Jolting awake from "Death," Takumi was suddenly hit by an intense feeling of weightlessness. Realizing what was happening, he tried to stabilize his falling body, only to find his limbs completely unresponsive—as if he were black-out drunk and had lost all motor control.
His limbs were limp, his head spun dizzily. Having genuinely been "killed" once by King Hassan, Takumi had to muster every ounce of strength he had left just to forcefully "yank" his collapsing body back into balance, shifting his posture so he was kneeling on one knee.
"How do you feel?"
Bedivere, who had frozen for a moment due to the sudden sequence of events, hurriedly rushed forward. He supported the heavily panting Takumi and asked with deep concern.
In his eyes, after "coming back to life," Takumi's previously robust aura of vitality had weakened significantly. He suddenly looked incredibly haggard, and his body was even trembling involuntarily.
"Hah... all I can say is, it's pretty uncomfortable..."
Takumi took two deep breaths, turned his head, and forced a weak smile at Bedivere.
No matter how you looked at it, the life force within him had genuinely been "killed" once by King Hassan. Even though he broke free from that "Death," the lingering effects remained etched into his body. Not only was his mind foggy, making him feel as if he had awoken in another lifetime, but his body was also the weakest it had ever been since igniting the [Heart of Fire].
It almost feels like going back to when I was first cursed by Goetia...
Takumi thought, trying to find humor in his suffering.
However, upon seeing Takumi's face clearly, Bedivere froze.
He realized that at some point, a wisp of profound blue had seeped into Takumi's pupils. It wasn't the azure blue of the sky; it was an eerie, abyssal blue that looked like a swirling vortex.
Being stared at by those eyes, Bedivere suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of impending doom—a sensation strikingly similar to the oppressive aura King Hassan had released earlier.
"So, you succeeded?"
Noticing the change in Takumi, Bedivere couldn't help but ask.
From their brief conversation earlier, he had gathered that Takumi was risking his life specifically to obtain this power.
"Uh, I suppose you could call it a success...?"
Takumi answered hesitantly.
Although he couldn't see his own eyes, he had already noticed the drastic changes in his field of vision.
For example, he could now see bizarre "lines" crawling across the weeds, the rocks on the ground, and even across Bedivere's body.
The effect was definitely there, it was just a bit... weird?
Takumi roughly understood the situation. After "comprehending" the concept of "Death" taught by King Hassan, it had naturally converted into the ability he was most familiar with: the [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception]. Moreover, it had completely bypassed the prerequisite of acquiring [Pure Eyes], which was normally necessary for awakening them.
In the entire Moon Cell, only two people were known to possess the [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception]: Ryougi Shiki and Tohno Shiki.
Both of them possessed [Pure Eyes] and had to experience a true "Death" before their [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception] awakened.
This unique Mystic Eye bore the name "Death Perception," but it didn't just mean you could kill whatever you wanted. At its core, it was an ability that manipulated causality.
For instance, if a normal biological creature gets its head chopped off, it dies. Conversely, if its head isn't chopped off, it doesn't die. The "Cause" of the head being chopped off must precede the "Effect" of death.
The [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception] completely inverted this concept. It first induced the "Effect" of death, which then forcefully dragged out the "Cause" of being chopped off.
Perhaps it was exactly because Takumi already possessed a certain understanding of causality that he was able to awaken them so smoothly.
Those who awaken "Death Perception" must undergo a near-death experience, forcing their brain to establish a connection with the "Root." Only then can they comprehend and utilize "Death."
Because everything in the Moon Cell is derived from the "Root," the "Root" naturally records the ultimate end of all things. Establishing a connection with the "Root" is, in simple terms, like connecting to the Root's Wi-Fi. It grants the user clearance to search this "database" for the "Death" of any given concept or entity.
Once they comprehend their target's "Death," they can use the [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception] to drag the predetermined end of that target's future straight into the present moment—essentially deleting all the lifespan remaining in between.
In this sense, it could be described as the ultimate form of "Future Vision."
But Takumi's [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception] were a bit strange. He honestly wasn't sure if his brain had actually connected to the Root's Wi-Fi. After all, breaking free from [Death] felt like it happened in a fleeting moment. He felt like he grasped something, yet simultaneously felt like he grasped nothing.
If he had to guess, it seemed more like his [Heart of Fire] was what actually connected to the Root's Wi-Fi.
Takumi looked down at the "flame" where his heart should be, his expression slightly peculiar.
Not only that, but his version of the [Mystic Eyes of Death Perception] seemed to operate differently as well.
With the normal MEoDP, upon seeing the Lines of Death and Points of Death, as long as the user traced or pierced them, they could kill whatever person or object they struck.
But Takumi's eyes leaned much more heavily toward simply perceiving flaws. For things like rocks—objects he could easily crush with his bare hands—the Lines of Death appeared incredibly close to the surface. A simple swipe across them would reduce the rock to dust.
But the lines on Bedivere were somewhat blurry, as if they were situated "far away." Although he could see the Lines of Death, a normal slash across them wouldn't necessarily "kill" him outright; it functioned more like highlighting fatal weak points and absolute flaws in his defense...
And it seemed he could perceive a few other things aside from just "Death"?
Being stared at by Takumi with such an eerie gaze sent a chill down Bedivere's spine. He almost wanted to let go and jump backward.
Realizing what he was doing, Takumi laughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject:
"Aside from that, I also learned a new move."
"What move?"
Bedivere asked, confused.
He was also slightly bewildered—he had no idea how Takumi managed to get "hacked to death" once and suddenly learn so many new things!
"Listen closely."
Finished speaking, Takumi closed his eyes and began to channel his other newly acquired ability.
The air remained completely silent for a few seconds. Then, in a sudden instant, the ensemble of a bell and a drum began to play—
DONG—DONG—...
BUM—BUM—BUM—...
The seemingly sourceless tolling of a bell shattered the silence. It was deep, steady, and resonant, as if echoing from the very depths of ancient history, carrying an aura of primal solemnity.
Immediately following it, the rapid beating of a drum thundered like a sudden downpour on a drum skin. The rhythm was fierce and driving, brimming with explosive power and raw passion.
The two sounds intertwined perfectly, creating a grand, acoustic phenomenon that was simultaneously harmonious and intensely contrasting. It felt as if it could reach into the deepest recesses of the soul...
[Chorus of the Twilight Bells]!
This was what Takumi had comprehended from listening to and experiencing King Hassan's [The Evening Bell].
It seemed to embody the concept of light born from darkness, of fire born from ice. Unlike [The Evening Bell], which overflowed with the solemn, inescapable presence of death, what Takumi comprehended leaned far more toward an upbeat, radiant grandeur. The rhythm was massive and urgent, filling the listener with a surging sense of invigoration and boiling blood.
—It felt very much like Classical Music clashing with Heavy Metal.
Moreover, Takumi wasn't sure if this was just how the skill was inherently structured, but as a reflection of his own Reality Marble, [Chorus of the Twilight Bells] seemed to overlap slightly with the concept of a Reality Marble itself. Almost like an open-field "Reality Marble"?
Why does this feel like I'm unlocking some bizarre, unrelated memories...?
Ending his train of thought, the bell and drum had chimed in unison for two full cycles. A faint layer of golden light now enveloped Takumi's prosthetic arm.
Without bothering to charge it any further, Takumi let out a short shout and slammed his fist into the ground.
He didn't use much physical strength, but the moment his fist made contact, a massive crater exploded into the earth.
—CRACK!
Before he could even relish the power, an agonizing sound of structural failure echoed from his prosthetic arm.
Seeing this, dark lines dropped down Takumi's face. It can't even handle two cycles of Resonance?!
Unlike Takumi, who was slightly annoyed, Bedivere—having listened to the grand, resounding chime of the bell and drum—was standing there with a completely blank, wooden expression.
Simultaneously, King Hassan, still leaning on his greatsword, fell into a profound silence.
The dark flames burning in his eye sockets even seemed to stagnate and slow down significantly.
Is this... truly what We taught him?
Why is it so bizarre...?
Suddenly, as if sensing something, King Hassan cast a glance toward a figure rapidly approaching from the right. Dropping a final sentence, he melted into the abyssal shadows and vanished without a trace.
"We shall only teach this once. It is time for thee to depart..."
Only his ethereal voice lingered, echoing slowly in the air.
Takumi and Bedivere exchanged bewildered glances. Before they could react to his abrupt departure...
A lean, black-clad figure dashed toward them at breakneck speed.
The moment Cursed Arm Hassan landed, he whipped his head left and right, clearly searching for something.
His gaze instantly locked onto the exact spot where King Hassan had just been standing.
Sensing the fleeting, residual aura lingering in the air, Cursed Arm Hassan's eyes widened in absolute shock:
"That person just now... could that have been His Eminence, the First Generation?!"
His voice trembled with sheer disbelief and awe.
The only reason he had rushed over here was because he noticed something slightly unusual going on in Takumi's direction.
He never expected to see a figure—one both deeply familiar yet terrifyingly foreign—standing right in front of Takumi and Bedivere when he was halfway there. Having formed a certain terrifying hypothesis, he had practically leaped out of his skin and sprinted the rest of the way without daring to pause for even a second.
But looking at them now, Takumi and Bedivere seemed perfectly fine?
Cursed Arm shot them a look of deep confusion.
"That was him, yes. But he only came to give us a hand—"
"As for right now, we have much more important things to deal with!"
Takumi briefly answered Cursed Arm's question but clearly had no intention of elaborating. Shifting the topic abruptly, his expression turned deadly serious.
Knowing that the appearance of the First Generation Hassan—a being who practically existed only in legend—must signify an incredibly dire situation, Cursed Arm stowed his curiosity and looked at Takumi with utmost gravity.
"Has something happened?"
Having rested for a bit and recovered a decent amount of his stamina, Takumi stood up fully.
Bedivere, who had been supporting him, released his hold at the right moment and silently stepped to the side.
Is the decisive battle beginning this soon...?
The image of his "King" flashed before Bedivere's eyes, causing him to space out for a moment. He truly didn't know if, with so little time left, he would actually get the chance to see her.
"The Lion King is initiating the true Holy Selection tonight—or rather, the true Holy Judgment. The Tower at the Ends of the World is about to manifest in the Holy City. I'd estimate we have ten, maybe fifteen minutes at most before everything in this Singularity, outside of the Holy City, is completely wiped from existence."
Takumi explained bluntly.
"Wha... what?! It's that urgent?! I'll gather our forces immediately and prepare to assault the—"
Hearing this, Cursed Arm Hassan felt as if the sky was falling. He clearly panicked and was ready to bolt before even finishing his sentence.
They had just finished a massive battle today and hadn't even had time to catch their breath! Hell, his plan for tomorrow was supposed to be launching a rescue mission for Serenity!
"Don't waste your time. No matter how fast you gather your people, there's no way we can transport a large army to the Holy City in time."
Takumi quickly grabbed Cursed Arm Hassan's arm, staring at him intently.
"But we can't just sit here and do nothing while waiting to die!"
Finding himself completely unable to break free from Takumi's grip, Cursed Arm yelled in panic.
"Exactly. We can't just give up. That's why I'm saying: Bedivere and I will go. The rest of you stay here."
Looking straight into the eyes beneath Cursed Arm's mask, Takumi spoke with absolute certainty.
"Just the two of you?! Aside from the Lion King, the Holy City currently houses three Knights of the Round Table, an entire army of Enforcement Knights, and defensive artillery emplacements! How could just the two of you possibly—"
Cursed Arm Hassan's eyes bulged as he prepared to argue fiercely, but his words died in his throat when he saw the flames in Takumi's pupils. Flames that, no matter what he said, did not waver in the slightest.
His voice involuntarily trailed off into silence.
"I have a summoning spell that can bring out up to two Wyverns. Riding them, Bedivere and I can reach the Holy City at maximum speed. But we can't bring anyone else; the extra weight will slow us down..."
"That's why it has to be just the two of us. Understand?"
Takumi explained slowly.
"...Understood."
Cursed Arm Hassan remained silent for a long moment before finally forcing the word out.
Takumi patted Cursed Arm's shoulder as a farewell. Without wasting another breath, he channeled his magical energy and summoned the Wyverns he hadn't seen for three Singularities.
One of the summoned Wyverns was clearly a familiar face. When it first popped out, it wore a miserable, depressed expression on its draconic face. But the moment it laid eyes on the current Takumi, its eyes nearly popped out of its skull.
GAAH!
What the hell?! You got a massive power-up and didn't even tell me?!
The Wyvern leaned in, staring in pure disbelief, trying to sniff Takumi to see if this was still the same pathetic weakling it used to carry around.
Dark lines dropped down Takumi's face. He whacked the overly dramatic Wyvern on the head and forcefully shoved its snout away.
Ignoring the Wyvern's squawks of protest, Takumi leaped onto its back and instantly activated his [Riding] skill.
Takumi's [Riding] skill had upgraded as well. It was now more than capable of fully dominating a sub-dragon species like a Wyvern. In less than a second, the beast fell completely silent and obedient.
Bedivere was even less of an issue. His [Riding] skill was likely high enough to control a true Dragon, let alone a mere Wyvern.
"Let's go."
Once both of them were mounted, Takumi cast a Rune buff on both Wyverns to enhance their speed. Casting one final glance at Cursed Arm Hassan, he turned his Wyvern toward the sky and launched into the air without looking back.
Cursed Arm Hassan stood completely alone, watching in silence as the silhouettes of the two men and two dragons shrank into tiny black dots in the night sky.
Only then did he let out a powerless sigh, his tone laced with deep frustration:
"So, in the end... I couldn't be of any help at all..."
***
An unknown amount of time passed.
Cursed Arm Hassan sat dejectedly in his room, staring blankly at the wall in front of him.
Suddenly.
BANG!
The door was kicked wide open.
"I'm back! What's the situation right now?!"
Having finally returned from her mission, Hundred Personas stood in the doorway, demanding an update from her colleague.
"...It's over. It's already over..."
Cursed Arm cast a lifeless glance at Hundred Personas and muttered absentmindedly.
Hundred Personas' eyes widened behind her mask, trying to process what Cursed Arm meant.
She pondered for a moment, and her conclusion finally culminated in a single syllable:
"...Hah?"