[Corruption, Tokusatsu Themes, Brainwashing]

"So this is where you four have been, all this time. Well, I better take one of you for myself. I can't let that little bastard ruin my plans any further than he already has..."

A soft chuckle echoed through the depths of the Atlas Corp labs, as a gloved hand pressed up against the tube that held the young girl that looked disturbingly similar to the Heroine that had gotten in the way of the Darkness' plans. With her and these other three in the palm of his hand, he-

"You really thought I wouldn't be prepared for you, Lumiel? I might not be the monster I once was, but I remember the kind of schemes you kept on prattling about."

Light shone down on the blue-hued magician, who simply closed his eye as he turned away from the tube. The girl hanging in suspended animation behind him served to emphasize his eerie nature, especially as his blackened eye stared towards the white-haired woman in the doorway.

"Luna. Or is that Qilin now? I much preferred the name you had when you were one of Lady Cepha's children. You were much more obedient back then too, a shame you couldn't devour that 'Emperor' before he really became a problem." Lumiel said, lowering his head slightly. "Truly a shame, it means I have to rely on my older plans. And here I thought she would've been able to do it."

Qilin grabbed her forearm as steam slipped out from her sleeve. There was something underneath it. Something brimming with power. "I don't want to hear any of your charming lies, Lumiel. You'll step away from that tube, and you'll disappear. If you don't want to be torn limb from limb for daring to weave them into your plans."

Those four were precious to Hiro. As much as Qilin had gotten on Hiro's nerves over the years, she knew how important they were to her. How much they drove her, even after the darkness that had infested her had forced her to let her emotions die down. She wasn't going to let this bastard have them. Not when she had anything to say about it!

A silent gleam left Lumiel's eyes, as he slowly lowered his hat. "Such bravado. Such impressive show of will. But I'm afraid that it's all for naught. After all... You've already seen me."

"Bastard!"

A golden spark rushed across Qilin's arm as she jumped forward, trying to slam her arm straight into Lumiel's face.

But by the time she jumped, he was already gone. Not only that, but so was the tube containing that girl... She had been too late to catch him. He was able to set up her abduction, just like that...

"Damnit..!" Qilin cried out as she slammed her fist into the ground instead, sending sparks from her arm into the floor as steam released from her arm once more. The power that she had channeled died down, leaving her to wallow in her failure...

No. This was no time to wallow. She had to inform the boss. After that, she'd figure out how to break the news to Hiro-nee. She needed to know, considering...

"Qilin."

Atlas' voice echoed through Qilin's mind, prompting her to quickly reassert herself and stand back up, clearing her throat before speaking back. "Yes, Sir? I was just about to call you." She paused. "How... How much of that saw you?"

"Enough. Your eyes are my eyes as well." Atlas said once again, a short bout of silence following his words. "...Do not inform Hiro of this."

"What? But-" Qilin was shocked, but quickly recomposed herself. No, she couldn't appear shocked. Not when he was watching. "...Why not?"

She swore she could picture his devious smile in her head, right before he spoke again. "Let's see how this plays out. She is our Jõtaider after all. If she is to remain our pawn in this game, then she must be able to endure seeing her again..."

Qilin bit her lip, before nodding. "As you wish, Sir. I'll clean up and make sure to raise security, to ensure that he can't get back in." She muttered, before the quiet sound of her mind humming went dead. He was gone...

...She really wanted to tell Hiro. Despite what Atlas had told her. Hiro-nee... The entire reason she was fighting right now was to give them the chance to live happy lives when they were freed from their condition.

And that girl... Natsuki Maki... That girl was just like Mikai. It was why she had been so hard on Mikai in the first place.

Her tooth drew blood from her lip, as she hoped with all her heart that everything would turn out okay...

---

"Mikai, I... No, that doesn't sound right. Fushimi, would you... No, no, too formal..."

Saki muttered to herself as she slowly ascended the stairs leading up to the second floor of the Fushimi Residence. Mikai's Mother, Kaoru, had greeted her with a smile. Even if she didn't believe she truly deserved one after what Agatha had told her.

...

If not for her, Mikai's Mother might've not ended up becoming a Jõtaijin. Mikai wouldn't have ended up as Dark Dragon. The Near-Luna Descent wouldn't have happened... Everything hinged on her giving into those powers that let her actually feel like she could help people.

And she just let it all go to her head. Only after it was all said and done, only after everything, did she realize that the powers she used were no better than the woman that had caused it all in the first place. The way she sapped people of their willpower and made them like that... It was like she was turning them into Lunas, in a sense...

Saki stood at the top of the stairs, as she quietly summoned her cane. Gazing upon it, squeezing her hand tightly around it. This thing had made her strong. And yet it had made her lose her way so badly. She... She shouldn't use it. She shouldn't even think about using it...

Yet she couldn't let go. It had to dissolve on her own, as the power she used to materialize it quietly ran out. Only by running out of steam was she willing to let go. What a fool she was...

...

But that was why she was here, wasn't it? Why she was practicing her apology. Why she was actually taking what Agatha had said to heart.

She had hurt people. Not just by what she had done, but why she did it too. The disappointed look on Agatha's face, mixed with that anger... It came from a place of former admiration.

Of course, Agatha hadn't been the only one that harbored thoughts like that. Saki was sure of it. There were still so many that looked up to her. So... It only made sense that they too would think that way. That by trying to be the only one that protected them... She would hurt them, not just by shutting away their ability to be autonomous, but also by being the only one to fight. Getting herself hurt in the process, for the sake of keeping them safe.

Never for a moment had she considered what would happen if she lost. Never for a moment did she think about what might happen if she passed away trying to protect them. Who would protect them then? More importantly, how badly would they miss her, considering what she had done to help them..?

All of that had been stewing for about a week now. And tomorrow... Tomorrow was an important day. Which was why she had to ask for Mikai to... H... He...

Saki coughed as she had to support herself against the wall. Why did... Why did the thought of Mikai helping her hurt her so badly? It never did before, and yet it was like her heart was suddenly being pierced by thorns...

No. No matter how much it hurt. She had to set aside the pride that had gotten her into this situation. The pride that had been inflated to toxic levels, all thanks to that... No, not thanks to that. Thanks to her own mistakes. Blaming it on anything but herself was making excuses..!

The blue-haired Student President took deep breaths as she slowly lumbered towards the door to Mikai's room, as she took a deep breath. She was ready. No matter how much it hurt. She had to open the door and greet her. And tell her exactly what was on her mind...

"Mikai, I-"

As the door opened, Saki expected to see Mikai doing what seemed normal. Which... Really just amounted to doing her homework. It was the weekend, yes, but that didn't mean that it wasn't a good idea to keep on top of one's studies.

What she didn't expect to see was those bright black suits on the floor, and the girls that were currently wearing them as they rubbed up against each other...

"Oh! Saki-Senpai!" "S-S-S-S-Saki!?"

Saki quietly stared down at the Hero of Mimoto, Mikai, currently wrapped in a tight layer of latex that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. And at the girl she had once inspired in her youth, the girl that had helped her cope with the loss of her family when she was that young, Saeko, who was having trouble with the same kind of suit as it really squeezed around her curvaceous form...

They were both busy... Well, cuddling, it seemed like. Hugging and snuggling and making sweet affectionate love to one another. An act that she couldn't dream of carrying out herself, simply because it didn't feel right to spend her time doing something like that. Sure, she could bind herself to focus on her concentration, but this..?

"...I should come back later." Saki muttered, as she quietly closed the door. Doing her best to forget the blush that had completely and utterly swallowed Saeko's face. This was not something that she should interrupt. Such an intimate feeling... It wasn't hers to mess with.

But just before she managed to close the door completely, a latex hand managed to snatch it and force it back up. With Mikai being the owner of said hand, the short girl sweating a bit as she smiled up at Saki. She didn't seem to mind this in any way, despite how absurd it was.

"It's okay, Saki-Senpai! We were just trying to understand each other a bit more! Did you know that Saeko's really-" Mikai didn't get to finish what she was saying, all thanks to the lavender-haired girl putting her hands over her mouth.

Saeko stared at Saki, clearing her throat slightly as she tried to calm down. "I... I was just trying to figure out my feelings a bit more with Mikai, Saki. After everything we went through, I want to understand exactly what drew me to Mikai, and, uhm, Yumeko said that this was a great way to do that." She explained the best she could, before the blush completely consumed her again. "D-Don't know why it had to involve latex suits, n-nor why it has to feel so good...."

A single glance at Saeko was all that Saki needed to tell that she had grown much since that fateful day. Even if she was still insecure about why it was that her heart drove her towards Mikai. If Grandfather was the one to offer her advice, he would've probably told her that it was the girl's Bravery and Guts that lit her heart aflame... It was all about Bravery with that man...

"You'll figure it out, Saeko." Saki said with the softest smile she could muster, before glancing down at Mikai. "Mikai, may..." She paused, before shaking her head. "Would you please listen to me for a moment?"

Mikai naturally nodded. "Sure! What do you want to tell me, Saki-Senpai?" Eager sparks glinted in her eyes, as Saeko pulled her hands away from her mouth and shuffled away into the corner to curl up from sheer embarrassment.

Which meant that she missed the part where Saki got down on all fours and pressed her head against the floor. A sight that made Mikai simply tilt her head confusedly...

"I'm sorry-" Saki started to speak, before grunting as she felt a pain spear through her heart. But no matter how much it hurt, she'd apologize. She wanted to be up front with her mistake. Instead of simply doing favors for her because of her guilt, she wanted to admit it. "I'm sorry for attacking you, Mikai. I'm sorry for denying you the chance to be a Hero. And I'm sorry for pressing you so far that you ended up transforming into a threat. You didn't deserve that. You didn't deserve to be the target of my unstable need to protect everyone..!" She cried out, lifting her head bit by bit as she wanted to meet the girl's eyes to make sure she heard every word...

Only for Mikai to pat her on the head after all of that. Smiling warmly and chuckling. "It's okay, Saki-Senpai. You didn't have to apologize." She said, yet Saki swore she saw something in her eyes. Maybe she was seeing things that weren't there. Either way, having her pat her like this...

It was comforting. Comforting enough to make the girl sigh before slightly smiling, despite the pain inside her. "Even so, I wanted to say my piece. It didn't feel right not to apologize. Es-... No, never mind." She cut herself off. She shouldn't imply that this was prompted by anything. It'd be an excuse. "...I would also like to ask for your help, Mikai. Tomorrow's..."

"TOMORROW! THAT'S RIGHT!"

Saeko cried out in the background, as she suddenly rushed out the door. Past the girls, still clad in the latex. It was like a ghost had possessed her, as she realized what day tomorrow was...

"Don't forget we're sleeping at Hiro's tonight, Saeko!" Mikai shouted, but Saeko was already too far gone by the time she called out to her. Prompting her to simply chuckle and rub the back of her head. "Ehe... Well, what's tomorrow, Saki-Senpai? I can try and help any way I can, it's the least I can do for a friend!"

Friend. A label that Saki didn't feel she deserved. But a label that did make her smile. Yes, this was a good start. A small step down the right path. Agatha would probably still yell at her for what she had done, but... It was an attempt.

"Tomorrow, I'd like you to help me protect two special women. After all, tomorrow's..."

---

"Thank you again for all of this, Ichiro. I wouldn't want to draw too much attention to us, especially given the current state of affairs in the city."

"No need to thank me, Doctor. I'm not exactly a fan of what Atlas Corp has been doing lately, no matter if we've established an informal ceasefire."

"Doctor. Mister Ichiro. A quick question for the two of you, if I may?"

The sound of hands slamming against a wooden desk echoed out through the principal's office, as Rose immediately dropped the facade between the three of them. "Why are we not in the hideout, why are we discussing these things like we're normal people?!" The Principal shouted, frankly a little confused as to why all of this had to take place in her office. Especially since she hadn't managed to clean out the scents that lingered in the air after the last incident. That took time, and she was busy preparing!

Ichiro chuckled as he brushed his hair back slightly. Such a mature vibe, compared to the short and bratty version of himself when he was fully transformed into King Cobra. "There's certain protocols in place to ensure that the Tachibana Foundation doesn't see its money misused in any fashion. Blame my Father for all of this. The last thing I want him to realize is that I've been undermining his existence for the last eight years, if not longer than that."

"Not only that." Charlotta spoke up, as she gently pushed her half-rimmed glasses up as she looked at her beloved. "We're celebrating our anniversary through this, Rose. Not as D'Or and Bat. But as Charlotta and Rose. You know I wouldn't want to cast a veil on that love of ours."

Rose sighed as she collapsed onto her chair, resting her head on the palms of her hands." I know. But I can't help but just..." She shivered. "It's like... Both Atlas Corp and the Darkness should know who we are. I don't see a point in this. Especially when they should very well be aware of how vulnerable we'll be."

"That's what the young ones are for, no?" Charlotta said, chuckling slightly as she stepped past her lover's desk. All so she could take a seat on her beloved darling's lap, and hug her close to her bosom. "Himitsu painstakingly offered to protect us. And if she's asked, then I don't doubt that the others will follow suit. And as much as I loathe that short monster... He wouldn't attack on a day like this. He has some idea of restraint."

Rose would like to comment on the fact that the Darkness had no such reservations, but being pinned up against her beloved like this was making it hard to think clearly. So she quietly just let herself sink into that hug, muttering and murmuring as the warmth overtook her...

All while Ichiro simply smiled. Those two women... To think that a mess like him could end up finding a sense of peace in helping them. Granted, it was mostly because they allowed him to do what he wanted...

But it was because of that... It was because of the love and the care they had shown towards him, allowing him to blossom into what he was today, that he wanted to make sure that this upcoming anniversary went as smoothly as possible.

Once that was over, however, it was time to turn his attention towards the bastard. As payment for what he had done to his little Nanako...

Oh yes, he would pay for touching one of his siblings...

---

"You're looking a lot happier than usual, Hayato. Have you made new friends?"

Hayato blushed and looked away as he watered the pot that his Mom was currently stuck in. Due to the way that she had been transformed ten years ago, she never turned back. And though he had the ability to make her turn back using the violent methods provided to him as a JõtaiKiller, he could never do that to his Mom...

Taiki Koizumi. Known post-incident as the Rose in Bloom. One of Golden Freedom's very first Jõtaijin. While she no longer saw herself connected to a rose to the point where she couldn't move, she still had to root herself in fresh soil every few days, ensuring that she got the proper nutrients to keep her body running. Which was why she was currently standing in a person-sized pot, giggling softly as she teased her son. As expected of the kind of woman that wanted nothing more than to see him happy.

He knew he shouldn't lie to her. He had lied to her so many times before. About everything it was that he did. But the way she always just accepted his lies made him feel awful. She always believed that he was telling the truth. And now that he had started to see the error of his ways, it just felt...

"...I reconnected with Mikai a little while back." He said, as he put the watering can down so that it could be refilled by the nearby faucet. "Remember how I told you that she couldn't smile for the last few years?"

"Oh! You're back with that sweet little ray of sunshine! Adorable!" Taiki giggled as she reached towards her son to give him one wonderful hug, only for him to dodge out of the way and prompt a pout to grow on the green-haired and green-skinned plant lady. Though it didn't last, as the delight of hearing her son having a good time was too strong. "Have you made her smile then? You did say you really liked her smile back then!"

"M-Mom!" Hayato cried out, the blush having worked its way across his entire face, only to be interrupted by the sound of the front doorbell ringing. "COMING!" He shouted, as an opportunity to escape his smothering mother had just presented itself.

Taiki watched as her son ran off, sighing as she leaned on the edge of the pot. All while smiling. Her lil' boy had been a real mess ever since she got transformed. He always had this... This look of sadness in his eyes. And it was still there. But instead of having a flame of hate that never seemed to douse, there was a speck of hope in his eyes. Something had definitely changed.

And while she knew she wouldn't be the one to push him further... She would love to see it grow brighter. Until that hope was the only thing in his eyes.

"Sorry about-"

Hayato was just about to apologize for his tardiness, only to immediately grimace as he saw Ero standing outside the door. No need to apologize to a bothersome girl like that.

"What was that, Hayahaya? Did you say you were 'cumming'?" The ganguro gothbot giggled as she winked at her partner, who immediately started to slam his head against the doorframe. "Aw, I thought that one was pretty good."

"Please stop." Hayato muttered, before pulling himself away from the doorframe. Though as he did so, he could feel his heartbeat completely seize up. All because of who he saw hiding around the corner of his doorway...

"Y-You... What in the world are YOU doing here?!"

Hayato was right to be angry, considering the girl that was standing there had a distinctly mechanical look to her. A mechanical look he had seen more than he would've liked, especially when combined with the robot that was his partner. More chillingly, it seemed like the mechanical girl had started to take on the look of one of the other pains in his neck, given the long and delicate hair she maintained. Considering her combat form had already absorbed aspects of Jõtaider Kanzei, it didn't surprise him that she started to look like a red and mechanical version of the Jõtaider's true self...

"The frustration you feel is mutual, JõtaiKiller."

Neoheim. Overlord Helheim's spawn, and the one that had temporarily hijacked Ero. Becoming that overly sexualized combination of the two, N-Ero-Heim... Which frankly wasn't that much more erotic than Ero already was, but it was the fact that she was in control of the pair that made it something that pushed Hayato to the brink, using everything he had to try and stop them...

"Good, good. Glad you're on the same page!" Ero giggled as she quickly stepped in between the two that were currently glaring at each other. "Because that'll make it sooooo much easier for us to explain exactly what Neo-chan might be feeling! Not right now, that's too easy, but when she looks at people she cares about!"

Hayato could physically feel the gears grinding inside his head, as he slammed his head against the doorframe. "I can't believe I'm going to explain feelings to a robot. Again." He muttered, before pulling his head from the dented frame and walking inside. "Friends came over, Mom! You're going to have to water yourself!" He shouted right before heading upstairs, not wanting to dwell on this more than he had to.

"Is he always like this?" Neoheim asked, as this was the first time she had actually seen him in more of a casual setting. The memories she had exploited while hijacking Ero were way more focused on the crux of his being. Less so about the finer details. "And who is this 'Mom' he speaks of? Is she comparable to Lady Cepha?"

Ero snickered. "Oh man. If that squid lady's the only 'Mom' you know of, then you've really got a lot to learn. But as long as you keep our little promise, I'll tell you everything that you want to know. Got it?"

Neoheim nodded, hand still over her heart. She wanted to understand these feelings of hers. And if what Ero just said was correct...

Then she might already be on the road to helping the Young One, more so than understanding these feelings could on their own...

---

"Aaaahh... Just a good book, quiet in the library, and a bottle of the hard stuff. Yeahh... Nothing could be better than that..."

Erina Godeliva sighed to herself as she was on the verge of collapsing against the desk. She didn't want to seem so pathetic, really. But with everything that was going on in Mimoto, she felt herself horribly outclassed. At least she hadn't been- no, wait, she got turned into a Pawn that one time...

But now that she had caught a whiff of Chimera on that girl, things were starting to click into place. She always did think that the smell that had been given off by the Pawns was familiar, and now that she smelled Chimera again... It was like...

"You know we're not supposed to bring alcohol into the library, Miss Erina. You don't want to be punished by Miss Alicia for rule breaking, do you?"

A mousy squeak left the pink-haired harpy's lips as she suddenly felt a massive chill run through her, all while slowly and grindingly turning her head towards the owner of that voice. And seeing that it was the handicapped Minami Kazumi didn't help matters at all...

"M-M-Minami. Please. Don't scare me like that." She knew that the girl had a tendency to say such mean things that would easily get under somebody's skin. But she had been avoiding her for so long that she forgot how bad it felt when she did it.

"Ehe." Minami winked, before resting her head on the palm of one hand. "That being said, there's something I've noticed. Just a little thing I've seen in a couple of history books regarding the development of Monsterkind."

Erina's dread didn't go away. Not because she knew what Minami was about to bring up, but because she still just didn't feel comfortable around her. She just had a.. .a...

She blinked as she started staring straight into Minami's swirling eyes... And all the worries, all the fears, they just started to wash away. "M-Monsterkind... development..?" She muttered, her lips loosened as she slipped into that incredibly softening trance. Something she simply couldn't fight back against...

Minami really shouldn't be using hypnosis this much to get what she wanted. Buuuuuut... It was better than dealing with one of her episodes. "Indeed. While most of these old books describe the fight for survival that culminated in two unknown predators striking each other down in the heat of battle, leading to the other Monsters having a chance to develop and lead to the generations that live today... There's this one picture in the book that makes me raise my eyebrow."

Though she was trapped in this trance, even that wasn't enough to keep Erina from feeling a sense of dread as Minami turned the book towards her. Showing off a pink-hued bird majestically flying through the air above the battlefield depicted on those pages...

"I..." She muttered, trembling as the white-haired girl quietly dropped the book onto the ground so she could grab ahold of her cheeks. All while drawing the older Harpy closer to her.

"Tell me everything you know about that time, Erina. I want to understand everything. You can help me, and you will help me. Won't you?"

Her hypnotic tone made Erina sink deeper and deeper, as the harpy's lips loosened...

Drawing Minami closer to understanding everything. And as a result, how she wanted to protect the Prime that had bonded to her...

---

"The day's coming once more. And yet here I am."

The benefactor of the JõtaiKillers, Haruhi Kaneko, muttered to herself as she sat in her study. All while gazing at the many pages that had been sprawled out on the table in front of her. All containing the research she had conducted on the Jõtai Factor, the Monster Gene, all of it...

All of it pointing to the conclusion that was far too obvious. That the only way to truly rid this world of the Darkness was to eliminate any hold that it had shown on it. And the greatest hold was that of the Jõtai. The Jõtai Factor and the Monster Gene were far too similar. Yet one was tainted, and one...

"When did this gene even come to be..." Haruhi muttered as she slowly grabbed her arm. Trembling bit by bit, as she struggled to keep her breathing well-paced...

Instead of celebrating. Instead of trying to mend the bridges she had burned for the sake of the world, she was stuck here. Researching. No matter if everyone would hate her. No matter if everyone would turn against her. She had to do this.

...It was her atonement for her pat in the Luna Descent. The fact people actually called Hopper a Hero in the early days of the fallout, for what she had done... The fact they dared to think that she had been a savior despite the people that died...

The only savior was Tsukiko. And now she was against them. For the sake of the woman she loved, and for the sake of making up for the mistakes she had made, she would continue to delve into the Monster Gene.

If she could figure out why it was so tightly and intimately related to the Jõtai Factor, then... Then there might still be a chance. A chance that she wouldn't have to go to such extremes.

A hope she desperately clung to, even as she committed herself to the possibility of continuing down her current path.

---

The day had come. A bright light shone in through stained glass above, as both Rose and Charlotta were already up at the altar. And standing not too far from there was the girl that had asked such a difficult favor of the people that arguably shouldn't be her friends with what she had done...

Honestly, Saki couldn't really believe that Cobra had managed to rent out the local Cathedral for Golden Freedom's... No. For Charlotta D'Or and Rose D'Or's anniversary. But he did call himself King, so it wasn't impossible to think he had money. Still, that much money..?

"You don't have to stand over there and look tough, Saki. You're part of our group just as much as Ichiro, Saeko and..." Charlotta paused, as she gazed towards the doors for a second. Right before sighing and shaking her head. Of course she wouldn't show up. She hadn't shown up for the last ten years, reconnecting with her through the crisis wouldn't change that. "And Haruhi. Even if she decided not to come."

Saki shook her head as well. "I know that. But I'm not the one celebrating years of being together." The blue-haired girl said, as she gently bowed her head. "It's your anniversary, Lady D'Or. You're the one that should be happy."

"And I would be happy if you were to join us." Charlotta said, before gazing towards Saeko. The lavender-haired girl had taken a seat in the audience, which really only consisted of her. Which did nothing to make their little ceremony any sort of conspicuous, but that didn't matter. As long as they were happy together. And, on the note of the girl... "Speaking of my dear little Saeko, have you ever thought of why she offered you that Jõtai?"

Saki paused and shook her head. Oblivious to the massive blush that now coated the girl's face. "I haven't given much thought to it. As far as I can tell, she did it because she wanted to give me a chance. Because she thought that I would make a great Jõtaijin."

"That's part of it." Charlotta interjected, before putting her hand over her heart. "My dear Saeko has always looked up to you. And, while most of what she did on that day was fueled by your potential, due to how you had reacted to Mikai's deception... She came to me another day and asked if she had done the right thing. Because she always knew that you felt powerless. And by turning you into a Jõtaijin, she was arguably taking away even more power."

Saki listened, fist gently clenching as the scene played out before her eyes. Saeko's insecurities being spilled to one of her maternal figures. And the figure supporting her. Something that she hadn't experienced herself in years...

"Jõtaijin may have their factors suppressed. They might even lose themselves in their power." Charlotta continued. All while her smile grew warm, and she came closer, patting Saki on the head. "But the freedom remains. And it's that freedom that she gave to you. The freedom to choose. It was because of that freedom that you unlocked your power as a Jõtaider. Far surpassing anything that Saeko ever could've expected." She said, closing her eyes and letting that smile bream on through.

"And no matter what anybody might say, that freedom is what remains within you. So whenever you feel doubt, just as you feel doubt if you belong here with us... Know that you're ultimately the one that chooses to do what you want with that power. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise."

Saki paused, and blushed a little as she felt that warm hand petting her while she let everything slowly soak in. "I'll... I'll remember that. Thank you, Lady..." She paused again, gazing at Charlotta's warm smile. "...Thank you, Miss Charlotta."

"If you ever need any more help, you know where to find me. And if you have any ideas on how to offer that freedom to others, I'm all ears." She said with that sweet smile on her face still beaming bright. "Just remember not to go too overboard. I know you're still haunted by your part in the Near-Luna Descent. Wouldn't want to bring another one with you at the center, would we now?"

The teasing hurt a little, but the message was there. D'Or hadn't just taken her in for the sake of using her as a pawn. She had taken her in because she thought she needed the nurture. That was what she took away from all of that.

It was why she drew a deep breath, and reached into her pocket. "Miss Charlotta. There's something I'd like to give to you. And to Miss Rose as well."

The brunette gasped a little as she gazed upon what Saki had made for her. An elegant little pair of roses. Both pain-stakingly made by putting her skills as a blacksmith to good use. Twisting and molding parts of metal into coiling around each other, until they formed the image of a rose. An everlasting symbol of beauty, like what she believed the two of them to be.

And in return, she received a kiss on the forehead. "I'll keep it close to my heart. And I'm sure that Rose will love it all the same. Thank you, Saki." She whispered into her ear, as the tall girl quietly departed towards the benches so she could sit down by her friend...

Leaving Charlotta to go hand off the other rose to Rose, and simply smile down at both Saki and Saeko. The two had done much for their cause, even if a lot of it had also caused them problems. But they were still young. They still had a bright future ahead of them...

And once this celebration was over, she would be there to help them. All for the sake of spreading that Golden Freedom...

---

"Hiro, I have a question!"

"I've answered at least a hundred questions since we got here. Do you ever run out of questions, Mikai?"

"Not when you're so mysterious without your emotions! And I still barely know anything about you, despite how we've fought together and slept together!"

"You're very lucky that Ero girl isn't here, Mikai. She would have a field day with your phrasing."

The sandy-haired girl simply grinned in response to Hiro's snark. It was just nice to be right beside her like this, especially since it had been a decently long time since they fought side by side. Not that she wanted to get up to fights at all. She just wanted a good day for D'Or and Bat and Saki and Saeko. Sure, she was technically enemies with Golden Freedom, but she couldn't turn down a favor from Saki. Especially when she had asked so nicely!

"So, you know D'Or, right? How long have you known her? Do you know what she's like? What about Bat? She keeps showing up and being all mysterious with that dress of hers, but she never says anything. Saeko was a lot more upfront about what she was like, she was angry and all grumpy and smug, but those two don't reveal too much. Even Cobra's more honest, and he's the horniest guy in the whole city!" Mikai asked a very long winded question, making sure to exaggerate her claims by making gestures with her hands...

With Hiro simply shrugging her shoulders. "I met her personally ten years ago. Right before you ended up getting into conflict with the culprit behind the Luna Descent. She was a very warm woman. Even after all this time, I still remember what it was like to face her. Yet Tsukiko..." She paused, her arm trembling as she let the name of that woman leave her lips. "Tsukiko wanted to try and see if there couldn't be a better solution than what they were doing. And then..."

Then the Luna Descent happened, and the rest is history. "Warm, huh." Mikai said as she put her hand over her heart, thinking a little as the darkness of her mind expanded around her. "Chimera, am I warm?" She asked her inner passenger, hoping to get a supportive answer.

"Not in the way Hiro's thinking." Chimera immediately replied, currently trying to fiddle with the Desriver that Mikai had been given. Even though it shouldn't be in her mind, the relationship between host and passenger meant that she could play with it. "You're more like the ray of sunshine shining down on a bright day. It sounds to me like D'Or's warmth is like that of an open flame. The kind could burn you if you get too close. Yet the kind that's so alluring, especially if you've been nothing but cold." She explained, before tossing the device to Mikai. "You wanna tell me why we need this thing?"

Mikai caught it and looked at it, before shaking her head. "Yumeko said that it would help. And I want to believe her. With everything she's done for us, it's only right we try and trust her, right?"

Chimera nodded, before sighing slightly. "Just remember. I'm always there for you. And if push comes to shove, I'll do anything to protect you. Even force through whatever's actually giving us trouble when we try to get into that form. Got it?"

"Got it." Mikai said with a smile, prompting Chimera to ruffle her hair like the older sister figure that she was. A little nice moment between the two, before something bad might happen.

The darkness around her started to fade, leaving her back in the real world with Hiro at her side. And she started scratching her chin a little, thinking a bit herself. How could she use it to become Chimera again...

All while Hiro simply stared up at the sky, the visor on her face ensuring she wouldn't blind herself despite the sun. All while quietly grabbing her armored arm.

"You're tense, Hiro. I don't blame you. There's a big chance something might happen." Huanglong's voice echoed through her ears, as the little helper appeared on her shoulder. "Want me to run diagnostics on your arm, to ensure that it doesn't act up if anything starts happening?"

"It'll be fine." Hiro muttered as she took her hand off the arm. "If we keep reinforcing this proverbial coffin, my state will deteriorate further." She knew that whatever the Darkness in her arm was planning to do to her, to keep pushing her towards her most vulnerable state... As much as she wanted to suppress it and keep on carrying on for the sake of keeping Mikai safe and secure...

The sadness that had broken through on her birthday was still strong. She wanted to make sure that she could make that wish come true. To see the girl smile for her again. Again and again and again. And that was why she just had to overcome the Darkness while pushing herself. That way, she could get that happy ending..!

"My, what a sunny day. And lookie here. Two of those pesky Jõtaiders that have caused no end to my troubles!"

A loud and pompous voice echoed out as both Mikai and Hiro turned towards the source, both locking their eyes on the top-hat wearing bastard that found himself on the very tip-top of the cathedral...

"You! You're that Lumiel bastard that turned Agatha into a bunny! And did bad things to Cobra's siblings too!" Mikai cried out, as she quickly started to cover herself in flames. "You don't get to cause chaos on a day like this!"

Hiro clenched her fist as well, even as several different alarms were going off inside her suit. "Huanglong, what's going on?" She said, sternly trying to wring the answers out of him as the energies started to flow through her arm.

"Darkness energy spiking in the atmosphere! Somebody's dropping all the way from space!"

Lumiel's laughter rang out as several tears started to open in the sky above. Each tear smaller than the last, with a human-sized tear floating right behind his head. And from the skies above, something silver was descending...

Each tear it passed through accelerated it further and further, until it slammed straight into the stained glass dome that Lumiel was floating near. And at that moment, a dark barrier formed around the Cathedral...

Leaving the hat-wearing bastard on the outside...

---

"You went through all this trouble, and you didn't even invite the Luna... Despite how important they've become to your relationship. Don't you think that's a little sad..?"

The seats all around the cathedral had been tossed aside or broken, leaving nothing in the wake of the one that descended from the stars above. The silver-clad Luna that served as the most dangerous threat beside the great Lady Cepha herself...

"Tsukiko..." Charlotta muttered, standing in front of her beloved as a golden barrier had kept any of the debris from hitting the two. She had expected something to get in their way, but this..?

"Tsukiko! TSUKIKO!" Rose screamed. She hadn't gotten the chance to see her directly during the Near-Luna Descent, but now that she was faced with the woman that had managed to nearly charm her the first time they met, leaving her with lingering regrets on how everything turned out... Of course she wouldn't be able to hold back her emotions...

'Tsukiko' laughed as she grabbed ahold of two of her tentacles, ripping them off as they turned into a pair of her blades. "Tsukiko this, Tsukiko that. I'm Luna. You both should know better." She said with such a chilling take on that woman's voice. All her knowledge of her past self having practically been erased. Leaving simply a woman wearing her skin behind...

A woman who couldn't help but chuckle as she turned her head towards the girl currently covered in debris, trying to protect the girl that couldn't fight with the same kind of strength as before... "Aha... You. The Descenders... You have Sir Lumiel's thanks. For all that you've done."

Saki panted and trembled as she felt the rage rising within. Even though she could feel a bunch of pain, due to all the wood and the glass that had been launched towards her... She couldn't stop herself from turning towards Tsukiko, the power within her telling her to just get to it and fight. Yet if she did so... If she did so..!

Her eyes went blank for a second as she felt the protective arms of Saeko wrap around her. "Saki..!" Her voice. So strained. Yet filled with the same kind of need. There was only one answer available to her. Even if it meant she was playing into their hands by using her powers..!

"Henshin!"

Jõtaider Kanzei would stand to fight the Luna that threatened the people that had given her this freedom. And beside her... Despite the weakness still in her, Saeko would stand.

'Tsukiko' laughed as she let her blades pass by her tongue, giving them both one delightfully deranged lick, before launching herself into combat with the Descenders.

They were the keys. And for the sake of Mama and Sir Lumiel's plans, she would strike them down.

All so that the Luna Descent could come to pass properly this time!

---

"That presence... That was them! The Darkness!"

Hayato shouted as he tried to rush out of bed. Ero trying to follow behind him, as she didn't want him to run into danger when she was literally right there. Both of them looked like trash since they had both been sleeping terribly the night before... Mainly due to Neoheim's presence.

And it was her presence that stopped them, as the mechanical girl held their arms. Keeping them close to her. Not because she wanted to stop them, but rather...

"This... This is the emotion..." She muttered, her tail extending from her tailbone as it pushed up against her heart. "This emotion I feel from you two... It's the same kind of emotion I felt when I gazed upon the Young One. Please. Help me understand it."

Hayato grit his teeth a little, but one good look at Ero told him that she was ultimately on Neoheim's side in all of this .Even if she was frustrated too. All they could do was hope that Mikai and the others would be able to make do.

A frustrated sigh left his lips. "So you want to know what drives people to try and help others. You should've said that in the first place..." He muttered, gazing once more at Neoheim. Who looked so sincere despite it all...

Damnit. Mikai better keep on being as strong as she proved herself to be... Oh, who was he kidding. She was Mikai. If there was anybody that could handle it, after everything she had been through, it'd be her.

If only he didn't have to play teacher to a robot that had tried to kill him. Maybe she'd learn morals this time around...

---

"Damnit, I overslept! I promised Saki that I'd help her out with that Golden Freedom business! I'm the worst friend, and now look at what's going on!"

Yuuki shouted as she skated down the streets of Mimoto, freezing her surroundings as she hurried towards ground zero of the latest cataclysmic event. Sure, Saki had been pretty awful, but she had promised her that she would be there. Saki even got down on her knees to beg for it when she didn't even need to do so!

"Just wait, Saki! I'm-"

Before Yuuki had a chance to progress further, the ground in front of her quaked. And as she gazed forward, she grimaced and stanced up. Somebody had arrived to stop her. Somebody nearly as bombastic as her, yet he seemed none too pleased with this either.

"Ahh, the PASSIONATE one who awoke to a burning flame! How I would love to feud with you at this moment, to see how far you can push me!" Overlord Helheim shouted, before furling his wings inward to look a lot more thoughtful. "Unfortunately, Sir Lumiel has requested that I refrain from fighting. It seems as if he has one of his bigger plans in store. As such, I am to keep you here. Without indulging in my lust for combat."

Yuuki grit her teeth. "Why do you even listen to that guy!? What's he done that makes him the boss of you guys? Isn't that supposed to be the big squid that nearly turned everyone into squids!?" The girl shouted as the ground around her froze further. "Get out of my way, Overlord! I want to save my friend!"

"I understand!" Helheim shouted, as the icy field beneath him shattered in response to his roaring voice. "Yet I owe him. My honor as an Overlord will not let me go against his word until I've repaid him. And this still does not fulfill that quota, as much as it pains me to admit." His voice dripped with a frustrated hint of sorrow, before he turned his attention on the girl in front of him. "So I must keep you here. At least until he gives the signal. If the fight still roars on by that point... I will lend you my aid."

This gave Yuuki pause, causing the ice around her to shatter fully. "You want to betray him, despite owing him? Where's the honor in that, then?" It didn't make too much sense, but a good look into his eye let her understand. "...You want them to be okay too, so you can get the fight you long for."

"Indeed. And if I have to make do with another corrupted version of them, then so be it." The Overlord declared, taking a seat in the middle of the street as he offered her to come closer. "Come, PASSIONATE one. We need to conserve our strength. If Sir Lumiel's dirty tricks succeed, then we are to undo it. For the sake of a greater challenge!"

He was a strange being. However, that just made Yuuki grin. Taking a seat by the much bigger mechanoid as she clenched her fist tight. She had to place her trust in Saki and the others to handle this. And if not...

Then she'd just have to pull double duty compared to the Near-Luna Descent, and drag them both out of their mania. Like a friend would!

---

"Not now..! Not now! Why is she there!?"

Haruhi shouted as she watched the chaos unfold on one of her screens. The barrier around the cathedral had many similar qualities to what she had been able to study. Which meant that it was essentially one giant barrier made of Jõtai Factor...

The Darkness was able to utilize the Jõtai Factor. Which explained part of why Mimoto had been contaminated and turned into Dark Dragon. But it still didn't explain the Monster Gene. And if-

Haruhi's eyes widened as she coughed violently. Black and gold blood caught on the palm of her hand as she covered up her mouth. She shouldn't be pushing herself this badly. What she had done that night was already far too much...

If only she was stronger, then all of this wouldn't be happening... Damnit..!

Haruhi turned her attention towards her research, unable to do a thing to stop these events from panning out...

---

"That was her, wasn't it? Tsukiko! The woman that saved me back then! Why is she like this!? What did you guys do to her!?"

Mikai shouted as she didn't even bother calling out her transformation chant. Using King's Flame to ascend, before the winds of Blast Eagle covered her and allowed her to carry that momentum as she began to spin. Fully intent on drilling through that Prime..!

Lumiel smirked, barely dodging out of the way of a blast that was fired his way courtesy of KING, before spinning his cape and letting it cover him up completely, swallowing him and teleporting him out of the way of the drilling strike headed his way.

"What did we do? Oh, what did we do indeed." Lumiel's voice echoed out, as he ended up on the streets below. Very close to where KING was standing, prompting him to quickly raise his cane so he could properly block the strike that came his way.

The metal of KING's blade sent sparks through the air as it clashed with that cane, and KING didn't let up. Letting her other blade clash against that cane once again, trying to force the man back. Her strikes were not fueled by emotion, but rather by what might leave him most vulnerable...

Which was why she immediately swapped out for two KNIGHT Blasters as soon as he was seemingly locked in place, letting loose with several quickened shots as he remained stuck in place. Especially as she put her legs to good use, running circles around him to ensure that he would be unable to raise his defenses.

Not that any of the bullets actually seemed to hit. They seemed to disappear the closer they got to him, all while he tipped his hat towards the experienced heroine...

"MAJOR! IMPACT!"

Mimoto's voice echoed out above him, as Earth Ursa took advantage of the height between the two. Gravity worked its magic on the falling girl, as she rapidly descended towards him. Both claws out as she plainly tried to crash into him and hopefully push him into a crater where the two could unload everything they had on him...

The ground shook as Mimoto made impact. To their knowledge, he didn't get the chance to move. Leaving a crater where he had been.

Emphasis, had been. The only thing left was his cape, which was now torn to shreds thanks to the way Mimoto had crashed into him. Riddled in bullet holes too, showing that some of the bullets that KING had fired had made their mark.

"While I would absolutely love to fight you two as much as you'd like, I'm afraid I lack the offensive capabilities to take you both down. In good time anyway."

Lumiel's voice echoed from above, as he now found himself standing on the gate leading into the Cathedral. Right behind the barrier that separated the two from the inside. Stuck in a nice, safe location, where neither of them could do a thing to hurt him.

"Coward's talk." KING said, chest folding away to reveal the BISHOP unit embedded within. "This barrier will not protect you. Nor will your cowardice win you this fight." She said, as the energies from her arm started to pour into her chest...

Mimoto reached for her belt, pulling out her Unicorn Blade as the light consumed her armor, transforming her into Light Unicorn. Letting her blade shine with bright light as she focused all of her power through it. "It's made from Darkness, so Light should be able to take it out! The Beginning and the End is coming for you soon, Hat-man!"

Lumiel shrugged his shoulders. "Hat-man, she calls me. What, is that mechanical oaf Dragon Man? No, of course not, he actually gave his name, and he's about as smart as her. They'd get along well." He muttered under his breath, before clearing his throat. "Coward might not be the word that fits me the best. I would like to say... Prepared fits a lot better. Observe, KING."

His fingers snapped, and the energy in Hiro's chest suddenly died down. All while her eyes fell on the girl that ended up standing right at his side. A girl that had not seen the light of day for a long time. One that filled her with dread and hate just seeing her free like that...

"NATSUKI!"

Mikai's eyes were wide under her helmet as well. She recognized that girl. Hiro had shown her pictures of her. She did look a lot like her, just not as short! Not only that, but she was... She was Maki-sensei's daughter, Natsuki Maki! So not only was she angry on Hiro's behalf, but she was also angry on his behalf! And angry at Lumiel for being a real bastard! "Let go of her! She's not part of this!"

The fury on Hiro's face was potent. Oh so delightful. Lumiel could practically lick his lips and taste it. But he wasn't done. "Now, what would happen if I were to show you this?" He said, as he snapped his fingers once again...

A dim light shone from within Natsuki's eyes. And she raised her arm, pressing it against her chest as a gauntlet not unlike Hiro's own formed across it...

"Jouchaku."

A blackened energy covered her in a split second, before an inverted color version of the PAWN armor formed across her body. Complete with a red, murderous visor covering her eyes. Making her look like nothing more than a drone wearing the PAWN armor. A drone, an emotionless machine...

"Isn't it wonderful? This is what the PAWN System is really meant to be used for. Well, once it's been fine tuned. Something you've helped with, KING. Of course they haven't implemented the finer details yet... But that doesn't mean I can't use these 'Natives' for a little experiment of my own."

Lumiel's words were running through Hiro's ears. But all she heard was white noise. And a single, solitary giggle working its way across her mind...

"Systems critical..!"

Huanglong was far-too-aware of what was happening to Hiro. If this kept going, she was going to lose herself. She was going to give into the Darkness and go on a rampage. But there were ways for him to mitigate this. Ways for him to save her, even with the destruction that followed. It required him to supercharge the system that used the Darkness in her as fuel, but while it wouldn't cause her to be contaminated, it would cause her to go berserk for the time being... But..!

"Mikai! We're placing all of our bets on you! Make sure that Hiro doesn't destroy herself!"

The message was beamed straight into Mikai's mind thanks to the upgrades made to the KING armor, before a bright red flash emerged from that green visor. A bright flash that turned dark and gold, before coalescing into a deep golden hue. All while the wires that connected from her arm to the rest of her body disconnected...

"Desperado: CODE BEAST! Run wild and destroy him for what he's done, Hiro!"

Huanglong's voice, filled with the fury that he shared with Hiro, echoed out right as Mikai tried to turn towards her to help her. But by that point it was already too late.

The green hues of the energy that usually was used for Desperado turned the same color of gold as Hiro's visor, right before she let out a bestial roar. Not unlike what Mikai would've done when she was stuck as Dark Dragon. And with the exact same kind of ferocity, KING threw herself forward!

"Hiro!" Mimoto shouted, though she felt a pang of energy rush through her in turn. All the energy she had gathered was ready. But if she used it now, there was a non-zero chance-

The sound of the barrier shattering echoed out, as the bestial KING slammed straight through the dark barrier that was meant to keep her from getting inside. All while she launched herself at Lumiel, both of her blades folded out as she aimed to stab them through him and leave him skewered on the ends..!

Unfortunately, she didn't get that far. Her blades were caught mid-stab by the PAWN that had been her subordinate, Natsuki. The PAWN didn't flinch, despite the blades being impaled in her hands. If anything, she simply wrestled both hands free from those blades, and delivered a swift kick to the bestial woman's stomach...

Lumiel smirked as he patted the converted PAWN on the back. "Wonderful stuff. I wouldn't ever have imagined that the Jõtai would be used like this. Both in the PAWN system, and in the system she's wearing. To think this is what happens to desire once molded... Then again, nothing beats twisting the purest of desire to how you want it."

All that KING could do as she recovered was roar, currently down on all fours. Not even trying to look humane at this point. The only thing that drove her was the hate she felt for that man. That man had to pay. He had to. She needed to tear him apart and destroy him for what he had done to her..!

"Hiro..." Mikai muttered, as she closed her eyes and nodded. "I just need to have him held down for a second, then..." She paused, as a bright idea started to pour into her mind. No, she didn't need to try and risk that. She had another option on hand...

As his PAWN jumped down from her vantage point and ran to meet the beast in direct combat, Lumiel leaned back slightly. Sighing sweetly as he dusted off his hat. "Now I'm going to have to get a new cape. That one was quite expensive, you know? Getting all the way to a distant world and back here takes some energy out of me, and I have to pay energy to have it made. You kids have no respect for taste."

"Don't worry. We have no respect for you either, Prime."

Lumiel rolled his eyes as he suddenly found a bladed tail pointed straight at his throat. Now when had she gotten there? "Ouroboros, I take it? That's the Prime that's inside you, correct?" The blue-haired bastard said, refusing to even turn around to meet the Jõtaider's gaze.

Ouroboros nodded, all while the venom at the tip of her tail started to drip down onto his body. "Prime sounds so lame, you know? She's more like a dear friend to me. Maybe a little more. At any rate, your barrier was easy to pass through thanks to her." She almost sounded proud of the passenger inside her body. Even if she was the reason why she was so hungry much of the time. "I've been waiting to feast on you, Lumiel. She might be afraid of you, but I know that your kind usually aren't guarded. No matter how much it might look like they are. And with what she's told me... I think there's a good chance you're exactly who I need to eat."

"Oho? And who would that 'she' be?" Lumiel asked, before suddenly twisting his body around in the blink of an eye. Grabbing both Ouroboros' tail and her throat within the span of a second. "Not that it really matters. You really should've listened to that artificial Prime inside you. I am much scarier than she makes it sound."

Minami's confidence was shattered for just a moment. And the only thing she could hear was the sound of Ouroboros screaming in her ears. RIght before a golden glow started to consume her... Well then, it seemed as if she couldn't just skip to the part where she beat the big bad...

"Look, Mimoto! A friend! And you know what I would love to do to those friends of yours, the ones that abuse that abhorrent Jõtai that you keep trying to exploit to hurt me?"

Lumiel's voice echoed out, prompting Mimoto to gaze towards him. Right as that golden cocoon that codified the transformation into a Jõtaijin appeared around Ouroboros, sending a slight bit of dread through the girl...

"I would love to use their own Jõtai against them. For their real purpose! Survival of the Fittest, coalesced into such a tiny and compact form!"

The cocoon cracked as Lumiel threw her forward. And in the place of Ouroboros was an older looking Minami, clad in an armored dress that made her look a lot more like she belonged to desert regions, what with all the veils as part of that dress. Not only that, but it seemed like several spirals had been printed onto her body. Spirals that made it harder and harder to focus as one gazed upon her...

Spirals that distracted both of the combatants she landed in between, as the converted Minami started giggling. "Fall under the sway of Minamirage. And fight for my sake..." Her corrupted tone was as playful as ever. Yet while she seemed to have lost her more offensive prowess, she made up for it in terms of bewitching...

Leading both the bestial KING and the PAWN to turn their gaze towards Mimoto, their visors now carrying the same sort of spiral as the ones printed on the exotic belly dancer-like Jõtaijin. A dancer who seemed to practically be... Nope, that was a snake half that Mimoto simply didn't notice. Probably due to the spirals...

Three against one. This should terrify Mikai. Especially considering who the opponents were. Yet she couldn't help but feel excited as she held her hand against her chest, producing the Desriver that she had kept inside her. The same that Chimera had been playing with...

"Let's hope this works, Yumeko! Chou Henshin!" Mikai shouted as she slammed the Desriver unit into the side of her belt, letting the Desire that powered the two Jõtai consume her...

A golden hue engulfed her for a second, before a powerful draconic roar echoed out. The golden hue was replaced by the deepest, darkest blacks, only to be torn to shreds by her wings forming. All while the green eyes of a familiar terrifying armor peeked their way out...

As the darkness faded, Dark Dragon stood tall once more. But this time, there was no silence. This time, there was determination. Dark Dragon thrusting her arms forward as the jaws on her arms locked forward, arming her with a blade and a cannon.

The Jõtai tempered and amplified her desires so much that it let her tap back into Dark Dragon. And while she felt an overwhelming sense of hate and anger and self loathing fill her, there were two things that kept her from falling.

The trust of everyone putting their hopes in her. They knew she wouldn't fall again. And beyond that, the duty she had to fulfill. No matter what, she wouldn't fall. Not until she had freed those three.

Dark Dragon roared as she leapt into battle. A sole darkened Hero, against those that need to be freed from the Darkness!

---

"What's the matter, Descender? You're not using all of your power. You can't hope to beat me if you don't use every inch of it."

Kanzei grit her teeth as she spun her cane to deflect another slash from the powerful Luna. She knew of this Luna in passing. She was a Hero, just like Hopper. Mikai wouldn't be here if not for her. Even if she had been corrupted at this point, she was still somebody that deserved to be free...

Which was why she wasn't using her chains. No matter how much they might be able to help her. No matter what, she wasn't going to use that part of her skillset. If she did, then she would just lean into what they had been saying. How her powers were the cause of everything! How she was no better than the Luna, or anybody else that was at their side..!

A barrier of webbing appeared in front of her, though the Luna cut straight through it with ease. Even making sure to carve through it in such a way that a blast from her blade shot straight through Kanzei, headed straight for the lavender-haired girl on the other side.

Saeko's eyes widened as she tried to protect herself, but the blast didn't reach her. Kanzei was quick to jump in front of her, carving the slash in twain with twin blades of her own. Even if she could feel her body having trouble keeping up...

"Saki..." Saeko felt powerless. Her webbing wasn't strong enough. And because she wasn't strong enough, the girl she admired... The girl she had helped, the girl who had been trying to find her way, she was struggling too much just trying to help her...

"We have to help them, Charlotta! Please, lower the barrier!"

Rose was not enjoying the sight of this at all. She needed to get in there. She needed to stop this before it got any further. Before her Saeko got hurt!

But Charlotta shook her head. "I'm placing my trust in Saki. She can do this." She said, before her smile grew a little pained. "Besides... If we really do try and fight her, we might be playing into their plans. I can smell it in the air. Her stench..."

It pained Rose to simply be an observer. But it was what she had to do. Charlotta knew this better than her. Even if she simply wanted to go in there and transform, she trusted her wife to know better...

But that didn't mean she had to be happy about it. "Saki..! Protect her, please!" So she begged. Hoping that the gilded girl could do what mattered...

Kanzei could feel the hopes riding on her. She could feel the pressure put on her by the enemy in front of her. And so she closed her eyes...

"Why do you protect them? You know they're fragile! They're meant to be broken! Mama will fix them anyway, no need to protect what's supposed to keep on breaking!"

Luna's words echoed out, as she came running towards the golden girl. Her pressure would no doubt continue. If she kept on hesitating like this, then there was no future for any of them...

"DIVINE BIND!"

So Kanzei slammed the butt of her cane into the ground, many chains popping out of the ground as they tried to bind Luna. To no avail, as the silver-clad monster simply carved her way through them. But it was that moment that Saki needed..!

"SYNCHRONIZE!"

Golden energies flourished through Kanzei's hands, as she drew a blade from an imaginary scabbard. A blade forged from the strings and the bonds she shared with Saeko. A blade that would do her good, even if it was infused with the same power she was afraid of using..!

"Divine Slayer, heed my call. Kamikumo! Today, we slay our enemy!"

Golden threads emerged around her. Her power as Kanzei, merged with the ability that still remained within Saeko. It was not as strong as when she was Spider... But it didn't matter!

What mattered was that she protected the ones she loved. Laying down her life, for the sake of making sure they survived with her!

The strings threw themselves forward alongside their master, as Kanzei dashed forward and clashed against Luna once again. With only the crazed woman's laughter serving as the sound echoing through the cathedral...

Her power was a tool. And now, she would use it for justice. To right her wrongs, one saved life at a time!

---

"Fight, fight! Fight and make her fall!"

Minamirage's voice echoed through both PAWN and KING's ears, as each of them launched their respective onslaughts on the Dark Dragon. All while she faded in and out of existence, like the Mirage that she was...

PAWN's aggression was relatively easy to repel, since she was nothing more than a PAWN. The issue came in the form of her endurance. No matter how Dark Dragon slashed through her, she seemed to heal from her injuries. Leaving her easily able to carry on the assault once again.

As for KING, she was dashing across the battlefield. Jumping and pouncing from side to side, with her essentially weaving back and forth to try and deal with the threat as it was presented to her. Especially as more and more shots were being fired at her.

Dark Dragon was strong. Durable. Incredibly vicious and versatile... But that didn't mean much in the face of enemies that didn't understand the meaning of fear. They would keep on attacking her, no matter how much she tried to fight back. Sure, she'd manage to slash straight through the PAWN and launch her towards the walls of the Cathedral. Sure, she'd land another glancing blow on KING and knock her flying over her... But both would be at it again soon after, as neither of them showed any sign of slowing down...

"You should fight too. Fight, fight, fight. Fight for my sake, and lose yourself in the fight..."

Minamirage's voice echoed through Mikai's ears as she suddenly found herself coiled up by the serpent. Struggling to free herself, thanks to how tight the coils were wrapping around her. She could try and stab into her and free herself that way, but her mind was falling prey to the wonderful tone going through her head..!

"Let go..!" Mikai cried out, trying to maneuver Dark Dragon's wings in such a way that they spun around her. Due to the loose way they were connected to her, that was something they were able to do. She just..!

Her eyes were dimming bit by bit as she saw both PAWN and KING dashing towards her. The former putting all of her strength into her legs, while KING was bouncing on all fours, blades on her arms ready to slash through her. Was this... Was this all she...

"MIKAI!"

No, it wasn't! Never!

"Chimera! Together!"

Mikai snapped free from the trance that Minamirage held her in, as she started glowing golden. Golden hues emerged from the armor that covered her, though not the undersuit itself. Golden hues that blinded both of the approaching girls, as well as the serpent that coiled around her.

With that moment of time bought, Dark Dragon spun her wings around. Slashing herself free, and causing the Minamirage to fade. Allowing her to leap away and bring some distance between her and the three combatants. All while she felt an overwhelming pressure force its way through her.

She was this close to transforming. This close to getting Chimera on top of her again. She just needed a little more time. But it didn't seem like she'd get it..!

The hypnotic mist that made up Minamirage's serpentine body was spreading, her spirals floating in the air. Driving both PAWN and KING wild, as the two ran towards their prey. Ready to tear into her, ready to tear her limb from limb and then continue fighting each other like the Mirage was causing their maddened minds to do...

Dark Dragon shielded herself with her wings...

And yet, nothing came.

Multiple seconds passed, and yet nothing happened.

Prompting Dark Dragon to quietly withdraw her wings, as she saw somebody shocking in front of her. It wasn't a bad sight, but it was definitely a surprising one...

"Yumeko..?"

Yumeko Watanabe herself, smiling as she turned towards her dark-armored friend. "Dark Dragon fits you way less than Dream Dragon. But that form was born from my bond with my Mikai." She teased, as she turned towards the three combatants they were faced with...

Three that were locked in time. Unlike the top-hat wearing Prime, who was trembling at the sight of the black-haired girl...

"You... YOU! YOU'RE NOT MEANT TO BE HERE!" Lumiel recognized her. To the point of launching straight from anger into laughter. "Now it all makes sense...! NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE WHY I HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS EFFORT! YOU!"

"Still as crazy as ever..." Yumeko sighed, as she reached into her bag. "Sorry for the long wait, Mikai. But I'm finally ready to fight alongside you. This time, I won't stand by and watch you fall. No more."

Mikai watched her girlfriend pull out another copy of the Hopper System. Not only that, but it seemed a lot more cracked compared to the Desrivers that she had given her and Saeko. "Yumeko, you can use one of those..?"

"Not really." Yumeko said, before gripping it tightly. "But I could! And that's what matters!" She shouted, as she tightened her grip on the system...

Causing it to shatter... And then reform on her arm. Taking the form of a much smaller brace, one dotted by clouds both on and around it. Like it symbolized having one's head in the dreamy clouds, despite all of them being cracked just like Mikai's belt...

"Mikai. Give me the strength I need to keep you safe. Again and again..!" Yumeko muttered under her breath as she spun the clouds around her wrist, and spun on the spot as well. "Dreamer Drive, Start Up!"

The clouds flew around her, golden hues emerging from them as they covered her completely. One by one fading away to gradually reveal her armor. Armor that looked much more feminine compared to the armor that Mikai wore, yet maintained a similar aesthetic.

Where the two armors mainly differentiated was in the chest department. Because besides the overall theme of the armor being a lot more ephemeral, there was also a butterfly printed across her chest. The same sort of stylized butterfly as the wings that emerged from her back, before the latter disappeared into specks of light...

"Dreaming Eternally, Jõtaider Dream!" The newly awakened... Or perhaps even reemerged, Jõtaider Dream declared her arrival. Much to the continued dismay and anger of one Lumiel...

And at her side was Dark Dragon. Though not for long, as the armor across her body shattered. All while an aura of Chimera covered the girl, clamping down on her like a set of teeth ready to chow down...

"DAI HENSHIN!"

Mikai's voice rang out, as she transformed into Chimera once again. Mimoto was at its strongest. Thanks to the bonds that she had made. Thanks to the bonds that she had formed with Chimera. And with Yumeko... No, with Dream at her side, they'd be unstoppable!

The time that had been frozen began once more, all while Lumiel refused to stick around for a second longer. Leaving them to deal with the fallout of his actions. Three dangerous enemies, each ready to tear them to pieces...

"I've got your back, Dream!" Mimoto Chimera cried out, flames on one arm and winds covering the other. First time she got to properly fight alongside one of her girlfriends, to save others she held near and dear...

If Mikai could see her face right now, Yumeko would be smiling. And by spreading her arm out, her butterfly wings grew once more. Growing bigger and bigger...

"From the depths of my dream, come to my aid. For the sake of the one we love!"

Just as KING was about to launch herself at the two, an arrow flew forthward from that wing. Launching the enemy backward, as another armored being emerged...

One that took Mimoto by surprise. It was a much darker version of Dream, yet one armed with a bow and with a butterfly emblem closer to one half of her chest rather than across the entire chest...

"Jõtaider Nightmare." Dream explained, with the other version of herself not doing much to emote. "My power is to tap into time and the dreams that linger in it. And from there... Another version of myself, when I fell into the trap of fighting Mikai, has come forth. Together, we'll take them down. Ready, Mikai?"

Mikai's eyes were beaming underneath her helmet. Her girlfriend could summon alternative versions of people... Or, at the very least, herself. Such a cool thing to do. And with them both at her side...

Heh, now there's no way she could lose!

---

"What's the matter, Descender? All that talk about bonds and protecting your loved ones! And you still can't even come close to killing me!"

Kanzei grit her teeth as Kamikumo clashed against Luna's blade once more. Like it had done a good hundred times at this point. And while the blade hadn't managed to crack, her own stamina was wearing down...

Yet the enemy, the Luna that had descended to try and take out the ones that she cared about, just like back then... She was still standing. Not even a single bead of sweat had left her brow...

"I won't let you win... I won't! I won't!" Kanzei shouted as she struck back, slashing and leaving a trail of string in the wake of her slash. A trail that she grabbed, solidifying it as she whipped at Luna with it.

The whipping allowed her to grab one of Luna's blades. Yet she simply let go of it and let it turn back into a tentacle, using the opportunity to wield her remaining blade with both hands and slash with much more vigor. Sending a whole shockwave at her, one that she ran straight at.

Kanzei slashed through the energy, only to be grabbed by the silver-armored Luna. Her fingers dug into her helmet as she lifted her into the air. A wicked grin on her face as those fingers were making more and more of the helmet crack the longer she held her like this.

The gilded girl certainly tried to slash at her. Trying her best to get something out of this. Slashing and slashing, yet not at all being able to make her mark. All while Luna simply kept on laughing.

"All that talk. And yet you still remain a Descender. One whose desire is so strong that it brings us here. You, that Mimoto girl, the girl you're trying to protect, that woman over there..." She said, using her free hand to point towards Charlotta, before smirking. "And the girl who could've stopped all this. And yet you all choose to dig your heels in. And simply keep desiring for your end. It's too funny!"

"S-Shut up! SHUT UP!" Kanzei shouted as her helmet shattered, which also shattered Luna's grip on her head. Allowing her to stab Kamikumo straight through her, in a moment of pure vulnerability. Straight through..!

But Luna simply kept on laughing. Only staggering back slightly as she grabbed the blade embedded in her. "That's what happens to you Descenders. Push you far enough, and you desire nothing except seeing the threats to your existence crushed. It's a laugh..." She said, pulling Kamikumo out of her and tossing it at Saki. All while continuing to laugh like the maniac she was.

"So keep on using your desire! Keep on pushing yourself to the brink! You'll just make it worse! You'll make it worse for everyone you know and love! The more you try to protect, the more you end up hurting! An endless cycle of grief and struggle, with no end in sight! Ahaha! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

Saki very nearly got hit by that blade as it flew towards her. Her faith in herself shaking more and more as she heard the Luna's spiel. Her cane reappeared in her hands as Kamikumo shattered against the wall. She... She... If she... If she used her power, then things would get worse... But if she didn't, then..!

"Come on, Descender. Drain me. Like you drained the Young One. Drain me and let me fester inside you. So that you can tear yourself apart from the inside. Infested by the will of the Darkness! Only that will stop me!" Luna shouted as she yanked another tentacle from her head, transforming it into another blade as she dashed forward. Beckoning her to try and do the one thing that would make things worse...

The blue-haired girl's heart was beating harder and harder. Everything grew too loud for her to hear. She was scared. Just like those ten years ago. When her family transformed before her eyes. When she felt the most powerless. Even now, with all of this power, she felt so powerless once again. What was she... What could she even do!? WHAT COULD SHE DO TO SAVE THE PEOPLE SHE LOVED, IF ALL SHE DID JUST MADE IT WORSE?!

"SAKI!"

Her eyes widened, before they sharpened once more. And the powerful ring of her mind's hammer echoed out, as she met the slashing blades head on with a sword of her own. A thin sword, striking the spot where the two blades intersected for a precise counter...

Saeko's voice had reached her. And though her heart still felt nothing but despair, she wouldn't fall. Not until she couldn't draw breath any longer...

The sight of her still standing, despite all that she had endured... It filled the people watching with hope. Especially Saeko, whose eyes had long since turned into waterfalls with how much she had been crying...

Rose had been crying too. Because there was nothing she could do. But Charlotta, she simply watched, and she closed her eyes. Smiling softly from the girl's ability to hold on despite it all...

"It really is hopeless, you know." Luna said, her voice returning to a much more calm and collected tone. All while grinding both of her blades against each other, sharpening the edges until they were more like spikes. "You'll lose everything you hold dear, even if you hold out. What's the point of enduring if you lose it all?" She said, before rearing her arm back. "It won't matter if they're all gone."

"Even so..!" Saki shouted, as her helmet reformed, and she slid her hand along the length of her thin blade. Manifesting Kamikumo once more. "Even so, I'll endure! Because they deserve to be happy..!"

"HAHA! WELL SAID, GOLDEN GIRL!"

A loud and proud cry echoed from the skies above. And the barrier, which had only been shattered out front, shattered completely as something fell down. Right towards the Luna that had been causing so much pain...

The Luna tried to jump out of the way, but the falling presence was too quick. Slamming her into the ground while knocking up a ton of dust due to the earth shattering underneath them...

When the dust cleared, a new figure had made her grand appearance. Star spangled bikini top clinging to her chest. Slight tan decorating a muscled body. A cowboy hat with a proud pair of horns sticking out of them. Long flowing blonde locks that reached all the way down to her shorts, and a pair of boots that completed that western look...

And in her hand, currently being held just like Saki had been just a little while prior, was the Luna. Not even reacting to the fact that her head was being crushed. "Another... No, your desire is satiated." She muttered, slightly shocked at the woman that tried to crush her. Why would somebody like her come to try and stop her..?

"Exactly. Now scram! Come back a day where they're not celebrating!" The blonde shouted, as she threw the Luna into the air... Before meeting her on the way back down with a dropkick. Both of her boots digging into the invader's side...

As she was launched. Straight through a wall. And given the brief sight of her bouncing against the roads outside, she was going to have a hard time getting back here... Not to mention a hard time recovering from that blow. Then again, considering how she reacted to being stabbed...

Maybe she simply let herself get hit. That's the only thing Saki could do to rationalize what she had just seen, collapsing onto her rear in shock. All while her eyes were locked on the blonde... Such strength, yet... Not a single speck of fear in her, not a single speck of doubt...

The barrier around Charlotta and Rose vanished, allowing the shorter-haired blonde to run over towards her dear daughter. So she could make sure she was okay, and also hug her because she hadn't been killed... All while Charlotta herself walked towards the tall and muscled blonde. "You took your sweet time, Claudia. Or would you prefer Bison while you're like this?"

"Whichever works best for you, Miss Charlotta." 'Bison' said, crossing her arms and grinning. "You know how it goes though. The hero arrives in the nick of time. Right when everything's about to collapse." She grinned, turning her head to look towards the golden girl. "If it hadn't been for her, though, I would've been too late. You have my thanks, Golden Girl!"

Saki's armor started to fall apart due to the adrenaline fading from her body. Collapsing bit by bit, as the compliment quietly settled inside her heart...

Had she... Had she won? Without her power... Against the odds of that woman's constant taunting..?

If that was the case, then... Then maybe taking a little nap wouldn't... wouldn't be a problem at all...

Saki collapsed, unaware of what else would happen around her. A smile on her face, despite the pain. She did not wake up as Saeko started shaking her to make sure she was okay, simply because of how much she had exhausted herself. She needed the rest...

Would... Would Mikai be proud of her, for how she had held out..? And... Was this the satisfaction that came with being a Hero..?

Those were the thoughts that dwelled on her mind as she fell asleep, and drifted into her own dark dreamscape...

---

"What was that?"

Mimoto asked as she saw something fly right past her, nearly even slamming into her. Something black and silver. Something definitely dangerous, yet she didn't have time to focus on it. Not when she still had to deal with the enemies ahead of them...

KING, PAWN and Minamirage were still on the offensive. And despite how long the fight had lasted, both of the more bestial girls weren't shown signs of slowing down. Even Minamirage was still full of energy due to the nature of how she fought...

Dream gazed upon Mimoto Chimera, as well as the construct of Nightmare she had dreamt up. Nodding softly, as she brought her hand to her heart. "Mikai. Launch them into the air. We'll finish them off with one move, where there's no way for them to dodge!"

Mimoto nodded, stomping into the ground with her Earth Ursa leg and stretching out her Flame Lion arm in the same motion. Letting the flames leak onto her leg, and letting her arm be coated in cracks as it exploded. Swapping out their positions, leaving her with a frozen and fiery pair of legs, and a windy and earthen pair of arms. "You've got it, Yumeko!"

"Yes... Fight, fight, fight! Fight and lose yourself in the endless mirage of battle." Minamirage giggled as the mist that was her body started to fly towards the three warriors, with KING and PAWN responding in kind.

Nightmare pulled back the string of her bow, taking aim into the sky above. Butterfly wings gathered at the tip of the arrow, spreading further and further as she held her concentration...

Concentration that got locked in place as Dream's own wings spread out. "Begin the Dream." She said, locking Nightmare in place. All while she seemed to grow more and more ethereal. "Launch them, Mikai!"

"MAJOR! CRASH! AND! APEX! METEOR!"

Mimoto slammed both of her arms into the ground below, sending several cracks through the pavement that quickly spread far and wide. Allowing powerful gusts to shoot out from said cracks, complete with feathers that launched anything that was hit by them into those very same gusts.

Since the blow came from below, neither KING nor PAWN were able to see it coming. Even if they tried to dodge around the cracks, there were simply too many of them. And Minamirage was made out of mist, so she was naturally carried into the air by the gusts, leaving them all in roughly the same location...

Allowing Dream to gather all of her energies into the palms of her hand, forming an orb with a rapidly fluttering butterfly within. "ENDING THE DREAM!" She shouted, as she crushed that orb and let her wings shatter...

Causing the lock on Nightmare to come to an end, letting her loosen what looked like dozens... Hundreds... No, thousands of identical powerful arrows that flew into the sky, and then rain down on the three enemies. "Dream, Wash Away." The corrupted voice of Yumeko echoed from the dreamt-up version of Nightmare, as she vanished when the last arrow had been fired...

The arrows that rained down upon the three were not normal arrows. Far from it. They were forged from the Nightmare. And thus, the willpower that was meant to keep their armors stable quickly started to fade from the level of despair and fear filling those arrows. Even Minamirage was shot to the ground, her transformation into a Jõtaijin fading as her armor faded moments later too. The arrows shattering once they had all been grounded, leaving the girlfriends victorious...

Mimoto giggled as she clapped her hands together. "Good work, Chimera. Thanks for the backup!" She cried out, as her armor faded away and revealed Mikai once again. With a wispy Chimera at her side, who patted her on the head...

"Always." Was all that Chimera needed to say before she vanished back into her host's mind, satisfied with how things had turned out...

Yumeko's armor disappeared into a flock of ethereal butterflies, with the Dream Drive morphing back into an ordinary bracelet for the time being. Still far too shattered, though she didn't care how it looked. It was enough for her, smiling softly as she gazed upon it. It reminded her of a time she once inhabited...

But now, she was there to protect this time. And this Mikai, whose smile was as bright as hers...

"Hiro! Minami! Natsuki!" Mikai shouted as she focused on the defeated group, hoping that the three of them were going to wake up after all of that...

"Don't need to shout so loud, Mikai..." Minami muttered, smiling softly as she was the first to lift herself up. Onto her rear, anyway. "Ouroboros is yelling at me too for all that..." She said, sighing slightly as she rubbed her body. "To think he could just... Take my Jõtai and do something like that with it... Creepy..."

Mikai nodded as she gave the white-haired girl a hug, one that caused her to blush slightly before hugging back. Her charisma wasn't active, so the blush was genuine. As was her hug and the smile on her face as she gave it out...

The next to wake up was Hiro, the white-haired woman groaning as she slowly lifted herself up. "I have... The worst headache." She muttered before feeling her right arm. And finding herself shocked at how... quiet it felt when she touched it. "...What..?"

"You went berserk, Hiro." Mikai said, as she took a seat right beside her partner. "Huanglong said that he put his hopes in me, to make sure that you didn't destroy yourself. Guess I did a good job, huh?" She said, being a little smug in the process. Even if the energy that beamed from her simply felt like sheer relief.

She received a pat on the head as her reward, the white-haired woman softly smiling. "I... I'll have to have a talk with him about what he did. But you did good, Mikai. Thank you." Hiro's emotions felt ever slightly relieved from all of that. Yet still far too suppressed. Yet, as her eyes gazed to her side, she felt them heighten again.

"Natsuki..!" Hiro muttered as she grabbed ahold of the girl's sides. Lifting her up and holding her tight. "Natsuki... I'm so, so sorry..." She couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Sadness was one of her emotions that had practically been fully unlocked by what happened on her birthday. So to see the waterworks fully open... It wasn't a surprise at all.

"Hiro...Senpai..?"

What ended up a surprise, however... Was the hope-filled eyes that looked to Hiro... Opening for the very first time in a long while...

Nobody blamed Hiro for crying and hugging the girl. Neither Mikai, who was more than happy to see her finally accomplish one of her goals, nor Minami, who couldn't help but smile a little as well despite the woman's role in her life going down this path...

A small ray of happiness. And a sign that things truly could get better for the woman who thought she had lost it all...

---

Darkness.

Endless Darkness.

That's where Saki Himitsu found herself. In the dark expanses of her mind. The last time she had found herself in this expanse was the night her family had left her. The night they had been killed by the Hero that tried to save her...

"I... I saved them, didn't I..?" Saki muttered to herself, as she quietly sat down. Huddling up against her legs, as she struggled to accept what she had done. Even though it felt right, it also felt so wrong...

"You could've saved them on your own. If you just used that power of yours."

A chilling voice echoed through her ears. And as she gazed straight ahead, she met a pair of golden eyes. Her own eyes.

She was staring at... Herself. No. That wasn't... There was no way it couldn't be her, yet she didn't want to accept it.

"Why didn't you drain her? You need to be strong enough to save them. To protect them. So they may never leave you." The other her said, her hair turning from blue to black. Just like her hair did when she donned the Kanzei armor. "You are no Hero. Not unless you protect them. No matter what."

"I.. I mustn't use those powers. If I do, they'll get hurt. They'll-"

"They'll hurt more if you don't! THEY'LL GET HURT BY EVERYTHING THAT THREATENS YOU! BUT THAT'S WHY WE USE EVERYTHING WE HAVE! PROTECT THEM, EVEN FROM THEMSELVES!"

The booming voice of the other Saki echoed out, as the darkness gave way to blinding golden light. The blinding sun, rising over the horizon. Casting Saki's own shadow upon her, as the other Saki transformed into Kanzei...

"What... What are you..!?" Fear of powerlessness filled Saki as she gazed upon her other self. Even though she knew what she was...

"I am a Hero." The other Kanzei said, as she slammed the butt of her cane into the ground below. All while her very visage combined with the sun shining into her. Casting her shadowing rays upon the girl who doubted herself.

"I am you. And I will protect the ones I love. For their own sake."

The light from her sun expanded further and further, leaving Saki to be consumed by the shadow her other half cast. Sinking her deep into her doubts...

Sinking deeper, yet deeper. Descending, just as Mikai once had...