~Short~
The (E)nd (O)f His (S)tory - EOS
A huge explosion shook the Palace of Darkness.
Within the dense smoke, something was converging, it swept through the arena like a storm. At the center of that raging hurricane, a body struggled to hold itself together. Two voices and two souls fused into one now began to break apart.
Edwin Black, in his true form, grabbed hold of the figure that was detaching from his body, the sheer force of the invisible pull that raged against a vampire's strength was immense.
"You cannot!" He screamed. "This is what we are meant to be! You mustn't raise your objection to such a destiny!"
World Resetting has been temporarily disrupted as a consequence of the failing progress of his fusion.
The body of an unconscious Asagi was glitching, simultaneously changing between the full gear white Taimanin bodysuit and a dark ominous revealing outfit.
"Igawa Asagi!"
The Vampire King shouted in vain, he was losing in this battle of conviction. She didn't hear anything from him, she refused to register even his voice. The Vampire Queen couldn't be born as long as Asagi's human's heart continued to exist and prevail against her Inner Demon.
He was so closed to obtaining her, his one and only ideal soulmate.
Among the floating debris and rocks, a shadow began to make their next move. A weapon was thrown, its ridiculous speed surpassed the destructive strength of the violent wind shield and reached into the eye of that raging storm.
Black noticed the kunai aiming for the third eye on his head, it failed to hit him as he caught the weapon without much effort.
Suddenly, a puff of smoke appeared from the kunai. Black felt he was holding at nothing, the solid object vanquished from his grasp. And in its place, a blade shot out from the smoke, stabbing the third eye on his forehead.
"GGaaaahhhh!" The Vampire recoiled his head in pain.
When the smoke swept away in the strong gust of wind, a hand forming finger gun pointed straight at Black's face. The left eye glaring into his shone golden before it flashed a fury red.
"FUUMA! FUUMA KOTARO!"
The leader of the Independent Commando Unit gritted his teeth as the Eye of Demonic Gate unleashed its fury. Kamimura Maika's strongest technique scorched the Vampire's head without an ounce of hesitation. The majestic fire mixed into the wind, swirling, towering and forming a burning hurricane.
With one hand covering the injury on his head, Black's second arm swung the sword at Kotaro. The young Taimanin quickly jumped off before the deadly horizontal swing could hit him. Caught in the violent current, Demonic Gate switched to the next Ninja Art in store. Kotaro surfed along the hot wind and launched himself at Black the moment a blind spot revealed.
Black saw it coming, the Vampire was ready to intercept the attack. Kotaro had a different idea, however. As the left eye continued to activate Asuka's Wind Art, the right eye sparked an electrical discharge. He zipped past the Vampire King in a blink of an eye using Yukikaze's Lightning Art.
Black grunted as his chest opened a crimson hollow. The Taimanin managed to deal another critical damage to his body. Bloodshot eyes chased after the human only to open wide in disbelief when the Vampire found out Kotaro was holding someone in his arms. In that split second, Asagi had been fully removed from his body.
"ASAGI!" The Vampire King enraged.
His ear-shattering voice fell plat to a grenade tossed right in his face. The eye of the storm exploded.
...
...
Even though the Taimanin bodysuit couldn't only do so much when falling from excessive heights, Kotaro didn't prepare for a landing strategy.
He braced his body and shielded Asagi who had yet to wake up. The ground smashed him in the back, Kotaro felt something broke inside, must be couple of bones. It was hard to breath, his lung was being punctured and squeezed in the worst way possible.
Until now, he had tried his damnedest to squeeze all three Ninja Arts from the strongests of the Taimanins and some into these eyes. There was no more room for the Evil Eye to store a Healing Art.
The hurricane finally depleted, he watched Black falling on the ground, heavily wounded. Kotaro's blade was infused with Anti-Taima materials - Researcher Kenji Kotani's courtesy. Even if his enemy was the Vampire King, the healing factor would be hindered. It would take some time for Black to be fully recovered from those critical injuries.
Now was his chance to finish him off for good.
"...Ughh?"
Eh? His arms and legs didn't budge, they were awfully heavy. Did something else other than the bones in his torso broke?! No, he didn't feel the pain spreading anywhere, it gathered only at his back. His cheeks were damped, not by sweats. A metallic odor filled the nostril as Kotaro realized his vision began shifting to a bloody red color.
The Evil Eye didn't hit its limit, it was him! Multiple usages of most advanced Taimanin Arts in a short timespan was taking a toll on his body!
"Damn it...!" He spit a hoarse voice.
Black was already making his way towards him, a slow and fumbling walk that didn't buy much time for Kotaro to formulate a new strategy.
"Sensei! Asagi-sensei!"
Kotaro raised his voice at his unconscious mentor. Asagi muttered a weak groan, her body continued to glitch in the mental battle between the human's heart and the demon's blood coursing her veins. Kotaro couldn't feel his arms, so he used his shoulders and knees to slither toward Asagi.
The others wouldn't be able to reach them in time. The chaos around Yomihara and the city three hundred meters above the surface were far more worst than they could imagine. Even though the tide of this decisive battle was turning toward them, nothing positive had been guaranteed to last until the end.
Yukikaze, Sakura-sensei, Rinko-senpai, Murasaki-sensei, Shiranui-san, Maika, Kirara-senpai, Asuka, Ingrid, Lina, Hebiko, Shiranosuke, Masked Taimanin and many others were still fighting out there. All for the sake of this world not end up being fractured, destroyed and erased by Black's Universe Resetting ability.
Kotaro reached out, resting his shaky hand on top Asagi's. Her skin was cold, she was almost on the verge of being converted into Black's Ideal Queen.
"Asagi-sensei."
While the Independent Commando Unit was at the front line, she'd reached this place and fought against Black alone. The Almighty Taimanin was humanity's last resort, only Asagi could fight off the darkest incarnation of evil with her vibrant strength.
But...
In the end, that hope extinguished. Because Asagi decided to carry that burden by herself.
That was why he'd ran ahead while everyone stayed behind to reach her.
That was why he stored up the strongest form of each elemental Ninja Arts within the Evil Eye even though the immense fatigues could completely break his body.
That was why he regretted not saying anything when he knew for a fact that she was carrying a heavy burden on her shoulders.
Kotaro couldn't afford to let that happen again. The establishment of the Commando Unit was to support Asagi and one day filled in her place.
"Fuuma Kotaro!"
Black's shadow loomed over him. Sharp eyes glared menacingly as if it would dig a hole through Kotaro's head if he tried to move a finger. The young Taimanin couldn't do anything to stop the worst case scenario.
"You and your Evil Eye had gave me enough troubles."
The Vampire King stepped on his head, a weak grunt soon stretched into a wailing scream.
"Die here as you should be, Taimanin."
Slash!
The cold hand in Kotaro's grasp flinched.
Before Black noticed, his giant leg that was about to crush Kotaro's head slid to the side and spilled the ground in red. A blinding flash cut off the Vampire King's vision. Then, a roundhouse kick struck him right in the stomach, launching Black far off to the other side of the arena.
Kotaro breathed in deeply, his thoughts went blank and body became numb. The agonizing pain around the whole head was squeezing his brain, he couldn't make out what just happened while he saw everything in a scarlet shade.
"You did good, Fuuma-kun. Thank you for being here in time."
It was Asagi's voice. She finally woke up in that bloody world, in his eyes.
Something about her had changed.
Asides from holding the Ninjato sword - Asagi's signature weapon - the original Full Gear white bodysuit was no longer with her. After a bright light enveloped her body, what appeared was an entirely new attire that gave out a propitious aura. Instead of the skintight Taimanin suit, she was wearing a pure silver dress with long sleeves and a high collar covering the neck, a ruffled coattail trailed behind a short skirt and left opened in the front to reveal dark stockings.
She looked like someone of a royal status. A being who has reached the realm beyond human and demon's understanding.
"Kukuku, such regal presence!"
Edwin Black's laughter echoed across the vast room.
"Even if our fusion is doomed to fail, a part of my power has been accepted by you. Asagi, your soul may as well trying to reject me but every single fibers in that body would never deny the truth. That appearance is the proof! You're destined to become my Queen! The Eve of the new worlds under our reign!"
Asagi respond to those words was a simple swing of her arm. The walls and deserted audience seats around the arena shredded, breaking and crumbled by an invisible cutting slash. Black, who was in the way, was swept away as soon as everything began to collapse on top him.
Kotaro watched in awe. It was the kind of strength he'd never seen before from his mentor.
At this moment, Asagi inherited some of the Vampire King's power as he claimed and resulted in the transformation that granted her an enormous boost in strength. Being the Almighty Taimanin, she had no problem adapting and using it.
However, Kotaro doubted the attack could incapacitate Black permanently. He was still their greatest threat at the moment.
Asagi came over and cradled Kotaro in her arms. Upon a closer look at her face, Kotaro realized it wasn't just the outfit that changed.
She had heterochromia. While the left eye still had the same teal color, the right eye took on a crimson hue. Some white strands blended into the dark-blue color of her hair.
"...what happened?"
"It's my Inner Demon. Kage and I have reached a compromise once my body absorbed some of Black's life force using Inage's Ninja Art. This isn't how I wished it to turn out but it can't be helped. At the very least, I have gained full control of this form." She stroked his hair. "You can rest easy now, Fuuma-kun. Leave this battle to me."
Kotaro mustered the strength in his shaky arm and held her by the wrist.
"No, let's retreat." He said. "Granny Neu predicted the Resetting phenomenon, we have to get you away from Black as far as possible."
It already happened.
Out of nowhere, a black orb manifested. It began to converge, attracting, twisting all objects in its surrounding.
"I'll just have to finish him quickly before he managed to destroy everything."
Asagi glanced at the void-like center of that orb, unfazed. She swung her sword once more, the invisible cutting slash struck the orb. While it did nothing to the pitch black vacuum, the slash blew off the debris, revealing Black who was buried among the piles of rubbles.
As expected, the Vampire King survived the attack. The appearance of that black orb was due to him at his wit end. The Universe Resetting ability already kicked into gear when Black was at his most vulnerable state.
The orb enlarged, expanding its reach. The crumbling arena and Black gradually moved, being pulled toward it.
The Vampire King uttered a harsh snicker as he glared at them.
"This is it, Asagi. You refuse to be my Queen, so be it. Kill me however you want, nothing can stop this universe from being destroyed and rebuilt anew, I will still be in that new world as its supreme ruler. I can always find you and make you mine later."
"We will see about that, vampire."
Not good.
That meant everything they did so far was for nothing. The condition for Universe Resetting had changed, Black assured Asagi would be his killer. The moment she dealt the final blow, this world would be doomed.
"Asag-!"
He was too late.
Asagi charged forward in a flash as the black orb was about to consume Black, her great speed helped Asagi rush past the field of attraction and reached her archnemesis in a mere second. Ninjato pierced through Black's heart, yet the cruel laughter didn't stop. The Vampire King readied himself to embrace this ending before he starts anew in the next world.
Jolt!
The Evil Eye pulsed. Kotaro felt that ominous consequence drawing closer. As the dark void kept growing, cracks were running along the ground, the walls and the ceiling above.
Even though Asagi had inflicted hundred more cuts on his wounded body and tore his limbs apart, Black was still smiling.
Even though everyone was putting their lives at stake to put down the chaos evoked by an evil incarnation, darkness was still coming to take over this whole world.
Even though he had reached her, their world was still bounded to be destroyed.
"It's no use, Asagi!" Black declared, the satisfaction in his voice shredded all hopes. "I have won!"
Asagi refused to waver, she grabbed hold of his head. It was a vice-grip that drew blood, her nails dug deep into Black's skin. She continued to remain determined in the face of despair.
"Then, I'll just have to absorb you using your own power, Black. I'll purify your presence within me and obtain Universe Resetting, I will definitely stop this nightmare!"
Black's smile didn't fade one bit.
"You can't. Once the ability activated, the world will come to an end. Not even I can't stop it."
Dark Mists gathered around the strongest of their own kind, a battle of struggle prolonged in vain. There was not enough time for Asagi to full absorb all of Black's power to cancel out the reset.
The black hole continued to expand. Fragments of reality were breaking apart.
In the midst of that rampage, Demonic Gate shone golden.
Kotaro slammed his feet to the ground, gradually gathering himself up. An empty needle-less syringe discarded next to him and was sucked into the void. It was a one heavy dose of adrenaline rush Kotaro had injected into himself.
Blood veins rose on one side of his neck and spread over half of his face. He gripped tightly the katana forged with Anti-Taima materials. His jaw was clenching so hard the teeth made harsh grinding noises. With the Evil Eye locked on Asagi, Kotaro pointed a finger gun at her direction.
Just as she was trying her hardest to absorb Edwin Black's abilities, the vampire persisted and he was doing the same thing to her body. A tug of war that would go on forever.
Asagi would lose, time was not on her side.
In that case, let this Evil Eye be the world's final trump card. Kotaro would bet everything he had on this move.
[Demonic Gate Release: Cicada Shell - Reversal]
The Vampire King's triumph laughter stopped cold, his mouth hung in shock as Kotaro stared at him dead in the eyes.
By reversing the core concept of Koukawa Oboro's Ninja Art, Kotaro had switched place with Asagi in this endless struggle.
"FUUMA KOTARO!"
"Yeah." The Evil Eye spun. "That's my name."
Between them, the air ran thick. From within the golden light of the right eye, a vortex emerged, rushing over Black's entire being. The Vampire King's body bended shape in the grasp of that pulling force, his face distorted into a horrified look.
Black could have tear Kotaro to shred if not for his limbs being cut off by Asagi. The Dark Mist could have possessed Kotaro fully if that Evil Eye wasn't in the way. If it wasn't for these inflicted wounds hindering the flow of magic in his body, he would have pasted the young Taimanin with gravity magic.
"No! You will soon find that all your effort means nothing! YOU WILL NOT STOP-!"
Kotaro thrust his katana between the Vampire King's eyes. The Demonic Gate swallowed Edwin Black whole as all resistance let go, only the fading voice was all that left in the world.
"This is..." Kotaro muttered. "Unbelievable. You wanted Asagi-sensei because you deemed her to be a worthy companion after the world reset."
As Demonic Gate obtained everything belonged to Edwin Black, thousand of memories were flooding Kotaro's mind.
The knowledge of Universe Resetting was the first to pop up because he needed it the most, and yet...for a moment, Kotaro felt sympathy toward the Taimanin's worst enemy.
"Because of this ability, your immortality was made different than the rest of your own kind. That's why you distanced yourself from everyone. All that high-horse attitudes was just because of that?"
Kotaro spoke to the existence that was no longer there.
"If only you reached out to your sister Carla, you wouldn't have lost your mind in fear of an eternal solitude. Because just like you, she understood the curse of immortality better than anyone else."
"Fuuma-kun!"
Making a powerful dash, Asagi shoved herself past the attracting force of the giant black orb and caught him. They managed to land outside its range.
"Can't you stop it?"
Asagi wasted no time and went straight into the biggest question, hoping the Evil Eye could provide them a solution.
But Kotaro shook his head, dejected.
Among Edwin Black's memories, there was nothing to imply the Universe Resetting event could be stopped once the process started.
Asagi's breath hitched as she began to share the same saddened expression. All they could do now was just sitting there and watched the world around them breaking down.
"I'm sorry. I should have been more careful."
"No, Asagi-sensei. I'm sorry, I should have talked to you. I should have convinced you to share this burden instead of keeping silence and believing it was an obvious thing to do from the Almighty Taimanin."
"Fuuma-kun..."
"There's a way."
"?"
At those sudden words, Asagi widened her eyes in surprise.
"Universe Resetting can't be stopped. But there's a way to alter its course." Kotaro pointed at the black orb. "We need to move that thing to somewhere else, a place outside the physical world."
"You mean changing the target of the reset." Asagi began to grasp the intention. "That's plausible. Lady Neu mentioned there are infinitely many dimensions and flows of time, among them are worlds devoid of life. But we are lacking the method to perform such a feat."
"A pocket dimension also counts, you know." Kotaro revealed.
"A pocket dimension...you don't mean...?"
Kotaro's signature ability, the Eye of Demonic Gate.
Within that Evil Eye was a world that suspended everything. It was another gamble Kotaro was willing to take, one that could be his last.
"I'll absorb that thing into my eye. I don't know what will happen next, I could lose this ability or the reset will affect just me." Feeling a bit shaken at his own idea, he forced a smile. "I'm fine if Demonic Gate was to be gone forever though, that kind of sacrifice would be worth it in exchange for this world to be saved."
Asagi narrowed her gaze. The idea didn't appeal to her, not when he had to put his life on the line.
"No, it's too risky."
"There's no time to come up with another plan. We have to do it now."
"Wait!"
As Kotaro decided to jump right back into the gravitational field, Asagi held his hand. Her eyes pled him not to do it, she was wavering. Even so, Kotaro wouldn't change his mind.
"Fuu...Kotaro, you're precious to me." Asagi finally poured out her heart. "I can't bear to lose someone else again. If the world is bounded to be destroyed, I'll rather to still have you with me."
He listened to words she had kept to herself for so long. They came out as she resigned from keeping her emotions in check.
"Asagi."
Kotaro pulled his mentor into an embrace. The tears flowed on her cheeks, Asagi felt hopeless that there was nothing she could do in the face of impending doom.
"I would rather not having you relive the experiences of your past in the next world, you've gone through enough hardships already."
"That justifies nothing, I don't want to lose you!"
"We came this far, we can't just let the world end here."
So much had happened until this moment.
Kotaro managed to clear up the bad reputation of his clan together with Tokiko's help. In the end, they had earned back the trust from Gosha and Section Three.
Young Sakura and Princess Maya had returned to their worlds.
Yukikaze reunited with her mother. Even though Shiranui chose to seek justice within the darkness of the Demon Realm, their family bond continued to grow strong and couldn't be severed.
Felicia remembered her true name as Fumika, she and Kurenai finally became sisters.
Clone Asagi found her place in the people she met.
Azuza regained her heart, thanks to Rinko's effort, and resumed her Taimanin duty in Gosha.
Ingrid returned as the leader of the Black Dragon Order.
Sinmara decided to live together with her daughter in the Human World.
The Blood Lord and the Wise Lord formed an alliance with the Taimanins. Thus, giving the human a major boost in strength to fight off the chaos Black'd brought into the Human World.
Lilith inherited the throne and reformed both the Succubus and Incubus Factions.
So many things have changed for the better. Kotaro wouldn't want all that efforts to be erased and go back to square one by the Universe Resetting.
"..."
Asagi was fully aware of the stakes.
Yet to her, it felt like a curse.
For all those positive changes to continue existing, she would have to put away her emotions and make a decision involving the life of a loved one...again.
Fuuma Kotaro wanted to use his life to prevent the Reset. She had to accept that fact.
"Very well."
He pulled away and wiped the tears in her eyes. Without anymore words, her hands reached onto his face and gave him the biggest surprise.
It was a tender touch that raised the warmth on their cheeks.
Asagi sealed Kotaro's lips with hers.
When it was over, he had the dumbfounded look on his face until his mouth showed a smile full of teeth.
"Thanks!"
Asagi could read his face like a book, he didn't need to say anything about that affection. She would know that was one of the best moments he'd ever had since the day she made him the leader of the Commando Unit.
Kotaro jumped into the field of attraction. The gravity pulled him along the floating rubbles. The Evil Eye was shining bright before the pitch-black void consumed him.
This was it, the decisive moment.
The black orb began to change in size, shrinking smaller and smaller by the seconds. Floating rocks and debris fell down as the pulling force gradually reduced. In no time, a young Taimanin reappeared after that orb was gone.
Kotaro's plan worked, his Demonic Gate actually surpassed Universe Resetting and fully absorbed it.
Asagi realized Black's mean to bring destruction to the world was through the use of his strongest power. Despite its near omnipotent nature, Universe Resetting was still considered an ability, something the Eye of Demonic Gate could easily mark as a target.
Such immense potential of a fearsome ability, that Evil Eye.
"Kotaro!"
He was falling.
Using her speed and the newfound strength she'd absorbed from Black, Asagi caught him midair.
"You did it!"
She hugged him close, happiness filled her voice.
But...
The right eye was closing shut, bleeding badly. Kotaro covered it with his hand, he didn't want that eyelid to open.
The other left eye moved, returning Asagi a weak, solemn gaze. No words filled the emptiness of the devastated arena, his gesture was enough to speak volumes of what was about to happen.
Crack.
The skin around the Evil Eye fractured, those cracks didn't seem to be physical injuries. They spread across his face.
While the shocking sight made Asagi speechless, Kotaro mustered enough strength to put on a smile.
"Asagi. Tell everyone, tell Tokiko I'll be going to...some places."
"Kotaro!"
From inside the closing eyelid, something burst. His hand and face distorted in the swirling space that came out from the bleeding Evil Eye.
Universe Resetting had been contained.
However, it chose Kotaro and the suspense domain inside Demonic Gate to be its primal targets.
"No! NO!"
"Goodbye."
She tried to grab his hand as he was being pulled into the center of that spiraling space. But the damage had already been done to Kotaro's physical body, the skin on his hand and the warmth of his body all disintegrated into particles of light.
Everything of his existence slipped through her fingers. In a flash, the twisted spiral vanished from the world, untraceable.
They saved the world.
Still, it came at the cost of one life. Fuuma Kotaro was gone.
It was the end of his story.
Acknowledging the harsh truth, Asagi hardened her heart as reinforcements raided the Palace of Darkness.
Until she was finally alone, she would stop holding back the tears.
...
...
...
...
...
Months later.
At a certain beach, a beautiful figure captivated the eyes of many as she strolled along the sand, holding a briefcase. The sunny blue sky highlighted her flowing long black hair, yellow eyes behind the sunglass beamed a straight line at a woman who was resting on a lounge chair.
That woman who had changed into a swimsuit stared blankly into the distance, neither the ocean nor a group of Taimanins who was having fun reflected in those teal eyes. She was looking at something else, something that was no longer a part of their world.
"I heard you're on a vacation here, Asagi."
The half-human and half-witch, Annerose Vajra, pushed down her sunglass and greeted the former leader of all Taimanins with a raise of the eyebrow.
"Annerose." Asagi gave a light nod of her head. "I don't supposed you are here for a vacation."
"Oh, I am on a vacation!" Annerose cheerfully said. "Mind you, I'm getting my well-deserved break after running around for too long to collect all the magical stones I could get my hands on."
"I see." A new voice spoke up from a chair next to Asagi. "You also participated in this endeavor."
Even though that person was also here to bath in the relaxing atmosphere at a summer beach, they appearance carried an otherworldly presence. They wore a crown on the forehead, boasting the title of royalty. Their hair adorned a natural white color. Alongside the pale skin, a pair of red eyes immediately gave away the identity to those who already aware of the vampire race.
"Before you're going to address me as Your Majesty, I prefer to be called by my own name. We're all here for vacation, let's not indulge in these conversations with such business-like manners."
"I don't plan to, Carla." Annerose casually said. "You know I'm a picky woman when it comes to those who earned my respect."
The Blood Lord, Carla Cromwell, waved at Annerose, seemingly delightful at the answer.
"You two are taking a break from work at the same time? Is this a coincidence?"
"It's not." Asagi spoke up. "Carla's here for the same reason as you."
"Hmm hmm, I see where this is going." Annerose dropped the briefcase and occupied the vacant chair, cooing her voice into the cushion. "Ahhh mouuu~! And here I thought the number of rivals would stop increasing. Now I have to add one more to the list! What the hell is this?! I have no idea my servant could be such a womanizer!"
"He's not your servant." Asagi fixed her fact. "You don't own him."
"Well, I do find him cute and reliable. Fuuma Kotaro is such an interesting individual to have around."
"This is the first from you, Carla." She turned to Carla with a questioning look. "What did he do?"
"Nothing much. Marika expressed to me the boy has fully earned her trust, which is already an amazing feat for a human. Perhaps, I shouldn't have had my doubts when Sinmara announced living in the Human World together with her daughter. After all, he was the one who persuaded her."
"Oh, don't get me started. Michiko went soft on him, it's worrisome." Annerose propped her chin on the cushion, frowning. "And the Lai sisters, they were the first to send me the Philosopher's Stone before I even said anything."
"It seems Aishwarya is eager to help us accomplish this plan."
"Or she's already knew ahead that my way of convincing others would be annoying and didn't want to put up with it." Annerose glanced at Asagi who was smiling. "Since it's Granny's and your idea, I want to see where this is going. When do we actually make it happen?"
"Soon. Once Shiki Reika and Towako of the Onmyoji Agency obtain the next stone in the Spirit Realm, we will proceed to the last phase."
The plan was to collect fragments of the original Philosopher's Stone, which scattered and hidden around the Human world and other realms connecting to it. Like finding a needle in a haystack, it was truly a horrendous process to keep up.
Thankfully, many had lent their hands in the search, all for the same goal.
To open the Primordial Gate leading directly to Mother Sea.
To find Kotaro among the countless droplets and bring him back to this world.
"I'm going to say this again, getting to know that there are infinitely many dimensions and flows of time existing together with ours is such a nauseous experience." Annerose groused. "I don't think I'd be thrilled to meet with another me from a different world."
"Just one of you in each world is enough." Carla filled in the reason of the half-human half-witch's remark. "Correct?"
Annerose nodded and passed the briefcase to Asagi.
"Here's my share, you're welcomed."
"Thank you, Annerose."
As Asagi opened it, a handful of small Philosopher's Stones spilled out. The briefcase was completely fill with the magical item.
"Hoh~. You found a lot." Carla raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised by its full content.
"Took a bit of persuasion here and there in other places. Also, some bloodsheds in the black market and a well-intentional beating given to Barde."
Asagi recalled a report she received in Gosha involving that name.
"That's why there's been zero movement from the dark side of Amidahara. Did you kill that researcher?"
"You can ask my beloved sword." Annerose shrugged with a playful smile. "It's never spoken so who knows~!"
With this, they made one step closer to the goal. The only thing left was to wait for a respond from the Onmyoji Agency.
"By the way. Once the gate is opened, who's going to enter it?"
Asagi raised her hand to Annerose's question.
"You? Wait a minute, just you? I thought we would send in there a group."
"I proposed the idea to Lady Neu and she accepted it. It's better to do this with just one person instead of a group, there's no telling what will happen in that place beyond worlds and times. Plus, I've mastered my new form, going into the Mother Sea alone won't be a problem."
"You meant the Vampire Transformation?"
"That is a severe misconception, Annerose. Asagi may have absorbed a little amount of my brother's life force, it doesn't necessarily mean our vampire origin serves as the foundation of the new form."
Carla who seemed to grasp the concept of Asagi's newfound strength began to explain.
"Asagi came to me and we had a discussion. I do not feel Edwin's presence within her body, suffice to say Asagi's human heart has completely purified any trace of his darkness. What came to be was the harmonious fusion between Asagi and her Inner Demon. In another world, she has ascended. As of now, she could be closer to a Land God than a High Noble Demon."
"Hoh~! She promoted herself above the usual Almighty Taimanin title, eh! Sounds interesting, wanna have a spar some times after this?"
"It's incredibly taxing on the body and mind though, I would prefer to preserve it for the right occasions."
"No worry, my offer still stands! I'm ready when you are. Though, I've got to say." Annerose turned to Carla. "Considering what happened to the former Vampire King, you two seem to be on even better terms with each other."
"Hm. How should I put this?"
Carla rested a hand on her forehead, looking at the sky.
"It was certainly Edwin's choice to leave his family name behind and wanted to bring darkness over to the Human World. I couldn't afford to stop him if it meant waging a meaningless war in another realm. Fortunately, the inhabitants of this world have so much strength when they fought as a united force. I was glad to be able of providing my support to the Taimanins."
Carla hummed in a soft voice, as if she was reminiscent of the thousand years old memories she couldn't forget. Having a little brother who lost their way to the unhinged madness would break an older sister's heart.
"A pity how Edwin had turned out due to that accursed Universe Resetting ability. Some times, I still recalled memories from the old worlds in my dream. If only...no, if the end of an eternal struggling means salvation then I accept the conclusion of his story. The Taimanins have my gratitude."
"It was thanks to Kotaro."
"Yes, and that is exactly why the Cromwell family will continue to provide you our full support. I simply wish for the same thing as you two, to bring Fuuma Kotaro back to this world. I would like to express my thanks to him for putting an end to my little brother's nightmare."
"I truly appreciate your help, Carla."
Sharing a mutual understanding, they smiled.
Ring Ring!
Asagi's phone rang a notification. She read the message from a certain teacher at Higashisaka Kitano Academy.
Morino Yuuko had completed deciphering the ancient incantation for the Primordial Gate Ritual.
The preparation entered the final stage.
At last, that day would come. The chance to reach out their hands to him, who was drifting in the infinite Mother Sea, was drawing near.
Her hope burned brighter than ever.
"Wait for me, Kotaro."
When summer ends, a long journey beyond times and spaces awaits ahead. His story has never come to a stop.
Asagi would make sure it will continue.
/
Author's Note: This short was supposed to come out on August 1st when RPG Extasy reached EOS but I'd got busy. Anyway, this is a story from another RPGX-like parallel world, my downer mood on August 1st pushed me to get this out here.
Thank you for reading. Take Care!