Unmei Force Shattered Heroes: Faded Divinity
Chapter 12: Journey through Eternity
As Kaguya and her group began to search through the entire area, making sure to take care of any lingering threats in the form of hostile demons, they followed Tao's directions, heading towards the entrance to the Temple of Eternity.
However, along the way, they were surprised when they saw a familiar figure in the distance, someone that they haven't seen for a long time.
"...Dazai?" Tao remarked. "How is he here?"
"Something tells me we're about to witness something odd." Kaguya remarked, before raising a hand to gesture to the group. "...Just listen. I don't think that he is in any danger… but I don't think that he's here without purpose."
The entire group nodded, before they looked towards Ichiro, who was standing atop a ruined building.
"No… If Master Abdiel's defeated, what'll happen to our world? She's the only one who can bring this place order!" Ichiro exclaimed, looking lost, as he was flailing about in frustration."You can't lose now, Archangel! You just can't! Without you, Tokyo, no, society will tear itself apart! Divine diversity is not an answer, it's chaos! All we need is a single, ultimate truth! What we DON'T need is an excess of false opinions!"
Ichiro raised his hands to the heavens, before slumping down. "But how can I even prove that…" He said, before he then fell silent.
"Ichiro…" Sahori remarked. "...Damn, I feel bad for him, even though he doesn't know what he's saying."
"Wait, that's right! 'If your prayer is indeed for harmony, bring it about yourself.' That's what that voice was telling me!" Ichiro exclaimed in sudden realization, his spirit raised upon this revelation. "Okay, maybe I suck on my own, but being useful to Master Abdiel is enough! That's right, I've got this… I've HAD this! Master Abdiel helped me because she knew that I was devoted to her cause and helped her so greatly. It's like Kaguya did for countless others! My Knowledge alone'll serve the greater good! I just… have to stand up strong."
Ichiro then took a deep breath, before he then grabbed his cap, before tossing it away into the wind, and then placing both hands on his head, and slicking his hair back slowly. After he was done, he then smirked with a fanatic passion.
"And I'll rise above the rest! I'll be the sword of heaven! Haha…. Hahahaha!" Ichiro remarked, before he then strided away from the scene.
"...What has happened to cause Ichiro… to become this?" Miyazu said, as her expression was horrified.
"...That damn angel must have fed him some bullshit about doing what Bethel sees as the greater good." Kaguya scowled. "...But I doubt that's all… a voice he says… I think that Bethel is not out of the game as much as I believed."
The group then continued on, before they managed to find themselves before a floating array of rocky pillars that were entwined with each other, made of cube-like structures, as they were connected to a stream-like portal on the bottom of the area. As the group stood before the entrance of the rocky array.
"This is the Temple of Eternity is it?" Kaguya asked, looking around. "...Doesn't seem to look like much. It must be connected to a different realm itself, but not the Empyrean yet."
"You are correct." Tao answered back. "Once we enter through this portal, the realm will change significantly into a realm that we can normally traverse. And when we reach the top and offer the three keys, the path to the Empyrean will open. The Pillar Empyreal, as it is called, spans the gap between heaven and earth, connecting them. Do be careful, however. I detect many a demon within these grounds…. But that has never stopped you, has it, Kaguya?"
"I was prepared. Whether it be an organized army like the one Arioch had for chaos… or an unruly mob, they'll fall all the same in my wake." Kaguya declared, before turning to Sahori and Miyazu. "The real question is, are you both prepared? I don't want to drag you both into a fight that you two won't be able to handle."
"Worry less about me, I can handle my own. And I made double sure that there aren't any nasty surprises concerning me." Sahori answered back.
"Kaguya… if I may ask… will there be a chance that we will have to fight Ichiro for the Empyrean Throne?" Miyazu asked, before placing a hand over her chest. "And even… my brother?"
Tao and Kaguya shared a look, before the latter sighed.
"...Ichiro won't back down. That much, I can tell. Ever since the start, Abdiel has him wrapped around his finger, and he was willing to stay by her side." Kaguya responded back. "...And regarding Tsukuyomi… I have a feeling that he won't listen… and since Atsuta was chosen by him…"
There was a moment of silence, as it seemed heavy for everyone involved.
"...I'm sorry, Miyazu. The throne can only accept one person to shape the world." Tao responded back. "Unless Atsuta and Tsukuyomi are willing to abdicate to Kaguya… then the fight will only end with one side defeated… or even dead. It's just… how all struggles for the Throne have been from its conception."
"Promise me… Promise me that unless there is no choice left, that you'll spare my brother." Miyazu told Kaguya with a firm expression. "...I may not stand for him anymore… but I still love him as my kin."
"You have my word." Kaguya declared with a nod.
The group then entered the portal, as it transported them within the Temple of Eternity, which turned out to be a maze of stone, with glowing golden marks on the walls, and many rooms that were filled with lush green scenery, and torches on each hallway, and many demons wandering about, none of them looking like that they could be negotiated with.
"You were right about it being a whole different place inside…" Kaguya remarked. "Let's explore this place. Perhaps we could stand to find something interesting along the way."
The group began to wander the large floors of the Temple of Eternity, trying to avoid encounters with the demons patrolling the maze-like floors, and taking whatever treasures were found within, all of which were added to Kaguya's possessions for future use.
Eventually, they reached the top, where there was only a single door before them, as Tao could sense the gate to the Empyrean on the other side of the door. And yet, Kaguya sensed a formidable entity awaiting them, as did Omoikane.
"Kaguya, there seems to be a formidable demon awaiting our arrival." Omoikane warned Kaguya. "It is best to prepare before advancing."
"Of course." Kaguya said, before she then looked at the ley-line fount. "I suppose that I should make my own preparations, and thank a certain someone for the services they provided for us."
Kaguya then departed to the Realm of Shadows, this time on her lonesome, with no demons to accompany her.
"Sophia." Kaguya remarked, as the owner of the realm turned to her. "I would like to speak to you."
"What is it that you wish to discuss with me?" Sophia asked.
"I would like to thank you for everything that you have done for me. Without you, my demons wouldn't be able to learn new abilities and face the battles that came along. Hell, the only reason my Pixie, now Royal Pixie, was able to remain strong enough to fight to now, is by borrowing the skills of the Essences of countless demons. Same goes with every other demon."
"And yet you have stopped sacrificing demons to be fused." Sophia noted. "Have you decided that cataloging the Life of the demons that you have slain and encountered to create their Essences, is a sufficient process? I would have thought that you would be far less reserved on the matter."
"I have no right to fuse demons for a meaningless purpose." Kaguya answered back. "I have the demons that I need for my journey through Da'at, and even beyond that. There is no need for other fusions. Let them live their lives as they please. I intend to create a world where demons will be able to find common ground with humans, and enjoy the same joys as we do."
"I see, so this journey has made you realize the importance of Life itself." Sophia answered back. "Let me reintroduce myself, Kaguya Houraisan. I am Sophia, the Achamoth in this world, the sacred prostitute that gives birth to demonic life. Countless demons you have fought and conquered, as their Life is the proof of your triumphs, and you a warrior who uses these proofs to temper yourself and others in your care and employ. It is a unique existence that I cannot deny. Such pathos transcends the abstract, and takes its own form. As such, I reward you this."
Kaguya then was given a pink seed of energy that felt solid in Kaguya's palm, as the princess could feel the sheer amount of life energy emanating from it.
"Thank you." Kaguya stated. "This may be the last time I truly see you. Once again, I thank you for all that you have done to help me along this journey."
"Take well care of yourself. Your journey merely starts from here." Sophia nodded, before Kaguya left the realm, while pocketing the energetic seed somewhere in her robe.
"Everything alright?" Tao asked, as Kaguya nodded.
The group began to step forth, before they then stopped when they felt a powerful wind blast through the area.
"Get ready. Our foe comes." Omoikane said, before Kaguya and her group drew their weapons for battle. Their foe landed, as it was a metallic angel, who looked more robot than actual flesh, with a white holy robe, and a pair of long-feathered angel wings on his back.
"This is the path that leads to the throne. It is a sacred place that only those who are worthy may enter." The angel declared with a booming voice. "I, Metatron, shall be your judge!"
Formidable Target Detected
Metatron
The Voice Of God
"We accept your trial." Kaguya remarked, before she shrouded her naginata with darkness, before striking forth, dealing the metal angel a crippling blow.
Sahori immediately jumped into the air, before she then created a massive tentacle that slammed onto Metatron, and pinned him onto the ground, as he sank into a puddle of purple mud, with the high-ranked angel feeling the taint of poison in being hit with such a powerful attack.
Tao then immediately began to buff the party up, while Miyazu immediately used her blade to hit Metatron with a powerful blow, which managed to rattle the metallic angel considerably, opening him for another debilitating blow from Kaguya that weakened him further.
"Eat this!" Sahori remarked, before she then impaled Metatron with a powerful tentacle infused with dark energy, causing the angel to keel over momentarily.
"Such strength. Is this your power as a unified group?" Metatron remarked, with some respect in his voice. "No matter, I am not here to allow you to test your power upon me. Now then, suffer my retribution!"
Metatron then immediately hit the group with a Megidolaon, which the group endured, before Metatron immediately then threw his hand forward, as a silver light shone upon Kaguya and the group, as they felt their empowered strength being sapped away.
"Tch…" Kaguya cursed, before she retreated to allow her demons to take to the front, as Amanozako, Idun, Royal Pixie and Alice took to the battle.
"Woah! That's one big-shot angel right there!" Amanozako exclaimed. "Hey, angel, want to see something nice!?"
"What is this about-" Metatron remarked, before Amanozako sucked up a deep breath, and immediately fired a massive beam of energy from her mouth which hit Metatron dead on, staggering the great angel.
"Hah! Now this is satisfying!" Amanozako laughed. "Being able to blast any annoying people with a mouth-beam is the greatest sensation I ever felt!"
"Anyways… I think that you shouldn't taunt him. He is formidable." Idun warned Amanozako, before giving the group golden apples to boost their strength.
"Well, let's see him handle this!" Royal Pixie remarked, before using her magic to drain strength from Metatron.
"Take this." Alice remarked with a cold tone, before she then hit Metatron with a barrage of dark spears, which managed to do considerable damage to the angel.
"Hey, I notice that you have some nice tricks on you. Would be a shame if you lost them!" Amanozako remarked, before she then immediately created a dark magic circle that shot towards Metatron, imprinting itself on him, as the angel felt his powers being momentarily sealed.
Idun immediately hit Metatron with a Zanbarion, which managed to buffet the angel for considerable damage due to the disparity between their strength, but the angel still stood strong and endured the attack, while Royal Pixie began to charge herself, as there was a golden glow much like Zeus's own forming around her, as Alice piled more spears onto Metatron, causing him to sag on the spot.
"To have such power… what kind of cause drives these human Nahobinos…!?" Metatron remarked, before using his fists to strike Amanozako, who immediately repaid him with a dark-infused slash to the face, and Alice, who guarded against the attack.
"The same kind of strength that others have, when they come here." Kaguya declared. "We just simply made sure that we are not found wanting, and so we have forged our strength for this eventuality."
"I see." Metatron remarked, before he then saw Kaguya and her group unleash their Magatsuhi, ready to deal the finishing blows. "...It seems that the Creator has created such determined beings to succeed the Throne."
Metatron then was hit by Kaguya's beam of almighty energy, before Sahori hit him with a barrage of tentacle strikes that managed to slice into his metallic skin, while Tao hit him with a powerful ball of almighty energy that worsened the wound, and Miyazu quickly cut down the angel with a powerful downward swing of her khopesh, bisecting the angel down the middle.
The angel merely went silent, before the two halves of the angel fizzled into red Magatsuhi that faded away.
"We did it… through here, and the Throne will be ours." Sahori said. "If we're quick enough… we'll be able to take it before anyone else makes it here."
"Good idea, let's just-" Kaguya remarked, before her head began to throb in pain. "...Go…"
"Kaguya?" Miyazu remarked, as Kaguya clutched her forehead, as she began to wobble on the spot, her vision going blurry, and her senses beginning to leave her. "Kaguya!"
"Omoi…kane…" Kaguya said.
"I can't… something is… trying to… whisk us… away…" Omoikane said, as his voice sounded sluggish.
"No! Kaguya, please, you can't die here! We are so close to being able to help everyone! Please…" Tao cried, as Kaguya finally fell backwards, as her only sight was the girls standing over her. "Don't go! You can't go like this!"
Kaguya then began to slip away, as the cries of the girls became more and more distant, as everything faded to black.
When Kaguya next came back to consciousness, she found herself surrounded in darkness, as there was no-one by her side.
"Amanozako? Pixie? Miyazu? Sahori? Tao!?" Kaguya called out, as she tried to call for her friends, as her voice echoed into the darkness. "Where are you girls!?"
When Kaguya got no response, she began to explore the area, trying to find any clue to where she might be, although she could only aimlessly wander.
That is, until she noticed that there was a pinprick of light in the distance, which she immediately walked towards, leading her to a road of light that glowed underneath.
"Huh…" Kaguya remarked, before she then began to follow the road of light.
As she did, she noticed that there were murky images that began to form in the darkness around her, as she noticed that they started with an image of Ichiro, Yuzuru, and a boy that seemed to have a bowl-cut, as the three of them were in some sort of abandoned train tunnel.
"What the…" Kaguya blurted out, before another image began to appear, as it revealed the same boy, who was being attacked by Daemons, that noticed the weak boy, before a clap of thunder appeared, as Kaguya immediately understood that this was almost similar to how Omoikane came before her.
But instead of Omoikane, the Proto-Fiend that greeted the boy was completely different, more akin to Tsukuyomi, with blue hair, and his white suit of armor having red lines.
"Young man, if you wish to live, take my hand." The Proto-Fiend declared, through the vision.
The boy immediately did so, as the two of them touched each other, before a blue glow enveloped the both of them, as the image faded away.
"...Was I not the first Nahobino to be realized in all of this?" Kaguya answered back. "That boy… something about him nags at me."
As Kaguya continued to walk, she then saw as the boy had turned into a Nahobino, albeit more actively, with flowing blue hair, yellow eyes, and a armor of dark blue with cyan energy lines. What was more, the images showed the boy's presence in her place, as the events that led up to the climb for the Empyrean Throne were shown as if she disappeared in his place, as the results were far less optimal.
"Sahori never made it through…" Kaguya said, with a sad look on her face, seeing that Lahmu was able to consume Sahori's identity whole without Kaguya giving her the strength to fight on. "...Was this really what would have happened if I didn't even try to save her?"
As she continued to walk, the events had much in common, but there were still drastic differences, as was Sahori's fate in the timeline spoken through the moving images that appeared one after another, resulting in the boy being the only one to fight on for the Throne, as the final image showed him standing alone in the same place that she fainted at.
"...Was he the one who was going to change the world?" Kaguya remarked. "...Then why did I never meet him? I don't even feel him anywhere, but I feel like I should know…"
"His name is Johei Sugiyama." Omoikane's voice remarked. "...I understand now. All of this… this is a result of two people taking the same role."
"Richard!?" Kaguya exclaimed, before seeing that Omoikane came towards her. "...What's… What do you mean?"
"These images… they were supposed to be his tale." Omoikane stated. "...Now I understand why I came into existence. Because something caused Johei and Aogami to disappear… or perhaps they perished before you arrived here, so early that no-one knew what happened to them truly."
"Their friend…" Kaguya muttered, recalling that Johei was close to all of the students of Jouin High. "...They'll be crushed if they learn this. So… were they the one who brought us here?"
"...Or perhaps someone else, most likely Lucifer, planned this." Omoikane added. "I am still incomplete. Is this his way of saying that the last fragment is within the very fabric of casualty? That Aogami is the one, tied as my own twin for our similar purposes and existences, that may have the last piece of my heart?"
"I don't know… but we have to get out of here." Kaguya stated. "...Everyone's still counting on us."
As the two walked down the road of light, they reached the end of it, as it led them right before a large arena of mirrors, surrounding them from all directions, as the light faded away.
However, the pitch black darkness did not last long, before a light shone on the arena, as it revealed that both Johei and Aogami had their backs turned against Kaguya and Omoikane.
"...So, here we are." Johei remarked, speaking for the first time before Kaguya.
"...Do you hate me?" Kaguya asked simply, expecting to understand if Johei held vengeance for her taking his role in the world.
"No. No, I don't." Johei answered back,before he then turned around, as did Aogami. "...I failed. And the burden was left on your shoulders. Even if you are someone who is not from the Netherworld nor the real world, you fight for both."
"I did not expect this tragic turn of events." Aogami confessed. "...We believe that we are able to have the strength to stand up against the demons that seek humanity's destruction… However, despite our success, our process was incomplete… we were barely strong enough to fight the demons of Minato… and an unlucky encounter sealed our fate. I regret that I have failed him so early."
"Perhaps." Omoikane stated, floating forward. "...But you had no choice. Johei was merely human, Kaguya was something beyond that. She never became Nahobino initially, because her existence is an anomaly. She is not human, and yet she has Life. The only way that it could be fixed is if I was able to fix the disparity between the both of us. The essences that served as fragments of my true self… as I obtained them, I became more of the former self that was used to create this shell. I am almost complete… but I am lacking something, something that itches at my entire being."
"Getting back on topic… Man, I didn't think that I would be the one to avert the demise of humanity just coming here." Kaguya sighed. "...I thought that I would be able to find something that my lover had lost… only to find myself wrapped in all of this. And to be fair, I couldn't, in good consciousness, let this go. I am a princess, it is my duty to solve these kind of dire affairs, especially when my role in the future will ask yet more of me. So, you can rest easy, Johei. This war of chaos and law will end the way it should: In a world of coexistence, brief it may be."
"You are a kind woman." Johei answered back. "...Regardless, there is only one thing to do."
"Indeed." Kaguya stated. "...I wish I didn't fight you, but Omoikane hit it on the nail: This is some sort of battle of inheritance, to test my right to carry on what you have failed to achieve. And I expect that this battle won't be easy."
"Bear this in mind, whatever happens, I hold no ill will towards you." Aogami declared. "Now prepare yourself, our potential has been fully unlocked, for the sake of fighting this battle."
"Come then, Aogami. We will face you in turn with our full strength." Omoikane responded back.
The two pairs immediately merged into their Nahobino forms, as Johei immediately summoned a blade of light from his right hand, and raised it for battle.
Formidable Target Detected
Nahobino Johei
The Lost Nahobino of Japan
Cue BGM: Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMix -Vector To The Heavens-
As the two Nahobino began to square off each other, as Kaguya immediately took the first move, as she immediately wielded her naginata, before cleaving Johei through with a crippling strike that managed to keep him down, before following up with another that weakened him further.
"Urgh…" Johei remarked. "You're good!"
"I give my best in fights like these." Kaguya answered back, before she then immediately used a war dance to strengthen herself further twice. "Come on, show me what you got."
Johei nodded, before he then rushed down Kaguya, using his blade to cut through Kaguya several times, and then circling around her, as the slashes continued to rush down Kaguya. Forced by the pressure of attacks, Kaguya immediately used her naginata to block several blows, although most of them still went through, as the entire pressure immediately turned into a cyclone that swept Kaguya off her feet, before Johei increased the output of his blade of light and cut down on the cyclone, sending Kaguya sprawling back.
After he was down, Johei immediately then raised his right hand, as a dark mud-like substances rose from his hand, as well as above Kaguya herself, before he then squeezed his hand shut, causing the mass of dark mud to fall right down onto Kaguya, hurting her, as well as poisoning her.
"Figures… you really would use poison here…" Kaguya remarked, before she then immediately used her blade to weaken Johei to his limits, as the poison ravaged her body, before she then immediately pulled out an Amrita Soda, dousing her poison out with mystical fluids, wiping her mouth off. "But I prepared for this!"
"I can tell." Johei stated, before Kaguya then immediately hit him with an Ochitsuki, as the falling strike staggered Johei, before she then immediately empowered herself with the shine of the moon, as it slowly restored her magical power.
Johei immediately went for more dynamic attacks, slowly raising a finger, as dark clouds gathered above Kaguya, before he then flicked his hand down, creating a massive bolt of thunder that hit Kaguya, as her own body managed to resist the attack.
However, the opposing Nahobino was not done, as he leapt into the air, before gathering power, and then firing a barrage of blue homing lasers right into Kaguya, as they exploded on impact on her, knocking her back slightly.
"Damn…" Kaguya remarked. "You weren't joking about the full potential stuff."
"I'm pleased that you think so highly of it. Your own arts are nothing to scoff at." Johei answered back cordially.
"Exactly." Kaguya remarked, before she then immediately hit Johei with an Zanbarion, as the attack managed to do considerable damage to Johei, before she then fused darkness with her own blade, dealing considerable damage with her piercing thrust.
Afterwards, Kaguya immediately healed herself up with the use of Diarahan, and then enveloped herself in a magical field, as the surface of it shone, causing Johei to be wary of it.
"So you have an art to deal with magical attacks." Johei remarked. "...Good thing that I have ways to deal with that. Take this!"
Johei then immediately coated his fist with powerful almighty energy, before slamming it right under Kaguya's jaw, sending her flying into the air, as she was reeling from the impact too strongly to recover from it. While she was flying, Johei immediately concentrated power into his own arms, before he then slowly drew the power in the form of a circular pattern, before he then raised his hand, as a massive blade of light appeared on his right arm, with runes of white swirling across the entire length of it.
"Oh shit-" Kaguya swore inelegantly, before Johei, with a roar, smashed the blade right down on Kaguya, as it cratered her into the ground with a massive explosion.
There was silence for a moment, as Johei let the dust settle, before seeing Kaguya get onto her feet shakily.
"Fuck… that one could have done me in…!" Kaguya swore, as she was heavily bloodied from the attack. "If I didn't have a certain skill within me, that really was going to be it for me."
"I see… you anticipated your own defeat." Johei said. "...To think that your reserve life force is strong enough to keep you standing."
"Heh." Kaguya stated, before she then raised her naginata, as she unleashed her Magatsuhi. "And since you didn't use that chance to heal yourself, you're about to regret it. But defeating me quickly was a good plan, if I didn't predict that it was an entire possibility with how nuts the enemies are being. So take a Moonblast… and stay down."
Kaguya then immediately unleashed the massive blast of energy right onto Johei, who immediately took it face on, before he then fell down from the force of it.
"...And so, I'm defeated. Truly, you are better than me." Johei sighed. "...I wish I could see them one last time… But I know that there's nothing left for me, and I know that you'll keep them safe."
"Swear on it." Kaguya nodded back.
"...At the end… I truly had… only one… regret…" Johei remarked, before his body began to scatter away into Magatsuhi. "...I only… wanted to… help… everyone…"
BGM End
Kaguya watched as Johei faded away, leaving behind a golden Essence, which Omoikane immediately took, and inserted within himself, expecting that it would finally complete him.
"It's time." Richard remarked, as they stood under the same tree that they first kissed at, as Kaguya was by her side.
"Richard…" Kaguya said. "You really think that the answer to whatever is plaguing our Gensokyo is out there, right?"
"Yeah. Yukari said so." Richard nodded, before looking at the glitch in reality, which already consumed a fair part of Gensokyo's skies. "...I feel like there isn't enough time… I'm scared, Kaguya, what if I fail?"
"Then you'll at least have tried." Kaguya answered back. "...And I know that if it's too late, you'll come back to me within a heartbeat, and share the end with me."
"That's morbid, Kaguya." Richard frowned.
"Is that not true though?" Kaguya asked back.
"...Fair." Richard nodded, before he then sat down in the shade. "...This could potentially be the last thing I see of Gensokyo, before I set off on this journey. It'll be the last sight of it for a long time, perhaps even forever…"
"I know that you've got what it takes." Kaguya told Richard firmly. "You've done so much for Gensokyo, and you've saved several worlds already. I'm sure that whatever comes next, you'll break through it all the same."
"Heh. I love that confidence in me." Richard chuckled, as Kaguya sat down beside him. "...Kaguya, I want to confess something."
"Oh my god, you're really going to say it!?" Kaguya exclaimed, as she lit up immediately.
"...Yeah, I think that now's a better time than any." Richard admitted, as there was a slight blush on his cheek. "...After spending so long with you… I want to say that if I come back… I want to marry you."
"M-Marry me!?" Kaguya exclaimed, as she was flustered by it.
"I swear, I really did think this through!" Richard shouted, as he was just as embarrassed. "It's just… I'm going to be gone for gods knows how long! By the time I come back, the distance could potentially smolder what love is between us, so I had to be daring!"
Kaguya was silent, before she then began to laugh, surprising Richard.
"You silly idiot, you didn't have to be that forthcoming! You should leave it to the girl to do that!" Kaguya remarked, as she gently bonked her hand against Richard's forehead. "In fact, I was going to be all blushy and hot, telling you how much I love you… and now you just ruined it."
"Kaguya…" Richard remarked, before Kaguya then tackled Richard down, and kissed him tightly, causing him to be shocked.
After a while, the two of them separated from each other, as Kaguya had a smug smile on her face.
"And now we're even from back then, in the same place even." Kaguya smirked.
"...Why yes, yes we were." Richard said, as his own embarrassment gave way to a sensation of warmth in his heart. "...I really never thought that our love would blossom so nicely over the years. Look at me, I was a mere child when I first started all of this, before I even came here, and I got to know you, became a monster, got saved by all of you, and then finally came to pick myself up. My life is a real adventure, isn't it? I even have the princess to make it all classic."
"I'm your princess, and no-one will make me change that." Kaguya stated. "Promise me that you'll come back, no matter what. You are as precious to me as Eirin was to me before I even left the Moon. Seeing you hurt, hurts me, and seeing you happy, makes me happy too. I say that the red string of fate has finally tied a neat little bow around our fingers."
"I will, Kaguya. No matter what… As you loved me for all I am… I will always love you for what you are." Richard smiled back.
The two of them slowly nuzzled into each other, as they looked into the beauty of Gensokyo's scenery, together for the last time in a while.
Kaguya watched as Omoikane's eyes began to well up in tears, as he held his hands over his chest, although he wasn't filled with grief, but a sense of relief.
"I remember… I remember everything now." Omoikane answered back. "...It's all come back to me. Kaguya… I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry…"
"Richard…." Kaguya remarked, before she then walked over to hug Omoikane. "...It's alright. I'm glad that you finally returned to your old self. I thought that you weren't going to come back."
Omoikane looked down, before he then hugged Kaguya tightly. "...I'm so happy that you still love me for what I am." He answered back. "...But I'm afraid of what comes next."
"Afraid of what?" Kaguya asked, as the two of them released their hugs.
"...Of what I have become." Omoikane stated. "The whole self of me."
Kaguya was silent for a moment, before she then looked Omoikane in his eyes.
"We'll face it together." Kaguya responded back. "...Whatever hurts you, I'll stop you before you do anything terrible. I beat you once, and I can do it again, with this newfound power that you helped me find. You're in good hands, Richard. We won't let you fall again."
"Kaguya… I hope you can. I genuinely hope that." Omoikane stated, with a sad look on his face.
Suddenly, the darkness began to turn into light in a sudden transition, as it blinded the two of them, as their senses were overwhelmed for a moment.
With a loud gasp, Kaguya woke up back in the real world, as Tao and Sahori were looming over here, as she slowly rose up.
"Sahori? Tao?" Kaguya stated. "...Did anything happen while I was unconscious?"
"Nothing did… Oh thank god… I thought you actually died…" Tao remarked.
'Don't do that again! We were scared for you!" Sahori shouted. "We thought you really died because of whatever bastard caused this! I was going to go on a rampage if you didn't wake up by the next hour!"
"Please don't." Kaguya answered back. "It would only hurt you."
"Kaguya…" Miyazu said. "Are you sure you are okay? You've been out of it for an hour… What happened?"
"...It's best that I don't explain. But I can tell you that I went for a journey deep inside." Kaguya answered back. "I learned a few things, and I have realized that I was called here to save the world when its previous savior had died."
"...I see." Tao said sadly.
"Let's go. We have a world to save." Kaguya answered back, as she took a deep breath. "We can't let anything stop us now. Too much suffering has already been wrought because of this struggle. We must claim the Empyrean Throne, for everyone, human and demon alike."
They then entered through the doors, as it revealed that there was a large mirror-like altar before them, as Tao stood beside the group.
"This is the temple's top floor. The path should open once we offer the three keys." Tao declared.
Kaguya did not waste any time, as she summoned the three Pillars, as they immediately flowed in the altar mirror, as it began to create a massive golden shine that erupted, engulfing the entire area.
As soon as Kaguya's vision returned, she found herself alone once more, standing before a massive tree, that had golden orbs as leaves, as well several zig-zagging staircases in her surroundings, and a massive light shining down from above like a sun. What surprised her the most, was that there was a woman right in front of her, with wings of metallic segments, a pair of glowing curved horns, and arms that were completely mechanical.
"At last, we are free to walk the path to the Empyrean." The demon remarked, before turning around, revealing that her face was completely covered by a face-plate with glowing cyan lines, as her body resembled that of Tao.
"Tao?" Kaguya asked.
"No, I am the Goddess of Creation residing in her." The goddess answered back. "There lies the end and the beginning, the source of the eternal light that reforges our world. The Nahobino who reaches it can mold the world as they so choose. Be that divine architect. Pass through the Empyrean and take your place on the throne."
"I intend to." Kaguya declared firmly. "But there are still others… they must have already found a way through the Temple, have they not."
"Yes, as usurpers to your newfound reign, you must show them no hesitation." The goddess declared, before the entire area began to turn bright, as the two of them were floating midair, overseeing Yuzuru and Koshimizu, who were being hailed by an Angel, right within a section of the Temple of Eternity.
"Tokyo abided by your God's whims, yet it was destroyed. Is that Bethel's 'justice'?" Koshimizu remarked.
"Consider its destruction inevitable. For God's anger burns many and spares none." The Angel answered back.
"Silence, angel! I'd fight to restore Tokyo no matter what some sick God desires! I'll do everything I can to bring it back!" Yuzuru snarled.
"Hear him well, messenger. The world belongs to a host of the divine, not some misguided dictator." Koshimizu declared, before he then snapped his fingers, as the Angel began to dissolve into Magatsuhi by some unknown force.
"This one rejects the order of the Creator, ushering forth the era of myriad gods." The goddess remarked, before their surroundings glowed up, placing them right in another part of the temple, where Ichiro was sitting on a ledge, with Abdiel behind him.
"The only way to maintain order in this world is to give it all to God, everything… that includes even our own lives." Ichiro remarked.
"Ichiro Dazai… Why do you show yourself here?" Abdiel asked the human boy.
"I'm here to do what needs to be done, even if I stray from the path. I'll do whatever I have to do! It doesn't matter, so long as we can!" Ichiro declared, clenching a fist with resolve.
"God's word remains unchanging. As Archangel, I am sworn to defend it." Abdiel stated. "And if I must taint myself as a Nahobino to do so… Then we shall carry out His will! As one!"
The entire area began to light up, before Kaguya and the goddess found themselves right before the tree of light.
"And this one, a staunch believer in the Creator's order, even defying His will to enforce it." The goddess declared. "One side desires the throne for a land reborn anew, while the other pines for the world of old. Such a position of power cannot remain vacant for eternity. A leader must rise and take it. You must take it."
Kaguya was blinded by a bright light, as she found herself standing before the gate to the Empyrean, which was shimmering with a blue glow along the surface of the mirror.
"Kaguya, you were standing still for a moment. Did you see something?" Omoikane asked.
"...They're here." Kaguya answered back. "...In the end, because of that lapse, they caught up to us."
"Kaguya, what do you mean-" Sahori exclaimed.
"Hey, thought you'd be here." Yuzuru remarked, before Kaguya turned around to see that Yuzuru and Koshimizu were right there. "Nice work clearing the way to the Empyrean!"
"Yuzuru!" MIyazu exclaimed, as she whipped around, as Yuzuru was stunned upon seeing his little sister right before him.
"Miyazu!? You… you've become a Nahobino…!?" He exclaimed, before turning to Kaguya. "What… what is the meaning of this!?"
"I chose my path, Yuzuru." Miyazu answered back. "I'm fighting alongside Kaguya. She has done so much for me. Brother, let us handle what comes next."
"Now then, Kaguya. Since you have recruited such a force to aid us, the throne and all of the world shall be the Amatsukami's." Koshimizu remarked.
"Oh, as if you hold the strings over us, you-" Sahori snarled.
"Hold it!" Ichiro's voice was heard, as the group looked up to see that the blonde-haired boy was sitting on the ledge. "There's no need for all that. We'll just entrust everything to God."
"Ichiro Dazai…" Kaguya said.
"I mean, you got the right idea, Kaguya." Ichiro said, before teleporting beside Yuzuru, backs pressed against each other. "Zeus and Odin were big-time gods. But both of them wanted it all. They were never gonna play nice. So what do you think is gonna happen in your 'world of gods', Tsukuyomi? Endless war."
"What are you…" Yuzuru remarked, as Ichiro teleported a fair distance away.
"And what of God?" Kaguya retorted back. "Are you saying that he'll just fix everything up? That I literally broke his dear Archangel?"
"Come on, we know that you've just got the wrong idea!" Ichiro argued. "Here's the thing: If we just let the Creator do His work, everyone'll get their fair share! Don't you get it? How could someone who's all-powerful , all-seeing and all-knowing ever steer us wrong?"
"And who are you to say that God is any of these, when you haven't even seen him." Kaguya retorted back. "You're the one who's getting the wrong idea. Bethel let Tokyo rot, and who knows what they will do next. No, Bethel will claim the throne."
"Uncouth as always." Abdiel's voice rang, as she floated down. "You would slander the Creator with your lies. In His Name, I protect the divine order, as it has ever since been my sacred duty as Archangel. Yet I see that in my fettered angel form, I cannot hope to prevail against you. That much I concede, Kaguya Houraisan. Your brutality has shown me that much last time we met. But for the Almighty, and the world He gave us, I shall embrace darkness… as a fallen angel!"
As Abdiel let her sword fall to the ground, impaling itself beside Ichiro, a dark aura began to flare around the archangel, which unsettled Miyazu and Tao, as she began to writhe, as her eyes began to glow purple, as dark mud spilled from her facial orifices, while her wings began to slightly turn black completely, as the gold of her armor was tainted into a dark purple, and a pair of devil-like wings broke from her back, pulling free with a spray of dark blood, while the holy cross of her head shattered to pieces.
When Abdiel raised her head up, her eyes were red, as they were motionless, before her head split apart vertically, parting away to reveal more bloody mud, as they formed a large devil-like face with red glowing eyes, as she roared out ferally.
"Oh god…" Miyazu remarked, unsettled by Abdiel's fallen transformation.
"What is this… This is… This…!" Tao exclaimed, as she tried to come to terms with what she had seen.
"You bitch… you finally show your true colors." Sahori snarled. "Under that holy visage of yours, you're nothing more than a demon playing god among humans."
"Don't tell me you actually-" Koshimizu remarked with disbelief.
"I will uphold God's will at all costs." Abdiel declared, her voice falling several octaves from her new voice. "Even if it condemns me, and severs me from His grace. Just like that serpent in the Garden…"
"Ah, Abdiel…" Ichiro softly stated, raising his hands to praise Abdiel. "No matter how much you change on the outside, your faith as an archangel is unshakable!"
"You fools would bite into the forbidden fruit with God's name upon your lips." Koshimizu growled. "Even so, the new world is mine to create. And when my world of infinite gods is born, we will protect Japan! Far better than you ever could!"
"Well, I agree with Sahori and Ichiro, you really didn't change at all inside." Kaguya stated with disdain. "...But now your appearance matches the kind of person you are, Abdiel. And as for you, Tsukuyomi, I think that I have something to say to that-"
"Not so fast. Sounds like you forgot about us." Yakumo remarked, with Nuwa beside him.
"Indeed, the Empyrean Throne is rightfully ours. Though of course, we have something a little different in mind for it." Nuwa stated, as they began to walk forward.
"With my own two hands, I will destroy the throne. And humanity will shape their own world-" Yakumo declared.
"Enough." Kaguya declared, as her voice thundered, before she then raised her naginata, and fired a Moonblast right by Yakumo's side, which caused the human supremacist to immediately evade.
"You…!" Yakumo growled, as he drew his katana, as it sparked with lightning.
"Oh, I'm sorry, that was a slip of my hand." Kaguya remarked with fake sincerity. "Do tell, how do you think that you're going to go about doing that while I'm here? You think I'm just going to stand aside for you?"
Yakumo could only growl, as he saw that Kaguya's group immediately drew their weapons, as he reluctantly lowered his weapons.
"That's what I thought." Kaguya scoffed. "But since all the parties are here, I suppose that it's good time that I make my own declaration: The Empyrean Throne is mine and mine alone. None of you deserve it."
"What!? Kaguya, what are you saying!?" Yuzuru exclaimed.
"So you intended to betray us from the start." Koshimizu stated, narrowing his eyes at Kaguya.
"Oh please, like you're one to talk, Tsukuyomi. While you were twiddling your thumbs waiting for the chance, I was the one who made it happen." Kaguya sneered. "It was only because I managed to defeat the branch heads that you were even able to reach the Temple of Eternity in the first place."
"What gives you the right to take this from us!?" Yuzuru exclaimed, angered by Kaguya's change of heart. "Are you saying that Tokyo should just disappear!?"
"To answer your first question, everything." Kaguya responded back. "I admit, you were a decent summoner, but you were in the end obsolete. Every threat that you were meant to face, I cleaned up myself. In terms of power, the throne is my right for all of the victories that you dare to claim as your own, that I won by my own blood, sweat and tears. And to answer that second question. No, no, I do not intend to let Tokyo disappear. In fact, the new world will be a better place, which leads into the other reason why the throne is my rightful place."
"Do tell." Tsukuyomi answered back.
"Out of all of you bastards, I have the moral high ground, and with firm evidence." Kaguya answered back. "So let me break this down by each and every single one of you. So let's first start with the 'betrayed' party, shall we?"
Kaguya then turned to Tsukuyomi and Yuzuru. "Of all the things that Dazai is spouting, he is right about one thing, your world is nothing but a powder keg waiting to blow up." She declared. "And because of that, your people are going to be hurt because of it. Changing the world won't change the root of the conflict."
"Don't be ridiculous. The Amatsukami will be able to protect humanity from the demons who seek to do humanity harm." Koshimizu argued back.
"With what power?" Kaguya retorted back. "You can't even fight for jack, Tsukuyomi, and the fact that you refuse to even fight means that without your human partner, you're doing jack. You couldn't even stop Lahmu, let alone the likes of Ishtar and Arioch. You speak your game, Tsukuyomi, but you can't carry it through. That is why I choose my own path over yours. I will not kowtow myself to your level when you show me nothing to earn my respect and trust."
"Kaguya, you're making a mistake! Don't you dare drag my sister into this!" Yuzuru roared.
"And next up, the bitch herself, and her new partner." Kaguya stated, as she turned towards Abdiel and Ichiro. "If you think that all of this has given me a reason to fall in line under your Creator, you're wrong. I'm creating my own world from all of this, and it won't have hypocritical angels like yourself deciding what's right and wrong for everyone."
"I don't intend to accept your surrender. You are a sinful creature who has time after time defiled Bethel's order with your actions." Abdiel remarked, raising a finger at Kaguya. "When I acquire the Throne, the first act I shall do is to erase your very being from this world."
"IF you get the Throne." Kaguya answered back. "Which I doubt you'll be able to do."
"Kaguya… I know that the Creator's order hasn't been the best towards you in what you have seen…" Ichiro remarked. "But I know that you just want the right thing for everyone. So do I. I promise that I'll try to tell the angels that there are still some good demons out there."
"That's not enough." Kaguya shook her head. "Their own devotion was the reason why the Jouin High incident occurred, and why Sahori is right here as she is. There is nothing that you can do to change my mind, Dazai. You can hate me for it, but this is not how the world should change."
Ichiro merely turned his head away, as he had nothing more to say.
"And then you two." Kaguya stated, before turning to Yakumo and Nuwa. "...Honestly, I would rather not dignify your stupid ass with any words. But I may as well complete the set of criticizing every idea here. Destroying the Throne. You're fucking serious, aren't you?"
"Without the Throne, the demons and gods will have nothing driving them forth." Yakumo answered back. "Destroying it will do humanity a favor."
"Oh, and I am to assume that when it is destroyed, the demons and angels will just slowly die, because it turns out the Throne is a feeding tank for every single demon and angel in this entire world, right?" Kaguya sarcastically remarked, before her expression turned dark. "Get over yourself. You're just simply doing this just because you can't accept the fact that you're irrelevant, and want to do this just to prove that you're a 'speshul' human. You're disgusting. And to think that I had some respect for you from the first time."
"Then what is your plan with the Throne?" Nuwa asked, as she was genuinely curious. "Is it the so-called coexistence that you have spoken of?"
"Indeed." Kaguya answered back. "And if you actually bothered to understand how several cliques of demons feel, you wouldn't have felt that this is some sort of pipe dream. It's possible, and even more so with the presence of the Empyrean Throne."
"Heresy!" Abdiel exclaimed. "You would force the demons to mingle with humanity!? You have truly become a monster!"
"Rich coming from your mouth." Kaguya scoffed. "I'm quite aware. The demons of now are truly too terrible in general to have any chance for the two races to ever see eye-to-eye, let alone share existence. But the Throne has that power. The power to rewrite the laws and concepts of the world. And with it, I shall recreate the world in an image of idealism, where humans and demons will start over with the seeds of cooperation embedded within their hearts."
"And what makes you think that this world is to last?" Yuzuru asked.
"I don't expect it to." Kaguya responded back. "The world will likely regress back to its old ways eventually. But by then, it will be a far better situation than any of you could ever hope to achieve. Demons and humans will fight against the evils that plague their world, determined to hold their future. I give them hope for a fair tomorrow, that none of you will give. And not only that, I shall wipe the very knowledge of the Throne from all beings, so that this entire clusterfuck will be at least delayed for millenia, if not forever."
"I see… so you truly have thought your own path through." Koshimizu answered back. "I must respect your ideals and devotion. But that doesn't change the fact that our ideals differ. You are our enemy as much as any other here."
"Same regards to you." Kaguya answered back. "But since you all want to scramble for the throne so much, then go right ahead. I can guarantee that you will not make it there before I do."
"You're… giving us a head-start!?" Ichiro remarked, shocked at what he was hearing.
"What are you planning?" Yakumo asked back.
"Simple, you're going to clear the Throne for me." Kaguya smirked back, as it was a cruel and sly smirk. "Since you're all so fond of using me for your own machinations, I think that it's time you all paid your dues to me, and do something for me instead."
"And what makes you think that we'll do what you say!?" Abdiel roared.
"Because you're all too proud to let this chance go." Kaguya answered back. "You want to get to the Throne before I do. And who knows, maybe you will. I'm offering what is essentially a free liver shot against my own race to the throne. You would all be idiots to waste that chance. I got one last matter of business to finish, before I come back to finish my ascent. And when I do, all of you will inevitably lose against me. I have two other Nahobinos who fight alongside me, only slightly less powerful and skilled than me. And I have a assortment of demons that will be enough to destroy all of you, even if you combined your efforts, if by some some hellish miracle that you actually take those words and decide to do so to kick me out of the race first."
Kaguya then walked to the side, as she crossed her arms, to make her point. "So go right ahead, the realm's just nice and cozy for all of you." She mocked.
"You will regret this, Houraisan." Yakumo growled, before he and Nuwa walked through the portal to the Empyrean.
"I shall see that you suffer for your arrogance." Abdiel seethed. "Come, Ichiro Dazai, we must make haste as well."
"Yes, Master Abdiel." Ichiro answered back, before he and Abdiel entered through the portal next.
"...Well played, Kaguya." Koshimizu remarked. "I suppose that whoever remains out of all of us… shall be your opponents to the throne."
"...Miyazu…" Yuzuru remarked, looking at his sister with betrayed eyes.
"...I won't turn back, Yuzuru." Miyazu declared firmly. "...This is for the good of everyone."
With those words, Koshimizu and Yuzuru entered through the portal to the Empyrean.
As the three parties were gone, Sahori, Tao, and Miyazu all turned to Kaguya as one.
"So, what is that last matter of business you were talking about?" Sahori asked. "I don't recall that there were any other notable demons that needed to be dealt with."
"There is one." Kaguya answered back. "Think back to what Vasuki said before he then perished."
"Lord Shiva…" Miyazu remarked, before she then realized what Kaguya meant. "...You intend to challenge him!?"
"But what could you gain from such a fight? Shiva has done nothing to propagate this conflict." Tao asked Kaguya. "I fail to see what you are trying to do, Kaguya."
"Shiva will seek to take advantage of this entire situation." Kaguya answered back. "After all, he is the Hindu god of destruction. When all challengers are down for the count, he'll end the world himself, so that a new world can be created. That is, he doesn't even need the Throne for the world to be recreated, because the forces that be will do that for him. But that's not what we want, and that's why he's our enemy."
"...I see." Tao answered back. "But still… fighting against Shiva is no easy feat. Out of all of the branch heads, he is the strongest among them, even as Nahobinos, the best you have is a fight on equal footing."
"So we have to fight a god of destruction next…" Sahori remarked, before clenching her fists. "Fine, let's do it. I ain't going to let anything get in the way of a world where we can decide our own paths."
"And if Shiva really is one of the enemies in our path… then I can't stand back and do nothing." Miyazu stated. "...I'll stay by your side, Kaguya. You've done so much for us, that I would feel guilty if I cannot help you any further than this."
"...Thank you, everyone." Kaguya stated, before the group left the Temple of Eternity.
They soon headed down, before Kaguya immediately found a leyline leading right into Shiva's realm, the same realm where the Bethel summit was once held, as they found the blue-skinned god of destruction sitting in a meditative stance, with various tools of religion in his four arms, being a horn, a golden ring, a trident, and a damaru.
"Shiva, we meet at last." Kaguya remarked, before Shiva's eyes snapped open to acknowledge the group.
"So it is." Shiva spoke in a firm and calm voice. "Kaguya Houraisan, the one who has instigated many things upon the two worlds. Hope, discord, peace, and belief. You stand before me, the benevolent god of destruction. What has brought you here? Do you not seek the throne?"
"I do." Kaguya answered back. "But I know that I have one matter to settle before I do. And it's with you. You know why."
"Hmph. So I can tell. The world will be destroyed along with the rest of the universe anyways." Shiva scoffed. "You all quarrel over the throne, fighting over the right to rule. But those who create the world by their own conscience will bring about nothing but corruption. The world should not be created by a given being. Rather, it is the beings that should be created by the world. The creator god Brahma will return the universe to its rightful form. To that end, I, Shiva, will commence destruction. For the sake of creation… And I shall do so with my secret art, the 'Rudra Astra'."
"What you said about the rulers shaping the world in their own flavor of corruption, you are right about that. I'm not entirely selfless in my wish to create a better world." Kaguya answered back. "In fact, I even said that my world could not be everlasting. But even still, letting the world decide how our lives should be is not how we want to live. We fight for the throne because we want to create a new order that will be more fair to all beings. And your actions make us enemies."
"Is that so? Will you not reconsider?" Shiva remarked, as there was an edge to his voice, as an aura of power emanated from him, causing Miyazu to feel uneasy, and Sahori to instinctively stretch her arm out as if she was going to attack.
"As you will not stray from your duties, I will not stray from my path." Kaguya declared with determination. "In the end, words will not do well for us. Let us fight, Shiva, and decide who is worthy to decide the world's fate."
"Then you challenge me. A foolish choice indeed." Shiva remarked, before he then slowly rose to his feet. "Very well, I've finished preparations, and have enough Magatsuhi for the Rudra Astra. Next is the banquet. Come, show me your kathakali of battle!"
"Here he comes!" Tao exclaimed.
Formidable Target Detected
Shiva
Ultimate God of Destruction
"Now then, show me your strength." Shiva remarked, allowing the group the first move.
"Gladly." Kaguya remarked, before she then immediately slashed Shiva with her debilitating strike, as Shiva felt the effects immediately.
"Take this!" Miyazu exclaimed, before she then used Trisagion, as the high-powered fire spells managed to surprise Shiva, as he couldn't even be able to absorb its strength.
"Impressive, you have managed to find a way to surpass my own affinities." Shiva remarked. "...I'm already beginning to understand what makes you confident that you can beat me."
"We're far from done. But do your worst." Kaguya responded back. "I'll be sure to pay it back."
"Hmph. We shall see indeed." Shiva remarked, as Tao buffed the group up.
"Well then, let's see if you can handle a bit of cold, won't you?" Sahori remarked, as she launched a Bufubarion spell that hit Shiva directly, causing him to flinch.
"And here's some more!" Kaguya remarked, before she then fired several rays of cold silver light that hit Shiva, dealing even more damage, and causing him to be staggered from the rapid strikes of ice energy.
Miyazu then immediately hit Shiva with a barrage of slashes, which managed to do considerable damage to him, as she quickly retreated.
"Now then, allow me." Shiva remarked, before he then immediately began to do a sacred dance, before then immediately ending it with his lower arms held in a prayer position, as a massive blast of arcane energy hit the entire group from underneath, as they felt their own defenses being ripped apart.
"Urgh! What the hell was that!?" Sahori growled.
"His power of destruction." Tao remarked. "He is able to rend all defenses apart with the Tandava dance. We cannot allow him to use that again, not while our defenses are weak as they are now."
"So you survived. But this is merely the beginning. After all, this is a banquet for the age to come. Who am I not to invite honored guests to this?" Shiva smirked, before summoning both Kali, a red-skinned demon with six arms all armed with scimitars, and Ganesha, a blue skinned elephant-like demon with a rotund body to match.
"Pixie, it's up to you guys!" Kaguya exclaimed, before she then retreated with her group, as Royal Pixie, Artemis, Cleopatra and Idun took to the field.
"Oh? And here I thought that you wouldn't have fought me with your demons." Shiva remarked. "Come then, show me the power that defeated the branch leaders of Bethel and earned the right to enter the Empyrean."
"Gladly!" Royal Pixie remarked, before she then unleashed a Zanbarion, which tore Kali to pieces, much to the interest of Shiva.
"We will defeat you, Shiva, no matter what it takes." Artemis remarked, before she then used Bufubarion on Shiva, which hit the god of destruction head-on, knocking back slightly.
"Such a handsome god. Shame that you're my enemy." Cleopatra remarked, before she then snapped her fingers, as she too used Bufubarion to assault Shiva. "But I suppose that you are a dangerous foe indeed."
"Here!" Idun remarked, before giving the group the golden apples in her basket, as they became stronger.
"Now then, want to see a magic trick, god of destruction?" Royal Pixie smirked, before she then used her signature move, as the group became stronger, just as Artemis and Cleopatra combined their powers to fire a massive ice glacier right at Shiva, managing to knock him down for a moment, while Idun buffed the group further with her golden apples.
"Urgh… it seems that I am letting myself slip." Shiva remarked. "But that won't matter. I am far from defeated!"
Shiva then immediately hit the group with a Maziobarion, as the attack managed to make Idun flinch, although Artemis parried the thunder away, and the rest were able to endure the attack, while Ganesha went for a Mist Rush, which barely missed Royal Pixie, just as Kaguya's group were back on front.
"Hey, ready for round 2?" Kaguya cheekily remarked, before she then hit Shiva with a full-powered Moonblast, as the attack managed to deal considerable damage to the Hindu god.
Miyazu then concentrated all of her power to her blade, before launching a massive thrusting slash that managed to hit Shiva directly, and even wound his flesh, evident from the cut that it formed, while Tao immediately healed the group, as they felt that their own defenses were restored from Shiva's devastating attack, and even bolstered slightly.
Sahori then immediately cast another Bufubarion, as she aimed it right underneath Shiva, sending him into the air, as Kaguya followed it with more of her silver light beams, one of them hit Ganesha, damaging him slightly, which at the same managed to knock Shiva away. Miyazu finished it with another barrage of slashes, sending Shiva crashing to the ground.
Shiva did not waste any time attacking, as he unleashed Megidolaon, which managed to do some damage, thanks to their increased defenses and Shiva's weakened state, before following up with a barrage of strikes that managed to hurt Kaguya considerably, while Ganesha summoned more allies to help Shiva, one being the multi-headed snake Ananta, and the other being Dakini, the yellow-skinned blade-dancer.
"We might need to find a way to deal with this…" Royal Pixie remarked, as she immediately used Zanbarion to destroy Ananta, while Artemis immediately hit Shiva with a Bufubarion.
"Then I suppose that this is the time that I use my specialty." Cleopatra remarked, before she then immediately used her own signature skill, as Dakini and Ganesha both were seduced by the attempt, while Shiva himself was even affected by it, as his own will to fight weakened.
"Such allure…" Shiva remarked. "...So you intend to weaken him that way."
"Cleopatra, use my power!" Idun remarked, before she then transferred some of her power to Cleopatra, which strengthened her magic.
"Much appreciated, Idun." Cleopatra thanked the Norse goddess.
"Alright, don't fail me now…!" Royal Pixie remarked, before she used Zanbarion on Shiva, which was powerful enough to knock Shiva off-guard momentarily, while Artemis began to gather her power, as the same golden aura that appeared around Zeus formed around her.
"Here is something extra for you." Cleopatra remarked, as she slung the empowered ice spell, which managed to encase Shiva in a prison of ice, before it exploded, dealing him considerable damage.
"Rgh…" Shiva remarked, before he then immediately used a massive earth-shaking strike to hit the group, dealing a fair amount of damage to them, before then using Maragibarion, which Artemis was barely able to dodge, while the others resisted the attack, as both Dakini and Ganesha were unable to act in their charmed status.
"Time to wrap things up!" Kaguya remarked, as she fired her silver beams of icy light at Shiva, which managed to stun him, giving Miyazu the chance to unleash a powerful cleaving strike that managed to stun him momentarily from the force of it, as Tao hit the entire group with a blast of Megidolaon that destroyed Shiva's demons, and Sahori immediately socked Shiva with a powerful uppercut.
While Shiva was still reeling from the combo, Kaguya immediately decked him in the face with a powerful Moonblast, as the beam was traveling, while Miyazu leapt up and hit Shiva with a direct blow to the chest, as more blood began to spray from the wound, while Tao boosted Sahori with strength-enhancing magic, as she immediately nailed Shiva through the chest with a barrage of attacks.
"Hrgh…" Shiva remarked, before he then rose up and used Tandava, as the attack dealt far less damage in his weakened state, but put the group back into being fragile from their ruined defenses, all save for Tao, who was barely able to avoid the attack by some miracle. "...It seems that I have greatly underestimated you. To think that you would have been able to drive me back this far… I admit, you are no ordinary being, Kaguya Houraisan."
"Damn right. I didn't come this far to lose right here and die. In fact, the only one who's going to lose… is you." Kaguya remarked, as the demon group moved forth.
"Time for you to pay the piper!" Royal Pixie remarked, as the group unleashed their Magatsuhi, before nailing Shiva with a barrage of ice attacks, physical blows, and almighty blasts, as Shiva was left unable to resist attacks, finally collapsing onto one knee by the end of the assault.
"Truly… a splendid dance we had." Shiva remarked weakly. "You have defeated me fair and square, Kaguya Houraisan. I shall now disappear from this universe. But know this: The Rudra can appear in many forms, and is everywhere to be seen. Overcome them all, and break free of the cycle of creation and destruction… That is the path of a true ruler."
Shiva then faded away into Magatsuhi, as the group bowed their heads.
"Farewell, Shiva. With this, I've proven that the world has a right to choose its own fate." Kaguya answered back. "...Hopefully, we'll never meet again as enemies."
The group then immediately left the realm, before heading back to the gate into the Empyrean, as Kaguya stepped forth, only for her to be stopped for a moment by Lucifer's voice.
"So, it has come to be." Lucifer's voice rang in her hand. "One defies God in His own name; betraying His word for His will. One seeks to open up Heaven, and rebuild the world as he rebuilt his divine kin. And yet another seeks to destroy the Throne, seeking to deny godhood their chance to rule over humanity, and let humans decide their own fate. Truly, this was an unexpected development. My original aim was much different. Kaguya Houraisan, you have fought through the opposing forces of chaos and order. Here, at the end of all things, where do your loyalties lie? What path does your heart long for?"
Kaguya closed her eyes, before she then made her declaration to Lucifer loud and clear:
"I shall create a world of coexistence."
"Your will has been made known to me. Thus will I await you, beyond heaven and earth." Lucifer's voice said, just as the group stepped through the gate, as all of reality bent around them to take them into the new realm.
As soon as they stopped moving, they found themselves in a realm of cyan, with glowing stone around them, not too different to the interior of Arioch's castle.
"So this is…" Tao remarked, before she then began to feel light. "Oh…"
"Tao? What's wrong!?" Sahori remarked, before Tao began to float into the air, as she transformed into the same form that Kaguya saw before the tree of light.
"It has been a long journey." The goddess remarked. "You have done well coming this far. We stand before the Pillar Empyreal. A path of light that leads Nahobino to the highest heaven."
"Who… are you?" Miyazu asked the goddess.
"I am the goddess of creation, who has resided within Tao." The goddess answered back, before turning to Kaguya. "Kaguya Houraisan, your ideal may not be unique… but it is the first of the kind that have made it this far. I hold no limit of respect for your devotion to that cause. As such, to see your goals achieved, I will stand by your side until the very end, for creation is the will of the universe itself, and your battle with Shiva has proven your right to the Throne, and overseeing the creation is the reason I came into being."
The goddess then descended, as Tao returned back to normal.
"Sorry for that, everyone." Tao apologized. "Let's go. We have a long path to traverse before we can catch up to the others..."
The group nodded as one, before they began to ascend the realm to reach the Empyrean Throne…
