Vincy and the boar clashed into each other. The boar tried to knock Vincy down. However, he stopped it with his bare hands, holding the two horns. Vincy cut its horns, passed them to Taro, and began smashing the boar.
He knocked it backwards, yet it stood again and rushed toward him. Vincy fired his flames, but the flames had no effect on the volcanic boar. Taro created a staircase out of shields. Vincy climbed them and jumped toward the beast, smashing it massively. The smash knocked the boar out completely, causing it to lose consciousness.
"Well done, Vincy," Taro said. "I'll finish it off."
"Take your time, pal," Vincy replied.
Taro went to the boar, stabbing it in the stomach. After a few minutes, the boar wasn't breathing anymore. Then, he pushed the boar behind some rocks.
Suddenly, Taro's senses went wild, activating his shield immediately. It was Vincy... the one who attacked.
"What is going on, Vincy?" Taro asked, confused.
The moment he jumped backwards, he saw Vincy completely changed... into the fiendish one.
"It's you..." Taro muttered.
"YOU... how dare you kill Armageddon? It should've been me!" The fiend yelled.
"What are you talking about? I didn't kill him to–" Taro began.
Before Taro could finish his sentence, the fiend dashed toward him, raising his arm to punch. Taro summoned his {Alternative Shield}, blocking his smashes.
"Stop using Vincy's body! Get out of him!" Taro exclaimed.
Then, he jumped away after the shield was broken.
"Stop being such a coward! FIGHT ME!" The fiend roared.
Taro ignored him, then threw his sword away and replied:
"I'm not fighting you. You're the coward for using someone's body!"
After hearing that, the fiend left Vincy's body. The fiend looked exactly like Vincy... except for his clothes.
"Who are you?" Taro asked.
"I don't need to tell strangers my name," he responded. "You made a huge mistake by becoming unarmed."
"It doesn't matter, because I don't want to hurt you either," Taro said. "Armageddon is gone. There's no need to keep fighting."
"Shut up!" the fiend shouted. "Your arrogance won't convince me! I'll make you regret that."
This is getting nowhere, Taro thought. He doesn't seem evil... he only wanted revenge. However, his madness is overwhelming him. I'll just evade him for now.
Vincy, meanwhile, was lying on the ground, unconscious. The fiend began firing toward Taro. He blocked all of the flames with his {Azure Shield}. The fiend used {Flaming Beam} many times, but Taro kept jumping away.
For minutes, the fiend couldn't hurt Taro once. Then, he began preparing a massive {Blazing Cannon}. Taro prepared several layers of shields in front of him... until he became exhausted.
This is bad... I didn't rest after defeating Armageddon, Taro thought, sweating.
The fiend blasted the massive blazing ball, yet it didn't reach Taro. However, all his remaining shields vanished, leaving him completely defenseless.
"It's over now," the fiend said, surging flames from his hand. "BE GONE!"
Without hesitation, the fiend rushed toward him... however, he was stopped. Vincy stood in front of Taro, caught the fiend's fist, and smashed him in the chest... sending him backwards.
"Nobody... dares to touch my friends," Vincy muttered with a deadly glare.
"You traitor... how dare you–" The fiend began.
"Shut your mouth," Vincy interrupted. "Now I'll face you fair and square, you jerk!"
Vincy tried to blast fireballs toward him, but nothing happened.
"W-What happened to my flames?!" Vincy asked, shocked.
"You mean my flames!" The fiend corrected, surging flames from his hands. "It was my power, and you used it freely. It was a nightmare being inside your pathetic body all that time!"
"No problem... I don't need flames to destroy you," Vincy snapped. "I'll crush you with my destructive mode!"
"It's no use, idiot!" He said. "All my powers are–"
Vincy smashed his fists together, activating his {Berserk Mode}.
"IMPOSSIBLE! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?!" The fiend exclaimed.
"This power chose me," Vincy responded. "Can you even activate it?"
The fiend pumped his fists to activate it, but nothing happened.
"Geh, I can't use it anymore," he replied.
"That's because it's mine!" Vincy continued. "I worked and trained hard to master it. The flames may belong to you, but the power boost belongs to me!"
"I don't care anymore," the fiend snapped. "I'll kill you without it!"
Both dashed toward each other, raising their fists at the same time.
"STOP RIGHT NOW!" A voice suddenly shouted.
They froze immediately, then turned toward the voice. It was Zara, the Fiend Princess.
"What... do you think you are doing?" She asked aggressively. "Zorath, explain everything. NOW!"
"Princess... are you helping those humans?!" Zorath, the fiend, asked back.
"They helped us defeat our enemy," she responded. "How are you still alive?"
Zorath paused, then explained:
"I didn't die... because I wasn't in the castle that day. When I returned, I saw them dead: the king, the guards, and everyone. I immediately recognized that it was Armageddon's doing. I promised that I'd kill him, no matter what."
Then, he continued, looking at Vincy:
"Months ago, I knew that Armageddon sent raids to the Overworld, so I thought it was my chance to take revenge. However, I felt your presence nearby, and saw you turning that human into one of us. I entered his body when you cast your spell, thinking that I'd become stronger. Unfortunately, I couldn't control his body. A few months later, I finally succeeded in using his body... and so on."
Zara paused for seconds, then replied:
"And that's how you repay them? You used his body without our permission, interrupted them, and now you're trying to kill them? What were you thinking?"
Taro and Vincy watched in silence. Then, Vincy interrupted, shouting:
"AH, COME ON! SHUT UP!"
Everyone looked at him in silence. Then, he continued, looking at Zorath:
"Sheesh, stop yapping! I knew your tragedy already. Look, it's alright... anger blinds us from reality sometimes, SO NO NEED TO REMIND US OF YOUR PAST! Next time, don't jump to conclusions without understanding everything, idiot!"
They stayed in silence for a moment, then Zara said:
"You're right. We apologize for everything we committed."
"No need to apologize, princess," Vincy replied. "In fact, I owe you for rescuing me that day... despite the purpose."
"That's nothing. Thanks again, Vincy... and Taro," Zara responded.
"You're welcome, Zara... sorry, what was your surname when you were human?" He asked.
"Spencer... ZaraSpencer," she answered, smiling. "Now, Zorath, you owe them an apology."
Zorath crossed his arms, looking the other way.
That arrogant jerk... screw him! Vincy thought, crossing his arms to match Zorath.
"Sigh, such children," Zara replied, unimpressed.
"It's alright, Zara," Taro said. "Thanks for everything. Now, we have to hurry back to remove Vincy's curse."
"Oh, that's not necessary," Zara replied. "I can simply remove the curse."
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Vincy exclaimed. "WAS THAT JOURNEY FOR NOTHING?!"
"Not my fault... you didn't ask," Zara teased, laughing.
A few minutes later, Zara removed his curse, returning him to human form.
"Can I ask what that curse is exactly? I still don't get it," Vincy asked.
"This kind of curse is called a transformation type," Zara answered. "For months... or even years, if the curse isn't removed before a specific time, you'll turn into a fiend completely."
"Oh, I guess we had plenty of time," Vincy replied.
"The duration isn't known," Zara added. "You were lucky you didn't turn completely, or else... you'd never return as a human again."
"Aw, snap," Vincy muttered, surprised.
After that, Zara gave Vincy a red fiendish key. Then, she said:
"I guess this is our farewell. Keep that key if you need my help with anything."
"Thanks. Goodbye, princess," Vincy waved.
Instantly, Zara and Zorath left the cave.
"Sheesh, that was an insane adventure," Vincy said.
"Yeah, and it all has to come to an end," Taro replied. "Let's go revisit Enzo."
Hours later, they returned to Enzo's room.
"So, Enzo, I fulfilled your quest," Taro declared. "We defeated Armageddon, so it's time to return to where we belong."
"And where is that, young fellow?" Enzo asked. "You were born in the Overworld, yet your father lived here. What do you choose?"
Taro paused, then smiled and responded:
"Thank you for everything, and for welcoming me here. However, I don't belong here... my loved ones are on the other side."
He tried to hand Enzo both keys, but he only took the one to the Dark Realm.
"Keep that one," Enzo said. "You can visit us anytime."
"Thanks. I will, master," Taro replied respectfully.
And with that, Taro and Vincy returned to the Overworld.
At Abodo's house, Taro opened the door to see Yukiko with her bags packed.
"Okaerinasai, Taro," she greeted.
"Yukiko… where are you going?" He asked, concerned in his voice.
"Thank you for letting me stay here, but I can't anymore," she responded quietly. "As I promised, I helped you defeat Armageddon. Now my part is over."
"W-What are you talking about? Don't say–" Taro began.
"Taro… please. You can't convince me to stay," she interrupted calmly. "I caused you trouble before, so I hope you can forgive me."
From behind, Vincy placed a hand on Taro's shoulder and gave him a reassuring thumbs-up. Taro understood, smiled faintly, and watched Vincy slip outside, shutting the door softly.
"Yukiko… before you go, wait a few minutes," Taro said, and went upstairs.
When he returned, he was dressed in his usual clothes... along with his familiar scarf around his neck.
"That scarf… you still have it?" Yukiko asked, surprised.
"Of course. You sewed it for me," Taro said with a warm smile.
He looked down for a moment, then met her eyes and began:
"You were right. We can't keep living together like this. A boy and a girl without a bond... this living arrangement feels inappropriate. So, Yukiko... what if we made one?"
She blinked, then asked:
"What do you mean, Taro?"
His cheeks reddened, but his voice stayed steady. Then, he answered:
"Right now, all that connects us is friendship… and that's not enough. Yukiko, I'm asking you… to be my wife."
Yukiko lowered her gaze, forming a smile.
"Why? Just so I can stay here? Why go so far for me?"
Taro took a deep breath, then answered:
"I'll be sincere with you... I've never loved a girl before. I thought I couldn't love because I'm emotionless… but that wasn't true. It because I didn't understand love. I've always known care and respect. Like I care for Vincy… I cared for you. And if I'm going to love anyone, I'd gladly choose Yukiko."
Her eyes brimmed with tears, replying:
"You cared for me even when I'm a foreigner… and unwanted."
"Yukiko," Taro said gently, "I shouldn't even exist. My father wasn't from the Overworld, yet he married my mother. I was sick and weak, but I got another chance at life. I'm grateful for my great parents, my friends, and my life. If you feel unwanted, fight reality itself. I know your past was terrible... but you need to overcome it, and do what you love, as long as you're following the right path."
More tears fell as she whispered:
"You still want to take responsibility? To live with me?"
"Mochiron, Yukiko," he answered, smiling. "So… will you marry me?"
She paused, then said, wiping her tears:
"You've had my heart from the start, Taro. Yes, I will."
"I'm so glad. We'll proceed when my mother returns," Taro replied, smiling.
He pulled a small box from his pocket, revealing a diamond ring.
"When did you buy it?" Yukiko asked, surprised.
"On my way back... sorry if that surprised you," he answered.
"It must have been expensive, why did you waste your savings on–" She began.
"Come on, Yukiko," he interrupted softly. "I'd do anything for you. I even called my mother upstairs and told her."
He slipped the ring on her finger, saying:
"Yukiko... if you are my sword, then I'm your shield."
February 10, 2011 – Sunday.
Around noon, someone knocked on the door. Taro opened it to see Vincy with a travel bag.
"So… it's time?" Taro asked.
"Yeah, buddy. It's time," Vincy answered.
"Need help with–" Taro tried asking.
"Nah, I've got it," he refused. "I just came to see my best friend before I leave. I'll stop by Ema's too."
They fist-bumped, then hugged.
"Take care, Vincy," Taro said.
"You too, Taro," he replied.
As Vincy walked away, Taro whispered:
"Sayonara, Vincy."
Coming from the back, Yukiko stepped up beside him.
"So, he left?" She asked.
"Yeah, he's headed to Catanzaro in Italy," Taro responded.
She held his arm, then replied:
"Let's go inside, honey."
"Yeah… it's cold out here, Yuki," he agreed, entering the house.
One day in Brookhaven...
Goblins swarmed downtown, attacking citizens. A hulking goblin loomed over an old man. However, in a flash, its arms were severed, and the old man was pulled to safety.
"WHO DID THIS?!" It roared.
Suddenly, a tall figure stepped forward, sword in hand.
"WHO ARE YOU?!" The goblin shouted.
The man's face emerged from the shadows, showing a deadly smile and a glare. Then, he responded coldly:
"I'm TaroAbodo… nice to meet you!"