Hollow Black Shadows

by Mister House

Sequel to Fallen Blue Sky: The past torments our lives, becomes the darkness within us that doesn't disappear easily. Sometimes, it's easy to fight against it, other times, it breaks us with no regret. Now, it's that darkness that threatens both worlds, and the existences that live within them. WARNING: Rating subject to change due to violence and language in later chapters.

12. Deprogrammer

Author's Note: Here it is, the second to last chapter. I'm slightly proud of this chapter, despite it feeling a bit rushed around the end.

Black Rock Shooter and co. belongs to Huke.

---

"Deprogrammer" - Pay money To my Pain

---

"Damn it, how the hell are we suppose to match B RS if she's that strong..?!" Kagari roared as she punched a wall, trying to vent out her frustration while ignoring the slight stab of pain throughout her body.

Even though no one gave an answer to Kagari, they were all on the same line of thought as they remembered how B RS apparently returned and pummeled them almost to oblivion, the blue-eyed Anomaly's actions mimicking that of an angel of death, systematically taking them down with little effort before trying to deliver the last blow, which didn't happen due to Dragon Slayer intervening. Having Dragon Slayer stop B RS was a stroke of luck, but that didn't make much sense to them since they were sure that the amber-eyed Anomaly wanted them dead to some degree, which only creates more questions for them to think on until they can come up with a reasonable answer for themselves, which would only create more questions for them to figure out. Kagari looked over at the group, who got bandaged up from the assault that B RS unleashed on their other selves, which translated to them also receiving some damage that pales in comparison to what their other selves dealt with, especially since the blue-eyed Anomaly appeared as nothing more than a messenger of death and misery, and she didn't lack in both departments. The only one that didn't look the least bit broken at all was the malevolent other self that merely looked out of the window, stewing about in her own thoughts as she went through what happened before looking down at her left arm, Icicle's expression contorting slightly into a look filled with apprehension and distaste. Icicle's thoughts focused on how she was able to feel pain when the body she's using doesn't feel anything, but her thoughts strayed away from that and focused on how she got played like a fool by Dragon Slayer, which caused her to grimace as she remembered the amber-eyed Anomaly keeping her broadsword level with Mato's neck, threatening to behead her unless she let them go.

"And because of my decision, not only did I lose an important piece, but Shooter's return and abilities just made everything complicated," Icicle thought to herself as she bared her teeth, her eyes focusing on the sun that was setting slowly on the horizon.

Kagari narrowed her eyes at Icicle as she moved away from the wall, her hands balled into fists, "Well, what does our great commander have to say about all of this, hm..?"

"Even if Dragon Slayer managed to shift the momentum, I'll right it by accelerating my plans, all while preventing her from getting to us," Icicle said as she managed to rein in her emotion, shifting back into a calm expression and stance.

"How the hell can you just stay calm when we got two juggernauts roaming around out there..?!" Kagari shouted, which was promptly joined with a raised eyebrow from both Yomi and Yuu as they focused on the malevolent other self.

Icicle didn't respond as she looked towards Kagari, the latter continuing her tirade, "Our other selves got beaten by B RS, who looked ready to kill.. and even Dragon Slayer is someone who we can't take on completely if she can handle Gold Saw, much less, you..!"

"Even Geshumaru isn't someone who we should think lightly of, she's powerful in her own right," Yomi stated as her green eyes took up a thoughtful gaze.

"It doesn't matter if their abilities makes them juggernauts, all that matters is that we don't stray from the plan," Icicle told them, her violet eyes flashing a red-orange color before reverting, "I will admit that Dragon Slayer placed us in a troublesome situation, but it's only minor compare to-"

"It's not minor and you know it, so enough bullshit, we don't want half-ass answers, comparisons, or reassurance," Kagari shouted, her words causing both Icicle and Saya to narrow their eyes, "We're getting our asses kicked, it looks like we won't get what we want, and.. the hell happened to Saya, she been acting strange since the day you extracted that evil version of B RS?!"

Saya was about to move towards Kagari when Icicle raised her left hand, signaling the grown woman to stop, "Alright, if you all want the answers that I'm not giving you, then I'll do so.. but these are the answers that I denied you access to, and you'll see why"

Icicle snapped her fingers before dropping her left hand to her side as she stared at the three girls that's looking at her, the teenagers wondering what Icicle just did until they felt their bodies freeze up as black markings appeared slowly on their skin, the marking's appearance bearing resemblance to tribal tattoos that grew like ivy forming up along a wall. Before they could understand what was happening, pain started flaring up throughout their bodies as they collapsed to the empty classroom floor, but no pain throughout their bodies compared to that of what's happening in their heads, as it felt like something was ripping apart their brain before dissecting it like a living frog that's hand-picked for a science class, or surgery being preformed without anesthesia. As the trio withered around on the floor while vocalizing their pain, the black markings that marred their skin started receding from their skin, crawling slowly to the floor as they became nothing more than mere specter-like shadows that were moving towards Icicle, who merely stretched out her left hand towards the reaching shadows. When the crawling shadows were three feet from the malevolent other self, they slowly shifted into black wisps that floated and snaked around Icicle's left arm before disappearing within her body, a slight shudder emanating from her body as the darkness that resided within the three girls now returned to their owner. The girls stopped their howls as their bodies shudder from what just came out of them before they slowly got up, which was for naught as a look of shock struck their faces while a sense of realization entered their eyes, which caused Yuu's knees to collapse upon themselves while Yomi kept her body up with a right hand on the desk as she covered her mouth with her left; Kagari got up from the floor with an expression that clashed realization, horror, and anger together.

"The.. the fuck..?!" Kagari gasped, her eyes bulging as she slowly looked towards Icicle, her expression unchanging.

"Oh.. oh my, I.. I can't believe," Yomi let out as tears started building around her eyes, "Kaa-san.. I'm.. I'm so sorry..."

Yuu looked up at Saya, who regarded her with an impassive expression, before looking towards Icicle, "You.. what did you do... to Saya, to.. to all of us..?"

"You want the truth, and I will give it to you all," Icicle told them as her eyes locked on the three teenagers, and they could feel the full weight of the other self's gaze as it felt like she was looking down at them like they were nothing more than ants, "Everyone became my servants, corrupted by their own grief and regrets, just so I can exist in this world without any problems.. and you three were the starting point, the root of all the infection..."

"And you started it with me..!" Kagari pointed as the horror element to her expression started disappearing.

"Of course, since even with your established personality and actions, you feel like you don't have the strength to protect the ones you care about," Icicle stated as her eyes trailed from Kagari to Yomi, "Which eventually led to Yomi being corrupted once Chariot best Dead Master, so I can carry out the rest..."

"You.. you bitch..!" Yuu roared as she got up from the floor, starting to connect the dots that's presented before them.

Icicle didn't react to Yuu's outburst and continued talking, "I'm pretty sure you all can understand the rest as the memories are all there, and you can remember that Saya wasn't all that different from you three, but I had to strip her of almost everything so her experience couldn't counter my control, especially since Gold Saw's hidden wish to beat Dragon Slayer and her protectiveness seems to act as a.. neutralizing agent against my control, but it can't completely subvert it..."

"Oh, I'm gonna make you wish you never existed..!" Kagari told Icicle as she picked up a chair and tossed it towards the malevolent other self.

Icicle didn't blink as Saya moved in front of the other self and turned into Gold Saw, slashing the chair in half as Icicle continued speaking, "She lost her free will and wishes, and strengthening my hold over her made her and Gold Saw all the more compliant to my orders, and nothing that you three can do will revert what I've done"

"I don't care if I have to go through hell again, we're stopping this," Yuu told Icicle, determination flashing in her eyes along with Kagari, all while Yomi was recovering from the memories that's playing through her mind, "Us, along with Dragon Slayer, B RS, and Geshumaru.. we'll stop you..!"

"That would be an unwise more on your part since they would think you're still helping me, and they will relentlessly attack you until you can't attack them," Icicle informed the trio as she walked around Saya, who still looked like Gold Saw, "Frankly, this is the greatest safety measure designed for me if any of you were to break free from my control, but since you all wanted answers.. I suppose it works this way as well, and it certainly makes for a conundrum, hm?"

Yomi blinked as Icicle's words struck her, a haunting sense of realization washing over her, "She's right, there's really nothing that we can do"

"No, not if me and Chariot have anything to say about it," Kagari said as she ran towards Icicle, cocking her fist back, "I know our other selves are definitely pissed at her as well, so let's make use of this opportunity and- Gah..!"

Kagari felt her body get picked up by her neck before feeling the wall as Saya pushed her up against it, her red eyes narrowed at the blond-haired teenager, "Such a foolish mistake..."

Yomi and Yuu looked towards Kagari before deciding to intervene and help out their friend, who was struggling against Saya's grip as she tried to break away, but their chance disappeared as black tendrils sprouted from the classroom floor and struck them, separating them and forcing the girls up against a wall, the tendrils branching out as the black mass ensnared each limb. Yomi looked towards Icicle and mustered up all the strength she has to glare at the malevolent other self, who regarded her with an impassive expression before turning away as the other self's thoughts strayed from the three that she released from her control, and it was obvious that she was thinking about what she should do about Dragon Slayer, B RS, and Geshumaru. That gave time for Yomi and Yuu to think about what happened and how they could let themselves fall so far before Kagari's screams snapped them out of their thoughts, causing them to watch Saya tighten her grip on Kagari's neck, which also allowed them to notice the temperature in the classroom drop as icicles started forming on the ceiling. For a moment, Yomi and Yuu thought that Saya was going to kill Kagari, but the thought disappeared as Saya let go of Kagari and let the blond-haired teenager drop to the floor, coughing as she tried to regain air in her lungs, but the other two teenager's hopes disappeared as they saw another black tendril capture Kagari and pushed her back up against the wall. They didn't need anymore clues to figure out that Icicle got a plan, and as the malevolent other self turned around, they could see the glint in her eyes on her apathetic face as she started moving towards them, Saya merely watching Icicle as she didn't bother looking at the three girls that's bound to the wall.

"It seems there is something that you three can do, sadly, none of you will bear witness to my victory," Icicle told them as she snapped her fingers.

As the sun slowly set on the horizon, a harmonious scream resonated from the school, but no one paid any attention as they headed back home, a subconscious thought replaying throughout their heads as the moon slowly appeared on the opposite side of the horizon.

---

Kanna let out a sigh as she leaned back on the chair, staring up at the ceiling, "Dragon Slayer..."

[You intruded into something very personal, and you have no right to-]

"It's not like I intended to wound up viewing your memories, it just happened when I fell asleep," Kanna shot back as she furrowed her eyebrows, "Although, I thought it was just some dream at first until.. that..."

[You violated what I hold close to me, regardless if it's an accident or not..!]

"I get it, and honestly, I'm not sure if I understand you all that well, aside from knowing you were just as destructive when you were a kid," Kanna told Dragon Slayer, which got followed up by a brief silence between the two.

[... Wait, just how far did you get in viewing my memories..?]

"I don't know, up until you left with two other selves or something like that," Kanna told her before letting out a sigh, "Look I'm sorry that I looked through your memories, but there's really nothing I could do on that front, it just happened and I didn't know any better..."

[I.. can understand, and at least it was those, for a moment, I thought you saw...]

Kanna arched an eyebrow as she heard the amber-eyed Anomaly trail off, "I saw what..?"

[Never mind, I'm going to sleep for a bit, I exhausted too much power...]

Kanna heaved a sigh as she felt her connection to Dragon Slayer disconnect for now while turning around to stare at the map pinned to the wall, her mind trying to go over what she knows about the areas that they met Icicle or holds some sort of importance to them, her eyes focusing on each thumb-tack pinned with a red or blue circle that she made around it with a marker or pen. She couldn't help but think about what happened in the downtown area as she got up and moved towards the map, subconsciously grabbing a pen behind her and moving her right hand towards the space where the downtown area would be on the map, but she stopped herself as something started clicking in her head and she took a couple of steps away from the map. Kanna thought that her eyes were ready to bulge right out of their sockets, but she restrained her excitement over her newfound discovery and moved back to the map before marking down the area on the map, feeling goosebumps forming around her arms from the barely restrained emotion that's boiling within her, just ready to break out. Without thinking, Kanna placed the pen on the circle she drew around the downtown area and drew a line to the other circled areas on the map, her mind processing everything faster than she thought is possible, and she couldn't stop herself from dashing out of the office once she finished connecting all the circles together. She had to take even steps as she proceeded down the stairs, but the expression on her face was already telling the story before she could even reach Geshumaru and Mato to tell them about what she managed to figure out, which left her a bit oblivious as Dragon Slayer woke up from her sleep as she picked up on Kanna's excitement with a tired, yet aggravated mindset.

On the other side of things, Geshumaru looked towards Mato, who was merely examining herself as her happy expression over having her own body back was showing, "Okay Mato, I can understand you being a bit narcissistic since you couldn't go back to your body, but can you stop, it's starting to creep me out"

"Sorry, even though it's been a couple of days, I feel relived that I'm.. well, me," Mato sheepishly told Geshumaru, who stared at her with a blank look on her face, "Oh come on Geshumaru, I bet you would react the same way if you went through what I did"

"Mato, just.. no," Geshumaru said as she shook her head.

Mato flinched as she realized what she just said, "Ah, sorry.. I guess you're still not over your situation..?"

"I am, but it's still a touchy subject," Geshumaru told her, looking away for a moment before refocusing on Mato, "Look, we got to talk about what happened, you know, when you got captured and all that..."

Mato froze for a moment before letting out a begrudging sigh, her body twitching slightly, "I.. woke up trapped in this room that had four sealed doors, it was completely white and I thought that I was just being.. kept away from everything, until the doors got blasted away and four machines stepped out"

"And they started to attack you," Geshumaru stated, understanding appearing in her eyes.

"All I could do was just run and avoid them for a while, but everything started getting to me along with our.. friends saying whatever they can to get into my head," Mato explained as her eyes lost a bit of their glimmer, "I wound up snapping and I destroyed those machines, but.. I didn't know that they really were.. other selves"

Geshumaru got up from the chair and walked over to Mato, slinging an arm around her shoulders and pulling the blue-eyed teenager close to her, "It's alright, but this is where you can't interfere anymore, we got to handle things our way..."

"But Rock-" Mato started when Geshumaru raised a finger and gave Mato a stern glare.

"No, Icicle's playing a game that's forcing our hands to prevent us from killing anyone, and so far, we had a few brushes with death," Geshumaru told Mato, "I know that you don't want us to harm anyone, but we can't restrain ourselves that far, it's not in our nature and you don't have the right to change it"

Before Mato could say anything, they heard footsteps nearing the room and look towards the entrance as Kanna came into view, looking a bit frazzled, but mostly excited as her eyes gleamed with realization, and something told both Mato and Geshumaru that they should heed whatever is running through the young woman's mind as it's struggling to burst right out of her mouth. Kanna fumbled around with her words before sighing at her own inability to tell them what she figured out and gesturing to them to follow her, the young woman dashing off through the hallway with Mato and Geshumaru following behind her, trying to think about what could get Kanna in such a frenzy that she has to show them. They headed out of the hallways and into the machinery room before the duo behind Kanna followed her up the stairs to the office, the young woman opening the door and holding it open for both Mato and Geshumaru as they entered the office and looked towards the map that's pinned up against the wall, noticing the multiple lines that got drawn over it along with the circles. Everything still didn't make sense for the both of them, but when Kanna started measuring the distance between the circled downtown area to another area that's unmarked, it started clicking for the both of them while they watched the young woman start circling the area before making some lines between it and two areas already circled off. Kanna repeated the process a few more times before looking back at both Mato and Geshumaru as she moved away from the map, gesturing to it as the three of them started at the obvious octagonal shape that surrounds a sizable chunk of the map, their eyes focusing on the borders for a moment before focusing on the circled downtown area that served as the centerpiece.

"I'm such a genius, and yet, I feel like an idiot for not figuring it out sooner," Kanna said as she crossed her arms, appearing pleased.

[Yes, we get it, now let me rest..!]

Kanna flinched at Dragon Slayer's tone before calming down, "Sorry Dragon Slayer, so.. now that we got a good idea of how big it can possibly be, all that's left is to find the thing and destroy it"

"Not exactly, you're forgetting about Icicle and how she got the city under her control," Geshumaru reminded Kanna, whose attitude suddenly deflated as she remembered their situation.

"Well.. we stop Icicle and find the weapon, destroy it, and continue on with our lives," Kanna said before a pensive expression appeared on her face, "Oh yeah, and we also got to fix reality.. damn it..!"

[It was never easy to begin with..]

"So, we go back into the lion's den and try to kill the king..?" Mato asked, well aware of the answer.

"Let's end this tonight, I think we've all grown bored of Icicle taking advantage of everything, so let's dethrone her and get everything back to normal," Geshumaru said before snapping her head to the right, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Kanna and Mato looked at Geshumaru as the blue-eyed Anomaly took a couple of steps to her right, her eyes narrowing ever further before they widened and she dropped to the floor immediately without any warning, but Kanna and Mato knew that something is happening and dropped to the floor as well just as they heard something getting blasted away above them, and they didn't have to think further as a breeze surrounded them. The sound of something slicing through the air caught their attention as they flipped on their backs and noticed a helicopter hovering above them, and it was the only thing that was preventing them from picking up on the multiple soldiers that's moving into the dilapidated building with their weapons drawn. Geshumaru and Kanna could only stare at the helicopter as the machine gun turret started spinning, but it didn't get any chance to fire as the blades and engines got blasted away, which prompted Geshumaru and Kanna to look behind them as they felt their eyes widen slightly at the sight of B RS with a raised Rock Cannon pointing where the helicopter was hovering. Before they could say anything, Kanna and Geshumaru picked up on the sounds coming from below and knew that they don't have any time to talk, so they got back up as Kanna switched placed with Dragon Slayer while Geshumaru changed into her Otherworld clothing, the trio jumping out to the field before taking to the treetops. They could hear the shouts from the soldiers fade away as they made their way towards the city, and Geshumaru wasn't sure what to make of their situation, but she could tell that both Dragon Slayer and B RS aren't taking it too well, especially since their eyes showed a barely controlled anger that's just waiting to break out and unleash hell on all that went up against them.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later, but I didn't expect it to happen now..!" Dragon Slayer said, not hiding the venom in her voice.

"This only means that Icicle's already beginning the last part to her plans," B RS stated, her blue eyes narrowing slightly, "Any you're right that she would find us, especially since that rift from when she kidnapped Mato was somewhere in the forest"

Geshumaru arched an eyebrow as she glanced at B RS, "But doesn't she need you Shooter to pull off whatever it is she's got planned?"

"Yeah, expect that I'm back, I want her dead, and she can't get to me," B RS told Geshumaru before looking at her, "The thing is though, she wanted the power that I have, but she's got an alternative, and she's probably figuring it out now..!"

Dragon Slayer gritted her teeth as she realized what B RS was stating, "She just needed Shooter, and if she couldn't have you, then she's going to make use of that juggernaut that she's using as a second skin"

"So why didn't she do that in the first place..?" Geshumaru inquired, wondering what the malevolent other self didn't take advantage of the gift that she has.

"Aside from wanting Shooter first, it probably related to the development for her weapon," Dragon Slayer answers, connecting the dots as they appeared before her, "Icicle is methodical, and seizing Shooter before the weapon's completion would benefit her, but there's me and you to help out and prevent that from happening..."

B RS looked towards Dragon Slayer, "And she really expected breaking me would be an easy task, but it's far from it"

"I had a better result doing so, but I'm digressing," Dragon Slayer stated as the trio neared the bridge, noticing the various blockades and police car, with officers keeping their guns trained on the three Anomalies as they landed on the bridge, "Damn, and we certainly couldn't expect this..!"

Geshumaru glanced at the amber-eyed Anomaly, "While I appreciate the sarcasm, it's bad timing considering our situation"

[This really doesn't look good...]

B RS tuned Mato out as she raised her Rock Cannon at the officers, causing alarms to ring inside both Geshumaru and Dragon Slayer's heads, "Enough, let's just send a message to Icicle and get this done!"

Dragon Slayer kicked the Rock Cannon up just as B RS fired, but this caused the officers to react and start firing at the trio, the barrage of bullets that's coming from both sides flying around and striking various spots on the road as the three Anomalies defended themselves from the assault while trying to think of a way to escape without getting riddled with bullets. Geshumaru kept low while knocking any bullets that came towards her away, and all while she continued defending herself from the barrage along with B RS and Dragon Slayer, her eyes were moving around the area until she spotted a hole in a wall that's at the left end of the bridge, causing her mind to think of a way out for the trio. Sparing herself a second, Geshumaru looked at Dragon Slayer and tapped the amber-eyed Anomaly so she can get her attention, which she managed to secure before pointing towards the hole that she spotted and letting Dragon Slayer trail her index finger towards what she's pointing at, and Geshumaru knew that the older Anomaly was contemplating their choices for a moment while defending herself before coming to a conclusion. Focusing on the hole and calculating the distance, Dragon Slayer broke off into a run and hurried towards the edge of the bridge, jumping on top of the railing before launching herself towards the hole which caused some of the officers to stare dumbfounded for a moment before they start firing at the amber-eyed Anomaly. B RS and Geshumaru took noticed and watched Dragon Slayer get inside the hole before they proceeded to duplicate what the amber-eyed Anomaly just did, dashing off towards the sidewalk railing before jumping off and heading towards the hole as they fell under another barrage of bullet, several of the metal pieces nicking them or sailing over their heads.

Geshumaru landed and noticed Dragon Slayer, who was a few feet away, before turning around and grabbing B RS's open hand, "Come on..!"

B RS grunted as she landed against the wall before she started pushing herself into the hole with Geshumaru's guidance, "Remember, my Rock Cannon isn't light when I'm using it in the real world, limbo or not..!"

"Either way, the hell were you thinking that firing at the officers would do anything..?!" Dragon Slayer inquired, her eyes narrowing at B RS.

"Icicle won't care because she's now going to end everything, so what's one casualty..?" B RS shot back, which prompted Dragon Slayer to grab her by the collar of her jacket.

Dragon Slayer's eyes instantly became hollow, expect for the anger shining in them, "Enough to send the world in disarray, there's just certain things you don't tamper with if you want reality to remain intact!"

"Both of you, stop," Geshumaru shouted while separating both of them, "Shooter, I get that your pissed at Icicle and want nothing more to rip her apart, but don't take that out on everyone that's under her control, we can't screw around with reality by killing someone, otherwise, all of this becomes a moot point..!"

B RS growled before relenting, causing Geshumaru to let out a sigh, "Dragon Slayer, any idea on how to get to the downtown area through the sewers..?"

"Nope, but heading down the tunnel seems like a good idea to start with," The amber-eyed Anomaly stated as she started walking down the tunnel.

Geshumaru spared B RS a glance before she trailed behind the amber-eyed Anomaly that's in front of them, the latter following suit after brooding for a moment while she let her Rock Cannon disappear, its usage unnecessary since they weren't in danger and her anger would cause her to put holes all around them if she wasn't careful, so putting away her signature weapon was the best choice for all of them. None of them knew where exactly they were going, and bot B RS and Dragon Slayer knew that asking their partners is useless since neither of them would know where the sewers would lead them to, so when Dragon Slayer stopped next to a ladder that led straight to a manhole, it became obvious that they would have to enter the city and start jumping from rooftop to rooftop before reaching the downtown area. It took less than a second for Dragon Slayer to blow the manhole out with one swift, yet stiff, swing, and the three proceeded to jump out into the streets, expecting everyone to charge towards them and hold them down until Icicle arrives, but nothing was going on around the streets as it appeared desolate. B RS arched an eyebrow and looked at Geshumaru with the same question that's playing throughout all of their minds, the other blue-eyed Anomaly merely shrugging her shoulders as they started walking down the empty road, the light from the street posts illuminating their path as they raised their guard while looking all around them. Neither of them knew how much time passed until they reached a wide open space, but the moment they took another step, they could feel their bodies being pushed toward the ground until the sensation disappeared, which left the three Anomalies with paranoid suspicions behind what just happened and what's bound to happen next.

[Okay, that definitely told us that we're at the right place...]

"Kanna, a fight is about to occur, so it's best if you prepare yourself," Dragon Slayer notified before her ears picked up on something, "Hmm, what's that sound..?"

Geshumaru arched an eyebrow before her eyes widened slightly, "I can hear it too..."

"It sounds like.. a crowd heading over here," B RS stated as she lowered her stance while spotting multiple silhouettes on the dark horizon.

As the silhouettes got closer to the trio from different sides, the lighting revealed the silhouettes were actually people covered in nothing more than a familiar cloak other selves would wear when brought to life, which surprised Dragon Slayer as she didn't expect this to happen, and both B RS and Geshumaru were left unsure about what it means for their goal to correct the damage that Icicle brought upon the world. Dragon Slayer was trying to understand what exactly was Icicle's plan until she picked up a mental gasp from Kanna before her head turned slightly to the left, and her eyes focused on the familiar forms of Kanna's mother and little brother, and it didn't take long for Geshumaru to realize as well and have her reaction become known to both her and B RS. Speaking of B RS, she was able to spot Mato's mother and her little brother Hiro in the crowd, but she ignored her real self's cries and attempts to seize control over her body, instead, the blue-eyed Anomaly narrowed her eyes as she noticed a large red-colored eye observing the trio from the mirror's reflection, and she knew that things were about to get worse within seconds of her knowing Gold Saw was spying on them. As the trio focused on their own problems, they started to notice a shadow looming over them as the sound of thunder exploded above them, which was promptly followed by the sound of gears turning and clicking, and that caused the three Anomalies to look up and spot a giant gear-like mechanism that's floating above them, each piece turning in different directions. It didn't take much for them to figure out that Icicle was probably somewhere on top of the mechanism that's looming above them, but before any of them could head over there and deal with Icicle, they got intercepted by Gold Saw, who struck the ground right in front of Dragon Slayer, while three familiar other selves landed behind the red-eyed other self, their eyes and expression replicating Gold Saw's apathetic attitude.

"So she made you three into mindless puppets as well..?" Dragon Slayer wondered out loud as she focused on Dead Master, STR, and Chariot.

[She really has no heart...]

B RS gritted her teeth, sparks of flames appearing around her left eye, "I'm going to make sure she doesn't exist anymore..!"

"I agree, but the way things are looking up for us, we probably got no chance," Geshumaru commented, glancing at B RS before focusing on the other selves before them.

Dragon Slayer looked at Geshumaru for a moment before hey eyes focused on B RS, "Then let's take our chances!"

Dragon Slayer brought out her broadsword and slashed at the ground before her, kicking up dirt and asphalt to Gold Saw and the other selves before she spun around and grabbed B RS by her jacket's collar, their eyes meeting as they came to an understanding before B RS got launched up to the mechanism above them, the blue-eyed Anomaly trying to move in mid-air so she can slip through the crevice between the cogs. Once sure that B RS managed to get through, Dragon Slayer focused on Gold Saw as Geshumaru headed up to her side while drawing out her katana, the two Anomalies staring down their four opponents as they remembered how the numbers game played out last time, and seeing how Dead Master, STR, and Chariot were more like Gold Saw than before, the duo knew the outcome won't end the same way. Gold Saw raised her King Saw and was about to charge towards the amber-eyed Anomaly when something struck the space between them, causing Dragon Slayer to trail the shot until Geshumaru pulled her away as someone landed and smacked the red-eyed other self away. Dragon Slayer heard the landing of another person and both she and Geshumaru's eyes widened in surprise as the two standing before them was Underworld Vulcan and Geshumaru's robot, who was acting as a type of barrier between them and the three other selves, who were ready to attack, but the only thing that was preventing them from doing so was the unpredictable shots coming from somewhere. It didn't take Dragon Slayer much to figure out who was shooting at the other selves, and she couldn't help herself from giving a tired, but reliving smirk as Maid Gunner jumped from a rooftop and landed a couple of feet from the amber-eyed Anomaly, the strap connected to her sniper rifle slung over her right shoulder.

"Shouldn't you be protecting my home along with Vulcan..?" Dragon Slayer inquired, keeping her smirk upon her face.

"The Otherworld is already facing collapse, it just merely opened a passage for me, Vulcan, and Geshuamru's partner," Maid Gunner told Dragon Slayer while turning around to face her mistress, "The real world is becoming more like the Otherworld, which means that you need all the help that's possible before time runs out"

Geshumaru stared at Maid Gunner, "That bad..?!"

"I'm afraid so Geshumaru," Maid Gunner replied before grabbing her sniper rifle and pointing it at the other selves, "Now, let's show them what the darkness should fear..!"

"Ha, now I'm sure I've seen everything.. alright, the grand finale, part one," Dragon Slayer barked as her grip on her broadsword tightened, a black crown forming on her head, "It's five against four, and it seems fate is shining upon us"

Gold Saw got up and raised her King Saw in time to block the slash Dragon Slayer delivered, all while the amber-eyed Anomalies' allies start their fight against the three other selves, all of them surrounded by people who were blocking the streets.

---

B RS landed on top of the giant mechanism and swayed slightly as wind passed by her, forcing the blue-eyed Anomaly to hold her ground while she looked around, noting the various gear-like towers that hovered slightly above the weapon, the towers turning clockwise slowly against the wind, which died down enough for B RS to start walking around and search for Icicle. She could feel the breeze trying to freeze her body as she walked around, which prompted B RS to jump away and drop down so she could avoid getting blown away by the wind, but her eyes remained focused on a dark spot that grew and formed into Icicle, purple eyes meeting blue as B RS got back up and was about to rush towards the malevolent other self when black tendrils seized her and kept her rooted. It didn't last for long as B RS let out a ferocious yell while ripping apart the black tendrils with her strength, her eyes focused on Icicle as she broke away and launched herself at the other self before her, who merely avoided the on coming punch and turned so that she was standing behind the blue-eyed Anomaly. B RS turned around with her mind focused on tearing apart Icicle when she noticed that the malevolent other self disappeared, causing the blue-eyed Anomaly to arch an eyebrow as she wasn't sure where Icicle just went, but her slight confusion lasted for a couple of seconds before she got her guard up and narrowed her eyes, which were darting every way possible so she could spot the other self. She knows that Icicle tends to play mind games as it seems like her best weapon against anyone who opposes the malevolent other self; the thought about Icicle's tricks caused B RS to let out a guttural growl as she remembered how Icicle managed to get to her and almost made her a puppet, if it wasn't for her managing to snap herself back to reality.

"Your anger is nothing more than a double-edge sword that's ready to break in half," B RS heard from behind her, prompting the blue-eyed Anomaly to turn around.

B RS could feel her eyes widen slightly due to the person standing before her, despite the alarms going off in her head, "What the.. Dead Master, but how..?"

"It's your fault that all of this happened, that so many had to suffer because you couldn't leave things as is and let them progress as normal," 'Dead Master' told her, causing B RS to take a couple of steps back before she grabbed her head and started shaking it.

"No.. you're Icicle, I just know it.. knock it off..!" B RS roared as she swung a punch, only for it to meet nothing but air.

"You left us behind, just to rot as Icicle stripped us of who we are," B RS heard from her right as Icicle moved around, appearing as Chariot, "After everything, it looks like you haven't changed from when we first fought.. always doing everything the way you want it as..!"

"I'm not like that, so don't lie about me, and don't use my friends appearances for your own sick means," B RS roared as she charged at Icicle, only to pass through black wisps.

The black wisps reformed as B RS turned around, but the blue-eyed Anomaly froze at the sight of 'STR', whose orange eyes stared at her, "We both dealt with our own pain, and I managed to get through mine, but it seems like you're lost in your own.. even after fixing the Otherworld..."

B RS became confused for a moment before a thought struck her mind, "Are you..?"

"To think, that all of this wouldn't have happened if you just submitted to your misery, Mato," B RS heard Gold Saw's voice ringing in her left ear as the image of STR faded away, "But because you defied everything to secure your own happiness, you destroyed everyone's happiness.. even Saya's, who Icicle repeatedly violated for her own sick means, as well as the people we are all close too..."

[You're sick, stop it..!]

"My poor little girl, why can't you see that we're trying to help you?" The blue-eyed Anomaly felt her eyes widened at the voice resounding from her left ear, which wasn't Gold Saw, but someone who she and Mato should know completely.

[No.. please, no...]

B RS looked towards her left and noticed Mato's mother standing there, a withering smile on her face, "You're only halfway there, all that's left is for you to accept it all and let your misery wash over you, after all.. you're not that much different from your other self"

"Icicle.. that's enough, stop playing games," B RS warned, blue flames flickering around her left eye as she narrowed her eyes.

"So, let's just forget about our problems, acceptance is our only way through-" Icicle continued until B RS grabbed her by the neck before tightening her grip, her blue eyes glowing.

[You used and abused everyone close to me.. and you're trying to tell me I'm regretting anything, that I'm no different from Rock, then watch.. kill her, get rid of her, destroy Icicle and erase her from existence..!]

Icicle's eyes widened for a moment before she broke off B RS's grip and jumped away from her, her appearance reverting back into B RS's insane side, her violet eyes remaining locked on the blue-eyed Anomaly as a tornado of pure blue fire consumed her for a couple of minute before dissipating, revealing B RS in her augmented state, her blue eyes reflecting a beast-like blood lust that no one could copy. Neither of them wasted any time attacking as they charged towards each other with their respective weapons, the transparent broadsword clashing with the behemoth Insane Cannon Lance, sparks flying around them as they picked up the pace of their attacks while trying to find an opening that one of them could capitalize on the other. Icicle narrowed her eyes as she got pushed away by B RS, the blue-eyed Anomaly tightening her grip on the broadsword before dashing towards the malevolent other self, who landed on her feet before raising the Insane Cannon Lance and firing, multiple violet beams ripping along the mechanism's base before reaching B RS. B RS didn't let her surprise show as she stopped dashing towards Icicle and placed her broadsword in front of her, watching the beams deflect around the transparent weapon as the barrage managed to dent the flooring a bit, but the attack didn't blast though the mechanism as the gears continued rotating like nothing was even damaging them. The blue-eyed Anomaly noticed Icicle stopped firing and she moved her broadsword away, which was the wrong decision as the malevolent other self appeared in front of her and batted her away with one swing towards on of the floating towers, a hole now where the Anomaly pierced through the tower, which B RS was climbing out of with bared teeth as her canines became a bit more pronounced. Icicle trained her Insane Cannon Lance towards B RS, but the blue-eyed Anomaly wasn't going to let her get the advantage as she pushed off from the hole and darted towards Icicle, who started firing volleys of wide-spread beams so she can rip B RS apart, but the Anomaly merely avoided them as she descended from the tower.

"You better think of new tricks, because I already know all of them..!" B RS roared as she landed in front of Icicle before slashing at the Insane Cannon Lance, the broadsword burning through it.

Icicle narrowed her eyes at the blue-eyed Anomaly before jumping back, "So it seems..."

Icicle stretched out her left hand as black wisps surrounded it until a black behemoth sword appeared, her left hand closing around the handle before she dashed towards the blue-eyed Anomaly, forcing B RS to defend herself from two weapons that Icicle slashed away with in syncopation, making it difficult for the Anomaly to counter when another attack is coming at her within a couple of seconds from the last one. B RS jumped away before she started running so she doesn't get ripped apart by the various violet beams that Icicle was shooting from her Insane Cannon Lance, the adrenaline running through the blue-eyed Anomaly starting to decrease as she felt herself wearing out from how much Icicle was pushing her limits, and she knows that Icicle's figured it out since the malevolent other self is using nothing more than a mere copy of B RS. The blue-eyed Anomaly continued running for a while until a massive black spike sprouted from nowhere, forcing B RS to stop and jump back when another black spike extended itself from its giant counterpart, which only sent her back to the malevolent other self that took advantage of the opportunity to appear behind B RS. Before Icicle could do anything, an explosion coming from the ground below caught her attention as various energy attacks ranging in colors flew across the sky, so when she brought her attention back to B RS, she managed to see the blue-eyed Anomaly turn around before she got blown away by a sucker-punch across the face. B RS turned around and grabbed the black spike that was reaching for her, her eyes narrowing as a blue flame ignited around her left eye and her transparent blue crown illuminated with power, and those simple actions did a lot more than anything as the black spike withered before breaking, its giant counterpart following suit.

"At least that's dealt with, but I wonder what's going on down below..?" B RS wondered as she looked down towards the building before refocusing on Icicle, who was getting up from the floor.

---

Dragon Slayer leaned back, narrowly avoiding Gold Saw's attack before she delivered one of her own, "Even if you're nothing more than a killing machine, you're still not at my level..!"

Geshumaru gazed at Dragon Slayer for a moment before refocusing on Chariot and dropping down to the floor as the blond-haired other self tried to cleave her head off, only to meet the barrel of Maid Gunner's sniper rifle before she got blasted away several meters, buying time for Geshumaru as she got back up before they turned around and start jumping away, noticing Dead Master rushing towards them while swinging her Dead Scythe away. Several meters to their left, Geshumaru's robot and Vulcan were shielding themselves from STR's barrage, various bullets hitting their weapons before ricocheting off, but Vulcan noted how the bullets never seemed to reach the crowd of people that's blocking off the roads and watching them all fight, but she didn't allow that to deter her focus. Looking towards the robot, Vulcan nodded her head before getting up and lifting her weapon, leveling it at STR before she started returning fire, their attacks clashing with each other and giving Geshumaru's partner the chance to get up and capitalize on the opening the pink-haired other self opened for it. STR noticed the robot charging towards her right and moved her right Ogre Arm to counter the potential assault, but that caused her focus to move away from Vulcan as the pink-haired other self narrowed her eyes before jumping up into the air, the cache waving slightly in the air before Vulcan took the strap that's attached to the canister off, the free weight forcing her back down towards STR. Righting herself in the middle of her free-fall, Vulcan landed on top of STR's left Ogre Arm, catching the white-haired other self's attention before she met the muzzle of Vulcan's rotary cannon, but it didn't last for long as Vulcan moved it back so the cache that was still descending would strike STR on the head, causing the other self to stumble back before dropping to the ground.

"How pathetic, and to think they would have learned something from the last time we've fought," Vulcan remarked as she outstretched her left hand while the strap she removed gently fell into her hand.

"You and Maid Gunner got created by Dragon Slayer to become the most effective other selves that no natural other selves could match," The machine stated as it looked down at the unconscious STR, "The problem with that is Dragon Slayer knows too much about other selves for you two to actually be like the rest..."

Vulcan looked at it, her pink eyes narrowing, "The mistress created us for one reason, and I, along with Maid Gunner, will uphold it until we die"

"So it seems," The robot mused before pointing its cleaver-like sword down at STR, "It looks like we'll be busy with her until the others finish up"

Vulcan pointed her rotary cannon at STR, "How sad"

Vulcan took a moment to glance at both Maid Gunner and Geshumaru before focusing on Dragon Slayer, who looked like she was merely toying with Gold Saw as she side-stepped and twirled around the red-eyed other self's attacks like they are nothing, and considering the time that both the other self and the Anomaly has been alive, it's hard to even think that Gold Saw can get the best of the amber-eyed Anomaly. Dragon Slayer has a smirk plastered on her face as she jumped back to avoid the stab that Gold Saw tried to connect, only for the missed opportunity to backfire as the amber-eyed Anomaly swung with her broadsword and smacked King Saw to the side before she followed up with a diagonal slash, which managed to cut her jacket as well as dig a bit past her skin, causing blood to trickle out a bit. Gold Saw gritted her teeth as she took a couple of steps back before glaring at Dragon Slayer, who merely hoisted her broadsword on her shoulder as her smirk grew slightly, gesturing towards the horned other self to come at her, which only caused Gold Saw to narrow her eyes before she slashed at open air and jumping into the rift she just formed, sealing it before Dragon Slayer got the chance to jump in after her. Dragon Slayer clicked her tongue as she looked around with her broadsword out in front of her, trying to figure out where Gold Saw will show up to attack until she felt someone grab her right ankle and the amber-eyed Anomaly looked down, noticing Gold Saw with her red eyes glowing until the Anomaly got dragged down into the rift with the other self, causing Maid Gunner and Vulcan to voice their concern until the former had to refocus on Dead Master and Chariot with Geshumaru. The duo jumped away from both Dead Master and Chariot when they unleashed their attacks, the former continuing her assault as she unleashed slash after slash at Maid Gunner and Geshumaru, watching the two struggle to avoid the attacks as the green-eyed other self picked up the speed of her attacks, which caused Geshumaru to trip a bit before she fell to the ground.

"Damn," Geshumaru mumbled as she looked up, only to see the blade of Dead Master's scythe rushing towards her.

Before the blade could even reach Geshumaru, Maid Gunner reacted quickly and kicked the scythe up before twirling around once so she can correct her balance, her sniper rifle lining up with Dead Master so she could stop the green-eyed other self from attacking again, but before she could even fire, Chariot came from the left and slashed through the muzzle of Maid Gunner's weapon. Gritting her teeth in displeasure, Maid Gunner tossed her broken weapon aside as she jumped away from Chariot's follow-up, her pink eyes narrowing at the two other selves before she raised two fists before shifting her stance slightly, bouncing on the balls of her feet slightly before she took off after the two other selves, ducking under Chariot's slash before countering with an open palm slamming Chariot's jaw shut. The attack caused Chariot to become disoriented for a moment, which was all Maid Gunner needed as she put a lot of her power behind each punch she delivered to Chariot; punches to the gut and the face forced the blond-haired other self to stumble back, which drew Dead Master's attention from Geshumaru just long enough for the blue-eyed Anomaly to get back up and start attacking with her katana. Dead Master narrowed her eyes as she continued to counter and parry any attack that Geshumaru was unleashing upon her, well aware of the blue-eyed Anomaly managing to push her back with each strike that she unleashed, which caused her focus to centralize on Geshumaru and have everything drown out from her perception, to the point that she became unaware of Maid Gunner standing behind her until she bumped into her from backing up. Geshumaru stopped attacking as Dead Master turned around with her Dead Scythe leveled with her body, but her slowly trailed away from Maid Gunner's pink orbs as she noted the unconscious Chariot, who Maid Gunner kept from the ground by her grip around the blond-haired other self's collar.

"This is becoming childish, and frankly, I'm not the kind of other self who will keep the fight going on," Maid Gunner said as she dropped Chariot to the ground, like she was proving a point, "Don't worry, I'll make it quick..!"

Before Maid Gunner could even start attacking Dead Master, a rift opened up and Dragon Slayer came flying out, bruised and bleeding, which drew Maid Gunner's attention away from the green-eyed other self, "Mistress..!"

Maid Gunner and Vulcan were about to rush towards their fallen mistress when they felt their bodies freeze, which prompted Geshumaru and her robot to react until the same thing happened to them, paralysis taking over the four as Gold Saw stepped out of the rift before bending down and picking up Dragon Slayer by the collar of her jacket, the Anomaly's amber eyes opening slightly as she stared into Gold Saw's empty red eyes. She could remember Gold Saw dragging her into a dark, isolated space where she got beaten and slashed at by the horned other self, not even capable to countering the attacks if she couldn't find Gold Saw in the dark space, and that brought her thoughts back towards Icicle and how the malevolent other self really made her former allies into emotionless beings. Dragon Slayer leaned her head back as she opened her eyes a bit more, seeing her paralyzed comrades and how the other selves that they've beaten proceeded to hold their weapons up to them, ready to land the deciding blow when ready, and the amber-eyed Anomaly knew that the decision comes down to Gold Saw. Looking up towards Gold Saw, Dragon Slayer could feel her anger boil slightly at her, but she couldn't find it in herself to use that anger as the other self she was looking at is only being used like a puppet connected to strings, but she remembered that there's one person who can make use of her anger, despite the repercussion that comes along with them. Before she could think further into it, Gold Saw yanked her up for a moment before applying pressure on one of her open cuts, but Dragon Slayer didn't let out a scream as her eyes tightened slightly, water surrounding her eyes from the pain coursing through her arm as she managed to toss a glare at the red-eyed other self.

"Mistress wants to personally place your head on a pike, but considering what's about to happen, she won't get the chance," Gold Saw told Dragon Slayer, raising the amber-eyed Anomaly from the ground, "So she suggested that I do it myself"

[Dragon Slayer, come on, we can end this..!]

Dragon Slayer heard Kanna, but she remained focused on Gold Saw, "You get your wish, shame that everything needed to get stripped from you for that to happen..."

"She also said that I can do whatever I want with the others," Gold Saw told her, and Dragon Slayer could feel something stir within her, "Perhaps I should deal with Geshumaru, she's always been a pest, and ending her life would make a difference- Grk..!"

Gold Saw felt a hand tightening around her throat and she stared at Dragon Slayer, only to realize that it wasn't the amber-eyed Anomaly that's active, "Oh no, I don't care if you're all friends or if you're brainwashed, you threaten Geshumaru's life, I'll beat yours to an inch of it..!"

Kanna grabbed Gold Saw's hand that remained clasped around her collar and tightened her grip on her wrist, forcing the hand to break open before she removed her grip, only to punch the red-eyed other self across the face, causing everyone to stare at her for a moment as Kanna felt her body tense for a moment before it relaxed, a black crown forming on top of her head. Kanna started walking towards Gold Saw while watching the other self get back up from the ground, which prompted Kanna to form the broadsword before rushing towards the recovering other self, who managed to bring out her King Saw and raised it to defend herself when Kanna brought down the broadsword, the blades connecting and causing sparks to fly around them. Kanna grunted before backing away to buy herself some time to regroup, which wasn't the right choice for her as Gold Saw started slashing away at her, showing how destructive she is as she tries to get through to Kanna and make her suffer, but the way she was defending herself was only reminding Gold Saw of the amber-eyed Anomaly that's constantly beating her in some way. Kanna gritted her teeth as Gold Saw brought her King Saw down on the broadsword and start forcing her back, her amber eyes reflecting both anger and shock as she tried to stand her ground, which was happening as she felt her body locking down while she's forcing Gold Saw into a standstill, and Kanna knew that Dragon Slayer is responsible for that happening. Focusing on the power that's surging through her, Kanna let out a ferocious roar as she raised her left leg before kicking Gold saw in the gut and sending the red-eyed other self back several meters, giving Kanna some time to focus on what's going on around her before she centralized her thoughts on the amber-eyed Anomaly that's making it all happen.

"Ha, some hero you are," Kanna remarked as she could feel her body heal from the damaged Gold Saw inflicted upon it when Dragon Slayer was active.

[I never said that I'm a hero, besides, we're partners, so it's fair that I open my doors and help us win.. even if it means it's you doing the work...]

"So shouldn't you do this..?" Kanna inquired as she watched Gold Saw get back up from the ground.

[This is your fight, she threatened your family, so revenge is yours, but let me tell you how it should go about...]

As Dragon Slayer filled in Kanna on what should happen next, Gold Saw got back up and started rolling her shoulders before staring at the three other selves that were holding the four other rebels at point-blank range, well away that the paralysis wasn't permanent and that if it disappears, then everything becomes problematic for her and that would put a dent in Icicle's plans. Gold Saw could hear the thundering explosions coming from above, but she refocused as she watched Kanna shift her stance while her amber eyes narrowed, the broadsword being raised to the same level of her head as everything around the two seemed to fade into oblivion, the intensity between the two shifting the aura to where the people blocking the streets started backing up slightly before stopping. Gold Saw bent down while holding her King Saw in a horizontal position, a couple of seconds passing before the two took off and rushed towards each other, everyone watching the two as asphalt got ripped from the ground and started flying around them as her eyes glowed with an unnatural blood-lust to them that no one could easily copy save for Dragon Slayer. Only a few meters remained between the two as Gold Saw moved her King Saw back, ready to slash as she watched Kanna thrust the broadsword out as the blade broke out into five different pieces, mechanisms revealing themselves as the weapon shined like a star or lightning flashing in the sky. Gold Saw narrowed her eyes as she noticed victory was right before her, but that changed when Kanna adjusted her grip and pulled out the claymore that was hidden behind the mechanism that made up the broadsword, the claymore hitting its mark when Gold Saw stopped and looked down, noticing the sword shining as it pierced through her body, which felt like something was trying to burn it from the inside out.

"Gotta love Dragon Slayer and her innovative ways, right..?" Kanna inquired as she looked up at Gold Saw, whose eyebrows furrowed in anger.

Gold Saw gritted her teeth as she felt the burning sensation coursing throughout her body, "You..!"

"Believe me, I want to beat the living shit out of you, but that's not right," Kanna told Gold Saw before letting out a laugh reminiscent of Dragon Slayer's, "But Dragon Slayer told me that I shouldn't focus my anger on you, I should just enjoy watching B RS kick Icicle's ass"

"I won't let that happen..!" Gold Saw roared as she reached for the claymore.

"That's the thing, after me and Dragon Slayer finish up, you'll feel the same way we do," Kanna stated before tightening her grip on the claymore.

Before Gold Saw could even grab the claymore and stop Kanna, the young woman swung the claymore out of Gold Saw, the blade shining with no blood to mare it as Kanna's attack was never fatal to begin with, and Gold Saw felt the full force of her attack as her body burned immensely from the inside while black marking appeared on her skin like a chameleon appearing when moving in front of a different color. Kanna's eyes widened slightly at the black marking that's appearing on Gold Saw's skin before she arched an eyebrow when the marking seemed to move a bit, crawling around before they peeled off of the other self's skin and turned into nothing but black wisps that was rising up to the air until a golden light surrounded them and they burned away like gas connecting with a lit flame. Kanna shielded her eyes from the explosion before noticing Gold Saw's eyes roll to the back of her head as she fell to the ground, unconsciousness taking over the red-eyed other self, which Kanna couldn't help but let out a reliving sigh at the sight while the light from the explosion disappeared. Kanna closed her eyes and swapped placed with Dragon Slayer, who stretched out her spine before feeling three people rushing towards her, her lips curving into a smirk as she turned around and watch Dead Master, STR, and Chariot rush towards her, their eyes glowing with a ferocity not normally seen in an other self, and more uncommon in those under Icicle's control. Looking past the three rushing other selves, Dragon Slayer noted how her paralyzed comrades were starting to move again and she closed her eyes for a couple of seconds to revel in the moment before she opened them and started twirling the claymore in her right hand, her smirk growing into a predator-like grin that revealed the sharp canines that B RS has when she manages to lose herself and go insane.

"Well, I got three little piglets just waiting to get roasted as well," Dragon Slayer remarked as she stopped twirling the claymore before tightening her grip on its handle, "Come on, today is the day I end this clusterfuck..!"

The other four who was helping Dragon Slayer felt their bodies get released the their paralysis prison, only for them to watch Dragon Slayer clash with the three brainwashed other self, bright lights, energy attacks, and explosions occurring, but it got drowned out by the thundering sound coming from above.

---

B RS gritted her teeth as she fired her Seven-Shots to counter the high-velocity beam barrage coming from Icicle, who was using her Insane Cannon Lance to try to strike down the blue-eyed Anomaly from a distance, which was putting more cosmetic damage to the mechanism as the gears continued turning, which was causing B RS to wonder what needs to happen to destroy the machine she's standing on and fix everything. B RS ran as fast as it's possible while firing her Seven-Shots before making a sharp left and rushing towards the malevolent other self while moving side to side slightly so she can avoid the beams that's rushing towards her, covering meters within a couple of seconds as the distance between B RS and Icicle closed to the point where the blue-eyed Anomaly can punch the latter in the face. Light shined in the clouds before it got followed by the crack of lightning, but B RS ignored that as she jumped back before bringing her broadsword out and raising it in her left hand, keeping it leveled at Icicle who did the same with her behemoth black sword, the both of them barely showing any signs of exhaustion as they rushed towards each other again. The weapons clashed and both B RS and Icicle leaned in as the former started firing her pistol again, a light surrounding them as Icicle got the full burst of the attack, sending the malevolent other self back several meters as B RS let her Seven-Shots disappear before going after Icicle. Icicle managed to get back up before raising her Insane Cannon Lance, only to watch the weapon clash with B RS's broadsword as a blue flame ignited around her left eye and the broadsword glowed, small white text coursing down the blade while it ripped through Icicle's weapon, the blade falling to the floor with a heavy and dull thud, which caused Icicle to stare at the now blade-less weapon.

"So much for that, hun..?" B RS said, sarcasm coursing through her voice.

Icicle looked at B RS, her impassive stare hardening, "I'm through dealing with you..."

B RS furrowed her eyebrows in confusion for a moment before she started jumping back as black tendrils rushed towards her, moving through the shadows and spreading out so the blue-eyed Anomaly could get caught in a trap, but B RS remained focused on dealing with one tendril at a time, especially the one that's rushing towards her that she managed to stop from the corner of her right eye. B RS leaned back and watched the tendril pass her before rolling to her right to avoid getting punctured by another tendril, her senses going all over the area as she righted herself before ducking from a tendril that rushed from the corner of her eye, her mind focusing on how many attacked her until she leaped away before running as tendrils descended upon her, hitting the floor of the machine. For a moment, B RS thought that she managed to clear all the tendrils until she felt a sharp pain course through her right leg, a tendril pierced through the armor, which didn't last for long as the blue-eyed Anomaly slashed away and burned the tendril to a crisp as she noticed Icicle rushing towards her, trying to capitalize on the opening that's right before her. B RS gritted her teeth as she turned around before she slashed with her broadsword, the transparent clashing with the behemoth sword that Icicle's wielding, the two weapons trying to overpower the other as both the Anomaly and the malevolent other self put everything they could into the attack, electricity forming around them due to the contrasting powers conflicting with each other. The electricity spread before an explosion occurred, smoke mixing with the dark clouds as Icicle waved her hand in front of her to clear her vision, noting how B RS was nowhere in her line of sight, which prompted the malevolent other self to move around as she brought out more black tendrils from the shadows and have them move around the area.

"Don't think you can hide from me, you're in my world now," Icicle said, her voice resounding as another crack of lightning accompanied it.

B RS gritted her teeth while looking down at Icicle from one of the towers, feeling the hole in her right leg get seal up and disappear due to her healing factor, "Not even counting on it..."

B RS felt a bit light-headed due to how far up she is, but she ignored the altitude issue and focused on how she can beat Icicle since the other self, despite losing the Insane Cannon Lance for a moment, is still capable of dealing whatever damage she wants and brushing aside whatever strikes her, leaving her omnipotent as long as she resides in the body of the blue-eyed Anomaly's insane self. There's no straight forward way to take on Icicle without getting assaulted by her, B RS noted as she watched the black tendrils snake around the area in search for her, and even if she could cause Icicle any pain, she highly doubts that it would keep the other self at bay just enough for her to finish off what could be considered the plague for both the real world and the Otherworld. B RS tried to figure out how she could make it all work against the malevolent other self when she remembered what happened earlier today when she came back to reality, clarity reaching to her as well as the altitude, which prompted the blue-eyed Anomaly to drop back down with her fully healed right leg as she raised her broadsword when the tendrils started rushing towards her. B RS narrowed her eyes at the on coming tendrils before she let out a powerful roar and swung her broadsword, a blue wave racing towards the tendrils before ripping right through them, burning them into black wisps that merely faded into obscurity due to the dark checkerboard sky. Icicle noticed the wave heading straight towards her and raised her sword before bringing it down, causing the wave to burst into nothing but blue flames that only made the focus on B RS all the more prominent as the Anomaly rushed towards the other self with her broadsword arched back, forcing Icicle to raise her sword again before slashing away with it, trying to force B RS back as the blue-eyed Anomaly covered the distance between them.

"Think again," B RS said as she jumped up and landed on the blade of Icicle's giant sword.

B RS started running along the blade while managing to keep her balance, but when she was within a few feet from Icicle, she noticed a glimmer before jumping back so that she avoids getting stabbed by the katana that's in Icicle's right hand, but the blue-eyed Anomaly didn't let the missed opportunity get to her and started running, reforming her Seven-Shots and firing at the malevolent other self before her. Icicle parried the attacks with her two swords while watching how B RS kept charging towards her, not showing her displeasure when B RS got back within range, which failed again when Icicle slashed away at her, prompting the blue-eyed Anomaly to jump back to avoid getting ripped apart by the malevolent other self. B RS fired again and closed her eyes for a moment, opening them as she watched the attack she fired at Icicle get reflected back to her with the other self charging towards her, but she didn't flinch at the sight before her and merely fired at the reflected attack, causing an explosion just as Icicle started hacking away, smoke surrounding the two and blinding them for a while. Icicle narrowed her eyes before swinging her giant sword, causing the smoke to blow away and reveal an empty area, which caused frustration to show upon her face as B RS managed to hide again, a game that the malevolent other self isn't willing to play as time continued to pass her by, which is time that she could use to finish her plans and adjust the mechanisms inside the weapon. Icicle closed her eyes and focused on trying to pinpoint where B RS is until she felt two blades pierce through her body before burning them, causing her to snap her eyes open as B RS stood behind her, her broadsword and Black Blade pierced through her while glowing in an ominous blue aura akin to the black wisps that encircles the other self's signature weapon.

"It took me a moment to figure out how to beat you, and it looks like Dragon Slayer could beat you if she wanted to," B RS told her before gritting her teeth and moving the swords in opposite directions.

Icicle could feel like she's being split in two as her body got ripped from the shell that she's been using and tossed several meters away, "Gah.. Shooter..!"

B RS lowered her broadsword before looking down at the body laying by her feet, the hollow eyes of her insane self staring into nothing, "So she honestly killed you.. no one deserved that sort of fate..."

B RS raised her broadsword and watched as it ignited as blue fire surrounded the transparent blade, white text racing down it as the blue-eyed Anomaly brought the weapon down and annihilated the hollowed out body from existence, not even shedding a tear for something that was her, but also the most destructive being that ever came into existence due to Mato's despair at the moment she killed Dead Master long ago. The flames slowly died as ashes rose from the floor before disappearing into the sky, another thunderous boom resounding around them as B RS could feel something tiny drop on top of her before she looked up, watching the rain hit her as she heard the small droplets of water strike against the metal that she's standing on. Figuring that she should focus on the machine that she's standing on, B RS was about to rip a hole so she could drop down and lay waste to it when she noticed the space around her darkening, prompting her to look around and stare at Icicle, whose wet hair stuck to her face as she raised her giant sword at the Anomaly, black wisps forming all around her. B RS wasn't sure if she could even keep going as exhaustion showed on her face, and she was sure that Icicle's finally beaten her despite losing what was probably her key to victory, but that changed when she saw the black wisps wither before burning away into nothingness, which showed the area again, but with several people who neither of them expected to see. Icicle watched her sword get knocked to the side as Dragon Slayer twirled her completed broadsword in her right hand before balancing the weapon on its tip, her hands resting on top of the handle and she leaned in a bit, a smirk plastered on her face as both Icicle and B RS looked at everyone that's standing around each cog.

"Icicle, you can try to take any route you want from here on out, but it won't matter since there's a numbers game being played," Dragon Slayer told the malevolent other self, never losing her smirk, "Honestly, I want you dead and it will happen, but I rather want you lose everything.. so you'll fight Shooter here without any power ups or advantages, that especially means you Shooter.. let's make it fair"

"Got it," B RS said as her appearance changed back to normal.

Dragon Slayer closed her eyes and smiled, "And just one thing, there's a bunch of other selves here that wants to rip you apart, especially one particular Gold Saw, but I told them to hold off and just watch how everything falls apart for you..."

Icicle looked towards Gold Saw, whose body was tense and looks ready to rush over and rip her apart, before frowning, "So you broke my control over them"

"Yep, which means that mostly everything got corrected, just two things to finish up here and we can go on home," Dragon Slayer remarked, opening her amber eyes as they narrowed slightly, "It's truly the end"

Icicle furrowed her eyebrows, "Even if you managed to avoid the path that's set before you, you're still the same.. S■■om■n"

Dragon Slayer's eyes widened slightly as Icicle continued, "Yes, I know your true name and the life you're suppose to have, but you went against that.. so I tell them who you really-"

"Shooter, end this!" Dragon Slayer commanded as the dark aura she had earlier returned and her eyes lost the shine that made the amber-eyed Anomaly unique.

Icicle refocused on B RS with a small smirk on her face as she brought her giant sword in front of her while the blue-eyed Anomaly rushed towards her with her Black Blade, the two clashing blades with each other before they started trading blows, their eyes glowing as the rain picked up in its intensity and made the entire floor wet, but neither of them was letting up on their assault against their opponent. B RS tried to focus on Icicle as she started going on the defensive, but it became difficult when she can see Dead Master, Chariot, STR, and Gold Saw standing on the sidelines, watching her fight against Icicle, who they were serving under while brainwashed by the malevolent other self for days, and going through what they did before they lost their minds, she couldn't make sense of how she felt towards them. Icicle slashed at B RS with her katana and managed to cut through the distracted Anomaly's jacket and draw some blood from her left arm, causing B RS to snap out of her thoughts and refocus on Icicle, who would kill her if she remains distracted and doesn't focus on staying alive and beating Icicle to an inch of her life. B RS side-stepped away from Icicle's attack before letting her Black Blade dissolve before bringing out her Rock Cannon, the weapon lining up with the malevolent other self as she started firing at her, forcing Icicle to raise her giant sword and put it in front of her, shielding her from the barrage that the blue-eyed Anomaly was putting her under. Dead Master could see how B RS was trying to get the advantage over Icicle, but couldn't since her mind wasn't focusing on the malevolent other self that's trying to destroy both the real world and the Otherworld, but rather on her and the others who were under Icicle's control, which caused her eyebrows to furrow in worry until she felt a hand rest on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, she'll find an opening and capitalize on it," Maid Gunner told Dead Master, her eyes focused on the fight, "She's knows well enough that getting distracted won't help her"

Dead Master frowned, "It's not helping her now..."

"Just give her time, she got this far fighting Icicle without help, just trust her," Maid Gunner said before removing her hand and walking back to where she was standing.

B RS didn't hear what Maid Gunner told Dead Master, but her thoughts were lining up the same way as she tried to find a way to break through Icicle's defense, just find an opening that she could work on and make Icicle suffer any way she wanted, but anything that she tries will only wound up with no result, even if she managed to get a small victory by stripping Icicle of the second body she was using. The blue-eyed Anomaly stopped firing before she got sent back by Icicle appearing in front of her in an instant and kicking her in the gut, sending B RS towards another tower, but the Anomaly merely impacted the tower as a dent formed where she struck, her eyes wide from the pain that's coursing throughout her body from the impact. Gritting her teeth as she fought to push the pain down, B RS looked down with slanted eyes at Icicle and wondered just what it would take to beat the other self when her eyes focused on the black wisps that cycled around Icicle's left arm, down to the tip of the giant sword that she was holding, which caused her to remember her original plan before wondering if the same concept would apply with slight changes to it. Pushing herself off of the tower, B RS dropped down to the floor before readjusting her body, her eyes locking on Icicle as she raised her Rock Cannon and started firing at the other self, who merely slashed at the volleys that's sent towards her, not even flinching when the blue-eyed Anomaly rushed up to her with her Black Blade in her left hand. Icicle started striking B RS with her katana as she tried to force the blue-eyed Anomaly back to defending herself, but B RS met her strikes with her own and punctuated her determination by blasting the space between them, causing Icicle to stumble back as the young Anomaly rushed forward and cut the malevolent other self's left arm, the Black Blade illuminated in a blue aura.

The wisps encircling Icicle's left arms withered before reacting violently, the other self expressing her pain as they did so, "Gah.. Ahhhh..!"

"Finally..!" B RS roared as she moved her Rock Cannon in front of her and started firing at the malevolent other self.

Icicle focused her eyes on the on coming attacks and started slashing away at them, destroying the cannonball-like beams that were rushing towards her and forcing whatever defense she had to break, which caused the malevolent to show her displeasure as she dug her giant sword through the metal floor before slashing up, summoning black tendrils and sending them towards the blue-eyed Anomaly. B RS narrowed her eyes as she avoided the tendrils that rushed towards her, feeling some of them rip her jacket as she got closer to the retreating other self, which forced Icicle to stand her ground and slash at the blue-eyed Anomaly, who jumped back a couple of meters before firing at the tendrils that was nearing her due to the other self she's fighting against making her jump back. B RS thought that she managed to get rid of the tendrils that were trying to pierce through her and started rushing again when another batch appeared, all within several inches from her face as they descended upon her, Icicle watching with narrowed eyes as she managed to correct her stance before walking up towards the tendrils. Dragon Slayer watched on with impassive eyes as everyone else, sans Geshumaru's robot, had looks that varied from worry to uncertainty as the tendrils pulled apart to show Icicle what she was hoping for, only to see B RS's jacket riddled with holes from the tendrils piercing through it from different sides, which caused the other self's eyes to widened as she felt a presence nearing her from behind. Icicle only managed to look behind her as B RS slashed Icicle's left arm right off of her body before stabbing her Black Blade through the malevolent other self, the severed limb dropping to the ground before it burned up and dissipated into nothing but black wisps that faded into oblivion, which Icicle felt her body burn from the inside as B RS's powers started affecting her.

B RS leaned in, causing Icicle to notice the emptiness within them, "Looks like I win..!"

Icicle couldn't let out a scream as B RS removed her Black Blade from her back, the other self lost in a state of shock as her right hand cupped the socket where her left shoulder once was with the rest of the limb, her mind trying to make sense of how she managed to get outwitted by B RS, who merely walked towards her jacket, picking up the soaked clothing from the metal floor. Everyone that was standing on a cog started walking towards the middle of the battlefield, Dead Master hurrying towards B RS as she tried to think of what she should say to her friend when she got close, but the moment her eyes met the young Anomaly's, she felt like something was preventing her from getting close as the blue-eyed Anomaly grabbed her hood and pulled it up over her head, her blue eyes glowing ominously as she walked towards Dragon Slayer. The aforementioned Anomaly was staring down at Icicle, who looked up at the Anomaly before her body started shuddering at the amber-eyed Anomaly's glare, unable to react properly as she tried to make use of her powers to strike down Dragon Slayer, only for nothing to happen as the older Anomaly walked up before bending down to stare Icicle in the face. It didn't last for long as Dragon Slayer got back up and shifted her stare towards B RS, which changed from a hardened impassiveness to a melancholic regretful stare as the blue-eyed Anomaly merely walked away, drawing everyone's attention except Icicle, who was too lost in her thoughts to even focus on anything that's going on around her. Dragon Slayer continued staring at B RS until she felt a hand rest on her left shoulder, prompting her to look back at Maid Gunner for a moment before refocusing on the matter at hand, now that Icicle's done for, there still remains the matter of dealing with the weapon that she created, and the amber-eyed Anomaly knew that there's only one way for the damage to get corrected.

"Kanna, whatever happens next.. you're free to learn about me," Dragon Slayer told her partner.

[So it's the end.. well, it's was bound to happen, but why the sudden change in heart..?]

Dragon Slayer grimaced for a moment before looking at the entire group, her eyes focusing on each one before looking at the opposite direction towards B RS, "Icicle is a pretentious bitch..."

Dragon Slayer didn't get a response from Kanna, but she knew the real self understood her as she turned to face the rest, "Now with Icicle beaten and stripped of her abilities, it's time to fix what she pretty much ruined..!"

"How.. I mean, what are you gonna do to correct everything she's done..?" STR asked, uncertain about what the amber-eyed Anomaly is planning.

"Icicle created this weapon to annihilate both the real world and the Otherworld, so why not follow a.. similar concept," Dragon Slayer said before opening a rift and entering it.

Everyone except Maid Gunner, Vulcan, and Geshumaru's robots felt their eyes widen slightly from what the amber-eyed Anomaly just said before they started dashing towards the edge of the mechanism, which caused B RS to look back at them while wondering what was getting them bend out of shape, which came in the form of explosions occurring all around the machine that they are standing on top of. With a click of her tongue, B RS started running towards the edge along with the others before jumping off and falling straight towards the ground, caused the asphalt to crack and burst as craters formed where they landed, their eyes focusing on the explosion that's happening above them as they wondered what Dragon Slayer was thinking when she made that statement. Various pieces from the machine descended from the sky before exploding in itself, but B RS could feel that something was off as the smoke from the explosions looked like it was getting pulled back, which confused her and the rest until they saw a flicker of electricity as a giant rift opened up in the sky. Seeing a black hole in the sky ripping everything apart caused the group to dash away from it, but the force from the black hole kept dragging them back to where most of them planted their weapons into the ground and grabbing someone who couldn't, their eyes watching the city break apart as buildings, vehicles, and people got sucked into the dark vortex that's behind them. Maid Gunner and Vulcan looked towards each other before nodding and letting go of whatever hold that they had on the ground, their bodies flying towards the black hole and disappearing into nothingness, causing the rest to feel shocked at what just happened while the strength from the black hole increased, their bodies lifting from the ground as they continued to grip their planted weapons.

"Is Dragon Slayer insane..!" Geshumaru shouted as she looked back at the black hole.

"I knew that she was no good," Gold Saw said through the turbulence that's surrounding them, "She's the only one who could do something like this and not care about who gets caught in it!"

Dead Master looked towards Gold Saw, "Even so, what right do we have to say that..?!"

"Maybe this is what she wanted," B RS mumbled to herself as she looked forward, only for her eyes to widen at what's nearing them, "Damn it, heads up..!"

Geshumaru looked forward and felt her eyes widened at the building that's rushing towards them, "Why in hell does this happen to us..?!"

The group knew that they're running out of choices since the building that's rushing towards them broke off into multiple parts, which is cutting off a lot of possibilities since they have the black hole behind them, and Geshumaru knew that with every other possibility gone, there was only resignation as she pulled her katana out from the ground before feeling her body get pulled towards the black hole. Chariot noticed her sword getting pulled from the ground before she got sent back towards the black hole, Dead Master shouting her concern until a piece of a building collided into her, sending her back as well while winds picked up and the turbulence's intensity picked up even further than before. The robot pulled the cleaver-like sword from the ground and watched a piece of the building near it before it collided into it and sent it back into the black hole, leaving B RS, Gold Saw, and STR as the ones remaining with their weapons planted into the ground, but it didn't last for long as more chunks from buildings rushed towards them, a few striking STR as she tried to keep her Ogre Arms planted in the ground. STR could feel her Ogre Arms straining before they broke apart, her arms back to normal as she felt her body getting pulled towards the black hole, prompting Gold Saw to pull her King Saw from the ground before getting her body pulled towards the vortex, moving her body in mid-air as she grabbed STR's left wrist before pulling the girl close as they entered the black hole. B RS grimaced at her situation as she saw a chunk of a building heading towards her, but she didn't let it get to her as she gritted her teeth before pulling out her Black Blade and jumping against the wall of the building piece, pushing off it as she headed towards the black hole, vaguely aware of Mato's despondent cries as she felt her body rushing towards it.

"Let's see what happens next, Dragon Slayer..." B RS thought grimly as she entered the vortex.

It didn't take long for her to reach singularity, but instead of feeling her body getting stretched and ripped apart, a vast darkness consumed her until she could barely make sense of anything that's going on, her mind slowly fading into unconsciousness.

---

Author's Note: Wow, and I managed to get this far in a story without it reaching around 25 to 26 chapters, but I put the blame of the benchmark, which pushed me to my limits as chapter 11 so eloquently displayed. I can't really say much except that there's one more chapter before I go on a break from the trilogy, because it's honestly taking a lot out of me, and getting this story out of the way will be a breath of fresh air. As always, please review and I'll see you in the finale for Hollow Black Shadows.