Aimi

Stella finds Alba and Cato sitting atop the AMDO building. They enjoy the view of the moon before leaving for a fight they never wished to participate in again.

“Where is Tenki?” Alba said.

“He has left to find his wife.”

“So, he has made his decision.” Cato said.

“He believes it must be him. Whatever may come, we should support the hero.”

“He never liked that title. Yet he never strays from it. Considering what he plans to do, what will our best actions be?”

“To help. The time may come when we each must deal with Asphoros alone, but if we help this world then Tenki’s dream may become reality.”

“I’m not so sure.” Alba points north to a large gathering of tanks and soldiers.

Aimi’s request was heard by the armed forces and rallied within the day. Should any stragglers make it past her powers, then it is up to the human army to take care of them, she will be the one end any further chance of a threat.

Alba continues. “Even if he is to succeed, fear will overwhelm them. But we have no other choice, I will follow as you please just this once. But Tenki will owe us.”

“No time to waste then.” Cato stands, Alba tosses herself onto his back, “Ready to save the world again?”

“Only if I am by your side.”

“So, you’ve found me.” Aimi smiles at Tenki.

“You always said you wanted to climb Mount Kongo.”

Tenki sits next to Aimi on the bench. The seat gives them a view of the world below, a beauty she always wished to see and only now has been granted. With Tenki next to her it’s almost as if the universe is granting her wishes, she prays for only a few more to be granted.

“I hoped you would forget that, though I am happy to share this view with you. We didn’t go on enough dates.”

“That is one of my greatest regrets, I hope you can forgive me.”

“I can say the same to you. All that is happening, it connects to me. The instability that forces our worlds to collide, the tears in your friendships, and now the difficulty of the decisions you must make. Forgive me, but I wouldn’t change a thing. For if I did, I would have never met you.”

“I wouldn’t either. But this isn’t your fault. You can’t be blamed for something you had no clue about. After this is done, Stella will help you master that magic, it will make it safe for everyone. If need be, she can seal it as well, though you will have to talk to your clan about that. I don’t think they will be happy about it.”

“She will not be willing to help the one who destroys her world.”

“You haven’t done so yet. When the threat of destruction is gone, I’ll be able to do as I plan without worry. This world will be driven into confusion for some time, but I am certain it can become even more beautiful in time. It will be a world you can love, magic and all.”

“Stop speaking like that.”

“Aimi, I’m doing this for you.”

“I don’t want you to.”

“I must. It will mean both sides will survive.”

“And what of you?!” Aimi stands, “You speak as if you have no place in the world to come, as if you will not be part of it.” Tenki remains quiet, even as Aimi grabs him by the collar, “Is that what you believe I want? I do not care what you think of me afterwards, I will do as I must if it means you will survive.”

Tenki holds Aimi’s hands, “I will always love you. But I could not live with myself if I allowed you to do this, not when I can see how much you wish for another option.”

“Quiet. Go home and wait for me, I can do this Tenki.”

“I know, but you don’t want to. Whatever you have been thinking, sacrificing yourself, destroying the other world using Asphoros, that is not the right choice.”

“And throwing your life away is?!” Aimi pulls Tenki to his feet, “Guards!”

Four guards of the Mundus clan surround them, holding their hands to Tenki and waiting for an order.

“They aren’t strong enough to stop me.”

“If that is your plan then I will simply send you to a world where you cannot be part of this.” With a swing of her hand, Aimi opens a portal to a new world, “Stop smiling at me, I am your enemy.”

“You’re wrong.” Tenki raises Aimi’s left hand, her ring now back.

“When did you?”

The moment of distraction allows Tenki to escape her grasp and kick the guards away. He lands across from her, his smile never fading as he has reclaimed his wife.

“I’ll deal with Asphoros first, then I’d like to see you before I leave.”

Aimi sighs, leaving the ring on her hand before looking into the horizon. She can see Mundi and Earth on a collision course and must act soon.

“You’re mistaken on one thing Tenki.”

“What is that?”

“I did not bring Asphoros to destroy the world, the one to destroy it will be me.”

Tenki lunges forward. His assumption was wrong. He believed Asphoros would be the one to destroy Mundi, something he is more than willing to do. But that was a mistake; as he lunges forward, Asphoros grabs him by the throat and flies away with him.

“Asphoros let me go!”

“Hahaha, you believed her incapable, that is your downfall.”

At the mountain, Aimi begins converging her magic. Despite scratching and punching Asphoros, the demon king keeps a firm grip on Tenki until Aimi is out of sight.

“Heroes!”

At his call, Cato, Alba, and Stella arrive. Freed from the grasp of the demon king, the four now surround their greatest foe.

“I’ve already prepared to bring those I care for to this world, I recommend you sit back and allow her to do as she must.” Asphoros said.

“Quiet.” Alba summons her staff, “I’ll make sure you never escape again.”

“So be it.”

The battle begins, each hero lunging for Asphoros who laughs with excitement for the fight to come.

Back on the mountain, Aimi continues with her plan. Destroying Mundi would not be enough, even large pieces of the planet could impact with earth and cause catastrophic damage. For her to succeed, she will create endless small portals around Mundi, and tear the planet into small, indecipherable pieces.

Around her, the Mundus clan bows and prays in their ancient language. They are the people of the universe, their kind the one to hold all others at their mercy. The rift bearer is the very representation of this fact, each generation stronger than the last.

Once more, the rift bearer saves them, they only pray for her to continue to do so for all of eternity.

As her spell is near completion, Aimi’s eyes wander to her ring. Something she has never removed before giving it back to Tenki, she is relieved to have it back. Tenki’s name is inscribed in it, as is hers in the ring Tenki wears.

“I will always love you… No!”

Aimi opens a rift in front of herself forcing Mundi to collide where she stands; her arms tremble as she bears the brunt of it with her body. She needs more time to finish her spell and destroy Mundi, but the sudden collision was unexpected even by her. Something she never accounted for, the magic from the battle between godlike figures accelerate the impacts.

“I have to hurry… Gaaaaah!”

“Rift bearer!” The Mundus clan rush to her side, keeping her on her feet and helping bear the impact.

Many of them collapse from the strain, dedicating what is left of their magic to Aimi before fading away. Those that remain conscious continue to help. Despite the burning pain coursing through their bodies, they use their magic to help keep Aimi stable and protect her from the mountains falling debris.

Another impact, both worlds saved by Aimi who absorbs the force and is dropped to her knees. But that is the best she can do. A large rift opens between the worlds; both sides begin to cross into each other. For Mundi, it is rained upon with human and animal.

Earth shares a similar fate, but their side must now deal with the creatures that haunt the people of Mundi.