“Get off him!”

Nico rushed at Hina, who was stepping on Ryker. Hina leaped off Ryker and thrust her sword at him. A ripple formed in the space in front of her. Suddenly a powerful force hit Nico. It felt like he got hit by a truck and he was sent flying in the distance. Axel attacked her from behind and she spun around and blocked his attack. Jin took that chance to attack her while she was distracted.

*Bam!*

He was hit by a bolt of lightning and was forced to retreat.

“Don’t forget that I’m here.”

Luka said while dozens of lightning bolts danced around her.

“How could I forget the one I want to kill the most?”

Not too far away, three people were watching the battle on the top of a building.

“This is pretty bad. Silver Crow seems to be out of control.”

Edward watched as Hina and Luka took on Silver Crow by themselves.

“Should we go help them out? I don’t think we’ll lose in a direct battle with them.”

Tessa asked. She and Kristen were right behind him.

“Nah. That would only escalate the situation. The goal of this battle was to repel Silver Crow, not destroy them.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if we destroyed though?”

Kristen asked.

“It would, but that’s only if we could.”

“….What do you mean?”

“It’s exactly like how sounds. While we would come out the overall winner if we were to compare us and them individually, we still can’t destroy them. That’s just how it is.”

The twins looked like they were about to say something but Edward spoke before them.

“More importantly, I want you two to go find Ace and Sora and prevent them from getting involved in that chaos. If they get involved then it’ll really be out of my hands.”

The twins looked at each other and nodded.

“Alright, we’ll do as you say.”

They then left in a hurry leaving Edward behind.

“Now then, time to see what went down here.”

He stood up and lifted his hands overhead. A streak of static shot up into the air and hit a drone that was tens of thousands of feet above ground. Information then started pouring into Edward’s head. Images of the last couple hours started flashing before his eyes.

“So that’s how it is. Someone interfered in their fight and Bloom got cut down because of it. That someone has to be my stupid brother. I can pretty much guess what his plan is.”

Edward grinned.

“I’m gonna enjoy ruining it.”

At the same time, the battle between Luka and Silver Crow was heating up. Luka and Jin were clashing in a lightning-fast battle. She fired lightning bolts at him but Jin was always able to dodge them. He would then attacked with gray lightning and black flames. Luka created a lightning shield and blocked his attack before flying up into the air.

(This guy, what’s his deal?)

She looked down on Jin who was flying towards her.

“Why do I feel like this guy isn’t giving it his all?”

Black flames and gray lightning started dancing around Jin. They then combined together and fired at Luka who evaded it but still kept her distance. She looked at Hina who was taking on the rest of Silver Crow. None of them were able to touch or get close to her unscathed because of how fast she moved and how lethal her every move was. So it was safe to say she was doing alright. Luka then turned her attention back to Jin.

(He was extremely angry before and looked like he was ready to destroy everything, but now…He’s mellowed down. Why? Or rather, when did he start mellowing down?)

While she was racking her brain, Jin continued to attack her causing her to go on the defensive.

“It feels like I’m missing something here. Hm?”

She suddenly noticed that the boots Jin was using to fly had sparks coming off them.

*Boom!*

They suddenly exploded robbing Jin of his means of flight while damaging his legs at the same time.

“Ugh?!”

Jin fell out of the sky and landed on the ground.

“My apologies, Jin Makoto.”

Jin turned around and glared at Edward, who was standing not too far away from him. Luka landed beside him and position herself in a way that she could protect Edward if needed to.

“I’m sure you’re already aware, but I’m Edward Akabe. You can call me Code Breaker if you want.”

“I see. You’re the one who destroyed my Hermès Sandals. Do you know how much that cost?”

Edward shrugged.

“I needed your attention, so sorry. I promise I’ll pay you back after everything is over.”

“And just how will a corpse pay me back?”

Edward could feel the bloodlust Jin was emitting on his skin. Even so, his expression didn’t change.

“I know full well that you can kill me without moving a muscle. I’m a fan of yours after all. However, your threats don’t affect me in the least.”

“Then how about I act on them?”

Jin took a step forward and Luka moved in front of Edward.

“You’re hiding behind a woman?”

“Yes, because I can’t afford to die yet. I would fail the Don if I did.”

Edward shamelessly said.

“Oh, regarding you acting on your threats I think we both know that would be impossible.”

He pointed at Luka.

“Even if I don’t include her; Hina, Ace, Sora, you can’t defeat those three. Well, not unless you use that form that you’re so reluctant on using.”

Jin’s eyes narrowed and the tension between increased.

“It’s not strange that I know about it. I did say I was a big fan after all.”

Edward smirked.

“If you use that form than you’ll be the strongest person in the city outside of Momo, who you’d be able to give her a run for her money. The problem is, that form is too destructive. If you use it when your allies are around, you’ll probably kill them by accident. Especially, if you’re fighting against the likes of Ms. Flameheart and the Don’s Apostles.”

(So that’s how it is. I knew that he was holding back.)

Luka thought.

“So are you saying that I should fall back?”

“Exactly.”

“After she nearly killed Bloom?”

Jin glared at Luka.

“Don’t be a hypocrite, Jin Makoto. You guys came here with the intention of destroying us all and now that it backfired you want to play the victim? You’re better than that.”

Edward laughed.

“By the way, the reason your queen was almost killed was because my brother interfered in their battle. He probably wanted you guys to be enraged and come at us with everything you got. And you guys played right into his hand.”

Edward sighed.

“It’s people like you who keep feeding his ego why he thinks he can do whatever he wants.”

“….Gear, huh?”

“Huh? He’s actually listening?”

“That’s because Bloom is still alive and most likely out of harm's way. If she was dead then forget reasoning with him, this city would’ve been reduced to a crater already.”

Edward whispered to Luka.

(There’s also the fact that in his head Bloom would never lose to the likes of you in a fair fight, but if I said that you’ll be angry so I’ll keep quiet for now.)

Edward stepped from behind Luka.

“Jin Makoto, the capital is currently unguarded isn’t it? I mean, I know that you guys must’ve left some people to protect it while you’re gone, but how long can they do that?”

Jin reminded silent while Edward continued.

“This attack was supposed to be a quick one, wasn’t it? You were to immediately head back after killing Miko and myself.”

Edward spread his arms.

“As you can see, I am not dead. The Don is safe as well. Your queen was taken out and you’ve taken and are continuing to take heavy damages. This might sound arrogant but haven’t we already won? Continuing this will only hurt you since I’m sure that my brother has his sights on the capital. Isn’t it your job as the commander in chief to bring his queen and soldiers back alive?”

“……..”

Jin stared at Edward for a while before smirking.

“If it was just me I wonder if you would dare to negotiate with me?”

Edward shook his head.

“I can only do this because you have things that you want to protect. If I can use that weakness to survive this, then I will.”

“They aren’t my weakness. They are my strength.”

Jin turned around.

“Silver Crow, retreat!”

“Wha?!”

After Jin spoke everyone froze.

“Why, Boss?! They took my arm!”

Ryker shouted.

“We can attach a new one when we get back.”

“But the Queen…”

“It’s for her sake why we must retreat. It’s our job to protect her kingdom when she can’t do so herself.”

Jin started walking away from Edward and Luka.

“I don’t want to hear any more complaints. Retreat, that’s an order.”

Silver Crow looked at each other before they started retreating one after the other. Hina, who was fighting them before, didn’t chase after them. Jin was the only one who stayed behind.

“What’s stopping me from using my full strength now?”

He turned to Edward and asked.

“Go ahead. None of us here can beat you one on one after all. But…”

Edward smirked.

“But if they go all out to kill you can you really stop them all?”

Jin noticed that Luka and all of Miko’s Apostles had surrounded him and was watching his every move. He laughed.

“I guess not.”

He then started floating using means one could only guess.

“Edward Akabe, you’re indeed a smart man. Which is why your head must roll along with your brothers.”

“Bye, bye now.”

Edward said with a wave.

Jin smirked and then took to the skies. All the airships Bloom had bought all turned around and went back towards the city. Once they were gone-

“Haa~!”

Edward fell on his butt and sighed in relief.

“That was scary but I successfully bluff my way to victory…Maybe I could be a conman?”

“Aren’t you already one?”

Luka said, they both then laughed.

At the same time, Jin was on an airship watching doctors operate on Bloom.

“Will she be okay?”

Sapphire walked up to him and asked.

“She received some serious injuries but she’ll be fine. She’s a fighter.”

He turned and looked at her.

“What about your injuries?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Don’t lie to me. You were already banged up when you joined up with us to attack Luka Flameheart. You need to get some rest.”

Sapphire couldn’t say anything to refute Jin after seeing how serious he was. So she nodded softly.

“I hate to admit it but it’s just like what Edward Akabe said, we lost this round.”

“But-”

Jin raised his hand to stop her.

“There’s no excuses. A loss is a loss.”

He then placed his hand on her shoulder.

“But we just need to win next time. For Bloom’s sake, and ours.”

Sapphire held his hand and placed it on her cheek.

“You’re right.”

The two smiled at each other in silence before turning to watch over their sister who was in need.

Barren, that was the only word that could describe this world. The ground was dry and filled with crack and the air lacked moisture to the point that your chest would burn if you inhale it. In this world, a sole person walked these lands. His clothes were in tatters, his hair was wild, and his eyes resembled that of a mad beast.

“How many worlds have it been? Just how many times have I died?”

This person said with a hoarse voice.

“I need to remember who I am….I am Miko.”

Despite looking nothing like himself this person was indeed “Miko” but a Miko from another time and era.

“What happened to this place again?”

He stood still as he tried to organize his chaotic mind to find the answer. After some time, he finally remembered.

“Ah, yeah. I destroyed it.”

He suddenly started laughing as if he heard the funniest joke ever. He then stopped and placed his finger at his temple.

“Well, I guess it’s time to move on to the next hell.”

With a loud sound his head blew off and his body hit to the ground before turning into dust. He continued his journey across the eras, inching closer to his return to reality.

What kind of return that’ll be and what he’ll become by then, not even he knows.