"Mina Enchantica. You are sentenced to death!"
Bruno and Ash were both engulfed in darkness at the judge's verdict. Bruno crumpled to his knees, tears streaming down his face, while Ash sat in stunned silence, his mouth agape. Mina, on the other hand, remained composed, showing no visible signs of distress.
"Ash, what's wrong?" she asked softly, settling down next to him with a warm smile. "You're free now. Why aren't you happy?"
But Ash remained silent, his head shaking as tears continued to flow uncontrollably. He clung to Mina's clothes, unable to express the pain and suffering he had just witnessed. "Don't cry, little brother," Mina said soothingly as she reached up to wipe away his tears. "Everything is going to be okay!"
Before the guards could take her away, Mina held out her arms, embracing her friend one final time. "Justice isn't always served, Ash," she whispered, resting her head on his trembling shoulder. "And even when it is served, it may not bring the outcome you hoped for. But it's still justice, and it's not unfair in any way."
"In the two years you were locked up, I felt so powerless and guilty," Mina confessed, her voice cracking with emotion. "I couldn't do anything to help you, and it tore me apart. All I wanted was for you to thrive and be respected by everyone."
"Now that you're free, I won't be there to protect you. I'm sorry, Ash. You'll have to fend for yourself for a while."
"I want you to win, Ash!" As Mina pulled away, she noticed that Ash's eyes were still shaking with emotion as he stared down at the ground. Gently, she cupped his face in her hands and tilted her head to the side. "I want you to succeed," she said, as the guards began to escort her away. "Fight for what's right, win people's hearts, gain power. Become a formidable force, and never stop striving for greatness. That's the only way to survive."
"Ash! Keep winning!"
After the tense courtroom session, Ash was rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention. It was clear that the trauma of the trial had taken a toll on him, and he needed time to recover from the shock of losing Mina.
In the days that followed, Ash was in and out of consciousness, his body weak and battered from his time in prison. Meanwhile, the authorities carried out Mina's execution in solemn silence, out of respect for the Enchantica family.
Nana, on the other hand, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for her crimes. It was a harsh but just punishment, and the public seemed satisfied with the outcome of the trial.
As Ash slowly began to regain his strength, he received a surprise visit from Bruno. The man held a basket of fresh fruit as he entered the hospital room, looking uneasy and unsure of what to say.
"Hello, Ash," Bruno greeted him, trying to keep his tone light. Ash raised his head to acknowledge the man's greeting, his eyes still clouded with the grief.
Bruno sat down in the chair beside Ash's bed, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions, before speaking again.
"She... She loved you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Ash flinched slightly at the words, but he didn't say anything.
"When I made the order to send you to prison," Bruno continued, his voice heavy with regret, "Mina kept trying to convince me that you were innocent. But I didn't listen to her. I just kept sticking to Nana, because... You were a demon."
He paused, his eyes filling with tears. "I'm sorry about that," he said, his voice choking with emotion. "I should have listened to her. I should have believed in you."
"I'm sorry, Ash," he repeated, his voice quivering with emotion. He held onto his pants tightly, his head bowed low in shame. "I know I've done you wrong. You didn't deserve any of this."
He paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. "If only I had understood the situation from the start. None of this would have happened. And... And..."
His voice trailed off, and he couldn't bring himself to say the words. The weight of his regret was heavy on his heart, knowing that Mina's fate could have been different if only he had acted differently.
"And Mina..." he whispered, his voice choked with tears. "She could have been here with us, still alive."
Bruno stood up, his expression turning serious as he looked Ash directly in the eyes. Ash met his gaze, still too overwhelmed with emotions to speak.
"I know what I'm about to say may sound selfish," Bruno began, his voice soft yet resolute. "But I want to make things right. I want to take care of you, Ash. Not to try to make amends for my past mistakes but also because I genuinely care about your well-being."
He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving Ash's. "So, what do you say, Ash? Would you consider coming to live with me? I know it won't erase the pain or the past, but I want to do everything I can to help you heal and move forward."
At first, the boy kept sticking to silence before finally speaking up, his voice trembling with emotion, "I'm pretty sure that Mina would want me to live with you anyways, right?" As Bruno heard those words, he raised his head to look at Ash, only to be eaten alive by intense frustration
As the demonic energy surged through Ash's body, it felt as if every fiber of his being was alive with power. A wicked grin spread across his face, revealing his razor-sharp teeth as his red eyes glinted with malice and ego.
"Deal," he said, his voice low and menacing. He raised his hand and placed it on his face, contemplating his newfound pact with Bruno. "But I won't settle for just any training. I want the most intense training that the Enchantica family can offer."
"I'll become stronger," he chuckled, his voice tinged with madness as he spoke. "I'll push myself to the limit, drive the power within me to its absolute apex! I'll win, and win, and win until I've achieved everything that Mina desires of me!"
The intensity of his words left Bruno questioning the sanity of the boy before him, but Ash paid him no mind. He was already consumed by his desire for power, his thirst for victory driving him forward like an unbreakable force.
"I won't stop until I've obtained it all!" he declared, his eyes blazing with determination. "Just like Mina wants me to!" "
As Katsu finishes recounting Ash's sorrowful past, everyone in the room is struck with a sudden realization. They now understand why Ash is so obsessed with winning and why he wants to kill Nobu in the tournament.
"That's why Ash is so focused on winning," Katsu continues, his voice shaking with emotion. "It's all about keeping a promise. Every time he's close to losing, his feelings take over, and he becomes consumed with rage. He thinks that Nobu is getting in his way, which is why he's so dangerous."
Sayuri turns to Katsu, her hands clasped tightly together. "Is there any way we can get him to snap out of it?" she asks, her voice filled with concern.
Katsu shakes his head. "I don't think so," he replies. "Ash won't stop until the match is over. He won't stop until one of them can't fight anymore."
Sayuri looks down, her heart heavy with worry, "Nono...," she whispers, her voice barely audible. The weight of the situation hangs heavy in the air as they all contemplate the pain that might take place after this fight.
Ash moves with lightning-fast speed, charging toward Nobu with an intense rage burning in his eyes. He channels demonic energy into his fist, unleashing a powerful punch that sends Nobu flying through the air. The force of the blow causes him to lose his grip on Soul-Edge, which clatters to the ground below.
Ash screams maniacally as he returns to the sky, readying himself for another brutal attack. The intensity of his power is overwhelming, and he won't stop until Nobu is defeated.
Meanwhile, Satomi reaches Shinso and Kaeya, her breath coming in short gasps as she tries to compose herself. Her face is filled with a mixture of concern and fear as she watches Ash continue his onslaught.
"Masters," she pants, her voice trembling as she leans heavily on her knees, "We have to cancel the tournament. Ash can't control himself, and Nobu might be in danger. Please, we have to stop this."
Shinso and Kaeya exchange a worried glance, knowing that Satomi's concerns are valid. They too are worried about Nobu's safety in the face of Ash's overwhelming power.
But at the same time, they know that Ash is a skilled fighter, and they're curious to see what kind of card Nobu might pull in this fight. Canceling the tournament would mean robbing him of that opportunity, and they're hesitant to do that.
"We have to be careful," Shinso says finally, his voice low and serious. "If Nobu is in danger, we'll step in. But we can't cancel the tournament just yet."
Satomi takes a deep breath, ready to plead with the Masters once more. But before she can say a word, the audience's attention is drawn to the center of the arena.
The dust that had been kicked up by Ash's attack finally begins to dissipate, revealing Nobu lying motionless on the ground. However, The audience erupts into cheers as Nobu slowly raises his body off the ground, his hand reaching out to grasp his sword still lying on the floor. He struggles to stand, but his eyes never leave Ash's form hovering in the sky.
"I see..." he mutters, his voice strained but determined. "You are pretty damn strong, Ash."
Nobu lifts his head to meet Ash's gaze, a small smile spreading across his face. Despite the pain wracking his body, he feels a sense of excitement at the prospect of finally facing a worthy opponent.
"You really are worthy," he continues, his grip on the sword tightening. "You're worthy... Of seeing what I'm capable of doing!"
Nobu stands up, the purple glow in his eyes intensifying even more. He grips his sword tightly as he commands it, "Come on, Soul-Edge. Open the eye."
To everyone's amazement, the eye on the sword opens for the second time. The veins on the blade come to life, pulsating with malevolent energy. As the demonic pupil beats with power, Nobu gets covered by a horrific purplish aura that seems to radiate pure evil.
Suddenly, his ears grow taller, with two dark lines crossing his eyes, as if marking him as a true demonic warrior. The audience gasps in awe and fear as they witness Nobu's transformation, realizing that he has tapped into a power beyond their comprehension.
Before Ash could even react, Nobu disappears into thin air, only to reappear right in front of his opponent. With lightning speed, he attacks Ash with a fearsome slice of his Soul-Edge, the demonic blade cutting through the air with a menacing hiss.
The contact between their blades is like thunder, sending sparks flying in all directions. Ash tries to block Nobu's attack, but the force behind it is too strong. With a deafening crash, the two swords collide, and Ash loses his weapon.
Momentarily stunned, Ash is caught off guard as Nobu grasps his hand and throws him to the ground with incredible force. Ash groans in pain as he hits the ground hard, his body aching from the impact.
but before he can even react, Nobu has reappeared right in front of him. Everyone can feel the intensity of Nobu's gaze as he speaks, his words hitting like a sharp jab to the gut.
"There is no meaning to winning if you let your emotions take over you!" Nobu's voice echoes in the quiet arena, his tone commanding and filled with wisdom beyond his years. With incredible reflexes, he grabs Ash's arm tightly, his grip like a vice that conveyed his point with an unspoken force.
"And let me tell you something," Nobu continues, his eyes locking onto Ash's with unwavering intensity, "Sometimes when you lose a fight, you win something more important than the battle itself!"
Nobu's grip on Soul Edge slips away as he raises his left hand high, a look of determination etched on his face. "I'm sorry, Ash," he declares, his words ringing out with the sound of the sword clattering to the ground. "I cannot let you win this fight! Not after knowing that HE is my next opponent!"
With a fierce cry, Nobu unleashes a devastating blow to Ash's stomach, channeling his punch with the power of All For One. Ash's body is lifted from the ground, the force of the strike causing the earth beneath him to shatter into pieces. The demonic energy that had surrounded Ash dissipates as his body hits the ground, the greyish color of his skin fading slowly as he becomes completely motionless.
Despite the incredible punch channeled with All For One that he just unleashed, Nobu remains standing, his body unyielding. The air around him crackles with energy as he stands there, poised and admiring the cheers of those who witnessed their battle. Reina can't help but burst into laughter, his eyes shining with pride and admiration for his friend, while Katsu's face is alight with joy and disbelief, unable to contain his excitement.
"He did it!" Katsu exclaims, his voice ringing. "Nobu IS the winner!"
Kaeya and Shinso's eyes widen in disbelief as they watch Nobu's demonic appearance fade away. The eye on Nobu's sword closes slowly, leaving them both stunned.
"He...he used All For One without losing his Chi, didn't he?" Shinso gasps, looking at Kaeya for confirmation.
Kaeya nods, still trying to process what they had just witnessed. "I've never seen anything like it."
The arena is silent as Nobu emerges as the victor of the epic fight. He walks out on his feet, his eyes scanning the crowd for his master. As he spots them, he can feel the weight of their gazes on him, full of admiration and respect.
Meanwhile, Ash is receiving care from some people as they carry him to the infirmary. The injuries he sustained during the intense match aren't that serious, but he's out cold after being controlled by his emotions.
Suddenly, Katsu dashes out of the waiting room and gets next to Ash right away, walking along those carrying his friend. He looks at Ash with concern in his eyes, his fists clenched in frustration. Katsu knows that after such a match, Ash might even lose the will to do anything in this life, as he thinks that his promise to Mina got broken.
As Ash is snapped out of consciousness, he finds himself drifting into a dream. In the dream, he sees himself in a bright and lovely space, his body floating weightlessly in the air. His eyes widen as he takes in the surroundings, amazed by the surreal beauty of the dream world.
But his wonderment is quickly shattered when he sees Mina's image. She's exactly as he remembers her from four years ago, her smile radiant and her eyes sparkling with life. Ash's heart aches at the sight of her, and he feels the weight of the broken promise crashing down on him.
He lowers his head, unable to meet her gaze. He knows he had promised Mina that he would always win, but he failed. He couldn't save the promise from the tragedy that had befallen him, and now he's left to face the consequences.
"Hey there, Ash!" Mina beams at him, her voice as gentle and soothing as ever. She puts her hands behind her back and takes a step closer to him. "I see that you've grown into an amazing fighter, just like I knew you would."
Ash slowly raises his head to look at her, his eyes brimming with tears. He takes in the sight of her bright expression and feels a mixture of joy and sadness wash over him. His gaze starts to wander around the bright and lovely space, unable to look Mina in the eye.
"Big Sis..." he mutters, his voice barely audible as he struggles to keep his emotions in check.
Ash's fists clench tightly, his heart heavy with the weight of defeat. "I'm sorry, Big Sis! I really am," he stammers, his eyes burning with unshed tears. "I just lost, and... and our promise... I let you down."
Unexpectedly, Mina chuckles, her hand rising to cover her mouth. She steps closer, her face mere inches from Ash's. "What are you talking about?" she says, grinning brightly. "I don't really think that you broke our promise, Ash!"
Her words hit him like a wave of relief, washing away the guilt and self-doubt that had threatened to consume him. Mina turns away and takes a few steps, the click of her heels on the floor filling the silence as Ash watches her go.
Ash's confusion lingers, and he can't help but voice his doubts. "But... But I lost the fight, didn't I?" he asks, still reeling from Mina's unexpected response.
Mina turns to him, her smile soft and gentle. "Defeating that boy in a fight can't be considered a win," she explains. "Being defeated by him already made you win something far more important than being the victor of a fight."
Ash furrows his brow, trying to decipher her cryptic message. "What did I win then?" he asks, feeling a glimmer of frustration flickering to life within him.
Ash is left reeling by Mina's cryptic words. He can't help but feel a sense of frustration as he struggles to make sense of what she's trying to say. For a moment, Mina remains silent, allowing the tension to build. Then, with a knowing smile, she speaks up, her words carrying a sense of clarity and understanding that washes over Ash like a wave.
"You won great teammates," she says, her voice soft yet confident. "People who are willing to stand by you, no matter what. You keep winning people's respect, Ash. You're gaining power, not just physical strength, but the kind of power that comes from being a true soldier, someone who inspires and motivates others to be their best selves, just like you inspired Nobu to give it his all. And, most importantly, you're winning against your own self, your emotions."
Mina's image slowly fades as she continues to speak, her words echoing in Ash's mind. "Nobu, he helped you to defeat your emotions, Ash," she says, her voice gentle yet firm. "He gave you a hand to the needed win by defeating you in that fight!"
"Congratulations Ash!" Mina exclaims, her face beaming with pride. "Keep it up, and keep winning! Now, I think it's time to wake up, right? Your friends are waiting for you, don't keep them waiting!"
Ash slowly opens his eyes, his vision still blurry as he tries to make sense of his surroundings. He feels a gentle hand on his shoulder and turns to see his friend Katsu looking down at him with concern etched on his face.
"Ash, are you okay?" Katsu asks, his voice is heavy with worry.
Ash takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Mina," he mutters, his voice barely audible. "She said that losing to Nobu is... It's for the best."
After hearing Ash's words, Katsu is left feeling bewildered and unsure of what to do. He decides to take a break from tagging with the medical team to try and process everything that's happened.
As he's lost in thought, he suddenly flinches in surprise and mutters to himself, "Ash was way too dramatic just now. And saying that he encountered Mina or something... crap, is he getting to the other side?"
Katsu shakes his head, realizing how ridiculous he sounds, and can't help but burst out laughing at himself. "I must be losing my mind," he chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief. "Talking about encountering Mina and the other side like we're in some kind of movie!"
"But still..." He continues as his expression softens, "It appears that losing didn't really hurt your pride, right? I'm happy for you, that's good to know!"