"Will Ryuga be okay...? Maybe one of us should have stayed behind with him..."
"He'll be fine. Ryuga doesn't lose. Instead of worrying, let's focus on honoring the trust he showed by letting us go ahead."
Having rushed into Hauvent Castle, Yugo and the others hurried toward the [Finale]. They were still worried about Ryuga, who had volunteered to hold off Cyan so the rest of the group could press on.
The super weapon capable of destroying Wind Island... They knew that if its countdown reached zero, everything would be over. Their absolute priority was its destruction.
They expected Abyss to interfere, but even so, the castle was uncannily quiet. As they ran to fulfill their roles and live up to the duty Ryuga had entrusted to them, the silence filled them with a growing sense of dread.
"...Besides Cyan at the entrance, Woz and Torin should be here too. Where are they hiding?"
"And Abyss. We'd be fools to think they're just going to let us waltz through here."
"..."
Marcos and the others remained wary of the three remaining enemies, but Yugo knew one of them—Torin—wasn't coming.
He knew Lost had stepped in to buy them time before the group had reunited. Yugo stayed silent, his mind racing with what might have happened to the pair.
I can't know for certain what happened. But if Lost really has power comparable to Abyss...
Torin had likely been defeated. There was a chance Lost had spared him, but Lost had already disposed of Rush and Neid; there was no reason to go out of his way to save Torin now.
Yugo hoped Torin was at least alive, but he forced himself to focus. He had to prioritize the problem right in front of him.
"Yugo! The [Finale] is probably just ahead! The Magic Power output is so massive it's fried almost all our sensors... but with a signature this strong, I can practically feel where it is!"
"The question is whether we can actually destroy it. I'm sure he's set up defensive wards, and beyond that—"
"It is highly probable they have concentrated their remaining forces there. Everyone, stay sharp!"
Yugo nodded. He could feel the heavy pressure of the magic himself. He knew the [Finale] was waiting at the end of the corridor. Suddenly, the floor beneath them began to glow with a sinister crimson light.
"Wh-What is this!?"
"A Teleportation Magic Circle!?"
Before they could react, the red light flared. The group shielded their eyes as they were swallowed by the radiance. When the light finally faded and they looked around, their surroundings had completely changed.
"Is this... the roof of the castle?"
"Looks like we fell for one of Abyss's traps. Still, this might actually work in our favor."
At the highest point of the rooftop, a sphere of green magic pulsed with a sickly, malevolent light. They realized immediately that this was the Bullet of [Finale]—and that the weapon itself had to be close by.
Of course, the enemy wouldn't teleport them directly to their objective without a reason. As the group tensed, bracing for an ambush, the mastermind finally appeared.
"Heh heh heh... I've been expecting you, my reckless, foolish, insignificant little rebels."
"Abyss...!"
Abyss descended slowly from the air, a twisted smile on his face. He landed on the rooftop and threw his arms wide with the theatrical flair of a stage actor.
"I knew you would find your way here. I admire your courage—your refusal to give up. However, you've chosen the wrong opponent. If your enemy were anyone other than me, Conductor Abyss, perhaps you could have pulled off a miracle... Truly a pity."
"What 'Conductor'? You're just a common criminal. Quit acting like you're special!"
"Heh heh... It's a shame your sensibilities are too dull to appreciate my artistry. But no matter. You're all going to die here anyway."
Yugo stared at the smugly laughing Abyss and gritted his teeth. He remembered what Lost had told him: this man was a Reincarnator, just like him.
Why was he doing this? Yugo knew it was probably pointless to ask a madman for his reasons, but he couldn't stand by while Abyss tore the world apart and threw away innocent lives.
"Abyss... I don't care who you are or what you're thinking. We're going to stop you and the [Finale]!"
"Impossible. You cannot defeat me. Not as long as I hold the power of [Word]...!"
Abyss produced a Clear Plate engraved with the Letter 'W'. As Yugo and the others braced for combat, sensing his magic and bloodlust surging, Abyss twisted his lips into a delighted grin.
"Now, let the show begin... The stage produced by Conductor Abyss and the Final Chapter of this world. Our title: 'The Defeat of the Heroes.' I expect you to entertain the audience until the very end."
"We're not letting you end this world. We're the ones who are going to end you...!"
Abyss slammed the Clear Plate into his chest. Yugo clenched his fists, channeling his Magic Power into his bracelet.
As white and crimson light erupted, Yugo stared directly at the mocking Abyss. Channeling every ounce of his will and resolve, he let out a roar that shook the air.
"Transform!!"