As Patchouli and Aya entered Nitori's submarine, Reimu faced off against Eirin in the mysterious Eientei mansion. The lunarian was tough, and filled the battlefield with shots big and small. Despite being nude, however, Reimu fought well, avoiding her opponent at every turn.
"Impressive. You're far stronger than any human I've ever seen," Eirin said.
"You're not bad, yourself. I won't stop until you return the moon, however," Reimu replied.
"That's not going to happen. We have our own reasons for hiding the moon. Now go home. Your nudity is shameful," Eirin taunted.
"Silence! Your servants may have stripped me of my dignity, but not my pride!" Reimu retorted, suddenly unleashing a flurry of cards. As several made contact with Eirin, the lunarian raised a hand.
"Space Sphere: Galaxy in a Pot," she chanted.
In seconds, lightning fast shots circled around Reimu, suddenly firing smaller shots in at her. Reimu looked around, dodging one projectile after another. As the final shot neared, Reimu jumped, spreading her legs as a wayward shot flew between her legs. As the shrine maiden landed, she raised her arms.
"Spirit Sign: Fantasy Orb!" she exclaimed.
Suddenly, several large shots flew out of Reimu's body, homing in on Eirin as the shrine maiden counter attacked. Eirin attempted to dodge, but Reimu's attacks closed in, slamming against her as the lunarian steadily took damage.
Eirin cringed, her usual calm expression turning serious. She then raised her bow, suddenly firing countless shots Reimu's way. Reimu dodged, swerving in and out of the oncoming arrows. The shrine maiden soon fired back, the two lighting up their surroundings as their deadly fight continued.
As Reimu and Eirin battled on, Patchouli looked around the interior of Nitori's cramped submarine, feeling claustrophobic as Nitori and Aya piloted the sub.
"...How much further?" Patchouli asked, arms crossed, face paler than usual.
"Not much. We'll be there in several minutes," Nitori replied.
"Hate cramped spaces, huh, Patch?" Aya asked with a smile.
"...Kind of," the witch replied, lightly shivering.
"Try not to think about it. We'll be there before you know it. Remilia'll never see us coming like this," Nitori said.
"Indeed. In fact, we might just be able to perform a stealth kill on that naughty vampire," Aya replied. Patchouli suddenly fell silent.
"...Don't count on that," she replied. "Remilia has keen senses and instincts. Catching her off guard is almost impossible, especially during the night. We have no time to wait until daylight, however. Who knows what will become of Marisa the longer she spends in that wretched manor."
"Speaking of which, do you know if the manor has any docks or water entries?" Nitori asked.
"It doesn't. Though it's on an island, Scarlet Devil Manor itself is landlocked. The east end of the manor is nearest the water, however," Patchouli replied.
"How close?"
"A few yards, maybe. Sakuya loved the east end of the manor, as it had a beautiful view of the lake in the morning...," Patchouli said, suddenly falling silent.
Patchouli began thinking of her times in the manor, quietly reminiscing over the many decades she'd called the place home. Whether she liked it or not, Scarlet Devil Manor was where she'd spent most of her life, and she was lying to herself to think she had no lingering affection for the place.
Her thoughts soon turned to Marisa, tensing up as she filled with rage for Remilia. Though she had love for every denizen of Scarlet Devil Manor in some form or another, the manor's mistress was the one she was still unsure about. Patchouli hated Remilia for brainwashing Marisa, but the vampire's words still echoed in her ears.
"...You dare bite the hand that feeds you...?"
Patchouli hated to admit it, but deep down, she knew Remilia was right. Patchouli would be dead by now had the vampire not shared her blood with her. The witch was immortal thanks to her, and there was still a level of gratitude Patchouli had for Remilia despite everything. Patchouli then shook her head. Though she had lingering affection for the denizens of Scarlet Devil Manor, she could never forgive Remilia for what she did to Marisa. Patchouli would do whatever she could to save Marisa's soul from Remilia.
If that meant killing the enigmatic vampire, so be it.
Back at Eientei, Reimu's fight with Eirin heated up. The two gave it their all, fighting with equal ferocity against the backdrop of outer space. As the two fired shots, they paused, both feeling exhausted from their evenly matched fight.
"...Not bad, little exhibitionist girl. I didn't know humans could be this powerful," Eirin said.
"...Back at you, space girl. And I'm not a damn exhibitionist!" Reimu replied.
As the two warily caught their breath, a shadowy figure appeared behind Eirin, slowly making itself visible as it approached.
"What a splendid show!" the girl said, Reimu and Eirin eyeing her as she appeared.
"Princess Houraisan!" Eirin said.
"You fought well, Eirin. And you too, little human. Especially considering your total lack of garments. Tee, hee!" the lunarian Kaguya Houraisan said, slightly giggling. "You've intrigued me, shrine maiden. I've never seen anyone fight on even terms with Eirin before. I don't like that you've intruded on my manor, but the fact you've made it this far proves you're more than you appear. I have to know what you're truly capable of."
The lunarian princess then raised a hand, casting a powerful healing spell on Reimu and Eirin.
"Princess...!" Eirin said.
"...This is...?" Reimu said cautiously.
"You're now both fully healed. I've heard your dispute, human, and have decided to make you an offer," Kaguya said.
"...And what might that be?" Reimu asked, covering her breasts and crotch with her arms.
"If you can defeat me in one-on-one combat, we shall restore the true moon to its original place," Kaguya said.
"...And if I lose?" Reimu asked hesitantly. Kaguya smiled.
"...Then Eientei will be your grave!" the moon princess replied with a wicked smile.
As Reimu braced herself for another fight, Patchouli and the others piloted Nitori's submarine through Misty Lake, Nitori soon peering through the window.
"...Ah!" she said, taking a closer look.
"What's up, Nitori?" Aya asked.
"...We've arrived!" the kappa replied, the three looking out the submarine window as the island came into view.
"Pull around to the eastern end of the island. We'll reach the manor quickest that way," Patchouli said.
"Right!" Nitori replied, the sub heading around to the eastern shores.
As the submarine slowly surfaced, Nitori popped the lid. Aya and Patchouli hopped out, landing on the island moments later.
"We made it! Remilia's as good as dead, now!" Aya said with a smirk.
"Don't get overconfident. We should remain as quiet as possible on the way to the manor," Patchouli said.
"I'll stay back and guard the sub. If things get hairy, use this," Nitori said, tossing Patchouli a small device.
"...What's this?" the witch asked.
"A radio transceiver. If you guys need backup, use that. The sub's missiles are already locked onto the manor," Nitori explained.
"Hopefully, it won't come to that. I don't want Marisa getting hurt. Koakuma, either, for that matter...," Patchouli replied with concern.
"You got it, Patch. But if you ever change your mind, just holler," Nitori said, giving a wink. Patchouli and Aya soon smiled.
"...Thank you, Nitori. You've been a major help," Patchouli replied, soon turning to the manor. "...Let's finish this, Aya."
"Right on!" the tengu replied, heading to the manor along with Patchouli.
The two moved through a small field, soon reaching the eastern walls of Scarlet Devil Manor. They took cover behind a tree, eyeing the foreboding residence from a distance.
"What's the plan, Patch?" Aya asked.
"...Looks like Hong's not on duty tonight, just as I suspected. The manor has no gatekeeper during the evening. Mainly because that's when Remilia and Flandre are awake...," Patchouli replied.
"So what do we do? Sneak in through the front?" Aya asked.
"No. It's good Hong's asleep, but it's still safer to find another way in. I know a window at the rear of the manor we can use. Marisa used to sneak inside that way," Patchouli said.
The two crept up to the manor, following the walls to the back end of the residence. As they reached the rear window, Patchouli and Aya peeked inside, soon realizing the coast was clear. Patchouli grabbed the window, quietly sliding it open as the two slipped inside. As the two silently closed the window, they looked around.
"Good. We've managed to enter the manor unnoticed. Keep an eye out for Marisa. If we can get her out unnoticed, then all the better. Somehow, I doubt that will be possible, however," Patchouli said quietly.
"Bring 'em on! I'm ready for anything!" Aya replied.
"I'm grateful for your help, Aya, but remember to keep as quiet as possible. This is a stealth mission, after all," Patchouli said.
"Right, right. Ninja style. Got it!" Aya whispered.
As the two continued their mission to save Marisa from the manor, Reimu fought a fierce battle against Kaguya. The moon princess was even harder than her steward, filling the battlefield with massive and oddly shaped shots.
As the two went back and forth, Eirin stood quietly off in the distance, watching as her mistress fought the nude shrine maiden. She wanted to help, but Kaguya had given her strict orders not to interfere. As the battle raged on, Kaguya calmly raised a hand.
"Divine Treasure: Buddhist Diamond," she said, suddenly conjuring long rays of light in all directions.
Reimu cringed, barely escaping one of the beams before firing back. She maintained her attacks, Kaguya again firing a second volley of beams her way. Reimu jumped, barely avoiding a second beam as she fired ever more cards. As a third beam suddenly appeared, Reimu attempted to dodge, but was struck in the side.
"Aaaiiieee!" she screamed, the attack forcing her back and to the ground.
"You're strong, little human. But your powers are feeble compared to mine," Kaguya said. Reimu slowly rose to her feet, slightly trembling as the pain from the previous attack still burned her body.
"...I won't give up! What you did to the moon is unnatural! You must return it at once!" Reimu exclaimed.
She continued attacking the moon princess, doing her best to try and defeat her. She managed to land several hits, but her opponent was simply too strong, again landing a shot as Reimu fell to the ground.
"Give up, little shrine maiden. If you admit defeat, I'll grant you swift passage to the afterlife!" Kaguya said. Reimu cringed, bloodied and bruised as she warily eyed her opponent.
"...Never!" she exclaimed, again barraging Kaguya with everything she had.
Reimu gave it her all, but Kaguya continuously landed one shot after another. As the last of Reimu's strength left her body, she fell to her knees.
"...D... Damn!" she said, body throbbing in pain. Kaguya gave a wry smile from afar.
"It's over, child. You fought well, but you've lost this round," the moon princess said, soon raising an arm. "Now... time to end your pain!"
As Kaguya charged up a final shot, a sharp shard of ice suddenly cut through her wrist, canceling her attack as the moon princess winced in pain.
"Oh no, you don't!" a familiar ice fairy yelled from nearby.
"...Cirno!" Reimu said in surprise.
"Attacking a defenseless, bare opponent. Such poor sportsmanship!" Ran said from the other side of Reimu. As the shrine maiden turned to her in surprise, a third figure slowly appeared from the darkness.
"...I see. So this was where the fabled Eientei was located! I've been looking for you for some time now, Kaguya Houraisan!" Yukari said, giving a dry smile.