Blazing Steel and Freezing Bullets

by Shinn of Destiny

Left alone in a blazing forest, Relon is soon saved and the path before him opens. With much to learn about such as his past, family, friends, even the very people trying to destroy the peace and him to an extent, his enrollment at Thors will be anything but normal.

61. From Zero To Hope Finale

Gachas like Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, Wuthering Waves, Honkai Star Rail, as well as others like Love Live, Blue Lock, Gundam, Quintessential Quintuplets, Highschool DXD are in the works. Check them out :D

Anyone just a fan of fanfiction, my current works or just wanna vibe; come on through.

Discord (Vibing Nation) - GZM5HRMntp

Discord Name - Shinnofdestiny

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The first thing that Relon felt before his other self was his own shadow stir. One glance out his peripheral and he saw Marshadow revert to its size yet it didn't slink back into him immediately. Instead, its sight remained on the throne-sitter.

"Patience," Relon reminds. Just like with Helios, he felt the small shadow creature's own vehemence towards his alter self. Relenting, it receded into his shadow.

Without a word, the group stepped out. Immediately, Relon's hand snapped up to suck in a sudden pulse of darkness.

"Figured that'd fail but it was worth a shot," Zero shrugs, inspecting the small shadow dragon as he choked it into nothingness. Particles vanishing from his hand. "Relon, you've changed quite a bit. Shade, oh how I wish I had you on my side, that power you showed wasn't even the tip of what you can truly do~."

"Like I said, fuck off!" Shade scowls.

"Zero-"

"No, Relon. What you want to say must wait. That conversation remains between you and I. Not even Shade can hear that."

"Oh? Now I'm quite curious." Vita smiles. Immediately, the look on Zero's expressions shifted into further dislike. "What makes you think Relon hasn't spoken about that topic already?"

"Mind games won't work so give up Azure Abyss. None of you matter except Shade and Relon." It was a good attempt but Relon knew that Zero knew that Vita didn't know. God, that sentence made nearly worse sense than this whole ordeal.

"Zero!" Looking as Kallen embarked to the front of the group, Zero's eyes narrowed.

"Relon, did you not learn with Laura?! YOU BROUGHT HER HERE?!"

"Zero, explain!" Relon demanded. "Laura and Kallen-"

"ENOUGH! I SEE YOU'VE LEARNED NOTHING!" He seethes to cover his face with a hand. "Ahaha… Actually, Azure Abyss, or would you prefer Vita~? Either way I now have a question. Just how is that pitiful Grand Master doing~?"

"Did he just change personalities?" Rinwell mumbles. "Is he crazy or downright weird?"

"Didn't we already establish this?" Van argues back, not at all hiding his voice.

"She is hanging on," Vita answers, ignoring the young ones. "No thanks to you. How is your health? It must be quite agonizing holding on to so little."

"Oh I'm just fine, but I think you mean to say that your Grand Master is nearing her end~." At that he holds out his hand for an hourglass to appear with little time remaining. "This is how much time she has left. Once her life is done the last blockade to my new world will be gone. Well, aside from your pitiful group. Either way she'll be gone very soon~."

"Then I suppose it's a good thing that grain will never reach the bottom," she smiles, materializing her staff.

"Oh but you wish. Why do you think she lived? Why do you think I never went back to kill her despite knowing where she was? Because my power is within her. After our first bout, I injured her to the point that my power would eat away at her until this very day, ending her life at the right moment to open the way forward, plus might as well make her suffer~. Even what I did to her kid was to simply make her writhe in despair. At least he was a good experiment~."

"You're despicable…" Relon growls.

"Ha, I know. How else could I spend time in this boring world? Oh, speaking of being despicable, Shade, have you told them what you did in your world~?"

"The hell you mean? You can't see in my head so it's not like you know anything about me!"

"But I do know Alex. You two, this world's version of you by the way, shared the smallest of connections. It allowed me to see your memories, the ones you hold close or mean a lot to you, or those that harmed you the greatest~. Like when you lost Tio, you killed half of Crossbell city, sank a part of it and afterwards the Dominion, who by the way I'm quite fond of, they went in and took the rest of the city down and those that lived within~."

Eyes furrowing at the revelation, Relon gives another glance to Shade wide-eyed sporting a tensed body.

"Y-You did see them…!"

"But you told them that didn't you? What about you killing Ikaruga? What about when you tried to kill Laura, twice?" He smiles, his eyes staring right at Shade, perhaps his very soul.

In an instant, Relon partially saw the stunned visage Shizuna wore. Disbelief, pain, and anger warped into a mess across her face as her eyes seemingly bore into the back of Shade.

Glaring back at the smirking Zero, Relon's own visage churns in flames heating up the room to a point everyone steps away. His intention was achieved. In this moment of interruption, he had to get the their attention off of Shade.

"I did." He answers, the momentary killing intent refocusing on himself.

"Be silent, Relon Lucinance! I've told you once already!"

Good. Zero believed those simple words. He had to because even he hasn't seen what Relon's experienced. Only knowing that they'd get to this point.

"Relon? How could you-" Shizuna began only to be cut off.

"BE SILENT!" Zero roars, rising from his throne.

"Everything from fighting Crest to what is to come; I've seen it. Countless times." Just like that, the flooring and walls crack as Zero winces.

Yes! Now was his chance!

"Shizuna, Van even, I understand you're enraged! I get that! What happened in Shade's world happened there! Not here! Save whatever ramifications for after! That anger? Use it on Zero!"

"RELON!"

"BUZZ OFF!"

At once, both stepped forward, negative flames igniting to spew forward dispersing to both sides of the throne room. Within seconds, both ceased.

"Both of you, if either of you take your anger out on Shade. Here and now, instead of Zero, we all die. In an unimaginable way!"

"Relon, what do you mean?" Rinwell, clearly nervous and understandably shaking, manages out.

"Relon," Zero called. "You better watch your next words carefully."

"Or what? You're going to resort to that and rewrite everything?!"

"What do you-"

"YOU KNAT!" Seemingly instantaneously, both elementals blitz towards the middle clashing fists. "TCH, YOU FLICKERING NUISANCE! YOU CAN'T JUST LISTEN TO WARNINGS, CAN YOU?!"

"I GUESS THAT MAKES SENSE! WE'RE BOTH STUBBORN AFTER ALL!"

As shockwave after shockwave erupted, the glass windows began to crack as by the third wave, they shattered for the room to upheave. Forcing their fists to dive downward, both strike with their free hand to then spin kick away.

"Wait a second…" Munechika mumbles as her eyes furrow.

Boosting back at the other to lock hands, both headbutt for the darkness and flamed forces to send them skidding back. As they do, both launch a cluster of black globs and cinders respectively that explode upon collision obstructing their view of the other.

"Their moves…!" Elaine slowly begins to widen her eyes.

Reeling a hand, once again ignited, Relon thrusts forward timing the downed obstruction to meet another maw of black darkness.

"They're the same?!" Nadia exclaims.

"Relon," Zero growls. "Do you know what you've done?"

"Protect my friends, that's what. Come on, Zero, let's talk," he offers, clenching his fist. "From one Relon to another."

For a moment, none could utter a word. Given the sounds that followed Relon, it was a given at how speechless everyone was.

"I knew Zero was an asshole, same to you," Shade scoffs, stepping forward with guns raised at the scowling Zero. "But I didn't know you were one in the same!"

"Relon…! You…!"

"The Temporal Laws have already screwed us either way so what's some more damaging?"

"But I thought we were fine to say whatever here?" Rinwell gasps to hold her head. "Wait, but Zero is Relon? So is Relon Zero? I don't get this!"

"Hoot!"

"You've made a grave mistake, Relon…!" Zero growls, raising his hand as a familiar rift emerged. Out came a destructive-looking purple blade.

"That blade looks like Pappan, but… it's different!" Shizuna noted, still shocked by the sudden revelation.

"That's what happens when another elemental takes control of it without being properly synced!" Relon explained. "After all, you never properly regained your proper synchronicity after killing Alister! Or should I say McBurn?!"

"RELON!" With a strike at the air, Alter-Pappan unleashes a rift as out comes a ghastly attack.

"Not on my watch!" Copying the attack, a rift emerges. On and on it goes like an endless sea.

Clicking his teeth, Zero finally releases a low breath as he loses his fighting stance.

"You've ruined everything, Relon."

"I'm doing what I can to protect everyone! Your methods aren't the same as mine!"

"BECAUSE I'VE EXPERIENCED WHAT YOU HAVEN'T! I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS! I LIVED THROUGH IT ALL! YOU WERE ONLY A SPECTATOR!"

"AWAKENING YOUR SECOND MARKING THROUGH WATCHING THE ORPHANAGE BURN, KILLING JUSIS' FATHER, AND GOING ON A KILLING SPREE?! MASSACRING ALL OF SENATE AND EVEN ALISTER?! MERGING WITH ISHMELGA TO CHEAT AT OMNIPOTENCE AND ERASING ALL TRACES OF THE ELEMENTALS, NAMIKAZES, AND EVEN AIDIOS?! MIND-WIPING OUR OWN MOTHER AND FRIENDS INTO FORGETTING US AND TO KILL INNOCENTS?! YOU MURDERED MUSSE AND ALFIN! YOU ALTERED LAURA AND CLAIRE INTO MURDERS! YOU LOVED THEM! ALL OF THEM! THINK, RELON, THINK! THE END DOESN'T JUSTIFY THE MEANS!"

"So that's what you saw, so what stands before us is a you that handled everything poorly! But that doesn't explain what you told me, about being in the beyond and slipping into this world, how you were just bored and wanted to hop into a new world after this one! So what the hell do you mean by that!?"

For a moment, Zero simply glared. It seemed like that of a child willing to kill. A pout so powerful, a parent couldn't ignore it. His eyes bore into Relon's very soul yet Relon stared back. Slitted eyes faced complete darkness. Then, with a heavy breath, Zero turned and walked towards his throne.

Both boys fired, two smoking holes at the grooves of Zero's chair now lied forcing Zero to stop. Without a care in the world, he plopped atop his throne with an indifferent expression.

"Doesn't matter now that the Prime Me has just screwed everything up. Maybe I meant what I said? Maybe I said that just because you were an unregistered asset that appeared in my longtime plan. Who knows, who cares?" He shrugs.

"I CALL BULLSHIT YOU ASSHOLE!" Shade hisses, poising his sights in-between Zero's eyes.

"Doesn't matter, now I have to alter my plans. Yes, I am Relon Tarbin Namikaze-Lucinance. Once, the prime Relon in the universe known as 'Legend of Heroes' or 'Cold Steel' for short given how of a name ours in particular is. Go on Shade, I know you want to comment so say whatever now so I can continue." Instead of answering, a shot rings out for Zero to deflect the blast.

"Didn't ask asshole!"

"Perception of Time." Zero waves off uncaringly.

"Like I care who or what you are. I didn't want to come here, I was just here! I want home, but I'm not leaving until I can say this world won't die!"

"See, that's where the problem stands!" He points. "That guy, right there," he gestures at Relon. "Believe or not, I was going to willingly give all of my power to him! But noooooo, he just had to play the good guy we were raised to be! Screw the ramifications!"

"You'd give me the powers of a God in exchange for being the only living thing on this planet! If I have to watch everyone I love die before my eyes again, I'm just restarting the loop you caused!"

"ENOUGH! TIME THE SHIT OUT!" Altogether, the three turn back suddenly remembering the others there with Rinwell at the center of them all.

Marching forward, eyes ablaze in unbridled fury she stops in-between both protagonists.

"Language, 'Tales girl.'"

"Make me proud Rinwell!" Shade calls, a sudden grin behind his mask evident.

"YOU!" She points at Relon. "YOU KEPT MORE FROM US AGAIN AND NOT JUST ANYTHING, BUT TIME-ALTERING MIND-BENDING POSSIBILITIES THAT YOU AGAIN HELD AND DIDN'T TELL US LEAVING YOURSELF TO CARRY A UNIVERSAL BURDEN!"

"I did," Relon jerks slightly.

"AND YOU, ALTER-RELON-WHO-I-DISTASTEFULLY-HAVE-TO-STILL-CALL-MY-COUSIN! YOU WARPED YOUR FUTURE GIRLFRIEND AND YOUR FUTURE SECOND GIRLFRIEND INTO KILLERS! SCREWED OVER THE LIFE OF YOUR EVENTUAL THIRD GIRLFRIEND PROBABLY! YOU FLAT OUT TOOK THE LIVES OF THE PRINCESS AND MUSSE! BOTH WHO LOOKED UP TO YOU HIGHER THAN THE FUCKING SUN ITSELF!"

"Completely," Zero shrugged once more indifferently. "Erased some existences from reality, converted my rage and agony into the purest of malevolence. Dealt a deal with Ishmelga, and killed a lot to set up for when the new Prime Relon would eventually show. Glad I didn't have to wait long at least."

"AND WHY DID YOU CALL ME TALES GIRL?!'"

"Oh?" He blinkS as if in interest. "You don't know? Oh wait, of course not, I never met you until you came here with my prime version," He chuckles as those words finally made the tyrant Rinwell halt her rant.

"Huh?"

"When I was still considered the 'prime' and 'only' Relon, I never met you. That big grand fight against Senate? Never happened. I was a smart boy and held my tongue, not making countless die. Meeting Grandmother? Didn't happen until I joined with Ishmelga. My sister? Found her killed by archaisms, the last five percent of Aidios winding up with Ishmelga. Not like it mattered." He shrugS a third time, as Munechika's own magical presence flares.

"T-Then… How…?"

"We Relons are what we universally call ourselves 'abnormalities.' Hence why in the Relonverse, we are the main characters, the sole beingS at the epicenter of all that occurs in our universe. When something happens, the original Relon made a failsafe that the injured universe that lost a Relon in some way shape or form would reset. History and all."

"S-So? That could mean you just missed me when you were the prime!"

"Ah, you'd think so." He vanished to reappear in front of the three. "But no. When a universe with Relon resets, any changes across the Relonverse act as a sort of vacuum, sucking up other problems from other universes and jumbling them all together." He flickers away to appear in the middle of the others as he looks straight at Munechika. "So when I failed and Relon over there came into being, you, some girl that originally belonged to a different Relon in a different universe, got brought over here. Your original story became lost amongst the Temporal Laws, as your new background, likely similar to whatever it really was before, began." Then he flickered back to his chair sitting criss-cross. "You happened to belong to the 'Tales Relon's' universe. Unfortunately, something happened. Maybe he died, maybe something else. Who knows. Now, your new life is tethered with him. A cousin who caused the birth of a senate member, a person that wants to kill your dear cousin."

"H-Huh? N–N-No, you're wrong. That's not tru!"

"Rinwell, ask Relon. Ask your dear beloved cousin who's fought tooth and nail to make sure you got back home. He saw everything that I'd planned. Past, present, and future. You know it yourself. After all… Relons. Don't. Lie."

That seemed to be the gut-wrenching jab in her metaphorical coffin as her eyes widened before she slumped to the warm ground.

"N-No way… Relon…"

"Don't be distraught. It's a universal truth that all Prime Relons don't lie. Of course, given I failed as the prime and was replaced, I can lie about all kinds of things and it feels so good. But, for you, I didn't. Because the Relon in me couldn't bear to make you more defeated than you already are. Just know, while you and all those insignificant people look on slack jawed, only myself and Relon truly have to suffer. Maybe you all should bow and just let what happens next come more simply. Alas, not all can be as easy. Isn't that right, Shade, Prime Relon?" At that another shot rang only this time it pierced Zero's skull straight through to hit his throne.

"Doesn't matter where she came from! Doesn't matter what universe or whatever you were yapping about! Rinwell is Rinwell! My friend who I see as a younger sister that I may or may not have corrupted! All you are doing is yapping about how sad your life is! Guess what?! WHO THE HELL CARES! Want a pity party? Want people to cry? Then be the bitch you are and cry like one!"

"I don't expect everyone to care, much less listen. All I really need is to veil the meanings I use for Relon and Vita to eventually figure out. In truth, I'm helping even now. But I suppose I've explained enough to Relon. If my prime self doesn't care about the Temporal Laws, then someone has to." At that, Alter-Pappan returns to his side, ending the portal as Relon did too. "So, this was bound to happen after all. Let's make it happen everyone!"

"Zero, you've done everything for me." Relon says, stepping forward as Zero descends down his staircase. "Even if you believed what you did to be for the greater good of our universe, I don't! Whether all of us or just me, you're going down!"

"Given all of your friends are stone-still, it may really be just you!"

Just as Relon was about to strike, he stopped as did Zero. It was faint, a whizzing sound that seemed to grow more and more distinctive. Then a beam of light pierced the room blowing up the throne behind him.

"The hell!?" Zero exclaims.

"Was that Magilou?!" Rinwell gasps as in that instant Shade brings up his guns fires.

"Think fast asshole!"

"Crescent Strike!" Relon calls next, hurling a black-flamed crescent close behind the salvo of bullets.

"Pesky things!" Zero spat, returning his glare on them to conjure a black transparent forcefield.

Gotcha!

Watching his crescent overtake the volley of shots, it strikes the shield breaking it as Zero is pummeled away by Shade's attack.

"Tch!" He clicks his teeth in annoyance. "So that woman that came with you was good for a measly sneak attack. She'll regret that, just like you two all have!"

"What, couldn't see it coming?" Shade taunts. "I thought you were an all-knowing asshole, or was that just for show~?"

"Cocky thing through and through, aren't you?"

"The future Zero and I shared of this fight has changed since I revealed his identity. Meaning from this point on, both he and I are fighting blind so anything we do now, he'll be more cautious of," Relon notes.

"It doesn't matter, my other self. The powers of Aidios will soon be within my grasp once more!" At that, a dark shockwave washes over the tattered throne room as everyone is forced to their knees. "Your own friends, our own mother now questions their allegiance to you, Relon! Was this path, this third path, truly the right call?!"

"D-Damn it, he still has this much?!" Relon growls out, attempting to rise back up.

"Aidios…? Yeah, well fuck that bitch!" Shade seethes, forced himself up, to snap his arms at Zero unloading more shots.

"Shade, you dumbass. Simple attacks such as that have no effect on me and yet you're persisting," Zero breathes an annoyed breath, blocking the attack.

"Protect them…!" Relon tells himself aloud. "Zero, even if they choose to turn their backs on me, I'll fight… as I always have!" On his feet, black flames erupt. "My family, my friends, Shizuna, Kallen, Mom!" Then Relo's fury reemerged. "Pippin!" Grasping his old reliable, he jumped as Shade continued his assault. "Flame… Cleaver!" Striking the ground, geysers of flames erupt a trail towards Zero.

"Hmpf." Reaching for Alter-Pappan, he strikes a portal.

"No you don't!" Relon roars, switching swords to open a rift and going through it to emerge out of Zero's. "Ha!" He roars to swing Pippin as geyser reaches the two for an explosion of black to erupt.

Out of it comes Relon skidding to the others before launching back into the fray clashing with Zero once more. Pushing away, he strikes horizontally for Zero to parry upwards before bringing down a vertical strike hitting the empty space.

"Gotcha!" Zero grins as Relon leans to the side pivoting Pippin at an angle and clashing one more for another explosion of dark fire erupts. "Every bit the same as I am; stubborn!"

"It takes a Relon to know a Relon!" He wipes at his mouth.

"Relon, I'll hold the back line to make sure no one gets hit!" Shade shouts out. "I'll add more energy behind my shots and try to time them with your attacks," he adds, stepping forward.

"S-Shade…!" Rinwell manages out.

"Shade…" Looking back to the others with struggling looks, Zero's chuckling gains Relon's attention.

"That's a wise move. Let us elementals go at it. You can't keep up as you are now. As for you, Relon. The moment you try to absorb that attack, I'll really stop you."

"Bull…shit!" Van winces out for the pressure to be amplified slightly.

"Hush Van, the non-humans are talking. The natural ones." Zero says with a finger to his lips.

The longer Relon listened, the more he found it odd that Zero hadn't attacked the others. His focus has always been either Relon or Shade. He could easily prioritize their friends and force the duo on the defense yet he didn't.

Why?

Could it be because Zero knew dealing with himself and Shade first would be easier? Or… because the Relon deep down didn't want to?

Feeling Shade's focus on him, Relon releases a careful breath exiting his form.

That possibility… could hinder us. Or… prove most reliable. Either way, now is the time, Relon Lucinance.

I know. Still, we have to try. Simply talking won't work so… we'll beat him to a pulp then make him talk!

Nghr… Finally, we shall him rue that day!

"Oh?"

"Relon? What're…?"

"I'll leave them to you then, Shade."

Releasing Pippin as it reverted to normal, he moves in front of Shade.

"You're seriously challenging me to a one-on-one? Really?" Wordlessly, Relon places a hand to his chest. "You, a weaker version of me using a substitute mark versus I, the strongest elemental. The vision we saw didn't foresee this, haha! I'll admit, this is something I am curious about. But, if two Relons are going to fight, then this room won't be enough!"

"Kallen, Mom," Relon calls. "We're going all out."

Then Zero snapped his fingers and the entire ceiling and remaining dispersed into rubble as the ships and chaos around the tower was revealed.

"Do you believe that cheap eye trick can handle the eyes I possess?"

Ignoring him, Relon took in another deep breath. The sounds of misery and the will to live seemed to not bother him.

"Now then, can you make me try? Let's see what you have, Prime me." With that, a gust of wind surges past everyone nearly rupturing their footing.

Sucking in a load of air to carefully release a hotter variant now black, that familiar dark aura begins to seep out covering the ground around Relon. Eyes snapping open, he hunches over with balled fists as his veins bulge. The opposing air caused by Zero begins to circumvent around the group as it shifts from nothing to transparent black.

Memories layering atop one another from the frozen tundra of that fateful day to the revelation of his future self, his vision blurs to become crystal clear with a black and white tint.

"Let's go, Helios! Spirit Unification: Beyond Hope!"

Past everyone, black flames embedded themselves along the ground to spiral into a pattern. Steadily, markings emerged along Relon's skin as the flames all converged into his body. More and more, flooring rumbled matching Relon's vehemence. Then the bleak sky begun to waver as if a sentient being questioning whether to remain in darkness or go to the light. Slowly, flames began to protrude from his back until the shape of simple black-enflamed wings manifested.

Swords orbiting his form to take their rightful places in his grasp, Relon releases another breath, this one visibly a faint black, as his head lifts to face Zero.

"Is that it? Nothing's changed since you destroyed my last reactor. I figured absorbing the power I gave to Crest would give you another boost."

That's when it happened.

The hand he used to wave dismissively was missing. Both Shade and Zero blinked. Then they looked to Relon no longer where he was but instead now past Zero at the edge behind his destroyed throne. On the ground, there laid Zero's unmoving hand.

"Huh?" Turning, he saw it. The glyphs orbiting Relon's body. "Impossible!"

"Another art?!"

"Lucinance Art…" Relon murmurs as both blur out of reality.

He knew Zero would go to a space where his art would be useless. That's why he too found himself amongst his friends facing a stunned Zero just as Shade had whirled to take aim.

With a hand making contact with Zero, Relon's wings flapped sending them into the air. Tendrils protruding from Zero's back were burned off upon making contact with Relon's own form.

"No! Don't… you… dare!"

"CHAOS BLAST!"

The almighty bellow of his voice mixed with Helios, their combined wills to annihilate the being that's caused so much misery and strife, could not be stopped.

Chaos Blast was a technique Agria supposedly used during the battle against Senate according to Emma. Vita had recalled the technique as simple yet powerful. An art that allows the user to become the epicenter of a large explosion. By channeling their elemental resonance inside along with their mana, they could enhance the potency to a level none had yet imagined. In short, this was his own Shooting Star.

Before his eyes, Relon watched Zero's body peel away layer by layer. The raw unbridled rage with his black eyes never left Relon's vision as Zero's charred skin burned out of existence. Then in a blob of condensed black, Zero shot forward.

"What?!" Relon gasped, ending the art to parry Zero's attack as the red orb around them began to subside. "Your failsafes…!"

"Oh, so you do know," Zero growled deeply before shooting forward as did Relon.

Cling! Cling! Cling!

Down both boomed. Sparks flew as the loud clinging of elemental-infused blades clashed. Visible blurs, one streak that was clearly Relon zoomed around the sky maneuvering in chase of a warping Zero.

"Can you handle this?!" Zero shouts, conjuring a ball of darkness to launch it only for Relon to deflect it with a wing before bringing Pippin down. "I don't think so!" He grins, to catch Pippin with his bare hands while blocking Pappan with its alter self. "Hehe, try again!" Opening his maw, a spew of black fires for Relon to open his mouth devouring the attack to reel his head back. "What?!"

Cracking Zero's arms, Relon kicks his chin sending his other self into the air before blurring above him.

"HA!" Relon shouts, firing the black ghastly attack back out his mouth to crash into Zero's abdomen, sending the entity plummeting towards the others.

Twirling his guns around to aim up, Shade hits his trigger as fast as humanly possible. With each round, the piercing shells struck Zero.

"Take that!" Shade shouts, noticing the grin out the corner of Zero's face.

"Gotcha."

Hand running along Pippin, Relon blurred towards Zero. Eyes returning to his other self, in one fell swoop, Relon decapitated the entity continuing down to sever the life of a giant black creature. Eyes snapping back to take sight of Zero reforming, his mirthful smirk remains.

Head returning to the destroyed room, more and more creatures once human begin to seep from the ground.

"Duck," Relon simply says, gripping Pippin in its greatsword form. Doing so, Shade watches the flame around Pippin manifest into a refined shape. "Repent… at the soulless hellfire. Flamberge!" With a broad swing, all monsters are cut in half as the second swing sends a crescent attack that slices Zero into quadrants.

Soaring to the recovering Zero, blade gleaming against his flames, an unreadable volley of strikes minced his skin into specs of flesh for Relon to toss Pippin upwards before unleashing a torrent of black fire until nothing remained.

"D-Did… he…?" Swin musters out.

"J-Just… like… t-that?" Nadia wonders.

That was the second life. How many left?

Cut off, Relon didn't bother turning around as the sound of piercing flesh came from behind.

"Pippin, you meddlesome metal!" Zero roars at Pippin having stopped his outstretched hand for Relon to grab his evil self with his wings. "Tch, how?! How did you use that?! That technique doesn't belong to you!" Wordlessly, Relon retains his back to Zero. Without warning, Zero explodes forcing him away though he seems unbothered. "Answer me! Speak! I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU DID THAT!"

Looking at his hands as both swords converge back on him, he still doesn't answer.

"RELON LUCINANCE, I AM-" Cut off, a blitzing punch slams into the right cheek, the force behind it knocking Alter-Pappan out of his clutches. "Bastard!" Zero seethes, recoiling to begin an exchange of blows with Relon as looming behind both Pippin and Pappan engage Alter-Pappan.

With a careful parry, Relon tossed Zero down to connect his heel with Zero's chin before grappling his legs into a pile driver. Down and down, their flames and darkness increased.

"They're… gonna… crash…!" Elaine manages out.

Feeling Zero's darkness begin to expel outward, Relon matched the power with his flames breaking away.

Righting himself as Relon flapped his wings, both shot forward locking their hands together in place.

"R-Relon… Damn it, this… pressure won't end!" Shizuna breathes.

"It's stopping us… from using our… magic!" Vita pants.

Relon knew what he was doing. Even if Zero was another him, the way they thought may mirror the other but the biggest difference in this fight was that Zero was alone. Relon, hands locked with Zero had just given Shade a perfect view and nothing was gonna stop him from enjoying this next attack. Putting both guns up he held the trigger as a ball of energy formed in between them with sparks popping out from it.

"Voltage Barrage!" A ball of pure electric power forms before it gyrates towards the duo.

Maneuvering around each other to kick off, Zero snapped his head in time to be greeted by the attack as Relon positioned himself right behind him to strike his back with flames.

"GAK!"

Then came the electric discharge in the form of a dome erupting far off.

"D-Did… Relon..!"

To answer Munechika's question, Relon appeared from the sky next to Shade hovering just off the ground.

"You two…" Hand aimed as do my guns, Zero appears out of reality with a huff patting his outfit. "Are certainly annoying together more than separated."

"Glad to not disappoint, yet at the same time you are also so damn annoying!"

"Having a vast arsenal that defies reality can be quite helpful. Now then…" Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of dread emerges.

What's- Shit!

Without thinking, Relon drew himself in front of Shade with both blades and wings held in front to be sent off his feet and down the tower.

C-Crap! What was… that power?

Forcing his eyes open, Relon quickly came to seeing the nearing ground. Righting himself, his wings flapped to life as he landed.

"Damn it, he separated me from Shade! I need-"

"HA!" Cut off yet again, Relon ducks a mutated creature to see Duvalie cut it down. "Lucinance?! Why are you-"

Returning the favor, he slams an attacking creature to the ground with one wing before punching it into a batch of more. "Pippin!" He shouts, his faithful coming down ablaze to burn the pile in black. "Zero didn't like my presence!" He answers, noting of more creatures appearing around them.

"Gah, right when we began to take the advantage in numbers!"

"Zero's trying to keep me down here!"

"Don't worry about us! Get back up there!"

"Easier said than done! Beside, I can't just leave you!"

"You won't have to!" A deep voice announces as both see from three different directions monster get sent flying. Landing before them, both can only widen.

"Master!"

"Uncle Victor, Arios!"

"What are you doing wasting time down here, Relon?! Your presence is needed elsewhere!"

"Do you truly believe we are incapable of defeating such arbitrary monstrosities?"

"We shall clear open a path! Don't let this chance go to waste!"

At once, all three retook their focus on the swarm of inhumans. The first to act was Arios blurring around them whipping up a gale of wind. As though they were weightless, all of the surrounding creatures shot to the air. Then came Arianrhod with her abilities restraining the larger creatures. Finally, Victor's blade shimmered as he jumped.

"RADIANT PHOENIX BLADE!" In a single cleave, all foes were vanquished. "RELON!"

"Lucinance!"

Wasting no time, he kicked off jumping on Duvalie's kiteshield to use as a springboard. Up into the air he went to twirl, manifesting his wings as he flew with the turbulence upwards. From where the others lied, he could sense Shade's heartbeat alter as phantom waves passed through his body.

Whatever was happening, Shade was back in action at the least. Meaning he needed to hurry. That's when one force stirred even his body to halt momentarily.

Looking across, he saw a platform in the shape of a glyph, clearly belonging to his mother's.

Shade must have damaged Zero enough to sever his control. Good! Now-

Then another surge came, a pulse shooting down and outward across the land. Most of the city began to momentarily sink into the ground as facilities above and below ground suddenly caught fire. He could only watch as the tower seemed to lean one way before snapping back

A sudden surge of condensed heat emerged above. With a flap, he took off only to fall short once more as a blue beam shot into the sky above darkening the hanging clouds as lightning struck at random points down below. Then came a wave of evil energy belonging only to Shade. Before Relon's, countless bolts of lightning spread out striking the land where every root lied as far as his eyes could see.

Wasting no more time, he grasped Pappan striking a portal to shoot inside. Out he shot like a bullet towards Zero.

Stopping his flaming fist, Zero's eyes looked over to Relon.

"You made it just in time. As you always do." From above, the sky shatters as a white rift manifests. "You two have had your chances here. Now, it's my turn. In my world!" Attempting to pull away, Relon and Shade are struck by an invisible force keeping them in place. "Let us go to where all are in limbo. The space between life and death, heaven and hell, the Beyond and Gehenna. To the Dimensional Graveyard!"

"No! Relon!" Kallen exclaims, flickering out of existence.

"Kallen, wait!"

One moment they were there, the next they were gone.

Relon

Was it possible To defeat his own self?

Every time they've killed him, Zero has become stronger, more serious. He sensed it. Zero's existence being snuffed out before reemerging into reality. They've defeated him four times now. Every time he's come back stronger than before.

Was that another failsafe he's made? How many more did he have left?

Relon's and Shade's own power-ups seemed to do it, and yet here Zero was. He accomplished his plan, they were in a world where he ruled. They've been separated from Earth, Shade was dying, Zero's omnipotence was near, Kallen is counting on him, and he was the only one capable!

That's when he felt it, the familiar touch belonging to Kallen. Through the veil of darkness, her form manifested as their hands held the other.

"We have to beat him! Get up, Relon!" She urges.

He knew that. The need to preserve their future was within their grasp and he wouldn't go down without a fight! They've come too far to give up now.

"Relon!"

His hand gripped hers, silencing the girl. Bit by bit, the darkness swarmed around them.

"We're… not… done… yet…!"

All of the pain and suffering. The loss and emptiness. No matter how many times, they were reminded, their eyes looked forward to one thing.

To create a world built on happiness, void of evil!

"You with me, Kallen?"

"Until the end of time," she grins, regripping their hands.

"Let's go!"

"Spirit Unification: BEYOND HOPE!" Both roar.

Shooting high, body floating as Kallen stands underneath, their eyes open to land on Zero. Behind them lies Shade unconscious at the edge of the realm.

"I really am quite stubborn, aren't I?" Zero grins. "I always had to let women get me all riled up. Seems the same goes for you."

Full black eyes and white-pupiled slits lock onto Zero. Without warning, all three blurred from sight.

CLING!

Wisps of black sparks burst as both Relon and Zero clash in the middle.

"So we're doing this after all, are we?" Zero muses, pushing away as Relon's wings expand into tendrils towards Zero.

Readying Alter-Pappan, he instead swings backwards to narrowly miss Kallen who parries the attack with her knife to fire nothing from her gun. Momentarily stunned, she sends a kick Zero catches to throw her into Relon's attack.

Instinctively, the attack warps into coils catching Kallen to send her like a bullet back.

Reeling his blade back like a bat, Zero blurs forward to swing, missing the vanishing girl. Clicking in annoyance as she once again resets her position at Relon, carrying the momentum, he raises a hand to block for Pippin to emerge close to the ground.

With a kick, she pushes off into the air avoiding the clear barrier for Zero to follow. With Pappan high above, she kicks off dropping down unloading volleys of shots.

With a raised hand, he alters the forcefield to be above him.

That's when he sees it, the lurking presence directly in front of him. With a one-handed swing, he clashes with Marshadow.

"What?!" Blade embedded in the small creature gripping it, it reels back in an attempt to pull as Zero fends off the tug-of-war. "Meddlesome creature!"

"Solar Impact: Crescent Horizon!" Relon bellows from his blind spot.

Eyes watching the plus-signed attack emerge amongst the chaos, a plume of darkness erupts. From the smoke, Zero skids back gyrating Alter-Pappan as darkness coats its form while Pippin begins to elongate.

"Malignant…"

"Solar…"

"GRAVITY/IMPACT!" Both swing, a larger eruption emerging for Kallen hunkers down as Marshadow shields her with a gum-like shield.

"I'm impressed. Managing two Solar Impact variants in rapid succession for your skill level is impressive. Still, your Solar Impact lacked the power due to our environment. Whereas mine didn't. Hence why you're now in that pathetic state," Zero notes to the kneeling Relon panting.

"Tch!"

"Having a momentary burst of strength won't hide your earlier power show. The fatigue from such power will take its toll, no matter how compatible you and Helios are."

Dodging a barrage of bullets to sigh, unleashing a crescent attack, Kallen flickers to Relon before putting space between them.

"Relon, I won't delay the inevitable. For my future, I can't afford to delay it any further. Your efforts as commendable as they were shall now be put to rest in vain," he begins, closing his eyes. "Order: disable Kallen's powers!" Snapping his eyes, he gestures towards Kallen.

"W-What?!"

He barely saw it. Just as she had moved to act, her body gave out as her body returned to normal.

"W-Wha…?"

"Order: disable Prime Relon!"

Feeling his legs drop to the floor, unresponsive, a new horror sets in as he realizes the severity of their new situation.

"Pippin, Pappan!" Relon shouts, mentally pleading for both to rush to her aid. "No matter what, don't let Kallen be hindered!"

"Gotcha~." Then Zero vanished to both of their horror as he appeared behind Relon. "You always leave yourself open in order to protect those you cherish. This ends now."

Time seemed to slow as Relon desperately began to lean forward while pivoting to defend the incoming blade.

"NO!"

Relon Lucinance has only heard certain sounds a few times in his life.

The sound of piercing flesh was something he's heard on occasion. Against beasts, it never bothered him as it did against humans. Yet he always disliked the idea of seeing it visually.

His rage has always been a remedy for this small deficit matter. He never thought of it or felt the squeamish feeling pelt his heart due to, quite often, the heat of the moment.

Yet, in this moment, he could do nothing against the dreaded sight before him. He couldn't move, his body couldn't react. Only his eyes could look at the blade, once his own now distorted into a monstrous sight lay embedded in Kallen's stomach and out her back.

"How did…" Then his eyes caught it, the equally confused sight of Zero. "No... Impossible! Kallen, how did you…!"

Spitting blood into his flinching face, she headbutts the being who stumbles back. In doing so, the smooth shlik sound from Alter-Pappan exiting her body left a weight all too familiar in him.

"I… told… you…" She pants, body swaying to fall into the still form of Relon's arms. "I'd… do things… my own…"

"You… you…! KALLEN, YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE! I WAS- IT WASN'T…!" All around, the Dimensional Graveyard erupted. Tidal waves churned in the air as magna bursted all over. Winds of grand velocity cut away the quaking earth. "SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! NO, NO, NO! KALLEN, YOU WEREN'T…!" He frantically clutched his head as darkness lashed out strike anything and everything.

There he stood, arms cradling her as close as he could.

"I'm… sorry…"

He was fighting against the divine pact that silenced him, urging his mouth to move to speak his pleas to the girl. Yet, only his watery red eyes could look at her own tired pair.

"I… couldn't see… you get… hurt…"

He wanted her to stop talking. She needed to save his strength. What happened to her doing things her own way and dealing with the girls? What happened to him protecting and leading her to the future?

Again, he failed! Why couldn't he protect anyone?!

"Re…lon," she wheezes, the warping world going mute as his focus went to her. "You… can't hold… back. Zero… isn't Relon… You… have… to…" She coughed out blood, straining to talk. "Beat him… the only… the only… way you… can…"

His vision blurred, as his head did the smallest of shakes.

"You… have to… Shizuna… will be, ack, mad… You're… kind… and I… loved that… How human… your heart is…"

Her hand, bloodied, whipped at the trailing tears as weakly as she could.

Then it fell, vanishing into particles along with her body.

"Defying the cruelty of fate is an unimaginable dream none can manifest," Zero spoke softly. "No matter how much we wish for it." With a step away, Zero calmed himself. "I see now. You caused this." The venom in his tone spoke an unimaginable volume for the situation they were in. "Somehow, that comment was accepted in this world, canceling out my order. To think, my own omnipotence would create such a blunder. What's done is done…"

"Order…"

"Hm? What was that? Are you able to speak so soon?"

Immediately, Zero felt an invisible force shoot in like a ragdoll against the ruptured ground crashing into a ragged cliffside.

Eyes momentarily rolling, head spinning all too hard, one blink and he bursted out to hover in place at the sight.

His body twitched, writhing in emotions. His hair moved with a sensation of power as his bangs whipped against his cheeks. His hands, trembling in what was to come clenched into fists.

"Impossible! Or-"

"Order! Negate all attempts at stopping my orders!" Zero felt the imprisonment of his power at those words. "Order! Protect Shade from this world's poison!" Complying, a light overcame Shade's unmoving body as Marshadow stood its ground. "Order! Rejuvenate my strength!" Relon's wounds and hunched form ceased in an instant as flames bellowed to life. "And finally," his eyes bore on Zero's shocked visage. "Order! GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO VANQUISH THIS EVIL!"

Steadily, the dense black aura that veiled Relon's form began to emanate a white outline. With a hand to the heavens, stars began to manifest.

"What is- don't tell me. That cat familiar's skill?! Order, cancel!" Despite his order, the action did not cease.

More and more, the white veil around Relon began to mix into a gray coloration.

Then it happened.

An abundance of unknown power unfamiliar to him stirred forth. The common gray-mixed color gained detail, its shading altering as memories not his own manifested before them.

"No…!" Zero widens in horror. "How can this happen?!"

"You said so yourself, Zero," Relon begins. "This reality is what a different dimensional being choose it to be. Did you forget? We're the same! Elemental beings born in The Beyond and raised on Earth!"

"Don't you dare lecture me on what I am! Order! Grant me the power of both worlds!" In a flash, as if acknowledging his command, particle-like energy began to shoot for Zero. "I'll show you the difference between us!"

"Zero! Your attempts at absorbing the force of both worlds is futile whereas for me, IT'S THE MOST NATURAL THING EVER!" Relon roars, outstretching a hand as energy from both worlds redirects their power between Zero & Relon.

"You're just a knat! You should join me! Those insects you're attempting to protect will turn on you just as they have before! You must realize by now that you cannot hope to stop me with your limited and borrowed power!"

More and more, Zero's size began to enlarge until he towered over Relon. The once human had now become a behemoth-like beast. More creature than human, his hands became hulking claws with its thick nails protruding solid darkness. Horns like that of a demon curved outwards atop his head as his skin now black gained red markings similar to Relon's own transformation.

"Then so be it." Relon answers for Zero to cackle as both finish absorbing what power they can.

"You don't get it. It's futile! Your friend is done, a feeble creature unable to exist within this space between us! He, the closest thing to us perfect beings, is now done for. The world will betray you. Why fight it all? Why risk your life for those who will persecute you later? We have both experienced the same pain!"

"Tell me, Zero. Have you ever met someone like Shade?"

"What?"

"The very person clinging onto life behind me told me something. When I was likely at my lowest point, this person, this guy I can only thank Aidios and Luna for having me meet, told me to trust in those by me. When I questioned those closest, he slapped some sense into me. He may be more broken than me but he's hell of a better person than I am so don't you dare badmouth him! He'll live! And then we'll take you down! If the world chooses to become my enemy, I will fight like I always have! Not just for myself, but for everyone!"

All around, viewpoints of Alter-Erebonia become visible. Its inhabitants, the people met, friends made, enemies-turned-allies; all watch rooting. From one particular screen, Vita and Rinwell assist Munechika who has their hand raised.

From within, the light and darkness unify as a glimmering light explodes.

A shockwave so great erupts sending Zero soaring back a short distance in the air. Lowering his arms, he can only look on stupefied. Though not at the sheen form Relon is donned in. His eyes stare in disbelief at the multiple Relons. One by one, they walked out of Relon's shimmering form to stand next to him.

"What…?" All different looking, they look to Relon as he silently inspects his new form. "Replicas?! No! Don't tell me that these copies are…!"

"Copies?" One Relon looks around. "Do any of us look exactly the same? We're different ages, wearing different attires."

"He probably is referring to the base meaning of what it means to be Relon Lucinance." Another notes. "You know, the weird upbringing, the rather 'odd luck' that women bring us, all that."

"I definitely feel that way whenever Ruby and Neo are around."

"Hu Tao and the other girls certainly don't make things any easier." The second shudders at the reminder.

"Least you have some control of your wives. Eina, Sparkle, & March I'm still trying to have somewhat control but… well, you know how our lives with women tend to go."

"Regardless, this Relon here is on the cusp of obtaining it. Much earlier than expected." A fourth Relon notes. "Though only temporary."

"What is this…? That form isn't utilizing the power of Luna and Aidios! What is this nonsense?!"

"Why, the thing that sets us Relons apart from all the others. Omnipotence," a fifth answers.

"Of course, it's not the full thing." A sixth mentions. "Though it is a major step towards it."

Having had enough, Zero unleashes numerous giant orbs for all the Relons to just look. Head snapping up, one Relon's body glows white for a fox tail manifests before his eyes shimmer as with one look, the attack disintegrates.

"WHAT?!"

"Hold on there, Relon. We'll deal with you in a second. Huh, isn't that what Lord First said to Madara? Wow, that felt weird to realize."

"Hey, least you don't have his hairstyle. Ei and the others kept messing with mine. Nahida and Qiqi especially!"

"That's why all Relons have short hair. Having longer hair is just asking for the girls to have another reason to be around us."

"ENOUGH OF YOUR CHATTER!" From Zero's palms, a cluster of orbs manifest into a rotating sphere. "I AM ZERO! THE BRINGER OF RUINATION! THE ONE WHO SHALL CRIPPLE ALL UNTIL NOTHING REMAINS! THE NAME RELON MEANS NOTHING!"

"Is that a dark Rasengan, Relon?"

"I don't think so, Relon. Hey, Relon, any clue?"

Firing, a beam shoots forward. Appearing in the sky, a Relon in a red and black gi-like attire deflects the attack with a slap into space.

"Definitely a Kamehameha," he says, descending back to his other selves. "Three out of ten. Vegeta and Black would probably rate it that or lower honestly."

"Hey, main Relon, you've grasped it by now haven't you?" All look to Relon who finally looks up. "What all this form can do?"

Gently hovering off the ground, Relon floats past them to gaze at Zero.

"Yeah," He breathes for all Relons to smile.

"He's definitely one of us."

"He is Aidios' Chosen." Relon quips.

"Ah, I see what you did there. Ei's Chosen, Aidios' Chosen. Haha, nice."

"Pfft. You two are hysterical."

"We're Relon Lucinance. We're a lot of things."

"We've also done a lot. Right now, however, we have to help deal with this one."

All nodding, they line up side-by-side next to Relon.

"Get ready, Relon Lucinance, this is a fight we can't afford to lose!"

"Yeah! The fate of the Relonverse is resting on this! Our strength is yours so let that idiot have it! You do know the name of this form, right?"

Inspecting himself, as though in a trance, he flexes his palms taking in the power coursing through him.

"... Neutralyx." He didn't know where that name came from but it was the answer. As if by instinct.

"Good," one nodded, smiling. "You're definitely on the right track."

"On the right track?" Zero mumbled, his bellowing voice eerily calm. "HE IS ON THE 'RIGHT TRACK?!' DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!" Zero roared, though not one Relon flinched at the overwhelming presence.

Eyes focusing on Zero, two rifts emerge for Pippin and Pappan to appear. Grasping them with a godly grip, he readies himself as all Relons vanish into his body.

Just like before, memories swarmed his mind, not one his. Trials, tribulations, defeats, victories; it all manifested in a single moment.

He understood it. All of it. Their strengths, what made them "Relon Lucinance."

"All the pain and suffering that you've caused, it ends now Zero!"

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO ACT ALL HIGH AND MIGHTY! YOU'RE THE INFERIOR VERSION! I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THE PRIME! NOT YOU!"

Floating off the ground, a light envelopes Pippin as darkness courses through Pappan. With a wind-up, he unleashed a dual-colored attack of black and white. With another shockwave of their powers clashing, the cloths of both swords' handles untie themselves free flowing away.

Momentarily looking to the cloth, he felt it.

The connection to his mother.

Determination at its height, Relon knew it was now or never.

He had to hold nothing back. The power of his universe, his multiverse; the Relonverse was within him and this evil before him plaguing not only this world but his own if he- if they didn't put a stop to it… here and now.

"Let's go, you two!" Flicking Pappan into a reverse grip, he looked at the groove underneath their handles. There was never a point before, except when Luna took over but now… "It's all…!" With a press and a click, their handles locked together. "Or nothing!" He proclaimed, swinging the shimmering dual blade of purity and malevolence.

Wordlessly, Relon blurred into action.

"YOU THINK COMBINING THEM WILL BE ENOUGH?!" With a swing of his elongated claws, the space before Relon ripped open.

Gripping their handle, he unleashes a X-shaped dual color attack. Connecting, the middle slash dematerializes as Relon continues through.

"INSOLENT INFERIORITY!" Zero bellows, unleashing a wave of ghastly demonic breath.

"Looks like I'm up!" From Relon's body, the apparition of his own self, yet different, shot out alongside a fox spirit.

"Relon?!"

"One rule we Relons have. Call us by our universe's name! Let's go, Karin!" Shimmering a light blue, the fox girl materialized into a blue fan. "Time to freeze this wave!" With a gust of icy wind, the nearing attack froze over. "Now!" With a snap, the fan shifted to a scythe. Rolling the handle off his hand and around his neck, he snaps the weapon as far back until his hand holds the bottom of the handle. "Celcius Calibre!" With a swing, a single slice split the wave in two veering for Zero as a plume of frost exploded. "Fairy Fencer F. At your service."

"What does the F stand for?" Relon didn't know why he asked that but something in him couldn't help but wonder aloud that specific question despite their circumstances.

"Oh that's easy, it stands for-"

"FINAL PURGE!" Zero roars, sending both back.

"Cutting people off is so not a Relon Lucinance trait, you know!"

At once, both blur in opposite directions as they raise their heads to the meteor storm raining down.

Cycling from scythe to bow, Fairy Fencer fires frost arrows in quick repetition as dual-colored crescents strike in tandem.

"So damn many! Shoot and move!" With a swing as he soars, Relon throws the dual blades as the luminescent combination mows down the raining attack. "That's a lot better!" He grins to boost forward under the raining debris alongside Relon. "Give me a boost!" With a nod, Relon's hands glow as he's shot upward.

Jumping from one object to another, he poises his hand back as the bow dematerializes into a glow of light. "Fairize!"

"YOU SHALL NOT ACT FURTHER, YOU WEAKLING!" Encroaching on the sphere of light, shades of blue broke through the cracks as a figure of light shot high into the sky before it zoomed around to pummel parts of Zero's body.

"The power of my sister and Ethel won't be swallowed by darkness anymore," Fairy Fencer spoke with crossed arms next to Relon. Around him, metallic armor hung through various parts of his body as the bow he used became more ethereal in power. "Relon, we're taking you down!"

"I TOLD YOU… I DISCARDED THAT NAME! IT MEANS NOTHING!"

"Liar!" Fairy Fencer retorts, both blurring in opposite directions to appear on both sides of Zero. "Celestial Absolution!"

"HA!"

From the front, an arrow of light coated in ice fired as a torrent of dual-colored flames assault Zero from the back.

"Let's see if that barrier of darkness can protect you from seeing the light, Relon!"

"USELESS, USELESS, USELESS! ALL YOU BOTH ARE DOING IS DELAYING THE INEVITABLE!"

"Lay it on him, Relon! He's weakening!"

"I know!"

More and more, the shimmering attacks refracted from the dark shield as Zero growled in defiance.

"ENOOOUUGGHH!"

Feeling a hard sensation strike his face, Relon ragdolls to right himself as he takes sight of Zero's behemoth fist nearing him.

"Watch out!" Fairy Fencer exclaims pushing him out of the way as Relon can only watch him raise his guard from the attack to smother him into a burst of particles.

"No!" Relon gasps to bear his anger on Zero. "You'll pay for that!"

S-Sorry Relon, looks like that's all I could do. I didn't expect to be taken out in a single hit. He must have set an order we didn't realize. Fairy Fencer grunts. But look! His size decreased a good amount. Our attacks are working!

"THOSE ARE WORDS YOU SHOULD TELL YOURSELF FIRST!"

We just need to keep laying on the attacks. The more we do, the stronger the attacks, the more he'll be forced to exert all of that power he absorbed!

If it's energy wasting that we need done, then I'm up.

Leeching off of Relon, another form of himself in a casual attire similar to his own appears.

"Just call me Fate. My mana reserves are out of most worlds so this is right up my alley."

"IT MATTERS NOT HOW MANY FAKES COME, I SHALL MOW YOU ALL DOWN THE SAME!"

Lowering to touch the ground, Relon looks to Fate who chuckles as he walks forward.

"Is that so?" He muses, discarding his jacket as markings with three distinct marks of various sizes and designs litter his arm. "Tell me, Relon. Have you ever fought a servant before?" Feeling a surge of power, Relon raises a hand as Zero's hulking form is moved backwards slightly. "I'll take that as a no." One by one, the tatoos glimmer red as glyphs matching in color appear around them.

"ORDER! CUT ALL ABILITIES IN HALF!" Zero bellows, the number of circles vanishing as they had appeared.

"Oh? Fine then. I'll just pour more power into the few I can summon." Around them, several individuals appear. "Ushiwakamaru, Saber, Mordred, Scáthach, Medusa, let's go!"

Vanishing from reality, Zero roars as the landscape ruptures in accordance with his very will. Spires upheave the ground all around him as more power seeps inwards.

"KNATS!" Zero calls, eye lasers firing upon Ushi for an afterimage clone to take her place as she continues running up a spire. "EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!" A humanoid Zero appears to lunge only as he's sliced in two.

Reaching the top as do her fellow servants, all prepare to launch for Zero to roar, hindering their movements.

"Shut up already!" Relon roars to unleashing another maw of grayish flames at the base of Zero who winces. "Now!"

Complying as he enters a portal from getting smacked by Zero's tail, he reappears to see Ushi split into various clones dodging a claw of Zero's to land rushing along his arm.

"PUNY WOMAN, YOU DARE TO RUN ALONG ME?!" Opening his maw, Relon blurs downward to punch it as does Fate.

"Don't you dare even think about hurting her!" Fate scowls for tendrils to shoot from Zero's neck around them.

Looking back, about to move, a single cleave of the dual blades comes to their rescue as it careens around for a second strike.

"With me!" Mordred grins, blurring past Zero's face to leave a flaming slice across his cheek as the dual blade strikes the other.

"Save some for us!" Ushi calls, vanishing to reappear at several spots across his face to back away. "Medusa!"

Appearing seemingly out of nowhere, the purple-haired servant draws her chains past Zero causing his neck to momentarily arch back as Mordred appears again with Fate.

"This time, we blind the fucker!" She grins maniacally, as with a blade of fire and light respectively, torrents of black liquid spurt out

"GAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Keep the pressure!" Fate orders jumping and falling to maneuver out of the way of tendrils. "Blade of Commandment!" Manifesting, a red blade with symbols matching that his arm appears as he's caught by Relon while Mordred lands on the combined blades. "Send me!"

Complying, Relon flings Fate directly at Zero.

"VENOM STRIKE!" Zero calls as numerous tendrils assault each servant before coordinating on Fate's approaching form.

"Relon!" The servants exclaim.

"Noble Phantasm: Gate of Skye."

Relon could only furrow as the memory made him recognize the situation. The impending doom that was held over Fate vanished, ceasing its motion all together as he broke through the blockage of tendrils. With a single strike, a horizontal light poured across Zero's abdomen as Fate leapt back rejoining the group.

"WHA- WHY CAN'T I…?!" At his question, his eyes bore sight on Scáthach twirling her red spear away as a single tiny cut could be felt as veins protruded upwards. "O-ORD- ACK!"

"My weapon needs only a single wound to inflict lethal damage," she explains. "For one such as yourself to be only hindered tells of not only your resistance but your luck."

"LUCK… HAS… NOTHING…" The hulking behemoth groans, unable to finish his sentence.

"Fool. I will show you what lies beyond the world," she begins in a chant. "I will lock you away in the darkness from the age of the Gods. Tremble, freeze and shatter into pieces!" With a single tap on the ground, a red pulse expanded bathing the Dimensional Graveyard in red.

From the cosmos manifested a portal unfamiliar to Relon as from it came a gate. He could hear cries yet felt the embodiment of such dense mana it seemingly rivaled that of the very beings around him.

Then the red vanished, replaced with an ominous grayish color while the portal creaked open. Then Relon gazed upon it. The void where death awaited.

Like a vacuum, the mana from Zero began to be sucked effortlessly as he tried to resist to no avail.

"How?" Relon wondered.

"My Blade of Commandments at first glance is nothing special," Fate comments inspecting it. "But against bodies of mana, it's practically a divider. A weapon that absorbs one's power thus enhancing its own. Scáthach's attack drains a flat amount of mana, obviously a very large amount. It's simple math really."

"You divided his mana reserves so her attack could deal lethal damage. Otherwise, had it been done in reverse it wouldn't have been effective!" Relon gasped for Fate to smirk.

"GOOOOOAAAAAHHHHH!"

Huffing, body twitching and writhing in agony, the once towering figure is reduced to the size of Grunoja.

"That size suits you," Fate taunts.

"You… HOW DARE YOOOOOUUUUU?!"

As the ground quaked, Relon could only notice the grin Fate wore. The look of confidence as the spires once manifested disintegrated into Zero as he retook his behemoth size.

"Gotcha," Fate grinned. "You're not good at keeping count, are you? Did you forget everyone I summoned?"

One look up and they all saw it.

"EX…CALIBER!"

The light.

When all had settled, the residual light particles bathed the floor. The very essence from that atomic attack had sent a pillar of light high into the air. Its power was so strong, the cracks in the planet melded only to divide even further.

Looks like Saber's attack did the trick. To think he could still force us back at the last moment before impact. He's something.

"It was plenty," Relon breathes as he looks at Zero back to his normal size.

"Relon…!" He growls to pump out more power. "You BASTAAAAARD!"

Suddenly behind him, both clash blades as the light and darkness disperse. With a throw, both swords clash in the middle.

"To think math would do you in!"

"SILENCE! You and our other inferior selves are all that stands in the way of my new world! I'm doing this for everyone!"

"The only world we want is a world without a tyrant like you! No one asked for all of this!"

"Let's end this! The torch passed to you belongs to me!"

"All Relons have torches instilled so we can stop that which dares to bring upon the ruination of our very worlds! You're a being we won't let continue on this path any longer!" Aura condensing leaving only an outline, he twirls his dual blade at the ready.

"Order!" Zero exclaims reaching for the cosmos. "Kill Relon Lucinance!"

"Order, nega-" Cut off by a painful sensation in his chest, he Relon stumbles only for a moment before looking around.

"What's going on?" Head lifting to Zero in genuine confusion, another Relon materializes.

"The original Relon knew this would happen."

"Dragonball…"

"What?!"

"Even we Relons are susceptible to the darkness. Especially when we veer off the path that allows us to be our prime variants. I've dealt with my own evil version. The chances are low but not zero."

"Impossible!"

"Relon knew creating the Relonverse would sprout possibilities even he could not fully maintain. That's why he created failsafes. One such failsafe being that should an evil Relon attempt to take the life of another Relon through divine means, it would prove impossible."

"Then that means…" Relon widens at the realization for Dragonball to nod.

"If Zero wishes to kill you, to end all of our lives, he has to use his own strength to first defeat you. Of course… we're not going to let that happen." At that, one Relon after another walks to swarm Relon.

"You made a grave mistake, Relon!"

"Stop that…!"

"You've hurt not only the lives of innocents, but your own delusions have ruined an entire world! You won't destroy anymore worlds, Relon! Not one!"

"Shut up!"

"Thinking you couldn't ruin this world was the biggest mistake you could make, Relon!"

"I SAID SHUT UP!" He roars, the force behind his bellowing causes everyone to be pushed back.

"He still has this much power after everything?!"

"Bastard's persistent!"

"He's definitely a Relon at least!"

"THAT NAME IS DEAD TO ME! STOP CALLING ME THAT! EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AREN'T ME! THERE IS ONLY ONE SO DIVINE AS I!"

"Hey, Zamasu called!" Dragonball shouts. "Stop copying his deranged ego!"

"RELOOOOOON!"

"We need to end this, now! Relon!"

"HA!" Channeling his power, the shimmering gray-silver aura flared as all of the Relons merged into his core.

"Order!" Zero hollers. "DENY ALL FURTHER ORDERS!" At his command, the worlds ceased their radiant glow as did the stars. "Now, it's just us."

Readying himself, both of their powers surge to the brim. With a maniacal grin, Zero reels Alter-Pappan out as darkness converges in a spiral. Doing the same, black and white energies flow in synergy as at once both throw for their blades to lock in the middle.

"You saw everything and yet you still decide to go against the future I've set in place."

"A future where Musse, Laura, Claire, Shizuna, Kallen, Class VII, my family, anyone and everyone is gone is a future I don't want any part of!"

"We have to suffer for the greater good!"

"You killed Luna!"

"She caused everything! Had she been an omnipotent Goddess like she claimed, then none of this would have happened!"

"Blaming her for your own downfall?! How low can you go?!"

"I've sunken past the depths of Gehenna! I'll sink as low as I must!" Calling back both blades, they blur towards one another meeting in the middle. Black, white, and gray funnel out and around the two as they battle for dominance. "You, my greatest obstacle! Why can't you see it!"

"Because it's a cruel and miserable vision!" Relon shouts, parrying Alter-Pappan to slash Zero's abdomen with a diagonal strike before following up with a jump kick away. "For both everyone, but even more you!"

For a single moment, Zero's face scrunched before his glare returned as he pointed his blade. "What do you know?! You haven't-"

"I haven't experienced it?" He powers down. "I don't have to experience pain to know it's painful. Kanade being abducted after just reuniting, finding out Mom and Alister have been working with Senate, finding the orphanage on fire, Noro passing away; that hurt! I felt my body churn! It writhed in agony, Relon! I felt what you felt! I could understand why you did all that you did! I would have!"

"Then why?!"

"Because it's not what Noro would have wanted!"

"... Huh?"

"Just once, did you ever stop to think how Noro would feel?" He asked, watching Zero begin to twitch irritably. "What your beloved little sister would think if she saw how you turned out now?" He stepped forward for Zero to shake his head, stepping back.

"S-Stop it!"

"Noro loved you! Stop this, Relon! Please!"

"I said stop it! I have to do this!"

"For who?! You?! You'll be alone! In an empty world where you can't do anything that made you happy! A future like that is too sad for a Relon!"

"I said stop!" Zero shouts, punching a plume of darkness for Relon to absorb it marching forward.

"You fight, act all crazy, and believe yourself to be a genius that's seen it all! But you're not! You're just like me, all of us; scared! Scared of what is to come, fearful of the unknown!"

"I'm not!" Zero denounces.

"Take off that mask, Relon! Tell me that yourself! As the real you! The you that appeared in my mind when I lost Laura!"

Then he saw it.

The darkness around Zero flickered. The black layer that hovered atop his skin, seemingly punctured by his own words, revealed his true self.

"I… I… I don't know what you're talking about!" He retorts, raising a hand to put a wall of darkness between them

"Drop the act!" Relon cries, shattering the shield effortlessly. "We both know that wasn't some figment my mind made. That was you! You helped me get over Laura! There's still good in you!"

"No! I did that to ensure my own future remained on the right path!"

"To ensure yours? Or mine?"

"What are you-"

"Take my hand. We can stop all of this. We have the power to create anything here. Another world, a new Beyond, even fix the mistakes made. You've suffered long enough. Violence isn't the answer. We can be better. Come on. Who are you? Truly."

"I… I… I'm… I'm tired. Of all of it." Carefully, his hand began to raise as the darkness retracted.

"It's over. Let's end this."

"Yes. Let us end this," a corrupt and heavy voice spoke.

Heads raising to face the other seeing mirrored confusion, Zero winces as the darkness shoots across his body sending Relon tumbling back.

"Relon!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" In a sphere of black, its negative energy shot outwards. After a moment, Relon bore witness once again to a neutral-looking Zero. Then the maniacal grin, disturbing down to his core came. "Hehehehehe… HAHAHAHAHA! To think I would have to take over… He truly has gotten weaker!"

Relon, power up! Now!

"Tch! Who are you?!"

"Why… a bygone enemy. One you believed to have been rid of upon our union."

"Ishmelga!"

"No… I'm not that entity. I am… the true Zero! A being birthed from the malevolence and negative power the once Prime Relon Lucinance you've faced thus far sported. I believed he would not succumb to such feeble and privy words from his own self, but it seems all Relons have one glaring weakness; themselves. He is weak, just like all the rest."

"You're wrong." More and more, the power of Neutralyx hummed around Relon. "He's strong. He endured all the pain alone, just to fight for a future he genuinely believed to be right no matter how wrong his methods were. That's why he's resisting you, even now." At that, Zero narrows. "You can't hide it. You can't believe yourself capable of beating us. You're done!"

Then he was on him. Hands blurred in rapid succession between the two yet the blows only landed on Zero.

There was one sole objective. Defeat Zero.

He had the power of countless Relons. It was time to put an end to this nightmare once and for all.

Blazblue! RWBY!

I'm with you!

Go!

"Enchant Dragunov 2! Release!" Manifesting untapped power seemingly restricted, Relon vanished. Only a blur of red, white and gray could be seen as the turbulence from an ethereal reeling fist and tail respectively poured into the abdomen of Zero. Crashing upon the planet's surface,

BOOOOOM!

"GAAAAAK!"

He didn't stop. Even amongst the sudden aftermath of yet another nuclear attack, he kept up the aggression. Zero was a being that could withstand the likes of Fairy Fencer and Fate's own attacks. He needed to unleash a rapid succession of strong attacks to seal the deal.

Naruto! We're going all in!

Ready when you are!

"Shadow Clone Justu!" Amongst the debris, clouds of smoke manifested. "Summoning Justu! Reanimation!" With a clap of his hands, the divine versions of himself hunched over as their appearances altered.

One by one, the spirits of Relon traveled outward taking a body.

"BLADES OF JUDGMENT!" Zero's voice roared as through the smoke came countless red javelins.

"Trap card activate!" Yugioh shouted, clicking their duel disk. "Mirror Force!"

All around them manifested a giant rainbow-colored dome. Bit by bit, their vision became red until it all converged into a single point before firing off back at Zero resulting in an explosion.

"GO!"

"Domitianus, Nerokius, Heraklinos!" Yugioh calls, summoning three Gladiator Beasts.

Around the smoke, a giant humanoid bat throws a punch while a bipedal chimeral and sea serpent brings down a flaming and watery ace respectively.

"HAAAA!" Zero shouts, unleashing a spherefield knocking away the debris as well as the three large creatures.

"Was that Almighty Push?"

"No, but dark close!"

In a flicker, Relon and Pokémon appear as Zero's arms are still out to the sides.

"Oblivion Wing!" Pokémon shouts, punching a fist at the air for a red and black beam to shoot for Zero's right as a combination of black and white flames strike from his left.

Vanishing as the attack clash, all look up to see Zero soaring into space.

"He's fleeing to the Beyond!"

"We'll stop him!" Digimon shouts, running forward withdrawing his digivice. "Apollomon, Lunamon! Our turn!" Raising the red and black device, it shimmers in a bright light as two creatures representing the sun and moon manifest before shooting into space past Relon. "Execute! Biomerge DNA Digivolution!

Catching the light pass by, Zero stops to slowly peer up at the hulking behemoth bore him. Its size was incomprehensible. Earth, the Beyond, all of the cosmos paled in comparison to the creature before him.

"Gracenovamon!" It bellowed.

"How-" Zero widened to feel a fist crash into his face belonging to Dragonball.

"Don't think you're the only ones that can survive in space!"

"Zero!" Relon growls striking with an inflamed fist as both pummel the entity.

"Don't let him even breathe!" Star Rail urges, shimmering in hias bloody gold power. "Not even a second!"

From his hand, chains pierce Zero's body before wrapping around his core as he's swung around.

"Distortions create possibilities and those then make the future…"

"Say less!" Genshin agrees, hand crackling in electricity as he blitzes forward. "Raikiri!" Extending forward, once more a black barrier halts the momentum as tendrils shoot out for Genshin.

"By cleaving one, others ripple anew…"

"I'll borrow this!" Zenless Wuwa calls, vaulting over Genshin to coat his body in purple lightning. "Discharge!" He shouts, fending off the tendrils to punch alongside Genshin at the shield as it cracks.

"Let the blots of black cover the endless void…"

"Don't forget about us! Destruction!" Star Rails shouts as he, Dragonball, and Relon all too strike the dome from multiple directions.

"Where life reaches its wall, allow that to crumble onto all…"

Backing away, electricity coursing through Genshin's body, his mouth moves at an accelerated rate for a hand sign to come up as Zero's eerie grin snaps to them all.

"DOMAIN EXPANSION: SILENT APOCALYPSE!"

"DOMAIN EXPANSION! ILLUSORY HEART!"

The vacuum of space itself expanded white as all living this ceased movement. On Earth, in space, atop the Dimensional Graveyard.

Before their eyes, Gracenovamon began to crack as an invisible force extinguished the galactic being to particles.

"Damn it, Digimon took the brunt of that technique!"

"One cancelled out my cursed technique from the outside yet you encompassed us within another. But, you're not Jujustu…!"

"No. I'm not." Genshin simply says, blurring and striking him with an electric punch faster than he can keep up. "Stopping time won't work with us here! Zenless Wuwa, Star Rail!"

"Right!"

"Let's go!"

"Tch! You're one of them, aren't you? You're another chosen Relon!"

Not answering, Genshin's electricity fizzles out as ice takes its place. Clasping his hands together to separate, a single crystal sphere forms. Gyrating, more and more of its body becomes transparent.

"Stay behind that shield all you want, you're not gonna like this!" Star Rail grins, placing a hand as the crystal sphere becomes coated in an outer layer of destruction energy.

"Can you handle this?!" Zenless Wuwa calls out, copying the other gachas' gestures as electricity crackles inside the globe.

"Destruction, Cryo, and Electro," Genshin notes calmly. "Surely you noticed it. I used my domain expansion a second after you did. While the cosmos is under your power, we inside the Shrine of Maya aren't. It's simple math."

"Then…!" Zero widens as his body locks in from the power Relon and Dragonball continue to exude.

"Your power can't affect us," Genshin simply states. "But just to make sure…" Eyes glowing, a familiar sheen manifests across his being as his robes become a more common red and black themed attire.

"Impossible! You as well?!"

"You said so yourself. I am one of the original's chosen. But all you need to know is that I'm Ei's Chosen! Genshin Impact: Spiral Sphere!" He roars, the power of the seven elements channeling inside as it collides with the dome of darkness.

Light converging into a single point, it expands as the green shrine fades as color returns to the universe.

Catching and righting himself, he sees the others doing the same as Genshin reverts to his normal robbed attire panting as his body becomes transparent.

"D-Damn it, using so much in a universe not my own without my actual body took more of a toll than I thought…"

"Zenless Wuwa, Star Rail!" Dragonball exclaims as Relon notices they too in similar conditions to Genshin.

"How much did that attack…"

"Not enough…" Genshin pants to look at the drifting Zero. "But almost. Relon, you… have to be the one… to end this! No matter how much we do, you have to deliver the final blow…"

"Why are you two vanishing?"

"Hehe, I put… all of the power I could… to help stabilize that attack. Not… the first time we've done this."

"Y-Yeah," Zenless Wuwa gasps. "Least this attempt worked a lot better than the first."

"Relon," Genshin calls as their eyes meet. "Save Relon. We believe in you."

"You can do it!"

"Don't give up. You haven't yet so don't start now."

With those words and the supportive nods of the three, they were gone."

"Yeah!"

"Eclipse Finger!" Gracenovamon's divine voice bellows.

Snapping to where Zero was last seen, both Relons catch sight of the galaxy digimon raising its cosmic hand for a black hole to be born before its crushed revealing an unfathomable power similar to Relon's own.

Nearing Zero, it was as though he was doing everything in his power to move.

"R-Rechid… CREATURES!" Zero manages out, tendrils shooting from his back to obstruct the attack to no avail as all is melted by the sheer proximity.

"NOW!" Dragonball exclaims. "Ka-me-ha-me…"

"Solar Impact…"

Touching Zero, a wave surges across the sea of stars as Zero breaks past both Relons towards the Dimensional Graveyard.

"HAAAAA!"

"Double Crescent Horizon!"

Flicking the edges of his dual blade, a grayish-silver eight-tipped flame hurtles close behind for a pure blue beam to strike its center as the combined attack touch Zero.

Resisting, body falling apart, Zero struggles to lift a hand as the Dimensional Graveyard's essence shoots for him.

"He's absorbing this place's energy to recover!" Digimon exclaims for a demon-looking Relon to shoot off.

"Time for a change in scenery! Demon Art: Infinity Castle!" With a clap, everything vanished. Space, the planets, everything.

Down Relon and his countless selves found themselves descending an endless dimensional castle-like interior with no end to the bottom.

"Relon!" Dragonball shouted. "It's now or never!"

Pushing off Dragonball's feet, his dual blade veers into his grasp as he falls in line with his fellow Relons. One wordless look around at the resounding nods said all that needed to be.

At once, they snapped to Zero.

"Let's end this, Zero!"

"WITH PLEASURE, RELON LUCINANCE!"

Snapping Pippin and Pappan off, he slices portals for everyone to vanish.

Head whirling to the left, a single ball is caught for a coated blood knife melded around a hand to strike from Zero's other side only to be caught.

"So you're the perpetrator behind this!"

"Gonna cry?" Effortlessly, Demon Slayer's arm is destroyed only for another to regrow as the ball Zero holds begin to circulate at a high velocity ripping apart his hand.

"Tch! All of you irksome-"

"Yeah yeah, sounds like a skill issue to me!" Demon Slayer dodges a backfist that destroys a portion of the castle. Narrowing, he flips, sending Zero further down. "Naruto!" He calls, diving after Zero once more as from a portal comes Naruto. "Let's hit him good!"

"You got that Isobu?!" Naruto grins, feeling his Tailed Beast's power emerge.

Heard!

"Let's show Zero the power of a Jinchūriki and the Ketsuryūgan!" Bubbles foaming all around until a coat of red overlaid atop his appearance as three tails emerged, Naruto reals back a hand for the bubbly surface to extend down to catch Zero. "And let's add Sage Mode while we're at it!"

Wincing from the corrosive touch, Zero's focuses power for the hand to burst. Past the fleeting bubbles, a giant spinning temari is revealed.

"Such spherical toys aren't enough fun for a God!" Zero roars, reeling his hand back as darkness manifests copying the attack.

"They're called… Temaris!" Demon Slayer corrects from further below.

"What?!"

At ledges far below, countless Relons prepare various attacks with Demon Slayer holding a golden scythe.

"How many of you Relons use scythes?!"

"Heh, wouldn't you like to know," Demon Slayer grins. "Alright, boys, let him have it!" At once, the upwardment bombard commenced.

"Sage Art: Massive Temari!" Naruto yells as Zero can only raises another wall to repel the spiralling attack.

"Pinning me like this…! WON'T WORK! PERISH!"

"Oh, we know," is all Demon Slayer says, vanishing into particles along with the rest as the attack misses.

Confused, his senses snap to a corridor far down for a shimmer to be seen.

"Bastard!"

Shlk!

Under a millisecond, Zero couldn't even blink as the raised hand was sliced as was half his body. Displaced, he could only continue to look in confusion as he succumbed to the force of the attack. Eyes trailing from one ledge to another, his eyes finally understood the perpetrator belonging to DXD. Said individual looking twirling their wired dagger.

"HAAAAAA!" Past Naruto, the funnel of darkness emerged into a silhouette. "Huh?" He gasped, turning around only to catch the upper half of the entity clash sword-like hands with DXD.

"Don't stop! You're still damaging his lower half!" DXD shouts.

"Just… go… down already!" Naruto growls.

"Tch! Even with the power of a King Piece, you're still this troublesome?!" DXD curses.

"Speed is all you have whereas I have everything else!"

"Then it's a good thing we cover each other's weaknesses!" Heads lifting up, only a punch by Pokémon connects out of nowhere! "Another good thing we Relons have going for us; the element of surprise!"

"You of all Relons know what it's like to perish, yet you still defy me!"

"It's because I know that I refuse to see the Relon in you go down the same path!"

"You shall die-" Cut off as he becomes stone, the three can only look as Zero shatters against a ledge higher up.

"You first."

"Guys…!" Naruto growls. "He's… fighting back…!"

Descending further to help suppress the repelling force, more and more the three even combined find it hard to fight against.

"This guy is seriously…!"

"Stupid!" Naruto complains as he uses his tails to assist.

"Demonic amplification, chakra infusion, and oblivion power still isn't enough?!" Pokémon grimaces. "Just… a little more! We're almost there!"

"GRRRRRRRRR!"

"He's… stopping… the rotation…!"

"Pour all you two have!"

"Already… full sending…!"

"CHAOS BLAST!"

Holes erupting all across the sphere, all three can only widen to vanish in particles before it explodes crumbling the entire structure.

"Ha…Ha…Ha…" Not at all caring of the entire castle crumbling around him, Zero breathes a heavy breath to look up embracing the sudden calmness he finds himself in. Yet the moment was but a fleeting causality.

"If one nuke wasn't enough, then how about another!" RWBY roars, encapsulating himself in white as he implodes in a silvery blast.

"GAH!" Zero reels downwards in a ragdoll-like fashion. Eyes peering open, he widens at the white light enveloping his vision.

"Drink deep the despair! I, who am united with the abyss... Whilst the depths of despair consume thee... I, who commands all the astral plane... Whilst thou art cursed to expire into nothing... I, who stands bathed in heavenly light... Whilst thou cowers before the gates of hell... Come forth, divine lightning! The end is imminent! Indignation! Insignificant worm! Now return to dust!" A dome of ephemeral glyphs manifest into a purple tint as mana envelops the very space itself. "This is for hurting this world's Rinwell," Tales simply says as a flash emerges. "INDIGNATION!"

Down came a streak of raw mana-infused lightning disintegrating Zero's form as his size divided.

"Dragonball, you're up next!" Calling as he becomes particles, his dwindling vision takes sight of said variant holding a giant ball as particles of their other selves finish merging inside.

"SPIRIT BOMB!"

One snap of his eyes open and the entire top half of the tower he fell through seemingly vanished. Whether by Relon's own actions or his own, he didn't know.

"Persistent maggots, stalling like always. It never changes!" Bigger and bigger, Zero doubled over to blast off. "YOUR ATTEMPTS TO CONQUER SHALL NOT GO UNPUNISHED, DO YOU HEAR ME RELON LUCINANCE! YOUR LIMIT IS NIGH AS IS YOUR END!"

"Hehe… Oh, you're the one who's going to be punished, Zero." Dragonball chuckles, veins protruding as a golden aura begins to manifest. "You see… We saiyans don't have limits. Time and time, we shatter the chains that bind us to who we once were. Everyday, we strive for new heights. Yet, that doesn't stretch to just my universe. Every Relon, across the Relonverse betters themselves for the sole purpose to ensure a better life with their loved ones!" Hair manifesting yellow, red, blue, and then white, his focus goes entirely on the Spirit Bomb. "HaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

Suddenly, a newfound surge of pressure toppled Zero's monstrous form.

"WHY CAN'T I…?!" Then it clicked. "THOSE PARTICLES OF YOUR WEAKER SELVES…! THEY SENT THEIR ENERGY TO YOU, DIDN'T THEY?! BUT THAT'S… NOT ALL! YOU INFUSED MALEVOLENCE INTO THE SPIRIT BOMB TO ABSORB MY POWER! WHERE?! WHERE ARE YOU RELON?! ANSWER ME, RELON TARBIN NAMIKAZE-LUCINAAAAAAAANCE!"

"Hehe," Dragonball chuckles, glancing up to the male holding one sword with the other protectively in front. "Looks like he's calling for you. Bring it home, Relon."

The existence of life is an ephemeral gift bestowed upon all.

Those that wish to preserve it and nature it to the next stage are deemed good.

Others who wish to halt the growth of possibility and ravage that which is unknown for their own purposes are bad.

Simple as that.

From above, the cusp, the embodiment of what it meant to be Relon Lucinance stirred deep within his core. The good, the bad, the purity, the linger darkness that gave way to his imperfections, the proof needed to tell any and all that he too was human.

Countless times practiced, he grasped his faithful partner. From that fateful day in the snowy mountaintop, traveled wayward to the foggy lukewarm waters of the castletown, rising upwards along the turbulent remedy of the capital, across the distance terrains of the shrouded foliage of bonds that have transcended time, and finally to the lucky number he found himself associated with.

Then it came.

"Nghr!" Dragonball growls to catch a blurring figure descend. Gasping, he grins reverting to normal before he begins to vanish. "Give him hell for us,"

Only a single nod came as the Spirit Bomb imploded into countless particles before surging towards Relon.

"GAAAHH! WHAT?!"

"DIVINIUS IMPAAAAAAAACT!"

From the burning flames of hatred, to the purple flames of agony, the unison of both transcended to a clarity more sublime than that of a slate sculpted by Aidios herself. Yet, the shades that encroached were not evil. It was a pained good once lost on the path of life.

"RELON LUCINAAAAAANCE!"

Down the elongated form of Pippin's radiant tip went as the light began to clip open the veil of darkness. Flames once believed to have been sealed opened like a geyser. More and more, flames of various colors raged out as the world around them went white.

"GET… OUT… OF… HIS… BODY!"

When his eyes opened next, he found the bright blue sky to be his greeter. Twitching a finger, unbearably weakly, his eyes winced from the genuine brightness the sun held. In flinching his head, he felt grains of what could only be sand cascade down his skin.

"You're awake." One look up, as much of a struggle as it was, and there stood countless Relons of varying ages in attires not at all the same. At the center, the smiling prime version of himself. "Welcome to the world of the living, Relon Tarbin Namikaze-Lucinance."

"You… did it…"

"Did you doubt us?" Relon arches a brow, something that for an odd reason or perhaps… not so odd, made him manage a wry chuckle.

"No… Deep down, I think… a part of me wanted you to win. To be… right."

Closing his eyes, taking in the life all around him, another look at the sky revealed the dimensional tear in the fabric of space and time.

"You stay here, Relon. Look back on all you've done… and atone." One by one, the visages of Relon vanished inside his prime self.

"How?"

Not answering the pattering footsteps atop the sand inched closer. One friendly smile at him was all the previous Zero-Relon got as Relon's shimmering form hovered before vanishing into the rift.

Atop the dune, panting, stood Laura Arseid.

"Laura… Hey."

Touching down in the Dimensional Graveyard, Relon looks up to the lingering black fog begin to take a humanoid shape.

"After all that, you had another life. Or do you have even more?" He wonders, taking a hold of Pippin and Pappan. "No, it doesn't matter. I defeated you. Meaning orders are back." Sucking in a breath, he drops to a knee as the shimmering glow wanes. "S-Shit, I used… too much of that power. Order, regain-" Diving out of the way using what enhanced cognitive abilities, he skids to see the darkness imbued lance retract as the entity's hand reforms. "Fine… then! Helios!" He roars, black flames erupting in all directions as his wings manifest. "Order! Protect me… until I can fight again!" He begins, flying out of the way to pivot, punching the creature to faze through it. "Order! Tell Shade… about this world and its rules!" He grasps both blades parting a beam of darkness. "And… And… Wake him the hell up already!" At that moment, as attacks encroached from all around, a giant plume of darkness veiled Relon as the structure hardens. Falling on his knees, he could only chuckle before feeling himself hover into a slumbering status.

As soon as his body went still, his eyes opened to the familiar forest that was Lunaria Nature Park. Turning around, he found the familiar Dark Dragon looming overhead.

"Sorry."

"Hmm? For what?"

"When you were trying to help me, I said some mean things and pushed you away. I'm sorry."

"Fret no. It was but a trivial matter."

"I still plan to try, Helios. I'm going to do everything to stop you from vanishing."

"Hmm. From one trivial matter to another. It seems that is a trait all Relons share across your supposed Relonverse."

"Haha, I guess so. It was nice, fighting with the other mes. Even now, I still feel the lingering power that we used."

"Even a grain of your so-called 'Neutralyx' shall decide the fate of this world."

"I know. I feel Shade and others fighting. Time is speeding so fast that my energy has already returned."

"Are you ready?"

"You're asking me that now after what we just did? Pfft, what do you think?"

Watching Helio's foreleg loom overhead, Relon's vision goes black.

Feeling a sudden wave of heat, everyone turns to the black crystal as shards begin to hit the ground. Bit by bit, more black flames burst from all sides as it alters from black to white and then back to black.

With one final breakthrough, the entire crystal bursts open as Relon's black form blurs high to stop in midair as his black wings expand with a resurgence of power.

White slits carefully opening, they inspect all to lay eyes upon Zero.

One moment Relon was high in the sky and the next an inflamed fist had struck deep into Zero's abdomen. Pushing, intent on that blow alone being the finality of this long battle, Relon's wings despawn as the power is converted into his fist for a plume of darkness to send both back.

Correcting his form into a flip, he skids next to Shade.

"Order!" Both Relon and Zero exclaim in unison.

"Shatter the meaning of life!"

"Protect all that lives!"

The world inwardly rumbled, nearly causing all to stumble.

"What's happening?!"

"Both orders are acting against each other," Relon shouted. "An order has to be completed through omnipotence before another can be made. But both are the perfect opposite so they're at a stalemate. Both orders fighting to claim dominance." Walking forward, Pippin and Pappan going to his hands as Zero gets to his feet, Relon throws both. "Order! Do not lose against any other order!"

"Order! Neg-" Zero begins to be cut off as he blocks Pippin with a shield of black energy. "Nega-" Once more, he has to raise his hand to block Pappan as both push against the glass-like substance.

One look at the stars above illuminating their radiant glow tells Relon's own order to have been the victor as everyone glows a flash of light including the three planets momentarily.

"N-No!" Zero winces, inwardly tucking his body in, likely from Relon's previous attack.

"And here comes your friends~." A man, regal in attire exuding power states with a knowing look.

Rushing Zero again, exchanging blows, Relon and Zero clash fists as a shockwave of negative power ruptures the Dimensional Graveyard. Righting himself, his eyes look back to widen at the sight of everyone.

"How…" Head looking back to Zero equally as stunned, veins begin to protrude atop his skin as he glares. "HOW DID SO MANY CRACKS SEEP THROUGH?! OUR PLAN WAS NEAR PERFECT!"

"You didn't account for the endless possibilities both I and Shade could bring!"

"Relon…!" He growls, dark aura igniting as does Relon's.

At once, both rip towards the other.

"Black Flash!"

"Rasengan!"

Fist of cursed energy tied to black lightning strikes a gyrating sphere of black fire for the entire planet to tremble once more. Surging with more power, Relon jerks his attack for it to tilt upwards slightly maneuvering Zero's fist to strike his wrist sending him up and across the barren land.

Flickering out of existence to appear next to Shade, both look at everyone. A odd sensation washing over Relon as though something transpired without his knowing.

"What was…? These memories…" Rinwell says, holding her now slightly pounding head.

"They're Relon's and Shade's," Van blinks.

"Kallen…" Shizuna mumbles in pained anger.

"You did your duty until the end," Duvalie says in a solemn tone.

"Relon…" Munechika murmurs as Relon hovers into the air.

"ZERO! GET OUT HERE, I KNOW YOU AREN'T DONE!" Vergil screams out, walking ahead of everyone else.

"Shade, glad to see you still alive, you went crazy mode down there on earth, I got a good view at least!" Magilou rushed up next to Shade, holding her staff. "Also, uh something happene-"

"I can tell… Now is not the time!" Shade glared at the last two he had on leashes.

"What, we are in fact copies, right Cardinal?" Another powerful stranger smiles as he looks over at a woman. She doesn't answer, her eyes filled with anger as she looks at Relon.

Scanning for where Zero disappeared to, his head snaps to the surge of anger directed at him, though no where near compared to Zero's. One look and he was staring at another Laura, clearly not a good version as judged by her dark outfit. One side glance to Victor and Relon could see the father in equal bafflement.

"Laura?"

"Shouldn't have called her that~" The stranger smiled as within that moment Laura pulled out her sword, attempting to do some sort of attack on Relon before she froze.

"Ah! Damn leashes! Relon, that's not her, not anymore! Victor, don't bother with this version of her, trust me!" Shade yelled out, holding the side of his head.

"Order!" He instead ignores. "Locate Zero!" Watching the star coalesce at his will, this flicker out. "What the? He's… here?" Eyes scanning the area, Relon furrows as both swords zoom in opposite directions to soon return from the other's end. "Nothing?" Delving in further confusion, his eyes go to the cosmos. "No, that wouldn't make sense either. Then-" Eyes going wide, he looks at everyone. "Zero's merged with this planet!"

The moment those words left Relon, all hell broke loose. The ground, once again, rumbled in greater magnitude as the entire landmass became covered into a layer of darkness before it all surged in one direction over the dim horizon.

"To think, I'll be forced into this form… If that's the case, I'll make you all submit to what's to come by force alone!" Waves of darkness swarmed over everyone as a shadowy head that was larger than a tank appeared.

"If he merged with this planet, then the very ground we walk could be a weapon~." A man says calmly, holding his weapon out, ready to unsheathe his weapon. "Heh."

"Relon, ready to end this freak!?" I aim at the giant head as I heard everyone behind me pull out their weapons or aim at Zero.

Grasping both weapons one final time, both become coated in black and white energy respectively. "Just end this bastard already!"

"THIS IS TRULY THE END OF THE LINE, RELON, SHADE!" Zero's voice resounds. "THE AGE OF HUMAN AND ELEMENTAL SHALL FALL HERE! SUCCUMB TO ALL THAT I AM! DROWN IN MY MALEVOLENCE!"

"You're done! Simple as that!" Relon exclaims, black corrupt wings manifesting as he reels both swords back to unleash a dual-colored flame attack towards the maw of Zero.

Mouth stretching inhuman-like, it devours the attack.

"No way!"

"DELICIOUS! ORDER! CEASE ALL FURTHER ORDERS!"

"Damn it!"

"MWAHAHAHAHA! DO YOU SEE, RELON LUCINANCE? BY EXPERIENCING YOUR 'ALL,' I BECAME STRONGER! NOW, WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF OUR DIVINE RIGHTS, YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT BUT YOUR OWN MEAGER STRENGTH!"

"ZERO!" Vergil, filled with rage rushed at Zero, his sword glowing red as he gripped the handle, slicing the air in front of him. A dark shield formed where the attack would have hit, cutting the shield but leaving Zero unharmed.

"ANOTHER DEMON, YOU ARE NOTHING, YOUR MOTHER DIED FOR NOTHING!" As Vergil got closer a wisp of darkness grabbed his ankle and lifted him up before smashing him into the ground and tossing him back. "Truly a weakling!"

"Got any ideas Relon? I doubt my handguns will do much to him, least for now!" Shade looks up at Relon from below.

"It's obviously a lie for what he said. He was hit with countless attacks from different versions of me. There has to be another way he's like this. A source or something!"

"What is enabling this place to remain here?" Lloyd calls over.

"The Dimensional Graveyard?" That seemed to click something in Relon's head. "Because of the Beyond and Earth being so close! Even though Zero and I absorbed the stockpiled power, they're still enabling this place to exist!"

"Then we need to separate the Beyond and Earth!" Rean urges.

"Any bright ideas?"

"Even I can't push either planet far away."

"If you can't push something out of the way, why not just destroy it?" Shade offers.

"Destroy the Beyond?"

"Hey, if Zero dealt with it back when he first came into power, then Earth should be fine with the planet itself, right?"

"When he puts it like that, the idea, as crazy as it sounds, is still better than nothing." Lloyd relents.

"Relon, you're the only one at this moment that can destroy the Beyond. We'll deal with Zero. You need to get up there and-"

"HAHAHA! DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE I WOULD ALLOW SUCH ACTS TO GO UNNOTICED?!" Zero hollers.

Before him, countless yet familiar tendrils spawn humanoid shadow variants of Zero. Some sprout wings as others dig into the earth.

"WE'VE GOT INCOMING!" Vergil roars.

"We're the last barrier standing before the extinction of all life!" Lloyd calls out. "Everyone, fight with everything you've got!"

"For the mistakes we've caused, for the lives lost, we make our stand here!" Rean speaks with his sword pointed at the approaching army of creatures.

"Relon!" Shade exclaims. "Get going so we can go home!"

Floating away, as a flying nightmare swoops in for its wings to be cleaved off by Pippin and stabbed by Pappan, one look at everyone tells all Relon needs. Tucking in, he zooms into space with countless fliers giving chase.

"Van, we should focus on covering anyone using range arts or guns!" Elaine dodges out of the way of a nightmare for Van to move in to take it out.

"Got it, good thing these things are easy to kill, but why are there so many!?" Both move further into the battle to cover their allies.

"Eight Leaves!" Arios calls out.

"Right!"

"Let's do it!"

"Spirit Unification!" Waves of power layered atop each other release as all three blur across wave after wave.

"True Arcane…"

"Twin Arcane…"

"Luminous…"

"GALE!" All three sync in unison as an icyhot whirlwind barrels through.

"Don't stop!" Arios shouts, he and Rean splitting off as Shizuna flutters around to feel something grab her. Head ducking on instinct to cut down the creature, it splits off into two reeling back two sickles respectively. "Damn!"

"What a sorry sight this is!" In a flash of white both creatures are cut down, looking over Shizuna sees a man slowly walk towards her with a smile. "Are you really that weak, Shizuna~?"

"Who the hell? You're a Dominion from Shade's world!" Turning to strike another creature, she looks back to the grinning man.

"Heh, I see… Yes, I am and in his world I had a very special honor, one that even my lord entrusted to me." He held his weapon in front of him, finally pulling the blade out of its sheath. "Guess what that task was, Shizuna?"

"Knowing Shade's history in screwing everyone over, myself included, I'm guessing something I'm going to hate."

"Yes, why he and V teamed up to kill Ikaruga, he didn't kill you or Kurogane. This version of you is far weaker, and there's no point in killing you again here, my dear sister~" He looks to his left and swings his blade. There was no one there but creatures, but with that single swing he took them all out in a flash of white light.

"What did you call me?! Hey, explain!"

"As you wish. But you may not get it as it seems you don't have a brother here, or he may already be dead. My hair is dyed black for one, we weren't raised together, as our parents only needed one child in the picture, no room for accidents~" His blade was almost like a mirror to her own, but with a darker aura behind it.

Wordlessly, she slices a creature with suddenly little effort.

"Accidents? I see." Turning away, she takes a stance. "Thank you for telling me but…" She shoots forward, blinding strikes encompassing a field of foes as she returns to where she started. "Whatever you have to say, I could care less. My origins is one thing I don't care for. I'm looking to live in my future, not my past." Rushing for the man, he doesn't flinch as she cuts down a foe. "If you truly get enjoyment out of torture, go do that to someone else." Without awaiting his response, she's off to another group of nightmares.

"Say what you will, you better watch Shizuna." The moon far above shines as does his blade. "May the moon shine down!" Extending his arm, his blade pointing right at the ground, letting it go, it falls into the ground like it fell into water. The area around everyone is covered in darkness as the only light is the moon above, cherry blossom trees seem to appear out of nowhere, blowing petals everywhere. "The power we share, we inherited, let it come forth…" The moon above fades as what seems like an eclipse happens, now the only light around is the glint of his weapons. "Iter Ad Interitum, death is the only way!"

Everyone could only watch in stunned silence as hundreds of blades formed around, lighting up the creatures in a white and pink shine, in that instant the man was at each blade, grasping it before stabbing into each creature. "Let this be your lesson, Shizuna…"

Shade glanced over, shocked as he left, fading away into particles as the light returned to the field, half of the monsters were gone now. Two blades remained, one next to Shizuna and another next to Vergil.

"This swarm is never-ending!" Rinwell shouts, switching between electricity and water spells.

"Just fend them off long enough for Relon to complete his task!"

"These monsters may seem endless but this nightmare soon won't be!" Vita calls out, conjuring a storm that disperses waves of enemies from the three.

In the sky, Relon twirls downwards avoiding a series of black beams to manifest a portal. Veering through it to reappear behind the creatures, he decapitates them as their bodies burst to nothing.

"So many!" Relon growls. "I've recovered and yet I still haven't amassed enough to use Neutralyx again!"

"And you won't ever get the chance." Swinging a wing to block an armed blade from a nightmare, he's sent away to quickly right himself as a fleet of flying creatures stand between him and the Beyond. "All things living shall cease."

"That's where you're wrong!" Rushing to cut down the creature, he blurs forward. "Flare Blitz!" Coating himself in condensed flames, he barrels through the laser bombardment.

No matter how many came, he had to keep going. He was the only one that could see this through. No matter what, he couldn't stop when they were so close.

More and more, volleys from all sides slow his momentum until with one last surge of negative energy, Relon's attack fizzles out as countless explosions surge.

"YES! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE! DIE!"

Eyes looking up to the chaos far above, horrified expression adorned many at the falling male.

"Relon!"

"No, Relon!"

"Shit, Lucinance!"

"CUZ!"

Wake up. You have one last trump card, do you not?

Eyes stirring, his body flips in time as he once again touches down. Crouching, he stumbles to catch himself.

"But, Helios…" Head lifting to gaze upon the evil army, he releases a steady breath.

You swore, did you not? Your chance has come. Now, it is my turn!

"Marshadow," he calls, the shadowy creature manifesting to walk next to him. "Sorry. I thought we wouldn't need to resort to this after all."

"A PUNY SHADOW CREATURE? YOU'VE LOST! NO MORE VARIANTS OF YOURSELF TO ASSIST! GIVE UP!"

Head lifting to see countless meteorites suddenly manifest, they strike.

"RELON!"

Don't forget, Relon. Power comes in response to a need, not a desire.

He understood.

To defeat this evil, he needed to be willing to do whatever it took. Up until now, he fought will every option available that he could manifest. Yet, as mighty as those were, the end was here. He had to make a choice.

"Helios, Marshadow, thanks. For everything."

To all, Relon stood. Markings once again etched themselves atop his skin as his vermilion eyes transitioned to black with white slits. The dark power made his own manifested its aura as his wings sprouted.

"I may be out of Relons… but I'm not out of options!"

"Once more you attempt to defy fate. Yet, your own destiny has already been determined by me!"

"You have no idea how wrong you are," Relon shook his head. "Time to go big or go home, Helios!" Rolling his sleeve, ancient texts from the Beyond permeate through his marked skin.

"DON'T TELL ME! STOP HIM!" Even with his orders as the nightmare creatures surged forward, even as Zero's maw attempted to suck everything and everyone that opposed him, the attempt proved fruitless.

"Arise from the depths of hell and burn all in your wake! Bathe the world of new with the flames of a bygone era! Zoro-Agruga, the Dark Dragon of Ruination!"

Striking the ground, nothing happened. Then…

A purple blast of corrupt and dense power bellowed.

"He did it!" Duvalie awes.

"Go, my son." Vita mumbles.

"YOU SUMMONED THE DARK DRAGON!?" Shade yelled out.

"THE VERY THING THAT'S SAVED US TIME AND TIME AGAIN!" Relon shot back, too focused on what was ahead of him. "Helios, those things need to go!"

Reeling its head back, a banshee-like curdle bellowed from Helios as countless spawns were eviscerated.

"Whoa…" Rinwell widens.

"He just took out most of those things with a roar…!" Van awes.

"I've read stories of just the pure destruction this beast has supposedly committed," Vita gapes.

"This level of power, Relon has only been controlling a fragment until entering the Dimensional Graveyard…!" Munechika widens.

"All or nothing, Helios!" Relon shoots to overtop its head as Helios' maw opens as energy from the surrounding space draws near. "Let's see you tank this attack, Zero!" Condensing the purple and black energy into a perfect sphere. "We're not done yet!" Raising his hand overhead, flames spiral in a helix before its shape alters. More and more it grows matching the orbs enormous size. "Eat this! Planetary Cryptid-Beast Blazing Rasenshuriken!"

Chucking the giant burning shuriken-shaped attack, a volley of purple spheres around Helios' maw converge as they merge into a giant spherical attack.

"He's going to dodge it!"

To everyone's surprise, countless black shields emerged. One by one, the attack shattered each one with little effort until it reached the last. With a final push, it shot straight through Zero, decapitating its mouth from the rest of its enlarged head.

"We're not done yet!" True to his words, the attack doesn't cease, instead curving and veering towards the Beyond. "GOOOOOOOO!"

"PERISH!"

Impacting, the world flashed white. Then it gained a purple tint before the natural colors of each element imploded like fireworks.

"BRACE FOR THE SHOCKWAVES!"

"Helios, protect everyone!" Relon roars, rising to the sky as Helios hunkers protectively before everyone. "You can't escape me, Zero! FINAL… ATOMIC…" Drawing his hands over the other, a shimmering silver manifests into a radiant orb as wisps of flames leak out.

"RELON LUCINANCE!" Zero rebounds, endless copies appearing in front of Relon.

"KAMEHAMEHAAAAAAAA!"

Mere rege from Relon, Zero's form becomes lost in the blinding light as the beam careens for the exploding planet.

"I… won't… BE DEFEATED! NOT BY YOU! I REFUSE!" Protesting in defiance, he calls upon Alter-Pappan to vanish into a portal.

"NO YOU DON'T! SHADE!" Relon calls shooting to Shade as he cuts a portal open with Pappan.

Quickly putting away one of his hand guns, Shade pulls out his scythe and jumps into the portal. Upon seeing his target Shade spun his weapon as he came down. "JUST DIE ASSHOLE!"

"Shade?!"

"AND ME!" Relon roars as Zero whirls his head in time to narrowly block a flaming fist followed by a weak shield defending from a volley of bullets.

Landing, both quickly look around finding themselves in some sort of light fog. A cloudy void filled with rising particles and what could be mistaken for shooting stars spiraling upwards around the border.

"What is this place?" Relon wonders as both refocus on Zero hunched over.

"How…? How can this have happened?! I, the being who destroyed that blasted Aidios, reduced to this? HOW?! HOW?! HOW?!"

"Throwing a tantrum seems so much like you, Zero!"

"Killing a goddess isn't that impressive, you've seen the monsters I summoned!" Shade says, taking aim at the creatures.

"Believing your own greatness would stem from what you hated most, pretty ironic if you ask me!" Relon adds, raising a hand of flames alongside Shade.

"You…! BOTH OF YOU…! HOW MUCH WILL IT TAKE TO PUT YOU BOTH DOWN- ARGH!"

Without hesitation, a single bullet blows a hole in his head as a single hot flame pierces his throat.

"You're finished, Zero. Done, over with."

"You've done a lot of shit to the people here, to this guy here and you pissed me right off! You're lucky that I want to be done with you, cause I know plenty of ways to torture people!"

"Hehe…! Order-"

"Mute yourself," Relon commanded.

Voice caught in his throat, Zero scratches at his now missing mouth.

"Disable all orders via thought or speech from you." Relon adds. "I told you, Zero. Your terror, your horrid story, ends here." Body shimmering in a familiar light, Relon readies himself as the same light shimmers from Shade. "This is…!" He says, withdrawing his ARCUS to widen. "What a way to end this. Ready?"

"I've been ready, this has been a hell of a long week!" Spinning his scythe again he holds it over his shoulder.

Stumbling to hold Alter-Pappan, Zero lunges forward for the sword to hold him back. Looking back wide-eyed at the sword no longer moving, he grips it tighter for it to swing for him only to vanish.

"Remember that rule you placed on Pappan?! Seems it's finally come to its senses! Game over, Zero!" Twirling both blades to connect into their dual blade form, black and white energy protrude from both ends. "You're all alone!"

"Oh, my scythe is glowing just like your weapon is, say wanna do it at the same time?" Shade cracked a smile under his mask, getting ready to swing.

"That's the sole rule… for a Dual Craft!" The mention alone made Zero take a single step back to reel back its hands before unleashing a plume of darkness towards both. "Humanity shall persevere! Now and forever!"

"Eat shit and die!" He puts his other gun away and focuses on timing his attack. "Dual Craft…" Swinging his scythe he holds it over his right shoulder, ready to swing down with all of his might.

"Dual Craft…" One double swing of Relon's dual blades came piercing through both the darkness as he pivots for his second turn.

"Radiant Dawn!"

The crack of light had reached the end of this ravaged tunnel. From the past to the present and yonder towards the future, their hearts united as one.

Three slash marks remain embedded as the darkness surrounding Zero began to crack. More and more, it spread covering his whole body. Then he stopped and simply crumbled. No particles, simply vanishing into dust in the liquid floor below.

With a flick of his weapon, Relon looked where Zero once stood, he glanced over a Shade.

"Hell of a week, huh?" Relon offered, chuckling as his powers faded.

"I want to go home…" Shade almost mimicking Magilou now said as he put his scythe away.

"Oh… Now that you mention it. Order!" As expected, the shimmering particles around glowed at his beckon call. "Want to? I can do it while we're here."

"Do what? To say I have a lot on my mind is an understatement, so just tell me what your plan is…" Shade crosses his arms, looking at the other boy.

"You can be so- ugh. Open a portal back to Shade's world!" At his command, the small world glowed as ripples reverberated against their feet.

True to his command, from the water emerged a mirror with an image on the other side.

"Huh, how long will this stay open?"

"As long as I want. Though I suppose we should take care of the obvious first. Order! Return Earth and the Beyond to how they were before Zero and keep a portal and rift open to our worlds in… Eryn?" Relon shrugs to Shade for confirmation.

"Yeah but would everything return to how it was? Would Kallen and…my mom still be dead?" Shade hesitated at the end, accepting the fact his mom was there.

"Order! Can all of those killed under Zero's reign come back to life?" Before their feet, the water rippled.

"Yes." It read.

"Then Kallen and Shade's mom can be revived?"

Two letters.

"The one known as Kallen cannot due to their location of passing. The entity claimed to be Angela's origins prevent her."

"The Dimensional Graveyard…" Relon realizes to furrow before wincing in ache at the news. "But Angela being a demon stops that too? I'm sorry Shade."

"Don't be, aside she's not a demon but who knows what she and my father did... Let's just head back. We got people waiting for us."

Acknowledging, the world flashed, warping their visions.

Earth

"Mmm… " Relon blinked, shaking his head. "Shade? You good?"

"Not like it would kill me…" Shade with a sigh took off his mask and placed it on his hip. "I hate the Beyond…"

"I don't know what that place was but… I'm just glad it's over." Relon stretches to inspect the city magically repairing itself before their very eyes, "Heimdallr, huh? Right where we met. How poetic," Relon chuckles.

"Say, as I watch this city build itself up, how bad did Roer get?" Crossing his arms he glanced in the direction of said city.

"The upper half looked far better off. Practically the entire bottom half was just rubble. The top was that better off but at least some of the landmarks were still somewhat distinguishable."

"At least I kinda expected to destroy an entire city this time, I don't want to know what it even looked like but I'm sure Magilou will try to tell me all about it!" Shade groaned, moving his upper back to stretch his body.

"Oh, shit!" Relon matched Shade with a groan of his own. "The others. Specifically the girls. How screwed am I this time?"

"I think you should get used to being on your knees."

Deadpanning at the innuendo, Relon can only sigh. "The only ones I want on their knees is- you know what, nope. Someone may be listening in. Screw you," Relon smiles with a point as they depart down Dreichels Plaza.

"Wait, something's missing…" Shade glanced over at Relon.

"What? Everyone is here somewhere. Helios should be here somewhere too since we didn't end up absorbing Zero like he had planned."

"I know something is missing… Wait, that bitch who's eye I shot out!"

Watching Relon's eyes widen, the elemental hybrid looks around.

"Grimoire! She never showed up during that entire fight! Damn it, I was so focused on Zero I forgot! I could have wished her there so we could deal with her! Damn it!" He groans. "It's her fault my connection with Nameless is still severed! Why didn't I think of fixing that while I was up there?" He huffs in defeat.

"It's too late now, and good chance she's going to wait till I'm gone to show back up, otherwise I'm taking that other eye!"

"Whatever, she'll likely lay low or just head back to our world if she hasn't already. With Mom and Munechika plus Helios, I'm not as worried about her anymore like before. Come on, let's go find the others."

"I'm sure they are waiting for us somewhere, with the crowd we gathered it shouldn't be hard to find them." Shade walks behind Relon, glancing at the ground deep in thought.

"Hm," Relon hums to stop momentarily. "Pippin and Pappan are with the others at Mater Park."

"Lead the way then, I don't know my way around here for many reasons." Shade walked up next to him.

"Wow, it's like one of us actually lived here," Relon jokes to pat Shade's shoulder before taking the lead. "Still, it kinda feels like… Well, like forever since we met here. Maybe it's just me or the fact that we did so much in only a week."

"It was a really long week, you had a lot to deal with, I had a lot to deal with… Everything Drugone said at the end, what he turned that place into or what it means for me. On top of so much that went on in my head, you know not sleeping makes things even longer while you kept passing out every turn!"

"Pfft, my other selves could take that Drugone guy easily. One of me literally became the size of the galaxy itself! And hey! I didn't have a choice in some of those happenstances! I push myself, I knock out! I mentally drain myself, I knock out. And ya know what else?"

"Do I even want to try guessing?" Shade raises an eyebrow.

"Honestly I was gonna give you a chance to give a jab at me. I'm kinda gonna miss your bluntness now that everything is over with. Not gonna miss Magilou and Rinwell going at it, that's for sure…"

"That was starting to grow on me a little, but uh…" Shade steps forward scratching the back of his head. "I may have influenced Rinwell, just a tad…"

"... Shade?" Relon stops to blink in repetition looking at said male. "When or if I get godlike powers like my other selves, I'm going to make it so you get testicular torsion every time you swear." As quick as he said that, he returned to walking.

"Yikes, I know what that looks like as well. Still at least you'll get some of my bluntness to follow you around, plus I'm sure Magilou had a hand in it as well." Shade remarks, walking in pace with the other teen.

"I have enough 'bluntness' back home as is. My 'dad' is enough to start off, Musse-" He stops again to widen. "Musse's alive now… Alfin, even my family!" He inwardly gawks, to lift up to Shade. "Laura's back…!" Despite the joy in his tone, the look he held betrayed every positive emotion possible. "Everyone's back… except Kallen."

"And anyone else that may have died up there, but I was too busy keeping the others on-" Shade eyes widened. "I still feel the last leash, she left the city already but soon she should disappear…" Shade then smiled.

"Who?"

"My version of Laura, but if she is still around then V is as well, least I get to say goodbye to her before she poofs."

"Goodbyes like these aren't normal."

"What isn't in this world at this point? Still, that version of V isn't real, but to me I can at least settle a part of my heart, one regret of many I can put to rest."

"Regret, huh? Living with that emotion isn't good at all, I suppose. Emotions… To think, Zero- my previous self evolved through agony twice only to become Zero. It took taking the life of an alternate Laura just for me to learn it. And you stopped it from fully happening. Honestly, if it means becoming stronger, a part of me doesn't want to experience anything like that again. That's one regret I think I'll be fine with not having."

"Let's hope it stays that way, those guys after you in your world from what I've seen with witch bitch and heard from you, they seem crazy and would do anything. Just like the Dominion I had, which I fully saw how crazy each of them are…"

"I'm glad they helped at least. Even more so that my other selves showed up when they did, otherwise I would have summoned Helios a lot sooner. Maybe I would have summoned my own version of Senate. I just wish I could have spoken to my other selves more…"

"Yeah I'm not even going to ask about all of that, too much of a headache. Still, I have a lot of thinking to do from everything I learned. I'm sure you do as well, right?" Shade crosses his arms as they walk.

"Given I wasn't supposed to learn a lot about the future, yeah. A part of me is still worried about whatever we did here affecting my own world but we'll just have to hope the order I gave protected anything from happening with all the screwing around we did."

"It was mostly you that did the screwing, we still aren't sure why I even ended up here in the first place."

"Well whatever the reason, it was needed. No way Rinwell and I could have fought every single person and Valkyrie and taken down four reactors. You and Magilou helped out. Whether by accident or not."

"...It was mostly me, Magilou was kinda there a lot of the time but in a weird way she kept me going, gave me a drive to the finish line even with all of her nagging."

"She nagged you, You nagged me, I nagged Rinwell, and Rinwell nagged her. The perfect nagging circle, haha."

"If that's what you want to call it, so how close are we to the park?"

"Just around the corner. Get ready to shoot. Actually, there's a shortcut coming up. We can take that." He moves ahead with a serious expression. "I can't wait to relax and go home! Zero's done and over with, so we can finally relax!" He spins in an aloof manner to stretch, smile fainting as fire exploded as he blitzed into the alleyway.

One blast of light followed by another and out Grimoire shot, in clear panic only to notice Shade with his gun casually poised at her. "Are you a dumb bitch?"

"Extract-"

BANG!

Cut off, her arm flails in the air along with her tome as it drops to the ground.

"AHH!" She winces, to place her remaining hand at the wound where her damaged ligament is. "H-How…?" She widens as Relon appears from the alley way.

Looking down, he picks up her arm as she takes a step for another shot to echo.

"ACK!" She winces from the hole in her now leg as she drops to a knee.

Lifting it to toss the tome over at Shade, Relon gestures to the body part for it to catch on fire burning to cinders.

"You…!" Relon speaks, voice empty. "You caused all of this. Including your own downfall. How's it feel Grimoire?" He stops before her to lift her by her collar. "To be the clown of our story?! No tome, no arm, and your malevolence is already becoming mine. You're going to tell me everything!"

"Neat book, think I'll keep it!" Shade holds onto the tome while aiming at her head.

"H-How?!"

"Bitch you think I'd tell you how? My mom is the fucking Azure Abyss! And her son is the Senate Hunter. You think I wouldn't find a way to find you even with your stealth spell?"

"You're… a fool!"

Just then, both snap up to rays of light descending on them.

"EXTRACTION!" Grimoire shouts to vanish in a light.

"SHIT! MOVE!" Turning in Shade's direction, Relon kicks off grabbing the teen as they zoom down Vainqueur Street as the earth rumbles behind them. "SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!"

"RELON!" Vita appears ahead with an extended hand.

With another leap, he jumps as their fingertips touch to vanish.

Rolling against the calm grass, both pant.

"FUCK… THAT… WITCH!" Relon shouts in between pants. "You good?!"

"I mean… I got to shoot her again and stole her book…pretty good I'll say!" Shade slowly sat up.

"Are you okay, Relon?!"

"I'm fine," he gasps powering down. "The training you gave actually worked so that's a plus. Let me see that book for a sec, Shade." Complying he hands it over. "It's all in witch. Mom, think you can translate it for a normal person?"

"That's child's play. I'll do that and more. Just give me some time."

Nodding, they look around to find themselves at the racetrack.

"By the way, how did you know we were in trouble?"

"Helios sensed you activate your transformation and instead of sending your swords to fly your way, why not just warp to you? It helped given the light show in the sky."

"You're a lifesaver."

"It's what mothers are for~. Now then, let's get you to your future wives and friends~."

"Wait, what-" Cut off once again, all three teleport for their vision to shift to a crowd of people turning their way.

In that second, it only took a moment for realization to dawn on the crowd of countless people as cheers and applause roared in repetition.

"RELON!" Looking down as the crowd of people, through it came the girls and Van. One by one, Rinwell, Shizuna, Munechika and Ennea embraces him for Duvalie and Ines to pull Ennea off dramatically.

Shade only tilts his head at the scene as he puts his gun away, confused by how there were more girls now. Magilou standing nearby, also watches but with more amusement than anything

"Hey!"

"You get off of him!"

"What happened?!" Rinwell exclaims. "One moment everyone is rooting and the next Vita is warping off and we're hearing explosions in the distance.

"Grimoire, that's what. Finally pulled out a quick win against her though." He gestures to the tome.

"That's…!"

"Yes it is." Vita nods, holding it "Full of who knows what that will help Relon and you down the line."

"So then we're finally good now?"

"Unless she's dumb enough to try something, I think we're good. Our ticket home is in Eryn so we're ready to go whenever."

"FINALLY!" Rinwell groans, her legs giving out as Relon catches her. "It's over!"

"Relon…" Looking to Munechika, teary-eyed, worry takes the forefronts as he moves to wipe her tears. "Thank you…! Thank you!"

"Hey, we all did it together! This is a team win, Munechika! Wait…"

"What is it?"

"I made everyone killed by Zero return to life… That means…!"

"Ikaruga! Kurogane!" Shizuna exclaims.

"The others back in Calvard!" Van and Elaine beam.

"The Hexen Clan!" Munechika and Rinwell equally shout.

"God I feel slow right now…" Relon breathes out noting of the Stahlritter and Arianrhod.

Eyes going to Duvalie shuffle in place, a smile graces his features. Placing his hands in his pocket, he approaches. Noticing him, she averts her gaze for him to pop into her view to the amusement of the three.

"Hey there, Dubarry~," he teases.

"It's Duvalie!" She barks.

"There you go. That attitude fits you better," he grins, finding the slight flush to be both endearing and adorable.

"Duvalie, just admit you want a hug from Relon!" Ennea groans pushing the girl against Relon only for her to jerk back.

"He gives great hugs if it helps!" Shizuna pops from behind Relon with a happy smile.

"It's true! He gets it from me by the way~." Vita adds, appearing on his other side pushing Relon towards her.

"H-Hey!"

"Duvalie, stop being a tsun tsun and hug the man!"

"It would give us much relief if you just did it. Everyone is rooting for you to," Ines sighs.

"Duvalie~," Arianrhod hums with a knowing smirk.

"See? Even our Lord wants to see you happy."

"B-But!"

"Can you two chill out?" Relon deadpans. "My hugs aren't all that."

"Have you hugged yourself before?"

"Not 'hugged' per say but wrapped myself yeah."

"Not the same," every female around him say in unison to his slight surprise.

"Grrrrr FINE! Lucinance!"

"Y-Yeah?"

Face scrunching, she outstretches her arms.

"Do with me what you will!"

"WOW, you could have said literally anything but that and it would have been normal." Ennea facepalms.

"God this is so awkward," Relon sighs. "Duvalie, just come here." He forces out a chuckle.

Stepping forward like a machine, he impatiently tugs at her wrists. With a yelp, she just leans in before her eyes blink at the odd comfort before she leans in, losing her stiffness.

"Note to self: Relon's hugs are magical…" Vita notes jotting said reveal down with a pen.

As soon as she had, Duvalie's eyes opened to push Relon away.

"AHEM! THERE, NOW WE SHALL NEVER SPEAK OF THIS INTERACTION AGAIN!"

"Haha, fine. Hey Shade-"

"Now before you all leave, time for revenge!" Nadia yells out, seeing this as the perfect time to hold of Magilou and pushing her up where everyone could see her, with Swin's help.

"HEY, WHAT TH-" Nadia hands Magilou a microphone as Swin puts down some small speakers.

"We had these prepared since you forced us on cooking duty, for making me help you sow, for being so dang annoying! To celebrate you will sing for us!" Nadia and Swin steps back, ready to control the music, Nadia had a evil glint in her eyes as Swin just sighed and went along.

"The hell is going on?" Relon blinks.

"She's going to sing I guess? She kinda deserves this punishment…" Shade said, standing next to Relon as they watch Magilou start looking for ways out.

"Hey! NO, I WILL NOT…!" Looking at everyone she lands on a smug Rinwell.

"Come on Granny, can't sing?" That made Magilou stop, glare at the girl before finally staying still.

"Fine, FINE! I'll play the only song I know by heart, Nadia play some soft sad music or whatever you got!"

"Heh, you got it~!" Slowly the music starts to come in as Magilou lets out a sigh.

"You're standing, at a loss… In front of a door, that's been closed for so long~ With your foreseeing eyes, what do you see?" Magilou looks down, seemingly gathering the will to go on.

"Until you open it, you cannot know~ Afraid to see, what could be on the other side. Oh can't you see how much I feel the same? As you? It seems, we just need to let it all, go free…"

Magilou looks up at everyone listening, seeing them as the music plays. "I've seen that look before, the stare of your fearful-looking eyes. That quiet voice inside, what do you hear?" She steps forward with a prideful look. "Will you give up and stay where you belong? Afraid your time, it just might take too long? And you won't know, unless we keep on trying… Now we need the strength to carry on!" She bellows out for a few seconds, letting the music take it away.

"My promises might not be heard! And it doesn't matter, if we fail! But if, there is a future. That's where we'll set our sights, from on shores back…" She smiles at Shade. "We'll walk hand in hand, just the two of us~ Even if, you've got no guidance. I will always be here, right beside you. Even if, you've lost your way~" She falters for a moment, then it's like her expression changes. "We will walk this path together, for our future awaits…" She sighs as she lowers the mic. Before looking up one last time. "I see you by the door, so just walk through, don't take too long. 'Cuz everything you've said, you'll find it there~ In our future…" Magilou was quiet, everyone was quiet as the music stopped.

"The fuck?" Rinwell blinks. "She actually killed it!"

"For once, I'm in agreement with your foul language."

Shade started clapping, a smile on his face. "Nice job, Magilou!"

As more people cheered, Magilou tossed the mic back to Nadia before walking away with almost no expression on her face.

"Uh, was it a success?" Nadia looked over at Swin who shrugged.

"Shade…" Sensing him coming, Shade looked over to see Vergil walking towards him, not far behind him was Tio comforting Alex.

"She's still gone…?" Shade simply asked only to receive a nod back.

"Huh? Oh, your mom…" Rinwell started, before realizing she had a message for Shade from her. "Shade, before Angela went away. She gave me a message for you, 'Your mother loved you until the very end…'"

Shade smiled, for the first time everyone saw him shed a tear. "I know and…I feel the same."

"Shade… We got some pretty great moms, huh?"

"That we do, both are pretty badass!" Shade patted Relon on the back.

That's when everyone saw the pulse of a purple light come from inside the Crystal Gardens. "Wait…" Shade pulled away as he and Magilou shared a knowing look.

"Helios…?" One grunt from the dragon in the background told it wasn't his doing. "Shade…?"

"Guess I won't need that portal after all, inside that place is our way home…" Shade sighed, turning to face Relon. "Hey, you still got that power, yeah?"

"Power? If you're referring to Neutralyx, afraid I lost that after the fight. But knowing my luck, the Relonverse will give it to me again before too long," Relon chuckles.

"So, good chance we might not see each other for a long time." Shade sighed, crossing his arms.

"Oh. Then this is it." With a heavy breath, Relon offers a hand. "Dap me up for the long journey, partner."

"I think we both need the luck from it!" Shade daps him up, pulling him into a hug. "You're lucky, I don't hug many people."

"Let's hope my 'luck' doesn't work on guys."

"Sorry, can't have a half demon boyfriend, but it does sound like a good novel!"

"EW!"

"HE IS GOING TO BE TAKEN IN THE FUTURE ANYWAY!" Shizuna shouts.

"Atta girl! Claim our man!" Ennea roots to be pulled away.

"Dear Luna," Relon facepalms. "Save me."

"Rinwell, think I would leave without hugging you goodbye?" Shade pulls away from Relon and opens his arms.

"Hehe, better not! Thanks for everything, Shade. Really."

"Hoot!"

The two embrace, Shade held her tight, patting her back before letting go. Magilou walked up next to Shade and looked right at Rinwell.

"Rinwell, Hootle… Stay safe, out there…" Magilou looked away as she extended a fist towards Rinwell.

"Nah." Rinwell grins, lunging to hug Magilou. "Take care, you old coot~!"

"I didn't ask for a hug!" Magilou waited a moment before pulling herself away. "Sheesh!" Magilou walks behind Shade.

"I feel like I don't have much time to say goodbye to everyone, Renne, Loewe, Nadia, Swin. Stay safe, Van you better keep your word! Elaine, make Van keep his word! Shizuna…sorry for what I did in my world." Shade landed on her, waiting for a response.

"I'm expecting you to make it up. Somehow, someway. So take care… until you do." She gave a simple smile.

"As expected of my number two… Munechika, you're up last."

"Shade, do take care of yourself. Not for just my sake or everyone's but to help ease Celine's own. I know that's what she would want. As it is what I do."

"I will, this world taught me a lot and helped me. The people included, I won't forget you or any of you!" Shade smiles at Munechika then at everyone else.

"That pulsing is getting faster, Shade, we don't have much time." Magilou says.

"Here!" Vita calls tossing the tome. "Consider it a safety measure against Senate. "Can't have a powerful tome like that going back with you, now can we?" She winks at Relon.

"But Mom-"

"Don't worry, I've already extracted the text."

"When did you-"

"While Magilou was giving that stellar performance. I recorded it using magic by the way for anyone that wants a copy. Ooh Shade dear, I made it a spell that you can use to replay for you on page 70!"

"WHAT THE HELL!" Magilou yelled out, now trying to grab the tome but failing.

"AUNTIE VITA YOU ARE THE BEST!" Rinwell shouts jumping in glee.

"Anyway…" Shade held it away from Magilou. "I did say I would take it earlier, I'm sure it will come in handy! Thanks, I'll keep it safe!"

"Guess this is it. Be careful touching artifacts. Otherwise you may end up meeting another me."

Shade glanced at Magilou at that line. "I'm sure we will!" Shade and Magilou step away from each other and walk closer to the door. "Relon, one last thing."

"Say away."

"The future may be dark, may seem like an endless night and a brutal hell… But, those around you are the light, so if anyone tries to take that light, give them true hell!" Shade turned to look at Relon.

"Heh. I'll beat them, send them to hell, bring them back, beat them some more, and send them to you with a note to send them to hell."

"Add a sticker if they try anything on Rinwell, I'll give them a warm welcome~"

"I will. Take care."

Shade turns back around to open the door, the pulsing of the artifact grows quicker. "See you guys, later!" The light engulfed them, taking them away.

Magilou looks over at Relon and Rinwell, she smiles and snaps her fingers for a spark of flame to come out just as the pulse of light engulfed them, taking them away.

"I knew she was holding back this entire time!" Rinwell exclaims. "That lazy old hag nearly got us killed!"

"Why am I not surprised by that revelation," Relon blinks. "Welp, not much else to do is there? I say Zemuria deserves one hell of a celebration. What about the rest of you?"

"WHOOHOOO!"

Nighttime

The world once in shambles, the level of despair as low as the depths of Gehenna now shot with levels of life breathing once more past even the levels of the Beyond if not further.

Everywhere they went to inspect, the civilians cheered with tears of joy and hollers filled with glee. Erebonia, Crossbell, Calvard, even Shade's Village; the continent was freed and life flourished at every corner.

With all said and done, Relon and his companions returned to Eryn to celebrate. By the time they arrived into the night, fireworks likely of magic were in the process of booming.

"Are you sure you don't want to see them? I mean, it's Laura, Musse, and your family. Not to mention the Princess Alfin," Rinwell asked as they looked on from the second level of the atelier.

"Yeah. As much as I would like to, they're not… my friends or family. Yet, they still mean a great deal all the same. It just… wouldn't feel right. Whether they remember me or not."

"I get that. After we freed Sissy and you went off to do your thing, I walked over to see her. When I finally got near her, I… just couldn't take that step forward. I didn't know what to say, much less how."

Returning to eyeing the countless people singing and dancing, he reaches out with an arm. Seeing I, Rinwell gives a tender smile leaning into his touch.

"First thing in the morning, we'll be back home."

"Yeah. I miss those two already."

"... I do too. Somewhat."

"Hehe, you and Shade really butted heads a lot."

"We both had different perspectives on life in general. That was a normal thing. Zero- My other self had done a lot to change us in such a short time."

"That's right. How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine, Rinwell," he smiles, side-hugging her a bit tighter. "Just… still reeling from it all. A universe where there are other Relons, other mes. All of them are so great, so strong that it makes the powers of a God look so… insignificant."

"And I'm not even from this universe. I was just splashed in when something happened to another you."

"Rinwell-"

"It's okay. Whatever I did before, I'm here for a purpose. We were meant to meet so it's probably to help you take down Senate. So that's what I'm going to do! They don't stand a chance against us, right Hootle?"

"Hoot!"

"Elemental power and magic? Pretty sure nothing on Earth can beat that combination," Relon chuckles.

"Well, hey, you can cast arts now! So we're in good shape I'd say."

"Yeah, no. Did you forget it takes hours for me to cast even a simple stage one spell? While training with Mom, she lent me her staff and the casting time was cut down tremendously but the issue lied in Mom being defenseless."

"So how'd you do those arts against Zero?"

"We flew in on Helios so I was still for that one. As for the other, we figured out a neat trick. Since Helios acted as Nameless' substitute within me, he could cast arts and then transfer the casting to me. So I can fight and just wait to insta-cast when needed."

"Wow, that is useful."

"But now that we're heading back, that means I'm back to no flames."

"Until you evolve, right?"

"Either through rage or agony. Hopefully not the latter."

"Could you evolve through other emotions maybe?"

"I don't know. My sister and I are the only hybrids so I'm not too knowledgeable about that. Through the Perception of Time, one future me a few years older seemed normal but didn't seem to know about Zero. Otherwise I would think he'd have mentioned something this big."

"Unless he knew you'd be fine since he was there. Then again, Zero happened so maybe space-time distortions don't work in line with time travel as we think."

"It's too complicated and my head needs rest."

"You just need time alone with one of the girls," she giggles for their moods to dwindle. "Kallen… really couldn't be brought back?"

"No," he shakes. "Even with the divine power of Order, her being killed in the Dimensional Graveyard was a location that bended to its own rules that my own sovereign rule could not bypass."

"... I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I just… I just hope she's in a better place. Wherever she is," he mumbles, gazing at the bright stars far above.

"Hey, isn't that Shizuna?"

"Huh?" Head dropping to follow the direction said witch was pointing and sure enough, through the crowd of people carefully moved Shizuna looking around. "It is… Why is she here? We dropped her and Van back in Calvard."

One look at Rinwell hoping to get an idea was met with a deadpan. One he quickly did not grow to like.

"Seriously?" She cocked an eyebrow. "It's Shizuna."

"What are you- Oh my Luna," he grinned in realization.

"If we find her in our world, you literally will have to go to another planet to get away from her," she jokes, pushing him away. "Go get your woman, Cuz!"

"You have had way too many bad influences!" He calls back.

"Given this girl just traveled across the country to see you before you go, you better make your possibly last night a good one."

"We plan to talk the night away from what we planned. I nearly slipped my mind."

"Seriously? That's it?"

"What do you want from me?"

"You better kiss her goodbye at least."

"The last thing I need is you of all people giving me advice on my hectic love life," he scoffs. "Just be ready tomorrow morning. Grimoire is still at large."

"If she didn't say it, I would," Vita announces from the side entrance. "Go mingle and enjoy yourself."

"How long have you been listening?" He narrows.

"Long enough," she shrugs with a loving smile. Munechika was off somewhere catching up with Roselia, thus leaving the three to keep a lookout on things.

"Ugh. Women." With that, he slid down the ladder.

Immediately, he merged into the crowd. One look back and the two's own pointed fingers were his answer. Thus, he began his search.

"A harem?"

"Apparently back in my home world, it's a norm according to Mom."

"I mean, having multiple spouses is something done in scarce locations on Zemuria but…"

"But it's not something that we would have expected. I know. This… is something I wanted to sit down and speak with you properly. I… wasn't expecting to bring it up in this world."

"No, I… I may not be able to recall everything revolving around our relationship but I do recall the closeness both Laura and Musse hold for you. I'm relieved that you're telling me. Even if I'm not your Claire, I'm happy that you're treating me as though I am."

"You're still Claire Rieveldt to me, regardless of the world we're in."

"And you're still my Relon Lucinance. So, what are your thoughts?"

"Mom has put the idea in my head a few days ago and has been rooting for the countless opportunities presented ever since. It doesn't help that this curse she and Luna gave me makes fending off the possible affections of other females difficult while I'm in a relationship."

"I mean what are your thoughts on the girls, silly."

"Oh. I guess… it just took me a bit longer to realize how much they really meant to me."

"Laura and even Musse I understand. What of Shizuna?"

"Shizuna started out normal but we've both helped each other through so much that just claiming to have feelings for her in only like three days doesn't feel right so-"

"Relon?"

"Huh?"
"Falling for someone doesn't have to be over an extended duration. The term 'love at first sight' exists for a reason."

"But-"

"No buts this time. Be honest with me. What is she to you?"

"Shizuna's… something. A real jokester one moment and a fearsome fighter the next. She's aloof when things aren't dire to a point no one would realize how dangerous and strong she is. She puts on a tough act but has a caring and tender side that isn't exposed much."

"If I am your first love, Laura is your childhood friend, Musse is your…"

"Partner."

"If she's your partner, then what would you claim Shizuna as?"

"I… don't have a distinct term yet. But what I do know is that…"

Through the crowd his hand reached out. On instinct, as if sensing his own will, she turned. As their eyes locked, the pursed lips he's found himself lost in flattened out before arching at the corners.

"Found you," she smiled, tugging him through the crowd.

As for where, he didn't know and honestly didn't care. With Shizuna, he knew their moment would be one to remember. Even as she guided him past crowd after crowd with ease, his eyes could only glide downward to her hand wrapped around his.

"She's someone I don't want to live without now."

"Good. Then after you defeat Zero, ensure your last night together leaves no regrets."

The memory that resurfaced brought a tender smile to his face. Through it, his pace quickened, passing her in only a few steps. From the guided to the guidee, he led her onwards, intertwining his hand in her. The mild surprise on her face was noticed and met with a cheeky grin.

From one stall offering food to minigames available only in Eryn, the laughter exchanged, the memories being made, the momentary reprieve with Helios in the large clearing, the simple fondness of being within the other's company; that was all they care about. Because they knew these moments would soon come to a close.

Neither knew how far into the night they had gone. Countless hours had passed, that much was for sure yet the festivities didn't show any signs of dwindling.

Through the warp device they left as the noise immediately silenced. Off to the small clearing a short ways away. Settling down, Relon could only watch Shizuna flop to the ground with her head resting atop his lap.

"I haven't had that much fun in forever!"

"The residents in Eryn certainly know how to celebrate. Maybe I'll have my next birthday here," Relon muses.

"It'll definitely be one to remember."

"I have to ask though. I can figure out why you're here but… how?"

"Don't underestimate Ikaruga. We're the strongest in all of Zemuria for a reason~."

"That's either an unknown fact to me or pure bias."

"A biased fact," Shizuna grins.

"Only you," he sighs to feel her nudge his side with her own.

"Hehe, you love it. Besides, who knows? Maybe the me in your world will remember and come to you."

"Given how messed up my Perception of Time is now, I wouldn't put that possibility in the "impossible" box. If that does end up happening, I can only hope our reunion isn't a bad one because of Senate. Or the others."

"Speaking of, how do you think my dynamic would go with the others?"

"Hmm. Claire only fights when on duty and she's pretty relaxed outside of work. Laura being an Arseid would likely be your go-to training partner. They're both scarily protective of me though so that'd be an interesting dynamic. As for Musse…" A shiver emits at the mention. "You two will unfortunately get along great."

"Having two mischievous women in your love life will certainly make things fun I think! You should bring Dubarry along!"

"You two will be the death of us," he chuckles. "If Duvalie somehow even got on board with the idea, you two and probably Ennea would just mentally fry her circuits."

"Haha! Now I wanna try that even more!"

"Truly, your playful nature is a fearsome force I do not want to reckon with. Though I do love that about you."

"Oh~? Is that so~?"

"Hey… I know that tone. Down, girl," he jokes, though the glint in her eyes tells that his words weren't the proper choice.

Lifting up, eyes never breaking their line of contact with his own, he leans more against the base of the tree out of nervousness more than anything else.

Rotating to be on all fours, she slowly approaches.

"S-Shizu… Hey… Okay, okay, I take back what I said!"

Something told him to get up but he was both too full and too exhausted from the day's events to even both.

Closer she inched, those mesmerizing eyes he's lost himself in neared his face with every creep.

"Shizu…"

"Did you mean that?" Her face was so close, he could smell the slight whiff of a delightful scent he hadn't noticed from her before; perfume. The idea of someone like Shizuna using that never crossed his mind.

"Huh?"

"You said you loved how I act. Did you mean that?"

Momentarily conforming from the slight fright, he eases despite the precarious position Shizuna seems to either by unaware or uncaring she's in.

"Of course I did. Why wouldn't I?"

"But… don't you love Claire and the others?" She asked, leaning back to sit properly.

His mouth opened to respond but all feelings of nervousness vanished leaving only an awkward sensation in its place.

"I… do," he slowly blinked in affirmation. Admitting such a thing gave birth to a feeling he's felt before but not as common as others. "Huh…"

"What is it?"

"This feeling. I've felt the jitters before but… this kind makes me oddly happy. Really happy. Before coming here, Claire and I had our first major argument. In front of the Royal Family no less," he chuckles. "Yet we managed to get through it. I… don't know if I have the right to say it but I… love them. Both Claire and Laura."

"Relon…"

"They've been there for me, whether I wanted it or not. Maybe loving the way I want to now versus before isn't right or fair but I want to. The same way I…"

"You what?"

His nose scrunched at the thought, visibly so given Shizuna's slight head tilt.

"The same way I want to love you, Shizu."

Words could not express how jittery his chest moved. It was as though he was feeling a hot flash from the confession. The longer he looked on as Shizuna's eyes slowly bucked wide and her face went flushed, the more he was starting to regret being so selfish.

"Erm, maybe that was not the right time. Hey, let's just forget what I-"

"Again," she mumbled, inching closer to him. "Say it again."

Jerking slightly from her in his face once more, the expression she wore told him there was no going back no. With a gulp, eyes averting momentarily to conform, he meekly looks at her.

"I love- Mmf?" He didn't even finish his sentence as the soft touch of skin met his lips before it separated with a pop. "You…" He blinked, dazed by yet another surprise kiss from the Eight Leave-user. "Like to cut people off, don't- Mmf?!" Another kiss, only this time she playfully retracted. "Can you stop that?" He whined as manly as he could muster. "What's the point in asking me to say 'that' if you won't let me?"

"Because," she began, moving to straddle atop his waist, her lips remaining centimeters from his own. "I wanted to know if you'd actually say it. Now that I do, I want you to say it to me. The other me."

"Why?" He blinks incredulously.

"Because I want your first time saying it to be with that special someone," she says, easing her posture to lay atop his form as her arms delve around to hug him leaving her face atop his chest. "Someone you can… talk to longer."

He couldn't make a retort to such a factual statement. As much as it pained both him and clearly her, the logic presented was sound. Even if neither technically felt a like for that.

"Shizuna…"

"Call me Shizu some more, will you? It's nice, that nickname. Kurogame also sends his regards and thanks. Hey," she lifts up to lock eyes once again. "Can you believe he was actually grumpy when he was brought back? Here I was hugging him all sappy and teasing-like and the guy was complaining about 'not going out like a warrior' haha!"

"Pfft, he was definitely a character when we first met. You as well. Took me completely off-guard when you used Spirit Unification."

"How do you think I felt when you did the same thing against Arios?! I was completely shocked! If we weren't fighting for our lives, I would have recoiled!"

On and on they went. Talking, bickering, joking; using any and all types of communication to express their heartfelt emotions. They had made a promise after all and they intended to talk the night away. So they did.

Hours had passed, that much was clear yet Relon all the while couldn't help but think of one thing.

He was loyal to Claire up to this point. He had strayed from actions that would prove detrimental in their relationship yet the words from both this world's Claire and his alternate future's Laura tugged at his heart. Even the likes of his own warped cousin's attitude lingered from only hours prior.

"... Hey." He began, eyes glancing her way to notice the relaxed girl's eyes remain closed.

"Hmm?" She hummed, likely sensing his gaze shift.

"I'll miss you." Despite the words, trepidation lingered for the act that he wanted to commit.

He knew he'd see her again. It simply wouldn't be her.

Ever so slightly, he felt her hold on him tighten.

"I'll miss you too," she spoke, nonchalantly moving her head.

Then her eyes shot open.

She'd planted pecks along his cheek countless times that her mind unconsciously ingrained the sensation of his slightly toned cheek. Yet when she went for another of her countless smooches, something felt different.

Yet this feeling wasn't one that was unfamiliar. Her mind, as frantic as it suddenly began to race, recalled the last time she could recall such a feeling.

The hot spring.

Soft skin like that along one's body yet the texture was different. Instinctively, her body wanted to jerk back in surprise but the synchronized tender touch of his hand embracing her from their awkward position made all urge to move flee from her body.

Neither pushed, neither rejected the other. This would be a parting gift.

A gift that would end the moment it broke.

Day 1 of Freedom

The lingering aftermath from last night's celebration was still very present as Relon walked through the village. Zero cleanup was done and one look at a red-faced Roselia told she didn't hold back and rightfully so.

"I'm surprised honestly," Rinwell spoke, glancing around. "Valkyrie never tried anything."

"She'd be stupid to given Helios' very presence. Not to mention Grandma and Mom's sensing abilities," Relon scoffs.

"If she wanted to try anything, then while we were chatting up a storm would have been the best," Shizuna adds.

"What are the odds she tries something right when we are about to go through the rift?" At that, Relon, Rinwell, and Shizuna all stop at the dimensional entrance to glance between one another. "Even with a missing arm, Senate… Ugh. I can never just have a happy moment last."

"Relon…" All look to the hulking dragon still resting. "Shall we keep her in this world? I have birthed numerous plans for that meddlesome gnat."

"Haha, I love the way you think Helios! I second that."

"Shizuna, don't agree- Oh, why am I even bothering with you? No, she's coming back to our world."

"So we're going to let her just attack?" Rinwell arches a brow.

"No. Helios, can you sense her? She should be the only other living person with malevolence aside from myself."

Not answering right away, Helios moves its head in a direction. "Yes. I have located the wretched witch."

"I know that wasn't directed at us but for some reason, that sounded super offensive," Rinwell chuckles.

"Apologies, youngling. I meant no insult."

"For being the 'Dark Dragon,' Helios, you're super nice," Shizuna smiles, walking up and patting his large toe.

"Thank your future mate. I… was blind to the meaning of life. My memories lied only in darkness, veiled by destruction. Relon… Through his own misery and strife educated me on that very meaning…"

"My other self did?" Helios nods.

A part of him wasn't surprised. He was himself after all. If given negativity, he'd somehow find a way to bring out the positives. With or without help… Eventually.

"So what's the plan? Round up Vita, Munechika, and Roselia and jump her?"

"No. I don't know how long the rift back home will last and I refuse to risk damaging it."

"Then what?" Rinwell asks, nervousness in her tone. "Are we…?"

"No. We're not killing her either," Relon shakes his head. "Sorry, Helios. That would be the easiest way."

"Hm. A part of my being expected such."

"I'm surprised," Shizuna comments, crossing her arms. "After all she's done to Rinwell and you especially."

"I have to be really pissed to want to kill. Even then, I don't usually cross that line. After yesterday, I'm all spent on rage."

"So then what do you plan to do, Relon?"

Looking back at Rinwell, mentally noting how long it felt since she called him by his actual name and not "Cuz," he walked to Helios.

"Talk."

"Hold on," Shizuna calls, grabbing his hand. "Just talk? What are you planning?"

"Given she's still in this world, either her injury is disabling her from returning home or she has no way back at all. Since Rinwell knows her, maybe we can convince her for a short, and I mean very short, truce."

"Do you mean it?!" Rinwell sprints to look up to him with pleading eyes.

"I do. I may be the Senate Hunter and I may have a list of reasons to just end her but that doesn't mean I will. Her abundance of spells is gone so she's left with those quick-casting ones so she isn't the biggest danger anymore."

"She's still with Senate!"

"I know, Shizu! I'm doing this more for Rinwell than myself. Let's try it and if things go south then we do what we have to do. Is this fine?"

"Yeah." It was a resolute nod, determination filling her posture as Hootle hopped atop Rinwell's head. "One more time."

Responding with a nod of his own, he looks to Shizuna expectantly.

"The moment she tries anything, I'm cutting either her other arm off or her head."

"Fine with me. Either you cut her, I burn her, or Helios eats her," he smiles to jump onto Helios' wing before mounting the dragon. "Let's go. I mentioned the idea to Mom already. Better to go with fewer people."

"I don't think that idea matters much when you're bringing Helios," Shizuna lightly scoffs hopping onto the dragon with Rinwell right behind.

"If anything it shows how serious I am. Alright, Helios, let's go!"

Within moments, they were zooming through the air.

"WHOOOOHOOOOOOO!" Shizuna exclaimed in glee as Relon could only shake his head. "THIS IS AWESOME!" She shouted over the turbulence.

"We approach!" Helios warned as their speed came to a halt.

Walking along his neck to stand atop the dragon's head, Relon looked down to the canopy.

"Do you sense her?"

"She couldn't hide from me if she wanted to," Relon notes.

"My sensing skills still suck after all we've been through," Rinwell mumbles, attempting to focus.

"Don't beat yourself up," Shizuna pats. "Comes to everyone eventually."

"Be ready, Helios. Either scorch the place or be ready to have another passenger."

"Understood…"

Without hesitation, Relon stepped of descending in the air for Pippin to catch him as the other two flew down on Pappan.

Touching down, his eyes only had to look a little way ahead at the empty forest.

"Try all you like, can't hide your beating heart," Relon calls as after a long moment, Grimoire holding herself appears from behind a tree.

"Come to finish me, have you?"

"No. Offering a proposition actually," he dismisses to gesture at Rinwell who moves forward with her tome in hand.

"Let's just stop fighting, Valkyrie. We can all go home!"

"Home…?" For a moment, all had to wonder if the offer would work. Then her mana exploded as she seethed with fury. "I'D RATHER KILL MYSELF THEN GO WITH YOU BACK TO THAT CURSED VILLAGE! YOU DON'T GET IT!"

"GET WHAT?!" Rinwell shouts. "YOU'RE STUCK HERE, AREN'T YOU?! DON'T YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO YOUR OWN WORLD TOO?! BACK TO YOUR BIG SISTER?!"

"I ONLY HAVE MY SISTER THANKS TO YOU!" Firing a orb of electricity, Rinwell cancels it out with her own. "YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! ROSELIA'S INTEREST, MY FAMILY! I WAS THE BETTER WITCH THAN YOU EVER COULD BE BUT NO! YOU HAD TO KEEP TRYING TO CONJURE THAT STUPID SPELL ONLY ROSELIA COULD DO! THEN YOU DID IT! YOU, THE BRATTY LITTLE GIRL I STUPIDLY FOLLOWED AFTER DID WHAT I COULDN'T AND TOOK MY PARENTS AWAY!"

"I NEVER MEANT TO!"

"LIES! WE KEPT WARNING YOU AND YOU NEVER LISTENED! 'WE'LL BE FINE!' 'DON'T WORRY, I GOT IT!' I LEFT WITH MY SISTER TO PROVE TO YOU, TO YOUR STUPID GRANDMOTHER, TO EVERYONE THAT I DESERVED BETTER! BECAUSE I AM BETTER! I BECAME STRONG! I LEARNED COUNTLESS SPELLS! YOU KNOW WHY I HATE YOU, RELON LUCINANCE? IT'S BECAUSE YOU TOOK DEMETER, YOU TOOK AWAY OUR TEACHER, FROM US!"

"Demeter did that to herself. She became lost in power. Be happy Grandmother hasn't just offed her like the crazed psycho she is."

"Demeter, please! We can-"

"You're only offering this because you're not backed into a corner! You know it, don't you Rinwell?" She stepped back. "When we witches are backed into a corner, when that urge, that drive far exceeds all else; THAT'S WHEN WE ARE OUR MOST DEADLY!"

"Rinwell!"

"THE VERY SPELL THAT YOU USED TO KILL MY PARENTS, THE SAME ONE YOU OH SO LOVE SHALL BE WHAT ENDS YOU!" Heads snapping up, all widen at the descending orb. "POOR, POOR, STUPID SENATE HUNTER! YOU WANTED TO HUNT ME DOWN AND YET YOU DIDN'T EVEN LEARN FROM THE PAST! YOU COULDN'T BEAT ME BACK THEN, YOU FAILED TO KILL ME YESTERDAY, AND YOU'LL DIE TODAY!"

"DAMN IT, FINE!"

"HELIOS!"

Overhead, they heard the bellowing roar as a beam of black and purple shot through the star.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

"Shizuna, now!"

Amidst the shockwave's chaos, Valkyrie finally noticed the white-haired girl missing. Snapping around, she strikes the image of the Eight Leaves for her attack to go through.

"WHAT?!" She exclaims to feel the tip of Shizuna's blade at her neck.

"You spent all that time channeling what you could into a suicide spell and you really thought that'd be enough? I can't tell if you Senate members are crazy, stupid, or both."

"Y-You…!" Unable to finish her sentence, the surge of mana fizzles out as she drops unconscious.

Crouching down as both approach, Shizuna rises back up. "She's alive. Probably tapped out of mana or close enough to it. Are all of Senate actual villains or just broken people?"

"Honestly? I'm still figuring that out myself," Relon sighs, powering down to look at the girl as Rinwell crouches down. "That was… easier than I expected. Wish all my run-ins with Senate would be like that. Thanks for not dicing her, Shizu."

"The only reason I didn't was because of Rinwell. Otherwise…" She trails off, also eyeing the quiet girl.

"I… know she hates me," Rinwell began. "She has every right to. Yet, while I was captive, she didn't do anything to me. When she unleashed that Shooting Star, it reminded me of just how much better as a witch she is. Right then, I could see it," she says, rising to look at Relon. "I saw a victim trying to do what she truly felt was right; avenge her parents by killing their murderer," she continues, glancing back at the girl.

"I had figured something happened while you were gone to launch attacks at… my other me's own people. I never knew…" He stops himself.

"Not many do. Seeing Shade's way of fighting when we first met, the death and… all that, it resparked something I tried to keep buried. After he saved me and seeing what Valkyrie could do, I just… let go of that hesitation."

"A kill or be killed type of mentality," Shizuna surmises. "It's not good to have, especially for one your age, Rinwell."

"I know but… Here she was, channeling who knows how much mana into an all-or-nothing attack like that. It was bigger than both of my Shooting Stars I used on the reactor. She must have spent all night just focusing on destroying us."

"That gave way to her tunnel vision," Relon says, placing a hand on her shoulder. "She became blinded by taking us down. She failed to see how impossible it was. She believed only in her own belief. Grimoire, from our encounters, is one who is calculating and aware. She wasn't here. Had she been, then we may still be fighting. Rinwell, I'm not going to say this outcome could have happened on its own. It's because of everything that we've been through in our lives that this moment had its outcome."

"Then… why did she willingly try to leave me alone?"

"Perhaps deep down, she didn't want to see the only person she has ever called her friend get hurt." One look at Shizuna and that realization made the young witch look back to her frenemy.

"But she-"

"Friendships can be very weird. Now, try to make it up to her as best you can. If you both end up fighting then make her listen by force. She won't be able to do much after that but listen to you," she cheekily smiles.

Chuckling, Rinwell abruptly hugs the girl who returns it without a moment's delay.

"Thanks, Shizuna. I think I'll do that."

"Awe, what are gal pals for? Come on, I'll help you carry her."

Before long, the three were back on Helios soaring at a more leisurely pace. Looking at the two discussing something, Relon turns back to the open air.

Arentula, Shifu, Cabrakan, Demeter, and now Grimoire. That's five members of Senate defeated. Two of which are still at large. All three have had tragedies of their own. Could what Shizuna have mentioned be true? Could Senate be not an evil-rooted organization but one built on countless hardships? Could Ishmelga and Sephiroth have taken advantage of those people's hearts and manipulated them?

One quiet glance back at Grimoire and he could only shake his head. He knew the answer wouldn't come easy but one thing was for certain. Sephiroth and Ishmelga had ulterior motives. He's seen the future and what they may do.

He was the Senate Hunter and he still had to complete that task. Then he'd be ready to face them once again.

"Someone's deep in thought."

About to turn his head, his eyes immediately drop to the legs that latch around his stomach and arms around his abdomen.

"What are you-" Halting mid sentence to feel two soft objects press into his back, his eyes cut to a grinning Shizuna. (Rinwell is right behind you!) He hisses in a whisper.

"Meh, she already knows what I'm like," she shrugs. "Besides, she's off in thought so now I'm messing with you. Can't say I'm not holding onto something," she says, resting her head on his shoulder. "You know you like it~."

"I shall neither admit nor deny such an allegation," he says, which earns a giggle from the woman.

"So you're a boob guy, huh?"

"What is with you women and messing with me?"

"We love your reactions," she smiles, pecking his cheek which only makes him more flustered.

Rolling his eyes, he leans back into her touch.

"Don't take too long in finding me, okay? I really may get impatient if I remember."

"I'll try, Shizu," he murmurs, nuzzling her cheek with his. "Where can I find you?"

"Same place we met."

"Aye aye…"

Silently, opposite to the previous night, they basked in the ambient silence. Thankfully to have met one another and for Helios flying even slower.

Then their final moments came to a close as they touched down.

"I see your plan was successful," Vita smiles in greeting, eyes going to the unconscious Valkyrie.

"Yup," Relon breathes out as Shizuna walks past him to take her place beside Vita. "Zero has been beaten, everyone affected is back, and dealt with the Leaguient that brought us here in the first place. Alls well that ends well. Only thing left to do is walk through that portal."

"Relon, dear?"

"Yeah?" Without a moment to comprehend, he found the tender touch of Vita hugging him. "Why are-"

"You're crying," she spoke, voice filled with love. "It's okay, dear. We found each other. That's all that matters, okay?"

"Mhm." Finally reciprocating the gesture, he allows a sniffle to sound.

"The time we spent together, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

"Love you, Mom."

"I love even more, Relon. And nothing is going to change that, understood? No distance in time or space. Okay?" She spoke, leveling with him.

"Yes, ma'am," he smiled, matching her own to get a peck on his forehead.

"Good." With nothing left to be said, she stepped back giving Shizuna a side hug.

"Actually…" Turning around, he crouches before Valkyrie. "Helios!"

"Are you prepared?"

"Yeah. While you're at it, suck up whatever malevolence Valkyrie has too. Taking no chances."

With a single step, Helios' form begins to shimmer in a purplish color as its maw slowly drops open. Tensing for a moment, Relon's body slowly lifts off the ground as does Valkyrie's as the darkness-fueled power leaves them. Then they dropped.

"W-Whoa… Okay, I'm good. I think." Punching the air, nothing comes out. "Yup, flameless. Again."

"Why?" Rinwell tilts her head.

"Temporal Laws. If I return with Helios or his powers when there's already a dormant Helios, who knows what can happen."

"Oh yeah, we have to be careful with what we say again."

"Better safe than sorry or else who knows what will happen to us. The last thing we need is to go home and somehow end up in the past."

"How would that even work?"

"Rinwell, no one really knows," he chuckles.

"Huh. Well, I guess this is it." Eyeing Munechika, she smiles as the familiar tenses up.

"Come on, don't get cold feet now Munechika," Roselia groans to push said familiar forward.

"Munechika? Is something wrong?"

"N-No. Rather the opposite… I suppose."

"Wait, did no one tell Relon?!" Rinwell gawks, eyeing the others who shake their head.

"Tell me what?"

"Given Senate is a meddlesome bunch just like Zero, Munechika here had made the choice previously without your knowledge to return to your world with you and Rinwell," Roselia explains.

Blinking, he slowly looks wide-eyed at the flushed catwoman.

"I-I admit this choice was made before… we defeated Zero so when Roselia found out, she was quite hysterical yet supportive. But to leave her, I…"

"Munechika," Relon says, walking up to her with a hand outstretched. "If it wasn't for you, Rinwell and I wouldn't be here. You're already family to us in a way so if you're up for it, then so am I."

"You already know Hootle and I are in!"

"Hoot!"

"Relon… Rinwell… Hootle…!" Tearing up to wide away the stray droplets daring to make themselves more known, she smiles. "I'm in your care then."

"Are you okay?" Vita quietly asks.

"Yeah. At least with Munechika with them, I won't have to worry," Shizuna nods. "Still…"

"Still wanna go? Sorry, we got too much work to do," a hand places itself atop her shoulder.

"VAN?!" Relon, Shizuna, and Rinwell exclaim.

"You guys didn't think we'd miss saying goodbye, did you?" He grins dapping Relon.

"I won't lie, just a little. Wait. 'We?'"

Hearing a slow uproar of cheers, Relon and Rinwell rush to the entrance to find countless people now swarming the village. Foes now friends and others litter the area leaving not an inch of space visible.

"Shade and Magilou left so not everyone got to say goodbye to them but everyone wanted to at least say so to you two."

"Everyone…!"

"Arios, Uncle Victor, Swin, Nadia, Renne, Loewe!"

His eyes couldn't keep up with the countless allies. Then they locked onto one group in particular.

"Relon!" Rean calls, stepping forward with Class VII. "Leave everything to us!"

"Rean…! And…!"

"Relon! Thank you!" The familiar voice of Laura shouted, beaming a smile that immediately made Relon's mouth quiver. "For everything!"

"Rinwell!" Eyes shimmering at Emma calling out with a wave, tears begin to form. "If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be here! I'm forever grateful!"

"Laura…!"

"Sissy…!"

"THANK YOU BOTH FOR EVERYTHING!"

Words simply could not describe the level of gratitude both felt. The feelings that swirled in tandem with said emotion left them simply speechless. Both only could wipe their tears away and remain steadfast. With one look between the other and a glance at Munechika carrying Valkyrie, they nodded.

"See you on the other side, heroes," Shizuna bids with a raised hand.

"Right back at you," Relon and Rinwell speak in unison, clapping as they pass by.

"Munechika!"

"Yes, Roselia?"

"I'm proud and thankful to have had you in my life. Thank you."

Mouth trembling, she nods. "It has been an honor, milady."

"Now, hurry up and become Relon's familiar! That kid and his terrible luck will need all the help he can get!"

"Truuuuuuuue!" Shizuna and Van call out in agreement.

"HEY!" Relon snaps, earning laughter from the group. "That's it, let's go," He chuckles. "Got Grimoire's tome?"

"Yup. Right here," Rinwell shows said tome hidden in her cloak.

"Good. I'mma be living in that thing once we get back."

Stopping before the portal, the three give one last look at their friends and loved ones.

Eyes landing on Shizuna, she mouths only a few precious words. Mouthing a pair back, he burns that endearing smile into his mind. He'd see it again. Or die trying.

"Home here we come."

From one Erebonia to another, they vanished.

Unknown

The world before him was nothing, yet something.

He could sense life all around, yet he only saw white.

"Where am I?" At his question, a gentle pair of hands covered his vision.

"Guess who."

There was only one voice outside of Norowareta's that sounded so angelic, so divine , so genuine.

"Luna?" It was a mild gasp, perhaps because of the recent experience that has left him drained. Turning around, there stood the Goddess that grew up with him.

"Correct," she smiled.

For a moment he just stared as his mind processed what was happening. Then at one, they reached out hugging the other. Feeling the unfathomable softness that was her fabric, the silky smooth hair that rolled down her back; it was her.

"Is this a vision? A dream, anything not real?" He asked, not letting her go.

"This is real. I'm allowing this much," she chuckled, resting into the crook of his neck. "Relon, after we separated, when I returned to the Beyond, I could no longer clearly see what transpired that day. I could only pray and hope you succeeded.

"I promised I wouldn't die, didn't I?"

"That's not the point!" She shouts, looking at him straining her anger. "But you shouldn't- none of the yous should have experienced something like that! Ishmelga has already used a vast amount of elemental power to obstruct my intervention on Earth and to suddenly see you travel between worlds shocked me. I barely could grasp our connection in that moment before it was severed."

"So when we were fleeing from Heimdallr, that's how I heard you. You saved my life again. Thank you."

"No, I should be thanking you. Both myself and the other Aidios belonging to that world. When you defeated 'Zero' and rebirthed the Beyond, that Aidios allowed me to enter and see everything. That's how I'm here."

"You managed to catch me this time," he chuckled. "So what now?"

"You'll soon emerge back in your world. I came here to talk and show my gratitude."

"Seeing you, hearing your voice, knowing you're okay; that's plenty a gift to me."

"That blessing I instilled within you has done wonders it seems," she giggles.

"Curse," he corrects with a deadpan.

"Hey! Your mother insisted!"

"And my Mother is a woman that will go goo-goo gaga at every woman that talks to me."

"That's… Actually, I can see that. Sorry."

"Can you get rid of this blessing? I think I have enough women in my life. Actually, while on the topic…"

"You wish for me to do something about Nameless, correct?"

"Can you?"

"Possibly. Much of reversion caused by that witch has subsided. Likely through the assistance of the Dark Dragon. Now, you need to simply evolve again. Although… you likely do not wish to evolve through agony, do you?"

"No. That'll… lead to a painful future I won't be able to overcome. After seeing what the original me did, I don't think I can handle the color purple just yet."

"I understand. I created this process for elementals to overcome their own inner conflictions and ascend to a higher mental state but… I see that it has errors." Stepping away, she lifts a hand to press into his stomach. "I shall remove my blessing as well as alter your evolutionary path. You shall remain with the mark of rage as all fire elementals do. Is this fine?"

"Yes."

"Good. As for the other, do you have a preference on the color?"

"Mom mentioned each color connecting to a specific emotion. Given what my foreseeable future will entail, I think I'll go with blue."

"The color of love, the same as your mother. She will like that," Luna smiles. "But you are aware, aren't you? Red and blue combined…"

"Yeah. I know."

In a single flash of light, he felt a slight tingle surge throughout his body.

"Regarding your Perception of Time, consider it fixed. For the most part."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You'll see," she winks.

"Okay? When will I see you again?"

"If I told you, then more of the Temporal Laws would break. You lot certainly didn't make fixing most of them easy!" She barks poking his chest hard. "Word of advice, Mister, if you're going to talk about other world information, make sure anyone who didn't experience it isn't in earshot. Also, if you do talk about it, make sure it's to someone that already knows. All it takes is one person finding out and poof! New future, not at all foreseeable."

"S-Sorry, nothing was happening so we just figured…"

"Just saying stuff won't make immediate changes, stupid. It takes time!" That caused a tic mark to appear on Relon's forehead.

"Hey! Who are you calling stupid?!" He growls. "I'm not the one that hid inside me all my life and didn't even do anything! You threw me into this crap and expect me to know?!"

"You're my chosen one, you're smart also so you better learn fast!"

"Ugh, you are unbelievable! How can I know about divine rules and time-space manipulation if the expert behind said things is gone?!"

One glare met the other and after a moment, they fell out into laughter.

"I missed this," Relon says, wiping at his eye.

"Silly, we've only talked once before this."

"Doesn't matter. That one talk is something I still cherish deeply."

"Oh, I know."

"How?"

"You think I don't feel something everytime you say 'Oh Luna' this or comparing me to someone else?" She smirked. "I must have made quite the impression with how often you use my name~."

Feigning a blush, he can only breathe heavily. "Your name is just a good placeholder so I don't have to use Aidios' name."

"Uh huh. You know, you only ever blush around girls. That Shizuna girl really got into you fast. Seems her curiosity was really strong towards you which in turn made her affections stronger. That and you being the wonderful gentleman that you are helped."

"You're enjoying this," he deadpanned again.

"Completely~. Getting all I can before we separate."

"Pfft, you're terrible," he chuckled. "If I didn't know any better, I'd wonder if you were falling for me."

"Maybe," she shrugged which made his eyes go wide. "I have been with you since birth. This version of myself may have the boundless knowledge but I too am the same age as you. Not to mention I am a female."

"Okay, okay, okay, cool it with the teasing jokes. My heart is still recovering from Shizuna and Mom's antics," he breathes. "Anymore and I'll let my inner thoughts go."

"Who said I was joking?" She smirks, feigning innocence. "Still, I'll agree with the others. Your hugs are nice."

"You…! Ugh, I don't know what you girls see in me. As for the hugs, I just… kinda do it. Nothing special."

"It's just how it feels coming from you. It's warm, safe even."

"Would you like another before this moment ends?" He wonders, simply done at this point.

"Yes actually." Walking up to him, she expands her arms. "Hug." Blinking dumbly at her, he sighs for his mouth to smirk. "AH!" Without warning, he crouched down, lifting her by the back of her legs to spin her around. "RELON LUCINANCE, LET GO!"

"Told you I'd let my inner thoughts win~."

"You're such a child," she says, falling into a fit of laughter as his spinning comes to a halt.

Lowering her so they're eye level, they hug once more with the wish of never letting go.

(Win.)

(Leave it to me, Lunamaria.)

As both began to fade, as his consciousness began to slip, he felt a simple peck on his cheek come followed by one last farewell.

"I love it when you call me that."

When his eyes opened, the first thing he saw was the ceiling.

---

A/N: Welp, time waits for no one. This story was something I first created as a way to avoid studying in college. More and more I wrote, expanding on ideas and as the games kept coming out, my skills as a writer and story-telling grew (for better and/or worse). Here we are technically at the end of the long ass season 1 of Blazing Steel and Freezing Bullets. To old readers and new ones alike; thank you.

I'm proud of both myself and my dear friend Danny (Dantheman2000009) to have managed this project. Long, yes, but well worth and I couldn't think of anyone else with such a grand fondness for this series. We started this collab roughly 2.5 years ago and here we are.

This story isn't done. Not by a longshot cause y'all know me, I'mma get to the end if it kills me.

Until I upload the next chapter (which is ready to go), do check out the other stories I write or join the discord. I love talking/vibing with fellow readers, gamers, and people :)

Duces~. Shinn.