| Zamasu VS Master Xehanort | |
|---|---|
| |
| Season | 6 |
| Overall Episode | 78 |
| Season Episode | 13 (Bonus Episode) |
| Air date | December 6th, 2022 |
| Written by | Shadow7615 |
| Episode guide | |
| Previous Dracula vs. Heaven Ascension DIO (Season 6 Finale) |
Next Mitsuru Kirijo vs. Erza Scarlet (Season 7 Premiere) |
| “ | Dragon Ball VS Kingdom Hearts! These two will purge the world of what stands in the way of an ideal one. But which of these two will finally run out of time? | „ |
Zamasu vs. Master Xehanort is the 78th episode and Season 6 Bonus Episode of DEATH BATTLE! by Shadow7615, featuring Future Zamasu from the Dragon Ball series and Master Xehanort from the Kingdom Hearts series in a battle between ambitious time-travelling antagonists.
Interlude[]
Wiz: The world is many things, but perfect isn't one of them. A perfect world may seem idealistic, but making one's ideal world into reality creates as many problems as it solves.
Boomstick: But that won't stop people from trying to change the world as they see fit, like these two.
Wiz: Zamasu, the mortal-eradicating Supreme Kai Apprentice.
Boomstick: And Master Xehanort, the darkness-commanding Keyblade Master.
Wiz: And it's our job to analyze their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win... a Death Battle.
Zamasu[]
Wiz: When we think about the gods that watch over and protect us, we never quite think about what their lives are like. When you live for centuries into millennia, what thoughts would you have? What observations would you most reflect on? How would you view those whose entire lifespans are but a brief moment by comparison?
Boomstick: Well, if you're a Kai person, no doubt you have some thoughts on the mortal races in the universe. Some have stronger feelings than others. In Universe 10, the North Kai, Zamasu, observed the nature of mortal life and concluded that they ruined the beauty that was creation. But he had to keep up appearances. So everyone who knew him saw a fighting prodigy that would get pretty far in life.
Wiz: So too did the current Supreme Kai, Gowasu, who chose Zamasu to succeed him. During his Supreme Kai training, Zamasu shared his views with Gowasu, but they never saw eye to eye. With no one on his side, Zamasu knew he had to go at this alone. But everything changed when Goku showed up at his doorstep. But this wasn't Goku, it was Zamasu from an alternate timeline who had taken his body. This was Goku Black.
Boomstick: Turns out this Zamasu killed his Gowasu, gathered the Super Dragon Balls, swapped bodies with Goku and started time-travelling to find the best way to wreak havoc on the universe. Future Zammy's timeline was perfect, with Universe 7's Supreme Kai dead, which also meant Beerus was dead, there weren't any gods to stand in their way. So Zamasu and Goku Black waged war on mortal existence.
Wiz: Although we aren't focusing on Goku Black, Zamasu is still incredibly powerful. As a "Kai person", Zamasu naturally possesses godly power. Though his fighting talent set him apart from his fellow Kais. Thanks to his formidable power, Zamasu has learned several techniques, like God Splitter, a ball-shaped Ki blast. There's his infamous God Split Cut, the technique used to kill Gowasu. But, Zamasu's genius goes even further.
Boomstick: Heavenly Arrow combines God Splitter and God Split Cut, turning them into rapid-fire projectiles. Zamasu can tap into his inner Darth Vader and use telekinesis to choke the hell out of anyone dumb enough to oppose him. And he can telekinetically manipulate objects around him with Psycho Javelin. Heck, Zamasu can just create explosions right at your feet. Boom! Surprise, Ningen!
Wiz: Befitting one of his position, Zamasu can fly and heal others. Though everything changed once Zamasu and Goku Black gathered the Super Dragon Balls. Their wish made Zamasu's body completely indestructible, aka, he achieved immortality. With it, Zamasu turned himself into a human shield... or a "Kai person" shield. Which he has used to great effect in his conquest alongside Goku Black. Withstanding practically any attack thrown at him.
Boomstick: He also gained some pretty strong regeneration. Like when he completely walked off Trunks' Final Flash like it was nothing. Goku Black's Pink Kamehameha also didn't put Zamasu down. Look, I know it's called Black Kamehameha, but look at that attack and tell me I'm wrong! Goku Black is Pink! Black Kamehameha is Pink! Ugh... this is so frustrating. Just choose a color, goddamn it!
Wiz: Ahem. Goku once used a Kamehameha on Zamasu that completely blew his head off. But he was fine. While Zamasu was already a great fighter, his immortality fundamentally changed how he fights. When you're in a multiverse full of beings that use energy attacks, being able to shrug them off makes you far more dangerous than most. Combine this with the position of Supreme Kai, and Zamasu is just as dangerous as his counterpart.
Boomstick: Oh yeah, that Potara earring isn't just for show, it's what allows Zamasu to utilize the full potential of the Supreme Kai. A nice present from Goku Black. Kinda like buying a gift for yourself. And with all this power, it's no wonder Zamasu and Goku Black were able to annihilate all of the gods in that timeline. Though Zamasu was more of a supporting player since Goku Black had to strengthen his body.
Wiz: Even when things did get more complicated, Zamasu never backed down. When one of the last known survivors, Trunks, time travelled back into the past, that set Zamasu's plans on a collision course with some of the greatest warriors known to exist, the Saiyans. But these weren't just simple Saiyans, these were Super Saiyan Gods, the very pinnacle of power that Zamasu feared and took advantage of to become Goku Black in the first place.
Boomstick: Zamasu's fighting talent came in handy as he battled Super Saiyan Blue Goku, Super Saiyan Blue Vegeta, and Super Saiyan 2 Trunks. Granted, he was fighting with Goku Black, but the fact he could hold his ground is nothing short of impressive. Especially since these guys were on a level rivalling the God of Destruction, Beerus. Whose battle with Goku threatened to annihilate all of Universe 7.
Wiz: And this was before Goku unlocked Super Saiyan Blue, a transformation Akira Toriyama has directly compared to the original Super Saiyan. Furthermore, Goku and those comparable to him have achieved speeds massively faster than light. So Zamasu being able to contend with these powerful Saiyans is nothing to scoff at. Though even Zamasu needed a backup plan when things went wrong.
Boomstick: His solution? Fuse with Goku Black and become an even stronger god, one that even Super Saiyan Blue Vegito would have a hard time trying to take down. But it wasn't long before those Saiyans figured out a way to win. Trunks, getting pretty damn pissed off with people ruining his timeline, tore Zamasu a new one by cutting him in half with the Sword of Hope. Damn, that's one way to go. Or is it?
Wiz: Somehow... Somehow Zamasu returned. But not as his divine self, but as the omnipresent Infinite Zamasu. At this level, Zamasu was a threat to the entire multiverse. However, despite having gained such a ludicrous level of power, he wasn't unstoppable, especially once Goku pushed the Zeno Button. The Omni-King himself arrived and promptly erased Zamasu, as well as this timeline, from existence, leaving nothing behind.
Boomstick: Zamasu may have been one ambitious son of a bitch, but he didn't quite have all the pieces needed to win a 5D chess game. For starters, Zammy could never have achieved any of this on his own, he needed Goku Black. Furthermore, unlike Goku Black and all the other Saiyans they fought, Zamasu had no way of keeping up with their crazy power increases. His immortality is what kept him alive.
Wiz: But his immortality also diluted his fighting style. Because he never has to worry about taking damage, he isn't prepared for when someone stronger makes a mockery of him, like when Goku, Vegeta and Trunks, and even Goku Black, all got stronger thanks to their Saiyan biology. He only ended up surviving these encounters thanks to his immortality. But just because he's immortal, doesn't make him untouchable.
Boomstick: Like when Trunks and Mai sealed his ass in the Evil Containment Wave. He only busted outta there because they weren't able to keep a lid on it. Once he escaped, Zamasu knew he just dodged a bullet. Though the irony of it all was never lost on Zamasu. He realized this when they needed Goku's body, a mortal body, to ensure the destruction of all mortal life.
Wiz: However, Zamasu never knew the extent of how much that irony would apply to him. In his conquest of mortal genocide, he vowed to eradicate all mortal life. Never once thinking about what it would be like to be in their position. And he'd get to experience that first hand when Goku pushed the Zeno button, summoning the Omni-King himself. Just like the mortals he annihilated, Zamasu was helpless against Zeno.
Boomstick: And just like how Zammy wiped out mortals for an ideal existence, Zeno erased Zamasu from existence, ending a terrible world. But, even after Zammy was gone, the impact of his ambition never faded. Zamasu's was a legacy forever scarred into the minds of those who survived. Everyone, both mortal and divine, hoped that there would never be someone like Zamasu ever again.
Zamasu: A world of undisturbed beauty. Mortals are a foolish and ugly mistake that stain the majesty of the cosmos. By eliminating all mortal creatures we can restore its original splendor and reclaim this perfect creation.
Master Xehanort[]
Boomstick: Long ago, an epic war was fought. Everyone sought the power of Kingdom Hearts. But the battle was so intense that the darkness ultimately prevailed, and the light expired. The world as we knew it was lost. While the light in children's hearts did bring things back to normal, what was once just a single world had now fractured into multiple, one of each your favourite Disney movies!
Wiz: The Keyblade War became the stuff of legend, its tale told for generations. One day, the ancient battle would entice the curiosity of a Keyblade wielder named Xehanort. Unlike his peers, Xehanort did not see the world as so black and white. Darkness had long been considered evil and unnecessary, not while everyone lives in a world of light. In fact, light and darkness were completely out of balance, which Xehanort didn't approve of.
Boomstick: Xehanort did what no one would even dare to do, and actively embraced his darkness, proving that everyone's fear of it was misplaced. From there, Xehanort knew the only way he could correct this error was to summon Kingdom Hearts. And so Xehanort became a Kingdom Hearts lore expert, learning everything he could. The Keyblade War, the χ-blade, Kingdom Hearts, all of it.
Wiz: By his elderly years, Xehanort had a wealth of knowledge on the subject, and put his ambitions into motion. Though not through his decades of experience or mastery of Keyblade abilities, but his sheer cunning. Xehanort manipulated the students of his closest friend, Eraqus, into ensuring his plans would succeed. And he almost won it all on his very first attempt but was soundly defeated by a variable he hadn't accounted for.
Boomstick: But it merely delayed Xehanort's ambitions. For a time, he split himself into Ansem and Xemnas. But once those two got defeated, Xehanort was back. Now it was inevitable that Xehanort would orchestrate the Second Keyblade War. As one of the oldest Keyblade Masters around, Xehanort has refined himself into one of the most skilled and dangerous individuals in all of Kingdom Hearts.
Wiz: Xehanort's Keyblade, No Name, has been around since even before the first Keyblade War, passed down for generations. Combined with his decades of research into all things related to the Keyblade War, Xehanort has taken No Name's effectiveness to great heights. While Keyblades have basic capabilities like sealing the "worlds' heart" and being bound to its wielder no matter what the situation, Xehanort has learned much, much more.
Boomstick: He's learned almost every magic you can think of. He can summon pillars of fire, freeze you solid, cast thunderbolts from above, manipulate the earth around him, kick up whirlwinds he can bend to his will. Oh yeah, he can also teleport. He can pretty much do any classic Final Fantasy spell you can think of. Xehanort is also an expert of telekinesis, able to direct and control hundreds of Keyblades at once.
Wiz: He can also use telepathy to commune with others. But, should things get tough, Xehanort can bust out one of his strongest spells, Stopza, freezing time for a while within his general vicinity. In terms of his non-magical powers, Xehanort's finesse with the Keyblade has allowed him to safely manipulate hearts. He can forcibly remove all the darkness from someone's heart. On top of that, he can also remove people's hearts from their bodies.
Boomstick: That's right, Xehanort can make all your dark versions of characters dreams come true. Though Keyblades in general are pretty damn powerful. Keyblades are the perfect counter to the Heartless, who will always come back despite their destruction, it takes a Keyblade to truly put them down. Nobodies are a bit similar, they're usually intangible, except a Keyblade can damage them no problem.
Wiz: With this vast array at his disposal, Xehanort set in motion every single piece in his master plan to start the Second Keyblade War, form the χ-blade, and summon Kingdom Hearts. He formed the real Organization XIII, all of them bearing his heart, making it impossible for his plans to fail. And eventually, of course, he did form the χ-blade. As the greatest and most powerful Keyblade in history, it put Xehanort into a league of his own.
Boomstick: He played his epic 4D chess game like a genuine master. With the χ-blade, Xehanort can effortlessly command the light, as Kingdom Hearts is the source of light for every world. Xehanort can also drain the light out of you, like he did to Sora, forcing him to fight in his Rage Form. With the full might of Kingdom Hearts at his disposal, Xehanort was able to trigger a complete reset of all existence.
Wiz: A feat that would encapsulate the entire Kingdom Hearts multiverse. While the worlds in Kingdom Hearts are separate from each other, they don't all share the same cosmology. In the Deep Space world, the United Galactic Federation is stated as overseers of the entire universe. Xehanort documented in his reports that all the worlds he travelled to remained unaware of one another, further supporting the idea of a multiverse.
Boomstick: As one of the greatest Keyblade Masters of all time, Xehanort would be comparable to several of his fellow Keyblade wielders, like Roxas, whose heart travelled from Radiant Garden to the Keyblade Graveyard within 5 seconds. This feat comes out to over 170 million times faster than light. Though with the full might of the χ-blade and Kingdom Hearts, Xehanort is probably even faster than that.
Wiz: Xehanort can battle physically stronger Keyblade wielders like Terra. Even with the χ-blade and Kingdom Hearts, Xehanort withstood the onslaught of Rage Form Sora, who attacks far more viciously than Sora does naturally. Xehanort can conceptually annihilate his foes, such as when he destroyed Kairi's physical body and left her as a disembodied heart whose fragments were scattered.
Boomstick: While Xehanort definitely sounds like one crazy old man to take down, he isn't all-powerful, even with the χ-blade and Kingdom Hearts. The power of friendship overcame Xehanort and spelt his final defeat. Also, due to his age, Xehanort relies far more on his magical power and cunning to achieve his goals. After all, that's why Xehanort wanted to take over Terra's body in the first place.
Wiz: Similarly, Xehanort only directly fought when he knew he would be able to forge the χ-blade or summon Kingdom Hearts. Despite having twelve other beings bearing his heart, he didn't exactly care about some of them, leading to betrayal from some of his allies. Though nothing directly prevented him from succeeding. Also, while Xehanort can time travel, he must give up his body in order to do so. He can't quite break all the rules.
Boomstick: Though Xehanort isn't quite the arrogant old fart who ignores everything he doesn't have time to care about. He admitted that he absolutely botched his original attempt to forge the χ-blade and summon Kingdom Hearts. Which led to a far more calculated effort the second time around. Although he got damn close to succeeding, Sora, Donald and Goofy were able to finally defeat him.
Wiz: And with a decisive checkmate from Eraqus, Xehanort finally accepted his defeat. Handing over the χ-blade to Sora, who finally closed Kingdom Hearts and brought an end to the Second Keyblade War. With his closest friend there beside him, Xehanort departed for the afterlife. At last, the persistent presence of Xehanort's ambition finally faded.
Boomstick: Though Xehanort was gone, his impact on everything was impossible to forget. Perhaps ironically, some of the strongest friendships in all of Kingdom Hearts wouldn't have been possible if not for Xehanort. Think about that.
Wiz: While Xehanort's life is one almost wholly defined by darkness, in the end, there was one bright spot that prevailed through it all.
Master Xehanort: The light, the symbol of the World's hope, was devoured by shadow. Leaving nothing but ruin... An utter failure. But, the first light—the light of Kingdom Hearts—it can give us a new start. An empty World, pure and bright...
DEATH BATTLE![]
There is one color painted across the sky, one destiny that has befallen this land. A palette of desaturated orange stained this world. Devoid of life, there was nothing of value to be found. All that remained were the abandoned weapons of a devastating conflict. Though mountains and canyons formed the distant landscape, the center of it all was this field torn asunder from war. There was not a soul to be found, only the remnants of what has been lost, and the scars of that loss etched into the earth itself.
Although none resided here, it was not without those who would pass by and observe this persistent reminder of the past. And one day, two individuals suddenly appeared in this world, floating in the sky above. They observed what lay below them, and found themselves disappointed to see what had transpired here and that it remained like this for generations. "Even in this world, mortals have not transcended such primitive conflict." one of the beings spoke.
"Then we shall deliver divine justice upon them. Remove the stain and restore this once great majesty!" the other responded in kind. The two continued speaking to one another, deciding on their next course of action. Shortly afterwards, one of them departed. Headed out in search of any life forms. Meanwhile, the other remained. Slowly descending to the ground, the being observed their surroundings with greater scrutiny. Upon landing, the being was green-skinned, with white hair, and sporting a grey attire with purple and blue garments.
This was Zamasu. The Supreme Kai in-training roamed the Keyblade Graveyard, observing it. Noting that this was yet another example of mortals failing to overcome such trivial matters. Many weapons were gathered here, though they left suitable room for Zamasu to walk through safely. As if this place was some kind of memorial. As Zamasu had surmised earlier, there was nobody to be found here. The image had been depicted with precision that all this place represented was death, and the errors of the past. Such a place profoundly left Zamasu in a state of contempt, his belief, that mortals couldn't raise themselves out of such hostility, was validated by this eerie place.
Some dust kicked up off the ground, the wind carrying it across the terrain. Though it seemed like it was just a natural occurrence, it was not. Without warning, the sound of most distant footsteps rang in Zamasu's ears. He turned his head to see whoever it was heading toward him. He momentarily thought it was his counterpart returning from reconnaissance. Though as the dust had kicked up, a clear image couldn't be formed.
Instead, it was just the figure's shadow. Though as the being got closer, the footsteps louder, and the dust less erratic, it was soon clear as day. It was an old man, who walked with his hands behind his back, and headed in Zamasu's direction. Seeing that it was just an old man, Zamasu contemplated eradicating this mortal at that very moment. But the old man did not seem to pose much of a threat. So Zamasu stood there and allowed the old man to get closer.
As the old man arrived within a reasonable distance, he stopped. Zamasu's attention was fully focused on him. "Indeed, a great battle was once fought on this now barren soil." the old man spoke to Zamasu as if telling a folktale. The old man did not seem like such a threat. What Zamasu didn't know, was that he was speaking to Master Xehanort, the Keyblade Master with his eyes set on a particular goal.
"Many generations have passed, and we still don't know the secrets of this destructive conflict". Xehanort explained, looking at their surroundings. Though in his observations, Zamasu unexpectedly chimed in. "There is nothing to gain from looking at such a waste of mortal life". Zamasu chimed in, disagreeing with Xehanort's view on the conflict. But, despite not sharing their views, Xehanort continued, as he had much more to share.
"On the contrary, those who lay down their lives in search of answers bring forth that which mightn't have been discovered otherwise. This place has been etched into the pages of fate forever!" Xehanort continued. But his inquisitive curiosity only further annoyed Zamasu. "And what do you hope it accomplishes? Learning something about mortals that is already known? I have seen mortals perish without even the slightest regard for the prosperity they so easily throw away." Zamasu reprimanded Xehanort for being so invested in something as insignificant as learning what happened in a war.
"You see, those who fought to their bitter ends did not throw their lives away in a fruitless endeavour. It was all in search of ultimate power." Xehanort explained further. Zamasu did not share in this belief, ultimate power was something he had been achieved, and removed from the picture, it was not precious or sacred to him. "And soon, that power will belong to me" a chill surged through Zamasu's body, as he could truly sense that Xehanort was sincere in his claim.
Any faith Zamasu had in Xehanort being a sensible mortal had vanished, he too had now become just another mortal planning to waste his life and ruin the prosperity of the universe. "Throwing away your life is a futile gesture. But do not worry, mortal. I shall ensure that your eradication comes swiftly. Your existence will help ensure a perfect world that will never be tainted." Zamasu proclaimed his intentions, which Xehanort was not fazed by.
He simply acknowledged it and continued. "Soon, the secrets to this fated conflict will be unlocked, and I will see what awaits us!" Xehanort's eagerness began to rise, which only irritated Zamasu further. "Prepare to face your judgment, mortal. The divine justice of the gods shall smite you from this world." Zamasu ascended into the sky, poised to deliver a strike from the heavens above. "Oh? So that's how it is, is it? Brave words, to be sure." Xehanort added as he too readied himself for combat.
FIGHT!
(Cue Fusion Zamasu Active Skill Theme - Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle)
Putting distance between himself and Xehanort, Zamasu launched Heavenly Arrow toward the Keyblade Master, who seemed to stand there without a thought. Zamasu then hit the ground and immediately fell over. He was confused, he had not landed at all. As Zamasu got back up and composed himself, he saw a pillar, composed of the very earth beneath their feet, rise and tower over him. At the top of it, Xehanort smiled with a grin most devilish. Looking around, Zamasu collected what information he could.
He concluded that the very earth that was below him had been raised in order to catch him off guard. As he saw Xehanort quite literally looking down at him, Zamasu's anger grew, and he promptly fired Heavenly Arrow once again. Though this time, Xehanort did not shift the earth around. Instead, Xehanort gestured his arm, almost curling his fingers. He outstretched his arm to the risen earth Zamasu stood on.
The very earth beneath Zamasu's feet began to shake violently, it would momentarily erupt. Knowing that Xehanort was manipulating the very fabric they stood upon, Zamasu jumped off his raised platform moments before it erupted. He flew directly toward Xehanort, prepared to leave a permanent injury in this troublesome mortal. "You impudent mortal." Zamasu's bitterness had become more transparent than glass.
But as Zamasu approached Xehanort's pillar, he noticed the mortal was not there. Immediately, Zamasu looked around. Desperate to locate him. But as Zamasu took in his surroundings from this higher vantage point, he saw that more of the earth had been raised, and Xehanort was standing at the center of a much wider extrusion of the earth. Using his speed, Zamasu approached a lot quicker this time. The speed was immense and caught Xehanort off guard.
While Zamasu could have ended this mortal at that moment, killing him so quickly would not adequately put Xehanort in his place. Instead, Zamasu grabbed Xehanort by the collar of his attire, lifting him off the ground. The scowl on Zamasu's face was nothing short of intimidating, but Xehanort was unexpectedly calm for someone close to death's door. "Those who defy the gods must be punished. But fear not, for in my new paradise, you will never come into existence."
Zamasu's other hand began to glow with a powerful purple aura, he prepared the God Split Cut. He was moments from prying his hand into Xehanort's body, but at that moment, Zamasu felt something pierce through his body. Without uttering a word, Xehanort summoned his Keyblade, No Name, and drove it through Zamasu's body. Xehanort looked at the Kai's expression of shock and pain. Xehanort tapped into his vast magical power and grabbed Zamasu with his hand.
At that moment, ice latched onto Zamasu's body where Xehanort's hand made contact with him. Xehanort pried his Keyblade from Zamasu's body and stood back as the Kai struggled to deal with the ice literally running a chill through his body. The ice began to take hold, as some of Zamasu's limbs were suspended in animation. Xehanort watched on, seeing if this would be enough to end his foe's life. To which he secretly hoped it wasn't.
Activating his God Split Cut, Zamasu's ki grew, shattering the ice that coated his hand. Thereafter, Zamasu moved the rest of his limbs and body parts, casting off all the ice. Xehanort smiled, his grin rising with the utmost speed. Though Zamasu was not sharing in it. Xehanort again aimed his Keyblade in Zamasu's direction, using it as a conduit to cast his magic. Xehanort cast Firaga, the volley of burning projectiles Zamasu.
Zamasu used Heavenly Arrow, throwing his Ki blasts to intersect with Xehanort's flaming strikes, the two attacks collided and came to an impasse, cancelling each other out. Seeing that Xehanort's weapon was acting as a means for him to channel his magical power, Zamasu knew what he had to do. Xehanort prepared to use another magic spell on Zamasu, but as he gripped his Keyblade, he felt the vacant grip of his hands.
Immediately, Xehanort was surprised. By fully clenching his fist did he realize he no longer held his Keyblade in hand. Instead, he looked up to Zamasu, who used his blinding speed to swipe the Keyblade from Xehanort's hand. With the weapon now in his position, Zamasu could feel the success he had just achieved, he revelled it and looked down at Xehanort, who was now defenses, and unarmed. He hadn't gotten the joy of seeing a mortal be separated from their tools.
Inspecting No Name, Zamasu made some observations regarding the weapon. "Only a mortal could conceive something as barbaric as a sword. Something like this is proof mortals are only interested in destroying themselves." Zamasu remarked, firmly holding the Keyblade in his hand. He observed near the tip of the Keyblade and noticed the Gazing Eye at its end. The weapon reeked of mortal filth, and Zamasu only held onto it to ensure Xehanort couldn't use it against him.
"To see it as just a weapon proves only how blind you are." Xehanort retorted as he motioned his fingers. Suddenly, the Keyblade vanished from Zamasu's grasp. Shockingly, the Keyblade was now back in Xehanort's hands. Astonished by the sight, Zamasu's irritation returned. Though before Zamasu could continue, Xehanort acted promptly.
"Let us see if your divine light will survive!" Xehanort proclaimed as he held No Name skyward, launching a small, focused beam of darkness to the skies above. Darkness took hold, as the clouds began to blacken. The epicenter of the beam became ground zero for a singularity with a noticeable gravitational pull. Zamasu glared up to see the sky darken, the clouds as black as the night sky, and the singularity taking shape as a dark orb.
"You dare subvert my divine light with your sinful darkness?" Zamasu angrily stated. But Xehanort's once eager expression faded, and there was only a cold glare. Zamasu did not express it, but Xehanort's unreserved expression left him completely uncertain of what Xehanort wanted in the first place. The feeling of uncertainty set itself within Zamasu. He did not like that one bit. "Ah, but even a God would understand that darkness is not an end. It is a beginning." Xehanort claimed.
From the distance, the sound of energy being exerted caught the attention of both Zamasu and Xehanort, who turned to see a pink aura travelling toward them. In moments, it could be visually identified. It was Zamasu's counterpart and ally, Goku Black, who joined him. "Ah, you found a mortal before I could. Or is there only one left?" Goku Black asked of his alternate self. Though Zamasu was quick to clarify.
"This mortal has foolishly attempted to defy me, and now I will purge him from existence" Zamasu added. Xehanort was intrigued to see someone of Goku Black's image, but he knew that he was outnumbered two to one. Goku Black observed Xehanort before continuing. "For an old man, he has certainly demonstrated how troublesome humans can be." Goku Black acknowledged Xehanort's skill, though that sentiment didn't last for much longer.
Raising their hands at the same time, Zamasu and Goku Black launched their respective Ki blasts toward Xehanort, causing a massive explosion and thick haze covering the point of impact. Zamasu and Goku Black both smiled as they relished in the apparent destruction of the mortal Xehanort. "One step closer to the eradication of all mortals" Zamasu and Goku Black said in tandem. Though as the dust cleared, Xehanort remained unharmed.
Except now, Xehanort was not alone. He had been shielded by the combined efforts of his counterparts, Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, and Xemnas. Zamasu and Goku Black were shocked. While Ansem and Xemnas looked at the Kai and the Saiyan, Xehanort chimed in. "Don't entertain any idea of vanquishing me from this world. I am not so easily destroyed". As Xehanort stated this, Ansem's dark aura intensified, and from Ansem emerged the Dark Figure, who immediately charged toward Goku Black.
(Cue Forza Finale - Yoko Shimomura)
Stunned by this move, Goku Black fired Ki blasts at the Dark Figure, attempting to destroy it, but he did not inflict adequate damage, and soon Xemnas followed suit. Headed straight for the Saiyan, Xemnas prepared to strike. As his counterpart was outnumbered, Zamasu fired a Heavenly Arrow at Xemnas, but Zamasu's attack was intercepted by Xehanort's magic. Which immediately turned his attention back to the old man.
"Take his life!" Xehanort ordered his counterparts. They obliged, and Ansem quickly opened a dark corridor, trapping Goku Black, Xemnas, the Dark Figure, and himself within it, isolating Zamasu and Xehanort from their counterparts. Shocked to see his counterpart subdued, Zamasu's anger took hold of him. "You are indeed quite the sinner." Zamasu's last vestiges of tranquillity faded as he prepared to strike.
"Good. Let that anger empower you!" Xehanort remarked, encouraging Zamasu to succumb to his darkness. Zamasu readied a God Split Cut and rushed toward Xehanort. But, having anticipated Zamasu would act rashly and strike him with reckless abandon, Xehanort teleported, vanishing from sight. Zamasu stopped and looked around. Without warning, Xehanort appeared right behind him, grabbing him by the head just as he had held him by the collar of his attire.
"Freeze." Xehanort chillingly remarked as he encased Zamasu's body in ice. He released the Kai, only for his body to land on the ground, chunks of his limbs falling off in the process. As Zamasu landed, he lay there completely incapable of instant action. He watched as Xehanort approached him. Xehanort used his telekinesis to lift Zamasu off the ground and positioned Zamasu so he could face the massive height they were situated upon.
But Xehanort did not humor Zamasu with some parting words. He instead released his telekinetic grip over Zamasu, and the Kai's body began to plummet to the ground. Though frozen, Zamasu's eyes were still capable of movement, and he could see his surroundings. He glared at the barren soil that awaited him, and he saw darkness cover it. And suddenly, creatures of pitch black emerged from it. Their round yellow eyes were unsettling to the Kai. The Heartless had emerged here in this world.
Knowing that he would shatter into pieces upon impact, Zamasu intensified his aura. The purple hue became stronger and stronger until finally, Zamasu freed himself. He saw that the Heartless had their sights set on him, so Zamasu immediately took flight, and soared back up to the top of the pillar. Upon reaching the top he landed and saw Xehanort standing there as if judging his performance.
"Impressive. You have managed to come back from the brink of death." Xehanort noted as he saw Zamasu's limbs, and any sign of permanent damage had completely healed. Zamasu did not care for Xehanort's praise. "Darkness is nothing but sin. It is my duty as a God to bring you into divine light. Your darkness will soon perish along with you." Zamasu refused to give the darkness any acknowledgment, both his and Xehanort's.
All this did was disappoint the Keyblade Master, who had found Zamasu's darkness to be quite intriguing. But Xehanort did not abandon his desire to see that darkness comes to the surface. Zamasu prepared his God Split Cut once again and charged toward Xehanort. But as Xehanort seemed to stand there, the wind suddenly intensified, throwing Zamasu off his feet and missing the Keyblade Master completely. Frustrated, Zamasu flew back to his victim.
But again, the winds became too erratic and unstable for him to fly smoothly. Xehanort watched on as Zamasu fought against the winds themselves. He looked to his left to see a whirlwind headed right for them. To protect himself, Xehanort cast Aeroga. The power of the wind formed itself around Xehanort, acting as a barrier that would protect him from damage. Although Zamasu was finally able to escape the strong winds, he was not safe yet.
He promptly noticed the whirlwind tornado headed right for him and Xehanort. Looking at the old man, Zamasu saw that Xehanort did not have an inkling of concern in his eyes, and promptly vanished from the general area, leaving Zamasu to deal with the tornado alone. Knowing that a swirling wind cannot be stopped by simply attacking, it Zamasu flew out of the tornado's path. The tornado arrived at their vacant battlefield, slowly beginning to tear it asunder.
As the tornado passed by, Zamasu was stunned to see Xehanort standing where the tornado had just been, as though he was completely unaffected by the immense strength of the wind. Zamasu was fed up with Xehanort's antics and deception. He prepared a God Split Cut and launched himself at the Keyblade Master. But before he could get close enough to deal a killing blow, Xehanort conjured a powerful magic spell.
"Stopza" Xehanort declared as he looked Zamasu in the eyes, watching the intense fury burn within them. While Zamasu desperately tried to power through the spell, he was unsuccessful, and the impact of the spell's casting knocked the Kai backward, but as he was being knocked back, Stopza activated, stopping time completely. Everything came to a halt. At last, Xehanort could execute his plan.
"Feckless immortal. For one's whose darkness is as impressive as his body, you waste it in a fruitless pursuit of enlightenment" Xehanort added, knowing that Zamasu could do nothing. "But, if you will not make use of your darkness. Then he shall do it for you" Xehanort proclaimed as he raised No Name and pointed the tip of the Keyblade at Zamasu's chest. Firing a thin, concentrated beam of darkness, it directly targeted Zamasu's heart. But as time had been frozen, the extraction couldn't commence.
At Xehanort's command, Stopza concluded, and Zamasu resumed his fall to the ground. Only now, a very distinct pain emanated from his chest. Zamasu looked and saw a small orb of light exit his body. Falling to the ground, Zamasu noticed that he did not have a stab or impalement wound. Yet something had happened. The light orb quickly changed to one of darkness. It swirled around and formed a small singularity.
That is until it took a humanoid shape and manifested into a physical form. The being, dropped in black and red emerged and stood facing Xehanort. Zamasu couldn't believe what he had seen, it was another version of himself. But one that seethed with the hatred, malice and anger that bore itself with Zamasu's heart.
"Destroy this misguided deity" Xehanort commanded. The dark Zamasu obeyed "Yes, Master". It sent a chill down Zamasu's spine to see a version of himself subservient to Xehanort. "What is the meaning of this?" Zamasu's utter confusion reached a boiling point, and now all he could do was demand an answer. Fortunately, Xehanort was willing to oblige. "Your darkness is something unlike any I have experienced before." Xehanort remarked, having gone to the lengths to separate Zamasu from his darkness.
"The darkness in your heart was unflinching, one solidified from a belief as strong as a god's" Xehanort continued, noting how Zamasu's darkness was one so refined and controlled that, when made manifest, it was something to behold. "Indeed. The mortal is correct. I am that which lingered in your heart while you contemplated the very thought of killing mortal life and restoring beauty to the universe." the dark Zamasu spoke for the first time, agreeing with Xehanort, turning his attention to his other half.
Zamasu was shocked to see that not only was this dark Zamasu capable of speech, but he was channelling all of the darkness that once rested in his heart. But, at that moment, Zamasu came to a logical and sound resolution. "If you are my darkness made manifest, then exterminate this meddlesome mortal!" Zamasu argued. Instead of agreeing with his counterpart, Dark Zamasu refused. "That is not how this works, Zamasu. I’m my own being. I act as I see fit." Dark Zamasu explained.
(Cue Solaris Phase 1 - SEGA & Hideaki Kobayashi)
"And I see that you are standing in my way. It is a mistake to defy the gods. It is also... a sin. Something you ought to know quite well." Dark Zamasu condemned his counterpart, the heresy on display was appalling, and one that Dark Zamasu wished to help bring an end to. Oddly, Zamasu felt more at peace than he had been. But he was still immensely unsettled at the presence of another version of himself, one completely disillusioned from the Zero Mortals Plan.
Though as soon as Zamasu stood up, Dark Zamasu charged at him, impaling him with the God Split Cut. Though as Zamasu's regeneration took effect, Dark Zamasu took off into the skies and dragged his counterpart along with him, dragging him along the pillars. Xehanort watched on, seeing the two halves of light and darkness clash. At that moment, Xehanort knew he was on the precipice of achieving something he had long dreamed of. But he did not want to act rashly, and so allowed the battle to continue.
"You're just a flawed imitation. You are nothing more than another sinner to be cast out of existence" Zamasu turned the tables, condemning his dark counterpart. But that hatred and spite toward him were exactly what made Dark Zamasu in the first place, so it was of no effect to him. However, Zamasu decided to play along and see what happens.
"Oh, your words wound me. But remember one thing. I am you, and you are me! There is no denying this. As the noblest, splendid and supremely powerful God, Zamasu, I will bring forth a utopia that has no need for pathetic excuses for deities that care only for themselves." Dark Zamasu's psychological attacks were as fierce as his actual attacks. But Zamasu refused to back down. He used his own God Split Cut and stabbed Dark Zamasu through his chest.
Both halves of Zamasu were locked in combat, while Xehanort looked toward the sky. He raised his Keyblade skyward and launched a dark orb from the tip of the Keyblade into the dark clouds above. After a few seconds, an eruption from above took hold, and something with a strong light seemed to manifest, but it remained obscured behind the clouds. The two Zamasus noticed this and momentarily stopped their quarrel.
At that moment, Zamasu stabbed Dark Zamasu with his God Split Cut, temporarily incapacitating him. Zamasu immediately made a bolting charge toward Xehanort, who raised his Keyblade, clashing with Zamasu's God Split Cut. Moments later, Dark Zamasu backstabbed Zamasu and pulled him away from Xehanort. "Now, it is complete" Xehanort smiled as he raised his No Name to the sky, pointing it at the obscured light behind the clouds.
As Xehanort focused his Keyblade, it shined brightly before transforming into the Keyblade of legend, the χ-blade. The weapon was far more grandiose, bright and colorful compared to No Name, and Dark Zamasu forcibly held Zamasu back as Xehanort launched a beam of light from the χ-blade at the obscured light. At that moment, the light became more intense, and suddenly, the dark clouds began to part, revealing what had been casting that light.
"Come, Kingdom Hearts!" Xehanort proclaimed as the heart-shaped source of ultimate power descended and parted the clouds around it. Its golden, most luminous light shined down upon Xehanort who rejoiced in summoning it. Dark Zamasu and Zamasu both gazed upon Kingdom Hearts, with Zamasu contemplating if he was seeing a divine light from another world. With the power of the χ-blade and Kingdom Hearts at his command, Xehanort turned to Dark Zamasu.
"Let us discover the secrets of the Keyblade War!" Xehanort excitedly asked his ally. Dark Zamasu tossed Zamasu to the side and joined Xehanort by his side. All the while, Zamasu realized that divine light was truly here and that he could claim it. Immediately, Zamasu fired Heavenly Arrow at both Dark Zamasu and Xehanort, both of them shielding themselves from the damage. Thusly, Dark Zamasu resumed their battle.
Xehanort contemplated what he should do with Zamasu now. His darkness had already been extracted from his body, removing his light would render him useless, which Xehanort did not want. But he did not want to dwell on the subject for too long, as he wanted to continue learning from Kingdom Hearts "Soon, I will see the world that is to come!" Xehanort claimed as he prepared himself for the imminent annihilation of the world.
Dark Zamasu and Zamasu's clash raged on. "You stand before divine light itself. Surely you do not believe a mortal is deserving of such a gift?" Zamasu asked his counterpart. "Kingdom Hearts cannot be taken, it can only be used as a means to an end." Dark Zamasu continued. The two watched on as Xehanort seemed far too invested in the prospect of learning ancient secrets to focus on the battle itself.
The two halves of Zamasu continued their battle, each trying to render the other unable to continue, but neither could overcome their respective immortality. The two were equally powerful and equally capable of recovering from one another's damage. Refusing to let their trivial conflict go on any longer, Zamasu got a momentary second of freedom from Dark Zamasu, and charged toward Xehanort, preparing a God Split Cut.
He was too affixed on Kingdom Hearts itself. Xehanort realized far too late that Zamasu had successfully managed to approach him. Zamasu thrust his arm into Xehanort's chest. But Xehanort still drew breath. Zamasu was taken aback. He promptly felt the stiffness of his body, unable to move. He realized Dark Zamasu utilized his telekinesis to hold Zamasu still, preventing an outright fatal strike.
Nonetheless, Xehanort grasped his body, seeing the wound he had received. A purple aura stab wound rested where Zamasu had attempted to kill him. Though it was not fatal, Xehanort knew that he had to put a stop to Zamasu as soon as possible. Prolonging his existence any longer would risk the χ-blade's destruction, and potentially the loss of Kingdom Hearts. Xehanort knew exactly what to do, and gestured to Dark Zamasu.
The dark Kai acted accordingly and used telekinesis to pull Zamasu back, backstabbing him with another God Split Cut. Master Xehanort firmly gripped the χ-blade and pointed it directly at Zamasu. Xehanort held it steady as the tip of the blade began to glow with a bright light. In those precious moments, Dark Zamasu lost his telekinetic hold over Zamasu, who elbowed his counterpart in the face to free himself. He knew he had to attack Xehanort immediately.
But Xehanort had already prepared for this moment. "Be utterly consumed by light and begone, hubristic god." his words arctic enough to chill the earth beneath them. Just before he could strike, the beam of light from the χ-blade caught Zamasu off guard, and directly struck him. However, despite not piercing through his body, Zamasu felt that something was wrong. At that moment, he felt immense pain as he saw an orb of light depart his body.
Zamasu looked and saw his body was beginning to glow brightly. Dark Zamasu came around and watch Zamasu's shocked expression take hold. All Zamasu could do was panic "What is this?!" Zamasu uttered in fear. Dark Zamasu promptly responded. "Your heart will be useful for us going forward. Trust me". Zamasu couldn't believe that. But his his heart got further and further away from him.
Without his heart, Zamasu's body couldn't continue. In his final moments, Zamasu's combined fear, panic and uncertainty were so foreboding, he couldn't put words to the horror he felt. His incoherent fear was promptly silenced as Zamasu's body ceased to exist, shimmering away in light until it dispersed into nothing. Xehanort and Dark Zamasu took possession of the Kai's heart. With Zamasu removed from the picture, the beings of darkness restored their attention on Kingdom Hearts, awaiting the imminent arrival of the world to come.
K.O.!
Conclusion[]
(Cue The Key of Darkness - Yoko Shimomura)
Boomstick: Welp... that's not good.
Wiz: While Zamasu was an incredibly determined adversary, but Xehanort's power was just too great for the Kai of Universe 10.
Boomstick: Though it was still a tough fight for the old coot. Zamasu has been around for centuries, making him a more experienced fighter overall. And Zamasu was faster thanks to scaling to Goku and Beerus' clash. Although Xehanort defeated Ventus, one of the fastest characters in Kingdom Hearts, neither Ventus' nor Roxas' feats came close enough to matching Zamasu's speeds.
Wiz: But these weren't enough for Zamasu to win the fight. Xehanort might not be as experienced, but his decades of training and studying the Keyblade have given him a vaster arsenal that put Zamasu's to shame. With his array of magic ranging from elemental manipulation to stopping time, Zamasu had so many hurdles to overcome, but in doing so, played directly into Xehanort's cunning hands.
Boomstick: Xehanort is one clever bastard, and has ways of directly bypassing Zamasu's defenses with his Keyblade. Like how he could remove all the darkness in Zamasu's heart and summon a Dark Zamasu to fight alongside. Heck, Xehanort can remove your heart from your body outright, or destroy your physical body leaving only fragments of your disembodied heart behind.
Wiz: While Zamasu's immortality and regeneration ensure he can survive most attacks, he has never demonstrated any kind of resistance to things like having his darkness removed from his body. And that's just if Xehanort doesn't want to remove his heart completely. Though even Xehanort couldn't have anticipated Zamasu's heart to be so pure. As even Devilman's Devilmite Beam cannot affect Zamasu. Allowing Xehanort to forge the χ-blade.
Boomstick: Though being pure of negative thoughts isn't the same as being pure of darkness. Also, the χ-blade is directly linked to Kingdom Hearts, which meant Xehanort had the power to affect the entire Kingdom Hearts multiverse. Since an entire universe can exist within one "world". While Zamasu scaling to Goku and Beerus' clash is pretty powerful, Zamasu couldn't achieve multiverse levels of power by himself.
Wiz: Zamasu's shocking speed and centuries of experience helped him where it could, but against Xehanort's more cunning tactics, immense power of the χ-blade and Kingdom Hearts, wealth of Keyblade techniques and knowledge, and more varied array of magic spells and abilities spelt the ending of the Supreme Kai.
Boomstick: Zamasu just didn't have the Heart to survive this fight.
Wiz: The winner is Master Xehanort.
Epilogue[]
(Cue The Key - Yoko Shimomura)
The full majesty of Kingdom Hearts illuminated the sky, dispelling the darkness that once called this place home. A most splendid and spectacular sight for those who bore witness to the massive heart in the sky. Having achieved his ultimate ambition, Master Xehanort was prepared for the world that is to come. It was, at last, nearing the time to take everything back, and bring an end to this world, all of existence.
With the χ-blade, Xehanort pointed it at Kingdom Hearts itself. He launched a beam of darkness from the tip of the χ-blade. The beam travelled quickly and reached its destination at the center of Kingdom Hearts. In just moments, darkness began to spread across the entire entity. Soon, the golden light that glistened was gone, and a Kingdom Hearts filled with Xehanort's darkness was taking its place.
Dark Zamasu observed this, seeing the dark purple coloring coat the entirety of Kingdom Hearts in darkness. Once the entity had been consumed by it, Kingdom Hearts so began to spread the darkness out, just as it spread light where it would shine. Small, distant projectiles of pure darkness began to cover the world. The darkness would soon swallow everything that had been touched by light.
This was all in the hope of being worthy of finding the true light, the true Kingdom Hearts that had faded into darkness. "Will we be found worthy of that precious light?" Xehanort thought to himself. This question had been marinating in his mind for decades, and now he was just moments away from learning what awaited him beyond the end of the world. As Kingdom Hearts spread out the darkness, everything truly indicated the end times.
Everything seemed to unfold accordingly, that is until something caused a massive tremor. Xehanort and Dark Zamasu looked around. There was no one else here besides them. Despite this, they did not feel alone. "It seems the Gods aren't quite finished with us yet" Xehanort claimed, believing that the Gods truly did want to stop the destruction of the world. But as Xehanort had already dealt with a God and gained an ally, he did not have an inkling of concern.
Soon thereafter, to counter the darkness that was spreading thanks to Kingdom Hearts, a powerful light suddenly appeared, on its own. This light was pink in color. It did not belong to something like Kingdom Hearts. In moments, the light emerged from the dark clouds and descended from the skies to the raised earth Xehanort and Dark Zamasu stood upon. The two looked at this pink light, believing that a higher power may have come to stop them.
After a few more seconds, and completing its descent to the ground, the pink light manifested itself, taking on a humanoid shape. Bearing a gown of pure white, a pink, warm aura, and matching hair color. It was a young girl of sorts. The girl opened her eyes, revealing them to be a soft, golden color. This girl was the benefactor and observer of this universe, Ultimate Madoka. She had once lived as Madoka Kaname, but her divine position ascended her to a higher plane.
Now, with the threat of the universe's destruction, Ultimate Madoka has at last decided to intervene and seek to stop the annihilation of everything. "Please, stop! There is no need to spell the end of everything" Ultimate Madoka argued. Xehanort absorbed this information, considering for a moment he may have encouraged the arrival of a Princess of Heart, or perhaps, a physical manifestation of light itself.
"It is too late" Xehanort explained. He looked up at Kingdom Hearts, seeing that the darkness had already reached quite far. Ultimate Madoka may have had powerful words, but Xehanort simply could not deny the fact he had already pulled the trigger. "Darkness shall take hold of everything, and soon, we find the most coveted light of all. And with it, the universe can be restored to its original splendour, free of those who would pollute it with the darkness. But darkness must prevail, for the true light to be seen" Xehanort continued.
This was an unsatisfactory answer to Ultimate Madoka, who cherished the world she saved from despair. To have it all consumed by darkness, and left in the balance, would bring untold despair upon those who would only suffer from it. Ultimate Madoka was firm in her resolve. "I will not stand by and watch everything fall to darkness". Xehanort acknowledged Ultimate Madoka's intentions, seeing that he was in for yet another battle.
Dark Zamasu similarly acknowledged the threat that stood before them. "We mustn't allow Kingdom Hearts to be lost". Xehanort agreed and turned their attention to Ultimate Madoka, who seemed equally prepared to stop them. But before Xehanort or Dark Zamasu could attack, time itself came to a halt. Everything came to a halt, except Xehanort, as his constant use of time travel has made him unaffected by time stops.
Seeing his entire world come to a stop, Xehanort knew he wasn't alone. He turned to see another young girl, armed with firearms, firing at him. Xehanort was impressed with the use of time manipulation but far less with the weapon used to stop him. The bullets all deflected off a barrier Xehanort had cast. Allowing him to turn safely and identify the girl. Again, this girl was someone he did not recognize. But her abilities were most interesting.
"Not so fast, my dear." Xehanort welcomed his new foe to ease up her attack and see if there was more to her attack than just brazen fury. As he hoped, the girl stopped firing her weapons, but held them at the ready, prepared to pull the trigger at a moment's notice. "I can see that you are more than what your young visage presents" Xehanort continued, seeing right through his attacker.
"Who I am doesn't matter to you. You are simply in my way, and I will do whatever I can to make ends meet" the young girl responded. She had black hair, her eyes were purple, and her conviction was unshakable. The girl was, in fact, the time-travelling Magical Girl, Homura Akemi. Having used her time stop, she and Xehanort were able to converse while everyone and everything else stood still. "If you are hoping to stop me, you are also too late. All shall soon be consumed by the shadows" Xehanort continued.
Not liking the sound of that idea, Homura fired a single bullet at Xehanort. But it merely bounced off a barrier, leaving him completely unaffected. Seeing that her attacks were doing no damage, Homura lowered her firearms and chose to see what Xehanort would do next. "I know there's more to you. How else could us both he here, frozen in time, us both conversing, while the rest of existence obeys the stillness of time?"
In her moments of action, Homura had momentarily forgotten she had indeed stopped time. And how Xehanort could speak to her at all confused her. But she didn't have the time to debate the intricacies of how this was even possible. "I ask that you stand aside. My business does not concern you, or your actions". Homura's stern expression may have been hard to break, but Xehanort was able to see right through her.
"Ah, so it's about the divine girl, is it?" Xehanort connected the dots quickly. He looked over to see that Ultimate Madoka hadn't quite manifested in the universe just yet. But clearly, she wanted to get to her first. "I fear that you two may not have much time to cherish" Xehanort added. "That's not your concern" Homura retaliated. As Homura commanded, time resumed. Everything began moving once again. And Homura dashed to reach her friend.
Ultimate Madoka finally took on a physical form as she arrived to stop the destruction of all. Xehanort and Dark Zamasu both observed Homura passing them by. Dark Zamasu looked toward Xehanort, unsure of who she was "She's after the goddess?" Dark Zamasu asked his master. "Yes. Though for what reason, I may never know." Xehanort responded as Homura continued her steady approach to Ultimate Madoka.
"But, let us see what comes of this. She may be able to resolve things without us having to raise a finger" Xehanort continued. The two emissaries of darkness watched on as Homura scaled the elevated terrain. With each leap, she got closer and closer to Ultimate Madoka's chosen destination. As though she were responding to Homura, Ultimate Madoka's location suddenly spawned a bright luminous bridge, pink in color, which curled almost like a snake.
The bridge's path coincided with Homura's present direction, and Homura noticed this, causing her to come to a halt on the platform she landed on. She glared up at the top of the bridge, to see a circular structure of sorts. Within it was Ultimate Madoka, who finally manifested in this world corporeally. "Homura? What are doing here?" Ultimate Madoka asked of her dearly beloved friend. At first, Homura could not conjure the words to make a response.
Though she soon formed a response "Madoka...", though it was more of a calm call for help. Seeing the look in Homura's eyes, Ultimate Madoka came to a sudden realization. "All of this time, and you waited for me?" Ultimate Madoka asked of her. This time, Homura didn't speak. Though her silence was something Ultimate Madoka understood. Desiring comfort upon her dear friend, Ultimate Madoka slowly began to glide toward Homura.
"I didn't mean to make you wait so long for me. I'm sorry" Ultimate Madoka added as she gradually approached Homura. Meanwhile, Homura had come to a complete stop and waited for Madoka to approach her. Every second that passed, Homura could feel her heart pounding. Every moment, the feeling of her heart pulsating grew more and more powerful. Resting deep within Homura's being, was an emotion she had not felt in more than a decade.
Seeing that Homura was staying put and awaiting her, Madoka continued to console her. "But, look on the bright side. Now, we can be together, and never be separated again" Ultimate Madoka simply beamed and radiated optimism and joy. Homura watched as Madoka came closer, she was nearly there. Homura looked Madoka directly in the eyes, as the two were nearly able to make contact with each other.
At that moment, Homura's solemn expression seemed to fade, and a faint smile lifted itself on her face. "The amount of time... I have waited... for this... you could not imagine" Homura remarked as Madoka was just feet from reaching her. Suddenly, Homura grabbed onto Ultimate Madoka, holding her arms with her two hands. Ultimate Madoka gasped, as the unexpected move caught her completely off guard.
Homura's smile lifted even more, almost devilish. At that moment, black energy began to spawn from Homura, as everything around them began to violently shake. The colors were rapidly expanding. Xehanort and Dark Zamasu guarded themselves, trying to make sense of what was going on. "What is this!? What is she doing? Is she stopping the goddess?!" Dark Zamasu asked. But Xehanort did not have an answer.
Instead, Xehanort ascended and got as far away from the black energy as possible. He retreated to the safety of Kingdom Hearts. The darkness it had spread was being usurped by the black energy spawned from Homura. Dark Zamasu followed suit and joined Xehanort from a safer distance. Meanwhile, Ultimate Madoka struggled to free herself from Homura's grasp.
"I agree. We will never be separated again" Homura exclaimed, sharing Madoka's views, but she did not favor the current circumstances and continued to pull Ultimate Madoka down to her. "No, wait... Homura, stop! If this keeps going, I'll-" Ultimate Madoka tried desperately to urge Homura from continuing any further, but her words were abruptly stopped when Homura achieved it. She separated Madoka Kaname from the Law of Cycles, as Ultimate Madoka.
That moment triggered reality itself to begin fracturing, like a broken crystal. Madoka Kaname had been separated from her godly power, and now the fracturing began to expand across all reality. Though instead of taking Madoka with her quietly, Homura had more to say. "This is the only way. The only way we can be together again. I promise I will never let you go again, Madoka" Homura pulled Madoka in close, embracing her tightly.
Their union continued to disrupt reality. The combination of black energy and fragments in reality's fabric continued to expand. Although they were far above them in the sky, Xehanort and Dark Zamasu were unable to avoid it. Seeing the reality warping happening right before their very eyes. Xehanort pointed the χ-blade in Homura's direction and prepared himself for a last-minute strike. But as reality continued to become unstable, neither Xehanort nor Dark Zamasu was able to repel the collapsing reality around them.
Accepting that this was the end of the dark road for him, he accepted his fate. "Hmmm... May your heart be your guiding key" were the last words Xehanort uttered before he and Dark Zamasu were enveloped with the black energy. The fabric of reality went haywire, and soon, it expanded far beyond the Keyblade Graveyard. Soon, it consumed the entire world. But it did not show any signs of slowing down. Its reach was unending.
Just a few moments later, it reached far beyond the planet. The entire solar system was enveloped. The galaxy soon after. There was no stopping it. And at last, it expanded to cover the entire universe itself. Once all had been trapped within this black crystallized energy. All that remained was Homura. In a void beyond time and space. Here, she reflected on what just happened, and what was going to happen.
"Madoka... to have been without you for so long. I learned there truly was something more powerful than curses" Homura stated. The magical girl had now become something far beyond both magical girls and witches. Her usual attire transformed, into a black dress that almost resembled Madoka's when she was in this position. Except hers had a contrasting motif. Homura sprouted black and white wings that spread out wide.
"Something that exceeds both hope and despair. The one that stayed with me all these long years. Strengthened by all of the pain and loss I endured, hoping to one day find peace with you. Love." Homura elaborated, as her true form finally took shape. Though Madoka was not present, Homura could feel her presence, she knew Madoka was safe, but the thought of having deposed her left a curious thought in her mind.
"To have desecrated someone in a position as sacred as a God, it only makes sense that it would portray me as a demon, perhaps even the devil herself" Devil Homura cemented her identity as Madoka's polar opposite, and accepted that is how she would be seen by those who knew Madoka as a goddess of sorts. With everything in her grasp, and nothing left to oppose her, Devil Homura began to reset the universe.
Ever since Madoka ascended to the role of Ultimate Madoka, Homura had stood by idly and tried to exist in a world without Madoka. Time could not have been crueller. In her mind, an existence without Madoka was not an existence worth living. And now that she and Madoka were finally reunited, all is as it should have been. The world would thusly be reset to one where Madoka would never have to experience suffering and despair.
(Cue Pergo Pugnare - Yuki Kajiura)
Devil Homura enacted her will upon this universe, renewing it completely. But, unlike Madoka before her, Devil Homura did not sit back idly and watch her reset universe idly. Wishing to recreate the life Madoka had before she became a Magical Girl, Homura's renewed universe brought back those she knew who had perished under Madoka's supervision, and ensured that they would be completely incapable of being drawn into conflict, especially magical girl conflict.
One day, Madoka Kaname strolled along on her way to school in Mitakihara City. Along the way, she was joined by two of her friends, Sayaka Miki and Mami Tomoe. The three friends were all excited to be returning to school life after having been on school break for some time. Meanwhile, Kyoko Sakura loomed overhead, observing the trio from a nearby tree. She jumped down and landed next to Sayaka, who greeted her.
The quartet arrived at school, and all of them prepared for a productive day of learning. The four girls had to go their separate ways, as they had a plethora of individual subjects to attend to. Soon, Madoka was left by her lonesome, walking through the schoolyard on her way to her class. Then, unexpectedly, she saw someone out of the corner of her eye. A young girl with black hair in the corridor above was looking down directly at her.
She didn't know who the girl was, so she rushed to a flight of stairs and quickly ascended them before seeing the girl leaving. Thankfully she arrived just in time and asked the girl to stop. The young girl turned. It was Homura, but Madoka had no memory of her. "E-Excuse me, but who are you?". Homura politely responded. "I'm Homura, I believe you are I are in the same class together. I was asked to look for you since you hadn't arrived yet"
"Oh, sorry. I was just lost in my thoughts" Madoka was a little flustered for a proper answer. But before she could continue, Homura latched onto her, hugging her intently. "H-Hey, what's wrong?" Madoka asked, not expecting such an abrupt gesture. "Don't worry, Madoka. I'm here now. I will make sure you never got lost. Just stick with me and everything will be fine." Homura released Madoka and happily showed her the way to class.
It was at this moment that Homura finally felt at peace for the first time in many years.
The End...
Original Track[]
An Original Track for this fight would be titled "Tenebris Iustitiae".
The track's title is translated from Latin as "Dark Justice". The title is a reference to the Kingdom Hearts games' boss themes for Master Xehanort and his counterparts which have Latin titles, as well as the game Kingdom Hearts Dark Road, which explores Master Xehanort's origins. The "Justice" part is a reference to Zamasu committing his dark deeds because of his strong sense of justice.
Trivia[]
- The connections between Zamasu and Master Xehanort are that they are ambitious time-travelling antagonists who started as skilled apprentices (to Supreme Kai Gowasu and Master Odin). During their years of training, they travelled to numerous worlds and chose to study the prior wars that took place there. Over time, their beliefs were solidified and they desired a fundamental change to existence (Zamasu sought the eradication of mortal life, while Master Xehanort sought a perfect balance between light and darkness), however, changing it in this way was completely contradictory to how they were instructed. As no one shared their views, they formed their plans in secret. The sequence of events thereafter consisted of them killing their closest ally (Supreme Kai Gowasu and Master Eraqus) in cold blood. Stealing the body of a powerful warrior (Son Goku and Terra), adopting a name that combines the hero's name with an additional word to signify their villainy (Goku Black and Terra-Xehanort), and time-travelling to ally with alternate versions of themselves. These events allowed them to carry out their ultimate ambition (Zero Mortals Plan and Second Keyblade War). Both would learn of the existence of the titular objects (Dragon Balls and Kingdom Hearts), and successfully obtain them. At one point, they would fuse with their alternate counterparts (into Fused Zamasu and Armored Xehanort). Both would ultimately be defeated by heroes with blades of light (Future Trunks and Sora). However, their respective demises were opposite (Zamasu only died once Zeno erased him from existence, while Master Xehanort peacefully accepted his death and went with Master Eraqus to the afterlife).