Match 4 Aftermath: Whity's Divine Intervention
The Herald of Hell's claw descended, oblivion condensed into a single point aimed at Yoshito's skull. Keisuke's scream died unborn, frozen by the entity's sheer, reality-bending speed. Yoshito braced for annihilation.
CRACK!
Not the sound of impact, but of shattering space-time. A figure wreathed in cascading, ephemeral leaves of pure golden energy materialized between them. Whity, in his Resurrection State: "Falling Autumn", moved with the inevitability of seasons changing. He didn't block the blow; he intercepted its very concept.
"Don't die here, buddy," Whity murmured, his voice resonating with ancient power. "You did great." A single, deceptively light palm touched the Herald's chest.
KOOOOOOM!
The impact wasn't physical force; it was erasure. The Herald of Hell didn't fly back – it unraveled. Its form disintegrated into screaming fractals of void, consumed by the golden leaves. The shockwave that followed was apocalyptic. Hundreds of distant planets, mere specks in the infinite expanse, flared bright and died, reduced to expanding rings of cosmic ash. Yoshito and Keisuke were shielded only by Whity's aura, their minds reeling at the display of power dwarfing even Arata's peak.
"Listen," Whity stated, the golden leaves swirling protectively around them. His gaze held the weight of stars. "You both fought well. But this place... the danger escalates beyond measure." He glanced towards the distant, chaotic energy signature where Nero battled Fernando. "I'm sending you back to Aryavarta."
"But Nero—!" Keisuke protested.
"I can't guarantee his path," Whity cut in, his voice firm yet laced with concern. "He foresaw this escalation. He ordered your retreat. Wait for us... in Aryavarta." Before they could argue further, Whity gestured. Space folded, and Yoshito and Keisuke vanished, teleported away from the god-level battlefield.
Match 4: Officially Over.
Winners: Yoshito & Keisuke.
Match 3: Twilight's End & Darky's Dark Humor
On the fractured moon fragment, Saigo saw his chance. A desperate lunge, amplified by Velmin's wind-sword, created a split-second opening, trapping the Twilight Conjuror in a vortex of howling gales. "NOW!" Saigo roared.
Ayumi and Ferina unleashed their combined holy light, a searing beam of pure sanctity. It struck Twilight head-on. The Conjuror screamed, his twilight form sizzling and crackling under the divine assault. Flesh-like shadows burned away, revealing glimpses of the rotting abyssal core beneath. The beam faded. Twilight stood, grievously wounded, chunks of his essence missing, but alive. His regeneration, fueled by hell itself, began stitching him back together.
"You... INSECTS!" Twilight bellowed, his voice distorted with pain and fury. A wave of crushing despair slammed Saigo, Ayumi, and Ferina to their knees. He raised a clawed hand, twilight energy coalescing into a spear of absolute annihilation. "DIE FOR YOUR IMPUDENCE!"
Saigo's mind raced. The Wind God's Blessing... one use only. My Resurrection State... now! He prepared to unleash his ultimate, god-touched power.
CRUNCH. CRUNCH. CRUNCH.
An absurdly loud chewing sound shattered the tension. Twilight froze, spear faltering. He slowly turned. Darky sat cross-legged on a floating rock, happily munching food. Moonlight hovered nervously beside him, arms laden with stolen sweets and glowing confections.
"Y'know," Darky said through a mouthful of candle wax, gesturing at Moonlight with a half-eaten candy, "if you keep fetching snacks like this, maybe – maybe – in a thousand years, I'll consider forgiving your pathetic past betrayals." His tone was chillingly casual.
Enraged by the disrespect, Twilight abandoned Saigo and lunged at Moonlight. "DIE FIRST, VERMIN!" His attacks were furious, chaotic blasts of twilight. Moonlight yelped, dodging frantically, desperately trying not to drop the precarious pile of sweets.
"More fear! MORE!" Twilight cackled, enjoying the chase.
Fear? Moonlight thought hysterically, juggling a wobbling tower of luminous jellybeans. I'm not scared of YOU, idiot! I'm terrified of HIM! Drop one candy, and he'll turn me into a novelty keychain!
Twilight landed a solid blow. A single, precious glowing lollipop tumbled from Moonlight's grasp, shattering on the moon-rock below.
Moonlight froze, pure terror locking his limbs. Oh gods... I'm dead.
Darky slowly stood. He dusted non-existent crumbs off his dark robes and walked towards Twilight, his playful demeanor vanishing, replaced by an aura of infinite, chilling menace. "Excuse me, Mister," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "You dropped my sweet. Bring me a replacement."
Twilight sneered, twilight energy flaring. "Or what, you little—?"
"I wasn't asking." Darky's voice cut like frozen steel. "It's an order."
Twilight roared, unleashing his most potent blast. Darky didn't flinch. He raised a hand and caught the obliterating energy, crushing it in his palm like cheap glass. "You missed your chance," Darky stated, cold finality in his eyes. "Rule one of existence: Ruin my snack time..." Dark energy, ancient and hungry, spiraled around him. "Be Gone."
The Dark Incantation activated. Not an attack, but an unmaking. Twilight's scream wasn't sound; it was the tearing of his very essence. His form imploded, compressing, twisting, shrinking. In seconds, the terrifying Emperor of the Abyss was gone. In Darky's palm rested a single, swirling, malevolently glowing candy. Darky popped it into his mouth.
CRUNCH.
"Mm. Tart," he commented. "Needed more sugar."
Moonlight stared, jaw slack. He... he just ate a person... for a dropped LOLLIPOP?! Who DOES that?!
Saigo, Ayumi, Ferina, and the now-stirring Velmin watched in profound, horrified shock. The casual display of cosmic horror was beyond comprehension.
Darky floated back to his rock, resuming his feast. "Ahhh," he sighed blissfully, kicking his legs. "This is the life. Taste is life." He noticed their stares. "Oi. Stop looking at my sweets with those greedy eyes. Makes me nervous." He rummaged in Moonlight's pile. "Here. Courtesy of the Dark Lord. Share and share alike." He tossed each of them a glowing, suspiciously pulsating candy.
"Uh... n-no thank you...!" Saigo stammered, Ayumi and Ferina shaking their heads violently.
"W-we're full!" Ferina squeaked.
Darky's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Disrespecting my hospitality?" The temperature plummeted.
Instantly, hands shot out. "W-WE'LL TAKE IT!" they chorused, clutching the candies like live grenades. Darky beamed, his mood instantly sunny again. "Good! Eat up! Moonlight, fetch more!"
(Cute/Funny Interlude: Slapstick & Slaps)
Darky, still munching, snapped his fingers. Saigo yelped as he floated helplessly into the air. "Wha—?!" Another snap, and Velmin, miraculously healed, materialized beside them, blinking groggily.
Velmin's eyes landed on the floating Saigo. Instinct and paternal exasperation took over. WHAP! A solid slap echoed. "Saigo! How many times must I tell you! RESPECT YOUR ELDERS!" he roared, half-conscious.
Everyone froze. Darky stared, utterly bewildered.
WHAP! WHAP! WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!
Velmin, fueled by righteous indignation and lingering confusion, delivered five rapid-fire slaps to the nearest perceived offender – Darky. "Disrespectful whelp! Talking back! Floating around! Where are your manners?!"
Darky staggered, more from shock than pain. "Hey! (Slap!) Old man! (Slap!) Listen! (Slap!) Time out! (Slap!) I'M NOT SAIGO! (SLAP!)"
Velmin finally focused, blinking. "Oh. You're that... Darky boy Nero introduced. Still disrespectful, I see." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Learned your lesson?"
Darky's eye twitched, dark energy crackling dangerously around him... then fizzled out. Nero's order: No harming elders... Damn it! "You old fart!" Darky yelled, face stinging. "After tenderizing my face, you ask stupid questions?!" He raised his hand... then remembered the rule. SLAP! He mimed a return blow inches from Velmin's nose. "Consider that disrespect PAID IN FULL!" He snapped his fingers violently. "Enough! Get out of my sight!" Space warped, teleporting Saigo, Velmin, Ayumi, Ferina, and a terrified Moonlight back to Aryavarta.
Moonlight hovered nervously. "M-Master... are you okay?"
Darky rubbed his smarting cheek, grumbling. "Fine. Shut up, you midget."
(Mid-Set: Short-sized entity)
(Note: Nero forbade Darky from using powers against elders – hence the impotent rage and mime-slapping.)
Match 3: Officially Over.
Winner: Darky (by default of terrifying everyone into submission).
Aryavarta Outskirts: The Verlord's Tears
Yoshito's group, led by Xeru (head of the freed prisoners), raced towards the swirling vortex known as the Eye of Destruction, Verlord's son clutched protectively. They were so close. Suddenly, energy signatures flared. A squad of elite "S" and "SS" rank Aryavartan Battle Mages materialized, blocking their path.
"Not now!" Xeru snarled, desperation in his voice. "We're at the threshold!"
A sharp, elegant snap echoed. Beneath the mages' feet, a colossal, intricate magic circle blazed to life – pure annihilation. No scream, only a flash of blinding light. The mages vanished, reduced to ash before they could react.
From the dissipating light stepped two figures: Verlord and his wife, their regal bearing radiating profound worry and desperate hope. Verlord's eyes scanned the group, locking onto the small figure Xeru shielded.
"May I..." Verlord's voice, usually commanding, trembled. "...have my son?"
Xeru, awed and relieved, gently guided the boy forward. Verlord knelt, his hands shaking as he touched his child's face. Not a scratch. Not a bruise. Utterly unharmed. Tears, held back for an eternity, streamed down Verlord's face as he swept his son into a crushing embrace.
"My boy... my precious boy," he choked, holding him as if he might vanish. The Verlord's wife joined the embrace, her own tears flowing freely. Verlord pulled back slightly, looking his son in the eyes, his voice thick with emotion and unbreakable resolve: "Daddy's here now. I will never leave your side again. Never." The promise echoed in the desolate landscape, a beacon of light after the long darkness.