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What is in a world if not suffering? What is in a world if not hope for a brighter future? What is suffering if not order’s strings having become undone? What is hope if not chaos’ tendrils being unleashed from one’s mind, thrashing for desire? For what is a world if not both chaos and order? What is good without evil? What is light without dark? What is the world without both sides being torn asunder in a desperate bid for order or chaos to reign supreme?
For every world where order reigns absolutely, another exists where chaos seeps into all, sowing its disorder. But what if the one who creates the new world… desired neither? What if they desired an end to this endless battle? An end to the pain inflicted upon others for infinity? In its place, a world without gods or demons, without humans or monsters. A world where everyone existed equally, none desiring to restart the cycle anew, with no way to begin it anew. Could such a world even exist, with the infinite worlds shadowing over it? There was one way. Only one way. Unite order and chaos eternal avatars and end the Mandala Cycle.
So take their hands. Hands of the Panagia. Hand of Tao, Goddess of Creation. Hand of Yoko, Goddess of Destruction. And the link binding them together, Kei, God of Knowledge.
“So… we’re going to fight the Qadistu soon,” Tao nervously bit at her fingers as she sat on the bed in Kei’s dorm, that Kei had come to see as a nervous habit of hers, “I admit, I am worried about battling them.”
“How so?” Kei wondered, writing in his small book as he sat at his desk, calmly taking in his surroundings. He had always been called quiet and blended into the background easily. But Kei just enjoyed painting mental pictures and constructing those into words.
“Given the problem they’ve posed so far, I’d be more concerned if you weren’t worried, Tao,” Yoko picked at her short hair as she stood against the door of the room. Kei quietly noticed her lock the door but said nothing of it, assuming she wished to discuss something private in this conversation.
“I just… what if they want us there? To use us to summon their god?” Tao theorized and Yoko looked away guiltily and Kei focused in on the conversation completely. He’s going to get to the bottom of the Yoko situation, she had seemed to half sympathize with the Qaditsu, but first he needs to guide it there, figure things out before making assumptions.
“Two Saints and the only Nahobino. They definitely need us for something,” Kei agreed, closing his notepad and making his way to sit next to Tao, eyes still on Yoko, “Sacrifice maybe. Demons would want to do that.”
Bingo. Yoko gave a violent and very noticeable flinch at the statement and Tao seemed to have noticed too, as her eyes widened. Yoko realized what she had done and looked away, unable to meet their eyes.
“Yoko… you knew we would be sacrificed for them?” Tao asked quietly, barely louder than a whisper but still as if an explosion sounded in the room.
“It wasn't a coincidence you came to Da’at, was it?” Kei questioned and Yoko refused to make a sound, more or less confirming his forming theory, “You know… even if you have been helping our enemy… I don’t think I could ever hate you.”
“Wha?” Yoko looked on in bewilderment as Tao wiped away the tears forming in her eyes. Yoko looked like she was wanting to hug her but still stood alone, unsure of what to do.
“Somehow, I agree. In our time together, you’ve helped me form my own values and beliefs. True, I am more optimistic than I probably should be,” Tao let out a dry laugh, “Don’t know how I’m still pushing on after Sahori died. But I know it’s likely thanks to you and Kei. You taught me to fight for what I believe in. You made me feel like I was more than just the commodity Bethel treated me as. Sure, we’ve disagreed on some events in Da’at, but I believe there will never be a perfect decision to anything. Friends disagree and true friends stay together despite that. So despite you wanting to sacrifice us… I don’t hate you.”
“Tao…” Yoko’s eyes were filled with tears and Kei stood gently and grabbed her hands and guided her to sit between him and Tao, “I don’t deserve either of you…”
“You do. Yoko, you deserve everything you’d ever want. Hell, if you asked me for anything, I don’t think I could tell you no,” Kei smiled gently at her, wiping away one of her tears with a finger and finally Yoko sobbed and collapsed into Kei’s arms as Tao gently stroked her hair.
“I’m sorry,” Yoko slurred out, her guilt and sadness hurting her speaking ability, “At first I was with them 100%. But then I got to know Kei, then Tao. Even Yuzuru and Ichiro… and at that point I was too afraid to tell the truth,” Yoko managed to regain her regular voice, still tinged with tears, “I’ve been alone for so long… I didn’t want to be alone again. I can’t, I can’t.”
“Yoko,” Kei whispered as he hugged her comfortably, “I vow, we’ll never leave your side. Me, you and Tao. We’ll be together for eternity.”
“Mhmm! You’ll never be alone again,” Tao assured her and Yoko smiled a little at this.
“I love you… both of you,” Yoko confessed, snuggling closely into Kei’s lap. Kei just smiled brightly, kissing her cheek gently as Tao continued to stroke Yoko’s hair.
“I love you too Yoko,” Tao responded and kissed the top of her head, “I love you and Kei both so much. You both mean the world to me.”
“I love you two both too… I just wish it didn’t take demons to bring us together,” Kei muttered softly and Yoko gave a small nod of agreement at this as the three settled into a comfortable silence, content to just soak in the presence of each other. To the three of them, this was the perfect moment in time.
“Kei!!!” Yoko shouted desperately as the Qaditsu’s magic seeped into Kei’s Nahobino form and he began to float into the air, as Tao clutched at her own rapidly deteriorating and reforming body.
“Oh poor sweet Yoko Hiromine,” Lilith tutted at the girl who reached her hand out without response, “You knew this was the plan. Why fight it? Don’t you want your revenge?”
“My revenge? Of course I do…” Yoko shakily stood up, wispy black flames flickering out from her eyes, “But you just want to use me to get your own wishes. No more. I’ll save Tao and Kei, Aogami too. Because my revenge is not my sole goal anymore, it’s also to keep my loved ones safe!”
“Oh?! Loved ones? You definitely got much closer to these two sacrifices than you were meant to. Even developed a sense of what’s too much for you,” Lilith snarled, as she looked back at Kei’s form, “But you can not stop the ritual once it has begun. You shall play your part.”
Yoko let out a feral scream at this and around her sprouted up black colored flames that rose high above the building they were at. Tao looked on with a smile as she felt a burning sensation at her fingertips and suddenly a ray of pure energy shot out from Tao’s chest and joined into the inferno. High above, the Qaditsu did not looked disturbed at all as their ritual continued and each of them disappear. But as the giant mass of Magatsuhi was about form together, the two elements emanating from the girls shot through and shattered the orb of energy. Lilith snarled her teeth as she slowly began to fade away, glaring at Tap and Yoko both.
“Foolish girls!!! Do you have any idea what you have done?! Your feelings just created a beacon for all the most powerful entities across all worlds! Now more shall line your path to godhood!” Lilith screeched angrily as she faded into nothingness and suddenly out of the orb above, Kei, now in his human form and alone, fell to the ground as the beams of light ended and the orb unleashed its energy across the land in beams of light.
“Aogami…?” Kei whimpered on the ground and tried to look for his partner but could no longer keep his eyes open.
When Kei finally came to, it was in the arms of Yoko as she gently set him on the ground. Kei blinked and saw that they were in the clearing where they had seen many Japanese gods at early on in their exploration of the region.
“Yoko…” Kei coughed and Yoko quickly bent down next to him and hugged him, tears easily streaming down her face, “Tao… and Gami?”
“Tao’s okay, she’s resting nearby with Koshimizu keeping an eye on her, but Aogami… he sacrificed himself to keep you alive from that ritual. I’m sorry,” Yoko apologized and Kei felt something inside him break. Aogami, Susano-o… the life to his knowledge. His other half was gone.
“Ah you’re awake,” Koshimizu came over, supporting Tao with walking, “While you were unconscious, many things occurred. As I’m sure you were just informed, Aogami gave his life for you. However, more had happened. As it would happen, Yuzuru Atsuta… is dead. Slain at the hands of Abdiel and Ichiro Dazai.”
“Dazai…?” Tao looked shocked at this news and Yoko scowled, looking up at the sky.
“There have also been many portals opening up all over Da’at, with some of the most powerful demons coming through them. Interestingly enough, no sightings of Lucifer have occurred yet, though I’m sure he won’t be keen to stay quiet for long,” Koshimizu continued with a shake of his head, “Furthermore, Bethel has splintered. As of now, our only allies are the former Bethel Japan and the Amatsukami. Where we are right now is under the protection of Amaterasu herself.”
“The Amatsukami… you mean like Susano-o, Tsukoyomi, and the like?” Yoko asked for clarification’s sake and Koshimizu nodded.
“The exact same. In fact, I am a member of the group myself. Tsukoyomi to be precise,” Koshimizu revealed and Yoko gave a hum of acknowledgement.
“I was wondering what god you were. From my understanding, no branch of Bethel was ever run by anyone other than one of the heads of a pantheon. Given that Tsukoyomi is among the most important of the Amatsukami, it would make logical sense that it was you. After all, Amaterasu hasn’t been seen in years, and I’ve done research into the Aogami Protofiend and know that was Susano-o. Thus your being Tsukoyomi makes sense,” Yoko appraised the information and the director just gave a hum of acknowledgment.
“Indeed. You are quite sharp,” Tsukoyomi then turned away and shook his head, “However, we have more matters to deal with. With the beacon of energy and the shockwave from stopping the Qaditsu, soon we will have to contend with the factions of the now fractured Bethel vying for the throne. And seeing how Kei is the only one to have become a Nahobino in recent times, that makes him a prime candidate to be targeted by others. The angels especially, still clinging to their dead God.”
“How can we protect him?” Tao asked with a fire in her voice that Yoko had never heard before, even when Sahori was trying to kill her bullies.
“Simple explanation, he becomes a Nahobino again. Since he is the knowledge of Susano-o, he does have compatibility with the other Protofiends. However… there is currently only one functioning Protofiend left, and that would be myself,” Tsukoyomi admitted and looked away in a bit of shame, “I don’t do this for my own goals. Once I had envisioned a council of gods having control, but I have lost faith in that plan. And with the loss of Yuzuru Atsuta, I do not believe I have the right to influence your choices. All I wish to do is provide myself up to help Kei reach his goals.”
“Somehow… I believe you,” Yoko laughed as if amused and shook her head, “But you being absent from Japan would cause panic and chaos in a time we can’t afford to worry over protecting Japan from every demon. We need something else…”
“Yoko, you and I are Saints. But… you know as well as I that we were born for something beyond that… something that would allow us to become Nahobino as well,” Tao stated and Yoko raised an eyebrow in surprise and Tsukoyomi only chuckled.
“So that’s why the Saints were so important. The goddesses of creation and destruction, the two guides to the throne. It has been eons since they had been reborn and here you both are…” Tsukoyomi realized as Kei glanced at the two girls who were both now holding a hand of his and their free hand of the other girl.
“Nahobino… with Tao and Yoko?” Kei muttered out and grinned brightly, “With those I love at my side always, I can see us reaching the throne.”
Suddenly in a tornado of black and white fire, Kei felt his body dematerialize itself only to quickly reform. His new form was familiar, with the same build and stature as his fusion with Aogami. But now his hair was now purplish, yet short as it had been as a human, his energy lines were burning with purple energy too, a mask covered his face. Yet most of all, a set of blocky wings and two horns sprouting from his head were most prominent in Kei’s opinion. As he landed back on the ground safely, Tsukoyomi looked on in cautious amazement.
“Let’s remake the world… into one where all are free. No throne, no war. Just freedom,” Yoko spoke up in his mind, burning desire at the forefront of her mind.
“Where none have to kill to survive… have to live in fear,” Tao agreed, mind whirling with thoughts of Sahori’s treatment flowing like a river.
“A world without the endless cycle of creation and death,” Kei concluded and opened his body’s new eyes and revealed a dark purple eye color.
“I’m glad our demon allies are open to our new world,” Yoko smiled as she sat down on Tao’s lap, staring at Kei as he stretched in the demon haunt.
“Well they do know us fairly well. Though I trust Idun, Fionn, Amanozako and Artemis the most,” Kei admitted easily as he finished his stretches and sat down next to his partners, “Speaking of demon allies, are we all prepared for the fights through the Empyrean?”
“Mhmm. Fionn and Artemis have agreed to be in the front lines with us, with Amanozako providing magical damage from afar and Idun keeping us all healthy and fit. Our other allies, Nahobeeho, Tsukoyomi, Hayataro, Alice, Yoshitsune and Anahita have all agreed to be our backup for in case things go awry. We’ll make it through to the throne before anyone else can claim it. Who did Tsukoyomi say were our most dangerous enemies?” Yoko tilted her head at Tao who shook her head.
“Nobody good. Beyond the major Bethel branch leaders of Zeus, Odin and Shiva, there have been reports of Baal vying to reclaim his former throne, Beelzebub mobilizing the armies of chaos to already assault the Empyrean, the Angels have made contact with their seraphims, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael and Michael, as well as Metatron and Sandalphon. Abdiel, Mastema and Dazai are leading the charge to claim the throne. We’ve also gotten word of Arthur of Camelot cutting down Lucifer’s armies, so he might lend us a hand, and some of Zeus’ pantheon has split to oppose him and claim the throne themselves, the most notable factions being his brothers, Poseidon and Hades, as well as one of his sisters, Hestia, though she seems to be asking for a meeting between our factions to see if our goals align. Some rumors also suggest a split in Odin’s faction, with Freia and Freyr trying to branch out. Lastly, we have what are the two demons who are perhaps the biggest obstacles to the throne. Samael, who according to some stolen reports from Bethel, was the one to bring the Qaditsu to this world, and the serpent king and of course Lucifer himself is always a present danger that none know where he is,” Tao listed off and Yoko groaned as she nuzzled him face further into Tao’s lap.
“Don't wanna deal with them,” Yoko muttered out incorrectly and Kei just shook his head as Tao kissed her love’s head and the usually cynical girl’s face erupted in a splash of the color red. She quickly seemed to calm and relax further into her side.
“Is the throne an actual chair? Could be good to cuddle on,” Kei suggested and Tao smiled brightly at this as Yoko began to snore lightly on her lap. For this moment, Kei finally felt at peace for the first time since he first entered Da’at.
“And so the Nahobino who claims the throne arrives, with none left to bar their path,” Goko walked into view once Kei had reached the Throne of Creation and he gave a nod to the Nahobino, “Nahobino of both a bull horned god and the goddesses of creation, claim your place and create the world you desire. A world with a new foundation, that is your right as the new ruler.”
Kei felt his feet leave the ground as he floated up to the throne itself and suddenly he split apart into himself, Yoko and Tao, and all three floated there as pure energy and power flowed into them. Each looked at the others with a small nod of affirmation and were prepared to unleash the power they now held. Suddenly, the energy stopped and in the space beyond the void floated a gigantic winged demon.
“The one known as Nahobino, the throne is now yours. Yet, it shall not remain even with your reformation. The throne can not break the cycle alone. Meet me in the realm beyond the heavens and earth if you desire a world that will truly last,” Lucifer’s words boomed into existence and as quickly as the demon appeared, he vanished into the air.
“The cycle?” Tao muttered out as the three floated to the ground calmly, “Isn’t the throne the most powerful thing in existence?”
“I had forgotten… the Mandala Cycle. My memories of my time as a Goddess are limited but I can more clearly remember that now. The endless cycle, of all worlds. Now matter how many times a world ends and begins anew, the cycle will always repeat. It has been that way for eternity… that’s why God imprisoned me as a goddess of creation. I wanted to break that cycle and foolishly confronted him alone,” Yoko revealed and looked away with shame, but Kei held her hand and pulled her close.
“Everyone makes mistakes. And now you have a second chance, Yoko. We can put an end to this, and make a world of freedom,” Kei promised and Tao nodded in agreement.
“We can do it. We’ve gotten this far. With you two with me, I’m sure we can make this a permanent world,” Tao spoke with fiery determination in her voice, “We’ve got to keep going forward. Lucifer himself won’t stand a chance!”
Standing at the edge of a tree of light and energy, Kei approached Tao and Yoko as the world reformed beneath our feet.
“No gods,” Tao mumbled out, observing as humanity began to emerge on the planet, making their own way to survive, “Just freedom.”
“They’ll make mistakes, but they will be their own mistakes. Not dealing with the aftermath of demons and their decisions,” Yoko continued, running her hand along the roots of the tree, watching many civilizations rise up in the world.
“Our job is done. If they fall astray or make problems, that is humanity’s prerogative,” added with a twinkle in his eyes, “But so long as they can dream and hope the same as we did, they will continue forward and make a future for themselves.”
“Yet, this is only a single world outside of the system. So many others are still held by the Mandala Cycle,” Yoko frowned but it turned into a smirk as she joined her hand with Kei and Yoko, “So let’s leave this world to its freedom. And find a way to free all worlds from Mandala.”
Without even a moment of fanfare, the three reformed into the Nahobino form and walked away from the giant tree of the world, and marched onwards, determined to make an impact upon eternity itself.