WITH DETERMINATION, I REFUSE THAT ENDING!

“Tiara.”

“Rikkun?” I asked back to who was calling me.

No, this voice is definitely not Rikkun. His tone is a little bit gentle but sinister.

The silhouette of his body is getting clearer and clearer as seconds go by, and I can very well distinguish this body shape. The silhouette is shorter and scrawnier, so it’s definitely not the man I loved.

Slowly, the colors made out his appearance. White semi-formal shoes, colored jeans, black leather jacket, and a long red scarf. His face is round and adorable. His dark brown hair has some random silver threads in it. His crimson eyes with triangle sigil glowed as soon as he greeted me with a wide smile.

“Tiara Hikari… I have been waiting for you for a looooong time.” The Fake Outsider said.

“M-Mister Yohan Romanov…” I held my aching chest. I just noticed that I have regained my eighteen-year-old beautiful body, and I’m no longer an old hag.

Yohan Romanov’s crimson glare is terrifying. I know he’s a Cursed Guardian who is capable of almost any feats, and him appearing in front of me would be a surprise. If he’s going to fight me, I’m going to lose for sure.

However, something is telling me that he’s not here to fight. On the contrary, I can feel an invisible emotion of pity from his gaze.

“Are you… Are you satisfied with this ending?” Yohan said. “Waiting and waiting for your lover to arrive during the fireworks display but ends up dying in the conclusion… Is this what you want?”

“I…” I clenched my chest to suppress the ache in my heart. “...Of course not. This is not the happy ending I imagined. I want to be with Rikkun always… forever… not this…”

Tears started to fall down from my eyes. I can remember what hellish void I went through. I’m so pitiful for being alone for the rest of my life, not being able to do anything. If there’s a chance for me to see Rikkun even for a second, I would take it. I would give my life just for that. I don’t even mind becoming the Frozen Soul once again.

Suddenly, the Fake Outsider smiled.

“Well, your Hachiko days are over, Tiara Hikari.”

“Eh?”

Yohan put his hand on his chest and slowly withdrew Quintessences. It’s not ordinary Quintessences but God Cores that are much so out of this world, or even out of this universe. There is a white and black God Core that is dancing on top of his palms like models of positron and neutron.

“The Outer God Core of Azathoth and Yog-Sothoth.” The Fake Outsider described the white and black God Core respectively. “These are the most powerful gods that exist and did not exist. This is the power of the omniverse in the size of a palm. Take it.”

The two Outer God Cores floated and then started to waltz around my body as if I have attracted them. The cores revolved around me in an X manner and now I’m just a human-sized model of an atom!

“T-This is…” I muttered.

I can feel endless power between the divine cores. Both the Outer God Core Azathoth and Yog-Sothoth looked like singing praises on me as if they have chosen me as their vessel.

“You, Tiara Hikari, is one of a kind. Your love is endless, and it wouldn’t be a surprise that you are the only one who can use the power of the two Outer Gods all at once. With that, you can sing the most beautiful song of all… the .”

“B-But…” I muttered. “If I sing it, my soul will vanish… I need to fulfill the requirements… I’m no longer the Brightmore Witch because Rikkun removed the curse…”

“That is why I’m here, auntie,” Yohan smirked as if he’s joking. He immediately pointed his right hand at me, and then a single silver foxtail emerged from his back! “You forgot that I have the Hikari bloodline too, didn’t you?”

“Y-You are!?” I asked.

Suddenly, the silver tail of the Fake Outsider disintegrated into platinum dust that swirled around his arm and then rushed towards my heart. I felt a sparking sensation from my chest which means that the Curse of the Brightmore Witch has reactivated in my body.

“Ah!”

“My Curse of the Brightmore Witch is weak since I’m just a sub-branch Hikari, but I guess that would do for your requirement. I’m sure you can handle a tiny bit of curse in you, no?” The Fake Outsider taunted. As he said those words, I saw his hair turning to brown. His crimson eyes also turned to a normal chocolate color, and the golden cross-sigils went back on his irises. The Fake Outsider, who was once the most fearful Cursed Guardian, is now a bonafide Gate Guardian.

I nodded. I have endured the Curse of Aeternos, Necross, and the aggregate of the Evil God Cores all at once. A little sprinkle of the Curse of the Brightmore Witch is not enough to contaminate my mind.

However, there is one more requirement. In order for me to sing the without paying for my soul, I need the Fragment of the Frozen Soul, the Curse of the Brightmore Witch, Twelve God Cores, or an omnipotent Outer God Core, and… the Heavenly Blade.

All I’m missing now is the Heavenly Blade. Currently, is taking my place as the Frozen Soul. It no longer resides on my body. I don’t think the Fake Outsider’s would be compatible with me since it was never from myself in the first place.

The Fake Outsider saw my troubled face, but he gave me an assured smile.

“Oh, if you’re talking about THAT requirement, then don’t even bother. You have seen Alaric’s dramatic video proposal to you, right? Then you should have a rough idea. You’re all set to go.”

…

It took me ten seconds of buffering until I finally get it. A slight hint of a smile went to my face and my sky-blue eyes retained its glow. I may be an idiot, but I know what the Fake Outsider is talking about.

I can do it!

I pumped my fists and excitedly made a jolly smile.

“With determination, I refuse this ending! I will save Rikkun for sure!”

“Hahaha! That’s my auntie!” Yohan giggled. His chest glowed as he pressed his hand unto it, and then he drew out the golden-hilted Heavenly Blade: . “Your Rikkun must be trapped in the Sin Universe for a long time. Now it’s your time to rescue him and secure that happy ending for good.”

Yohan sliced the thin air with his sword, and a rift in this dimension opened. The Gate he created is pure dark, and I know that entering through that gate would mean we will face the Ultimate Evil.

However, I am not scared. In fact, I’m excited. I’m going to see Rikkun again. I will make sure that this love story would end in a happy epilogue!

As the dark Gate flashed right in front of our eyes to transport us, Yohan screamed a hyping battlecry.

“Onwards to the final battle!”