Author's Notes: I can't say I can promise one chapter a week anymore, can I? The Etherdrone is ashamed...

But less whining and more chaptering. I hope you all enjoy this chapter of Touhou Chronicles! I hope it was worth the wait in the end!

[Interlude – Location: Youkai Mountain]

Chase "...What's wrong with me...? Why can't I... Heal myself properly...?"

The Pink Witch's eyes looked at the wounds on her arm with anger as she pressed her hand against it even harder as she channeled the magic power that she could feel coursing through her veins.

She finally managed to regain her cool, for as little of it she had left. Surviving the beatdown the little oni gave her was something she had no idea it would be so hard to accomplish. Her internal bleeding was healed and she was now capable of running and even flying again...

...But her magic strength wasn't all there anymore.

Chase "Maybe this had something to do with what that woman with those weird gaps of hers... She did put something inside of me."

She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on her Power Core of magic. ...And she could feel it.

Coursing through her, constantly pumping out magic... And being eaten. As if she had a boulder surrounding the core, sapping away its unlimited potential.

She couldn't do anything about it, though. And the mere thought of it made Chase punch a nearby rock in anger.

Bam

Chase "God damn that blonde bitch...! Who does she think she is? Toying with my gift from birthright as if it was hers!"

Bam

Chase "This pisses me off! That does it! I'm going to recover, and as soon as I'm done recovering I'm gonna blow this whole world up! This is the least these dirty pigs deserve! Dying while burning, that's what they fucking deserve! ...Ow, my hand..."

Letting all of her strength leave her body, Chase leaned backwards and rested her back on a nearby rock, her eyes landed on the horizon watching the time fly by. Her energy slowly returning to her, she channeled her power through her body; it slowly recovering from the injuries...

And then she saw a golden flash of light explode in the horizon she was gazing at.

Chase "Hm? What was that?"

The golden flash was really bright but it lasted for only a few seconds before going away as if it never existed. Chase rose an eyebrow in confusion. That was not magic, not in any way, shape or form. ...But only magic could flash like that...

It sparked her interest as a strong gust of wind blew through her golden hair, giving Chase the motivation to stand up and clean her pink robes from the dust with a few slaps. She took flight and gazed at the source of the golden flash... And she saw a purple flame grow in size, and then disappear into the wind towards the distance as if it was carried away.

The Pink Witch rose an eyebrow almost comically as a confused expression took her by storm. She crossed her arms as only her eyes followed the flames disappear in the wind and scatter themselves harmlessly through the nearby trees and disappear from normal eyesight. She channeled a bit of power to her pupils and they dilated enough so she could see the remnants of the flames follow a path through the plains, towards the night sky.

And a grin crawled on her face as she started to propel herself towards the path the flames took, her eyes sparking with the taint of curiosity.

Chase "Hello there, shiny~! Since when you grew so flashy as to warn everyone of your presence when you fly around, hmm~?"

[Interlude - Over]

[Location: Eientei]

Shinki "And that was the end of that."

Eirin "...This is odd. ...So you say Yukari was nowhere to be found...?"

Shinki "I couldn't sense her scent and I couldn't even talk to Ran herself. Her house was empty and no matter where I looked, I couldn't find anything regarding her being gone somewhere else. So... I just turned my back and returned."

Eirin "I see. Thank you for your hard work, Shinki."

Hard work, huh. All I did was walk around while appreciating the torn scenery of the Ragnarok. Such a beautiful place that was! The blackness of the scorch marks complement the blackness of the cinder and ash, which also complemented the blackness of the scar itself!

Truly, a display of beauty beyond the veils of art. Chase should gain a fucking medal for that.

Tenshi "We figured that staying there any longer would be a waste of time, and the flower youkai wasn't helping us anyway. She was in such shock it was pointless to speak to her."

Shinki "The shock of the Ragnarok may have been so intense that it sent her in a semi-comatose state. All she talks about is healing the land and how her pretties are hurt and crying for her to save them..."

I can't really say I don't understand her, though. She is the flower youkai for a reason...

Eirin "...Sigh. Well, we'll see what we can do regarding her when time is due. For now, we have to concentrate our attention to Hell and to the caster of Ragnarok. Most of the news I've received from Youkai Mountain are the ones regarding what's going on down here. I guess our little show of horrors down here has attracted a lot of attention from everywhere."

Shinki "News from the mountain? You mean, Aya's newspaper?"

Which brings me the thought; I wonder how she is doing. But knowing her as I do, I'm pretty sure that she is fine.

Eirin "Apparently, she has been doing her research. The papers describe with detail the happenings of the Ragnarok, the damage it caused and where it hit. Also, it described who was it that did it – though I doubt that Aya has met Chase eye to eye..."

Which means someone must have leaked information to her. Maybe it was Marisa? Or maybe Mimadame...?

...Or maybe she just managed to be around us all this time without any of us knowing...

...No. She is too cocky for that. Unless she's just showing off her own way...

And I also don't doubt she would do that.

Tenshi "These people just do whatever they want in the end, don't they? I can't understand the youkai sometimes..."

If you ever put yourself out of that line I'm going to punch you, celestial one.

Shinki "So you can do things on a whim yet won't let others do the same? ...I cannot grasp this way of thinking, no matter how hard I try to."

Tewi "Maybe because she doesn't even think of herself as part of the problem?"

...Oh!

I was wondering when you'd show up from your hiding spot, my dear lucky friend!

Yeah. I know you've been hiding in that corner for quite some time, now. I have no idea why you'd do that, but... Oh, well.

Tenshi "What? I am aware of the things I have done!"

Tewi "Congratulations, you realized you wrecked things. I also realized I have fluffy ears, yet that doesn't make me any less cute, usa. By the way, hello Shinki!"

Shinki "Yo."

I'm even more surprised that you're actually challenging Tenshi like you are...

Does jo got balls, mon?

Tenshi "Are you mocking me, earthen rabbit? What are you insinuating?"

Tewi "I insinuate that you should not think that only youkai do things on a whim. Because you also do. Because Shinki does too, usa."

Shinki "Oi, oi. I'm youkai too, you know."

Eirin "Oho? And here I thought you were something else entirely. Weren't you an evolved homunculus, or so I have heard?"

…

I don't know. And I don't really care.

Shinki "...Some guy I didn't trust say that. I have no reason to believe what he said."

Eirin "Hmm. This man you didn't trust was a renowned scholar. For as little as you trusted him, his theories did have an impact of their own."

…

I'll admit that, yeah.

But I am stubborn enough not to give in to that shit.

Tenshi "I still wouldn't listen to anything that man had to say. Shinki is Shinki. What a difference does his species make?"

…! Hah! Really, now? This is surprising! In more ways than one!

Shinki "Well, now I have heard everything! Aren't you quoting my own lines now? Seriously, I am stunned!"

Tenshi "R-Really? Have I? I didn't notice."

Oooh, I see what you're doing, there. You're teasing me, aren't you?

Well, I'm onto you, lady! Don't give me that cocky smile! You don't need to!

Tenshi "It's only obvious that a celestial such as I would learn from her experiences. I am not one as I am for naught!"

Eirin "...Shinki, I'll have you tell me what kind of magic you used to fix that broken mind of hers."

Shinki "I wish I could tell you in detail what I did... But I'm not sure myself."

Oh, don't pout. I don't mean it in a bad way.

Tenshi "Yeah, go ahead. Mock me all you want! I know you want to."

Shinki "Mock? ...Hmm... I don't know, there's no real reason for it... What about this, can I praise you, instead?"

And you are growing more and more uncomfortable! I do believe this is a scripted event, ladies and gentlemen.

Tewi "Usa?"

Tenshi "I... W-Whatever! I'll be going, now! Shinki, you better be OK when I come down tomorrow, do you hear me?"

Ah... Really? Going so soon, are we?

And I thought you were itching to stay longer. Maybe I taunted her too much...

Eirin "Well, I do believe this is quite the obvious approach to it."

Tenshi "It's alright. It's not like I cannot see what happens down here from heaven anyway. I think this is for the best; I would feel like I'm sleeping with a bucket on my head if I'd stay here."

Shinki "Ahn... So this means you'll be off to heaven, now? ...Take care on your way back, Tenshi. Tell Iku I sent a hello."

Tenshi "Get better soon. It's a real bother to hear you complaining about you being hurt! It's like I'm dating an old man or something close to that."

...And she takes flight on her keystone while sending me a wave of the hand.

I cannot comprehend for the life of me how her mentality on such a thing works. I am not a tank like she is, damn it! I am allowed to feel pain and complain about it.

Which reminds me...

Eirin "Did... She mention you two are dating?"

Shinki "...Yeah."

Don't... Give me that look. OK? Yeah, that's much better.

Eirin "Well, it's not like that is a bad thing! Youngsters should be young after all! Let us proceed with us taking care of your damage then, Shinki?"

Tewi "Usa? So you've been getting beaten again? Was this the fifth time you've broken something already?"

Probably so, yeah. What can I say? I'm not made of steel. Unlike some people I can name right out the top of my head...

Shinki "I'll pay you appropriately."

Eirin "So I expect."

…

Slurp.

And that was the end of that. So quick and so efficient, it almost seemed like a really bad joke. Seriously, the stuff she does to heal me is nearly insulting to the medicine of the Outside World. It's outright insulting, actually.

I have no idea what kind of medicine this is. But I am drinking it. And I feel insomniac.

Maybe there are tons of caffeine in this...? Or maybe I'm just feeling too uncomfortable with all that's happened today...? In any case, it's true that I am not feeling like sleeping at all. ...I'm actually quite awake this night.

Tewi and the others already went to sleep... Leaving only me to the night up ahead.

...The moon is really shiny today. Its light is illuminating everything as well as the sun. Or maybe that's just me, considering my vision is perfect at night... Or maybe it's the shady drug I'm drinking like it's a milkshake.

I'm not joking.

Slurp.

…

So much...

I wonder if Gensokyo ever experienced something like this.

Considering the scale of the damage the Ragnarok caused... The invasion of Hell and the loss of the Hakurei Shrine – Reimu's place - which is basically Gensokyo's enforcer unit... These are quite serious blows to any place.

I have a feeling I'm forgetting something really important regarding any of that. As if there's something I'm not looking too well into... But what would that be? This feeling of uncertainty is just boggling my mind like a very nasty wound that itches all the time. But no matter how often and hard I scratch it, it doesn't stop...

Shinki "...This really stinks..."

Female Voice "Well, that is a standard of Eirin's medicine! You'd have to bear with it."

Ah! Hey, if it isn't the Lunatic Princess herself.

...Lunatic as in, from the moon. Get it?

Kaguya "Though they start to stink less when you get used to them. I can't say what makes that happen, though."

Shinki "Maybe she just adds new things to the mix. Shouldn't you be asleep? It's midnight already."

Kaguya "I don't really feel tired. ...I cannot bring myself to stay in bed."

Slurp.

Rustle

…I don't think not a lot of people would, actually.

She sat right next to me, as we gaze deep into the bamboo forest of the lost and the night sky before us. ...I wonder?

Oh yeah. That reminds me.

Shinki "How's everyone doing? I couldn't really look too much into it since I came back."

Kaguya "Reimu-san's in the worst conditions right now. Everyone else seems to be doing fine, as far as I could tell. ...What about you? Aren't you going to sleep, or something close to that?"

Shinki "What do you mean, close to? I sleep just as well as any other person would."

Kaguya "Really? I thought you didn't sleep at all. Aren't you hurt, or so Eirin told me?"

What kind of person wouldn't need sleep...?

Shinki "I am, but it's fine. ...The medicine she gave me really works, and the moon's bathing me. I'm not feeling weird like last time, so I guess it's fine. I can't bring myself to sleep, too."

…

Maybe it's the shady drug's fault in the end after all.

Kaguya "...Hey. I never really... Had the opportunity to thank you for your help with last time's problems, did I?"

Shinki "Uhn? Ah, you mean, the Hivecrawler incident?"

Kaguya "You've been dealing with a lot of problems yourself, haven't you? I'm sorry I can't really repay you. For... For avenging the inaba that died that night."

Inaba? ...Ah, she probably means the rabbits.

That's a rather cute way of calling them, isn't it.

Shinki "It's nothing for you to fret about. I offered my help, and I have given it. That's how I work."

Kaguya "...I see. What kind of job did you do back then? Youkai hunter?"

Shinki "In a way I was, yeah."

Slurp.

Shinki "...Though it didn't stay only on youkai. Humans, fairies, vampires, undead... Ghouls, ghosts, magi and magicians in general. I've been hunted for so long because of my blood, I had to learn how to get around all sorts of things. And I did."

What are you giving me this sheepish look for?

Kaguya "It... Must have been hard on you. You've been living a life this hard for how long...?"

Shinki "Hard life? On me? Not really. Granted I always wanted to live peacefully, but the life I've lived was good and it taught me a lot. I certainly wouldn't want to die, would I?"

Granted, I only had to protect myself this much because I'm a blue-blooded vampire, but...

Shinki "Aren't you the same, Lunatic Princess? Do you regret your life?"

Kaguya "Of course not! If I regretted it, I would also regret having Eirin with me, and living in Gensokyo!"

Shinki "It's the same thing, isn't it? I only wish I could have found Gensokyo sooner with my sister. I'm sure she would have found this world to be mindblowingly cool."

Or maybe, hell on earth.

Considering who Shiyane was, I'm pretty certain she would try to kill Tenshi on sight. ...That is a really creepy mental image I just got.

I may not want to think of this any further. Yes.
Your irregular thought process has just been eliminated.

Kaguya "...It's Kaguya."

Shinki "Wot?"

Kaguya "My name. Don't call me Lunatic Princess. Call me Kaguya."

…

My theory that everyone is actually proud of their strangely appropriately named and given title just got grape nutted on the nuts. Or maybe she actually just wants me to call her by name? That's more than just fair enough.

Shinki "Then I shall do so, Houraisan Kaguya. In case you actually feel like it, you can call me by name, too. Actually, you do just that."

Kaguya "Chuckle! Well then, Katsura Shinki-kun, I will do just that!"

Slurp.

Well, that's the end of this caffeine-instilled medicine. Just as soon as I see this marvelous, time-stopping smile of hers.

...And now, for some odd reason, the night sky shines even stronger.

...

The moon is so bright, it almost seems melancholic...

Kaguya "Is it just me, or has the moon gotten brighter?"

Shinki "It's happened alright. ...Hooh... This feels amazing..."

I can even consider this an assault to my personal space, so good this feels.

Wind Blows

...I can't help but close my eyes and let the moonlight bathe me with its glow, making every pore from my body giggle in response; my lower fangs growing on their own as my mind makes me feel like I'm underwater, but still able to breathe.

This is enchanting...

Kaguya "...Eternal light; as you are, listen to my voice and rise to the sky... Enchant this air with your glow and let me fly... As you bring me up and down, time goes by... And thus I'm not affected~"

And she started singing.

I'm not going to complain one tiny bit. ...She sings pretty well...

Lighten up and increase my spirit, don't let me fall, don't hang me up

As I fear your eyes will miss me

From my former self that used to be so high up

And now I'm not affected

Your glow was lost and given to me

Still I feel that I am not complete

So I'll go see if I can be

One with this event which will affect me

Twisting in this twisted glory I'll go on

Just like we used to live our lives below

Still, even without your precious glow...

They live their lives in peace

My heart still beats though it does not stop

It doesn't stop just like the wind

The wind that no matter how hard it blows...

It does not affect me

…

...Fitting...

Shinki "You're good at this."

Kaguya "Eh? N-Not really! I just had a lot of time to practice..."

Shinki "Heh. Really? ...It certainly sounded nostalgic enough to me."

...Nostalgia...

Why does this word ring tons of warning bells on my head...?

I can't help but clench my fists to this thought process of mine... And deleting it wouldn't solve my problem. ...It wouldn't solve anyone's problem.

Because their problem is theirs to solve.

As it has always been...

[Interlude – Location: Eientei]

The shrine maiden of paradise's eyes hardly blinked as she adjusted her back to the wooden walls of the eternal mansion.

Her head hanged to the side, uncomfortable. Uneasy. As if the position she was in was only making her headache feel worse. As if she wanted her head to just fall off from her shoulders and roll on the ground.

She felt her mind static. The sounds of the ambient, the conversation she seldom heard outside... She couldn't pay any given attention to any of those. Her eyes were sunken as she couldn't sleep. Her breathing was tired yet she felt nothing.

That's only natural, isn't it...?

Her vision was fixed onto the wooden floor as if it was hypnotizing her. As she rolled her head forward slightly to position her back completely on the wall, she felt the weight of her body and she felt weak.

...She felt incredibly weak.

I always thought I could protect Gensokyo. ...I always thought that if someone showed up to cause trouble, I could just beat them up as usual... That I could just laugh about it later.

But I couldn't.

She placed her hand over her stomach area and massaged it slightly, where she felt a crushing blow before now was nothing due to the medicine she received from Eirin.

...Still, she could remember the impact. She felt the difference in strength at that moment.

The words that woman that claimed to be Hakurei Miko banged constantly on her mind like a jackhammer.

And despite not trying to pay any attention to it, Reimu knew she spoke the truth.

Someone that protects Gensokyo has to be strong.

You failed to defend Gensokyo, didn't you? The village was hit. The world was cut. Hell is overrun.

Can you tell me, Hakurei Reimu?

How many people died? Do you know? You don't, do you?

Reimu "...I didn't want any of this to happen."

Of course she didn't. That was the nature of Gensokyo from the start. But still, it is her job to defend this world. Such is the duty bestowed upon her. Such is that what she must do...

You are doubting your own strength. Are you really fit to protect Gensokyo? If you were, would you really have let this world be hurt like it was?

Do not believe your incompetence has any merit for what it has done.

And her eyes sunk in even deeper as her mind could not process any further thought.

The frustration and the confusion swallowed her completely like a wave, and she bit her own lips as a tear rolled off from her cheeks...

And they spotted the floor as the room she was in got empty by dawn.

Hakurei Reimu was nowhere to be seen anymore.

[Interlude – Over]

[Location: Eientei]

...I can feel the morning sunlight coming from the woods. So it's dawn already, isn't it...?

Well, it took the night long enough to go away. The night, the medicine... What the hell did she do to me? I feel like I have been placed inside a recovery center for a week.

…Sort of.

I poke my bones, and I don't feel any pain anymore. I know they are still cracked in some places, so if I don't force myself, I'm pretty sure I'm going to heal by tomorrow night...

I'm surprised people say I regenerate at an absurd rate. I guess they have a point.

Shinki "And even though I didn't sleep, I don't feel tired at all... What sort of medicine was that?"

Satori "Apparently, it was a heavily energetic protein drink. The specifics were too difficult to understand, so I didn't bother translating to my own personal understanding."

Oh, hey! It's the mole queen. Waking up so soon, are we?

Shinki "Good morning, Satori. You look as mind-readitive as ever."

Satori "...I... Find it surprising how quickly you can switch from thinking to speaking, and how fast you can do the former... You are a really odd youkai."

It's a gift. Just like in Christmas.

Reading my mind is like receiving presents all the time - it's a non-stop treat!

Satori "I'd rather receive gifts only when time is due. Lay down the snark a bit, Shinki. It's too soon for that."

Shinki "True, but I still didn't sleep. So it's not soon enough for me yet."

Satori "It would be, if you thought about your own agenda for a second..."

...Heh. I've just been seriously insulted.

Somehow, that actually quite amused me... I don-

Satori "I am not interested in knowing your obscure fetishes, Shinki. Keep them away from me, please."

...I don't even know why the hell I felt amused, but now I guess I know why.

I've found a worthy opponent.

Satori "What did I just tell you...?"

Shinki "HAVE AT YOU, WOMAN!"

Oh, she facepalmed! Giving up so soon, are we? Or are you amassing your powers? Strengthening your comeback? Increasing your power level?

Or maybe you just don't want to hear my crap this soon in the morning. Fair enough. She did say this was too soon.

Shinki "I take it you had a hard time sleeping."

Satori "You... Have the fastest mood switches I have ever witnessed, apart from Okuu. And to answer your question, it would be yes. I had to concentrate really hard to get everyone's thoughts as far away from my mind as I could. I failed poorly at it."

Shinki "Understandable enough."

Satori "Though I finally managed to sleep at some point. It was as troublesome as it could get, and I understand the reasons why. ...It's hard not to."

...Yeah; no shit, Sherlock.

Satori "...I know you mean no ill, but I still feel like you've been extremely rude to me just now."

Shinki "...Sigh. Sorry, my bad. I had a hard time myself, too. I had way too much time to think about it, and it kinda made my mood swingy. Sorry."

It's not fair to only add to the frustration of the whole situation. No one deserves this shit. What the hell am I doing?

I'm obviously not helping, that's what I'm doing.

…

Satori "Something ails you?"

Shinki "Yeah. And I don't know what it is, for as hard as I want to know about it..."

…Seriously, now... What the...

…? Hell?

Sniff.

Cinder...?

Shinki "...Is this... The scent of ash?"

Satori "Scent?"

Yeah. ...I feel the faint scent of ash in the wind...

Or is it burnt coal? It feels a lot like it...

Satori "...I can't feel anything..."

Shinki "Sniff. Yeah... It's definitely cinder. ...This is..."

It's way over there, on the distance...

This scent... It's...

...Oh.

Oh, no.

Oh, fuck no! Are you serious? At a time like this! Really?

I don't know if I should say I am impressed this didn't happen sooner! This is bullshit!

Satori "W-What? What is it?"

Shinki "This stench...! It's Morrigan!"

Satori "...Ah!"

Yeah. You look surprised for me. Please do it harder!
...That's what she said.

Satori "M-Morrigan! A-Are you certain? I don't...!"

Shinki "I can feel this rotten stench of his from miles away. The wind isn't helping him at all... But that doesn't really matter, 'cause he's coming this way...!"

God damn it...! He's still kinda far, though. But he's definitely getting closer!

I thought Eientei was supposed to be well-hidden! Have I been deceived or something?

Satori "...H... How long until he arrives?"

Shinki "Ahn? What am I now, a fucking seer?"

Satori "Just GUESS! Is that so hard to do?"

Yeah! Kinda!

...But I'll do it anyway, if it makes you happy!

Shinki "He'll probably be in here in five minutes! Are you happy now?"

Satori "...Five minutes... I'll... I'll go warn Eirin-san! ...Please keep a... Nose on him!"

Yeah, I'll do just that. It's not like I can keep my eyes on him anyway.

...God damn it...

Maybe coming all the way here was a bad idea...

...Wait... W-What about the rabbits? Tewi? They can't fight well, can they?

If it comes to that, we'll have to end up fighting... The rabbits need to get the hell out!

…

It's impressive how bad this smells, even from here.

I guess it's not something you can conceal that easily... I mean, it's like Morrigan is waving a flag at me!

Yeah. This smells THAT BAD.

Eirin "Shinki!"

And the cavalry finally makes its debut. That was fast!

Shinki "Eirin, this sucks – I mean this sucks really, really bad."

Eirin "Yes, I know! We're all awake and ready, but we cannot find Reimu anywhere! Did you see her?"

…

...What?

Wait, what? W-What?

WHAT?

Shinki "Wait, what do you mean with that? Isn't she on her room?"

Eirin "No! We searched for her, but she was nowhere to be seen! Udonge and Youmu are now searching for her! ...So you also don't know where she is?"

Shinki "No, I don't! But the hell, you mean she's gone? How is she gone? I don't...!"

...Stop talking. If she knew what happened, she would know the reason already!

Fuck! I am not liking where this is going at all...!

Kaguya "Eirin, she wasn't anywhere else in the mansion! Where could she have gone?"

Eirin "...Maybe to the forest...? Well, we cannot stay here anymore! ...Kaguya, if you'd please come this way? Let's get out of..."

...! Wait, not the forest!

Shinki "NO! Don't leave!"

...We're surrounded.

Classic, isn't it? Zombies. All over the place. All hidden in the forest.

Eirin "Ah... What..."

Your facial expression just said everything, Eirin. Allow me to express my feelings as I feel them this moment.

FFFFUUUUUUUUUUCK!

Satori "...! This isn't good, he came way too early!"

Rin "Aaah... S-Satori-sama...! ...What do we do? I don't know what to do!"

Youmu "Eirin-dono! ...We are surrounded!"

Reisen "Oh, god no... This is horrible...!"

Kaguya "What is this? What's going on?"

...OK, now. Keep a cool mind here, Shinki. Focus on what's happening.

This cannot be described as anything else but harrowing. The forest is covered in a purple mist that unleashes such a stagnant, putrid smell it forces me to use my mouth to breathe if only to spare my own nose. The vibration I feel from, the air indicate this is pure magic, as if someone is encasing the Eientei in a barrier. I can hear the noises of the damned in the distance as the curtain of purple slowly close the sky to us, turning this particularly beautiful morning into a scene that makes my spine chill. The air grew cold and unsettling – and even though we have a powerful force with us here... I cannot help but feel extremely vulnerable. My skin is crawling as I focus my strength into my arms and legs – making my fangs grow in the process. There is no escape. At least, there is no easy escape.

...Morrigan came. A bit sooner than I anticipated, but... There he is.

Morrigan "Good morning. It would appear this does not need that much of an introduction now, does it?"

He emerges from the barrier right up front, accompanied by Garrote like a vicious guardian. ...Fitting.

This really brings me back, doesn't it? It looks like my welcome to Maine, all over again. I'm so fucking happy.

Eirin "Morrigan. You look younger than I thought you would."

Morrigan "Oh? I'm surprised to hear that. So you know of me already, that makes things much quicker... Though I didn't really expect anything else from the great brain of the moon. Such as you are, correct?"

Satori "H-How do you know of this? I do believe you never mentioned Eirin's name. Did you change your priorities, Morrigan?"

...He dismisses Satori's claim with a smile that pisses me off. I don't think he's going to even bother talking to us too much.

Morrigan "I didn't change my priorities. I just absorbed new ones. What good is a goal that disappears and does not leave another one behind in the end? I am just following the road my previous success led to me."

I hate old people. They always talk cryptically, as if they are just making shit up as they go.

Get to the fucking point already.

…?

Shinki "Satori?"

What's this? She looks... Like she's in shock.

The hell?

Satori "...Y... Y-You..."

Morrigan "Read my heart and despair, queen of hell. I have no further need for you, though your presence here surprised me. Your disappearance was a mere inconvenience brought by the swordswoman and the moon rabbit... But now I have reached my goal... Thus hiding myself now is meaningless."

Eirin "Reached your goal? What do you..."

…?

He reached his goal. So what?

You mean, he found Y...

…

Static

STATIC

...You mean...

He found Yukari.

So this means he found Yukari.

I didn't change my priorities. I just absorbed new ones.

My previous success.

Success.

Led to me.

The road.

Eirin.

Absorbed.

Yukari.

Death.

Death.

Death.

Death.

Yukari is dead.

...He killed Yukari.

And he absorbed her knowledge. Or something like that. Is... Is that right?

He killed her and knew of Eirin?

So his abilities are those of absorption?

What about Ran? Chen? What will happen to Gensokyo?

More to the point, how did he kill Yukari? He's definitely not bluffing, so I can only wonder how he did it. I can only think he had his reasons; so now he lost his goal? He gained a new one, he said. What would that be? Go to the moon? Conquer Gensokyo? Destroy this world? Learn how to fucking river dance?

Satori "...Shinki. Stop it."

STATIC

Ah!

Morrigan "So, what do you think of my proposal, Yagokoro Eirin? I don't think it is a bad one."

Ah?

W-Whoa, what the shit? What the hell did I miss?

Youmu "Are you insane? She will not accept any offer given from you!"

Eirin "I don't know why I should accept it. There is no guarantee neither of us will keep our end of the bargain!"

Morrigan "That is true. The elixir of immortality for all your lives... That is quite a difficult exchange, isn't it? For you, that is... How else should we proceed with this, then? I might as well just take what I came for..."

...Negotiating...? They were engaging in fucking BARTER while I was... Nevermind.

Better than actually killing each other without warning me first!

Eirin "Your deal is absurd. I won't accept it. The Hourai Elixir is not something that can be made just like that!"

That's right, yeah. And you can make a potion that gives people immortality.

A few of my braincells just got old and died. That's why I can't think of any deeper cynical remarks to that. No, wait YES I FUCKING CAN.

Morrigan "Then the deal ends here, I suppose. So much for peaceful negotiations..."

...The air is so tense right now that everyone seems like they have been doused in ice... But I don't... I mean, I'm not going to fall for this shit!

If someone's gotta open all of the gates for an opening, it might as well be me!

Shinki "Yeah... About that. Peaceful negotiations my ass, you black robed stupid bitch. Encasing all of us in a barrier like this and having tons of undead just about to raid this mansion doesn't sound peaceful to me!"

...What's the matter? Did I make you look at me, Mr. invasion mood? Well, fuck you then!

Satori "S-Shinki!"

Eirin "Shinki, stop talking, please."

Shinki "OK - let's talk about this... negotiating. Because it's not really negotiating... On the same note that having a seizure isn't really dancing!"

Garrote "...Master, should I...?"

Morrigan "No need. So you claim you are unimpressed? What should I do to start impressing you?"

Satori. Is fighting imminent here?

Satori "Yes. It doesn't matter - whatever is it you want to do, do it."

Shinki "Try dying! That'll be a good start!"

And I hurl an Azure Nuke at his face, without any other prior warning to it!

VOOOOSH

...Though he obviously expected it, he rose his hand to me and purple flame jet burst from his palm and it collides with the nuke, being blown away slightly by it and engulfing the whole air around it and the path between us!

Morrigan "...!"

Garrote "HM!"

BLAAAAAAM

The bone armor dude just jumped right in front of the nuke! Talk about an over-protective zealot...

Youmu "Shinki-san! ...So this is what everything leads up to, after all...?"

Eirin "Kaguya-hime, step back, please!"

A bit of trail dust rose from the explosion, but it was no big a deal. Both of them have been hit by the attack, even though Garrote jumped right in front!

Well, the nuke DOES disperse like a shotgun the more it flies. They only took about... 60% of its full power. But they still ate it! They still did!

Making Garrote's action... Completely Pointless.

Actually, not really! It made things better, I hit 2 for the price of one. Thanks, man. I love my abilities.

Garrote "Huff. What was that...? Master, are you alright?"

Morrigan "Of course. The time for pleasantries is over, then. I will take what I came for by force. ...This sounds about what I was going to do from the start, however."

Ruffling

Shinki "Zombies are advancing now."

Youmu "Tch...! I hate this...! ...Reisen-san, cover me! Kaenbyou-san, you help as well!"

Rin "Me? Ah... Of course!"

Eirin "...Well, this might as well save us a lot of time... I'll have a talk with you when we are done here, Shinki!"

Kaguya "I... I got your back here, Eirin!"

Satori "Shinki, if you'd please!"

Of course.

I know how to consider my options at a time like this...

Honestly speaking, I am fucked. This fight is just way beyond my league, so if I don't do whatever is it takes to at least survive... I am not going to.

So I know, already. I'll do Barrage.

I don't want to, and I don't like this. ...But you know what? I like living. So I'll live.

Even if I have to do a face melter... I'll sacrifice my own health to keep myself from falling and not getting back up!

And the sounds of combat start all around me as I concentrate on my whole power, sending a barrage of pure energy from my pores and making my fangs brim with so much strength my mouth gush out blood; instantly healing itself due to the sheer concentration of magic...!

...Sacrifice...

Focus...

Increase... And expand. Expand. Glue it onto my body... And let it take me over. Over and Over AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER!

Shinki "BARRAGE!"

FLASH

Morrigan "...This is...!"

Satori "S-Shinki?"

Eirin "...Let's do it! [God Sign – Genealogy of the Sky-Born]!

Shinki "RRRRN... HNNN... NO! MORE! TALKING!"

…

I feel like shit.

[Interlude – Location: Bhava-Agra]

...The wind that was blowing that morning was a very strange one.

It was cold, and yet, warm. It made the Celestials that looked upon it worry, and feel reassured. They pondered upon its nature for the same time they did not bother.

All except but one.

The eldest daughter of Bhava-Agra removed the half-eaten peach from her mouth as she looked to the distance with a surprised, stunned look on her face. Her eyes fell on the trees as she finished eating the remains of food on her mouth, and stood up almost mechanically as she frowned upon the wind as if it whispered an insult to her.

Celestial "...Hinanawi-san? Where are you going?"

Tenshi "Shh. Don't bother me."

She walked with her eyes focused on the edges of heaven as the wind got cold. It brought up a feeling of unease to her shoulders as she rubbed the morning dust out of her eyes and gazed at the world below with interest...

And her mouth opened almost instantly as she jumped down to the purple dome she could see hanging over the Eientei with hurry, leaving the heavens behind her as fast as she could.

Celestial "Hinanawi-san! ...What in heaven's name is wrong with that child...?"

The feeling of bad omens dominated Tenshi completely; her hands tightly gripped the Sword of Hisou as she focused all her attention at the dome... And she felt the back of her head chill.

Tenshi "God damn your bad luck, Shinki...!"

[Interlude - Over]

[Location: Eientei]

BAAAAAM

BAAM BAM BAM

CRASH

I feel horrible.

My feet are shaking, my hands are trembling, my eyes hurt... But I can fight.

I am completely covered by Morrigan's purple flames like I triggered a trap... But I'm not harmed. I'm covered by Barrage. I am safe from magic...

But JESUS, THIS FUCKING HURTS!

Garrote "Gah! ...What kind of warrior are you...?"

Shinki "EEEAAAH!"

BAM

And I punch yet another one of those weapons he summoned away from his hands, making it carve against the ground and disappear moments after.

His power is interesting. He can pull weapons right out of his ass.

It's like he is the personification of hammerspace, but with weapons. But I don't get the feeling he is pulling these weapons from somewhere. ...He is making them? Forging weapons on the spot?

It doesn't really make a difference to me. I am punching his weapons and then I'm reaching him and punching him too... All because I'm covered by this aura of mine.

This thing is totally and insanely stupid. What if I manage to raise both my strength and defense at the same time instead of either one or the other? This is the result: Barrage.

It is physically impossible for me to make this happen at a located area of my body. I HAVE to cover myself totally with it, or it'll disappear in half a second. This makes my skin glow blue like I'm one of those aliens from Avatar, and it HUUURTS. An ability like this is the stupidest thing I've ever thought of...! Barrage constantly crushes me, as if it's an armor that keeps pressing onto my own skin and it... fucking...

BAM

Shinki "HUURTS!"

Garrote "What the hell are you made of? Are you insane, punching my weapons like this? And why are you not burning? Morrigan did cover you in fire!"

Shinki "Damn the fire, it's magic! This is Barrage! Welcome to hell!"

BAM BAM BAM

I keep wailing on Garrote as the sounds of combat from around me get louder and more frenetic. ...I'm pretty sure Orin, Youmu and Reisen are killing one zombie after the next... While Eirin and Kaguya try to fend off Morrigan as much as they can.

And they are not doing a very good job at it...!

Satori is giving everyone a bit of support, but she's not good at fighting, as far as I can see. ...Very well, I'm fine with that.

KLANG

BOOOOMB

Shinki "Gah!"

...This battlefield is so hectic I'm starting to get angry at it...! Did Morrigan just throw more exploding bombs at me?

Eirin "Kaguya-hime, don't get hit by that!"

Morrigan "OK. That's enough! Garrote, come at me! Now!"

Garrote "...Ah... Yes!"

Oh, you want to, don't you? Very fucking well!

The fire is gone, so... OK, time to stop doing Barrage. Cancel it!

Flash

Garrote "Ah!"

I summon the Soul Echo and I grab the asshole with it as he tries to reach Morrigan...!

Voosh

Garrote "KH! This is...!"

And I hurl him right at Morrigan as hard as I can!

VOOOSH

BA-KOOOOOOON

Eirin "Ah...!"

...Dude.

Kaguya "A... Amazing! You hit him! You really did!"

It... It was so perfect it actually startles me.

...What the heck?

OK, I wasn't... I wasn't expecting to actually hit him...

...Huzzah! More power to me!

Shinki "Of... Of course I did! That went exactly as planned. Yes."

Satori "...This is... Ah! Kaguya-san, your arms! Your arms!"

Kaguya "Eh? ...Ah...! AAH! It's on fire! Eirin, my arms are on fire!"

They are, yeah. But it doesn't really look too bad. Or maybe it's just my imagination? She is regenerating as fast as her skin gets burned...

Wait... ...What?

Well, Eirin is taking care of it, so I guess it's... Bad. Yeah it's bad. Morrigan is alright, after all. And he's looking angrily at me.

Or... Not? What the heck?

Morrigan "...This is... Amusing. So there is an immortal here - and someone that has Magic Cancel abilities! Garrote, time to change tactics. I'll kill this man first. Assist me."

Garrote "Y-Yes! Cough."

Neither of them look too damaged with what I did...

This is getting only worse... I don't...

…

Uh... What is this scent of... Well, magic. What is it?

It's coming from the barrier ceiling?

Ah! OH FUCK!

BA-KOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Eirin "AGH!"

Kaguya "IIKH! W-What just-"

Reisen "Nghaaah!"

Dude! That explosion was so powerful it sent everyone except... Me, Eirin and Morrigan to the ground!

What the hell was that? Someone just dive-bombed in the barrier ceiling! It exploded! It really did!

As I look into the damage caused by the explosion up there, the blue sky is visible again under the heavy curtain of smoke the explosion just caused. I focus my vision and I can finally see... A glimmer that's shining over the top of our heads – everyone's attention has been focused on that one up there...

A pink silhouette? Is that a girl?

Female Voice "Hello~ Morrigan-chan! I came here to play with you, too~!"

...And she instantly managed to piss me the fuck off.

I see, now. Marisa already had described her to me, so I don't need to think twice to realize that one up there is Chase.

...Sigh.

Well. Fuck me, then! What else is gonna happen, is Goldie gonna show up next? Singing 'New York, New York?"

Chase "Ooh, everyone's in a tight spot, ah? Do you want me to give you a heads up? Morrigan-chan's power is to absorb life! Ahahahahah!"

Wha~? What the hell is wrong with-

Garrote "CHASE!"

VOOOSH

BANG

Chase "YIKES!"

...Dude!

He just hurled a humongous spear at Chase, forcing her to create a shield and block it! What the hell?

Thud

Chase "Cough! Hey, Garrote~! I missed you! Look how much you've grown! You're actually not an incompetent bastard anymore!"

Garrote "I'm going to kill you, Chase! How dare you show yourself to me!"

Morrigan "Garrote, control yourself this instant! OBEY ME!"

...Wow. Really?

Azure Nuke is on my right hand. And I throw it at Morrigan!

BOOOMB

Eirin "HM!"

She also seems to have taken the chance to use that bow of hers to shoot a freaking missile right at Garrote!

GRRAASSH

Garrote "GAKH!"

...That was really effective. The hit from both our attacks was so out of place and they hit so well it surprised even me!

I think Garrote is out of the game for now... ...Ah!

GRAB

Shit! Where did he come from? Did Morrigan teleport on me?

He suddenly appeared right in front of me, and now he's grabbing my neck...!

Well, I'll do the same, you asshole!

GRAB

Morrigan "You're not human."

Shinki "Yeah. ...You're not human, too. Let me guess: you're curious as to why I can hit you."

Chase "Jesus! ...What's going on, here? Morrigan-chan, are you bullying these people? Can I join in?"

Eirin "Shinki!"

Shinki "I'm fine, Eirin! Stay cool! Focus on Chase instead!"

...Did everyone stop moving?

Yeah. The air is tense and I can feel it. I'm staring right in the eyes of this bastard... I think this is the first time we've done that.

Hello.

Morrigan "What are you doing? How is it these fires are not harming you?"

Shinki "Ah? ...You mean, these Void flames? You don't know too much about blue-blooded vampires, do you?"

…? What's with this guy? I'm seriously surprising him.

I have no idea what I'm doing, here. Didn't he slay Yukari? What the hell is he getting startled for?

Morrigan "...Burn."

VOOOSH

Whoa! I'll cover myself in armor, just to be safe!

Morrigan "...! This is!"

Shinki "Yeah, anti-magic. By the way, this is a headbutt!"

THUD

Oooh, that was nasty! I felt his nose bridge crack!

He released me! OK, time to punch the shit out of... Oi.

...Why, it would appear that Chase has thrown herself in front of me!

Chase "Ey~!"

BANG

Shinki "WHOA!"

DUDE! What the hell is she made of?

She swung her magic broom at me, propelling me through the air like I'm weightless!

...It didn't really hurt, though...! ...OK, here comes the ground...

Epic landing!

[Location: Bamboo Forest of the Lost]

Skidddd

As I land, I skid on my feet for a few meters before I stop completely, and Chase lands right in front of me... And I cannot see what's going on around the Eientei anymore.

She tossed me all the way to the forest! ...Damn it!

Where the hell did she come from, anyways?

She's looking at me as if I'm extremely interesting. ...I'm afraid I don't share the sentiment.

Shinki "Tch. Chase. I guess I should say I'm pleased to meet you."

Chase "Hm? Ahn, damn~ it's a real pain to be famous sometimes. Can't I just like, introduce myself anyways?"

…

Chase "I am Chase Ashquith Mortein McClain, the deadliest witch ever! Pleased to meet you, blue-blooded vampire-san!"

She emanates cocky from every bit of her frame. It kinda makes me want to punch her in the eyes...

But... Didn't she call herself... Ashquith Morteim? ...I...

Shinki "...Blaze?"

That name escaped my lips as she opened her eyes in extreme surprise at me.

Chase "...What? How do you know this name?"

Shinki "How I know...? Blaze, the Ashbringer of Death? ...Yeah. Or should I call you Morte instead? What name fancies you better?"

Holy crap, I can't believe this. I got the right person after all!

I can't believe I would run into her in HERE, of all places! Damn, she really has grown!

Chase "...Ha! I see. You're one of the hunters that were tasked to killing me on Mt. Fuji about... ten years ago? So someone actually survived..."

Delicious ten years ago, when I got stuck in that stupid palace.

Yeah. Great memories, those are.

Shinki "So you ran off to Gensokyo? I can't say I am surprised."

Chase "I only got here recently. You hunters are all the same... Neither of you are competent enough at what you do in the end~ You all assume your target has 'run away' when you fail to kill it..."

…

She's got a point, there.

Chase "But you! You are a blue-blooded vampire! Morrigan-chan did nothing to you! You hit him with your head! Ahahahaha! You are incredible~! Can I kill you?"

Yeah. She is as insane as Marisa described her, isn't she?

Well then.

Shinki "Uhh... That's a hard question... Let me think about it. OK I thought about it."

I charge my arms and legs with magic armor as my fangs brim in resonance with my power!

Shinki "Go blow yourself!"

Chase "No can do! Magnum Revolver!"

BANG

WHOA!

VOOSH

That... That was close! ...Did she just flick a power bullet at me with her middle finger?

It missed, but... She's aiming it at me again!

Chase "Magnum Revolver!"

And she resumes her assault with shots that quite frankly, look like will hurt like a real bitch if they hit!

Voosh Voosh Voosh VOOSH

I can't bother to try to parry those, so I'll just dodge. If I watch where she's aiming at, it's really easy to figure the trajectory of these shots...

This is a pretty simple spell, isn't it? I'll just kill you here then, and I'll go help Eirin with Morrigan!

Shinki "Hup!"

I kick the ground as I dash below her next shot, and I feel it passing through my hair as I raise my fist against her and... And I realize this was stupid.

Chase "Bomber Flare!"

BA-DODODODOOOOM

Shinki "PFAGH!"

...

Her whole body... It started to erupt pink flak...? Did I see that right?

How can she use such powerful magic so quickly? What the hell is she...?

...Well...

I took it all on the face like a real idiot.

Am I flying right now? I can't see very well.

Yeah. I think I'm flying. I can't feel my limbs... Yeap. I'm pretty much just on a real mental haze...

...I'm really tired...

THUD

Shinki "GAAH! COUGH!"

Chase "Whaaat~ That was stupidly boring. And here I thought you had something greater... You actually made Morrigan-chan worried, so I thought you were more competent than that..."

...Barrage, and now this. I really am an idiot, ain't I? There's no way I'm going to resist this much abuse, specially if 80% of it came from myself.

I can't say this isn't my fault...

Female Voice "[Temperament – Meteorological Revelation]!"

Chase "Hmm? What's... Oh, shit!"

BAAAAAAANG

…!

Did... Did I just feel the ground erupt for a second...?

Rustle

Female Voice "Shinki! Shinki, are you OK? Please say something! Anything!"

...This voice...

Shinki "...Tenshi?"

Tenshi "Ah! ...Thank the earth... You're alright! What happened to you? How are you so-"

Chase "OY! Don't interrupt me when I'm in the middle of my monologue!"

BOOOOMB

Tenshi "KH! You earthen maggot! Don't you have shame, attacking people when they are not looking!"

Chase "You're the shameless one, interrupting me when I'm giving my speeches! Who do you think you are?"

I don't even know what's going on anymore... But...

I'm feeling so light.

What is this feeling?

Booom

Boom BOOOM Throoooom

...My skin is absorbing the magic Chase is using to attack Tenshi...

Yeah. I can see much better now...

...But now that I look at them... At her... Amidst this showdown of magic and power...

She looks delicious, doesn't she...?

Her skin... Her arms... Her magic. It all looks...

...I'm hungry...

I'm hungry...

Shinki "...Tenshi...! What do you think? Can you defeat her...?"

Tenshi "What? Do you think that's EASY? ...This maggot is... Tougher than she looks!"

Chase "Hahahahaha! I'll give you the same compliment! You're really resistant, aren't you?"

So she can't bring Chase down that easily...?

...Then I know what I must do right now. This is my best bet...

All of my remaining strength... To my legs.

...Wait for it...

BOOOM

Wait for it...!

BANG

THROOOOM

...And as she flies at a reasonable distance... I jump straight towards her with all the strength I have left!

Tenshi "...Ah!"

Chase "Hm? What-"

GRAB

I grabbed her!

This should work... I mean, this HAS to work... If I keep her restrained, then...

Chase "...Ahn? Congratulations, you're holding me in a full nelson! So what~?"

Kiiiiiiih

Tenshi "SHINKI!"

She's flying with me on her back towards the ground as hard as she can!

...I'll have to take the hit, I guess...! Oh, shit!

THROOOOM

Shinki "GAF!"

Chase "You're... Persistent! What the hell are you gonna do, bleed on my back? Get off!"

...Kh!

If I keep her restrained like this...

I can open my mouth and bite her neck!

Give me your magic, you stupid bitch!

Bite

Chase "AH!"

…

SHIVER

THROB

Chase "AAAAARGH! WHAT... WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GET OFF! GET OFF OF ME!"

Tenshi "Shinki...?"

I can feel it...

This raw magical power... It's getting into me...

It flows through my fangs as I suck everything I can. ...It's so awesome... Look at this... It's amazing...! I can feel it! My strength is coming back to me!

The tiredness has gone like it never existed, as I suck so much magic from her, Chase fell on her knees...!

YES! This is...

…

…

…

Throb

Wait... What's this...?

Throb

What is this?

Throb

I'm feeling weird. ...Is this magic?

Throb

No... It's not. This is... Power?

Throb

Yeah. ...This is power.

Throb

I can feel... So much energy... Why am I so hungry? Why am I so hungry?

Why so hungry? Why so happy? Why so excited? Why so overgrown? Why so powerful? Why so high up? Why so twisted?

Shinki "Gah... Cough! ...Gaaah... Hah...! Hah... Hah... Hah... T-This...!"

Chase "Ugh... What... Have you... Done...?"

Why so twisted? Why so happy? Why so long? Why so fixed? Why so real? Why so untrue? Why so potent? Why does this flame, and why does it burn? Why so hot? Why so cold? Why so blue? Why so turned? Why such range? Why does it hurt? Why so lonely? Why so absurd? Why so big? Why so small? Why so insignificant? Like everything else? Like it is part of yourself? Like it is part of everything? Like you are part of all, just like the wind, just like our world, just like Gensokyo, just like a god!

JUST LIKE A GOD A GOD A GOD A GOD A GOD A GOD A GOD A GOD A GOD

JUST...

Shinki "GGGGGRRRRRRGHHHHHHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I FEEL GREAT, FATHER

[Interlude – Location: Bamboo Forest of the Lost]

Shinki "AAAAHAHAHAHAHA! YES! THIS POWER IS MINE! IT'SALLMINEALL MINE IT'S... ALL... HAHAHAHAHA!"

The cackle from the blue-blooded vampire could possibly be heard from the entire forest.

His frame was blue. His entire skin was covered by a bluish energy similar to the energy of his Azure Nuke... Like the color of the Soul Echo. He was positively glowing as his eyes rolled through the forest; his maniacal, insane grin grew ever larger as the air felt like it was being sucked in by his very presence. As if he was assimilating it into himself.

Both the Pink Witch and the Celestial watched him explode in insane laughter in horror. The witch slowly crawled away from him as her face distorted to complete humiliation and vex, her neck was bleeding from the strength he bit her – her eyes narrowed from disgust and disbelief.

Chase "I... Can't believe this... My core... You dirty pig...!"

Tenshi "Shinki! What are you doing? Shinki!"

Shinki "TENSHI! THIS IS AMAZING! This power... I AM A DEMON! Look at this! LOOK AT IT AT IT AT IT! AAAAEEEEEEI'M FEELING GREAT!"

His voice boomed through the woods as if it was input in an amplifier. It felt bestial and unnatural – his eyes lost all traces of sanity, his presence felt like that of a wild, hungry beast.

...And he rose his hand to the air, his fist now sparked furiously azure with the glow of the sun...

And he brought it down to the ground.

BOOOOOOOM

The strength of the hit rose dust. Rocks. It rose Tenshi to the air and forced her to fly. Chase was nowhere to be seen anymore.

A small crater took place of that part of the woods as the Celestial looked worried at the dust that rose, her hand tightly gripped on the Sword of Hisou. Her breathing was confused and filled with adrenaline, her teeth gritted like saws.

Tenshi "What's going on...? Shinki!"

Shinki "Yeah?"

The Celestial felt his presence on her back as she turned around immediately and was forced back onto the ground by the weight of the Soul Echo. She opened her eyes and forced herself to stay away from the ground with a jerk upwards, and Shinki landed right on top of her, his teeth bare to her - his eyes sparked without any drop of reason behind them.

Tenshi "Kh...! Shinki, what on earth are you doing...?"

Shinki "eeeAEAeaeFeeding... What else?"

...He said as he approached his teeth to her neck, spots of drool and Chase's blood dropped on it and made Tenshi cringe...

BLAAAAAM

And he was blown away by a purple laser beam that came out from the woods, forcing Shinki to hit the ground a few times with his backside before landing on his feet with a face filled with astonishment.

Tenshi "...Ah!"

Alice "...Seems like... I made it in time..."

The seven-colored puppeteer was standing defiant, with seven other dolls positioned right next to her like a commander, her hand holding another puppet that just blasted the beam towards the blue-blooded vampire. Her eyes were focused on him – filled with strange yet focused knowledge.

Marisa "Whoo! You show-off! I wanted to do that, ze...!"

The black-and-white ordinary witch soon landed right next to Alice, jumping off from her broom and placing it on her shoulder like it was a particularly heavy hammer. The puppeteer sighed in disdain.

Alice "You would just spark him, wouldn't you. You would hit her, as well."

Marisa "It's his fault for goin' apeshit! Besides, she can take a hit. Hey, Tenko! You OK?"

Tenshi "My name is Tenshi! I was going to do that!"

Alice "Too late now. Here he comes."

Her warning made the Celestial jump back to her feet and look at Shinki growl at them like a wild beast on all fours. On an act of instinct, Marisa pointed her hands towards him and roared loudly:

Marisa "Narrow Spark!"

Flash

The small spark flew towards the air like a cannon, but Shinki did not move for the attack to simply disappear as it entered an area around him. The spark disintegrated onto thin air, and evaporated completely like it never existed.

Alice "Is that? ...Zero?"

Marisa "Whoa! What the heck did he just do?"

He took the voice of the witch as a sign to hurl himself towards the girls with insane speed. On reaction, Tenshi swung the sword like a batter and it hit Shinki right in the face, sending him away and roll on the ground for a bit, making disturbing, growling noises before he got up and started to walk around them again.

Tenshi "...Did he... Actually get hit by that?"

Alice "Marisa!"

Marisa "I'm on it, ze!"

Both witches instantly flew upwards and landed on opposite sides to each other, both girls readying their attacks as they pointed their weapons towards Shinki, who looked at them and a large grin opened up in his face...

Alice "[Curse Sign – Hourai Doll]!"

Marisa "[Love Sign – Master Spark]!"

And he was blasted from both direction with the full force of those attacks.

FLASH

THOOOOOOOM

...But they disappeared.

As they entered the area around Shinki, the attacks evaporated instantly.

His face distorted into pure delight as he waved both hands to his sides, creating two Echoes and grabbing both Marisa and Alice with them...

Both "Ah!"

Tenshi "No! This is bad!"

And he jumped up, swinging his hands towards one another in a crushing manner, making both magicians collide onto each other, pressured by the blow of the Soul Echo!

BA-KOOOOOOM

Shinki "HAHAHAHAHA! This is amazing! What the hell is wrong with me?"

As the glow from the attack disappeared completely, Alice and Marisa could be seen on the ground, scratching their heads in pain as a few drops of blood could be seen sliding down their foreheads. Shinki immediately pointed his whole body downwards, aiming towards them both...

But was intercepted by Tenshi in mid-air, who had jumped with a rock in front of her like a shield, impeding him from proceeding any further.

Wham

Tenshi "Kh! Shinki, what's wrong? What are you doing? Are you insane?"

Shinki "AAAgaeAGEGET OUT OF MY WAY!"

And he rose his fists up once again, the glow of the Azure Nuke growing on them fiercely... And he brought his fists down, throwing a barrage of nukes downwards like a bad, nasty tantrum.

BA-KOKOKOKOKOKOOOM

...The barrage was relentless.

He threw nearly about thirty nukes without stopping before landing on the ground – he started to sniff the air fiercely as if he wanted to taste its smell. The dust and debris the barrage he unleashed blocked his view almost as if it was intentional...

And the girls were gone.

...He stood there, the mad thoughts that raged through his mind made him laugh and cry. He laughed and cried...

And the girls were flying away from him with a few scrapes and damage... but they were alive.

[Interlude – Location: Eientei]

...The purple barrier of the Eientei was now gone.

As Tenshi landed on its yard alongside Alice and Marisa, the battle was over. The undead were all dead again. The girls were fine. No one was too badly injured.

No one except for Eirin herself.

Her clothes, her skin and her hair were a mess, her frame was visibly torn and disturbed. Youmu had a face of pure defeat on her... Reisen couldn't stop biting her own inferior lip with rage.

The only ones that had a calmer appearance to them were Satori and Rin. They received the Celestial and the two witches while everyone else denied this position. They told them what happened.

Satori "...Kaguya-san was kidnapped by Morrigan."

Seeing as Morrigan was losing his patience, he decided to go for an all-out attack instead of trying to take Eirin with him bit by bit. So as he did... Kaguya used herself to defend the whole attack. She died... And revived instantly, as of custom. And that made Morrigan change his priorities.

He captured her, and left the Eientei as it was.

The mansion was in tatters, but it was still standing. The damage caused by the battle was unbelievable, the front yard was that what was damaged the most. The trees were burnt completely... The grass was there no more.

And Eirin was clenching her defeated fist so hard it was making cracking noises.

The news of Shinki's madness did not please anyone. Satori bit her own lip as she heard the news... And she sat on the floor. Tired... And defeated.

Eirin "Defeated? ...No... Not defeated."

The Celestial rose her eyes as Eirin claimed that fact. She smiled, and she walked defiantly through the battlefield as she kicked open the door to the trap below... One of the very traps Tewi herself had dug.

Eirin "We have our trump card right here. Let's make good use of it, shall we?"

...And as the girls gathered around it, a man in bone armor could be seen inside, his body covered in bruises... his armor splintered and broken by the battle...

Eirin "Get out of there. We have much to talk."