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Chapter 148: Emperor’s Fall

Finn got on top of Raiju while Iris and the other Ghost Hunters watched, and together, the two⁠—master and beast⁠—charged forward and gloriously leaped up into the air. Raiju bared his teeth, thunder radiating from every pore of his body, while Finn jumped up from the back of Raiju, activating his two sets of claws and filling them with fire and lightning.

“N-No… NO!” The Lunatic cried in fear, but it was too late.

Raiju and Finn tore through the Lunatic’s body at once, cutting it in an X-shape. Black blood spurted out of its body, but neither Finn nor Raiju were concerned. Finn because he could simply absorb it, and Raiju because this meant little to his divine powers.

The two, in perfect unison, landed back on the ground behind the Lunatic, and Finn deactivated his gauntlets while Raiju spit out a chunk of Phantom flesh from his mouth just as the Emperor fell to the floor, dead.

Slowly, Finn arose from the fractured ground, and adjusted his jacket stylishly.

“… It’s over.”

*****

The Lunatic’s body decomposed soon after, and a chest appeared in his place at the center of the ruined courtyard. Because it was quite dark, Finn used the Star Card of his Cardmaster Angelica which was now recharged to let everyone see.

Well… everyone, except for him still.

Not bothering waiting for anyone’s consent, he bent down in front of the ivory chest and opened it up. Inside was… money. Tons of silver coins and treasures, 100% authentic and genuine. Being a worshipper of the moon, the Lunatic loved shiny things, especially silver ones. As such, he used his ability to generate small black holes anywhere to rob people of their money.

[Whew…] 

Zelestria whistled, impressed.  [You’re rich now, darling~ and not only that, but the power you gained from the Lunatic is also not bad at all. I’ll explain later once we get back, in the Reality Rift.]

Finn silently acknowledged her words and lifted the heavy chest up with some effort.

“Raiju. Come here.”

The legendary beast cocked an eyebrow. “You want me to carry that for you, kid?”

“…” Finn didn’t repeat himself, and Raiju remained still. It would seem that despite somewhat acknowledging Finn, the Heavenly Beast was still prideful and refused to bow down to anyo-

[Do as told, Raiju~]

“Y-Yes!” Raiju immediately stiffened up and obediently walked over to Finn like an acutal puppy, lowering his body so Finn could set the chest on his back. He, for whatever reason, was terrified of Zelestria, even if she was currently about even with Finn in terms of power.

The other Ghost Hunters were confused to see this sudden change of attitude from Raiju, but didn’t question lest they get their heads bitten off. Using his belt, Finn secured the chest onto Raiju’s body, and as soon as he did so, a gaping, swirling portal opened where the chest once was on the ground.

Tian Long went back into the now-reopened doors and picked up Reaper, then came back.

At last, it was time to return back to the real world.

*****

– Outside –

The moon was high in the air, illuminating the night. Since the moon they destroyed was a parallel one in the Paracausal Realm, the real world’s moon was not effected.

“Welcome back,” Lei said with a rare smile. “I knew you could do it.”

“It was difficult, but…” Iris smiled softly and wrapped her arms around Finn’s neck tighter. “Finn and Raiju got the job done.”

“R-Raiju…?!” Shin and Shuyara widened their eyes in shock, backing away a few steps. They knew what that name exemplified.

Raiju growled, but Finn stroked the beast’s head. “Relax. He doesn’t bite. Sometimes.”

“Oho… a Heavenly Beast, is it?” Heartbeat chuckled, rolling the wine in his glass a bit. “How interesting. You continue to impress and surprise me… Ace.”

“I noticed that not everyone who went in came out,” Lei said, voice turning dark. “… How many were lost?”

“Everyone from the House of Crimson Moons, except for me, was wiped out,” Shadow said quietly.

“In addition… Lauren, Obo, Abdol, Ashika, Shiko, and Diana were all slain,” Acaya added, grimacing uncomfortably. “It is believed to be at the hands of Duke, Jester, and Ripple, but there is no hard evidence.”

At this, the three leaders flashed a dangerous glare towards Heartbeat, but he was unconcerned and instead raised his glass a bit.

“Did you not hear?” He laughed. “There is no hard evidence.”

“… There is little we can do without proof,” Lei said. “Shin, Shuyara… my condolences.”

The two nodded firmly and closed their eyes before clasping their hands together in a praying position.

“May the Light guide them in the afterlife. They died for the Light, for the Theocracy. They should be proud.”

“At last… the threat in District A has been cleared,” Lei said with a sigh, glancing up at the sky. “But this is not the end. District A, B, C, and D have the most powerful Ghost Hunter Squadrons, but it is rumored that the Emperors residing within them are the weakest of all. In other words… the outer Districts… I fear they will not be able to handle it.”

“Where do we from Squadron 154 go?” Octane asked. “We originally weren’t part of the Thousand Dragons Sect, but…”

“You will return to Archon. They will be eager to see you. If you want to stay at my sect for another night, that is alright as well. It is up to you.”

Hearing the word Archon, Heartbeat’s lips curved up a bit. Iris didn’t miss this detail, and narrowed her eyes but didn’t say anything. If luck was on their side, Archon and Melvia would still be alive, but…

Octane, Fanatic, and Finn were all aware of this as well, but none of them said anything. At least, not until they could find out for sure.

“We’ll leave right now,” Finn said after a while, making the decision for the group. “Thank you for the care for the past few weeks, Patriarch Lei. This is farewell.”

He turned around and got onto Raiju’s back, preparing to leap off the roof, but suddenly, Qi Ling burst forward and caught his arm.

“W-Wait!”

“…” Finn slowly tilted his head back, confused. “What do you want?”

“Y-You’re really leaving? For good?”

She had a good idea of the feud between Hurricane and Finn and the others. She also had a good idea of what happened. She knew that Archon and Melvia, Finn’s previous caretakers, were most likely dead. She  knew, about Finn’s true intentions in leaving here.

Working together with others was a hassle. Finn would only keep Iris by his side since she too was a Ghost and could accept him for who he was now, but apart from her, he will become a rogue, solo Ghost Hunter, just like Jim. Finn knew Qi Ling’s feelings for him, of course. He knew, but he had no intention of requiting them.

“… Farewell.”

Not saying anything else, Finn pulled out of Qi Ling’s grip and jumped down from the roof on the back of Raiju, while Iris, Fanatic, and Octane (carrying Reaper) did the same. Qi Ling rushed forward and peeked over the edge, but Lei pulled her arm back and shook his head.

“Wha…”

“… Let him go, Qi Ling,” Lei said, also knowing the truth behind Finn’s actions. “This is his choice. I can tell you have feelings for him, but… don’t. You are only hurting yourself.”

Normally, Qi Ling would be embarrassed about having her emotions revealed in front of so many other people, but in this moment, she didn’t care. A tear formed within her eye, for reasons she didn’t even know herself. She wanted to hate herself for being so weak. Crying, because a boy was about to leave her behind? Seriously? How she has fallen, how she has fallen.

“That boy… he’s destined to become a legendary figure that will walk down the annals of history,” Shuyara said. “But at the same time… he will suffer a horrible fate, one far more terrifying than death. The divination I have done on him says as much. Girl… to be at his side, you need to have a specific quality. I don’t know what that quality is, but that white-haired one… she has it. I think it’s best you give up.”

“…” Qi Ling knelt down on the roof of the building, clenching her silky combat dress tightly as rain began pouring from the clouds above. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, Finn was her first love, and would most likely be her last. But if he was better off with someone else, then… she would accept it.

… Or will she?

After several minutes, she stood back up, bravely, strongly, and wiped her tears.

“… Let’s go back.”

But in her mind, she did not give up. What was that quality? She would search for it, no matter how long it took. And when she finally found it… she would go seek Finn out and fight by his side again. When that time came, she swore she would make her feelings clear, and demand a proper answer.

Fate would make them meet again, in the near future. She could feel it. 

But until then…

“… Farewell, Finn.”

Such were her words as the Girl Who Did Not Cry dropped a tear for the first time in her life.