Magnus stepped down on Brawler's face, grinding his shoe into it. Blood smeared across the sole—nose, ears, even the scalp had split. Brawler's body twitched weakly beneath him.
Magnus smirked.
"You really can't stop drooling, huh?"
He pressed harder for a moment, then shoved Brawler's head aside with his foot. A quiet chuckle escaped him as he stepped away, scanning the battlefield.
His eyes landed on Gaku—still down, still shaken, barely moving.
A wider grin crept onto his face.
…Another one. This one looks even easier.
He started toward him.
Pitter-patter.
Rain. Without warning, it began pouring heavily over the battlefield. Sudden and unnatural.
Magnus didn't care. He kept walking.
"Well, well… look at you," he called out mockingly. "Curled up in the middle of a battlefield like that's gonna save you."
His step slowed.
…Wet.
He glanced down. Water had already risen past his ankles. His eyes narrowed as he looked around.
…No way rain did this.
Then it came.
From between two buildings, a massive wave surged forward.
Magnus froze.
It was too late to run.
The water crashed into the battlefield—and right before it reached Gaku, it split cleanly in half, flowing around him.
Magnus's eyes widened. The water swallowed him whole as it reconnected.
But it didn't spread. It circled. Twisted and formed.
A massive torus of water spiraled around Gaku, trapping Magnus inside. His body flipped violently within the current before he forced himself upright, bursting his head above the surface. He gasped.
"The hell is this—?!"
Water doesn't move like this.
Then he saw him.
From between the buildings, a man stepped forward.
Blue. White. Gold. A flowing hanfu. Half-up, half-down hair. A strange, segmented blade in his hand.
He walked straight into the water, and it obeyed.
Where he stepped, the current stilled. The chaos calmed. The water parted around him like it recognized something.
He reached the dry center. He crouched beside Gaku and leaned close.
"Calm."
.
.
.
A single droplet spun in the air.
And it fell.
Plip.
Gaku's eyes snapped open.
He gasped, heart racing. His eyes darted wildly.
Water was everywhere. An endless reflective surface beneath him. The sky stretched above—blue, clouded. The sun burning orange on the horizon.
…Where the hell am I now?!
"Do not fear," a voice said calmly. "You are safe here."
Gaku turned sharply.
The man stood there.
The same one.
"What…?"
His voice faltered. Nothing made sense.
"There is no rush,"
"Even the wind has chosen stillness here."
He placed a hand on Gaku's shoulder.
"You've pushed yourself too far. Let go, just for a moment."
Gaku's vision blurred.
The man's face began to clear, but not enough. Darkness took over his vision.
.
.
.
The man stood silently for a moment, then exhaled. He looked down at Gaku.
"Rest now. The current will carry you beyond harm."
The water responded instantly.
It flowed inward, gathering beneath Gaku, lifting him gently. A protective, fluid layer formed around him, carrying him towards the buildings safely.
The man turned toward Magnus. Still inside the water. Still resisting.
Their eyes met.
Without a word, the man raised his blade—then snapped it downward. The sword split into linked segments mid-motion, like a chained whip.
The water froze.
Then it collapsed.
In seconds, it was gone, sucked back between the buildings with a violent pull.
Magnus dropped headfirst.
"AGH—!"
He slammed into the ground, groaning before pushing himself upright, rubbing his head.
"You fuckin' bitch…"
He exhaled sharply, then flipped back to his feet in one smooth motion. He glanced at the man over his shoulder.
"And what are you supposed to be?" he said with a crooked grin. "Some side character I gotta beat before the actual fight starts?"
...
"I am Wéiyīhé Tiānxià," the man said calmly. "Sovereign of the Great Empire of Nature."
"And the end of your path."
Magnus nodded slowly.
"…Oh yeah?"
He reached up and pulled his blindfold down.
A grin stretched across his face.
"Then I guess it's only fair you know who's ending you."
"I'm Magnus Ego."
"The one thing without an end."
* * *
Kokoro scanned the surroundings, searching for anything he could use. Broken concrete, shattered walls, dust in the air. There was nothing useful.
His jaw tightened as he looked up at the giant creature looming over him—The Maw. Its presence alone made it hard to breathe.
He exhaled sharply. Think. Say something. Anything. But nothing came. He had no words.
"Entrust this to me, Kokoro. I shall handle it."
Kokoro's head snapped toward the voice.
A boy approached calmly. Black T-shirt, black pants, black shoes. Messy hair. A white face with crude black circles for eyes and a mouth.
Masks covered his back. Embedded into him.
The boy reached behind himself and grabbed one of the masks. It didn't come off cleanly. Black flesh stretched from his back, clinging to it. It looked rooted inside him. The sound was wet as he pulled harder.
Then it tore free.
Strands of dark matter snapped as he brought the mask forward. It was black, with a white spiral at its center.
"Leave."
Kokoro understood immediately. He gave a quick nod, then turned and ran without looking back.
The moment the mask neared the boy's face, it reacted.
Black tendrils shot out and latched onto him. They forced the mask onto his face, digging in, spreading through him.
He dropped to his knees. His head jerked back as a strained groan escaped him. His body trembled.
Something moved beneath his skin. His form began to darken, blackness spreading as if it were alive. A white spiral burned into his torso.
His hands clutched his head. He felt everything. His body shifting, his insides rearranging. He collapsed forward onto his elbows, breathing unevenly.
Jikken watched, then spoke.
"Maw."
Jikken gestured toward the boy. Maw responded instantly. Its jaws opened wide, and it lunged straight at the boy.
Before it could reach him, something stopped it.
A single hand.
It forced The Maw back and threw it into a building, crashing through it.
Jikken frowned. Jikken frowned. That didn't make any sense. Kokoro had already left. The boy was alone.
He looked again.
One of the masks had moved.
Half of a massive, skinny, and disfigured body had emerged from it, a towering form that had intercepted the attack. It sank back into place as if nothing had happened.
Jikken went silent.
The boy stood there, panting. A dark aura surrounded him. Slowly, he pushed himself up. His body was different now. Taller and lankier. He looked at his hands, flexing his fingers. Then he turned toward The Maw. It was already charging again.
He didn't flinch. A white surface formed beneath his feet.A flat surface. A line extended outward from it, stretching far into the distance.
The Maw lunged. Slamming into the ground, The Maw's jaw crushed the ground where he had stood. The impact shattered the ground. It chewed. But there was nothing. No flesh. No bones. The boy had vanished.
"So, you have rebelled."
The Maw turned.
The boy stood far away, at the end of the white line.
"Have you forgotten?"
The creature lunged again.
The boy remained still.
"I am your master."
Darkness swallowed The Maw's vision.
A distorted face appeared. It was glitching and twisting.
Then came a horrifying, distorted scream.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Į̷̢̛̻̭͙͈͚̰̹͍͚̖͇̠̳̥̦̳̜͖̜̟̩͖̮̹͕̭̝̤͔͎̉̿̈́̎̃̂̇̏͑̐̀̅̐̾̅̾̅͌̓̾̆̽͛͌̓͐͑̄̈́͐̚͜͝ ̴̼̠͚͍̖̝͖̳̜̋̈̊̈͌͑̔̾͛̏̚͜ͅA̷̡̢̡̛̛̳̞̥͕̣͈̼̲̩͔̤͔̭̰̺̬̬̻͕̹̟̅̎͆͊͐̿̍̑͋̎̈́̑̂̀̒̐̊̆͑̕̕̕͠M̸͓̐̉̌̐͊͗͆͒̃̽̾͑̉͂͐̌͊̆̽͆͂̀̉̓͌̾̀̌̇͆̕̕̚͝͠͝͠ ̴̧̪͎͇̳̪̻̼̝̯̰͎̠͖̖̲̲͙̩͇̥̊͌̿̌̕Ẏ̵̛̝͙̩͋̎̓̋̓̋̒̀̅̀̋̋́͑̀̑͐̐͂͝Ỏ̸̧͉͔̱̪̗̻̞̭̃͆̄̐͌̑Ư̵̡̧̛̺̣͎͚̘̭̠͚̤̲̭̲̦̫̻̂̑̓̾̓̽̈̏͛̈́̍͒̽̒̐̔͑̒̀́͑͗̃̈́̏̂̍͂̈͊̆͛̄́̚͜Ŗ̵̨̨̧̢̥̻̱̻͈͍̝̫̠̰̺̲̝͈̺͙͍̻̞̳̣͔̹͇̓̍̓̀̊̐̑͛̋̓̿̿́̓͂͘͜͜͠ ̸̡̧̮͓̺̮͙̥͚̱̦̦͚̹̯̻͓̮̟͎͙͓̩͌͊̇̽̽̎͆͐̇͒̽̒̎̈́M̸̨̢̡̡̢̢̛̛̻̩̖͎̰̱͖̞̮̟̩̜̗̝͖̰͇̪͈̣̲͓͎͔̰̣͍͈̹̯͓̜̾͒́̓͋̿̍̑͐͆͑̂̕͘̕̚͜ͅͅẠ̶̡̛͇̼͖͈̯͖̫̠̭͚͖͓̣̣̗̼̰͔̺̤̭̘̦͖́̆̽̂̒̏͌̑͛̏̈́͜͠Ś̸̢̡̨̢̜͚̘̻̭̤̩͈̜͈̼̣̬́̊͊̃̎̈́̋̄̄̀̏̐͋͑̈́͌̃̉͗͗͋̊̈́̔̏̔͗̀̀̈́̈̆̓͋͂̚͠T̴̫̯̬̱̬̰̒͆́͑͂̑̓͌̂̒̄͐̔̆͗̀̈́̈́̓̈́́͌́̉̆̏̆̽̾̉̑̃̀͛̃̚͝Ẹ̷̛͉̩̬̜͈͙̩̟̥̪͈̯͎̈́̾͗̌̈̔̉͐̑̈́̎̽̽̓̎̀̄͊̇̔̈́́͊̓̅͑̄͋̚̕̚͜͝͝ͅͅͅR̷̨͉̯̱̬͗̔͐́.̷̛̛̖̿̏̀̀͌͐̒̇̀͊̊̔͑̽̍͌́̈̊͆̅̈́̓̈͋̄̓́̔͐̆͘͘͝͠͝͝͝
Í̸̢̧̧̨̧̛͎͎̘̟͙͔͇̝͖͎̝͓̬̣̣̪̤͉̦̺̣̞̯͇̼̩̺͇̭͇̗͎̲̠͓̫̤̲̫̗̖͔̭̗̫͙̺̪̙͚̺̙̞͉̼͕͉̹͇̺̮̰̤͍̲̗͕̫̼͎̤͙͖̠̪̪̦͎̜͚̗̰͈͙̎̃̿͘͠ͅͅ ̸̢̧̧̡̢̡̛̹̙̤͖̻̘͔̻̻̦͉͉̖͓͚̺̜̙̝̼̦̫̹̘͕̣̬̹͚̭̟͉͈͚̤͓̥͙͖͓̱͖̟͕̩̩̼̭̬̟̥͎̪̤̮̟̮̗̞̟̗̝͍̥̈́̆̊̂̊͛̇̃̋̌̐̊̒͋͆̓͐̈́̓̽̔͋̃̓́͌̄͆̇͋̊̀̿̚͘͜͠͠͝͝͠ͅÄ̸̡̧̧̡̧̛̛̘̗̝̝̻̱̻̫͈̻͈̫̝̲͉̲̟͚̞͕̯͍͖̫̼̙̭̭̩͙͍̯̼̟͔̯͇͖̜̰̰̥͉͖̟̮̠̰̭̼̰̤͓́́̊́̐͗̑̓̅́͗̈́͒͆̏̈́̏̋́̿̀̈́͗̓̓̀͛̓̽̇̀̆̈́͌̈́̀̉̀͛͌̏̏̔̄̀̎͆̑̉͐̽͗͊̌͒̀̂̀̇̔̋͑̋̋́̑̾̉̾́́͛̾̈̀̄͒̀͛̿͆͐̅̈́̂̌̈́̚͘͘͘̕͜͜͠͠͝͝͠ͅM̴̢̢̛̛̛͇̪̗̠̭̥̺̲͚͍̜̼̥̉̃͌̋̊̐̃̈́͋̒̂̾́͌̃̀̐̃̊͌̓̈́̒̿̈́̏͆̃̍̿̀͛̄͛̋́̿̿̈́͐̊͋̔͂̀͆͊̊̓̄͑͊͊̽̾̀̿̒͋̕̕̚̚͘͜͜͜͝͠͝͝͠͠͠ ̷͙͚̘̪̹̘̖̣͍͖̱͖͔̘̻̯̲̟͍͓̤̻̽̑̊̑̐̽́͋Y̷̨̨̧̢̢̧̢͔̬͓̯̤̗͔͇̘͎͎̦̪̥̠̼͇̹̬̙̳̰̟̫̦̤̬̟̝̩̝͇͇̜͖̦̯͖͚͈͔̩̩̪͚͉̞̘̺̰̘̹̳̣͚̝͓̬̺̲̭̜̝̥͓̻͙͎͍̫̻̟͎̬̪̹̲̥͈̟͓̮̳̜̜̿̈́͜͜͠ͅͅỚ̴̛͎̝̹̱̙͔̩̪̫̳͚̥̗̗̼͖̝̞̟̹̩͙͈͇̫̮͖̭̱̯̙̭̳͖͍̘̘̞̈̔͛́́̐̂͑̀̊̄͌̽̋͆̔̐̃̅̾̂̔̈́̃̓̓̂̃͒̂̆͂́̐̽̑͊̑̏́̏́̎̈́̌͊́̈͗̃̀̓̓̾̎̋̓̋̆́̈́̎̑͆͆̕͘̕̚͘̚̚̚͜͜͝͝͝͝ͅͅU̶̡̨̢̨̡̡̗͔͉͔̠̝͈̗̦̫̹̬͖͎͍̮̣͔͍͕̭̩̟̘͓̘̺̖̰̭̥͖̳̖̜̭͇̮̥̜͈̮̺̳̭̖̟̳̺͖̗̝͍͍͕̣̬̘̥̹̲͔͙̙̤͎͍̙̬͍̺̙͍̖̬̯̅̔̐̉͋̄̀̽̿̑̐͋͒̿̾̌̐͊̆̔̆̉̂̿̔̃͂̓̏͐̎͂̊̍͐͐̔͊̀́̑̔̍̏̐̆̇̿̉̆͂̊̍̒́̕̕̚̕͘̕͜͜͝͝ͅͅŖ̵̡̨̨̘̬̼̹̻̫͙̦͙̜͔̰̗̻̲̥̯̼̥̦̓̔̇̽̈́̋̚ͅ ̷̢̨̧̧̨̛̛̤̖̖̟͖͚̞͉̥͈͔̪̳̩͉̪͉̳̘̱̲̩̤̯̠̰̺͖̗̠̤͈̙͇̖̮̣̙̬͔͎͚̤̬̬̯͈̓̅̓́͗̊͌̉̊͊̑͑̾̃͋̍̎͋̑́̀͗̔́̎͗̀̔̆͑͆͐͑̊͗̃̏͑̾̓͐͋̋̂̾̎̽̚̚̚͝͝͝͝͠ͅL̸̨̢̧̡̢̢̢̡̘̱̯͈̺̜̭̫̭͚̖̱͈̗̤͍̖̪̬̯͙͓̪͈͖͎̦͍̻̼͓̬̤̦͍͚̲̯͎̦̫̞͚̙͈̲̹̺̦͓̮̼̣̙͇͖̺̱̦̞͖͇̳̮͓͇͎̞̗̲̫͚͓̇̏̀̂̊̒͗͒̊̓̍̏̿̀ͅƠ̶̛̰̪͓̙͂̒͑͌̾͗͗͂̀͛̑̇̈́͑͂͑͐̂̓̑͑̑̉̒̿̒̀̒͛͒̒̿̈̅͂̎̔̓̋͗̂͋̃͒̑̆̋͋̀̂̿̐͛̏̂̚͘̚͘͘̚͠͠͠R̸̢̨̡̧̡̧̧̛̩̱̠̮̹̜̺͎̦͕̰̳̫͕̺̗̪̼̞̯̞̟̬̝̜̳̭̝̞̮͔͚̥̼͓̫̤̳͉͔̞̳̯͈̗̘̬̣̰͙͍̭͖̞͉̩̲̝̪̥̖̹̞͍̦̜̜͉̰͉͇̞͎͈̤͎̫̻̹̘͌͗̃́͂̈́̅̑̂͐̓̆̌͆̈́̋͆̾͆̇́̒͗́̎̽́̅͗̂͐̓̒̋͋̓͗͌́͌͒̕͘̕̕͘͜͜͜͠͝͝Ḑ̸͔̩͔͎̜̦̟͍͙͖̪͍͎͓̘͈͓̗̤̯̄͆͛̀̍̄̎͐̂̿̇̈́̐̒͛̀̾̀͒̀͆̒̈́̇̌͒͗͒̇͋͊̉̕͘͝͠͝ͅ.̵̧̧̨̛̛̬̣̺̣͓̠̜̝̺̞͎̲̜̠̬͇͈͖̰̗͉̦̮̙̦̀̿̾̈́͗̿̾̋̊̆͑̈͊͒̊͂̍̃̅́̓̇͊̈́̅͊̈́͛͐̓͂̈́͗͑͆̋͗͛͐͐̅̑̂͂͌̽̄͆͑͗̕͘͘͘̕̚͝͝͠͝͠ͅ
D̷̢̨̡̛͔͈͍̺͇̲̯͈͍̩̲̠͓͓͕̞̩͎̬̜͕̤͔̮͙̼̩̭̗̝̠̄̑͂̾̌̒̏̑͊̊͗̋̐̓͘͘͜͝͝Ǫ̵̧̲̥̞̮̱̺̳̤̣͕̯͓̼̬̩̲̝̰͓̠̆̓̓͐̍̆͘ ̵̧̢̢̨̣̞̠̦͍̘̖̮̼͕̤̠͓̖̰̼̱̳̺̣͚̪͓̬̱̲̙̃̓̿̇̓͂̂͒̀̾̈́͐͂̎͒̆͋̋̏͒̊̿̐̂̐͆͘͘͘͝N̶̨̨̢̡̛̤͔̦̙̖̰̮̰̦̤͇̣͈̗̟̘̦̗̰̗͆̽͗̇̍̃͆̽̃́̑̃̽́̾͆̄̽͊͛́̐̂̈́͌̄͐̽̀́̊͑̎̂̾͊̈́́͒̀̕͜͝ͅO̷̢̺̱̩̘͒̅̆̃͛͛̄̍̔̽̌̾̽͘͘T̵̡̧͚̜̗̟͔̯͕̩͍̯̱͚̖̜̙͎͑̆̎̐̒̿̍̅̍̅̀̈́͂̀̃̕͘͠ ̷̫̮̭̫͔̤̬̘̭̪͖͎͕̠̳̘̪̲̦̰̤̹͙̟͖͓̫̟̲̦̮̫̱̩̦̫͉̝̱́́̋̎́͋̈́̄͂̀͊͝ͅͅḞ̴͍̥̻̺̠̟͋̌̑̃̀̀̊̓̂̆͛̓̆͑͌̉͂̿̓̂́͛͂́̒̕͝Ỏ̵͈̓̎́͛̂͌̅͂̋̈́͐̽͐̉̃̆̀͂̈̆̑̈͐͗̾̚̚̕̚͜͝͝R̴̨̡̛̛̪̻̲̦̦͈̼̦̼̬͇̞͈̱̲͉̼̰̼̠͉͚̦̥̟͈̥̱̞̤̙̱̖͚̜̲͇̰̖̊́́̓͑́́͊̅͛̄̂̓͗͊̈́́͆͗͆̌̆͐̄̏̋̑͘͜͠͝͝͠G̷̡̞̳̠̯͈̖̝̙͇͈̳̩̬͔͍̠̝̳̟̳̰̗̞̺̤̫͍͈͚̩̲̤͖̳̤͖͐̀̅̎̊͐͂̏̀̇̏̽̐̓̍̔̈̾̎́̀̿̓̀͊̂̃͐̆͒̈́̾̐̈́̌̆͆̚̕̕̚̚͜͜͠͠ͅͅͅE̸̢̤̘͚̯̳̣̳̽̌̎́̅͂̿̅̕͜T̵̘̳͍͉̬͎̓́́̓͗̂̀̈́́̉̐̈́̇͊̕͝ͅ.̸̢̛̜̖̤̩̀̑̀̆̄͂̑̓̉̂̉̓͊̔̇͊̉͒̈̊͒̾͋͌͌̑̈̓̎͑͋͆̈́͂̀̇̿͐̒̿̅̿͋̕̕
Ȉ̶̢̧̨̨̨̢̨̛̛͈̘̭̳̝̙̲͔̤̳̜̬̝̱͖͖̭̯͈̙̱̗͉̬̞̰̰̞̠̺̟̘͍̗̣̼͖̙̟̮̹͓̹͈̬͖̰̣͇͕̺̳̳̹̰͎͈̩̠͍͉͚͔̙̙̘̟̱̪͇̲̦̻̜̬͍͇̲̼̈́̎̈́̿͂̆̾̌̅̀͒̈́̇̽̀͌̆̽͛̀̿̈́́̓̈́́͗́̇́̉̆͒͋̃͊̔̽͋̈́̅̊̈́̾̓̃͆̀͛̐̓̂̿̾̕͘̚͘͜͜͜͝͝ͅͅ ̶̡̨̧̢̧̨̧̨̡̡̧̡̢̧̨̧̡̡̢̧̨̢̡͚̼͚̠̰̱͔̖̮͉̞̥͔͈̼̭̩͈̻̘͙̬̜͙͖̭̖̝̦̞̦͍̠̠̟̹̲̦̖̺̥͔̮̳͖͚͙̪͈̮̭͓̗̥̜͉͖͍͎̗̱̹̱̟̬͔̲̼̰̰̝̳̟̦̟̯̪͖̟͖͍̤̠͓̙̦͉͉̥̫̙͔͖̯̲̣̮̣͓̖̤͕͖̦͍̬̤̟͓̳̖̼͔̤̫̹͚̩̱͇̥̥͇̤̤͇̓͑͊͆́́͊̒̓͒̊̽͆̒͂͊̏̍͑́̿̀̈́̒͆̚̕̕͜͜͠͝͝ͅͅͅͅͅA̶̡̨̢̡̢̧̢̡̛̛̛̝̮̘̫͔͈̟̞͉̼̭̫̲̲̝̳̣͇̹̳̹̯̙͔̖͔͖͍̟̝͍̰̹͓̳͔̥̻̙͈̣͕̗̼̩̞̮͓͎̰̳̙̠̖͉̙̣̭̳͚̼͍̭̮͔̜̠̤̠̺̞̮͕͒̐͗̓̐̎͗̇̊̔̒͑̿͊̆̅̅̓̓̾͗̈́̈́̌͐̈́̈͐͑͑̄̈́̒̈́̍͆̐̀̈͛̎̔̍͂́́̽̀̆͆̊̎̈́͌͑̾̏͒̔̅͑̓̔̿̓̾̀͛̈̀̓̆̍̾̽̋͊̄̇͆̉̑͒̄͒̓̅̍͛̇́͐̎̀͑̽̏̊͋͌͋̀̅̎̌̉͋̓̒̀́̓̋̄̈́̀́̿̀̄͛̀͊͂̐̄̿͂̑̂̃͆͊͛͂̋͐̆̎͋̂̿̏͗̒̆͋̿͋̆̆̏̂̇͒̑̀̒̂̏̉́͗̚̚͘̚̕̚͘͘͘̚͘̚͘͘̚̕̕͝͠͠͝͝͝͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅͅͅḾ̸̧̧̨̢̧̧̡̢̨̧̢̨̧̡̧̛̛̰͚̙̜̳̬͓̩̩̭̺̺̝͉̖͚̯̞͈̣̤̱̱̯̖͉͍̰̖̱̦̲̪̜̜̹͉̣̺̖͍̼̳̮͔͉̝̹͉̖̺̩̮͕͈̻̱̖͚̺̲̟̩̠͓̹̹̱̞̤̫̦͉͕̜̜̫̘͓̖͔̼̤̜͙͈̜̲̞͈̥̙̜͔͆͗͌̓̽͊̇̐̐̐̾͗͂̂͋̉̄̀̎̏̂̈̐͊̑̉̔́͌̓̊̊̒̋̐̉͌̈́̽́͂̈̿͑͆͐́̊̀̾͊̐̅́͒̊͊̽̾̍͂́̊͋̈́͆̌́̓̎͐̍̆̂͗̐̉̈́̿̏̋̏̀̈̇̄̽͌̓͊̒̑̃̉̈̓̽͌͆͑̿͌̾́̀͛̌̈́͌̀̇͌̾͛̑̑̈́̈́̐̒̐̄̀̈́̍̒́̇̇̔̆̽̊̊̂͘̕̕̕̕̕͘͘̕̚͘̚͝͠͝͝͝͠ͅ ̶̛̛̛̛̛̪̟͍̆̐͋̎̌̃̎̄̄̌̀͑̔̽̅́́̀͌̇͐̉͂̇̏̉̈̉̽̊͒̄́̀̓̿̿̾͌̓̅͊͊̓́̎̍̇͋͗͆̑̒̐̍͐̒͑̐͑̀̐̓̐͛͂͐̒͗̐́͂̒͑̓̋͘̚͠͝͠Ý̸̨̡̛͚̥͓̟̤̬̟̘̣̙̩͇͎͙͚̬̖͆͛͆͛͒̽͛͛̽̒̎͆̑͛͛͛̌͊͛̏͗̍̌̉̈͗̇́̉̀͐͒̑̈̓̈́̃̎̍̀̌̉́̉̊͌̑̊̾́̓̊̇̉̀̈́͛͌̋̈̈́̄̈͊͗̀̌̏̿̆͘̕̚͜͜͝͠͝͝͝͝͝Ơ̸̢̧̨̨̨̨̡̨̳̳̬̗͎̹̥͉͖̯̱̭̳̪̞̫͖̫͉̬̮͚̣͙͚̳͓̙̟̘̬̖̱͙͕̩̝̗̱̤̮̰͉̯͎̙̥̩͇͉̺͉̭̟̠̟̦̣͍͖̟̟̬̳̘͙͍̜̗̜̣̩͈̟̘͇͊͛̄͋̀̎̾͌̆̓͊̔̈̈̅́̈̆̄̉͋͑̌̓̀̅͐̋̿̅̈́͊̑̿̌̎̔̄̎̑́̉͛̒͊̓̔̈́̑̽̐̓͛͒͛̀͑̂̌͌̎͋̚̚͘̕̕̚̕͜͜͠͠͝ͅͅͅͅͅͅͅͅƯ̴̡̢̢̢̨̢̡̡̡̛̛̘͇͇̜̻̼̭̤̠̼͍̟͖̭̺̮̳͎̘̺̰̘̭̹̖̳͔̪̼̦̪̣̠͔͕͔̼͓̻̣̠̱̳̙̖͕̟̘̦͍͔͖̣͓̦͔̠̥̬̦̤͙͔͍̮̬̤̤̫̼͔̬͖̰̥̪̭͍͚̥͙̳̬̖͖̹̬̒̈̈́́̌̿͛̃̿̑̈́̋̈̉̇͌̔͂͂͒̀̔̔̋́̀̿́̋͛̔͗̈̈́͐͑̋̈́̊͆̒͊̉͑̎̃̕͘̕̕͘̚̚͜͜͜͜͝͠͝ͅͅͅͅR̴̢̨̢̢̧̧̳̞̟͚͚̗͉̙͙͚̼̝͖͔̭̤̮̦̲̠̬̲͈̯̼̻̫̙̣̣̞̤̮͉̥͎̦̱̰̟̖̟͚͓͓̺̻̜̠̺̬̥̟̗̦͐̿̂͜͠͝͝͠ͅͅ ̷̧̧̡̡̨̢̨̭̭̟̦̪̝͖̱͎̲̫̱̱̝͙͕̩̱̰͈̲͇̘̬̯̬̜̬̜̪̙̙͍̱͍̻̻̩̰̓̓͐̀̑̃L̴̨̡̛̛̛̛̛̛̛̰͉͙̦̯̫̝͍̼̫̺̣͎̘̤̥̬̙̫̙͔̝̝̦̮̗͇̪̟̰͙͈̝̞̪͖̲̖̮͚̳͈͈̭̲̗̤̍̂̑̅̈́͛͊͗̐̿͆͊̃̓̊́̅̎͊͒́́̉̈́̋͛̑͒̾̈́̂̏͛͌́̈́̋͌̉͛̉̇̈́̌͛͊̊̂̔̏̏̀̃̈͊̉̇̇̓̋̌̂̈́̂̈́̇͌̐̃̀̿̔̋͌̈́̆͊͌̒̀͊́̀̔̆̍̍́̐͂̃̀̐͒̇̉́͊̓̚̕͘̚͘̕̕̕͘̚̕͝͠͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝͝ͅŌ̷̡̢̨̡̧̤̥̗̥̲̜̙̲͍̮̝̻̪͕̜̼̟̮͖̩͖̗͙̥̰̞̤̦̥̤̫̫̇̑͂̑͐͑̈͑̆̽̇̾̈͐̇͌͒͒͗̒̍̔͋̋̀͑̅̏̐̄͂̽͌̽̄̋̓́͒̈́͋͐̀͂̒̈̏͒̉́͋͊́̆͗̈́͐͌̈́̊̇̀̀̔͑̐͒̀̔͆́̅͊́̓̓̎͂̌͒͌͆̒̿͘͘̚͘͜͜͠͠͠͠R̵̡̨̡̡̧̧̧̢̢̡̨̡̢̡̢͍̥̰͔̮̣̯̭̼̪̙̳͈͓̺͖̥̝̖̥̝͍͎̥͙̰͈̯͍͇͖̻̬͇͚̱͕̥͓̲̮̙͇͖̙̘̻̜̥̖̻̞͍̥̮͇̝̪̱̱̻̠̦͎̤͖͙̻̹̰̞̥̜̝̟̭͇͖̣̲̭̬͚͎̟͆͊͐͊̑͛̑͗̈́͊́͜͝ͅͅD̷̡̧̧̧̢̨̛̛̛̛̛̛̬͈͇̥̪̘̘̤̱͇̣̯͎̭͕̯̜̠̞̝͕͈̠̬͔̭̬̭͙̬͐̂̊̿͂̈́̎̋̎̑̉͒̿͛̾̎̃̆̓͐̈́̀̓̍͒̽̽͂̽̈́̄́̒̄̐͊̅̀͐̉̓͛̇̇͌́̊́̄̔̈̎̈̀̒̀̌́̈̀͛̏͐̾̂͆̍̓̽̽̓̍͗͗̅̂͂̒͒̃͑̆̍̌͛̒͗̈́̒̑̆͐̍͗̀͗͂̎̓̀̅̏̓̆̒͑̑͗̋͐̃̽̓́̑̽̆̈͋͑̋̀͆̑̾̓̊͛̀́̊͋̃̎̊̏̄́́̋̾͐̋̎͛͒̈́́̀́͗̂̈́̏̊͂͆̓͌͐̅̕̕̕̚͘͘̕̕͘͘͠͝͠͝͝͝͝͠͠͝͝͝͝.̸̨̨̧̡̨̧̡̧̛̮͖͓̙͔͕̮̭̘̤̮͓̦̪͓̯̪̮̠͇̲̠̤͖̰̭̫͈̤͙̠̙̠̞̖̗͓̟͇̦̫̤͇̼̪͓̩̩̹̼͖͇̮̫͎͖̜̗̗̭͇͈̗̙̳̼̦̙̱̠͙̩̤̪̫̳̲͉̯̝͔̥͇̤̠̩̥̦̣̦͙͈̺̪͔͍̙̮̖̬͖̰̳͙̼͓́̆͒̆̓̋͑̈̽̓̀̎̎̅̐͗̀̎̆̔͛̿̀́̉͊̅̐̐̈́̒̊̿̃̇͆͒̒̈́̿͗̍͛̐͂̿̃̏͒͊̓̋̆͗̀̀͑̓̆͑̇̆̕̚̕̚̕͘͘͜͜͜͠͝͝͠͝͝ͅͅͅͅ
Ī̶̡̡̡̨̢̡̢̡̨̛̛̛̛͚͔̺̭̯̫̹̖̮̲̺͈̞̪̟̪̟̲͚̫͇̞̞͖̹̦͇̟͓̪̪̩̲͈̟̦̝̲͖̣̰̬̪̻̳̠̜͍̰̰̗̞͎̠͈͚̗͙̙̙̝̖̱̺̩͎̼̖̫͙̲̘̙̱͙͉͉̦͉̪̥̝͖̲̬̥̥͉̻̓̔̆̾̅̉̐̋͊̈́̀͐̂̅͗̿̓̐̈̒͌̏͂͊̔̊͐̃̄̆͐͊͛̊̍͋͂̅̀̎̍͋̌̅̈́̅́̏͆̅̄̅͛̃̊̓̍̌̀̊͒̓̒̈̍̏̌̾̽́̐͊̑̓͑̂̄̒̾̃̋́̀̋̆̽́͐̂͛̂̚̕̚͘̚̚̕͜͠͠͝͝͝ͅͅ ̴̡̛̛̪̗̠͖̖̦̲̙̥̠̮̰̮̜̬͉̪̱̭̍͊͋̿̆͗̌̽̔̀͐̊̐̋͐̒̾̌͂͌̈́̾̋̐͌́̈́̈̆͆̓͋̌̀̾̏͗̅͆̊̇̕͘̚͜͝͝͝͠Á̶̧̢̨̡̨̧̨̧̨̨̢̡̨̡̧̡̺̼̗͈͍̖̘͙̬̯̺͉̩̗̥̬͍̳̝̘͍͚͎͖͉̟̞͖͎̱̹̹̱̭̺̱̞̘̳̗͖̯̬͍̭͈̭̮̝͇͚̘͇̱̬̳͕̼͎̥̠̣̻̺̪̱̯̱̳̲̠͍̥̦̱̹͕̗̗̟̖̥͔̣͔̠͈͈̫͔͉͈̹͕͇͖͖͚̩̯̪̪̭̯͚͚͇̺̝͓̭͖͖̹͇̳̯̫̬͈̝͚̮͔̘̹̲͚̼͖͊̐͆́̀̄̄̐͆̏͛͗̐̓̏̄̃̊͜͜͜ͅͅͅͅM̵̛̼̮͉̬͚̞̪̪͌͌̔̔̇̑́͗̆͐͂̀̀̊̅̊͒͑̃̽̋̿̑̃͛͒̓̂̿̔͛̕͘̕̕̕͠͠ ̷̢̨̧̢̢̢̨̡̡̡̨̛̯̺̥̮͚͎͉̪̼͉̳͉͙̖̥̞̟͇͉̙̤͕̯͕̘̳̝̘̠͉͙̹̼̯͈͎͙̗̖̟͉̳̲̹̹͍̗̞͉̬̥̦̳͓̲̫̪̪̫͖̬̞̯̲̱̞͍͈̣͓̮̟̤̱͎̫͚̥͓̠͇͔̖̻͖̰͍̦͚̤̗̥̻̝̭͍̝̯̥͍͕̄̇͆́́̅̀͂̆̏͊͜͜͜͜ͅͅͅY̴̡̧̢̛̛̛̛̛̛̹̺̖̹̼̖̮̜͔̻̗̜͆͗̇̓̅̊́̈́͑̅͗̊͛̒̏͐͗̈́͂̉̅̀́̌̇͒͒̓̊̾͑̀̀͛̄̇̒̃̅̄͌͋̉͂͋͌̾̎͂̒̇̀̄̉̊̅̉̏̂́̀͋̔̂̍̆̋͂̐̐̋̊̓̌̌̒̍̇͊̀͋̔͐͑͋͗͐͆̏͒͛̾̈́̏̈́̆͒̊͐̄̐̿̔̑̉̕̚͘͘̕̕͘̚͝͝͠͠͠͝͝͝͝͠͝Ơ̴̧̨̡̢̧̡̡̧̢̡̛̛̤̦̖̠̘̙̯̰̺̥̹̪̱̝̭̜̟͔̦͓͎̬͍̼̝̭̥͔̣͙̤̼̬̦̩̬̹̝̼͎̫̘̬͍̪̠͙̺̰̥̜͖͚̭͕̼̫̟̤͕͇̗̘̖͖̠̺̠͍͈̳̳̰̦̦̦̱̫̦͍͕̜̦̗̟͚̞̩̥̼̥̠͉̳͉̖̘̘̮̭͓͂̌͐̊͆̓̏̆͋̿̏̄̆̈́͋̔̑͋̀̉̃̅̓̈́̏̅̅̈́̃͗͒̋̓̒͗̀̉̽́̄̓̂̓͛͐͒̓͌̌͆̅͑̓̉̐͊͆̃̏͆̑͘͘̚̕̚̕͜͜͜͝͝͠͝͝ͅͅͅƯ̶̧̨̢̡̧̡̡̢̡̨̧̨̡̨̢̛̠̜͍̰͇̼̰̤͙̲̲̤̺͉̪̪̳̰̞̜͇͈̼̩͕̺̩̘̩̬͙͕̫͎̟̹̤̠̼̮̞̤̺͈̹̠̯̫̱͔̝͚͕͙̜̣̮̦̜̦͎̦̩̓̅̂̽͊̎̅͐̽̀͐̽͂̓̓͐̏̾̅̍̾̆̆̓̃̌͋͂̀̎̉̍̀̏̅̈͗͌̅̈̒͐͒͒̎̎̇̓̊͌͊̈́̀͆̍̅͑̍̐͊͘̕͜͜͜͜͠͝ͅͅR̴̨̛̛̤͈̲͔̩̫̖̫͇̗̗̝͚̜͔̜͖͙̫̙̠̤͎͂̾͒̀͗̾̂͋́́͛̈́͑̈́̿̄̐͒͒̓̽́̃̉͆̐̀̆̀͋͛͊̓̈́͑̆̃̌̽̽̓́̅̓̓̒̐͂͂̿̇́̈́̒͋́̋̈́̄̀͌̔̎͋̅̂̈̿̂̍͌́͂͛̾͛̾̋͘̕̕̚͘͘̕͝͠͝͠͝͝ͅ ̶̨̨̨̨̢̡̨̧̨̢̧̛̛̣̫͉͈̻͓͓̘̬͖͕̣̪̗͔̜͔͙͉̩̳̣̳̼̺̦̫͎͎͇̯̠̘̣̦̯̜͕̥͓͎͔̜̩̬͙̞̰̞͇̰̥̜̞̺͉̺͕͓̤͙̬̺̺͈̱̭͚̮̰̱̪̣̹̣͓͈͚̭̩̤͈͙̮̮̣̻̱͙̹̻̜̈́͆̐͒͐̈͐̒̌͌̃͛͌̿͌̆̀̅̋̎̈́͐̂̌͒̇̎̔̉̉̈́͆͌̆͛̚͜͜͜͜͜ͅͅͅM̷̧̧̧̧̨̨̢̡̛̠̳̹̲̭̻͇̙̼̤͎̻͖̤͇̙̮̭̲̫͍̪͎̣͉̪̦̩͈̱̙̠̪̱̳̬͓̣̰͍̗̼̮̺̺̥̩͕̜̏̃̈́͊̉̉͋̌͂̿͌̈́̀̄̈̈́͗̃́̌̀͛̃̒̓͌̈́̋̈́̓̒̽̇̂͂̓́̐̀̀̊͗̂̊̌̉͛͂̈́̑̓̃̈́̌̽̐̋̀̈́̎̊̓͆͛͐̾̊̐̈̅̀́̎̈́́̑̈́͂̃̈̒̋́̑͘̚̕̚͘̚͘̕͠͠͠͝͝͝A̵̢̡̢̛̛̛̛̙͉̭̱̩̫͚͕̳̼̫̱̞̩̩͚̟̘̘̞̳̯̲̰̜̪̯͕͇̭̥͚̟̲̻̯̫̺͉̣̻̟̲̘͈̙̦͇̥̰̯̭͙͚͈͕̬̠͇̺̤̲̼͕̭̥̩̾̑̂̆̆̿̒͂̍̈́̈̍́̒̀̎̂͌̏̽̽̈́́͛̇̇̓̄̅́̈́̔͂̿͛̈́̾́̀̈́́͐̎̑̉̑̾͒̊̋͑̐̅͆̊̍̎̒̐̊̈́̾̊̀̍̅̎̍̊̂̄̑̊͂͐̈́̑̀͐̚̕̕͘̚͘̕͘͘͜͜͜͠͠͠͝͠͝͝͝ͅͅŞ̵̨̢̢̧̢̨̧̧̨̨̧̡̢̧̛̳͙͔̙̝̦̲̗̼͎̞͓͖̜̥͙̬͉̱̥̳̯̺̲͔͕̹͍͉̰̳̦̱̱̱̙̹̣͙̗͙͍͇͕͎̫̞͕͈͖̭̝̺̟̞̹͉̤̼͚͇̲͚͈̳͓̰̦͙̻̘̰̫̐̋̀̉͆̾̊̓̐̆͆̑̾͂̈͛͐̐́͊͆̎̈́̆̏́̏̐̔̑̌͛͌͗͐̋̄̇͆́͂̈͒͆̆̊͊̑̀̐͒̓́͋̇̓̀̀̀̓̎̂̍͋̔̓̒͒͌̀͆͐̑̅̿̂̂̋͗̊̽̓̈̈̾̉̾̈́͋̕̕͘̕̚̕̕̕͘͜͝͝͝͠͝͝͠͠͠T̶̡̢̢̛̹̥̥̥̝͙̜͚̙̺͎̳̮͔̭͓̻̜̤̙͔͙̖̠̬̮͍̥͖͈̙̰̯̩̘͕̯̰̘̬̙͕̹͍̯̱̲̬͖͉̭̰͚̥̱̜̗͉̭͔͇̺̤̼̹̘̼͍̞͇͙̝͔̦̞̟͎͓͙̩̦̭͉̝̣̬̦͈̦͓͎̪̱̰̟̗͚̻͕͆͌̇́͗̐͂̓̊͒̏̔̋̑͗̏͘̚͜͜Ę̴̨̡̢̡̢̡̛̱̟͎͎̼̜̞̺̙̦̤͖͓̗̪̠̱͖̝͚̮̜̝͙͕̩̺̘̟̣̞̙̘̦̙̪̻̩͚̯̠̪̳̖̱̭͖̠̟̱̯͎̦̙͖̯͕̲̺̘͈̬̩͇̟̺̘̲̱͎̫̠̺͇̼͎̣͙̤̱͓͖̙͎̲̩̗̖͕̼̩̝̭̟̦̳͓̣̰̪͌̍̓̇̐̏̔̂̒̎̽͋̅̃̅̿̊̔̆͑̑̓̿̃̓̈́̿͐́̽̓́̈̓̃̏̍̈̔͑͐͂̍̈́̆̀͐͆͗͋́̒͆͊̓̎̆̌̓̉́͌͑̏̏͂̇͐̋͐̒͌̆̒̐͊̓̏̉̆̒̀̎̈́͆̀͌̂͊̊͛̿̂̄̓̂̈̓͋̎͂͗̅̄̀̿͌̓̃̾̋͐̍͆͑̈́̒̎̿̔̀͒̑́̚̕͜͝͝͝͝͝͠͝͝͝͝͝͠͝ͅR̵̢̧̧̨̨̛̛̯͚̙̻̗̩͍̳͓̩̫͔̙̞͉̬̻̖͓̭̣̭̺̘̩͚̠͉͈̺͖͂̍̊̉͛̈́͗̏̏͛̅̏̈́̇̑̈́̅̌̆́̏̊̂̋̉́̃̾̓͊͆͗͑͆̉̋́̿̒́͂̍̍̍́̈͒͗͛̆́̓̊̓̀͂̂̀̈̎̒̅͗͗͐͌͗̓̾͐̽̓̋͊͌͋̈́̀̎̃͑̋̽́̿̊͆͋̒̋̃͋̊̍̒̓̄̈́͆̀̋̀̏̈́͗̇̃̑̇͋̈̓̆̒̑̓̽̅͗͑̋́̚͘̚̕͘̚͘̕̕͝͝͝͠͝͝͝͝ͅͅͅ.̶̧̢̢̢̡̡̧̢̛̱̝̩̼̯̫͚̪̼͍̭͇̺̪͍̫̪̙͇͕̥͍̘̱͍̗̠̫͔͉̩͎̘͓̖̻̞̝̬̼̖̩̩͉͚̮̳̺̫̮̪̱̳̭͈̲̤̰̩̞͈̞͙̙̻̥̳̮̦̗̜̼̭̣̪̪̪̱͖̞͙̝̼͕͉͇̹͇̫̫̫̻̳̼͗̅̍̊͋̌̿̅̋͂͊͊̌̅̒̈̈́̈̎̉͋͋͊̈͋̎͐̓̈́̆̂̇̍̎̈́͒̀̿̆͌̀̒͗̉́͋̅͐̿̇̓̓͑̂͌̒͐͒͑͗̉͑̀̎̀̓͛̅̂̀̌͊͒͛̀͆̔̀̊̓͂̓̀̒̕̕̚̕̚̚͘͘̚͜͜͜͠͝͝͝͝͠͝͠ͅͅ
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The Maw collapsed. Its body slammed into the ground, and it stopped moving. The glowing dots in its eyes disappeared.
The boy watched it for a moment, then turned to Jikken.
Jikken exhaled slowly.
"Hello there, old friend..."
"…switcher."
Switcher walked around the giant skull. He stopped and stared Jikken down.
"Hello, Jikken."