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Knives always strike when you least expect them.
Just a moment ago—
Everyone was still cheering for the slick-haired powerhouse, Brand. They praised his sharp insight, his decisive action. It looked like the battle was already in the bag. Big Bro Brand, one man standing against three—how could he not make history?
And then, in the next instant—
The twist hit like a sucker punch to the gut.
The mighty Brand, who had just taken down a formidable foe, fell victim to a coward's trap.
"No, no, it's not over yet! Don't give up so soon! It's just poison—push through it, Brand!"
Might Guy, the Blue Beast of Konoha, shouted with burning spirit.
"You can't just 'push through' poison! That's not how it works, Guy-sensei!"
Tenten groaned, rolling her eyes.
"Come on, for true heroes, poison shouldn't be a big deal! Remember Demon Slayer? Tanjiro and the others were all hit by Muzan's deadly blood poison in the final battle—but they still made it through! Big Bro Brand's gonna be fine too!"
Shinpachi clenched his fists nervously in the Gintama world.
And indeed, across countless worlds, countless fans were thinking the same thing.
But then—
On the glowing screen, everyone saw it:A dying Brand handing over his Imperial Arm, the "Demon's Key," to Tatsumi.
In that moment, all hope drained away. Everyone knew what that meant.
Brand was doomed.
His death would be the spark that lit the fire in the next generation's hearts.
"Don't follow my path, idiot. With your talent and everything you've learned, you're ready to wear this armor now, Tatsumi."
Brand forced out the words with the last of his strength.
"You can tell whether an Imperial Arm suits you just by how it feels—your first impression, your gut. I know you can handle it, Tatsumi."
Encouraged by Brand's final words, Tatsumi's eyes burned with resolve. He picked up the sword.
"A man who's respected by so many put his faith in me. If I don't live up to that… what kind of man am I?!"
He roared.
"Then show me, Tatsumi—roar with your soul!"
Brand shouted back, his voice echoing with pride.
"Aaaaah—Demon Armor: Incursio!"
A blinding crimson light exploded around Tatsumi. Behind him, the spectral form of a raging dragon—the Tyrant—rose, coiling around his body.
"You're going down!"
He charged at the remaining Beastmen trio.
BOOM!
One punch.
That was all it took. The superhuman Tatsumi, empowered by Incursio, slammed the muscle-bound Beastman into a wall. Blood sprayed like red rain.
"You're amazing, Tatsumi. With power like that, someday you'll surpass me. Keep fighting. I'll be watching over you."
With that final smile, Brand's eyes closed forever.
"Aaaaaaah!!!"
Tatsumi's anguished scream echoed across worlds.
"Haah… I knew it. Big Bro sacrificed himself again. 'A brother's sacrifice brings divine strength'—guess the ancients were right,"
sighed Zhang Chulan in The Outcast world.
"Waaah! Why do all the cool big brothers always die?"
little Xia Dou bawled in Ling Cage.
"That's exactly why this 'Cross-World Highlight Screen' exists—to honor the heroes who fought in the dark, unseen."
the silver-haired beauty Bai Yue Kui murmured softly.
"Brand's death won't be in vain. He'll inspire others to rise—and someday, that cursed nation will be reborn."
Vice Admiral Tsuru from One Piece nodded solemnly.
"I can see Rengoku in him… both brave, both smiling till the end. Why must all good men die like this…"
Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji's eyes welled with tears.
"Even in their final moments, they still guide the next generation. Just like Rengoku. Men like them… they're the kind you can't help but love."
Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui said quietly.
"Big Bro!!!"
Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu howled together.
"What an incredible man, Brand."
Rengoku Kyojuro's voice rang with admiration.
"Namu Amida Butsu."
The Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, pressed his palms together in prayer.
"The dawn will come."
Yashiki Kagaya declared firmly.
"Hey, Itachi… what are you thinking?"
Kisame glanced over at the man beside him, cloaked in red clouds.
Uchiha Itachi said nothing.
He simply watched the glowing screen in silence.
A brother's sacrifice brings divine strength.
The deaths of Rengoku and Brand only solidified his resolve.
He was already a dying man anyway. So before the end came, he'd make his death mean something.
He would use his own life to give Sasuke the push he needed—to make him evolve beyond history itself.
In the One Piece world, deep in the lowest level of Impel Down—Eternal Hell—
"I really am a hopeless brother, huh…"
Ace smiled bitterly.
"Rengoku and Brand gave their lives so their 'younger brothers' could walk forward. But me? My death will only bring Luffy pain… and grief to our father and everyone else. Maybe I was never meant to be born at all."
Meanwhile, back in the Akame ga Kill world—
"Brotheeer!!"
Tatsumi's voice cracked as he stared at Brand's body on the screen, tears streaming down his face.
"Brand!"
Akame and the others had red eyes too, holding back sobs.
"Hahaha, don't cry, Tatsumi. Everyone. Look, I'm right here, aren't I? Still standing!"
Brand gave his usual easygoing laugh.
"And Tatsumi, you were amazing. Have some faith in yourself. You'll become an even stronger Incursio user than me—I'm sure of it!"
"No way! I could never be stronger than you, Big Bro! And don't say stuff that sounds like your last words! We've seen the future now—we can change it!"
Tatsumi said firmly.
"He's right,"
Najenda said, brows furrowed.
"That's one more future we'll have to rewrite."
What she didn't say aloud was—
Esdeath had probably come to the same conclusion.
They'd all seen the future.And now… none of them would stand by and let it happen again.
"..."
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