To say that looking at myself was bizarre is a huge understatement. Looking completely shocked as he held my hand to stand up, I quickly rubbed my eyes, as if trying to wake up from some sort of illusion.

He retaliated by punching me in the gut to snap me out of it. Softly.

"Ow. So it isn't some stupid illusory bullshit..." I said.

"Good. It seems you are finally recovering from the shock. As expected from me, you. Me...I...whatever."

"Yeah, same here." I said, dusting myself on the process.

I then quickly rolled out of the way as a...drill beam...sure, let's go with that, hit him on the back. He tumbled over the ground several times until he somehow recovered in mid-air, looking annoyed.

"Oh please. You have to do something original than that."

WHAT? YOU WITHSTOOD THAT? BUT...!

"Look, the fact that the Kame...aw screw it, that attack is strong doesn't make it one-hit kill, you know? Not even with a drill end. You are just embarrassing yourself."

Okay, this me is cool.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS! WHO ARE YOU?!

He took out a torn piece of paper...which looks kind of familiar.

...! SO YOU ARE THE ONE! THE CREATION OF THAT THIEF OF THAT TIME! AH, WHY DID HE HAD TO RIP IT APART?!

Piece of paper? So this man also ripped part of it...

However, why is this important?

"I guess we have to indulge me about this, you know, abomination?" He said. "You see, these pieces of paper are like the flesh and blood of the book as it is. Bound and connected to its rugged interior and exterior. Disgusting in every way possible. Oh, I apologize if I'm speaking filler. Guess someone needs to be the one doing exposition."

Your point being?

"...*sigh* Fine, I'll cut to the chase since you two can't seem to have any spare time."

Can I actually be this obnoxious?

"Let's get to the point. I'm actually as fake as that perverted abomination of fiction that this book just spawned..."

The "abomination" itself didn't seem too comfortable with him speaking, so it and its clones tried to vaporize him with the drill-has (that actually sounded better), but failed to even hit. This me ducked, rolled, jumped away in every direction he could. He was moving unfettered over the field, almost like taunting the abomination to attack better.

"...but I was given a sort of...freedom, to be said."

I THOUGHT THEY FULFILLED THEIR PART! I WAS PROMISED THEY WOULD DESTROY THAT PAGE!

"And what a fail that was!" He shouted, as he landed on his feet after dodging another drill-ha. "I'm now here, thanks to that man and Louis."

Louis?! He was involved in this?!

"Well, yeah." He rolled his eyes. "I was..."

Before he could answer, a fist lodged itself in his right cheek, sending him flying towards the other side of the room.

ENOUGH. YOUR EXISTENCE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE. I'LL ERASE YOU MYSELF, THEN YOUR ORIGINAL!

The clone shouted, preparing another attack...

(WHAM!)

...But before he could do anything, this me somehow launched himself from the other side of the room and landed a high-speed kick right into the abomination's throat! He really aimed well too, since this clone was left coughing for some time...

"Really? Then you should try better." He said, stabbing it on the chest with...a broken stick of wood?

Is that...what I think it is?

"It really isn't, if you are thinking about it." He sighed. "They couldn't replicate this well. Don't know why. But at least it serves as a decent weapon..."

"It looks more like you broke it."

"Details, details."

As expected.

INSOLENT BEING!

The fictional abomination started charging the sword on his back, as he separated into more clones.

Actually...what the hell am I doing? I should be looking for a way to kill this thing and get back.

"Isn't that right?" The other me said, as he tapped my head. "Look, if you want to stay alive and...do whatever you are currently planning after finishing this bastard off, then I suggest you follow my plan."

"Which is?"

"Figure out how to even harm him, because I'm as clueless as you."

"Oh, come on!"

"If you could stop bitching with yourself...then I suggest you DODGE!"

We both rolled out of the way as a black beam...

"Why don't you call it the Getsug-"

As a black beam crossed the field, tearing the ground abruptly. We both stood up to look as the group of clones increased their numbers tenfold and started flying towards us.

"Well, this is bad." I mumbled to myself as I looked to our surroundings. "They have us cornered."

"Seems that way." He said, but he sounded more annoyed than worried. "Hmm? What is that?"

He pointed out a clearing in the middle of the field, in which there were several flickering monitors. Not only that, this wasn't the only spot. Around the pillars and pillars of monitors, some of them were flickering too.

And all of them seem to be releasing arcs of black and white energy towards the...

...Ah!

"And that's what you call an epiphany. Alright, me, what did you figure out?"

"Well, I'm not sure what does those monitors do to them. So what better way to start than just trying to destroy them?"

"Cool." He said, cracking his knuckles. "Don't worry, I'll cover you. You just focus on destroying those things and dodging everything in your way."

"Right."

"So we finally got a plan? About time!"

(BOOM!)

A drill-ha impacted the ground in front of us, creating a dust cloud. Inside of it, we decided that we would split up. The other me came out of the dust cloud and punched one of the clones directly in the face, making it gain the attention of the rest.

I took that same moment to crawl out of the dust cloud, remaining undetected as a blitz of beams engulfed the field.

"And now what?"

"We head over there." I said, pointing out the flickering cluster of monitors across the field. "Here we go!"

I sprinted towards the point in question. Apparently, one of the clones managed to see me and started giving chase. Great, as if I needed more problems (?).

He started shooting drill-ha like crazy, but since throwing everything at someone doesn't mean it'll hit, I managed to evade the attacks. It comes with living in this place. Either you get used to dodging or die.

I ran even faster. The clone instead started throwing kunais, aiming at my legs. I had to hop more frequently just to protect my legs.

(STAB!)

...My shoulder wasn't that lucky.

"Ngh...!"

"Heads up!"

(WHAM!)

The clone was bashed on the head by the other me. Its bones cracked badly, meaning that he's ridiculously strong.

"Hey, pass me a sledgehammer."

"How do you know I've stocked that up?"

"I didn't. I just guessed." He said, pulling out a...fire axe? "Here, pass it with duct tape."

I think I know what he's planning. And because of that, I complied without a word.

Two of the clones tried to flank us, while trying to slice us with those blades. We both jumped and the other me...

(SPLATTER!)

...Cut one of its arms with the Defiler he just made.

"Now!" He shouted.

We both jumped towards the stunned clone and stabbed the eyes quickly with kitchen knives. The abomination trashed around everywhere, trying to hit us with whatever he could dish out, but to no avail.

We didn't stop there.

Next, we targeted its spine. I pulled out another knife while the other me just hacked it with the Defiler. This assault finally brought it down. The other clones were about to attack me, but my other intercepted the attack with his arm and swatted one of the clones away.

Then something weird happened. For a brief moment, my other flashed, somehow resetting his momentum, allowing him to deliver another heavy blow, which would be impossible due to the momentum forced on his muscles. The force of the attack made the clone's body bounce off the ground, which allowed my other to, for the better term of the word, combo the clone in the air.

Jab...jab. Slash. Defiler hit. "Blink". Roundhouse kick. Face stomp. Axe kick that lifted him off the ground again. "Blink". Defiler hit. Punch. And...

(WHAM!)

"Shoryuken!"

(THUD!)

Yeah. That.

"Holy crap, he beat the shit outta him!"

"I know! How...how did you do that?"

"Do what? The Shoryuken?" He said.

"No, not that! ...Well, yeah, that, but that's not the point. That "blink"...thing! It looks like it somehow resets your momentum, which is just impossible!"

"Um...it isn't that impressive..."

"Guys..."

"It isn't?! Are you crazy?!"

"I can't believe you just asked that..."

"Guys."

"You don't know the possibilities of that skill! You can combo people indefinitely, right?"

"Well, yeah..."

"Guys, hey."

"And keep them juggled in the air! How do you do that?!"

"Err..."

"HEY, ASSHOLES! Mind destroying that shit before those things kill us?!"

...! Oh, right. The monitors.

"The Defiler, please?" I asked, as he gave me the duck-taped fire axe with sledgehammer.

(WHAM!)

(SHATTER!)

The monitor exploded in a cluster of shards...which then vanished instantly.

The effects were instantaneous. All of the clones started to spasm at once and slowly started getting smaller, but just a bit. Also, each clone lost the zanpa...sword. They lost their swords. Gone. This obviously startled the abomination, while giving us a quick clue about what our battle plan was going to be.

This is going to be good...(?)

"I'll take care of the others! You go and beat the crap outta them!" I said, leaving my other to do the heavy job for me since I was powerless.

"Right on!" He said, cracking his knuckles. "Bring it, you freaks of nature!"

THIS ISN'T HAPPENING! YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LEAVE THIS PLACE ALIVE!

The abomination and its clones started flying up in the air. Then they started shining gold. How original (?). I can't help but comment on that with sarcasm, even if that makes this situation look bad.

"Slide under that one!"

(SLIDE!)

Excellent! I managed to evade being blasted to death! Now I...

(CRACKLE!)

...What's that sound?

(BOOM!)

Somehow, he managed to tag me with explosive tags, making part of my back burn a bit. I rolled on the ground to avoid getting hit...and to try to dissuade the pain.

The next flickering monitor was atop of a mount of unused monitors, releasing black lightning towards the clones. A clone landed hard on the ground as my other foot dived his windpipe, followed up by quick slash to the throat, making the clone disappear in a puff of smoke.

Sadly, the others clones took this on their advantage to gang up on my other while I hurriedly continued to climb up the mount.

"Get. Off. ME. NOW!"

(BOOM!)

What the-?! Argh...!

WHAT IS THIS?!

"Wait. This black energy...it can't be...!"

It looks the same as with Reimu and myself when I had that parasite! Don't tell me...

"Aahh...Much better..."

He has it! He has that parasite!

"Haven't used this in a long time." My other said. And...what the hell?! Why do you have that?! I got rid of mine! So why do you have it?!

"Okay, why the hell didn't you told us that-?"

"You didn't a-"

"**** you."

"But...why do you have that?"

"Look, I'll tell you later. Explaining this kind of stuff in the middle of this shitstorm is not one of the best ideas..." He said. "Trust yourself...me. Whatever."

"Uh-huh. I'll just go...there." I said, referring to the mount of monitors.

The clones rushed to attack once more. However, my other slashed the air with his...red and black claws? Whatever. I kept running, but I could resist to glance the fight a bit.

My other's strength and speed increased dramatically. He now could avoid the flurry of punches of the clones so fast that he became a sort of blur and parry them efficiently. Not only that. His new speed allowed him to trick the clones into attacking each other, as he dodged the attacks between them, creating several instances of friendly fire between the clones.

...Ah. Right. I should just focus on smashing these monitors...

NO. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO THIS ANYMORE!

(CRACK!)

A clone of the abomination emerged from one of the walls of monitors, arms prepared to deliver a strike. I prepared to roll to dodge, however...

"Heads up!"

A body came flying out of nowhere, leaking out blood from its arms and torso. It collided directly with the other clone, saving my ass once again. I used that time to reach the top of the mount.

There was no time to lose since the other clones started charging drill-has. Quickly, I brought out a spare sledgehammer and smashed away.

"HAAAAAAA!"

(SMASH!)

Now, roll to dodge!

"Hang on!"

(BLOCK!)

A red and black blur intercepted the blasts of energy. The resulting blast sent him flying backwards towards me, sending both of us flying through the air of this room. With a deafening sound of a spine reaccommodating, we both stood up, groaning. My other had it worse since he cushioned my fall unintentionally.

We didn't have a time for a brief respite since the clones, which lost their red armor like the Gurren Lagann, started making hand signs and...

"Summon!"

Oh good god no...

(POOF!)

As the dust cloud dissipated, I couldn't help but roll my eyes and facepalm as I saw an army of giant frogs, armed in armor and swords in arms. Yet they also look...glitchy.

Guess there are really limits to the copies then...

"Oh, what a surprise (?)! The idiot is sending a zoo at us!"

The giant frogs leaped at us, swords in hand, while some others breathed fire. This time, we decided that I was going to stay behind my other, so that I'd survive the fiery assaults while looking for the other cluster of monitors.

...

...Which seem to be nowhere to be found?! What? There aren't any more of those...?!

"That can't be right, right? I mean, this asshole is still overpowered."

"But look around! There aren't any more of those! So now wh-?"

"Hey, didn't you check up there?"

"Up where?"

My other then pointed his finger to the sky...or more like the roof. There, a small glint of black and white shone.

...There's no way I can reach that!

"Hmm. Yeah, you are right. Or..."

...I don't like the glint on my...his eyes.

"Please don't do something stu-"

(THROW!)

SON OF A BIIIIITCH!

WHY THE HELL DID YOU THREW ME TOWARDS IT?! ARE YOU CRAZYYYYY?!

YOU SHALL NOT REACH THAT!

The remaining clones started to fly towards myself. Oh, and did I forgot to mention that I can't move at all due to the sheer speed I'm travelling? Thanks, other me (?)! This was actually well thought out (?)!

"Would you mind?!" I shouted, alerting my other.

My other quickly jumped high, reaching us in no time, while delivering an axe kick towards one of the clones, sending it downwards in a spike. He then blinked and extended the usual dark arm thingy to grab one of the clones by the ankles. He proceeded to pull himself up, dragging down the clone and...

(COMPOUND SKULL FRACTURE!)

...

...Oh, that must have hurt!

"Isn't throwing the Defiler directly to its skull a bit overkill?"

I mean, there a bit of red in the air now...

"Eh, it's an abomination. Do we care?"

"No, we don't." I said.

"'Sides, look at you. Spinning out of control while going at high speeds in the air, defenseless. If I didn't do that, you would have gotten yourself killed."

"Whose fault is that, huh?!" I snarled.

"Here. Let me give you a hand."

I could swear that my other did a double jump. In any case, he managed to reach my quickly ascending body and grabbed me. Then, he extended the arm thingy towards the ceiling of monitors and pulled both of us up in one motion. My other sustained the recoil of the clash with the ceiling, all while moving slowly towards the cluster of monitors.

(FWOOSH!)

Oh, I forgot about the frogs. Stupid fire-breathing amphibians...

"Can you hurry up a bit?"

"What the hell do you think I'm trying to do?" My other groaned, as he moved fast in order for both of us to avoid the flames.

(WHAM!)

"Sweet Jesus!" I blurted out as one of the frogs rammed the ceiling in an attempt to crush us.

The assault didn't end there. Several blasts of energy started to pelt away the area of monitors that my other was hanging on, making several of them to fall down...

...You might guess where this is going...

"Brace yourself!" My other said with a trace of worry as we started to fall down.

The clones started to fly up, glowing gold, with a weird aura that made them look like they had nine tails each...

Enough with the golden power-up like bullshit already. It's getting old, even for Shonen stuff.

"Hang on. This'll be problematic."

"No shit."

My other let go of the ceiling. Wait, WHAT?!

"Are you crazy?!"

My outburst was not needed since my other did another jump from a black plataform...rune he created with his parasite. As we jumped off of it, a frog brandished its blade at us horizontally. My other used his free arm to block the goddamn blade and swatted it away!

The clones reached the roof next, crashing into it. Then, they jumped off of it, attempting to tackle us and send us to the ground. My other then threw me back towards the roof, along with a fire axe. Did he pull that out of my Sekai Rei?! How the...?

...No. Focus.

(WHAM!)

My other and the clones and frogs were still locked in combat. The clones shooting lasers through their mouths in synch with the frogs' fire and my other parrying the attacks and even swatting them back at them with his mutated left arm. Then, he blinked again...or cancelled. Yes. Cancelled the block and foot dived one of the clones.

Meanwhile, I made my way towards the cluster of monitors, using whatever I had of strength to hang and move on and avoid becoming a chunky pasta of flesh and blood.

So far, all of the clusters released black and white lightning towards the clones. I still wondering what this means. Is it power? If yes, from whom? The viewers? ...The previous possessed authors? I wonder...

"Would you just break it already?!"

Fine fine...

(SMASH!)

As with the previous clusters, the effects were immediate. The golden glow and the gi vanished off the clones, stunning them. My other took this brief moment of time to do a...large combo.

"Piece of cake!"

Ahem...dive kick. Cancel. Tatsumaki Seppu Kyaku?! Double jump cancel. Punch. Grab by the head.

(SNAP!)

...Neck fracture. Elbow spike. Double foot dive, sending the clone plummeting to the ground. And finally...

"Freikugel..."

(ZAAP!)

Before the attack, his body's skin color darkened, with the tattoos remaining the same color, albeit shining a bit. The grin on his face was...unnatural, to say the least. It is a relief that I have him...me on my side.

Also, that cancel thing is still amazing.

Two of the clones still tried to take him on. He cancelled again and double jumped, dodging the mouth blasts. Then he extended the arm thingy and grabbed one of the clones and threw it towards the other clone, cancelled again, air-dashing towards the remaining stunned clones. He pulled another Defiler and smashed it into its skull while blasting the other with another Freikugel.

Cancelled once more. Then extended the arm towards the almost out of range clone, dragged it back towards himself and...

(SLASH!)

If it wasn't a clone, the resulting attack would've spilled a lot of guts. Instead, the clone vanished into a dust cloud.

"Cool. But now...how the hell are we supposed to get down from here, huh?"

...

...Oh.

Oh, this is bad.

"HEY! MIND HELPING ME TO GET DOWN?!" I shouted.

Before he could answer, there was some sort of tremor in the ground below where the original body was.

(BOOM!)

...And, for better or for worse, there was an explosion right in that area.

"...! Move!"

"...What? Why?"

(BOOM!)

"RROOOOOOAAAR!"

...Okay, I'll let go now!

Fortunately, my other was paying attention and managed to intercept my fall. All the monitors in the area started to shatter due to the shockwaves originating from the center of the room, in which the body fell.

"Honestly, what the hell is up with that thi-?"

(SLAM!)

Something lashed towards us a terrifying speeds. It didn't hurt us through.

Nope, it just managed to separate us, sending both of us flying towards separate directions.

...Wait, so then?

"Oh shit!" I blurted out as I realized that my body wouldn't withstand a fall of this magnitude.

(THUD!)

...Huh?

Why is this platform so high up?

"Hey look, all this place is breaking up..."

I stood up and looked around. As Lemat said, the whole room-dimension is breaking up. Monitors started falling, the ground shattered and several platforms started to float in the air. Also, the whole room started to...become like an egg.

And in the center...

"ROOOOAAAAR!"

HAAANNNTAA! OOOOOH, HAAANNTA!

A giant orange kitsune sat in the center platform in the middle of the room. However, its fur was...deteriorated, to say the least. Guess it must be having a breakdown.

The roar itself shattered all of the monitors around the room, causing a sharp sound of static to fill the room.

Come on, where's my other when you need him?

LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!

"...What exactly? And please, stop panting on my face. I don't want any germs, thank you."

HOW?! HOW CAN YOU STILL BE DEFIANT, EVEN AFTER SEEING THIS BEAST?

Who says I'm not? I'm just trying to buy time for my other to appear.

...Where the hell is he?!

"Err, I dunno. Maybe I just find your existence so disgusting that it overshadows my fear? Who knows? Hell, who even cares? Look, make yourself a favor and get the hell out of my life!"

Any minute now...

INSOLENT HUMAN!

(WHAM!)

"Shit!"

I jumped towards an adjacent platform before the other crumbled under the massive claw of this fake kitsune.

"Hey hey, take it easy, will ya?" I said as I climbed over it. Good god, that was close.

YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR! YOU WILL PERISH HERE...!

Well, you are now taking the form of giant kitsune. Can't say I have enough tools to take this sort of thing down.

Besides, there's no more flickering monitors around! So where exactly is it gaining power from?

(WHAM!)

Crap! I'm running out of time and platforms here...!

AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE RATIONAL ENOUGH TO BE MY NEXT HOST...SAD, TRULY SAD.

(WHAM!)

Only half of platform is left...!

BUT NOW...I SUPPOSE THIS STORY SHOULD END WITH YOU! I CAN ALWAYS START ANEW WITH ANOTHER HUMAN! YOU ARE EXPENDABLE! USELESS! TROUBLESOME! BEGONE FROM MY SIIIIIGHHT!

(GRAB!)

...! The kitsune grabbed the whole platform. It then put it...just in front of its mouth.

"Are you really going to swallow me? I thought you had good taste in food..."

I immediately shut up as energy started to gather on its mouth. Oh...

"Oh crap..."

Of the ways to die...vaporized by a kitsune's mouth ray of doom wasn't one of the things I expected to die of...

Shit...!

PERISH N-!

(EYE STAB!)

NNGAAAAAHH!

(ROOOARR!)

My other finally decided to show up. In a quick motion, he managed to neutralize the beast's eyes, making it misfire the energy ball of doom towards a random wall, while grabbing me and leading me to safety in another far away platform.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Down there." He scoffed. "Honestly, those things down there are some of the most freak-ass things I've ever seen."

"? What do y-?"

"Hello? Giant fox here?!" He stopped me before I could have a good glance to the ground.

I still wanted to see through, so I moved forward.

Several shapes...shadows of men stood in the ground. Walking aimlessly like cattle, these...things were speaking, whispering something.

"...Kawaii..."

"Why is she acting like that? I don't like when she...acts like that..."

"It isn't moe enough! I hate it! I hate it...!"

...Ah.

I see.

So these are basically the lost souls of those morons, right? Honestly, otaku are pathetic.

"...They are still people though." My other commented. "I mean, think about it. Maybe their lives were shitty enough that they tended towards anime and stuff just to have a healthy outlet for their frustration."

"Big deal. I mean, look how pathetic is it! I mean, compare it to the youth in the past. They were more decent than this...Besides, you don't see me doing stupid shit like that."

"...Maybe because you dealt with your frustration by taking a job which involves killing people."

"You know very well that they deserved that!"

"I can't deny that. Still, it turned you...us into bitter persons."

"Whatever. I didn't expect a whole psycho-analysis from you. Stop it. This isn't the time for that. I think we should just deal with this furry, right?" I sighed.

(RUMBLE!)

Speaking of which...

AAHHH! MY EYES...MY EEEEEYEEES!

"Have a plan?"

"Nope." My other said. "I'm as stumped as you. Hmm..."

"..."

It was in this moment that I noticed that several of the figures from below started climbing the kitsune, heading towards the head. They soon reached its eyes...and started entering them.

"I don't think we have much time." I said. "Any luck finding the remaining monitors?"

"No luck here. Dammit, where the hell are those?"

The area around its eyes started to pulsate as more figures began to gather more and more...

"Still, is it me or it the kitsune glowing?"

"Less talk, more finding out where the hell those things are!"

The kitsune opened its now regenerated eyes, which I swear to some other good god that they were composed by many other eyes. Guess those figures are useful to it like this...

That's pretty nasty...

(ROOOOAAR!)

YOU...YOU BASTARDS...!

Well, its eyes are back. I think we should have just taken the opportunity to chop its head off and not speak here like idiots...

"Jump!"

(WHAM!)

We both jumped to another platform which would've been out of reach for me if I didn't had the help of my other. We avoided being crushed by a hair this time.

"Little help here?" I said, asking my other to help me climb over the platform.

He pulled me up quickly as the kitsune started charging a blast of energy from its mouth. My other then asked me.

"Hey, do you have a baseball bat inside the dimension thingy of yours?"

"You mean Sekai Rei? Well, yes."

I drew out the baseball bat, which was quickly yanked away from my hands. My other started winding up.

...Wait, you're not...!

"Hey batter batter hey batter batter..."

"No. No no no no no! Stop that!"

YOU MUST BE INSANE.

I prepared for the worst and quietly hid behind my other.

...

...What? I'm not risking my life due to his...my...ah, screw it...!

(BLAST!)

Ohgodthisisgoingtosu-!

(BONK!)

What?

WHAT?! IMPOS-

(BOOM!)

ARGH!

My brain still cannot process how the hell did my other managed to reflect the mouth hadoken like that. Wait, is the bat coated in black...? I didn't notice at all because I hid behind him. Still, no dent of the bat itself. It looks practically unscathed. And yet, the reflected attack on the kitsune managed to stun it for a while...

"That'll gives us some time." My other said. "Hmm?"

"What? What is it?"

"Isn't its chest a bit bright to you?"

"Huh?"

Now that I have a good look at it, yeah, there is something pulsating from its chest where the blast landed. Something white and bl-

"...! How did it got there?!" I said, realizing the monitors were inside its body.

"My thoughts exactly." My other said, well aware of what this meant. "Any brilliant ideas on how we pull that out, me?"

"...Well..."

I can't exactly say that I got nothing, right?

(ROOOAR!)

THIS IS CRAZY! YOU CANNOT BE DOING THIS!

The wound regenerated after some seconds. So it doesn't stay revealed for long...

Hmm. This is going to be a tricky one.

"Hey. Better pay attention around you."

I raised my gaze and inspected my surroundings. *sigh* Those shadow things started to pile one over another, creating some sort of human ladder, allowing the rest of shadows to climb up. And there are several of them.

"Ergh, we don't have time for this." My other said, as he shoot Freikugel to the ground, shattering and vaporizing the shadow ladders.

But in the middle of the resulting blast, the giant kitsune bashed the platform apart. Fortunately, both of us jumped out...and started falling towards the ground.

"Hold on...!"

(GRAB!)

(THUD!)

My other grabbed me in mid-air and absorbed the recoil of the fall. That was close.

"Hey, you're okay, me?"

"Y-Yeah. No sweat. Being a Magatama host has it's advantages. By the way, why did you get rid of it?"

"...Is it really the time for that?" I reminded him of the current situation.

...Even if I did put the Magatama inside of Reimu to save her, I still...haven't recovered on how she changed immediately like that...

Did that thing also did that to me? To how much extent...?

...No. Focus on the important.

"Okay, I got something." I said as I stood up, gazing at the group of shadows that were starting to surround us. "I'll need to open its stomach with the Defiler or Freikugel, basically throw everything at him until that cluster is visible completely. In the meanwhile, I'll deal with the shadows of those freaks. For that..." I said, while pulling out a box of nails, hammer and duck tape. "...I'll need these and that baseball bat."

He understood what I was scheming, so he gave it to me. Quickly, I started to combine the tools in hand. The shadows began their attack when they noticed my frantic reaction, but they were shredded down by my other. Such unnatural strength...

"Yes. You were as strong as that. True, a bit unstable, but strong nonetheless."

"I know..."

I just hope I get out of here in time. If that thing makes people lose their mind like me, good god knows how would that affect Reimu...

...Then again, I'll admit I'm kind of...unstable...

I finished the last steps.

Behold! The spike bat! N°1 weapon for gangsters...and other people in really dire situations.

Don't judge me!

"Incoming!" My other shouted.

(SPLONK!)

One of the shadows flew through the air, bleeding black...ichor...liquid. So they are quite fragile, it seems. Good. This'll help.

"Take the Defiler and go." I said, handing it out. "Reveal the cluster and damage it the most you can. I'll cover you from the ground."

He nodded, his tattoos glowing red eerily for a moment. He then jumped towards the giant kitsune, which started to..."glitch" a bit. The destruction of those monitors is working!

(WHAM!)

(SPLATTER!)

AAARGH!

Sometimes I wonder how I forgot how useful is the Defiler in some situations...

Some of the shadows tried a sneak attack on him. I stopped them by bashing their actually fleshy skulls with the spike bat. Then I turned around to see that the attention shifted to me, so they started ganging up on me. I used both Lemat and Sakuya's knife from before to maintain distance from them as well as slitting the throats of those near, making them vanish in a puff of smoke.

...Two more from the left. Three to the right. I sighed to their lack of strategy beforehand.

(SPLONK!)

I think I hit one just too hard. I mean, its head was forcefully removed...

This takes me back. Surrounded by enemies, which can't think by themselves and just follow orders. My job as a "cleaner" sounds bloody enough, but really, what I've seen some of those gangsters do to someone else can make someone doubt if humanity is really worth it.

(SLASH!)

At least I have some sort of code of conduct. Don't kill anyone who isn't directly involved. It'll only cause a scene and make things complicated for the group. I mean, you try to explain an extra set of bodies in order to just cover an incident. That's just low.

(STAB!) (PARRY!)

...Wait. Maybe because I am a "cleaner" I got in this mess? There's a nagging part of my head that tells me that maybe someone wanted me gone. Maybe try to disrupt the power balance with me gone...

If that's the case...

(SLASH!)

"W-Whoa! That was close!"

Okay. Enough thinking.

"Geez! These things don't know when to quit! They really are retarded!"

...Not only that. Their faces...these are the previous authors and readers, right? So this thing consumed their wills and now only serve as cannon fodder? ...Well, not that I'm complaining about that sort of fate for people like them which decide to hide in fantasy and avoid reality as it is. It just that...part of me tells me that nobody deserves a fate like this. Not even these lowlifes...

Hmm...

"Done thinking? Then keep killing. It's the only way to avoid these guys getting in that guy's way."

...Huh. Guess I can only solve my problems by killing them. Such is my life.

(SPLATTER!)

See? I'm remembering how to dismember people. That's...nice, I guess?

Smash this guy's face to the ground.

(SLAM!)

And twist the neck.

(CRACK!)

"Four behind you!"

And sweep them.

Now, I stab their...hearts? Do these things even have hearts? Well, they have black ichor but...aw, screw it!

(SPLATTER!)

They instantly disappeared, only leaving black ichor lying around.

Since their numbers were reduced to a manageable number, I decided to look how my other was faring against...

(STOMP!)

...that.

"Hey, you okay there? It seems it's crushing you under its foot."

"No problems here! Besides..."

The ground started to tremble a bit. I feared that the kitsune started to apply pressure to my other, but then I noticed that the opposite was happening. Slowly, its foot began to be lifted, all while red veins started to corrupt its leg.

(BOOM!)

...Which then exploded. What? What kind of power does that Magatama grant? Can Reimu do that too?

As the kitsune was stunned, my other jumped high and opened a large wound with the Defiler, making black ichor pop out, like with the shadows. Also, from the wound, monitors started to fall down and shattered, yet these weren't working.

Come on, it must be there! Please, be there!

"...Hm? Hey, there it is!"

With a dim light, there was something shining inside of the glitching kitsune. Its eyes were deteriorating for a second, as well as its fur and nose, but these stopped. I think it is composed by the same material than the shadows. That's gotta be it.

"Almost there! Rip those tissues apart! Let me have a clear shot!"

The main monitor was there, hiding behind a wall of...paper flesh? I don't care if it is flesh or paper. Finally, those things are vulnerable!

"I'm coming!" I said, making my way through the shadows, tackling them away and jumping over their heads in other to move forward.

"Just a bit further! Come on, partner!"

My speed increased the more I got closer. My other extended his arms and pulled the kitsune by its neck and slammed its head into a floating platform. As it remained stunned, my other pulled the kitsune so that the wound was visible to me. I shoved the shadows in front of me once more, giving me a clear path to the monitors.

(GRAB!)

...! My leg!

(THUD!)

Argh!

The shadows...they turned into an irregular black mass that managed to grab hold of my left leg. I was forced to crawl forward. I'm just some yards away from it.

...! YOU CAN'T...!

Must...crawl...faster! Faster!

"Come on!"

"You got it, me! Get rid of this asshole!"

I pulled out Lemat and used it to stand up and then stab the black mass, letting me move a bit better. I quickly jumped towards the cluster, but I could see an incoming claw coming right at me!

"Oh no, you don't!"

My other shot a Freikugel right to the arm, shattering it and making the arm fall down in pieces.

AARGH!

(STAB!)

...!

No more words. You have talked too much!

(SHATTER!)

As I retracted Lemat from the main monitors and saw the glass shards crumble in the ground, I managed to catch a glimpse of the book. That damned thing was inside this last one.

"Get out!"

...! NO!

I pulled it out with all of my strength. On its back cover, there were some sort of blank tendrils that came from the kitsune's belly, acting as both blood vessels and muscle that prevented me from taking it out easily. The kitsune was deteriorating into a black mass, though, making me pull it out even harder.

...Shit. That came out wrong too!

"Come on, you piece of crap! Move!"

The walls of the room began to collapse, revealing white cracks behind them. The ground too...

THIS ISN'T HAPPENING! YOU...YOU...!

(SLAM!)

"You have spoken enough!"

(STAB!)

I stabbed it quickly with Lemat as soon as I managed to rip it from the monitor, hoping that with it, the whole place would stop falling apart.

...AH...NGGH!

But there are other reasons...

"You really don't know how much of a pain you were, don't you?"

(RRIIIIPP!)

...!

"Of course you don't! You just treated me like some sort of guinea pig, inside of a world that isn't real and even worse, full of girl to which otakus can **********!" I roared, as I frantically ripped page after page.

"...! No, wait!"

The papers began dispersing in the air.

The shadows let out a wail, as they too started to break down.

"You know, you could have just left me out of your mess! Hell, you could have killed me! But noooooo, you make me lose my memory and lock me inside here for many assholes' amusement! Does this look fun to you?! I escaped death several times! Does it make me feel awesome?! NO!"

(RIP!) (RRIIPP!)

"What is awesome about put in several deadly situations?! Sure, I'll look good and dandy for those assholes watching the story, but not for me! Don't you know how much I've suffered?! I was better left off as a cleaner back in Shinjuku!"

...W-WAIT...i...argh...

(RIIIP!)

Eheheh...

HAHAHA! BUT KNOW I CAN TAKE MY FRUSTRATION OFF ON YOU!

(RIP!) (RIP!) (RIP!)

Yes! I feels so gooood! Finally, some vengeanc-!

(PUNCH!)

"...!"

Something hit my jaw hard. But that wasn't the fact that shocked me the most. When I look up to see my attacker, I could only see myself, his eyes with a mix of anger...and worry.

"You really stop hearing everything when consumed by rage, don't you?"

"Hey! What's the big idea?!"

"The big idea here is that this guy...me, er whatever, just screwed up!"

Huh? What?!

"Dammit, you really should check that sort of rage in check! Look around!"

The deterioration of the place did not stop. Instead, it got worse. The ground trembled like crazy and the shadows were gone now. Monitors started falling from the ceiling, shattering completely.

"Oh crap...!"

"Oh, now you get a clue!" My other grumbled. "Help me find an exit, will you?!"

"But what exit?! Look, the whole goddamn place is falling apart!"

Shit, this is really bad!

(CRACK!)

...!

"No, don't fall!"

(GRAB!)

*pant* *pant*

"Okay...that was c-"

(RUMBLE!)

We didn't have time to react. The platform crumbled beneath us. We started falling towards the white cracks as the complete space started to be filled by black goo and glass shards...

...

...


...

"...Ngh...where?"

To be fair, I expected to die. That white crack seemed ominous enough.

Yet here I am, lying down...on white floor?

No, this doesn't even feel like a floor. In fact, everywhere I see, the floor, the air, everything is white.

"You really had to screw it up, don't you?"

I turned around. Somehow, my other managed to hide from me. His tattos were gone. Hmm, so they only manifest when using that sort of power...

"Screw up?" I asked, having no clue of what he meant.

My other facepalmed.

"Destroying the book wasn't necessary. After all, every page which was written on it would suffer the same fate in the case that the book got destroyed..."

"...Wait, you don't mean..."

"..."

Without saying any words, I understood that he meant that Gensokyo...well, this place created as Gensokyo would fade away.

"Why didn't you warn me?!"

"I did! But you were in such a killing state that you ignored everything I was shouting to you!"

...!

But...I wasn't trying to do that! I...!

"Okay, okay! Calm down! I think we can still fix this!" He said.

"..."

Fix? Fix what?

"We are stuck in some sort of pocket dimension that has absolutely nothing and you can think you can fix this?!"

"Hey, who the hell caused this in the first place?! Don't yell at me!" He shouted back.

"I knew it. I knew that, somehow, this whole mess would eventually become shittier! I knew you were bad news!" I said. "Shit, it is always the sa-!"

(PUNCH!)

...!

He hit me, knocking me down on the floor. That actually calmed me down somewhat.

"...Let me tell you something, alright? About myself."

What? Why that now?

And why do you look...somber?

"...Alright, explain. Explain everything you know about yourself." I said, actually shocked by his sudden change of behavior.

He took breath once, closing his eyes to relax himself.

"When I came to be, I was alone. No Gensokyo, nothing. Just me. And yet, I felt that something was missing. But I couldn't pinpoint it. In fact, I felt...nothing. Just confusion about that fact. It was almost like if my head was a blank. I couldn't move...and it was so...cold. But after some time, I could move...and I also got more memories. Your memories...However, these were too overwhelming that I..."

"Did you blew up the place?"

"...To put in a way, yes." He continued. "My...my power was amazing. I could cast Freikugel with no problems, blowing up the space around me. However, there was the issue of my mind. I didn't understand what was happening. Maybe it was because of the Magatama inside, maybe because of your memories I had in that moment while still under the memetic suggestion of the book conflicting with your real ones. It was a shitstorm inside my head...It was like...have you ever put your hand inside a blender?"

"Eh?"

"What?!"

"Yeah...never do that." I...what? You...what?

"Okay, just...just let me continue, alright?"

I nodded. Seriously, what?

"I remained like that...for about, how much time it was? Can't remember. But it isn't important. Louis..."

Louis!

"Calm down for just a second, okay?!" My other shouted, anticipating my reaction. "Look, as you, I don't trust Louis too much. But he was the one that snapped me out of my shocked and berserked state. If it wasn't for him, I would've just destroyed myself eventually."

"Grr..."

"Let me continue." He said. "Louis then proceeded to explain who exactly was I and the true nature of my existence..."

"Ooh, was it the talk?"

As he frowned, he took out that same piece of paper from before.

"He showed me this, as proof of the truth of his words. I refused to believe that I was some sort of fabrication in order to test his parasite, Magatama, whatever, until I started to read its contents, revealing that I was just a copy of you, but with a 100% synchrony ratio with that parasite...symbiote, whatever. I remember I even started laughing and decided that the best choice of action was to choke him. I failed miserably."

Huh. Guess choking is out of the question...

"As I was trying to strangle himself, he continued talking, as if the grip didn't affect him." My other said. "He said that either I could just remain here, trying to choke him and fail...or drop the crap since I was acting like a child and try doing something productive for my original."

...Productive? So...Louis basically recruited another me...to help me.

I don't follow. Am I missing something here?

"After that, I actually calmed down, as I realized that I was such a copy of you and accepted that reality. Before any of us could talk something else, something happened. This pocket dimension started to collapse. Louis frowned for a while, before teleporting somewhere else. The next thing I heard was the sound of paper ripping itself apart and finally, this place broke down. The next thing I saw was darkness..."

"..."

"I was actually thinking that Louis just left me for dead. But then I realized I was standing on a weird transparent stairway. Louis then appeared behind me and explained to me that this was the Akarana Corridor. The space here was shorter than I expected, mainly because the world I was in was young, to say it in a way."

Akarana Corridor...

"He made me walk with him through its stairs, since he said that the corridor we were previously was going to vanish in some seconds. Without any other choice, I followed."

So, if what he says it's true, then all worlds are connected by the Akarana Corridor. A nexus of realities.

That's...freaky and scary, taking a lot of considerations in mind.

"We continued walking until we reached some sort of...black void. He warned me to watch my footing, since this place is dying, fitting for a Shadow Vortex, as he called it. He said that we were safe here and handed the piece of paper to me. In it, there was my description, clear as ice. He instructed me to hide in another world for now, since "the pawns" were on high alert and it was best to lay low for now. He then said that they might try to invade Gensokyo later on, since they were actually fearful of what kind of thing Louis gave to you and also to "pass the Holy Word to this chaotic land", as Louis put it in a completely deadpan note. He added that he needed to prepare for that, if I wanted to help my other."

""Holy word?" Wow, these guys need to learn to be subtle, don't they?"

My other then changed his tone, almost sounding unamused.

"Louis then asked me if I had his support. I was doubtful and frustrated with all of it, taking in consideration my current situation, and was about to reject his offer, but then I realized that my body was...disintegrating. Noticing that, Louis charged something on his hand and infused me with magnetite, I suppose. This made me maintain my form, but he told me that it was temporary and he was uncertain for how long it was going to last."

"...Basically, you were...no, you are living on borrowed time?"

"...Yes."

Ah.

"Huh...that sucks."

"I'm sorry..."

"You don't have to." My other said. "After all, what would you have done to help me?" He said, letting out a faint laugh, trying to ease my worry. "Louis actually looked confused. It seemed that he really didn't expect this to happen. It was then when he actually stopped for a while to think. I was recovering from the shock of one of my lungs suddenly vanishing and then reappearing. Trust me, it is not pretty."

With the face you are showing, I actually believe you...

"After I recovered, Louis actually gave me two options. I was free to choose, to my surprise. Either I could try to survive until traces of the book appear once more and make my move to help myself...or I could just roam free in the vastness of worlds inside the Akarana Corridor until I eventually vanish. I was free to choose because Louis didn't expect me to have a time limit of life after ripping off one of the pages. Louis looked somewhat frustrated. It seems he had plans for me if this didn't happen."

Of course he had. That guy is like a master chess player.

"I, of course, have had enough with all of that confusing shit and decided to run. Confused and sorta scared that my life was with a time limit, I left that Shadow Vortex, ran through one of the corridors and fell in some other place I didn't know. For some time, I was completely insane. When I landed into that other world...actually, what was inside that one? A magical girl of some sort against a giant robot? Well, whatever. The point is...I think I turned that place into another Shadow Vortex after a brief rampage..."

...!

A brief reminder. Don't ever snap.

"Denied. I kinda prefer you being crazy and all of that crap."

"I think...I think I removed everyone's guts and then the place exploded out of the sudden. I didn't care. I was out of control...and somehow, I enjoyed that."

Wait, what?!

"Sweet."

"I roamed without control through the Akarana Corridor. There were some demons roaming there sometimes. I got rid of them, leaving a mess...and I laughed. Haha, I couldn't stop. Maybe because I knew that my life was now pointless, just drowning myself into insanity could mitigate that suffering. But then...I got bored of being crazy and realized that I was just running away and not facing any sort of responsibility..." He said, with a look of melancholy. "...It would have looked better if I didn't realize that just a second after I killed some sort of hero wearing red spandex. I tell you, there is some weird shit in every world."

"Riiight..." I'm actually getting afraid of myself.

"*sigh* Well, after that...and fleeing from that world before they could nuke me, I decided to...just hang around into different places. At first, I was as annoyed by the people around me as you currently are, but after a while, you kind of start liking it. Seeing several people with different ideals, hanging around with fictional beings which are actually kinda funny, it was more like some sort of therapy for me. Hell, I even met you!"

"Really? I don't remember seeing anyone wearing red like you."

"Eh, it is because you were frozen in time for just a second in that world back there." He explained. "Afterwards, I visited his version of Rachel and...oops, I'm getting sidetracked! Haha, I can help but remember those times, ignoring the fact that I was living under a time limit. Yeah, I got somewhat depressed at points, but what could I've done?"

His version of the rabbit? I'm getting more confused the more you open that mouth of yours.

"The point is...I started to mature in a way. I once thought that people were just going to backstab me whenever the chance appeared. You can't trust anyone but yourself, right?"

"True."

"True that..."

"Well, after moving around through worlds for so much time and meeting any kinds of people, I realized that this is not entirely true." My other said, looking at me intently, as if trying to pass down a lesson. "Sure, some of them may be aloof and outright obnoxious, but hang out with them long enough and maybe you get to see their real faces somehow and see that they are not that bad. You are not the center of the universe. Get this in your head, will ya?"

...

"...But...why should I really care about the rest? As you said, they might try to backstab me. Hell, in this current situation, I think that after this, almost everyone will hate me."

"And? What do you lose by trying?" My other said, getting frustrated with me. "Look, me. I can sort of understand your reasons to distrust these girls and Louis. They are not normal. I also understand your doubts in trusting those summoners too. One of them is a gamer, the other has a bro-con and the girl just doesn't fit in that small group. Hell, I'm not even sure if those are their true personalities, considering this place was the brainchild of some otaku. But then again, what the hell are you going to do? Face it, if you don't start trusting them as friends, or even as comrades, you are not going to last long. Even if they are technically fake."

"You sure?" Lemat said, getting annoyed.

"Still...I..."

"Okay, let me put in a way that your immature brain can understand." He was getting angrier. "We are both loose cannons that have had brief insanity episodes as of late. So I'm asking you that you strengthen your relations with them because you need help, someone to keep you from going batshit crazy again! Look, I don't want you to commit the same mistakes that I did. Okay?"

...

"...Okay, what are you hiding?" I said. "Don't worry, I'll do as you say. But...why tell me all of this now? Unless..."

Wait, his arm is...

"Haha...oh, it's almost...time." My other said, his arm slowly turning glitchy and deteriorating at a steady pace. "Still, you are as sharp as me...how expected."

"H-Hey! I still have some things to ask you!" I said, panicking a bit.

"C-Calm down, alright? Jesus, you are more unstable than I was...!" My other grunted. "Look, I think there's a way to fix this...oh, I'm sorry, your mess."

"Oh, come on!" I groaned at him.

"Sorry, but you really need to face reality. You screwed up." My other said. "But you can fix this...I hope."

"Okay, really, stop that. Just tell me, what should I do?"

"Ask Louis..."

"Of course (?)! Because he'll give a truthful answer (?)!" I snarled.

"Who else can give you a least a bit of information, then?" My other pointed out, making me grimace. "Whether you like it or not, he has power and resources. Things that you lack." He said. "Look, I know he isn't one to be trusted. But do we have a choice?" My other said. "But after that, try finding the answers yourself. This box, Louis, angels and demons...so much stuff is happening too fast. Someone definitely pulled a fast one on us...but I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of this for your sake, right?"

His body trembled. And, for some reasons, some of the papers that I ripped apart started falling down out of nowhere...

"..."

His body continued to deteriorate. His arms started to lose color...

"Haha...oh. Not much time..."

Tch! Dammit, I need more time! Don't vanish just yet!

"Remember, you caused...this mess. You now...fix it." My other said. "After all, you have survived many other instances, don't you?"

As he smiled...the rest of his body glitched out and faded away...

...

...I'm again on my own, huh?

Hm?

Oh, so this is the paper in which he was "born", huh?"

"Don't pick up that sort of trash now. Finding the exit is the important thing here, don't you think?"

"Right. Still, paper can be handy."

I picked it up.

"You're crazy."

"Still...this is a big mess. I wonder if I can break through here just like that time when I first arrived here?"

I don't think that works here. Nor it'll never work again after killing that AI.

...! L-Louis?!

Now now. Let me handle this.

"Oh, you son of a-"


"-bitch!"

(THUD!)

Ow!

...Huh? What?! When did...?

I'm back?

"Louis?"

"Yes?"

"How did you find me?"

"Well, it was quite simple." Louis continued, not paying attention to us. "I had this as a guide."

Louis carefully took out a really small piece of paper that seemed quite worn out. I then noticed that it looked like a missing corner of a...

I took out the paper that my other had.

"Oh. It seems you have met yourself. And, judging how you are looking, he has already vanished, hasn't he?"

I didn't say anything, but Louis apparently deduced that already.

"How did you use the paper to-?"

"Simple. These things are almost like magnets to each other."

Oh. Well, that explains that.

"Hmm...Want to hear the whole story? I'll be brief..."

"I don't have time fo-"

...Wait. Maybe I can dig out some information with this.

"Go on."

"What!?"

Louis smiled.

"Gladly."

Ngh...this better be good.

"Make it short, alright?"

Louis nodded as he started...


This is the story of a man who started to lose everything. His fortune was depleted. His social status tarnished, erased from society.

Yet he didn't mind. His daughter was his shining ray of hope in these days of his. He could care less about himself. He could still go forward if she was okay.

But then...something went wrong. Her daughter was involved in some sort of accident. For some reason, the details of this accident were covered up by the JSDF, making this man very unnerved since this meant he wasn't going to get any sort of aid from the government.

She really was in severe conditions. No doctor would manage to save her before she died of either blood loss or pain.

It was a really dark moment for the man. He lashed out in despair, rage and frustration. He didn't have any medical knowledge to help save her. He felt so hopeless.

And for that, he wished for something to come to her aid. He tried contacting the yakuza for money, but he was rejected.


"You mean us? I thought Yukimura, hell, even Rin would try to give a helping hand."

"Your territory covers Ueno, right?"

"...No."

"With no one left to help him, he really felt like taking his life by himself. Fortunately, I was drinking a bit of soda in a fast food joint as he passed through. I could sense his despair from a mile away, if I may add."

"Wait. Soda? Really?"

"I was thirsty. And my wine cellar was empty at the time..."

"Right..."


Anyways, he looked over the edge as I looked him, staggering in the night. When he looked at me, he begged to me for help, as he explain his ordeal, which I already knew about.

I took pity on him and made him...a proposition.

"Proposition?"

Keep quiet and I'll tell you.

You see, my true purpose of going to Ueno was to find information about...something that caught my attention some months back. It was something concerning a stolen box of some sorts...


...!

The box...!

"Hm? Do you know anything about it?"

"Argh, my stomach. Guess my adrenaline is wearing off..." I feigned pain. "I'll be fine. Continue."

He knows! Is he related to the job I got?! I must not reveal this yet!

"You okay now?" Louis said.

"Yeah, sure."

How is he exactly related to this? ...Guess if I really want to figure out the truth of all of this mess...I'll have to go back to the real world.


As I was saying, I was hanging by that place to gather some information about this box. According to my data, something of unusual power was inside. Well, if it came from that organization, then I shouldn't be surprised.

Sadly, I found later that what was inside was only a book of lies and illusions, with was now in the possession of some otaku. You couldn't imagine how disappointed I was when Beel returned with that info. Still, I wanted to test how...useful this kind of object could be.

Anyways, I heard his story and agreeded to help him. A simple Diaharan can do wonders to people.

In return, he had to do a favor for me. He had to steal a book from someone in Akihabara...


Oh, you motherf-


I had the info of its location thanks to Beel once more. He really is a good scout, with his flies and all.

*ahem*

After he stole the book successfully, I asked him to do a test. He complied, saying that he was grateful for saving her daughter's life. I shrugged, telling him that it was on a whim that this happened. He was still grateful. Sometimes, humans can just exaggerate, you know?

And that test...was the one that resembled you, Hanta. He kept watch over you as the second "author" until I entered to talk to you.


"I know as much." I said, trying to lead him indirectly to tell me even more information. Everything except the part of second author I've heard before. Huh, so this guy actually was the one to move Louis here, causing the chain reaction of recovering my memories...and putting me in this situation.

Can't say if I appreciate his help.

"Really?" Louis seemed intrigued about my knowledge about him. "How much?"

I told him everything I knew. His origins, how he snapped, the offer he made...Louis listened to everything and nodded.

"So you know as much." He said. "However, you're missing some details."

Good.

He then started telling me about the remaining missing information.

While my other escaped through the Akarana Corridor, Louis came back for the man, actually offering him an escape route. But it seems that the man was already tired of all this mess and just stayed there. He said something about a voice, but I think that man was starting to crack under the pressure and began to hallucinate.

The man's daughter was kept unaware of his father's death. That is, Louis erased her memories of her father and left her with another family, brainwashing them too in order to believe that they always had her as a daughter.

"I thought you were above brainwashing."

"In this case, it was not for my benefit." Louis said, apparently offended. "Careful with what you imply, Hanta."

"Sorry..." I begrudgingly said.

"You know how the book worked, right?"

"...Sorta. You write something and it becomes real in another place or something like that."

"You could say it like that." He answered.

"To think it could create worlds with such ease. The SCP Foundation has truly began to be worthy of my attention."

SCP Foundation...

"Who the hell are those assholes, anyway? What, some sort of freaks that collect the occult?"

"More like "containment" to them." He said.

"Don't tell me there are more of those." I said, fearing that maybe another book was out there. This one had access to the net. That's just scary enough.

"Hmm...can't say for sure. Even I don't know where exactly their sites are."

He doesn't know? How hidden is this foundation?

"Actually, why do you care so much?" Louis said. "I thought you were just interested in your own safety."

"..."

Well...

"...That guy...my other made me realize something." I said. "When I first realized that I was being manipulated as some sort of avatar for otakus, I think I innerly lost it. Even talking with Reimu seemed weird now. And I hated every moment of it. The fact that I became a target of that asshole in Heaven didn't help either...nor the fact that everyone was capable of killing me with ease. I just...couldn't focus. Not being able to remember properly also served as another catalyst for my doubts and insecurities...along with that present of yours."

"I'm glad it allowed you to survive for this long. Still, your mental resilience still is commendable." Louis said, smiling. It seems he's enjoying how am I coming to terms with my unstable psyche.

"Gee, thanks (?)." I rolled my eyes. "It was stressful, you know? It was a matter of time before I snapped...and I did. Sure, it all got resolved in the end, but I still snapped and almost killed someone. It doesn't matter if it was someone like Flandre, it just wasn't right. Thank goodness I got rid of it."

"Leaving it inside another isn't exactly a way to get rid of it..."

"Don't remind me..." I grimaced as I remembered the fact that Reimu is now its current host. "A-Anyways...the point is that I realized that I was just choking myself on a glass of water. Even after I started to regain bits of my memory, I still acted irresponsibly. There's no excuse for that. And...I doomed this place."

"What?!" This took Louis by surprise. "Wait. You mean..."

I pulled out the piece of paper in which my fake story was written. His eyes instantly widened.

"Oh...This will be problematic." Louis said. "I believe you want to ask how much time does Gensokyo have left, right?"

I nodded.

"Sadly, even I'm not sure about that." Louis tip his fedora forward, concealing his eyes. "I'll be frank with you. You committed a great mistake."

Ngh! I know that, but hearing this from the devil makes it even worse!

"You just got lectured by the devil. I don't know if I should be proud or ashamed..."

"So...what are you planning to do? Judging by your reaction, I'm certain that you know the consequences."

"...I was actually going to ask you for assistance on this one."

This surprised him.

"Assistance?" Louis said. "Why the sudden change of mind? I thought you'd prefer going in without a plan instead of seeking my help."

"Let's just say I became more of a realist. If I go alone, I will most certainly fail and/or die in the most painful way I can imagine, and I accept that, even if I don't like it. You have the resources and power that I lack, so I...I'm asking you for your help, okay?"

Oh good god, this is humiliating.

Louis then started chuckling.

"Hehehe...alright then. This should be interesting."

"So that means?"

"Not just yet." Dammit, I knew this wasn't going to be as simple. "In order to have more chances of success, we'll need to subdue the former shrine maiden."

"Former?"

"She isn't the real one, after all..."

...Ah. Right.

"And why?"

As if the answer wanted to reveal itself to me, the whole chamber trembled as there was some sort of echoing yell coming from outside. It sounds distinctively female...

"...What exactly is going on out there?" I asked, fearing his answer.

"In layman's terms, let's just say that the maiden formerly known as Reimu is rampaging on the surface after the effects of both the book and the pawn vanished. The rest of residents are trying to subdue her, but the Magatama is conferring her too much power. They just can't beat her. And some of them aren't even participating yet. Even the black magician is having problems, whether it is because of the difference in power or because of personal issues."

Marisa...

"What about the summone-?"

"I'm afraid to say this, but their memories were also corrupted. Yes, they are still demon summoners, but since their mental resilience isn't as good as yours, the sudden shock when you beat that book sent them into a comatose state. They won't be helpful this time around...nor I think their personalities and backstory will be the same..."

That's harsh.

"What about the hag and Yuyuko?"

"...The ghost princess is tending of her servant after she sustained severe injuries from the maiden. And the others you met aren't faring much better. Since everyone is too accustomed to danmaku battles, they can't fight properly against her, since she now is mixing up close quarters combat with projectiles. Specifically Freikugel..."

That is going to be problem.

"...and Yukari Yakumo...well, she, along with the black magician, are the ones currently facing her now as equals. However, they is reluctant to go all out, even if it is for her own good. Also, I think she isn't aware of the current problem that Gensokyo has now. If we leave Gensokyo as it is, it'll fade away just like your other."

"Well, what about the rest?" I said, remembering...well, the rest. "I don't think they are just going to let something like this from happening."

"...Let's just say that killing that being abruptly had some other...consequences."

Oh man...

"Which are?" I asked.

"The majority of powerful youkai, that is, the ones that had a proper name reknowned in the fandom of this fictional place are suffering from, let's say a mental breakdown."

"Mental bre-?! Explain!"

"To put it in simple terms, after its destruction, the thin line between what is canon and fictional relating to this place..."

"Wait wait wait, canon? What?"

"Hey, the ones watching this could understand...then again, this is going too meta for some of them."

"...Are you sure you are not the crazy one?"

"Let me explain, alright?" Louis cut me off. "The reality of the personalities of the residents of this world is actually very, very loose, giving room for several of them to speculate and imagine tons of interpretations of the same person. You can't even begin to grasp how much of those they are for each and everyone here."

"...I still don't get what you are trying to say!"

"Let me put it this way. Their brains, exactly in these moments, are assimilating every possible personality everyone else has theorized about them, ranging from little-sister types, tsundere-types, dominatrix-ty..."

"Okay, stop there." This is so sickening. "Basically, every alternate incarnation of them are struggling for control of...their heads, what? Oh my good god, what I'm saying doesn't make any sense!"

"Aaah, I love me a good ol' mental breakdown..."

Ngh...

"If you are done, maybe you'll let me finish." Geez, first time he looked mildly annoyed. Guess I really have to stop doing that. "Basically, their minds are in turmoil due to an extreme case of identidy crisis, caused by multiple interpretations of them. I call this the Alternate Character Interpretion Syndrome. ACIS for short."

"...ACIS. So...I can't get extra help from others except for Marisa and the hag?" I said. "*sigh* This is really a complicated mess."

"Complicated? Yes. A mess? Partner, we made worse stuff than this."

Okay, you are starting again to annoy me.

"What exactly do we have to do in order for Gensokyo not to vanish?" I said, putting this ACIS issue in the back of my head.

"Well, I can make the necessary arrangements for keeping its existence intact, but I'll be frank, it'll take a lot of time." Louis said, crossing his arms.

"Exactly what arrangements?"

"Well, first, we'll need another barrier to be erected. Fortunately, as I said, I can make the arrangements. The problem is that, considering that we are going to take time in subduing the maiden, since we cannot have the risk of her ruining the ritual, we might actually take way too much time..."

"Meaning this place goes boom either way? Huh. This is a hard one."

Hmm...

"What if you ask the hag to support you?"

"You don't get it. This estimation considers the help of Yukari Yakumo." Louis sighed.

Wonderful (?)! What a way to make me worry more!

"Great. Any other brilliant ideas?"

...We need time, that's the main issue here.

"How about the others? Can they help?"

"I don't think so. Their power is...lacking."

Oh bother...

...

...Okay, maybe I...

"What if...what if I took on her alone?"

"What."

"Ridiculous. You'll be killed in moments after the fight starts."

"Don't speak as if you know me." I cut him abruptly. "Tell me, if I have survived for this long in this dangerous world, why can't I just take my chances?"

"And I thought you were a realist." Louis said, disappointed.

"What else can I do?" I said back. "Look, weren't you the one that vouched your trust on humanity's potential?"

"...There's a difference between trusting in one's potential and getting into a hopeless situation." Louis said.

"That didn't stop me." I said. "Magatama or not, I still survived. Also, I know better than the rest on how the Magatama works...and how it is making her suffer. So don't go telling me that this is impossible."

"..."

Louis stood there, thinking.

"Or are you afraid that I'll ruin whatever you are planning?" I said, not trying to hide the fact that I still suspect him. "That maybe, somehow, I do manage to beat her, and everything goes down the drain, huh? How does that make you feel?"

Louis didn't say anything. Instead, he smiled, looking intently at me.

"Hm? Are you thinking I want to stop you? No, on the contrary, go ahead. After all, humanity is free to choose their own paths, isn't it?"

That's...!

...Damn it! I can't read him! Well...he isn't the devil for something...

"Feh." I gave up trying to understand his true goal. "I get it. I'll stop for now. However, I will figure out what you are planning!"

"Oh? And in the case I am plotting something, what are you going to do?" Louis said, calmly. He seems to be measuring my reactions.

"...That'll...depend."

"Hmm."

Louis smiled.

"I believe whatever choice you'll make regarding that will be the right one...that is, any choice that does not involve joining with Him." Louis courteously said while smiling and turning back towards the center of the chamber.

Tsk!

...

...Well, guess I should trust him for now.

Louis then opened some sort of red gate. Inside the gate, there was a scene of a red sky...which was slowly starting to break.

Then I noticed the Scarlet Devil Mansion on the background.

"Ah, this is worse than I expected." Louis said. "We should move, if you wish to salvage it."

"Right." I said. "But first, I must relieve some of my doubts."

I looked at the forgotten grave of the true Reimu Hakurei. Her body was still there, lifeless and ignorant of the current events. Somehow, I was jealous of her state. She didn't need to worry about any of this mess.

Louis approved of my excuse and left through the gate, but told me that I shouldn't waste too much time.

I'm not worried about that. I just want to find something that might help on the long run.

"What exactly?"

I didn't answer back. I instead headed directly towards the grave.

I wonder if she was buried with some of her possessions...

...

...

...Aha! A diary!

"Oh gimme a break! We came back for that?!"

"I still need to know how this Reimu and our Reimu are related. It can't be coincidence." I said, trying to create theories about it. "I'll just skim through it."

...

...

...!

...?

...!

N-No way!

"Oh. So then..."

...Don't say it. It's too sad.

...Really sad...