Returning to Yukiko and Zero's duel, both clashed with their blades at high speed. Zero aimed for her stomach with a sharp thrust, but Yukiko blocked it with both of her swords. At the same time, she swung her katana to counter, but he stopped it with his dark blade.
Minutes passed as they kept fighting, until they both paused. Zero suddenly said:
"So, you're ShizukaHanabira's pupil. No wonder you're just as strong as her."
"Oi kisama, were you the one who killed my sensei?" Yukiko asked, her eyes filled with fury.
Zero paused for a moment, then answered:
"Yes, I carried out my king's order... to wipe out the Sakura Samurais. They were a strong enemy to us, but I tracked them down and burned the last generation's house in Japan. I traveled all the way from that town, Brookhaven, to Tokyo, with nothing in mind but the mission. Years later, I found the last one: ShizukaHanabira. We fought a long and difficult duel. In the end, I won and killed her. That was, until I saw you during my last time in the Overworld."
Yukiko stood silently as she listened, grinding her teeth. Then, she asked:
"Why did you leave that devil symbol in front of my house?"
"To leave no evidence behind, and to make it look like the devils did it," Zero answered.
"...and... did you ever regret killing them?" She asked in a soft voice.
"I feel no regret, as long as I serve my king," Zero responded coldly.
"I'm glad to hear that... now I can kill you with no guilt!" Yukiko shouted, her eyes glowing.
She gripped her katana tightly and spoke:
"As the cherry blossoms fall across the scene, the nine-tailed spirit awakens."
Behind her, the symbol of the Sakura Kitsune appeared.
So this is the Sakura Kitsune... the fastest Legendary Creature, Zero thought. This fight might be even harder than the one I had with Shizuka.
Yukiko vanished in an instant using her {Flash Step} and reappeared behind Zero. He turned and blocked her attack just in time. She jumped back and drew her second katana. Spinning, she unleashed a storm of slashes. Zero kept blocking with his dark blade for minutes… until it was finally cut in half.
He leapt backward, and after a few seconds, his blade reformed. Yukiko kept spinning and attacking, but this time, Zero used {Shadow Step} to dodge instead of blocking.
He started firing waves of dark slashes, but Yukiko moved forward quickly, avoiding every slash. Then, he stabbed his sword into the ground, and dark blades shot up from below toward her.
Yukiko put away her second katana and used her {Sakura Rope} to pull herself to the roof, dodging the blades by jumping high above them. She then dove down onto Zero again, and their blades clashed for several more minutes.
They both jumped back. Zero was catching his breath. Yukiko pulled out her second katana once more and charged. She slashed at him from all sides at high speed. Some attacks were blocked, but others cut into him. She stabbed him in the stomach and kicked him away.
The hit hurt, but it was not enough to finish him. Zero's true weakness was his energy core on his forehead. He fought back, sending more dark slashes her way, and Yukiko kept dodging quickly left and right.
Soon, Zero began summoning shadowy clones, just like Malice. However, these figures were only fake illusions. Yukiko dashed through them, cutting them apart, and reached Zero again. After many more clashes, she finally landed another blow that slowed him down.
Suddenly, her glowing aura faded.
"Nani? What happened?" Yukiko asked, surprised.
"My apologies… I've reached my limit," the Kitsune said weakly.
"Daijoubu. Rest now," Yukiko replied.
"It looks like your power is gone," Zero said. "Very well. Now it's my turn."
He rushed at her with {Shadow Step}. Yukiko tried to stab him, but he dodged and appeared behind her. She turned and blocked just in time. He swung again and again, then kicked her hard in the stomach, knocking her back.
She stood up and used her ropes to attack. Zero sliced through them all and sent a dark slash at her. She dodged it and drew her two blades again.
Ten minutes passed. Yukiko was getting tired. Zero started charging a massive slash. Before he could finish, a light arrow struck him from behind.
Ema had arrived. She ran up to Yukiko and handed her a potion.
"Come on, Yukiko. Let's take him down together," Ema said. "Aim for his forehead, and I'll cover you."
"Wakarimashita, Ema-chan!" Yukiko replied, drinking the potion.
Yukiko activated her {Bloom Phenomenon} and dashed forward with her dual blades. Behind her, Ema kept firing arrows, slowing Zero and blocking his focus.
Yukiko kept slashing all around, and Ema fired a large beam. Then finally, Yukiko stabbed Zero in the forehead many times, hitting the mark exactly. After a few seconds, Zero collapsed.
"E-Expected... from Shizuka's pupil..." Zero muttered in his final breath.
Yukiko and Ema put away their weapons. Yukiko looked down and whispered:
"Oka-san, Otō-san, Oni-chan, soctai... Shizuka-sensei... it's finally over."
"Well done, Yukiko, but it's not over yet," Ema said. "Come on, we need to help Abodo."
Instantly, they ran up toward the final floor.
Meanwhile with Taro, he cleared the final wave in front of the throne room. He opened the large gate and stepped inside. Armageddon stood in front of his throne. He clapped and said:
"You actually made it here... TaroAbodo."
Taro remained silent, and Armageddon continued:
"So, are you here to avenge your father?"
"Who knows... maybe," Taro answered coldly. "All I know is... this throne must become empty."
"Hmph. I thought you would be a nervous little human, but it's the opposite," Armageddon said.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't lose my temper easily," Taro replied. "Now enough talk. Before I defeat you, tell me about Varnok. What did you do to him?"
Armageddon stood silent for a few seconds, then burst out laughing and answered:
"Varnok? That fool? He was one of the Azure Knights, and was your uncle. He thought he could beat me alone. How pathetic. I admired his bravery, so I turned him into one of my dark minions. And in the end, you were the one who killed him."
Taro heard with a serious face, then replied:
"Armageddon... living beings are not tools to control. Varnok... or rather, my uncle... stayed loyal to a fake king for some reason until the very end. And you'll regret treating someone as noble as him like that. This isn't about revenge. It's about reviving their pride, both my uncle and my father."
Taro stepped forward and raised his sword. Armageddon kept smiling and said:
"Pride, huh? And what about you? You think you can win this battle?"
"Everyone counts on me, just like I count on them," Taro responded calmly. "I don't control or rule them like you do. And with that, I must defeat you."
Armageddon raised his hand and fired a {Dark Beam} at Taro. He chose not to use his shield and quickly dodged it.
I need to be careful... his power is deadly,Taro thought. I cannot reveal my true strength yet... not without the others.
Suddenly, Armageddon teleported behind him, his fist glowing with heavy energy. Taro blocked it with his sword, but the hit sent him backwards.
The moment he blinked, dozens of Armageddon's clones had surrounded him.
What?! How did he summon them so fast?! Taro thought.
All of the clones raised their arms, and black spikes shot toward him. Taro dashed between them, avoiding every strike, and countered by slashing them all.
However, Armageddon was not among them. He was up above, charging another deadly beam. Taro sensed it just in time and blocked with his blade.
Why is he not summoning the Azure Dragon? Armageddon thought. Hmph… maybe we were wrong. Maybe he is weaker than I expected. Time to finish this.
Armageddon dashed down, ready to smash him. Taro blocked, but was thrown backward. As Armageddon grinned, a clone blasted him from behind. As Taro tried to remain standing, Armageddon struck his chest and knocked him to the ground.
With that fatal smash, Taro could not get up. Armageddon stepped closer and summoned three dark spikes in front of him.
"Too bad. You failed to bring back the pride you spoke of," he mocked. "I would have made you one of my pawns, but that Azure Dragon of yours would cause too much trouble."
Taro lay still, then smiled and whispered:
"We'll see about that, Armageddon... they're coming for you now."
"Hmph. I'll deal with them like I did with you and your father," Armageddon said. "Now, perish!"
The spikes pierced Taro's chest, stopping him from breathing.
A few minutes later, Yukiko and Ema arrived at the room, finding Armageddon sitting on his throne.
"You defeated the three Dark Lords," Armageddon said, then pointed at Taro. "However, your friend is already dead."
They froze in shock when they saw him lying motionless.
"Taro!" Yukiko screamed.
"W-We were too late!" Ema said.
"Do not worry. You'll follow his lead," Armageddon grinned, approaching.
"Well well well... I finally found you, Your Majesty," a voice suddenly spoke.
Behind the throne, Vincy was standing at the window.
"Vincy! You're here!" Ema shouted.
"Silence, weakling. I'm not that pathetic boy anymore," he said.
He jumped down, landing in front of the throne and facing Armageddon.
"Even the fiends are here now. This is getting interesting," Armageddon said.
"Don't get me wrong. I'll kill these two right after I finish you off," Vincy corrected. "I will make you pay for killing our king."
"Then show me what you can do," Armageddon replied, arms crossed.
They stared with a deadly glare...
...as the chamber turned into a battlefield!