The old-timers had a saying: things don't go the same way everywhere. On this day, it felt like a cruel joke.
Earth was a graveyard. Most of humanity had been erased, leaving only the strongest—or the most stubborn—clinging to life. You could count their number and still have fingers to spare. The air was thick with the agonized screams of the dying, a chorus of pleas for a salvation that would never come.
Among the ruins, Toki and his allies lay broken. Their bodies were heavy with injuries, their spirits weighed down by despair.
Vapi loomed over them, a nexus of swirling dark energy. "Kid, you're not bad," he sneered, his voice echoing with malice. "But you're still years away from taking me down. I'm afraid your time runs out now!" With a motion too fast to follow, he unleashed a concussive blast that sent Toki and the others sprawling.
The villain leaped into the air, the very atmosphere crackling around him. "Most of your solar system is dust," Vapi declared, gathering a sphere of annihilation in his hands. "This planet is barely hanging on. Time to end this charade."
Toki
A grim acceptance settled in Toki's heart. (Nero was right. No matter how powerful I become, to destroy this darkness, you need pure, unadulterated magical power. Without it, you're just dead. The Light Bow's purity bought us time, but no more. I can't go any further... This is it.)
He watched the deadly energy swell. (He killed them all... my family... everyone. It's agony to watch destiny claim them, just as it claims me now. But I have to believe in Nero. He told me to stall, that he would fix everything. Please... don't betray my faith. I'm on the verge of collapsing.)
The Others' Last Thoughts
Around him, the last defenders of Earth awaited the end.
Sugeto: (How... how am I so weak?)
Blaze: (I need more power! Why wasn't it enough?!)
Kim: (It can't end like this! I have to save them!) he cried out, tears cutting through the grime on his face.
Thunder Calamity: (Forgive me, Lord Nero. I have failed you.)
Another Hunter: (So... this is how it ends.)
They were resigned. Against such overwhelming power, there was nothing left to do but die.
Vapi released his attack. A wave of pure obliteration surged forward, promising a swift end. The world dissolved into a deafening BOOM.
And then... silence.
The attack vanished into thin air, dissipating like mist before the sun.
A laugh, cold and mocking, cut through the sudden quiet. "Hahaha... You are so pathetic. So fucking pathetic."
Every head turned. Vapi's eyes narrowed in fury. The voice continued, dripping with contempt. "I thought you believed in the equality of duels. But here you are, just a bully picking on the weak."
The insult struck deeper than any physical blow. To a being of royal blood like Vapi, such words were unforgivable.
Then, they saw it. The elements themselves—Thunder, Fire, Air, Water, Soil, Space, even the Void—were weaving together, forming a new structure. The crackle of thunder was deafening, shaping a formidable new body.
"Bastard," the figure snarled, form solidifying. "If it weren't for you destroying my last body, I wouldn't have to go through this hassle."
Vapi's eyes widened in recognition. "Nero? I can't believe you would utter such harsh words."
"Fuck off, you psychopath," the reply was a whip-crack of rage. "Go get your ass handed to you somewhere else."
Seeing Nero's body was still forming, Vapi saw an opening. "Now!" he roared, lunging forward with a killing strike.
But with god-like reflexes, Nero's newly formed hand shot out and caught Vapi's fist in an unbreakable grip. Behind Nero, two glowing discs materialized—one blazing blue, the other deep red, representing the cosmic duality of positive and negative energy. They spun and merged, forming a brilliant, humming infinity symbol.
In that instant, Vapi knew. He was in the worst situation of his entire existence.
"I won't forget the pain you gave me last time," Nero growled.
A kick faster than light connected with Vapi's face. The impact shattered teeth and sent the dark lord hurtling backwards, breaking escape velocity hundreds of times over as he was launched into the depths of space.
Nero landed softly beside Toki. A warm, healing energy flowed from him, washing over the entire group and sealing their most grievous wounds. "Stay here until all this shit ends," he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument. "I'm taking him away from Earth."
In a flash, he was gone.
Toki blinked, the healing energy still coursing through him. "There's something strange about Nero," he muttered to Sugeto. "It's like... it's not him."
Blaze nodded grimly, wiping blood from his lip. "Yep. He's not. That's Darky."
"Darky?" Toki echoed.
"Yeah," Blaze confirmed. "The negative counterpart of Nero's consciousness. And that's why I feel bad for Vapi. All of you, remember this: do not approach him. This side of Nero only respects a handful of people."
Sugeto paled. "That's... bad."
"Hmm, bad is an understatement," Blaze said. "You didn't see him fight against Moonlight in Aryavarta. There is no mercy in him for his enemies." He looked up at the sky where Nero had vanished. "I wonder why Nero gave him the original body... and where the hell is the real Nero?"
Somewhere in the void of space, Darky was indeed beating the crap out of Vapi.
"Just a little power-up can't defeat me!" Vapi spat, struggling to regain his footing.
Darky's response was a maniacal laugh. "Hahahaaa!"
He pointed a single finger. Vapi's vision swam, and he saw a horrifying sight: his own original body, badly injured and lying unconscious in the rubble.
"Wait... then how am I...?" Vapi stammered, confusion overriding his fear.
"Just a little illusion," Darky purred. "Don't worry. This is a mere showcase of the 3rd Gate's power. Usually, Nero holds the power of both Gates. As his counterpart, I never got my hands on such interesting stuff until now."
"So... you are not Nero?" Vapi asked, hope and terror warring within him.
A brutal kick to his stomach doubled him over. "That's not true," Darky corrected. "I am him. Or, more precisely, I am a part of his thinking. A part of him. Just not the good one."
(Whoever he is, he's monstrously powerful!) Vapi thought frantically. (My dark energy is useless! He's not even using purity magic! What is he? What can I do?!)
Meanwhile, in another sector of outer space, the battle was of a different nature.
Oran, a User of the formidable 5th Gate, was in bad shape. He faced three opponents: Nero, the dual Gate user; Eri, another dual Gate user of terrifying power; and the most frustrating of all, Seino.
"Your name is Nero, and you, Eri. Right?" Oran ground out.
Nero smirked. "That's obvious. Tell us something we don't know. Hahaha!"
Eri tilted her head, her expression cold. "Your chances of winning are down to zero. What's your next move?"
Seino stepped forward, his demeanor calm. "I apologize for the disturbance caused by my friends."
"You..." Oran seethed.
(These two dual Gate users are exceptional, their power is close to a 5th Gate user's... Facing them both would be difficult, but victory would still be mine. The 5th Gate is not so easily conquered. But the real pain in the ass is this guy, Seino! He knows every single one of my 5th Gate creations and formations. He's my absolute worst enemy, countering my every move. Nero is right... there is no way out.)
"Looks like..." Oran began, a desperate plan forming.
"Oooh, your ultimate move?" Seino interrupted, a knowing smile on his lips. "You can use that. I've been waiting for it. It will be the cherry on top of our victory."
Nero was stunned. (How does he know that?)
Seino continued, explaining for his allies' benefit. "Aren't you thinking of creating clones that replicate all our moves? The fun fact is, they drain power from their enemies. The longer the fight goes on, the stronger they become..."
Nero felt a chill. (The 5th Gate is truly something else. Without Seino, we'd be trapped in those deadly formations. But how does he know all this?)
"Damn you!" Oran screamed, his sanity fraying. "You know everything! Then how about THIS?!"
In a gruesome act of desperation, Oran dug his own hand into his chest and ripped out his still-beating heart. A dark, ominous spell erupted from it, covering the surroundings in a suffocating, malevolent aura.
Within seconds, Seino analyzed it. "Ohh, you made a deal with the Guard of the Western Trench of the Abyss. Very well then." He looked at his companions. "Nero, Ms. Eri, I suggest you take cover. A strong one."
Both parties maintained their distance, charging their energy for the final, decisive blow.
The technological patterns on Seino's body glowed with an intensity never seen before. Then, to everyone's astonishment, hundreds of highly compressed, miniature stars materialized around him, each one humming with cataclysmic power.
Nero's eyes widened. (What the hell is this?! This amount of power is enough to destroy an entire universe! This is far beyond what a 5th Gate User should be able to handle!)
Oran saw it and froze, utterly paralyzed by the spectacle of his own impending doom.
Seino looked at him, his voice calm and final. "Arsenal Annihilator."
A colossal, high-tech sniper rifle manifested in his hands, drawing power from the hundreds of compressed stars.
"WITNESS THE GLORY OF COSMO PARADISE!"
He fired.
The attack was not merely light or energy; it was the end of possibility itself. It consumed Oran and obliterated a vast portion of the surrounding space, leaving a temporary void in the cosmos.
When the cosmic dust settled, Oran's soul was visible, trapped and contained within a crystal prison in Seino's hand.
"Nero, take this," Seino said, tossing the crystal.
"Oran's soul...?" Nero caught it, feeling its faint, trapped energy.
"Don't worry. Even if he escapes, he will never be able to use the power of the Gates again." Seino explained. "His soul will also help you restore the damage from this battle."
Nero's expression hardened. He summoned a sword of blue flame, charged with cosmic aura. "Okay, now I'll be serious. I'm thankful for your help, but I still don't trust you. The body you're wielding belongs to my friend. I can't leave it in unknown hands. Reveal your identity, or this won't end well."
Seino smiled, a genuine, warm expression. "Fine. I'm happy Seino has such trustworthy friends." The voice that came out was different now, older and laced with authority. "I am the Commander of the 2nd Paradise. Commander Tile, from another dimension. Seino also hails from there. We belong to a vast, highly developed civilization that even discovered the 'All Might'—the primordial god who created all dimensions."
Nero's rage subsided, replaced by shock. "So why are you here? And do you know where All Might is?"
"All Might is everywhere. We are here because of the Fatebreakers," Tile explained, his voice growing heavy. "It began when our civilization created the seven Primordial Fragments. Their power is unparalleled, enough to make one the ultimate god. To obtain them, a being named Aekai attacked us. He wields the unstoppable power of the 7th Gate, and he laid waste to everything. No one could stop him until our leader, Sir Morris, arrived. He managed to mortally wound Aekai... at the cost of his own life."
The silence that followed was profound.
"The battle was a loss for both sides. Our civilization, Cosmo Paradise, was wiped out. Seino is one of the last survivors. This armor he wears was our last prototype, the Z-5679 Battle Armor."
Nero's fist clenched. "They wiped out an entire civilization? Trillions of lives... for a selfish reason?"
"Which is why I am begging you, Nero," Tile's voice was earnest. "Help us. You are the only one who can stop Aekai. He is a Heaven Gate 7 User, and he has contracts with demons from hell. In practice, he is like a dual Gate user. His power is unstoppable... unless he faces someone with the absolute power of Dual Gates. That someone is you."
"I... I understand the situation," Nero said, the weight of the cosmos settling on his shoulders.
"There is one more thing," Tile added gravely. "Something even more terrible than Aekai has his eyes on you. I can't say more. Avoid him at all costs until you reach Gate 7. He fears you now, just as he feared the first Gate 7 User, Lord Kael. He's afraid you might instantly access that power."
(Gain Gate 7 power instantly?) Nero thought, a cold shiver running down his spine. (Is that even possible?) He suddenly remembered the ominous presence he felt while sealing the dark portal.
"Don't worry," Tile said softly. "Time will tell you everything."
Some time later, Tile's form flickered. "My authority over Seino's body is nearly spent. Please... look after this poor boy."
Suddenly, the light in Seino's eyes vanished, and his body went limp. Nero rushed forward to catch him before he could drift into the void.
Back on Earth, the group had regrouped when Nero returned, supporting an unconscious Seino.
Darky waved casually. "Yooo, you took so long."
"I told you to clean up the mess on Earth," Nero said, his gaze sweeping over the still-open dark portals and lingering demonic presences.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Darky retorted, feigning innocence.
"I mean, why are there still so many portals open? I can sense potential dangers lurking."
"Hey, why don't you command him to do it?" Darky whined, pointing a thumb at his own chest. "I just defeated a big boss! See? Here's Vapi's head!" He held up a gruesome trophy.
Nero sighed. "That's exactly why I told you to be thorough. He's not completely defeated yet." He then focused, summoning a pure, white energy. "Whity, please close these gates as quickly as possible."
The clean-up began, but the war was far from over.
Continuous...