He knew it was a setup. But Akuto had come anyway, simply because he wanted to fight.
Marine also knew it was a setup. But he’d come because he needed to remain true to the things he believed in.
The bait was the Jeweled Branch. The One had gone ahead and left it there. A golden branch, shining on top of an ordinary rock on top of the tallest mountain in the Empire, as if it had grown there naturally. Akuto and Marine were on either side of it, facing off. Both were close enough that they could grab it if they wanted.
“So I was right,” Akuto said with a sigh.
“I certainly didn’t expect him to just drop the Jeweled Branch here, and then just run.”
Marine’s voice was a low sigh, as well.
“He even made sure we’d get here at the same time.”
“But... what shall we do, then? I plan on using this to stop the asteroid,” Marine said, softly but in a voice filled with resolve.
“Me too,” Akuto answered.
“Then our immediate objectives are the same. I don’t suppose you can just let me handle this, then?”
“I’m afraid I have to say the same thing to you. You’re not planning on handing it over when you’re done with it, are you?”
Akuto grinned. Marine smiled back.
“Of course not. This treasure is important to my people. I can’t give it to anyone.”
“Then that leaves us one option, doesn’t it?”
“...But I’d like to avoid that as much as possible.”
“Why?”
“Because what we’re doing is a war in its own right. You can see all those cameras, can’t you?”
Marine gestured around them. He was right. The sky was filled with automata machines.
“So depending on the result of our battle, the war could get worse, huh? True. That’s not what I want,” Akuto, despite his words, wasn’t agreeing with Marine. “But I’d still like to resolve this myself.”
“Is that because you lost someone you care about? I sympathize. But I don’t think taking that out on me is an appropriate answer.”
Despite everything, Marine refused to fight. Akuto shook his head.
“That’s not it. It’s the same as the way you carry your people’s burdens.”
“I see. You’re right. I’m only being stubborn for the sake of my people. In the end, I could never be anything greater than that.” Marine laughed self-derisively.
Then his smile vanished from his face, and he took a step toward the Jeweled Branch. Akuto followed after.
“...Hah!” Marine let out a sharp breath.
“...Ha!” Akuto howled.
They both threw a punch at the same time. There was a violent sound of clashing flesh.
Marine’s left hand deflected Akuto’s right fist, and Akuto’s left elbow knocked away Marine’s own punch.
“Tch...” Akuto dropped a step back and put a hand up to his elbow. Marine must’ve taken some damage too, because he dropped back and wrapped his left fingers around his right hand. For now, they seemed evenly matched.
“Have you ever actually wondered what the Faceless Power is?” Akuto suddenly asked.
Marine frowned.
“You’re asking this now, after everything that’s happened?”
Akuto’s face was contorted with guilt.
“I... I know I was wrong about something. The One dropped the Jeweled Branch and fled. Something doesn’t make sense.”
“That’s... quite true. With my people watching, I couldn’t just leave it and chase him, but...”
“Yeah. I think he doesn’t need the Jeweled Branch anymore,” Akuto nodded.
Marine smirked.
“I see... I should’ve noticed earlier. The One’s goal was to summon the asteroid. He used the Jeweled Branch to do that.”
“Probably, yeah. That’s why I want you to answer me. What is the Faceless Power?”
Marine answered Akuto’s question.
“That’s something I’ve thought a lot about. It’s a manifestation of the people’s will.”
“That much is clear. But doesn’t that fail to explain some things?”
“Like what?”
“Your Faceless Power seems to me like it’s controlling mana to manifest energy...”
“Correct. That’s how I was taught to use it. Our culture descends from a mana-based civilization, after all.”
“But the power that your people used to destroy the Empire seemed like something different...”
“Hmm...” Marine thought for a moment.
“So what if there were two Faceless Powers...?” Akuto suggested. Marine froze for a moment.
“Yes, that would make sense... One would be the power that awakened due to the Jeweled Branch, and the other would be the one sealed in the capsule in the Marlay village... The one I’m using would be the latter.”
“So I’ll ask again. Why did The One give us back the Jeweled Branch?”
Akuto continued talking, but even as he did so, he readied himself for a fight again. Marine instinctively prepared himself as well. But he didn’t seem to understand why Akuto wanted to fight.
“He wanted to drop the asteroid on the planet, right? But I don’t understand why this is so important to you. If the Jeweled Branch allows us to control the same Faceless Power as the Republic, then we can deal with the asteroid.”
“That’s right. But there’s one thing you don’t understand...!”
“What?” Marine frowned.
“The Jeweled Branch can’t control your people’s will!” Akuto shouted, and threw a punch. Marine blocked with his arms, but was blown backward.
“Gah...! S-So that’s it... The Jeweled Branch can release the Faceless Power, but it can’t control it...” Marine whispered bitterly, but then shook his head. “...No! But even if that’s the case, my people have mastered the Faceless Power!”
Marine charged at Akuto, and punched. Akuto blocked, and now he was the one blown backward.
“Gah...! That arrogance is the mistake you’re making! The One knew that what you’re saying is impossible!”
Akuto charged again, and attacked once more. Marine punched back at the same time. Their fists collided, giving off an incredible blast of light and sound
“Impossible...?”
“Yeah. I think it’s impossible, too.”
Marine and Akuto glared at one another as they fought.
“What do you mean?”
“The Faceless Power can’t just belong to the Republic. It must reflect the will of all of humanity. Both you and Keena were able to use the Jeweled Branch. And you were both originally just humans!”
Both Akuto and Marine grinned at the same time.
“I was a fool. I should’ve realized.”
“You noticed because we talked about it. Talking is important.”
“So are you telling me we need to take each other in our arms and pray for world peace?”
“That might work... But you know what your answer is, right?”
The two of them nodded at one another. In the next moment Marine’s fist flew toward Akuto.
“For now, we have to fight!”
Akuto blocked the punch with his forehead. A dull impact echoed throughout the mountain. Akuto’s forehead was bleeding.
“I’m saying the winner needs to show mercy to the loser!”
He hit back. Marine couldn’t dodge in time, and took a punch to the cheek. The impact twisted his neck, and he had to stop himself from being blown away. He forcibly held his ground, before punching Akuto’s own cheek.
“In the end... it’s the only thing we can do!”
The blow hit home. Akuto gritted his teeth, refusing to let his neck twist, his gaze unwavering.
“But you and I both know... in the end, the will of mankind will long for destruction!”
Now Akuto threw a left at Marine.
“Yes... It’s likely just a question of where the asteroid falls!”
Marine threw a left of his own.
Their fists struck each other in the face simultaneously. There was the sound of creaking bone. Sprays of blood. Shattered teeth. The shockwave blew through their bodies and traveled out the back of their heads. For a moment, they both froze.
“Hah... there’s no point just beating each other up like this, but it still hurts.”
“We’re both just being stubborn. If you’ll give it to me, I won’t hurt you anymore...” Marine said, tauntingly. Akuto laughed.
“You’re joking. Let’s see this through to the end.” As he spoke, he healed his wounds with mana. Marine did the same thing. The “end” Akuto spoke of wouldn’t come until one of them succumbed to exhaustion.
Akuto took a step forward.
Marine took a step forward.
Their heavy strides left craters in the stone of the mountaintop.
The two of them faced off, less than a meter apart.
“Let’s do it, then...”
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
It was impossible to tell who moved first. But their fists flashed out at incredible speed, striking each other in the head again and again.