The sound of shattering glass cuts off any words Zoru would have spoken as Akai deals one last devastating blow to the Puppeteer’s beloved automaton. The puppet is driven back, pushed through the shattered edge of the reality Zoru had forged around them. As soon as she is through, however, the jagged edges seal themselves once more, cutting her off from them, and leaving Relius alone with the ridiculously powerful fox and his weapon.
“I simply did as I have always said I would, Relius.”
“I took hold of my own fate, and tore it asunder. I will choose the path I walk, and no one else will tell me where my destiny lies. Not you, not the Gods, not anyone.” Gore-covered hands reach out, clasping on either side of the masked man’s head, talons digging into the flesh. “Now…as enjoyable as this has been, I did come here for a reason. Killing you will simply be an enjoyable side-benefit of this trip.” His fingers sink deeper into his enemy’s flesh as he begins to use his control over time to rip the memories from the puppeteer’s mind. He discards the memories he doesn’t need, taking only the knowledge relating to the Azure Grimoire, and to Hazama. After all, the snake would be his next target. Everywhere he goes in Relius’ mind, he leaves only echoes of memories in his wake, faint recollections of horrible misdeeds. He leaves enough that Relius will know why he is being killed, and by who. He leaves enough for the Puppeteer to know regret and possibly even remorse before the end.
And above all else, he leaves enough so that the man will know fear.
She had escaped. That's all that mattered. Ignis would go on, the data with her, along with the catalyst. He knew he would die here, he had planned it from the start. The nature of the Kyuubi's power was far from planned however. That did not mean the plan had failed. The plan was not ye-
The plan was gone. Every detail of the plan had vanished as though it was passing dream. His associates, gone, his reasoning, gone, what he had planned to accomplish here, gone, all callously tossed away like a children's toy. What did he have left? He had his deeds, he had the Kyuubi. But it suddenly did not make sense any longer. Why was he killing him? For these dark deeds that he couldn't have possibly committed? No self-respecting human could have done this. It couldn't have been him! It had to be a trick!
"Stop this! Please! I know how it must seem, but it can't be! I would not have done this! Not to my family!" He pleaded, though he knew that it was futile.
