Lyra stepped forward, her gaze steady.
"So… you finally came."
A slow, amused chuckle echoed.
"Of course."
Vesper tilted his head, eyes gleaming. "And it seems… your little army came with you."
Lyra didn't flinch.
"After this fight… this land—these people—will finally live in peace."
A pause.
Vesper smiled.
"…We'll see who wins."
Raithasu stepped forward, eyes locked.
"So this is him… the one you call Zero?"
He scoffed.
"That 'Zero' you speak of… is nothing but a failed invasion. Trash."
Vesper's expression darkened—then twisted into something amused.
He's voice cut in, cold and sharp.
"You filled the younger ones with lies… made them fear a false power."
he exhaled slowly.
"…Disgusting."
Vesper placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"Oh? My apologies… I didn't introduce myself properly."
He stepped forward.
"Hey, kid…"
His voice dropped—
"I am Vesper Nocturne."
A faint hum filled the air.
"A scientist… forgotten by time."
His eyes glowed.
"But now…"
CRACKLE—!
"…they remember me again."
Raithasu clenched his fist.
"You talk too much."
He stepped forward—
"I can end you with one punch."
"STOP!"
Lyra's voice snapped through the tension.
"Raithasu—you are NOT fighting him."
He froze.
"Go with Michael. Break the illusion."
She turned quickly—
"James, Jack—take the unconscious people back to the village. Now."
Raithasu's jaw tightened.
"I'm not the type to run from a battlefield."
James nodded. "We'll return soon."
Lyra shook her head.
"No. You won't."
Her eyes shifted toward Hiyori.
"We'll handle him."
Raithasu stepped closer.
"Lyra—listen to me—"
"SHUT UP!"
The word hit like a blade.
"…Go."
Silence.
For a moment—
Only the wind moved.
Then—
Raithasu turned.
"…Fine."
But his voice dropped, deadly calm—
"I'll kill him with my own hands later. Remember that."
He walked past Michael.
"Let's go.
Vesper stood still.
Watching.
Smiling.
"…How entertaining."
Then—
His expression snapped.
"They're ignoring me?"
His hand shot forward.
ZZZZZT—!
A beam tore through the air—
BOOM!
"Hiyori—!"
She was struck—
CRASH!
Her body slammed into the ground.
"…Ahh—!"
Everything froze.
Raithasu stopped.
Slowly—
He turned.
His eyes burned with rage.
STEP… STEP… STEP…
He walked toward Vesper.
No hesitation.
No fear.
In an instant—
GRAB—!
He seized Vesper by the neck—
Lifted him into the air.
The metal around Vesper's throat began to crack.
CRRRRKK—!
"Raithasu—STOP!" Lyra shouted.
He didn't move.
"Your friend needs your help!" she yelled again. "Go! Break the illusion!"
A long pause.
Then—
Raithasu clicked his tongue.
"…Tch."
He dropped Vesper.
THUD.
"…Fine."
He turned away.
"But I will kill him. With my own hands."
Without another word—
He left.
Silence returned.
For a second.
Then—
Vesper groaned.
"Ouch… ouch…"
He slowly stood up.
"…Now then."
His eyes locked onto the girls.
"Let's continue."
His hand glowed.
ZZZZZT—!
A beam fired toward them.
Hiyori and Lyra split apart—
WHOOSH!
The attack missed by inches.
Hiyori looked around quickly.
"…Where's my sword?"
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
"Weston took it."
Hiyori froze.
"…He WHAT?"
Her face darkened.
Before she could react—
ZZZZZT—!
Another beam shot straight at her.
Lyra dashed forward—
WHOOSH—!
She shoved Hiyori aside.
"Focus!" Lyra snapped. "What are you doing?!"
Hiyori gritted her teeth.
"…Yeah."
She stood up slowly.
Her eyes sharpened.
"I'm ready."Hiyori dashed forward, closing the distance in a heartbeat.
WHOOSH—!
Her leg snapped upward—
THUD!
The kick landed clean… but—
Nothing.
He didn't move. Not even an inch.
A cold silence followed.
Then—
He raised his hand.
ZZZZT—!
A beam of raw energy erupted toward her.
Hiyori's eyes widened—
She twisted mid-air.
WHOOSH!
The beam tore past her, scorching the ground behind.
"Lyra—now!"
Lyra slammed her hand into the earth.
RUMBLE… CRACK—!
The ground split open as massive roots burst forth. Thick vines coiled upward, wrapping tightly around his body.
"Take this!"
The vines constricted—
CRRRRSH!
Bones should have shattered.
But instead—
SHING! SHING!
Blades erupted from his arms, slicing through the vines like paper. The restraints fell apart instantly.
Without hesitation—
He flicked his hand.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Dark blades shot toward Hiyori and Lyra.
Before impact—
They vanished.
A distortion in space.
From the shadows—
Vesper moved.
A rope shot out from behind—
WHIP—!
It wrapped around Lyra's neck.
She gasped as her body was yanked upward.
Vesper's voice echoed coldly,
"First, I break you… then the girl."
Lyra clawed at the rope, struggling to breathe.
"Hiyori…"
Hiyori's eyes burned
Her hand glowed—
A swarm of glowing butterflies appeared, shimmering in deep violet.
FLUTTER… FLUTTER…
They circled Vesper—
Then struck.
SSSSSS—!
"What the—?!" Vesper hissed.
His skin began to melt.
The rope loosened—
Lyra fell—
THUD!
She crashed against the stone.
"Hiyori…"
Hiyori rushed to her side.
"Are you alright?!"
Lyra's voice trembled. "I… can't fight anymore… listen to me…"
"First—healing jutsu—"
"Stop!" Lyra grabbed her arm weakly. "Listen…"
Hiyori leaned closer.
"I'm here…"
Lyra whispered into her ear.
A pause.
Hiyori's eyes sharpened.
"…Alright."
She turned—
With a flick—
The poison butterflies vanished from Vesper's body.
He looked up, furious.
"You've irritated me."
Energy gathered in his palm.
BOOOOOOM—!
A massive blast roared toward them.
They tried to dodge—
But—
CRASH!
The explosion consumed everything.
Hiyori hit the ground hard.
"Ah—! My body… it's burning…"
"Just one more," Vesper stepped forward. "And you're done."
"Hiyori…" Lyra whispered. "Do something…"
"She can't," Vesper smirked.
Then—
A voice echoed.
"Why not?"
Vesper froze.
He turned.
Lyra stood—
Barely—
Holding a massive sphere of green-black energy.
HUMMMMM—!
Before anyone could react—
She thrust it forward.
BOOOOOM!
It slammed into Vesper's stomach.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
Lyra's eyes flickered.
Isn't he… robotic? Then why… blood?
She tried to awaken her power—
Nothing.
In an instant—
Vesper reappeared.
FLASH—!
He grabbed her hand—
Twisted it.
Metal began spreading across her skin.
Hiyori's voice broke—
"What… is this?!"
Lyra's eyes slowly closed.
"No… no—stay awake!"
Hiyori's back erupted—
FWOOOOOSH—!
Massive pink wings of light burst open.
She surged forward—
SLASH—!
A storm of razor wind carved deep into Vesper's body.
She grabbed Lyra and shot into the air.
"Open your eyes! Don't give up!"
Lyra's voice was faint.
"I can't fight… but I can help you…"
Hiyori froze.
"Take… my eyes."
"…What?"
"You can see his weakness… I believe in you…"
Her breath weakened.
"His body… isn't fully metal… near the heart… there's still flesh…"
Her hand trembled.
"Kill him…"
Light flickered—
Then faded.
Lyra went unconscious.
Hiyori's hands shook—
But she took the eyes.
Suddenly—
FLASH—!
Vesper appeared again.
His hand wrapped around Hiyori's neck.
GRAB—!
Her wings shattered into particles.
Lyra fell—
THUD…
In Hiyori's hand—
Lyra's eyes glowed faintly.
Vesper smirked.
"What I need… is in your hand."
"Give it to me."
Hiyori's aura flared—
Soft pink and white energy erupted around her.
"I will never give it to you."
Scene Shift
Raithasu sprinted through the crumbling castle.
STEP! STEP! CRACK!
Broken stairs. Collapsing walls. Yet somehow—
It still stood.
"How far?" he shouted.
Raithasu looked ahead.
Michael scanned the ruins.
"Hard to tell… look at this place…"
Raithasu gritted his teeth.
"It's still standing."
Michael stopped.
"…I think this is her room."
He turned.
"Come with me."