Countess Cavendish Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
Each one went to a different corner of the castle and for Croix it wasn't very different, she was the first to leave the group, listening to the voices of Chariot, she passed by the door of the coliseum, but there she found something totally different, that place was first an art gallery until arriving at the corridor, where it will be the place where she can meet Ursula, the person for which Bernadette gave the function of taking care of the combats in that place, a little also for a bigger surprise, that still will happen in the life of Meridies, for which she has no idea yet.
She passed in the corridor and already noticed something, they were pictures that had Chariot's face and appearance, in those showed her with different expressions, being many of those of fear what already left Croix with a bigger concern, soon a creature was appearing, it was a huge living armor that went with a sword towards Meridies, in that same hour the Lombard shoots with the archabuse, sliding backwards giving an impulse, already goes preparing a shot using her magic to take the musket ball and prepare the gunpowder, in a few seconds another shot was ready and in the middle of the smoke armor already appeared limping and was continuing to run until take another shot that ends up making fall and with that dissolve in flames, after giving a scream, which already shows that the lilac haired woman is not joking.
Croix: My witch powers are back in this place, that means Chariot is around, she's still alive, I can dodge and slide around, that's wonderful, I hope she's ok, these paintings are freaking me out.
The Meridies was continuing for the way, looking for the paintings and for the side, it was little by little noticing that the paintings were floating, going in direction the lombard that was already noticing, this way she goes already preparing the shots of the archabuz, but in the more it catches a sub item of a candle that was an axe, This way she gets excited, using the axe against the paintings, getting a little bit shaken in the head, since when she destroyed each one she heard a scream of Chariot, this way she even left running, but the paintings continued to follow, she meets with another armor. She
shoots with everything, already preparing another shot, hitting in full, continuing the way running there, until arriving at a door, where she quickly passes, getting all panting leaning on it and sitting there, putting the hand on her head.
[Croix's Thought: Shit! Shit! This place is going to destroy with my head like this, I'm not going to make that much progress in the castle, those Chariot voices are messing me up]
Voices of Chariot: Croix! Save me my love! Croix I'm here! Help me! Get me out of this prison! I can't break free! Only you can save me! Help Croix! Help me, love!
Croix: Stop talking to me! I won't fall for your tricks!
At this time she notices that some sculptures start to move, being of some animals, which are going towards Meridies, who is trying to stay sane, she aims with the arquebus and notices that she ends up opening all the ceramic of them, continuing the way, trying the most to ignore the voices, Some ghosts are appearing and with the sub-item, the wombat is opening the way, hitting the small ghosts by that room, but soon it is going to meet with another problem, they were painting goblins that were drawing the things, these same ones were going in direction to Croix that shot these creatures that were invoked.
Voices of Chariot: Sorry my love, I just want to help you, please don't give up, someone is controlling me! Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhh! Help me love! Help me!
Croix: What do you mean by controlling? Love? Love? Love! Damn, this thing could be from my head or really Chariot is in trouble, I really need to find her! But first I have to hit those stupid goblins.
Croix aims the arquebus at one of these goblins, hitting a very accurate shot on it that ends up dissolving and screaming of pain, the others are starting to colour faster, the invocations are being much more badly done, this way Meridies is getting more time to recharge the gun, giving another two shots on the goblins that were missing, this way blowing the barrel of the gun and getting a smile on his face.
Croix: You have messed with the wrong slayer, I'm coming Chariot! Be sure I will find you, trust me.
Croix continued in that corridor, opening the door, from there she saw another corridor with paintings, but those weren't the ones from Chariot, but paintings with creatures, which started to come out of there, going all in group to attack Croix, who lights a bomb and throws it towards that room, taking cover in a pillar, this explosion was very strong, throwing some creatures.
After that she started shooting the paintings, that were screaming as if they were the creatures, she soon was also facing flying art articles going towards her, like tables, canvases, brushes and with that she took cover on a shelf.
Croix: Apparently now the domestic violence has started hahaha.
Croix throws another bomb, takes the opportunity to grab a shield that she found on the wall, where she started to run forward, while the tables, brushes, screens were all thrown towards Meridies, she didn't give up, she kept going forward, preventing from being hit, the impact already gave a little weight and with that Croix uses the sub item that frees the way with the things being hit, until she ends up tripping, falling on the ground, facing several screens going towards her, but at the time she ends up being protected by a force field, at that time she can see a hologram, as if she was having an illusion, it was as if she was Chariot.
Croix: Chariot?
Chariot: Take refuge Croix, I can't protect you all the time.
Croix agrees with the head, and takes cover in a more hidden place, taking refuge behind those shelves, then she saw the paintings, brushes, pencils, flying all in the opposite direction to the one she was, the same ones seemed to stakes, it would be practically impossible for Meridies to pass through there, but she didn't give up, she started to climb discretely that bookcase, reaching the top side, seeing a whole corridor with that she could see more in the end, where she saw that there was an artist elf with a magic wand sending everything to hit the Lombard.
Silently the lilac haired girl lay down on the bookcase, she
aimed with the arqueabuz, leaving the weapon ready and armed, with a powerful shot she hit the goblin right in the head, already foreseeing a little of the musket's bullet's route she made a point of catching a different ball, which cut the wind being able to reach greater speed and perforation, when hitting the goblin the way was free, This way Meridies was walking on the corridor, finally being able to open the door, but she was still at the beginning of the art saloon, when she opened the door she found an open saloon, on it she could notice many skeletons doing art, some even doing poses, what made her do a slight laugh and then she hid herself.
[Croix's Thought: I thought the library that would have an art room, but anyway it's kind of weird that there's an art gallery right where there's a coliseum full of creatures of the night, but come on, this place is wide open, I can't use the attention here, I'll just enjoy the moment, disguise myself as one of them].
Croix took a cloth where she covered her whole body, going hidden, passing through the corridor, the skeletons didn't notice, neither the imps and witches, everything was quiet, only the small goblins by which they looked suspicious, but Meridies avoided looking, until she noticed that they started to move, in that lights a bomb, She releases it while she's walking, nobody notices anything, they just miss it, so much that they get close to the point that then the bomb starts raising smoke, it was the cue for Croix to run out, she went to the door on the other side and a spear almost didn't get it when Meridies arrived on the other side. It was Goblin artists drawing spears heading towards Meridies in another corridor, through which she had already hidden herself taking cover behind a column.
Croix: Shit! Again these things, I have to think here, one shot just won't be enough, I know, I'll try that.
Meridies threw a smoke bomb, but that was only to distract, since she took advantage that there was another bookcase, where she was walking on top of it, arriving little by little more ahead, already aiming for an atlas statue that was right behind the goblins, at that time Croix shoots the statue's arm and jumps back towards another column, taking cover, This way the goblin designers were all shooting towards that place where the wolfsbane took cover, but it was for a short time, since the statue lost firmness, ending up collapsing and the globe falling on top of the frames and a goblin that was more distracting, at that time Meridies goes to the corridor aiming the archabody on the other two goblins left.
Croix: Let's see now who is going to kill who.
The hunter sniper shoots with all her might towards the two goblins using two bullets, then throws a bomb backwards when she hears the sounds of doors being opened from behind, what she already takes advantage of to keep walking forward with style, while explosions happened and even a skeleton skull flew right in front of Meridies who then kicks the head of it, arriving at a staircase, in it had some orangutan skeletons throwing barrels on fire down the stairs, what the lilac haired one already takes a cover.
Croix: This place is more full of stuff than last time, they really want to challenge us as much as possible, now I can see that the Countess knows she is close to dying, if that's all there is to it.
Croix soon got out of there, shot a group of barrels, which exploded along with the skeleton and was doing this using a little bit the witch powers, sliding a little faster and reloading the gun, going up those stairs as if it was nothing, when she reached the top of the stairs, she was surprised by spears coming all the way towards Meridies, who did a back flip managing to dodge the spears that only caught on her coat that ended up tearing, making her a little bit furious.
Croix: Shit! It took me days to sew this jacket.
The same one only gave a few knocks, opening a gate that gave outside, being able to notice that it was still afternoon, with a somewhat full of fog, it was a bridge that led to the coliseum that can notice in the bottom already the building, at that time Croix leans to try to observe other places of the castle, arriving to look with a bezel.
At that time Meridies looks further down, noticing the presence of Diana and Akko, both strolling through the botanical garden, then kissing and at that even she opened a smile on her face, stopping looking when she heard crows coming towards her that had to use the sub-item to hit them, which was scaring the crows away, but at that same moment she could notice that the spirit of Chariot also appeared beside her watching everything.
Chariot: These two remind me of us so much, I can't wait for you to come soon so we can make this love between us two come true, I miss you so much Chariot.
Croix: Me too my love, Ahhhh! Wretched crows!
Irritated Croix is attacking the same crows with the sub items, going through that bridge, deciding to focus on the objective, when crossing it having problems with the animals, Meridies arrives at a door, which she opens, entering in another tower with a staircase, this one that has two sides, then by curiosity the wombat decides to go up to see what is on the top.
She goes dealing with some buers that are passing by there, kind of being easy targets for Meridies that with the Arcabuz shots can finish one by one in a short time, raising the most smoke, she also takes the opportunity to go gathering more hearts to use sub items, When arriving at the top of the tower she comes across a goblin artist drawing the buers to be going on the ladder, then turning the perfect opportunity for Croix to finish with another problem that was hindering the climb in the ladder, this top of the tower she arrives in a room, this had several weapons and a chest.
Croix: I'm sure this here will be turned to something down there, it smells like combat this.
Meridies opens the trunk, in it she found something inside that was another arquebus, when she touches the weapon to take a look, she notices that that weapon disappears, while hers starts to shine, Croix even cheers up, she goes down the stairs and goes to the door where gives access to the room where the coliseum would start, when she arrives there, she faces a statue of Chariot, she was in the middle of all that abandoned place, still at the entrance to the coliseum, where it was with weapons on the floor and skeletons on the floor of dead people.
Croix: Chariot!
Croix is running towards the statue, but a tremor begins to be felt, the statue begins to wake up, gets up, and is also walking towards Meridies, but begins to strike the statue, which soon dodges, jumping backwards and being propelled by magic.
Croix: What, is it all a statue?
The statue goes giving whips, but Croix dodges them all, trying what she can, but that thing was very agile, too agile for a statue, trying what she can to not be hit, soon she had to deal with other problems, appearing some goblins that began to draw things and go launching towards her, she shoots the statue that ends up giving some steps back, but the same did not stop attacking for nothing, at this time came the biggest concern that were the goblins artists, she had to think of a way, when she noticed that when she shot it came out with more force was even excited.
Chariot Voices: Croix you don't need to insert ammo, your arquebus shoots multiple times now.
Croix gives a smile, deciding to test, starting to shoot towards the goblins, she soon notices that she manages to give one shot after another which was knocking down each of the creatures, she was getting excited, but when she shot all of them, she noticed that the gun was out of power, Soon Meridies tries to put another ammo note that in this ends up getting circled with magic, with a smile on her face she decides to focus the shot directly at the statue, but it didn't seem to affect, she could only make it walk only backwards, at that time again Croix has another group of Goblins hindering her.
Croix: It's 10 shots for every one of the musket balls I reload, that's already quite advantageous.
Croix spends the rest of her ammo on the goblin artists, deciding to take some cover, as she throws a smoke bomb, she starts to plot, looking at some weapons, she gets behind a pillar, the statue is still walking, totally unharmed, Meridies looks at the surroundings, looks at the weapons in place, what she didn't expect was that the weapons were going to detach and start to float, going with everything towards her that was dodging, dragging and pushing forward, the statue was just cornering the wombat.
She stopped right in front of it, Croix released a bomb, dodged and propelled up, grabbed a shield that she found hanging on the wall and could defend herself from the guns that came towards her, the bomb exploded right on the statue that was thrown backwards, but at that time she ended up getting up unharmed, with only the powder mark on the statue's structure.
Croix: Shit! That thing never breaks anyway.
Croix aims the gun more precisely in the statue still on the floor, starting to unload the ten shots with everything creating even a huge curtain of smoke, but the statue seems to resist enough to the shots, as if it was nothing, when they finish them, all that the same can realize is that the statue was not with any mark, only the bullets that ended up stopped in the marble body of the creature and at that time Meridies has an idea. She
changes the musket balls for a more piercing ammunition, changing it for this one, soon the statue goes with everything advancing towards Croix, hitting a marble whipping in the same one that gets a bit hurt when hit in the face, but stunned she still can shoot, bleeding a little bit by the nose, the statue ends up with some crack marks, with the piercing shots, the same ammunition is stopped in the middle of the body.
Croix: Wonderful, that thing lashes out crazy, but now she's going to see something.
Croix starts to propel herself backwards, giving the rest of the shots at the statue, what starts to leave that thing marked, nailed, full of holes, but still whole, what already leaves Meridies more excited, although the statue doesn't have organs or anything, it was part of a plan of the same one of getting to defeat this statue for good.
But soon the Croix
's peace was interrupted, the 10 shots were over, they end up facing a big problem, having to deal with guns being levitated again and going towards their own.
The wombat goes running to get a shield, is trying to hold on, also notices the presence of some drawing goblins, she takes advantage and takes also a sword, goes running for that place, hitting in goblin for goblin, the same ones were trying to draw as fast as possible to invoke something for Croix to be stopped, but nothing was fast, the Meridies was faster, she used a little of the impulses with magic that was managing to recover, getting more agile.
[Croix's Thought: Great, I've managed to recover all my agility that I had before, now with this weapon everything will improve, I just have to stop running so much, I'll get tired and won't have enough energy to save Chariot, really this castle is giving everything to provoke me, I even have to change my style a little to suit me].
Croix finished with the last goblin, she reloads the gun, gives more 10 shots that end up being defended by the arm of the statue that puts in front of the body, to defend itself, already getting more cracks by the body, Meridies reloads the ammo, throws the shield towards the creature that defends itself more, which ends up propelling more inside the perforating bullets, cracking it even more.
The statue goes with an impulse appearing on the spot in front of Croix, tries to hit her with whips, but her agility can recover, she can have more malemolence on her movements, finally getting to have the agility that she used to have. At that time she puts the barrel of the gun well under the line of the chin of the statue, she shoots the 10 shots at once in that direction which is cracking even more the statue, that attacks giving a punch in Croix well strong in the stomach of the Meridies that even spits a little blood, but the same with a sword that she found nearby hits with the handle on the chin of the statue and with that breaks part of the head, leaving the face partially broken, from the part of the chin to the nose.
Croix: It's time to dismantle that statue.
Croix starts reloading the gun, notices that there are goblins coming up again, she decides not to waste time, she unloads another 10 shots aiming right in the face of the statue that is getting stunned giving some steps back, then she reloads with normal musket balls, dodging some creatures that were launched towards her, The statue had no more power to levitate weapons, she had to rely on the Goblins, which drew some skeletons and zombies towards her, but simply with strong blows, Meridies disassembled the skeletons, or else with the sub item she was killing the zombies, taking the opportunity to focus on the goblins.
Again she shoots some of them finishing with all the nine that are circulating that room, the last shot was given on the statue's forehead, Croix
was soon getting more ammo and reloading the gun.
Croix: I will finalise this thing is now.
Croix pushed back, the statue followed her, and started to give some desperation lashes, what made Croix a little more alert, since she couldn't afford to be hit, since despite being strong, she still didn't have so much resistance, and could die in some of those hits, so much that one lash caught her chest, tearing her clothes and opening a light cut in the region, Croix then started to shoot, she made precise shots, giving in the chest line, making a straight line.
Without wasting time Meridies goes precisely reloading the gun, already preparing to give other shots, but she is hit by a kick of the statue, then the same one catches Meridies by the collar of the coat, turns the whip to the side where it is sharper, what already leaves the wombat more worried, but she still shoots, that makes the statue let her go, The shots form a straight line down from the chest to the belly of the statue, Croix takes the opportunity to take refuge, more goblins are summoned, this time only seven of them, the spells were getting less efficient by the statue, Croix throws a smoke bomb.
[Croix's Thought: All I need to do now is keep drilling that statue and then cause a shock, it's going to end up breaking anyway, the pressure causes it, it's going to be like a hammer on a stone].
Croix shoots each of the Goblins that were distracted, they didn't know where Croix was hiding, when they found out it was too late, the statue went after Meridies, she also ran towards it, she threw herself on the ground, dragging on it and passing through the middle of the statue's legs hitting the last three normal shots, quickly changing for piercing shots.
The statue turns around and Croix already started shooting, getting around the neck and with the remaining shots she went down to the pelvic line, the statue went running and hit a strong whipping this time, Meridies was thrown with everything against a pillar, getting hurt a lot, she was soon getting up, but the statue got close and gave a knee to her before Croix could move. She decides to try again to throw a punch, everything would be lost if it wasn't for one more time saved by the spirit of Chariot herself, which possessed the statue and with that stopped its movements, she could hold on for a few seconds, but it was enough.
Croix gives a smile, then sees a hammer on the floor, picks it up and gives that hit with all the intensity of the world in the body of the statue, the statue at the time by almost not hitting a blow on the chest of Meridies, being stopped by feeling the hammering, which was breaking the body of the creature in several parts, When it split in pieces it started to disassemble itself and then caught fire, dissolving itself, starting to scream as if it was the Chariot itself, getting a little on the psychological of the own wombat that was putting the hand on the head, but after relieved, she decided not to let herself be intimidated by that and after she was watching everything with a more cold and relieved look.
Croix: Finally this thing has been defeated, now I can be at peace, it was hard, I have to admit, but I hope I survive in this castle.
Croix takes a deep breath, then sees a vial appearing, where she already knew what it was about, when she touched it she felt healthier, recovering from her body injuries, including some broken ribs that she had been feeling for a few minutes, she is then received by another presence of a Chariot manifestation, which is already a little strange to Meridies herself.
Croix: Why do you appear so much Chariot? Are you really alive? More like you're dead. I'm beginning to think so at least.
Chariot: I am not dead, but I am being controlled, there is someone who has been manipulating me for a few years now, I need your help, ahhhhhhhh, ahhhhhhh, help Croix, she is again taking control over me, I am trying my best! Go to me! I know I can make it all change! Ahhhhhh! Croix! I'm... love... love...
Croix kneeled on the ground, seeing the spirit disappear again, she started to cry, the tears were very noticeable, the ground started to get some drops, she didn't stop thinking about Chariot, but decided to recompose herself a little, she stood up strong and confident, she went to the gate where the coliseum is, she breathed deeply and soon a crow appeared and left a roll of paper that was left for Croix who decided to open it to see what it was.
"You are enjoying the game by the looks of it, you managed to defeat one of my little toys, but let's see if you can get further than that, the coliseum is not light like the art gallery, here is a serious place, know that you have to be strong if you want to survive, or else the coliseum will overwhelm you, I will be waiting for you right in the pricipal hall, for our biggest attraction, you will be our star in this battle... Ursula Callistis"
Croix: I swear I'll make you pay for what you did to Chariot Belmont, damn Ursula Callistis!
Croix ends up punching the wall near the coliseum's door, then she pulls the lever, the gate rises, she goes through it, which already ends up coming across a darker and more humid corridor, a bit scary, taking steps that were on a wet floor, starting to go towards the coliseum part of the castle that will still have big revelations for Meridies.
On the other side of the coliseum, there was Ursula Callistis waiting, the crow soon ends up returning to the human's hands and she strokes it, getting a smile on her face, kind of talking to the human herself, who answers him.
Ursula: Did you get Arcor?
Arcor: Caw
Ursula: Perfect my little boy, that's exactly what a behaved crow has to do, you even deserve an award for that.
The crow starts jumping with excitement, Ursula gives it some seeds and it eats them, she observes the arena and can already imagine what is going to come, the creatures that are ready to attack her, with a smile on her face Callistis is interrupted by the crow that says a few more things.
Ursula: So it's the purple-haired one who came here anyway, at least one thing Elizabeth did useful, she managed to convince her to come here, it didn't stop our fun, did it Arcor? Now let's finish with this little bitch and make the mistress very proud, I am sure she will see me as being better than that two-faced vampire who only thinks she is.
Arcor: Caw
Ursula: Ah thank you Arcor, I am not the best, there is still the great master Bernadette, she is the best, she gave us all this, a wonderful castle, who will say when we finally defeat these plagues of hunters.
Arcor: Caw
Ursula: Ah you want to stay and watch everything? All right Ursula here let me, I give all the good and the best to my beautiful white crow, you are what has everything wonderful in this world.
Ursula starts with her bizarre stroking the crow, rubbing it in the face, the crow only keeps the same expression as always with a somewhat neutral, having to endure the owner, who is preparing everything for the coming of Croix, even without knowing who she is, but then she herself ends up having some very strong headaches.
Ursula: Get out of my head you wretch! You don't belong here! Get out of here! You profanity!
Chariot: No this place is mine! Ahhhhhhhh!
Ursula: Stop making up lies about me! I don't accept that! Damn it! Bishop Cedric hasn't done anything right yet! He hasn't cast you out! You damned devil! Ahhhhhhhhhh!
Chariot: The only demon here is you!
Chariot goes trying to provoke a little more, only that he ends up screaming a little more, what even Croix ends up hearing due to the echo from far away, Ursula again has the control over her own body, getting a smile on her face, then she even gets laughing, already the raven archer got a little more afraid expression when seeing her owner reacting that way, since she wasn't the most mentally stable person of the world anymore.
Ursula: You will never have this place! This place is mine and mine alone, it was blessed by my mistress and Bishop Cedric, you will pay dearly for all this you have done! You wretched witch, get away from me! I swear I will kill this person you swear to protect so dearly with the greatest possible gusto, she will die and suffer a slow and painful death, you will witness it all.
Croix is in yet another step in the castle, this time finally in the coliseum where she gives her name to the place, already preparing herself for the big fight that is to come, since she is yet to discover some rather shocking truths about her own person and everything that has been happening around her and Chariot Belmont herself.
See you, artistic witches...