There is no other way to save the world of Dark Souls III.
If salvation exists, it must come from another world.
Maybe Star's world had the answer. Maybe not.
But even if there was a way, you still had to get it.
In any world, power was necessary.
So Yu Jin began intense training—in miracles and swordsmanship.
Meanwhile—
In ruined wastelands, wind-messages carried by the Infected Weasel made the Doctor frown.
"Rhodes Island is sending more and more people. Have they figured out our movement patterns?"
"Is it Originium Arts, like Kevin said?"
"…Annoying."
The Reunion members behind him waited in silence for his orders.
Doctor looked back at the people following him—people who believed in him.
Breaking out wasn't hard. Wiping out the pursuers wasn't hard either.
But there would be casualties.
And to Doctor, such casualties would be meaningless.
Those brainwashed people weren't their real enemies.
As he thought, Masked Kevin spoke.
"Doctor, give the order!"
The others nodded seriously.
"Doctor, I'm not very smart, but I know if this keeps up, more will come. With just a dozen of us, we might not be able to keep you safe," Masked Kevin said.
"…Wait a bit longer."
Masked Kevin rested a hand on Doctor's shoulder. "Doctor, I said it before—we'll show you what Reunion is."
"We don't fear sacrifice. Your brilliant mind can give us hope. If we get you to our leader, then our sacrifice won't be wasted."
Facing that sincerity, Doctor felt… complicated.
"…Why are you acting like we're doomed? It's just a few roadblocks. Do you think I can't get us out?"
Reunion: THEN WHY WERE YOU SILENT THINKING SO LONG?!
Seeing their looks, Doctor gave a solemn thumbs-up.
"Actually I'm pretty strong. I was just debating whether to go up alone and flatten them."
...
The silence was thunderous.
"You don't believe me?"
They didn't want to be rude, but—
Doctor's reactions this whole trip were… frankly terrifying.
It wasn't that they were protecting him.
It felt more like Doctor had led them through every ambush without a single loss.
He fought like a chessmaster who could see the whole board.
But if you said Doctor was "strong," they just couldn't accept it.
Would someone who tripped on flat ground, got tapped by a pebble, and screamed "I've been shot!" really be strong?
Doctor coughed awkwardly and looked away.
Fine. He didn't believe himself either.
But truthfully, he was stronger now.
Dragon blood flowed in him. He had a feeling their weapons couldn't break his defense.
But—
He couldn't fight at all.
And if that feeling were wrong, and they could break it?
No thanks. He wasn't testing that.
Still, the enemy closing in was a problem.
"That's when my ultimate move comes out," Doctor said, eyes sharpening.
Ultimate move—calling for backup.
Time to show them the power of bonds.
College Kid: "Brothers, I'm surrounded! Save me! Save me!"
Stellaron Gremlin: "Hold on!"
Star had just landed on a planet to resupply. She didn't think twice—she hit "enter world."
Programmer: "On my way!"
Kevin—now financially free—was literally holding his resignation letter, about to walk into his boss's office.
He saw the message and hit "enter world" instantly.
Yu Jin, midway through miracle training, told Prince Lothric to wait a moment, then disappeared before his eyes.
Three people who had drawn their weapons to fight out of encirclement stared at Doctor trying to explain their identities to Reunion.
Silence.
A little later—
"Hey, hey, hey! Save face! Don't hit my butt!" Doctor's screams echoed through the ruins.
"Trash! You're a dragon, I'm a dragon—why can I fight and you can't? It's just a dozen people!" Yu Jin pinned him and demanded an answer.
"I'm a researcher! I don't have your kind of power!" Doctor yelled back.
"Hmph, nonsense. Researchers should be like me—strong, beautiful, brilliant, and compassionate! Doctor, repent!" Star swung a stick and smacked him on the butt.
Humiliated, Doctor reached toward the only normal person in the chat.
"Kevin, save me!"
Kevin quietly turned his eyes away.
Don't get blood on me.
Who told Doctor to just shout "save me, save me!" without explaining?
They rushed over like idiots—only to find this guy still had time to pose and brag.
Yeah, he deserved to be beaten.
Doctor, realizing his friends were useless, looked pleadingly at the trembling Reunion members.
Masked Kevin desperately wanted to shout, Please stop hitting him!
But nobody dared.
Those three newcomers had dropped the Rhodes Island attackers in seconds. The operators were still sprawled all over the ground.
Star snapped her broken stick over her knee, satisfied.
"Done. Next."
Doctor fought like hell, but Yu Jin ultimately spared him further "friendly fire."
"Seriously, you should train," Yu Jin advised as Doctor rubbed his butt miserably.
"Stop using 'I'm a researcher' as an excuse. I'm a researcher too," Star puffed out her chest.
"…Do you seriously think you're a researcher?" Doctor shot back.
Star nodded. "I think I am."
"By the way, can we undo the control on these people?" Kevin asked, looking at the unconscious operators.
They had no will of their own—cold, obedient, machine-like.
"Uh…" Doctor began—
Star, Yu Jin, and Kevin all lifted their heads at once, staring at the roof of a nearby building.
Doctor and Reunion followed their gaze and saw—
A hulking man with a tower shield.
A sniper with a gun.
A chainsaw-wielding cat.
And—
Star stepped forward and swung her bat, knocking a glowing gun out of the air.
"Looks like we've still got a fight." Yu Jin drew his new weapon.
Doctor stared up.
They stared down.
Like predators confirming prey.
-------
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