[Dream World: Tomaka Squad]
The Rooftop Watcher let out a chuckle, deeper and more drawn-out than usual, the sound reverberating off the crystalline trees like a mocking echo, his tattered cloak swaying in the charged air. His amber eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and impatience as he leaned forward, jagged teeth flashing beneath his hood. "Listen, I love the whole rivalry thing, don't get me wrong—drama's my jam—but unfortunately, we aren't here for that little soap opera. So, how about you be the side character you are in this story and just tell us where Taro is? Save us the trouble, yeah?"
Brian let out a chuckle of his own, a wild edge of insanity threading through the sound, his rugged blonde hair whipping in the wind as he straightened, blood still trickling from his earlier wound. "Hahaha… you are looking for Taro…" he rasped, his voice low and taunting, a smirk curling his lips as he wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his scarred hand. "But you don't realize something is also looking for *you*… and it's found you." A light blue aura erupted around him, far wider and more ferocious than usual, spiraling high into the fractured sky, dwarfing the green glow Taro had unleashed before. The energy crackled like a storm, tendrils of azure lightning arcing across the ground, shattering crystalline shards beneath his boots. He looked up at them, his brown eyes blazing with blue fire, a deranged smile stretching across his face. "And do you know what that is? (pauses for effect)… It's death… and I'm right here."
The Rooftop Watcher's grin faltered, his amber eyes narrowing into slits as a frown creased his weathered face. No command was needed—the Void-Masked Figure moved with instinctual precision, its skeletal frame stepping forward, the featureless black mask tilting as it raised both hands. A low, guttural hum filled the air as it began conjuring a black hole, larger and more menacing than before, the void expanding with a sucking force that warped the neon grass, pulling crystalline debris into its maw. Shadows deepened around it, the ground trembling as the dark energy coalesced, a swirling abyss of nothingness taking shape.
Brian chuckled again, the sound morphing into a devious, almost gleeful laugh as he watched the Void's efforts, his blue aura pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. "Is that your main attack, erasure, nothingness, Void? It fits right with you—empty, hollow, just like your soul," he taunted, his voice dripping with scorn as he tilted his head, the blue flames in his eyes dancing wildly.
With a slow, deliberate motion, Brian opened his palm, a small blue ball of energy flickering to life, its surface shimmering like a miniature star. But then he brought his other hand into play, moving it around the orb with a methodical grace, fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air. He repeated the motion with his free hand, circling faster and faster, the ball growing slightly in size but exploding in color—deepening into a saturated, radiant azure that pulsed with simmering power. Brian's movements became a blur, his scarred suit creaking as he worked the energy, sweat beading on his brow. Finally, he stopped, holding the ball steady, then transitioned it to his middle finger with a theatrical flourish—hysterically, the gesture screamed "fuck you" in universal defiance.
Brian threw his head back and laughed, the sound a mad crescendo as the ball pulsed with simmering energy, the air around it warping with heat. "Blue Bomb: Azure Blue!" he declared, his voice booming across the battlefield. The Trio—especially the Void—watched with widening eyes, their masks reflecting the glowing orb, a mix of interest and alarm flickering in their stances. "Let's play a little game, shall we? We'll just keep attacking each other until one of us dies!" Brian's laughter turned manic, his blue aura flaring higher, the ground beneath him cracking with the intensity.
The Void-Masked Figure instinctually powered up its black hole, the dark vortex growing to a massive size, its edges crackling with dark lightning that arced like jagged claws. But Brian didn't wait for it to fully form—mid-process, he unleashed his attack. The Blue Bomb grew massively in an instant, swelling to match the black hole's girth, its azure light bathing the scene in an otherworldly glow. With no time to spare, the Void released its semi-perfect black hole, the orb shooting forward at high speeds, breaking the sound barrier with a thunderous *boom*. Dark lightning spiraled around it, tearing up the neon grass, the gravitational pull distorting the air into a howling vortex.
Brian's Blue Bomb surged forward at the same blistering pace, its size and speed mirroring the black hole, a radiant counterpoint to the void's darkness. *Boom!* The blasts collided with a cataclysmic explosion, the impact sending gravitational waves rippling outward in violent pulses, the ground splitting into jagged fissures. Blue lightning sparked and danced around Brian's bomb, clashing with the dark lightning encircling the Void's black hole, the two forces locked in a deadly tug-of-war. The air thrummed with energy, crystalline trees swaying violently, their prismatic light fracturing under the strain. The standoff painted the Dream World in a chaotic tapestry of azure and shadow, each blast pushing against the other, neither yielding, the outcome hanging in a tense, electrified silence.
The Void-Masked Figure's voice rasped through the air, a cold, mechanical edge cutting through the chaos, its featureless black mask tilting slightly as it addressed Brian. "Foolish child, no matter how much energy you pour into that attack, it will eventually be ripped apart violently by my black hole and consumed—you as well." Its skeletal fingers twitched, the unseen object in its grip humming with a sinister pulse as it stared at the clashing blasts. The Void expected its dark vortex to dominate, the black hole's gravitational maw widening to swallow Brian's azure energy whole. But to its shock, the opposite unfolded—Brian's Azure Blue surged forward, a radiant wave of cobalt fire pushing the black hole back with relentless force, the ground beneath trembling as crystalline shards splintered and cracked.
The Void raised a brow beneath its mask, the motion subtle but palpable. "Huh?" it muttered, the word dripping with disbelief, the air around it warping as the unexpected resistance tested its control.
"What's happening?" the Rune-Masked Figure demanded, its voice laced with a rare tone of seriousness, the glowing sigils on its wooden mask flaring brighter as it leaned forward, its shadowy form rippling with unease. The Rooftop Watcher remained oddly silent, his amber eyes locked on the duel, his tattered cloak fluttering in the wind, his focus razor-sharp on the victor of this deadly standoff.
**[Elsewhere: Vast Horizons, Dream World]**
Miles across the sprawling Dream World, Taro, Mexus, and Nodoka raced through the vast horizons, their boots pounding against a shifting landscape of neon grasslands that glowed under a fractured, aurora-streaked sky. Crystalline rivers sparkled to their left, their surfaces rippling with reflections of distant dreamscapes—towering spires of glass, floating islands draped in mist. Surprisingly, Nodoka kept pace, her dark silk hair streaming behind her, her black outfit clinging to her frame as she matched Taro's stride, her breaths coming in determined gasps.
"You're faster than I expected, Nodoka," Taro complimented, a hint of surprise in his voice as he glanced sideways, his green hair whipping in the wind, the green patterns on his suit pulsing faintly with each step.
"What did you expect me to be slow or something…" Nodoka shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she threw him a mock frown, her lips curling into a teasing smirk. "…Then you'd carry me, saying, 'Hold on tight, Nodoka,' like some cheesy hero?" She mimicked his voice, her hands fluttering dramatically, her dark eyes glinting with mischief.
Taro grunted, a sarcastic laugh escaping his lips as he shook his head. "Hahaha… it's good to see you still have an active imagination," he retorted, his green eyes narrowing playfully, though a flush crept up his neck.
"Imagination, you say?" Nodoka pressed, her voice rising with mock indignation as she kept running, her feet barely touching the neon grass. "I know for a fact you wanted to carry me when we started running. If not, why did you look at me like that at first—those wide, heroic eyes scanning me up and down like I was some damsel?"
Taro's face flushed a deeper red, his steps faltering slightly as he stumbled over his words. "Would you just—" He was cut off, not by a voice this time, but by a sudden collision. His head smacked into Mexus's broad back, the impact sending a jolt through his skull. "Ouch… Hey, man, why'd you stop running?" he groaned, rubbing his forehead, his green hair falling into his eyes.
Mexus stood still, his straw kasa hat tilting as he tilted his head, his gray eyes narrowing in deep thought. The air around him seemed to thicken, vibrating with faint ripples. "You feel it, didn't you? Those GRB waves," he said, his voice low and contemplative, the sound carrying a weight of experience as he scanned the horizon.
"The gravitational waves… yeah, what about them?" Taro asked, scratching his head, his brow furrowing as he tried to piece it together. "Doesn't that mean we're close? It's a good thing, right?"
"Yeah, but then again, that means Brian's doing it," Mexus replied, still lost in thought, his kasa casting a shadow over his face as he adjusted his grip on his Reibone. "He's found them."
Taro raised a brow, his green eyes widening. "Brian? What, you mean he's with them right now? How do you know it's him?"
"It's obvious," Mexus said, turning to face Taro, his gray eyes glinting with certainty. "I sensed a spike in his Dream power a while ago—raw, uncontrolled energy tearing through the fabric of this world. And now these waves? No coincidence." He paused, then added with a pointed look, "Maybe you should try refining your dream energy a bit, kid." With that, he resumed running, his boots kicking up neon sparks.
Taro and Nodoka followed, their footsteps syncing with his. "But isn't he in trouble then?" Taro pressed, his voice tinged with concern. "He's not that strong—I beat him easily back then."
Mexus's voice carried a mix of agreement and strong disagreement, the words rolling out as he navigated the shifting terrain. "Well, maybe usually—when he's all cocky or off guard, like when he fought you. But even you, the way you are now, couldn't beat Brian when he's extremely calm or angry—worse case, both. If he's calm, he'd start making the best choices with his power, and let's just say he's not the kind of guy you'd want making the most strategic choices against you—his mind's a damn chessboard when he's focused. Two, when he's extremely angry…" Mexus's tone grew heavier, the wind carrying his words. "You see, Brian has an extremely dangerous amount of stamina, and even large-scale, powerful air attacks to boot. When he's that pissed, there's a very high possibility he'd start spamming, unleashing wave after wave of destruction—and that's bad for anyone. If Brian were to hit you with any of his good ultimate moves in that state, you'd only survive one or two before you're gone, your core shattered like glass."
Taro's eyes widened massively, his jaw dropping as the neon grass blurred beneath him. "Damn hell, he's *that* strong? It's a really good thing I didn't fight him like that… but wait, what does that mean about our intruders? Will he win?"
Mexus sighed deeply, his breath visible in the cool dream air, his mind still wrestling with unknowns. "Well, I myself personally don't know how strong they are—could be titans, could be ghosts for all we know. But if they're engaging Brian in some kind of blasts-to-blasts showdown… they'll probably lose. His rage is a force of nature when it peaks."
**[Dream World: Tomaka/Reina Squad]**
Back at the squad's grounds, Brian laughed insanely hard, the sound a wild, drooling cackle that echoed off the crystalline trees, his rugged blonde hair matted with sweat and blood. "Did you idiots actually think you can win against me with that pathetic excuse for a blast? It's far too weak and unrefined—barely a spark against my fire!" His brown eyes blazed with blue flames, his scarred silver suit crackling with red energy as he stood tall, chest heaving.
"Nonsense," the Void-Masked Figure snapped, its voice rare with anger, the black mask trembling slightly as it raised its skeletal hands. "The sheer density and energy of a black hole should easily defeat yours. This is impossible!" The dark vortex roared, its gravitational pull warping the air, crystalline shards spiraling into its maw.
"Tsk, tsk… it seems your brains were also masked," Brian mocked, his voice dripping with disdain as he stretched a hand out, fingers splayed. *Boom!* The black hole shattered completely, obliterated in a deafening explosion that sent a terrifying massive GRB blast rippling outward, the shockwave amplified as if on steroids, the ground splitting with jagged cracks. But Brian's Azure Blue absorbed the explosion, the cobalt fire surging forward faster than ever, a relentless tidal wave of energy.
The Void stepped back, its mask tilting in disbelief, the unseen object in its grip buzzing frantically as the blast approached, the air thick with the scent of ozone and charred dreamstuff. The Rooftop Watcher surged forward, his tattered cloak billowing like a storm cloud, and with a single, effortless flick of his wrist, he slapped the blast away. The energy veered into the fractured sky, exploding in a dazzling cascade of blue and black, the shockwave rattling the crystalline trees.
"What the hell—" Brian staggered back, terror flashing across his face, his blue-flamed eyes widening as he clutched his Reibone. "How did you—?"
The Rooftop Watcher smiled, a hint of approval lacing his mysterious voice, his amber eyes glinting beneath his hood. "I don't know who you are, but goddamn it, you are crazy strong. I had no idea someone at this level existed. You should join us—imagine the chaos we could unleash together."
The Rune-Masked Figure stepped up, its wooden mask glowing with renewed interest, the sigils pulsing like a heartbeat. "Indeed, you have tremendous potential, probably being wasted here. You haven't even unlocked your Koji no Jotai yet—a bit disappointing for that much raw power."
"So what do you say?" the Rooftop Watcher offered, his smirk widening, jagged teeth glinting as he extended a claw-like hand.
Brian laughed, a deep, guttural sound that shook the ground. "Hahahaha… here's my answer!" He struck a dramatic pose, hands open wide, and unleashed his move. "Blue Cross: True Blue!" The same cross that had hit Taro before materialized, but now it was vastly more potent and massive, a colossal X of azure energy tearing through the ground ruthlessly, crystalline shards exploding in its wake, the air screaming with its force. Yet, as it neared the Rooftop Watcher, he simply raised his hands—blades of shadow—and tore the cross apart, splintering it into smaller blasts that scattered harmlessly into the sky.
"That isn't possible," Brian gasped, his voice cracking with disbelief, his blue flames flickering. "How are you deflecting my attacks like that… they should destroy you!"
The Rooftop Watcher glanced at his hands, then back at Brian, his tone smug and taunting. "Well… what do you expect? It's just as I told you… You're far too weak yet to start affecting us. You'd be better off with us than them. It's not too late, Brian… Make the right decision and come with us… while you can."
Brian fell silent, his brown eyes narrowing as he sank into deep thought, his scarred suit creaking with each breath. "I see… I'm that weak, aren't I? But if I come with you… you'll train me… help me become stronger, am I correct?"
"Spot-on analysis… um, Brian, right?" the Rooftop Watcher replied, his voice carrying a weird, almost amused lilt as he tilted his head.
"I see… In that case, I only have one last question to make up my mind," Brian said, his voice steadying, the blue fire in his eyes dimming slightly.
"Which… is?" the Rooftop Watcher asked, curiosity piquing, the Rune and Void figures leaning in, their masks glinting with interest.
"Would I become stronger than Taro… and I didn't just mean stronger…" Brian paused, his voice dropping to a growl. "…I mean profoundly so, on large extents… in a relatively short amount of time?"
"Yes," the Rooftop Watcher answered almost eagerly, his amber eyes intensifying. "You'd grow dozens of mountains of tiles stronger than Taro. He'd try forever, but he would never reach where you'd be if you were with us, even for a small amount of time."
For a moment, the air hung in complete silence, so thick you could hear a pen drop from a distant dreamscape, the crystalline trees swaying gently. Then Brian raised his head, no longer lost in thought, his voice cutting through. "I see… Then in that case… no way in hell."
"What?" the Trio uttered simultaneously, their voices overlapping in a comical unison, even Tomaka, observing from behind, gasping in shock, her violet hair trembling.
Brian touched his hair, squeezing it tightly, his scarred hands trembling with emotion. "I hate that idea… Becoming incredibly strong by some kind of talent or extreme unconventional method… it nearly sickens me. If I were to gain such strength in such time, what would be the point in eventually crushing him to bits? It'd be sweet but effortless and boring… it'd take the fun out of it. And then I'd also become him… someone who has to become strong quickly by some bullshitty talent or unorthodox methods. I refuse to come with you!"
The Trio stood in shock, their masks frozen, but the Rooftop Watcher's expression shifted, a flicker of irritation crossing his amber eyes. "Alright… I've been hearing lots of refusals to simple, nothing-to-lose requests… You really don't want to do this, fine then." With a swift, evil motion of speed, he blurred forward, his tattered cloak snapping like a whip, hands outstretched like twin hand-blades, the air warping around him.
Brian could barely react, his blue-flamed eyes widening as he unleashed the quickest blasts he could muster—rapid-fire azure pulses—to create distance. But they had no effect, dissipating like smoke against the Rooftop Watcher's advance. *Boom!* The Watcher's hand tore right through Brian's chest, the impact a sickening crunch as a strange, shadowy energy shattered his core, black tendrils snaking through the wound. "There's your consequences," the Watcher sneered, yanking his hand back, blood dripping from his claws.
"Brian!!!!!!!" Tomaka screamed, her voice shattering the air, tears rolling down her cheeks as she lunged forward, her violet hair streaming. Brian staggered back, pressing a hand to the gaping hole in his chest, blood escaping his mouth in a crimson trickle as he tried to speak. "This… can't be happening…" he choked, his words slurring, his blue flames fading.
He collapsed to the crystalline floor, his consciousness slipping, his vision blurring. He saw Tomaka's frantic shape trying to talk to him, but he couldn't hear her words, her voice a distant hum. Yet one thing remained clear—Taro and Mexus, their figures jumping over the gates in the distance. "You're here… Taro… damn… I should…have...killed you… first…" His world faded to black, the blue fire in his eyes extinguishing.
Taro, Mexus, and Nodoka leapt over the gates, Taro carrying Nodoka in his arms, her dark hair whipping in the wind as he landed with a thud, setting her down gently. "I knew you wanted to carry me… and you call it imagination," she teased, a faint smirk on her lips despite the chaos.
" Would you give it a rest already?" Taro grunted, but his eyes turned pale, the color draining as he took in the line of dead Dremapols—severed heads, blood-soaked grass, the stench hitting him like a punch. His gaze shifted to Brian, Mexus already on one knee beside him, Tomaka frantically attending to his wounds, her hands stained red as she pressed against the gaping hole.
Mexus's face was etched with unnerving seriousness, his gray eyes cold as he looked up. "How's he holding up?" he asked, his voice a low growl, the kasa tilting as he rose.
"He's in extremely critical condition and very unstable… And his core… it's completely shattered…" Tomaka replied urgently, her voice cracking as she tore a strip from her violet cloak to staunch the bleeding, her hands shaking.
Mexus stood, his aura darkening. "I see… thanks," he said slowly, his tone heavy, then turned to the Trio, his gray eyes blazing. "And I assume it was you bastards who did this?"
The Rooftop Watcher spoke up, smirking, his tattered cloak dripping with Brian's blood. "He chose his fate when he made his decision not to join us… not me. I simply enforced it."
Mexus's yellow aura erupted, a blinding halo that scorched the neon grass, his Reibone humming with power. "I see… so that's why you did it, huh…" he growled, his voice trembling with rage.
He locked eyes with the Trio, a blazing intensity in his gaze. "As a Drenor, I will avenge my fallen team member. Surely, you'll pay the cost with your lives," he thundered, his words shaking the crystalline trees.
The Rooftop Watcher chuckled, a low, mocking sound. "Yeah… sure," he drawled, but his attention snapped to Taro. "Taro, I've been waiting for you for a very long time."
"Wait… hold on...shut up for a second…" Taro's face twisted, more serious than ever, his green eyes narrowing to slits. "You're the cause of all this unnecessary bloodshed."
"Well, yeah, I guess," the Rooftop Watcher exclaimed, shrugging nonchalantly, his amber eyes glinting. "Your point? They caused it."
"I'm gonna make you pay for this… surely," Taro vowed, adjusting his stance, his voice rising, the green patterns on his suit flaring brighter.
"What, the same way you said you were gonna make us pay for killing Nodoka's parents?" the Rooftop Watcher mocked, his smirk widening, teeth bared like a predator's.
Nodoka's eyes widened to an impossible degree, her face paling instantly as the words sank in, her knees buckling. "You were the cause…" she whispered, her voice breaking, a sob catching in her throat as she staggered forward. Taro's hand shot out, stopping her, his grip firm but trembling.
His brows connected furiously, a storm brewing in his green eyes. "You guys were the ones that did that?"
"Hell yeah… and I can assure you…" the Rooftop Watcher's eyes intensified, glowing with malice. "…we enjoyed every damn second of it."
Despair crashed over Nodoka like a tidal wave. She fell to her knees on the blood-soaked grass, tears streaming down her face, her sobs erupting in jagged bursts. "Ahhhhh… (sobs)… ahhhh… ahhhh… ahhh!" Her cries pierced the air, raw and unrestrained, her dark hair falling into her tear-streaked face.
Taro heard her cries, the stench of dead Dremapols filling his nostrils, the sight of Brian's broken form searing into his mind
His ring transformed instantly, shifting into a blazing green, his aura surging to an immense height, the energy crackling like lightning, rivaling Mexus's own. There wasn't a trace of happiness in him—only a wild, furious rage. "…I'm gonna kill you…" he uttered, his voice transformed, deep and guttural, like a feral beast unleashed, his green eyes blazing with unbridled fury.