Blazing Steel and Freezing Bullets

by Shinn of Destiny

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

59. From Zero To Hope Part 4

Gachas like Genshin Impact & Honkai Star Rail, as well as others like Love Live & Bluelock, Gundam, Quintessential Quintuplets, Highschool DXD are in the works. Check them out :D

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

My Discord (Vibing Nation) - GZM5HRMntp

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A/N: I thought "Warzone" would be the longest chapter at 45k. So why tf is this 46k? It was supposed to be 30k...

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Too much had transpired within mere minutes for Munechika. Pappan had flown out to assist Shade in combating Zero's henchman, more of said evil's army had suddenly ambushed them all leaving it to her and Rinwell to fend them off from afar as Shizuna and Van combated them up close, and now Magilou was shouting.

Of all things, now what?

"GUUUUUUUUYS?! RELON'S NOT WAKING UP!"

Like a switch, all attention on the battle down below goes out the window as Munechika snaps down to see Magilou peering out the window.

"WHAT?!" Rinwell gasps in Munechika's place. One look was all that needed to be said as the familiar maneuvered in through the window.

That's when she takes sight of it.

The unfathomable heat as though a furnace, the slitted eyes nearly dilating to the point one would say he was even pupil-less, and most of all the odd markings crawling along his skin.

"Hey! Can you or Rinwell use some ice to cool it off in here! It's scorching!"

Frantically moving a finger to write her question, she slaps the words to face Magilou.

[What happened to him?!]

"Heck if I know! One moment we're both looking at the fight and the next he slowly goes out of it!"

"What's going on down there?!" The voice of Rinwell shouts as another art fired can be heard.

"Relon's taking a very bad nap! Munechika's working on it!"

Disregarding the supposed witch's poor choice of words, something needed to be done. The exponential heat exuding from Relon had to be quelled. That was the first step. Wait, his body was twitching. That explained why Pappan was still moving she supposed.

Doing her best to ignore the blistering temperature, Munechika carefully moves, positioning herself seated directly in front of Relon's head. Eyes closing for a moment, a cool liquid manifests at her palms before seeping into the skin.

Steadily, her hands move closer. With every inch, the heat becomes more and more unbearable. Magilou was right. It felt like a furnace more than anything and the cool resistance she had applied was already weakening by a great margin.

As soon as her hands touched his head, a sensation she hadn't thought to experience again manifested for a single moment.

Corrupt, spiteful, evil.

Gasping for an unknown force to send her slamming against the wall, a muted gasp escapes Munechika. Eyes snapping open as the shock passes, she winces to see her now singed palms.

"Munechika, hey, are you alright?!" Magilou exclaims rushing over as the familiar could only give a weary nod.

That presence… It can't be… One momentary glance down reminded her how anything was now possible.

Clasping her hands in a sign, they glow a bright white. This time, the essence of her magic lingers as she once again settles down before Relon. Guiding her hands to his cheeks, wincing at the touch, she gives a look to Magilou before taking a deep breath. As she releases, she finds her form go limp for only a moment.

In blinking awake, all she can find around her is a forest spanning black flames as far as her silver eyes can see.

Then a sound she's heard before comes within earshot. The sound of flesh skin being pierced.

Head whirling in the direction of the projected sound, she takes off. Through the crumbling crisp canopies, in-between the ridges where enflamed rocks descended, eventually, she arrived only to halt.

Before her, an infant. Next to it, a clothed sword in the form of Pippin.

What's-

Cut off, she can only look as a bulky man walks from behind and through her before finding the note. Peering over to its message, she watches as the man and sword depart with the infant that is Relon.

All sense of urgency was fleeting. The world, its flames. All faded away as she continued after the man. From burning flames to a quiet forest to a frozen landscape, she watched a young Relon meekly acquaint himself.

Then everything followed.

The first emergence of his flames. The constant fear in his partner since birth. The knowledge he began to accumulate in order to understand himself. His training in the Arseid Style against the very individuals they faced, the training with his surrogate father-figure, his time with the princess and the mint-haired girl known as Musse, his training in the Bestial Arts and new family, his development with the Icy Maiden, his short adventure in school, the understanding between the entity known as "Nameless," and his impactful battle against Senate's leader. She could only understand the strife and anguish that followed not the city he's come to know, but Relon himself through only a glimpse. That narrow view, however, was all it took.

He, a 17-year-old forced to become a fighter in hopes of understanding himself and his past. He, a hybrid combination of elemental and human chosen by God to complete an unfamiliar objective that the deity themself failed to do. He, a child simply yearning to reunite with his mother and sister…

It made her heart ache.

The rage that he exhibited over specific ordeals since joining their party now seemed crystal clear in understanding. The cause behind his reclusive nature in his own background unlike Shade who simply did not care to spill his past. The cause behind his dislike of revealing such personal information yet still maintaining a gentle nature.

His aptitude for making her and others believe. It wasn't simple words or even conviction that spurred them forward alongside the male.

It was truth tied into experience.

What Relon said was not a foolish notion. He truly believed he could succeed a God like Zero because he's been told and had examples of it done to back himself up. That outburst against Shade made sense now that the story behind the boy presented itself.

Once more, the terrain transitions. from the bleak depths of nothing, nature sprouts followed by flames. Even as the very ruination she first saw took shape once more, her own well-being did not matter.

To Munechika, all that mattered, was quelling his aching heart.

As her eyes lift, she finds him. Immediately, her pace slowed dramatically to a halt. Not due to having found Relon or what of him in the short distance she could, but rather for what monstrosity loomed overhead.

A dragon?

Like a statue immune to the burning darkness, the silhouette of what could only be described as a dragon of sorts on all fours stood overhead. Its transparency was faint but still there.

Under the behemoth guarding a red crystal…

Shlik!

Lied Relon Namikaze-Lucinance.

The ear-piercing crunch of steel against lifeless skin rattled her form as she finally could clearly make out his own. The dark markings along his skin, the dark-colored flames clearly adorning Pippin as it reeled itself held by Relon for another stab.

Below him, a corpse. A being that's haunted her, that stole her bonded partner away; Zero. Said figure was being stabbed, its own dark life energy sucked out only for it all to be jammed in replenishing the entity for the cycle to repeat.

Is he using that entity as a conduit of sorts to manifest his powers?

Please save him. For I cannot.

She didn't need to question whose voice that belonged to as she already knew.

Nameless.

Somehow, the essence of the absent being likely allowed her a view into who Relon was. As for why, no guarantee could be confirmed but if she had to guess, it would be to ensure his safety.

Too worried, she failed to realize how close she had stepped towards the hybrid. Like a creature, his head snapped her way. Dull, slitted, black eyes glowered at her as a sudden creak from above made her take in the sight of the hollow dragon peer down.

Releasing an ear-shattering roar, Relon moves on all fours ready to pounce as Pippin hovers overhead. Yet she dares not move. No fear. No sense of hesitation.

At once, both acted.

Against magical transmigration, his wind-up meant little no matter how inhumane his actual speed held. Coated in a radiant glow, her light encompassed his darkness in an embrace of warmth.

Close. Her hold on him was tender as it was pure. So much power behind her intention alone went into the embrace she held. Not only as a means to bring him from the depths of despair but to tell him one thing.

He's not alone.

Like a steady breeze, the luminescent light washed over his subconscious. Gone were the flames. No longer did Zero's corpse remain. Greenery began to resurge to life. Bit by bit, the draconic silhouette backed away.

I'm with you, Relon. I'm here.

Slowly, the darkness that encroached upon his very skin began to recede. Like a mother to a child, her words echoed safety and reassurance.

To think Munechika's own voice was this soft…

Steadily, his eyes opened to meet the kind smile Munechika greeted him with. With it came his reawakening.

Real World

The first thing Relon grasped coming to was the ceiling followed by the shattered window. Then his eyes fell to Magilou.

"Finally awake!" It was clearly a breath of relief. That much he realized.

Then it finally came. The sudden rush of emotions. The fleeting changes of happiness, anger, sadness, happiness, and more.

Eyes lifting up, he finds Munechika leaning over limply. Her moving chest told she was alive. Carefully, his hand moved to touch her cheek. In doing so, he felt it. The lingering essence of not just Nameless, Zero's own power, but most of all Munechika and that new entity he saw crystalized as well. He felt her and it.

"Munechika…"

Tenderly, he watched as her own hand placed itself atop his gracing his vision with that same face of endearment that saved him.

"Welcome back." Those were the muted words that parted from her mouth.

Deep within, he felt his body's changes. He no longer felt heavy. More than anything, he no longer felt alone. Carefully, he got to his feet. In the short distance, the sounds of battle rung out to him.

"Um, hey, we're kinda-"

"Magilou," he calmly cut off.

"Uh, yeah?"
Turning to her, he smiled. Something that momentarily left the supposed witch stunned.

"Thanks."

Not waiting for a response, Pippin soared seemingly from nowhere as both departed out grabbing Galland-Sharl and departing down the hall.

"H-Hey!"

"Rinwell!"

Having casted another art, the young witch's focus lifts momentarily in relief to see Relon.

"Relon!"

"Hoot!"

Stopping over the railing, eyes scanning past the scramble below instead to the vital point of conflict far off, his eyes catch sight of Shade.

"There," he mumbles to place a hand on his chest. Even now, as he focused on himself he could still sense that other entity. "Munechika!" He called for a light to appear in the form of the familiar and a crouching Magilou in the process of helping her.

"Huh?! How did-"

"What's going on?" Rinwell blinks.

"STOP CUTTING ME OFF, WOULD YA?!"

"Munechika, can you do one last thing for us?" He points drawing their focus to where Shade lies.

Looking, she gives a nod of affirmation.

"Rinwell, we're helping Shade," he says, hopping onto Pippin.

"Relon, wait a sec!" Rinwell urges. "Are you sure you're alright?! You just…" Slowing her train of speech, she can only look as he gives a glance over his shoulder.

"I'm better. For now anyway."

With that, he blurs into the air.

Momentarily looking at him and then back to Shade in the distance, she flips open her tome as it glows red.

"Flames descend…" She chants carefully as a swirl of magic conjures around her. "If we're ending this, then it's go big or go home! Flames, once more, descend! BURNING STRIKE! TIMES TWO!"

From the parting clouds, lobs of flames descend like a fiery rainstorm. Weaving through each, Relon breaks through the clouds to find Pappan hovering in wait.

"You're still there, aren't you Nameless?" Gazing upon the radiant star, he extends a hand. "Saving me even now. Nothing's changed." Clenching the energy, his gaze drops. "Let's go."

Obeying, Pappan drops. Composing himself, the malevolence within stirs.

Not yet, he thought.

Snapping his eyes, he drops after.

Skklt!

Cut off, Crest's eyes widen as the smirk on Shade grows.

In front of him, Pappan lies embedded halfway through the extended arm of Crest.

"A… third time?!" Is all that he can gasp out in this split moment.

From behind, a glow manifests. Wasting no effort, he backhands the light for his other hand to be blocked by none other than Rinwell using Galeforce to repel the sheer muscle Crest is using.

"No," Relon's calm voice answers, cutting through the air. "A fourth!"

Eyes snapping to the corner and above, they dilate in clear surprise and any other negative emotion he can manifest. Descending right above with the greatsword Galland-Sharl in hand lies none other than Relon.

"Relon Lucinance?! You choose now?!" Despite the embedded sword, he attempts to raise it only for Pappan to drag his arm back. "Tch!" He clicks in frustration, bending and flexing his arm in an attempt to reach for its handle.

"Oh, no you don't!" Quickly, Shade fires aiming at his elbow. The shot itself sends his arm back for everything between it and his hand go limp.

"Shade, you-"

"You wanted me, here I am!" Relon growls, arcing the sword overhead. "Arseid Cleaver!"

It all seemed so well. Their coordination, the slight luck added, everyone's spur-of-the-moment back-and-forth efforts. However…

"Heh!"

A plume of darkness erupts, sending everyone off their feet as their visions became shrouded in black.

Ahead…

The other entity inside of him? It was guiding him!

Moving forward, he swings the sword to clash with Crest. Outstretching his other arm, Relon ducks, pivoting the blade to swipe for both to step away.

"Thunder Field!" Rinwell's voice exclaims.

There was too much malevolence that lingered around them. Fanning it would be useless. Every second mattered. Apparently Rinwell's battle intelligence also realized that because in using that spell, she casted not only a field of electricity around her, but she made the outline of both Relon and Crest very noticeable.

"Shade!" Relon shouts on the move.

Getting close to Rinwell, Shade aims his gun ahead towards the ground.

"Relon, get out of there!"

"Pippin, Pappan!"

Focusing energy into the gun, Shade fires a devastating round emitting a large explosion below where Chest stood. Acting as a shield, he puts himself in front of Rinwell as the rushing debris scatters. Staggering, Shade's footing fails as he's sent off his feet and against the electric force field. Thankfully, the electricity acts as an amplifier restoring what strength he seemingly lost.

As the force from the explosion causes the smoke to dissipate, he slides to his feet as Relon hovers atop Pippin with Pappan beside him.

"This is a good fight, yet using such underhanded moves to get me is rather boring! I'll admit that tactic worked but now's the time for me to end this, starting with that damn witch!" Eyes now pitch-black, all can only look at the man atop a small hill.

Descending from the air, Relon steps off as everyone regroups with the boys stepping ahead as Rinwell preps her next art.

"Try us." Relon dares noticing Shizuna and Van coming their way out his peripheral. Though as soon as that escaped, a new presence entered the fight.

"Huh?" Shade gasped, barely audible. Looking the other way to see something heading towards Crest. Following, Relon saw it.

A scythe?

"You're not doing anything!" A voice unfamiliar called from behind Crest.

Turning in time to block an attack from a sudden Loewe, he evades the spinning blade follow-up.

"Oh? Now this is a nice blade…" Crest pushes Loewe off but he moves away and lands next to us. "Similar in appearance to Relon's but not quite as unique…"

"Loewe?" Shade called, looking at him and back where the scythe had come from to see a young girl alongside two others. Gunfire comes from the other side as Relon sees a redhead firing into the grunts that were behind Shizuna and Van. Apparently, this was some of the held on Shade's side. The more, the merrier!

"Go! I'm ready!"

"Go!" Loewe barks.

"Pippin, Pappan!" Relon shouts hopping onto one as I do the other while zooming at Crest.

"Oh? So you two are approaching me? Instead of running away, you're coming right at me? Like the many who have tried before, despite their valiant efforts and rallies across the continent, so too shall your efforts be drowned out by my power!"

"How else can we beat the shit out of you without getting closer?!" Relon spits, leaping off Pippin and towards the Zero-possessed Crest.

"It's futile!" He extends his palm for a black forcefield to repel Relon's strike.

Falling back onto Pippin, Shade fires as his shots seem to vanish upon impact.

"Futile, futile, futile! It's FUTILE!"

"RAARGH!" Relon roars, zipping on Pippin all around striking every spot he can to revolve back around to the front. "Futile…" He begins to embed the greatsword in the spherefield. "Is a word I simply do not acknowledge! Shade's rounds may not work but physical attacks certainly do!" He growls. "RINWELL!"

"All disasters made one, come forth helix of purity!" She chants, a single line of blue slowly draws itself in a circle before it glows. "Maelstrom!"

"MOVE!"

Complying, Pappan sends Shade away as the torrent of water blasts at the shield. The visible crack of water seeping in goes noticed. A subtle glance at Shade tells he also caught the small hint.

"Such meager droplets of water shall not stop me!"

"SHADE!" Not wasting time, Relon shoots into the sky.

"I got you!" Aiming his gun, he fires a round right where the crack is as electricity scatters out and affects the water that was seeping in.

"AHH! USING PATHETIC TACTICS SUCH AS SIMPLE CONDUCTIVITY!"

"You may be omnipotent, but Crest certainly isn't!" Shade calls out for the shield to disperse, sending Zero-Crest into the sky.

"We're… finally here!" Another familiar voice gasps through a wheeze.

Turning back, Shade takes sight of Magilou walking with a limping Munechika. Body glowing white like a coat, it all goes to her extended hand. From there, it shoots like a visible gale of wind through the air, past Crest and into the sky.

Like a single droplet of water descending towards the Earth or two magnets coming into the middle, Relon appears breaking apart the dark sky. He was donned in that same light that Munechika wore just moments ago. As Rinwell's spell ends, Zero-Crest continues to float as though unaffected.

From above all, Relon twirls and twirls and twirls. Using the last of his dwindling strength, he sends the greatsword towards Crest. For a single second, the force alone sends the ragdoll of Crest down as he barely blocks the sword.

Flying over, Shade grabs it. The recoil from its momentum nearly making him stumble had it not been for the cloth attached to Pappan.

With one powerful jump of Pippin, Relon descends. Reeling back his fist, the light glows brighter. Illuminating all around, everyone can only watch as the form of Crest rights himself.

"You… inferior… creature! I… said… it's… FUTILLLLE!"

"BEASTS DESCEND! FLASHING FANG!"

Fighting light versus darkness, Relon's form pierces through the beam of darkness. More and more, he inches nearer.

"TELL ME…! WHAT HOPES… DO YOU HAVE…!"

"Plenty!" The voice of Shade hollers, appearing over Relon.

With a single strike, he drops the sword on Zero-Crest. The residual energy from Relon steadily seeps into Shade. It's a warmth brimming with power. Graciously, he accepts it as he redirects his new fuel towards the perpetrator behind it all.

Like gravity, Shade descends to fall in tandem with Relon.

"Zero…!"

"Crest…!"

"THIS ENDS NOW!"

As though the very air itself was glass, everything shattered. All that came next was the blur crashing into the ground. Amongst the rubble, lied one Crest. Zero amplification now absent.

The dust cloud blocked their view of everything aside from Crest. Staring at the man, they could see he was still alive yet injured to all hell. Looking over at Relon, Shade notes of his weakened state, no doubt that power he used is near its end as well as his own energy. Not to mention the fighting still raging around them. However, through the sounds of relentless combat, more airships could be heard.

That's when they noticed it. A single twitch from Crest.

"He can still move!" Relon exclaims at the top of his lungs, both swords blitzing past towards Crest.

Sensing the attack coming from Crest and seeing that Relon was now very tired, Shade pushed him out the way just in time for his entire right side to be cut off from Crest's attack. Like a corpse, he fell collapsed as the dust cleared away to reveal ships overhead.

"SHADE!" Relon exclaimed mid-roll.

"I'm… fine!" He slowly winceses, getting up as his body heals itself.

"We need to-" Relon urges to stop mid sentence tripping back onto all fours. "My strength…!"

"Haha… HAHAHA! Now that was fun, truly what I needed… You both did a great job and my mission is done. Sadly I didn't get any new blades, but there's always next time~." Looking up, they see Crest looking down at them on an airship. Despite his words, even he was trying his best to stay upright.

"Shit, we almost had him!" Shade growls nearly standing, staring at Crest all the while.

"Zer….ooooo!" Relon growls struggling to his feet as both swords go to his side.

"You called?" A voice comes from beside Crest that even makes him turn his head in surprise.

Walking towards the edge next to Crest, a black suited grunt exhibiting an enormous black aura gives a carefree wave.

"Bast…ard!"

"Oh, come now Relon~. Didn't you like my visit in your dream?"

"You dare enter my head, talk ill of Nameless and Luna, put that… that. THING on me to make my recovery slower than it actually was…!"

Yes, yes, blah, blah, blah. Truly, those emotions of yours need work. Though given what I've been informed of regarding your lineage, I suppose that anger is what's keeping you standing. Color me impressed!" He claps. "That kind witch gave me quite useful info. It's too bad we made a deal. You and her both seem quite fun! Maybe after I conquer this world, I'll go and join this supposed Sephiroth! Maybe even doublecross the both of them, hahaha!"

"Like you would wait until then, I'm sure you'll do it while that witch is still here…" Now standing fully, Shade glanced at his near fully healed arm.

"Zero…!" Relon growls once more.

"Yes, I hear you! You can stop saying my name. I'm right here, hybrid." He dismisses with a bored wave to halt.

"Zero… Zero… Zerooo…!"

From around Relon, the ground begins to crack.

"Oh? Using that supposed anger attribute to gain a spur of power?"

"Zer…oooo!"

Glancing over at Relon, Shade can not only sense but see that something isn't right. The issue lied in his knowledge failing to grasp the situation. Not even during Relon's other anger outbursts was he like this.

More and more, the cracks seep outwards as the ground begins to tremble. Hunching over as his body trembles with erratic spurts of twitching, Relon snaps up to gaze with searing slits of black. All at once, black flames become ablaze around him.

"ZEROOOOOO!"

Reeling a hand filled black flames back, he thrusts like a flamethrower. Similar to the maw of a creature, the sheer density behind the attack sends everyone around him sliding back a small ways. Nearing Zero and Crest's ship, Zero raises a hand stopping the attack with a simple gesture of his hand.

"Oh? You're copying me now, are you? Quite the change you have. I wasn't aware of this. Could it be that witch kept this from me…? No, judging by the shocked look of those around, this is your first time using it. Yes, yes, you have control over your anger so to lash out like some rabid creature is unlike you. Even though that fits you perfectly."

Muscles flexing as his two bangs dance from his raw power, Relon's slitted pupils vanish entirely.

"Uh, Relon?"

"Haaaaa…." He sounds out as though something is caught in his throat. Seeming to reach for said thing, he immediately drops onto all fours like an animal once more.

Dark aura exploding around once more, he lifts his head for a single ball fogged by a black steam-like mist to manifest.

"Hmm. He's lost himself it seems. Oh well, we're done here."

"Yes, my lord. I too have little interest in a warrior who has lost their way." Crest nods, signaling the ship with his hand.

From around his person, the dark aura seeps into the ball like a vacuum until nothing on Relon's person remains. Shimmering a bright black, he eats the orb whole. As if erupting inside, his body bloats to its limits before smoke escapes from his mouth.

Still as stone for a moment, his slitted eyes dilate back into reality before he opens his now fanged maw.

"RAAAA!"

From his mouth, a beam of black barrels for the retreating ship.

"Oh? Another attempt?" The Zero-controlled grunt smirks in amusement to widen. Before he can react, the attack obliterates the body he possessed, snipping a portion of the ship.

"My lord!' Crest exclaims.

"Well now." Zero voices as Crest turns to another grunt rolling their arm. "He surprised me with that. I couldn't even react. I blame that weakling's body. Interesting. Relon Lucinance, you and Shade both continue to fascinate me more and more. Crest, I'm leaving." With that comment, the grunt drops having been freed.

"Yes, sir!" He bows to look back. "Shade and Relon… Hmpf."

Panting still on all fours, sense seems to return as Relon's eyes flatten back out into normal before with a dispel of whatever power, he drops unconscious.

1 Hour Later

Purge… Zero…

Consciousness snapping at attention, his eyes remain still. Acknowledging his body in the Atelier once more, he notes of the difference of location being his mother's bed.

Shifting to hear voices from out the room, he looks over to find both swords leaning against the side of his bed.

"Pippin, Pappan…" He mumbles to take notice of a small weight atop him. Looking forward having somehow missed during his first scan of his surroundings lies Munechika curled atop his chest. "Munechika… What-

Immediately, the memories against Crest resurface. Instinctively, his hand grasps his chest. Crest unleashing his hidden power, the emergence of a Zero-possessed soldier, and… the malevolence. Its hatred. The looming death it beared. Such a dense emotion cloaked in hatred and murderous intent that made his own pale in comparison.

Who… No, what was that? Both in my subconscious and outside its taken over… It's not Zero exactly but… how did it get inside me if Zero didn't put it in me?

Such hatred that he not only lost control of his own body, but manifested a surge of unknown power. He could feel the pain in his teeth becoming fangs, the uncomfortably curl of his body onto all fours, even the faint drawing of power from his very core. Though what left him at a loss was what came from all of it.

"Black flames…"

It wasn't his own. Not natural at least, he was sure of. If anything, it was a close replica of his mother's cloth. Whatever took over his body imbued his body with black flames similar to that of Lucinances. In rage, he recalled punching a maw of flames but then he lost full control afterwards. It was like in his battle when Luna took over. He was there mentally but only as a spectator. Only this time, whatever was using his body did not care for the status it would leave him in.

That wasn't it. The same dark aura both Sephiroth and Zero donned. Now, he had as well. The sensation of those black flames left him at a loss for words. On one hand, whatever it was had enabled them to repel Zero but on the other, he had not only allowed Zero into his head briefly, but also stumbled upon something that likely related to said villain and somehow to an extent, Sephiroth.

Just where did you send me to, Sephiroth…?

Flexing a hand, he takes a deep breath no longer feeling the unending fatigue he had previous hours ago. Carefully poking the cat on the top of her head,

Carefully, a low "mrrr" comes as the feline stretches. Eyes fluttering open, her silver eyes meet his vermilion. One second, two seconds, three. By the fourth, he can only mentally chuckle as she pounces on him nuzzling his chest.

"Sorry, Munechika." He speaks, as a light overtakes her form for the woman to appear on all fours overtop him. Eyes teary at the corners, she doesn't hesitate in pulling him into a hug. Stunned for a moment by the action, he tenderly returns it. "You had to help me and I still missed my chance to get Zero."

It was understandable that he not only worried her but could tell how frustrated she was in her inability to act when he finally presented himself.

Feeling her shake her head to rest her chin, he emits a soft chortle. Pulling away to lift his cascaded demeanor to meet hers, she manifests an inscription. One he has already learned.

[Next time. We'll fight him together.]

"Yeah." Giving a gentle squeeze of her hand, he nods. "Next time we see him or any of his possessed cronies, let's take 'em down."

Smiling that beautiful smile, she happily nods removing herself from his lap.

Lifting up, he discards the sheets to swing his legs across and hop off the bed.

I can finally move. Even more important, I'm no longer a liability.

The voice that had been calling out since his fight with Victor and Laura has finally made itself known. In doing so, he's learned that whatever it is now is connected. Meaning he and Zero are directly connected.

Wait.

If that thing and Zero are connected and now as am I, why did it attack and try to kill Zero?

Such potent power, not to mention how vile and hate-filled with a dash of evil it was made the entire situation suddenly flip-flop knowing it attacked Zero.

Why though…?

He lost his fire and his connection to Nameless, gained a temporary shortcut to basically the second phase Lucinances exhibit though he has no idea how to access that still, and now he somehow has another boost of power he doesn't know how to use…

Massaging his temple from the lack of info and load of issues, he relents. They only had a few days left. They needed to get a move on.

Doing a quick check to make sure his body still functioned, he inwardly blinked. Before, he felt drained but now he felt like he was after over absorbing the heat from the hot spring's heat. He felt full.

Seems Nameless' temporary roommate decided to help out.

Regardless of the perks that came with having another entity somehow inside of himself, he had to be even more careful now. The thing he relies on to remain strong is now likely the catalyst and risking whatever is a part of him and relates to Zero could mean the end for those around him. He needed to discern if this new power was safe to use or not.

"Ready, you two?" He calls attaching their sheathes to feel both swords stir. Watching them orbit him for a moment, both enter their covering. Glancing over to his gloves on the desk, he places them in his pocket before opening the door. "Let's go." He says for Munechika to nod.

Following the voices downstairs, he peers into the kitchen to find a bunch of faces. Surrounding the table, like previously before, all allies sit casually. Sensing his approach, several heads turn in his direction.

"Relon!" Rinwell predictably exclaims, joy and relief evident in the smile upon her face as she jumps hurrying over to tackle the male.

"H-Hey, I just woke up!" He chides though just knowing of her well-being during his frustrating absence yet again does ease his heart.

"Hmm…? Oh, you're awake?" Shade says from the corner, sounding somewhat tired.

Immediately noting the odd verbiage, Relon nods.

"Yeah, you okay? You sound off."

"I'm fine, just… need to think about a few things. Seems you're fine now, what was that?"

He had to admit that Shade's sudden referral to certain things without saying what exactly was quickly becoming something he was adjusting to. The same odd trait Magilou was known to do. He honestly couldn't tell who was learning from whom in that aspect.

Momentarily ignoring the eyes on him, familiar and new alike, Relon moves to take a seat. Resting a hand under his chin, prepared for the headache-to-come, he answers as plainly as he can.

"A new tenant inside me."

"Ah… that explains everything." Shade says in a sarcastic manner as he stands up. "And that power that you shared with me? Don't remember you having that in your pocket."

"One of Munechika's abilities." He gestures for said catwoman to nod.

"I wish I could learn that…" Rinwell mumbles for said woman to tilt her head in wonder as the conversation continues.

"During our fight in Calvard, I unknowingly had a part of Zero embedded in me. It's likely how they found us," he grimaces before continuing. "Though Munechika helped get him out. As for what happened, I'm still trying to make sense of… that. I thought it was just battle fatigue since our fight in that mountain range but I guessed wrong."

"But… why would Zero give you such a power, even if just a little bit?"

"I don't know. I don't even think he meant to give it to me much less knew until that weird thing happened. It's a hot mess both out here and in here." He gestures to his head. "The last thing I was expecting was for Nameless to have a new roommate. The issue now is that-"

"It works in tandem with your anger." All look at Shizuna and Van at the door with the girl leaning against the door frame. "The very thing that makes you strong is now possibly a liability."

Looking from her to Relon, Rinwell's eyes buck wide in realization.

"Until I can learn more, it would seem so." He answers nonchalantly.

"You seem calm." Van notes entering and taking a seat.

"I could be upset but that would be a waste of energy." Relon states redirecting his attention to Shade.

"At least it makes some sense now, so Loewe… I assume Pater-Mater somehow sent you a message which is why you're here, but why is Shirley here as well?"

Loewe stood up from his chair slowly. "We were talking over the radio when we got the transmission. None of us knew what it was saying until Renne heard it. It told us the location and that danger was here in Eryn. Shirley here simply wanted in on the action so she came here using those stones near the Twin Dragon Bridge."

"And aren't you glad I came!" Said redhead grins. "I mean the trash was easy to get rid of here but who knows when more will show up. Actually, why does it sound like you didn't want to see me again~?" Shirley leaned forward in her seat.

"I'm glad to see everyone, just didn't expect you to be alone. Now that we know why you're here… what do we all do now?" Shade asked as he leaned on the table.

"The only person who I can think of capable of giving me answers is Vita Clotilde so that's where I plan to go. Then we're hitting that reactor at Saint-Arkh and Trista."

"We have plans for tackling the next reactor tomorrow so once that's finished, we'll hopefully be ready to assist you all," Loewe notes.

"Just a warning, while Vita may help… The Grandmaster may not be so kind, who knows what she will do due to her slowly losing what's left of her." Shade warns.

"I had a feeling. Still, if we're able to get Vita on our side, then that means we'll have three members that can use magic. That's something we can't pass up regardless of personal preferences."

"Oh, we're all talking now?" A girl's voice is heard from the doorway as a girl with bright brown hair walks in, followed by a black hair boy and a smaller purple haired girl.

"Shade… thank you!" The purple haired girl rushed forward and tackled Shade into a hug.

"Saw that coming… You're welcome kiddo."

"So, what's the situation?" The black haired boy asked.

"Introductions are definitely needed first and foremost." Relon quips.

"I'm Joshua Astray, this here is Estelle Bright and that's Renne." He points to himself then the girls.

"Relon Lucinance. A pleasure to meet you all."

"Then I guess that means we'll be splitting up for now again." Rinwell muses.

"I doubt I'm wanted back at that place, so I think I'll be heading somewhere else… maybe head back with Shirley."

"Ugh! Heading out again, this time we don't even have a plan. Well at least that means I can relax~." Magilou stands up from her seat with a pep in her step.

"Go ahead, Granny, get your sleep. You certainly need it~." Rinwell grins cheekily.

"Rinwell, why?" Relon sighs as a tic mark appears over Magilou's forehead.

"Hmph, sleep helps people grow, seems you might need some~" Magilou crosses her arms.

Naturally, the irritation is reflected back upon Rinwell's own demeanor.

"Oh ho, just you wait!"

"Alright, stopping this because I just woke up." Relon chides pulling her by the hoodie. "Shade, you said Vita was along the west coast where again?"

"Avon Hills, following the road there should lead you to her." Shade takes off his mask and places it on his hip, he then rubs his eyes.

"We can use one of the teleporters to send us straight there." Rinwell notes.

"That makes our trek all the easier then." Relon surmises. "Shade, what will you guys do?"

"Well, there's no location that I really need to visit. Shirley, I'll be heading back with you to Twin Dragon Bridge. I'll help prep when we move in on Crossbell's reactor."

"Works for me! I'll even get some of my guys to go against you so they will be ready!"

Shade reached into his pocket and turned back towards Relon, suddenly he tossed something his way.

Catching it, Relon twists his hand to peer at the object.

"Is this…?" Relon blinks, lifting his eyes to peer at Shade.

"Your order. I hope it's to your tastes, plus it has some rough magic and my blood so it's tough but still able to do what you wished, don't ask me to do this again."

"I won't. Wait- you know what, not gonna go there. I'll make it up to you somehow. Thanks, Shade."

"Huh?" Rinwell inwardly blinks alongside Munechika. "What is that?"

"An artifact similar to your necklace. Hoping it'll come in handy later on." He answers, discarding it. "Shizuna, Van, what about you two? If you want to familiarize with the Resistance and get more rest, I'd-"

"Are you trying to kick us out of the group?" Van cocks a raised brow.

"No, I'm-"

"Then we're staying together." Shizuna smiles, matching Van's crossed arms.

As much as he wanted to sigh, Relon couldn't help but offer a thankful smile. An act he feels like he hasn't done much of since arriving in this world. Perhaps even further back since then…

"Thanks, you two."

"Relon, Munechika, myself, Van, and Shizuna." Rinwell counts off. "That's five not counting Pippin, Pappan, and Hootle. Our group's grown now that we're all together."

"Each member is important." Relon nods. "We each have a role to play in ensuring we all make it through each battle."

"Yeah, we'll need all the help we're gonna get if we plan to meet the famous Vita Clotilde and take down a reactor."

"Big goal to make in a short time." Loewe notes.

"Hehe, watch us! Shade's group did a lot since the last time we met up so it's only fair that we match them." Rinwell beams with confidence.

"That energy and positivity is amazing." Van mumbles to earn a chuckle in agreement by Rinwell.

Having overheard, Relon can only quietly agree as his eyes go to Shade. Nodding at one another, all step outside. Beckoning any remaining companions from their temporary surveillance of the area, both groups look across from one another now in the clear where their means of transportation lies.

Relon, Rinwell, Munechika, Van, Shizuna, Loewe, Estelle, Joshua, and Renne on one side. On the other, Shade, Magilou, and Shirley.

"Our group has more than I mentioned." Rinwell sweatdrops.

"You really planned on tackling a rogue witch on an empty stomach?" Van snorts. "Not to mention some of us haven't eaten nor rested properly."

Stiffening at the jab, Relon could only give an apologetic look before returning forward.

"We'll see you all shortly." Relon bids, reaching out his fist.

"We're always a call away, besides we have an airship so we can be back up whenever you need." Shade looks at me and extends his arm out, holding out a fist. "Hmm… Relon, no matter what you decide, you will always be you. Both human and whatever you call the other side of yourself, you'll always be Relon in the end." Shade's expression held a calm yet determined look to it.

Momentarily taken aback, Relon feels a wave of unexpected-though-welcome relief exude from his being. He didn't know such words could be soothing but they were. Bumping fists, they remain touching.

"Same to you. Even if we have to hop from one place to another via teleportation or zoom through the skies to you all."

"If you see rainbow lightning, just know we'll be there soon." Rinwell jokes.

"I'll also see the rest of you later, we don't have much time so communication is key. Also, let me know how that trip to Avon Hills goes."

"Will do. Keep us posted if anything pops up on your end."

"Hopefully nothing will happen, but knowing this guy's bad luck I'm sure we'll be in shit in no time!" Magilou comments as she turns and walks towards the airship.

"I know she isn't talking about me but it certainly feels like it." Relon sweatdrops as Rinwell can only giggle.

"Just go with both of us, but yeah I'll let you know if anything pops up or if I head to somewhere else."

"I'll make sure nothing happens, besides it seems they have placed all troops near the reactors. That should be our biggest issue anyway." Shirley adds.

"We could just drop a star on them."

Looking to Rinwell, she looks back innocently.

"What?"

"Teehee, I wanna see!" Renne chimes in with a giggle.

"The hell?" Relon blinks at the two before dismissing the looming questions. "Not even gonna go there."

Nodding in agreement, they watch with farewells as Shade and company board before elevating into the air. With a momentary pause, they can only watch as the ship departs into the distance and out of sight.

"Then there was just us." Van notes. "Alright people, let's hit it."

Zero…

Stepping in the direction of the forest entrance, Relon halts.

Make him… pay… for EVERYTHING…!

Catching notice of this, so does Rinwell. In doing so, her eyes take in the faint vine-like markings along Relon's skin flicker.

"We will," he says calmly. "But we'll do it the right way," he adds, looking at the damaged village before departing towards Rinwell who falls in step with him.

"Who are you talking to?"

"The entity in my head," he answers, not missing a beat for the young witch to blink as Munechika eyes him carefully.

Tapping the magical device, they vanished, signaling their trek to begin as Relon's flickering markings come to a halt.

Intentions… unclear. Familiar…

I simply want to stop him and save as many as possible. Do we have a deal?

For a moment, the entity only growls.

Destroy… Zero… as one…

Humming to himself, he nods.

Just don't go taking over again or you'll get a lot more resistance next time. Still, do you have a name?

Name… lost… Erased from… existence…

Huh. I shouldn't be surprised. Let's see… black flames. A dragon… What did Sephiroth call his dragon again?

Hel…ios… Nickname… from past…

You have a nickname? Who named you that? At this, no answer comes. I get it. Do me a favor though. Leave Nameless alone.

Nameless… your other… "tenant." Understood…

Good. When the time comes, can I count on you for help? Or will any manifestation of Zero send you into a frenzy? Another growl in annoyance. We have less than five days before Zero wins. As an elemental being from the Beyond, he and I are the closest thing to one another. Meaning I'm the closest capable of beating him before that time comes.

As long… as Zero perishes… my power… shall be yours…

We'll just have to wait and see then. After the psychological shit I just went through, not fighting off another entity in my head is the last thing I want. Still…

"Let's get along, Helios." Once more another grumble sounds before Relon feels the entity's presence submerge into his mind's depths.

Momentarily surveying his surroundings, he finds Rinwell lingering behind the group.

"Everything cool with you know who?"

Her choice of discretion was appreciated as it was amusing. So much that a soft chortle escaped him.

"It's no secret that there's something in me, you know. But, yeah, everything's good." Lifting a balled hand, he unfurls it for a shimmering black flame to lay atop his palm. "Better even."

The amount of times Rinwell has bucked her eyes wide since arriving in this alternate world was lost to her and all she'd have to add this moment to that growing list.

As quick as he had showed her, he discarded the fire.

"So…"

"Yup. Got some fire again. For the time being at least."

"Is it, you know, safe though?"

"That remains to be seen." Mind flickering back to himself being swallowed whole if not for Munechika, he shakes it away. "Helios seems to hate Zero even more than us so we're on the same page."

"Helios? Haven't heard that name before."

"A nickname. One someone gave the thing. As for how it can even give me fire to use, that's my bigger question. It's like it's acting as a substitute for Nameless."

"Why not ask?"

"We just had a long conversation as is. Another time."

"So I guess we have everything we need to face Zero. Just gotta take down those two reactors."

"Yeah. Speaking of… Hey, Loewe!"

Pausing along with the rest, he turns.

"What is it?"

"I may have a plan for how to go about the reactors."

Milsante

Since their departure, Loewe has had a lot on his plate. The aftermath of the first reactor and those free of its spell, the organization of larger bodies; it was all just a lot to suddenly do and the ending of the world in less than five days did not make matters better.

Ever since beseeching what he knew of Vita to the male hybrid, there's been a lingering sense of worry that his words would have had a negative effect. Upon reuniting with him and Shade and bearing witness to his "lightshow," Loewe was certainly right to have worried. Even as they trekked back to their base, he immediately noticed Relon slow in the rear.

The sight of his mind elsewhere couldn't be more apparent. Upon suddenly being called, Loewe could only answer normally for Relon to bring up an idea. One he wouldn't tell until they arrived back in Milsante. Ideas were scarce nowadays due to Zero and if it was related to Shade or Relon, Loewe knew it would be something… interesting. That was for certain.

Instead, Relon receded into simple conversations along with their companions. Introductions of those once controlled became acquainted with those not of this world and those who've been in hiding thus far. It was nearly obvious to everyone that Relon's interest lied with Renne the most aside from himself.

Apparently, her background as an orphan resonated a great deal given the male's own family ran an orphanage. It at least further alleviated some of the unease as he listened to Relon recount numerous stories of his time with his adopted family. Seeing the supposed hybrid more positive and upbeat was… a nice sight. Seemingly matching some of the other's own mental attitudes just fit him more.

Before long, he and the others had returned to the base where Relon stood before them. Stoic face evident as the day they first encountered one another, the words that leave Relon's lips make all logic Loewe has learned thus far go out the window.

"Let's take out both reactors in Saint-Arkh and Trista."

Of course, shooting up in pure disbelief was the natural response Loewe could give as the others mirrored his baffled self.

"You want to tackle both reactors at once?! Tell me there's more to this wild plan."

"Somewhat. It's actually really simple."

Turning to the board, he pulls out a marker to start drawing. Finishing after a moment, he places it down presenting his thoughts to everyone.

"You can't be serious," Loewe grimaces, having settled back into his seat.

"Oh, he is." Shizuna matches his own expression with a chortle.

"We're seriously going with that?" Rinwell beams, pure excitement clear as day despite the question to such a dire situation.

On the board, split by a single black line, shows both Trista and Saint-Arkh with other images scribbled all over.

"This plan is simple so I'll keep the explanation simple. Rinwell and I are the key players in taking down both. Rinwell will drop a Shooting Star, literally, directly on top of the reactor. As soon as she does, that'll be my que to destroy the second one while Zero's army is responding to the first."

"Uh, question." Hand raised, Relon looks to Estelle. "What about those under Zero's control?" Nodding at the question, he gestures to the bottom of the board.

"That's where the Resistance comes in. A good number is still recovering from the first and this plan is to use as few actual fighters as possible. The Resistance will act as a decoy putting on just enough pressure to get as many of Zero's Army out of Saint-Arkh as possible. That way when Rinwell drops her attack, the reactor will be destroyed and we'll have the most possible number of allies added at once."

"But Relon, what about Valkyrie and Sissy?"

"That's where Munechika and Vita comes in next." Understandably, the room grew quiet, quing Loewe himself to speak up.

"So that's your plan."

"Grimoire. Valkyrie. Whatever you we want to call her is questionably the second strongest behind Zero due to her knowledge and magic on what I am and what this Erebonia has that reflects our own. Regardless, she's still a witch. Rinwell, Munechika, and Vita are the only ones that can match her in terms of magical prowess. Should Emma be at one reactor, I doubt Grimoire, aka Valkyrie, will be there too. In order to protect himself, he'll likely have both witches spread out across the reactors for added defense. There's also a chance that Grimoire won't show up at all given how little she's assisted Zero until now. If she is, we'll have a way to properly counter her."

"Even though I have great offensive arts, that's all I have going for me aside from my spell-stealing skill. If we have Munechika, then she can teleport everyone out once they give me a signal to know the coast is clear." At Rinwell's analysis, Relon nods.

"That's the main gist. A plan that doesn't rely on numbers blasting through a nearly impenetrable fortress but baiting the enemy."

"What should you do if the enemy doesn't take the bait?" Now it was Joshua who raised a question.

"They will. Because Zero wants me and Shade. Can't resist someone like us, especially me given I come from the same place as him. But still…"

"So we show up, you get the army riled up, flee out of sight and beeline for Trista." Van surmised. Even dumbing the plan down, there was one crucial fact that remained. "Still, we'll need Vita to make this plan perfect."

"I know. Even if Vita chooses not to help, I can still enter via the air thanks to Pippin and Pappan."

"I understand that most on both sides will have their focus on the first reactor, but if Vita doesn't align with us, then who is going with you?" Now Shizuna had taken to eyeing him with a gaze he clearly did not like.

"Preferably no one-"

"Absolutely not," she denies.

"Let me finish," he chides. "There's a technique I have more destructive than Rinwell's. The issue is that I literally nuke the entire area and the aftereffects apparently go across the continent so Zero is gonna find out hella fast if not immediately once the first reactor is down. Want to try outrunning a nuclear strike?" He glowers lightheartedly.

"That's the other reason you want Vita or Munechika," Loewe surmises.

"With either, I won't have to go alone and they can just warp everyone out. Now that I'm back at a hundred percent, I technically could but should things go South and I require Pappan, then that option is void."

"It's still an option." Shizuna relents momentarily matching Munechika's dislike in the idea, something Relon clearly takes note of but relents. "You'll likely be going against Rean, who in case you forgot practically answers directly to Zero. Not to mention your classmates as well as the Radiant Blademaster and even Arios. You can warp me out of the blast zone after we manage to take them out. However we're going to do that…"

Relon really had to hand it to Shizuna, when she was calm and not blinded by revenge or hatred, she had an incredible level head. That and it touched him that she cared. Whether because he was an important piece in beating Zero or simply out of the goodness of her heart.

"That reminds me, how exactly do you intend to destroy the reactor? Your drawing makes it seem as though you'll do what you did to Crest's airship."

"Well, more like something similar." He muses with a shrug. "Now that I can use my fire again, I'm capable of a lot more now."

"How much more?" He wasn't asking out of curiosity, rather for the safety of those within the Resistance.

Watching Relon close his eyes to hold out his hand, a small black flame ignites from nothing.

Sure enough, that was all he needed to know.

"Enough to make Alister pale in comparison to what I'll do."

"Ha, we'll see. Only Zero's been able to top that maniac." Loewe chuckles rising up. "When shall this commence?"

"On day two at noon sharp."

"Hmm, that can work," Loewe hums in thought. Though we'll likely be able to only send a group of grunts. Other more important figures like the Brights and Renne will likely be unable to join due to our own fight."

"That's fine." Surprisingly, it was Van sporting an air of aloof confidence. "The five or six of us should Vita join should be plenty. Two teams of three doing an in-and-out job."

"Tonight, everyone rests. Tomorrow; I tackle Vita. Then, we destroy half of Zero's forces." Relon offers.

"So soon though?" Renne wonders aloud.

"Realistically, I'd prefer to tackle that reactor tomorrow and make our element of surprise even better but that's impossible given how fatigued everyone is."

"Given the hectic day we've had, that's asking too much." Van groans.

"Alright," Loewe claps. "We have a gameplan. Let's get some rest and prepare for the coming battles."

Tending to some last minute discussions with Renne, Loewe turns back in time to catch Relon depart with his group in tow.

"They didn't seem too keen on the whole idea," Joshua comments.

"Can't really blame them," Estelle purses in a forlorn fashion. "The guy is basically going off to meet this world's version of his mom and then plans to tackle a reactor alone possibly."

"I know he's different but isn't that… much?" Now it was Renne's turn to make a statement.

"It is," Loewe agrees. "That's likely why his friends are going after him. But, that's for them to deal with. He's not alone and has capable hands all around him. We ourselves have work to do."

He wasn't ignoring Relon's own feelings. Loewe himself still felt there was an insistence of assuring the hybrid was fine. Though, right now, wasn't his time to speak. So he'd pass that torch to those whose turns had come.

Relon

Night walks were near and far from what Relon would describe as perfect. The eerie roots that littered the land and empty basin still managed to give off a mesmerizing sight. Even if that beauty was slowly killing the Earth.

Silence that waded along in ambience.

That was a nice way of describing this lull of peace. Of course, on such nights where he'd be out and about, something would always disrupt the chance and his mind finding inner peace.

Giving a hefty sigh, he finally acknowledges the individuals behind him. "Just so you know, I could have flown off the moment I surfaced but didn't."

Turning around he's met by none other than Munechika and Shizuna.

[Good, because you would have given me a reason to shoot you down.] The upset-looking catlady retorts with inscribed letters floating in front of herself.

"And once you'd landed, I would have done a lot worse to you," Shizuna smiles. Seriously, what the hell was going on in his life with women? Too many things happening too fast, that was for certain.

"I am fully aware," he gives an eyeroll. "Hence why I didn't." Crossing his arms as both approached, he offers his next question. "Now why are you both out here?"

[Don't think that comment you made was sly.] The catwoman glares.

"'Tonight, everyone rests. Tomorrow; I tackle Vita.' You should have said 'we tackle Vita.' But you didn't." Shizuna quotes and corrects.

"I did indeed say that." He nods.

[Care to explain why? Aside from us being tired of course.] She wonders next.

"You already answered it yourself. Rinwell and you especially need to rest and it's nothing against the Resistance but should something happen, I need you both to ensure that they'll be safe."

Feeling an odd but familiar sensation, his eyes draw towards Munechika. Immediately, he notices her tail sway dangerously.

"Before emotions take control, do know that I have Pippin and Pappan with me. Munechika, you especially will need to be at full strength. If the plan works, someone will need to get those resistance members out of danger fast in case they end up too slow in their retreat before Rinwell can attack." Still looking on, her swaying speed lessens. "Unlike all of you, I'm fully healed thanks to my new roommate up here," he gestures to his head.

"You still have to explain-"

"Name is Helios, a dragon creature that just popped up at some point who hates Zero even more than all of us apparently. So far, pretty quiet. There, explained. As much as I know at least."

He understood their worry at his own stubbornness and deeply appreciated it. What was going on regarding Relon's self as well as unknown knowledge of his new flames. Hence why he wanted some alone time, to better situate himself and to just be away from everyone. Though he supposed that was just wishful thinking with companions as endearing as Munechika and Shizuna.

Speaking of which, she's been more proactive at stuff relating to him. He shrugged it off originally thinking nothing of it. Just being a kind acquaintance ensuring he didn't die. However, after that heart-to-heart in the night sky earlier, things she did now showed actual concern. Right now being added to that list.

Laura, Alfin, Musse, Claire, and now Munechika and Shizuna; he had to have some omnipotent blessing to be cared for by women. Such luck didn't exist for the common man and, honestly, he didn't deserve it.

"Relon, please tell me you don't trust-"

"Trust it? I'm hesitant more than anything. I'm not stupid enough to do something given how much happened today. I'm more inquisitive at how much fit in a day much less night…"

Watching Munechika's brows furrow for a moment, she lifts a finger to pause. He had to wonder why the sudden hesitancy. It could be whatever she was about to write may be sensitive. He always paused to question if he should continue whenever a sensitive topic emerged between him and whoever he conversed with at times.

[I understand you wish to return to find answers left by Vita but do not rush to the end risking your own well-being after Nameless saved you]

It took three seconds for Shizuna. One to read what she wrote given it was backwards from her point of view which in itself was quite skillful. One to grasp her meaning. Then the last to immediately eye-gasp at the familiar for saying such a thing. She'd already heard about Nameless a few times and the most recent being with Relon's discussion on their way to

"How do you know that?"

The slight heat seeping out told both had stepped on a touchy subject but Munechika needed to continue.

[In your subconscious, I was shown-.]

"By whom?"

Again, she pauses at the abrupt interruption.

[... Nameless.]

Jerking his head, an unsteady breath exudes.

"If you're joking-" Cut off by a quick shake of her head, the tension in his body lessens. Looking to Shizuna, the only one to have been on the receiving end of his fury once already, she simply shakes her head.

"First time hearing this too."

"How much did he show you?" He asks, clearly showing a more defensive side that throws both off at the sudden shift in attitude.

Clearly taken aback by the now somber attitude, their own worries ease to shift from fear of attack to fear of mental health.

[All of it.]

For a moment, he doesn't respond, instead closing his eyes. He knew that anything was possible. He fully understood that Nameless likely did that to assist Munechika in deeply understanding himself. That way she would be able to save him as she did. Still…

"It's frustrating having to be saved. Even more when I can't even say thank you." He couldn't even stifle the sniffles that worked its way out. "Now I'm all emotional. Gah, my mood's been all over the place ever since I became the Senate Hunter." Hearing her footsteps approach, he moves back. "No! If either of you two come any closer, I'll-"

"You won't do anything," Shizuna scoffed with a roll of her eyes despite adorning a kind smile. With one step, she covered the distance to lean into his face holding a now condescending smirk.

"H-hey!" In spite of his insistence, the moment he tried to retreat, her hand caught him to pull back with surprising strength. Bump Munechika easily covered the short distance, pulling him into an embrace.

As much as he wanted to pry himself away, the good nature deep within didn't want to pry away from her. Then he felt another presence take his rear. Now, even if he wanted to, he couldn't evade the sincere gesture by the two women.

"You females… aren't fair…"

It was all he could mumble, accepting his fate as the tender touch of a hand combed his hair and another help his hand as he vented his frustrations...

Day 4

Morning came and with it, the quartet had set off leaving Loewe and the Resistance to prepare for their coming battle.

Down the open road they trekked, barely a corrupted monster or member of Zero's army in sight. Any seen were either avoided or dealt with in quick fashion.

Taking a momentary break, only an hour into their journey, Relon's eyes go to the entrance where the plains begin. Into their trip, Munechika had given the occasional scan for any signs of magic. Thus, lied the trail they had been following. Nearly impossible to track essences of magic residue trekked in the direction they were now going, likely that of Vita's as the only known skilled witch to cover her tracks so thoroughly.

Leave it to Grandmother's familiar to catch something like this.

Feeling a presence surface in his head, his demeanor shifts to neutrality.

Mana… near…

I take it you are able to sense it too then.

Relon couldn't himself sense whatever magical presence barely existed but ever since using his mother's cloth in their battle against Senate, his sensing prowess in magical entities has become starkly apparent. As though simply using magic for the first time unlocked the capability itself. Still, he wasn't proficient given Valkyrie ambushed them.

Actually, that raised the issue of her presence concealment. It was one thing to use magic but given she was aligned with Sephiroth and Ishmelga, she likely used their own power to further shroud her being. How annoying.

Yes… We are close…

Shade and Magilou mentioned Vita and this Grandmaster had a ship to sail away on meaning they need to be near water. Since we're nowhere near the shore, that means they likely can transport themselves.

Related… you are… but are not… at the same time…

Is that a problem?

… No. A familiar occurrence… I have experienced before…

What was the end result?

The child lost himself to darkness…

Flinching at the brutal sensation those words hold, he forces his next question out.

And the supposed parent?

The biological mother… deemed the son hers… She nurtured him as she never could… However, her 'other' life… she could not give up… In doing so, a rift… formed… The boy lost himself to anger plunging… everything he knew and loved… into darkness… And the mother… gave up on it all… her own memory warped of the very… occurrence…

Words couldn't be said much less thought of after hearing that. The scariest part from hearing such a sad tale was that his future, as vague as it still was in spite of seeing a glimpse of the future, was still unknown to him. Given what could have with his own mother, something like that happening very well could.

Just who could have experienced such a thing?

An unfortunate foe… we now must vanquish…

"Zero?" It was an instinctive gasp, one that gained the others' attentions. The origin of Zero himself… "Just how much do you know, Helios?"

No answer came. All Relon could feel was the submerging of the entity once more.

"Did something happen?" Van wonders.

"I don't know. Not yet at least."

"I'm superior than those on Earth. As the one special amongst the man not, I feel as I can do as I please. This continent, soon this world, will be my personal playground so-to-speak. All are dolls and I am the who shall be the ringmaster and everything breathing are my tools to use as I see fit. That damned Aidios created us and expected us to not have a will?!"

No matter how similar Relon thought it, Zero's upbringing to the dark side lied similarly to Ishmelga. Both are elementals who lived in the Beyond. Both ended up on Earth attempting to make it their own. Their agendas line up in world domination slash destruction. Both also hold an interest in Relon's elemental heritage. The only difference now was that Ishmelga embraced the evil nature whereas Zero was supposedly drowned in his own misery.

He could only shudder at the thought. Should things not go well with his own mother in their world, would- Could he even lean towards that path? As much as Relon wanted to deny the idea, he wasn't too sure.

Zero… Just who are you?

Avon Hills

Clear plains could be considered magnificent. Vast space on a leveled footing made anything and everything easy to spot regardless of distance. There lied but one issue; this Erebonia made the ideal image anything but grand.

Natural canyons still littered the landscape. That was no different.

What was were the now common eerie roots making a simple walk a dangerous trek that caused the group to watch their footing. At night, Relon could only imagine the sight of glowing lights reminiscent to that of Heimdallr from above. On top of that, given their "wanted" status, being out in the open was the one thing they tried to avoid above all else. If Zero or any scouts caught them, there would be little they could do to hide themselves aside from warping away which would only possibly notify any magic sensor amongst Zero's Army. Or worse; Valkyrie.

"Where the hell are they?" It was a clear and aggravated question they all shared alongside Van.

The group of five excluding Hootle had just started their trek across the semi-barren land but the mere idea of having no cover made all of them more than a little antsy.

"First sign of trouble, get near either Munechika or I," Relon warns.

"Don't have to tell us twice," Shizuna mumbles inching right behind him. "How are you holding up by the way? With your new resident I mean."

Giving a brief look back to meet her eyes, he refocuses ahead.

"Fine. So far at least." Hearing a sound of acknowledgement come from the Eight Leaves-user, he lets the topic drop. It made sense given they became friendly with one another that she'd worry but as of late, both her and Munechika's been doing plenty of that. He figured Munechika would ease off given the direct sight into his life but Shizuna still in the dark was showing concern. Even if as a simple check-up. Still… "Thanks though, Shizuna," he offers a curt nod and half smile. "I appreciate you."

Blinking at his follow-up, a smile of her own responds as does a nod.

"Rinwell wasn't joking about you being a lady's man," Van quips.

"Rinwell said what?!" Relon exclaims at a wide-eyed girl ignoring the tint of red on his and Shizuna's cheeks.

"Van?! The heck are you saying?!" The witch in question gasps.

Before anymore can be said, the subtle sensation of something catches the attention of the experienced fighters.

"Heads up!" Relon sounds readying Pappan as all move for cover. "Somethings coming!"

With every second, the ground's trembling increases as far off, a series of dust clouds can be seen.

"Monsters?" Rinwell wonders for the distant sight to draw nearer.

"A stampede of monsters!" Van corrects.

"A bunch of crushbone boars too!" Relon adds at the dusting kicked behind said creatures. "Why are they running though?"

"There's something else!" Shizuna exclaims, gaining their attention. "Whirling wheels?"

"Wheels?" Relon repeats. "Don't tell me…!"

Looking back, from the largely formed dust cloud, a large silhouette emerges. Somersaulting overhead of the affected creatures, a familiar red machine aims its gray arm for a faint red light to emerge from the palm. In the split second that follows, a beam eviscerates all living things in sight as an explosion erupts.

Watching the shockwave approach, all anchor themselves as the wind quickly dies.

"The hell was that?" Van grimaces. "She evaporated them down to an atomic level!"

"Why though?" Rinwell furrows at the still machine. "I thought the monsters obeyed Zero as they're under his influence?"

"Considering Zero had his own forces fighting and killing each other for the fun of it, who knows," Relon quips.

Watching the machine flex its laser arm, it snaps in their direction.

"SHIT, MUNECHIKA!"

BOOM!

Amongst the chaos-filled debris, all can only watch with beads of sweat as smoke quickly rises.

"How the hell could that thing-"

"Screw the hows, it's looking our way!" Shizuna exclaims.

Raising its hand about to fire once more, all ready themselves.

"Normal attacks of ours likely won't have any effect so we'll try to draw its attention!" Van shouts as Munechika vanishes the two humans.

"Incoming," Rinwell shouts, both maneuvering from another laser.

Touching down, both kick off towards the distracted mech. Snapping its hand as smoke emits from the laser palm, it gyrates its form to send a backhand.

Hunching down, Shizuna jumps over as Van retreats back.

Coming face-to-face, she draws her tachi inward to strike at a blocked arm.

"Tch!" She clicks, parrying the knife in its other hand as she hits the ground already returning for more.

"Try this!" Van calls, flipping coins from his pocket before flicking them like bullets.

Engine whirling to life, it zooms forward unaffected by the attack.

"Whoa!" Shizuna gasps, diving out of the way to skid to a halt. "Van!"

Going wide-eyed as Munechika touches him warping the duo away, he quickly nods his thanks for the churning wheels to grab their attention once more.

"Subzero Confinement!" Heads snapping up to Rinwell diving on Pappan, the zooming machine pivots right and then up avoiding the ice walls. "Gotcha," she grins, her tome's blue color remains glowing. "All disasters made one, come forth and helix of purity. Maelstrom!" she chants as a glyph forms for a torrent of water to meet another laser.

Clashing, the water quickly gives way as Rinwell dodges the attack still wearing her grin.

Looking as its arm jerks once more, the machine snaps directly behind to find a surge of power in the form of Relon coated in black flames. Unable to react, he slams his fist for the force to send the machine skidding back and against a canyon wall.

"Let 'em have it!" He roars. "Crescent Strike!"

"Purge Malevolence! Freeze Lancer!"

Rotating her arms for an orb to form, Munechika fires it.

At once, the machine bursts to life firing a spray of its laser. As the smoke settles, the entire landscape lays missing a large part of the ground and eerie roots. Jerking its hand, a single rift in front of it spawns for Relon alit in fury to burst out.

Still hunched over, more portals appear for Van and Shizuna to appear over its shoulder repelling the raised knife.

Moving its laser claw, a force keeps it down in the form of Rinwell and Munechika with their magic.

"You take a few seconds before you can use your laser," Rinwell grunts. "Relon!"

Jumping from the machine's leg, using both swords as platforms as his body becomes coated in black fire, he barrels forward.

"Payback time! Flare Blitz!"

Fist embedding into the cockpit, its barrier breaks as he rips the cube out of the machine. Hitting the ground, it tumbles into the ruptured ground until it hits a curve.

Exiting his form, Relon breathes a breath of relief looking to see the others managing. Approaching slowly, all look at the odd cube.

"They're likely still in there waiting for someone to open it," Rinwell mumbles behind Relon.

"They don't think we're that stupid, do they?"

"It's Zero who hates all humans so likely. Pippin, Pappan." Nodding, both hover towards the cockpit.

"It's strange, they haven't done anything." Shizuna comments. "Relon couldn't have knocked them out with a simple toss like that. Munechika, do you hear anything in there?"

Focusing, her eyes furrow.

"What are you hearing?"

[Tapping. No. Clicking?]

"Clicking? What could-" Eyes growing big, they turn to catch the machine's shoulders mount guns. "Watch out!"

Bang bang bang bang bang!

Instinctively, Relon grabbed Rinwell's hood yanking her away as Munechika pushed both humans. Transparent white spreading out, all can only gaze at the forcefield formed by Munechika.

"Pippin, Pappan!" Relon shouts snapping from his daze.

Veering past, both swords halt as the familiar whirring sounds echo in the distance.

"Don't tell me!" Shizuna grimaces at her answer incoming. "Zero's Army!"

"And they brought in the heavy guns!" Van adds, more large machines bursting ahead of the army.

"How could they- Don't tell me!" Relon exclaims whirling back.

Cling!

All he can do is watch as Pippin clashes with a human mere centimeters from where he stands.

"Wha…?"

"Tch!" Pushing off, she backflips away from Pappan's follow-up.

"So you not only called for reinforcements but also waited until we were all distracted!" Van notes for the girl to bounce off his weapon landing on the now opened cockpit.

Before Relon stood a young woman easily the same height and likely around the same age as himself. She has a slim yet strong-looking and well endowed figure with fair skin. Blue eyes delivering clear malice and short red spiky hair adorned by a headband, she draws out a knife and gun taking aim.

"You inferior humans shall pay for your transgressions against Zero and for damaging my Guren! As Zero's Right Hand, I Kallen Stadtfeld, swear it! Starting with you, Senate Hunter!"

At that declaration, the machine guns finally ceases as smoke emits from the gunbarrels.

"If you're his right hand, then that means you have a lot of information we need," Shizuna mentions having snuck up behind only for Kallen to block her blade with her knife, eyes still locked on Relon.

"She blocked Shizuna without looking?" Van gasps to hurry after joining in the fray.

Hearing a churning sound, Relon looks at the nearing machines raise their weapons.

"We've got incoming!" Rinwell exclaims already conjuring a spell as a missile swarmed by bullets sail their way.

Clasping her hands harder, Munechika manifests another barrier for the impact to cause everyone to stumble.

"We shouldn't be fighting this! We're wasting time and energy!" Relon growls. "Any more time wasted and Zero may show up himself!"

"A whirling struggle... winds of heaven... burst forth!" In tandem with her chant, the necklace glows. From the sky, clouds darken for a funnel to rapidly emerge in the machine's path before splitting. "Cyclone!" She hollers, the humanoid machines seeming to slow down as to not be sucked. "Whoa, it made four from one!" Despite her jubilant words and the effectiveness of her art, more tanks and other machinations continued to barrel through. "Seriously!? Even that didn't stop them all?!"

Watching as the bombardment's intensity grows, one glance to Munechika's clear grimace and then to Kallen easily fending the two off said a lot. She couldn't warp as she was upholding the barrier. Every second they wasted only spelled their doom once Zero's Army caught up to them. Shizuna and Van, as skilled as they are, were at a stalemate against Kallen and it seemed like…

"You stupid bugs, hold still!" The redhead barks firing as both parry and dodge to which Kallen's eyes fall upon Relon. Blitzing his way, Shizuna intercepts clashing blades once more.

"She wants me," he mumbles.

"Huh?" Rinwell gawks mid-chant as Munechika looks their way.

"I have an idea but neither of you are going to like it." Instinctively placing a hand to his abdomen, he shudders at the nerving thought coming to the surface.

Following his hand, Rinwell stops altogether.

"No! No way, nuh-uh! We are not risking that!"

"You have a better idea?! Munechika can't warp us and that girl seemingly wants me so she won't just stand still for us to warp away! Not to mention those two are barely keeping up with her!"

"There has to be another option! Do we even know if transforming with Helios will work? What if you go wild?!"

In that moment amongst the surrounding chaos, he turned to her.

"Even if the worst possible outcome happens, I'm still keeping my promise to you. I said I'd get you home and I plan to do that, regardless of what happens." Ruffling her hair, his expression refocuses ahead. Taking a step forward, his gaze hardens as both blades orbit around him. Grasping Pappan, he slashes the air for a rift to appear. "Get going," is all he says before hurrying into the fray.

"She's good." Van grunts.

"Good to know that her status wasn't a bluff," Shizuna manages a grin.

"Enough stalling! Just die-" Canceling her attack off, Kallen whirls around to clash with Pippin. "You!"

"You wanted me, right? My turn!" Leaning his head out of the way, her own buck wide. Separating from the three of Pippin's attempted attack, she fires for Pippin to deflect her attack.

"Good, now the three of us can-"

"About that," Relon interrupts, slashing open a portal. "We can't afford to fight given what's to come so I'll be fighting her." Understandably, both of their expressions shift. Not at his words, but rather his action. With a sudden yank of their wrists, both fall behind. "With what we have to do, all of you are needed."

"Re-," Is all either can make out before they vanish.

"I'm so gonna get it when we regroup," he breathes out as Kallen readies herself.

"So that's how you avoided my earlier attack. Don't think that I'll let you get away!" With that, she charged forward.

"I had a feeling!" Pippin placing itself into his grasp, both meet in the middle.

"You vermin have done nothing but get in Lord Zero's way! Just die!"

Catching her gun aim from her waist, he parries her as a bang goes off. Recovering, she swings her heel back for Relon to flip away. In doing so, she raises both weapons to catch Pappan having appeared under the hybrid.

"Pesky swords!" She growls, shooting the sword into the ground before moving forward.

"They're hella helpful!" Relon retorts for their clash to emit a shockwave.

Reeling a fist back as she does the butt of her pistol, black flames versus black energy clash.

What followed next left Relon at a loss for words.

No longer was he in Avon Hills.

"An alleyway? No, this is familiar…" Stepping out, his hunch was proven right. "I'm back in Heimdallr…" The night lights only assisted in his recognition. Even if what lied within looked vastly different from what he was used to.

"Hey, thief!" Head whirling in the direction, a small force bumps past him. Looking, he turns in time to see a small young girl in ragged wear rushing through the crowd. "Damn it, someone grab her!" A merchant shouts far behind.

He didn't know why but he moved. Maneuvering carefully, his eyes never left the girl. More and more, the world around him narrowed until only that street they lied on remained.

"Hey…!" He began. "Hey! Wait!" He urged. Only a momentary glance over her should was all she gave in response. In that moment, he recognized the hair and eye colors immediately. "Kallen?" He mumbled dumbfounded. Around a corner and into an alleyway, she vanished.

Nothing about this made sense to him. Yet, he pressed on giving chase.

Barely keeping sight of only the tailend of her ragged clothing, corner after corner passed until he came to a lone home.

"What the heck?" He breathes to notice her sneak inside through a window.

Walking up to the front door, he peers through the side glass to see a young Kallen giving bread and fruit to a woman in a maid outfit who smiles crouching down before a loud noise. A moment later, a stunned woman reprimands the both of them.

Then everything spiraled.

Eyes shuttering open as he recovers from the sudden headache, Relon finds himself on the staircase.

"I got accepted into Thors!"

It was such a loud shout of glee, that he was sure any on the streets could have heard such an exclamation filled with such excitement.

Peering inwards, he sees the age of Kallen he was fighting against. To his surprise, however, her attire is that of the noble students.

Why is she wearing that and not the commoner's uniform?

"While attending such a prestigious school, you will be known as Kallen Stadtfeld. You will not tarnish the name I've given you. Am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am…"

He could only watch as the homeowner ordered likely her mother back to work, leaving Kallen all alone.

"No matter what…" She mumbled, somehow audible to Relon. "I'll always be Kallen Kozuki!"

Upon her declaration, a shiver trailed down his spine. Looking behind, his eyes widened at the familiar darkness lurk forward enshrouding everything.

Taking a stance, his flames manifest to life of their own accord for the darkness to slither lurch back before around them.

"Help… Someone…"

Disregarding the automatic fire momentarily, his eyes once again turned to find the house no more. At the epicenter of the darkness lied a single Kallen.

"I… can't… fight it…"

"Kallen? Hey!" Rushing forward, tendrils of malevolence surge forwards for a spout of fire to repel them. "Kallen! Fight it!" He shouts.

"Who's… there…?"

"Kallen! Don't let Zero beat you!"

"He took my life, my mother away… I wasn't strong enough…"

"Kallen! Kallen! KALLEN!"

Even as his fiery fist tried to reach her, the girl's form only grew more and more dim until all went black.

Blinking awake, he finds his form struggling against a fierce-looking Kallen. Pushing away, it's only then that he recognizes the leeched darkness from Kallen's body into his hand before the link snaps.

Taking one step on instinct, a gushing sound catches their attention. Shifting to aim, Kallen is met with a blast of water sending her off her feet.

"Water?" Relon questions aloud as his eyes move to spot the perpetrator as none other than Rinwell with her hand extended, signs of the spell vanishing. "Rinwell?!"

"Did you seriously expect me to leave you?!"

"The hell are you still doing here?! I can get out of here whenever! I have to-"

"Shut up and listen for once!" She snaps silencing the male with a hard poke to his chest. "You and I. We're friends. More than that, we're family! You promised to protect me but you weren't the only one who made a vow!" Stepping back, her focus goes to the incoming machines as her tome glows with Hootle taking her shoulder. "I hated being protected. I hated being slow on the pitch. I hated that right when I thought I was being useful, I went and got captured. I hated feeling so hopeless. Hootle!" With an extension of her hand, a red glyph forms around both as fire rains from the sky striking one machine after the other. "We're both fighting! Meaning we protect each other!" With a snap, her tome's color shifts from red to white as the small glyphs expand and multiply unleashing a salvo of meteors. In reaction, all machines come to a grinding halt at the large rocks now acting as a wall. "So no transforming!"

"Rinwell…"

"That… should do." She momentarily pants. "Now then, let's deal with her together. Sounds good?" She grins.

"Talking so nonchalantly in front of me! Say your prayers!" Kallen growls, a plume of darkness coating her form.

He knew what he saw was real. Likely a glimpse into Kallen's memories if he had to guess. Could Helios absorb Zero's malevolence? That version of Kallen cowering was the real her. He saw it. Even if only a glimpse. Right now, they had to take her down.

"Help… Someone…"

Gripping his fist, he looks to the immediate danger.

"Deep down, she's asking for help." Pausing for a moment to look at the enraged girl, Rinwell's demeanor, however, doesn't wane.

"Then we just need to knock some sense into her, right?"

No words needed to be said. Not this time. Lifting a hand, a clap is exchanged as both ready themselves. Filled with renewed determination, his own expression lifts once more. Deep within, he feels a familiar warmth exude throughout his body.

To have a cousin as great as Rinwell… Truly, he was the honored one.

"She's fast!" Rinwell notes as Relon walks forward.

Leaning forward, he takes off. Throwing both swords to careen from the sides, moves forward in another blast of black.

Good, she took the bait! With her side paths blocked, she's forced to straight ahead if she wants to maintain that speed. Helios!

Familiar power manifesting, he grips his hand as black flames manifest. Thrusting forward, a geyser of flames shoots from the ground upward towards the red-head.

Snapping her gun for the bullets to melt, her eyes twitch as she's forced to jump.

Got her! Rinwell!

"Galforce!" Rinwell shouts, striking the dark-coated blade. The force of their collision sending both back.

"Tch!" Swapping to her gun, Kallen fires for a maw of fire to act as a wall.

Widening to peer down at hybrid, her frustration only grows upon seeing both blades shooting her way.

Snapping her gun down, she fires several shots for a wall of ice to leave the black bullets embedded.

"What?!"

"Subzero Confinement!" Rinwell hollers as a looming shadow gains Kallen's attention. Looking up to another wall of ice descend, her eyes can only widen as a loud crash of frost erupts.

"Pippin, Pappan!" He hollers rushing to catch Rinwell as both blades slash through the smokescreen to come out. Within moments, it vanishes.

"Where'd she go?!" Rinwell exclaims, readying her next art.

"I… don't know." Relon says after a moment. "Teleportation?"

Where? Where?!

"My sensing abilities still suck, crap!" Rinwell grimaces, scanning the area.

No way that attack did her in. No blood was present so teleportation must have been the case. If so, how far? And to where? The sky? No! The mechs? No! She had Zero's power active a moment ago with such a surge of killing intent so where did it all go?! Think! Think!

"You inferior humans shall pay for your transgressions against Zero and for damaging my Guren! As Zero's Right Hand, I Kallen Stadtfeld, swear it! Starting with you, Senate Hunter!"

That's it!

"The machine!" He gasped, realization linking to both blades as they blurred to intercept.

Despite managing to get the thought out, the shiver that followed gave way to an unfathomable feeling of dread.

His thought process had been correct. The machine was indeed where she had returned to but it wasn't the body itself. Rather the cockpit. The small capsule still embedded in the ground. Positioned directly behind the both of them.

It was due to this that Kallen's incomprehensible surge of negativity returned in full surge as she neared both as silent as a breath. In leading both swords, 360 degree vision at their disposal away, this allowed Kallen to finally make her move.

Behind?! Crap, I'm too far! Panicked flames could do nothing for him. Asking for power now would either fail or come too slow.

"Rinwell!"

In an instant, a blue glyph appeared under their feet. Within the still moment that followed, only a single sound came.

Bang!

Unknown Location

Immediately, he felt his body trip against a hard surface. Given the sudden disposition of his body, there was little he could do to stop himself from crashing against the now metal floor. No longer was it the terrain's grass or its dirt. Rather, he found himself in a dimly lit room. Metal filled the walls all around.

Wait.

"Rinwell?! Where-" Voice hitching as his eyes gaze upon the downed girl, he frantically makes his way rolling the wincing girl over. As soon as he caught sight of the witch grasping his arm, his fears were answered as he pried her hand to find a bloody wound. "Shit! Shit! hold still-"

"I wouldn't if I were you."

It was a voice he'd only heard once in person. A voice he cherished so dearly that he'd only first been blessed by such a kind tone through the Perception of Time.

Too lost in the frantic moment, he failed to register his other senses. The subtle sound of a rod tapping the ground, the alleviated breath escaping one's lips. Had he, Relon may have realized they weren't alone. Possibly not. Perhaps she had cloaked her signature in magic as Valkyrie had previously done.

Momentarily placing his focus away from Rinwell, hand still holding her wound, his thoughts came to a grinding halt.

Awaiting him expectantly lied a woman. Donned in a long flamboyant dress of blue and turquoise blending together leaving a leg exposed, the woman's features are what emanates… familiarity?

"Misty?"

The sandstone-like hair ending past her waist wasn't what made his mind halt. It was that face. That face he's seen only once. Experiencing the Perception of Time, he could only hear the voice of his mother. Here, simply stood Misty in an elegant outfit. Yet, that mirthful curve at the corner of her lips and that sparkle in her violet eyes emanated something that stirred him deep within.

"That is a name I haven't gone by in some time," she chuckles. "Although, now isn't exactly the time for reminiscing. Come, she needs to go into our healing pod."

Dread returning in an instant, Relon quickly looks to the still Rinwell. Looking back, he already saw the woman departing out of the room.

"Wait!" His mind was already a mess and he still couldn't get a chance to recover let alone make sense of anything. No, he shouldn't focus on that. Rinwell needed him! "Hang on, Rinwell." Carefully placing her on Pippin, he began to guide her after the witch.

The trek was thankfully short but all the while eerie. He could feel the dense magical essence all around them. Unless there was another witch, then the "Misty" before him was more than he originally imagined this world's version being.

"Here," she speaks, halting before a large capsule-like machine. "Place her inside and I'll activate the machine."

Hesitancy was immediate and for good reason. He was at the mercy of this woman and this supposed healing machine. Even through his frenzied mind, he knew he didn't have a choice.

Carefully, he placed her inside. Watching the woman click a button, the covering sealed shut as a faint light began to emanate.

"It seems the wound was a clear puncture," Misty notes from a small monitor. "On one side and out the other. She'll be fine after some time. Although, she should attempt to use that arm as little as possible. That, however, presents a dilemma. Given you all are trying to defeat Zero, no?" Now, her focus had shifted fully to Relon. That unreadable gaze did not hold any unfathomable force. Rather, it was his own nerves that made him stagger.

Vita… Clotilde…

Stirred, the sudden voice of Helios made him act.

"That's… correct." He needed to calm down. He knew that but the difficulty in following through was even more apparent. Now the entity decided to make itself known now of all times?! "You've already met Shade and-"

"Young man," she cut him off, coolly. "Why have you seeked me out?"

What answer was he supposed to give? "Because you're my mom in a different dimension?" "Because I wanted to ask you things you likely didn't know?" Anything among such lines would lead to an ill response and likely close off any chances of obtaining her assistance. If that were to happen, then his original plan for taking down the remaining reactors would be further foiled. Rinwell was healing and even if she could fight to some degree, her injuries would still hinder her and therefore his plan.

It hurt.

He had so many things he wanted to say and now he had the opportunity and yet he felt a log in his throat made him unable. Right now, he needed to toss aside his own personal cause. There was a greater one in need of her assistance than his own.

"We need your help to take down Zero."

"I believe I already have given my answer to that boy named Shade."

"I'm not Shade."

"Clearly. You're something else. Similar to McBurn while somehow carrying an unfathomable amount of magic inside. An amount nearly equal to my own."

"Yet you not only brought us to you but saved Rinwell and I as well. Something we're both thankful beyond words for."

"Thanks are ill needed at this point. I still fail to see what use I could have against an entity like Zero."

That… did something to Relon. Irritation at such a blatant facade? Surprise at such a woman downgrading herself? Both?

"Someone as amazing as you shouldn't belittle yourself. Much less act as though you're helpless."

"Awe, thought I could pull one over a child." Instinctively his eye twitched. Something that went noticed by the witch as a smirk manifested. "Did I strike a nerve?"

"A little," he confessed.

Even now he still wouldn't gain the title of "Liar." Something he would strive to keep from ever happening.

"Apologies. It wasn't my intent to upset you, Child."

Another twitch. Then a sigh.

Why did women have to always be such a pain in his life? No, a better question; why did his mother in a different world have to be such a nuisance?

"I'll be frank with you, boy. To risk my own life is the biggest request one could offer. Having them send you, a being from the Beyond to me was wise but ill-needed. My answer is still no. Once that young witch has healed, you two can see yourselves out."

"Then why?!" He hadn't meant to shout. Recoiling from his own volume, he asked once more. "Then why save us?" At that, she halted. "You knew we were looking for you and you could have left us to Zero's Army. But you didn't."

No response came immediately. Instead, he watched as her hand tenderly parted some strands of her hair behind her ear. Was that her equivalent to his eye twitch? Or… something more.

"I simply saw an opportunity to save fellow witches. Nothing more."

He didn't believe her. Something about the way she phrased that… reminded Relon of himself.

She's lying…

Sure enough, his new mind's roommate would say something. Though Helios' own comment proved that his intuition was right. The question now became why.

Ashland didn't exist. Pippin, more so Kernviter belonged to Loewe and Angbar was likely with this world's McBurn. Wherever he is. If saving them wasn't her only intent, then what else could it be?

Rinwell doesn't exist in this world so Mo- Vita wouldn't have saved her personally. As for him…

Wait.

Once more he looked at the woman.

"You don't know why you saved us, do you?" Her eyes immediately widened before receding but it was too late. There it was.

Advance…

Heeding the entity, he took one step forward.

"Vita, do you know who I am?" Now her eyes twitched, the same as his. More proof.

"How would I?" She wonders, cooly.

"You tell me," he retorted. Step-by-step, he neared her.

Scowling, she stomps her foot as the entire floor glows.

"What?" Relon gasped though once he looked up, he found her gone.

She's fleeing… She's hiding something…

"No. Why hide when she knows who and what I am? No… She's not running away to keep a secret…" Then it dawned. Leaning forward, that tug of his link to both swords manifested. Off into a sprint, he jumps landing on Pippin. "She's running away so she won't remember that secret!" He shouted in realization.

Steady, the corridors began to blur. Harder he gripped the cloth. Faster Pippin went. She was constantly warping further and further away. Whether out of fear for remembering what she's forgotten or some other cause, he needed to reach her!

Huh?

"Her signature vanished? Damn it, why am I not surprised?! How else has she kept hidden all this time?"

Sense her! If she's not an elemental, then feel the lingering essence of magic she's leaving behind! I have to narrow my focus! Not from the space itself, but from Vita Clotilde!

There…

Eyes opening more, Pippin acknowledging his will whipped around a corner.

He felt her. She was walking as to prevent such spontaneous movement. All he needed to do was reach her and then…

Grasp her hand!

There she was, shocked visage and all as he soared towards her.

"You brat! Stay back!" Blue glyphs emerging for less than a second, ice washed over the entire hall as barriers of ice manifested ahead.

"Brat…?" His teeth and fist clenched at that. "Who are you calling a brat?!" The sensation of heat emerged as did the black flames. "You old, stubborn, hag!" With a searing strike, he pummeled through. First there was mist and then the shockwave came.

Rolling to reappear on her feet, her neatly kept hair now had fringes fall down the front as he lands.

"Hag? How dare you call me that of all things?!" Hands circling around a blue orb, she thrusts it forward.

Lifting up, his own frustration leaked once more. Flames spewing away the remaining mist and smoke, it all vanished has his hand balled.

"You don't like that?" He growls. "Then…"

Boom!

Panting, Vita's visage returns to calmness. All had gone quiet. Where the mysterious boy lied stood only the remnant of her magical blast.

"Bringing him here was a mistake. Why did I…?" Too lost in her own thoughts, Vita failed to sense the tear in the air. At once it split to match a human's size. Only then had the monstrous presence caught her attention but it was too late. "What?!"

"How about I call you Mom?!" Those were the words one Relon Lucinance bore as his inflamed fist neared the shocked woman. "Because you're being a stubborn parent!"

He concealed his presence?! From me?! No! He erased his entire being into a space I couldn't sense! I don't have time to teleport away! I have to block-

All train of thought vanished as the black fire in his hand ceased for the fierce expression worn to shift to something else. What had he just said to her? A stubborn what?

Next came a surprising embrace as they slowly fell. Then… she remembered.

"As far as I see it, you failed as a parent. You caused her to die. It's only fair. One life for another."

"I killed McBurn. Next, I'll get rid of you."

"Ishmelga… Ah, I see. Fine, I'll use you to ensure the future I seek comes true."

"Out of all the people, to think I'd have to fight Class VII and the SSS…"

"Musse, your death shall be the first step towards a new world…"

"Testa-Rossa? You want me as your Awakener? Haha… Hahahaha! Don't make me laugh! I have no interest in being linked to a hunk of metal! HELIOS!"

"As for you, Vita, don't mess this up like you did with me. Until then… you're better off forgetting everything about me."

One rush of memories from one moment in her past came and then those from a time that didn't belong.

"You're no mage. Who are you?"

"That's somewhat of a difficult question to answer. How about we start off with names instead? I'll go first. My name is Kalos Lucinance. Your turn, Ms. Witch."

It was clearly her…

"I'm pregnant!"

But not the same her…

"Instilling both with the Perception of Time may cause trouble but it may also cause the future to become safer all the same.

Such a divine name for an ability…

"Kerviter, Angbar, both of you, welcome to our one of a kind family!"

For such renown weapons to be constructed by Aidios herself…

"Teehee, Relon, Kanade, you two are just too precious! Oh, I'm so blessed to have such adorable children! Mommy loves you both so much!"

Relon and Kanade… A boy and a girl… Siblings… Hers…

When Vita Clotilde spurred, all she could see was the metallic ceiling she's walked under countless times. One blink followed by another was all it took for her train of thought to return. Even as it did, she remained still.

It wasn't because her mind had gained memories both forgotten yet not hers. The strain on her mind had lingered but already she adjusted to such a bizarre yet otherworldly phenomenon. She was a mage, something like that, as strange as it was, wouldn't perturb her much less halt any advancement she chose.

No… The cause behind her still form lied in both the young male clinging to her as well as her clinging onto himself.

She was his mother. He was her son.

It is human nature to become emotional. There are various levels that simply depend on one's own circumstances. For Relon and Vita, as they both rose to properly face the other, they immediately noted the other's tears trekking downward.

The pain and suffering that swallowed a part of himself for 17 agonizing and frustrating years…

The longing and emotions felt towards cradling the child she was forced to abandon for 17 gruesome and tiring years…

"Relon?"

"Yeah, Mom?" How defenseless he felt and looked. He likely didn't realize it himself.

Arms extended, she gifted the both of them a smile only a mother could wear.

"Come here, my child."

Then, came the embrace. Not just any embrace. One filled with an insurmountable amount of emotions. Only for love to breach the surface first.

He hadn't realized when he lost consciousness. His emotional baggage had once again claimed Relon without him even realizing it. Coming to, the first thing Relon expected to find was the others. However, it was only then that all of the recent events came rushing back to him. For once, an albeit small smile graced his face as he quickly realized the position he was in.

His mom back home or Luna must have laid a blessing on him or something because if he got a single mora for the amount of lap pillows he's used since he could remember, then he'd by this point have enough money to rival one of the Great Houses.

Peering down at him, tender smile present, sat Vita Clotilde. Literally his mother from another… world? huh. Normally, the term is "brother from another mother" so what he thought didn't at all fit. Oh well, he'd figure out a better term when the world wasn't ending. Speaking of…

"How's Rinwell?" Before anything, aside from this awkward kind of reunion, came the well-being of his cousin.

"She's still unconscious, however…"

When anyone lingered on a sentence, that never boded well.

Guided down several maze-like corridors, eventually he returned to where the witch rested.

"There is the lingering power of Zero's in her bloodstream. Unless we can extract it somehow, her health won't get any better I'm afraid."

"Extract?" He had to repeat it not because he didn't understand, but rather his mind registered that word specifically as a key. A key to Rinwell's situation.

One momentary glance at his palm before back to Rinwell was all he needed to decided. Clicking the button, the hatch opens. Carefully pulling the girl out, he lays her down.

"Okay, Helios, hoping this works…" With a press against her wound, the black fire emits. He didn't have to glance to feel Vita's hardened gaze. "Just gotta feel it," he mumbles, shutting his eyes.

Just as it was calling upon Nameless' power or finding Vita when she hid, that sensation had to be felt. Only before where such kindles of emotions or individualism were hard to find, Zero's own presence was but nearly the entirety of Rinwell's own.

His essence has already gotten this far? What the hell?! Okay then. First, I just need to condense to a safe level… Slowly, his flames lessened until only the black power remained atop his skin. Next, carefully extract…

Like gum, the elastic darkness stretched more and more the further his hand left Rinwell.

Relon… Lucinance!

It came immediately. One moment he was with Vita and Rinwell and the next… he was watching a hulking dragon devour another Zero.

Only a scream followed but even that lasted but less than even a moment. He recognized that he was sweating. Whether over the sudden jumpscare of Zero or at the sight that he just bore witness to.

As if recognizing his own presence, the behemoth's head slowly turned. In making eye contact, a chill followed by an emotion he knew all too well encompassed his being; rage.

Without blinking, he found himself staring at Rinwell once more. Half-lidded eyes and a tired smile greeted him.

"Ow…" She whines, Hootle understandably cooing over her. "I didn't think…" She pauses to breathe. "Being shot would hurt that bad. Haha, oopsie…"

Only upon hearing her voice, did Relon stir from his cold sweat. Immediately, his face dropped, instinct to reprimand the girl evident but a moment later it vanished.

"We'll talk more once you're rested." There was no room for arguments and both sides clearly understood that. With a tired nod, she closed her eyes.

Lifting her carefully, he placed her back in the pod before reactivating it. Giving a glance to the owl perch atop the machine, a single hoot was all that he needed to hear before departing.

In silence, he and Vita walked. Not side-by-side, rather one ahead of the other. It was understandable but he still disliked it. The Vita of this world, clearly without any elemental powers, still recalled herself as his mother. How was a different story but now that he had his mom somewhat distant from him, an unfamiliar ache settled down within his core.

Is this distance what Dad felt?

"Hey, Mo- Vita." He corrects himself. "Can we talk-"

"So you've made your decision… Vita."

As soon as his ears recognized a new voice, an overwhelming sensation he's felt all too much before emerged. Snapping forward at the ready, his tension quickly leaves as his eyes take in the woman before him. At least, he would if there was one.

All he was met with was a floating orb. The head of a dismembered woman once clearly beautiful all but left.

"Yes, Grandmaster. It is as we've discussed."

Giving a glance at Vita, the grateful smile she wore was something he couldn't discern as true or not. As opposed to the orb before him…

"I have to ask something." Now it was the adult's turns to channel their attention on Relon. "Why did you create Ouroboros? Why cause such discourse across the continent? And why have Vita become a part of it?"

For a moment, the silence that followed was nerve-racking. More than he anticipated. Then a chuckle broke from the orb.

"You realize those were three questions," Grandmaster mused in a chortle. Flinching from the unexpected response, he quickly conformed. "What I did, I did simply for the greater good of the world. To save itself from an even greater fate yet to befall not just Erebonia. Even if some self-interest intertwined. As for Vita, your supposed mother," she quipped with clear emphasis. "Our paths crossed and as well as our interests aligned. Simple as that."

"When you say 'greater fate,' are you referring to Zero?"

"Originally no, but now… perhaps I was wrong." With how ominous and weary she said that, it didn't convince Relon in the slightest. Perhaps that was what she wanted and simply didn't care anymore. "Bearer of Kernviter and Angbar, I beseech you this; if you truly plan to upheave the evil that is Zero, then I can only impart you with my farewells and best wishes."

Just like that, the floating orb turned and began to leave.

"In my world…" Relon begins, hesitant but looks forward with vigor. "Ouroboros may be my enemy but I'll ensure only the best outcome emerges. For everyone, including Jewel." At that, even Vita's eyes flashed wider before she too looked forward to the still orb.

"Ensure you do, Senate Hunter." Down the hall until out of sight, Relon only looked on. He'd wonder how she knew his title for another time. To honor such words, they still had a job to do.

"Be ready for me, Grandmaster." Turning, they too depart. "We'll meet again before long."

Avon Hills

Relon hadn't known he'd been out for as long as he was. Perhaps that was a good thing. For however long he was out, it gave Rinwell plenty of time to recover a vast amount from her wound. He was thankful more than anything that she was alive. Though the lingering pain was still apparent.

He failed in protecting her. Had Vita not saved them, Rinwell or himself would likely be dead. He made a choice and chose wrong. Whether luck or some divine intervention by Luna, he knew the odds of that happening simply were too low.

Even now as he glanced at the young witch wince as she rubbed her now covered wound sitting atop Pappan, he could only clench his fist in frustration. He was aware none were perfect. She was distracting the quiet trek by yapping with Hootle about something. His ears weren't actively listening so all that came to him were mumbles.

Perfection itself was never a true belief. One could only be so close to being void of irregularities.

People get hurt in fights.

If not the first, then eventually. He just wished he could have prolonged that experience for Rinwell longer. It left a feeling he didn't like inside; failure.

Because he had failed to protect her, now the risk of not only their overall goal but their recently-made plan to take the reactors would be a liability.

He didn't want to make anymore senseless risks. He couldn't.

Foolishness…

His face furrowed at the sudden comment. He'd grown used to sudden spur-of-the-moment comments by Nameless and now he was getting used to Helios'.

Risking her fight any further made cause her injury to worsen.

Rejecting her assistance will prove an ill decision in combat as well as a naive one.

Immediately, Relon recognized something.

Your speech isn't ragged anymore. Don't tell me absorbing that tiny essence of Zero helped. A long grunt-like growl followed.

Fearful? I feel your anxiety. At that, Relon remains quiet. You're treading with caution. Now knowing what I truly am.

Tch, you're just like Nameless. Invading on my emotions and subconscious thoughts. Well who wouldn't be? Learning someone has a dragon inside them would make any freak out a little!

Yet you do not. Outwardly.

I got used to having "unique" tenants thanks to Nameless.

Hmm, I see. As for your prior comment, a part of my strength has returned. Enough to converse more fluently as you humans put it. However… that essence I devoured… As small as it was… it still elicited a vast amount of Zero… Like a virus rapidly spreading…

Meaning if we had done anything later..

Yes…

That confirmation made his stomach churn. Another subtle glance at the smiling girl made him refocus ahead.

That woman you fought… His essence lies in greater mass within her. Tread with caution…

If anything happens, I'll be putting my trust in hoping you don't try anything.

That is where you are wrong. At that Relon stopped, finally gaining the attention of his traveling companions. It is I who is putting my trust in you. Without another word, Helios' presence submerged into the depths of Relon's consciousness.

"Relon?" Rinwell tilts her head. "What's up?"

Head popping up to the looks of her and Vita, he gives a shake.

"Nothing," he answers, regaining his pace. "Just lost in thought again."

"Hmm…" She hums hovering closer. "Thinking about what exactly?" She presses.

"Whether to have you participate in the upcoming fight or not," he admits which causes her curious visage to shift into morbid surprise. "With Vita, she could technically do both your job as well as Munechika's."

"But-"

"Hold on, I'm not done yet," he lightly chides. "Given how Zero's Army has been up until now, it'd be safer to have Vita with me. If I end up going against Uncle Victor again, there's no guarantee I'll be able to fend him or Class VII off long enough to destroy the reactor."

Perking at the mention, Vita finally speaks up.

"So you plan to have me warp away any meddlesome combatants."

"That would be the easiest way to go about it. No matter how strong they are, unless they too can teleport across great distance, we'll have plenty of time to take out the reactor before they can return."

"Though we still need to worry about Valkyrie," Rinwell mentions wearily. "She seemingly hasn't done much as far as directly helping Zero except kidnap me and well that didn't do much. Not to mention she gave up pretty quick when Shade took the brunt of this huge electric dragon attack."

"If she really wanted you out of the picture, you would be. So why…?" Relon wonders.

"Children, we will have to hold on the speculations. We have company."

Stirred from thought, both look up to change their demeanors. For Rinwell, she couldn't be any happier. For Relon, he couldn't be any more worried.

Why?

Approaching at a steady pace lied one upset-looking Shizuna and Van with Munechika bringing up the rear.

"Uh oh, they're mad," Rinwell notes.

"They have a right to be," Relon sighs. "I did push them out of harm's way with no way back to help us. Um…" He begins awkwardly glancing at Vita who arches a curious brow before looking ahead, likely clicking the piece in place.

"I won't interfere if you don't want me to," she quips in a knowing tone for Relon to smile in appreciation.

Accepting his fate, Relon returns back ahead only to find on Munechika approaching.

"Huh," was all he could sound out as a tight arm wrapped around his neck.

"Good to see you're still alive, buddy."

"H-Hey Van, where'd you come from?"

"Oh you know, nowhere. Somewhere," he shrugs. "So, wanna talk about what happened in Avon Hills?" Instead of answering, he instead attempts to look around but Van's grip makes head movement too difficult. "Ah, eyes ahead buddy. I'm being nice enough to try and save you."

"I take it both of you are mad? No, correction, all three?" At his question, however, Munechika to his surprise dismisses it with a shake.

"Well, you see, it was Munechika who defended your case. Of course, that didn't exactly sit well with us having to worry about if our two new friends, not counting Hootle of course, were dead or alive." At that, he feels a sharp object poke his back.

"So, care to explain why you went off and played hero?"

"Simple, Shizuna," he sighs looking towards an expecting Munechika. "It was a fight we all didn't need to participate in. Not with our own battles around the corner. Instead of warping everyone and having Zero's Army launch a full scale sweep of the area, I had you all leave ahead given that Kallen girl wanted only me. Be mad if you want but if I can pull attention away from those dear to me, then I'll be the sacrifice as many times as I need to be."

Oh, how he knew Munechika hated how honest of an answer he just gave. The irked visage her body held spoke volumes. Although, judging by the amused expression his "mother" and Rinwell wore, he'd guess Shizuna's own reacted in a good way.

Sure enough, a moment later, Shizuna's blade lowered as an annoyed sigh left Van.

"You're even more selfless than I am. I think I get how annoying I used to be at times.," Van mumbles.

"Used to?" Shizuna gives a look.

"Hey!" He glowers in return before both lighten up only to reel back a fist respectively…

Whack!

"Ouch! The hell?!" Relon winces rubbing his now aching arm and head.

"Don't think words would get you out safe," Shizuna crosses her arms. "I'm still plenty mad!"

"And I'm simply matching her," Van adds for all eyes to go towards Munechika. Said familiar flexing her protruding nails for a shiver to run down Relon's body.

"Okay, Okay! I'm sorry! Happy now?"

"Of course we're happy you're both alive~." Shizuna purrs close to his ear for a shiver to run down his spine. Something about that tone didn't make him feel safe in the slightest. That and his body simply reacted internally in a way he didn't expect.

Taking a big step away from the two and to the safety of his mother's rear, he eyes the two.

"Please don't awaken some sort of latent kink I don't know of yet. You'll make me start looking at you differently." He genuinely meant it but given how much Shizuna resembled Musse in that moment… he just didn't need any reminders. Not right now.

Though his comment did earn a hardy guffaw from Van. That guy was serious one minute and an aloof guy the next.

"Pfft!" It seemed even Rinwell was holding back from his rather bland retort. The covered smirk his mother was hiding sure meant she found it amusing. Though that begged the question; was what he said really that amusing?

One glance at a dumbstruck and clearly blushing Shizuna said everything.

Ah.

Luna's curse of his relationship towards women had kicked in again. Somehow.

"It seems Aidios' blessing is still active, teehee~."

So there WAS a blessing on his encounter with women! He'd definitely need to get rid of that whenever he reunited with Luna again.

"There's a lot we need to discuss, mother," he deadpans.

"Awe~, I've been waiting 17 years to talk to my dear son about his love life! Good luck, Shizuna~. you've got quite the competition."

"OKAY, WE'RE MOVING OUT! NOW!"

Grasping his mother's wrist, an equally blushing Relon departed first with Vita close behind. Soon after, the rest followed with his blushing counterpart bringing up the rear smacking an snorting Van.

(I don't know whether to be filled with joy at you acting like this or horrified!) He whispers, refusing to make eye contact with his mother.

(Well, given I've been too preoccupied to do much searching, I would say this is a joyous occasion. She clearly has some affection for you. May as well get a harem started.)

(What's a harem?)

(It's the Beyond's term for a concubine.)

Once again, he nearly tripped to snap his blushing face to an amused Vita.

(We met yesterday, mom!)

(In a world like this, a lot can happen quite quickly. Look at us for example.) The knowing look she gave made his instinctive retort die instantly. He finally understood what the term 'mother's are always right' truly meant now. Moms are unfair when it comes to logic. And he's usually screwing logic! (Speaking of love life, how is Claire?)

That made him nearly stumble over himself again. Finally eyeing the woman who sports an innocent demeanor, clearly fake given their previous situation, he stifles back his blush.

(So you did see my letter.)

(Alister and I finally managed to finally get free time from hiding from Senate so we immediately went there. I left you a note by the way. Speaking of, have you had any luck with your sister?) At that, his saddened demeanor tells all. (I see.)

(She's alive. That much I'm certain.)

(Yes, I believe that too. I worry about not just her, but the tiny portion Aidios bestowed.)

(Luna manifested when Ishmelga and Sephiroth appeared before me so would the same thing happen?)

(Yes. That or if her life is on the brink of death.)

(Luna returned to the beyond so that means 5% is still with Kanade. Wherever she is…)

(We'll find her. Then we can be one happy family.)

(We'll be even more happy once I take down Senate.)

Flinching as he feels a pluck upside his head, he looks back to a confident Vita.

"Don't forget, Senate Hunter, you're not alone." Now she wasn't even trying to hide their conversation. Given the subtle flick of Munechika's ears, she was likely eavesdropping. He couldn't really blame her in this case. Though the looks the others held matched the familiar's as they too were invested with whatever they could have picked up.

Still…

"I know. Shade and I had an unbearable argument over that topic. One I'd like to not have again. Anyway, nighttime is nearly on us. We've still got plenty of supplies but the Resistance is prepping for tomorrow."

"Meaning we have an entire day to kill before it's our turn to destroy the last two reactors," Van notes. "How should we spend it?"

"Training and resting." It was the obvious answer but Relon still felt he needed to say it. "We've done enough. Zero's Army is likely preparing for the end so we should do the same."

"Wouldn't it be better to go back to Milsante?"

"Normally, yes," Relon admits. "But should something happen regarding Zero and we're all there, then that would be the end of things. No chance of help coming to bail us out."

"I think I get it," Rinwell voices. "By staying separated, we're leaving the option of us helping out Shade or vice versa."

"Exactly."

"Well then, leader, where shall we go?" Shizuna smiles.

At that, he gives an unfamiliar smirk.

Eryn

"I'll be honest. I did not expect to come right back here after what happened yesterday."

Shizuna meant it too. If Zero was as tactically minded as many feared, herself somewhat included, then she'd wonder if he would think for them to come back to the place he found them previously.

"Good to note that Relon is quite the tactical guy himself," Van comments.

"I'm Princess Alfin's bodyguard back home. My dad drilled nothing but tactical advantages into me to make sure she stayed safe."

Wait what?

"HUH?!"

"Really?" Vita blinked as they all settled into Reselia's atelier, ignoring herself and Van's shocked exclamations. "For how long?"

"Only three years. I gave the role to Claire so I could go to Thors to better myself after Senate nearly kidnapped her on this ship called the Gigantic."

"Hmm… It seems I can't quite recall every detail from my other self." Vita mused. Now that she mentioned it…

"How can you recall stuff from Relon's world?"

It was actually cute how both Relon and her perked up as though finally realizing she and the others didn't know. Wait. Cute?

"The Perception of Time," both answered returning Shizuna's question. Sure enough, more confusion only littered her face as did Van's and Rinwell's. Even Hootle was lost. Wait, was she understanding bird faces? Did that make her brain a birdbrain?

"Allow me to explain," Vita offers. "The Perception of Time is an ability gifted to Relon and his sister by Aidios."

"Aidios' chosen?" Van quips.

"You know it," Relon answers with a shrug.

"It enables them to see their past and future selves. Originally, it was meant to assist in defeating Ishmelga as a means of knowing what requirements would lead to humanity's salvation or its extermination when both were old enough."

"That… is not what I would have guessed," Relon shudders. "So even back then, I was fated to fight…" She couldn't help but wonder why he sounded so dissatisfied with that answer.

"Of course, some issues occurred when Relon was still an infant and that plan went out the window."

"What happened?"

"Things," Vita and Relon curtly answer.

"Aha, you two are definitely related," Rinwell awkwardly chuckles. Seems whatever happened neither wanted to bring it up. Hmm…

"So Relon, you can't use it then?" Van offers.

"Oh, unfortunately I can. No clue how I've done it though," he answers with clear annoyance. "Everytime I have, I've been mentally fatigued or close to it so that's my best bet right now."

"Really?" Vita wondered. "Do you recall how many times? And what of?"

About to answer, Relon catches himself to furrow, giving a quick glance around at everyone before ending on Shizuna.

"Three times. The first after fighting Uncle Victor where I recalled your voice. The second after fighting another Lucinance where I learned of Alister, Asuma, Shenhe and some other Lucinances only to skip to you know what," he continues, eyeing his mom. "After… I had a big fight, I saw my future self and he realized I was watching... somehow. Gave me a heads up on a few things."

Shizuna knew immediately as did likely everyone else that the last point was off. His hesitancy was a big giveaway. Then again, he seemed more bothered by just recalling it more than anything.

"In the span of 17 years, only happening three times… Is that good or bad?" Rinwell asks.

"It's relieving more than anything. It happening even once, regardless of how long, shows it works." Vita says. "To answer your question properly now, Van, what likely allowed me to do such is Relon's Perception of Time. It was tampered with elemental power tied in with magic. What effects it can do now, even I cannot fathom."

"Valkyrie!" Rinwell exclaims in realization.

"Grimoire…" He seethes in realization.

"It is not a completely bad thing. If it hadn't have happened, you would have had to try a lot harder in convincing me for my help. Of course, I'm now worried about the status of your ability. Specifically if it will work as it did before."

"Can't you just fix it?" Given she was apparently the most capable in one of the two arts, surely it wasn't that hard.

"Unfortunately no. Unlike my parallel self, I am much weaker. Not to mention I do not have elemental power like my son." Well that sucked.

"Could you just combine Relon's elemental powers with your magic to produce a rough version of the effect?"

"That is also probably impossible," Relon chimes in. "For a few reasons. One; our elemental power to magic ratio. If Mom needs to unleash a specific amount of magic in tandem to my flames, then I'd have to first understand how much is required. With how potent our powers are, if we mess up, then who knows what could happen. Two; I could have mom try to teach me so I could but I haven't been taught squat about magic so that could take forever. Not to mention I'm incompatible with casting arts. Three; my 'fire' isn't my natural own. The dragon, that's inside me who uses the same evil and corrupt power as Zero, is acting as a substitute for the entity that allows me to use my normal fire so that's another risk." To add emphasis, he raises a hand to coat it in black fire. Wait… again.

"Dragon?" Those were the words Shizuna was about to mutter out. Except, it wasn't her lips that the word escaped. "Relon, did you say dragon?"

"Yeah. Just found that out yesterday." Relon rolls his eyes. Yeah, he was annoyed. Though he had a right. Several really.

"In the end, it's just too risky," Van sighs, leaning back in his seat. "I guess we'll just have to stick to our original plan and wait until it's our turn."

"Yeah," Rinwell nods in agreement. "It's dark out now so we may as well get a head start on prep work tomorrow."

"Sounds good," Rinwell adds. "I could use more rest."

"Get some sleep everyone. Tomorrow will be here before you know it." Relon advises.

Getting a resounding affirmative, she could only notice Relon eye Munechika who would nod following after Rinwell and Hootle. One by one, everyone began to turn in leaving on her and the hybrid. Eyeing him clean up their dinner, for some reason she didn't get up. Eyes still on him, he likely didn't catch her notice of his careful gaze on the retreating Rinwell.

He sure did care for her greatly. They were family after all. Not to mention they came to her world together so getting her back was easily his top priority. Her not only being kidnapped but also injured must have taken its toll. For him to be somewhat positive, especially after what happened the last time they were here in Eryn.

Then there was Vita Clotilde, the Azure Abyss of Ouroborus; his mother. This one wasn't his actual mother but Relon's divine abilities if she had to admit did a lot. Now she apparently had vast memories from her other version to the point she's openly acting as though she's his real mom. And he hasn't seriously complained once…

"Just how do you do it, Relon?"

"Do what?" Stirred from her thoughts, she only then realized her thought was spoken aloud. So there she sat at the table facing a curious Relon.

"D-Did I say that out loud?" Why was she stuttering?!

Blinking, Relon's neutral visage shifts to a muffled snort before a chuckle escapes.

"W-What's so funny?!" She demands, hand on her tachi. "S-Stop laughing!"

"You, silly!" He laughs, not at all bothered by the sight. "Did you also do work as a doctor? Your stutters are therapeutic!" He jokes, wiping a tear from his eye.

Too flushed in red was she to attempt any further denial. Instead, she swallowed her pride and calmed herself as Relon too simmered down. Soon enough, even she couldn't help but let out a batch of chuckles that soon turned into laughter.

She hadn't known how long she'd been laughing or him but eventually they calmed down once again. Holding her aching stomach, she could only peer to find Relon covering his mouth in a childish attempt to ease his own fit. As if sensing her eyes, his vermilion met hers and out of their power, another batch of hysterics emerged.

All the while, Shizuna could think properly but not decipher the cause behind such silly actions. As a matter of fact, she couldn't recall the last time she exhibited such childish acts. She remembered as a child how happy she was being found by Master Yun Ka-Fai and traveling alongside him and Rean for a time. She recalled meeting Kurogane and joining Ikaruga. Meeting Van and his batch of friends; all were such wondrous times for a teenager like her. Life couldn't be any better. So then…

"Why?"

It was a shaky tone in her voice that slowly snapped Relon from his dying out laughter. Smile lessening, his eyes once again looked over herself to find the girl a trembling mess. Tears streaking down to the dirty floor as her face, agony and despair lifted to meet innocence.

"Why did everyone have to die?"

Shizuna Rem Misurugi is strong. She was trained by one of Erebonia's finest. A wielder of the Eight Leaves One Blade style taught by its founder. She is- was a member of one of the strongest organizations on the continent. She never lost when she put her all into something.

Even before it all, she had nothing. She struggled, nearly died countless times to ensure the next day would arrive, and survived. So how was it fair for someone like Zero to make all efforts of humanity, all of her efforts dwindle to mean nothing.

No joy, no happiness, no more positivity. Her childish nature vanished to be replaced with a numbing sense of survival. The same thing that she sported before being found by her master. A mentality she despised next to the rich refusing to help her.

She could only be strong for so long. She trusted only Kurogane and Van. One gone and the other dealing with his own loss and issues. She could only hold out so long before-

"Let it out."

Then it happened.

Drowned in an abyss of negativity that made everything around her invisible, he crossed the short distance and held her. Only to whisper three simple words. Words that were enough to make all sense return. For a moment, she instinctively began to push him away only to realize how weak she suddenly felt.

Memories loomed in her mind. Echoes belonging to visages of the past surrounded her. Friends, family; those she deemed close. One by one, they vanished until all were gone. Or at least, that's what she thought. Until a familiar heavy hand gently tapped her back.

"Smile, Princess. For you're not just your heart, but your genuine smile is your greatest strength. Do what you feel is right. Do not be shackled by the darkness we once surrounded ourselves in. Grow strong, enjoy life, settle down with whom your heart longs for. Live not for me or Ikaruga. But for yourself."

Kurogane's words were swift, yet instilled hope.

Ikaruga was her family, but not her only one.

Her fate was her own, Shizuna well capable of bending to whatever she desired.

Hope, bonds, fate. Such words spiraled her very being into an unfathomable descent of unity. Somehow, once separated beliefs buried under the rubble known as loss somehow reemerged retaking footholds in her life.

"To answer your question properly now, Van, what likely allowed me to do such is Relon's Perception of Time. It was tampered with elemental power tied in with magic. What effects it can do now, even I cannot fathom."

She only could nod as her body fully gave in to the emotional dam that had held itself for so long. Tenderly, like a child cradling a stuffed animal, she reciprocated his embrace.

To Relon, he was shocked. Not from Shizuna's own action, but from the armor clad man sans his helmet standing before them. He opened his mouth, ready to speak but Kurogane only had to raise a hand and shake his head.

He had spoken his piece. Saying anything now would only defile his will and wishes.

In particles, Kurogane's form vanished out of the home and into the night.

Whether belonging to a spec of dust or a human life; every life held a story, no matter how small or insignificant.

Fingers so small and tender, yet full of emotions clenched his jacket. Once again, he was drawn to her. He wouldn't let her bear the full extent of her emotional turmoil alone.

His embrace around her tightened as he brought a hand to comb her hair.

(Is it okay?) She questioned in a croak. (To let it all out?)

(Mhm. I'm here. I won't go anywhere.)

It was the only affirmation she needed. First came the inhalation of unsteady air. Next; the muffled wails.

Day 3

He hadn't known how he'd fallen asleep the way he did. Specifically in the precarious situations that he'd find himself in. At this point, Relon could only suppose that his innate training by his father was partially to blame. That and his wretched luck with females Luna bestowed him.

Who cared anymore. Outside of a measly cramp in his back he'd have to crack out later, there was someone else who was in more need of attention. Eyes shifting down, he found the pure white-haired swordswoman resting against his chest.

At some point in the night, they'd maneuvered to sit against the counter leaving the emotionally drained girl to cuddle against his form.

He'd have hell to pay eventually. He just knew it. When that would come, however, he didn't know.

"Mmm…" A barely audible sound exited her lips. Rustling in place for a moment, Relon internally keeping himself as unbothered as hybridly possible, Shizuna's eyes stirred open.

One blink, then two. Then recognition of who he was became awareness of their situation. Where Relon believed this to be the part where she would move away in embarrassment or for some other cause, she surprisingly did not.

Quite the opposite to his further shock; she nuzzled closer resting her head atop his chest.

"Just a little longer. Can we stay like this for a little longer?" To say he wasn't taken aback would be an understatement.

However, his own kind heart couldn't cause hers to disparage at the thought of him saying no. Her well-being was his top priority and he'd continue to tend to it. With a careful tug of her back closer to himself, she smiled her thanks as her eyes closed once more.

"Thanks. For last night."

"I just did what anyone else would do."

"Mm mm," she hummed a shake of her head. "No one has ever done that. Even when I needed consoling, no one would go out of their way to hold me. I know you had no control over Kurogane but…" She pauses to carefully pull back enough so that her blue eyes meets his red. "Thank you, Relon. For giving me back a life worth fighting for."

Of all things he noticed about Shizuna, how was it that he failed to see how wonderful of a smile she held?

Before long, Shizuna's strength returned. Reluctantly, her touch from him ceased as they sensed the others begin to stir. There was no awkward moment, only the tenderness of that infectious smile.

As soon as the others made themselves known, that radiant smile mesmerizing to the hybrid's eyes dimed ever so slightly only to reignite its light whenever their eyes crossed paths.

Before long with breakfast over and a quick sweep of the perimeter, all found themselves at Eryn's center. Each had a plan to enact before tomorrow would come. With little words to do, they all split into two.

Rinwell alongside Hootle and Munechika would conduct last minute art training. Even before another grand battle like in Celdic, Rinwell wanted to make sure she was prepared. If she could get down any form of supporting arts like healing, she was determined now was the time. Though she seemed interested in something else but wouldn't say what.

Shizuna and Van brought up training. Apparently, Van had been trying something out even before their groups clashed. Shizuna was eager more than ever to improve herself, nearly dragging the male off to the field. All any could hear was a pleading Van to be rescued. Of course, her waving smile did get a snide comment from Vita. Something Relon immediately ignored to her amusement.

With their four friends, five counting Hootle, that just left Relon and Vita.

"Shall we?"

"Lead the way."

Despite the trek outside of the village, Relon's mind couldn't help but finally yearn to see the Saint-Gral Labyrinth straight ahead of the intersection. Before long, his eyes began to rise and rise to see the top.

"This, my dear son, is where all witches come to prove themselves for when they wish to travel. In our case…"

"This will be to see where I stand. Not as an elemental but as a mage."

"Ah, you used the masculine term for male user of magic. For some reason, when any come across a witch, they always get confused or struggle to grasp the concept. Despite how simple it is. I could never discern why however…"

Holding back an awkward look, he shakes the amusing thought out.

"So how do we go about this?"

"Normally, you would descend one floor at a time defeating each floor's guardian as you go but we're limited on time. That and I want to make what little we have together as meaningful as possible."

"Mom…"

"Instead, you and I shall train together. I take it you find this acceptable, no?" He couldn't hide the smile if he wanted to.

"I'm in your care, mom."

With a few touches, a rumbling sounded before the door opened.

Following Vita inside, he immediately noted of the ancient look the structure held. As well as the endless entrances and exits.

"It's like a maze."

"Exactly. Care to lead the way to the end?"

"This is a test so that means I can use whatever I have at my disposal, right?"

"Indeed."

"In that case…" Placing his zemurian gloves on, both swords depart from their sheathes. Alright you two, you know what to do." With responsive nods, both swords zoom off.

"Using your connected vision to find the way while both scour the area. My son is so smart~."

Brushing the embarrassing compliment from his dotting mother aside, his world changes. Rushing through a set of specified doors and stairs, he finds Pappan staring at a large room.

"Bingo."

"I'll follow your lead, Relon."

"Understood."

To say the trek was easy would be a massive understatement. Both swords, to Relon's slight disappointment, have taken down nearly all the monsters while managing their way through the maze. Even Relon had to admit that he wanted to show off a little.

The few fights he did have, he easily took care of with his martial arts alone. No fire needed yet. Though he was just grateful that Zero's roots hadn't seemed to affect any of the monsters. Likely due to the Labyrinth's massive magical essence.

Coming to a large open door, something he hand to question how Pappan opened, they pressed on to find a large area with a guiding staircase. At its base, both swords hovered in waiting.

"It's empty. Or at least that what the monsters hiding would want one to think. They're likely lying in wait, aren't they?"

"Very astute. I'd expect no less from my son."

"You certainly have a lot of praise for me, huh?"

"Of course. From what I can recall of your world, both your experiences that my other self has seen as well as what said self has experienced herself, I know you are capable of a lot. As well as being more than an intelligent boy. I'm thankful to have you as a son."

He wanted to respond to that, but now wasn't the time. With an affirmative nod, both swords orbited close as he ascended the staircase. The moment his foot placed itself on the field, he launched forward sliding to the middle.

Where he once stood, a gargoyle now flapped its wings. Senses still active, he grabs Pappan to strike open a portal in time for a spew of corrosive water to spurt his way. From the source lied a kraken with multiple arms. Finally, grasping both blades, he slices a volley of webs from above. On the ceiling lied a half humanoid half spider.

"It seems all three of the other floor's keepers have migrated down here. Likely to get as far away from Zero's influence as possible." Vita notes aloud.

"The way I see it, they're stepping stones. If I can't beat them, then I can't hope to defeat Zero." Taking a ready stance, the dark power emanates from being as Pippin is coated in flames. "Now's the time to see just how far we can go! Pippin, Pappan, you too Helios, let's go!"

Evening

"It seems it'll all come down to luck and believing," a sigh escapes the spriggan as hel lays on the ground panting.

"I'm sure you'll be able to do it once again when it matters most." She meant it too. With the power Van was holding back on using, he could do a lot if his 'secret weapon' would just work.

"So, aside from my own struggles, the air around you feels… clearer. I'm relieved." Stiffening at the mention, her eyes level out into a deadpan.

"Mmmmm…"

"Hey, hey, I'm simply giving appreciation where appreciation is due. That's all. I'm not saying anything negative. I'm thankful more than anything." That piqued her interest. "Seeing you in such high spirits today during training. It was nice. Seems whatever you and Relon did last night must have done you a lot of good." The lascivious grin he gave told the metaphorical meaning and that in turn earned a smack of the hilt of her sheathed tachi. "OOOOOWWWW!"

"Hmpf!" With a pout she departed before stopping to stare at the male not truly hurt. "Thanks, Van," she smiles curtly before departing. "Don't die to the wolves lurking around," she adds with a wave.

"Wait, what?!"

Giggling at the boy's aloof antics, she couldn't help but breathe out a relieving sigh. It's been so long since she's felt so good after a workout. She couldn't recall the last time. She knew of times, but specifically the last? It escaped her.

Catching a light out of one of the buildings, it soon dies for a loud groan to escape. Sure enough, out came Rinwell yelling out her frustrations before heading back inside once more.

Just like Van, Rinwell was working on something that would matter most. Shizuna was sure she'd get it. When one needed power most, that's when it manifested. That much she new. Her bout against Relon was a prime example.

Speaking of…

One small trek into the Eerie Woods and she eventually found herself in front of the Labyrinth. Relon had originally mentioned coming here to train with Vita. Opening the door, she immediately walked through the light to stagger.

Ahead lied a flight of steps but what was ahead was the sight that made her nearly stumble to her knees. Pitch-black fire enveloped the large room she now found herself in. At its center, she clearly could make out Vita with a barrier of sorts protecting herself. On the other side lied a black sphere of flames that began to die out until all the flames in the room seeped towards the sphere. Steadily, the heat returned to normal until the sphere existed no more. With all the dark flames gone, Relon could be seen at a knee with both swords going to him.

"Good…" He panted out, carefully rising. "Seems like there are no problems on that end either. Everything okay with the others, Shizuna?"

Jumping at the sudden call, her eyes met the kind smile his own visage donned. She'd blame the residual heat being the cause for her flushed face but any attempt to correct herself as he approached only failed. Resorting to a few slaps, she finally feels herself calm down.

"Everything okay? I sensed you approaching the labyrinth."

"You sensed me? From this far underground?" She was actually at a loss for that.

"Well, correction, I felt your heartbeat. It's something I can do when I'm using my full power. I just have to be careful of archaisms. I lose the ability to sense them since they don't have a heart, haha."

"O-Oh. So what that was. Now I'm glad I didn't make you more mad." In hindsight, her actions as well as the others triggering him was pivotal in allowing them to be where they were. Despite… no!

No negative thoughts! Relon wouldn't want that!

"Um… you okay, Shizu?" It was unfair how easily he snapped her from her own thoughts.

"What did you call me?"

Furrowing as though confused, now it's Relon's turn to stiffen in realization.

"Awe, you have a cute nickname~." The voice of Vita coos approaching the two. "Better hurry, Shizu, the competition for my son is pretty tough~." She elbows. (He's been talking about you by the way.)

"MOM!"

Giggling, she snaps her fingers to vanish in a blue light leaving the blushing duo all alone.

No amount of words could describe the awkward atmosphere. It was nearly suffocating. All she had to do was say something or make a sound and yet her mind, muddled by the words of Relon's mom made any concept of thinking fail miserably.

"Ugh." A sound, not hers, broke the silence. "I'm not used to having a mom. Damn tease." Watching him grasp Pappan, he slices open a rift. Gesturing to her to follow, she dumbly nods as both step in.

Out into the Eerie Woods both step to see the waypoint device to the village only a short distance away. Seeing that, her eyes couldn't help but go back to the bland expression Relon wore contrasting with his tinted cheeks. Despite what Vita said, that did beg one question…

"Do you find me attractive?"

In hindsight, it was probably not fair to just outwardly ask out of the semi-blue but she wanted to know. Sure, Relon was a catch. Scruffy hair that probably was fun to mess with, various attitudes and expressions that attributed to his real self. After all, the guy had his own fair share of baggage too so who was she to complain? He was strong, beyond that. He beat Victor freaking Arseid! The Radiant Blademaster. With the assistance of Munechika at the end but still he held his own for a majority of that fight.

Then he was honest. An admirable trait anyone would respect and find a wonderful quality to have. Heck, he was so honest that his embarrassed side was a sight she had no problem seeing whenever he tripped up.

But… They just met. Did whatever was a good substitute for "love at first sight" actually exist?

That nagging acceptance at the back of her head was annoying her.

So maybe she was somewhat infatuated with him. What Vita said did put a nagging bug in her head. Specifically him talking about her as well as the "competition" she had. Not that she was planning on competing or anything. What happened last night was just her getting some things out and Relon being super sweet and caring- ah dang it, who was she kidding?

For as long as she's been alive, Shizuna had never experienced romance. Friendship yes through Ikaruga, Kurogane, and Van; yes. Though they were all family. No one else had really made her heart stir and out of nowhere comes Relon Lucinance.

The elemental and human hybrid who casually trekked across mountains for a full day hoping to find help. Got upset over how they treated their fallen comrades, got so mad that he unlocked a new powerboost to compensate for what he lacked. Proceeded to fend off three of Zero's lieutenants, again one being freaking Victor Arseid! Then saved her and Van and even worked together to escape the village. Then have a heart-to-heart as he showed them the sun, something they haven't seen in years. Not to mention they have a moment under the beautiful moonlight before engaging in more fighting or console her heart into the dead of night. Nonchalantly showing genuine kindness to make a once feeble dream she held nearly a reality.

Now she was freaking stuttering like some idiot whenever he came up as a topic. Her heart thumped, her face splashed random shades of red. Van's jokes before did little but when he commented on Relon, she got all defensive. She knew her body better than anyone and she had a good guess what this sensation was whenever she looked at Relon. To support her theory, she asked him a simple question. Even as she thought all this, awaiting his answer, she couldn't help but eagerly await his words.

"I… do," he answered reluctantly, one noticeable beat of her heart louder than normal beats sounded.. "Even when we first met the other day, I thought of you as a beautiful." Another beat followed by a goofy smile beginning to form.

"Oh?" She mused out in a cheeky grin lurking closer.

The nervousness he sported was adorable. She couldn't deny that. Teasing was definitely a weakness and with how she was feeling, an old part of her was resurfacing and he would be at her mercy if things continued.

"Y-Yeah?" He stepped back. Now he stuttered. Definitely cute. "W-Why do you ask?" He managed out, eyes darting between her sly grin and the waypoint.

"Isn't it rude to not keep eye contact when holding a conversation?" She wondered circling the hybrid. "I could have sworn that was the case. Such ill manners, I wonder what mother would do~."

That seemed to do the trick. His eyes bucked wide as though future scenes played out before his very eyes. Then the shiver came. And then another. Quivered lips occurred next and without realizing it, he reached for her hand dumbly taking it in his and led her towards the warp device.

All the while, she couldn't help but laugh as though it was last night all over again.

Nighttime

Despite the fine dinner, Relon's stomach and face ached. Not due to the food but rather to endless bombardment of teasing. Vita was one thing but pulling a repeated tag team with Shizuna regarding literally anything made it nearly impossible for him to eat without defending atrocious claims.

Van was hollering, Rinwell was laughing too hard to assist and Munechika, well she was in the same place as Rinwell. She tried to help but Vita shut her down with a romantical tease her way as well. Something about becoming his familiar before Vita shifted the topic back on Relon.

Here he was now, taking a quiet stroll along the perimeter of the village cooling off his still-flushed face.

Vita knew full well that he was in a relationship and she was already working angles to possibly get Shizuna as girl number two. Not at all aware that he was already dealing with girl numbers two and three in the form of Laura and Musse. Not romantically of course but the point was still there. The Deadly Trinity was a trinity for a reason. All three had their perks and uniqueness that made one stand over the other in a field.

Shizuna… was a combination of all three. Claire's intellect in combat and resourcefulness, Musse's teasing enabling even his sturdiest mental walls to crumble like salt, and Laura's skill and prowess with a blade.

No, he knew deep down it went further than that. Vita put that silly and unnecessary idea in his head. The same idea he and Nameless once joked over after their grand fight with Senate; him having multiple lovers.

He shrugged it off originally because it was just a joke. Nothing to delve on. Now, his mom revealed that the normalcy in the Beyond was to have multiple spouses. In doing so, alongside the teasing towards Shizuna that reflected onto his own mental being, ideas began to wander.

His "woman curse" Luna gave was real. Having a "harem" is real. He's had incredible luck with women. Getting with Claire, being as close as he is with Laura and Musse, even his bond with Alfin. Something he still refuses to further in the future for so many reasons.

To accept that idea would mean to accept he held feelings for other women aside from Claire. Musse was still too young to even go after romantically despite knowing what their future awaited. Too much time lied between then and now. For all he knew, he could mess up at some point and ruin their relationship and trust. As for Laura…

"Ugh, that still needs a lot of thinking on."

He meant it too. Her mom being a senate member, their recent moments before, during, and after Senate's whole warzone; it all left their relationship up in the air. Childhood friends they were, close enough that when he dozed off in a vehicle, she offered her should for him to rest on. Even her lap on rare occasion.

Laura grew up cared for but also tough. She never showed anyone her soft side outside of himself, Aurelia, Uncle Victor, and Klaus. The term "beauty" alone did her little justice. It did all of them little including Shizuna and even Munechika if he was being honest.

He tried to leave Class VII and she immediately threatened to leave and go after him knowing he'd never risk her own safety unless he was willing to discard her trust. Something he refused to do. Thus making their relationship questionable. The things she said and did the night he consoled her as well as the night drive with Claire really told hit him in the face at just how much she cared for the hybrid.

So much so that he wouldn't put it past the others to soon realize and try to get them together like Rean and Fie's situation. That reminded him… walking in on her in a towel caused him to promise a date. Well, hangout given he was in a relationship. Ugh, that was a mess already no matter how he looked at it. Then there was the outing with Musse in exchange for her help.

His older self said to enjoy his "dates" as they would be good but did his future self also experience going to a different Erebonia like himself? Or is his own path now diverged from his future self's?

In the end, if he wanted to try out this "harem route," then he'd have to get permission from Claire. He didn't even know if one; Claire would even accept sharing him given she's gotten to know Laura. Two; Laura would willingly share him and not fight for his affection or just give up out of respect. Three; both would willingly accept adding Musse. Something both realistically would likely be very wary of. Because it was Musse.

Then lied the origin of this new conundrum; Shizuna. Or her going by her new nickname he unconsciously assigned; Shizu. There was something between them. He wouldn't deny it nor could he. The biggest issue though would be if something did happen then what would occur after they beat Zero and save Rean and Erebonia?

Would she stay with him in her world? Would she give everything up and come with him to his? Could two Shizuna's exist in the same plane? Too many what-ifs and should he ask Vita, more drama may happen.

Tomorrow came hard and fast. No one wanted to leave any regrets behind…

"How goes the sentry work?" As if manifesting from his thoughts, there Shizuna appeared waltzing from the atelier.

"Well," he answered, feigning ignorance of that brilliant smile. If he got lost looking at it again, who knows what trouble she'd cause. He was on a tightrope. Before it was just Musse and he had the other end to escape to. Now, if things continued and the impossible really did happen, then he'd be trapped in the middle by both.

"By now, Shade and the others should have destroyed the reactor right?"

"Yeah. They did it, I can tell." Shade was capable of more than him. His tenacity was something no one, not even Zero could stop.

"Hmm…" She hums, walking past him.

"What's up?" Was she up to something or thinking about more personal stuff? If the later, he wanted to help. If the prior… then he wanted to be far away from this place.

"It's… peaceful, isn't it?"

Peaceful was an interesting question.

Giving a glance around, his eyes wandered to the once again clear, steady, stream that encircled the village. Magical particles seeped from outside into the air as the quiet chirps of whatever remaining buglife hummed what of their life they could.

"Yeah, it is."

"Is it like this back in your world?"

That perked his attention as they continued to circle the village. So much that he stopped, nearly faltering at maintaining a response as memories both good and bad spawned inside his subconscious.

"This peace… does exist in my world. At times its outside under the bright sunny sky. At other times, it hides within the confines of domains of strife and struggles." Stopping to stare, a dumbfounded look on her face, she soon gasps out a single chuckle. "Hey!"

"Don't 'hey' me," she laughed. "What kind of answer was that?" She snorted, rubbing a tear from her eye.

"You asked, I answered. Hmpf." He crossed his arms in mock offense.

"Awe, you're pouting now?" Her laughter only grew harder as he could feel heat rise.

He cursed that he could discern the difference between embarrassment and his powers. Uncle Victor's speech patterns still rubbed off on him and he wanted to curse it so much but wouldn't.

"We're done here," he blandly stated, departing while ignoring the girl's failed attempts at calling him back.

He had worked up beyond a simple sweat and everyone else had already had a turn in the hot springs but him. With his surveillance done with, he'd just let both swords relax up in the air while he got a soak.

"That darn, Shizuna. Even her laughter is infectious." He begrudgingly admitted it. Had he stayed back any longer, he'd be laughing at himself along with her. Her true self was something he wanted to see more of.

He paused as he wrapped his towel around his waist.

The real Shizuna was something he wanted to protect. The same could be said for anyone else. Rinwell, Munechika, so on and so forth. No one should have to hide who they truly are because of ill circumstances.

With no hesitation, he sinks into the water. A sizzling sound emitting for only a brief moment as his own body's heat matches the temperature.

Shizuna forgot who she was, and how to be her goofy fun-loving self. From their first clash to last night, he's seen cracks and only helped make those dents bigger and bigger.

Sure, he was relieved to finally bear witness to who she really was. However, once again Vita's own words and his inner relationship confusion resurfaced all because of her.

Claire was the first, Laura would undoubtedly be the second if things continued as they did. Eventually Musse knowing her would somehow become another. Claire was a major, an Ironblood, and the renowned Icy Maiden. Her skills with a gun were second to none. Laura's evolving skills with her blade and the Arseid crafts made any she fought against have to be cautious unless they risk losing the battle or worse.

Musse's intellect was her greatest tool. Not to mention who she really was, then her status would play a vital role in the political field. Then there was Shizuna. The young woman making his heart subtly swoon at just her smile alone. Fast, clearly faster than any of the other girls. She was a practitioner in the Eight Leaves One Blade just like Rean. She could even go beyond her limiters with her own version of Spirit Unification.

In a what-if scenario where all five were together, he could see it. Laura and Shizuna would take the front. He with his maneuverability would take the center with Claire and Musse behind them. Claire with her ranged weaponry and arts and Musse's intellect to communicate possibilities even he or Claire could not foresee.

In a battle against an opponent, they could inter-link with one another on the fly because of their "possible unique bond" should the harem route become a true possibility.

He sighed gazing at the sky above.

"In the end, I can't ignore the tempting idea, huh?" A chortle escaped him. "Choosing Shizuna as a lover would go without saying."

Perhaps it was preordained by fate. Maybe even Luna had a hand in cause what came next to occur. Neither blade foretold of any warning. No inkling as to a sudden appearance.

He'd slipped up. Simple as that.

Relon allowed himself to bask in the ambience the hot springs provided while letting his mind wander. At his most open, he spoke a near-impossible idea aloud. All while never noticing that very person having entered the springs herself.

Having halted mid-step, there lied Shizuna.

Donned in only a towel, the divine act of likely Luna made a single beam of moonlight fall upon her brilliant form. A breeze came and her hair swayed with it. Such elegance at the photo-worthy image left the hybrid baffled at how he hadn't noticed such awe before.

The heat from the water could not repress the chilling sensation that slithered along his spine. His words were clearly heard. There was no denying that. His face was growing red and no thought could form outside of admiring her sheer beauty.

Soon, the light from the heavens covered. It didn't matter. It did its job effortlessly.

She blinked. Then she moved. What caused his widened eyes to remain was the direction. Towards him she approached, more and more of her thighs becoming visible for Relon to finally snap away with closed eyes and a frantic heart.

Like an airhorn, the sound of a single foot carefully dipping into the water could not be covered. So much so it sent his body into overdrive and not the Lucinance kind.

Hearing a breath of relief exit her lifts, he knew there was no escaping his fate. Peering a single eye at her relaxed form, he notices her own blush visible. Exhaling another breath, his eyes immediately captured the careful rise and descent of her chest. The simple fact his eyes went there made him mentally reprimand himself.

"Sorry."

It was a singular word. One that brought his train-like mind to a grinding halt.

"Huh?"

"I came at a pretty bad time. Yet, instead of leaving like I should have, I just slinked into the water. Seriously, what am I even doing?" She wondered, leaning her head back.

"Shizu?"

"I don't know what I'm doing, Relon. So many things are going on in my head that weren't there before. Now, I don't want to let the time I have left go to waste."

"Time?" She hummed out another sigh in acknowledgement .

"With you silly," she mumbles. Looking over, he saw only a batch of white as her head dipped to lay atop his shoulder.

"Shizuna?" He was stunned more than anything. Dumbfounded on such a level by the act alone.

"Once we beat Zero, you'll be going back to your world." Oh. So she was also thinking that far ahead too. "Then we'll never see each other again." That… didn't sound good. Not one bit. "Saying goodbye right when we finally got to really know each other kinda sucks, huh?"

There it was. Something he hoped he wouldn't see from her again.

"Before that, we have to get through tomorrow," he began. "Rean, Laura, Uncle Victor, Class VII, Arios; so many obstacles stand between us and the reactors. So many enemies, friends, who we have to fight if we want to free them. It's a terrifying reality to have to fight against those dear whom wish to inflict pain." He grabs his chest. "Between fighting and saying goodbye, I don't know which is more painful.

"Yeah…" She murmured in agreement, eyes dipping to the moonlit water.

"But I know one thing." That regained her attention to see that clenched hand open. "In order to face the pain of saying goodbye to each other, we first need to face the pain of fighting against our friends. My heart is a wildfire right now. I'm feeling so many things that I can't make a definitive choice on anything. All I can do is act. If someone is in pain, I'm not going to sit around when I can do something."

"Why?" Spurred from his monologue, he glances to her now sitting upright. "Why are you like this?"

"Because I was once an orphan." That made her eyes widen. "Left alone in a burning forest with only Pippin. As a child, I gained powers. Powers that made me scared. Terrified, I seeked answers and eventually came to an understanding of who I was and what I wanted to be. All the while, that thought in the back of my head remained as I got older. 'How many could I have helped had I just believed in myself?' I saved people, helped the less fortunate but between the time I feared my own self and when I had that life-changing epiphany, how many more could have been saved?"

"Relon… You're certainly confident, haha…"

Now, he was the one to sit properly facing her.

"Far from it actually," he began, reaching out to take her hand. "Rean was the first friend I ever made. Destiny has warped our lives around both Aidios and Ishmelga, the Goddess and the Devil. Laura is my childhood friend and fellow practitioner of the Arseid Style. She's basically a nagging wife with how close we are but I couldn't choose a better person to have my back. Musse Egret, the number one mischievous person in all of Erebonia. I always failed at keeping up my guard and she'd take full advantage every time. Even though she's only 14, she's already done more for me than a lot of people. Finally, there's Claire Rieveldt; the Icy Maiden. Simply put, my lover. The one who willingly had an argument with me in front of the royal family in their throne room. God, I pissed her off badly. Then again, allowing a lot of people in Heimdallr to let me be a literal punching bag did warrant a temper," he chuckled.

Relon was aware of the stiffness Shizuna sported when he began to list each girl off, he noticed the subtle bite of her inner lower lips as she attempted to keep a straight face. Even her hand flinched ever so slightly.

"If I want to look back on each day in satisfaction, with those important happy, then I can keep my head held high. So it's not that I'm confident. It's that as long as I'm alive, I don't want to live with anymore regrets."

"Regrets?"

"Yeah. Shizuna, you're important to me now. Somehow within the span of less than three days, you've made me conscious of a lot. I've seen your low points and now, in this very moment I'm realizing that smile, your entire being, is one of the greatest things I've come to ever know and I don't want to lose you now. Whether we win or lose tomorrow," he pauses to lift it so that their hands mirror the other. "I don't want to regret anything. But more than that, I don't want you to make any regrets either!"

It took a moment but his words finally processed in her conscience. Then she spoke.

"But what of Laura? Claire?! We just met! You have to go back to your own world! You don't-" She forced herself to look away only to realize the grip his hand held hers in. By that alone, she returned to meet the honest expression he harbored. "You don't belong in this world." She thought she wouldn't feel any amount of pain like losing those close so for this to be a near equivalent, she didn't know how to feel.

"I don't plan to go behind Claire's back." Finally, he releases her hand as he rests against the edge once more basking in the night sky. "In the Beyond where Aidios lies, families there have concubines or what they call 'harems.' When Claire and Laura first met the other, I was worried. Both cared for me a great deal but thankfully, they recognized that and now get along a little too well. Though they both are wary of Musse when she's not acting mature."

"Relon, stil-"

"I'm telling you this Shizuna because I know they'll accept you. Given I'm directly related to Aidios, I'm sure we can do some sort of space-time manipulation to find a way back here so that we all can- Oof!" He could only wince at the pain his back would shortly sport from being pushed against the water's edge.

"You doofus! You adorable, stupid, kind, dumb, cute, dumb, handsome, doofus, honest argh, EVERYTHING!"

"Ouch! You said dumb twice by the way!"

"NOT THE FREAKING POINT!" She shouts, shoving him into the water.

"Hey! What the heck is your deal?!" He twitches wiping his now drenched face.

"What's my deal?! You're one to talk! You're going this far for someone you just met!"

"It's your fault and Mom's that I am!"

"EXCUSE ME?!"

"I DIDN'T STUTTER! HER BEING A TEASE, THEN YOU! SHE PUTS THE IDEA IN MY HEAD AND THEN YOU GO ON AND BECOME SOMEHOW MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN WHEN WE MET, HOW COULD I NOT START THINKING STUFF LIKE THIS!"

"NUH-UH! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO RESPECT MY FAMILY WHEN I FAILED TO AND HAD THE NERVE TO SAVE ME AND GET MY HOPES HIGHER THAN WHEREVER THE BEYOND IS!"

"AT LEAST I'M NOT SOME ADULT CHILD THAT CAN JUST GET AWAY WITH SAYING OR DOING WHATEVER WHILE LOOKING GOOD DOING IT!"

"COMING FROM THE BADASS THAT CAN BEND FIRE, HAS TWO FREAKING SENTIENT SWORDS THAT JUST ARE A THING, NOT TO MENTION HAS A MOM AS AMAZING AS THE AZURE ABYSS LIKE HELLOOOOO?! OH WAIT, YOU'RE ALSO A DESCENDANT FROM AIDIOS HERSELF?!"

Even as they went back and forth, neither realized how they inched closer with every rebuttal.

"AND?! SO WHAT?! YOU'RE… You're…" Then he faltered. "I'm not… that amazing. It's all just background stuff. Hereditary. Yeah, all that." He looked away bashfully.

All the steam, that blazing fire so full of passion mere moments ago finally flickered. He tried to come up with something, but what could top such a fact that he hasn't already used?

"Looks like I win," came the tender voice of Shizuna. By the time he turned back to retort with the first thing that popped inside, she had already leaned forward.

Truly, she was a second Musse. Just like with the mint-haired troublemaker, his body went stiff, unable to respond. His mind, so active seconds prior now ceased. All his open eyes could process was her own closed. Her ample chest against his own as close as humanly possible. Any tension from their topic had fallen out the window. All he could do was process one thing; how tender her lips felt.

No reciprocation ever came. Even as she gingerly broke it off and simply held him, no thoughts, no underlying words from his subconscious, could maniest.

(I'm sorry for being selfish but I like you, Relon. A lot.) Her voice whispered, reminiscent of last night. (Only days have passed and you've made me see you in a new light brighter than the last, it's crazy.) Her hands locked around his back tightened ever so more. (I'm not Claire. I'm sure she's a better kisser but…) She lifted to reveal teary eyes and that mesmerizing smile. (I hope my first kiss was a good one.)

Day 2

Today was the day.

They'd received word from Loewe that everything had indeed gone well with Shade's group and the Resistance was prepared to commence Relon's plan. Thus, the group had finished their preparations.

Looking back at Eryn once more, Relon's fist tightened.

"We'll be back," the confident voice of Rinwell nudged his side.

"Yeah. Ready for the second fight of your life?" He grinned.

"Second?" She cocked a raised brow.

"Touché, Cuz." He quipped, both placing a hand on the teleporter to vanish.

In a light, they found themselves once again in the Eerie Woods. At the intersection lied their team.

Vita Clotilde, an alternate version to the one who birthed him yet still arguably the strongest witch there is. Van Arkride, the bro of bros upon Relon coming here (outside of Shade) and the fellow voice of reason and action when all mayhem broke out. Shizuna Rem Mitsurugi, so many things he could say but determined and skillful in the Eight Leaves was definitely one of her greatest accolades. Munechika, the familiar that single-handedly saved and helped both young ones countless times.

Then he looked to Rinwell. She was a lot of things. His cousin. His fellow victim that ended up in this world. His now dear and irreplaceable companion. Even separated, they both grew despite how short that separation lasted. From their battle against Senate to now, she's grown. Not just skill, but maturity as well. Even Hootle had grown, now capable of being a conduit to casting arts.

"Will that wound slow you down?"

"I barely feel it," she retorted, slapping the area as proof. "Would you stop me if I said otherwise?" Now he was the one to smirk ruffling her hair.

"Obviously," he snorted for a giggle to elicit from the girl.

"Seeing those two interact, it brings great joy to my heart," Vita smiled. "I was separated from Relon when he was still an infant but somehow through Aidios, he managed just fine. I couldn't be more thankful."

"Yes you can," Van punches his palm. "Be thankful for all of us when this nightmare ends because we'll be the ones to knock that Zero off his high horse."

"True that, Van." Relon grins approaching. "If there's anything anyone needs to say or do, now's the time." A quick look around said all that needed to be said. "Alrighty then. Remember the plan. First Rinwell destroys the reactor, our group waits for most of Zero's troops to depart, and that's when we strike."

"Class VII, Sissy, Laura's dad and other heavy hitters will be waiting for us. Even if we succeed on our end, that doesn't mean the fighting will stop."

"Rinwell is right. Anything can go wrong. Be ready to act at a moment's notice everyone." Van adds.

"As long as we can cover our heavy hitters, the battle will have no need to be a long one." Shizuna advises.

"Realistically, should this plan work, then both reactors will be destroyed within a 30 minute margin. Of course, that also means that before, during, and after, anything can go wrong. Keep this in mind everyone." Vita warns.

All eyes going to Munechika who blinks, Relon and Rinwell grins.

"Don't think you'd get out of this just because you're quiet, Munechika."

"Yeah! Say your bit at least silly."

"Hoot hoot!"

Blushing both in embarrassment and appreciation, she nods snapping her fingers.

[Group A will consist of myself, Rinwell, and Van while Group B shall contain Relon, Shizuna, and Vita. Vita and I shall act as crowd control against both Zero's Army as well as teleporting any allies that get in harm's way. Should the plan be forced to alter to Plan B, then both Van and Shizuna are responsible for assisting Relon and Rinwell in eliminating all opposition until they are capable of delivering their devastating attacks.]

"Got it," Van nods.

"Understood," Shizuna acknowledges.

"If we do this right, Zero's strength will be reduced to nearly nothing," Relon takes over. "Once his strength is dwindled, that doesn't mean he'll be easier to take down. Be careful of whatever injuries you receive. Two days are left and we'll need everyone here capable of ending this nightmare once and for all. Rinwell, Hootle, Munechika, Shizuna, Van, Vita; let's do it!"

"RIGHT!"

Stepping apart, both sides look to the other.

"Let's see who can make a bigger blast, Rinwell!"

"You're on, Cuz! Just watch, Hootle and I will make one one the entire continent see!"

"Tread with caution, Munechika. Should anything dire occur, reach out and we'll adjust things on our end." Vita advises.

[I shall. Please take care of Relon.]

"Of course. He's my son after all~."

"See you on the other side," Shizuna bids.

"Try not to get too distracted by your future boyfriend," he grinned for her eyes to buck wide.

Before she could move, much less react, both mages snapped their fingers.

Group A

"Ahhh, man, the look on her face is so worth the pain that'll come later." Van grins looking over the city of Saint-Arkh.

Once known as the most ancient city in Erebonia, now any sign of its ancient past laid covered in metallic walls with numerous factories and mechanized buildings.

"Sir!" Looking over to a resistance member approach, Van meets him. "Here is the blueprints on where we believe the reactor is!"

"Thanks. Is everyone ready?"

"Yes, sir! We've been briefed on the plan and await the mission's commencement."

"Good. The moment it striked noon, we go. Be ready."

"Yes, sir!" He salutes before rushing back out of sight.

"I have to admit, using Isthmia Great Forest as cover was genius on Relon's part," Van notes giving a glance to Rinwell still channeling magic with Munechika watching over her.

Giving a glance at the blueprint, he clicked his tongue. As Relon had also predicted in their planning back in Eryn, Zero had moved the reactor underground.

Bastard certainly worked fast to protect himself.

"Seems the reactor is underground now. With how much power it contains, they couldn't have moved it that deep. You got that, Rinwell?" At that, all he received was a nod as her tome's glow went up one shade.

A part of him now questioned if that light joke about comparing blasts were honest or not. A shudder came at the thought. Maybe it was better to not think about it.

"Munechika, any sign of that other witch?" He asked, eyes glancing down to note of a single nail in the ground. A shake came.

"Hmm…" He glanced up to the dark sky. "If not on the ground, then either she's not here or she's outside of your sensing radar. After what Rinwell described that girl do, he wished to never have to deal with her. Like seriously, lighting dragons? Pfft, screw that.

Another glance came next onto the paper.

Soldats, tanks, people, and probably those warped creatures were waiting. Not to mention the more important personnel as well as plenty of those annoying roots. Knowing an enemy close to Zero can just absorb the root's powers would simply make things more interesting.

"Ugh, too much to worry about."

He understood that the first part of the plan was to get as many out so that they'd switch sides but he worried just what all would come out now.

Glancing at an artifact dear to him, he grips it.

Agnès, Elaine, everyone, give me strength.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

All focus shot upward. Upon making eye contact with Munechika, he nodded.

"Time to go!" He shouted, kicking off ahead of the seemingly endless horde of the Resistance. "CHAAAARGE!" Behind, the rumbling of countless soldiers roared in unison.

Munechika, Rinwell, we're counting on you!

The plan on paper was simple; get as close as possible and then Muenchika would warp everyone away. The difficulty came in getting closer.

Immediately, the sound of whirling metal sounded far ahead.

"HERE COMES THE TURRENTS!"

"ART CASTERS!"

Weaving around, meddlesome roots while slashing them out of the ground, he could only watch as the large guns began to whirl only for arts to strike causing several explosions.

He had to hand it to the Resistance, they did their damn research.

"KEEP PUSHING!" He ordered.

"WATCH OUT!" A soldier announced.

Head snapping up, he saw several arts vault over the steel walls.

"CRESCENT MIRROR PLATOONS!" He shouted, a chain of the same order going backwards for shields to manifest all around the army merging into a giant barrier.

Grimacing as the attacks neared, relief washed over as each attack was repelled. It wouldn't last for long so they needed to make every inch count!

"DON'T STOP MOVING FORWARD! EVERY SECOND COUNTS!"

"THE GATES ARE OPENING!"

Hearing that made his body stiffen. He couldn't stop running however. He wouldn't. They were just over halfway and this when they had tp prove not to themselves but to Zero's Army that they were going all in!

As he anticipated, Panzer Soldats emerged alongside Tanks.

PANZER SOLDATS AND TANKS INCOMING! WE NEED EARTH ARTS NOW!"

Out his peripheral, he saw numerous brown glyphs go off one after another. Ahead, lances of earth spires emerged toppling tanks and slowing the soldats' movements. At the same time, walls of earth littered their small army as gunfire exchanged.

Arts rained from above only to be stopped by the giant crescent mirror while bullets phased through it. Stopping the tanks were easy with well timed and aimed arts but the Soldats were another story. Peering around his cover, Van could only click his teeth in annoyance.

They were nearly at the gate and none of the lietenants had emerged yet?! They still had no info to go on regarding who was in command of this facility either.

"WHAT'S THAT?!"

Huh?

Sure enough, where the destroyed turrets lied, white lights manifested before what looked like transparent bricks rose like towers. At once, the previous bombardment of arts ceased.

"An art?!" He questioned. "No… CRESCENT SHIELDS TO FULL POWER NOW!"

It was the only thing he could do as he too casted his own. All he and the Resistance could do was watch as the towers unleashed a coordinated beam above the small army before a black light descended.

The force of the attack made everyone drop. When he looked up, all he saw was the field's glass shatter into nothing and a large batch of smoke within the army's formation.

"D-Damn it," he grimaced, stumbling to his feet. "REPORT!"

"25% OF OUR TROOPS HAVE FALLEN WITH THAT BLAST, SIR!" Head still reeling, he bangs it against the earth wall. "HOLD THE LINE, WE'RE NEARLY THERE!"

"SECOND SALVO OF ENEMY ARTS INCOMING!"

No…

The rainbow colors of death loomed closer and closer. Either they'd die to the bullets or the arts. Either way, they couldn't hold out!

Just then, a small white figure could be made out rushing straight for him. Ears and tail visible through the army, his grimace turned into a renewed grin of confidence.

"If Zero's Army proves to be too much, then Munechika will go to the front lines and you both will repel the enemy forces." Relon's voice resurfaced.

Pivoting around the earth wall to burst off under the gunfire, Munechika raises a glowing hand. With an orbiting gesture, a wave of white light encompasses Van followed by herself.

Vanishing into the air, one hand raised, a white orb manifested with a black embryo at its epicenter.

Hexen Art: White Hole!

With a heavy throw, it slowly soared absorbing all bullets and arts like a magnet.

With a hard press off the ground, Van zoomed just off the ground past the soldats. He was aware that the doors wouldn't remain open for his troops. Zero didn't care about them like that.

Against the turbulence, he reached into his pocket revealing a single black zemurian glove.

"Here." The voice of Relon emerged once more.

"Why are you giving me this?"

"Shizuna mentioned you being good martial artist. Figured you'd need it should the plan alter. Just make sure you give that back, 'kay?"

Ah, that guy certainly took a lot of good precautions!

"HEAVENLY BUSTER!" Blue energy radiating against the door, a second surge comes as he crashes. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" From the door, black marking etched on it inched forward only to be repelled by the bright blue and white light. With a final push, a blast of light ripped through the fighting.

All Van could feel was his body ragdoll as he met the hard ground. Looking up to his work, he finally understood how strong Relon hinted at Munechika being.

That small white orb she launched now rivaled the size of the gate's door acting as some sort of vacuum for anything too light in size to resist its gravitational pull. The more it sucked, the bigger it got. The bigger it got, the greater its potency.

Her attack was literally walking through all of Zero's structures absorbing their dark power and making his darkness her light. The fact that his soldiers were throwing more fuel didn't make things any easier for them either.

After he opened the gates, likely with hints of Zero to repel whatever magic or similar powers any could use, Munechika's attack was free to launch and she didn't hesitate. Like acid, it just moved through everything! Then it simply vanished.

"Huh? Munechika?" He asked to receive a shake.

If she didn't cancel it, then that means someone strong enough to stop it did. As worrying as that thought was, they had done it. His hand ached and he was scared to see if he even damaged Relon's prized glove but they'd broken through the barrier.

Still, this breather was well appreciated. One look at Munechika told him she could continue too. He had no clue how much mana that spell costed but now wasn't the time to worry.

"I must commend you all. I did not expect the Resistance to put up such a show." Her voice was elegant. That was not what put fear in Van.

She, a woman donned in armor holding large lance stood back-to-back with himself. What make his body tremble was how neither had noticed just how long she had been there, much less fail to realize her appearance.

"Tell me, did you all come up with this idea?"

He needed to act. He needed to do something.

Speak Van! Damn it, SPEAK!

"C-Curious?" He forced out for the still silence to become unbearable.

"No." Her attack was instant. One moment her lance was down at her side and the next Van only saw black.

He had ragdolled once due to his own power but the unfathomable strength the Steel Maiden exhibited, how little of it specifically, in sending Van far off into the forest had her hair stand on end.

Not even phased by the act committed, her head simply turned to Munechika.

"Will our duel be as swift? Or shall you appease my thirst for battle?"

She didn't need to know that there were strong enemies still inside. Though all paled in comparison to the woman before her. It went without saying that this woman, this walking superhuman with seemingly limitless battle prowess was Saint-Arkh's guardian.

Her claws flexed at the thought. For the leader to appear before their subordinates, that didn't seem right. Even under Zero's control- Wait. Could it be that her soul was fighting it off somehow? Ears catching the sound of pulled string, she vanishes away to the front of the Resistance Army.

Eyes noting of a lone archer and another with an axe in armor approach the iron-clad woman, both ready themselves.

"Allow us to vanquish these evildoers, Master."

"Surely, the two of us will be enough to prevent any more interruptions in the way of Lord Zero's plan~." The archer adds.

For a moment, Munechika wondered if the lance wielder would deny their request.

"Very well." Munechika grimaced at that answer. "However, we shall combat these foes together." And her struggles just went up by a lot.

Until the other members in that fort were out, she couldn't risk teleporting the army back. Even if she did, that would alert the enemy. If nothing else worked, then she'd make the fight a lot simpler.

Eye meeting the two and the helmet-wearer, she smirked. By the time she snapped, the lance was centimeters from her being. One moment they were there, the next they were gone.

Thank Rosaria and Aidios for magic. Simple teleportation went a long way that was for sure.

Ears flickering at attention, she vanishes out of the way of another flaming arrow embed itself in an earth wall.

"REINFORCEMENTS?!"

One look and a quick head count told all that Munechika needed.

Finally. After what seemed like a long time, they emerged. Class VII…

Sara, their instructor, stood at the helm. Behind her Munechika noted of Elliot, Machias, Jusis, Gaius, Fie, Alisa, and Emma. Behind them, the remainder of Zero's Army.

She couldn't sense anymore major sources meaning now was the time!

A quick manifestation of light appears in her hand before tossing it high to vanish as Sara opens fire.

"Kill them!" She ordered. "Kill as many as you can until Arianrhod and the others return!"

"YES, MA'AM!"

Reappearing, she sidesteps a swipe of Gaius' spear to vanish from the line of Machias' shotgun. In the air, her eyes catch Alisa and Elliot fire arrows and blades of ice. Maneuvering her body to land, she immediately shifts to her cat form dodging an attempted decapitation from Jusis before flickering out of existence once more.

Appearing once more, her eyes widen as a clicking sound emanates from below.

Boom!

Landing on a rock wall, she breathes out as she watches Class VII regroup. Relon warned of their coordination but seeing just a sliver of it, she knew that the same trick wouldn't work on them. Especially with Emma in the back protected by Sara.

Every second she wasted fighting, that monster of a human drew near.

How much longer, Rinwell?

As if answering her call, a sudden weight of mana emerged out of thin air high above. Its mass and density made her white void pale in comparison.

She couldn't help but crack a smile. However, why didn't Class VII look worried? That's when it hit her. They weren't worried in the slightest because they had something to stop such an attack!

Sure enough, white steam emitted over the reactor's walls and hole. Hidden amidst the facility, beams of orange spiraled into one piercing through the giant orb. The particles dispersing could not hide the behemoth that the beams originated from. Steadily, it rose. Its hulking size alone made more worries than were needed but well warranted. The fact it held likely a special metallic coat given its new-like sheen didn't help matters. Slowly, it approached. The guestimated size Munechika original thought was soon doubled over as with its landing, a small magnitude erupted.

"An Aion Type-A II?!" A grunt exclaimed.

How they knew she had no time to question. Rinwell's art had failed and all of the remaining facility's occupation must have been out by now. Meaning…

The Resistance's use is no longer needed!

Slamming her hands to the ground as its shoulder guns poise at the numerous people, pulses of white emerge across the ground with glyphs forming under each member's feet. With a bright flash, all vanished as two blasts erupted simultaneously.

"Did those mongrels retreat?" Jusis wonders as he along with the rest scan the area.

"Why wouldn't they?" Machias cocks a smirk along with his shotgun. "We pulled out our secret weapon and they turn tail."

"Shut it Regnitz. Or else I'll kill you."

"What was that?!" The spectacled male growls. "Want to say that again as my barrel is aimed at you?"

"Stay alert!" Sara announces, all readying themselves as amongst the flames, Munechika reappears, releasing a calm breath. "So she saved the Resistance. Hmpf, how annoying."

"Once we take her out, the Resistance's means for travel will be hindered greatly." Gaius notes.

"So let's make this quick," Alisa voices poising an arrow at the ready.

Wasting no time, a ball of light manifests in Munechika's hand. Lobbing it at the machine, it splashes into nothingness.

An immunity to magic? They came prepared against Rinwell and myself.

"We have to thank Lady Arianrhod and Tio for utilizing such a treat as this," Sara smirks. "Knowing two witches were with the Resistance surely made us have to rework our original plans. Emma, have you located the caster of that art yet?"

"I'm still analyzing the terrain. They've hidden themselves well but they cannot hide forever."

Oh course that Tio girl notified Zero's Army. Really wish she could have just clawed that girl's eyes out now. Alas, what's done is done. Emma shouldn't be able to find Rinwell easily with the spell I placed on her but dealing with that machine will prove tiresome. Physical attacks seem like the way to go so…

Blurring across the field, avoiding a bombardment of bullets, arrows, and arts, she jumps avoiding another orange beam. Magic pulsing around her fist, she strikes the machine for a black barrier to repel her. Hurtling away like a bullet, she grimaces, skidding to a halt.

"That won't work. A valiant effort." Jusis notes.

Slowly leaning forward, she readies herself for it to vanish to her shock. Instincts flaring, she turns around instinctive forming a barrier for it to shatter as she's sent like a bullet tumbling once more.

Magical resistance and nullification barriers, destructive long-range bombardments, and now space-time manipulation too?! By the time she recovered, it had vanished once more. Where-

All she could do was look up as orange lights filled her vision. She had no time to charge a simple spell. It could sense where she could teleport and more.

I have to vanish at the last second then! It was her only chance to stall until Rinwell and Van could do something. Anything!

"Jeez, wake up Mr. Van. Are you just going to laze around all day again?"

"Knowing him, that's exactly what he'll do Agnès."

"See? Elaine gets it. Why go out searching for info when the info can come to us? And what have I said about calling me Mister?"

"Van, that kind of thinking can only get you so far. Sometimes, I just wish-"

Then it happened. The screaming.

In an instant, the three were up and out the door.

"THE PURGE IS HAPPENING!"

"RUN!"

The vile presence felt around every corner, the eerie roots appearing from the ground, none of it made any sense. One by one, his sight on both became lost in the frantic crowd. No matter how hard he fought to reach out, he couldn't. Then the Earth opened itself up. Like a maw, he stood at the end in horror as they fell.

He was distraught. He struggled to fend off the creatures and warped minds of the civilians. His friends, stricken with grief like him, fought but all succumbed to ill fates.

With nowhere left to go, no home to return to, he fled with Shizuna. He was helpless to do anything. That day, had he chosen to do something else, maybe their chances would have been better.

"Had I… just moved…"

Once more, he laid immobile while everything went on around him. Munechika and Rinwell, the Resistance, were fighting and after just one act, he was done.

"Had I been just a little faster…!"

"Oh boy. You sure are in a sorry mess. Again."

As the world grew dark, a familiar blue light emanated. Then a figure he hasn't seen in so long appeared. A short, small, and pointy-eared hologram girl smiles.

"M-Mare…?" He could feel himself begin to dip in and out.

"Been a while, Van."

"W-Why…? Her artifact…"

"You lost your way and thus the requirements to activate," She cuts off. "Now, I've asked you before and I'll ask you again. Will you bear the nightmare or not?"

Through the murky depths of of consciousness, that question held a sense of clarity.

After failing to save those he cherished…

After losing his way, just as Shizuna had…

After living in this existent nightmare…

"I'd be damned if I'd endure this pain any longer! I'll bear it!"

As his cognitive abilities returned, he noticed the serene smile Mare gifted him.

"Good." It was all she said as her hand extended to him. "Shards swell! The Grendel is yours! Unleash the power!"

An exoskeleton manifested and then it became a part of himself. Downed against a broken tree, he found himself now hunched over.

The Darkness-Clad Armored Demon. Name; Grendel.

From weakness to strength, all he saw was blue.

One step and he was gone. Gone to fight for a better tomorrow.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

All Munechika could see was a blue demon strike the Aion. The force behind it forced the aimed beams to miss just enough as they trailed across the field and into the forest.

"What is that?!"

"GROOOOOOAAAAAHHHH!"

A series of punches and kicks descended on the machine. Just as they neared the ground, it vanished. With a flip, the creature flipped to the ground to snap up looking frantically.

Munechika knew immediately the moment they made eye contact. That signature, although different, belonged to Van. A subtle nod by said being was all the confirmation she needed. Somehow, he had unleashed a boost of power and now was their chance! They'd repel both sides for Rinwell to unleash another attack!

"Meddlesome nuisances!" Sara growled, coating herself in lightning to take off.

Like a track athlete, the speed Van exhibited surpassed the Purple Lightning. Evading her strike and barreling through the others' arts with a protective shield by Munechika, he jumped facing the Aion once more.

He reeled back a fist as did the machine. Cyan energy glowed to life as both clashed.

"You've caused enough!" Sara scowled meeting Munechika.

"You're life ends here!" Jusis added.

Exhaling a readied breath, she met them. Nails clashing with Sara, her eyes caught both Gaius and Jusis move in from her flank.

"Where are you looking?" Sara grins, aiming her pistol. Form glowing, Sara wastes no time with her next call. "She teleporting! Fie!"

Jumping to everyone's shock, Munechika's smirk can be hidden as she lands on Gaius and Jusis' weapons before flipping back and out of reality.

"Emma!" Alisa calls.

"Fie, above you!" The evil witch warns.

The small jaeger could only look up and jump back simultaneously as the familiar came down. Now, she was the one to smirk. She left enhanced bombs that would cause added damage to the magic-user. She was still diving so she was committed. In less than a second, Fie could either dodge or force a pincer attack. They had won.

Or that's what she believed. Only to be poorly wrong as the mini bombs planted moved with her.

"What?!" She gasped, only then noticing the faint magical glow around them. Bring up her gunblades to block, the force from the bombs sends her shooting in Alisa.

"Fie! Alisa!" Emma gasped.

"Shit! She passed us!" Sara cursed, already moving to intercept.

"COME ON!" The voice of Van boomed as fists struck over and over.

Even if its fists teleported to meet his…

Even if this machine capable of the impossible forced them down…

Even if he lost this blessing…

Relon imparted him with this mission and to protect those he held dear!

"I REFUSE TO LET ANYONE ELSE DOWN! NEVER AGAIN!"

At once, the aura encapsulating around the Grendel exploded as a dark plume emerged from the machine's fist. With one more blow, his fist skids song the inside to strike its chest sending it into the city.

"Don't think you'll get anyone else!" Sara sneers as Munechika lifts back up to passively look her way. The stoic look the catwoman held made Sara's brain rack for an answer. Only when she did, it was too late.

Snap.

The next threat was gone. Just like that.

Good riddance. Eyes shifting to weave her head out of silver knives, Munechika wastes no time flipping back from a barrage of bullets to vanish.

Appearing in the middle of the boys, they immediately strike for her to warp once more.

"Where?!" Gaius demands. "Em-" Cut off by Munechika pointing at the girl who vanishes, her stoic visage returns to the male members of Class VII. All they could do was watch her charge with blinding speed.

"Where am I?!" Emma gasped, eyes frantically searching her surroundings to find herself in the woods. "How far did she send me?" She demanded, only then realizing the danger she found herself in.

One moment they held the clear advantage and the next, that boy taken care of, believed to be at least, returned and caused a distraction. One that familiar took full advantage of!

"Sorry, Sissy…" A voice mumbled, Emma whirling around on instinct to be struck in the chest with a fist of wind.

Off her feet and through a tree, Emma winces to the approaching Rinwell.

"S-So… you were this far… Just… who are you?"

Stopping before her with a somber expression as wind gyrates around her being, Hootle matching her expression, Rinwell lifts a hand of light.

"Your sister."

That would be the last thing Emma saw before darkness enveloped her vision.

"Hoot…"

Eyes finally returning to life, Rinwell massages the baby owl.

"I'm okay. I know this is for the best to save her and everyone."

Looking down at her orbal staff, she picks it up to toss it over a small ridge. Giving a parting glance, Rinwell takes off chanting more power into her still glowing tome.

With a swift chop while holding a spear, Munechika watches as Gaius drops. Gathering all of Class VII and the other soldiers, she places them against the edge of the forest. Head perking, she turns in time to see Van sent skidding near her.

"Power boost?!" He urged, already rushing back.

Heeding his request, she focused her power into another circular motion before thrusting towards him.

Once again, he felt that pure power coat his blue form in white. With a mighty leap far into the sky, he hovered over the downed machine. Locking on, its fingertips opened to reveal mini turrets and missiles in tandem with its orange lasers.

Even in the face of such a force, he kicked off the arm. Blue electricity crackled white as he collided with the multi-hitting blast.

"WHITE FLASH! RAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!"

Like a bullet against the repelling wind, he cut through until only the Aion remained. With a mighty thrust through the energy, he slammed downward. Then all forms of resistance ceased. Its arms dropped with a slam, its body exploded with cracks all over. All signs of life ceased.

Jumping off of it, onto the gate, and back to the field, Munechika greeted him with a weary smile. From the cliffside, both turned to find Rinwell focused with Hootle atop her head.

Neither had seen her book glow such a bright color before. When her glowing eyes opened, all actions ceased as the world seemingly grew dark to then obtain a golden hue. In history, stories of the apocalypse and armageddon were told. Both similar yet different, as for how exactly it occurred remained to be seen. Only vague descriptions ever were described.

To Munechika and Van, having seen Rinwell slowly store mana overnight, they would argue the Shooting Star descending upon Saint-Arkh was a close enough equivalent. The previous was big, there was no argument. Clearly big enough to strike all of the area.

"Wow…" Was all Van could sound out.

Hand moving through hand signs, she thrusts them forward conjuring a large barrier similar to the Resistance's Crescent Mirror. With a snap, all of the members of Class VII are laid beside each other.

Then it touched the ground. First the divine suction, then a pause, and finally the shockwave. Senses on end, Munechika immediately casted Astral Energy once more over herself as Van anchored her form.

For the shockwave alone to be this immense…! Rinwell!

Next came the plume of debris and smoke in all directions. For nearly a solid minute, Munechika held steadfast against the aftermath. With every second, she felt the wave lessen until all went silent.

"Is it finally over?" Van managed out.

As the dust settled, Munechika's attention turned not to the facility but to a huffing Rinwell. Weakly, her trembling hand raised. Though it wasn't to show a thumbs up. Instead, her expression went grim pointing.

That was not a good sign and as the familiar's senses searched, she winced at the negative energy. As the dust rolled away, there walking towards them lied the sole woman in steel. The worst threat any of them could face.

"I must marvel at your tenacity. To destroy the reactor, I was in disbelief when Ines, Ennea, and even the Purple Lightning all dropped to the ground so suddenly. Tell me, did either of you or the Resistance ever ponder our forces integrating with other reactors?" Moving her head over, death fills both Munechika's being and Van's.

At once, he blurs forward as she turns to intercept Rinwell.

Boom!

All Van could see was nothing. Turning back, he saw a plume of smoke where Rinwell once stood. A moment later, both girls reappear to fall to the ground.

"M-Mune…chika…!" Rinwell gasps, barely recovering from her earlier art for Van to recognize the cause for concern.

Blood was seeping from her side. Munechika, the skillful familiar that she was, had saved Rinwell but in the process been pierced partially in her side.

"Impressive…" As calm as the voice was, the power behind it made even Van inside the Grendel stagger as a burst of dark energy radiated from the woman. "However, your end now lies upon this sacred ground you each have desecrated." With a thrust, a beam exploded from her spear.

"MOVE!" Was all Van could shout tossing the two away as the beam crashed upon him. "GRRRRRR!" He grunted with crossed arms.

Stirring to shake off the dizziness, Rinwell's weak form lifted to the sight of Van. Immediately, urgency returned as she looked around to find Munechika with a weak glow healing what she could of her wound.

"Munechika!" She frantically called, crawling to the familiar. As her eye scanned the wound, she only then realized just how deep her wound was. "What do I- Crap, think, think!" Another blast drew her attention to Van's struggle. Bit by bit, his weird armor began to tear itself apart. "Come on!" She sits properly to hover both hands over the wound. "Strands of forbearance give name to your radiance… Pixie Circle!"

Nothing.

"Hoot!"

"I know! Strands of forbearance give name to your radiance… Pixie Circle!"

Nothing.

"Hoot Hoot!"

"IT's NO USE, I CAN'T DO IT, OKAY HOOTLE?!" She's tried for time and time again for years and not once has circle of life occurred. Munechika was bleeding out. She's used too much mana buying time for Rinwell to drop her art. "All my arts are good for is destruction…"

As tears behind to flow, she felt a soft hand touch her hand. That's when her eyes snapped open to a smiling Munechika. Then her mouth opened.

Increase. Your. Magic.

Three clear words mouthed as blood seeped from the corner of her lips.

"I can't-" Cut off by a stern though weary look, Rinwell knew it was worth a try.

Nodding, she retook the proper posture. Ignoring the grunts and blasts from behind, her focus went fully to Munechika.

"Strands of forbearance…" The art of light that would grace her hands began as a faint glow. With Munechika's own under hers, she felt a flow of mana guide itself into her system. Her shock was there but she couldn't stop now. "Give name to your radiance…" More flowed into her core, spiraling to all points of her body.

Where one hand was warm, the other was cold. Where a part of her felt sturdy and strong, the other became weak. Her body, both balanced and unbalanced became one. Then she put more into the casting. So much, that her eyes continued to watch in disbelief as a glyph she's been told about but never saw expanded far more that anything she's experienced before.

The very land once dead began to sprout life once more. Greenery emerged from the crevices of the earth and next to them, a single rose bloomed.

"What's going on?"

"Hoot hoot! Hoot!"

"The Garden of Innocence." A voice spoke. Eyes dawning on Munechika's body slowly life, the kind smile she greets leaves Rinwell speechless. "One of the strongest arts within the Hexen Clan capable of healing nearly any injury. Both external and internal."

"M-Munechika?"

"You finally did it Rinwell," she smiled revealing the hole no longer there where only a hole of clothing lied.

"But… how?!" Rinwell wondered gazing at her glowing hands. "I thought I could only do offensive magic."

"Your body is very special. It is true while watching over you . Your vastness and efficiency in casting magical arts is beyond the norm. But Garden of Innocence. It's not just a healing art. It is also an offensive art. An art to protect the injured and ward off those with the intent to harm." At that, her eyes widened as tears manifested. "You too can both heal and protect those that you love and care for."

Like a link to a meaning hidden from her, it all made sense.

"It is thanks to their contribution in creating both you and a cure that saved our race." The voice of Grandmother resurfaced.

Her parents created a cure to protect that which they cherished. Now, that very symbol had manifested.

"This garden… is a connection not just to those I want to protect, but my parents…!"

"Can you still fight?"

Wiping away the tears, both stand. Discarding her tome, determination etches itself onto the young witch's being as too her familiar.

"Backing out now? There's no way when I've got my parents backing me up!" With gripped hands, the field heightens in life.

"Hoot!"

"You now know the proper chant, correct? With this new power, it should have embedded itself into your mind."

"Yeah!" Walking forward with her tome discarded, life blooms with every step. "My power is my own! It's not just destruction! Virtuous souls gather in the garden of healing and shine on!" Heeding her call, the once eerie roots warp into roots of white light before they shoot off blooming into vines filled with flowers. One after another, they home in on the Steel Maiden.

"Redirecting Lord Zero's power against me is futile!"

More and more, the bombardment of steel against nature raged on. With a final cleave, the iron warrior finally realized it. The root-filled debris that flowed all around obstructed her vision giving way to an opening. That being in the form of flowers all around her.

"Garden of Innocence!" Rinwell roars, a blinding white light filled with petals erupting in the sky.

From it, the scrapped metallic warrior free falls to regain her control. In doing so, she snapped up as a shade obstructed the sun.

The boy? How?! One look to where he once stood told her answer. The witch healed him?! Then our information was wrong!

"Enough of this!" Van roars, blue energy encapsulating his form as his eyes glow. More and more, power manifested along his caliber as its length stretched high and high.

"For my Lord, I shall not fail! I am steel…" She began to chant. "She, who cuts through all!" From her outstretched hand, a black whirlwind shot forward towards the awaiting teen.

"Astral Energy!"

"Razor Cyclone plus Swallow Flight!"

Out of thin air, both females appeared. With them, razor disks of white wind blurred forward to strike the black winds to end in a stalemate.

"VAN!"

"HAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"I shall not yield!" Poising her lance to the heavens, it glimmers in pitch-darkness. "This is your end!" With a lunge, she shot forward. "MALEVOLENT CROSS!"

The embodiment of light and darkness respectively always clashed. There was simply no way to avoid it. That was the way of the world. However, the meaning behind the clashes always differentiated.

For Van, he had fought to fight without a true purpose. To survive unlike those close was where his mindset withered to. That was what he had become, a husk of his old self. Now, through a chance encounter with an elemental hybrid and his cousin and a catwoman, both his remaining friend and his perspective on life changed once again.

Through this, he was able to manifest the artifact believed to have become dormant since the passing of its original owner. The adventures once explored, the experiences gained, forever remained within his heart. Deep within, unable to be forgotten.

To ensure that such a tragic fate would not come to fruition more than it had already, he pushed forward. Not just for himself. Not just for Shizuna. Not even for Relon, Rinwell, or Munechika. He pushed against the godly power for the sake of all inhabitants to come after Zero's near defeat.

When black and white merge, gray is formed. A space where both sides, no matter how different can interact until one subjugates the other. There, he saw the steel maiden in all her beauty.

"Thank you." It was simple yet all the meaning was there.

"AZURE AFTERGLOW!" He bellowed, a second wave of strength overtaking the black lance. From two side to a miniscule black dot, the light overtook it like a blanket. Then came the blast.

"Ha… ha… ha…" He huffed. His vision, blurred as it was, could make out the new cliffside his attack created.

Off to the side unmoving laid one Arianrhod. Helmet smashed and barely containing her beauty.

"Van!" With a tired and unsteady turn of his body, he could only offer a thumbs up as Rinwell and Munechika slowly made their way.

"Over?" He asked in a chuckle.

"Haha, yes. It's over." Munechika sounded, both females soon collapsing in front of him. "I've expended too much mana it seems."

"Haha, you're telling me! I haven't casted… a Shooting Star that big before. Remind me to never do it again."

"Both of you, I swear! All three of you, Relon included, are something else." He huffs.

"Yeah right!" Rinwell scoffs. "You and whatever that thing you did was SUPER cool! Not to mention that last attack!"

"Coming from the one who finally used healing magic. Now you gotta teach Relon that."

"Pfft, as if! It's a Rinwell specific spell and its staying that way!"

"Haha, that's certainly correct to a degree." Munechika smiled.

One by one, each smiled at the other unbothered by the stomping feet of the Resistance approach. All at once, they dropped. Fatigue taking over for a job well done.

Group B

"Van…"

From the embarrassing moments following Van's departing words, the three immediately took to the skies. With no time lost, they reached Trista's airspace.

From the first Shooting Star, all marveled at its size for what seemed like a small machine to appear. If it was small, they knew that up close, it was a behemoth.

Time after time, they yearned to save their close friends but they believed. They believed their friends would prevail. The moment they saw the second Shooting Star in all its magnificence, they knew. Rinwell had succeeded. The subtle wave of Zero that Relon was familiar with told him such and the mobilization of nearly every unit far below only proved they were right.

Now, it was time.

"I'm sensing very few inhabitants remaining," Vita notes through her staff. "However… those remaining are the most troublesome bunch. One in particular is oozing the most negative power."

"That's probably Rean then." Both women turned to the still teen far above. "Whether he's down there or not, the easiest way to smoke them out remains the same." With a slow swing of a giant Pippin in its greatsword form, he lets out a long breath.

"Be careful." As he obstructed the sun, all Shizuna could see was a look of confidence.

"Couldn't promise that eve if I wanted to."

Slowly, he leaned forward before dropping. Head whipping to watch him go, her own grip on her tachi held firm.

It was odd.

As he fell, his mind remained so open. If either females called him, he could easily cancel the attack and question innocently what was wrong. Compared to his first time unleashing such a devastating attack, his mind was no longer clouded in emotional rage.

Did that mean he had weakened? One momentary glance at the black flamed sword told him that notion was false. Then he supposed he's just gotten stronger. That or his emotions were so screwed up that his abilities just seemed to work with little effort compared to before.

As he broke through the dark clouds, his eyes narrowed.

If Zero's reactors had a barrier, then it would crumble. A barrier whose strength having been reduced by 75% could not survive the devastating strength of a Solar Impact. Nothing within a close radius could even withstand the heatwave that followed.

In the end, either someone would stop him from carrying out his attack or it would go through. Those were the only two options.

As the ground became more discernible. With a tight grip, he focused on the epicenter of the facility. There was no need to research where it was if he was going to destroy everything at once. Most soldiers of Zero's Army had vanished to assist the other reactor. Although, a part of him wished that whoever remained would stop him.

He didn't want to kill. The idea bothered his very soul. Enraged, his soul shook with such vehemence, that his own mental law acted upon the right for that individual that enraged Relon to be brought to their knees and vanish from the world of the living.

Now, the only people that fit those requirements were Valkyrie and Zero himself. Not the people, not the innocents under his control. He'd do whatever it took to save them, even if it meant destroying the transformed town he had begun to call home.

"SOLAR-" Pausing in proclaiming his ultimate technique, a single figure stood far below. Mint green hair, tiny smile, casual resting of her arms behind her; there stood none other than Musse Egret.

Just the sight of her was enough to impede his focus for just a moment. That moment, to the opposition, was all they needed.

Catching a pair of glints out the corner of his eyes amongst the treeline far away, all he could register were the gunshots that followed.

Bang! Bang!

An indescribable pain exploded on his arm. All he could do was watch as his arm grasping Pippin's weakening form descended farther and farther away.

Everything had fallen apart in that moment.

How had Zero predicted what we'd do? Who could shoot that accurate-

That's when he saw them. Two familiar figures steadily rise from their positions. One Nurse Beatrix and Claire Rieveldt.

"RELON!" Shizuna exclaims, vanishing in a blue light.

"Stay focused!" Vita snaps. "Lucinances can reattach lost limbs!"

Damn it…! Relon curses as his body nears the facility. Had I not reacted, my head would have been shot clean off!

"PIPPIN!" Recovering, the giant sword reverts to normal as it nears Relon. With a quick grasp, he jams his arm back in place for a burst of black flames to emerge. Gritting his teeth from the pain, he lands to flex his hand. "Okay… On to Plan B…"

Being able to do what Asuma did was certainly a relief. Otherwise, he'd have to hope Vita's healing pod could reconnect lost limbs. As for what to do, he'd have to figure that part out after he dealt with his new company.

From all sides, faces familiar and not approached with their weapons drawn and at the ready. At the same time, Vita and Shizuna appeared in a flash of light.

"Relon!"

"I'm fine! We got bigger worries to deal with!"

Nurse Beatrix. Principal Vandyck. Victor Arseid. Not to mention Arios. Relon barely recalled at a young age meeting the Eight Leaves practitioner briefly while traveling with his dad. Then there were the middle three…

Claire, Laura, and Rean…

"That's right, my dear Relon~." True to his belief, through the batch of opponents, a young Musse waltzed forward. No, not Musse.

"Zero…!" Relon growls. "How dare you defile Musse?!"

"Did you think I'd sit idly by and risk my last reactor be destroyed so easily? I am well aware that such an attack would likely break the barrier I have." Shifting from said facility back on the three, Zero's eyes go to Vita. "Ah, so you've come out of hiding. About time."

"Well, given who exactly asked for my help, I couldn't say no now could I? Given you're gracing us with your presence, I can only assume you plan to end us yourself. Or… could it be that you can't now?"

That piqued both Relon's and Shizuna's attention as Zero's own narrowed.

"You're right," Shizuna agreed. "Back in Eryn, his real body didn't show up. Instead he only took over his soldier's. Now he's using a corpse's and not even someone like Rean."

"Haha… Oh, Zero. You're worried these guys can't protect your final piece." The arrogance Relon sported was astounding even to himself but with such a revelation on display, how could he not gloat. "You can't even risk showing your main body much less take control of anyone still under you. Is that mind control taking up all your strength?"

For the first time since appearing in this world, Relon now knew what it was like to have one over Zero. Because he just won the argument in the form of Musse sending out a orb of darkness.

Stepping forward the moment Zero raised their hand, his own came up to meet the attack absorbing.

"Oh yeah, you're so screwed!" He grinned a feral grin, black flames igniting from the devoured attack.

"Relon Lucinance, once everything has concluded, only you may understand why I do what I do. Should you reach that far. Rean, make sure that doesn't happen. Lloyd has already failed me. Kallen shall arrive momentarily." Turning away, Zero takes a step for the body of Musse to become disfigured resulting in some random person falling to the ground.

"Yes, my lord. Laura, Claire, we shall return to the reactor. Everyone, kill the invaders!"

"And now he leaves?!" Relon exclaims in disbelief. Oh, this is going even better than he could have imagined!

"Wait, that wasn't Musse?" Shizuna questions. Focus momentarily taking in the important names, Shizuna's own worries increase. Not for herself, but for Relon. To fight against his loved ones and lover…

She shook her head. Relon knew what he was in for. She just needed to stick to the plan and trust him.

"Musse died the moment Zero came into power," Relon answers.

"Then why did you say-"

"Just to act as the victim to Zero," he interjects. "By being the victim, the 180 mom did on him was all the more out of nowhere and thus effective."

"Mind games against an elemental in power are certainly fun to still do," Vita giggles.

"You two are insane…"

"Like mother like son I suppose," Relon shrugs to refocus on the four opponents. "Okay," he breathes out. "Uncle Victor, you in there?" He calls.

"The only relative under my name is my beloved daughter. You are nothing!"

"Nope, he's lost it again. Lovely. Also, Uncle Victor just have back-up swords in case he ever loses one? Principal Vandyck? Nurse Beatrix?"

"A student of those though you may be," Vandyck begins taking a ready stance.

"Another opposition of Lord Zero you shall die as," Beatrix finishes readying her gun.

"Of course you both would say that." Regripping his hold on Pippin with his bare hand, he truly hoped Van put his other glove to good use

"Arios, snap out it! How do you think Master would feel seeing you like this?!"

"The only master I look up to his Lord Zero! None else stand above some a divine being! Prepare yourselves."

"Arios…!" Shizina grimaced.

"He's not completely lost," Relon notes, gaining Shizuna's attention.

"Otherwise they would have attacked." Vita adds.

"All of them are fighting against Zero. Meaning we need to hurry up and take them down."

"Your beliefs cannot hope to stack against ours." Arios declares with his tachi pointed. "Prepare for battle!"

"Seems words can't reach them. Whatever, Beatrix is their only known healer and her arts were potent during the last war according to stories I've heard."

"Given she's at the rear protected by both Vandyck and Victor Arseid, I'll take your word for it!"

"Good thing we have our own means of dealing with that! Let's see if Zero thought this far ahead!"

"Come!" Arios beckons.

"With pleasure!" Shizuna responds, both teens rushing straight towards the four adults.

"A headlong approach? Your deaths shall be swift, that much is guaranteed!"

Reeling both swords back as Beatrix takes aim, he throws both out wide and to both sides veering towards their opponents. Following up with a wide maw of black flames down the middle, Arios crouches down manifesting strength from his core.

"A pincer attack?" He wonders. "Beatrix, handle the blades."
"Already on it…" She mumbles jump back as more flames obstruct her view from one side as more emerge from the other. "We're blind!" She snaps at the men.

"Not for long!"

"HA!" All three men resound, blowing away the flames to find the three missing.

"Did they retreat? No…" Arios wonders aloud.

"They haven't snuck past us into the facility. The alarm would have sounded the moment it sensed any of them." Beatrix voices.

"Not to the East…"

"Or the West…"

"If not to either side or the front, then…"

"ABOVE!"

Snapping up, all catch in time for Relon and an enlarged Pippin burning black in its greatsword form to emerge through a cloud.

"A second attempt?!" Victor sounds.

"Beatrix!" Vandyck calls to the woman already taking aim.

"Damn it, too late!" She curses.

"Here's a reenactment of my fight against Senate! Solar Impact: Crescent…!" Relon declares unleashing the first humongous crescent flame to vanish in a light.

"He vanished?!" Arios widens for all to sense the male appear sliding for them. "There!"

"Horizon!" He adds unleashing a horizontal slash searing the dead ground beneath.

"He's unleashing his best so I shall meet it!"

"As shall I!"

The moment Victor and Arios moved to intercept both attacks was the moment, all realized their mistakes.

"Truly, my son is a phenomenal strategist." All looking at none other than Vita, Victor can only skid as Arios helplessly turns in mid-air as both the attack Vandyck and Beatrix vanish in a light. "I'll leave my son and his future wife to you two. Ta ta~," she bids vanishing as well.

"Damn it! Foul demons!"

"Focus on repelling that boy's attacks!"

"Did you forget about me?!" Eyes snapping back ahead, Arios barely blocks the blade of Shizuna as she appears out of a portal.

"Meddlesome woman!"

"RELON, NOW!"

Catching a rift manifest at his back, Arios can only grimace as both go through.

"Only one left!" Head whipping back around to see the second crescent attack gone with Relon's enflamed fist in its place drawing near, Victor readies his blade to drop it. "HA!" In an explosion of searing black flames, Relon grabs the blade with his one gloved hand. "No matter how powerful you may be, all master swordsmen need to channel power and momentum. Without it, I can safely grab your blade like this!"

"You cursed child!" He growls, seemingly unperturbed by the heat.

"Curse me all you want, Uncle, I'm doing this for your own good!" Wrestling for strength over the blade, Relon steadily feels his own strength falter as he notices his grip around the blade loosen bit by bit. With another blast of fire directly in front of the legendary man, Relon repeats the action. "I. Ain't. Letting. Go!" Catching the subtle daze, Relon's eyes focus as he regrips the blade to reel back his bare hand. "SO STOP BEING STUBBORN!"

"I won't let you!" Victor grimaces as more power surges outwards forcing Relon's hand and grip away.

If he were to let go now, then their plan would fall to ruin. Vita was holding Vandyck and Beatrix off. Shizuna only had to survive Arios for less than a minute. Their plan was nearly complete. All he had to do was reach Victor.

"Get… over… heeeeere!" With another draw of power, he unleashed a boost of flames from his palm to grasp Victor's coat.

That was all he needed to do as with a thug, a trail of malevolent energy spewed outwards.

From the beginning, all three knew that dropping a nuclear attack would fail. Just as with the others, a simple plan would have multiple steps that diverged should the simplistic route fail. Just as what had happened with Rinwell and the others, the same occurred now.

Relon accurately predicted Zero's own appearance upon the third reactor being destroyed. Even more so at his inability to do much else aside from wait as assisted by Vita. The moment Rean and the others believed the more skilled fighters could succeed in taking them out, the grin on his face went on full display for reasons the adults couldn't identify as he covered it up with gloats and cautionary lines.

Vandyck and Beatrix were the two that needed to go due to their relationship and Relon's comment made it to Vita who clearly registered the notice. In the situation that a group attacked them in a formation, Relon with Vita's help would diverge their attention and at that moment, Vita would take one group as Shizuna took another leaving Relon with whoever was left. For such low numbers to appear however made the plan all the easier. Arios as a Divine Blade would be left to Shizuna as he was clearly the fastest. Relon was left with Victor and the best choice amongst anyone else.

Why?

Because of two things.
One; no one could deal with magic except someone who could use magic themselves. Meaning Vita with a carefully placed spell could remove any threat far away from the fight. And two; now he could withdraw Zero's power from an individual completely.

"EAT UP, HELIOS! RAAAGGHHHH!" With a powerful yank, the tether between him and Victor snapped.

Eyes rolling back, Victor stood for only a moment before falling back unconscious.

Reeling from the sensation, the sounds of munching going on in his head, Relon refocuses to the still descending flame crescent. Kicking off to grab Victor, he swings the air to dive into a rift.

Out of it, both tumble out to see the crescent strike a sudden barrier of pitch-darkness. Bit by bit, cracks emerged from the point of contact until at once, the sound of shattering glass reverberated as far as his ears could hear. Then his eyes laid witness, happily, as a line of black flames ensued within the facility.

Oh, how happy he was to see such negative fire doing his job as explosions ripped apart like a chain reaction. Only past the sound, could another be picked up; the clinging of blades.

Eyes catching a near invisible Arios swat away Pippin, he rises to his feet. Retaking Pappan, he strikes the air. Forced to halt as another rift appears in between them, more and more soon emerge as Arios jumps away for the rifts to vanish as Relon steps out.

"You alright?" He asks over his shoulder as both sword orbit.

"Never better," she breathes. "Thanks."

He couldn't let someone he cared about bite the bullet so soon before getting the okay from Claire, now could he?

"Victor…" Head returning forward to a mildly stunned Arios, his expression turns to pure anger as a gust of dark wind emerges. Eyes opening, gold colors emerge.

"He can use Spirit Unification too?!"

"Looks like Zero and Rean took extra precautions then. If he's upper the stakes, we should too. Ready, Shizu?" Despite their dire situation, she could help but crack a small smile.

"Yeah."

Stepping forward and then apart, both lock onto Arios as he readies himself.

At once, a whirl of black flames emerge around Relon as a faint glow illuminates Shizuna's form.

"Spirit Unification!" Both resound as black and white explode in unison.

Eyes now gold like Arios', Shizuna exudes a steady breath to glance over. Somehow, Relon kept on amazing her. To think he too could use the apparent newest Eight Leaves technique.

Veiled in a dark outline, his mesmerizing slitted eyes glowed black with white pupils. Along his visible skin lied vine-like marking.

"Arios, you're so screwed!" Not to mention that demonic voice sent a chill down her spine.

"Meddlesome humans!" With a blinding strike, a crescent searing wind is intercepted by both blades.

Taking on a fighting stance, Relon's grin never fades.

"Ready… and…"

"Go!"

At once, a blinding white light and black flames meet black wind in the middle. Both knew they had only so much time left before Kallen was to arrive. Meaning they needed to end this quickly!

Pushing away, Arios immediately leans forward.

"Gale!" Shizuna exclaimed, Relon's mind already processing the attack. What he failed to register was a "second" Arios blur to reality at him.

Engulfing his form in fire, the mirrored visage dissipates, as Shizuna barely parries the strike for her form to mimic Arios'.

Swinging Pappan, a rift forms at his feet for the man to begin to jerk downwards.

Off at speeds nearly equal to Arios, Shizuna sheathes her sword as light manifests next to her.

Is she copying his technique? No, similar but that's not exactly Gale.

"Duality!" She calls, Arios swinging at the left Shizuna for it to fade as the real one skids past slashing his side.

Wincing, he forces himself to jump with one foot out of the rift. In doing so, he finds Relon already upon him.

"Flare Blitz!" Relon roars smashing his fist against Arios' blade. "Hehe, gotcha!" He grins, having exited his form to re-enter with an explosive black blast. "Ha!"

Crashing and bouncing off the ground once, he recovers to blur out of reality.

"Heads up!" She exclaims rushing for Relon's descending for to jump landing on Pappn. "He's everywhere!"

"Then we force him to hold still!" Diving for the ground, a light layer of flames manifest for his fist to once again become covered. "Ha!" He shouts, unleashing a maw of flames at the ground as a wave splashes in all directions. "There!" He shouts, Arios landing on top of the facility's wall.

Jumping after, both land at either sides of the walkway as flames rage out their peripheral.

"You, boy, are a threat."

"I'm only a threat apparently when I can use my powers. So I don't want to hear any complaints!

"Relon is using his powers to save you and everyone while Zero is only after more pain and misery! Arios, snap out of it!"

"ENOUGH!" He roars, another gust of wind forcing both to hunker down as his body emanates a green glow. "I shall utilize both Spirit Unification and Qinggong to end this farce!"

"Idiot, unleashing stacked body amplifiers like that will ruin you if you can't handle either much less if you haven't mastered both!"

"I SHALL DO WHAT I MUST TO ENSURE THE VISION LORD ZERO PROMISES A REALITY!"

"You fool!"

At once, both intercepted the man. However, his gaze remained forward on the flames. Only when they neared, did he act. Without any way to realize his movements, one by one, each of their attacks failed as cuts emerged.

It lasted less than 30 seconds. Somehow, they reached that far when Arios slipped. One strike too far to once side was all it took for Relon to grab his returning blade.

"NOW!"

In tandem with his parry, she attacked his defenseless back.

"Raging Luminescence!" A double strike of gleaming light followed by a final horizontal strike.

"GAH!" Groaning from the attack, his eyes flicker for a flare of defiance to return. "NOOOOO!" He howls, the sheer power from his shouts sends both back as he vanishes once more.

Barely blocking both attacks, both are sent careening to the ground outside of the facility.

Quickly recovering, Shizuna more slowly than him, both ready themselves as does Arios.

"This farce ends now!" He announces dropping into a stance.

"Here comes the big one!" Relon warns taking a hold of both swords.

"Savage winds, be as one with my sword…" Immediately, Relon's instinct flared to new levels as he rushed to Shizuna.

"Relon?!"

Not answering, he pushed her as far away as he could. When he turned to Arios, he finally bore witness to why he was called the Divine Blade of Wind.

The moment he unsheathed his blade, he was gone. Relon blocked the first strike barely with his gloved hand. The recoil from it had him ragdoll in the air. All he could do as an endless number of strikes came was hold onto his sword. Hold and pour all his regenerative power in as he conjured a funnel and Relon found himself high in the air. His entire body ablaze as pain covered his form.

For a human to move at such speeds were once thing. To move so fast that they manipulated the wind into a funnel like tornado was another thing entirely.

"Second Slash - Raging Tempest!"

That's when it all became worth it. Protecting Shizuna, enduring this unfathomable pain. The tachi was used to cut, Arios' style of gale was strong but not lethal. Whether it was the style of Arios' soul fighting against Zero; Relon was thankful regardless.

"HA!" He roared, his form enveloping in fire as the eye of the storm vanished. Diving down on a wide-eyed Arios, his black flames grew thicker as with a reeled back fist, he struck the Divine Blade. "Flare Blitz!"

Like a descending comet, both steadily veered for the ground. Fighting against the momentum, Arios attempts to raise his blade for Relon to catch it.

"Y-You…!"

"Not this time! This fight is over, Arios!" Putting all his power into the punch, he slams Arios to the ground as he pulls the tether of his corrupted soul out.

With a hard slam, a cloud of dust erupts to soon reveal an unmoving Arios.

Descending carefully to fall on all fours, Relon can only pant. He should have been dead on all accounts and through some divine power that he didn't count as his own, he was alive. Why Arios hadn't gone for his head during that flurry of attacks he couldn't guess. But whether with Arios' soul's help or not, they had managed to do the impossible.

Could he manage a quick celebratory victory before the next fight? They deserved that much, right? As the sounds of rushing footsteps approached, he readied for a punch. He deserved it after that stunt he pulled.

Shizuna being the constant surprise that she was did not punch him. Instead of delivering something akin to a gut check, she instead full-body tackled him to the ground in a chokehold-like embrace.

"You fucking IDIOT!" Ah, so she did have a mouth on her too. "How?!"

"Lucinance."

"And Arios?"

"No longer controlled by Zero," he grins as the residual darkness can be shown on his hand. As Helios digested yet another Zero, Relon couldn't help but chuckle at the savory munching sounds his 'headmate' was making.

"Your titles are getting pretty insane, you know that?" She joked finally pulling away. "First Senate Hunter and now you have both Arseid and Divine Blade Conqueror to your repertoire!"

"Technically, you already gave me the Arseid one." He knew Kurogane was the first and her to later follow but details, what could he say? He didn't want to bring that name up at this very moment to her.

"I'm going to clobber you if you keep up that smart mouth." Man, he was really getting used to her fast.

"Sorry. Could afford to get you hurt. I made a promise after all." It was a genuine smile, something he's missed doing so often after being designated the Senate Hunter.

Ever since that big argument with Shade, bit by bit he's started being positive again. Now it felt natural as though that fight with Senate never happened.

"Stupid," she mumbles, holding him for a moment before both release sigh. "You could announce yourself," the Eight Leaves gives a slight pout at the smiling Vita watching from behind.

"And interrupt such a heartfelt moment between my son and a future lover? No, I don't think so~." She hums, her violet eyes catching something out her peripheral. "Are you two ready?" At that, both nod readying themselves for round two.

"A certain redhead took Vandyck and Beatrix after I had tended to them and flew off. Seems she's ready to finish what they failed to do."

"And she brought friends," Shizuna narrows at the warped humans slowly approach.

Having listened to both, all Relon could do was look up at the awaiting red machine with added wings.

"Those scientists truly are something, I swear. Every bit as troublesome in this world and yours." Vita sighs.

"Relon," Shizuna calls stepping forward as a flash of light envelopes her form, signs of another activated Spirit Unification. "Save her if you can. But don't die on me or your mom."

Blinking for a moment, he too steps forward.

Helios, how are you feeling? Immediately, he felt the link manifest. Hope you're ready for one more meal. Because this one might be the biggest yet.

I can feel it. We are close to an ascension. Let us free this woman!

Heh, you sound ecstatic. Is eating the souls of Zero a pastime activity for you?

It's my existence's primary and only goal.

He couldn't help but snort at that response.

"Let's go, Helios!" He grins, flames exploding in all directions. "Let's end this and congratulate the others!"

Jumping on Pippin with Pappan in hand, he takes off.

Rising to a steady level, Relon looks on at the machine.

"To think we would keep meeting, it truly is the greatest shame I have ever been dealt. Now I, Kalen Stadtfeld, shall finally destroy you!"

"You're wrong! You're Kallen Kozuki!"

"Huh?"

"You grew up poor in Heimdallr with your mother under a richer woman. You even got accepted into Thors!"

"What are you prattling about?! I know who I am!"

"No, you don't! Zero's warped your head just like everyone else's! If I have to knock some sense into you, then I'll just have to do that!"

"If you believe some new power is enough to stop me and my Guren then you're sorely mistaken!" At that, a sudden image unfamiliar to her appeared. One of a younger version, a weaker her pleading for help. "You're wrong… YOU'RE WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!"

Gripping Pappan, he strikes a portal open as her machine's silver hand unleashes a devastating beam of red. As its power nearly overturns the portal, Kallen's machine blurs away from the above counter.

Down on the ground, the blast strikes a stray mob of people.

Looking down to click in frustration, Relon grasps Pippin's cloth as the Guren's wings expand. Without a word, both zoom off. Switching swords, he unleashes a series of crescent strikes for the nimble machine to evade them all. Retaliating with a blur forward followed by a punch, Relon can only block as all three are sent into a downward spiral.

Quickly snapping from his daze, he rights himself just before crashing to level back out with the Guren hot on his tail.

These battles all feel so long compared to what they actually are! We need to finish this and fast! Helios, got plenty of strength to spare right?!

Wreck havoc!

All I needed to know!

Dodging blast after blast, Relon does a 180 turn, zooming straight for the Guren.

"Attacking head on won't work!"

"Let's put that to the test!" Jumping with both swords, he first swings a portal to vanish as the Guren zips upwards avoiding it. A second later, Relon lands on its shoulder with Pippin ablaze. "HA!" He strikes for the machine to zip forward causing his footing to fall. Reappearing behind him, he can only rotate to clash with the beam. "Come ooooooon!" He growls as their attacks emit a shockwave sending both back.

Flipping upright, the Guren charges once more as Relon flies back in on Pippin.

This time for sure!

Passing one another with an exchange of blows, the Guren turns to see both swords splitting off.

"Where'd he go?" Kallen wonders for a monitor to chime.

Gripping the cockpit for dear life lies Relon.

"OKAY, HELIOS! LET'S DO IT!"

Form encased in flames, he feels the dormant entity's strength extend further beyond what he knew. Faintly as the Guren zipped at new speeds to shake him off, he could feel his body alter ever so slightly. More and more, his mind grasped his altered body's power.

More and more, in every direction possible it tried to shake him off to no avail. Then his mouth cautiously opened as steam emitted.

"Damn it, let go!" She growled.

"Kallen, can you help set the table?"

"Sure, Mommy!"

Voices unfamiliar yet seemingly known entered her head. All she could do was grip it.

"You'll fail just like you did before!" She forces out.

Let's see if your dumb machine can stop something like this at point-blank range!

More and more, the fire within shot upwards and held just outside his mouth. Shimmering a bright black, he eats the orb whole. Then felt felt his body bloat before returning to normal.

"Let… go! NOW!"

Oh, how he'd enjoy this next part. This time at least.

Beast Bomb!

Altered mouth enlarging as wide as possible, the black orb in the space between hybrid and machine erupted. All that came next was an explosion of red and black.

"Watch out!" Vita exclaims striking down a warped being to shield herself, Shizuna, and the two unconscious men as the shockwave from the aerial pair rips across the area.

Huffing, Relon can only give a momentary glance the safety of his mom and dear friend before his attention goes to the descending machine. Somehow, through insane engineering, it was still attached but what he wanted had happened. The cockpit was open and staring at him with eyes that could kill lied Kallen.

Crashing to the ground along the highway, he hopped off his sword. His mouth ached and felt super dry. All he could do was add saliva and ready for the next bout.

At once, a surge of black comes from the machine. In an instant, his blade clashes with her own as their respective powers manifest for both to be sent back.

Bang bang bang!

A spew of flames melted the black bullets.

Again they clashes, hand-to-hand combat ensued as Relon delivers a strong knee for her gun to depart from her hand upwards. Gritting, she follows through with a back flip striking Relon's own to jump up grasping her weapon. Rolling to the side, he grasps Pappan making a portal as more shots resound for a pained grunt to escape as Kallen lands at a knee with a pullet in her leg.

"You're Kallen Kozuki! You were forced to bear a different last name due to representing a different household! You stole off the streets to help your mom!"

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME!" She roars, definitely pointing her pistol at him for another image of a smiling woman to make her falter. "Momma?"

In that moment, he acted.

Bang!

A shot went off. He was fine, she was fine. It was over. His hand had grabbed her stomach. And her knife held itself before his chest.

Carefully, he grasped the darkness that filled her heart. In it, he saw her. Alone and scared, cradling herself.

"Someone… Please… Help me…"

"Kallen," it was a tender voice, one full of warmth, care, and concern.

When she looked up, all she saw was a smiling male, beat up and tired, but still smiling nonetheless.

"Who are you…?" She murmured out, eyes not leaving his own.

"Relon Tarbin Namikaze-Lucinance. It's a mouthful, I know. What about you?"

"I'm… I'm… Kallen. Kallen… Kozuki…" For some reason, that answer felt as though a weight had been lifted off of her. The kind expression the boy before her wore as he got teary-eyed for some reason made her question many things. Above all of them…

"Are… you okay, Relon?"

Face momentarily stunned, he smiles with a nod.

"I am now. Welcome back, Kallen."

"Relon!" Helping the girl carefully to her feet, both watch Shizuna hurry their way as Vita walks along. "Kallen!"

The redhead jumped at the sudden call of her name, but wearily answered.

"Y-Yeah?" That answer was all it took for her own relief to wash over her visage.

"Finally." She sighs to breathe. "Relon."

"I know. Can I leave Kallen in your care?"

"Leave it to us." Vita nods.

"Where are you going?"

"To free everyone."

Looking to his hand, he could visualize the power. With a deep breath, flames exploded once more. As Helios said, they had ascended. His own strength minutes prior paled in comparison. His joints were not abnormal thankfully. But the biggest and most noticeable change were the pitch-black wings of fire that protrude from his back. And he instinctively took to the skies with Pippin.

Like a race, both veered around the other breaking through the layer of clouds to halt, basking in the radiant star's warmth.

"This way of flying feels so different. Not to mention this power we have now…" Like a barrier he's struggled to comprehend, he felt it. It had been overcome. Now, he'd use this power to its fullest. "Let's pick up where we left off, aye buddy?" With a nod, Pippin placed itself in his hand. For a moment, both just remained their absorbing as much as they could. They had plenty as is but seeing the sun just did something.

Without any warning, Relon leaned forward and dove.

Solar Impact: Malevolent Eclipse.

Solar Impact: Crescent Horizon.

To control the destructive capabilities of such a technique in environments that held allies, he made such versions similar to existing attacks. These were his crafts. Crafts non other could copy. The mastery of his elemental flames plus his Beasial Arts and Arseid Style culminated into who he was. However, in the end, only the original craft remained his absolute most potent.

Before the moment of impact, Vita realized something; Victor had disappeared. That set in a new worry entirely.

"Solar… Impact!"

Trista (Reactor)

Arios's ultimate technique as awe of a sight as it was, paled in comparison to what they now bore witness to. The ruined landscape from Relon's Solar Impact was truly how he described it; a nuclear blast of raw flames.

The once fortified structure that was recognized as Trista was reduced to a pile of ashy rubble. The odd metallic walls reinforced by the eerie roots stood no chance once Relon made impact. The numerous facilities; the once schoolhouse including the old one, the student council, the auditorium, all that she once recalled that had been transformed to serve Zero now held nothing but cinders, smoke, and the warped metallic charcoal.

Outside of Trista, all she could do was watch as a ring of fire spread across the dark sky as though igniting it for rays of sunshine to quickly follow. As far as her enhanced violet eyes could see, black flames fanned away to the crisp air's currents. Any Panzer Soldats or Sabers that were unoccupied ohad been disintegrated.

Yet…

Despite all the destruction and ruination, albeit good, that came from their successful plan, the manifestation of a purple wall of flames piercing the reforming darkened skies did not leave either Shizuna or Kallen with a good taste in either mouths. As for Vita, that sensation of worry had been confirmed.

"What's… Relon… doing?" The tired Kallen gasps out as Shizuna still holds her.

"I don't… know. Though I don't believe it… to be anything good!" Said swordswoman winces though at her comment, the wall of purple expands as the ground quakes.

"Relon is evolving…" It was quiet at first, but both joy and terror filled Vita's voice. "Relon is evolving!"

"What do you mean, Vita? Didn't he just do that with the wings?!"

"No! That wasn't it! That was due to absorbing such a massive portion of Zero's very entity! This is the sign of an elemental finally awakening!"

"I'm… confused. If this is so good, then why do you sound…"

"So worried?" Shizuna finished for the tired girl.

"Because every color associates with an emotion. Just as there are seven types of arts, there are seven emotions a Lucinance can evolve through at random. None know until the moment happens. What has me worried… is what's causing Relon to evolve."

"Through what though?"

"Through agony…"

About to chant a spell, a faint sound captured her attention followed by the others.

"Something's coming!" Vita quickly warns.

"An engine?" Shizuna wonders, listening intently.

"A ship? But whose?!" Kallen looks.

Slowly the sound of an engine gets louder before an familiar airship comes into view in the distance.

"Who is that?" Kallen questions for her fellow female to shuffle slightly gaining her attention. In doing so, a look of relief fills the Eight Leaves Practitioner.

"Shade!"

The airship flies overhead just as someone jumped off if it, landing next to them on the ground in a rough manner was Shade. "Where…?" Shade looked over at Shizuna as she stood up.

"The purple fire!" Shizuna exclaims with a point. "Relon's underground causing the fire! Get him! !"

"Alright, there's a lot I want to ask here, mostly since you're here…" Shade glanced at Vita. "But I need to help that idiot first!" Shade took off running towards the entrance of the underground.

"Just this much… I can barely manage!" Vita grunts, lifting her staff to get assistance from both girls. "Save him!" She shouts, firing off a blue sphere.

Dwindling, the faint light veers past Shade to hit the dome. In that split moment, an entrance opened. One he dove in after.

Relon

Claire was hurt; a self-inflicted shot altered from fatal to lethal thanks Beatrix. Rean himself was held off by the raw muscle of Vandyck and a surprise Victor. And… and…

"L-Laura…!"

His head ached and his body burned at unfathomable and indescribable levels. The very vine-like markings that scattered across his form flashed as he forced his vision open.

As he descended down striking the reactor, she got in the way at the last moment. The same moment Victor had emerged to save her…

"AHHHHH!"

He killed her. He killed her! In her final moments, she recognized him! She was good!

"R-Relon, I'm… sorry…" Was all she could muster as he and Victor held her.

She was saved! He saved her! And yet…

And yet…!

"RAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!"

Eyes finally peering open, he could barely notice it. Amongst the waves of spewing violet, a lone black figure descended.

Laura…!

He couldn't distinguish with his senses, nothing worked. His heart beated faster and faster. It was beyond dangerous his beats per second.

Laura…! Laura…!

As a child, he manifested his first strokes of fire with Rean. Against Arentula, he conquered Nameless' power making it his own. Against Shifu, he once again lost himself.

Those moments were key points in Relon's life. Yet, only one of those were as close to such an excruciating pain as this.

Ymir.

That frozen landscape. That hatred towards the hunter daring to hurt Elise; Red flames. The starting point for all Lucinances. He protected her.

He would unleash his unbridled rage, unknown even to himself, in a blind fit. His rage.

Laura!

This burning hellscape. The failure to protect his childhood friend; Agony. Purple flames. The next step. His heart was a wretched mess beyond fixing. She died. He killed her.

Laura! Laura! Laura!

He had done it again. A hidden power lying in wait, now unleashed from his emotional turmoil. His agony.

"LAURAAAAAAAA!"

At once, a figure he'd least expected landed away where the others lied. Searing flesh nearly a crisp and his smokey attire blowing from the form emitting from Relon.

"Son of a- Relon, what the hell…?" Shade looks around before landing on Laura. "Oh…" He slowly stood up and slowly walked towards me.

"Sh-Shade…!" It was all he could manage out through the disintegrating tears that left his slitted sockets.

"Laura… heh, I wanted to see if you were tough in this world as well. Relon, I'd wish someone did this to me back then so I'm doing it for you!" Shade pulled his arm back and he was met with darkness.

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A/N: Welp, this is chapter 59. One chapter to go before all focus on this story halts. Gotta say, started this a few years in college and proud of how far this story and I have has come. Also, Kai no Kiseki was a WILD ride oh my fawking Aidios!

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Review(s)

Souls: So I love so much and being understand reload so much and new craft is wonderful...

Thanks so much, my friend! As for timeskips, you'll just have to wait and see :)

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Relon's Transformation Differences

Spirit Unification - The standard buff in strength and speed. Markings appear like on McBurn's body.

Spirit Unification (Malevolence) - Mirroring the standard S.U. for himself and McBurn, Relon channels the darkness via Helios as his markings become pitch-black.

Spirit Unification: Beyond Hope - Having absorbed a vast amount of Zero's essence, Relon's strength and visual prowess is further amplified as he gains flaming wing-like appendages.