PHASE 57 - WHEN YOUR TWIN BROTHER HATES YOUR BOYFRIEND

The morning sunshine shoved upon our faces.

We’re at the Black Cross Prison Facility in Myrrh City. We intended to visit Diadem in this place and try to talk to him. That was Rikkun’s original plan. I don’t know what’s on my boyfriend’s mind but he said that he will bring Diadem back to me. I trust his words, so I won’t complain or even ask.

For safety purposes, Rikkun brought two goddesses with us. Eliseo and Emily happily agreed, and they made an oath to restrain Diadem if everything goes wrong.

And now…

We’re here in front of my twin brother. Between us is a glass wall with tiny holes for our voices to come through.

“It seems like you guys miss me a lot.” Diadem’s red eyes glowed with menace.

“Yeah. I hate it, but apparently, we all have to get along… Since you’ll now be my future brother-in-law.” Rikkun made a smug face as he revealed the platinum ring on his hand. He even grabbed mine and presented my ring to my twin.

“You bastard!” Diadem’s eyes now project an intent to kill.

My evil twin is still restrained by high-tech handcuffs that looked like a jar. He’s in a glass prison that has an anti-spell tag which prevents him from casting anything. The way he is now, he looks more pitiful than scary. Each and every thread of his long silver hair already suffers from split ends and there are large eyebags on his pale face.

“Do it,” Rikkun said to the prison guard.

The prison guard hesitated, but he can’t do anything if it’s an order from the leader of the Aether Crusade. He inserted the USB key, and the glass walls opened.

“R-Rikkun…” I held my chest. I’m quite worried. I know Eliseo and Emily have the same chills too.

“Don’t worry, Tiara. I’ll definitely grant your wish.” He said with a satisfied smile. That facial expression he just gave me is just like those people who are about to sacrifice themselves in those tear-jerking movies.

No, no, no! Absolutely no! Why am I thinking of unnecessary things?

“Release him,” Rikkun said to the guard.

“You sure?” The prison guard replied with a troubled look. I’m sure the guard thinks that this is a stupid idea.

Rikkun’s only reply is a gallant stare.

The guard can’t do much about it, so he has to comply. He drew a silver key that should release Diadem from his weird jar-like handcuffs.

Click click click. The mechanical handcuffs released my evil twin’s hand. And then-

Kablam!

Something exploded! The whole prison cell was covered with smoke, but it immediately faded because there was a hole on the other side of the room that vacuumed the dusty air around us! Diadem must have run away by destroying the wall!

“He escaped!” The guard said.

We followed the escape route of my rascal twin. When we entered the giant hole, the sunlight waved at us. We’re now in the Black Cross Gardens that is filled with colorful orchids, tulips, and roses.

And in front of us… is my evil twin, glaring furiously at my boyfriend’s eyes.

“Huh? I thought you’ll be running like a coward by now.” Rikkun said.

“I didn’t have the slightest wish of escaping. My only goal right now… is to kill you. I don’t care if they captured me again, as long as I kill you. I led you here because I hate fighting in tight spaces.”

Diadem spread out his hand, and a katana made out of pure crimson flames materialized. He doesn’t need a Weapon Gem to fight.

“Same thing here. Good thing you picked the place where we can kill each other easily.” Rikkun smirked, and he materialized a on his right. He forgot that his Weapon Gem is badly damaged when we fought Helena, and he also forgot his twin revolvers back in the Kozukata Shrine. So… That’s his only weapon for now. At least it’s kind of a fair fight.

“Whatever happens, do not interfere with our fight,” Rikkun said to all the Gate Guardians around us.

All of us just returned a worried stare.

“Good.” Diadem laughed. “I thought you’ll be hiding under my sister’s skirt again.”

“I kinda love hiding on your sister’s skirt, by the way. Take it literally.” Rikkun made a smart-aleck reply. He’s just bluffing because we haven’t gotten that far… sadly.

“Y-Yoouuuu!!!” Diadem was filled with anger as he furiously charged forward with a starting slash! “Haaaa!”

The sound of loud crashing noise echoes. Rikkun used his gigantic as his shield, which immediately shattered upon impact!

“!!!” Four human-sized flames spawned around my boyfriend, and each of those flames molded itself to be a perfect copy of Diadem!

Each of those clones materialized flame sword on their hands, and made a stab to Rikkun, aiming for his throat, heart, lungs, and eye! But in the nick of time…

“!!!” Darkness blinked in, and thirty-five silver streaks were made in all directions! All have been defeated in an instant!

“!!!” Diadem unleashed a black orb from his hand, which proceeded to swallow nearby debris, dust, air, and flowers! It was about to suck Rikkun in, but due to his quick reflexes, he managed to gain lots of distance!

“!!!” Electricity flowed upon Rikkun’s body as he sprinted backward. When he knew that he is already in a safe distance, he wiped his sweat and sighed. “Phew! That was close! I won’t allow anything to suck me, except your sister.”

“R-R-Rikkun! Stop making green jokes!” This is my time to scold my boyfriend! But I can’t do it seriously because every time Rikkun teases my twin, it makes me blush.

“Ahaha…” Rikkun scratched his head with a carefree smile. “I’m sorry, Darling.”

“D-D-D-Darling…” I was flustered. I can’t help but be read in front of everyone. “D-D-Did you just say D-D-Darling…?”

Meanwhile, the background characters Eliseo and Emily looked at each other, and they shrugged in sync. They should be embarrassed that we’re doing an oral PDA in the middle of a fight.

“Are you done flirting with my sister?” Diadem’s voice is getting deeper. “Because I’m just getting started.”

“I’m just getting started too,” Rikkun smirked as he prepared a boxing stance. “Bring it on, son of a bitch!”

Wait, If my twin Diadem is a son of a bitch, then my mother is… And I’m also…

Anyway, they are both getting serious. Tension builds up in the air as the silence goes on. The wind swished, removing the final petal of a nearby rose. When the pink flake touched the ground, it became the cue to the battle of two mythical gods.

“!!!” Diadem shouted.

Golden cloak spawned upon him, and his lower body was converted to a mass of tentacles. His hands grew scales and sharp nails, and his face became eternally black. However, the crimson glow of his eyes made it clear that his face is the true horror itself. Golden crown with twelve spikes appeared on top of his head.

“!!!” Rikkun shouted.

Numerous tentacles spawned on his left shoulder. Dragon scales grew on his arms, hands, and feet. Tendrils also appeared on his chin that formed into some kind of beard. The left part of his face is also covered with dark flesh. Pterosaur wings and a long Godzilla tail emerged from his back. A gigantic red eye spawned on his chest which gave of insanity to everyone who’s staring at it.

“It’s been a long time, Cthulhu.” Hastur made a terrifying greeting.

“Yeah. I finally have to fight you, Hastur.” Cthulhu returned the remark.

“--------_____--------____-__-----!!!”

“_____-----___---___-----___--!!!”

The fake gods made an inaudible whale-like roar that echoed around the ruined gardens.

No, those are not roars.

Those are promises. They pledge their own selves to fight each other to death.