"I'm you!" "You're me!" "We're!" "Mighty, mighty Evelyn!" "Hey!" "Double X!"
I woke to that bizarre song, inside a rattling cart—likely a horse-drawn carriage. Was it him? Sitting up, I saw Evelyn's smug face.
"You're awake, Papa?"
"Evelyn… the original?"
"I'm you, you're me. You pulled me out, so we're one again."
"Good."
Relieved, I heard a familiar voice.
"Finally awake, eh?"
"There he was when I woke. Shocking, right?" Evelyn said.
"Duke, as expected. Where are we?"
"My carriage. You were thrashing in your sleep."
Recalling the two Evelyns, I clenched and opened my hands—blackened, faintly.
"Your showdown with Lord Heisenberg was epic. Quite a fight with Miranda."
"We'll avenge Madao," Evelyn vowed.
"How long was I out?"
"Nearly dawn," Duke replied.
Evelyn and I exchanged glances. I didn't know where Duke was headed, but I had a destination.
"It's we, right?" Evelyn said.
"Yeah. Duke, take us to Miranda."
"As expected, we're already en route. Almost there."
"Thanks for everything."
"Also, I recovered this nearby." Duke gestured to Heisenberg's hammer. "Your bag, launcher—gone to the mold, I presume."
I gripped the hammer tightly. Heisenberg, lend me strength.
"But… are you sure? Your body looks… decayed."
"Sorry, I overdid it regenerating your heart. You were already at your limit…" Evelyn said.
"I know. But I can still fight. That's enough."
"Ethan…" Evelyn murmured.
"A foolish question?" Duke asked.
"Here's another: who are you?"
"Exactly!" Evelyn chimed.
"Heh, I don't quite know myself. We've arrived, Winters."
He dodged, but we'd reached our stop. Evelyn peeked out, nearly making me laugh.
"You can't return to the human world. Are you ready?" Duke asked.
"Are you ready?" Evelyn echoed.
"Absolutely."
I slung the hammer on my back and stepped out into the altar square. The ground shook—Chris battling Miranda? I had to hurry.
"Wait, Winters! Last chance!" Duke called. "You've lost weapons. I've got deals—equip yourself."
"Should just give it to us," Evelyn muttered.
"Thanks."
"Finest handgun and shotgun! A small bag as a bonus, plus all the healing fluid you need."
"Great service," Evelyn said.
"You know me well. But I'm short on coin. Just the shotgun and whatever healing fluid I can afford."
"No regrets, then."
I packed healing fluid into the small bag, slung the shotgun beside the hammer. No extra ammo—my strength and this were it. Duke opened a fancy box, offering a sleek, black revolver magnum.
"What's this?"
"So cool!" Evelyn exclaimed.
"A parting gift. I'd usually stick to business, but this is special—from an old friend. It's 'out there,' as he said."
"You sure?"
"You're a dear friend too. Take it. Be careful."
"Thanks for everything."
"Sorry for doubting you! Thanks!" Evelyn added.
With the magnum at my hip, we marched toward the altar. Evelyn floated alongside, but who cares?
"Gross!" she gagged.
"All special mold?" I asked.
Wriggling mold roots blocked the path. Dodging them, two Moroaicas emerged.
"No more Lycans?" Evelyn wondered.
"Out of my way!"
Saving bullets, I smashed one Moroaica's head with the hammer, then uppercut another. Thanks, Heisenberg.
"Hurry!"
"Don't overdo it, Papa. You're mine now—die, and I won't forgive you," Evelyn teased.
"Original, huh? Got it. I'll live, escape with Rose and both of you."
Hammer in hand, I sprinted across the bridge, up the stairs. The altar was sealed by mold. Squeezing through, I heard her voice.
"My sweet Eva… my darling daughter. Come out."
"Wait, Miranda!"
Reaching the square, I saw Miranda, entranced, reaching into a black-liquid-filled chalice. I aimed the shotgun, but she ignored me, pulling something out—Rose, restored.
"Eva… my love, how I missed you…"
"Too late…" I muttered.
"We didn't make it?" Evelyn whispered.
"What?"
Miranda, holding Rose, turned with a puzzled tone. Something was off.
"My power's draining…!"
"Rose did that!" Evelyn shouted.
"Miranda!"
She turned, black liquid leaking from her left eye.
"Fascinating… beyond human, transcending life and death!"
"Not just her body—her mind's crazy strong!" Evelyn added.
"Give Rose back! Now!"
"Cheeky. And noisy, failure. I'll end you… gah!?"
A shot pierced Miranda's head—a rifle?
"Now! Grab Rose!" Chris's voice rang.
"Thanks!"
I snatched Rose, but Miranda clung tight, unyielding.
"Let go!"
"Get off Rose, toxic parent!" Evelyn yelled.
"Who's toxic? No one loves their daughter more! I've lived for this moment… and you'd steal it?"
Her black-liquid eyes glared, blasting me back. She enveloped Rose in mold.
"She's mine… my grand wish is here! Rose is mine!"
"What's happening!?"
"Like me back then!" Evelyn gasped.
The mold parted, revealing Miranda as a witch from Village of Shadows, with elongated limbs and a revealing black outfit. Rose was absorbed.
"She's cooler than me! Unfair!" Evelyn complained.
"Rose, wait. Papa's slaying this storybook monster."
I raised the shotgun, resolve hardened. This was it, Miranda.
(Duke's gift: a special weapon from a "friend." Love the Merchant—called Dealer in my Fate/Grand Order work—so here's his moment. Ethan's armed with Duke's shotgun, Heisenberg's hammer, and no mags for the final battle.)
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