บท 55: PREPARING FOR THE ROADS
At night, Mai(29) is in her room surrounded by multiple computer screens, watching footage of her interviews featuring her crew. On one screen, Nhia (30) introduces himself, expressing his determination to rescue his girlfriend Jasee (26), his need return to his to home in Nemura City, and that he miss flying planes. The screen shifts to Kiren (22), who aims to carve a heroic path in Nemura City as it is a city well known for heroes. Michael (29) appears on the next screen, reaffirming his commitment to Mai, a promise made to Frank, ensuring her his protection. Rune (28) introduces himself, acknowledging Nemura as his home and expressing his need for redemption in a city that he departed in bad terms. On another screen, Simbad (27) introduces himself, affirming his commitment to stand by Rune's side as it is the only way for both of them to reclaim their former prime magic. The screen shifts to Nakao (20), expressing gratitude for Conor saving her and affirming her determination to aid Adam in finding him. It then transitions to Jean (15), who explains his commitment to stand by Adam's side in case Henry resurfaces from within him and explains that he wants to strengthen himself to better control the four monsters within. The screen then shows Ezzy (24), says that Megan, Mai, and the others is her new family and that she'll always stay with them.
Next, Megan (31) states her goal to locate her husband, Sam, in Nemura City and aims to engage in more intense battles to find out more of herself through her dreams. Finally, the screen shifts to Adam (30), who's visibly troubled, admitting that he delayed his search for his son six months ago, saying that it was because of his depression coming back to him after his trip to Sam's cabin. Haunted by traumatic memories that resurfaces in his head and that it impacts him in battle when the faces of Sam, Lia, and Conor would always appear. He also says that a good amount of time has passed and now with a better mind, he's ready to go find his son. The video ends and Mai closes the video, she gazes at a photo of herself and Frank on her table. She then turns on a camera and records herself, introducing herself and explaining her intention to journey to Nemura City to establish a trading path for Old Berry Town. However, her true motive is to gather additional resources that can only be provided in Nemura city, saying that it's for someone dear to her.
The following morning in the dojo, Jean and Jacade awaken to the sounds of wooden swords clashing. They proceed to the sparring area, discovering Rune and Megan engaged in a duel. Megan repeatedly clashes her wooden sword against Rune's, eliciting praise from him about her notable improvement. He muses that had they met during his youth, she could have been an exceptional student to become a Weapon Master in Nemura City. Megan pauses, expressing her dissatisfaction that this progress isn't enough to reignite her dreams, saying that she hasn't gotten any dreams since the war ended.
Moments later, they move outside to a grassy field. Megan conjures her slim sword with an orb on its hilt using magic, while Rune summons his hefty butcher sword. Attempting magic, Megan's efforts only yield faint sparks from her palm. Rune notes that her magic hasn't yet return back to her, to which she agrees, mentioning her last powerful spell she casted during the war, which fully healed her body and bestowed tremendous light-based magic to her and those around her. However, currently, she can only summon her weapon with magic and urges Rune not to hold back. Engaging in intense sword clashes across the grassy expanse, they quickly maneuver while exchanging blows. Rune observes Megan's movements, as if she's combing dancing and fighting but then he manages to read her move patterns and maneuver behind her. He swings his sword, prompting Megan to execute a backflip, with her hand landing atop his oversized butcher blade.
During her backflip, she manages to graze Rune's cheek slightly and gracefully lands, Rune intensifies his approach, unleashing a barrage of sword swings. He warns that she might regret asking him not to hold back. Megan, tells him to show her how he defeated Luka, encourages him to go all out. Rune responds by swinging his sword, releasing a slash of magical energy. Megan, blocking it with her sword, slides backward, ultimately redirecting the energy slash into the sky, causing a magical explosion. Feeling the thrill of the battle, Megan thirsts for more action. Charging in at incredible speed, she thrusts her blade repeatedly 100 times. Although Rune manages to block some strikes, Megan's thrusts cut across his shoulder, thigh, and side. Rune notes that Megan's speed has increased.
However, in a quick retaliation, Rune seizes Megan by the face and hurls her with immense force, propelling her onto the roof of a nearby building. As Megan rolls to a stop, she acknowledges that Rune's strength matches Ezzy's, admitting the magnitude of his strength. She catches sight of Rune descending from above with a downward strike. Megan narrowly dodges the attack, and as Rune's sword smashes into the floor, it shatters, revealing Simbad in a bathtub beneath it. Simbad remarks that at this pace, they might end up wrecking the entire town. Rune apologizes and quicklt defends against Megan's strikes. They leap from rooftop to rooftop, clashing their weapons as they go.
Meanwhile, Ezzy, Mikey, and Kiren scale a towering crane. Kiren voices his exhaustion, questioning if their night-long parkour run will ever conclude. Ezzy assures him that this final climb marks the end of their run. Observing Rune and Megan's rooftop duel, Mikey alerts them. Excitedly, Ezzy watches the battle and waves at them. Witnessing the skirmish, Kiren becomes re-energized. He leaps from the crane tower, stunning Ezzy and Mikey. Gliding through the air, Kiren exclaims in exhilaration, summoning his shield and using it to land outside the town. As Rune and Megan also touch down before him, Rune envelops himself in a magical aura, declaring he can now fight at full strength. Megan eagerly urges him to bring it on.
Rune charges forward, enveloped in potent magic, leaving Megan overwhelmed by the sheer force. Panicking, she's momentarily stunned as Rune swings his sword, unleashing a wave of energy that strikes her chest, triggering a magical explosion. Within the chaos of the blast, Megan closes her eyes, and her dream takes hold. In her dream, she witnesses her dream self and a faceless man ascending within a luminous pillar. Her dream self is distraught, clinging to the man's body, crying out in frustration as a spell fails to work. Preparing for the inevitable, Megan closes her eyes, knowing her spell cannot save them. Then, a surge of dark magic emerges from a distant ruined floating city, forming into a dark star hurtling toward them. The dark star collides with the pillar of light, resulting in a massive explosion in the sky. Confused by the cryptic scene unfolding in her dream, Megan gradually awakens to find Kiren beside her, asking if she's alright.
Later that morning in Mai's room, she completes the construction of a drone. Donning a tech net helmet, she harnesses its capabilities, maneuvering the drone with her thoughts—each turn of her head directs the drone's movement. Exiting her room, she navigates through the bustling Robo Store, capturing footage of shoppers indulging in various purchases, documenting the daily life in Old Berry Town. Arriving at Xai's room, she finds him immersed in piles of paperwork. Inquiring about their soon departure for Nemura city later today, Xai expresses his wish to join them, but he explains that he has so much work that he still has to do for this town and that if it's not him who else is going to do all these paper work.
Mai agrees and promise a surprise gift for him upon her return, she proceeds to the security room, where screens display the store's layout. Then, in another room, she encounters Rex and Nhia mending Robo Store's core. Rex reminisces about Nhia's prior help in repairing Robo Mall, saying that Nhia's magic can be passed onto objects that he cherishes and in which those items can help repair Robo store. Nhia, uncertain about possessing such magic abilities, reflects that last time he unwillingly had to use his funny phone to repair Robo Mall but now he has nothing to offer. Rex then suggest that Nhia's most cherished item at the moment is his radio and pleads Nhia to help him before he leaves this town. However, Nhia hesitates and remembers the moment his funny phone being absorbed by Robo Mall's core and that it left him unable to talk to Jasee until he found a radio that he restlessly tried everyday to find Jasee, he emphasizes the significance of his radio, dismissing the idea and that he doesn't have another two years to wait regain communication with Jasee. Reluctantly, Rex concedes, expressing hope for Nhia to reunite with Jasee.
Mai extends an invitation to Nhia, inviting him to join her if he's available. He agrees, and together they depart from Robo Store, traversing the town until they reach Barbra's daycare. They document the lively scenes in the lobby, where the patients are engrossed in playing. Venturing into another area, they find Barbra tending to Megan's injuries, with Kiren sleeping nearby in a chair. After Barbra completes Megan's treatment and leaves, Mai mentions observing Megan's battle against Rune via her bug cameras. Megan apologies, citing that she was desperate for a intense battle to see more of her dreams. Mai then promises to her that she'll build a dedicated room in Nemura city to record Megan's dreams, aiming to unravel her identity. Grateful, Megan thanks her, and as Kiren awakens and greets them, they collectively make their way to the electric power house to where they see Mikey being the referee for Ezzy's and Michael's arm wrestling. Michael remarks on Ezzy's increased strength since gaining her fire curse. Ezzy acknowledges the duality of her situation, labeling it both a gift and a curse. She explains the changes in her body, attributing her enhanced strength and fire manipulation to the curse activated when she requires more blood.
Surprising everyone, Ezzy wins an arm wrestling match against Michael. Disheartened, Michael admits that being a half-zombie doesn't automatically amplify his physical strength over everyone. Mai, reviewing electricity paperwork completed by Michael, praises his work, affirming that the town can thrive for a decade without his assistance. Blushing at the compliments, Michael accepts them graciously. Mikey encourages Michael to look after Mai during their trip to Nemura. Ezzy inquires if Michael will miss Mikey as they are twins, but both brothers shake their heads. Michael elaborates on their distant relationship, expressing his past desire to be like Mikey, but Mikey was always uninterested in bonding because Michael was a bum who would always secluded himself in his room. Now being his own person, Michael aims to move beyond his fixation. Mikey remarks that Michael has a long way to go to become a person with better morals, prompting Michael to agree and pledge to return as a better person than Mikey eliciting laughter from Mikey.
Shortly after, they walk down the sidewalk, witnessing numerous people praying in front of Adam's house. Mikey informs everyone that it's Adam's final day in town, encouraging them to offer their prayers while he's still present. Mai leads the group, knocking on Adam's door and prompting him to prepare. Adam lies in bed, fixated on Conor's knife, affirming to himself that today marks the day he's going to find his son. He rises from his bed, the floor cluttered with a pile of mail. Gazing outside, he observes the crowd praying and his crew gathered in front of his house. Amidst the letters, he notices a mail from Barbra. Stepping out, Adam surprises everyone by finally emerging from his room. He traverses past the group, opening Barbra's mail—an indication that she knows someone in Nemura City named Taro who can aid in finding his son. Adam takes a look around and thanks everyone and departs the town with a single jump, arriving in front of Sam's cabin. He emits a roar, killing all wandering zombies, and walks over Vass's skeletal remains. His magic envelopes the area, emanating intense energy from his hands, which he directs toward Vass's skull. Seeking answers about his son's whereabouts, Adam queries the skull. After recalling it's memories of their battle with the hooded men, the skull remembers small strings attached to each hooded figure, leading northwest. Gesturing in that direction, the skull then disintegrates into dust, leaving Adam to contemplate the indicated path.
He retraces his steps back to town along a forest path and comes across a treehouse reminiscent of his own from Radiant City. Approaching it, he notices a hole at the tree's base and recognizes it as Conor's treehouse. Entering, he ascends the tree and reaches the treehouse. Upon inspecting the interior, he spots engravings on the wall that read, "I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you father, please come back." Examining a drawing of Conor, Leona, and himself etched on the tree, Adam is overcome with emotion, tears welling up as he vocalizes forgiveness to his son.
In the meantime, Mai and the others make their way toward the police station. Kiren raises the question of following Adam, but Megan reassures him that Adam won't abandon his family this time and will be alright. Agreeing, Kiren joins in. As they approach, Agustin emerges from the station, now in his sheriff's uniform. Mai extends congratulations to Agustin on becoming the town's new sheriff and expresses confidence that there will no longer be any injustices like the past. Agustin nods and shares that he's expecting a child soon, stunning everyone as Stella steps out of the station visibly pregnant.
Ezzy envelops Stella in an excited hug, and Stella shares that even if she weren't expecting, she'd choose to remain in Old Berry Town, wanting to spend her life with Agustin without risking it elsewhere. Offering advice to Ezzy, Mai, and Megan, she emphasizes the importance of treating each other as genuine sisters, always supporting one another unconditionally, she points to their scar on their forehand. They all raise their fists, noting the scars they bear, reminders of the day they prevented Adam from harming himself with the knife. Uniting their hands, Ezzy recalls the moment when they declared themselves sisters, stating that it's different now with a larger family, it feels weird but yet more meaningful. They turn to the group, smiling as Rune, Simbad, and Jean join them from the dojo across the street. Mai lifts her hand, proclaiming "For Berry," and everyone erupts into cheers as the drone continues to record all the events.
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