His Last Bow

*As the Perfect Criminal's time is stolen*
*let us remember the story he has woven.*
*Observe, the failure of a man*
*who thought he outran*
*the cruel grasp of time*
*merely to atone for his crime.*
## Barging In

"Saved the best for last!"

A camp, cheerful, but somewhat elderly and masculine voice broke the silence. On a remote planet, in a remote dwelling, in a single room, a single man spoke. The room was unique to say the least. It was formed in a septagonal shape. The edge pointing north had the entrance and exit door, while every other face had a glowing blue insignia on the floor, along with a wanted poster of a certain individual on the wall.

The man had seemingly returned from the southeast corner. The insignia had disappeared, but another one had already been marked next to it. He looked at that insignia, before sighing. "Old habits die hard, eh?" As he walked to the very south corner, he paused, scratching his head.

"Ya' think he'll listen to my story?" He thought out loud. For a moment he was silent, before he shrugged. "Eh, what's the worst that can happen?"

And with those last words, he stepped on that bright blue insignia, as his form swirled away, with none besides him aware of his current destination.

Galactica.

The old man, known by the Cosmos as Yamaguchi Aozou, sipped from his sake. He didn’t remember when they first bestowed that title before him. One day he sailed the stars starting revolutions and forcing economies into debt as awarrior who fought for freedom only to enslave them on his payroll. And the next, an entire Cosmos began to call him a new name.

Bossman.

But he didn’t care for the title despite it being only awarded to six others in the known universe. He didn’t care about them either. As long as they didn’t interfere with his ambitions they were as the suns of other galaxies to his own. And he wasn’t the only one who acted as such. The seven great criminals mind their own business especially since a majority of their focus went into their vast influence.

However there was one exception. He took a deep breath at the thought. A man who broke a tradition solidified since the first generation of Galactica. A chaotic being unlike all others for he earned this designation without a country or military. Some attributed his achievements to the countless who idolized his name. Who aspired to live as he did. Yamaguchi didn’t care either way. This man, Crown Lupin, jumped from Cosmos to Cosmos as a thorn in everyone’s side. Especially his own.

Yet there was a fondness to the wound on his hip. A certain softness that stemmed from understanding.

A collector and a thief are often two sides of the same coin. But in this case the two were separated by the fact one steals and the other takes. Yamaguchi wasn’t a man who jumped into rooms and filled his coffers with as much coin as he could.

He saw what he wanted and took it. Plain and simple. People could try to stop him if they wanted but rarely could they find something that he didn’t have the opposite solution too. This resulted in him possessing a collection of weapons and armors that anyone else would call an army’s arsenal.

And still, only one man managed to not only beat him but actually take from him. And this man called for a private council. Yamaguchi sat at a table several inches from the floor. His legs laid atop one another as he awaited his guest.

"'Ello!" The man said, popping into Yamaguchi's room. Crown Lupin, the one man in the cosmos who was unafraid of anything. The Oración Seis Galáctica, Interstellar Union Army, or anyone. He'd walk into any room with a grin plastered on his face, bothering everyone.

"Did one of your subordinates let you know I was coming?" Crown asked, looking around. "Hey, love the renovations! Mind if I have a seat?"

Very few were allowed at the home of the Aozou-Dai. A massive castle located in the capital of Kyoto. The planet famed for samurai and space shinobi. The Sakura Palace reached the tip of the shadow of the Shogun's main castle. But even less were allowed within these chambers except family.

"We knew you were coming the second you sailed into my cosmos." Yamaguchi picked up his hand and gestured it slightly forward. Inviting him to sit. A painted geisha in a beautiful kimono came and poured into a red cup. "Though I've started to wonder if there's anyone who can stop you from going places you don't belong."

"Hmmm, oh there might be one or two people. But they're really boring." Crown chuckled as he took his seat and the cup given to him. "Oh thanks, sake? Been a while!"

Crown cheered with Yamaguchi before gulping down the sake in one shot. "Ssshhaah!" He exclaimed loudly, even surprising the geisha.

"Man, for my last drink in the cosmos, that was a good one." Crown said non-chalantly, but he looked at Yamaguchi immediately, waiting to see if he picked up the message.

Others would've rudely remarked at the man's older appearance for the two of them were actually same age. Or they were supposed to be. However countless scans recognized this unique Ether signature as the one and only Crown Lupin. And further more, Yamaguchi was a master at profiles. He analyzed every little thing about a person. Each minute detail to create a mental file. This geezer crossed every checkmark with each step.

"I thought this was an elaborate attempt at my Collection again using makeup or illusionary paint. But now I'm curious...What have you gotten yourself into this time, Lupin?"

"This time...isn't quite accurate." Crown sighed as he looked up to the open stars. "Ever since I've become a member of the Oracion Seis Galactica, I have had this issue. I just...didn't realize how much time had passed since then."

Crown looked at Yamaguchi in the eyes with a sincerity he never had before. "I'm due to die any minute now, Yamaguchi-kun. Wanna hear a old man's dying request?"

Yamaguchi stopped. He met Crown's gaze and smiled. Placing his sake cup on the table, he smiled. "Only if you promise not to soil my fondness of this place with the memory of your death." He kept his eyes on Crown.

"Oh man, you're so serious you're killing the booze." Crown laughed off Yamaguchi's sincerity. In truth, he was grateful. Only he, among the Galactica, would even dare to listen to him. Perhaps in this universe, Yamaguchi was his only friend.

"So, listen. You're going to hate me for this, but...I have a plan. A plan that'll really fuck over the balance." Crown grinned. "You remember what made me a member of the Galactica, don't you?"

"No." Yamaguchi said honestly while patting his mouth with a silk handkerchief. But his voice didn't scream accidental ignorance. Instead it hinted that he simply *didn't* care. "One day I was known as the greatest Collector of the Cosmos and the next people started muttering about the so-called **Perfect Thief**."

"As for hating you I already do. But I'll humor you. Although you should consider your tendency for chaos as a reasoning for your current situation."

"Ok ok sorry for stealing your gig too, jeez." Crown humored Yamaguchi's scowl, but quickly took on a slightly more serious note. "You remember, don't you? The planet...now known as the Timeless Planet: August." Crown crossed his hands together, indicating how serious he was.

"Its appearance coincided with my rise to the Galactica. But...they simply sealed it off. It was forever caged in more barriers than almost every cosmos possesses. Why do you think that is?"

"Well I figured everywhere you go there's a problem that needs sealing off. Your existence doesn't make sense as is." Yamaguchi rubbed his chin. "But besides who *you* are, I've always wondered so myself. Though I always assumed it had something to do with one of your many treasures. Weapons that could rival my very own Shichifukujin."

"Rival..." Crown almost snickered, but he held back. "Unfortunately, this treasure...is more like a curse." Crown said in a grave tone. "The Ark...you might have heard of it. It is a Relic that allows someone to control anything in the Cosmos with the exception of Mother, but at a cost to oneself."

Crown looked at Yamaguchi in the eyes. "Can you guess what happened to August?"

"The Ark?" Yamaguchi repeated. He took a second. "I'm guessing you used it as a show of power. Subjugated an entire planet with a single weapon....The first and only thing I've desired that I could not take."

"Yamaguchi? Don't you know who I am?" Crown asked, seriously curious. "Man, here I thought we were friends. Have I ever been the type to show off like that?"

Crown asked, but he realized that him entering other Oracion Seis Galactica territories at his will probably *did* feel like that. "Anyways, no. My intention wasn't to subjugate the planet. My only wish...was to turn back that planet's time."

Crown clenched his fist. "I summoned a Chronophage, intending to turn its time back to a point where my family were alive. But...I suppose Mother punished me for misusing the Ark." Crown closed his eyes. He did not believe Mother was some kind of Goddess. But at the end of the day...who else could have made this go so badly. "Yet in an attempt to do that...the planet's time was consumed to an irreversible point. Nobody could even tell you if that planet still...exists."

"Use the Ark to control a Chronophage." Yamaguchi repeated. "A mastermind such as myself would've never guessed...Simply because such an idea is so farfetched only an absolute fool would even *consider* it." He rubbed his temples. "Which explains everything and shouldn't shock me because the only thing you have that rivals your foolishness is..."

Yamaguchi sighed. Uttering the next words with heavy yet regrettable admiration.

"Your bravery." He took a sip of sake. "But now we know not even the power of the Relics and Mother herself can stop the Chronophage, huh? And I'm guessing the only reason you're here now is because of that troublesome power of yours."

"Hmph, I feel your scathing jealousy, Yamaguchi-kun." Crown chuckled. "But yes, I'm here precisely because of that reason."

Crown put down his sake and talked with Yamaguchi clearly. "You have fought me once before and lost. You know just how much power I possess at my full strength. The sheer quantity of Ether within me is the *only* reason that Chronophage summoning did not immediately end my life. But...even my Ether cannot handle a Chronophage, Yamaguchi."

Crown clenched his tears, making sure a tear didn't drop from his eyes. "I only have a few months left. I want to impart this Ark onto the world...but I cannot trust any of the Oracion Seis Galactica with it, even you."

Yamaguchi was about to say something before Crown raised his hand to shush him. "Shh. I know, this doesn't seem like it'll benefit you. But it will, I promise."

Crown continued, "I need you and the other Oracion Seis...to guard all of my Relics. They are all in key locations over the Cosmos. In fact, I have put a number of them in your territories before your subordinates showed up. I have a map of every single one. But..."

Crown knew that Yamaguchi could have killed him for this, but he also knew that Yamaguchi would take the challenge. "I want to see, I guess from Hell, just how determined the new generation of adventurers are. Are there any who aspire to reach the top of the Cosmos, and grab supreme power with their own hands?"

Crown took another drink of his sake before continuing. "I know you want your hands on the Ark. But that particular Relic...well, its location is guarded by the other Relics. Don't you think this is exciting, though? To see if a new generation is capable of overcoming the old? To see what the Ark's power could be at its strongest? Wouldn't you love to see if your Lucky Draw could overcome something that even killed me?!"

Crown's smile edged out to his face. It was a genuinely happy prospect for him, sowing this much chaos throughout the Cosmos. "I've *barely* convinced the other Oracion Seis to hold back in acquiring the Relics, but I know you'll take part. Why? Because you want to be the Greatest! And this is my opportunity to you, Yamaguchi-kun!! What do you think!?"

Yamaguchi was indeed about to say something. Mainly about how casually that chaotic jester mentioned their last bout. But instead he chose to remain silent. And he was glad he did so. This revelation didn't shock him. He expected Crown would find *someway* to continue plaguing the universes even from the next realm.

"I'm not surprised." The stoic warrior said. Rare did anything shake his expression as he pondered Crown's words. "I'm intrigued, though. Definitely intrigued." His mouth curled into a devious smile. "I'll hold off from chasing after your toys...even the Ark. Despite my desire to have your head for ruining my territories sanctity."

"But this isn't for some false noble reason. The new generation can burn in hell with you." He sipped his drink. "No. I recently stumbled upon something myself. Or should I say someone. Someone my daughter has taken a liken to. The kid belongs to a race that I thought was wiped out in a previous war. You might call him my most recent prize." Yamaguchi chuckled.

But Yamaguchi wasn't known for his chivalrous adoption. Owning the Cosmo's through financial slavery and obligation requires an endless heart. One filled with glutton and greed. Everyone is nothing more than a Gō piece for him to use.

"Besides the Ark, I've coveted none of your stolen goods. They'd only remain in Lucky Draw as a reminder of your defeat by my hands and since a Chronophage took that from me, well there's no need. It'd be an insult." He smiled. "However, brats strong enough to wield your Relics will make wonderful subordinates. So I'll gladly let you plant the seeds for my new army to sprout from. As a parting gift owed to me for all your shenanigans."

He looked at Crown with a caring smile. As if that devious threat hid his true sadness for his death.

"An army?" Crown chuckled. "Oh you wouldn't be satisfied with an *army*, come on now! I know what you really want. You want people to challenge you and try and break you, only for you to turn it over their head and crush them completely! What you want isn't an army...You want subordinates strong enough that they'll challenge you at every turn, even at the cost of their own lives, because it's fun to you!"

Crown broke into laughter. "You're funny, Yamaguchi! You like pretending you want complete domination, but you teeter on the edge of absolute chaos and order. You're more insane than I am!"

## Thunderous Announcements

"Man, I did not expect to land here of all places." Crown said, looking around. He was on a planet protected by the Interstellar Union Army, specifically the Thunder Force. It was very rare of him to tread into government areas. There was normally too much risk involved. However, his desires...couldn't be fulfilled by the Oración Seis Galáctica alone.

"I wonder if that Forescythe kid is going to notice my arrival?" Crown asked as he continued to walk forward, realizing that all eyes had been on him, and communication devices had been turned on.

Sighing, Crown thought. "*Well, here goes nothing I guess.*"

In the distance, a skyscraper with the Thunder Force crest could be seen. As the man known as the "Perfect Criminal" drew closer, rapid foot motions echoed throughout the building. As soon as his feet touched the ground, everyone became aware of his presence.

A young man was hurriedly making his way down one of the building's many corridors. He hurriedly pushed through the door at the end of the corridor, which led to a room dotted with soldiers. "People are running around the halls. What's going on Valery?" the boy asked.

"One of the Galáctica has just touched down on the planet. I can't think of another reason why they would come here, other than to cripple our forces. So we are preparing for while our leader heads to Union headquarters. So put on your armor Ezra, we're both going." Valery answered.

Ezra looked at Valery confused. "F.R. told us to tell him whenever we spotted one of the Galáctica. That is one of our sole purposes. So you didn't alert him?"

"We can't have leader fighting all of our battles for us. He already overwhelms himself with his work and deserves a break from the action." Valery paused for a moment, "Wait what do you mean by *I didn't alert him?*"

Thunder resounded in the sky, causing dark clouds to blanket the planet's surface. A sound that was heard by members of the Thunder Force on numerous occasions. The man who was generating such a commotion was none other than the island's declared defender. Forescythe Reele, often known as Thunder God, one of the Oración Seis Interestelar. To make his entrance known, he came down in a flash of lightning in front of the skyscraper. Forescythe raised his arm to activate his transmission gadget, which projected his image throughout the planet's several billboards. "This is an urgent emergency. All citizens must take their belongings and make preparations to leave this planet. If I do not make another broadcast in the next hour or so, immediately start heading to ships. My team of valiant soldiers will be guiding you to where the ships are. Now, this is a message to my troops. Do not, I repeat, Do not interfere. I'll be waiting in front of the Thunder Force building." Forescythe ended the broadcast swiftly and crossed his arms as he awaited the visitor's arrival.

"Oh, he announced himself. Wow, very flashy." Crown chuckled as he noticed the people around him immediately dispersing. Venomous looks were thrown at him, but he didn't mind. "You heard him, didn't you?" Crown told the crowd around him. "Get lost or I might *steal* your lives as well."

With merely his words, the crowd retreated to the closest available Interstellar Union Army ship. Crown took a sigh of relief. Stamping on the ground, a glowing insignia was made. As he did, Crown spoke once more. "Crowds are such a pain. Well, now I can go to where Forescythe is. I wonder if he has any water...I'm feeling kind of parched."

Crown had walked through the city-like area, until he reached closer to the Thunder Force building. He didn't quite approach the entrance. He predicted the type of person Forescythe was simply through the announcement. He waited about fifty meters away from the building, observing the situation, while casting another blue insignia from his feet, awaiting Forescythe's next move.

Forescythe squinted at the humanoid figure that stood a few meters distant as he gazed into the distance. "So he's keeping his distance or taking time to plan an attack. I haven't seen an Ether Gear that makes to disappear. Invisibility maybe? That may be be thinking too simple for a person like him." Forescythe took in a small breath to project his voice to Crown, "Why are you here! You know that we exist in two different spheres of the world but yet here you are trying to meet me. I don't pick fights that I don't think I can win and I am okay with sacrificing this planet if another planet gets to thrive."

"I'm not here to fight!" Crown responded. He was surprised that Forescythe kept his distance. But he was glad. Forescythe didn't seem to be a fool, even if he was a bit hot-headed. "In fact, if you fight me right now, you might even kill me! Which is why I'm asking you to listen! Can we talk elsewhere!?"

Crown was telling the truth. His power had waned significantly since his prime, all because of *that* incident. He needed to explain the situation, to the one person in the Oracion Seis Interstelar that he thought would listen.

To say the least, Forescythe was taken aback by his remarks, yet he remained suspicious of the situation. "So you're hear to chat with me? What could we possibly talk about? I'm getting lost just thinking about it. How do I know this isn't just one of your big stupendous acts?"

Despite the fact that they were only a few meters apart, Forescythe could sense the sincerity in his voice. But something about Crown being a Galáctica made him reassess the circumstances right away.

"Hey, listen." Crown asked, raising his arms. "If you want, you can handcuff me. With my arms bound, I can't even use Ether Gear. *That's* how weak I've become. Of course, if you imprison me, well...I might have to call some of my friends. But I trust you're sincere enough to let me go if I've cooperated, right?"

Forescythe let out a quick scoff, "You not being able to use Ether Gear? I don't even really know what your Ether Gear is so I can't take that at face value. If your agreeing to be handcuffed then you should also know there is no GURANTEE we'll let you go. Well not me, at least. I only have these two conditions, you are handcuffed and we talk on my main ship that is above us. I can make sure that it is just the two of us on that ship. If you agree then we can talk."

Crown sighed. "Well, guess it's good you're a vigilant one." Crown kept his arms up in the air. "Ready for you, whenever you are, Forescythe-kun." Even in this position of inferiority, Crown never once let go of his confidence. A trait that made him a particularly infuriating member of the Oracion Seis Galáctica.

"Glad we could come to a temporary ceasefire. I'll call my ship to send us up, once you let me cuff your hands." As he walked towards Crown, Forescythe extended his hand with the Ether Dampening Cuffs to demonstrate that there was no deceit. "As I walk closer, I can tell you look younger than you do in photos. Would you mind turning around so I could apply the restraints?"

"Sure, I don't mind." Crown turned around and waited for the restraints to be applied. He took a deep breath. The risk he was taking here was much higher than he normally would. Then again...he did not have much more to lose.

Forescythe swiftly put the cuffs as well as wristband, which displayed the Thunder Force Crest, "Hopefully these cuffs aren't too tight. The wristband is for the instant-transmission ship future. Only those with this wristband can get transported" Then Forescythe took a step back to take a look around. "Still a little skeptical about these circumstances but nothing odd seems to be happening." The watch on Forescythe's wrist started to vibrate like a pulse. "Alright, they just alerted me that the ship has been emptied so it'll be just the two of us. You may feel a little tingle but you'll be fine." A port on the ship's bottom began to open, and a bright white light emerged from the bowels. Both Forescythe and Crown were engulfed in light, and their bodies were immediately propelled towards the ship. Crown and Forescythe were then relocated to the commando carrier, Skyreach.