The Last Choice (Finale)

"I will end not only you this time, but both of you!" Kafka grinned widely, revealing their full set of fangs with dripping blood.

The appearance of this Kafka is truly demonic and monstrous; he is the very concept of fear and terror.

He is overloading with all the information from across different timelines and places in the entire universe, where there is supposedly near infinite Dark Clowns.

There, he connected the dots and theorized that one specific timeline and place has no more Kafka.

Therefore, wanting revenge on whoever finished that specific Kafka.

This Kafka still received the memories of the Kafka from this timeline before Mavis' killed them using the Holy Sword Excalibur and Manifold Purgatory.

Due to this, the ultimate Kafka that absorbed all the other Dark Clowns wants nothing else but to take revenge for the other Dark Clowns that perished in this timeline and especially their own mirror who was also killed brutally.

The ultimate Kafka stretched out their limbs and raised their head high, seemingly posing to unleash their aura.

Mana Expansion: Infinitum Torment!!!

The entire space of Mavis got assaulted by constant pulsating and suppressive evil energy

This is one of the effects of the Mana Expansion of the ultimate Kafka.

The suppressive force devours atmospheric mana, which is similar to cutting off the source of mana of Kafka's opponents, causing them to be unable to use magic skills.

Mavis and Veil responded with their own Mana Expansions, lessening the suppressive sensation to a minimal.

This would also cause them to be able to use their own skills again without feeding Kafka's domain barrier with their mana.

They still struggled to exert their full senses and alert, which causes them to be unable to fight at their fullest.

Kafka started their attacks by screeching extremely loudly and blinking in-between Mavis and Veil, sending straight jabs into their abdomens.

Thud! Aukggghh!

Both women vomited mouthful of blood and saliva, but they immediately repositioned and countered.

Veil tightened the grip on Umbralia and raised it over her head, a gigantic golden phantom of a sword extending the reach of her attacks.

On the other hand, Mavis slightly levitated off the ground, her eyes glowing with radiant light, before posing as well for her own attacks.

Skill: Shadow Dance!

Second Divine Technique: Phantasmal Laceration!

Skill: Spiritflame Rend!

Celestial Skill: Manifold Purgatory!

Veil started her frenzy of attacks powered by both Shadow Dance's empowered attacks and the Divine Techniques' destructive berserk and calm mana.

Meanwhile, Mavis' attacks where less frequent, however, delivering more devastating blows after blows.

Each attack of the women against Kafka would cause the entire space to shake violently, where various spatial tears would also appear.

Swipe swipe! Swing! Vuimmm! Crumble! Crack! Clang! Boom!

Kafka's tough claws always blocked the attacks of both longswords, but Kafka's struggle is visible.

The reason for Kafka's struggle is because of the varying frequencies of attacks from both their opponents.

One has faster and lighter attacks that they would have to block more frequently, whilst among the mix of frenzied attacks are heavy-hitting and high impact attacks that happen less frequently.

Meanwhile, Veil is slowly growing in power as she familiarizes with the sensation of Kafka's domain barrier.

Due to this familiarization, she is moving faster and faster, sending bits of damage to Kafka's defense.

Unfortunately for Mavis, she is now greatly pushing her limits; sooner or later, she would collapse for her constant use of Manifold Purgatory which is a double-edged skill.

Manifold Purgatory releases piercing attacks that cannot be blocked, however, in exchange for Mavis' own life force.

She removed her limiter as she burns her life force constantly, at this point, there are no more turning back.

Her life force regenerates through time, however, since she removed her limiter, she will not recover her life force anymore.

She thought she already pushed her limits when fighting with Shiva, however, this time even with her improved Stellesia, she still could not break the Dark Clown's defense.

The Manifold Purgatory indeed pierces through Kafka; however, the damage was minimal and decreased due to the mana enveloped around Kafka's claws.

Veil sensed Mavis' pale complexion, urging her own heart and mind to focus even more and finish the battle as soon as possible.

But, even if she pushed her own mentality further, there are no more power-ups and upgrades this time around.

She hit her farthest limit, she could only put everything she knows on the line to break Kafka's defense before Mavis' falls.

Kafka knew this, once Mavis' burns through her life force, Veil will lose instantly.

That is also why they could only wait patiently as they endure the fierce attacks, once the inevitable moment comes, they would emerge victorious against Veil.

Veil closely watched Mavis' weakening aura.

Veil then signaled Mavis to slow down and save her Manifold Purgatory for now, while Veil herself increased her input this time by going up to a level of her Divine Technique.

Third Divine Technique: Transcendental Severance!!!

Colors inside Mavis' space disappeared and became distorted; some of Kafka's mana imbued around their fingers could be seen visibly decreasing due to the Divine Technique.

Veil smirked sensing the slight panic inside Kafka's mind.

Since the mana in the fingers is what protecting and reinforcing Kafka's guard is, it should never disappear or even decrease.

Veil started her second round of attacks with a gigantic golden sword phantom extending her Umbralia.

Kafka, this time, dashed around to dodge the sword phantom, they would not dare to receive the attacks anymore to block it or parry it.

Veil boosted herself using the shadows beneath her; she slid in a smooth motion to follow all of Kafka's movements.

Skill: Shadow's Wings!

Dang! Break!

Veil found her mark, crashing Kafka's mana, now, the latter will not be able to block or parry any attacks anymore.

Shadow tentacles appeared all over the darkened floor, causing Kafka to move less, flight is also not an option since Veil filled the skies with needles of shadows.

Kafka's grin disappeared; they were forced into a corner this time around.

"You think you already won by reaching this point? I will show you just how wrong you are!" Kafka bellowed.

Kafka proceeded to swipe their claws madly without any target in mind, but the result is unexpectedly effective, destroying the needles and shadow tentacles that limit their mobility.

Unbeknownst to them though, Mavis started moving using that opportunity to send a massive slash powered by Manifold Purgatory.

Slash!!!

A massive horizontal slash with devouring silver flames cut through Kafka's entire body, sending them flying and crashing.

Veil took the opportunity to intercept Kafka's destination using her shadow tentacles to pierce Kafka's chest, then sending another massive downward attack powered this time by a Divine Technique.

The coordination between the two is perfect, not sparing even an instant for Kafka to recover.

They only fought once together against Shiva, but their coordination already grew into apex at a short time.

Swipe!!!

With a crisp cracking sound, the mana within Kafka's system was partially destroyed, decreasing their firepower.

A layer of frost also now decorated Kafka's body, sealing them from absorbing atmospheric mana to recover.

Unfortunately, Mavis fell down on her knees, signifying that she is now running very low on life force.

Blood also dripped from her lips, which signifies there could be internal damage to Mavis due to constant use of Manifold Purgatory.

Even if Mavis is basically stronger than Gods, her body is still of a human's, having many limits especially when it comes to life force.

A creature's life force is different from mana; the life force is the fuel of the souls and the physical body.

It could heal through time and skills, by healing wounds or any damages externally or internally, but exhausting through it on dangerous levels would cause it not to heal anymore.

This is the case for Mavis who constantly used Manifold Purgatory to break through Kafka's defense.

No matter how strong or adept she is at fighting and using mana, her life force remains the same.

She succeeded in her last attack, but now her life is in extreme danger.

Veil immediately responded by supplying Mavis' body with flame and solar mana to revitalize her cells, following up by wind and aquatic mana healing properties.

"She is done! HAHAHAHAHA" Kafka dusted off their body while also melting the layers of frost.

"You…!" Veil turned to look towards Kafka, belatedly realizing the latter's attack.

Boom! Auggkkhh!

Kafka sent a straight kick to Veil's stomach, sending her plopping away which also cancelled her mana enveloping Mavis.

Veil spat a mouthful of saliva due to the kick.

Veil tried to go back to help Mavis but she was too late, Kafka already stabbed Mavis' chest.

Stab! Splat!

Blood decorated Kafka's claws, similarly hearing and flashing inside their mind are the last moments of the Kafka of this timeline falling under Mavis' hands.

Now, Mavis falls from their hands, effectively taking revenge for the other Kafka's death.

"HAHAHAHA! You are next to die!" Kafka kicked Mavis away before blinking towards Veil.

Swipe swipe!

Veil did not even dodge, she just walked towards Kafka calmly, her eyes filled with cold glint.

Veil lightly twisted her body, causing Kafka to miss, her short series of movements flowed like a calm river.

There were no extra movements at all; she is as calm as she could ever be, continuing her walk towards Mavis.

Veil ignored Kafka as she walked past them, never even turning her head or eyes once.

"You!!!" Kafka becomes furious due to Veil's actions.

Veil quietly approached Mavis as she fixed the latter's posture to lie her down straight.

"I… am… sorry…" Mavis final words as she tried touching Veil's face, her strength drained away from her body.

Plop.

Mavis' hand fell on the floor; Veil wiped her hand gently on Mavis' face to close her eyes.

Veil bitterly gulped down her dry saliva as she teared up in one eye.

"…" Veil did not produce a single sound or speak a single word; she picked up the Stellesia stabbed on the ground with her left hand.

With the black Umbralia on the right and white Stellesia on the left, she is now dual wielding two Legendary grade longswords!

Veil slowly stood up and turns around Kafka's direction, facing them directly with sharp eyes with flickering cold glint.

"AHHHHHHHH!!!" Veil pushed her heart to its maximum, pounding loudly and heavily while giving her everything to finish Kafka.

Final Divine Technique: Exalted Fractal Sunder!!!!!

Veil greatly remembered Azazel, who taught her the three Divine Techniques, however, Azazel never revealed if there was a limit to the Divine Techniques or if there was even a fourth one or even a fifth one.

From everything she experienced from the orphanage, the Otherworld invasions, defending different cities, saving the world, going to Middle Realm, meeting a Dragon, going to Underworld, taking over a new body, meeting Gods, fighting in the Blood War against the Demon God, fighting against the origin of all the rules in the universe, all of those culminated into this very moment.

She has always broken through her limits, meaning that the Divine Techniques should have one more version, which is beyond all three, but at the same time still uses the same principles of mana.

This version would also be the final one, not being just the fourth but also the closing act to Azazel's divine teachings, done by Veil, her strongest student.

Both of the longswords in Veil's hands extended only a few yards, unlike the other Divine Techniques that has a gigantic sword phantom.

This time, silver, golden and black flames intertwined around the blade of the swords, slightly extending their range.

All the mana in the atmosphere, in Veil's and Kafka's body submitted to the swords, both turning into endless calm and berserk mana.

All the colors and sound then disappeared, similar to how the Void feels like; Kafka lost every sensation on their body, remaining motionless.

Veil's anger within her eyes and tears is the only thing Kafka watched while the former was slowly approaching them.

Veil stretched both her arms with her swords sideways, before slashing in a single point in Kafka's head.

Vuimmm vuimmm!!! SLASH!!!!!

The converging point of the two longswords generated a small spark that visibly grew larger and larger.

That small spark soon devoured Kafka, not even showing any response due to the effect of the drowning sensation of the Final Divine Technique which Veil created.

Veil panted heavily, sounds and colors still not returning back inside the space, the corpses of other Dark Clowns slowly disintegrating into ashes.

Only Veil and Mavis' body remained inside the space, Veil remained silent and unmoving.

[…]

Am I bound to lose everyone that I interact with?

Am I destined to see the important ones in my life die before my eyes?

Am I supposed to not exist in the world?

What am I?

Who am I?

Why am I?

All the questions played inside Veil's head as she stares into the blank space in front of her.

Sensing nothing else, not even her own body, she thinks that this is what it feels like to be in Shiva's shoes.

Shiva existed even before the concept of time was created, not knowing anything at all.

Even if Shiva turns out to be just a greedy and envious being, he was still the source of Mavis' powers that gave birth to the beautiful lives in the universe.

A small part within Veil's heart and soul felt thankful for Shiva, even if she turned out to be one of who would kill Shiva himself.

Veil then stood up and lightly waved her hand.

She created a tough stone effigy using earth mana, stabbing both the Umbralia and Stellesia on top, which are now the strongest weapons in existence.

These swords stabbed on the stone effigy will serve as a memoire if she ever chooses to save this universe and just remove herself.

After walking away from the swords, Veil slowly walked towards Mavis', shedding more and more tears as she gets closer.

She shortly arrived besides Mavis, kneeling in front of her.

She could not even apologize to or thank Mavis; she is now truly like the Void itself, no sound, no colors, numb body and no sensations whatsoever.

She carefully searched Mavis' body for the Origin Crystal, which holds the life to the entire universe.

She now holds the decision on whether she removes her own life to fix the continuity of the entire universe, or to destroy that same universe and make it reset from the start all over again.

Whichever she chooses, she will regret not choosing the other; the former choice makes the lives of the ones who knew her proceed from the destroyed Terra after the Blood War happened, but everyone's memory will forget Veil yet again.

Meanwhile, the latter choice means she could still exist there at some point in time, but no Dark Clowns or whatever wars, but will have the possibility for her not to meet the people she met in this lifetime anymore.

She would have to start all over again whichever choice she makes; any choice will erase her presence everywhere.

Veil gulped down as she fell flat on her back, staring at the endless blue skies inside Mavis' isolated space.

Her bittersweet life is filled of more painful memories and experiences, but she still believes that the important aspects outweigh the pain.

Memories flashed on her eyes again.

Is this what it feels like before dying?

Are these really the only choices I get despite my sacrifices and selfless decisions?

Veil's questions until in this moment were left unanswered, yet again.

"…" Veil could only stare at the skies as she floods her own mind with different thoughts, refusing to pick a choice for now.

Now, what do you think would be Veil's choice?

Should she pick the first one since that is truly the time where she lived and did her adventures?

Or should she go for the second one since a fresh start with new memories would be better than forcing herself to live in a world where she is forgotten already anyways?

If you are Veil, which choice would you pick?

[Fin]