Robo-agent destroyed camp:
"Darn it! Those robot freaks found them!" Kelly said, putting her phone away after Charlie quickly hung up.
"They need help, but we need to find Defer, Ani, and Violet too," Lester said.
"We could rebuild one of these machines to get us around quicker..." Kelly said, eyeing a vehicle of some sort that was mostly hidden under a wrecked tent.
"That may be our best option. Especially for you. Too much walking won't help someone in your condition," Lester said, as he walked over to the vehicle under the broken tent.
Kelly was surprised as she asked, "How do you know?"
"I guessed, and you've been eating odd foods. I would know since I'm usually the one who orders takeout for everyone," Lester replied.
"Well, alright, but don't tell Charlie yet. I want to surprise him," Kelly said, and Lester nodded in agreement.
Cave:
Ani felt a little panicked as she held her gun close to herself, and looked around the room cautiously. It seemed to grow a little darker, besides the center of the room, as she turned a few times when she thought she heard shuffling.
Then she felt a hand on her shoulder, as she quickly turned and fired her gun. Nothing was there but a dark mist that disappeared, as Ani felt her legs starting to shake.
"You don't look too well, my dear. You've grown pale and quite tense," the voice spoke, as Ani tried to find where the voice was coming from.
Then she felt like someone was watching her from behind, as she quickly turned and her eyes widened. Two yards away stood the tall, king of Netherworld in his usual white suit, and glowing aura radiating from him. His white mask still covered his face, but his hand was placed on it, as if he was planning to remove it. The room felt colder, as Ani took a step back and aimed her gun at him.
"Now now, my sweet. Don't bother. You used up all your bullets when you shot at me the first time," AoC said, and Ani growled a little as she put her gun away.
"W-Why? Why are you here? How?" Ani asked, still cautious.
"My my... Does my presence alone make you stutter, my dear? I took advantage of the situation with these robot monstrosities and used one of their experiments to give me access to this world again. It was a bit of a hassle, but it was worth it to see you again. Especially in that suit," AoC said, noticing how the suit fit well on her curves.
Ani furrowed her eyebrows in disdain towards him, as she moved her right foot back a little bit.
"Hmm, I could redesign your wedding dress based on it..." AoC said, and Ani looked at him in surprise.
"What are-what are you talking about? I'm not getting married, especially not to you!" Ani said, standing strong.
"Ha ha ha ha ha. Oh Ani, how bold of you. That's what I love about you~" AoC said, as he slowly started walking towards her.
Ani slowly stepped back, as she kept her hand over her knife.
"You see, my dear, there are many ways I can return to this world. But when your time comes, it's obvious that you're not going down to where I am when you die. So the only way I can keep you is if you become my wife, and then you can live with me, forever," AoC said, as Ani felt her hand begin to tremble.
"... No. N-No, I won't. I'll never be your wife. I refuse! You hurt my family, you manipulated Paul, Charlie, and their friends, and because of you, Vito died in the first place! I will not let you take over and destroy the world!" Ani said, still determined.
"My dear Ani, I have no intention of destroying the world as you've assumed. What I really want, what I truly desire... is you," AoC said, and Ani gasped.
"What... why me? What do you want with me?" Ani asked.
"Well my dear, after taking the time to fully analyze the situation and my own personal feelings towards you, I concluded that you are my perfect match in marriage and for having my children. Your own child proved this when she utilized the little Black book to obtain the power she used against me, and even your nephew proved this with how easily he uses the White pen. Your family has a natural born gift of Magical Prowess and Potential that exceeds that of normal mortals. With that in mind, the powers my children could inherit from you as their mother is basically... limitless," AoC said, as he started moving his mask off of a portion of his face, while he and Ani were circling around the room, since she was trying to stay away from him.
"You... you want to use me to create monstrous children to do your bidding?" Ani asked.
A glow of red appeared from the side of his face that was showing to reveal a burning red dragon eye that scared but intrigued Ani.
"You seem to misunderstand a little. I want you to be the mother of my children, not just because they will be all powerful, but because I've grown fond of you... because I love you," AoC said, as he removed his mask completely.
Ani's eyes widened in surprise of his words, but more so to seeing his face. His dragon eyes were both glowing red with an outline of black around each eye. His jet black hair was spiked at the back, but the front was long and draped over one eye and his forehead. He smug grinned revealed his fangs and sharpened teeth, and a faint scar could be seen on his more visible eye.
"Heh. It seems like you can't keep your eyes off of me. Could it be that you are growing fond of me?" AoC asked in a sly tone, as Ani's eyes narrowed.
"No. I don't have feelings for you, and I never will, Angel of Chaos!" Ani said.
"You shouldn't say never, my dear. I'm quite persuasive, and much more~" AoC said, his eyes brightening a bit as he disappeared.
Ani stopped moving and scanned her surroundings. She waited a moment, and then she heard a chuckle as she turned to see AoC holding her knives in his hands. Instinctively, she reached for her waist and realized that he took her knives, her last defense.
"Looks like you don't have any more weapons," AoC said, and he ignited the blades into black flames that disintegrated them.
Ani knew she couldn't fight him by herself for long, especially without any weapons. She was thinking over many scenarios at attempting an escape, but she saw no other way but to talk and fight for as long as she can.
"I... I won't. I won't be your wife. I do not love you," Ani said, relaxing herself so that she wouldn't waste energy.
"Oh my dear, it's quite alright. You'll learn to love me, there's nothing wrong with that," AoC said as he approached her with a smirk.
"No! You can't force someone to love you or it isn't love," Ani said, as she took a few steps back.
AoC quickly but elegantly moved closer to her as he placed one hand on her back, and used the other to grab her hand, while Ani pulled back but stopped when he spoke.
"My dear Ani, you're already mine. I chose you to be my future wife, and that's what you will be. You are meant to be mine. I'll take care of you so there is no need to fret," AoC said, as he led Ani around the room in a slow dance.
Ani followed his steps, and as she began to relax, a purplish red color began to reflect in her eyes, as AoC smirked.
"There. Do you see now, my dear? You belong to me... you don't have a choice," AoC said, as he chuckled while brushing his hand gently through her hair.
Ani could feel her mind slowly submit to his will, as her eyes were still locked onto his more dominant ones. As AoC rested his hand on the back of her head and slowly moved forward to kiss her, Ani broke contact with his eyes when he closed them, and thought of the first name that came to her mind,
'Defer...'
As if he heard her, Defer tackled AoC, as Ani fell back and was able to clear her mind back to normal.
"What wretch dares to intervene!" AoC yelled, as he kicked Defer away from himself.
Defer fell on his back but quickly picked himself up as he jumped back to stand in front of Ani. As AoC picked himself up off the ground with anger evident in his expression, Defer stood with his claws ready to fight while he stretched open one wing as a shield in front of Ani as she stood up.
"You're the only wretch in here! Trying to manipulate her mind to your will! I know that magic, and it's messed up that you would use such a low form of spell on as special a woman as Ani," Defer said, as Ani felt her cheeks heat up.
"... I see, you're the piece of the Dark Fracture that disappeared. I figured you were destroyed, but here you are," AoC said as he looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Are you alright, Ani?" Defer asked in a softer tone, as AoC became irritated that he seemed to ignore him.
"I am. Thank you so much, Defer. What made you come here?" Ani asked.
"I sensed a dirty rat, and decided to be the exterminator," Defer said, and he looked towards Ani with a smirk, as she giggled.
AoC felt a stronger sense of irritation to see Defer make Ani laugh, but he calmed himself and said,
"Defer...? You have a conscious mind."
Defer turned towards him with a serious expression and said,
"That's right. I have made a name for myself and a life that you never granted me. You made me a servant, but I am my own person. The heart you gave to bring me life is not a power source anymore. It's my heart!"
"Hmph. I knew taking the risk of using deceased human hearts to create the Dark Fracture may become a nuisance, but I didn't think this far ahead in the future to consider it such an annoyance!" AoC said as he gritted his teeth while his hands began to glow red.
"Human hearts...?" Ani asked, towards Defer.
"That's right. A Dark Fracture with a human heart power source has the possibility of reviving the heart, and making the Dark Fracture a human in a beast body, but nonetheless human," Defer replied to her.
"Quite a disappointing feature for such a powerful and loyal beast," AoC said as he crossed his arms, and Defer growled at him.
"Hmm, I see you have taken a more human form. Are you trying to be human again with your human heart? A creature made from darkness, born to serve and destroy, is trying to be human? Why try to be what you're not? You are a battle-born beast made to conquer and gain power. What could you gain from a simple life among simple mortals?" AoC asked.
Defer narrowed his eyes at him, but then he turned towards Ani. He looked at her and smiled as she smiled back at him.
"I have all to gain from living in this beautiful, odd world. But more importantly, I have someone who means the world to me..." Defer said, as he straightened up and faced Ani in a way that AoC could see both of them.
Defer stood before Ani with a soft smile on his face and affection in his eyes that Ani recognized and couldn't look away from. He used one wing to gently wrap around her and said,
"A woman I can serve and who serves me out of kindness and humility. A charming lady who doesn't even know she is, but brings delight to everyone she is around. A loving goddess with a beauty to match her pure nature. A woman I love with all of my heart... My dearest Ani."
Ani's eyes widened, while AoC stiffened. Defer felt his cheeks heating up as he felt embarrassment about to creep up on him, but it subsided when Ani placed her hand delicately on his cheek. As their eye contact stood locked, Ani smiled at Defer with the same affection he held in his eyes back towards him, as she said,
"Defer, you've been such a sweet and wonderful gentlemen towards me from the beginning, and you've been so kind to my family too. You have such a good heart, and it makes me so happy to know that you feel the same way I do for you."
Defer's eyes widened, "A-Ani, you mean..."
"I love you too, Defer," Ani said with a sweet smile, as he smiled at her the same way.
"DEFER!" AoC snarled, as Ani and Defer turned towards him and saw that he was glowing with a dangerous dark aura.
"Careful, Angel of Chaos, your true face is showing," Defer said with a smirk, as he walked a few steps towards him.
As Defer took a fighting stance, Ani moved a safe distance back.
"I didn't come this far and manipulate that whole blasted organization for some punk piece of garbage to try to steal my woman!" AoC thundered, as his hands transformed into red razor claws.
"Ha! So you did reprogram Robo-HH HGH to think that his master was in trouble! You wanted to create those Cyborg Ligers on purpose to gain power, and then rule the world with a robot army! You lying savage! Ani deserves a much better match than a lying, manipulative cretin like you! And stealing her? Noo! She's been mine from the very beginning!" Defer growled, as Ani felt her face heat up again.
"Pathetic imp! She is mine! I am stronger! I am a king! I will trample you to dust!" AoC yelled, as his legs transformed into black furred hind-legs, and claws emerged from his hands and feet.
"Try it swine! You're the only one who's going to bite the dust, in your own grave!" Defer yelled back, and then the two lunged at each other.
