A/N: I am done with the first of my two degrees! I hoped that I have enough days to finish this story before I start my second early next year. At the same time, I will be writing and brainstorming with my upcoming animations, starting with Redemons.

Disclaimer: I don't own Cross Ange or any of its characters and original plot, excluding the original characters I created for this story. Cross Ange and all its rights belong to King Records (Japan), Sentai Filmworks (USA), and Sunrise/ Bandai Namco Entertainment (Japan). This fanfiction is meant for entertainment only and not for profit. This story contains heavy language, blood and violence, and mild sexual themes not for audiences under 16-18 years old.

CHAPTER 32: UNWELCOMING HOME

"An attack on the Misurugi Empire?" Ange asked, surprised at what Sala told her regarding her so-called home, the two ignore the scenery behind them and let their naked bodies bathed through the onsen water

"We received word from Lizardia, two nights ago after the celebration for Vivian," Salamandinay answered. "She found Aura hidden in a deep subterranean block, right underneath Misurugi."

"It was underground?" Ange gasped, although a part of her realized it may have some sense. As Misurugi is the main part of the other world compared to the other nations, there is where Embryo would've hidden a massive DRAGON used as a Mana factory.

"We planned to release the Singularity tomorrow at dawn and invade the Empire. For our mission to free Aura with any resources at our disposal," Salamandinay affirmed.

"Why are you telling me this? Another tactic to win me over? Tell me the truth." Ange wondered.

"Not at all. You may do as you please. You may stay here, or you and your friends may return to your world. Although assuming that you were granted the honour of joining our side, nothing but that will make us feel more confident for our battle. I wanted to know your feelings before we depart tomorrow." Sala admits with a sad smile as she leisurely stood on her feet in front of Ange.

"My feelings?" Ange asked.

"Of course. You and your friends have my gratitude for saving my people. Rest assured; I will aid you all with the best I can."

...

Ever since the bath, Ange had hoped to talk and answer Sala's odd question although she still had her duties regarding tomorrow's assault at the Misurugi Empire, for Ange to step back and think about the situation. Even now when the sun sets for the night to come that Ange is unsure of the answer. Joining Tusk, Ammo, Moon, and Ular at the shrine's courtyard, where Ammo managed to recover and repair a Glider that he was told the DRAGONs salvaged it from some years ago, Ange had told the boys what Sala informed her about tomorrow's assault, and their reactions were a mixed surprise. "You know, maybe it's not such a bad idea to side with the DRAGONs," Tusk suggested, checking on the statistics in his Man-dle. "I mean think about it: if we can get Aura back, it'll be a serious blow to Embryo's world, you know."

"That would mean that the humans will no longer use the Light of Mana." Ammo presumed with a grim chuckle from his smile. "That will be the best. Could imagine non-Haven humans crying their pants off that they lost the one thing that made them human…"

"I'm still not sure," Ange sighed, alerting the three boys to stop whatever they were doing and turn their attention to Ange looking at the sky with a sullen look. "I don't trust everything. The DRAGONs attacking our world turned out to be a lie. Plus, we were lied to that Norma fights for world peace. I'm just so sick of all the lies."

"I agree." Moon sighed his agreement in sorrow. "From what we were given, it's very hard to take it all in, even if you weren't trapped by cruel humans and raised by a kind DRAGON all your life. Anyone would've reacted the same as you did…if you're not scary when you're mad."

"Thanks, Moon." Ange turned her head and sadly smile at the snake tamer, albeit tempted to make a sarcastic comment about what he said before she calmed down and grasps her arms as if hugging each other. "And even if we do fight with the DRAGONs? And that turns out to be the wrong choice too? Besides… the ex-Imperial Princess helps staged an attack on her own empire? That sounds like one severe joke... I just don't know what's right anymore."

"Nobody really knows right and wrong," Tusk spoke, snapping Ange's surprise at the calm smile on his face. "I'm just saying, from what my dad would tell me; you gotta do what you want to do. That's what matters most and by trusting your instincts, I'll be here to support you." Ange, Ammo, and Moon stared at Tusk with the former couldn't believe he was being serious.

"Come on. What kind of dumb self-serving logic is that?" Ange muttered aloud, playing with a few strands of her hair with a finger as she looked away from Tusk trying to add with uncertainty before she smiled back at him. "I don't mind though. I'm glad that you're so carefree." Tusk smiled with a chortle.

"Your knight is unworthy of such..." Tusk remarked, nearly bowing as if Ange is a princess again before he accidentally stepped on a screwdriver that forced him to fall backwards with a startled cry and accidentally pull Ange on top of her, shocking Moon, and Ammo who the latter hastily climb off his new Glider although the sight before them caught their shock for Ular to hastily wrap a part of its body around Moon's eyes while Ammo lightly facepalmed himself.

"Tusk, what's wrong with you?" Ammo groaned just as he, Moon, and Ular heard Vivian calling out to them from the shrine's stairway. "Hey, guys! My parents want me to thank you for...oh my!" However, Vivian also saw what is happening to whistle with a blush on her cheeks when Ange realized, in disbelief, embarrassment, and anger saw that Tusk's head got stuck inside her pilot suit's thong from that slip and again struggled his face to possibly escape between her legs.

"Again!? Next time I'll castrate you!" In a split second after she threatened, Tusk was sent flying and screaming from the courtyard to the river streaming through the gorge underneath the platform.

Just like last night but different, a celebration was held by the DRAGONs' civilians only this one is just a gathering with humanoid DRAGON men, women, and children including Ange and her friends, multiple large flame-cooking grills were set and started cooking slices of meat, vegetables, and kabobs for the guests to enjoy themselves. However, despite being a lively gathering, it is hard enough to ignore the destroyed parts of the village beside them with most of the casualties still spotted in their half-buried tombs. "We can't thank you enough for bravely risking your lives and rescuing us." Lamia thanked Ange with her husband standing by her side as support since the former sprained her right leg from the disaster yesterday by the bandages wrapped around the limb.

"We are in your debt, Miss Ange." Gamus acknowledged with a bow.

"It's the least I could do for Sala…" Ange assured with a smile although she managed to stop herself from calling Sala in front of the couple before she corrected herself. "I mean Salamandinay by giving her some backup. But still…" Frowning sadly, Ange glanced back at the destruction buried beside the party. "I wish we could've saved everybody."

"Say ahh." A DRAGON girl in a red tunic and loincloth reaches her chopsticks holding a piece of meat towards Tusk and watches him take it with his mouth before chewing with a smile, both his arms and his torso are wrapped in bandages from his fall, and sat on the stairway with a quartet of DRAGON girls accompanying him since they couldn't get a chance to flirt with Ammo and Moon due to being with Lady Tiamat and Lord Drake.

"Ah! He ate it!" The DRAGON girl who fed him squealed with happiness in her blush.

"Are all men in your world as handsome as you and your friends with Lord Moon?" The second DRAGON girl asked.

"Well, uh, I don't think so." Tusk nervously laughed.

"Having fun?" Tusk heard Ange ask in irritation when the group looked to the side and see Ange staring at the scene with her usual annoyance on her face even when she held up the kabob in her hand and bit the mushroom at its end in half, horrifying Tusk in dread when he covers his waist with his bandaged arms and ignoring the DRAGON girls ran away in fear the moment Ange sat beside him, holding the kabob as if wanting to feed him.

"Say ah," Ange instructed, blushing harder from seeing the startled reaction on Tusk's face. "W-what? You don't want it?"

"U-Uh? No, that's not what I..." Tusk wanted

"Well, you're hurt and... and...I went overboard." Ange nervously apologized which may have startled Tusk of wanting to confirm, finding himself smiling at her attempts to hide her true feelings when he slowly leans closer and took a big bite out of the kabob, closing his eyes with a happy smile. "Mmh. It tastes better when you do it."

"You're weird," Ange said with a smile, continuing to feed Tusk her kabob until finished for the two to watch the DRAGONs enjoying themselves with Vivian joining her parents.

"This feels so peaceful…I like it." Tusk said.

"I thought it's because you, Ammo, and Moon are popular with the girls?" Ange sarcastically asked with a smirk.

"Hey, that's not the only reason." Tusk tries to defend himself.

"No. I understand," Ange reassured a chuckle. "Yeah, you're right. They can't use Mana to keep bad things from happening. But they still seem so happy." Both Ange and Tusk felt the wind slowly blowing in their direction as the former realized something to capture Tusk's attention when she stood on her feet. "That's it…it's almost like the base. We must go back. Our friends could be waiting for us."

"That's true. With the Haven, we must do something…together." Tusk agreed, with Ange nodding the same with a faint smile.

"So, you are certain that is what you want?" a familiar voice said in their direction, startling the two to see Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname heading towards them from walking up the staircase, attracting Ammo, Moon and Ular, Tiamat, and Drake to see the three alongside Ange and Tusk. "You know. It is possible we would have to fight each other yet again." Salamandinay worried with Ange frowning the same.

"I will never allow it. They know far too much of how we operate." Naga stepped forward with her hands on her hips. "If she goes back, we'll put ourselves at risk."

"Maybe, but we owe Ange and her friends for saving our city, don't we?" Kaname reminded."

"Yes, but her people have shown us nothing but animosity, so she must be contained." Naga countered, with the group staring at both Ange and Sala's group before the former tuned and gave her full attention.

"Don't worry, we won't fight you guys anymore." Ange declared.

"See? She plans to attack...wait what?" Naga initially presumed

"I'm not your enemy now. Whatever happens, I'll make sure to end this pointless battle between Norma and the DRAGONs." Ange added with the group being silent for a response until Salamandinay closed her eyes and smiled hers.

"Very well. When we open the Singularity, you and your friends may cross over. If you'd like, I will even have Naga and Kaname escort you."

"But, Lady Salamandinay!" Naga protested.

"I am showing my trust as what friends do." the DRAGON princess replied.

"Thanks, Sala," Ange smiled as Sala walked and stood in front of her and offered her hand. "Safe journeys Ange. Our competition will have to wait. I hope that one day we may meet again."

"Let's make it a karaoke match." Ange agreed, taking her hand.

Once the party ended and everyone turned in for the night, Vivian offered Ange and Tusk to stay at her home for tomorrow, with Lamia and Gamus joining them to have a late snack with biscuits and tea already set up on the coffee table. "So, you'll be leaving first thing in the morning?" Lamia asked.

"Awesome," Vivian said after finishing her cup of tea. "I should also get ready for tomorrow. I've been worried about the others." Ange couldn't help but scowl her sadness at Vivian.

"But Vivian. What about…" Ange wanted to say when she managed to get Vivian's attention to glance back at her parents smiling their sadness without looking at their daughter before everyone watched in worry of Lamia setting down her teacup to tap her husband's shoulder, making him stand up from sitting on the floor and take her by the hand, lifting her before both slowly leave the room.

"Sorry, Mum…Dad…" Vivian sadly lowered her head in shame, with Ange staring back at her in sorrow just as they heard Lamia calling them.

"Pop quiz." They all looked up and saw Lamia and Gamus returning into the room, the former holding a tiny pink tunic for all to see. "What am I holding?"

"Give up?" Gamus grinned the familiar smile as Vivian, astonishing her to stand up from her seat and walk closer to her parents.

"It's a piece of your clothing from when you were little. You've grown up so much that it's been a while since you were tiny enough to wear this. But ever since then, you've met a lot of people and made a lot of memories with them." Lamia revealed, smiling alongside her husband when she asked Vivian who curiously nodded her response.

"Then you should go back. Go see your friends." Gamus relented, pulling his wife against his side with an arm behind her. "And don't worry about your mother. She may not look like it, but she's a lot tougher than she looks."

"Even tougher than your father." Lamia giggled with a fist raised to emphasise her muscles.

"A-are you both sure?" Vivian asked only to gasp from Lamia and Gamus grabbing their daughter in a hug.

"Thank you for coming home, Mii. You'd never know how your father and I can't describe how happy we are to hold you in our arms again." Lamia choked with tears welling in her eyes just like Gamus hugging his wife and daughter. "But someday…please give us another chance to say welcome home someday. Can you do that?"

"O…Okay," Vivian smiled, feeling like she was going to cry as well. "I promise; I'll be home before you know it. And I'll bring my friends too." Watching in silence, Ange and Tusk smiled their happiness, both knew how touching and sad it is to see a family reunited when they lost theirs. They better make it out alive to keep that promise…

"The people of Vivel and Slyphis are on standby."

"What about the people of Genome?"

"They said they should cross the river in a couple more hours." The first thing in the morning after a quick change of clothes and breakfast, Ange, Tusk, Vivian, Ammo, and Moon watched the sight of the DRAGON's army huddled in all the courtyards and even on the roofs, preparing to fly to where the Singularity taking them to the Misurugi Empire should appear, consisting of hundreds, or thousands of Schooners, Brigs, Galleons, and Corvette-class DRAGONs, including some familiar Bighorns-class despite their massive, burly sizes compared to the other types. In front of their Ryu-Shinn-ki at the front, Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname discussed the protocols and plans for the other side. "Check it out. I've never seen so many DRAGONs in one place." Vivian gasped.

"Yes. Despite what happened to those who passed before." Moon agreed with a tint of uncertainty, feeling Ular stroking his head against his cheek while Tiamat and Drake stood by their adopted son's side. Despite their roles in their world, the High Priestess insisted they as well as Lord Gamus should stay back and protect those who are unwilling to join the army.

"It's impressive, that's for sure," Tusk remarked.

"I'll miss that body." The sudden flirtatiously husky voice whispered near his ear made Tusk jump out of his skin as he looked over and saw Dr Gecko resting her head against his shoulder. "I was so looking forward to studying the mating habits of a mature human male. Such a shame."

"Uh yeah, it's terrible." Tusk stammered, wanting to get away when the Doctor's face leaned inches beside his with that seductive smile. "Next time you come back? We'll do coital experiments. What do you think?" Suddenly, somebody immediately pulled him away from the Doctor who walk back in surprise, and all see it was Ange with a confident smile on her face.

"Sorry, Doc. But Tusk isn't a lab rat for your experiments. He's the Knight of Ange." Ange said.

"Oh, I see," Gecko nodded.

"Woohoo!" Vivian and Ammo whistled with their crude grins making Ange blush in embarrassment and quickly dragged Tusk away with Vivian and Ammo following them, leaving the doctor scowling in envy. "Come on, let's go!"

"Brother, sisters, and children of Aura... It may have been centuries since our beloved mother was stolen from us. But now is the time for us to reclaim that which was lost. Embryo will now know the rage and grief we've had to endure for his sins. Our spirits will always soar with the wind, even if we drop from the sky until we'll have our beloved mother back. Now take wing for our time is now!" The High Priestess stood and spoke at the shrine's peak, her youth and tiny appearance silently speaks volumes of authority and wisdom beyond her years for the entire shrine and army to listen with their highest duty before the ending of her beautiful speech received countless roars and flapping wings from their determined brethren.

"Make sure you'll be safe, Moon." Tiamat prayed with her arms wrapping around Moon and Ular alongside Drake, with the same followed by Gamus and Lamia with their daughter. "And make sure you find Lizardia before you two come home to us."

"I will, Mother." Moon smiled. Ever since their first meeting, Moon knew something was off about Julio's bodyguard by the scent that he, Ular, and Hebi detected only to find out two things, one of them being a DRAGON.

"Take care of yourself. Okay, Mii." Lamia assured.

"You too, Mum, Dad!" Mi promised with a grin before she and Moon leapt onto the back of Tusk and Ammo's Gliders, waving at their parents. "Catch you on the flip side!"

"All warriors, this is force commander Salamandinay. Proceed to depart!" Lady Salamandinay broadcast from within her Enryugo. Engines roared to life and the seven machines rose into the sky alongside the attack force, including Tusk and Ammo flew up ahead on Tusk's Skyhook beside Ange and Villkiss. All around them, DRAGONs of every shape and size filled the sky as they flew out of the village until it is only trees that thinned into a familiar concrete jungle. It seems like yesterday to Ange that at first, she thought that she was the only one in this world and now she's flying back home but alongside creatures, she thought were enemies to Norma and humans.

"Hey, guys? If the DRAGONs win, that means the fight's over, right?" Vivian suddenly asked what attracted Ange, Tusk, Ammo, Moon, and Ular.

"We'll make sure that we'll win. Why do you ask?" Ammo exclaimed.

"So, we'll have free time? That's awesome. What do guys want to do with yours? I want to throw a super fun party at my house and invite all my friends." Vivian happily confessed, collecting the group's curiosity though Ammo couldn't help but grin at his eagerness for Vivian's idea before she tapped her hands on Tusk's back. "Now you go."

"Who, me?" Tusk asked, pondering of answer that came into his mind to smile. "Well...I guess I'd like to open a café with Ange in a little town by the sea and call it Café Ange. We'll be famous for our sea snake soup and live in an apartment upstairs with our four kids." Hearing that from Tusk, especially how serious he looks when he expressed his wish nearly made Ammo snigger while Ange shot both boys a look.

"Hey, Vivian. Throw him overboard." Ange demanded, hearing Vivian happily speaking from her radio. "Okay!"

"W-Wait, Vivian! I was just kidding!" Tusk quickly pleaded as Ange closed her eyes with a sigh although her mind couldn't help but think about Tusk's wish. Café Ange? …That strangely has a nice idea, to her…

"Hey, Ammo, Moon? What about you guys?" Vivian asked.

"Me?" Ammo blinked her eyes at the young girl at first before looking back. "If we win…I would like to reform my family's organisation but to help everyone better than the losers who corrupted it. Or even better, help Rush expand the Haven so that no one will be separated from their families and friends without Mana."

"That sounds right." Moon nodded with a smile. "I think I want to help all living things have a better life than what they initially got. Humans, Norma, DRAGONs, and the animals."

"Singularity has been released. All forces, to my side!" Sala announced as Ange's group looked in front and see the clouds starting to swirl in a familiar rift of red lightning crackling and the sky began to swell before the singularity finally popped open for the DRAGONs to fly through first, prompting Ange to gun the accelerator and send Villkiss plunging through alongside the DRAGONs with Tusk and Ammo following suite until the Ragna-Mail, two Gliders, and three Ryu-Shinn-ki have flown past the Singularity with the other DRAGONs.

"Pop quiz time! Does anybody want to guess where we are?" Vivian asked her usual quizzes. "Time's up! We're home!"

"Wait…this isn't Misurugi." Ammo noted. Instead of the Misurugi Empire's city and the Dawn Pillar, what everyone sees where they end up is nothing, but the endless blue of the ocean spread out beneath them. 'Isn't this…somewhere outside Arzenal?' Ange realized.

"Something's wrong," Sala broadcast. "The Singularity should have opened over the Misurugi Empire, but we somehow end up in the coordinates of 48000." Suddenly, Salamandinay's radar lit up with countless contacts that caught her attention before she looked up and realize from above their heads at the sky, the DRAGON army was greeted by a sudden barrage of missiles descending towards them with the DRAGONs at front conjuring their shields to block the missiles, forcefully exploded against their defence… just as Ange's group were forced to witness multiple bolts of green energy soaring from out of nowhere and shot through the swarm and blasted the front rows in a single shot, taking not only multiple Schooner-class DRAGONs off but also multiple Briggs and Galleons by shooting their wings and heads off, plummeting their now dead bodies to the oceans that will overflow. 'No!' Ange gasped in horror shared by her friends as they helplessly watch more DRAGONs descending to the ocean in blood, large holes, and even a lack of wings or head.

"What's going on!? Who's attacking us?" Kaname yelled.

"Guys! Look in front!" Ammo called as Ange heard him from typing Vilkiss's scanners before looking up to see the sources of the ambush. What she and the others caught when they found it collected their horror. In front of them and hovering at their level are five black units continuously shooting their rifles at the DRAGONs that ended up dead even when they tried to defend themselves, looking like Vilkiss in terms of design and shape but with different colour trims. "It's Embryo's Ragna-Mail!" Ammo cried in horror.

"But who's piloting them!?" Kaname demanded.

"Lizardia's information was a trap!" Naga cried.

"Our primary goal is to free Aura," Salamandinay replied after converting Enryugo into Destroyer Mode alongside Naga and Kaname with their weapons drawn for a battle against the enemies. "We must engage with these machines! All warriors. Prepare to retaliate!"

"How does it feel to watch your friends getting slaughtered? All because of your information leak, Riza…or should I say Lizardia?" A voice enquired with a condescending tone of authority hissing through his filthy mouth as Lizardia is forced to weakly look away from both her capturer and tormentor and the monitor beside her left showing her people being slaughtered and the three Ryu-Shinn-ki belonging to Lady Salamandinay, Naga, and Kaname charging battle against the five Ragna-mail. Stripped naked and beaten until her entire system is numb, covered with blood made of knife wounds, marks, bruises, blemishes, and dirty and held against the wall by the manacles on her wrists from being flogged, impaled, and bitten, Lizardia could curse her fate. Right after her capture at the Dawn Pillar, Lizardia did think of either flying away or fighting Embryo only to surprisingly and instantly lose to his young children who expertly and savagely fought her to the point she knew she died, if not for Embryo resurrecting her just to start tormenting her for possibly days. In front of her, the young boy whom she both despises and fears for secretly being her spy stood and sneer with his glowing red eyes trailing at her abused body without a sign of innocence and remorse even when he assisted in tormenting her with such brutal actions despite his age. Other than the boy, resting on her father's lap and stomach with his hand tenderly resting on her side and back, his daughter slowly woke up from her nap as she spotted something inside her father's suit to weakly reach her right arm through the jacket and carefully pulled something out that caught Embryo's attention to see Khalifa holding a picture, he knew that he kept it inside his book as one of his treasured memories and bookmark.

"Oh, you find one of our pictures." Embryo reminded with a serenely happy smile as his voice and words attracted Aya to turn from Lizardia to his family and walked towards his father when he points at something in this picture, shifting his attention from his children to the picture a few times. "Remember, children. That's us, your mother, and Misha when she was born at the hospital. I remember how happy we are when we met your sister for the first time."

'Do you remember how worried and desperate you are for Mother and Misha that day?' Aya signed with his tongue playfully sticking out of his cocky smile at Embryo smirking his irritation for being reminded of that embarrassment, especially by his son, for the man to immediately pull the boy from the floor and make him sit on his other leg while Khalifa stares at the picture.

"If you remind me of that, I will tickle you." Embryo sarcastically joked to Aya who immediately flick his tongue out of his playful smirk again, just like he remembers his wife would do as her quirk, especially before her passing. Right before Embryo was about to keep his word and proceed to teasingly tickle Aya, Khalifa finally spoke.

"I miss them." Embryo and Aya took note of the sorrow in Khalifa's voice when they look at their daughter and sister frowning at the picture. With a glance at each other, Embryo and Aya felt saddened as well for they know too well of Khalifa's thoughts.

'I hope you both remember, children.' Embryo hoped, grabbing both Khalifa and Aya when the latter tries to climb on his lap before giving them an embrace. "We do too."

Aware they are ignoring her plight they gave, Lizardia's nearly blurred vision managed to spot a familiar white Ragna-mail joining the Ryu-Shinn-ki, alongside two Gliders with one holding a familiar brunette boy from Angelise's failed execution and another holding two boys she knows too well whom they are with one of them holding a snake around himself. 'What?' Lizardia mentally gasp in horror and worry, noticing something other than Lady Angelise's machine joining the fight. 'Why is Moon there? Shouldn't he be with Aunt Tiamat and Uncle Drake, where it's safe for him!?'

"Well, now!" Lizardia heard Embryo's voice and she felt all her nerves electrifying in petrifying horror, seeing the monster and his spawns watching the screen with the former reaching his free hand towards the phone on the table. "Rush's boys. Children, please don't say anything. I need to make a call…" A quick glimpse of Aya smirking his annoyance at him, just like he did earlier by Aya's words, collected Embryo's thoughts to assure his son with a confident smirk. "I'm not patronizing you, Aya."

"No, stop!" Even as Moon and Vivian screamed in terror, they, Ange, Tusk, and Ammo could only watch as the enormous DRAGON swarm was instantly destroyed by two of the Ragna-Mail units. However, most of the remaining ones manage to fly away and distract them by circling over them in the sky while Sala, Naga, and Kaname engaged in combat with the other three units by clashing their swords and lances at each other. 'Whoever's piloting them, they're gonna pay!' Ange decided and Villkiss instantly accelerated straight through the massacre, heading straight to Salamandinay and her opponent. "Hold on, Ange!" Ange heard Tusk yell into her radio.

"I have to help Sala," Ange answered.

"You can't! Embryo is behind this!" Tusk shouted but Ammo quickly guns his engines and sends his Glider following Ange while avoiding colliding against the other DRAGONs initially falling above him.

"But we can't just sit back and watch! Hold on tight, Moon!" Ammo argued.

"Damn it! Vivian, hold on tight, okay!" Tusk directed.

"Yeah, chief!" Vivian tightened her hold around his waist and Tusk launched his Glider following Ange and Ammo and avoid getting hit by the raining DRAGON corpses.

Salamandinay continues to steer Enryugo while both swinging its blade and shooting her beam rifle against the blue-trimmed Ragna-mail yet the enemy pilot. Sala cursed through clenched teeth and raised the arm cannon to fire. Crimson energy bolts shot across the sky, but the enemy was too quick, and it easily weaved and dodged every shot.

"We've lost over half the right flank!" Kaname announced.

"My lady, we don't have enough to carry the front line! We must retreat!" Naga warned.

"They are only five machines!" Sala argued. Even if they were Ragna-mail, how could their superior numbers lose to such a small force? The blue-trimmed Ragna-Mail flew forward faster than Sala could counter and swung its sword intending to slice into Enryugo's cockpit just as a sudden large shadow managed to attract Salamandinay to fly back and witness a familiar white Ragna-Mail knockin blade. Thrown off guard by Villkiss's sudden intervention, the blue trim hesitated, and Ange fired a salvo from her assault rifle.

"You okay Sala?" Ange asked.

"Yes!" Salamandinay responded in worry, managing to see the surviving DRAGONs heading to the Singularity while the other two Ragna-Mails retreated from sudden gunfire that came from Sir Tusk and Ammo's Gliders flying around them and thankfully avoiding their deaths by the enemies.

"What are you waiting for? You need to get out of here!" Ange called.

"No, Ange!" Sala argued. "I must fight. Not when I am so close to freeing Aura!"

"Damn it! Are you a leader or not? Are you in any position to get Aura out while your people are dying!?" Ange yelled, surprising Salamandinay when her words attract her to look around inside her cockpit and see the shocking and saddening part of her people being slaughtered by the enemies.

"She's right, Lady Salamandinay! If this continues, all the DRAGONs in the army will die! You must pull back and regroup before it's too late!" Sir Ammo broadcast over the radio. Seeing its comrade in trouble, the green trim ceased its attack on Kaname and charged Ange only to halt as a barrage of machine gun fire cut across its path. From overhead, Tusk dove past with his Skyhook's gun blazing but the green trim projected a diamond-shaped energy shield from its left forearm and the bullets harmlessly bounced from it. Sala's grip tightened around Enryugo's control stick, tempting to break it from her hands for wanting to …

"All forces! We must retreat and fall back immediately!" Salamandinay commanded the surviving attack force who managed to avoid getting killed by the Ragna-Mail and reverse to flee towards the Singularity with Kaname and Naga following suit with their defences increasing their guard from the Ragna-Mail trying to shoot them down. 'Forgive me, Aura, for I fail you. But I will set you free.' Sala prayed as she reverses her unit to the slowly shrinking Singularity. 'And forgive me, Ange…'

With Ammo and Tusk distracting the other Ragna-Mails with their machines' speed making it difficult for the latter two to shoot him, Moon, and Ular down, Ange continue to shoot when Ange's rifle suddenly ceased fire. It must have run out of ammo, a fact that was not lost on the two attacking Ragna-mail as they lowered their shields and charged towards her. "Ange use this!" Ange heard Sala calling her from the side and managed to witness her unit throwing her beam rifle at Vilkiss, alerting her to discard her empty rifle, and caught the weapon with Vilkiss's hands in time, quickly aim it at the Ragna-Mail and unleash a crimson beam towards the other's direction but the Ragna-Mail managed to fly away. Luckily, Ange watched in relief as Sala, Kaname, and Naga managed to retreat just as the Singularity has closed and vanished, hiding evidence of the surviving DRAGON army from view.

"Tusk, the DRAGONs out! Let's get out of here!" Ange called over the radio but not soon after she said it and convert Vilkiss to Flight Mode, three of the five Ragna-mail have already flown around them in a circle although the yellow and pink-trimmed Ragna-Mails are hovering farther from their comrades. Without a word, the blue-trimmed Ragna-mail opened its cockpit with its pilot standing up and showing herself before them, wearing a full-body plug suit and helmet matching her unit's colours and covering her face which she opened her face with a press of a button at the side of her helmet, catching a glimpse of familiar brownish-gold eyes.

"I knew it! It is you" The blue pilot notified.

"Salia?" Ange gasped with Ammo gawking his horror at seeing Salia's face through her helmet while the green and orange units also opened their canopies to show their pilots wearing the same plug suits and helmets that matches the same colours as their Ragna-Mails.

"You mean it's not a ghost?" the green helmet snarked.

"Chris?" Vivian realized. From their Gliders, Ammo, Vivian, and Moon realized the pilot in the orange suit is familiar, to Vivian and Moon's horror and Ammo's fury, to be Keren from Third Squad but everyone noticed something that caught their surprise. Unlike the brash and temperamental Norma, Keren has an empty, lifeless expression with blank brown eyes, and she didn't even say a word since the beginning. It's as if she is a mindless zombie or doll.

"Salia. What are you doing here? And why?" Ange demanded.

"I'm asking the questions here, Ange! Why are you siding with the DRAGONS suddenly? And how is Moon alive?" Salia barked although everyone heard her consoles beeping twice, to which she quickly answers. "This is Salia." After a brief pause to hear the message, she is listening, Salia blinked her eyes with a gasp before she relented and end the call. "Understood. Yes, master."

'Embryo!' Ange grits her teeth in anger, not needing a genius or Ammo to guess the person Salia is talking to before Salia sat back to her cockpit with the canopy door closing, followed by Chris and Keren. "I have orders to detain you and the others, Ange. I have a bone to pick with you. Do you hear that, you two?"

"Yes, Knight Leader," Chris responded.

"No, you don't!" Ange gunned Vilkiss away and converted into Destroyer Mode to fly away while Tusk and Ammo hurriedly split their Gliders' directions as a distraction with the former rising higher and the latter descending, forcing Salia, Chris, and Keren to follow Ange while Tanya and Irma follow either of them. With Salia after her, Ange flew towards her and start their attack head-on as both units continuously spin each other and clash their swords each other with blue sparks of lightning bursting in each strike on the air.

"I'm shocked. You're weaker than I expected." Salia spoke, startling Ange when she could've sworn, she saw a happy smile on Salia's face. "No…it's because I got stronger and everything's better, thanks to Master Embryo!" A sudden kick to Villkiss's abdomen sent Ange careening toward the sea but she regained herself and charged back towards her opponent. "Here we go!" Salia called Keren and Chris joined her side. "Rose Triad Formation!"

"Cheesy," Chris muttered.

"What did you say?" Salia demanded.

"Nothing," Chris responded while Keren mysteriously said nothing before the three Ragna-mail units Villkiss on three sides at once, with Chris's Theodra unit shooting a grapnel line from its right arm to impale the end through Villkiss's left arm while Keren's Raziya unit following suit by grabbing Vilkiss's right arm with her grappling line, forcing Vilkiss to end up with a T-pose on the air until Salia's Cleopatra's unit fired her grapnel that ended up roping it around Villkiss's neck. Now that Vilkiss is apprehended, Salia opened her canopy to stand, aiming her pistol at Ange. "It's over. You're mine!"

"Incoming!" A familiar voice shouted as everyone witnessed Vivian falling from the sky after jumping off Tusk's Glider, catching on and spinning around Theodra's line before falling off in time for an instant explosion to snap the line and sent Chris's unit flying backwards with a gasp while Vivian was caught by Ammo's Glider when he flew towards her, or precisely Ular using the ends of its body and tail catching and wrapping it around Vivian's body, before flying away from being caught by Irma and Tanya's units chasing after them. "Nice catch, partner!" Vivian gave Ular a thumbs up.

Relieved Ammo, Moon, and Ular caught Vivian and are now distracting the other two units, Tusk quickly shoot his Glider's ammunition at the Ragna-Mail holding Vilkiss's right arm, not strong enough to shoot it down but managed to distract its silent pilot long enough for the grapnel to break and leave Ange with only the grapnel line around Vilkiss's neck by this Salia's Ragna-Mail, giving her the advantage to drive Vilkiss back alongside Tusk with the Ragna-Mail in tow.

"Ange! Stop it!" Salia demanded, nearly falling over her consoles when she was surprised of being pulled forward by Vilkiss, knowing that Ange will never let herself be taken. That's just her…and that's one of the things Salia hates the most about Ange. Salia quickly grab her hands on the handles, but she was about to pull both Cleopatra and Vilkiss back and force the latter from moving when Salia witnessed a geyser of missiles and gunfire that appeared right in front of her eyes and would've shot her down if not for Salia recklessly pull Cleopatra back and witness the ammunition snapping the grapnel in half and released Vilkiss from her grasp. 'Who could be shooting at us from underneath!?' Salia wondered while checking her scanners for the possible ambush only to grit her teeth in horror and anger. No…it can't be!

"What the…!?" Ange gasped from hearing and almost got hit by the sudden wave of gunfire from an impossible height underneath, which also and luckily broke off Salia's grapnel that was initially strangling Vilkiss's neck. Hurriedly, Ange looks down from her position for the source and managed to see two colossal grey blurs emerging out of the ocean with their heads opening the second the revealed submarine battleships submerged to the surface and released multiple but familiar Para-mails out of the flight decks and head to their positions, the biggest ship released more Para-mails than the smaller one.

"Ange! That's the Hades and Aurora ships!" Tusk shouted in worry quickly shifted into a relieved smile when the group watch the Para-mails flying towards them with some that shifted into Destroyer Modes hovering and surrounding both Ange's group and the Ragna-Mail, as Chris was cornered by two Glaive units, one red and another yellow Glaive, an orange Hauser hovers in front of Ammo's Glider where Ular is still dangling Vivian over the machine and aim its double barrel guns at Tanya's Victoria unit while another of the unknown Para-mail units held its custom rifle and sword at Irma's Eirene and a pure white Arquebus stood in front of Vilkiss with its hands holding its Gatling guns at Salia before she could apprehend Ange again.

"Hold it, Chris!" The pilot in the red Glaive shouted after she and the yellow Glaive pilot opened their cockpits alongside the orange Hauser, alarming Ange in both surprise and relief to see them again since she was transported to the Other Earth.

"Tch!" Chris clicked her tongue in anger, seeing those two again. "The losers."

"Hilda! Rosalie! Ersha!" Vivian notified the three pilots with excitement, as Ange couldn't believe it herself if not for hearing Rosalie gasping her shock at their radios that just synced itself the moment the sudden surprising calvary arrived in their defence from the colossal submarine battleships. "It's the lizard girl!?"

"Ange, Vivi!" Ersha responded happily. Looking around, Ange took note that apart from Hilda, Rosalie, and Ersha, they were also joined by multiple Para-mails with each having a different colour and some of them are in their Flight Modes to reveal their pilots that are either male or female pilots which caught Ange's attention to hastily look at the white Arquebus in front of her when they arrived. The Haven's riders! Could it be…

"Hey, kids. Good to see you alive again." The rider in the white Arquebus spoke after opening his cockpit, revealing himself well and alive than last time with a confident smile that attracted Ange, Tusk, Vivian, Ammo, and Moon's happiness of seeing him again. "Rush!"

"Knight Leader. What should we do? Take them down?" Irma demanded as the Diamond Knights first glared at the unexpected swarm of Para-mails aiming their weapons at them while Salia typed in her consoles and possibly informed their master although she gasped in shock at what she was given. "What? But Master…" Although wanting to object, Salia bit her tongue and glared at Ange, Rush, and the latter's army in anger before ending the call. "Yes… I understand."

"You're lucky that Master Embryo commanded us to leave you just this once. But don't think you're lucky the next time, Ange." Salia informed.

"What?" Tanya gasped.

"Can't we just kill everyone here and now?" Chris snarked with her attention directed at Hilda and Rosalie who sneered back although the latter is hesitant. Rush, however, sports a confident smirk on his face.

"How nice of him. Well, tell Embryo I say hi for me." Ange can tell from her position that Salia, Chris, Irma, and Tanya are offended by the angry scowls on their faces directed at Rush while Keren is still silent and blank, seeing the blonde acting his usual self immediately reassured Ange before the entire Para-mail army watch the Ragna-mails converted into their Flight Modes and turned around to rocket themselves away from the scene until they have disappeared, releasing the tension for Ange, Tusk, Ammo, Moon, and Vivian who managed to get on the Glider with Ular's help to sigh their relief.

"Rush! You're alive!" Ammo shouted at Rush in happiness. "…And you're not brainwashed to betray us for your boyfriend!"

"What the fuck, Ammo?" Rush glared at Ammo in irritation, thankfully showing his true self than the others serving under Embryo, with Ange hearing the Haven army and Ersha chuckling their amusement for the gunner which Ange would have a tint of reacting the same for Ammo's words if not for everyone hearing Rush's consoles beeping until he pressed a button.

"Looks like we got here at the best time, Ange." A familiar voice calmly spoke in amusement through the speaker and caught Ange's surprise of hearing her again. Jill. "You better have a damn explanation for where you've been all this time."

"Yes, I saw everything, Salia. Don't worry, my dear. Even if she is in Rush's custody, you'll get another chance. We both know that Alektra will plan whatever it is to get Ange in our hands. Now you and the others need to return here." Embryo spoke through his call after shutting off the monitor before the other line died, pursing his lips, and seeing his children first stare at the inactive screen before their father and the phone a few times as if tempting the other to make a call, prompting Embryo to reach his fingertips and rotate the phone's dial numbers with his children watching in fascination.

"Hello?" The moment Embryo dialled the number he knows and got to the other line the one he needs to speak with, Aya, Khalifa, and Lizardia witnessed the former two's father and the latter's abuser flinched in shock and subtly move his hand holding the phone away from his ear as if the caller is shouting at him before he resumes the call with a tired scowl.

"Yes, I understand your rage. I watched everything so I made sure that none of our sides are harmed, don't worry…but there are casualties, just not ours. At least I called you, didn't I?" Embryo stayed silent while listening to the person he is calling, aware of the angry tone in the other line although he must be quick to joke something when Embryo narrowed his eyes and smile his annoyance at the other. "…That is a one-time thing only, so no. I'm not doing that even for you. I need to go, but I shall call you on a later day so we could have a meeting I wish to have with you. Take care." Hanging up the phone, Embryo slowly raise from his seat and carefully hold Khalifa in his arms before looking at Aya, all three ignore Lizardia weakly glaring at her pain, anger, and fear towards them. "Aya. That is all for the wench's punishment for today. I shall return her to her owner while her dead people shall be taken to Aura."

'Yes, Father.' Embryo was pleased by Aya signing his acceptance, the same when his children follow his instructions as the good children they are and that is what makes him blessed of raising his son and daughter. Although he wished to have his youngest daughter and their mother again.

"I know. Since you both are so behaved as always for helping me and being more than good children, how about I'll make us some veal osso buco for tonight's dinner?" Both children cocked their heads in confusion slowly shifting in eagerness for their father's cooking.

'What's osso buco?' Aya signed in curiosity. Slowly kneeling in front of his son who hurriedly stood and lean against his free side, Embryo remove his left arm under his other arm holding Khalifa and slipped his hand inside his suit before pulling out a green notebook smaller than his favourite book and flipped the pages with a thumb, showing the two children it is a cookbook he wrote himself containing a picture of each dish in one page and the list of ingredients and instructions in the other, recognizing a few of them as those they already tried but the rest looks so appetising that professional chefs from restaurants would have made or dying to make them themselves before Embryo stopped at a page with the top of the left page written Ossobuco and the picture under it show a few cross-cut and cooked pieces of veal shanks braised in some type of sauce under the meat with minced and chopped vegetables and potatoes, even when listed as optional by the notes at the other page.

"With the meat, we have right now, I can make this for dinner as both of your treats especially Khalifa's medicine for her to enjoy," Embryo noted with a smile and peek at his children's faces for their reactions only to snigger that will break into a laugh from seeing Aya and Khalifa staring at both him and the picture of their deserved dinner with widened eyes lighting with stars and mouths gawking wide in delight as if they are going to drool their happiness for their treats, knowing and being proud that his children and even Rush enjoy his cooking he gladly does as his hobby. It's a good thing that Khalifa hasn't used her Mana to trigger her Manasthma for a long time because Embryo will grow more worried if she drools or vomits her blood saliva if she does use her Mana.

'Works every time.' Embryo mentally chortled from his grin when he first stashed his cooking notebook back inside his suit before grabbing his entranced son from anticipating tonight's dinner by slinging his free arm under Aya to sit on his arm and torso before he stood up and left the torture room with his distracted children, leaving the naked and heavily bruised DRAGON woman chained in the wall.

"Lady…Angelise…" Despite wanting to say her cousin's name, Lizardia could only mutter the sister of her late enemy before the excruciating sensation inside her system and brain from the previous torture forced her vision to blur until she gave into mental exhaustion.