The last piece of the puzzle falls into place

Kyrie plan had worked perfectly. At the end of the day, it wasn't that different from Lionheart's, both scenarios involved finishing the fight with one simple attack. The difference was in simple execution and weapons used to do it.

Lionheart had to get near.

Kyrie hadn't.

"My main disadvantage is that he has the chance to react to my attack, I have range, but with range comes predictability."

"So?"

"Make yourself useful and distract him. I'll handle the rest. Oh, and duck!"

Lionheart couldn't believe it when his enemy actually went and blocked his own view without him doing anything specific.

Did Kyrie predict he would've done this?

The fact was, her comrade attack worked and he was now standing over the body of the Fateless. Not just that, he caught a glimpse of his eyes under the helmet. He wasn't human. It wasn't completely unheard of for Fateless to regain some of their own world characteristics, but it was the first time Lionheart saw something as strange as that thing's appearance.

[TRAVELER]'s eye was bigger than normal and inside it were three different pupils, all filled with stars. Even if they were far from similar to normal human's eyes, he couldn't shake the feeling that they carried genuine emotion when they asked "Can you please move a little? I want to see the sky."

"Huh?" the day was terrible. There was nothing to see.

"It's such a waste to die and not enjoy such a beautiful view."

Even if [TRAVELER] was a Fateless, one of his worst enemies, Lionheart didn't have the heart to neglect his final wish. So he took a step back and pointed the sword to the enemy's heart instead of its throat.

"Thanks."

Lionheart raised the weapon…then lowered it

"WAIT."

*

I know I'm supposed to run away and not risk being caught.

My power is dangerous.

If I unleash it by mistake, it could lead to so many deaths.

But still, I can't abandon Gabbro.

So, I hid around a corner and tried to watch the fight. I honestly haven't understood anything that happened, but it's clear the result is unfavorable. Not just for my objective of breaking the chain, but also and more importantly for Gabbro himself.

Lionheart was stepping on him

I can't keep hiding.

I rush.

My heart throbs.

My breath feels like fire.

It's not the heat from my power coming up.

I'm simply using every energy I have in my normal body.

"WAIT."

I scream.

Lionheart watches towards me, eyes wide.

"Don't kill him…please."

"Kaede…"

"Please…let him…go…"

"Kaede…what's your connection with this Fateless? Did he kidnap you? Don't worry, now you're safe"

"You know full well what our connection is, Lionheart."

"I…don't understand."

"I…I'm a Fateless as well."

My words hit him like a hammer, I can see his face going pale. But there's an upside, he let's go of his sword. I'm sure he already knew, after all Gabbro told me that Lionheart saw my almost explosion, my awakening. He's a dumbass, but he's not so stupid as to not connect the dots.

"I'm [IRIDESCENT]"

"Kaede…why?"

"It wasn't my choice… but Lionheart listen to me."

I actually don't know where I'm going with this. What do I say? Listen, just let us go. We are going to destroy the chain to weaken the Goddess seal you know, but still let us go! This would obviously not fly in the situation, but luckily Lionheart anticipated me and said.

"Why did you say it? Now…now I can't protect you."

From behind him, his companion was getting near, pointing a bow gun toward me. That must have been the weapon she used to defeat Gabbro…and I have absolutely no way to counter it. So I stand still.

"Well, well, well, look at what the pretty boy got himself into. So you were hiding something."

"Kyrie…please."

"If you don't kill her, I will. And if you protect her, that's treason, you know it."

"Don't do it. She won't do anything bad. I'm sure…"

"You're sure? Why?"

"She's…"

"Did you fall in love with a Fateless? Stupid idiot! I thought I taught you better."

A blast, Kyrie has fired towards me. I fall on my back, my heart skips a bit…but I'm fine. The shot didn't hit me. I raise my back and see why. The Saint Guards were one in front of the other, stalling.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing, pretty boy?"

"I do."

Kyrie jumped back, pointed her bow gun to Lionheart and shot, he deflected. Ash raised all around them, the two guards started fighting.

That's our chance, I need to take Gabbro and…

But from the dust, two shadows emerge. One is Gabbro being dragged…by Tama.

"Come on Kaede. Now the last piece has fallen in place."

"What?"

"I told you Lionheart was here because of me didn't I?"

"You…did."

"There's a reason I chose him Nyahahahah."

The cat laugh. It wasn't that long ago since I last heard it but it felt like centuries. Funny how four days can feel like an eternity. I don't understand what's exactly happening, but one thing's certain. While the two guards fight, we need to go to the chain.

"Come on, carry him."

Says Tama giving my Gabbro's body.

"huh? Why?"

"He already tried to kick me three times!"

"I won't let you leave! Tamamo you bitch!"

"Goodbye, Gabbro! And thank you Kaede, you've made the right choice."

"Don't use my name."

And with that, Tama disappeared in the ash.

CH25

The sounds of fighting were still ringing in the distance.

"Those two are really giving it their all huh?"

"They are…"

"Are you sure you can't walk?"

"My legs have nothing wrong, but the headshot did me dirty…if I try to stand on my own, I get all woobly…"

"All woobly…"

"Yeah."

"Quite sure that's not a word, Gabbro."

"You understand what I mean."

"I do, but that doesn't change that's not a word!"

"Come on, give me a break, I did my best out there."

"Yeah, you did."

I wonder if Tama's plan also accounted for how long we would take to get to the chain. The fight between the Saing Guards was going strong in the distance, it seems like the two were evenly matched.

"That bitch must be strong to go head to head with Lionheart."

"Told you that trouble was waiting for us in here…"

"You could have been more specific then!"

"Specification are not my strong suit you know?"

"I learned it."

We arrived to the base of the chain. Now it was just a matter of creating the protection.

"Can you do it?"

Gabbro didn't reply, but a huge cocoon of ice started to grow all around us. From the inside I couldn't see the form it was taking, but soon it enclosed both me and Gabbro inside, without leaving any way out.

"You know you're trapped here with me, right?"

"I'll cool you….down…as soon…as the chain…breaks…"

"O…ok?"

"Please…sit me down."

I leave Gabbro on the ground. He was bleeding badly, but his eyes were glowing with life.

"You know, you complained a lot about taking of the helmet…but those eyes are beautiful! Why were you worried?"

"My eyes aren't human…"

"But they're nice!"

"…you say? A kid…once said…they were scary…"

"Thast's why you never took off the helmet?"

"Scaring…children…is the last thing I wanted to do…"

He really is oblivious. His eyes are much nicer than his helmet. Once this is done, I want to convince him to ditch the whole "cover his face" shtick.

"Ok, now's time. Wish me luck Gabbro!"

"You did good, Kaede."

That's wasn't what I asked, but it's fine. I walk towards the chain and touch it. It's a strange sensation, it doesn't seem like it's made of metal, even if looks like it. Whatever makes up this chain, I will destroy it. And then my mission will be accomplished for good.

I wonder what will actually happen now…

I focus, I don't know how to control my power, but it's not actually hard to make it come to the surface. I simply have to focus on the one feeling that brought me here, the one that brought me to break fate's cycle in the first place.

Rage.

Why did it have to be me?

Why did I have to become the perfect doll for my father!?

Why did my only chance at being happy had to involve a guy that only wants the riches of my family!?

I tried so hard, my whole life, then why the fuck nothing ever goes my way! My whole life was devoted to a stupid objective, kissing the ass of old entrepeneus that were better being dead, and not only that, nothing I ever did was appreaciated, nothing ever brought me joy and nothing brought joy to anyone else!

And then I reincarnate, I make friends…only to see Tsuki die! To learn Tama manipulated me! And to suffer the worst physical pain imaginable under [MYTHO]! As if the mental strain from my previous life wasn't enough already!

Heat builds up in me, a read light engulfs me, the last thing I see is the chain melting away.

I feel two arms around me.

They're cold, but inside the immense heat around me, they feel comforting. Like a father whispering everything's ok.
But everything goes black.

“So, my destiny is accomplished or did I just break it once and for all?”