The story we started

[“It’s just an unconfirmed life form. Aren’t there enough unconfirmed life forms that you have defeated? You can win once, and you can win so many times, so you will definitely be able to win again this time.”]

[“Or is it because you are worried that after breaking through your limits, you might lose yourself because of this power?”]

[“Then, can’t we just create a miracle once again?”]

[He waved his hand, and five mirrors glowing white appeared in a pure white world, landing in front of Zaimokuza one by one.]

[“This is the miracle you have created so far.”]

[Zaimokuza stared blankly at the scenes reflected in the five mirrors, his face dyed brilliantly with five different colors.]

[These five mirrors are arranged from left to right. The images are of Zaimokuza fighting with the unidentified life forms No. 6, No. 14, No. 21, No. 22, and No. 25.]

[In the course of fighting those unidentified life forms, these five battles have been extremely important to Zaimokuza. It was in these five battles that he constantly broke through his own limits, understood the true meaning of each form of Kuuga, and awakened the four elements of water, wind, earth, and fire in turn, as well as the mysterious golden power in his body that has not yet been named.]

[“During these battles, didn’t you surpass your past self again and again despite everyone’s pessimism, and create miracles beyond everyone’s imagination? Then why do you feel that you can’t do it this time?”]

【“——Stand up, Zaimokuza Yoshiki.”】

[This is the first time that Hikigaya Hachiman called out Zaimokuza's full name. His voice became as serious as his eyes. Those dead fish eyes had long disappeared. Zaimokuza felt that the gaze staring at his back was as sharp as a sword drawn from its sheath.]

[“You promised me that you would write a story that would change my beliefs, but now the story isn’t over yet. Are you going to stop here?”]

[“You have kept all the promises you made to others, and you have protected everyone’s smiles, but are you going to break your promise to me alone?”]

[“You are the first man in history who changed my opinion and turned yourself from a ‘fake’ into a ‘real thing’. Are you going to let a mere unconfirmed life form No. 26 destroy everything here? No, I will never allow you to throw away this hard-earned ‘real thing’ like this.”]

[“Since this story started with you, it should also be you who brings it to a perfect end.”]

[“You are nothing more than one of your defeated subordinates who have been defeated countless times by you. If the power you have now cannot defeat you, then continue to surpass yourself, make yourself stronger, and create a new miracle.”]

[“Go beyond your own limits, go beyond your fears, follow the guidance of your heart, and change the ending of this story into what you want it to be.”]

【“——Don’t forget.”】

【“This story was started by you.”】

[…Ha~]

【After listening to Hikigaya's last words, Zaimokuza was silent for a long time, and finally uttered a sigh with mixed emotions.】

[“It’s been a long time since I heard you speak to me like this. I think the last time was when I went to see you with the story I wrote. I didn’t expect that after such a long time, I would be able to hear you admonish me again.”]

[He lowered his head and looked at the shadows of the two people standing side by side at his feet, and the corners of his mouth drew an arc full of memories.]

[“It’s really… nostalgic.”]

[“So, do you want to admit defeat?”]

[“——How is that possible!”]

【Zaimokuza slowly raised his head and looked at Hikigaya Hachiman who was standing in front of him, with a big smile on his face showing relief.】

[The last stone in his heart had been shattered by his best friend's words. At this moment, Zaimokuza felt a sense of relief that he had never felt before. All the burdens that had been imposed on him were lifted, and his soul had never felt so light.]

[“I am the General of Zaimokuza! How can I just stop here? I have told you, Hachiman, before, right?”]

[“One day, I will give you the story I wrote with myself as the protagonist, and let you be its first reader.”]

[“I have no intention of ending this story now.”]

【"……Yeah?"】

[Looking at Zaimokuza's smiling face, Hikigaya's face flashed with a smile, and then returned to its original expressionless look in an instant.]

[He reached out his hand to the half-kneeling Zaimokuza and asked.]

[“Do you need help?”]

【Snapped. 】

【Zaimokuza gently slapped away the hand that was in front of his eyes, shook his head, and stood up with his legs supported by his knees with some effort.】

[His legs were still trembling, and as Zaimokuza stood up, his appearance began to change, from the chubby boy in high school to the him in college, and then to the him in the black suit when he attended the funeral—]

[When Zaimokuza stood up completely, he had become who he is now. The same brown windbreaker he wore in high school covered his slender and upright body, like a spear wrapped in a battle flag, straight and upright.]

[He lowered his head. Zaimokuza, whose height had far surpassed Hikigaya, looked down at his best friend, who looked exactly like his high school friend, for the first time, and slowly raised his fist towards him.]

【Finally, a thumbs up. 】

【"Big husband."】

[“It’s just a limit. Watch me soar into the sky and surpass it directly!”]

【After saying this, Zaimokuza took a step forward, and Hikigaya looked at the man running towards him without dodging at all.】

[The two touched in the next moment, but the moment Hikigaya's body touched Zaimokuza, it passed through his chest like a phantom.]

【Zaimokuza ran forward, the white light under his feet constantly opened up a path as he took steps forward. The path was rugged and uneven, just like a reflection of his life.】

【“——”】

[When he separated from Zaimokuza, Hikigaya gently closed his eyes and opened them again, feeling what the two had left in his body during their previous contact. ]

[His chest was filled with a warm breath, which was everything that belonged to Zaimokuza Yoshiki, sadness, pain, darkness, light, hope, beauty... He told Hikigaya Hachiman everything in his life, whether good or bad, through the touch just now. ]

[He was an ordinary person since he was young. Like many people, he had a family that loved him and he loved, and he lived an ordinary life. He should have had an ordinary life. He should have followed this trajectory, married a girl who was neither ugly nor pretty, and had a child. At the end of his life, he closed his eyes peacefully surrounded by his children and grandchildren, ending the life of Zaimokuza Yoshiki.]

[However, due to his encounter with his best friend, Zaimokuza Yoshiki embarked on a path that was completely different from his original life trajectory, and lost everything he originally had overnight. If it were other people of the same age, they would probably never recover from such a blow. ]

[But Zaimokuza didn't. With the help of those who cared about him, he walked out of the dark abyss step by step and opened up a path to a new future with his own hands. ]

[He had lost everything because of this unreasonable world. He had experienced so much pain but he did not choose to hate this world. On the contrary, because he knew the pain, he chose to repay the world that kissed him with pain. He chose to share his smile with those who had their smiles taken away, and tried his best to protect them.]

[There is darkness in his heart because of all the pain he has endured, but the most beautiful things still occupy the majority.]

[Because he had fallen into darkness, he deeply understood the horror of darkness. And because he had lost things before, he knew the pain of having the good things in life taken away. That’s why he was so persistent in wanting to protect everything, to protect the smiles on people’s faces that he had once lost, and for this he was willing to use his fists to wield the violence that he hated the most.]

[Hikigaya Hachiman placed his palm on his left chest, feeling the burning determination in his chest that belonged to someone else, and smiled with his back to the figure walking away behind him.]

[Hikigaya can be sure that Zaimokuza will never feel confused about himself again. He has surpassed the pain in his past and the darkness hidden deep in his heart. He has completely repaired the defects that the world has caused to his soul and reached the state of completion.]

【At the same time, he will also surpass himself. 】

[“In this case, I can finally rest assured. What’s next…”]

[Everything is up to you. Reciting the second half of the sentence in his heart, Hikigaya Hachiman closed his eyes peacefully.]

【sough--】

[Blue light spots began to emerge from his body, and his figure became increasingly blurred as the light emerged.]

[In this path opened up by Zaimokuza, Hikigaya's figure disappeared once again, as if he had never been there. ]

[But Zaimokuza knew it was not his illusion while running. He clutched his collar while running, and his pair of black eyes closed.]

[He left everything that belonged to Hikigaya, and Hikigaya left everything that belonged to him. ]

[The empty hole deep inside my heart was completely filled by something external.]

[You finally helped me...even if it was just your illusion.]

【“——”】

[His eyes suddenly opened, and his black eyes turned into amber-like blazing golden pupils, reflecting the glow from the depths of his soul.]

[A huge cliff appeared on the road ahead, but Zaimokuza did not intend to stop. He even bent his knees and jumped with all his strength, leaping into the abyss! ]

[Feeling the strong wind blowing his hair upwards, Zaimokuza's eyes showed no trace of fear, only determination as strong as steel.]

[Some brand new power, not the power of the spirit stone, but the power nurtured by Zaimokuza's own heart, is now erupting like a volcano. ]

【Om—】

[He clasped his hands at his waist, and in the buzzing sound, a silver spirit stone belt emerged.]

[This time, the light of the spirit stone has completely transformed into gold, without any flashback or interruption. The brilliant golden color permeates the belt, dyeing the entire belt golden.]

【"overtake--"】

[Zaimokuza stared at the infinite darkness that gradually spread from below as he fell deeper, and calmly took the starting position for his transformation, allowing the darkness to completely swallow him up.]

[“Henshin!”]

[In the darkness, golden light spread along with the words that sounded, illuminating this dark world.]

……

[The heavy sword spun in the air, flew a long distance in the air, and then pierced the boundary between the sea and the sand. The sea water slapped the sword, and the arc in the middle of the sword divided the land and the sea. The scene was like a masterpiece painted by a romantic painter, with a sense of absurdity and unrealistic beauty.]

[“Hmm!”]

[Kousaka Kyosuke's back hit heavily on one of the coconut trees planted by the local government on the beach to attract tourists. The tree, which served as a buffer, made a crisp cracking sound after bearing the impact of his body and slowly collapsed to one side.]

[“Damn it, I still can’t beat him…”]

[A coconut fell from the tree and hit Kousaka Kyosuke on the head before falling to the ground, awakening him from his drowsy state. He looked at the huge mantis rubbing its forelimbs in front of him, and his tone was somewhat unwilling.]

[Although Kousaka Kyousuke has tried his best in the battle, what stands between him and Garima now is not the fighting skills of the two, but a more intuitive basic numerical problem. ]

[Even if the power is running to the limit, the output of the α armor is still far inferior to that of the other party. The difference in performance between the two is like the difference between a motorcycle and a sports car, and the engine size of the sports car alone is half that of a motorcycle. ]

[Even in terms of combat skills, Garima, who was able to fight his way through countless Gurongis and become the original leader of the "ME" Group, could not be much inferior to Kousaka Kyousuke. The software performance of the two is comparable, but the hardware performance is very different. ]

【With such an obvious gap, it is not surprising that Kousaka Kyosuke lost. 】

[“Is that all?”]

[The wound on Garima's eye had almost been repaired in the battle with Kousaka Kyosuke. It looked down at him leaning against the tree trunk, its mouth moving as it uttered words full of disdain and contempt.]

[“Then you can die.”]

[Yellow sand splashed under its feet. Garima swung his double sickles and quickly pounced on Kousaka Kyosuke. The blades cut through the air, making a terrifying hissing sound.]

[“——I will collect your head as my proudest trophy, so just be grateful to me, GO!”]

【“——”】

[Kousaka Kyosuke was not afraid of danger when he was forced into a death situation. He looked at Garima who was rushing towards him with a serious look, and reached for the handle of the machine Chaser gun hanging on his waist.]

[With his other hand, he used his body as a cover to quietly reach under the battery pack behind him. After pressing a button, a mechanical ball shaped like a grenade fell into his palm from the cover under the battery pack.]

[Come on, looking at the Garima that is constantly approaching him, Kousaka Kyosuke thought silently in his heart, ready to give it an unforgettable "surprise" when the opponent thinks he is about to win. ]

[At this moment, something strange happened. ]

【“——!?”】

[A golden wave of air passed by his eyes, causing Kousaka Kyosuke to open his eyes unconsciously, and also causing Garima to stop rushing towards him. ]

【“KUUGA!?”】

[Garima turned his head and followed the direction of the golden light, and saw Zaimokuza, who was lying on the ground, slowly standing up. ]

【“Zaimokuza, you…”】

[Kousaka Kyousuke looked at Zaimokuza, whose body was now emitting golden light, and was also somewhat confused. ]

【Buzz——————】

[The spiritual stone on Zaimokuza's waist, which was stained with a trace of gold, was now glowing with dazzling purple light. The parts of his Titan form that were not covered by armor were now covered with silver armor, which soon covered his entire body like a medieval heavy cavalryman.]

[Kuga·Titan Form·Elemental Awakening (Earth).]

[He activated the element awakening mode at an extremely fast speed, but the spirit stone did not stop changing after changing its form as it did in the past. The starry sky-like color was stained with a pure golden color, like the sun's light illuminating the stars in the sky.]

[Golden electric currents jumped on his belt, Zaimokuza raised his pair of compound eyes dyed purple-gold, and tightly gripped the hilt of the Titan Sword. ]

[The next moment, countless golden lines outlined a new outline on the armor, and on the blade of the Titan Sword, there were also lines outlining a new blade shape.]

[Crack, crack—]

[As the lines spread to every part of the armor, crisp cracking sounds were heard one by one. The armor of the Titan form, which originally had unparalleled defensive power, actually cracked along the trajectory of the light. In an instant, Zaimokuza looked like a tumbler with cracks all over its surface.]

[Under the shocked eyes of Kousaka Kyousuke and Garima's gaze, Zaimokuza suddenly raised his head, opened his mouth and let out a deafening high-altitude roar. ]

[“——Drink aa ...

【Om—】

[A huge golden totem completely different from the four elements appeared under Zaimokuza's feet and slowly shrank towards him...]

……

【Nagano Prefecture, Kuroyama ruins. 】