Remember last time? Otome Saotome unleashed a brand new ability – Bites the Dust. However, it was foiled, by Nagisa Shiota and Luzer, as they saved a grim future of Kazuki Sendo, Chazz Princeton, and the rest, from being eviscerated into nothing. Otome thought she won, until Asahi & Chazz arrived, after Saotome blurted out her real name. Hope won over despair… but the battle is far from its closing point.

Episode 52 – Chapter 3: Saotome's Vendetta!
The Sketch Artist Killer UPGRADES!

Kotonoha gasped, "So… from Sendo-sensei's picture, we hit the jackpot! This woman is Otome Saotome! But she looks taller than I was told about her…"

Otome moaned, "I had… a growth spurt… after I had to change personas." She kneeled up, "I can't believe… someone tricked me, thinking that they would make me undo Bites the Dust… and yet they figured me out… Blasted buzzard, I should obliterate you!"

Luzer flew off, "Sorry, but I promised to stay away from this battle."

Otome roared, "YOU GODDAMN FEATHER DUSTER! LETHAL QUEEN – BOMB TYPE THREE-!"

"CARRION CRY!" Luzer shrieked at Otome in hypersonic cries, immobilizing Otome. Chazz, Asahi, & Kotonoha held their own, covering their ears. He stopped, as Luzer said, "My job is done. I'll alert Master, and be on my way. Princeton, you're on your own, from here!"

"Tell the Big Guy that I said you were a noble friend!"

"Eh? You're not calling him Fatass?"

"After what you did, I have my respects for the Big Guy."

Luzer smiled, "Thanks. Good luck, you guys!" And off he went, to spread the news about Saotome.

Otome snarled, "Shit! I can't believe that I was had by a small blackbird! And worst of all, that buzzard made my head hurt! SHIT! My ears are ringing, after the huge cry that I can't even concentrate!"

Chazz called, "Oh, you think you're hurting now? You just wait, until we mop the floor with your ass!"

He approached her, as she was trembling. He said to her, "This is for everyone you killed… Minatsu… Matsuya… Watanabe… Sumiyoshi… even countless lives you used to have your way… and you even had Junko Enoshima do you dirty work, as she is your puppet master!"

Otome growled, "She'd prefer to be called… Mgh… Mastermind!" She kneeled up and groaned, "Junko Enoshima… She gave me… the will to survive… the dream of… total despair… and I want what I want out of it… a peaceful life… Yet, you three and your band of freaks came along and ruin it!
But before you go and get all high and mighty, just so you know, I wasn't running away from you! If I wanted to obliterate you all, I could've done it at any time. I only did this to satisfy my master's teachings and prophets of True Despair! The reason I didn't kill you was just because I do not like fighting! Strife is the total opposite of peacefulness, of which I aimed for, every day of my simple life… I detest conflict! I murdered everyone doing Junko Enoshima's bidding, AND I HATED IT SO MUCH! But if it's what I would do to have a peaceful life again, so be it! It's easy to win the battle, but then you accumulate stress for your next battle. It was a foolish thing. Fighting with others is a sad and endless process. To engage in conflict is to engage in futility."

Chazz roared, "Then how are you hating it? You brought this shit upon yourself, when you killed Minatsu! That's why we're after your sorry ass!"

Asahi shouted, "We don't even need a confession or a motive of why you did it, you fucking whore! You played as a puppet to Junko Enoshima, and yet you're still a murderer!"

Kotonoha concluded, "You're a sick son of a bitch, who just kills for fun, and not just for despair! You shouldn't get the privilege of flapping your lips, YOU CAT-EYED FREAK!"

Otome stood up, as Asahi said, "Be careful, Chazz… Saotome has Lethal Queen. One hit, and then she'll set off the bomb. The hands! Stay away from the hands!"

Otome called, as Lethal Queen prepared, "That's the only reason I didn't dispose of you all. Three of you are what is aggravating my peace of mind. NO! FOUR of you. And I will kill you all, because NO ONE must know the name of the Sketch Artist Killer! All will die, to whoever finds out about my identity!"

Kotonoha said, "Get behind me, Nagisa. Asahi and Chazz has this. I'll protect you."

He hid, as Otome said, "Now, let's see if I remember… Ojama Star has a range of 1 to 2 meters, and it has the ability to repair anything that's been destroyed. Asahi Sakurai's Idol Diamond has a range of 1 to 2 meters, in close combat, while it uses her laser attacks from within 10 meters."

Chazz said, "I won't need my ability to beat you and heal you, and do it again! I'm just gonna kick your ass!"

Asahi said, "Same here! But you forget, Saotome! There's two of us, and one of you!"

Idol Diamond and Ojama Star clashed at Lethal Queen, exchanging punches and blows, and avoiding each open shot. Lethal Queen trips over Ojama Star and prepares to strike. But Idol Diamond kicks at the face of Lethal Queen. It fired a laser barrage from her hands, as she called, "Idol Diamond will end your existence, murderer!"

Lethal Queen was lambasted, but held its stance. Ojama Star punched at its face and roared, "DORA!"

Otome was crashed into the walls, and groaned, "They're… too strong…"

Nagisa was in disbelief, "Whoa… I couldn't tell, but that's amazing! Saotome's blood spat out and went flying!"

Chazz said, "I guess yearning for a peaceful life has left you with a lack of motivation. Or perhaps Junko Enoshima didn't bother to make you yearn for that promise, with a little training. While Lethal Queen is perfect for pyrotechnics, it's shitty in hand-to-hand combat; especially two-on-one battles!"

Lethal Queen aimed a chop towards Asahi, but Kotonoha called, "Don't let your guard down, just yet! She wanted you to let her beg for mercy, to leave you WIDE OPEN!"

SHOOP!
Saotome was pulled a couple inches to the right, by Kotonoha's Stand, The Hook. She said, "You forget, guys! The Hook is able to pull things, even people! You think I'd sit in the sidelines, and watch you guys have all the fun?"

Otome snarled, "Scraping away space to move things, I see… I was attacking Sakurai… but fate has beckoned to me again… the direction of my attack has turned… … … to you…"

BLAST!
Kotonoha was shot in the chest by a huge fiery blast. Kotonoha fell down, as Otome smirked, "Though, I guess it was intended for Asahi Sakurai, but it still hit you, right on the dot, despite that it was beginner's luck."

Kotonoha gagged, "The air… it breathed fire… I wasn't touched…"

Kotonoha was sent flying, and she crashed into the bushes. Asahi yelled, "KOTONOHA!"

Chazz cried, "ASA! STOP HER! I'll heal Kotonoha with-!"

Asahi shouted, "NO! Let me guard her! YOU take care of that son of a bitch!"

Nagisa asked, "Wait, the air breathed fire?"

Otome moaned, "The reason I kept that thing around was for this moment… This is why I kept my pet." Lethal Queen opened its abs, revealing Stray Cat, inside its abdomen, "I can use the Stray Cat Plant's ability to control the air for Lethal Queen's explosions. Nagisa, no, Luzer the crow brought it for me!"

Nagisa was shocked, "Invisible air and an unstoppable explosion! Could any of these two things in this world be more compatible than that?" He was upset, "She was keeping it just for this purpose… and it's all my fault! I was the one that suggested that crow to bring it here, just to kill her!"

Otome smiled, "And once again, luck has landed on the side of yours truly. In Japanese, "fate" is written in characters that means "luck that brings life". How apropos of it to be!"

Asahi pulled Kotonoha out, as she growled, "Damn it… She's not breathing… But her pulse is fading… Chazz, we have to retreat!"

Chazz called, "NO WAY! I'm not letting that slut get away with this!"

Luzer fluttered to Peter, as Tsukasa asked, "Hey, it's Luzer!"

Peter asked, "What's up? Why are you here?"

Luzer said, "Well, Chazz and Asahi have already found Otome Saotome."

They all gasped, as Luzer said, "I'm returning to Darkveil, for the present. In the meantime, grab the others and head off to over there, in that direction! We need everyone!"

He flew away, as Peter said, "I see…"

Kazuki said, "You know, that crow of yours has been a good luck charm, since I ran into that Yasuhiro troll. But if that Princeton bastard doesn't show up in the next five minutes, I'm going to Nagisa Shiota's workplace, without him."

Meanwhile, Asahi headed to Kotonoha, as Otome called, "You're not going near her, you tramp!"

She stopped, as Otome smirked, "I'll start with exterminating you! You're the first of these troublemakers to know my true name!"

She fired an air bullet, and Asahi cannot see it. It went closer, but it blasted into the front of Asahi, who is unharmed. She had a shield up, using her bracelet. She called, "Not just my Stand that can unleash the powers of Mech-Asahi! My shield attack will make you stop your projectiles!"

Otome roared, "FINE! TRY AND DODGE THIS!"

She fired another air bullet bomb, and Asahi hit the red button on her bracelet, "STRENGTH!" Her aura was coated red, and the bullet aimed at her chest.

"FIX!"
Chazz destroyed the concrete and used Ojama Star to create a wall, stopping the bomb bullet. Asahi asked, "Chazz? I was going to take it!"

Nagisa said, "Whatever this power is, he's trying to fix Kotonoha."

Otome said, "The ability to fix things… is of NO CONCERN FOR ME! To think it's so fast that you were able to create a wall from the broken slate, to save your girlfriend!"

It fired again, as Chazz called, "I'll handle this one, babe!" He dashed forward, as he created another wall from the slate.

Otome said, "Persistent, are you? I commend your strengths and abilities… but it's far too late to see through your flaws and errors…"

The air bubble went through the crack and appeared on the other side of the wall shield.

"Nothing in the world is as terrifying as the act of assumption." Otome hissed, "Especially for those contemptible few who assumes the false superiority of their own talent's special ability."

BOOM!
Chazz was caught in the blast, only grazing his right shoulder. Asahi caught him and said, "GOTCHA!"

She stumbled down and groaned, as she was hurt, "Ungh… Or not…"

Nagisa cried, "She's too powerful."

Asahi shielded Chazz, who was out cold, as Otome said, "Oh, how courageous. Defending your true love's life, by protecting him. I was hoping to blow his head off, but Lethal Queen's explosions aren't limited to things it touches. That would be an assumption. It can explode at any given distance. No matter where you hide, or how fast you might try to guard yourself with a stone wall or a metal plate, it can go right through and freely detonate."

"Monster…"

"Now it's your turn, Asahi Sakurai! DIE!"

She fired again, as it aimed at Asahi. Chazz was coming to, as he was in pain, "Ungh… I can't run…"

Asahi said, "I got this, baby… I have no intentions of running… Bomb or no bomb, I won't lose to a freak of nature like Junko Enoshima or Otome Saotome!"

She dashed forward and shouted, "CHAZZ, AVOID THE BULLET! I'M BEELINING TO KOTONOHA!"

The bomb struck Asahi's face, but the air bomb went through her. Otome gasped, "WHAT? It passed her?"

Asahi called, "It'll explode, no matter where the distance… so what would happen, if it gets close to you, Saotome? It'll hurt like hell, wouldn't it?"

She sprinted towards a downed Kotonoha, as Otome dodged away from her. Asahi went to her and said, "Hang on, Kotonoha… You can't die now…"

She reached for her, as Otome grinned demonically. Nagisa kicked Kotonoha off, as he cried, "DON'T TOUCH HER! I think… I think she might've got her! She turned her into a bomb!"

Otome growled, "Damn that Nagisa…"

Asahi shivered, "Eh? Wait… I didn't even see Lethal Queen touch her!" She cried, "How do you even know? You're not even a Stand User!"

"Kotonoha's turned into a bomb!" Nagisa cried, "I can tell from her body functions!"

Asahi roared, "OTOME SAOTOME!"

She was furious, as Otome said, "Well, he's right, but I'm not so sure… But since you were running towards her, I was actually touching Kotonoha… albeit, I'm not so sure if I did… It all happened so fast, so should I just try and press it to find out?"

Lethal Queen appeared, as Asahi cried, "DON'T YOU DARE, SAOTOME! SHOOT AT ME, NOW!"

Otome said, "There's no need to rush into attacking you, right now. I lose nothing by deciding on to attack or not, based on your movements. There's a chance that I might have turned Kotonoha Katsura into a bomb! Chazz Princeton would never be able to fix her with Ojama Star! That might be too far for me, but there's only one way to save her life, in this situation…" Chazz snarled, as Otome continued, "Why don't you heal Kotonoha, and see if I planted the bomb on her, or not. You might die, but Kotonoha won't. If you were to sacrifice yourself, you'd heal your best friend's wounds, wouldn't you?"

Nagisa snarled, "You bastard…"

Otome grinned, "I'll wait until you decide. But since you, Asahi Sakurai, have NO healing powers, Chazz Princeton has to do it. He'll decide if he wants to fix her, or just leave her body here to come after me. I'll wait as long as it takes for you to decide, but I guess you cannot take the chance… even if she is your friend."

Chazz was growling, as he was cornered, unsure if Kotonoha has become a bomb. Nagisa called, "You don't have proof! She can only use one bomb at a time! Once she used her explosive ability, she cannot create another, until the first one goes off! She has tons of bombs, but she's allowed herself to shoot off one at a time! She changed Kotonoha into a bomb, so she's defenseless!"

Asahi said, "Hey, yeah! You're saying that she cannot fire back?"

Nagisa leapt towards Kotonha, as Otome cried, "LETHAL QUEEN, SWITCH ON THE BOMB!"

Nagisa grabbed her knee, and then…
Click!
BOOM!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Nagisa was blown into nothing.

Asahi screeched, "Na-, NAGISAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Chazz roared, "ALL RIGHT! OJAMA STAR!"

He used his Spirit Caller to revive Nagisa, before he was reduced to vapor. Otome cried, "Wha-? WHAT THE HELL?"

Chazz held Kotonoha and said, "You are an insane person, Nagisa Shiota… I admire your guts."

Asahi smiled, "Smart thinking, Chazz. Nagisa blew himself up, and you saved him, before he was gone!"

Nagisa called, as he was repaired of his demise. He called, "You don't get it! You are invincible, since you heal everyone! If she kills you, then it's over! Otome Saotome killed Kaede Kayano, and she used her alias to be her!"

Otome growled, "You pathetic little plebs. To think that your ability to fix things was a noble sacrifice, so that you could repair the dead, before I've blown them up instantaneously? I've just been reminded on who the most troublesome ability to have against me was… But oh well. Time to die, while you're wide open! LETHAL QUEEN!"

The Stand fired another air shot, as Nagisa cried, "She's firing again!"

Otome said, "It'll detonate upon impact, but there's still a chance you'll dodge it, if it detonates on impact! I shot a very small one, so it'd be hard to see!"

Asahi growled, "A pea-sized bomb… Chazz, we have to run! Get Kotonoha out of here!"

Nagisa cried, "HURRY AND MOVE! IF IT GRAZES ANY OF YOU, IT'LL BE FATAL!"

Otome smiled, "Eight meters until impact." She aimed at the others, as she thought, "I'm going to hit it, right under her nose…"

Chazz cried, "KOTONOHA! WAKE UP!"

Asahi cried, "She's already stopped breathing! She cannot die! Let me handle this freak! YOU AND NAGISA RUN!"

He roared, "AND LEAVE KOTONOHA, AFTER WHAT SHE'S DONE FOR ME IN THE PAST? NEVER! I'LL NEVER LEAVE HER BEHIND, OR YOU, FOR THAT MATTER!"

Otome aimed, as she continued to adjust her range and trajectory, "Let's see… as precise as it will hit a wide receiver in a football game, it'll be at perfect precision, and go home victorious. Four meters to go, until impact…"

Nagisa bawled, "JUST HURRY AND GO! KOTONOHA IS ALREADY… SHE'S… SHE'S DEAD!"

Asahi cried, "WE CANNOT ACCEPT THAT! CHAZZ, I MEAN IT! YOU AND NAGISA RUN!"

Otome thought, "Two meters… and the explosive will cover the area in a three-meter radius."

It reappeared, as Chazz called, "She's not dead! I won't accept it!"

He grabbed a handful of blood, and used Ojama Star to create a small blade of blood. It sliced the air bomb into half. Lethal Queen chopped the blood into droplets, as it cut onto Otome's shoulders. She snarled, but then grinned, "He used the blood from the wound like a water pressure cutter! But it didn't pop. So it split into two."

Asahi cried, "It didn't pop?"

"This improvised air bullet is stabilized by Lethal Queen. Even if you cut it into pieces, the bomb won't shrivel and pop… So it'll detonate, as soon as you touch it."

The bubble split into two bombs, as Nagisa cried, "NO! IT DIDN'T SHRINK?"

Otome hissed, "Touchdown!"

Asahi cried, "HURRY UP AND GO!" She lunged forward and cried, "STRENGTH!"

He cried, "ASAHI!"

"DETONATE!" Otome cried, as the Bombs went off.

Asahi leapt backwards, using herself as a human shield to protect Chazz and Nagisa. They all stumbled down, as the air bubbles explode. Asahi was hurt, as she moaned, "Ungh… That hurts…"

Chazz said to Nagisa, as he removed the shards of slate and repaired it, "Sorry, you said I can heal my wounds, but Ojama Star can heal and fix everything… but not myself. Asahi was playing Human Shield with her powers… but even so, I grabbed onto her, just as the bomb was about to go off."

Nagisa said, "Whoa! Amazing! No wonder you guys leapt backwards in ease!"

Asahi cried, "COME ON! I was gonna take the bomb shot!"

"AND RISK LOSING YOU, TOO?" He yelled, "YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO KOTONOHA! If that hits you, you'd die, powers or no powers!"

Asahi growled, as she was seething. She snarled, "So… You're saying I'm useless… Is that it? I'm not useless… I'M NOT USELESS!"

Otome said, "Oh? Is that a little despair I see-?"

"SHUT UP!"

Asahi fired a laser shot from her Stand, and cried, "Come and get us, psycho!"

BOOM!
She produced a smokescreen, as Chazz and Nagisa ran off. Asahi called, "We're out of options! Chazz, you and Nagisa split the scene. I'll take care of Kotonoha, myself. You make sure that you and him get to safety!"

"Right." Chazz replied, "I already healed Kotonoha of her wounds, so we're good."

Nagisa yelled, "You can't do that! Leave Kotonoha here! She-!"

Asahi stated, "She's still alive… just not breathing! I'm going to treat her, until the smoke settles! You two find a place to stay safe, and make sure to avoid Saotome! I'll let you know, when any news!"

Nagisa roared, "You don't get it! By the time Princeton healed Kotonoha, she's-!"

"ENOUGH!" He barked, as he was upset, "Just drop it! I owe Kotonoha for this, after I saved her life, a while back! She's my friend, and I won't abandon her!"

Asahi shouted, "ENOUGH, YOU TWO! I'll handle Kotonoha! If we stick around, she'll kill all of us! You two got to focus your energy on stopping Saotome!"

She left with Kotonoha, as Chazz said, "She's right. We're relocating, Nagisa. By then, I'll have a plan to stop her!"

Nagisa cried, "BUT WAIT! How can you run away, after letting your friend die? She's already de-!"

"And I said shut the fuck up!"

"But…"

Nagisa was worried, as he and Chazz retreated to another place, as Asahi and Kotonoha departed, so Asahi can treat to her.

Otome growled, as she stood in the smokescreen, "I don't like this… If he didn't have the ability to fix things, my explosive attacks would be unmatched! Asahi Sakurai… She wasn't the greatest obstacle standing in the way of my goal of peace and tranquility…"

The rain stopped, as Otome concluded, "It's him! Chazz Princeton!"

To be continued…