Fuko enters Andy's memories using the Artifact "Soul Caliber."
She wakes up in 19th century United States.
Fuko meets Andy and his buddies from this era, and manages to pass the welcoming test.
But because of an undertaking by scoundrels, Andy's comrades are all murdered.
Fuko decides to travel together with Andy now that he lost his buddies.
The long journey shares with Fuko the many encounters and deaths Andy has experienced.
One night, Andy asks Fuko what it means to die.
Andy believes that one dies when the brain stops thinking.
But Fuko answers that death is when nobody remembers you anymore.
That answer gives Andy a new interpretation of death.
Suddenly, Fuko's body starts to become translucent as if the time has come.
She floats up and traverses through the times of his memories yet again.
April 15th, 1865. Washington, D.C.
When Fuko comes to, that was where she was standing.
Hey, Victor? So do you...
...believe in reincarnation?
Huh?
Your soul lives for a long time...
...and you get reborn in a new body when you die.
I don't believe it. Never believed in souls to begin with.
People live because blood pumps to their brains.
Why not? C'mon, believe!
It's way better that way!
Why's that?
Why...?
Well, because I'd get to see you again after I die!
Don't you fret!
Even if I do die one day and wind up in a new body...
I swear I'll never forget you.
Yeah, I'm not gonna relinquish to anyone.
Right, Juiz?
1865
APRIL 15TH
WASHINGTON D.C.
This is...?
April 15th, 1865, in Washington D.C.
Victor!
They're my memories from this point on. Get lost.
These may belong to you... but they're Andy's, too!
I need to find out exactly what happened here...
...why Andy was born!
Unnecessary.
I will kill you now.
And when I do, you will warp to the next chapter of my memories.
And wherever you warp to, I will kill you there again.
This book has events logged until December 2020.
I'm going to keep killing you until I drive you to the final chapter.
Then I'll crush and erase your soul while it's still in the book.
What good does it do to kill me?
I will make sure you never think about peeking into my memories again.
Moreover...
Killing you means his psyche weakens.
I'll use that opportunity to assume control.
And I will return to being myself.
You've got good spirit. But there are things I must do as well.
Curse your misfortune for ever meeting him, Unluck.
At the least, you can run away until the very end.
Shin... juku...
AUGUST 1, 2020
If what Victor said is true...
...then this is my only chance!
I can't die yet!
I can't afford to die!
I still haven't... given you anything in return!
Andy!
Too much trouble. I'll kill all of you at once.
Deadline!
There. Unluck is dead. Missing today's encounter means she'll never be able to meet him.
Wait for me, Juiz.
This time I will make sure to...
Ten Twist.
You fool. This measly bullet can't-
Vortex Bullet!
Sick. Wicked sick!
Wah! Andy!
Well, look who turned into a big crybaby.
I can't help it!
I mean, I'm sorry for clinging to you like this!
My Unluck...!
All ya gotta do is not let go, yeah? Just keep on clingin'!
Aye!
Now...
So that's the Victor you talked about in the past... my main personality, eh?
Yup.
Well, good to meet ya. So why are you targeting Fuko?
Because that girl is trying to sneak peeks into my past. She seems quite eager to die.
But this plays to my favor. I have business on the outside.
There's someone I need to kill once I get you, you see.
That girl isn't a resident of the book, so killing her a few more times will extinguish her soul.
Since your outside self is dependent on her, I can use that opportunity to assume control.
So I'm killing her as my ticket to the outside.
I dunno what my outside self thinks of this girl.
But I do know that my current self has changed thanks to her.
My takes on death, my hopes for the future... and that's why I'm here.
I'm deliverin' her to my future self. She's someone I need. And I'll defend her if it kills me!
I see. Then, make an effort.
Hang on tight!
Got it!
Deadvulcan!
Repair Glide!
Not bad, dead weight!
He's moving by acceleration through repairing his coiled-up legs!
It's dramatically smoother than his repair-based movement in the past.
Deadblade!
You've mastered solidifying your blood, too, have you?
He's boosting his speed by spraying blood from his joints.
Meeting that girl has improved him this much, I see.
However...
...they all lack proficiency.
Your blade isn't sharp enough, dense enough...
...or powerful enough!
Deadline!
That was a waste of time.
Deadroad!
You've gotten far learning these tricks in a mere 140 years' time.
However, if that's the best you can get out of both arms, this is all but over.
Fuko!
Yeah?
Let go of me!
Wha? No way! If I let go, Andy, the Unluck will-
Don't worry 'bout it! Just trust me!
Thanks to you, I've changed!
You've shattered my views on life and death!
So get on outta here, and relay the message to my future self!
I've got more than enough Unluck charged up! Just leave the rest to me.
I've got something I wanna try...
...out?
Let's do it... Unluck Bullet!
Go get 'im, Andy!
Yeah!
Unluck's special touch. A large stroke of unluck is coming soon.
What a bother. Should I blow it all away?
Here goes.
Unluck Bullet!
What kind of stunt is this? You're throwing the match just to shoot off some fingers?
Still, they're just fingers. They don't even pierce me.
First.
A gas explosion... a stroke of unluck?
Why is it befalling me?
I loaded my soul into my fingers!
Soul into his fingers? So the unluck is residing in his fingers?
Impossible!
If I recall, a stroke of unluck only affected his main body.
Second.
It got Andy, too.
I always started repairin' myself from my head.
Cuz I figured ya need your brain to live...
...and inability to think with it meant you were dead.
A worthless perception.
Yeah. That's why I changed.
He repaired from his torso?
Three Twist!
When I met Fuko and journeyed with her... I learned to stop lettin' logic dictate my life.
Instead, I learned that I could live in this world however I damn well please.
Unluck dwells in the soul!
And souls are what give people life! That's the kinda world I believe in!
So it doesn't matter how my body gets destroyed. I can come back from anywhere!
In the end, it's all a matter of how we perceive the rules.
So long as we believe in that concept, our abilities'll develop as much as we want.
And you've embodied that idea for me.
So I've gotta thank you... God of War, Victhor.
We can get even stronger.
Third.
Andy! Look at that!
Yeah...
Fourth.
What now? No matter how much we beat him, he'll be back-
Yeah. That's true.
Hm?
That... was used when they caught you, Andy!
So that's what you meant... Juiz?
You're right. These two just might be...!
I wouldn't be able to escape from that. But he's a deviant. He'll bust out in due time.
I see.
Andy.
I want to talk to... Mr. Victor.
Why?
I came here to learn more about you, Andy.
And Victor is a part of you, right? So I want to learn about him.
Instead of sneaking peeks into his past, I think it's better to chat with him.
Okay. You heard it, Victor. You can bust outta there anyway, can't ya?
Shouldn't ya be used to seein' that by now? Cut that out.
I'm still not used to seeing it! I'd like you to hold back at least a bit!
So, um...
What?
What kind of relationship did you have with Ms. Juiz?
Juiz? Who's that?
I saw it!
It was fragmented and not very clear, but still.
I saw you and Ms. Juiz creating the Union and working hard together.
Apocalypse showing what he shouldn't have, huh?
If those memories are true, then why are you trying to interfere with our plans?
Weren't you a member of the Roundtable yourself?
You're just like Juiz.
Like Ms. Juiz? What part of me? No way! No how!
You're heedless of danger, and to help those you cherish...
...you have a soul willing to bet it all for them.
Looking at the two of you reminds me of our past selves.
At first, things went well.
Step by step, we overcame the quests, and got closer to clearing it all.
But I soon realized we couldn't win.
Even after hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, even hundreds of millions of years passed...
God's life was still out of our grasp.
We should have given up.
No matter how long we continued...
...we'd only be dancing in the palm of God's hand.
Still, she wouldn't give up.
She thought by making the best moves one by one, she would reach God one day.
So she boarded the Ark and Looped. Over and over again.
She's a fool... She isn't immortal.
She should just die and save herself the trouble.
That's why I've decided to kill her.
But why do that...?
What kind of man wants to see the woman he loves suffering?
Mr. Victor...
She won't give up until she dies. Just like you right now.
But... I've changed my mind.
That last stroke of unluck you both unleashed. That was a sign of evolution.
You learned that death wasn't my unluck, and ended up summoning a capture tool.
Previously, your unluck only dealt physical damage.
But it transformed into personalized unluck for the target.
No doubt journeying with my counterpart yielded a better understanding of your target.
Which means, if you research and figure out God...
...your unluck will reach God.
Consciously control your unluck.
Think of what death would be to my counterpart the whole time through.
W-Wait just a second! What about 1865? What happened?
That memory is of no use now that you're stronger.
Just keep marching forward.
But if you must know, you can ask Juiz.
By the way, do you know how I can get out of this memory?
Just kiss my counterpart there. And I don't mean just a peck on the cheek.
Wha?
Hey, don't cry. Just never forget and all that jazz, right?
Y-Yeah, but...!
I'm gonna be one with my future self!
And I'll become even more handsome and woo you over! So get yourself ready!
Yeah! Can't wait!
Later.
See you in the here and now.
TO BE CONTINUED
PREVIEW
Throughout the long, long journey, I continued to watch over their lives.
Now is the time for me to pick up my pen.
And fortune begins to take a turn.
Next episode of Undead Unluck, Episode 23-A Story I Won't See Coming. A STORY I WON'T SEE COMING
In search of the greatest death ever.