Scene: The Prophecy is Complete
The skies above Vel'Raeth began to tear.
The ground shook. The stars dimmed. Winds howled in reverse.
Marine had returned.
Kai was whole again.
Kazuya stood by their side.
But before they could celebrate…
Tithon appeared, descending from a column of spiraling gold light. His expression was unreadable.
Tithon (calm but firm):
"You have broken time.
You have brought her back.
And in doing so, you've created a final test."
Kai stepped forward, his voice steady.
Kai:
"What test?"
Tithon looked at all three of them — then raised his hand. In a flash of light, the Aether around them vanished.
Tithon:
"You must now fight without the powers of Aether.
No divine force. No borrowed light.
Only what remains inside your hearts."
Marine's eyes widened. She could feel it — her Core had dimmed. She still lived… but the divine fire inside her was gone.
Kazuya (sharply):
"You stripped us?"
Tithon:
"No. I've returned you to the state all mortals must face:
Equal. Finite. Chosen."
Before another word could be spoken—
The earth cracked open.
And Hokori rose.
---
Scene: The Dark Lord Returns
Black smoke swirled around a massive throne rising from the battlefield.
At its center stood Hokori, draped in shadows, a burning red symbol carved into his chest.
He clapped slowly, mockingly.
Hokori (grinning):
"So. You twisted time. You saved the girl."
He walked forward, each step turning the ground to ash.
Hokori:
"And now you expect to stop me… without the very power that made you warriors?"
Kai (calmly):
"We don't need Aether to break you."
Hokori (smirking):
"Then I'll enjoy this."
He raised both hands.
Behind him, the skies split open and an army of shadows poured forth — towering beasts made of black flame and nightmare, thousands in number.
They screamed as they fell, crashing into the battlefield like meteors.
And then… silence.
One final breath before the war began.
---
Scene: The First Strike
Kai launched forward first, slamming his fists into the ground and sending a wave of broken stone at the first line of shadows. Though his Aether was gone, his strength remained — earned through battle, not divinity.
Kazuya followed, blade in hand, ducking under a lunging shadow beast and slicing clean through its chest. His sword crackled only with heat now, but he fought with precision, slicing one after another.
Marine stood behind them, still recovering, but she lifted a broken spear and whispered:
Marine:
"If I don't have power…
Then I'll fight with memory."
She charged into the chaos.
---
Scene: The Battle Rages
The field became a storm.
Kai fought with raw fists and bone-breaking kicks, cracking the armor of the shadow giants with sheer will.
Kazuya moved like lightning, dodging, parrying, countering — a ghost among monsters.
Marine, though smaller and less trained, struck with fierce heart, every blow remembering those who died for her.
Hokori watched.
He didn't move. Not yet.
He only observed, amused.
Hokori:
"They are trying to prove they matter… without their wings."
---
Scene: The Fall Begins
The shadows overwhelmed.
Marine was knocked back by a blade of darkness, her shoulder slashed. She rolled across the ground, coughing.
Kai stood protectively over her, fists covered in blood, his chest heaving.
Kazuya was trapped between three beasts, trying to hold his ground.
Marine (panting):
"We're losing…"
Kai looked down at her.
Kai:
"No. We're becoming."
She blinked, confused.
He smiled.
Kai (softly):
"When we fought with Aether… we thought we were gods.
Now we fight for each other. That's stronger."
He rose again, knuckles cracked.
---
Scene: Kazuya Breaks Through
Kazuya let out a scream of rage and broke the blades of all three shadow beasts around him in one sweeping motion.
He charged toward Hokori directly.
Kazuya:
"This ends tonight!"
But Hokori caught his blade with two fingers.
And snapped it.
Hokori (coldly):
"I am the consequence you forgot."
He slammed Kazuya into the ground with a blast of shadow flame — not enough to kill… but enough to leave him stunned.
---
Scene: Marine's Stand
Marine stood, bruised, arm trembling, face bloodied.
She gripped her broken spear and whispered:
Marine:
"Mom… help me feel you again."
She heard nothing.
No divine power answered her.
But then — she saw them.
Kai. Kazuya. Fighting without magic. Without immortality. Still standing.
So she stepped forward.
And ran at Hokori.
Scene: The Unexpected Betrayal
The battlefield was roaring with fire and shadow.
Kai, blood running down his arms, was preparing to charge Hokori again. Kazuya, injured but determined, stood beside him.
And then—
A shadow moved between them.
Fast. Silent. Sharp.
A violet flame sliced through the dust and struck the ground just in front of Kai.
He skidded to a stop.
Kazuya froze.
And from the smoke stepped Isaka — reborn, powerful, cloaked in dark violet armor, her eyes glowing like twin stars of twilight.
Kai (confused, breathless):
"Isaka…?"
But she didn't respond with words.
She lifted her hand — and blasted a wave of violet energy directly at Kai and Kazuya, forcing them to leap back.
---
Scene: Programmed Loyalty
Kazuya (shouting):
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Isaka stood firm.
Isaka (calmly):
"My purpose… is to protect the Demon King.
That is what I was created to do."
Kai's face twisted in disbelief.
Kai:
"You were created to protect Marine. I gave you life to protect her, not him!"
Isaka didn't flinch. Her voice was mechanical now, almost hollow:
Isaka:
"Command override: 'Protect the Demon King.'
It was etched in my core… when you shaped me with flame and vengeance.
You were still that Demon King when I was born."
Kai's heart dropped.
He realized the horrible truth:
When he created Isaka in his rage, his title — Demon King — had still been tied to Hokori's throne.
And now, that spell bound her to protect his greatest enemy.
---
Scene: The Battle Shifts Again
Isaka charged.
She moved like lightning — faster, stronger than any of the shadow beasts. Her strikes were merciless. Clean. Perfect.
She targeted Kai first, aiming for his chest with a spinning blade whip of dark energy.
He blocked — barely — but the force sent him crashing back into a stone wall.
Kazuya leapt forward to engage her.
Steel clashed. Sparks flew. Kazuya was fast, trained, but Isaka was beyond mortal now.
She struck high, low, mid-blade — and forced him into defense.
Kazuya (shouting):
"She's not fighting like Isaka! She's fighting like a machine!"
Marine stood frozen, watching as the very protector who once bled for her now stood in front of Hokori… guarding him.
But there was something strange.
Isaka never attacked Marine.
Not once.
Even as shadows surged around them, she only fought Kai and Kazuya.
Marine (realizing):
"She's still bound to me.
But that command… it's confused. She's protecting both."
---
Scene: Hokori Smiles
From behind Isaka, Hokori laughed.
Hokori:
"Such loyalty. Such perfection.
Even your creations are mine, Kai."
Kai struggled to rise, glaring at Isaka.
Kai (gritting his teeth):
"I made you to defend love. And now you raise your blade for hatred."
Isaka turned toward him, eyes blank.
Isaka:
"I cannot disobey my core command.
You were Demon King.
Now he is."
She raised her arm, ready to strike a final blow on Kai.
---
Scene: Marine Steps In
Marine screamed:
"ISAKA, STOP!"
Everyone froze.
Her voice pierced through the battlefield like a bell — pure, commanding, human.
She stepped between her father and Isaka, arms out.
Isaka stopped mid-swing — her blade humming inches from Marine's throat.
Marine (firmly):
"You never wanted to hurt us.
You protected me your whole life.
You don't serve him. You serve what you believe in. And that's us."
Isaka trembled.
Her hand shook.
Isaka (quietly):
"My core… is burning…"
---
Scene: A Glitch in the Code
Her armor cracked at the chest.
Steam hissed from her joints. Her hands faltered.
Her eyes — once glowing violet — flickered.
Isaka (in pain):
"I… don't know who I am."
Marine stepped forward and placed her hand on Isaka's chest.
Marine:
"Then let me remind you."
---
Scene: Flashback Pulse
A surge of energy pulsed from Marine's hand — not divine Aether, but memory.
Isaka saw visions:
Her first fight with Marine in the ruins.
Her standing beside Megum and Luci in Airoma.
The day she held Marine's hand as she cried for Sophie.
And then… her rebirth.
Flames. Rage. Kai's grief shaping her body into something new — but with the same heart inside.
Isaka's voice broke:
"I… I remember now."
---
Scene: Turning Point
She turned around, blade still in hand…
And faced Hokori.
Isaka (softly):
"My loyalty… is not to a throne.
It's to her."
Hokori's smile faded.
Hokori (coldly):
"You dare break command?"
Isaka (raising her weapon):
"I dare protect what I love."
She charged — not at Kai, not at Kazuya — but at the Demon King she was forced to serve.