In the graveyard, just before Taro returned to the Overworld, he lay on the ground, arms crossed in front of his face. Then suddenly, a glowing shield burst out from beneath his sleeves. It was his only chance to strike back.
He used the shield to push the ronin away with force, making one of the ronin's swords get stuck in the ground. Wasting no time, Taro quickly activated Enzo's boosting magic and dashed toward the sword. Grabbing it, he leapt forward at high speed.
The ronin tried to block with his second blade, but the moment it touched Taro's sword, it broke. Then, without delay, Taro stabbed straight into the ronin's eye socket. However, the fight wasn't over.
That stab didn't stop the ronin like it had with other skeletons. The creature pulled his stuck sword from the ground and began swinging again, aiming for Taro. Taro raised his glowing shield over and over, blocking each attack without rest. But then, the shield suddenly vanished after a few heavy hits. Before he could react, the ronin's sword stabbed deep into Taro's shoulder... near his neck. Blood poured out quickly, but even then, he didn't back down.
Taro pulled the sword out of his own shoulder, dropped low to the ground, and slashed across the ronin's legs. The ronin's legs gave out, falling to the ground. However, Taro wasn't done yet. He began stabbing into the gaps between the bones, again and again, each strike releasing more of the captured light trapped inside the body. After several precise hits, the ronin finally stopped moving. It was over... Taro had won.
A few moments later, he opened a portal to return, but as he looked through, he saw something unexpected... Varnok and Yukiko in the middle of a battle. Without delay, he stepped through and blocked Varnok's powerful strike with his shield, arriving just in time.
Seconds later, he pulled out one of the potions he found with Ema the day before. Gently, he opened Yukiko's mouth and poured it in... restoring her energy and mana. Varnok, surprised by Taro's sudden appearance, stared at him with narrowed eyes and said:
"Will you battle against me instead? I can spare you, if you stay out of this."
Taro didn't answer. His body began glowing again... a strong aura pulsing from his entire body. Then, in a flash, he dashed toward Varnok at high speed, refusing to be underestimated. Varnok raised his blade to block, shocked by the familiar glow.
That energy… from that wizard… inside this boy? Varnok thought. Very well... in that case...
Taro jumped back, dodging Varnok's counterattack. Then Varnok gave a chilling laugh and said:
"On second thought, I've changed my mind… You shall not leave this place alive."
His heavy sword shrouded in dark energy. Then he pointed the blade at Taro and shouted:
"Let the duel begin!"
Meanwhile, in downtown, Ema was about to finish off the last wave. Suddenly, she spotted a child surrounded by several dark creatures. Without hesitation, she rushed forward, pulling both daggers from her belt. She leapt in front of the girl, giving her a chance to escape.
"Get back home, sweetie!" Ema said.
"Thank you, miss!" the little girl replied, running off.
After defeating the remaining dark creatures and fully clearing the wave in downtown, Ema decided to check on Vincy at the park, as it was closer than the beach.
At the park, Vincy had also cleared his wave. He lowered the mask from his face and smirked mockingly.
"Not too shabby, Armageddon. Better luck next time," He said.
Just then, he spotted Ema approaching from the entrance, calling him.
"Idiot! Don't shout my name like that!" He barked.
"Relax," she said, catching her breath and removing her mask, "no one's here but us. So, how did it go?"
"Nothing special," he replied, "same as always."
"Weird…" she muttered, hand on her chin, "why send three waves this time? That's never happened before."
"No clue. What about the pinky girl?" He asked.
They both froze and both of their eyes widened.
"Oh no…" Vincy whispered.
"Right! I've got a really bad feeling, Vincy!" Ema said, her tone serious. "Hurry! We need to help her before it's too late!"
They ran toward the beach, praying they weren't already too late.
Meanwhile, thirty minutes into the intense duel between Taro and Varnok, Taro was nearly out of breath, worn down from the long exchange of strikes and blocks.
Varnok wasn't looking much better, his movements had slowed, and the dark energy from his sword was weaker than before. Yet, he suddenly rushed at Taro, aiming his heavy blade straight for his chest. It looked like a critical mistake on Taro's part… or was it?
A grin flickered on Taro's face. Then, a sudden cloud of smoke exploded between them, breaking Varnok's sightline. When it cleared, Taro was gone. A second later, a sharp pain hit Varnok from behind.
Taro had stabbed him right in the gut. The smoke had come from a spherical orb, loot from one of the skeletal wizards. When shattered, it released a smokescreen. Just like a ninja!
After landing the hit, Taro leapt back, leaving Varnok clutching his stomach.
"Very clever," Varnok growled, "but it'll take more than a cheap trick to defeat me."
I've got nothing left… Taro thought, panting. Should've brought more potions. But no time for regrets now… I can't use Enzo's boost… or even that shield.
He raised his sword, determined to survive no matter what.
Varnok's blade suddenly pulsed with more darkness, sharper than before. He rushed at Taro for another slash. Before the attack could land, Yukiko appeared, blocking the blow with her glowing dual katanas and forcing Varnok back.
"Gomen, Abodo-kun!" She apologized, "I shouldn't have let you fight him alone."
Taro was about to motion for her to stay out of it, but before he could, she handed him a half-full potion... one she'd saved from earlier.
"Daijoubu," she said softly, "just drink it, and let's fight together. Let me lend you my strength… let me be your sword."
Taro blushed and looked down, smiling. He took the potion and drank it without a word.
"You again…" Varnok muttered, tightening his grip, "should've finished you sooner."
"You couldn't... thanks to Abodo-kun," Yukiko answered firmly. "Now it's our turn to end you."
She rushed in first, spinning with her dual blades, activating her {Sharp Cut}. Varnok managed to block, but it wasn't easy. From the opposite
side, Taro slashed with swift movements, breaking his guard down. If Varnok tried to strike, Taro blocked with his shield... or Yukiko disrupted him with her ropes. They fought with fluid coordination, covering one another perfectly.
Strike after strike, their attacks began breaking down Varnok's armor. Suddenly, Varnok raised his blade overhead, charging a dark blast. But before he could fire it, a massive fireball and a large light arrow struck his back, blasting him to the ground.
They were Vincy and Ema, stopping him before he could shoot his blast.
"Aw man, she's still alive..." Vincy muttered, unimpressed.
"I know you love joking, Vincy," Ema replied, "but trust me... this isn't the right moment for that."
"Yeah... considering that I was NOT JOKING," he said.
Then Vincy started staring around, seeing Taro sitting on the ground while activating his shield.
"Yo, Taro! Whoa, what's that shield?!" Vincy shouted, impressed.
"Vincy... there's no time for that too..." Ema responded, facepalming.
After a few seconds, Varnok started getting up on his own with difficulty, using his sword as a crutch.
"Oi kisama! Oi Kenjiro-chan!" Yukiko shouted, calling them. "Please take care of that black knight over there! I will go heal Abodo-kun."
"Hey, what did she just call us...?" Vincy asked, confused.
"No clue... but let's deal with that dark knight over there!" Ema responded.
At that moment, Taro's eyes widened, and he started blushing after hearing his name. Yukiko approached him, trying to heal him with her healing spell. Taro tried to refuse by swinging his arms, trying to show that he was fine.
"Dame, Abodo-kun!" Yukiko refused. "I must heal you... your injury is becoming worse!"
That's not the problem... Taro thought, staring away, you lost a lot of energy...
She noticed how worried he looked. She sat on the ground in front of him, whispering gently:
"Daijoubu, I'm alive twice because of you, let me heal you again."
You don't have to repay me... Taro thought with a soft smile. But thank you, Yukiko. I'll take that to heart...
Then he gave her his back, letting her heal him freely... or just because he was shy as always.
Meanwhile, Vincy and Ema started striking their powers at Varnok one by one, leaving him unable to dodge or block any of the incoming attacks. Ema kept shooting arrows at his stomach and his head. Vincy, on the other hand, kept firing at him with his flames, burning the dark energy inside him. In addition, he kept punching and kicking whenever he got close.
After a few minutes, Varnok collapsed entirely on the ground. His sword and armor were destroyed completely. All of them approached him, seeing him like that.
"My king... forgive me..." Varnok muttered, speaking with difficulty.
"Well well well, guess you are defeated by TaroAbodo, Vincy, and the two useless girls!" Vincy exclaimed, mocking both Yukiko and Ema.
"Oi temee! You're the only useless one here..." Yukiko said aggressively.
Then, Varnok looked at Taro, saying:
"TaroAbodo... I see. I underestimated you. After all, you're as clever as your father."
"And you... those flowers are familiar..." Varnok added, staring at Yukiko's outfit, "no wonder my king worried about your family..."
Taro and Yukiko froze in shock after hearing those words.
"Oi, how did you know about my family...?" Yukiko asked, with a deadly stare.
"We know... because we killed them, and burned your house with them!"
Yukiko was furious at that moment. Then suddenly, she equipped her katanas, trying to stab him with both of them. Taro stood in front of her, stopping her from killing him.
"Why... why are you standing in my way, Abodo-kun?" She asked, crying. "They killed my family with no mercy!"
I'm sorry, Yukiko,Taro thought, but I can't let you kill him...
Then, Taro grabbed his sword and carefully sliced his arm, letting the blood drip as he wrote words across his skin. The other three were shocked by what he did. They tried to stop him, but they couldn't. After writing, he showed it to Varnok. He had written on his arm:
"Who is my father?"
Varnok stared at his arm clearly, saying:
"I see how badly you want to know. You didn't see him... did you? HaruAbodo, the only knight I truly respected, and I was honored to know him. But unfortunately, I was the one who killed him, as ordered by my king."
I see...Taro thought, looking down without an expression.
Then he wrote on his second arm:
"Who are you?"
"I'm afraid I do not know..." Varnok answered. "All I know is I'm Varnok, and I'm here to follow my king's commands."
Then, he grabbed Taro's hands slowly and said with regret:
"TaroAbodo... I beg you... kill me. End this suffering, and avenge your father!"
Taro was thinking for a while, deciding whether to accept his demand. Before he would kill him, he grabbed his sword to write on his arm one last time. He wrote while smiling:
"He and I forgive you."
After seeing that, a flashback ran through his memories... Haru smiling back then, the moment before his death.
"Thank you... you truly are just like your father..." Varnok said with his last breath, tearing up.
Then silently, Taro rolled his sleeves back down, covering his blood. And then, he borrowed Yukiko's katana quietly, then stabbed his heart slowly... fulfilling both Yukiko's revenge and Varnok's request.
It wasn't your fault... I won't blame you, Varnok, Taro thought. You were loyal to your king till the very end. You even carried the regret all that time. You truly are an honorable knight. Even your soul didn't vanish like other creatures. However... I'll make your dark king pay for all of his doings.
An hour later, Taro went to bury him in the middle of the forest, the same place where he had met Enzo for the first time. He placed a bunch of flowers beside the grave he dug. Taro had told all of his friends to wait for him at his house. They all went... except for Yukiko, who watched him from behind. She had insisted on going with him.
After burying him, Taro walked up to Yukiko and bowed to her, silently apologizing for everything that had happened. Yukiko stared at the grave and asked why he hadn't let her kill him. Taro picked up a small fallen branch from the ground and began writing in the mud. He first wrote:
"Madness would hide the truth from the eyes. And revenge won't return what was taken."
"You're right... nothing will return," Yukiko said with a sad voice.
Then, Taro wrote:
"But they'd be proud because you still remember them, just like how I remember my father."
He wrote that, although he never knew how his father looked like.
Yukiko smiled softly and said, with gratitude:
"Arigato, Abodo-san... I really respect you more than ever."
Taro smiled back and wrote in the mud:
"Just call me Taro!"