Adam looked at the crazy man in front of him, his eyes narrowing. "Are you really going to destroy this world?"
Piercebox, juggling his sword with a casual ease, glanced at me. "Yeah… temporarily. I'm not that evil. What would I get from a world that's empty? No vain glory, no one to remember my name… So, gotta be quick!"
His right-hand sword slipped clumsily from his grip. "Ugh… weak hand," he muttered, picking it up.
Adam shifted, his foot leaving a mark on the cracked ground. He studied the scene silently, then asked, "Hey, Rehan, if this world were destroyed… should I protect it?"
[Depends on what you think protecting means… this world is already on the path of natural decay. Dreams aren't meant to last forever—they renew and fade.]
I let out a sigh. "You know… I should stop you, right?"
Piercebox looked at me plainly. "That would be unwise."
Is it my duty to protect this world? I was given the task… and I had the power. I should protect her. But… "Fine. I'll try to stop you," I said, bracing myself.
Piercebox's lips curled into a smile. "Thank you. If I can't even stop the Main Character, then what am I?"
Adam frowned. "Stop calling me that."
Piercebox dashed forward, swinging his sword upward with a burst of speed that made the air hum. I dodged casually, a smile playing on my lips. So… this is what Minori felt when fighting me. He dashed again, slicing through the air like sound itself, but I dodged each strike, kicking him and sending him crashing through a wall.
Coughing amidst the rubble, he muttered, "Well… you're clearly stronger. Monstrously." He downed a potion of willpower—a potion of regeneration—and stood, unscathed.
He moved like a storm, dashing through the air, thrusting toward me with a speed that nearly bent reality. I dodged again as his swords cracked under the strain, energy pulses shattering the ground around us.
I lunged to grab him, but he moved faster than ever—though I was faster still. A slash cut through his arm, but his skin regenerated instantly. Out of his pocket, golden fish wriggled free, surreal and alive.
He pulled out an almanac and spells of destruction. Arrows erupted around him, multiplied endlessly by the scroll of multiplication, bolstered by the scroll of destruction. Adam held his hands back, bracing himself.
With a wave of his hands, indivisible matter formed, absorbing the explosive force. The landscape shook with fire and heat as the arrows detonated midair.
Piercebox's bunny mask tilted in a grin. "You're strong… stronger than anyone I've ever met." He drew spells of binding, and chains erupted from the earth, seeking to ensnare me. A flick of my finger disintegrated them instantly.
I teleported, dashing with lightning-like speed about to strike, As piercebox narrowly hold his trump card.
"Adam?" a familiar voice called out. It was Toho. "Duck, I know it's you! >_< We've been trying to find you, by any means necessary… even if the world turns upside down."
Piercebox knelt upon his golden fish, clutching the scroll of teleportation in one weak arm, a dreamcatcher in the other. "Huff… huff… I haven't lost yet," he said, still smiling.
We landed through the air. I wasn't sweating, not even breathing hard. He moved on, coughing, "You know… maybe I can beat you next time. I'll get the relic of Cthulhu… or maybe kill an ancient dragon." His strength seemed almost spent.
Adam asked, concerned, "You alright?"
Piercebox nodded, "Yeah…"
Toho looked away, sadness in her eyes. "C'mon! Let's go outside… Halloween's almost here." She grabbed the rope of the blocky platform, and we ascended into the sky. Waves of wind and dust shadowed the land below.
Toho hugged me tightly. "Oh man… I can't believe you found me first." Tears gleamed in her eyes, but she smiled.
Adam simply said, "Yeah…"
Birds called, and the crackle of geese and other animals filled the air. Luminescent amphibians scuttled below, their light reflecting off the foggy ground. Halloween might have been bleak without candy.
As candies and chocolates rained down, Toho opened her mouth and grabbed a mouthful with delight. She ran ahead, searching for someone, and I smirked—there he was: Kiso, the yellow-haired boy with boots and goggles.
"It's you!" he said, hugging me. "I'm sorry I was—"
Adam held a hand to his short pocket. "Weak?" Kiso nodded. Adam glanced at the falling candies. "Don't worry… you did what you could. And who'd go into that hell of a place anyway?"
Kiso asked softly, "So… where is she?" I shook my head.
"I don't know," I sighed. Even with all my strength, I had failed. Far on the horizon, I saw the red and black corruption consuming the landscape. The place was disintegrating. Rehan? I wondered. Are you doing this?
[What? No… I did what I could to preserve the image of this place. But I told you… this world is reaching its natural conclusion.]
I saw Piercebox happily gathering sacks of chocolates, candies, and food, arranging them in a ritualistic circle. A small fire flickered at the center. "Hey guys, wanna drink something?" he called.
I flicked my hand, and military-grade helmets appeared on everyone. I remembered the past. I had to return to them… yet I wouldn't mind if they came along.
We sat down, cups in hand, boiling water forming chocolate coffee at the center of Piercebox's plaza. The battle, intense moments ago, felt like a memory.
Piercebox stood. "Alright… I'm gonna start preparations."
Adam looked confused. Was he really going to do this? Toho joined in cheerfully, Kiso hesitated.
"I promised you… he's not crazy. Everything's gonna be fine if he succeeds… maybe," Kiso muttered, scratching his head.
Lights illuminated the grand place. Polar bears, wolves, deer, and amphibians rose, their eyes gleaming. Ships and floating balloons, engines crackling, filled the sky. Behemoths, cyclops, and golems followed in their trail.
Everything was starting. Piercebox walked up to me, grinning. "So I was saying… if you want to find someone, let the whole world! Do it for yourself!" His laugh carried, maniacal yet oddly warm, as he coughed and stepped back toward the grand ship, which began to ascend into the sky.