The group flew across the city as they soon reached crumbling parts of a highway and scaled across them.
"Now where has our aquatic friend gotten off too?" Bayonetta asked.
"Probably off fighting that other you." DW typed.
The group soon arrived in Taito as they saw someone running from a few Stratus. Before stopping and backing up to the group. It was an all too familiar face to Bayonetta, a man wearing a long, brown leather trench coat with a furred collar, the sleeves rolled up his forearms to expose the inside of the coat having a blue and red plaid pattern. He wears a pair of brown fingerless gloves, complete with bracelets around the wrist. Underneath the coat, he wears a brown leather waistcoat with gold diamond-shaped buttons and a white shirt underneath. His trousers are a similar dark brown leather and he sports a pair of leather boots with metal buckles around the front and at the side. He also wears a hat with similar metal ornamentation as his shoes and he has his hair back into a ponytail. The biggest addition is that he now carries a large bag over one of his shoulders.
The man adjusted his clothes and hat, before giving off a glinting smile.
"Do any of you believe in fate?" he asked, the question directed at Bayonetta and a lot of the female members.
Luka Redgrave
The Driven Journalist
"Luka?!" Bayonetta said in surprise.
"Fate brought us here together, and it will never tear us apart." Luka said with his hand under Bayonetta's chin.
Connor then saw a Stratus jumping at the two of them. "Move it, casanova!" he warned.
Luka and Bayonetta quickly dodged out of the way before Bayonetta shot it down as they all turned to see a few Stratus forming along with a new Homunculus. It looked similar to the Floccus, except it had purple armor and a flail-like weapon.
Heavy Humanoid Combat Unit
FRACTUS
"Man, these guys have been a huge pain in my ass." Luka said. "Hey, how about you all take care of them for me? 'Preciate it, Cerezita!" he said before grappling away.
"Wait!" Bayonetta called out. "I see his motto is still 'Act first, think later.'"
"We'll go after him once we deal with these guys!" Kanade stated as the team prepared themselves.
The Fractus, in addition to having the same moves as its predecessor model in trying to absorb anybody in sight with its gelatinous body, also attacked using its flail. It was hard to deal with him and focus on the Stratus at the same time.
"We need to finish off the little ones so we can focus on the big guy!" Raphael said.
"I'll take care of 'em!" Yuzuriha said as she sliced up the Stratus in quick succession with her sword.
"Vent, let's give 'em a hand!" Gunvolt said, rushing to the Stratus horde at lightning speeds and punching them with his electro fists.
"Right behind you, GV!" Vent complied, following behind with his ZX-Busters, and fired charge shots at them.
Fractus attacked the others, but would soon find himself in the wrong odds. Raphael hit him with a strong uppercut, followed by a massive X-Slash Combination from 2B and A2.
"Kanade, Nail it!" Connor said, with X Marking the spot.
"Gladly!" Kanade grinned as she rushed towards the marked target, lunged her spear at it, and unleashed a powerful tornado from her spear, ripping it to pieces as the barrier was soon dispelled.
STAB∞METEOR
"So, are we sure that was the Luka from our world?" Hilda asked. "We hardly know him, but…"
"Only the Luka I know would be bold enough to call me Cerezita. I saw someone on Thule just before we landed, it must've been him. What in the world is he doing here?" Bayonetta said.
"He is a journalist. Must be looking for the next big story." Hitomi noted. "How he's not dead by now, I dunno."
"Pure luck, I guess." Zi-O shrugged.
The group pressed on as they saw Iridescent swimming up over them as they soon reached a temple district and saw a Cumulonimbus spawning.
"Man, these guys don't give up." Connor said.
"You should've expected things to not be as easy as you'd hoped." Starlight stated.
"With this world so close to destruction, we have little time to spare. Let us dispose of this creature quickly!" Lorenz said.
Having already fought one Cumulonimbus before, it was easier for the group to face it down now. They avoided its arms and lasers and struck back hard, defeating it with little damage.
Afterwards, they came out to an open view and saw Iridescent flying in the air.
"Is that..?" Bayonetta asked, seeing Phantasmaraneae sling away from it.
"Guess you were right on the money, octo face." Hitomi said. "Look who's trying to fry that big fish."
Upon Phantasmaraneaes back was B1 as she had a set of four yo-yo like weapons on her wrists and heels.
"I literally have bigger fish to fry… No time for minnows!" B1 said, kicking her left leg back as the yo-yo on it slung out as a set of eight blades popped out, slicing one of the Iridiscent's fish grunts before she began swinging all four of them out before punching one more.
"Whoa… think you may have some competition, Shirabe." Connor said.
"Yeah… she's pretty good." Shirabe nodded.
More fish-like grunts then swam and exploded upon contact with Phantasmaraneae, giving Iridescent a chance to strike before B1 jumped out of the way as Iridescent chomped down onto the infernal.
"Give me time to get my fire back…" Phantasmaraneae said before disappearing.
(Cue- Just Try to Stop Me!- Bayonetta 3)
The weapons on B1 began spinning and emitted sparks as she took on the form of a lava arachnid humanoid before swinging through the air and breaking through the barrier on Iridescent's head and stabbing into a large protrusion on it with a tail stab as Iridescent roared in pain.
"I'll bet that stung. The glowing target was a bit on the nose. Could it be you've got a bit of a masochistic streak?" B1 asked before a worm-like homunculus popped up from behind and swung her away to a building. "Not getting away that easy." she said as she began her chase after the large homunculus.
"Um… should we go help her?" Marianne asked.
"I don't think any of us are fast enough to keep up with her and that flying fish she's trying to fillet." Hitomi said.
"Let's at least try to catch up as much as we can." Simon said.
B1 managed to keep up with the Iridescent using her Demon Masquerade while avoiding vanishing buildings. "At that speed, it's just a matter of time." she said as she entered a broken cave and avoided incoming trains as she got closer to her target. "So close! The anticipation is killing me." she said as she soon reached the Iridescent's head. "That's enough tag for now. Time to get my hooks into you." she said as she wailed into the protrusion with her weapons and Masquerade while avoiding the exploding fish-like grunts and worms as she soon destroyed it, causing the barrier around Iridescent to be shattered.
Iridescent roared in pain before shaking off its attacker. B1 managed to recover using her masquerade and used Witch Time to make a path back to Iridescent. "D'you really think it would be that easy? Once I see something I want, it's mine!" she said as she soon got in reach and Phantasmaraneae's symbol reappeared. "Perfect timing! MALPRG ROR!" she called, summoning her Infernal back to action.
"Expect nothing less!" Phanrasmaraneae said before grabbing onto B1 and summoning a web behind him as he spun around on it as the web pulled back before being sling-shot out of it, allowing them to break into the core as B1 stood up and saw the core emerge. It had a human body with one big eye attached to a pillar-like protrusion from Iridescent's "ceiling", and its primary weapons were a pair of larger arms.
Emergency Interceptor Unit
IRIDESCENT CORE
"You're going to pay dearly… for what you've done!" B1 declared as she dragged her left arm across her right one before posing.
"You cannot stop the inevitable. This world's oblivion…and yours…are immutable fact." A mysterious voice said from the core.
Despite the declaration, B1 and Iridescent Core did battle.
(Cue- Catastrophe- Bayonetta 3)
Both parties fought with everything they had. B1 shredded into Iridescent cores and unleashed a powerful new attack with Demon Masquerade, dealing heavy damage to it.
"Ready for a hot time?" B1 asked before she entered her Phantasmaraneae masquerade and stuck her flaming stinger in the ground, causing lava eruptions to occur below Iridescent Core. "Your blood won't be the only thing boiling!" she said as the core collapsed to the ground.
(Shift- Go for the Climax!- Bayonetta 3)
"MALPRG ROR!" B1 chanted as she summoned Phantasmaraneae as he latched some webs onto Iridescent Core before pulling it right out from its attachment, giving it a Giant Swing before tossing it into the air and obliterating it with a fireball as Iridescent's body lost control as B1 and Phantasmaraneae escaped as B1 looked on in exhaustion as she saw Iridescent crash.
(end song)
B1 landed on the ground, exhausted, but knowing that the battle was won. But then she heard clapping as Tormal soon appeared, applauding her efforts.
"A fine effort, as expected of another Arch-Eve…. but all for naught." Tormal said.
Two worm-like homunculi then emerged from the ground, cornering B1 before a third one appeared and grabbed her in its jaws as she spat out blood.
"This world's oblivion is now affirmed, bringing it closer to rebirth. Arch-Eve, your power will become a keystone of my Alphaverse…sustaining it for all eternity." the voice said.
The worm's jaws became tighter on B1 as cracks began forming across her whole body, the group arriving too late.
B1 took notice and tossed one of her yo-yo-like weapons out to them as Bayonetta quickly leaped off the building before B1 screamed out one last time as she crystallized and shattered.
Bayonetta managed to catch the weapon as she soon landed on the ground as the group caught up with her. "It's all right…we'll take it from here!" she said before holding it in front of her as the center of it popped open and showed her symbol, the weapon linked to her. She then used it to dispatch the three worms using the singular Yo-yo. "You will be avenged, I swear it. And so will Jeanne…"
The group then found themselves face to face with Tormal and the downed Iridiescent.
"Well, if it isn't my other selves siblings and their friends." Tormal said.
"So this is Tormal?" Tsubasa asked.
"Yep, in the flesh. And like I said, he's an evil, crazy alternate version of Spade." Connor said. "You wouldn't believe all the hell he put him through years ago."
"A darker half, huh…" Zi-O whispered.
"So, you still continue to oppose me?" Tormal asked. "You don't understand what I'm trying to accomplish."
"Oh, I think we do, and we're not gonna allow you to pull it off." Connor said.
"We won't let you destroy the Color-verse, just like you did with your own dimension!" Hibiki declared.
"Destroy it? No… I am saving it." Tormal said.
"Well, that sounds oddly familiar…" Connor said.
"Saving it? From what?" Maria asked.
"From your own selfish desires." Tormal said.
"The heck's that supposed to mean? You haven't been exactly detailed with what you're after. Viola didn't give us the specs either." Connor said.
"Ah, so that whelp convinced you all to help her, alongside Arch-Eve Origin." the voice said as Iridescent began transforming. It began growing arms and legs as they slammed into the ground. "You've all even managed to find the nexus and breach the barrier!"
Iridescent then stood up, towering over the group in a massively enhanced new form as it gave off a
Giga Behemoth Decisive Unit
ARCH-IRIDESCENT
"Godzilla!" Haruto said.
"DEESS?!" Kirika screamed in shock.
"...I don't think the Time Mazine will be enough to beat that thing." Vent said.
"You didn't jinx us, did you?" Regina deadpanned at the Rider.
"...I hate Murphy's Law… so damn much." Zi-O muttered.
"Not in the mood for cheap science fiction. I take it you're Singularity, then? The real heartbreaker, and this knockoff's partner." Bayonetta said.
"Yes, if that's who you say I am." the voice said.
"Fantastic. But you'll go through hell trying to break ours!" Bayonetta said.
"Uh, I just have one question. How the heck are we gonna beat that thing?!" Hilda asked.
"Oh, I have a way… but I didn't think I would have to use it." Bayonetta said.
Simon gasped. "No, Bayonetta, you can't possibly be thinking of the Deadly Sin ritual!"
However, there was no stopping the Umbra Witch.
"DO O IA BAYONETTA!" Bayonetta chanted as she stabbed her hand into her chest as a magic circle appeared around her. "CNILA D COMSELHA ODO ANANAEL." she said as she pulled out her heart. "IPAMIS NONCP FAFEN NIIS. AVAVAGO TLIOB VRAN!" as the blood from it dropped and touched the circle as her symbol appeared before a large set of jaws rose up.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, WHOA!" Connor yelled as the group was being taken up by something massive below them.
Rising up from the portal was Gomorrah, but he now equaled the Size of Arch-Iridescent and looked totally different. In fact, he looked a lot more similar to Godzilla than the Homunculus did, as he let out a kaiju-sized roar.
FONT OF DEVASTATION
SIN GOMORRAH
"Uh, Haruto, were you saying something about Godzilla?!" DW typed.
"I take it back, this thing IS Godzilla!" Haruto said.
"Is this…Gomorrah?! How could he take a form this massive?" Lysithea asked.
"By way of The Deadly Sin ritual. It allows Infernals to reach new heights of strength, transforming them into a reflection of their true uninhibited strength with all new powers." Simon said.
"But did she really have to rip out her own heart for that!?" Chris questioned while Serena fainted.
"S-Serena!" Maria gasped, trying to comfort her.
"It's the only way it would've worked. The ritual requires the heart and blood of an Umbra witch, that's why it's a forbidden practice." Simon said.
"Well, at least the odds are even now." Travis said.
"On one hand, it's pretty ballsy and risky, considering the rituals a forbidden art. But on the other…" DW typed as Sin Gommorah roared in challenge to Arch-Iridescent. "We get front-row seats to something we could only see in movies till now! KAIJU FIGHT!"
(Cue: Crime and Punishment- Bayonetta 3)
As World B1 started to collapse, the clash of the titans began as Sin Gomorrah and Arch-Iridescent slammed into each other. While this was happening, some familiar faces appeared down below and saw the chaos happening.
"We're too late…. Singularity has already killed the Bayonetta of this world!" Nedris said.
"Then it is only a matter of time." Adrebil said.
Sin Gomorrah crashed and bashed against Arch-Iridescent, using its jaws, fire, and claws to rip at it.
"Not much we can do at this size to help Gomorrah out, unless anybody here's got a bigger sword or gun to hit this thing with!" Ragna said.
"I don't think some of us can summon a sword that's the size of a kaiju." Gunvolt said.
"Same./Me too." Kanade and Tsubasa added.
"The Super Sentai might with their megazords… but I don't have their numbers." Zi-O said.
"I think Gommorah's got this, all things considered." Leonie said.
And Leonie was right, as Sin Gomorrah had his way with Arch-Iridescent, blocking its attacks and beating him down in kind. Once the giant Homunculus was worn down, Sin Gomorrah then opened up his chest and charged up a laser.
"In the words of our good buddy Akira Tadakoro… it's Laser time!" DW typed.
Sin Gomorrah then blasted his laser at Arch-Iridescent, which was in turn powerful enough to Punch a hole right through it. Bayonetta and the group landed on the ground, the former exhausted as her heart was back in her chest, Sin Gommorah disappearing.
(end song)
Arch-Iridescent's body then fell to the ground as the sky turned red and demonic hands sprouted underneath it and grabbed on. That could only mean one thing, Arch-Iridescent was accepted as an offering to Inferno.
"I know most of Inferno prefers a taste of the righteous, but I'm sure you'll satisfy someone." Bayonetta said.
"Surely you know this is a mere vessel? Do with it what you will." Singularity said as a clouded face appeared in front of Arch-Iridescent as Tormal came up beside it, World B1 beginning to collapse.
"We've already won. This world is soon to collapse, thanks to its Bayonetta being killed. Once we destroy the other Arch-Eves across 3 more worlds, I will have enough power to achieve my goal." Tormal said.
"We eagerly await our next rendezvous, Arch-Eve Origin." Singularity said as Arch-Iridescent was dragged into Inferno. That was when World B1 faded out of existence, and all that was left was the group in a white void.
"Hero Alliance! Thank Queen Anzu you've come!" Nedris said.
"Nedris, Adrebil! Glad to see ya." Connor said. "So this is where you guys have been. Hopping between cutoff alternate worlds on a deserted island to try and track down Tormal and take him down."
"Yes, but unfortunately, we haven't been able to catch him. And now that Singularity has found his way to the Color-verse, I fear the worst… how did he manage to breach it?" Adrebil said.
"Uh… that might have something to do with me." Connor admitted, explaining once again how things all started.
"I see, you did what you could to try and stop it." Nedris said.
"But we know Tormal's real plan now. He wasn't interested in Kaido's plan at all. This whole time, he wanted his real partner in crime at his side so he could break our Multiverse down and fuse it together, and then wipe it all out." Lysithea said.
"You'd think he'd try and go after our multiverse next?" Seele pondered.
"Most likely once he's done with the Color-Verse, I'm afraid. And no way we're gonna look away from this." Zi-O answered.
"All the more reason to stop him before he gets that far." Connor said. "And of course, to do that… we need that."
A Chaos Gear then descended down from above, having been freed from Iridesent's body.
"At least we're able to get something out of this before that world vanished." Mei said.
"How many did Viola say we needed? 5?" Makoto asked.
"Yes, and this makes two." Simon said as the group found themselves back on Thule.
"We're not much for waiting patiently." Bayonetta said. "And I suppose that girl isn't either."
"Wed better get moving to the next world. Nedris, Adrebil, coming with?" Connor asked.
"Of course." Nedris said.
"There is strength in numbers." Adrebil added.e
"And while we have you guys… where's Spade?" Connor asked.
"...He unfortunately, has been chasing Tormal across so many worlds for the past few months, we've lost sight of him." Nedris said.
"That ain't healthy." DW said. "He's probably lost his mind by now, or close to it."
Everyone stared at Dark Water with incredulous looks.
"What? I'm just saying!" DW typed.
"We'd better try and find him wherever he is then… preferably before the Color-Verse gets ripped apart." Connor said.
"Right." Ace said as the group headed for another part of Thule, unaware that Luka was watching them.