AAS: Season 6:CH69: Final Goodbyes.

“I wish you could stay longer,” Ada said as Jack said goodbye to their baby son within their home crowded by Leona, Yuki, Sahaqiel, and Jack's children.

Carefully, Jack handed the baby to Ada before stepping to the side and ruffling Celeste's head.

“When will I see you again?” Celeste asked, her mouth caked with pudding.

“Soon, I promise,” Jack said, leaning down to hug his daughter.

Jack sat there for a while embracing his child who dug her head into his chest.

Finally a hand reached down, touching his shoulder.

“It's time Jack,” Sahaqiel said.

Reluctantly Jack let Celeste go, standing up with a forlorn look in his eye as Leona picked up the little girl.

“Be safe,” Ada said, “Will you visit Colette before you go? Did you say bye to the others?”

“No,” Jack said, eyeing Celeste who still didn't know her biological mother, “All of the inflicted are still in a coma so, not really any point. Everyone else is extremely busy, so...”

Jack had seen Colette once before he ran off, knowing she was alive and being treated was enough for him.

“It's okay, I understand,” Ada said, smiling softly at Jack who grabbed his dual blades from a nearby rack and turned towards the exit to leave.

Yuki put her arm out, blocking Jack at the entrance of the door.

“You know you and I still have an appointment,” Yukino said with Jack raising a brow.

“Oh?” Jack replied, surprised by the woman's bashfulness.

“Yeah, don't think I'm out of the race yet,” Yuki whispered, planting a kiss on Jack's cheek much to Ada’s irritation. “I'm even in therapy now!”

“Right… good for you?” Jack replied, unsure of how to reply he opened the door, stepping out into his lawn where he was greeted to the sight of dozens of familiar faces.

Mo Ye, Jin, Jiang, Min, Kwon, his grandmother with his cousins and Granny Cao, even Kenichi was there to see him off.

“You weren't going to leave without saying anything were you?” Jiang asked, holding a baby in his arms.

“Well, not anymore I guess,” Jack said, taking hold of a bag of food packed by his Elder Cao while his grandmother handed him a heavy box of ammo for his gunblades and a bundle of blades.

“You come back soon, ain't no grandson of mine going to be a deadbeat. Bad enough one son is I don't need this to be a generational thing,” The old woman spat as Jack took the box of specially crafted bullets and blades, storing the spares into his storage bracelet.

“I don’t plan to, thank you halmeoni,” Jack said, addressing his grandmother in her native tongue before turning to Jiang, “Congratulations. What's his name?”

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“Jay,” Jiang replied triumphantly, “Name him after you, after all without everything you've done we probably wouldn't be here. Sick eyepatch by the way bud.”

Jack smirked, eyeing the small human child with a tuft of brown hair and suddenly imagining his son having friends to play with.

He turned his head, gazing upon the crowd of people there to see him off. People he was fighting for.

“Here,” Mo Ye said, the former black smith pushing out a cart that carried on it a suit of silver armor with red accents. “Your friends Victor and Bridget aren't half bad, they'd be here but the old man can't get around without his walker these days.”

“Thank you,” Jack said, lifting the cuirass that felt oddly familiar. “Is this-?”

“From the black metal you left behind? Yeah, blonde there helped us to purge the bad enchantments,” Mo Ye said, pointing a thumb at Sahaqiel, “Should be the best armor you've ever worn if I do say so myself.”

Jack stared at the chest plate rubbing his hands over the armor set designed by the Black King to boost his abilities.

It was lightweight, soft, with black fur and armyrethium lining to disperse attacks to the chest. From inside, he could see kevlar interwoven between the chainmail and metal.

Reluctantly, Jack put it on, feeling the soft armor synchronize with the tattoos on his arms that began to glow.

[Keyholder LvL 3-> 4]

Jack inhaled, feeling his mana pathways clear up. It wasn't a substantial boost to his abilities, at least none that he could see, but now he at least had armor.

Expert craftsmanship, paired with the nearby greaves that slipped over his boots, the silk lined metal gauntlets that bore knuckle spikes, and titanium thigh plates, Jack was now adorn in the visage of a crusading silver knight.

“Looking good bud,” Jiang whistled, “I wish someone would make me armor like that for Christmas, wink-wink.”

“Shut your trap,” Mo Ye spat, “That armor is made out of the same stuff ship hulls are made of, you could build fifty engines for me and you'd still never afford it.”

Suddenly Bridget appeared, the tan skinned seamstress/blacksmith racing out to hand Jack a velvety red cape with a pattern of wings embroidered on its back.

“Oh good! Oh good I got you before you left!” Bridget said, out of breath and doubled over.

Jack smiled, taking the cape, “Thank you, it seems every time I'm heading out to something important you're always there to properly equip me.”

“H-huh?” Bridget blushed, the shaking her head repeatedly before stumbling back, “Ah shut up! You still owe the old man and me money for our last commission! So you better survive and come back! AH!”

Bridget ran away, leaving Jack smiling as he donned his new cape.

Jack turned his head towards Kenchi but the latter turned away, trotting off with Di’luk intercepting him and dragging him away.

“Thank you, thank you all, I promise that I'll fix the world,” Jack said before gathering his mana, rising into the air with Sahaqiel joining him.

Jack and Sahaqiel floated above the city, the pair taking in the gorgeous nomadic style architecture that was so different from other cities they'd been to.

From below, the citizens of Hoshido pointed upwards, gawking at the pair of winged folk hovering in the air.

For the Paladins on the floating city nearby, the sight inspired them with hope, knowing that their goddess stood watching over the city. For the citizens below, awe and inspiration that their silver angel was heading to war with their banner on his back.

“Good luck Jack,” Sahaqiel said, words unable to hide her longing, “I'll stay here to defend the city and help Selfia prepare for the expedition. Whatever happens Jack, know your family is in good hands.”

“Are they though?” Jack replied, his words stabbing the archangel in the heart.

“Jack, I-”

“I forgive you Sahaqiel, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to forget what happened. What you and Selfia did,” Jack said, facing away from the angel with his silver wings spreading. “Even though Jill's soul resides within me, I'll never forget the feeling of my hand piercing her heart. Or the trauma I endured, that YOU contributed to.”

“Jack, I-”

A sonic boom, Jack gone with a shockwave of sound left in his wake as flew away.

“-did it because I love you…” Sahaqiel whimpered as she closed her eyes and curled into herself.