This is a piece of his past
『His PoV』
Glancing at the remnants of forgotten civilization on my wall, I realize today is March 11th.
Spring should be here—carrying the season when flowers are meant to bloom, though, the earth seems to have forgotten how, as there are barely any to be seen outside the window.
「Good morning, folks! Another friendly greeting from a world still standing long past the end of days!—And don't forget, we're bringing you with today's news.」
「Let's kick things off with update of, a small part of the Asian continent has become the new Atlantis. That's right people. Although it's just a small area, this vast continent has reportedly lost…」
It's 8:30 a.m., the time I'm supposed to step outside and work like everyone else. You know, back when people called it 'being part of society,' 'being productive,' or whatever it was we used to do in the old past.
I'm not really sure what it all meant anymore, but there's still one thing I know.
Despite the old world being long gone, this new one has given rise to a recycled society—twisted and warped, yet somehow functioning. So, in order to survive and find meaning, I have to take my place within it.
"I'll be home after ten tonight. Left money for food and school on top of the fridge. As for the rest… same as usual—just try not to die, and if it looks like you will, run. It'll work out somehow."
Though he didn't say a word, the way he flipped his middle finger from behind the chair was enough to show he got the message. With that, I stepped out the door, walking down the path I knew by heart.
There's not much in nature that captures my attention, at least not that to my liking.
In fact, I often find myself frustrated by the same monotonous scenery. But there's at least one or two things this path offers: I can always overhear snippets of conversations from people lingering by the streets.
At times, eavesdropping on them feels like tuning in to the news it self.
Whether it's from some middle aged wife chit chatting in front of their house.
"Did you hear about Mrs. Nadia's son? The one rumored to have gone missing a few days ago? I heard he got caught by an Alternate! Not a trace of him left behind—those beings are terrifying… really."
"Ohh, that's why we haven't seen him lately. He was such a good kid. Disaster can strike anyone, can't it? By the way Miss Karen, have you heard the latest, about the rumors to implement the new law... called the 'Purge'?"
"The Purge? What kind of law is that? Will that do something to this... messed-up world?"
"I'm not sure either, but from what I've heard, it's supposed to help us prepare for the next era. Though, from what I gather, it requires... some sacrifices. Exactly what kind of sacrifices, I'm not too sure."
Or from some elderly folks who are spending the remainder of their days, and whatever time they have left.
"WHY!!! GOD JUST WHYYY! Why did you take them and not me... why my family, and not me instead."
"Sigh… just let it go, Old Richard. You're going to ruin your throat if you keep shouting like that. I mean… not even those eldritch creatures could bring them back, nor those cartoon characters my grandchild used to talk about..."
"You just lose your one grandchild! JUST ONE! But me... I lost every one of them! What do you know about it!"
"...Just one? Did you said, just one? Just so you know that ONE grandchild is also my family! He's the youngest and... the smallest of ours... crap. Damn it. Fine, do what the hell you think you're doing."
And some young folks, hanging out with their friends, lost in their own world.
"Shh, hey man, check this out. C'mon, stop watching those fossils fight each other and look at this."
"Huh wha, what's so—holy crap! Is that your sister?! Dude, you took a picture with your sister? I haven't even talked to mine in years. Damn... a real gothic lolita."
"Oh, sorry, not that one. Here, check this out. You know who this is, right? As a certified weeb, she should definitely be on your radar. White hair, witch hat, and a medium-small build? Just in case I made sure nobody saw her, but... how is she?"
"Hmm, oh, that's Elaina from Wandering Witch. She was super popular back then, so yeah, I know a bit about her. Great looks and solid magic, plus that free-spirited personality. But seriously, where did you meet her? This looks like... in front of Miss Baker's bakery?"
That name? It piqued my curiosity. Whatever secret they were whispering about, I wanted to know more. I focused my ears and tried to catch every word, slowing my steps as I moved closer, careful not to make a sound.
Slowly… just like a Cheshire cat creeping up behind them.
"Yeah, met her around there and she's staying with me for now. I think... she got sent into this world just like others? I'm not sure yet. Wanna meet her? But keep it a secret from others, deal?"
"Absooluuteely! Heck yeah, it's pretty rare to meet them directly like this. More so an MC like her. Ah since there's no news about her, she shouldn't have been under law and order protection yet right? Which means... did you, already do something to her?"
"There's my sister at home, so let's take her to your house. I'll handle the drugs, but how about her magic? If she could expelliarmus us we're toast."
"I got that completely under control. Just leave problem about magic to me bro, hehe. But… something's really bothering me. Why, why is that guy keep grinning behind us? Do you know him?"
"…Probably just another weirdo. Let's get outta here. We've got to prep for her."
Maybe it was my mistake using the Cheshire cat as an example, but whatever the case, they were already walking off in a direction I wasn't heading. It'd be suspicious if I kept following them.
So... whatever, just let them do their business.
Elaina, the wandering witch… I have no clue which world she came from or who sent her, but it seems her arrival hasn't yet caught the attention of the agency responsible for managing the Otherworldly Spectrum.
And judging from their conversation, it sounds like another Otherworlder will soon be created—one who'll carry a deep grudge against this world and everyone inside it.
Among ten young people their age, if asked what they would do if their "waifu," "husbando," or "idol" appeared in real life, most of them would probably react the same way.
It's just a shame that the price to manifest such fantasy is the very lives of the inhabitants of this Earth.
"...Let's just mail them, at least this should help her somehow."
This is about as much as I can do to help the girl without getting too involved in other people's business. In this world where madness and cruelty run rampant, I'm not looking to make my life any more complicated than it already is.
"This world is a bitch! And she's utterly veeery in HEAT!"
"This world is forsaken! There's no hope left for those still living beyond this era! We must offer our souls, as a final act of repentance, for not being chosen by the almighty like the others!"
"What? No way. I don't wanna die like them. Better living in crazy than just dropping dead."
He's right—this world has truly gone mad.
When the sun was torn apart and split into three...
When human fiction—like anime and Lovecraftian horrors—became reality...
And when the once-calm void transformed into a cacophony, it should have been clear to us all.
No.
Perhaps since the billions of souls departed from this world, people should have begun losing their sanity long before now. All the phenomena that followed were just another layer of madness on top of the initial chaos.
Something like Tragedy Sandwich, I suppose? Doesn't sound too appetizing, though.
"It's getting warmer isn't it?"
"Yeah, that's what three suns will do, mate."
Walking through this broken era, I'm just another soul clinging desperately to the last thread of reason. Burying madness as deep as I can, for the sake of whatever little remains worth holding onto.
I don't know when or which will happen—whether I'll first lose my mind just like these hive mind, to be picked as an apostle by the corrupted stars, or perhaps to die before I even get pick a chance.
I don't know.
I don't really know about it, but at least... I'll try to make this day not the time yet for that.
————————————————
The Void
A myriad of foes, each with shifting forms and sizes, use their numbers against them.
Ravenous beasts, relentless in their hunger, fought to breach this "Place."
Among them, the Abomination Juggernauts—nameless entities devoid of identity, forged not through rebirth or destruction, yet capable of erasing the very essence of life from any being.
Within an abyss of black murk that seemed to expand infinitely in all cardinal points, the two Persona belonged to the Fool keep fighting for the realm devoid of boundaries.
Despite the overwhelming disparity in size, number, color, and texture—each enemy a gradient of terror—Amour and Sengoku still stood in their own stance, on where the very concept of space became meaningless.
"Oi, can't you do something to cut their number?"「Sengoku」
"If I jump in, then who'll be there to recover each Feather? You already know what they're after, don't you? They... they want what's hidden inside the Feathers that Zei left behind."「Amour」
He opened his palm, revealing several glowing strands of Fenghuang Down that he had managed to recover. He'd seized them just before one of the creatures could lay its hands on them.
The moment those beasts sensed the presence of the Feathers, they multiplied, growing in number, their hunger intensifying. In an effort to avoid being overwhelmed by the horde one of them retreated quickly, while the other rushed blindly.
"So now you're calling him Zei too? Had enough of the 'my other half' crap?"「Sengoku」
"Maybe you're right... heh. After everything he's been through, I guess he's earned the name. Wait a sec... is that why you've always called him Zei, unlike the others?" the other Persona responded, a light chuckle escaping.
Suddenly...
In the midst of their conversation, a colossal hand made of strange, elastic material lunged toward them, aiming to swat them down. But Sengoku cleaved through it using his large katana, sundering the limb apart in sixty frame per second.
The remains of the malicious creature scattered, splattering across the ground before being devoured by the Void itself. It was as if the Place it self was alive, consuming the remnants of those vile beings.
A few pieces still twitched, trying desperately to break free from the dark mire that continued to engulf them, until, at last, everything vanished, and silence fell once more.
"It's going to awake soon if we feeding frenzy it like this. Sengo, how's Mikage?"「Amour」
As usual, Sengoku shouted, "What the hell do you think I'm doing?!" His arms showed clear signs of corrosion and carbonization, the rust spreading rapidly across his body like a plague.
With every combo and kill he landed, the rust encroached further, swallowing the spare body he's using. His eyes burned with a wild, unhinged yellow glow, reflecting the madness within.
Such was the price of wielding that cursed blade—a weapon that demanded the body of a sinner and the ashes of the living.
"Its doing its job, better than you."「Sengoku」
"You're setting the bar way too low. Let me borrow it for a bit!"「Amour」
But it was clear Sengoku had no intention of lending his weapon to anyone.
Again and again, the horde relentlessly chased after the modified Divine Key, Fenghuang Down, as if it were some rare delicacy.
This forced Amour to repeatedly leap from one strand to the next, swiftly recovering the vessels of memories with his precise footwork.
With incredible speed and precision that could afford no mistakes, he darted through his targets, retrieving numerous Feathers just before they could be snatched by those mindless creatures.
But, to his dismay—"NO!"—despite his best efforts, there was one Feather he couldn't reach in time. One single Feather, scratched by the claws of one of those vile beings.
Though he managed to recover it, when Amour looked at the scratched Feather, he noticed its once-brilliant glow was starting to fade.
It was as if everything stored within the Fenghuang Down was slowly being "devoured" by something unseen.
Realizing this, Amour glanced at the creature that had marred the Feather—just in time to see it shattered into pieces as Sengoku landed from above, obliterating it with one swift strike.
"The Weeping Angels... I thought those Doctor had taken care of them."「Sengoku」
"No, they were only sealed away. It's my fault... I didn't realize one of them was here in time. As a result... this Feather, its memories along with those who lived inside it are..." Amour trailed off, his voice laced with fear and concern.
He gently cradled the damaged Feather in both hands, shielding it from further harm.
"Hold them off while I salvage what's left, Sengo."「Amour」
"Ten seconds."「Sengoku」
The persona remained fixated, gripping the Feather that had lost its once-radiant luster, while Sengoku who come to realize another wave of grotesque, continued to slash and strike at anything that dared to interrupt them.
With each passing moment, the persona's anger boiled over as he realized the number of creatures surrounding them was rapidly multiplying, closing in like a dark tide.
"Damn it!"「Sengoku」
In a swift motion, he throw Amour back since he still being engrossed in his task.
As a result, Sengoku found himself engulfed by a swarm of ironclad and organic monstrosities, their grotesque forms writhing and surging toward him like a relentless wave, each movement a menacing promise of chaos.
The spare body he used, already corroded and tarnished, deteriorated further with every clash.
Enduring the planetary onslaught, Sengoku spun his blade faster and faster, carving out just enough space to make his escape.
His chance to break free grew as a sudden ray of light incinerated most of the creatures in a blinding, perfect sweep. Though unscathed, his breath came in heavy gasps, both eyes wide and alert.
That's when he noticed Amour, who had finally stopped his meditative trance—but he wasn't alone. Standing beside him was Moriarty, the same Timeless Girl, who're carrying a small gift package in her arm.
Her outfit, her hairstyle, even her scent—everything about her was meticulously prepared, as though she had spent an eternity perfecting every detail.
[It's getting way worse than before... Sengoku, are you alright?]
"What do you think, Captain Obvious? Doesn't everything look like a complete mess here?"「Sengoku」
With the chaos settling, he slowly approached Moriarty, who was still studying his battered body. Her eyes reflected a mix of pity and concern, seeing the terrible condition of the furious persona.
She reached out, trying to touch the rust eating away at his hand, but he shoved her away, refusing her help as if it was none of her business.
"Keep your hands off. No need to ruin your makeup with all this grime."「Sengoku」
[It's okay, let me help. I want to be of use to you as well.]
"Don't blame me for... agh, whatever. Who cares?"「Sengoku」
As a soft, benevolent light enveloped his injuries, with a maintained scowl, he keep glaring at Moriarty showing irritation. He clearly didn't appreciate the Timeless Girl's show of concern.
But Moriarty only responded with a small, gentle smile. That smile made Sengoku's irritation flare even more, his frustration bubbling over as he clenched his jaw.
"How lovely~"「Amour」
[Are you... another one of his side? I've never seen you before.]
"Ah, well, my apologies. Back then, I was too busy handling other tasks that needed my attention. But don't worry, I'm well aware of what's been going on between you and Zei."「Amour」
[Tasks? What kind of tasks?]
The persona bearing mark of Amour hesitated, clearly struggling to answer the question. Meanwhile Sengoku, having had enough of the healing process, dove back into the action, ready for more.
Sensing the awkwardness, he shifted her attention to the Feather he had been holding.
[What memories are stored within this Construct?]
"From what I've managed to gather, this Feather holds the memories of a peaceful world. A world revolving around a few select groups, known as the Panzer Group? Hmm, I'm not really sure either..."「Amour」
[Panzer group? Are they a group of soldier, or something similar?] Moriarty asked, touching the Feather that Amour held out to her. Only to paused, with her expression turning somber as her fingers gently brushed against it.
[...It's dying.]
"This Feather holds an energy essential to that world itself," Amour explained. "Therefore, if this Feather is attacked from the outside or loses its energy, the world contained within it will be disrupted."
After the previous Weeping Angel touched the Feather, it absorbed all the energy Amour had mentioned. Although Sengoku managed to destroy it, the scattered energy couldn't linger for long, as The Void swiftly engulfed it.
[Energy... then, will mine do?]
"Sometimes, a 'world' doesn't just refer to Earth. It can include other planets, galaxies, or countless places in the far reaches of space—anything touched by the life within it. Life itself is a World, Moriarty."「Amour」
[...Which means?]
Sengoku stepped in, cutting through the tension with a blunt explanation. "Stop trying to die like stupid—you don't have enough energy for that."
He continued, "You may be a deity-like figure, but you just awakened to your status yesterday. In the worst-case scenario, you could end up in a vegetative state, losing your freedom just like this body you're inhabiting—or worse, becoming nothing more than a lonely plant, devoid of all senses."
"You'll return to be a "Seed", just like how it was before."「Sengoku」
Fury and madness were etched on Sengoku's face as he fixed his gaze on the girl. Even when a massive creature lunged at him, he didn't flinch; he merely swatted it away like useless trash.
His persona radiated anger at the thought of Moriarty following through with her reckless intentions.
"Calm down, Sengo. She just wants to be useful to the man she loves, right?"「Amour」
However upon [...If that's, what could really help him,] Moriarty's determined reply, Amour's attempt to defuse the situation turned futile.
"Then it would be better if I cut your legs off. You won't need them after this, right?" Sengoku snapped, his voice laced with fury. Without a second thought, he swung his katana toward the girl's legs, intending to sever them.
In that critical moment, the other persona intervened, his gauntlet clashing with the blade, halting its deadly arc. Not forgetting the small gift, he also made sure it's still not damaged in the slightest.
He's sure there's something precious within there that the girl has prepared.
"Sengo, Mikage wasn't made to be wielded against our allies," Amour said firmly, his tone calm but commanding. "And the 'seed' doesn't have to be you, Moriarty. With my past experience helping those girls, I think I've got another plan."
He turned his attention to both of them, revealing the glowing Feather nestled in his palm.
Inside the delicate shell of Fenghuang Down, several slumbering figures rested atop a metal-armored vehicle—they're unmistakably human in form, yet through the Feather, they appeared impossibly small.
"It'll be them, the last survivors of their World."「Amour」
[Them?]
Sengoku's disbelief was immediate. "What?! A whole girl group with a tank? What are they supposed to do against those? We're not playing Warthunder here!"
His voice dripped with frustration. "What's a Panzer IV gonna do against cosmic freaks shaped like giant bananas that can crack moons like eggshells?"
"Hey, c'mon, calm down, Sengo."「Amour」
"YOU THINK I WILL!?"「Sengoku」
[Sengo... please...]
"Ck, arghhh fine," he muttered, barely containing his irritation. Without another word, he stormed off, eyes already hunting for the next prey to feel the wrath of his blade.
As the angry Persona stormed off, Amour turned to Moriarty with a sigh, offering a soft apology.
But the girl simply shook her head, as though the situation didn't bother her in the slightest.
[Even if my legs were gone, I know Sengo would replace them by becoming mine. That way, he'd keep me close, safe from danger always. Hiding his feelings behind lies—it's just what Machi does.]
Amour raised an eyebrow, clearly unsettled. "That's... don't you hate the idea of that happening?"
[I don't, hehe,] she giggled softly.
[Because that way, we'd always be together. That actually sounds perfect to me. By the way... I still don't know your name. And thank you for taking care of this little gift just now,]" she added, gesturing toward the small package.
"Love is really blind, isn't it... sigh," Amour muttered under his breath.