"Bayonetta and Simon couldn't have gotten far, could they?" Noel asked as the group traversed through the Great Wall fortress, following Bayonetta's trail. There weren't any shortage of clues to where she was going. Bullet holes in the walls, slash marks with smoke coming off them on the ground and fallen soldiers.
"Nope. They definitely went this way." Connor said.
"It seems like they're approaching the volcano." 9S said.
"I can probably imagine Bayonetta's sentence about that. She'll probably be like "I certainly hope the Chaos Gear isn't inside…" or something." Hilda said. "Probably doesn't wanna burn herself or something.
"Who wouldn't want to go head first into the mouth of an active volcano?" Ragna asked.
"What about a giant ape Homunculus?" Al asked, looking through a set of binoculars.
The volcano started erupting more fiercely as there was something inside the crater, rising out of it was a Homunculus that looked similar to the Cumulonimbus albeit with more muscular arms and shorter legs; it walks on all fours, with a posture and mannerisms reminiscent of a gorilla. Its arms are shrouded in flames, and it has long "hair" extending out of the top of its head as a small glow was seen on its chest before it pounded it.
Mega Humanoid Exothermal Decisive Unit
PYROCUMULUS
Pyrocumulus then, literally and figuratively, went ape inside the volcano's crater, causing it to erupt violently.
(Cue: Volcanic Eruption- Bayonetta 3)
"It's causing the Volcano to go wild! Run!" Giovanna called.
The group quickly ran up the crumbling path avoiding any debris from the volcano that rained down as they soon caught up with Bayonetta and Simon in front of a tower.
(end song)
"Oh, you're all back. Got tired of looking after kitty?" Bayonetta asked.
"No, we just lost Luka." Makoto said. "We ran all the way here to catch up with you no thanks to a giant monkey in the volcano. I'm not exaggerating."
"So you saw him too then, certainly didn't make it easy for us fighting the Homunculi with all the volcanic debris trying to hit us." Simon said.
"It must be Singularity's ace in the hole for this world, considering it can manipulate fire." Connor said.
The group advanced into the tower, and then heard fighting coming from inside. They soon discovered that someone was fighting the Floccus and Fractus inside, disintegrating them with Red laser blasts and conjuring several objects of destruction, like large spiked balls to obliterate them.
"A little late to the party, are we? Who could possibly be upstaging us, I wonder?" Bayonetta said going inside for a closer look and shooting at whoever was inside, asking questions later. Her bullets were stopped in mid air by a hand emitting energy… a hand which belonged to none other than IN-Fn8t.
(Cue: Infinite- Sonic Forces)
"Well now, is that any way to thank the one who just lightened your load for you, Umbra witch?" the rogue virus asked.
"Funny. I don't recall inviting you to the party." Bayonetta said as the others came in to see the sight.
"Hey, it's him!" Balthus said.
"IN-Fn8t… didn't expect to see you here today." Connor said. "What brought you here to a world like this?"
"The disturbances in reality came to my attention, so I was curious to know who was causing them." IN-Fn8t replied. "I'm just simply here passing through finding out who is attempting a different goal for the Multiverse than what I had in mind."
"So this guy's IN-Fn8t? Gotta say I like his look, but he's pretty on the evil side." DW typed.
"He's a dangerous Virus from the Data universe who got his freedom into reality from the Conversion blast." Connor explained to those who hadn't seen him before. "I think he's also trying to wipe out reality, but he hasn't been completely honest yet."
"Just what we need, another pain in the neck. Why don't we take care of this problem right now and save yourselves the trouble?" Bayonetta asked.
"I'd reconsider that if I were you, Witch. I'm just passing through. There's no need for you to be destroyed at my hands… not yet, anyway." IN-Fn8t warned.
"Is that a threat?" Bayonetta asked. "I think you have it backwards, little fox. You should reconsider not getting in our way. There's one thing you should know…."
At that, Bayonetta leaped into the air and went for a Rocket Heel, which IN-Fn8t blocked with his hand as the impact set off a shockwave.
"Don't Fuck with a Witch." Bayonetta said.
(Music Shift: Battle with Infinite *1st Bout*- Sonic Forces)
In-Fn8t then threw Bayonetta off as she landed on the ground, the former posing like his real life predecessor as he gave off his red aura.
"You might have more fight in you than the other rabble…. Let's see how many seconds you all last." IN-Fn8t said as he invokes his powers and the entire area was covered red as red and black cubes surrounded the area before blasting his red finger lasers at the group as they all dodged.
"That's my line. I hope you don't break as easily as the others have." Bayonetta said.
IN-Fn8t used his powers to sent masses of red cubes their way, hoping to touch them.
"Watch out! If you so much as touch those red masses, you'll be subject to illusions that actually hurt like hell!" Connor said.
The group evaded the masses as much as they could while also attacking IN-Fn8t. The Virus retaliated by molding the red matter into large twin spiked balls and chucking them at the group.
"Yoshitsune!" Kagane called, pulling out a Kuda tube as a pale white man in red samurai armor holding twin swords appeared and used Hassou Tobi, slicing from eight different directions against incoming attacks before vanishing.
Bayonetta then took the opportunity to charge in and engage IN-Fn8t directly. She equipped the Ignis Araneae Yo-Yos and shredded into the virus's body with both her arms and legs before finishing off with a Masquerade attack. "Boom!" she called, thrusting her stinger a few times at him.
"Had enough?" Simon asked, pointing Zero's Blade at IN-Fn8t before the tower suddenly shook as Pyrocumulus crashed in.
(song cut)
"I was going to say not even close… but it seems you have bigger problems to deal with now." IN-Fn8t said. "Don't disappoint me by dying to some overgrown artificial primate. I'm anticipating our true clash when all of you are united again." he said before warping away.
"Wait, was he holding back?" Leonie asked.
"Sure looks like it." Zi-O assumed. "He's just waiting for the right time to use his full power, just… not now."
"Well worry about that later, we've got bigger problems to deal with right now!" Ragna said as Pyrocumulus started attacking.
(Cue- Catastrophe- Bayonetta 3)
"Come down the mountain just for us? I hope you brought something we like." Bayonetta said.
Pyrocumulus attacked the group while clinging to the walls, swiping at them with its hands as the group had little room to move around, surrounded by lava.
Ignatz evaded a chunk of magma and a slam from Pyrocumulus's fist. "Take this!" he called, firing a Curved shot that homed in on the Homunculus and hit him one after another.
Pyrocumulus then switched sides and submerged himself halfway in the lava for a better angle.
"Unfortunately, we can't join you in that bath. The excessive heat's hell on my skin. But, come to think of it. I have a friend who really likes it hot." Bayonetta said.
"Natsu? Flamberge?" Starlight guessed.
"Close, but no. MALPRG!" Bayonetta called as she summoned Phantasmaraneae. The spider demon swung on its web and rammed into Pyrocumulus, following up after with his flaming legs and fireballs, stunning the homunculus as he crumpled to the ground
"Got you! Dark Spikes Theta!" Lysithea called as dark spikes rained down on the homunculus.
Pyrocumulus took the hits, but then recovered, attempting to smash anybody in his sights. Things were looking grim for the group as they almost had nowhere to escape, but then, Pyrocumulus was shot by explosive shells. They then heard a whistle as Wartrain Gouon rode down from the sky, piloted by B2 as she danced. When she got closer, she held her hand out to Bayonetta who did the same with Simon as they linked hands and were pulled up.
"HORVUTAH!" Simon called as Scolpendra appeared and skittered the rest of the group to safety aboard Gouon.
"That's the ticket." Bayonetta said as she and Simon looked at B2.
"I believe you all have already met. Let's go!" B2 said as Pyrcumulous climbed out of the temple and gave chase.
Simon and Bayonetta soon hopped into two of Gouon's train cars and aimed his cannons onto the approaching Homunculus.
"This is gonna be good." Simon smirked.
(Shift- The Demon Rider- Bayonetta 3)
"There's nothing to fear Arch-Eve. Death is no final destination, merely a gate. Both you and this world have no choice but to pass through." Singularity said as Pyrocumulus began chasing them across the wall
"Die alone, brute. This world is under my protection!" B2 said.
"Hope you like hot lead as much as hot lava!" Bayonetta added.
"Because we promise you that this will hurt A LOT, you big ape." Simon added as well.
Both of them opened fire on Pyrocumulus, peppering it with cannon shells along with any debris it tried to throw at them. Chris even joined in with her Gatling guns and Missiles to assist.
"Are you enjoying this as much as we are?" Simon asked.
The chase and fight went all across the wall until Pyrocumulus went to the front of them after ripping one of the train's cars off. That's when Gouon spawned cannons at its front as Simon and Bayonetta took aim.
"The time has come! Now to free the beast from its rails!" B2 said. Just as Pyrocumulus got close and prepared to attack, witch time was activated as Bayonetta and Simon unloaded on it before Gouon ran over it before it began circling back. "PARM!" she called, resummoning the missing car as a demon head popped out of the front of the engine with a laugh as it pierced through the Homunculus' stomach as the group leaped off just in time before Gouon pierced through as Pyrocumulus fell into the lava.
(end song)
As soon as they got off, B2 recovered the Chaos Gear that it had. But as they did so, Tormal arrived again.
"Little too late to the party, Tormal." Connor said. "The Big gorilla your partner sicked on us is sinking in hot lava just like the Emperors you allied with.
"Oh, Pyrocumulus isn't dead yet. Did you forget its affinity to fire?" Tormal asked.
"Oh crap… B2, look out!" Connor said.
But it was too late as Pyrocumulus leaped out of the lava and caught B2 in a grip. It started crushing her in its hand as the chinese witch started to shatter.
"Let go of her, you dang dirty ape!" Peacock said as she, Bayonetta and the other ranged fighters shot at Pyrocumulus, but to no avail as Pyrocumulus placed B2 against its chin as she was soon absorbed with the Chaos Gear.
With that increase in power, Pyrocumulus underwent a drastic transformation, gaining purple armor and four more eyes as it summoned a staff and spun it around while hooting.
Mega Humanoid Aerial Decisive Unit
ARCH-PYROCUMULUS
"The power that bound this world is now ours, and its inevitable collapse is moments away. And while I have no further use for this shell… There's time for a bit of amusement. Perhaps I'll simply crush you all like insects right now." Singularity said as a cloud flew over to Arch-Pyrocumulus which it hopped on and did a 'come on' motion before flying away.
"Oh, he's SO gonna get it!" Chris frowned.
"Do it, Cereza. And let's fuck this monkey up good." Simon said, referring to the Deadly Sin ritual.
As Arch-Pyrocumulus flew high into the sky and up above the clouds, he could hear Bayonetta chanting.
"DO O IA BAYONETTA! CNILA D COMSELHA ODO ANANAE! TURBS C BABLON ZONAC CIAOFI BALZARG! FAFEN NIIS!" Bayonetta chanted as a large female figure rose from the clouds.
(Cue- Queen Magick- Bayonetta 3)
The figure turned out to be Madama Butterfly, only now due to the Deadly Sin ritual, she was now hundreds of times bigger and more beautiful as she crossed her arms while Bayonetta and the group were seen on top of her head.
"Hey! You were saying something about crushing us?!" Travis asked.
"I think you'll find we're extremely game for that." Bayonetta smirked.
The newly transformed Madama Butterfly washed herself with bubbles before laying on the clouds with a relaxed stance.
LADY OF ONYX BRILLIANCE
QUEEN BUTTERFLY
"...What the…" Regina gawked.
"I'd say this is a bad time for a bath, but whatever works, right?" DW typed.
"...I'm officially erasing that out of my mind once this whole adventure is over, because this, is fucked up." Zi-O admitted.
"Amen to that, brother." Starlight agreed.
Queen Butterfly sent out the bubbles in three different ways to hit the Homunculus, either by blowing them, swiping them, or launching them. Once the Homunculus was trapped, Queen Butterfly did a sexy twirl before dealing a back kick that launched it as it pulled a piece of its hair off as it formed into a duplicate.
"It made a clone of itself from its own hair… just like the legend of Sun Wukong!" Lysithea said.
"Guess that makes Queen Butterfly Buddha and Guangyin in this case." Mari said.
Arch-Pyrocumulus, more riled up, flew with its clone to Queen Butterfly's right side as she turned onto her side and held her head up with her right hand.
"Whoa, easy moving around in your tub, missy!" Peacock said, struggling to keep her balance and not fall off like the others, before seeing Arch-Pyrocumlus prepare to attack with a group of fireballs as its clone enlarged its staff. "Oh no y'don't!" she prepared her Z-Rays and blasted the both of them with precision. The clone vanished as the real one was stunned, allowing Queen Butterfly to trap it again before delivering a powerful left punch, sending it flying before it hooted in anger and summoned two clones this time as they flew behind her as she turned to them while laying on her front. The clones were quickly dealt with as Arch-Pyrocumulus was trapped again.
(shift- Get to the Climax!- Bayonetta 3)
Bayonetta conjured a ring of light with magic before throwing it towards the Homunculus as it grew in size, Bayonetta did a few movements before posing as the ring grazed into the Homunculus' head. Queen Butterfly blew a kiss before holding her right hand in front of the Homunculi and gave it a devilish smirk before flicking it hard, launching it into a couple of mountains before crashing into one as it fell on the ground and was trapped by a piece of the mountain, B2's weapon landing in front of it.
(end song)
Queen Butterfly held her hand out which the group was on before jumping off as they approached the fallen Homunculus as dark hands popped out of the ground and grabbed onto it.
"Looks like some spirited tenderizing can make even you look tasty." Bayonetta said as she hefted B2's weapon onto her shoulder.
"Quite amusing Arch-Eve Origin and Hero Alliance, but Tormal and I have other affairs." Singularity said as his face appeared. "You all needn't waste time searching for us. When the time is right, we'll have a proper rendezvous. Though I don't suppose you all believe in delayed gratification. Until next time…"
"Wait, hold on!" A voice said as Nitez, Ajakil, and Edira appeared. "Where's Spade, we know he's been feverishly searching for Tormal throughout the multiverse, is he still…?"
"He teetters close to madness. It is only a matter of time before he loses himself completely." Singularity said before disappearing as Arch-Pyrocumulus was dragged down into Inferno just as the piece of rubble it was trapped under was about to crush it.
"No…" Ace said.
"Everyone… how I wish things were better for our reunion." Akajil said. "I didn't want to believe it until we heard it from Singularity."
"I can't believe it… so Spade was still intent to end things himself, even after we said we'd have his back on Mildian." Ragna said.
"Yes… he couldn't let go of all the trauma Tormal caused him all those years ago. Killing us with his own hands, Tormal manipulating him into doing so…" Edira said.
"Which is why we must find him as quickly as possible." Nitez said.
"NO joke. He's gotta be running around the multiverse somewhere." Connor said. "He must be in one of the last two worlds where the remaining Chaos Gears are."
"What do we do when we find him?" Marianne asked.
"Try to convince him to stop trying to do everything alone for our sakes." Connor said as the third chaos gear was claimed. "And if that doesn't work…knock some sense into him, as we knock all the excess darkness out." he said as Queen Butterfly disappeared along with World B2 as the group found themselves back in Thule before a howl was soon heard.
"Was that…?" Bayonetta asked.
"He doesn't let up, does he?" A2 asked.
"We'd better hurry." Zero said.
The group hurried off to catch up with Viola, as no doubt she was close to Strider as well.