Brigade mage airships arrived back at Swilvane. For even a fictional city, Coelestians adapted quickly. To compensate for being wingless, Harald distributed flying carpets for all.

Kakunō also distributed his Sky Tread designs in bulk for free. In times of emergency, money would be a liability. Everyone badly wanted to go home whenever possible.

The biggest problem they had to face was what they dubbed the “faux fay.” From Dominus’ mind, they were winged players from the fake world they stood. Poetically, Titania and her army fought against them. Every Coelestian prayed for the real deal to succeed.

Hokori had killed his 375th “salamander” with no bead of sweat. Their flame control was a poor imitation of those who could engulf forests in seconds. In fact, none could compete with a true fay. Their only strength was numbering in millions.

Titania gently swung her arm and formed gusts that bisected whole armies. If they had dodged an attack that galed kilometers wide, the cyclones would do the job. Despite such devastation, Swilvane stood tall unharmed. Everyone’s safety was in their hands.

With Sky Treads, Haruto sliced through the air faster than with a carpet. Sadly, it would seem Dominus humiliated him even further. He now had wings but utterly refused them. He even gained two new swords he hated to call by their names. There was no other choice in the meantime.

Hokori, on a carpet, flew beside him. Just by looking at the wings, he grinned. “Hahahahahaha! Hey, boy. Wanna come with me on a side quest? I heard someone found Excalibur.” He looked at Haruto’s health bar, which others did not have.

“Shut up!!” His eyes narrowed.

He grinned further. “Hahahahahaha! C’mon, I mean nothin’. It’s just like lookin’ in a mirror. And that’d be my eyes, White Swordsman.” He jumped off his carpet and squashed their torsos 40/s. With his lone kicks, he could propel midair at lightning speed.

Haruto shook his head in annoyance and went his accord higher in the sky. The sylph queen had now accompanied him.

“Titania,” he said as he slashed through foes. “I’ve been meaning to ask. How do you know when one’s a fake?”

“Their wings, sir!” She released a cyclone below that obliterated a mountain range. “Real fay have four, even the unfortunate ones. Most of these guys only have two.” Several razor winds bisected more. “Their designs are too flashy, to begin with!”

“Yeah… I figured.” He observed players in the distance. As she mentioned, their shiny wings did not have insect-like veins. They also differed depending on the class.

An hour later, the faux fay retreated into the sky. In Swilvane, the temporary citizens rejoiced with native fireworks. For all the times that fate mocked him, Haruto felt at home, if only briefly.

In the city’s center spire, Harald created a new throne room. Minuscule runes transformed the place into the one he had back in Coelestis. Brigade mages stood in shock before leaving.

Hokori still sat at his favorite spot. His family sat nearby him. They were the only archmages present.

The king ordered his royal guards to assist the real fay. Hagel bowed and acted like Hokori was invisible; the latter could not care less.

Harald sighed with closed eyes. “Oddly, there’s a silver lining to your mutual hatred. He doesn’t fault you for his brother’s absence.” He sat on his throne. “That’s why we must act swiftly. I can only hope Danielle and Aria are with him.”

“No shit…” Hokori shrugged. “Gotta be honest, my guy. Seems like ya dunno that Dominus is baiting us back to the World Tree.” He stood and cracked his joints. “And I’m all for it! Who’s with me!?” As he raised his hand, his siblings did so instantly. Yukino followed suit with glee.

Tokino’s eyes frowned over her daughter. Haruto got off his chair. “I can’t accept, your majesty! My family’s won before, yes. But this man’s power might as well be that of a God’s.

He held this chest. “As a reborn human, I’d know better. Dominus is using my nation’s multimedia to attack us. One can only tell the characters he’ll bring to life next. We—”

Hokori chuckled, which confused them. “That’s your issue, boy? Toho kaijus comin’ in? Or J*ren slappin’ his asscheeks ‘til we’re dust?

He walked closer. “Remember what I told ya? Centillion power level ain’t only a number. And Dominus ain’t just gonna let the world explode with his shitty fanfics.” He held his shoulder. “Listen, boy. If he’d do such things, I’ll show a hundred smiles. Cuz that’s the most I can count.”

Haruto found no lie over his serene smile—zero contradiction. For a moment, he forgot their brotherhood was unbreakable. He expressed it with a fist bump and smiled back. “Fight at one’s fullest. Forever till the end….”

As Hokori complied, his family’s hearts had warmed. The sibling trio showed extreme determination. Yukino had enough with tears.

Tokino made a move on her husband and hugged him tightly. “You’ve said it in the best way, honey. You needn’t say much.” She hugged her eldest brother as well.

King Harald sighed with closed eyes again. He was more than glad. “You couldn’t have said any better, madam.” He raised his hand in front. “Go forth, my champions! Need I say more?”

They showed a toothy grin in unison and flash-stepped out of the throne room. The excitement was too much to contain.

Atop the spiraling white ‘tree,’ the main target yawned. “Well, now…” Dominus at a screen closer. “I didn’t expect that. Usually, they’d bicker forever.” He turned to another. “At least these three are.”

The “tree’s” dungeon was nothing like the show it originated. Instead, it was the hundred-level map that Dominus liked better. Either way, Feuer’s team had no clue what they dealt with on the floor. Every game monster turned into white dust when killed. Curiously, none bled. Instead, the creatures showed red pixel-like bits when damaged in any way.

Aria snuffed out the air from their lungs. However, it did not work. Only her direct attacks did anything. She pierced skulls by the dozen with compressed wind from her finger.

Danielle released her “Rat-Catcher” technique: a red silhouetted man played the flute and lulled foes to their literal downfall. She sighed in satisfaction. “Attacks to the brain work, guys!” she exclaimed afar.

Feuer concluded the 74th floor with a volcanic waterfall in front. His eyes remained stern.

“Again, with the overkill…” she complained internally.

A minute later, Hokori’s family caught up with them. He moped that he could not kill scores of millions. Then, he grinned more quicker. “Yo, pretty boy!” He walked to Feuer. “The show ain’t over yet. And my fam is here to steal it.” They all stood valiantly, ready for anything.

He turned and sighed. “Do whatever your heart feels like, everyone. Perhaps freedom is prettier than self-control.” His team took a break by a wall.

The family walked past them. Haruto became confused along the way. “Wait a minute. What do you mean it’s not over? We’ve been walking for six minutes.”

Hokori chuckled. “It ain’t over because of that.” He pointed at the distance. Suddenly, they all heard a thunderous roar. As he flash-stepped to the source, they followed suit.

Now, it became clear to Haruto. Fate had once again toyed with him. He found no mistake with the massive blue minotaur from afar. It helped that it showed its name near the status bar.

Tokino stepped in front and pulled out her rapier. “Don’t worry, honey. We’ll—”

“Nope. You ain’t doin’ that.” Hokori quickly grabbed her husband up high.

“H-Hey! Let me go! What are you— Aaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!” Haruto hit the ground multiple times; Tokino cried out his name. Now, the G*l*am *ys was a few steps away. He grunted as he got up. “What the hell, Bro! Why’d you do that!?”

He chuckled again. “C’mon, boy! Humor us for a bit. This fight’s made for ya!”

He grunted with clenched teeth. “For the last fucking time. I’m not—” Before his anger had finished, the minotaur swung its gigantic sword to the left.

He dodged by a hair and pulled out his new swords. He hated them, but death was the other option. He jumped above and threw double swings below. The G*l**m E*s turned into ribbons in a millisecond; white dust hovered over the dungeon floor.

Hokori stood dumbstruck with droopy eyes. “Well, dat was anticlimactic….”

He landed and grunted again. “It’d be great if you don’t piss me off, Bro!” He pointed with a sword.

“Why, thank you, White Swordsman.” Hokori bowed like the world’s finest gentleman. No one else would have known it was acting.

“Shut up!!”

Back on top, Dominus clapped after observing their success. “Splendid, splendid, splendid. Now, for the second act.” He snapped his fingers.

Hokori and Feur’s team got transported out of nowhere. Now, they stood on the 75th floor. The former ringmaster clapped once more.

“Awesome to see you again, fellas.” He smiled faintly. “But only I shall steal the show.”

A transparent blue wall separated Haruto and Tokino from the rest. Not even Feuer’s magma did anything. Hokori’s face filled with dread. His fists shook in reluctance, never to risk using too much power to break the barrier.

Behind them were three doors. The rest got separated again and could only walk to the light. Hokori had his own. His siblings and Feur’s team had theirs together.

Dominus pointed at the couple. “You two will be the entertainers here. Everyone else has their path.” With another finger-snap, a hulking skeletal monster formed in thin air. Then, he summoned the scythe-wielding NPC that he knew would mortally injure them.

“I don’t doubt its strength after watching the show.” He walked back. “It’d be better to drop your sticks and go. After all, imagination—”

They heard Hokori faintly laugh until it boomed around the floor. “This is your ultimate plan, bruh? Monologue and have us be experiments for your fanfic fuel?” He raised an eyebrow with a grin.

Dominus’ eyes glared a little. “You got a problem with that?”

“A lot, fuckboy!” he cupped his hands. “But what you really slept on is my dear fam.” He went for the door behind him. The rest followed. They all showed a hundred smiles. “We are strong! Forever till the end!!” He raised a fist as it closed behind him.

Yukino raised her arms. “Good luck, Mama, Papa!” She ran to catch up to her siblings.

Her parents waved back, still with a hundred smiles. Tokino cast runes on her nape, which gave Haruto’s as well.

He sighed and pulled up The Every Hub. “Bro suggested that I play this during battle. Do you mind?”

She shook her head. “No, honey… Not at all.” They prepared their swords in front.

Dominus heard the booming noise of Kygo’s “Stole the Show” everywhere. He sweated bullets. “You love mocking people, don’t you?”

The F***l Scythe stepped in first to attack the couple. Its weapon swung faster than a second. However, it failed to get a hit thirty times. They danced like a breeze around it. Before long, the song’s pre-chorus played. Swords had swung faster than half a second.

The reaper faded to dust before it could even scratch Haruto’s cheek. Both had panted in place. “How’s that for a warmup?” he smiled at Tokino.

“It’s perfect,” She raised her rapier. “Now, let’s steal the show.”

“Yeah….”

Dominus backed away with narrowed eyes and sweat. “What the fuck!” His teeth clenched.

The enormous Sk**l Reaper roared at the couple next. As it flew around, the walls crumbled by its ribs.

They showed a hundred smiles once more. The song’s chorus would now play. Once it did, their dance became even more intricate.

Haruto delivered a cross swing below its neckbone. The monster howled and prepared for a massive bite. Tokino flash-stepped in front and threw a flurry of thrusts to its eyes and throat. It got hurled on its back into a wall.

The final chorus commenced. The couple took every opportunity to slice every rib it had. All the while, Tokino helped her husband to dodge via her foresight. The skeletal creature could do nothing but scream louder. For five minutes, it felt like it got mauled from the inside.

The song ended as they landed high above. Standing victorious, they made the first move on each other. They smiled red with their breaths intense after such passion.

“Still haven’t lost my touch, right?” asked Haruto.

“Of course… You never did….” She made another move with closed eyes.