Reviews:

Guest: Puede ser...xD

lordri25may2001: Yeah, I took inspiration from Shirabe and Kirika to make that small fight. Since Raiden and Andreas have such a close relationship with them and Micha and Zeke too. So it's just them switching places, except Zeke cannot be defeated by them. I'd say they saved Zolda since he was getting outclassed until they gave him the time to charge his weapon and finish Zeke. I'm glad you found Zeke's death satisfying. I've been building him up for a while now and I'm glad it paid off. It's ironic how he pleaded for help to the people he was closest with instead of Bragard, whom he worshipped. If you liked that, you'll love what I have in store for Bragard. Honestly, I don't blame you. I've been thinking about their alternative versions in XDU. Here's how I figured they would be. Hajime would be like the male version of Chao-Xing when she first appeared. Arrogant, snobbish, and prideful. He would be a full Liang. So his name wouldn't be Hajime Adachi. It would be Lingyun Liang. Yosuke would be lazy and carefree, preferring to skip his duties and just party all day. Takeru would be an actual soldier and would be serious, cold, and detached. No jokes or pervertedness from him. Jades would prefer to be alone and ignore his family, contrary to how he is now. Andreas would be smarter and more serious while Raiden would be the goofball along with Yosuke. For the villains, I'm not sure about Hazuki yet. Chiaki could be a nice girl who loves to help everyone around her, Allister would be this emotional person who can't stand watching others suffer or he feels it in his heart, and Terunosuke would be a supportive and caring older brother.

Blitzdigital: Takeru desintegro el mazo, pero quedo la piedra que fue usada para crear el mazo, ya que estas fueron convertidas en mazos por Bragard asi que ahora mismo no pueden ser usadas. Pero tengo algo planeadas para ellas. Debo decirlo ahora pero Verde no volvera a ser usado como tal, por que si no pues la guerra nunca acabaria. Me alegra que entendieras la referencia a Gurren Lagann. Ya que Andreas usa mucho taladros y cosas asi pues dije: por que no? Si la usa, solo que pues no es tan poderosa en combate. Creo que la use contra Odin hace unos capitulos. Ryuki tambien ha usado la suya. Solo que pues tambien me gusta usar las demas y tambien cartas originales pero la uso cuando puedo xD.

Tenzalucard123: Phara and Zeke died, so Damian is the last Autoscorer. And Tobias. Now we're getting his fight, but he knows he can't win. Does he have a plan?

Chapter 69
The Ultimate Lifeform is Born

"You look like you need to take a load off." Bragard crossed his legs on his thrown, watching as Damian walked closer to him."Seriously, my boy. You look too tense. Is this any way to address your Prince?"

"Enough with the games, Bragard. You're not the Prince we once knew." Damian furrowed his brow."You're a monster. There is no love or affection in your heart. Only hatred and ambition. You sacrificed our lives for that Philosopher's Stone of yours and now you're using us as your pawns, playing us with as if we were mere dolls."

"Because you are mere dolls." He countered, yawning."I gave you life. So did Carol. We gave you power and a purpose. If you happen to die during said purpose, are we really to blame? It's just part of life, my boy. Just like humans. I recall how you wanted to be a human. Well, humans are born, live, and die. Congratulations! You are a human!"

"I am. So are Garie, Micha, Leiur, Lulu, Phara, and Zeke. And my son." Damian clenched his fists."You know why I'm here."

"Sure. To stop me and my plans." He waved his hand lazily."Right? You left Zolda alone to fight Zeke. You were planning to head here anyway. Although, it's more precise to say you've come to destroy the Overall."

"I have. I'm not sure if I can beat you." He smirked."I have been upgraded but I haven't seen you in action yet."

"Oh? Did you get upgraded? By Elfnein and Tobias, I presume." Bragard sat up, his interest piqued."Well then. There is no need to hold back. I have a few minutes to spare before the main course shows up, so I can indulge in the appetizer."

"Very well. Here I come, Prince Bragard!" Damian conjured two magic circles, releasing to pressurized water streams at Bragard.

The Little Prince raised a hand with a bored expression, casting his spell and creating a barrier of dark matter, blocking the water. To his surprise, his dark matter wall began to freeze until it was solid ice. And all of a sudden, spikes of ice were shot toward him. He waved his hand, launching a slash of dark matter to break the ice into pieces.

"This is...peculiar." Bragard blinked, perplexed."Since when can you freeze the water? Only Garie should have been able to do that, not you."

"And that's not the only trick I have!"

Mimicking Garie, he embedded his feet with water, increasing his speed as he skated from side to side. His hands began to glow in red, forming very two familiar claws that belonged to their energetic friend.

"What?!" Bragard gasped, watching as Damian shot spears of fire toward him, forcing him to raise his hand and casting a magic circle to stop them."Fire Alchemy?! But you're a water Autoscorer!"

"Maybe so! But I was upgraded to be able to use more than just water Alchemy!" Damian lunged at Bragard, wielding two spears of fire in his claws."I'm fighting for way more than you think! I'm fighting for the future of this world and my friends!"

Bragard quickly summoned a black blade, blocking the attack in place and gritting his teeth and Damian pushed him against his throne."I see...So that's why you haven't transformed yet. You left your Deck behind, didn't you? Instead, you're using a whole new power to fight me. But did you forget who I am?!"

Black tendrils erupted from the ground, piercing Damian's body before tearing him to pieces. His body landed on the ground but quickly began to regenerate. With a snort, Bragard raised his hand, shooting small daggers of dark matter toward Damian.

After regenerating, Damian conjured gold coins in his hands, forming Leiur's batons, and twirled them around, deflecting the projectiles. He then created coins in his hands, flicking them to Bragard as if they were being shot from a machine gun.

The young Prince sneered, summoning two magic circles and creating a giant hand, sending it over to Damian as they blocked the coins. Damian shot at the ground, creating pillars of rocks that rose from the ground, blocking the fist. He then leaped into the air, his hand engulfed in earth Alchemy as it became gigantic, much like Lulu's. He grabbed the fist and threw it back at the Prince."This is for Lulu!"

Bragard jumped in the air to avoid being squashed, noticing more goings being fired in his direction. He formed a bigger magic circle in front of him, releasing a blast of dark energy toward Damian. He formed a tornado under his feet, flying over the beam before using it to skate over to Bragard."And this is for Phara!"

Damian kicked Bragard in the chin, sending him flying against the ceiling and leaving him stuck in a hole.

"Y-you...you dare?!" Bragard screeched, throwing a massive blade at Damian.

"I'm not alone!" He felt a pair of hands on top of his. The soft hands of his wife."I am fighting you today with all of my friends!"

A giant water dragon emerged from his magic circle, countering Bragard's blade. The blade was pushed back and hit the ceiling. However, Bragard was not there.

"Huh?!"

Suddenly, a blade slashed Damian across his body, separating his body in two. Damian tried to blast him with one of Micha's spears, but Bragard blasted him away with a dark orb of dark matter.

Damian winced, regenerating his wounds while sitting up.

"I must admit, Elfnein and Tobias are miracle workers." Bragard floated on top of a dark disc he had created."Although it is possible they had help from Thor, I would not be surprised. It's a shame I have this current stature and I'm unable to use my Alchemy. Otherwise, I would have crushed you in an instant."

"You're not used to fighting?"

"Oh, I am." Bragard planted his hands on his hips."I've been having constant bantering with Adam and Fine over the centuries. It's just...I am not used to fighting in the body of a child or having my powers diminished this much. It's a shame."

"Go ahead and transform into Alternative then." Damian formed two wind turbines in his hands."Or does your ego prevent you from taking me seriously?"

"Now why would I do that?" Bragard shook his head."You know me, Damian. I like to stack the odds against me as much as possible. The harder I make this battle for myself, the more rewarding it will be."

"Then let's see how you like this!"

Damian focused his fire Alchemy on the turbines, engulfing them with fire before throwing them at Bragard.

"He can combine the spells?!" Bragard jumped off from his flying disk, avoiding the first turbine. He summoned a black rode, blocking the second one, but the wind mixed with fire began to push his back. Furthermore, Damian was controlling the other one, aiming it to hit Bragard's back. He summoned another rode, blocking both in place with a sneer.

"This is for Leiur!"

Bragard gasped, watching as Damian enlarged his fist and punched Bragard to the ground, creating a crater in the middle of the throne room. Bragard rolled out of the way before Damian pierced him with a fire spear, backflipping to get some distance."It doesn't matter who you think is supporting you. You all performed admirably. They're all dead! So what?! Your lives belong to me! I own you! When I say jump, you ask from what cliff! If I decide you have to die, you die! This world is MINE! YOU'RE MINE! You're all alone now, Damian!"

"You're wrong." Damian stared down at Bragard with determination."They're with me. As long as I carry their memories in my heart, I will never be alone!"

The last Autoscorer aimed both of his arms toward Bragard, conjuring a sphere of water, and fired it at his former master. Bragard clicked his tongue, manifesting 6 black spheres before combining them into one, releasing a potent beam of dark energy.

Second Impact

The dark beam collided with the water beam, instantly beginning to push it back. A second magic circle appeared next to Damian, this one releasing flames that mixed in with the water. A third one released rocks, encasing the water while being ignited by the flames. Finally, the final magic circle formed a spiral of wind that created a typhoon of elements.

Elemental Concert

Bragard's attack was now overpowered, forcing him to cast a wall of dark matter. However, much to his shock, the barrier cracked and the blast hit him head on, knocking his tiara off his head and launching him against his throne."That's for Micha!"

"You insolent vermin!" Bragard snarled, creating an arm of dark matter and reaching for his tiara.

"Now I get why you want to get your Alchemy back." Damian took a deep breath."I always wondered why you wanted to use regular Alchemy in contrast to your Broken Alchemy since it looked so strong. But it has a weakness. It pales in comparison to the 4 elements. Your Broken Alchemy is regular Alchemy with the absence of elements. With the absence of fire, earth, wind, and water, it leaves behind a dark and disgusting form that you utilize. Your Broken Alchemy."

"Tch." Bragard clicked his tongue, placing his tiara back on his head and dusting off his clothes.

"Ever since that day, you lost your power, your ability to increase your size, and your ability to use your Alchemy properly." Damian continued."You can use none of the elements, much less silver. I guess that's why you're so nervous about fighting Adam again, right? But in contrast to you, I can use all of them."

"Except silver." Bragard removed his robe, cracking his left wrist."Don't get such a big head for pushing me this little, puppet. Do you honestly believe I am concerned? You can keep attacking me all you want, you can't defeat me. And you keep saying those worms' names? For what? You're avenging them?"

"They were your friends too." Damian scowled, receiving a laugh from the little Prince.

"Ha! Friends?! That was the old me! That was the First! I am different from the First." Bragard jabbed his thumb toward his tiara."I am Bragard Second Hyperion. The lives of those insignificant insects do not matter. I sacrificed the life of my kingdom for the sake of power and knowledge. So what? They serve a greater purpose now."

"So you can create this "perfect" species." Damian sneered.

"Humans are disgusting, lower beings that deserve to die." Bragard spat."They are like cattle. And as such, I will kill them at my leisure."

"Does life mean nothing to you?! Don't you have any humanity in you?!"

"Hah! I discarded my humanity a long time ago!" Bragard grinned, a gleam of maliciousness in his eyes."Though I was never human, to begin with, I suppose. I am a Homunculus, after all. So no, human life means nothing to me."

"I will stop you!" Damian prepared the same attack again, but Bragard seemed unfazed.

"By all means, try."

Elemental Concert

Bragard smirked, raising his left arm and the attack stopped a few meters from him."Repel!"

The blast was reverted to Damian, who barely managed to get out of the way, but his right side was completely destroyed. He gritted his teeth, his regeneration acting quickly in restoring his wounds."I get it now. That's why none of my attacks have been doing much damage. You can use your gravity abilities without your Alternative suit."

"Indeed. I didn't want to use it, but you've pushed me to use my powers." Bragard examined his right arm."I've been increasing the gravity around me enough so you don't notice it but also so I can protect myself. But all deals are off now."

"This won't be easy, but I will defeat you!"

"Yes, yes. Gosh, I heard that line so many times." Bragard covered his mouth, stifling a chuckle."So cheesy."

Damian blasted the floor with fire, propelling himself toward Bragard.

"Attract!" Bragard aimed his right hand toward one of the broken pillars, throwing it against Damian and smashing him against the wall. More coins were fired from the wall, forcing Bragard to manifest a black rod and twirl it around, blocking the barrage. Snapping his fingers, he fired several dark matter projectiles at the hole, but Damian shot himself out of it with a stream of water.

He raised his hand, conjuring a giant spear of fire, and hurled it at Bragard. With his left hand, he repelled the spear, which Damian avoided by flying around with tornados on his feet. He swung his arm, creating several ice daggers and shooting them down at Bragard, who leaped out of the way.

Damian wasted no time, rushing at him as they both clashed their weapons. A dark blade and a spear of fire.

"I think I figured out your gravity abilities!" Damian began pushing the little prince back as he mimicked Micha, propelling himself by blasting fire out of the curls of his hair."You can only use it every so often! If I'm not mistaken, it has a 5 to 8-second cooldown per use! Left repels while right attracts!"

"Is that so?" Bragard narrowed his eyes, and a purple aura surrounded him.

Damian was slammed to the ground by an invisible force, and the pressure kept increasing rapidly, causing his insides to burst. Bragard raised his hand, taking a black axe from his magic circle, and aimed to decapitate Damian. The axe separated the head from the body, but then he exploded in water, catching the Prince off guard."Huh?!"

"This is for Zeke!"

Bragard snapped his head to the right, receiving a giant fist of heart to the face, launching him across the room. He picked himself off the floor, his eyes widening when he saw a sharp blade of wind encased with fire coming toward him."Repel!"

The attack was not only repelled but also negated due to the properties of his ability.

"THIS IS FOR GARIE!"

Bragard snapped his head, only to receive a punch to the face that sent him flying. Damian's body had changed. His body was shining brightly with a rainbow aura around him. His shirt had torn to shreds and was using the power in his body similar to how Micha had down before. He aimed at Bragard, who had landed on his throne and was disoriented, powering his elemental attack.

"AND THIS IS FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF VENTARA! DIE!"

A beam of elemental Alchemy fired from his hands, growing several times in size and dwarfing the Prince. A huge explosion covered the whole throne room, filling it with smoke.

Damian panted after releasing not only a huge attack but also his emotions."Guys...Now, to stop the Overall."

Suddenly, the wall behind the throne began to break into pieces, revealing something behind it. A vast empty void behind the throne led to God knows where. No one could tell how deep the hole was or what was waiting at the bottom. There was an empty sphere in the middle of the void, connected to a series of cables that were connecting to a mirror cube above. Surrounding the whole thing were stones of all colors, except for one that was still grey.

"Not bad, for a puppet."

Bragard revealed himself from within the smoke, seemingly having sustained no injuries.

"H-how?!"

"Did you really think you had a chance against me? Impossible. I am almighty and you are not. However..." Bragard began typing on his hologram keyboard."This body doesn't have the power to destroy you. I am planning to take that one over there."

Damian raised his head, and his eyes widened in horror. Further up in the ceiling was a container with a body inside. It resembled Bragard, albeit slightly taller and with black hair.

"That's my son. And Carol's. The Third Hyperion, if you will. Well, it's more apt to say he's a copy of me created with our DNA put together." Bragard chuckled."He's the perfect body for me. But he's not ready. So in the meantime, I will do this instead."

The albino took out a dull stone from his pocket."This is a Philosopher's Stone without its power. After Hazama-dono's betrayal, this is how it ended up. But with the help of the power of 13 Riders, I will be able to power it up again!"

The boy tossed the stone into the sphere and it reacted immediately. It was engulfed in pure energy, pulsating constantly as it absorbed the powers of the stones around it.

"B-buty you're still missing Ryuki's energy!"

"Indeed." Bragard sat on his throne, putting on a helmet that connected to the Overall itself."But with these current acquired powers, I can still use it until I manage to power it up entirely!"

The entire place began to shake as the tower began to ascend toward the sky. Bragard's base was shaped like a giant tower, easily surpassing the Kadingir in size and surpassing any building in Japan. Bragard's body began to shine brightly, growing in size and musculature. With a scream, Bragard released all the power he was absorbing in a burst of energy, sending Damian crashing against the wall. Once the process was over, Bragard changed drastically.

No longer was the little boy that resembled a 12-year-old. Now he had grown into a man in around his late twenties, with a muscular built and chiseled jawline. He had grown to be 182 centimeters, and his clothes grew with him. His hair remained the same, except he now had a ponytail reaching up to his waist.

"That's better." Bragard flexed his arms, admiring his new muscles. His voice had lowered in pitch into a more imposing and commanding one."Well, then? Shall we begin the second round?"

Damian opened his mouth to reply, but Bragard was already in front of him, grasping his neck and breaking it. He winced, his wounds healing but feeling the pressure of his hand against his neck. Bragard threw him across the throne room, rushing with him and delivering powerful punches before finishing with a kick, launching him against a wall.

"Yes! I have finally done it! I have become the perfect being! My powers! My stature! They all have returned to me! And my Alchemy..." Bragard raised a hand, creating a gold magic circle.

Damian cast a barrier in front of him, mixing all the elements to strengthen it.

"Silver...Huh?!" Bragard's magic circle loses its color, turning back to black. He grimaced, creating a water magic circle, but this one too, turned black."What's this? I still can't use my Alchemy properly. Is my soul the one that's damaged and not just my body? Perhaps it's because I am still missing Ryuki's power. All in due time, I suppose. I am now the strongest being on this planet. With our without alchemy."

"You...you're a monster..."

"Let me ask you a question before we resume, my boy. How many lives do you have left?"

The question made Damian gape. He turned pale, even more so than he already was.

"I have killed you a great number of times, as well as you losing lives against Zeke during your battle. Unlike him, you don't possess the abnormally huge life force he has. So I believe you're running dangerously low."

"It's enough to beat you..."

"Perhaps." Bragard chuckled, amused."But even if it's not, you shouldn't be so upset. After all, they all died before you. Did they not?"

Clapping his hands, several screens showing the Autoscorers during their last moments appeared.

"G-guys!"

Bragard paused the videos, stopping in the exact moment to capture the horror on their faces as they died."They all die wondering where you were. Why didn't you save them, Damian? Garie died in your hands. Your lovely wife died and you weren't able to save her. You ran like a coward, hiding in the shadows. You could have saved Micha. Did you know Leiur, Phara, and Lulu also died? While you were busy making friends with S.O.N.G, all of them died, remembering their past lives and crying in despair as they were forced to die a second time."

"T-that's..." Damian took a step back.

The last screen displayed Zeke, his body being obliterated by the attack shot by Takeru.

"I DON'T WANT TO DIE! PLEASE HELP ME! DAMIAN! MICHA! PHARA!"

"Zeke!" Damian screamed, trying to reach out but realized it was just a recording.

"You're concerned now? But you are the one who told Zolda to put him down, no?" Bragard began levitating, hands behind his back as he laughed mockingly."What a horrible friend. You were okay with Zeke dying again? When you weren't unable to save him the first time?"

"He died because of you!" Damian exploded."And now you forced that power on him! You restricted his memories and used him as a toy."

"I did." Bragard shrugged nonchalantly."I knew he was going to die. That Divine Power of his...is incomplete. Unlike Odin, Loki and Thor don't have access to their true powers since they are bonded by their respective contracts with their hosts. So the power he had is merely a fraction of what he could have had if the power had evolved. Unfortunately, I lost both of my Kamen Riders. Since I am not a participant in this Rider War, I'll need to force someone else to become my pawn."

"You sent him to die! He was so loyal to you!"

"And? It was his job as a knight." Bragard rose a brow."You're still the one who cared for him and was okay with him dying. What, you thought you were putting him out of his misery? Pathetic. You are a horrible friend and a disgusting human being, Damian. You speak so highly of your bonds with your friends, and yet they all died wondering why you didn't save them. You let them down. How sad."

"I...I let them down...?" Damian's confidence began to dwindle, something that made Bragard smile.

"That's right. In the end, you didn't change a thing." Bragard cracked his wrist with a condescending smile."How unfortunate. You will die accomplishing nothing."

"Not if I kill you!" Damian manifested several pillars of water, creating several water serpents that headed for Bragard.

"Oh, please." Bragard waved his hand, dispersing the serpents. Damian rushed at him with an ice dagger in his hand, but the now tall man simply sidestepped, avoiding the attack. He began to weave around, effortlessly dodging Damian's strikes with his arms folded under his chest."Come on, Damian. I'm not even using my hands anymore."

Damian conjured a gust of wind, condescending it in a tornado. Bragard arched his back, using his newfound flexibility to avoid the attack while simultaneously kicking Damian in the chin, launching him to the sky.

"Ah. Leaving so soon?" Bragard created a hand of dark matter, grabbing Damian by the ankle and smashing him repeatedly against the floor. He created several more hands and began pummeling Damian until he was just a torso with his limbs and part of his face flattened, twitching on the ground.

Bragard leisurely walked to the crater, squatting on the edge."You're letting them down again, Damian. How many lives is that, by the way?"

"I'm...almost out of lives..." Damian forced his body to regenerate, noticing how low his reserves were.'I don't think I can go on anymore. If I take another fatal blow, I won't be able to regenerate...But...I have to stop the Overall...If I do-'

"You know...you weren't there yet, but Garie was unconsolable after I blew the Gjallarhorn."

Damian gasped, sitting up and seeing the grin on Bragard's face.

"She was running around for the life of her baby, dodging not only the raiders but also the monsters I summoned. That's why she was all bloody and missing an arm when you finally found her. She was trying to keep her baby safe, even if it cost her her life. All the while, she was fooling herself into thinking you'd show up in time. But I bet deep down in her heart she knew you were not going to come for her. So she ran and ran until the only place she could hide was the church. And that's when you came in."

"...!"

"Her look of pure happiness when she saw you...So adorable. And yet she broke down because all of her friends were dead. And she knew you were next." Bragard continued his story."I'm sure she wished to at least save Tobias. But that's when I started the ritual...and sacrificed all of your lives to create my Philosopher's Stone. Don't you see it, Damian? There was no future for any of you. This is pointless. Your struggle is pointless. You are a failure. Always have been and always will be. You can't save anyone. And after you die, there will be nothing stopping me from killing your son. Oh, wait...He's already dead, hahaha! He's just a dumb doll like you are!"

Damian growled, focusing his energy on his right hand, creating a sword composed of water, fire, wind, and earth.

"You think you'll meet up with Garie in the next world?" Bragard guffawed."Please! Damian, you have no soul! None of you have a soul! There is no heaven or hell for you. You will never be reunited with them. Ever again. This is where your story ends."

"Maybe...But even if I fall, someone even stronger will surface to take my place." Damian stood up, determination in his eyes as he stared down at the man who ruined their lives."Those kids don't play around. You better be prepared."

"I can hardly wait."

Damian closed his eyes, a tear streaming down his face."Leiur, Lulu, Phara, Zeke, Micha, Tobias, Garie...I love you all. This...is FOR YOU!"

Nirvana Decider

Damian roared, putting all of his power into the sword in his hand, and dashed toward Bragard. His body was surrounded by a purple aura, and before he knew it, he vanished."What?!"

"Game over, mongrel."

Damian gasped, feeling a sword slash his body in half from the waist up, including his left arm.

"Repel!"

The body of the last Autoscorer was launched past the throne and into the black void, falling to the unknown depths of the Overall, his power leaving his body.

"And just like that, your efforts are fruitless." Bragard scoffed, reaching for his breast pocket and taking out his Alternative Deck. He shifted his gaze to a screen, showing live footage of the real world as a storm began approaching fast."So...it seems our main course is finally here."

Inside a poorly lit room, the four captives sat down in their makeshit cell created from Bragard's Broken Alchemy.

"Can you put that down?!" Setsuna yelled, prompting Wei to yelp."What are you even playing?! How do you still have battery on your switch?!"

"T-the new Zelda game..." Wei shrank upon seeing Setsuna's glare."H-hey! I'm fucking nervous, okay?! This is the only thing that helps me calm down!"

"We're trapped and you're playing on your switch?!" Setsuna threw her arms up in dismay."Can you try contacting someone?!"

"I try hopping on Discord but I have no internet or signal here..."

"Well, this is that...Mirror World or whatever." Kyoko sighed, sitting down next to Huan."Leave him alone, Setsuna. Not much we can do but sit around here..."

"It's okay, Kyoko. My son is glued to his technology, as you can see." Huan stared down at his missing leg."Still, I am one to talk. I was beginning to become accustomed to walking with two legs again."

"That bastard...He's going to force Chao-Xing and Hajime to come." Kyoko grimaced."He wants to kill them..."

Wei set his Nintendo Switch down, hugging his knees."My sister will come here to save us...She won't lose to a monster like him..."

"And Haji is strong too!" Setsuna nodded."And since they in good terms now, they'll fight together! No one can beat them when they're together! Plus my boyfriend and his siblings may also be here too!"

"Yeah!" Wei felt hope filling his heart."Lingyun and Chao will come to our rescue!"

"But that's what Bragard wants." Huan remarked."But they'll come here no matter if we tell them not to. If we could at least find a way to prioritize the safety of the kids..."

"I trust you're comfortable where you belong?"

The group gasped as Bragard entered the room with a devious smile.

Chao-Xing landed in an alley in Tokyo to the coordinates Bragard had given her, hiding in the shadows to avoid people seeing her in her Symphogear outfit. To avoid wasting energy, she reverted back from her Ignite Module.

"Bragard...the moment I see you, you're dead." She snarled, looking around to see where this so-called guide would be. And that's when she noticed a Sheerghost waving at her from behind a dumpster. She deadpanned, not expecting this but decided to roll with it. She walked up to it, eyeing it with skepticism in case it pulled anything weird. The monster stepped aside, showing her a mirror.

"Want me to go in there?" She placed her hands on her hips."Symphogears can't go into the Mirror World."

The Sheerghost stepped inside until half of its body was in, holding his hand out.

"That's right..." Chao stared at the hand."If I'm touching something that can enter the Mirror World, I can get pulled in. Just like my first time entering this world..."

Chao-Xing bit the inside of her cheeks.'If I go in now...I won't be able to come out until someone comes to get me. I'll be a sitting duck in Bragard's territory with no way of escape. But if I don't go, he'll kill them. If that's the case then...'

Her hand turned into a fist, and electricity cracked through her arm as she smashed it against the Mirror Monster's face, pushing it inside the Mirror World and going along with it. She stomped on the monster's head, killing it. She examined her surroundings, realizing everything was inverted.

"No turning back now." She clenched her fists, jogging down the alleyway toward the exit."This ends today."

Memories of the massacre all those years ago filled her mind. Her family dying around her and her mother hiding her from Bragard.'For their sake...I have to end this now!'

Once she reached the street, it didn't take her long to notice the gigantic tower in the middle of the city. Her eyes widened in horror upon seeing the architecture in all its glory.

"Surprise?"

She snapped her head to the source of the haughty voice. Alternative descended from the sky, hands behind his back and his red cape flapping in the wind."Welcome, Chao-Xing! To your final resting place!"

"Bragard! Where are they?!" She snarled.

"Not concerned over my new appearance?" He rubbed his sides."I was hoping you'd comment on how stunning I look, but I suppose you have your priorities. They're over there."

Jabbing his finger at a black cage on top of a building, Bragard eyed his prisoners as they all noticed Chao-Xing's presence.

"Chao!" Wei cried in joy."You're here!"

"Is Dad okay?!" She asked, receiving a nod from her little brother.

"I'm fine, honey!" Huan called out, crawling to the edge of the cage."But...damn it, why are you here?!"

"To rescue you, of course!" Chao-Xing declared."I'll get you out of there!"

"Where is Hajime?!" Kyoko asked, grabbing the bars."Is he with you?!"

"Yes, my dear Chao, where is the Boy Wonder?"

"He...He's fine! Don't worry!" Chao-Xing hollered, giving them a reassuring smile."He's fine. I'll beat this bastard and get you back home safely!"

"So...you came alone?" Bragard scoffed."How arrogant of you."

"Don't assume I need my cousin's help to defeat you." She adopted a fighting stance."I'm more than enough to take you out."

"Cousin, huh? So you're not at each other's throats anymore?" Bragard whistled."How nice. You've grown so much, Chao. I knew you since you were a little girl and now you've bloomed into a fine woman. I feel so proud. It's like I'm your uncle."

"Shut the fuck up!" She snapped."Don't you dare say something like that! I could never be related to a fucker like you."

"Ohohoho. I wonder..." Bragard flashed a smile."Anyway, if you're ready to die, feel free to come at me at any time."

"Oh, you bet." Chao-Xing began powering up, lightning coursing through her body as she filled her Phonic Gain coursing through her system.

"Chao..." Huan stared at her daughter with pride and concern."Please...be prudent."

"You can do it, sis." Wei cheered her on.

"Get him Chao-nee-chan!" Setsuna cried.

Kyoko said nothing but wished for the girls' success. For all of their sakes.

'Lingyun...I don't know how you did it, but you rose above our family's dispute and survived Bragard's first assault. You took a different road than I did and met all these wonderful people you call friends. That I call friends too. If only I had met them sooner. But my stupid pride and hatred blinded me. Unlike me, you are a free spirit, but not without knowing your fair share of pain.'

The light posts began cracking as the street filled with electricity, Chao-Xing's power surging.

'But now it's my time to save the day. To correct my mistakes. You won't need to get involved in this mess. Lingyun, when you wake up, this will all be over. I may be gone, but our family will be safe. I swear on my life they will be. So just rest easy and leave this to your older sister.'

"Okay, Bragard your time has come!" Chao-Xing declared."We end this here!"

"Good." Bragard took out a card from his Deck, scanning it in his visor."Surprise me."

Sword Vent: Slashdagger

A longsword appeared in his hands, and he wielded it with with left hand while hiding his right arm behind his back."Come."

(Play Freedom - Ado)

Chao-Xing dashed at Bragard, winding her fist back and thrusting it forward, hitting the air as he vanished."You can't escape!"

Bragard appeared on the sidewalk, sidestepping and avoiding being punched by Chao. She began delivering fast attacks, her kicks, and punches sparking with lightning that spread around the street. Bragard just bobbed and weaved, avoiding the attacks with a smug smile under his helmet. He vanished once again, this time appearing in the air.

Victory Bird

Chao-Xing aimed her arms toward Bragard, shooting a lighting eagle that flew toward him. He blocked the attack with his sword, seemingly receiving zero damage.

She rose her arms, shooting two lightning beams into the sky which then rained down around Bragard in the shape of several swords, circling him."Hmmm?"

Order of Zeus

The lightning swords connected, forming a dome around Bragard and began closing in, aiming to trap him.

Alternative chuckled, raising his left hand and repelling the lighting, dispersing it around.

"Tch!" Chao-Xing spread her arms, detaching the mallets off her shoulders and connecting them with lightning. She controlled them with her hands, trying to smash Bragard with them but he continued to effortlessly leap around, dodging them. She punched her fists together, maneuvering the hammers to meet in the middle, but Alternative leaped into the air once more.

Unlimited Beat

Chao-Xing sneered, raising her arms and shooting both hammers into the air above Bragard, connecting them at the butts before she swung her arm down.

Alternative rose his blades, releasing blue flames from it and stopping the giant thunder hammer. The hammer was split into two, and with several swings from his sword, he cut it into two pieces.

"Is this really all you have to offer?" Alternative sighed, planting the tip of his sword on the ground."Come on. Show me more. I have achieved perfection. I have no flaws now. Power like this isn't worth calling it a warm-up."

"Then I won't keep you waiting." Chao-Xing reached for her pendant."I will show you the full power of a Liang! Ignite Module, BAKKEN!"

"Dainsleif."

(Play New Genesis - Ado)

In a flash of darkness, Chao-Xing was clad in her Ignite Module, black lightning coursing through her body. Without wasting time, she pointed her index finger at Bragard, shooting a beam of black lightning, which simply bounced off of him.

"Now that's more like it." He leveled his right hand."Attract!"

Chao-Xing perked up, immediately jumping to face behind her and watching a truck being pulled toward her. She created a lightning sword in her hand, slashing the truck in half. Unfortunately, the truck was transporting gasoline, and the lightning sparks caused an explosion that covered the whole street.

"CHAO!" Huan screamed, feeling the intense flames of the explosion from afar.

"Look!" Wei pointed at the sky where Chao had jumped at the last second, focusing her Phonic Gain in her hands."My sister will never lose! She's like a superhero in one of my video games!"

Gravity Vent

"Your speed has increased dramatically." Bragard looked toward the sky, watching as countless thunderbolts rained down upon him. He lifted his left hand, repelling the attacks with his gravity abilities.

However, Chao-Xing used this as a distraction, ignited her boosters as she pulled both of the pistons on her gauntlets back, focusing her Phonic Gain on them and cladding hem with black lighting, shooting herself toward Bragard."When you use your gravity, there's an interval! You can't dodge this!"

Lightning Revolt Disobey

However, as she broke through the concrete with her attacks, she once again hit the air, but this time, she lost complete sight of Bragard."Huh?! Where did he go?!"

She tried sensing his Chi but was unable to for some reason, so she was left looking around for him."He was right here! I used my full speed to attack him as soon as he stopped my attacks. But where-?"

"How disappointing."

She whipped her head over to her left, noticing Alternative sitting on a chair with his legs crossed."H-how?!"

"So I decreased my gravity around me a little bit, and that's all it took to get your head spinning?" He chuckled in amusement."Seriously...For someone wielding the power of thunder, shouldn't you be faster?"

"I don't believe it..." Kyoko paled."Chao-Xing had him but he's so fast. I didn't see him either."

"Neither did I." Huan swallowed the lump in his throat."But even if he's fast, Chao should be able to feel his Chi...But she seemed unable to. What's going on...?!"

"C-Chao..." Wei grabbed the bars, concern evident on his face."Please..."

"Haji...where are you?" Setsuna muttered, wondering where her brother was.

"So? That's it?" Bragard sighed, resting his chin on his palm as he leaned on a table."That's all it took to get you spooked?"

Chao-Xing descended to the ground, her eyes wide in shock. Her mouth was open, but couldn't utter any words.

"You know, I have to say that out of all Liangs I've had the pleasure of killing, you are by far the most entertaining." He leaned forward, twiddling his fingers."Seriously. All the others did was just run and try to protect the other pests. Like it was going to do them any good. But I'm happy that at least one of you turned out to be competent enough."

"You bastard...You killed my-"

"My family." Bragard finished for her, causing her to gasp.

"W-what...? What do you...?"

"This founder...what was her name again?" A grin made its way to Alternative's face."I recall one of them being Dan Heng Liang, right? What was the other one? His wife?"

"Lucine Liang." She responded, sneering."The fuck is the point of this?! What are you getting at?!"

"Oh, yes. Lucine." Bragard chuckled, then laughed aloud, holding his stomach."Well, you see. That's my older sister."

"Sister...?" Chao-Xing's eyes widened."Wait...you don't mean-"

"That's right. I am your great, great, great, great, great uncle! Or grandfather. Or something." Alternative shrugged nonchalantly."Well, let's just say I am your ancestor. Though I am deeply disappointed in Lucine. I didn't expect her to dump the Hyperion name. I guess it's no surprise it died out."

"What?!" Everyone gasped.

"Y-you're..." Wei fell on his rear."You're our ancestor...? Lies! You're lying!"

"But...if that's true, then that would explain why our family has been known to be proficient fighters." Chao-Xing grimaced."I always wondered what set us apart from other people. But if you and the founder were knowledgable in Alchemy..."

"You're catching on." Alternative nodded, pleased."Yes. As it turns out, Lucine's offspring seemed to have inherited her Alchemy, albeit not completely. It's mixed in with their fighting prowess, which is how you're such remarkable fighters."

"But why...?!" Setsuna cried out."Why are you killing your own sister's family?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"Funny you should ask, dear." Bragard chuckled."It's all because of your father. He..." He clenched his fists, trembling in apparent rage."He backstabbed me. I looked up to him and respected him...If only he listened to me, I would have shown him a new world. But no...He had to be stubborn! He had to choose this pathetic world over me! Me! The Prince! And not only that, he fucked me over and delayed my plans! After coming this far!"

"What is he talking about...?" Huan blinked, perplexed."Hazama...screwed him over?"

"What do you mean he picked the world over you?!" Kyoko demanded.

"So because of that, I swore to wipe out your kind." Bragard splayed his arms."In the most agonizing way possible. I started by killing off the ones in China, cutting communication with the old country. Then all I had to do was kill off the majority of you, leaving the three of you alive since you are the closest to Hazama. I knew the Boy Wonder and his sister were hidden as well, but they presented no threat. And also...the bastard son."

"Bastard son...?" Chao-Xing narrowed her eyes."Do you mean Hazuki Kaburagi?"

"Hazuki?" Wei blinked.

"Did she say Hazzy-san?" Setsuna sneered."Don't bring him into this! He's not related to us! He's an orphan!"

Kyoko remained silent, her face drained of all color.

"Who knows?" Alternative shrugged."So? How does it feel that your own ancestor will be the one to kill you all?"

"Is that supposed to make me lose my cool?" Chao-Xing reached for her hair buns, beginning to remove them and let her hair fall to the middle of her back."I don't care if you're related to me. No...you might be the brother of the founder, but your dirty blood doesn't run through our veins. So why would I let your words affect me?"

Alternative frowned, resting his sword on his shoulder."You vermin..."

"You've spilled blood and you thought it easy. You thought it was fun. But now I'm here, so you're reign of terror is done." Chao-Xing raised a fist, the piston of her gauntlet rotating and cracking with lightning."The families you've broken...and the ones you left in tears...Their hopes and dreams will fuel my mighty fist!"

"Very well." Alternative took on the challenge, raising his Slashdagger."Show me this determination of yours. It's about time I start fighting back, no? But my advice, Liang. You will know the terror of my power very soon."

"Hah! Don't get so cocky!" Chao-Xing grinned, her blood boiling with the thrill of battle."Lingyun won't even get a shot at you! I won't lose to you. I'm carrying the hopes of all Liangs you've slaughtered!"

Behind her, Chao-Xing had the spirits of the entire Liang clan, silently staring at their murderer as well as supporting her.

"Yes. I see them." Alternative tilted his head."I recognize every single face. But there is one thing you didn't account for, my beloved Chao...Take a look around you."

Chao-Xing scrutinized her surroundings, turning pale as her eyes shot wide open and her jaw dropped. There were hundreds. No. Thousands. Hundreds of thousands of people were all around them. All of them sporting medieval-like clothing."What...what is...this...?"

"See, my dear Chao." Alternative grinned, raising his sword and aiming the tip in her direction."You cannot phantom the number of dead men behind me. Now, shall we reconvene our fight?"

"FUCK!" Hajime jolted awake, his hands frantically reaching for his pocket and taking out his scorching Deck, throwing it to the grass."What the fuck?!"

The Deck stopped shining, returning to its black color. Dragreder's card slipped out, lying on the grass.

"You woke me up, buddy?" Hajime picked up the card, groggily reaching for his phone and noticing the plethora of missed calls he had."Huh?! W-what happened?!"

He clicked on the first voice call and his blood ran cold.

"Salutations, Boy Wonder! I keep calling you but you're not picking up!" Bragard's childlike voice came from the phone."And I hate it when I'm ghosted. Suffice to say, I have your family house. Hop on the Mirror World and you'll see for yourself. Your cousin is on her way, but...I don't think she'll be able to handle the heat. Ciao!"

"Chao..." Hajime gaped."So...that's why I suddenly felt extremely tired...She must have put something on my iced tea! I slept 13 hours! And this voicemail was sent an hour ago!"

He noticed another voicemail, this one belonging to Hibiki. He grimaced, pocketing his phone and his Deck.'Sorry, Sunshine. But I have to go help Chao-Xing before she does something stupid. But why? Why would she do this?'

The raven-haired teen rushed to the bathroom, washing his face and putting on his clothes. He was now wearing black loose pants, red shoes with black outlines, and a red shirt with a black eye in the middle."I'm ready."

Without wasting time, he rushed outside of the temple, taking one last look at it."I...don't know if any of you can hear me or whatever. I apologize...I'm one of the last survivors, even though I'm a half-breed. But I promise I will avenge you all. Or try. No...I absolutely have to do it. I think...I'm beginning to understand the Liang clan a little more. Just now, Chao drugged me so I would be asleep and miss the battle. But why would she do that...?"

He closed his eyes, his hand to his heart."I think it's the same reason why you all died that day. You stayed behind and protected your families. Until the very end. You fought against an unformidable force, and despite knowing you stood no chance, you fought. Because..that's what it means to be a Liang. Liang pride. It's not about being the strongest. It's about protecting those you love with your fists until the very end. That's what she was trying to teach me...And I finally figured it out. She didn't drug me just so she could fight Bragard alone. She did it...to protect me..."

He punched his chest lightly, giving the temple a look full of determination."But no one else will die. I once said I hated your clan, but after spending time with Chao and learning more about my Dad's side of the family, I finally got it. I am a Liang. There's no changing that. As one of the last surviving members, I will do my best to put a stop to the tyrant who ended your lives. You have my word!"

With his promise said, Hajime ran down the empty streets, heading for the exit of the compound."But...if Liang pride means protecting those you love with all your might...Does that mean my dad...Was he trying to protect us...?"

And there we have it. Bragard has mostly recovered his lost powers and made quick work of Damian. Can Chao-Xing stand a chance against this foe? Will Hajime show up on time? Anyway, I should probably clarify some things since Bragard's adult form made its debut. So here's the order from strongest to weakest out of the three of them: Bragard, Zeke (Divine Weapon form), Damian(All Autoscorers powers). The reason why Damian vs. Bragard seemed short in comparison to the fight last chapter that took the whole chapter is because the difference in power between Bragard and Damian is abysmal. Takeru had more of a chance of defeating Zeke than Damian did against Bragard. You'll see just how strong this Bragard is. Spoiler alert: He's really fucking powerful. since he's getting energy from the Overall that's being powered up by the Philosopher's Stone, allowing him to use his powers again, except his Alchemy. All he's missing is Ryuki's power to complete his goal.