Chapter 36

“I’ve read through your memories, Tsukasa. You’ve experienced human malice firsthand. You understood well that no matter how hard you tried, you could never change it.”

“H- How is that possible?”

The soul accompanying Meline’s body smiled. What she said was true. Despite how hard he tried, his suffering in that world never ended. He regretted the days he woke up, wishing he had remained asleep forever.

Yet, despite all that, he lived anyway. He struggled anyway. Despite the lack of motivation, despite the lack of reason, despite the lack of sleep, he survived anyway.

“You’re right… I can never change that, not even if I want to.”

“You finally understand where I’m coming from.”

“But… Meline never gave up.”

Meline hid it well. She worked with the stress of leading a country; she held her head high despite the pain and suffering. She received malice, but she never showed it. People attacked her, yet she forgave and forgot. People laughed at her, yet she pretended not to hear them.

“And I won’t as well!”

“... Hmph, looks like you’ve decided.”

“Yes. I’ll defeat you and free Meline. We’ll build a better world- AKH!”

She didn’t wait for him to finish. She sent a spear straight through Kade’s stomach. Warm blood flowed to his legs. Kade quickly healed himself, the pain spreading.

“Someone weak like you couldn’t do anything!”

“I… won’t let you!” Kade strengthened himself. He shot forward. He could feel Meline’s will within her body, a will to stay intact. A will to keep on living. A will for a better future. It was fighting against the soul that occupied it. Meaning, if he used Keystar, he could slice that soul apart without damaging the will, and the will would keep Meline’s soul intact.

Kade condensed the spell Keystar into the shape of a sword. An ugly, messy, pure white sword. It was similar to his old sword, the one he trained with. The one Meline gifted him. The magic energy forming the blade burst wildly. Kade struggled to control it. He sent it straight at Meline’s body. A thick wall of magical energy shot up in front of him, blocking his strikes. It curled into a fist and punched Kade back.

“Do you really think the spears are my only weapon?”

Kade gritted his teeth. How long had it been since he began using lorem ipsum? He couldn’t remember. He just knew he didn’t have a lot of time.

He shot forward, yet this time, the spears blocked his way.

“You’re too weak to change the world, Tsukasa.”

“Stop calling me that!” Kade roared. His attack didn’t last long. A spear smashed him into a wall, sending him through a building.

“No matter how much power she gave you, until the end, you’re just a Tsukasa. You were never a Kade. Meline has protected you so far.”

“Then this is my chance to repay her!” Kade leaped into the sky, bringing the sword down on her head. She lifted her hand and formed a shield right in front of her. With a swing of her hand, she sent the shield flying at Kade. Kade smashed headfirst into the shield, tumbling away.

“Give it up, Tsukasa.”

“No!” Kade rushed again and again, the pain levels increasing with every strike. Needle by needle stabbed through his skin. Despite creating no visible wound, despite not being visible in the first place, they created real, noticeable pain.

This hurts, but I must endure!

It wasn’t as painful as Meline watching her own body acting against its command. It wasn’t as painful as Meline being locked in her own body. It wasn’t anything compared to what Meline endured.

He didn’t want to be his past self. He didn’t want to walk with his head hung low, regretting every move he made in his past. This time, there was no ‘not good enough’.

I’ll free Meline!

Strike after strike, attack after attack. Kade endured all the pain. This was nothing compared to that life. This was nothing compared to a life without Meline.

Just a bit more! Just a bit more!

“Enough, it’s point-” She stepped back and swung her hand to the right, blocking an incoming magic attack. The attack dispersed upon hitting her shield.

“Kade!” It was Linda. Kalou and Letosis stood behind her. “Leave her to us!”

“Alright!”

Using his upgraded speed, Kade sprinted through the ruined buildings. Linda and Letosis struck from behind cover, magic spells flying through the skies. Kalou went in. Now that her soul had moved from the spear, there was no reason to hold back.

The three spears shot forward, each having its own target. Kade hid behind a wall, looking for an opening. A beam of darkness sliced through the space above him, barely scraping his head. The entire wall collapsed like sliced butter. Kade ran, using his boosted speed to circle her. When she was still busy with the others’ attacks, he struck from behind. She blocked his attack with her shield, but her attention was pulled away by shots coming from Meline and Letosis. All this while she controlled her spears against them.

“Come onnnn!”

“Just give up. You’re no match for me!” she tried saying in a calm tone, but her eyes were going back and forth between him and the spears. Kade formed a large condensed magic rock right above her and dropped it, forcing her to dodge out of the way. She used teleport, but his newly acquired abilities could trace the magic trail. It dealt another round of severe pain to Kade, but he forced himself to concentrate. He threw his sword straight where she popped up.

“Kh!”

The sword grazed her sides, but it didn’t create any visible wounds. Her face twisted in pain. Kade called the sword back. The sword switched directions and stabbed straight through her back.

“Kah!” She let out a yelp as the sword returned to Kade’s arm. Even this pained him greatly, as if his body was torn apart from the inside. He stabilized his stance, breathing heavily. Sweat poured down his forehead to his cheeks.

Kade's muscles burn. His eyes hazy, his head spinning. He glared at Meline's body. She wanted to attack him, but the continuous attacks from Linda and the rest prevented her from acting.

“He- Hey, this is the body of your wife, you know?” She forced a laugh, but Kade ignored her words.

Despite being attacked from all sides, she continued shielding herself. Were these Meline's true capabilities? Or was it something she carried from the time she was alive?

Kade shuddered at the thought of her remaining in Meline's body. The world as they knew it would no longer exist. Kade pushed through the pain.

“Hraaaah!” he shouted, dashing straight toward her. Again and again, he struck. Again and again, she defended. It was an endless back and forth.

He noticed a smirk. She must have realized that he ran on a time limit. She held the upper hand. As long as she lasted for another few minutes, she would win.

What to do… what to do…

Kade gritted his teeth. He couldn’t last much longer. He was tired; his entire body ached. His joints felt as if they had already shattered. His entire being is in pain. It was a level of pain he had never felt before.

The wounds weren’t physical, but had they been, he would have been dead.

It’s… dizzying… I want to sleep…

But he knew, if he closed his eyes, it would be over. It would be the end. There would be no more hope. He must survive. He must keep himself awake. He needed to be there to greet Meline when she returned. Somehow, someway.

Then…

“Hiiiiiiii!” A loud, screeching noise came from Meline’s body.

“Wh- What is th- Ahhhh!?” She held her head. Something was happening. Kade knew this was his chance.

Linda, Kalou, and Letosis kept up the attack. Kade pulled himself forward. It was like dragging a heavy rock behind him.

Like unoiled machines, his joints creaked with every step. Kade’s vision darkened, and he shook his head, pain piercing his head.

“Me… Line…”

Meanwhile, Meline’s body continued its erratic movements.

“Why now! You should have been gone!”

She could keep up her shields, but she didn’t notice Kade coming. Kade pulled his sword upward, his shoulders feeling stiff. Then he dropped the sword right above her.