The Second Generation of Knights Encountering Demons Reappears

"That's all, Jiedou..."

Whispering softly, Zack's tired consciousness also fell into darkness.

...

Time flies, and the video screen once again comes to the open space where the sacred tree stands. At this time, a day has passed since the collapse of the new Baron team.

After experiencing this incident, Zack, who woke up, vaguely realized something, and asked Hikigaya to help him come here again.

The surroundings of the sacred tree were as quiet as ever, and even the sound of insects could not be heard.

However, looking at the towering tree that he was used to seeing, Zack and even Hikigaya had a completely different feeling at this moment.

——Something exists here.

The two guys with the same face had this idea at the same time, and Hikigaya felt a little puzzled about it, but Zack showed an expression of "as expected" after a brief surprise.

Without Hikigaya's support, Zack staggered two steps and walked closer to the sacred tree alone.

It was incredible. Before today, even though his leg injury had healed, Zack could still feel the phantom pain that should have affected his movements.

But after he sensed the existence of "him", even though he was really injured, he felt that his body was lighter than before.

"Although I said a lot to Shura at that time, in the end, I still couldn't fully understand what you wanted to do..."

Standing in front of that existence, Zack smiled and looked forward.

"I always thought I was the closest to you and the one who understood you the most."

Somewhere, a mysterious feeling floated to his heart.

The young man's vision was dazed. From a perspective that only he could see, the figure of Qiwen Jiedou appeared under the sacred tree, and he looked at this close friend who seemed to be complaining to him calmly.

"Hmph."

A long-lost hum that seemed to have not been heard for a long time came into Zack's ears.

"Of course, I'm not so simple that others can easily see through me."

The corners of his drooping mouth slightly raised, and there was a little bit of complacency on his expressionless face, as if he was very pleased with Zack's words of weakness.

Zack smiled bitterly and shook his head, feeling that he really couldn't do anything with this guy.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

Getting the approval of Qi Wen Jie Dou, Zack took a few steps forward and stood side by side with Qi Wen Jie Dou.

"Why didn't you kill me at that time? You should have killed me."

"..."

Qi Wen Jie Dou turned his head to look at Zack, who happened to turn his head at this moment and looked at each other.

For Zack's knowing question, this time it was Qi Wen Jie Dou's turn to show a helpless expression.

However, he still answered the question, giving the other party the opportunity to prove what he thought in his heart.

"If it were you, you would definitely be stronger. It's just that I had such a boring idea at the time."

"Oh, that's how it is. It's really your style."

Amid Zack's relieved chuckle, Jito looked back at Yushenmu. Countless complex emotions flowed through the eyes of the two men, and finally Zack broke the silence.

"Let's dance for the last time. It's just that there are audiences. I promised my other self that I would let him see my real dance."

As soon as the voice fell, Hikigaya, who had been watching Zack's self-talk, suddenly felt something. He saw a vague black and red figure beside him. He could feel that the figure looked at him.

Although it was not clear, from the look in his eyes, Hikigaya still figured out that he was carrying an emotion called "thank you".

-So, you called us here to help my other self?

At this moment, Hikigaya felt something and suddenly understood why he and Ye Shan appeared in this world.

Zack saw Jito remained silent for a long time and said jokingly.

"What? You were the one who dragged me to Zeya City to participate in the Rhythm Knights Competition. What? I haven't danced for a long time, and now I'm embarrassed to dance?"

"Hmph~"

He hummed with a smile again, and looked back at Zack, gladly accepting his small provocation.

"Then come on."

A breeze blew gently, blowing the dense branches of the sacred tree, making the rustling sound that should have been chaotic and disorderly become a brand new song that sounded in the ears of the three people.

Zack was a little surprised, because that was a song written by several veteran players from Chiba before Qi Wen Jie Dou left the team, but because of various things that happened afterwards, the song was not completely completed in the end.

He thought that with Qi Wen Jie Dou's eternal departure, this song called "Dance With Me" should never be completed.

But...

[Worshiping him bathed in light~]

——This is not bad.

After the initial surprise, Zack's smile became brighter and brighter, and he unconsciously sang the lyrics that he had just finished in his mind along with the melody.

Although they had never rehearsed, Zack and Kaito began to dance together in perfect harmony, presenting Hikigaya with a dance that was amazing enough.

[I hope to walk side by side with him one day~]

No need to communicate, at this moment Zack finally fully understood the idea of ​​​​expelling patterns and fighting.

[In the past, I had no doubts about this~]

During the movement, his best friend's body gradually began to dissipate.

[But when I could no longer find him/her, I started to feel hesitant and lost the balance of my heart~]

But this time, Zack will no longer be confused about the future.

[Only then did I realize how unsteady I was~]

Amidst the dots of starlight, Zack's eyes began to get wet, but the dance steps under his feet became more determined.

[Dance with me~Where everyone’s dance steps once echoed~]

The red and black figure disappeared without a trace, and the dance of the couple turned into a solo dance, but Hikigaya, who was watching everything, couldn't help but smile.

Because, Qi Wen Jiedou has left the most important thing in his other self's heart.

[Dance with me~If you want to change the world, don’t stop yourself~Step by Step~]

Without the intervention of the last strength of the exorcist Kaito, the same starlight appeared on Hikigaya, and he knew that the time limit for his and Hayama's existence here had reached the end.

However, he didn't feel any regret at all.

"It's really good..."

Looking at Zack who bowed slightly to him at the end of the song, Hikigaya couldn't help but smile.

"Dreams are something that really makes people envious..."

With the disappearance of Hikigaya, the scene completely turned into darkness as Zack's silence returned to being alone.

In the darkness, the words that the young man could not say clearly reached the ears of every audience.

"Goodbye, Jiedou."

Nakl Papers·End. 】

898: Demonic Snake (7k)

Knuckle's side story finally came to an end in the dance between Zack and the Exorcist Ring Dou.

From co-production to a performance as if two people were one, to a solo dance by one person.

Among the lyrics that fit perfectly, both Zack's understanding and pursuit of Xun Wen Jie Dou and Qi Wen Jie Dou still tried their best to help the former even after his death.

The bond between the two veterans of the Baron team was vividly expressed through a short story that lasted less than 30 minutes, leaving many viewers in front of the screen with moved little pearls.

Especially Hikigaya Hachiman, who has the same appearance as those among them. Although he has a bit of a funny look due to his relationship with a certain demon king in reality, in essence, this dead fish-eye is still that person. A literary young man who pursues the real thing.

After watching Zack's side story, while he had more insights than others, he couldn't help but project the relationship between the two in the video onto himself and Chen Shi to think about it.

"In the future, is it possible for that guy and I to become such close friends who trust each other?"

Hikigaya Hachiman didn't know, but deep down, he had to admit that he was somewhat eager.

On the other side, Chen Shi, who had read the two side stories in detail, didn't know that Hikigaya Hachiman had thought about so many things.

He just looked with some doubts at Kami Honoka, who was sitting cross-legged on Takasaka Honoka's shoulders, looking like an old god, and for a moment he couldn't understand the other party's intention.

Due to some special reasons, Chen Yao still had some impressions of events during this period.

Due to the sudden decision to have Faiz's duo make guest appearances, Chen vowed to use his power to help the undead Aojiao, so that he could use the spatial instability generated by Nan Xiaotiao when he traveled through time and space to escape from another time and space. Hikigaya Hachiman as Faiz and Hayama as Caesar are summoned to this world.

Therefore, in his opinion, apart from the changes in the logos, these two side stories broadcast by Kamiho Noka on their own did not seem to be any different from the history he knew.

However, such doubts made Kamho Nogo's little unhappy face, which was originally thought not to be able to see the frustrated expression of the other party, smile again.

"Hehe, don't worry, this is just a hello. It just proves to you that we are no longer stage puppets at your mercy. Keep reading, there will be more to come. Surprises await you.”

"A stage puppet?"

Looking at the confident and indignant expression on the Q-version girl's face, Chen Zhao was silent for a rare moment, but did not refute her statement.

Although he does not think in his heart that those who participated in the reenactment are really tools that can be manipulated by him, judging from his strong planning of all historical actions in the past, it is true that Kamho Noka would think so. Excusable.

Honoka Takasaka looked at her other self and Chen Shi in a somewhat tense atmosphere, and felt a little at a loss for a moment.

During the period of her release to the outside world, she had already learned a lot of the secrets of the oath from Shenho Noguo.

For this demon king who once dominated all the worlds, she did feel that this behavior of forcibly arranging everyone's fate was a bit scary, but when she thought about his reason for doing this, he was to save other worlds, and then he took responsibility honestly. After restoring the world that he had ruined, the kind-hearted Honoka Takasaka does not think Chen Shi is a real bad person.

However, even if she thought so, she could not forgive Shino on behalf of Nogo Kamishi who had gone through this.

Unlike myself who only received this information from a third-person perspective, the other self personally experienced the cruel world of Gaim, and...

Kousaka Honoka looked at Chen Shi cautiously.

——Many tragedies have indeed disappeared due to the reset of the world, but there are still a few people whose problems have not been solved.

The orange-haired girl who has a similar thinking pattern to Shen Honoka can somewhat understand the other party's complex mentality towards Chen Shi at this time, so it is even more difficult to say anything.

Chen Shi looked at the girl who was fidgeting and secretly worried about the relationship between the two of them with a bit of amusement. While feeling that you are worthy of it, he couldn't help but kindly remind the other party.

"Don't worry, I won't hate this child because of this."

"Who cares if you hate me or not!"

Ignoring Shen Honoka who was a little angry, Chen Shi continued to speak while sensing that the afternoon was getting closer and closer.

"Rather than worrying about our affairs, I think you should worry about yourself."

"Worry about myself?"

Touching her little head, Kousaka Honoka showed a wise expression.

"Didn't you say that the other me wouldn't have any negative impact on me?"

"Uh..."

After Chen Shi's reminder, Shen Honoka also immediately thought of something and showed an awkward but polite smile.

She certainly didn't lie to Kousaka Honoka. The awakening of her own personality would indeed not have any impact on Kousaka Honoka's body.

Even because Shen Honoka is essentially a god, she can use this special state of being attached to Kousaka Honoka now to avoid the judgment of the extreme lock species to transform the user into a god, so that she can use the power of the extreme lock species as a human. As for the future, if Kousaka Honoka wants to be a god one day, she only needs to temporarily remove this state.

However, the impact of this incident on Kousaka Honoka is obviously not only physical.

Because the personality has not been split before, Kousaka Honoka's thoughts and behaviors are unconsciously affected by Shen Honoka, so it is easy to do some things without thinking.

And right now, there is a matter that needs to be solved urgently.

"Um, did you forget that you had agreed to meet up with Kotori and the others at the station, and then come to this man together?"

"!?"

Kousaka Honoka's face changed.

Even though her thinking circuit has indeed returned to the original energetic girl mode due to the awakening and separation of Kamisaki Honoka's personality, it does not mean that she has also lost her memory.

After being reminded, she immediately recalled the attitude of several good friends towards Chen Shi during this period.