But with all four limbs pinned by the dragon's claws, every struggle was futile.
"Impossible!!"
"For love, I will be invincible!!!!"
Karuizawa Kei's will, emotions, and desires... were like kindling, like oil poured onto the flames of love.
In an instant, countless red flames blazed from Crimson Tiger's body.
Water and fire clashed, and clouds of mist billowed in an instant.
The Illusory Ocean Current burned away half of the flames of love.
The Azure Dragon let down her guard, giving Crimson Tiger an opening.
Her tiger fangs sank deep into flesh.
The dragon's claws had pinned all four limbs, which had been an advantage. Now, that advantage was turned against her.
After the Dragon's Tail Sweep was brushed aside by the tiger's tail,
Tanaka Yukishin put strength into his arms and legs and suddenly swung himself around.
From Azure to Yellow.
Three-Tenths Power · True Dragon Martial Way · Yellow Dragon Ascends to Heaven.
The ingenuity of this move's transformation was also recorded in the Push Back Chart.
The imagery of "Azure Dragon Enters the Sea, Yellow Dragon Ascends to Heaven" was generally interpreted as symbolizing a change of regime or a shift in power, hinting at a historical turning point in which an old power faded and a new one rose.
But in truth, they were merely different stages of the True Dragon.
The Azure Dragon symbolized breaking through adversity, while the Yellow Dragon represented transcendence and ascension.
"Heh heh heh, Kei-chan's gotten stronger. I'm so happy!"
"But when it comes to strength, you can't beat me."
The Azure Dragon once again subdued Crimson Tiger, remaining vigilant the entire time.
She gave Crimson Tiger no chance to turn the tables.
"Damn it, I can't lose."
Karuizawa Kei struggled relentlessly.
But after what had happened before, the Azure Dragon kept Crimson Tiger tightly bound, leaving no opening at all.
Slowly, under the ceaseless alternating currents of the Illusory Ocean Current,
the fiery clouds around Crimson Tiger gradually faded.
In the end, only a feeble cry remained.
And so, Crimson Tiger perished.
"Kei-chan, how do you feel now? How do you feel?"
Seeing the look of unwillingness on her lover's flushed face in his arms,
Tanaka Yukishin laughed triumphantly.
"I've always wanted to see you make that face, that look of unwillingness."
Karuizawa Kei said nothing, only shouting in her heart again and again:
Pure Love War God, come out!!!
Pure Love War God, come out!!!!
Pure Love War God, come out!!!!!
Had she been defeated?
Could it be that she really couldn't...
Karuizawa Kei could accept losing.
But she couldn't accept loving her lover less than he loved her.
She recalled what her lover had just said.
In her memory, Tanaka Yukishin had laughed wildly: "How could you possibly beat me when you're using the miraculous power born from my love?"
A flash of inspiration struck her.
"Love, grant me strength."
If her lover's love could bring about miracles, then hers could too.
At that moment, she pleaded with love, but the only one who answered her was herself.
A brilliant pink light flashed.
She found herself in a strange space.
Suddenly, two figures appeared opposite her.
They walked toward her, one in front of the other.
"Tsk."
"I can't believe that I'd be this weak when I grew up."
"Wimp~ Wimp."
Karuizawa Kei clenched her fists as soon as she saw the face of the one in front.
Then a lazy, soft voice rang out.
"Current Kei, your next line is..."
"I remember I wasn't an annoying brat when I was little."
Karuizawa Kei said the exact same words.
"I remember I wasn't an annoying brat when I was little."
Then she realized what had happened.
She looked at the two figures, one big and one small.
The little one looked exactly like her when she was young, while the older one seemed like a mature version of herself, shaped by the passage of time.
"So you're Future Kei."
"And she's Past Kei."
The two versions of her nodded.
"My, my. How nostalgic... this moment. It's one of the two happiest moments of my life."
"I never thought I'd get to relive it again after all these years."
Two rosy clouds rose on Future Kei's cheeks, like sunset colors staining the snow.
Her eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and her eyes shimmered with laughter.
"Then what's the other moment?"
Karuizawa Kei was curious.
"The day I gave birth. I gave my darling two adorable babies—twins, a boy and a girl!"
Past Kei covered her face with both hands, hiding the curve of her smile.
Her eyes were full of pride as she peeked at Karuizawa Kei with a mischievous grin.
"That's enough!!"
"What's with that expression? What's with that look in your eyes?"
"Are you really bragging to yourself?"
"I'll have two babies with my darling in the future too. What's there to brag about?"
Karuizawa Kei's anger surged.
She'd come to help her, but why were both her past and future selves so annoying?
Future Kei knew when to stop.
"As the future, I've already experienced it once."
"So I'm going to tell you this."
"Even if we give you our strength,"
"you still won't be able to defeat Darling."
"That outcome is inevitable."
"Heh heh heh."
Karuizawa Kei chuckled.
"Isn't that even better?"
"It means that meeting him and ending up together were destined."
Their conversation over, the three of them merged into one.
I'm almost tempted to go completely off the rails, but my writing skills aren't up to it. I've spent ages writing and revising, and I'm still not satisfied.
It's almost midnight now. To keep my no-missed-updates streak intact, I'll post this first.
I'll add more to this chapter tomorrow.
If you're interested, you can come back and refresh then.
Going off the rails!!!
Going off the rails!!!!
Chapter 33: 34, Kamuro Masumi Goes with the Flow
Saturday
The morning sun passed through the curtains, scattering specks of light across the floor.
Karuizawa Kei woke from her dream, yawned, and rubbed her sleepy eyes. She picked up the phone she'd left on the bedside table the night before.
Her lock screen was a photo she'd taken with Darling the day before yesterday.
In the photo, the boy was holding the girl, their faces pressed together.
He held up his left hand, and she held up her right toward the camera.
Their fingertips touched, forming a heart.
As she smiled foolishly, she remembered that things had gotten a little out of hand the night before.
By the end, she'd even shown signs of dehydration.
Luckily, there was still some heartwarming food left.
When Darling noticed something was wrong, he hurriedly cleaned her up and gave her water and food.
The problem was soon resolved.
As expected of a miracle. It could do more than remove scars and restore skin; it could cure ailments too.
Smelling the sweat on her, she frowned.
Darling was still sleeping beside her, so she quietly climbed out of bed.
In front of the full-length mirror in the bathroom, the girl who had just finished bathing looked like a lotus fresh from the water.
Her naturally fair, smooth skin glowed with vitality after being moistened by the water.
After drying herself off, she blow-dried her hair and put on some light makeup for staying in.
She nodded in satisfaction at the mirror.
A breeze brushed her cheek, and Tanaka Yukishin suddenly felt an itch in his ear.
Before you continue