"Haap! Se!", Ikarisa lodged forward at Izuko.

Izuko, having endured heavy damage, was knock backwards, struggling to regain his ground.

"Ghk! Not yet...", Izuko slowly got up.

"I told you that I won't lose! The lie of a world and lie that became my life will all end...this time!", Ikarisa placed her lance close to her face, "Now's my chance. Be with me..."

Six powerful but handless blades, morphed behind Ikarisa's back, three on her left and three on her right side.

Ikarisa pointed her lance at Izuko. "Let's bring this to a close."

As soon as Ikarisa pointed her lance at Izuko, the morphed blades behind her swapped and pointed to the same direction.

"This is it!", Ikarisa charged at Izuko.

Before she could land her hit, Izuko raised a dark, hardened claw from the ground, having her pin her lance and all the blades charging with her in it.

"Giving me a reason to fight? Fine...", Izuko touched the ground, "Astral Remanence is strong around here..."

Izuko began harnessing the power off the earth itself, forming his royal armor on his body.

Izuko got up, "So now, let's begin!"

Ikarisa persisted, "Good. Seya!"

With a powerful pull, Ikarisa pulled her lance and all the morphed blades at the side of her lance's tip out of the hand, as if it were mere glass. She jumped back and regained her balance.

"I have no idea how you regained your World Core to use Astral Remanence...but it wouldn't surprise me. Nevertheless, Izuko, you can't escape this. It's the truth, and you know it!"

"I do...and I accept what will happen. But...will you do the same?"

Ikarisa suddenly appeared in front of Izuko, "I already have."

Ikarisa smacked Izuko in the chest, her morphed blades following the flow of her swing, sending him backwards and slashing his armor.

Izuko clawed the ground, regaining his balance. He got up again and lifted his arm up as well.

"To me!", Izuko yelled.

A huge monster emerged from the ground, looking like a mutated version of a Shadower. He further created a small group of runaway Shadowers, with what little power he had to spare.

"That all? Alright, let's finish this!", Ikarisa dashed in front of the enemy crowd.

Ikarisa plunged her lance straight through three Shadowers, moving forward her body and bashing the first one plunged with her elbow with her right arm and pulling the lance with her left. She then followed with a flurry rush of slashes with her lance around the crowd.

Ikarisa began a thrusting frenzy on a group of Shadowers, "I've told you so many times already...", she pulled back, "Outta the way!"

Ikarisa finished off the crowd she had in control with her frenzy with a powerful forward thrust, crushing not only the victims in its way, but everything behind it in a considerable distance. A strong looking Shadower elite then swiftly approached her, jumping with its weapon at hand.

Ikarisa noticed the Shadower, "Hah!", she swiftly smacked its weapon out of the way, "Se!", she pierced its chest straight through, "Haap...", she grabbed the lance with both her hands, turning around and pinning it to the ground, forming a small crater around the impact point, "Hai..", Ikarisa jumped up,

"Hyaa!!!"

Ikarisa promptly axe kicked the lance on the tip of its handle with her heel, forcing it deep into the ground as she completely devastated the area around her, crushing the ground entirely, as explosions and beams of light both illuminated and covered the area, destroying the rest of the enemy forces around her. And as the light and dust cleared away, she slowly approached her pinned lance.

Ikarisa easily took the lance off the ground, "Are we done with those?", she said.

"Good heavens...you really are going to make this a fun occasion!", Izuko maniacally laughed, "Let's both enjoy my last moments in this world little goddess Ikarisa!"

Ikarisa paused and sighed for a second, "I don't even know how to enjoy such a tragedy, let alone how you do. This could have been avoided, Izuko."

"So fast to crumble under a few words...so crumble under my Astral Remanence's arm as well!", Izuko commanded the mutant Shadower to attack.

The monster roared and raised its giant arm, attempting to kill Ikarisa.

"Hmph.", Ikarisa backflipped, lowering her stance and avoiding the blow, "So much for being reasonable..."

Summersaulting and pinning her lance on the monsters hand, it roared in pain. Attempting to lessen the pain, the monster tried to squash her with its other hand. Ikarisa then repeated her actions, backflipping backwards and avoiding the blow.

"All brawn no brain.", Ikarisa jumped on the monsters arm.

Ikarisa then jumped on its second arm and began running towards its upper body.

"Hm!", she avoided an attack.

The monster hardened the parts around its arms, raising spikes along Ikarisa's path, trying to stop her. Ikarisa started to run again, avoiding the upcoming spikes by jumping back and for the between its two arms, making her way towards it head. Finally reaching the right side it, Ikarisa jumped from the monsters shoulder on the side of its head. She began by roundhouse kicking the monster with her right leg, following her spin with a smack from her lance on her left hand and attempting to finish with a powerful thrust.

"Heya!", Ikarisa thrusted her lance forwards, "Huh?!"

The monster had hardened its body again on its head, and though Ikarisa had pierced it enough to pin herself into her thrusting position, it wasn't enough to reach its vitals. Counter attacking, the monster smacked Ikarisa back to the ground.

"Tsk...that all?", Ikarisa got up, brushing off the pain.

"Let's make one last high before the end, Ikarisa!", Izuko laughed.

"Tsk. So be it.", Ikarisa jumped back up, "To the stars above, I'll aid your need!"

Ikarisa shone brightly, as beams of light rained from the skies above, all piercing the heavens and directly heading towards Ikarisa and attaching themselves to her. As the light faded away, Ikarisa was softly put down to the ground, as she revealed her form. A knight in her bright, shinning armor, she had laced herself with the light of the stars above. The glossy silver lining and the golden glow imitated from her armor, as her lance, Wing Of Aether, had too changed its form by absorbing her indomitable will.

Ikarisa slowly opened her eyes. "I am...I'm here.", she slowly took her fighting stance, "I remember...everything. I won't deny you destiny, Izuko. Nor this worlds. I vowed to it...so let's do this!"

Tiki scoffed at the sight of Ikarisa's transformation, slowly approaching her.

"Hah. And here I rushed, thinking you'd want help."

Ikarisa smiled, "I did. And I got all the help I wanted."

"What should I do then? I'll follow your lead, shorty.", Tiki kicked her axe off her side, taking her battle stance.

"One thing. He regained his strength to summon. I'll open a way for you to get to the mutant. His body is extremely hard and penetrating it will be hard as well. It has weak points. Joints behind the knees and elbows chopped up, it should hurt enough to lax its defenses.", Ikarisa looked forward.

"Got it...ladies first.", Tiki smugged.

Izuko summoned more Shadowers. "Finally! The end is here!", he laughed.

Meanwhile at the front lines, the battle kept raging on and on.

"Ha! Heyap! Haya!", Dante burst forwards.

"Damn big guy! You're really feeling it!", Anya slashed down more Shadowers.

"Lass, it's time to end it! Their numbers are slowing down!", Yuno screamed.

"He's right...the surge of Shadowers has severely diminished. Must be the goddess's doing.", Mellistar echoed.

"Right. Everyone, back off! I'll end the hoard right here!", Dante yelled.

"Alright everybody, right behind this!", Terna created a stone barrier for everyone to hide behind.

"Lass, it's your go! We're good!", Yuno yelled.

"Got it.", Dante exhaled softly. "Alright, let's go!"

Dante jumped upwards, positioning himself right above and in the middle of the enemy hoard. Slamming the ground by performing a plunging attack, he shook the earth, launching every single Shadower off the ground. He then firmly placed his sword in front of his chest with his left hand, extending his right arm forwards.

"This is it!"

Dante disappeared from plain sight, as a series of powerful neon red slashes started emerging from all the surrounding Shadowers. Dante then reappeared in the middle of the battlefield.

Dante flipped his claymore in his hand. "Checkmate.", he seethed his claymore.

As soon as the top of the swords handle touched the case of it, the slashes instantaneously disappeared with a flash, cutting all enemies to where they could breathe no more.

Dante exhaled, "God. Took awhile.", he brushed off the dust on his clothes, "Seemed like a never ending battle."

"You should be happy I didn't give you all the power you could get. And for not extending the battle longer, destroying your mental state in the process.", Mellistar echoed.

"What's done's done.", Dante said, "How's everyone?"

"Perfect big guy! That was amazing!", Anya jumped and hugged Dante.

"Then what the hell have I been learning all this time?! This isn't even near to what I thought our power would be able to do!", Yuno made a teary face, sitting on Terna's head.

"It's ok sweetie, you can both learn together! Aside that, Lass, that was sensational! You're amazing!", Terna happily jolted.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Heh. Thanks Terna. Though, really, it didn't quite feel so new to me, despite it being a 'new power'.", Lass said.

"That's because it isn't.", Anya said.

"What?", Dante paused in amazement.

"O-Oh uh. Never mind! Just my blabbering, you know it big guy!", Anya sweat a little, "Not the right time. Adrenaline is still at its peak and we have that demon king to deal with. Better keep it for later...but I won't hold on for long, big guy. I won't let you down, this time. And even then, the struggle to understand why you had to go through it all...you weren't the successor, we're you? If memory serves right...yeah, it wasn't you to begin with...", Anya got lost in her thoughts.

"Riza to Anya. Come in!", Yuno kept snapping his fingers in front of Anya's face.

"Huh? Wha?", Anya looked around, seeing no one but Yuno.

"Everyone rushed to help Risa, you got lost in your thoughts!"

"Ah, damn. Let's get going then!", Anya said. "Wait...you didn't do anything...", Anya angrily looked at Yuno.

"No...unfortunately. And I won't keep doing it. There."

"Doubt."

"No, I'm being serious...I...I remembered an old promise. Better keep it."

"That promise being?"

"Can't tell, won't tell. For now, let's go help Risa, ok?", Yuno dashed to Ikarisa's location.

Anya nodded, "Yeah, let's get going."

As everyone dashed to help Ikarisa and Tiki, the battle on the other side of the massive garden was about to begin.

"Tiki, get out of the way! From the sides!", Ikarisa yelled.

"Got it, shorty!", Tiki ran to the right, around the crowd of enemies.

Ikarisa morphed he lance into her hand, "I'll end this quickly. Hah!", Ikarisa thrusted forwards.

Piercing the enemy in front of her, Ikarisa instantly killed the Shadower, only for another elite to appear behind it. The elite jumped on her with intention of harm. Ikarisa forward kicked the body of the dead Shadower on her lance, launching it towards the elite and breaking its jump, knocking it to the ground. Getting her leg back down on the ground after the kick, she thrusted it back downwards, launching herself up and vaulting towards the location of the fallen elite. With a mighty shout, Ikarisa smashed the ground by smacking her land across it, sending rocks flying forward and completely destroying the Shadower elite she made contact with.

"Hmph!", Ikarisa fixed her stance, "I won't back down!"

The hoard of enemies roared as it started closing and approaching her. The mutant Shadower also united both his arms, trying to hammer down Ikarisa.

"Hah...", Ikarisa softly tossed her lance upwards, targeted to another jumping Shadower elite, "Radiant guardian, burst forth!", Ikarisa raised her arm upwards, matching the lance's trajectory.

In a pinch, the lance was then violently pushed upwards by another force, piercing the elite straight through, as the entity thrusting it revealed itself. A tall standing, knight like ghost had grabbed the lance and pierced the elite, completely in sync and following Ikarisa's movement. It's legs non-existent, as no skin or anything was shown, the only thing remaining were the reflections of the few beams of sunlight from the heavens, surging through the gray clouds, on its glossy, clean armor...

"Haaa!", Ikarisa flailed her arm to the side.

Flailing her arm, the ghost did the same, sending the pierced body of the dead Shadower flying forwards, blasting through enemy lines.

"I'll illuminate everything in our path!", Ikarisa widened her stance, extending her right arm to the side, and contracting her left arm next to her.

Following her movement, the ghost recalled itself behind Ikarisa, softly placing its left arm holding her lance behind her and its right above her head, showing both of them in the light of full glory. The mutant Shadower, seeing no allies around it, began descending its arms to Ikarisa.

The ghost faded away, "Tiki, now's our chance!", Ikarisa dashed forwards, out of the hits way, almost like blinking out of existence.

"Alright shorty, let's do it!", Tiki jumped out of cover.

The mutant smashed the ground, missing Ikarisa who placed herself right on the surface side of its left arm.

"Thoh!", Ikarisa punched forwards.

The ghost reappeared, powerfully thrusting its lance forwards and making a dent in the mutant Shadowers left hand with hardened skin. The ghost the disappeared in sync, leaving Ikarisa's lance pinned in position and giving her an opening for a strike.

"Hooh!", Ikarisa roundhouse kicked her lance with the front of her foot, perfectly connecting with the tip of the handle.

Having kicked the lance that way, the monsters hands were violently pushed off the ground, causing them to go up on a rightward angle, forcing the monster to lose balance and stutter. The lance, meanwhile, was softly morphed out to mere particles again.

Izuko was knocked out of his movement, struggling, "Hgnh! It's...here...", he smiled.

"Now!", Ikarisa screamed.

"Hrea!", Tiki jumped upwards, towards the mutant Shadower.

Tiki violently slashed the monster on both the back of its knees before thrusting herself upwards from its left leg's calve. She then reached its arms that were raised upwards and executed a wide slash, severely hurting the joint of its arms frontal parts, crushing all spikes on its skin. She then landed back down, in front of Izuko.

Tiki exhaled, "It was an honor."

Izuko laughed, "Do it! The honor was all mine!"

Tiki swept both his legs of the ground, forcing her axe in an upward slash and sending him flying up.

"Clear!", Tiki rolled a considerable distance away.

Izuko came back crashing to the ground, "Gnn...this is finally it..no matter how many worlds connect...", he struggled to get up.

The monsters injuries took over, forcing it to loosen its hardened skin and kneel on the ground.

"For all the stars you gave light to and the promise I made!", Ikarisa screamed, punching forwards and twisting her fist in the middle of the move.

"No matter...how many times we fail...", Izuko pushed himself off the ground.

The ghost appeared again, violently thrusting its lance directly through the mutant Shadowers chest and twisting its arm in the middle of the move, effectively screwing the lance further in and piercing through its back, pile-driving it across the ground.

"I won't daydream this again! I won't!", Ikarisa violently moved her hand backwards.

"No matter the lies we were told and forced on ourselves...", Izuko barely stood up.

The ghost again imitated Ikarisa's move, retrieving the lance from inside the monsters chest, disappearing again in the middle of the move and tossing the lance straight at Ikarisa. Ikarisa then grabbed the lance with her left arm...

"To all who lost their way and wondered in the unknown of the dark..."

"Our sins will forever be engraved...in heart and mind...", Izuko gazed at Ikarisa.

Ikarisa twirled he lance around, ending the twirl in her right arm, immediately taking a powerful throwing position.

"This chase for change...the will to shine...it drives all those who got lost in the void...walk...towards the...", Izuko began to faint.

"Light!", she screamed.

In a flash, the tip of Ikarisa's lance shone brightly, as the ether gathered around her. Using all her might and combined with her Astral Remanence, Ikarisa took on step forward, cracking the ground beneath her. And though as the time around her seemed to momentarily freeze and the particles of both her powerful ghost, her morphed weapon, her power and the dust from the ground slowed down, a powerful blast was heard. Her lance, easily braking through sound and time itself, was thrown forwards with sever explosive force, accompanied with the war cry of the now free goddess.

A deep breath of fresh air for her, and a sigh of the world she had long ago lived in, her lance completely destroyed the mutant Shadower in its path, easily passing through its back and directly hitting Izuko. It's force was so severe, that even then, it continued its path, completely obliterating everything behind his back, making a clean brake through all the metal, concrete and rocks in its way for a considerable distance.

The two collapsing skyscrapers that rest on each other at the city gates were separated in a flash, as the shake of the ground bellow forced nothing but their destruction. At last, with its contact on the ground, the mighty lance seemed to disappear, as a devastating explosion of all sorts of colors engulfed the ground and the skies above, leaving behind no trace of a single shadow. And so, as the dust was lifted off the battlefield and the dark, looming, gray clouds seemed to fade into the ether, the sun was quick to shine on the goddess's, glossy, bright armor, reflecting its presence on to the city who had long lost its light, remaining as mere pebbles of stone, steel and concrete and the ruins of its former self.

But even then, the scenery was only to be described with rejoice, as a single moment of solace and peace was but what those tormented grounds have prayed to for years to come.

Atop the pebbles in the first few morning rays of light stood the now refined goddess, gazing at the horizon.

"Should I thank you again?", she smiled softly, "Hmm? All me?", she giggled, "No. But I'll take the compliment...thank you. Even though...", her smile faded away. "I've run away, hidden behind others to protect myself. Is the care that I've shown so far a fluke too? Between it all, I've hurt others around me and brought more hurt to those who loved me. You and I share many things...and you can see how my memories have gradually returned and collapsed on me. But despite what you may entice and advice me to do...I will no longer be a transient, just to be trampled upon. A choice was the one thing that I've always had, to which I always answered by running away. And I won't let that happen again."

Ikarisa raised her palm close to her chest, as she slowly closed her eyes. A crystal started to rapidly suck the air around it, as it formed in her hand. Nothing could be said about the crystal, other than the amazement one would have upon laying their gaze on them. A color unknown and reflective, it kept on showing images, pictures, almost as it itself was a living replay of everything that one could remember.

Ikarisa smiled once again, "All of this...a second chance always refusing to take it. What this is connected to? Ironically...I've forgotten. But maybe you'd want to find out yourself? Why I'm saying this? It's time...you know it. He doesn't have anything to do with it, as I keep telling you. It is the second chance I've ever had to make a difference and derail for what I believe I did. A change is all that's needed to make a difference, you know that, right? Nothing is clear. Nothing is known. But I'll let you discover it all...I don't want to gaslight you, or make you suffer in your thoughts...rather...I want you to live. Not just survive."

"Yo, shorty!", Tiki said.

Tiki slowly approached Ikarisa from behind, surprising her in the process. Ikarisa then stopped talking to herself, looking straight at Tiki.

"What's with all the talk in the wind?"

"A-Ah! Nothing, nothing. I just...spaced out for a moment there!", Ikarisa said.

"Those powers drove you insane already? Bah, whatever. I'm here to both thank you for what you did, and just ask. How did a small, contained, shy shorty like you had this in her?"

"Hmm? Had what?"

"You kidding? You just beat the absolute shit out of the sentinel demon king without it being anywhere near to a contest! And here I thought you were the stay-at-home family type...pretty badass, I'll give you that much."

Ikarisa chuckled, "Oh, that. Yeah, thank you. It's...complicated to tell you the entire story of how it all happened but...let's just say, someone had my back."

"I'll stick to that for now, then. The others are probably on their way from the garden maze. Hopefully they're not stupid enough to think they can easily navigate it without me who knows the trick around it."

"Good then. As soon as they're back, we need to start heading back on track for Gardard."

"Yeah, you should. If supplies was what you wanted, I'll bring the items of the safe house along.", Tiki said.

"Wait...bring them along?"

"Long story short, your furry friend gave me an offer. Seeing how my duties here are done, I'll be taking the amulet that has Neker sealed in it with me and be on my way."

"Welcome then! Hope you won't get bored along the way. There is a lot of traveling in between conflicts, which are mostly unavoidable."

"Why put the conflict at the forefront of my interests? I've got a hell of a lot more things I'm into other than conflict, shorty!", Tiki yelled.

Ikarisa chuckled. "I'm sure of it. Welcome anyways. Shall we go backwards to meet up with the others?"

"No. Not before I tell you something really critical about your 'Lass' or Dante, whatever, the meatbag. He's a faker."

The next words coming out of Ikarisa's mouth surprised Tiki down to the core.

"I know about Dante. Rather...I've known for awhile now."

"What?! Then-!", Tiki stuttered.

"I promise, I will explain most of everything, I just need a little bit more time until we get to Gardard. Please...", Ikarisa pleaded.

Tiki sighed. "I'll give you that much, since you pulled this placed out of hell...well, you at least stopped it. Not much left now anyway."

"Thank you...I'll see what to do once we get there."

From the distance, a loud shout was heard...

"Screw this!", Dante yelled.

The royal garden was immediately destroyed and cut down in half by Dante's powerful slash.

"There they are! Finally!", Dante yelled.

"That's...one way of solving a massive maze.", Terna scratched her head.

"First time?", Anya shrugged.

Ikarisa dispelled her lance and armor, "How's everyone?"

"Perfectly fine. You seemed to have done your part here too. Shadower forces were dwindling, and I can see why now.", Yuno said.

"Whatever, at least that's the end of it.", Anya said.

"You dumbass meatbag!", Tiki approached menacingly, "You destroyed the royal garden!"

"What do you mean?! Look around you, everything is ruined! A bunch of plants is where you got pissed off at?!", Dante yelled.

"Guys...please, I'll get a headache.", Terna cut in, "Can we for once relax and enjoy the shiny view without a care?"

"Yeah, Senpai, can we?", Ikarisa folded her arms.

"Yeah, sure Risa!", Dante said.

"Whatever you say, shorty!", Tiki said.

Both Dante and Tiki sat down as they gazed at an irritated Ikarisa.

"Right then...shall we grab the supplies and get going? Car is right outside the city and we've wasted a good two days on this entire ordeal.", Anya said.

"That'd be best. If we're heading to Gardard which is the closest one from Corosta, then we should hurry to make it to Vardard afterwards...heard there was a lot of commotion in there.", Terna worryingly said.

"Sounds like a plan then. Gardard it is.", Dante got up.

"I'll come along...not much left for me to do here anyways. I'm also holding onto this.", Tiki flashed the amulet and got up, "No questions."

"Fine...whatever at this point, you're impossible sometimes.", Dante scoffed, "Alright then, let's take a small moment to relax first, then go out again. There's still a lot needed to be done."

"Back at the safe house then. Food and supplies are all there, might as well spend a day for maintenances and recovery.", Terna proposed.

"I'm up for that too.", Ikarisa said, "It is important to watch ourselves after all. Also...", Ikarisa's stomach gurgled, "I-I...haven't eaten anything at all...", she blushed and whispered.

"Let's get right on it then.", Dante took the lead, "I'll make us some proper food this time."

"Not so fast, meatbag!", Tiki yelled, "This is my place! I'll do all the cooking!"

"Oh, really then? Good, I'll have time for some gear maintenance. Watch not to burn yourself up!"

"Why you-!", Tiki almost jumped onto Lass.

Yuno stopped Tiki, "Don't always put your tail where your head is at."

Tiki paused on the spot and gave a powerful death stare at Yuno.

"Did you just...say my tail was big?", Tiki grabbed her axe.

Everyone instantaneously took a step back out of sheer instinct, besides Yuno.

"Wait, what?", Yuno paused.

"I'll [REDACTED] you up!", Tiki jumped to perform a world dividing attack.

"What is wrong with you!"

And so as the others desperately tried to prevent Tiki's assault, the sun kept shining more at them, as the mist of uncertainty between what were the ties that both brought and held them together, started to unravel...