Showa Chronicles: Neo Millennium Trilogy

by Dr. Exposition

(Co-Written with Tailsmo4ever) Shinichi and the NEO-NUMBERS have faced many enemies thus far. Now, they are being challenged by a new foe that seeks to usurp their position as the protectors of the world. How will they answer this challenge? Will they succeed? And what is this new foe's true plan? Come with us and walk down the "Road to Annihilation".

51. Final Act I: Prelude to the Next

"Like all of you, I was deceived by Professor Kyofu's silver tongue and charisma," the TV host declared. "It just goes to show that people are never what they seem. But let me be clear: I still stand by my stance on these so-called cyborg 'heroes.' They're a dangerous menace, operating without oversight. They think their powers give them free rein. That's why we need countermeasures. Kyofu may have been a fraud, but his vision of superpower accountability was not entirely wrong."

"Stubborn asswipe," Daichi muttered as they watched DJ Mikogami's show. "Let no crisis go to waste, huh?"

"Exposing Kyofu won't stop him from spitting bullshit about us on TV," Hana pointed out, crossing her arms. "Next, he'll probably blame us for the weird weather in the States, or the Agito attacks."

"At least that's behind us now," Michiru said, trying to stay positive. Daichi just snorted. "What?"

"How many times have we saved the world now?" Daichi asked, voice heavy with sarcasm. "Trust me, it's just a matter of time before the next threat comes knocking at our door."

"And when it does, we'll be ready," Michiru said, her tone firm. Then, with a playful smile, she added, "But for now, we've got something else to look forward to: the Grand Royal Wedding!"

"Wait, that's still happening?" Daichi raised an eyebrow.

"Of course," Michiru said, laughing. "They've been planning it for months. It'd take more than a supervillain or global catastrophe to call that off. Besides, half the world would riot if it got cancelled."

"When you think about it, we were lucky nothing happened when we got married," Hana mused. "Considering all the chaos we've been through, it was practically an invitation for a disaster."

Michiru knocked on the side table, grinning.

"Knock on wood. But you know what really threw everyone for a loop? Shin's kids coming straight from the future."

"Yeah, that was wild," Hana agreed, chuckling. "I thought I'd seen everything when Satan got pregnant with Shin's kid. Gebok must've had a meltdown over that."

"Don't remind me," Michiru sighed, her mood dimming. "At least Yoko can still have children."

"Oh, sorry," Hana mumbled awkwardly.

"There might still be a chance for us," Daichi said, his voice softening, a touch of hope slipping in. "But can you believe how badass all of Shin's kids turned out to be?"

"Why wouldn't they be?" Michiru said, a proud smile creeping across her face. "They take after him. I bet Shiori's over the moon having so many grandkids around, even if they are from the future."

"Our lives used to be so simple," Daichi said with a faint, wistful smile.

"Were they, though?" Hana asked, raising an eyebrow. "I mean, really?"

"Okay, relatively speaking," Daichi conceded. "Back then, it was just monsters and a terrorist organisation led by a madman. Now it's aliens, demons, time travel, multiversal shenanigans… end-of-the-world stuff, you know?"

"Dr. Hasuma told me a Rider's duty never ends," Michiru said quietly. "We have a responsibility to the world, even if the world treats us like crap."

"I'm not doing this forever," Daichi said firmly. "One day, I'm retiring. Mika, Levi, and me—maybe a farm somewhere. Start a sanctuary for abused kids and animals. A place where they can finally be happy."

Suddenly, the screen flickered and went to static. The broadcast cut to a new image: Coyote, grinning as she hijacked the airwaves.

"Hey there, everyone!" Coyote's voice boomed. "Sorry to interrupt, but I've got something important to say. I'm sure some of you watch DJ Mikogami, or part of the paranoid anti-Rider crowd. And I get it, they've got a lot of power, and that's scary. But here's a fun fact: they were kids once. Kids turned into weapons, against their will. And now? They choose to protect people like you. Are they different? Yeah. Scary? Sure. But humans are dangerous, too. Kyofu was human, and he still tried to kill every single one of you and replace you with his master race." Her grin widened. "And who stopped him? C'mon, guess! That's right, THE KAMEN RIDERS!"

The three NEO-NUMBERS stared at the screen in stunned silence for a moment. Hana blinked in surprise. Michiru chuckled, shaking her head. And Daichi? He burst into laughter.

"Ahahaha! Of course! Only one of Shin's kids would pull something like this!"

"Think Mikogami will blame us for this?" Hana questioned.

"Hey, if it passes him off, I'll gladly take the blame," Daichi accepted.

"Change the channel," Michiru said suddenly after checking the time. "Shinichi's interview is on."

The screen flicked to a new broadcast. Shinichi sat across from Miyako Saizawa, the same host who had interviewed him once before.

"You know," Miyako began, "after last time, I didn't think I'd see you back on my show."

"I wasn't exactly at my best," Shinichi admitted, a sheepish look crossing his face.

"No, that was my fault," Miyako said, surprisingly apologetic. "I pushed you too hard. It was unprofessional, and I'm sorry."

Shinichi seemed genuinely relieved.

"Thank you."

"So, you must've heard about Professor Kyofu. That had to be a shock."

"Not really," Shinichi shrugged. "Kyofu's thirst for revenge would've cost countless lives."

"True, and it's unsettling how many people supported him. But let's talk about you: have you come to terms with your past?"

"I have," Shinichi said, his voice steady. "Yes, I did terrible things for GIN-SHOCKER. But back then, I was just a kid and they had total control over me. When I escaped, I tried to run from that past. Can you blame me for that? I'd just been through hell. I wanted to forget. But eventually, my past caught up to me." He paused, then continued, more reflective. "That's when I stopped running. And I didn't face it alone. My friends, my family, they stood by me. They helped me become the person I am today. It's because of them I want to be better. I know not everyone will forgive me, but I won't stop trying to protect this world."

"Truly inspirational," Miyako said warmly. "You've turned your darkness into a beacon of light."

Shinichi's expression darkened slightly.

"I haven't escaped my darkness, Saizawa-san. It'll always be with me. What I've learned is to embrace it, and make something good out of it."

---

Showa Chronicles: Road to Annihilation

The Final Act I: Prelude to the Next

---

Shinichi adjusted his jacket, mentally preparing himself to give his report to Director Smith. The familiar weight of duty settled on his shoulders when a soft knock interrupted the silence.

"Who is it?" he called, glancing toward the door.

"Onii-chan, can we talk?" Alice's voice came through, quieter than usual.

Shinichi's brow furrowed. He crossed the room, and the door slid open with a soft hiss. Alice stood there—his niece, though she felt more like a little sister—her eyes heavy with something that tugged at his gut.

"Hey, Alice," he greeted her with a smile, hoping to ease whatever was bothering her. But that smile vanished when he saw her expression, one weighed down by guilt and sorrow. "What's wrong?"

"Onii-chan, I'm so sorry!" she blurted, her voice cracking. "I'm sorry for everything I did to you... and your family."

Shinichi's chest tightened. He knew that look, the same haunted expression that had stared back at him in the mirror when his memories of BLACK 13 returned, drowning him in regret and self-loathing.

"Alice," he whispered, stepping forward, his tone gentle. She raised her eyes, expecting anger, maybe even hatred. But all she found was compassion, and it nearly undid her. "I've already forgiven you."

"You…you have?" Her voice trembled, like forgiveness was something she hadn't dared hope for. "But...but I hurt you."

"Yes, Alice. You hurt me, but you weren't yourself. You can't hold onto what Chaos Doll did."

"But I am Chaos Doll," she whispered, her voice raw with anguish. "How do I live with what I've done?"

Shinichi sighed, feeling the familiar weight of his own past press down on him. He placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a soft embrace.

"I understand more than you think," he said quietly. "I remember everything BLACK 13 did, every drop of blood he spilt. Sometimes it still feels like it's on my hands. But we're not defined by that anymore. BLACK 13 was a part of me, just like the Chaos Doll is part of you. But it's not who we are now, not anymore."

Silence fell between them, their shared pain and understanding forming a bond stronger than words. But Shinichi's smile faded as darker memories resurfaced.

"To be honest, Alice, I resented it at first," he confessed, his voice tinged with bitterness. "When Warren had you reprogrammed and Alan adopted you without telling me… it hurt."

Alice looked down, her voice barely a whisper.

"I remember. I remember how much you hated me."

Shinichi shook his head, a trace of regret in his eyes.

"I didn't hate you. I hated Gebok, and I let that cloud my judgment. You were made to be a weapon, just like I was, but what happened wasn't your fault."

Alice wiped at her tears, though more fell.

"But the guilt... it doesn't go away. How do you live with it?"

Shinichi closed his eyes for a moment, thinking.

"There's no easy answer. The guilt doesn't disappear, you have to live with it every day, but it gets easier when you let the people who love you share the burden."

Alice's lip trembled.

"You mean... our family?"

Shinichi smiled gently.

"Yeah, our family."

Alice looked up at him, her voice small but determined.

"Then I want to do what you do. I want to make things right. I want to earn my place. Will you help me?"

Warmth spread through Shinichi's chest. He smiled, patting her head in a familiar gesture of affection.

"Of course, Alice."

---

"Ultron's been neutralised, along with his Infinity Stones. Until our headquarters is rebuilt, all agents are operating from outposts in their home universes," Ryuki informed, his face projected on a holographic screen as he spoke to Ryuji and Lucy.

"Were there casualties?" Ryuji asked, though his gut already knew the answer.

Ryuki's expression darkened.

"...Before we could stop him, several universes were erased." He shook his head, the weight of it all sinking in. "Countless lives lost and we also suffered casualties. A memorial service will be held for them all. Warren...he's taking it pretty hard."

"They knew the risks. We all do," Ryuji said, his arms crossed, though there was an edge of weariness in his voice. "We took a hit on our end too."

"I know. It was in Shinichi's report," Ryuki nodded. "Daytona Viper, right? As a fellow pyrokinetic, I tip my hat to him. He died a true hero."

"That he did," Lucy said quietly. "It's just... a shame it had to end like that."

"Don't beat yourself up over it," Ryuki said, giving her a reassuring smile. "You redeemed him. His life may have been cut short, but he made it count in the end, because of you."

"No," Lucy shook her head slightly. "The credit goes to Uncle Ryuji."

"I just paid it forward," Ryuji shrugged. "Warren saw something good in me and gave me a chance. I thought I owed it to Daytona to do the same for him."

"And that's exactly why we do what we do." Ryuki smiled. His expression grew thoughtful. "This whole incident has shown us more sub-variants of powers we haven't encountered before. I'll be diving into research, maybe even look into this 'absolute burning' ability Daytona used."

"Don't go trying to learn it yourself," Ryuji warned his twin. "I don't want you turning to ash, bro. If you do, not even Shinichi will be able to bring you back."

Ryuki laughed lightly.

"No worries, I'm perfectly content with the powers I've got. Anyway, I have to go. There are still a lot of wounded I need to tend to."

"You'll be at the wedding, right?" Lucy asked.

"Of course, I'll be there. I may not exactly be a fan of polygamy, but if Shinichi and his brides are happy with the arrangement, who am I to judge?" Ryuki said with a slight smirk. "Over and out."

The holo-screen winked out.

"You'd think with everything that's happened, they'd postpone the wedding," Lucy sighed, leaning back.

"Well," Ryuji smiled, "Some things you just can't put off. When the timing's right, you just know."

"Says the guy who got married to his high school sweetheart before graduation," Lucy teased.

"Yeah," Ryuji chuckled. "Your dad loves telling that story, doesn't he? Some said it was too soon for us, but we never regretted it for a second. When you find the right person, you just know."

"And I suppose you think Kouta and I are next, huh?" Lucy's cheeks reddened.

"I wasn't going to say anything, but yeah," Ryuji smirked. "One day, you two are gonna tie the knot."

"We're not rushing into anything," Lucy said quickly. "Plus, there's my career to think about." Still, the thought of spending her life with Kouta made her smile. Sure, he was just a regular human, but she couldn't imagine being with anyone else.

"It's all about finding balance," Ryuji said. "Relationships take work, and it won't always be easy. But if it matters to you, you'll find a way to make it work."

"How are the kids handling all this?" Lucy asked, her thoughts turning to little Crow, Layna, Kaguya, Shinjiro, and Hiroyuki.

"They'll be okay," Ryuji said, his voice softening. "I mean, just look at their future selves."

Lucy nodded, though the thought of what the kids had been through weighed on her.

"What about the prisoners? Can we trust the authorities to handle them?" she questioned.

"They've gotten better at dealing with super-powered individuals over the years," Ryuji answered. "But just to be safe, they'll all be wearing power-inhibitor collars when we hand them over."

"Good," Lucy said, relieved. "They caused enough damage as it is."

Ryuji nodded, his expression turning serious.

"It's been a long battle. But we're still standing. That's what matters."

---

Later, Ryuji found his wife in the Hive's medical room, intently analysing Reiko's brain waves on a computer. He crossed his arms, attempting to mask his anxiety as he watched Kotonoha scrutinise the psychic's neural patterns. His mind wandered as he looked at Reiko, who bore a striking resemblance to someone from their past—someone who had once driven Kotonoha to the brink of despair. Even though time had healed old wounds, and their relationship with that person was now amicable, the memories lingered. Still, both he and Kotonoha had learned to compartmentalise. Reiko was not Sekai, even though they appeared to be identical.

Kotonoha let out a deep, disheartened sigh, breaking Ryuji's thoughts.

"What's wrong?" he asked, brows furrowing as he moved closer.

Kotonoha glanced at him, then back at the monitor.

"I'm... not sure," she murmured, pulling off her glasses and rubbing her temples. "Physically, she's fine. But mentally..." She hesitated, sliding her glasses back on with a reluctant sigh. "It looks like Reiko-san's brain has been force-fed information while she sleeps. Mathematics, science, history, language—she's basically a walking encyclopaedia. But it was done recklessly. Dangerously. Kyofu modified a brainwashing device from GIN-SHOCKER, likely the same one Gebok used on Shinichi-kun. He rewired it to imprint a crude mental template onto her brain." Her lips curled in disgust, and her eyes darkened as if she were trying to rein in her anger. "It worked, but the process was... barbaric. It caused significant damage. Have you noticed how she acts like a child, even though she looks to be in her mid-twenties? It's because, mentally, she is a child. Her brain never had a chance to develop and mature properly." She gestured to the scan on the monitor. "Kyofu forced all the knowledge he wanted into her, but in doing so, he damaged the areas responsible for emotional and cognitive development. And from what I can tell, she may never progress beyond the mental age of a fifth or sixth grader."

Ryuji's mouth tightened.

"Is there anything you can do to fix it?" he solemnly questioned.

Kotonoha shook her head slowly.

"Probably not," she sadly admitted. "Her brain's already built itself around these damaged foundations. Trying to reverse it now would be too invasive — it could do more harm than good. If we'd caught it earlier, maybe... but at this stage..."

Ryuji's gaze dropped to the floor before he looked back up at her, his voice soft yet hopeful.

"What if we ask Shinichi to help? He could undo the damage."

Kotonoha winced, almost as if the idea physically pained her.

"Shinichi-kun can only heal physical injuries. He can't repair mental damage. The most he could do is erase her memories."

Ryuji's brow furrowed further, but a spark of determination flickered in his eyes.

"Then why not that? Wipe her memories clean, start over, and rebuild her mind from scratch."

Kotonoha's eyes widened in alarm, her voice rising.

"Ryuji-kun, you can't be serious!"

"Her mind's a mess, Koto-chan! She's going to be mentally disabled for the rest of her life unless we do something immediately. If we rebuild her mind, she might have a shot at a normal life. Shinichi lost his memory, and look at him now — he's fine."

Kotonoha frowned, crossing her arms as she processed his suggestion.

"That's not the same," she countered, her voice now more measured but still carrying an edge. "Shinichi-kun was still a teenager when it happened, and his memories weren't erased — they were just... repressed. That's what allowed his mind to stay intact. But wiping someone's entire memory? That's practically turning them into an empty shell. They wouldn't be the same anymore."

Ryuji ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched into his expression.

"So what, then? We just let her stay like this? No options at all?"

Kotonoha's shoulders sagged as she sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

"...I don't know," she whispered. "I really don't know."

---

"And that's it. Kyofu's been exposed, and all his plans have been stopped," Shinichi concluded, his tone calm as if the chaotic events he described were just a routine occurrence. He sat across from Warren in the simulated office, the illusion of a clean, intact space in stark contrast to the destruction ARMOR HQ had suffered.

Warren, seated behind the holographic desk, nodded thoughtfully.

"I see," he said. "And what happened to Kyofu? Did you kill him?"

Shinichi's lips curled into a dark smile, a glint of cold satisfaction flickering in his eyes.

"Oh, I didn't kill him," he replied slowly. "But it's still a fate far worse than death."

Warren raised an eyebrow.

"Worse than death? What did you do?"

"I hit him with a Rider Kick."

"A... Rider Kick?" Warren echoed, confused. "You'll have to explain that to me."

Shinichi leaned back, his gaze distant but laced with sadistic satisfaction.

---

Kyofu crashed through the roof of a small, dilapidated house, his body slamming into the hard wooden floor with a gut-wrenching thud. The force of the impact left him gasping, pain ricocheting through his bones. He groaned, pulling himself up on shaky legs, barely able to stand. His head swam with disorientation, his vision blurry as he stumbled forward, clutching at his ribs.

The door swung open with a creak as he stepped out into the daylight. Blinking against the bright sun, Kyofu squinted, taking in the sight of a quiet village. The streets were muddy, the houses small and worn down. Villagers moved about, some sweeping debris from what seemed to be the aftermath of a storm.

"I'm... alive?" Kyofu muttered, disbelief flickering across his features. His lips twisted into a crooked grin before the disbelief morphed into manic, hysterical laughter. "Ha... hahaha! YES! I'M ALIVE!"

His laughter echoed through the narrow streets, wild and unhinged, drawing uneasy stares from the villagers. But he didn't care—he was alive, after all, and that was all that mattered. His survival was proof that he had outwitted Shinichi.

"BLACK 13, you WEAK fool!" Kyofu screamed into the sky, his voice hoarse with rage. "Did you really think you'd seen the last of ME? This is NOT over! I'll regroup! Rebuild! I'll make YOU regret the DAY you DARED to challenge—"

"Hey."

Kyofu was cut off as a decrepit old man hobbled toward him, hands trembling as he reached out.

"Hey, man," the old beggar rasped, his voice a guttural croak. "Got any change?"

Kyofu recoiled in disgust, eyes narrowing as he shoved the man aside.

"Get away from me, you FILTHY vermin!" he snarled, wiping his coat as if the mere touch had tainted him. "I don't have time for the LIKES of you."

The beggar staggered but did not leave. His bloodshot eyes narrowed, and with a speed that defied his frail appearance, he pulled a rusted switchblade from his pocket. In one fluid motion, he drove it deep into Kyofu's back.

Kyofu gasped, his breath leaving him in a broken, agonised wheeze.

He collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. The villagers passed by, indifferent, their faces blank, as though watching a man die was just another part of their day.

"N-No! This can't be... HAPPENING!" Kyofu tried to turn, to retaliate, but the old man stabbed him again, and again, and again. The blade tore through flesh and muscle, the pain blinding and suffocating.

"Gimme change... Gimme change!" the beggar's voice shrieked, growing distorted and warped in Kyofu's fading consciousness.

---

Kyofu awoke with a ragged gasp. He was on his knees in the middle of a busy street, his heart pounding in his chest.

"What? What happened!?" He scrambled to his feet, eyes wide with terror. He was back in Osaka, in front of his headquarters, but the memory of being stabbed to death was too vivid, too real.

He took a few stumbling steps forward, his legs trembling as if they would collapse beneath him.

"Just a nightmare," he whispered, trying to convince himself. "It was just a nightmare..."

As he stepped off the curb, a flash of movement caught his eye. He turned just in time to see a truck barreling toward him at breakneck speed.

*CRASH!*

The impact flung him like a ragdoll through the air, every bone in his body shattered. His skull cracked against the pavement, his last thought a scream of disbelief as his vision faded to black.

---

Kyofu gasped awake again, his entire body shaking with panic. He was at the same crosswalk, standing exactly where he'd been just moments before.

"No... no, no, NO!" His heart raced as he backed away from the curb, narrowly avoiding the truck that roared past. His mind spiralled into chaos. 'This CAN'T be happening...'

He turned to the subway, deciding to take a safer route. But as he waited on the platform, a careless bump from a passerby sent him sprawling onto the tracks just as the train screamed into the station.

---

Kyofu jolted awake at the subway platform again. Cold sweat drenched his body. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think. His hands trembled as he backed away, desperately trying to make sense of the situation he was in.

"I can't... I can't...!" he gasped, bolting for a nearby hotel. He checked in, ignoring the confused glances from the staff as he rushed into his room. "Just... rest... just rest... no more dying..."

But rest brought no safety. As he stepped out of the shower, his foot slipped on the wet tiles, and his skull cracked against the floor with a sickening thud.

---

"Just need...need to stay safe..." Kyofu muttered under his breath, the words trembling as if they alone could keep the terror at bay. His hands shook violently as he collapsed onto the bed, eyes darting around the room, searching for threats that weren't there, yet. The familiar hum of the television flickered in the background, an almost pathetic attempt to create a sense of normalcy. The light from the screen washed over him in shallow waves, but even its glow couldn't soothe the dread creeping into his bones.

'It's SAFE here,' he told himself, clenching the blankets with white-knuckled desperation. 'I just need to REST. Just need to stay HIDDEN...'

Exhaustion finally pulled him under, his body betraying the survival instincts that screamed at him to stay alert. He drifted into an uneasy sleep, haunted by flashes of each violent end he'd experienced. The stabbings, the truck crash, the train running him over, all vivid, all excruciatingly real.

Hours later, Kyofu's eyes flew open, his heart hammering in his chest. The sharp, acrid scent of smoke filled his lungs, making him choke. His disoriented mind struggled to process what was happening as he sat up, panic tightening its grip around his throat.

The room was on fire.

Flames licked at the walls, crawling hungrily across the floor, feeding off the very air he breathed.

"No... no, no, NO!" he stammered, leaping from the bed. The heat bore down on him, suffocating, blistering. He rushed to the door, his palms slamming against it with frantic force. The knob twisted, but it wouldn't open. It was stuck—jammed shut, or worse, locked. His breath came in ragged gasps, the fire closing in, scorching the air, filling his lungs with searing pain.

"Not again! Please, NOT AGAIN!" His voice cracked, high-pitched and desperate, as he threw his body against the door, pounding, clawing, begging it to open. But the flames consumed him, the searing heat melting through flesh and bone. His screams were drowned out by the roar of the inferno, his last conscious thought one of pure, primal fear.

---

Kyofu awoke with a violent gasp, flailing in a blind panic as if he could still feel the flames scorching his skin. He lay in the hotel bed, soaked in sweat, his heart pounding like a trapped animal's frantic heartbeat. It took him several seconds to realise he wasn't burning alive. But the memories of the fire, of the agonising heat, still clung to him, as vivid and raw as if he were reliving it.

His hands shook uncontrollably as he rushed out of the room. His breaths were shallow, panicked, as though the flames still lingered in the back of his mind, waiting to ignite again. He stumbled toward the front desk, practically throwing the key at the clerk, unable to form any coherent words. The clerk's puzzled stare meant nothing to him—nothing mattered except getting out. Getting away.

As soon as he was outside, Kyofu's knees buckled. He steadied himself against the wall, gasping for air, his mind a swirling storm of fear and confusion. He felt trapped in a nightmare, a never-ending cycle of death from which he could not escape. Each time he awoke, his mind fractured a little more, the thread tethering him to sanity slowly unravelling.

"I've got to get AWAY," he whispered, his voice barely audible, quivering with terror. "Somewhere SAFE... somewhere... Oh God, I can't keep dying... I can't..."

He stumbled down the street, every sound, every shadow making his skin crawl. His mind raced with wild thoughts.

'Where can I GO? How do I ESCAPE this? What if I'm already DEAD? What if I NEVER stop dying?'

His breaths came in shallow gasps, his heartbeat an erratic drumbeat in his ears.

Just as he thought he was safe, just as his pulse began to slow, a shadow loomed over him. His body froze, an icy wave of dread crashing over him. Slowly, his eyes lifted to the sky, dread pooling in his stomach.

A massive figure, a morbidly obese man, was falling, hurtling down toward him from above, like a grotesque meteor of flesh and gravity. Kyofu's mouth opened in a silent scream, but his body wouldn't move. There was no time to dodge, no time to think.

With a sickening thud, the man's weight slammed into him, crushing him beneath the sheer force of the impact. Kyofu's bones shattered instantly, his organs ruptured, the air crushed from his lungs in a single, brutal instant. His vision swam with the sudden, suffocating pressure, the world going dark as his broken body was flattened beneath the mass.

The last thing he heard before the darkness claimed him was his own frantic, choked gasp.

'Not again...'

---

"This wasn't just any old Rider Kick. This one... puts him in a time loop," Shinichi explained, smiling contently. "He'll die over and over again, trapped in a cycle of endless death. The only difference is how he dies each time, but they'll still be brutal and unexpected."

Warren's eyes narrowed, understanding slowly dawning on him.

"So, it's like playing a video game with infinite lives, but on the Impossible Mode."

Shinichi's eyes gleamed.

"Exactly." A cold smile spread across Shinichi's face, a shadow darkening his features as he spoke. Warren's expression shifted, a mixture of awe and apprehension creeping in.

"Wow, that's ice-cold," Warren remarked, though his tone betrayed more admiration than shock. He started to say more, but his words caught in his throat as Shinichi leaned forward, his eyes hard, intense. The air between them grew heavier, the easy banter fading away.

"I was willing to bring him in," Shinichi said, his voice dropping into a low growl. "I would've let the system handle him. But then he went after my kids."

Warren's smirk faltered. Shinichi's rage, though contained, simmered just below the surface, barely held in check.

"After that," Shinichi continued, his voice barely above a whisper as he leaned back into his seat. "Any mercy I had went out the window." His gaze bore into Warren, sharp and unflinching. "You would've done the same."

Warren let out a soft scoff, his lips curling into a wry smile.

"No doubt," he concurred, though his tone was edged with something darker, an understanding between fathers. "I approve. Like I said in my message, that village is family to you. That makes them family to me, and no one messes with our family."

"Exactly," Shinichi agreed. "Glad you understand."

Warren's expression remained neutral before he gave Shinichi an approving smirk.

"Honestly, that technique of yours reminds me of one of mine."

Shinichi blinked, curiosity piqued.

"Oh?"

"Yeah," Warren said with a nod. "I call it 'Penance.' It forces the target to experience all the pain and suffering they've inflicted on others, until I decide they've had enough." He leaned back, thoughtful. "But what you did to him... there's no end, is there?"

Shinichi shook his head, his gaze unwavering.

"None," he said coldly. "He'll keep trying to escape it, but death will always find him. Not even suicide can free him from this. He's trapped in an endless nightmare, forever."

Warren let out a low whistle, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Now that's what I call cruel and unusual punishment," he said, nodding in approval. "But after everything he pulled, it's the least he deserves."

Shinichi's smile returned, sharp and resolute.

"Believe me," he said, his voice hardening with conviction. "It's exactly what he deserves."

---

Kyofu was unravelling. His mind, once sharp and calculating, was now splintering under the relentless, absurdity of his own torment. No matter what he did, no matter how cautiously he moved, death still came for him.

Over and over again, Kyofu woke to new deaths. A fire in his hotel room, a fall from a high-rise, an accident in an alley. Each death more brutal, each more terrifying. No matter how hard he tried to avoid it, death stalked him relentlessly.

He couldn't predict it, couldn't bargain with it, and worst of all, he couldn't escape it. It was as if reality itself had turned against him, conspiring to end his life in the most unpredictable, humiliating ways, only to bring him back and resume the torture.

He could still feel the sting of his most recent death—killed by a frisbee of all things. A child's toy had sliced through the air and decapitated him like some sick joke. Even now, as he stumbled through the streets of the city, his neck felt phantom pain from the sharp edge of that spinning disc.

Before that? He grimaced, the memory fresh and raw. He had awoken on an autopsy table, fully conscious as a surgeon calmly dissected him, piece by piece, his screams going unheard in the sterile white room. The excruciating agony, the smell of his own insides... he felt the bile rise in his throat just thinking about it.

And before that, he'd choked to death on a hotdog in the middle of a crowded street, gasping for breath as passersby watched in confusion, doing nothing. His vision had darkened, spots dancing before his eyes, before the world slipped away into yet another brutal ending.

And before that? Mauled to death by a dog, its teeth sinking into his throat, blood pouring out as the light in his eyes dimmed.

Every single time, he died. Every single time, he was sent back, yanked back into this twisted nightmare to relive it all over again.

It was maddening. No, it was beyond madness. It was despair. The kind that crushed hope, that smothered every ounce of fight left in him.

His mind couldn't take it anymore. He could feel himself cracking under the pressure, fragments of his own sanity slipping away with each new death.

There was no logic to it. No rules. It was as if the universe itself was mocking him, torturing him, toying with his every futile attempt at survival.

'It's HIM! This is BLACK 13's DOING,' Kyofu thought, his eyes wide and wild, bloodshot from sleepless terror. 'Who else could orchestrate something SO vile?'

But even as he clung to this belief, a small part of him knew the truth, that there was no escape. No matter how he tried to pin the blame on Shinichi, the fact remained: Kyofu was trapped. He couldn't outwit this. He couldn't outthink death. It was too random, too brutal, too omnipresent. But still, he clung to the faint, fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, he would find a way out. That he could break free of this endless cycle of pain and terror. He had to believe it, or he would lose what was left of his sanity.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he stumbled down the street, his clothes dishevelled, his face gaunt and pale. He couldn't even remember how long this had been going on. Had it been days? Weeks? It all blurred together in a mess of blood, pain, and horror.

His hands trembled as he ran them through his sweat-soaked hair, his vision blurring as he looked around, paranoid, waiting for the next death to strike.

As if on cue, a small voice pulled him from his frantic thoughts.

"Hey, mister. You dropped your wallet."

Kyofu froze, turning to see a little girl, no older than six, standing a few feet away, holding his wallet out toward him with a bright, innocent smile.

His blood ran cold. A child. A harmless child. But nothing was harmless anymore.

Nothing was safe.

"No... NO!" he shrieked, backing away from her, his voice cracking with hysteria. "Stay away from me! STAY AWAY FROM MEEEEEEE!"

He turned on his heel and bolted, his legs burning with adrenaline-fueled terror as he ran blindly through the streets. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat feeling like it could be his last.

'Don't stop running!' his mind screamed. 'Just get AWAY! Get AWAY from her! From EVERYTHING!'

But in his blind panic, he didn't see the bus barreling down the street until it was too late. His foot touched the curb, and the world exploded in pain as the bus slammed into him, crushing his body under its massive weight. The impact was swift, but the agony lingered, his bones shattering, his organs rupturing under the sheer force. His body crumpled, lifeless, beneath the wheels, blood pooling out onto the street.

---

And then... he was back.

The world snapped into focus again, as if someone had hit rewind on a sick, cosmic tape. His eyes flew open, wide with panic, his body drenched in cold sweat. His mind screamed at him. He'd just died, he'd felt it, but here he was again, alive.

Alive to die another time.

Kyofu couldn't even bring himself to stand. His whole body trembled, his muscles twitching as if they couldn't comprehend what had just happened. He sat in a heap on the pavement, his breath coming in shallow, terrified gasps.

"How... how do I STOP this?" he whimpered to himself, his voice barely more than a broken whisper. "How do I make it END? Please... someone... make it stop."

But no one answered. No one was listening.

A few feet away, a tall figure stood silently, observing. Joe Black, his dark trench coat billowing slightly in the wind, calmly opened his notebook and began to jot down the latest entry in a growing list. Kyofu's name appeared again and again on the pages, each line cataloguing a fresh, absurd death, each one more senseless than the last.

Joe shook his head, flipping to the final page already crowded with scrawled details of Kyofu's ongoing torment.

"I'm going to need another notebook," he muttered dryly, tucking the pen behind his ear. "And someone else to take over this shift. I can't watch this anymore."

---

"And according to your report, most of Kyofu's Alpha Force have been captured, save for a few," Warren said, raising an eyebrow. "What happened to them?"

"E, G, and Z were killed in battle, and Daytona sacrificed himself to neutralise the Spirit Tower," Shinichi explained. "As for the others, their current whereabouts are unknown. Weapon W vanished into a shadow portal, and was never seen again. We suspected Obsidian at first, but he denies involvement. The other two, O and S, disappeared as soon as things weren't in their favour. Megan tracked them to a motel, but by the time we got there, they were long gone. We haven't had any leads since then."

"So, you've got three dangerous psychics at large," Warren summarised gravely.

"Yeah, but we're keeping an eye out for any sign of them in case they resurface," Shinichi assured him. "In the meantime, I'm focusing on more immediate threats."

Warren nodded.

"Alright, let's move on to Kyofu's pet project: Weapon D."

Shinichi's expression darkened slightly.

"Kyofu named her 'Reiko Serizawa,' but her birth name was 'Sekai Saionji'." Warren's eyes widened in recognition, though he quickly masked his reaction. Shinichi still managed to catch it, however. "You recognize the name."

"In another universe, she was one of my students," Warren admitted, his voice tinged with regret.

"Chief and Doctor Katsura said they knew her too," Shinichi added. "From the way they talked about her, their relationship with her sounded... complicated."

"That's putting it mildly," Warren replied, a shadow crossing his face. "I won't go into detail—that's their story to tell—but let's just say it was a classic teenage love triangle gone horribly wrong. It's part of the reason why Ryuji's not a fan of polygamy."

"Chief Katsura said something like that," Shinichi recalled. "He said harems were a cheap way for insecure guys to inflate their egos."

Warren gave a wry smile.

"In Kotonoah's universe, Sekai was supposed to be her best friend, even her wingwoman. But she ended up stealing her boyfriend instead. It was a mess. Ironically, Kotonoha forgave them. Ryuji, though, took a long time to get past it. Even then, he only tolerated them. Eventually, they all found some form of peace, but betrayal like that cuts deep."

Shinichi nodded thoughtfully, reminded of similar betrayals he'd witnessed.

"Must have been devastating."

"Trust me," Warren said, his voice heavy with experience, "It could've gone much worse without our intervention. There were countless scenarios where things ended in bloody conclusions. We ended up coining a phrase because of how bad it almost got: 'Nice Boat'."

Shinichi frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"You really don't want to know," Warren said, shaking his head, his tone ominous. "Anyway, let's move on to the Barchenowa sisters."

Shinichi's mood darkened again.

"Cryska and Inia. Their story's a tragic one. Both were consumed by revenge for what happened to their parents and joined Kyofu because he promised to help them avenge their family. Cryska didn't want Inia involved, but Kyofu needed her telepathic powers, so he brainwashed her into compliance. Inia's going to need a lot of therapy to undo what Kyofu did, but at least she'll have her sister by her side."

Warren rubbed his chin, recalling the past.

"I remember Cryska. Before the timeline changed, she was working with Venge. Even after you altered the timeline to give Viviana a better life, Cryska's drive for revenge never fully disappeared."

Shinichi sighed.

"Revenge is a powerful motivator. Not everyone will forgive, and not everyone wants to. That said, Cryska was more reasonable this time. Above all, she values the only family she has left."

Warren's expression softened.

"Speaking of family, have you located Weapon Q's?"

"We have," Shinichi nodded. "Kasuga—Weapon Q—comes from a long line of espers on his mother's side. His father's a normal human, but his sisters have psychic abilities like him. Kyofu tricked him into hypnotizing himself, using his own power to manipulate his mind. I suspect Weapon R played a role in that, using her verbal mind control and other means to keep him under Kyofu's control. We also discovered that Kyofu's foot soldiers were cloned from Kasuga."

Warren leaned back slightly.

"And the young girl?"

Shinichi's expression darkened further.

"You mean Abby?"

"Yeah, what's her story?"

Shinichi exhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts.

"Kyofu found her just after her fourth birthday. She'd manifested her imaginary friend, but that wasn't her only ability."

Warren frowned.

"What else can she do?"

Shinichi hesitated, his gaze growing distant.

"Death."

Warren blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"She has an aura," Shinichi explained, his voice low and heavy. "Anyone near her—especially adults—becomes violent. They turn on each other, like rabid animals. And if anyone tries to harm her…"

Warren's stomach tightened.

"What happens?"

"They die," Shinichi said bluntly. "Heart attacks, mostly."

A cold silence fell over them. Warren paled as the full weight of it sank in.

"Her parents…"

"Dead," Shinichi confirmed, his voice grim. "Kyofu found her wandering among their bodies at her own birthday party. She didn't even seem to notice them. It was like she was... detached."

Warren swallowed hard, processing the horror.

"Maybe she shut down like some kind of defence mechanism?"

"Maybe," Shinichi agreed, though his voice carried doubt. "Kyofu managed to suppress her aura. It only affects regular humans, so Agitos like him were immune. When he approached her, she became attached to him, like he was her saviour."

Warren's voice dropped to a whisper.

"And now?"

Shinichi rubbed the back of his neck, tension radiating from him.

"For now, the aura's still blocked. But with Kyofu gone, there's no telling how long that will last. It could come back at any time... and if it does, it'll be a disaster."

Warren raised an eyebrow, his expression grim.

"I'm surprised Kyofu would suppress such a power. A weapon like that could wipe out entire enemies."

"It was too unpredictable and she still couldn't control it," Shinichi explained. "So, he locked it away and focused on training her other ability to manifest her imaginary friend for combat." He paused, clearly conflicted. "Still… I don't know what we can do for her. We can't keep her here, but finding someone willing to take her in—"

"You won't have to worry about that," Warren interrupted with a reassuring smile. "I've got a friend who specialises in cases like this. Abby will be in good hands."

Shinichi's frown deepened with concern.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Trust me," Warren said firmly. "This friend of mine has dealt with situations just as dangerous, if not worse. Abby will get the help she needs."

Shinichi's shoulders relaxed, some of the tension easing.

"That's a relief. She going to need a strong role model, someone who can help her control her powers while giving her the stability she's never had."

"Sounds like the crisis is under control," Warren said, leaning back in his chair. "Since we've got some time, how about a game? You should have a Z-Class world simulation. It's a great way to blow off steam."

Shinichi smiled apologetically.

"Sorry, I'm busy preparing for the wedding. Maybe next time."

Warren blinked, then nodded as if just remembering.

"Right, the wedding. Congrats."

"Thanks, Pops."

Warren studied him for a moment, his expression softening.

"You've been through so much, and to come out of all that as the man you are today, well…Even if it's just genetics, I'm proud to call you my son." He sighed, his voice heavy with meaning. "We still have a lot to work through, but I wanted you to know that."

Shinichi looked away for a moment, then met Warren's eyes.

"When I got my memories back, I kept asking myself if I even deserved to be happy after everything I did. I know none of it was my fault—Gebok made BLACK 13 to be his weapon—but the guilt doesn't just vanish. Even so, I've been given a second chance. I'm working to atone, and yeah… I think I've earned this."

Warren nodded thoughtfully.

"A lot of people I know had to fight for their happy endings. But life doesn't stop at 'happily ever after.' There's always more to do."

Shinichi exhaled slowly, as if bracing himself.

"I know. I've been putting it off, but I need to track down the ones who chased Lum, the ones who destroyed her planet. They're still out there, and they might come for Earth."

Warren folded his arms, his tone measured.

"I wouldn't say you've been putting it off. It's more like… other things kept pushing it to the back burner. But hey, if you need help, you know where to find me."

"Thanks," Shinichi said, nodding. "We may need everything ARMOR has to offer to stop them. But… at some point, I think I need to hang up the cape for good."

Warren raised an eyebrow.

"Retire? From ARMOR?"

"Not just ARMOR," Shinichi replied, shaking his head. "From the whole hero thing. Truth is, all I ever wanted was a normal life. I had a glimpse of it before I got my powers and memories back, and since then, it's been this constant struggle to balance it all. The only reason I haven't lost my mind is because of the people who care about me. Now I've got a family to think about." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "...But I know I can't really quit, not completely. I've got a responsibility to use my powers to protect the world… to make up for what I've done."

Warren's face tightened with understanding.

"'With great power comes great responsibility', huh?" he sighed. "You feel like the only way to atone for being BLACK 13 is to keep using your powers?"

Shinichi nodded quietly.

"I get it," Warren said, his voice lowering. "I wish I didn't, but I do. My hands are just as bloody—maybe more. That's why I keep fighting too. To make sure the future is better than the past."

Shinichi managed a small smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"For me, though? I think I'm ready for my next great adventure: watching my kids grow up to be badasses."

Warren chuckled, a deep, knowing laugh.

"Take it from me, that adventure's a lot more nerve-wracking than the hero stuff."

---

Shinichi stepped out of the HoloSim chamber, the weight of recent events slowly lifting from his shoulders. He made his way toward the elevator, eager to return home to his family. As he walked, his thoughts drifted, only to be interrupted by a familiar voice echoing inside his mind.

"It seems I misjudged you," Dreigon's deep, rumbling voice resonated, like distant thunder rolling in his head.

"Disappointed I didn't kill him?" Shinichi replied, speaking to the ancient dragon spirit that dwelled within him.

"Disappointed? Ha! Not at all, boy!" Dreigon's tone was almost gleeful. "In fact, I'm impressed! An endless death loop with no escape—that's a level of torment even I wouldn't have imagined in a thousand years!"

Shinichi could feel Dreigon's amusement, a sinister undercurrent to the dragon's laughter. But before he could respond, another voice entered the conversation.

"But don't you think you were a bit too merciless, lad?" St. George's calm, measured voice interjected, cutting through Dreigon's gloating.

Shinichi's brow furrowed, his tone thoughtful.

"I still believe in mercy," he said. "But I've come to understand that mercy should be reserved for those who deserve it. After Kyofu took my kids, he crossed the line."

"Exactly!" Dreigon chimed in, almost bouncing with energy. "No mercy for the bastard! Let him rot in Hell!"

St. George sighed, but before he could retort, Shinichi stepped in.

"Guys, let's not argue about this. We've got more important things to do."

"Like your mates!" Dreigon teased, his voice dripping with mischief. "A dragon's greed suits you. Why settle for one when you can have more?"

"Dreigon, don't be weird," Shinichi muttered, rolling his eyes as he stepped into the elevator.

"Boy, you're already weird. You talk with voices in your head. Some might think you should be locked in an asylum."

"Never claimed to be sane, Dreigon. Just functional," Shinichi replied dryly. "It's a miracle I've got any humanity left at all after what Gebok did to me."

"You're still human where it matters, lad, and it's that bit of humanity that allows you to be a hero," St. George said, his voice gentle.

Shinichi smiled faintly at the reassurance.

"Thanks." He heard Dreigon scoff in the background, but he ignored it. Despite Dreigon's hunger for chaos, Shinichi knew the dragon was reliable when it counted.

Suddenly, the elevator jolted to a stop between floors, the mechanical hum dying into silence. Shinichi's senses sharpened, immediately recognizing the presence that materialised in the dim light.

Moments later, Zawadi emerged from the shadows, stepping soundlessly into the confined space.

"Zawadi," Shinichi greeted her, his voice calm but cautious.

"I sense you're in a good mood," Zawadi observed, her piercing gaze studying him.

"I gave a bad man what he deserved," Shinichi replied with a shrug, his tone casual despite the darkness beneath the words.

Zawadi nodded, approval flickering across her features.

"Good."

Shinichi's expression softened, and he took a step closer.

"Thank you for saving my kids," he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

"You're welcome," she replied, her lips curving into a slight smile. Her eyes gleamed as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Now... about that deal."

"I know," Shinichi nodded, his expression turning serious. "I'll fulfil my end of it." He paused, glancing around the small, claustrophobic space of the elevator. "But do we really need to discuss this here?"

Zawadi shook her head, her smile widening. While she could easily whisk him away to her realm for them to discuss their 'deal', that would only cause more problems than needed, especially since the last time she kidnapped him. Besides, it was not time for 'that' yet.

"No, not here." Without warning, she leaned in, planting a brief but soft kiss on his lips before fading back into the shadows. A second later, the elevator jolted back to life, resuming its descent as if nothing had happened.

Shinichi exhaled slowly, his thoughts lingering on Zawadi's cryptic words. He knew exactly what she was referring to. She was already aware of their son, Raheem, and the agreement they had made to ensure his conception. The weight of that obligation pressed down on him, but he pushed it aside for now. He had other things to focus on.

Just then, his comlink beeped, interrupting his train of thought. He tapped it to respond.

"Shinichi here."

"Uh, hey, Shin," Yokoshima's voice crackled through the comlink, sounding uneasy.

Shinichi immediately picked up on the tension in his friend and teammate's voice.

"What's wrong?"

"Well..." Yokoshima hesitated, his tone shifting. "We did a headcount of the prisoners, and, um... one of them got away."

---

Sado walked along the side of the road, her thumb out, hoping to catch a ride. A sleek Lamborghini pulled up beside her, its dark-tinted window sliding down with a smooth, practised ease.

"Need a lift, señorita?" Shinobu called out from the driver's seat, her voice laced with playful confidence. A grin stretched across her face as she leaned one arm casually on the door. Beside her in the passenger seat, Ami raised an eyebrow, her expression one of bemused detachment.

Sado cocked her head, sizing them up.

"Are you even old enough to drive, niña?" she asked, one brow arched sceptically.

Shinobu scoffed, her grin widening into something mischievous.

"I'm the Princess of Thieves. You think I follow any rules?"

"Fair point," Sado conceded, a smile tugging at her lips. "Where are you headed?"

"Wherever I want. But I can make a detour. You?"

"Airport," Sado replied, casually adjusting the strap of her bag. "Got a boyfriend back home I haven't seen in forever. After too many brushes with death, I figure it's time to settle down a little. Might even pop the question."

Shinobu raised an eyebrow, a fond smile crossing her face.

"Going back to the one you love, huh?"

Sado glanced at her curiously.

"What about you? Got someone special waiting on you?"

Shinobu shrugged, her voice softening just a touch.

"I've got my eye on a cute little artist. We'll see where it goes." She reached over and popped open the trunk and back door. "Hop in. I'll take you to the airport."

Sado hesitated for a moment, her instincts kicking in.

"How do I know this isn't a trap?" Her eyes narrowed slightly as she scrutinised Shinobu. In their line of work, trust was a dangerous gamble.

"Would you rather walk?" Ami quipped from the passenger seat, her tone dry but light enough to keep things playful.

With a shrug, Sado tossed her bag into the trunk and slid into the back seat.

"Guess I'll take my chances," she said, leaning back into the leather upholstery.

Shinobu flashed a smirk, slipping on a pair of aviators before pressing down on the accelerator. The Lamborghini roared to life, speeding down the road in a blur of sleek metal and horsepower.

As the car flew down the highway, Sado broke the silence.

"Caught your little broadcast earlier. Way to stick it to The Man."

Shinobu glanced at her in the rearview mirror, a modest smile on her face.

"Can't take all the credit. My partner here helped hijack the airwaves." She nodded toward Ami.

"It was child's play," Ami replied, her tone nonchalant but clearly proud of her handiwork.

Sado chuckled, folding her arms behind her head as she relaxed into the seat.

"You've got a solid crew. Guess you weren't kidding when you said this wasn't your first rodeo."

"Lady, the stories I could tell you," Shinobu grinned, glancing at her in the mirror. "Wanna hear about the time I snagged the Mona Lisa from the Louvre?"

Sado deadpanned, though a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"Pretty sure it's still there."

Shinobu winked, her grin playful.

"It'll make sense eventually."

Sado chuckled again, shaking her head.

"You're full of it, you know that?"

Shinobu shrugged, laughing as they sped along the road.

"Maybe, but it keeps life interesting."

"Guess that's why you're still alive," Sado replied, settling into the back seat as Shinobu launched into another story, her voice filled with excitement as the Lamborghini roared through the open road, two thieves with more in common than either would admit.

---

Weapon B sat quietly in his cell, eyes closed, focusing his thoughts. It had been a long time since BLACK 13 had gone to rescue his children. B had no way of knowing how it turned out, but he didn't need to. He suspected things hadn't gone well for Kyofu.

Professor Kyofu was brilliant, there was no denying that, but his greatest flaw had always been his pride. He was convinced that no one could match his intellect, but when Dr. Gebok's project was chosen over his, something toxic began to fester inside Kyofu. His hatred for Gebok gave him tunnel vision. All his plans, all his meticulous preparations, began to rot under the weight of that obsession.

In the years after GIN-SHOCKER's collapse, Kyofu hid, biding his time, bolstering his resources, and studying the enemies the NUMBERS faced. He scavenged what was left of GIN-SHOCKER's tech and rebuilt his empire in secret, funding his research through any means necessary. But his ultimate goal was always revenge on Gebok, to tear down his legacy and those who stood in his way.

B's memories of his former life were dim, but he remembered enough to know that he'd owned a company, only to lose it to bankruptcy. Kyofu had found him standing on a bridge, about to jump. The Professor had promised him a new life, one of purpose and power. B had known he was being used, but at the time, it didn't matter. He just wanted to forget.

Yet, as the years passed, he could see Kyofu slipping. His obsession with destroying Gebok consumed him. It wasn't enough to just erase Gebok's legacy; Kyofu wanted to poison it, taint it beyond recognition. And when the NUMBERS refused to yield, Kyofu wanted nothing less than to crush them, no matter the cost. But that drive had led him to his own downfall. By now, B suspected the Professor had already met his end.

The soft hiss of the elevator doors opening pulled B from his thoughts. Footsteps echoed down the corridor, steady and deliberate. B opened his eyes, watching as a man approached his cell.

The visitor was striking, dressed in a crisp white suit that seemed almost out of place in this grim facility. His face was youthful, yet there was an ageless quality to him. He wore glasses, and his jet-black eyes gleamed with intelligence, brimming with life rather than the cold calculation B expected. His white hair didn't seem a product of age or stress.

This man, whoever he was, carried himself with confidence, exuding a power that even Weapon B couldn't fully comprehend. And yet, strangely, it didn't feel threatening.

The man glanced around at the other prisoners in their cells before locking his gaze on B.

"So, you must be the second-in-command," the man said, his voice smooth, as he adjusted his glasses. "Wearing your boss's face, I see."

B's expression didn't change.

"And who, sir, exactly are you?"

"Warren Smith," the man replied, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Director of an organisation you've probably never heard of. Also the father of the man you and your boss tried to screw over."

"Ah, BLACK 13's sperm donor," B remarked, a thin smile forming on his lips. "How curious. You don't share any resemblance at all."

"He takes after his mother," Warren replied, unfazed. "And he has a name, I suggest you use it."

"Are we talking about the one he was born with or the one he gave himself?"

"His birth name is off-limits," Warren said, his tone darkening. "Only his mother has the right to it."

"Fine," B conceded, leaning back in his seat, arms folded. "So, are you here to punish me for my involvement? Or to avenge what Kyofu did to your family?"

Warren shook his head.

"Shinichi already took care of your boss. I'm not here for revenge. And as for punishment, you're already where you belong: rotting in a cell for crimes against humanity."

B nodded slowly.

"So true."

Warren's expression didn't waver.

"I'm just curious... Why did you go along with Kyofu's crazy plan?"

B chuckled, a bitter edge in his voice.

"When he found me, I had lost everything, and he gave me a purpose. We could have achieved so much together, but his hatred blinded him."

"And by 'achieved so much,' you mean genocide and ruling over what's left of humanity like a tyrant?" Warren asked, his glasses catching the light, a dangerous gleam behind them.

"I'm well aware of how that sounds," B replied evenly. "But I'm already dead inside and stopped feeling anything a long time ago." He met Warren's gaze, his tone shifting to something more curious. "What I don't understand is this: you seem like a man of high intelligence and power. Why did you let your son fall into Gebok's hands? Why didn't you save him?"

"I tried," Warren said, his voice quieter, but his eyes burned with intensity. "I tried over and over. But fate had other plans."

"Fate," B scoffed, his lips curling. "Let me tell you something about 'fate,' Mr. Smith. It's just an excuse that humans use to avoid taking responsibility for their lives, and a way for them to justify their failures. But, the truth is, there are no gods pulling the strings."

Warren surprised B by nodding.

"I agree," he said calmly. "People use fate as an excuse when they don't want to face the truth. But that doesn't change the fact that some things are beyond our control. I've made mistakes and people, good people, paid the price. But things have a way of working out, don't they? Gebok thought it was his destiny to control Shinichi, and Kyofu thought he could reshape humanity in his image."

B smirked.

"And what lesson did you learn from all that?"

"Simple." Warren leaned in slightly. "Fuck destiny."

B's smile faded, replaced by a frown.

"Yet you say fate didn't allow you to save your son. If destiny is just an excuse, how do you reconcile that?"

Warren closed his eyes for a brief moment, the weight of past failures flickering across his face. He saw flashes of his failed attempts to save his son, each one ending in disaster. But when he opened his eyes, they were steady.

"That's something I won't bother explaining to you. But Shinichi rejected everything Gebok planned for him."

B folded his arms, his voice flat.

"So because Showa chose to defy Gebok, that makes it all better?"

Warren's gaze hardened.

"No, but we're working through it and I plan to see it through." He leaned in closer, his voice lowering. "As for you, you'll take the fall for everything your boss did. You're wearing his face, after all. That seems to be your fate."

---

Later that evening, Shinichi stood before the tower's main computer console, holding the Fusion Driver in his hands. Lala's modifications had stabilised it, but it still wasn't enough for what he envisioned.

"Sheila," he called, his voice firm but focused.

"Yes, Shinichi? How may I assist you?" the AI responded.

"I need your help with my Fusion Driver," Shinichi said, his eyes narrowing in determination.

"Proceed," Sheila prompted, her tone efficient.

"I want you to create a copy of yourself and install it into the Driver. The next user will need guidance... a lot of it."

Without hesitation, Shinichi inserted a small data card into the console. The machine hummed to life, processing his request. Moments later, the card was ejected.

"Backup complete," Sheila reported.

A small smile touched Shinichi's lips as he retrieved the card and carefully slid it into the Fusion Driver.

"With this, the user won't have any difficulty mastering the Driver."

---

On the night before the wedding, Mion organised a Girls' Night Out, gathering Rena and the other female members of their old school's Gaming Club for one last hurrah. They were dining at a trendy restaurant in Okinomiya, meant to be a carefree night of laughter and relaxation, but Rena's mind kept drifting back to her son. Shinichi was looking after him, but the memory of his kidnapping—and his half-siblings'—loomed over her like a dark cloud she could not quite shake.

"Rena, you've got to relax," Mion said as they settled around the polished wood table, the hum of the city filtering through the windows. "It's Girls' Night, after all."

"Girls' Night!" Hanyuu echoed with a grin, raising her glass.

Rena forced a smile but fidgeted in her seat.

"I know, Mii-chan. I'm trying."

"She's still worried her son might get kidnapped again," Shion said bluntly, exchanging a look with her twin.

Rena's breath hitched, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You have no idea how scared I was. If I ever lost him..." She trailed off, the weight of the unsaid words heavy in the air.

"We get it," Rika said gently, placing a comforting hand on her arm. "He's my nephew too, remember?"

Rena's expression softened at that, her gratitude visible in the small smile she gave Rika.

"Thanks."

"Here." Mion pushed a glass of wine toward her, grinning playfully. "Have a drink. And don't worry about Shinjiro. He's safe with Shin-chan."

"And from what we've seen, he grows up to be pretty badass," Satoko chimed in, her tone light in an attempt to lift the mood. "So no need to stress."

"Actually," Hanyuu began, "because of quantum mechanics—"

"No talk about quantum mechanics tonight, Hanyuu," Rika interrupted with a knowing smile, filling her sister's glass with wine. "It's a party, not a lecture."

"Fine," Hanyuu conceded.

"Rena's right to worry, though," Rika continued, more seriously now. "Shinjiro has a target on his back, all because of Shinichi."

"It's not Shin-kun's fault," Rena cut in, her voice defensive, protective.

"Of course not," Rika nodded. "But ever since his identity became public, everyone he loves is at risk. Sometimes I wonder if things would've been easier if we'd kept everything under wraps... Maybe we could even go back in time and stop it."

"That could work," Hanyuu said thoughtfully, "but you'd risk creating an alternate timeline, and that could create new problems."

"Or we could make a deal with some higher power," Rika mused, swirling her wine, "erase the information from everyone's memory."

Hanyuu frowned, her tone suddenly serious.

"Don't even think about making deals like that. The price is always too high."

"You're right," Rena agreed, setting her glass down with more certainty now. "I don't want Shin-kun to hide who he is. He knew the risks when he made that choice, and I stand by him."

"Even if it means putting your kids in danger?" Shion asked sharply.

Rena's eyes narrowed, her voice firm.

"This is our life. And honestly, I doubt anyone's foolish enough to come after our family now. They'd be facing Shin-kun's wrath... and mine."

The intensity in her gaze silenced the table for a moment, the others exchanging quiet, knowing looks. Rena's resolve was unshakeable.

"So," Mion began awkwardly, cheeks flushed as she shifted the conversation to a lighter topic, "how does this whole... arrangement work?"

"What do you mean?" Rena raised an eyebrow.

"I mean… in the bedroom," Mion clarified, her embarrassment evident. "Do you all sleep in the same bed?"

Rena groaned.

"Shiori-san asked me the same thing. And it's none of your business."

Satoko leaned in, whispering to Rika, "I bet it's like an orgy."

Rika merely shrugged, taking a sip of her wine.

"But seriously," Shion said, impressed, "He must have an insane amount of stamina to keep up with all five of you."

Rena smirked, leaning back in her chair.

"He does."

Rika shot a mischievous glance at Hanyuu.

"Bet you know what that's like, huh?"

Hanyuu blushed, quickly falling silent. The demigoddess had shared more than a few intimate nights with Chiaki, and the memory was enough to make her tongue-tied.

Laughter rippled through the group, the tension from earlier easing as they shifted to lighter topics. For tonight, Rena allowed herself to breathe, letting go of her worries just for a moment. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but it would also bring new beginnings.

---

Shinichi pushed open the gate to his parents' house, balancing Shinjiro on one arm while the toddler babbled excitedly about seeing his grandparents again. Lum walked beside him as she carried a bag filled with small gifts she'd brought for Shinichi's family.

"They're going to spoil him rotten again," Shinichi said with a grin, adjusting Shinjiro's little dinosaur hood.

"Can you blame them?" Lum replied, giving Shinjiro's cheek a light pinch. "Look at him. He's the most adorable thing in the universe."

Shinichi chuckled.

"I don't know. You're pretty adorable yourself."

Lum blushed at the compliment, but before she could respond, the door slid open to reveal Shiori, Shinichi's mother, beaming as always.

"There's my little Jiro!" she called out, immediately reaching for her grandson, who squealed with delight at the sight of her.

Shinichi handed Shinjiro over with a smile.

"Hey, Kaa-chan. Looks like someone's excited to see you."

"And I'm excited to see all of you," Shiori said, her eyes twinkling as she glanced at Lum. "Lum, darling, welcome back."

Lum returned the smile, her nerves completely at ease after so many visits.

"It's good to be here again. I brought some sweets from that shop you like."

"You're too kind," Shiori said, ushering them both inside.

As they stepped into the cosy living room, Shinichi found his stepfather, Kasai, sitting on the couch, waiting for them.

"Hey, Tou-san," Shinichi greeted, nodding toward his stepfather.

Kasai grinned as Shiori sat beside him. He looked at his grandson, smiling.

"I swear, this kid's grown a foot since the last time I saw him," the bodyguard observed. "He'll be towering over all of us in no time."

Lum took her seat, feeling the comfortable warmth of being part of the family settle around her. She watched as Sho, Shinichi's younger brother, came into the living, his face lighting up at the sight of her.

"Lum-neechan!" Sho ran over, grabbing her hand. "Can you show me how to do that electric thing again? You know, the one where you make your hair all spiky?"

Lum laughed, ruffling Sho's hair.

"Not inside, Sho. Your mom would kill me if I fried the TV again."

Shiori chuckled from her seat, remembering the last incident with the short-circuited television.

"It was a good thing Shinji was here to fix it," Shiori remarked.

"It was easy," Shinichi lightly bragged, twirling his index finger counterclockwise.

As the laughter died down, the conversation shifted toward recent events, and Shinichi found himself fielding questions about the aftermath of his latest battle.

"So, how's life been since you took care of Kyofu?" Kasai asked.

Shinichi sighed, his expression turning serious.

"Things have calmed down, but Kyofu really threw a wrench in our schedule. It's hard to focus on flowers and cake when you're busy fighting a madman."

"So true," Shiori muttered. It had been an intense week for everyone.

"Alright, remember the plan? On the day of the wedding, when the portal opens for you—"

"When the portal opens, we step through," Shiori cut in, rolling her eyes. She'd heard the instructions dozens of times already. "We know."

Kasai, ever the practical one, chuckled under his breath.

"I'm still not sure how that thing works, but I imagine the airlines wouldn't be too happy if that tech ever went public."

Shinichi smiled wryly.

"That's why we're keeping it all under wraps. The world's not ready for this kind of technology."

Lum sat quietly through the conversation, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her teacup. She had heard this talk before, about the dangers of technology and the responsibilities they carried. It was familiar, but something about the moment pulled her thoughts elsewhere, toward her own family, lost in the devastation of her home planet.

She looked over at Shinjiro, his tiny hand gripping Shiori's arm as he babbled incoherently. A pang of emotion stirred in her chest, thoughts of her family mixing with the possibility of a future she hadn't fully wrapped her mind around.

Shinichi seemed to notice the shift in her expression. He placed a hand on her knee, giving her a gentle squeeze.

"You okay?"

Lum blinked, her smile returning.

"Yeah, just thinking."

Before she could say more, Sho piped up, full of energy.

"Nii-chan, you've gotta tell us how you beat Kyofu! Was it super awesome?"

Shinichi chuckled, leaning forward.

"Alright, alright. So, Kyofu turned into this massive kaiju, right? It looked bad for a while, but then we pulled off a combo Rider Kick. One hit, and—boom—he was down."

Sho's eyes went wide with admiration.

"That's so cool!"

As the family laughed and Shinichi humoured Sho with more heroic details, Lum found herself smiling, a sense of belonging settling over her. This was her family now. They had accepted her, loved her, and despite the differences in their worlds, she could feel the bonds growing stronger with each visit.

As the night wore on, Lum sat quietly beside Shinichi, her hand drifting to her stomach, where thoughts of children, of a future that might be waiting just around the corner, lingered in her mind.

Shiori noticed the gesture, her voice soft but perceptive.

"You're thinking about something, aren't you, Lum?"

Lum glanced up, caught off guard. She smiled, though it was faint.

"Just... the future."

Shiori reached over, placing a comforting hand over hers.

"Whatever it is, we'll be there. You're part of this family too."

Lum's heart warmed at the words. She looked over at Shinichi, who was now playing with Shinjiro on the floor, their laughter filling the room.

"Yes," she whispered, her smile growing. "I know."

And for the first time in a long while, Lum felt at peace.

---

"OK, what exactly are we doing here?" Satan asked, her voice sharp with suspicion. She glanced around the darkened theatre. Rows of empty seats stretched into the shadows, the space ominously quiet except for the distant hum of something she couldn't yet place. Only she and her six sisters filled the front row, the stage curtain drawn tight before them.

"We're here to celebrate!" Lucifer, the eldest, answered, her too-bright smile glinting mischievously under the dim lights.

Satan's crimson eyes narrowed. She didn't trust Lucifer's smile, not for a second. Her sister always had a flair for the theatrical.

"Yeah, so you better appreciate it," snapped Leviathan, her red eyes glinting dangerously as she crossed her arms, glaring daggers at Satan. "We don't do this for just any bride."

Satan leaned back in her seat, arms crossed over her chest.

"Right."

"You'll like it, you'll really like it," Asmodeus added, that unnervingly wide grin spreading across her face. Her voice was sweet, far too sweet. Satan felt a pit form in her stomach. If Asmodeus was involved, there was no way this was just a simple celebration.

From the corner of her eye, Satan noticed Mammon, Belphegor, and Beelzebub barely able to sit still, their anticipation electric. Mammon was practically rubbing her hands together like she was about to win a jackpot, while Belphegor slouched lazily, trying to look disinterested, though her smirk betrayed her excitement. Beelzebub bounced in her seat, jittery and buzzing like a fly circling a feast.

Before Satan could demand an explanation, Lucifer clapped her hands, a soft, echoing sound that made the air in the theatre feel even heavier.

"Oh, it's starting!" she cheered.

The stage curtains pulled away with a dramatic swish, revealing a lone figure standing under a spotlight. Satan's breath hitched as her eyes widened in disbelief.

There, on the stage, stood her fiancé, Shinichi, dressed in a ridiculous cowboy outfit that looked like it came from a fantasy stripper's wardrobe. He was shirtless, his muscular torso glistening under the stage lights, clad only in tight leather pants, boots, a loose vest barely hanging from his shoulders, and a red scarf tied around his neck.

"What. Is. This?" Satan's voice dropped to a dangerous growl, but even she could feel the heat creeping up her neck and settling into her cheeks.

Her sisters erupted into delighted, wicked laughter.

"YOUR BACHELORETTE PARTY!" they chorused, their voices echoing in gleeful unison.

"And what you see," Asmodeus purred with a self-satisfied smirk, "is just an illusion. A very realistic one, though. Don't you think?"

Satan crossed her arms tightly over her chest, scowling. Her sisters, meanwhile, were practically leaning off the edge of their seats, eyes gleaming in anticipation.

The music swelled—sultry, with a deep bass that seemed to pulse through the room. Shinichi, the illusion, started moving, hips swaying, pelvis thrusting with an almost hypnotic rhythm. The sisters let out an ear-piercing cheer, their excitement turning wild.

Satan's eyes were glued to the spectacle, unable to look away. There was something about the contrast—Shinichi, so composed, usually so controlled, now moving like seduction incarnate—that made her pulse quicken.

He twirled his hat, tossing it with a graceful arc. Without thinking, Satan snatched it from the air, her grip so tight it nearly crumpled the brim.

'Mine,' she thought possessively, casting a sharp glance at her sisters, daring them to even try to take it from her.

As if sensing her resolve, the illusion of Shinichi moved on, removing his vest with a smooth, practised motion. The vest sailed through the air, and Mammon and Leviathan lunged for it like wild animals. They collided mid-air, and the vest was caught between them. Their tug-of-war spilt into the aisle, causing Mammon to let out an indignant shriek.

Satan barely noticed. She was too busy watching the illusion of Shinichi as he teased them with the scarf, trailing it down his chest before letting it drop to the stage. Finally, with an exaggerated flourish, he yanked off his leather pants, revealing—of all things—a green thong.

The room erupted into chaos, the sisters' delighted screams bouncing off the walls. Even Lucifer clapped daintily, her ever-calm demeanour barely hiding her amusement.

Satan, however, sat rigid in her seat, her face burning red. Her heart pounded in her chest, but not from excitement—from sheer mortification. She could already feel the heat rising to her temples.

'Shinichi will never learn of this,' she vowed silently, her fingers tightening around the hat as her sisters practically howled with laughter. She couldn't bear the thought of him ever knowing.

But even as the illusion continued its seductive dance, part of her couldn't help but wonder... How much had Lady Beatrice seen to make this illusion so accurate?

---

Instead of partying, Shawna had retreated to the quiet sanctuary of the Genovian church. The thick stone walls seemed to absorb the chaos of the outside world, offering her peace. Kneeling before the towering statue of the goddess Genovia, she clasped her hands, her whispered prayers a gentle murmur that echoed in the vast, candle-lit chamber.

The flickering light from the candles cast a warm, golden glow across the statue's serene face, the goddess's gaze watching over Shawna with quiet, eternal wisdom. The stillness here was comforting, allowing Shawna to breathe, to reflect, to let go of her anxieties. Her heart was heavy, not with sadness, but with the weight of responsibility.

She prayed not just for herself, but for her sister-wives their children, Shinichi, and the kingdom she was to inherit. As the future queen, her duties stretched far beyond personal happiness, but during this moment, she allowed herself to be selfish, to ask for a blessing just for her family.

The sound of footsteps softly echoed down the stone aisle, and Shawna lifted her head. Her father, King Edward, approached slowly, his royal robes whispering against the marble floors. His expression was soft, kind, and as always, tinged with pride.

"Father?" Shawna asked, blinking in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"The same as you," he said quietly, kneeling beside her, bowing his head before the statue. "To ask for your union to be blessed."

A soft smile touched her lips.

"Thank you."

King Edward turned to her, his gaze full of warmth, his eyes tracing the contours of his daughter's face as though seeing the girl she used to be and the woman she had become in the same glance.

"Shawna," he began, his voice low and gentle, "you've grown into a remarkable woman. Beautiful, wise, fearless." He paused, his eyes glimmering with something like awe. "I've heard how you wielded the Ascalon. It seems the sword has found you worthy."

Shawna lowered her head, her fingers tightening slightly around the prayer beads in her hands. A part of her still felt unworthy, still grappling with the weight of the power that had come to her. She had wielded the sword to save her children, and in doing so, she had changed the course of her life, and theirs, forever.

"I had to be worthy," she whispered, her voice steady but quiet. "To save my children."

King Edward reached over, gently placing his hand on her shoulder.

"And indeed you were. You are. Your mother would be proud of you. So very proud."

A lump formed in Shawna's throat at the mention of her mother. The ache of her absence was always there, a quiet pain that never fully went away.

"I wish she were here," Shawna said softly, her voice catching just slightly.

"She is," he said, his voice soft but certain, placing a hand over his heart. "She lives on, in here." He then gently placed his hand over Shawna's heart, his touch warm. "And in here. She's part of you, and she'll be part of your children, too."

Shawna closed her eyes, letting his words settle in her heart. There was something about the way her father spoke that always made her feel steadier, more grounded, as though the burdens she carried were not hers alone.

A soft warmth filled the room, the flickering candlelight suddenly brighter, as though the goddess herself had heard their prayers and offered her blessing. Shawna looked up at the statue, her heart swelling with a deep sense of peace.

After a moment, she resumed her prayer, but now with a lighter heart. Her father stayed beside her, silently joining her in prayer. The two of them—king and future queen—knelt together in the holy sanctuary, the weight of the kingdom on their shoulders, but at this moment, they carried it together.

---

Tsukuyomi sat beside her sister, Amaterasu, on the quiet hillside overlooking the stars. The night was still, the world around them bathed in a gentle silence that felt almost sacred. Above them, the constellations sparkled like a thousand diamonds scattered across a velvet sky, each one burning with ancient light.

The two demigoddesses sat in comfortable silence, their shoulders just barely touching as they gazed upward, their thoughts wandering as freely as the stars above.

"Do you miss it?" Tsukuyomi asked suddenly, her voice soft, barely more than a whisper. "Being part of Heaven?"

Amaterasu tilted her head, considering the question for a moment.

"Not really," she said after a pause, her voice gentle but sure. "I have Alan with me."

Her lips curved into a soft smile as she spoke, her golden eyes reflecting the starlight. Tsukuyomi glanced over at her sister, her heart warming at the sight of Amaterasu's happiness.

"I miss it sometimes," Tsukuyomi admitted, her gaze returning to the sky. "Heaven was… easier. Predictable. We knew our place there. There was no uncertainty."

"It was," Amaterasu agreed, nodding slightly. "But it was also endless. Time stretched on forever, and nothing ever really changed." She glanced at her sister, her eyes thoughtful. "Life here, with an end in sight, it makes everything more precious. Don't you think?"

Tsukuyomi was quiet for a moment, her thoughts drifting through the centuries they had lived.

"Yes," she said softly. "There's a kind of beauty in it, isn't there? The fragility of it all."

"There is," Amaterasu said, her smile growing. "And you have even more to treasure now: your soon-to-be husband, your daughter."

At the mention of her daughter, Tsukuyomi's heart swelled with warmth. Kaguya, her precious little silver moon, would grow into a fierce warrior. Seeing her daughter's future self, standing strong and proud, made her feel an overwhelming sense of pride.

"They are my treasure," Tsukuyomi whispered, her voice filled with affection.

Amaterasu's eyes twinkled with mischief as she suddenly reached into her robe, pulling out a small, ornate box.

"I almost forgot," she said, her grin wide and playful. "I have a gift for you."

Tsukuyomi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. She took the box, carefully lifting the lid, only to snap it shut just as quickly, her face turning beet red.

"Onee-sama!" she cried, her voice a mix of embarrassment and disbelief.

Amaterasu threw her head back and laughed, clearly enjoying her little sister's reaction.

"Oh, don't be such a prude! Shinichi will like it, and you know it."

Tsukuyomi's cheeks burned, but she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of her lips.

"You're impossible," she muttered, shaking her head, but there was no real venom in her words.

Amaterasu just smiled, her laughter settling into a gentle hum.

"Perhaps, but I know you'll appreciate the gift eventually."

The two sisters sat together, the stars twinkling above them, and for a moment, all was right in the world.

---

Dr. Exposition: This is the first part of a three-part epilogue. I hope you enjoy it.

Anyway, a lot is happening in this epilogue, so it needed to be split into three. It's mostly the aftermath, revealing Kyofu's fate, and getting back to wedding prep.

Oh, and the death time loop Shinichi is using to punish Kyofu is a JOJO reference. My co-writer will tell you why we included this.

PS: To know what happened to Ultron, please read it in Showa Chronicles Gaiden.

Tailsmo4ever: After some long years, we're finally approaching the end of this particular saga. Only a few more loose ends before this chapter comes to a close.

As for Shinichi's final judgement on Kyofu, it was indeed inspired by Jojo, Golden Wind to be exact. For a long time I wanted Shinichi's time powers to grow and evolve to show more of what he could do with them, but whatever powers he typically got never belonged to him initially. So, now we are able to show how Shinichi's time powers can be utitlized with no restrictions.