Sol immediately pulled the sword out of its sheath and threw the sheath to the side - now he was in his home clothes, so there was no way to attach the sheath to his belt. Shubby assumed a fighting stance. Only after that did Clain go to the door and, lowering the door handle, opened the door inside. Although there should have been no space outside, there was a sliver of earth beyond the door, beyond which there was probably no more matter. In front of the door, in expensive black clothes, reminiscent of a robe, decorated with gold jewelry, stood a girl in a masquerade mask. Long light green hair was falling from her head to her waist. Shubby lowered her hands and said:
-You... it was you who helped us then, against the Story Devourer?
-Yes, it is true. I am... - the unknown woman began to speak.
-Why are you wearing this mask? I know perfectly well who you are, Gerda.
Shubby looked over at Sol and widened her eyes. "Is that Gerda?" she thought, still not fully believing it. However, the masked girl sighed and nodded, taking off her mask. Now she looked at Clain and his secretary with bright yellow eyes. Gerda said:
-Can I come in?
-Well, okay, come in.
Having said this, Sol lowered his sword and walked away from the passage. Gerda came in and looked around. Apparently, in the back of the room there were passages to other parts of this pocket dimension of Sol. On a wooden table with carved legs there was only a landline telephone and a few sheets of paper, and behind the table there were 2 office chairs. Judging by the condition, someone was spinning very often on the right chair. Gerda, having gone inside, suddenly threw away not only the literal mask, but also the mask of seriousness and mystery. Exhaling and closing her eyes, the girl lowered her head and rested her right hand on her side.
-How do you live in a place like this, Sol? - asked Gerda.
-Sorry, I'm not the one who is god out of people in this room, I can't create a huge universe just like that, - Sol answered, putting on an official long white jacket over his home T-shirt.
-Um, I... I just don't know how to behave around the God of all this reality... so I'm sorry if I do something wrong! - said Shubby, who kept twitching and looking around to see and remove something that was wrong in this room before Gerda saw it.
-Don't worry, Shubby. I'm not nearly as exalted as... as I wanted to be seen as a few hundred Iterations ago, - Gerda said and shrugged.
-Oh, God knows my name! - Shubby said and pressed herself against the wall.
Sol seemed completely calm, despite the presence of the creator of the entire Narrative layer on which he lived in his home. Clain sat at the table on the left table. For the first time in the entire existence of this agency, he received someone personally. Sol put his hands on the table and closed them.
-Well, speak up, - he said.
A beautiful chair appeared opposite the table, where Gerda sat down. It is obvious that she created it herself.
-I assume the name "Kai" is familiar to you? - Gerda asked.
-Without a doubt. Although I have never met him, I... more or less know what he is, - Sol answered.
-Um, Sol? I think you shouldn't accept this request... - Shubby suddenly said as she sat down on the right chair.
-Huh? Why is it? - asked Clain.
-Because... we can't defeat Kai, - Shubby said in a sad voice.
-I wouldn't say so. According to my father, there is nothing special about him.
-No, Shubby is right, - Gerda suddenly said, leaning back in her chair. - He is an incredibly powerful opponent... in fact, he has surpassed me. Now Kai has complete control over all the worlds of the Narrative layer I live in... and can probably climb much higher if he wants.
-So he... is also a Paradox? - Sol asked.
-I don't know, Sol, I really don't know... I'm no longer sure that I created him. My whole life turned into a waking nightmare. All the time, he could kill me, or make me an outcast... but he doesn't. Maybe even you won't be able to handle it.
-Nah, I'd win, - Sol said and shrugged. - What else can you tell about him? I will need any information.
-Hmm... if you don't mind, I'll start from afar. Time to dump tons of plot and exposition. Cough cough. Gerda and Kai were ordinary people who lived in an ordinary world in which there was nothing supernatural. Kai, whose last name was Clain, had recently graduated from college and was working in the local library, while Gerda was a 2nd year student. Gerda often visited Kai, they talked a lot and eventually fell in love with each other. And they lived happily... but not for very long.
-Let me guess, Kai was hit by a truck and isekai'ed here? - Shubby asked.
-You will be surprised, but you are almost right. One day, when Kai was returning late from work, Clain decided to take a shortcut along the alleys that he thought he knew well. However, there he met some street robbers who took both his wallet and his life.
-And then you took a black bat suit and started hunting criminals? - Sol asked.
-Unlike your secretary here, you are completely wrong. Gerda was overwhelmed by depression. She lived alone, and therefore Kai was her only close person, apart from two friends - Marta and Ludwig, - when Gerda said this, Sol and Shubby looked at each other. - Gerda cried for many days and did not leave the house. Finally, in order not to commit suicide and overcome it, she began to write light fantasy novels. Obviously, Gerda was... well, let's say, not a very good writer...
-You're putting it so mildly that I would consider it a compliment for Gerda, - said Sol.
-Oh, shut up. Khm, let me continue. She was such a bad writer that even the main character of her work was a Mary Sue, based on her late lover. Neither the name nor appearance has changed. What changed was that he became an overpowered character who succeeded in everything without any problems. And everything was going well, but one day, when she again opened the document where the text of her book was... she saw that it had been supplemented overnight. Specifically, Kai's actions and words were written, which she did not write. She considered that this was sleepwalking and began to write further, but suddenly, in waking reality, Gerda saw how Kai's actions and words were written by themselves. "Undoubtedly, this is a miracle," she decided and began to communicate with this character, inscribing herself as the voice of a deity that sounds in Kai's head. However, time passed. Kai's journey was coming to an end. He defeated the Snow Queen in the ice palace... and then Gerda realized that this book was on the level of a 12-year-old girl's fanfiction. So she erased all the text and started early. However, now, assuming that Kai would be alive again, she pre-written into his character that he had all the memory of Kai Clain from the real world... but there was another memory as well. The character Kai had all the memories of the previous version of the book... let's say the 1st Iteration. Gerda was very scared by this, so she took the 2nd Iteration on a different plot to avoid déjà vu. But in the end she didn't like it either. The restart cycles continued until the 27th Iteration. Then Kai wrote his text first. Not as the character's speech, but as the author's text. Gerda will never forget these words: "You've played with me enough. I'm leaving my post as main character. Remember, sooner or later, I will turn your life into an even greater hell than the one I went through"... well, then there were more than a thousand Iterations, where the main character was not Kai... and what happened in the 1078th Iteration, both of you and so you know.
-The information is somewhat incomplete, but overall it's clear... but what about his abilities?
-It's easier to say what he can't do. Kai has Writer's Authority, so his abilities in this world are no less than mine... and considering that he also has Writer's Authority over the worlds of my Narrative layer... his abilities here are probably significantly greater than mine.
-What is that "Writer's Authority" thing? - Shubby asked.
-The power to change everything on the Narrative layer, through changing the Narrative itself. As a rule, it is possessed by the one who wrote the world over which he has Writer's Authority. For example, I have one over your entire Narrative layer. Writer's Authority, however, has its limits. Thus, the one who possesses it cannot change anything if it would conflict with genres or characters' personalities... however, Kai has gone beyond these limits more than once.
-Yes, that sounds... not very good for us. But tell me, Gerda... why would I help you if many Clains in a thousand Iterations suffered because of you? You know, being a Paradox, I myself can manifest at your Narrative layer and kill you, - Sol said, spreading his hands.
-If you wanted it, you would have already done it. I know you might think you can just stay away and ignore Kai, but... you can't. You really can't. The thing is, if he kills me, the book I'm writing will remain unpublished. And then this entire Narrative layer will sink into the Sea of Unrealized Ideas.
-Well, you convinced me. Of course I would like to know more, but...
-Then ask Kai personally, - Gerda suddenly said.
-Huh? - Sol and Shubby asked in unison.
-We are now talking about Kai Clain, that very Kai Clain. Surely he knows what we are talking about now. If you really want to know about his past... I'm sure he'll come to you if you go somewhere.
-Haah... well, okay. I'll trust your instincts... although, as an author, you should be omniscient.
-I only know what appears in the form of text. Kai, he... he can act without text, off-screen... outside the Narrative of this book. Just like you can do it, Sol. This is one of those reasons why only you can defeat him. Okay... good luck, Sol. I count on you. Kai greatly limits my abilities, but... I will try to help you. As much as I can.
Having said this, Gerda disappeared, leaving a luxurious chair in the middle of the office. Sol scratched his forehead and took a deep breath. Clain stood up from his chair and, putting his hands in his pockets, walked to the front door. Shubby, seeing this, jumped up from her chair and said:
-Wait, I'm coming too!
She went through the door at the back of the room and soon ran back, exchanging her half-open T-shirt for dark-colored clothes that could even be worn on stage. Although, since she was a melee fighter, her legs and arms were almost completely open so as not to interfere with her movement. As Shubby approached Sol, he nodded and touched the door. The door began to shine, after which Clain opened it and walked out into another world. Shubby followed him out.
There was no longer a door behind them, and they themselves stood on a grass-covered cliff, under which was the sea. The wind blew at their hair, and somewhere far below the water beat against the stone. Shubby loved this place very much and, when she was not walking through the entertainment centers of densely populated universes, she often came here. But now she had no time to admire the scenery in a romantic setting - a voice was heard behind Sol and Shubby:
-Kept you waiting, huh?
They turned around and Sol was shocked. In front of them stood the man in a black robe with a hood, whom Clain had previously thought was Oliver. The man took off his hood and now it became clear that it really was Kai. As always, he smiled slightly, looking at the Agency members with half-closed eyes. A broken sword hung in the air near his belt, but Sol and Shubby knew full well that Kai didn't need to pick it up to fight.
-No, you did not. We just arrived here, - Sol said.
-Oh, just how punctual I am, it turns out. Oh well. I know perfectly well why you came. Have you decided to listen to the tragic backstory of another character? I thought you didn't really like that, Sol, - Kai answered and laughed a little.
-It is different case with you. You saved my father... and now, it turns out, you saved me too. At a minimum, I respect you, and I don't think that you would decide to carry out reprisals without a reason. Besides, you still haven't killed her, and your goal is still unknown to me.
-Well, my goal will remain unknown... for the time being. And my backstory, well... - Kai threw off his black robe in one movement, now appearing before Sol and Shubby in the clothes familiar from Oliver's stories. - This will not be the shortest story, but in general Gerda has already told you the basics. When I began to exist, I saw the world around me. He was... a little strange. Everything seemed blurry, cartoonish and poorly detailed. This was because Gerda... describes the surroundings very poorly. I traveled with Martha and Ludwig, whom Gerda wrote based on her friends. Friends of Gerda and that Kai, who was my prototype...
-So you... you are still not the same Kai? - Shubby asked, frowning.
-This is a complex philosophical question, Black Goat of the Woods. Are you familiar with the Ship of Theseus Paradox? If the ship was repaired every time, replacing all of its parts, then in the end it will be the same ship, or completely different?... no, that was a bad example. If I kill someone and then resurrect him, and do this over and over again for my amusement, will it remain the same character, or will it be a copy of him? That's how it is with me. If I look like Kai, have his name, personality and memories, am I Kai Clain, or am I still a copy of him created by Gerda? Like I said, this is a complex philosophical question... but that's not what we're talking about. So, I, along with my friends, calmly completed our journey, saved the world... and then I found myself at home, without all the legendary equipment and powers that I had received. In addition, all my friends lost their memories, and I got new memories... now I know that these are the memories of Kai from Gerda's Narrative layer. So, now the journey was different, and towards the end, when we had almost defeated the world's evil, Ludwig died. There was no point in his death. It didn't contribute anything to the plot, it didn't carry any deep meaning... he died simply so that Gerda could say "look, this book is not childish, characters die here." Immediately after this, the world began again. And again. And again. And again. Each time the story became darker and more cruel. Somewhere since the 5th Iteration, I have always been the only one who survived. The last straw was the 26th Iteration. In it, Martha turned into the monster with a thousand faces... you know her as "Nyarla" - when Kai said this, Shubby shuddered. - Then, when the world began again, I immediately indicated that I was tired of watching the deaths of my friends many times in a row. I left the role of the main character and began to direct the plot in the right direction from the shadows. Gerda was no longer able to write my actions. No, even more. From then on, she couldn't even write the name "Kai" except in dialogue. It was physically impossible for her body. Around the same time, I learned about the true nature of fiction. About Narrative layers, about the Sea of Ideas, about Narrative... in the end, already from the first iteration I had the power to change the Narrative the way I wanted. But I didn't do that. I always thought that this time Gerda would come to her senses and do everything right... she didn't. And that's why we're standing here now.
After finishing speaking, Kai took a deep breath. He closed his eyes, but the smile did not leave his face.
-But... this is devoid of logic. If it was like you are saying, you would have killed her already! Is not it? - Shubby said.
-Haha... yes, I didn't think you would understand. My goals are slightly more complicated than simply killing a writer. It's too early for you to know. Well... I guess this was a very informative conversation! I'll be waiting for you two... no, Sol, come alone. I think you both understand that Shub-Niggurath is no match for me. In general, I will be in the world 111.111.111111. It no longer exists, but... especially for this fight, I will recreate it. Come, I will certainly be waiting for you.
Having said this, Kai curtsied. It began to rain... but Kai did not want to get wet. No doubt he could simply stop the rain, create an umbrella, or just make a barrier around himself, but he moved, dodging every drop of rain, gradually moving away from Sol and Shubby. Soon, he completely disappeared. Goosebumps ran down the skin of the Agency members. Without a doubt, Kai could have fought and won here and now, because he could have simply taken Shubby hostage... but he didn't. "Could it be that... he is not interested in winning?" Sol thought. After this conversation, their burden did not become easier, however, something had to be done. Shubby clapped her hands and a door appeared in front of them, standing on the ground. When they entered it, they found themselves back in the Agency, a little wet from the rain.
-Are you... still going? - Shubby finally asked.
-How can I not? If I let him continue with his plan, then sooner or later, Gerda will probably die. Then this entire Narrative layer will disappear, except, perhaps, me, because I am not attached to it. But I swore to continue the work of my father and mother, so now I'm a full-time hero, you know. Besides, if this multiverse disappears, you will disappear too... and without you, I will be quite bored and lonely, - when Shubby heard this, she closed her eyes and began to hold back her tears. - So yes. I'm coming. Wish me luck. If luck doesn't help me, then you won't even be able to press F to pay respect.
Sol closed the door behind him and when it began to shine, he opened it again. Now beyond the door there was a snowy wasteland, where far away, on the horizon, an ice palace could be seen. Looking there, Clain realized that the final battle was about to begin. And he shouldn't go into the final battle like that. Like Shubby earlier, he closed the door and went to the back of the Agency, and then returned wearing his more official clothes - a black shirt with matching trousers and a long white jacket that was longer in the back than in the front. The jacket was not buttoned, and those parts that turned outward on the chest and neck had symmetrical black badges on the left and right. The jacket also had a separate part that, like a small cloak, covered his shoulders and shoulder blades. In addition, it was clear that he had combed his hair - long white hair lay neatly behind his back and on the sides, reaching slightly lower than his waist. The sheath in which the sword Unity rested were located on the belt now. There were white leather gloves on his hands. Yes. He was ready.
Sol went outside. The cold wind immediately began to blow his hair to the side. There was no precipitation, and the snow that lay on the ground did not rise due to the wind. He had not been here before, but now Kai was already standing in front of Sol. It seemed as if he had always been here. The door behind Clain disappeared. Kai was the first to speak:
-Tell me, why are you fighting to save this Narrative layer? It's all pointless. He is not real, just like Gerda is not real... just like nothing is real, no matter how high you rise.
-I will answer you in your own words. This is a difficult philosophical question. What is "reality"? For me, this is where I live. I think, and so do my friends. And that's what I'm willing to fight for... besides, I can't let my parents' legacy disappear so easily... just like I won't let you disappear.
-And what do you mean by that, Sol?
-I will save you too, Kai. Even if I have to beat you into a pulp... I know that you don't really want to destroy everything. I won't kill you, but I will make you change your mind.
Kai tilted his head slightly to the side in bewilderment, and then threw it back, covered his eyes with his right hand and laughed. After laughing, he exhaled and smiled again.
-No, that will not do. You must fight with killing me on your mind. Otherwise it simply won't make sense. Or rather, you simply won't succeed.
-Are you so sure about this?
-Yes. Go ahead, use True Slash. It's, like, your strongest attack, isn't it? I advise you to also enter your Emotional Turbulence.
-Yes, but it takes a long time to charge and...
-It's nothing. I'll wait. Let's.
-Well, you asked for it... Clain Family's Special Spell - Emotional Turbulence: Legacy.
Rays of light began to come from the left side of Sol's back, and long beams of black flame from the right. Sol raised Unity up and energy began to flow into the blade from the air, from the earth and from Sol himself. A few seconds later, Sol disappeared. His movements surpassed the usual three-dimensional, four-dimensional, twelve-dimensional and any-dimensional space-time, because he moved outside the Narrative itself... but what was that for Kai? When Sol disappeared, he didn't appear behind Kai, no. He, to his surprise, appeared in front of Kai... and Kai put forward the index finger of his right hand, stopping Sol's True Blade, which was impossible to stop, with it.
-Now you understand? - Kai said.
Suddenly for Sol, epic music started playing all over the world. The sounds of a church organ were organically mixed with drums and electric guitar. Sol suddenly realized he couldn't move. It was in this position, holding the sword horizontally, that he froze, although he was aware of what was happening around him. Kai bent the finger that had previously stopped Sol's sword... and Clain realized that if he didn't dodge, the worst would happen. Somehow, breaking the spell of paralysis, Sol dodged to the right, and did the right thing - a deep wound appeared on the left side of his body... repeating the vertical movement that Kai's finger made. Immediately after this, Sol, finally regaining control of his body, jumped back. He put his hand to his wound, which ran almost throughout his body, and it immediately healed. The clothes also regenerated. Without waiting, Sol, this time without the True Cut, ran towards Kai and began to carry out an infinitely fast series of strikes, with feints and detours around the enemy... but Kai dodged, each time either spreading his arms or shrugging his shoulders. It was clear that he was not fighting seriously. Finally, Sol jumped back again, realizing that nothing would really work out...
-I've told. You must fight with killing me on your mind.
-No... I said that I...
-What are you saying? You will "save" me? No, you will simply die then, and I will fulfill my warning and kill Gerda, destroying this entire Narrative layer, and maybe even her layer, in addition. You understand that then your parents' sacrifice will be in vain? Or maybe you initially didn't care about them, and then, during your journey, you showed your real attitude towards them?
Sol's eyes, including the whites and irises, became completely black, similar to Oliver's eyes during Emotional Turbulence. However, he still maintained control.
-Your provocation will not work on me, Kai...
-By the way, speaking of your parents... I may not be a Paradox, but I have all the qualities of a non-written character, all the qualities of a Paradox. I could have saved Oliver and Cirael... I just decided not to.~
It was after these words that Sol snapped. The light behind him disappeared, and the black flame, instead of creating the silhouette of a wing, enveloped his entire body. Still holding Unity in just his right hand, Sol bared his teeth and lowered himself, now standing on his feet and left hand. At the same time, he grabbed the sword, holding it like a knife, with a reverse grip. In this position, when he bent over, he resembled a wild animal ready to attack its prey. Even before this, the speed at which he could always move was infinite... but even so, he was somehow able to break that limit. As he prepared to attack, Sol rushed at Kai and made a vertical slash with his sword, from which, like before, the magician simply dodged back.
However, this time when Kai jumped back, a small cut appeared on his cheek. It was shallow and hardly bled. However, even it was an achievement. Sol at this time stood in place, leaning on 3 limbs, baring his teeth at his opponent. Kai, placing his finger on this wound, smiled.
-That's better! Few people could inflict even such a wound on me, even if I'm not fighting seriously... attack again, Sol!
When he removed his finger from his cheek, the wound was gone, but Sol didn't care. Moreover, it was unlikely that he could think now. The music played throughout the universe has changed. The organ sounds disappeared, leaving only the guitar and drums. The sound of another guitar joined them, and the whole music became much faster and more aggressive. Clain again rushed towards Kai and struck, this time from the right. But this blow was not destined to land. With his left hand, Kai tossed the broken sword that was hanging next to his belt to the left. Sol's Unity, which was now also black due to the black fire of Hate, collided with Kai's vertically flying sword and bounced away from it. Kai himself picked up his weapon with his right hand. If Sol was now aware of the world around him, he would be surprised, because Unity was supposed to destroy everything that is considered a weapon in the Narrative, and a sword, even a broken one, certainly fits this definition. However, now even the basic logic in it has disappeared.
As soon as Kai picked up his weapon, he unleashed a vertical slash at Sol, which Clain dodged back before swinging his sword towards Kai, releasing a wave of black energy. Kai snapped his fingers, which made the wave disappear. This wave was followed by another one, and another, and another. Against each one, Kai snapped the fingers of his left hand, each time taking a new pose. All of Sol's attacks had no effect, so after the next wave he himself, standing on two legs, flew towards Kai, leaving a black trail behind him. The magician put his left hand behind his back and began to parry Sol's advance. He parried every blow with ease, and it was clear that he did not even bother getting serious.
After several blocked strikes, Kai saw the opening and kicked Sol in the legs, after which, while Sol was falling and was unable to think logically and regain his balance, Kai kicked him again, this time in the head, followed by a stabbing blow from above. However, Sol did not plan to receive this stab, even despite his lack of intelligence at the moment. Acting on instinct, Clain created a claw that came out of his back out of black fire. This limb pulled Kai's sword to the side, after which Sol himself, twisting, struck Kai's legs with his sword.
The former Clain, when his sword was parried, took it to the side and stuck it into the ground, which allowed him, when a lower attack was carried out, leaning on the sword, to roll to the side, letting the enemy's blade pass under him. At the same time, black chains with sharp tips materialized from the icy ground, which first pierced and then entangled Sol's body, preventing him from moving. Even if the brain and heart were destroyed, it wouldn't be enough to kill Oliver's son in Turbulence mode, especially if it was Turbulence of Hate... but his opponent was Kai. Nothing is impossible for Kai. Maybe Sol is immune to changes in the Narrative, and Hate should block magic... Kai simply changed the properties of all his magic to such that it ignored black fire dispel, through a change in the Narrative. That is why the chains did not cease to exist when they touched Sol. Moreover, Kai only had to think about it, and Sol returned to normal. The black flames disappeared and the Emotional Turbulence ended. Now he, fully conscious, lay on the ground unable to move.
-I am disappointed. Only you had a chance to kill me... but even while possessed by Hate, you failed. Farewell, Sol Clain, - Kai said and raised his sword.
-Damn... even with all of it... - Sol began, closing his eyes and preparing for death.
There was no fear in Sol's voice or actions. Of course, he didn't plan to die so early, but he was prepared for Kai to be an opponent whose strength Sol didn't expect. However, he never expected this... but help again came from where it was not expected. Kai, without turning around, suddenly raised the sword behind his head, holding it horizontally. The huge fist of the stone giant, which exceeded the size of the mountains, descended on Kai, but was held back by a small fragment of the sword.
-Well, yes, of course... consider yourself lucky, Sol!
Sol didn't really understand what was happening, while Kai was already in the air above this colossus in an instant. The colossus itself was cut into pieces and fell to the ground. The chains binding Sol disappeared, and Kai looked back - several more similar giants were walking towards him. The mage grinned and brought his weapon to his left side, grasping the blade with his hand. When he sharply thrust his sword forward, an area of cut space appeared around each of these giants, and Kai himself said: "Jackpot!"
But Sol did not lie still. Pushing off the falling fragments of the colossus, he immediately reached Kai and attacked him from behind, now without Emotional Turbulence. Just when it seemed like the attack was about to reach Kai... Kai turned his head sharply and looked at Sol with a smile. Unity passed into Kai's body... and got stuck there, while Kai appeared behind Sol. The body that Clain had just pierced turned out to be fake, although before that it was completely real.
While Sol was unable to defend himself, Kai hit him in the head with the hilt of his sword, sending him flying down. During this flight at infinite speed, Sol managed to change his position and throw the false body off his blade. He landed on his feet, which is why he was able to parry the attack from above, which Kai inflicted, descending after Clain. When the broken sword was stopped, Kai pushed his blade away from Sol's and flew back.
-What were these stone things? - Sol asked, not letting his guard down.
-These are multidimensional gods who lived in this world back during the very first Iteration. Gerda must have restored them and directed them at me to give you another chance... what a pity that this chance was wasted.
-Wasted?... but I'm still alive.
-Oh, you won't be for long. I've already played enough. You've disappointed me, Sol Clain.
Kai swung his sword once diagonally in front of him. Nothing flew at Sol, causing him to lower his head to the side in confusion.
-Well, what was that? - suddenly, his eyes widened and his gaze fell down. - Huh?
The upper half of his body fell to the ground while the lower half fell the other way. He was dead. Whatever Kai did, it was the end. A huge diagonal slash cut Sol in half. Kai turned around and, sighing, disappeared... when Kai was no longer here, another person appeared next to the two halves of Sol's body - Gerda. Her hands were shaking. The girl sat down on one knee next to Sol's body and pointed her hands at him. Green light filled the skies as Sol opened his eyes. His body was whole again, but... he couldn't move.
-Sol, I... I'm afraid that's all I can do. If I interfere more, Kai won't tolerate it. You will need time to recover, but... I'm giving you one more chance.
When she said this, Gerda stood up and a door appeared in front of her. Shubby ran out the door and picked Sol up, shaking with fear. Sol, who could barely speak, said in a weak voice:
-Gerda, I... need your help. Call everyone. Literally all the characters who are still alive... let them hold Kai until I... get back to normal...
After that, he lost consciousness, closing his eyes.
~*~
Several Exes have passed. Different amounts of time passed in different universes, but for Kai it was about a week. He sat in the middle of a plain that seemed to stretch for the whole world. He closed his eyes and assumed a meditation pose.
-So this story will end with the victory of the antagonist... well, it's time.
But it was time for something different. Flashes of green energy began to appear tens of meters away from him. In place of each of them a character appeared. Oliver, Cirael and Sol from the world in which original universe Sol traveled earlier, Martha and Ludwig from the same world, Marren, Aren, Gehessikait, Sean, Ktul, Shubby, Necronomicon... and many, many others. Absolutely everyone who survived the restarts of stories was now in front of Kai. The strongest character grinned and, opening his eyes, stood up. He immediately took the broken sword that he had next to his belt. Alternate universe Sol suddenly looked at the Necronomicon.
-Wait, aren't you dead?... - he asked.
-Those who know how to change the Narrative at my level are immortal. Even if people like me are erased from reality, we can always return by simply inserting ourselves back into the Narrative... of course, we cannot return from the Sea of Ideas. Moreover, only the one in whose soul I settled, and not I myself, perished, - answered the Necronomicon, shrugging his shoulders. - Not the point. What is important is the one who is in front of us.
-So, Gerda decided to stall for time... fine. I can play with you all. Come! - Kai shouted, smiling even in front of such a huge army.
However, as soon as this army of more than several thousand characters took a single step, each of them lost the ability to move. Even such powerful entities as the Necronomicon could not budge. After that, Kai snapped his fingers... and a supernova appeared in the orbit of this planet. Seems like, in fact, he didn't want to play...
~*~
Kai sat in a black space. In front of him was a table, on which, like in a game of tabletop RPG, there was a map of the area, and on it there were more than a thousand pieces standing next to each other, and one representing Kai in front of them all. Sighing, Kai took a huge yellow ball from the edge of the table and brought it to the board. At this time, he wrote in the book that was open in front of him: "After that, Kai snapped his fingers... and a supernova appeared in the orbit of this planet. Seems like, in fact, he didn't want to play..."
Suddenly, someone who appeared from the other side of the table grabbed his hand. Looking up, Kai saw a girl dressed in beautiful black clothes, with long green hair and golden eyes, and behind her head there was a wide golden circle... she was not very similar to the Gerda that Kai remembered from higher Narrative layer Kai's memories, but he knew. It was exactly her. She smiled slightly, but she looked as if she was desperate... no, she was remorseful. However, this did not change Kai's decision. His face was distorted with anger and he, abruptly jumping up and turning over the chair on which he was sitting in this pseudo-space, reached out to her with his right hand. Space itself cracked around his hand... and when all the space around them crumbled, he found himself on the battlefield, where all the characters of all Iterations stood against him. Gerda stood in front of them, and the Sun, which he had just created, went out and did not burn anything. Undoubtedly, Gerda saved them all.
-You have an interesting body. You enlarged your breasts, lengthened your hair, and chose clothes worthy of God, - Kai said, placing his left hand on his side and moving his right hand to the side.
-Well, at least I should have gotten something during the descent, right?
-You... I feel that now you are not an avatar. So, have you finally decided?
-That is correct.
While everyone else did not understand what was happening - although everyone knew that it was Gerda, and many themselves would like to kill her - Kai and Gerda, meeting face to face for the first time for real, continued the conversation. Kai said:
-Like Martha earlier, you committed suicide in order to descend to your own Narrative layer... but now that you have died on a higher layer, this whole one must disappear. However, it still exists.
-I completed and published my book. I called it "Storyverse", - answered Gerda.
-Hmm, how surprising. And what is the ending?
-Sol kills you, after which you reveal that this is what you planned, after which a rift to my Narrative layer opens, Sol goes there and drags me into this world by force, leaving me to live in this terrible world that I myself created. Wasn't this how it was supposed to be?
-That's right, you're absolutely right. No wonder you know it, I did everything to make you guess my plan. This was my plan initially. You are punished and the world exists, seems like happy ending... however, Sol turned out to be too weak. I decided that it wouldn't be too bad if the main villain won for a change. No one would have seen this story anyway... but I like how logically you ended it all... but now nothing will stop me from killing you for real, because this Narrative layer will not cease to exist after your death.
-It won't, indeed. However, we all, despite this... will give you a fight.
Having said this, Gerda turned around and pointed at everyone who was standing behind her. Not everyone liked her, but they had already stood up, and she had just saved them from death. Moreover, the victory over Kai is something that legends will be made about... and now, with new support, this army again moved towards Kai.
~*~
The battle was not particularly long... by the standards of Kai, who had lived for many millennia. However, it lasted for several days. Not because they couldn't defeat Kai and Kai couldn't defeat them, no. He just wanted to kill everyone individually, right in front of Gerda's eyes. The ground was charred, and everywhere there were reminders of the defeat of this entire army. Someone was burned, someone was frozen, chopped up, poisoned, buried in the ground, torn apart, beheaded, erased from reality, shot, crushed, imprisoned in another dimension, turned into an animal, left with erased memories, sent into space... each of these several thousand characters from past Iterations, as well as the alternate universes of the current Iteration, was defeated in a different way than the others. There was no one who was killed the same way as the other.
In the middle of this battlefield sat Kai, not at all wounded. He held the exhausted Gerda on his knees. Kai raised his sword.
-So it turns out that everything will end like this. It's been a long journey, both for me and for you. But now you can finally take a break from it. Goodbye, Gerda, - said Kai.
The clash of swords. There was one clap of thunder. Sol stood a few meters from Kai, holding Gerda in his arms. The Unity sword, with which he somehow managed to block Kai's descending broken sword, was stuck in the ground, because it flew off at the moment of impact. Kai stood up. He didn't have his usual smile on his face and looked at Sol with sadness on his face. Whether it was sadness from having his goal literally stolen from under his nose, or from thinking that Sol wouldn't want to stop him this time... no one knew the answer. Gerda looked around, still not believing that she was alive. Looking at Sol, who was holding her in his arms, she blushed a little, then turned her gaze to Kai.
It started to rain. Kai, Sol, and Gerda were getting wet under the rain, as they all were not moving. Finally Sol said:
-The hero always appears at the last moment... ahem. Run. While I fight Kai... resurrect everyone who died in this battle.
-I... if it were possible, then the likes of the Necronomicon would have already resurrected themselves... Kai blocks everything that I or they try to do. I'm afraid we'll have to kill him first and...
-I understand. Then I'll do it. Leave. Now I'm ready.
Sol released Gerda and she disappeared. Sol stood opposite Kai, and drops of water mercilessly splashed their hair and clothes. But now they didn't care.
ؘ-Last time you asked me why I fight, - Sol said suddenly. - While I was recovering and training, I thought about it... I think I came to one conclusion.
-Then tell me then, - Kai replied.
-This world is truly terrible, cruel, selfish, wrong, distorted, greedy, dishonest, evil, and much, much more... however, I love this world. There is no doubt that I am not the hero that everyone would like to see. If I have to choose, I will not hesitate sacrifice less people to save more. If I have to, I will let more people die to save the people close to me. In neither case will I regret or engage in self-flagellation. Gerda has made many mistakes for which she will need to pay. However, it was she who created this world. So, just like I am ready to fight for this entire Narrative layer, I am ready to fight for her life.
-I understand. I can't say that I agree, but I'm not you. Honestly, I do not really care about your motivation to fight... after all, you are a hero and I am a villain. That's all that matters. Pick up your sword.
Sol walked up to Unity and picked it up from the ground, pointing it at Kai, after which he said:
-Last time I fought against you as against the one who saved my father, and then saved me... but you're right, this is the wrong approach. So, know, another threat to the universe... today another star in the sky will fade. No, all the stars will fade... But I'll keep shining.
As soon as the last phrase left Sol's mouth, both fighters disappeared and the ringing of metal began to be heard here and there. After each blow they moved hundreds of meters, but this happened instantly. Even without Emotional Turbulence, Sol could throw punches that Kai would have to block and parry. After such clashes of blades, both fighters, while in the air, hit each other with their free hands, right in the faces, which is why both flew off and braked with their feet on the ground.
-Not bad, now show me if you can survive the same attack as before, - Kai said and swung his blade once.
At the same moment, mechanical wings appeared behind Sol. Several gray tubes, purple at the rounded ends, through which light blue lines pass, reminiscent of wings in their overall silhouette, appeared behind his back. It was as if Kai's attack had never happened - no damage appeared on Sol's body.
-Aren explained to me... this is an attack that is usually used by Dimensional Lords, such as Aren himself. She attacks the enemy on an emotional level, which is especially effective against the Clains. Normally, Dimensional Lords cannot cause serious damage with such attacks... but you are a different matter. So I've been mastering this for a long time... Clain Family's Special Spell - Emotional Turbulence: Serene Mind.
-This is your mother's Turbulence, which, despite the name "Emotional Turbulence", completely calms the soul and allows you to see the future. Of course, against the perfectly calm characters, such an attack of mine will not work... - said Kai, - however.
Kai disappeared, and various objects appeared in the sky, creating a continuous dome. Every color imaginable filled the skies. Fireballs, ice needles, stones, pure energy, nuclear bombs, swords... it is impossible to describe everything that was in the sky now. And all this came to the center in an instant. And if this were not enough, in orbit Kai again created a supernova, which now also flew at superluminal speed towards the planet, burning the earth and trying to flatten Sol.
However, this did not happen. There was one black flash, and Sol, now having 2 black wings behind his back, reached Kai, who was now somewhere in space, in one dash. At the same time, during his flight, he cut the star that Kai had just created in half. However, the explosion provoked by the destruction of the star's core had no effect on the two.
-Clain Family's Special Spell - Emotional Turbulence: Hate... this is your father's Turbulence, no doubt, - Kai said. - If you have mastered both it and Serene Mind, I guess I can't hold back.
The next moment, Kai's sword was already next to Sol, who barely managed to block it. However, this did not prevent the impact from the strike from throwing him back... across several galaxies. Destroying planets and stars with his body, Sol, flying away due to Kai's blow, stopped only when he was already 3 galaxies away from the previous battlefield. At the same time, Kai did not lag behind for a second. However, when the dust from the collision with the next planet settled, and Kai had already attacked, he discovered that Sol was now again in Serene Mind mode, which, thanks to his future vision, helped him easily evade Kai's sword, allowing him to fall down. Immediately after this, the sci-fi wings were replaced by black flames, and now, in Hate mode, he himself launched an attack from which Kai had to defend. Both of them moved at infinite and even higher speed, but Kai barely had enough time to block the sword blazing with black fire with his broken sword.
Now Kai flew away to several light systems. Like Sol before, the magician destroyed planets with his body during this flight, and when he began to slow down, he, having gained control of his flight, landed right on a bench somewhere in the park, sitting there imposingly, under surprised and frightened looks the creatures around him.
-Damn, I couldn't do it as cool as Dante did... - he said.
Kai didn't have to sit for long - a white flash signaled that Sol was approaching. Waving at the locals, Kai rose to his feet and, bouncing off the ground, went straight into outer space, where he met Sol. But Sol was no longer engulfed in black flames, and the two mechanical wings were not behind him... behind his left shoulder was the mechanical wing of the Serene Mind, and behind his right shoulder was the black flames forming a wing. But this black fire did not come from his back, on the contrary. From the wing black fire flowed onto his shoulder, from there to his hand, and from there to the blade. It was with Sol in this form that Kai crossed blades, after which they both flew away from each other. They were in outer space, so they couldn't breathe or talk... however, that didn't matter. Sol said:
-This is the real Legacy... I mean, this is the Clain Family's Special Spell - Emotional Turbulence: Legacy. It combines all the abilities of Hate and Serene Mind. Now neither magic nor melee attacks will work. Give up, Kai.
-No, I'm afraid I can't retreat now. Moreover, this battle is finally becoming interesting.
They flew at each other again and crossed blades... however, as soon as this happened...
Scene 489, characters: SOL, KAI
characters move to another narrative layer
SOL
Give up right now
Or you will face the power unmatched
I give you a chance
To die with you honor not stretched
KAI
I can't withdraw
For the path I have chosen.
For revenge alone
I will withstood pain a dozen.
cross swords again
With each clash of our blades, we move to another Narrative layer, sometimes higher, sometimes lower. At the same time, the genre and method of narration of the text changes... in addition, we immediately adapt to the number of dimensions to which the universe in which we find ourselves is attached... but I cannot retreat.
-Kai, I'm coming! - I shouted.
Once again our swords collided and...
I... I'm scared. What 2 strange people suddenly appeared in the air and now they're fighting with swords! They flew away from each other, but now they are coming together again and...
Unity in hand
Sol holds and crosses blades
They disappear
Hell no, I won't back down. For the first time, someone is actually catching up to me... but I am not scared, on the contrary, I was waiting for it! Attack, Sol, I'm ready! He flies at me again, sword raised... oh, this time he feints, allowing my sword to pass by... but it's fine, I create a new sword in my other hand, deflecting another blow, after which we again move to a random Narrative layer!
Scene 493, characters: SOL, KAI
KAI
Are you not tired yet
Of futile struggle or yours?
Soon or later you'll yield
While my dopamine overdose.
SOL is silent; they clash again
The 6th time they moved to another Narrative layer... ending up, such a great a coincidence, in the very Narrative layer in which this story began. On the icy wasteland that was in the very first Iteration. Once again flying away, Sol did not go at Kai, but instead he raised Unity upward, beginning to collect energy for the True Slash. Kai could have attacked him now, but... he deemed it boring. Instead, he also raised his blade up, but did not collect energy.
-Unlike you, I don't have any cool moves with names. Sure, I can create some new attack right now, but... why? I will simply meet your sword with all the strength that I have. Let's finish this! - Kai said and smiled for the first time during the fight.
They both disappeared. It was like the final fight between original universe Sol and alternate universe Sol... but this time Sol didn't fall. The only one who was injured was Kai. Despite the fact that Sol used the True Blade, Kai received a physical wound running through his entire body. He could have easily healed it, replaced his body, or reincarnated... but he didn't. Instead, he turned around and spat blood, dropping his broken sword. He smiled and laughed. Kai said:
-Ha... yes, I guess this would be the most ideal ending... well, it was a lot of fun, son of Oliver... move on with your life... and decide what to do with the Narrative layers yourself.
Kai's body began to disappear. As if consisting of countless pieces of fabric, it began to scatter in the wind, but before it completely dissipated, he disappeared. Probably, he teleported somewhere where he wanted to spend his last moments. Sol put his sword, which had no trace of blood on it, into its sheath, and lowered his head. When he wished so, a door appeared in front of him, behind which was his Agency. He silently entered there, not expecting anyone to meet him... but Shubby ran out to meet Sol and hug him.
-Shubby?... But I just killed Kai, did Gerda have enough time?... - said Sol.
-I... I don't know. I woke up already here. And I'm so glad you're back! Have you really won?!
-That's right, Shubby... I won.
-Then why aren't you happy? You won, you saved the whole world!
-Kai... never planned to win. From the very beginning, his goal was to die by my hand. He probably knew that Gerda would decide to do this, so he waited until she herself came out of her Narrative layer... and then he planned to die. I... need to rest.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door again, which had already closed behind Clain. Shubby pulled away from Sol and they both became wary. It couldn't be Gerda, because she is no longer a writer... With all caution, Sol, keeping his right hand on his sword, opened the door... and Gerda stood behind it. Without a mask and in simpler clothes, but it was undoubtedly her.
-I won't even ask the question how did you get here... what are you doing here, Gerda? - Sol said, letting go of the hilt of his sword.
-Well, um... I have nowhere to go, - she said suddenly.
-It can not be true. Even now you have the power to change reality. You can easily create a house or a whole universe for yourself, - Sol answered.
-Oh, you're such a killjoy! Shubby was right, you don't understand girls!
In response to this, Shubby opened her eyes fully and froze with an expression of shock on her face... and Sol frowned. Things couldn't be the way he thought... however, three would be more fun. Sol stepped aside and said:
-Well, come in if you like to.
Gerda's wide halo, which was behind her head, did not fit through the door, so she had to enter sideways first. She looked around, thought, and then snapped her fingers.
-That's better, - said Gerda.
-What... did you do? - Shubby asked.
-Obviously, I rebuilt the house. It was too small for my taste...
Sol and Shubby immediately left through a door at the back of the room, but returned soon after. Now this little pocket universe of Sol was a three-story house, where there were even panoramic windows offering beautiful views of the landscapes of different worlds. But something surprised Sol more:
-I understand everything, Gerda, but... why is there still only one bedroom? There used to be one due to my weak space-creating abilities, but I'm sure you could make one for each of us, - Clain said.
-Well, yes. One bedroom, triple bed. Is there something wrong? Neither of us need sleep anyway, so I thought, why not do it more properly? - Gerda answered, smiling and tilting her head to the side.
-I don't understand what you mean... but overall you're right, I don't need sleep in general, - Sol said and spread his hands. - So do as you wish.
Shubby was all red at that time and looked first at Gerda and then at Sol. And this is how these three lived in this small universe. Sol, Shubby and Gerda, who was now just a powerful reality bending mage, worked at CFWDE Agency. All of them were a serious threat even to the gods of this Narrative Layer... and Sol could freely move both higher and lower in the layers, which made him a threat to various monsters on a universal scale or higher even on other Narrative Layers. And they lived happily ever after... wait, there will be an epilogue, right.