CHAPTER 16, FOR THE ONES I LOVE

As I cleared a path through the chaos, everyone gathered the people towards the arena. I need to hurry, I only have a little longer left or else the Eclipse will end. I flew past the monsters and arrived at the outskirts of town where open plains stood. Before me, the Star Gate which was obviously reassembled from broken parts stood, with men wearing robes and masks stood, encircling it and providing it with magical power. "Hoshikawa!!" I sent my whip flying at their direction.

"Oh my, rude." I heard a woman's voice say, it came from the one in the golden robe with a crimson mask.

"Subdue him." I heard a man's voice from the one in the violet mask with blue robe.

"Not a chance!" I said and let my whip fly their direction. I saw some of them creating magic circles and others held out swords and weapons. "Open, Gate of the Paired Fish Familiar, Pisces."

As the key with golden color, fishtail styled bit, scale shaped bow with a blue gem fashioned to it shined, the two giant fish, now appearing like gaint whales or something like that flew forth attacking the people in their path. Though they can hold their ground... I need more help if I want to stop what their planning. "Open, Gate of the Giant Crab Familiar, Cancer." I held the Cancer key in the air as Cancer appeared wielding his gun and shooting at random.

"The boy from Azure Gem... truly a sight to behold." I heard the voice of a somewhat old man coming from the person dressed in a black robe with a white mask. "Come join us, with your power we can give you the highest ranks, power, fame, fortune, women."

"I don't need it." I said and held the Leo key to the air.

"Lion's Pride." He said and charged at them with full strength as his body wrapped by a golden hue.

"Foolish struggles." The older voiced man said as more of the monsters came charging at me.

There are way too many of them to fight back just by myself and the Familiars. I take out the Taurus key but Leo stops me. "Don't do it!" He roared.

"I don't have a choice." I answered him as volleys of magic attacks came my way.

"Gale." I heard Storm's voice shout and a strog gust of wind sent the men getting closer far away.

"We've evacuated the people." Clover said.

"Yue and the few other healers are keeping the people safe." Bort told me as he held his sword in hand.

"Then we just need to immobilize them." I told them as I held the sword Caelum gave me.

Everyone made a way for me so I charged at them with full power. The sheer amount of members they have is unbelievable. As I ran forward past the fighting, I arrived at the Star Gate and the man in the white mask. "How foolish." He said as he held out a staff.

"Haruki... be careful... this man... is dangerous." Haruka's voice spoke to me and I nearly jumped. "You... have to... be careful!"

"Alright." I answered him as I summoned another sword of Caelum to my hand.

"Oh? What good is a sword against my magical staff?!" He exclaimed as he shot high class fire magic.

"These blades, are from the Familiars' World, the blades of Caelum that devour magic." I answered him and charged forward as I cut his spells in half.

"No way!! Grandmaster's Spell is destroyed so easily!!" The woman from earlier shrieked.

"Fear not, Freya, for our plan has already begun." Their Grandmaster said and just then a light shined from the Arena and they shot to our direction.

"Lita, Yue, are you girls okay?!" I exclaimed over the communicator.

"Yes. We're fine." Yue answered. "But... there's something wrong, there are blue orbs glowing in the arena right now."

"They're magical power, they've been building up since the Games." Their Grandmaster said as the lights culminated at the Star Gate. "With this, we can open the Gate."

"Like I'll let you!!" I said and attacked him but he had erected a barrier.

"With this... our deepest wish will be granted." He laughed as the Star Gate began to open.

"Stop!!" I exclaimed but I'm too late, the Gate has opened and from inside countless lights shot out.

"Yes! Oh great Demon Lords, come to us!!" He laughed but I didn't feel anything. I don't sense the presence of the Demon Lords, instead, what I feel is...

"Foolish One, by the blade of the Tenth Hero, pay for your crimes." I heard an unfamiliar voice say and a bright light shined from the Gate and shot outwards eliminating most of the demons that were from the town.

"W-what was that?" He asked as the demons were killed.

"The Star Gate connects worlds and eras, not just the demons can pass through it." I heard dad's voice say and I looked at the Star Gate and saw him and mom.

"Damn you!!" He exclaimed but I had Hoshikawa around him.

As we finally subdued all the demons and members of the Researchers of Lost Wisdom, Lux-nii-san brought the other rulers to where we were. "We've finished subduing all the members of the Researchers of Lost Wisdom, there are no casualties and most of the injured have been treated." Scarlet-san said as she stood beside the Duke.

"All that's left is to destroy the Star Gate." Lita said and I nodded.

"How are you going to destroy it?" Mai-san asked.

"Familiars that embody the stars, by the power I bare, Open, The Twelve Gates, Zodiac." I threw the keys to the as I held the gun in my hand. "I, Half of the Hero of the Goddess of Light and Keeper of the Stars, Haruki Morganite Tsuki, now implore thee, white light of purification, spirit of the new dawn, grant me the might of thy light, so that I may banish the encroaching darkness, Divine Trance."

As the Zodiacs appeared beside, I had them slam all their magical power at the Star Gate and itbcrumbled and I shot Divine Trance straight at the pieces and nothing was left. That should be the end of it. I suddenly felt weak and I immediately fell on my knees, just then, I could see the white energy rise from my body. No way, Ascension?! I used Divine Trance three times today!!

"Haruki!!" Lita came running as I fell on my knees. "This is bad, hang in there okay?"

"Lita, please calm down." I heard Haruka's voice say and everyone gathered around me.

"Oi!! What's happening to him?!" Dia exclaimed.

"I don't have much time. I need to hurry." I said as I got up and saw that the Eclipse was still active atleast. "Haruka, we're doing it!!"

"I understand." I heard his voice answer and he appeared in front of me.

"Haruki..." I saw everyone look at me with a grim expression.

"I'll be fine." I said as I caressed the face of my fiancees.

"I, Haruka Morganite Tsuki now return this power..." Haruka started.

"I, Haruki Morganite Tsuki no return this power..." I chanted.

"Moon glowing upon the dark night, Sun shing upon the day, Stars the sparkling upon the midnight world..." We chanted together as we joined our hands. "World we walk upon, by thy powers, gather the two halves of the whole, Oh Seal of the Two Souls, become one once more."

"I am You." Haruka touched my cheek.

"And I am You." I answered him as we brought our heads together.

"Let the two halves become one once more!!" We exclaimed as we began to float in the air. "Union!"

As the golden light engulfed us, I could feel our memories and bodies becoming one once more and just as we were completely done I saw something approaching us... what is that? "What is that?!" Eleanor-san exclaimed as she pointed to the demons qnd Demon Lord approching us as we were neary finished.

"Why are there so many of them?" Mai-san shierked.

"No idea, but be ready to fight." Storm said as he held his sword.

"Watch out!!" I exclaimed and let go of Haruka's hand as I casted a high grade defense spell as the Demon Lord shot a blast of dark energy at them.

"Haruki!!" I heard Haruka call out just I held my gun.

"What're you doing?!" Lita exclaimed at me.

"I'm protecting the people I love." I told her.

"Don't do it!!" She told me but I had no choice.

"I, Half of the Hero of the Goddess of Light and Keeper of the Stars, Haruki Morganite Tsuki, now implore thee, white light of purification, spirit of the new dawn..." I chanted. "Grant me the might of thy light, so that I may banish the encroaching darkness, Divine Trance!"

I raised my gun to the Demon Lord and thankfully, I managed to unture it's head before I slowly felt my power drain and I turned around as saw that Haruka had disappeared. "Haruki!!" They came running to my side.

"What were you thinking?!" Aria exclaimed.

"I... can't lose any of you... after all... you're the... people I... care about." I answered as my consciousness slowly slip away.

"He's ascending!!" Lita said as she held my hand.

"I won't let him." Haruka said.

"Haruka... what're you gonna do?" I heard Lita ask but all I could make out was... him saying... remember me.

As my consciousness slipped further away I only though of how blessed I was happy being able to meet everyone. Even if it may be the last time... the last time I hear their voices, see their faces... hold their hands... even if all of it may be the last time. I don't regret it... after all... I could protect them.

THIRD PERSON POV

They watched as Haruki slowly lost consciousness and Haruka slowly disappeared with Haruki's memories. As Arua and the fiancees cried, everyone let tears flow down their cheeks as they watched their friend disappear into thing air. In their hearts they vowed, they would find Haruka and Haruki's memories.

With a heavy heart, they watched as Haruki finally lost consciousness and Haruka disappear to nothing. "We'll find him. For Haruki's sake." Lita said.

"Yes. This is the best choice." Their Master, Anna said.

To save Haruki from ascending and Haruka from disappearing, Haruka took Haruki's memories and was randomly teleported somewhere. To retrieve his memories, they must find Haruka while Haruki would recover his wounded body. When Haruki recalls him or if they meet once more then they could become one again. The last hope they had, will their gamble pay off? Only time will tell.