D-008

Approx 25 hours since launch

Planet Serea

The clash on Planet Serea continues on as Icarus and Itadori finally begin fighting side by side, formulating a plan to take down the Metarix higher-up, Ivythorn, in a non-lethal fashion.

"The only way to hurt life is life itself. In other words, we must channel life energy of our own. Life energy consists of a perfect balance between Chaos and Angelic energy…that means…if you use your chaos emerald to power up, and land a blow the instant my Angelic powers kick in…we will hit the jackpot. The only way to win this conflict…

"...is with a mighty 'Tomonari'!"

"HA! No attack, however 'mighty' it may be, can ever quite topple the strength of the META-RIX!"

Ivythorn stretches her hand out, the armor on her fingers breaks as brown, thin and sharp vines come shooting out of it towards Icarus.

But-

He hops over the vines, and begins to use them as rails to grind on, moving towards Ivythorn at incredible speeds!

Ivythorn's expression turns into panic as she tries to yank back the vines, despite that…

Icarus uses that momentum to leap once more…

…

BAM!

He delivers a powerful, roundhouse kick, right on her face, knocking her away once more!

Small pieces of green skin break off her face as a result of the impact.

The way she lands is even less graceful. Practically tripping over herself.

Icarus uses this chance to regroup with Itadori, and goes to his side after landing safely on his feet.

Icarus: "Okay…can't we just…knock her out with a few more good hits to the head?"

Itadori: "Iya. Considering its plant-based appearance and immunity to Angelic powers, it possesses an abnormal life core. Essentially, any injury we do to it…"

The wound on Ivythorn begins to stitch itself…

"...it will heal it instantly. We either have to deal a lethal blow in an instant…or attack its soul directly. Korega 'Tomonari' da, an attack that hits the victim directly at their core!"

"Right, well, you said we gotta hit it at the same time, no? Easy enough! Follow my lead, since you know, I am faster and all that, no offence, and then attack when you see me attack, and that will be the end of it!"

"Not quite…I thought Cosmo told you…"

"Huh, about what?"

"The 0.2 second delay on Angelic powers, no?"

Oh. Right.

Icarus pauses for a moment.

Icarus: "Wait, so that means…"

"Yes, the only way to make 'Tomonari' work is by hitting Ivythorn with Chaos powers exactly 0.2 seconds after I attack."

"Great…why is there always a hitch with these things?"

…

Shouldn't Ivythorn be attacking them by now?

The duo spot a crystal drop falling in the sand from where Ivythorn is standing.

The spot it hits on the ground dampens, and a small white flower grows in the dead sand.

Another drop falls. Another plant sprouts.

The subtle, far-away sound of weeping can be heard in the otherwise deafening silence, as the separated drops threaten to form a waterfall.

They are both taken aback.

Itadori: "Masaka... Hontōni?"

Icarus notices Ivythorn looking down at the broken armor pieces.

…

…

Ivythorn is crying from seeing her own hideous appearance.

Itadori notices Icarus' sympathetic expression. "Icarus, you surely by now you know that-"

Icarus: "No, you don't understand…back on Foralon…that robot we faced…it…helped me. We helped each other a-and it…it wanted to live! Cosmo's intel must have been wrong! It-it has to be!" His voice is shockingly…excited. As if a giant weight was lifted off his shoulders. Not even paying attention to Itadori at this point, Icarus begins walking towards the sobbing enemy. Part cautious. Part glimmering with happiness.

Itadori steps forward to stop him…but he too is curious. If what Icarus said is true…then…maybe…

Too distracted by their current predicament, neither of them pay attention to the rapid, panicking footsteps of Cosmo as she rushes onto the scene.

Icarus gets close enough to talk to Ivythorn.

Icarus: "Hey…are-"

"ICARUS! STEP BACK!"

Icarus looks towards the direction of Cosmo's voice, distracting him for just a split second.

With a closed, enlarged fist, the downed fighter swings at Icarus' direction…towards his right knee…

CRACK!

With a cry of agony, Icarus falls to the ground, holding his knee with his right hand as he slams the floor in pain over and over, closing his eyes together to try and contain his cries.

In an instant, he is surrounded and protected by Itadori and Cosmo.

Itadori: "Bakayaro! You just attacked the one living being who wanted to give a devil like you a second chance! Now, there will be no mercy for you!"

Itadori steps forward, a blood sword forming around his left hand. No hint of hesitation is in his eyes.

"N-no…I-itadori…d-don't…"

The weak Icarus' voice softens his expressions as he turns around.

"Don't…k-kill her…"

"Why not?! Have you not learned anything?!'

"...look at her now…she isn't…she isn't…d-defending…herself…"

Itadori looks at Ivythorn. To his dismay, Icarus is right. Ivythorn is looking straight at the ground, seemingly having accepted her fate.

"C-come on, itadori…she isn't going to…follow us now…we can just…chaos control the ship…and go to the next emerald…"

"But, Icarus, the injury it…she gave you…its…"

"Its…fine…we can…chaos control that too…and even if not…i was already planning on going home, anyway…"

Cosmo: "No…that…isn't going to work."

Icarus' optimism is replaced with worry.

Icarus: "Why…not…?"

Itadori: "She has an abnormal life core, Icarus. Any blow she does is automatically a 'Tomonari'...Icarus, you sustained damage to your very soul."

"W-wait…so…you…you…surely you don't mean…"

Itadori opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. He closes it and looks away in shame.

Cosmo looks down at Icarus with pity and sadness.

"Icarus…I…I don't think you will be able to run…or even walk…ever again…"