Outside the old dormitory, Iris Swordsoul forced back the approaching Despian Proskenion with a single strike.
Fallen of Albaz arrived just before The Iris Swordsoul could no longer hold out, transforming into Albion the Branded Dragon to clash with Masquerade the Blazing Dragon—now confirmed by Youmi to be her fellow transmigrator Yuki.
"Hey hey hey, if you make such a huge commotion, we're definitely going to get discovered, you know?"
Masquerade suddenly shrank as Yuki reverted to Aluber's form, causing Albion's next strike to miss and letting Yuki slip in a kick.
Albion willingly reverted to Fallen of Albaz. Although he couldn't transform into Mirrorjade now, he still held a dagger containing a portion of his power. He wasn't as battered as Albaz the Ashen, but not far off.
"You're one to talk, Aluber. You clearly started this whole mess."
Cleaving apart the rhombic chains reaching for him, Fallen of Albaz pointed his dagger straight at Yuki's throat.
"No no no, I just don't mind making things even bigger." Yuki produced a Deck as if performing a magic trick. While nimbly dodging Fallen of Albaz's attack, he drew a card. "Looks like I'm in luck. It's only a bit of power, but it's enough. I'll just end this fight with this~ Hammon, Lord of Striking Thunder—Heavenly Smite Fist."
Sensing the power in Yuki's card, Fallen of Albaz let out a startled cry: "Hey, a card like that—"
Before he could finish, a massive blue-green fist materialized from the card and slammed straight into Fallen of Albaz's face, sending him flying and even snapping a tree in half.
Walking up to the trembling Albaz, Yuki extended his hand. Just like the artwork of Branded Lost, he began to drain the power inside him. "Alright, that neatly wraps it up. That guy's leftover power inside you—I'll just siphon a little. At the very least, I need to draw out Branded Fusion~"
The power of Branded in Red and Branded in White intertwined, forming the shape of two cards between them.
"Albaz!" Kicking aside Despian Proskenion, The Iris Swordsoul immediately threw her sword, breaking Yuki's restraints on Fallen of Albaz before he could seize the card.
Yuki glared at her, then reached toward the forming card. "You—"
"Thanks a ton, Onee-san!"
Fallen of Albaz jumped up and, at nearly the exact same speed as Yuki, pressed his hand onto the card.
The incomplete card split in two, becoming identical copies of Branded Fusion in their hands.
"Give me that card—tch, troublesome!"
Though she had thrown her sword, white light flashed around The Iris Swordsoul as she transformed into her Dogmatika Fleurdelis, the Knighted form, since the cards Youmi obtained also held the shape she once had in the Dragon Kingdom.
Her blade forced Yuki back. Fleurdelis shielded Fallen of Albaz, while also carrying Youmi's "body" over her shoulder.
Despian Proskenion struggled to rise and moved to stand beside Yuki.
"I didn't plan to deal with you all just yet. Even if you're annoying, you're still his companions. But if you're so set on getting in the way, then—" Yuki held up Aluber's mask. "I don't mind wiping you all out right now."
"No need. Don't mess up the plan."
The gate to the Spirit World opened once more. A transmigrator calling herself Midai appeared in the form of Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous, riding atop Granguignol the Dusk Dragon, which was carrying the newly awakened Eldlich the Golden Lord and the terrified Laundry Dragonmaid clinging to him.
"Where is he?"
Yuki looked toward Midai and lowered the mask in his hand.
"Still the same attitude. Isn't that obvious?" Midai tilted her head and looked at Yuki with playful amusement. "He should catch up soon. If you don't want him nagging you endlessly, we should leave now."
She glanced back at the Spirit World gate, not yet fully closed. "By the way, I call myself Midai now. You should call me that too. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if I slipped up~"
Ignoring the hostility radiating from Fleurdelis and Fallen of Albaz, Yuki repeated the name "Midai", then suddenly burst out laughing. "Midai, huh. I see. You must be in a pretty bad mood today. Laughing this happily while dragging two tagalongs back."
He opened a portal with a wave of his hand and gestured politely.
"Looks like he hasn't taught you enough. Your speaking habits get worse whenever you turn into Aluber." Midai stepped into the portal without sparing Yuki's irritating grin a glance. "Our goal is this world. We don't have time to fool around here."
"Yes yes, my dear Midai-onee-san." Watching her leave, Yuki turned to The Iris Swordsoul and Fallen of Albaz. "As she said, we're withdrawing today. And we won't touch the one you're carrying on your shoulder, so relax~ Oh? Looks like he's back."
Youmi, in the form of Chamber Dragonmaid, burst out of the Spirit World gate. Behind her came a horde of dragon-form Dragonmaids and the original Chamber Dragonmaid riding on the butler.
Thrown out of the Spirit World, Youmi's existence began destabilizing.
Regardless, she immediately shouted, "You're Yuki, right?! Why did you come to this world? And that woman took Laundry Dragonmaid! What are you all trying to do?"
A chain infused with Branded in Red shot toward her, but Fleurdelis sliced it apart midair.
Yuki sneered at Youmi. "So you do remember me. I thought you were having so much fun in this world that you'd forgotten all about your little brother… Youmi-nii~"
"Isn't time supposed to flow differently…" Youmi muttered the basic setting she'd learned from the Ten Thousand Dragon, confused. "How could I ever forget you? But why come here? Don't you have your own life—"
Hearing Youmi's question, Yuki burst into wild laughter, then instantly went expressionless. "Haha… Aren't you the same? You chose the school farthest from our parents and me. And now you're running to another world? Are we that painful for you? Are we your shadow?"
Whether due to her weakening state or Yuki's accusations draining her strength, Youmi collapsed to one knee. Chamber Dragonmaid tried to support her, but her hand passed through. "It's not like that, I just…"
Fleurdelis pointed her blade at Yuki, retreating while bringing Youmi to the ground. "Get inside. You won't last long like this."
Pale-faced, Youmi nodded and returned into the Fallen of Albaz card.
"Well, I was only saying. Seeing you in such terrible shape makes it obvious… You really haven't changed. That whole 'I can't just ignore it' mindset, right? You're attached to this world. You can't relax knowing the end-of-days crisis in 5D's is coming. You can't stand the tragedies in ZEXAL, in ARC-V, right? Don't worry. Everything you care about… "
Yuki smiled warmly. A genuine smile.
Yet, his next words chilled Youmi to the core.
"I'm going to make all of them disappear. Your lonely journey ends here. I'm bringing you back to us."
"I was never lonely, Yuki, you—"
Before Youmi could finish, he was already gone from her sight.
...
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