Return of Refugee X

...In fact, I'm pretty sure this is why I survived.

I might have been all alone, forced to fend for myself SurCam-style...

But a true hero can't give up until they've given all they've got and more besides!

Besides...if I save the universe again, Ex will have to forgive me, right?

All right, let's do this! Saber Ninja Art Ultimate Technique!

Light and darkness cross to reveal Sabers! Cataphract shift! Feel the power of kingship!

Excalibur!!!

.........up. ...ke up, X.

(Sigh) I knew it. Being gentle never works on her.

X, if you don't wake up in the next five seconds...

...I'm going to drop an incredibly dense and truly massive Ex sweet rice cake right on your face.

Five... Four... Three...

Oh, for...! I'm up, I'm up! Are you trying to kill me yet again, Ex!?

Wait. Ex!?

Yes, it's me. Good morning, X. And good night, because I'm going to go to sleep myself now.

Wait! Hang on!

If you're here...does that mean this is the afterlife?

That's right. This is the promised land of eternal sweet beans afterlife. I've abbreviated it to "A" for adzuki red beans. And afterlife.

That's a really nonindicative abbreviation, but anyway...

Does that mean I'm...you know...

No, X, you aren't completely dead yet. But you are hanging on for dear life.

And speaking of things that are dear, I could really go for some rice cakes with sweet bean paste right about now... Om nom nom.

Aha! Now I KNOW you're the real Ex! Nobody else could just pull sweets out of nowhere like that!

But seriously, where did you get those cakes?

I told you, this is the realm of A. You just have to visualize what you want. Here, I can have all the sweet beans I can eat. It's even better than a utopia.

Really!? Then, if I visualize some Cosmic Noodles... Hrnnn! ...Nothing's happening.

That's because you're still clinging to life.

So I have to die to get some food around here!? How does that make any damn sense!?

All right, guess I'd better hurry up and join you then...

... Searing Dumpling Fire.

Yeowch! Hot, hot, hot! What's the big idea, Ex!?

There's no ifs, ands, or adzuki beans about it. This whole place must be angry with you for giving up so easily.

Spare me the "It's okay since I saved the universe, right?" routine. That's as ridiculous as delicious tea brewing itself.

You had no hand in my end, X. The last thing I need is you feeling responsible for me.

And besides...you still haven't actually saved the universe.

Forget tea boiling itself. That's as nonsensical as a kintsuba cake kneading itself.

I don't think you've accomplished enough to earn a second life here.

Ex... (She's really worried about me. (Sniff) I'm so touched...)

Well, how do I get from "hanging on for dear life" to "one-hundred-percent alive"? Is it just willpower?

Oh, easy. I can kick you back to the land of the living myself. But before I do, I have some homework for you.

Homework? You know I'm not in school anymore, right?

I'm the universe's most perfect Saber. I have everything I need and then some.

You'll never be able to defeat the Origin Universe's goddess as you are now. In that final, critical moment, you'll end up letting your allies down and getting yourself, and them, killed.

So I want you to train here before you go.

We really don't have time for me to explain, so I'll just say that now that you're nearly dead, you have an opportunity to awaken a new killer move.

There's no beating around the bush with you, is there? So are you going to teach me this move, Ex?

...Yes. It's going to be a pain in the neck, but we have known each other a long time, so I may as well.

Anyway, I got to be a one-of-a-kind heroine by piling enhancements atop enhancements, so now, I'm going to have you do the same.

...To be clear, it will be much, much easier said than done.

And if you even think about using EXP-boosting Mystic Codes or whatnot, I'll toss you right out on your ass!

Well then... ∞ Chestnut Paste EX, activate. Swordfighters from other worlds, come to me now.

Fine by me! I was just thinking how unfair it was that you were the only one to get some crazy awesome power-up anyway!

That was so unfair as to border on ridiculous, but it felt good, so I'm okay with it!

What the? This power... Where did this incredible power come from!?

It seems you've awakened to your true strength. The skill you've awakened is truly singular, and only you can use it.

It's an EX-ranked skill that surpasses other EX-ranked skills. I call it an XEX skill. Because that sounds cool.

Uh... That doesn't sound cool to me at all...

Searing Dumpling Fire.

Yeowch, that's hot! I'm sorry, you're right! It's super cool!

That's better. And now, my work here is done. Good job.

Okay, you'll wake up in ten seconds.

It's snack time now, so please don't come back.

...Thank you, Ex. I really appreciate this. Before I go, can I just ask you one last thing?

...What is it?

What kind of sweet bean paste do you get around here, smooth or chunky?

...

We'll need another two or three events to figure that out, so you'll have to wait until you come here for real.

Well, bye.

See you later! Make sure you save some sweets for meee!

...Okay. If we ever do see each other again, I'll do my best.

...I sure hope we do!

What's going on, chirp!? What's going on, chirp!? The dead girl in the blue jacket just came back to life, chirp!

What the heck!? What are all these little explos Oh yeah. I did that! I almost forgot!

I've gotta get out of here! Aargh, that smarts! It figures my body would still need some time to recover!

Are you okay, chirp? We were just about to take our chances on an escape pod. Would you like to come with us, chirp?

That would be great, thanks! Oh, I should mention that I'm all messed up, so don't mind me if I just pass out a little bit here...

I'm sure I'll wake up again real soon though, so if you could fix me something nutritious and delicious while I'm out, I'd appreciate it!

After all, I've gotta go help the others as soon as I can move again.

Oh, yep. Here we go! It's pass out o'clock! But I have faith that my Galactic Meteor Sword XEX can save the universe! X out!