Urban Legends

by Kanius

"It's coming. It's here." Said the female Revenant. A man with no memories and a Shogi woman meet again. Thieves and Revenants cross paths. Fates intertwine when dark entities manipulate and tweak the timeline. Mysteries of the dark entities will be unraveled. [A Persona 5 and Code Vein crossover with Kakegurui and Nioh elements. A sequel to Ford1114's Persona Vein.]

29. Rise of Yami King, Yami Matter Avatar

Chapter XXIX

Rise of the Yami King and Eve; Yami Matter Avatar (闇遊戯王とイブの台頭; 闇マターアバター)

xxxxx

Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza/Cairo, Egypt/(EET)

Launching herself headlong into Yami Prometheus ΩX, Prometheus ΩX madly attacked her with her laser sword. The Yami counterpart, still wearing Wakaba's face, countered Prometheus ΩX's strike with her red laser sword. As the opponents leaned and sneered into each other's faces, Yami Prometheus ΩX openly taunted her.

"Is this how you treat your dear mother after being apart for so long?!"

"Shut up! You're not my mom!"

Yami Prometheus ΩX's face contorted with depravity, sticking out her tongue and letting it hang loose. "Is that any way to talk back to me, Futaba?! You killed me!"

"No! You're wrong!" Prometheus ΩX protested, kicking Yami Prometheus ΩX back. After putting the boot to her Yami counterpart, she charged and cut her right arm off with her laser sword.

Now having been reduced to using her red laser sword with her left hand, Yami Prometheus ΩX looked around and jumped up on a pedestal. As Prometheus ΩX pursued her, the Yami counterpart cast Yami Techno Force, repelling Prometheus ΩX away with beams.

"Heh, it's time we end this reunion, Futaba-chan!" Yami Prometheus ΩX snickered as she jumped up and dove with her sword aimed for Prometheus ΩX's chest.

Suddenly, the walls quickly collapsed as Rexy the T. rex charged through and roared. Before she can properly execute Prometheus ΩX, the ascended Phantom Thief rolled away just in time. With her attention diverted, Yami Prometheus ΩX attacked Rexy with sword beams. Then, to the Yami counterpart's surprise, a digitized net formed in front of Rexy and protected the dinosaur. Witnessing her attacks being nullified, Yami Prometheus ΩX saw Tsugumi, Argo, and Shibungi walking toward her.

"Surprise! Sorry to rain on your parade!" Tsugumi replied with a big grin.

"Take a shot, Argo!" Shibungi commanded as he and Argo shot Yami Prometheus ΩX with a round of bullets.

Seemingly unfazed, Yami Prometheus ΩX forged a barrier, nullifying their shots. "Please, this is the best you've got?!"

"Did you just forget me, dark side me?!" Prometheus ΩX hollered from above.

As Yami Prometheus ΩX quickly faced up, Prometheus ΩX dropped behind her and shoved tentacle-like wires into her. She then started hacking into her Yami counterpart's suit.

"Wh-What do you think you're doing?! Trying to hack me?! Nice try, I can do the same!" Yami Prometheus ΩX readily conjured wires and attempted to infuse them into Prometheus ΩX, but she kneeled and writhed in agony. "What?! Impossible!"

"Looks like your hacking abilities are outdated. I always update my techniques!"

"Not to mention I imbued Futaba's powers with my hacking techniques! So, you're grossly outdated by our standards, Yami Futaba!" Tsugumi said, giving a heart's wink to Prometheus ΩX

As electrified energy ran through her body, Yami Prometheus ΩX's face turned back to normal.

"You sneaky bitch…!"

Prometheus ΩX sneakily grinned. "Heh, never underestimate a hacking master. I thought you knew that since you're my reflection." Then, as she picked up her laser sword, Prometheus ΩX charged it with more power and cut Yami Prometheus ΩX in half, causing her to scream and disintegrate into black mist.

"Well done. That solves this Yami Matter problem," Shinbungi said.

"Thankfully Rexy here led us the way to you, Futaba," Tsugumi said, patting the T. rex's leg.

"Alright, this stage is clear! Now, let's go and regroup with the others!" Prometheus ΩX declared.

"Right on it," Tsugumi said, typing into her portable, virtual keyboard as she opened a portal for them.

"Ok, let's go," Prometheus ΩX faced the portal with serious resolve.

xxxxx

Hong Kong, China/(HKST)

As Kamu Susano-o ΩX clashed swords with his Yami counterpart, Yami Susano-o ΩX matched him swing per swing. Almost like fighting a mirror image of himself, Kamu Susano-o ΩX found himself at a wit's end. When he went for his Divine Glaive, Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX quickly slashed him with consecutive katana strikes, bringing Kamu Susano-o ΩX down.

"Surely this is not how it ends for you, Kitagawa Yusuke?" Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX scoffed, preparing to bring down his katana over the ascended Phantom Thief's head.

Just then, a blue spirit wave blasted the katana out of the Yami counterpart's hand. As he whirled around, Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX saw Yusuke with his fist brimming with spirit energy. Yusuke then unleashed a powerful Shotgun blast. Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX jumped high into the air, but was met with resistance by Scarlet Witch and Vision. The duo combined energies, unleashing a powerful psychic blast that repelled the Yami Matter entity.

"Not so tough, are ya now?!" Kuwabara roared, swinging his Spirit Sword at Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX, who conjured a shadow clone to take the hit for him. Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX then quickly took Kuwabara down with a katana strike.

As Hiei dashed over and attacked Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX, the Yami entity exchanged sword strikes with the demon swordsman. Then, Yoko Kurama tossed a vine, which released a man-eating demonic plant to devour Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX. The Yami entity conjured two more shadow clones, one to fight Hiei and the other to get devoured.

As he performed hand seals, the Yami counterpart unleashed Mabufula, freezing Yoko Kurama's demonic plant. Hiei and Kurama, too, were frozen in ice.

As Shendu charged at Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX, the Yami entity struck him with Rising Slash.

While Yusuke, Scarlet Witch, and Vision fought Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX, the ascended Phantom Thief recovered long enough to grab his katana and set his sights on his Yami counterpart.

"This has gone on far enough! How dare you pervert my artistic image, you fiend!" Kamu Susano-o ΩX shouted, imbuing his katana with ice.

After Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX made short work of Yusuke and Vision, Scarlet Witch blasted psychic waves at the Yami entity. Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX conjured more shadow clones, using them to get wiped out by Wanda's attacks. Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX quickly phased behind Scarlet Witch and raised his sword to stab her.

"I said enough!" Kamu Susano-o ΩX called out, swiftly coming to Scarlet Witch's aid and countering the Yami entity's blow.

"What?! You still have some fight left in you?!"

"Of course, I'm an artist first, but I will give divine punishment to those who bring injustice and dishonor!" Kamu Susano-O ΩX shouted, slicing his Yami counterpart with his ice katana. Upon delivering his strike, sheets of ice pushed Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX away.

Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX quickly cut through the ice with Tempest Slash. Then, he saw Kamu Susano-o ΩX produce 20 shadow clones. The Yami conjured 20 of his own. As the shadow clones converged and attacked each other, Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX scoured for the real one. When he stabbed Kamu Susano-o ΩX, it dispersed into smoke. Then, he stabbed another and it exploded into mist.

"Curse you, Yusuke! Where are you, coward?!" Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX roared with frustration.

"Over here!" Kamu Susano-o ΩX called out from behind him.

As Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX turned around, he saw seven Kamu Susano-o ΩX clones beckoning to attack them. The Yami entity charged and slashed each of them. Then, as they exploded into smoke, their guises revealed the Spirit Detectives, Shendu, Scarlet Witch, and Vision.

"Heh, got ya, bitch!" Yusuke laughed.

"Sorry, but you got the wrong one," Yoko Kurama smirked.

"No! It can't be…!" Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX gasped.

Suddenly, a sword went through Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX's chest. He slowly turned his head as Kamu Susano-o ΩX came up behind him.

"Oh, but it is. Unpleasant dreams to you, my dark friend," Kamu Susano-o ΩX coldly whispered, withdrawing his katana out of his Yami counterpart.

"Well played, Kitagawa Yusuke," muttered Yami Kamu Susano-o ΩX as he fell and dispersed into smoke.

"Counterfeits will never be as good as the genuine masterpiece," Kamu Susano-o ΩX remarked as he and his group watched a portal open up for them. "It looks like it's time for us to depart. Thank you, my friends."

xxxxx

Kampala, Uganda/(EAT)

Seiten Taisei ΩX and Yami Seiten Taisei ΩX interlocked into an Electric Kamehameha/Yami Electric Kamehameha beam struggle. The two ascended beings roared defiantly and channeled an output of electrical energies into their beams. When Black Panther and Killmonger tried to intervene, Shuri, Okoye, and M'Baku stopped them from getting closer.

"Don't it's dangerous!" Shuri called out.

"The combined power from them can easily wipe us out!" Okoye warned her king and Killmonger.

"We can't at least try something," Killmonger said, running head-on through the electrified field generated by the ascended warriors.

"Wait!" Black Panther called out, chasing Killmonger through the field.

Upon seeing Black Panther and Killmonger, Yami Seiten Taisei ΩX's aura fired an electrical blast at them. As the duo moved away, their distraction gave Seiten Taisei ΩX an opening to unleash his Electric Kaio-Ken, granting him a slight speed boost that let him slip by and slam into Yami Seiten Taisei ΩX.

"How do ya like that, fake me?! Can't take the heat?!" Seiten Taisei ΩX roared as electrical surges sparked off his radiating aura.

Snarling, Yami Seiten Taisei ΩX invoked his Yami Electric Kaio-Ken in response. He launched head-on with Seiten Taisei ΩX as they collided and fired each other with electrical blasts. Black Panther hopped up on a rocky slope and tossed an explosive, which nullified Yami Seiten Taisei ΩX's electrified aura. Then, Black Panther and Killmonger double teamed on Yami Seiten Taisei ΩX. As the duo attacked with claw strikes, Yami Seiten Taisei ΩX parried their fists.

"Feh, annoying fucking cats!" Yami Seiten Taisei ΩX fired back with electrical blasts, one that repelled Black Panther away and another that neutralized Killmonger. When Shuri fired shots at him, Yami Seiten Taisei ΩX hastily knocked her back. When Okoye and M'Baku attacked him, he blasted them away with his Yami Ω Thunder Reign.

"Tch, that takes care of y'all! Alright, down to us, Sakamoto Ryuji!" As he turned and faced the ascended Phantom Thief, Seiten Taisei ΩX was gone. "Where the hell did ya go-!"

Suddenly, the Yami counterpart felt a powerful surge of lightning heading his way. He instinctively dodged, narrowly escaping the lightning bolt's direction. Then, before he realized it, another bolt ripped through his torso. Flabbergasted, Yami Seiten Taisei ΩX fell to his knees and watched his body dissolving into black matter.

"Man, did anyone tell ya to never drop your guard?" Seiten Taisei ΩX scoffed.

"You fuckin' bastard…!"

"Here's one to remember me by!" The ascended Phantom Thief electrocuted and finished off his Yami counterpart with his Ω Thunder Reign. Almost collapsing to a knee, Seiten Taisei ΩX gave a thumbs up to Black Panther and his crew. "Thanks, King T'Challa." After he gave them the Wakanda salute, a portal opened up for them. "Chadwick Boseman, your legacy will live on, man."

xxxxx

Bangkok, Thailand/(ICT)

As Goose hopped on a rooftop, he watched Mercurius ΩX sword dueling Yami Mercurius ΩX. Mercurius ΩX went for a forward attack, but Yami Mercurius ΩX jumped high up and fired an explosive with his slingshot. Goose quickly jumped up and swatted the explosive away.

"You annoying feline!" Yami Mercurius ΩX hissed at Goose, preparing to shoot him with another explosive, but Mercurius ΩX took his Yami counterpart down with Lightspeed Drive. After delivering consecutive slashes, Mercurius ΩX kicked Yami Mercurius ΩX down.

"Thanks, a lot! I owe you big time!" Mercurius ΩX nodded to Goose. Setting his sights on his Yami counterpart, the ascended Phantom Thief swung his scimitar.

Yami Mercurius ΩX stopped his blade strike. As he went for his Yami ΩX Panta Rhei, Mercurius ΩX rebounded and attacked him with rapid strikes similar to an All-out Attack. After slashing up his Yami counterpart, Mercurius ΩX unleashed ΩX Panta Rhei and immobilized him with a spinning burst of energy.

"And to finish you off!" Mercurius ΩX took out his Yami counterpart with his Lightspeed Drive. Wounded but victorious, Mercurius ΩX stumbled forward. Goose quickly snatched him. "Ah, thanks. It's almost scary how good I am, huh?" He then healed himself with ΩX Salvation.

Before Goose could meow, a portal opened for them.

"Yeah, we can head back and regroup with the others. Let's get going, Goose."

xxxxx

Melbourne, Australia/(AEDT)

Meanwhile, Loki ΩX continued his fierce battle with Yami Loki ΩX. The warriors' serrated swords clashed repeatedly. Swinging his serrated sword, Yami Loki ΩX sent a powerful gust of wind energy at Loki ΩX. Attempting to resist his Yami counterpart's Yami Loptr Tornado, Loki ΩX was ultimately brushed away by the powerful wind power.

"I won't be beaten by the likes of you! No counterfeit of me is going to beat me!" Loki ΩX snarled, swinging his sword and dispelling Yami Loki ΩX's with a resounding roar. Using his Hvendrungr Roar, Loki ΩX overwhelmed and disoriented his Yami counterpart. As he dove toward Yami Loki ΩX, Loki ΩX swiftly slashed him multiple times.

After having his arms slashed, Yami Loki ΩX was dismembered, allowing Loki ΩX to tear him into pieces with his swords. As Yami Loki ΩX dissolved into black matter, Loki ΩX watched Team Avalanche dealing with Sephiroth.

Just as Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Aerith, and Red XIII were about to be struck down by Sephiroth, numerous elemental attacks collided with Sephiroth, which garnered his attention. Much to Team Avalanche's relief, the other members of Team Avalanche arrived: Vincent Valentine, Cid, Yuffie, and Cait Sith.

As Team Avalanche united together, they took the fight to Sephiroth. Try as he might, Sephiroth couldn't keep up with the numbers advantage. In an attempt to turn the battle around, Sephiroth became Safer Sephiroth. The battle initially became challenging for Team Avalanche. With Cid, Yuffie, Cait Sith, and Red XIII providing as support, Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Vincent, and Aerith attacked Safer Sephiroth with physical, Materia-based magic, and summons to deal with Safer Sephiroth.

When Safer Sephiroth attempted Meteor, the long-winded sequence played out. In response, Aerith provided a powerful barrier, stopping Safer Sephiroth's attack. Seizing the opportunity, Cloud jumped high and delivered quick, consecutive slashes with his Buster Sword. With one final blow, Cloud delivered Omnislash to Safer Sephiroth. In what seemed like seconds, Cloud finished off Safer Sephiroth, causing him to glide into the air and transform back into Sephiroth.

"It's over, Sephiroth. Now, fade away like a bad memory!" Cloud called out, raising his Buster Sword toward his nemesis.

A single black wing opened up behind Sephiroth, casting down a collective stare at Team Avalanche. "I will never be a memory." As the black wing folded over him, he vanished and dispersed into assorted black feathers that rained down over the city's vicinity.

Watching Team Avalanche defeat Sephiroth, Loki ΩX walked away and saw a portal opening for him.

"Since my job here is done, it's my cue to go then."

xxxxx

London, United Kingdom/(GMT)

Anat ΩX continued to contend with her Yami counterpart and Arisa. Primarily acting as support for Yami Anat ΩX, Arisa was still a nuisance for the ascended Phantom Thief. Every time Anat ΩX tried her nuclear and physical attacks, Arisa would counter and nullify her intended strikes with her Shield of the Coward Void. Growing miffed with Arisa's constant intervention, Anat ΩX targeted Arisa and punched her Void barrier.

Seeing firsthand of Anat ΩX's brute power, Arisa grew apprehensive of the policewoman's unbridled force. As she tried strengthening her barrier, Anat ΩX unleashed Freila to break through Arisa's defenses. While her Void wasn't destroyed, Arisa was sent flying far back from Anat ΩX's powerful force.

"There, now you've lost your support! It's down to you and me now!" Anat ΩX pointed to Yami Anat ΩX, who rushed at the ascended Phantom Thief.

When Yami Anat ΩX charged nuclear power in her fists, Anat ΩX had the same idea. Both landed nuclear-powered punches, unleashing their Nuclear Fist and Yami Nuclear Fist simultaneously with accurate timing. What followed was an explosive that sent them both flying away.

Elsewhere, and not too far off from Anat ΩX's fight, Makishima pursued Akane. Akane fired a few shots with her Dominator. Makishima took cover behind a barricade and tossed a grenade at Akane. Akane fired the grenade, which exploded. This distraction allowed Makishima to sneak up and grab Akane's arm. He then disarmed Akane's Dominator and pulled her into a headlock.

"Now, Akane. You know Dominators are useless against me. Allow me to give you a quick and peaceful death," Makishima smirked, putting a finger to his lips and taking out his razor blade. "How fitting I kill you with the same tool I used to kill your friend. I promise it won't hurt."

"Time to end it!" Akane called out.

"Your life? Why the hurry?"

"No, that's not what I meant. You're not immune to this!"

"Wha…" Makishima blinked as he spotted a shining beam of light on his forehead. From a far distance, he saw Sinon locking him for a headshot.

"You're dead!" Sinon called out, firing and successfully sniping Makishima in the head.

As Makishima fell back, Akane quickly picked up her Dominator and waited for him to get up. Much to her relief, his body dissolved into black mist.

"Thank god," Akane sighed with relief. Looking the opposite way, she waved to Sinon, who stood with her sniper gun and smiled.

"Looks like I am cut out to be an officer," Sinon said. "Oh, right! That other officer needs our help!"

As Sinon regrouped with Akane, they arrived just in time to witness Anat ΩX and Yami Anat ΩX's heated clash. Anat ΩX and Yami Anat ΩX unloaded a barrage of fast punches, all of each were either parried and dodged. As Anat ΩX went for another Nuclear Fist, Yami Anat ΩX repelled her with Flash Bomb.

When Akane and Sinon offered to help, Anat ΩX beckoned them off. The ascended Phantom Thief stood on her own and punched a fist into her left palm. Taking a deep breath, Anat ΩX took a fighting stance while clearing her mind. Yami Anat ΩX mimicked her. The two martial artists quickly went head to head. Yami Anat ΩX charged and fired a Freidyne. Anat ΩX jumped high into the air, avoiding her Yami counterpart's attack. Anat ΩX dove down and delivered a Nuclear Fist into Yami Anat ΩX's face.

"Now, time to serve you my fists of justice!" Anat ΩX roared, unleashing a barrage of punches all over Yami Anat ΩX. After pummeling her with quick and powerful strikes, Anat ΩX landed a powerful uppercut, sending her flying into the air. As Anat ΩX sprang high into the air, she unleashed her Ω Atomic Flare. At the same time, Yami Anat ΩX performed her own Yami Ω Atomic Flare.

As both their divine nuclear energies shook the vicinity, they collided once again. However, Yami Anat ΩX looked worse for wear. Half of her face was mangled and her left arm was missing. Despite her mangled condition, Yami Anat ΩX carried out her mission to execute the Queen of the Phantom Thieves. As Yami Anat ΩX went for Anat ΩX's heart, Anat ΩX beat her foe to it and ripped out Yami Anat ΩX's black heart.

"There's only one Queen and that's me!" Anat ΩX passionately roared, crushing Yami Anat ΩX's heart as blood ooze spilled from her hand. Having sealed her fate, Anat ΩX's Yami counterpart dissolved into black matter and faded. "And that leaves one more." She set her sights on Arisa, who awoke to realize she's alone.

As Arisa tried to escape, Akane and Sinon stood in her way.

"Going somewhere?" Sinon directly asked her.

"You have a lot to answer for, miss," Akane frowned.

As Anat ΩX approached Arisa, a pool of black matter formed under Arisa. Arisa heard the creepy whispering from the Yami Matter, causing her to scream and plead for her life.

"No, please… don't take me there! Especially not to him! Not the Yami King!" Arisa screamed as the Yami Matter dragged her through the black void.

"Yami King?! Hey, wait!" Anat ΩX called out as she reached for Arisa's hand, but the Yami Matter swallowed her up and relocated Arisa into the realm of this hinted 'Yami King'. "So, there's a Yami King?"

"Yeah, we forgot to mention it to you, but the Yami Matter has a chosen one that's sent these villains to slow us down," Akane revealed.

"Who is the Yami King?"

"We don't know, but he's supposedly the Yami Matter's chosen one," Sinon said.

Suddenly, a portal formed in front of them. The trio walked straight into the wormhole, sending them back to Tokyo.

"One way or another, I think we're going to find out who he is soon," Anat ΩX said, dreading the next enemy they're set to face.

xxxxx

Near the Eiffel Tower/Paris, France/(CET)

As they ran up the Eiffel Tower, Astarte ΩX and Yami Astarte ΩX attacked each other with their axes. When Astarte ΩX rushed to behead her Yami counterpart, Yami Astarte ΩX quickly sidestepped her and kneed her face. After knocking Astarte ΩX off the Eiffel Tower, Yami Astarte ΩX plunged from her altitude and dove toward Astarte ΩX.

Quickly rebounding, Astarte ΩX stopped and floated in mid-air. Then, she propelled upward and deflected Yami Astarte ΩX's long-ranged beams with her ax. As she reached Yami Astarte ΩX, the ascended Beauty Thief bombarded her with Ω Triple Down.

Meanwhile, Ryuko, Satsuki, and Altair fought through Ragyo's defenses. When Ragyo launched drill-like projectiles and blades, Altair stopped the tyrannical woman's attacks with her Sword Shield. After the Military Princess halted Ragyo's projectiles with a shield composed of swords. Ryuko and Satsuki then flew toward their mother, attacking her with quick sword strikes. As Satsuki tore into Ragyo's Life-Fiber outfit, Ryuko cut through Ragyo with her double scissors blade.

"Ryuko, are you ready to finish this monster?!" Satsuki called out to her sister.

"Do you even need to ask?!" Ryuko roared furiously as she slammed head-on with Ragyo and struck her with a vertical slash. After delivering a devastating blow to Ragyo, Satsuki slashed her with a criss-cross slash. Altair flung numerous swords, which pierced into Ragyo.

However, Ragyo refused to relent and charged up a rainbow-colored sphere, hurling it toward the trio. "IT'S TIME WE END THIS, MY REBELLIOUS SPAWN AND YOUR NEW FRIEND, TOO!"

As the trio primed their next move, they flew head-on against Ragyo's finishing attack. As the trio caught the sphere, they used their combined powers to nullify Ragyo's sphere.

"It's over, Ragyo!" Satsuki declared, readying her sword.

"Lights out for you, bitch!" Ryuko shouted.

Conjuring more swords, Altair took out a violin and telekinetically controlled her swords with her music. She sent the swords flying into Ragyo and stabbing her body.

"IT'S OVER, RAGYO!" The Honnouji sisters shouted in unison, delivering their Dual Decapitation Mode, carving up Ragyo as their malignant mother exploded into black mist.

Her last words before fading away. "Yami King, they're all… yours…"

Meanwhile, Yami Astarte ΩX fired back with her Yami Ω Triple Down, almost devastating Astarte ΩX. Astarte ΩX charged at her Yami counterpart and tossed her ax. As Yami Astarte ΩX shot Astarte ΩX's ax down, she set her sights on her target, but the ascended Beauty Thief was gone.

"Where did you go…?!" Yami Astarte ΩX snarled, scouring for her adversary. Then, she looked up as destructive beams tore through Yami Astarte ΩX's body.

After finishing her Yami counterpart off with Ω Triple Down, Astarte ΩX coldly muttered to her conquered foe. "Adieu."

As soon as Astarte ΩX regrouped with the Honnouji sisters and Altair, a portal opened up for them. The trio warned her about Ragyo mentioning the 'Yami King'.

"The Yami King? I wonder, could he be the one who's behind bringing the Yami Matter into our world?" Astarte ΩX muttered, entering the portal with the Ryuko, Satsuki, and Altair.

xxxxx

Manhattan, New York City, United States/(EST)

Back in the Big Apple, Yami Hecate ΩX continued her horrendous public doxxing of Hecate ΩX, who quickly lashed out with furious anger. Screaming bloody murder, Hecate ΩX flew at Yami Hecate ΩX and threw her whip. Yami Hecate ΩX responded with her whip. As their whips met, Hecate ΩX unleashed a fiery blast, repelling Yami Hecate ΩX away.

"You've done a damned good job pissing me off! Now, get ready to get burned!" Hecate ΩX shouted as she dove straight into Yami Hecate ΩX. With the lashing of her whip, the red-clad Phantom Thief blasted her Yami counterpart with another fiery wave.

Finding herself enveloped by Hecate ΩX's flames, Yami Hecate ΩX nullified them with black flames. After vanquishing the flames, Yami Hecate ΩX powered herself up with Yami Habanera Riser, which boosted her stats.

Watching her Yami nemesis wrapped in wisps of black embers, Hecate ΩX followed suit and enhanced herself with Habanera Riser. After boosting her powers, Hecate ΩX chased Yami Hecate ΩX up the wall of a building.

"Follow them!" Buffy called out as she, Angel, Faith, Ange, Tusk, Hilda, Salamandinay, and Sylvia pursued the two ascended warriors.

As Hecate ΩX blasted Yami Hecate ΩX off the side of a building, the Yami entity landed on the ground. Buffy and her group immediately attacked her. As Buffy attempted to stake her, Yami Hecate ΩX brushed her off with black flames. Narrowly dodging Yami Hecate ΩX's flames, the Slayer somersaulted backward. When Angel and Faith tried attacking the Yami entity, she launched a firewall barrier, nearly burning Angel into ashes. Buffy grabbed Angel, saving him from certain death.

"You have to be careful, Angel!" Buffy warned him of his and other vampire's greatest weakness outside holy items: fire.

"Take this!" Ange shouted, driving a knife into Yami Hecate ΩX's back, but Yami Hecate ΩX kicked the knife from her hands and ensnared Ange with her whip. Tusk and Hilda fired rounds at Yami Hecate ΩX, who then tossed Ange into them. As Sylvia lunged at Yami Hecate ΩX, the Yami entity threw her whip, unleashing a wall of black flames to cut her off.

"Sylvia, get back!" Ange cried out as Yami Hecate ΩX kicked Sylvia back.

Witnessing her younger sister put in harm's way, Ange roared with fury as she charged at Yami Hecate ΩX. When Salamandinay joined Ange, they doubled teamed on Yami Hecate ΩX, but the Yami entity created another whip, which she used to ensnare them both.

"Now be still and play tricks for me, my new pets!" Yami Hecate ΩX cruelly tightened nooses around Ange and Salamandinay's necks.

"Let them go!" Hecate ΩX shouted, launching a pillar of flames toward Yami Hecate ΩX, who jumped away and let her two captives go.

"Say, why don't we make things more interesting, Takamaki Ann?!" Yami Hecate ΩX giggled fiendishly, conjuring two black flaming pillars. From these black flames, she summoned Mido and Cognitive Ann.

Upon seeing her two recent worst enemies, Hecate ΩX's eyes widened with horror. Her shock was quickly dashed away with a look of abhorrence. She then started gnashing her teeth, almost biting down on her bottom lips.

"Oh no, you didn't just summon those two!" Hecate ΩX gritted hard as she seethed with anger.

"You thought you and your friends got rid of me that easily, Annie?!" Mido chortled, immediately transforming into his Envoy of Evolution form. "Come, do your worst?! Or, are you so weak and pathetic you need your friends and Amamiya Ren to save you?!"

As an evil giggle escaped her lips, Cognitive Ann purred with delight and struck a sexy pose. "Why don't you just forget about your responsibilities and indulge in some debauchery? Maybe pick up a few hot guys along the way? I mean, you after a slut after all. With that killer body, you can score and fuck as many guys you want, right?" She taunted Hecate ΩX, pointing to a big screen showing Ren and Ann's sexual intercourse on the night they mended their differences. "Oh god, look at you go, slutty Annie! Rock Ren-ren's world!"

"Indeed! You're making his life worth his while!" Mido dashed at Hecate ΩX.

"Shut up! That's enough!" Hecate ΩX ground her teeth, biting her bottom lip hard enough to make it bleed. As she shot open her eyes, she screamed with vitriol. "YOU TWO CAN FUCKING DIE!" She quickly blasted both Mido and Cognitive Ann with immense flames. Utilizing her Ω Blazing Hell, she casually vaporized Cognitive Ann again and set Mido ablaze. "I know you aren't real, Mido!"

"You cannot cast me out! You will remember me!"

"You're not worth shit to me anymore!" Hecate ΩX scornfully muttered, turning her back to Mido. "You're just another obstacle to me now, sent by my Yami self to slow me down! Well, nothing's holding me back anymore!"

"YOU WILL REMEMBER ME, ANNIE!"

"YOU'RE FUCKING DEAD TO ME, MIDO! NOW BURN IN HELL!" As she whipped around, Hecate ΩX put a flaming fist through Mido's chest, causing him to spontaneously combust and burn alive. As Mido collapsed, he burned into black matter. Shifting her heated gaze on Yami Hecate, the ascended Phantom Thief pointed to her Yami counterpart. "You see? I've conquered the latest banes in my life, you're next, Yami Matter!"

Scowling, Yami Hecate ΩX charged at Hecate ΩX and unleashed a pillar of black flames. After blasting Hecate ΩX with her Yami Ω Blazing Hell, victory seemed certain for the Yami entity. Then, much to her dismay, her flames quickly vanished, seemingly swallowed up.

Hecate ΩX stood, not just unfazed, and placed her hand out. The remnants of the Yami entity's black flames were absorbed in Hecate ΩX's palm.

"You're not so tough anymore! Your powers don't work on me. I've cast all my doubts away!"

"No, I can still sense your insecurities, Takamaki Ann!" Yami Hecate ΩX shouted as she flew at Hecate ΩX, swinging her whip at the ascended Phantom thief. In the blink of an eye, Yami Hecate ΩX saw her whip burn into dust. Withdrawing her hands, Yami Hecate ΩX was set ablaze and being burned alive by Hecate ΩX's Ω Blazing Hell.

Watching her Yami counterpart collapse and burn into bones, Hecate ΩX gave her the cold shoulder and approached her allies. Yami Hecate ΩX let out her final screams as her bones dissolved into black matter.

"Wow, remind me not to piss you off," Buffy sighed with relief.

"Hey, are you ok?" Ange asked Hecate ΩX, who nodded and calmly smiled.

"I am now," Hecate ΩX was all she can say in her current state of mind.

Just then, a portal materialized in front of the group.

"That should send us back to your home in Tokyo, right?" Angel asked Hecate ΩX, who nodded.

"Let's go," Hecate ΩX instructed but not before looking the other way. One person was on her mind now. "Please, hurry and get back with us, Ren."

xxxxx

Elsewhere, Satanael ΩX and Yami Satanael ΩX continued their aerial dragon battle. Neither three-headed hydra was willing to concede to the other. As both opened their jaws, they drew breath and spewed powerful beams. When their Sinful Neutron Blast and Yami Neutron Blast collided, the destructive energies from their beam struggle caused the area of Manhattan to rumble.

As they overexerted their energies, the dragon's beams exploded, sending shockwaves that tore through the air and knocked them away. As Satanael ΩX crashed on top of a rooftop, Yami Satanael ΩX fell into the heart of Times Square. Upon recovery, Satanael ΩX raised his head and saw his Yami counterpart standing up. Attempting to draw him out into another scuffle, Yami Satanael ΩX opened his three mouths and prepared to bath the city block in a firestorm, reminiscent of when Satanael ΩX burned Shibuya and most of its inhabitants in the P5-Crimson dimension.

Joker's voice angrily roared inside Satanael ΩX's mind. "NO! I CANNOT LET THAT NIGHTMARE SCENARIO PLAY OUT AGAIN!" Letting out a terrifying roar, the Devil Hydra stood up and headed straight for Yami Satanael ΩX's direction.

As the Yami Devil Hydra turned to meet his foe, Satanael ΩX crashed and landed onto Yami Satanael ΩX. Satanael ΩX seized Yami Satanael ΩX's middle head and bit down on its throat. Tearing and ripping off the middle head, Satanael ΩX slammed Yami Satanael ΩX into a building. Attempting to push Satanael ΩX off, the Yami Devil Hydra fired his Yami Cosmic Flare, pushing Satanael ΩX away.

"YOU WILL MEET YOUR END HERE, AMAMIYA REN!" The Yami entity declared inside Yami Satanael ΩX's mind.

As Yami Satanael ΩX opened its two mouths, he fired another Yami Cosmic Flare, but Satanael ΩX responded and fired three flamed blasts, converging them into a single flaming shot. As he fired his Sinful Neutron Blast, Satanael ΩX blasted and overpowered Yami Satanael ΩX.

Upon falling out of his Devil Hydra form, Yami Satanael ΩX turned back to normal. As the Yami Phantom Thief whipped out his gun, Satanael ΩX stood in front of him with his pistol aimed for his head.

"It's over. Concede," Satanael ΩX frowned, awaiting his adversary's response.

An insidious grin etched on Yami Satanael ΩX's face, letting out a low, composed chuckle. "Yes, you've beaten me, but are you ready to face the Yami King? Because of the way you are now, I doubt you're a match for him!" He grinned maniacally.

"Yami King?"

"He awaits you and your friends in Tokyo. I'd hurry if I were yo-" Not giving him a chance to finish, Satanael ΩX head shotted his Yami counterpart. As he fell, Yami Satanael ΩX passively stared at the sky before dissolving into black matter.

"So, the Yami Matter has its own king? I don't like the sound of this," Satanael ΩX worryingly muttered. As he heard a portal open behind him, he faced the wormhole leading him back to Tokyo. "Wait." He turned and sensed Fused Zamasu's overwhelming presence, one of the Yami Matter's selected agents. "There's one more thing to do."

xxxxx

The battle against Fused Zamasu took a complete turn for the worst. Future Trunks and his resistance team (Future Mai, Taichi, Yamato, Omegamon, Spike, Golden Freeza, Golden Cooler, Jiren, Goku (Abridged), and Vegeta (Abridged).

Raising his hands, Fused Zamasu cast his Absolute Lightning, raining a purple lightning blast from his glowing halo-like ring. As the lightning crashed into the group, everyone moved away, but some took the direct explosion from the blast. Future Mai was sent flying into the air. Future Trunks hastily caught his girlfriend and landed.

"Hey, do you happen to use a muffin button technique since you're part me?" Goku (Abridged) asked Fused Zamasu, who hissed and blasted him with his Absolute Lightning.

"Goku!" Future Trunks called out to the Abridged counterpart.

As Vegeta (Abridged) launched his Final Flash on Fused Zamasu, the merged god nullified the Saiyan Prince's attack with his divine aura.

"You impudent mortals!" Fused Zamasu snarled, lobbing a barrage of red energy blades at Vegeta (Abridged) and a few others. After casting his Blades of Judgement, Vegeta (Abridged), Golden Cooler, and Golden Freeza took the worst of attacks, but Vegeta (Abridged) suffered the worst due to being critically weaker than most of the mainstream Dragon Ball characters.

"Geets!" Goku (Abridged) called out to his friend and rival.

"I don't want to hear it, Kaka...rott…" weakly sputtered Vegeta (Abridged).

"Remember what I said before about the horse?"

"This isn't the time for…"

"We're in a losing situation, but keep this in mind. When you fall off a horse, you get right back up, and eat that horse!"

Future Trunks sighed in exasperation. "Kinda inappropriate to say that now?"

Vegeta (Abridged) groaned. "Yeah… shut up… Kaka… idiot."

"Hehehe, you two comical variations of my two greatest foes are very amusing," Golden Freeza chortled. "But, I am not going to stand idly while that divine charlatan gets the better of me!" As he flew off to attack Fused Zamasu, Jiren and Omegamon both beat him to the fight.

As Jiren went all out and invoked his full power, Omegamon quickly circled Fused Zamasu and fired his Garuru Cannon. Fused Zamasu effortlessly vaporized Omegamon's frozen beam with his aura. Diving closer toward Fused Zamasu, Omegamon tried uppercutting him with his Grey Sword. Fused Zamasu casually dodged Omegamon's Ultimate Uppercut. As Jiren flew into Fused Zamasu, he unleashed a barrage of punches on Fused Zamasu.

Suddenly, the Broly duo arrived and launched themselves at Fused Zamasu. Realizing the number of strong fighters were going to prove troublesome, Fused Zamasu flew high into the air and amassed a glowing sphere of divine power.

"I smell Kakarott on you!" Broly (Original) snarled, flying headlong with Fused Zamasu.

"So, you've broken free from my control, monster? No matter, you're worth to me is null," Fused Zamasu scoffed irritably, firing off his Holy Wrath. As he targeted Broly (Original), Broly (Canon) joined him as they pushed against Fused Zamasu's destructive sphere.

Future Trunks, Jiren, Omegamon, and Golden Freeza joined in as well, resisting Fused Zamasu's powerful attack.

"Foolish, arrogant god! You will learn the meaning of justice!" Jiren bellowed, discharging enough raw power to push back Fused Zamasu's Holy Wrath.

"You think I'm done yet, impudent mortals?!" Fused Zamasu spread his arms, invoking a massive purple bird-like entity behind him. The overabundance of raw power emanating from the bird wall nullified the group's attacks. Then, with a mere thought, the corrupted divine being conjured multiple blocks of Katchin, the strongest metal in the Dragon Ball universe, and flung them at the group.

While the fighters dodged and blasted away the Katchin blocks, Fused Zamasu cupped his hands and fired a Black Kamehameha. Just then, a bigger Kamehameha came hurtling past the group and pushed away Fused Zamasu's black beam.

"That's a cute attack, Zamasu, but how about we fight fusion against fusion?!" Gogeta Blue chimed in, descending near the villainous deity's location.

"You're not Vegito, are you now?" Future Trunks asked the fused Saiyan.

"We're Gogeta now!"

Upon hearing the blue-haired Saiyan fusion name himself, the Abridged Saiyans raised their heads and gawked at Gogeta with intrigue.

"Gogeta?" Goku (Abridged) blinked.

"So, what? Go- and -geta? That means our other selves can merge into a single being just like Black and Zamasu did?" Vegeta (Abridged) was befuddled with the mechanics of this unfamiliar technique. "Kakarott, I'm sure you've never heard this technique?"

"Nope, because that technique doesn't exist in our world, Geets."

"Figures. Those lucky bastards are way ahead of the curve. Curse our series ending prematurely," Vegeta (Abridged) scoffed. "Oh well, it can't be helped. The guy voicing me and his friend decided it was high time to end our continuity on a high note, I suppose."

"Yep! Now, let's check out our other selves kick Zamasu's butt!" Goku (Abridged) added.

Getting off the floor, Golden Cooler muttered. "Damn you, Freeza. Take the glory from me, will you?"

The battle between the powerful fusions commenced. When Fused Zamasu flew high into the air, he rained down his Blades of Judgement. Gogeta Blue stood poised and raised his right hand. He recreated his Stardust Breaker and tossed it, obliterating Fused Zamasu's blade barrage with a hailstorm of energy beams.

"Impudent mortal!" Fused Zamasu bellowed with anger, but before he could retaliate, Jiren punched Fused Zamasu's glowing halo, causing it to shatter. Then, Gogeta Blue flew up and pummeled Fused Zamasu with Ultimate Impact. After kicking Fused Zamasu away, the fused being amassed power from the Yami Matter, causing him to expand and grow into a giant. The resulting Yami Matter power infusion deformed half of Fused Zamasu's body, turning it purple. He rushed Gogeta Blue and punched him, but Gogeta Blue stopped his punch with a fist of his own. As both roared in each other's faces, Gogeta Blue gained an upper hand and kneed him in the face. As he sent Fused Zamasu flying into the air, Gogeta Blue cupped his hands and charged up his God Kamehameha. Then, Jiren and Broly (Canon) joined in, sending Ki directly into Gogeta Blue's finishing attack.

"THE YAMI MATTER AND I SHALL NOT FALL! WE WILL VANQUISH ALL OF YOU MORTALS!" Fused Zamasu angrily roared, his bellows becoming more like high-pitched wails as he expanded his body and towered over nearly everyone. He then formed energy blades in his hands, preparing to cut down Gogeta Blue's attack.

"Oh, great. You know you're making yourself a bigger target when you do that!" Spike remarked, throwing his hands up. "You know what? Forget it. Do what you want. See if I bloody care! Just know I don't scream like a bitch like you!"

As Fused Zamasu made his move, a shot heard around the block hurtled toward the godly being. This bullet quickly pierced through Fused Zamasu's face, shredding off pieces of his divine flesh. He and the others quickly gazed up as they saw Satanael ΩX floating over them.

"Bothersome insect!" Seethed Fused Zamasu, but before he can retaliate, Gogeta Blue unleashed and caught Fused Zamasu with his Harmonic Kamehameha. As the attack toppled the renegade deity, Future Trunks seized the advantage and amassed Ki from all of the active participants, including the ascended Phantom Thief. He collected and infused the hopes and powers from everyone into his sword, which extended into a glowing blue translucent blade.

"Now, finish this!" Satanael ΩX called out.

Taking heed of the Phantom Thief's request, Future Trunks obliged and flew at Fused Zamasu. With a mighty swing from his Sword of Hope, he cut through Fused Zamasu's large chest twice, carving bloody gashes on him. As his body spewed with purple blood, Fused Zamasu roared with blind fury.

"YOU THINK YOU'VE ALL WON?! THE YAMI MATTER WILL ERASE YOU ALL, GRANTING THE YAMI KING HIS ASCENSION TO HIS THRONE!"

"Yeah?! Well, guess what?! You're not going to be alive to see it happen anyway! FAREWELL AGAIN, ZAMASU!" Future Trunks shouted as he cut through Fused Zamasu with his Final Hope Slash. As he cut through Fused Zamasu's body, a single vertical line formed over the giant's body. His halved body exploded with purple blood raining all over the place.

"NOOOOO! THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING AGAIN! AUGH! DAMN YOU, TRUNKS, GOKU, AND ESPECIALLY YOU… PHANTOM THIEF!" The once mighty being cursed his foes, undergoing a mental breakdown of epic proportions.

Some of the purple blood splashed over Spike, enticing the vampire to drink and lick it off his body. However, he spat the divine blood in disgust.

"Yuck, this is a god's blood? Ugh!" Spike spat out.

Letting out a final roar, Fused Zamasu's split body disintegrated into black mist. His last words then befuddled his adversaries.

"To think… that the Yami Matter chose a mortal… to become the Yami King… why was I passed over…?" Fused Zamasu muttered as he faded away.

"Yami King?" Gogeta Blue questioned, wondering who Fused Zamasu referred to before his timely demise.

"Yeah, apparently the Yami Matter has a chosen one," Satanael ΩX addressed the group.

"Yammy King?" Goku (Abridged) asked.

"No, Yami King, you nitwit," Golden Freeza corrected him. "Hmph, whoever this Yami King is, I'm disappointed it's not me."

Future Trunks faced Satanael ΩX. "Thank you, but we need to get to the bottom of finding out the Yami King's identity."

As a portal opened up in front of Satanael ΩX, the ascended Phantom Thief mused. "Maybe we're about to find out. My friends and I are going to confront the Yami King and destroy the Yami Matter's source."

"Good luck, one of us will join you," Gogeta Blue said.

Nodding, Satanael ΩX flew through the portal and was teleported back to Tokyo.

xxxxx

Dubai, United Arab Emirates/(GST)

Having crushed Thanos and Darkseid's forces, the alien warlords united to fight off the resistance. Tennyo, Ivy, Iron Man, Captain America, Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel, Saitama, and Garou charged head-on to take on Thanos and Darkseid. Tennyo, Iron Man, Captain America, Captain Marvel, and Saitama engaged Thanos. Ivy joined Superman, Batman, and Garou against Darkseid.

"Whoa, look at them! Now, this is a superhero and villain rumble!" Tsugumi's voice was heard commentating from Ayase's communicator.

"Heads up! Thanos has that mean blade on him!" Argo yelled out.

As Thanos swung his giant blade at Tennyo, Tennyo jumped over the Mad Titan. She swung her ko-naginata as her weapon collided with Thanos' blade. Trying to match Thanos' strength, Tennyo found herself being effortlessly pushed back by his power. Then, Iron Man dove in and blasted Thanos' face. Captain America smacked Thanos' head with his shield. Captain Marvel punched Thanos' gut, causing him to double over. With a single punch, Saitama cracked Thanos' blade into pieces. Tennyo then slashed Thanos with her ko-naginata and blasted him with her Lightning Thorn.

"Ooooh, yeah! Nice shot, Hifumi! Down goes Thanos!" Tsugumi hollered.

After Tennyo pushed Thanos away, she rushed him for another frontal assault, but the Mad Titan punched the ground and knocked her off her feet. As he dove in to grab her, a blade pierced through his hand. Much to her surprise, Tennyo saw Sion stabbing Thanos and pulling her away.

"Sion! Thank goodness, you're fine!" Tennyo said while Sion carried her in his arms.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting."

"Sion!" Ivy called out as she helped Superman, Batman, and Garou hold off Darkseid.

"Don't forget about me!" Ayase called out as she dropped down, landing next to Sion and Tennyo. She smirked. "Epic hero entrance."

Sion chuckled. "Right, keep telling yourself that."

"Hey, did you know Sion kissed me, Hifumi?" Ayase asked her.

"What? Is this true?" Tennyo was taken aback, looking at Sion with confusion.

"It was an accident. One of Thanos' goons blasted us both away and we just happened to land on top of each other. Her lips came into contact with mine!"

"And you liked it. You even made fun of me!" Ayase shouted at him.

"I said I was sorry!" Sion shouted back.

"Hey, can you two not do this now?!" Argo shouted from Ayase's earpiece.

In a surprise reaction, Tennyo just smiled and laughed a bit.

"Wait, you think this is funny?" Sion and Ayase asked her.

"Yes, because I trust Sion to be honest with me about anything. Even if it means kissing another woman," Tennyo replied, sliding out of Sion's arms. "And even if he had every intention of kissing you, he probably had a good reason to." She unabashedly stated, confusing Ayase. "I mean, you are a very attractive woman, Ayase. Even I must be frank."

"Oh god… what kind of couple are you two?"

"The loyal kind," Sion said, kissing Tennyo's lips.

"Hey, are you three going to give us a hand here?!" Wonder Woman called out as she, Thor, and Loki (MCU) arrived to join the battle against Thanos and Darkseid.

"Right, we're coming!" Ayase called out.

"Thanos and Darkseid are distracted. You two may commence the attack," Shibungi advised the trio.

When Sion, Tennyo, and Ayase entered the fray, Sion and Tennyo assisted the Marvel heroes and Saitama. Ayase helped Ivy, the DC heroes, and Garou.

When Darkseid fired several Omega Beams, Superman stopped one with his heat vision, Wonder Woman crossed her bracelets and forged a barrier to neutralize another, and Ayase kicked a heap of debris into the third beam. Having been distracted by the trio, Batman tossed an explosive Batarang, which exploded off the Apokalips' ruler's back. Then, Garou unleashed slashing attacks, breaking off parts of his Brainiac armor. Ivy then lunged into Darkseid, running her halberd through his chest. After immobilizing him with her Ivy-Type Blood Veil, Ayase landed a spinning kick to Darkseid's face, knocking his head around. Finally, Superman flew into Darkseid and vaporized his head with his heat vision. Having been dealt a crushing blow, Darkseid collapsed to his knees.

"Take that, Darkseid! He's going to be feeling that one when he wakes up!" Tsugumi commented.

"Well done, Justice League. Perhaps you are ready for the Yami King." Darkseid muttered his last words before dissolving into black mist.

Meanwhile, while Thor went into a scuffle with Thanos, the Mad Titan punched Thor back. As Mjølnir flew out of the Asgardian's hand, Thanos reached for it, but it flew directly into Captain America's grasp.

"Nice, just like in the movie we saw, Hifumi," Sion said as he and Tennyo witnessed Captain America blast Thanos with several lightning bolts. Then, Captain America shot a powerful bolt from Mjølnir and destroyed the Mad Titan's body armor. "Alright, let's make our move!"

With that, Sion and Tennyo charged to attack Thanos. After Captain America delivered more bolts to Thanos, Iron Man fired pulse beams into Thanos. Thor slashed Thanos with his Stormbreaker. Captain Marvel then headbutted Thanos and tossed him to Saitama, who clobbered him with one punch. After being pummeled from all sides by various heroes, Sion activated his Ogre-Type Blood Veil and ran his demonic hand through Thanos' chest. Then, the Revenant summoned spikes from the ground, immobilizing Thanos with his Ivy-Type Blood Veil. Then, Tennyo raised her ko-naginata.

"What does Hifumi have in mind here? Another bolt attack?" Tsugumi wondered.

"Please, lend me some power!" Tennyo called out as she conjured a lightning blast from her weapon. In response, Captain America used Mjølnir to cast a thunderbolt. Thor fired a lightning blast from Stormbreaker. Iron Man then fired beams. As the Avengers' attacks converged with Tennyo's bolt, she threw a bigger variation of her Lightning Thorn and blasted Thanos with it.

"Holy shit!" Argo hollered.

"She combined their energies with her own and blasted Thanos! What a turnabout play by Hifumi!" Tsugumi added excitedly.

After Tennyo dealt the finishing blow, Thanos collapsed with half of his entire body burned. After a few deep breaths, the Mad Titan conceded. "Congratulations, Avengers… and especially you two…" He pivoted toward Sion and Tennyo. "...maybe you can defeat the Yami King… too bad… the Yami Matter picked him instead of me as its chosen one…" With that, he drew his final breath and fizzled into dark matter.

"The Yami King?" Sion blinked in confusion.

"Yes, that's the one who's unleashed all these villains and brought the Yami Matter into your world," Ayase addressed Sion as she and Ivy approached them.

"Is this true, Io?" Tennyo asked her.

"Yes, Ayase explained it to me. He's the one we'll have to face before the Yami Matter source," Ivy replied.

"Hopefully the Yami King knows where my friend, Shu, might be," Ayase said, trying to find hope of finding her friend's whereabouts. She noticed Sion giving her a slighted look when she mentioned Shu. "What?"

"Sure, whatever. Let's go," Sion replied.

"Hey, Sion," Ayase interjected. Before she can get an answer, she heard Tsugumi from her communicator.

"Wow, that was a badass brawl, Ayase! I'm glad you and the others are ok!" Tsugumi cheerily chimed through Ayase's earpiece.

"That was a pressing battle. I'm glad that's over with," Shibungi asserted.

"We're about to send you a portal to go through. It'll send you all right into Tokyo," Argo said.

"By the way, we've located the Yami King's spot. He's in Shinjuku, Tokyo," confirmed Tsugumi.

Upon hearing this, Ayase nodded to Sion, Tennyo, and Ivy. "Well, this is it."

"We're ready," Tennyo replied.

Then, a portal opened up right in front of the group. More portals opened up to pick up the Justice League, the Avengers, and Saitama's group.

Before entering their portal, Sion faced Ayase.

"What were you going to say, Ayase?"

"Sorry for thinking Hifumi would get upset that we kissed."

"It's not a big deal. If Hifumi has no problems, then I don't either. Besides, Hifumi, Io, and I have already engaged in three-way intercourses."

"Really?" Ayase blinked without condoning him.

"Yeah, we'd even invite you if we had your consent."

"I… Uh…" Ayase wasn't sure how to respond to Sion's statement.

"And I'm sorry for acting like a jerk. I hope you don't take anything personally."

Sion puffed up her chest and sighed. "Just don't tease me like that again."

"Can't help it if you look like my ex, but sure."

"Are you all ready?" Tsugumi asked the group.

With that, Sion, Tennyo, Ivy, and Ayase entered the portal and returned to Tokyo.

xxxxx

Shinjuku, Tokyo (新宿, 東京)/(JST)

Later, after vanquishing their Yami Persona's Ascendancy foes, the Phantom Thieves returned to Japan thanks to Tsugumi's assistance. Upon arriving, they regrouped with the Vein Remnants and Funeral Parlor. The group marched toward the heart of Shinjuku. With Prometheus ΩX and Tsugumi's aid, they traced the main source behind the Yami Matter incursion: the Yami King. The dark energy fluctuation came directly from within the Shinjuku Prefecture.

The group arrived 20 meters in front of the Shinjuku Toho Building. Looming over it is the famous Godzilla statue head. It was the same place where the Thieves, the Revenants, and their friends watched the Broly movie over a year ago. It was also when the crossover characters first materialized unbeknownst to the group. Now, everything had come full circle for this final battle.

"Hey, I see something up on top of Godzilla's head!" Astarte ΩX called out, pointing toward a throne of some sort on the crown of the statue's head.

"Could that be the Yami King we've been looking for?!" Hound wondered.

"Yeah, all traces lead toward here," Mercurius ΩX stated.

"Yep, there's no doubt about it. The trail ends here," Prometheus ΩX concurred.

As the group cautiously approached the front of the theater, they got a glimpse of a figure sitting on this throne. When they got a better view, a spotlight beamed over the seated figure, revealing the Yami Matter figurehead. Of the whole group, Funeral Parlor fell into shock as the perpetrator's face was revealed.

"No way, it can't be…" Tsugumi gasped from Ayase's communicator.

"It's you, but how…?!" Added Argo with anger in his voice.

"I can't believe this. After all this time, you… it's been you all along?!" Ayase screamed with a mix of unbridled emotions, both filled with sadness and anger.

However, all Sion could say was simply. "Oh, you've gotta be fucking kidding me."

"Ayase, is this how our reunion was meant to be? You disappoint me," a voice belonging to a young man patronized Ayase, who was taken aback by the reveal of the Yami King. Emerging from the veil of darkness, a youthful man with short, unkempt brown hair at a neck's length. His complexion is fair and has a light peach color. Living up to his Yami King name, he has a black long-sleeved coat over a white shirt, dark gray dress pants, black shoes. He has a long pure black scarf, even darker than his coat, adorning his neck. When he approached the edge of the Godzilla statue's snout, the young man gave a detached stare toward the group. There was a cold, lifeless look in his reddish brown eyes, which sent unsettling vibes toward Ayase.

"Shu, you're the Yami King?!" Ayase called out.

"So, the one behind this is Ouma Shu?" Satanael ΩX asked, not taking his eyes off the Yami King for a single moment.

"Damn, I can't believe this!" Seiten Taisei ΩX snarled angrily.

"You're the one who is responsible for bringing the Yami Matter to our world?! Then, you're the one who created those Yami versions of us!" Hecate ΩX sharply berated the Yami King.

"How do we even know it's the real Ouma Shu?" Astarte ΩX wondered.

"Because I can tell. That's the real Shu," Ayase replied.

"I'm getting a bio reading from him. It's Shu alright and not a Yami clone, but I'm picking up critically high Yami Matter energies from him. Be careful, everyone!" Tsugumi warned Ayase and the others.

Gritting his teeth, Sion scoffed. "So, the sissy boy decided to let the Yami Matter seduce him to the dark side and turn him into a real badass, huh? You finally grew some balls, Ouma Shu?!" He openly chastised the Yami King, who shifted his cold glare toward the Revenant.

"Sion, please…" Tennyo tried calming her Revenant fiancé.

"You don't want to engage him alone, Sion," Io advised against taking the initiative.

As a calm smile adorned his face, the Yami King openly addressed them with open arms. "Welcome to my Yami Kingdom, my honored guests! Shinomiya Ayase, it's been so long. You're looking well." He spoke in an arrogant tone, which irked Sion even more.

"Shu, explain yourself! Why do this?! Why go to these lengths and allow the Yami Matter to spread into this world?! It's already affected our world, too!" Ayase questioned her former friend. Tears started forming in her eyes as she passionately reasoned with him. "Please, tell me! As a friend to another, I want to know what pushed you to do this and unleash these horrors?!"

"What drove me? I thought you'd figured it out, Ayase. I never pegged you to be this much of a simpleton," Shu rebuked. "Why did I unleash these horrors in this world? Why did I become the Yami King? The answer should've been so obvious. It was lying right in front of you."

"What…?" Ayase was confused.

"After Inori died and I sacrificed my Void, my sight went with it. I was reduced to a crippled afterthought and left with only pieces to pick up."

"But, those of us who survived helped to support you, Shu! I…" Ayase gritted hard and angrily shouted at him. "I was there to support you! I became that shoulder for you to cry on when you needed it most!"

"How when I couldn't see you and the others? Do you realize what it's like to have your sight taken away?! To not be able to see the ones who love you?! The day I lost my light, I became shrouded by darkness," Shu said with disdain for himself. "The only way I could even see her… my Inori was through her songs! But, I knew she wasn't there to hold me and tell me everything will be ok."

"And because of that the Yami Matter preyed on your insecurities and took you as its pawn!" Satanael ΩX yelled at the Yami King.

Shu calmly chuckled, lifting his right hand and balling it into a fist. "You're mistaken, Phantom Thief. The Yami Matter didn't influence me. I let the Yami Matter influence me. As the Yami Matter became drawn to my insecurities and pitiful state, I asked it if it could bring back my loved one. It told me it would come at a price. And so like a business negotiation, we settled on restoring my sight and granting me the power to influence the dark power it would bestow me. Soon, I became the one in control. The Yami Matter and I then amassed an army of followers to deal with my opposition." He quietly scanned the Thieves and their allies with confidence. "And since you're all here, I see you've defeated those fools and pawns of mine. I say that's for the best. I didn't want them around much longer to overshadow my presence."

"Throwing away your pawns after you have no more use for them? Yeah, he's gone total supervillain on us," Prometheus ΩX candidly remarked.

"This isn't the way to get over grief! How does becoming the Yami King resolve anything?!" Anat ΩX questioned him.

"It heals the wounds I suffered internally and I must say it feels invigorating to be the one in full control. For a brief time, I dictated with an iron fist. Now, I've gotten the chance to fully live up to my name as a King," Shu chortled, lowering his clenched hand. Just then, a black aura shrouded the Yami King, even making his black scarf float and flutter with the air.

"Shu…" Ayase whispered as he yelled out.

"The Yami Matter warned me that you and your friends would sell me out eventually!" Shu roared at Ayase and Funeral Parlor. Lifting his head, a devilish grin formed on his face. "And I know you're all out there hearing this, Funeral Parlor! Hear me well! I'm not going back to that weak and pitiful state I was before! No longer will anyone feel sorry for me!" As he screamed, fury filled his once vacant and lifeless expression. "And if any of you don't like the sound of that, then obey me! Your Yami King!"

As the group responded by getting into battle stances, Ayase was still at a loss for words. She walked forward, unable to accept the harsh reality of her friend selling himself out to the Yami Matter.

"Please tell me, this is just a bad dream," she muttered, denying the truth in front of her.

"Ayase, he's lost his freaking mind! Get back!" Argo's voice barked from her communicator.

"Please, Ayase! Don't get close! He's become so consumed by the Yami Matter that its power will crush you!" Tsugumi pleaded for her friend.

"You and your friends saw me as nothing more than a liability after I went blind, Ayase!" Shu chided her. "The minute I lost my sight, you plotted to turn on me and hold Inori's spirit hostage, keeping her away from me!"

"That's not true, Shu!"

"Stop lying to me, you bitch!" Shu berated her. "The only reason we started going out was out of pity and because you wanted to fill Inori's place. Inori is irreplaceable! You're just the sloppy seconds that only wanted to ride my dick out of self pity because no one else would take you in! Imagine that, two cripples in a relationship! How pathetic does that sound to you?!"

Having heard enough, Ayase scowled. "Bullshit! Everything you just said is straight up bullshit! We care for you, Shu! Funeral Parlor was always there for you when you needed us most! The rehab, the treatments, and the visits! We came to see you! I came to see you! Yes, we had something taken from us, but that didn't make us weak! And I… yeah, I did end up loving you more than just a friend, Ouma Shu. And it wasn't out of pity. I wanted to make things right for you and thank you for helping me find my confidence. Look at me, I'm able to stand on my own two feet because of your inspiration. And I vowed I'd find you no matter what."

Shu shrugged off her adulation of him. "Do you hate what you see?"

"Partly, but I'm more disappointed in you, Shu."

"Then, cry me a fucking river, Ayase. Did you think you had any chance of replacing Inori?"

"No! I could never…! I know how much she meant to you!"

"Don't give me that!" Shu snapped, silencing Ayase. "Look at you, Ayase. You even went as far as amassing hundreds of allies and formed the SWO all to stop the Yami Matter and to find me. Tell me, was the effort worth it? Just look at us. We were once crippled and both found ways to rebound from our ailments. Then, we end up becoming leaders of two opposing factions. I became the Yami King, fighting on behalf of the Yami Matter. And you became the SWO leader. Who would've thought we'd be fighting?"

"I don't want to fight you, Shu."

"But, you don't have a choice. Unlike your new friend Sion, who briefly got taken over by Mido against his will, I allowed the Yami Matter to influence me. Because of that union, I became stronger and self aware that my actions will have drastic consequences. But, unlike all of you, I don't care one way or another what my actions cause to this world and many others I intend to visit," Shu coldly stated, opening up his coat and raising both arms into the air. "This is my revenge against the universe that abused me like its little cosmic plaything! Call my actions selfish all you want, but nothing is going to stop me and the Yami Matter from purging everything from this dimension and everyone who has looked down on me!"

"But, why our world?! We had nothing to do with your fall from grace!" Satanael ΩX called out the Yami King's reasonings.

"Do you really want to know, leader of the Phantom Thieves? It's because my world and I have been unfairly ostracized and overshadowed by popular followings, especially from the likes of you, Phantom Thieves. The people have embraced you, but have forgotten all about me and the world I came from. All I ever wanted was acceptance, which brings to you, Vein Remnants." He shifted toward the Vein Remnants. "You monsters have wanted acceptance from society, but you know that can't be possible. That's why you sided with the Phantom Thieves in hopes you'd be better received from the public."

"We don't seek adulation, but it certainly makes our cause worth the while!" Engineer shouted on behalf of his group.

"It makes us feel better knowing we're fighting against injustice! Injustice that the likes of Mido and you now present!" Hound exclaimed.

"The way we see, you're still blind. Blinded by the Yami Matter's influence!" Stinger added.

Stifling a small chuckle, Shu rebuked. "No matter what you say, I've made my choice. I won't relent on purging you and your world. Once everything here is purged, the Yami Matter can then revive my precious Inori. After the Yami Matter and I vanquish you, Inori and I can rule side by side as the new Yami King and Eve of our new Eden!"

"This is crazy, Shu! You're lying! The Yami Matter does have you under its control! Listen to reason!" Ayase pleaded to him, but Sion stepped in and put a hand out in front of her.

"Don't bother. He's made his bed, now he has to lie in it," Sion beckoned Ayase back. Taking out his Regicide Blade, the Revenant fiercely faced down the Yami King. "Hey, bitch boy! Congratulations on graduating from the Art of Supervillainy! Let me guess, did you also get a double major in being the Yami Matter's little bitch boy?!"

Upon hearing this, Shu scoffed with irritation. "What?!"

"Awww, what's wrong? Did I strike a nerve in ya, Shoe?" The Revenant asked.

"Sion, please stop…!" Ayase pleaded, but Tennyo and Io stopped her.

"It's ok. Let Sion handle this," Tennyo reassured her.

"Let me get this straight. You did all this? Bringing the Yami Matter into our reality, bringing all those villains here, and threatening to erase us all because you can't get some girl's pussy anymore?! All because you lost your sight and were reduced to a pitiful shell of your former self?! All because you feel you've been slighted by more popular stories and heroes than you're pathetic ass?!" Sion berated the Yami King, anger became more evident in his tone as he ground his teeth and his eyes glowed bright red. He then pointed to Tennyo, Io, the Thieves, and the Vein Remnants. "Do you realize your actions threaten the lives of my friends and me?! My loved ones?! But, most especially my fiancée Togo Hifumi?! You're going to take away my chance to marry the love of my life all because you lost your woman?!"

"Humanity shouldn't have rejected me and my heroisms! What did I get for my selfless sacrifice?! I lost my sight and was left a broken mess! My reputation has been tarnished! My one true love is gone! You know nothing of all I've lost!"

"I know enough to have witnessed it! You saved your world from an apocalyptic event! What more do you want?! I'm sorry, but not every one of us is fortunate, but don't you fucking dare take your whiny pettiness out on other worlds! Especially ours!" Sion retorted.

"He's not the only one who speaks for all of us! You're in the wrong in all of this, Shu!" Satanael ΩX vocally cried out against the Yami King's tyrannical stance.

"What gives you the right to come into our world and use the Yami Matter to carry out your revenge against other worlds?! You're becoming what we hate most: another oppressive tyrant looking to bring injustice and disorder to our world!" Anat ΩX exclaimed.

"We won't let you have your way, Yami King!" Astarte ΩX called out.

"While I've decided most of you will die here, there's a few among you I will graciously reincarnate to live in my Eden. Ayase and members of Funeral Parlor, pledge your allegiance to me. Forget the SWO and pledge your loyalty to the Yami Matter. Ayase, I can make you into one of my loyal knights fit to serve me and Inori," Shu offered. "And Tsugumi, I know you can hear me. Listen carefully, I remember you mentioned your orphaned life before becoming a Funeral Parlor member. I plan to have you reincarnated with a new family so you'll never face the burden of loneliness ever again."

Listening to Tsugumi's whimpers through her communicator, Ayase snarled. "Don't listen to him, Tsugumi! Whatever he'll give you won't feel the same! It'll just be some twisted image he concocts so he can earn your trust! Don't let him manipulate you!" She quickly faced Shu with an intense glare. "Try and manipulate me all you want, but I won't let you toy with Tsugumi's emotions!"

"You're the one who has it all twisted, Ayase. I only wish to offer you your deserved happy ending that GHQ took away from us," Shu firmly stated without hesitation. "I want to bring back everyone we've lost, including Hare… yes, Hare, whose death caused me to flip the switch and become a tyrant. How I miss her and her kindness. I'm sure you'd love to see her alive again. We all would."

"You think you can play god?!"

"With the Yami Matter on my side, I can make the impossible possible. I can restore everything we lost to the way it was. I'm willing to forgive people who once betrayed me like Yahiro because unlike Arisa, he had a younger brother who I mercy killed, whose death triggered panic attacks in me. I wish to forgive Yahiro and Jun once I reincarnate them and have them reunited in my Eden."

"Oh, for fuck's sake! You can't revive everyone just so you can make amends with them! You have to learn to accept what you've done and move on!" Sion berated the Yami King. "There's one of us here who recently lost someone precious to them, but what did he do? He didn't try to revive her in hopes to rekindle their love! He moved on!"

Hearing this and instantly reminded of Cruz's death, Engineer nearly broke down and cried. Then, Anat ΩX and Astarte ΩX consoled him, lifting his spirits.

"Just because you have the power like a god, doesn't mean you shouldn't! All you are is just the Yami Matter's puppet king! You're not all knowing and all powerful! You're still the same whiny bitch who didn't get over his past transgressions!" Sion ranted, sharply chastising Shu for all his past wrongdoings.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Shu shouted, unleashing a wave of darkness that swept back nearly everyone, minus Satanael ΩX, Sion, Tennyo, Io, and Ayase. "You dare talk down to the Yami King?! Well, we can't have any insubordinate in my new Yami Eden." Raising his right hand overhead, he conjured his one and only Void: Inori's Singer Sword.

"No, that's Inori's Void!" Ayase recognized the instrument, which once belonged to the pink-haired Songstress.

"Yes, it is, Ayase," Shu chuckled, swiftly brandishing the Void weapon. "And with this, I shall strike each of you down with unrelenting fury!"

"If it's a war you want, you've got one, asshole!" Sion declared, readying his Regicide Blade. Alongside him, Tennyo brandished her ko-naginata and Io held her halberd.

"Get ready, Thieves!" Satanael ΩX called out as he and his cohorts took on battle stances.

"Let's take him down, my friends!" Engineer declared as the Vein Remnants took out their weapons.

"Then, come forth and become purged with the rest of your world!" Shu howled. As he raised his Singer's Sword, he summoned the Yami Matter Avatar behind him, which briefly revealed the face of the First Evil: an incorporeal demonic visage with horns and glowing red eyes. "Yes, we're going for the big finish, Yami Matter."

"Oh god, that's the Yami Matter?!" Hecate ΩX exclaimed.

"Look, it's changing form!" Jack shouted.

Just then, the demonic visage morphed the three-faced and headed form of King Ghidorah (Legendary). As King Ghidorah (Legendary) elevated all three of his heads, he let out triple the deafening roars that shook the entirety of Tokyo. Then, as if one Ghidorah wasn't enough, more materialized next to the massive three-headed beast.

Shōwa King Ghidorah, Mecha-King Ghidorah, Desghidorah (Rebirth of Mothra Trilogy), Keizer Ghidorah (Final Wars), and finally King Ghidorah (Planet of the Monsters) appeared and joined King Ghidorah (Legendary)/the Yami Matter Avatar. Half of the Ghidorahs are seen soaring above Shinjuku and roaring screeching bellows. All of the three-headed beasts roared in unison. The Yami King was seen standing atop of King Ghidorah (Legendary)'s middle head.

"Holy King Ghidorahs! Look at all of them!" Prometheus ΩX exclaimed.

"How the hell are we going to beat all of them?!" Seiten Taisei ΩX yelped.

"What else? We fight them head-on," Sion firmly stated.

"Yeah, I'm not sure about that," Hecate ΩX muttered.

"Don't give up, everyone! We still have hopes and don't forget we have the SWO on our side," Mercurius ΩX reminded them.

"Well said, Mona," Kamu Susano-o ΩX concurred with their cat-like member.

"I couldn't have said it better myself having witnessed our fictitious friends aid us," Loki ΩX said.

"Then, why don't we help even the odds in our favor?" A voice belonging to Sailor Moon chimed in as the Thieves, the Vein Remnants, and their allies turned around and saw their SWO cavalry arrive.

With a smile, Ayase looked on with satisfaction. "Thank goodness you came."

Shu, on the other hand, merely scowled. "Ugh, how annoying. You all stand in my way?"

As Sailor Moon walked forward, she was joined by Buffy Summers. Behind the duo, a massive army of SWO characters appeared, including Yugi & his Black Magician, Seto & his three Blue-Eyes White Dragons, Sailor Mars, Sailor Pluto, Goku, Saitama, Omegamon Merciful Mode & the Adventure Digidestined, Dukemon Crimson Mode, Sora, Luigi, Yoshi, Altair, Ultimate Madoka, Devil Homura, The Tenth Doctor, Saber, Kirito, and Asuna.

Rounding out the group and opposing the Ghidorah collective: Godzilla (Legendary), Shin Godzilla, Godzilla Earth, Shōwa Godzilla, Heisei Godzilla, and Godzilla (Final Wars).

Upon seeing the Godzillas, the Thieves and their allies marveled at the sight of the famed Japanese monster in his various forms.

"Holy shit! Am I seeing things?!" Seiten Taisei ΩX exclaimed.

"My god, this is surreal," remarked Kamu Susano-o ΩX added.

"Wow, so many Godzillas," Prometheus ΩX became awestruck by the Godzilla collective alongside the other heroes.

"Sailor Moon! Buffy! Over here!" Hecate ΩX called out to them.

"Well, Joker, we've sure gained quite the following, haven't we?" Loki ΩX smirked, nodding to Satanael ΩX.

"Your friends know when to come through at the last minute," Sion addressed Ayase.

"How fitting. Ayase, you have your army. I have mine. Let's see whose leadership is stronger," Shu coolly smirked. As he dropped his left hand, the Ghidorah army rushed forward and launched their assault on the Thieves and their allies.

In response, Ayase raised her right hand and beckoned the Godzillas to respond against the Ghidorah army. As the Legendary Godzilla clashed with the Legendary Ghidorah, Shōwa King Ghidorah swooped down from the sky and rained golden bolts at Shōwa Godzilla, who blew his radioactive breath and propelled himself into his three-headed nemesis. Heisei Godzilla engaged Mecha-King Ghidorah. Desghidorah attacked Shin Godzilla. Godzilla (Final Wars) fought off Keizer Ghidorah. Pivoting toward the sky, Godzilla Earth faced off against King Ghidorah (Planet of the Monsters).

During the Kaijū rumble, Shu jumped off Ghidorah/the Yami Avatar's head and conjured a barrage of crystallized shards at his adversaries. As the crystal shards rained on them, the Thieves, the Vein Remnants, Ayase, and their allies quickly spread out, evading the crystal barrage piercing the ground. Setting his sights on Satanael ΩX and Sion first, Shu gathered the crystals he threw and amassed them.

"Here, I'll make up for missing you!" Shu shouted, merging the shards and bending them into large crystallized spears. With a hand wave, he tossed them at the duo.

Swinging his Regicide Blade, Sion cut through a few of these crystallized spears. Satanael ΩX targeted and blasted away other crystals with his Ω Riot Gun. Before they realized it, Shu swiftly appeared in front of them, raising his Singer's Sword to strike them with.

"Sion!" Tennyo and Io cried out, quickly merging into Sophia. With a swing from her ko-naginata, Sophia countered Shu's deadly strike.

"Thanks, Hifumi and Io," Satanael ΩX called out, firing a round of bullets at Shu.

As he wildly swung and stopped Satanael Ω's bullets, Sion gathered energy into his Regicide Blade and attacked Shu with his Will of d'Artagnan Lifting his Singer's Sword, Shu blocked Sion's attack.

"Nice try, but I've seen all of your attacks during your fights with Mido and Kriemhild! I'm far beyond the level of those two!" Shu boasted, demonstrating his power as he effortlessly knocked Sion back with a powerful swing from his Singer's Sword.

As he was flung far back, Sophia quickly caught Sion.

"He's not wrong, Sion. The Yami Matter's influence over him is far more powerful than the other enemies we've faced," Sophia warned the Revenant.

"You should listen to your woman, Sion. The Persona Vein half of her knows very well how much power I command being the Yami Matter's chosen one!" With a wave from his Singer's Sword, he swept Satanael ΩX, Sion, and Sophia back with another powerful swing. As he shot across and raised his Singer's Sword over Sion, Ayase quickly dove in and went for a diving kick, which Shu dodged.

"Shu, this has gone too far!" Ayase angrily chided him, charging up her Void footwear.

Shu pivoted and coolly smirked. "Heh, I'm only getting started, dear Ayase. How fitting we can settle this in a duel to the finish." As he pointed far across Shinjuku, Shu floated off and lured Ayase toward him.

"Ayase!" Sion called out to her.

"Sion, look!" Sophia pointed him toward an assortment of crystallized barriers blocking their way. "He's not letting any of us get by!" She started cutting through Shu's crystal barriers with her ko-naginata.

While the group worked to bring down the crystal obstructions, Shu and Ayase crossed paths in mid-air, following through with head-on attacks. Shu blocked Ayase's legs with his sword. As they jerked away, Shu summoned more crystal shards, which Ayase gracefully dodged while making full use of her Void legs. He then conjured portals and summoned thousands of small Void-like missiles.

"Very impressive, Ayase. As I expected much from the SWO's leader, you've shown me you've always had the will to overcome your handicap. But, your luck is about to run out!" Shu declared, launching his Void missiles directly at Ayase.

Utilizing her agility and speed with her Void legs, Ayase dodged and swerved through Shu's missiles. Many of them flew by, bombarding the area already covered by Shu's sea of crystals.

"You've won over my respect, Ayase. I commend you for finding the strength to become a leader. Understand I don't want to make you suffer. I wish to grant you a quick and peaceful death so you may be reborn in my Eden. You can live among the new human race while Inori and I rule as Adam and Eve. Not only can you be my knight, but I can also restore your legs and give you the ability to walk on your own without a Void's support. I can free you of your past burden!"

As Ayase flew at Shu, he tossed more Void missiles, which she dodged. At one point, she even kicked a missile back at Shu, who stopped it with crystal shards, triggering it to explode.

"Shu, I know underneath that Yami King persona, you still mean well, but I can't accept that. Your idea of a new Eden is twisted in logic! I'd rather just die peacefully!"

Hearing this, Shu shook his head and smiled. "You were always blunt and honest, Ayase. That's one quality from you I greatly admired." As Ayase came into blows with quick sidekicks and a roundhouse kick, Shu blocked her Void kicks with his sword. "But, I have you to thank, too. If not for our first interactions, you never would've trained me and as a result, I passed your test to join Funeral Parlor. And now here we are fighting to the death as equals!"

Ayase let out a fierce cry and kicked Shu again, but the Yami King blocked her attack with his Singer's Sword. With another swing, he narrowly cut through her defenses. Ayase performed a mid-air backflip and dove down to attack Shu again.

Elsewhere, Sophia, Sion, and Satanael ΩX broke through the crystal barriers. They joined Hecate ΩX, Buffy, and Godzilla (Legendary) to battle the Yami Matter Avatar: King Ghidorah (Legendary)/The First Evil.

At the same time, Legendary Godzilla clashed with Legendary Ghidorah, Shu and Ayase simultaneously fought each other in pairs. Every time Godzilla (Legendary) landed a blow and an atomic breath on Ghidorah (Legendary), Ayase's attacks pummeled Shu. When Ghidorah (Legendary) gained an upper hand, Shu turned the tides and bombarded Ayase with his Void missiles and crystallized shards.

As Ghidorah (Legendary)'s three heads fired three energy bolts at Godzilla (Legendary), Shu amassed a large energy sphere and tossed it at Ayase. At the exact same time Godzilla (Legendary) pushed through his nemesis's attack, Ayase met the energy sphere head-on and caught it with her hands. She then kicked the sphere high into the air as it exploded when reaching the atmosphere.

"Good save, Ayase. You've proven to be a far worthier opponent than I imagined," Shu commended his former friend.

Making no retort, Ayase took on a fighting stance and attacked her former friend.

Meanwhile, the other group members split up and aided the other Godzillas against the Ghidorahs.

Loki ΩX, Engineer, Sailor Pluto, the Tenth Doctor with his TARDIS, Ultimate Madoka, and Devil Homura assisted Godzilla Earth against King Ghidorah (Planet of the Monsters).

Kamu Susano-o ΩX, Eva, Yugi & Black Magician, Seto & his three Blue-Eyes White Dragons, Sora, Luigi, and Yoshi helped Shōwa Godzilla fight against Shōwa King Ghidorah.

Seiten Taisei ΩX, Prometheus ΩX, Hound, Omegamon MM, Goku, Saitama, and Altair aided Heisei Godzilla against Mecha-King Ghidorah.

Mercurius ΩX, Stinger, Kirito, Asuna, and Saber helped Shin Godzilla against Desghidorah.

Anat ΩX, Astarte ΩX, Jack, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, and Dukemon Crimson Mode assisted Godzilla (Final Wars) against Keizer Ghidorah (Final Wars).

xxxxx

Elsewhere and watching from a distance from the ongoing battles, the cast of Ed, Edd n Eddy stood together in the safety inside the entrance of a train station. They walked out to get a better observation of the heated battle between the Godzillas and the Ghidorahs. Ed, Edd, and Eddy walked out first, followed by Rolf, Kevin, Nazz, Sarah, Jimmy, Jonny 2x4 & Plank, Lee Kanker, Marie Kanker, and May Kanker.

"Man, check this out!" Edd exclaimed in awe and wonder.

"Eheheh, yeah! Ed loves giant monsters! Look at all the Godzillas and three-headed dragons!" Ed quickly went giddy over the Godzilla vs. Ghidorah rumbles.

Eddy grinned. "Too bad this isn't my place, or I'd charge y'all for watching this pay per view fight."

"Why charge us when we don't have any money on us, Ed boy!" Rolf asked him.

"Yeah, this isn't your place, Eddy," Sarah scoffed.

"This just happens to be Tokyo, Japan where there's a giant monster attacking every week," Jimmy said.

"Is that how it really is? That's not a place Plank and I would want to live in," Jonny asked them while holding tightly to his wooden friend Plank.

"Get a grip, Jonny. It only happens in the movies," Kevin remarked.

"Does that look like a movie to you?!" Edd grabbed Kevin's shirt, shaking him hard.

"Hey, lemme go! No, it doesn't!"

Ed chuckled. "Heheheh! This is the best movie I've ever seen!"

Sarah sighed, almost smiling for her older brother Ed. "Yeah, sure it is."

"But, was it as good as our farewell movie? Edd wondered.

"Ed, Edd n Eddy's Big Picture Show seemed so long ago," Jimmy said.

"We've all grown since then, haven't we?" Eddy said.

"Well, maybe not all of us," Kevin remarked, watching Ed hollering and cheering for the Godzillas.

"There's not just Godzillas fighting Ghidorahs, but I see other heroes fighting bad guys!" Rolf added.

Hearing this, Jonny gasped. "There's heroes and villains?! This is a job for Captain Melonhead and Splinter the Underwood!" He looked at Plank obliviously. "Or, maybe we should become our villainous alter egos? The Gourd and Timber the Dark Shard?"

"Say, who is that guy fighting that girl up there?" Nazz asked, pointing up to where Shu and Ayase continued their heated duel.

"That's Ayase, leader of the SWO. Remember?" Edd reminded Nazz.

"And that guy she's fighting is Shu, the leader of that Yami whatever ya call it," Eddy said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Whatever, that Shu guy is a dork anyway," scoffed Kevin.

"Hey, Ed, isn't this a great show?" May asked Ed, standing close to him.

"Hehehe, yep! This is fun! I hope there's more giant monsters! Right, Double D?"

"Yeah, some more giant monsters would be great."

Marie sat down next to Edd. "I know something more fun than giant monsters."

Edd chuckled nervously. "Really? Like what?"

"Wanna find out?"

Lee grabbed Eddy's hand. "Hey, let us get a closer view of the fights, yeah?"

"Ok, but uh maybe not too close?" Eddy muttered.

"Yeah, go Ed boys!" Rolf cheered on the Eds and the Kanker sisters.

xxxxx

Not too far off from the Eds and their friends, another youth group representing the classic Cartoon Network era watched the same battles. It is the cast from Codename: Kids Next Door. Out of the group were the usual suspects: Numbuh 1, Numbuh 2, Numbuh 3, Numbuh 4, Numbuh 5, Numbuh 362, and Numbuh 86. The Delightful Children, Father, Cree, and Chad are also seen with them.

"Do you see that, my friends? Those Phantom Thieves are doing all the work we at Sector V used to do," Numbuh 1 stated, watching the Thieves and their allies in action.

"Saving the world from the corruption of horrible and greedy adults?" Numbuh 2 asked their leader.

"Yes, but they're also doing the work of getting rid of corruption in general!"

"Oh yeah, and they use codenames like we do!" Numbuh 4 pointed out.

"Too bad that's not us out there, but then again we're not the stars of this story. This is their fight," Numbuh 1 added, reminding them of the fact the Thieves and the Revenants are the heroes of this conflict.

"I really wish we could be out there helping them!" Numbuh 3 enthusiastically cried out.

"Me, too, Numbuh 3, but our story is over since our finale. I can hardly believe it was that long ago," Numbuh 5 said.

Numbuh 362 walked up to Numbuh 1. "Hey, at ease, soldier. We're doing our part giving support to the Phantom Thieves and their allies. They're fighting the good fight against the Yami Matter's corruption."

"Right. If that were us out there, we'd be fighting just as hard, too!" Numbuh 1 stated. "Even though it's ironic the Thieves are now adults themselves just like us now."

"But, they sure as heck don't act like any bad adults we've seen!" Numbuh 2 said.

"You're right. They're more or less the same Thieves we remember, but they're not trampling over kids' hopes and dreams!" Numbuh 5 added.

"And don't forget about the other KNDs on other planets fighting the good fight against adulthood in the galaxy!" Numbuh 3 reminded them when Numbuh 1 uncovered the secret organization behind Splinter Cell.

"Yes, the Galactic KND and I were chosen as their first Earth operative. It's been an honor serving them," Numbuh 1 smiled with a hand firmly on his chest.

"And since then, I've been married to Numbuh 2 here," Numbuh 5 pointed out.

"And then I got married to Numbuh 3," Numbuh 4 said.

"Much like how Ren married Ann, huh?" Numbuh 2 realized.

"Heh, and then I came to crash your interview session," Father interjected.

"Yes, we know," Numbuh 3 scoffed.

"But, we're not here for conflict. We're here to give our support to the Thieves, Ayase, and the SWO," Bruce of the Delightful Children stated.

"Yeah, we're pulling for Ayase to beat Shu!" Lenny chimed in.

"I hope she kicks the Yami King's butt," Ashley expressed support for the SWO leader.

"Yeah, go Phantom Thieves!" David cheered them.

"I'm also pulling for Ayase to beat Shu so the Yami matter doesn't erase us," Constance said.

"Good, because I hope Ayase kicks that stupid Shu's butt for his stupid operation for that stupid Yami Matter! Gosh, Shu is so stupid!" Numbuh 86 conveyed her disdain for the Yami King.

"Ayase has shown stronger leadership for the SWO. I hope she succeeds," Chad said.

"Me, too. She and Funeral Parlor do take after us," Cree expressed adulation for Ayase. She then turned toward Numbuh 5 and smiled. "Doesn't she remind you of us, Abby, when we were together?"

Numbuh 5 nodded. "She sure does, Cree."

"And I hope they do succeed. The Yami Matter is a greater threat to all of us than Grandfather ever posed," Father said, watching Ayase fighting Shu alongside the KND, the Delightful Children, and the others.

"Beat them for all of us, Phantom Thieves and SWO. The KND are with you in spirit!" Numbuh 1 hollered, cheering the heroes on with his colleagues.

xxxxx

At another location within Tokyo, two individuals inside the Gotengo ship watched the Godzillas vs Ghidorahs. These two specifically observed Godzilla (Final Wars) grappling with Keizer Ghidorah. It was Ozaki and Captain Gordon from Godzilla: Final Wars.

"Fight on, soldiers," Gordon saluted the Godzillas in their ongoing war against the Ghidorahs.

xxxxx

Once regaining his bearings, Ghidorah (Legendary) launched himself into Godzilla (Legendary) and bit into his body, absorbing his radiative energies to power himself up. Godzilla (Legendary) fought back, hammering the monster's three heads. Ghidorah (Legendary) then unleashed three lightning lasts, pushing Godzilla (Legendary) back.

Upon arriving at Godzilla (Legendary)'s aid, Sophia, Sion, Satanael ΩX, Hecate ΩX, and Buffy attacked the Yami Matter Avatar. Swinging her ko-naginata, Sophia imbued her weapon with divine power and slashed Ghidorah (Legendary)'s face with her Tengoku Star. After carving up a part of one of the monster's heads, Sophia unleashed numerous lightning blasts from her ko-naginata, forcefully pushing the Yami Matter Avatar away with her Tengoku Lightning Thorn.

After Sophia got an upper hand, Sion and Satanael ΩX followed through and attacked Ghidorah (Legendary)'s left and right heads. After firing the three-headed blast with his Ω Riot Gun, he summoned his four Personas: Pale Rider, White Rider, Red Rider, and Black Rider. Beckoning his four Horsemen forward, Satanael ΩX and his four Persona swiftly attacked Ghidorah (Legendary)'s right head, blasting him all over his giant body. The Horsemen then quickly overwhelmed the left head with their Four Horsemen Strike, delivering fierce slashes that ravaged him.

Imbuing energies into his Regicide Blade Sion lunged and slashed the middle head with consecutive, lightning fast strikes with his glowing blade. After delivering his Will of d'Artagnan, Hecate ΩX and Buffy joined in on the attack. With her whip, Hecate ΩX burned Ghidorah (Legendary)'s middle head with her Ω Blazing Hell. Buffy then surprised everyone as she opened her coat and triggered an assortment of wooden stakes to shoot out and turn the monster's face into a living pincushion.

"You know you remind me of someone from a horror movie once," Buffy quipped, gazing over Ghidorah (Legendary)'s staked face resembling a certain 'pinhead'.

Bellowing angrily, the middle head shook off most of the stakes from its face and fired a lightning blast toward the group.

"Yeah? WELL FUCK YOU, TOO!" Hecate ΩX screamed, flinging another Ω Blazing Hell, which burned half of the middle head's face. "I won't rest until you're gone, Yami Matter! For all the horror you and Mido put me through!"

"Well done, Ann! But, let's keep our cool!" Satanael ΩX suggested as he fired more rounds into the left head.

"The Yami Matter has chosen quite a formidable avatar," Sophia stated, throwing more divine lightning at the right head.

"Yeah, and it's partly the First Evil now. That makes it all better," sardonically muttered Buffy.

"Heads up! Big G is heading this way!" Sion called out as Godzilla (Legendary) lunged into Ghidorah (Legendary) and clashed with his nemesis once again.

After blasting Godzilla (Legendary) back, Ghidorah (Legendary) pushed his way through the debris clouds forming from the debris of wrecked buildings and infrastructure. The group moved away as Ghidorah (Legendary)'s three heads stepped into view. All three heads gave intimidating and wicked slasher smiles as he resumed his battle with his enemies.

As Satanael ΩX narrowly escaped the jaws of the monster's three heads, he transformed into his Devil Hydra form and flew over the Yami Matter Avatar. It swooped down and fired beams at the three-headed beast. Upon seeing a miniature three-headed dragon, Ghidorah (Legendary) set its sights on the ascended Phantom Thief and fired cosmic bolts at him. Satanael ΩX swiftly evaded Ghidorah (Legendary)'s blasts.

Just then, Seto caught the battle between Ghidorah (Legendary) and Satanael ΩX Devil Hydra. He then used Polymerization to merge his three Blue-Eyes White Dragons into his Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon.

"Go assist them, my Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!" Seto commanded as his three-headed dragon flew toward the skirmish against Ghidorah (Legendary).

As Satanael ΩX saw the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon glide over near him, Ghidorah (Legendary) bellowed and fired three cosmic bolts. In response, Satanael ΩX opened all three of his mouths and unleashed his Sinful Neutron Blast. In conjunction with Satanael ΩX's attack, the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon fired its Ultimate Burst. Both attacks converged into a massive sphere and exploded on contact with Ghidorah (Legendary), pushing him into Godzilla (Legendary), who tackled the three-headed monster through a building.

"Yes, stay on him, Big G!" Sion cheered on the King of the Monsters, who pummeled the Yami Matter Avatar with ruthless aggression.

xxxxx

In another section of Tokyo, Kamu Susano-o ΩX, Eva, Yugi, Seto, Sora, Luigi, and Yoshi helped Shōwa Godzilla fight against his main nemesis Shōwa King Ghidorah.

Reenacting their battles from the 1960s and 70s, the Shōwa collided head-on with Shōwa Ghidorah soaring high into the air and letting out his canary-like screech roars before unleashing cosmic bolts at Shōwa Godzilla. After taking several blasts, Shōwa Godzilla tumbled over in a heap of fallen debris.

"Let's move!" Kamu Susano-o ΩX called out, swinging off the rooftop and forging a giant hill of ice, allowing the others to slide down on. As he bounced off his slippery and icy slope, the ascended Phantom Thief took out his katana and sliced through Shōwa King Ghidorah's left wing.

Having gotten his attention, Kamu Susano-o ΩX saw the three-headed monster turning and firing cosmic bolts at him. Quickly turning into her Successor of the Throat form, Eva countered Shōwa Ghidorah's blasts with a whirlwind blast, pushing the behemoth away. Then, Yugi's Black Magician fired black magic beams that dazed the giant monster.

"Return to me, Blue-Eyes," Seto commanded as the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon returned from its brief assist to Satanael ΩX. The three-headed Duel Monster quickly bombarded Shōwa King Ghidorah with its Ultimate Burst.

Then, Black Magician raised his staff and fired his Black Magic attack in conjunction with the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon's Ultimate Burst. When both attacks converged into a giant ball, it collided and exploded when slamming into Shōwa King Ghidorah. Sora then swung his mighty Keyblade, delivering consecutive strikes to Shōwa King Ghidorah's face. When the three headed monster attempted to ensnare Sora, Luigi and Yoshi intervened. Luigi tossed fireballs, blasting and dispelling the three heads from attacking the Keyblade wielder. Yoshi tossed two green turtle shells and one red one at the three heads, knocking their heads around. The red turtle shell proved the most effective as it knocked the middle head's noggin.

"Thanks, you two!" Sora called out, readying his Keyblade. After he cast Firaza to burn Shōwa King Ghidorah's heads, Sora clobbered him with his Keyblade.

Getting back up for the fight, Shōwa Godzilla collided with Shōwa King Ghidorah and tail whipped him back. After sending Shōwa King Ghidorah sailing back, Shōwa Godzilla jumped up and stomped on the three-headed monster's necks. Then, he grabbed Shōwa King Ghidorah's and lifted him off the ground, slamming him face first. Then, he tossed Shōwa King Ghidorah down.

Having grown tired of his beatdown, Shōwa King Ghidorah flew up and retreated.

"Don't let him get away!" Yugi called out.

Heeding Yugi's cry, Shōwa Godzilla nodded and expelled his atomic breath, propelling himself high into the sky. He quickly crashed head-on with Shōwa King Ghidorah, slamming him into the ground. As Shōwa King Ghidorah rose to his feet, Kamu Susano-o quickly and consecutively slashed the giant monster with his Divine Glaive. After successfully cutting off two of Shōwa King Ghidorah's heads, Kamu Susano-o ΩX moved away when Godzilla charged up his atomic breath.

"He's all yours!" Kamu Susano-o ΩX shouted as Shōwa Godzilla obliterated Shōwa King Ghidorah.

"Yes, he got him!" Sora cheered Shōwa Godzilla on.

"It's a-grand finish!" Luigi remarked.

"Well done, King of the Monsters," Yugi said.

After finishing off his nemesis, Shōwa Godzilla performed his famous victory dance, jumping up and down.

"I think I might've found inspiration for my next piece. The dancing victory dinosaur," Kamu Susano-o ΩX remarked. "I'll call it the Shōwa King."

xxxxx

Elsewhere, Heisei Godzilla and Mecha-King Ghidorah collided as they wrestled through a more spacious area away from buildings and towers. Opening his mouth, Heisei Godzilla fired a red atomic beam into the mechanized cyborg monster. Mecha-King Ghidorah responded with three energy beams, which pushed Heisei Godzilla away.

"Yo, hang on, big guy!" Seiten Taisei ΩX shouted as he, Prometheus ΩX, Hound, Omegamon Merciful Mode, Goku, Saitama, and Altair arrived.

"Actually, that's not really Big G. It's his son, Godzilla Jr.," Prometheus ΩX corrected him.

"What? For real?!"

"Yeah, ever seen Godzilla vs. Destoroyah? This isn't the same one from all the Heisei films. It's Godzilla Jr., who survived and grew up at the end of that movie."

"Uh, yeah. I don't remember that movie."

"I'll lend you one of my digital copies after this is all done," Prometheus ΩX offered as she scanned Godzilla Jr. with her visor. "Oh yeah, that's Jr. alright!"

"Then, why don't we give Jr. some support?" Taichi suggested as he, Yamato, and the other Adventure Digidestined nodded in unison.

Taking flight into the Heisei monster battle, Omegamon MM swooped in and bombarded Mecha-King Ghidorah with cold beams from his Garuru Cannon. After freezing areas of Mecha-King Ghidorah with Garuru Hou, Omegamon MM struck him with long-ranged strikes with his Grey Sword. Mecha-King Ghidorah retaliated and pushed Omegamon MM back with three energy beams.

"Let's go, Saitama!" Goku called out, quickly transforming into Super Saiyan. As the Caped Baldy followed the golden-haired Saiyan, they attacked Mecha-King Ghidorah with long-ranged attacks.

As Goku blasted Mecha-King Ghidorah with his Super Kamehameha, Saitama swooped in and punched a piece of falling debris, sending thousands of pieces into the giant cyborg dragon's body. When Mecha-King Ghidorah fired more energy beams, Altair cast her revision ability, the Third Movement of Cosmos: Representation Exposition, to reverse Mecha-King Ghidorah's beams and turn them into a storm of sakura petals. Briefly taken aback with the showering pink petals pouring over him, Mecha-King Ghidorah flapped his wings to blow them away. Conjuring thousands of swords out of thin air, Altair used telekinesis to throw her swords into the cyborg Kaijū's body.

"Let's get in there and whoop some Kaijū ass!" Seiten Taisei ΩX hollered, jumping on his cloud as he headed off into the fray.

Attentively looking toward Heisei Godzilla, Prometheus ΩX descended on the fallen Kaijū. After she healed Heisei Godzilla, the mighty Kaijū rose from the ground fully rejuvenated and with his power restored.

"Good! You're back on your feet, Junior! Now give him a savage beatdown!" Prometheus ΩX called out as Heisei Godzilla roared and rushed toward Mecha-King Ghidorah.

As Seiten Taisei floated over next to Goku, both cupped their hands together. As Goku fired another Kamehameha, Seitei Taisen ΩX unleashed his Electric Kamehameha. When both Kamehameha beams converged, they created a bluish electrified wave that collided with and electrocuted Mecha-King Ghidorah's cybernetics. Then, when the cybernetic monster attacked, Seiten Taisei and Goku flew away as they zipped around the Kaijū. As Goku turned Super Saiyan Blue, he invoked his Kaio-Ken. At the same time, the ascended Phantom Thief unleashed his Electric Kaio-Ken. The duo flew around, pummeling Mecha-King Ghidorah with devastating body blows.

"Hell yeah! Eat my electricity, bitch!" Seiten Taisei ΩX hollered aloud.

"Hey, nice moves there, kid!" Goku praised the ascended Phantom Thief.

Suddenly, the middle metal head fired an immense energy beam toward the group. As Goku snatched Seiten Taisei ΩX and used Instant Transmission to teleport out of harm's way. Omegamon MM flew in and collided with the metal head. With a swing with his Grey Sword, Omegamon MM chopped off half of the mechanized head's face off. Saitama then delivered a punch to the left organic head, causing it to explode. Countering the right organic head's beam, Altair manifested a shield with her swords.

After stopping the ray with her Sword Shield, the Military Princess prepped her next attack. "That's enough from you, you hydra monstrosity." When the middle metal head snapped over to grab her, a cruel smirk formed on Altair's features as she telekinetically repelled him with hundreds of swords.

Hound transformed into his Successor of Persian Ursine form. As he charged into Mecha-King Ghidorah's feet, the bear-like Doberman slashed and chomped on the Kaijū's right leg. Letting out a pained roar, Mecha-King Ghidorah kicked its leg up to remove the transformed Revenant.

Unbeknownst to the cybernetic monster, Prometheus ΩX sneaked inside its cockpit and hacked into its internal systems.

"Heheh, let's light this show up!" Prometheus ΩX hollered as she manually froze Mecha-King Ghidorah. "Alright, time for a beatdown! Lead the charge, Skull!"

As the cybernetic monster abruptly stopped, he became an open target for everyone to attack.

"One savage beatdown coming right up!" Seiten Taisei ΩX roared as he, Goku, Saitama, Altair, and Omegamon MM bombarded Mecha-King Ghidorah with devastating attacks.

As she finished hacking into Mecha-King Ghidorah, digitized Futaba gremlin faces flashed inside the cockpit screens.

"Courtesy of yours truly! Take care now!" Prometheus ΩX then blasted through the monster's torso with her DJ Laser Storm. As she jumped out, she landed on Hound's giant back.

Heisei Godzilla then collided with Mecha-King Ghidorah. After delivering body shots and tail whips, Heisei Godzilla unleashed his Spiral Heat Ray and obliterated Mecha-King Ghidorah, leaving flesh and cybernetic parts flying everywhere.

"Hell yeah! How do you like us now?!" Seiten Taisei ΩX yelled out.

"Way to go, team! Mission complete!" Prometheus ΩX cheered on. "And you did great, too, Junior."

Standing over the remains of Mecha-King Ghidorah, Heisei Godzilla let out a victory roar.

xxxxx

In another part of Tokyo, Anat ΩX, Astarte ΩX, Jack, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, and Dukemon Crimson Mode aided Godzilla (Final Wars) against Keizer Ghidorah. As the three-headed monster regained its bearings, it launched into Godzilla (Final Wars) and bit him on his shoulders while siphoning off his radiative energies.

"Let's go help him, everyone!" Sailor Moon called out, gliding past several buildings. Sailor Mars and Dukemon CM followed her.

Before making their move, Astarte ΩX patted Anat ΩX's shoulder.

"Let's give this our all, Mako-chan."

"Of course, we will, Haru-chan," Anat ΩX smirked, leaning over as she and her lover kissed. After their brief but beautiful lip locking moment, the ascended Phantom Thieves headed off into the fray.

"Louis is very lucky to have you two in his life now," Jack smiled as he followed them.

Upon spotting his adversaries, Keizer Ghidorah expelled destructive cosmic bolts at Sailor Moon and the others. Moon, Mars, and Dukemon CM quickly evaded Keizer Ghidorah's destructive path. As she flew high into the air, Sailor Moon raised her Holy Moon Cálice, transforming herself into Eternal Sailor Moon. Sailor Mars also went into her Eternal form.

"Hey, ugly! Take this!" Dukemon CM roared, diving in and slashing the middle head with his mighty sword, Blutgang. As the other two heads fired blasts, Dukemon CM countered and cut through the beams with his Invisible Sword.

The middle head quickly recovered and headbutted Dukemon CM, sending the crimson-armored knight flying far back. Eternal Sailor Moon and Mars then swiftly flew over Keizer Ghidorah. Gathering flames in her hands, Mars conjured a fire arrow and fired her Mars Flame Sniper, striking and setting the left head ablaze.

"Yes, I've got him!" Mars cried out.

"And I'll get the other heads!" Eternal Sailor Moon added, diving toward the middle head. She flew around so fast the middle head could hardly keep up. Seizing the opportunity, Moon fired an immense beam from her Eternal Tiare, knocking around the middle head.

"Hey, leave me some!" Dukemon CM shouted, quickly recovering from his fall. As he flew up to the right head, he stabbed it with his Gungnir.

Upon arriving, Anat ΩX, Astarte ΩX, and Jack initiated their assault on the Kaijū. Invoking his Drake-Type Blood Veil, Jack transformed into his Drake form. The Phantom Thieves mounted the large dragon as he flew them up toward the battle. As he approached Keizer Ghidorah, the Drake summoned his two hound heads, which he used to inflict a powerful blunt force against the Kaijū's chest. Roaring with pain from the Drake's Slavic Fangs, Keizer Ghidorah fired cosmic blasts at the Drake. The dragon swiftly moved away from the incoming beams and blasted the three heads with Fafnir's Breath. The dragon's blue flames scorched the three heads, causing them to withdraw.

"Hey, how about we level up the heat?!" Mars suggested as she and the drake unleashed fire waves at the same time. As Mars' fire coalesced with the dragon's blue flames, white flames spread over the left head and caused it to explode.

"Alright, way to go! Now, let's take out those other heads!" Anat ΩX called out, bouncing off and diving toward the right head with reckless abandon. She then unleashed her one-two Nuclear Fist punch combo, unloading enough power to make half of the right head's face explode. Then, as she crossed her arms, the ascended Phantom Thief devastated the right head with nuclear energies from her Ω Atomic Flare.

"I'll take it from here, Mako-chan!" The Beauty Thief called out, summoning her two artillery cannons.

After Anat ΩX damaged the right head, Astarte ΩX initiated her move and targeted it. She disoriented the right head with her Ω Psycho Force. Then, as she readied her two artillery cannons, Astarte ΩX fired her Ω Triple Down and blew off the entire right head, leaving Keizer Ghidorah with just one head.

"Crap, we've made him mad!" Dukemon CM exclaimed.

"Get ready to take out the middle head, Dukemon!" Eternal Sailor Moon called out, readying her Eternal Tiare.

As the middle head fired its cosmic beam, Dukemon CM countered with his Quo Vadis, which disintegrated the monster's beam. Eternal Sailor Moonwiped out the remnants of Keizer Ghidorah's attack.

Before Keizer Ghidorah can retaliate, Godzilla (Final Wars) jumped his nemesis from behind and grabbed him. Struggling to break loose, Keizer Ghidorah fired blasts into Godzilla (Final Wars)'s face, but the King of the Monsters stubbornly refused to let go. He unloaded punches and tail whips into Keizer Ghidorah, knocking him around for a bit.

"Yes! Great save, Godzilla!" Astarte ΩX yelled out in relief.

"Time to finish him!" Anat ΩX declared.

As if answering Anat ΩX's wish, Godzilla (Final Wars) hoisted Keizer Ghidorah above his head. He then started spinning around and tossed him high into the sky. Keizer Ghidorah was tossed high up near the atmosphere. Charging up his spines, red energy coursed through his body. Expelling red nuclear power from his mouth, Godzilla (Final Wars) fired his Spiral Red Heat Ray, which slammed into Keizer Ghidorah and obliterated him. The three-headed menace exploded, leaving nothing more than cosmic dust to float away.

"Great shot, big guy!" Dukemon CM cheered the King of the Monsters on.

"Now that was a grand fashion," Eternal Sailor Mars concurred with the Digimon.

"Thanks a lot, you three!" Eternal Sailor Moon waved to the ascended Phantom Thieves and the dragon.

"It was our honor!" Astarte ΩX genuinely replied.

"Now, the others have to take out the remaining Ghidorahs," Anat ΩX said.

Having conquered his nemesis, Godzilla (Final Wars) asserted his dominance and roared.

xxxxx

Meanwhile, in another area, Mercurius ΩX, Stinger, Kirito, Asuna, and Saber arrived to witness Shin Godzilla's battle with Desghidorah.

"Ok, team! Let's go and give Godzilla the support he needs!" Mercurius ΩX rallied his group.

As she resolved to fight, Saber brandished her mighty Avalon. "Yes, let us end that three-headed monstrosity!"

"Ready for this, Kirito?" Asuna asked him.

"Yeah, let's give this our all!" Kirito readied his dual swords.

"Lady Mia, I'm glad I have you as my support," Mercurius ΩX nodded to the Revenant.

"Me, too. I won't let you down, Mona!"

With that, Mercurius ΩX and Stinger quickly scaled up a tall building and landed a rooftop to witness the two Kaijū wrestling each other. As Shin Godzilla expelled its purple atomic breath, Desghidorah repelled his attack with his flapping wings. Desghidorah then flew into Shin Godzilla and knocked him over.

"Now, team!" Mercurius ΩX hollered as the group descended on Desghidorah and attacked him in unison.

Targeting the middle head, Mercurius ΩX quickly blitzed and slashed through him with his Lightspeed Drive. After disorienting the middle head, it collapsed, allowing Stinger to shoot it with powerful shots from her bayonet. Utilizing her Stinger-Type Blood Veil, she then slashed both his eyes with her metal tail.

"I've incapacitated the middle head, Mona!" Stinger reported.

"Roger that! Ok, you three get the other heads!" Mona called out to Kirito, Asuna, and Saber.

Kirito and Asuna dove toward the left head. Saber targeted the right head. Before they can attack, the two heads fired cosmic bolts at the group. The group spread apart, evading the devastating beams. Kirito and Asuna dove toward the left head and delivered a double sword strike. Performing their duet finishing blow, they landed 9,999 x 2 damage to the left head. Following the duo's finisher, the left head collapsed.

Channeling power through her Noble Phantasm, Saber slashed through Desghidorah's right head. Then, she conjured Excalibur and carved up the beast's head in two.

As she invoked her Successor of Alexandra Panthera, Stinger lunged at the middle head and bit down on the back of its head. Then, she shoved her stinger through its neck. Then, as Shin Godzilla rose, it opened its mouth and expelled its purple atomic breath. The blast collided with Desghidorah and obliterated the three-headed dragon.

"Alright, we got him, team!" Mercurius ΩX hollered as he hopped onto Stinger's back. The metal-tailed snow leopard let out a victory roar.

xxxxx

Elsewhere, the battle between Godzilla Earth and King Ghidorah (Planet of the Monsters) clashed with both trying to assert their dominance over the other.

Suddenly, a TARDIS materialized on a rooftop. The TARDIS doors opened as Loki ΩX, Engineer, Sailor Pluto, the Tenth Doctor, Ultimate Madoka, and Devil Homura stormed out of it.

"Here we are. Right where we should be!" The Tenth Doctor exclaimed.

"Yes, but Godzilla is not faring well. We must hurry!" Sailor Pluto suggested.

"Don't worry. Leave it to us!" Ultimate Madoka chimed in as she and Devil Homura flew away to attack the three-headed cosmic dragon.

Brandishing his serrated swords, Loki ΩX dashed ahead to assist the goddess and demoness. "You better make sure and leave some for me!"

As Pluto transformed into her Eternal Sailor state, she grabbed the Tenth Doctor's hand and flew up carrying him along.

As King Ghidorah (Planet of the Monsters) loomed over Godzilla Earth, the cosmic dragon prepared to wrap its body around him. Just then, Ultimate Madoka fired a bright pink arrow, which pierced through and neutralized the cosmic being. Devil Homura stopped his cosmic blasts with demonic aura and bound it with black chains. Then, after attacking the cosmic dragon with powerful gusts from his Loptr Tornado, Loki ΩX disoriented its ethereal body with his Hvedrungr Roar. Transforming into his Successor of Babylon Leo form, Engineer blasted the cosmic dragon with his Vapula's Roar. The combined resounding attacks severely neutralized King Ghidorah (Planet of the Monsters)'s ethereal body.

Using his Sonic Screwdriver, the Tenth Doctor summoned his TARDIS, which flung itself right into the cosmic being and exploded. The raw energies from the TARDIS surged through and subdued the ethereal dragon. Then, using her Garnet Rod, Eternal Sailor Pluto conjured her Space-Time Door over King Ghidorah (Planet of the Monsters). Once activating her Dark Dome Close, the doors started to pull in King Ghidorah (Planet of the Monsters).

When the cosmic dragon resisted, Godzilla Earth fired his atomic breath and pushed King Ghidorah (Planet of the Monsters) through the Space-Time Door dimension as the doors closed shut and sealed the cosmic entity's fate.

"And that's that," Loki ΩX muttered.

"That takes care of this one," Ultimate Madoka commented.

"But, only one remains: the Yami Matter Avatar itself," Devil Homura reminded them.

"Was it wise to sacrifice your TARDIS?" Pluto asked the Doctor.

"It can regenerate itself for me. No need to worry, Lady Pluto," the Tenth Doctor reassured her.

Having vanquished his cosmic nemesis, Godzilla Earth let out a victory roar.

"It all comes down to the Yami Matter Avatar itself. I hope your group is faring well, Ren," Loki ΩX said.

As the Successor of Babylon Leo turned back to Engineer, the Revenant added his concerns. "Let's regroup with them then.."

xxxxx

Somewhere in the city, Tsugumi, Argo, Shibungi, and Fyu-Neru watched the team battles against the Ghidorahs from a visual screen.

"Woo-hoo! They've beaten the Ghidorahs! Victory for Team Godzillas!" Tsugumi enthusiastically cheered.

"I hate to break to you, but there's one Ghidorah left and it's the Yami Matter Avatar," Shibungi astutely reminded her.

"Ugh, yeah I know, but they're making great progress!"

"But, we're still not out of the woods just yet. We just need Ayase to knock some sense into Shu," Argo scoffed as he and Funeral Parlor observed Ayase's hard-hitting clash with Shu.

"I'm afraid it's going to take more than force to make the Yami King withdraw from his current course of action," a voice belonging to Yuu chimed in, causing Funeral Parlor to turn around and meet him with disdain. "Hello, Funeral Parlor. I see you've been doing splendid color commentary for these big battles. Is there room for one more?"

"No, and you're not welcome here!" Tsugumi angrily retorted.

Argo pointed his pistol at Yuu. "I'd stay back if I were you. Last time I remember, you were part of Da'ath. And I do remember pointing a gun like this to you."

"Yes, and I deflected your shot last time. You're more than welcome to try again."

"Maybe I should," grunted Argo.

"Look, let's behind our previous grievances behind us. I had a hand in Mana being revived using Inori's body, but let me assure you, I am not affiliated with the Yami Matter."

"Then, who's side are you on?" Shibungi asked the shady individual.

As Yuu walked up to them, Argo prepared to fire, but Yuu raised his hands.

"Nobody's. I don't have any stakes in this conflict, but I wish to witness the outcome. May I join you?" Yuu asked, awaiting an immediate response.

"Why should we?" Argo gritted his teeth.

"It's your choice, but I very much would like to see the outcome of this conflict."

Taking a deep breath, Tsugumi sighed. "Alright fine, but you do anything shady and Argo shoots you."

"Fair enough," Yuu smirked, sitting between Tsugumi and Argo. As he glanced over the visual screen, he saw Shu's fight with Ayase. "Oh my, it's the Yami King against your friend Shinomiya Ayase! Wow, your leader is looking very strong out there with her legs repaired. I honestly wouldn't want to fight her now!" He giddily commented on the fight. "Though, I must confess I much prefer this more cold and methodical Shu. I don't think I'd fare well against the Yami King."

"Maybe you should join the fight and see how long you last?" Tsugumi scoffed, watching Yuu with suspicion.

"Horribly. Ayase and the Yami King both surpass me. My best days are behind me," Yuu confessed.

Just then, something crashed near them. Alarmed, the group quickly turned toward not something, but someone getting up. It was Ayase, who was knocked far back from Shu's attacks.

"Well, well, if it isn't the SWO leader, Shinomiya Ayase. I believe this is the first time we've met?" Yuu openly addressed her, introducing himself.

"Yo-You're Yuu!" Ayase was taken aback by the Da'ath representative's presence. "What do you want?"

"First off, it's an honor to finally meet you."

"The feelings are not mutual."

Yuu shook his head, his smile not leaving his face. "Oh well, I never expected a formal greeting from one of Ouma Shu's friends."

"Ayase! He just happened to show up, but he's not affiliated with the Yami Matter! At least, I hope," Tsugumi said.

Narrowing her eyes, Ayase shot a fierce glance toward Yuu. "Don't you try anything funny, Yuu. I have more important things to deal with now."

"Oh for sure. Please, do not let my presence hinder your attempts to save Ouma Shu. It's funny how Shu has become 'Adam' without my intervention. Since becoming the Yami King, he looks to create his own Eden, which Da'ath attempted to create using Gai as an 'Adam' proxy and likewise Mana becoming 'Eve'. With the Yami Matter's help, Shu intends to wipe out everything in this dimension to create a new Eden for himself and Inori."

"I'm not going to let that happen. I'm bringing Shu back to his senses," Ayase openly vowed to see her goal play out to the very end.

"I'll warn you, Shinomiya Ayase. It will not be easy. You could die doing so," Yuu warned her.

Upon hearing this, Tsugumi gasped with horror. Argo and Shibungi both have distressed looks. Fyu-Neru gave a sad beep.

However, Ayase affirmed her resolve. "Then, I'll die bringing Shu back to his old self."

"You'd die to save me, Ayase? How noble, but a foolhardy attempt to save someone who doesn't need to be saved," Shu's arrogant tone was heard speaking to them through Funeral Parlor's communicators.

"SHU!" Tsugumi fearfully cried out.

"Ok, Shu! This Darth Vader, Anakin shit needs to stop now! What do you hope to accomplish being the Yami King?! You're going to kill us all!" Argo berated his former friend and Funeral Parlor colleague.

The Yami King was heard calmly chuckling, sending unsettling vibes to Funeral Parlor's members. "To create my Eden. To restart from scratch. Picking up the pieces of the old world and recreating my paradise. Everything that has tried to overshadow my world and our series will meet its end. I will rise as the new Eden's Adam. Then, I'll bring Inori back to be my Eve. But, don't think this is the end for any of you, my old friends. I intend to resurrect you and give you happier lives. Lives you could've had if GHQ, Da'ath, and Mana didn't take it away."

"You're trying to play God," scowled Shibungi.

"Listen to yourself, Shu! You're not thinking straight! What is destroying everything going to accomplish?! You destroy everyone but only resurrect us your friends? That's not right! And I know deep down, you know it isn't right! Don't let the Yami Matter continue manipulating you!" Tsugumi openly pleaded, her eyes brimming with genuine tears.

"Manipulate me? You're quite mistaken, Tsugumi. I willfully allowed the Yami Matter to envelop me with its power. All it did was give me the power to become the Yami King. I've accepted becoming the Yami Matter's chosen one. Fools such as Mido were only mere pawns for the Yami Matter. I am not its pawn. I am its chosen king."

Clenching her hands into fists, Ayase shouted. "Cut the fucking crap, Shu! You still can't get over Inori's death! That's all it is! We worked with your recovery! And this is the thanks we get?!"

"I never asked you to help me with my pathetic state of being."

"Oh, that's a load of shit," Ayase painfully smiled, letting out a sardonic chuckle. "I know because I was there to help you through rehab. And no matter what it takes, I'll bring you back to your senses, Shu!"

"Heh, good luck with that."

Without hesitation, Ayase glided away and pursued Shu's location.

"Please, be careful, Ayase!" Tsugumi called out to her best friend.

"I'm truly intrigued by how this plays out. Will the Yami King get his wish, or will Ayase put a stop to this idealized paradise?" Yuu speculated over the forthcoming outcome.

"For someone neutral, you're deeply invested in this, aren't you?" Argo remarked, eyeing Yuu with disdain.

"Of course, I am just an observer now."

"C'mon, Ayase," Tsugumi muttered, watching her friend following Shu toward the Yami Matter Avatar's location.

xxxxx

Meanwhile, Godzilla (Legendary) continued his epic clash with King Ghidorah (Legendary), clobbering the three-headed menace with body shots and tail whips. Sophia, Sion, Satanael ΩX, Hecate ΩX, and Buffy assisted Godzilla (Legendary) through the course of the fight.

"Sion, give me some support!" Sophia cried out as she flew over King Ghidorah (Legendary).

As he joined Sophia, Sion invoked his Successor of Julius Deino form. Sophia landed on Ghidorah (Legendary)'s left head and bit around its neck. The right head attempted to fire a cosmic bolt at the allosaurid. As Sion sidestepped the bolt, the theropod stomped his feet, sending his Vasto Quake to disorient the monster's right head.

Satanael ΩX quickly shot the right head with his Ω Riot Gun. Afterward, he summoned his Horsemen Personas as they delivered their Four Horsemen Strike, carving up and slashing the left head with vicious strikes. Hecate ΩX then blasted and burned the middle head with her Ω Blazing Hell.

As she imbued Tengoku Star's energies through her ko-naginata, Sophia slashed through and blasted King Ghidorah (Legendary)'s middle head with her Tengoku Lightning Thorn. At the same time, Godzilla (Legendary) fired his atomic breath, combining his destructive blast with Sophia's. The combined blast collided with King Ghidorah (Legendary)'s middle head and body, causing him to collapse.

Having witnessed his allies bringing the fight to the Yami Matter Avatar, Buffy faced the large three-headed abomination. She peered through and visualized the First Evil's demonic visage manifesting inside King Ghidorah (Legendary)'s form. In that instant, she accessed the suppressed powers she achieved during her fight against the Twilight crisis in her world. She invoked her powers, granted to her by the Universe as a reward for all her selfless work as a Slayer. As a white aura formed over her, Buffy focused and set her sights on Ghidorah (Legendary)'s middle head. Diving toward the Yami Matter Avatar, she delivered a punch to the middle head, causing it to explode.

At that exact moment, the other two heads exploded, but instead of blood spilling out, black matter poured out of the headless stumps. King Ghidorah (Legendary)'s entire body violently quivered as black matter spread throughout the vicinity.

"Buffy, get back!" Hecate ΩX called out to the Slayer, who realized what she just did and floated away.

As Ayase and Shu arrived, the Yami King noticed the Yami Matter Avatar shifting between its King Ghidorah (Legendary) and the First Evil forms. It ultimately maintained the three-headed menace's form as it stopped twitching.

"What the hell just happened?!" Ayase exclaimed.

"Just watch," Shu smirked as six pocket doorways materialized in front of King Ghidorah (Legendary)'s colossal body. "See those portals? They lead into pocket dimensions. Only one of them will lead directly back to my world."

"What?! Our world?!" Ayase was taken aback.

"Then, we'll follow you there," Satanael ΩX said.

"Well, it's not quite that easy. Only a few of you can make it," Shu said.

Just then, the other Thieves, Revenants, SWO members, and the Godzilla collective arrived on the scene.

"Right on cue," the Yami King remarked. "As I said, six groups will have to cross into these doorways. There you'll face your final enemies; each of them a manifestation of the Yami Matter Avatar. Which pocket dimensions will you choose? Hard to say, but choose wisely!" With that, he flew into the centermost portal.

"After him! Some of you will need to accompany me!" Ayase called for volunteers.

As he turned back to his normal self, Sion dove toward Ayase. "I'll come with you!"

"Don't forget me!" Sophia called out.

"We're coming, too!" Ultimate Madoka cried out as she and Devil Homura headed straight for the exact portal that Sion, Sophia, and Ayase chased Shu into. Following them were Buffy, Altair, Kirito, and Asuna.

"Hey, Joker! Let Eva and I go with them. We'll take care of Sion and knock sense into that Shu guy!" Jack offered as he and Eva dove into the same portal.

"Be careful, guys," Satanael ΩX nodded, turning around to face the others. "That just leaves the other five doorways. We'll split into five groups. Who wants to go with me?"

"I'm in!" Hecate ΩX replied.

"Wherever you go, Joker, I'm tempted to follow," Loki ΩX added.

As Satanael gathered Hecate ΩX and Loki ΩX, Sora, Luigi, and Yoshi joined them and entered one portal.

Seiten Taisei ΩX, Engineer, Stinger, Hound, Goku, and Saitama jumped into another portal.

Anat ΩX, Astarte ΩX, Kamu Susano-o ΩX, and Saber entered another.

Mercurius ΩX, Omegamon MM, Dukemon CM, Sailor Pluto, the Tenth Doctor, and the Godzilla collective entered a portal.

Prometheus ΩX, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Yugi & the Three Legendary Gods, and Seto & the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon took the last available portal.

As every participant went forward, the portals remained open as the Yami Matter Avatar/King Ghidorah (Legendary) stabilized himself.

xxxxx

Pocket Dimension: Mana's Apocalyptic World/Crystallized Ward 24

As Sion's group dropped through the portal, they landed in an enclosure shrouded with a sea of crystallized structures. They scoured for the Yami King, but ultimately they found no one waiting for them. The group wondered if they had been lured into a trap.

Then, Ayase noticed someone sitting on a crimson crystallized throne. She and the others saw it was Shu sitting and waiting for them. Standing from his crystallized throne, Shu clapped his hands.

"I'm glad you all could join me. This is where we will settle our disputes and where we're going to seal your fates," Shu announced.

"We? Who's we?" Jack wondered.

"Yeah, it's only just you! Unless you have some imaginary friends you want to call upon!" Sion called him out on his bald-faced lie.

"No, he's right! I'm picking up massive energy readings materializing in that dimension!" Tsugumi warned Ayase and the others through Ayase's earpiece communicator.

"Well, well, these readings are awfully familiar. It appears Shu and the Yami matter have gotten those 'two' on their side," Yuu chimed in, hinting at Shu's assailants.

"Yes, indeed. I didn't come alone," Shu coolly smirked. With a finger snap, a figure walked forward and stood beside him.

Upon seeing this figure, Ayase was horrified by the identity of Shu's first assailant.

"No way… GAI?!" Ayase shouted in disbelief.

"What the hell?! Gai is there?!" Argo barked from Ayase's earpiece.

"This is quite an interesting twist. Who would've seen this coming? Tsutsugami Gai makes a shocking return and joins the now heel Ouma Shu," sardonically commented Yuu.

"Hello, Shinomiya Ayase. It's good to see you're walking again. I've always believed you could," Gai addressed his former colleague. When the man stepped into view and with light beaming over him, he was the same tall, lean-bodied young man with a well-built physique concealed in an entirely white outfit and a long coat that resembled his old Funeral Parlor outfit; his pants are gray and shoes are black. He has a light-colored skin complexion and his hair is as white as his outfit. A notable feature is a dark gray crystallized mass covering the right side of his face and eye. The iris of his right eye was red, a sign of the crystal's infection. The man gave a sharp, piercing gaze, methodically scanning at the crowd facing him.

Ayase noted Gai's right eye iris glow red. "This can't be happening."

"Oh, but it is, Ayase. I have Shu to thank for resurrecting me. Now, we can be a witness to his Eden," Gai smiled, folding his arms across his chest.

"Oh, how could I forget? Someone else is dying to come out. Right, sister?" Shu smirked, turning his head toward his left side as a pair of creepy red eyes opened behind a veil of darkness, which was then accompanied by a fiendish giggle.

"Are our guests here, sweet Shu and Triton? They're being awfully noisy. Hehehe," A young woman chimed in a soft, but demented song-a-long tone. As the woman stepped into a view for all to see, the first features they noted are the purple crystals making up a crown over her long, back-length pink hair. She has a lean figure. She has on a long, thigh-length black and jelly purple dress, and dark purple back dress. The top of her dress revealed her pale bare shoulders and some of her center bosom. The woman's pale complexion stuck out like a sore thumb among her colorful wardrobe. Purple crystals adorn her shoulders. Similar purple crystals cover her wrists like bracelets. She has on pink ballerina shoes coupled with straps that crisscrossed and covered her legs up to her knees. When she opened her eyes, they were shown to be blood red.

"Ouma Mana," Sion quietly muttered, identifying Shu's second partner in crime.

"No way, but isn't that Shu's sister?!" Tsugumi cried out in shock.

"Man, this just went from bad to the fucking worst!" Argo yelled.

"Hmmm, now we have Ouma Mana present? Yes, I see she's not quite the Mana I remember though," Yuu said, subtly hinting about the nature of Mana's presence.

"Her power is critically as dangerous as Shu's despite being just a Yami Matter manifestation," Sophia said.

"You mean she's not really Mana?" Eva asked Sophia.

"Correct, but the Yami Matter Avatar has given Mana her likeness and mannerisms. Once we fight her, it'll be as if we're fighting Mana," Sophia clarified, discerning the pink aura radiating off Mana.

"You would be right. The real Mana was already purified from the Apocalypse Virus and died. This is merely the Yami Matter Avatar choosing another form for itself," elaborated Yuu. "As such, she will be the dangerous entity all of you will face."

"I don't like the aura she's giving off," Ultimate Madoka frowned.

"Me either, Madoka," Devil Homura shared her partner's sentiments.

"Either she's real or not, we're taking her down along with those other two," Kirito vowed.

"That's right!" Asuna added, drawing out her sword.

"Hey, anything to see these three get taken down a peg, I'm in," Buffy said, taking a battle stance while Altair summoned a sword.

Balling up her fists, Ayase quickly called out to Shu. "So, you've called these two to fight us?! Are you admitting you can't beat us alone?"

"Don't be absurd, Ayase. I've proven alone I can handle you, Ayase," Shu proclaimed, raising and clenching his right hand over his head. "I, the Yami King, have decreed that all of you will fight us to a duel to the death!"

"Oh, you have no idea how much I'm looking forward to fucking kicking your whiny bitch ass," Sion smirked, quickly whipping out his Regicide Blade and pointing it toward Shu.

"Oh, I'm sure you are, wannabe vampire," Shu shrugged off Sion's threats.

"Oh, Shu. These people are awfully rude. Want me to encase them all in crystals?" Mana offered her brother.

"Not now, Mana. Before we begin our duel, why don't we bring out our honored guest?" Shu offered, to which Mana gleefully clapped her hands.

"Oooo, who is it, Shu? Who is it?!" Mana eagerly asked, nearly hopping up.

"Bring out the traitorous whore!" Shu commanded, asserting his authority as black matter formed in front of him, Mana, and Gai.

The black matter ejected Arisa, who Anat ΩX fought earlier.

"Arisa?!" Ayase gasped as she recognized the former school president.

"No way, but that's Arisa from Shu's school!" Tsugumi cried out from Ayase's communicator earpiece.

"Yes, and if memory serves she became a turncoat to Shu's cause shortly after Gai took his king's Void power. She was already planning to turn against Shu, but little did Arisa know, Shu has a good memory. Another well played move, Yami King. Take the woman who turned against you and blackmail her into fighting on her side," Yuu slightly complimented Shu's strategy.

"Shu, what's the meaning…?!" Before Arisa can finish her sentence, an assortment of black tendrils seized Arisa and tore the clothes off her body. Having been stripped down to her birthday suit, Arisa was humiliated, but the tentacles lifted her and bound her. "Why are you doing this, Shu?! Let me go! Please!"

"You have no room to talk, traitor. You failed to finish your opponents like you were supposed to," Shu coldly reprimanded her.

"They are too strong! That Queen girl especially overcame my Void! Please, give me another chance!"

"You've had your chances, Arisa. There's no place for the weak within my circle anymore," Shu cruelly smiled, looking her dead in her eyes. "Don't think I've forgotten when you betrayed me and joined Gai."

"Gai!" Arisa pleaded to him as she turned toward Gai. "Please, listen to reason! Shu's become drunk with power! The Yami Matter has twisted his mind! He's not the Ouma Shu we knew!"

Scoffing, Gai shot a cold glare, quickly silencing Arisa.

"Hold on, Shu!" Mana interjected as she walked up to him, giving a scornful glare toward Arisa. "You're going too easy on her."

"Hmm, you're right. Would you like to take over from here?"

"Sure!" Mana gleefully replied, smiling maniacally as she conjured purple crystallized tentacles, which she used to ensnare Arisa with. If the Yami Matter's tendrils weren't enough to inflict the pain, Mana's tentacles brought a whole new threshold of pain, causing Arisa to howl with excruciating pain. Mana's tendrils started digging into Arisa's skin.

"How does it feel to be on the receiving end of the worst imaginable kind of pain, Arisa? It really hurt me when you betrayed me. Now, we're about to pay it back to you twentyfold!" Shu taunted Arisa, whose blood-curdling screams brought chills to most of Sion's group.

Of the whole group, Ayase and Funeral Parlor were the most horrified, witnessing a man they called a friend tormenting and inflicting agony on Arisa. These actions were seen as uncharacteristic. Ayase never imagined Shu would've fallen and stooped to these malicious lengths.

"Shu, stop! Please!" Ayase called out to him, but her pleas fell on deaf ears from Shu and his two cohorts.

"I can't believe this is happening! We have to do something!" Tsugumi cried out.

"That's not the Shu I remember. Losing Inori and his sight turned him into this?!" angrily muttered Argo.

"I must say, Ouma Shu has fully embraced this new heel persona. Opening accepting the Yami Matter's power to become its chosen Yami King. He's taken things to great lengths to get what he wants, even finding and punishing those who once broke his trust," Yuu commented on Shu's gradual descent as a fallen hero and eventual rise into a villain.

"You wouldn't dare think about turning tail and joining Shu, Yuu?" Shibungi asked the former Da'ath representative.

"No, but then again I'm not taking sides here. I'm an outsider speaking from an unbiased viewpoint."

Scoffing, Sion yelled out. "Well, if Anakin Skywalker wants to be a bad guy then, then I'll treat the whiny bitch like one!" Before he could initiate his move, Sophia stopped him.

"Wait," Sophia instructed him back.

"Shu, please! Let me go! Give me another chance! I'll even get rid of your enemies right in front of you!"

Mana giggled. "Why should he? You couldn't even kill one Phantom Thief."

"Hn, look at you, Arisa. You dare to grovel before me and ask me to release you? You're the pathetic one now," Shu scoffed, narrowing his cold and detached eyes. "Not long ago you betrayed me and before then you only served me for your own self-serving needs." Raising his right hand, the Yami King scowled tensely. "Did you think I'd forget what you did to me, Arisa?! I don't take kindly to traitors!"

"B-But, I offered my apologies! I-I'm sorry, Shu! Please give me another chance to right my wrongs!"

"It's too late for that. Now, die for your sins."

"PLEASE! I'M SORRY! DON'T KILL ME! GAI! SAVE ME!"

Gai simply watched with a vacant look.

"My new vision has allowed me to see for who you really are, Arisa the unforgiving Whore of Tennouzu."

"STOP IT, SHU! PLEASE! FORGIVE ME!" She screamed and pleaded for her life, which fell on the Yami King's deaf ears.

"Goodbye, Kuhouin Arisa." With that, Shu closed his right hand as the crystallized tentacles dug deep inside Arisa, not only torturing her but tearing her apart from the inside. Blood began seeping out from the torn flesh forming on her body. One tentacle was shoved right into her mouth. Another went inside her clit. She felt a painful, burning sensation consuming her from within.

"STOP IT! I'M SORRY! I NEVER MEANT TO BETRAY YOU, SHU! I WANT TO LIVE AND SEE YOUR NEW EDEN!"

"Die," Shu coldly muttered.

Then, with one big pull, the tendrils eviscerated and ripped Arisa's body apart. As her body was torn into pieces, a torrent of blood and organs rained all over the throne area and soaked the crystallized floors. While Mana danced in the bloody rain, Gai gave no reaction, no inclination of any emotion. A cold and sadistic smirk adorned the Yami King's face.

"Trust me, Arisa. There's no place for heathens like you in my paradise," Shu chortled.

"Yay, the bitch is dead! The bitch is dead!" Mana squealed happily in a sing-a-long tune. "That's what she gets for trying to make love with my Triton!"

Nearly everyone witnessed the horrifying execution of the Yami King's subordinate. Half of the women turned away with disgust over Shu's actions.

"I-I can't believe he just…" Ayase was aghast at the horrid execution made by her former friend. "SHU! YOU MONSTER!"

The other Funeral Parlor members were stunned silent on the other end of Ayase's earpiece transmission.

"You bastard! She was on your side! Is this how you treat all your subordinates?!" Sion angrily shouted at him.

"Kuhouin Arisa was a special case. She betrayed me once before and I will never forget the actions of a traitorous scum," Shu coldly responded as he watched Arisa's remains fizzled into crystallized dust. "Traitors like her have no place in my Eden. Just like how oppressors like all of you will not live to see my Eden. Well..."

"If this is how he treats his own subordinates, I don't even want to know what he has in store for us!" Kirito added, expressing contempt toward Shu's heinous actions.

"Then, we don't give that asshole the chance!" Buffy shouted.

"If only Madoka and I's full divine powers weren't hindered by the Yami Matter, otherwise we'd erase Ouma Shu without a second thought!" Devil Homura cried out.

"Yes, but I really don't want to kill Shu," Ultimate Madoka sadly muttered. "I sense great suffering inside the Yami King."

"You sensed it, too?" Sophia asked, turning toward Ultimate Madoka.

"So, with that nuisance out of the way, shall we commence with the final duel?" The Yami King asked his adversaries, conjuring and grabbing his Singer's Sword Void. He then heard the Yami Matter's presence whispering in his mind. With a resolute and collective glare in his eyes, Shu smirked. "Yes, their blood shall be shed here, Yami Matter."

Mana leaned next to Gai and giggled. "Good, now let's begin the slaughter, my chosen Yami King. Prove to me why I picked you as my chosen one." She then kissed Gai's cheek and smirked. "And let's give our Yami King some assistance, my Triton."

"Good. Let's get right down to killing your psychotic asses," Sion snorted, brandishing his Regicide Blade.

"Wait a minute! No, I'm not going to kill Shu! There has to be another way!" Ayase protested.

"Let's be careful, Sion. Of the three, Mana is the Yami Matter manifestation we must destroy," Sophia advised the agitated Revenant.

"Fine, let me handle Shu then," Sion insisted.

"You better not kill him, Sion," Ayase replied, miffed with the Revenant's insistence.

"I can't make any promises. Your friend's lost his damn mind," the Revenant said, not taking his intense gaze off Shu for a single moment. "But, I'll do my best. Ayase, can you assist Sophia with the crazy bitch over there?"

"Mana? Sure, no problem. I'd like to beat her face senseless for manipulating Shu," Ayase said, facing Mana's direction.

"Then, Eva and I can handle Gai," Jack offered as he and Eva readied their weapons and faced Shu's right hand man.

"Can we get on with your executions then?" Shu addressed, awaiting for his adversaries.

With that, Sion, Kirito, and Asuna headed off Shu. Sion lunged forward and clashed head-on with the Yami King. Sion's Regicide Blade collided against Shu's Singer's Sword. As the two commenced with their sword duel, Kirito and Asuna assisted the Revenant.

Ayase, Sophia, Ultimate Madoka, Devil Homura, and Buffy engaged Mana. With Ayase and Sophia leading the attack, the other three offered assistance, keeping Mana distracted while Ayase and Sophia struck Mana with their attacks.

Jack, Eva, and Altair engaged Gai, who fought them off with his sword. Jack went head to head with Gai, brushing him back with a mighty swing from his sword. Gai then tossed a crystal barrage at the trio, who jumped out of the crystal projectile's way.

As Ayase pushed Mana against a crystallized wall, she dove in and went for a flying kick. Mana rolled away, letting Ayase break and crash through the crystallized wall barrier. Sophia dove behind Mana, swinging her ko-naginata at the rose-haired woman's head. Mana telekinetically sent crystals toward Sophia. Quickly swinging her ko-naginata, she deflected and shredded Mana's crystals into dust.

"Over here!" Ayase yelled out, flying into Mana and punching her square in the face. One punch sent Mana sailing far across the crystallized room. "Made you look, bitch!"

As Mana stood, she giggled and popped her neck with an audible crack.

"Oh yes, indeed you did, but that was a lucky shot. You took advantage with my back turned," Mana excused herself. Just then, Madoka and Homura flew toward her, catching her with a double shot into her gut. She doubled over as Madoka drove an arrow into her and Homura punched her fist into her torso. However, Mana healed from their attacks and manifested tentacles from her body, ensnaring both Madoka and Homura. "Aww, nice try, but your divine powers don't work in my domain. I've made sure of it."

"So, it's true! The Yami Matter has rendered our powers null?!" Homura exclaimed, gagging loudly as Mana squeezed her.

"Homura!" Madoka fearfully cried out.

"Your powers work within your realm, but I've made certain to rewrite the rules to my advantage. So, as you are, you two are as mortal as the rest of your friends here!" Mana boasted, giggling incessantly. She then pulled Homura toward her. "How does it feel being helpless, HomuHomu? Why don't you forget the pink-haired brat over there and hook up with me? I'll make it worth your while." Her face contorted with depravity, letting her tongue hang out. "I wanna make sweet love to you, my HomuHomu! Please let me lick your sweet ass!" She maniacally laughed and leaned over to lick Homura's face.

"LET HER GO!" Madoka screamed, struggling to break loose, but Mana's tentacle restrained her.

"NEVER!" Homura resisted Mana's seduction. "There's only one I share my affection for!" With that, she created a powerful beam, which dissolved Mana's tentacle and freed her from the maniacal woman's restraint. She then fired another beam, tearing the other tentacled appendage holding Madoka.

"Thanks, Homura!"

"You dare to resist me, HomuHomu?! I'll make you mine!" Mana vowed. As she manifested more tentacles, Buffy dove in using a suspended ceiling wire and kicked her face. "Ugh, so it's you, the Slayer!"

"Gee, you just noticed? Or, were you still caught up trying to get your psychotic orgy on?" Buffy rebuked, smirking and taunting Mana, who responded with a fierce shout.

Then, Mana calmed down. A creepy smile adorned her face as she placed two hands against her face. She then gave a psychotic, creepy giggle while putting Buffy off.

"Oh, you think you can talk down to me like that? You're not even a threat to me, Slayer. You lack any kind of power to destroy let alone hurt me. You might as well question why you're even here," Mana taunted her.

"Why do I need superpowers like the others to beat you? I can annoy you," Buffy smirked, throwing a wooden stake at Mana, who effortlessly caught it and broke it in half. When she turned, Buffy was gone. She looked up as Buffy jumped on top of a crystallized pillar. "Nice Gasai Yuno impression you got going. Did anyone tell you your creepy obsessive shtick is what's going to turn off possible suitors? Maybe you should consider going to Bible school… oh wait, no scratch that. There's creepers there, too, but hey maybe you'll fit right in!"

"You've got some wit on you, but that's not gonna save you!" Mana shouted, telekinetically lifting crystals from her surroundings and amassing them into a rotating atomic-shaped circle.

"Nice trick. Ever consider joining a magic show?" Buffy asked as Mana responded, throwing her crystal barrage at the Slayer. As she hopped off the platform, she narrowly dodged getting turned into a human pincushion. "And who said I can't fight with powers?!" She floated into the air. "Remember when I punched your middle head off, Yami Matter?!"

Scowling, Mana roared furiously and tossed more crystallized projectiles, which Buffy dodged while flying across the crystallized ward. As she went for a diving kick, Mana ensnared her leg with a tendril and tossed her away. Conjuring a large crystallized spike, she tossed it at Buffy.

Suddenly, a powerful beam of energy collided with and wiped out Mana's spike.

"Who did that?!" Mana called out in shock.

As Buffy opened her eyes, she saw a newcomer standing in front of her and armed with a weapon resembling a black monolith.

"You're…!" The pink-haired creature was taken aback.

"I'm Lacia," the light blue-haired newcomer replied. She turned over to Buffy. "Are you ok, Ms. Summers? Sorry for being late."

"It's fine. I'm glad your friend Arato allowed me to borrow you."

Smiling, Lacia kindly nodded. "You're welcome."

"So, you've got Lacia from Beatless to save you and your friends? It doesn't matter how many bodies you want to throw at me, I'm still going to win," Mana shrugged as she tossed a tendril at Lacia, who used her Black Monolith like a shield and stopped the woman's attack. She then dodged another tendril strike and fired a beam from her Black Monolith.

As she jumped over Lacia's beam, Mana prepared to throw more crystals at her and Buffy. Suddenly, Madoka fired a barrage of glowing arrows, which collided with and knocked away Mana. Homura then flew up behind Mana and elbowed her face, sending the pink-haired creature crashing through a crystallized pillar.

Upon recovery from her fall, Mana regenerated her wounds. She then heard a crackle of lightning from above. As she whipped around, Sophia tossed her Tengoku Lightning Thorn toward her. Amassing crystals from her surroundings, Mana conjured a crystallized barrier that protected her and absorbed the impact of Sophia's attack.

"Was that your best shot? If so, I'm disappointed," Mana coolly smirked.

Sophia calmly replied. "No, that was meant to distract you."

"What?!"

Before her brain could even register, her head was quickly caved in from a flying elbow drop from Ayase, who drove the pointed end of her elbow into Mana's cranium. As her eyes bulged open, Mana stumbled backward. Then, Ayase landed a spinning side kick, sending Mana flying back. As Mana flew into the air, she readjusted her crushed head and regenerated it to normal.

"Hey, that was a cheap shot!" Mana berated her.

"There's no such thing as fair in a life or death battle! You should know!"

"Touché," Mana nodded. As she landed near Ayase, she watched the SWO leader take a fighting posture. She sighed with exasperation. "I'd rather not soil my hands fighting you hand to hand. I don't like masculine women like you."

"And I don't like arrogant prim and proper ballerina whores who have a sick sexual attraction toward their own siblings," Ayase rebuked. "But, then again you're not really Ouma Mana, are you? No, you're just a cheap imitation of her."

"You're right. I'm not Ouma Mana, but what does it matter? You and your friends are going to die here for my Yami King."

"That's not going to happen. I'm going to bring Shu back to the light."

Just then, Yuu's voice interjected through Ayase's earpiece. "And what if you can't? Shu has fallen deep into the Yami Matter's seduction. Your chances of pulling Shu out of the dark abyss is less than 1 percent."

"You know what they say about just 1 percent? I say calculations are bullshit. I'm bringing Shu back home," Ayase said, running headlong with Mana.

"You tell him, Ayase! Oh no, look out!" Tsugumi called out, warning her friend as Mana manifested and tossed another crystallized barrage at Ayase.

As she jumped over the crystal shards, Ayase grabbed a hanging metal beam and used it to perform a gymnast swing. After spinning around three times, she somersaulted high into the air and bounced off the ceiling. She then catapulted herself straight into Mana. After slamming into Mana, Ayase sprang up and attacked with her kicks. Mana blocked using her hands.

"Hey, I thought you didn't want to use your hands?! Are you backing out on your word?!" Ayase smirked, taunting Mana, who responded with a resounding slap to Ayase's face. Then, Ayase responded by punching Mana's face.

Recoiling from Ayase's punch, Mana backhanded Ayase back, sending her flying back. As Ayase landed on all fours, she watched Mana wipe the blood from her lip.

"That hurt," Mana frowned, spitting blood from her mouth. She then quivered furiously as she shot her eyes open. The irises in her eyes turned into crystals while her facial features contorted to exhibit her anger. "That really hurt!" She dove into Ayase and headbutted her back.

Meanwhile, Sion and Shu continued their sword duel. Neither one was willing to stand down and concede to the other. Kirito and Asuna helped take over for Sion when the Revenant was inflicted damage from Shu's attacks.

As Sion went for a head strike with his Regicide Blade, Shu countered with his Singer's Sword. Manifesting her Ogre-Type Blood Veil, Sion attempted to tear Shu's torso open, but the Yami King repelled him with a black beam. As he neutralized the Revenant, the Yami King cut through his Blood Veil, obliterating it with a sword's stroke.

"I have enough power to destroy those Blood Veils. They aren't going to be any use against me," Shu coolly smirked, swinging his Singer's Sword while evading Sion's Stinger-Type Blood Veil. With a quick slash, he cut the metal tail off with ease.

"Damn it! He's managed to take out most of my Blood Veils!" Sion cursed, keeping his distance from the Yami King's attacks.

"Sion, we'll take it from here!" Kirito offered as he and Asuna guarded the Revenant.

"Having to hide behind these two because you don't want to die, Revenant? You truly are pathetic," Shu chortled.

"Wrong, dumbass. I'm not afraid of you," Sion scowled, standing up on his own power. After picking up his Regicide Blade, he pointed it toward Shu's direction. "You're the one who's hiding."

"What?"

Sion chuckled and lambasted the Yami King. "You're the one hiding behind that Yami King guise and proclaiming yourself to be some kind of chosen one. What a load of horseshit, Ouma Shoe." He noticed Shu getting a bit rattled from not being called by his proper name. "What does that bother you, Shoe?' He chuckled again. "Are you mad because you were too late to get laid with that Inori girl before she passed on? Hey, that's not my problem. Look at me. Not only am I about to marry Hifumi, but I've already had sex with her. Many times now. She loves it when we have sex. What about you? You couldn't even penetrate Inori with that weenie of yours."

Gritting his teeth, Shu angrily scowled. "Shut up!"

"And guess what? I even got a kiss from Ayase!"

"You think I care?!"

Sion grinned mischievously. "I think you do, but don't want to admit it. I talked to Ayase before coming here. She said you and her were together, but you couldn't get over Inori that you two never moved on and got intimate. I mean, what were you doing all that time?! Ayase's a beautiful woman! You're going to let a girl like her be left hanging out to dry because another girl you loved is dead?!"

"Ayase never…"

"She cared for you, Shoe! Jesus Christ, are you this dense?! If I were you, I'd want to move on and get into a relationship with Ayase! But, I couldn't believe it either. I actually kissed Ayase before you had a chance!"

Hearing Sion taunting him, Shu started becoming unnerved by the Revenant's scathing remarks toward him. Kirito and Asuna held their ground, waiting for the Yami King to lash out and attack Sion.

"Heh, not only did I kiss Ayase, but she happened to like it," Sion smirked, laughing at Shu's expense. As Shu grew agitated, Sion pressed on, mimicking Ayase's voice with an erotic tone. "'Oh, yes! You're a much better kisser than that virgin Shoe ever hoped to be, Skyler! I can totally cheat on Shoe to get in bed with you! Let's make out, Skyler! I wanna ride you all night long!'"

Amid her heated fight with Mana, Ayase heard Sion mocking her and taunting Shu from a distance. Gnashing her teeth and balling up her right hand, she punched Mana back.

I DON'T SOUND LIKE THAT! AND I NEVER SAID ANY OF THAT, YOU ASSHOLE! Ayase screams internally as she gives Mana a savage beatdown.

Having heard enough, Shu flipped out and shouted angrily. "SHUT UP!" He quickly lunged at Sion, swinging his Singer's Blade toward the Revenant.

Sneakily grinning, Sion laughed and mentally planned his next move. Good, it worked! Now to push his buttons more and exploit his weaknesses! Using psychology against the Yami King, Sion opted to fight smarter than harder as nearly all of his physical attacks did nothing. When Shu attacked with his Void, Kirito and Asuna blocked his path.

"To be frank, Inori is not a bad looking girl, but she lacks in certain areas. Besides her quiet and demure personality, she lacks the flare and certain assets. Io has bigger breasts than your Inori, Shoe. Not only is Io hotter, but she's a much better and stronger fighter than Inori could ever hope to be! Io's the perfect package rolled up into one!" Sion continued taunting the Yami King, who madly lashed out and attacked the Revenant with reckless abandon.

Overhearing Sion complimenting half of her, Sophia blushed and smiled.

"And unlike you, I've got bigger balls than you, dude. I'm not such a sad sack like you! And I never turned into some wannabe tyrant, who only became one because some other girl died while selflessly sacrificing her life to save your whiny punk ass! Hare has to be rolling in her grave knowing you turned into a tyrannical leader! Hell, you look just like how you were when you turned dictator! Should I yell, Heil Shoe, in your honor, your dictatorship?!"

"BE QUIET!" Shu screamed, swinging his Singer's Sword and knocking Sion, Kirito, and Asuna back.

Sion once again grinned and laughed. "Heil Shu!" He then faced Shu with disdain. The grin he had quickly vanished. "You're no leader. You're just a bitch who ran away from his fucking problems because things didn't go as you hoped. Hell, Ayase has turned into such a better leader than you are! She not only united Funeral Parlor again, but she amassed a united force of various characters. She recruited my friends and me for the sole purpose of stopping you and the Yami Matter! But, you wouldn't understand what true leadership is, right, Shoe? You became blind at the end of your story. Me? I saw the end of my journey before awakening in a new reality and building new friendships. You've had a lot of friendship issues. Unlike you, Ren and I have people we can bond with and trust with our lives. But, you threw away any kind of friendship because you couldn't move past Inori and Gai. Without them you're nothing. You're just a little bitch. You're just a fuck nugget from a McUndertakers chicken nugget."

"Stop it! Enough!" Shu screamed incessantly while covering his ears.

"Hehehe, awww. Can't handle the truth, fuck nugget? You're like a little nugget that needs to be flushed down a toilet!" Sion pressed on, continuing to push the Yami King's buttons. "Or, maybe I should call you, GKOS. Because get it? 'Geek-kos'?! Because you're a fucking geek! A sissified little bitch who let the Yami Matter turn you into its own Anakin Skywalker! Ooo, scary!" He jumped up on a crystallized pillar and beckoned Shu. "Hey, looks like I've got the high ground, Anakin!"

"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT THE HELL UP!" Shu screamed incessantly. With a swing from his blade, he cut the pillar in two but missed Sion entirely. He saw Sion land in front of him, who poked his head in front of Shu with a mischievous grin.

"You little bitch."

"SHUT UP, YOU DISRESPECTFUL INGRATE! I AM THE YAMI KING! THE CHOSEN ONE!" Shu swung his Singer's Sword at Sion.

Tucking his head, the Revenant narrowly dodged getting beheaded and taunted Shu with scathing insults. "And you know something else? I have no respect for you. If anything, as much as I hate the bastard, I have more respect for Mido. Even if he did temporarily steal my body and tried to use me to rape Hifumi, that guy had enough balls to take me over. Moreover, that man knew exactly what he wanted. He had a goal. He had a purpose. The Yami Matter probably picked him because he was a man with a clear vision. You? You're an indecisive little bitch who pretends to be some dictator and offer up some vague 'utopia' all so you and your dead girlfriend can reunite and you can lose your virginity!"

"Enough!"

"No, you're going to listen to me, GKOS! And besides, your little sob story doesn't make me feel sorry for you! Because of you, you've brought the Yami Matter into our world and wish to purge it so you can build your little utopia. That I take personal issue with! By doing so, you're looking to purge my friends and me! I'm not going to stand idly by while you erase everyone I know and love!" Sion growled, no longer feeling the need to taunt and make fun of Shu. "Ouma Shu, the last thing I'm going to let happen is for your bitch ass remakes everything to your liking! So, whine and cry until the Yami Matter grants your next wish, but I'm going to end your shit show!"

Shu quivered as unbridled anger swelled up within him. However, he tried holding back until Sion added one more insult to injury.

"One more thing. Inori never loved you. She loves me, Shoe."

With that, Shu screamed so loud they became high pitched. "やったー！彼女は私を愛しています！私のイブの名前をあなたの不潔な口から聞いてほしくない、ヒースン！(NOOOOOOOOO! SHE FUCKING LOVES ME! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR MY EVE'S NAME FROM YOUR FILTHY MOUTH, HEATHEN!)" As he continued screaming, his voice literally transformed from a deep male roaring into a horrific-sounding, scratchy, and screechy Japanese boy's voice, causing Sion, Kirito, and Asuna to cover their ears. "ヴァンパイア、あなたを殺すつもりだ！イヴの名の下に！ (I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU, VAMPIRE! ALL IN THE NAME OF MY EVE!)"

Everyone else heard the painful and annoying screams emanating from the Yami King.

"God, will someone shut him up?!" Buffy begged while covering her ears.

"I would if I wasn't so occupied," Homura said as she assisted Ayase against Mana.

Sensing the pain and anguish within Shu, Madoka showed him pity. "Poor Shu. I can't imagine what it must be like trapped inside your own shell while the Yami Matter uses you for its means."

Mana scoffed during Shu's incessant screaming. "Get up and continue fighting, Yami King! You can't have your utopia until the deed is done! Kill them all!"

"Hey, eyes over here!" Ayase shouted, landing a jumping kick to Mana's face. As she kicked Mana back, she hastily dashed forward and kicked her high into the ceiling.

She then flew up and engaged Mana in fisticuffs. As both caught each other's fists, Ayase and Mana leaned toward each other's faces. A red aura crackled over Ayase as a violet aura flared around Mana. As their raw energies clashed, their surroundings shook from their escalating power surges. Even their breasts jiggled from the powerful energies causing their surroundings to shake.

Far off from everyone else, Jack, Eva, and Altair fought their hardest against Gai. As Gai readied his sword, Jack countered with his Hound-Type Blood Veil, distracting Gai with his hound heads ferociously biting at him. Eva transformed into her Successor of the Throat form and blasted Gai away with a whirlwind attack.

As Gai was driven back, Jack invoked his Drake transformation and blew his Fafnir's Breath. Swinging his blade, Gai cut through the dragon's flames. Gai jumped up and slashed at the dragon. The dragon and his two heads repelled Gai with his Slavic Fangs. Altair then tossed a barrage of swords toward Gai's way, who quickly sidestepped and knocked away the Military Princess's blades with his sword.

"You're finished!" Gai roared as he lunged at Altair.

"No, I'm afraid you are," Altair rebuked, manifesting her Sword Shield, which halted Gai's forward attack.

Running behind Gai, Jack turned back to normal and slashed him in the back. Then, Altair used her ability, the Ninth Movement of Cosmos: Fate Restoration, to remove the Yami Matter's influence over Gai. As a result, Gai became purified to the point of his pale hair turning back to its natural blonde. As he blinked twice, Gai regained his bearings.

"...where am I?" Gai gasped.

"You were revived and placed under the Yami Matter's influence," Jack informed Gai.

"All I remember was seeing Shu again and… Shu?!" Gai quickly turned toward the Yami King and heard his incessant screaming. With a menacing scowl, Gai gritted his teeth. "That son of a bitch. Who does he think he is?!"

"The Yami Matter's taken the form of Mana. It's turned you two into its tools to destroy our reality and other realities to create his utopia!" Eva said.

"Well, not on my watch. It's time to end this childish endeavor!" Gai shouted, running steadfastly toward Shu's battle against Sion, Kirito, and Asuna.

xxxxx

Chapter Soundtrack

Neurotech - The Elysian Symphony - Defeating Yami Persona's Ascendancy and their forces.
Wulf presents NeuroAxis - Together Apart [The Lockdown Sessions] - Skyler Jones/Sion and Shinomiya Ayase come to terms as genuine allies. This scene and the song are set after the protagonists defeat Yami Persona's Ascendancy and their forces and before the final battle against the Yami Matter Avatar, for Sion and Ayase to have a personal moment.
The Final Battle: After the Transformation - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate OST - Preparations for the final battle.
Thomas Bergersen - Reborn - Confrontation of the Yami King: Ouma Shu, alongside Shu's endgame to destroy and recreate the world as his new Eden.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters OST - Main Title - Bear McCreary - Shu summons the Yami Matter Avatar (The First Evil) in taking the form of King Ghidorah (Legendary) and summoning other versions. The Godzillas arrive as the protagonists ready for the final battle. Ayase vs. Shu. Crossover characters such as Ed Edd n Eddy and Codename: Kids Next Door witness the coming final battle.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters OST - Godzilla (feat. Serj Tankian) - Bear McCreary - First half of vs. the Yami King: Ouma Shu, the Yami Matter's Avatar (The First Evil) as King Ghidorah (Legendary) alongside its Ghidorah forces. Shōwa Godzilla's victory dance after Shōwa King Ghidorah's defeat. Keizer Ghidorah's defeat. Mecha-King Ghidorah's defeat.
Galeem / Dharkon - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate OST - Second half of vs. the Yami King: Ouma Shu, the Yami Matter's Avatar (The First Evil) as King Ghidorah (Legendary) alongside its Ghidorah forces. Defeating Desghidorah, King Ghidorah (Planet of the Monsters), and King Ghidorah (Legendary). King Ghidorah's (Legendary) defeat led to the Yami Matter Avatar split into six pocket dimensions for the protagonist to venture into these six for the second phase.
Thomas Bergersen - One Million Voices - vs. the Yami Matter's Avatar as Ouma Mana. vs. the Yami King: Ouma Shu. vs. Gai before being freed from Shu's control. (Note: This song is awesome and addicting, strong enough that I encourage you to mention this in A/Ns while writing these battles in listening to the feeling and rhythm of humanity's hope, especially the battle against Mana/YM Avatar and Sion tearing down 'Shoe')

xxxxx

A/N: With that, thank goodness this exhausting chapter is behind me. Yeah, it was challenging to write. Though, it's partly I was dealing with some minor health issues (mainly stomach and indigestion crap), which put me off from writing and finishing this chapter sooner than I wanted it to be. So, if you'd be a little polite concerning this chapter.

For this chapter, I've made sure to place more emphasis on the Phantom Thieves, Revenants, and Funeral Parlor than the crossover characters - though, the Dragon Ball gang have their moments before Joker joins in, the EE&E and KND give some commentary, and the Godzilla rumble was a blast to write. In the end, the Thieves overcome their Yami Persona's Ascendancy counterparts. Was anyone surprised to see Cognitive Ann and (not really) Mido again? Ann sure wasn't happy.

Then, we get the revelation of the Yami King: Ouma Shu. Why was Shu chosen to be the Yami Matter's 'Chosen One'? Because at the end of his series, Shu was left a broken and blind mess. He fought to save the one he loved (Inori), only to have her taken from him. And as a result of his final selfless act, he still gets the short end of the stick and is rendered blind. While his friends were there to support him, he hadn't completely recovered from the fall-out and losing Inori.

So, his insecurities and anguish made him easy prey for the Yami Matter. Though unlike Mido and Kriemhild, who both were already terrible people, Shu was a fallen hero. He ultimately became seduced to the dark side like a former Jedi Master (yeah, lots of Anakin references thrown at Shu's expense was intentional) and became the Yami Matter's Yami King. He was chosen over Mido, Kriemhild, and the crossover villains because the Yami Matter viewed Shu as the perfect soldier to do its bidding and it couldn't be happier to learn Shu wants a utopia where every popular series that has overshadowed his purged from existence. In the end, a petty wish for a petty, fallen hero. It also helps that Shu briefly acted like a dictator in Guilty Crown when he imposed law and order to his classmates and friends, effectively making them second-class citizens and denying them vaccination against a virus. So, the Yami King is just an extreme extension of that side of Shu.

The 'Heil Shu' thing was some meme Allfather-Ford discovered online somewhere. He thought it fit the whole 'dictator Shu' angle.

Then, as it posed as Mana, the Yami Matter further pushed for Shu's vision to become a reality. They even revived Shu's friend, Gai, to aid him. In response, Ayase and Funeral Parlor searched all over for their friend and got more than they bargained. Ayase, someone who cared for Shu during his down periods, rushed to save her friend but was forced to fight against him.

Of course, our heroes aren't going to take kindly to Shu's ambitions. Sion made it perfectly clear he has no respect for Shu, but the Yami King attempting to erase him, his friends, and their entire reality to create a new 'Eden' is where it crosses the line for the Revenant. Allfather-Ford created Sion/Skyler Jones based on Ouma Shu's appearance, but unlike Shu, Sion isn't a 'whiny punk' and has developed stronger and healthier relationships. He's been able to get past whatever problems he's had in life and has enjoyed the fruits that life has rewarded him (his relationship with Hifumi, meeting someone who resembles his ex, and meeting/bonding with the Phantom Thieves). But, there are a few parallels between him and Shu: their bond with a quiet, demure girl with special powers (Io & Inori), both have friends/rivals (Jack & Gai, though Jack ends up becoming a trusted friend), and wield swords (Regicide Blade & Singer's Sword). Beyond basic and cosmetic similarities, they're very different people. Shu's a reluctant hero and has a 'whiny personality' (not my words) and Sion's a determined, hot-blooded hero, but not without his flaws and baggage.

When Sion looks at Shu, he sees a reflection of himself, which makes him resent Shu even more. Once Shu sold his soul and became the Yami Matter, Sion decided the 'wannabe tyrant' had to be taken down for the greater good and to save his own world. Ok, and maybe he did go overboard with the name calling. Look at it this way, Sion realized none of his Blood Veils were doing crap, so he decided insults were going to be more effective on the Yami King's fragile ego. Though, with how flippant the Yami King is becoming, maybe it wasn't the best idea, Sion.

Anyway, that was a lot to unload. Moreover, we have Mana fighting Ayase, Sophia, and their allies. Since this Mana is just a Yami Matter avatar, there's no personal battle to be fought here. However, she will be an obstacle to take down. Oh, and can't forget about the last minute addition of Lacia from Beatless. I recently watched that show and she's meant to distract Mana as Ayase and Sophia dish out pain to the Yami Matter avatar.

One last note, this chapter was going to feature the other battles with the Thieves, Revenants, and crossover characters. Due to timing and my sudden stomach troubles, that's been shifted to the final chapter's opening act. And I'll just give away who those other Yami Matter avatars are: Meruem, Master Xehanort, ZeedMillenniummon, Sailor Galaxia, and Gilgamesh. These battles will be briefly summarized as the tighter emphasis will be on Sion, Hifumi/Io, Ayase, and the others vs. the Yami King and Mana/Yami Matter.

So, I leave you all with that long commentary to dwell over. Urban Legends is tracking toward its finale. The end of this story is near, my friends. In the next chapter commentary, I shall tell what to look forward to in the future of Akane no Mai and a secret project we've been planning on.

Until then, send a review and take care!