{Shoya's POV:}
It's black. Pitch-black. It's darkness. I can't see a single thing. I don't feel a single thing. I can't hear anything either. It's just like I'm floating in emptiness. Is this what death is?
No. That's impossible. If I'm dead, then how can I think? Well, it's not like I have any proof that I'm not dead. Perhaps this is what death is. Eternal darkness. And silence.
[Shoya.]
Just when I thought that I would drown in the silence and darkness, a voice called out to me. I turned my head with a smile.
"Altair!"
Ah, I can talk.
"What..."
Altair was not in the best condition. He was bleeding from his eyes, nose and mouth and he had a hole in his chest. His heart was missing.
"Altair, are you okay?!"
[No. I'm not okay.]
"Yeah, sorry, that was a dumb question to ask when you look like that. By the way, where are we?"
[We're in your mind.]
"So, then, I'm alive."
[Not yet.]
"Not yet?"
[Solomon killed you. That much is true. I couldn't think of a way to keep you alive so, instead, I thought of a way to save you.]
What is he...?
Altair put his hand on his chest.
[Erebus and I came to a consensus. We will use our remaining life force to revive you.]
I was shocked. I felt like shouting at him for using his own life to save mine but I couldn't. I mean, I didn't want to die. No one wants to die willingly. I want to live. I felt guilty for not mentioning it.
"Is that possible?"
[Erebus and I are a part of you. In other words, an extension. If we rebuild your heart and body from scratch it is possible, however, there is an extreme side effect.]
I would be surprised if there wasn't one. Reviving the dead is unimaginable. It breaks the laws of nature and should be impossible. But Altair said it is.
Altair looked down, furrowing his brow.
"What is it?"
[You'll lose your memories.]
"My memories..."
That would mean that I would forget everything and everyone that I've met in my 17 years of living. My friends, my family. I would forget all of them.
[If you don't want to do it, then you'll die.]
"I'll do it,"
I told Erebus.
[But—]
"It's either I die and not see my friends and family forever or I live and still have a chance of seeing them."
[I don't think you understand, Shoya. You'll lose your memories forever, there is no getting them back.]
"Do you know that for sure?"
[Well...]
"Besides, I'd rather be alive than dead. You think you can do it."
[We already are...]
From his feet, Altair slowly began to disappear.
[I forgot to tell you. Because you'll forget your memories, your true Singularity will awaken. It was being suppressed by Black Exodia this entire time.]
"Wait, will I keep everything I've learnt?"
[Erebus and I will be gone, along with Black Exodia, but you'll still be strong. In fact, you'll probably be stronger losing your memories.]
I narrowed my eyes.
"Why?"
[I don't know what it is exactly but your Singularity is a legendary one. Its potential is limitless just like Hysaka's one.]
Hysaka's Singularity was Gravity Manipulation or something like that. Is it really that strong of a Singularity? Every Singularity has a limit. That's what I learned. Well, it doesn't matter since Altair said it.
[If you do regain your memories, then you'll most likely regain Black Exodia.]
The lower half of Altair had faded away.
[This won't really matter to you but to prevent Solomon from killing you again, just in case, you'll be transported elsewhere using the last essence of my life.]
Now, it was only his head remaining.
Not only did blood seep from his eyes but also tears. Altair had a bittersweet look on his face.
[You know, I enjoyed my time with you, Shoya.]
I tried my best to keep a hardened expression but I felt a tear run down my face.
[In history, you are the youngest Black Emperor.]
"Isn't that interesting?"
[I can already see the story title. 'The story of the youngest Black Emperor.']
We both chuckled.
Even though the lower half of his face faded away, I could tell he was grinning proudly.
"See you, Altair."
[Yeah, let's meet again.]
With that, the last remnants of Altair disappeared and the feeling of emptiness flooded my heart.
Altair was gone and I never got to say goodbye to Erebus either. Eh, it's better this way, he would've disappeared while quipping.
"Now, it's my turn to disappear."
As I said that, my feet faded into light particles.
"Man, I wish I could've explained this to my friends."
Even if I won't have the memories of Shoya Sasaki, there is one thing I want myself to do despite that fact. I want myself to defeat Solomon and stop whatever he has planned for this world.
I guess... this is my goodbye. Who am I kidding, isn't this the same as death?
At least, with this, I'll have another chance to meet my friends. But, there's a chance that I never will.
·———·
"Get Yoko to a medic!"
"Is Emika alright?!"
"What happened to her?!"
On the ship, when everyone returned, they saw Emika laid out on a sofa. Around her were Squad 3, Squad 6 and Squad 4.
Squad 6 were not present for most of the battle as they were simply backup. In the nick of time, they reached Squad 3 and were able to help with neutralising Emika's the Fool [0]. It was thanks to Tanya, who accurately shot a blunt mana arrow at her neck, causing her to black out.
"I haven't seen you before."
Anastasia said, looking at the woman beside Emika.
The woman held a book and towered over the sleeping girl. It was Zara.
"I am Zara. The High Priestess [II]."
"So then you're a Tarot."
Anastasia was ready to fight when her arms did not move from her side.
"Huh?"
"Don't worry, Zara has no reason to fight us anymore. That much I've confirmed."
Maria walked towards the group, undoing her Puppet Mastery.
"Isn't she—wasn't she with Weissmann?"
Qin asked.
"She's human. Meaning that she's not bound by Weissmann's principles. Well, not that it matters. We brought on another person. A homunculus who helped Emika escape."
"Should we allow that?"
"All the homunculi are going to enter the ship and stay in the ship's hold."
"What?!"
They exclaimed.
"Homunculi are still people. We were going to send them to the SSB to deal with but they're in trouble right now. I'll have to give them to the Magi Council but that's something I don't want to do."
"Magi Council? That's the first I've heard of it."
Tatsuya said to Maria.
The girl sighed.
"I'm not surprised. The SSB are seemly at the top but it's the Magi Council. They're basically the government of Streia. The SSB are more like the police force."
They all nodded.
Akane looked over at Zara. Next to her was Edward, who seemed to be standing.
"What are you doing and what do you get by doing this?"
"..."
Zara looked up at Akane.
"Your friend's Tarot was out of control, so I helped control it after she was unconscious. My goal was to stop the revival of the King of Sorcery, however, thanks to you all, he's been revived."
Nobody said a word.
Yes, it was their fault. Regulus had kidnapped their comrades without a single explanation, it was only natural that they would attempt to get her back. Regulus did not explain the situation until it was too late. Even when he did, they did not believe him. They felt guilty but not on the level that Nyx did. She was the only one who knew the true wrath of Solomon.
"The principal escaped when Kuroha started shouting about Solomon being at Altheria."
Qin and the group turned to Kuroha, who had her hands on her head.
"No...no..."
"Kuroha?"
Kaguya called out to her.
She looked up at the group. Her eyes were swollen from crying and she continued to shed a river of tears.
"Are you okay? What happened?"
"It's... Shoya! He's.... he's..."
"What about him?!"
The moment they heard Shoya's name, Anastasia and Akane became assertive.
"I-I-I entered with a-a c-contract with him last y-year and... and... the si-si-sigil... it's... it's... it's gone!"
"What?!"
Tatsuya was the first one to speak.
All of them were shocked. They knew what a sigil disappearing meant. It could mean that Shoya ended the contract but he would never do that. All of them understood.
"Shoya..."
"Is..."
"...Dead...?"
Akane bit her lip and turned to the group.
"No, there's still hope. We haven't seen proof yet. We don't know if he's dead for sure. Maybe he was stupid and accidentally broke their contract. We'll beat him up for it when we get back!"
She grinned. They all clung to the smallest speck of hope and smiled.
There is always one person who cannot believe the truth. The truth is comprised of only facts, yet, depending on what it is, it is a weapon or a tool.
Akane Kabura is a girl who does not believe that she was stabbed. By the time she realises, the blood loss would be too much and, in the end, she will break down.
That is the fate of all who cling to a sliver of hope in times of certain despair.