"Let's see if you strength match your arrogance?" Jokert said as he flew toward Fyn at near-light speed.
"Hmm," Fyn responded, changing her outfit into a formal suit and switching his mace for a rapier.
"Oh my~ I didn't know you were that polite," Jokert smirked, stopping in front of Fyn. His own clothes had transformed into an elegant dress.
"Hmm," Fyn muttered as she knelt and took Jokert's hand.
"My~ you flatter me..." Jokert whispered, then quickly dodged a sudden thrust from the rapier aimed at his left cheek.
Fyn stood and extended her hand, inviting Jokert to dance.
"I'm afraid I must decline, kind sir," Jokert said before slashing downward at Fyn. Fyn blocked the attack smoothly.
"Hmm... hmm," Fyn said, shifting into a fencing stance.
"Alright then..." Jokert summoned his own weapon—a sabre—and mirrored the stance.
"Hah!" Jokert was the first to lunge, thrusting his sabre.
"Hmm." Fyn parried and counterattacked.
"Shit!" Jokert narrowly dodged, though a shallow cut marked his forearm. "Man, that was close..." he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Fyn smirked.
"That's hurtful, you know," Jokert said while wrapping the non-fatal wound with a bandage.
"Hmm?" Fyn asked, calmly wiping blood from her rapier.
"This? Heh... I just want to look cool while beating you," Jokert grinned as he finished tying the bandage.
---
(Back to Haruka – Not in POV)
"Damn it... What was I thinking? I should've forced her to leave," Haruka muttered, finishing the molding of his makeshift stone leg. "Kyouko... I'm sorry. I failed to protect your daughter."
A soft, eerie chuckle echoed behind him.
"...What do you want?" Haruka asked, strapping the stone leg to his thigh and testing his balance with a few jumps.
"Oh, nothing much. Just here to take the girl's soul," a shadowy figure emerged in front of him, faceless and flickering with static.
"Still creepy... as always," Haruka muttered, annoyed.
"That's rude, you know," the figure replied, voice distorted.
"You're not authorized to take her soul, #$@#€€£," Haruka said, kicking at the figure with the stone leg.
"You're right... but I can force it," #$@#€¥ said smugly as Haruka's leg passed through it harmlessly.
"Tch... I figured something like this would happen. That's why I took precautions," Haruka said, retracting his leg.
"Hahaha... now I see why he hates you," the entity chuckled darkly as it began to fade.
"Tell him I send my regards. And by 'regards,' I mean: Fuck you," Haruka said coldly as the shadow finally vanished.
"...At least I managed to protect her soul. Who am I kidding... I failed," Haruka said, lowering his gaze.
"You know... I don't blame you, Haruka," a deep, calm voice spoke from behind.
"Kyouko?" Haruka turned around instantly.
"Yo." A man in his 40s appeared out of thin air, standing 5'11", wearing a simple kimono and sandals. His appearance was average, but his presence felt immense.
"Why are you here?" Haruka asked, turning back to reinforce the stone leg with a bandage.
"To tell you that I don't blame you for my daughter's death. It's that simple," Kyouko said, walking over as Haruka tightened the bandage.
"Go... take your daughter with you," Haruka said, jumping lightly to test the leg.
"...Don't overwork your soul, alright?" Kyouko said gently, approaching Kohaku's lifeless body. He reached down and extracted a glowing blue orb—her soul.
"...I can't promise that," Haruka muttered before dashing off toward Jokert and Fyn.
"Sigh... Let's just hope nothing worse happens," Kyouko said quietly as he began to fade away.
---
(Back to Jokert and Fyn)
"Hmm," Fyn said as she dismissed her rapier and summoned a massive black hammer.
"Isn't that a little too big?" Jokert commented, shifting into a combat stance.
"That's what she said," Haruka said as he appeared beside them, pulling a large black longsword from his inventory.
(Note: The sword is roughly the length of Haruka's arm—so not absurdly long.)
"Oh~ looks like my role here is over," Jokert said, tossing his sabre away casually.
"Hmm?" Fyn tilted her head, readying the hammer to strike.
"Skill:Heaven's Will," Haruka chanted. The surroundings began to glow with radiant light as Jokert's body started fading.
"Goodbye, Fyn. I truly hope we meet again... so I can end you properly...