Nakao materializes in a realm of clouds, the air heavy with divine energy. She looks ahead to see a towering staircase leading to a colossal courthouse floating in the heavens. As she ascends, golden magic words shimmer above the courthouse: "SAVE THE SINNER OR BE PUNISHED"
Determined, Nakao pushes open the massive double doors. Inside, the grand hall radiates an ethereal glow, and at its center sits the priest zombie on an elevated judge's chair. His glowing eyes snap open, locking onto her as she steps forward. Slowly, he lifts a finger, and chains of radiant light shoot out, binding Nakao in place.
She freezes, unable to move, as her life flashes before his glowing gaze. In mere moments, the priest zombie witnesses her entire journey. Lowering his finger, the chains dissolve into nothingness.
The priest zombie's hollow voice echoes through the hall. "Why does a non-sinner walk into this realm?"
Nakao straightens herself, her resolve unwavering. "I'm here to complete the challenge."
The priest zombie tilts his head curiously. "You have already passed. You are not a sinner."
Nakao hesitates for a moment, then replies, "I've been given a different task."
At this, the priest zombie rises from his chair, his robes billowing as he regards her with newfound interest. "You must have been in contact with God, just as I have. Only the true gods can assign such tasks. Tell me, what is your given task?"
Taking a deep breath, Nakao steps forward, her voice steady. "I am here to oversee the sinners. I plead for you to show me all of them."
The priest zombie's face twists into a smile. "I alone am enough to judge who is a sinner. But if God insists..." He extends his hand, and the ground beneath her begins to shimmer. "Then you shall see."
With a surge of his magic, a glowing hole opens in the floor before Nakao. As she peers into it, her eyes widen. Below lies a fiery realm, seething with chaos. Sinners writhe in chains of light, their tortured cries rising above the roaring flames. The sight is both overwhelming and humbling.
The priest zombie's voice cuts through the silence. "Behold, the realm of sinners. Tell me, overseer—what do you see?"
As Nakao peers into the fiery depths of the magic hole, her heart skips a beat. Among the countless writhing figures, she sees Adam bound in radiant chains, his screams of agony piercing the air. Her voice trembles with both anger and resolve as she says, "I see someone in need of help."
The priest zombie's glowing eyes narrow. A flicker of memory crosses his mind, revealing an image from Nakao's past: Nakao watching the priest zombie walking away into the depths of a forest as dawn broke.
Slowly, he speaks, his tone laced with both regret and conviction. "I remember now... You were part of the group that protected the greatest sinner. I let him go that day because of you all, but things have changed."
He pauses, his gaze hardening. "Since then, I have met God face to face. He offered me a place among the divine, a seat among the Gods, if I continue to pass judgment on the newfound sinners of Terra."
With a wave of his hand, he begins to seal the magic hole. But before it can fully close, Nakao lunges forward, grabbing its edge with her bare hands. The fiery energy radiates from it, yet it doesn't harm her. "I remember that day... that your magic can't harm a non-sinners," she declares. Without hesitation, she dives headfirst into the realm of fire.
The air rushes past her as she free-falls through the hellish landscape. Flames rise to greet her, but before she can be consumed, chains of light shoot out, latching onto her body and slowing her descent. She lands softly amidst the chaos, her eyes locking onto Adam, still screaming in torment.
The priest zombie descends from above, standing tall. His voice carries a tinge of frustration. "Why must you go against God's will? Why risk everything for the greatest sinner?"
Nakao turns to face him, her voice fierce and unyielding. "Because Adam is part of my family, and he's the father of my hero!"
Without waiting for a reply, she runs toward Adam, but as she does, more chains of light lash out, attaching onto her back, holding her in place. Yet, she refuses to stop. With every step, the chains tighten, threatening to crush her spirit.
The priest zombie watches in silent disbelief. "Why has God sent this girl here?" he mutters to himself. "What is the purpose of this? Could this, too, be a test? A trial to prove my loyalty?"
His thoughts are interrupted as he notices something extraordinary. Nakao, despite the immense pressure, continues to push forward. One by one, the chains binding her begin to snap and fall away, their radiant light dimming against her unwavering determination. She presses on, step by step, inching closer to Adam.
Meanwhile, Simbad materializes in a breathtaking realm of endless skies, with a warm breeze carrying the scent of ozone. He squints into the horizon, where a distant light pulses like a beacon. As he draws closer, the radiant glow reveals a fierce battle—a figure locked in combat against a shadowy creature emanating an ominous energy.
It's Rune, his blade clashing violently against the creature's claws. Simbad summons his katana, its edge gleaming with resolve, and strides forward. Rune glances back, his eyes widening in surprise. "Simbad? You're here?"
Simbad nods, stepping beside him. "What's going on? What is this thing?"
Rune grimaces, his gaze fixed on the creature. "Something isn't right. This thing... it knows me."
Simbad tightens his grip on his katana. "Then what do we do? Take it down?"
Rune steadies his stance, determination etched on his face. "If you're here, we can do more than just take it down. We'll pin it, make it talk, and figure out how does it know me."
Simbad gives a sharp nod, their shared trust unspoken but firm. The two ready their weapons, their energy surging in unison. As one, they charge toward the dark, powerful creature, their blades gleaming against the backdrop of the endless skies.
They coordinate their attacks with precision, flanking the dark creature from both sides. Each slice of their blades pierces its shadowy form, causing the creature to writhe in pain. Dark energy pulses from its wounds, and in retaliation, it releases a barrage of energy blasts. Simbad and Rune dodge with expert agility—Simbad twisting and parrying in mid-air, while Rune deflects the blasts with his butcher blade in calculated movements.
As Rune observes the creature, a flicker of recognition crosses his face. "This energy... I've felt it before... but where?"
The dark creature snarls, its form twisting as massive demonic wings erupt from its back. The surge of power radiates, distorting the air around it. Its claws glow ominously with dark energy, and with a thunderous roar, it takes flight. It dives at Simbad and Rune, its speed blinding as its claws clash against their blades in rapid succession.
The relentless exchange pushes Simbad to his limit. He struggles to match the creature's ferocity, his movements slowing. The creature seizes the moment, aiming a lethal strike at Simbad. Rune reacts instantly, shoving Simbad out of harm's way and intercepting the attack with his butcher blade. The impact sends Rune skidding backward across the shimmering skies, his boots carving a trail in the ethereal ground.
"Who are you?!" Rune demands, his voice cutting through the chaos. His eyes lock onto the creature, searching for answers as its dark energy flares dangerously.
The creature responds with a feral roar, unleashing a flurry of dark beams. Rune charges forward, weaving pass the beams with precision. His butcher blade gleams as he counters the creature's rapid strikes, matching its speed and power. The intensity of their duel electrifies the sky realm, sparks flying from every collision.
Simbad, recovering from the near-miss, sees an opportunity. With a shout, he hurls his katana toward Rune. "Catch!" Rune snatches the katana mid-air without missing a beat. Wielding both weapons, he shifts his stance, the dual blades radiating an aura of deadly focus.
The sight of Rune wielding both the butcher blade and katana visibly shocks the creature. Its attacks falter for a split second, and Rune capitalizes. He unleashes a breathtaking series of dual-blade combos, his strikes precise and unrelenting. The creature roars in defiance, but Rune's final move—a powerful cross slash glowing with fiery energy—cuts deep across its chest.
The impact sends a shockwave rippling through the sky realm. The dark creature lets out a guttural cry as its demonic wings disintegrate into motes of fading magic. It stumbles, weakened, its once-overwhelming presence now diminished.
Simbad raises his hands, summoning his magic to bind the dark creature in place. The monstrous form of the creature begins to shift and waver, its hulking shadow shrinking until it reveals the figure of a human—a familiar face Rune never expected to see again.
Rune's eyes widen in shock. "Kuma..." he breathes, his voice heavy with disbelief and emotion. Memories of their shared days in the draconic village flood his mind.
Kuma, visibly weakened, looks up with a faint smirk. "You really didn't die that day, Runica..." His voice carries the weight of both exhaustion and relief. Rune steps closer, his grip tightening on his weapons, though not out of aggression. "Kuma," he whispers again, softer this time, his expression a mixture of relief and guilt.
Simbad, equally stunned, "Kuma?" he echoes, glancing between the two. "The guardian of the draconic village? I never thought I'd see you in person. Everyone thought you were a myth."
Kuma cracks a small smile, "Runica Silver," he says, his voice steady despite his weakened state. "You've changed. I can see it in your eyes. The fire within you still burns bright... but yet colder."
Meanwhile, Megan blinks as she suddenly finds herself seated in the grandstands of an enormous coliseum. The atmosphere is electric, filled with the roaring cheers of ethereal spirits occupying the surrounding seats. She glances around in confusion until her eyes land on the center of the arena, where Joker stands, theatrically performing magic tricks. Above him, glowing letters shimmer into view, spelling: "JOKER TIME! FUN TIME!"
With a dramatic flourish, Joker flicks a magic card into the air. It explodes, and a fighter zombie emerges, flexing his martial prowess as he performs an intimidating display of martial arts. The crowd erupts into cheers. Joker then throws another card, which bursts into a flurry of light, revealing a graceful dancer zombie who twirls and pirouettes across the arena, her movements hauntingly beautiful.
"Marvelous, isn't it?" Joker says, clapping his hands. Magic dust sprays from his fingertips, and a massive balloon materializes above the arena. With a sinister grin, Joker points his cane, firing a beam of light into the balloon. It pops spectacularly, and from it, Ezzy plummets into the arena. Her body erupts with blazing flames of rage, the fire crackling wildly.
Joker waves his hand, his magic weaving through the flames and transforming them into intricate, dazzling shapes—flaming phoenixes, spirals, and bursts of color that mesmerize the crowd. They cheer louder, captivated by the macabre display of fire power.
Megan leaps to her feet, adrenaline surging. "Ezzy!" she shouts, vaulting over the railing and sprinting toward the arena. She summons her weapon, its radiant energy glowing fiercely in her grip. But just as she's about to enter the fray, an invisible barrier materializes, trapping her within a shimmering cube of magic.
Joker turns toward her, spreading his arms theatrically. "Ladies and gentlemen, it seems we have a special guest tonight! A special lesser human, but oh, how delightful! Something new for our entertainment!" The spirits roar with approval, their cheers shaking the coliseum.
Joker smirks and points at Megan. "Let the fun begin!" With a snap of his fingers, a clown mask materializes on the fighter zombie's face. The zombie's body convulses, then lunges at Megan with a terrifying burst of speed.
The cube around her shatters like glass, freeing her just in time. Megan raises her sword and clashes against the fighter zombie's powerful, bone-crushing fist, sparks flying as their energies collide. The coliseum erupts in an uproar, and Joker laughs maniacally. "Now, this is entertainment!"
Joker's voice echoes through the coliseum, filled with sinister glee. "Ladies and gentlemen! Did you know this lesser human here has the incredible ability to wield elemental magic—fire, wind, ice, and even the elusive light magic? What a treat!" His words seem to amplify Megan's presence, and the spirits in the stands cheer wildly, eager to see her powers in action.
Meanwhile, Megan is locked in battle with the fighter zombie. Flames burst from her hands, encircling her as she launches fireballs at the zombie, forcing it to dodge. She then switches to ice magic, freezing its legs momentarily before it shatters the ice with brute force. As the zombie lunges, she uses wind magic to propel herself upward, flipping through the air to evade its crushing blows. Megan lands gracefully, combining her elements.
Her blade glows as she channels wind, fire, and ice together, the magics intertwining and spinning around the weapon like a raging vortex. With a battle cry, she thrusts her blade forward, slamming it into the fighter zombie. The impact causes a massive explosion, vaporizing the zombie in a brilliant burst of light and energy. The crowd goes wild, their cheers deafening.
Megan wastes no time and rushes to Ezzy's side, her hands glowing with radiant light as she casts Shining Star. Light magic bursts out from her body, following the trails of Ezzy's fire scattered across the arena. The fire and light merge, creating a breathtaking display that captivates even the spirits in the stands. Ezzy's flames begin to shift, returning to her control as Joker's magic loosens its grip. Finally, with a surge of effort, Ezzy breaks free, her fiery aura intensifying as she lets out a triumphant scream.
Joker claps, his laughter echoing ominously. "What a spectacle! Truly, these lesser humans are something extraordinary, aren't they? But tell me, my dear audience... aren't you curious about what they really are?" The crowd chants in unison, "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Joker suddenly moves at the speed of light, appearing between Megan and Ezzy in an instant. Before they can react, he slashes their cheeks with his razor-sharp cards. Their blood drips from the tips of Joker's cards. A massive machine resembling a grotesque face magically materializes behind him, its gaping mouth wide open.
Joker flicks the bloody cards onto the tongue of the face machine. The crowd watches in anticipation as the machine swallows the cards. Its eyes, like slot machine reels, begin to spin wildly, glowing with an eerie light. "Let's see what you girls really are!" Joker says, his voice brimming with excitement. "It'll take a moment to analyze, but in the meantime..." He gestures dramatically.
A clown mask appears on the dancer zombie's face, twisting her graceful movements into something sinister. The dancer spins faster and faster, her movements now erratic and deadly. She charges toward Megan and Ezzy with terrifying speed, the sharp edges of her pirouette capable of slicing through steel. Megan and Ezzy, side by side, ready themselves for battle once more.