Dreams of the morrow hath the shattered soul
Pride is lost
Wings stripped away, the end is nigh

Yui found herself lying on her back, staring up at an overcast sky. The budding storm around her swirled and danced in impossible directions. Reaching her hand upwards, Yui felt the storm start to bend to her will. A small, feeble clap of thunder rolled as she sat up. Feeling her side and finding no evidence of Hanako’s attack, she realized quickly enough that she was asleep. Standing, she took in her surroundings. Dead concrete ruins of a nightlife that once was surrounded her. Turning around, she saw the object of her focus and curiosity: The ruins of Il Teatro. Stepping up towards it, and with every blink of her eyes and turn of her head, more and more of the old Opera House came into view— intact. Closing her eyes one last time, and taking in a deep breath, she reached for the door, only stopping as a familiar voice called out to her from behind.

Mei: Master?!

Yui: God damn it, Mei, how many times do I have to tell you not to—

Yui’s heart froze as the reality of the situation sank in. Her hand trembled on the handle of the large, mahogany double-door. Her eyes shot open, and she dared not turn to confirm the source for herself. It was no use, however, as Yui was quick to get her mental bearings.

Mei: S-Sorry. Old habits die hard, Forte.

Yui: I’m gonna kick the Maestro’s fucking ass…

Mei: W-Wait! F-Forget all that, Yui! What are you doing here?

Yui: Dreaming? I dunno. The fuck does it look like I’m doing, Mei? I woke up here, and this was the only place of interest around for miles. …He’s here, ain’t he? Like, this is his ‘bubble’?

Mei: Y… Yeah. He’s just inside, why don’t we—

Without turning to look at her former pupil even now, Yui pulled open the door and stepped inside. Mei’s footsteps were not far behind, but it seemed she learned enough to not try and force Yui into talking just yet. Yui, aware of this, was grateful that at least one of Mei’s old habits didn’t die with her. A lush carpet lined the hallway leading to the auditorium. Yui pushed past the doors, walking down the steps leading to the main stage. As expected, Velare Ambrosi stood center stage. As expected, he was looking right at her with a smug expression the moment the door opened. Less expected was the Virtuoso standing beside him. He turned his head as she entered and descended, a warm greeting smile on his face— the one thing that could break Yui’s icy facade, and a gesture she returned happily.

Yui: Yo, Uncle René!

René: Heh, you’ll still call me that? Yep, I’m here doin’ the best I can. 

Yui: Heh… looks like it. Y’all makin’ a stage look like a war council. Am I interrupting something?

René: No, if anything… (He turns slightly toward Velare, an eyebrow raised as though he wasn’t entirely in on the plan himself) It seems like my copain here has been waiting for you.

Yui: …For me?

Velare: I won’t mince words, nor waste your time, Yui. We mean to strike once more at Worldeater, in his domain, and retrieve your mother’s soul from his clutches.

Yui: (she’s silent for a long moment) …She’s still intact?

Velare: Alive, yes.

Yui: …He’s luring me out, then. And y’all plan on using me to spring the trap and take him out?

Velare: …Yes.

Yui: …A’ight. When do we go?

René: Not that I expected much different, but you gotta know this is his trap. Can’t be too eager.

Yui: (glancing back slightly, seeing Mei shuffle nervously behind her, Yui turns to nod back at René) Can’t say I much care. S’long as I can get my hands on the smug little prick and make him regret fucking with us, and the damage he’s done… I ain’t worried about what’s up his sleeve. 

René: I’ll bet not. Boy’s got a lot of Dreamscape tricks up his sleeve, but, also… that’s about all he’s got going for him. 

Yui: I beat the shit out of him last time I saw him. Left a mark on his soul so he wouldn’t forget the pain. Fact that he’s trying to bait me out means he didn’t learn. (Yui makes a show of cracking her knuckles, then her neck before rolling her shoulders) …Means I didn’t hit him hard enough last time. 

Mei: Y-Yui… I—

Yui: Won’t make that mistake again. So when do we set out?

René: As soon as you’re ready. Speed’ll be everything. 

Velare: Indeed. So by your leave, Forte.

Yui: I’m ready. Let’s do this.

No more words were exchanged. None were needed. The Conductors present made their way once more, over a blank and lifeless stretch between Velare’s domain and Luca’s. The sky became impossibly dark, just as it had the night before. The modern citadel stretched beyond sight into the night sky, unchanged. The glass double doors stood before them, practically beckoning them— beckoning Yui inside. Yet the Conductors didn’t enter the building. They knew the game this time.

This time, Worldeater was waiting for the Conductors’ arrival. Floating slowly down the facade of his building, the Balancer descended, his soul shield in front of him. Yuma remained unconscious, naturally, and Worldeater had a grin a mile wide. Landing delicately on the concrete just outside the glass double doors to his skyscraper headquarters, Worldeater scanned the crowd before him. Three would-be heroes of the dead, and one fresh opponent of the living. His smile faded as he saw the Forte, face to face with him once more, but he maintained his calm demeanor.

Worldeater: I must say, I am pleasantly surprised, Forte, that not only did you take my bait, but you did so in record time. But now that I have you here, without a cliche chase sequence to bar my path, I will exact my revenge. Conductors! Observe! I shall dismantle the strongest of you lot, using the Forte’s own mother!

Energy and light begin to engulf Yuma Amaya’s soul, her limbs slowly flexing and returning to life. Her eyes remain closed, and it appears quickly as if Worldeater were piloting Yui’s mother like a marionette. Yui, however, doesn’t react. She steps closer, slowly sinking into her usual fighting stance. Worldeater’s eyes widen in horror at Yui’s brash response. 

Worldeater: You… you mean to tell me you care so little for the welfare of your mother’s soul? So much so that you would still approach me?

Yui: If I gotta knock her outta my way to get to you again, Worldeater, so be it. I beat the shit out of you last time. Seems like your soul remembers, given how much you’re trembling right now.

Sure enough, Worldeater noticed it a second after Yui did. His right hand was shaking, his knees quivering where he stood. His soul remembered the fierce, almost feral nature of Yui’s attack when they battled over the soul of the Cadenza. He clenched his teeth, tightening his hand into a tight fist.

Worldeater: Tch… fine then! If you care so little, so little about your mother that you would throw her away, then come! Strike her down to get to me, if that is what your heart desires! You cannot destroy me in this place, Forte, and you know that. You would sacrifice your mother for nothing!

Yui: Ask me again, Worldeater.

Worldeater: Pardon?!

Yui: That question, when you were performing your script just now. Ask me again.

Worldeater: …Do you truly care so little for your mother’s soul, Yui?

Yui: …Do you?

Before Worldeater could react, a metallic fist caught his cheek, forcing him to stumble. A familiar animated suit of armor stood before him, and he wheeled to see its owner standing behind it. But before he could acknowledge the Valkyrie with words, it spoke, and the voice he heard sent chills to his very core.

???: Oh… to see the depths of hell in which you gleefully sink, Luca… to see you willingly throw yourself into my hell, just for blind, misbegotten vengeance. …You disappoint me, child. I expected better, regardless of how the coin of your life fell… to overcome me, or carry out my will. You are capable of neither, it seems. When the Muse and I became one… we sought to burn the world to nothing. Your efforts now are so pale an imitation… Had I only known what shadows swam in your soul all those years ago… 

Worldeater: …No. No no no… no, you have no god damned right. 

Yuma’s soul crumpled to the ground as Worldeater turned to face his twisted memories of his mother given form. The realm itself shook around them, and they both lunged at the same time. The Valkyrie’s spear turned into a serpentine instrument of war, swinging not unlike a whip. Worldeater parried each hit, drawing his sword from his cane and swinging in a primal fury. Knocking Mei’s construct off balance, he lunged for its chest, where Mei’s heart would be. Instead of finding hollow metal, however, his thrust was deflected by the downward swinging of a golden staff.

Yui swung in a wide arc this time, catching Worldeater under his chin, sending him flying back. The two fledgling Conductors argued, words that Worldeater could not comprehend or hear in his current mindset. Contracting the space between them, he lunged again, catching Yui in the same place she was wounded in the waking world. She fell to her knees with a loud, pained cry. As Worldeater prepared to finish her off, however, the coiling spear wrapped around his throat, tip pointed and digging into his skin. As the Cadenza helped the Forte recover, thunder began to roll around them. 

Worldeater knew he was beaten. The last bastion of logic in his mind told him to retreat. To recover. To stick to the plan. The irony of his complaints of Firestarter, Moonlover and Punisher were not lost on him, deep down in his core. He expanded the space around the spear, ducking out of it and jumping back. He knew that this motion was enough for Yui to make her choice. Yuma’s soul was sinking into the asphalt in front of the building, but if she were to retrieve her now, she would succeed. If she lunged after Worldeater, she would sacrifice her mother. But Worldeater knew what choice Yui was going to make. She made the exact same choice once before.

Yui’s lunge was just as fast as it was when she clashed with him before, letting Mei fall into the Maestro’s grasp. And this time was no different. It was all Worldeater could do to defend himself, though he caught the fruits of their plan in the corner of his eye. Propped up by both the Maestro and the Virtuoso, Yuma’s soul was safely extracted. And Yui continued to press her attack. Worldeater would allow just a little bit more of his emotions to drive him, for just a bit longer. He fought back, with strength he did not know he had. This time, he would not run, nor would he fear the pain of the Forte’s attack, even if it left his soul scarred.

The Forte was letting her power out freely, just as she confirmed the safety of her mother. Worldeater no longer cared about the bait, about the script, and about the plan in this moment. They both flew upwards with their repeated blows and strikes against one another. Both fighting in pure, emotional fury. In and out of windows that shattered around them, concrete and steel bending and breaking against their force, the two finally landed atop the building. Only a sea of buildings dwarfed by this one could be seen on the horizon, and the ground long since vanished from their view. Not that either of them cared. The fight raged on for a while longer, staff and sword clashes with lightning dancing across the sky, until finally, the building itself began to collapse and implode, unable to bear the weight of their battle any longer.

Even as gravity took its toll, the two clashed and traded strikes. Weapons flew as their bodies tumbled, neither side wanting to stop until the other was destroyed. Finally, with a sound not unlike a bomb exploding, both of them landed in the ruins of Worldeater’s Citadel, the building’s foundation now a concrete crater. Naturally, both combatants survived the fall, though the Forte was much worse for wear. Worldeater had taken his share of damage, of course. All that remained unscathed on Worldeater, however, was his Masque, which he protected with all his being.

Worldeater: (panting heavily) This… this is the… the final mistake… the final mistake the Conductors will ever make. …Mark my words… (Worldeater collapsed, then faded from the realm, his domain remaining this time)

There is no hate, only joy
For you are beloved by the goddess
Hero of the dawn, Healer of worlds

Yui: (slowly rising to her knees, ignoring Mei kneeling beside her) …Vel.

Velare: Alive.

Yui: (Yui simply nodded, sighing in relief as she collapsed again)

Mei: M-Master, wait! Th… there’s so much we gotta talk about! L-Look, I’m fine! I’m fine, and I’m right here with you! So… s-so don’t go yet! I-I know that you’ve been—

Yui spared a sidelong glance towards her pupil, tears running down her cheeks. The agony was plain on her face, but before she could utter a word, she, too, collapsed, then faded from the realm.

Mei: …God DAMN IT! (Mei fell to her knees, stifling her sobs and pounding the pavement under her. She only stopped as she felt René’s hand on her shoulder)

René: Don’t worry. She’s still alive out there. Getting wiped out here isn’t gonna destroy her. Come on. We should get to safety ourselves. 

Mei: (Mei took a while to compose herself, standing up slowly and wiping her eyes. She turned to see Velare carrying Yuma’s unconscious form in his arms, then nodded) …Yeah. We got what we came for. Let’s get her back to the Maestro’s domain while we still can.