Author Notes:
The following concepts that are to be used in this chapter are credited to the following:
1.) Mr Question Mark - Author of the famous fanfics: A Certain Unknown Level 0 and Between the Lines
Fictions Mentioned:
Episode 20 - A Kihara By Any Other Name (2)
OP Song:
Adele - Skyfall (Lyric Video)
Location:
Multiverse: 07th Multiverse
Universe: HWTC Universe-Prime
Insert Song: Start
Batman Beyond Return Of The Joker OST Joker Meets His End (Again)
"Let's get this party started shall we? Hmhehehehehehe! Hahahahahahahaha! HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"
A laugh would echo throughout the slope. The laugh of a madman who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. A madman of such determination and willpower that would somewhat scarily rival the willpower of Touma Kamijou.
For Kamui Kihara was his opposite. He was the negative to Kamijou's positive. The ideals that they both hold are likened to polar opposites that attract each other to a certain manner of conflict that involves the battle of the will.
Do what thou wilt. A central concept within Thelema. It does not spring from conscious intent, but from the interplay between the deepest self and the entire universe. It has eliminated or bypassed their false desires, conflicts, and habits, and accessed their connection with the divine. In essence, it is the idea that a fully actualized person will act in accordance with their personal drive to act according to what they truly need to do. Whether "right" or "wrong".
And these two would represent both sides of a yen coin that is tossed over and flipped. Both faces have met their match. Both have their ideals challenged and twisted. Both were subjected to tests beyond reckoning. A battle of wits and chess. Between the One Who Saves and the One Who Destroys.
In this standoff that felt like a few seconds in eternity,Touma Kamijou knew that he needed to make his next move carefully.
As of now, he and his friends were all being currently surrounded by a madman that he'd tangled with more times than he could muster, armed with a retrofuturistic anachronistic gun that reminded Kamijou of a mixture of a Desert Eagle and a DC-17 hand blaster, aimed just right to his head, and the twitching finger that was right near the trigger would put him on edge as the madman could just shoot at either him or someone else among them. For he knew just how unpredictable Kamui Kihara can be. especially when it came to him specifically.
There would also be an entire battalion of well-trained military soldiers wearing JSDF camouflage outfits, armed with Howa Type 89 Assault Rifles that were all targetted specifically at him and targetting his friends and the woman he loves in a secondary manner in order not to make any sudden movements. And these men were surrounding them from all sides.
No possible route of escape. Even if he were to bring out the gadgets that were in his arsenal, he wouldn't doubt that Kamui would have something up his sleeve. Both him and Kamui are basically enacting a stand-off towards each other like those wild west movies and all of those Clint Eastwood movies often told and shown from the big and small screens of the television series. And he could recall just him, his best friend Kyon, and a few others just watching them in their leisure time.
And speaking of Clint Eastwood, Kamijou thought that at this time, Sudden Impact would eventually premiere a few months later on December 9. Maybe he'd ask the Doctor if he and his childhood friends would be scheduled to visit America and get to enjoy the film premiere on this world.
But he would have to put this idea in the back burner for now. For he would need to focus on the situation at hand.
He has a less number of potential options that he could use in this situation. If it came down to it, Hanyu could ensure that everyone would be safe if she were to use her powers. But he also has no doubt that Kamui would have planned for Hanyu as well. For he too could think of different ways to ensure that no god would intervene.
A stalemate by the looks of it.
He needed to think fast, and he needed something, just anything that he could use at this point. They can't make their escape as both sides are covered with armed men and the slopes lead down steep ravines that would cause fatal injuries or even death.
"Hmmm," Kamui was humming, pondering while holding the gun in his hand. It was almost like he was casually thinking of what to do next, for he too would realize that his enemy may have counterplans ahead for him to charge through and deal with directly.
Even though it seem like the odds are within his favor, Kamui Kihara was no fool to underestimate his greatest enemy. For in specific cases, the Personality Swipe was something that Kamui had developed into a work of art over the years. No longer would it confine to things like personality as before. There were also the memories and experiences to consider. It was something of a novelty after multiple bouts of trial and error, a concept that he would borrow from the late Clown Prince of Crime to whom had once been poisoned with the a dangerous super-steroid drug called Titan, before eventually getting cured through confidential means.
After all, the Clown would need to be alive in order to enact the Death of Jason Peter Todd. One of the many cases wherein the Committee took charge and steered history on their terms in spite of events that should not change.
In any case, the Clown shouldn't take all the credit as Kamui had invented the concept of a personality swipe within his mind.
One wonders what else lies within the twisted mind of a man who is determined to see everything through for the sake of "science". Or by just having no amount of reason at all except "Do I need a reason to hurt someone?".
For reasons are just excuses one gives themselves in order to make themselves justified and feel good. By clinging to such preconceived notions of morality or ideals or beliefs, one would deny the reality of the situation.
That sometimes, one wouldn't need a reason to do what one would do. They just do it.
For some men would just want to see the men burn.
Kamui stared at Kamijou as an equal. Like someone he considered an opposite. Someone who could both challenge, and surprise him in ways he never thought possible. For when it came to simple mind games, Kamijou was such a fun bringer!
Even more so when Kamui would realize one thing the very moment when the concept of the "Multiverse" would be introduced to him several years prior. Oh the possibilities and the untapped potentials of such a concept that were covered in fiction and scientific theories. Even more so when he realized that this Touma Kamijou had seem to be a centralized figure within the plans of a Certain Board Chairman.
"Well, well, suppose that we have you all surrounded. I gave my men orders to shoot and kill if they even as much as find one single movement that seem quite suspicious. Like this," Kamui snapped his fingers while smiling nefariously.
Then a shot was fired. It was shot to the ground where Satoko was nearby, managing to yelp, scared at the sudden gunfire that was almost aimed at her, shaking and trembling, and was embracing Rika who would glare at Kamui for even as much as thinking of harming her best friend. And the same could be said for Kamijou who would simply remain silent and glared in displeasure and righteous anger, all with a solemn expression and demeanor. And the same could definitely said for everyone else who were sporting expressions of anger, with the boys clenching their fists and teeth clenched and shown.
"And since we've already established the fact that you and your friends may seem to be quite outnumbered, there's still the manner of you specifically, Kamijou Touma. After all, one such as I could hardly believe that even with this, with the odds that are against you and the die that is casted, you would not have made over a hundred moves that would allow one to escape this messed up scenario in spite of me shooting you down with this gun," Kamui indicated the gun that he was carrying with his hand.
"Correct," Kamijou confirmed, his mouth sporting a grim line and speaking in a grim tone. "But the same could be said of you. You could also predict the moves that I may be able to make regardless of the situation, and that you would plan ahead when it seems as if you have won and yet was also aware of the possibility of losing."
"And thus reaches a stalemate between the both of us. How on earth do we break it? In fact, the only possibilities that I could foresee is that one of us here won't walk out alive. It may not be you or me, but it could be anyone of us on this road. I wonder...," Kamui would look at each member of the Hinamizawa Gaming Club with interest. "Oh I know! How about we play a game of eeny, meeny, miny, moe? That way, we could solve the problem of who get's to die by both of our hands."
"I'd rather not," Kamijou firmly denied.
And then a shot was fired once more.
"Ahhhh!"
"NO!"
Rika Furude screamed out of a concerning alarm, as she and everyone else bared witness to the fact that Kamijou was shot at the right joint, thereby making him crouch to the ground, bleeding in turn. And most of them were about to go near to them, but...
"Everyone!"
Hanyu called out to them, bringing their attention, noticing the expression that the goddess was carrying.
She was angry.
And that was understating it based on her posture and demeanor, with clenched fists tightening. And it was directed towards Kamui who could only look back with a casual smile.
"Oh and don't think for one microsecond that I have forgotten all about you, Oyashiro-sama. In fact, I'd made specific precautions in case you would decide to intervene, for I know just how powerful you truly are when pushed, especially in your relation to time itself. So go ahead and try to do anything with your almighty power to manipulate time, but I must warn you, for the price of doing so would not just be Kamijou Touma's head on a silver platter or whatever is left for him, but of this body that I'm currently using and that of most of everyone else on this slippery slope, and that would also have to include my men, but they too would know the consequences and are prepared well accordingly. You see, if anything were to happen to me specifically or if there is any form of interference that would not be in accordance with my plan, there are planted chronothermonuclear case sized bombs that would be automatically detonated from several locations which would engulf anything in it's path, and that would have to include your beloved Hinamizawa and any other surrounding area within an estimated 100 mile radius. And not just that either, but that of the entirety of Japan would become nothing but a toxic nuclear wasteland where life would cease to be. Ever heard what happened with Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the year 1945? Well that would be nothing compared to what I would do to this entire country that has the current population of over 119.3 million. And then, most of us would all get to die together. Well, all except for you as your quite frankly deader than dead besides being a goddess. Isn't that wonderful? Hmhmhmhmhmhmhmhmhm."
The Club members were on completely on edge and were sweatdropping in anxiety, dread, and desperation as they all heard of the word 'bomb' and adding the comparisons between the infamous incidents that had happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the final days of World War II, for they knew their history well enough that could described the seriousness of the situation. Most Club members who have just met the bastard would all slowly realized that the latter was dangerous and not someone that they should lose sight of, especially considering how casual and seemingly non-threatening and honest was the tone that delivered in light of this grim situation. For this man was unlike that of Miyo Takano, the woman that they had fought against before a month ago. For he carries an aura that seem to be born and adapted for chaos and experimentation. He was practicality to the utmost extreme given form, therefore morality and ethics would hardly apply to someone like him.
"Now then," Kamui turned his attention towards Kamijou. "Let's start with a questions and answers basis. For instance, why exactly do you think I'm here, Kamijou Touma?"
The answer would seem easy enough for Kamijou in spite of bleeding from his right joint, with his body in a crouching position due to the pain of both of his joints that made it quite unbearable to walk in spite of his slow healing factor.
And Kamijou seem to still stood tall in spite of his crouching position. And he would slowly but surely stand up and rise up from the pain that he felt. For this seem like nothing in the face of literally everything that had happened to him. His past would make quite the dissection for those curious enough to learn the epitomes of history in relation to suffering. For he had been defying fate by walking through the shadow of death for far too long. And it would not be different this time.
"Well, well, as expected of you, Kamijou Touma. The pain would seem like nothing to you. Hmhmhmhmhmhm," Kamui softly giggled, as if he were a child that had found his perfect toy for Christmas. "But then again, nothing that I could do would break you, so a couple of gunshots to your joints seem like nothing."
Kamui would suddenly shoot Kamijou again, this time to his right shoulder, with Kamijou placing his left hand to cover the bleeding wound. And streams of blood were found throughout some parts of the body of one Touma Kamijou, looking all bruised and beaten up in light of everything that happened for the past few moments. The bleeding wound from his forehead was still present, with the blood still prickling down to the ground.
"You bastard!," Keiichi cursed the man who had shot his best friend once again, clenching his fists and growing hot headed, with his thoughts leaning towards his aluminum baseball bat which was not here at the moment and is somewhere back in his place, cursing the thought of not bringing it in light of this situation.
But even then, he would realize that a simple baseball bat would not be enough as multiple rifles were aimed at him and everyone else to prevent them from moving to help and assist Touma Kamijou.
He would look towards Satoshi who was also looking at him, both wondering in silent communication and gestures as to how they were planning to get out of this alive and intact. But they were also thinking that they wanted to say "Screw this!" and charge right at the man who would dare attack their friend.
But...
"Keiichi-san, Satoshi-san."
They were both stopped from their well-intentioned and reckless tracks by Hanyu who was looking at them in understanding, seeing her eyes sporting a bright blazing red.
"I understand how you feel, but you musn't, not yet. For now, place your trust in Kamijou Touma, he knows what he's doing."
"Hm?," Kamui would notice the angered expressions that each Club member would have and directed towards him. And he in turn would smile. "Oh come on now, we can't have those frowning faces appear on people like your age. I'm not planning on killing our dear Kamichan here, so you don't have to worry. However..."
The gun would seem to sway from Kamui's han as it was trying to casually pick a preferred line of target from each member of the Club who were this close to run towards Kamijou, damn the solders who would try to gun them down as they didn't care at this point. Even Satoko, as trembling and as scared as she was, could not just stand by and watch Touma Kamijou, her beloved savior, to get hurt while she just stands there and watch.
The Club Members were angry, upset at what their friend is going through at this time. They have no idea as to who this man was, but based on the conversation that they would hear from both this man and Kamijou and the meaningful exchanges between them, it would seem like that they were old enemies. No... Even more so than that... There was a lot of ill feelings between the two that seem to speak of a traumatic and bloodied history that one could just feel within one's gut. And there was also a certain level of respect and caution towards another.
"Awwww. Isn't this quite nice? The members of the Hinamizawa Afterschool Gaming Club truly care for their beloved club member. Oh I could just see the look on all of your eyes that wanted nothing more than to bring me down to the dirt and rot with the worms. The bonds of friendship forged in the fires of tribulation and choice that is inspired by the fight against fate and predestination that would create a miracle that seemed to be less than zero. Everything that you all had been through, trying to put a stop to Takano Miyo and her diabolical plans. Such innocent tidings filled with wonderous amusments and pleasures of joy that could only be found in the childhood of one's life. And yet..."
Kamui seem to hesitate, sporting a smirk that seem like he was indicating something. And it was something that made each Club member felt a chill run down their spine.
"What if...it wasn't that way?"
Insert Song: End
Insert Song: Start
Dies irae - Animation OST: disce libens
Kamijou would immediately realize what Kamui was planning, and would try to utter a word to silence the madman.
"Kamu-"
A shot was fired once again.
"AHHHH!"
A hit to the left shoulder, with Kamijou grimacing in pain, clenching his teeth, holding the wounded part with his right hand that was bloodied and dyed with the color of red. The rest were sporting expressions of horror as blood seem to flow out from both the shoulders and joints.
"Hush now, Kamichan, the grown ups are talking. Now then," Kamui would begin to get something from his pocket. It appeared to be a circular shape device; round, flat pieces of metal covered with something resembling a magnetic oxide. "What if I were to show you all that you're not as innocent as you all think you are?"
And at that point, Kamui would begin to show something from the device, turning on a holographic projection screen, showing something that everyone would find shocking.
They were seeing images of them. And yet, something was not quite right. For they were seeing...
"...!"
Themselves. Killing Touma Kamijou over and over againin a non-stop fashion, and what made the mood even more disturbing was the fact that there appears to be a children's song that was inserted into the mix of these holographic projections. Some were quick. Others were quite brutal. And in each single recording, they would gasp in shock as they would see each and every time Kamijou were to die by their hands.
A hit to the baseball bat that would splatter his blood cells to the wall. A machete capable of decapitating the young Kamijou, whose head rolls and tumbles down to the ground. Both hands were chopped off. Getting runned over by a moving car by being pushed from the side. His guts and appendages were spilled and shown throughout the floormat.
In every single outcome that was captured live for all to see, some would puke at the very sight. For they would see what appeared to be variants of themselves who have committed acts that they never would have committed. At least, not in this reality. Not in this world. For that had been stopped by Kamijou, by Rika, and by Hanyu who had finally succeeded in breaking the cycle.
But then...
It still didn't change the fact that these events had happened. And somehow, for one reason or another, they were recorded live for all to see. How exactly did Kamui Kihara even obtained this kind of information was eyebrow raising for Touma Kamijou who could only narrow his eyes due to the convenience it had. This kind of viewing technology was far more than just some random coincidences. They were memories to be precise. Specific memories located within the eye of the beholder. And he would look no further than Kamui Kihara who had obtained these memories for one reason or another by shady means and advance technology at this disposal.
The power to manipulate the memory, thereby allowing a precise look into the personal timeline of others, bypassing privacy laws and other sorts of secrets that were not needed to be shared and said, is one of many projects that Kamui would develop and innovate in his spare time. Now that Kamijou would realize this, he could only clench his fists, ignoring and accepting the physical pain that he had been subjected too. And he glances towards his childhood friends who were sporting expressions of shock and horror as they see "themselves" for who they really were, as if likened to bad dreams coming back to life.
"...No," Rena Ryugu softly uttered, with both hands placed to her mouth, sporting an expression of horror and with tears as she sees herself or someone like her butchering Kamijou with her machete.
"No...No...No...No!," Mion Sonozaki was shaking her head in horror, seeing herself or someone like her drowning Kamijou and strangling him senselessly by the neck.
"...It can't be...," Keiichi Maebara couldn't help but mutter, seeing himself or someone like him performing a massacre at Angel Mort, with him enjoying every second of beating Kamijou down with his aluminum baseball bat until his guts spilled across the floor.
"...No," Shion Sonozaki shakes her head, with tears in her eyes as she would see herself slashing Kamijou with a knife that was aimed to his neck, sprouting incessant amounts of blood and was harrowing in pain, still alive in spite of it before eventually being put out of his misery through every single stab to the heart, with blood covering Shion's slasher-like smile.
"...No," Satoko Hojo in turn was shaking and trembling, seeing something that she doesn't think was possible. For she was seeing herself, or someone like her, as herself in her young age of 11, or whether if it was someone who seem to look like a high school student wearing a uniform from some fancy academy or other form of clothing. It was the same slasher smile that would make Satoko grow absolutely still and is in a state of denial.
"No!," Satoshi Hojo could exclaim in turn, for even in spite of not being present within these murders for most of the time, there were some that still supposedly happened in some particular worldline that they were never connected to, as if it were another set of string that laid open the doors to another set of worlds besides their own.
Rika Furude and Hanyu Furude knew some of this, for they had experienced these timelines as much as they could recall from past loops. But there were some new ones that they didn't know about, but only through conjectures and thoughtful reflections. Occurring from different random points in timelines unconnected to their own. New horrors befell to Touma Kamijou in ways that they did not foresee. For they saw many variants of themselves, and the many deaths that ended too bloody for one Touma Kamijou who still remained strong and stood tall, facing it all in spite of being a wanderer who was cursed to bear this misfortune.
He looked so very tired... He looked so very lonely..., Rika would thought in worry, glancing towards the Touma Kamijou was facing Kamui Kihara, out of a sense of concern for the man that she loves with all of her heart.
Hinamizawa was always the pit-stop despite it's share of painful sufferings and death that would come in many shapes or forms. Whatever happened to Kamijou were filled with the accumulation of multiple experiences that would drive anyone quite mad. But somehow...he didn't end up to be so, surpassing the expectations of God (Featherine) and managed to defeat every challenge (illusions) that stood in his way, even conquering his very own self with nothing but sheer force of will and a set determination to see everything through.
Is that why Kamijou didn't seem bothered as much as everyone else who were watching themselves killing Touma Kamijou again and again and again in what seem to a random routine?
"Do you like the action? Thought you might. This here is one of my most favorite of innovations throughout the years. I'd call it the Memory Scanner. Well, one variant of the project anyway. It'd allowed one to peak into not just one's memories of the past, but also of timelines that never were because they never happened to you specifically as you would recall them, but regardless of such facts, they still happened. For as you can all see, in each and every outcome even in times removed from all of you, Kamijou Touma dies. And look here! He dies! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again! Again!"
In each "Again!" that was uttered by Kamui who could not help but laugh towards the end of it all because of the twisted cosmic joke that even he couldn't help but find such intrigue and amazement, the holographic screen would at least show the estimated countdown of over "150,352" and counting in more ways than one for Touma Kamijou to die at the hands of which seem to have lasted for about five minutes. And many of them would shake in horror as they stood there and watch.
"Let me ask you something, everyone."
Kamui would put the mood into an air of suspense as the Club members would sport distraught expressions. Some of them couldn't believe what they were seeing, and yet what they were eerily feeling was telling them seem to be the case, as if it were déjà vu. Some of them couldn't help but tremble and cry, with tears coming out from their eyes, especially in the case of the young girls who were watching their precious childhood friend getting slaughtered by them in numerous ways, feeling the same eeriness that was present in everybody.
"Did you honestly really think that Kamijou Touma had lived and spent a happy normal everyday life with all of you and thought that nothing was truly wrong?"
The dreaded question in turn would break and shatter all of their hearts, especially when they were still seeing the same deaths occuring, likened to that of a bloody kaleidoscope consisting of mirrors and pieces of colored glass or paper, whose reflections produce changing patterns that are visible through an eyehole when the tube is rotated.
"How many times, I wonder? How many times had he saved you from your destined fates? How many times had he sacrificed his life for the sake of your pathetic excuse of a village that should have been burned to the ground a month ago and succumb to the endless chaos that could have potentially spread through various parts of the world? I wonder just how exactly does Kamijou Touma do it, shrugging off everything that had happened to him as if it were not a big deal. I mean, he'd suffered far more than most of anyone that I could ever count with my own ten hands in rotation, and I'd know from personal experience. In all that time, he was always taking the role of the savior. Always there. Always fighting. And no one would have ever given a damn about him except one or two people on this slope who even they couldn't know just how much of a breaking point did our dear old Kamichan suffered tremendously."
Kamui looked meaningfully at Rika and Hanyu who were glaring at him, with tears in their blazing eyes and fists closed and trembling.
"How many centuries? How many millennia? How much time has it truly passed for our dear old spiky-haired hero? While you all walk around and have your everyday fun throughout the countryside like the good old ignorant brats that you are, Kamijou Touma had been fighting and fighting for so very long, fighting monsters in human form and those who were never even human. Such resilience. Such tenacity. He saved your lives. He saved your village. He saved the world. He saved so so so many on countless worlds, and yet..."
Then Kamui would say something ominous.
"Did anyone even notice him besides the aforementioned two?"
Most of the Club could not utter a word as they continue to see the sufferings of Kamijou unfold from the holographic screen, drawned to it and refusing to let one's eyes shut. even in spite of the tears and the anguish.
Why? Why? Why?
Why did Touma Kamijou had to suffer like this? It wasn't fair! It's just not fair!
Most of them who were watching all this thought that they could convince and reassure themselves that this was far from real. That this was an illusion conjured up by some madman who was obviously enjoying the inner struggles and sufferings just so they could all lose focus for even a single moment. But they knew somehow that this was real. For even before this, they would get somewhat of an impression, or a simple dream, or something that would trigger some form of memory from a different life than the one that they had all lead.
"Oh and speaking of which, did you know that Kamichan over here has one unfortunate childhood before you all came along to his life?"
"...Eh?"
Everyone couldn't help but mutter softly, paying close attention. Even Rika Furude and Hanyu Furude couldn't help but pay attention.
"That's right, that's right. Did you know that Kamijou Touma was considered as a 'Plague' by most of everyone around him? Before that Doctor fellow showed up to his life, it was one insult after another, one physical metaphorical stone upon another. It seem to go like 'FUCK YOU GOD OF PESTILENCE, I HOPE YOU DIE AND ROT IN HELL!' or something like that..."
Kamijou couldn't help but narrow his eyes, also listening in to the monologue with interest due to his archenemy relating his very own childhood.
"As I seem to recall, people would come up to your house and blame you for everything that seems to happen. Every single bad day that they had, they would consider you as the scapegoat. They made mistakes, no problem, they'll just blame it on you. They had accidents, no problem, they'll just blame it on you. They didn't passed their board examinations, no problem, they'll just blame it on you. You! You! You! You! You!," Kamui pointed to Kamijou through the use of his gun. "Without stopping to think as to why. Your parents would tend to be brushed up with all of these burdens as their hearts would shatter bit by bit, devoid of any form of hope. And honestly, it would have gone on for as long as you could remember if it weren't for the interference of the Doctor who just derailed such a fine spectacular show of one bad day upon another to the point where you would have to eventually spend the rest of your days on a city that is cold and calculating and searches for the joys of progress and posterity. The scar on your back that would serve as a reminder of the horrors that were wrought upon you. But alas, instead of one scars, you get a dime a dozen, even when the Doctor would sometimes come to your rescue. Because here's the one truth that you cannot deny, Kamichan. For misfortune would never ever leave you, no matter how much you would tend to try, and these images on the big screen to my left would prove my point."
Kamui indicated to the circular device that was still showing the deaths of Touma Kamijou in every possible way that one could count, reaching somewhere in the thousands.
"Yes, you may have cleared the Endless June. Yes, you may have saved Hinamizawa in over a dozen worlds or so at the price of your own life. But you and I both know that what you are completely doing is quite unnatural because even in spite of this, there would always be another person left to save again in the next few moments later after everything is all said and done. I mean, anyone would have just broken down and cry like babies, or go into simple catotonic shocks, removing themselves away from the reality of their situation. And yet, you still cling to it. RE-ALITY! And by doing that, you are denying the reality of the situation around you and focus on keep trying to save and keep trying to spread the ideal of genuine smiles in spite of all that pain. Oh if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a masochist or a sadist who loves the pain. But then I would know better than that. You'd never needed a reason to save anyone. You just do it. You didn't consider saving people out of a sense of obligation, nor do you consider yourself some agent of justice or superspy. No, no," Kamui shakes his head. "You just do it because you want to. And if that's not the epitome of brokeness and insanity, I don't know what is. In fact, what's more surprising is that even in spite of all I've done to you all of those hellish years, you'd still plan to save me. Don't you? After all, you'd try to save even Takano Miyo from her dreaded ambitions. Why not me, then?"
Kamijou could only narrow his eyes, opting to remain silent.
It was true. Kamijou wouldn't discriminate as to who he would choose to save. The terms of "hero" or "villain" did not matter too him, for they were arbitrary terms at best or at worse. And he could even think of people that would fit neither term. Dr. Victor von Doom of MV Universe-616 being an example, to which in spite of being a dictator, is benevolent in his rule for the people of Latveria. If it came down to it, Touma Kamijou would even save the villains and break their preconceived illusions, forming connections that would allow him to reach for a complete understanding and a firm resolution of problems. The idea of one talking to another. A conversation. A criticism. Here and there. He knew that one could not stop talking.
For if he does, then who would reach out to others? Who would point out the flaws? Who would point out the illusions? How would fear be dispelled instead of being replaced by hope? How can one reach a sense of understanding without as much as talking?
Indeed, in another life, Kamijou might not even believe in the ideas of "It's going to be okay" or "There is a Heaven that is waiting for everyone just" or "The good that would be measured would be measured out to you" and just throw them all at his enemies as some kind of sermon to distract them and allowed him to make his first move.
But after everything. After all of the people that he had met. The connections that he had formed. The bonds that he had achieved. The relationships that he had established. He could actually see that he truly indeed carried a normal life as much as one can be for the age of elementary. For he get's to witness wonders and worlds, civilizations that would prosper and the cultures and traditions that made it so. The reactions of many individuals who he get's to call his closest of friends.
He could form his own path. His own belief. His own choice. No one could dictate it to him. And he never once regretted anything.
He didn't regret anything. And he would always keep moving forward. For pain and suffering are the common lot of everyone, that is true. But there is also joy and compassion to be found in the midst of suffering. The needs of the few or the needs of the many. Kamijou would choose everyone around him without hesitation.
"It's true."
Kamijou declared finally, sporting a solemn expression in spite of his wounds that were now healing due to a slow healing factor, slowly but surely standing tall.
"It's true that even in spite of everything that I suffered, I'd still wouldn't change who I am underneath, but it's because of what I do that defines who I am as a person and as a human being. It's true that I'd suffered, but so what, so does everyone," he took a glance towards each member of the Gaming Club who were listening to his speech in an attentive manner. "Keiichi-san, Rena-san, Mion-san, Shion-san, Satoshi-san, Satoko-chan, Hanyu, Rika, not once have I regretted spending time with all of you even in spite of all the years that had passed me by. Don't ever think that you are all a burden to me, because that is truly not the case. Rather, you are all my strength, you are all my will power. You are far more than just friends to me, you are all my family. It was thanks to all of you that help me to keep going and walk forward, and I never wouldn't have done it without any of you."
"Touma-chan," Mion Sonozaki uttered softly, with tears in her eyes.
"Touma-san," Rena Ryugu uttered softly, with tears in her eyes.
"Touma," Keiichi Maebara and Satoshi Hojo uttered softly, almost to the point of manly tears, touched the speech.
"Kamijou-san," Shion Sonozaki uttered softly, with tears in her eyes.
"Touma," Rika Furude and Satoko Hojo uttered softly, with tears in her eyes.
"Oh Touma," Hanyu sported a trembling expression, with teary eyes locked on to her adoptive son.
Kamijou smiled gently and proudly with no hesitation at all of his chilldhood friends, before eventually turning towards Kamui Kihara with a grim and angered expression.
"So don't you dare make my friends and love ones think that they were a burden to me for even a fraction of a second, Kamui. Yes, I would still try to save you Kamui if it can be at least possible, to which I sincerely doubt if I were to be completely honest knowing just who you truly are underneath even with all of those people and that current body that you would use in order to let me break my own code. But then, if there would come a time when I have no other choice but to pick the very last option in order to truly save everyone and their smiles from your evil and madness, then I'd take it, and it was one that you already know all too well as I'd did it by more times than I could count when it came to you specifically and never even had to lift a finger by many of those times, but I'd rather not let it come down to that if I can help it, and I would help it. For. I. Do. Not. Kill. And yet, unless there's really no other options remaining, that would seem to remain to be uncertain. But one thing that I'm truly certain is this..."
And then, Kamijou would boldy declare with confidence.
"I won't let you have the last laugh. I will save, not kill. There's all there is to it and there's nothing left to discuss. For I am Kamijou Touma ― the Imagine Breaker ― the One Who Purifies Gods and Slays Demons."
And at this very moment, Kamui couldn't help but remain silent. And yet, he was also smirking, as if he'd figured that his enemy seemingly passed the test just as if it were likened to a time in the desert when the three temptations were countered by Jesus Christ. He couldn't help but laugh softly at the irony of an example taken out from the page of the divine.
"Hmmmm. As expected of you, Kamijou Touma. Nothing like this would ever try to break you down, but then...," Kamui would aim his gun at Kamijou's head, turning off the device from his left hand and put it to his pocket. "You'd think that just because you have the moral high ground means you'd won. You do realize the situation that all of us are still in, yes? Whose the one pointing the gun here? And who do you think has you surrounded? You'd still have to break the stalemate by whatever tricks up your sleeve that you could think of, and I have yet to wonder just how is your plan to set in motion if I have a literal bomb off my sleeve?"
But Kamijou opted to remain silent for a few moments, as if weighing the potential options that he could do at this point.
Insert Song: End
Insert Song: Start
Zero Kara no Gyakushū - Atsushi Abe (Kamijou Touma's Character Song)
And yet...
Instead of Kamijou answering, the rhetorical questions could only be answered by a single surprise that was awaiting all of them in the form of multiple blue ring-like effect that managed to stun many of the soldiers to the ground, much to the surprise of many who were turning from their backs, spotting what appeared a young African American man, fifteen years old in physical appearances, wearing a black business suit and shades, wielding two .50 Action Express Desert Eagle staser handguns, and running in a sprint-like fashion. And with the ensuing chaos, the Club members would all try to stay close together in light of the firefight that was commencing, with Hanyu being the one to order them to do so. conjuring up a mirror-like reflective shield that seem to emit a spatial distortion, and that would allow for the bouncing of the incomming bullets that would be fired by the soldiers who haven't been knocked out of the equation just yet, but to no avail as they would also be fired upon and stunned by the African American agent.
"Everyone, take cover and stay close to me!," Hanyu ordered.
"What?!," Kamui exclaimed in shock.
Kamui would sport a surprised expression, glancing to his front to find the man who was shooting at his soldiers in point blank range from all sides, knocking them out more of their numbers instead of a one-to-one basis, wondering as to how did someone even managed to find them all the way out here, and this someone just so happened to be someone familiar to him as this someone works for an organization that would prove to be a thorn on the sides of many of his aquaintances, including himself for that matter.
For he specifically ensured that no one would interfere with the private arrangements that were to commence in light of the long awaited conversation that he would have with his most worthy adversary. However, it would appear that this agent and the organization that he works for seem to have anticipated this particular outcome.
There's was also the secret planted bomb to consider in case when this situation were to happen, especially when the trigger was either Hanyu Furude's powers or Kamui Kihara's own demise or that the conversation didn't go as planned.
Why hasn't it been set off by now? Could it be that they also knew of the bomb and had managed to dispose and deactivate it before hand?
"Impossible," Kamui muttered softly. "Unless..."
That's right. The only conclusion that he could direct his thoughts towards would be the agent that was firing at his men who were trying their best to eliminate him.
With each shot fired, only a few soldiers would remain who try their best to open. One of the soldiers would try to charge due to being nearby, and would intitiate a rifle butt attack, only to be denied by a swift kick to the face, sending him to the agent's right side, twisting and turning before he dropped to the asphalt floor. And then, he would fire two other shots that managed to incapacitate at least four more soldiers.
As Kamui was distracted for a moment or so, Kamijou would take the opportunity to grab and ry to dislodge the gun from Kamui's hand. But Kamui soon notices as he would begin to fight for control, firing a couple of shots that would strike the asphalt pavement.
There was a struggle. Both men were doing their best to dislodge the other. Kamui would try to kick Kamijou with his leg, only for his leg to suddenly feel a sudden form of pain that would make the former grunt.
"Uhhh!"
And it was because that there seem to be a materialized circular metal shield standing in his way, much to Kamui's surprise and the surprise of most of everyone in the Club who witnessed the sudden materialization of the mighty shield. And the pain would become a useful distraction that would allow Kamijou to knock Kamui to the chin and send him tumbling to the ground before stopping in a crouch-like position, with the soldiers providing Kamui some proper amount of cover fire.
And thus, Touma Kamijou would stand tall despite bleeding from his forehead, shoulders and joints, using his shield to block the incoming bullets that were being fired upon him by the soldiers who were getting knocked out by the African American agent who was coming closer to Kamijou's position at every step he took, knocking out many of the soldiers through the use of swift kicks and mean hooks that would send them all to the ground.
Then the African American agent would stand near to Kamijou, with both of his .50 Action Express Desert Eagle staser handguns on the ready, firing every single stun shot which would send many soldiers tumbling down to the ground. Kamijou on the other hand was blocking each bullet with his mighty shield, sending the bullets back towards the opponents' weakspots and wound them, sending them tumbling down to the floor.
"Hey Touman, sorry I'm late, I got stuck in interdimensional traffic and needed to do some things on the side," the young man said apologetically. Then he noticed Kamijou's wounds from all over his body, sporting a concerned and alarmed expression. "Dude, you're bleeding."
Kamijou would smile, looking towards the young man, waving his hand in a casual fashion. "Nah it's fine. I've been through worse honestly."
And while this conversation was happening, Kamui Kihara would narrow his eyes in intrigue, with a subtle smirk, wiping the tip of his jaw and with both hands raised downwards in a subtle gesture. And while doing so, many armed soldiers that weren't knocked out of commission would cease firing, but were still readying their weapons in case they needed to fire once again.
"Agent Dante Price. Didn't expect one of the Foundation's lapdogs to come to the rescue. You know, I'm curious as to how in the hell did you managed to foil my plan for this entire countryside and even the entire nation to go the way of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?," Kamui said.
The African American agent, Agent Dante Price, would narrow his eyes and speak in a grim tone. "Oh well that's simple man, I just know how you do your style. After all, I was one of the few alongside the Touman when we were fighting you throughout that hellish nightmare that I nad the Touman wouldn't wished on anyone. My men are currently and probably disabling all of the chronothermonuclear bombs that you have planted on several locations as we speak."
"Ah, then it would appear that my hunch is correct. MTFs being MTFs and all. It almost feels like a deus ex machina situation don't you think?," Kamui mused.
Agent Price would begin to retort. "And you're the living definition of a diabolus ex machina bastard if I say so myself, my man. I mean come on, picking on kids, that's a whole new low. Not surprising considering it's you, especially when you used all kind of people to become your mind controlled lab rats, switching their own personalities and replacing them with your own, which is exactly what y'all doing to that trucker that you're currently using right now."
"Well, biggers can't be choosers when it comes to science, my dear agent. If anything, this man that I'm using is not going to be missed much by anyone as he doesn't have that much in the way of family members to begin with. A perfect method of infiltration if I may say so myself," Kamui shrugged his shoulders casually while smirking.
"Using the invalid and those not able to fend for themselves. Sounds just like a Kihara alright. Only difference is that you take that to the absolute extreme. Why don't you just give up whatever is your concocting and surrender peacefully so that we can finally treat the man that you are currently possessing?," Agent Price asked professionally, with eyes narrowed.
"Well, I could do that...Or...?"
Kamui would gesture his remaining men to open fire, to which they did so, and that would allow Kamui to make his escape, fleeing back as the soldiers do all the work. Bullets would begin to be blocked once again by Kamijou's shield while Agent Price dispatches the remaining soldiers with his staser handguns.
"I'll take the left, you take the right!," Kamijou commanded.
"Right back at you, Touman," Agent Price agreed.
And at that point, both young men would charge towards the soldiers, intiating multiple takedowns. Kamijou in turn was having difficulty moving in light of the excruciating pain that he was feeling on his shoulders and joints. Nevertheless, he could still move and do flip maneuver takedowns, using his feet to jump to the air and perform kicks that managed to stagger against the enemy. He would also use his shield to throw at specific enemies, hitting one enemy upon another before being sent back towards him, grabbing the flexible straps and make use of the shield once again. And Agent Dante Price would provide Touma Kamijou with some cover fire, firing blue ring-like effects that managed to stun the nervous system of various soldiers and knocking them to the floor.
While this battle was happening, many of the Club members were watching in awe and wonder as they saw their fellow Club member and another young man take down multiple soldiers with ease. What's surprising was that Kamijou, in spite of his wounds that were still being healed by his slow healing factor, was still able to perform martial arts maneuvers that would stun and knock out several soldiers, with a series of punches and kicks that were aimed at their legs and arms, dislodging some of their weapons. He would also make use of a circular shield with an orange Chinese dragon symbol that managed to be use to efficient use and perform takedowns, aimed at the jawline and torso.
Hanyu Furude in turn was smiling proudly and knowingly, trusting that her adoptive son and his friend are more than capable of handling these by themselves and need not her intervention for this matter. Rika Furude in turn was also smiling proudly and knowingly, having similar sentiments like Hanyu and trusted the man she loved and his friend to see everything through without her intervention on the manner.
Kamijou blocked the incoming bullets with his shield, the bullets in turn were reflected back at some of the soldiers, hitting their legs that made them fall to the ground and cry out and grunt in pain, with Agent Price delivering the final blow by firing his staser handguns, stunning them to unconciousness. Agent Price would perform a kicking maneuver that managed to send one soldier to another, knocking them both out, and at the same was firing his staser handgun against a few soldiers, knocking them unconciousness. Kamijou would twist and turn, sending his shield towards a few remaining soldiers that were still standing, knocking them to the ground before the shield would be sent back towards him, twisting and turning his body before initiating another throw in a circular fashion, knocking out two soldiers by over 90°, while Agent Price would take down a few soldiers with his staser handgun.
After that, the area was finally clear. The soldiers were all taken down. No more, no less. Both young men, Touma Kamijou and Agent Dante Price, having accomplished their mission would perform a fist bump and smile at each other. Eventually however, they would sport a serious expression due to one important reason.
Kamui Kihara, or the man wearing trucker clothing whose personality changed into Kamui Kihara, had escaped.
It was a sobering topic to take into account. Even more so when more unsuspecting individuals were being changed into 'Kamui Kihara'. A diabolical and nefarious method that was known as Personality Swipe.
Touma Kamijou in turn would look to the clear skies, muttering.
"This isn't over, Kihara Kamui. No matter what it takes, no matter what universe you hide, if you as much as try to target my love ones and family, or whatever scheme you try to concoct, I will personally stop you if it's the last thing I do."
And this chapter in the life of the Imagine Breaker was but one of many incidents between himself and the man known as Kamui Kihara, an individual from ACMI Universe-000, a universe similar to Kamijou's home universe, with a few minor additions. Kamui being one of them.
Kamijou knows that this Kihara was unlike the rest. He knows just how evil and vile this man could be, and experienced these first hand. And he knows he and his allies may have stopped him now, but this was far from over.
"Touma!"
Kamijou would eventually turned to his back, seeing his childhood friends dashing towards him and sporting expressions of worry and alarm, checking his body for his open wounds that were somewhat closing.
"Touma-chan, you wreckless idiot! You had us all worried there. As Club President, I forbid this kind of dangerous activity, especially when you're still wounded," Mion Sonozaki sported a worried expression, checking Kamijou and gently embracing him.
"That's right, Touma! Never scare us like this again. You just got shot four times for crying out loud!," Satoko Hojo exclaimed in worry, also embracing him.
"Seriously man, you gave us quite the scare like that, confronting that bastard by yourself," Keiichi Maebara said, sporting an exasperated and worried smile.
"I'll say, you really had us worried there," Satoshi Hojo said, sporting an exasperated and worried smile.
"Honestly, Kamijou-san, don't worry us like this, it felt as if my heart would stop every time that man would shoot at you, almost thinking that you would die on us," Shion Sonozaki sported a worried smile, with teary eyes, embracing him.
"Don't worry us again like that, Touma-chan. I don't think my heart would take it," Rena Ryugu said, sporting teary eyes and embracing him.
"What they all said, dear, you had us worried there," Rika Furude said, sporting a worried expression, embracing him first and foremost.
"As much as I feel proud of you, young man, everyone has a valid point. In spite of trusting you to do what needed to be done, it took everything that I had to not let loose and let him know his place when it came to myself as a goddess. And look at you, au, au, au, all covered in wounds. We're going to have to do something about this," Hanyu said, sporting a proud and concerned smile, checking at the wounded Kamijou just as much as everyone else.
Agent Dante Price would simply smile in silence as he would see Touma Kamijou being embraced and checked on by his childhood friends. He would bring his staser handguns back into his inner shirt pockets. Then, something from the comm-channel would make contact with the agent through the use of his wristwatch.
"Sir, this is MTF Commander [REDACTED] from Alpha-4, we've just managed to take care and dispose of the chronothermonuclear bombs throughout the area. We've also managed to take down many of the soldiers wearing JSDF camoflauge uniform. We've noticed that they were commonly carrying Howa Type 89 Assault Rifles. And as far as history is concerned, these kinds of weapons weren't even invented or introduced into the servie until 1989. Possible case of alternative timeline or future history is in effect in this scenario."
"Copy that, Commander. Thanks for the assist. Just know that I've taken down multiple numbers of these soldiers with the help of SCP-0000. He's currently sustaning heavy wounds from the shoulders and leg joints, but managed to heal up slowly thanks to the healing factor. However, medical personnel would need to be sent in as well as additional MTFs connected to Alpha-4 just in case of any form of surprises that were to be enacted in light of the fact that Kamui Kihara has escaped custody. Further caution is adviced and is to be reported to all MTF personnel," Agent Price ordered and communicated.
"Copy that sir. The heads-up is acknowledged."
And with that, Agent Price would begin to turn towards Kamijou who had finally managed to reassure his childhood friends that he was alright and well. Eventually, Kamijou would begin to say.
"Speaking of which everyone, I just thoughtt that I would get to introduced you to a friend of mine," Kamijou gestured towards Agent Price who was standing attentively, sporting a smile. "This is Agent Dante Price. He's an old friend of mine and we've been through a whole lot together in the past. Price, I'd like you to finally officially meet all of the members of the Hinamizawa Afterschool Gaming Club. Keiichi Maebara, Rena Ryugu, Mion Sonozaki, Shion Sonozaki, Satoshi Hojo, and Satoko Hojo. You already know about Rika and Hanyu as you've both met them a few times down the line."
"Yeah, I'm well aware of that, Touman," Agent Price smirked before nodding at the aforementioned two. "Hey Rika, Hanyu, been a while since we last met."
"Same to you as well, Price-san," Rika said, as she and Hanyu sported smiles on their faces, with most of everyone sporting curious expressions, wondering as to how did the two know the young man who suddenly just dropped in out of nowhere."
And then came the introductions and the conversations to be followed later between a certain agent and the childhood friends who were eager to know about their friend's acquaintance.
Insert Song: End
ED Song:
Betcha Never from Cherie (2004)
Main Companion Protagonists:
Touma Kamijou - VA: Atsushi Abe
New Characters:
Agent Dante Richardson Price
