Akira Yamauchi: "Hii-YAA!"
Zhenzhen Mao: "Teyaah!"
Red and Black Ars Goetian powers collided once more, shaking the very Dreamscape battleground beneath their feet.
Liza: "Wait for me, Senpai! This guy is going down in no time!"
Merlina lounged near Liza's feet, as if none of this chaos concerned her.
Merlina: "Don't you think they should settle it one-on-one, dear? It's an ancient tradition, you know..."
Right as she spoke, a red firebird streaked across above her, leaving a burning trail that sizzled the tip of her fur.
Merlina twitched her tail in offense.
Merlina: "...OR MAYBE NOT!"
Akira shouted.
Akira: "LIZA GET DOWN!"
The explosion came from behind Liza, where Firebird's feathers fell.
Liza squeaked and fired a burst of magic, which the monk dodged with ease.
Zhenzhen: "Unexpected. I thought this girl was just an ignorant civilian."
Akira: "Some do-gooder you are - picking up on innocent girls like that!"
Mao appeared to be stunned, but only a little.
Zhenzhen: "The feathers of Phoenix - unlike any other hostile creatures in this realm - cannot harm real people. She may suffer here and now, but after she wakes up, it will just be a bad dream for her."
Akira grinned at him.
Akira: "Listen here, 'Good Samaritan', don't you know that any type of damage here can hurt people in reality?"
Mao continued to speak with the stern tone of a teacher.
Zhenzhen: "As I've said..."
Akira: "You don't know anything about this world! Shut up!"
They continue to fight.
Akira: "Enough of this..."
He raised his hand.
Akira: "Ars Goetia - Devilish! I command you!"
A beat of silence comes between them.
Akira: "Shulgaret!"
A vast shadow fell across the entire Dreamscape battleground.
Devilish, who towered over Akira just now, disappeared in the blink of an eye... And covered the entire arena with its presence.
Merlina let out an undignified squeak.
Merlina: "Oh, I hate this one!"
Liza: "Senpai..."
The previous explosion injured her badly, covering her in bruises, but she still tried to stand up.
Liza: "The floor feels so cold..."
Zhenzhen's bird disappeared with the Devilish.
The monk's voice was tight.
Zhenzhen: "What did you do, fiend!?"
Akira: "It's you and me now. I'm sorry, Liza..."
Liza was still lying on her side.
She clutched her little fist again.
Liza: "Get him for me... Senpai."
Akira nodded to her and turned back to the monk.
Akira: "Fight me!"
Akira, as he said, may not have looked the part, but his sword skills and sharp wit were far beyond those of an ordinary man. Ars Goetian or not - something tells the monk that the determination to defeat his opponent came to Akira from within himself. Like a natural talent.
Zhenzhen's Ars Goetian power surpassed Akira's, but in close combat, the monk thought he had no chance.
He tried to dodge.
Zhenzhen: "What is this shadow... What did you do!?"
Akira: "I made us both equal, you got your fists, I got the sword."
He added this with mockery.
Desperately, Zhenzhen pounced away, searching for a way to bring back Phoenix or escape.
His voice sounded desperate.
Zhenzhen: "Blackguard..."
Akira: "You already said it, have at you!"
He finally struck the monk with the dull edge of the sword.
Zhenzhen: "Argh!.."
Zhenzhen dropped to one knee.
He added angrily.
Zhenzhen: "I'm not finished yet, demon."
The arena cleared as Shulgaret, the shadow of Devilish, vanished.
Zhenzhen roared again.
Zhenzhen: "Come forth - Phoenix."
As Akira and Zhenzhen continue their duel, Merlina tries to reach Liza.
Merlina spoke gently.
Merlina: "How are you holding up, dear?"
Liza was breathing hard.
Liza: "Huh!.. I'm... I'm... I'm fine, Miss Merlina. This shorty-n-baldy got nothing on me!"
Merlina: "That's the spirit, my dear!"
She pauses.
Merlina: "Alas, I'm afraid we need to do something. Our fighter is tough, but after all the previous battles, he looked a bit worn out."
As she spoke, Akira received another heavy hit coming from both the monk and his summon.
Akira screamed.
Akira: "Ugh!.."
Liza: "Senpai!"
She reached out to him.
Akira leaned on his sword.
Akira: "It's fine, Liza. I'll figure something out..."
Liza shouted.
Liza: "But you are injured!"
Akira shakes off his fatigue and continues to fight the monk.
Akira shouted once more.
Akira: "Ars Goetia - Devilish!"
Akira: "Dark Lancer!"
Zhenzhen: "You're done!"
Zhenzhen: "Explosion!"
The flames of red met the void of black as they clashed again.
Liza: "Isn't there anything we can do, Miss Merlina?"
Merlina: "I thought you would never ask! All we need is to awaken your power, my dear!"
Liza: "But I don't know how..."
Merlina: "And that's why I'm here for you, sweetie!"
Merlina shifted into her human form and healed Liza.
Liza tried to stand up.
Liza: "Arrgh..."
Merlina made a confused grimace.
Merlina: "I guess my willpower is running out too, sorry."
Liza struggled to keep her balance.
Liza: "I'm ready, Miss Merlina. What do you want me to do?"
Merlina observes the arena once more.
Merlina: "Remember our first encounter with the gargoyles? If you focus on what you really are, Liza, you'll start to see your inner self more clearly. It'll come to you—like a bolt of lightning. Sudden. Inevitable. That's what it means to be... an Ars Goetian. Do this. And our odds will double!"
Liza desperately couldn't figure out what Merlina meant.
Liza: "I don't understand!"
She shouted.
Merlina paused, turned back to Liza, and added with a humorous expression.
Merlina: "I think I need to help our freshman there, good luck, dear!"
Brandishing her staff, she dashed toward Akira.
Liza sighed heavily.
Liza: "I still cannot understand..."
Another explosion erupted nearby.
Liza: "Guh!"
She whispered.
Liza: "I'll need to help Akira one way or another."
Liza's mind grew hazy. The battle raged around her, but she was too exhausted to act. She closed her eyes again, getting a vision there she stood barefoot in silver water, cool and still beneath her feet. In the distance, an island rose, crowned by a lone dead tree. Above it, a faint green light flickered, elusive as a fairy. She saw herself running toward the island, faster and faster, drawn by that fragile glow she had to reach.
Zhenzhen: "I told you, 'Storyteller,' stay out of this!"
He launches a quick barrage of fire.
Merlina: "Excuse me, my boy, I just don't know how to quit!"
Barrage reached her, barely doing any damage.
Zhenzhen looked confused.
Merlina giggled.
Merlina: "I'm no warrior like you two! My specialty lies in a different direction!"
She comically dodged his projectiles.
The monk grins.
Zhenzhen: "This is no game 'storyteller'."
She glanced at him questioningly.
Merlina: "You're the one who started it!"
Akira stepped in front of Merlina.
Akira: "Merlina, I told you to protect Liza!"
Merlina: "And I thought you'd need my help!"
Akira gave a tired shake of his head.
Akira: "If something happens to her, your head will roll, cat."
Merlina: "She is our Plan B, Freshman."
Zhenzhen channels his power.
Zhenzhen: "Since you're counting on numbers. Let's even the odds. Fire and Ice Double!"
Mirrored versions of Zhenzhen sprang into existence, surrounding him in a perfect formation.
Akira hisses.
Akira: "Great."
Merlina: "Now it's three against two. Our chances of winning are slipping away like wax under the scorching sun!
Akira: "Why don't you tell me something I don't know, cat?"
Merlina: "I'm out of elemental energy protection, my boy."
Akira: "You're useless."
Merlina: "Don't leave me!"
Zhenzhen unleashed a barrage, turning the arena into a deadly storm of fire and ice. Akira baited the monk, forcing him to stay locked on the one spot where Zhenzhen's powers couldn't reach Liza. Far away, she stood motionless, mentally fighting something deep inside of her mind. Merlina comically followed Akira, desperately seeking shelter behind him.
Liza's vision kept her away from the battle. She closed the distance to the island, stepping onto the grey sand. A green light flickered near the dead tree—a spirit of a woman standing quietly before it.
Liza approached the ghost.
Liza: "Why are you crying?"
The woman wept softly.
Green Ghost: "Poor Quasimodo... how could I leave him behind?"
Liza didn't know who she was or why she cried alone.
A whisper floated to her—Esmeralda.
Liza: "Esmeralda... Miss? I think I need your help."
But the ghost paid no attention, her sobs growing louder.
Esmeralda: "Quasimodo... I must help Quasimodo!"
Liza: "How do I reach her? Is there something I need to do to help you find this 'Quasimodo'?"
At the mention of Quasimodo, Esmeralda finally noticed her.
Esmeralda: "Quasimodo! Yes... Someone must help him..."
Liza: "I'll help you—if you promise to come with me."
Esmeralda's weeping didn't stop.
Esmeralda: "I cannot leave him behind!"
Liza: "You're not leaving him. There's nothing here but grey waste and this dead tree. I'm in the middle of a fight—I need to help my friends. If you promise to help me, I promise to help you, Esmi. A favor for a favor. Deal?"
Esmeralda: "Es... Esmi... A favor for a favor... Help your friends, and you'll help mine..."
Liza: "Yes. You'll help me rescue my 'Quasimodo,' and I'll help you rescue yours."
Esmeralda: "Rescue him... You will rescue him."
Liza felt a sudden hope.
Liza: "Just take my hand—together, we can help each other."
Their hands touched, and the vision burst.
Zhenzhen roared in fury. He got Akira and Merlina cornered.
Zhenzhen: "Your desperation ends here, Demon!"
Akira stood in front of Merlina, keeping the Black Razor sword high.
Akira: "No way it is going to end like this..."
Merlina: "By the grace of the Most Merciful."
The area beneath them grumbled. Akira, Merlina, and the Monk all stumbled to their knees.
Liza: "Go forth - Esmeralda!"
Merlina: "Look who finally found their inner self!"
Liza stood apart from them, surrounded by a circle of green flame. Her eyes gleamed like vivid emeralds. Her rage radiated outward, impossible to ignore.
She screamed like it was the last thing tethering her to this world.
Liza: "Twilight of Notre Dame!"
Zhenzhen: "What trickery is this?!"
Illusive version of the actual cathedral "Notre-Dame de Paris" falls on him, leaving him and his bird completely dazzled by inverted light from above.
Akira: "I got you now, holy man!"
Akira thundered.
Akira: "Hii-YAA!"
He sliced his bird in half and punched the confused monk with the hilt of his sword.
Akira: "You're done!"
Merlina sat behind him, panting.
Merlina: "Next time, warn me to put in my ABSOLUTE BEST effort to get along with the Buddha monks!"
Every single one of them looked utterly spent.
Merlina: "Now we can finally go home..."
She pauses.
Merlina: "Ah... Sorry... I forget... BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ACTUAL DEMON TO DEFEAT IN THIS REALM!"
Liza fell out, exhausted.
Akira rushed forward to catch her.
Liza: "So, how did I do?"
She murmured sarcastically as soon as he caught her.
Akira: "You're the best, Liza."
Liza: "A payback for helping me pass the entrance exams, Senpai."
Liza passed out, completely drained.
Zhenzhen struggled to stand up.
Zhenzhen: "If you think this is over, I..."
Merlina: "I THINK ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, BALD ONE!"
She banged him on the head with her staff, and the monk passed out as well.
Merlina and Akira exhaled deeply.
Merlina smiled at him.
Merlina: "Let's try to finish what we started."
After they were transported back to the gauntlet, Akira and Merlina tried to help Liza stand.
After all this ruckus with the monk, she wakes up after a while.
Liza: "Did we win?"
Akira: "Liza..."
Liza: "Bah! Drop the gloom, Senpai!"
Akira: "You saved us, Liza, thank you."
She pressed her lips together.
Liza: "Just like Miss Merlina said, it's all come to me like a stroke of lightning!.. And a couple of bizarre visions."
Merlina scoffed.
Merlina: "Huh!"
Akira: "What did you tell her? Are you an idiot?"
Merlina: "Rude again, freshman..."
Akira shook his head.
Akira: "I'm losing my wits with you, cat. If only I could return you to reality with Liza."
Merlina: "But I have nowhere to return to!"
Akira: "Well, at least you will be connected to someone else's head for a day, whisker!"
Merlina yawned.
Merlina: "I feel betrayed!"
Liza giggled.
Akira: "Deal with it, Merlina. We have little time to deal with the professor."
Liza: "How's Baldy holding up? Where is he?"
Liza observes the room.
Akira: "He's here."
He pointed to the spot where they left him after the battle.
Liza: "What's your plan to do with him?"
Akira: "Only one sane idea comes to mind..."
He walked over to the fallen monk and shook him firmly.
Akira: "Wake up."
Zhenzhen: "We are in Dreamscape, Blackguard. I was never asleep to begin with, but you and your band defeated me fair and square."
He glared fiercely at Akira.
Zhenzhen: "Your best option now is to run away. Soon, my power will return, and you will not be so lucky next time."
Akira: "I'm done with your threats. I want to ask you to help us."
The monk's eyesight expressed deep surprise.
Zhenzhen: "You? You want me to help you? Will never happen, demon worshiper."
Akira: "I am not a demon worshiper!"
Akira shouted as it could crumble the walls of this place. His voice echoed everywhere.
He hesitated before speaking.
Akira: "I'm asking you to help us. We can't finish what we started alone. I'm here to stop a real demon. Do you understand?"
After a brief pause, he went on with a dry voice.
Akira: "You owe us. You almost killed Liza, thanks to Merlina, we are all still standing on our feet, we are alive, for now. There's no point in your 'light and dark' mumbling, monk. We either survive this place together, or we all perish - together."
The monk didn't even blink.
Zhenzhen: "I refuse."
Akira: "You have no choice."
Zhenzhen: "How so?"
Akira cast a sharp, furious glance and tightened his grip on his robe.
Akira: "You cannot leave this place, or are you so stupid to understand even that?"
Zhenzhen: "I'm free to enter or leave the Dreamscape whenever I please."
Akira loosened his grip and let him go.
Akira: "Go ahead, try it then."
Zhenzhen looks confused.
Zhenzhen: "You're not going to finish what you started?"
Akira: "I will, but only with your help, Zhenzhen. I want to see you try to exit this place willingly. Let's go."
Zhenzhen focused his will, trying to conjure a door.
Zhenzhen: "As you can see..."
But the door collapsed.
Akira crossed his arms.
Akira: "You see it now?"
Zhenzhen: "Impossible..."
Akira: "Funny you say something's 'impossible' in the Dreamscape."
He grins.
Zhenzhen: "I cannot side with evil. It is forbidden."
Liza shouted.
Liza: "Baldy - are you stupid or what? We are NOT EVIL!"
Zhenzhen: "I wasn't talking about you or the storyteller, I was..."
Liza: "Senpai is the kindest person I've met in this country, baldy! Stop telling me he is not!"
Merlina laughed.
Merlina: "Ho-ho!"
Zhenzhen: "My answer still stands - no."
Liza: "You're stupid!"
He remained still.
Merlina: "The time is running out, kids."
Akira: "Consider helping and saving the professor, both with Liza - a hired hand job."
Zhenzhen looked confused.
Akira: "Ask me anything in the real world - and I'll grant you your wish."
Liza looked puzzled.
Merlina: "Are you serious, my boy?"
Akira looked at them both again.
Akira: "I am."
Zhenzhen made a long pause of his own.
Zhenzhen: "Even if I ask you to kill this demon that follows you yourself? Which means it is possible - you're going to die in reality as well?"
Akira repeated himself.
Akira: "I am."
Liza: "You're crazy, Senpai! There must be another way!"
Akira sighed.
Akira: "There is none, unfortunately."
All four of them looked at each other in silence.
Zhenzhen: "Then I accept."
Merlina: "You cannot be serious, Akira."
He had repeated it for the third time.
Akira: "I am, and I will do everything to create a safe passage from this place for you, Liza, and him as well."
Zhenzhen: "I promise the storyteller that I won't make my wish right away if we're able to escape this place."
Akira: "With our powers combined - we can, believe me."
Zhenzhen: "Lead the way, then."
Merlina: "Oh, the adventure!"
Akira rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed.
Liza: "I won't let you lay a finger on him, shorty!"
Zhenzhen made a fist-and-palm salute toward her, signaling that she must do what was required.
Zhenzhen: "If you are ready, we can go."
Akira: "Merlina, lead the way."
Merlina: "I'm on it, freshman!"