborhood, while Celica became the sister to a local church. Although they were initially ostracized for being in a polygamy, the three stayed strong, not wanting to let the kid's efforts go to waste. That being said, being in a three-way relationship does has its complications and ups and downs, but the three didn't mind at all. Ragna was just happy that Jin no longer wanted to kill him, Terumi was finally gone, and he got to spend the rest of his days with the women he loved, no longer having to live his life in hate and anger. Three years later on June 23, Noel gave birth to Kain, whereas Celica gave birth to her's and Ragna's new daughter, named 'Cerena'. A year after that, on June 6, Noel gave birth to Saya, while this time, Celica gave birth to Akira.
Date: 2/3/2220 AD
"Don't let him escape!"
In Ibukido, a criminal ran through the crowd, trying to escape the vigilantes after him. He ended up running into a dead end, where his pursuers caught up to him.
"Ya have no way to escape now, punk," a jovial voice said. "Now get caught, or else this broad sword's gonna get shoved up yer ass."
The man with white hair and wearing a white kimono held his large broad sword up with only one hand effortlessly in an attempt to intimidate the criminal.
"Y-You guys are just kids!" the criminal yelled. "There's no way I'll get caught by some dumb brats!"
"Hey I resent that!" another impatient voice yelled.
"Shut up, Burai, Kidou," another cold voice interrupted. "There's no reasoning with this guy."
From above the man, a boy with black messy hair appeared and stomped on his head, while another boy with long blonde hair tied in a ponytail and wearing a red jacket carried his sword over his shoulder.
"Alicia," the blonde one said. "Is this the last one?"
"Yes it is Kain," a new voice said. "With him, all the criminal should be captured."
"Great," Kain said.
The criminal held up a gun, but Kain already had his sword in front of the man.
"Now drop the gun and come with us," Kain threatened. "Or I stab your face. At least if you come with us, you'll live. Your call."
The man, fearing for his life, dropped the gun.
"Good," Kain said. "Burai, Kidou, let's go find Itsuki. He should take care of the rest."
"Right," Burai said. "Now then, to go ask out Hikari."
"Ya sure you should be trying that again?" Kidou chuckled. "Last time you did that, Itsuki almost shoved his katana up yer ass."
"Which is why this time, you're going to help me," Burai said to Kain.
"What!? Why me!?" Kain argued.
"Oh c'mon! Help a brother out!" Burai begged. "You know I like her!"
"Yeah, but I don't want to deal with Itsuki! He's freaking annoying to deal with!" Kain argued.
"Aw, is someone being a cry baby?"
They turned around to see a young girl with auburn hair, a sleeveless red hooded robe with a sleeveless black shirt and black skirt, while carrying a scythe similar to Kain's sword.
"Cerena," Kain said. "Since when were you here?"
"Since Sieg decided to have a look around this place," Cerena said. "Man, the boy can sometimes nerd out whenever he sees something that's more advanced than a cellphone."
"Then why're you dating him?" Burai teased.
"Because he's cute like that," Cerena simply scoffed. "As for you, Bro. Isn't it about time you found someone?"
"Wha-!? Don't but into my personal life!" Kain yelled, blushing.
"Aw c'mon, you have several options!" Cerena blurted. "Hikari, Mary, Alicia, hell even Saya. Or better yet, take a page out of Dad's book and aim for the harem route."
"What the hell!?" Kain yelled.
"Hey, knock it off," Burai interrupted angrily. "You don't get to decide Kain's love life!"
"Aw, is this just because Kain has a better chance with Hikari than you?" Cerena teased.
"Sh-shut up!" Burai denied.
"What the hell's going on?"
They turned around, and saw a familiar pair of redheads; one a male with cold green eyes, and a girl with warmer green eyes.
"H-Hikari!" Burai stuttered.
"Yo," Kain said.
"Hello, Kain, Burai," Hikari greeted courteously. "So you caught the last criminal?"
"Yep," Kain said as he kicked the poor man to them. "He's all yours. Just give us the money later, and we'll be on our way."
"Good work," Itsuki said. "As for you, scum."
Itsuki smashed his foot into the man's head.
"You're going in jail for a long time, filth," Itsuki growled. "Be glad that I'm being merciful and letting you live."
"Brother, be a little more gentle with them," Hikari scolded.
"...I'll think about it," Itsuki said.
"Hey guys!"
They all turned to see yet more familiar faces. A blonde boy with hazel eyes wearing a purple jacket and a hat, a girl with brown hair and blue eyes and an orange tank top along with a squirrel tail from behind, and another boy with blue eyes, brown hair, while wearing a white shirt and had a brown cat's tail coming from behind.
"Yo! Claude, Mary, Sieg!" Kidou greeted.
"You guys showed up too?" Kain asked.
"Well we were in the neighborhood, and just so happened to run into Sieg," Claude explained.
"And we heard you guys were beating up some fresh meat, so where are they? Let me at 'em!" Mary exclaimed.
"Sorry Mary," Kain said. "You're a little late."
"Damn it!" Mary yelled.
"Come now, a girl shouldn't be using such language like that."
A black hole appeared, where from it, a girl with long purple hair and wearing a black and white Gothic Lolita outfit, another girl with heterochromia eyes and blonde hair with sliver highlights at the end while wearing a white shirt and blue skirt, and a boy with auburn hair with silver hightlights with red eyes while wearing a black and red outfit emerged from it.
"Alicia," Kain said. "The hell're you doing here?"
"Sitting in the sidelines is so boring," Alicia yawned. "Being here is more exciting. And I brought some guests."
"Brother!" the other two exclaimed with joy as they ran over and clung onto him.
"GAH! Get off me!" Kain yelled as he pried the two off of him.
"Yo, Saya, Akira," Burai said.
"Hey there, Burai," Akira responded. "So you guys finished capturing all the poor saps?"
"Man it was too easy!" Kidou complained.
"That's because you're all too strong," Saya said. "Seriously, I feel sorry for whoever gets targeted by you guys."
"True that," Kain snickered. "Well, since we're all here, why don't we grab a bite of something?"
"Really!?" all the girls sans Cerena exclaimed.
"Sure, it's like noon, so might as well," Kain offered.
"Brother?" Hikari asked Itsuki.
The redhead sighed and created an Ars, teleporting the criminal out of the crowd.
"You owe me one," Itsuki sighed.
"Thank you Brother!" Hikari exclaimed.
"Let's go! I know this great Asian place around here!" Mary exclaimed.
"Well now," Alicia said. "Then we better go try it out."
As the girls headed on ahead, Kain followed, sighing. Burai, Claude, Itsuki and Kidou all looked at each other, sighed, then followed Kain.
"You all have some competition," Cerena chimed from behind them.
"Gah! Shut up!" Burai yelled.
Cerena and Sieg only snickered as the boys followed them. While they were on their way, Kain looked to his side, and suddenly stopped, as everyone kept going.
"Huh?" What's wrong?" Hikari asked Kain, finally noticing him stopping.
"...You guys go on ahead," Kain said. "I'll catch up."
"...If you say so," Hikari said, confused at that.
They all went on ahead, leaving Kain to do whatever it was he needed to do. He found himself in front of a train station.
Kain walked around the place, and eventually found a bench.
"What's this feeling...?" Kain asked himself. "It's like I've been here before...no that's not right. This is gotta be the first time I've ever been to Ibukido."
So you're an amnesiac who just happened to find himself in Ibukido?
A voice rang in his head. A nostalgic, warm one at that.
"What the hell?" Kain asked holding his head in pain. "What was that...? Whose voice was that?"
"Well...albeit those posters are really inaccurate...But you do look like him. The attire and the weapon share a hint of similarity...
The voice continued to ring in his head, as Kain sat down on the bench, trying to nurse his aching head.
"The hell is this...?" Kain asked himself.
Before he realized it, tears began to fall from his eyes.
"W-Why am I crying...?" Kain asked. "What the hell's going on!?"
Even if I am to be branded as a traitor, I cannot lie to myself! Kain is not in league with Ragna the Bloodedge!
"What the hell is this...!?" Kain cried. "Why am I crying!? What is this voice!? Why...why is it so nostalgic...? Why does it feel like I'm missing something!?"
"Um...Excuse me?"
Kain looked up and saw something that mesmerized him. In front of him, was a beautiful girl with white hair tied up into a ponytail, ruby-like red eyes, and wearing a white and blue outfit, contrasting his own red and black outfit. She had a warm smile that melted Kain's heart.
"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting you," the girl said. "But you seemed to be troubled, so I was wondering if you were okay."
"N-No...It's fine," Kain said. "I'm just wondering...wait..that voice..."
Kain looked up, as the girl just smiled at him.
"...Did we...meet before...?" Kain asked. "You seem...familiar somehow...maybe it's just the voice..."
"Funny you should mention that," the girl said. "I met a person a long time ago, who looked just like you."
"Really?" Kain asked. "W-who was he?"
"Well, this person was rather brash, abrasive, very pessimistic but realistic," the girl said. "But always did the right thing. He never gave up, and he saved the world."
"Well, looks like I'm being compared to a super hero here," Kain chuckled.
"Yeah...he was a kind of hero," the girl chuckled. "The kind that stole my heart."
"Oh...so you love this person?" Kain asked, a little disheartened.
"Yeah...but he went away, and I promised him that we would meet again," the girl said.
"You must really love him," Kain said.
"Yes, more than life itself," the girl said as she leaned closer to Kain. "I loved him ever since we first met...and I'll always love him for eternity, even after death."
"Oh..." Kain said, somewhat sadly. "He must be a really important guy.
The girl leaned closer and cupped his cheek, making Kain fluster.
"Wha-what're you–?" Kain asked.
"It's time that I got him back," the girl said as she kissed Kain.
Kain's eyes widened as the kiss deepened. As it did, memories began to flow into him. Foreign ones. Ones that he didn't recognize, but at the same time, he did recognize. How they escaped Ibukido. How they ended up joining Sector Seven. How they fought Hakumen. How they faced Ragna the Bloodedge. How they faced Envy. How they faced the goddess of death. All the hardships, and all the sweet memories flowed back into him, where the last one was the two of them confessing their eternal love to each other.
As the girl let go, tears were falling from Kain's eyes, as if he finally obtained what he was yearning for his whole life.
"Haha...I knew we meet again..." Kain laughed, overjoyed.
"I kept my promise didn't I?" the girl asked, as tears of joy escaped her eyes too.
"Hehe...I'm back, Iris."
"Welcome back, Kain."
END
AN: And there you have it. Chrono Paradigm finally comes to a close. I will be posting an epilogue along with an alternate ending (still thinking about it) soon. This was a long journey, and I once again thank all of you who stuck with me to the very end. I hoped you all enjoyed this finale and I hope that wasn't a bad ending (I suck at making good endings :P). I hoped you all enjoyed the story and thank you for all of your support.
And as always, don't forget to tell me what you think and I'll see you guys in the epilogue(s). Until then!