The pillar of light dissipates, revealing the room to me, all converted to white stone. Polished to the point that I can see my reflection. And my cloak...pure white!

(This power! I've never felt like this before!)

(I'll focus on healing your wounds after the fight. Use what rhime you do have for offense in the meantime.)

The lyrics to the song start to play, with Nur's voice in place of Konomi Suzuki's.

Shinjireba ugoku hazu deshou (mezamenasai)

I look at Yamiso, whose expression is a mixture of fear and surprise. I go over to him...

And get there almost instantaneously.

"WHOA!!!" Yamiso yells.

Mune ni shin no seinaru kagayaki ga yadori

"You alright?" I ask. Surprisingly, my voice is a combination of Nur's voice and mine, echoing in unison.

"Stay back!" he yells.

I look at him, then reach out my hand.

"KILL THEM!!" Hunter-sama shouts.

Sutoria-sama hesitates, then rushes towards me at her enhanced speed...

GA!

And I effortlessly block her kick with Clarent.

(So fast!) Yamiso thinks.

(Where'd he get that speed!?) thinks Hunter-sama.

I swing Clarent, easily knocking Sutoria-sama across the theatre. Not through raw strength, but from the speed of my swing.

(Illusion rhime provides enhanced physical speed. True enhanced speed, unlike the improved mental speed of electric tones. At least you, unlike other illusion tones, can get musical boosts from all music.)

So it's official...

I'm an illusion tone.

"Yamiso, I'm still me." I say.

He looks at me, conflicted.

(Why!?) he thinks. (Why'd it have to be you!?)

"Honestly, why are you afraid now? We've got a fight to win!"

He looks at me, then weakly nods and takes my hand. My rhime immediately flows from my hand to his, enveloping him.

So, this is how syncing feels.

Mayou watashi yo obienai de to

Me to me no naka otagai matteta ne

I let go, then turn to Sutoria-sama.

"Get going!" I yell.

"Right!" Yamiso responds. He creates Darkness wings, mixed with my rhime, then flies towards the hole.

"GET HIM!" screams Hunter-sama.

"Not a chance!" I yell back.

GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA!

Sutoria-sama rushes towards Yamiso, but I intercept them and block every attack. As Sutoria-sama presses her hands against Clarent, Yamiso enters the hole.

Furete mitai kedo kiesou na

Setsunai (hakanai)

"Trust us." I say to Sutoria-sama.

Sutoria-sama jumps back, then envelops herself in more electric rhime.

"For my family, I have no choice! Please, just lose!"

"Sorry, but I have things to protect, too. Including your brother!"

"Fine..." says Hunter-sama. "Kill Oren! Forget the other one!"

Hunter-sama holds the button higher.

Yume wa ashita no imi wo

Ima egaiteru

I dash past Sutoria-sama, charging towards Hunter-sama's button.

GA!

But I'm intercepted by Sutoria-sama.

Ai de kaware yowasa wo nugi suteta

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

I dash away from Sutoria-sama to the other end of the theatre, trying to create distance. She appears right in front of me. I block her attack, then she retreats. We exchange blows, then circle around the threatre. Evasion and countering. At equal speed. Otherwise unmatchable speed. Speed to the point that we leave afterimages following every strike!

Watashi tachi no shinjitsu ga mietara

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

We accelerate our attacks. To Hunter-sama, it's now like invisible foes are exchanging blows.

Ai de kaware yami nado koete yuke

"Electric Drive: !! Maximum output!"

I stop in the middle of the theatre. Countless clones from every angle.

(Soul Conv...)

(Soul Conversion 1...BEAT!)

Moroi moroi moroi hito no ishi

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

Demo tsuyoi tsuyoi

Hito no kibou

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

Wakatteta hajimari no phrase

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

I finish with a spin attack, knocking away the last of the clones.

I've countered every clone. EVERY clone.

(How did I...!?)

(One percent of three years of rhime is more than enough.)

"No... NOT NOW!!!!" Hunter-sama yells...

Kata!

As she presses the button.

"NO!" Sutoria-sama yells.

BATAN!

As soon as the instrumental begins, Yamiso flies out of a new hole in the floor...

Carrying Ripperu and Tarran.

(Putain!) Hunter-sama thinks.

Yamiso lands close to me, the puts the two down. I give him the antidotes, and he makes them drink it.

Shitteta shitta nara todoku hazu deshou (oi kakenasai)

I slowly walk past Sutoria-sama in Hunter-sama direction.

"Look after them." I say.

Sutoria-sama falls to her knees.

Sore wa yuuki no kodou kagayaki wo motome

"Well, Hunters-sama. I think we have a score to settle!" I say.

"Wait! Wait!" Hunter-sama retorts, afraid. "You think you can beat me!? I...!"

BATAN!!!

I peform my spinning axe kick to her chest, knocking her towards the wall. She gasps for air.

"You... YOU!" Hunter-sama yells.

WWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yamiso's Darkness Bellow flies past me, smashing Hunter-sama further into the wall.

Okusanai watashi ga maneiteru kara

Te to te tsunaide umareru unmei no ring

GA! GA! GA! GA!

I grab Hunter-sama by the neck, then toss her into the air in Yamiso's direction. The two of us barrage her with fast kicks and punches from Yamiso's Devil's Claws.

Yureru kokoro tachi uketomete

Yasashii (hageshii)

As I fly through the air, the whole world feels slow around me. I catch glimpses of myself and see my reflection on the floor and walls.

(This...is what I'm capable of.)

Looking into my reflection, I see glimpses of things not here in the theatre.

A woman with long black hair smiling, taking the hand of a child.

A purple-skinned succubus similar in shape to Chate-sama's transformation.

Nur from behind.

Sueka smiling.

Yume yo ashita wa sarani

Tooku toberu nda ne

Crystal smiling while rubbing her eyes.

Mydrea pouting in anger.

And many MANY others I don't recognize. Who...are they?

But the most noticeable detail...is my own reflection. A pure white cloak. For the first time, I can see my eyes. Pupilless eyes glowing white with illusion rhime. And a near horizontal scar over my right eye, illuminated with the same rhime.

(Focus!) Nur says.

"Oh, right!"

Koe wa towa ni negai wo sasaeru to

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

BATAN!

After a barrage of attacks from Yamiso and myself, I perform a drop kick to Hunter-sama's skull, knocking her to the ground.

Watashi tachi wa shinjite tsumuide ku

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

I crash down on Hunter-sama's stomach with both feet, then jump away to let Yamiso land on top of her, slamming his Devil's Claws swiftly into her face.

Koe wa towa ni jounetsu wo ataeru darou

Yamiso grabs Hunter-sama and throws her back towards the stage, where she struggles to her feet.

"Darkness Drive: Eclipse Void!"

Hayaku hayaku hayaku koko ni kite

As soon as Hunter-sama is surrounded by darkness, Yamiso and I charge into it.

Tada tsuyoi tsuyoi

Dake ja chigau

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

We charge in and out of the darkness, hitting Hunter-sama as we go. With my illusion rhime on Yamiso's and my body, the light shining through the darkness creates a lightshow of fast moving light streaks.

Unknown to me, the afterimages I leave between attacks take the form of different people I don't know. The woman who had long black hair. And a lean bearded man who could be mistaken for a mercenary.

Wakatta yo

Hikari e no road

GA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BATAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BATAN! BATAN! BATAN! BATAN!

Yamiso and I meet at the same spot near the entrance to the theatre, then attack together, knocking Hunter-sama out of the void with a combined Devil's Claw punch and my kick, sending Hunter-sama through the wall, causing her to skim across the streets of Pira Attis into the wall of a building at least one block down.

As the slower part of the solo begins, Hunter-sama struggles to her feet, holding her left arm, which looks broken.

"I knew...you were a pain in the ass..." she hisses. "But I didn't expect...you to be one of those freaks. C'est tout!! THE KID GLOVES ARE OFF!!!!"

As the early guitar part of the solo begins, Hunter-sama converts her body to mist, and flies away at a ludicrously fast pace.

But not faster than me.

"You're not getting away!" I yell, pursuing her through the streets of Pira Attis.

(Soul Conversion 1...BEAT!!)

The cloud of mist weaves through the streets, trying to lose me. But me and Yamiso, who's flying above me close behind, continue our pursuit.

With every turn I make, another illusion seems to take shape. Eight cloaked figures. Eight cloaked figures of varying proportions, all flanking me in the form of a V with me at the point in front.

As the solo crescendos to its loudest section, Yamiso and I see where Hunter-sama's going.

Towards the ever increasing in number hydra that our allies are fighting.

Hunter-sama's mist heads towards the middle of the heads, forming the hydra's golden main head.

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

More snakes immediately spawn from the body, forcing many of our allies to retreat.

But the two of us go in head first.

GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA!

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yamiso flies through the opening between heads, punching many away from him as he attempts to fly to the main head. I follow suit, running across the bodies of the snakes as a I go while kicking incoming ones away from me.

GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA! GA!

Before either of us get to the main head, more act as a protective shield, preventing us from getting through.

BATAN!

One hits us out of the horde of snakes into the air. Eight snakes prepare to attack us.

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"

"ELECTRIC TONE: ! MAXIMUM OUTPUT!!!!!"

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!GA!

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"

Behind us, a large number of Sutoria-sama clones rain down on the snakes like lightning bolts, knocking away the pursuing snakes and many more. Once I land on the roof of the nearest building, I see Sutoria-sama rush towards the snakes with Yamiso in pursuit.

"I cannot forgive you!" Sutoria-sama yells. "I will set things right, with my own two hands!"

(Everything...) Apis-sama thinks. (Everything! All these years! All this effort! I REFUSE TO LOSE IT ALL!!!)

(Give up!) Riva-sama thinks. (It's not worth all this destruction!)

(SILENCE!!!!!)

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

BATAN!

After getting knocked back a second time, I watch as Sutoria-sama and Yamiso continue their assault from above while the Keisetsu members attack from below, pushing Hunter-sama's body back towards the ocean, but failing to injure the main head as the normal heads grow in number.

!

"Nur, I've got an idea!" I say.

(And that is?)

I pause to think of my plan so that she knows.

Furete mitai kedo kiesou na

Setsunai (hakanai)

(No way! I can heal you, but a collision at that speed is too risky! Your body isn't durable enough!)

Not durable...

!

Yume wa ashita no imi wo

Ima egaiteru

"YAMISO!!!" I yell.

I jump in the air and catch him as he's knocked back again.

"What do you want?" he asks, freeing himself from my grasp.

"Please, I need your rhime! Sync with me!"

(What!? No! I forbid you! Not with your chest open like this!)

"I beg you!" I continue.

(It's not worth it!)

Yamiso hesitates...

Then nods and holds out his hand.

I take it...

And begin the syncing process.

Ai de kaware yowasa wo nugi suteta

Yamiso's darkness rhime starts to flow throughout my body, including through the hole in my chest.

In my head, Nur lets out a high-pitched scream.

(OREN! STOP!)

(This is the only way!)

As Yamiso continues to provide me with more darkness rhime, I feel a sudden pain in my "heart", but choose to endure it the best I can.

Watashi tachi no shinjitsu ga mietara

Ai de kaware yami nado koete yuke

I let go of Yamiso's hand. My cloak's color alternates between white and black, and the illusion face in my chest glows with the same alternating colors.

Moroi moroi moroi hito no ishi

Demo tsuyoi tsuyoi

Hito no kibou

"Yamiso, one last thing! Throw me as high as you can!"

Confused, Yamiso looks to me, then shrugs.

I jump as high as I can with Yamiso flying right beside me. When I reach my highest elevation, Yamiso grabs my leg and spins me counterclockwise as fast as he can.

Wakatteta nda ne

Hajimari da yo to

Upon reaching the fastest speed he can manage, Yamiso releases me, sending me high into the sky.

Koe wa towa ni negai wo sasaeru to

I reach the highest height I will manage...

Then hold Clarent to the sky.

(Three years of rhime. Everything! For this final attack!)

"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I sync my rhime into the blade, creating a pillar of light. Upon reaching the ceiling of my hall, the ceiling's rhime gets consumed by the pillar, making it even thicker.

Hunter-sama's heads turn and look at my light.

(I don't know what you're planning, but I'll end you, here and now!)

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

Hunter-sama sends most of her snakes in my direction.

Watashi tachi wa shinjite tsumuideru

Koe wa towa ni jounetsu wo ataeru darou

"NUR! You know the plan! A little help!"

(GGRRRR.. FINE!!!)

The pillar of light breaks into two parts. The part still connected to Clarent solidifies into a solid blade the height of Hunter-sama's tallest snakes.

The remaining amount, in the form of a sphere, begins to take shape behind me.

Hayaku hayaku hayaku koko ni kite

Tada tsuyoi tsuyoi

Dake ja chigau

The sphere continues to expand, now taking a human shape.

Wakatta yo

Hikari e no road

The illusion rhime behind me solidifies...

Taking the form of Nur. A figure towering above everyone and everything on the battlefield. Perhaps...400 meters tall. It's the first time I see her face. A beautiful face of serenity.

As the final instrumental plays, Nur's lookalike grabs me with her right hand and begins to spin, leaning back to perform a figure skating layback spin with the blade horizontal. With each passing note, we spin faster and faster.

She is still sending her snakes after me, but Hunter-sama's remaining snakes start to retreat.

(I don't know what you're planning, Oren.) Apis-sama thinks. (But I won't allow you to...)

BAMU!!!

"SSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"

One of the snakes bite down on the main head, rendering it immobile.

(I refuse...to let you go! Not after everything you've done!) Riva-sama thinks.

"DAMN YOU!!!!!" the main head yells.

Upon reaching a speed where Nur's lookalike's body looks like nothing but a blur...

Her hand releases me, sending me spinning at maximum speed towards Hunter-sama.

"NNNOOOO!!!!!" Hunter-sama yells.

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"

As I spin, I cut through all the heads, and plow through the snake defenses.

"FIFTH AGE!!!!!" I yell.

After cutting through the main line of defenses, I shift my weight to stop myself from spinning.

"TABARRA BLADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Then perform a downward slash, which collides on the final note.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"GGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I slash and slice through all the snakes below...

And right down the middle of the main head.

When I collide with the ground along with my blade, light erupts from the blade and continues for miles through the ocean, splitting it down the middle.

The light cutting down Hunter-sama's main head continues to endure, Hunter-sama hisses her final words.

"CCCCUUUUURRRRRRSSSSEEEEEEE YYYYYOOOOOOOUUUUUU OOORRRREEEENNN!!!!! CCCCCCCCUUUUURRRRRSSSSEEEEE YYYYYOOOOOOUUUUUU NNNNNUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

BATAN!

With that, the sliced body collapses, dead on the beach of Pira Attis.

In the crater I made upon landing, which was the whole reason I needed Yamiso's rhime to strengthen my body to endure such a collision, I stand up to look at the collapsing body of the giant mythical creature...

Then fall back, unconscious.