Chapter 67: Nexus: The Bond of Kings

The light faded—
but the nightmare did not.

Leviathan roared again, louder than before.
Its body, though torn by the Void Banisher, was already regenerating.
The cracks on its scales sealed with black fire.
Its wings spread wider, eclipsing the sun.

“Don’t tell me… we failed,” Prime Kanata whispered, breathless.

Broken Kanata fell to one knee, his dragon arms trembling.
“So this… is how my world ends again?”

The storm swelled.
The sea churned into black waves.
The Fountain’s light flickered—dying.

Everyone on the island stared in horror.
No one moved.
No one could.

Until a familiar voice broke through the chaos.

“You said you needed more power, didn’t you?”

Everyone turned.

Itsuha landed on the battlefield, soaked from the storm, eyes blazing.
“Honestly, you give up way too easily!”

Prime Kanata froze.
“Itsuha?!”

Another voice rang out from behind her.
“If you needed help, Kanata-kun, you could’ve just asked!”

Celestine emerged from the fog—her staff glowing like a beacon.
Behind her came a flood of figures—
students, teachers, warriors, and even the alternate versions from the other worlds:
A.R. Celestine, A.R. Itsuha, A.R. Aine, A.R. Caine… all standing together.

Kanata’s eyes widened.
“All of you…?”

Nagisa stepped forward, sword drawn, wind whipping her cloak.
“They’re right, Kanata-kun. If you ever need us—just call. You’re not alone anymore.”

Beside her, Aine grinned, loading her weapon.
“Great power always comes from great bonds.”

Then Envy raised her voice from the rear lines, her wings spread wide.
“No matter what, nothing can defeat the power of connection!”

Asuna stepped forward, holding the glass bottle that contained the last drop of the Eternal Fountain.
Her eyes glowed with determination.

“You’re still the same idiot as the Kanata from my world,” A.R. Nagisa said with a smirk, landing beside Naomi and Haqua.

Naomi froze as she saw the woman standing next to Kanata.
“Alyana… is that really you?”

Alyana smiled gently.
“Naomi-neesan… I’ve returned. I know there’s much we need to talk about—but not now.”

She turned to her sons.
Her tone softened, yet carried unshakable resolve.

“Kanata—focus. This time, you don’t fight alone. Everyone, lend him your power.”

One by one, hands began to glow.
Light spread like wildfire.
From every student, every ally, every world.

Gold light—warm, pulsing, alive—rose into the sky, forming a massive circle above the Fountain.
It wasn’t magic.
It wasn’t time energy.
It was Kizuna—the pure bond of hearts intertwined.

“Kanata! Take our strength!”
Voices echoed across the island, across worlds, across realities.

The golden current flowed into Kanata’s body.
His Cyborg Arm began to crack—
but instead of breaking, the shell peeled away.

Metal turned to scale.
Silver melted into sapphire.
The mechanical arm was reborn—its true form revealed.

The Right Arm became a radiant Blue Dragon Arm, glowing with the rhythm of life.
The Left Arm blazed into a Golden Dragon Arm, roaring with celestial fury.

Asuna ran forward and pressed the bottle into his hand.
“Drink it, Kanata-kun!”

He hesitated only for a breath.
Then drank.

Energy surged through every vein in his body.
The sky split open as his aura burst outward.

“Bond… is the true Nexus!”

The words ignited the heavens.
The golden circle above expanded—connecting everyone’s hearts into a single blinding unity.

Asuna’s body shimmered.
Her form shifted—
her silver hair became streams of light, her body elongating, her skin turning to shimmering scales.

She roared.

The Silver Dragon of the Fountain took flight.

“Kanata! Ride with me!”

Kanata leapt, landing atop her back as the two soared into the heart of the storm.
Leviathan turned, jaws opening wide, oceans rising to meet him.

“<Absolute King>.”

Kanata’s voice thundered through every world.

The air itself bent.
Reality screamed.
He raised both dragon arms—
and the power of the Nexus converged into his palms.

Blue and gold spiraled together, forming a single divine spear of light.

“Disappear—Leviathan!”

He hurled it with all his might.
The spear struck Leviathan’s chest—
then exploded into a maelstrom of light and sound.

Leviathan wailed, its scales shattering, teeth breaking, wings burning away as its colossal body was dragged backward.

“Return to the Void—and never touch my world again!”

—BLAAAAAASSSSH!!!—

The world turned white.
The roar stopped.
Leviathan was gone.

The sky cleared.
Sunlight returned.
And for the first time in what felt like eternity, the world was silent.

Itsuha wiped the rain from her eyes.
“Kanata-kun… he did it!”

Celestine laughed, relief flooding her voice.
“He really did it! Leviathan is gone!”

Cheering erupted across the island.
Students embraced.
Allies shouted in triumph.

Even Broken Kanata allowed himself a small smile.
“You actually pulled it off…”

But before the celebration could settle—
the light above began to distort.

Cracks spread across the sky.
Not fading… but multiplying.

Broken Kanata’s expression twisted into horror.

“You’ve got to be kidding me…”

The victory turned cold.
The wind stopped.
And once again, the world began to break.