Author's note: Forgot to mention how Red Vent: Chaos Gate works. This card was suggested by HanzoHasashi98 back in G, but at the time I thought it was pretty OP so I saved it for GX. This card is meant to be a perfect counter for Ryuga's portals, Calamity Gate. He can teleport anywhere he sets his eyes on, with a limit of about 3 miles. He can do this in 5 successions before he rusn out and he can use that card 3 times per day. This is a more oriented teleportation ability than Ryuga since Ryuga takes more time. He has to open the portal and then go through it. But unlike Ryuki, he can teleport anywhere he has been to without limits. Also, Ryuki can switch places with something or someone he has direct eye contact with.
On another note, you guys have been killing it lately with all these reviews. I'm happy the great finale of GX is getting so much love! Thank you!
Reviews:
Fate: Se a que te refieres. Villanos que odias amarlos.
Guest: Una pregunta un poco dificl de responder, ya que aun no ha terminado la pelea y Bragard se volvera aun mas fuerte todavia. Pero por ahora esta encima de todos los Kamen Riders, menos Odin. Tambien las Symphogear con el Ignite. Le ganaria a Carol y por mucho, pero solo antes de que ella use su canto de cisne y use el dragon se que use en la final con todas sus memorias. El X-Drive le daria problems si lo atacan entre todas al mismo tiempo. Pero como dije, todavia no he llegado a su limited. El problems es que Bragard al inicio no era tan fuerte. Si lo hubieran atacado a la vez lo mataban. Pero claro, todos a su favor. Damian poerdio y por eso se fortalecio y se volvio adulto. Chao y Hajime perdieron, y gracias al ataque de Hajime, su poder evoluciono aun mas. Un dato raro de resaltar es que aun que haria picadillo a Zeke, no lo podria matar por que Bragard no tiene poder divino ni nada de eso para contrarestar al de Zeke.
Akira: Your wish is my command. I'm happy you love the story so much.
FlameFireZero X: Yeah, in hindsight, it wasn't that big of a mystery. I gave out too many clues now that I think about it. I'm not upset though. I think it went okay. Technically they could. But only Bragard knows how to do that since he's the one who made all the Decks.
lordri25may2001: Yeah, don't worry about it lol. I wasn't thinking too much about it back when I first started writing Odin being Hajime's dad. I dropped too many hints. But I'm happy people got it so it's okay. Yeah, I get why you think that. Carol had a loving father and a love interest. A happy life that all changed for the worse when Bragard Firstr died. And then having to live with the person she loved that's actually not him for all those years got to her. It's like you know they're not real, but they have their face. Pretending to be them. Also, yeah, I figure this is a good start for that. A bit of a spoiler but things only get rougher from here for them. The problem is, how does Miku get the Shenshoujing in this reality? In the anime, Vanessa was the one who retrieved it and they turned it into a Faust Robe. So how would that work here? There is still some time before that so I'm sure I'll think of something but I'm curious if you have something in mind.
Yeah XDU has so many possibilities. I was thinking of a few interactions.
Hajime: So...do you happen to be dating the Hibiki from your world?"
Lingyun(Hajime): Tachibana? I don't know how you stand her. She's so pretentious and downright depressing. Quick to argue back, though. She's a fighter, as much as I hate to admit it. Also, refrain from speaking to me, half-bred. God, look at you. You're an embarrassment to even be considered half-Liang.
Yosuke: I can't believe Tsubasa is so...what's the word?
Yosuke(Another): Loose? Hell, yeah she is. Girl knows how to have a good time and I love that.
Yosuke: I can't imagine that...but then again, you are a slacker, something which I could never be. By the way, does your Tsubasa know how to clean up after herself?
Yosuke(Another): Oh, nah. Her place is a fucking pigsty. I try not to go there at all.
Takeru: You know...I guess your Chrissy ain't that bad. I mean, I love mine with all of my heart, but I would love for her to be a little more...sensitive, I guess.
Takeru(Another): Chrissy? Is that what you call her?
Takeru: What do you call yours?
Takeru(Another): Obviously, a sweet maiden like her deserves only the best pet name. I call her...Christina.
Takeru: Yeah...too girly. Chrissy would have that. But I guess they both have huge racks, so it's okay.
Takeru(Another) *blushes* That she does...
primenidus: Yeah now things are getting spicier. I'm glad you caught that.
Tigracho: I'm glad you think so. It makes me happy as a writer to get that level of praise for my character. It wasn't easy for Carol. I'm going to go more into depth about this in the next chapter, but Bragard was the one who pretty much wiped out the whole kingdom after they executed her father and his parents. He was the only person she had, even though she knew this wasn't the sweet boy she had fallen in love with. But then again, her father did create him, so you could say she couldn't bring herself to kill him because of that too. But because he was the only memory of Bragard left in the world. He also happens to be incredibly useful and helps her with her plans, even though he's started doing whatever he wanted near the end. But deep down, there is still that connection she had with the First. And every time she sees him, she can't bring herself to reject his approach.
Daemon of Wrath: My hat goes off to you, good sir. You've been saying this for a long time now and you were right. Nice intuition. I noticed a lot of people got it. But someone pointed out to me that it was kind of obvious because I dropped too many clues. I think that's okay though, since I scattered them around through the whole story so only people who paid attention saw it coming. But whatever led to him becoming Odin, he succeeded in delaying Bragard's plans. But was it worth it? Since now his family is in danger again. Now they need hope more than ever. But with both Chao and Hajime down, how can they get out of their predicament? Don't worry, I have something good for when Bragard Second goes down. A little spoiler but yes, there will be more forms. It would be bad storytelling if I gave them just Survive and that's it LOL. We have like 3 more reasons ahead of us plus the original season I'm planning. I can't say more than that though.
Tenzalucard123: Too many things are happening and everyone is doing what they can. Hibiki knows something happened. She can feel it. But she had to fight Carol first. Bragard getting made like a baby after not being able to use his Alchemy only shows he's immature and with a weak mind. Odin, Odin, Odin...What secrets is he hiding?
Chapter 73
Living a Lie
"I was hired..." Hazama stood from his kitchen chair, knocking it over by accident. It was well past 12, and he had come home from his job at a nearby pizza parlor and was currently checking the mail."I got hired! I got hired!"
"Why the hell are you yelling this late?!" Kyoko groaned, slamming the kitchen door open.
"Kyoko-san! I got hired!" The pink-eyed man beamed, showing her the letter.
"What's going on?" From upstairs, a young woman with brown hair appeared, holding a small baby girl in her arms."You're back dear. What happened?"
"Seems this good-for-nothing buffoon actually got hired." Kyoko hummed."Hyperion Corporations. I never heard of this place. They need your help since they're looking for archeologists for an expedition."
"That's right. And the pay is really good." Hazama walked over to his wife, kissing her lips."I will be able to get us a bigger house and even afford a better life for our kids!"
"That's so wonderful, dear!" Kaoru embraced her husband."Did you hear that, Setsuna? Your dad found a good job!"
"Where is the Boy Wonder?" Hazama asked, glancing around for his son.
"Asleep. Tomorrow is the first day back to school after all." Kyoko sternly said."And you better walk him to school tomorrow. The poor boy deserves to spend time with his father."
"Yes, of course." He grabbed his mother-in-law's hand, twirling her around with a little dance."I'll even buy you a wonderful gift!"
"Same saccharine words, same empty head," Kyoko grumbled, but chuckled nonetheless.
"I'm happy to see you accept my work proposition."
A young man in around his twenties stood in front of Hazama, wearing an expensive suit and a tiara on top of his head."My name is Bragard Second Hyperion. President of Hyperion Corporations."
"Thank you for this opportunity, Hyperion-san." Hazama bowed down to his new boss.
"Oh, please. None of that." Bragard chuckled in good nature."Call me Bragard. And no need to thank me. This is a mere business opportunity. You work for me and I provide a handsome reward. Of course, what I want you to do is head over to some of the locations I have pinpointed around the world. I am looking for...stones. Legendary stones that belonged to a supposed God eons ago."
"Stones...?"
"That's right." Bragard beckoned Hazama to follow him as they walked down a white hallway with windows that showed the wildlife in the ocean."You see, these Stones belonged to a divine monster called Ventara. It was said that Odin commanded his people to split that beast's power so they could weaken it and defeat it. It was split into 13 stones. Said stones, however, now reside in this plane after Asgard was destroyed after Ragnarok. My goal is to find said Stones so that I may use their power."
"I see..." Hazama frowned, a little curious yet concerned."I'm sorry if I'm overstepping but...use their power in what way?"
"Too many questions so early in our relationship, wouldn't you agree, Hazama-dono?" The albino arched a brow, causing the hairs of Hazama's neck to stand up."You will know in due time. Of course, I will make sure you are well taken care of. We discussed your salary as well as the benefits. You have two families, isn't that right? I suspect taking care of 3 kids can be hard."
"It is." Hazama sighed, his shoulders slumping."I want my children to live good lives. I won't abandon either of my families. So I'll take the job. And gladly so."
"Very good." Bragard beamed, grabbing the man's hand and shaking it."This is the beginning of a beautiful partnership. I can feel it."
Bragard sat in his laboratory, typing away at his keyboard with one hand while performing Alchemy with the other. He was working on creating new weapons since his company was able to produce weapons of relative mass destruction on the black market. However, this time, he was having a hard time getting the formula right."Damn..."
"Excuse me, Bragard-kun?"
A few months into their partnership, Hazama had grown accustomed to being in the presence of the prince.
"Yes?" Bragard looked up from his work. The father of 3 made his way over to his desk, presenting him with some documents."And this is?"
"A report. We believe we found the location of the Advent Stones. As well as...a huge structure residing them out in the Pacific."
"Is that so? Could it be...the Overall...?" He rubbed his chin."Excellent work, Hazama-dono. Please head over to this location as soon as possible. Make preparations for your trip. Oh, and of course, feel free to take your second wife with you. Miyu-san is a wonderful explorer. She's an invaluable asset to our team. I know she will love to explore this location."
"Thank you." Hazama nodded.
"So, how's your family? I mean, both of them." Braghard quickly clarified."I know your oldest one, little Hazuki is having fun here in the installations. I was concerned a child like him would grow bored, but he seems to be right at home."
"He's a quiet kid." Hazama chuckled, taking a seat on the stool next to Bragard, watching him work."The bonus you were so generous in giving me has helped me tremendously these past few months. I finally got Kaoru and her mom out of that crummy apartment. And I can afford the best diapers for Setsuna. And trust me, that little girl sure loves to eat."
"Good to hear. What about the other one? The Boy Wonder, I believe you called him?"
"He's...well, he's been having some problems at school lately if I'm being honest." He sighed, resting his chin on his palm."He's a little rowdy. Gets into fights easily. He definitely has my family's temper, I'll say that. Always looking for a fight. But...I think he's just upset I'm not around that much anymore."
"I suppose families can be complicated like that." Bragard nodded."Why do you have two families, by the way? You mentioned you were having financial problems were I hired you, but you could have cut one of them loose. I hear that a lot of fathers are doing that, especially in America. They just walk out on their kids and leave the mother a single parent. You could have just done that."
"That's not the kind of guy I am." He shook his head, leaving no room for argument."I...have a complicated family. I was indoctrinated to think into a very narrow-minded way of thinking. Falling in love with Kaoru and Miyu...were the first choices I had after leaving the Liang clan. I never felt so free before. So I swore to love them both equally. And my children too. That's why...while I don't necessarily approve of your use of illegal weapons and the creation of artifacts to sell to other countries. But..."
"You need the money." Bragard finished for him."No need to feel bad about it, Hazama-dono. You must think of your family's well-being, after all. Besides, all you have to do is work for me and look the other way. For your families."
"Right..." Hazama trailed off.
"Anyway, mind throwing this piece of trash out on your way out?" He pushed the defective gun further up the table."It's useless. I can't get it to work."
"Hold on, Bragard-kun." Hazama smiled, pushing the object back."Why throw it out when you can work upon it?"
"Hmmm?"
"You are a smart boy. The smartest person I've ever met. But it's okay to not get something on your first try." He folded his arms under his chest."If something doesn't work out, don't throw it out. My motto is always working on something instead of throwing it away. Maybe something broke, or maybe you had a problem with a friend or a loved one. Don't cut ties with them. Simply work on your problems and build your relationship back up with your own efforts."
"So you're saying it's easier to work on something broken rather than start anew?" Braghard hummed to himself before chuckling."Interesting. I suppose that makes sense. Very well, I shall take your advice, Hazama-dono. Thank you. I never thought I would hear the advice of someone else."
"We all learn something new every day. I think that's the beauty of life. There's always something new to learn." Hazama got up from his suit, leaving Bragard with a thoughtful expression on his face."By the way, forgive me if I'm overstepping. But how is your family, Bragard-kun? You never talk about them."
"Ah..." His mind trailed off to the parents of the First and his former friends. And to his beloved Carol."I suppose I forgot."
"Do you really have to go...?" Kaoru said, her eyes puffing after crying for hours. She held her baby daughter in her arms, who was fast asleep."This is insane...You'll die..."
"Maybe." Hazama smiled at his second wife, eyeing the black box in his arms with the symbol of a dragon."But I must put a stop to this. He wants to kill all humans with the power...with the power I got for him. These Decks will be used for evil...All because I got them for him. Worst case scenario, I die and he destroys humanity. Best case scenario, I die but I at least prevent him from fulfilling his plans. He won't look for you. I promise. I just have to get Miyu and Hazuki out of the country. I have a boat ready. Then I'll go face him."
"You don't have to do shit!" Kyoko yelled."You-"
"I know...I messed up. I should have not helped him." He closed his eyes."But I...if I didn't do it, someone else would have been chosen. Someone with maybe not good intentions. So this is the best case scenario. Forgive me, Kyoko-san. I'll...I know I'm a failure of a husband and father but..."
"Are the children going to be okay?" Kyoko pressed."Can you promise me the children will be safe?"
"I will do my best." Hazama nodded, watching over as a small raven-haired boy entered the living room, rubbing his groggy eyes."Hey, Boy Wonder."
"Daddy...?"
"Say goodbye to your dad, Hajime." Kyoko sighed, resigned. She gently pushed her grandchild toward his father. To say their goodbyes. The last time they would ever see him alive.
"Boy Wonder...My son." He kissed his son's cheek, nuzzling against him as tears streamed down his face.'I'm sorry I won't be here for you as you grow up. Your foolish father has to pay for his mistakes. You and your sister might hate me...But if it guarantees your future, I will do it.'
"Where are you going, Daddy?" Hajime asked, confused.
"Far away for the time being. But I will always be in your heart." He smiled, raising his index finger."Remember this: Always take responsibility for your actions. Never back down from the face of a challenge and love those who are closest to you."
'Hopefully, you will not repeat the same mistake I did.'
"Everything okay, babe?"
Hazama blinked, noticing he had been leaning against the rail of their boat for a while now. His first wife, Miyu, stood next to him, a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, just thinking." Hazama took a deep breath."This is dangerous. Maybe I shouldn't have come on the same boat as you two."
"You're so paranoid, honestly." Miyu rolled her eyes."Do you think he'll track you down specifically to this boat? And do you think he'd ever notice that you made a copy of his Philosopher's Stone?"
"Miyu, he is not a fool." Hazama rubbed the bridge of his nose."He will know. If he hasn't already. He has convinced the other scientists to join his cause...And I only have the Ryuki Deck. I don't like my chances of fighting them all at once."
"But that God's offering...Remember?" Miyu reminded him.
"I...I don't know..." He trailed off."Odin might trick me. And besides..."
"Right...If you accept his deal, you will... cease to exist." Miyu covered her mouth."Dear, I am so sorry-"
"It's a valid option." He grabbed her shoulder."If there is no choice, I'll have to accept it. If I can save Hajime, Setsuna, and Hazuki's lives at least..."
Miyu smiled, leaning on the railing as well and admiring the ocean."This world...is worth protecting. There is so much to explore...so many people to meet. But if Bragard achieves his goal..."
"There will be nothing left." Hazama finished for her."Even if by some chance he is right and the world he creates is better, I don't believe in making a perfect world built upon the corpses of millions of people. No matter what. Genocide is not the answer."
"I agree." Miyu nodded."A world like that...should be built by the people together. Not by a single tyrannical figure. No one in the world should rule over everyone."
"Mom...Dad?"
A young Hazuki made his way over to his parents, eating an ice cream sandwich.
"Hey, Superstar." Hazama knelt down, ruffling the blonde's hair."We're almost there. We just-"
Suddenly the ship was sliced apart by a gianr black blade, causing both parts of the ship to flip over. Hazama watched in horror as Miyu and Hazuki fell into the ocean. But he had no time to save them. Bragard was waiting for him, with all the Kamen Riders at his disposal floating in the sky.
"Did you really think you'd be able to fool me, Hazama-dono?" Bragard sneered in disdain."You shall pay in blood!"
"Hazama..." Huan was the first one to speak, recognizing his brother's face."Hazama...it's really him..."
"Daddy?" Setsuna muttered. She had been a small child when her father left, she had long forgotten about his face.
"No...no this can't be real...You're tricking me!" Hajime shouted at the top of his lungs."You fucking liar! You-"
"I assure you, this is no lie." Odin's voice drawled. Hazama's left eye shone in a rainbow color, and yet his lips did not move as he talked. It was as if Odin himself spoke within the already dead body."This is the body of Hazama Liang. He made a contract with me. As you are aware, Gods can make contracts with humans. I believe you know Thor has made a contract with the Autoscorer boy. And Loki with Ryuga. But those were contracts of equals. I, on the other hand, performed a full contract with Hazama. In contrast to them, I have full access to my power as well as full rein of this body. Unfortunately, the body dies. Hazama has been dead for quite a while now. And since he made a contract with a God, he is neither in heaven nor hell. His soul...has ceased to exist."
"What...?" Hajime gaped, unable to comprehend what was going on."But...why...? Why would he do that...?"
"First, let me tell you I am not telling you this out of the need to aid Bragard." Odin clarified, putting his helmet back on."However, I am doing this because I have a debt to settle. You see, he was the one who ultimately brought my full essence into this realm. While your father was the one who found my stone along with the others, Bragard was the one who opened the dimensional rift and brought my soul fully here."
"Yeah. And you forget your place, it seems." Bragard folded his arms."You will return to your home in my laboratory, dwarf in the flask."
"My Dad...why? Why would he do all of this?!" Hajime finally exploded, unable to hold his emotions together."Why?! He gave you the tools you needed for your plan and now I find out...I find out he's Odin! The one responsible for this fucking war that's taken the lives of so many innocent people! We're all in danger of dying because of him!"
"Boy Wonder...You have the whole story wrong." Bragard squatted in front of him."Your father didn't become Odin because he wanted to. Nor did he abandon you and your family because he ran on you like a coward. No...it's quite the opposite in fact. Isn't that right, Kyoko?"
Kyoko clenched her fist, avoiding his gaze.
"What the fuck are you talking about?!" Hajime screamed, biting his lower lip so hard he drew blood.
"Let me tell you the truth about Hazama Liang." Bragard stood up, marching over to Odin."And why all of his actions up until now had a purpose. And that purpose...was to protect you and your family."
"What...?"
"To protect us?" Setsuna repeated, tearful."W-w-what does he mean...? Daddy left because...he wanted to protect us?"
"That's a LIE!" Hajime screeched, trashing around wildly but unable to move due to his restraints."You're lying! Lying! To protect us?! Protected us by running away when we needed him the most?! Abandoning his family?! Not seeing his wife as she died from disease?! What about when Setsuna and I were targeted for bullying?! Where was he then?! You're fucking lying!"
"Then...ask yourself this question. Why do you think your father did the things he did?" Bragard tilted his head."Have you ever even wondered about his reasons? And now that you know that he's Odin's vessel, do you not wonder why he did it? What made him sacrifice his own life to become the vessel of the Allfather? Then let me go back to when you were just a child. As you know, he had another family. His first wife, Miyu Kaburagi, and his son, Hazuki Kaburagi."
"Did you...just say Hazuki...?"
"Hazzy-san is our brother...?" Setsuna repeated, dumbfounded.
"Kyoko knew all along. You can ask her when the story is done." He shifted his gaze to Odin."So, how about it? Tell him the story. I mean, you do have Hazamadono's memories, after all."
"Ver well." Odin sighed."Consider this a small favor. Seeing as how you put all this hard work into your plan. And yet, you can't use your Alchemy. How unfortunate."
"Tch." Bragard clicked his tongue, hiding his annoyance.
"Your father was married...Well, I suppose it's more apt to say that he was in a relationship with two women. And of course, he had children with both of said women. However, he had a bit of a financial problem. Raising 3 kids was tough. As such, he was sending his resume to get hired. And it just so happened that the person who hired him was..."
"Me." Alternative did a quick bow."I was the one who set him off to this...shall we say, enlightening journey? Your father was a brilliant addition to my team. Of course, I couldn't tell him that I was planning to eradicate humanity. But he had a sneaky suspicion."
"He knew Bragard was up to no good." Odin supplied."But for a young father like him, with families to provide for...it's obvious why he chose to ignore Bragard's illegal schemes to help his family. All that work, all the possible lives that were ended by Bragard's schemes...He chose to keep it all in his heart. Just to give you and your siblings a future."
"Hazama-dono taught me a lot of things. I felt like he was the only person next to Carol who understood me." Bragard sighed."To acquire as much knowledge as possible. To understand things no one else can. Eventually, he found the Advent Stones."
"I guided him toward them." Odin chimed in."I could sense his strong love for his children. And in his mind, if this expedition paid off, he was going to receive a hefty amount of money. So I took a liking to him immediately. However, once he brought the stones back, Bragard put me in a flask where he experimented on me. Of course, I helped them out to further my agenda. I even told them the secrets of the Divine Beast, the Stones, and how to weaponize them."
"I gave him the Ryuki Deck. He was the first Ryuki, at least, before the Rider War. I gave the other Decks to other scientists in my facility just to test them out. I was planning on using them to control the world. Once I did that, I had to tell him the truth." Bragard paced around Hajime, a twisted smile on his face upon seeing his crestfallen expression."And what do you know? He rejected my idea. Well, he didn't outright say it. But I knew it. I could feel it. His disgust toward me. He chose to go back to you. Ah...He spoke so much of you, the Boy Wonder. There wasn't a single day where he didn't talk about you. It angered me. Why would he choose something as trivial as a family when I offered him the world? Riches? Status and power in the new world I was going to create. Something better. Humanity is driving itself to extinction. I told him it would be fitting for something not human, like myself, to be the one to end it. And yet...He chose to stand against me. Despite how rotten this world is. He chose to protect it.
"Once Hazama found out Bragard's intentions, he created a copy of the Philosopher's Stone using the knowledge he had learned from Bragard over the time he worked with him as well as...divide guidance from me. So he returned home and said his goodbyes to your family. Then took Miyu and her child away from the country. But Bragard intercepted them and destroyed the boat, leaving those two stranded while he fought the other Riders. Naturally, his power alone against them was insufficient."
"I thought he died." Bragard huffed."And while I thought he was dead, I opened the dimensional rift, allowing Odin's full consciousness, Thor and Loki to enter this world. However, my victory was not completed. Because your father made a contract with Odin."
Hajime's eyes began to tear up. He had a feeling where this was going.
"In his last moments, your father realized he wasn't going to stop Bragard on his own, Ryuki." Odin addressed the raven-haired teen."So he called upon me. And made a contract with me. However, I told him the risks of such a thing. And do you know what he said?"
"If I can guarantee the safety of my children, then that's all that matters to me." Odin said in Hazama's voice."I want them to have a world to grow up in. And to make amends for helping this monster. I want them to grow big and strong so they don't repeat my mistakes. If I have to sell my soul to you, then so be it."
Kyoko started sobbing loudly, surprising those around her.
"Kyoko?" Huan rubbed her back soothingly.
"You damn moron..." Kyoko wept."So you did die after all...And you kept your promise...Hajime...it's true. I knew all along. But when your father didn't return home and the world wasn't destroyed, I had a feeling that the person responsible would eventually try to get revenge. So when I found out Hazuki had been found, I did my best to distance you from him...Because I wanted to keep you both safe. I...I realize I may have contributed to ruining his life since I didn't offer a place in my home for him...But the two of you being separated was for the best in case Bragard came for you...And when I found out you were a Kamen Rider..."
"Grandma..." Hajime whispered.
"Daddy!" Setsuna fell to her knees, inconsolable."Daddy! My daddy!"
Wei and Huan were left speechless at the whole story. Chao-Xing gritted her teeth, not offering any words. She kept her eyes on the clouds above her.'It's here...'
"So in the mere moments he had before the contract was completed, Hazama killed the other Riders and used the Philosopher's Stone to get rid of Bragard's ability to use Alchemy. Of course, I also aided in that endeavor. That's why he didn't get his powers back when he powered the stone up again. Because of my divine intervention. His soul...is incapable of using Alchemy."
"What?!" Bragard whipped his head in his direction."You're telling me it's because of you too?!"
"In the end, Hazama completed his objective and took Bragard's powers away from him, reducing him to a child-like body." Odin concluded, ignoring the prince."After that, I was free to do whatever I wanted. So I decided to start something interesting. An experiment, if you will. To see humanity's worth. A Rider War. The rest is history."
"So my Dad did all of that...just to-"
"To protect his beloved sons and daughter." Odin interrupted him."He thought of you until the very end. And despite what you thought of him all these years, he loved you so much, he willingly chose to have his existence erased to make sure you lived another day."
"All this time...all this time hating my dad...loathing him for abandoning us." Hajime's breathing became erratic to the point where he began to hyperventilate."No! No! You're lying! You're fucking lying! He abandoned us! I hate him! I-"
"Calm down." Odin knelt in front of him and grabbed his chin."Take deep breaths and-"
"DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME! GET OFF OF ME!" He screamed, his voice cracking. Memories of his past filled his mind. The memories of his dad that he had thought he had forgotten. The years he resented him for abandoning them."He did it...to protect me...He didn't run away...He did it for us..."
"And that's the whole truth." Odin stood back up, slowly levitating from the ground."Though I did him a favor and gave the Ryuki Deck to someone else. I wanted to honor his sacrifice and keep you out of this game. Unfortunately, it seems that in the end, you, a Messiah, were meant to be part of this after all."
With that, Odin floated back into the sky, leaving the rest of the people behind.
"Tch. Pompous asshole." Bragard spat."Soon enough, he will bow before me as well. So, Boy Wonder? How do you feel? That you've been living a lie this entire time? What a horrible life you have been living. Hating the person who gave up everything to make sure you lived. Heh. Funny how that works."
Hajime said nothing, his gaze fixated on the ground and tears streaming down his face uncontrollably."He did it to protect me..."
"I asked you a question human!" Bragard began kicking him in the sides, earning several grunts of pain. Once he got fed up, he glared daggers at the boy on the ground."No reaction? Come on, give me something more than just tears! Come on! Let me hear your screams!"
He received no such thing. Hajime kept muttering the same thing, his mind somewhere else, infuriating the Prince to no end.
"What a disappointment. You all turned out to be such big fucking disappointments." Bragard sneered."Humans are all the same. I had to watch my parents be burnt at the stake along with Carol's father because they supported Alchemy. That's when I found out that humans are better off eradicated. The worst mistake the Gods have ever made. But that's fine. I will right all their wrongs. So...if I haven't broken you just yet, how about I kill one of your-"
"IGNITE MODULE, BAKKEN!"
Bragard glanced over his shoulder, noticing the Symphogear user wielding her gauntlets and going in for a punch."Hya!"
The pseudo-Rider leaped in the air, easily avoiding her strike."You...You can still move? But I severed all your tendons..."
Chao said nothing, electricity sparking through her joints as she held a fighting stance in front of Hajime.
"Ah, I see. So you're stimulating your body by shocking yourself." Alternative whistled, astonished."Very impressive. Must be quite painful."
"Chao!" Huan cried out for his daughter.
"Why are you here?!" Hajime finally came to his senses."You'll be killed!"
"I...I always envied you, you know?" Chao glanced over her shoulder to her cousin."You seemed to be free. Free from our family traditions. Our...shortcomings. And when I got to know you, I realized that even you carry your own pain. Your own struggles. You aren't perfect. I used to think your father was a coward and a deserter. But now...it's different. He embodies the true meaning of Liang Pride."
"Chao, what are you-"
"To protect those you love until your dying breathe. It seems I not only learned from the son but also the father." Chao-Xing chuckled."Both people whom I used to look down on once upon a time. I wanted to spend more time with everyone else. These past few weeks...were the best of my life. I never felt so alive before. Just like your father, I will put my life on the line...to protect what's dear to me."
The young woman took a deep breath, letting the son in her heart come to light."Gatrandis babel ziggurat edenal..."
"Chao-Xing! Don't!" Hajime yelled, alarmed upon recognizing the chant."Don't do it!"
"Emustolronzen Finé el balal zizzl..."
"She's using her Swan Song?" Bragard narrowed his eyes."So, you're willing to die here like a fool."
"Swan Song...?" Huan asked, though no one next to him knew what was going on.
"Don't do it, dumbass!" Hajime pleaded."Please! Just stop!"
"Gatrandis babel ziggurat edenal..." Chao continued her chant, electricity cracking through the whole area as the first drops of rain began to descend from the heavens.
"Please...please don't..."
"Emustolronzen Finé el zizzl..." Blood poured out of her mouth, several of her organs suffering critical damage, but she smirked at the Prince. She immediately began bombarding him with several thunderbolts, which he didn't even bother deflecting and took them head-on as if they were nothing. Focusing her little Phonic Gain in her right arm, she dashed at him, attempting to strike him down. Not only was she down an arm and severely wounded, but he also was going full power and had gotten even stronger after fighting Hajime.
Alternative continued weaving, dodging her attacks effortlessly."So desperate! Are you so eager to die?!"
Chao screamed, winding her fist back and going for a punch to his face. However, at the last second, she bent her arm, confusing Bragard and catching him off guard with a fakeout to deliver an elbow to his face, sending him rolling to the ground.
"Yes!" Wei jumped back to his feet.
"Retched lowlife!" Bragard sneered, slashing her face with his Slashdagger. She had moved just not time at the last second to avoid having her throat sliced but at the cost of her right eye. She screamed in agony, but the pain was the least of her concerns. She leaped back to Hajime's location, grabbing one of the rings around his legs and removing it. However, an invisible force launched her away, crashing harshly onto the ground.
"Trying to free him?" Bragard chuckled."What for? He can't move and his Deck is destroyed."
The oriental girl hissed, creating a lightning disk and hurling it at the Prince. He simply stepped aside but noticed the disk was not intended for him, It managed to cut through his dark matter cage, dropping it to the ground and bending the bars upon impact."What are you planning, my beloved Chao? Think you can free my hostages and your cousin?"
Fighting the urge to pass out, she gouged her sliced eye out and threw it at Bragard.
"She's throwing her eyeball?"
"Ha!" She fired a thunderbolt at her eye, blowing it up and creating a smokescreen.
"A distraction?! You gouged your eye out so you can distract me?!"
Chao rushed over to Hajime's side, quickly grabbing onto the next few rings and removing them from his body.
"What are you doing?!"
"Just shut up." Chao said, her voice hoarse."Just...just live, okay?"
Before he could ask what she meant, her body was lifted high in the air."CHAOOOOO!"
With his gravity, Alternative slammed Chao hard onto the ground, creating a huge crater and breaking several of her bones. The pink-eyed girl twitched in place, vomiting blood profusely. And yet, she stood up once more, her vision growing blurry. She fell to her knees, but she refused to give up, crawling over to Hajime.
"Please stop it...Please...I'm begging you..." Hajime sobbed, face on the concrete."Please..."
Chao-Xing grabbed his hand, giving him a bloody smile that somehow...reassured him."I believe in you..."
"Why are you still fighting?" Alternative pondered, staring at her intently."Why do you still try to fight against insurmountable odds stacked against you? Why are you still persisting...when you know fully when you're going to die?"
"What...kind of question is that...?" She forced a chuckle, sitting up and mustering the cockiest grin she could."It's obvious you don't get it...But pride...is not just about showing off your power. But your love as well...Besides...the only one who is going to die is you. My Swan Song...Fighting God's Lightning Hammer...is already activated. Take a look at the sky."
Bragard shifted his gaze toward the sky and he gasped. A humongous thundercloud was above their heads, lightning cracking and illuminating the now dark city."Those attacks you were doing... were intended to power that up...You were playing me from the start?!"
"Bingo..." She grinned."Don't bother dodging. It's unavoidable since it's an attack that moves at the speed of lightning...It will reach the ground in 1/1000th of a second. An attack so fast and so powerful, nothing can even begin to compare... Try blocking or repelling it...Your destiny...is already decided. I waited for the perfect storm and infused my lightning with the clouds...To maximize the effect of my Swan Song."
"You...you bitch!" Alternative rose his hands, forming several dark matter barriers above him.
She manifested a hammer made of thunder. The Mjolnir. Swinging it down, she activated her Swan Song to its full effect.
Fighting God's Lightning Hammer
"EVERYONE GET DOWN!" She threw herself on top of Hajime while the others huddled together. A dragon of thunder emerged from the skies, its piercing red eyes glaring directly at the prince below. And as she stated, he had no time to move. With a roar that echoed through the whole city, the dragon descended in an instant, easily breaking through the dark barriers and even bypassing Alternative's gravity, striking him head-on with a thunderclap. And everything went white. The buildings around them began to break, and the streets were covered in black lightning that could be seen from outer space. But as soon as it came, it ended. Just like thunder.
Where Alternative once stood,d there was now a deep crater with nothing but rubble. No sight of the Prince.
"My ears..." Wei whined, removing himself from Setsuna after shielding her.
"Is everyone okay...?" Huan asked, helping Kyoko up.
"I think so..." Kyoko muttered."Wait, the children...!"
"Chao..." Hajime stared at his cousin's face, who had grown pale after losing so much blood."Why...?"
"He had to die...by Liang hands..." She whispered, her Ignite Module dying out and reverting to her regular Symphogear."And...I told you...As long as I can get you and the others out of here safely..."
"But Chao!" Hajime cut her off abruptly."You wanted to spend more time with the others! You just became friends with them!"
"Yeah...Tell them I'm sorry." She shot him an apologetic look. However, her smile dissipated, replaced by the look of a distraught girl as she began to cry. To Hajime, this was the first time he's ever seen her so...exposed."I wanted to explore more of the world with them...Go out more, go to parties. Live a normal life...But...you'll just have to do that for both of us. That's why...I have no regrets."
"Actually, no one here is getting out of here alive."
The cousins felt their hearts sinking to their stomachs upon hearing the voice. Alternative stood a few yards away from them, his armor impeccable and having sustained no damage.
"Impossible..." Chao-Xing trembled like a leaf, but her body moved on its own, standing in front of Hajime protectively."You...You should be dead! That attack must have carbonized you, leaving you no opportunity to regenerate!"
"I must admit, you had me concerned. You were right...that little attack did more damage than what the Boy Wonder did earlier. But you only made me stronger, dumb bitch!" Alternative clenched his fists in fury."I have come to close calls twice today... by the hands of two lowly humans! Liangs!"
"Is there no hope...?" Setsuna hugged her grandmother."Are we going to die...?"
Kyoko examined the bent bars of their cage. There was a space for people to go through them now, thanks to Chao-Xing's efforts."Did she...?"
"You fucking horrible brats!" Alternative screeched, cackling like a maniac."I'll kill you! I will fucking kill you! Starting with you! Any last words!?"
Chao-Xing blinked, shifting her gaze to her family. Unable to hear her dad and brother screaming for her. She then turned around to face her cousin, giving him a warm, tender smile as tears streamed down her cheeks."I'm sorry...Tell the others I'm sorry...Thank you. For loving me and being the people I can call friends. Family...Because I love you too, Hajime...little brother."
Hajime was forced to watch as a pillar emerged from the ground, striking her in the stomach and launching Chao into the air where the jaws made of dark matter awaited for her, forming the face of a demon. She closed her eyes, accepting her fate. The jaws closed around her neck followed by a sickening sound of flesh being torn. Several tendrils emerged from the ground, latching to her legs and arm, unnaturally twisting them and making the bones pierce the flesh, becoming visible.
"IT HURTS! IT HURTS! IT HURTS! SAVE ME! SAVE ME, LINGYUN! SAVE ME! HAHAHAHAHA" Bragard erupted into a fit of laughter, holding his stomach as he enjoyed hearing her bones snapping and breaking."Yes! This is the sound of death! Now for the finale!"
The jaws applied more pressure, making Chao-Xing's body spasm uncontrollably as everyone was forced to hear the sickening sound of bones, ligaments, and flesh tearing. Her Symphogear finally gave out, reverting to her normal attire. And to their disbelief, her headless body fell to the ground, only for several dark matter jaws to tear her body to pieces, leaving no trace behind of her body aside from some of her clothes. In the blink of an eye, Chao-Xing was dead.
"One down. Sheez, so she was alive as I broke her arm and legs? Talk about persistence." Alternative made his way over to the puddle of blood and guts on the ground that once belonged to the proud oriental girl, slicing the Mjolnir into pieces."Just to make sure no one else can use this against me."
"I'll kill you..." Hajime whispered."Murderer..."
"Hmmm? What did you say?"
His eyes began to shine, shooting him the most hateful glare he could muster."I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! I WILL KILL YOU!"
"Yes! Yes! That's what I wanted to hear!" Alternative clapped, excited."Finally! We're getting somewhere! I wanted to see this side of you, Boy Wonder! More! Let me hear more of your agony! Show me your pained expression as I kill your worthless family!"
"BRAGARD!"
Alternative turned to the source of the voice and noticed Huan running over to him, using his hands since he was missing a leg to help himself."Oh, right. The cage is broken."
With a bored look, he fired a projectile toward Huan's leg, piercing through it. But the man was fuming in unfathomable rage upon seeing his daughter die."BRAGARD!"
"Dad, no!" Wei tried to rush after his father, but Kyoko stopped him."Let me go! He's going to die!"
"Don't let your sister's sacrifice be in vain!" Kyoko snapped at him."You're pretty fast, right? I heard you're on Lydian's track team. Take Setsuna and get out of here."
"Grandma, no!" Setsuna shook her head."Don't do-"
"If you both die, then all this was pointless!" Kyoko barked, grabbing her shoulders."Live! Let the adults take care of this mess! Please, Wei. I know it's selfish of me to ask this...but at least...at least save my granddaughter. I'll protect your dad. Right to the end."
Without sparing another glance, Kyoko jogged out of the cage, Setsuna trying to go after him."GRANDMA! GRANDMA! NO!"
"Stop!" Wei wrapped his arms around her, and due to her shorter frame, he was able to restrain her."She's right...I want to avenge my sister, but if we die here, then her sacrifice will be in vain!"
"NO! PLEASE LET ME GO! GRANDMA! HAJI!" The poor girl wept uncontrollably as Wei carried her in bridal style, rushing out of the cage in the opposite direction as fast as he could."HAVE YOU NO HEART?! THEY'LL DIE! WE HAVE TO-"
And that's when she saw his face. Wei was also sobbing silently, his eyes puffy and red. The pain of losing his sister and being forced to abandon his dad no doubt lingered in his mind. But he had a mission to do. Get himself and Setsuna out of there as soon as possible.
Huan was pinned to the ground, snarling utter hatred at the prince as he stepped over his head."Too bad. Maybe if you had another leg, you would have been able to entertain me some more. Oh, well!"
"You bastard! You killed my wife and my daughter! I will kill-"
"You talk too much, mongrel." Bragard stomped on his head, completely crushing his skull in one attack. His body stopped moving right after."Another one down. And now, for the stragglers."
Hajime continued to thrash around, biting onto the ring holding his arm, and trying to remove it, causing his gums to bleed.
Alternative sighed, shaking his head."Just one more push. One more push is all you need. So, who should I kill next-"
A rock bouncing against his head gave Bragard the answer he needed. He slowly shifted his gaze to the old woman in front of him."Ah. A volunteer. How precious."
"No..." Hajime immediately shut up, his expression of fury shifting to a submissive one."Grandma! No!"
"I have been turning a blind eye to your problems for years." Kyoko muttered, challenging the almighty prince."I've kept quiet all this time, thinking it was better that way. To keep you oblivious to everything. I see I was wrong. All this time...I should have come clean to you. I should have helped that boy Hazuki when he was rescued. There are a lot of things I didn't do...because I was scared. Maybe if I had come clean to you about everything...things wouldn't have ended up this way."
She grabbed another rock, but a black rod pierced her hand, causing her to drop it. She bit her lower lip silencing her scream of pain to not entice the Prince, and continued to to speak, much to Bragard's surprise."Because I was afraid...After I lost Kaoru, I thought that I could never feel the same way again. But having you two with me all of these years...has filled me with such much happiness. I never stopped being a mother. And I couldn't be more proud."
Bragard flicked his wrist, forcing her onto the ground with his gravity and breaking nearly all of her bones.
"Bragard! No!" Hajime pleaded in pure desperation."Please! Kill me instead! I'm begging you! Kill me and let them go! I'm the one you're after!"
"Ah. And there it is. Begging for death." He frowned."But not the way I intended."
"DON'T DO IT!" Hajime shouted again."Please! Have mercy! I beg of you! Have mercy!"
"Mercy for a filthy human? She may not be a Liang, but she's still related to that bastard of a father you have. And besides..." He advanced toward Kyoko, his Slashdagger over his shoulder."This could be the final push you need...to finally show me a good time."
"PLEASE DON'T KILL MY MOTHER! I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANOTHER MOTHER! HAVE MERCY! I BEG YOU"
As Hajime continued to plead in vain, Alternative rose his blade, asking the same question to Kyoko he did to Chao-Xing."Any last words."
"I have no need for those." Kyoko closed her eyes."My children are alive and safe."
"Do you consider them your children?"
"Of course. I am their mother too." She stated in a matter-of-fact tone."I am happy I was blessed with them. I was never alone, even after my daughter died. I owe them everything."
"Burying a child sure is rough." Bragard hummed."I suppose you are grateful you won't outlive more of your children."
"No...I am grateful I even got to be with them." Kyoko muttered, watching as the blade descended to her head."I love you...I love you both."
Two children stood in front of the open casket of their deceased mother, holding each other tightly. The small girl cried in her brother's arms, but the young man had a blank expression on his face. He had already cried all the tears he needed a while ago.
"From now on, it's only us three." Kyoko approached her grandchildren, eyeing her daughter's peaceful expression in her eternal slumber."I know I can't replace her. But I will do my best to be there for you. As both mother and father."
Hajime and Setsuna were hugged by their grandmother, as the three of them cried in silence in front of Kaoru Adachi."You are my beloved children."
"STOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSOPTSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOP-"
The sword descended against her skull, piercing straight through her cranium and killing her instantly.
"Three down." Alternative removed the bloody blade from the corpse, staring directly at Hajime."That's another person you failed to save. Are you really the Messiah? Because you have yet to save a single person. All of these people died because of your incompetence."
Hajime was silent, his eyes shot wide open and not moving, as if he were a statue.
"That's the same look I had...when my parents were burnt at the stake next to Carol's father." Bragard said."That's when I realized that humanity was worthless. Good people die just as much as bad people do. In the end, all humans ever do is die and become ugly corpses. They are their biggest enemy."
He paced around, rambling on in the rain as if he loved hearing his voice."Catastrophe always comes. Whether it's by mother nature, humans, or...even a monster. But someone like me...I can dictate what happens. I alone stand at the top of the world. If I say the world dies, it dies. Just like how I killed your beloved family. Oh, don't worry...Your cousin and your sister won't make it very far. I do love a game of hide and seek every now and then. Now...how should I kill them? It's quite ironic. How your father offered his life to Odin to stop me from destroying the world. And yet, he's the reason why you will all die the most painful deaths imaginable. How meaningless. Just like his existence. It's fine. Maybe I have to kill...Hibiki Tachibana as well?"
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Hajime screamed, taking the prince off guard for a split second.
"Hmmm?" Alternative tilted his head.
From his broken Deck, Dragreder's card slid out, shining brightly.
Advent: Dragreder
Bragard braced himself from the sudden explosion of fire emerging from the card. From the flames, he could make up two red orbs staring right at him. The black rings pinning Hajime down incinerated as he began to pick himself up from the floor, his arms regrowing and growing scales. A tail sprouted from his rear and one wing of fire emerged from his back. The lower part of his face became that of a dragon, sporting razor-sharp teeth and releasing a powerful roar that shook Bragard to his very core.
"Yes! Finally! You're taking me seriously! And all it took was for me to kill your beloved family!" Bragard laughed, splaying his arms."Now this is worth calling a dessert!"
The dragon roared once more, a pillar of fire shooting toward the sky.
And...that's another chapter done. Fuck, I hate seeing characters go. I love Chao-Xing. And even though I know who is dying and when I can't help but feel the impact of the death as I reread the chapter to edit it. To be honest, I am very satisfied with how Chao-Xing turned out as a character. She's come a long way from her introduction in chapter 3(or 2). Her conclusion felt satisfying to me, believing in her cousin and protecting him until she her dying breath. Kyoko's story hits home a little since I grew up with my grandmother. As probably some of you may have as well. Sometimes grandparents end up becoming your parents. But now, Hajime and Dragreder have lost control and their sole target is Bragard. Stay tuned for me.