Seconds before Ace and Icarus were about to begin their final duel, Alex flew from the ground beneath them; Jason and Kima followed suit. Just as they were about to pressure him with more attacks, the Requiem Judge recovered and unleashed his soul's domain.
"Territory Envelopment: Unlimited Judgment."
Icarus, being closest to the phenomena as opposed to Ace, witnessed it fully. The barrier's formation reflected only momentarily within his darkened pupils, his head turning toward his ginger foe moments later. Ace, still processing the Kima who'd died in his arms was a fake, looked to the Jester upon hearing his voice.
"Sorry about this… King~"
A malicious grin temporarily manifested over his lips, scarring Ace's eyes and leaving him to ponder that disturbing mental image as the Jester had already vanished. That unrelenting grin that persisted even as his fingers were torn apart—how could he ever hope to combat a monster like that? Despite being previously blinded by anger, spotting Kima was a wake-up call.
No matter how hard he tried or how strong he thought he was, he was utterly powerless. In the face of the evils of the world, all he could do was collapse to his knees and watch the blur of the Jester speed toward the other combatants.
Currently being engulfed by his Territory, Kima struggled; Jason cut away the tendrils reaching toward him with Ketsueki's sharpness. Free from the entrapment, the Hunter jumped forward, destroying the extensions and pulling Kima in with one simple cleave. Taking her hand in his, he jumped away—hoping to escape the range from their enemy's domain with whatever speed he could muster.
Though that reaction was simply instinctual, within Jason, he could feel the safeness swell over him. Territories were imbued with a must-hit technique that guaranteed victory the second it touched the prisoner, to be able to escape one before complete manifestation was an unparalleled feat! Unfortunately, this victory was entirely too short-lived, as the sound of a familiar masculine voice reaching Kim's ears sent chills down her spine.
"KIMAAAA!!! BEHIND YOUUUUU!!!"
Courtesy of the new sight she attained upon injecting the angelic blood, she spotted the Jester sprinting right toward them. Widening her eyes, she released her hand from Jason's grip, attempting to interlock her fingers and summon one of her many Beasts. Unfortunately, Ace's assumption of Icarus's target was wholly mistaken.
While it was clear from where both exes were standing the Jester was charging toward Kima, Chrollo had bet on another variable that would scar them all. Not on the King's instinct to protect the woman he called his former lover, but rather… the Judge's instinct to protect the girl he deemed his child.
The instant everyone opened their eyes after blinking once, they bore witness to the truth each of them wished to deny upon seeing. Having deactivated his Territory in exchange for his life, Alexander Amara stood before Kima Myers, Icarus Chrollo's hand pushed through his chest and out his back.
Looking down at the arm stuck through his heart, then back at his executor, Alex smiled. Blood spilling from his mouth, he vented one last chuckle before the Jester ripped his bloody arm from within his chest. Clutching the Requiem's heart in one hand, Icarus maintained an apathetic expression as the gory splatter of Al's body thudding resounded. Everyone was speechless--some more than others and for different reasons. Kima, horrified by what she witnessed with shrunk pupils, glanced down at her mentor's body.
"Alex..?" whispered the girl.
Jason tightened his hold over the Ketsueki blade, angrily roaring while jolting forward, simultaneously swinging his sword at the Jester. Icarus easily caught the steel between demonic claws, crushing it in the same instant he'd grabbed it. After backhanding the confused Hunter with an open fist, he watched his body slam onto the platform and leak blood from the corner of his lip. Ignoring Kima completely, he turned back to Ace, knowing that with the curse of Eternal Sight, this horrifying sight was engraved into his scarlet pupils.
And just as expected, still knelt on the roof some feet away from the Judge's corpse, there was his redheaded victim, silently drowning in despair. The whiteness from his hair had all but faded; the sky above them resembling space abnormally producing crimson thunderbolts that soared past the Tower of Chains' open rooftop. Chrollo giggled and dropped Alex's heart, watching the scarlet light show with an impregnable grin staining his malicious lips. Looking back to his rival, he'd spotted the fully-recovered Scarlet King standing taller than ever; spiky hair hiding his expression while nothing but anger consumed him.
The insensitive giggles Icarus unleashed soon turned into mocking laughter, almost bringing the Jester to tears. Removing the arms holding his stomach, Chrollo wiped the wetness present at his eyes' corners, still grinning at his natural enemy.
"Oh, don't tell me you're mad about that!" Icarus glared straight ahead at Ace's reddened build. "And here I thought he was supposed to be the villain--!"
Before he could finish his sentence, the Scarlet King's fist connected with the Jester's face, effectively sending him flying. Recovering in mid-air with a flip, Icarus landed carefully, wiping the blood from his nose.
'He's stronger than before! Did he use a pact to enhance his strength or something? Hehe... actually, it doesn't matter.'
He pointed at Ace and smirked. "No matter how many times one of you destroys my vessels, as long as the hatred in mankind persists, I will continue to..."
What pulsated beneath his chest wasn't his heart, no. The collective soul that pushed the Jester forward had bled following Ace's hearty punch. Tracing his fingers along his chest, Chrollo's curious expression lingered as he pondered the legitimacy of his demise.
'He managed to strike my soul? That shouldn't be possible... unless... UNLESS!'
The Jester stood tall, bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
"I see, I see! So your hatred right now far surpasses that of humanity's collective?! Just how strong are you... Son of the Requiem Reaper?!"
The hatred building up within Ace Wilder was unlike anything before seen, whether it be from the Old or New World! Cradling Alex's lifeless head in her legs as she sat beside his corpse, Kima watched from afar as the overhead thunderbolts shot toward the Tower. Clenching his fists for veins to spread over his hands, the Scarlet King felt the very ground beneath him start crumbling, tendrils of dark shattering his bones and emerging from his spine. His cry toward the heavens unfortunately altered, leading into crazed cackling as more lightning smashed the area surrounding them---inevitably choosing its summoner to strike next.
Consumed by nothing but anger and despair, the Scarlet King glared through spikes toward his natural enemy, feeling the aura around him chaotically jolt.
'If this is the end... I'll use everything.'
The inquisitive countenance infecting Chrollo's features diminished the moment that thunderbolt chose Ace to strike. Looking at his hands enveloped by redness, the King uttered but one phrase with the maximum raspiness of his vocals.
"I'll kill you."
That was enough for chills to leak down the Jester's spine. Disregarding his instincts beckoning him to flee, deep within Icarus, he knew that as long as the King raged--there was no escaping his wrath. This moment would undeniably resonate through the shattering Seas of Time, for it was the first time the unrelenting being known as the Jester of Retly had felt fear. Yet, his arm was still slick with Alex's blood. There was no paradise for him to escape to. So, he was left with but one option: fight.
Unfortunately for him, just one glimpse at the aura the King emanated had eliminated all hope of Icarus besting Ace Wilder in a head-on fight, so he opted for the next best thing. Having just slaughtered the infamous Requiem Judge with Requiem energy surrounding his arm from Callum Rivers' Vita signature, Chrollo knew the Tower was without a master to control it. So, with but a singular mental command, the Jester had destroyed everything they were standing on, leaving the Requiem infrastructure to destabilize immediately as they descended toward the Earth.
Jason slowly awakened, watching the Tower tilt on its axis and fall from orbit. Standing upright while the roof was still straightened, he called the Ketsueki blade to his hand and picked Kima up from behind. Katie dangled at the verge, opening one of her eyes, puzzled at the sudden shift in the structure's rising.
'I thought the plan was to have me destroy half and Ace destroy the other with overwhelming attacks. Did something happen…?'
She pushed herself up and glanced over her shoulder, spotting the Judge's corpse flat against the Tower. Without anyone to control it, the building turned; the rooftop angled too far to the left leaving Katie to stumble as she attempted to stand up. She persisted despite the Tower's odd placement, running down the roof and skidding to a halt beside Alex's corpse.
"Alex…" she whispered, lifting his head into her arms.
'I'll make sure- no one leaves you ever again. You're home now, Katie. So, come on out, and try it.'
The one who welcomed her into a family with open arms; even if she hated herself more than anyone else in this world, he saw past that and accepted her. Because of him, she was able to see herself in a whole new light, and for that, she was eternally grateful. Tears fell from her eyes, staining her pale-white cheeks, but even as they did, she remained calm and closed her mentor's eyes.
Bringing his head into her neck, her arms embraced his corpse, holding him close while weeping intently.
"Thank you… thank you so much…"
Removing his face from her skin, she gazed upon his bearded face one last time and gasped. When faced with death, the last face Alex made was a smile. For as long as she lives after this end, she would never know the truth behind that grin. Even so, she smiled. Regardless of whatever the meaning was behind that smile, she knew from the bottom of her heart that despite what happened in the real world, he was happy.
To be surrounded by so many people who loved and cherished him despite their differences, surely he must've lived a fulfilling life. Wherever that man's spirit ended up in the infinite calculus of afterlives, she hoped he was happy. So, she closed his eyes and placed her hand on his chest. At the rate things were going, amid all this chaos, there was no way they could preserve his body.
Summoning the Marks of Death she used to defeat the Founder, she decomposed his flesh and watched him dissipate into ashes that flew past her head.
'Welcome home, Katie Moon.'
Even if she was reminiscing about the innocent times of the past, she wouldn't get a moment's peace. It was unmistakable that her mentor's murderer was the Jester; unaware of the Source's recovery.
Worriedly staring down at the Scarlet King while the Tower started falling toward the planet, Icarus feigned arrogance and grinned, allowing his fangs to shine. Unhinging his jaw, he screamed at Ace, discounting the obvious advantage the ginger now held over him.
"COME THEN, WILDER! SHOW ME THE EXTENT OF THAT POWER, BRAT!! CURSE ME WITH ALL YOU HAVE AND ENGULF ME IN YOUR HATRED, REQUIEM ABOMINATION—!!!"
He gasped. Appearing right from behind seemingly out of nowhere, Katie had thrust the Blackened Blade through his back, watching Icarus turn his head back toward her.
"Heh… I knew it…" muttered the Jester.
"Sure you did," she replied.
Quickly, she withdrew the sword from his flesh and ran toward Jason. Digging the Blade into the ground beneath them, she summoned the Deathly spirit from the engravings spread over her limbs and used its cloak to protect them.
Feeling the sharpness slip from his skin, Chrollo weakly glanced back at her. "Get back here, foul brat—!" he screamed, then was interrupted yet again.
Ace used the opening his cousin gave him and moved instantaneously, leaving nothing but destruction in the wake of the punch that threw the Jester from his place against the roof. The Tower split in two following the strike, opening its insides for everyone unconscious within to witness their descent upon the Earth.
Katie peeked through Death's cloak, spotting Jester's silhouette launch following Ace's punch. Icarus flew through one of the many columns overlooking the split rooftop, momentarily spiraling before growing blackened wings. Snapping his broken jaw back into place, he gazed through the crumbling pillar to spot the idle Scarlet King; aura oozing unfathomable hatred.
Aiming his pointer finger forward like a pistol, Chrollo unleashed hundreds of plasma beams infused with Requiem energy toward his ginger opponent. Subconsciously summoning Shattered Limit to protect himself from such projectiles was the easy part, but thanks to the anger blinding his mind, Ace hadn't realized that Icarus's target wasn't himself—rather, it was the ground beneath him.
Feeling it abnormally crack below his soles, Wilder felt the platform disembark from the Main Tower, now surrounded by a thousand pieces of debris falling toward the Earth. The Jester landed onto one of the descending slabs positioned before his bloody foe, allowing the Tower's destruction to continue in the background as they began their final fight.
Without skipping a beat, the Scarlet King blasted forward, a crimson lightning streak following him. Kicking at his opponent near the end of his sprint, Chrollo barely dodged with his life--cheek scraped while simultaneously drawing blood.
'He's so much faster now!'
Shifting the shape of his arm into a blade, he slashed at Ace beside him, only to get kicked right upside the face; sent flying through the air and onto another falling debris chunk. Watching the Jester's claws dig into the scrap, the King threw back his hands and fired Corrupted Bolt right at him. The instant it shot ahead, Icarus's eyes widened, his risen arms hiding his cowardly face. Fortunately for the Jester, the blast was weak enough to dissipate the guard his limbs served as--exposing his chest and jaw. Jumping across the rubble scattered about the sky, Ace's fist slammed into Chrollo's cheek, launching him halfway across space's vastness until his entire torso was enchained by the quartet of tendrils emerging from the King's back.
Deciding not to waste any time twirling him around, Ace immediately relinquished his hold over the Jester's build and vanished. Uncontrollably spinning around space's nothingness, the Scarlet King took this opportunity to bombard his former tormentor with endless attacks. Every few seconds, a flash of red lightning enlightened Katie's peeking face.
Gore spewing from the Jester's throat, his head threw back, only to be caught between Ace's itching fingers. Seemingly flying through space while falling with the disassembling Tower, the Scarlet King occasionally threw his murderous adversary into the structure, only to reappear at the other side and kick him across the face; sending him back the way he came. Soaring out of the hole he made after being initially slammed into the structure, Chrollo weakly groaned. Another foot sunk into his face--launching him into another fist Ace had already prepared upon manifesting below him.
Ignoring the countless injuries he'd received, Icarus stabilized himself and landed atop another piece of falling debris. Spotting the levitating Scarlet King still stationary below him, the Jester relied on his unrelenting nature and extended his left hand; channeling whatever remained of his Vita to discharge one last projectile toward his wretched enemy. But he was too late. The instant that energy beamed from his open palm, Ace Wilder had already appeared behind the Chrollo to his despairing surprise.
Sweat pouring down his face after sensing that familiar presence, Icarus clenched his teeth together, frustratedly groaning at the sight of his unavoidable weakness.
Shooting upright from the crouched posture indicating his injured state, the Jester spun around, throwing a burning fist at the ginger's face. "JUST DIE ALREADY!!!!" he screamed.
Ace caught the fist. In the face of ultimate hatred imbued into the soul of the son of the Requiem Reaper, Icarus Chrollo was utterly powerless. Regardless of the bloody spikes shrouding his front, Divergence's hateful glare could still be glimpsed from behind the hair dimming Wilder's fair face. Shivering after witnessing such unbridled hatred, the Jester's knees began buckling. But, he wouldn't give in! Ignoring the boundless signs that he should retreat while he still could, Icarus challenged Wilder's will countless times over.
"Don't down on me, DAMN HUMAN--!!!"
He didn't even get to finish his cry before he was punched yet again. This time, Ace watched, allowing the craziness of his aura to gradually fade as the Jester fell toward the Earth. After spending enough time enjoying the sight of Icarus's body burning once entering the atmosphere, the Scarlet King smirked. Divergence unleashing solar flares from his pupils, he menacingly glared ahead and giggled.
Those words echoed within his mind forevermore. Even if he died, even after he died--they'd push him forward until the hatred that engulfed his heart fell.
'I won't turn back. I'll keep slithering forward. Even after... everyone dies.'
To Be Concluded.