"Micaela…" Luka says softly. Everyone takes a moment of silence for her passing. Even with sadness in his heart, he has to press on. "Let's go! We still have things to do!" He states. "Is Norman not here yet?"

"Negative." Radio says. She's very nervous that something might've happened to him for taking so long.

"He might need our help!" Luka runs and the rest follows. They reach where they last saw him, only to be shocked at the amount of blood shed. "Norman!" He calls out.

Everyone joins him in his shouting. Radio examines the blood trails. She looks down at the edge to see Norman's body at the ground level. She rushes down towards him and scans his body. Despite his clothes being tattered, there are no visible wounds. She checks for his pulse. It's still beating. A wave of relief washes her body. The group catches up.

"It's okay. Master Norman is merely unconscious."

"That's good to hear. I suggest we take a break before returning back to San Ilias." Alice says. Luka and Radio take his body back to the Pocket Castle.

They place him on a bed in one of the guest rooms. Radio stays by his side while Luka leaves to check on the others. She touches his hand.

"Every time you went to protect us, I was afraid you would never come back. Even when me and my sisters don't express it, we were glad to see you still alive. You didn't need to treat us like people, but you did it regardless." He groans and starts waking up. She composes herself. He looks around. "Good afternoon, Master Norman." She bows courteously. Upon locking eyes, she notices his eyes are green.

"Where am I?" He says, not caring about her.

"We are currently in the Pocket Castle. You should keep resting to regain your strength." Without heeding her advice, he stands up.

"Ungh! The body hasn't fully healed yet, but it should be enough." He walks towards the door. "Are there any residents here?"

"Yes. Luka and the others ar-" Radio stops when he summons the Angel Halo. It's back to its original form. "...You're not Norman." He turns to face her. A menacing aura emitting from him. He lunges at her, but trips himself over.

"Ilias dammit!" He grunts. Radio quickly holds him down.

"Where's Master Norman?" She asks coldly.

"Ouch! Careful! I'm still rec-!" She twists his arm. "AH! He's dead!"

"You're lying." She keeps twisting his arm.

"It's true! He sacrificed himself to save me!"

"Why should I believe? You could be an impostor hiding master somewhere."

"For fuck sakes!" He pulls out the book. Radio quickly takes it.

"This is Master La Croix's research. You stole it from him."

"Oh for fuck sakes." He gets up. "Even in a scenario where I did kidnap him, don't you think I would've at least pretended to act like that bum?" She points the cannon at him.

"Do not insult him."

"Whatever. Now are you going to kill me or keep wasting time? Either way, it won't bring him back." They stare at each other intensely.

"What about the blood? It can't be his, since there was no other body."

"It was his and he was fucked. Adramelech appeared out of nowhere and destroyed his heart in under a second. The only reason this body is recovered, it's because I used every ounce of my light to heal it. Then I implanted my mind inside." He explains. Radio eyes widen in terror.

"N-Norman is gone? No. Nonononono! NOOOOOOOO!" She screeches. Her voice causes anything fragile in the room to crack. After finishing, she short circuits and stands still. Her eyes are vacant with no life. He takes the book from her and pockets it. Luka and Alice barge in.

"What's going on!?" Luka notices Norman. "Thank goodness you're awake. What happened to Radio?"

"Why are things becoming complicated?" He sighs. "I'm going out." He walks towards the exit, but Alice is in the way.

"You're not going anywhere." She says while pulling out her rapier.

"Alice, what are you doing?" Luka is now concerned.

"This man is not Norman. I don't know who you are, but you better start explaining yourself or I'll kill you."

"Persistent assholes." He sighs. "If I tell you, will you let me go?"

"That depends. Now start talking." He explains the events that took place and introduces himself as Manny. "So that's what happened. Dammit. I told him not to do anything to get himself killed."

"Hold on. If you saved his body, couldn't there be a way to restore his mind?" Luka asks.

"No. He was terminally dead at the time. Even if I immediately healed him, it would've still not been enough." Luka and Alice are silent. "There. Now let me through."

"What are you going to do?" Alice asks.

"None of your fucking business." Manny shoves her out and leaves. He's about to exit the castle, when Sonia steps in his way. "Out of the way, side hoe."

"Side hoe!?" She grabs her club to strike. Manny dodges the attack and runs past her.

The field of adventure

Manny is catching his breath.

"I think I lost them." He wipes the sweat off his face. He pulls out the book and reads. "This is amazing work. He said that it's still incomplete. That means I have to find this world's Shirome. What a pain. I don't even know if she's even alive here." He feels the wind. "So this is what it feels like?"

"Heyyyy!" Someone shouts. He summons the sword. Chrome catches up to him.

"If this is about going back, forget about it."

"What? I didn't want you to leave me behind! I want to find my sister too!"

"Hmph. Suit yourself. Just don't get in my way." He puts both items away. "Any clue where your sister might be?"

"No."

"Useless as always." He sighs.

"Oi! What's up with you?" He ignores her and starts walking. She follows him….THEN A WATERMELON GIRL ATTACKS!

"Oh? Yes! Husband material!" She exclaims.

"..." Manny summons the Angel Halo. "Might as well try out this newfound vessel." In a flash, he's already at her face, his eyes with murderous intent. He goes to slice her head off clean, but his right arm twitches and merely grazes her neck. The Watermelon Girl blinks, processing what just happened.

"Eugh. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" She wails then runs away.

Victory?

"What the heck was that!?" Chrome gasps in surprise. Manny ignores her and focuses on his right arm.

"...It seems there's still a remnant left within." He stares a bit longer, before dissipating the weapon. "Or it could be that I'm not fully in sync yet. This will prove to be troublesome." He sighs and keeps walking. They both walk a good distance, until Manny stops to catch breath.

"W-What is this?" He pants. "Why is the body reacting this way?"

"...It looks like you're exhausted. How do you not know your limits?" Chrome crosses her arms. Not understanding the different personality.

"Is this how it feels? How annoying." He sighs. "We shall rest here for the moment." Manny sits in the middle of the ground. "...Why is it so bloody hot?"

"Are you serious!? You can't be this dense!" Chrome yells. "And to think my sister put the fate of the future in your hands." She shakes her head. "Let's go under the shade." They both sit under a nearby tree. Chrome takes out her notebook to read. Manny sees that, then extends his hands to summon his Monsterpedia. Nothing happens. "Are you thirsty?" She pulls out a flask. Upon witnessing it, he realizes how dry his throat is and grabs it quickly. Gulping till the last drop. "H-Hey!"

"Eung!" He clenches his belly. "Why am I in pain in this area!?" Chrome is completely shocked.

"...So you're not the same person." He glares at her. "Dammit! I've wasted my time with you!"

"Possibly." He shrugs. "And as useless as you might be, there's still some use for you."

"And that is?" Manny pulls out the book.

"To locate and negotiate with your sister, of course. We must find her to complete the research."

"Really? You don't seem like the kind of person to care about...well, anything." He shakes his head.

"Do not mistake my intentions to be noble. As much as I hate Norman, he sacrificed himself to keep me alive. It's only fair to repay that debt. Afterwards, I'll move on." Chrome stares at him intently. He's not lying.

"Whatever. Let's just go to a nearby town. You're hungry." They both pack their stuff and walk towards the closest settlement.