Chapter 27 - Hope and Dream

"Something's wrong, Shido. These copies are incredibly powerful, and they show no signs of fatigue." Tohka gritted her teeth, struggling to fend off her own clone, every strike feeling like she was battling a mirror image.

"Especially—" 

Suddenly, Shido's clone lunged forward, raising a hand and shouting,

"!" The angel of Shido's shadow appeared, feather-like guns flying in all directions, unleashing a barrage of blasts, causing multiple explosions around the area.

"That's right... It's my shadow." Shido saw his clone using with the same power as himself.

Not backing down, Shido quickly summoned , retaliating with equal force. "!" His feathered guns fired light beams, colliding with the clone's attack.

But the result was unexpected. Despite Shido's powerful strikes, they couldn't penetrate the clone's defense. Every shot was blocked, as if the clone anticipated his every move.

"Damn it...?!" Shido roared in frustration, his eyes wide. His clone not only matched his strength but acted as a perfect reflection, leaving no openings.

"That's right, Shido, show me what you can do compared to all your talk." I remained hidden in the shadows, not yet revealing myself to Shido's group.

Shido bit his lip, feeling a surge of desperation. 

"Watano... Where are you? Show yourself!" Shido called out, his voice echoing through the space.

"..."

But only silence answered him.

"If you've decided not to respond... then this time, I won't hold back." He clenched his fists, his eyes resolute.

"..."

"Listen, everyone! I just need you to hold off the enemy for two minutes, that's all!"

"Leave it to me!" Tohka shouted, ready to take position.

"I-I'll do my best," Yoshino whispered, her eyes filled with worry but determination.

"Don't worry, the Yamai sisters are here. We won't let anyone touch Shido," Kaguya declared confidently.

"Agreed. No one will harm Shido," Yuzuru echoed, her sharp gaze fixed ahead.

"Since Darling asked, of course I'll give it my all," Miku said, a faint smile on her face, but her eyes filled with determination.

Finally, Natsumi spoke up hesitantly, feeling the pressure as everyone else had taken their roles.

"Huh? Alright... But don't blame me if I don't do well!" She blushed slightly but stepped into position.

"Thank you, everyone," Shido said, his voice low and full of gratitude.

The group quickly formed a defensive formation. Tohka took the front, ready to face any threat. Yoshino stood just behind, tense but prepared. On either side of Tohka were Kaguya and Yuzuru, creating a strong defensive line. Miku and Natsumi stayed at the back, protecting Shido as he began preparing for his plan.

"A strategy, huh? Interesting. Fine, show me everything you've got!" I observed the battle from afar, feeling a flicker of excitement as Shido's group tried to resist the shadowy clones.

The clones charged forward like a storm, relentlessly attacking Shido's team. Tohka was the first to engage, clashing with her own clone and Kaguya's clone.

"!" She shouted, the sword in her hand gleaming as she slashed forward.

Meanwhile, Kaguya and Yuzuru moved to the sides, each confronting other clones. Yuzuru faced off against the clones of Yoshino and Natsumi, while Kaguya engaged the clones of Miku and Yuzuru.

"Hesitation. Even though I know they are just copies, fighting against my comrades still feels unsettling," Yuzuru muttered, her sharp eyes betraying a hint of emotion.

", !!" 

", !!"

Finally, Yoshino stood her ground, facing Shido's clone — the greatest threat in the current situation.

"You look just like Shido... But you're only a copy, lacking his heart and humanity... So, I have to stop you!" Yoshino said firmly, summoning her ice angel.

"!" she shouted, as the giant rabbit appeared, ready to protect her and her friends.

Meanwhile, Miku and Natsumi at the rear continued to strengthen Shido with their angels and .

", "March>!" 

", "March>!"

◊ 

The battle grew more intense than ever, with the clones relentlessly charging forward, matching the strength and agility of the originals.

Tohka felt the tension in the air, the sound of swords clashing ringing in her ears. Every slash she made was powerful, but her clone was just as swift. The in the clone's hand swept through the air, creating a blinding streak of light in the darkness before driving straight toward Tohka.

"Not bad," Tohka murmured, stepping back to dodge the strike, then swinging her own sword with precision.

The two clashed again, sparks flying. But before she could catch her breath, Kaguya's clone, with her spear , appeared right behind her, charging with terrifying speed like a tornado.

"You're not—"

Sensing the threat from behind, Tohka swiftly spun around, leaping back to avoid the strike. Due to the excessive momentum, Kaguya's clone accidentally crashed into Tohka's clone. Tohka watched as her clone was hit, its body shaking violently before dissolving into shadows that faded into the air.

"I did it!" Tohka sighed in relief, but without time to rest, she returned to battle with Kaguya.

On the other side, Kaguya and Yuzuru fought against more clones. Kaguya swung her spear fiercely at the enemy in front of her, but Miku's clone was equally fierce. The sharp, powerful strikes from Kaguya were all blocked by sound waves generated by .

"Tch, my wind is no weaker than that sound!" Kaguya shouted, trying to push the clone back, but her opponent wasn't easily defeated.

Each time Kaguya thrust her spear, the clone countered with equal force, leaving her with no openings to exploit.

Yuzuru, meanwhile, faced the clones of Yoshino and Natsumi. She darted around, dodging blasts of icy beams from , while Natsumi's clone, wielding , used illusions to confuse and disorient her.

"Impressive. They really do resemble our friends," Yuzuru remarked, though her tone remained as calm as usual. She swung the pendulum forcefully, trying to dispel the illusion created by Natsumi's clone, but immediately had to dodge another attack from .

"Unified. We must strike more decisively," Yuzuru muttered, then activated the power of , generating a fierce wind that surrounded her body.

Yuzuru's speed increased like never before, and she rushed toward Yoshino's clone, slicing through the ice beam from before it could reach her. In an instant, Yoshino's clone was caught in the gust and pushed back.

"Now's my chance!" Yuzuru whispered.

"Haaaaaaaah!" Yuzuru threw the pendulum with all her strength, it flew around Yoshino's clone, tightening around her neck before the clone gradually dissolved.

Meanwhile, Kaguya was still fighting Miku's clone.

"That's definitely Miku, not bad at all!" Kaguya shouted, more determined than ever.

She could feel every blow numbing her arm, but she dared not let up. Miku's clone, with cold and soulless eyes, attacked relentlessly, showing no sign of weakening.

Suddenly, Miku's clone backed off, as if making way for another opponent. Kaguya noticed this and a contemptuous smile appeared on her face.

"So you're finally stepping up, Yuzuru's clone?" Kaguya laughed confidently. "Good! Here I come!"

One of 's wings spun, gathering fierce winds, creating a swirling tempest around Kaguya. Without hesitation, she charged straight at Yuzuru's clone, with no concern for defense, as if she had already read every attack her opponent would make.

However, Miku's clone did not stand idle. Wielding the angel , she enhanced Yuzuru's clone.

", !"

Yuzuru's clone's power suddenly surged. Without hesitation, it leaped forward, preparing to meet Kaguya's ferocious attack head-on.

"I knew it!" Kaguya shouted excitedly. Suddenly, she let go of her spear, quickly crossing her arms in front of her chest, and with a powerful thrust, sent the spear hurtling at supersonic speed. At the same time, Kaguya leaped into the air, delivering a flying side kick aimed straight at her opponent.

"Taste this move, the !"

Both the spear and the kick targeted Yuzuru's clone simultaneously, creating a powerful and unexpected attack that seemed to shake the very space around them.

Despite Yuzuru's clone's superhuman speed, it couldn't evade both attacks. The spear struck first, followed by Kaguya's powerful supersonic kick. Yuzuru's clone was defeated and quickly dissipated into nothingness.

Kaguya retrieved her spear , her eyes gleaming with an uncontrollable battle thirst. She turned to Miku's clone, her voice full of challenge.

"So... it's just you left now, isn't it?"

On the other side, Yoshino was facing off against Shido's clone, but the strength of her opponent far exceeded what she had anticipated. The attacks came fast, strong, and decisive, forcing her to defend with the ice from . However, the layers of ice created kept shattering under the pressure of Shido's relentless strikes.

"I can't be taken down so easily!" Yoshino thought to herself, gripping tightly with trembling hands, her gaze focused on the enemy before her.

Shido's clone summoned , its feather-shaped guns flying in all directions, creating a barrage of energy bullets that made it difficult for Yoshino to move.

", ice wall!" Yoshino cried out, immediately summoning a thick ice wall in front of her, but the bullets from continued to break through. She knew she had to change tactics or she would soon be overwhelmed.

From a distance, Tohka, having just defeated Kaguya's clone, noticed Yoshino's struggle. "Yoshino! Are you alright?"

"I-I'm trying!" Yoshino replied, her voice shaky but determined.

At that moment, Tohka quickly moved to Yoshino's side, her sword gleaming. "I'll help you!"

Tohka and Yoshino stood together, their eyes filled with determination. "We'll take it down together, Yoshino! I'll attack head-on, and you support me from behind."

Yoshino nodded. "Y-Yes!"

Tohka leaped into the air, charging straight at Shido's clone. swung forcefully, slicing through the air.

"!"

Shido's clone reacted swiftly, summoning to block the blow, but Tohka didn't slow down. She slashed with overwhelming strength, shattering the defense.

"Don't think you can mimic Shido so easily!" Tohka shouted, driving her sword forward.

At that moment, Yoshino saw the opening. "Now's the time… , Freeze Storm!" A powerful gust of icy wind from enveloped Shido's clone, freezing it in a thick layer of ice, immobilizing it. For a moment, the darkness seemed to be held at bay.

"Well done, Yoshino!" Tohka cheered, clearly impressed by her comrade's strength. She smiled, feeling the strong support from Yoshino that helped them gain the upper hand for the moment.

But before the smile could fully form on her lips, a cracking sound echoed from the ice. From within, flames from the angel erupted, breaking through the layers of ice with ease. Tohka tried to rush forward to deliver a final blow, but it was too late.

"!!!"

Shido's clone unleashed a burst of spirit energy from its body, creating a powerful shockwave that sent Tohka flying back. "No way!" she cried, struggling to regain her balance in mid-air.

", !" Shido's clone summoned the axe-angel , quickly transforming it into the cannon form . Massive amounts of spirit energy gathered, shining brightly from the cannon's huge barrel. Shido's clone hesitated not at all, preparing for a devastating shot.

Shido sensed the impending danger. "We've got to fight back, Yoshino!"

Yoshino nodded firmly. "Yes!"

", !" Tohka didn't back down. The throne of appeared in mid-air, its fragments breaking off and combining with her sword, forming a massive enhancement.

At the same time, Yoshino poured all her strength into her next move. ", !" She merged with the ice angel , icy armor forming around her Astral Dress, boosting her defense and spirit power.

The two of them joined forces, focusing their combined might on Shido's clone. "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Tohka and Yoshino screamed as they unleashed their final attack with all their power.

Yoshino's freezing blast and Tohka's energy slash from converged, colliding with the terrifying blast from . The two forces met in mid-air, causing a massive explosion, filling the battlefield with blinding light.

The shockwave from the clash rippled outward, creating a gigantic pulse. The swirling energies twisted around each other, each trying to overpower the other. The ground trembled, and the very air seemed to crack under the immense power of both sides.

"Unbelievable... If Shido really used his full strength... how could I ever defeat him..."

Shido frowned, feeling the tension of the situation. "I can't believe it… Tohka and Yoshino are giving it their all, but the clone is still so strong!" He watched as, little by little, the energy blast from began to overwhelm the two girls.

"Tohka, Yoshino, you can't hold on much longer!" Shido shouted, his voice filled with worry as he saw their light beginning to fade under the overwhelming power of the clone.

Tohka gritted her teeth, her hands trembling as she tried to keep steady against the torrent of power. "No… I won't lose to it!" she yelled, pouring the last of her spiritual energy into her sword, creating a brilliant burst of light that momentarily pushed back the power of .

Behind her, Yoshino held firmly, but she could feel her body weakening. "I… I can't hold on any longer…" she murmured, her vision blurring from exhaustion.

Just then, a voice cut through. "Don't give up!" Miku suddenly rushed forward, raising her hands to support both Tohka and Yoshino. "I'll help you!"

"No, Miku! If you strengthen Shido and both of them, it'll be too dangerous!" Natsumi hurriedly warned.

"I appreciate your concern, Natsumi. But for everyone's sake, I have to try harder!" Miku responded, determination shining in her eyes.

She let out a high-pitched song, and the sound of amplified the powers of Tohka and Yoshino, creating a powerful wave of sound that enveloped both of them, enhancing their strength. The energy from the ice blast and the energy slash became more powerful than ever.

Both of them poured all their remaining strength into one final attack. The combined slash and blast, now enhanced, shattered the power of , causing the clone's blast to explode into fragments, rushing back toward it.

"We did it!" Yoshino sighed in relief, seeing their opponent's light fade away.

"Don't get complacent, Yoshino. It's not over that easily," Tohka warned, still sensing the tension in the air.

Just as Tohka predicted, the clone of Shido wasn't defeated. The smoke from the attack slowly dissipated, revealing the clone standing there, its eyes gleaming with murderous intent. The clone continually healed itself with flames from the angel , rapidly restoring its strength.

"!"

The clone of Shido screamed in fury, and began to form an enormous ice fortress within the darkened space.

"W-What?"

"Incredible. Its power is terrifying!"

The freezing sensation from the ice fortress enveloped the surrounding space, and chunks of ice shattered and flew around like fragments of a dark dream. Everyone stood frozen, filled with worry at the sight of the massive ice structure.

"Watch out! It's about to attack!" Tohka shouted, not taking her eyes off the clone of Shido.

"!"

Hundreds of feather-shaped guns appeared, surrounding the fortress with no blind spots, all aimed directly at Shido's group.

"!"

A fierce storm whirled around the fortress, forming an impenetrable barrier.

"!"

A harmonious melody echoed, enhancing the power of the remaining angels, creating an ominous and heavy atmosphere.

Immediately after, enormous ice pillars shot up from the fortress, hurtling toward Shido's group like sharp spears ready to strike them down.

"It's no use… I'm out of spirit power…" Tohka panted, struggling to stay upright.

"Me too…" Yoshino replied, equally exhausted.

Even though both of them were drained, they remained standing. At that moment, Kaguya and Yuzuru regrouped, having just defeated the other clones.

"Everyone… what's going on?" Kaguya asked, gasping for breath.

"It's because of Shido's clone," Tohka answered, her eyes filled with heaviness.

Yuzuru stared at the ice fortress, her voice calm but serious.

"Impression: Truly, it is real…"

"Can we do it, Yuzuru?" Kaguya asked, her gaze sharp.

"Confirmation: We can!" Yuzuru replied, her voice filled with determination.

Both of them focused all their strength on the ice fortress, their eyes unwavering from the target for even a second. Together, they raised their weapons, their wings combining, creating a unified angel.

"〖Heavenly Bow 〗!"

They both shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the icy space.

A fierce windstorm erupted around them, enveloping both in a whirlwind of fury. Their determination and pride channeled into this final attack.

"Charge, Yuzuru!" Kaguya yelled, her voice burning like a flame.

"Agreement, Kaguya as well!" Yuzuru responded, and the two of them charged forward without hesitation.

The hundreds of guns from quickly locked onto their target, unleashing a barrage of bullets like rain towards the arrow speeding toward the fortress. However, the supersonic speed of the arrow surpassed the reach of the bullets, piercing through space and heading straight for the fortress. But just before the arrow could reach its target, it was blocked by 's raging storm.

"Don't slow down!" Kaguya yelled, feeling the power within her surge. She relentlessly pushed herself beyond her limits, inching closer to victory.

"Affirmation," Yuzuru replied briefly, her eyes unwavering.

The arrow slowly pierced through 's storm defense, breaking through layer after layer of protective power, finally reaching the heart of the ice fortress.

"FORWARD!!!!!!!"

Kaguya and Yuzuru both screamed, pouring their last ounce of strength into the attack. The arrow struck the fortress, and at that moment, a thunderous explosion rang out, shaking the entire space. A thick mist of steam rose, covering the dark sky and turning the scene into a white haze.

Both sisters collapsed to the ground, their bodies exhausted from the fierce battle. Their limited Astral dresses began to vanish, revealing their regular uniforms. Kaguya and Yuzuru's heavy breathing reflected the fatigue etched into their faces.

"Are you okay, Kaguya, Yuzuru?" Tohka rushed over, her eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah… we did our best…" Kaguya panted, trying to smile through her exhaustion.

"Request… We'll leave the rest to you…" Yuzuru said softly, her voice light but filled with trust as she handed over the responsibility to her teammates.

"L-Look!" 

"H-How is this possible?" 

As the white mist slowly cleared, the sight before them left everyone stunned. The fortress remained intact, completely unharmed. At the point where the arrow had struck, two massive blocks of ice had emerged, completely blocking the damage.

"〖Cannon Barrage 〗!"

The clone of Shido roared, activating 's ultimate move. The feather-shaped guns converged at an astonishing speed, spinning around him like a deadly whirlwind, all aimed at a single target, preparing to unleash an unavoidable strike.

"I'm sorry to keep you all waiting." Shido stepped forward, his gaze steady as he faced his clone.

"Thank you, everyone, for helping me earlier. From here on out, leave it to me." His voice was calm, but there was an unshakable determination behind it.

Shido took a deep breath, and immediately, a storm of spiritual energy surged up from deep within him.

This power didn't just erupt; it seemed to tear through the surrounding space, creating ripples of energy that spread out in all directions.

The ground beneath him trembled, and the air seemed to quake from the immense pressure emanating from his body.

His energy was now palpable, not just a feeling but a living force swirling around him like a vortex of light. The aura of spiritual energy radiated brightly, transforming into a blinding halo that enveloped his entire body, exuding an overwhelming sense of dominance. It was a power far beyond any limit, forcing anyone near to falter in its presence.

"What?!" I was taken aback by such a powerful Shido.

"Sandalphon, !" Shido shouted, his voice thunderous and authoritative.

In an instant, a colossal throne appeared from nothingness, cloaked in dazzling light, shining like lightning tearing through the sky. Without hesitation, Shido raised the in his hand and swung it forcefully.

The sword slashed down, splitting the throne in half with a single perfect strike. The enormous fragments of the throne didn't vanish but floated in the air, slowly merging and swirling together, forming a new shape—a massive sword, .

was no longer just a weapon; it was the embodiment of absolute power, glowing with an intensity that could level everything in its path. The pressure from the sword seemed to shrink the space around it, as if the entire world was being drawn into its gravitational pull. Everything in sight appeared blurred, insignificant, and meaningless beneath the radiant light of , a weapon ready to obliterate anything in its way.

The Shido replica faced him, his gaze cold but now mixed with surprise. For the first time, a glimmer of concern appeared in the replica's eyes. He could clearly feel the overwhelming power of the sword suppressing everything around it.

"Fire!" the Shido replica roared, commanding to unleash its ultimate attack. The feather cannon flared up, firing a beam of pure, brilliant light, like the sun, directly at Shido and his group.

He didn't waver. Calmly, Shido focused his eyes on the incoming attack. With absolute confidence, he raised high with both hands, the gigantic blade shining with blinding light, reflecting the entire force of his opponent. For a moment, time seemed to freeze, and then Shido channeled all his strength into one powerful slash.

"HAAAAAHHHHH!" he yelled, the slash erupting like a terrifying storm.

Shido's blade didn't merely strike the ground—it cleaved through the very space in front of him. The attack from was obliterated the moment it touched the colossal power of , vanishing like a wisp of smoke.

Nothing could stand firm before the might of that strike. The ice pillar from shattered into glittering fragments, the feathers from were scattered like falling leaves, and even the wind from was extinguished, completely destroyed by the sheer authority of the blow.

But Shido didn't stop. He advanced, each step causing the ground to shake, the space around him warping under the crushing pressure of the tremendous power he wielded. still blazed in his hands, ready to strike down anything that dared stand in his way.

The Shido replica stood there, his body slowly disintegrating after the attack. His eyes now reflected only shock and helplessness, unable to believe the overwhelming strength of his opponent.

"It's over." Shido's voice resonated, low but filled with power, like an undeniable judgment.

Shido's slash left a long scar on the space created by , where brilliant light illuminated the dark sky that hadn't seen light in a long time. That moment sparked a glimmer of hope amidst the overwhelming darkness.

"Look, Shido!" Tohka shouted, her eyes shining brightly at the scene before her.

"Astonishing. Shido's attack distorted space," Yuzuru said, her voice even, but her eyes showing clear amazement.

"W-We can escape now!" Yoshino cried out, her voice filled with excitement.

"My darling is truly the best!" Miku chimed in, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she gazed at Shido.

"It's closing up! Hurry, everyone!" Kaguya quickly reminded.

"Let's go—"

Suddenly, the sound of clapping echoed from the crack in the space, and everyone tensed up, ready for what was coming.

"Shido, is that…?"

"Yes, it's him."

"Well done, Shido. As expected, I'll never stand a chance against you, neither in strength nor character."

"Watano… Do you really have to do this?"

"Honestly… I'm too tired to keep playing the hero, saving everyone... But I can't stop now… I've found my own hope and dream…"

"Hope… Dream?" Shido seemed to still not understand what I was referring to.

"You know… I don't care about saving this world anymore."

"After I defeat all of you and gain control of all the Sephira to control over the timeline…"

"I just want to reset everything…"

"All your progress…"

"Everyone's memories. I'll bring them all back to zero!"

"Then we can do everything ALL over again!"

"No, Watano. It's not JUSTICE!"

"You're right. But… IT'S MY OWN HOPE AND DREAM!"

"Come on! Let's see what good your DETERMINATION is against THIS!"

"HOPE AND DREAM OF , SHIDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"