3rd Pov
The room was silent and tense, all was broken when Dawn charged forward toward the viscount...on the side Mia kicked prince Leo aside and quickly went to intercept Dawn.
But she didn't expect her foot to slip up...
Mia : (Huh ? Ice?)
The entire ground instantly froze...no the frost was even contaminating even the wall...
Mia : (It's this boy's aura ? What kind of power is that ? This goes beyond even the royal mage...)
At this point it was too late for her, she wouldn't make it in time.
Coming back to Dawn, his eyes were locked on his enemy...his right arm was now fully regenerated.
Dawn : (I feel dizzy...and my body already went past its limit...)
Calling him a desperate piece of bones wouldn't be wrong...if it wasn't for the ice compensating for his muscle and bones.
He would be crawling on the ground...everything went too well as the number of enemies and its quality was way too superior.
Dawn had to face reality, he had won against Raven by pure luck...and without Snowie he would have died way earlier.
Dawn : (At the end i'm just a kid...)
He flashed a weak smile before crashing into a newly formed wall of earth...On the side Luna was still here.
Her arm up, she was a genius among her generation...her talent rivaled the greatest and it was a fact for Dawn that this girl had progressed faster than him.
He was stronger just because of his knowledge of Tensura...and now she was his enemy.
Dawn : (Ahh, how annoying.)
Luna : [Earth bind].
Dozens of pillars of stone appeared, locking Dawn in the middle of it...but soon all these turned into ice before shattering.
Dawn : (I see...so my rewrite evolved again...)
With his mind constantly performing the unique skill : Author along Snowie's magic.
All his abilities started adapting to his current form...rewrite the stone property before shattering it due to Snowie's control over the ice element.
All this could happen by a mere touch of Dawn's hand...
Luna : Wh-
The shard of ice in the thin air was falling slowly...Luna's eyes widened as in a flash the boy she used to follow was in front of her.
She was caught off guard, her eyes going down as she followed each one of the boy's movements.
Dawn : You won't let me pass you without a fight do you.
He muttered those words before grabbing his friend's throat...at this moment he could have eliminated her and he was going to...
Before he saw Luna letting out a single tear.
Dawn : Huh ?
Luna : I don't know what I am anymore...but I can't help but feel happy that you are the one who is going to kill me.
This sentence of hers made everything more difficult for Dawn...he was almost convinced that all was fake and that Luna was all the way under mind control.
That she never truly intended to be friends with him and at the end, the real Luna didn't exist just a puppet but now...
Dawn bit his lips before lifting Luna in the air by her throat...in a strong movement he smashed the girl down to the ground.
Destroying the floor once again...Luna lost consciousness with that but her heartbeat was still there...she didn't die.
Looking up with rage, Dawn was even more angry...at the end he couldn't believe that all those moments were fake.
Rickard who saw the scene unfold right before his eyes was scared to death...luckily for him Luna stalled enough time for Mia to come.
They were now waiting for the last Arceid to come up from this newly made hole.
Mia : It's the end...
Mia muttered, Dawn's power was decreasing quickly and just now she felt the presence of the last member of the shadow.
It seems this member had succeeded in his task of killing Sola Lavane...
Mia : (Still Raven died ? This is quite shocking, I don't think I would have beaten this boy in a direct confrontation.)
Turning her eyes toward the corpse of her former companion, the face of this shadow was smiling...it was known by Mia that Raven had a deep hatred for the Arceid.
She wasn't told why but Raven was just like that...but it seems in his last moment he managed to collect his thoughts and die in peace.
Mia Pov
Dragging my sword up, I immediately winced when that Arceid boy appeared out of the hole and rushed straight toward me.
Viscount Zickard right behind me was scared for his life...and it was understandable this boy didn't look human anymore.
With...his power...
Mia : What ?
Dawn : Tch, I guess I'll die here.
What did he do ? It doesn't have this menacing presence anymore...no it is fact his right arm was melting...
What happened in this whole situation with this Luna girl ?
Mia : You...throw your life away for this girl ?
Dawn : I realized that I hated life in itself...Luna deserves to live more than me.
I couldn't understand his logic but right now...he is as weak as an ant...I strengthened my arm as my sword made contact with this boy's ice blade.
And as expected I overpowered him instantly...he is dead now.
Mia : [Silver arrow].
3rd Pov
His offense getting parried, Dawn's ice blade shattered mid air...the impact sending him off as a bright silver light made way toward his exposed abdomen.
He could just close his eyes...
Dawn : (Even after my rebirth...i wasn't able to achieve anything...how pathetic.)
He smiled feeling empty inside...well he was somehow wrong, he did save the life of at least one of those he held dear.
Minutes earlier when Dawn held Luna down on the ground...he tightened his grip on her throat as more tears poured down the girl's eyes.
Dawn : I'm sorry Luna...
Even as the light inside her eyes was slowly vanishing, she smiled...this was like a confirmation for Dawn.
Luna and his relationship was real...they were truly friends...unfortunately those times had to be cut short.
Snowie : (Master?!)
Dawn : Snowie...i'll tell you goodbye too, you were one of the best things that ever happened to me.
Dawn's voice went soft as his eyes glowed...Snowie inside his soul felt a disturbance as something was getting rewritten.
The spirit was in shock as her eyes witnessed in direct the life force of Dawn decreasing...what was happening wasn't draining Dawn's magicule as he had almost none left from the prior fight.
It wasn't even trying to take source from Snowie's power...no, Dawn himself directed it toward his life force.
Snowie : (What are you doing master?!)
Dawn : There is no way I'm getting out of this alive...Snowie, listen carefully.
The spirit was totally bewildered...it was the first time she felt that kind of emotion as Dawn explained with a tired voice.
Dawn : I'm a lost cause at this point but Luna...and you can achieve so much...I'm tired of living, internally i alway questioned myself about the meaning of living...
His arm glowing, letters started appearing in the thin air...the unique skill : Author had awakened.
Dawn : What is the point of living, what us being given with intelligence was meant to achieve ? All this tormented me and finally when I was given a second chance, I thought I could achieve something.
The letters around started to form a sort of dome around him and Luna...they connected with each other and soon their colors changed from white to gold.
Dawn : But in the end...I failed at everything but I sincerely believe that Luna and Snowie have much more to do.
Snowie : (Y-you...master, you can't do that!)
Smiling, Dawn closed his eyes...at this point Snowie tried her best to force the ongoing off but her attempt in closing it was futile as Snowie suddenly lost her force.
Her mind turned dizzy before totally turning off...the last words muttered inside Dawn's mind were...
Snowie : (M-master...)
Dawn : Thank you, my dear partner, [Achieved rewrite].
At his words, the golden letters turned rainbow before circling around them and finally approached penetrating both the boy and girl bodies.
The cold yet warm feeling Dawn had before inside his soul was gone and transferred toward Luna...the prince of this spell was the full usage of Rewrite from the unique skill : Author.
Dawn achieved and rewrote his own soul...the bond he shared with Snowie was bound through a soul corridor.
A proof of their relation...something that shouldn't be breakable yet Dawn did it...he rewrote something that wasn't physical.
He rewrote this spiritual path that binds two people...Dawn and Snowie became Luna and Snowie.
Smiling at his success, it was almost his end...he could feel himself getting weaker but it didn't matter to him anymore.
Dawn : Beautiful.
In contrast to him, the unconscious Luna changed radically...her power suddenly increased along her silver air...they gained a cold shine.
It truly fitted her...Luna, in French Luna the moon...it fitted well with Snowie who represented Snow and its coldness.
As the moon was filled with the empty space's cold...
Dawn : Thank you, Luna for being my friend...haha I didn't know I could be this emotive.
Getting up, he carefully settled Luna down and turned around...he still had one thing to do or at least he would try.
And this was...
Dawn : To kill the viscount...
Or at least he thought, Mia's attack was charging toward him...well Luna was safe and in a few years she will be the strongest...he can believe that.
Leo : DON'T FUCKING MESS WITH ME !!!!
Mia/Dawn : !!!
But a string of fate has decided otherwise...this tragic end that Dawn himself foresaw and accepted was broken by the shout of the prince.
Leo with his sword barged between the two, despite being weaker he didn't even hesitate standing in front of the silver light.
The blink of an instant as the silver arrow hit Leo...his entire arm getting vaporized, he stood still taking the entire offense leaving Mia speechless.
Mia : This prince...
Leo had half of his body gone...yet he stood still, his eyes fully open as the sound of Dawn falling on the ground right behind him resonned.
Dawn : W-what ?
Leo : You idiot ! You can't die now...I refuse this outcome !
This was confusing to Dawn...him and the prince weren't that much of a friend.
So why did he do that ? He was practically dead...and what about the princess ? Dawn turned his eyes toward the said princess and she was lying on the ground unconscious.
Dawn : (Did he knock her out?)
Leo : I am the prince of this country ! It's my duty to protect it, not a lower noble ! A baron noneless !
Taking pride in his words...he was clearly searching for an excuse to barge in and stop Dawn.
Mia was looking at the scene interested...letting them continue she didn't try to attack...
Mia : (Perhaps I chose the wrong side...Leo Muth, huh...perhaps you could have shown me that...)
Leo : So be reassured Dawn Arceid, i will protect this kingdom !
His eyes animated with an unknown passion, he charged forward...he was slow, one arm left...not even his full strength at the moment could arm a child.
Dawn watched him as Mia didn't show mercy turned around before landing a heavy side kick sending Leo back to where he was in front of Dawn.
Mia : If that's all you got then you're screwed.
Zickard : What are you waiting for ?! Kill them both !
Mia : Shut up, dickhead, I'm seeing something interesting.
To baron Falmuth and everyone's shock...Mia spouted those harsh words toward the new king of the nation and her next action would be questioning which side she is actually with.
As she punched the viscount, sending him to sleep for the rest of the day.
Mia: So we are clear, I am not supporting any of you...neither do I follow the order of Raven, I decided to take action for my own goal.
Leo : Heh, at least it felt good seeing this trash getting beaten.
Smilign, Leo took a deep breath before running toward Mia again...his blood flying everywhere as once again he was sent back by a direct front kick.
Still his eyes remained determined...Dawn couldn't understand that, he himself was stutborn but why torture yourself like that ?
Leo : Dawn please...take my sister and run, leave this whole thing to me.
Between his struggle as once again he was kicked back to the starting point, he muttered those words for Dawn only to hear.
The last Arceid's eyes widened as he looked down...his hair covering his eyes, he bit his lips frustrated.
Leo smirked at this and rushed forward once again...a man would even wonder how the prince could still move in that state.
Mia : It's pointless.
Her patience reaching its limit, she already recycled the same situation 10 times now...her eyes sharpening she grabbed Leo by the hair and directly planted her knee into his face.
Showing her mastery over martial art, she didn't stop as her arm locked down to the prince's neck...she caught him and swiftly broke his remaining arm and left knee.
Leo : Arght !
Back to the ground, this time Leo gave his all to get up...no support, he came back after a long minutes on one leg.
His eyes still showed this flame of determination...this impressed Mia who started to laugh.
Mia : Hahahaha ! You are really something prince ! And me who thought you royal family were worthless !
Holding her face as she laughed all died down when Mia dropped the act...her cold and rigid expression back.
Mia : I deem you worthy Leo Muth, so be happy you will die under my strongest spell !
Stretching her arm toward the sky, magicule gathered in one place as a bow formed between her hands.
She grabbed it and unlocked it as a bright silver arrow formed on the hilt...
Mia : I am the one who seeks true justice, my arrow will pierce heaven itself and show the path of rightness...
It wasn't an incantation...it was just Mia's way to show her respect toward the prince...her true goal, the search for true rightness and justice.
Mia : [Silver arrow].
A light brighter than anything she had formed until now...this attack would undoubtedly kill Leo and destroy everything on its path.
Standing there while just staring, Leo seemed to have resigned to his fate...he looked behind him for an instant as Dawn had yet to move.
Leo : Go Dawn...if I were the one to run with Ria, I won't last long and ultimately we will all die...whereas I believe you can survive and give my sister a better life.
Dawn : Do you expect me to survive ?
Muttering those words in a heavy tone, Dawn's right arm was almost completely melted...the part of his body made of ice were too impacted by Snowie's transfer.
And Dawn didn't possess any kind of regenerative magic or skill...
Leo : It will always be better than me.
Smiling, Leo turned around fully facing the silver arrow...Mia had waited for them to finish this discussion for her own reason...
Now done, her hand released the sting as the arrow flew off to destroy its target...
Dawn : Tch...
Cliking his tongue, Dawn took support on the ground with his left hand and quickly ran off using a burst step...
The speed and distance he managed to travel was much weaker than what he should be capable of but this was enough.
In an instant he took the princess and left through one of the shattered walls...
Falmuth : Don't let him escape !
Mia : (Self sacrifice to let the strongest escape, brillant Leo Muth...you earned my respect.)
Closing his eyes, Leo felt the mass of pure energy rushing toward him...the heat from this silver arrow disintegrated his skin before it even made contact.
And finally, with a smile...Leo Muth, the sole prince of this kingdom held his last moment as not even ashes were left.
Mia just stood motionless as her strongest spell dissipated after destroying half of the remainder of this room...the arrow pierced through the castle leaving a giant hole in it.
The falling night sky could be seen from where she was standing.
Falmuth : H-Ahhh ! What is that power ?!
Mia : Shut up, you old geezer !
Punching him so he could quiet down, Mia was left alone in the top room of this ruin of a castle, her eyes wandered through the window Dawn had left earlier.
Mia : Ah, this is where my part ends.
On Dawn's side, he was carrying the princess with his two arms, though at any moment his right one would be gone.
After jumping through the window, he tried to run down the wall before escaping the capital through one of the cardinal gates.
But once again, things turned grim...the shadow group of Muth is constituted of 3 individuals...two of them being Raven and Mia...
One was missing, and finally he decided to show up as the wall Dawn was running one suddenly crackled before breaking as a man bursted through it.
???: Hahaha ! Found y'a !
Dawn : (Shit!)
Rushing at him mid air with a warhammer, this man was a muscle head contrary to Mia and Raven who used refined skill.
He didn't look up the name of a member of the shadow.
Dawn : (Fuck it ! I'll enhance my ice with the remaining magicule!)
Doing as he says, he delayed the melting of his ice as he barely dodged the incoming attack...as the hammer swung down, it blasted the air itself.
Dawn : (If it landed, he would have crushed me!)
Using the piece of wall that flew off when this barbarian burst through the wall...Dawn quickly burst stepped downward leaping in the air.
Fighting wasn't an option...
Rey : Running from Rey now ? You're just like that Sunny girl !
Dawn : I don't fucking know what you're talking about !
Rey : Honestly, this bitch was annoying, I couldn't even kill her off but you ? I'll destroy you to the core !
An invisible platform forming below him, Rey rushed once again toward Dawn...the unexpected action made the boy flinch as this time the shock would be inevitable.
Dawn : (In terms of raw strength, he outclassed me...my weakened state isn't' helping but it's too late to dodge...tch, whatever, all in!)
Gritting his teeth, he throwed Ria in his arm up as she would bother him right now...his two arms glowing gold.
A wave of energy escaped his body...it wasn't magicule, it was the heat from the unique skill : Heroism.
Dawn : Let's roll it then !
Both hammer and fist clashing, a wave of heat followed with blasts of wind echoed through the sky...
Rey was grinning maniacally...his previous fight against Sola wasn't glorious...the fact that she was still alive was proof of it.
But now, he truly enjoyed the fight...but this clash had to be cut short when Dawn's arm started to break...
Rey : You're reaching your limit genius boy !
Dawn : (Seriously...first at the mansion, then against this Mia girl and now him ? Did my luck run out?)
Rey : Hhahaha ! I'm getting fired up !
His big arms strengthening, Dawn flinched as his aura was getting devoured by his enemy...ultimately it led to his arms getting overpowered.
Now closer than ever, Rey grinned, throwing his hammer in the sky as he instead chose for a more radical way.
His hand forming a round fist, Dawn's eyes stared at him as if the world had gone into slow motion.
Rey : Die ! Regalia impact !
His fierce aura forming the head of a lion, Rey directly crashed his fist into Dawn's stomach...
The ice that formed his thoracic cage broke as the punch deformed the natural shape of the body...this single punch caused the boy to see a star.
Furthermore, he gasped as saliva left her mouth...before he flew off away...the next fall will be fatal with his organs and muscle off.
His conscious barely holding, this was the end...the end ? No, the wheel of fate turned his clock.
Dawn : (I-i don't want to die yet...)
It was contradictory to his own thought but this was how humans were made...contradict themself, lie to themself, lie to others...
VOTW : (Individual Dawn's wish was heard, proceeding to an evolution...granted, racial evolution : Denied, ERROR...revision of possible outcome, success...the unique skill : Heroism will be taken away in exchange of life force...evolution into Human (Saint), failed.)
Falling down, Dawn heard this familiar yet distant voice...
VOTW : (Reviewing other possible outcomes, success...Removal of the name Arceid, success...Acquisition of Hero egg, success...)
The heroism and pride behind the name Arceid was real...even the world itself recognized it and now this same name was used as a sacrifice.
At this moment onward, Dawn Arceid was no more...he was just Dawn.
VOTW : (Negative emotion detected, Hero egg will be temporally sealed...Corrupted Egg obtained, compensation granted : Unique skill : Fiction acquired, this will conclude this evolution.)
As the voice stopped, Dawn regrow his lost members and stood still midair as an platform of ice formed for support.
Rey : What ?
Dawn : I'll think about it later...for now...
Turning around, he looked up where Ria was still falling down...using burst steps while forming a plate of ice below his feats he quickly caught her and flew past the sky of Muth.
Rey tried to go after him but he was just too fast...
Rey : He is creating platforms of ice to use the burst step ? What kind of magic mastery is that...
The boy's figure leaving in the horizon...Rey was forced to admit his failure...
For Dawn, he managed to leave the kingdom and land in the forest where all his strength left his body...he just was subject to an evolution.
But his body wasn't adapted to it yet...falling down, he muttered a few words knowing that someone was there in the middle of this darkness.
Dawn : Pl-please...help...
???: Fufufu, very well boi.
Sitting atop of a tree, the future queen of darkness Luminous Valentine smirked as she witnessed everything.