Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

"This is the kind of life you should experience, and that's good enough."

"...And what about you? Don't you want to tell them what you've done?"

“I have absolutely no intention of doing that, and aren’t you the same? You’re not planning to tell Xiaoyuan what you’ve done for her all this time, are you?”

In fact, Homura Akemi really wanted to tell Madoka everything she had done for her all this time... but she couldn't say it.

The same principle applies to Yan Ming.

Even if you expend a great deal of effort to save the world, you still have to keep all of that to yourself.

Don't you think we're... quite similar in this respect?

"I don't think so."

Upon hearing Yan Ming's words, Homura Akemi pursed her lips in displeasure and then walked directly to his side.

"I think it looks very similar."

"…Oh well."

"Also, just like you told me before, since you have made so many efforts for this world and for us, you should enjoy this harmonious life even more and pay more attention to yourself."

This time.

She then reached out and grabbed Yan Ming's hand.

Two humans, who were similar in many ways, stood together under the moonlit sky.

----------------------

"...What are you looking at?"

Gates, who had just finished eating, saw Wozniak standing there looking at something while holding the Galaxy Wozniak watch face.

"No, no, it's nothing!"

Woz quickly waved his hand, canceling the spatial portal created by the dial, and then... opened the book instead.

"...How could I possibly let such a gossipy moment pass by!"

Woz said this in a low voice.

Volume 6, Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Chapter 280 Will You Continue to Stay in This City?

At night, many people gathered together to witness the beauty of the meteor shower.

However, in such a gathering place, Yan Ming and Akemi Homura became rather unique outliers.

The two of them are now standing on a deserted hilltop.

Compared to the noisy atmosphere when there are many people, a unique sense of tranquility filled the two of them.

Thinking of this, Homura Akemi turned to look at Yan Ming.

"...You didn't come here just to see shooting stars, did you?"

Do you think I would do that kind of thing?

Compared to Homura Akemi's somewhat complicated state of mind, Yan Ming's feelings were not particularly different—his mood was the same as always after he had resolved a matter, feeling calm as always.

“I came here specifically to ask about your situation. I’m quite worried that even after the rules of this world have been changed, you still have problems. If that’s the case, things will be difficult.”

"I... I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me so much."

Xiao Meiyan knew that Yan Ming was concerned about her situation.

She also knew that Yan Ming was only asking her questions to confirm things about magical girls and witches in this world.

But... being asked that question so suddenly made me feel a little... strange.

Are you really okay?

Yan Ming noticed the complicated expression on Akemi Homura's face and couldn't help but ask.

"I already said there's no problem... Stop worrying about me so much."

Homura Akemi turned her head slightly as if she was not used to it. After noticing this, Yan Ming did not ask any more questions, but was slightly puzzled by Homura Akemi's strange attitude.

She's usually a very calm and composed person, so why is she suddenly acting so hesitant?

"Since you're alright, could you tell me how your magical girls' powers have changed?"

"It can still be used normally... but it seems a little different from before."

Homura Akemi herself couldn't explain what was going on. Although she felt that her magic power was very different from before, the effects of using magic or abilities didn't change.

"However, when using magic, the Soul Gem is no longer as corrupted as before, and the Seeds of Lamentation have all disappeared..."

Is that so?

Faced with this strange phenomenon, Yan Ming simply nodded calmly.

"That seems to be the case as I expected."

"...? Just as you predicted?"

Homura Akemi rarely showed a surprised expression. Although she already knew that some of the rules of this world had been changed by Yan Ming's power, she did not know exactly what had changed.

"The concept of a witch no longer exists in this world."

Yan Ming recounted what he had done at the time.

"Although it was only for a very brief moment, I did gain a part of that power... and then used it to change the world."

"I have erased the existence and concept of witches. Theoretically speaking, they should no longer be born in the future. And along with them, the entire race of incubators will also disappear... along with all traces of their existence."

The Hatchery Clan... naturally refers to Kyubey and his kind.

According to Kyubey, they have interfered with human civilization since the beginning of humankind. If everything related to them were to be erased, it would interfere with the entire human civilization and even the universe, and modern technological life would also disappear.

But... that didn't happen.

Although the Kyubeys have been wiped out and most things related to them have disappeared, the human civilization that developed through the Incubators has not been affected in the slightest, which is quite illogical.

It neither conforms to the conventional human understanding of time and space paradoxes nor to the logical order of chronological history.

But it was indeed done.

In other words, the power that altered the rules of this world either used overwhelming force to rewrite everything in this way, or... used extremely subtle manipulation techniques to not only eliminate the existence of the Kyubeys, but also protect the human civilization related to the Kyubeys.

It is quite incredible to accomplish any one of the above.

Thinking of this, Homura Akemi's gaze towards Yan Ming became even more complicated.

"But... if that's the case, why can I still use my magic?"

"Because I retained the concept of magical girls and didn't eliminate it along with the magic girl."

Upon hearing this, Homura Akemi blinked, somewhat puzzled.

“What’s the price…?”

"Because you still need to use these powers, right?"

Once Oma Zi-O's power is in his hands, Yan Ming will be able to freely alter everything in the world. Therefore, he can change everything according to his own wishes.

Although this can only achieve a small part of what he considers possible.

"Whether it's you, Sakura Kyoko, Tomoe Mami, or any other magical girl, you've all gotten used to this state. Or rather, even if you were erased from your magical girl status and turned back to your past selves, your experiences wouldn't get any better."

"That's certainly true... that's how it is."

For Sakura Kyoko, going back to her old life would probably be worse than her current one. She herself felt the same way, saying that returning to that period of weakness and incompetence would be torture for Akemi Homura.

In short, for the magical girls, having power is always better than having no power. They have become accustomed to this kind of life, and forcibly taking them back to their previous lives will not make things better. They probably don't want to lose this power either.

Therefore, Yan Ming retained the concept of magical girls.

But at the same time, he rewrote the definition of magical girl power.

"From today onwards, magical girls will no longer need to use the so-called Lament Seeds, because witches no longer exist. If you want to use miraculous magic, you must rely on your own will."

The soul within the Soul Gem returned to the body, and in its place, the Soul Gem will never be corrupted.

"Only with enough positive beliefs can one mobilize spiritual power and then transform it into magic power to drive the magic deep within the soul... This is the process of casting magic for you. If you can't do it, you can no longer become a magical girl."

This also avoids the possibility that magical girls might want to use their power to harm society. Since it's not a positive idea, they can no longer drive their magic.

"So...is my mindset positive?"

"That depends on whether you can use your own magic."

Homura Akemi glanced at him silently, and then…

In just a moment, the two were enveloped in a gray world where everything was frozen in place.

Only Yan Ming and Xiao Meiyan were able to move freely.

This situation lasted only for a brief moment.

“Really… the Soul Gem is completely untainted.”

She held her bright purple gem in her hands, and this incredible scene made even the usually composed girl exclaim in amazement.

The Soul Gem cannot be corrupted, which means she will never become a witch again.

Moreover, after her soul returned to her body, her body began to recover the physiological state of a normal young girl, and she was no longer a walking corpse.

"How did you do that...? I've never seen anything like it before..."

"If you ask me, I can only say that it came from a single thought."

What do you mean by conjuring something up with just a thought... Is it really that hasty?

Akemi Homura didn't know what to say for a moment. She looked at Yan Ming and could only purse her lips.

"…Thank you."

"No need, it's just my duty."

Is doing one's duty... just doing one's duty?

She looked at the man in front of her. He had already saved everyone in the world, yet he didn't take pride in it. Instead, he treated it as something extremely insignificant.

Her personality is truly bizarre.

"So... what are you planning to do next?"

"Keep doing what I've always been doing."

Homura Akemi nodded, but still didn't know what to say.

Despite usually being thoughtful about all sorts of things, he seemed unusually unfamiliar and clueless in this relatively simple exchange.

After all, for Homura Akemi, helping Madoka escape that tragic fate was what she had always been doing...

"...My parents used to travel around with me, but because of heart problems, they now have to go overseas to seek more advanced medical technology."

"Then you can tell your parents directly that the heart problem has been resolved. Wouldn't that be a great outcome?"

"That's right, at least it will stop them from worrying."

She nodded and continued.

"I... still plan to stay in this city."

"Because you already live here?"

"Yes, that's part of the reason. I need to let my parents know that my condition is fine so I can bring them back... and I also need to keep an eye on Xiaoyuan's safety at all times."

"You really care about her."

The reason she became a magical girl is because of Madoka Kaname, so... Homura Akemi will continue to protect her.

The world of magical girls is dangerous. Even though negative human emotions no longer manifest as witches, she still doesn't want Madoka to step into such a world.

only…

"What about you?"

Another question still lingered in Homura Akemi's mind.

Will you stay in this city like me?

no respond.

When faced with Homura Akemi's question, Yan Ming simply responded with silence.