>>6299061
“Chronoa. Mechikabura.” you say, both higher beings turning to face you. “Maybe, if everyone stops fighting each other, we can find a way to stop that... Thing. Together.”
“Together, huh?” Mechikabura asks, stroking his chin with a hand.
“You foolish children. You don't understand. How many times I've tried...” she says, shaking her head, holding her arms to her sides as she looks off in the distance. “Nothing I've tried has worked. I've used powers and skills, techniques and abilities from countless realities. Nothing has stopped it.”

“And I'm sure no one has managed to dethrone you either.” Mechikabura says, Chronoa turning to him. “Yet we have. You've erased countless realities, yet we have stopped you. Perhaps... Perhaps our reality shall be the one that can finally resist this monster? After all, we have Karn now. One far stronger, more experienced, and more powerful than the one from the previous reality.”
“Well, you are stronger. And with Divine Dragon Force being...” she mutters to herself, not looking at him.
“I propose we have a truce. At least until that monster is bested, and everyone can return to their own realms to regroup and recover.” you say, standing between Mechikabura and Chronoa. Glancing back and forth between them as you talk. “But as long as that... Thing, poses a threat to our reality, we shouldn't waste energy battling one another.”

“I agree.” Mechikabura replies, turning his focus from you back to her. “Although I regret the time wasted not confronting this being beyond reality, let us not waste any more. Let us gather our minds, and you can share what you know of it. Then, we can get started on a solution.”
“You... You really still plan to fight that thing?” she replies, blinking in shock, looking between you both like someone who's seen a ghost. “Well, I suppose things HAVE gone wildly different in this iteration, far more so than most. Very well. For now, I'll agree to this truce. To share my knowledge and what hasn't worked on the monster beyond existence. I shall depart to gather my allies, then we shall rendezvous at Conton City.”
“Agreed.” he replies, Mechikabura then turning to you. “As for you, Karn, nothing's changed. Continue to focus on your current mission. Something tells me that, before this is done, we'll need your power to confront that being. So stay the course, and grow stronger still.”

And without another word, he vanishes. Not through one of his portals, but one moment he's there, the next he's just... Gone. You then turn to Chronoa, who is again looking up at you. Clearly holding something back, uncertain if she should say it or not.


cont