Three Chromas struck Xers.
The fortress was completely blown away. Xers's body was torn to pieces. All that remained in the air were purple glimmers from the shattered masks.
''THIS IS IT! I HAVE DEFEATED XERS! SHADOWIA WILL RISE IN MY NAME!''
Time Stops.
Hanken:
''How did they forget about me so quickly? Nystral... I've been waiting for this moment from the very beginning. While time is stopped, nothing can stand in my way. 2 seconds left.''
Hanken stabs his sword into Nystral.
''Time will start flowing again...''
Time begins to flow.
''W-What?!''
''L-L-LORD!''
''H-HANKEN! YOU BASTARD! TSUROGAMI! GET THIS GUY AWAY FROM ME!''
Tsurogami suddenly swings his sword. Hanken jumps backward.
''A-Ahh! Not a fatal wound. The Comp Evolved can heal this wound if I have enough time!''
Nystral retreated to the back, while Tsurogami and Hanken began fighting again.
At that moment, Xers:
Xers opened his eyes,
''W-Where am I? M-My wounds? I have nothing. Where are the Chromas? T-this scenery...''
When Xers looked ahead, he saw plains where rivers flowed through the mountains, mixed with pink and white colors. In the plains were plants and animals never seen before. Four-tailed foxes, pure white cats, white birds, pink roses, blue clouds...
Xers stood up and began walking toward the plain. He passed through white grass and stepped into the plain.
''Where am I?''
Xers walked toward a tree. On the tree were very strange fruits. Green strawberries, purple apples...
As he was looking at these fruits, a voice came from behind.
''You died, Xers...''
''D-Die? W-who are y— T-this is Gomerai!''
Gomerai had taken on a human form — a woman with purple hair and a face tinted slightly purple.
''G-Gomerai! Where am I?''
''You are in heaven, Xers...''
''H-Heaven? T-Then what about Nystral?''
''He is still alive. You lost, Xers.''
''N-NO I CAN'T LOSE! ISN'T THERE A WAY BACK?!''
''Unfortunately...''
Xers took a deep breath.
''Then... Gomerai''
''Xers?''
''Then how will I live in heaven? Aren't there other people?''
''They are not humans. And neither are you right now. You are Heavera. Heaven is so vast that the number of humans per square meter is approximately 0.001.''
At that moment, Xers felt a dark aura coming from his left.
''What is this feeling? I sensed an evil aura in heaven.''
Xers turned his head to the left. A jet-black demon-patterned sanctuary had appeared.
''W-What is this sanctuary?''
''N-No, Xers! I can't let you enter there!''
''Why?! What's the reason?!''
''T-There is no reason, Xers... Just don't go in.''
Xers began walking toward the sanctuary.
''X-XERS DON'T DO IT!''
''THEN TELL ME THE REASON!''
Gomerai took a deep breath.
''That place is both your salvation and your end—''
''Weren't you the one who said I couldn't be saved? Then how can it be my end in heaven?!''
''Listen, Xers. Mask spirits are cosmic beings. Each of them has a lineage. In there lies my brother, Koberai. Do you remember the battle with Sabre? I came to help you. Koberai was also going to come help you, but I acted first. Do you know why?''
''I would like to know...''
''If Koberai had entered your body, you would have become a villain. I chose for you to remain a good person, Xers...''
''W-Who decides my thoughts?!''
''Remember that we are cosmic beings, Xers. You are human. We can influence a person's mental world.''
''What about Hanken? He fought a demonic being.''
''You're wrong. Hanken defeated the demonic being. But unfortunately, you do not possess that pure power, Xers. If you can defeat Koberai, you can return to life. But if he defeats you, Koberai will enter your body and become a villain. That's why I don't want you to go in. Koberai is as strong as I am. You cannot defeat him with brute force alone...''
''People... I need to save the people out there! Nystral is probably stealing my powers right now! I'm going in.''
''There's something I can't tell you, Xers...''
Xers walks into the sanctuary. As he steps inside, everything turns pitch black. Gomerai, watching from behind, is swallowed by darkness as well.
Suddenly, the environment turns gray, and the inside becomes ten times larger than the sanctuary seen from outside.
''The gloom I'm feeling... I'm in a very strange place.''
From afar, a white figure approaches — a two-meter-tall man with long black hair. He holds two swords. One is a plain metal sword, the other a trident-like sword glowing pure white.
''K-Koberai?''
''So you recognize me, Xers! Seems Gomerai couldn't save you after all. You've fallen into heaven.''
Koberai throws the metal sword toward Xers. Xers catches the sword mid-air.
''What is the meaning of this, Koberai?''
''I know you came here to fight me, Xers. Gomerai tried to stop you, but you didn't listen and chose to fight me. By the way, both swords were forged in heaven, so aside from appearance, there is no difference between them. I fight fair.''
''What will it change if you just send me back to life, Koberai?''
''You still think we are humans like you, Xers. We are cosmic beings. We do not possess concepts of good and evil in our nature. Those feelings are products of humankind. Our purpose is nothing but to serve the universe itself. You humans classify us as good or evil... just like Gomerai and me. Haha! How could Gomerai choose an idiot like you? You don't even believe that there are beings superior to yourself!''
''N-No! Gomerai chose me for the good of the world!''
Koberai begins to provoke Xers.
''Idiot! You're still talking about goodness! We are the ones who decide how to rule this stupid humanity!''
''D-Don't underestimate me, you bastard!''
''Hahaha! Looks like a human is getting angry(!) I know best about the tears you shed in the battle with Sabre. Save me! Save me! Hahahahaha! Did you see what saving looks like?!''
''Y-YOU BASTARD! Hiiah!''
After being completely provoked, Xers draws his sword in rage and charges at Koberai.