410. Goodbye, our Heroes!

WARNING!

The story contains graphic depictions of violence, sexuality, strong language, and/or other mature themes.

[The Spiritual Core's warfare: Arc 19]

Once upon a time, on Planet Earth, a young girl was born; the story goes that her identity was never adequately clarified, but she was effectively known as the 'Holy Light.'

Her title depicted the real life of one's planet. Humankind did not know the Dimensions that had appeared alongside her birth, only of the Spirits that had been destroyed or disappeared.

The woman... The Holy Light, the heir of all the inhabitants, was not born alone. The arrival of the Demon God, whose name was Rez, caused anarchy, and humanity was on the brink of extinction.

Humans terrified him because of his recklessness and hunger for blood, and Demons started to manifest all over the Earth and The World of Zero, alongside alternate races such as The Inner Fiends, The Shades, Wraiths, and Spirits.

To combat the challenge, a new breed of people has awakened, the 'Spiritual Duelists' and 'Substitute-Duelists,' who have been dubbed the "First Army to Face Evil."

With their Legendary Weapons, the Ginken. This swarm of humans increased the world's cleanliness to the greatest extent possible, overwhelming the Demons of various grades and placing their survival at risk.

But, after several years of waiting, the 'Holy Light' gave birth to a human child, a girl of theoretically greater worth than Zero herself, but unlikely to become the next 'Holy Light,' their Goddess gave the girl to a friendly family, and since her mother needed to participate in protecting the divinity, the girl's memories were wiped.

But there is another royalty trapped within the shadows that have been concealed for millennia, even longer than the birth of a Demon...

The only one who has beaten the 'Holy Light's own is the Fiend Lord. Its lurkers will undoubtedly be wiped out, and the newfound foe will ready the battlefield...

- Yashikami City, Saturday, 3:20 pm -

"Now that we have the field, there's no sense for us to stand here and exchange stares; instead, we should trade blows."

But Tim's sword was lifted in front of him at that moment as his light continued to rise as Tim's garments pulled out the wind. "Final Mastery..." When the whirlwind created a sandstorm around Tim's torso, his sleeves began to shred and shorten.

As a result, two scabbards emerged on Tim's bottom line back, one shorter and one longer. Tim clutched the sword's handle with his right arm up against his lower back, while a black hoodie waved out with his eyes lighting blue.

"New Potential, Henshin!" At that time, his blue aura shot forth, and a black razor-sharp blade remained in his right grip. The double-edged sword looked to divide into two, the longer half reaching now 75 centimeters with the second blade barely reaching 45 centimeters, and Tim's eyes finally glanced ahead as the black scarf continued to wave back.

"So, it wasn't your final Henshin?" Oshan was perplexed as Tim's scarf continued to wave back.

"I've just been adapting it the whole time... But now I know what a genuine Henshin is... A combination of Spiritual Symbolism, Spiritual Force, and Spiritual Aura congeal into one, allowing the person to provoke the ultimate shape of a sword... And I don't think you're ready for this one..." Tim took a hesitant step forward, and Oshan laughed.

"Your Henshin? That is really responsible. Most Spiritual Duelists acquire new tactics, but you appear to have a unique attribute, a choice... And you choose the option that significantly enhanced your Henshin." Oshan smiled as he reached out with his weapon.

"I believe you are overly concerned... You've most likely never seen such Henshin in your life..." And from that point on, our hero bent his body slightly forward, once carefully extracting the sword from the scabbard while he flickered on the spot, and in less than a millisecond, his body appeared in front of Oshan, his head at the height of Oshan's chest.

Tim observed Oshan slashing downward while leaning forward and ready with his blade bursting out, but his body flashed on the spot when a blue light circled Oshan's body, once then appeared behind him.

Tim's sword was shifted behind his jaw, while the longer blade continued to reach left, but Tim bounced his right foot and made his body jump as he sensed Oshan was about to put his sword behind him. Tim's head went aside, creeping out the lit right eye, and with his sword front lined, beyond his chest, he made his body twist in the air, and just at that instant, he sliced the blade down.

But then, as he hilted the sword, Oshan took a step back, hoping to block Tim's slash, but his luck ran out, and the blade dug through Oshan's right shoulder, down the back, and made a deep wound and slice, but right in that second, as Oshan tried to send another cut, Tim landed on the floor, in a crouch.

Then, looking for Oshan's sword, Tim rose up from the squat in an instant, as the wind continued to swat at his head.

However, his right arm swiftly lifted, and in a split second, the swift, sharp blade was sliced between Tim's palm when the sandy mountain was smashed into fragments as another impulse beamed out, and Oshan's eyes became shocked for the first time in centuries.

"... Are you making fun of me?" Oshan enquired angrily, his gaze fixed on Tim. Right then, our hero reached out with his left arm on his back and rapidly brought out the short razor-sharp sword, which he thrust forward at Oshan, compounding his suffering with a deep cut into his chest.

And at that very time, Oshan withdrew from the scene, leaving our Hero in a frozen state. "You are a complete imbecile... That slash should not have been blockable..." According to Oshan, Tim's impassive expression allowed him to lift his right arm and point his palm forward.

When Oshan rapidly crossed his arms, the white fire exploded out like a bomb and shot forward, causing his body to be pulled back. However, the white fire drew him in quickly, and on the go of the explosion, the white flames sprang out when Oshan's cry was heard, but at that point, Oshan's garments looked to be already burnt and his skin scorched, while Oshan's countenance looked to be aggravated and anxious.

Tim's arms were trembling as he took a step forward and strained the muscles in his right arm before firing another round.

And suddenly, Oshan reacted by bouncing both feet into the floor and launching himself high in the air, his eyes looking down, spotting Tim who had missed his shot, but Tim lifted his head and vanished from the scene.

And in a moment, Tim was under Oshan, holding his long sword beyond his chest and his shorter sword behind his back, and then he sliced with the larger sword, causing Oshan to instantly slash the blade and block.

But, as he did so, Tim let go of the long sword, surprising Oshan as white flames erupted out around him, and Tim's body appeared behind Oshan when he bent his left knee behind his back and then managed to flip Oshan around.

When the rainstorm deteriorated, Tim immediately swept his kick forward, kicking Oshan in the face, from an oblique blow that led Oshan to be knocked into the air at amazing speed. Thunder was targeting Tim's body at the time, and he detected it with his hair lifting when Tim instantly lifted his shorter sword, and the lightning was absorbed by the blade as Tim's hair spiked up due to the thunder and vanished in a lightning bolt from the area in the air.

When Oshan's gaze was drawn to Tim's left sole as the leg was hit into his face, forcing him even farther to the ground as his body slammed into the floor, and immediately then Tim's hair casualized when the long sword came whirling from above Tim, allowing him to grasp it.

The sandy earth split as the sandstorm returned, and Tim positioned his sword in front of his mouth and nose, just exposing his eyes to see, when a white flame broke out of that blade, stretching.

Tim vanished once more, reappearing on the ground when Oshan stood up, filthy and weaker after he sliced obliquely.

Stepping forward and slashing with his right arm, both blades collided and the mountain on their right side burst into bits out of nowhere.

From there, Tim dragged the right sword toward his right hip, pushing Oshan's blade back, and then followed up with his left short sword cutting forward, and in the middle of his move, Tim cross-stepped over his right foot when sensing that Oshan avoided, but twisting his left sole to aim back, Tim hopped on the ground and spun. He flung his right leg out of the circle and smashed his ankle into Oshan's right face, delivering a powerful hit.

As a result, Oshan was obliged to move away as Tim moved his leg, landing on the right one, and from there, on one leg, Tim rapidly rotated the short blade to face back, then cutting it forward to the side, seeing that Oshan countered by shifting his right arm back.

That didn't stop our hero, and as he crouched, he utilized the wet floor to his advantage, sliding on them to the front of Oshan's bent torso while Tim immediately extended out his right leg.

Tim let go of his long sword at that time, turning his palm into a fist and punching forward, Tim struck a strong blow into Oshan's stomach, prompting his opponent to spew up saliva, and then he followed up by opening his palm and bursting forth a white flame.

Which encompassed Oshan's entire body and then blasted him far up into the wet air, and Tim stretched his right arm behind him, recatching his sword's handle and then tensing muscles in his legs.

"I've got enough of this nonsense!" When the Spiritual Core emerged hovering above Oshan, he extended out with his damaged arm to the side. "I'll only utilize my power to accompany your body to its demise! Now is the time to die!" But it was too soon for him to say that, and Tim exhaled a frigid breath.

His soles flashed as his body vanished from the area, and he reappeared in front of Oshan, drawing his sword from his right across his chest, and spoke.

"Spiritual Seal." At that moment, Tim's long blade went through the Spiritual Core's body and split it in half, and Oshan was surprised, while the wind pulse rushed out from around them, and immediately the split Spiritual Core began to create black cubes of energy that began to form a cross over Oshan's body, and his body began to be sucked into the Spiritual Core.

And with a cry of agony, rage, and aggravation, Oshan's body was sucked straight within the Core as the black cubes formed a physical cross while minimizing and then spinning, descending directly onto Tim's free arm.

Tim's scarf flapped in the wind as he gazed out towards the city.

Tim looked down at the little crucifix that was resting on his hand.

"Hey! Take a look! There he is. Tim!" Tim looked down at Kylin, Elliot, and Ayuka as they ran from the bottom. "What's up with those clothes? And what about twin blades? W-What exactly is going on?" Elliot was perplexed as he looked at him.

"Ignore it! Have you completed it?" When Tim gazed at the cross and closed his palm, Kylin glanced up, excited.

He looked away from them, a gorgeous smile on his face, and nodded.

And it was exactly the same as the one they had got from him four years before. "... He did it... I'm relieved." Elliot smiled as Tim descended to the rooftop and then to the ground, others joining him.

Immediately, his garments split into sparkles, and his blade reconnected itself, resting on his back before dispersing into the aura. And from that point forward, Jesus showed them the cross.

"It's the Spiritual Core... However, it had to be used to seal him... If I killed him, the Spiritual Core would still be functional... but now that it has a strong body, it won't stay active indefinitely..." Tim spoke while the three of them gazed at the crucifix.

"It used to be a cube... This is unexpected..." Claimed Kylin, seizing it and bringing it up, and the weather went back to normal as the precipitation dissipated as she did so.

"So, how about you? Is everyone okay? Is everything in order?" Tim inquired his hands in his pockets. "Everything had been cleaned. We've returned to normalcy!" Elliot giggled, giving Tim a thumbs up, and Tim softly tilted his head to the side, closed his eyes, and gave them another wonderful smile.

"I knew each of you had it in you; thank you for your assistance!" Tim grinned, and the rest of their pals came at the same time. Codey had glanced at them while holding Ena. "Does everyone seem to be okay?" Codey was the most agitated and frightened, but the minute he appeared in front of them with the rest of them; Shin, Midori, Sakami, Kanji, Jessica, Eva, Akari, Tishida, Ume, the company that supported them, these were the survivors.

But, at that same moment, Tim extended his right arm and gave them another thumbs up.

Everyone cracked a wide smile.

- Yashikami City, Saturday, 9:20 pm -

Tim and the others had been shrieking out in front of a wooden stage, surrounded by citizens.

"I'd like to congratulate our Duelists for restoring our peace once more! Finally, after so many years! We, mankind, have triumphed! Cheer them on, everyone!" As the shouting became louder around them, a grandmaster cried out, smiling.

- Yashikami City, Saturday, 9:25 pm -

Everyone had been standing around the bar, sipping their special treat, while the fire kept the area lit.

Tim gazed at Ayuka with the straw in his mouth and observed her stretching from exhaustion; when Ayuka glanced at him uncomfortably, he offered her a giggle.

"You weren't gazing at my breasts just now, were you?" Tim choked up the juice as a hand was thrust into his back, almost killing him on the spot. "She's got you covered there..." Codey spoke out, leaning on Tim's shoulder as Tim grew irritated.

"Hey, if he really wants to do it, he-" But Codey whacked the top of Kanji's head before he could finish his sentence. "No, don't be a moron," Codey muttered as he noticed Kanji scratching his hair.

"... Was there anything else I was meant to see...? With her stretch, she pushed them out..." Codey kicked forward squarely into Tim's bum the instant Tim uttered it gently. "You, too, shut up!"

Elliot, on the other hand, continued to hold a straw in his lips, unimpressed. "It's a solid look, though..." But as soon as he said it, Kylin leaned closer and kissed Elliot on the cheek, just as his body froze and the straw sprang out of his lips.

When he launched rocketing into the air, his face flushed crimson and steam erupted from his ears and nose, and Kylin looked at him puzzledly.

"Wait, did I just be kissed?!?" He cried loudly as his voice went away, and he was gone... literally gone... Kylin, on the other hand, offered him a giggle. "I guess some things never change." She spoke up.

[2 years later]

- Yashikami City, Friday, 5:30 pm -

Tim and Ayuka had been living together in a wonderful apartment for quite some time, and this was the day Elliot and the others came to meet them.

"Oh my goodness! I'm really excited to meet her!" Codey called, excited, while holding Ena on his shoulders, and Ena sat, excited as well. Elliot and Kylin were accompanied by a boy toddler.

"Yeah, I'm curious how she grew up. But, I must say, these two have a fantastic location to live!" Midori laughed, and the time said, Codey, came forward. "Would you want to ring the bell, Ena?" And, without hesitation, Ena pushed it.

"Yeah, come on in!" Ayuka took a step toward the doors and opened them, drawing everyone's attention to her. "Hi! It's been a long time!" Elliot laughed, and Ayuka grinned back. "I notice Ena and Eisen have grown quite a bit." She cracked a chuckle. "Yeah! Hi there! So, what about her?" Codey, who was thrilled, inquired.

They'd just entered their flat when Ayuka stepped to the side and, from around the corner, Tim walked in front of them, a bit puzzled, but with a girl toddler on his shoulders.

"Oh, hey! It's great to see you!" Tim laughed as he gave them another wonderful grin, and precisely at that time, the girl child chuckled.

"She resembles her mother nearly exactly!" Kylin smiled as she spoke. "I think we can all agree..." Shin thought for a moment and grinned.

"Yeah. Her name is Ayou, and she truly does." Tim spoke, and Ayou's giggle could be heard.

But, at long last, our Hero's story concludes... What may happen in the future?

The end.