With a thunderous BOOM, Hallel shot upward—straight into the rift in the sky.

  Light exploded like shattered glass across the heavens, turning black void into radiant gold and silver.

  Perihelion could only watch in awe as Hope herself waged war on Despair.

  Beams of pure light clashed with tendrils of shadow. Celestial hymns roared against deafening silence. The battlefield became a storm, a storm made not of wind and rain...but belief versus emptiness.

  The battle above was a whirlwind of light and dark, a clash of ideals older than time itself.

  Hallel and Azrael fought like titans, each blow carrying the weight of entire realms.

  Down on the ground, Bonnibel, Alice, and Perihelion could only watch while biting their nails and holding their breaths.

  Hallel was breathtaking, her every move deliberate, every attack a masterpiece of celestial fury.

  And Azrael...he was a force. Every strike of darkness was like a punch to the gut, a reminder of the void's relentless hunger.

  But even the void was starting to tire.

  Azrael fought on, determination in every movement…but even he was straining.

  Meanwhile, Hallel only seemed to grow stronger. The more she fought, the brighter her light burned—like a thousand stars all at once.

  Bonnibel gripped Alice's arm, eyes wide.

  "She almost has him," she breathed, awe in her voice. "She's actually winning—”

  Alice was speechless—but hope began to bubble in her chest. Could Hope really beat Despair?

  She looked up, watching as Hallel's light flared so bright it drowned out Azrael's shadow.

  The air hummed with anticipation...

  Until, with a final clash, the light shattered the darkness.

  For a heartbeat...silence fell.

  And then, echoing from within the heavens...

  Hallel's voice sang triumph:

  "Azrael. You are defeated.”

  The words hung in the air, resonating like a victory bell.

  Azrael was still for a moment—then, slowly, he began to...

  Smile.

  It wasn't a kind smile. There was no joy, just the cold, cruel satisfaction of the defeated.

  "You think it's over?" he asked, voice echoing like a prophecy. "You think...I'm defeated?"

  Hallel stiffened, her light flickering with wariness.

  "...Yes," she said firmly. "You've lost, Azrael—”

  She froze as a sound rose from Azrael...a deep, cold laugh.

  "Oh, Hallel," he chuckled darkly. "You’re so na?ve. You truly thought you could just wave a hand... and win?"

  Hallel's glow shivered, and for the first time, the slightest hint of doubt shone in her eyes.

  Azrael's grin only widened, seeing that look.

  "You always were the optimistic one," he mocked, voice dripping with scorn. "Too caught up in your...your hope to see the truth."

  Hallel stiffened again, but said nothing. Her gaze burned, defiant.

  "But let me tell you," Azrael continued, his eyes in their entirety, sclera and all, turning pitch black. "The Darkness...NEVER...dies."

  He then shot out a final, piercing blast at Hallel before dissipating into darkness. Alice's Twilight Fragment appeared in her hand in the nick of time, the blade launching itself towards the blast of Darkness, yanking Alice with it. The blade sliced at the Darkness, the mass exploding into nothingness on contact.

  The blast vanished, but Alice stayed in the air, floating. Her Twilight Fragment was pulsing with energy, light swirling around her like a halo.

  Bonnibel gasped. "Alice...!"

  Perihelion's eyes widened. "That blade...it knew what to do..."

  Alice slowly lowered back to the ground, breathless. The sword still glowed faintly in her grip.

  She looked down at it, and whispered:

  "...You saved me again?"

  As she looked at the Twilight Fragment, she noticed it looked quite different than back on Fairylyl. The design of the sword was not only a reflection of her own attire, but also that of this world; the glowing Enochian script engraved on the blade, the angel wings on the hilt, the dominant gold and white color scheme…

  The Fragment almost seemed....alive somehow, its energy thrumming in sync with Alice's own heartbeat.

  Hallel touched down next to her, her glow dimming slightly. "You...you wield a Fragment?" she asked, eyes wide with something close to awe.

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  Alice looked down, gripping the Fragment more tightly. "I...yes," she managed, a little breathless. "My...my Twilight Fragment, as they call it.”

  The name hung in the air, echoing with a sense of power.

  Hallel studied Alice closely, a glimmer of something in her eyes.

  "Do you know...what a Fragment is?" she asked softly.

  Alice blinked, surprised by the question. "Well...not exactly," she admitted. "I just know it's powerful, and that...it seems to do what I need when I need it most. Could you tell me exactly what exactly Twilight Fragments are? I've been trying to figure it out on my own, but it's hard to understand what exactly their purpose is…”

  Hallel smiled, her glow soft and inviting. "Twilight Fragments... Let's begin with what they actually are. You see, there was once a mythical blade called the Twilight Ultima, a sort of physical counterpart to the Void Realm that can unleash its powers. But after three individuals with differing ideals—one fighting for the Light, another for the Darkness, and the last one who was neutral—fought over it...the end result was the weapon splitting into 3 blades: Twilight Fragment L for Light, Twilight Fragment D for Darkness, and Twilight Fragment V for Void.”

  Alice's eyes widened with every word. She'd had no idea the Fragment had such...history.

  "Three blades," she echoed, gripping the Fragment tighter. "One for Light... Darkness... and..."

  "Void," Hallel finished. "Twilight Fragments are not simply powerful swords. They are three halves of a whole. Your Fragment...your Fragment has bonded with you.”

  Alice looked down at the Fragment, stunned.

  ...Bonded?

  "Bonded...with me?" She repeated, voice a whisper. "...How do you know that?"

  Hallel chuckled gently. "A Fragment bonds with whoever its bearer is—their personality, their beliefs... It's more than a weapon, Alice. It's a part of you.”

  Alice swallowed, staring down at the Fragment. So that was what it really was...

  She'd thought it was just a powerful blade, but hearing Hallel say that, hearing that it was bonded to her, and she to it...

  Alice felt her grip on the Fragment tighten, almost instinctively. "...Part of me," she repeated, voice soft. "...It's a part of me. So, another question... Thing is, this Fragment randomly appeared in my hand long ago after an accident involving a friend of mine's soul being split apart. Why did it choose me?”

  Hallel studied Alice closely for a silent moment.

  "The blades choose their wielders based on willpower and their affinity towards either of the forces, with Twilight Fragment L choosing those fighting for Light, Twilight Fragment D choosing those fighting for Darkness, and Twilight Fragment V choosing those fighting for either one," she explained, her gaze never breaking from Alice's.

  Alice nodded slowly, absorbing the information.

  So...willpower is the key for a Fragment to find its Wielder. And a Wielder is chosen based on alignment—Light, Dark, or Void.

  It suddenly felt like things were slotting into place. "You said they bond based on willpower and alignment," Alice murmured, lifting her gaze to meet Hallel's. "Then...wait, which Twilight Fragment is this one?"

  "The Twilight Fragment D," Hallel replied, noting the black and red inscriptions on the blade.

  "Huh?" Alice blinked, taking a second look at the sword. "But I don't fight for the Darkness, I actually fought against the Darkness many times throughout this journey. Am I missing something here?”

  Hallel chuckled, a glimmer in her eyes. "You misunderstand," she explained. "The Fragment does not choose based on your current alignment... It chooses based on your potential."

  Alice's eyes widened with surprise. "My...potential?”

  Hallel gave a small nod. "Yes," she said, voice soft but firm. "The Twilight Fragment D doesn't bind to those who are merely of the darkness…it binds to those who can understand it. Who have stared into its depths... and chosen to fight from within the shadows, not because they love them, but because they see them."

  Alice stood frozen, heart pounding.

  "...I've always fought against the dark," she whispered, almost to herself.

  "And yet," Hallel continued gently, "you don't reject it. You carry pain. Loss. Doubt. And still, you rise." She smiled slightly. "That is not Light's path alone... that is Dusk's path—the edge where light meets shadow."

  "So you're saying..." Alice hesitated, gripping the hilt tighter as if drawing strength from it, "...that I'm not fighting for Darkness... but I carry its weight? That I walk in-between?"

  "Precisely." Hallel’s glow shimmered with approval as she reached out and placed a warm hand on Alice’s shoulder.

  "You’re not Light’s champion...

  Nor Darkness’s pawn...

  You are the Balance."

  A beat of silence.

  Then—

  "...Me?" Alice breathed out, eyes wide with disbelief—and something deeper.

  "I’m… Balance?”

  Hallel smiled, soft and knowing. "Yes, Alice. You."

  She looked deep into Alice’s eyes like she could see every hidden fear, every quiet strength.

  "The Fragment didn’t choose you because you’re purely light… or fully dark. It chose you because you understand both. Because when faced with despair… you still choose to move forward."

  A pause.

  "And that?" Hallel whispered. "That is the truest form of balance."

  "But," Alice wondered, "If the Twilight Fragment V is the 'balance' one of the three, why didn't I get that one instead?”

  Hallel squeezed Alice’s shoulder gently. "Because, Alice," she said softly. "Twilight Fragment V is the Void Fragment. The Fragment for those who walk not only the balance of Light and Darkness, but also the balance between the Void itself, and the realms between. You, Alice, walk the boundary between these three forces, not on the edge of Light and Darkness alone, but also on the precipice between worlds. You are a bridge—a force to connect that which may seem unreachable."

  She paused, letting the words sink in.

  Alice stood there in quiet awe, the Fragment feeling strangely warm in her hand. "Bridge..." she repeated softly, tasting the word on her tongue.

  "I'm… a bridge," she murmured, looking down at the Fragment once more. "Between Light, Darkness, and the Void... I'm a bridge between all three."

  Hallel nodded, her eyes shining with pride. "Exactly. And that is why... you have Twilight Fragment D."

  Alice met her gaze, still awestruck. "I... I still have so... so many questions," she admitted, voice small.

  Hallel chuckled gently, understanding in her eyes. "I know this newfound knowledge can be overwhelming," she sympathized, giving Alice's shoulder one last squeeze. "But fear not. The Fragment has bonded with you for a reason. And its wisdom will guide you. Now, please, come. We must stop Denjiki, and we could use your aid.”

  Alice took a deep breath, nodding.

  "Okay."

  She looked up at Hallel, and a sense of determination and confidence seemed to ignite in her eyes. "I'll assist you," she said firmly, grip tightening on the Fragment. "But..."

  Hallel tilted her head, curious. "But?”

  Alice took a breath, steeling herself. "Can... can I ask just one more thing? Just to fully understand this?"

  Hallel smiled slightly. "Of course. Go ahead.”

  Alice looked down once more, gathering her thoughts.

  "...The Fragment… it chose me, right? It's bonded to me."

  Hallel nodded, confirming. "Indeed. As I said, the Fragment bonds to the Wielder who understands.”

  Alice nodded, still looking down at the Fragment. "...So, in a way," she echoed, "It's…a part of me."

  A moment of silence.

  Then…

  "In a way…" Alice continued slowly, looking up at Hallel, "I'm…a part of it, too?"

  Hallel's eyes widened, seeming to catch onto where Alice was heading. "I suppose you could put it like that, yes," she responded quietly.

  Alice stared into the glow of the blade, as if seeing something deeper within it.

  "...Then that means," she whispered, "It's not just using me..."

  She looked up, eyes sharp now. Clear.

  "We choose each other."

  Hallel smiled, a quiet warmth in her voice.

  "Exactly... Wielder and Fragment. Bound by will, heart, and purpose."

  She paused.

  "You’re not its tool."

  Her gaze locked with Alice’s.

  "You're its partner."

  And for the first time…

  Alice truly believed it.

  She stood a little taller. The Fragment pulsed—not just in her hand, but in her chest, like a second heartbeat.

  Not a weapon.

  Not just power.

  But...a partner.

  Alice looked at Hallel and gave a small nod—firm, determined.

  "Then let's go," she said. "Denjiki’s waiting."

  And together—with light guiding them and twilight at their side—they stepped forward...

  Ready to end it.