EMPEROR GENICHIRO'S PALACE - ON THE WAY UPWARDS!

"H-how much… f-further, Haruto?!" Belted an exasperated Shunpei, who was finding it more difficult with each step to maintain his balance. One wrong look and the vertigo was bound to set in, causing this poor man to plummet hundreds of feet down to the surface. At some point you stop seeing the ground and it's nothing but a pure, charcoal void with shifting figures of ashy grey, reminding you that this great monument was built by the hands of man, and our mortality, the reflection of our shadowy figure against a hanging luminescent lamp, is the product of a million right choices. Although lately, it's felt like all the wrong ones were being made, but as long as you can still breathe there's time to correct them!

"Can't stop now!" Haruto shouted, leagues past them. Koyomi struggled to match his speed, and she too was losing breath with every aching minute, but she had to keep going. As the three of them soared towards the sun, Rinko was ever-present in their minds, and her sacrifice had its fingers coiling around their heads, drilling deeper with despair the more steps on the path to freedom were taken. Perhaps sacrifice wasn't the right word. Sacrificed implied loss, and Rinko wasn't going to lose! No, a promise was made; the last thing any of them wanted was to not meet her at the bottom of these stairs.

The temptation to turn back and support her was infectious, but it was her fight and as each of her friends placed their trust in her heart to meet them again, they chose to honor that vow – no matter how painful it was! Rinko Daimon held out hope for them, and they shall reciprocate that hope to their throbbing heart's most plentiful content! Everyone was fighting for something tonight. For Celestice, for freedom, and for fate.

"Are you seriously considering being a wizard your entire life?" Rinko and her long buried words found themselves resurfacing in Haruto's head. Why now, out of all times? "Don't you want more out of life?" If he was dissatisfied, that would mean he held regrets in the life he had. Sure, there were a lot of moments you wish you could take back, or do things differently. A pretty boring story is a pretty perfect one, isn't it?

Haruto Soma didn't have any regrets. At least, not until yesterday. If it meant his story was going to end with that one regret, Haruto was going to change the ending! Whatever may come, whether fate or fiction – his story wasn't coming to an end tonight. That regret will never manifest, because he had hope, and not just his own, but the hopes of others!

Rinko, Shunpei, Koyomi…

"We're almost to the top!" Koyomi gleefully cried out, running alongside Haruto now. To his right, Shunpei was lagging behind, but barely now! Breaking his legs out into overdrive, he carried all of his might to stand alongside the wizard. Although not present, Rinko was felt in spirit, and her heart was brimming with a flame strong enough to tear the sea into two! "We're… almost to the top!" Koyomi said once more, but this time with great conviction in her voice. Our heroes made it to the final step. With no more room in their souls for fear, the three of them stood in opposition to the palace before them. What was once a majestic landmark for a quiet island had been perverted into a monument for vengeance. Though, this throne of falsehoods has always existed – whether it was founded on lies, or salvaged by a great tide of sorrow that was tired of wading by the tide.

But an empire shaped with rage can't bring freedom to its people. No kingdom molded with the intention to topple another could stand on its own two feet and proclaim to be righteous. Decades of fear and hatred were undoing towards the soul of Celestice: a place where magic was a given right, and ought to enhance the world around them, not light a withering flower aflame. Haruto was going to revive the spirit of Celestice through the power of hope, regardless if it deserved a second chance.

"So," Haruto smirked, pocketing one hand whilst the other held a firm grasp around the hilt of his blade. "Hasn't really been the vacation any of us had in mind, huh?"

"I suppose not." Koyomi shook her head, matching his smile. "But we've had our fun."

"Well, despite how it turned out…" Shunpei scratched the back of his head. "I'm really, really glad I got to spend it with you three."

"You say that like we're going to leave you behind." Haruto laughed, patting his shoulder. "We're at the final stretch now." The three of them turned towards the palace. Those bright lights didn't appear very welcoming.

"Is he really there?" Shunpei asked, a chill running down his spine.

"Yes." Koyomi answered, stepping forward. They could be a mile apart now and she could still sense his phantom. "He's waiting for you, Haruto."

"Then I won't keep him waiting." Haruto said, heading into the palace with a smile. "Let's hand them the celebration of a lifetime!"


Schwing!

A bundle of black hair plummeted towards the paved fountain square, burying themselves between the cracks in the painted rocks – a warning sign for what was to come if another cut like that managed to slip by Rinko's grasp! Narrowly avoiding a deadly trip, the detective curved around the fountain, attempting to gain some distance between them. Her adversary belted out a wicked cackle, finding pleasure in this game of cat-and-mouse. "Having trouble catching your breath?!" Kytalo sneered, a sinister grin cementing itself across their face. What creeped her out more than their voice, or sickly inhuman appearance, was the fact that she couldn't see their eyes. What kind of monster needed to hide their eyes?

Their blade flew horizontally, splitting the rushing water into minced ends. That cut missed her, only by an inch. She could feel the skin tearing off at the seams by her neck. Every move to defend herself was another hole she dug herself deeper in. They were whittling her down, trying to draw her out until her last breath to finish the job in the worst way you could imagine. What a sick, twisted way of trying to battle. Rinko couldn't afford to play their game any longer, what was she going to do?!

"In this world, the strong and the weak exist!" Kytalo screamed, almost with joy. "Heard that phrase before, haven't you?" Rinko fired off a few shots at close range, but to no avail. It caused her more trouble as they bounced off the walls in conflicting directions, causing her to awkwardly shuffle all the while Kytalo slithered through the path of whirring bullets. "But strength exists both inside and out! Those who have the power to change their world may be burdened by a weak heart!" Through their swipes, Kytalo taunted them by running their own tongue across the blade, splitting it into two as the ends detached. A disgusting trick. "Those with the power but not the heart do not deserve their power to begin with. Pathetic, isn't it?! To be born with strength, but seek no glory from it!" Rinko cried, grasping at her arm as it ran red.

"That's what you think strength is?!" Rinko shouted back, putting some distance with a nicely timed punt to the stomach using her heel. "Something to use to stand above the rest, even if it means crushing their hopes?!"

"He who controls strength controls their own fate, but he who controls the strong controls the world." Kytalo raised their blade, holding it upside down with an elbow pointed to the sky. It was curved downwards, with her opponent positioned in a stance that one would apply to a rapier, though their blade was not a straight point, but a ruthless, ebony cutlass outlined in emerald. A family heirloom that had been buried for far too long, the rust to be cleansed with this island's blood, starting with Rinko. "But not everyone recognizes strength, do they?"

Rinko and Kytalo began circling around the other, the former finding it difficult to maintain her footing, but bit her tongue and marched through the pain. "What do you mean?"

"The Dragon and Kirin, both destined to determine the fate of this island by mere legend. They inhabit strength, don't they? So, the rest are nothing more than pawns, are we to accept our fate and be nothing more than what someone who has never felt weakness wants us to be?"

"Sorry, but I'm not buying this attempt to seem noble." Rinko replied. "A lecture by a maniac like you isn't worth listening to." Suddenly, Kytalo lowered their blade. They sighed, all the while Rinko kept their weapon registered towards their head.

"Surely, you understand. Genichiro Shima, a worm with the blood of a raging bull – is he fit to run this island? His will goes no further than petty vengeance, and while he is recognized in the eyes of these fools, people like us remain in the shadows. Glare to your content, but I was raised in them, and so I operate in the dark for my own hope. While Haruto Soma dances to the tune of destiny, you remain here – to die. Alone, and all your efforts will be in vain, overshadowed once more by the fate of their battle. Tell me, what worth do either of us inhabit in a world that is preoccupied?"

"I'm not following." Rinko said, taking a step forward. "You're choosing to take the life of someone who helped you gain freedom, all so you can rob people of others?!"

"Whether you perish or live will not matter to the world. Regardless of who walks out of that palace, the end remains the same down here. Our story is not one to share, but I can change that. When the strong stroll beneath the sun, the shadows must fool them into thinking their eyes are closed, and when they believe that… New light can be ours. No one is invincible as long as you're patient."

"This whole plan of yours is to take Celestice for yourself." Rinko muttered. "No matter how you justify it, you're throwing away countless lives because you're afraid you have no place in the world. That's all you're doing! You don't care about finding strength, you just want to make sure no one else is stronger than you!"

"I won't let you do that." Rinko proclaimed, her heart rivaling the strength of the seven seas. "If strength is what you want, I'll show you how weak you really are." Kytalo finally brandished their pair of eyes. They were hollow, sunken so deep that you couldn't imagine a time where they were used to gaze upon a bed of golden daisies. Those eyes held no use for observing the inherent beauty around them. Eyes of the abyss, where they could thrive only if the last of stars burnt out.

If magic was a composer to both creation and destruction, then Kytalo was only interested in one tune. "Then rehearse your final words as I rejoice to a new dawn." Striking their blade against the ground, Kytalo yelled, a sea of sparks flying through the air as their cutlass drove through the stone and upwards to carve a smile into the detective's face!

BANG!

It soared through the air! A well timed shot from yours truly, number one at the academy! There was one thing this freak was right about: no one was invincible if you have a little bit of patience. The moment their game was off, Rinko had fired at the hilt and pierced through their hand! Knocking her opponent off their feet, she charged forward, back on the offensive! Throwing her arm around their shoulder, Rinko spun on her foot, doing a full-frontal turn and smashing Kytalo against the pavement! A brutal throw, and who said that training would never pay off?

Click.

The hammer cocked back, and Kytalo had a barrel several inches long stuck right between the eyes. "Sorry, but your game ends here." Even at the end of their ropes, a smile remained on their face.

"I'm still breathing, aren't I?" Before Rinko knew it, their opponent was enveloped in a green mist, and suddenly swarms of Empty emerged into the square! All of them armed, and looking more bloodthirsty than ever! A familiar, sick laugh swirled around the area, Rinko glancing around desperately in search of where Kytalo was hiding. "Your burial will be a wonderful opening act."


Huff, huff, huff!

Travelling through this palace was like running through an ever-changing labyrinth. Shunpei swore it wasn't this intricate before! Each hallway was a connecting bridge to rooms that broke off into more rooms, which were connected to other halls! It was a miracle that any of them managed to not get lost on their way to the ball. The abundance of signs now made more sense. Oh, if he got lost here then there would be no hope of finding him. Lost, forever with no sign of rescue. That must be what the others had felt, those who were turned into stone. "Are you sure we're going the right way?"

"Trust your gut." Haruto said. It was clear he didn't have any idea where he was going either! "We're bound to find our way to the top at some point, aren't we?"

"Right, that's true…" Shunpei muttered, not believing it was so simple. Kitchens, bedrooms, miscellaneous storage spaces – there had to be at least a thousand rooms alone! This place could house the entire island if needed, it was amazing! Yet, as the size dawned on him, the fears of the Celestians also swam around in his mind. He couldn't think about that, no – not now. What Shunpei needed to do most was think positively and continue believing in the hope of their success.

The Celestians would be saved by Haruto.

After what felt like forever, Shunpei and the rest of their party weaved around a set of spiral stairs and made it up to the next floor. "If only we could fly…" Koyomi complained. This staff was full of spells, but not one that enabled them to grow wings, or pass through walls. That would be awfully convenient though, wouldn't it? To walk through walls, or climb up floors as if there was no effort to it. She wondered if that was possible.

Eventually, they passed by a room that caught Shunpei's attention.

"Hey, what are you standing around for?" Haruto asked, turning back thanks to his attention being redirected by Koyomi's observant eyes.

"Wow," Shunpei trailed off, wandering off as though he was suddenly caught up in a trance. Any sort of trance out here could be deadly, so without another word, Haruto and Koyomi followed their friend wherever it may take him. By the time they got to the doorstep, however, the trance had infected them. A circular room with wooden walls, much unlike the rest of the palace. The bark was rough, and resembled a tree, with dark leaves for a ceiling that had a dome-shaped window peering outside. There was a spectacular view of the colosseum from here, but it didn't look very pleasing to the eye at this point.

The room itself was packed to the brim with a collector's dream. Dozens of books, each on different magical topics ranging from the supernatural to philosophies on alternate worlds, even a cookbook for dozens of dishes that none of them had ever heard of! There really was a whole other side of life that none of them knew about. It was like a mini archive. The best part was that it didn't stop with the books. There were what must've been at least a hundred boxes piled up, each containing different categories of mystical items. Brewing stands, a cauldron, and a workbench. This wasn't just a randomly placed storage garage, no, it was the perfect room fit for a craftsman.

"You could make anything here." Koyomi stated, picking up some goggles. Without taking much into consideration of their properties, she fitted them around her eyes. Suddenly, any surface she looked at revealed a layer beneath it! Walls became empty spaces with floors, floors became platforms of empty air, and chests held no more secrets!

"What's so special about those?" Haruto asked, stretching his arms. Man, all of this running was beginning to make him sore.

"There's nothing the world can hide with these." Koyomi said, turning towards Haruto and Shunpei. Although you couldn't see it, she was blinking whilst being frozen in motion. Then, a few seconds later, she began turning red. "O-oh, um…!" She gasped, covering her eyes. But to no avail!

Haruto and Shunpei immediately understood, reaching for the other to cover up. Then, as their eyes met, another realization came over them, and they separated as quickly as possible. They weren't going to be models for such a portrait! Quickly, Koyomi took them off. That's funny, did the temperature in this room rise over the past two minutes? "M-my apologies," She said, clutching tightly onto her staff. "I hadn't considered…"

"Pretty sweet goggles, huh?" Haruto jokes, scratching the back of his head. He too was red, although Shunpei was not.

"I'd rather not talk about it." Koyomi said, letting go of a breath she hadn't realized she was holding in. That was enough of that.

"Oh!" Shunpei said, gazing into the boxes with these goggles. "There are gemstones in here." He took them off, digging in. "Some of them sparkle, others glow… This one glistens like snow."

"Well, we can't spend our time window shopping." Haruto said, ready to head out. Part of him wouldn't mind staying here forever, but he had a duty. So did Shunpei, and that was why he refused to leave.

"You go ahead." He said, averting his gaze while he continued sorting through the gems.

"Come on, don't tell me you're getting cold feet now." Haruto said, shooting him a smile, but Shunpei didn't return it.

"Haruto, I'm not like you." He answered, this time with great conviction. "These great things you can do, like performing magic, or saving people from despair… I can't do those." He held an amber stone close to his heart. "This battle isn't for me, I would only slow you down."

"Don't say that–" Haruto started.

"Let me finish." So he did. "I'm not a wizard, but I am a ringsmith. Those people at the colosseum are all waiting for someone to save them, and if you – if no one arrives, then they'll remain like that forever."

"I understand." Haruto nodded. "Do what you have to do."

"Huh?" Shunpei expected a protest.

"Just like you said, if I can't do it, then who will?" He chuckled, figuring Shunpei would find his resolve one way or another, Haruto just hadn't expected it to be today. Today is better than tomorrow. "Don't keep them waiting."

Shunpei got to his feet. He looked as though he was about to cry. Trying to hold back the tears, he accepted Haruto's trust and quickly got to work! Moving faster than he ever could before, the young man carried boxes towards the workbench, pulled up a chair, flipped on a lamp and started to work. Today, not tomorrow. Today was going to be the day that Shunpei became a hero.

"He's fired up." Koyomi smiled. "It's almost unrecognizable."

"A little bit of trust goes a long way, doesn't it?"


Both of them expected more of a battle as they progressed throughout the palace. The closer they got, the more uneasy the air became. It was strange, wasn't there supposed to be guards for the Emperor? In spite of their strength, an empty palace seemed foolish. Wouldn't you want someone standing in line to take the brunt of an invasion? It was almost as though Genichiro was banking on them making it through. Well, then again, perhaps he believed in destiny more than he first let on.

Fear was rising through her legs with every step, but she had to stay strong. Not just for Haruto and the others, but for herself. Besides, she's made it this far – and she wasn't going to fall now. No matter what hid behind any set of doors, Koyomi was ready to face it. There were people waiting for her. Some she knew, others she didn't, but someone was always out there hoping to wake up and talk to her, so Koyomi wasn't going to fall. That is what she vowed.

At some point, Haruto and Koyomi arrived at a strange impasse. There were a set of large, studded doors. "Has to be the place." Haruto said. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, let's end this." One hand from the other on the door. A last breath before it was time for the finale. This story has gone on for too long, it's time to picture the epilogue! Here comes the final act! Together, they opened the doors, barging through with no fear!

A dimly lit corridor packed to the brim with pillars. It wasn't a throne room, but appeared to be connected to it. The penultimate before the finale. Of course, there was always a room to test the hero before the final battle. The question now was what did this room have to hide?

"Suuuch… beauty…" A croaking voice echoed through the passageway. It sounded like a toad on its last stretches of life, but Koyomi figured that it still had quite a way to go before that time arrived. "Fooortune… is in… your favour…" It sounded as if it wanted to cry with each end to a syllable. Breaking at the seams, its weepy wails slithered throughout the darkness, making their way opposite of the exit. "Oh, if only… If only!"

Drip, drip, drip.

A pile of black goo splattered against the floor. What would be nothing more than an inconvenience on the bottom of your shoe transformed into an enormous creature whose flesh was constantly moving in strange, dizzy waves! Their skin was embedded with hundreds of plates taking the form of faces. "When can I be so fortunate?!" This was Emperor Genichiro's personal bodyguard, The Envy. "You… Noses so sharp… Eyes so perfect… Must… collect."

"I like my face as much as the next person, but I'm not too keen on sharing it." Haruto said, brandishing his SwordGun. Not wasting any time, he fired a hailstorm of bullets into the creature, but to no avail. Upon impact, each of them sunk into that putrid globby mess and were swallowed whole; it was as though they were never fired to begin with. Guess he'll have to slice this blob of gum! Hacking and slashing with all his might, but it didn't work! Each time he managed to sink his steel into the creature and make a dent it's body bonded back together, completely brand new!

"Pretty tough." Haruto smirked. Reaching for his infinity ring, Koyomi dived in front of him, taking hold of his hand.

"No!" She declared, stopping him in his tracks.

"K-Koyomi, what are you?"

"Please, this isn't your fight. Let me deal with it!"

"That's crazy talk!" Haruto decried, pulling his arm back. He stared at her, anger overcoming his scrunched brows; staring in utter disbelief that she would even be considering going toe-to-toe with this creature. "Don't tell me, you're thinking of…"

"If you waste your magic on them, you won't have enough energy to battle Genichiro!"

"That's a gamble I'm willing to take." He replied, gritting his teeth. "Besides, everyone keeps saying that… It's not my battle. No matter what lies ahead of me, I have to face it."

"Not alone you don't." Koyomi reached for his hand. It was funny, he had been so angry with her that the young man had forgotten how warm her hand was. A gentle, soothing touch that could shine a light into the deepest of chasms and stand proudly as the courage he needed to climb towards the heavens. Though she often considered herself to be cold, forlorn and empty, every time they touched it proved her more and more wrong. He was burning on the inside, a flame so great it could split the sea in its cast. A ray of joy, sorrow, and salvation bundled beneath a blanket of a hero who at the end of the day was still a scared boy clinging onto what he loved against the world, even if he never wanted to admit it.

The two of them remained silent, joining as one with fingers bridging through the cracks to fill all the holes that both of them insisted on burying themselves inside. Neither of them were going to let the other sink into despair, so long as the other remained by their side. If not that, then in their heart. An unspeakable, inseparable bond that shall never be broken through the wicked clutches of fate that wrote stories where no one ever had a happy ending.

It was then, as Haruto caressed every inch of her hand, that he found his resolve.

"Don't you want more out of life?"

That question rephrased itself.

"What do you want out of life?"

Haruto had his answer.

He let go, backing away from Koyomi. "Promise me that I'll see you again." Haruto whispered.

"I do." Koyomi said, eyes closed and with the sweetest smile ever. "What about you?"

"I do." With that, Haruto turned to leave. As Koyomi charged The Envy, she cast a frigid wind its way. The Envy, on all eight legs, scattered beyond the door, leaving an opening for Haruto. One last look at the other, Haruto exited the stage to put on his final act.


It was a never-ending swarm! Her finger was becoming tired by the constant need to fire just to survive – she couldn't even catch her breath! No matter how much hell she was giving them, it didn't seem to matter. At this point, she was clinging onto the edge of the fountain's peak; a necessary retreat if it meant not being skewered. Just barely being out of reach, but these spirits weren't being controlled by someone who didn't understand their own power. No, it was a strategic point to divide and conquer, flanking from each way. The non-existent need to reload and her projectiles being able to hurl themselves at multiple targets remained the only reason she was not dead at the moment.

Like the coward they are, Kytalo hurled himself into a fit of laughter, watching her struggle. "Weren't you going to stop me?!" He reveled in her misery. The most satisfying thing about eliminating those in your way was watching them struggle. Draining them of every last ounce of hope, bit by bit down until they were devoid of thoughts at success was intoxicating. Oh, how Kytalo could only imagine now how that beloved emperor of theirs was going to suffer. That snake was going to ensure that their venom would replace Genichiro's bloodstream, and he would fall into a despairing death with the last image he ever saw being the person he depended on to run his little show – knowing now, that it was never going to graze by his hands again.

PEW!

Spoken too soon, a projectile whizzed straight into Kytalo's leg, knocking them off the rooftop and plummeting straight into the crowd. In their ill-advised celebration towards victory, Kytalo had been caught off guard, and Rinko took another shot. The crowd of the Empty stopped and watched their master, pondering over their fate. Rinko took a bet, for her sake, that they were gone. However, let it be fate or fortune, neither was on her side tonight. The Empty drew closer, ready to finish the job.

Emerging, Kytalo radiated with rage strong enough to turn anything they touched into dust. Cursing them to every last degree possible, Kytalo picked up their blade once more; holding it in their bandaged hand, and cast aside any support.

"Are you trying to usurp me from my victory?!" They screamed, slicing through several Empty. "Tell me, did I command you to pity me?! Have I commanded you to finish the job?! No! So, why are you all standing around requesting I give you permission to finish her?!"

Kytalo snatched one of their heads, exorcizing them on the spot. The Empty faded away. One fortunate soul able to rest. "This is my kill! My chance at becoming Emperor! Do not stand around, do not stand in my way, and do not ever think of disobeying me." Clearly off their rockers by this point, Kytalo laughed, recognizing their own insanity. "Oh, silly me… To get mad at tools." The Empty formed a circular crowd and watched as Kytalo changed their stance. No longer were they resembling that of a skilled swordsman, but more like a skilled madman!

Their legs shimmied from side to side in throbbing pain, and they swayed their arms around without any sort of direction. Even their blade, which was finely tuned for precise strikes, was being flailed around as if nothing mattered. At this point, all Kytalo wanted to do now was kill Rinko Daimon.

Although Kytalo was no longer in control, it made them no less dangerous! Their swings were faster, stronger, and without any sort of reading.

"The funny thing about fate," Kytalo began monologuing, devoid of any sort of consistent rhythm in their voice. Rinko allowed the surrounding area such as market stands, windows, doors and other things to exchange damage for her safety. "Is that it's always written by people who have nothing to fear! From the moment we are born, someone else takes our lives into their hands and molds it, however they see fit! Who cares about what someone can be if we can choose to decide what someone will never be?!" Rinko sustained another cut, a smaller incision over her shoulder.

"Genichiro Shima…!" Kytalo suddenly stopped, bending over to curse them. "You deserve nothing! A useless Emperor who stands to take away what I fought for! Without me, you're nothing! Isn't that right about the Wizard, too? For all their nobility, all their strength – it's nothing but a facade to keep people like you and I beneath their feet! The gap between us and them is immeasurable, and I won't let another person take away what I want! To tell me what I am and am not made for! Why should I have to sacrifice my strength because of someone else's?! Why does someone have to be stronger than me?!"

The fight continued. "Am I wrong for wanting a world where I am not denied my position?! Not denied my praise?! Not denied the power that I possess, simply because someone else holds it?! It's my right to be stronger! I will not be ignored. I will not be relegated to second place! I will stand above them all!"

"I am nothing like you!" Rinko shouted back. "It's true, I had my own resentment towards Haruto! I'm not magic like him, I'm no wizard, and half the time I can't be of any use other than helping others run away, but that anger only comes from trying to imitate him! Haruto and I are equals because we're not in competition!" Rinko dived headfirst behind a market stand, continuing her speech. Suddenly, a blade tore through the wood, causing her to scream, but she still continued. "Haruto believes in me, and I believe in him! Sometimes he might forget, but that only gives me the courage to be the best version of me!" Crawling away, the blade followed her, and following another gamble, Rinko fired off at the wall next to her, aiming upwards.

The bullet bounced off of the wall, ricocheting and firing into Kytalo's own shoulder. Rinko got to her feet, standing firm in her belief.

"I will never let that anger turn me into what you have become. I feel sorry for you, because for all the time you could have spent being someone you were proud of, you wanted to ensure others couldn't reach their dreams before you! Someone who does that doesn't deserve to be number one." Rinko smiled.

"I'm not a wizard. I like who I am, and I live everyday trying to be better than who I was yesterday. If the world doesn't see that, then I will try harder to show the ones I love what makes me special, in my own way." Her heart was eased at such an admittance. "I will never be better than Haruto, I will never be Haruto, but I am me – and that's enough."

In a dirty trick, Kytalo put some dirt in her eyes. Stumbling, and unable to see, Kytalo knocked Rinko off her feet. The gun spilled around her, and within a hazy mess of irritation, she was unable to see. Kytalo watched as she scrambled around, trying to reach for the gun. If only… If only…

"Any last words?" Kytalo asked, holding their blade above her chest. Denying that request, Rinko spun around, aiming the gun and firing off at Kytalo. She missed, only by the hair of an inch. "Pathet–"

BOOM!

Kytalo dropped to the floor. In their arrogance, they had wrongly judged that Rinko could have missed a shot that clear, but as that bullet bounced off a wall behind them, into the inner overhang of a roof, and downwards into a sign on the floor, launching it straight into their head, one thing became clear: Rinko Daimon would never miss.

"Lights out." Rinko said, watching as Kytalo squirmed around. Their body had sustained too much damage! In their final moments, while emerald flames gnawed at them, Kytalo saw the clear image of the one person who beat them. Although, in the end, it never became apparent that their attempts to change a predispositioned fate had already sealed their own.

As the last bit of the fire carried them into the afterlife, Kytalo never once understood that their obsession with strength was the very thing that made them weak.

Strength can only come from others, and from within yourself. Acceptance and determination to carve your own path, not stealing someone else's is how one obtains strength. Rinko Daimon's desires of her own power, of magic, suddenly became insignificant as she remembered her true dream: to stand in recognition, and in individuality alongside her friends, and that it had been achieved long ago. Around her, the Empty began to fade.

All the lost souls disappeared and were finally put to rest. A shooting star caught her amidst the chaos. Upon closer inspection though, that wasn't a shooting star at all! "Huh, Shunpei?!"


INSIDE THE PALACE – WITHIN THE WORKSHOP

A few minutes earlier, Shunpei was nearing completion of this ring. He had put all of his blood, sweat, tears – especially tears into this invention! If he made one wrong move, Shunpei would have to start all over again, and he didn't have time for that. Carefully, he cut away at the amber gemstone with immaculate precision. As he focused intently, Wajima's lessons kept ringing in his head.

"A ring is only as good as the person who makes it. If you don't believe in your ability to do it, Shunpei, the magic will never be usable."

"Are you saying that the magic comes from me?"

"Of course. Magic is in all of us. Some, in different ways than others, but it's all in your heart."

Magic was in his heart, and his heart was in the business of saving lives! For once in his life, people depended on Shunpei and Shunpei alone. Knowing that, there was no way he was going to fail here! This ring was going to undo all the evil that had been cast upon this island and bring about a new day! The one to restore their hope was Shunpei Nara. The sizing was done, and now all he needed to do was place the pieces into the ring. With hands as precise as a surgeon, (perhaps this could have been his alternate profession!) Shunpei inserted the gems into the ring.

It fits like a button. Now, all they needed was someone to use it. There wasn't a driver he could use, so Shunpei searched around the workshop. Something was needed to use magic… Perhaps a staff like Koyomi's? Well, this place didn't carry one, and he wasn't planning on searching up and down for one! It was already a miracle that Shunpei stumbled across this place. It was far too convenient, fortune was on his side!

"Oh, how about this?" There was a mysterious leather gauntlet that held several strange slots by the knuckles. Could it be that this glove was used to test magical stones? Sure seemed like it! Slipping the glove on, it fits like a… well, glove! Then, he put the ring on his finger. Although it wasn't the intended way to use gloves, the ring's close proximity to the slots in which a gemstone was inserted began to conduct the magical energy, and the ring started to glow!

"It's working!" Shunpei cheered, leaping around with joy. "I'm using magic! I'm using magic!" He cried out, tripping and collapsing into a shelf. At least ten books smashed against his head. Now, all he needed to do was get to the colosseum. Fortunately for him, a magic broom was propped up and ready for him to use. Wow, it's like this room is just full of conveniences, but at least that was established beforehand with the description of this room's purpose!

"Here I come." Shunpei said, opening the window. It sure was a long way down. Well, this worked, right? He could fly, couldn't he? It's a leap of faith he had to be willing to take. The problem was taking that leap, even if he held as much faith as possible. Fortunately for him, the vertigo started to sink in and in a dazed state, Shunpei lost control of his legs and plummeted out of the palace with the broom in hand.

"I'm alive!" He was alive! Yes, there was truth that wizards and witches flew on magical brooms! Oh, he had to convince Haruto to get a broom for himself! Certainly, that would be more convenient than the MachineWinger, right? He was bound to avoid a lot of the bike laws that were put in place! Last time he drove around in that thing, his license was nearly revoked.

Soaring through the sky, performing childish tricks like loops and figure eights, he almost lost track of his goal. Eventually, Shunpei made it to the colosseum.

The landing wasn't very smooth. Just because you knew how to steer something didn't mean that you were capable of landing something! Even the most inexperienced pilot can fly a plane just once. When it came to avoiding a crash, however… Shunpei got a mouth full of sand. There were hundreds of people here. Every single seat was filled with someone. If he wasn't aware that these were all people, Shunpei would have assumed he ended up in some strange art piece. Though, he's not sure what that art piece would be trying to say; Shunpei often did not frequent art galleries, it was kind of a waste of money.

Back on topic!

Shunpei stood in the middle of the colosseum, the arena where the grand celebration had once taken place, and held his hand towards the sky, begging for the magic to work!

"CHICHIN PUI PUI!"

A divine light enveloped the entire colosseum and in a flash, hundreds of statues were restored back to humans. As expected, dozens of people erupted into chaos. Many in fear, a lot in confusion, and there were a few people in anger. Although all the noise ceased when people began to look towards Shunpei, who remained in the center.

"O-oh, I didn't expect such a crowd…" Embarrassed, Shunpei rubbed the back of his neck. "Um, t-there is no need to worry!" Public speaking wasn't exactly his expertise, but he needed to put up a front for those who were scared. "With this ring, none of you will ever have to be a statue again! On the plus side…" He motioned his arms towards the palace. "Haruto currently is on his way to face off against the evil Emperor and restore your freedom!"

"He's fighting Genichiro?!" One person shouted, and everyone was back into a panic.

"Hold on, hold on!" Shunpei shouted, trying to gather their attention. It wasn't working. What could he do?

"CHICHIN, PUI PUI!"

A flashing light struck beneath his feet, startling all of them. It might have almost caused a heart attack or two, but at least they were all listening. "Please, don't be alarmed! Staying here is the best thing for your safety! I know a lot of you are worried about your homes, I can't even begin to imagine… But your lives mean so much more! I believe in Haruto, and so should you!"

Silence fell among the crowd. Opinions were shared, but one thing was for certain: if anyone knew what was good for them, they weren't going to risk stepping out into a battlefield. "In case any of you are worried… I have this!"

A second ring?! Yes, Shunpei had predicted this was going to happen. His desire wasn't just to save people, but to protect them, and so another ring – this time a white one, had to be made. Although, he skipped over the production process of this tool because frankly, who doesn't like surprises? In a workshop full of gems, you expected him to make just one ring?

"CHICHIN, PUI PUI!"

A humongous, translucent white bubble wrapped around the colosseum, protecting everyone from all incoming harm that Shunpei was unfortunately certain was going to happen before the sunrise.

"Bring them hope, Haruto…" He muttered, holding his rings close to his heart. From one magician to another, Shunpei Nara's voice carried out into the stars, believing that it would reach him somehow.


Nothing was working! No matter how much Koyomi threw at The Envy, it continued to regenerate, placing a mask over the wound with its many hands sprouting from their goo. All imperfections must be hidden. None of them should exist, for how can someone with true beauty hold imperfections? If it's less than perfect, it holds no reason to be happy. What terrified her most, aside from its dominating shape, was that she could barely see in this room! Every other second, Koyomi had to cast thunder throughout the room; momentary flashes of their towering figure making themselves present to warn her of oncoming attacks!

Paws smashed against the ground, Koyomi narrowly dodging some of them. Dodging one wasn't too difficult, it was like four that were the problem! Pushing her legs to the very limit, Koyomi carried herself around the room, using the surrounding pillars as guidance towards a brief escape. It couldn't keep up with her, as The Envy's body found difficulty in navigating tighter spaces. For every second it took to reshape itself, that was another second of freedom Koyomi maintained with their distance. Still, she couldn't run forever.

"Wheeeere… are… you…?" It called, no, cried out to her! Each sound it made gave off the impression of great pain, as though its existence alone was troubling to the world, and this monster was being punished for their presence. "So… pretty…. I want…. To be pretty… too…" Koyomi remained as quiet as possible, refusing to close her eyes even though she wanted nothing more to escape to a dream world. At this rate, Koyomi couldn't hide either!

Disgusting sounds of sludge threaded through the room.

"Won't you… share… with me?"

Koyomi had no choice but to run! Casting a new spell, one of clouds, a smokescreen of fog appeared before her, masking the path she took towards the entrance from which she came. Making it out unscathed, Koyomi continued to run, fighting the temptation to turn back. When you turn back, that's when bad things suddenly happen, don't they? At least, that's what all those thriller movies she occasionally watched with Haruto told her. How was she ever supposed to beat something like this?!

CRASH!

The Envy burst through the doors, knocking them straight down the corridor. Koyomi squealed, ducking instinctively, and just in time as one of them flew her way! If she was only a little taller, her head would have come clean off. It stomped at a fast pace, chasing her throughout the palace! Koyomi desperately jerked her head from side to side, searching for a room that would give her more time to think! A larger room came into view around the corner, the doors were open too! This is her only chance. If there is a plan up there, then Koyomi better start crafting it before she too would become another mask for that thing to wear.

The room was around the size of the previous, although it had a seemingly random, at least to her, decor style. It was abundant with mirrors. Not a single inch of this room wasn't covered in reflective glass. What a strange way to decorate, but she couldn't ponder on the abnormal choices when her life was at risk!

Phlg… Phlg… Phlg..

The sounds of fleshy, tormented hands sinking into the floor, only to be picked up again in great pain, filled the space between the back of her ears. Low, desperate wails melted from beneath its gaping jaw. There was nowhere else to run. End of the road, but for who? The creature ceased its hunt as it entered the room. A hundred wandering eyes beckoned towards the safety of its reflection, the security in knowing that it hadn't gotten any uglier. Its ghastly voice muttered incomprehensible strings of noises as it shifted around; it searched compulsively for any more imperfections. If it were to find another, it wasn't sure what it would do. Oh, it couldn't bear to have another stain on this already tainted mesh of a figure. "No… No…" Agitation steadily rose as it began to spiral around in strange, unconventional and directionless patterns. Its hands clambered across several unidentified areas of its body. Koyomi peered out from her hiding hole, which was nestled between several interconnecting mirrors – it was a miracle it hadn't noticed her, but for something so self absorbed, perhaps she shouldn't be surprised.

Why did it suddenly become so concerned with itself? She hadn't even been able to lay a finger on it. Unless…

"YOU!" A blindspot in her camouflage! With her hasty decision to make an observation, the edges of her arm had bounced off a connecting path of reflection that revealed her presence. A hand stretched out, smashing through several mirrors with a violent rage. Jumping to her feet, Koyomi stammered towards the next few mirrors. One by one, The Envy continued to throw rows of attacks her way.

It got warmer. It got colder. It got hot, it got cold.

Every attempt it made to grab her in its clutches, Koyomi was always an inch ahead. She couldn't imagine what it would do if it managed to take hold of her. Terrified squeals left her as she dived headfirst, barely missing a sea of glass, splitting a pretty portrait into a mountain of shattered ambition. A never-ending spiral of loathing gathered around her feet. It couldn't go on with this vanishing act forever, loathing in self-pity with the only release of joy being the destruction of something else. When it reached the end, and stamped out the life of Koyomi, the perfect little doll sent from the clouds to mock them to no end with its beauty, what awaited The Envy going forward?

Nothing but emptiness, it supposed. Why should anything change? Someone else will come along to restart the cycle.

"D… Do you… h… hate me?" It asked, as Koyomi failed to catch her breath. Only seeing darkness with her back against a mirror opposite of the corner. This was her last resort.

"W-what?" Koyomi asked, trying not to open her eyes. She was too terrified to turn around and have the last photograph of her life be the abhorrent mess that this creature had made.

"You… Don't like… Me…" It started crying. "Why… why does… Everyone… Not want to look at me?"

Koyomi remained silent. "WHY?!"

It demanded an answer.

"W-who said I didn't want to?" Koyomi asked with a gulp, hoping it was the right answer.

"You… Hide."

"Because you scare me."

"I… I am ugly… Aren't I?"

"Beauty isn't just about what's on the outside." Koyomi replied, shaking her head. Greater confidence began to instill itself in her voice as she continued. "No, you have it all wrong. People don't just remember a pretty face."

"I don't understand… You lie…"

"No." Koyomi continued, placing her foot back out into view. "How could you understand? You want everyone to love you, but you don't even love yourself. Your heart is so clouded with thoughts of ugliness, you don't even see yourself in these reflections. This is your room, isn't it? All of these mirrors, it's because you can't stop your doubts. Isn't it terrifying, not knowing who you are?"

"I can… Be… whoever… If they love me…"

"Then that isn't the real you." Koyomi peered over her shoulder. It was standing there, sobbing with great sorrow being held over its head. "All you're doing is pretending to be someone you aren't."

"What if they don't love me…? What if they hang me for who I really am?"

Koyomi stepped out into the open, setting her staff aside and facing The Envy with all that she had in her heart. "Then you're clueless about people. If they love you, they'll accept you… and suddenly, all of the things you aren't sure of don't matter anymore." She smiled. "But people can only love you if you learn to love who you are." The Envy remained still. "I want to show you something."

Koyomi turned the mirror around. "Take a look." The Envy screamed at the mere sight of a dirt speck on the glass. It retreated into the corner, unable to face another misinterpreted imperfection. That didn't deter her though. "Please, open your eyes." She said, standing across from at least a hundred arms wrapped around their faces. "It's OK." Koyomi whispered, kneeling down next to the monster. "You never had someone who took a chance on you." Her words cut like a knife, but her voice was as soft as a cloud. "You never had a friend." Koyomi stretched her hand out. "I can be your friend."

It kept silent. "Talk to me."

"No… Don't look…" It wept. "I am… ugly."

"Not ugly. You're just scared." She had the wrong idea before. This wasn't something to harm or destroy, it was something to understand. "I was scared too. My name is Koyomi, what about you?"

"I… don't know." It said, removing an arm from its face. Only small corners of its ceramic face could be seen beyond the cracks in its shield.

"That's OK. There is a lot I don't know about myself, either." She laughed. "It's possible I could be a gigantic monster, or phantom. What do you think?"

"No."

"Me neither." Koyomi nodded. "My friends don't think that, and if I was – that's ok. Even if I have doubts, they accept me for who I am, even if I am a monster, because I'm who I want to be." The Envy began to unravel itself. Bit by bit, as she continued to gaze at the blob before her without any sort of thoughts towards its appearance. "Do you still want to be my friend?"

"Y… Yes."

"OK, we can be friends." Koyomi said, grinning. "But I have one wish. You said you could be whoever I wanted you to be. Can you be who you want?"

"N-no… What if… You think I'm… revolting?"

"I won't laugh. That's not what friends do. Friends look at each other, and we smile because we're lucky enough to have someone who wants to share themselves with us."

"What if…"

"No more what ifs." Koyomi shook her head. "Please, whoever you are, share it with me." For all the effort she put in, risking her life in what could be certain death with one wrong word, it paid off. The Envy rose to its feet, and asked Koyomi to turn around. She obliged, and when she turned back around, standing before her was something she never expected. The Envy was nothing more but a small crow, whose ceramic masks were now polka-dotted patterns on the back of its wings. To think that such insecurity could make something so adorable into such a destructive force of nature. "What were you so afraid of?" She asked, picking The Envy up in her hands.

"Perfect, just the way you are."


THE THRONE ROOM, SHORTLY AFTER

This was it. The final confrontation that we all have been waiting for, awaiting beyond those doors. No time for doubts. Haruto Soma entered the throne room where Emperor Genichiro awaited. The hall was spectacular, painted with a shimmering gold coat, and a purple velvet lined carpet directing him towards the sacred chair. Studded with several cool-coloured gems, the main event awoke from its restless slumber to meet the Wizard with their sharp, crimson eyes.

"Ah, there you are." Genichiro said, stiffening his back against the throne. He didn't want to appear lazy in such a vital hour, after all. Before glancing once more at Haruto, he briefly peered out onto the balcony. The sun had not yet risen, but it wouldn't be long before the moon took Genichiro's place and buried itself beneath the sea. "Would you believe me if I said I'm a little surprised?" He chuckled, rolling his curled fist around his cheek without a hint of grace. That crown didn't fit him at all. "I half expected you to turn tail and disappear."

"Do I look like the type of guy to run?" Haruto smirked.

"No." Genichiro shook his head. "Not in the slightest." He stretched his legs and shook off all the dust, getting to his feet. "I admire you, Haruto Soma. It isn't everyday that you meet someone of your status, much less twice."

"I'm flattered." He said, shrugging it off. "Pretty nice place." Haruto glanced around, curling his grin into a frown of disgust. "But this doesn't belong to you."

"I suppose not." Genichiro admitted. "We all have wishes, though. Can you blame me?"

"Wishes are pretty powerful. So powerful that you can get lost in them." He nodded, pursing his lips as he briefly looked towards the ground, then returning to meet his adversary's eyes. "Any regrets?"

"None that matter." The lone Emperor smirked. "You?"

"Same here."

"If someone out there had to decide how my story will end," Genichiro chuckled, uncoiling his hand so that several of his fingers darted out towards his opponents direction. "Then I'm glad it was you."

"Sorry to have kept you waiting." Haruto pocketed his hand, running his sole against the ground as his heel dipped towards the ceiling. "But I'm not here to stand around and talk. A show that goes on forever turns out pretty boring, doesn't it? It's time for the final act."

"So be it." Genichiro smirked. "Let's put an end to this story."

A flash of light consumed the space around them, transforming the wizard's opponent before his very eyes with a legendary power that had remained dormant for too long.

It was a being of pure desire. The petrifying man was cast in a sturdy, bulked suit of personified ambition in the casing of golden sheets. It's glistening colour grafted in harmony to his luscious, sunflower mane whose front vines of hair hung gently over his chest. His face reflected the legends of the old, as what at a time was human — now a creature meant resembling the depths of his burning soul. A glimmering, marvelous mask with a wide, protruding jaw that could swallow one whole levied a smirk towards his adversary. Creased wrinkles lined the man's skull, taking the bone structure of the fated Kirin — it's detail hauntingly beautiful, as though an artist from an antique land spent a century working tirelessly to shape the magnificence of the sights a younger version of himself once sought, and set his sights to capture. Towering, sharp antlers protruded from his head — outlined with narrow spirals of vantablack, as were several pieces of his figure such as the lining of his tirelessly flowing kilt, and the back of his palms, to which his claws and blades of his hooved feet were coated in such a complimentary shade.

The being gazed at the path that lay ahead of him, his dark shimmering jeweled eyes reflecting the encompassing light of the stars back to whoever stood against him.

Beyond his brazen form he sported a breastplate whose outer rims were of the same, and sprouting from his shoulders were piercing branches that to one's interpretation either symbolized the decay of man, or the flourishing life of a warrior who could for the first time in his life truly understand the meaning of freedom — even at the cost of what restraint may save him. His back was the same, as two wings no wider than the Dragon before him, edged at every inch to slice past any foe flapped graciously in the air, guiding the wind to the tune of his own heart.

In every shape or form, Genichiro Shima had ascended into a Kirin. A silent warrior who has since shed his temperament, and now stood above the Dragon as any region of the sky does to the Earth down below, reigning supreme in its quest to rain down what this beast seeks as justice.

This was the power of the mute gifted a voice to rival the Heavens when it can stay docile no more. This was Genichiro Shima, for all that he is — unleashed in his truest form.

"Back then I underestimated you." Haruto admitted with a grin. "Let's put on a good show, you and I."

DRIVER ON!

CONNECT, PLEASE!

Haruto brandished a special ring. "Transform."

INFINITY, PLEASE!

INFINITY-INFINITY-INFINITY!

HI-SUI-FU-DO, BOU-ZABA-BYU-DAGON!

Kamen Rider Wizard: 'Infinity', made its appearance before the Emperor.

Eternity & Infinity, awaiting on opposite ends.

"The final act commences." Kamen Rider: Emperor smiled beneath their mask, displaying a marvelous, golden blade half the size of his opponent, with glistening ebony rims outlining such a wonderfully crafted weapon. "Dance until your heart bleeds in yearning release… Bring me an encore to die for, Haruto Soma!"


AN (08/22/23): So, after 8 long months here we are! The final battle between Haruto Soma and Genichiro Shima. Dragon vs. Kirin, who will come out on top? This was a difficult chapter to write. It took a long time, and it was the chapter I was dreading the most because it was the culmination of 3 battles, but I'd like to believe I did a good job. Apologies in advance for having to wait so long. It could've been done sooner, but I had some personal things I had to work out last week! Nonetheless, it's here as promised!

There are only two more chapters left, plus maybe a bonus chapter or two down the line. From there on I'll be working on 'The Witch, The Robot, and The Bugster' ! However, I'll also be starting a new story. This one is Ex-Aid related, and is a crossover between Ex-Aid and Street Fighter. I'm not sure if I should label it a crossover, because I find that crossovers don't really make much noise and are harder to find, so I may just label it under only Ex-Aid. It's going to be a blast, I'm certain of it!

Oh, and there's also a third story in progress that is unrelated to everything else. I was thinking it could be a shorter, comedy/mystery story involving Decade training pseudo-riders to become true riders!

Plus, at some point I want to start writing one shots again. It's been a long time since I've released one. Nonetheless, I'll do my best either way! I hope you like this chapter, and be prepared: next time its the ultimate finale!