Chapter 162: Soul Reaper and Conan Crossover (Part 3)
Facing Conan's roar, the gloomy, low voice merely chuckled:
"Conan, there is no need for anger. On the contrary, you should feel fortunate. The 'me' communicating with you now is just a fragment. If I truly emerged—even if just a partial limb manifested in this world—at your current level, it wouldn't even take an episode. Within the three minutes of the opening theme, you would be ground to dust..."
Of course, whether that was actually the case was another matter. But as they say: whether you can do it is a question of ability, but the attitude and momentum must be there first, otherwise, how can one put on a show?
A certain God of the Joyful Dice, who occasionally walked the path of the "Path of Sit-and-Forget," called this the Art of Communication!
"You... Hmph!"
Conan was furious, but he didn't deny it. He just kept a cold face.
Since being "adopted" by Gin, Conan had found some free time and spent a good deal of it thinking about Moriarty. The more he thought, the more alarmed he became. In his understanding, Moriarty was originally just a split personality, only able to cause trouble by manipulating his body. But as the world lines shifted, Moriarty's powers and capabilities became increasingly eldritch and unpredictable.
In the previous Fifth World Line, Moriarty's existence was already an Absolute Evil of calamity-level proportions, but at that time, there was still "Shinichi Kudo" as a weakness. Now, in the Sixth World Line, although Moriarty had shattered into countless pieces, he had also completely shed that weakness. Using fragments as a medium, he could twist life at will and create supernatural cases that were impossible to counter.
In comparison, Edogawa Conan felt increasingly destitute. In the last world line, he was a famous high school detective. In this one, he was just a plain, ordinary, unremarkable intern at the Distillery, riding on Big Brother Gin's coattails for a meal!
Without confidence, his words naturally lacked bite.
Of course, there were other reasons for Conan's lack of confidence. In his mind, Moriarty was born of him; all these sins originated from Shinichi Kudo. Facing other criminals, Conan could denounce them with righteous indignation, but facing Moriarty, it was always difficult to feel "just."
"You were once me," Conan countered, despite his lack of leverage. "Even if you've fallen into darkness, how could you do such a thing to Ran? Are you still worthy of the name Shinichi Kudo?"
The gloomy voice replied:
"Heh, it is precisely because I was once Shinichi Kudo that I gave Ran some help, allowing her to transform into a Magical Girl. You must understand, the current Beika is a super capital of crime. Without a little strength to protect oneself, even a stroll in the park results in a monster attack. Oh, and no need to thank me. Helping those close to me live a better life in Beika with their own power—that's exactly what I, as the former Shinichi Kudo, should do!"
"I don't believe a word of that! Then why is Ran chasing me so manically!?"
Conan couldn't help but retort. Even while "chatting" with Moriarty, he never stopped running, because Ran's killing intent was still like a thorn in his back. Although he had put some distance between them, she had not stopped the hunt! It was only because she was relatively close that Moriarty's voice could reach Conan via the fragment.
"She's a Magical Girl! A completely new concept. After I put so much effort into tinkering with something so creative, wouldn't it be a waste if she didn't take a few swings at you? Besides, Ran heard rumors that you might not be dead. She missed you and got a bit... passionate. It's understandable. Anyway, let's put these trivial matters aside and talk business."
To Mo Yu, who knew the history of the First Loop, Ran chasing Conan was indeed a trivial matter. The outcome was set. Though Ran had broken some shackles of fate through her First-Loop residue, killing Conan was an impossibility.
If nothing else, looking at Conan crossing Beika's crime scenes on his short legs without losing his breath showed that this sleeping God of Detectives wasn't so easy to handle. Once Edogawa Conan developed a subjective will to avoid Ran, her falling behind was only a matter of time.
"Hey, I think there's nothing more 'business' than this..."
Mo Yu tried to change the subject, but Conan disagreed. Mo Yu ignored him and continued:
"That old homeless man rampaging over there—you must stop him. Although you used Gin's power to kill the possibility of that case growing further, you've clearly underestimated its severity. For example, that old man keeps insisting he wants to resurrect Shinichi Kudo through sacrifice. You think it's a joke? That's just you being bound by the common sense of the previous world line. In this world line, he can actually do it. Once Shinichi Kudo reappears in the world, it will be a catastrophe for mankind. Even I find it hard to bear..."
Mo Yu's words successfully diverted Conan's attention. For Conan, hearing about a case always pushed everything else to the back of his mind. He weighed the priorities: a rampaging Ran was manageable, but a Kaiju that might summon a "world-ender" needed to be dealt with first.
Conan snorted. "Hmph. You're the one who impersonated Shinichi Kudo and filled that old man's head with some cursed 'Pitch-Black Will of the Kudo Family.' Now that it's actually caused a mess, you have the nerve to call it a catastrophe? And the 'Shinichi Kudo' meant to be resurrected... isn't that just you? Why would you find your own resurrection hard to bear?"
"As you say, the resurrected Shinichi would indeed be a part of me," Mo Yu replied. "But Conan, though you don't believe it yet, the Pitch-Black Will of the Kudo family is no lie. I was born holding that will, and I will see its resolve through to the end..."
Mo Yu was referring to the resolve Conan showed during the ultimate judgment ritual at the end of the First Loop—the length Shinichi Kudo went to in order to "kill" a person. But the current Conan didn't "understand" yet.
"Because I taught that old man the Pitch-Black Will, I have a bone to pick with him," Mo Yu continued. "He has the power I gave him and the resolve to burn the world down, but his final wish is just the 'Advent of a Savior carrying the Pitch-Black Will'? How small. How ugly. Such a crime violates my Moriarty Criminal Aesthetic. Therefore, I do not recognize his crime..."
Conan was silent. He wanted to complain but didn't know where to start, because he sensed Mo Yu spoke from the heart. In a way, this style matched his own. Even as a detective, he had standards for how a detective should behave.
"If you're so unsatisfied, what do you plan to do?"
"My dear Holmes-boy, your dear old friend Moriarty requests that you stop that reckless fellow. And this request isn't based on justice. It is because when everything he wagered his life for is crushed by you—when it turns to a dream-bubble in an instant—the heartfelt regret and agony he feels then is the 'lesson' I want to give him!"
Again, if it were anyone else, Mo Yu wouldn't care. But if someone used his name to do things that didn't fit his aesthetic, he would intervene. Anyone in the world could pray for salvation from a Savior, but those stained with the Pitch-Black Will must not! To be one's own Savior is the only promise of that Will.
Conan spat: "Moriarty, you really are a thoroughbred villain!"
"Heh, allow me a small correction: please call me the Super-Criminal King with Professional Ethics and Dignity. So, dear Holmes-boy, my former righteous half... will you accept your old friend's commission? As a reward, I'll give you a Great Secret Treasure of Moriarty that will transform you into something more... interesting. Don't worry, I'll give you the reward upfront. Whether you do the job or not is up to you."
"Oh, how generous of you!" Conan raised an eyebrow. Thanks to Gin's selfless tutoring, Conan was well-versed in the hidden lore of this world line, including the legends of the Moriarty Great Secret Treasure.
According to Distillery intelligence, these were mysterious artifacts known "since ancient times," previously called the Ark of the Covenant, the Philosopher's Stone, or Great Dao treasures, before the name was unified in modern times. Tales of their function varied, but all pointed to immortality, infinite power, or the fulfillment of any wish.
Legend said that a failed art student in WWII obtained a Moriarty treasure to become a Demon King, attempting to shatter the world, only to be defeated by other powerhouses holding similar treasures.
Conan had found the rumors absurd at first. In previous world lines, Moriarty was just his split personality; in this new one, he had forced himself into history as an eternal legend. But the Treasures were a concrete part of this world line, sought by groups like the "Zoo," who believed they were gems of immortality. Gin had even told Conan that the Organization had studied them for years and would mobilize for even a vague lead.
To Conan, these treasures might be the only way to solve the sin born of his own existence.
"Holmes-boy, in the world of crime, generosity is a must. Without profit, how can one drive the greedy? In this new world line, I've already taken the lead. If you truly wish to continue this unfinished duel, try to catch up with my investment. If you stay this weak, it'll be boring..."
With those words, a shimmering, illusory "Arrow" flew from the distance and slammed into the ground near Conan!
Conan hesitated, but eventually ran over and scooped it up. It was a joke that the person Conan most wanted to kill was Moriarty, yet the person he could most "trust" to maintain the integrity of their duel was also Moriarty.
Conan looked down at the arrow. It was semi-transparent, like a ghost. Its shape was bug-like, covered in black calamity-patterns that radiated ill omen. For some reason, just looking at it filled the rational Conan with uncharacteristic fear.
"Among the Moriarty Treasures, this one is exceptional. It is called the Stand Arrow. It has two functions. The first allows a Stand to 'Ultra-Evolve'—though you likely won't need that. The second is the key for you. Its effect and side effect are a secret for now... because it's a surprise."
Conan ignored the double-talk, his attention locked on the arrow. His emotions screamed at him to drop it to avoid the abyss, but another voice urged him to grip it tight, saying the truth at the end of despair was the only thing that mattered.
Conan wavered, split between intuition and reason. Finally, reason won. He looked at the rampaging Kaiju and its rioting Legion. He had already resolved to put his hands in the dark for the sake of justice in the previous world line; he wouldn't hesitate now.
He gripped the illusory arrow, allowing it to pierce his palm!
He waited. He expected... but after a long while, nothing happened.
"Wait, did Moriarty play me!?"
Suddenly, Mo Yu's voice drifted from afar: "Conan, you are unique. When you instinctively reject it, the arrow's power cannot touch you. That's why Function 1 is useless for you. As for Function 2... you'll have to wait. It's a long-distance call. The lag is heavy..."
Suddenly, the reaction hit. Conan's consciousness skyrocketed, drifting toward the distant sky. He crossed the heavens to a cryptic boundary. Inside was the world; outside was chaotic darkness.
In that darkness stood a majestic entity. A black torrent of pure, ultimate power comprised this being.
"As He said, you are the protagonist of this world. Smaller than I expected—still in elementary school? Tough for a kid to be pulled into filming so young. But no matter. With my help, your plot should be easy to resolve. Ahem... let me think. What was the first line He gave me for my entrance?"
The entity of pure power cleared its throat and projected its voice:
"Wake up, Edogawa Conan! I am Ichigo Kurosaki from the M78 Nebula! Do you seek power sufficient to conquer all? If you desire it, call my name! You shall become my human host, the sole light illuminating the mortal realm—invincible and victorious!"
Conan went silent. He truly couldn't fathom what kind of play this guy was performing. But things had gone too far; he decided to try.
"I don't know who you are, but I need the power. If you can give it... Ichigo Kurosaki, give me your strength!"
The moment he spoke, a rift appeared in the boundary of the world.
"As He said, the barrier opens at your request. So be it. By the way, based on what I know of Him, His scripts are absurd but always have a meaning. So... hold on tight."
The entity thrust a hand through the rift.
The moment Ichigo's arm crossed the barrier, it transformed into a flood of light that blotted out the sun, rushing into Conan's consciousness! The impact sent Conan's mind reeling back to reality.
When he opened his eyes, a brilliant "Spirit Power" glowed in his pupils. A majestic Reiatsu erupted around him. Conan breathed deeply; he had never felt "Power" like this before.
This power had a will! A will so pure and fierce it screamed: Clench your fist and beat the whole damn world until everything impossible turns into what you want!
Conan didn't suppress it. He ran toward the monster. He ran faster and faster until he was wreathed in light. The light expanded until it became a Giant of Light that blotted out the sky!
For an alien entity composed of pure power, even the blessing of a single arm was a mortal miracle.
The Japanese army froze. The Beika police froze. The rioting criminals froze. Everyone stared at the black-light giant standing between heaven and earth! Its silhouette radiated unmeasurable mystery, and its blood-red eyes burned with the fire of combat.
The Giant of Light stood in silence for a second, then attacked!
A lightning-fast roundhouse kick slammed into the Kaiju's waist. The spectators' faces paled. A sonic boom rippled outward, the roar and gale sweeping the city. The Kaiju was kicked like a soccer ball, flying several kilometers and leveling countless buildings. (Luckily, Beika residents were veterans of evacuation.)
The Giant of Light didn't stop. With a ferocious roar, it gave chase. A beatdown—a continuous, relentless beatdown ensued!
Just then, a strange event occurred. Across every news station covering the Beika attack, the screens went black. A gloomy, low voice spoke:
"Foolish Earthlings! I am Ichigo Kurosaki, leader of the alien invasion fleet from the M78 Nebula! I formally notify you: Today, I have sent our strongest warrior, the Light Demon, as the vanguard to suppress your planet. That monster must be your world's strongest champion, but today, our vanguard will utterly crush it to show the valor of the M78 Nebula. Foolish humans... if you feel fear, then surrender!"
End of Chapter
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