There he was. In front of him were the doors to Amnesia's base. Hyde could feel a huge torrent of EXS at the top floor. One way or another, everything will come to an end once he reaches the top. Hyde began to check himself. All the wounds he's had over the course of his journey have healed. He was in the best condition he could possibly be in for a boy who's fought 9 In-Births and many voids to make it here.

'Would Vatista count as an In-Birth? She certainly fought like one'

Well. There was no going back. He had several promises to keep, all of them having the same undertone. To come back alive. With one deep breath, Hyde opened the doors and went inside.

Strange. He would have thought the place would be surrounded by various bodyguards. As he made his way up, every guard he saw was already knocked out. This gave Hyde a bad omen as he walked on.

'Did someone make it here before me?'

As he kept going up the floors, he began to examine the injuries the knocked out guards had. Some had slashes on their bodies while others looked like they were shot. When he took a good look at them, the shots seemed to leave some kind of burn mark. A beam, maybe? A few of the guards had their faces bruised up as if they were kicked there. This gave the boy some ideas on who it could be, but he put that aside and kept moving.

Eventually, he made his way to the doors of the highest floor. The moment he enters this door, he would encounter the woman who was willing to doom this city for all the power she could want. Hyde understood the risks of bringing Insulator, but losing was not an option.

'Linne, Wald, Yuzu, Harada. I will come back. I promise.'

With one last deep breath, the Unknown Actor opened the door.

Current Area: Altar of Light and Dark

The top floor. It had a gaudy mix of red and yellow as it just screamed expensive. He looked and saw all kinds of expensive plants, lighting, even a red carpet rolled in front of him. As Hyde walked on the carpet, he could see it. In front of his very eyes was the Gate of the Abyss. And in front of the gate, the final boss herself.

Long blonde hair with one red eye and one black eye, she wore an expensive black and white dress as she stood by the gate with a smug look on her face. Hyde could feel it just by being near her though. This person was powerful. The supposed 'strongest In-Birth' in the city.

"Hilda the Paradox!" Hyde yelled.

"Welcome, Insulator boy. To the darkest depths of the Hollow Night. Where the Altar of Light and Darkness awaits. You came at quite the perfect time. I was just about done with this appetizer." Hilda grinned.

With a snap of her fingers, a cloud of darkness floated by her and was flung towards Hyde in an instant. When the boy saw what was thrown, his jaw dropped. A little girl was sprawled in front of him. Her black dress was torn apart, her body covered in cuts. Her two ponytails became undone as the red wings behind her back vanished. This girl was…

"Vatista!" Hyde rushed in to check on her.

"Hyde… Kido…" Vatista looked up to Hyde, unable to do more than that.

Hilda gave a haughty laugh. "Can you believe it?! An Autonomic Nerve challenged me! One of the ancient technologies long since lost to the Hollow Night! What are the chances that such a treasure would fall on my lap?" Her grin turned sadistic.

Hyde was growing with rage. Vatista was the first person he met when he started his journey. He knew how capable she was, so to see her in this state…

"Vatista… I told you to stay safe…" Hyde held her in his arms.

"Mission… to subdue Paradox… failed… I'm sorry…" Vatista's eyes closed after saying that.

"Vatista!" Hyde's eyes widened in fear.

Hilda rolled her eyes. "Relax, boy. I made sure not to fatally wound her. How else am I going to have an obedient little doll once I become a Re-Birth after all?" Hilda gave another haughty laugh.

"You bastard…" Hyde glared at Paradox.

He picked up Vatista and carried her to a corner of the room where he knew she would not be caught in the crossfire.

"Just rest here, okay? You've done more than enough." Hyde gently patted her head. With one last sad look at her, Hyde made his way back to Paradox.

"Oh? Did you not think I would stab you in the back when you did all that?" Hilda said with an amused expression.

Hyde smirked. "Please. You would want me to fight you with everything I had just so you could break me down. Does that sound right?"

"Hahaha! You know me well."

Hyde shook his head. "It's time to settle things once and for all. I'll bring an end to this place for good!"

Hilda's expression turned intrigued when he saw the boy's vengeful eyes.

"My, my. Boys grow up fast nowadays. I know! Why don't you abandon the Princess of the Night Blade and join me instead? We can create a new world in the image of Amnesia and all In-Births," She proposed.

Despite Hyde's perplexed expression, she continued.

"The Night blade, the Licht Kreis. I'm sick of hearing about the 'Hollow Night' this, the 'Order' that. The least they could do is allow me to do as I please. Think of all the possibilities EXS can bring to the world without these unwanted restrictions."

'This witch is out of her mind.' Hyde sweatdropped.

"So, why don't we change it all? Complete decimation so not even ashes will remain. Then the Hollow Night will be ours! Imagine, all of that power in your hands! So? Will we accomplish this magnificent feat together?" Hilda let out an open hand.

Hyde crossed his arms. "You know you held me hostage that night, right?"

"Oh pish posh. There was no harm in that little discussion, was there?"

"Also. Someone close to me is part of the Licht Kreis. I have no interest in getting myself into more trouble. If you plan on getting in my way, I'll crush you and your delusions right here and now." Hyde made his point clear.

That's when it came to him. Why the Night Blade was formed. Why the Licht Kreis was formed. Why people like Linne, Orie, Vatista, and Seth fight. It all made sense now.

"I think I finally get it." he said. "So many people have been corrupted by EXS and turned to evil. People like you. That's why Linne and the others fought so hard to protect this Night."

In that moment, Insulator was summoned out of Hyde's hand as he took his stance.

"Linne showing up, suddenly being tasked with this sword. None of this was a coincidence. Her goal. Everything she wanted to achieve. I'll do it in her stead. That's all I can do for her right now." He said with confidence.

Hilda looked disappointed. Briefly looking down with a small frown.

"I see. What a shame. I suppose I'll give up trying to convince you, then. But in that case. I'm going to have to take the Insulator from you." Hilda said.

A dark aura began manifesting as the woman gave off a menacing presence to Hyde.

"Then I will become a Re-Birth, transcending the limits of an In-Birth! Adelheid of the Licht Kreis. Kuon, Weaver of Eternity. I'll crush them, and Amnesia will rule the Night!" she continued.

Hilda then gave Hyde a smug look. "Now then, it's time for me to take the powers of your sword, and sacrifice them to my Vessel so that I can become one of the Re-Birth! Insulator, come to me!"

'Vatista. This is for you. I'll make sure your efforts were not in vain!'

This was it, the final battle. The battle to decide the fate of this Night starts now!

IMMORTALIZE

Hyde versus Hilda

Hilda immediately began throwing a shadow blade in Hyde's direction. The boy dodged as he began to make his advance towards Paradox. This caused the woman to give an amused smile as she began to flick her hand.

Two blades formed above Hyde which came crashing down. The boy had no choice but to leap back, but not without making a move of his own.

"Orbiter!"

The projectile was sent, only to be canceled when Hilda conjured a blade from the ground. The blade stabbed the energy disc as she sat on a chair made of shadows. The woman gave a pretend yawn as she witnessed Hyde's performance.

"Is this what you're capable of? I'm disappointed." She taunted.

Hyde wanted to get angry, but knew that would go nowhere. So he kept dashing towards her. With a flick of her wrist, two curved blades formed above Hyde and swung at him. The boy slid under them and kept his advance.

This made Hilda give an intrigued smile as she got herself ready for the boy.

"Orbiter!"

Hyde flew the projectile, which made Hilda ready to skewer it, only for the boy to hold his blade with both hands.

"Dark Lotus!"

The projectile exploded, canceling out the shadow blade as Hyde kept moving past the collision. Hilda began to hover upwards and beckoned Hyde to follow her with a motion of her hand.

"Vacant Shift!"

Hyde would attempt to use his uppercut slashes, only to be blocked by two blades forming around Hilda. Paradox would then summon one more blade right above Hyde and threw it down. The swordsman moved Insulator just in time to block it, but was pushed to the ground as a result. Fortunately Hyde was able to land on his feet, but felt a little shaken from the force of the blade.

"Not bad, not bad," Hilda casually clapped. "Let's see you handle this!"

With a point of her finger, two blades came raining down on Hyde. The swordsman immediately focused and slashed through the blades. As he kept on defending himself, Insulator was glowing slightly redder little by little.

Seeing Paradox still in the air, Hyde immediately ran beneath her and prepared for his next move.

"Craver!"

Going for a rising slash, his blade was able to connect against the woman. Only for something to appear in front of Hyde that shocked him. Surrounding Paradox was a dark barrier formed around her that shielded the slash.

"Oh what the hell?" Hyde gave a deadpan look.

"What? You thought you could hit me that easily? How adorable." Hilda gave a haughty laugh.

Hilda descended down and threw a spinning blade at the swordsman. Hyde blocked it, but was pushed back as the blade spun towards him. With enough force, he was able to slash through it with the Insulator glowing a little redder.

With a clap of her hands, Paradox formed a black sphere and threw it up above Hyde. WIthin less than a second, several mini blades rained down as Hyde did his best to get away. Even as the boy slashed and made his escape, a few managed to graze him, but he still kept his composure.

When he looked in front of him, Hilda was nowhere to be seen.

'What? Where did she go?'

Hyde looked around frantically until it happened. Appearing from a shadowy mist in front of him, Paradox appeared.

'Oh sh-'

Hyde didn't get to finish that thought as Hilda trapped Hyde in a black ball of dark energy and with a flick of her wrist, sent him flying towards the wall. Hyde's back felt the full impact as he bounced back from the wall, giving the woman the perfect opportunity to have some fun.

"Feast your eyes on your Impalement!" Hilda caught Hyde in a dark cloud of energy before he fell to the ground. She raised him up and with a snap of her fingers, countless blades appeared before him.

All Hyde could hear as he was assaulted by the blades was Hilda's heartless laugh. The laugh only grew louder as more blades came at him which he could do nothing about while trapped in this dark cloud. Finally the onslaught stopped as the boy plummeted down on the ground, blood trailing as the blades left their mark.

"Don't tell me you're done already?" Hilda put a hand on her face with a sadistic smirk.

'Damn this hurts! But it's weird.' Hyde thought as he recoiled from the pain.

Even though it hurt like hell, Hyde was still able to move moderately fine. Those were dangerous looking blades and this is coming from the supposed 'strongest In-Birth'. So why was he still able to move just fine? By tilting his head, he could see it. Despite her keeping up the smug appearance, Paradox was…

'Panting? Why was she-?'

That's when it dawned on him. He was not the first person she fought just now. He briefly looked towards Vatista's direction. The Autonomic Nerve was still unconscious at her corner. Hyde gave a small smile.

'Vatista. You really are amazing. Don't worry. I'll finish the job for you.'

With renewed determination, Hyde got up. He was wounded, battered, and full of stab wounds, but he was also too stubborn to surrender.

"Oh? Back for more?" Hilda was impressed he stood up.

"Heh, sorry. Just had to learn how you fought. Now that I've seen it, I think I can give you the fight you want." Hyde responded with his own smirk.

"Will you now?" Hilda now looked interested. "Hopefully, you will give me a better performance then." She said as she began to form more blades around her.

"Oh I will. Here I come Paradox!" Hyde pointed his blade at her. "I hope you have enough blades. Because with all my strength, I'll defeat all of yours!" After he said that, Insulator glowed a bright red.

And so, the Unknown Actor's second wind was in full motion as the fight continued.