I find it quite puzzling that you call this piece an 'interlude'. Of course it is shorter than the two other installments and squeezed in between. But to me, interlude conveys the idea of something lighter, not too serious, not the main course. But to me, this piece is the main course. Especially chapter 3. That's what struck me most in the whole Dark Lords continuity. Part 1 is good of course, but it's actually half humour, we don't really get scared that they won't make it. And part 3 is excellent too, of course, but (and I may change my mind when I re-read it) I think it doesn't have the intensity that part 2 has. Part 2 is genuine tragedy. Ryouga's sacrificial charge in the tunnel is THE scene of the Dark Lords that is going to stick with me always.
Actually, chapter 4 was more what I'd call an interlude. Tying some ends from the previous events and setting the scene for future events. The events with Akari are a good resolution. Well, you make Ryouga suffer again, but that's for the best, I guess.
Anyway, good job as always. Thank you so much for this fic.

"We're gonna have a little interlude between the 2 main story"
Proceed to have a full fledged story, with an epic showdown and the death of everyone, along with the aftermatch, and a new chance for Ryouga to end with Benela. (Still suck for Ryouga, what terrible luck...)

I hope kuno doesn't take to heart "the first and most important thing is to crap," poor thing.

This was a hell of a ride. I take it the wedding didn't happen before the rewind, despite everything else?
Corrections offered without malice.
"sieza" seiza
"Ryogua" Ryouga

Corrections offered without malice.
"hand canon" cannon

I enjoyed the first story immensely. This sequel, not as much. But, positives first. I enjoyed Beneda and Soap's recruitment journey. It's odd in hindsight for fan fiction to open with a long chapter focusing almost entirely on OCs. But I didn't mind it.

The action sequences were once again well detailed. Even if they were more gruesome this time. (ham-fisted segue, I know)

I get the reasons for the dark tonal shift from the last story, but it was still jarring for me.

I also wasn't fond of how most of the final chapter only served to set up the next story. It felt like it was dragging this story long past the point where it seemed like it should've ended. I get that this story was but an interlude. But I think it would've worked better to have a short epilogue chapter instead, and saved the rest of the events for a prologue to the next story.

dang, and here I thought that everyone being alive again would tone down the drama

dang this got depressing, but I kind of hope it doesnt get retconned

Nice. Serenity is cool as always. Best character, really. Well except the ones that depict her as a misandrist despot. Yuck. Not the biggest fan of Akane, but well done.

Geez, talk about disregarding the usual wacky atmosphere for a super grim, dark and serious mood. The whole massive battle was freaking intense, being the main highlight Ranma delivering the equivalent to a goddamn tactical nuke and wiping out almost all the enemy forces in a single go.

The fact that everyone's sacrifices are unmade by literal magic is kinda hard to swallow, but I guess that's the whole point due to the SM crossover, as the girls do not even know what happened to allow them to carry out their duty.

Still, the end was just plain brutal. You made you point across, being Ryoga is suffering, both physically and emotionally (seriously, all the punishment he received in part one was ridiculous, but that seemed tame compared to Akari and Kuno of all people utterly crushing him). I can't help but to feel real bad for him. I just hope you make up for him somehow in part two.

Woaw only consciously noticed but you actually set it up in such a way that they won't have access to any overpowered little gnomes.
Except for Happousai...
I wonder if he's going to show up in part 2 and actually do something useful.

Thank you for writing this.

Absolutely amazing

there are probably a lot of crossover references here that i'm missing

Thank you
Thank you for writing this
Thank you for sharing this
Thank you for putting this on paper
Chapter 3 never fails to move me to tears
Chapter 4 shows that most things will turn out all right
Not everything, but more than enough to make it worthwhile
Thank you

Goodwork

It was all a dream sorta kinda, but it was also real, a rewind. This is epic and so in the style of the programs.

Really good and so very intense. Those battle scenes were as good as they got!
Good Stuff!