Even though Sora's heart almost skipped a beat at Yuri's annoying habit of only explaining things when asked directly, he eventually managed to figure out where his physical body was.
"So it's not space separating me from my body, but time?"
That revelation confirmed what he'd suspected all along—TERMINUS had taken it.
"Does that guy seriously not know that taking something without permission is called theft?"
And not just any theft—snatching someone's entire body without asking first? That was on a whole different level.
Thankfully, being a spiritual entity meant his consciousness was separate from his physical form.
Otherwise, he might've ended up in another one of those bewildering "wake up in a random world" scenarios.
Waking up somewhere strange after a single night's sleep—wasn't that just the classic transmigration setup?
What, was TERMINUS planning to cosplay the "truck accident" trope next?
The mental image of TERMINUS as a giant, galaxy-sized truck almost made Sora laugh. When he got back, he was definitely going to convince the Federation of Hope to commission a new fleet—TERMINUS-brand transport ships.
That way, maybe the so-called King of the End could haul cargo instead of kidnapping people's bodies for fun.
As for whether the Harbingers of Misfortune or the Funeral Hosts would come looking for trouble—well, that was a problem for later.
For now, finding his body came first.
"If TERMINUS can interact directly with the timeline, does that mean my body's in the future—or the past?"
He thought it over but couldn't pin down an answer.
Either way, getting it back was non-negotiable.
Since he now knew how to begin the search, Sora first needed to settle things on this side—most importantly, Titania.
She was a walking powder keg: terrible sense of restraint, overwhelming power.
Even weakened after having her energy drained by Skaracabaz, she could still form Crystal Pincers—among the hardest substances in the galaxy.
Someone had to keep an eye on her before she accidentally blew something up.
"So, I'll leave Titania to you…" Sora said, turning to Fenille.
Titania might act hostile toward almost everyone, but Sora knew it was mostly bravado. Still, she needed supervision.
Fenille was the only person she'd never openly picked a fight with, making her the ideal choice.
"Don't worry, leave it to me," Fenille replied without hesitation. "Titania may talk down to people, but she's really not bad deep down."
Then her expression shifted slightly as a thought struck her.
"Sora, are you planning to go find your body alone?"
Since he was entrusting Titania to her, that could only mean one thing.
Otherwise, wouldn't he have just kept Titania by his side instead of delegating her?
Despite her constant insults, Titania had always obeyed Sora when it counted. Why else would she willingly attend those tedious culture classes?
"This is something only I can handle," he said simply.
There was no helping it—this involved TERMINUS, an AEON THEMSELF. No one else had the power to face one directly. Better to spare everyone the risk.
After giving Fenille her instructions, Sora went to say goodbye to the others.
Naturally, the Iron Cavalry offered to help, but when they realized there was nothing they could contribute this time, disappointment showed clearly on their faces.
"Hey, cheer up!" Sora grinned. "It's not like I'm disappearing forever. Who knows? Maybe I'll be back tomorrow."
Given that he'd be traveling through time, it wasn't even an exaggeration—his return might feel instantaneous to them.
His farewell was less about leaving and more about keeping them from worrying too much.
With that reassurance, their spirits lifted. "We'll be waiting. Call us when you're back."
Once the group had dispersed, only one person remained.
"Why do I get the feeling you're not surprised by this at all?" Sora asked, studying Robin's calm face.
Even knowing he planned to go alone, her expression was perfectly composed—like a sheer veil stretched over steel.
"Why?" she echoed softly, then paused to think.
She remembered Sora leaping alone from the ship on Promia.
She remembered him turning into mist to stay behind during their escape from Zieltworth.
And lately, she'd been dreaming of something eerily familiar—Sora's silhouette, standing alone against the Stellar Ray Torrent that could erase everything.
After witnessing all that, Robin realized she'd subconsciously grown used to Sora acting alone.
So when he said he was going solo again, it didn't even surprise her.
Realizing this, she shook her head slightly.
"Who knows?" she murmured. "Just remember—there are people waiting for you here."
Reaching out, Robin straightened his collar with gentle care. "So my only wish this time is simple… Don't die."
This journey, Sora wouldn't have anyone by his side. Her words carried both warning and quiet faith.
As she spoke, a strange déjà vu crept over her—hadn't she said this exact line before?
But before she could place it, Sora's lighthearted voice cut in.
"Relax. As soon as I find my body, I'll be right back."
He meant it. Once he got his body back, he intended to return immediately—and have a very pointed conversation with TERMINUS afterward.
With that, Sora tightened the [Driver] around his waist, unfolded his blade, and drew out a shining fantasy book.
'[SAIKOU HAKKOU!]'
"[Henshin]!"
'[WHO IS THE SHINING SWORD?]'
Under everyone's stunned gazes, Sora's form dissolved into countless particles of light, fusing into the sword in his hands.
'[SAIKOU CHAPTER ONE! A SHINING SWORD WITH THE POWER OF GOLD AND SILVER! SAIKOU!]'
"Eh?!"
"Sora… turned into a sword?!"
"What the heck is going on?!"
The onlookers were speechless—until a familiar voice rang out through the crowd.
"I heard that idiot Sora found clues about his body—where'd he run off to now?!" Titania barked, scanning the room for his infuriating face.
But he was nowhere to be seen—only a gleaming sword floated midair.
"Don't tell me that bastard already took off?! Damn him!"
"Quit badmouthing me—I'm still right here."
Sora's voice echoed out of nowhere. Titania spun around, startled, but couldn't sense his presence anywhere.
Then where...
"Don't tell me you recorded his voice just to mess with me?" she snapped, glaring at Robin and the others.
"Right here!"
It was only when the floating sword stopped right in front of her face—with no one holding it—that Titania realized what had happened.
"Sora, you turned into a…" She looked the weapon up and down, disbelief all over her face. "…a sword?!"
She had never heard of a human anywhere in the universe turning into an inanimate object.
"That's right. I am the sword, and the sword is me."
Kamen Rider Saikou—originally the transformation of Yuri, the superhero revered by countless people.
A thousand years ago, Yuri, wielder of both the Swords of Light and Darkness, had fused himself with the Sword of Light to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.
Now, having inherited Yuri's power, Sora could do the same—become one with the blade itself.
"So doesn't that make you the legendary… Swordman?!"
The second Titania said it, the air went dead silent.
Without a word, Sora burst into a blinding flash that washed out Titania's vision.
Then—whack!—something hard smacked her on the head. The sword's hilt.
"That's for spouting nonsense! And that's for that careless mouth of yours!"
Sure, what she said wasn't exactly wrong—but she didn't have to say it out loud!
"Sora! You jerk—!"
By the time Titania snapped out of it, Sora had already smacked her a few more times and vanished to who-knows-where.
Everyone else nearby was doing a terrible job hiding their laughter, which only made her face burn brighter.
"Damn it, I'll remember this! Once that guy gets his body back, he's dead!"
With that, Titania disappeared on the spot.
As soon as she was gone, a shadowy figure appeared, holding Sora—the sword—in hand.
"Heh, with a brain like that, you really thought you could outsmart me?"
Sora clicked his tongue smugly. Serves her right for running her mouth. Consider that a lesson learned.
Anyway, sticking around any longer would just be a waste of time.
"Well then, everyone—I'll be off!"
With that, the shadow pulled out a large book.
'[RYUKI IN MIRROR WORLD!]'
The hilt slammed down, and the book flew open. From its pages rose a blazing figure wrapped in fire.
'[ONCE THERE WAS A FIERCE BATTLE IN THE MIRROR FOR LIFE...]'
Flames engulfed Sora's form, forcing everyone watching to cover their eyes.
They heard one phrase ring out—
'[TIME VENT]'
In the next instant, Sora vanished, swallowed by the flames.
When the heat finally faded, those left behind slowly opened their eyes.
This time, Sora was truly gone. All they could do was silently pray, "May your journey go smoothly, Sora."
Meanwhile, atop a tall building in Tartaro, Titania felt it too.
"Tch. Watch yourself out there, idiot."
They said idiots were blessed with good luck—but somehow, that never seemed to apply to this idiot.
...
Carrying everyone's hopes, a familiar scene unfolded before Sora's eyes once more.
It was the same timeline he'd glimpsed before—only now, TERMINUS was no longer in his way.
"Did that guy step out or something?"
He'd wanted to have a proper talk with THEM.
But since TERMINUS wasn't around, there wasn't much he could do.
Almost immediately, Sora felt a pull within the timeline—a sensation he knew well.
TERMINUS had thrown his body into this moment in time!
Controlling his sword-shaped form, Sora approached the timeline, but saw nothing at all.
Pitch-black. Not even a trace of starlight.
Yet he could clearly sense his body somewhere in that void.
"Where the hell did THEY throw my body? With everything this dark… wait, a black hole?!"
An uneasy chill ran through him. His body was strong—but only when it could draw on sunlight.
In total darkness, his physical strength would barely be above normal.
If his body really had been hurled into a black hole… maybe that last glimpse had been the final farewell.
"Damn you, TERMINUS! Just you wait!"
Right now, nothing else mattered. Getting his body back came first.
He drove the tip of his blade straight into the pitch-black timeline.
The instant he entered, a faint light flickered deep within the darkness.
Hoo…
Countless tendrils of gray mist coiled around an infinite form, its presence stretching through the fabric of time itself.
From the void, the shape of TERMINUS took form, gazing curiously toward the timeline Sora had pierced.
…Did something just move?
Or was it only an illusion?
Following the resonance of his body, Sora plunged deeper into the timeline.
But as soon as he arrived, he could feel it—his ability to travel through time weakening fast.
This feeling…
And then it hit him.
There were almost no recorded legends here. No heroic deeds, no written stories.
Without heroes or chronicles, the power of the [Super Hero Senki] was severely restrained.
"No heroes—and no books either?!"
Stunned, Sora froze in place.
Could his body have been thrown into some kind of primitive era?
As confusion clouded his thoughts, a massive hand wreathed in roaring fire tore out from the darkness—and closed around him.