Golden fire streaked across the skies of Tartarus.
Simon launched himself upward.
His old body screamed in protest. Blood escaped the hole in his chest.
His vision blurred. But his eyes..his eyes never left Miyuki.
His hammer tightened in his right hand.
Then he raised it.
"Split."
The hammer descended.
BOOOOOOM.
The sky cracked. The pressure folded the atmosphere.
Miyuki reacted instantly. Her transformed body crossed both arms to defend.
The impact landed. For a moment Nothing moved. Then the force broke through.
Her eyes widened. Simon's strike carried absurd weight.
It was not a technique or energy. It was Pure strength.
Miyuki became a streak of red lightning.
She crashed downward.
The ground exploded. A crater opened beneath her.
Everything behind her: Buildings. Roads. Structures.
Split perfectly in half. Dust drifted upward.
Inside the crater Miyuki slowly stood.
Her eyes lowered. She looked at her hands.
Her crimson exoskeleton Cracked. Her expression stiffened.
Inside her thoughts..
"Tch, What strength…"
Meanwhile Simon dropped from the sky.
BOOOOM.
He landed before her. His knees bent.
His breathing became unstable. Blood dripped continuously.
He took one step then stopped.
His body collapsed as one knee hit the ground. Blood poured from his mouth. His vision darkened.
Inside his thoughts.
"Even using a little strength…gives me this kind of backlash?
Simon lowered his head. Then he laughed.
A quiet laugh. Tired. Self-deprecating. He looked upward.
"The Great Ones are probably laughing at my measly sight…"
His smile widened faintly.
"The great blacksmith…"
Blood escaped his lips…
"…fell due to a mere hole in his chest."
Miyuki stared at him. Then smiled. Cold and Empty.
"Time's running out, old man."
She disappeared.
She appeared before him instantly. Her fist shot forward. Simon blocked. Then Her right foot whipped upward.
BOOM.
Simon crashed sideways. His body shattered through a building wall.
Stone collapsed around him but Miyuki gave him no time.
She appeared again. Her fists descended.
Punch. Punch. Punch. Punch.
A relentless barrage. Simon blocked with the hammer. Again, Again and Again.
But while defending his flames spread. Quietly. Subtly and Invisible.
Each block left traces. Tiny strands of golden fire entered her body.
She didn't notice. The barrage continued.
Eventually..Simon could no longer move fast enough.
A punch slipped through.
Another. Another. His hammer fell. He hit the ground.
Blood spread beneath him. Miyuki stood above him. Breathing calmly.
Then Simon smiled. His eyes softened. He spoke.
"Flames of Purity."
Golden fire erupted. Miyuki froze.
The flames engulfed her. She screamed.
Not because she burned. Her body remained untouched.
Instead her mind ignited.
Images appeared. Memories. A little girl. A forge. Warm hands. Laughter.
A man teaching her how to hold a hammer.
A warm meal. A blacksmith smiling. The word Father.
Then another memory, this time it was..White halls. Cold voices. A throne. Pain.
Someone touching her forehead.
A voice. Forget. Obey. Serve. Ra.
The flames burned deeper.
Not flesh but the Chains, Seals, Commands.
The branding inside her soul trembled.
Miyuki screamed harder.
But It wasn't enough. Her eyes snapped open.
Her aura exploded. Her expression became desperate.
She looked at Simon. Then raised her hand.
"Since it's come to this…"
Her voice became unstable.
"…I'll use THAT."
Her aura shifted.BRed.
Then white. Then silver. She raised her hand.
"Power of Gemini—Chiron."
Immediately her injuries vanished.
Her cracked exoskeleton restored.
The purification stopped. The fragments of memory disappeared again.
Her sword returned. She walked forward. Simon looked at her.
His expression remained gentle.
His body didn't move. His strength was gone. His hammer lowered.
Then he smiled. Quietly.
"It's come to this, huh…"
He looked at her.
Not as Scorpio, Zodiac or a weapon but as his daughter.
"I tried."
His eyes softened.
"And that's all that matters."
He looked upward. Then back at her.
"I hope…"
His voice weakened.
"When you remember…"
He smiled.
"…you won't despair."
A pause.
"My precious daughter."
Miyuki stood before him. Her eyes trembled. Her face tightened. Something inside her resisted.
But the command remained. Her sword rose Slowly.
Then she swung downward and… Everything stopped.
The world became heavy.
The sky darkened. The wind disappeared.
Buildings bent and The earth groaned.
The Pressure was Immense, Overwhelming and Absolute.
Miyuki froze. Her body refused to move.
Her sword stopped midair. Her eyes widened. Slowly She turned left.
Someone stood there. Dark clothing.
Black eyes. He wore an Expressionless face.
It was rayon, No..Darkness and He looked angry.
Not normal anger..annoyance or rage.
It was something deeper. Something old.
Something terrifying. He walked forward.
Step, Step, Step.
Miyuki couldn't move. Rayon ignored her.
He bent down and picked Simon up. The old blacksmith coughed.
Blood stained his lips. He looked at Rayon then smiled faintly.
"Please…"
His breathing weakened.
"Save her for me, Darkness…"
His eyes drifted.
"I'm an old man after all…"
He coughed.
"…I was bound to die anyway."
His hand trembled.
Then rested.
"Please…"
His eyes became distant.
"…do me this favor…"
His lips curved one final time.
"Old friend."
Silence.
Simon Vezarel…The legendary blacksmith died in the arms of Darkness.
And for the first time since arriving in Tiamat Rayon said nothing.