You sit in the guest room Saphron gave you. You hear a knock and George enters.

George: Hey.

Y/N: Oh... Hey.

George: We need to talk.

He pulls a chair away from a nearby desk and takes a seat.

George: Listen... I know you want to separate Phase 3 Deadmans. But it's possible that the Volcano Vistamp may not be enough. If you're not careful, it might even kill you...

Y/N: ...

George: It would probably be easier on you if you didn't try to separate them.

Y/N: Then what's the point?

George: I expected that response. I'm going to do what I can on my end. You should rest for now.

Meanwhile, Emily and August are walking along the streets of Argus.

Emily: This place is nice.

August: It is a beautiful town. It helps that there's proper protection against Grimm.

?????: Lyon?! Lyon?!

They see a young man looking around.

Emily: You okay?

?????: Y-Yeah... Just trying to find someone. My name's Tyler

August: Maybe we can help. Do you have a picture?

Tyler holds up a picture and the two L/Ns do a double take.

Both: Julio?

Tyler: His actual name is Lyon Vulkan. We used to go to school together. I... Want to talk to him.

Emily: Alright. We can help.

The three look around and eventually find Julio by himself, buying coffee.

Tyler: Lyon.

The Deadman turns.

Julio: I told you you have the wrong person.

Tyler: Please... I just want to tal-

Julio: There's nothing to talk about!

He runs off after getting his coffee and Tyler sighs.

Emily: What even happened between you two?

Tyler: Back in school, we were huge fans of the Remnant game. This card was his favorite...

He pulls out a card that is taped together.

Tyler: I was an idiot... Bullies made me take the card and rip it in half... Before I could apologize and explain, Lyon had already moved... Believing his friend to have betrayed him... I just want to apologize for everything...

Emily: Let me try talking to him.

Emily jogs off. Meanwhile, outside of Argus, two individuals arrive.

Olteca: Best to lay low for now, Mr. Wanted Fugitive. Don't want your target to run away again.

Adam: ...

Olteca: I'll scout around.

The Deadman vanishes and we cut to Emily who found Julio.

Emily: Hey.

Julio: Wha-

Emily: I'm not here to fight. What happened with you and Aguilera after the Fall of Beacon? Haven't seen a trace of you guys for a while.

Julio: We... Went into hiding... We heard that Giff's coffin was being kept in Atlas but we can't get an airship without causing a scene.

Emily: We're trying to get to Atlas for other reasons.

Julio: You weren't after us?

Emily: We've learned of a big of a bigger threat recently. No offense.

Julio looks at the coffees which have already gotten cold.

Julio: Can you promise me something?

Emily: What?

Julio: If anything happens to me, I want you to look after Aguilera-sama.

Emily stops for a second.

Emily: Sure... But only if you promise to hear Tyler out.

Julio: Fine... Let's go.

The two meet with Tyler and August and the L/N siblings gives the former friends some space.

Tyler: ... Lyon... I... Want to apologize...

Julio: Why didn't you meet me at that cafe before I moved?

Tyler: I was on my way, but those bullies blocked my path.

A flashback shows us a slightly younger Julio or Lyon as he gets in a train to leave Argus. As the train passes through a part of Argus, he sees Tyler getting beaten by a group of boys their age. We cut back to present day and Julio drops the coffees he was holding.

Julio: ...

Tyler walks over and hands the tapped up card to Julio.

Tyler: I've waited for the day I could give this back and say sorry. Lyon... Will you be my friend again?

Julio stares at the card as the L/Ns go to walk away.

Julio: Tyler... I-

Julio stares in terror as Olteca holds Tyler in a one armed hold and lifts up the Giff Stamp in his free hand.

Julio: Tyler!

August and Emily turn just in time to see Olteca stamp Tyler. As the young man started to succumb to the stamp's power, he looks at Julio with a weak smile.

Tyler: Lyon... Smile...

And with his final words, his body completely petrifies and explodes to release a Giffterian.

Giffterian: Where's my next meal?

Olteca: Shall we stamp Aguilera next, Julio?

The sadistic cultist goes to leave as Julio mutters under his breath.

Julio: Don't call me Julio...

Olteca: Hehe... Huh? What was-

Before Olteca can finish his sentence, the Giffterian flies past him and slams into a wall, killing it instantly. Olteca turns to see Julio's body start to sprout a mass of red spikes from his body.

Julio: Don't you dare... Call me Julio!!!

Julio transforms into a new form and lunges at Olteca, who quickly changes into his Deadman form just as Julio rips his now transformed arm and a chunk of his side off.

Olteca: Julio... You bastard...

Olteca vanishes in a mass of ink and Julio screams in rage, his voice inhuman.

Julio: OLTECA!!!

He glows before unleashing a massive explosion of energy that August and Emily hide to avoid.

Meanwhile you sit in bed, starring at the Revice Driver.

Y/N: You must be mad at me, Vice...

Vice pops up.

Vice: Why would I be mad?

Y/N: I guess I stopped caring about myself. And I decided to put others first. But... That put you in danger too... So I figured you'd be angry...

Vice: Hehe...

Y/N: What's so funny?

Vice: You say you don't care about yourself. But that's a lie.

Vice flies into your body and the two of you appear in a void with Vice in his tangible form, allowing him hi press his fist over your heart.

Vice: I'm a part of you. We were originally one after all... So don't go sayin' you don't care about yourself.

Y/N: Vice... I'm sorry.

Vice: Hehe... Telling yourself you're sorry? Weirdo~ Hehe...

The two of you laugh but your moment is ruined by Julio's explosion.

Vice: Woah!

You climb out of bed but fall over.

Vice: Y/N!

Y/N: Vice... Help me out there?

Vice: You sure? I might gobble you up.

You press your fist into his chest but since you've returned to reality, he's in his ghostly form.

Y/N: You'd never betray me.

You stamp yourself and Vice manifests before carrying you to George.

Y/N: George.

The scientist looks at you.

George: You might not come back fron this... But, I'm not gonna stop you.

You take the Volcano Vistamp and start heading towards the fight.

Back to Julio, Emily, and August.

The siblings transform to try to immobilize Julio but he's much stronger than his regular Deadman form. He pins Emily down and she gets ready to do a finisher but hesitates after remembering why Julio's like this to begin with.

Jeanne: Julio, please stop.

Julio: Stay outta my way!

Julio lifts her up and throws her through a pillar. August tries to pin Julio down but the Deadman slams the older L/N into the ground before kicking him towards Emily and the two Riders de-transform. Meanwhile, Olteca watches from a rooftop.

Olteca: What a pathetic sight...

Julio: OLTECA!! WHERE ARE YOU?!

Y/N: That's enough!

You and Vice walk up.

Emily: Y/N? Vice?

Vice: Your ultimate buddy combi has returned!

Barid Rex!

Y/N: Ready, Partner?

Vice: Course I am! W-Wait, did you just call me partner?

You nod and hold up the Volcano Vistamp.

Volcano!

Combine!

Bari-Fire Come on! Volcano!
Bari-Fire Come on! Volcano!

Y/N & Vice: Henshin!

Burst Up! Oni-atsui! Bari-yabai! Gon-sugoi! Banet-tsuyoi! Revice! We are! Revice!

The two of you transform and do a fist bump. Julio responds by charging at you but Vice blocks with his shield. Before you strike Julio with a flaming uppercut.

Vice: Coming through!

Vice launches forward and crashes into Julio, allowing the two of you to strike with icy and flaming punches. Vice makes a blade of ice as you stamp the Revicelasher with the Volcano Vistamp.

Stamp-By! Here We Go! (Let's Go)!
Revi-Vice Slash!

Julio gets knocked back and releases a burst of energy you and Vice block by engulfing yourselves in fiery and icy auras. You then turn the Volcano Barid Rex Combined Vistamps on your Driver twice.

Vo! Vo! Vol! Vo! Vol! Vo! Volcano!

Julio tries to strike with a barrage of spikes and energy but you and Vice fly around and get ready to perform a rider kick. Julio clamps the wolf muzzle on his chest twice to fire a beam of energy. As you and Vice fight against it, your suit starts to catch fire.

Vice: Y/N!

Revi: I'm alright! We got this!

This makes Julio hesitate as you and Vice kick through him, separating Julio from his demon.

Vice: 3! 2! 1!

The demon turns into a stone tablet that explodes. Julio falls to the ground and stares at the taped up card, the only thing he has to remember his old friend. Olteca tries to kill him while he's down but Aguilera arrives to save him.

Julio: Aguilera-sama...

Aguilera kneels down and smiles in an attempt to cheer him up.

Julio: Julio... Smile!

This instead cause Julio to cry as he holds onto his card. Aguilera then takes him and vanishes as Olteca does the same.

Meanwhile... In Atlas, Giff's coffin is kept under extremely high security in Fenix HQ. Two Fenix soldiers step aside to allow a man in a white suit and wearing a glove on his right hand. He notices red energy enter the core of the coffin and he hears a faint heartbeat before giving a small smirk.

End of Part 34