Rehearsal - Act 03

He remained suspended in utter darkness, acutely aware that his physical form was on the brink of annihilation by the demonic force, poised to obliterate the final vestiges of his memories. Amidst the oppressive silence, sinister laughter reverberated around him, mingling with the haunting echoes of weeping children and the faint echoes of his own criminal voice from years past.

"Tomomi... my elder sister. She was part of the SFA... Yet, I've spent so long evading the truth. Chiaki understood that; it's why she repeatedly warned me not to touch that flower. And after I killed my own sister, Chiaki resolved to honor her memory by ensuring her name remained alive in the world... Tomomi."

"That's why... these days, I'm dedicated to changing lives for the better. Every event, every place we've traveled, every friend we've supported, and every foe we've faced—it's all been about righting my wrongs and ensuring others don't suffer as I did. But no matter how much good I do, I can't undo what I've done. Maybe it's time to accept that and move forward. I can sense my body being ravaged like a mere puppet..." With resignation, he acknowledged Kagedouma's grip tightening around his neck, the villainous laughter signaling the end of his tenure as the Azure Flames Pirate.

He listened to Kagedouma's chilling words, realizing their ominous intent. "What's wrong, Azure Flame Pirate? Have you at last come to terms with your fate and surrendered? Are you prepared to embrace the inevitable?" The grip around his neck tightened incrementally, a foreboding prelude to the impending spectacle. "Once you're gone, the Marines, WPDA, and SFA will crumble, one by one. Even the Holy Light herself and the Holy Arches will fade into obscurity. Your demise will be preserved as a cautionary tale, cherished by future generations who may never coexist."

"Accept the reality and disappear," Kagedouma commanded, his palm pressing firmly against Temoshí's chest, poised to erase him from existence. "Let the countdown begin... One..."

In his stillness, Temoshí reflected bitterly, "I'm starting to think everything I've done in the past was in vain, only making me a hunted man..." The countdown continued, "...Two..."

Struggling to keep his eyes open, Temoshí faced the grim certainty of his impending demise. "But even if this is the end..."

Without hesitation, Kagedouma's palm crackled with intense red energy. "Three... Goodbye." The ensuing explosion engulfed Temoshí, rending his body from the outside inward.

Hurled into the sky by the blast, he hurtled through the tumultuous rainstorm of the Uncanny Land.

As he bled and his final words slipped from his lips, plummeting towards the churning depths below, Temoshí's mind churned with his last thoughts.

"I still believe that my actions have helped others," Temoshí thought as his body descended into the turbulent depths of the lake, his gaze fixed on the swirling sky above, the water rippling around him.

"Yet, despite all I've fought for, I continue to carry the weight of guilt from my past. This burden is a reality I wish to keep hidden from others... I've chosen to preserve my original name and only share the alias that didn't lead to my sister's death. It's a way to maintain my humanity, while locking away the mistakes of my other self deepthoughts"

"But now... I realize this secrecy may not endure forever... Eventually, my past will come to light among those I've come to call friends. It will corrode our bonds and cast me as a threat rather than an ally. To be forgotten might be for the best, yet I still yearn to be seen as more than my darkest deeds... I am a murderer, not innocent. But in this universe, no one is truly blameless, and no one ever will be."

"But I had hoped for a longer life than this... Now, everything I've done is poised to fade into obscurity. Perhaps some will cherish it, while others will scorn it. I only pray that the promises I made can still manifest somehow... But until then... Chiaki, Kou, Yumiko, Ralphie, everyone... yes, even you, Kate... I hope you find someone who can help you achieve your dreams. For now, it's time for me to rest. Good night, everyone..."

But then, Temoshí heard a sudden splash at the surface of the lake. A feminine figure dove into the water seemingly out of nowhere, her body moving swiftly and purposefully. With unwavering determination, she swam deeper and deeper to reach him, her hand outstretched towards his own, her lips moving as if trying to communicate through the bubbles.

"Stop. You can't give up now. You'll die if you do. There's still time..." Temoshí strained to read her lips as she grasped his hand.

Gradually, he felt himself stop sinking, the warmth of her touch reassuring. Despite the relentless turbulence of the lake, she refused to yield, pushing herself to her limits to bring him to safety.

"Is that... Kate?" Temoshí wondered, observing their struggle against the swirling currents, both caught in the turbulent waters like helpless fish.

"Stop... you can't hold your breath much longer... You'll drown..." he realized, knowing Aurora couldn't hear his thoughts. All he could do was watch her determined efforts, trusting she could save him against all odds.

She pulled his cold, limp body closer to her own, determined to bring him to safety despite her own struggle to hold her breath.

"Kate... You have to save yourself... Let me go..." Temoshí thought desperately, knowing he couldn't communicate verbally.

But Aurora persisted, her resolve unwavering. "I can save him... I know I can," she thought to herself, bolstering her confidence as she continued to exert every ounce of strength to reach the surface.

With each passing moment, she fought harder, inching them both closer to safety against the resistance of the water.

Struggling against the urgent need to breathe, Aurora propelled herself towards the surface, her vision blurring as she neared the end of her endurance.

"I'm almost there," she repeated to herself, summoning every ounce of determination to reach safety. With a final burst of effort, she broke through the water's surface, gasping for air as waves buffeted her frail body.

Exhausted from the ordeal, Aurora fought to maintain her grip on consciousness amidst the relentless pull of the water. Though weakened, she refused to surrender, inching closer to solid ground with Temoshí in tow.

Suddenly, a vortex formed, catching her off guard. Shock and dismay filled her eyes as she struggled against the powerful suction. Despite her dwindling strength, she fought against the vortex's pull, desperately trying to escape its grasp..

"If this continues... I won't make it..." Aurora cried out, her strength fading despite her efforts to rally herself. "But I can't give up!" She fought to maintain her resolve, speaking words of encouragement to bolster her determination.

Despite her best efforts, exhaustion overwhelmed her, and she, along with Temoshí, began to be pulled back towards the engulfing vortex.

Then, unexpectedly, another figure appeared. A woman reached out her arm and shouted, "Grab on!" Aurora's eyes widened in astonishment as she recognized the person offering help.

"You're... Admiral Faustina from the Marine officers!" Aurora exclaimed as she grasped the extended hand. "Thank you!" With a determined pull, Faustina assisted Aurora in climbing out of the water and rescued Temoshí's weakened body.

Aurora collapsed to her knees, her hand still pressed against Temoshí's chest, coughing and gasping for air as she tried to recover. Faustina stood nearby, watching over them with a steady gaze, kneeling beside them to check their condition.

Aurora stared at Faustina in confusion, instinctively shielding Temoshí from any perceived threat. "Stay back! Don't harm him!" she shouted, fiercely protective.

"Quiet down, girl. I'm not here to capture him. Not yet, at least," Faustina reassured her, her attention drawn to the looming figure of Kagedouma atop the tower, looking down at them with a sinister grin.

Preparing to confront him, Faustina braced herself, but Kagedouma merely chuckled and addressed her. "How fortunate. I never imagined Marines would aid a pirate. What a surprise," he taunted, crossing his arms confidently.

"But enough games," Kagedouma continued, his tone shifting. "It's time for me to retreat and find a way to reach the Holy Arches." A portal materialized behind him, and he reverted to his humanoid form, stepping back with a wave of farewell.

Despite their apparent defeat against Kagedouma, fortune favored the group, allowing them to escape unscathed as he departed. However, the situation remained dire—the nexus's immense power now concentrated within Kagedouma could only grow stronger unless he was defeated.

As Kagedouma vanished into the portal, the violent weather that had plagued the island abruptly ceased, leaving behind a thick blanket of fog.

Etuna materialized from a nearby bolt of lightning, arriving just as the nexus lost its power and Kagedouma had departed, allowing her freedom to move on the island.

"I don't understand why you'd aid your enemy, marine, but I appreciate it. Leave those two to me. You secure the island and report to the Vast Expanse about the nexus," Etuna declared, striding towards them confidently while Faustina nodded and complied.

"Give the boy this medicine. Farewell," Faustina said, passing the medicine to Etuna before taking her leave, leaving Aurora, Temoshí, and Etuna alone.

"Thank you, Aurora. I didn't expect him to survive. But you saved him, despite the risk of drowning. Let's get him some help. I believe the Holy Light herself could tend to his wounds," Etuna suggested, surprising Aurora with this new information.

"Holy Light? You mean..." she began, visibly taken aback.