==Scene: Forest==
The battle continued.
All the Celestial Warriors were off fighting, so I was left alone.
The sounds of battle from the front lines reached me from far away.
I stood, sword in hand, awaiting the arrival of the Sairou Army and the return of my warriors.
My job was to plunge into the center of the enemy army along with my warriors and persuade the Priestess of Seiryuu—Misaki-chan—to join us.
Until then, all I could do was wait.
Konan Soldier 1: Th-this is bad! They’ve broken through the front line!
Konan Soldier 1: The Kutou Army will be here before we know it.
Konan Soldier 2: Mm... I see... Then we should prepare ourselves for the worst.
Konan Soldier 1: ...Yes, sir.
As soon as they’d finished their exchange—
*thunder crash*
—!
The sky roared and filled with light. And then—
...Silence.
You: ...It got quiet all of a sudden...
…..
You: ...I’d better go check it out...
I picked up the sword at my side.
=Gray background=
There were a great many soldiers splayed out on the ground.
You: ...Oh, no... What... could have...?
???: Well? This settles the war, doesn’t it?
==Scene: Mountain Pass==
You: Wh-who’s there!?
Soi: The Seiryuu Celestial Warrior Soi.
Soi: ...I’ve finally found you, Priestess of Suzaku.
You: ...Soi...
Soi: It’s been a while.
You: ...Did you do all this?
Soi: And if I did?
You: ...I won’t let you get away.
...There wasn’t anyone around to protect me.
I... would fight.
*drawn sword*
I drew the sword from its sheath.
Soi: …*chuckles*.
You: ...What’s so funny?
Soi: You intend to fight me?
Soi: Don’t you get it? Look around you.
Soi: I defeated all these soldiers in an instant, and you intend to face me?
You: Yeah, so what if I am?
My hands... were shaking.
Soi: I’ve been hoping for a chance like this.
Soi: Ever since I let you slip away back in that cave.
...Don’t be afraid...
Soi: I’ve never been able to forget the look in your eyes when you faced me.
Soi: Eyes that gave up on nothing, hesitated about nothing, and filled with a powerful light.
...Don’t be afraid!
I said I’d fight. I don’t want to be the kind of person who’s all talk and no action!
Soi: There was a good chance you were going to die.
Soi: So how were you able to look at me like that?
...My hands are shaking.
Soi: Can you look at me like that even now?
Stop shaking...
Soi: Even in the moment right before you die?
Because now’s... the time to fight.
=speed lines=
You: AHHHHHHHHHH!!
Soi: ...Listen to me when I’m talking to you.
*thunder crash*
Pain ran all through me—
And I collapsed.
You: Agh... ugh...
My body was on fire...
Soi: Such foolishness.
Soi: And from one so weak and fragile, too.
You: ...Urgh.
I didn’t know why, but... She was going easy on me... I... could still stand.
Soi: It would have been better for you if you’d pretended to be dead and waited for everyone to leave.
I was... still standing!
Soi: ...Why did you get up?
Soi: Why would you make yourself do that?
You: Because the others are fighting...
You: Because someone I love is fighting!
You: There’s no way I can turn tail and leave them behind!!
Soi: I see... You care for each other.
Soi: I’m jealous.
Soi: We’re both in love, so why is it so different for you?
I raised my sword again.
Soi: ...O Lightning, rend the sky.
*thunder crash*
You: UWAAAAAAHHH!!
The thundershock drilled through me. It felt like needles were stabbing me from head to toe.
But—
Soi: You’re still conscious.
You: …
I leveled my sword.
Soi: You’re not giving up?
…
You: Once a person starts to despair, all she can do is die.
Even if I die here...
You: So...
I’m going to fight to survive until the very end.
You: As long as I’m alive, I will never lose hope!
Soi: I see...
This sound—could it be...?
Konan Soldier 1: H... here they coooooome!! The Kutou troops!!
Konan Soldier 2: Regroup! This isn’t over yet!
You: Right... it’s not over yet!
…..
Soi: So if your hope really can change everything, then...
Soi: ...Stop him...
Soi: I beg of you...
You: What...?
Soi... ran off.
Did she let me go?
Chichiri: Daa!
You: ...Whoa, Ch-Chichiri! Where did you come from!?
Chichiri: I teleported no da.
Chichiri: More importantly, look at the state you’re in no da!
Tasuki: Hey! This looks like th’ perfect chance ta—
Tasuki: What th’ hell!? They’ve all collapsed!
Mitsukake: [Your Name]! Are you all right!?
You: ...Mm. Looks like she went easy on me.
Hotohori: ...To think that the enemy made it all the way here...
You: Um, are the soldiers…?
Mitsukake: They’ll be all right. They were just knocked unconscious from the intense pain.
[I feel like Mitsukake and I have very different definitions of the phrase “all right”...]
You: ...Soi...
Nuriko: But even so...
Nuriko: You’re still saying you fought off a Celestial Warrior all by yourself...?
You: No... I don’t think she was “fighting” me at all.
Chiriko: ...I’m sorry, but I find that hard to believe.
Chiriko: We didn’t take this possibility into account at all.
You: No, it’s fine.
You: No harm done, after all.
Tamahome: You’ve got this new look in your eyes… it looks good, [Your Name].
You: ...Thanks, Tamahome.
I took a single, deep breath, bracing myself.
You: I’m glad you’re all safe.
You: Hotohori, what’s the situation?
Hotohori: Due to the Sairou Army’s surprise attack, the Kutou troops are in disarray.
You: So... this is our only chance.
You: Chichiri.
Chichiri: Right here...
You: Take your priestess and your fellow warriors to Nakago and the Priestess of Seiryuu.
Chichiri: ...Are you ready for this?
You: I can do it.
I wouldn’t waver. I had to look firmly ahead.
You: We’ll put a stop to Nakago’s plans, end the war, and save the Priestess of Seiryuu.
Chichiri: ...Then, at your word.
I looked around at the others—
You: Let’s go, everyone.
You: To our last battle.
They all nodded.
*teleportation noises*
=white screen=
And then—
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