Reviews:

SoutaAmetsuchi: The last brother of FIS falls, leaving his sisters and girlfriend behind. But not without doing some major damage to Odin and forcing him to expose more of his power.

Ryugen: A true Rider, as he was trained to be since he was a kid. Actually, his form is still at level 2 since he didn't get the powers from him yet. When he first transformed against Loki, he was at stage 1 since he only had Ryuki, Abyss, and Verde. Then he got Ryuga, Femme, Gai, and Ouja, reaching stage 2. Once he gets Knight and Raiden's powers, he will reach stage 3. There is no stage 4, as he'd be Ventara at that point. But yes, you got it right. His armor will become white. And I like the "All as One" announcement. It's perfect. Also, yes. I will absolutely use that theme for that form. I listen to it every day.

FlameFire Zero X: Yeah, it's kind of sad as he was the last of the original FIS trio of Riders. He lost his 2 brothers and just lost his life, finally joining them. Unfortunately, he didn't absorb them, as he can't control what he takes away with Origin Zero. Further information will be available in this chapter.

Caballero lector rojo: Dio lo mejor de si para darles una oportunidad a sus amigos de seguir adelante para proteger a sus hermanas. Me gusta la idea del divine gate. Si, Odin todavia guarda sus mejores cartas. Pero ya veremos mientras avanza la pelea.

TheEmeraldMage: Yeah, honestly, a lot of people asked me why I kept Raiden around instead of someone like Takeru. But honestly, I feel like Raiden needed to be here to grow as a character as he still hadn't been developed as Takeru. Also, I'm a sucker for the Ryuki/Knight/Raia trio. We got it in Ryuki and Dragon Knight. Love to see it. Yeah, Odin just likes being an asshole and going overboard. Just to flex. The problem with their fight with Odin initially is that they still don't understand ALL that Odin can do. They're just keeping close to each other, protecting each other's backs. They know about the sword thanks to Yomi, but not much beyond that. Okay, I agree with you on the Hajime thing, albeit slightly. The thing is that he realistically is the only one with the means to put Odin down. He has the most Advent Beasts, the power to potentially take away his Goldphoenix, and is just overall stronger than the other 2. The team revolves around him, and Knight and Raia are support. But even then, I'd say Hajime has been underperforming so far. Raia was the only one who managed to use Odin's attack against him, and getting some damage to force him to transform, taking away the healing factor the first time transforming into Oversurvive gives the user. Without out, they would still be at square one. As for what will happen to the people who died by the sword...We'll see. Don't get your hopes up though. And no, don't worry. I will not introduce any giant worms or anything of the sort.

Dragstorm rider: Raiden died, but he gave Hajime and Yosuke the key to keep fighting. Yes, he does. So they will have to be careful to be able to hit him with it.

Tigracho: A pleasant surprise to see you commenting on the chapter the day it was published. But yeah, Raiden got deleted from every timeline, just like it happened to Yomi. The sword kills on a dimensional level, as it cuts through dimensions and realities. Nah, Loki gifted it to him. Back then Loki was like an evil Santa Claus giving people gifts. Yeah, I'm doing the parallel world bits since I doubt I'd do anything XDU. At least for the time being. Maybe I'll change my mind but who knows.

Tenzalucard123: Now only the dragon and the bat remain to fight the phoenix. Just like in the show.

Chapter 170
Midgard Showdown against the Allfather - The Battle for Heaven and Earth
A True Leader

As the battle against the Allfather raged on, the very fabric of the planet trembled, sending shockwaves deep into the earth. In underground bunkers, the remaining Japanese citizens huddled together, their faces pale with fear as the ground shook violently beneath them.

"It's worse than before," Chisa Kuroiwa murmured, her voice barely audible over the distant rumble of explosions. She clung to her daughters, her gaze darting anxiously between the quivering walls and the frightened faces around them.

"Hajime-kun and his friends are out there fighting for us," Seiko said, attempting to steady her trembling voice. "They've done it before, haven't they? They can do it again. I've known Hajime since he was just a little boy. I know he can do this."

"It feels different this time," Kagura whispered, her eyes wide as she glanced at her sister. "The strikes... they're closer now. Like they're right above us."

A heavy silence fell, broken only by the distant booms of battle.

"We must not lose hope," a resolute voice declared. All eyes turned to Amber, who stood with her family close by. Her expression was firm, her voice steady. "Adachi-kun can work miracles. Remember Okinawa? When Chiaki Nakahara attacked, it seemed like there was no way out. But we believed in Hamaguchi-kun and Adachi-kun, and they pulled us through. He brought light to our darkest hour. We have to believe in them now more than ever."

Amber's words struck a chord, igniting a flicker of determination in the room. Chisa nodded, her lips curling into a faint smile. "She's right. Right now, all we can do is wait... and believe."

"Yeah," Seiko said softly, a small grin breaking through her fear. Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing none other than Yatsuhiro Kazanari.

"I have a request...for all Japanese citizens who still have hope for a new tomorrow."

Maria stood abruptly, her fists clenched. "I can't wait anymore."

"What?" Tsubasa gasped, grabbing Maria's arm. "That's insane! You'll just get in their way!"

"I have a terrible feeling," Maria replied, pressing a hand to her chest. "I can't let my little brother and my friends fight alone. If this is the battle to end it all, we have to do something. Anything."

"She's right," Hibiki said suddenly, her voice filled with quiet resolve. "Look at those explosions in the distance. This fight isn't going as planned. They need us."

"I can't stand by either," Shirabe added, her tone somber but resolute. "If we do nothing, I'll live with regret forever."

"I want to go too!" Kirika chimed in, her eyes blazing with determination. "Hamaguchi and Jades-onii-chan wouldn't hesitate. Neither will I!"

Chris smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Damn right. Odin started this mess. It's about time we ended it."

"I'm in too," Miku said quietly, her expression fierce. "For Bragi. For all of us."

"Me as well," Elsa added. "I'm fighting for my daughter's future."

The group fell silent as all eyes turned to Tsubasa. She exhaled slowly, a small smile playing on her lips. "Very well. I shouldn't have expected anything less from all of you. They need us." She turned to Genjuro. "Uncle."

Genjuro sighed deeply, his expression heavy. "I had a feeling it would come to this. Just promise me one thing—none of you die. That's an order."

"Don't worry, Shishou!" Hibiki declared, her fist raised high. "We won't die—even if it kills us!"

Chris rolled her eyes with a smirk. "That's not how it works, genius. But fine, let's do this."

"I'll prepare the chopper," Genjuro began, but Tsubasa interrupted.

"No. It's faster if we fly. The battle's no longer in Japan. We'll transform and head there ourselves."

Genjuro nodded, his usual sternness replaced with reluctant admiration. "Then go. We'll do what we can to back you up."

The girls gathered in a tight circle, their voices rising as they chanted their sacred hymns:

"Baswisyall Nescell Gungnir Tron..."
"Imyuteus Ame No Habakiri Tron..."
"Kilterr Ichaival Tron..."
"Seilen Coffin Airgetlam Tron..."
"Zeios Igalima Raizen Tron..."
"Various Shul Shagana Tron..."
"Rei Shénshòujìng Rei Zizzl..."
"Malice Delal Mjolnir Tron..."

In a blinding flash of light, the eight Symphogear warriors soared into the sky, streaking toward the horizon and the heart of the storm.

Knight surveyed the battlefield, his mind racing as he analyzed Odin's moves. The Allfather stood motionless, a monolith of menace as if daring them to act first. It wasn't a mercy—it was a calculated power play.

'Amaterasu… Knight's fists clenched at the thought. His sacrifice forced Odin to show his hand. For the first time, Odin burned through the regenerative powers of Oversurvive. But now he's pushed Zantetsuken to a new level, and we're still blind to a counter for that dimensional slash. And at full power… who knows what monstrosities he's hiding?'

"Yosuke-san!" Ryuki's voice cut through Knight's thoughts. He landed beside him, his eyes wide with alarm. "He can accelerate time!"

"No…" Knight's voice was grim as he corrected him, dread thick in the air. "It's not time acceleration. He's skipping time."

Hajime froze at the words, his breathing quickening. "S-skipping time…?"

Knight's tone dropped, weighty and somber. "Yes. He skips a few seconds into the future. It's not that we're frozen—we're still moving in that skipped time. But our minds don't follow. By the time he resumes, it feels like we've suddenly shifted. Our actions become disjointed, chaotic… and we're completely unaware of what happened."

"So, you're saying…" Hajime's voice faltered, terror creeping into his words.

Knight nodded grimly. "He uses time stop defensively and time skip offensively. We've countered his time stop with our formation. But for time skip… the only way is to attack everything around you the moment you notice it. Scatter in different directions. If we move together, we risk hurting each other. That's all we've got for now."

"Understood…" Hajime replied, his voice thick with suppressed emotion. But his shoulders sagged, his sniffles betraying the tears he fought to hold back.

Knight's heart tightened at the sight. 'He's grieving. Amaterasu's death… it's my fault. He glanced at his hands, the weight of his failures pressing down like lead. I tried to shield Amaterasu from Odin's earlier attack. I was knocked out, and it led us here. Another friend died under my command… another life lost because of my mistakes.'

But he shook his head violently, forcing the guilt aside. 'No. Amaterasu's sacrifice brought us here. Without him, we wouldn't have uncovered Odin's vulnerabilities—his susceptibility to his attacks, and Adachi's unique power. These deaths… they can't be meaningless. I'll turn them into the foundation of our victory. I have to.'

"Adachi," Knight called out, his voice firm. "Take a break."

"Huh? But I—"

"You're crying. You can't fight like that." Knight's tone softened but remained resolute. "Cry if you need to. Let it out. Then come back to me. You're the one with the power to finish this. But I need you focused. So get your emotions out and join me when you're ready. I'll hold him off for a minute."

Ryuki hesitated, his tears glinting in the harsh battlefield light. But Knight's unwavering gaze steadied him, and he nodded. "All right… I'll be ready."

As Ryuki stepped back, Knight turned to face Odin once more, resolve hardening his expression. 'This ends now. For Amaterasu. For everyone.'

Knight surged forward, his movements a blur as he scanned a card through his rapier.

Guard Vent: Stormercape

In an instant, his cape extended dramatically, snapping through the air like a living storm. It lashed toward Odin, halting mere inches from his imposing figure, crackling with restrained energy.

Sword Vent: Stormlancer

Knight's lance materialized in a flash of light, and without hesitation, he drove it through the whirling folds of his cape. His offensive was relentless, aiming directly at Odin's chest.

But Odin, unfazed, caught the weapon with a single hand, his grip like iron. He twisted the lance away from his face, his golden mask gleaming ominously.

"Well, well," Odin murmured, his voice dripping with mockery. "This takes me back. Our first encounter… you were trembling so much, I thought you'd collapse on the spot."

Knight's jaw tightened, his eyes locking onto Odin's with steely resolve. "It's true," he admitted, his voice low and even. "Back then, I was paralyzed with fear—sickened by my weakness." His grip on the lance tightened as he stepped closer, his voice rising like a battle cry. "But not today. Today, I'm going to kill you."

Odin chuckled, the sound dark and resonant. "Then stop talking and try. Show me how far you've come."

Knight leaped back, summoning Zolda's visor with a quick swipe. A hailstorm of energy bullets erupted toward Odin, filling the battlefield with a blinding barrage. But Odin remained unfazed, twirling his staff with elegant precision. Each bullet deflected harmlessly, shimmering into oblivion.

Knight gritted his teeth, lashing out with his cape once more. It carved through the ground, cracking the earth as it snaked toward Odin, attempting to ensnare him. But before it could reach, Odin vanished, leaving only a faint shimmer where he stood.

"Behind you!" Ryuki's urgent cry pierced the chaos.

Knight whirled around just in time to intercept Odin's punch with his forearm. The impact sent a shockwave through his body, and he winced, feeling the bones in his arm strain under the immense force. 'So heavy!'

The blow hurled him to the ground with bone-jarring intensity, but Knight recovered in a flash. Gritting his teeth, he drew three cards from his Deck and activated them in one seamless motion.

Odin's smirk widened as he watched. "A triple ability? I'm impressed. Show me what you've got."

Advent: Magnugiganto
Advent: Volshredder
Advent: Darkstormer

The battlefield trembled as Knight's three Advent Beasts materialized, each a massive force of destruction. Magnugiganto's colossal form towered over Odin, its massive foot slamming down in an attempt to crush him. Odin sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. But Volshredder was already closing in, its pincers snapping furiously as it pursued him.

With a swift bend of his knees, Odin ducked under the pincers and delivered a powerful kick to Volshredder, sending it flying into Magnugiganto. The giant beast caught the smaller one with one massive hand, their combined forms creating a momentary pause in the chaos.

Knight seized the opportunity, appearing beside Odin in an instant. He thrust his lance forward with precision, and Darkstormer swooped in from above, its talons glinting as it aimed for the god's exposed flank.

Odin met their attacks head-on. His staff deflected the lance with ease, locking Knight in place, while his other hand lashed out, swatting the bat-like Darkstormer away with a brutal punch. His every move was calculated, almost effortless, as if toying with them.

But Knight wasn't done. Magnugiganto raised its massive arm, firing a rocket that screamed toward Odin. Volshredder clung to the missile, riding it with reckless abandon as it barreled through the air.

Odin's eyes flickered with amusement as he leaped away, narrowly avoiding the explosive onslaught. The battlefield erupted in fire and debris, the shockwaves rattling the ground beneath them.

Knight's eyes burned with determination as he steadied his lance. 'I'll find a way through your defenses, Odin. I have to.'

Magnugiganto roared to life, every compartment on its massive frame snapping open with mechanical precision. A relentless barrage of rockets, missiles, and energy blasts erupted forth, streaking through the air toward Odin in a symphony of destruction. The battlefield lit up with explosions, smoke, and fire, each detonation shaking the ground like a series of thunderclaps.

But Odin was untouchable. Each time the onslaught neared him, he vanished, only to reappear in another part of the battlefield, his movements as seamless as a phantom. Time itself seemed to warp around him, his mastery over its flow making him untouchable.

Solar Vent

Odin's visor's voice echoed with an almost casual authority as he raised his arm. Four blazing orbs of pure solar energy materialized around him, swirling with golden flames. With a flick of his wrist, the spheres shot outward in different directions, their radiant trails cutting through the chaos.

The resulting explosions were cataclysmic. Golden flames erupted across the battlefield, consuming everything in their path. The sheer force of the blasts flung Magnugiganto and Knight's other monsters like ragdolls, their forms crashing into the shattered ground with bone-rattling impact. Smoke and ash filled the air, the battlefield now a scene of utter devastation.

Odin hovered amidst the inferno, untouched, a smug grin playing across his face as he surveyed the destruction. The golden flames danced around him like loyal servants, their heat bending the air in waves.

Nasty Vent: Hyperwail

Odin glanced skyward, his golden eyes narrowing as Knight descended from above like a vengeful storm. Darkstormer clung to Knight's back, its sleek form merging with his armor to produce three pairs of razor-sharp, metallic wings. The wings unfurled with a metallic hiss, their edges gleaming under the fractured light.

With a sudden burst of power, the wings began to flap, whipping the air into a violent maelstrom. Darkstormer let out a piercing screech that reverberated across the battlefield, shaking the very foundations of the ruined city.

The force of the sound struck Odin like a tidal wave, driving him backward. His feet skidded across the ground, carving deep trenches into the earth as he struggled to hold his footing.

But Knight wasn't finished. He drew in a deep, shuddering breath, his chest heaving with exertion before releasing an even more ferocious screech. The sound ripped through the air, a sonic assault that shattered windows and sent shockwaves rippling outward.

Odin's composure faltered for a split second as the blast struck him in full force. The impact hurled him backward, his body smashing through one building, then another until the skyline swallowed him in a cascade of debris and dust.

The echoes of the screech faded into silence, and Knight's wings folded against his back as he dropped to his knees, his strength drained. He gasped for air, each breath a struggle as exhaustion weighed heavily on him.

'That was... everything I had.' Knight thought, his vision wavering as he fought to stay upright. The battlefield lay eerily quiet, the destruction around him a testament to the power he had unleashed.

Odin stepped out of the cloud of debris, his armor gleaming as he casually brushed off the dust. His posture was composed, almost arrogant, as if the destruction around him was nothing more than a fleeting inconvenience.

Yosuke watched him intently, his mind racing. 'Not just physical attacks—even sound attacks don't faze him.' He clenched his fists, taking a quick moment to steady his breathing. 'We've hit him, no question about it. Yet he looks untouched, as though he just entered the battlefield. Is he truly invulnerable...?'

Knight frowned, his thoughts cutting through the tension. 'It's strange. He takes some hits and dodges others. We know his own Zantetsuken can harm him... and he's been careful to avoid Adachi's Origin Zero punch. There's a pattern here, but what is it?'

High above the chaos, Ryuki hovered over the immense, jagged gash torn into the planet. His eyes scanned the chasm's depths, his expression tense.

"I need to find Raiden's Advent Stones... but they could be anywhere down there." He grimaced at the enormity of the task. The wound in the earth stretched endlessly, its shadows swallowing any hope of a quick search. "It could take forever. And Yosuke-san needs me up there."

He paused, a spark of realization lighting up his face. "Wait... I've got it!"

Strange Vent → Trick Vent: Shadow Illusion

Dozens of identical Ryuki clones materialized around him, each shimmering briefly before solidifying. He gestured toward the abyss, barking his orders. "Spread out. Find Evildiver, Destwilder, and Gigazelle's Advent Stones. Move!" The clones dived into the chasm as Ryuki turned his gaze back to the battle.

Shoot Vent: Gigantocannons

Twin cannons appeared on Knight's back, their barrels glowing with charged energy. He unleashed a volley of laser beams at Odin, the air crackling with their heat. Odin moved like a phantom, effortlessly dodging each beam. One blast came dangerously close, but Odin kicked it back toward its origin. The resulting explosion sent Knight hurtling backward, his armor scorched.

Odin seized the advantage, diving from the sky with brutal speed. His knee was aimed directly at Knight's chest, the impact imminent. Knight rolled at the last possible moment, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow.

Kicking off the ground, Knight sprang to his feet, but Odin was already upon him. The god slammed into him with unrelenting force, his arm crashing into Knight's chest like a battering ram. The impact sent Knight flying, his body carving through rock and dirt until he collided with a mountain, the ground trembling from the collision.

Floating toward his prey, Odin calmly drew a card from his Deck, sliding it into his visor.

Sword Vent: Zantetsuken

The blade materialized instantly, its wicked edge gleaming. Unsheathing it with a flourish, Odin's grin widened. He grabbed Knight by the face, hurling him away like a ragdoll. "I like a moving target," he growled, advancing with deadly intent.

Knight's body skidded to a halt, his vision blurring as the colossal figure of Odin loomed over him. 'I can't dodge it...!' He braced for the fatal strike as Odin swung the Zantetsuken downward.

Confine Vent

In an instant, the sword vanished from Odin's grasp mid-swing. His eyes widened in momentary confusion, but he had no time to react as Ryuki rocketed toward him. With a decisive kick to Odin's arm, Ryuki sent him skidding across the battlefield, the god's form crashing into a building and tearing through its structure.

"Adachi!" Yosuke called out, his voice a mix of relief and urgency.

"Glad to see you're still in one piece!" Ryuki added with a playful grin, though the tension in his eyes betrayed his concern.

"Barely," Knight admitted, wiping a streak of dirt from his face. His breath was ragged, his stance weary but determined. "He's been toying with me, testing me. But I've figured out a couple of things."

"Yeah? What did you find out?" Ryuki pressed, his eagerness cutting through the gravity of the moment.

Yosuke's eyes narrowed, his voice low but firm. "Now that he's a full Rider and not just a berserker beast, his weapons are tied to his cards—like ours. That's why your Confine Vent worked. It shut down his weapon, giving us time away from his Zantetsuken. That's a big deal for whatever plan we come up with next."

"Next plan?" Hajime echoed, his brow furrowed.

Knight hesitated, glancing over the battlefield as if piecing together a complex puzzle. "It's still coming together. It has to be perfect. One more thing—I noticed something about how Odin's been taking our attacks head-on. At first, I thought it was some kind of conceptual barrier, like Lucifer's aura or Calamity's Flow of Calamity."

"But it's not?" Ryuki asked, leaning forward intently.

"No," Knight said, his voice tinged with revelation. "It's not a barrier. We're making contact—we're flinging him away. There's no mystical shield. He's letting us hit him for some reason."

"If you're so curious…" a voice interrupted, cold and mocking.

Knight and Ryuki froze as the ominous tone reverberated through the air. They spun around, instincts sharp, just in time to see Odin stepping from the shadows, his golden armor gleaming menacingly.

"Why not ask me directly?" Odin sneered, his presence suffocating, his voice a taunt that sent chills down their spines.

The two Riders instinctively jumped back, gaining distance, their hearts pounding as they braced for what was coming next.

"As a reward for making it this far into the fight, I'll indulge you with the answer you're so desperate for. Not that it'll do you any good." Odin splayed his hands casually, his golden armor gleaming with an almost taunting brilliance. "You see, you are correct. You've landed some decent hits on me—commendable, even. Normally, they would've inflicted serious damage. But I've been using my time manipulation to my advantage in ways you couldn't begin to comprehend."

"Wait… are you freezing time to dodge our attacks at the last second?" Ryuki interjected, his voice tinged with both curiosity and dread.

Odin chuckled, a dark, condescending sound. "Oh, nothing as simplistic as that. What I'm doing is far more elegant. It's an advanced application of time stop—a technique I call Lion Heart."

(Author's note: If you know, you know)

He raised his hands, palms glowing faintly with golden energy. "I stop time—not for the world, but for myself. Or for anything I choose to touch. I freeze the time of my own body, suspending it in a permanent, immutable state. Ordinarily, this body is already beyond life, requiring no sustenance—only my energy to remain intact. But imagine if it were living. Using Lion Heart, Hazama's body would never age, never hunger, never sweat, never bleed. His heart wouldn't even beat. By removing myself from the cause and effect of this universe, I have become a walking distortion in space. Nothing can harm me. No matter how many attacks you throw, no matter how many blows you land—I am untouchable. Of course," he added with a smirk, "I've allowed you to land a few hits purely for the theatrics. I don't want you to feel discouraged."

Knight and Ryuki stood frozen, their breaths caught in their throats, the weight of Odin's revelation pressing down on them like a leaden shroud.

"But I'm not done," Odin continued, his tone almost gleeful in its arrogance. "There's also my ability to skip time. I believe you've already deduced this much, but let me clarify. Unlike time stop, which removes me from your reach, time skip allows me to act freely. That's how I redirected Hajime's attack to Raiden—manipulating events outside his line of vision. Skipping time lets me adjust the battlefield to my liking, and you're none the wiser until it's already done."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes glowing ominously. "So, if I had to summarize for you, here it is: I can't be defeated. Nothing you do matters. You may as well start accepting the facts now."

Odin's words hung in the air, suffocating, as the two Riders stared at him, their minds racing, their hearts heavy with the crushing weight of his declaration.

"No," Ryuki said firmly, his fists clenched tight, knuckles white with determination. "So what if you can do all that? You're not invincible. Your own attacks, especially Zantetsuken, can hurt you. And you're always dodging my Origin Zero. That tells me enough—those moves can break through your so-called Lion Heart."

Odin's lips curled into a slow, amused smirk. "Indeed," he admitted, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather. "Those abilities... they sit outside the realm of time itself. But simply knowing that doesn't grant you the means to capitalize on it. Even without Lion Heart, I am leagues faster than both of you. You can't land those 'fancy punches' on me, no matter how determined you are. And as for redirecting my Zantetsuken... well, let's just say I've taken measures to ensure that trick won't work again." His eyes gleamed with cold superiority. "So tell me, with all that in mind... do you truly believe you can win?"

"We're not going to surrender!" Knight's voice rang out, raw with fury and defiance. His glare burned into Odin like a scorching fire. "Not now, not ever—not in a million years! No matter how hopeless things might seem!"

Odin let out a low chuckle, a sound that echoed with sinister amusement. "Oh, it's almost comical, really. Your stubbornness, your blind optimism. It reminds me of your dear friend, Yosuke. What was his name again? Ah, yes... Akira Nishitani." He let the name linger in the air, his words laced with malice.

"Yosuke-san..." Ryuki turned to his friend, his voice heavy with concern and dread. He could see Knight's jaw tighten, his grip on his weapon trembling with barely contained rage.

"What's your point?" Knight growled, his voice sharp as steel.

"My point," Odin replied, his tone taking on a mocking edge, "is that none of you ever understood the futility of your situation. Take your friend Akira, for example. No matter how valiantly he fought, no matter how many times he stood back up, he was never going to succeed. His wish to revive his beloved? A laughable dream. Doomed from the start. But then again..." Odin paused, a cruel glint in his eyes. "I expected as much from a human."

"Expected...?" Ryuki's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Odin spread his arms wide as if preparing to deliver a sermon. "Allow me to leave you with my final revelation," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You're both looking rather winded, so take a moment to catch your breath. You'll need it. I'll tell you the truth of your situation—how utterly meaningless it is to defy me. And when I'm done..." His smirk grew wider, more sinister. "...we'll see if you still have the will to stand."

The Allfather crossed his arms over his imposing chest, his voice resonating with a calm yet unsettling authority. "Long ago, when I still walked the lands of Midgard as its ruler, I gazed into the endless threads of fate with my all-seeing eye. And there, I saw it—a future carved in stone. My death. Not at the hands of the Divine Beast. No. My end would come from within, by the hand of Loki, and through the chaos of Ragnarok itself. Specifically, devoured by Fenrir. Ergo why Loki was so hellbent on thinking he could kill me a second time but I digress."

His expression darkened, shadows seeming to gather in his golden gaze. "I have always been a creature of suspicion, a god plagued by the whispers of what could be. I cannot abide the existence of beings who might challenge my supremacy, nor could I tolerate the notion of leaving my destiny to the whims of fate. To me, there is no greater insult than submission—to destiny, to rivals, to anything."

Odin's tone grew colder, sharper, a blade honed by centuries of control. "So I resolved to break the cycle, to rise above even the mechanisms of time and fate themselves. Do you understand now? Everything you've seen, every struggle you've endured, is but a shadow cast by the inevitability of my triumph. I will not be bound by the same fate as the rest of you."

"Is that why you fought Ventara?" Knight inquired.

"Indeed. I believed that if I could overcome a being as powerful as Ventara, I'd be one step closer to changing my destiny. But its power was beyond anything I could handle at the time. And yet...it led me to one final revelation." Odin raised a finger. "I saw Loki—and I knew immediately that he had plans up his sleeve."

"What do you mean?" Ryuki pressed.

"Of all my children and subjects, Loki was the one who most closely shared my ideals. Or at least, he possessed the ambition and drive needed to execute them. He could have been a great successor, but his methods were far too chaotic for my liking. In my visions, I saw Loki's fate: he would die in combat against my right-hand man, Heimdall. It was an unavoidable outcome, foreseen by my all-seeing eye. Yet something about it struck me as odd. Loki was not the type to orchestrate a grand plan—like Ragnarok—only to meet an unceremonious end. He had to have accounted for this and devised a strategy to ensure his ambitions endured. That's why, when our souls entered Valhalla, I ensured mine remained close to his."

"Right...At that point, Loki had set up too many variables across the realms, didn't he?" Knight swallowed hard. "He and Shem-Ha gave birth to Narfi, who would go on to establish the Hyperion and Liang bloodlines. He manipulated the defective puppets, Adam and Lilith, who then worked to influence Bragard from the shadows."

"Exactly. I learned of all this when your father, Hazama Liang, eventually found me, Hajime."

"But didn't you say your soul was locked in Valhalla?" Ryuki asked, a hint of confusion in his tone.

"My soul, yes. But I had split it into two. Remember when I used Zantetsuken to fracture Ventara's power, scattering its essence into pieces? One of those pieces held my consciousness. Care to guess which Advent Stone that was?"

"Goldphoenix..." Knight responded grimly.

"Correct. While my consciousness was contained within Goldphoenix, my full power and soul were trapped in Valhalla. It left me playing a long waiting game. I manipulated Hazama Liang, feeding him knowledge no mortal could comprehend—truths about the universe, and promises of unparalleled power. He suspected Bragard was orchestrating something vile, and I offered him a solution: if he needed the strength to confront Bragard, all he had to do was wield the Odin Deck."

"When Bragard tore open the dimensional rift, Loki and Thor slipped through, just as I had predicted and I managed to get my full consciousness to this realm. Thor's presence was an unexpected bonus, but it didn't hinder my plans. By then, I had everything I needed. All I lacked was a host."

"So...you used my dad's body as a host," Ryuki finished, the grim reality sinking in."After that, you started the Rider War."

"But how the hell did you even realize things would go your way? You sacrificed your all-seeing eye to create your Zantetsuken, so there was no way for you to predict we were going to do your bidding!" Knight pointed out, his voice sharp with frustration.

"Yes, you're right. Giving up my all-seeing eye to forging Zantetsuken meant I couldn't foresee every variable. I realized that relying solely on power and hoping others would act according to my plans was, admittedly, a gamble." Odin nodded thoughtfully, his tone almost amused. "I don't particularly enjoy uncertainty and randomness, but I learned to work with what I had—and what I knew. Loki taught me something during our time alive, something I later saw reflected in Bragard. The key to manipulating this world was simple: the darkness of the human heart."

"The darkness...of the heart," Ryuki echoed, his voice barely above a whisper as his thoughts drifted to his own family—his sister and brother, both victims of that same inner darkness.

"Precisely," Odin continued, his golden eyes gleaming with a knowing light. "Humans are more capable of profound evil than even the most malicious Aesir. Your endless greed, your insatiable hunger to take and dominate—it's both appalling and admirable. That darkness was my tool. With it, I approached key figures to set my plans into motion. Among them were Bragard Second Hyperion, Carol Malus Dienheim... and, of course, Fine."

"Wait—Fine?!" Ryuki gasped, his expression a mixture of disbelief and horror.

"It shouldn't come as a surprise," Knight interjected grimly. "Fine was instrumental in creating FIS, the organization that bred potential Rider candidates. Sakamoto wasn't the only one she had. She also worked on Jades, Amaterasu, and Kagatsuchi."

"Exactly," Odin confirmed with a small, satisfied smile. "For her cooperation—and her extensive knowledge of relics and humanity's history—I rewarded Fine with three Rider Decks. Carol and Bragard, too, each received two, though they squandered theirs on puppets. But FIS... ah, FIS was my crowning achievement. It was the perfect breeding ground for Riders."

"Why?" Ryuki asked, his voice cracking slightly. "Because it was a place where kids clung to the hope of one day escaping their pain?"

Odin let out a rich, almost condescending chuckle, shaking his head in amusement. "You're a riot, Hajime. Truly hilarious. Oh, I get it now... you kids think Riders are righteous warriors, paragons of strong ideals and unshakable conviction?"

"Isn't that the whole point?" Yosuke frowned, his tone laced with uncertainty. "Only people with strong convictions and great desires would be granted a Deck, right?"

Odin's smile widened, exuding an unsettling air of superiority. "Quite the opposite, actually," he said, his words like a dagger in the air. Both Ryuki and Knight froze, stunned by the revelation. "I spread the Decks to those who were weak-minded, desperate, and consumed by their selfish wishes. In other words... I gave the Decks to the worst possible people who could wield them! In other words...Riders are the most foul of humans to live! Ones who wouldn't bat an eye to crush others for the sake of their goals!"

"No way!" Knight's voice exploded with fury, his eyes blazing with defiance. "I refuse to believe that! My dad... Akira... None of them were evil! Not in any way!"

Odin's smirk deepened, an unsettling calm wrapped around his words like a noose. "Some Riders were mere placeholders, my dear Yosuke. Shadows standing where legends were meant to rise. People... connected to the true Riders I sought. Think about it— really think. All of you are linked, intertwined by fate's design. Takeru Sakamoto's father. Akira Nishitani. Damian Schwarzer. The first Scissors, the man you killed. Even your father. Each one... a piece, temporary, disposable... until the real players emerged. All of it was orchestrated. All of them... were planned."

He paused, his gaze locking onto Ryuki with a sinister glint.

"All... except for you, Hajime."

"Me?" Ryuki's brow furrowed, his breath catching.

"But you—!" Knight jabbed a finger at Odin. "You took the Ryuki Deck when you killed Akira!"

Odin tilted his head, unbothered. "I did." His voice softened to a chilling whisper. "But the Deck... slipped through my fingers. It vanished."

"What?"

Odin's smile widened, dark and knowing. "Ventara's meddling, perhaps. Fate..." He chuckled lowly. "...had different plans for you too, Hajime. But it changed nothing. The board was set, the pieces moving exactly as I intended. All I had to do... was watch."

His eyes gleamed with malevolence as his tone grew reverent, almost tender. "And oh, how beautifully your hearts crumbled. The darkness gnawed at your souls... You danced for me. Each step, each twist, every fall—a performance so exquisite it felt as if I'd crafted it with my own hands. A stage built from despair, each movement orchestrated with care... tenderness... love. And all I needed..." He raised a hand, fingers curling like a puppeteer pulling strings. "...was to trust in Loki."

"Loki..." Knight's breath hitched, his voice now a whisper.

"Oh, he knew." Odin's grin sharpened. "The moment we first crossed paths, I let him live, let him believe he was a participant, a Messiah. But he saw through me and knew Ragnarok would be his only chance. And yet..." His tone hardened, colder than ice. "Ragnarok was never going to stop me. I am far beyond him."

Knight clenched his fists, a tremor coursing through him. "So... all of this..." His words came slowly, his voice heavy with dread. "...was part of your plan?"

Odin shrugged, indifferent, almost playful. "A gamble, perhaps. A trust that Loki would act as I would have. But yes. Every thread—Fine and her Symphogears and Riders. Carol and Bragard and her Autoscorers. The puppets, the Alchemists, the Custodian, and the ancient Angel. The wicked God and his zealots. All of it woven perfectly into place."

He turned to Knight, his eyes burning with triumphant cruelty. "When I told Raiden you belonged to me, I meant it. Every choice you've made. Every victory, every failure— all of it —the echoes of my will. You are nothing more than pieces on my board, pawns in my quest for omnipotence. You exist because I allow it. You move... because I planned it."

The room seemed to darken, the weight of his words suffocating the air. Odin's smile was a blade, sharp and merciless.

"And that, dear Yosuke... is the truth you cannot escape." Odin bowed dramatically, learning forward.

'All this time... all those deaths... all the suffering we endured just to reach this point...' Yosuke clenched his fists, his nails digging painfully into his palms. 'We were nothing but pawns, pieces moving exactly as he wanted. Every step we took, every fight, every loss... it was all part of his game.'

He bit down hard on his lower lip, the taste of blood sharp and bitter. 'I knew it back then. I felt it in my bones. We should have united—all the Riders—to stop him. But now... only three of us made it this far. And now, just two remain.' His breath shuddered as hopelessness pressed on his chest like a crushing weight. 'Even if Adachi has a way to defeat him, Odin is beyond anything we've ever faced. One man can't carry that burden alone.'

His mind raced. 'He keeps destroying everything we've tried. Every plan, every hope... he shatters it before it even takes root. What can we do? How can we possibly stop him?'

'What can we do...?'

'What—'

"Enough."

A voice broke through the storm of despair—clear, sharp, and full of fire.

Ryuki stepped forward, his gaze locked on Odin, his body trembling with fury but unbroken. "So what if you controlled our paths?" His voice rose, steady and fierce. "Is that why we're here? To fall under your control? To die with our fates written by your hands?"

He took another step forward, his breath heavy, his heart pounding like a war drum. "No. That's not why we're here."

His eyes burned with defiance as he leveled a finger at the man who had twisted their lives into chaos. "We're here to break free. To tear away from your cursed grip and choose our own fate!"

Ryuki's fists clenched tight, his voice cutting through the tension like the unsheathing of a sword. "This is our life! Our fight! And no one— no one —will ever decide it for us again!" He thrust his finger at Odin, the gesture sharp and defiant. "You said it yourself—you never planned for me. You didn't expect me to stand in your way. But here I am. I've defied every trap, every twist of fate you tried to control. I'm done running." His eyes burned with resolve, unshakable, as his words rang like a final, resounding truth. "Today... we end this."

Yosuke's breath caught, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and realization. "Adachi..."

Ryuki didn't waver. "Yosuke-san!" His voice carried strength, a weight far beyond his years. "We're so close—right there, at the finish line! We can't let something as hollow as his words break us now!" His gaze never left Odin. "Together, we can put an end to this! Together... we win!"

Yosuke's thoughts drifted, the storm of the present pulling him back to where it had all begun. 'He's... come so far.' His mind flashed to their first encounter, a bratty, arrogant boy with fire in his eyes and a chip on his shoulder. Brash. Pompous. 'I couldn't stand him back then...' He shook his head, a quiet, rueful smile forming as the memory faded. 'And yet here he stands—bold, unshaken, at my side—facing the end of everything.'

He exhaled a slow breath that steadied the storm inside him.

"You're right," Yosuke said, the words carrying the weight of every battle, every sacrifice. His voice steadied, his heart burning with renewed fire. He allowed a small, determined smile to break through. "We've come too far to turn back now. We've fought too hard, lost too much... friends, family... everyone we swore to protect." His eyes hardened, his resolve crystal clear. "If we let the bastard who caused all of this go unpunished, we'd be spitting on their graves. And I won't let that happen. We're not backing down. Not now. Not ever."

"Such a disappointing choice for last words," Odin muttered, drawing a card from his Deck and sliding it into his visor. His voice dripped with icy disdain. "Very well. Come. Show me what your so-called determination can do."

Sword Vent: Infinitysabers.

(Play Final Fantasy XVI Ascension OST)

"Let's go!" Ryuki roared, kicking off the ground with explosive force. Knight followed close behind, both Riders charging as Odin took flight, hovering backward with effortless grace.

Sword Vent: Exaltersaber
Sword Vent: Stormlancer

Odin grinned, swinging his blazing blades. Arcs of searing solar energy tore through the air, screaming toward them. Ryuki and Knight braced themselves, crossing weapons to block the onslaught. Sparks flew as they deflected the burning slashes, their feet grinding into the ground.

They pushed forward, relentlessly, chasing after the Allfather.

Ryuki opened a portal and launched a kick through it. Behind Odin, a second portal spat out the attack. Odin tilted his head, narrowly avoiding the strike, and seized Ryuki's leg with a crushing grip. A sharp twist pulled Ryuki through, and a slash from Odin's blade tore across his chest.

"Ugh!"

Knight emerged from the same portal, driving his boot into Odin's back with brutal force. Odin grunted as he staggered forward, but before Ryuki could land a follow-up strike, the Allfather vanished.

"He skipped time!"

Ryuki and Knight spun in unison, slashing at empty air. Above them, Odin reappeared, his swords aimed downward. Twin beams of solar energy lanced toward the Riders, smashing them to the ground.'Even if we know it's coming, it's still disorienting...!'

Smoke billowed. The dust hadn't even settled before both Riders launched skyward again, determined.

Trick Vent: Hydro Mirage

Four serpentine dragons of water erupted from the ground, spiraling around Odin with deadly intent. Streams of pressurized water blasted toward him. His twin sabers ignited with searing brilliance as he spun like a cyclone, flinging radiant rings of solar power. The dragons shattered into a mist.

Pillars of bronze surged toward Odin from all sides. He clenched his teeth, swinging wildly—until an explosion ripped them apart. When the dust cleared, he was untouched.

Knight and Ryuki appeared at his flanks.

Knight held up a card, his eyes burning with resolve. "Enough playing around. We're going all out, Adachi!"

"Right!" Ryuki responded without hesitation.

Knight slid the card into his visor with a sharp click. The sound cracked like thunder, and the world seemed to hold its breath.

Zone Vent: Finale Storm

The sky churned. Winds screamed. Dust, rain, and lightning converged into a swirling tempest that encased the battlefield. Thunder cracked like cannon fire as the storm grew, a monstrous hurricane roaring to life.

Knight and Ryuki vanished into the swirling chaos.

Odin narrowed his eyes as the vortex closed in. "What's the point of this?"

Solar slashes carved through the storm. The wind howled in reply, thick blades of air crashing into Odin with shocking force. His feet slid back as the recoil reverberated through him. His grip on his swords tightened. "What... is this?"

The ground beneath him erupted. A massive dragon of water surged upward, jaws wide. Alongside it, spectral motorbikes charged with unrelenting fury. Odin leaped back, narrowly avoiding their fangs and wheels. He squinted into the mist, golden feathers spiraling toward him like knives.

With a snarl, he drove his swords into the ground, summoning pillars of solar flame to shield him.

A silhouette burst from the fog—Ryuki. He spun, a tornado of crimson and black fire roaring around him. The inferno howled as it rushed toward Odin, but the Allfather's blade met it head-on, halting the blaze in its tracks. Odin swept his other sword forward but a blade of radiant light materialized at Ryuki's side, blocking the attack with a deafening clang.

Ryuki leaped back, daggers of light forming around him. He hurled them at Odin in rapid succession.

"How pointless," Odin scoffed, letting the projectiles strike. The blades bounced harmlessly off his armor. He drew another card, his visor flashing as he vanished in a blur of speed.

Time Vent

"End of the line!"

He reappeared behind Ryuki, reaching for his target but the howling wind surged, pulling Ryuki out of reach just before Odin's hand could land.

Knight descended from above, his lance a streak of silver, crashing down toward Odin. Sparks exploded as their blades met. Knight twisted, pulling an SMG from his back, and unloading a barrage of energy rounds.

Odin's second sword blurred, deflecting every shot. His elbow snapped backward, slamming into Knight's gut and driving him away.

Advent: Venosnaker

The serpent hissed, its maw opening wide as it spat venom toward Odin. He dodged, the caustic liquid sizzling as it splattered across his cape, burning through the fabric. Odin glared, his eyes cold and calculating.

Golden wings of radiant energy burst from Odin's back, each feather glimmering like a blade of divine judgment. He unleashed a storm of gilded projectiles, a tempest of countless golden feathers raining down upon his foes.

Freeze Vent

A chill spread like wildfire. The air crystallized in an instant, and the golden barrage froze mid-flight, their brilliance trapped in solid ice. Ryuki and Knight surged forward, shattering through the frozen feathers with effortless precision.

Odin sneered, his voice sharp as a blade. "Go on, struggle all you want."

With a snap of his fingers, beams of solar energy erupted from the sky, streaking toward the Riders with blinding speed.

Unfazed, both Ryuki and Knight drew cards from their Decks, sliding them into their visors.

Shoot Vent: Exaltercanon
Shoot Vent: Stormturbines

The beams became their battlefield. Feet found impossible purchase as they leaped atop the searing streams of energy, riding them like tidal waves.

Ryuki's hand gleamed with a skull-shaped ring, crimson flames swirling from his cannon as he fired blast after blast toward Odin. At his side, Knight's turbines roared with dark power, razor-sharp currents of wind slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Odin's twin blades danced, slashing through stray wind crescents as he kept one eye fixed on his relentless pursuers. The storm within the Zone Vent raged on, sending rogue gusts and chaotic strikes careening toward him. His wings beat with fury, propelling him higher into the sky, away from the ground shattering beneath him.

The sky boiled with power.

"We've been moving for a while now," Odin mused, his gaze narrowing as he swept his blades in wide arcs. "Yet I see no end to this Zone Vent. If that's the case..." His expression darkened. "...it must be far greater than any Zone Vent ever summoned before."

Suddenly, a wet, constricting pull yanked him downward.

A serpentine tongue had coiled around his ankle, courtesy of an invisible creature that came to view.

Advent: Biogreeza

The chameleon roared as it hurled Odin into the path of Ryuki.

The crimson Rider met him head-on, his arm now armored with Metalhorn, propelled forward by Metalgelas. The earth trembled under their combined charge.

Odin flapped his massive wings, driving a shockwave of wind that shoved Ryuki back. Yet the Rider would not be deterred. A bubble of water formed in his path, exploding into a towering geyser that blasted him forward with renewed force.

From the chaos behind Odin, Knight emerged, his lance and turbines gleaming with violent intent. Together, the two Riders flanked their enemy.

Odin's eyes burned with fury, the amber glow of omnipotence flaring as he skipped time ahead, reality fracturing around him. Time itself splintered like glass, everything moving slower except himself. In this fractured flow, he saw Knight and Ryuki rushing headlong at each other, their blades poised to clash. A dark grin twisted Odin's lips as he manipulated the currents of time, seeking to force their weapons into a deadly collision. But something unexpected happened.

The swirling winds of Knight's Zone Vent surged with unpredictable chaos, pushing the Riders apart with each gust, like unseen hands guiding them. Their strikes narrowly missed each other.

When time snapped back into place, they wasted no breath and ignored their confusion. The Riders charged once more.

Advent: Metalgelas

A thunderous roar filled the air as Metalgelas galloped forward, its armored hooves shaking the very earth. With a powerful snort, it launched Ryuki skyward. The crimson Rider twisted in midair, flames wreathing his leg as he dove toward Odin in a blistering Rider Kick.

Odin raised a single blade, intercepting the kick with ease. The force rippled outward, shattering the ground beneath them.

Knight was upon him next, his blade a storm of relentless strikes. Odin blocked each one with his free arm, metal ringing against metal as sparks flew in a dazzling display.

Through it all, Odin's mind raced. His movements were fluid and precise, almost bored with their efficiency.

'What are these brats trying to achieve?' The question burned in his thoughts as he deflected another blow with the flat of his sword. 'They must know by now—only the Messiah can harm me. Nothing else even matters.'

Another swing. Another effortless parry.

'So why all this theater? Desperation? A blind gamble? Or some final, futile prayer that fate will hand them a miracle?'

Odin's eyes blazed with ruthless precision as he unleashed two blazing solar slashes, each strike sending shockwaves that tore through the air, forcing the Riders back. But his focus narrowed on Ryuki. With blinding speed, he materialized in front of him, wrapping his scarf like a noose around his neck, lifting him off the ground with a single, overpowering hand. His palm began to glow, charging with searing energy as Ryuki struggled, his attempts to break free proving futile.

Scream Vent: Sonic Wave

Knight's lance crashed into Odin's back with earth-shattering force. The vibrations rattled Odin's body, forcing his grip to loosen. Ryuki fell free, gasping for air, as Knight stood, weapon raised, eyes locked on Odin's deadly figure.

Odin turned his head, sending a death glare over his shoulder. The intensity of the look sent a cold shiver down Knight's spine.

Ryuki, fueled by determination, slid across the ground, aiming to take out Odin's legs with a low kick—but the God of All remained unyielding, his feet planted firmly. Ryuki didn't hesitate. He jumped in the air and raised his leg for a crushing axe kick—but Odin was already airborne, his movements a blur.

"So close, yet so far." Odin chuckled, his voice dripping with disdain as he soared higher, dodging the strike with ease.

A volley of golden solar spheres rained down on the boys, each one detonating in a burst of searing flame.

'So, they're trying to find an opening for Hajime to land a hit. Clever... but ultimately futile,' Odin mused to himself.

From the thick smoke, the monstrous forms of DragExalter and Darkstormer tore through the air, a combined force of fire and wind.

Cross Vent x2

The dragon's mouth opened wide, unleashing a barrage of fiery projectiles toward Odin. He merely swept his blades through the air, cutting them to pieces with casual disdain. But as he did, he sensed Darkstormer flanking him, its blade aimed at his throat.

In a split second, Odin summoned his wings, their divine feathers flaring with blinding brilliance. He used them as a shield, deflecting Darkstormer's strike, before retaliating with a barrage of solar-powered feathers, sending the bat-like monster crashing into a nearby building.

But DragExalter closed the gap. With a mighty roar, it swung its sword and tail, determined to take down the God of All.

"Size doesn't matter in this case," Odin sneered, his voice echoing in the chaos. As Darkstormer recovered, it appeared beside him, both beasts charging in tandem. Their blades clashed with Odin's with a violent reverberation.

His aura flared with a blinding pulse, sending the monsters flying back. As he gathered his focus, he drew a card from his Deck, a deadly smirk curling on his lips. "Let's see how well you fare against this..."

Cross Vent

Odin's eyes flared with divine wrath as he summoned his beast, InfinityPhoenix—a monstrous phoenix composed of golden flames. The fusion erupted with a violent explosion, sending DragExalter and Darkstormer hurtling backward, their monstrous forms sent flying from the sheer force. Above them, a colossal phoenix, five times their size, hovered in the air, its flames blazing with malevolent energy that demanded fear and respect.

(Another appearance based on a Yugioh card, Hyang of the Fire Kings)

"InfinityPhoenix!"

The creature screeched in a primal cry, its radiant form releasing a wave of energy so powerful it became a barrage of solar beams. Each beam struck its target with pinpoint accuracy, crashing into the Advent Monsters and sending them crashing to the ground with earth-shaking force.

"F-fuck..." Ryuki groaned, struggling to sit up, his body battered by the explosion.

"I didn't expect Goldphoenix to become this powerful..." Knight's voice came out strained, barely holding himself upright before his knees buckled, sending him crashing back down to the ground.

"Yosuke-san!" Ryuki cried out in concern, his eyes wide with worry.

Knight managed a faint smile, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. "Guess I'm just about reaching my limit here..."

Ryuki clenched his fists, determination flaring in his eyes. "I still got energy in the tank," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "Let me handle him alone for a bit, Yosuke-san. Rest. It'd be pointless if one of us goes down because we're exhausted."

Knight shook his head, his expression turning serious. "Out of the question. His energy, stamina, and endurance... It seems boundless. Nothing we've done has even begun to shake him. He's not flinching."

"That's more of a reason for you to take a break and-"

Knight raised his arm, cutting Ryuki off. "We've distracted Odin long enough, but we've also led him to believe we're blindly rushing him. Adachi... when the time comes, I need you to synch with me. Perfectly. Follow my every move, got it?"

Ryuki blinked, his confusion evident. "Yosuke-san...?"

Meanwhile, high above, Odin observed them, his keen eyes narrowing as he watched their movements. 'Their strikes are sharper now,' the primordial Rider thought, descending from the heavens with a storm of fury. 'It seems Hajime's words ignited something in them—strength, resolve... and perhaps the pain of losing their comrade. Grow stronger, Riders. You'll need it.'

Odin's expression twisted into a cold smile as he summoned his Infinitysabers, the twin blades crackling with unholy power. He beckoned the Riders forward, daring them to approach. Ryuki and Knight exchanged a silent, fierce glance, and without a moment's hesitation, they rushed toward him in unison.

A flurry of flames and winds lashed out as they unleashed their attacks, their elements clashing against Odin's towering figure. The explosion of energy was blinding, creating a shockwave of destruction as Odin was sent spiraling backward. But the Riders, relentless as ever, continued their charge, their spirits unyielding.

With a sadistic grin, Odin unleashed a barrage of solar slashes, each one tearing into the air with searing speed. The Riders were caught off guard, their armors sliced open, the sharp sting of each cut igniting flames of pain. One slash found its mark on Knight, cutting through his armor like paper, leaving a trail of blood in its wake, sending him hurtling through the air.

Booster Vent

Ryuki's eyes burned with defiance as he ignited his boosters, rocketing toward Odin. With a fierce twist, he spiraled around, blade alight with searing flames. But Odin was unfazed, effortlessly parrying the strike with his twin blades. In a swift, cruel motion, he flipped Ryuki upside down and drove his knee into his face, a sickening thud resonating through the air. Ryuki groaned in agony, but before he could recover, Odin thrust his other blade toward his throat. In a split second, a portal erupted between them, shifting the strike, the blade grazing the air where Ryuki had been a moment before. The brief window gave Ryuki the edge—he launched himself back, his body a blur, before charging again, his right fist crackling with radiant, rainbow energy.

'Is he really—?' Odin blinked in disbelief, raising both blades to intercept the incoming punch. But Ryuki, with a battle cry, slammed his Origin Zero into the blades, the impact shattering them with a deafening crack. Odin barely had time to react before Ryuki vanished into a blur of light, reappearing several meters ahead, and activating another ability.

Sword Vent: Zantetsuken

Before Odin could even gather himself, Ryuki was already in motion. He unleashed another punishing blow, fist swinging with the fury of a storm. The Zantetsuken met his strike, but to his shock, the blade didn't shatter. Instead, it cut through him, the sharp edge digging deep into his skin, as though it was immune to his chaos.

A cruel chuckle escaped Odin's lips. "It seems... my Zantetsuken exists on a plane far beyond your chaos," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. With a powerful burst of energy, he slammed his solar-infused fist into Ryuki's abdomen, the force tearing through his armor, sending him crashing away, blood staining the ground.

Copy Vent

Odin's eyes narrowed in confusion as he observed Ryuki's next move. 'He used... a copy vent?'

Suddenly, a fireball shot toward him with blistering speed. Odin dodged, weaving his head to avoid the strike, but then—Ryuki wasn't where he expected. The Rider had swapped places with the fireball, now armed with two gauntlets, each with powerful propulsors mounted at the elbows.

Ryuki struck with ferocity, his punch landing hard against Odin's forearm. The force of the blow didn't end there—Ryuki activated the percussion hammers on his elbows, delivering a double impact that pushed Odin back, staggering him.

Odin's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering within. 'Double impact? What exactly did he copy?' he wondered, his mind racing to process the shift in momentum.

Ryuki didn't relent. He followed up with an uppercut that would have shattered bone, but Odin, ever the strategist, stepped back with fluid grace, countering with a brutal roundhouse kick to Ryuki's side. There was a sickening crack as ribs snapped, and Ryuki was sent sprawling.

But just as Odin thought victory was certain, from the midst of the storm emerged a shadow—a streak of motion—Knight. He surged forward, cutting through the air with purpose.

"You still think you can make a difference?" Odin spat, planting his Zantetsuken into the ground as he turned to face Knight, his eyes filled with cold derision, hands locking onto Knight's blade. "It's all pointless. No amount of sneak attacks will-"

But then, out of nowhere, Odin felt it—a violent, searing pain. His body was slashed across, blood spilling down his golden armor, slicing up his right eye. He staggered back in shock.

Pain.

'Pain? Impossible...' Odin's thoughts shattered like glass. He looked at the blade Knight wielded, a golden weapon with a familiar aura.

"Zantetsuken!" Knight bellowed, his voice full of unwavering determination.

Odin's eyes widened, realization dawning on him like a nightmare come to life. "But... this is... my...?" His voice faltered, the truth seizing his chest. Ryuki had copied his Zantetsuken, setting the stage for Knight to strike—catching him off guard, delivering the blow where he least expected it.'Hajime used Copy Vent to copy my blade...and gave it to Yosuke...?'

Knight swung his blade with all his might, pushing Odin back on the defensive, forcing him to leap away.

Suddenly, the weapon slipped from his grasp. "What?!"

Strange Vent → Steal Vent

In an instant, Ryuki was wielding the real Zantetsuken, the weight of its power nearly overwhelming him. He gritted his teeth. 'This is intense!'

Odin's expression darkened. "You're a fool." He slammed his visor shut, and in a flash, his sword returned to his hand. "Strange Vent copies cards from other Decks. Of course, I have a Steal Vent of my own."

Accel Vent

Ryuki's body blurred with speed, darting to Odin's side, narrowly avoiding the deadly slash. He reached out, grabbing Odin's arm in a vice-like grip.

Knight, recovering, lashed out with a strike, forcing Odin to raise his Zantetsuken in defense, meeting Knight head-on. In that split second, Ryuki saw Odin's full attention was now on Knight. Seizing the opportunity, Ryuki began charging his Origin Zero again. But before he could strike, Odin slammed him into the ground.

Ryuki, dazed but relentless, kicked Odin hard in the face. Odin staggered back, right into Knight's waiting fist, which landed an uppercut to his chin.

Knight pressed on, his blade sweeping down with precision, but Odin jumped into the air, evading the strike. Ryuki had anticipated the move and was waiting for him inside a portal, leaping at Odin, and locking him in a brutal embrace.

"DO IT! USE THE DIMENSIONAL SLASH!" Ryuki yelled.

Knight hesitated, his hand trembling. "B-but—"

"JUST FUCKING DO IT!" Ryuki screamed, his rage fueling him. He summoned a barrage of elemental hands to hold Odin in place, preventing his escape.

Knight screamed, his voice raw with desperation, and swung with everything he had. "Dimensional Slash!"

The blade's energy surged forward, crashing into Odin with a force that left a deep X-shaped gash across Odin's once flawless armor.

Ryuki blinked in disbelief. What...?

"I… I thought I was prepared to take the blow, but nothing happened?" Ryuki muttered, half in shock, half in awe. But there was no pain. Nothing.

Knight stood there, equally stunned. "That... that was the Dimensional Slash?" He shook his head in confusion. "But it looked like my normal slashes..."

Odin chuckled darkly, his voice laced with venom. "You copied my sword, but you forgot one thing: the copy can't surpass the original." He took a step forward, his presence darkening the battlefield. "You can't copy the stored power within to its full capacity. You only replicated the shell. The attacks you made are nothing more than Level 1 or Level 2 slashes. Not a threat to me."

Ryuki staggered back as Odin's power flared. His energy swelled violently, sending shockwaves that tore through the air, ripping the elemental arms away.

With a cruel smile, Odin raised his sword high. "Now… witness the true power."

Zantetsuken Level ?

The air grew heavy with despair as Odin's blade descended, cleaving through the battlefield in a devastating arc that shattered Knight's Zone Vent like fragile glass, causing the storm to disperse. The once-protective barrier disintegrated, leaving Yosuke exposed to the unrelenting force of Zantetsuken.

Time seemed to freeze in that heart-stopping instant. Knight's gaze briefly met Ryuki's, a silent exchange of sorrow and unyielding determination passing between them. Then, with a sickening sound, the blade pierced through Yosuke's skull, the sheer impact snapping his body backward like a broken doll.

(Song End)

Odin's mocking voice broke the stillness. "Sloppy. I missed an instant kill. How careless of me." His tone dripped with cold amusement as he flung Knight's body aside like discarded refuse, sending him crashing into the remnants of a crumbling wall. Blood poured freely from the gaping wound, pooling beneath him in a spreading crimson tide. "No matter. You'll die slowly, watching the rest fall before me."

"YOSUKE-SAN!" Ryuki's anguished cry cut through the tension like a thunderclap. The raw pain and fury in his voice could have shaken the heavens themselves. His body moved on pure instinct, rushing toward Odin with his Exaltersaber raised. Each swing of the blade was wild, desperate, and charged with every ounce of strength he could muster—but Odin's Zantetsuken blocked each attack effortlessly, the sparks of clashing steel illuminating their struggle.

Knight lay motionless on the bloodstained ground, his breaths shallow and uneven as his vision blurred. The pain in his head was excruciating, yet a deeper ache settled in his chest—a crushing weight of hopelessness.

'So, this is it…' Yosuke's thoughts felt distant, like an echo in his mind. 'We gave it everything we had, and it still wasn't enough… Adachi can't fight him alone. Even if the others join, they'll be slaughtered… It was all for nothing. Against a God like him, we never had a chance…'

Darkness began to creep into his vision, and for the first time, Yosuke felt the bitter sting of defeat, heavier than the pain in his broken body.

'I let everyone down... Akira, Kanade, Goro, Chao-Xing, Kagatsuchi, Takeru, Jades, Bragi, Hamaguchi, Tobias, Thor, Raiden... Your sacrifices... your deaths... I couldn't make them amount to anything...' Yosuke's thoughts felt heavy, like the weight of a thousand failures pressing down on him. His vision blurred as he closed his eyes, the world around him fading into an echo of despair. The cries of battle—the clash of weapons, the roar of Odin's power—blurred into white noise.

Even Hajime's desperate screams, pleading for him to rise, sounded distant, like a voice submerged in water. 'I'm sorry... I wasn't strong enough. I never was.'

Several years ago, a younger Yosuke stood solemnly before his father's grave, the weight of the Knight Deck pressing heavily in his trembling hands. The cool breeze carried with it the faint scent of flowers, contrasting sharply with the turmoil churning within him.

"Yosuke..."

He turned to see a blue-haired girl approaching, clutching a small bouquet of chrysanthemums in her arms.

"Tsubasa..." His voice wavered.

"I brought these for your dad," she said softly, her eyes kind yet tinged with sorrow.

"Thank you. But... could you place them for me?" Yosuke asked, his tone laden with guilt and hesitation.

"Why?" Tsubasa tilted her head, her curiosity gentle but persistent.

"My hands, Tsubasa..." Yosuke stared down at his trembling palms, his voice cracking. "They're covered in blood... I killed that man. I got him killed. How can I even think about honoring my dad when I've become the very thing I wanted to stop?"

His frame began to shake, his grip on the Knight Deck faltering as his memories clawed at him. "I wanted to be a detective. To end this killing game. But now... I'm just as bad as the rest of them..."

A tender touch on his cheek stilled his spiraling thoughts. "Tsubasa?" he whispered, startled by her sudden closeness.

"Yosuke," she said firmly, her voice carrying a strength that belied her slender form. "That man you fought was a monster. He would've kept killing, kept spreading pain. You gave him justice in the only way a Kamen Rider could. And don't forget—Odin was the one who pushed things to that point, not you."

"I know..." Yosuke sighed, though his voice carried the fragile edge of someone still unconvinced. His lips twitched into a faint, grateful smile as Tsubasa reached for his hand. "Thanks for saying that. And for bringing the flowers."

"Your dad was an incredible man," she said softly. "A great detective, a great teacher."

"Teacher?"

Tsubasa flushed slightly, a sheepish grin forming. "He gave me a few lessons on detective work. I... I wanted to learn, so we'd have more to talk about."

Yosuke blinked, surprised, before letting out a small chuckle. "You didn't need to go that far."

"Well, now we'll definitely have plenty more to talk about," she said, her gaze falling to the Knight Deck in his hands. Her eyes widened in realization. "Yosuke... you're not thinking of becoming a Kamen Rider like your dad, are you?"

"I am," he said resolutely, his voice firm despite the redness creeping into his cheeks. "I want to make a difference. Assemble a team of Riders with righteous intentions. Together, we can stop this madness—end this killing game once and for all." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "And... I want to fight by your side. Against the Noise, against anything. So you'll never have to feel alone again."

Tsubasa's cheeks reddened as she stammered, "A-are you sure? It's dangerous, Yosuke. You don't have to do this for me—"

"I'm sure," he interrupted, his fingers curling around hers. "You're the person most precious to me. Right now, it's just the two of us fighting. But someday, I know we'll find others—Riders, Symphogear wielders—people who'll stand with us. And one day, we'll finally have peace."

Her initial hesitation melted into a radiant smile. "You're right. We'll keep fighting. Together."

But as Yosuke reached out to clasp her other hand, her expression began to twist unnaturally.

"Odin is going to win."

Her voice was distorted, growing hollow and cold. Yosuke recoiled as her face became unrecognizable, warping into a grotesque void. His younger self disappeared, replaced by his older, battle-worn form.

All around him, his fallen allies stared back at him, their faces obscured by shadow.

"Odin is going to win."

The words reverberated, a chilling mantra in the oppressive darkness.

"Odin is going to win."

"Win..." Yosuke's voice cracked, his body trembling. "He's... going to... win?"

The world around him dissolved into nothingness, leaving Yosuke alone in the suffocating void.

Knight's mouth opened, a guttural, raspy growl escaping his throat as his tongue hung unnaturally loose. His bloodshot eyes glowed a menacing red, veins crawling like cracks across his sclera, as blood poured steadily from his nose and eyes. His head tilted unnervingly to one side, a grotesque reflection of his crumbling mind and body.

"Ah...~! Absolutely disgusting...!" Knight snarled, his voice dripping with venom. His bloodstained eyes locked onto Odin, who held Ryuki by the neck like a ragdoll. A murderous thought consumed his fractured consciousness. 'I'm going to slaughter him! I'm going to tear him to pieces! LIMB FROM LIMB!'

"It's lights out for you, Hajime," Odin said with a smirk, raising his Zantetsuken for a final blow. "It's been fun, but like any good show, it must come to an end—"

Odin's smirk faltered as his eyes widened in shock. He spun around, sensing the oppressive presence behind him. Knight staggered toward them, his shoulders slumped, drool dripping from his slack jaw, and each step leaving a smeared trail of blood in his wake. His movements were unsteady, yet every inch of him radiated an unholy fury, as though death itself had risen to defy the God of All.

"Yosuke-san...?" Ryuki's voice trembled with a mix of relief and dread. But as his gaze settled on his friend, he realized no person should look the way Yosuke did.

Odin let out a booming laugh, his tone drenched in mocking delight. "I must apologize—I underestimated you, Yosuke Yanagi!"

Knight snarled, dragging the copied Zantetsuken behind him, its edge leaving faint marks on the ground.

"What's... wrong with him...?" Ryuki managed, his voice barely audible.

Odin smirked as if reveling in the chaos. "A blow to the frontal cortex, I'd wager. He can't even speak anymore. What you're witnessing, Hajime, is humanity stripped to its core. Right now, Yosuke is little more than a primal being clinging to life. He's reached the brink of death, forced to choose: fight or flee. Clearly, he chose to fight. This is a survival instinct in its rawest form." Odin's eyes gleamed with sadistic glee. "But make no mistake—he has only a minute or two left before his body gives out. Now, shut up and watch as I give him the Test of Kings."

Ryuki barely had time to react before Odin's fist slammed into his side. The brutal kidney punch left him gasping for air as he collapsed to the ground.

Knight stumbled forward, his movements erratic, his grip on the Zantetsuken tight. He swung the blade wildly, releasing uncontrolled slashes that tore through the battlefield. One of the errant strikes came dangerously close to Ryuki, forcing him to roll aside at the last second.

"Ha!" Odin laughed, gracefully evading the onslaught. "He can't even tell friend from foe. Or maybe he just doesn't care anymore."

Knight's attacks were nothing more than reckless swings, and Odin exploited the openings with ease, slashing at him repeatedly. Each strike drew more blood, and each wound weakened him further.

In an instant, Odin vanished, reappearing behind Knight. Before the feral Rider could react, Odin's hand connected with a brutal backhand that sent him sprawling to the ground.

"Yosuke-san!" Ryuki cried, his voice laced with desperation.

Knight twitched, his body jerking involuntarily before falling still. He lay there, unresponsive, his breath ragged.

"Well," Odin muttered, brushing imaginary dust from his coat. "I guess that's it. I overestimated his tenacity."

Knight gasped faintly, his vision fading as he stared into the darkened sky above. His thoughts were fragments, scattered and distant, as though they belonged to someone else.

"You can't give up yet, Yosuke," a familiar voice spoke, cutting through the haze.

Knight's eyes darted to his side, where a shadowy figure knelt. The voice was familiar, yet his broken mind couldn't immediately place it.

"You're stronger than this, Yosuke," the figure continued. "You're not the type to let things end here. You've always been the one to stay composed, to lead and inspire those around you. That's why you succeeded where I failed."

The figure glanced toward Ryuki, still struggling to rise. "That kid? He's the key. He's got the potential to make things right, but he can't do it alone. He needs you. You've got one last thing to do—for him, for Tsubasa, and for everyone else." The figure's outline became clearer, and memories came flooding back.

"Akira..." Yosuke's thoughts grew sharper as he recognized his former friend and ally. The picture of Tsubasa in his mind crystallized, and with it, his resolve.

Behind Odin, the faint sound of movement caught his attention. He turned, eyes narrowing in disbelief as Knight pushed himself up, swaying unsteadily on his feet.

"You... you're standing again?!" Odin's shock was palpable.

Yosuke's thoughts burned with clarity. 'I am Yosuke Yanagi. The leader of the Rider Unit in SONG. I still have a duty to fulfill. I will see you defeated, Odin!

Without hesitation, Knight launched himself at Odin, his blade swinging wildly.

"You just don't get it, do you?" Odin sneered, retaliating with a powerful slash. But Knight's movements defied all logic. He twirled and dodged the attack with a feral grace, his unpredictability leaving Odin stunned, and landing several slashes around him.

Knight's erratic yet precise strikes forced Odin onto the defensive, the God of All struggling to keep up with the unorthodox assault.

The battlefield crackled as Knight charged at Odin, his copied Zantetsuken clashing against the original in a cascade of sparks. Odin smirked, parrying with ease. "Wild, but futile," he mocked, dodging a reckless swing and countering with a precise slash that grazed Knight's armor.

Knight moved with feral unpredictability, spinning and slashing in erratic bursts. One wild swing sliced across Odin's thigh, drawing blood. Odin staggered briefly, his smirk fading. "Impressive," he growled, teleporting behind Knight and slashing downward. Knight spun instinctively, intercepting the blow in a shriek of clashing steel.

Odin pressed the advantage, his attacks swift and calculated. Each strike pushed Knight back, but his wild counters landed sporadic blows, slashing Odin's arm and side.

"You're a cornered beast," Odin snarled, his tone darkening as he raised Zantetsuken, now humming with energy. He swung in a devastating arc, the ground shattering beneath them in a blinding explosion.

As the dust settled, Knight stood, battered but unyielding, his breath ragged. Odin grumbled, noticing the slashes on his body. Even if Knight's Zantetsuken was a copy, it was able to bypass his Lion Heart and damage him. Not only physically, but also his soul. His movements were becoming sluggish. He hadn't fully healed his soul from Raiden's stunt in shooting his own slash back, but on top of that, he had now taken several slashes from Knight and they were taking their toll. "You're relentless, but even beasts have limits."

Knight let out a guttural growl, his grip tightening, rushing toward Odin who leaped into the air.

"You've given me quite the challenge, Yosuke Yanagi," Odin said coldly, his body blazing with golden flames that expanded into wings of pure energy. "But even beasts like you can only rage for so long."

With a thunderous roar, Odin descended like a comet, colliding with Knight in an explosion of power.

"YOSUKE-SAN!" Ryuki's desperate scream echoed as the shockwave hurled him across the battlefield.

When the dust and smoke cleared, Odin stood tall amidst the devastation, his gaze fixed on Knight's unmoving form. The fake Zantetsuken lay discarded by Knight's side, and his bloodied body seemed finally defeated.

Odin clicked his tongue, inspecting his wounds. "That brat... He pushed me farther than I expected. I thought I poured enough power into that attack to disintegrate him, but no matter. He's done."

He turned to leave but froze mid-step as a faint sound caught his attention. Slowly, impossibly, Knight began to stir. His broken body trembled as he forced himself back onto his feet, dragging in ragged breaths.

Odin's golden eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! This is madness!" His voice cracked with both shock and fury. "How? How is he still standing?! How far will his determination go? He's just a human! I turned his entire body into Swiss cheese with those attacks!"

Inside Knight's fractured mind, a voice whispered, resolutely.

"One more, Yosuke. There's still one more person you can make stronger. That's what a leader does. You can do it, my son."

Knight's body steadied as if those words had reignited a flicker of life within him. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Odin, and without hesitation, he rushed forward one last time, blade poised for a final strike.

Odin braced himself, his Zantetsuken gleaming as he readied to counter. Knight's thrust came swift and wild, barely missing Odin's head. But in his reckless charge, Knight impaled himself on Odin's blade, the Zantetsuken piercing his chest just to the side of his heart.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, Knight's grip on his weapon slackened, and his body went limp, the fight finally leaving him.

"To think I had to stab your heart to end this," Odin muttered, his voice laced with reluctant respect. He pulled his blade free, letting Knight collapse to the ground.

"You were the most persistent opponent I've ever faced. More than a warrior... you were a leader." Odin glanced at Knight's lifeless form, his tone softening just slightly. "You passed the test, Yosuke Yanagi. Rest now."

To Odin's shock, Knight's hand shot out, gripping the blade of Zantetsuken with unrelenting force. His body was breaking apart, dissolving into particles as his strength finally reached its limit.

"This is pointless..." Odin muttered, shaking his head, though unease crept into his expression.

'I gave it my all... Dad, I hope I made you proud. They all surpassed every expectation. They became stronger, better... better than I ever was,' Yosuke thought, his vision blurring as his body began to fade completely. 'I did my part... Now it's up to them... It's all up to you...'

With a final burst of strength, Knight turned his head slightly, his eyes burning with resolve one last time.

"THE REST IS UP TO YOU, HAJIME!"

Odin's eyes widened in disbelief as Yosuke's upper body detonated into a cloud of radiant particles. The force of the explosion momentarily blinded him, and he staggered, disoriented. When his vision cleared, Ryuki was already upon him, his right fist glowing with an intense, otherworldly power.

Odin's mouth opened in a silent scream of realization. He had underestimated them. He had underestimated him. Zantetsuken disappeared from his hands.

Confine Vent

"I KNOW!" Ryuki roared, channeling every ounce of his strength and fury into his punch. His fist slammed into Odin's chest with a sound like thunder, the sheer force of the impact sending a massive shockwave rippling through the battlefield. Odin's eyes rolled back as blood erupted from his mouth, his body catapulted several kilometers away before a brilliant explosion of light and color erupted in the distance.

The battlefield was quiet for a moment, save for Ryuki's ragged breathing. He stumbled forward to where Knight had been, collapsing to his knees. All that remained of Yosuke was a faint, glowing trail of particles dissipating into the air.

Knight's hand had been raised in a final thumbs-up before vanishing completely.

"Yosuke-san..." Hajime whispered, his voice breaking. His hand reached out to touch the ground where Knight once stood, trembling as realization set in.

Then, from the depths of his soul, a primal scream tore through the silence—a howl of anguish and sorrow as tears streamed down his face.

Yosuke Yanagi was gone, but his legacy burned brighter than ever.

"I can't cry... Snap out of it!" Ryuki slapped his cheeks, forcing himself to focus. "There will be time to mourn later!"

Grabbing the Darkwing, Volcancer, and Magnugiga cards, he took off toward the battlefield. But something was wrong.

As he soared through the sky, Ryuki stared at his hands. He couldn't feel it—couldn't feel Goldphoenix. All other beasts were there, but the bond with Goldphoenix was gone.

"We got the stones!"

Ryuki's clones approached, but he didn't share their relief. His mind raced as he replayed the battle. He had hit Odin with Origin Zero at full capacity and heard his screams of pain.

'Wait… I hit Raiden with Origin Zero, too. I didn't take his monsters, just Thor's power. Could it be…?'

The truth dawned on him. He couldn't control what Origin Zero reverted. With Hazuki, he'd been lucky; with Raiden, he hadn't disrupted the balance too much. But now, luck had turned. He hadn't taken Goldphoenix from Odin. Instead…

A sharp pain lanced through his chest. He gasped, looking down at the hand piercing through his body.

Odin stood behind him, armor battered and dented but alive. "Ah... apologies, Hajime. I seem to have... gone for a lethal blow just now. Do forgive me." His voice grew colder, darker. "I'm just a little... upset."

Blood spilled from Hajime's lips as he weakly grabbed Odin's arm.

"I should have done this from the beginning," Odin sneered, reaching for Ryuki's deck. "Finally, I'll take what is rightfully mine—"

A spasm of pain wracked Odin's body, forcing him to withdraw his hand. The damage from the Zantetsuken and Raiden's strikes had taken its toll. Ryuki's armor dissipated as his body fell into the gash below.

'I can't control time anymore.' Odin realized, his movements labored. 'No matter. Once I get Ventara's powers, they will be nothing but a tiny portion of what I will be able to do. But I haven't recovered from those slashes from Raiden... Even Yosuke's fake Zantetsuken had enough power to cripple me. On top of that...'

Odin winced, feeling an intense pain in his chest.'That attack struck the contract between Hazama and me...Taking one or two more of those would be bad. If the contract breaks, I won't be able to remain in this realm and I'd die. To think they could push me this far…After I'm done with him, I'll rest and heal up my soul.'

His mind flicked through his fallen opponents—Raiden, Yomi, and now Yosuke. 'All of them… gems of untapped potential. And the Messiah? A disappointment, just like his brother and father.'

Odin raised a hand, summoning a solar sphere. "You'll die from the fall or that wound. Either way, I'll collect the Advent Stones from your remains." His laughter filled the air as the sphere grew. "I WIN! VENTARA! I WIN—"

A sharp pain erupted in his back, shattering his concentration.

"Another pest?" His refined voice twisted into venom."Just how many cockroaches are going to show up to fight me?"

For the second time, he was struck with his own weapon. Gungnir.

"How dare you…?" Hibiki snarled, True Valkyrie armor shining with rage. Behind her, the remaining Symphogear stood united.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY HAJIME?!"

As Odin faced the furious Valkyries, the battle shifted once again as they took the stage. Round three had ended. Round four was about to begin.

"He's late." A tall, muscular young man with a buzz cut tapped his foot impatiently. "He was supposed to be here ten minutes ago."

"It's still early..." A girl with long lavender hair tried to sound reasonable. "Maybe he overslept?"

"Tch. Wouldn't doubt it," a blue-haired woman in baggy clothes snorted. "That jerk left me on read yesterday! Then I saw him live at some party when we were supposed to see a movie! Can you believe that, Kyuukuo-san?"

"I warned him to go to bed early for this meeting," the man in the suit sighed, rubbing his temples. "But, as always, he doesn't listen."

"Sakamoto-kun, could you go fetch him?" Chris asked, her voice calm yet insistent.

"Huh?"

"He'll listen to you," she said, smiling sweetly. "You always know how to get through to him."

Takeru blushed, rubbing the back of his neck. Refusing her wasn't an option. "Fine, I'll go. But don't expect me to be nice."

"I wouldn't dream of it." She giggled, and Takeru saluted before heading to the door.

"Kick his ass for me, yeah?!" Tsubasa called after him.

"Yeah, yeah," Takeru muttered as he opened the door.

"...So I was like, 'Bro, give me my money, bitch! I earned that shit!'"

Takeru turned to see Yosuke Yanagi stumbling toward him, uniform disheveled and aviator glasses askew. His purple hair was a mess, and his slurred voice made it clear he was drunk.

"Call ya later, babe," Yosuke said into his phone before hanging up. "Hi, bitch!"

"You're drunk," Takeru said flatly. "You showed up to work drunk?!"

"Yeah, my bad, man. Had a little too much fun last night." Yosuke grinned, leaning against the wall.

"Are those... hickeys?!" Takeru pointed at the marks on Yosuke's neck. "You're unbelievable. You told me you were serious about Tsubasa!"

"Dude, chill." Yosuke lowered his glasses. "First of all, we're not official. Second, we're not married, so what's the big deal? Lighten up."

"You're insufferable." Takeru pinched the bridge of his nose. "Come on, clean yourself up before the meeting."

He grabbed Yosuke by the arm, dragging him toward the bathroom. "Wash your face and cover the stench of weed. You smell like a frat house."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Mom," Yosuke said mockingly. "You're such a buzzkill, soldier boy. What's got your panties in a twist? Chris-chan shoot you down or something?"

"You, you intolerable ass." Takeru crossed his arms outside the bathroom. "I try to help you, but you always go back to your vices. You're supposed to be a government agent. Start acting like one. And for the last time, Yukine-chan and I have not been dating, okay? Stop saying that aloud. People are going to get the wrong idea. You're always spreading false rumors all the time, it's rather annoying-"

Inside the bathroom, there was a loud thud.

"Yanagi, what the hell are you doing in there?" Takeru frowned, knocking on the door. "If you passed out, I swear—"

No reply.

"Yanagi?" Takeru tried the handle, but it was locked. His frustration turned to unease. "Answer me."

Still nothing.

With growing urgency, Takeru forced the door open. His breath caught in his throat. Yosuke's lifeless body slumped against the door, his face pale and blood pooling on the tile beneath him.

Takeru stared in shock, his mind racing. "What the hell...?"

And for the first time in a long while, Takeru was afraid.

Remaining Kamen Riders:

Ryuki: Hajime Adachi

Odin: Hazama Liang

Deceased Riders:

Scissors: Goro Tanaka (Killed by Ouja)

Verde: Zeke Crowley (Killed by Zolda)

Imperer: Andreas Kagatsuchi (Killed by Ryuga)

Zolda: Takeru Sakamoto (Killed by Ouja)

Femme: Chiaki Nakahara (Killed herself before succumbing to the effects of her Swan Song)

Tiger: Jades Demetrios (Killed by Gai)

Gai: Terunosuke Kuwana (Defeated by Raia, Maria, Shirabe, and Kirika. Killed by Helheim demons)

Ouja: Allister Albedo (Killed by Chris Yukine)

Alternative: Bragi Third Dienheim (Killed by Ryuga)

Abyss: Hamaguchi Kuroiwa (Killed by Helheim demons)

Ryuga: Hazuki Kaburagi (Killed by Ryuki)

Raia: Raiden Amaterasu (Killed by Odin)

Knight: Yosuke Yanagi (Killed by Odin)